Live chat/interview with C. Hope Clark - 1/2/11

The Writer's Chatroom presents C. Hope Clark, creator of Funds for Writers, author, and speaker.

WHEN?

Sunday, January 2, 2011 (Rescheduled from 12/26/10)

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.

Interview with author Joselyn Vaughn

Today I'm welcoming Joselyn Vaughn to Reviews and Interviews to tell us a bit about herself and her newest book, Courting Sparks.

Please give us a little bio:
I am currently a stay at home mom with a set of three-year-old twins and a one-year-old daughter. I write in the rare moments when they are all sleeping. I should be sleeping during some of these times, but that doesn’t happen. The little one has a sixth sense for knowing the exact moment I have finally gotten comfortable in bed or actually fallen asleep. She will wake up and be awake for at least twenty minutes and I will be awake for the next hour.

Before children, I worked as a Reference Librarian at my local library where my favorite part of my job was buying books. What else would it be?

I started writing about a year before the twins were born and finished my first novel when they were three months old.

I grew up in West Michigan on a retired dairy farm and have always loved the charm and closeness of small towns. After getting married, my husband and I tried out the big city for a while and decided the pace just wasn’t for us. We moved to a small town and live there with our children and two beagles and drive a grand total of thirty miles a week. It’s awesome.

Please tell us about your current release, Courting Sparks.
Dusting off the ashes of a failed relationship, Daphne Morrow decides she is ready to date again. But when her scorched prom photos are discovered to be the ignition point for a small forest blaze, marking her as the prime suspect for the arson, she finds they’re not the only part of her past sparking interest. After a friend’s wedding provides a romantic interlude with her longtime friend Noah Banks, Daphne tries to explain away her attraction to him: the atmosphere of the wedding, his resemblance to her ex, his heroic efforts as a volunteer firefighter. Still, their desire just won’t sputter out.

When the arsonist strikes much closer to home, Daphne fears she must risk Noah’s friendship to find the culprit and clear her name. She’ll know their love is real if his interest isn’t put out by her need to uncover the truth.

What inspired you to write this book?
The idea started with a young woman, Daphne, who is going to be a bridesmaid in several weddings because all her friends are getting married. I thought she would meet a cute groomsman and the story would go from there. That didn’t happen. Her best male friend shows up at the reception late because he’s a volunteer firefighter and was fighting a fire. Then the questions popped up: can you fall in love with someone you’ve known forever? Is it worth the risk of destroying your friendship?

What exciting story are you working on next?
I have rough drafts for two stories done and I keep wavering between which one to work on. They both involve characters from my first book, CEOs Don’t Cry. One is about Tara, the woman hired as a receptionist at the end of the book and the other is about Mark’s aunt, Minnie, the owner of the Lilac Bower. Both stories have some really fun scenes and I can’t decide which one to finish first, although Tara’s story comes first chronologically.

When did you first consider yourself a writer?
I don’t know if I would consider myself a writer yet. I am, but it’s not the first identifier that I would use to describe my life. Some part of my still thinks I’m pretending all this and it’s not real. I couldn’t be cool enough to have two books published. And yet, I would tell anyone who asked me if when they could identify themselves as a writer, that if they were writing even if it was only for themselves that they were a writer. Funny how your mind works.

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?
Maybe someday I’ll be able to write full-time. Doesn’t that sound so luxurious? Certainly better than changing diapers and trying to convince three stubborn children to eat all day. So obviously other than write, I say ‘no’ a lot and clean up messes and change diapers. (My husband is trying to convince the twins that using the potties would be a really good Christmas present for Mom and Dad. I’m not holding my breath. After a miserable fail at potty training in August, I haven’t been brave enough to try again. Maybe he can do it while he’s off work after Christmas. Haha.)

I squeeze writing time in during naps and rest-time. The twins no longer sleep in the afternoon, but I make them take a rest. Sometimes the little one coordinates her nap with this time and I can get some writing done.

I also take a notebook or printed pages with me whenever I go somewhere without them. You can get a lot done in the doctor’s waiting room.

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
I went through so many phases of career choices. They all had some creative element in them. Art teacher, architect, novelist, textbook writer, I don’t remember what else. I settled into librarianship because I could be around books even though I wasn’t ready to write one yet.

Anything additional you want to share with the readers?
Thank you all for stopping by.

I’m sharing my favorite holiday cookie recipes on my blog this month. So stop by and try them out. I wish I could send everyone samples, but I couldn’t squeeze time in to make them all. Hope you all have a happy and safe holiday season.

Here's the buy link for Courting Sparks.

Thank you for stopping by and sharing a bit of yourself with my reader's today.

Blog tour interview with author Garasamo Maccagnone

Today I'm welcoming author Garasamo Maccagnone and Writers in the Sky who are on a virtual tour to promote Garasamo's recently released book, St. John of the Midfield.

Let's jump right in with Garasamo's bio:

Born in 1959, Garasamo Maccagnone studied literature and journalism at Macomb College, Wayne State University, and Western Michigan University. Garasamo has enjoyed writing since the age of sixteen. He is inspired by the works of F. Scott Fitzgerald, Ernest Hemingway, John Dos Passos, and Jack London, and is currently working on his next book. Garasamo has owned a soccer club and coached and trained players for over twenty years. He lives with his wife, Vicki, and his three children in Shelby Township, Michigan.

Please tell us about your current release.
St. John of the Midfield tells the story of Bobo Stoikov, a former Bulgarian soccer player who escapes communist oppression. The story is told through the eyes of Mario Santini, a father on Bobo's team, and the son of a crime family boss. Mario, who wants to escape the world his father has created, ends up giving the nod that sets the tragic ending in motion. As he must protect his son from the sinister Sonny Christopher, Mario does what he has to in order to protect his son from being harmed, on the field, and off.

What inspired you to write this book?
It took ten years. I coached with a man named Rocco Mitkov for over fifteen years. Some of what he told me about his escape from Bulgaria inspired this. From there, it was all my imagination.

What exciting story are you working on next?
The title of my next piece is, The Sorrows of Pebble Creek. The story is about the murder of a noted Chaldean acquaintance of the narrator's, who is cut down by assassins of Uday Hussein. The story is told after the funeral, and as the author tries to uncover a mystery involving his assassinated friend's family, the narrator uncovers his true feelings for his ex-wife and estranged family.

When did you first consider yourself a writer?
The first time I sold a book to a non family member.

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 write daily. By doing so, it keeps you in a rhythm. It also keeps me sharp at the craft of creating meaningful sentences. When I wrote St. John of the Midfield, most of it was done between 2am and 5am. With my latest piece, I'm writing more in the 10am to 2pm time slot. Who can figure these things out?

What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?
The entire story is written in my head first. I can actually see the words in the sentences in my mind's eye. Many times, while on the road, my wife will look at me while she's driving and say, “You're writing, aren't you?” She can tell by the look on my face, and of course, how quiet I get, that I'm typing sentences in my head. She knows to leave me alone.

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
I wanted to be a baseball player. With three brothers and a bunch of neighborhood boys all around the same age, we always had good numbers to start a baseball game. If we weren't playing in the streets, or stick ball in the back yards, we rode our bikes to the sandlots behind Eisenhower Elementary School and played until dark.
I ended up playing in college. I thought about pursuing a professional career, but then I met a beautiful girl who told me that if I married her we'd be together forever. It's been thirty years so I think I made the right decision.

Anything additional you want to share with the readers?
St. John of the Midfield can be purchased through this link.

Included in my next release will be four additional stories entitled, The Note Giver, Sentiments of Blue, The Conversion, and Holy Thursday.

My other written works include, The Affliction of Dreams, a collection of short stories and poetry, The Suburban Dragon, a children's book, and For the Love of St. Nick, an illustrated short story about two boys who seek the help of St. Nick after the tragic loss of their mother.

I also want to thank you for taking the time to interview me.

You're quite welcome. Best of luck with your tour!

Thank you for joining us as we celebrate author Garasamo Maccagnone and his WITS virtual tour. Tomorrow, December 23, 2010, day eight, Penny Lockwood Ehrenkranz will host an excerpt from St. John of the Midfield and a Q&A written interview. Follow this blogger on Twitter: @pennyehrenkranz. Check out the full tour schedule.

Virtual book tour stop and interview with Jacquitta McManus

Today we are journeying into new worlds with Jacquitta A. McManus as she tours with BK Walker Books with her newest book, Labryinth's Door.

Welcome, Jacquitta.

Please tell us about your current release.
The first edition of Labyrinth’s Door is a story of a young girl, Anyia, whose dream of becoming a Nagoran Warrior is infused with adventure and danger. Running from her duties as a Yora, she dares to break tradition to follow her own dream, during a time when Empress Zarina threatens the magic treaty that protects her village.

Excerpt:
Hours passed before Anyia was able to move her body even slightly. Wiping the sweat off her face, she turned over and looked out between the bars. They were moving through the forest on a worn path heading toward a blue dome tent where an elderly lady sat at a table full of fruits, breads and gourds of water. The smell of the bread floated through the air. Anyia's mouth watered as she closed her eyes, thinking how great it would be if they gave her a piece.


What inspired you to write this book?
It’s crazy because when I first started working on the concept of Anyia and her history I didn’t see her as a main character. Anyia “Dream of a Warrior” wasn’t even a thought in my head. Don’t get me wrong, Anyia has always been a strong character, but her initial role was to support another character in a novel that I’m working on. It wasn’t until I got stuck with her and decided to write a short adventure on her that I started seeing her as a main character in her own mini series. The purpose of the short adventure that I wrote was to get a better understanding of her personality, her reactions and her dialogue. That 1500 word short story wasn’t very detailed, but it was enough to pique my curiosity. And that curiosity has turned into a mini series that I expect to span 4 MagBooks.

What exciting story are you working on next?
I’m currently finishing up my first fantasy/adventure coloring book, Talee and the Fallen Object and working on the second installment of Anyia’s journey.

Talee and the Fallen Object is a coloring book of action scenes that tells a fantasy/adventure story about, Talee, a girl who lives on the gas planet Gala and has her curiosity piqued when she sees an object fall from the backpack of a mail flyer and journeys out to see what it is. –– One thing I’m excited about with the coloring book is that children will be able to look at the scenes and create their own fantasy/adventure stories based off what they interpret in the scenes. I have all the scenes pinned up on my wall and my daughter loves to come and tell me her version of the story, which changes every time.

In the second edition of Labyrinth’s Door, Anyia comes face-to-face with truth and betrayal as the world around her changes. –– Okay I know that’s not much of a synopsis but I’m still working out the storyline. I think the opening sequence has change four times … maybe even five, so the direction the overall story will take is still up in the air for now. But hopefully that will change soon.

This is the first time I've met someone who has created a coloring book.

When did you first consider yourself a writer?
I don’t think I have started considering myself as a writer. A storyteller yes, but a writer … not so sure about that. I love to tell stories, which is why I write. Writing the stories isn’t my favorite part of the process though; it’s just a necessary part of it. So I write to tell stories. Now, if you ask me when did I consider myself a storyteller, I would have to say about 2 years ago when I realized I had a lot of stories I wanted to tell in many different mediums. And let me tell you, there is nothing like creating new stories and worlds and working with an illustrator to bring them to life. That for me is the fun part. For instance, creating Anyia’s story, which is over 7000 words, was a different experience than creating Talee’s adventure, which consists of only 14 scenes. Both stories have the basic elements of storytelling, but required very different approaches to storytelling. And that’s not to say Talee’s adventure was easier to create, in some instances it’s harder because of its limits. I had to focus on different elements to bring the story out.

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?
Yes and No. I work on building my publishing company full-time, which is about producing stories. I, however, don’t write full-time. I have to divide my time between, art directing illustrations, print production, writing, and the needs of the company in general.

What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?
I like to write and create when no one is around. I want my house empty. It annoys me when I can hear people in other rooms and etc. The only one that gets a pass is our cat, Foxy.

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
Nothing that I can remember, I didn’t grow up with anything particular in mind. I was always fascinated with space and going into space, but never thought that was possible. I was also always interested in Disney movies, but didn’t think I could do that either. Now, I’m writing fantasy/adventure stories in new worlds. So in a way I’m a space traveler through my stories.

Anything additional you want to share with the readers?
Yes. One of my goals for Worlds To Discover is to create fantasy/adventure stories that I love and hopefully others will love as well. It’s my way of sharing what excites me with people like you. I have never enjoyed working so much. And this is just the beginning of my adventure in storytelling and I hope you will be part of it.

If you would like to chat with me or follow my new projects you can find me on Facebook, Twitter, GoodReads, and my blog Journey of a Storyteller. I would love to hear from you. If you would like to order Labyrinth’s Door or Talee and the Fallen Object visit my website, or find me on Amazon.com.

P.S. My coloring books will be sold exclusively on my website.

And that’s it. If you have any questions just ask.

And as always … let the adventures begin.

Thank you for your time today, Jacquitta. Best of luck with the book tour.

Folks, if you'd like to follow Jacquitta on her tour, her next stop is Friday, December 24 where she will be Guest Blogging at http://kristenhaskins.blogspot.com. The full schedule can be found here.

Surprise Chat at Writer's Chatroom - 12/26/10

Join Writer's Chatroom for a two-hour surprise chat to end one year and start off another.


WHEN?

Sunday, December 26, 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.

Interview with author Julius Thompson

My guest author interview today is with Julius Thompson, whose latest novel, Ghost of Atlanta, will release in January.

Julius Thompson grew up in the Bedford-Stuyvesant section of Brooklyn, New York and attended Bushwick High School. The sixties in Brooklyn was an era that had a personality, a feel, and a life-force that changed a generation. Mr. Thompson felt this energy and experienced these fires of social change.

After high school, Mr. Thompson spent the next four years riding the "A" train to Harlem, in upper Manhattan, to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree from the City College of New York. At CCNY, which was located just a few blocks from the famous Apollo Theater, Wednesday afternoons were hard on the undergraduates. The matinee performances of the major R&B groups of the times were more tempting than attending a college lecture. Most of the time, Mr. Thompson succumbed to the temptation, but still earned a college degree from one of the best universities in the country.

At CCNY, literature instructors like Prof. Thomas Tashiro, fueled the fire in him to become a writer.

Mr. Thompson’s journey to compose a trilogy began in 1995. The fourteen-year fictional journey of Andy Michael Pilgrim from Brooklyn (A Brownstone in Brooklyn), to Philadelphia (Philly Style and Philly Profile), and finally Atlanta (Ghost of Atlanta) is now complete. In this pilgrimage, readers experience places that are filled with hopes, dreams, challenges and fears that make us human.

Mr. Thompson received the Georgia Author of the Year nomination for Philly Style and Philly Profile, from the Georgia Writers Association, in 2007.

Mr. Thompson is currently a Creative Writing/Publishing Instructor at Atlanta’s Evening at Emory’s Writers Studio.

Welcome, Julius!

Please tell us about your current release, Ghost of Atlanta.
In this novel, the reader follows Andy Pilgrim as he faces past issues that have haunted his life as he returns to Atlanta, Georgia. The setting is Atlanta in the 1980s.

What inspired you to write this book?
The reader follows Andy as he matured in the turbulent sixties in Brooklyn with the Civil Rights movement, his working career as a sportswriter in the seventies in Philadelphia watching the influence of drugs and gangs destroy young people’s lives, and in the eighties in Atlanta where he faces demons from his youth and sees the effects of reverse migration of African-Americans from the northern cities back to the new south.

Andy’s thirty-year odyssey from Brooklyn, Philadelphia, and Atlanta showcase new life-altering situations and problems that faced African-Americans in the last half of the twentieth century.

What exciting story are you working on next?
Purple Phantoms: The story of the haunting of a high school basketball team.

I was a basketball coach for over twenty years. In that time, I had some players that were killed and I always wondered what would happen if they could come back and finish that season.

This book is totally different from the trilogy and a chance to explore the use of second person point of view in a novel.

Please tell us about your writing life:
I love traveling to book fairs and different book events. This year, 2010, I was a speaker at the Virginia Festival of the Book in Charlottesville, Virginia, the Roxborough Library in Philadelphia, the Buffalo Book Fair in Buffalo, New York and at the Eastern Parkway Library in Brooklyn, New York.

I've also signed copies of my novels at the prestigious New York Is Book Country Festival in New York City, the National Black Arts Festival in Atlanta, Georgia, the AJC-Decatur Book Festival in Decatur, Georgia, the Gwinnett Reading Festival in Lawrenceville, Georgia and at the Miami Book Fair International in Miami, Florida.

I've had book signings in the following book stores: Barnes & Nobles, Borders, Chapter 11, Books-A-Million, Nubian bookstore, the African Spectrum bookstore, Philadelphia's Robins Bookstore, and I've been one of the featured speakers at the Bedford-Stuyvesant Creative Arts Fair in Brooklyn, and I've been part of a panel of authors at the Auburn Avenue Research Library in Atlanta, Georgia and the Gwinnett County Library System.

When did you first consider yourself a writer?
In 1965, I started writing at Bushwick High School in Brooklyn, New York. I was afraid and very insecure about becoming a writer. I asked my English teacher, Ms. Egan, "Can I be a writer?" She looked at me and said, “Do it!” I’ve never looked back.

I’ve been a copy boy with the New York Times, and a full-time sportswriter with the Philadelphia Bulletin.

I started writing my first novel in 1995 and I’ve enjoyed every moment.

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?
That is my goal: Become a full-time writer!

Currently, I’m a high school language arts teacher at Redan High School in Stone Mountain, Georgia and a Creative Writing Instructor at Evening at Emory University.

I write late at night usually around 10:00 PM and during the evenings on weekends.

What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?
I’m a night writer! My creativity is in full swing after 10:00 PM.

This is good and this is bad. I have to get up for work at 5:45 AM. Sometimes when I’m writing good I want finish writing until the wee hours of the morning. When that happens, I suffer through a long day of feeling tired.

When I was writing A Brownstone in Brooklyn, one night I wrote over 2,000 words and finished around 4:00 AM. That meant I just didn’t go to work the next day.

That’s the reason the trilogy was completed in twelve years. A Brownstone in Brooklyn was released in 2001, Philly Style and Philly Profile in 2007 and Ghost of Atlanta in 2011.

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
I’ve always wanted to be a writer. I wrote short stories and thought I was writing novels. This was a way I could to express my emotions. This was an important emotional outlet for me.


Anything additional you want to share with the readers?
This is my motto for writing:
In my novels, I want the reader to experience places that are filled with hopes, dreams, challenges and fears that make us human!

My Web site is: http://www.jtwrites.com

Ghost of Atlanta can be pre-ordered at the publisher's site.


Thanks for answering my questions, Julius. Best of luck with your writing and teaching.

Organizing and Goal Setting Chat for Writers - 12/19/10

Yes, it's that time again...time for the TWC Annual Organizing and Goal Setting chat. Join Writer's Chatroom for a two-hour workshop to get you set up and ready to make 2011 your best writing year ever!


WHEN?

Sunday, December 19, 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.

Live chat/interview with NYT Bestselling author Rebecca York - 12/12/10

The Writer's Chatroom presents Rebecca York, author of over 125 novels and novellas. Romantic thrillers are her passion.

WHEN?

Sunday, December 12, 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.

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Live chat/interview with historical fiction author Eliza Knight - 12/5/10

The Writer's Chatroom presents Eliza Knight, author of Men of the Sea series, the Highland Jewel Series, and other novels.

WHEN?

Sunday, December 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.

Review - The Hanging Tree by Bryan Gruley

The Hanging Tree
Written by: Bryan Gruley
Fiction
Rated: Very Good (****)
Review by: Lisa Haselton

Gus Carpenter loves being a journalist, even if it’s not the easiest or most glamorous job in the world. He didn’t think his life would bring him back to Starvation Lake or to living with his mom, but playing hockey, having a girlfriend, and being involved with news keeps him moving forward.

Gracie McBride is found hanging high up in “the hanging tree.” It appears to be suicide, but Gus and his girlfriend, Sheriff’s Deputy Darlene Esper know Gracie seemed to be getting her life on track. She even had a boyfriend, of sorts. Was someone else to blame? Because of their jobs, Gus and Darlene can’t discuss what they each discover, so tension builds between them. And it doesn’t help that Darlene’s estranged husband is back in town. It sure makes conversation topics limited between the pair.

Author Bryan Gruley is passionate about his writing and he loves to write about a few of his passions: hockey, northern Michigan, and newspapers. He weaves what he knows within the chilly (it’s winter) fictional town of Starvation Lake. The multi-faceted characters hold their own on the page. What surprised me most with the writing was how the town and the game of hockey were also characters. I can’t imagine this story taking place in summertime Arizona with swimming as the sport. It would be all wrong. Gruley knows just how to develop hockey as a character as he does the speaking characters.

Gruley is the critically acclaimed author of Starvation Lake: A Mystery, and the sequel, The Hanging Tree. He’s also the author of the prize-winning non-fiction book, Paper Losses: A Modern Epic of Greed and Betrayal at America’s Two Largest Newspaper Companies. Secretly, though, he would love to be compared favorably to Detroit Red Wings stars Johan Franzen and Pavel Datsyuk. He’s been playing hockey since he was a boy growing up in Detroit. He’s also an amateur musician who sings, plays guitar, and composes his own songs.

The Hanging Tree held my interest all the way through. I enjoyed learning some things about hockey without needing to be bundled up for warmth on the sidelines of a rink. If you enjoy a good thrill ride, hang on when you open this book. I’ve read other books with a sport focus and always felt separated from the story when a game was described on the page. Not so with The Hanging Tree. It’s a great read.


Title: The Hanging Tree
Author: Bryan Gruley
Publisher: Touchstone
ISBN: 978-1-4165-6364-8
Pages: 336
Price: $15.00

Interview with author Kristin Roison - BK Walker Books virtual book tour

Today I welcome Kristin Roison as she tours with The Virtual Book Tour Cafe's Books on Tour virtual book tour.

Kristin is a very happily married, stay at home mother, raising two little boys. Kristin has been writing since junior high, loving all forms of the written word, including poetry, short stories, scripts and even music, but only in the last 6 or 7 years has had the inspiration and support to actually have her works published.

And now, that dream is coming true! With a wonderful team at PublishAmerica, to help Kristin realize this dream, and with the love and support of friends and family, she knows that this book can only do great things.

Please tell us about your current release, NyteBeauti.
It follows the story of Desta Rayne, a young vampire girl, and her journey through darkness, despair, and ultimately, redemption.

What inspired you to write this book?
My husband and I used to roleplay (online D&D style) and I fell totally and completely in love with the characters we'd created. So much so, that I could let them fade into just a memory. I HAD to continue their sagas.

What exciting story are you working on next?
I'm working on the second book of the NyteBeauti series, Echoes of Rayne.

When did you first consider yourself a writer?
Middle school-ish. I was about 13 or 14, and was going through a lot of emotional upheaval at the time. Writing became my outlet.

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 consider myself a full-time writer, but I'm also a Stay-at-home-Mom, so between changing diapers, bottles, pizza lunches, and making sure the house is livable (I've given up on the concept of clean, at least until the oldest boy is moved out. Haha) I squeeze writing in whenever I can. And now that we're heading into the holiday season, I stare at my notebooks and wonder, "Will I EVER get this thing done?" Haha!

What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?
I have to act out what I'm writing. If I can't conjure the emotion of the moment, I usually scrap it, or rewrite it. Oh, and dialogs have to be read aloud, which often annoys my husband, when he's trying to work on homework, or watch a movie.

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
An artist, of somesort. An author, a musician, a painter, an actor... Anything creative.

Anything additional you want to share with the readers?You can follow me on Facebook @ Kristin Roisin (There's a fan page, and a personal page) and you can find NyteBeauti at: Amazon.com, Barnesandnoble.com and Borders.com

Thanks for stopping by, Kristin. I wish you all the best with the tour of the new release, and with your future writing.

Live chat/interview with NYT Bestselling author Jonathan Eig - 11/28/10

The Writer's Chatroom presents Jonathan Eig, author of Luckiest Man: The Life and Death of Lou Gehrig, Opening Day: The Story of Jackie Robinson's First Season and Get Capone.

WHEN?

Sunday, November 28, 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.

Interview with historical romance author Gretchen Craig

Today I'd like to welcome historical romance author Gretchen Craig.

Gretchen writes lush, sweeping historical novels. Always and Forever, set in Old Louisiana among the Creoles and the Cajuns, was awarded the Colorado Romance Writers Award of Excellence and an Editor’s Choice designation from the Historical Novels Society. Ever My Love, which continues the saga of the first book’s families, was awarded the Booksellers Best Award from the GDRWA. Gretchen’s latest historical, Crimson Sky, is a story of love and betrayal set in the old, old West. She lives in Texas with her husband and two dogs.

Please tell us about your newest release, Crimson Sky.
Crimson Sky, a historical with romance elements, is a story about a love triangle. Nothing kinky, just lots of tender hearts. In the pueblos of the Santa Fe area, the people face drought and marauders, and then things get worse. The conquistadors march up the Rio Grande Valley, bringing metal tools, new seeds, new animals – new diseases and weapons.

Zia is a young mother of the pueblos, very much in love with her husband, TapanAshka. When he doesn’t return from the hunt with his fellows, he’s assumed dead. The reader knows he is not and we see him struggling with his injuries and with the Spaniard Diego Ortiz. TapanAshka wants two things: to get home to Zia and their son, and to exact revenge on Ortiz.

When the drought worsens and the pueblo faces starvation, the elders determine they will go to the Spanish for protection and food. Diego Ortiz, handsome and kind, offers Zia his protection and his love. She tries to love him back, but the cost of his love is her religion and her very identity as a Keres woman. She determines she must make her way without Diego’s protection, and then learns of his savagery at other pueblos. She flees.

Zia, Diego, and TapanAshka cross paths one more time for an emotionally satisfying ending.

What inspired you to write this book?
The first time I went out west, we visited Bandelier National Park in northern New Mexico. You can see the ancient adobe ruins of a pueblo on the valley floor. You can climb the cliff paths and crawl into the people’s cave dwellings. You can walk beside the stream into the tall ponderosa pines. In an arid land, this canyon is lush and green and watered. I wanted to move in.

I started my research with Bandelier and expanded it to include the pueblos in the area. The people of Bandelier migrated only a few miles south to what is now Cochiti Pueblo. I am most interested in studying cultures in upheaval, at times of great change. The arrival of the Spanish changed everything for these people, sometimes violently, certainly irrevocably. I set my characters in ancient Cochiti and watched what happened when the conquistadors came calling.

What exciting story are you working on next?
So glad you asked because I’m in love with my new story. Three sisters live in the wilds of South Florida when Miami was just a fishing village. Their mother is long gone, scandalously, and their daddy dies. Each young woman must find her way in the world. Jack is the moral compass of the story, the “hero” whose love and respect the heroine strives to earn. If judging by my sitting at the keyboard crying as I revise some of the poignant scenes, I guess this one is a tear jerker. It’s certainly a love story, but it’s also a story about hard-won integrity, and the pain of love and loss.

When did you first consider yourself a writer?
I retired from teaching high school on a Friday. The next morning, I was at the keyboard, and I’ve considered myself a writer ever since. Even though what I turned out at first was pretty amateurish, I have ever since sat myself down at the computer and written, always trying to be better.

Do you write full time? What’s your work day like and what do you do other than write?
I do write full time. I don’t know how women with children at home do it, but some of them manage to turn out manuscripts, too. As for me, my husband and I are empty-nesters and I have only him and two dogs to look after. I write anywhere from three to six hours a day, depending on when brain-fog descends. The rest of the day I do the usual stuff, go to the gym, cook, maybe even push the mop around. But my main pursuit other than writing is reading. That has been a constant all my life and I read several hours most days.

What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?
I guess I’m not all that quirky. I’m not unusual in that I find it difficult to plan my stories ahead of time. Pantsers, we call ourselves, as in writing by the seat of our pants. But I’m learning to at least have some plot points in mind to guide me through. I suppose my novels are a bit different in that they are not purely romances, though they certainly do have romance elements. I’m interested in exploring characters against a broad canvas of social issues, and writing is most exciting when I feel the character leading me through her story.

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
A ballerina, of course. Then a fighter pilot in a sleek black jet streaking through the skies (it was the 50s – we all wanted to be fighter pilots). And then I meant to be a doctor. Well, I’m not built for ballet and, oh yeah, no talent either. I outgrew the fighter pilot stage when I found the pilots more interesting than the planes and just wanted to be the beautiful honey the handsome hero comes home to. And as for medicine, I still sort of regret that didn’t work out, but when I was in college and the first “review” week in Chemistry II was way over my head, I rethought my direction. All I really wanted, I decided, was to sit and read, so I changed my major to literature.

Anything additional you want to share with readers?
What I hope for is that my readers come away from my novels with the feeling that the characters are/could be their very good friends, that they feel a close compatibility and empathy with them. I’m fascinated by the history behind each of my historicals, but that emotional connection is what I most want, both as a reader and a writer.

Crimson Sky is available in both Kindle and ePub formats.

Gretchen, thank you for chatting with us today. I wish you the best with your books. Come back again!

Live chat/interview with thriller author Kevin Guilfoile - 11/21/10

The Writer's Chatroom presents Kevin Guilfoile.

WHEN?

Sunday, November 21, 2010

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

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

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Review of Down to the Needle by Mary Deal

Genre: Fiction/Thriller
Title: Down to the Needle
Author: Mary Deal

It has been twenty-three years since five-year-old Becky was kidnapped. Abigail “Abi” Fisher is just as diligent today as she was on the first day in trying to find and reunite with her daughter. Abi looks at every young woman who crosses her path and wonders, “Is that Becky?”

Abi’s heart continues to celebrate, yet also break, as every missing child and every homeless young woman is identified or found, and is not her daughter. Five years ago, Abi met Joe. The two clicked almost instantly and they keep each other balanced through the emotional rollercoaster that each deals with in life. Just as Abi’s interest piques with a woman on death row, Joe becomes distracted with someone from his past. Abi struggles with pursuing her newest lead that may bring her to her long-lost daughter while supporting Joe in his need for discovery, too.

The author has created a protagonist that any parent, or anyone who cares about children, can identify with. The need to protect a child is overwhelming, and the character of Abigail has lived with the guilt of not being able to do that for the past two decades. Readers will quickly empathize with Abi’s wholehearted desire to find a positive resolution – a reunion with her daughter – especially as the time for the quest seems to have a deadline. The tightly woven plotlines combine with the fast-moving action to keep the reader on the edge of her seat.

Mary Deal is retired and living in Hawaii. She spends a most of her time writing, but ventures out to the beach every now and then. Along with her passion for writing, she enjoys oil painting and photography. She has four published suspense/thriller novels and is working on more. Her third novel, River Bones, won the Eric Hoffer Book Awards competition. She has also published short stories and poetry in various magazines and anthologies.

I find the title appealing since the pacing and tension has the reader hoping for answers along with the protagonist right down to the needle. Will there be a positive resolution before lethal injection is administered? Make sure you have time to read, because once you start, it’s hard to stop. Down to the Needle is a great read. Reviewer: Lisa Haselton, Allbooks Reviews.

Publisher: iUniverse
ISBN: 978-1-4401-9820-5
Pages: 326
Price: $16.95

Live chat/interview with historical fiction author William C. Hammond - 11/14/10

The Writer's Chatroom presents William C. Hammond.

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Sunday, November 14, 2010

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

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Live chat/interview with mystery author Bryan Gruley 11/7/10

The Writer's Chatroom presents Bryan Gruley.

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Sunday, November 7, 2010

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Live chat/interview with dark fiction author Mark Edward Hall - 10/31/10

The Writer's Chatroom presents Mark Edward hall.

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Sunday, October 31, 2010

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Live chat/interview with Tim Deal, Publisher of Shroud Magazine - 10/24/10

The Writer's Chatroom presents Tim Deal / Shroud Magazine.

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Sunday, October 24, 2010

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New interview with poet Cendrine Marrouat

Please welcome poet Cendrine Marrouat back to Reviews and Interviews. Five Years and Counting: A Journey into the Mind of Soul Poetry is now released, so I thought it would be fun to check in with Cendrine again.

You can see the first interview here.

Summary:
Poetry is an evolutional process, a reflection of the human mind. Every person goes through life and changes on a regular basis. That is exactly what Five Years and Counting is about. Cendrine has regrouped five years of poetry and arranged her pieces according to life’s most important stages: birth, teenage years, adulthood, and elevation. This last stage represents man’s understanding and realization of the ultimate fulfillment in life.

Five Years and Counting is the testimony of a soul that has endured and embraced challenges to enjoy life to its fullest. No matter what your beliefs are, the words of this unique poetic voice will touch your heart and bring you comfort and inspiration...

Welcome back, Cendrine.

Please tell us about your writing process
During the day, I do research, contact artists for interviews on my Examiner.com pages (I am a freelance journalist and hold five titles) and answer e-mails. Night-time is usually dedicated to anything creative: writing and finding new ideas for potential projects.

My writing process always follows the same pattern. After I have found a title, I usually go with the flow, knowing that things rarely take the turn I initially intended. However, as a professional translator/proofreader and perfectionist, I find myself editing my writing a lot. So, computers definitely make my work easier (and cleaner).

What was your goal for writing this book?
Five Years and Counting: A Journey into the Mind of Soul Poetry is very unique. While my other collections focused on a part of Man’s spiritual journey, my new book brought all the stages together under the same idea: growth and change. I wanted to help people enjoy life to the fullest. I believe that poetry has the power to uplift the mind in incredible ways.

Were any subjects harder to write about than others?
Whenever I decide to sit down to write about a specific issue/topic, I have already started the mental process of coming to terms with it. As a result, putting my feelings on the white page helps strengthen my beliefs. So, in the case of Five Years and Counting, I have not really found any subject more difficult to write about than others.

How are you promoting Five Years and Counting?
I set a few hours aside daily to promote the book (and my other products). I love social networking sites. I have two Facebook Fan Pages and Twitter accounts. Each one of them is used for a specific purpose, even though I like cross-promoting once in a while. The link to the book is also included in my e-mail signature. And I have created a few trailers that are available on my YouTube page.

I like interviews on blogs (like yours) and Internet radio stations (Blog Talk Radio, for example) and I issue press releases once in a while to improve my chances of being picked up by online news channels.

Online promotion could not be complete without a website, a newsletter, and a blog. These three tools are absolutely essential for any author. I send my newsletter once or twice a month and update my news blog almost daily.

I also use Hootsuite (very similar to TweetDeck) to send blasts to all the networks where I have an account. These networks include Facebook, Twitter, Myspace, Multiply, Friend Feed, etc.

I also find that sharing/writing educational blog posts on marketing and branding in my Creative Ramblings blog, contributing to several other sites -- such as WAGTi Radio and WAGTi Media Group -- and working as a freelance journalist for Examiner.com are very helpful.

As far as offline promotion is concerned, I always have business cards and a copy of Five Years and Counting with me. I hand out the cards and let people look at the book. However, I am not pushy. I learnt one very important thing when I was a teacher: An author must always approach people in a respectful way and with something that will grab their interest. For example, I usually mention that I am a freelance journalist. When I feel that people are interested in knowing more, I introduce the new book.

To me, authors are entrepreneurs before anything else. So, they must bring something unique to the table. With good branding and long-term goals, success is inescapable...

What do you enjoy most about being a published writer?
After five self-published books, I know what to expect, the kind of pitfalls to avoid, and also that hard work and many hours of research are involved. Doors do not open easily for self-published authors; most print newspapers and magazines will not review self-published books. And, a major hurdle is that winning the hearts of potential readers can take months and sometimes years. Despite those challenges, I love the freedom and the fact that I have total control over my products.

What has most surprised you about your publishing experience?
My publishing experience has been more humbling than surprising. It has taught me that every reader is different. Basically, it takes much more than just dropping a link on someone's page and then waiting until they purchase your book. You have to build relationships, first. In a way, it is like top-notch customer service...

What do we have to look forward to from you?
I am really excited about the release of the new version of my debut CD, "Rizen" (November 29, 2010). I added two tracks featuring the voices of April Sims and Tantra-zawadi. Their renditions of my poems is amazing! People can listen to extracts from the album and pre-order their autographed copy at http://www.cendrinemarrouat.com/?page_id=169.

My latest poem, "Grains of Sand" is part of the Into the Desert exhibition, an online event organized by Eight Cuts. People can read my contribution in the "embrace" section at http://eightcuts.wordpress.com/. On November 18, 2010, the exhibition will be featured at the O3 Gallery in Oxford, England. More dates are planned...

A dream of mine would be to direct the two plays that I wrote in 2007. I have started looking for theatre troupes in my area. However, before that, I want to tour some Canadian cities to introduce my new book and CD to more people. Yet, as any other independent artist, I do not receive any financial help. So, I have to plan things according to my own limited budget. Come what may, as they say! ;-)

How can people get in touch with you?
I invite people to take the time to look around my Website and subscribe to the newsletter and/or the blog.

Lisa, thank you so much for hosting me once again!

Thanks for stopping by again, Cendrine. It's been a pleasure.

Details about Cendrine's newest book are below.

Book trailer: http://tinyurl.com/2eatd3y
Format: soft cover
Number of pages: 165
Publisher: Lulu
Publication date: September 24, 2010
ISBN: 978-0-557-42429-0
Price: US$19.99

Live chat/interview with dark fiction author Tim Marquitz 10/17/10

The Writer's Chatroom presents Tim Marquitz.

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Sunday, October 17, 2010

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

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Live chat/interview with dark fiction author Sarah Langan 10/10/10

The Writer's Chatroom presents Sarah Langan.

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Sunday, October 10, 2010

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Live chat/interview with Kim Richards 10/3/10

The Writer's Chatroom presents Kim Richards.

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Sunday, October 3, 2010

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Repost - Interview with David Fingerman - BK Walker Books

Back in mid-June we had a chance to chat with David Fingerman about his upcoming novel, Silent Kill. Well, the book is now released, so I'm reposting part of the interview and giving readers a chance to win a $10 Amazon gift certificate. Read through for details.



Welcome, David!

Please tell us about your current release.
Silent Kill is about Louise Miller, a lesbian cop trying to track down the person who murdered a fellow officer, and one of her few friends on the force. It's about her brother, Andrew (aka New Age), who's trying to be the best Sheriff's Deputy he can be. It's about Melanie Cartier, a lawyer set on getting revenge for her clients, and then for herself. It's about William Gillespy, a psychiatrist who feels that the world is out to get him. It's about Elias who just wishes people would do what he says. And tying them all together, it's about SK, a rottweiler.

What kind of research do you do to make your novels realistic?
For Silent Kill, I took part in the Citizens Academy run by the Hennepin County Sheriff's Department and learned a lot about procedure. I was also fortunate enough to go on a couple of ride-a-longs with deputy sheriffs. Also, working for bunches of years in the court system, I picked up a thing or two.

Did anything in the writing of the current book come as a surprise to you?
Very much so. When I started writing this book, Andrew was the main protagonist. Louise was going to be a very minor character used mostly to guide him along, being that he was a rookie. The deeper into the book I got, the more Louise started taking over. Halfway through it became clear that she was going to be the central character. I had to do a lot of rewriting in the early chapters.

If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything in your latest book?
This is my first novel and quite a learning experience. I'd probably spend more time working on an outline. After the first draft I read it over and noticed some places where the timeline made no sense. People were reacting to things that hadn't happened yet. I'm guessing some astute readers might catch that.

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. My typical day is get up and grab a Diet Mountain Dew for breakfast (I know, I know, but I don't drink coffee and it's my caffeine fix), check email, read the paper online (do the crossword puzzle and crypto quip, then get to work for a few hours, take a break for about an hour, then work a few more hours. Yup – I lead one exciting life.

What do you like to do when you're not writing?
In the evening I pretty much veg out in front of the TV (again, that life in the fast lane). I also love walking and there's a number of wonderful lakes around here to walk around. Occasionally I'll even find time to exercise.

Congratulations on the release of Silent Kill.

Readers, leave a comment (and your email addy) to be entered into a drawing to win a $10 Amazon gift certificate. I'll draw a name at the end of the month and BK Walker Books' promoter will send you the GC via email.

Thank you for participating!

Live chat/interview with C. Hope Clark 9/26/10

The Writer's Chatroom presents C. Hope Clark.

WHEN?

Sunday, September 26, 2010

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

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Review of Restless Heart by T. William Phillips

Genre: Historical fiction
Title: Restless Heart
Author: T. William Phillips

It’s 1838 and eighteen year-old Konrad Quintero de Leon wants more than knowledge from books found only between four walls on a university campus. He wants to experience life and find what calls to him on a deep level. He leaves New York for England and learns his first lesson from his uncle – that to understand a city fully, one needs to live there, not just visit. Konrad’s quest for knowledge and experience expands with each new discovery and he finds that he’s always restless for something more.

Most people Konrad knows follow their parents’ advice and pursue lives that may not fully satisfy them. Konrad follows his own beat, his own heart, in order to discover the life he’s meant to live. The road isn’t always easy or exactly as expected, but Konrad keeps moving forward with the adventures and new discoveries that fill his life with pleasure and pain, yet mostly with the unquenchable desire for more.

T. William Phillips’ choice of first person narrative talks to the reader in a way that almost prompts a conversation. The first-person voice is curious, thoughtful, and honest. The book is broken into three sections. Duty, justice, and truth are themes for each section and relate to the growth Konrad experiences as he ages. The author keeps the character true on the focus of following his heart’s decisions, which could make for a predictable story line. However, the character, like any real person, sometimes struggles between ‘want’ and ‘should’. It’s a well-crafted tale.

Restless Heart is T. William Phillips’ first literary work. He has other novels and novellas in process. He’s studied classic literature, including Hermann Hesse, Ernest Hemingway, and Jack Kerouac, as well as Dostoevsky, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Flaubert, Camus, Steinbeck, and Joyce.

Anyone with a curious, and perhaps never quite settled spirit, will enjoy Restless Heart. It’s a historical novel full of adventure, romance, self-discovery, and travel. A recommended read. Reviewer: Lisa Haselton, Allbooks Reviews.

Publisher: iUniverse
ISBN: 978-1-4502-3251-7
Pages: 510
Price: $26.95

Interview with author George Hudson - 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 George Hudson.

Bio:
George Sherman Hudson was born and raised in Atlanta, GA. After being rejected by different publishers because of the subject matter contained in his books while serving time, this father of two did some research and started G Street Chronicles, the urban book publishing company he runs with the help of his COO and fiancé Erica Jones. While George is working hard to make G Street Chronicles a recognized name in the literary industry, he's also working hard on his highly anticipated REAL series. George has authored five books in all. Having published more than 10 titles in the first year of business, George is determined to make G Street Chronicles an urban lit powerhouse.


Welcome, George!

Please tell us about your current release, Family Ties.
This book is about infidelity within the family. We focus so much on our mates cheating with others beyond our circle of friends and family. What happens when it's one of our own family members who's sleeping with our mate?

What inspired you to write this book?
An incident that a friend experienced. A good friend of mine was sleeping with his wife's cousin.

What exciting story are you working on next?
My next book is titled Blocked In. A touching drama-filled story about a young girl who's sold for drugs and later starts selling her body for money.
After wanting to let the game go, her pimp is not hearing it. The only way out is murder.

When did you first consider yourself a writer?
After my first book showed up on amazon, barnes and noble, and in books a million.

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 am a full time writer and publisher. My day-to-day consists of promoting my authors, dealing with printers and distributors, and writing.

What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?
Probably the way I turn my tablet away from me while I write. People just can't figure out how I write sideways.

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
I wanted to be an actor.

Anything additional you want to share with the readers?
Check out our Facebook fan page for urban street fiction or inspiration for our prize giveaways. Also log on to our website for our weekly specials.

Thank you for your time today, George. Best of luck with your writing!

Live chat/interview with thriller author Joel Goldman 9/19/10

The Writer's Chatroom presents Joel Goldman.

WHEN?

Sunday, September 19, 2010

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

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

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Interview with paranormal author Heather Kuehl

Heather, welcome to Reviews and Interviews!

Please tell us about your current release.
Malevolent Dead is the sequel to Fade to Black and the second book in the Sarah Vargas series. It was released by Eternal Press yesterday. Malevolent picks up six months after the end of Fade.

Synopsis: To save everyone, she'll have to do the unthinkable. Werewolf Sarah Vargas thought all she had to worry about was the Blood Moon Corporation's retaliation. She never dreamed that another vampire would arrive, disputing Damian's claim over the throne to Charleston, SC. To make matters worse, he is no ordinary vamp; he's a vampire necromancer. Exceptionally hard to kill, Sarah will have do what ever she can to keep those that she loves safe... Even if it means doing the unthinkable.

What inspired you to write this book?
Writing Fade to Black was the inspiration for the events in Malevolent Dead. I knew that Sarah’s story wasn’t finished and I wanted to know more about her and the world she lived in, so I sat down and got to work.

What exciting story are you working on next?
I’m currently writing the sequel to Malevolent Dead, entitled Blood Moon. It will be the third, and possibly final, book in the Sarah Vargas Series. I won’t say it’s the last because I am sure I will write about Sarah again. She’s just so interesting! I am also working on a book about my favorite witch T.D. Drake. She has a small role in both Promises to Keep (a fantasy title that was released by Eternal Press in March 2010) and Malevolent Dead.

When did you first consider yourself a writer?
After Fade to Black was accepted for publication. I had published almost forty short stories by then, but to me a writer was someone who had books published. Now that I have three books published, I feel that I can say with pride that I am a writer.

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 wish I did! I am a stay-at-home mom for a beautiful little boy and a wife to a wonderful man. I struggle to find the time to get anything written, since I’m usually playing catch-up with the chores while the kiddo is taking a nap. But somehow I manage it.

What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?
Whenever I’m working on a book, I keep all of my notes, rough drafts, and final draft in a 4-inch binder. If I get the book contracted with a publisher I also keep a copy of the contract in that binder as well. I like to be able to look back and see my writing process and how it’s changed.

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
I used to want to be a whale trainer at Sea World or a zookeeper, but the dream that has lasted the longest is wanting to be a published author. I knew back in sixth grade that one day I wanted to see my title on the shelf in a bookstore and every day I get closer to that goal.

Anything additional you'd like to share with the readers?
I’d like to share my contact information as well as an excerpt from my latest release, Malevolent Dead. You can visit me online at www.heatherkuehl.com, www.heatherkuehl.blogspot.com or follow me on Facebook or Twitter. Interested in my books? All three of my books are published with Eternal Press, which is where readers can buy the eBook edition if they so choose. However, if readers prefer print, please visit Amazon.com.




Excerpt from Chapter One:
(NOTE: This excerpt may contain spoilers for Fade to Black.)

From the outside, Malevolent Dead didn’t look like much. There wasn’t even a sign out front, just tinted windows and a heavy bass pounding from the inside. Humans who came here to dance slowly left as I walked through the coffin encased foyer and upstairs. I heard them grumbling about it closing early. I didn’t blame them. Most nights, Malevolent Dead stayed open until 5am.

I crossed the dance floor and opened the door marked, “Employees Only.” Everyone in the room looked up as I entered.

Damian leaned against the wall, his arms crossed over his bare chest. He wore a pair of dark-washed jeans tucked into black leather boots. A Celtic knot necklace hung around his neck. When his eyes caught sight of me, he smiled and held out a hand.

“Phaedra, my love. Look who’s come to visit us.”

Phaedra?

I was careful not to let my confusion show as I took his hand. He guided me into his arms. I looked up into his plum colored eyes, waiting for some kind of explanation.
He said nothing. Instead Damian turned me to face his guests. A man sat on the couch across from us, backed by five Necrovamps. Icky, disgusting Necrovamps. They were the product of a vampire transformation gone wrong. Their bodies slowly rotted, exposing muscle and bone. Gore leaked from them, creating a kind of snail trail on the ground behind them. The worst part of all were their fangs. Super long, the Necrovamps couldn’t even close their mouths because of them. They were mindless killers and took orders from only one type of creature.

A necromancer.

“Marcellus, you remember my wife.”

The man in the chair nodded. “Of course. How could I forget such beauty? But as I heard it, she died.”

Damian laughed. “Does she look dead to you?”

Marcellus shook his head. “Not at all. How is it that she’s still alive?”

“I changed her.”

Marcellus laughed. “I can hear her heart beat, old friend. I’d say she’s human, but she reeks of Were.”

I huffed. There was something important about Marcellus thinking that Damian’s wife still lived. I decided to just go with it and hoped to God that Damian explained it to me later. “Shows what little you know, Marcellus.” I turned to Damian. “How much longer will you be, baby? I’m ready to go home and the bed is so cold without you.”

I stood on tiptoe to place a light kiss on his lips. Damian smiled as he rubbed noses with me, his hand sliding down to cup my ass.

“Not much, my pet. Marcellus was just about to tell me the reason for his visit.”

Marcellus grinned. “I know you killed the Skyner twins, Damian. Only a fool would believe the lies floating around. Only a fool would believe that two Weres from that dreadful corporation did the deed. You know that it’s against our laws to kill another vampire. I’m here for that reason.”

Our laws? I took a deep breath through my nose and finally picked up the scent I hadn’t noticed earlier; vampire. Marcellus wasn’t only a necromancer, but he was a vampire to boot. This didn’t bode well.

Damien’s voice turned to ice. “Excuse me?”

Marcellus stood and slowly walked over to us. “Since you murdered the twins, I’ve been sent here to be the new lord of Charleston. Your position is forfeit.” He drew a sword out of a sheath on his back. “As is your life.”

Damian laughed. I felt his power flowing out, wrapping itself around Marcellus. Damian’s hand cupping my ass moved up and unholstered my Walther P22. He held the gun up, aiming at Marcellus’s face. The gun wasn’t loaded with wooden rounds, but the shot would still hurt Marcellus. It would slow him down enough for Damian to get the upper hand.

“You are no longer welcome here, old friend. Leave and take your rotting scum with you.”

Marcellus hissed as he backed away. I narrowed my eyes as they left, realizing something important. Marcellus had no intention of killing Damian today. He wanted to draw it out. After all, it wasn’t every day that a vampire was allowed to kill one of their own.

Damian sagged against the wall once they left, dropping my gun onto the polished marble floor. “Dammit,” he growled as he raked a hand through his ebony hair.

I sat in the chair Marcellus had just vacated, waiting for Damian to collect himself. “What the hell?” I asked when he finally did. I didn’t need to go further than that. Damian could read my mind like a book. He knew everything I felt curious about. Damian shook his head.

“Not here. I don’t trust it.” He stood up and walked over to a large black door that led away from the club. I stood and followed him, hoping he wasn’t going to keep me in the dark about all of this. I mean, he was the one that dragged me into this.

“I’m not,” Damian said. “We’re going to my study to speak about this.”

Damian’s study was a small room with a bookcase and desk tucked in the corner. A large decorative curtain hung on the wall, and I assumed it covered a window.

The moment we entered Damian’s study I tore into him. “What’s going on? I thought you were safe? Why is Marcellus after you? How can he be both a necromancer and a vampire? And who the hell is Phaedra? And why did he think I was her?”

Damian sighed. “I hope this will answer your last question.” Damian walked over to the far left wall and pulled the decorative curtain aside.

Heather, thank you so much for stopping by today. Best wishes with all your writing endeavors!

Interview with Alysa Braceau - 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 Alysa Braceau, Dreamshield.

Bio: Alysa Braceau, Dreamshield
I live in the Netherlands (Europe) and I’m a mother of a 6-year old daughter. I've studied social work and the last ten years I have worked as a (freelance) journalist and publisher. Besides that I have a healing practice and I give workshops about the Art of Dreaming.

The Sorcerer’s Dream is my first book. The theme of the passed years have been the sorcerers tradition and mastering conscious dreaming. I have carefully recorded my personal experiences which has finally led to this first book.

Welcome, Alysa!

Please tell us about The Sorcerer's Dream.
The Sorcerer’s Dream is about my initiation into the sorcerer’s world and mastering conscious dreaming. It is a spiritual adventure in the tradition of Carlos Castaneda which takes the reader into the magic realms of the unknown and one can learn and practice the Art of Dreaming (the skill of conscious dreaming or lucid dreaming) him/herself.

What inspired you to write this book?
Meeting a "man of knowledge" who taught me the art of mastering conscious dreaming and he suggested me to share this knowledge.

What exciting story are you working on next?
The art of dreaming is one of the teachings of Totality I write about in this book. My dreaming teacher, Vidar, explained there are four practices that guide the apprentice into the totality: the art of dreaming, stalking, hunting, and the art of the warrior. He said: “Gradually you will learn to master all of them, but because you are a dreamer the art of dreaming is the most important one for you. On the way to the totality you will learn to master your dreaming, which means that ordinary dreams will come to a halt and will be replaced by the dreaming of the spirit. Ordinary dreams come to a stop, disappear because they are primitive, and take up too much energy. As you master your dreaming, you will have medicine dreams and visions that guide you into the totality.” More about that you will read in my first book.

My second book will be about the art of stalking, as I explained one of the next teachings of Totality.

When did you first consider yourself a writer?
I don’t know if I am a real writer, maybe I feel myself a real writer after writing another book (and another one and another one). But the feeling of being a real writer came more close when I discovered I loved to write this book and also that I want to continue it day and night (impossible of course) and that it gave me so much energy.

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’m doing different things at the moment: I am a (freelance) journalist and publisher and besides that I have a healing practice and I give workshops about the Art of Dreaming. And of course I write, but not full time, so you can call that variety. :)

I write throughout the week because I love it and make time for it in the evenings and also a few hours in the weekends.

What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?
Well, that a good question: once I start writing, I can’t stop. But I think every writer has that!
Don't they?

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
Like many kids, I changed my idea about that every week or every second :) because many things seemed nice and for many different reasons. But to mention a few that regularly came to my mind: painter, writer, healer, actress, singer, nurse, teacher, and then writer, artist, painter, healer and writer again. And I also wanted to be a cashier when I was 8 years old because I knew one girl from the supermarket who had such a nice red nails (and my mom didn’t allow me to polish my nails).

But the thought or wish to write a book about spirituality came back to my mind in a very natural - dreaming - way. I always had the feeling I was going to write about something like dreaming, healing and spiritual growth. Ever since my childhood, I had many dreams or visions telling me about my capacities about healing and dreaming, about myself, my future and about people around me. I felt a strong connection with my spiritual ancestors. For me, it was impossible to deny there is so much more beyond this life we are leading.

Anything additional you want to share with the readers?
I have been asked before what is the difference between conscious dreaming and astral traveling so I thought it would be nice to share my thoughts about that with the readers of this beautiful blog:

Astral travelers can have the sensation of having an existence separate from one's physical body, and being able to stand outside of oneself, looking at the reality from another point. Astral Travel, so it seems, and Out of body experiences (OOBEs) has similarities with Conscious dreaming. But it is not the same because conscious dreaming is the art of controlled dreaming. I understand from what I have been reading about Astral traveling that it happens spontaneously. But that doesn’t mean that a conscious dreamer can’t have the same sensations and experiences as an astral traveler and vice versa.

And please remember that conscious dreaming gives you a great feeling. If you dream consciously, you have control over events. Or at least the realization that you can control the situation. There will be a day that you can instruct yourself to dream about something; to fly like a bird or to meet a deceased loved one. Try it. It’s fun!


And here’s a short pitch on where to buy my book, my web site, blog, etc.
The Sorcerer’s Dream, an initiation into the sorcerer’s world and mastering conscious dreaming. Buy it at:
http://www.booklocker.com/books/4654.html

The book can be ordered on Amazon – http://www.amazon.com/Sorcerers-Dream-Dreamshield-Alysa-Braceau/dp/1609101561 and everywhere they sell books

Please visit my website: http://www.dreamshield.nl

Blog: http://dreamshield.wordpress.com

Thank you, Alysa! Best of luck with the book and your future writing.