Please welcome Bailey Baxter author of The Mirror of Doom.
Bailey Baxter will be awarding a $25 Amazon/BN to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.
The Mirror of Doom
by Bailey
Baxter
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GENRE: Middle Grade
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INTERVIEW:
1. What or who inspired you to start writing?
I started writing stories when I was about 12 years old. A friend and I
used to create mini books – complete with illustrations – using small pieces of
paper stapled together. And we passed them back and forth during class. So, I
have been writing for a long time.
But, I think the person who really got me thinking that I could be a
writer was my 7th grade English teacher, Mr. Torgeson. He took me
aside one day to tell me he thought I had talent as a writer, and he offered to
help me enter a writing contest. That’s all it took for me to catch the writing
bug!
2. What elements are necessary components for this genre?
Realistic main characters that kids can relate to are so important. Even
in a fantasy-adventure novel like mine, the young characters shouldn’t be
cookie-cutter. They should act like kids… think like kids. Take Tim Hunter, for
example. He was loosely based on my youngest brother, Jim. (Yes, the similarity
in names was totally intentional!) Of course, Jim wasn’t quite as quirky as
Tim. Frankly, Tim took on a life of his own. But my brother Jim was the
starting point for the character. Without strong, believable characters, a
novel falls flat fast.
3. How did you come up with your idea for your novel?
When I was a kid, I loved reading “The Chronicles of Narnia” and other
stories that take you away to another land. I always wanted to be able to step
through a wardrobe, or a mirror, or even into a picture and be whisked away into
a great adventure. I combined that desire with a love for fairy tales to come
up with the concept for “The Mirror of Doom.” You see… Tim and his siblings
weren’t the first ones to venture into the medieval-like land on the other side
of the mirror. The Grimm brothers had been there hundreds of years ago. That’s
how they got the ideas for so many of their fairy tales. The problem for Tim
and the others is… the Grimms embellished a bit. The stories didn’t happen
quite like they said. And some of those stories have gone on to become
something quite dangerous…
4. What expertise did you bring to your writing?
Well, like I mentioned earlier, I have been writing since I was a child.
And, for the past ten years, I’ve made my living as a copywriter. I spend my days
cranking out sales copy – something I jokingly call “online junk mail.” Plus,
I’ve written many scripts for skits and plays that have been performed in
churches throughout the world. Writing scripts has really honed my
dialogue-writing skills.
5. What would you want your readers to know about you that might not be in your
bio?
It’s taken me a long time to get where I am today. Being an author was
an impossible dream to me when I was younger. So, I pursued other things. I
worked in computer support, banking, and accounting – and was miserable. When I
finally gave in to my desire to write, things began to change. Writing “The
Mirror of Doom” while working full-time took many years. But I was moving
toward a goal. It was something I was passionate about. And I was happier. I
want to encourage readers to find that something that makes them want to get
out of bed in the morning – and pursue it. It’s worth the work.
6. As far as your writing goes, what are your future plans?
I am currently working on the sequel to “The Mirror of Doom.” And I have
a bunch of ideas for other books. I just need the time to write them all!
7. If you could be one of the characters from this book, who would it be and
why?
I would have to say Tim’s older sister, Kat – because she’s a lot like
me! Yeah, I was the smart, bossy one among my siblings. And I would like to
shoot an arrow like Kat does. That would be cool.
8. Can you give us a sneak peek into this book?
I’d love to share one of my favorite scenes. The characters are in the
process of crossing a crumbling stone bridge in an underground cavern when a
strange sound startled 12-year-old Tim…
Was that thunder?
Kat stopped and looked around. “What was that noise?”
“Everyone, keep going,” Gavril said from behind me. “We need to get off
this bridge now.”
“Why?” I asked. “What’s going on?”
“Just move, Tim!”
Before I had a chance to even take one step, something dark and huge
flew over us and let out an ear-splitting roar that shook the entire bridge.
Kat screamed, and we all hit the deck, so to speak. As I clung to the
trembling bridge, I could hear a shower of stones falling into the cavern
below.
Okay, that definitely wasn’t thunder.
“What was that?” Ron yelled.
“Akar!” Beriman yelled back.
“What’s an Akar?” I asked.
There was another roar, and we all ducked our heads as the shadow
swooped over us again. A stream of flames burst from its mouth, lighting up the
entire cavern and answering my question.
Akar was a dragon.
9. Do you belong to a critique group? If so how does this help or hinder your
writing?
I do not belong to a critique group. Frankly, I simply don’t have time.
I’m still working fulltime as a freelance copywriter. What I prefer to use are
beta readers. These are people I ask to read portions of my book as I write it
and give me constructive comments.
10. When did you first decide to submit your work? Please tell us what or who
encouraged you to take this big step?
I chose to self-publish “The Mirror of Doom,” instead of submitting it
to agents and publishers. I’m in marketing, so I thought it would be a fun
challenge to use my skills to get my book out to readers.
11. What is the best and worst advice you ever received? (regarding writing or
publishing)
The best advice is to keep writing. The more books I have available for
sale, the more readers will find me. The worst advice was my own. I waited so
many years to starting writing my first novel because I didn’t think it had a
chance of succeeding. I had seen the statistics. Only 20% of published authors
can make a living just writing books. The odds were terrible, so I quit before
I tried. Never do that. If you have a dream, go after it. Don’t let the “facts”
get in the way of something you’re passionate about.
12. Do you outline your books or just start writing?
Because my writing time (on my books) is so limited, I need to outline
to stay focused. However, sometimes the story goes in a different, better
direction than my outline, and that’s okay too.
13. How do you maintain your creativity?
If I get stuck creatively, I do a brain dump of “what ifs.” I just take
a big piece of paper and start asking myself “what if” questions regarding my
story – and then I write down everything that comes to mind. It’s amazing what
you can come up with!
14. Who is your favorite character in the book. Can you tell us why?
Hands down, it’s Tim Hunter. Earlier versions of “The Mirror of Doom”
were written in the third person point of view. But, as Tim’s quirky (and
sometimes hilarious) character evolved, I knew I had to write “The Mirror of
Doom” from his view point. When I did, the book came alive. Tim compares
himself a lot to his older brother and sister and never quite feels “good
enough.” But he really starts to come into his own through his adventures.
BLURB:
What would you do if you got stuck in another world? 12-year-old Tim
Hunter and his two older siblings panicked. Just a little. (Can you blame
them?) Unfortunately, the only way they can return home is to steal a magic
mirror from an evil queen. Yes, that’s right. Evil! To make matters even worse,
enemy soldiers, horrible creatures called galrogs, and even a dragon will do
anything to stop them. Do they have what it takes to make it home alive?
There’s one way to find out. This fun, fantasy-adventure for middle-grade
readers is available on Amazon.com.
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EXCERPT:
Ron started down the hallway toward me. “Timmy,
give Kat her diary back, or I’ll take it from you myself.”
He would, too. But I wasn’t about to give him the
chance.
I turned and threw myself against that mysterious
closed door, giving the glass knob a big twist. It opened suddenly, and I found
myself stumbling forward into a dark room. Quickly regaining my balance, I
shoved the door closed. It took a bit of fumbling in the darkness, but I found
the key and quickly turned it.
Locked. And just in time, too.
The doorknob jiggled.
“Timmy, open this door,” Ron said.
“Nope.”
Ron’s fist slammed into the other side of the door
with a loud bang. “Open the door, runt!”
“Go away. I’ve got some reading to do.”
“Timmy!” Kat practically screamed my name through
the door. “If you even open my diary, I will kill you. Do you understand?”
Oh, I understood all right. But come on! Kat’s
diary was usually guarded more closely than Fort Knox. This could be my ONLY
opportunity to see what’s inside. I’d be crazy NOT to read it!
I slid the little book out of my pocket and
stretched out my other hand to feel for a light switch — and froze, my heart
pounding. I heard a noise. It sounded like a footstep.
And it seemed to come from inside the room.
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AUTHOR Bio and
Links:
Bailey
Baxter is the pen name of a somewhat successful copywriter who writes online
"junk mail” for health supplement companies. She's been writing stories
since childhood. In fact, when she was 12, Bailey wrote and illustrated tiny
books that she stapled together and passed to her friend during class. (She was
never caught.)
Bailey
grew up in Ellington, CT – a small town where cows outnumbered people 2 to 1.
She currently lives in Asheville, NC with a mischievous Shih-tzu named Lucy.
Fortunately, Asheville is weird - and proud of it - so it gives her plenty of
inspiration and plot ideas for new books.
Her
first book, The Mirror of Doom, was inspired by a certain pesky brother named
"Jimmy" and the childhood desire to find a wardrobe to a place like
Narnia.
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GIVEAWAY INFORMATION and
RAFFLECOPTER CODE
Bailey
Baxter will be awarding a $25 Amazon/BN to a randomly drawn winner via
rafflecopter during the tour.
http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/28e4345f2072
