Self Published Authors

Free Author Interview: Sarah Spann

2012-01-30T07:39:00.000-08:00

Author Name: Sarah Spann

Where can we find your book? Wildflowers Come Back is available in ebook at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Smashwords, iBookstore, Kobo Books, Sony Reader Store, and Diesel eBook Store. It is also available in paperback at Amazon.

How much does it cost? The ebook is currently listed at $2.99 while the paperback is currently listed at $12.99.

Tell us a little about your book. Wildflowers Come Back takes readers on a haunting journey through an historic, haunted Santa Fe inn. The story follows Lyss–the snarky female protagonist who habitually lives her life according to the expectations of others–as she navigates through the shattered pieces of her life after the break-up with her long-term boyfriend leaves her jobless and living in a cheap motel. However, Lyss won’t be down and out for long. Just as a new year begins, Lyss is presented with the opportunity to start over with a live-in position at the High Desert Crest Inn; an opportunity which takes her down a path that will forever change her life. She will discover her gift, the trappings of sin and the outlasting effects of karmic bindings, as the past comes back to haunt her. In the meantime the resurgence of a serial killer in Santa Fe has left everyone on edge. Has a murderous cult–once believed to be dormant–reawakened? Only one person can help stop the violence, but she doesn’t even know how to help herself. Will Lyss listen to the voices that haunt her? Or will she trust the one person who can’t be trusted? You'll have to read the book to find out.

Do you have any upcoming projects? Yes. I am currently working on the sequel to Wildflowers Come Back which is titled Wildflowers Come Back: Karmic Flames. It is set to be released in March 2012.

What has your journey as a writer been like? It has been an exhilarating ride filled with amazing highs and not-so-fun lows. There have definitely been days where I questioned my own sanity. However, at the end of the day it truly has been a fun journey.

Why did you choose to self publish? I was excited by all the changes in the publishing industry and the strides so many indie authors are making. I have a very entrepreneurial geared mind and personality, and the self-publishing route really compliments that for me at this point in my life and career.

Would you do it again? Yes, for sure. It hasn't been easy, but I take great pride in the path I have chosen for my career.

Please share some advice to help future authors. I guess my advice would be that you're going to have bad days, and you need to remember that's okay. Just remember that your lows don't define you. Stay confident and be patient. Don't rush things.

Is there anything unique about yourself that you would like your readers to know? Readers should probably know that I can talk and sing with my mouth shut. While that has absolutely nothing to do with my writing, it's still kinda awesome-ish.

Author Bio:

Author Sarah Spann is the type of person who doesn’t have a favorite color. A gypsy at heart who was raised on country music, green chile and change.

Since 2007 Sarah has worked as a freelance writer specializing in travel and style. She has written articles, web content and blogs for individuals, small businesses, and large corporations. In addition, she spent a year working as a pop music journalist and editor. In September 2011 Sarah published her debut novel Wildflowers Come Back as an indie author.

When Sarah isn’t writing or designing she can be found dining on gourmet food, spending time at the opera, and taming lions. Well…not really. Actually, you can find her making a mess in the kitchen as she tries out new and impossibly difficult recipes, watching all of her favorite shows and/or football on TV, and playing with her lazy, fat cat.

Forbidden Release

2012-01-06T13:12:00.000-08:00

My teen fantasy ebook, Forbidden, has just been released as a soft cover print on demand book for only $12.99

Book Description:
Roseline Enescue has been called many things but there is only one name that had endured for over three hundred years. Vampire. A myth so deeply rooted in fear and false beliefs that it has turned humans against all Immortals.

Trapped within an abusive marriage to Vladimir Enescue, the man responsible for the Dracula myth, Roseline's soul cries out for freedom. Willing to risk everything for the chance to live a normal life, Roseline escapes her husband's clutches and flees to America. She enrolls in a prep school with plans to slide through senior year unnoticed.

But Roseline's hopes of remaining off the grid are shattered when she meets Gabriel Marston. Fear keeps her teetering on the edge of agony as she fights the forbidden bond that holds them together. As their lives entwine, Roseline soon discovers that Gabriel is much more than he appears.
I have had some great reviews for Forbidden and am really excited to see where this book takes me.

If you are interested in purchasing a physical copy you can go to
https://www.createspace.com/3723015

For a $0.99 copy of the ebook you can visit my Amazon page:
http://www.amazon.com/Forbidden-The-Arotas-Trilogy-ebook/dp/B0063KE52K

Thank you to each and every one of you that you have supported me through this process. You are the reason I write each day!

The sequel to Forbidden, Arotas, will be available within a month. You can read the teaser for Arotas on my author blog http://www.amymilesbooks.blogspot.com/

book

Free Author Interview: Leslie E. Stern

2012-01-01T17:57:00.000-08:00

Author Name: Leslie E. Stern

Where can we find your book?: All the usual outlets. Amazon, Barnesandnoble.com, and if you want a signed copy you can go to my website leslieestern.com. Let me also mention that the cheapest place to purchase the Kindle edition is to download it directly from my website. The only place to purchase the hardbound edition is also from my website.

How much does it cost?: $14.95 for the paperback. $24.95 for the hardbound.

Tell us a little about your book: Dr. Emma Weiss is a beautiful, intelligent, woman who moves to Savannah, Georgia and falls in love with gorgeous Jake Stanton and believes that he has fallen in love with her. Then she learns that he is actually a long-struggling drug addict. Thus, Emma inadvertently becomes entangled in a web of deceit, drugs, and the law. Can Emma cope with Jake’s addiction to drugs and more importantly, can she overcome her addiction to him?

Do you have any upcoming projects?: My book of poetry "Images from my Soul" is available through all the usual outlets now. I have written the screenplay for "Betrayal Beneath the Spanish Moss" and it is being pitched in Hollywood as we speak. My next project is "Living with a Legend", a non-fiction book of anecdotes about my step-father. Iwao Takamoto designed about 85% of the characters at Hanna-Barbera, as well as worked on some Disney classics such as "Lady and the Tramp" and "Cinderella". It's a heart-warming look at this gentle genius and is filled with drawings done by him and for him. It's already gotten a great deal of pre-publication buzz.

What has your journey as a writer been like?: It's been a long and rocky road. I have always written for my own enjoyment, having written my first short story when I was ten. I spent my career in public relations, primarily writing. I wrote "Dreams Surpassed", which is my first novel and I hope will be published after "Living with a Legend", I was young and hopeful. When I wrote "Betrayal", it was a story that just had to come out. I finished the first draft in three months, unlike "Dreams Surpassed" which was a five year proposition and still needs a major edit. I was too impatient to find a publisher for "Betrayal", so I self-published. Big mistake! Even with years of marketing and public relations experience, it was still difficult.

Why did you choose to self-publish?: Impatience, pure and simple.

Would I do it again?: Never!! Too expensive, too much work, and little results.

Please share some advice to help future authors: Don't self-publish unless you can afford to hire a marketing firm to back you up and be prepared to spend a great deal of money on book tours without seeing a profit. Go the traditional route and perfect your query letters to send to agents or publishers. A small publishing house is still better than self-publishing. Do an excellent proposal and get it out there.

On the writing end, start with a basic outline. Don't just sit down and write. You'll never get finished and you'll edit for the rest of your life. An outline also helps writer's block. There will always be a portion of the book you won't feel like writing. Those are the days when you can work on a different part of the book if you have an outline.

book

Free Author Interview: Gill Shutt

2012-01-01T17:27:00.000-08:00

Gill Shutt

You can find my book here: http://greyhartpress.com/our-fantasy-stories/the-legends-of-light/ where you can find links to all the e-book publishers who stock it. At the moment I’m afraid it’s only available as an e-book.

Cost is $2.99 or £1.71 but you can get the first of the six stories for free so you can try before you buy.

The Legends of Light is a fantasy saga written in six poems. Which sounds weird, I know, but the ancient people told stories in poetry form long before us writers came along with our prose. It’s the story of Elena the Fey and her family. Each of the poems is a story on its own but together they span four generations. They contain love, war, quests, you name it it’s in there and there’s dragons, elves, goblins, wizards and a couple of things never heard of before.

Upcoming projects include three more novelettes, short novels, whatever you want to call them. All fantasy but this time prose. I’m trying to get together a short free to go with each so everyone gets either a taster for what’s to come or just a free sample of my work. Next to come out is Endings, the story of Kiri and the death of the Stone God in who’s temple she was raised. I don’t want to give too much away. I’ve written a short about her parents and how she ended up raised by the Templers of the Stone God.

My journey as a writer? Up, down, round a few bends and more down than up. That just about covers it. I’ve had poems and short stories published here and there but nothing major. I’ve had enough rejections to paper the Albert Hall. Then I heard about Tim Taylor and Greyhart Press which he started up to publish his own work and then began taking on a few lucky others. To say I was surprised when I got the acceptance is putting it mildly. There’s nothing like the feeling you get when someone says ‘I really like your work’. In fact it was a bigger high than actually seeing my book on Amazon.

I chose a small Indie Press because I discovered that they usually read your work. The number of big publishers who email you within the hour saying it’s not what they are looking for is too many to mention. How do they know if they don’t read them? Tim has written a lovely blog saying how he never thought he’d publish poetry but once he read The Legends of Light he realised that fantasy and poetry go hand in hand, so he changed his mind. Indie Presses are adaptable and they care about their authors and the work they put out. Because there is usually only one or two people doing all the work they care more, it’s as much their book as the authors in that they have edited, got the art work and formatted it. And if it’s done badly then they don’t get any money and they don’t get the readers for other projects.

Obviously I’m doing it again as Tim has said yes to three more projects so I’m hoping to keep him busy for a while. By then I should have written some more. It’s given me a lot more confidence in my work. In the back of my mind there’s always been a small voice saying ‘Are you any good at this or should you just stop trying?’ Now I’ve shut them up I can carry on.

To all the future authors out there... keep writing, don’t give up because someone says no. Every piece you write will hopefully be building up your experience and making your work better. If you want to ask someone what they think... DON’T ask friends and family, they’ll love it, how could they not, they love you. But they can’t be critical which is what you need. You need someone who doesn’t know you well and who can help you to improve on what you’ve got. And finally EDIT, EDIT then leave it in a draw, come back later and EDIT!

A fact not everyone knows about me is that I suffer from fibromyalgia which is a debilitating illness caused by too much of the pain transmitting chemical substance P in my brain and, they have found that the brain in fibro sufferers never shuts off so we never get a decent night’s sleep. The scans that show which parts of the brain are firing at any one time show that the area connected with sleep carries on working even when we are asleep so we never get the deep restorative sleep that ‘normal’ people get. And the parts that deal with pain are firing all the time as well. And small bump or scratch is magnified about five times for me. So I’m in pain all the time and constantly exhausted. When my youngest was little I had days when it hurt to give a hug and that tore me up inside.

Writing and read help me to forget about the pain and exhaustion for a while so, in a way, its therapy. But on the bad days I can’t concentrate enough to string a sentence together and if I try and type I just get a lot of corrections to do because my fingers hit all the wrong keys. Sometimes I can read but usually I find I can’t concentrate. It’s like those nights when you try and read before bedtime and find yourself reading the same paragraph over and over again without taking any of it in.

Here’s a short piece of the first poem

THE QUEST FOR ELENA THE FAIR

The hull of The Riever rode high on the waves

As the party set out on its quest.

Three knights and a squire, to care for their needs,

Looked seawards with hope in their breast.

The creak of the deck and the snap of the sails,

Pure white with a single gold flower,

And the shouts of the crew as they pulled on the ropes,

Began the long trip to the tower.

On an isle in the Sea of the Vanishing Mists

Stood a tower of clouds and moonlight.

When the moon rose up full, in the black of the night,

It appeared, glowing golden and white.

In the fullness of day no isle could be seen,

As the Vanishing Mists wrapped it round,

By the magic of moonlight alone it appeared,

White tower upon solid ground.

And there on the isle lived the source of the quest,

Fair Lady Elena the Fey.

Each knight carried hope they would win the maid’s hand,

Steal her heart and then bear her away.

For they all thought they knew what the lady required,

And each thought, alone, they were right.

One handsome and proud, one learned and grave,

While the other had muscle and might.

book

Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award

2011-12-14T08:55:00.000-08:00

Do you have a novel that is good enough to snag a publisher? If so, you might want to think about entering it into the 2012 Amazon Breakthrough novel award.

Prize: 15,000 advance AND a publishing contract with Penguin Publishing

When can you submit: Open submissions are accepted between January 23rd and run through Feb 2, 2012

What type of manuscript can be submitted? Amazon is offering submissions in two categories. General and Young Adult.

Who can submit? Anyone with an unpublished or self published novel

How can I find the submission guidelines? Follow this link.

http://www.amazon.com/Breakthrough-Novel-Award-Books/b?ie=UTF8&node=332264011

I entered this competition in 2011 with my debut novel, Defiance Rising. I made it through a couple cuts before my novel met its untimely end. This year I plan to submit my newly self published teen fantasy, Forbidden.

If you have a novel that you want to submit, now is the time to give it a thorough once over. Look for the basic mistakes that could cost you a place in finals. Shine up your novel until it’s so brilliant the judges can’t help but fall in love with it.

Best of luck! Let me know how you do!

book

Running rampant

2011-12-09T06:54:00.000-08:00

For those of you that are patiently awaiting a post of your book review or author interview, I want to say thank you. Illness has been running rampant through my home the past couple weeks and I haven’t had near the time to post as I would like to. Not to mention read!

With the holidays quickly approaching I will do my best to post as often as I can, but as I’m sure it’s the case with your families, things tend to get a bit insane closer to Christmas. Thank you for your patience.

Wishing each and every one of you a very merry Christmas!

The Christmas Messenger

2011-12-02T20:09:00.000-08:00

I have just finished putting the final touches on my new Christmas short story, The Christmas Messenger.

Have you ever wondered what the angels were thinking during the events leading up to Jesus' birth? The Christmas Messenger is a short story that gives you a glimpse of one angel's role in bringing forth the Savior. Experience Gabriel's doubts, his confusion and his joy as he walks step by step with the people whose faith changed the world.
This short story is now available on Smashwords in all ereader formats and will be available on Amazon within 48 hours for only $0.99

If you or someone you love are looking for a new version of the traditional heartwarming Christmas story, then The Christmas Messenger might just be what you are looking for.

This Christmas I want to share the love that I have for Jesus with as many people as I can. If you download The Christmas Messenger and enjoy it, please tell your friends and church family's so together we can help pass on the good news of what this season is really all about.

book

Free Author Interview: Y. Correa

2011-12-02T12:18:00.000-08:00

Author Name: Y. Correa

Where can we find your book?

Http://fatebooks.yolasite.com

www.smashwords.com

www.scribd.com

How much does it cost?

It is free to the public. I like to share my art. Not charge for it.

Tell us a little about your book.

My stories are Interracial/Multicultural, paranormal, fantasy stories.

Do you have any upcoming projects?

I am in the process of writing two more stories. The first is the third part of my Fate Books Collection. “In Love With Death” was the first. “La Encantadora/the enchantress” was the second. And the third, which is what I am currently working on is called “Finding Death”. Besides that one, I am also writing a Medieval Interracial love story that I've named “MarcoAntonio & Amaryllis”.

What has your journey as a writer been like?

Like a Rollercoaster. Some good days. Some bad days. But all adventurous. I love writing, so I feel like the good goes along with the bad and vise-versa. Because the bad times, just make the good times all the better.

Why did you choose to self publish?

I refused to let anyone bring me down. I knew that I had a great story. I knew that the public would love it, and the only reason that traditional publishers rejected my stories was because they believed that the genre was too competitive. However, they all agreed that the story was great and the writing style was also good. So, I decided to make my own dreams come true.

Would you do it again?

Yes! Yes! Yes! I would do it again, and again, and again! In order to share my stories with the public, I would self-publish for the rest of my days if necessary. I love my art. I want to share my art with the world, and if self-publishing is the only way of doing that – then, yes! Absolutely, yes.

Please share some advice to help future authors.

Don't let “the man” get you down! Make your own dreams come true. An opinion is like an unnamed body part, everybody has one... yet, only you can make of your life, what you want of it. Go for it!

Do you have a favorite character and why?

Yes. I do. All of the Archangels that I created in my stories are my favorite characters. Everything that they are is amazing to me, therefore they are all my favorites!

Who is your favorite author and why?

I have two. Stephenie Myers and Nora Roberts. I just love their stories. I think they are amazingly talented. I truly respect them.

What one person has impacted your life the most?

My youngest son, Gino. He is Sabot-Autistic. And seeing him live everyday just as happy as could be, regardless of his limitations make me push forward no matter what the obstacle. If he can do it – then so can I.

What drives you to write?

Everything. Everywhere I look, I find inspiration. Every day, I see something that pushes my mind to unexpected places and makes me want to write about it. It may be because of the way that I see the world, or maybe because of the way my mind works, but whatever the reason; I write.

How did you create your characters?

My characters were mainly inspired by my own family, but also by my own imagination.

What time of day do you write best?

In the middle of the night.

How do you juggle life around your writing?

I have no idea... I just do. Lol

Sample of “In Love with Death”

Prologue

I never really thought that there was much more to life, than what I was already living. The monotonous day to day, non eventful, flow of things that continued each and every day. Get up, get ready, go to work, deal with day to day problems, listen to family fuss and moan and do it again... Every day.

So, my choice of escape and excitement? Horror movies. I mean, honestly, something had to give... I would hope. Don't get me wrong. I loved my family, friends and work. But, at the end of the day, I still felt empty. Lonely.

It's amazing what can happen when you least expect anything to happen. How one crack in the thin glass of life, can shatter it entirely. So, we have to choose. Do we mend it or leave the crack there? And, if we leave it there; is it worth letting everything fall apart into a million teeny tiny pieces? Well, honestly, I didn't know. One thing I was sure of though, I chose to let my heart mend. Would it be for good or for bad? Well, only God knew.

You see, what most of my family didn't understand was that I really did love her. My abuela (my grandmother). Her loss, completely left me at a loss. Abuela, was my mentor, my guiding light. She was capable of showing and teaching me things that no one else could. She was also so loving and comforting in almost every way. My grandmother, was my shield. It hurt more than words could explain to lose her.

I must admit though, it's funny what unexpected things can occur when you least presume anything to happen. Things, that wind up changing your life entirely. For ever. He was there, in the most unexpected place, at the least anticipated time; and much like a whirlwind blew me off of my feet. With something as simple as saying, “Hello again, Sophia. Are you well?” Why should he have cared? It was not his concern, but he made it his own, and in doing so, made me his own.

All that being said, the last thing that I would have anticipated, was all that would follow, when he came into my life. Everything! Every last thing, changed, never to return to it's original form. The irony of life.... or death, is truly staggering.

Chapter 1

A dull roar. That's all I could hear. Souls. That's all I could see. What was this that I was living? If you could call it “living” at all. I didn't see people, but shadows. I didn't feel life, but death. I didn't feel emotions, but emptiness. I didn't feel... anything. It was all a blur. Clustered together in an array of colors and shapes. The sound, that low roar... it was difficult to make out. My thoughts were focused, not so much on the sound, as they were on the colors. So many people. All different. Some good. Some bad. Some breathing. Some barely breathing. ALL SOULS. It was funny what you could see when you stood in the middle of the Emergency Room. Who survived. Who didn't. Who cried. Who laughed. Who mourned. Who celebrated. Yet, all of them, everyone; A soul. A soul for the taking.

I remembered... almost.... what it was like when I floated in the middle of this cluster myself. Before my life... or should I say; my death... changed forever. It felt like aeons ago. I didn't want this. I never asked for it. Why was I not allowed to be like everyone else? “Fate” This was the answer I was given. “Fate” What a bleak and meaningless word to express something no one can truly explain.

I wanted... No! I needed, a change. My vast emptiness had drowned me in a lagoon of unwillingness. In a river of curiosity. In an ocean of questions. Questions, unanswered by the Higher Sources. Questions, that still lingered in the clouds of my emptiness. Why am I? Why do I exist? What's the purpose? When (if at all) would it change?

I had a plan. A plan to subtly replace myself once again into this world of colorful souls. To persuasively introduce myself yet again, to THIS my most intriguing temptation. I believe I am, whom I once was. This, wasn't me. This, is who I was forced to be. Yet, I fought. I disputed this unwanted persona that had been involuntarily cast upon me. One day! One day, I would be who I once was. One day! This monster would cease to exists.

Bed two. The doctors, the running, the yelling. The focus on bringing her back. It was futile. It was sad to say that she was just a child. A baby. Five years of age. Why did FATE find in necessary to take her? She had yet to even start to live. It was not my choice. I only followed orders. Her soul was lovely, just as a little girl should be. A soft pink. Like a princess. Beautiful.

“Come child.” I extended my hand so that she would take it.

“Where am I going?” she asked. The innocence in her voice was heart breaking. Or would be, if I had a heart.

“I'm taking you to a safe place. Somewhere that you will never feel pain again. You will be happy there, sweet child.”

“Cindy” She said. “My name is Cindy.”

“A beautiful name, for a beautiful girl.” her smile seemed as if it could quite literally light up the room.

“Well Cindy, do you see that very pretty light?”

“Yes.” she said with bright eyes.

“Walk into it. Go on child. Pretty Cindy.”

“But why? Where's mommy and daddy? Why do I have to go?” there they were. The questions that always came up after I had collected them.

“Don't worry, Cindy. Your grandmother is there waiting for you. I promise. Before you know it, Mommy and Daddy will be there with you also.” What else was I to say to such a new and delicate creature?

“Okay...” she said, not so convinced that what I was telling her was the truth. She obeyed nonetheless. When she entered, she realized that my words were true and secure.

“Grammy!!” she called out with utter happiness.

I turned. The mother, yelling. The father, failing at his attempt to be strong. The doctor, saddened. The confusion. The horrified faces. All of it, ALL too familiar. ALL too real.

Time for my next assignment...

I could see them. I could see through them. They could not see me. They could not hear me. I was invisible to them. My lifelessness simply hovered in the emptiness of it's days. Following orders. Swiftly moving like a shadow in the night. Not seen. Not heard. Not felt.

Inevitably, unwillingly noticed. Noticed only, by those whom had entered into my realm. Into my Principality.

One A.M., darkness, silence. He was depressed. The prescription was strong enough. Strong enough, not to ease his pain, but to rid him of it once and for all. Twenty-five, in his prime, yet blind. Blinded to the people who cared about him, and to the life that could have come; had he held on just a little longer.

These were not my favorite. I despised collecting them and passing them on to eternal darkness. I had no choice. He had made the choice for himself. Leaving me no alternative but to collect him.

He should have waited for the Higher Sources to give him relief. Yet, he didn't.

“Peter.” I knew his name well. I'd been watching him for some time.

“What? Who are you? Why are you in my bedroom?” The confusion was the consequence of his own actions.

“I'm here to get you.” A simple notion; I would have thought.

“To get me for what? I should be sleeping.... I.... I took... You shouldn't be here!!” He remembered, however, he thought that something else should have happen. Possibly, he thought that he would be sleeping forever. He was wrong.

He looked back, “Oh my God. That's me.... on my God! Oh no! No please... No!” It was too late to plea.

“Come with me, Peter.” I instructed.

“But... th-th-this can't be..... right...” he swallowed hard, it was obvious that he was scared.

“You made your choice. Now follow me.” I had to be cold. I was not allowed to feel. The fear was oppressing him. They'd arrived for him. I truly despised this part.

“It's easier if you just go.”

“I don't want to go! I want to stay! I want to sleep!”

“Then you leave them no choice. They will take you.”

They grabbed him. Screaming, crying, fear! Dreadful fear! They dragged him into the utter eternal darkness. I was able to hear his last supplication for help. More fear. I was unable to help him. I was meant to simply follow orders.

Centuries have passed since my life, or my death, was changed forever. I still remember it clearly...

Comoros

Africa

200 A.D.

I'd just turned twenty-one years of age. I was during that time called, Amari (meaning, Prince), this being my birth name. I was my father's, fourth wife's, first child. Kamau (meaning, Silent warrior), was my mothers sixth child; only the two of us being male. The rest of my mother's children were female. My father, Afolabi (meaning, Born with high status), was the Tribe Leader, he was allotted six wives. The other men in the tribe were allotted only three.

My mother was, Nandi (meaning, Strong willed). I could see her face as if it were just yesterday. She was proud. I was my father's first born son. And, I was the only one whom resembled him the most. Which made me a preferred child in his eyes. This made my mother happy to the point of almost gloating.

My tribe and I were celebrating the twelfth birthday of my littlest brother, Kamau. The tradition called for a tribe wide hunt. This hunt was meant to prove the boy child, a man. The hunt, consisted of only the men in the tribe. The women, stayed behind in preparation for the enormous feast and festivities that would follow the hunt.

I was excited. Happy to be able to finally show my little brother the exhilaration of the hunt. It was a rush that had no explanation. Your blood pumping, your heart racing, your will at the brink of losing control. When you hunted – you were a man! Not just any man, but a “Man of the tribe”. This feeling had purpose. It had meaning. It defined me... Us!

I can not put in to words the elation of the tribe when we unanimously lifted up a cry of triumph, when our prize animal had been slain. It was, right!

I saw it. About fifty feet away. It was glorious. With a shinny golden coat and glowing blade like teeth. If I had to guess; I would say about two hundred pound of pure strength. A lioness. Bewildering, almost. However, not enough that it would cause me fear. My little brother crept up behind me. I motioned swiftly and quietly. Putting one finger over my mouth as to inform him of my instructions. I wanted him to be as quiet as possible. With my hand, I made a motion telling him to wait there. I moved forward carefully. I could feel the stares of my fellow tribes men, looking at me from in between the jungle greenery. I moved forward some more. Slowly lifted my spear, preparing to launch it to the beautiful beast.

A sharp pain hit my back! Agony! Disorientation, confusion, then pain! My spear fell. Hit the ground. The lioness ran off. I look around. I saw Kamau. Shock in his eyes. His hand extended. Positioned as if he had just launched a spear of his own. More agonizing pain. I fell to my knees. Screams surrounded me. Running. More screams. I touched my back. I felt it lodged in the middle of my back. I felt it rip through my ribs and lungs. I gasped for air. I gasped again; harder this time. I heard my name being called from afar. Nothing now. No air, no movement, no pain. Just nothing... Blackness, darkness, emptiness...

My eye's opened. I was standing. I reached for my back and felt nothing there. I tried to look around and the area was foreign to me. This place was dark and empty. I could feel myself there, but I could not see myself there. I tried looking at my hands, but the darkness was so deep that my eyes failed to adjust to it. So, I could not make out my own hand in front of me. Or any other part of me, for that matter. I heard something. A wind. A motionless movement, as if something floated in the air. The lights came back on, yet, I still saw nothing. Nothing except for it. It was like nothing I'd ever seen. Possibly, over six feet tall. A ghost if you will. A white ghost, whom spoke in my language. In my words. It told me that I was chosen. That I would not pass on. That I was meant to linger amidst life and death. I was “The Collector”.

“What is 'the collector'?” I asked

“You would better know it as, 'Azriel Dévas'. The 'Angel of Death'...” the white ghost replied.

“What? Why me?” I could not grasp it. It seemed too surreal. Too unbelievable.

“I told you. You have been chosen. This is your fate.” Coldness in it's voice as well as a small hint of contempt.

Such was the beginning of my existence; or nonexistence, as I prefer to call it.

************

Gabriel, had been itching for a good fight. It had been many, many years that he'd been planning on proving his point. Of what? Well, only he knew. Many years had past since the Higher Sources broke the news to Gabriel...

The Highest Ground

Spirit Realm

200 A.D.

“It seems that it's time once again to choose a new 'Angel of Death'. Have you made a decision on my proposal, yet, Majesties?” Gabriel's, voice was calm, yet, anxiety hid behind his words.

“Yes. We have.” the function of acting as a Unit defined Them. Therefore, They thought as one, They acted as one and They spoke as one.

“So, what be your choice?”

“You are not yet ready, Gabriel.”

“What? Why? I've served you faithfully since the beginning of time. What is it about these humans that you must grant them all their hearts desires? You allow them freedom of will, yet, they walk all over you. And even still, you bestow unmerited privileges upon them. I deserve this much more then any of them do! None of them deserve a single thing!”

“We've chosen someone already, Gabriel. We believe that he will serve Us well.” proclaimed decision sounding in Their voice.

“Whom? If I may ask?”

“His name is, Amari. Go fetch him. His time has come. Tell him, what his destiny has become.”

“Amari. Well.... As you wish, your Majesties.”

Watching as he walked away, His thought intertwined with Hers, “It seems that Gabriel is not very pleased with our decision.” to which They both agreed, “We fear that things are going to be difficult for our new, Azriel Dévas... We must keep watch.”

************

I had been watching an older lady in the ICU. Lourdes. She'd been here for weeks. Heart disease. What an odd family she had, though. I don't really think I'd ever seen anything like them before. Most families I have come across, either hated or loved each other. No in between. These people were different. It seems as though they loved and hated each other. Lourdes, however, was the grandmother. Her soul was a brilliant yellow. It was quite impressive. A mother and a teacher.

I could see that she was genuinely loved and respected by them all. That much was obvious... To anyone. I can't say for sure why I'd been so intrigued by her and her family. It's almost like I'd been magnetized by the humor and the drama amidst them. Their souls were also quite interesting. They were all pure in their own way. All bright in color.

The grandson, I recall her having called him Frankie; he was blue. I can see and understand why. He was very outspoken, open & honest; yet quite the clown from the look of it. A jester and a judge.

The daughter-in-law, Maria, she was red. Outspoken as well, yet dramatic and overly sensitive at times. It was very clear, however, that her heart was in the right place. She meant well. A strong rock and a frail feather.

The son, Fransisco, he was green. Which explained his quiet personality. His happy demeanor and his pensive mind. He was definitely a thinker, that only used his observation upon utter necessity. A mentor and a peacemaker.

Fransisco's sister, Jesenia, she was purple. I can see that she thought of herself as the glue that held the family together. She was the protector who stood in her self given right to keep this family from falling apart. A warrior and a guide.

I had heard the mention of a granddaughter. Sophia, I believed was the name. I had yet to see her. I was looking forward to it. She must be like the others as well, I thought. Some sort of bright color. Possibly yellow, like the grandmother. Or red, like Maria. It would really interest me to see her.

I was sure, nonetheless, that when the time had come and I had collected her; Lourdes. A piece of their puzzle would be lost forever. I wondered, if they would make it. I wondered if this family would see themselves through the blackness of loss, and the desolation of mourning. What would become of them? Would the hatred win or would the love overcome?

“Soon...”, I thought, “We will all know.”...

Free Author Interview: Stephen O'Connor

2011-12-02T11:46:00.000-08:00

Author Name: Stephen O’Connor

Where can we find your book? The novel The Spy in the City of Books is available on Amazon.com, along with my collection of short stories, Smokestack Lightning.

How much does it cost? I believe the novel is 17 dollars; the Kindle edition is 6.99.

Tell us a little about your book.

A little over ten years ago, I met a man who had served in the OSS during WWII. (The Office of Strategic Services was the forerunner of the CIA). He had grown up in “Little Canada” here in Lowell, MA, and went to a French-speaking school. After volunteering for what they told him would be “dangerous work,” (“I was young and stupid,” he confided), he parachuted into France and operated undercover as a spy and liaison between London and the French Forces of the Interior. I had lived in France when I was young, and already had a keen interest in the “Maquis,” or French Resistance. So I began to interview Edwin while developing a good plot for a historical novel.

Do you have any upcoming projects?

They say that drink is the curse of the working man. Work is surely the curse of the writing man, or woman. I have 50,000 words of the next novel, The Nine Hazels, but as a high school teacher I’m buried in work from September to June. I’ll try to finish it next summer. I’m also doing some free-lance writing, and developing a story for an anthology.

What has your journey as a writer been like?

When I was in high school, my mother came home from parent night and said, “Brother Bernier says you have a ‘literary mind.’” I always thought I would write, always wrote long letters to friends (remember letters?), and academic papers. It wasn’t until I was in my forties that I said, my God, life is running out-you can’t keep thinking you are going to be a writer, you have to write. I must have written millions of words since that realization.

Did you self-publish?

I was considering it, but I was able to find small presses that were willing to publish my work. There isn’t a lot of difference, actually. You can’t get into national chains, and you have to do a lot of your own promotion.

Please share some advice to help future authors.

Well, as Eric Burden once said, “Mothers, tell your children, not to do what I have done.” I waited too long to get going. You cannot begin too soon. I used to be hypercritical. I wanted a perfect first page. That kind of attitude can paralyze a writer. Just tell the story-you can rewrite all you want.

Who is your favorite author and why?

Well, Jack Kerouac was a Lowell boy, and I love his energy. His lived for a while right up the street from my current house. One of the stories in Smokestack Lightning, “The Hipster’s Hopper,” deals with a man’s obsession with J.K. I love the masters, Joseph Conrad, James Joyce, Flannery O’Connor, and the grace and style of Henry Thoreau.

What one person has impacted your life the most?

Aside from my parents, I’d go back to Thoreau. Again, Walden Pond is a short drive from here, so I often walk there and stop at the site of his cabin. All the philosophy you need is in the last chapter of Walden. “Only that day dawns to which we are awake.”

How did you create your characters?
Many of the characters I’ve written are based to some extent on people I’ve known, or combinations of characters. An old friend asked me, “Is this guy supposed to be me?” Maybe 40%, or one aspect of his character is you, but I’m not going to be bound by reality. I try to make reality more dramatic and characters more compelling-that’s why they call it fiction. License to lie, or should I say, invent. But I once saw a guy open a bar door and shout, “Is there someone in here I’m supposed to be afraid of?” I couldn’t invent a better way of showing a character to be a reckless brawler.

Sample Chapter:

At six in the morning, not only his apartment, but the entire Pollard Mansion was quiet. The dim rooms were rich with the aroma of coffee. It had been brewed by timer–to Martin LeBris’ mind one of the greatest practical uses of technology in the modern world. “As quiet as the turning of pages in the holy books at dawn,” the poet had written, and there was something sacred in the stillness that pervaded the dim apartment–his "City of Books.” In the thin light of morning, Martin went to examine them; he had been a bibliophile from the distant days when his mother had brought him to the Andover Book Store, where the little boy watched the fireplace glow among the rows of mute testaments.

With money she’d set aside from her job at Woolworth’s, she bought his Christmas presents there, two books he selected called Corsairs of the Gold Coast and Indian Warriors of the East. The fierce Mohawk, and the grizzled pirate perched with his spyglass in the rigging still peered from the ragged jacket covers among the other volumes ranged about him in leather and gold. He went to the bookcase where he had stored some of those that were in sets, or whose bindings were gilded. Most had been published in the 19th century.

He paused for a moment, watching his reflection in the glass doors of the old bookcase. It was as if his own French-Canadian grandfather were looking back at him. “Bonjour Maurice,” he said. The short thick snow-white hair, glasses, the ruddy face and even the flannel lumberjack’s shirt. He could almost hear that gruff familiar voice: “Veins ici, toi.” Come here, you.

How the years had flown, as he donned this livery of age. He shook his head and smiled at the reflection; he had become his grandfather. Martin turned the key once and opened the glass doors. He inhaled the beloved mustiness of leather and paper. Green, black, and brown were the spines, but the letters were gold. Saintly companions, soft whisperers, undying confidants. They spoke of forgotten sieges, duels, palace intrigues, falconry, conquests; the solitary guard at the king’s door, betrayed and bleeding–unwilling to yield. The secrets of the dead, the dreams of the living, and the rhymes of the forlorn poet who put trembling quill to parchment under the myrtle bough and wrote can love be rich and yet I want?

There were histories, diaries, epics, romances, speculations, musings, ramblings, essays–there was bilious colic and laudanum; currants in the orchard and tea by the fire. And of course, there was one whole shelf dedicated to the classical Greek and Roman works he collected. Between sips of the hot Colombian coffee, his hand glided over Coleridge's Table Talk and Omniana, Stevenson's Virginibus Puerisque, Kingsley’s Hypatia, and settled on a slim blue volume by Lord David Cecil called The Stricken Deer because the title struck his fancy.

"The Stricken Deer…what is this?" he wondered. Something that he'd picked up at the Brattle Bookstore, or some flea market, and forgotten, or had never had a chance to look into. He returned to the kitchen, where Hannibal, his aged cat, raised his head, ears twitching, but did not stir. “Look at me now, Hannibal,” he said to the cat curled in its bed of fleece, “an old man in his slippers, rummaging through dusty books older even than himself. Is this the promised end?” He sighed and laughed softly.

He sat at the table and opened the book. It was a life of the poet Cowper. The tenor of the morning changed as he read the inscription on the frontispiece:

I was a stricken deer that left the herd

Long since; with many an arrow deep infixt

My panting side was charged, when I withdrew

To seek a tranquil death in distant shade.

Martin put the book down, closed his eyes and saw the face the verse had conjured–Odette. There were so many faces that lived only in memory now, but they were vivid. “I couldn't save you, Odette," he said aloud, “I'm sorry.” In the last half century, he had apologized often, through wakeful vigils in the solitary night, to that lingering ghost, which spoke to him from amid the echoes of the guns of 1944–from beyond the thin veil that separates the living from the dead in time and memory.

He gulped some coffee, and his gaze ran along the rows of books that lined the floor to ceiling shelves, this world he had created for himself–for what? To remember? To forget? To wait in a fortress of tranquility for revelation, or just for death? And waiting, to call back the days of fire-placed, rocking-chaired bookstores, the world of youth, the world of peace, before he had known killing and had to steel his mind against the smell of death, sickening wounds, and all the grim havoc of war.

Yes, he was an old man, tired of the tumult of life. He’d lived much in his mind since 1945 and sought only the companionship of the ages, of blind Homer and Marcus Aurelius. And yet he wondered whether the duty that the philosopher spoke of did not demand that he had now lain sixty years in a damp, unmarked grave near the broken remains of the woman who died for France, and for him, or for the man he was back then: Patrice Quenton, spy, inserted into occupied France to serve as a liaison between London and the French Forces of the Interior for the Office of Strategic Services. That had been his real duty, weightier than anything he owed her for love, or so they told him.

Duty–that was a word that could create moral dilemmas for a man beyond any other in the language. "If I could’ve saved you, Odette," he murmured, holding her image in his mind like a withering flower. He hadn't even been able to save her body. He would like to have placed it under a stone of black marble inscribed with her name, and the simple epitaph: Morte Pour la France. That would have been right for her. But her grave was unknown. He shook his head slowly; his eyes narrowed and his mouth turned down, the morning tinged with gray as in a low voice he spit out the words, "Nazi bastards!” Hannibal's ears twitched as he watched with eyes like yellow marbles the silent old man gazing long through the brightening window, an empty cup hanging from his hand.

The world was on fire.

The pilot, or some crewman forward, was screaming at him to jump. Martin's knees were trembling. He wanted to know if they were over the drop zone, but the Liberator shook so violently that he and the men behind him were knocked to the floor. Flak tore at the fuselage as the rattling shell of the cabin filled with choking acrid smoke.

He heard a desperate shout, "Jump for Chrissake! They got our number!” His static line was hooked. He crawled to the open door, which was not in the side but in the belly of this airplane. The craft lurched and he was thrown out before he could jump. A rush of wind and flapping fabric–then he was jerked up like a puppet on a string as the silk chute billowed.

The deep hum of engines faded from his ears as he fell away from the airplane, but the hiss and glare of anti-aircraft fire still shocked the night, exploding above him with a force that jarred his teeth, and in a matter of seconds Martin heard a roar. A fireball lit the white hemisphere of his chute, searing the dark soffit of the ragged clouds. Flaming wreckage tumbled earthward like defeated angels. He recalled for an instant, vividly, the face of a crewman who just a few minutes before had been telling him that Winston Churchill could drink any man in England under the table and wondering at the reality that the man, and the entire crew of nine, had been incinerated. All dead–only he–falling, falling through the night, young and scared and everything yet to come as the fates unwound the threads. Odette, I’m sorry.

Book Review: Hollowland

2011-11-29T21:42:00.000-08:00

Book Review: Hollowland by Amanda Hocking

Let me preface this by saying that I hate zombie movies. I tried watching that English zombie movie, 28 days later…or maybe it was weeks…either way, I made it through the initial scene and still to this day have nightmares about it. Needless to say Zombies are not my thing. But…

Amanda Hocking is brilliant when she promotes the release of new books. Since Hollowmen was about to be released she gave away a free eBook copy of Hollowland and who can pass down a free book? Not me apparently!

So there I was. New book and the thrill of meeting new characters, even though I highly doubted many of them would survive long in a zombie horror book. I dove in, cringing I might add, with both feet.

Two things I noticed right away.

1. Amanda Hocking’s books are flowing better now that she has more writing under her belt. Well done Amanda!

2. It wasn’t nearly gruesome as I’d thought it would be.

That being said I made the enormous mistake of reading a good portion of the middle late at night. Not even the gentle snores erupting from my husband could calm my nerves. The lights went out…and that’s when the magic began.

My mind went berserk. Every creak in the house, howl of the wind as it buffeted against the siding or the obnoxious groan of my dog sent my imagination into hyper drive. It was a long night! That’s when you can confidently say that you’ve read a good book.

But did I enjoy Hollowland? Hard to say really. Probably best to answer that after I’ve had a good nights sleep!

I did enjoy that for the first time Amanda Hocking created a kick butt kind of heroine. Remy is bold, confident and ready to survive. I liked that!

The characters were engaging, wording flowed far better than previous books and only a couple typos!

Overall I would rate this book as a 4 out of 5 stars because I’m sure if you like zombies this would be a great book. For me it was entertaining…and I might even take a peek at the sequel.

Note to parents: PLEASE preview this book before allowing your children to read. It does contain some disturbing scenes.

book

Book Review: Vanish by Sophie Jordan

2011-11-29T21:20:00.000-08:00

The sequel to Sophie Jordan’s Firelight did not disappoint. The tales of forbidden love have always been a favorite of mine and the Firelight series has been a favorite of mine since the day I stumbled across it a year ago.

The idea of Draki, a dragon/human shape shifter was certainly a nice change from the norm. Throw into the mix a destiny that would force Jacinda into the arms of her people’s prince and a mother who will risk at nothing to save her daughter from being used to breed other fire breathing dragons and you get a very interesting turn of events.

Jacinda is forced to leave her people behind and hide out in the desert where her mother hopes her Draki will wither and die. The hot dry temps nearly succeed until Jacinda meets Will, a Draki hunter and her lifelong enemy.

The forbidden love triangle progresses with thrilling events and skillful prose on the part of Sophie Jordan. The end of Firelight is a huge cliff hanger and leaves you begging for more. Enter Vanish.

After a rare turn of events, Jacinda is forced to leave Will behind, with the doubt that he will even remember her. Jacinda’s return to her people is filled with trouble as punishment after punishment is handed out. Her life becomes not only miserable but complicated as her people’s prince, Cassian, reveals his feelings for Jacinda.

She almost tricks herself into believing she can start over until Will walks right into the heart of her village. Events race with furious speeds all the way until the end. Another cliff hanger and more groans at the reality of having to wait for the next book to be released!

Love the writing, love the characters and love Sophie Jordan. A must read for any teen looking for a good romantic story!

book

Should you pay for a book review?

2011-11-29T21:00:00.000-08:00

This is a question that I have asked myself quite a bit. Should book bloggers/reviewers charge authors to review their books?

My honest opinion…no. But that’s just me. I write for the same reason I read. I love doing it! It’s an escape and I know many of you feel the same way.

On my blog www.self-published-authors.blogspot.com I offer free book reviews to anyone who writes in genres that I enjoy. The only charge is that you give me a free copy of your ebook. Not bad eh? I thought so!

Why am I writing about this? Because this subject has been broached a couple times recently. Self published authors fight tooth and nail to get their name and books out there. It’s rough…especially when sales are slow and editor/book cover costs keep rising. How are we to earn a living to help support our families when we have to pay for book reviews too?

That is why I offer free book reviews. Because it’s the right thing to do to help my fellow authors. I’m always in need of someone willing to give me a fair review just as so many others are. To charge just seems wrong to me…but that is for each person to decide. Is it worth $200 dollars to get a single book review that may or may not go in your favor?

You decide.

book

Mile Stone

2011-11-29T08:21:00.000-08:00

As an author, can you honestly say there is anything more amazing for you than the day you receive your first royalty check? Apart from maybe a glowing book review of course!

Today is that day for me. It's small, insignificant to most, but to me it's one of the best days in my life. Why? Because not only did I decide to believe in myself as a writer but I've got something to prove it.

This is the first day that being a writer feels like a career. It's easy to watch your Amazon numbers go up and up but until that equates into money it's just a number on a screen. Today it's something I can tangibly hold on to.

What a blessing...no matter how big or small the amount might be!

book

NaNoWriMo Winner

2011-11-28T17:38:00.000-08:00

I did it! I completed 50,000 words during the month of November. Well done to all of you who have done the same and to those of you struggling to finish...stop watching tv, reading a book or goofing off on Facebook. Write!

Now...my thoughts on this journey for those of you who haven't attempted this feat yet.

Trying to work on a sequel which takes a lot of thinking and planning is not a good idea for Nano
Editing...yeah I still have to do it as I go!
Word counter how I love to hate you!
Writing buddies are invaluable
The feeling you get when you know you've reached your goal...PRICELESS!

For those of you who have never given Nano a try I highly suggest you do so next year.

Many people look at the 50,000 word mark and convince themselves they can't do it. Trust me...it can be done but it takes a lot of effort, time management and a good idea.

My goal for next year's Nano:

start a completely new project for Nano
stop obsessively updating my word count
spend time helping others reach their goals
increase word count to 70,000
do my "I did it" dance again!

Book Review: One-legged Seagull

2011-11-28T11:40:00.000-08:00

Book Description:

Did you ever wonder what specific steps you can take to transform your life, so you can experience more inner peace? Have you ever thought that books about self-transformation are too vague to be helpful, filled with pie-in-the-sky platitudes and difficult-to-follow instructions? Take a journey with Ehud and Simon, as they discover strategies and techniques that help them change frustration and anger into peace of mind. Ehud, a young teenager, meets Simon after a terrible personal disaster--failing his green belt test at the local dojo. Together they learn how to handle life's ups and downs with more grace and patience. Discover how Ehud and Simon are linked in a mysterious, behind-the-scenes way. Their connection points up the way that all of consciousness is a part of one whole reality, a reality defined by compassion and the unfolding potential for joy. Decipher these and other mysteries, in an easy to read format outlined in my new fictional story, One-Legged Seagull, a Warrior's Journey to Inner Peace.

About the Author:

Joey Avniel is passionate about helping people to find their own inner peace. As a former officer in the army he mastered the way of the warrior, but was missing the essential components of peace and happiness. After his service he started to search his own path to inner peace. He received self-improvement training, and then trained others through several different self-improvement programs. Eventually he developed what he calls "The Artist Path," a path that guides anyone, even a warrior to find his own inner peace.
Joey's training includes energetic healing, self empowerment teaching, and first aid for suicidal people. Today he's an author and a speaker on the subject of inner peace. He is the co-founder of the publishing house - Barefoot Mind Inspiration and the co-creator of the website - mysuicidalthoughts.com - which helps people deal with and overcome suicidal thoughts.

My Review:

One-Legged Seagull
By: Joey Avneil

A well written book that deals with real life situations that each of us face at some point during our lives. The book flows well and is easy to read. Although the subject matter is not something I agree with, I am sure it will help many who are looking for ways to find peace within themselves. This inspirational self help story would be entertaining for teen and adult.
Rating: 4 stars

Free Author Interview: Leigh Lane

2011-11-26T19:36:00.000-08:00

Where can we find your book?

You can find my most recent release World-Mart online at Amazon, although it will be available soon through more online retailers, such as Barnes and Noble. Here is a link to my Amazon author page.

How much does it cost?

The paperback is $10.99 and the Kindle/ePub is $4.99.

Tell us a little about your book.

World-Mart is a dystopia inspired by the growing role of corporations in government. It imagines a world in which “Corporate” owns everything and everyone is reduced to a bar code on a nametag. The story follows one family in their struggle to survive in a world that is literally crumbling all around them.

Do you have any upcoming projects?

Yes. I’m currently writing a speculative horror/psychological thriller. Sorry, but this one is top-secret until I’m finished with it.

What has your journey as a writer been like?

It has been a roller-coaster ride. I’ve been writing ever since I was a child. I tried to sell a screenplay to Warner Bros. when I was fourteen, which served as my first taste of rejection. It was a bitter lesson for a fourteen-year-old, but it only fed my determination. I wrote my first novel shortly thereafter, and so began my many years of writing, querying, getting rejected, and writing some more. I sold my first novel a few years ago to a small press, which was exciting, only to learn that selling a book to a publisher is a piece of cake compared to selling your published book to the rest of the world. For me, though, writing in itself is part of the journey. I feel enriched as a human being for what I’ve written as well as what I’ve learned along the way.

Why did you choose to self-publish?

I self-published because I wanted a venue for my more artistic (less marketable) books. I write for many reasons, but the most important to me is the desire to make a difference in this world. When it comes to my speculative fiction, what I write is not always pretty. Sometimes it’s downright ugly, but it’s always with purpose. Dystopia is not a mass market genre—but sometimes publishing a book isn’t about fitting into the mass market, but rather the importance that book may have in the larger scheme. It’s about making art for art’s sake. I wrote World-Mart to be read under the stars by philosophers, to be analyzed in college classrooms, and to affect the mind of every reader who chooses to board my crazy little ride.

Would you do it again?

Absolutely. There’s no greater feeling in the world than to hear from a reader who you’ve never met say, “This book changed me.”

Please share some advice to help future authors.

Don’t be so eager to publish that you lose sight of the important details. Don’t try to be your own editor, or you’ll end up shooting yourself in the foot. Don’t rely on spell/grammar check unless you want a grammatical mess. Don’t attempt to create your own cover art unless you really are that artistically inclined. Make sure you have gone over your manuscript several times, not just a few, and give yourself a good month between readings. Look for words you can cut; most of the time, less truly is more. When you are ready to publish, seek out reviewers, as many as you can, and take bad reviews with a grain of salt.

What drives you to write?

I appease several muses, each with their own demands. An idea will drive me nuts if I don’t “release” it in a timely manner. Moreover, I’m driven to write—period. It is what I was born to do. Writing keeps me sane.

What criticisms have helped you grow as a writer?

We all have our bad habits, and I’m grateful to all those who have helped over the years to point out mine. Editors and peers helped me to identify amateur errors, such as “telling” instead of “showing,” using too much passive voice, and overusing certain words (we all have them). I went back to college and earned my English degree when I realized I could not write what I wanted to write on talent alone. I took an advanced grammar class. I took advice and criticism from wherever I could find it, swallowing my pride at every turn. It’s made all the difference.

Leigh M. Lane writes mixed-genre science fiction, with an emphasis on allegory and social commentary. Her provocative flair is reminiscent of the works of Kurt Vonnegut, Jr., Olaf Stapledon, Ray Bradbury, and H. G. Wells. While her works often mesh the unreal and the profound with gritty realism, her themes are also insightful and timely and her stories fast-paced yet complex. She currently has two self-published titles available, as well as six novels and eight anthology contributions published through small press under a different name. For more about her and her writing, visit her website: http://www.cerebralwriter.com.

Free Author Interview: Don Dollton

2011-11-26T19:22:00.000-08:00

Author Name:

Don Dollton

Where can we find your book?

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0063HSXQW

How much does it cost?

$2.99USD

Tell us a little about your book.

A collection of stories and observations by a native Californian who has traveled the world and learned a lot about human nature. This work recalls growing up in the California of the 50’s and 60’s, Don’s travels throughout the world, and his perspective on contemporary American life.
Do you have any upcoming projects?

I am editing my sitcom pilot House Husband and marketing this to Hollywood. I also have an animation movie screenplay and a western screenplay in progress.

What has your journey as a writer been like?

I have had my letters to the editor published throughout my life and I have kept journals for over 30 years. I had heart surgery earlier this year and I finally reached the point where I could look the blank page in the eye and fill it in with my stories.

Why did you choose to self publish?

I am a loner and prefer to do things on my own. Instead of having a publisher or agent or critics say no, I can go out to the public where I know I will get a yes when they read my book.

Would you do it again?

Yes definitely. I am doing it now by taking my notes for my sequel.

Please share some advice to help future authors.

It has to be you and your story. I write about what I have experienced in my life travels and this makes the writing easy.

BIO

Don Dollton served as a Russian linguist with a Top Secret clearance in the U.S. Army Security Agency. He has an MBA from the Thunderbird School of Global Management and has traveled to over forty countries for business and pleasure in Latin America, Europe, Asia and the Middle East. He has also traveled to over 40 states and enjoys collecting, garage sales, dogs and his family life while being a house husband.

Stats update

2011-11-25T22:00:00.000-08:00

For those of you who have posted an author interview on my blog or are thinking of doing so, I would like to thank each of you for helping to make this site such a success.

3,000 visitors in just over three months. How amazing is that?

It just goes to show you how mountains can be moved when authors start to support each other. I am pleased to have the chance to get to know a little about each author that I interview. I've met some amazing people and read some great books. I love my job!

Here's to the next 1,000 visitors!

Free Author Interview: Maya Mendoza

2011-11-25T18:44:00.000-08:00

New memoir shows how one woman triumphs over severe anxiety and trauma “From Agoraphobia to Zen”-Uncovering the core of my anxiety and reclaiming my life.

Makaha Hawaii June 28, 2011

Aloha. I am excited and grateful to announce the publication of my debut memoir. This book tells the true story of how keeping toxic secrets can poison your mind and how searching and finding the truth can heal the body mind and soul.

At the lowest point in my life, I was a prisoner in my own home trying to raise my four children from a box in a closet, so confused and scared to live my daily life. I also carried around my pain as seventy extra pounds on my body. My journey to health and wellness although raw and gritty is also inspiring, mysterious and even funny. The core of my story shows two women who struggle with mental illness, a mother and daughter, and how one survives and one couldn’t.

Recovering from a mental illness is very possible but those who suffer are stigmatized and face obstacles and prejudice. My great hope and gift in writing this book is to help people who have an anxiety disorder believe there is hope and a Zen for them as there was for me.

Thank you to all who believed in me and friends old and new all over the world. A special thank you to my family, publisher and the students who made me laugh and look at the world through new eyes.

My name on the book is Marilyn Mendoza, but I use my nickname Maya so if you google Marilyn Maya Mendoza sometimes more information is found on my book

My book is on Amazon, in print and kindle and B&N and my publisher's site which is ChipmunkaPublishing as well as other places on the internet.

Since my publisher is in the

, my book also on the AmazonUK site where it also has good reviews . The Amazon in the USA has good reviews too lol

It costs 21 dollars on Amazon.

I sell autographed copies to those who email me for 20 dollars including shipping

My memoir is a harrowing but inspiring journey from living in a box in my closet to healing from anxiety and agoraphobia.. It is also a mystery of two women, my mother and me and how one survives mental illness and one couldn't.

My journey as a writer started as a search for the truth about my past and why it was affecting, infecting my entire life. My journey ended with many mysteries solved and peace and healing. I always wrote prose and poetry to soothe and this was one chapter that I had in my mind that turned into a book with a lot of effort to say the least.

After I finished my memoir, I was determined not to do it again but a writer must write and I have some ideas brewing around in my head for a sequel.

My advice to future authors is to never give up. If you have a passion to tell your story or in my case my truth, don't let negative people deter you from your dream, even if they are family.

My journey now is to help end the stigma against mental illness and to help one person at a time by sharing my story.

I went on a book tour to promote my book and it was a wonderful experience. My publisher did not pay for it. I saved and went to London where I was welcomed by book clubs, libraries and got to see so many places the normal tourist doesn't get to see. I also went to Minnesota and spoke at many places as well. I went for "broke" literally. But it was so worth it.

Free Author Interview: David Cooper

2011-11-25T18:24:00.000-08:00

My debut novel Hatred, Ridicule & Contempt – a legal thriller based in the UK, all about a libel action from the viewpoint of the defendant newspaper and its lawyer – can be found on Amazon via the links on my blogsite. It is $2.99 for USA buyers.
http://davidcooperbooks.blogspot.com/p/hatred-ridicule-and-contempt-prologue.html

I am looking at a follow up “serious book” about law for small businesses, but if inspiration for a further novel comes first, so much the better!

I have had an interesting journey as a writer – eleven years in the making, to be precise! I devised much of the plot for HR&C in the late nineties, and wrote a great deal of it then, only for various life upheavals to intervene. I think that was, with hindsight, probably for the better as I was able to bring twelve years’ worth of perspective and reflection back into my final push over the summer of 2011.

Why self publish? Well, can I just say that the e-publishing revolution has focused very sharply on the interests of authors and readers alike, and is just as much a liberating force as the internet itself? Taking that into account, I would most certainly do it again as and when the seeds of a new plot start to take effect.

What could I suggest to new authors? Write about what you know about, and never pass up a chance for good advice close to hand – once I had completed my first draft, my wife’s help in editing and producing ideas for refining the flow and the content were very welcome.

So who’s my favourite author? You’re expecting me to say John Grisham, I’m sure. However, given that my aim in writing HR&C was to combine the tried and tested excitement of a Grisham drama with a series of plot twists that would keep the reader guessing to the end, I’ll go for a true master of the latter – Robert Goddard, a real inspiration to me.

Promotion – now there’s an interesting one. I have my own blogsite. I am hard at work via Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. I put my cover onto a set of business cards. And my reference work of choice is John Locke’s “How I made $1m from e-books…”

Character creation? I have been practising law in the UK for 25 years. I have seen working life and practice in big firms and small firms, courts and tribunals, conference chambers and (inevitably) bars. The heroes and villains all emerged that way.

And what finally drove me to get it all done and launched, many years after the idea first took shape? Partly the e-publishing boom. Partly a drive through the Deep South from Nashville to New Orleans in the summer of 2011, where plans for a worthwhile conclusion to the book came up thick and fast amid the experiences of music history, the Civil War and the skyscraper era in Chicago where the last four nights were enjoyed. And partly the imminent milestone birthday next March – well, now that I’ve had a book published, I might not need the Harley Davidson after all…

Free Author Interview: Donna Swanson

2011-11-22T18:46:00.000-08:00

Name: Donna Swanson/ aka Mindsinger

Where can we find your book?
SPLINTERS OF LIGHT is available on Amazon.com as well as Amazon Kindle.
You can also find a fuller description plus excerpt at
http://mindsinger.com/book-store/splinters-of-light-book/

How much does it cost?
At Amazon it is $19.99 for paperback and $7.69 for Kindle. I
recommend readers buy it there rather than Xlibrs which published it.
Amazon is cheaper.

Tell us a little about your book:
SPLINTERS OF LIGHT is a rather comprehensive collection of my poetry
and short prose written over the last forty years. It is introduced
by Gloria Gaither and contains the award-winning poem, Minnie
Remembers.

Do you have any upcoming projects?
I’ve just finished a double trilogy titled THE WINDFALLOW CHRONICLES
and am searching for a publisher.

What has your journey as a writer been like?
I began writing for religious periodicals some fifty years ago, and
then branched out to secular magazines. Many times I became
discouraged by rejection slips and lack of interest and swore never to
write again. But the words would not be contained and I wrote in
spite of obstacles. Finally, a poem, Minnie Remembers took off; was
filmed as a documentary, and reprinted hundreds of time in both
religious and secular publications. It brought an invitation from the
Upper Room to write a book of poetry, MIND SONG that sold out of its
first printing. I was booked for programs, concerts and symposiums
based on the film and Minds Song. Then, all the doors closed.
During the seven year long writer’s block that followed, I began
carving carousel horses; the words came back as carousel poetry which
became popular.
Since then I’ve written an historical novel set in the time of Christ,
RACHEL’S DAUGHTERS, and began work on THE WINDFALLOW CHRONICLES. I
also write two weekly newspaper columns; Country Roads and Granny’s
Place. I maintain three blogs and contribute to the Jingle Poetry
site.

Why did you choose to self-publish?
Because the publishing market had literally dried up. And, when I
published the first two books, it only cost $99 to do so. SPLINTERS
OF LIGHT was published by Xlibris and by that time the price had risen
exponentially.

Would you do it again?
Only as a last resort. The fees are extravagantly expensive and
unless you want to spend as much for marketing as you did for
publication, you will have no promotion other than your own efforts.
XL was especially aggressive in their push to sell a marketing plan.

Advice to future authors:
Be very careful before you commit to a publisher. If they do not have
a full explanation of services, fees, royalties, etc. on their website
or marketing guide, don’t be afraid to ask for that information.
Proof, proof, proof as you write. Make sure your copy is as good as
you can make it before you send in out into the world of publishers.
Have a friend read it if possible and give feedback. Then, give it to
God and ask him to use it to his glory.

Free Author Interview: John Martin

2011-11-22T18:31:00.000-08:00

Author Name: John Martin

Major BS: A Top Secret Mission

Tell us a little about your book.It's about a bumbling British former army officer, Major Jeremy Billycock-Smythe, who marries into cash-poor but artistocratic family in Australia and launches an enterprise to save his wife's historic homestead Rowbottom from bankruptcy. Along the way, he finds and loses some illegal refugees, and seriously annoys his childhood friend, officials in charge of government secrets, and a bunch of high-powered executives. On one level, it's all satirical. But if people don't get the satire, hopefullly it's just funny on another level. There are no American characters but there is an important US link.

Where can we find your book?It has been a Print on Demand book for a year or so now but I've just launched it as an ebook on Amazon and I'm thrilled that it's now within the reach of a global readership

The print and ink version is still available for $AUS27.92 and you can order it via my web site, www.dunno.com.au. . Like a lot of authors, I don't do this for the money (that's why I have a day job); the satisfaction for me is building a world where people can escape to for a few hours, love/hate my characters and at the end of it think, "well, that was funny (or at least not a waste of time)"

What has your journey as a writer been like?I'm a newspaper journalist in real life and for the past 30 years or so I have written factual stuff. But fiction writing has always been a sideline. I self-published my first novel, Apples, in 1994. That was a satire too, centred on the is-it-or-isn't-it extinct Tasmanian Tiger and featured a Texan millionaire as a key character. But it was expensive to publish then and the publisher made me pay for a certain number of copies (of which some still linger in my garage to this day, the waste of a good tree). Print On Demand made more sense to me environmentally and it was cheaper. I put together a collection of short stories for a POD book How Much Is That Scorpion In The Window and then

Major BS: A Top Secret Mission went that way too.

Do you have any upcoming projects?If the ebook goes well, I have another idea in my head (I always have ideas; I've never had writer's block). This latest idea is about an arsonist called Jerome O'Fury, an Irishman in Australia. It's always a balancing act between my family, my day job and what I'd love to do full time, writing. I realised long ago that I have the skills to do the writing, the editing and the design work - but promotion is my achilles' heel. I'm kinda shy and tongue-tied - but I have worked hard at getting some useful promotional sources on my web site:

Reviews: http://www.dunno.com.au/bsreviews.html

An Q&A: http://www.dunno.com.au/jkminterview.htm

You can read the first chapter free at http://www.freado.com/player/bookplayer.php?contentid=4763&authorid=3759&preview=1 and you can also download a free sample from Amazon, which is a feature I really like.

Why did you choose to self publish?When I was growing up, my father wrote two or three novels on his typewriter that never saw the light of day. He sent them to umpteen publishers, a fruitless process that took years. I swore I'd never go down that path of frustration and disappointment. I think that publishers today are all about following marketing trends and winning formulas these days anyway - and they are headed to the same place all the books on my study shelves are going in this electronic world: the garbage can. I self publish now because I CAN.

I like the work of US author Carl Hiassen, Irish authors Roddy Doyle and Colin Bateman, Scottish author ian Rankin, British author John Le Carre. I love the way US/UK writer Bill Bryson unearths and plays out amusing anecotes.

I hate the predictable and formulaic.

What time of day do you write best?Any time I have peace and quiet, and my chores are already done.

Do you have a favorite character and why?I like strong characters. Heroes with flaws. In Major BS's case, he's much more flaw than hero.

www.amazon.com/Major-Top-Secret-Mission-ebook/dp/B005MEZUFY/ (US$3.99).
www.amazon.co.uk/Major-Top-Secret-Mission-ebook/dp/B005MEZUFY (£2.83).

Free Author Interview: Kristi Petersen Schoonover

2011-11-21T18:16:00.000-08:00

Author Name: Kristi Petersen Schoonover

Where can we find your book? Skeletons in the Swimmin' Hole--Tales from Haunted Disney World is available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, the usual. You can also purchase it directly from me at www.haunteddisneytales.com. Right now it’s also available in Kindle and Nook, but a publisher has approached me to publish the e-books under their label and that’s being worked on.

How much does it cost? $9.95

Tell us a little about your book. Skeletons in the Swimmin’ Hole—Tales from Haunted Disney World is a collection of ghost stories set in Disney Parks. I’m an Edgar Allan Poe fanatic, and these stories work on the basis of his “triggers”—extreme guilt, oppression, passion, or circumstance can lead to haunting, whether supernatural or physical.

Do you have any upcoming projects? Loads! My first novel, Bad Apple, is due out from Vagabondage Press Books in early 2012; I’m working on a collection of ghost stories set exclusively in the state of Connecticut; and there’s a second book in the Disney series, Hairless Girl Does the Hula, planned for 2013. I’m working on those stories now. In addition, I’m always writing and revising new short stories not connected with any collections. On the non-writing front, I’m starting a podcast, Scary Scribes, in January. The half-hour show will feature a brief scary read followed by an interview.

Why did you choose to self publish? I felt that this particular collection—ghost stories set in Disney Parks—would appeal to two very specific audiences with whom I interact on a regular basis, and I wanted to be able to invest the time in reaching them. I also wanted total control over this project—it’s my baby. I would absolutely do it again—and, in fact, I plan on it.

Please share some advice to help future authors. I always hear from writers don’t want to spend the time or money on their book or to promote themselves—quite frankly, I don’t understand that. It’s your work; why would you cheap out on it? I made a heavy investment. I hired professionals to do things. I spend money to promote myself, to go places, to make sure I’m getting the best that I can afford. And the books sell well because of that—I’m bringing in a consistent income on Amazon alone. In fact, I’ve made back my full initial investment already. But I work, work, work and spend, spend, spend to reap that reward. If you’re not willing or prepared to invest time and money in yourself or your project, don’t get into this—in the end, your lack of that investment will show.

What drives you to write? I’ve always written—from the time I could hold a pen I was writing stories, so to be fair, I don’t know where the “drive” to do it comes from—it just sort of happens. I can tell you, though, that for me, writing is about processing: something has happened in my life and I sort it out through my stories. I don’t do this on purpose, it just seems that things I can’t resolve seem to get resolved little by little through my work. I know I’m done when whatever it is—a certain character who represents someone with whom I’m fascinated or who hurt me, for example—stops showing up.

How do you juggle life around your writing? Writing for me has always come first. Unlike many writers who block time for themselves to write, I’m very much an inspiration-only writer as far as the creation of fiction goes; this means that when something wants to come out, everything I’m doing gets dropped. The good news about that, though, is that it never takes me very long to get out a draft: it’s all or nothing and no interruptions until it’s finished. There are years in which I’m very prolific, and years in which I’m not. But I’ve learned to roll with that. I’m getting back into a prolific period now, which I’m very excited about—it seems the ideas are coming so fast I can barely keep up with them. The only thing that really does is force me to schedule all the other activities in which I’m involved when I’m not creating—marketing, blogging, events, critiquing, revising, judging and just about everything else a writer does these days to keep a career afloat—those are the activities for which I block out specific time, usually in the evenings and on the weekends. It’s not a bad thing to be a writer and NOT write every day. I think the most important thing is to figure out how you work best and go for it.

Here’s a peek at “Skeletons in the Swimmin’ Hole”—the book’s title story:

Skeletons in the Swimmin’ Hole

“He did it,” my husband says.

It’s so dark I can’t see his eyes—we’re at the Polynesian Resort’s Spirit of Aloha Dinner Show, and they’re about to dance with fire so the lights are off—but I know there’s no expression in them anyway. He’s in a trance. “Ohhhhh.”

David channels the last thoughts of dead things. Back home in Baltimore, the ability’s onset has forced him to end his taxidermy practice. Recently, though, he’s seemed to get better.

I heave a sigh and reach for the carved coconut monkey head that holds my Pele’s Fire Punch, put the straw in my mouth, and drain the drink.

He finishes reading the air and sets his hand on top of mine. “I’m sorry, Cora. I know this is a vacation.”

“I just didn’t think there’d be any dead things in Disney World, that’s all. You were clean for almost a month. I was hoping—”

“I know.” He puts a square of pineapple bread on his plate next to a pile of chicken bones.

The drums begin, and a limber man in a grass skirt twirls a flaming baton.

The flashes started on David’s fortieth birthday.

We were celebrating at the Annabel Lee Tavern, and the waitress had just set a quarter duckling in front of him. He looked at me as though he was going to say something, but then his expression went blank. He turned his gaze upward.

“What?” I twisted to look and noticed writing painted high on the wall: Till they sorrowfully trailed in the dust. There was more to it, but it wrapped around a corner where I couldn’t read the rest. “That’s from a Poe poem. I don’t think that line’s from ‘Annabel Lee.’ I want to say it’s from ‘Ulalume.’”

But he didn’t answer.

“David?”

His eyes moved as though he were reading from a page in the air. “Why did she leave me alone? Why?”

I leaned closer to the table. “David? I didn’t leave you alone. I’m right here.”

“She left me!”

He hadn’t mentioned his ex-wife, Helena—who had left him for another man—since just before our wedding two years ago, but that was the only ‘she’ I could think of. I reached out and gripped his wrist. “Helena left you, David. I didn’t.”

“No!”

Everyone in the tiny place went quiet; there was only the mournful Firebird Suite Berceuse floating from a speaker in the ceiling.

“No!”

My face burned under the stares. The flame from our table’s candle snuffed out.

“I can’t get out!” David shouted.

I released his wrist and turned to the pair of women at the next table. “I’m sorry…my husband is…I…”

The waitress, panic in her eyes, approached. “Everything okay?”

I shook my head. “I’m…I’m so, so, sorry, I don’t know what’s going on, just bring us some take-out containers and the check. Fast.”

She nodded and rushed off.

“I can’t get out!”

“Yes, David, you can. We’re going out. Right now.”

Outside, the rain had turned to sleet. “Where is she?” David yelled. A couple walking across the street stopped, and then ran. “Where is she?”

“Stop it!” I screamed. “You’re scaring me!”

“She left me here!”

“I did not! Helena did!” Sleet stung my cheeks.

He was quiet for a moment; in the distance, I heard sirens. Then he blinked, marveling as though he had no idea how he’d gotten outside. “Cora?”

“I’m right here.” I was relieved. “I’m right here, I’m not going anywhere, and what Helena did to you will never, never happen again.”

He reached out with trembling fingers to touch my cheek. Then he fell against my shoulder and cried.

When I wrapped my arms around him, I dropped the take-home containers. His duckling fell out and rolled into the street.

My bio

Kristi Petersen Schoonover’s short fiction has appeared in Carpe Articulum, The Adirondack Review, Barbaric Yawp, New Witch Magazine, Toasted Cheese, and others, including several anthologies such as Dark Opus Press’ In Poe’s Shadow. She holds an MFA from Goddard College, has received two Norman Mailer Writers Colony Residencies, and is editor for Read Short Fiction. Her most recent work, Skeletons in the Swimmin’ Hole, is a collection of ghost stories set in Disney Parks; her horror novel, Bad Apple, is forthcoming from Vagabondage Books. She’s also a member of the New England Horror Writers Association. Her website is www.kristipetersenschoonover.com

book

Free Author Interview: Doug Simpson

2011-11-21T17:56:00.000-08:00

Authors Bio -

Doug Simpson is a retired high school teacher who has turned his talents to writing. His first novel, a spiritual mystery titled Soul Awakening, was published in the United States in October of 2011, by Book Locker. Check it out at http://booklocker.com/books/5754.html . It is available in print and eBook format through most book stores. His magazine and website articles have been published in 2010 and 2011 in Australia, Canada, France, India, the United Kingdom, and the United States. His website is at http://dousinp.mnsi.net.

Name - Doug Simpson

Available - Soul Awakening is available from Book Locker at

http://booklocker.com/books/5754.html for $14.95 for the paperback and and $5.99 for the ebook. It is also available in paperback and ebook through Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books-A-Million, Chapters Indigo and most other bookstores around the world.

Book in Brief - This first novel was published in the United States in October of 2011. Soul Awakening is a work of fiction, inspired by a series of actual events. It is a spiritual mystery involving the apparently accidental, though actually orchestrated by Divine Intervention, meeting of three total strangers and their ultimate discovery that they shared previous lifetimes together. It delves into reincarnation, past lifetimes, spirit communication, messages from God, past-life regression sessions, Guardian Angels, past-life recall in the awake state, and soul attraction, the reincarnation of groups of souls together in more than one lifetime.

Upcoming Projects - The second book in the series, Soul Rescue, has been completed but it has not yet been submitted for publishing. I will continue to write more articles for magazines and websites, and whenever they are published I place a link, on my website at http://dousimp.mnsi.net , to the magazine or website where it can be read.

Journey - I have always had a driving desire to write, and many times over thirty years or so, while I was gainfully employed, I attempted to write a novel but never seemed to be able to complete it or to do an adequate job. Blessed retirement gave me the opportunity to finally concentrate on writing. I started with articles in magazines and on websites and have been fortunate to publish in Australia, Canada, France, India, the United Kingdom and the United States. The success of my articles encouraged me to take another crack at a book, and the manuscript became Soul Awakening. Never too old to try!!

Why self-publish? When I reached to point where I started to scream ever time I received another printed response from agents and publishers, along the line of 'We are currently not accepting ...', then self-publishing became the new Plan A.

Do it again? I would and will definitely do it again unless some rich publisher comes knocking on my door and makes me an offer I can't refuse. I have had a wonderful experience with Book Locker and recommend them to everyone who asks, and sometimes they do not even have to ask.

Advice? I am too new at this to be giving advice to others, other than maybe to say NEVER GIVE UP!

Sample Chapters? For those readers who would like to check out Soul Awakening, two sample chapters are available at

http://booklocker.com/books/5754.html .

book

How does a simple idea evolve into a book?

2011-11-21T12:25:00.000-08:00

I’ve had the question posed to me about how I came up with the idea for my newest teen fantasy, Forbidden. Honestly, I was sick and tired of reading the typical cliché vampire novel. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed Twilight and many of the other vampire books on the book shelves today…but I needed a break. I read my way through Werewolves, Dragons and angles before I finally decided I wanted to step out of the norm.

The idea of Immortality has always been somewhat of a fascination of mine. To live forever. What on earth would you do with yourself? Surely after a couple hundred years you would have seen and done everything there was to do. Then what?

So I wanted to take a popular theme and give it a major twist. I told my husband a couple months ago while we were on a drive that I wanted to do a book on Immortals. I had no clue where I wanted to go with it but it was an idea that I couldn’t drop.

I knew that I wanted it set it Romania. I loved the picturesque country side, the quaint buildings and wealth of history. And since I wanted my Immortal to be rather old I needed her to live in a castle. I flipped through page after page of stunning castles and stumbled upon one that just felt right. At the bottom of the picture it had a caption. Castle Bran. Dracula’s castle.

Now that’s where the wheels in my head really started grinding. The legend of Dracula had always fascinated me. Sorry Twilight fans, but I grew up with vampires that didn’t glitter or choose a mountain lion as a main course. So I wanted to explore the idea of the sadistic version of vampires that people used to be accustomed to. But there came in the kicker. I DIDN”T want to write a vampire novel.

So low and behold the twist came into play. Immortals that needed human blood to heal when wounded and became addicted to blood like a human on pain killers. I delved into the idea of changed behaviors, personality shifts that led to the degradation of one Vladimir Enescue, Roseline’s husband and legendary Dracula. In my book, Forbidden, my characters live the lives that lead to the creation of the Vampire myth.

Now of course I didn’t want my heroin to be evil. Far from it. I wanted to show that even surrounded but such vile filth a person could retain their innocence. And from there Roseline was born.

In order for Roseline to endure three centuries of torture at the hands of her husband, Roseline needed to have someone to keep her sane. To help her heal and teach her how to live a life without debauchery and murder. She clung to him for her sanity and as such developed deep feelings for him.

But when she sees her chance to escape her tyrannical husband, Roseline leaves everything behind, including her only friend. She starts over as a high school student in Chicago Illinois with the hopes of being able to live the life that’d been taken from her. But fate wouldn’t allow her to remain in the shadows.

And I will leave you there. It’s no fun to spoil the story!

If you would like to read my newly released Teen Fantasy novel, Forbidden, please check out my eBooks.

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Forbidden-The-Arotas-Trilogy-ebook/dp/B0063KE52K
Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/102159

So how do you come up with your ideas? How do they evolve for you? What tips can you share to help other authors get from an idea to a finished novel?

Happy Reading!

book

Newest Review of Forbidden: Robert Luis Rabello

2011-11-19T19:33:00.000-08:00

Book Review

by

Robert Luis Rabello

Title of Book: Forbidden (The Arotas Trilogy)

Author: Amy Miles

Genre: Young Adult Fiction / Urban Fantasy

E-book, or print book: E-book

Overview: Rosaline Enescue escapes from the frightening brutality of her husband in Romania by running away to the United States. She begins a new life as a high school student, but meets a young man named Gabriel, to whom she finds herself irresistibly attracted. How can this be? Where did her self-control go? How can a mere human so captivate her attention? The answers trace back to her homeland and the life she left behind.

Cover / Graphics / Maps : The cover is simple, evocative and looks professionally laid-out. The orange rose has significance to the story and is allegorical of the main character.

Interior Formatting: I read the Kindle version. There were no glaring format issues. The font was large enough to be legible, but small enough to permit speed reading without adjustment.

Readability: Sample paragraphs averaged a readability index of 5.8, which is appropriate for the target audience and most readers of this genre. I had no difficulty with any of the vocabulary or sentence structures in this novel.

Names: All of the names were easily pronounced and accessible. Since the story takes place in a modern context, place names are recognizable.

Hero / Heroine: Rosaline Enescue is a bit of an enigma. Given the terrible ordeal described in the prologue to this story, it's reasonable to expect a degree of hardness and an aloof attitude from this character. In general, people like their protagonists to be strong, and Rosaline certainly projects inner strength and mental toughness. She's described by other characters as kind and loving, but she acts more like a streetwise and vigorous force to be reckoned with, rather than a sweet, gentle female. The descriptions that characterized her as the latter grated against the former.

I'd expected Gabriel Marsten to be a dumb jock, mindlessly interested in conquering opponents on the football field and girls in the social arena. But he evolves as the story progresses, from the inaccurate caricature of an athlete into a decent, intelligent and caring young man. He becomes the type of boy that a father would be proud to call his son, only to transform further into something ELSE, entirely. It's both fascinating and disturbing to experience. Amy Miles has done a terrific job of defying expectations with this character.

Supporting Characters: Sadie and William Hughes are siblings who live next door to Gabriel Marsten. They maintain an annoyed, teenaged tolerance for one another throughout the book, though the role that William plays in the story is less significant than that of his sister. Sadie befriends Rosaline, though the two appear to have very little in common. Nicolae, a mysterious exchange student, transforms from a creepy kid into something very different as the story progresses. I felt that a little platforming of his capabilities early in the story would have made for a smoother character arc near the end.

Villains: Rosaline's husband, Vladimir, occupies a menacing role that exists mostly on the periphery of the story, except for the very beginning and the very end. A lot of the conflict in this book is internal, with Rosaline, herself. The reader is effectively kept in suspense about the danger of her powers throughout the story. This is something that Amy Miles has done very well.

In addition, flat characters, like Claire Scofield--Gabriel's girlfriend--and Oliver--Gabriel's jock friend--serve as antagonists and provide the occasional comic relief. There's a scene involving Claire using Gabriel's leg as an erotic dancing prop that had me laughing.

Plausibility of Storyline: There's a degree of suspending disbelief that every fantasy story must be given. That's certainly true of this one, but there were scenes and behaviors, such as Rosaline's frequent disappearances, which did little to advance the plot and probably could have been cut or modified without impacting the overall story. High school students making travel arrangements and departing the country without parental approval raised my brows too, but this IS a story for young readers, and that audience would likely be unfazed by that detail.

Reviewer's Response: Amy Miles has written a vampire story that defies convention in many ways. Though I am not in the target market for this genre, the story retained my interest throughout, and I actually found myself enjoying the characters, particularly Rosaline and Gabriel, as they evolved. One of the strengths of the independent author movement is that it permits stories that depart from main stream, commercial themes and plot lines to be heard. I believe this story is a refreshing example of that trend. For young adult readers, in particular, this is likely to be a very enjoyable story.

book

Movie Review: Breaking Dawn

2011-11-18T20:12:00.000-08:00

Sadly I must say that I was greatly disappointed. It was cheesy, drawn out and utterly a let down. It’s such a shame since I LOVE the book.

As an avid reader, and a fan of Twilight in general, I am sad to think of what the negative reviews might do for Stephenie Meyers’ book sales. I know that there will always be die-hard Twilight fans that will support the movies no matter what, but this is one fan that is left dissatisfied.

The heartfelt conversation between Bella and Edward on the night before their wedding was unbelievably cheesy. Mix that with the terrible wolf pack conversation and some funky graphics and I was cringing.

The movie felt long, far more drawn out than it needed to be. I actually found myself growing bored with it. By the end of the movie I was relieved that it was over, never a good thing for a fan to feel.

On the plus side, I enjoyed being able to visually see the wedding, Isle Esme, and even the gruesome decline Bella experiences as the baby drains her life. There were a few things added into the movie for excitement that wasn’t a part of the book, but I didn’t mind it.

Overall…I would give the movie a 2 star out of 5, but honestly that’s only because I love the book.

I hope other people enjoy it more than I did!

book

How do you research?

2011-11-17T08:26:00.000-08:00

I’ve always heard it said that you should write what you love. I personally have a passion for Teen Lit. I love to read it and I especially love to write it. And nothing kept help you grow as a writer more than keeping up with the times.

When I go to the library I don’t peruse the Adult section, dawdle in the self help books or give in to the countless cook books that scream my name. Nope. I head straight to the teen section to begin my research.

I compare my dialogue to make sure I’m not speaking like the nearly thirty year old that I am, with outdated slang. I focus on what’s ‘hot’ and what’s not. I don’t want to copy an author’s style, their essence that makes their books so special. What makes a writer great is when they have their own voice, their own ideas and aren’t afraid to share them.

What do you do to research your genre?

book

Matched by Ally Condie

2011-11-17T08:24:00.000-08:00

book

One of the things I love most about my job as a writer is that I can justify the hours I spend reading teen books. It’s all in the name of research! At least that’s what I tell my husband when I’ve got the bedroom light on long into the wee hours of the night.

My newest book, which I am nearly finished with, is Matched by Ally Condie. Dystopian love stories seems to be all the rage now. And for good reason…they’re great!

Matched is no exception. I love the characters, the imagery Ally Condie uses to paint her futuristic world and the confusing love triangle. I know some people hate love triangles but NOT ME! Give me a good love mystery and I’m happy. But don’t give it away too easily. I love to unexpected.

For anyone looking for a good read for themselves or their teenager girl I suggest Matched. Ally Condie’s sequel, Crossed, is next on my Must-Read list.

Free Author Interview: Paul Chika Emekwulu

2011-11-16T20:29:00.000-08:00

Can you tell us a bit about yourself? I am from Nigeria and I live in Norman, Oklahoma with my family.

What is your most recent work? My most recent book is entitled, Mathematical Encounters.

What inspired you to write this book? There are two reasons. First, I do believe that some people have unique ways of exploring and investigating certain concepts (including mathematical concepts) that are of interest to them.

Secondly, a promise I made to the US Embassy in Lagos, Nigeria. The US Embassy in Nigeria asked me why I was petitioning for a United States non-immigrant visa. I told them that I was coming to the United States to explore a dream – publishing. To me it looks like I had a contract with the embassy. Mathematical Encounters represents the best work I have ever produced both professionally nd otherwise. With the publication of Mathematical Encounters, I felt like I did not disappoint the US embassy. I kept my promise.
Tell us a little about Mathematical Encounters. What is it about? Some school books are not written strictly in line with any traditional curriculum. They fall into the category of supplemental materials. The right supplemental materials in mathematics are analogous to novels and other reading materials. Novels, the language of expression notwithstanding, build language skills in the areas of vocabulary, reading and comprehension, spelling, grammar etc. Similarly, the right supplemental materials in mathematics build vocabulary, computational, language, reasoning and logical thinking skills. Mathematical Encounters for the Inquisitive Mind is a unique collection of articles I’ve written over the years under different circumstances and each has some dose of mathematical insights to the inquisitive mind. The book can help students and the general reader to be logical in their approach to mathematics and life situations.
Why did you choose to write this particular book? Every writer knowingly or unknowingly, through his or her writings reveals a part of himself or herself to the reading public. Mathematical Encounters is a collection of different articles I wrote over the years at different times under different real circumstances and each has some dose of mathematical insights for the inquisitive mind. While on a famous American TV show one wintry morning of 2006, Steve Wonder was asked by the host why he has not produced any music recently. In his usual manner of twisting his head from left to right, the 55 year-old replied, "You have to experience things in order to create music." Steve is right. Creative writing, fiction or non-fiction, in many ways at times, is similar to creating music. Like Steven Wonder, I feel the same way for most of the individual articles that make up this book. For the various circumstances that led to the creation of these articles, I not only experienced most of them, I lived them as well.
What type of readers would be interested in Mathematical Encounters? Mathematical Encounters for the Inquisitive Mind has something for everyone. It doesn’t matter whether you are in high school or college. Even the general reader has something to benefit from the book. We all have inquisitive minds. Nobody stops learning.
What is special about Mathematical Encounters? It is unique. It is unusual. When you pick up a book by the title, you have an expectation of what the book will look like. This is not so with Mathematical Encounters. When one scans through the table of contents, the book looks like an English novel but not in its entirely.
What differentiates it from other books in the same category? Mathematical Encounters is unique. It is different in many aspects. It is not written strictly in line with any particular curriculum but that does not take anything away from its relevance. You have to really read the book to know the difference
Do you write during the day, at night or whenever you can sneak a few minutes? You gave me three options: day, night or whenever I can sneak a few minutes. I will say all of the above. I write anywhere and anytime. I don’t really have a special place or time where or when I do my writings. One of my book chapters was completed when I was at a detention center having been remanded in custody by the US Immigration and Naturalization Services for an expired visa.
Is there a central message you will like readers to take away from the book? The mystery of the sewing machine was discovered in a dream. Through a dream experience, James Watt invented ball- bearings . Through a dream, the periodic table of elements (arrangement of elements according to their physical and chemical properties) was discovered by a Russian scientist named Dmiri Mendeleyev. Your dream could be the source of the next invention. Don’t take your dreams for granted. Keep a dream journal.
Are you working on your next book? If yes, can you tell us about it? Yes, I am, Actually I am working on two books now. One is tentatively titled, Mathematical Explorations.   Mathematical Explorations is all about odd, even, Fibonacci, triangular numbers and Lucas numbers while the second one entitled, Mathematical Paradise – Getting to Know Triangular Numbers is about triangular numbers.
Odd numbers are numbers of the form: 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21, 23, 25, 27...
Even numbers are numbers of the form: 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28…
Fibonacci numbers are numbers of the form: 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, 55, 89, 144, 233, 377, 610, 987, 1597, 2584 …
Triangular numbers are numbers of the form: 1, 3, 6, 10, 15, 21, 28, 36, 45, 55, 66, 78, 91, 105, 120, 136…
Lucas numbers are numbers of the form: 1, 3, 4, 7, 11, 18, 29, 47, 76, 123…
Have you started another book yet? If yes, what is it? Yes, I have. I am working on four titles.
Mathematical Explorations
Selected Dreams From My Dream Journal (Enhancing Your Creativity Through Dreams)
Mathematical Paradise Getting to Know Triangular Numbers
Mathematical Paradise Getting to Know Fibonacci Numbers
What is the best advice you could give other writers about writing and publishing? Write about what interests and inspires you. I have a penchant for Fibonacci numbers. I love to talk and write about triangular numbers as well. I have a passion for these types of numbers and that is what I mostly write about.   In mathematics, these numbers are studied under what is known as number theory.
Where can readers learn about you and your books? http://www.mathematicalencounters.com
How can they contact you directly?
pemekwulu@yahoo.com or paulemekwulu@mathematicalencounters.com
Any final thoughts you’d like to share? Write on what you know and what you are passionate about.
What is your favorite quote, by whom, and why? Never, never give up by Winston Churchill. Because though giving up is an option, it is not the best option, has never been and will never be.

Do you have a website and or blog where readers can find out more? Yes, I do and the address is:
http://www.mahtematicalencounters.com
Why and when did you begin writing? The first thing I have ever written and published was an article in a student magazine when I was at Alvan Ikoku College of Education, Owerri, Imo state, Nigeria. It was an article on beauty which they say is in the eye of the beholder. In this article, I looked at other things that could be beautiful other than the obvious. Examples are well-behaved graph, innocent-looking sequence like the Fibonacci sequence or other mathematical patterns. This little achievement (having an article published in a student publication) motivated me to do another article when I was a member of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) at New Era College, Benin, Edo state of Nigeria. This article was titled, “Teaching of Mathematics in Our Secondary Schools.” It was published in the July 23, 1981 issue of The Nigerian Observer. It was also published in the June 8, 1982 issue of The Renaissance, a state owned newspaper of the then defunct East Central State Government of Nigeria. This became my ‘aha’ moment that led to bigger things including the writing and publication of Mathematical Encounters. If anyone is interested in writing, start with a newspaper article.
While a teacher in Nigeria, I self-published a math pamphlet which sold 100 copies in its first printing and 1000 copies in a second printing. Shortly after I immigrated to the United States, where my fascination with writing and publishing led me to write my first full-fledged book, Magic of Numbers
What kind of advice or tips do you have for someone who wants to write and get published? Write about what interests you and inspires you. Writing a book is the easy part while probably the most difficult part is marketing the book to the target audience for whom the book is intended.
Are there any other comments, advice or tips that you would give to beginning writers? Always keep writing materials with you. Ideas can come to you at anytime, anywhere. Such ideas need to be written down, otherwise, if they come back later, the original flavor could be lost.
Where can people purchase your books? People can buy Mathematical Encounters at the following sites:
http://www.xlibris.com
http://www.amazon.com
http://www.Books-A-Million.com
http://www. Barnesandnoble.com
What do you do when you are not writing? When I am not writing, I am doing the following or some of them:
Watching favorite TV programs including The Oprah Winfrey Show (that was then). American Idol with Jennifer Lopez, Randy Jackson, and Steve Tyler, Are You Smarter than a 5^th Grader with Jeff FoxWorthy, Smart Travels (Europe) with Rudy & Rick Steve, Dancing with the Stars on ABC, ABC Evening News with Diane Sawyer
I surf the internet frequently researching for places where Mathematical Encounters is sold. Through such research I discovered that Mathematical Encounters is listed on over 1,500 online bookstores including Waterstones, Powells, Abebooks, Bookhills Bookstore, Emporium Books, Books-A-Million, BookDepository, Take2, Google ebookstore, Half-Price Books.com, Debonair Bookstore, Akademika, Shuler Books & Music, Tattered Bookcover, Green Apple Books, McNally Jackson Books, Diesel Books, Fireside Books, The American Book Center, Asia Books, Eslite Bookstore etc.
What "Made It" moments have you experienced in life? When I first applied for an entry visa into the United States my application was denied. It was rejected because the company inviting me did not explicitly state and agree to cover my expenses for the period of the visit. I contacted them and told them what the US embassy said. In less than three weeks, the president of the company sent a reply saying that the company would cover my expenses for the period of my visit. My visa was granted as soon as the letter was presented to the embassy.
On December 15, 1984, my visa expired and I became an illegal alien and eventually ended up having problems with US immigration.   I was detained at the Oklahoma City county jail for a period of 25 days before being transferred to Dallas. From Dallas I was moved to Houston for immediate deportation to Nigeria. Before the deportation arrangements could be completed, the deportation order was reversed. Thank God today I am now a US citizen.
You are so fascinated with Fibonacci numbers and numbers of similar nature. Why this fascination, Paul? Yes, I am so fascinated about Fibonacci and triangular numbers. There are reasons for that.
Some people may be asking: What are Fibonacci numbers. What are triangular numbers? Further still, what are Lucas numbers? (discovered by Edourd Lucas who lived from 1842-1891).
Fibonacci numbers are numbers of the form: 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, 55, 89, 144, 233, 377, 610, 987, 1597, 2584, x, y, x+y...
while triangular numbers are numbers of the form: 1, 3, 6, 10, 15, 21, 28, 36, 45, 55, 66, 78, 91, 105, 120, 136, 153, 191...
And Lucas numbers are numbers of the form: 1, 3, 4, 7, 11,18, 29, 47, 76, 123, 199. 322…
The three dots at the end means that the numbers continue indefinitely. People do wonder why I am so fascinated with these numbers. My friends do wonder. My wife does wonder also.
Fascination with a History
My fascination with Fibonacci numbers has a history. I was exposed to this innocent-looking sequence called the Fibonacci sequence while I was a student at Alvan Ikoku College of Education, Owerri, Imo state, Nigeria by an American math professor, Mr. Edward Himes. Since then I have been exploring Fibonacci numbers on my own. My explorations have been very fascinating. I will surely share these with you. But first, let me say this.
I wish I had the language of a fine artist. I wish I had the language of a musician. I wish I had the language of a poet. I wish I had all these different languages to fully express my excitement and fascination for this number sequence that has attracted the attention of amateur and professional mathematicians for centuries.
The Fibonacci sequence as it is called was discovered by an Italian mathematician, Filius Bonacci more than 800 years ago.
Self-Exploration of Fibonacci and Triangular Numbers
In my exploration, I found out that there is a relationship between Fibonacci numbers and triangular numbers. This relationship is in form of a formula. This then led me to explore with substantial success the formula for finding the:
nth term of the following:
(i) even-subscripted Fibonacci numbers {1, 3, 8, 21, 55...}
(ii) odd-subscripted Fibonacci numbers {1, 2, 5, 13. 34...}
(iii) odd-subscripted triangular numbers {1, 6, 15, 28,36...}
(iv) even-subscripted triangular numbers {3, 10, 21, 36, 55 ...}
Summation strategy for first n terms of the following:
(i) Fibonacci numbers
(ii) even-subscripted Fibonacci numbers
(iii) odd-subscripted Fibonacci numbers
(iv) triangular numbers {1, 3, 6, 10, 15, 21, 28...}
(vii) Lucas numbers {1, 3, 4, 7, 11, 18, 29, 47…}
Is there anything you would like to add?
Thank you for having me.

book

Free Author Interview: Janice Richards

2011-11-16T20:08:00.000-08:00

Author Name: Janice N. Richards

A memoir “Growing Up in the Rockies”

“Growing Up in the Rockies” is a memoir of a happy childhood growing up in a mining town. It’s about a community where neighbors looked out for one another and still do. It’s about mother nature being your backyard and living with the environment. It’s about a time when it was safe.

My heart drifts back to the Rocky Mountains as I sit and look out the window, I see the snow that once brought such joy to my heart. I remember the days when I would have been known as a “Snow Bunny.” I think of my poor mother, and how difficult it was for her to keep me indoors. I was a mountain girl who climbed the mountains, and I chased the animals. I found all of God’s creatures beautiful. I was my father’s child. He roamed the wilderness and I learned from him. I loved to live life and I was very, very happy. It makes me very sad when I think of children who have not experienced such happiness, for I was one of the lucky ones. That is why I wish to share my life with you.

It is hard for me to know where to begin as I remember back on the life that I loved and miss so much to this day. I will begin with the memories that stand out in my heart and are what made me the person I am today. I will try the best that I can to divide the book by the four seasons, although the seasons have changed. Some memories will overlap into other seasons. However, life seems to run according to the events of the seasons and this will help to organize my memoirs.

Books may be ordered from the following outlets:

Authorhouse.com (self-publisher)

Amazon.com

Barnes and Nobles.com

Goggle.com

Autographed copies can be ordered directly through me by contacting me either on my blog site or on facebook.

On line prices differ from retail store prices.

Growing Up in the Rockies – 220 page memoir of a Happy Childhood These prices are only good if ordered online with authorhose.com

In addition she has written:

Dreams of Yesterday a collection of poetry

Upcoming projects:

“Coming of Age in the Rockies: The Rebel Within”

“Montana’s Horse Range” poetry

“Grandma’s Pantry” poetry

“ Let’s Have Fun” for parents and teachers

“ Real Life Short Stories”

“Behind Closed Doors” 40 years of one teacher’s experiences.

“Apples or Nana’s” children’s story

“Mercedes Lynn with Love” a grandmother’s journey

My writing experiences mainly started as a teacher as I journeyed with my students through the writing process. Then after a divorce I turned to writing music lyrics as a therapeutic release however, it was very time consuming. That’s when I switched to poetry. My mother for years wanted me to write about my teaching experiences as I would come home and tell stories. I wanted to write my memoir about a happy childhood, because over the years I have seen the life style I grew up with disappear. Now children stay inside in front of computers or other technology games. I grew up when we spent most of our time outdoors. I wanted to share those memories. I continue to write about those things that are very important and close to my life. My life has been strongly influenced by my family and I want to share that with others. My teaching has strongly influenced me and all of my experiences have made me the person I am today.

I am not writing for a career or posterity. I do not have the time in my life to wait and worry about rejection letters. I chose to self publish because I want my books published for me. It has allowed me to maintain control and publish the way I want.

I plan to continue writing and publishing as long as I am able to do so, and will continue to self publish.

Advice to help future authors.

“No one is perfect so writing isn’t perfect but it can be perfected.” ~ Janice N. Richards

Some very important guidelines should be followed when writing. I have made these very generic so that they don’t address any specific genre. They can be used with all genres. However, a specific genre like science fiction may require some additional areas of proofing not listed her. Keep in mind this is general.

· Purpose for writing: Pick a topic, theme, or idea and stay with it. The words should flow naturally. Don’t try to write with words you never use it will become unnatural.

· Audience writing too: Determine who will be reading your writing and write to their interests, their, goals, their dreams, their purpose for reading what you wrote but write with your passion.

· Start writing and do not stop until you have finished a poem, a section, or a chapter. Write without editing while your ideas are flowing creatively. You can always go back and change things. Make sure stanzas, paragraphs, chapters, and sections connect to one another.

· Your ending should be as strong as your beginning, connect them together.

· Proofreading: Do not proof for all the mechanical areas at one proofing. Use spell check before you start. Remember spelling and grammar are two different checks on the computer. Don’t expect spell check to catch grammar errors. Also, it is limited to the dictionary that was installed into your computer. If you aren’t sure use online dictionary or a hard bound dictionary. If you have an updated Microsoft program it will give you the rules for change, make sure you read them so you learn them for future writings. NEVER, NEVER, TRY TO DO THEM ALL IN ONE SITTING IT WON’T WORK. THAT’S WHY I USE ONE SITTING PER LISTED AREA.

· a proofing for spelling,

· a proofing for verb usage – tense,

· a proofing for punctuation,

· a proofing for correct sentence structure,

· a proofing for word usage – don’t over use words this is where a thesaurus can be your best friend,

· proof for capitalization – proper nouns, and last but not least

· proof content area. Did you say what you meant and did you stick with the purpose. Don’t ramble, delete duplications.

· I use different colored high lighters for the types of errors so if you are proofing seven areas you would use seven colors. I do that for two reasons.

· First I want to see what types of errors I am making most frequently. Second I want to know if the errors are my errors or the publishers’ errors as it affects how you pay for corrections.

· You will go through this process of proofing and editing and rewriting until you have a flawless work.

· Average times proofing for a professional writer is twenty plus times.

· Never edit your book when you are sleepy, hungry, or angry.

· Frequent breaks are needed. It is recommended that every 15 minutes you get up go for a walk, stretch, get something to eat do anything but it is best that you do something where you won’t be sitting.

· Remember to save all drafts, revisions, and proofs, it will safe you work in the end.

· Always have more than one copy stored either on CD’s an external hard drive , a flash drive, in your email inbox, and on your computer. That way if computer’s crash you will be able to access the information without loosing everything. Store photos, music, and anything else you are using separate from the text and have it on backups. They are very time-consuming to redo.

· Learn to cut and paste it will make your life easier.

· Learn as much technology as you can.

· Blog, tweet, and post on Facebook, website

· Remember no one can publish your work until you give final approval. Don’t be afraid to reject it if the layout looks wrong, the print job isn’t right, or if corrections haven’t been made. I reject my last cover three times before I would accept the color they used.

· Stay in control of your publishing after all your name is attached to it.

· Maintain control of royalties, rights, and copyrights,

· Market and sell your writings

· Never sign a contract without having someone else go over it especially someone in the business.

· Last but not least. If you are a writer you have a passion. Enjoy your passion and the journey it takes you on. Remember the more you write the more your writing will change and the more you will grow with it.

My favorite author is Mark Twain and his book Tom Sawyer. I was able to relate to that style of living and enjoy it from the perspective of a real life style experience.

My father had the largest impact on my life in regards to appreciating nature and leaving the environment the way you found it. He instilled values of respect and responsibility in me. My mother was also a big influence on encourage my writing and the values that my father instilled.

I am driven to write because I don’t want future generations to forget what this country is all about. Much of what I grew up with has already been forgotten. All we hear on the news is the bad and the ugly. I want to remind future generations of a time when families were supportive of each other, the streets were safe to walk and neighbors looked out for each other. I want to remind society of the importance of commitment and responsibility. I want to promote the fact that life can still find happiness. I feel that we can return our society to that if generations work for it. I want people to remember the simple life and it’s benefits. I also want people to know they aren’t alone. There is always someone else out there that is sharing life’s problems.

My book is being promoted on line through various sites, my block site at http://cjanasdreams.wordpress.com

I am also being promoted through twitter under authorconsult: on facebook under Janice N. Richards “Best Selling Authors. I have a promoter in Australia that is working with me. I am also currently scheduling book signings and local craft fairs for the holiday seasons. News information has gone out to over 500 news media stations. I will do radio and television interviews. I recently gave a presentation at the College of Southern Idaho. I will continue as a guest speaker upon requests.

I grew up with a disability and the teachers never thought I would finish high school. I went on to graduate from college and became a teacher. I have often over come hurdles in my life and continue to do so. I want others to know that you are the only one who knows your limitations. I am currently disabled but I continue to be a productive citizen.

My characters have been from real life stories. However, I am going to tackle a story that is not real life. I will use traits from a variety of people I have either seen or known over the many years.

When I started my memoir, it was much different from my poetry. My poetry was a collection written over a twenty-year span. However, my memoir I had to organize and decide how I was going to do that.

For me it was easier to put it into seasons. First, I did a table of contents for my outline. Then I just started writing, and kept writing. If I thought of something out of place I put it in my notes and later went back and did a cut and paste. Having it lined out by the seasons and months of the years made it easy for me to keep it in a sequence. Then after the writing was done I went back and added images and some poetry.

I can write anytime of day. However, since I am retired I decided to work it like a business. When I get up in the morning, I first check my emails just as I would have done at work. When I am finished with emails, I start writing. I take frequent fifteen-minute breaks so that I am not sitting too long at the computer. I stop for a lunch hour and dinner hour. I only write in the evening now when I am in the mood or working hard to finish. I try now to keep it to an eight-hour schedule. That way it allows me to do other marketing issues, proofing and personal life activities.

How do you juggle life around your writing? By having a routine, it allows me to have time for everything. I live with my cats and one son. My cats are sleeping when I write. Although one cat has his box on my desk so, he can sleep next to me while I work. My son is off doing his own thing. I don’t take personal calls during the daytime when I write. My friends know to call me after five pm. My frequent breaks allow me to do household chores. I am a retired disabled teacher, so I rarely go out of the house. However, on a day when I do go out, I don’t write at all.

I was fortunate and grew up around the printing business, as my father was a printer. However, learning how self-publisher’s work has been somewhat different. I have learned that you really need to research and know as much as you possibly can. I have improved my technology skills, my being pro-active with publishers, and my marketing skills. However, writers are continually learning and finding new methods and outlets. Having access to other authors and their knowledge has been of great value to me. I continue to communicate with them online and read their blog sites. I think one of the biggest struggles for any writer is the financial struggle.

What criticisms have helped you grow as a writer? The main criticism that I have run into is proof your work, which all writers need to understand, and double check your publishers because you think it’s been corrected but it doesn’t always happen. The other is time elements. Once people know your book is coming out it drives them nuts if they have to wait. I have learned not to say anything too soon until I know it’s ready to hit the market. That way no one is disappointed if it takes longer to publish than anticipated.

Life is a journey you take the good with the bad. I am inviting everyone to come along and journey with me through the bumps in the roads. I don’t know what I will write until I do it. However, this is my legacy to my sons and the world. Please come on in and see how much we have in common. I hope that in someway I can touch my reader’s life.

Happy writing!

book

Self Publishing Is it worth the effort?

2011-11-11T12:30:00.000-08:00

One of the areas that I think tends to scare off potential authors from self-publishing is the idea of having to do their own marketing. Isn’t that what a traditional publisher is supposed to do for you?

I follow the posts of many of my favorite authors to see how well they do with their book deals and it amazes me just how much time they spend on the road self-promoting. Book signings, guest speaking, books fairs, etc. You name it these people are doing it. Is that really any different from what you do?

Aren’t you on line chatting, emailing, posting and smooth talking with potential buyers? Why has the idea of self-marketing become so tainted when it’s exactly what traditional published authors are doing?

Are you a friend of an author? Follower on twitter? Subscriber to a blog? Exactly. Me too.

If you can talk you can self promote. If you can type, which I hope you can since you want to be an author, then you can self promote. If you can blog, tweet, email, text or use any other form of social media, then you can self promote.

The key to any form of promotion is getting you name out there. I won’t lie to you. It takes time, dedication and more hours than I could ever have dreamed, but it’s all worth it.

Tips of ways to self-promote your new book:

· Do an author interview with me www.self-published-authors.blogspot.com and link it to your site.

· Create a blog. IT’S FREE!! I use blogger and love it! You can also use wordpress or other sites.

· Get on Facebook. Join some of the book review groups.

· Sign up for LinkedIn. Start meeting other authors.

· Join a writer’s group.

· Get to know your Librarian!

· Get your picture and book cover in a local paper.

· Twitter

· Create an author profile on your ebook site (it shows up in search engines)

· Create an email list of people to inform of new publications

· Book signings

· Get your book into your local school system if it’s the right age group (or a college)

· Offer free copies of your book in exchange for a book review

· Co-write on a friends blog

· Create a Book movie poster (these are fun)

· Download your book trailer onto YouTube

These are just a few ideas but they can keep you hopping. Pick one and start today. You don’t have to wait until you book is published to start promoting.

But always remember- creating a career around writing isn’t easy. It’s takes time, but never let low book sales tell you that you’re not a success. It just means you need to get back to promoting. Have faith in yourself, even if no one else will.

Happy writing!

book

The Death Cure, by James Dashner

2011-11-11T09:09:00.000-08:00

I posted this my author blog http://www.amymilesbooks.blogspot.com/ but since I loved the book so much I had to repost for all of you!

I have waited FOREVER to get my hands on the final installment of James Dashner's Maze Runner Trilogy, The Death Cure. I picked it up from my local library around 2pm yesterday afternoon and sometime in the wee hours of the night I finished. And despite the haze from lack of sleep this morning, I am thrilled to announce that I LOVED IT!

What a great inspiration on how to finish a trilogy well. This couldn't have come at a better time for me since I'm currently working on my Arotas Trilogy. The first installment Forbidden, has just been released and I'm writing the sequel at the moment. My biggest fear...letting the book fall flat. Or giving away too much too soon.

Thank you Mr. Dashner for not only a great read but also a guide on how to keep the suspense going through all three of my books!

I highly recommend anyone who is looking for a YA Dystopian Science Fiction to read the entire Maze Runner Trilogy. Edge of your seat suspense, characters that you will want to root for and hate, and a finale that will leave you logically satisfied.

book

Free Author Interview: Lauren Clark

2011-11-10T08:46:00.000-08:00

Author Bio: Lauren Clark has been a voracious reader since the age of four and would rather be stranded at the library than on a desert island. In her former life, she worked as an anchor and producer for CBS affiliates in Upstate New York and Alabama. Lauren adores her family, yoga, her new Electra bike, and flavored coffee. She lives near the Florida Gulf Coast. Visit her website at LaurenClarkBooks.com.

What happens when a #1 news team becomes the top story instead of reporting it?

For TV producer Melissa Moore, crisis management comes with the job. From employee meltdowns to her high-maintenance boss, there’s not much she hasn’t seen or can’t handle. But no one—including Melissa—expects a fistfight during the ten o’clock news. When sexy-but-crazy Alyssa Andrews lands a punch on her co-anchor’s face, Melissa jumps on set to help. She’s determined that WSGA’s reputation won’t be destroyed on her watch.

Both anchors are fired and Melissa agrees to fill in—but not before polishing her look from haircut to heels. While the new Melissa wows WSGA viewers, her personal life begins fraying at the edges. Melissa’s husband is away more than he’s home, leaving cryptic Post-it notes in his wake. Her mother’s antics spiral out of control at the nursing home, a friend’s daughter disappears, and a stalker makes Melissa her next target.

What happens next? Stay Tuned…

How long did it take to write the book? Five years start to finish! Lots of breaks in between.

What inspired you to write the book? True Story: Before I began work at an Upstate NY TV station as a reporter, the two main anchors (who were in a romantic relationship) got into a fistfight in the parking lot of the television station. They were fired, it made the newspaper, and a lot of ugly editorials and threats were exchanged. I thought it would be fun to have something similar happen on air and watch what would happen behind the scenes.

Talk about the writing process. do you write at night or in the morning? I am a morning person! I need quiet and often hide out in the local university's library basement (where I have to shut off my cell phone and I don't have the password for the internet).

Did you use an outline or do you just wing the first draft? Outline. I have to use an outline or I find myself meandering off into random places that have nothing to do with the plot!

How is your book different from others in your genre? I have another women's fiction/chick lit book in the works. I'm also writing psychological thrillers. The women's fiction/chick lit is a nice break from the heavy-duty research and intricate plotting.

Is your book published in print, e-book or both? Stay Tuned is available in an eBook and paperback.

Where can we go to buy your book? Amazon, Smashwords, BN.com

Tell us about your next book or a work in progress. Is it a sequel or a stand alone? Dancing Naked in Dixie (stand alone). A talented but scattered travel magazine writer is on the verge of getting fired. To save her job, she reluctantly accepts an assignment to cover the city of Eufaula, Alabama's annual Pilgrimage. She arrives only to discover that a developer has big plans to turn the historic area into a tourist site.

Any other links or info you'd like to share? http://www.laurenclarkbooks.com

http://www.laurenclarkbooks.org

About your book:

Title: Stay Tuned

Author: Lauren Clark

Page count: 272

Genre: Upmarket Women's Fiction/Chick Lit

Publisher: Monterey Press LLC

Excerpt from book:

STAY TUNED

Chapter 1

Alyssa Andrews was missing.

Gone, vanished, MIA with just minutes to airtime.

“Melissa, where is she?” Our news director, Joe, shot a harried look in my direction. After dealing with a broken studio camera, spotty satellite reception, and last-minute script changes, his nerves were fried to a crisp.

“She’ll be here,” I promised, knowing my confidence was a front. Alyssa, one of WSGA-TV’s main news anchors, was a constant source of angst in my already-stressful job.

She was young, talented, gorgeous…and chronically late.

This lack of punctuality was a problem, especially when WSGA ran a show at exactly six and ten o’clock every night. Not a moment later.

WSGA was Macon, Georgia’s number one news station and had been for two years running. If we wanted to keep it that way, timing was everything. Every second mattered.

I produced both evening shows, which meant—among a dozen other tasks—organizing the day’s stories, writing copy, and checking video. Each segment had to run seamlessly between three-minute commercial breaks.

Deep breath, Melissa. Send up a little prayer. She’ll show up.

The red numbers on the clock continued to march forward.

Another deep breath. Everything’s in place. Alyssa just needs to walk in and get on set…

“Tighten up on camera one.” Joe peppered the room with demands. “Mic check, now, not yesterday.”

Tim Donaldson, Alyssa’s co-anchor, obliged, counting backwards from the number five.

Joe’s thick fingers punched buttons on the massive keyboard in front of him. “Bring up the live shot.”

Still, no Alyssa.

Joe raked a huge hand through his long gray hair. “Five minutes!” he growled, with a glare into his empty coffee cup.

At this point, it was Joe’s show to run. He was in charge. I shuffled my scripts. “How about I call her?”

“She’s an adult,” he grumbled. “You shouldn’t have to.”

Joe expected nothing less than perfection. He was experienced, hard working, and a stickler for detail. Alyssa’s nonchalance made him crazy.

Which, at 9:55:36 on a Friday night, gave him the patience of a gnat. On crack.

This was particularly dangerous for an unsuspecting new employee, all of twenty years old and pimple-faced, who crept up behind us.

Joe ignored him at first, barking an order to me instead. “Fine, fine. Melissa, tell Princess A. she’s needed in the studio.”

On autopilot, I punched her extension, eyes focused on the row of monitors above my head in case she decided to appear.

While the phone rang, the new kid rocked on his heels nervously. I flashed a smile and shook my head gently in his direction, hoping he’d get the hint.

Not now.

Nope. The kid stood there, coughed lightly, and waited for one of us to turn around.

“What?” Joe finally snapped.

The force of the word made the kid’s body jerk back. Jaw open, unable to speak, his face turned crimson.

Joe waited about a second for the kid to talk, and then leaned back over the control panel. He pressed at switches, clearly annoyed. The kid looked sick. Joe rolled his eyes. My anxiety level cranked up ten notches.

9:58:09. Less than two minutes.

Wait…a flash of an ivory suit and blond hair.

“There she is,” I interrupted the tension with a cool nod toward the monitors.

Front and center, Alyssa sauntered into the studio, lips puckered, blowing her shell-pink nail polish dry. She slid into her seat next to Tim, and gave him a playful pat on the shoulder.

Joe muttered something I couldn’t repeat.

I stifled a loud sigh of relief and glanced around the room. The new guy was the only one in the building unimpressed with Alyssa’s arrival. With a shaking hand, he reached out and tapped Joe’s burly shoulder.

“Mr. Joe, there’s a problem with one of the machines—”

Joe’s back stiffened. He turned a millimeter in the kid’s direction and exploded. “Get your butt back there. Get one of the engineers. Fix it. Call someone.”

I caught the now-completely mortified kid’s eye, and motioned for him to come toward me. Grabbing the nearest piece of paper, I jotted down the engineer’s extension and held it at arm’s length with a kind smile. Poor guy. Lots to learn.

With a grateful look, the new kid plucked the scrap from my fingers and darted away.

Time to get started.

I settled in, gripped my pen hard, and looked up.

Okay. Alyssa’s collar was turned under. Minor detail, but sure to garner at least five viewer complaints. You wouldn’t believe what people called in about.

I leaned toward the microphone to let Alyssa know.

“Dare you not to tell her,” Joe muttered. It wasn’t a secret that the guys would willingly let Alyssa go on air with underwear on her head. She hadn’t made friends. Or tried to.

Tim, her co-anchor and current boyfriend, didn’t count.

“Just part of those darn producer duties, Joe. You know that.” I flashed him a smile and pressed the button to talk. “Alyssa, fix your collar.”

Her mouth parted into an O. Alyssa frowned, glanced down, and straightened the pale edge. Just in time.

Like a well-directed movie, the WSGA-TV opening video flashed across monitor one. Macon, Georgia’s skyline filled the screen.

My body tingled with a familiar rush of excitement. It happened every time we went on air. The cameras and lights, the beat of the music, the thrill of live television.

Here we go.

Seconds later, Alyssa and Tim appeared under the lights, their bright anchor smiles pasted on.

“Good evening, I’m Alyssa Andrews.

“And I’m Tim Donaldson.”

And on it went, without a blip, for the first ten minutes. I started breathing again after the third break.

Stanley and Sunshine, the weather cat, were ready for the five-day forecast, check.

Commercial break, check.

Sports, check. I didn’t worry about that three-minute slot. Plenty to talk about, visual stories; the anchors could get away with jokes and ad-libbing. Viewers loved it.

We rounded out the show with an inspirational kicker about a local scholarship winner, a kid first in his family to go to college. He’d won forty thousand dollars and was going to Georgia Tech to study astrophysics.

The show wrapped with a standard goodnight, credits, and a wide shot of the WSGA set.

The second the master control operator switched to break, Alyssa flounced off the set in silicone fashion. She barked into her jewel-encrusted cell phone about her min-pin puppy’s cancelled spa appointment and stomped out of the studio, teetering precariously in four-inch heels.

Yikes!

I climbed the flight of stairs back to the newsroom, relieved the night was almost over.

The phones started to ring five seconds later.

Book Review: Lee Mandel

2011-11-08T07:19:00.000-08:00

Frog Burgers. The name itself was enough to intrigue me into wanting to read more. Although I don’t normally read middle age books, I found this one to be delightful.

The book was short enough to entice the targeted age group 8-12 year old. It was entertaining, humorous, and had my favorite theme, a budding love interest. And dealing with the topic of bullying at this age is very appropriate.

I’m sure Frog Burgers would be an enjoyable read for most middle age students. Well done Lee Mandel.

Frog Burgers is available on Amazon for only $0.99 a bargain for a good kid’s book.

If you are interested in purchasing Lee Mandel’s book, follow this link. http://www.amazon.com/Frog-Burgers-ebook/dp/B004MDLQQS

book

Free Author Interview: Katrina Miller

2011-11-08T06:55:00.000-08:00

AUTHOR NAME: Katrina Adrian Miller

WHERE CAN WE FIND YOUR BOOK, Falling in Love with the Enemy? HOW MUCH DOES IT COST? Smashwords.com. e-book: $2.99. http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/90138

www.officialkatrinaadrianmiller.weebly.com

TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT YOUR BOOK: It is the year, 1883 and two childhood enemies meet up again seven years later. Each one of them is hiding a secret. A secret so shocking that they could be hung if found out. As the days pass, they both realize that they're attracted to the other. Will the men push aside their ridiculous hatred of the other and become more then friends? Will their secret be revealed to everyone?

DO YOU HAVE ANY UPCOMING PROJECTS? Working on the sequel.

WHAT HAS YOUR JOURNEY AS A WRITER BEEN LIKE? I've been writing fiction since the 1st grade. As I grew older, my stories became more controversial. Some of my family members won't even read them.

Is there anything unique about yourself that you would like your readers to know? I strive to be the nicest person on this planet. Um... I talk to my guinea pig as if it were a real person. I would like to think that she understands me.

Who is your favorite author, and why? John Steinbeck. He writes the truth. My favorite book of his is, East of Eden.

Please share some advice to help future authors. Not everyone is going to like your work. Remember, all the greats were rejected once. Don't get mad if you get a bad review. Most reviews want to help you, and give helpful feedback. Forget the others, they just want to ruffle your feathers.

book

Free Author Interview: Marilyn Bostick

2011-11-08T06:44:00.000-08:00

Author Name: Marilyn Bostick

Book Title: Run

Book Description: A group of anarchists seeks to unleash their brand of chaos and terror. One man pulls all the strings and plots new ways of unleashing terror on the innocent. A disk with a mysterious program and an even more mysterious and cryptic letter to be solved pulls in one woman who seeks answers to the mysterious disk and whose life turns to horror overnight as she plunges into a nightmare where there seems to be no end. A detective who listens gets caught up in the web of terror as he tries to keep Brianna Benning alive and solve the mystery of the disk.

Available at PublishAmerica through this link http://www.publishamerica.net/product11929.html

book