Interview with historical fiction novelist Jeanne Mackin

I’m happy to start off Jeanne Mackin’s virtual book tour for her new historical novel, A Lady of Good Family.

During her tour, Jeanne will be awarding a $15 Amazon or Barnes and Noble (winner’s choice) gift card to a lucky person. To be entered for a chance to win, use the form below. To increase your chances of winning, feel free to visit her other tour stops and enter there, too!

Bio:

Jeanne Mackin’s latest novel, A Lady of Good Family, explores the secret life of gilded age Beatrix Jones Farrand, niece of Edith Wharton and the first woman professional landscape design in America. Her previous novel, The Beautiful American, based on the life of model turned war correspondent and photographer, Lee Miller, won the CNY 2015 prize for fiction. She has published in American Letters and Commentary and SNReview and other publications and is the author of the Cornell Book of Herbs and Edible Flowers. She was the recipient of a creative writing fellowship from the American Antiquarian Society and her journalism has won awards from the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education.

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

A Lady of Good Family is historical fiction about Beatrix Farrand, one of the first truly great professional landscape designers. Raised among wealth and privilege during America’s Gilded Age, she was a niece of Edith Wharton and friend to many of the great people of her time, including Henry James and President Roosevelt. She was expected to marry soon, and marry well, but Beatrix was a determined and intelligent woman, and had other plans.

What inspired you to write this book?

Gardens. I have loved gardens all my life and when I learned that some of the most famous gardens in our country were created by a woman (at a time when well-off woman didn’t work outside the home) I knew I needed to write about her, to explore her life, to get to know her and to understand her. Now, when I sit in my own garden, or spend the morning pruning shrubs and pulling weeds and stopping once in a while to admire a rose or smell an herb, I feel closer to Beatrix.

There’s also a bit of a ghost story built into the novel. I think gardens are great places for hauntings!


Excerpt from A Lady of Good Family:

1920

Lenox, Massachusetts

My grandparents had a farm outside of Schenectady, and every Sunday my father, who worked in town, would hitch the swayback mare to the buggy and take us out there. I would be left in play in the field as my father and grandfather sat on the porch and drank tea and Grandma cooked. My mother, always dressed a little too extravagantly, shelled the peas.

A yellow barn stood tall and broad against a cornflower blue sky. A row of red hollyhocks in front of the barn stretched to the sky, each flower on the stem as silky and round as the skirt on Thumbelina’s ball gown. In the field next to the barn, daisies danced in the breeze. My namesake flower.

I saw it still, the yellows and red and blues glowing against my closed eyelids. The field was my first garden and I was absolutely happy in it. We usually are, in the gardens of our childhood.

When I opened my eyes I was on a porch in Lenox, a little tired from weeks of travel, a little restless. My companions were restless, too, weary of trying to make polite conversation as strangers do.

It was a late-summer evening, too warm, with a disquieting breeze stirring the treetops as if a giant ghostly hand ruffled them. Through the open window a piano player was tinkling his way through Irving Berlin as young people danced and flirted. In the road that silvered past the inn, young men, those who had made it home from the war, drove up and down in their shiny black Model T’s.

It was a night for thinking of love and loss, first gardens, first kisses.

Mrs. Avery suggested we try the Ouija board. Since the war it had become a national obsession.

“Let’s,” I agreed eagerly.

What exciting story are you working on next?

For my next novel I’m returning to Paris between the wars, a very vivid, mysterious, wonderful and dangerous time. For this story, I’m exploring the intense and destructive rivalry between two of the strongest women of that time and place, the fashion designers Elsa Schiaparelli and Coco Chanel. What drove them? What sustained them? It will be a story of triumph, certainly, and also of failure.

Do you write full-time? If so, what's your work day like? If not, what do you do other than write and how do you find time to write?

I work in the morning, and whether or not it’s full time depends on how you define the work. The writing part only takes a few hours a day, but I spent many more hours reading, editing, doing research. Let’s just say that at this point writing is my main work. I taught writing as well, but stopped doing that recently, so that I could spend more time with more own work. It is rewarding working with beginning and emerging writers, and also very demanding, very taxing. Sometimes you just don’t have enough left over for yourself.

What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?

I write almost in a trance, and get really frantic if I am interrupted. The strange thing is that I can work in really loud, distracting places, like a coffee house with heavy metal playing (my last choice in music) and still go into that trance. It’s only when someone speaks to me directly that the spell breaks.

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

Either a nun or a courtesan. I figured neither one had to do housework.

Anything additional you want to share with the readers?

Actually, I became very good at housework. When my husband and I got together, neither of us could cook, so I taught myself how, and I now love working in the kitchen. Sharing a good meal at home is one of life’s great pleasures. I still hate mopping floors and dusting, though.

Links:

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes and Noble

Thanks, Jeanne!

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Special excerpt from The Dead Survie by Lori Whitwam

We’re wrapping up the week with a special excerpt from the zombie / post-apocalyptic novel Fallback: The Dead Survive, Book 2 by Lori Whitwam.

During her virtual book tour, Lori will be awarding (1) one prize pack consisting of a $25 Amazon or Barnes and Noble (winner’s choice) gift card, plus a signed print copy of Fallback, as well as bookmarks and magnets (international) to one randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. To be entered for a chance to win, use the form below. To increase your chances of winning, feel free to visit her other tour stops and enter there, too!

A little bit about the author:

Lori spent her early years reading books in a tree in northern West Virginia. The 1980s and 90s found her and her husband moving around the Midwest, mainly because it was easier to move than clean the apartment. After seventeen frigid years in Minnesota, she fled to coastal North Carolina in 2013. She will never leave, and if you try to make her, she will hurt you.

She has worked in public libraries, written advertising copy for wastewater treatment equipment, and managed a holistic veterinary clinic. Her current day job, conducted from her World Headquarters and Petting Zoo (her couch) is as Managing Editor for Limitless Publishing, as well as editing for a select list of indie author.

Her dogs are a big part of her life, and she has served or held offices in Golden Retriever and Great Pyrenees rescues, a humane society, a county kennel club, and her own chapter of Therapy Dogs International.

She has been a columnist and feature writer for auto racing and pet publications, and won the Dog Writers Association of America’s Maxwell Award for a series of humor essays.

Parents of a grown son, Lori and her husband were high school sweethearts, and he manages to love her in spite of herself. Some of his duties include making sure she always has fresh coffee and safe tires, trying to teach her to use coupons, and convincing the state police to spring her from house arrest in her hotel room in time for a very important concert. That last one only happened once—so far—but she still really, really appreciates it.

A little bit about Fallback:

After being rescued from a brutal band of marauders, Ellen Hale rebuilt her life in the fortified neighborhood that became her home. A heartbreaking decision and devastating loss pushed her to become a fierce fighter, because weakness only got you and those you loved killed.

Now her community is facing a deadly threat, and Ellen has another choice to make.

Ellen volunteers as a member of fallback team three, tasked with establishing a temporary refuge for their citizens in the event their community is overrun by the enemy. As the danger intensifies, she and her adopted sister, Melissa, set off with the rest of their team on the road trip from hell.

Their mission is cloaked in secrecy, but suspicions of a traitor arise.

Something is affecting the zombies’ migration patterns, and when blacksmith Tyler Garrett is discovered trapped in a farmhouse, the team refuses to trust him. But Ellen believes his story, and it’s not just because of his rugged, blond good looks and soft-spoken manner—his skills can greatly benefit their team.

As the team struggles to reach the fallback, previously secure locations are overrun, and their chances of success seem remote. With the likelihood of a traitor nearly certain, and the lives of everyone she loves at risk, Ellen must figure out who to trust before the traitor—or the zombies—destroy them all.

Is there a spy among the fallback team,or is there another threat lurking in the Kentucky hills?

An excerpt from Fallback:

Chapter Three

“You couldn’t have stopped him,” I said gently. I was familiar with Mason’s sadistic nature and penchant for blood. I’d been his damned bloody canvas too many times.

“I know that now,” Melissa replied, “but I didn’t then. I started struggling, and the guy hit me. Mom started screaming again and fought like crazy. She caught Mason a good one in the face, and he lost it. He hit her, and she fell. Then…” She swallowed and looked back and forth between Rebecca and me, not speaking until we raised our eyes to hers. “Then he cut her. He took that butterfly knife of his, and he cut her throat.”

Rebecca uttered a soft fuck and stood, moving stiffly to the kitchen window.

I couldn’t help it. I was crying, tears silently burning down my cheeks, even if Melissa’s eyes were dry. I flashed back to Mason shooting Matt in the warehouse, and his body sliding to the floor. It was…too much.

“So that’s it,” Melissa said. “We stayed where it was familiar, like as long as we were quiet and patient nothing bad would find us. You can’t get hung up on familiar. You have to think about changing, even if you don’t want to, before you decide what to do. Falling back on familiar just because it feels safe is a sure way to get killed.”

We both stood up then, and I pulled her to me in a tight hug. And finally, she cried. Rebecca stood stiffly a short distance away, looking very much like she needed to kill something. Or several somethings.

Once the tears subsided and faces were mopped, I said, “I get it now, honey. I see why you’re willing to go, and I know how hard it was for you to make that decision.”

Rebecca grabbed her sword sheath and strapped it over her back. She gave Melissa a hearty slap on the shoulder—again, comforting wasn’t really in her skill set—and said, “Well, chicks, it’s about that time. Let’s go find out if we’re hittin’ the road.”

Fifteen minutes later we had our answer. We were leaving the Compound. We were all officially part of fallback team three.

Time for a post-apocalyptic road trip.

Links:

Facebook | Twitter | Website | Publisher | Amazon | Barnes and Noble

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Interview with juvenile fiction author A.J. Cosmo

Today’s special guest is A.J. Cosmo to chat with us about his new juvenile fiction work that he authored and illustrated, Soaked.

During his virtual book tour, A.J. will be awarding a $75 Amazon or Barnes and Noble gift card (winner’s choice) to a randomly drawn winner. To be entered for your chance to win, use the form below. To increase your chances of winning, feel free to visit his other tour stops and enter there, too.

Bio:

A.J. Cosmo is the full-time independent author and illustrator of over forty children’s books including the best selling “The Monster That Ate My Socks.” He is also a consultant and publisher to other independent writers and illustrators.

Welcome, A.J. Please tell us about your current release.

Soaked tells the story of Aiden who, on the last day of class, stands up to Jacob, the all-powerful school bully. Jacob texts the entire school on the way home declaring a "$500 Gamestop gift card and full immunity for the kid that brings me Aiden Jones." Aiden has to rely on his friends, and his wits, to make it home safe and ultimately stand up to the bully that plagues everyone.

What inspired you to write this book?

I wanted to tell a modern story of bullying and childhood war. I believe strongly that media attention to violence and war-themed video games have produced a culture that seeks violent solutions to nearly every problem. Our children take that information and use it to template their lives. The bully in Soaked knows the powder keg and all it takes is a simple text to bring war to a neighborhood. You cannot solve violence with more violence. Aiden, our hero, learns that his "cowardice" (pacifism) is actually his greatest strength and he uses non-violent means to systematically destroy the bully.


Excerpt from Soaked:
We ran into the woods and weaved through the trees. Ben grabbed my hand and pulled me into one of the crusty drainpipes that marked where future homes would be put. We waited there for the patrol to run past.

"You left him," Ben said.

"You left him? How about we left him?" I said.

"It was your idea to make a break for it. Your plan, you're blame," Ben growled.

We stopped, looked out of the pipe, and waited for the sound of the rallying kids to come near.

"I'm sorry," I said as I looked down at the dirt.

Feet stomped by overhead and we dropped our voices.

Ben shook his head. "They're not after me," Ben whispered. "I could walk out right now and no one would care."

"Don't say that," I said. I couldn’t help but feel a bit betrayed. "What makes you think they wouldn't bother you?"

"I nearly got soaked back there." He pulled out his cell phone. He looked at his phone as if it was the most precious thing in the world. And you know what? To him, it was. I knew that if something happened to it that it would take at least three grades before he would be able to get a new one.

"Is it okay?" I asked, not caring about the phone at all.

He tapped the phone. Then he shook it, pawed it, and pleaded with it.

It didn't work.

What exciting story are you working on next?

I'm not ready to divulge too much yet, but the theme of the story is the transition between immaturity and maturity and the title of the book is "Poop." ;)

When did you first consider yourself a writer?

When I looked around and saw that my only income was coming from writing (and illustrating) and that I literally could do nothing else with myself. I still have a hard time believing it, but the more you call yourself something (or are introduced as it in a public setting) the easier it is to accept it.

Do you write full-time? If so, what's your work day like? If not, what do you do other than write and how do you find time to write?
I work every day. Every. Day. And the time varies from a few hours to the entirety of daylight. It helps to give yourself hard deadlines, even if you're the only one paying attention to them. I carry many projects at once and am considered a workaholic. I average a book every two weeks. At such a breakneck pace, even my mother hasn't heard of all my books.

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

Very young it was a paleontologist (dinosaur scientist) and from ten years old on it was either a film director or a screenwriter. At no point did I ever consider being a full-time writer (though I did write my first novel at 18.) Honestly I think children need to have a wider variety of career options shown to them at a younger age. Nurse, cop, firefighter, and scientist need to be alongside accountant, teacher, mechanic, inventor, programmer, and barista.

Anything additional you want to share with the readers?
One thing that I wish authors would talk about more with readers is how important their feedback, specifically their reviews, are to us. True, some writers never read their reviews, but just the fact of having them in the first place puts an enormous weight behind the work. So if you read this and want to help a writer, any writer, leave them a review. Heck, review all of their work. Tell your friends to do the same: you'll be the house on Halloween that gives out full-sized candy bars. 

Links:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Amazon

Thanks, A.J.!

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Interview with fantasy fiction author Brett Matthew Williams

Fantasy author Brett Matthew Williams is in the spotlight today to talk about Time is Relative for a Knight of Time.

During his virtual book tour, Brett will be awarding a lucky randomly drawn winner with a $50 Amazon or Barnes and Noble (winner’s choice) gift card. To be entered for a chance to win, use the form below. To increase your chances of winning, feel free to visit his other tour stops and enter there, too.

Welcome, Brett. Please tell us a little bit about yourself.

Brett Matthew Williams (B.M.W.) is a born writer.

I wrote the above in third person - which feels weird. I'm not going to do that for the rest of the interview, cool?

The Los Angeles broadcast television gig was fun, and a lifestyle I could totally see myself getting into someday (fingers crossed), but those folks worked from 10AM to 7PM most days, often only seeing their kids in the mornings on weekdays. Since I didn't have a father growing up, and knew that I legitimately wanted to be a father myself; a father who was present for his children, I knew that wasn't the right path for me.

So, I moved back to Texas, completed my degree in History at Texas State University, and began writing the Time is Relative series in 2010. The second novel, Time is Relative for Wavering Loyalties, will be released Autumn 2015.

Please tell us about your current release.
Time is Relative for A Knight of Time chronicles the earliest days of Rolland Wright's journey to becoming the mythological figure known commonly as Father Time. In a novel Kirkus Review calls 'A mixture of X-Men meets Doctor Who' Time is Relative taps deeply into the fantasy fiction genre while presenting a unique, historical take on the origin story of a familiar character or two. The book opens with the execution of a revenge plot by Scott Wright on Edward Vilthe, who murdered his wife, Taylor, two years previous. The encounter ends with a revelation - a child , a teenager named Rolland, who was born in secret from both Vilthe, and the world and organization in which Scott & Taylor belonged, The Knights of Time of Eden.

A land that exists outside of time and space, accessible via the subbasement of public libraries across the globe (because why the hell else would public libraries still exist?) has gone by many names over the centuries, including El Dorado.

But even though Rolland becomes aware of his newfound abilities, has his time on the streets turned him into the kind of young man who would abuse that power? That's one of the many avenues that we explore with the character. Some heroes have a strict moral code, some have a lax set of rules, Rolland Wright is a survivor.

What inspired you to write this book?
I could go on and on about my duel passions of history and fantasy fiction, but instead I'd like to talk about Nancy Reagan. Yep, I went there.

Waaaay back in the late 1980's Nancy Raegan promoted this terrible amalgamation of a cartoon for the War Against Drugs in which all of my favorite cartoon characters (including the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Winnie the Pooh, etc) went on a psychedelic adventure that preached the evils of drugs. While I may have completely missed the message this preposterous piece of propaganda, the idea of amalgamating things (in my case historical figures, events, etc) was a creative stepping stone that my imagination has clung to ever since. I think I was two at the time, so, we're going on twenty five years of good times with that memory.

Excerpt from Time Is Relative for a Knight of Time:

            “What do you think, then?” came Judah’s voice, as Blaisey zoned back into their conversation.

Blaisey looked at him and saw him staring back at her. To her astonishment, Blaisey realized that Judah was asking for her opinion. Aside from his rather informal introduction, this was the first time that Judah had addressed her directly. Her surprise must have been evident to him, as Judah’s lips crept into a thin, lopsided smile around the cigarette.

“I knew a man once,” Blaisey said, in a calm, soothing voice. She had been told by her father, Nahoy – leader of the Nabawoo, that white people prefer when natives speak in a calm, slow, relaxing tone. He believed that it goaded the white man into a false sense of superiority that their people could use as an advantage.

Blaisey, who was never any good with people (just animals), had seen this as slightly sneaky and underhanded, but those were thoughts from before the days of Jackson’s terror, before the days of being kidnapped by American soldiers in the middle of the night, and people falling out of the sky at daybreak. Now she saw the need for an ‘ace’ up her metaphorical sleeve.

“This man, he rolled and smoked his tobacco, like you.” Blaisey continued. She looked deep into Judah’s blue eyes and sensed no intent of malice, or evil. Quite the opposite, within the soul of this man were the most redeeming characteristics of all; love and loyalty. She guessed it was a woman’s influence that led the blonde man with the funny speech to a life like this. As such, Blaisey decided to let him off the hook gently.

“Oh yeah?” Judah asked, the cigarette in his mouth bobbing between his lips as he spoke. “What brand? I’m a Lucky’s man myself.” He sniffed and lifted his head proudly, his chin held high. When in doubt, it was always easier for Judah to rely on his quick wit rather than admit he was wrong – no matter the subject.

“This I do not know,” Blaisey said, smiling out of politeness. “And we cannot ask him, for he is dead.”

At this Judah stopped his search for the lighter and looked at Blaisey head on, giving her his full attention for the first time. “From smoking tobacco, right?”

“No” Blaisey said with vigor. “He was an ass like you, and somebody shot him.”

What exciting story are you working on next?
Time is Relative for Wavering Loyalties, the sequel to Time Is Relative for a Knight of Time, is due to be released in Autumn 2015. Much like the first novel, TiR WL will see the Knights of Time traveling from Lae Island 1937 to intercept Amelia Earhart, all the way to the Haitian revolution of 1803. We'll also be spending a lot more time in Eden, getting to know the different sub-species that live there, including the Mer people, the Nocturns, and the Elemenos.

When did you first consider yourself a writer?
I try not to think about it too much. I'll just end up psyching myself out. Writers write, that's what they do. I know plenty of want-to-be writers who like to talk big about their career aspirations while logging a total sum of zero words on an average daily basis.

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 between 3,000 and 5,000 words a day. Anything less makes me feel super guilty about my time management skills. I assume that's normal for writers, and since thats what I consider myself, that's what I do. I write. A lot.

What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?
 I can write with numerous other distractions. Never really understood these people who demand complete silence while writing, or have to be in some sort of 'zone'. I think all of that is pretentious, honestly. Most of my writing happens when I'm out in the world and inspiration strikes. The actual writing part happens naturally after I've sat on a thought long enough to form it into a coherent story. Then it happens in vast quantities. Like the aforementioned three to five thousand words a day.

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
A superhero by night who wrote during the day. Seriously, no one ever told me that being Superman (or, at the very least, Batman) wasn't a realistic career path. Since you aren't' saying anything right now, I'm going to assume that you understand my career goals.

1.) Create awesome superhero costume, save people, moonlight as writer.

2.)

3.) Profit

Anything additional you want to share with the readers?
It's currently super hot in Texas with 114 days to go until Halloween. This year I'm going as Gaston from Disney's Beauty & The Beast. Been working out since Valentine's Day to prep. Gaston is by far my favorite Disney character.

Links:

Website | Twitter

Thanks, Brett! Happy writing!

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Interview with paranormal fantasy romance author D.D. Miers

Hello readers. Today’s special guest is D.D. Miers. She’s visiting to talk a little bit about her writing life and her new paranormal fantasy romance novel, Dark Summoner (Relic Keeper Series, Book One).

During her virtual book tour, D.D. will be awarding a $25 Amazon or Barnes and Noble (winner’s choice) gift card to a lucky winner. For a chance to win, use the form below. To increase your chances of winning, feel free to visit her other tour stops and enter there, too!

Bio:

D.D. Miers is an ardent book lover, coffee enthusiast, and die-hard romance fan. When she’s not writing, she can be found snuggling on the couch with a good book in hand. She currently resides in beautiful Southern California with her wonderful husband, a crazy toddler, and the many different characters in her head.

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

Abby Davenport has spent the last ten years forgetting her past until a fateful night reveals her false reality. Thrust into a new world of dark sorcery and ancient magic, she's shocked to discover her destiny lies as the keeper of a powerful relic. Now everyone wants to control, own, or destroy her. No longer able to discern truth from lie, she’s torn between a charming guardian and a mysterious summoner. Abby finds herself strangely drawn to each man—one sworn to protect and one who calls to her soul. Can she survive the strange and dangerous labyrinth of the first realm, where every move, emotion, and reaction must be a calculated one?

What inspired you to write this book?

During the week before I’d fully realized the idea, we’d been having a really bad weather storm causing lots of rain and thunder. I’d spend time on my balcony watching mist as it covered over the green golf course behind my house. I started imagining all kinds of nefarious creatures and this intoxicating man who would come out from the mist and scare them away. He was dark, frightening and wickedly sexy. Eventually, Dark Summoner was born.

Excerpt from Dark Summoner:

“His six-foot-plus frame leaned against the leather walls, arms crossed over his muscular chest, his demeanor casual yet controlled. To say he intimidated me would have been an understatement.

He seemed like the devil incarnate—a strange combination of wickedly handsome and utterly terrifying.

A strange black smokiness swirled around his frame, and I couldn’t tell if it was coming from him or somewhere in the club. Everything about him exuded danger. Whoever he was, that thing took one look at this man and disappeared. I couldn’t help but feel slightly grateful. The brief windows of light allowed me glimpses of his dark and brooding features. Much of him remained in shadow. But I noticed his stunning eyes.

They glowed unnaturally and danced as he watched me. With abnormal speed, they flashed from crystal gray to black coal and back again. His short, jet-black hair was tousled yet perfect, and a slight stubble bordered his jawline.

His riveting stare petrified and aroused me at the same time. Looking at him made me desirous for things I never thought I would want. I was recovering from the silent assault when a sudden daze clouded my mind, and my eyelashes fluttered uncontrollably. There wasn’t time for me to panic as it lifted within seconds.

I was no longer in the club.”

What exciting story are you working on next?

Yeesh! I’m working on a TON of stuff right now, obviously I’m finishing books 2/3 of the Relic Keeper Series and hoping to have those two release in October, 2-3 weeks apart. I’ve got a lot planned in between now and then and into the spring of next year: Novella’s on Witches, Novella’s on Shifters, A new series about Dragon’s that I’m really excited to start and a couple of stand alones. There’s going to be a lot of exciting things coming up!

When did you first consider yourself a writer?

I’ve always had a love for writing, reading and the imaginary world. I never considered myself an actual writer until about 4 years ago when I started taking courses online and focusing my writing towards specific goals. Once I started to make plans and see stories forming from those plans, I felt like I had become a writer. But it’s still a surreal feeling to call myself an author.

Do you write full-time? If so, what's your work day like? If not, what do you do other than write and how do you find time to write?

I WISH I could write full time, but the truth is I’m a mommy and I have a day job. I’ve had to learn how to block chunks of time and break apart my writing schedule. It can definitely be emotionally taxing, especially when I’m really into a scene I’m working on and I have to stop. I do fantasize about having 8 solid hours to work on something in a row. My writing “day” is often broken apart into several fragments based on my workload from real life and day-to-day mommy duties. I envy those authors that can spend large amounts of time on their work without interruptions.

What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?

I have to find the right music for my writing mood, then I lay on the floor, close my eyes and talk about the ideas in my head. Every time I do this, questions or issues I may have had or ideas I’m debating about, become clear and well formed. It’s my “writer’s version” of meditation.

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

I was desperate to work at Disneyland. I couldn’t imagine a better life then waking up every day and pretending to be a part of a fantasy world.

Anything additional you want to share with the readers?

Thank you so much for taking the time to stop by and read a little bit about me and my debut book! Happy Reading!

Links:

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Google+ | Newsletter | Amazon author page | Goodreads author page | Goodreads link to all books 

Buy Links:

Amazon US | Amazon CA | Amazon UK | Amazon AU 

Thanks, D.D.

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Interview with self help and inspirational non-fiction writer Allison Carmen

Allison Carmen is kicking the week off. She’s the author of the self-help, inspirational non-fiction book, The Gift of Maybe.

During her virtual book tour, Allison will be awarding an autographed copy of The Gift of Maybe to a lucky winner. And she’s going to give another lucky winner, a $25 Amazon or Barnes and Noble (winner’s choice) gift card. To be entered for either giveaway, use the form below. And to increase your chances of winning, feel free to visit her other tour stops and entere there, too!

Bio:

After fifteen years of working as an attorney overwhelmed with anxiety about the future, Allison Carmen found hope and freedom when she discovered the Philosophy of Maybe. Today, Allison is a business consultant, life coach, and the author of the Amazon best seller, The Gift of Maybe, a book offering hope and possibility in uncertain times.

Allison is also a blogger for Huffington Post, Psychology Today, Mind Body Green, and Inc.com. Allison’s work has also been featured in Success Magazine, Psychcentral.com, InnerSelf.com, LifeHacker.com, and examiner.com. She is an active speaker and lives in New York City.

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

The Gift of Maybe is a great book for anyone that worries or is anxious about the future. Sometimes it is hard to calm our minds when we are concerned about job security, our relationships, the well being of our children or the state of the world. With our minds filled with constant thoughts of worry, it is hard to see how life will change and what possibilities are still available for us. The Gift of Maybe shares my journey of being addicted to certainty and how the simple word of MAYBE became a tool to alleviate my stress and worry and find more hope and opportunity in my life. The book also shares experiences of my clients, as well as tools and techniques that can liberate us from the pain of the unknown and help us find more joy and opportunity. It comes down to one simple word and MAYBE it changes everything!

What inspired you to write this book?
It all started in the self-help section in a Barnes & Noble in Manhattan about five years ago. I was early for a meeting down the block and I thought I could escape the rain and read for a bit. I pulled a book off the shelf written by one of my favorite authors and started to read it. As I was reading, I did not feel very inspired and then by accident, I sneezed in the book. For five minutes, I went back and forth trying to decide the proper etiquette for what I should do. I thought to myself, “Do I actually need to buy this book that is not inspiring me just because I sneezed in it?” Of course I bought the book. But as I left the store, I thought to myself, “I bet if I wrote a book about Maybe and someone sneezed in it at Barnes & Noble, they would be more than happy to buy it!” I gave myself a good laugh and left the store, but the seed was planted. A few months later at a business lunch, a publisher made me an offer to write the book. That deal did not work out, but as I started to write, I realized how many people I could help by publishing a book about the mindset of Maybe. For me, it has always been about helping people alleviate their suffering and I think this book has some great tools to do just that.

Excerpt from The Gift of Maybe:

How Can Maybe Help You?

You may be wondering how something as easy as thinking or saying the word “Maybe” can have the kind of impact I am describing. That is precisely the beauty of Maybe. The idea of Maybe is so easy to apply, and at the same time it can have a profound effect on whatever part of your life you choose to apply it to. Whether you have been recently laid off from your job or you are having health concerns or money problems, whether you are looking for love or success or just looking to live life with less emotional pain, the philosophy of Maybe provides you with a tool to help you find your way. It helps you alleviate stress or worry, helps you embrace the uncertainty in your life as an opportunity, helps you enjoy the present, and helps you live with less emotional suffering. It is a mind-set that can influence all aspects of your life, a strategy you can use when life throws you an unexpected curveball.

As you experience the mind-set of Maybe, it will take on a meaning unique to you. Maybe creates a space where so much more is possible. Maybe becomes the constant that never lets you down.

Maybe is not a plan or a story; it is the offer of an unfolding experience. Embracing Maybe is a process, one that evolves and will continue to improve your life in new and

exciting ways. For this reason, the true power and nuance of Maybe will come to you outside the pages of this book, when you experience your first moment of joy and vigor in the face of uncertainty.

Maybe is just one change of perspective, but it is one that can change the very direction of your life. So, let’s take a journey together into the land of Maybe, and may we all find  a life of peace, happiness, hope, and success. Just Maybe!


What exciting story are you working on next?

I am writing a book about using the philosophy of Maybe in parenting. Maybe has enabled me to parent with less stress and more ease. I am able to recognize that my children’s lives often are not determined by one moment and, even during tough times, Maybe everything will still be okay. Of course there are imperative moments when our kids must listen to us, like taking a particular medicine if they are sick or mandatory safety provisions during certain activities. Yet much of what we believe is 
”imperative” is a story that we are writing in our minds making us believe that there is only one way for our children to have joyful and successful lives. As we embrace Maybe, we remember parenting is a long road and our children’s well-being and futures are always filled with more opportunities and possibilities even when we can’t see them in the moment.

When did you first consider yourself a writer?

I am still adapting to calling myself a writer. It is much easier for me to speak to people than to sit down and write a blog or a book. However, writing my book and blogs has been an amazing tool for me to spread my ideas and help people alleviate their emotional suffering. MAYBE over time I will get more comfortable with my new occupation!

Do you write full-time? If so, what's your work day like? If not, what do you do other than write and how do you find time to write?

I do not write full-time. I am the parent of two girls that keep me quite busy and I have many clients who I work with to help them deal with the uncertainties of growing their businesses, parenting or other common life issues. I try to write a few hours every day for my blog or other publications and also try to spend some time working on my new book.

What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?

I need to read my work out loud in order to edit it.

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

An attorney

Anything additional you want to share with the readers?

The idea of Maybe is so simple and I challenge each of you to try it in your life. The first time you are able to alleviate some of your stress and worry with this one simple word, you will find it truly liberating. It will help you feel less emotional pain every day and allow you to feel more joy and seek new opportunities in your life.

Links:

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Amazon

Thank you, Allison!

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Interview with picture book writer Barbara Barth

Author of a picture book for kids and adults, Barbara Barth, is here today as part of a virtual book tour to talk about her newest release, A Dog Dreams of Paris From Rescue Dog to Diva.

Who will love a Dog Dreams of Paris?

Children? Yes!

Paris lovers? Yes!

Dog lovers? Yes!

Art Lovers? Yes!

Divas? Yes!

Romantics? Yes!   

Journalers? Yes!

Humor lovers? Yes!

Shy people? Yes!

Dreamers? Yes!

Bio:

Author, Blogger, Sometimes Antique Dealer, Dog Whisperer.

Barth lives with six rescue dogs from her local animal shelters in Decatur, Georgia. She started writing and adopting dogs seven years ago after the death of her husband. The Unfaithful Widow is a series of essays over a year on finding happiness again after loss with the help of a vintage corvette, dogs, great friends, bad dates, and signs from the universe. It placed as a finalist in the 2011 USA Best Book Awards. Since then she has written a novel, Danger In Her Words, a spicy thriller, and has contributed to several anthologies, one which she edited and produced through her company Gilbert Street Press. A Dog Dreams of Paris is based on a true story of one of her rescue dogs, Miss April In Paris. Barth also hosts several blogs to highlight other authors’ books. She is a former blogger for Lifetime Television’s The Balancing Act and member of The Dog Writers Association of America.

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

A Dog Dreams of Paris is a picture book for dreamers of all ages. It is available in paperback only. I call it a fantasy memoir. Miss April in Paris was the sixth dog I adopted and she had trouble finding her place in the pack. One day I placed a vintage pink Chapeau with a large silk rose on her head and changed her name from April to April in Paris. She took to the attention and the rest was history. At one point I had a blog for April where she dreamed of visiting the city of lights.

What inspired you to write this book?

I was getting ready to have surgery and needed something to occupy my time the weeks beforehand. This book seemed like the perfect project and one that was close to my heart. It is colorful, whimsical, and through a dog’s eyes as she writes in her diary of the places she would visit if she went to Paris. In the end, April realizes there is no place like home, her forever home with her dog friends.

Part of the proceeds of this book go to animal rescue and I am selling copies at wholesale prices to animal groups to use for fundraising.

The book is comprised of photos of my dogs, stock photos, and vintage ephemera from my collection. I ran the photos through an online site that gave them a watercolor finish.

It is shockingly lovely. My book designer is my sister who made magic with the layout and full color pages. It was published through my company Gilbert Street Press. I have to admit we pulled it together in six weeks and it still amazes me how awesome it turned out. Her company is PD King Design http://www.pdkingdesign.com/

I call this a book for dreamers of all ages, it is not a picture book for children, but my friends’ kids have loved it. Perhaps the excerpt below will explain that comment!

Excerpt from A Dog Dreams of Paris: Don’t laugh too hard!

Dear Diary, Making New Friends Abroad

I can’t wait to sniff some butt in Paris. You know, make new doggie friends. It is our universal language. You should see the butt sniffing here when one of us goes to the vet for a visit. It is a smelling frenzy afterwards. I will learn some French to use as I write in my diary. It is important to educate oneself to all cultures. Butt sniffing is for the dogs, but you never know who you will meet and most humans don’t like to have your nose in their private places. Arf! Arf! I will use my French with them.

What exciting story are you working on next?

The one project on the back burner for a few years is my memoir on life with six dogs. I have written stories about them that have appeared on many blog sites. This summer I hope to pull everything together and make it happen.

When did you first consider yourself a writer?

Becoming a widow as I turned sixty made me a writer. I looked at widow help books and they were so depressing. I decided to write about my own experiences in finding my way back to a life of my own. I find humor in dark places, so my memoir is a bit quirky. It has put me in touch with many other widows of all ages who have felt a kindred spirit with me. The rest is history. With six dogs I call myself writer with dogs. If I didn’t write I’d just be that crazy dog lady in the neighborhood!

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 retired early from the federal government to pursue doing things I love. I was lucky I could retire at age 55. I sold antiques and designed jewelry that sold online and at the gift shop at The Atlanta Botanical Gardens. For a year I had my own antique shop, but turned it into an artist colony. We had book signings and art openings every weekend. Then I ran out of money. There may be a book about that one day. Best time ever.

Now I have lots of projects in my head and am trying to figure out what I want to be when I grow up!

What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?

I look at my writing as a total art project. I am very hands on and want the final say on how the book looks, right or wrong! A quirk or a flaw? I know what I love and want to share that vision. That is probably why I self-publish.

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

A mother. And look at me, no children, but a six-pack of dogs are my babies.

Anything additional you want to share with the readers?

You are never too old to start creating and following your dreams. This year, after I heal from my hip replacement surgery, I’d like to sell my house in the city and find the house I’ve always longed for, an old farmhouse on an acre of land an hour from Atlanta. I write about this in my stories. I hope I can make it happen in real life.

Links:

Website | Twitter | Blog | Book Trailer | Amazon | Amazon Author Page

Note: of special interest, a portion of all book sales will be donated to animal rescue.