Gabrielle Poplar - Published Author Interview with Darmie Orem

INTERVIEW HIGHLIGHT

I have the privilege to interview Gabrielle Poplar, the author of The Custodian of Luima Legacy.

Welcome to I Darmie Orem Blog, as well as Authors' Curtilage with Darmie Orem.

“Thank You Darmie, I’m glad to be here.”

Luima! The word makes me curious. It held me glued to this book! It sounds supernatural, like some sort of magical treasure. When I read part of the book, It seemed Agan went on a trip to get the Luima sword, but later, when the Junya council gathered to discuss his trip, it read as if the Luima are a tribe. What really are the Luima?

“The Luima of Bahadi are seven persons with life substances capable of switching on seven weapons that produce light in the different colors of the rainbow. They are also responsible for different aspects of the Bahadi economy, e.g. Green Luima is responsible for farming etc.

There is an extra Luima in another friendly Kingdom called Dinachi, he is the Infra-Red Luima, and at the beginning of the book his death started the political intrigue in the novel.”

After Agan returned from his journey, in his briefings to the council and the King, he said, "I stopped the convoy of the Luima of Dinachi, as the council requested, but the Luima did not travel with his sword."

“Agan was sent by King Arpad and the Junya council to steal the Infra-red Luima’s sword. Arpad is the king of Estruchi, and he wanted a Luima weapon to press his claim for freedom from paying tribute to Bahadi. As you read from the novel, he didn’t succeed in getting that weapon, but he killed the Infra-red Luima before asking for the sword.”

Estruchi, is that a fabricated city or a living place in existence?

“It is a fabricated word, just as Dinachi and Bahadi are also fabricated names. You probably shouldn’t expect less from a fantasy world. (smile)”

*Smiles* But of course I know that. I just want to keep the interview flowing. And I’m succeding Out of all the members of the Junya council, Fastian alone appeared to have the word of wisdom, i.e. an insight into situations by which known facts are correctly applied to solve problems or read outcome of actions or do something right.

“Fastian is portrayed as a skilled First Minister of Estruchi, and he is very diplomatic. He stays factual and adjusts well to situations. Your perception may be very right, but I see him more as someone who is worldly wise.”

Is he the protagonist or the Prince who struck his mother the Queen dead with the Jebo staff gifted him by the King?

“Fastian is the protagonist. He is the Custodian of the Luima Legacy. His family kept the Queen’s sword a secret from the Prince and his descendants for 400 years. They were to give it only to the Queen’s descendant that proves worthy. Apparently they had to wait a long time.”

The Queen at her death bed said, "Cust... Custodiret illum semen quod dignum probat." Then she died. What language is that?

“Latin, and the statement was interpreted in the novel.”

Can we get to meed an author?

“I am a mother, a wife, and a believer in Christ. I started writing to put down the stories in my head in a way that would be entertaining, but also filled with messages for the reader to think about.”

When did you first start writing?

“As a teenager and I must confess my first novel was really bad. After that, I stopped writing, and ideas would float through my mind, that I would consider writing down, but I never got around to doing it. However, I started this novel about a year ago, and I was able to complete it.”

What was your family reaction when you started writing and take it serious?

“They still think it is a bug that’ll pass. I hope to disappoint them.”

Custodian of the Luima Legacy is an epic fantasy novel. Where did you get the ideas for the book?

“Darmie, I don’t know. However, a book I read every day starts a phrase about inspiration like this: There is a spirit in man…”

*Giggles* I should say you are right about that. There is a spirit or spirits in men. The ones within me, that brings me ideas, make me see words through another words, ask me to go to book store to buy books without looking at them, talks to me about story concepts and make me wanna go crazy if I don't put them down; I don't know where they come from! God is wonderful. He is sure the God of diverse gifts and Literature!

Plus endless book revision, editing and all, how long did it take you to get this book published?

“I am a self-published author, so the time line was much shorter. Initially, I jumped in head first after I finished writing the book, then I started receiving feedback from reviewers that I have a good book but it needs to be refined, so I stepped back and handed it off to a professional editor. In all it has taken 9 months to get the current product.”

What are the ups and downs for putting the ideas together for this book?

“The initial idea I had for the book was killed by my spouse. He said it was too lame. I had to rewrite it twice before he grunted his satisfaction. That changed the tone of the book completely, hopefully for the better.”

What have you learned writing this book?

“Writing a good novel is not enough. Marketing is key, and so is, good relations with other authors and bloggers.”

Quickly tell your potential readers briefly what else you would want them to know about the Custodian of the Luima Legacy.

“Read it now. The Heir to the Luima Legacy should be out this January (2013). As they say, the story continues.”

Okay Gab. You’ve heard it from the horse’s mouth, read the book, The Custodian of the Luima Legacy. I was trying to give away some part of it for you guy, but that didn’t work!

Please provide links to your Website/blog, your social media profiles, and links to purchase The Custodian of the Luima Legacy.

Website 

Facebook 

Twitter 

Amazon 

Amazon.co.uk 

Abebooks 

Barnes and Noble 

Thanks Gabrielle, for stopping by at I Am Darmie Orem and Authors' Curtilage with Darmie Orem.

“Thank you, Darmie, for having me. It’s been a pleasure to visit your blogs. I wish you the very best with your publishing efforts.”

Thank you, Gabrielle. I wish you fame and fortune and all that you desire in this industry. Do you have closing thoughts, for your potential readers, this season?

“Yes. I wish all my readers a Happy New Year, filled with joy and happiness.”

Glenn T Langohr - Ex-con to Best Seller Author Life Story Book Interview

Interview Highlight 

 

I'm honoured and thrilled to be interviewing Glenn Langohr, author of Roll Call, Upon Release From Prison, Race Riot, Lock Up Diaries, Gladiator, Underdog, Prison Riot and Pelican Bay Riot, on Book Dialogue with Damilola Ogunremi.

Damilola: Welcome Langohr.

Glenn: Thank you, Darmie.

Damilola: Langohr, 42, has spent 10 1/2. Years -   approximately a quarter of his life - in prison, the result of drug-related convictions which has evoked his desire to write and write and write some more about the story of his life after he found God and a calling as a writer.

The salvation found well-built author ran away at 12. By 15, he was selling pot supplied to him by Mexican Smuggler. By 18 he was serving his first hold in jail. When he got out he resumed dealing drugs, this time he became one of the busiest amphetamine dealers in South Orange County and also became an addict.

Langohr in all has written eight books. He has been invited to speak before criminal justice classes at colleges.

His most recent book Underdog, a crime thriller true story opened with: Sergeant Torrez crowding the convicts’ cell door with a smirk on his face with six IGI Gooners behind him.

Glenn as the character Bj in the book said, they called the inmate Gang Investigators Gooners because they wore similar uniforms to the regular prison guards and had additional black stitching on their shoulders and chest that resembled tattoos to signify they were in charge of deciphering; who the gangsters were, usually was based on their tattoos...

Using the experiences of one's life and transforming them into fiction can be a great challenge. Langohr, how were you able to pull this off?

Glenn: I use the true colours of life and paint on a fictional landscape to protect the innocent and the not-so-innocent.

Damilola: From the opening of Underdog, one could see that the story is tight and compelling. During the years you were incarcerated, did you take any writing courses?

Glenn: No. That is what we need to do as a society. Help prisoners get instructional writing guides and more learning power. What I did was pray and read the Bible every day. I also read everything else I could get my hands on. God answered my prayers and led me to write. Out of the blue, I got a letter from a Pastor by the name of David Hocking from the church, Hope For Today. From that point on I communicated with him and he sent me information on how to publish books and make movies. That lit a fire of encouragement inside of me and I kept on writing with new vigor.

Damilola: I'm happy that God sent help to you while in there. Those who rely entirely on him are never let down by him. Clearly, you consider your life as some big book and ain't ashamed to go on talking about it. Why did you write a novel based on your personal story?

Glenn: I wanted to change the destructive path I was on. When I ran away from a divorced family at the age of 12, I was hurt emotionally and had to find a way to soothe the pain. The streets and the drug world were an exciting distraction at first but always ended with prison, insanity or a coffin. I will use a quote from my novel Roll Call to make the point. "Sow a bad thought and reap an action. Sow an action and reap a habit. Sow a habit and reap a character. Sow a character and reap a destiny." I wanted to open up people's eyes that God can turn any life around, even those that society has cast aside as the worst of the worst. It all starts with changing your thoughts.

Damilola: When did you start getting down your life experiences on paper? Did you start by keeping a journal or writing it as a book?

Glenn: I started writing from a prison cell in solitary confinement with the hope that I could write a novel about the drug war that would turn into a movie or TV series. I woke up at 4 AM and wrote sporadically all day and night. 

Damilola: Did someone inspire you to turn your life experiences into books, or was it a personal realisation? 

Glenn: After a year of writing, I saw the light. I knew the content I was writing about was destined to be read and understood. I got excited and started pacing the length of the cell back and forth and it helped me think even deeper.

Damilola: What's the central conflict of the novel Underdog?

Glenn: In California and other prisons in the U.S., prison tattoos on inmates are being used as evidence to classify prisoners to solitary confinement where they don't get to see the sun ever again. While I was in prison the Criminal Justice system sent way too many people to prison for drug crimes. That filled the prisons up to double their capacities. It made prison a more violent place and a bigger breeding ground for gangs. It was harder and harder to keep the peace and disputes arose over who could use things like tables, workout bars and showers. More and more riots happened. I was involved in a few that I did everything I could to avoid. When I went to the hole, solitary confinement, I saw first-hand how the prison was falsely labelling prisoners as bad influencers based on their tattoos. I published Underdog one day after a prisoner died in a hunger strike over the same issues. 

Damilola: You've been quite creative in transforming your life experiences into books. Any tips for those willing to also put out their life stories?

Glenn: Write every day until you wake up before everyone else. Write before you get distracted! Don't worry about it being perfect or you will never get started. Keep in mind that you have to develop conflict and characters early. Always remember that any script must have a beginning, middle and end. So break it into those pieces and it will come together eventually. Know that you have to rewrite the script many times so the first time don't hold back. You can cut pieces out later. Just do it.

Damilola: Do you have any word of advice for strayed children doing drugs?

Glenn: Don't do it! God is so amazing and He made us in His image. Drugs are poison and pollute the brain and worse, they stain the very soul. You only have one brain, one soul and one body, treat yourself like a Holy temple for God. If you are a child who is lost, ask for help! Go to all the churches and boldly tell them your problems. If nobody is helping you, don't worry. God will! While you are suffering, look at it as an opportunity to help other people who are suffering and you won't be suffering as much!”

Damilola: Parents, you've heard Glenn. Make every effort to prevent your kids from doing drugs. How would you characterize yourself as a man now that you have been reborn into a clean path?

Glenn: I used to have to work out for 4 hours a day to deal with life and feel good. I found a way better way. If you sing worship songs to the Lord you feel the same way and get even better looking at the same time! It's true; singing makes your cheekbones more beautiful. The older and wiser I get, the more I realize I need God to direct my path.

Damilola: That is a wise choice. Are there any failures in life that could cause you to revert to your previous lifestyle?

Glenn: There is no way! I'm still hyper-sensitive and all the same pains and temptations still exist, but I don't want to lose this connection I have with God. The Bible has proven itself to be the Holy Word of God by how many prophecies have been fulfilled. With that said, I believe the end is near and all this craziness is the last gasp of a fallen world. I want to be about God's Kingdom, not the devils.”

Damilola: I'm happy that you have decided to stick steadfastly by the side of the Lord. Please, 

 provide links to your Website/blog, your social media profiles, and links to purchase your book (s).

Glenn: Here are links to all my books in the U.S. in print and Kindle”

Books in Print and in Kindle 

Kindle 

Books in Audio 

 Glenn's Friends' Facebook Page

Facebook Fan Page 

Glenn's Google Site 

His Wordpress Site 

Damilola: Besides turning your life story into books, do you have plans of selling them to filmmakers for a movie adaptation? I think you should contact FeatureWorld and see what they have to offer you if you've got any plans like that. Or you market all your stories at TVFilmRights

TV film rights are the Film, Television, and Publishing Industry's premier online source for selling different kinds of scripts. There are always producers scouting movie ideas and screenplays on the site.

Glenn: Thanks for the links to sell the stories to the movies!

It's my pleasure, Langohr. Hi, everyone! Have you read through Glenn T. Langohr's interview? What do you think of him? Don't you think he's a product of grace everyone should reckon with? Feel free to submit questions for him at his email address and he will reply to them promptly.

Damilola: Once again, Langohr, I'm honoured and thrilled to have you stop by at Authors' Curtilage and share your book and story with us. I wish you publishing best.

Glenn: The pleasure is all mine. Thank you, Darmie.