tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38758387439249937592024-03-14T02:04:37.676-05:00Romancing the Heart InterviewsA book tour stop for readers, authors, editors, and publishers.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07191795508002036072noreply@blogger.comBlogger82125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3875838743924993759.post-51228969732229882062013-11-30T23:30:00.000-06:002013-11-30T23:30:01.262-06:00Terry Ambrose<br />
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<span style="font-family: Harrington; font-size: 28pt;">Say Aloha with Terry Ambrose<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Terry Ambrose started his business career as a skip tracer and bill collector. He’s been writing mysteries and suspense novels for more than 25 years, but only recently became serious about publishing. His debut mystery, “Photo Finish,” was a 2013 San Diego Book Awards Finalist. In addition to writing fiction, Terry also writes about real-life scams and cons, profiles authors, and does book reviews as part of the featured content at <a href="http://terryambrose.com/"><span style="color: navy;">terryambrose.com</span></a>. </span></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Could you please start by telling us a little about yourself?</span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Optima-Regular;">I began my business career as a skip tracer and bill collector. During twenty years in customer service and business management with financial institutions, local governments, and public utilities, I wrote documentation, training materials and articles for newsletters and trade publications. I’ve also studied Neuro-Linguistic Programming to learn more about human communications. The trouble is, that's boring. It's a lot more fun to say I started out skip tracing and collecting money from deadbeats and quickly learned that liars come from all walks of life. I never actually stole a car, but sometimes hired big guys with tow trucks and a penchant for working in the dark to “help” when negotiations failed. </span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Please tell us your latest news!</span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">My latest news is about “Kauai Temptations.” This is my second McKenna Mystery and it's a book that I almost lost. I mean, as in gone-forever lost. Fortunately I found one backup copy on my old laptop in the trash. I think I have 10 backup copies now. Anyway, </span><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Optima-Regular;">it’s about what happens when the search for an identity thief takes a wrong turn. Wilson McKenna’s bank tells him he’s written $4,000 in bad checks on an island he’s never been to. That makes him one unhappy <i>haole</i>. Things get worse when he’s nearly arrested for impersonating himself and the woman who trashed his credit turns up dead. Before he knows it, McKenna’s up to his <i>‘umi’umi</i> in hot lava. </span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Do you plan all your characters out before you start a story or do they develop as you write?</span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">I know who every character is before I start writing, but not in detail. I'll have the basics, but as they go through the story I get to know them better. In my current WIP, I have a 12-year-old girl named Lily who is supposed to be in one scene. Her story fascinated me so much that before I knew it, she'd become an integral part of the overall plot.</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">What main genre do you write in?</span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">I write in the mystery genre, but in different sub-genres. The McKenna Mystery books are classified as cozies. They're funny and set in Hawaii. The “License to Lie” series books are thrillers set in Carlsbad, CA. It's a completely different writing experience when I switch.</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Do you recall how your interest in writing originated?</span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">I've always enjoyed writing. Most of my career, however, that meant writing training and marketing materials. I started writing fiction in my late 30s when I was under a huge amount of pressure at work. Partway through my very first “novel,” I realized the process of writing was a release and decided to get serious about it. I joined a critique group, learned just how many beginner mistakes I was making, and began writing in earnest. Twenty-five years later, I decided it was time to get serious about publishing.</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Do you have a specific writing style?</span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">In “Scene and Structure,” Jack M. Bickham described stimulus and response as the driving force behind good conflict. I strive to put that conflict on every page. In a review of “License to Lie,” The San Francisco Book Review said, “The author writes a thriller that instead of gore, utilizes intellect and emotion, in an action packed story line to propel readers to an unexpected, but very satisfying, conclusion.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">I also like to have realistic-sounding dialogue, characters that are three dimensional, and twists and turns that keep the reader guessing until the end. No POV “head hopping”, no “plot cheating.” That's not my style.</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">If you could be one of your characters - Who would you be? And why?</span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">McKenna is my alter ego. I think it would be fun to be him because he gets to say all the things I might be thinking, but am too chicken to say. He also gets to live in Hawaii—who could ask for more?</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Can you please give us a sneak peek at any of your upcoming books?</span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">“Con Game” is the sequel to “License to Lie.” The complicated relationship between </span><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Optima-Regular;">Skip Cosgrove and Roxy Tanner continues in “Con Game.” Their relationship is complicated because they're in love, but neither trusts the other. With a man Skip once helped send to prison for armed robbery coming back to kill him and the mark in Roxy's latest con dead, their options are limited. Their only good choice is to split up to find a killer and a would-be murderer—and help a homeless girl from falling into a life that could get her killed.</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">How can readers find out more about you and your books?</span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">I write more than fiction. I also do author interviews in which I look for the story behind the story, book reviews, and tips on how to avoid scams and cons. Everything is published to my website at <a href="http://terryambrose.com/"><span style="color: navy;">terryambrose.com</span></a>, where there's also information about my books. And, for those who like newsletters, I have a monthly newsletter called “The Snitch.” It includes a recipe—typically gluten free, a tip to avoid a current scam, and contest information—including links to some of the best giveaways on Goodreads.</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Do you belong to a critique group? If so, how does this help or hinder you?</span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">I've belonged to critique groups off and on since I began writing fiction. The only times I haven't been in a group have been when we moved and I hadn't yet found a group. I've been in a few groups that just didn't work for me, but a good group is invaluable. I find that a critique group keeps me grounded. As authors, we get ideas that we think are fantastic, but the group is a great sounding board. For instance, I recently had a joke in an upcoming McKenna Mystery that I thought was hilarious. When I read for the group and nobody reacted, I realized it wasn't that funny after all. There's no doubt about it, writing is hard enough without doing it in a complete vacuum.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Wilson McKenna has never written a bad check in his life. So how did he end up with $4,000 in returned checks from an island he’s never been to? Now, the bank wants their money and he’s determined to track down the crook who’s ruining his life. Before you can say “aloha,” he’s nearly arrested for impersonating himself, the woman who trashed his credit is dead, and he feels like he’s up to his <i>‘umi’umi</i> in hot lava. McKenna had better watch out—some temptations can get you killed.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><a href="http://terryambrose.com/2013/09/kauai-temptations/" target="_blank">Buy/Excerpt</a> / <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Kauai-Temptations-McKenna-Mystery-ebook/dp/B00FW79VEM/" target="_blank">Amazon<o:p></o:p></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07191795508002036072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3875838743924993759.post-77336145105700985452013-11-23T22:50:00.000-06:002013-11-23T22:50:29.106-06:00G.P.A. (Greatest Poet Alive)<br />
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<span style="font-family: Gabriola; font-size: 36pt;">The Greatest Poet Alive Takes Revenge<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">G.P.A.(Greatest Poet Alive) is the Phenomenal Poetic Unsub and most Electrifying Man in Poetry. He comes with God given talent, relentless aggression, and ever growing electricity. There has never been anyone like him, nor will there been anyone like him ever again.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">G.P.A. (Greatest Poet Alive) is the author of four books of Poetry (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Confessional Heart of a Man</i>, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Book of 24 Orgasms</i>, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Mind of a Poetic Unsub</i>, and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Revenge of the Orgasm</i>), contributed to several anthologies, and has released one cd (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The G.P.A. Experience</i>). He is the winner of the Moth Storytelling Slam, Poetry Pentathlon, and Black Essence Award, as well as having been nominate Poet of the Year for three years and Book of the Year twice. Currently, G.P.A. has added acting to his resume with two movies (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Persian Version</i> and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Animals</i>) and television shows (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Chicago PD</i>, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Chicago Fire</i>, and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Mind Games</i>). G.P.A. proudly claims Chicago as his home.</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Please tell us your latest news!</span></i></b><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> Just appeared in a feature role in the independent movie, “Persian Version”, and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Revenge of the Orgasm</i> has gone over 73 reviews (53 five star an 20 four star).</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Please describe your writing environment.</span></i></b><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> My writing environment is arranged messiness.</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">What main genre do you write in?</span></i></b><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> I am a Poet that writes in all facets of the genre.</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">What are your hobbies?</span></i></b><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> Working out, playing video games, reading, and walking with Scooter the Beagle.</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">If you had to choose one person to have dinner with, who would it be? And why?</span></i></b><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> I’d like to have dinner with my father. He passed away in 2000, and I’d like to bring him up to speed on everything that I have done since he has been gone. And there might be a chance that he would say, “Son, I’m proud of you.”</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything in your latest book?</span></i></b><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> Instead of a book of Poetry, I would have made <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Revenge of the Orgasm</i> a full length novel.</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Do you write full time? What did you do before you became a writer? Or Still do?</span></i></b><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> Now I do write full time, along with acting. So glad that I discovered both of these things because I couldn’t go on stealing government funds.</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">What is your writing process? Do you outline, fly by the seat of your pants or a combination of both?</span></i></b><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> A combination of both are necessary for me. I write like I’m Jimmie Johnson in a NASCAR race, but then to put it into a book, I organize similar to an unsub on <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Criminal Minds</i>.</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Do you have a ritual when it comes to writing? Example….get coffee, blanket, paper, pen and a comfy place.</span></i></b><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> I have realized that drinking Heineken and Jim Beam with Coke are great stimulants for writing. Having a beautiful woman around or interacting with one or a few is also quite helpful.</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Who is your perfect hero? And why?</span></i></b><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> Batman is my perfect hero because he has a steely reserve and could be anyone. He has no super powers, but if he did, that would take away from his aura.</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">When you have writer's block how do you break free?</span></i></b><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> Writers’ Block is a myth.</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Is there a genre of book you would like to write but haven't yet?</span></i></b><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> I plan on writing a young adult novel. It is called <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Bobo’s Middle School Adventures</i>.</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">What would be the best way for readers contact you? Do you have a website? Email address? MySpace site? Blog? Message Board? Group?</span></i></b><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> <a href="http://www.iblowyourmind.net/"><span style="color: blue;">www.iblowyourmind.net</span></a>, G.P.A.(Greatest Poet Alive) on Facebook.</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">How can readers find out more about you and your books?</span></i></b><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> Besides the above website, Amazon, Barnes and Nobles.</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">What is the best and worst advice you have ever received?</span></i></b><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> My father to me to be the best at whatever I do. A lot f dumb people suggested I be more humble (smirks).</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">What's your favorite genre to read?</span></i></b><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> Fiction is my favorite genre to read and a huge fan of comic books.</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">What type of book have you always wanted to write? </span></i></b><span style="font-size: 14pt;">I have always wanted to write a gripping novel that lasts forever, like <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Catcher in the Rye.</i></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">When did you first decide to submit your work? Please, tell us what or who encouraged you to take this big step.</span></i></b><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> In 2007, I decided to submit my Poetry based on a suggestion from my friend Elwood Pegram (RIP).</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">W<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">hat was your first published work and when was it published? </i></b>Under the name Harold Bains, I published my poem “Beautiful Ones” in <em>Rolling Out Magazine</em>.</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Is there anyone who really mentored or inspired you to keep writing until you were finally published?</span></i></b><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> I wasn’t mentored by anyone but inspired by James Livingston Elwood Pegram to get it done.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Beautiful woman is wearing a black, Donna Karan dress that was long but short enough. My thumb is short but was found to be long enough. She sat demurely like a lady would; her legs were spread wide enough. Thumb did not enter fully, yet it made geometric shapes, occasionally grazing seventh letter spot, and causing chasm to drip nectar, so I guess thumb had delved deep enough. Her moans were inaudible to all around us; however, I could hear them clearly and discern my name as she spoke it, and this told me they were loud enough.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><a href="http://www.freado.com/read/16484/revenge-of-the-orgasm-the-lust-series" target="_blank">Excerpt</a></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07191795508002036072noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3875838743924993759.post-2922771129891240642013-11-09T23:30:00.000-06:002013-11-09T23:30:00.886-06:00Julie Lynn Hayes<br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Constantia","serif"; font-size: 28pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Julie Lynn Hayes Discovers <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Revelations</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Julie Lynn Hayes was reading at the age of two and writing by the age of nine and always wanted to be a writer when she grew up. Two marriages, five children, and more than forty years later, that is still her dream. She blames her younger daughters for introducing her to yaoi and the world of M/M love, a world which has captured her imagination and her heart and fueled her writing in ways she'd never dreamed of before. She especially loves stories of two men finding true love and happiness in one another's arms and is a great believer in the happily ever after. She lives in St. Louis with her daughter Sarah and two cats, loves books and movies, and hopes to be a world traveler someday. She enjoys crafts, such as crocheting and cross stitch, knitting and needlepoint and loves to cook. While working a temporary day job, she continues to write her books and stories and reviews, which she posts in various places on the internet. Her family thinks she is a bit off, but she doesn't mind. Marching to the beat of one's own drummer is a good thing, after all. Her published works can be found at Dreamspinner Press, MuseitUp Publishing, Torquere Press, and eXtasy Books. She has also begun to self-publish and is an editor at MuseitUp. </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Could you please start by telling us a little about yourself?</span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Some might call me Southern, and others say I’m Midwestern. Either way, I’ve lived most of my life in St. Louis, except for a brief period in Jackson, Mississippi. Married twice, and have five kids, but only one is left at home, along with two cats. Writing is my passion, but in my spare time, I enjoy music and movies and crafts, such as cross stitch, needlepoint, crocheting and knitting. At 56 years young, I still have a lot of living to do, and more of the world to see.</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Please tell us your latest news!</span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">I just signed a contract with Dreamspinner Press for my novella, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Yes He’s My Ex</i>, which is very exciting, and I look forward to working with them again!</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Do you plan all your characters out before you start a story or do they develop as you write?</span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">I develop my characters as I write. I learn about them, as they reveal themselves to me. Sometimes I take notes beforehand, but I never completely flesh them out until I’m writing them. I think it makes them more realistic, and fresher, if I just allow them to grow and develop on their own.</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">How much research do you do for your books? Have you found any cool tidbits in your research?</span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">It depends on the book. For <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">My Fair Vampire</i>, an historical set during the 1904 World’s Fair, I did a lot of research. Other books less so. I like to check facts, make sure I have things right, even if I think I do it’s better to research than take a chance on error.</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">What main genre do you write in?</span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Primarily m/m romance, but not entirely. Within that genre, I like to write paranormal, but I also enjoy historical, supernatural, and contemporary. I’m writing my first detective novel, as well as my first BDSM novel. I find it interesting to branch out and try things I haven’t tried before.</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">How does your family feel about having a writer in the family? Do they read your books?</span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">My kids are very supportive of me. Well, four out of five are. The girls read my books, but the boys would rather not. As for my family, I’ve not spoken to them in about three years. They aren’t supportive at all. They probably couldn’t tell you what I write, assuming they remember that I write.</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">What are your hobbies?</span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">I enjoy cross stitch, needlepoint, crochet and knitting. </span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">If you had to choose one person to have dinner with, who would it be? And why?</span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Right off the time of my head, and assuming you meant a living person as dead people don’t eat, I would choose author Mike Carey. He wrote the Lucifer graphic novels that I simply love, having introduced the character in Neil Gaiman’s Sandman books. He’s currently writing <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Unwritten</i>. I simply love his stories, love his imagination, and love the way he thinks. I would like to explore his psyche over dinner.</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Do you write full time? What did you do before you became a writer? Or Still do?</span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Not yet, but I hope to someday. I work for a temp agency, and have been at my current assignment about six months. My last full time regular job was as an office manager, where I primarily did payroll and bookkeeping.</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">What is your writing process? Do you outline, fly by the seat of your pants or a combination of both?</span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">A combination of both. I find that even if I fly by the seat of my pants, I think ahead, plus I keep notes, so I don’t forget what I’ve already written, or what I’m planning to write.</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Do you have a website recommendation for other writers?</span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Before you sub to any publisher, check them out thoroughly through Google, but in particular go to Preditors & Editors, Absolute Write Water Cooler, and Piers Anthony’s site, to see what people are saying. A few minutes’ research could save a lot of heartache.</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Current Release Details:</span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">My newest release is <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Trapped in Time</i>. It began as a flash fiction on my blog and developed into a novella. It’s rather quirky, a combination of time travel with a hint of steampunk. My heroes are accidentally thrust back in time to the days of the dinosaurs, and must find their way back, if it’s even possible. This is released by eXtasy Books, my third release with them.</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Can you please give us a sneak peek at any of your upcoming books?</span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">How about a little bit of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Yes, He’s My Ex</i>, my m/m screwball comedy that was just accepted by Dreamspinner. The heroes names are Sonny and Time. Sometimes Sonny forgets that he’s Tim’s ex.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Sometimes I think that Sonny forgets that he’s my ex. As in past tense. Done and over. Finished and moved on. In the past. And by ex I mean ex-boyfriend, not ex-husband. If it’d been legal for us to do so, do I think I’d have ever married him and made that particular legal commitment? Taken that big step and harnessed myself to him heart and soul—in for the long run, the whole for better and for worse thing?</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">God help me, I think I would’ve.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Luckily, I saw the for worse thing happen before my very eyes, even as the for better thing shrank into a reality so infinitely tiny it would have taken the largest emotional microscope in the world, with a magnification capacity that even I did not possess, to find it. It shriveled up and died and submersed itself somewhere deep inside my chest, within this over-abused, under-appreciated muscle known as my heart. Unfortunately, it’s still there, ‘cause I can feel it and it hurts a helluva lot.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">So let me get back to my point. Sonny is undoubtedly my ex. If I don’t make that clear, then nothing else I say will ever make any sense, and for a writer, that would be the supreme tragedy indeed.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Well, other than the whole broken heart thing. But I think I just covered that.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Who is your perfect hero? And why?</span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Out of my heroes, I would choose Judas, from <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Revelations</i>, because he is such a prickly thorn, and yet beneath that lies a valuable flower. He’s snarky and grumbly, but he has a good heart, one that he hides, but he grows and develops in the book. And he works hard at saving the life of the man he loves, no matter what he has to do to accomplish that.</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">When you have writer's block how do you break free?</span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Usually be reading something, or watching something. Or even by playing FreeCell. Luckily, it doesn’t happen often.</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">What would be the best way for readers contact you? Do you have a website? Email address? MySpace site? Blog? Message Board? Group?</span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">I have a blog at <a href="http://julielynnhayes.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: blue;">http://julielynnhayes.blogspot.com</span></a>. I can be reached by email at <a href="mailto:tothemax.wolf@gmail.com"><span style="color: blue;">tothemax.wolf@gmail.com</span></a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m on Facebook as Julie Lynn Hayes. Those are the best ways to reach me. </span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">How can readers find out more about you and your books?</span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Through my blog or my Facebook.</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Do you belong to a critique group? If so, how does this help or hinder you? </span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">I have a few friends who beta what I write. I trust them to tell me when I’m doing something wrong, or need to change something. I beta for them as well. It’s a great system.</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">What's your favorite genre to read?</span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">I don’t think I have a favorite genre. I love all sorts of books – mysteries, romance, science fiction, drama, classics... <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: red; color: white; font-size: 14pt; mso-highlight: red; mso-themecolor: background1;">Contest info:</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> Julie will give two copies of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Revelations</i>, e-book. All you have to is comment and leave an email address. Julie will contact the winners.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt;">Judas has never been very popular, not in any incarnation that he and Jesus and the others have lived through. But he doesn’t care about that. All he cares about is following the instructions of God as set forth in the script that they follow. And Jesus. For Judas has secretly loved the son of God for over two thousand years.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt;"><a href="http://museituppublishing.com/bookstore/index.php/museitup/mainstream/revelations-detail" target="_blank">MuseItUp</a> / <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Revelations-ebook/dp/B00BCO2JHU/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1380515330&sr=8-3-fkmr0&keywords=revelations+julie+lynn+hayes" target="_blank">Amazon</a> </span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07191795508002036072noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3875838743924993759.post-20155614406616036212013-11-02T23:30:00.000-05:002013-11-02T23:30:00.215-05:00Ron Corbin<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Gabriola; font-size: 28pt; line-height: 115%;">Ron Corbin Gets Personal in Beyond Recognition<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Ron Corbin served two tours in Vietnam as an Army helicopter and instructor pilot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He received numerous unit and individual ribbons for combat action, to include being awarded the Air Medal 31 times, once with a “V” device for valor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Honorably discharged in 1969, he joined the LAPD as a policeman and pilot/instructor pilot for the Air Support Division.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Retiring from LAPD after an on-duty helicopter accident, he finished his college and graduate education.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He holds a Masters in elementary education and a Ph.D. in security administration with an emphasis in terrorism threats to America’s nuclear resources.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Joining the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department in 1993 as a crime prevention specialist, his specialty was Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He attended training in this discipline at the National Crime Prevention Institute, University of Louisville.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His CPTED subject matter expertise led him to be interviewed in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Reader’s Digest, Sunset Magazine, PetroMart Business</i> and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Las Vegas Life</i> magazines.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He also was responsible for publishing Metro’s in-house training journal, the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Training Wheel</i>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ron has been a contributing columnist to <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Las Vegas Now</i> magazine as well as a guest lecturer on Royal Caribbean International Cruise Lines, addressing citizens’ personal safety issues.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He is the previous author of stories published in several anthologies, and recently authored <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">BEYOND RECOGNITION </i></b>(Oak Tree Press), a memoir about his helicopter crash with LAPD.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ron retired as LVMPD’s academy training manager in 2011.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He and his wife Kathy have three children, six grandchildren, and live in Las Vegas.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Could you please start by telling us a little about yourself?</span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">I’m a 67-year-old “Country Boy” at heart, born and raised in a small farming town in southeastern Kansas. I’m retired now, living in Las Vegas with my wife of over 47 years. When I tell you of the careers I’ve held, it will probably make one think that I can’t hold a job. So, who am I? Would you believe … an Army helicopter pilot, Los Angeles police officer and helicopter pilot, school teacher, principal, body guard, private investigator, counterterrorism trainer for Department of Energy, director of security for major jewelry company, guard service manager, crime prevention specialist, local city magazine columnist, police magazine editor, police academy training manager, and a special interest lecturer for a cruise lines.</span></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Please tell us your latest news!</span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">I was humbly honored this summer to have won two “First Place Awards” for writing at the Public Safety Writer’s Association <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(PSWA) conference.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One was for my book, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Beyond Recognition</i></b>, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>in the category of Non-Fiction Book Published. The other was in the category of Non-Fiction Creative Non-Technical Non-Published for a short story titled, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Shadows of the Heart</i>; a heart-warming chronicle of how a wife received the news that her police husband had been critically injured in the line of duty, and how she endured the aftermath of his physical and emotional recovery.</span></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">What are your hobbies?</span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Flying helicopters and airplanes was (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">and still is</i>) always my first love. But my loss of hearing has precluded me from doing that activity anymore. I also umpired baseball for twenty years, from youth through college and minor league. When my children were growing up, I found enjoyment in coaching youth baseball and Pop Warner football. I always like to participate in sports myself; baseball, basketball, golf, racquetball. But after my police-related accident, my physical health has pretty much eliminated that kind of participation.</span></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">If you had to choose one person to have dinner with, who would it be? And why?</span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">My dad. At the age of 35, he died suddenly from a cerebral hemorrhage. I was just ten years old. I have limited memories of him. I never got to the age where I could understand the things that he experienced in life; his childhood, his WWII service. There is so much missing in life when a child is devoid of a parent at such a young age.</span></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Can you please give us a sneak peek at any of your upcoming books?</span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">My in-progress venture is titled <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Bullet Points</i>. It’s a historical fiction account of a retired LAPD officer who, after his wife commits suicide, retires and moves back to his small home town in Kansas (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">guess who?).</i> Wanting to put his law enforcement years and sad memories behind him, he soon finds himself involved with a serial killer who shoots his victims in their heads. The wounds are not through-and-through, but no bullets are recovered. And no, it is not an “ice bullet.”</span></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">What would be the best way for readers contact you? Do you have a website? Email address? MySpace site? Blog? Message Board? Group?</span></i></b></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 5pt 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">Ø<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 14pt;">PSWA Listserv group:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><a href="mailto:policewriter@yahoo.com"><span style="color: blue;">policewriter@yahoo.com</span></a></span></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">Ø<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Website at: <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><a href="http://www.rcorbinsecurityauthor.com/"><span style="color: blue;">www.rcorbinsecurityauthor.com</span></a></span></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">Ø<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Email:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><a href="mailto:DoctorCorbin@rcorbinsecurityauthor.com"><span style="color: blue;">DoctorCorbin@rcorbinsecurityauthor.com</span></a></span></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 1em 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Do you belong to a critique group? If so, how does this help or hinder you?</span></i></b></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">I wouldn’t exactly call it a “critique group,” but more of a local group of authors and writers with varying backgrounds who meet twice monthly to discuss each other’s individual’s works, and to give encouragement and advice for publishing. It’s called the “Wednesday Warrior Writers,” or commonly referred to as “The W-3.” Most all the W-3 members are former military and/or law enforcement. </span></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 1em; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">This group recently compiled and published an anthology of stories about America’s heroes and patriots. Titled, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I Pledge Allegiance<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">….</b></i> All the W-3 authors’ proceeds from book sales are being donated to the USO here in Las Vegas. I have a couple stories in this book, one about Bob Hope visiting our basecamp when I was in Vietnam, and another about the young Army warrant officer helicopter pilots and their daring deeds. This book can be ordered through Amazon or the publisher at <a href="http://www.houdinibooks.com/"><span style="color: blue;">www.houdinibooks.com</span></a></span></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 1em 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">When did you first decide to submit your work? Please, tell us what or who encouraged you to take this big step.</span></i></b></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 1em; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">When I retired from the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD/Metro) in January 2011, I found myself not adjusting to the “leisure life” of not working each day. I felt “unproductive.” So to keep from driving my wife insane with telling her how she needed to organize her kitchen better (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">you see where I’m going with this, right?),</i> she started encouraging me to write a book. (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Now I know it was her way of getting me “out of her hair” for a few months.</i>)</span></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 1em 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">What was your first published work and when was it published?</span></i></b></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">For nine years, I wrote many magazine articles for LV Metro’s in-house training magazine, called “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Training Wheel</i>.” I also was a contributing columnist for a magazine called, “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Las Vegas Now</i>”, writing personal safety articles.</span></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 1em; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">My first nationally published work was a story in a police anthology called <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">True Blue –Police Stories By Those Who Lived Them</i></b>. Proceeds from this book were donated to the surviving police families in New York who were loss in the WTC attack on 9-11.</span></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 1em 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Is there anyone who really mentored or inspired you to keep writing until you were finally published?</span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">My friend and colleague in the W-3 and PSWA, Keith Bettinger, was a great influence on me. A retired Suffolk County, NY police officer, he’s been writing for law enforcement publications for over twenty-five years, and has received eighteen awards for his articles, stories, poems, and books.<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> </i></b></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></b></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt;">Beyond Recognition </span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt;">is the memoir of Ronald Corbin, a former Army combat helicopter pilot and Vietnam veteran who becomes a Los Angeles policeman, and later, a pilot for LAPD’s Air Support Division (ASD).</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="http://www.oaktreebooks.com/"><span style="color: blue;">www.oaktreebooks.com</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 8pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07191795508002036072noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3875838743924993759.post-43392416028558819312013-10-26T23:45:00.000-05:002013-10-26T23:45:00.405-05:00W.S. Gager
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<span style="font-family: Gabriola; font-size: 36pt;">W.S. Gager Searches for Volatile
Deeds<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">W.S. Gager has lived in
Michigan for most of her life except when she was interviewing race car drivers
or professional woman's golfers. She enjoyed the fast-paced life of a newspaper
reporter until deciding to settle down and realized babies didn't adapt well to
running down story details on deadline. Since then she honed her skills on
other forms of writing before deciding to do what she always wanted with her
life and that was to write mystery novels.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="question" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Could you please start by telling us a
little about yourself?</span></i></b></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 1em 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">I’ve
always been a writer and have been able to do many things with it from writing
speeches, promoting nonprofit organizations, and writing crime for newspapers
as well as lots of other interesting things. Most recently my love of writing
has been used in a college-classroom setting helping students build their
writing skills to be successful in college. This has been the most satisfying
as they realize they do have something to say and can learn the skills to make
it happen.</span></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Do you plan all your characters out
before you start a story or do they develop as you write?</span></i></b></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 1em 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">My
characters are very independent and many times I feel like I am losing control
all-together. I have characters that only are supposed to have a small part in
the book. In A CASE OF ACCIDENTAL INTERSECTION, octogenarian Elsie Dobson’s
role was to be a witness in the first chapter only, but she wasn’t happy with
that. She took cookies to Mitch Malone to get him to investigate when the
police weren’t interested. She made so much fuss, she became a target. One of
my favorite scenes ever is Elsie outwitting a killer. I laugh every time I think
about it. I wish that was my creativity but it was pure Elsie not letting me
rest with my own ideas.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">How much research do you do for your
books? Have you found any cool tidbits in your research?</span></i></b></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 1em 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">I
love research. I usually find the coolest and weirdest things that people would
think I made up. Some of my books require more research than others. I try to
do as much of the research before I start to write but more often than not, the
book takes a different turn and I need to do more. In A CASE OF VOLATILE DEEDS
I did quite a bit of research about explosions. I needed something that would
scare a city silly but really wasn’t more than flash powder in a high-rise
building. Through a professional organization I belong to called the Public
Safety Writers Association, I found an explosives expert who gave me all kinds
of information about different types of explosions. I had no idea there were so
many ways to blow things up. I might be on a watch list for that research. LOL.</span></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">How does your family feel about having a
writer in the family? Do they read your books?</span></i></b></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 1em 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">My
family is pretty evenly split on the writing. My husband has dutifully read the
first two books and became stalled on the third. My son has never read any of
them and my daughter is a big fan and hounds me to finish each one. </span></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Do you recall how your interest in
writing originated?</span></i></b></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 1em 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">My
mom said I always made up stories but I don’t remember that. My first memory is
when I was named editor of the eighth grade newspaper. I was selected because
my teacher liked my journal entries. Every week we had to write two whole pages
on anything we wanted. Most kids hated that assignment and I loved it.</span></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">What would be the best way for readers
contact you? Do you have a website? Email address? MySpace site? Blog? Message
Board? Group?</span></i></b></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 1em 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">I
love to hear from readers. Check out my website at <a href="http://wsgager.com/"><span style="color: blue;">http://wsgager.com</span></a>
or my blog at <a href="http://wsgager.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: blue;">http://wsgager.blogspot.com</span></a>
or contact me directly at <a href="mailto:wsgager@yahoo.com"><span style="color: blue;">wsgager@yahoo.com</span></a>.
I also am on Facebook at <a href="http://www.facebook.com/wsgager"><span style="color: blue;">www.facebook.com/wsgager</span></a>
or Twitter @wsgager</span></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">What is the best and worst advice you
have ever received?</span></i></b></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 1em 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">The
best advice I ever received was before my critic group. I’d written a romance
because that was what I had read a million of. I thought it was pretty good. It
was the first manuscript I’d ever finished. I was a member of Romance Writers
of America and one of the ladies in my local chapter read it for me. She told
me that I wasn’t a romance writer, which made my stomach drop. She grabbed my
hand so I couldn’t run away. She told me I was a mystery writer and to forget
about the romance. After I got used to the idea, I realized she was right. The
worst advice I ever received was that writing was a solitary enterprise and
writers didn’t need others. I would never have been published had it not been
for my critic group.</span></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Do you belong to a critique group? If
so, how does this help or hinder you? </span></i></b></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 1em 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">I
have the most fantastic critique group in the world. We meet once a week and we
each bring a chapter. We have been meeting for at least six years. Some members
have changed but we each have different strengths and weaknesses. We also write
in different genres from romance to paranormal. Their influence has made my
writing stronger, more vivid and filled with action. </span></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">When did you first decide to submit your
work? Please, tell us what or who encouraged you to take this big step.</span></i></b></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 1em 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">I
decided to submit A CASE OF INFATUATION to a contest. I’d written it, edited it
with the help of my critic group and didn’t know what else to do with it. I
wanted feedback from professionals to improve it. My book won the contest and
the prize was a publishing contract. I would never have done that without my
critic group telling me it is good enough.</span></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Do deadlines help or hinder your muse?</span></i></b></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 1em 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">I
worked at newspapers for a dozen years and I am so much better with a deadline.
If I don’t have deadlines or set goals, I will take forever to finish
something. I also do much better if I have a ton of things to do instead of
only a couple.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<div class="question" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><a href="http://wsgager.com/website_current_008.htm"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">A Case of Volatile Deeds - Book 4 - Coming
in February 2013</span></a> </span></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Mitch finally scores dinner
with a cute receptionist, but an explosion makes him stand up his date as he
runs for an exclusive. His date is the only casualty in a botched robbery. When
femme fatale Patrenka Petersen returns, Mitch learns that much of what he knows
about his date isn’t what it seems. Mitch must keep his head down or a cute dog
with a knack for finding dead bodies will be sniffing out his corpse. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07191795508002036072noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3875838743924993759.post-9673424658220387192013-10-20T03:15:00.000-05:002013-10-20T03:15:08.960-05:00J. Gayle Kelly
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Gabriola; font-size: 36pt;">J. Gayle Kelly, a Gold Miner’s
Daughter<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX9gdaV26gYLP6QVP6k697cVkA_CYvQc5mdBSDJKbyK_XDtrz8QQSZW4Yl9YtXZniMvHeEicG4u0ore5fmtkieftc-kjFPL9Vv4xCvB1PthxvUaFWDGe98YIV4q-8btZvp0oHvwJPuKD6a/s1600/Gayle+in+Tonopah.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX9gdaV26gYLP6QVP6k697cVkA_CYvQc5mdBSDJKbyK_XDtrz8QQSZW4Yl9YtXZniMvHeEicG4u0ore5fmtkieftc-kjFPL9Vv4xCvB1PthxvUaFWDGe98YIV4q-8btZvp0oHvwJPuKD6a/s200/Gayle+in+Tonopah.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<span class="text-class-141"><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 14pt;">I was born a gold miner's daughter in a dusty old mining town
in Nevada a long time ago. My paternal grandparents came to America
through Ellis Is. from Italy. My great maternal grandparents crossed the
plains in a covered wagon to Utah. It is said I am related to President
George Washington through his wife, Martha. That would make me also
related to President Thomas Jefferson, Martha's half-brother. With so
much history behind me, is it any wonder I became a writer? I have always
loved to read and create, inspired in my writing by my family, animals, life
experiences, anything and anyone in general. I have written hundreds of
newspaper articles and features from WA to NV, and had my own column in one
newspaper I called, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Way I See It</i>.
I am a self-taught writer and most of my seven novels were written on the
typewriter. I am a deep thinker and a deep writer but find a lot of
joy in getting my readers to laugh as well as cry. </span></span><span class="text-class-151"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 14pt;">The Watermelon Patch</span></i></span><span class="text-class-151"><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></span><span class="text-class-161"><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 14pt;">is my
first published novel, set in rural Nevada in the 1950's. </span></span><span class="text-class-171"><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 14pt;">An Apple
for the Teacher, </span></span><span class="text-class-161"><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 14pt;">my second, is a contemporary romance,
set in Wenatchee, WA. My third, </span></span><span class="text-class-171"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 14pt;">Dust
Devil Darlin</span></i></span><span class="text-class-171"><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 14pt;">, </span></span><span class="text-class-161"><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 14pt;">another
contemporary romance, is set in central NV and Bishop, CA. I am currently
penning an historical fiction I am having a lot of fun with: </span></span><span class="text-class-171"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 14pt;">The Outlaw(s) and the Mail Order
Bride</span></i></span><span class="text-class-171"><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 14pt;">. </span></span><span class="text-class-161"><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 14pt;">I wish I could say that life is
perfect; alas it never is. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Death</i>
has taken two adult sons from my husband and me and there was that dratted
flood, and other challenges. Life has certainly been busy; we raised four
great kids, many dogs and cats. I love being with people, those who are
pleasant to be with and make me feel good about 'me.' Life can be--and
is--good. </span></span><span class="text-class-121"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="question" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Could you please start by telling us a
little about yourself?</span></i></b></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">I have been writing something
most of my life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have written seven
books, published three.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Except for my
last book all were written on the typewriter and then retyped to a
computer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have published hundreds of
newspaper articles and features; some of my human interest stories have
appeared in national magazines.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Do you plan all your characters out
before you start a story or do they develop as you write?</span></i></b></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">My characters are mine until I
begin writing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As I continue writing, I
realize I am not completely in charge of them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They take me to a far different place than I planned; they lead me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They can change right before my eyes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">What is your writing process? Do you
outline, fly by the seat of your pants or a combination of both?</span></i></b></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">I never outline to begin with.
I know that is not suggested, but I guess I do it a little backwards.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Most of my story ideas come to me in the
middle of the night.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I do my best
“writing” then.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Can you please give us a sneak peek at
any of your upcoming books?</span></i></b></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">My historical novel is titled <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Outlaw(s)and the Mail Order Bride</i>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My heroine crosses the sea from Yugoslavia to
marry a man she has never met.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He takes
her to a mining camp in the wilds of Nevada.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>That may sound mundane, but not for Katarina!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The title gives a hint.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A book I am currently retyping I call <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Guns and Roses</i>, a romantic suspense, set
in Las Vegas, Nevada and involves the Mafia.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">What would be the best way for readers
contact you? Do you have a website? Email address? MySpace site? Blog? Message
Board? Group?</span></i></b></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">My website address is: <a href="http://www.gaylescreations.net/"><span style="color: windowtext;">http://www.gaylescreations.net/</span></a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My email address is: <a href="mailto:jgaylekretschmer@sbcglobal.net"><span style="color: windowtext;">jgaylekretschmer@sbcglobal.net</span></a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am also on Facebook.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I write under the name of J. Gayle Kelly.</span></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">What is the best and worst advice you
have ever received?</span></i></b></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Best:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Write what you know and believe in
yourself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Worst:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Change your writing style.</span></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Do you belong to a critique group? If
so, how does this help or hinder you?</span></i></b></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">I belonged to three critique
groups at one time. Two were helpful, one did more to discourage than
encourage. I am mostly a self-taught writer, but people I have met along the
way have inspired me to keep writing.</span></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">What was your first published work and
when was it published?</span></i></b></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">If we’re talking about my
first published book that would be <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Watermelon-Patch-Gayle-Kelly/dp/1424150035/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1382256201&sr=8-1&keywords=J.+Gayle+Kelly" target="_blank">TheWatermelon Patch</a></i>; it was published in 2009.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I believe it was my best effort and a book I longed to write for many
years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is a story set in rural Nevada
in the 1950’s, a coming-of-age mystery.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>A high school English teacher in Las Vegas uses my book as a writing
tool, which is the highest compliment I have ever received on my writing.</span></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Is there anyone who really mentored or
inspired you to keep writing until you were finally published?</span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Me.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAKRZG3t7npYLrRPNWEXNJ1rWglAP6egIb5YNRPNhzy2hjesjfhwa2-QXGVQ9Ip25vDqWLTsA-oTLIrM_x7HyIzroGMi0HsFTcIqvdg8Vu76xaNXD1W5i3AspPChxmN3lWJWMMyN7nirFn/s1600/John.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAKRZG3t7npYLrRPNWEXNJ1rWglAP6egIb5YNRPNhzy2hjesjfhwa2-QXGVQ9Ip25vDqWLTsA-oTLIrM_x7HyIzroGMi0HsFTcIqvdg8Vu76xaNXD1W5i3AspPChxmN3lWJWMMyN7nirFn/s200/John.jpg" width="130" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Jennifer is an eight-year-old
girl who is different from most kids. She was born with hemophilia, a blood
disease. She is a lively girl and a bit rebellious. When she hurts her ankle
while barreling down the slide at the neighborhood park and has to go to the
hospital, she feels very sorry for herself. Mostly, she is confused and doesn't
understand this thing she has. A Junior High boy also in the hospital wheels
himself into her room after hearing her sobs. She is shocked to see that he has
huge red scars on his face and bandages over his eyes. Jennifer realizes that
she is not the only one with problems. Can these two youngsters help each
other?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Smile-John-J-Gayle-Kelly/dp/1627727531/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1382256711&sr=8-3&keywords=J.+Gayle+Kelly" target="_blank">Amazon</a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07191795508002036072noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3875838743924993759.post-60254577015596699512013-10-12T23:30:00.000-05:002013-10-13T10:59:29.834-05:00Marilyn Meredith<br />
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Gabriola; font-size: 36pt;">Marilyn Meredith Chases <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Spirit Shapes</i><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigzrvqFlNEZMr2odfIttFtspyslHl-B14jEkELXXLVG79NrROuqXCtu0rDGj3eJJWaA2rv-ppcgjY4fNPMPTeSyziPbdjrVXILrWXrniRINr0X3XIAFsg6BZMY_MFK5DhjFyPZD9pgTr2w/s1600/Me+in+pensive+mood.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigzrvqFlNEZMr2odfIttFtspyslHl-B14jEkELXXLVG79NrROuqXCtu0rDGj3eJJWaA2rv-ppcgjY4fNPMPTeSyziPbdjrVXILrWXrniRINr0X3XIAFsg6BZMY_MFK5DhjFyPZD9pgTr2w/s200/Me+in+pensive+mood.jpg" width="200" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Marilyn Meredith is the author of over thirty
published novels, including the award winning Deputy Tempe Crabtree mystery
series. She borrows a lot from where she lives in the Southern Sierra for the
town of Bear Creek and the surrounding area, including the nearby Tule River
Indian Reservation. She does like to remind everyone that she is writing
fiction. Marilyn is a member of EPIC, three chapters of Sisters in Crime,
Mystery Writers of America, and on the board of the Public Safety Writers of
America. Visit her at <a href="http://fictionforyou.com/"><span style="color: blue;">http://fictionforyou.com</span></a> and follow her blog at <a href="http://marilymeredith.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: blue;">http://marilymeredith.blogspot.com/</span></a><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Could you please start by telling us a little about
yourself?<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">I’ve been writing stories since I was a kid, but my
first book wasn’t published until I was a grandmother. I’ve seen a lot of
change in the way authors write and publish: from typewriters and carbon paper
to computers and sending manuscripts in as attachments; querying my mail to
email queries. Believe me the new ways are much easier.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Do you plan all your characters out before you start a
story or do they develop as you write?<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Because I write series mysteries, I know my main characters
very well. Of course I always introduce new characters and yes, I plan a lot
about them ahead of time, but as I write, they often change—even to the point
of who I thought was the murderer was wrong, and it is someone else.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">How much research do you do for your books? Have you
found any cool tidbits in your research?<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">For my Deputy Tempe Crabtree series I’ve done
ride-alongs with law enforcement officers, examined a resident deputy’s truck
and equipment, learned a lot about Indian legends, done some exploring on our
local Indian reservation, and I always ask a lot of questions. Probably the
coolest tidbit I’ve learned is about the Hairy Man, a Big Foot type creature
who lives in the mountains on the reservation. I’ve seen pictographs of him,
his wife, and child in a rock shelter.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Do you write full time? What did you do before you
became a writer? Or Still do?<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Yes, I consider myself a full-time writer—and I was
even when I had my last job which was living in and running my licensed
facility for developmentally disabled women—a job I loved, by the way. My
residents went to a sheltered workshop all day and in-between doing laundry
etc., I wrote. I’ve been around for a while and I was a telephone
operator, and a teacher in a pre-school for developmentally disabled kids, a
day-care center teacher, and a pre-school teacher for non-English speaking
kids. (By the time the semester was over they all spoke English.) No matter
what I was doing, I always found time to write.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">What is your writing process? Do you outline, fly by
the seat of your pants or a combination of both?<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">First, I always start thinking about the story. What
will Tempe be involved with—what kind of crime, how will it affect her and her
husband. As ideas become clearer, I start jotting them down. I don’t outline,
but I do make a lot of notes. Before I know everything, I start writing. As I
write I jot down more notes about where I think the story is going, so it kind
of a combination of plotting and going by the seat of my pants.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Do you have a ritual when it comes to writing?
Example….get coffee, blanket, paper, pen and a comfy place.<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">I do most of my writing in the early morning hours at
my computer in my office. Usually I have a cup of Chai latte, or will get one
when I need to take a break.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Current Release Details:<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">In <b><i>Spirit Shapes</i></b>, ghost hunters discover
a dead body in a haunted house. When Deputy Tempe Crabtree arrives on the scene
she soon realizes the house not only is inhabited by ghosts but also evil
spirits.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">When you have writer's block how do you break free?<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">To tell the truth, I never have true writer’s block.
Sometimes I have a bit of trouble getting started, but I always have something
that needs done, could be editing whatever I’ve written previously or perhaps
some sort of promotion.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">What would be the best way for readers contact you? Do
you have a website? Email address? How can readers find out more about you and
your books?<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">I love to hear from readers. My email address is <a href="mailto:mmeredith@ocsnet.net"><span style="color: blue;">mmeredith@ocsnet.net</span></a>
and yes, I have a website where you can read about all my books and me: <a href="http://fictionforyou.com/"><span style="color: blue;">http://fictionforyou.com/</span></a>.
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My blog is <a href="http://marilynmeredith.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: blue;">http://marilynmeredith.blogspot.com/</span></a>
and I have guest authors, write about what I’m doing, give writing tips, and
anything that I feel like writing about. I also have a monthly newsletter. If
you’d like to subscribe, just email me and let me know. I’m also on Facebook
under my name, Marilyn Meredith.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Do you belong to a critique group? If so, how does
this help or hinder you?<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">I adore my critique group and have belonged to the
same one for years. I consider them my first editors. They write on copies of
my chapter, tell me what I need to fix etc. I never defend anything, but take
what they’ve done home and work on the chapter. Sometimes I do exactly what was
suggested, other times I do something totally different, and once in a while,
ignore what was said or written. Most of the time, they are spot on.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
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<b><span style="background: yellow; font-size: 14pt; mso-highlight: yellow;">Contest:</span></b><b><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Two people who comment on
this blog post will be chosen at random by Marilyn to receive a copy of <b><i>Raging
Water</i></b>, the previous Deputy Tempe Crabtree mystery.</span></div>
</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl7Uq_yccXt238gpS7MZkBPo9x5UpPPx1xR1nvpR5sK4QtqMEwuQHdsFdDN6SNp4SjbakJu3Y4DlWULtBQZL3L0prwkOlyR9FVB4KOxwJYjRZj6d6mthACDCAbX3FVcWhwpuRPr0Qbc1_b/s1600/Spirit+Shapes+Cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl7Uq_yccXt238gpS7MZkBPo9x5UpPPx1xR1nvpR5sK4QtqMEwuQHdsFdDN6SNp4SjbakJu3Y4DlWULtBQZL3L0prwkOlyR9FVB4KOxwJYjRZj6d6mthACDCAbX3FVcWhwpuRPr0Qbc1_b/s200/Spirit+Shapes+Cover.jpg" width="133" /></a></div>
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</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Ghost hunters stumble upon a
murdered teen in a haunted house. Deputy Tempe Crabtree's investigation pulls
her into a whirlwind of restless spirits, good and evil, intertwined with the
past and the present, and demons and angels at war.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><a href="http://www.mundania.com/book.php?title=Spirit+Shapes" target="_blank">Mundania Press LLC<o:p></o:p></a> / </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Spirit-Shapes-Crabtree-Mystery-ebook/dp/B00FEJDA04/ref=sr_1_3?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1381679412&sr=1-3&keywords=marilyn+meredith" target="_blank">Amazon</a> </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07191795508002036072noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3875838743924993759.post-26001776491863060482013-10-05T23:30:00.000-05:002013-10-05T23:30:02.043-05:00Kathy L Wheeler<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 1em 0px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 26pt; line-height: 150%;">Kathy
L Wheeler Whispers <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Lies That Bind</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 1em 0px;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh80KK2o_J2jmlQ4wmd4EaWjPHBzjzbGqrLl7z6xosCwyHQqtDbtJnOCGTi5j1zWKHDuxXdGoF8LpV-SWpIDp8H26EfcDqimzYMRBSVSoSeD98KVyah8K2dMTbXZMuR1H6saPcU2B8f4oPf/s1600/IMG_8509.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh80KK2o_J2jmlQ4wmd4EaWjPHBzjzbGqrLl7z6xosCwyHQqtDbtJnOCGTi5j1zWKHDuxXdGoF8LpV-SWpIDp8H26EfcDqimzYMRBSVSoSeD98KVyah8K2dMTbXZMuR1H6saPcU2B8f4oPf/s200/IMG_8509.JPG" width="133" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">Kathy L Wheeler (a.k.a. Kae Elle
Wheeler for her historical) has a BA degree from the University of Central
Oklahoma in Management Information Systems that includes over forty credit
hours of vocal music.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As a computer
programmer the past fifteen years, she utilizes karaoke for her vocal music
talents. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Other passions include fantasy
football, NBA, musical theatre, and jazzercise. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Because to quote Nora Roberts to a one time
question, if she worked out? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her reply,
“You have to get off your ass.”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">Kathy has been a member of Oklahoma
Romance Writers of America and RWA since March of 2007.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She grew up in the Dallas area and definitely
considers herself a city girl.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She does
not limit her travels to Writer Conferences in San Francisco, Washington DC,
Seattle, Dallas, New Jersey, New York City and Atlanta because Jazzercise has
fun conferences too (Denver, Palm Springs and Orlando). You can’t keep her
home!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">She is a member of several other RWA
Chapters, including DARA, The Beau Monde and Passionate Ink. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She has served several positions in the OKRWA
Chapter. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As an avid reader of romance
and patron of theatre, her main sources of inspiration come from mostly an
over-active imagination. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She currently
resides in Edmond, Oklahoma with her musically talented husband, Al, and their
bossy cat, Carly.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="question" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-add-space: auto;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">Could you please start
by telling us a little about yourself?</span></i></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">I love to travel. This summer I went
to Nationals in Atlanta. Then my friend Amanda and I drove to Pensacola for
three days, stayed in a fabulous bed & breakfast that was so historic, we
put on our dresses from The Beau Monde Ball and took pictures.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 1em 0px;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">Please tell us a little about your new release without giving
too much of a spoiler away.<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">Here, I’ll just give you the pitch. Would
a modern day woman marry for convenience to protect the identity of her
daughter?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yes! But, Kelly Mancer doesn’t
want a man. Any man. But danger has a way of changing a woman’s mind.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">Alex Gentry needs Kelly Mancer, but
convincing her to help him in his pursuit of a dangerous enemy who’s enamored
his younger sister would not be easy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Soon the tables turn and Kelly becomes the prey. Alex may save his
sister, but at what cost?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 1em 0px;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">What was the hardest part of writing your book?</span></i></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">This book I ran into a snag when I
got to about Chapter 7.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was just at a
loss. So my critique partner at the time said, “You have to address the
villain!” Well, duh! After that it was smooth sailing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 1em 0px;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">What comes first: the plot or the characters?</span></i></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">For me, it’s usually the characters.
My strong points are emotion and dialogue. My critique partners are great at
plot.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 1em 0px;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">Do you plan all your characters out before you start a story
or do they develop as you write?</span></i></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">No. I usually see the character in my
head and they develop through dialogue and how they feel<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 1em 0px;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">Do you have a ritual when it comes to writing? Example….get
coffee, blanket, paper, pen, laptop and a comfy place</span></i></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">Not really, just my handy laptop with
my neoprene board on top of my lapboard . hahahaha. I guess I do have a teeny
ritual, after all.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">Do your books have a common theme or are they all different?<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Well, I
write historical and contemporary. I wouldn’t say the theme is the same, but I
do see a common thread throughout my stories. And that is the hero is going to
make sure he loves his girl no matter how difficult she is.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i>We do write fiction!</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 1em 0px;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">How long does it
take you to write and then edit a story?</span></i></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">It can be
as short as four months or as long as seven months. I do try to set them aside
once I’ve completed it for a little bit. Editing can take forever. <i>Lies That
Bind</i> took me about six months. I edited it as I went along. Then I put it
aside for three years before going back to it. Boy! Had I learned a lot! In the
meantime, I was picked up by two different publishers for four different
books.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And, completed another two in
those three years. I was not idle by any means.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 1em 0px;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">How do you go about
naming characters? </span></i></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">The name
has to feel right to me. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 1em 0px;">
<strong><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">What do you see for the future of publishing and e-books?</span></i></strong><strong><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span></strong><strong><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></strong></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<strong><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">Ebooks are here to stay for sure. But
I don’t see physical books going away for a very long time. Too many people
love the feel and smell of them. I think the big publishers have to adjust more
than us little people. Too many options.</span></strong><strong><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></strong></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpLast" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 1em 0px;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">What are your current books out right now, and what are the
books coming up for release? <o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: 0in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">©<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">The
historical under Kae Elle Wheeler include:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: 0in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">©<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;"><a href="http://kathylwheeler.com/?portfolio=cinderella-series-collection-2"><span style="color: blue;">My
Cinderella Series ~~ the collection</span></a>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: 0in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">©<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;"><a href="http://kathylwheeler.com/?portfolio=the-wronged-princess-book-i-2"><span style="color: blue;">The
Wronged Princess – book I </span></a>(this book is free everywhere)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: 0in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">©<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;"><a href="http://kathylwheeler.com/?portfolio=the-unlikely-heroine-book-ii-2"><span style="color: blue;">The
Unlikely Heroine – book ii</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: 0in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">©<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;"><a href="http://kathylwheeler.com/?portfolio=the-surprising-enchantress-book-iiii-2"><span style="color: blue;">The
Surprising Enchantress – book iii</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: 0in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">©<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;"><a href="http://kathylwheeler.com/?portfolio=the-english-lily-2"><span style="color: blue;">The English Lily </span></a>(A
Tale of the Scrimshaw Doll & the 4<sup>th</sup> book from the Cinderella
Series)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: 0in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">©<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">Contemporary
Romance<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: 0in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><u><span style="color: blue;"><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">©<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;"><a href="http://kathylwheeler.com/?portfolio=the-color-of-betrayal-2">The Color of
Betrayal</a> (A Tale of the Scrimshaw Doll)<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></u></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: 0in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><u><span style="color: blue;"><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">©<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;"><a href="http://kathylwheeler.com/?portfolio=quotable">Quotable </a>(Bloomington
Series, Book 1)<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></u></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: 0in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><u><span style="color: blue;"><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">©<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;"><a href="http://kathylwheeler.com/?portfolio=maybe-its-you-2">Maybe It’s You</a>
(Bloomington Series, Book 2)<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></u></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: 0in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><u><span style="color: blue;"><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">©<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;"><a href="http://kathylwheeler.com/?portfolio=lies-that-bind">Lies That Bind</a>
(Bloomington Series, Book 3)<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 1em 0px 1em 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto;">
<span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p><span style="text-decoration: none;"><u><span style="color: blue;"> </span></u></span></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 1em 0px;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">What do you like to do when you’re not writing?</span></i></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">Goodness, so many things. I hold
season tickets to both Thunder NBA Basketball and the Broadway Series in
Oklahoma City. I play fantasy football (but I’ve limited myself to only two
teams this year). I love to socialize so I’m really never home. Not to mention
traveling.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 1em 0px;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">Is there anything else you would like to tell the readers we
have not touched on?</span></i></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">Um, I think we’ve covered just about
everything. . . Thank you so much for having me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpLast" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 1em 0px;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">Where can the readers learn more about you and find your
books on the web?</span></i></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: 0in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">©<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;"><a href="http://kathylwheeler.com/"><span style="color: blue;">http://kathylwheeler.com</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: 0in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">©<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;"><a href="http://facebook.com/kathylwheeler"><span style="color: blue;">http://facebook.com/kathylwheeler</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: 0in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">©<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;"><a href="http://twitter.com/kathylwheeler"><span style="color: blue;">http://twitter.com/kathylwheeler</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 1em 0px;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p> </o:p></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: yellow; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%; mso-highlight: yellow;">CONTEST ALERT:</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One c<span style="color: black;">ommenter, chosen by Ms. Wheeler, will win a copy of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Lies That Bind</i>.</span></span><span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 1em 0px;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-Rz7dktlncRPySEhD4_GxHMkZ2giBF553cz4ckhzM5HkaYfHal-nX0gHYH90eteDce037ZEGT6K8lD4PIe-lUyE7h0F4EjML4wxITnhdZmYJ3skAoLpEWxyqMekmrH79oQD6X1t50kuNG/s1600/Lies+that+Bind.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-Rz7dktlncRPySEhD4_GxHMkZ2giBF553cz4ckhzM5HkaYfHal-nX0gHYH90eteDce037ZEGT6K8lD4PIe-lUyE7h0F4EjML4wxITnhdZmYJ3skAoLpEWxyqMekmrH79oQD6X1t50kuNG/s200/Lies+that+Bind.JPG" width="133" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">Would a modern day woman marry for convenience</span></i><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;"> to <a href="http://kathylwheeler.com/?portfolio=lies-that-bind" id="FALINK_3_0_2"><nobr><span style="color: windowtext;">protect</span></nobr></a> the identity of her
daughter? Hell yes! But, Kelly Mancer didn’t want a man. Any
man. Danger has a way of changing a woman’s mind.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">Alex Gentry needs Kelly Mancer, but
convincing her to help in his pursuit of a dangerous enemy who’s enamored his
younger sister would not be easy. Soon the tables turn and Kelly becomes
the prey. Alex may save his sister, but at what cost?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 1em 0px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">~~ Coming this Fall
~~<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07191795508002036072noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3875838743924993759.post-78075045079087177592013-09-28T23:30:00.001-05:002013-09-28T23:30:01.972-05:00Barri Bryan<br />
<div align="center" class="question" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Harrington; font-size: 26pt; line-height: 150%;">Barri Bryan’s Heart Lays Deep Within Texas<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="question" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVBwpPPuzwpQM6YWrgWe10OeDrDfObgBzbHKkOiPY4tUwnWPDutqwIvkU9wBWP5WRtqU0p8pYUqV0UG_mvjGG5LFJkwNBHMZc-tsQodpBbUofwaEDtITAAnX0HylI3paj9WkvJM3l-UvV6/s1600/church+picture+2+small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="157" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVBwpPPuzwpQM6YWrgWe10OeDrDfObgBzbHKkOiPY4tUwnWPDutqwIvkU9wBWP5WRtqU0p8pYUqV0UG_mvjGG5LFJkwNBHMZc-tsQodpBbUofwaEDtITAAnX0HylI3paj9WkvJM3l-UvV6/s200/church+picture+2+small.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">Barri Bryan
is the pen name for Billie Houston. She acquired a pseudonym at the behest of adult
children when they discovered a steamy excerpt from one of her romances at the
web site of a publisher. </span></div>
<div class="question" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">Barri grew up
during the thirties. Her formative years were spent in a small town in West
Texas. Life was simple then. She could accept what was without questioning what
would be, or wishing for what would never come to pass. She sensed there was a
world beyond my limited horizon. but it seemed remote and far away. That
horizon began to expand and move nearer when she discovered reading and books. </span></div>
<div class="question" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">Barri’s dad
taught her to read before she started to school; thus began her journey. In the
seventh grade, she found the Bronte sisters and fell in love with romantic
novels. Since then, she’s been an avid fan of happy-ever-tales. </span></div>
<div class="question" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">Today Barri
is a wife, a mother of three, and a grandmother to seven wonderful
grandchildren. She’s also a former teacher and educator and a published author
with over twenty novels, four books of poetry, numerous essays and short
stories, and one how-to-write book to my credit. </span></div>
<div class="question" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">Barri has a
graduate degree in Educational Psychology from the University of Texas, and
holds six valid teacher certifications.</span></div>
<div class="question" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">Barri’s writing
career began late in life, writing her first book in 1990. Her first romance
was published in 1998 and writes the kind of books she enjoys reading --- romantic
tales about relationships; stories that explore feelings and probe emotions.
The plots revolve around ordinary people caught in extraordinary circumstances
and faced with difficult decisions. </span></div>
<div class="question" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">Barri likes
poetry, George Strait’s music, old movies and Earl Grey tea. Her many hobbies
are reading, quilting, sewing, knitting, crocheting, taking long walks, and
growing house plants.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="question" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">Could you please start by telling us
a little about yourself.<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<br />
<div class="question" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">I can’t
remember a time I didn’t want to be a writer. I am an octogenarian. I am not an
extraordinary person, but my life’s journey has been extraordinary in many
ways. I have stood on the sidelines of history and watched a rapidly changing
world’s passing, panoramic parade. My personal life has embraced change,
struggle, difficulty, and an enduring love. I’ve had my share of happiness.
There has been tragedy too. I have known misfortune and heartbreak. I have
gambled and often lost, but sometimes won. There are so many things I would go
back and change, if I could. I have pretty well come to terms with both my
capabilities and my limitations.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="question" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">How much research do you do for your
books? Have you found any cool tidbits in your research?<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<br />
<div class="question" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">I do a
tremendous amount of research, especially when I write historicals. I am always
finding tidbits that interest me. When I researched for my novel <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Renegade,</i> I discovered that Texas men in
the 1830’s didn’t wear cowboy boots. Most of them wore moccasins. A few wore
brogans. When I researched for my novel <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Changeless
as the Heavens,</i> set in 1944, I was surprised to learn that during WWII
gasoline was rationed, not to save gasoline, but to save tires that were made
of rubber, which was a scarce commodity. My research for my novel <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Wish on the Moon</i> revealed that in 1906
it was considered disgraceful for a woman to go out in public without wearing a
corset under her other clothing. My WIP is set in 1966. There were no seat
belts in cars in 1966.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="question" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">What main genre do you write in?<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<br />
<div class="question" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">I write
romances. Many of my romances are historicals set during a specific decade in
the twentieth century. I write some contemporaries, and some historicals set in
the nineteenth century. </span></div>
<div class="question" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">I also write
verse. My poetry is eclectic. I write about what speaks to my heart and
quickens my insight. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="question" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">What are your hobbies?<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<br />
<div class="question" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I enjoy reading. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I like both fiction and nonfiction. I’m an
avid Texas History buff. I read anything I can find about the history of The
Lone Star State. I enjoy Regency Romances if they are historically correct and
well written. I’m a fan of C. S. Lewis. I read Victorian poetry. I especially
like Christina Rosette and Emily Dickinson.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I love taking long walks. That’s when I do much of my planning and
problem solving for my writing. I raise house plants and herbs. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I love crafts and handwork. I knit, crochet,
and quilt.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="question" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">If you had to choose one person to
have dinner with, who would it be? And why?<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<br />
<div class="question" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">If I had to
choose one person to have dinner with it would be Christina Rossetti. Of all
the poetical voices that echo down through the ages, none rings more sweetly in
my ear or resounds with more clearly through my senses than this Victorian
spinster’s lyrical compositions. Oh, the questions I would like to ask that
lady, not only about her work, but about her personal life also.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="question" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">What is your writing process? Do you
outline, fly by the seat of your pants or a combination of both? <o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<br />
<div class="question" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">The first
thing I do is make character sketches of my main characters. I need to know
them well before I begin writing about them. Then I outline, by chapter, the
story I have in mind. After that, I do much of my research for the story. This
gives me a feeling of where I am and where I want to go. I don’t always go in
that direction. I have been known to do a 180 degree turn and take another path.
Would it be safe to say I combine the two?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="question" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">Current Release Details: <o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<br />
<div class="question" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">My current
release is entitled <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">For Jenny’s Sake</i>.”
It is a contemporary romance set in a small town in South Texas. It’s published
by Desert Breeze Publishing. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="question" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">Can you please give us a sneak peek
at any of your upcoming books?<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<br />
<div class="question" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">I have a book
titled <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Renegade</i> that is scheduled to
be published by Desert Breeze Publishing in January of 2014.The story is set in
the little village of San Antonio de Bexar the year after the fall of the Alamo.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="question" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">What is the best and worst advice you
have ever received?<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">The best writing advice I ever
received was from the teacher whose name I can’t recall. She was the instructor
in an adult education class I took several years ago. She began her class by
saying, “Be honest with yourself so you can be honest with your readers.” I
thought that was a strange opening statement for the teacher of a course
titled: <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">How to Write Short Fiction.</i> She
wasn’t speaking of literal truths, but personal truths. Throughout much of my
writing career, I have tried to stay true to that premise. Memorable, moving
books are not written from a sense of anything but the writer’s deepest and
most honest convictions.</span></div>
<div class="question" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">The worst
advice I ever had was, “Sit down and write what you feel. As you move along,
the story will unfold in your mind. All you have to do is write it down.” Maybe
that works for some. It doesn’t for me. I need structure and purpose.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="question" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">What was your first published work
and when was it published? <o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<br />
<div class="question" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">My first
published book was titled <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">A love Like
Mine.</i> It was published in 1998 by new Concepts Publishing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="question" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">What would be the best way for
readers contact you? Do you have a website? Email address? MySpace site? Blog?
Message Board? Group?<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<br />
<div class="question" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 1in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">Ø<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">Website: <a href="http://barribryan.com/"><span style="color: blue;">http://barribryan.com/</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="question" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 1in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">Ø<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">Contact me: <a href="http://barribryan.com/contact.php?firstname=Barri&lastname=Bryan"><span style="color: blue;">http://barribryan.com/contact.php?firstname=Barri&lastname=Bryan</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="question" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 1in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">Ø<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">Blog: <a href="http://barribryan.com/blog/"><span style="color: blue;">http://barribryan.com/blog/</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="question" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 1in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">Ø<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/BarrriBryan?ref=hl"><span style="color: blue;">https://www.facebook.com/BarrriBryan?ref=hl</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="question" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 1in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">Ø<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/texpoet"><span style="color: blue;">https://twitter.com/texpoet</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="question" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 1in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">Ø<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">Pinterest: <a href="http://pinterest.com/louhou85/"><span style="color: blue;">http://pinterest.com/louhou85/</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="question" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="question" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyQsifdpN6AEXPgM_7IcB-9PJOh0k60BEV8esOrg50SVM5wvI_I6_3OWKOhSXtTHXZppIy1HwsM-5z-Vhij6Yo6HBHgZ5Pm6CmGyMgw8hEjG5eJWmUAO7fyBZuP32GT3q__g2vlsWNE_4r/s1600/ForJennysSakeCoverArt__65771_1375328226_220_220.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyQsifdpN6AEXPgM_7IcB-9PJOh0k60BEV8esOrg50SVM5wvI_I6_3OWKOhSXtTHXZppIy1HwsM-5z-Vhij6Yo6HBHgZ5Pm6CmGyMgw8hEjG5eJWmUAO7fyBZuP32GT3q__g2vlsWNE_4r/s320/ForJennysSakeCoverArt__65771_1375328226_220_220.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;"><em>Eight years
ago Erin Harrow left her hometown</em> in the wake of shame and scandal. She’s back
now, as Erin Bennett the rich widow of recently deceased billionaire Sheldon
Bennett. She’s returned to claim what is hers and to set the record straight on
some very important issues.</span></div>
<div class="question" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">Gabe Harrow
has never recovered from his ex-wife’s flight to oblivion, and he’s never
forgiven her for disappearing without leaving a trace. She’s back now and
determined to take from him the one thing that gives his life meaning, his
daughter Jenny. But then, she’s Erin’s daughter too.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="question" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.desertbreezepublishing.com/for-jennys-sake-epub/" target="_blank">DesertBreezePublishing</a>
<a href="http://www.desertbreezepublishing.com/for-jennys-sake-epub/"><span style="color: blue;">/</span></a> <a href="http://www.amazon.com/For-Jennys-Sake-ebook/dp/B00F3QOXEK/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1380388187&sr=1-1&keywords=barri+bryan" target="_blank">Amazon</a>
</div>
<br />
<div class="question" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07191795508002036072noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3875838743924993759.post-52140435268653154402013-09-21T23:30:00.000-05:002013-09-21T23:30:02.760-05:00Helena Fairfax
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 36pt;">Helena Fairfax Races to
the UK<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOPNx2Cil9LfLbefIKgC8qeiTW4vxxBIrGsYp8H6NM16VE6QYwStZvZkr3RsL7fUXblSoJawQ-qbj0IgA75FDna8g9zdHFidhzLEacQ0ax0mf7VYEQoXlIiKmtWMsweC-Ufyi3X-QL9lG_/s1600/Helena+Farfax+photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="159" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOPNx2Cil9LfLbefIKgC8qeiTW4vxxBIrGsYp8H6NM16VE6QYwStZvZkr3RsL7fUXblSoJawQ-qbj0IgA75FDna8g9zdHFidhzLEacQ0ax0mf7VYEQoXlIiKmtWMsweC-Ufyi3X-QL9lG_/s200/Helena+Farfax+photo.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Helena
Fairfax was born in Uganda and came to England as a child.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She’s grown used to the cold now and that’s
just as well, because nowadays she lives in an old Victorian mill town in
Yorkshire, right next door to windswept Brontë country.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She has an affectionate, if half-crazed,
rescue dog and together they tramp the moors every day<span class="st">—</span>one
of them wishing she were Emily Brontë, the other vainly chasing pheasants.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When she’s not out on the moors you’ll find
Helena either creating romantic heroes and heroines of her own or else with her
nose firmly buried in a book, enjoying someone else’s stories.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her patient husband and her brilliant
children support her in her daydreams and are the loves of her life.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Could
you please start by telling us a little about yourself?<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<br />
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">My name’s Helena Fairfax.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m a British author, and I live in Yorkshire,
in the north of England, near the moors which are the setting for Wuthering
Heights.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I go walking on the moors every
day with my dog.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I love to watch the
changing seasons and the wildlife – although my dog is more interested in
chasing wildlife than watching it!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Please
tell us your latest news!<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<br />
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">My first novel, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The
Silk Romance</i>, was published in May as an e-book, and my second novel, The
Antique Love, was released on 4th September.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I’m still really excited!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Please
describe your writing environment.<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<br />
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Wherever I write, my dog goes with me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Right now, my dog is asleep on the settee
next to me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If I work upstairs on the
computer, she comes there, too, and if I sit outside in my yard, she lies at my
feet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She’s a really affectionate dog,
and I love her to bits.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">How
much research do you do for your books? Have you found any cool tidbits in your
research?<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">I do quite a bit of research, even though my novels
are contemporary, not historical.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> The Silk Romance</i>, I researched the
history of silk in Lyon, France, because the hero is French and he owns a silk
mill.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Antique Love</i>, I researched London’s Richmond Park.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is the largest park in London, and it
plays a big part in the novel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Richmond
Park became a Royal Park in the 17thc, when King Charles went there to escape
the plague.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He turned it into a hunting
park, and there are still many deer there<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">
today.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<br />
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">What
main genre do you write in?<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<br />
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">I write sweet contemporary romances – although one
reviewer said they were sweet romances with a tang!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">What
are your hobbies?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<br />
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">My mother was a needlework teacher, and she taught me
how to knit and embroider.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I especially
love knitting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Besides the usual jumpers
and baby clothes, I also knit little figures.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Last year I knitted the Royal Wedding :)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>You can see the photos here on my friend’s blog: <a href="http://www.jqrose.com/2013/06/hobby-hoedown-knitting-with-author.html"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">http://www.jqrose.com/2013/06/hobby-hoedown-knitting-with-author.html</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Do
you write full time? What did you do before you became a writer? Or Still do?<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<br />
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">I’m lucky to be able to write full time now..<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Before this, I worked in manufacturing for
many years, in the textile and printing industries. My experience in textile weaving
helped me when I wrote <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Silk Romance.</i>
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Do
you have a website recommendation for other writers?<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<br />
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">I really love Romance University<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><a href="http://romanceuniversity.org/"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">http://romanceuniversity.org/</span></a><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They have a weekly “lecture schedule” of posts
on all aspects of romance writing, from technique to finding the right
publisher.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even if you don’t write in
the romance genre, I can still highly recommend them for writing tips.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Is
there a genre of book you would like to write but haven't yet?<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<br />
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">My romances are short contemporary romances.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I would really love to have a go at writing a
saga.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Something in the style of Penny Vincenzi,
or Barbara Taylor Bradford.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">What
would be the best way for readers to contact you? Do you have a website? Email
address? MySpace site? Blog? Message Board? Group?<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<br />
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">I have a Facebook page at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/HelenaFairfax"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">https://www.facebook.com/HelenaFairfax</span></a>
.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You can also follow me on Twitter
@helenafairfax , friend me on Goodreads, or email me at <a href="mailto:helena.fairfax@gmail.com"><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">helena.fairfax@gmail.com</span></a>
.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My blog is at <a href="http://www.helenafairfax.com/"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">www.helenafairfax.com</span></a>. Feel free to get in
touch.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I love to meet people!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-C4ZtqSfHysrqeMvNT_ugGUMcg-syyNuh5CAa1rOLi-N0l6z1YbqevgdZBlYrSH5PUcQHz3c0Q3dPrxXntTfZ_QjLpYE8b3ks6dKb70ksxgJQfa15ZLnYyQpY2lEvOcF0hQc5h5_Rppps/s1600/The+Silk+Romance+333x500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-C4ZtqSfHysrqeMvNT_ugGUMcg-syyNuh5CAa1rOLi-N0l6z1YbqevgdZBlYrSH5PUcQHz3c0Q3dPrxXntTfZ_QjLpYE8b3ks6dKb70ksxgJQfa15ZLnYyQpY2lEvOcF0hQc5h5_Rppps/s200/The+Silk+Romance+333x500.jpg" width="133" /></a></div>
<div style="background: rgb(250, 250, 250); margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 14pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Jean-Luc Olivier</span></i><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 14pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"> is a devastatingly handsome
racing-driver with the world before him. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Sophie
Challoner</i> is a penniless student, whose face is unknown beyond her own
rundown estate in London. The night they spend together in Paris seems to
Sophie like a fairytale<span class="st">—a Cinderella story without the happy
ending</span>. She knows she has no part in Jean-Luc’s future. She<span class="st"> made her dying mother a promise to take care of her father and
brother in London. One night of happiness is all Sophie allows
herself. She runs away from Jean-Luc and returns to England to keep her
promise.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><a href="http://museituppublishing.com/bookstore/index.php/now-available-in-ebook/the-silk-romance-detail" target="_blank">MuseItUp Publishing</a></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Also available from<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, Apple
iBooks </b>and other major e-tailers </span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07191795508002036072noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3875838743924993759.post-88964509324853198772013-09-14T23:30:00.000-05:002013-09-14T23:30:02.877-05:00J.R. Lindermuth
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Constantia","serif"; font-size: 28pt;">J.R.
Lindermuth Digs for Gold<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgepPnkR_XOotda4GihbkA32CNPR19tA6NteP0R-8ZlAuscTbv9Cv9EfzjyjZz8f6uL52Z6vDrPr1ejY51Xf1EHzck7JzQ78JMV9-PaHJaxouGsKyBLvFDNU04qJXaaSH9lipbtRxdaULsO/s1600/c_Lind2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgepPnkR_XOotda4GihbkA32CNPR19tA6NteP0R-8ZlAuscTbv9Cv9EfzjyjZz8f6uL52Z6vDrPr1ejY51Xf1EHzck7JzQ78JMV9-PaHJaxouGsKyBLvFDNU04qJXaaSH9lipbtRxdaULsO/s200/c_Lind2.jpg" width="120" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">J. R. Lindermuth is the author of 12 novels, including
five in the Sticks Hetrick mystery series set in a fictional rural community
near Harrisburg PA. A retired newspaper editor/writer, he is now librarian of
his county's historical society where he assists patrons with research and <a href="http://www.amazon.com/J.-R.-Lindermuth/e/B002BLJIQ8/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1" id="FALINK_1_0_0"><nobr><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">genealogy</span></nobr></a>. He has published stories and
articles in a variety of magazines, both print and on line.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Additional information on his <a href="http://www.amazon.com/J.-R.-Lindermuth/e/B002BLJIQ8/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1" id="FALINK_2_0_1"><nobr><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">books and writing</span></nobr></a> is available at <a href="http://www.jrlindermuth.net/"><span style="color: blue;">www.jrlindermuth.net</span></a> .</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"></span> </div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Could
you please start by telling us a little about yourself?</span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">I’m a retired newspaper editor who lives and writes in
central <st1:state w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Pennsylvania</st1:place></st1:state>.
Since retiring, I’ve served as librarian of my county historical society where
I assist patrons with research and genealogy. I’m a member of EPIC,
International Thriller Writers and the Short Mystery Society.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Please tell us a little about your new
release without giving too much of a spoiler away.</span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">It’s 1898 and Sylvester Tilghman, third of his family
to hold the job of sheriff in </span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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the little town of Arahpot, Pennsylvania, has a
murder victim with too many enemies. There’s Claude Kessler, who is found
standing over the body of Will Petry with a knife in his hand; there’s Rachel,
Petry’s stepdaughter who admits she meant to cause him harm, and there’s a band
of gypsies who claim Petry stole one of their women.<br />
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">If that isn’t enough to complicate Tilghman’s life,
add in threats to his job; a run-in with a female horse thief; scary
predictions by a gypsy fortuneteller; the theft of Doc Mariner’s new motorcar,
and the continued reluctance of Lydia, Syl’s longtime girlfriend, to marry him.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">What </span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">comes</span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> first: the plot or the characters?</span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Character makes the plot.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Do you plan all your characters out
before you start a story or do they develop as you write?</span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">I “invent” my characters, but they often seem to have
minds of their own as to what’s going to happen next. It usually works best if
I listen to what they’re telling me.</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Do you have a ritual when it comes to
writing? Example….get coffee, blanket, paper, pen, laptop and a comfy place.</span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">I believe in setting butt in chair and fingers on
keyboard. Since I’m often writing in my mind before taking the seat, I don’t
usually need more impetus. A cup of coffee or two is good in the morning and
some background music (not too loud or strident) helps shut out other
distractions. </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Do your books have a common theme or are they all
different?</span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">I write two series, so
there’s a commonality to the characters but not necessarily the plots. I’ve
also written some standalones.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i><span style="font-size: 14pt;">How long does it take you to write and then edit a
story?</span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">That depends on the
particular story. The first draft of some has gone very quickly. Others might
take years to develop. All will then face editing, the amount of which again
depends on the story.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i><span style="font-size: 14pt;">How do you go about naming characters?</span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">In my other work as a
genealogist I’m constantly on the look out for names that might suit a
character down the road. I jot these down in a notebook for future reference.
The name has to suit the character, though, and there have been instances where
I’ve changed a name because it didn’t ring true.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<strong><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Bookman Old Style"; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">What so you see for the future of publishing and e-books?</span></i></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-family: "Bookman Old Style";">I love so called “real” books and I think they’re going to be with us
as least for some time in the future. However, I like the convenience of my
Kindle, particularly when traveling, and I think we’re only at the beginning of
the electronic novel age. Who would have thought just a few years ago that it
would be possible to read a book on your phone?</span></strong></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">What are your current books out right
now, and what are the books coming up for release?</span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">This is the second book in the Tilghman series and
there are now five in the Sticks Hetrick series. A Burning Desire, sixth in the
Hetrick series, will be coming out next March and I’m currently at work on a
seventh.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">What do you like to do when you’re not
writing? </span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">I enjoy spending time with my children and my four
grandsons. I like to walk/hike, draw, do genealogy. I read (constantly). I love
music and film. If I had the money I’d do a whole lot more traveling. I can’t
understand people who say they’re bored. There isn’t enough time in the days to
do all the things I’d like to do.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Is there anything else you would like to
tell the readers we have not touched on?</span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">For those who have read and said they’ve enjoyed my
books, I want to express my appreciation. If you’ve written a review or
recommended them to family and friends, I’m even more grateful. A writer is
nothing without readers. </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Where can the readers learn more about
you and find your books on the web?<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">Ø<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Website: <a href="http://www.jrlindermuth.net/"><span style="color: blue;">http://www.jrlindermuth.net</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">Ø<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Buy links:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><a href="http://www.whiskeycreekpress.com/"><span style="color: blue;">www.whiskeycreekpress.com</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><a href="http://www.oaktreebooks.com/"><span style="color: blue;">www.oaktreebooks.com</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/author/jrlindermuth"><span style="color: blue;">http://www.amazon.com/author/jrlindermuth</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: yellow; font-size: 14pt; mso-highlight: yellow;">CONTEST
ALERT!!!</span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">John is offering a print copy to a commenter to be
selected by drawing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Comment at <a href="http://jrlindermuth.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">http://jrlindermuth.blogspot.com</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07191795508002036072noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3875838743924993759.post-81820007194072385712013-09-07T23:30:00.000-05:002013-09-07T23:30:00.130-05:00Jane Toombs
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Constantia","serif"; font-size: 24pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Sail the High Seas
with Jane Toombs<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 8pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm-s_a65xzvLN7AlCF_31FazhIy6A_iGpMgw8zjNYG6gjJBHcayHUMTGdvrhJGyB61vvus9pbK_XcPViTSMaQIMikJnIklYN9btCPWRTQJKhwUmZcphLfcXVWKZGrNIJO23x3KRTje7eoM/s1600/Jane+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm-s_a65xzvLN7AlCF_31FazhIy6A_iGpMgw8zjNYG6gjJBHcayHUMTGdvrhJGyB61vvus9pbK_XcPViTSMaQIMikJnIklYN9btCPWRTQJKhwUmZcphLfcXVWKZGrNIJO23x3KRTje7eoM/s200/Jane+2.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Jane Toombs, the Viking from her
past and their calico grandcat, Kinko, live on the south shore of Lake Superior
in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula wilderness. Here they enjoy refreshing Springs,
beautiful Summers, colorful Falls and tolerate miserable Winters. Jane is
edging toward ninety with her published books and has over twenty-five novellas
and short stories to her credit. She’s been published in every genre except
men’s action and erotica, but paranormal is her favorite. She’s a member of a
closed twelve author promo group called <a href="http://www.jewelsofthequill.com/" target="_blank">Jewels Of The Quill</a>, where she’s “Dame
Turquoise".</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 8pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Could you please start by telling us
a little about yourself?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I’ve returned to live in the small
town I grew up in. Some years ago, when I was still living in upstate New York
after my second husband died, an old classmate of mine called me to tell me I’d
spelled my Swedish hero’s name wrong in my latest book, because en was
Norwegian—on was Swedish. It turned out he was living in Nevada. As we talked,
we discovered in the next month I was attending a family wedding in lower
Michigan, and he’d been invited to a family reunion in lower Michigan on the
same weekend, in a town only a few miles from where I’d be.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So he told me he’d drive over to see me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He’d never before kissed me, but when he left
after his visit, he did. Wow! We’ve been together since shortly after
that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I grew up intending to become a
writer, but wound up an RN instead due to WWII. When I finally returned to
writing I was married with five kids. I dabbled in it at first, but finally
wrote my first book, a rather dark gothic romance that sold to Avon. For some
reason this upset my doctor husband (his opinion was I was writing trash) and
we eventually divorced. I met my second husband in a writing class. After we
married, he decided if I could sell a gothic, he could.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So he wrote one and it did sell. So then we
both were writing. We never collaborated, but we did edit each other’s work
until he died unexpectedly. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Elmer doesn’t write, but cheers me
on. At 88, he now has Parkinson’s, but is up and about in a W/ C. I’m now his
caretaker, but he’s able to help me a lot. I’ll be 87 in December, and still
writing. Slower, though.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 8pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Please tell us a little about your
new release without giving too much of a spoiler away.</span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I’m finishing up my fourth and last
book in my <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Dangerous Darkness Series</i>,
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Stranger On The</i></span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Shore</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">. This
series traces the lives of four Special Op guys after they return to civilian
life, believing the fourth guy has been killed. Well, he has and he hasn’t and
the last book is his. These are paranormal suspense romances and the first
three, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Shadow On The Floor</i>, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Watcher At The Door</i> and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Trouble From Before</i> are available from
my website: </span><span style="mso-field-code: " HYPERLINK ";"><u><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">www.JaneToombs.com</span></u></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 8pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">What was
the hardest part of writing your book? </span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Trying to
find a logical way to keep the hero of the fourth book alive, when all three of
the heroes of the other books saw him riddled with bullets. Luckily being an RN
was a help.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 8pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">What </span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">comes</span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> first: the plot or the characters?</span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">They all come together for me. I do
a synopsis for each book and use it to keep myself on track, though I deviate
from it a lot. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 8pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Do you plan all your characters out
before you start a story or do they develop as you write?</span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Until I do the synopsis I don’t have
any characters. And, yes, they develop as I write because I get to know them.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 8pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Do you have a ritual when it comes
to writing? Example….get coffee, blanket, paper, pen, laptop and a comfy place.</span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Nope. Butt in the chair in front of
the computer is all I need.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 8pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Do
your books have a common theme or are they all different?</span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Other
than good overcoming evil, I can’t think of a common theme.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 8pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">How
long does it take you to write and then edit a story?</span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">That
varies with each book. Some seem to flow from my fingers and others definitely
do not.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 8pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">How
do you go about naming characters?</span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I give
them names that seem to fit them. Have no idea how I do that.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 8pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Bookman Old Style"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Bookman Old Style"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">What
so you see for the future of publishing and e-books?</span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">E-books are gaining in popularity,
but I do believe holding a book in your hands won’t ever go out of style
completely.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 8pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">What are your current books out
right now, and what are the books coming up for release? </span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I’ve been doing a lot of scanning of
old rights-back books, which I then send to Books We Love, Ltd. to turn into
ebooks. I’m no techie, so I wouldn’t dream of trying to put them up myself. BWL
provides editing and great covers. The latest one up is <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Love’s Odessey</i>, and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Bride of
The Baja</i> will soon be up. Both are historical romances.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 8pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">What do you like to do when you’re
not writing?</span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Read.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 8pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Is there anything else you would
like to tell the readers we have not touched on?</span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">If it wasn’t for my father, who
gently critiqued all my early writing, I doubt I’d be published today. He
taught me how to accept well-meant critiquing, which is a priceless gift.
Unfortunately, he didn’t live long enough to see me succeed.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 8pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Where can the readers learn more
about you and find your books on the web?</span></i></b></div>
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<span style="mso-field-code: " HYPERLINK ";"><u><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">http://www.JaneToombs.com</span></u></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 8pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUa7n58Lgr4HN9pt7dimDQAP4nx2zK3FbC0_iHA_15qM9TuldoKzU1MYl-_ZfyM8pyDLGmhoDMI-chcknDCwhawP16OM4T0Se-MzPvOh9F5O6cAPxPHVr8qZ8x3wChZ7vjoNQYxfUMBDQg/s1600/Toombs-LovesOdyssey.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUa7n58Lgr4HN9pt7dimDQAP4nx2zK3FbC0_iHA_15qM9TuldoKzU1MYl-_ZfyM8pyDLGmhoDMI-chcknDCwhawP16OM4T0Se-MzPvOh9F5O6cAPxPHVr8qZ8x3wChZ7vjoNQYxfUMBDQg/s200/Toombs-LovesOdyssey.jpg" width="133" /></a></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt;">This
is the story of a sixteen-year-old American girl</span></i><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt;"> who
is orphaned when her father dies and she is sent to live with her English
uncle. Unfortunately he falls out of favor with the king and is killed. This is
where she meets Adrien who saves her from a dire fate by taking her to Holland
to live with her mother’s sisters. </span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt;">They sail to <nobr><a href="http://bookswelove.net/janetoombs.php" id="FALINK_3_0_2"><span style="color: blue;">Java</span></a></nobr> on the same ship, but Rommel and Adrien are
fated to be torn apart again and again. She has only her courage and her beauty
to keep her alive—and her impossible love for Adrien. He never gives up
searching for her, even after she is abducted by a Chinese pirate and taken to
Amoy. He’ll need all his ability as a swordsman to survive long enough to
rescue her.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt;">This is truly an odyssey for Rommel and Adrien as he keeps losing
her and must set off to find her once more. Travel is by Dutch East India ship,
by junk and by raft.</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt;"><a href="http://bookswelove.net/janetoombs.php" target="_blank">Books We Love</a> / </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00DP7UCBC" target="_blank">Kindle</a></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07191795508002036072noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3875838743924993759.post-65432021239335504242013-08-31T23:30:00.000-05:002013-08-31T23:30:00.941-05:00Elaine Busby
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Gabriola; font-size: 36pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Welcome Back, Elaine Busby<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeOXAItQLHb3_A0UqC1n8ncT_sq93mAHg5d-IzX3-3_B8FFWbQNKxe-Paw61safL7zfzNqGcN9lOgVSB0kpG8mN4oLn7oEQ1t4kfiBEe5DA_p4mv-PpIDL_RRLwtqUyLMSjjYVVhbmx8no/s1600/IMG_1925.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeOXAItQLHb3_A0UqC1n8ncT_sq93mAHg5d-IzX3-3_B8FFWbQNKxe-Paw61safL7zfzNqGcN9lOgVSB0kpG8mN4oLn7oEQ1t4kfiBEe5DA_p4mv-PpIDL_RRLwtqUyLMSjjYVVhbmx8no/s200/IMG_1925.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Elaine Busby is an accomplished
television professional with more than thirty years experience from hosting <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">PM Magazine </i>to creating her own NW Emmy
award nominated shows. Her first novel, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Burning
Questions</i> was the winner of the 2005 Timeless Love Contest.</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></b><br />
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Could you please start by telling us
a little about yourself? </span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I’m a lucky lady and try to have an
attitude of gratitude for my healthy and happy child, a loving husband and
meaningful work. I also have an aging mother with dementia and an ailing
brother with advanced muscular dystrophy. I write when I can as a much needed
creative outlet.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Please tell us a little
about your new release without giving too much of a spoiler away. </span></i></b></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">On the Rocks</span></i><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> features a musician, Jade, who starts to suffer from panic
attacks, </span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqGV_u6iHORhT0WMA6f5GlyMTdhbfc8eDpXf_dBGrsDlOpI-TI4WyE9h3CWR1QqjW6YvLGczVxZ8g_UQGmD0_c7rLx-1g7uYTkJbSc6thuHKwnk_6C6kUG9O1lFAa8yUI1RYCov1m5107W/s1600/On_the_Rocks_Fr_CV.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqGV_u6iHORhT0WMA6f5GlyMTdhbfc8eDpXf_dBGrsDlOpI-TI4WyE9h3CWR1QqjW6YvLGczVxZ8g_UQGmD0_c7rLx-1g7uYTkJbSc6thuHKwnk_6C6kUG9O1lFAa8yUI1RYCov1m5107W/s200/On_the_Rocks_Fr_CV.jpg" width="133" /></a></div>
just as her career begins escalating. An L.A. restaurant owner,
Calvin, helps her recover from one, and then wines and dines his way into her
heart. However, Jade’s agent warns her that Calvin has an unsavory backstory.<br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">As their romance
develops, Jade starts climbing the charts with her new CD. Her panic attacks
are also on the rise, and the L.A. gossip mill would love to roast Calvin; all
issues she’d rather ignore than investigate.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Will Jade’s life end of
“On the Rocks”, like the dark song she’s been composing? Or will she find the
strength to seek the truth, and sing those secrets into the light?</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">What was the hardest
part of writing your book? </span></i></b></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Perseverance and skill,
courage and will are the four leaves of luck’s clover. I have to make myself
stick with it, even when I am in doubt about my writing.</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">What comes first: the
plot or the characters?</span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Characters mixed with
plot, but the characters end up writing the story in the long run. If you are a
would be writer and this is your style: hold on! You’ll have a lot of fun!</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Do you plan all your
characters out before you start a story or do they develop as you write?</span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">
</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I only plan the main
characters, and the rest find their way into my book on their own accord.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Do you have a ritual
when it comes to writing? Example….get coffee, blanket, paper, pen, laptop and
a comfy place</span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">.</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">My ritual is to just
show up!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Do your books have a
common theme or are they all different?</span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I write romance and
therefore follow a typical path for that genre.</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">How long does it take
you to write and then edit a story? </span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Too long!</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">How do you go about
naming characters? </span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I love to choose names
that resonant with me, and I also put in several of my good friends names in my
books as a way to honor their character. (And tease them a little bit!)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">What so you see for the
future of publishing and e-books? </span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Good question, and
better answered by my publisher.</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">What are your current
books out right now, and what are the books coming up for release? </span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Burning Questions</span></i><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">, published 2007, and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">On the Rocks</i>, published 2012.</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">What do you like to do
when you’re not writing? </span></i></b></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I am an active person: I
love to golf, water and snow ski, cook, garden and read.</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Is there anything else
you would like to tell the readers we have not touched on?</span></i></b></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">One of the techniques I
use in writing my characters is to give them some sort of secret that they are
ashamed of. This secret might lead to their undoing, or it might lead them to
greater intimacy if they can learn to share it.</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Where can the readers
learn more about you and find your books on the web</span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">?
</span></b></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07191795508002036072noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3875838743924993759.post-43363939061194979472013-08-24T23:30:00.000-05:002013-08-26T07:51:06.457-05:00Richard Marranca<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Footlight MT Light","serif"; font-size: 28pt;">Richard
Marranca Explores <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Dragon Sutra</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhCPjmyfyDyuhgL8lRx8-8Qra_58nYI6s9mvKy1XUwpOrJI5WPxpIeMXLcXEo6f6VHEDxfWRA98sCh4BQaETa4pJR6T5dyStWjYgE2JYYjWumgppL5Rbs5woplfz0iqZ5VuzmuATXI4dWc/s1600/Richard_Marranca_Portrait_187x220.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhCPjmyfyDyuhgL8lRx8-8Qra_58nYI6s9mvKy1XUwpOrJI5WPxpIeMXLcXEo6f6VHEDxfWRA98sCh4BQaETa4pJR6T5dyStWjYgE2JYYjWumgppL5Rbs5woplfz0iqZ5VuzmuATXI4dWc/s200/Richard_Marranca_Portrait_187x220.jpg" width="170" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Richard Marranca has been a
writer and college teacher for about twenty-five years. He has at least 150
stories, essays, poems and interviews published. His novel, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Dragon Sutra</i>, was recently released by
Oak Tree Press and is an action/adventure/mystery/ coming of age novel that
unfolds across Southeast Asia. He also has three online books: <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">New York Interview</i> (interviews of
prominent authors, artists, scientists); <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Dragon
Café</i> (east west essays) and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Sunburst
Upanishad: Alexander in India</i> (ancient world novel). </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">His
hobbies include hiking, running, yoga, meditation, travel, museums and movies,
tennis and fencing (not much of the last two but they are in my mind). He has
had a Fulbright to teach at the University of Munich, as well as six National
Endowments for the Humanities summer study grants (Modern Japan, Andes, The
Alamo, World War II in the Pacific at East West Center Honolulu, Concord’s
Transcendentalists and High Plains Indians of Nebraska). He is president of the
New Jersey Chapter of Fulbright and a Trustee of New Jersey College English
Association. He is available to talk and give seminars on a variety of topics. <a href="http://www.richardmarranca.com/"><span style="color: blue;">Www.RichardMarranca.com</span></a> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Do
you plan all your characters out before you start a story or do they develop as
you write?</span></i></b></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Generally I write out a few major characters, a loose
outline and the theme. My novel <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Dragon
Sutra</i> is a mix of so many things: I stopped at a spa in Chiang Mai,
Thailand and got to know the family, one of whom invited me back to their
village for a few days. That gave me great insight into village life, rice
fields, religion, food, history and so on. I happened to visit a famous temple
called Wat Mahathat – it is an axis mundi for me, just amazing. I kept meeting
people there who invited me to teach at a high school for monks and invited me
to meet a lot of monks, including Computer Monk who appears in my novel. My
friend Michael Jassie, a pilot who works for the FAA, happened to know a guy
from California who moved to Phnom Penh, Cambodia and opened a hotel called –
guess what – Hotel California and California II. I stayed there and that became
the hotel, more or less, in my novel. And I met people there who got me into
things that helped me write my novel. In Yangon, Burma I met a kindly taxi
driver who really taught me a lot about his culture and toured me around. All
these disparate strands joined together, like yin yang, to create a hopefully
coherent narrative. I had most of these characters before I wrote the novel,
but a few new ones suddenly appeared while I was writing it. Years ago, I
taught creative writing at Rutgers and one of the students said creativity is
like making soup – you keep putting adding things. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">How
much research do you do for your books? Have you found any cool tidbits in your
research?</span></i></b></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">I think it’s good to do a lot of research but to know
when to put it away and write. Peter Matthiessen told me some advice on this
when he said that you don’t want to let research overwhelm your project. I also
had the good fortune to meet E. L. Doctorow – a lunch and interview. He said
that you get what you need as you go along. Yes, I think that’s how it works.
You do research, you write, you get things along the way. Along with the usual
suspects, I now use Youtube for some research – that’s a universe of
interesting lectures, programs, travelogues, imagery, etc. Cool tidbits? Let’s
see. During research and travels before I wrote my novel <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Dragon Sutra</i>, I learned that Angkor Wat had much larger human
populations than had been thought previously, making it one of the largest
civilizations in the ancient world. </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">What
are your hobbies?</span></i></b></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">I think I have too many hobbies that have both interfered
with but also enhanced my writing. They all seem to be related. I’m into
travel, yoga, meditation, running and hiking, biking, museums, movies, taking
classes and attending lectures at the Jung Foundation or Open Center in NYC,
fencing (which I rarely do), tennis and more. I’ve come to the conclusion that
it’s bad for people who live in their head to not know how to do mechanical
stuff – work with their hands. So lately I’ve been getting into working on my
building. I’m trying to learn how to put up tile. I like the ancient aura of
working with cement and tile. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">If
you had to choose one person to have dinner with, who would it be? And why?</span></i></b></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">I can, like most people, get very grandiose if I think
of history: Cleopatra, Alexander the Great, Buddha, Jesus, Cesar, Akhenaton or
the very mysterious Lao Tzu. I teach a section of world history or humanities I
each semester. But let’s stay real here. I’d just be very happy to have dinner
with Woody Allen. I’ve grown up on his movies. They encouraged a kind of zany
humor and philosophical reach. A while back, I was walking near Washington
Square and met an actress who was in my very amateurish film, which was part of
my dissertation at NYU. She told me she had a small role in the film being shot
by Woody Allen, just a few minutes away. I looked up and saw the lights and the
people mulling about. I thought: I’d be happy to have even a tiny role in that
movie or get to talk to him. I have a somewhat Buddhist view of things and
don’t get caught up in images and things we create in our head. So this is just
a passing fantasy for me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Do
you recall how your interest in writing originated?</span></i></b></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">My mom used to read Dr. Seuss stories to me. My dad
used to make up stories based on Jack London. When I began writing in earnest
in my early twenties, it was probably my curiosity with many subjects that
drove me toward writing. </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Do
you have a ritual when it comes to writing? Example….get coffee, blanket,
paper, pen and a comfy place.</span></i></b></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">I was just thinking about this because I’m writing an
essay on creativity for my self-help book, and I came across an interview I did
with the poet David Trinidad who told me that he copied the character played by
Jack Lemon in some movie who used to light a candle and say “magic time.”
Ideally, I like to do some yoga or a walk or read before I write, but I’m not
fixated on that. I just wake up and write, or return home at night and write.
Because of more chaos, more teaching and being on the board of a few organizations,
I’ve had to really train myself to just write and edit wherever I am, no matter
the noise level. I write in Barnes and Noble or local cafes and such. I do
carry earplugs once in a while though. I try to be like a journalist who just
has to write. </span></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">For a long time, I used to write at the desk in my
apartment, but for some reason, a few months ago I completely changed: I write
sitting on my bed now with my computer elevated on a box with a piece of marble
across it. It just happened that way. I was thinking too that it’s just more
comfortable with all that bed around me. Maybe I was influenced by some
articles about the dangers of too much sitting, which is constricting for the
legs. </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">If
you could be one of your characters - Who would you be? And why?</span></i></b></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">I’d like to be Jason, the protagonist in my novel <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Dragon Sutra</i>. He’s sort of a younger
version of me and did something I would love to have done. He went off into
Asia just after college graduation and got involved in a romance but also great
adventure and mystery. I’ve done a lot of travel, but I regret staying around
my home area when I graduated and not venturing out into the world. Adventure
and living abroad is a lot better than a bunch of mediocre jobs and goofing off
with friends, or even part time teaching, which is what I had done. </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Can
you please give us a sneak peek at any of your upcoming books? </span></i></b></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Just after my novel got published, I wrote a vampire
story to complete a collection of stories, followed by a self-help book based
on ten chapters: creativity, nature, passion/love, occupation, friends, family,
home, travel and the hero’s quest, spiritual traditions and health. It’s
loosely based on Taoism but heavy on Positive Psychology, Buddhism, Greek
philosophy, Leonardo, holistic health and common sense. I got the idea because
last winter I visited Cali, Columbia. My friend mixed up the schedule, so I was
stuck at the airport late all night, where I went into the bookstore and found
one magazine in English, “Yoga International.” I opened it by chance to an
excerpt on Taoism by Huston Smith, who I am friends with and interviewed years
ago. It was a Eureka moment. Go with the flow, be natural, don’t look for
destinations, maybe the outcome is good maybe not – who knows, and wu wei (take
it easy, be mindful), etc. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">When
you have writer's block how do you break free?</span></i></b></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">I think I do enough running, yoga and meditation that
I don’t suffer from writer’s block. If anything, I teach so much and sometimes
lack the time to write enough. I’ve had to develop a more spontaneous way of
writing that makes a good thing out of a bad thing: lack of time. Writer’s
block is usually based on fear or perfectionism. I fear heights and other
things, but not the writing process or product. So I think: just write. We’re
not astronauts going into orbit or brain surgeons with a patient whose life is
in our hands. </span></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Years ago, I recall reading an essay by a Jungian
therapist on writer’s block, and she made the point that the writer is just in
a less active state and needs time to build up energy and images. So there’s
generally no writer’s block in most cases. Your unconscious might be stalling
for a good reason. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">How
can readers find out more about you and your books?</span></i></b></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">I have a website, <a href="http://www.richardmarranca.com/"><span style="color: blue;">www.RichardMarranca.com</span></a>, which has some
writings and photographs from travels in Asia, the Middle East, Europe and
Latin America. I’m also giving some upcoming talks in New Jersey, such as at
the Cranford Library in early September 2013. I also, along with regular
teaching, teach online creative writing from time to time. I also have three
online books: <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Dragon Café</i> (East West
Essays); <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Sunburst Upanishad</i>
(about Alexander the Great in India); and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">New
York Interviews</i> (a collection of artists, writers, scientists and more). <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Is there anyone who really mentored or
inspired you to keep writing until you were finally published?</span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Jack
Murphy was an early mentor, who died around fifteen years ago. He was a
neighbor and a professor who happened to pass my parents house and noticed that
it was one of the few in the neighborhood with beautiful trees and bushes and a
garden – my father’s doing. So he had that in mind when we happened to meet
when I was walking my dog; I got to be friends with his wife and kids too. He
brilliantly and selflessly helped me early on as a reader of my stories and as
an advisor for graduate school. He was a practical genius and a professor of
education, and he showed me and many others the best and quickest path. He was
always anxious to help others reach find their path. It all seems easy now, but
back then it was unclear. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9ioAswV7kX2372OdOVhpfPpuxfxpD0qTfWAX6az3UxkfB7Z5TIohZBQpnE6R3oObN1vRHYNKgywmIuv6yaEGvIlVZg8HynF-03WTpdx74-FlIrdKM5rE_DQ2M5_ypztDezyyTHdFyS661/s1600/DragonSutra-300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9ioAswV7kX2372OdOVhpfPpuxfxpD0qTfWAX6az3UxkfB7Z5TIohZBQpnE6R3oObN1vRHYNKgywmIuv6yaEGvIlVZg8HynF-03WTpdx74-FlIrdKM5rE_DQ2M5_ypztDezyyTHdFyS661/s200/DragonSutra-300.jpg" width="133" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">While wandering around Asia</span></i><span style="font-size: 14pt;">, Jason comes to Cambodia, where he’s drawn into a
dangerous underworld and political violence. He and Rachany, a beautiful woman
he met at the Russian Market, are pursued by a mysterious foe. They flee across
Cambodia, Laos and Thailand through exotic tribes, ancient cities... and end up
in Burma’s rebellion. The beauty and luster of passion and love is
counterpointed by the darkness of the criminal underworld and the Cambodian
holocaust. Will the fateful past destroy Jason and Rachany? Will their
affections flower amidst the corruption and violence?</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><a href="http://oaktreebooks.com/Shop%20OTP.htm#BCD" target="_blank">OakPress</a>
/ <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Dragon-Sutra-Richard-Marranca/dp/1610090888/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1375493863&sr=1-1&keywords=dragon+sutra+by+richard+marranca" target="_blank">Amazon</a> </span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07191795508002036072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3875838743924993759.post-7081745633754571232013-08-17T23:30:00.000-05:002013-08-19T19:22:23.091-05:00Shirley Skufca Hickman<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoListParagraph" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Footlight MT Light","serif"; font-size: 26pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Relive Coal Mining with Shirley Skufca
Hickman<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt;"></span><br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnDDXPIFE4vG8OZiSH1PYgPx5rSKbp8ZxpMC3tCeg1uunGc2SYuTLFB-DfdNFBChKZIDp1tYbM5292DNX5ob1wWLoHH0SFvjIh5TJTgjO9nQ2QBt_edoqVBvYUBwh9kKX2LIe0LkB_PKNG/s1600/Shirley+Hickman.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnDDXPIFE4vG8OZiSH1PYgPx5rSKbp8ZxpMC3tCeg1uunGc2SYuTLFB-DfdNFBChKZIDp1tYbM5292DNX5ob1wWLoHH0SFvjIh5TJTgjO9nQ2QBt_edoqVBvYUBwh9kKX2LIe0LkB_PKNG/s200/Shirley+Hickman.jpg" width="135" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-add-space: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-add-space: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt;">Shirley Skufca Hickman was brought up in
a Colorado coal mining town and wrote about those early years in her first
book. She graduated with a B.A. from Western State College in Gunnison,
Colorado and later earned two Master of Arts Degrees. Hickman founded the
Porterville Writer’s Workshop and has published poetry and prize winning
nonfiction. She makes her home in Central California.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt;">How
much research do you do for your books? Have you found any cool tidbits in your
research?</span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt;">Since <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Sarah Darlin’</i> takes place during the Gold Rush in San Francisco, I
did extensive research about the period. Tom McGuire, who hires Sarah and her
family to work in his Jenny Lind Theater, was a real person. I combined real
people and fictional characters.</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt;">I used the Internet for earlier
books and found a 1942 Montgomery Ward Christmas catalog and a Croatian dictionary.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt;">Do
you recall how your interest in writing originated?</span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt;">As
a child, I loved to read and planned to write a book when I grew older. I told myself,
“You have to remember what happens so you can write about it.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt;">How
does your family feel about having a writer in the family? </span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt;">They are proud, supportive and
buy my books. When I was writing about our family in an earlier book, my
sisters said, “Write whatever you remember and we’ll swear that’s how it
happened.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt;">When
did you first decide to submit your work? Please tell us who encouraged you to
take this big step.</span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt;">I self-published my first book
because I wanted to sell it at a town reunion and trying to find a traditional
publisher would take too long. I also self published my second book for the
same reason. Both books won awards.</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt;">I entered <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Sarah Darlin’</i> in an Oak Tree Press’s romance writing contest and
won first prize. When they published my book, it was a turning point in my
career. I now have an outstanding editor and a marketing advisor.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt;">When
you have writer’s block, how do you break free?</span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt;">I don’t have writer’s block, but
I am a perfectionist and worry that my writing might not be good enough. It has
taken many years, but finally I’ve given myself permission to make mistakes and
not be perfect. It’s a liberating feeling.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt;">Do
you have a critique group? If so, how does this help or hinder you?</span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt;">I taught a Creative Writing class
at our community college and from this initial group we formed the Porterville
Writer’s Workshop. We meet at my house every Wednesday. The members are an
invaluable support system. I would never have become a published writer without
their constructive criticism.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt;">Is
there anyone who mentored or inspired you to keep writing until you were
finally published?</span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt;">Marilyn
Meredith has taught me all I know about publishing and is a dear friend.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt;">What
was your first published work and when was it published?</span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt;">In 2000 I self-published, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Don’t Be Give Up</i>, a nonfiction book
about my family during World War II. I am still selling copies of it.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt;">How
can readers find out more about you and your books?</span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt;">Amazon
Author Page:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Shirley-Skufca-Hickman/e/B00BFGEY7I/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1375492717&sr=1-1"><span style="color: blue;">http://www.amazon.com/Shirley-Skufca-Hickman/e/B00BFGEY7I/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1375492717&sr=1-1</span></a>
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt;">Can
you please give us a sneak peek at any of your upcoming books?</span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt;">My
novel, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Fall in Love with an Orange Tree
or a Book,</i> is about young illegal immigrants and the shadow world in which
they live. The title comes from a former student’s mother who told her, “I
brought you to the best country in the world. Fall in love with an orange tree
or a book. By this she meant, work in the fields or get an education. Her
daughter made her choice and went to college. She is now the Director of
Migrant Education in our community. Although the book is fiction, everything in
it has happened to someone I know. </span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCJlP2vmB_WQhNQ-gPpn2fLr6AwHDmVaYNHiLy0WAOxNiAyv1QMTLJV-YZAhSh3xuJ3NrjdPtoisLTEvMpbQI-cesKlJLasAoTynkdNDGmdkwC8RCkqfCw8baFJbnkWWbI8jo8g2w4WtXL/s1600/Sarah+Cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCJlP2vmB_WQhNQ-gPpn2fLr6AwHDmVaYNHiLy0WAOxNiAyv1QMTLJV-YZAhSh3xuJ3NrjdPtoisLTEvMpbQI-cesKlJLasAoTynkdNDGmdkwC8RCkqfCw8baFJbnkWWbI8jo8g2w4WtXL/s200/Sarah+Cover.jpg" width="130" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt;"><em>English aristocrat, Richard
Moresby, travels to the California</em> gold fields hoping to make a fortune to
reclaim his ancestral estate. But when he meets spirited Sarah O’Malley, an actress
at the Jenny Lind Theater, his thoughts of England begin to fade.</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt;">Accustomed to rebuffing male
attentions in 1850s San Francisco, Sarah is surprised to find Richard intrigues
and excites her, but she knows Moresby’s rakish reputation and fears damaging
hers, so she rebuffs him.</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt;">Moresby persists, and continues
to pursue her, but before they can declare their love, they must deal with
prejudice, a murder trial, a lynching party, a fire at the Jenny Lind and a terrible
secret from Sarah’s past.</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: center; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt;"></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt;"><a href="http://www.oaktreebooks.com/" target="_blank">OakTreePress</a> / <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Sarah-Darlin-Shirley-Skufca-Hickman/dp/1610090411/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1376872274&sr=8-1&keywords=sarah+darlin" target="_blank">Amazon</a></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07191795508002036072noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3875838743924993759.post-27228683043735456782013-08-10T23:30:00.000-05:002013-08-10T23:30:00.711-05:00Lesley Diehl
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Footlight MT Light","serif"; font-size: 36pt;">Lesley Diehl
Gets Cozy with Mystery</span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzKCq8LPSwc_eZ8ZZHjRfNo7e6SaK3OFz4R8hALAfjaVAf1MuZwCybqyQhn49phJ74Lci40_gyhS3Sn5Ny6kiPSdE1UR0VgSdKLUAz1iExP_eri8FzNIyXuUpPSP_YmDj1RUTj37l4vGPQ/s1600/8873_small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzKCq8LPSwc_eZ8ZZHjRfNo7e6SaK3OFz4R8hALAfjaVAf1MuZwCybqyQhn49phJ74Lci40_gyhS3Sn5Ny6kiPSdE1UR0VgSdKLUAz1iExP_eri8FzNIyXuUpPSP_YmDj1RUTj37l4vGPQ/s200/8873_small.jpg" width="132" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Lesley Diehl retired from her
life as a professor of psychology and reclaimed her country roots by moving to
a small cottage in the Butternut River Valley in upstate New York.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the winter she migrates to old Florida—cowboys,
scrub palmetto, and open fields of grazing cattle, a place where spurs still
jingle in the post office, and gators make golf a contact sport.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Back north, the shy ghost inhabiting the
cottage serves as her literary muse.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>When not writing, she gardens, cooks and renovates the 1874 cottage with
the help of her husband, two cats, and, of course, Fred the ghost, who gives
artistic direction to their work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She is
author of several short stories and several mystery series: the microbrewing
mystery series set in the Butternut Valley (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">A
Deadly Draught</i> and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Poisoned Pairings</i>)
and a rural Florida series, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Dumpster
Dying</i> and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Grilled, Killed and Chilled</i>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She recently signed a three-book deal with
Camel Press for The Consignment Shop Murders including <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">A Secondhand Murder</i>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For
something more heavenly, try her mystery <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Angel
Sleuth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></i>Several of her short stories
have been published by Untreedreads including one (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Murder with All the Trimmings</i>) in the original Thanksgiving
anthology <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Killer Wore Cranberry</i>
and another (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Mashed in the Potatoes</i>)
in the second anthology <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Killer Wore
Cranberry: A Second Helping</i>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She
invites readers to visit her on her blog and website:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><a href="http://www.lesleydiehl.com/"><span style="color: blue;">www.lesleydiehl.com</span></a>
/ <a href="http://anotherdraught.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: blue;">http://anotherdraught.blogspot.com</span></a>
</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Please
tell us your latest news!<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<br />
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">I signed a three book contract with Camel Press.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The first <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">A
Secondhand Murder </i>will be released in September and I’m very excited about
it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The protagonist, Eve Appel, first
appeared in a short story I wrote for Mystery Writers of America Sleuthfest
2009 short story contest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I won first
place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yippee!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But most important, I found Eve would not let
go of my imagination, and I knew she had to become the main character in a series.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is called the Eve Appel Mystery
Series.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The second book will come out
sometime in 2014 with the tentative title <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Dead
in the Water.</i> Here’s a bit about Eve’s first appearance in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">A Secondhand Murder:</i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.25in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">T<em>here’s something odd about a fashionista from
Connecticut who chooses to open an upscale consignment shop in rural Florida,
but Eve<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>wants to get as far from her bad
marriage as she can.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Selling clothing of
once-wealthy, Madoff-injured society matrons to the thrift-conscious seems like
her kind of therapy until she discovers the body of one of her West Palm
clients on the dressing room floor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not
only do the police come calling, but soon her husband, the victim’s financially
strapped family and friends, a hunky private eye with too much sex appeal to be
honest, and a mob boss from Boston complicate her life more than Christmas
shopping at Neiman-Marcus.</em><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">How
much research do you do for your books? Have you found any cool tidbits in your
research?<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<br />
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">I do a lot of research for my books, most of it
fun.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For example, for the second book in
the Eve Appel Mystery series, I took an airboat ride through the swamps of
Florida.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For the third book I’ll be
visiting a game reserve in rural Florida so that I know something about sports
shooting on private reserves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s a
very popular pastime there and I know little about it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For another series set in Florida I’m
researching mud bog racing or mudding, a sport requiring a 4 wheel drive truck
and a lot of dirt mixed with water, aka mud.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>There’s a festival near where I live in Florida, but it costs like crazy
to get in and is attended mostly by beer guzzling guys and naked babes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think I’ll stick to the videos on the
internet.</span></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">I know a bit about brewing beer because I spent time
in microbreweries, picking the brew masters’ minds about the process to write
my series about a woman brewer in upstate New York.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s a great setting for murder.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My protagonists in my Florida books also like
to go to country bars and dance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So do
I, so that research is easy.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">What
main genre do you write in?<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<br />
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">I write cozy mysteries, most of them humorous.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I do this because I can entertain myself as I
write.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I find no point to writing
something that doesn’t tickle me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>That’s only part true.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The mircrobrewing
series is cozy but serious.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And of
course I throw some romance into all my work.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">What
are your hobbies?<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<br />
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">I go a fitness center and work out, a necessary
pastime to keep winkles and sags away from my doorstep.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But then I counter all that sweating,
grunting and groaning by cooking.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hubby
and I like to take turns at this, and we also cook together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our favorite dish is bouillabaisse.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While researching my microbrewing series, I Iearned
to respect the many kinds of beer and love cooking with them. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I especially like making sweet dishes using
stout.</span></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">My Big Lake Murder Mystery series set in Florida
features a retired preschool teacher turned bartender.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To be certain my character can mix a mean
martini, I’ve had to learn some mixology skills myself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I make a dandy Cosmo or pomegranate Cosmo.</span></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">I have a small garden which is being drowned this
summer by all the rain, but I think I’ll get some nice crops of lettuce, beans
and peas.</span></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">I read (too much, not enough sleep) and love to hike
or go for long walks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We will be going
to Nova Scotia in the fall.</span></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">I do some decorating, but on a budget.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I buy many items at yard sales and
consignment shops.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I take the adage
“Never pay full price” seriously. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This
is one hobby that fed nicely into my newest series with Eve Appel as the part
owner of a consignment shop.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I do
research weekly.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Do
you write full time? What did you do before you became a writer? Or Still do?<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<br />
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">As I said before, I was a psychologist.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I taught at the college level for 27 years
and was a college administrator for several.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I found I liked being in the classroom with students a lot more than
sitting in the boardroom with other administrators which usually is a big
snooze.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Since the students one teaches
never age from year to year, it kept me young.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Sometimes I regret retiring from the academic life so early; I still
have dreams about being in the classroom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I have many friends that were once students.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s really wonderful being able to watch
them achieve in their chosen careers and rewarding to think I might have played
a small part in that.</span></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Finding the writing life so rewarding caught me by
surprise.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had written many scientific
papers and had to relearn how to write creatively, but I embraced the
process.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I get a real chuckle out of
developing complex plots and crating unique characters, and I draw on my
background to make these people humans you’d like to meet or love to hate.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">What
is your writing process? Do you outline, fly by the seat of your pants or a
combination of both?<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<br />
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">I always wrote by the seat of my pants until I signed
the three book contract.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Because of the
deadlines for the second two books, I decided I needed to outline to rely on,
so I developed one for book two.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It
helped, gave me direction and jump started my writing when I’d left off for a
time, but I violated that outline so much that when I read it now, it doesn’t
look like the same book.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I will also
create an outline for book three.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I find
it’s a useful crutch.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Do
you have a ritual when it comes to writing? Example….get coffee, blanket,
paper, pen and a comfy place.<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<br />
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">I get up, have my coffee while I read the paper and go
over emails.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I eat breakfast, then do
promoting, e/g/ setting up programs, readings, signings, writing blogs,
replying to emails.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I then do yard work,
go off to work out, and have lunch.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Oh
right, when do I write?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Usually in the
afternoons, and if I have difficulty getting into it, I clean out a closet or
do some laundry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Physical organization of
this sort usually clears my head so I can have a successful afternoon of
writing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I write quickly and wish I had
taken that touch typing course in high school.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I am the world’s worst on a keyboard, redoing what I’ve put on a page
takes forever.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I usually do a chapter,
10 to 12 pages, in two sittings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I go
back and revise that chapter before I go ahead to another.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By the time I have an entire rough draft,
I’ve revised it many times.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I send out a
chapter at a time to my critique partner.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>When I get back her suggestions, I revise that chapter.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">If
you could be one of your characters - Who would you be? And why?<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<br />
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">I love Eve Appel because she’s such a spicy gal, and
she’s tall and slender, something I’ve always wanted to be.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She has quite a mouth on her, not for
profanity, but for saying whatever comes into her mind at the time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She has few social graces and must rely on
her partner, Madeleine, to smooth over hurt feelings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She’s smart, wise, impulsive and fun, has
wonderful taste in shoes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I too love
shoes, but with my chubby feet I can’t wear the spikey, strappy sandals she
does.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lucky girl, and she can even run
in them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She loves clothes and has a
nose for a bargain, something she learned from me.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Can
you please give us a sneak peek at any of your upcoming books?<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<br />
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Here’s a peek at the first in the Eve Appel Mystery
series:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.25in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><em>She pinned us with a very cop like gaze. “My first
case as a detective and it has to concern you two.” The expression on her face
said she wasn’t happy with us and was certain we were to blame for the incident.
<o:p></o:p></em></span></div>
<em>
</em><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.25in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><em>“It’s not our fault,” I said.<o:p></o:p></em></span></div>
<em>
</em><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.25in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><em>“We didn’t do it.” Madeleine shook her head.<o:p></o:p></em></span></div>
<em>
</em><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.25in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><em>“Maybe, but where the two of you are, there’s bound to
be trouble.” <o:p></o:p></em></span></div>
<em>
</em><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.25in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><em>She was, of course, referring to the incident at the
spring rodeo in town. Somehow Madeleine’s curiosity about the bulls for the
bull riding event led us to the pens where someone—I’d bet my share of the
store on it being Madeleine—fell onto a lever or something. The gate swung open
and about ten bulls stampeded through the rodeo arena and the fairgrounds,
knocking over concession stands, leaping onto the merry-go-round and running
off into the scrub until the cowboys rounded them up. <o:p></o:p></em></span></div>
<em>
</em><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.25in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><em>For a tiny person—Madeleine was only five two—she was
very clumsy, except on the dance floor where she moved like a ballerina. Off
the dance floor she moved like a tiny elephant on speed. Although my appearance
was unusual for these parts, six feet without my strappy stilettos and spiky
blonde hair—or maybe it was just unusual in general—I wasn’t clumsy or accident
prone. I was Madeleine’s friend and, by association, Frida might think of the
two of us together.<o:p></o:p></em></span></div>
<br />
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">When
you have writer's block how do you break free?<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<br />
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">I’m not aware of ever having writer’s block.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sometimes I feel it’s hard to begin writing
on a chapter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To jump start my writing,
I’ll reread the chapter before which usually puts me in the mood for
continuing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At other times, I know I
just need to let the writing go for a few days or even weeks until the muse
visits again, sometimes at four in the morning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>My muse is the ghost who inhabits our 1874 cottage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His name is Fred and he has a sense of humor
that rivals mine except he likes to play practical jokes like setting our truck
on fire.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think he does this to get
attention.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Is
there a genre of book you would like to write but haven't yet?<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<br />
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">I have two traditional mysteries begun, but not
completed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One of them has a lot of dark
humor in it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’d love to get back to
them someday.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">What
would be the best way for readers contact you? Do you have a website? Email
address? MySpace site? Blog? Message Board? Group?<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<br />
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">My website is <a href="http://www.lesleydiehl.com/"><span style="color: blue;">www.lesleydiehl.com</span></a>
and I can be contacted through my email at <a href="mailto:lesdieh60@aol.com"><span style="color: blue;">lesdieh60@aol.com</span></a><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I also like readers to visit my blog which
features some interesting interviews with other writers, bits of information
about writing and meanderings about my life.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">What
is the best and worst advice you have ever received?<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<br />
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Everybody who writes gets the same advice: Write about
what you know.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I did that and wrote a mystery
about a dead college president and a psychologist determined to solve the
case.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That was deadly dull.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sometimes what you know isn’t so captivating.
Or, as in my case, what I knew I didn’t know how to write well.</span></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">The best advice I got about writing was another writer
advising me to join Sisters in Crime and the subgroup Guppies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That changed my writing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I learned from them how to write mysteries.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Reaching out to other writers is absolutely
necessary for information and for sanity.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Do
you belong to a critique group? If so, how does this help or hinder you?<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<br />
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">I have joined a number of critique groups.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The best one was one a fellow writer (now my
critique partner, Jan Day Fehrman) and I started when I moved to Okeechobee,
Florida.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was called the Okeechobee
Writers league and is still in existence.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Glenn and I belonged for about five years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The best thing about the group was that we
established procedures for how the group would run early in its existence.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We had a clearly stated goal, guidelines for
how we presented material to the group and how feedback was delivered.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sometimes these guidelines were violated, but
we always came back to them to center ourselves and what we wanted to
accomplish.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think determining what the
goal of the group is early is the most important aspect of a critique group.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">What's
your favorite genre to read?<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<br />
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Mysteries, of course.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">When
did you first decide to submit your work? Please, tell us what or who
encouraged you to take this big step.<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<br />
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Someone told me to start calling myself I writer
because I wrote and to tell others I was a writer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So I figured if I’m a writer, I need to find
an outlet for my writing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I knew I was
writing for an audience and not only myself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I began submitting my work to agents and going to conferences to
solidify my identity as a writer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Winning the Sleuthfest short story contest in 2009 was a turning point
for me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It gave me confidence that
others found my writing worthy of notice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>After numerous rejections from agents, I found a small publisher, then
another, then another.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then I got an
agent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I always do things
backwards.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now I’m considering self-
publishing several books.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Backwards,
right?</span></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"></span> </div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
</div>
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt;">Spunky and outspoken Eve Appel</span></i><span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt;"> moves from Connecticut to rural Florida
intent on starting a new life, free of drama, and more importantly, her
soon-to-be ex-husband. The rural Florida town of Sabal Bay, situated only an
hour from West Palm, proves to be the perfect spot for her consignment store.
Thanks to the recent economic downturn, Florida's society matrons need a place
to discreetly sell their stuff and pick up expensive-looking bargains. But
Eve's life, and her business with it, is turned upside down when a wealthy
customer is found stabbed to death in a fitting room.</span></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt;">As accusations fly and business slows, Eve
decides to take matters into her own hands. With the help of an unlikely bunch
of friends--including her estranged ex, her best friend, a handsome private
eye, and a charming mafia don--she struggles to find answers and save lives.
Through a maze of distorted half-truths, dramatic cover-ups, and unrequited
passions, Eve learns just how far the wealthy will go to regain what they have
lost.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><a href="tp://camelpress.com/" target="_blank">CamelPress</a> / <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Secondhand-Murder-Lesley-Diehl/dp/1603819355/ref=sr_1_9?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1375491867&sr=1-9&keywords=lesley+diehl" target="_blank">Amazon</a></span></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</span><div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07191795508002036072noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3875838743924993759.post-47285195054321372992013-08-03T23:30:00.000-05:002013-08-03T23:30:01.244-05:00Mary Webb
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 24pt;">Former Newspaper Reporter Mary Webb<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMlgviPRPVw1kyUDsnNmgi44TAvIqt91V35ZUnO1gBoBTdkxIqCfRvs5rmeNU0Ur5kbaV4y-wMBnu2U3ElQkIy4t2XWdgXpJoLwemWENfEfEStBnsrH0p544mTlZkMs2zFjj_du1J4wYAO/s1600/L1450593.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMlgviPRPVw1kyUDsnNmgi44TAvIqt91V35ZUnO1gBoBTdkxIqCfRvs5rmeNU0Ur5kbaV4y-wMBnu2U3ElQkIy4t2XWdgXpJoLwemWENfEfEStBnsrH0p544mTlZkMs2zFjj_du1J4wYAO/s200/L1450593.JPG" width="150" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Mary
Webb is a former newspaper reporter turned high school English teacher. She is
a proud native New Orleanian.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">She
has written for <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The San Antonio
Express-News, The (New Orleans) Times-Picayune, The (Monroe, LA) News-Star, The
(Memphis) Commercial Appeal, The Associated Press’ Denver Bureau, The (Houma,
LA) Courier, </i>and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Denton
Record-Chronicle. </i>Currently, she teaches English at Lake Area New Tech
Early College High School in New Orleans. Previously, she also taught English in
Iberia and St. Mary parishes, as well as in Dallas, TX. She resides in New
Orleans with her two children, Quentin and Jory, the subjects of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Summer of Superheroes and the Making of
Iron Boy. </i>This<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> </i>is her first
published novel.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">She
blogs routinely about the crazy antics of her kids at ironmommy.webs.com.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Mary
is a graduate of Xavier University of Louisiana where she received a bachelor
of arts in Mass Communication with a concentration in print journalism.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Could you please start by telling us a
little about yourself?</span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">I’m
a former newspaper reporter turned high school English teacher. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Summer of Superheroes and the Making of
Iron Boy</i> is my first literary offering. I self-published it 2011, but it
was re-released in e-book form through Whiskey Creek Press this past February.
It’s the story of my son Quentin’s 18-month leukemia and how he became the
world’s first-ever cord and placental blood transplant recipient, courtesy of
my newborn daughter Jory, who was his donor. She was an unexpected pregnancy. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">I
continue to write about them and their crazy antics in my weekly blog at <a href="http://www.ironmommy.webs.com/"><span style="color: blue;">www.ironmommy.webs.com</span></a>.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Please tell us your latest news!</span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Whoops!
I’m not even a high school English teacher anymore, having signed a contract
today to work as an instructional interventionist at the middle school level.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Also,
I’m working on my second book, tentatively titled <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Daddy’s Little Woman</i>. Trying my hand at fiction this time around.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">How does your family feel about having a
writer in the family? Do they read your books?</span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">I
think, by now, it’s normal for them. As my father would say, I write my life
away. I think they think it’s neat, but it’s just so me, that no true extra
attention is paid to it. Perhaps if I were to gain some notoriety, they’d be
mystified that the rest of the world sat up and took notice. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">That’s
not to say that they aren’t supportive. And, yes, they do read my books. My
little sister Christine said the first draft of the first chapter of the book
I’m working on had her at her office desk past 5 p.m. on a Friday, sobbing. I
think that’s one of the highest compliments anyone has ever paid my writing.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">What are your hobbies?</span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">I’m
a voracious reader (or would be if I had unlimited time). I love movies and
music. And, I love hanging out with my family and friends, but especially my
kids.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Do you recall how your interest in
writing originated?</span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">I
think it started with a diary my mother bought me as a souvenir from
Disneyland. Writing about what happened to be on any given day simply appealed
to me, and it seemed I could weave a tale and go on for pages about even the
most mundane of days. I kept a diary well into adulthood, but also excelled in
composition classes. Had it not been for a college professor, I don’t think it
would have ever occurred to me that’s how I wanted to make my living. I had
taken a black and white photography class to satisfy my art requirement. I
decided to apply my “skills” and get my money’s worth out such an expensive
class by working for the school newspaper. I picked up a few writing
assignments, and the newspaper’s coordinator took notice. He told me I wrote a
whole lot better than I took pictures. That resonated with me, and I went and
changed my major for the umpteenth, but final time, to Mass Communication with
a concentration in print journalism. I knew there was a book or two in me
somewhere down the line.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">What is your writing process? Do you
outline, fly by the seat of your pants or a combination of both?</span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Mostly,
I’m fly by the seat of my pants, though I hate to refer to my practice in such
a unorganized sort of way. I prefer to think of it as allowing my creative
juices to flow or allowing the characters to be who they are. I’d hate to think
that the beautiful prose and the unbelievably poetic lines Toni Morrison spills
on her pages are the result of stodgy outlines, though for all I know, they
could be. </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Who is your perfect hero? And why?</span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">My
son Quentin is my perfect hero, my Iron Boy, because he handled cancer like a
true champion. It may have weakened his body, but never his spirit, and I
learned more than I ever have through any other experience about how to live
life. All this from a 5-year-old.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">What would be the best way for readers
contact you? Do you have a website? Email address? MySpace site? Blog? Message
Board? Group?</span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Readers
can reach me at <a href="mailto:lolacorolla@hotmail.com"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">lolacorolla@hotmail.com</span></a>
or on Facebook at <a href="http://www.facebook.com/mary.webb.7737"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">www.facebook.com/mary.webb.7737</span></a>
or they can leave me a comment at <a href="http://www.ironmommy.webs.com/"><span style="color: blue;">www.ironmommy.webs.com</span></a>.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Do you belong to a critique group? If
so, how does this help or hinder you?</span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">I
belong to a writer’s group called MelaNated Writers Collective, which is made
up a group of writer phenoms in New Orleans. As one of the newest members, I
have yet to submit anything to be workshopped. I can’t decide if I’m being shy,
which is so not me, or deferring to longer-term members and waiting my turn
patiently. Could be I’m just being chicken poo and need to throw the work out
there, as it can only help me.<o:p></o:p> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">What was your first published work and
when was it published?</span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">My
first published work was a story that ran in the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">San Antonio Express-News</i> about a family killed in an automobile
accident. It was an unfortunate event, obviously, but I was honored to write it
and to have the Metro editor have enough faith in an unproven intern to assign
it to me. It made the front page of the Metro section.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"></span> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
<br />
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07191795508002036072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3875838743924993759.post-63444469481821515942013-07-27T23:30:00.000-05:002013-07-27T23:30:00.742-05:00Elaine Busby
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 22pt;">NW Emmy
Nominated Elaine Busby Answers</span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 22pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Burning
Questions On The Rocks</i><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeOXAItQLHb3_A0UqC1n8ncT_sq93mAHg5d-IzX3-3_B8FFWbQNKxe-Paw61safL7zfzNqGcN9lOgVSB0kpG8mN4oLn7oEQ1t4kfiBEe5DA_p4mv-PpIDL_RRLwtqUyLMSjjYVVhbmx8no/s1600/IMG_1925.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeOXAItQLHb3_A0UqC1n8ncT_sq93mAHg5d-IzX3-3_B8FFWbQNKxe-Paw61safL7zfzNqGcN9lOgVSB0kpG8mN4oLn7oEQ1t4kfiBEe5DA_p4mv-PpIDL_RRLwtqUyLMSjjYVVhbmx8no/s200/IMG_1925.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Elaine Busby is an accomplished television
professional with more than thirty years experience from hosting PM Magazine to
creating her own NW Emmy nominated shows.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Her first novel, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Burning Questions</i>
was the winner of the 2005 Timeless Love Contest.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="question" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Could you please start by telling us a
little about yourself? </span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Some people think I have a
double identity – but being a Gemini, that goes with the territory. My “Page,
screen and in-between name is Elaine Busby” – my maiden name which I use for my
writing and on camera work. My married name is Thompson – and in that role I am
mother, wife and youth leader at my church.</span></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Do you plan all your characters out
before you start a story or do they develop as you write? </span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">I use the fine art of
synchronicity to develop my plot and characters, meaning I start with a basic
idea for the book, and my characters manage to get themselves in and out of
interesting situations.</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">How does your family feel about having a
writer in the family? Do they read your books? </span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">My family is very
supportive and only those older than 16 really read my romance – but if I can
get my husband to cry at the ending, I know I have succeeded!</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">What are your hobbies? </span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">I have a passion for the
outdoors – I golf, waterski and spend a lot of time at the Oregon Coast.</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">If you had to choose one person to have
dinner with, who would it be? And why? </span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">My husband! I love being
alone with the man I make my life with. There is always plenty to talk about
and enjoy together. Life is too short.</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Do you recall how your interest in
writing originated? </span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">I have always had the “bug”
– but spent many years in television writing feature stories and news. From
there, I learned to get at the “heart” of a story, which helps when you are
trying to condense scenes and information down to what matters to the reader
and moves the story forward.</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Do you write full time? What did you do
before you became a writer? Or Still do? </span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">I wear many hats, one of
them being a writer. I generally write in the mornings, before the rest of my
life wakes up!</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Can you please give us a sneak peek at
any of your upcoming books? </span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Having spent many years
having backyard chickens, I am inspired to bring “my girls” into a romance!</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Is there a genre of book you would like
to write but haven't yet? </span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Yes, I would like to write
contemporary fiction. </span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">What would be the best way for readers
contact you? Do you have a website? Email address? MySpace site? Blog? Message
Board? Group? </span></i></b></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 1em 0in 1em 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">©<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><a href="mailto:Elaine@elainebusby.com"><span style="color: blue;">Elaine@elainebusby.com</span></a><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 1em 0in 1em 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">©<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><a href="http://www.elainebusby.com/">www.elainebusby.com</a> </span></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Do deadlines help or hinder your muse? </span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Deadlines are good for me,
having spent many years in the news (although I missed yours for this – ouch!!)</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">What was your first published work and
when was it published? </span></i></b></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Burning Questions</span></i><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> was my first book, published in 2007</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqGV_u6iHORhT0WMA6f5GlyMTdhbfc8eDpXf_dBGrsDlOpI-TI4WyE9h3CWR1QqjW6YvLGczVxZ8g_UQGmD0_c7rLx-1g7uYTkJbSc6thuHKwnk_6C6kUG9O1lFAa8yUI1RYCov1m5107W/s1600/On_the_Rocks_Fr_CV.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqGV_u6iHORhT0WMA6f5GlyMTdhbfc8eDpXf_dBGrsDlOpI-TI4WyE9h3CWR1QqjW6YvLGczVxZ8g_UQGmD0_c7rLx-1g7uYTkJbSc6thuHKwnk_6C6kUG9O1lFAa8yUI1RYCov1m5107W/s200/On_the_Rocks_Fr_CV.jpg" width="133" /></a></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Singer-songwriter Jade is about to take the music world by storm...if her
personal demons can be kept at bay…</span></i><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Panic attacks start to
plague Jade, just as this musician’s career begins escalating. An L.A. restaurant
owner, Calvin Collins, helps her recover, then wines and dines his way into her
heart. However, Jade’s agent warns her that Calvin has an unsavory back story.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">As their romance develops,
Jade starts climbing the charts with her new CD. Her panic attacks are also on
the rise, and the L.A. gossip mill would love to roast Calvin; all issues she’d
rather ignore than investigate.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Will Jade’s life end up “On
the Rocks”, like the dark song she’s been composing? Or will she find the
strength to seek the truth, and sing those secrets into the light?</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><a href="http://www.oaktreebooks.com/" target="_blank">OakTreePress</a> </span><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">
/</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> <a href="http://www.amazon.com/On-The-Rocks-ebook/dp/B00BB8R5SA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1374959810&sr=8-1&keywords=elaine+busby" target="_blank">Amazon</a>
/ <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/on-the-rocks-elaine-busby/1102590405?ean=9781610090162" target="_blank">B&N</a> </span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07191795508002036072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3875838743924993759.post-32799614221591982232013-07-20T23:30:00.000-05:002013-07-20T12:23:52.595-05:00H K Carlton<br />
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<span style="font-family: "JasmineUPC","serif"; font-size: 36pt;">H K CARLTON CROSSES U.S.
BORDERS<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 14pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">H K Carlton is a
multi-published Canadian author of historical, erotic and contemporary romance.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="question" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Could you please start by telling us a
little about yourself?</span></i></b></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">I am a Canadian author of historical, contemporary and
erotic romance. I live with my hard-working husband and lovely teenage daughter.
We also have two grown sons. </span></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Do you plan all your characters out
before you start a story or do they develop as you write?</span></i></b></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Characters tend to develop as I write. Their
individuality becomes clearer as the scenes and dialogue come together and the
cast interacts with each other. </span></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">What main genre do you write in?</span></i></b></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">When I began writing, I thought that I was going to be
strictly a historical romance writer. At the time the vast majority of books
that I read were HR. Write what you know, they say. But to date, I have only
written two historical romances, <em>You Found Me</em> and <em>The Devil Take You</em>. The rest
have been in the erotic romance genre, with three already published <em>Swap</em>, <em>Lost
Time</em> (also in print) and <em>Streetlight People</em>; and three others with contracts
signed. But even in those, the sub-genres vary; from m/f to m/m to </span>ménage
m/f/f.</div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Do you recall how your interest in
writing originated?</span></i></b></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">My love for writing, I think, came from my love of
reading. I used to read a book a day almost. I don’t have the time to read as
much as I used to. But I’m not complaining. I love writing just as much. </span></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">What is your writing process? Do you
outline, fly by the seat of your pants or a combination of both?</span></i></b></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">A combination of both. In the beginning, when I first
penned <em>You Found Me</em>, I wrote it from beginning to end. I didn’t stop and write
a scene out of sequence. I’m not sure why now looking back, but that’s the way
I felt it needed to be. I was almost afraid to jump ahead. Now, if I have an
idea, I jot a brief outline just so that I won’t forget. I’m usually in the
middle of another project and need to refer back when I have time to begin
something new. But now when I write a story, I can jump ahead and come back to
it and fill in the required details. </span></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Do you have a specific writing style?</span></i></b></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">I’m not sure that I have a specific writing style, but
I do like to write in first person. I have several books published in that POV.
</span></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">What would be the best way for readers
contact you? Do you have a website? Email address? MySpace site? Blog? Message
Board? Group?<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<br />
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">I have a blog. I call it <em>Pick a Genre Already</em>, <a href="http://pickagenrealready.blogspot.ca/"><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">http://pickagenrealready.blogspot.ca</span></a>
because I write in several genres and sub-genres and I will probably never just
stick to one. My favourite way to connect is Twitter, because you can get your
message out there in 140 characters or less. I am also on Facebook, Goodreads,
Manic Readers and a couple of Yahoo groups.</span></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">How can readers find out more about you
and your books?</span></i></b></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Readers can find out more about my books by visiting
my <a href="http://pickagenrealready.blogspot.ca%20/"><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">blog</span></a>
or my publishers websites. <a href="http://www.total-e-bound.com/authordetail.asp?A_ID=240"><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Total-E-Bound,</span></a> <a href="https://museituppublishing.com/bookstore2/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage.tpl&product_id=729&category_id=69&manufacturer_id=246&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=1"><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">MuseItUp Publishing</span></a> and <a href="http://www.extasybooks.com/index.php?route=product%2Fauthor&author_id=978"><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">eXtasy Publishing</span></a>. </span></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">What's your favorite genre to read?</span></i></b></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Just as I believe I will never settle into one
specific genre to write in, I am the same when reading. I will read anything
that captures my imagination. But I do love a good time-traveling historical
romance.</span></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">When did you first decide to submit your
work? Please, tell us what or who encouraged you to take this big step.</span></i></b></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">I first started sending out manuscripts a few years
ago, but have only in this past year or so found my stride. My children have
supported me immeasurably. They are my biggest cheerleaders and never allowed
me to give up. It was my sister though that tipped the scales. I didn’t share
my stories with anyone until I finished <em>You Found Me</em>. When I finished writing
it, I just had this overwhelming feeling that this one was different from all
the other stories that I’d jotted down before. Just taking that first step and
allowing another person to read it was a big one for me. I knew that she would
tell me the truth, good or bad. After she read it, she encouraged me to send it
out to potential publishers and that’s really when it all began.</span></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">What was your first published work and
when was it published?</span></i></b></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">My first published work is entitled <em>Swap</em> an erotic
contemporary m/f romance. It was published October 2012 by Total-E-Bound
Publishing. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Is there anyone who really mentored or
inspired you to keep writing until you were finally published?</span></i></b><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">My family, the children and my sister, as I mentioned
earlier. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">But since I have been published the multi-published
and talented Lisabet Sarai has been an incredible source and mentor to me. She
is extremely insightful and helpful, especially to the newbies. She will answer
any question, give advice, point you in the right direction, give an honest
answer. Not afraid in the least, to share her knowledge, which I have found
some are hesitant to do. I have learned so much from not only the way that she
writes but also the way that she conducts herself as an author and as a person.
I am grateful to have come in contact with her. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Also author Kay Dee Royal has been tremendously
helpful to me. She has also taught me tons, which I am also appreciative of.
Another talented writer, who is willing to share her knowledge and experience. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">I have also been blessed with some brilliant, patient
and supportive editors who have helped me put out work that we can all be proud
of. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">I have been extremely lucky to have met some wonderful
people on this journey, people from all over the world, that I will possibly
never meet face to face, but even if this writing gig doesn’t work out for me,
these are relationships and friendships that I will treasure forever.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">More links will be
provided <b><i><u><span style="color: purple;"><a href="http://pickagenrealready.blogspot.ca/p/books_8.html"><span style="color: blue;">HERE</span></a></span></u></i></b><span style="color: purple;"> </span>as they become available.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span class="link"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">H K’s Blog <a href="http://pickagenrealready.blogspot.ca/"><span style="color: blue;">http://pickagenrealready.blogspot.ca</span></a></span></span><span class="link"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span class="link"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/AuthorHKCarlton"><span style="color: blue;">https://twitter.com/AuthorHKCarlton</span></a></span></span><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 14pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span class="link"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Facebook <a href="http://www.facebook.com/authorhk.carlton"><span style="color: blue;">www.facebook.com/authorhk.carlton</span></a></span></span><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 14pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span class="link"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Manic Readers <a href="http://www.manicreaders.com/HKCarlton/"><span style="color: blue;">http://www.manicreaders.com/HKCarlton/</span></a></span></span><span class="link"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span class="link"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Amazon Author Page <a href="http://www.amazon.com/HK-Carlton/e/B009KVR7EW/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1"><span style="color: blue;">http://www.amazon.com/HK-Carlton/e/B009KVR7EW/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1</span></a></span></span><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 14pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 14pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="background: yellow; font-size: 14pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-highlight: yellow;">CONTEST ALERT</span></b><span lang="EN-CA" style="background: yellow; font-size: 14pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-highlight: yellow;">:</span><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 14pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>H K will be giving away an ecopy of <i>The
Devil Take You</i> to one lucky commenter.</span></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 14pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">Scotland—1307—During
the Scottish Wars of Independence</span></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJhWVboqIgLcZh6QWGZSib-OkY8-r06h1mjkRN3tGt9c2vyLSPbq0OEkXQVla6_bmOIaF-2S6yahLgI_9qFfS6kx3j6Ip6paXQzjKDm5elbhSmNrI732sZKTKrr4k96l53qlfL6Q1DPDJ0/s1600/TheDevilTakeYou_200x300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJhWVboqIgLcZh6QWGZSib-OkY8-r06h1mjkRN3tGt9c2vyLSPbq0OEkXQVla6_bmOIaF-2S6yahLgI_9qFfS6kx3j6Ip6paXQzjKDm5elbhSmNrI732sZKTKrr4k96l53qlfL6Q1DPDJ0/s200/TheDevilTakeYou_200x300.jpg" width="133" /></a></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Gard Marschand will stop at nothing</span></i><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> in his pursuit to regain what is lost. Concealing his
true identity, he will associate with his enemies, kill his own countrymen,
even sell his soul to the devil if all else fails. He will lie, cheat, steal,
rape and siege his way across two countries gaining power and reputation in his
malevolent wake. His determination all consuming, until King Edward commands
Gard to lay siege on Ross-shire holding, where Braelynn Galbraith obliterates
his single-minded purpose.</span></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Braelynn Galbraith wants peace for her beloved
Scotland, marriage to her childhood sweetheart, Callum, and a house full of
children. In that order. But evil incarnate in the form of Gard Marschand,
turns her life inside out and destroys all hope of a decent marriage.</span></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Can Gard abandon his deep-seated need of revenge for a
love that might just save his soul, or will he succumb to the demons that hound
him and surrender to the devil within?</span></div>
<div align="center" class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">I believe your stay in purgatory has only just begun…</span></i></div>
<div align="center" class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><a href="https://museituppublishing.com/bookstore2/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage.tpl&product_id=729&category_id=69&manufacturer_id=246&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=1" target="_blank">MuseItUp Publishing<o:p></o:p></a></span></div>
<br />
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07191795508002036072noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3875838743924993759.post-34779799921990704312013-07-13T23:30:00.000-05:002013-07-14T09:45:09.722-05:00Walter Luce<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "JasmineUPC","serif"; font-size: 48pt;">Tame Your Desires
with Walter Luce<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdNtcwMBcCT87VGZVhbANk60zaX1D3B3d1RLN-2HBW3f5S3ylPRq43Ox8WcJOARRtbiDXWTa73GyTFojxoPZZzBYEf56YdAWL4j8GryB2woPc2APJRGUIdEMzuSpZ00uD5AKefCobsttxR/s1600/Photo+-+Walt+-+Desert.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdNtcwMBcCT87VGZVhbANk60zaX1D3B3d1RLN-2HBW3f5S3ylPRq43Ox8WcJOARRtbiDXWTa73GyTFojxoPZZzBYEf56YdAWL4j8GryB2woPc2APJRGUIdEMzuSpZ00uD5AKefCobsttxR/s200/Photo+-+Walt+-+Desert.JPG" width="141" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Walter
Luce<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> </b><span style="color: black;">was
born in Vermont where I still spend my summers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He’s been a successful real estate developer in <span class="yshortcuts4">Florida</span>,
<span class="yshortcuts4">Georgia,</span> and <span class="yshortcuts4">California.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Walter now lives in the Palm Springs<span class="yshortcuts4">, California area with his wife Bonnie, where</span> he wrote
his first novel of six, <em><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Eva </b></em><span class="yshortcuts5"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i>Pennington.</i></b></span></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Walter Luce is the oldest of seven,
graduated from Braintree Randolph Union High School in 1962, and attended Miami
Dade Junior college after being honorably discharged from the Army in
1967.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Please
tell us your latest news!<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">My novel VERMONT BOUND the third in the Donatelli
series was just published by Oak Tree Press and it’s doing very well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>EVA PENNINGTON – TROUBLE IN GEORGIA is also
published.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Next up will be ATLANTA EXIT,
which is scheduled to be released just prior to this interview. My latest work
is another Eva Pennington novel, EVA PENNINGTON – DAMSELS OF DIVERSION, to be
released in August.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Please
describe your writing environment.<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">We own a cabin (Camp Cupcake) in the foothills of the
Vermont National Forest and I have a writers loft on the second floor. In the
desert I write from my in-house real estate development office. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Do
you plan all your characters out before you start a story or do they develop as
you write?<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">The main characters are planned the others show up and
I let them take me where they want,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">How
much research do you do for your books? Have you found any cool tidbits in your
research?<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">I do some research.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I find that in the advent of the computer, research is made easier.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">How
does your family feel about having a writer in the family? Do they read your
books?<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">They’re amazed…as I am.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Most of them read my work.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">What
are your hobbies?<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Golf and periodic running.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">If
you had to choose one person to have dinner with, who would it be? And why?<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">A dead person would be Samuel Clemens…In my opinion
he’s one of the greatest writers that ever lived. Today, would be Steve
Forbes…I’m in favor of a flat tax. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">If
you had to do it all over again, would you change anything in your latest book?<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">I’ve just reread VERMONT BOUND for the umpteenth time
and I wouldn’t change a thing. But that doesn’t mean it couldn’t be improved
upon, your work is never complete.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Read
something you wrote a year ago and see if you don’t just choke.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You have to draw the line.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Do
you recall how your interest in writing originated?<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">My wife at the time taught college journalism and was
a MENSA member.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the ‘70s she forced
me to go to one of their meetings. After three meetings I was determined to do
what they were talking about doing…write a book.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thirty years later I wrote my first novel for
all the wrong reasons—not being an educated man I thought if I wrote a book
people would think I was smart.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By the
way none of them ever wrote that book they talked about and writing a book
didn’t make me any smarter. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Do
you write full time? What did you do before you became a writer? Or still do?<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">I don’t profess to be a writer it just happened.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m a real estate developer who buys dirt and
builds buildings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I still do both. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">What
is your writing process? Do you outline, fly by the seat of your pants or a
combination of both?<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">I start with an idea and just let the characters take
me for a ride.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s easier now that
publishers and the public like shorter novels.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I love the ride.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Do
you have a ritual when it comes to writing? Example….get coffee, blanket,
paper, pen and a comfy place<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Between five and six AM I secure my first of four cups
of coffee, read the Wall Street Journal, check my emails, work on my real
estate deals, reread what I wrote the day before and then write anywhere from
1,500 to 2,500 words.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Current
Release Details:<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">EVA PENNINGTON – TROUBLE IN GEORGIA was just released.
ATLANTA EXIT the prequel to VERMONT BOUND is being released in June, 2013, and MIAMI
EXIT the prequel to ATLANTA EXIT is being released in August this year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">If
you could be one of your characters - Who would you be? And why?<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">This might seem odd, but though I’m a man, I would
like to be Eva Pennington.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She’s a
ballsy lady in the 60s’ who doesn’t take any shit from men.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve lived the Donatelli character.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">What
do you do on a typical writing day?<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Work on business deals for few hours in the morning,
write until mid-day, and go for a run if I’m not playing golf.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the afternoon I catch up on the news,
check my emails and read.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Can
you please give us a sneak peek at any of your upcoming books?</span></i></b><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></b> </div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<em><span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt;">ATLANTA EXIT</span></em></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt;">Turk Donatelli, a self-made millionaire at the age of twenty
four. Turk grew up poor in a small <span class="yshortcuts3">Vermont</span>
lumber town, the oldest of eight. As Turk, whose thirst for knowledge was
insatiable, grew into a teenager and then a man, he struggles to become
respected, and respectable. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt;">In 1970 Turk Donatelli left the mob controlled city of <span class="yshortcuts4">Miami. </span>Turk along with his close friend, <span class="yshortcuts4">China</span> Jon and Digger his Navy Seal protector,
follow a fast paced adventure through <span class="yshortcuts4">Ocala,
Florida</span> and the <span class="yshortcuts4">European continent</span>
before arriving in Atlanta. Here he crosses the line when he builds
adult bookstores for Nikolas J. Pappas, known as the "Porno-King of the
Southeast,” and who is currently facing a charge of murder of a
competitor. Turk thought money would cure his angst, as he lives a life he
always dreamed about. Instead, it made him feel empty and unfulfilled. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt;">Seeking to tame his wild desires…women, drinking, and gambling,
Turk, marries a brilliant journalist, who has a five year old son. Their seemly
idyllic marriage is far from ideal when his wife is diagnosed with progressive
Multiple Sclerosis. Turk is determined to find a cure and raise his adopted
son. When Niko is sent to prison Turk is pressured by the FBI to leave his
employ; however he is forced to continue the partnership with Niko in
order to fund his search for a cure for MS, preserve his banking ties, and to
afford his lifestyle that has been so important to him…will
Turk cross that line a final time?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt;"><a href="http://oaktreebooks.com/Shop%20OTP.htm" target="_blank">OakTreePress</a> / <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Atlanta-Exit-Walter-Luce/dp/1610090640/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1373737313&sr=8-1&keywords=atlanta+exit#_" target="_blank">Amazon</a></span></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Who
is your perfect hero? And why?<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">My hero would be Ronald Reagan—a great communicator, a
great husband and just a damn nice guy who did a lot for this country.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Visit his library…you’ll come out feeling
that maybe America can regain her respect if only we could find another
commander and chief like him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">When
you have writer's block how do you break free?<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">I’ve been fortunate I haven’t experienced the dreaded <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">block </i>yet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I always have at least a couple of books in
the works I can switch back and forth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
read the same way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I usually have three
books going at the same time. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">What
would be the best way for readers contact you? Do you have a website? Email
address? MySpace site? Blog? Message Board? Group? How can readers find out
more about you and your books?<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Visit my website <a href="http://www.walterluce.com/"><span style="color: blue;">www.walterluce.com</span></a>
or contact me at <a href="mailto:walterluce1345@yahoo.com"><span style="color: blue;">walterluce1345@yahoo.com</span></a>
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">What
is the best and worst advice you have ever received?<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">The best advice was to just write don’t worry about
what you write just write. The worst advice I ever got was to, trust your
banker.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">What's
your favorite genre to read?<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">I prefer biographies and classics. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">What
type of book have you always wanted to write?<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">I’d love to and will write a book modifying our
political system.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">When
did you first decide to submit your work? Please, tell us what or who
encouraged you to take this big step.<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">When the real estate industry fell apart in 2006 my
wife Bonnie said to me, “Stop complaining about having nothing to do, and dust
off that novel you wrote thirty years ago, and work on getting it published.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">What
was your first published work and when was it published?<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">EVA MARIE PENNINGTON published on Kindle through Oak
Tree Publishing in August 2010. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Is
there anyone who really mentored or inspired you to keep writing until you were
finally published?<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">I
write not to get published…I write because I can’t stop writing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If I was never published I would still
write…its therapy. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07191795508002036072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3875838743924993759.post-42726381860472709162013-07-06T23:30:00.000-05:002013-07-06T23:30:01.727-05:00Margaret Tanner<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Harrington; font-size: 28pt;">Margaret Tanner Brings</span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Harrington; font-size: 28pt;">Readers Frontier
Australia<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><o:p><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJVpYPC0hoB06g7j_2-2lohay_UFJOs5zaJU5rTmKl33znG3peaCxVgdHOJi8Ed599vvJ96FLEsN6DUXHbkiRZH4nxX1aAZnlrhU0TlFdmEs9Xq16z9-r1jIcLESMpg67eOlIoa0YRr72f/s1600/DSC_0519.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJVpYPC0hoB06g7j_2-2lohay_UFJOs5zaJU5rTmKl33znG3peaCxVgdHOJi8Ed599vvJ96FLEsN6DUXHbkiRZH4nxX1aAZnlrhU0TlFdmEs9Xq16z9-r1jIcLESMpg67eOlIoa0YRr72f/s200/DSC_0519.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Margaret Tanner is a multi-published Australian
author. She loves delving into the pages of history as she carries out research
for her historical romance novels, and prides herself on being historically accurate.
No book is too old or tattered for her to trawl through, no museum too dusty,
or cemetery too overgrown. Many of her novels have been inspired by true
events, with one being written around the hardships and triumphs of her
pioneering ancestors in frontier Australia.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">As part of her research she has visited the World
War 1 battlefields in France and Belgium, a truly poignant experience.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">She
won the 2007 and 2009 Author of the Year at AussieAuthors.com. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">A Rose In-No-Man’s Land</i> won an
un-published manuscript award. Her novel <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Frontier
Wife</i> won the Best Historical Romance Novel at the 2010 Readers Favorite
Award, and another novel, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Wild Oats</i>
was a 2011 Finalist in the EPIC awards.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">In
2012, an unpublished manuscript was short listed in English publisher,
ChocLit’s, Find an Australian Star, competition.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Margaret
is married with three grown up sons, and two gorgeous little granddaughters. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Outside
of her family and friends, writing is her passion.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Could
you please start by telling us a little about yourself?<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">I live in Australia, and I guess the best way to
describe my writing is to call it historical fiction with romantic elements. I
am multi-published with three different publishers, The Wild Rose Press,
Whiskey Creek Press and Books We Love Ltd.</span></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Please
tell us your latest news!<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">My novel, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">A Rose
In No-Man’s Land</i>, which is set against a background of World War I, has
recently been released by The Wild Rose Press.</span></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Please
describe your writing environment.<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">I write my very first draft in long hand in a
notebook, so I can really do it anywhere that I happen to be. The only thing I
need is silence. I can’t work with noise. Even soft background music disturbs
my flow of words.</span></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Do
you plan all your characters out before you start a story or do they develop as
you write?<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">I never plan anything. I have a vague idea about my
characters before I start, but they really evolve as the story progresses.</span></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">How
much research do you do for your books? Have you found any cool tidbits in your
research?<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">I do a lot of research for my books, and it helps that
I like history. I can’t stand inaccuracies in stories, so I try as hard as I
can not to have them in mine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is
nothing worse, in my humble opinion, than to start reading a story then find
some historical aspect is incorrect. If that happens, I don’t finish the book,
and I never buy that author’s work again.</span></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">What
main genre do you write in?<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Historical Romance, although it would be more accurate
to say, Historical Fiction with romantic elements.</span></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">What
are your hobbies?<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Writing, reading and researching. Family time.</span></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Do
you recall how your interest in writing originated?<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">I can’t remember a time when I haven’t written. At
first I used to write these pitiful, sad little ditties, then I graduated to
short stories, until I found my true love, writing novels.</span></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">What
is your writing process? Do you outline, fly by the seat of your pants or a
combination of both?<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">I fly by the seat of my pants.</span></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">What
would be the best way for readers contact you? Do you have a website? Email
address? MySpace site? Blog? Message Board? Group?<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">My website is: <a href="http://www.margarettanner.com/"><span style="color: blue;">http://www.margarettanner.com/</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">My email:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><a href="mailto:mjljtanner@hotmail.com"><span style="color: blue;">mjljtanner@hotmail.com</span></a> </span></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">What
type of book have you always wanted to write?<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">A best seller.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNGhi0Q4lgop6fj85Bf4P4RRVGNoQi8BjM7v6rchuvBStSIDQPzKvtwhPmVKH0eQDVKl0avhjNjyypNv5ukSpSVy79hRsfr7BZDk4XurZs4VJgzAtci4ArlIHEuJDLF2z3LZ_R9tSVbMrk/s1600/ARoseInNoMansLand_w7225_300+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNGhi0Q4lgop6fj85Bf4P4RRVGNoQi8BjM7v6rchuvBStSIDQPzKvtwhPmVKH0eQDVKl0avhjNjyypNv5ukSpSVy79hRsfr7BZDk4XurZs4VJgzAtci4ArlIHEuJDLF2z3LZ_R9tSVbMrk/s200/ARoseInNoMansLand_w7225_300+%25281%2529.jpg" width="133" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Battlefield nurse,
Amy Smithfield, falls in love with Captain Mark Tremayne, but he is bound to
his dead wife. He can never marry again or tell Amy the truth, unless he wants
to risk the gallows for a murder he did not commit.</span><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Rose-No-Mans-Land-ebook/dp/B00B64HHAU/ref=sr_1_5?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1363078292&sr=1-5&keywords=margaret+tanner+-" target="_blank">Amazon</a><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">
/ </b><a href="http://www.wildrosepublishing.com/maincatalog_v151/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=176_145&products_id=5179" target="_blank">Wild Rose Press</a></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07191795508002036072noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3875838743924993759.post-35903300428997320182013-06-29T23:30:00.000-05:002013-06-29T23:30:03.244-05:00Lorna Collins<br />
<span style="font-family: "Footlight MT Light","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-no-proof: yes;"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: "Footlight MT Light","serif"; font-size: 28pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-no-proof: yes;">Lorna Collins in Three Words: <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: "Footlight MT Light","serif"; font-size: 28pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>Japan, Ghost, Murder</span></span></div>
</span><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_3zF2BHisx5XxmlBcoEBdQSqNsUzp8sD1Zs5tEdzXu45O6O-nCatF2ZE5Ed7m3X9lqRb3opVD8jchmOBOSlfTL0NoJq_ll2xVXRWUPy8WDjXCqNgGs-txI-7Rsi8zpO5kNFw9xs2g2V2P/s1600/Lorna_2010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_3zF2BHisx5XxmlBcoEBdQSqNsUzp8sD1Zs5tEdzXu45O6O-nCatF2ZE5Ed7m3X9lqRb3opVD8jchmOBOSlfTL0NoJq_ll2xVXRWUPy8WDjXCqNgGs-txI-7Rsi8zpO5kNFw9xs2g2V2P/s200/Lorna_2010.jpg" width="133" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-no-proof: yes;">Lorna Collins</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-no-proof: yes;"> was raised in Alhambra, California
and attended California State University at Los Angeles where she majored in
English.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-no-proof: yes;">Between 1998 and 2001, she worked in Osaka, Japan on the
Universal Studios theme park with her husband, Larry. Their memoir of that
experience, <i>31 Months in Japan: The Building of a Theme Park, </i>was
published in 2005 and was a finalist for the 2006 nonfiction EPPIE award and
named as one of Rebeccas Reads best nonfiction books of 2005.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-no-proof: yes;">They have written two mysteries together: <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Murder… They Wrote</i>, published in 2009,
and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Murder in Paradise</i>, published in
2010. The latter was a finalist for the 2011 EPIC eBook Award in 2011. They are
currently working on at least two more in this series.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-no-proof: yes;">She and Larry are currently immersed in an historical novel
set in San Juan Capistrano, CA between the years of 1820 and 1890.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-no-proof: yes;">In addition, Lorna is a professional editor.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-no-proof: yes;">Today she and Larry are retired and reside in Dana Point,
California.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Could
you please start by telling us a little about yourself?</span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-no-proof: yes;">I live in Southern California with my husband, Larry K.
Collins. We retired a couple of years ago and now can’t figure out how we ever
had time to work!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-no-proof: yes;">I write in several genres—mostly because I’m easily bored. So
far, I’ve written a memoir, <em>31 Months in Japan: The Building of a Theme Park</em>, and
two mysteries, <em>Murder…They Wrote and Murder in Paradise</em>, with my husband.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-no-proof: yes;">My solo work, <em>Ghost Writer,</em> is a fantasy/mystery/romance.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-no-proof: yes;">I also write romance anthologies with fellow authors Sherry
Derr-Wille, Cheryl Gardarian, Luanna Rugh and Christie Shary.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-no-proof: yes;">Right now, Larry and I are working on an historical novel, <em>The
Memory Keeper</em>, set in San Juan Capistrano between 1820 and 1890.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Please tell us a little about your new
release without giving too much of a spoiler away.</span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-no-proof: yes;">The latest romance anthology, called <em>The Art of Love,</em> was
written with Sherry, Luanna, and Cheryl. It’s about four women, each of whom is
involved with a different form of artwork: painting, photography, crochet, and
stained glass. Along the way, each finds love.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">What was the
hardest part of writing your book? </span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-no-proof: yes;">Coordinating our stories is usually the greatest challenge,
but since this is number five, we’ve figured out how to do it. I’m the hub and
check for continuity and consistency.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">What </span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">comes</span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> first: the plot or the characters?</span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-no-proof: yes;">For me, it works both ways. For this book, I had a last name:
Amalfitano. When I started thinking about who the girl with that name would be,
the story evolved.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Do you plan all your characters out
before you start a story or do they develop as you write?</span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-no-proof: yes;">Again both. I usually start knowing who the character is, but
they sometimes surprise me as the story evolves.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Do you have a ritual when it comes to
writing? Example….get coffee, blanket, paper, pen, laptop and a comfy place.</span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-no-proof: yes;">I usually write at my desk where I can hear the waterfall
outside. I often wake at two or three in the morning when ‘the voices’ speak to
me. Since they don’t let me sleep anyway, I get up and write them. Lately,
however, I have been doing a lot of editing professionally and haven’t had as
much time to write as I’d like. I need to take a hiatus from editing so I can
get back to it!</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Do your books have a common theme or are they all
different?</span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-no-proof: yes;">Obviously, they are different. But all our mysteries are set
in Hawaii, and all our romances are set in a little town we called Aspen Grove,
Colorado. Since it’s fictitious, we can make it look and feel exactly like we
want it. (Although, if you were to visit Idaho Springs or Georgetown you might
recognize some familiar things!)</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i><span style="font-size: 14pt;">How long does it take you to write and then edit a
story?</span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-no-proof: yes;">Since I’m usually working on two or three at a time, it’s
hard to say. For instance, I’m not only working with Larry on the historical,
we also have the next mystery on the back burner, and we’ve already started the
next romance anthology, ...<em>And a Sixpence in her Shoe</em>.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i><span style="font-size: 14pt;">How do you go about naming characters?</span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-no-proof: yes;">I steal names! If I hear a great first or last name, I write
it down. Sometimes a character simply appears who goes with the name. I ‘stole’
Amalfitano from a guy I worked with. Since it’s Italian, her first name became
Gulietta, but everyone calls her Julie.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<strong><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Bookman Old Style"; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">What so you see for the future of publishing and e-books?</span></i></strong></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-no-proof: yes;">More and more people are self-publishing since it has become
pretty easy. For that reason, however, lots of truly bad books are available.
It is harder and harder to discover the better ones.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-no-proof: yes;">We belong to EPIC, the Electronic Publishing Industry
Coalition, and we judge their contest every year. The submissions are generally
excellent, and we are privileged to read the work of some very talented new
writers.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-no-proof: yes;">We are also involved with the New Voices Young Writers Group,
started several years ago by EPIC. Their contest is an absolute revelation! We
receive hundreds of entries from middle and high school young people from all
over the world. The quality of that writing is amazing.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-no-proof: yes;">Overall, I am optimistic about the future of ebooks.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">What are your current books out right
now, and what are the books coming up for release?</span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-no-proof: yes;">My last released book is called <em>Ghost Writer</em>, released last
summer. It’s my fantasy/mystery/romance set in Laguna Beach, CA. (Have you
noticed, I set my books in beautiful places. That gives me an excuse to spend
time there!) </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-no-proof: yes;"><em>The Art of Love</em> will be released in September by Whiskey
Creek press. The other anthologies, <em>Snowflake Secrets, Seasons of Love, Directions
of Love</em> (EPIC eBook Award winner), and<em> An Aspen Grove Christmas,</em> are all
available in print and ebook for Kindle, Nook and others from the same
publisher as well as from Amazon, Barnes & Noble and other online book
sources.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">What do you like to do when you’re not
writing? </span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-no-proof: yes;">I love walking in the mornings at the marina, editing, and
reading, when I have the time.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Is there anything else you would like to
tell the readers we have not touched on?</span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-no-proof: yes;">I would encourage all writers, readers, and industry
professionals to attend EPICon 2014 in San Antonio, TX next March. You can find
the details on the EPIC website: <a href="http://www.epicorg.com/"><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">www.epicorg.com</span></a>. We’ll be presenting a workshop at the
conference. It’s a great place to meet authors and other industry
professionals.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Where can the readers learn more about
you and find your books on the web?</span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-no-proof: yes;">They can find information; buy links, and trailers for our
books at <a href="http://www.lornalarry.com/"><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">www.lornalarry.com</span></a>.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/0uJ7--CpEok?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<o:p></o:p> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<o:p> <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Lorna-Collins/e/B002J86EJ2/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">Amazon</span></a></o:p></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07191795508002036072noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3875838743924993759.post-88126111523857739962013-06-22T23:30:00.000-05:002013-06-22T23:30:03.082-05:00Kay Phoenix<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 28pt;">Kay Phoenix Rises Out of the Nevada Desert<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidK4kXBcSvalp3Nvk7vhl6lnBDLi9SHPfbXKNvCW1LiGlOGvD8CLkvNLhQp-6QKlhTUwONZVwTJR8h8c05PJuX8KNv86mtwPxN2t_P1ePICQr5GJqPhkbT-XkxJ_JIQB7xW4nbKg55Gd7d/s1600/whatbigeyessmaller.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidK4kXBcSvalp3Nvk7vhl6lnBDLi9SHPfbXKNvCW1LiGlOGvD8CLkvNLhQp-6QKlhTUwONZVwTJR8h8c05PJuX8KNv86mtwPxN2t_P1ePICQr5GJqPhkbT-XkxJ_JIQB7xW4nbKg55Gd7d/s200/whatbigeyessmaller.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Kay Phoenix is a rare
lifelong resident of Las Vegas, Nevada.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She serves on the board of the Las Vegas Romance Writers and is also a
member of the Kiss of Death and Women’s Fiction chapters of Romance Writers of
America.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Kay writes in the contemporary
and paranormal romance categories, as well as non-fiction articles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She shares her life with a lovely family,
friends, two desert tortoises, two black cats and the world’s best rescue dog,
Rembrandt.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"> Kay is also a member of the Las
Vegas Artists Guild as a photographer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="question" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong><em>Please describe your writing
environment</em></strong>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">I have a pretty purple
laptop –the brand, speed, and all that mumbo jumbo doesn’t matter to me as long
as it works.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s purple, shiny, and I
like it!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, my writing environment is
anywhere my shiny purple laptop and I decide to go.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(It’s a Dell, I had to look.)</span></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">What are your hobbies? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></i></b></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">I love to be in nature.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hiking, camping, and driving aimlessly on any
of the hundreds of miles of dirt roads around Las Vegas are all ways that I
like to spend my spare time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve
stumbled upon some very interesting things on these dirt road expeditions, like
ancient Indian petroglyph sites that aren’t on any maps, and a site where a
brothel from a neighboring county had illegally dumped many of their out-dated
“menus”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">If you had to do it all over again,
would you change anything in your latest book?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></i></b></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">I believe that all writers are
perfectionists, and some of them, like me, are perfectionists to a fault.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I probably would not change the story line,
but I would tweak all of the words endlessly if there weren’t such animals as
deadlines.</span></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Do you recall how your interest in
writing originated?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></i></b></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">I was on a camping trip with
my grandparents when I was about 8 years old.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We sat down to eat and a jackrabbit came to watch us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My grandmother suggested I try to write a
poem about him, thus my first poem entitled <em>Dinner with a Hare</em> was composed
that very day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Do you write full time? What did you do
before you became a writer? Or Still do? </span></i></b></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">I am currently a full time mom
to the best son in the world, and my writing comes in second.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Prior to becoming a mom, I worked as a
Graphic Artist in the casino and gaming industry for 15 years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was a very exciting and rewarding career,
but I am looking forward to the new doors that my writing will open for me.</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Who is your perfect hero? And why?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></i></b></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Indiana Jones is my perfect
hero.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He is smart, funny, and cares
about worthy causes like helping orphans and protecting archeological
artifacts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And, he looks just as hot
wearing a fedora while carrying a whip as he does in a suit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">When you have writer's block how do you
break free?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></i></b></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">I go for a hike.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Walking puts me into kind of an “automatic
pilot” zone, and it clears all the static clouding my thoughts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I’m not worried about anything but
putting one foot in front of the other, my thoughts flow easier and I’m able to
organize them.</span></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong><em>What would be the best way for
readers contact you? Do you have a website? Email address? MySpace site? Blog?
Message Board? Group?</em></strong><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 1em 0in 1em 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">©<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Website:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><a href="http://www.kayphoenix.com/"><span style="color: windowtext;">www.KayPhoenix.com</span></a></span></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 1em 0in 1em 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">©<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 14pt;">email: <a href="mailto:KayPhoenix@yahoo.com"><span style="color: windowtext;">KayPhoenix@yahoo.com</span></a>,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 1em 0in 1em 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">©<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 14pt;">blog:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><a href="http://kayphoenix.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: windowtext;">http://kayphoenix.blogspot.com/</span></a>, </span></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 1em 0in 1em 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">©<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Facebook:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/KayPhoenixAuthor/"><span style="color: windowtext;">https://www.facebook.com/KayPhoenixAuthor/</span></a>, and </span></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 1em 0in 1em 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">©<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Twitter:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><a href="https://twitter.com/KayPhoenix_"><span style="color: windowtext;">https://twitter.com/KayPhoenix_</span></a><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="question" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">What was your first published work and
when was it published?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></i></b></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">My first published work is a
short story titled <em>The Plane Truth</em> which came out in August 2012.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You can download it for FREE with the code
QA52X from <a href="https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/214003"><span style="color: windowtext;">https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/214003</span></a>.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi65gpiLqPdm2_UngqORSeTbpWDS9pxZFlsoEBoJsVM1iQbd43ChXEDYRefWkZXoj37oWpdXTz33hQ8h6DSGSHgZXVyoRlGCW6iIZGbOhG7yeiU2xVh_xhtrnzhM1t60_gA-2m76RX_Wuu3/s1600/Cover+a+smaller.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi65gpiLqPdm2_UngqORSeTbpWDS9pxZFlsoEBoJsVM1iQbd43ChXEDYRefWkZXoj37oWpdXTz33hQ8h6DSGSHgZXVyoRlGCW6iIZGbOhG7yeiU2xVh_xhtrnzhM1t60_gA-2m76RX_Wuu3/s200/Cover+a+smaller.jpg" width="154" /></a></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">What would you do if you
thought you were going to die, and you were strapped into a seat next to the
person that might be the love of your life, especially if you had never told
them how you felt?</span></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Locked in their seats, Emily
and Aiden are forced to face life and death together after fate throws a
lightning bolt their way.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07191795508002036072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3875838743924993759.post-8391349546106819522013-06-15T23:30:00.000-05:002013-06-15T23:30:02.128-05:00Ana Blaze<br />
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<span style="font-size: 20pt;">Ana Blaze Invites You to Check Out <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Best Man</i>!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghawHeckX7K7YWIJoItJo3bsL4np8oWC8iAC3-9mTpghgTUCoHRjcKaSiCoJcinz6hLVRYmXgEY_3f8MrUcWXcwga0uG6ZfXnBXYPQfbdRXqg9Br9PQoSnDdtCA7seVaTzfKInj4JGfXGj/s1600/Ana+Blaze.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghawHeckX7K7YWIJoItJo3bsL4np8oWC8iAC3-9mTpghgTUCoHRjcKaSiCoJcinz6hLVRYmXgEY_3f8MrUcWXcwga0uG6ZfXnBXYPQfbdRXqg9Br9PQoSnDdtCA7seVaTzfKInj4JGfXGj/s200/Ana+Blaze.jpg" width="199" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Ana lives just outside Washington DC with her very supportive husband and three rather demanding cats. She loves the ocean, Indian food, IKEA, and cooking. Ana admits to watching too much television and she swears that someday she’s going to learn how to play the guitar resting on the bookshelf in her office. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<div class="question" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Could you please start by telling us a little about yourself?</span></i></b></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Hi. Thanks for having me over. I live just outside Washington DC with my husband and our three cats. When I’m not writing, I love reading, cooking, traveling and watching TV. Yes, I freely admit that I watch far too much TV. I’ve also been busy learning more about the publishing business as an Intern for Entranced Publishing. </span></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Please tell us your latest news!</span></i></b></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">My debut, a contemporary romance novella titled, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Best Man</i>, came out on April 29, 2013! I’m still walking on air. </span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Do you plan all your characters out before you start a story or do they develop as you write?</span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">I do sketch out my characters first. In fact, I like to find pictures and post them along with key facts like ages and full names on the wall beside my desk. My stories tend to be very character driven.</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">How much research do you do for your books? Have you found any cool tidbits in your research?</span></i></b></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">It depends on the story, but there is always some research. I’m currently working on a story that involves ski-jumping. Apparently ski-jumping was first practiced in Norway and ski-jumper wear slightly loose suits when competing for the lift. </span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">What main genre do you write in?</span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">I write contemporary and paranormal romance.</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">How does your family feel about having a writer in the family? Do they read your books?</span></i></b></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">My family has been incredibly supportive. My husband read <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Best Man</i> before I submitted it for publication and lots of them have purchased copies. I still blush when I think about my mom reading some of the spicier scenes. </span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">If you had to choose one person to have dinner with, who would it be? And why?<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Remember when I mentioned watching too much TV? Then it won’t be much of a surprise that I would love to have a sit down with Joss Whedon, the creator of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Buffy The Vampire Slayer</i> and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Firefly</i>. He is the king of us nerdy, TV-loving, writer-types.</span></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">What is your writing process? Do you outline, fly by the seat of your pants or a combination of both?</span></i></b></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">I’m a combination writer, if I outline too much it loses the excitement factor. I do try to have a general idea of the highlights when I start.</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Can you please give us a sneak peek at any of your upcoming books?</span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">I’d love to. </span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 14pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> I have another contemporary romance novella coming out from Entranced Publishing this fall. It’s called <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">A Late Thaw</i> and it’s a second chance at love for two long-time friends. It takes place in Vermont, a place that holds a special place in my heart. </span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">When you have writer's block how do you break free?</span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">I find that it helps to write whatever I most want to write. So if I’m stuck, even if I am behind on another project, I give myself permission to take a little time and write exactly what my heart wishes to say. Even if what my heart wishes to say is utterly unpublishable. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">I’m online at:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Beth Chase is too busy</span></i><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> planning perfect weddings to worry about the lack of action in her own love life. But if she was looking for a man, she wouldn’t be looking at Colin Pratt. Her boss swears that Best Man Colin is a quiet scholar and science fiction writer who couldn’t possibly cause a fuss at his own brother’s wedding. He’s clearly never met the man in question. Snarky, sexy and more than a little inebriated, Colin is the final obstacle between Beth and the last perfect wedding she needs to make partner. Of course, when she helps him into a taxi at the end of the night she has no idea that he’s only just begun to poke holes in her professional exterior. Colin might have the skills to seduce a romance professional, but can he convince her that he’s the best man to share her happy ever after?</span><o:p> </o:p></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><a href="http://www.entrancedpublishing.com/imprints/kissed/the-best-man/" target="_blank">EntrancedPublishing</a> / </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17233507-the-best-man" target="_blank">Goodreads</a></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07191795508002036072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3875838743924993759.post-5224458891963962362013-06-08T23:30:00.000-05:002013-06-08T23:30:01.471-05:00Michelle Pickett
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<span style="font-size: 28pt;">Michelle Pickett Returns in Sci-Fi Fashion<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">I'm a wife, mother, author, reader, although not
always in that order. I write adult and young adult urban fantasies,
science/fiction and paranormal romances and have recently started dabbling in
young adult contemporary romance. Reading was one of my earliest passions,
writing soon followed. I began writing seriously during college where I
graduated Summa Cum Laude with a degree in accounting. Why I chose a career
that frowns on creativity remains a mystery. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">I’m addicted to Reese’s peanut butter cups and eat way
too many while I write, have an abnormal obsession with hoodies and can’t write
without one, and I hate to cook, but love to watch cooking shows on television.
An unabashed romantic, I love a swoon-worthy ending that will give me
butterflies for days.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Please tell us a little about your new
release without giving too much of a spoiler away.</span></i></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"></span></i></b> </div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">It’s a post-apocalyptic, science-fiction, romance told
from the point of view of Eva, a seventeen-year-old girl. She tells the story
of what happens when a deadly, unstoppable virus breaks out, killing everyone
who comes in contact with it. She relates her experiences and feelings as she
watches the virus ravage the world, the government’s attempt to save as many
people as possible by opening an underground habitat, her feelings when she is
one of the “Chosen” to live in the PODs and how devastated she is when she has
to leave everyone she’s loved behind knowing they’ll succumb to the virus. She
tells about her time in the underground PODs, and then finally what happens
when the residents of the PODs are finally allowed to emerge and see the world
the virus has left behind.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">What was the
hardest part of writing your book? </span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Time. There’s never enough. I have to force myself to
be very disciplined about my writing time and protect it like I would if it
were a job outside my home. With four children, a husband and my aging mother
to care for, it’s very easy to let time get away from me and find the day has
passed and I haven’t written a word. So I have a set amount of work that has to
be done each day. I make myself write a minimum of four pages a day. Most days
I write more than my minimum…sometimes it takes forever to crank out four, but
it keeps me writing and that’s what’s important.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">What </span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">comes</span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> first: the plot or the characters?</span></i></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">It depends actually. For my new release PODs, the plot
came first. The plot also came first for “Milayna” releasing March 11, 2014. But
my current work in progress the characters came first and told me their story.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Do you plan all your characters out
before you start a story or do they develop as you write?</span></i></b><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">I find that it’s a little of both. I start with a
sketch of who they are, where they come from, the physical attributes, and so
forth. As the story unfolds, the characters reveal more of themselves to me.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Do you have a ritual when it comes to
writing? Example….get coffee, blanket, paper, pen, laptop and a comfy place.</span></i></b><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Ah, yes. I’m a little quirky when I write. I get up at
six a.m. and get dressed and ready for the day. I have breakfast with my kids
when we aren’t running through the house like maniacs because we’re late, which
is most days. My writing day begins as soon as I walk through the door after
taking my kids to school. I grab my house phone, something to drink, my hoodie,
my cell phone, make sure my stress ball is in my desk drawer, and power-up my
lap-top. I slip into my hoodie while I wait for the computer to wake-up. I don’t
know where my obsession with hoodies came from, but I can’t write without one.
If it’s too hot to wear one (I live in Texas!), I have it slung over the back
of my chair. Once the hoodie is in place and my computer is ready, I deal with
my email first and then start writing.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Do your books have a common theme or are they all
different?</span></i></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">I write across many themes and genres. It keeps
writing fun for me and hopefully for my readers, as well.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i><span style="font-size: 14pt;">How long does it take you to write and then edit a
story?</span></i></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">It typically takes me around three months to write and
another month to edit and revise. </span><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i><span style="font-size: 14pt;">How do you go about naming characters?</span></i></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Sometimes I hear a name I like and use it. I actually
have a list on my computer of names I’ve heard that I think are pretty or unique.
But sometimes the character names itself. The personality and characteristics
of the character just lend themselves to a particular name.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<strong><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Bookman Old Style"; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">What do you see for the future of publishing and e-books?</span></i></strong><strong><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-family: "Bookman Old Style";"><o:p> </o:p></span></strong></div>
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<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
That’s
a really tough question. I see a lot of change in the industry. I don’t know
that traditional publishing (paper books) will ever go away completely, but I
think it will diminish dramatically as years go on based on price and ease of
use of and availability of e-books. Technology is pervasive in our world and I
don’t see that changing, so it’s only natural that it will spill over into
publishing.<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">What are your current books out right
now, and what are the books coming up for release?</span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">I have two books published through MuseItUp
Publishing. They are adult urban fantasies: Concilium and the sequel Concilium:
The Departure.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">My young adult titles are published through Spencer
Hill Press and include PODs, my newest release. It’s available in paperback and
e-book on June 4th, which is also my son’s 12th birthday. That has to be a sign
of good luck because he’s such a blessing to me.</span></div>
<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Contracted books coming up are: Milayna, a young adult
paranormal romance. It’s scheduled for release in paperback and e-book formats
on March 11, 2014.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is tentatively scheduled
as a trilogy. If I continue with the trilogy the second book, Milayna’s Angel
would release in September 2014. The Infected, the sequel to PODs and last book
in the PODs series, will release in November 2014. And finally The Innocent,
the third book in the Milayna trilogy (if it progresses) will release in April
2015.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">What do you like to do when you’re not
writing? </span></i></b><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">I love photography. I drive my family crazy chasing
them around with my camera. I love to take photos of faces, especially eyes.
They fascinate me, how much emotion you can see in just a look, especially if
you can take a photo without a person knowing they are being photographed—when
they are relaxed.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Is there anything else you would like to
tell the readers we have not touched on?<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">I’d like to tell you all that I appreciate each of you
tremendously. It is a great honor and very humbling to have someone read my
work. I can’t express my thanks enough.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Where can the readers learn more about
you and find your books on the web? (Add the web links and buy links here)</span></i></b><o:p> </o:p></div>
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<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">I love to hear from readers and other authors! Find me
here:</span><span style="color: black; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<div class="question" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 1in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Website:<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><a href="http://www.michelle-pickett.com/"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">www.Michelle-Pickett.com</span></a> </span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Pinterest<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><a href="http://pinterest.com/michelleauthor/"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">http://pinterest.com/michelleauthor/</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<o:p> </o:p></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">If you’d like to purchase a
copy of PODs you can order from these retailers or find </span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvsr0kzffQK-nXr6eK4eLMov8f4l378dhYoj2UBs9-WYs1u7-v1Cq5mQUqV8HcLQ0bBVn4LXb1T8KWyBwCI3-TdNlXXCnaxlfktup1U2GRrWfts6PrQhqPcYu2PNAR5Zg-7y8RmdQcn-7G/s1600/PODs_cover7HighRES+(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvsr0kzffQK-nXr6eK4eLMov8f4l378dhYoj2UBs9-WYs1u7-v1Cq5mQUqV8HcLQ0bBVn4LXb1T8KWyBwCI3-TdNlXXCnaxlfktup1U2GRrWfts6PrQhqPcYu2PNAR5Zg-7y8RmdQcn-7G/s200/PODs_cover7HighRES+(1).jpg" width="133" /></a></div>
copies in select
bookstores:<o:p></o:p><br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #181818; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/PODs-Michelle-Pickett/dp/1937053288/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1368484671&sr=1-1&keywords=PODs"><span style="color: blue;">Amazon</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #181818; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/pods-michelle-pickett/1108436764?ean=9781937053284"><span style="color: blue;">Barnes
and Noble</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #181818; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><a href="http://www.booksamillion.com/p/Pods/Michelle-Pickett/9781937053284?id=5669273552498"><span style="color: blue;">Books-A-Million</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #181818; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><a href="http://www.bookdepository.com/Pods-Michelle-Pickett/9781937053284"><span style="color: blue;">The
Book Depository</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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