Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Hi, I’m H. L. Randall, aka Harriet L. Randall, and Welcome to my page.
I think I’ve always been a storyteller. Right from the start, as a little girl, I would watch old Hollywood black and white movies and thought of how I would have better ended the stories. I began writing in college at the age of thirty-two; and I surprisingly found that it came easy to me. It was only after retiring from the educational system that I began seriously thinking about being an author.
I was employed at a private organization that supplied Baltimore City with long-term special education teachers and substitute teachers. For several years, I taught high school English and geometry at several Baltimore inner-city schools. A few months into retirement, I said, “Now it’s time to write that book.”
My first was an essential book (A Voice in the Mirror) that allowed me to reveal my many demons I had accumulated over the years; years which also included a very abusive childhood. It was a very therapeutic and necessary feat. The poems were a story of my life: some in rhymes, but most in free verse. After writing the book of poetry, I felt free and was ready to take on more non-serious writings. I loved fiction and so I started there with my first fiction thriller, The Glass Cat Eye; next came a series of short stories, new poems, and then a romantic novel, The Animal Doctor. In progress is Dark Covenant: Book One—The New Berwick Witches Series. I’m also considering two spiritual books, one: The Eleven Disciples and The Rise and Fall of Satan. I’ve also written short stories for RPG book (Role Playing Game) Rise of the Nordox, Last Hope Tavern, Song of the Dragon Queen, and Return from the Forbidden Island.
I am the mother of two wonderful adult sons: One being a Computer Systems Manager and author; and the other an entrepreneur. As a native of Maryland, I still live in beautiful downtown Baltimore City over-looking our famous Inner Harbor and the one of the East Coast’s magnificent centers, the Maryland Science Center.
It’s been a wonderful experience sharing myself with you. Please feel free to contact me to discuss any of my books and excerpts of my writings.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is “The Glass Cat Eye”. I’ve always loved the supernatural. Like most authors, I carry around a pen and pad. Whenever a I hear something in my head about a story or a poem, I write it down. I was watching a bio of Harry Houdini; when it got to the part where he was exposing a Seance, I thought, what if the Seance was real. But then quoting religious people, Seances are phoney if claimed to be contacting dead people, but not phoney in a sense that there are beings, not living, yet not dead on the other side. So, I got this idea of an Atheist, trying to expose a psychic as a phoney only to find out that she is a witch who is tricking people into thinking she’s contacting their dead loves ones, only to be using these contacts to summon demons from the other side. And just how could I have this whole story play out.
This is how I came up with the story for The Glass Cat Eye. An Atheist, a rebellious preacher’s daughter, a theology professor turned demon killer and a dangerous witch. Develop some minor characters and colorful demons and ta-dah! I had the first three chapters of The Glass Cat Eye.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Don’t know if they’re all that unusual, but I, somehow, always know the ending of the book I’m about to write. And that really helps me. It’s like I’m on a journey to get to the end of the book. It becomes fun when I know the ending. The beginning of the book is the hardest for me. And this may sound crazy, perhaps only another writer could agree, but the middle of the book actually writes itself. It’s the most unexplainable, and amazing part of my writing a book. I already hand the ending; I struggle to find a beginning, and the book just takes off on its own–taking me on a fantastic ride. I know that sounds crazy, but you did ask for the unusual.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
Many authors have influenced me, the Masters like Shakespeare, Homer, Virgil, James Joyce, Zora Neale Huston; local poets such as Sharon Olds. But has influenced by like Truman Capote. I read a short story he wrote titled, Children on Their Birthdays. The first line read: “Yesterday afternoon the six-o’clock bus ran over Miss Bobbit. I was blown away. And have been a sucker for first lines of novels, short stories, poems, and even newspaper headlines ever since. He taught me how important that first line was to pull a reader in and keep her reading. I won’t lie and say I’ve mastered that technique, but I sure try my best. Once you have a great book cover that invites the reader to thumb through your book, that first line is important to keep them reading all the way up to the check out line. This includes online and at the book store.
What are you working on now?
Funny you should ask that; Smile. I’ve completed my first romance novella, The Animal Doctor. That’s ready for my editor. What I’m working on now, is another fantasy thrill titled, Dark Covenant. It’s a first book of The Berwick Witch Series. It takes place in a fictional county of Illinois. The land was founded by Covenant (good) witches who share the land, in peace, with werewolves and a religious group of people called the Dominions. There are four communities, and each occupies their own. Only forest, roads and lakes separates them. There is one dangerous group who are spell-kept behind a stone wall. A powerful sorcerer who must not ever leave from behind that wall. Of course, she does, but that’s book two. But all is not well in book one, though people try to get along, something wicked their way comes.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Awesomegang has been a bit of a gods send, also Amazon.com., Twitter, Facebook. But I’m just yet taking advantage so, I can answer that question with more authority once I’ve reached my goal of success.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Don’t let people intimidate you about your writing because you’re not Stephen King. Professionals like him can’t keep up with the growing demand for good novels. That’s where those of us who are not that well known come in. We out number these world-known professionals. We can meet those needs; and you don’t have to be Stephen King to do it. All you need is a well written, well edited book, a fantastic book cover and some marketing strategies. And continue to learn your craft. Don’t think you have arrived just because you get published. And find an author that you like and read her work for inspiration.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
The best advice I ever had was, I suppose the same advice that’s given to most new writers: “If you want to be a good writer, you must read.” Read excellent writer for your chosen genre. I started writing fantasy fiction after reading so many fantasy books and watching it on cable. I’ve loved that genre since Frankenstein, Dracula, The Wolfman, and the Mummy scared me nearly to death as a wee child.
What are you reading now?
I have become fascinated with reading books that have been written before I was born. I saw the movies as a kid; now as an adult, I want to read what the author wrote since Hollywood takes some many liberties with the screen play. Right now, I’m reading the original Dracula by Bram Stoker. After that, I’m reading The Shinning by Stephen King. I want to see what the movie’s missed.
What’s next for you as a writer?
I have so many more novellas in my head. All I can see for the near future is more books. But I would like to right a screen play: perhaps a mini series for TV.
If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
My Bible, The Art of the Tale: an international anthology of short stories, A book of Shakespeare’s works, and my own poetry book, A Voice in the Mirror.
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