Thursday, March 31, 2011

Author Interview - Judith Finkel






Describe your book in five words or less.
Texas Justice – Will justice prevail?
Where Danger Lurks – How long should you trust?

How did the ideas for your books come to you?
Texas Justice was inspired by a crime and trial which gripped Houston. A lone assailant walked into a wig shop, slit the throat of an employee, stabbed the owner fourteen times and attacked her husband when he came to her rescue. A college student with no history of violence and no physical evidence to connect him to the murder scene was arrested and tried. After reading fourteen volumes of his trial transcript, I wrote Texas Justice. In my fictionalized version of events, the young man’s mother tries to find the actual killer, while never admitting to herself that it could be her son.

The idea for Where Danger Lurks came to me when a fellow attorney was accused of sexual molesting his daughter’s seven-year-old friend. He and his wife urged the authorities to investigate the victim’s step-father. Besides thinking of the affect the accusation had on both girls, I wondered how either man would cope with the fear of losing his family, his reputation and his freedom. At what point would either wife lose trust in her husband? If she lost it too soon, she’d ruin her marriage. If she lost it too late, she’d endanger her child. Where Danger Lurks, my fictionalized version of these events, involves the reader in the answers to these dilemmas and the search for the guilty party.

What is the hardest part of writing for you? What's the easiest?
The hardest part is editing.
The easiest part is writing the first draft.

What's next for you? Are you currently working on or have plans for future projects?
I’m working on my memoir The Three Stooges Gene. It got its title because my paternal grandmother’s cousins were Moe, Shemp and Curly Howard. So whenever I do something eccentric, my husband mutters, “It’s the Three Stooges gene.”

Why did you choose to write for specific genre?
From the time I was a child reading Nancy Drew mysteries, I have loved a “who done it?”

What's it like hearing that readers are eagerly awaiting your book's release date?
Exciting.

What is one question that you've always wanted to be asked in an interview? How would you answer that question?
What made you write your books?
They were in me and just had to come out.

What was your road to publications like?
I grew accustomed to agents sending me rejections on strips of mimeographed paper. When I got letters from agents saying they were sorry they couldn’t take on new clients because they thought I had sent them something of quality, I was so desperate I saved those rejections.

Then in 2008 Fireside Publications held a contest to determine the mystery/suspense/thriller they would publish in 2009. I entered by sending fifty pages and a synopsis. They notified me I was one of four nationwide finalists and requested the complete manuscript of Texas Justice. A few months later they declared me the winner and published it in February of 2009.

When I finished Where Danger Lurks, I submitted it to Fireside which published it in January.

Both books are available on Amazon.com and Firesidepubs.com


Author Bio:



Judith Groudine Finkel practiced law for twenty-four years before retiring to complete her legal thriller Texas Justice. After winning a nationwide contest Fireside Publications held to choose the mystery/suspense/ thriller it would publish in 2009, Texas Justice was released in February of that year. Judith’s second novel Where Danger Lurks has just been released by Fireside. She is currently working on her memoir The Three Stooges Gene, excerpts of which have appeared in the Houston Chronicle, Motherwords Magazine, This Path and The Three Stooges Journal. Her short stories have been published in the Birmingham Arts Journal, Choice Works, the Cuivre River Anthology Volume III, the Heartland Review, Moment Magazine and Sin Fronteras Journal.

Among other writing honors, Judith was the recipient of a Summer Fishtrap 2008 Fellowship. Her short story, “Two By Four,” earned second place in an international contest sponsored by Moment Magazine which was judged by Anita Diamant, the author of The Red Tent

Monday, March 28, 2011

What Are You Reading Monday? #13





Books I completed in the last week are:
*Reading a lot of children’s book – I’m going to make a challenge of the titles found in 1001 Children’s Books to Read before I Grow Up (just need help with a button)


Bookmarks are still living in the middle of:
*Reading a lot of children’s book – I’m going to make a challenge of the titles found in 1001 Children’s Books to Read before I Grow Up (just need help with a button)

Assault With A Deadly Glue Gun by Lois Winston
Steamed by Jessica Conant-Park & Susan Conant

Up Next:
The Wedding Girl by Madeleine Wickham
The Diva Paints the Town by Krista Davis



Reviews posted this week:
I am way behind in posting my reviews

Author Guest Posts/Interviews:
Book Tour – The Mire: In Search of the Lost by T. L. James (Nurture Books) (April 17)

March is Author Month – Interview A Day
Author Interview - The Magical Adventure of Tara and the Talking Kitten by Diana Cooper (March 29)
Author Interview - Above Honor by Donald Himelstein (March 30)
Author Interview - Judith Finkel (March 31)

June is Author Month – Interview A Day
Author Interview – The Path of Synchronicity by Dr. Allan Hunter (June 1)



Special Blog Hop Giveaways
Fool for Books Hop (April 1-2)
Hoppy Easter Eggstravaganza Blog Hop (April 20 -24)


Books still needing to have reviews written (as opposed to the ones that are simply awaiting posting):
Enchanted Thyme by Ariane Smith with Chef Michael Wilson
This Time Together by Carol Burnett (audio)
Abraham Lincoln by David and Patricia Armentrout
Frog Knows Best by Kelli C Foster
Valentine Mice by Bethany Roberts
Honor Thyself by Danielle Steel (Audio)
Earthquake In The Early Morning by Mary Pope Osborne (Magic Tree House #24)
Twister on Tuesday by Mary Pope Osborne (Magic Tree House #23)
Nights in Rodanthe by Nicholas Sparks (Audio)
Happily Ever After by Nora Roberts (Quartet Brides #4)
Revolutionary War On Wednesday by Mary Pope Osborne (Magic Tree House #22)
Yertle the Turtle by Dr. Seuss (Audio – John Lithgow)
Gertrude McFuzz by Dr. Seuss (Audio – John Lithgow)
The Big Brag by Dr. Seuss (Audio – John Lithgow)
Thidwick, the Big-Hearted Moose by Dr. Seuss (Audio – Mercedes McCambridge)
Horton Hatches the Egg by Dr. Seuss (Audio – Billy Crystal)
The Cat in the Hat Comes Back by Dr. Seuss (Audio – Kelsey Grammer)
The Cat In The Hat by Dr. Seuss (Audio – Kelsey Grammer)
Horton Hears a Who by Dr. Seuss (Audio – Dustin Hoffman)
The Grinch That Stole Christmas by Dr. Seuss (Audio – Walter Matheau)
The Lorax by Dr. Seuss (Audio – Ted Danson)
Civil War on Sunday by Mary Pope Osborne (Magic Tree House #21)
Daisy, Maisey and Lazy by Emma Parker (ebook)
The Not So Scarey Scarecrow by Emma Parker (ebook)
The River Between Us by Richard Peck (Audio)
The Chocolate Snowman Murders by Joanna Carl
The Moovers and the Milkshakers by Emma Parker (ebook)
The Butterfly Race by Emma Parker (ebook)
Teddy Is Real I Think by Emma Parker (ebook)


Giveaways on the blog this week:

Saturday, March 26, 2011

Author Interview - East Wind by Jack Winnick

Describe your book in five words or less. "EAST WIND"
Islamic nuclear attack on US

How did the ideas for your books come to you?
Working as chimeical and nuclear engineer

What is the hardest part of writing for you? What's the easiest?
If you can write, you'll know it, hopefully. In my career writing has been the heart and soul.

What's next for you? Are you currently working on or have plans for future projects?
I am currently working on a sequel, based on worldwide Islamic terror.

Why did you choose to write for specific genre?
It's specific to my expertise, and it is the most important thing happening in the world today, literally.

What's it like hearing that readers are eagerly awaiting your book's release date?
I've had excellent response from the people who have read it, and it gives me the incentive to continue.

What is one question that you've always wanted to be asked in an interview? How would you answer that question?

Do yopu really think a nuclear attack carried out by these people is possible?
Yes. Read the book, and you will see why and how.

What was your road to publications like?
Long and difficult.





Author bio:

Jack has been a practicing engineer and engineering professor for over forty years. He has taught at Georgia Tech, the University of California, Berkeley and UCLA. He has worked on the U.S. nuclear program at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, helped design some of the manned space vehicles at NASA, and patented a number of air pollution devices for the energy industry. He has authored several technical books, including a widely used text on Thermodynamics.

Jack is also a professional actor, having appeared in numerous stage productions in Atlanta and Los Angeles. He played 'Jake' in the Atlanta premier of Neil Simon's 'Jakes Women' and the mean 'Colonel Jessep' in the Atlanta premier of 'A Few Good Men.' He also has appeared in a number of TV sitcoms and commercials.

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Author Interview - CATS by Joan West

Describe your book in five words or less.
For An Agent Speaks: A primer for unpublished authors.
For Call of the Loon: The story of a woman.
CATS: A collection of short stories

How did the ideas for your books come to you?F
or Agent: From my work as a literary agent.
For Loon: So many prominent women leaving high power jobs, returning to their roots
For CATS: My own and my husband's stories about cats led me to advertise around the country for other short stories about cats.

What is the hardest part of writing for you? What's the easiest?
Finding the time and the immediate motivation to sit down and do it is the most difficult.
The easiest is the writing. It flows once I begin.

What's next for you? Are you currently working on or have plans for future projects?
I'm the co-publisher of a small press (Fireside Publications). We are not currently accepting additional manuscripts because we are heavily involved in marketing the twenty-some odd books that we have published over the past couple of years.
I write a weekly column for a daily newspaper in Central Florida and I'm hoping now to have a little time to continue the free lance magazine article writing area of my writing career.

Why did you choose to write for specific genre?
Actually, the above three books are each in different genres. So, I guess the answer to that question is that I write about whatever come into my mind at any given time.

What's it like hearing that readers are eagerly awaiting your book's release date?
Fulfilling and exciting.

What is one question that you've always wanted to be asked in an interview? How would you answer that question?
What is it that motivated you to become first a literary agent and then a publisher?
I came in contact with so many really good writers who were having difficulty finding agents, editors or publishers who would promote them and their writing.

What was your road to publications like?
Fragmented. I began selling nonfiction articles some years ago to various magazines. Then I edited and published a small magazine for women which amazingly gained subscribers all over the world. I was a college professor and wrote academically and after retirement I started on the novel which was the last of the three above to be published.





Bio for Joan West
Currently, I am a writer, editor and small press publisher. Previously, I was a psychologist, college professor, literary agent...in that order, not all at the same time! I'm married to Glen and have a wonder daughter, Barbara, and her son, Andy and his son, Will!
I have two web sites. One, firesidepubs.com is the official web site for the publication company that Lois Bennett and I maintain. All of our twenty-some books are listed on this site. The second site, firesidepublishers.com lists only the books that I've edited and guided to publication. On this site, give away at least one book a month.
I live in Florida and am "retired," except that I'm working harder than I ever did when I "worked."
I'm interested, as you might guess, in writing, reading and publishing and writers, of course. I also love to travel, especially cruising and my favorite city in the world is Paris, especially the Left Bank.
My favorite author is Ernest Hemingway, because of his writing style. For relaxed reading, I devour cozy mysteries.

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

Freebie Friday & Lucky Leprechaun Blog Hop Winners




Congratulations to the following recent winners:

Freebie Friday Giveaways
Harry Potter & The Socerer's Stone by JK Rowling– Melissa Demming (sent 3/22/11)
Embroidered Truths by Monica Ferris – Meredith Miller (sent 3/22/11)
Revenge by Jackie Collins – TIFFANY HARKLEROAD (sent 3/22/11)

Lucky Leprachaun Blog Hop
Irish Rebels by Nora Roberts – Megan Kyser (sent 3/22/11)
Irish Dreams by Nora Roberts – Jessica B. (sent 3/22/11)
Irish Hearts by Nora Roberts – Darcy O (sent 3/22/11)
Bard, The Odyssey of the Irish by Morgan Llywelyn – Linda Todd (sent 3/22/11)

Monday, March 21, 2011

What Are You Reading Monday? #12





Books I completed in the last week are:
*Reading a lot of children’s book – I’m going to make a challenge of the titles found in 1001 Children’s Books to Read before I Grow Up (just need help with a button)
Enchanted Thyme by Ariane Smith with Chef Michael Wilson


Bookmarks are still living in the middle of:
*Reading a lot of children’s book – I’m going to make a challenge of the titles found in 1001 Children’s Books to Read before I Grow Up (just need help with a button)



Up Next:
The Wedding Girl by Madeleine Wickham


Reviews posted this week:


Author Guest Posts/Interviews:
Book Tour – The Mire: In Search of the Lost by T. L. James (Nurture Books) (April 17)

March is Author Month – Interview A Day
Author Interview - The Journey of the Little Red Boat by George Smith (March 22)
Author Interview - Joan West (March 23)
Author Intverview - Eat Smart in France by Ronnie Hess (March 24)
Author Interview - UFO by Kyle Lovern (Woodland Publishing) (March 25)
Author Interview – East Wind by Jack Winnick (March 26)
Author Interview - Accidental Cowgirl by Mary Lynn Archibald (March 27)
Author Interview - Stillwaters by Crystal Rhodes (Crystal Ink Publishing) (March 28)
Author Interview - The Magical Adventure of Tara and the Talking Kitten by Diana Cooper (March 29)
Author Interview - Above Honor by Donald Himelstein (March 30)
Author Interview - Judith Finkel (March 31)



Special Blog Hop Giveaways
Lucky Leprechaun Giveaway Hop (March 17 – 20)
Fool for Books Hop (April 1-2)

Books still needing to have reviews written (as opposed to the ones that are simply awaiting posting):
Enchanted Thyme by Ariane Smith with Chef Michael Wilson
This Time Together by Carol Burnett (audio)
Abraham Lincoln by David and Patricia Armentrout
Frog Knows Best by Kelli C Foster
Valentine Mice by Bethany Roberts
Honor Thyself by Danielle Steel (Audio)
Earthquake In The Early Morning by Mary Pope Osborne (Magic Tree House #24)
Twister on Tuesday by Mary Pope Osborne (Magic Tree House #23)
Nights in Rodanthe by Nicholas Sparks (Audio)
Happily Ever After by Nora Roberts (Quartet Brides #4)
Revolutionary War On Wednesday by Mary Pope Osborne (Magic Tree House #22)
Yertle the Turtle by Dr. Seuss (Audio – John Lithgow)
Gertrude McFuzz by Dr. Seuss (Audio – John Lithgow)
The Big Brag by Dr. Seuss (Audio – John Lithgow)
Thidwick, the Big-Hearted Moose by Dr. Seuss (Audio – Mercedes McCambridge)
Horton Hatches the Egg by Dr. Seuss (Audio – Billy Crystal)
The Cat in the Hat Comes Back by Dr. Seuss (Audio – Kelsey Grammer)
The Cat In The Hat by Dr. Seuss (Audio – Kelsey Grammer)
Horton Hears a Who by Dr. Seuss (Audio – Dustin Hoffman)
The Grinch That Stole Christmas by Dr. Seuss (Audio – Walter Matheau)
The Lorax by Dr. Seuss (Audio – Ted Danson)
Civil War on Sunday by Mary Pope Osborne (Magic Tree House #21)
Daisy, Maisey and Lazy by Emma Parker (ebook)
The Not So Scarey Scarecrow by Emma Parker (ebook)
The River Between Us by Richard Peck (Audio)
The Chocolate Snowman Murders by Joanna Carl
The Moovers and the Milkshakers by Emma Parker (ebook)
The Butterfly Race by Emma Parker (ebook)
Teddy Is Real I Think by Emma Parker (ebook)


Giveaways on the blog this week:

Saturday, March 19, 2011

Author Interview - Turtle Hope by Jennifer Brown




Describe your book in five words or less.
Infertile woman's inspirational memoir

How did the ideas for your books come to you?
Somebody told me to write "what you know." At the time, there was nothing I knew better than infertility. Writing became part of my healing process.

What is the hardest part of writing for you? What's the easiest?
The hardest part of writing is completing my fragmented sentences.
The easiest part is just relaxing and letting the words flow...

What's next for you? Are you currently working on or have plans for future projects?
I recently decided to write a second book. I have written ten pages! It's another healing project. This one will be about dealing with family members that destroy their lives through addictions (drugs, alcohol, food). I know how much it hurts to watch somebody you love kill themselves with cigarettes, sugar, and booze! I would like to explore that while I write, The Friendship Quilt. This book will be fiction. I would like to see where my imagination will take me.

Why did you choose to write for specific genre?
I wasn't writing for the genre. I wrote for myself.

What's it like hearing that readers are eagerly awaiting your book's release date?
I was very excited to finally feel like I completed my project. However, I was very nervous to have people read my very personal thoughts.

What is one question that you've always wanted to be asked in an interview? How would you answer that question?
Why did you leave the reader with this particular ending?
So the reader would know exactly how it feels to deal with infertility.


What was your road to publications like?

Long

It took a short three months (maybe four) to actually write Turtle Hope. Then, I had a friend edit my first draft. Two years flew by, and I was still in the editing process. Seriously, not that much had changed. I started sending out query letters to agents. After two query letters and three more months; I realized it was more important for me to get this book out to the world than to wait for the perfect agent with the perfect publisher. I decided to go with 2 Moon Press which is small publisher near my home. I let go of my author ego and I haven't looked back!

Thursday, March 17, 2011

Lucky Leprechaun Hop (3/17-20)







Irish Rebel (Irish Hearts #3)by Nora Roberts
She was practically royalty—the daughter of a rich, renowned horse-breeding dynasty. He was just a hardworking horse trainer. But Brian Donnelly was in America now, where even he might aspire to possess the breathtaking Keeley Grant. Her wealth and position didn't deter Brian...for it was the innocence Keeley offered him that bguiled the wild Irish rebel and threatened to corral his restless heart!




Irish Dreams by Nora Roberts
Irish Rebel
She was practically royalty -- the daughter of a rich, renowned horse-breeding dynasty. He was just a hardworking horse trainer. But Brian Donnelly was in America now, where even he might aspire to possess the breathtaking Keeley Grant. Her wealth and position didn't deter Brian . . . for it was the innocence Keeley offered him that beguiled the wild Irish rebel and threatened to corral his restless heart.
Sullivan's Woman
Fired from yet another job, captivating model Cassidy St. John hardly expected the solution to her difficulties to come from an absolute stranger. When handsome, charismatic Colin Sullivan offered her a job modeling for one of his paintings, it seemed her troubles were over -- but one look at his blue eyes and Cassidy knew they were only beginning . . .




Irish Hearts by Nora Roberts
Two complete novels.
Adelia Cnnane. Her hot temper sent the heart of Travis Grant aflame. Now the proud, powerful owner of Royal Meadows horse farm resolved to make this wild Irish Thoroughbred his own.
Erin McKinnon. A bold beauty, she accepted Burke Logan's loveless proposal and his cool promise of security and wealth. But could this ravishing Irish Rose win her hard-hearted husband's love?




Bard: The Odyssey of the Irish by Moran Llywelyn

Bard is the sweeping historical tale of the coming of the Irish to Ireland, and of the men and women who made the Emerald Isle their own. Morgan Llywelyn is the internationally bestselling author of The Lion of Ireland and The Elementals.






Wednesday, March 16, 2011

Author Interview - Blessed My Battle With Brain Disease by Mary Stevens



Describe your book in five words or less.
My book is a love story between God and me and My fantastic husband and me.

How did the ideas for your books come to you?
This book is an autobiography and I needed to let the public become aware of pituitary tumors.

What is the hardest part of writing for you? What's the easiest?
The hardest part of writing is releasing my personal feelings. The easiest? Once I began writing, everything just began to flow.

What's next for you? Are you currently working on or have plans for future projects?
I am not inclined to write another book - I just want to get info out about pituitary tumors and the importance of allowing God to be part of your life.

Why did you choose to write for specific genre?
The specific genre of the book was automatic - relating to the horrors I went through with a pituitary tumor.

What's it like hearing that readers are eagerly awaiting your book's release date?
When I first approached publishers and agents, I was surprised when they said: We will publish the book if you take God out of the book. My response: It wouldn't be my life story without God.


What was your road to publications like?
Joan West at Fireside Publications insisted that my writings include my personal feelings - which I am inclined to hide.

In Michigan I did speaking engagements at hospitals, thyroid groups and pituitary groups and I would like to coordinate the marketing of my book with similar groups in Florida to get my message across. The Pituitry Network Association (PNA) states that one out of five people will have a pituitary tumor in their lifetime, and diagnosis is rare.

Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Author Interview - The Dog Walked Down the Street: An Outspoken Guide for Writers Who Want to Publish by Sal Glynn



Describe you book in five words or less

Writing and business of books



How did the idea for your book come to you?

In August 2005, I was a presenter at the Mendocino Coast Writers Conference with Cypress House publisher Cynthia Frank. We were comparing notes on the students over dinner and trying to figure out how come they asked the same questions and had the same problems. An appreciative client had made a 20-page chapbook from my e-mailed harangues for the conference as a bit of postmodern promotion. Cynthia asked if I had thought of turning the chapbook into something more substantial. The conversation ended with a contract and my promise to send in the finished manuscript by November 15 for release the following spring.


What is the hardest part of writing for you? What's the easiest?

The hardest part is finding the time. I write best when the rent is paid and I can turn off the telephone without the worry of missing a client. Even with these elements in place, the first draft is the most daunting, putting things where they belong, and finding the language. The easiest is the successive drafts. This is where the extraneous is thrown out or new material added for clarity. You get to know the book through the drafts, and there are always surprises.


What's next for you? Are you currently working on or have plans for future projects?

As much as I enjoy talking about writing and working as an editor, my main allegiance is to the novel. The lines of strong story dissipate the boundaries of class, gender, politics, and time. Currently I have SLOW DOWN FAST, a novel about capturing lost memory, looking for agent representation. Others are in the note-taking stage.


Why did you choose to write for specific genre?

Book publishing is a strange and scary business from the outside, and from the inside too. In order for the book to remain vibrant, writers must be encouraged and anyone in the trade should do their bit. THE DOG WALKED is my bit.

What's it like hearing that readers are eagerly waiting your book's release date?

Glorious. You write alone in a room, maybe send out portions to friends and colleagues, but the real test is from someone you’ve never met who intends on paying retail for the book.


What is one question that you've always wanted to be asked in an interview? How would you answer that question?

This does not come up and it should: What is your favorite book, fiction or nonfiction or anywhere between? Depending on the day, the answer could be silly (PINHEAD’S PROGRESS by Bill Griffith) or serious like William Faulkner’s reply to his three favorite books: ANNA KARENINA, ANNA KARENINA, ANNA KARENINA. I’ll go for the honest and say THE POEMS OF CATULLUS, translated by Charles Martin and published by Abattoir Editions. Set in Joanna and Romulus and printed from the lead type on Rives paper, I keep returning to this book as the perfect marriage between text and production.


What was your road to publications like?

Once a manuscript is sent to the publisher, the best a writer can do is forget. You’ve done your job. The pages take their place in line behind the daily emergencies of squabbles with printers, writers not as cool as you, and office flu epidemics.

When the edited text appeared, my blood pressure went up and stayed there. Where did those contractions come from? What about the dippy formatting, quotes shoved into italic, sentences combined and truncated? The editor was wrong, I was an idiot, the world was a horrible place, and I had no right to a pen, never mind a word processor. How much of a disaster had I gotten myself into?

The in-house editor had actually used a very light hand. I corrected my mistakes, especially the convoluted sentences knocking around the furniture like a child’s balloon freed from its knot. As I fretted with the text, the publisher addressed the cover design. One rule I follow is never get involved in arguments over the cover.

Cynthia Frank called two months later, in March. THE DOG had developed a limp while still in the kennel. Her designer had cataracts and was scheduled for surgery. Other books were already late going to press. He had one eye done, recuperated, and then had the other worked on. By the end of April his vision was better than before.

When the galleys arrived in a fresh white box, I praised the designer’s surgically cleared eyes. THE DOG was set in Bembo, a classic typeface from Monotype. A line of Bembo has a friendly rhythm without being obtrusive, and having THE DOG in this typeface was double cool. I burned a pot of coffee and marked the pages. Design questions were asked and changes suggested along with only a few unreasonable demands.

When the final galleys came, so much time elapsed since the last set, I had forgotten I was the writer and could enjoy the process. Missing antecedents were inserted, italics added to make a passage clearer, and Cynthia’s polite queries answered with a minimum of beard pulling. What I liked about the original idea of the book was on the pages, a hybrid of commonplace book and book-midwife-in-a-box. The typography invited the reader to take only what they needed and leave the rest.


Describe your book in five words or less.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Sal Glynn was born in Seattle and educated in Canada. He lived in Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver for a bunch of years, and has worked as a cook in a childcare center, bookstore clerk, warehouseman, offset printer, janitor, and brokerage messenger.

He moved to Covelo, California in the late 1980s, where he began in publishing with Carolyn and James Robertson at the Yolla Bolly Press, a fine press and book packager. He set lead type by hand and did production work on trade books while learning the craft of editing. After a year in outer bucolia, he moved to the San Francisco Bay Area and became managing editor for Ten Speed Press in Berkeley, where he edited Buck Peterson’s Complete Guide to Deer Hunting (200,000 copies sold) and How to Shit in the Woods (1.5 million copies sold).

Sal currently lives in San Francisco, where has edited and otherwise produced more than 300 books of fiction, humor, self-help, cookery, management, and social issues for publishers on both coasts. He has taught classes on publishing for Media Alliance and the Learning Annex, lectured at the Bay Area Editor’s Forum, and volunteered with the creative writing workshop at Francisco Middle School. Sal has also been on faculty at the Big Sur Fiction Writer’s Workshop and the Mendocino Coast Writer’s Conference, and is a former contributor to FOCUS: Fine Art Photography Magazine. His book, The Dog Walked Down the Street: An Outspoken Guide for Writers Who Want to Publish, won the 2007 IPPY award for excellence in publishing, the gold medal for writing/publishing.

Monday, March 14, 2011

What Are You Reading Monday? #11





Books I completed in the last week are:
*Reading a lot of children’s book – I’m going to make a challenge of the titles found in 1001 Children’s Books to Read before I Grow Up (just need help with a button)
Enchanted Thyme by Ariane Smith with Chef Michael Wilson


Bookmarks are still living in the middle of:
*Reading a lot of children’s book – I’m going to make a challenge of the titles found in 1001 Children’s Books to Read before I Grow Up (just need help with a button)



Up Next:
The Wedding Girl by Madeleine Wickham


Reviews posted this week:


Author Guest Posts/Interviews:
Book Tour – The Mire: In Search of the Lost by T. L. James (Nurture Books) (April 17)

March is Author Month – Interview A Day
Author Interview – A Life of Integrity by Trish Knight (March 14)
Author Interview - The Dog Walked Down the Street: An Outspoken Guide for Writers Who Want to Publish by Sal Glynn (March 15)
Author Interview - Mary Stevens (March 16)
Author Interview – (March 17)
Author Interview - Choose to Be Happy: A Guide to Total Happiness by Rima Rudner (March 18)
Author Interview - Turtle Hope by Jennifer Brown (March 19 )
Author Interview – (March 20)
Author Interview – (March 21)
Author Interview - The Journey of the Little Red Boat by George Smith (March 22)
Author Interview - Joan West (March 23)
Author Intverview - Eat Smart in France by Ronnie Hess (March 24)
Author Interview - UFO by Kyle Lovern (Woodland Publishing) (March 25)
Author Interview – East Wind by Jack Winnick (March 26)
Author Interview - Accidental Cowgirl by Mary Lynn Archibald (March 27)
Author Interview - Stillwaters by Crystal Rhodes (Crystal Ink Publishing) (March 28)
Author Interview - The Magical Adventure of Tara and the Talking Kitten by Diana Cooper (March 29)
Author Interview - Above Honor by Donald Himelstein (March 30)
Author Interview - Judith Finkel (March 31)


Special Blog Hop Giveaways
Lucky Leprechaun Giveaway Hop (March 17 – 20)
Fool for Books Hop (April 1-2)

Books still needing to have reviews written (as opposed to the ones that are simply awaiting posting):
Enchanted Thyme by Ariane Smith with Chef Michael Wilson
This Time Together by Carol Burnett (audio)
Abraham Lincoln by David and Patricia Armentrout
Frog Knows Best by Kelli C Foster
Valentine Mice by Bethany Roberts
Honor Thyself by Danielle Steel (Audio)
Earthquake In The Early Morning by Mary Pope Osborne (Magic Tree House #24)
Twister on Tuesday by Mary Pope Osborne (Magic Tree House #23)
Nights in Rodanthe by Nicholas Sparks (Audio)
Happily Ever After by Nora Roberts (Quartet Brides #4)
Revolutionary War On Wednesday by Mary Pope Osborne (Magic Tree House #22)
Yertle the Turtle by Dr. Seuss (Audio – John Lithgow)
Gertrude McFuzz by Dr. Seuss (Audio – John Lithgow)
The Big Brag by Dr. Seuss (Audio – John Lithgow)
Thidwick, the Big-Hearted Moose by Dr. Seuss (Audio – Mercedes McCambridge)
Horton Hatches the Egg by Dr. Seuss (Audio – Billy Crystal)
The Cat in the Hat Comes Back by Dr. Seuss (Audio – Kelsey Grammer)
The Cat In The Hat by Dr. Seuss (Audio – Kelsey Grammer)
Horton Hears a Who by Dr. Seuss (Audio – Dustin Hoffman)
The Grinch That Stole Christmas by Dr. Seuss (Audio – Walter Matheau)
The Lorax by Dr. Seuss (Audio – Ted Danson)
Civil War on Sunday by Mary Pope Osborne (Magic Tree House #21)
Daisy, Maisey and Lazy by Emma Parker (ebook)
The Not So Scarey Scarecrow by Emma Parker (ebook)
The River Between Us by Richard Peck (Audio)
The Chocolate Snowman Murders by Joanna Carl
The Moovers and the Milkshakers by Emma Parker (ebook)
The Butterfly Race by Emma Parker (ebook)
Teddy Is Real I Think by Emma Parker (ebook)


Giveaways on the blog this week:

The Debutante Divorcee by Plum Sykes (ends 2/25)
Embroidered Truths by Monica Ferris (ends 3/11)
Revenge by Jackie Collins (ends 3/18)

Author Interview - A Life of Integrity by Trish Knight



Describe your book in five words or less.
Daily living through integrity.

How did the ideas for your books come to you?
As a consultant and college instructor, I have had the opportunity to observe people and hear their stories through the years. Many issues centered on a perception of doing what is right in both the workplace and personal relationships. Through the years I saw a shift in the way people perceived what once were considered gray areas. Instead of saying, “This is right, that is wrong,” the statements became, “If it gets me the sale,” or “If it doesn’t really hurt someone...”

What is the hardest part of writing for you? What's the easiest?
I need to have a cause, a purpose to write. The hardest part of writing for me is the research. It is important to me that the information I share comes from reliable and trusted sources. Once the information is gathered, I find the writing easy. That doesn’t mean that it always comes out on paper as I’d like...I had a book nearly done and didn’t like the way it flowed, so I started again.

What's next for you? Are you currently working on or have plans for future
projects?

I am working on a companion book to “A Life of Integrity” that will focus on how and why we perceive information and make the choices that impact our lives and others.

Why did you choose to write for specific genre?
I’m an educator at heart. I want to provide information to help others improve their lives. I suppose it’s a nurturing thing, as well. I want others to avoid making some of the mistakes I’ve made in life.

What's it like hearing that readers are eagerly awaiting your book's release date?
It is humbling to know that all the preparation, research and insight that I’ve put into words are welcome and anticipated.

What is one question that you've always wanted to be asked in an interview? Howwould you answer that question?
“Who inspired you to become a writer?” I believe that there have been many to fit the “who” question. My father inspired me to share my opinion on important issues. As a youngster, I watched him write letters to legislators and business people and share his thoughts. Many of my teachers encouraged reading and writing throughout my elementary and secondary education. As an adult, I loved the challenge of writing in business. I’ve had many mentors in the business world that helped me define my writing style.

What was your road to publications like?
Initially, I made a poor choice and had an expensive and disappointing lesson with a print-on-demand company. I was handed off from one department representative to another through the process. At each step I would ask how we would determine the number of books to print, but received a “don’t worry about that” response. I became wary of the vagueness and began to demand specific answers. I finally pulled out of the process and terminated the work with them.

When I met and talked to 2Moon Press, I knew I had found the right fit for me. I had access to one person who could walk me through the entire process and answer my questions. They have done more than I expected and continue to work on the promotion and distribution of my book.

Sunday, March 13, 2011

Author Interview - Alaska Hoops: Tips and Tales from the Girls' Locker Room by Becky Crabtree

Describe your book in five words or less.
Guide to coaching girls

How did the ideas for your books come to you?
Life - the book is factual.

What is the hardest part of writing for you? What's the easiest?
The hardest is the discipline required to write regularly. The easiest for me is reliving the incidents I write about.

What's next for you? Are you currently working on or have plans for future projects?
I have been collecting my thoughts into essays about the trials and tribulations of the village school principal.

Why did you choose to write for specific genre?
Exposure to coaches and athletes interested in girls sports as led me to think I understand their perspective and can write for them.

What's it like hearing that readers are eagerly awaiting your book's release date?
Ha, I don't know. I had several friends and family members who were anxious, but only a few.

What is one question that you've always wanted to be asked in an interview? How would you answer that question?
I would like to be asked what I left out of the book. I left out several essays regarding social issues within a team, bullying and sexual preference differences, for instance.

What was your road to publications like?
I wrote a letter of inquiry on New Year's Eve and a kind publisher responded with some advice, which I followed. After a year, I wrote back and she decided to take on my book!

Becky's Bio:
Becky Crabtree - Basketball CoachB
ecky Crabtree was born in rural West Virginia and grew up during the 1960s, a time when girls were not always treated fairly anywhere, but to her, especially on the basketball court. In 1970, two years before Title IX gender equity legislation was enacted, Becky Hatcher Crabtree graduated from high school. The inequity of sport for girls, particularly on the basketball court, influenced the rest of her life and the opportunities she fights to offer her students.

An educator for the past 34 years, in West Virginia, Guam, and for the past sixteen school terms, on the North Slope of Alaska, Crabtree has coached for most of the last three decades. The game of basketball is as beloved to her as it is to the residents of the villages of Alaska.

She believes that the women of Alaska need their stories told and that basketball rocks. She has contributed articles to The Pacific Daily Mail and Alaska Newpapers.
Currently a coach, teacher, and principal, Becky lives in Atqasuk, Alaska. She and husband Roger have three daughters and three gradnchildren.

Saturday, March 12, 2011

Author Interview - Littluns: And the Book of Darkness by Mark Glamack




Q.) Describe your book in five words or less.
A.) A journey beyond your imagination.

Q.) How did the ideas for your books come to you?
A.) The ideas and creativity just come to me. With "Littluns" I was inspired from God to fill a void, with "Littluns" created for a world in need. As only one example: for some time now, many parents, and others, have voiced their concerns about popular books that send the wrong messages to impressionable minds. Most of these people talk about their concerns, but few new options exist that have any appeal to both Christian and secular; young adult and grownup readers. Recent books that have widespread interest have become more a peer issue than anything of substantive value. Some of these works have significant dangers where, as one example, some people would have everyone believe that there is good and bad evil, which for any aware thinking person is not possible. Hopefully most parents can explain the difference, and hopefully young and old alike will discover the alternative, “Littluns.” The ideas come with purpose.

Q.) What is the hardest part of writing for you? What's the easiest?
A.) There's nothing about the writing process that comes easy to me. "Littluns" took me twelve to fourteen hour days seven days a week for over three years to complete. That includes the sixty-three color illustrations throughout the four-hundred and eleven pages of this epic adventure. For me to do this I had to have complete focus and dedication.

Q.) What's next for you? Are you currently working on or have plans for future projects?
A.) There may be a sequel or two of "Littluns." There are also talks of a motion picture, but that would take
at least five to six years or more to happen. To write "Littluns" I had to shelve my other six projects, so
it all really comes down to what readers want that will determine what I do next.

Q.) Why did you choose to write for specific genre?
A.) Animation is fantasy that can take an audience into reality and truth like no other art form; the ultimate metaphor. I created an animation-like novel in "Littluns" that does just that and more between-the-lines for "Young Adult and Grown-up readers looking to discover a very different reading experience.

Q.) What's it like hearing that readers are eagerly awaiting your book's release date?
A.) It will be wonderful when "Littluns" becomes a household name with the first book "Littluns: And the Book of Darkness." When that happens and readers eagerly await a sequel to "Littluns," I will have to go back into isolation and give it to them, and I will be glad to do so.

Q.) What is one question that you've always wanted to be asked in an interview? How would you answer that question?
Q.) What makes "Littluns: And the Book of Darkness" a very different experience like no other book out there?

A.) Read all five pages from the TABS at the top of our Blog at Littleuns Blog

1. "Littluns" has become very personal experience for each reader.

2. "Littluns" is written for everyone blurring the line-in-the-sand between Christian and secular readers looking for the truth of it all.

3. "Littluns" is an animation-like novel in fantasy that takes readers into reality and truth.

4. "Littluns" is a one-of-a-kind book, that in many ways is like watching a movie, but is really a novel that can only be read.

5. "Littluns" has quality second to none at a price that no traditional publisher could or would offer. Quality is expensive.

6. "Littluns" is entertainment at its best in; a nonstop journey and adventure of a lifetime.

Q.) What was your road to publications like?
A.) I was forced to self-publish when traditional publishers would not print “Littluns” in color; would NOT print in the USA, and insisted on doing (antiquated) business as usual. Because of their overhead and business model, they would have needed to charge much more for such a book. I created a novel that is affordable and a truly very different reading experience that readers have never experienced before, with quality second to none. Now it’s up to readers to decide for themselves if “Littluns” adds value in their lives.



Imagine an independent publisher offering its readers more than any traditional publisher could or would. We did and published with content and quality second to none. See for yourself at http://www.littlunsblog.com click on the TAB at the top of the page “Breaking All The Rules.” The result is “Littluns,” a family friendly animation-like novel for grown-ups of all ages.





Author Bio:

Mark Glamack is an animator, businessman, director, producer, writer, and patented inventor. He has worked in every area of the animation industry. Over the last twelve years he has created, written, and developed two motion picture projects and a television series. Also, he invented (Scoreguide) which doubles as a marketing tool that brings commerce to the golfer and the golfer to commerce. It also provides low cost advertising for the Dot-Com market. Currently Mark is the creator, author, and Illustrator of the novel “Littluns, AND THE BOOK OF DARKNESS” the “Mom’s Choice Awards” Gold, winner for 2009, and the “Dove Award” winner for 2010. http://www.littlunsblog.com http://www.littluns.net

From 2000 to 2003, Glamack dedicated full time developing a new means for reversing runaway productions. This new process and invention blends a far-reaching business model with the technology that supports it. When implemented, it will reduce production costs from between one-quarter to one-half or less the costs anywhere in the world. Instead of a company sub-contracting their work overseas, they will be able to contract to a U.S. studio across town. Also, in the not too distant future Internet companies will need low cost, high quality content if they ever hope to compete in a global marketplace.

From his early beginnings at Walt Disney Productions, Glamack experienced a level of quality unprecedented in the industry and the attention to details needed to achieve it. He also worked on the animated classic “The Jungle Book" and animated many of the special effects for the combination live-action/animation “Bed-Knobs and Broomsticks.” He also worked on the EPCOT promotional film, animation inserts for “The Wonderful World of Disney,” and “The Story of Walt Disney,” a Disneyland attraction.

Drafted out of Disney to serve in the Viet Nam War, Glamack spent a year as a medic with the First Air Cavalry Division based thirty miles from the DMZ. Glamack also photographed and directed an ambitious documentary entitled “Is Freedom Just a Word?” He was awarded the Bronze Star.

Back home in the United States, Glamack continued his career working on countless projects for Hanna-Barbera, Filmation Associates, Film Roman, HBO, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, and others. Some of the titles he has animated, directed or produced are: “All Dogs Go To Heaven”, “Life with Louie”, ”He-Man and Shera-Princess of Power”, “Oliver Twist” “Bobby’s World”, “Zazoo – U”, “Spawn”, “Yogi Bear”, “Scooby-Do”, “Tom & Jerry”, “Dyno-Mutt”, “Future Flipper”, “G.I. Joe”, “A Flintstone Christmas”, “Last of the Curlews”, the animated inserts for “That’s Entertainment II”, and many more. Also, the direct to video projects; “Gen 13”, “Christmas Classics”, “Tom Sawyer”, “All Dogs Christmas”, and “All Dogs Go To Heaven”, In 1999 he was nominated for an Emmy in the Outstanding Special Class–Animated Program for “Life with Louie”.

In 2002, Glamack completed his sixth term as Governor for The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.

During those years he created the Over One Hour Program Category for animation and the first annual individual achievement awards’ categories (Emmy’s) for Animators / Background Artists / Background Stylists / Layout Artists / Production Designers / Storyboard Artists / and Voice Over talents. In 1996, he successfully brought the daytime Emmy awards structure for animation consistent with primetime.

Appointed by the President as Vice-Chair for the ATAS Activities Committee 1991 – 1992, and later served on the Budget, Awards, and Membership Committees.

Born and raised in Rochester, New York, Glamack attended Art Center College of Design, UCLA, PCC, Sherwood Oaks Experimental College and various animation courses.

Mark Glamack’s philosophy includes the belief that future business successes in the entertainment industries will depend largely upon our abilities to compete on a global level through competitive production costs. “Also, we need to positively motivate, educate, enlighten, and inspire through entertaining content with more positive celebration to the human spirit.”

Friday, March 11, 2011

Freebie Friday - Revenge (L.A. Connections) by Jackie Collins (ends 3/18)



GoodReads Review:
The exciting conclusion in the dazzling "L.A. Connections" miniseries from Jackie Collins. A shocking plan for revenge is revealed when the killer who has been stalking Hollywood's most decadent players is unmasked.


Author Interview - Bring Yourself to Love: How Couples Can Turn Disconnection into Intimacy by Mona Barbera



Describe your book in five words or less.
What you can do to turn disconnection into intimacy in your committed relationship

How did the ideas for your books come to you?
From my work as a couples therapist, couples workshop leader, and internal family systems trainer

What is the hardest part of writing for you? What's the easiest?
Hardest : Organizing the content and getting into the deep place from which vital stories flow Easiest : once I'm in that flow place

What's next for you? Are you currently working on or have plans for future projects?
Working on second edition of the book, another book for couples therapists, and more couples workshops


Why did you choose to write for specific genre?
Wanted to reach the public and help with relationships


What's it like hearing that readers are eagerly awaiting your book's release date?
Great - so great to get stories of how people have applied the ideas - especially giving better back

What is one question that you've always wanted to be asked in an interview? How would you answer that question?
What's fun about doing couples therapy?

Couples therapy is fun because you get to see love arise in unexpected ways. When you help people who love each other get unstuck, they naturally go back to loving each other. It comes out in the most surprising ways!

What was your road to publications like?
I decided after one rejection that i wasn't interested in spending time sending out more letters to publishers, and I wanted my book out in 8 months rather than the 4 years it takes a major publisher. I didn't want to self publish because it didn't seem like it would honor the book. So I started my own publishing company. The learning curve was as steep as mt everest. I'm currently publishing the second edition of my book and a book by someone else. Our niche is non-fiction for authors who have a platform.




Bio:
Mona Barbera is a psychologist who has been practicing psychotherapy and couplestherapy since 1976. She is an Assistant Trainer for Internal Family Systems, a certified advanced Imago Relationship Therapist, and past board member and committee chairperson of the New England Association for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation.
She lives in Boston with her husband.

Tuesday, March 8, 2011

Author Interview - FACES IN THE MIRROR: OSCAR MICHEAUX AND SPIKE LEE by John Howard


Describe your book in five words or less.
It tells the story of African-American cinema.

How did the ideas for your books come to you?
I have had a long-standing interest in film in general and African-American cinema in particular. I won a National Humanities for the Arts grant a decade ago for a program dealing, in part, with African-American film, and have from time to time been allowed by the film program at my college to offer film courses even though my appointment is in a different department. Oscar Micheaux, working in the 1920's and 30's was the first black to make a career as a director. Spike Lee was the first black to achieve sustained success in Hollywood as a director. I felt that the story of black cinema could be told in an interesting way through the lives of these two men.

What is the hardest part of writing for you? What's the easiest?
Writing the book was easy. The hardest part of the process involved getting permission to use movie stills, posters and similar material.

What's next for you? Are you currently working on or have plans for future projects?
I am returning to a manuscript finished before FACES was written. It is called POOR JOSHUA: THE DESHANEY CASE AND CHILD ABUSE IN AMERICA. It is the story of a celebrated case that went to the Supreme Court, and that established the present(unfortunate) framework within which the law deals with child abuse.

Why did you choose to write for specific genre?
I have a long career as a writer. My early work was in sociology, my later work is in the area of law. I wrote a book on film because film has been a life-long interest and because I believed it would be fun to do so.

What's it like hearing that readers are eagerly awaiting your book's release date?
I have done a number of book reading/signings, including two at film festivals. These are always enjoyable events.

What is one question that you've always wanted to be asked in an interview? How would you answer that question?
What is my favorite film among all those discussed in the book? Probably, No Way Out. Not only did it break ground at the time of its release in 1950, but is also from a cinematographic perspective, an excellent piece of work.

What was your road to publications like?
I had some earlier dealings with Fireside and, therefore, sent them the FACES manuscript. They were picked it up to my great delight, and we are moving on from there.


Faces In The Mirror




Author Bio
John Howard is retired from the State University of New York as a Distinguished Service Professor. His last book was The Shifting Wind: The Supreme Court from Reconstruction to Brown. He has also been the recipient of a National Endowment for the Humanities Focus Grant for a program on African American Art and Culture.

His interest in what goes on behind the camera as well as what is on the screen in mainstream movie making began when, as a boy accompanying his mother, Louise, who worked as a cleaning lady at the Metropolitan Theater in Boston, he came across trade journals and in-house publications that highlighted the practical, business side of the film endeavor. This informed his later understanding of the struggles of black directors to meet the brutally difficult demands of commercial movie making while attempting to hold true to distinctive artistic visions.

Howard resides in Mount Vernon, New York and enjoys baseball, movies, travel and most of all good times with friends. John Howard invites your comments about FACES.

Monday, March 7, 2011

Author Interview - Chessie Bligh and the Scroll of Andelthor by Thora Gabriel




Describe your book in five words or less.
Girl Elf unearths troubled past

How did the ideas for your books come to you?
Growing up on a farm, and having an overzealous imagination, Chessie was my fantastic imaginary Elf best friend. I’d always dreamt of having magical powers,traveling to distant lands, discovering new cultures.

What is the hardest part of writing for you? What's the easiest?
The hardest part is promotion, the easiest, the writing.

What's next for you? Are you currently working on or have plans for future
projects?

I’m busy working on Book II. Here are some emails from “happy readers” of book I. (The author wishes to withhold names, recommendations came as emailswithin the past six months)

I'm a 6th grader at Hansen elementary. I love the book! It has great fantasy and also great adventures. I am really hoping you can get the second book out.

I attend South Jr. High School, and my teacher is Ms.____. My favorite characteris Penelope. Penelope is my favorite character because she risked not only herwill and life but, she also saved Marge. Penelope is nice enough to save Marge and she even made the conflict safer by just telling the intruder that the scroll was not with them and that could have saved them. Thanks to Penelope, the intruder went away maybe tricked. The intruder might have believed her while she might have lied to him to save their lives. Penelope is smart and nice to save lives and to trick (maybe) intruders. The character Penelope is my favorite in the story so far.

Sincerely,

P.S. I barely began to read this book. I'm not into reading but, so far I'm
interested. It might take me a long time to read the entire book :)



I have just finished reading “Chessie Bligh and the Scroll of Andelthor” and have some comments.

First off, the story line is great. I really enjoyed the author’s take on an alternate reality. I felt that there were some inconsistencies in the details of the story and how it unfolded, and a little unevenness in the details offered. I would like to see the other characters more fully developed, too. But maybe Book II would fill in those gaps. I would be interested in seeing the series continue and really enjoyed my stay at Sterntaler.

Centralia School District
Sr. Account Technician

As you can see, Chessie has a wide audience.

Why did you choose to write for specific genre?
My genre is fantasy, juvenile. But again, as you can see from the recent
recommendations, Chessie Bligh is broadly accepted by young and old alike.

What's it like hearing that readers are eagerly awaiting your book's release
date?

Having readers eagerly awaiting the next book in a series brings tears to my
eyes. Especially when some readers have admitted they don’t like to read. This
revelation is an author’s best hope. When a book causes a child to want to read,no author could ask for a better gift in their lives.

What is one question that you've always wanted to be asked in an
interview? How would you answer that question?

Where is Chessie going from here?

She and her Elf friends are traveling to another dimension, another fantasy land
called Antelantiesse.

What was your road to publications like?
My publisher is iUniverse, and I have to say, the editorial staff (they contract from major publishers) were extremely helpful and delightful. Their distribution process was a key element making my book more readily accessible and marketable.



Author Bio



The youngest of three, Thora Gabriel is from a small town in Illinois—a rural part of America that is rapidly fading from the scene. Her father worked on the farm while her mother raised the kids and worked at the nearby hospital.
Thora moved to Southern California in1987 and received an associate degree in Business Administration from Fullerton College. She continued studying, taking numerous writing classes at Cal State Fullerton and University of California, Irvine.
A professional writer for 10 years, Thora has three novels to her credit prior to Chessie Bligh including Aiken Payne and the Adventures of Lily Jack, Aiken Payne and the Oxborrow Mansion Mystery, and The Empty Grave. Thora is currently working on the second book in the Chessie Bligh series.

After moving to California she discovered hiking and exploring old railroads. Thora adores the great outdoors and loves to explore the many secret canyons found in Utah and Northern Arizona. A mother of two and a grandmother, Thora lives with her husband in Orange County, California.


Chessie Bligh

What Are You Reading Monday? #10





Books I completed in the last week are:
*Reading a lot of children’s book – I’m going to make a challenge of the titles found in 1001 Children’s Books to Read before I Grow Up (just need help with a button)
This Time Together by Carol Burnett (audio)
Abraham Lincoln by David and Patricia Armentrout
Frog Knows Best by Kelli C Foster
Valentine Mice by Bethany Roberts


Bookmarks are still living in the middle of:
*Reading a lot of children’s book – I’m going to make a challenge of the titles found in 1001 Children’s Books to Read before I Grow Up (just need help with a button)

Enchanted Thyme by Ariane Smith with Chef Michael Wilson


Up Next:
The Wedding Girl by Madeleine Wickham
One Zillion Valentines by
George Bush by


Reviews posted this week:


Author Guest Posts/Interviews:
Book Tour – Letters From Home by Kristina McMorris (February 21)

March is Author Month – Interview A Day
Author Interview - Chessie Bligh by Thora Gabriel (Chessie Bligh-Publisher) (March 7)
Author Interview - FACES IN THE MIRROR: OSCAR MICHEAUX AND SPIKE LEE by John Howard (March 8)
Author Interview - Essays on Living with Alzheimer's Disease: The First Twelve Months by Lois Wilmoth-Bennett, Ph.D. (March 9)
Author Interview – (March 10)
Author Interview - Bring Yourself to Love: How Couples Can Turn Disconnection into Intimacy by Mona Barbera (March 11)
Author Interview - Littluns: And the Book of Darkness by Mark Glamack (March 12)
Author Interview - Alaska Hoops: Tips and Tales from the Girls' Locker Room by Becky Crabtree (March 13)
Author Interview – A Life of Integrity by Trish Knight (March 14)
Author Interview - The Dog Walked Down the Street: An Outspoken Guide for Writers Who Want to Publish by Sal Glynn (March 15)
Author Interview - Mary Stevens (March 16)
Author Interview – (March 17)
Author Interview - Choose to Be Happy: A Guide to Total Happiness by Rima Rudner (March 18)
Author Interview - Turtle Hope by Jennifer Brown (March 19 )
Author Interview – (March 20)
Author Interview – (March 21)
Author Interview - The Journey of the Little Red Boat by George Smith (March 22)
Author Interview - Joan West (March 23)
Author Intverview - Eat Smart in France by Ronnie Hess (March 24)
Author Interview - UFO by Kyle Lovern (Woodland Publishing) (March 25)
Author Interview – East Wind by Jack Winnick (March 26)
Author Interview - Accidental Cowgirl by Mary Lynn Archibald (March 27)
Author Interview - Stillwaters by Crystal Rhodes (Crystal Ink Publishing) (March 28)
Author Interview - The Magical Adventure of Tara and the Talking Kitten by Diana Cooper (March 29)
Author Interview - Above Honor by Donald Himelstein (March 30)
Author Interview - Judith Finkel (March 31)


Special Blog Hop Giveaways
Lucky Leprechaun Giveaway Hop (March 17 – 20)
Fool for Books Hop (April 1-2)

Books still needing to have reviews written (as opposed to the ones that are simply awaiting posting):
This Time Together by Carol Burnett (audio)
Abraham Lincoln by David and Patricia Armentrout
Frog Knows Best by Kelli C Foster
Valentine Mice by Bethany Roberts

Honor Thyself by Danielle Steel (Audio)
Earthquake In The Early Morning by Mary Pope Osborne (Magic Tree House #24)
Twister on Tuesday by Mary Pope Osborne (Magic Tree House #23)
Nights in Rodanthe by Nicholas Sparks (Audio)
Happily Ever After by Nora Roberts (Quartet Brides #4)
Revolutionary War On Wednesday by Mary Pope Osborne (Magic Tree House #22)
Yertle the Turtle by Dr. Seuss (Audio – John Lithgow)
Gertrude McFuzz by Dr. Seuss (Audio – John Lithgow)
The Big Brag by Dr. Seuss (Audio – John Lithgow)
Thidwick, the Big-Hearted Moose by Dr. Seuss (Audio – Mercedes McCambridge)
Horton Hatches the Egg by Dr. Seuss (Audio – Billy Crystal)
The Cat in the Hat Comes Back by Dr. Seuss (Audio – Kelsey Grammer)
The Cat In The Hat by Dr. Seuss (Audio – Kelsey Grammer)
Horton Hears a Who by Dr. Seuss (Audio – Dustin Hoffman)
The Grinch That Stole Christmas by Dr. Seuss (Audio – Walter Matheau)
The Lorax by Dr. Seuss (Audio – Ted Danson)
Civil War on Sunday by Mary Pope Osborne (Magic Tree House #21)
Daisy, Maisey and Lazy by Emma Parker (ebook)
The Not So Scarey Scarecrow by Emma Parker (ebook)
The River Between Us by Richard Peck (Audio)
The Chocolate Snowman Murders by Joanna Carl
The Moovers and the Milkshakers by Emma Parker (ebook)
The Butterfly Race by Emma Parker (ebook)
Teddy Is Real I Think by Emma Parker (ebook)


Giveaways on the blog this week:

The Debutante Divorcee by Plum Sykes (ends 2/25)

Sunday, March 6, 2011

Author Inteview - Barbarians in the Kitchen by Ginny Connors

Ginny Lowe Connors

poetry collection: Barbarians in the Kitchen, Antrim House Books, 2005

chapbook of poems: Under the Porch, Hill-Stead Museum, 2010 (Winner of the Sunken Garden Poetry Prize)

poetry anthologies edited by Connors: Essential Love (2000), To Love One Another (2001), Proposing on the Brooklyn Bridge (2003), all published by Grayson Books

Describe your book in five words or less. (book: Barbarians in the Kitchen)
tension between civility and wildness

How did the ideas for your books come to you?
The poems in Barbarians in the Kitchen came one at a time, for various reasons, some of which remain mysterious to me. When I noticed that a number of my poems express something of the tension between instincts toward the wild and the necessity for civility, I was able to put the collection together.

The chapbook Under the Porch is a small collection of some poems written fairly recently. I’ve always loved the Sunken Garden poetry venue at the Hill-Stead Museum in Farmington, Connecticut; they put on a fantastic series of poetry readings (with music) every summer. So I put the chapbook together mainly in order to enter their contest, and was incredibly lucky to have it selected as the winning chapbook.

The first anthology I edited, Essential Love, was developed because I was unable to find any good, comprehensive anthologies covering the parent/child bond, its evolution over the lifespans of the individual parents and children, and the difficulties as well as the joys of that connection. Many of the poems I was writing at the time were inspired by family relationships. I saw the need—and filled it. The other two anthologies I’ve edited are about marriage. Initially I planned only one book, but it developed into two: the smaller To Love One Another contains poems that celebrate marriage; the more comprehensive, Proposing on the Brooklyn Bridge, includes poems on all aspects of love and marriage, including some about the difficulties of marriage. Each anthology features contemporary American poets, some of whom are widely published and nationally recognized, and others who have a smaller number of readers, but are very talented writers.

What is the hardest part of writing for you? What's the easiest?
I often begin with a vague idea or an image or a line and during the writing process I have to discover what it is I truly want to say. This may involve a good deal of wandering around in the writing, and I run into dead ends or come up with something that doesn’t satisfy or meet my own standards of excellence. That feels frustrating. Being willing to wade into the wilderness of the subconscious and find the right path toward a decent poem can be difficult for me. The process is an active and deliberate sort of passivity, if that makes any sense: opening myself to the spirit that is waiting to be known, and allowing it to flow through me. I listen for it and try to translate what I hear. The effort to translate the untranslatable is what makes me write. Once I get into a certain zone, where intuition takes over, the writing starts to flow with more ease. But then, there will be revision to do, and that mostly needs to be done outside of the zone. It can be hard to stay true to the mystery that makes the poem tick, while also making it into a well-crafted art form that can communicate to others. Still, when I’ve “finished” (no poem is ever completely finished, at least for me…) a poem that I’m satisfied with, I feel completely alive and joyful

What's next for you? Are you currently working on or have plans for future projects?
I have a new collection of poems that I am fine-tuning. I also have a good idea for another anthology, but haven’t begun working on it yet.

Why did you choose to write for specific genre?
I love to read poetry, and the writing I do tends toward that form. In fiction writing, for instance, I can never think of good plots. I can and sometimes do write essays, but they don’t satisfy me the way a good poem does. Poetry is the most distilled form of writing. It gets to the heart of things. I also like the sideways approach to truth that poetry often takes. A good poem is so much more than the sum of its parts. I like the sounds of a good poem, the way certain images can suggest so much, and I like the way white space works with the print.

What's it like hearing that readers are eagerly awaiting your book's release date?
Since more people seem to write poetry than read it, I’d like to know the answer to that question too.

What was your road to publications like?
It has been an interesting journey, or series of journeys. I think what’s most important to me is the actual writing, and yet I must say that when my work is chosen for publication, I value it more. Someone somewhere must think it’s worth reading, and so I look at it again and think, this is pretty good writing. The ego should be less involved, but there it is.


Author Bio



Ginny Lowe Connors is the author of a poetry collection, Barbarians in the Kitch(Antrim House), a chapbook, Under the Porch (Hill-Stead Museum), and editor of three poetry collections: Essential Love, To Love One Another and Proposing on the Brooklyn Bridge (Grayson Books). She has won numerous awards for her poetry, including the Sunken Garden Poetry Prize, Atlanta Review’s International Poetry Competition Award, and the Winners Circle poetry contest sponsored by the National Federation of State Poetry Societies. Her poetry appears in numerous literary magazines as well as in many anthologies. One of Connors’ poems was performed by the East Haddam Theater Company as part of their Plays and Poetry program; another poem earned a Pushcart nomination. Connors holds an MFA from Vermont College of Fine Arts. An English teacher from West Hartford, Connecticut, she was named “Poet of the Year” by the New England Association of Teachers of English in 2003. Connors is on the executive board of the Connecticut Poetry Society.

Saturday, March 5, 2011

Author Interview - Independence Day Plague by Carla Suson



Describe your book in five words or less.

Futuristic thriller on biological terrorism.

How did the ideas for your books come to you?

I attended the 4th of July celebration in Washington DC. When the family got off the subway, we had to stand in a line to go up a 2-man wide escalator. I thought, "this is a good place for a bomb." My husband and I spent the rest of the day talking about what kind of bomb would kill the most and what would be the reason for planting the bomb. I also started wondering what happens to a scientist that spends their entire career in a secret lab. They can't publish, can't declare their work. If the lab shuts down, where do they go?

What is the hardest part of writing for you? What's the easiest?

The hardest part is taking the time to do the research to provide believable details. We lived in Texas but visited DC every summer. I gathered up new maps, new pictures, looked at new places every time we visited. It became so much of a habit to ride the subway to look at places for "mom's book" that the kids would (jokingly) say things like "have you decided to kill the President yet?" on the subway. I told them that they were trying to get me arrested. In fact the dedication of the book states, "and to my kids who tried to get me arrested while researching this book, better luck next time."

The easiest part of writing is the actual process, when the ideas are flowing so fast that it pours out of you like water out of a pipe. What comes out isn't perfect but the story flows so well and takes such unexpected directions that it is hard to stop.

I never really know what my characters are going to do until they tell me and I write it out.

What's next for you? Are you currently working on or have plans for future projects?

I am currently in the final editing stages of a 2-book urban fantasy about ghosts and thieves. The first is call Specter of a Chance and the second is A Ghost of Hope. The next book will be based on Somali Pirates.

Why did you choose to write for specific genre?

I didn't really choose to write for a specific genre. I wrote the stories that I thought about all the time and then we tried to put a label to them. The stories were a little futuristic but not sci fi, a little fantasy but not magic and swords, some romance but the driving theme was the action. Finally, we just decided that they were thrillers.


What's it like hearing that readers are eagerly awaiting your book's release date?

I wish I knew. I'm not quite to that stage yet except in my family. My sister gripes at me about when does she get to read the next book. It is wonderful and a little intimidating. I'm afraid that someday I'll disappoint them but simply not writing well enough.

What is one question that you've always wanted to be asked in an interview? How would you answer that question?

What do you think is the hardest part about creating a main character?" The answer would be coming up with the perfect name. Usually, I know their voice, their personality, their aspirations and I can even make a pretty good guess as to what car they drive. However, taking all that info and coming up with a name that is the embodiment of that character can take me days. Are they an "any-person" or a "special_person?" Should their name be one they hate, or love. Does it make them stick out or blend in? A name should say something about a character intrinsicly.

What was your road to publications like?

Independence Day Plague is actually my third adult novel and I have about 4 children's books sleeping in the filing cabinet. I spent years trying to sell children's work only to decide that I was too dark for that genre. For IDP, I had approached about 65 companies, mostly agents but some publishers too. Most of them turned it down on the query alone. Then Lois Bennett of Fireside Publications had decided to not be an agent and to go into publishing. I had approached her to represent my book but instead she wanted to publish it as one of her first thrillers. Basically, I was in the right time at the right place.

Author Bio




Carla Lee Suson graduated from the University of Texas at Dallas with a degree
in molecular and cellular biology. She started her career as a technician in cellular
biology and worked at Southwestern Medical School for several years before moving to
the Coastal Bend area of Texas. She switched to a career of writing and editing, forming the company Suson Communications Specialists which later became Carla Suson, Writer/Editor. She wrote articles, short stories and standardized test materials for over twelve years. Her topics included travel articles, parenting advice, children's stories and science. Additionally, she edited books for local professors on the subjects of art, art history,climatology and global warming.

Now she is the owner of North of the Red Writing Services in Northwest Indiana.
She is pursuing a Master's degree in professional writing and working on her novels.
Although a Texas girl in her heart, she lives in Crown Point, Indiana along with her
husband, three kids, and three dogs. When not banging out ideas on the computer, she is woodworking, making leather products or digging in the garden.