Every other Monday, we introduce you to a writer from the Writers’ Mastermind. Today we are excited to present Christie Adams. She is a storyteller, blogger, podcaster and videographer who writes short stories, children’s books, mysteries, thrillers, YA novels, and even erotica.
Learn how Christie left the rat race to pursue a life she loves and why she says that mid-life is anything but a crisis.
1. Tell us a little bit about yourself. Where are you from? Where are you now? What has your life been like?
I’m a Yorkshire woman, over 50, rebellious grandmother and global online entrepreneur. Storyteller, blogger, podcaster, videographer, motivational and creativity coach, eco advocate, travel addict (on hold right now) and multi-passionate ‘squirrel.’
Whilst bringing up my family, as a single mum, and working full time, I completed a BA Hons in Literature. I didn’t want to settle for something I knew wouldn’t be fulfilling or rewarding, but leaving the rat race was a hard decision. Since age 13 I’d always had a pay slip, a regular income. There’s been tears, doubts, rebellion even anger. I’ve come out the other side and I’ve never been happier!
History… In my teens… left home, joined the army and then left again to start buying my first home. I worked two jobs, and spent Saturday nights from 2am until 8am at the cinema watching Kung Fu films. In my 20s… worked hard, partied hard – well maybe a little. Moved from my first apartment to a house with a garden and had no idea what I wanted to do when I grew up. In my 30s… moved house again, became a single parent to my awesome daughter. Adopted a dog, a big dog! Faced redundancy, a few times, got promoted, and still didn’t know what I wanted to do when I grew up. Volunteered for the YHA, painted hostels, worked with teenagers. I read to nursery children each week. My first official taste of giving back in the community. Promotion and redundancy and led to numerous pivots in direction. In my 40s… realised my career wasn’t what I wanted to do ‘when I grew up’ so I went back into education, still working full time to afford the fees. After 6 years of deadlines and assignments I completed my Bachelor of Arts in Literature, oh and trained as a swimming teacher. Adopted a dog, a different loopy dog, and volunteered as a mentor for teenagers and students. In my 50s… having gone through yet more pivots and changes. I got married. Became a grandmother. Moved to another town, co-incidentally ending up back where I was born. I was yet again offered a change in role. You may notice a theme here! This time I decided to take the redundancy offer. I took a gap year, travelled, wrote fiction and had family time. Some of my life’s changes were my choice, some certainly came out of the blue and were well beyond my control. I’ve been there, done it, acquired quite a few t-shirts but I’ll tell you now it certainly wasn’t all plain sailing. Sometimes it was downright scary. Anyway, I’m super proud to tell you I’ve learned to embrace change and now move forward with optimism and confidence. In my 60s… Watch this space!
I write short stories, children’s books, mystery, thriller and YA novels, and even erotica.
3. What sets you apart from other writers in your space?
I believe passionately that everyone should use their voice. Mine is no better than another but is unique. We bring our own experiences, culture, perceptions, imagination and opinions to all our work. The more I write, the more I’m confident to allow my own voice be heard.
4. What drives your writing? What do you mean to accomplish with your stories?
My ‘Why’ is to support my family. I’d love to buy my daughter a home, it’s so difficult to get on the property ladder in the UK. I have always been a book addict, so writing them was a natural development.
My grand-babies love being part of the process too, and I’m thrilled to have instilled a love of books in them too. If I get a chance to mention my beloved Yorkshire I will. So far, I’ve written ‘escapism’ books to allow people to enjoy a fictional world. I am working on various non-fiction books.
My book ‘Well Really, Fairy Rose, by Ruby and Angelica Brave’ was the most ‘important’ book for me on a personal level. I want all children to see themselves in books. I commissioned an artist to base the main character on photographs of my mixed-race grandbaby. Diversity in books is improving but still a long way to go. WRFR encourages care for the planet and nature without being ‘preachy.’
5. Who are you favourite writers and books? What are your other creative influences?
I studied literature and over the years have read so many I can’t pick one favourite. I do love The Color Purple, Jane Eyre and other classics.
The recent books that have blown my mind are Sapiens and Homo Deus by Yuval Noah Harari. I will at some point read his others, but they are truly life changing.
Peter James writes great detective novels. I’ve just discovered Gregg Hurwitz who is a genius at page-turning thrillers. Stieg Larsson books are dark but inspire me to embrace a darker story.
6. Do you write in silence? Background noise? Or music? What kind?
Depends on what I’m writing. I can’t write fiction is anything with lyrics is playing. If I play music, classical, instrumental, even whale music I cut off anyway and don’t hear it as I’m deep inside the world of my characters. If I’m doing admin etc I listen to podcasts.
7. What is your favourite thing to do when you are not writing?
Toddler wrangling, board games, Top Trumps or drawing on Procreate with my grandbabies. We also have a great game of storytelling. We each get a couple of sentences and then take turns to build a story. I hope it’s helping them know it’s OK to have fun with words. We also watch Tiktok together. I love that they know their Nannan works on social media, so they see a positive side.
Helping my daughter as she builds her new business. Knitting, sewing, rock painting, creative stuff. TV, addicted to real crime, NCIS, Law & Order etc.
8. Who is your current celebrity crush?
Along with the other 5 million, @taylor_thatdancer on Tiktok.
It’s important to remember that fiction is not desire or ambition. The darkest fiction is often written by the most generous and settled writers. By allowing our shadow side to be indulged in our writing, we release from our ‘real’ world.
9. Why do you think it’s important to write fiction?
It’s important to remember that fiction is not desire or ambition. The darkest fiction is often written by the most generous and settled writers. By allowing our shadow side to be indulged in our writing, we release from our ‘real’ world.
Books have power. It can be a way to give a political or revolutionary thought. Story can be life changing or life affirming. It can also just be a good read. It doesn’t always have to be ‘important.’
I have no idea why I love it, but I will always make things up.
10. Who would be the best writer, alive or dead, to tell the story of your life?
Great question. Stephen Fry does ridiculously well researched books and makes the facts easily understandable. I guess me, coz there’s so much that others don’t know. Lately I have been thinking of writing a bio. Kafka, too dark. Attwood, I’m too humble. Dickens would be fun, just to show he can write good women after all.
11. What are you working on right now?
Lol! Erotica, as it’s bringing some money in. Editing (ugh) my next thriller. A business planning book. A children’s book. I’ve also got a book that I’m writing twice. No idea if it’ll work, but I’m toning it down to a YA book, and making it extremely dark as a post-apocalyptic horror.
Ashes – A Jezzabelle Jones Mystery
A warehouse fire leaves a homeless military veteran dead. In his pocket a dog-eared birthday card, and a faded photograph of a young girl.
Jezzabelle ‘Belle’ Jones, insurance investigator, is surprised when she’s trusted with the case. It could finally lead to her long-awaited promotion. Her instincts tell her this fire wasn’t an accident.
When her boss comes under pressure from the wealthy warehouse owner, she’s told to close the case quickly. She knows she should follow the rules, but Belle’s never liked doing as she’s told.
She calls on Barnaby ‘Mac’ St John, a reclusive ex-firefighter, to help her work out what happened. The little girl in the photograph deserves answers.
Then there’s another fatal fire… Can Belle keep her job long enough to catch the arsonist? How many more people will die before she solves the case?
This first Jezzabelle Jones murder mystery is set in Yorkshire, England. If you love crime solving duos, this new pairing will not disappoint.
June 2021 – This version is a rewrite and edit. It is the same story, but the book has been improved overall for the reader’s enjoyment. Link: https://books2read.com/ashesmystery
Every other Monday, we introduce you to a writer from the Writers’ Mastermind. Today we are excited to have Patty Lesser. She has backpacked the world, plays Texas hold ’em, and writes everything from murder mysteries to scifi to dark paranormal fantasy and beyond.
Tell us a little bit about yourself. Where are you from? Where are you now? What has your life been like?
Four years ago, I moved to Brantford, starting over. I knew no one here or anything. Everything was new, but I made a life for myself along with four volunteer positions and playing in a local poker league. I grew up in Hamilton, Ontario, but when I was 19, I left Canada to backpack around the world for 25 years.
When I came back to Canada, I settled in Toronto before moving back to Hamilton. I moved around a lot before settling here. I love my new life.
2. What kind of stories do you write?
I think of a plot, work it around in my head, thinking of ideas for a story. If it works out, I write it down and start the novel. Then I think about the genre, so I end up writing various genres like mystery, fantasy, sci fi, adventure, thriller, etc.
3. What sets you apart from other writers in your space?
I write from A directly to B. My writing is direct and somewhat simple, and my stories are completely my imagination, so I find it hard to compare my books with other authors.
4. What drives your writing? What do you mean to accomplish with your stories?
I’m a storyteller. I like to tell stories that I want others to read to escape from reality for a while and enjoy someone else’s saga and my imagination.
5. Who are your favourite writers and books? What are your other creative influences?
My favourite authors and their books are: Ayn Rand’s Atlas Shrugged, Alexandre Dumas’ Count of Monte Crisco, and Thomas Hardy’s The Mayor of Casterbridge. When I need inspiration, I go back and read stuff I’ve written.
6. Do you write in silence? Background noise? What kind?
I always write with a movie playing on the TV. It’s always a movie I’ve seen many times, so I don’t have to watch. I can look up from time to time and just listen when I need a break from the writing.
7. What is your favourite thing to do when you are not writing?
I play tournament Texas hold’em no limit poker. I play in a local league, but of course we’ve been closed down because of Covid. I have been playing online for money since 2005.
8. Who is your current celebrity crush?
John de Lancie otherwise known as Q on Star Trek: The Next Generation. He’s an Australian actor.
9. Why do you think it’s important to write fiction?
People have been writing fiction since the beginning of time. The Bible is made up of fictional stories that someone put together in an anthology. Fiction is important to take us away from reality.
10. Who would be the best writer, alive or dead, to tell the story of your life?
Samuel Clemens/Mark Twain. I love the way he wrote his autobiography. He’s a great storyteller.
11. What are you working on right now?
I’m working on a murder mystery that takes place in a community centre. The subplot is all about the importance of volunteering. The interesting thing is I don’t know who the murderer is, but I guess I’ll just find out when the readers do. I volunteered at a community centre for 4 years, and my story mirrors this one. I was also the Volunteer Reporter and I wrote all the volunteers’ profiles, so I’ve got lots to draw from. I want people to read my book and then say, I should volunteer somewhere.
Devouring Time: A Race Against the Clock to Expose Shocking Secrets, Shameless Greed, and Murder
Marcus Tate doesn’t understand the odd request: leave London to deliver a small, carefully-wrapped box to a family in Canada? But his mentor, mother figure, and friend, Cathy Edwards, insists that Marcus is precisely the right person to deliver the important package that she has held onto for many long years.
Little does Marcus realize that his world is about to be turned upside down. In less than one day, Marcus learns not only the shocking truth about his mother, but also the real reason Cathy forged such a strong bond with him. And despite Marcus’s attempt to make a quick delivery and leave, the eccentric Blackbourne family insists that he stay to learn more about the contents of the mysterious box.
The Blackbournes can’t wait for Lillian, the family matriarch, to peel the brown paper wrapping from the package. To each family member, the package represents the promise of an even richer life. More money. Financial independence. Power. Freedom to travel the world.
But to the family’s surprise, the package is only one small piece of a much larger labyrinth of lies and betrayal, leading to the discovery of family secrets . . . and murder.
Time ticks away as the family attempts to solve the mystery of Lillian’s murder, all while trying to make sense of their past. Through it all, the Blackbournes and Marcus can’t help but wonder if the murderer is still lurking among them.
Join Marcus and the entire Blackbourne family on a whirlwind twenty-four hour adventure, through a world of insatiable greed, family secrets, forbidden love, and murder!
Each week, we are going to introduce you to a writer from the Writers’ Mastermind. Today, we have Bia Bella Baker, author of YA Sci-fi Fantasy Hecctrossipy, which is FREE on Amazon for the next 3 days!
Meet Bia Bella Baker
1. Tell us a little bit about yourself. Where are you from? Where are you now? What has your life been like?
I was born in Rahway New Jersey, and ended up clear across the country in St. Cloud Florida. As for what my life has been like, I’ve been around for 41 years, so I wouldn’t be sure where to begin. Rest assured, I’m not about to ramble. So here goes the condensed version—attending a boarding school for misfit kids, adventures in experiencing a hodge-podge of volunteer jobs, a ridiculous love-life, and several self reincarnations—but all the while, I always aspired to write.
2. What kind of stories do you write?
For now, I’m a young adult sci-fi & fantasy writer, but I have a pretty loaded multi-genre backlist.
3. What sets you apart from other writers in your space?
With two million or so books being released every year, I honestly didn’t count on my HECCTROSSIPY series being all that original, but others told me how unique it really is. I realized this too, when I searched the digital bookstores for other books in the YA sci-fi & fantasy genre like mine. The others I found, where the story takes place on a different planet, still have the expected science fiction or fantasy tropes, like political conflict, battles, and magic. The first novel in my series has neither of these things. The people of Velva Leena have a hive mentality. There are problems on their world, but they don’t involve war and politics. Strange and unexplainable things do happen on this planet, but there’s an organic explanation for everything.
My series is more like a teen drama that happens on a different planet. It could still be counted as sci-fi because it’s all about extraterrestrials and their very non-Earth-like culture, beliefs, their way of life, and their physical abilities that us humans don’t have, but it’s no Star Wars or Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. It could be counted as fantasy, because there’s mythology involved, and folklore, but you’re not going to find any sprites and unicorns, and stuff like that. There’s also a bit of paranormal. Before the first book was published, I wasn’t even sure what genre to put it in.
The second book is going to be even more of a cross-genre mutant hybrid. There’s still the soap opera type stuff going on, but with more of a pre apocalyptic theme to it. Then add in a flare of murder mystery. The second book will also focus more on my characters’ personal and spiritual growth, especially with my main character, Artheena. Her psychic ability is getting sharper, which adds more of the paranormal element. There is also a new thing going on, what would seem to us Earthlings, like religious fanaticism. Yeah, you get the point. So far, at the time of this interview, my series is still very original.
4. What drives your writing? What do you mean to accomplish with your stories?
I just love it. Simple as that. I love the escapism. I love being other characters and experiencing what they experience. It’s so much fun to come up with dramas and new worlds, and just let my imagination go berserk. Writing about made-up planets is one of my favorites.
What I mean to accomplish with my writing is, to entertain people with compelling stories that are life-like enough to make them feel like they’re part of the experience, and that they feel they know the characters personally. The goal is to make my stories immersive enough to hit an emotional nerve, or stimulate the senses and imagination, and most of all, I love to take readers on a plot twist roller coaster. I would love for readers to get the same escapism enjoyment out of reading my books as I get with writing them.
And of course, of course, my dream is to make a good living off of this.
5. Who are you favorite writers and books? What are your other creative influences?
Sorry, but I’m going to be vague and generic with this one. I read so many different authors of books of all kinds of genres, I can’t point out a favorite. My creative influence is sugar. If I’m not watching my sugar intake, it has a weird imagination trip, hallucinogenic effect on my brain.
6. Do you write in silence? Background noise? Or music? What kind?
I have to cancel out the world around me, when I write, and make my work area as under stimulating to the senses as possible. My room has to be dark, and with the door closed, and I have to have an oscillating fan on for white noise. My sense of concentration is that flimsy.
7. What is your favorite thing to do when you are not writing?
I love pole-vaulting and cross-country skiing and scuba diving. I design clothes and accessories for pets. And I love to experiment with making new and unique flavors of marmalade and fruit compote, which I give to the poor children. Seriously, for real, I’m so freaking boring with hobbies. When I’m not writing, I love to read, explore Apple Music, browse on-line stores, and watch crime investigation shows.
8. Who is your current celebrity crush?
Hahahaha! How did this question end up in an interview about writing? I haven’t had a silly, dreamy, real celebrity crush in so long. Since I lost most of my vision, I only had fleeting feelings of just “kind of having a thing” for this or that guy, and they were all singers. But I didn’t consider them actual crushes. They were a voice that sounded hot, for a song or two. Or they had a passionate way of delivering a song, that gave me the chills in hidden places. Once I heard their song that got to me, enough times, the feeling would fade away.
Real celebrity crushes, for me, were visual. If I knew what he looked like, the crush was just more there, because I could fantasize about him, and ogle at pictures of him. Unlike my fleeting crushes on a singer’s voice, the visual crushes lasted for months. I used to even feel giddy and jittery when one of my celebrity crushes came on TV.
9. Why do you think it’s important to write fiction?
It’s important to write fiction, because it’s my favorite thing to do in the world, and it gives me a greater sense of purpose. If life started really getting sucky. Like, if my parents died, and I got bogged down by elephantitis in the left leg, or something. As long as I have my computer, and an overactive imagination, I’ll get along just fine.
10. Who would be the best writer, alive or dead, to tell the story of your life?
That would have to be me, because I’m such a loner who stays kind of hidden away a lot. If anyone wanted to write about my life, it would turn out a book that was based on a true story, because they would have to make up a bunch of stuff to fill in the blanks.
11. What are you working on right now?
Right now, I’m working on the second book in my HECCTROSSIPY series. It’s going to be called The Will of the Dark Creator, which I’m hoping to get released before the end of the year.
HECCTROSSIPY: BOOK ONE THE LEGEND OF THE LAND (VELVA LEENA 1)
The alignment of the three moons is a sign of positive changes to come… But the moons never promised that such changes will happen to everybody… On the pre-industrial planet of Velva Leena, two sisters eagerly anticipate the Hecctrossipy Festival, Continent 15’s yearly tradition that celebrates the victory over a legendary evil monster, who had the power to manipulate the elements, and create chaos.
Artheena is smart, talented, beautiful, and blessed with multiple gifted abilities. Mell May, on the other hand, is simple and average. Both are in love with Leeandro Paul, a celebrity heart-throb who has an intriguing way of turning the leaders of the land into his followers.
Artheena has a premonition of marrying him, during the alignment of the three moons. While on her quest for true love, she gets caught up in unexpected adventures, embarrassing situations, and experiences beyond her wildest dreams, including an outrageous contest that challenges Continent 15’s strict, conservative social standards.
Through it all, Artheena and Mell May’s close bond is also challenged. When the festival comes, the sisters have the time of their lives… Until Leeandro Paul makes an announcement that shocks his fans. An unimaginable secret is revealed, that might tear the two sisters apart for good.
10 Writers read excerpts from their latest work for the Writers’ Mastermind Mash-up 2020! Sample a wide variety of new, groundbreaking fiction in a scope of genres from around the world.
Tia Wojciechowski/Bia Bella Baker 00:20 Hecctropssippy 2 – The Will of the Dark Creator (to be released)
Ross Jeffery 07:18 Tome – Amazon https://amzn.to/38M6FbS
Clennell Anthony 15:50 Fractured (novel, unpublished)
J.A. Cox 22:47 Fulfilling a Vow, Searching for Answers (novel, to be released)
Patty Lesser 29:02 The Devil, Angels, and Demons (novel, to be released)
Sara Cristia HJ 35:46 Witch’s Amulet (short story) https://www.instagram.com/p/CIjdyp_AihC/
Mollie McClure 42:02 Talking to the Moon (novel, unpublished)
Dan Markowski 50:42 The Last Ride (short story) https://www.wattpad.com/user/lefthandDan83
“The Writers Mastermind has been the leaping stone in my writing. Each month offers a new theme and focus towards the Writers’ Dream. I have found my voice, structure, and have gotten immeasurable feedback on my works.”
Charlotta Amato, Short Story Writer
“Ever since I joined Writers’ Mastermind, I have felt more like a writer and part of a writing family than I ever have before. I have gained confidence in my writing, learned who I am and how I want to be as a writer.”
Clennell Anthony, The Circle
“An empowering mastermind group, definitely the best I have ever been a part of. The warmhearted community is genuinely a reason to get excited and I learn as much from my peers as I do from the exceptional courses.”
Joseph Sale, The Black Gate Series, Save Game
“The classes are awesome. They offer perspective, as well as tips and tricks that many may not have thought of when it comes to not only creating their books, but promoting them. It’s worth much more than what we pay, and that is a total win-win situation.”
Sandra Hould, Future Novelist
“It’s been a boon for me to work and interact with this diverse range of authors. I’ve received fantastic constructive feedback, friendly motivation and support through the struggles in my writing process, and accountability to keep me focused on critical tasks.”
S.M. Fedor, Band-Aid for a Bullet Wound, Better People
