Author Interview – Wendy VanHatten

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Wendy

Author Wendy VanHatten

What is your name and where do you call home? Wendy VanHatten; Vacaville, CA

Do you have a pen name? no

What is the name of your most recent book and if you had to sum it up in 20 or fewer words, what would you say? Champagne Lies; From dead bodies to stolen jewels…can it get any worse?

Is the above book part of a series? No

What or who inspired you to start writing? And how long have you been writing? I started writing travel journals at a young age. That morphed into becoming an internationally published travel writer for magazines…then books. My dad always encouraged me to write.

How did you come up with the cover? Who designed the cover of your book(s)? This was a collaboration between my interior designer for the book and me; Ginger Marks did the cover

Did you listen to any particular songs while writing your book(s)? Not really

How did you come up with the title for your book(s)? Again, a collaboration between my editor, someone who reviewed my manuscript, Ginger, and me

Do you have a book trailer? If so where can we watch it? No but I do have a blog book tour. The link is http://www.pumpupyourbook.com/2013/10/09/virtual-book-tour-pump-up-your-book-presents-champagne-lies-virtual-book-publicity-tour/

Do you prefer e-books, paperbacks, hard-covers or audio-books? I still prefer paperbacks

Are you a self-published/Indie author? I have a few books including a series of children’s books that are self-published

If you’re a self-published/Indie author what made you go that route instead of the traditional publishing route? I believe it was easier for the books I wanted to publish

Have you ever read a book more than once? And if so what was it? I read many books more than once. Some are fiction and some are non-fiction.

What is your opinion of novellas? They definitely have their place and I encourage people to write them

Have you ever read a book just based on its cover? Yes

What is your favorite film based on a book? Gone With the Wind

What is your favorite book genre at the moment? Mystery

What books have made it onto your wish list recently? And why? Mostly travel and cookbooks lately! Relish by Daphne Oz, The Chew cookbook, Speaking Italian

What book are you reading at the moment? And in what format? Whiskey Beach by Nora Roberts in hardback (it was loaned to me!)

If you could invite any four (4) celebrities (alive or dead) to your dinner party, who would you invite and why? John Wayne…just because; Mario Batali…I love his cooking; Julia Childs…love everything about her; Brad Pitt…just because

What’s the best advice that you have been given when it comes to writing? Keep writing and never give up on myself

Do you have any hobbies that aren’t related to reading & writing? Traveling, cooking, wine tasting and learning more about wines

Where can your readers follow you?

www.wendyvanhatten.com; www.travelsandescapes.blogspot.com; www.crazygirlscookies.com; www.forkscorksandbrews.com;

Blog: www.travelsandescapes.blogspot.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/wendyvanhatten

Goodreads author page: www.goodreads.com/wendyvanhatten

Twitter: https://twitter.com/WendyVH

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/pub/wendy-vanhatten/3/25b/297

Amazon: http://astore.amazon.com/wenvan-20

 

I would like to thank Wendy for giving us her time and for sharing her thoughts on being a writer and a reader.

If you enjoyed this interview, please check out Wendy’s links above.

I’ve Been Featured

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I was featured this morning at http://rai29bookreadnreview.blogspot.com/2014/01/author-interview-nina-soden.html Please check out the interview and let me know what you think.

You can also check out the book promotions for both Awaken and Beginnings at: http://rai29bookreadnreview.blogspot.com/

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This is my news for today, what is yours?

2014 – New Year’s Resolutions!!!

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Yup, like everyone else I am jumping into 2014 with a full list of New Year’s Resolutions. I figure why not make them public… that way maybe one or two will stick. lol Yeah right. Every year I set out on a great new adventure with a list of resolutions and by April I’ve forgotten what they even were. So, this year my resolutions are short-term goals instead of long-term life changing events!

2014 – New Year’s Resolutions:

  1. Run a 5K – Yup, I’ve purchased some new workout clothes, got a brand new pair of running shoes, and have verbally committed to running my first 5K (in 15 years) on February 8th. Now I just need to get into the gym and start running so that come February 8th I can cross the finish line 🙂 I don’t expect to do great – BELIEVE ME!!! I am hoping to finish in 45 minutes. Okay, yeah that is slow, but seriously… it has been 15 years since I have run that far. 15 YEARS!!! Why so long, you ask. Well, many years ago… I ran every day. I actually ran twice a day, once in the early morning hours and once in the mid-late afternoon. I would run anywhere from 5 – 10 miles each time. Yup, I LOVED to run. Then one day I hit a pothole the wrong way – I guess I wasn’t watching what I was doing – and I hurt my knee… I continued to run on it for weeks because I was stubborn and well – my commanding officer told me I had to! Anyway… after a few weeks my knee got worse and worse. After that for years… whenever I would run more than two or three miles my knee would swell and be in pain for a week or two. I gave up running because it wasn’t fun any more. I am hoping that this many years later has given it enough time to heal so that doesn’t happen any more… we shall see!!!
  2. Run a 10K – Yeah right… this is the one I probably won’t do, but I’m putting it on the list anyway because if I do the 5K successfully then I plan to fun a few more and work my way up to the 10K. However, I do recognize that if the 5K doesn’t go well and if my knee doesn’t hold up then the 10K is out of the picture. Maybe at that point I’ll take up bike riding or swimming… maybe not.
  3. Publish my 3rd book… Yup… As you know I’ve already published 2 books and I have a 3rd on the way. Okay, this New Year’s Resolution doesn’t seem to off kilter. I will get it done and probably in the first few months of the year. The book is already written and with the editors. I am just waiting to get it back so that I can make edits and send it back for another round of edits. That cycle goes on for a while… then the book will become public. Want to purchase a copy of my first two books? You can get them on Kindle or in paper back at http://www.amazon.com just follow this link: http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=nina%20soden&sprefix=nina+sod%2Caps&rh=i%3Aaps%2Ck%3Anina%20soden
  4. 6 Week Ab Workout – What is the 6 Week Ab Workout? Well, I started it this past Monday so I am on day 4! Basically it is a series of exercises (sit-ups or crunches, flutter-kicks, squats, calf raises, lateral leg lifts, and knee raises) that you do each day. The first week you do 40 every day, the second week you do 55 every day, the third week you do 70 every day, etc. Each week increases by 15 reps until finally during week six you are doing 115 of each of the exercises every day. It is painful… but in the end VERY REWARDING! I did it twice in a row (12 straight weeks) last year (2013)… I would love to be able to say I did it straight through 2014, but I’m not going to get crazy… I’m shooting for 3 times in a row this year. If I could do it twice last year why not shoot for a little more this year?!
  5. Join a gym – Okay so I actually already did this, but I haven’t really used it. So, although I hate the “A New Year – A New Me” attitude I’ve decided to subscribe to it this year. The thing is I think to many people do it for the wrong reason. They do it because they feel like that is what society says they should do. You eat a lot at the holidays… gain a little weight… the new year comes and you feel bad or guilty so you vow to lose all the weight. But, here is the thing – I’m the “Thin Bitch” right? Okay, wait – you might not know that… check out my other blog at http://www.thinbitch.wordpress.com So, I actually weighed myself the other day and I, without knowing it, have finished loosing all the “baby weight” from both of my pregnancies. That’s right… I AM BACK TO MY PRE-PREGNANCY WEIGHT!!! So, I don’t actually want to lose any weight. In fact, if I gained a few pounds (muscle of course) I wouldn’t be upset. So, I’m going to go to the gym – not for society – but for me!!! Not to lose weight but just to tone and feel better about myself and gain a little extra energy. They say a healthy body makes for a healthier person… I want to see if that is true!
  6. Blog a little more – I’m gonna shoot for once a week. Yup… It’s been a while so once a week is going to be hard, but I’m gonna try.

Okay, so there you have it… my 6 New Year’s Resolutions. I’m sure I could think of others I might want to list… but these are my top 6!

What are your New Year’s Resolutions?

Author Interview – Walter O’Neill 8.12.13

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I’d like to welcome Mr. Walter O’Neill Jr. to my blog today and thank him for sharing his insite into being an author with us. He is working on a wonderful series about a bounty hunter that you will surely want to check out on your Kindle!

 

1.       What is your name and where do you call home?

Walter O’Neill Jr home is where the heart is, although I now live in Largo FL, with my wife Vikki and my strange cat Squishy

2.       Do you have a pen name?

Yes I do J.R. O’Neill

3.       What is the name of your most recent book and if you had to sum it up in 20 or fewer words, what would you say?

“The Shadow Force Series Book One The Garden Planet, Episode One Anwar” It is the story of Jon Ryder galactic bounty hunter extraordinaire, in his fight to defeat a group of terrorists bent on the destruction of civilization.

4.       Is the above book part of a series?

Yes, and it is being released in episodic parts book one “The Garden Planet” is comprised of 4 episodes, the second of which will be available on Kindle August 2013, with the completed work due out in paperback by Dec 1 for the Christmas shopping season.

5.       What or who inspired you to start writing? And how long have you been writing?

I never made the conscious decision to start writing, it just happened. The book the Garden Planet I originally wrote in the early 1990s on legal pads. It was just this year that I decided to re-write, and publish it. I have been inspired to start work on some other books and other genres. I am currently completing a historical novel called “Miami” it is the story of the founding and phenomenal growth of the city of Miami FL from 1908 Population 345 to the 1985 population 2,500,000 approximately. It follows the story of two families, and there ups and downs.

6.       How did you come up with the cover? Who designed the cover of your book(s)?

Glen Barnhardt Designed the cover, we went through a couple of designs before settling on the final version.

shadowforce

7.       Did you listen to any particular songs while writing your book(s)?

No, I rather have no distractions.

8.       How did you come up with the title for your book(s)?

Well this book was originally titled the Garden Planet, the name came to me at the same time as the inspiration to write it, I was crossing the “Sunshine Skyway Bridge in Florida sometime in 1993 and the whole story as well as the title popped into my head, I wrote the first 20,000 or so words that very night, it was the first thing I had ever written. Now this year I found when I was contemplating publishing it, that the title was already available on kindle although not science fiction, I still decided to change the name somewhat to the Shadow Force book one The Garden Planet.

9.       Do you have a book trailer? If so where can we watch it?

No not yet

10.   Do you prefer e-books, paperbacks, hard-covers or audio-books?

Paperbacks that way they are easy to carry around.

11.   Are you a self-published/Indie author?

No, I didn’t really know how to do that so I am working with Glen Barnhardt at his new endeavor Blue Mountain Publishing, from Brooksville FL

12.   If you’re a self-published/Indie author what made you go that route instead of the traditional publishing route?

Well I went through Glen because he made the entire deal effortless.

13.   Have you ever read a book more than once? And if so what was it?

Oh yes, many, Tolkien, and Piers Anthony come to mind. I have reread their books many times.

14.   What is your opinion of novellas?

I usually like books that are in the 2-3 hundred page range, yet I don’t really have a preference. I just love a good story with characters that I can have an emotional connection with.

15.   Have you ever read a book just based on its cover?

All the time, and usually I am pleasantly surprised. I don’t think I have ever started a book and not finished it.

16.   What is your favorite film based on a book?

To be honest I have always been disappointed by movies based on books, you lose so much of the story. I try never to see movies after I have read the book, the other way around works much better for me.  Tom Clancy comes to mind.

17.   What is your favorite book genre at the moment?

Well Sci-Fi I guess, as that is what I am working on.

18.   What books have made it onto your wish list recently? And why?

I don’t get a chance to pay attention to what is coming out, (embarrassing I know) I tend to pick up whatever my wife is done with.

19.   What book are you reading at the moment? And in what format?

Janet Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum novels, currently “Ten Big Ones” (Just starting)

20.   If you could invite any four (4) celebrities (alive or dead) to your dinner party, who would you invite and why?

Jules Vern, and H G Wells, would top the list, I think they were time travelers. I would also invite Ronald Reagan, for advice, and Abraham Lincoln for courage. Twisting the question a bit if I could invite 4 of my characters from my novels, they would be Jon Ryder, Sara Osgood, Tom Kelly, and Shannon O’Brien.

21.   What’s the best advice that you have been given when it comes to writing?

Just keep writing no matter what.

22.   Do you have any hobbies that aren’t related to reading & writing?

I enjoy siting by the ocean, boats in general, and exploring new places

23.   Where can your readers follow you?

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/JR-ONeill/441408465936634

Goodreads author page: None (I think)

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/pub/j-r-o-neill/73/898/a9b/

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00CTO53C0

Other: jroneill53@gmail.com

Marriotts Orlando World Center – My 2-Star Review

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2star

Let me start by saying that I recognize that everyone’s experiences are different when they travel and what is important to me in a hotel might not be important to everyone else. Therefore, this review is solely a reflection of my experiences at the Orlando World Center Marriott Resort and not based on anyone else’s opinions.

The following is a list of areas I chose to cover in this review and my thoughts/comments. Why did I select these particular areas? Simple, because these were the things that most impacted my experience during my stay.

  1. General Appearance (5 Stars) – Although I am giving this hotel a 5-Star rating for general appearance I want to remind everyone that appearance is only skin deep. The look of the hotel both outside and inside the main area was wonderful. The grounds are clean with well manicured lawns and the indoor “public” areas are very nicely decorated with new furnishings and a welcoming feel.
  2. Layout / Floor plan (1 Star) – Yes, I gave this a 1-Star rating. The reason is simple – THE SELF-PARKING parking lot has to be at least a half-mile, if not more, from the main lobby. I get that they want everyone to use their over-priced valet parking, but come on – some of us don’t even want to pay the $14.91/day for the self-parking. There is no way I was going to pay double that to do valet parking. Besides my employer was paying for the hotel so… No, they were not going to approve valet parking. I know you think I am kidding, but I’m not. The walk from the self-parking lot was at least a half mile from the main lobby – then you still had to walk another quarter-mile to get to my hotel room… lets just say I got a lot of exercise this trip.
  3. Customer Service (1 Star) – I’m actually not even sure I want to give the hotel a 1-Star rating for this, but I don’t like to give no stars. The thing is this – the service wasn’t all bad – it was just bad where it mattered to me. The first lack of customer service was the total disrespect they showed when assigning me my first room. Okay, I was there for a conference – and therefore my work was paying for the room, but that doesn’t mean you should give me the worst room in the hotel. I brought my family along, and we planned to make the week-long trip a family vacation (as well as a business trip). So, we walk into the room and what do we find? A note taped to the balcony door saying that it has been locked due to construction and that we are not able to use the balcony. When we look out the window there is PVC piping on the railing, and a ladder/ramp along the outside of the balcony. Therefore all the workers can see straight into our room as they work. Yeah, not happening. They should have known better than to assign that room to anyone. It just showed me that they don’t care about their customers. I was a paying customer – give me a good room! Then when I called down to the front desk to request a new room the gentleman said, “You can come down to the desk at one o’clock and maybe we can get you a better room.” Maybe? Maybe, are you kidding me?! When my husband went to the front desk and expressed our frustration – they quickly gave him a new room (a nice one I might add). You might be thinking that this should improve my customer service rating, but it doesn’t. Why? Because it just made me feel that, as a woman, they didn’t want to service me, but as a man my husband was taken seriously. Yeah, I’m not into the whole treat men and women differently thing. Next on the “customer service” rating – the cleaning crew was rude! I asked for some conditioner (BECAUSE THERE WAS NONE!) and what response did I get? “Call the front desk!” then she walked away! Last item on the “customer service” rating – When we returned to the room after a long day at Epcot the door to our room was open. I called the front desk, who quickly sent me to security. They came up and did a “test” on the lock to see whose card had been used in the lock last, and did they bother to tell me? NO! What does that say to me? Well it tells me one of their employees had been in my room, but they didn’t want to tell me that so they just ignored me!
  4. Room – Okay, the first room received a ZERO STAR rating, but the second room I would give 3 Stars. Why a 3-Star rating you ask… Well, the layout was fine, but there was NO VENTILATION! When you took a shower everything in the bathroom was wet with steam. I couldn’t even keep my clean clothing in there to change because they would end up wet by the end of the shower. That meant that when I got out of the shower and dried off I had to step into the sink area (where there was no door for privacy) naked to get dressed. That is not fun with two children running around. The lack of ventilation didn’t contain itself to the bathroom. At night in the room the air was dry and thick with dust from the air conditioner. After the first night I woke up with a sore throat. After the second night I was congested and had a migraine. By the end of our stay I WAS SICK, as in taking Dayquil and Nyquil. Last on this list – I have to mention the cleaning crew again. When I go to a hotel I expect that when I return to my room after say… lunch… that my room will be clean, but NO, they never arrived until after lunch. They must have been understaffed, but come on – if you have a hotel that big HIRE MORE PEOPLE! Oh, wait… I do have one more thing to add… They had candy, water, etc. just sitting out and a refrigerator full of drinks (alcohol included – without a lock on the refrigerator – EASY ACCESS FOR CHILDREN). Anyway, the selection was great, but the prices were obscene! Seriously, who is going to pay $4-$5 for a bottle of water?!?!?! GIVE ME A BREAK!
  5. Food/Restaurants (1 Star) – I have no idea how the food tasted at the hotel because OMG the price was ridicules. We were going to eat breakfast at the hotel, but for two adults and two children it was going to cost us $80 – $90. HELL NO! Come on, look at the government per diem rates for food in your area when planning your menu rates. You are WAY OVER PRICED!!!
  6. Pool (4.5 Stars) – YES THE POOL WAS AMAZING! I should say pools because they had more than one and all of them were wonderful. My only complaint was about the guy manning the water-slide. My husband took my 7 1/2 year-old daughter up to the top of the water-slide and she was so excited… however, the gentleman at the top wouldn’t let her go down because he said that she was one inch to short. Yet, we saw (numerous times) children smaller than her going down the slide throughout our stay. Yeah, he was in a bad mood that day… I mean his job is sitting at the top of a slide all day… I guess I get it, but come on don’t crush a 7 1/2 year olds only wish for the day!
  7. Business Center (1 Star) – I am only giving this a 1-Star rating because they do offer something, but come on this is the first hotel I have stayed at in a very long time that didn’t offer a free business center at least for minor printing needs. No, they offer a FedEx run business center that over charges for internet time and printing. Thank you, but no thank you!
  8. Miscellaneous – These are just a few other issues I had: fruit-flies in the restrooms and lack of afternoon shuttle busses to the Disney parks.

Okay, overall I have to say that I was VERY DISAPPOINTED with my experience. The only saving grace – my company paid, and they had a Starbucks in the lobby!

So, my final rating is… 2 Stars

Author Interview – Tim Girard

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Today’s guest is Tim Girard. Tim is a screenplay author, and is working on some very exciting new scripts that I personally would love to see on the big screen. If you’re a film buff too be sure to keep reading…

  1. What is your name and where do you call home?

I am Tim Girard. Currently, and against my will, I live in California

  1. Do you have a pen name?

No pen name. Not this time. Maybe someday. For now, I want you to know who I am!

  1. What is the name of your most recent book and if you had to sum it up what would you say?

I’m of a different breed. I am working on a screenplay epic titled “Legends of the Seven.” The first screenplay is called “Shards of the Seven.” The second is “Into the Dreaming” while the third is “The Dream Catchers.”

My most recent “book” would have to be “The Song in the Chamber.” Summing it up, though, is something else.

The Song in the Chamber is about a “gifted” doctor desperately trying to work out how real his nightmares are while searching for someone “gifted” like he is.

  1. Is the above book part of a series?

The book is a stand alone. My first (and to date only) horror, in fact. The screenplays are a part of a series. I have several others in the works also.

  1. What or who inspired you to start writing? And how long have you been writing?

Writing is natural for me. I don’t know that I have a specific inspiration for my start. As for how long, well, let’s just say it’s been a long time. A very long time!

  1. How did you come up with the cover? Who designed the cover of your book(s)?

My “cover” is stark and ambiguous. It is the title on a black page, so not very “inviting” by itself.  It is meant to convey the nightmarish landscape the Doctor is experiencing while highlighting the grotesque nature of his search.

  1. Did you listen to any particular songs while writing your book(s)?

Songs. Yeah, huh. No, not really. I try to write in silence. I find I focus better that way. That being said I cheat a lot and put on whatever strikes my fancy. I like folk and rock and roll and alternative. My MP3 player has a lot of variety.

  1. How did you come up with the title for your book(s)?

The Song in the Chamber title really came from an event inside the story. The doctor has power and his goal aside from finding another like him is to make living music, born from the fear and stench of those about to die. It’s macabre and gruesome, I know.

  1. Do you have a book trailer? If so where can we watch it?

No trailer. Love to, but not for this one.

  1. Do you prefer e-books, paperbacks, hard-covers or audio-books?

Great question. As an author I am crazy about e-books. I write short little shots to the gut. E-books afford me that opportunity. As a reader I live for a book I can hold and think about.

  1. Are you a self-published/Indie author?

Indie all the way! Wouldn’t have it any other way. My work is pretty bizarre and experimental and I am a control freak about it. I think a publisher/editor and I would end up killing each other!

  1. If you’re a self-published/Indie author what made you go that route instead of the traditional publishing route?

Oh absolutely. It is a catch-22. With indie publishing there is a control factor. Unfortunately there is also an opportunity for really bad writers to put really bad stuff out there. I know it sounds obnoxious. I do. But it is the truth. There is a lot of mediocrity out there.

That being said I can’t imagine it any other way!

  1. Have you ever read a book more than once? And if so what was it?

I devour anything Steinbeck. Love the guy. I read and re-read all the time. I am a history reader so I go over books time and again, catching snippets here and there. Specifics? Yikes. The Flying Fortress, the Mighty Eighth. Those are current. Previously? World War 1, The Iliad, the Prophet. Just about anything by Rilke.

  1. What is your opinion of novellas?

When done well they are extraordinary! When not done well, they are a page long. I do not have patience for poor writing. If I am not caught I put it down.

  1. Have you ever read a book just based on its cover?

Oh probably. I have also not read a book because of its cover. Covers are necessary and should be an introduction. They should not be grotesque or outrageous.

  1. What is your favorite film based on a book?

I would go geek and say Lord of the Rings. That series was amazing.

  1. What is your favorite book genre at the moment?

Like I said, I am a Steinbeck freak. Aside from that I am involved with the air war in WW2, a host of neurology books as well as any number of books on trains and mythology and the1950s, and man. A lot actually!

  1. What books have made it onto your wish list recently? And why?

I’m a little too disorganized to have a wish list. There is one called a Higher Calling I am anxious to read (B17 story). I just picked up two Steinbeck books.

  1. What book are you reading at the moment? And in what format?

Steinbeck, a book about BF109 pilots, Black Hawk Down. They are trades and hardbacks.

  1. If you could invite any four (4) celebrities (alive or dead) to your dinner party, who would you invite and why?

Only four! Wow. Joseph Campbell, Hannibal Barca, John Steinbeck, and probably someone crazy like Lon Chaney.

These guys were special for different reasons. Campbell was a wizard of story. Hannibal fought Rome with elephants (how can you not love that?) Steinbeck was, well, Steinbeck. And Chaney understood the character of man.

  1. What’s the best advice that you have been given when it comes to writing?

Absolute best advice? A couple of thoughts. First: it’s a marathon. Don’t expect it to be quick or painless. Second: Endure. It’s a marathon. Third: remember your audience. Fourth: remember your story. Fifth: it’s okay to do something radical. I’m kind of hoping you will.

  1. Do you have any hobbies that aren’t related to reading & writing?

What!?! There are hobbies not related to writing? Blow me down! Sort of. Not really. I am in production putting together a stylized animated short. I travel. I critique. I’m kind of all over the place.

  1. Where can your readers follow you?

I’m with Amazon and Linkedin, probably the best way to find me. I don’t facebook and I have so little time to blog. I do twitter, on rare occasion but it is for my zombie character. (That’s a long story there!)

So, that was Tim in a nutshell. I hope you enjoyed his interview as much as I did. Now, go out there and do something radical!

Author Interview – Toinette Thomas

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Toi Thomaws ~ Author of the Eternal Curse Series

Toi Thomas ~ Author of the Eternal Curse Series

I am excited to have had the pleasure of interviewing Toi Thomas, author of the Eternal Curse series.

  1. What is your name and where do you call home?

My name is Toi Thomas and I live in Virginia. I grew up in Texas, so the lone star state holds a special place in my heart.

  1. Do you have a pen name?

Not at the moment, but it’s something I’ve toyed with. I have a few alter egos friends and family would find amusing to see in print.

  1. What is the name of your most recent book and if you had to sum it up in 20 or fewer words, what would you say?

Eternal Curse: Giovanni’s Angel is an awkward marriage of love and terror, but there’s hope in the shadows of angels.

  1. Is the above book part of a series?

Yes, it’s book one in the Eternal Curse Series.

  1. What or who inspired you to start writing? And how long have you been writing?

Always a fan of reading, writing my own stories seemed like the next logical step, plus I find it therapeutic. I adore the creativity of J.M. Barrie, L. Frank Baum, and most recently Erin Morgenstern. I’ve written my whole life, but I’ve been pursuing writing as a career for three years.

  1. How did you come up with the cover? Who designed the cover of your book(s)?

Its current cover was a collaboration between me and my artist, brother-in-law, Eric, who also did a few sketches for the interior. I wanted to express, to prospective readers, a sense of isolation and darkness, but not an overwhelming feeling of terror. I wanted the reader to focus in on the main character’s struggles even before opening up the book.

Giovanni's Angel is the first book in the Eternal Curse Series by Toi Thomas

Giovanni’s Angel is the first book in the Eternal Curse Series by Toi Thomas

  1. Did you listen to any particular songs while writing your book(s)?

Yes and no. I like quiet when I write, but I do use music to motivate me or get me out of a slump or rut. I have a varied selection of soundtracks on hand for when I need a very specific kind of motivation.

  1. How did you come up with the title for your book(s)?

Coming up with a title for this book was a little tricky, especially because I didn’t know it was going to be part of a series when I first wrote it. The title is a play on the importance of the characters. Before the end of the book, the read has no doubt who Giovanni’s Angel is and why that is so important to the story.

  1. Do you have a book trailer? If so where can we watch it?

Again yes and no. I will have an official book trailer made by my publisher soon, but what I currently have available is a sorry excuse for one. It’s something I threw together for a promotion I was doing. Readers are more than welcome to look for it on youtube, but I’m not promoting it here and now.

  1. Do you prefer e-books, paperbacks, hard-covers or audio-books?

Another tricky question. I find that audio books and paper backs are a close tie for me. I adore the way a good paperback that’s been really read, has its own special character within its bent page corners, cracked and aging cover, and faithfully yellowing pages. I enjoy being told a story; it goes along perfectly with my big kid personality. I’ve pretty much replaced TV with audio book. Because of how economic times are, I’d rather read than not read, so I do have many ebooks.

  1. Are you a self-published/Indie author?

Both. My first book was self-published but has since been picked up a publishing house. I have several other books in the works outside of my Eternal Curse Series. I will be self-publishing many of those.

  1. If you’re a self-published/Indie author what made you go that route instead of the traditional publishing route?

I submitted and submitted like many authors before me. I decided that while I would not give up the pursuit of traditional publishing, I would go ahead and invest in myself and in my dream. If I could make a little money while waiting to be noticed by the big boys, why not? I do believe however, that some of my works will never to traditionally published, because I will want to keep those all to myself.

  1. Have you ever read a book more than once? And if so what was it?

When I was a kid I read several Peter Pan stories over and over, but as an adult it hasn’t really happened. I do find myself going back to read my favorite chapters or passages over and over. I think I’ve read the death of Elphaba from The Wicked Years three times, still trying to figure out what happened on that roof.

  1. What is your opinion of novellas?

I’m ok with novellas, but don’t read them often. A collection of short stories makes perfect sense to me, but one on its own, I don’t get. Novellas are good and bad because they are quick short reads, but I usually feel like I’ve been shorted. I always want more.

  1. Have you ever read a book just based on its cover?

No, but I’ve pass up on books because of the cover. With so many books out there, I have to have a filter and the book cover it is. They only thing that will usually override a bad book cover is an outstanding personal peer review or recommendation.

  1. What is your favorite film based on a book?

Not fair. You can’t ask a movie buff and reader/writer a question like this. Off the top of my head: Lord of the Rings.

  1. What is your favorite book genre at the moment?

No favorites, anything fiction. I have to be in a mood for non-fiction.

  1. What books have made it onto your wish list recently? And why?

Skylark by Meagan Spooner- I love the premise. Wish I came up with it.

Of Beast and Beauty by Stacey Jay- Can’t get enough fairy tales.

And The Affinity Bridge by George Mann- Want to check out some steampunk.

  1. What book are you reading at the moment? And in what format?

Ghost in the Wires- audio

Firelight in Darkness- ebook

  1. If you could invite any four (4) celebrities (alive or dead) to your dinner party, who would you invite and why?

Etta James- to tell crazy stories and serenade us.

Audrey Hepburn- to look pretty and tell us stories of humanitarian adventures.

Terry Crews- to keep my husband busy asking him to do something to make him laugh.

And Will Weaton to balance out the uneven level of geekness.

I can’t image what these guys would have to talk about, but it would be entertaining.

  1. What’s the best advice that you have been given when it comes to writing?

I subscribe to several newsletters and blogs that give writing trips, but the tips I find most helpful are about reaching fans. Very seldom do they talk about sells. It’s all about meeting desires and needs.

  1. Do you have any hobbies that aren’t related to reading & writing?

Uh, yeah; cooking, painting, collecting, geekery, vinyl records, dancing, movies, and tea drinking and tea cup collecting. There maybe more, my mind has trouble focusing sometimes, in case you hadn’t noticed.

  1. Where can your readers follow you?

Thank you Toi, for taking the time to share your thoughts and process with us. If you, my readers, are as interested in Toi’s Eternal Curse Series as I am then please be sure to check our her blog (link above) to learn more.

Author Interview – Alene Geed

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Alene GeedAlene Geed

Talented jewelry designer and author Alene Geed answers the question “What is creativity” in her self-published book Inside The Mind of A Jewelry Designer.

 

1.   What is your name and where do you call home?

 

Alene Geed. I live in Chandler Arizona (a suburb of Phoenix)

 

2.   What is the name of your most recent book and if you had to sum it up in 20 or fewer words, what would you say?

Inside The Mind of A Jewelry Designer studies the compelling question, “What is creativity?” in an absorbing and personal look at the burgeoning career of jewelry designer, Alene Geed. 

 

3.   What or who inspired you to start writing? And how long have you been writing?

 

I was approached by an Editor who found my jewelry site and profile online. She proposed the concept to me. Once the idea was in my subconscious, it would not leave me alone. Within a few days of the initial contact, I realized this was a project I could embrace!

 

4.   How did you come up with the cover? Who designed the cover of your book?

 

My editor offered a few designs based upon an artistic interpretation of the Rohrshach (inkblot) test. I chose one that most resembled a butterfly; to represent transformation.

book-cover-front1 (1)

 

5.   Did you listen to any particular songs while writing your book(s)?

 

I listened to Mozart and Beethoven. Both these composers enhance my creativity and do not distract with lyrics.

 

6.   How did you come up with the title for your book?

 

The idea came from another collaborator that was helping me with my SEO and online presence. She asked me to become more conversational and let others know what I am thinking… because ‘those of us who are not artists want to know what goes on inside your head” Her words stayed with me and ultimately became the inspiration for the title!

 

7.   Do you prefer e-books, paperbacks, hard-covers or audio-books?

 

Personally I am old school and love the feel of printed books. My second choice is audio book, especially when the book is read by the author.

 

8.   Are you a self-published/Indie author?

 

Self published through Create Space and Kindle

 

9.   If you’re a self-published/Indie author what made you go that route instead of the traditional publishing route?

 

This was the direction given to me by my editor/collaborator.

 

10.    Have you ever read a book more than once? And if so what was it?

 

Yes, I have re-read many of Emmett Fox’s books. And still LOVE to pursue Marilyn Ferguson’s Aquarian Conspiracy! (after all these years)

 

11.    What is your opinion of novellas?

 

I like novellas; as long as the story can be developed well in the shorter format. I much prefer this to reading a 700 page novel!

 

12.    Have you ever read a book just based on its cover?

 

I have been attracted to many books based upon the cover. That being said, I do read the synopsis and reviews before purchasing.

 

13.    What is your favorite film based on a book?

 

The Godfather. This is one of the few movies that is a complete representation of the book.

 

14.    What is your favorite book genre at the moment?

 

I have always loved mysteries. Since I have read so many of them over the years, it takes a lot to hold my interest. Some of my current favorites are Craig Johnson, CJ Box and Lee Child.

 

15.    What books have made it onto your wish list recently? And why?

 

Philippa Gregory ‘The White Princess’. I am fascinated with this subject matter. (British Royalty) Anything new from Orson Scott Card (science fiction). What an imagination he has!

 

16.    What book are you reading at the moment? And in what format?

 

Currently : T Jefferson Parker’s Black Water in hard cover.

 

17.    If you could invite any four (4) celebrities (alive or dead) to your dinner party, who would you invite and why?

 

Albert Schweitzer: I have so admired him since I was a teenager and learned of him.

Napoleon Hill:  love his philosophy on life

Marilyn Ferguson: I heard her speak over 30 years ago & have not forgotten the experience.

Blake Shelton (he can bring Miranda, too). Love THE VOICE and his easy manner. He would be lots of fun, I think.

 

18.    What’s the best advice that you have been given when it comes to writing?

 

Dig Deep. Bare your Soul. Readers WANT to know what makes you (or your character in the case of fiction) tick!

 

19.    Do you have any hobbies that aren’t related to reading & writing?

 

Jewelry Design… my PASSION!   Hiking.

 

20.    Where can your readers follow you?

 

www.alenesadornments.com

www.alenes-adornments-blog.com

www.facebook.com/alenesadornments

www.twitter.com/alenegeed

www.creativejewelrydesigner.com

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I want to thank Alene for giving us a glimpse into her artistic world. If you are interested in jewelry please be sure to check out her site at www.alenesadornments.com you are sure to fall in love with her creations.

Author Interview – Joyce Shaughnessy

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Author Joyce Shaughnessy

Author Joyce Shaughnessy

I’m excited to have Author Joyce Shaughnessy as my guest today. She is the self-published author of A Healing Place, Blessed Are the Merciful, and The Unsurrendered. I hope you find this interview as interesting and informative as I did.

  • What is your name and where do you call home?

Joyce Shaughnessy, Midland, Texas

  • Do you have a pen name?

No.

  • What is the name of your most recent book & if you had to sum it up in 20 or fewer words, what would you say?

The Unsurrendered ~ An American spy and his wife join a partisan group during WWII, and she must save him.

  • Is the above book part of a series.

Yes, it is the last in a series of three books. The Pearl of the Orient is the name of the series and can be found at: http://joyceshaughnessy.com

  • What or who inspired you to start writing? And how long have you been writing?

I saw a documentary on the history channel of the Death March in the Philippines during WWII, and I decided I had to write about it. I also saw one about the Dustbowl of the American Depression, so I started the book in 1935 with a fictional family, when the daughter was young. When she becomes an adult, she marries someone who walks the Death March.
I started writing when I was 56. I am now 62. I published my first book in 2010, at age 59.

  • How did you come up with the cover? Who designed the cover of your book(s)

My husband is an amateur artist and drew the cover. I loved all of my covers, but in the last book, The Unsurrendered, I found a Time-Life photograph taken of actual 19 yr old woman who was a partisan and was credited with 7 Japanese kills. She became the cover of my book and the main character.

  • Did you listen to any particular songs while writing your book(s)?

No.

  • How did you come up with the title for your books?

A Healing Place came to me immediately. The family of the young girl in the Depression moves to a small oil camp to find work and a home. It became their healing place from poverty and a chance to live in dignity. I lived there as a little girl (my parents ran the grocery store) and it was a wonderful place in which to grow up.

Blessed Are the Merciful, Our Forgotten Soldiers came from the nurses I depicted on the island (who actually existed, but mine were fictional) and I read that some of the soldiers, after three years of captivity in prison camps said to the Americans “We thought that you had forgotten we were here.”

The Unsurrendered came from the title that MacArthur gave some of his soldiers when he told them to leave, fight behind enemy lines, and become “unsurrendered soldiers.”

  • Do you have a book trailer? If so where can we watch it?

I have three book trailers.
A Healing Place: http://youtube.com/watch?v=bKBteLBILPS

Blessed Are the Merciful: http://youtube.com/watch?v=Px36ROaU08E

The Unsurrendered: http://youtube.com/watch?v=mptn3ZiUsVs

  • Do you prefer e-books, paperbacks or hardbacks?

My books are in e-book, paperback, & hardcover, but if I am reading, I prefer to hold an actual book. However, many of the reviews that I have done are from e-books.

  • Are you a self-published/Indie author?

I am a self-published author.

  • What made you go the self-published route?

I was 57 when I finished my first book, and I decided after two rejections, that at my age, I had better go with indie. I’m glad I did because I have continued to participate in many round robin novels and short stories in anthologies. I’m not certain that I would have done it otherwise.

  • Have you ever read a book more than once? If so, what was it?

Yes, many. My favorite will always be Nelson DeMille’s Up Country. If I ever get a break from writing, I intend to read it the fourth time.

  • What is your opinion about novellas?

There is a place for them in publishing, but I think novels usually sell better. I may be entirely mistaken. They always leave me wanting more, so perhaps that is a good thing.

  • Have you ever read a book based on its cover?

No.

  • What is your favorite film based on a book?

Herman Wouk’s Winds of War and War and Remembrance.

  • What is your favorite book genre at the moment?

I am so busy writing that I haven’t been reading much at all. I guess it would be historical fiction and humor. Nelson DeMille accomplishes both in the same book.
If you mean what I am writing, I am participating in a round robin fantasy novel with Heather Schuldt, and I love it. The other 4 authors are amazing!

  • What books have made it onto your wish list recently? And why?

None. I’ve been too busy.

  • What book are you reading at the moment and in what format?

I just finished reading The Last Israelis by Noah Beck so that I could do a review. It was very good.

  • If you could invite any four celebrities (alive or dead) to your dinner party, who would you invite and why?

General Douglas MacArthur for his insight about WWII, Hilary Clinton because of her intelligence, experience and to ask her this question, Nelson DeMille because of his compassion, humor, and intelligence, and Herman Wouk because of his intelligence, talent, and the fact that he’s still writing at 97.

  • What’s the best advice you have been given when it comes to writing?

I was told to write as much as I possibly can in every genre. That’s exactly what I’m doing, and I love it!

  • Do you have any hobbies?

No. I don’t have the time.

  • Where can your readers follow you?

Blog: http://jshaughnessyauthor.blogspot.com

Facebook: http://facebook.com/joyceshaughnessyauthor

Goodreads: http://goodreads.com/book/show/17246694

Twitter: http//twitter.com/authorjoyces

LinkedIn: http//linkedIn.com/joyceshaughnessy

Amazon: http://tinyurl.com/b99nkap

Author Interview – Marie Lavender

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Marie Lavendar an established self-published Indie author with 16 published books to her name (including pen names) recently went the route of traditional publishing when she released Upon Your Return. Learn all about her experience in this intimate one-on-one interview.

Mariepic2Marie Lavendar ~ Author of Upon Your Return

UponYourReturn_E-bookCover

  • What is your name and where do you call home? My name is Marie Lavender and I am a small town girl from Indiana.
  • What is the name of your most recent book and if you had to sum it up in 20 or fewer words, what would you say? Upon Your Return is my latest release.  It came out in February through Solstice Publishing.  Upon Your Return is a historical romance about a girl who dreams big and gets into a lot of trouble for it.
  • Is the above book part of a series?Yes, it is the first book in the Heiresses in Love series.
  • What or who inspired you to start writing? And how long have you been writing? I’ve always been an avid reader ever since I was a kid.  I suppose that was part of the onset of my writing obsession.  But, mainly, it was that I had these scenes go through my head of characters and dialogue and I had no choice but to write them down.
  • How did you come up with the cover? Who designed the cover of your book(s)? I had a few ideas for it, but the credit goes to Kayden McLeod, the cover designer, and Jimmy Thomas, one of the cover models.
  • Did you listen to any particular songs while writing your book(s)? Yes, sometimes I listen to different artists.  Sometimes, if I am writing historical stories, it helps to listen to Celtic music or love songs.  It really depends on the book I’m working on.  I like a lot of different music.  Some of my favorite artists are Owl City, Paramore, Fireflight, OneRepublic, Switchfoot and Sarah MacLachlan.  I have others, but there are really too many to count.
  • How did you come up with the title for your book(s)? It came from part of the dialogue in the book.  It is something the heroine says to the man she later falls for.
  • Do you prefer e-books, paperbacks, hard-covers or audio-books? In some ways, I am traditional.  I still love to have a paperback or hard copy in my hands.
  • Are you a self-published/Indie author? Yes.  I have self-published fifteen books.  Upon Your Return is the first one that is traditionally published.
  • If you’re a self-published/Indie author what made you go that route instead of the traditional publishing route? I had a lot of works I wanted people to see.  And it was fun to self-publish!
  • Have you ever read a book more than once? And if so what was it? I’ve definitely read some of Catherine Coulter’s books over again.  And I’ve read J.R. Ward’s Black Dagger Brotherhood more than once.
  • What is your opinion of novellas? There is nothing wrong with a novella.  It is a short read, but it still tells a good story.
  • Have you ever read a book just based on its cover? The cover is appealing a lot of the time, but mostly I have read a book because of the blurb or because I already follow that author’s work.
  • What is your favorite film based on a book? Jurassic Park is a great movie based on a book.  I have read the book and even though it is entirely different from the movie, both were equally appealing.
  • What is your favorite book genre at the moment? I am really into paranormal romance right now.
  • What books have made it onto your wish list recently? And why? Word of mouth is a great marketing tool.  Someone recommended Cassandra Clare’s Mortal Instruments series to me recently.  And I had to add another series because I kept seeing tweets about it on Twitter.  I added  Ally Shield’s Guardian Witch series to the list.  I have also made a lot of author friends on Facebook and through my writer’s blog Writing in the Modern Age.  So, I added Linda Lee Williiam’s Elsewhere and C.J. Heck’s Anatomy of a Poet to my wish list on Amazon.
  • What book are you reading at the moment? And in what format? Truthfully, it is silly but I am reading Upon Your Return for the first time in paperback.  It was sitting around so I thought…what the heck?
  • If you could invite any four (4) celebrities (alive or dead) to your dinner party, who would you invite and why? Ooh…can I invite Gerard Butler?  God, I love that man’s accent!  Oh, and Jimmy Thomas, the man who blessed my cover with his beautiful…um, face!  I would also like to bring Catherine Coulter to the table simply because she was the woman who woke me up to the historical romance genre.  And J.R. Ward…simply because I can’t get enough of the Black Dagger Brotherhood.  The brothers rule!
  • What’s the best advice that you have been given when it comes to writing? Never give up.  Never, ever, ever give up no matter what.  Perseverance is the key to making it in this industry.  If you don’t have that, you can’t weather the storm to get noticed.
  • Do you have any hobbies that aren’t related to reading & writing? Shopping!  Is that related?  Well, I guess it is somewhat related because I can’t ever buy enough books!  But, I love shopping of any kind.  I really need someone to take my credit cards away.  My fiancé knows what a problem I have with that, but that’s a discussion for another day. 

Where can your readers follow you?

I want to thank Marie Lavendar for taking the time to participate in this interview and for allowing us a glimpse into her wonderful world of writing.

As a writer myself I always learn something new from every writer I meet and I hope that all of my readers are able to enjoy and learn from Marie’s experiences.