Interview with writer Justin Bog

Today's guest, Justin Bog, is at the tail end of a virtual book tour for his short story collection, Sandcastle and Other Stories.

Bio: 

Justin Bog, first and foremost, grew up a voracious reader, movie fanatic, and music audiophile. Justin always carried a stack of library books and collected way too many comic books from his local Ohio small-town drugstore. More than one teacher scolded Justin to put his "suspect" reading materials away and join the class. Justin began to make up stories of his own, using an old typewriter he found in the attic.

“Growing up in the 70s, Stephen King was about to publish his first novel and John Updike had only published the first of his Rabbit books. Along with so many cinema buffs, I witnessed the huge change in the way movies were distributed — from artistic, Director-driven films backed by huge studios to the dawn of the Blockbuster and popcorn summer films, like Jaws, Rocky, and Star Wars. I was drawn to the music of these decades as well,” says Bog.

So it comes as no surprise that Justin pursued an English Degree at the University of Michigan, followed by Film and Music Appreciation classes -- finally graduating from Bowling Green State University with an MFA in Fiction Writing. After teaching creative writing, Justin began apprenticing in a number of bookstores and editing fiction for a midwestern journal. Justin ended up on the management team at Chapter One Bookstore in the Sun Valley resort area for a decade, offering book recommendations to its local celebrities, skiing fanatics, and tourists. Currently residing in the San Juan Islands just north of Seattle, Justin has the opportunity to focus on his own novels and short stories, while contributing commentary and reviews of Pop Culture. Justin continues to engage his lifelong passion for writing in combination with his curious mindset as the Senior Contributor and Editor at In Classic Style.

Welcome, Justin. Please tell us about your current release.

Sandcastle and Other Stories started out as very short stories, almost flash fiction. Each tale began with an impulse, a character's image in my head, or a singular voice of one of the character's, speaking to me. In "Typecast," the voice of the bad-boy actor came through loud and clear, and I hope I captured his world both on and off screen. There is a darkness to these ten psychological dramas, and my mind turns that way more often than not. I didn't mind shocking readers, making a thoughtful or natural conclusion, and, really, only two of the stories have an element of shock to them, but the shock is earned. There's no gimmick. The characters lead the story, and I followed each one to his or her end point. I took the shortness of each tale and built a structure, tinkered with the characters, the settings, the time each tale took place, and added just enough back story to flesh each motivation out a bit, each epiphany a character may come to. This was a really fun collection to put together and all the stories are linked by this milieu of darkness. There is humor woven into the threads, and I like hearing that the stories resonate with readers.

What inspired you to write this book?

The inspiration came from my love of reading short fiction. The stories of Raymond Carver, John Cheever, Ray Bradbury, Shirley Jackson, Rachel Ingalls, and Stephen King (who hasn't he influenced or inspired) I still find the most influential in my own writing. I wanted to create tales I would like to read. I hope others like them too.

What exciting story are you working on next?

I just finished another edit draft on a 12,000 word longer story title The Conversationalist that was just accepted to be part of an original eBook suspense anthology called Encounters. Each of the tales had to center around a stalker of some type. It would've fit well as the end piece in Sandcastle since it was written in April when I was putting the eBook together for publication. My first novel, Wake Me Up, is finished, but going through probably two or three more copyedit reviews before it sees publication. This is a psychological family drama about a crime in Missoula, Montana and the aftershocks. Sandcastle and Other Stories found the interest of a publisher in Washington State where I live and Green Darner Press will publish the print version this fall. Very excited by all this publishing news.

When did you first consider yourself a writer?

I first considered myself a writer when I was sending out short stories and getting rejection letters -- these helped spur me on. Some of my tales found runner-up status and honorable mentions, but I never sent them out as a collection to be published anywhere before. Now, more than ever, I feel a validation to the long hours at home alone tapping away.

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 try to write full-time, but that's not possible. I worked as a manager in bookstores for over 20 years until 2005. Then my partner and I moved to Washington State. Currently, along with the writing life, I'm taking on book editing jobs, working with other authors, helping their books reach the best potential. I edit content for the eMagazine In Classic Style and also write pop culture recommendations for the magazine as well.

What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?

I tend to work on a project until it is finished. I don't take breaks, a day break, or even a week, until the work is on paper in a first draft. But I don't write thousands of words at a time either. That's a rare occasion. I read that Hemingway only produced 400-600 words a day, words that he would keep. If something pulls me away, a move to a new home, a trip to visit family or friends, I can pick right up where I left off. I don't know if that's very interesting. I like listening to music as I write. Radiohead is playing right now.

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?

I actually wanted to do two things. 1) write books and 2) work in bookstores. I love bookstores. I don't get to visit them as much now with the writing schedule, but I will always browse through bookstores whenever I come across one. So, even though I've accomplished my childhood goals, there's more and more to do, and I'm always dreaming.

Anything additional you want to share with the readers?

I love that you are reading my writing and sharing your thoughts. I can't say that enough. The fans who tell me the stories made them think, had an emotional response to the situations -- this makes my day, makes me feel like the writing life is so worthwhile. Best to you and your own reading and writing dreams.

Thanks for having Reviews and Interviews as a tour stop. Best wishes for your continued writing.

Interview with historical fiction author M.C.V. Egan

Today's guest is M.C.V. Egan, aka Catalina, as she winds down her virtual book tour for The Bridge of Deaths.

M.C.V. is giving away 2 signed print copies of her novel to 2 lucky winners at the end of her tour. Leave a comment here, and at any of her other tour stops - the more you comment, the more chances you have to win!

Bio:
M.C.V. Egan is the pen name chosen by Maria Catalina Egan, the author of The Bridge of Deaths. Catalina was born in Mexico City, Mexico in 1959, one of eight children. From a very young age she became obsessed with the story of her maternal grandfather, Cesar Agustin Castillo, mostly the story of how he died. She only spent her childhood in Mexico. Her father became an employee of The World Bank in Washington, D.C.

From the early 1970s, at the age of 12, she moved with her entire family to the United States. She was already fluent in Southern English as she had spent one school year in the town of Pineville, Louisiana with her grandparents. There she won the English award; ironically being the only one who had English as a second language in her class.

In the D.C. suburbs, she attended various private Catholic schools and graduated from Winston Churchill HS in Potomac, Maryland in 1977. She attended Montgomery Community College, where she changed majors every semester. She also studied in Lyons, France at the Catholic University for two years. In 1981, due to an impulsive young marriage to a Viking (The Swedish kind, not the football player kind) Catalina moved to Sweden where she resided for five years and taught at a language school for Swedish, Danish, and Finnish businesspeople. She returned to the USA where she has been living ever since. She is fluent in Spanish, English, French, and Swedish.

Mrs. Egan has worked for various companies and holds an insurance license for the State of Florida. Not her favorite field, but involves very nice folks and makes money!

Maria Catalina Egan is married and has one son, who together with their five pound Chihuahua makes her feel like a full-time mother. Although she would not call herself an astrologer, she has taken many classes and taught a few beginner classes in astrology. This is one of her many past times when she is not writing or researching.

She celebrated her 52nd birthday on July 2nd 2011 and gave herself self-publishing The Bridge of Deaths as a gift; she never submitted it to anyone prior to this decision and has enjoyed the very positive feedback.

Welcome to Reviews and Interviews, M.C.V. Please tell us about your current release.
The Bridge of Deaths is a cross-genre novel with a strong historical angle that is well documented with 200+ footnotes. This gives the curious readers access to any information they would care to explore in a deeper more detailed manner.

The fictional story guides the reader through true events in pre WWII Europe, making the reader, according to one reviewer, feel as if they are part of a small group of interested individuals. Another reviewer called it cozy. I will go out on a limb and claim that any curious reader will enjoy a journey that ties yesterday’s history with today’s world in several ways.

The journey is also somewhat esoteric as the aid of psychics and past-life regressions give the story an unusual aspect, combining history with what an anonymous individual actually experienced while under hypnosis, through five long sessions.

What inspired you to write this book?
A family tie was what inspired me to research and write The Bridge of Deaths. The true events surrounding the passenger crash on August 15th 1939 make up the story of my grandfather’s death. I was inspired by curiosity and the conviction that there is no such thing as “a mystery that will never be solved”.

What exciting story are you working on next?
I am working on a short novel with a co-author Jolie DeMarco. It is called 4covert2overt and it is far more paranormal that historical. The fictional characters are embroiled in more conflict and drama and the book is a fun, quick easy read with two very distinct voices.

When did you first consider yourself a writer?
At a very young age, it was one of those things you just ‘know’.

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 mother and a housewife, so I wish I wrote fulltime! But stories often have to take the backseat to my family and it can be frustrating. This year my son is at home with a virtual school program and it is very time consuming and limiting, I do look forward to the fall when he will have a regular school schedule and I will get back on track with many hours of writing per day.

With TBOD, I had an attitude that history would not change and my child would never be a certain age again, but with the story I am working on now it often feels like an interruption. I sometimes write late at night when the house is calm and quiet.

I do have a very nice life in South Florida, and I do know that eventually my son will find his wings and life of his own and that I will have ample time for writing.

What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?
I have bulletin boards cover with information for the story I work on, sometimes with images I create myself, sometimes with lists in large letters, I like to surround myself with the story.

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
I honestly wanted to be everything and then write about it. I remember drawing maps and calling myself a cartographer. I was a nurse and doctor to my dolls. I wanted to travel the world and discover new things. I changed my mind often and wondered if it was possible to be more than one thing. As a writer I can always create what I cannot be, so I guess I did grow-up to be what I wanted to be.

Anything additional you want to share with the readers?
I have had several past life regressions myself, and I included one as Maggie’s surprise regression when she goes under as she is witnessing Bill’s regression. I have personal had physical changes due to past life regressions and I can only imagine that someday I will have more.

I chose to create three very different characters: Bill, the absolute skeptic, and Maggie, the absolute believer. In Catalina, I created the doubter that teeters between wanting to believe in re-incarnation and wanting to believe in the traditional values she was raised with. I did that to give every reader the freedom to believe and identify with what they desire.

My personal experiences have taken me on a journey of faith and belief in unusual and untraditional things, but I also respect tremendously the roots of how I was raised and how for many their religious up-bringing grants them the serenity and the answers to what is profound in their lives.

Thanks, M.C.V.

Reminder: M.C.V. is giving away 2 signed print copies of her novel to 2 lucky winners at the end of her tour. Leave a comment here, and at any of her other tour stops - the more you comment, the more chances you have to win!

Interview with nutrition expert Beth Aldrich

Today we get to chat with certified healthy lifestyle counselor and nutrition expert Beth Aldrich about her book Real Moms Love to Eat.

Beth is going to give away 3 signed print paperbacks at end of tour to 3 randomly drawn commenters, so if you want a chance to win a copy of her book, comment below! 


Bio:
Beth Aldrich delivers health, nutrition and environmental fundamentals through keynote addresses, lectures and as a media spokesperson. As an expert health and nutrition columnist for Diet.com, SocialMoms.com, Hotmomsclub.com and RealMomsLovetoEat.com, Beth shares her wisdom, experience and knowledge about all things eco and health. From food coaching, and living a balanced life to, the energetics of food and finding your passion, Beth delivers her message in a charismatic yet compassionate way.



She is the founder of For Her Information Media, LLC (FHI) established in 2003, with productions such as the PBS TV series, For Her Information (aired in Turkey, Israel and 60 cities, nationwide), the radio shows, A Balanced Life with Beth Aldrich, and Real Moms Love to Eat with Beth Aldrich, and the online magazine and newsletter, FHI Online. Her company's mission is to be a life guide for conscious-minded women. Beth is also the founder of Restoring Essence Nutrition, LLC and a Certified Holistic Health and Nutritional Counselor through the American Association of Drugless Practitioners (AADP). Beth received her education from Columbia University's Teachers College and The Institute for Integrative Nutrition in New York City.


Welcome, Beth. Please tell us about your current release.
My book, Real Moms Love to Eat: How to Conduct a Love Affair with Food, Lose Weight and Feel Fabulous, is a healthy lifestyle book that offers ideas, tips, and solutions for busy women to lose weight, gain energy, and look fabulous.


What inspired you to write this book?
In 2007, I was actively working on my PBS TV series, For Her Information when one snowy afternoon in January, I was involved in a serious car accident. While in the hospital, I came to the realization that the long hours and crazy schedule away from my family was not really want I wanted or what was satisfying in my life. After healing, I enrolled in the Institute for Integrative Nutrition where I became certified as a Holistic Health Counselor. I worked from home, only while my kids were in school and I really enjoyed helping other moms find happiness, balance and food they enjoyed.

I decided to write a book about my approach to eating and how women really CAN enjoy the foods THEY love without having the guilt or strict dietary plans to follow. After partnering with author, Eve Adamson, we created the perfect side-kick to any mom’s daily life and the Real Moms Love to Eat plan was born. Based on what the reader loves to eat, the plan offers five simple suggestions each week to propel them to a life of occasional cupcakes and a healthier outlook on life!


What exciting book are you working on next?
I’m still touring for this book, so I am focusing all of my energy on travel, book presentations, and when I’m home I’m 100% MOM.


When did you first consider yourself a writer?
I studied journalism in college and have always loved to write but after my car accident, I thought I’d better get moving on this bucket list item!


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 part time and bake cupcakes when I’m not in the kitchen (www.bitsycakes.com). I also maintain my blog and write for a variety of other online outlets.


What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?
I like to write like I’m talking to you over tea or coffee! Girlfriend to girlfriend!


As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
An actress or talk show host…


Anything additional you want to share with the readers?
I qualified and ran the Boston Marathon in my own personal best time! I love my sons to pieces and my two dogs are a complete joy!


You certainly have a full life! Glad to have you here today. Have fun with the book tour!

Readers, don't forget to comment if you want a chance to win a signed print copy of Real Moms Love to Eat.

Interview with paranormal novelist Janine McCaw

Today is a virtual book tour stop for Janine McCaw and her second novel, Helens-of-Troy. For the Vancouver-based novelist, the new book is the continuation of a dream, and the fruit of years of working in a different creative realm.

Bio:
Janine McCaw’s deep understanding of compelling plots, widely appealing characters, natural dialogue, and strong story arcs come directly out of her early career in the film and television industry. McCaw’s skills as an observer started early when her family uprooted from the city to small town Ontario – and she became the classic fish out of water. Writing down her thoughts became an outlet as she scribbled her way through childhood, while she also developed her observational skills and visual eye with photography. A die-hard hockey fan, McCaw studied cinematography at Humber College, and was headed for a career as a cameraperson covering professional sports when she landed an internship in a broadcasting services company.

McCaw excelled in the television distribution arena. She joined Thomas Howe & Associates and moved with that company to Vancouver, where she distinguished herself with her talent for identifying the right product for the right market, and her people-skills in negotiating contracts. After furthering her professional development with several high-profile Canadian entertainment companies, she parlayed her reputation as a leading cable programming specialist into her own boutique firm. Formed with a partner, Dark Horse Ent. specialized in finding, and selling, niche Canadian television series - entertainment, information and variety - around the Globe. McCaw also acted as an independent executive producer on award-winning television Classic Car series, CHROME DREAMS, and as a distributor for series including ENTRÉE TO ASIA, and AT HOME WITH HERBS.

In high demand as an insightful, humorous, and engaging guest speaker, juror, and analyst for festivals and trade forums around the country, McCaw also spent large amounts of time traveling abroad to television markets. Writing relieved the stress of constantly being on the road. Increasingly, she turned her main hobby into outlines for novels, and finished fleshing out the characters, plot and dialogue for Olivia's Mine, a fictional account of a young bride’s struggle to make a life for herself against the backdrop of the disasters that hit Britannia Beach, British Columbia in the early 1900s. The book was released in 2006 and continues to be sold at the British Columbia Museum of Mining.

Welcome to Reviews and Interviews, Janine. Please tell us about your current release.
I'm so excited to unleash "the Helens" on the world. They're three very independent women, all trying to come to terms with the choices they have to make in life.

Here's the synopsis:

Fifteen year old Goth-chic Ellie has a lot of explaining to do. She’s just moved to the small town of Troy, fought with her uptight mother Helen, met the boy of her dreams and found a dead body on her sexy “new-age” grandmother Helena’s porch. All on the first night!

But Ellie’s not alone. Helen is hiding something. Helen knows all about the kind of eerie dreams her daughter is having — the dreams that show the whereabouts of the missing children of Troy — because she’s had them herself. But she’ll never admit it. Not while Ellie’s sex-crazed friend Ryan is safely behind bars for the murders. Helen knows what it’s like to be attracted to dangerous men.

Then there’s the little matter between Helena and Gaspar BonVillaine, the teenaged vampire who is learning to feed on young prey. Now that he’s caught Ellie, he doesn’t know whether he wants to kill her or turn her to the dark side and keep her forever. Helena should have finished him off when she had the chance.

To survive the vampire feeding frenzy surrounding them, mom Helen needs to come to terms with her own insecurities and deal with the gifts she has. Helena must learn to ground herself for the good of mankind and more importantly her own family. And Ellie has the toughest choice of all. Ellie must decide whether it's time to let her own childhood go and become the woman she is destined to be, one of the ageless and timeless “Helens of Troy”.

What inspired you to write this book?
The title came first. I was reading something about the original Helen of Troy and thought, hmm…what if there's more of them…and they live in this small town…and what if they're slayers….

What exciting story are you working on next?
I'm working on the sequel to H-O-T, Nightmare on Jacey Street. Those who read the original novel know that Ellie's friend Jacey has a few secrets that need to be resolved.

When did you first consider yourself a writer?
I've always written, but I like to think of myself as a "storyteller". Sometimes that's the same thing, sometimes it isn't.

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 a fly-by-night writer. I grab the time when I can. I carry a notebook and have several electronic gadgets on me at all times. Structure doesn't work for me. I joined a 500 words a day challenge and the beginning of this year and it lasted slightly over a week. I pull some 10-12 hours days at my day job, so it's not easy.

What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?
I write the dialogue first.

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
A hockey player. There's a photo of me, when I was around three, taken at Christmas. I'm standing next to the decorated tree, in blue polka-dot pajamas, holding a hockey stick that is taller than I am. My mom wanted to get me a doll, but I told Santa I wanted a hockey stick. I think I took out a few ornaments that morning. So when I watch Happy Gilmore and Adam Sandler says "I'm a hockey player", I get that. Totally.

Anything additional you want to share with the readers?
A couple of good songs to listen to when reading H-O-T are the cover version of "Where Evil Grows" by the Gore Gore Girls, and "Deep Cuts the Knife" by Helix.

Well, that's a different way to wrap up an interview! Thanks for stopping by today, Janine. It's been a pleasure learning a bit about you and your writing.

Janine can be reached through her author website, Facebook, and Twitter.

Links to her other virtual tour stops can be found at the VBT Cafe site.

Interview with western romance author MK McClintock

Here to chat about writing and particularly her debut novel Gallagher's Pride, is western historical romance author MK McClintock.

She's giving away some copies of her novel to lucky commentors. Details are at the end of the interview.

Bio:
MK was born on the west coast, but after less than eight years she left with her family to the Rocky Mountains. After more adventures around the country, business college, and culinary school, MK found a place to call home in Montana.

"I've always loved books and spent more hours reading through school than any other activity. I wrote stories when I was younger and even tried my hand at a novel. It wasn't very good and I shelved the idea for years." She pulled the ideas off the shelf and began working on her first novel, Gallagher's Pride, the first in an historical series about a ranching family in Montana.

Over the years, MK traveled the country and visited magnificent Scotland. She dreams of a time when life was simpler, the land rougher and the journey more rewarding. With her heart deeply rooted in the past and her mind always on adventure, MK still calls Montana home.

Welcome, MK. Please tell us about your debut release.
Gallagher’s Pride is an historical western romance set in 19th century Montana Territory about a woman who has some drastic changes in her life and journeys to Montana, following a trail to search out secrets and family. She’s taken in by the Gallagher family and most especially our hero, Ethan Gallagher. Without giving anything away, there is of course the romance, but a bit of adventure and a voyage to Scotland.

What inspired you to write this book?
I was inspired to write what I wanted to read! Living in Montana certainly helped with the idea, but mostly I enjoy reading historical western romances that are clean which are difficult to find. I also wanted adventure and to combine my love of Montana and Scotland into one book.

What exciting story are you working on next?
Currently I’m working on the next Gallagher book, Gallagher’s Choice, where we have the story of Ethan’s brother, Gabriel and a woman from New Orleans. More of the same bit of humor, adventure and romance can be expected.

When did you first consider yourself a writer?
I don’t believe there was any one moment where I knew I wanted to write-it was more gradual and began from an early age. I’ve been writing in one form or another for as long as I can remember, but actually calling myself a writer? I’d have to say the moment that first book was finished. That’s when it became real.

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 don’t at the moment and probably won’t, but mainly because I always have so much going on. I own a couple of businesses and I enjoy the work too much to just walk away. Finding the time – now that can be tricky. I had to put myself on a schedule and I’m an early morning person, so I tend to put in a couple of hours early after I exercise. If I find I have an extra hour here or there, I just sit down and write. For me, writing should always be fun and so I make sure I balance it out with the other things I enjoy doing. If I miss a day, I don’t beat myself up.

What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?
It’s more of an environmental quirk, but I like the room to be cold. I just seem to write and think better and can more easily ignore everything else around me. I also need a snack – easy to grab like carrots or grapes.

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
I had a pretty active imagination growing up and wanted to be a number of things. From a K-9 cop to a cowgirl/rancher and a lot of things in between, including a chef, a teacher, and a doctor. I eventually went to business and culinary school so I followed through on one of the ideas. I haven’t grown out of the cowgirl/rancher dream though.

Anything additional you want to share with the readers?
I write because I love it and I write for entertainment. It was always a dream somewhere in my mind and the moment I became a writer, when that first book was complete, a dream was fulfilled. Dreaming is a gift and I hope everyone is doing their best every day, working towards their dreams.

Readers can connect with me through my blog.

Very nice way to close this interview. Thanks for being here today, MK. Happy writing trails!

Readers, MK is giving away 3 copies of Gallagher's Pride at the end of her virtual book tour (print copy for US residents only, e-book for international residents), to lucky commentors. So I encourage you to comment here, and on any of MK's other tour stops.

Interview with paranormal thriller novelist Greg Kiser

Greg Kiser is here today as part of his inSyte virtual book tour with the Virtual Book Tour Cafe.

Bio:
Greg Kiser is happily married to a wonderful and inspirational wife, Serena, and has two beautiful children – Miller and Grace.

Greg graduated from Southern Polytechnic University in Atlanta with a BS in Electrical Engineering. Greg also earned his MBA from the University of South Florida. He is currently a Director at Cisco, a high tech fortune 50 multinational corporation.

Greg has written extensively for fortune 50 high tech firms in describing next generation networks and painting pictures of the true evolution of technology for the consumer.


Welcome, Greg. Please tell us about your current release, inSyte.
It’s Tampa Bay, Florida and the year is 2020. Ex-Navy SEAL Mitch “Double” Downing discovers how to tap into the internet with his mind. His new inSyte provides transparent access to the sum of all human knowledge recorded since hieroglyphics.

If knowledge is power, Mitch just became the strongest man in the world.

But inSyte has ideas of its own as the software exposes a politician’s “divine” plan that will unwittingly slaughter millions of people. Is killing the man the only way to prevent Armageddon? The politician’s daughter would probably disagree. And she happens to be the love of Mitch’s life. Losing Kate would be too damn much collateral damage.

At the center of the conflict is a wolf-like killer who will stop at nothing to murder the ex-Navy SEAL. And Mitch must come to grips with inSyte’s dark side – a dominating addiction that soon controls his thoughts and places him on a steep slide to self destruction.

What inspired you to write this book?
I listened to Rudy Giuliani speak a year after 9/11. This was in August of 2002, just under a year since 9/11. Rudy spoke to a crowd of about 5,000 folks. He described the events of that day and it was very emotional, everyone loved the guy, he was held in such admiration.

He told the crowd that every great leader will possess spirituality. And when you have millions of people that you’re serving, there’s a natural temptation to believe that God put you there, there must be a divine intervention. Then the tendency is to think that any gut feeling you have, must be God’s decision.

So Rudy talked about how you have to avoid falling into that trap, you have to remain objective and realize you’re only human and they are your decisions.

I found that fascinating because I had never heard a politician talk like that. I think there are a number of politicians in the US and abroad, recently and not, where pragmatism was nowhere to be found. I wanted to explore that in a novel. Come on, there’s all kinds of room for conflict.

As for publishing, I self published on Amazon. The only way to go these days ;). Really pretty simple. Of course, the average book that self publishes on Amazon sells 100 copies to, you guessed it, friends and business associates and the like. So the trick is – how do you market the book further, drive sales.

At the end of the day, it’s all about word of mouth. So you have to get your book out there and it has to be good and then you need for word of mouth to help.

So – be sure it’s ready for prime time before you decide to self publish. I waited 3 years after my 1st draft because I wanted my novel to be as good as it could possibly be. Along the way I had some serious people read it and provide candid feedback. Enough good feedback to know I was onto something, enough bad feedback to keep me busy writing and rewriting and (yes) deleting!

What exciting story are you working on next?
Thinking about a sequel. Just thinking. Letting my mind sort through it subconsciously. Nothing exciting just yet.

When did you first consider yourself a writer?
I don’t actually consider myself a writer. If someone at a party asks me what I do, I’ll say, “I’m a sales director at Cisco”. They’ll usually say, “Sysco, the food company?”. And I’ll reply, “No, Cisco, the high tech internet company” and that’s when their eyes usually glaze.
That would be so wonderful to one day be able to write full time and when people ask me what I do, I could say, “I’m a writer”. And they would know what that means.

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 have never written full time. My entire novel was written between 4:00am and 7:00am, before work. I am most definitely a morning person. Seems I’m able to tap into my subconscious somehow if I do so before I really wake up, before the rest of the world wakes up.

What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?
I hate to be boring. Especially to me! I’ll write a chapter and walk away. When I read it a month later I’m appalled. I find my mind wandering even while I’m reading my own words. Pretty bad, right?

So I rewrite. Spice up the action, change the verbs, more show – less tell, more realistic dialogue.

Sure, I do all that.

But the most important thing I do (ie, my quirk) is to delete. Words, sentences, paragraphs –anything that does not directly advance the story comes out. It’s like polishing to bring out the inner beauty. As Apple used to say, Simplicity is the Ultimate Sophistication.

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
That’s a damn good question. That was also a long time ago. What did I want to be? You know what, I think I wanted to be a writer. I had forgotten that. Thanks for reminding me. I started writing stories in about 3rd grade. Silly stories that were funny and made the class laugh. Stories about my dog, ridiculous stuff I made up.

I wrote a serious story about my brother who died in 2006. That was the first real story I wrote as an adult. It’s available for free at the following URL:
http://www.scribd.com/doc/21508465/Did-They-Tell-You

Anything additional you want to share with the readers?
People will like the characters, they have heart. They come alive. And people will like the action, the way the conflict ratchets up toward the end when all of the characters come together.

And for all you aspiring writers out there… Don’t let ANYBODY read that initial draft. It will suck.

Oh – and don’t let ANYBODY read that initial draft. It will suck, indeed.

Hee hee, Greg, do you mean we shouldn't let anyone read our first drafts? Thanks for being here!

Interview with paranormal author Andrea DiGiglio

Paranormal writer Andrea DiGiglio is here today to chat about the first book in The Alice Clark series, Finding Alice.

Bio:
Born and raised in Michigan, Andrea has always been a writer at heart. Over the last decade, she has written, starred in, and directed many screenplays. In the last few years, she decided to venture back into writing novels and hasn't looked back since. She is very excited to share the worlds she creates with all of you dreamers.

Welcome, Andrea. Please tell us about your current release.
Finding Alice is book one of The Alice Clark Series.

Cursed with an intense version of empathy, Alice runs from a wasted life to start a new one somewhere no one will know her; Hell, Michigan. Alice works at a hole-in-the-wall bar in the middle of nowhere mostly keeping to herself to avoid the overwhelming emotions of those around her. Alice allows her best friend to convince her into taking a few college classes without realizing it would drastically change her life forever. From her first day of class she was hooked on him; his scent, his eyes, the way he talked to her inside her head.

Throughout her struggles, she learns about true love, true pain, and the truth of her own heritage. Alice must quickly find out who she is, because, after all, everyone else is out to find her. With angels and bounty hunters in constant pursuit, she finds protection within a group of Fallen Angels. These Fallen Angels vow to do anything to protect her; for it is their belief she will save their kind and all of mankind.

What inspired you to write this book?
I love everything paranormal so when I began to write it honestly just happened. The first quarter of the book was just me typing away at the computer. Once that was written, I would sit back and read through it and try to find major plot points to follow, but ultimately Alice ran the whole show.

What exciting story are you working on next?
It’s a really difficult choice, but I believe it is a tie between Alice’s Sacrifice, Finding Alice’s sequel and the untitled paranormal novel I am working on with fellow author Jessica Gibson.

When did you first consider yourself a writer?
The child in me is screaming 4th grade. I used to carry around one of those composition notebooks and it held all my best stories. The adult in me would say around eighteen, that is when I truly took it seriously.

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?
This is one of the hardest questions for me. I work for the family business currently as my day job. When I get home I spend time with my son and dog and go about our routines. I write during naps, when he first goes to bed, lunch breaks, and any other free moment I can grab a hold of.

What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?
Not quite sure how to answer this. I do have a ritual when writing and usually I can get 5-10k words if I am not interrupted. I turn my writing playlist on, make coffee, and jam to the music. The slight distraction I feel opens me up to just write and let it pour out until my soul can’t lose anymore of itself.

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
I wanted to be everything under the sun but mostly an actress.

Anything additional you want to share with the readers?
Read, write, watch, love, dream, and get out there in the world and put your mark on it.

Great way to wrap up the interview, Andrea. Thanks for spending some time with us today!

Interview with Cesar Nostradame

Today's guest is Cesar as he does a virtual book tour for Book of Prophecies.

Bio:
Cesar has a very experienced background in the spiritual world. He was brought up in a Christian family, but branched out as he got older, seeking answers about the physical world around him, and the spiritual world around him.

In his mid-twenties, dramatic events occurred in his life which challenged his very existence, but he learned from the experiences and mostly learned how life is not just in our own hands.

Now, Cesar is a firm believer that everyone has their own path to walk in life, and part of that walk is all about the choices that you make. Some people choose a good life and some a wicked life, but most of us live the life in the middle, influenced by the world around us and our own upbringing, Cesar understands that life is simply not black and white.

Please tell us about your current release, Book of Prophecies.
It's a collection of brand new prophecies about things that are destined to happen to the world; Nostradamus style. In the book, events such as disasters and terrorist attacks and nuclear disasters are talked about in a very cryptic way. Each prophecy has two interpretations and there are also celtic-style-images which hold more secrets.

What inspired you to write this book?
It's hard to pin it down to one particular event that sent me on the journey to write this book, there have been many events throughout my life which, when all linked together, set me on this road to write the book, for example being able to tell people their future, and being able to speak in tongues. But essentially I feel like God told me to write this book to pass on the messages that are in it.

What exciting story are you working on next?
I have a number of manuscripts that I am working on, however, the one I am hoping to have published next is a YA fiction that approaches the possibilities of spirituality from a new perspective but mixes it with some truths and suspected truths from history. Essentially, Harry Potter mixed with the Da Vinci Code.

When did you first consider yourself a writer?
Well, to be honest it's very hard to see myself as a writer despite the fact that it's all I think about, but I have been doing other things in my life, too. I was once a musician and I was once an artist, so to put my identity as just a writer would be almost like selling myself short.

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?
At the moment, I am spending most of my time with the promotion of this book and with doing research for my blog, but I am hoping to get back to my writing as soon as I can as I have manuscripts to finish off and other ideas which I want to start putting to paper. I'd love to write full time, and maybe one day I will be able to support myself financially with my writing.

What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?
Writing late at night with plenty of coffee, I find it my most productive time to write, maybe it's because the world seems more peaceful and less distracting, but it causes havoc to my internal clock.

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
I think I wanted to be something special, like a superhero. I was always taller than other boys in my class so maybe I saw myself as being super strong just because of the shorter people around me, but I stopped growing at 6ft.

Anything additional you want to share with the readers?
Well yes, I'd like to share a bit about my Blog, basically since finishing this book I have been reading ancient documents ranging from a couple hundred years old to a few thousand years old, and I write an analysis about the documents, but I am especially searching for old prophecies and I am collecting a list and bio's of all prophets throughout time and I have discovered some very interesting things, for example, the fact that the theory of evolution was penned by the Egyptians thousands of years ago yet we all think Darwin came up with the notion!

Thank you for being here today, Cesar.

Folks, feel free to check out other tour dates and stops for Cesar.

Interview with filmmaker/memoirist Guy Magar

Today's guest is filmmaker Guy Magar to talk to us a bit about his memoir, Kiss Me Quick Before I Shoot.

Bio:
Guy Magar was nine years old when he left Egypt in 1958. His family immigrated to the U.S., where he grew up in Middletown, NY. Graduating from Rutgers University, Guy began his film career at the London Film School. Soup Run, his first short won a Special Jury Prize at the 1974 San Francisco Film Festival.

In 1978, Guy relocated to Los Angeles to attend the American Film Institute. His first short, Once Upon an Evening (made for $500) got him a 7-year deal at Universal Studios. Guy went on to earn over 100 film credits including episodes of La Femme Nikita, Sliders, The A-Team, Blue Thunder, Fortune Hunter, The Young Riders, Lawless, Hunter, and the CBS pilot/MOW Dark Avenger. He also directed 35 shows of the daytime drama Capitol.

Guy's film credits include Lookin' Italian (starring "Friends" Matt LeBlanc and singer Lou Rawls in their first film); Stepfather 3 which launched HBO's World Premiere Series; and the cult thriller Retribution which will be released for the first time on DVD on its 25th anniversary in 2012. His recent feature is Children of the Corn: Revelation based on Stephen King's original story.

Guy is founder of the Action/Cut Filmmaking Seminars, which for the last ten years, has provided the acclaimed "page to screen" 2-day educational industry workshop. Action/Cut has taught thousands of filmmakers during seminar tours around the world. His seminar is available as a 12-hour DVD most acclaimed home film course.

Guy is also founder of the annual Action/Cut Short Film Competition, which provides an opportunity for young filmmakers to showcase their talents. Action/Cut was one of the first to stream films on the Internet, which can be viewed year-round on its website. MovieMaker reviewed Action/Cut as one of the "Top 10 Shorts Festival in the World for Filmmakers!”

Guy lives in the Hollywood Hills with Jacqui, his beautiful wife of 28 years.

Welcome, Guy, please tell us about your current release.
Kiss Me Quick Before I Shoot is an unconventional memoir because it deals with diverse topics such as the magic of making movies and the magic of finding true love. I’ve been blessed to have had such a kaleidoscope of experiences starting as a child in Egypt and immigrating to America, growing up in New York and learning to speak English, going to college at an incendiary political time in the country (late ‘60s), and then setting myself on such an unlikely journey to become a film director in Hollywood.

That career adventure was a story I always wished to share because it’s been rich with wild and crazy experiences such as my first producer turning out to be a Mafia assassin, almost decapitating Drew Barrymore right after ET, and coming close to derailing James Cameron’s career though he is so talented I doubt anyone could have altered his storied destiny. Everyone loves to look behind the curtain of the movie world and this memoir takes them there.

Finding true love for me is all about falling in love with Jacqui, and having a Camelot wedding where I got to duel for her hand (a la Errol Flynn) in a romantic union that has blossomed to this day, and this journey was also worthy of sharing especially with the extreme dramatic turn of Jacqui suddenly being diagnosed with leukemia three years ago.

That unique medical journey to heal her through a cutting-edge clinical trial was a triumphant story of the human spirit - of her great courage - that deserved to be shared with the world. Everyone knows someone with cancer, and so I wanted to write a book about our experience that would inspire folks to get through their illnesses. For me, the grateful feedback from caregivers and cancer patients who are enjoying this book has been the most emotionally satisfying response to this memoir.

What inspired you to write this book?
This book was a surprise. I never had an intention to write it. After the difficult seven months it took to treat Jacqui’s illness and do the transplant that healed her, and after sleeping on a cot next to her and living in a tiny hospital room for months, I had gone to see a therapist looking for ways to unwind. She told me I was going through post-traumatic stress syndrome which surprised me since I thought only veterans coming back from wars suffer from such illness. She pointed out that I had just gone through my own emotional “war” to heal my wife. She told me I needed to find a “release” and encouraged me to find it immediately.

The very next morning, I just sat down and started writing. Somehow I knew I needed to write about this journey as my release, and without an outline or any plan whatsoever, I just thought to start at the beginning and see where it took me. I was waiting to get stuck or lost and have to go back and outline the story properly but somehow I always knew when to end a chapter and how to begin the next. In the most amazing organic process I’ve experienced, this went on for four months until I reached the end of the story. Then, like with all writing, it was a matter of rewriting over and over and I believe I did over 20 full rewrites over a period of 15 months until I was happy and done with it.

What exciting story are you working on next?
I’m actually quite excited about adapting this memoir into a stage play which is what I’m presently doing. To take this material and use my visual talents as a filmmaker to write the stage play of Kiss Me Quick Before I Shoot and structure the basic story into a set of scene montages that actors can perform on a stage is quite an ambitious endeavor. Readers and reviewers have commented about the humor in the book, the crazy stories, and the voice telling them. If I can capture that into an exciting and comedic evening at the theater, it would be a whole new challenge and visualization of this memoir.

When did you first consider yourself a writer?
Though there are some people who are just directors, and some who are just writers, the so-called hyphenates who manage to be director-writers I believe have the most exciting experiences of writing stories on paper and then visualizing them – translating them - to the screen. For me, it’s the ultimate job and I came to that realization when I fell in love with filmmaking while in film school. My first story as a screenwriter was for a very short film idea called Bingo and it turned out to be a 90-second film which proved so exciting to be able to write and direct the material, that I devoted my career to doing both. I’ve written all the shorts and feature films I’ve made but one which was Children of the Corn: Revelation based on Stephen King’s original story. I consider myself a screenwriter first because it all starts with story, there is no movie until there is a script. I’ve been a private consultant to screenwriters for years in Hollywood, and looking at projects from a writer’s point of view has been very helpful to my directing work.

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?
When I work on a screenplay, I really do focus and get deeply into a writing rhythm. I’ll try hard to write every day and for many hours if I can isolate myself. It’s difficult because I have quite a few meetings every week on various projects in different stages of development and as a filmmaker and also a producer I have a responsibility to keep all those moving forward to hopefully green light status.

Structuring a story, creating characters, figuring out all the twists and turns, and finally the climax and resolution are the skills you need when creating a story and making it as exciting and entertaining and original as possible. Pacing and style, and especially great snappy dialogue are of huge importance in screenplay writing.

This memoir was an 18-month writing journey. It required 4-months to write the basic storyline from start to finish and another 15 months of rewrites and over 20 revisions till the manuscript worked for me. Then I had to find and layout over 125 photos I included in the book to bring the narrative to life. It took me longer to write this book than any movie I ever made.

What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?
Sorry, no fun quirks.

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
I was real lousy in English because I was 11 before I started to learn how to speak the language. Because I was good at math and science it became a natural progression to go to engineering school at Rutgers College in New Jersey. But the late sixties were quite turbulent and due to the many side interests at that time, it became apparent this was not for me and I switched to philosophy. Since I didn’t want to teach or write it, my degree was useless and I ended up living in a tent on the beach in Provincetown, MA. So I was a content, happy, broke, beach bum with no ambitions. Then, I turned 25 and decided I better do something. Since going to the movies was my favorite hobby, I decided to go to film school and find out if I liked making films and if I had any natural aptitude for it. And that’s when I fell in love with filmmaking and my road to Hollywood began.

Anything additional you want to share with the readers?
I wanted this book to be a good friend with which you curl up with while sipping a hot chocolate because writing this memoir was a celebration of life. For me, it’s about following your dreams and making them come true. And that’s magical, as it is for all of us, and I was hoping to share that universal commonality. I encourage my readers who share my story to be inspired to celebrate their own unique life experiences. It was my desire and hope that by sharing my magic it would inspire folks to reflect, to take the time to appreciate their own great life journeys. This is why the last parting line in my book is “Dare to dream…I did. From one magician to another: Peace.”

In closing, I wish to invite readers to the book’s website where they can enter a weekly contest to win a signed paperback of the memoir. All they have to do is vote on a favorite excerpt here http://www.kissmequickbeforeishoot.com/media/book-excerpts/.

I enjoyed being a guest on this blog and I thank Lisa Jackson for her kind invitation and interest in Kiss Me Quick Before I Shoot. Thank you, Lisa.

You're very welcome, Guy. It's been a pleasure learning about all that you've done so far.

Interview with children's author Kiki Howell

Kiki Howell joins the blog today to talk about fears. She's in the middle of a virtual book tour for her children's book, What Are You Afraid Of?. Also, she has a doggie-themed giveaway at the end of her tour. Details below.

Bio:
Kiki Howell is the mother of Drake and Zoe, as well as two boys. She has always been afraid of many things from storms to the dark to balloons, if you can believe that one! She actually finds Drake in his crate shaking every Halloween after the Trick-or-Treaters come knocking on the door.

Welcome, Kiki, please tell us about your current release.
BLURB:
“Why does the night have to be so dark?” the big dog named Drake gave a low bark.

Not everyone likes Halloween. In fact, the big dog named Drake is afraid of the costumes and the decorations and the dark. He really only likes the candy his boy drops.

Lucky for Drake, the old dog named Zoe is there to help him forget his fears with a fun game.

Drake and Zoe can’t wait for you to play along.

What inspired you to write this book?
Lots of ideas came together for this book, from wanting to write a book dealing with children’s fears to being amused by a hundred pound dog afraid of kids in Halloween costumes.

The Author’s Note in the book I think explains a lot:

What Are You Afraid Of? is more than a story to help children overcome their fears. What Are You Afraid Of? is a book about acknowledging a children's fears and dealing with them in ways that do not stifle a child's imagination and creativity. So, indulge me while I state a few ideas.

Children can easily be made to feel small and defenseless in this big world, while at the same time, children have very vivid imaginations, which can cause further anxiety over things that are intangible, confusing, and scary.

Therefore, how we deal with a child's fears may have tremendous implications on how we foster, or hinder, their creative growth.

While fear can be a manifestation of imagination, so too can compassion and empathy. Compassion is a product of the imagination as well, being able to ‘see’ ourselves in another’s shoes. So, it only stands to reason, that if we stifle the imagination, we may be stifling the child’s potential to care for the world around him later on. A creative mind is a terrible thing to waste.

We all know that fears or phobias cannot be easily coerced away by mere rational or logical arguments. Instead, it seems a better approach to acknowledge a child's fears and show him or her that you know how he or she feels. We can try to diminish the fears by making light of it and making the child laugh. Ah, laughter is the best medicine! I have read psychologists who recommend playing with fears by role playing until the child laughs or by drawing silly pictures of the object of the fear with the same intention.

With all of this in mind, I came up with this story. I hope the idea of a big dog being afraid of witches and ghosts is silly enough to begin with, along with the playful Halloween-ish images and the funny rhyming patterns. But more, I hope the games the old comes up with will be games your child can also play to eliminate his or her own fears. Most of all, I wish for you and your child to enjoy the story. May you laugh!

What exciting story are you working on next?
I write in a lot of different genres and for many different age groups. Currently I am writing a contemporary story about a man’s life forty years after he served in Vietnam.

When did you first consider yourself a writer?
I think I felt like a writer after I got a few contracts and got used to the idea. LOL

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. My work day starts when my children get on the bus for school. A lot of time goes into promo as well as actually writing the stories. My writing day ends when my children get off the bus. Although, there are times that life steps in and days do not go as planned.

What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?
I love description, and spend a lot of time playing with words. I have a college degree to teach Secondary English, and I love 1800’s British Literature, so I think that style comes out in my work. I have heard criticisms for this as well as praise depending upon which reader is sharing his or her opinion :) I guess for the contemporary market sometimes I can get carried away, but this is where I guess writing to an audience or writing your story comes into play.

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
When I was really young, I wanted to be a vet, but allergies soon made that an impossibility. My next love was reading, and it didn’t take long to start to want to put the daydreams into stories. At first I thought I would teach English by day and write by night. But then life intervened! It just took me a long time after college to find the time to really try my hand at this writing thing.

Anything additional you want to share with the readers?
Even though my children’s book is set during Halloween, it is really a book primarily about dealing with fears, not a seasonal book really at all. I believe it can help a child with fears any time of the year. Don’t let the setting fool you!

Thanks, Kiki. It sounds like a fun book.

Readers, Kiki has a giveaway for a lucky commentor at the end of her tour: a tote bag with a picture of Zoe and Drake on it that I will fill with dog stuff - plush dogs, dog coloring book, etc. Remember to leave your email if you want to be in the drawing for this bag-o-gifts! Look here for more tour dates and stops.

Interview with M.D. Cliatt

Today we welcome novelist M.D. Cliatt as she tours her novel The Public Pretenter with VBT Cafe.

M.D. has donated an e-copy of her book to a lucky commentor on this blog, so make sure to leave your email address if you'd like a chance to win!

Welcome to Reviews and Interviews, M.D. Please tell us a bit about yourself.
I was born and raised in Georgia. When I was seventeen, I ran away from home, moved in with my high school bus driver and then married my boyfriend a few months later when I turned eighteen. I finished high school, attended college, had two sons and then moved my family to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania so I could attend law school. Today, I’m still married to my high school sweetheart, have two teenagers and I’m a lawyer and adjunct law professor.

Please tell us about your current release, The Public Pretender.
The story is about a fiery criminal defense attorney, Maeven Dayne, who specializes in representing juvenile defendants. When it comes to her job, she’s driven and passionate. When it comes to her family, she’s devoted, but her job is demanding and distracting. She pleases her husband when she decides to quit her job to spend more time with the family. But, on Maeven’s last day at work in the courtroom, a juvenile probation officer she despises drags a weeping young girl before an irritated judge for an unscheduled hearing while Maeven is packing up her things to leave. She is walking out of the courtroom, fighting her urge to turn around when she hears the probation officer had the girl incarcerated for weeks without notifying her parents or arranging for representation. Maeven can’t resist the girl’s pitiful pleas for help and intervenes.

She discovers people are profiting from imprisoning innocent kids. A whistleblower ends up dead, but he’s left clues. When her oldest son is beaten, arrested and detained on false charges, her husband receives a message proposing an offer: Maeven must quit the girl’s case, or they lose their son. She has to choose who to sacrifice.

What inspired you to write this book?
Because I was mad about the way the juvenile justice system works and how little families knew about it, I started writing a guide. A creative spring erupted in my mind while I was writing, and I couldn’t force myself to stay within the rigid lines of legal exposition. It seemed fitting because I spent more time using stories and analogies to explain to kids and their families what was happening to them in court. And, admittedly, I enjoyed the fictional narrative more.

What exciting story are you working on next?
I have three projects swirling around in my brain right now. I’m working with my sons on a fantasy novel about a pregnant queen, I’m flirting with an idea for a romance novel, and I plan to write a sequel to The Public Pretender. I already have a plot worked out for Maeven, and I can’t wait to get back to her.

What is your writing life like?
I wake up around four in the morning when I’m the only one, besides the dog, stirring around my house. I turn on some instrumental music so lyrics don’t distract me, get a cup of tea or hot water with lemon, a pillow, a blanket and park myself on the couch in front of my bow window. Hopefully, I find my writing vibe and voice and get lost in my imagination with a particularly intriguing character and/or plot. I write for a couple of hours and then head off to work.

When did you first consider yourself a writer?
I’m still not sure, but as a kid, I would write stories in journals in an attempt to capture the magic authors seemed to possess, but I never finished--barely started really. When I finished The Public Pretender, and a couple of people told me they liked it, I thought--Maybe, just maybe. So, I’m trying my dream out for size to see if it fits.

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 write part-time for now. If I could afford to write full-time, I would do it in a heartbeat. In my imagination, I have a very romantic idea about what is would be like for me to write full-time--you know, hidden in the corner of a quaint little coffee shop with my laptop cranking out plot after plot with vibrant characters or down by the river sitting on a bench. For now, I wake up early and write, and I work full-time instructing law students.

What's something fun you like to do?
I enjoy sneaking off with my husband in the middle of the day to do something unplanned--like watching a movie.

What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?
When I get stuck, I like to write while bathing by candlelight.

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
Honestly, as a child, I had a list. I wanted to be an actress, fashion designer, novelist and a lawyer.

Anything additional you want to share with the readers?
Thank you for hosting me and I look forward to your comments.

Thanks for being here, M.D.

Readers, remember to comment if you'd like a chance to win an e-copy of her book. I'll draw a winner on Friday, the 13th.

You can check out M.D.'s other tour dates and stops.

Interview with debut novelist Andy Holloman

My second guest of the new year is writer Andy Holloman to talk about his debut novel, Shades of Gray. He has a giveaway to a lucky commentor during his virtual book tour. Details below.

Bio:
Writer Andy Holloman has been scribbling stories since a young age. (According to reliable sources.) Shades of Gray is his first published novel and grew out of his experiences as a travel agency owner many moons ago. He was fascinated with the true story of a client of the business that was murdered.

He is the father of three and happily married for 20 years. A graduate of UNC-CH, he lives in the Raleigh, NC area and is busy carpooling, keeping his wife happy, and attending his kids sporting events. He loves the great outdoors in NC, is an avid reader, and a social media goofball. Most evenings, he can be found tapping on his well-worn keyboard as he "births" his next novel.


Welcome to Reviews and Interviews, Andy. What inspired you to write this book?
Many moons ago, I was the owner of a group of Travel Agencies (3 offices) in the Raleigh/Durham area. Sometime in the late 1990s, one of my sales people clued me in regarding a client of hers that appeared to be purchasing airline tickets in an unusual (but legal) fashion. My staff person speculated that this client may be doing something illegal. Not too long after this, we became aware that this client was found dead of a gunshot wound in her burned out home in Durham, NC. The news about her death indicated that she was a suspected drug dealer. After 9/11, my company suffered, as did the entire industry, and a story “seed” planted itself in my brain and continued to grow – “What lengths would a desperate business owner go to in order to save his/her company.”

What exciting story are you working on next?
I am in the very early stages of punching out a new novel that I would describe as an “Irving-esque romp through the 1990s as seen through the eyes of two Irish twins who come of age in the US during the rise of the internet.” Title is TBD.

When did you first consider yourself a writer?
I found it easy to consider myself a writer when I joined a writers group around 2004 in the Cary, NC area.

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?
Like most writers, I have a day job as a residential mortgage lender and my life is rather full with my family life and my day job. I find that I can typically fit in about 5-7 hours per week of writing, mostly between 9pm and 11pm and on the weekends.

What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?
Hmm, I can’t say that I have any interesting writing quirks. But I can assure you that I’m going to try to develop a few!! Maybe I could do something interesting like switch to doing all my writing on an old electric typewriter? Nope, I’d be lost if I had to write without my “spell checker”! (*wink*)

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
My ambitions as a child were all about being a professional athlete. First and foremost, I wanted to play in the NBA. If that didn’t work out, then I would have settled for major league baseball!!

Anything additional you want to share with the readers?
I truly, truly love readers. Hands down the most delightful aspect of publishing my book has been the interactions with readers and prospective readers. Getting a book published is a long, long road as is SELLING books. Even though I’m just at the beginning of my publishing journey, I know that my long term success will be in the hands of my readers. I delight in the way in which Social Media sites (Twitter and Facebook) allow me to interact with readers and I pledge to everyone who reads my book to do everything within my power to respond to your questions, comments, and suggestions. THANKS SO MUCH !!!!!!!! KEEP ON READING !!!!!

Thanks, Andy. Best of luck with your writing.

Readers, leave a comment with your e-mail for the chance to win a free e-copy of Shades of Gray.

Interview with author Jimmy "J.D." Gordon

Today's guest is author Jimmy "J.D." Gordon. He's just starting a virtual book tour for his novel Dartboard.

Bio:
Firefighter and paramedic-turned-author Jimmy (J.D.) Gordon was born and raised in Chicago where he developed a taste for the finer things that the Windy City has to offer - pan pizza, live blues, and the Cubs. Jimmy loves spending time in the Florida Keys and the Caribbean. He now lives with his wife and children in Glen Ellyn, a suburb of Chicago.

Jimmy basically dropped into the world of literature, literally. After falling off a train and breaking his knee, Jimmy had to spend quite a bit of time recuperating. While visiting the firehouse his peers asked what he planned to with all that time away. This is when Jimmy said the words that he now claims to have changed his life.

"I should write a book."

Despite some skepticism from his peers ("You don't even use punctuation on your run reports!"), he completed a novel, Island Bound, and made it a point to use punctuation throughout.

After another injury, sustained on the job, prematurely ended his career, Gordon decided to try writing full-time

Welcome to Reviews and Interviews, Jimmy. Please tell us about your current release, Dartboard.
This story was best described by a fellow named Paul Kemprecos. He is one of co-writers for Clive Cussler. The story is mix between Carl Hiassen and Treasure Island. The story is an action adventure set in the Caribbean. It’s centered around the information leading to the location of, of course, buried treasure, which fell into the hands of museum curator at the Field Museum in Chicago, who then passed that information and a boat, along to a family member of his. The story lays out how several different parties, from a nutty museum assistant, to a crazy peg-legged pirate try to get their hands on the gold. They all end up on one small island in the middle nowhere to shoot it out.

What inspired you to write this book?
Honestly, I don’t do inspirations. I was ready to start another book. I had just finished three books centered on one character, a guy named Eddie Gilbert. It was a trilogy, again, set in the Caribbean. I wanted to stick with the tropical flavor but move along to a new character, so Dartboard was born, along with Jimmy Quigley, the main character.

What exciting story are you working on next?
Well, I’ve just finished up a story titled "Field of Screams." It’s the sequel to an earlier story I titled "Kritterkreep." In addition to writing adventure stories for adults I also write paranormal stories for middle school kids, ages 9 to 12. So, I’m at the point where I am deciding what to write next. I’ll either go with another adventure story or the next kids book. If it's the adventure story, I’m still floating ideas around in my head. If it’s the next kid’s book, that will be titled The Pumpkin Jamboree and the Legend of Stumpy Scout.

When did you first consider yourself a writer?
Oh my gosh, I’ll have to let you know when the day comes. I’ve written seven novels now, I even wrote for a newspaper for a while. I still don’t consider myself a real writer. I’m not sure why. I just feel like a guy who types.

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 a parent first. My injury with the fire department really changed my life. My wife, honestly, had always been the real bread winner. I was hurt in the line duty so I was pensioned off, meaning I still receive some sort of compensation. Though getting hurt sucked it did leave me with the time to take care of my kids while my wife works. I’m a mister mom and proud of it. I start my day off getting the kids together and ready for school. I drop them off, then I go off to the fitness center to keep the injury in check with exercise and stretching and so on. Then the rest of the day is spent writing. Until I pick the kids up. Once everyone settles down and goes to bed, I’m back on the computer to the writing. So, much of my day is spent typing away.

What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?
Um, I like writing with a martini sitting next me, in the next seat of course, right……

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
That changed on a monthly basis, I wanted to be a soldier, I wanted to fly a helicopter, I wanted to be a marine biologist, I wanted to be a realtor and that continued into my adult life. Maybe that’s why writing fiction seems to be working out? If I feel like something, I just add it the story.

Thanks for stopping by, Jimmy.

Folks, if you'd like to learn more about Jimmy and his writing, you can follow his tour.