Monday, August 30, 2010

Live chat/interview with children's author Corinne Demas 9/5/10



The Writer's Chatroom presents Corinne Demas.

WHEN?

Sunday, September 5, 2010

Eastern USA Time.....7-9 PM

Not sure what time that is wherever in the world you are? http://www.worldtimeserver.com

WHERE?

The Writers Chatroom at: http://www.writerschatroom.com/Enter.htm

Scroll down to the Java box. It may take a moment to load. Type in the name you wish to be known by, and click Login. No password needed.

Please note: The chatroom is only open for regularly scheduled chats.

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Interview with author Meredith Cagen - BK Walker Books virtual book tour



As I continue to host the BK Walker Books Authors Promoting Authors virtual blog tour, today I welcome author Meredith Cagen.

Bio: Meredith Cagen is a working wife and mother living in New York City. She works as a freelance writer and registered nurse. Meredith is known as "The Queen of the Multi-taskers." In her free time, she goes to the gym and daydreams.

Welcome, Meredith!

Please tell us about your current release Size Eight in a Size Zero World.
My main character, Lindsay is one of them (us). She is a typical woman for this new millennium, working a job, taking care of her family (one husband, two children, one dog, one apartment), running her household, overworked, unappreciated, no time for herself, a super multi-tasker, while her husband watches TV and plays on the internet.

She struggles to keep a sense of herself. And then one day she meets someone who causes her to re-evaluate how she lives her life, turning her world upside down. It’s a very realistic journey she takes filled with humor and heart! An adventure into New York City society and relationships.

What inspired you to write this book?
I returned to school to obtain a Bachelors of Science in Nursing, years after completing my MBA. It was daunting. The first time I sat down to study for an exam, I had funny ideas racing through my head. I had a difficult time focusing and actively started daydreaming. I couldn’t concentrate, so I went with the flow and wrote down all those funny, random thoughts. And the writing didn’t stop until Size Eight in a Size Zero World was completed.

I’m not sure if that qualifies as inspiration, but that is my story.

What exciting story are you working on next?
Readers of Size Eight in a Size Zero World are asking me to write the story of “The Man Upstairs” character and they want to know what happens to Lindsay now. I’m not sure what I am going to do………………….Any suggestions?

When did you first consider yourself a writer?
The first time I was referred to as an author.

Do you write full-time? If so, what's your work day like? If not, what do you do other than write and how do you find time to write?
I work as a Registered Nurse. Writing has become a part of me, like eating milk chocolate, I love doing it. I am passionate about my characters and stories.

What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?
I get great ideas in my sleep!

Friends tell me their stories hoping I will incorporate them into my next book!

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
I wanted to be a happy housewife and mother with a beautifully decorate large house!

Anything additional you want to share with the readers?
Read the book, and share with me your thoughts, mcagen@gmail.com

Thank you for your time today, Meredith. Your book sounds like a lot of fun. Best of luck with your writing.

Monday, August 23, 2010

Interview with author Kim Upstone - BK Walker Books virtual book tour



As I continue to host the BK Walker Books Authors Promoting Authors virtual blog tour, today I welcome author Kim Upstone.

Welcome, Kim!

Please tell us about your current release.
All I Want Is … Everything, A Guide to Love, Peace and Happiness is a map to follow, a journey to find your everything. It's an opportunity to learn to live each day of your life as a gift, no matter the circumstances. Learning to create for yourself the vision of who you want to be and then living that vision each day.

I wanted everything and from the outside it appeared that I had everything: a loving husband and two beautiful healthy children and strong faith. A great house and all the things that go along with it. But even with all of those things I still felt something was missing. There was piece to the puzzle missing. If I could locate that missing part I would then be complete and happy.

My search led me in many different directions, mostly outside of myself for the answers. It wasn’t until, out of desperation, I asked for guidance and received it that I learned all the answers were all within me waiting to be discovered.

All I Want Is Everything, A Guide to Love, Peace and Happiness is my journey to find my everything. What I found was so much more than I could have ever hoped for. What I have created is a guide for readers to follow. The answers to the questions will lead you to your answers, “your everything”. You can then discover the secrets hidden safely, waiting inside for you to choose to bring them into the light.

What inspired you to write this book?
This book began as a letter to my children. Many years ago, when they were very young, I had embarked on a journey to find “my everything”. When they both began asking questions about why we are different in our thinking and attitude than others, I realized that they had lived almost their entire life in the light from what I learned.

They were raised differently and my relationship with my husband is different than most, in addition to the fact that we understand our place in the world and the way we live has served us all very well through pain and loss and even success. We know who we are and who we strive to be, we have a map to keep us on course and understand our great value to ourselves and the world, but do not compare ourselves to others, so our ego is not involved.

I was told by an angel while on my journey that I needed to go where there was no trail and leave a path. Until I wrote the letter to my children it did not dawn on me that the trail was my original journey and the path may be writing books for others to share and learn from my experience.

What exciting story are you working on next?
All I Want Is … Everything is the first of a series of four books. I understood from the beginning that there would be four books. They are somewhat sequential, building on the foundation you build with the first book and working your way through the last.

The first book is all about us, who we want to be, defining what “our everything” is and creating a map to guide us through life. The second will be about relationships. The third is about raising children and the fourth is about being successful and remaining bright in your spirit while having abundance present.

When did you first consider yourself a writer?
I think everyone who writes, published or unpublished is a writer. So I guess I have always felt I was a writer. I feel sad when people say they could never write. I believe that everyone has a story to tell, whether it is fiction or non-fiction. Just write your book tell your story, and once it is written decide what you want to do with it. Even if you or your family are the only ones that ever read it you will have left a piece of yourself. I believe in the end that is all we really have to give to the world, a small piece of ourselves. So all you people out there who think writing is some magical gift – it is not. Pick up a pen and give it a try!

Do you write full-time? If so, what's your work day like? If not, what do you do other than write and how do you find time to write?
I do write full time. I have two favorite writing times at 4:00am or 7:00pm. I seem to write more productively when I am tired and have not had caffeine. I think everyone who writes for a living knows that writing is a very small part of the job. I do a lot of speaking engagements, coaching clients, work on marketing and PR, do radio and tv interviews. So writing a book is the easy part.

What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?
The way I write my books is somewhat unique. I write with notebook paper and a pen, but I write the width of the paper across the lines from edge to edge. I also instruct all my readers when journaling to do the same. I think for conventional thinkers it puts you a bit uncomfortable and forces you to think outside the box slightly. When writing from emotion it feels better than writing on a computer or on the lines.

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
I wanted to be a nurse. I am very compassionate by nature and I thought they got to walk around and comfort people all day. When I found out all it entailed I realized I was not gifted with the innate skills to do the job. Since my dad was a business entrepreneur I thought that would nice.

Anything additional you want to share with the readers?
I would love people to understand their importance in the world and what a gift we have been given to be here. Each of us was put here for a reason and if you truly believe that then suddenly everyone has value. Each of us needs to seek out for ourselves, in whatever way works best for us, that purpose and passion that lies within us. To find the answers to allow us to have our “everything” and inspires us to live our life with passion. To take the time to work on those things that you decide are most important to you.

Thank you for your time with today's Q&A, Kim. Best of luck with your writing.

Monday, August 16, 2010

Live chat/interview with novelist Sylvia Dickey Smith 8/22/10



The Writer's Chatroom presents Sylvia Dickey Smith.

WHEN?

Sunday, August 22, 2010

Eastern USA Time.....7-9 PM

Not sure what time that is wherever in the world you are? http://www.worldtimeserver.com

WHERE?

The Writers Chatroom at: http://www.writerschatroom.com/Enter.htm

Scroll down to the Java box. It may take a moment to load. Type in the name you wish to be known by, and click Login. No password needed.

Please note: The chatroom is only open for regularly scheduled chats.

Monday, August 9, 2010

Interview with Diane Griffin - BK Walker Books virtual book tour



As I continue to host the BK Walker Books Authors Promoting Authors virtual blog tour, today I welcome author Diane Griffin.

Welcome, Diane!

Please tell us about your current release.
The e-book guide is called Everything You Need to Know About the Security Clearance Process, But Are Afraid to Ask. It covers the process of obtaining and maintaining a security clearance. It is a lengthy process and people should know in advance what kind of questions will be asked. The United States is under constant threat of having individuals, fundamentalist groups, and foreign countries compromise the nation’s security. In order to combat this threat, the U.S. Federal Government maintains a process for identifying credible and trustworthy individuals, companies, and industries to assist with protecting our national interests and citizens. Obtaining a security clearance is a privilege, not a right.

What inspired you to write this book?
For this book, my inspiration was taken from my experience of working in the defense industry. I was asked the same question repeatedly and I thought it this would be a great book topic for those interested in obtaining a security clearance.

What exciting story are you working on next?
I have three books in the works, one is Can Cancer Be Cured by Alternative Medicines, the other is about workplace violence, and lastly about parents learning the meaning of the text codes that their children are currently using.

When did you first consider yourself a writer?
I really don’t consider myself a writer. Remember, this is my first attempt at writing and I have fallen in love. Some think it is just a phase, but I really enjoy it!

Do you write full-time? If so, what's your work day like? If not, what do you do other than write and how do you find time to write?
No, I do not write full time, I must say that I would love to have a full time career as a writer, but unfortunately, I have not sold enough books to have that dream job, so until that happens, I have a small security consulting company called Security First & Assoc. We help small to medium size defense contractors understand and stay in compliance with the rules and regulations of having a classified contract with the U.S. Government.

What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?
While security is a dry subject, I tried to appreciate some humor injected into an otherwise humorless subject, plus I wanted to impress upon you that if you are afraid to ask questions, chances are that your questions are not any more outlandish than anything that I have addressed in the past.

Realize that it is far better to seek advice and have your questions answered before beginning the application process. Creating answers or avoiding questions puts you at high risk for delay or

Denial of your security clearance resulting in a loss of income. If you have questions regarding security clearances that I have not covered in this book, please visit my web site or contact me via email at sfa@securityfirstassociates.com

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
I am going to date myself, in my day it was called nursery school teacher, today it is called daycare owner.

Anything additional you want to share with the readers?
When seeking advice, it’s common to go to people that you know to get the inside scoop. I bet that you know someone who has a security clearance or had one previously. However, if you ask them a question about their job or the security clearance process, you’re likely to get the response, "… if I told you, I would have to kill you...", or “…well, I got mine a while ago and the laws and process have probably changed..”. So where do you go to get your information? You could spend months researching your questions and all the while, you run the risk of unknowingly saying the wrong thing that could get you flagged as a candidate for rejection.

The more productive, safer, quicker alternative is to spend a couple of hours reading through this informative book loaded with questions and answers from more than 20 years of experience working in and with the system to help you reduce your risk and cut through the red tape delays that are inherent in the system.

Thank you for your time, Diane. This is an interesting topic and one I haven't seen covered before.


Readers, leave a comment to be entered into a drawing to win one of several gifts from promoter of this VBT, BK Walker. Gifts include: a $25 Visa Gift Card, book light,a free-of-charge virtual book tour, or one writing package which includes a journal, pen, book light, and book marker.

Live chat/interview with historical author Mary McCall 8/15/10



The Writer's Chatroom presents Mary McCall.

WHEN?

Sunday, August 15, 2010

Eastern USA Time.....7-9 PM

Not sure what time that is wherever in the world you are? http://www.worldtimeserver.com

WHERE?

The Writers Chatroom at: http://www.writerschatroom.com/Enter.htm

Scroll down to the Java box. It may take a moment to load. Type in the name you wish to be known by, and click Login. No password needed.

Please note: The chatroom is only open for regularly scheduled chats.

Monday, August 2, 2010

Interview with author Mike Dolan - BK Walker virtual book tour



As I continue to host the BK Walker Books Authors Promoting Authors virtual blog tour, today I welcome author Mike Dolan.

Welcome, Mike!

Please tell us about your current release.
A Pecunious Life is a book that helps people have a wealthy life. My main goal in writing this book is to just help as many people as I can to have a better life, a more fullfilling life, and to follow their dreams. I share what I have learned through my experiences and travels and then help the reader make a plan for a better life.

What inspired you to write this book?
My inspiration comes from my the experiences of my past, my travels, my determination to live every day of my life to its fullest and to inspire as many people as I can do the same.

What exciting story are you working on next?
I’m in the final steps of finishing another book as I write this. I would like to continue to write in a way that will help people find their dreams, find their true calling in life and become a positive energy for those around them. The book is call A Thousand Thoughts To Ponder.

When did you first consider yourself a writer?
I've been writing for ten years mostly in journals I have kept. This is my first published work though and I am excited about reaching this milestone I set for myself.

Do you write full-time? If so, what's your work day like? If not, what do you do other than write and how do you find time to write?
I do not write full time. I am a telecommunications specialist working on military installations in Europe and Asia. I travel a great deal and spend my traveling time writing.

What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?
For me, writing early in the morning in a sun drenched window is the best place to be. The house is quiet and most of the time my mind is still empty of "other" distracting thoughts, which allows me to let the writing flow. I get my pot of coffee going, gather my pad of paper and half dozen different colored pens and I just start with what comes to mind and go from there.

Anything additional you'd like to share with the readers?
It’s always been a goal of mine to write a book, but couldn’t find a direction until I just started writing and going with the flow.

Thank you for your time, Mike. Best wishes for great writing success.


Readers, leave a comment to be entered into a drawing to win one of several gifts from promoter of this VBT, BK Walker. Gifts include: a $25 Visa Gift Card, book light,a free-of-charge virtual book tour, or one writing package which includes a journal, pen, book light, and book marker.

A Different Kind of Chat at TWC on 8/8/10

A Different Kind of Chat
Due to computer problems, Sunday's guest had to cancel on short notice. This gives us the chance to try something a bit different.

Sunday, we will have a critique chat. Would you like a crit from the entire chatroom? Then follow the guidelines EXACTLY.

--------------------------

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

Email audrey@writerschatroom.com 200-300 words from your work. Paste your submission into the email.

Copy this list and put it at the beginning of the email, with your answers:

Genre:
Format (short story, novel, etc):
Name you intend to publish under:
Name you use in the chatroom:
-----------------------------------------

Submissions that follow the guidelines will be used in the order they are received. I don't know how many we will get through, but the queue starts when the first correct submission is received.

I strongly suggest you submit polished work. Most of our chatters are aiming for publication. To get there, you have to be able to handle honest critiques. I will not allow personal attacks, but problems in the writing will be openly discussed.

Fiction, nonfic, essay...doesn't matter. I recommend trying to get an entire scene into 300 words. Full scenes will probably get better crits.

Why only 300 words? More than that will scroll off the screen too quickly. People need to be able to read it, to give a good crit.

Please try to be on time for this chat. Crosstalk, including greetings, will be kept to a bare minimum. Make sure you have floated and enlarged your screen in chat, so you can keep up.

Here we go...let's see how many of you have learned to write well and follow submission guidelines. First submission up for crits is...


WHEN?
Sunday, August 8, 2010

Eastern USA Time.....7 PM

Not sure what time that is wherever in the world you are? http://www.worldtimeserver.com

WHERE?

The Writers Chatroom at: http://www.writerschatroom.com/Enter.htm

Scroll down to the Java box. It may take a moment to load. Type in the name you wish to be known by, and click Login. No password needed.

Please note: The chatroom is only open for regularly scheduled chats.