Mel's Shelves: Blog Tour/Review: Mechanized Masterpieces 2: An American Anthology

Wednesday, February 25, 2015

Blog Tour/Review: Mechanized Masterpieces 2: An American Anthology

AUTHOR BIO

Playing with imaginary friends and writing and directing plays in the neighbor's garage filled D. Lee Jortner's childhood. Today she lets her imagination flow onto her keyboard as she writes mystery, fantasy and steampunk stories and novels. "Payoff for Air-Pirate Pete" is her first short story for Xchyler Publishing. She also enjoys her marketing role with the company and teaching English composition at Ivy Tech Community College in Valparaiso, Indiana. When not writing or working, Jortner is usually busy with her husband, children or grandchildren.

Q/A for D. Lee Jortner

1. Please share how you came up with the concept for your story?

I always loved O.Henry. I remember my Dad reading me his stories when I was a child. My favorite was The Ransom of Red chief.

2. Please name some of your other published works?

My one short work available on Amazon is Chimmeken Crossing the Delaware, An American Historical Fantasy

3. What is your preferred writing genre?

Genre doesn't matter to me, but it has to ring true.

4. And preferred reading genre?

I love historical fiction, of all types.

5. Do you have any particular writing habits?

I stay up very very late writing when my muse hits me, then try to sleep, and look at it in the morning. Often it is so full of error, I can't stand myself, but I usually find some nuggets I can use.

6. Do you have a playlist that you created while writing your story?

Total quiet. And if I put on music, I could not tell you what is was, I am in the zone and I hear nor see anything else.

7. Panster or plotter?

Panster for sure.

8. Advice for writers?

Get lots of eyes to look at your work, and then keep the parts you love, in spite of the advice.

9. What's up next for you?

I want to take Effie and Clayton on another adventure.

A story about train-robbing outlaws always sounds intriguing to me! This one is based on The Ransom of Red Chief by O. Henry. It starts with Effie and Clayton planning their final heist. After this, Effie told Clayton she wanted to settle down and start a family. We get some foreshadowing with her next line, "About a week later, I was of a different mind." As I read their intricate plans, I couldn't help thinking how successful they would be if they put all that time and energy into a legitimate business. But then there wouldn't be a story.

They need to alter their plans and decide to take something for ransom. They decide on Pete Rothenberg, son of Joseph Rothenberg, the Vice-President of Wyoming Railway and Steam Company. This experience turned out very differently than either of them thought it would. Pete was a handful and their time with him was highly entertaining. I liked the twist the ransom took at the end. This was a fun story! I was glad to read that the author is planning to take Effie and Clayton on another adventure--I would be interested to read more about them.

I love the length of these stories since it doesn't take long to get through each one. I plan to make my way through all of them. Be sure to check out the other authors and stories on the tour schedule below!

My Rating=4 Stars

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