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.

Author Interview – Arlene Lagos

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Author ArleneArlene Lagos Author of Beyond EarthBEappcover

  • What is your name and where do you call home? My name is Arlene Lagos and I live in Medway, MA
  • Do you have a pen name? I don’t have a pen name
  • 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? “Beyond Earth” just launched two weeks ago. It’s a young adult science-fiction fantasy novella
  • Is the above book part of a series? Yes, it is Book I in the Beyond Earth Series. Book II “Beyond Planets” will be launching in August.
  • What or who inspired you to start writing? And how long have you been writing? I’ve been writing my whole life, mostly poems, plays and short stories. When I moved to Charleston I began writing a tv pilot and a few short films. I didn’t write my first novel until two years ago and it was “Beyond Earth”.
  • How did you come up with the cover? Who designed the cover of your book(s)? I was looking for a model for my cover and a friend of mine suggested her friend’s daughter. The minute I saw a picture of her (Rayn) I knew she was the one to play the character. My good friend Angela Cannistraro took the photos of both the cover and of my headshot. Then my boss Almont Green designed the cover for me!
  • Did you listen to any particular songs while writing your book(s)? There’s always Aerosmith playing in the background. In fact, you’ll find a lot of Aerosmith references throughout the book as they are my favorite band still.
  • How did you come up with the title for your book(s)? I went through so many different titles. Then finally I asked some teenagers I used to teach theatre too and they said, “keep it simple, how about just calling it Beyond Earth?”
  • Do you have a book trailer? If so where can we watch it? Yes, I have a book trailer, the URL http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J2IyOtVOyug

  • Do you prefer e-books, paperbacks, hard-covers or audio-books? I like the convenience of an eBook, but nothing beats holding a book in your hands and that new book smell of course!!!!
  • Are you a self-published/Indie author? Yes!
  • If you’re a self-published/Indie author what made you go that route instead of the traditional publishing route? The industry is so crazy right now. I didn’t want to spend the next year of my life begging people to read a query when I could spend that time begging readers to read my book!  I think people don’t realize how much they really can do on their own. It’s a lot of hard work and you need to be committed; but if you are, you’ll see the fruits of your labour.
  • Have you ever read a book more than once? And if so what was it? “The Alchemist” and “Tipping Point”. I’ve read them both several times. “The Alchemist” moves me and the “Tipping Point” really makes me think.
  • What is your opinion of novellas? I think every new author should consider starting with a novella. All the great writers of the past started that way. In my opinion, readers are more likely to take a chance on you if it’s a quick and easy read with low prices and little investment time. Then if they like you, they’ll come back for more.
  • Have you ever read a book just based on its cover? Absolutely. Covers are very important in this highly visual world!  That’s why I put so much time and energy into my cover. I think that aspect is often overlooked and that’s another reason I self-published. I wanted more creative control.
  • What is your favorite film based on a book? That’s a tough one. My first instinct is to say “Hunger Games”, it was really done well.
  • What is your favorite book genre at the moment? I love to write Sci-Fi but I love to read Historical Fiction.
  • What books have made it onto your wish list recently? And why? “30 Pieces of Silver” was recommended to me by my brother-in-law and we both always enjoy the same books so if he is loving it then I know I will. I also want to read “Creatura” by Nely Cab and “Inferno” by Dan Brown.
  • What book are you reading at the moment? And in what format? I actually just finished “Wanted: Wife” by Gwen Jones on my nook and plan on starting “Creatura” next.
  • If you could invite any four (4) celebrities (alive or dead) to your dinner party, who would you invite and why? Johnny Depp because he’s a creative genius, Steven Tyler because he’s a musical genius, Joss Whedon because he’s a creative genius and because he believes in writing strong female characters and I want him to direct “Beyond Earth” as a feature film, and finally Alice Paul who of course is no longer with us but she was a strong voice in the Women’s Suffrage Movement and a key player in us winning our right to vote. I wish I could’ve met her.
  • What’s the best advice that you have been given when it comes to writing? Keep writing.
  • Do you have any hobbies that aren’t related to reading & writing? I am a karaoke junkie (I love to sing) and I also love to dance although I don’t move quite as well as I used too.
  • Where can your readers follow you? See below!

Blog: http://www.beyondearthseries.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/BeyondEarthSeries

Goodreads author page: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5819544.Arlene_Lagos

Twitter: BeyondEarth_

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=32317937&trk=nav_responsive_tab_profile

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Arlene-Lagos/e/B00DH829PQ/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1

Createspace: https://www.createspace.com/4198095

YouTube Book Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J2IyOtVOyug

I’d love your thoughts!

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Behind Locked Doors – The Dancer

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On the edge of the cliff she does dance. Exposed to the world both heaven and earth her body she does not cover. For strength and love do guide her. Fear and regret have no place in her life. As the earth moves below her feet she will turn… As the fire burns hot within her soul she will not fall… As the wind blows around her she will follow… As the water crashes on the rocks below she will dive…

Into the icy water below she submerges her whole being. She lets go of all worldly restraints, and gives herself freely to all her passions and desires. A connection she does form as she spins and twists making love to the ocean itself. For her beauty is timeless… Her love is eternal… And her passion is as hot as the sun.

Behind Locked Doors – A Drifter…

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A drifter in the night he lurks within the shadows and under the cover of the ever forgiving moon-light. Year after year and century after century he finds himself searching for the one who started it all. The one who turned him!

Visions of piercing blue eyes, long red flowing hair, and lips covered and dripping with blood race within his mind haunting his dreams. Every time he hunts – feeds – kills, he sees her face reminding him of the monster he has become. For he will never turn another, never condemn another soul as his as been condemned to live for all eternity in a life of blood lust – a life of sin! Forever alone!

Egypt, Rome, Vienna, Paris, England, Montreal, Asia, Africa, America, nowhere in the world has he found peace. For years he has hidden, deep beneath the earth, within the abandoned mines once rich with gold now dank and dusty. He roams the night, living by only the light of the moon and stars above. He has learned to control the thirst – the hunger no longer consumes his every thought, but still the life he lost taunts him. 

A decision… a mission… a wooden stake to his heart… and no longer shall he walk the earth alone.

Six Things I’ve Learned In Six Years Of Marriage

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I read this and had to share it. I’ve been married longer than 6 years and have learned a lot… maybe I will put together a list one day.

Behind Locked Doors – Life After Death!

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Photograph by William Tapaninen

Photograph by William Tapaninen

She woke up cold and unaware. Laying down she couldn’t tell where she was, and she was unable to move. She could feel straps across her legs, holding her arms down and across her chest. She wasn’t wearing any clothing and her skin felt numb yet wet.

The darkness surrounded her attacking her with voices and noises that couldn’t be identified. She couldn’t scream for the cloth shoved in her mouth so tightly every time she tried to speak she gagged. Tears poured down her face as she struggled to get free. Fear built within her until she could no longer breathe.

When she awoke again alone in the woods under the cover of leaves and grass, the draining process had been completed and the final stages of her transformation had begun. Her hunger was growing strong. But deep within she felt a sense of calm, strength and power. The fear was gone replaced with excitement for the new life ahead. Eager to learn she rushed into the woods around her. Within moments she was running, leaping, lunging. Feeding on a wild lion it was the most alive feeling she had ever had, and to think it was the first thing she had done since she died.

(c) Soden, Nina 2013

Revenge ~ a Blood Angel novel ~ BOOK 3

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Hello anyone and everyone who may or may not be out there somewhere reading this post… So, books 1 and 2 have been written, edited, rewritten, edited again and again and again, and finally published. WOW! It was a long road, but I did it. Two books down and the third yet to come.

That’s right, the Blood Angel series doesn’t end with BEGINNINGS… Nothing ever ends after a beginning, right? Right!

So, what is next in the Blood Angel series? REVENGE! For those of you who have read AWAKEN and BEGINNINGS you might be wondering, Revenge? But, trust me after what Alee had to go through in book 1 and then book 2… someone better be getting a little revenge! For those of you who have not yet read AWAKEN or BEGINNINGS you need to pick-up your copy today and start reading.

So, I begin my journey into REVENGE a little more timid than I did the last two books. Why? Because the last two books just seemed to spill out of me. I think I had more time to write, or maybe less stress in my life – or more I’m not really sure. Anyway, book 3 is in my head and I want it to come out, but for whatever reason… it doesn’t want to come out yet. Instead of sitting at my computer and forcing the words into print, and inevitable turning out a bad product, I’m giving myself a week to rest… de-stress… and focus on other things (work – my real job, family – hubby and kids, home – house work and laundry, and of course summer) just for the next week. Then once I’ve completed my week of solus… I shall write. I plan to try to spend at least 1 hour a night in a quiet room – alone – just writing. Sure, that doesn’t sound like a lot to you avid writers, but for me (a mom who also works full-time) an hour of alone time each night to just write – well, that sounds like heaven and like a true fantasy that will probably never happen.

Recap – My goal is that starting Monday June 17th I will steal 1 hour each night to just think creative thoughts and write.

Wish me luck…

Revenge ~ a Blood Angel novel (BOOK 3) by Nina Soden Coming soon to e-readers everywhere!

Revenge ~ a Blood Angel novel (BOOK 3) by Nina Soden
Coming soon to e-readers everywhere!

Praise for Awaken!

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So, a few weeks back I was a little down about a bad review, a two (2) star review to be exact. Okay, it wasn’t all bad the author did say he/she would be reading my next novel, but still the words “…easy to put down.” and “…lacks the professional touches with structure, hooks and cliffhangers” kept running through my head. I told myself over and over, “DON’T PAY ATTENTION TO REVIEWS!” but I’m a writer… of course I pay attention to reviews.

So, today as I was surfing the web I once again glanced at my book on Amazon.com and low and behold… a four (4) star review had been bestowed to Awaken. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you to the reviewer for making my day just a little brighter. What did the review say? Well, let me show you…

20130604-164317.jpg

Okay, yes this reviewer did point out that there are a few grammatical errors in the book, but also said that you get past them because you are too immersed in the story… IMMERSED IN THE STORY!!! WooHoo… What a wonderful complement. That anyone is immersed in my story and my characters is beyond amazing and wonderful to me. I am so thankful for this reader and hope that others can read and enjoy my story as much as she has.

Well what are you waiting for? Go download your copy, and while you’re at it go ahead and pick up ‘BEGINNINGS’ too.

Get them both HERE!

Blood Angel Series Cover Poster