Saturday Spotlight | Masquerade: Oddly Suited Anthology, Featuring L.G. Keltner

In addition to the usual blog posts every Monday and Wednesday about our travel adventures and day-to-day life living aboard a sailboat, I also occasionally post on Saturdays, focusing on things related to writing such as cover reveals, book launches, reviews, interviews with authors etc. So if you're a bit of a book nerd like I am, check in on Saturdays - you never know what might pop up.

Today, I'm thrilled to be featuring the release of the latest Insecure Writer's Support Group (IWSG) anthology, Masquerade: Oddly Suited, and sharing an interview with one of its authors, L.G. Keltner. 

If you're a writer and you're not familiar with the IWSG, hop on over to their site and check it out. It's a great resource for writers at all stages, from unpublished to best-sellers. They run annual writing contests - the winners' stories are published in an anthology published by Dancing Lemur Press. I was fortunate to be featured in their Hero Lost anthology, which gave me the confidence to publish my first cozy mystery.

This year's anthology focuses on stories about young love in all of its facets, from heartbreak to budding passion. Masquerade features the talents of L.G. Keltner, Jennifer Lane, C.D. Gallant-King, Elizabeth Mueller, Angela Brown, Myles Christensen, Deborah Solice, Carrie-Anne Brownian, Anstice Brown, and Chelsea Marie Ballard,

L.G. Keltner was the overall winner of this year's anthology. Scroll on down to find out what she has to say about writing, penguins, and cookies. Plus, be sure to read all the way to the end - there's a giveaway!

Interview with L.G. Keltner

1 - What inspired you to write this story?

I had a starting point with the masquerade prompt, but the direction I took came down to the time of year I was writing the story. An old Halloween costume features heavily in “Oddly Suited” and helped drive the narrative. And when was I writing the bulk of this story? In October, right before Halloween when I was helping my kids get their Halloween costumes organized. Also, my kids are obsessed with the idea of making videos and having their own YouTube channel when they’re old enough. That naturally inspired me to have my characters writing scripts and filming their own videos to post online.

2 - Do you have any writing rituals? 

I need to have coffee or tea. That’s a must. Even if I’m writing at night after my kids go to bed. I also need to have water. Other than that, I need to be flexible. I have three kids with a fourth on the way. If I wasn’t flexible, I’d never get anything done.

3 - What's more important - character or plot?

Oh, this is a tough one. I think they’re both important and play off each other a lot. Character actions certainly help drive the plot, and the plot influences character growth throughout a story. I’ve read and enjoyed many stories, and I’ve seen examples where a compelling plot helps to keep you reading despite the characters being flat. Nevertheless, I think most readers want to connect with the characters. Rounded characters that connect with readers tend to make more of a lasting impression. So, while I think they’re both important, I’m inclined to believe character is ultimately more important.

4 - What do you like best about being an author? What do you like the least? 

Writing can be cathartic. That’s one of the things I love about it. Every story I tell is personal in some way. I pour my thoughts and feelings onto the page every time I write. The fictional scenarios I create help me to see things from a different perspective. My least favorite part of being a writer is writer’s block. The frustration I feel when I hit a wall is maddening. I write because it’s part of who I am. It isn’t really a choice. I don’t feel like myself if I’m not writing regularly. In fact, I can be downright grumpy until I work my way past the block. Just ask my husband about that one, and he’ll confirm it.

5 - What's your favorite cookie? If you don't like cookies, what's wrong with you? Oops, sorry, scratch that. My follow-up question was meant to be far more polite - "Why don't you like cookies?"

Whew! It’s a good thing I like cookies. I love cookies of all kinds, but my favorite has to be oatmeal raisin. They need to be fresh and chewy, though. Yum. I’m getting hungry just thinking about them.

6 - A penguin walks through your front door wearing a sombrero. What does he say and why did he come visit you?

He says, “My name is Mr. Flibble, and I came to fry you with my hex vision.” And as his statement implies, he came to fry me with his hex vision. Unfortunately for me and my curiosity, he wouldn’t give me enough time to ask why he’s wearing the sombrero. (I am a big fan of Red Dwarf, so there was no other way I could have answered this question.) What else would you like us to know about you? I’ve been writing for most of my life. My childhood was filled with books, and my parents both read regularly. I lived out in the country and rarely had other kids to play with during the summer, so I read a lot. That’s probably what drove me to write. I wanted to create books like the ones I loved so much. I first attempted to write a novel when I was six years old. It was terrible, of course, but I was proud of it at the time. It had both dinosaurs and aliens in it, after all. It was a masterpiece as far as I was concerned. Many novels have manifested in the intervening years, though they’ve remained hidden away. Flawed as they may be, I’ve learned a lot through writing each of them. Hopefully one day soon I’ll write a novel that I can share with the world.


About L.G. Keltner

L.G. Keltner has been attempting to write novels since she was six. None of those early attempts were any good, but her passion for writing remained strong.  She graduated from Drake University in 2008, and she lives in Iowa with her husband and children. L.G. writes mostly science fiction, though she also enjoys writing humorous young adult stories.

Connect with L.G. on her blog, Facebook, Goodreads, Twitter, and Amazon.



About Masquerade & Buy Links

BLURB

Find love at the ball. . .

Can a fake dating game show lead to love? Will a missing key free a clock-bound prince? Can a softball pitcher and a baseball catcher work together? Is there a vampire living in Paradise, Newfoundland? What’s more important—a virtual Traveler or a virtual date to the ball?

Ten authors explore young love in all its facets, from heartbreak to budding passion. Featuring the talents of L.G. Keltner, Jennifer Lane, C.D. Gallant-King, Elizabeth Mueller, Angela Brown, Myles Christensen, Deborah Solice, Carrie-Anne Brownian, Anstice Brown, and Chelsea Marie Ballard.

Hand-picked by a panel of agents and authors, these ten tales will mystify and surprise even as they touch your heart. Don your mask and join the party…

Find out more on the IWSG Anthologies website, Goodreads, Facebook, Twitter & Pinterest.

BUY LINKS

Pick up your own copy of Oddly Suited - available in ebook and paperback.

GIVEAWAY

The authors of Masquerade: Oddly Suited are giving away a $50 Amazon gift card to one winner. To enter, please complete the Rafflecopter below. The giveaway is open internationally from 12:00 am GMT 17th March to 12:00am GMT 6th May.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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