April Erwin's Blog, page 9

What's on Your Book Pile?

I have been busy, busy, busy!! But that doesn't mean I've stopped reading... Are you kidding? That would be like going without air. :) SOOO, to catch you up a little, here's a smattering of what I've read lately. Enjoy!


Full Steam Ahead by Karen Witemeyer

When love simmers between a reclusive scientist and a wealthy debutante, will they abandon ship or is it full steam ahead?


Nicole Renard returns home to Galveston, Texas, to find her father deathly ill. Though she loves him, Nicole's father has always focused on what she's not. Not male. Not married. Not able to run Renard Shipping.

Vowing to find a suitable husband to give her father the heir he desires before it's too late, Nicole sets out with the Renard family's greatest treasure as her dowry: the highly coveted Lafitte Dagger. But her father's rivals come after the dagger, forcing a change in Nicole's plans.

After a boiler explosion aboard the Louisiana nearly took his life, Darius Thornton has been a man obsessed. He will do anything to stop even one more steamship disaster. Even if it means letting a female secretary into his secluded world.

Nicole is determined not to let her odd employer scare her off with his explosive experiments, yet when respect and mutual attraction grow between them, a new fear arises. How can she acquire an heir for her father when her heart belongs to another? And when her father's rivals discover her hiding place, will she have to choose between that love and her family's legacy?

Karen Witemeyer has a gift for emotionally compelling stories that also make me laugh out loud. Both Nicole and Darius have deep seeded fears from their past driving them to do bold and outrageous things now with the need to protect every one around them in the process. Especially from each other. The attraction and romantic pull between the two would be heroes is so much fun to experience. Nicole is sassy and Darius isn't always the alpha male 'boss' he pretends to be. I couldn't help but fall with Nicole as she lost her heart to Darius. Great read!



The Hatmaker's Heart by Carla Stewart

For Nell Marchwold, bliss is seeing the transformation when someone gets a glimpse in the mirror while wearing one of her creations and feels beautiful. Nell has always strived to create hats that bring out a woman's best qualities. She knows she's fortunate to have landed a job as an apprentice designer at the prominent Oscar Fields Millinery in New York City. Yet when Nell's fresh designs begin to catch on, her boss holds her back from the limelight, claiming the stutter she's had since childhood reflects poorly on her and his salon.

But it seems Nell's gift won't be hidden by Oscar's efforts. Soon an up-and-coming fashion designer is seeking her out as a partner of his 1922 collection. The publicity leads to an opportunity for Nell to make hats in London for a royal wedding. There, she sees her childhood friend, Quentin, and an unexpected spark kindles between them. But thanks to her success, Oscar is determined to keep her. As her heart tugs in two directions, Nell must decide what she is willing to sacrifice for her dream, and what her dream truly is.

I love the Art Deco period with flapper girls and the style of a new century proudly breaking the rules against a backdrop of prohibition and Women's rights. Nell is a modern young woman that designs beautiful hats that bring out the best in each of her clients. She's quickly building a fan base that clamor for her to have her own line. Her boss is quick to use her talents and her good looks to help build his business, but give Nell proper credit and help her succeed on her own? No way.

Carla Stewart does a great job of recreating that world and allowing the reader to step into Nell's shoes to see the world in a new way. I had expected it to be more of a romance, and although there is a satisfying romantic ending, the story really revolves more around Nell becoming independent and yet also more faithful and dependent on God. It was a lot of fun to read and I enjoyed it a lot.

It even reminded me of one of my favorite pictures of my grandparents when they were just young teens and in love. :)


All's Fair in Love and Cupcakes by Betsy St. Amant

Kat inspected rows of the same old cupcakes. They seemed to blink back at her, as if they knew she was capable of so much more.
Kat Varland has had enough of chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry.
At twenty-six years old, Kat is still living in the shadows of her family in Bayou Bend, Louisiana. Still working shifts at her Aunt Maggie’s bakery. Still wondering what to do with her passion for baking and her business degree. And still single.
But when Lucas Brannen, Kat’s best friend, signs her up for a reality TV bake-off on Cupcake Combat, everything Kat ever wanted is suddenly dangled in front of her: creative license as a baker, recognition as a visionary . . . and a job at a famous bakery in New York.
As the competition heats up, Lucas realizes he might have made a huge mistake. As much as he wants the best for Kat, the only thing he wants for himself—her—is suddenly in danger of slipping away.
The bright lights of reality cooking wars and the chance at a successful career dazzle Kat’s senses and Lucas is faced with a difficult choice: help his friend achieve her dreams . . . or sabotage her chances to keep her in Louisiana.
Kat is a VERY creative baker. She loves to experiment with new flavors and combinations. I can totally identify with that. Who doesn't love creative baking? Especially when it's delicious? 
According to Kat - only Lucas, her best friend. No one else in town wants anything but plain strawberry, chocolate and vanilla. Not that her aunt's recipes aren't tasty, but they're stuck in a rut. Kat feels trapped in her hometown with little confidence and no hope. Lucas sees a whole different picture. When seeing Kat through Lucas' eyes, you can see why he's so head over heels in love for her. The fact she can't see it despite her own feelings toward him had me a little ready to scream in frustration. But, isn't that just how it is so often? Our own fears getting in the way of taking chances and letting our hearts talk?
The cooking competition shakes things up for the best friends drastically, but the passion is stirs is perfect. And the touch of sweet heat that each fights with their attraction is like icing. The author is honest in her presentation of relationships while keeping it clean and honorable. Loved it. 

What the Bride Didn't Know by Kelly Hunter
Shh…it's a secret! 
Special ops expert Trig Sinclair is a man's man, and that means he knows the cardinal rule of the bro code—no matter how dynamite Lena West is, as his best friend's younger sister, she's strictly off-limits! 
But when a secret mission to Istanbul sees Lena and Trig pretending to be married (and sharing a bed!), he finds himself in a whole new world of sweet torture…. But if Trig thinks playing the honor-bound hero is tough, it's got nothing on how Lena feels when she discovers what her "groom" is really hiding….

Lena has two super smart brothers, she's never felt like she could keep up with them. In school or any where else. But that hasn't stopped her from trying. Trig, her older brother's best friend, has always been there to help her out. As they got older the three of them become a team as she follows the guys right into special ops. But Lena's older brother is out of contact and she's determined to go find him. Trig's not about to let her head off into dangerous territory alone. Under a pretend cover of newlywed's the two start their investigation in the street markets. Lena get's mugged and her concussion has her believing they really are married. Trig would be fine with a relationship, but he has to be honorable, Lena isn't thinking strait. Only she's making that very difficult for him. 
This was a hit and miss for me. I enjoyed the action and intrigue and the glamour of foreign lands, but the relationship between Lena and Trig seems rather quick. HOWEVER, I will say I discovered later that this is the third book in a series, so there could be a lot of build up for the couple in earlier books. It was a fun read, but not a lot of depth or connection romantically other than the physical attraction. NOTE: This is not the type of book I typically review. This is definitely a steamier romance, be prepared for the bedroom scene. 

Stranded by Dani Pettrey
When Her Friend Goes Missing, Every Minute Counts
Darcy St. James returns to Alaska to join a journalist friend undercover on the trail of a big story. But when Darcy arrives, she finds her friend has disappeared. Troubled by the cruise ship's vague explanation, Darcy uses her cover as a travel reporter to investigate further.

The last person Gage McKenna expects to see during his summer aboard a cruise ship leading adventure excursions is Darcy. And in typical Darcy fashion, she's digging up more trouble.

He'd love to just forget her--but something won't let him. And he can't help but worry about her as they are heading into more remote regions of Alaska and eventually into foreign waters. Something sinister is going on, and the deeper they push, the more Gage fears they've only discovered the tip of the iceberg.
I love Dani Pettrey's Alaskan Courage series! Stranded did not disappoint. Darcy St. James has appeared once before in an earlier book and I thought for sure she and Gage were set to fall in love. Then he shut her out and she left. Talk about sad! But now Darcy is back and her investigation has gotten her in a lot of trouble. In fact, Dani could be dead if Gage doesn't come through in time. 
The suspense is fantastic. Dani also does a wonderful job of bringing you into a wild wilderness that's beautiful and harsh, a land to be respected and tamed. Much like Gage's heart. (okay, that may be cheesy, but still very appropriate.) I found myself holding my breath at times and that is the best way to read a suspense. 

North Star Brides by Erica Vetsch
Minnesota tycoon Abraham Kennebrae is in the business of love when he plans to marry his grandsons to the wealthiest heiresses in town. The trouble is the brothers and their future brides aren’t happy about the prospect. Jonathan desperately wants to keep his fortune while Melissa wants to protect her deepest secret and her heart. Noah flees to the safety of Sutton Island where he unexpectedly meets his would-be bride, Anastasia. Eli is betrothed to marry Clarice Zahn, yet it is her younger sister, Josie, who truly has eyes for the groom. Can true love result from mismatched matchmaking?
Abraham Kennebrae was the kind of old man you hated to admit having visions of putting in his place - any way necessary. The old goat is pushy, hard headed, old-fashioned and greedy. To point out his nice qualities. He's told his grandsons they will marry the brides he's chosen for them to help grow the business - or lose their inheritance. 
I was very happy to say that all three brothers were the stand up kind of guys that were willing to give up an inheritance in order to find love. Until it threatened someone else special. Each of the three novels had a unique romance and story. The brothers all one of a kind. The setting and historical background is well written and even better, the girls have as much spunk and say in this as the brothers. It may have seemed like mismatched matchmaking, but when put in God's hands, even grandpa's greedy motives can be turned into something beautiful. I really enjoyed this series, hardly taking a moment to breathe between each book. 

All of these books came free, courtesy of Netgalley and they associated publishers. All opinions are mine, freely given with remuneration from the publishers. 

The Unicorns are Coming!!!

Guess what's coming!
A NEW book by AuthorSuzanne de Montigny



Will Ulysees find the truth before disaster strikes?
 How did the Legacy of Azaria transform to a world of fear it has with the unicorns barely existing hidden in the depths of the forest? Why is Icharus, the Great Stallion, so cruel and ruthless? And who is Jaresh, the powerful being no one’s ever seen who takes away their powers? Angry, the young colt, Ulysees and his friend Téo rebel, following an abandoned trail where they’re discovered by humans. Now the entire herd must make an exodus. But Ulysees discovers there’s more danger then just humans when he meets a giant creature who warns them of impending doom…

Shadow of the Unicorn II: The Deception available March 2015
The Shadow of the Unicorn: The Deception is the sequel to The Shadow of the Unicorn: The Legacy. If you haven't read this yet, be sure to check it out. It's not to be missed!

HAPPY NEW YEAR, 2015!

Tonight I hung out with my family. 3 generations playing Pictionary, the Dictionary game, eating snacks and watching The New Years Eve movie. (That movie is quickly becoming a tradition with us.) Now, as midnight and a new year approaches, the teens are off with their friends and we're counting down the minutes to a brand new year. New beginnings after a rather challenging year.

So from all of us to all of you...


May your new year be full of big dreams, hard work and answered prayers. God bless you in 2015!

Netgalley: Miracles in the ER by Robert D. Lesslie

Miracles in the ER
by
Robert D. Lesslie, M.D.
MY TAKE: 
I have a fascination with medical stories. My sister just rolls her eyes whenever I find a new medical documentary that I find fascinating and HAVE to watch. The human body is so complex, that despite all that mankind and science has done to discover it's intricacies, there is still so much to learn. On the flip side, with each new thing we learn, it's easier to see how magnificent and grand God's hand is in creation. SO, with that fascination in mind, I jumped on Dr. Lesslie's book with intrigue. 
Each chapter shares a story of a patient or co-worker he's been connected with. Some truly are what many would call miraculous. Others, may not seem like miracles, but the love and truth that is learned throughout the lesson is just as moving. I have to say that whether they would all be considered miracles or not, is not the point. The bigger picture is that through tragedy, drama, loss and more, a bigger picture was maintained and the heart and compassion of those involved were not lost. That's hard to find these days and it was great to be reminded. 

ABOUT THE BOOK & AUTHOR:
Extraordinary stories from a Doctor's journal. Bestselling author Dr. Robert Lesslie is a physician with more than 30 years of experience working in or directing fast-paced, intense ER environments. He is now the co-owner and medical director of two urgent-care facilities. He has written Notes from a Doctor's Pocket, Angels on the Night Shift, Angels and Heroes, Angels on Call, and Angels in the ER (over 200,000 sold) as well as newspaper and magazine columns and human-interest stories. He and his wife, Barbara, live in South Carolina.

CSFF: The Fatal Tree by Stephen R. Lawhead

Welcome to the CSFF blog tour for:The Fatal Tree (Bright Empires Series)by Stephen R. Lawhead
If you're even a somewhat regular reader of my blog, then you know that I LOVE Stephen Lawhead's writing. I've had a blast reading the Bright Empire Series and have been waiting on pins and needles for the final book in the series to release. I was quite excited to get accepted for the review list, but apparently the post office has been overcome by the holiday mail because my book has never arrived. :( I'm VERY disappointed and I'm extremely hopeful it will arrive soon. Until that happens, I unfortunately can't post a review. But, I will give you the down low on the book and hook you up with the other tour members that have reviewed it. I don't think I'll be exaggerating though if I promise I'll love this one. I can't imagine that I wouldn't. 

HOWEVER  - The publisher did send out some really fun promotional gear. Temporary tattoos of the symbols on the skin map. They asked us to post a few on social media before the tour. I posted to both Facebook and Twitter. Here's the link to see the pictures in my Twitter post .



ABOUT THE BOOK: 
It started with small, seemingly insignificant wrinkles in time: A busy bridge suddenly disappears, spilling cars into the sea. A beast from another realm roams modern streets. Napoleon’s army appears in 1930s Damascus ready for battle. But that’s only the beginning as entire realities collide and collapse.
The questors are spread throughout the universe. Mina is stuck on a plain of solid ice, her only companion an angry cave lion. Tony and Gianni are monitoring the cataclysmic reversal of the cosmic expansion—but coming up short on answers. And Burleigh is languishing in a dreary underground dungeon—his only hope of survival the very man he tried to murder.
Kit and Cass are back in the Stone Age trying to reach the Spirit Well. But an enormous yew tree has grown over the portal, effectively cutting off any chance of return. Unless someone can find a solution—and fast—all Creation will be destroyed in the universal apocalypse known as The End of Everything.
In this final volume of the fantastic Bright Empires series, Stephen R. Lawhead brings this multi-stranded tale to a stunning and immensely satisfying conclusion.“In the sweeping style of George R. R. Martin and J. R. Tolkien, Lawhead has created a diverse universe and rich cast of characters. Multiple story lines weave to form a satisfying ending to this mythological speculative series.” —Library Journal
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:  Stephen Lawhead is an internationally acclaimed author of mythic history and imaginative fiction. He was born in 1950, in Nebraska in the USA. His early life was lived in America where he earned a university degree in Fine Arts and attended theological seminary for two years.His first professional writing was done at Campus Life magazine in Chicago, where he was an editor and staff writer. During his five years at Campus Life he wrote hundreds of articles and several non-fiction books.After a brief and unsuccessful foray into the music business—as president of his own record company—he launched his free-lance career in 1981. In the Hall of the Dragon King was his first novel.In 1986 the Lawhead family moved to Britain so that Stephen could conduct research for the PENDRAGON CYCLE books. They settled there permanently in 1990, with some years spent living in Austria and a sabbatical in the United States.In addition to his twenty-four novels, he has written nine children's books, many of them originally offered to his two sons, Drake and Ross. He is married to Alice Slaikeu Lawhead, with whom he has collaborated on books and articles. They make their home in Oxford, England.Stephen's non-fiction, fiction and children's titles have variously been published in twenty-four foreign languages. He has won numerous industry awards, and in 2003 was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters by the University of Nebraska.His middle name is ‘Ray’.Visit him on Twitter!
OTHER TOUR MEMBER REVIEWS:  Julie Bihn
Thomas Clayton Booher
Beckie Burnham
Jeff Chapman
Karri Compton
Victor Gentile
Jason Joyner
Janeen Ippolito
Carol Keen
Emileigh Latham
Rebekah Loper
Shannon McDermott
Meagan @ Blooming with Books
Rebecca LuElla Miller
Nissa Jalynn Patterson
Writer Rani
Nathan Reimer
Audrey Sauble
Jojo Sutis
Rachel Starr Thomson
Robert Treskillard
Steve Trower
Shane Werlinger
Phyllis Wheeler

CFBA: Swept Away by Laura V Hilton and Cindy Loven

Song Stuck on the Brain: Mary Did You Know? by Pentatonix


This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing:
Swept AwayAbingdon Press (November 18, 2014)byLaura V. Hilton
and
Cindy Loven
MY TAKE: 

Sara Jane's grandma reminded me a little of my Granny, God rest her soul. Spunky, sharp and known for having both a sweet nature and little bite. It made me feel like I could connect with her a tad bit more. And Andrew? Mmm! There's a lot of good stuff under all that broom dust! This was a fun story with a touching look at romance mixed with complicated family issues.

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Sara Jane Morgan is trying to balance teaching with caring for her ailing, stubborn grandmother. When school lets out for the summer, the plans are for Grandma to teach Sara Jane to quilt as they finish up the Appalachian Ballad quilt Grandma started as a teenager. But things don’t always go as planned. Andrew Stevenson is hiding from his past—and his future. He works as a handyman to pay the bills, but also as an artisan, designing homemade brooms. When Sara Jane’s grandmother hires him to renovate her home, sparks fly between him and his new employer’s granddaughter. Still, it doesn’t take Sara Jane long to see Drew isn’t what he seems. Questions arise, and she starts online researching him. What she discovers could change her life—and her heart—forever.

If you would like to read the first chapter of Swept Away, go HERE.



ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Award winning author Laura V. Hilton has penned many novels, including the Amish of Seymour series, the Amish of Webster County series, and the forthcoming Amish of Jamesport series. A member of ACFW, Laura is also a professional book reviewer for the Christian market, with over a thousand book reviews published at various online review sites. A pastor’s wife, stay-at-home mom, and home school teacher, Laura and her family make their home in Horseshoe Bend, Arkansas.

A lifelong reader, Cindy Loven is an active church wife of a minister and mother to one son who is a home school graduate. Cindy and her family reside in Conway, Arkansas.

CFBA: Saved by the Fireman by Allie Pleiter

Song Stuck on the Brain: How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria?  It's one of my niece's senior year and they're performing the Sound of Music this weekend for the Fall musical. She mentioned how odd it felt to see so many nuns running around suddenly and this song popped in and won't go away.
This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing:
Saved by the Fireman Love Inspired (October 21, 2014)by Allie Pleiter

MY TAKE: 

Is it hot in here or is that just Jesse Sykes?

Cheesy intro or not, that's pretty much how I felt. Jesse is "hot" in all the right ways. Known as 'Pipes' on the squad for his golden voice, he can calm children and turn women to jello all with with same song. He's a master at the stove and at the power tools. He's every woman's dream in my book. Even has the dark good looks. :)

Afraid that makes it too predictable or cheesy? Not in my book. There's always a little bit of a vague formulaic outline, keep in mind these are romance novels by the month. That doesn't mean that there isn't cleverness and fun included. I thoroughly enjoyed Charlotte and Jesse's hot stepping around the issue of love. It was funny, sweet and addictive. In fact, I found out this was the fifth book in the Gordon Falls series by Allie Pleiter. I'm already searching Amazon to find the rest of the series. This one easily stands on it's own, but I love the cast and location (as well as her great writing) so much, that I'll be investing in the rest of the books.

Falling for the Fireman #1 The Fireman's Homecoming#2The Firefighter's Match #3A Heart to Heal #4

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Building their future

Charlotte Taylor isn't good at playing it safe. Reeling from the sudden loss of her job and her beloved grandmother, Charlotte knows buying a dilapidated cottage in Gordon Falls isn't exactly practical. Especially since she just hired the one man who may love the property more than she does to help renovate it. Volunteer firefighter and part-time contractor Jesse Sykes can't stay mad at Charlotte for very long. Though she snatched up the home he'd planned on purchasing, Charlotte's dreams are big enough for both of them…if only she'd let him in. Charlotte promised she'd never fall for a first responder, but is it already too late?

Gordon Falls: Hearts ablaze in a small town

If you would like to read the first chapter of Saved by the Fireman, go HERE




ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Enthusiastic but slightly untidy mother of two, Allie Pleiter writes both fiction and nonfiction. An avid knitter, harp player and non-reformed chocoholic, she spends her days writing books, doing laundry, running carpools and finding new ways to avoid housework. Allie grew up in Connecticut, holds a BS in speech from Northwestern University and currently lives in suburban Chicago, Illinois. The "dare from a friend" to begin writing eight years ago has blossomed into a career that includes numerous public speaking engagements, two books on parenting; Becoming a Chief Home Officer and Facing Every Mom's Fears and now novels for Steeple Hill Books. She is the mother of two children and, most recently, a Havanese dog named Bella.

Spotlight on author KC Sprayberry and her NEW release!

It's Halloween and my blog has been overtaken! Welcome KC Sprayberry....

That day is upon us. The Curse of Grungy Gulley releases today, October 31, 2014 ~ Halloween! What does a demon do to stop a group of families slated to fight him for eternity when they don’t pay attention to him? Keep trying, of course!


Blurb: Faced with the loss of his immortality, Bewitcher Random A. Ransom has to defeat Mary Barron’s young assistants: Tuck Barrons, Earl Lee Farley, and Sue Anne Edwards. Confident he can beat three kids, Random has no idea that the Johnson triplets have invaded the ranks of his brethren. These brothers have pledged their souls to Archangel Michael to rid the world of evil. What the Bewitcher thought would be easy isn’t so easy after all.
One demon, three teens, spread over a period of 144 years. Can Random A. Ransom defeat Sue Anne Edwards, Earl Lee Farley, and Tuck Barrons?


The Curse of Grungy Gulley






About the Author:
Born and raised in Southern California’s Los Angeles basin, K.C. Sprayberry spent years traveling the United States and Europe while in the Air Force before settling in Northwest Georgia. A new empty nester with her husband of more than twenty years, she spends her days figuring out new ways to torment her characters and coming up with innovative tales from the South and beyond.

She’s a multi-genre author who comes up with ideas from the strangest sources. Some of her short stories have appeared in anthologies, others in magazines. Three of her books (Softly Say Goodbye, Who Am I?, and Mama’s Advice) are Amazon best sellers. Her other books are: Take Chances, Where U @, The Wrong One, Pony Dreams, Evil Eyes, Inits, Canoples Investigations Tackles Space Pirates, The Call Chronicles 1: The Griswold Gang, The Curse of Grungy Gulley, and Starlight. Additionally, she has shorts available on Amazon: Grace, Secret From the Flames, Family Curse … Times Two, Right Wrong Nothing In Between, and The Ghost Catcher.


A Chance To Win An Autographed Print Edition of The Curse of Grungy Gulley!


Right Wrong Nothing In Between
Pick up a copy of Right Wrong Nothing In Between by clicking on the link and answer these questions. Post your answers on K.C. Sprayberry’s Facebook fan page before November 5, 2014 and you might get your own autographed print edition of The Curse of Grungy Gulley!


What three children does Random A. Ransom want?


What is the name of the being who comes to Mary, to reassure her that she has made the right choice?


Social Media Links:

Facebook Twitter Blog WebsiteGoodreadsAmazon Author PageGoogle +PinterestAuthorgraph

Meet author Paul Smith...

Today we're welcoming YA Fantasy Author Paul Smith. 
Welcome to the blog, Paul. It's always great to meet new authors. (Thank you, Author Mary Waibel for the introduction!) This is a really new introduction for both of us, so I haven't had a chance to read your book, Jason and the Draconauts yet, but let me say it looks like a lot of fun. I look forward to reading it, I'm a big dragon fan. :)
Since I'm getting to know you at the same time as my readers, I thought I'd ask a few fun questions. Are you game?
Q. What books did you love to read the most as a kid? What captivated you?

A. I was a HUGE reader of comic books, actually, and a big collector into my late teens. It wasn't just the costumes and super powers that captivated me, but their heroism and selflessness as well. However, I read novels too. The ones that were really big for me were the Lord of the Rings trilogy and the Hobbit.

Q. Have you ever had an odd adventure that surprised you as much as Jason's discovery surprised him?
A. Wow! That is a GREAT question! Actually, quite recently, I took my kids to Disney World for the first time. I was all prepared to put on a brave face for the kids but secretly be hating the whole experience. It turned out, I really loved it and had a great time! The magic holds true for all ages.

Q. What do you love the most about the kind of story you tell?
A. I really enjoy writing the dialogue and the humorous scenes. I work really hard to capture realism in my dialogue. I also enjoy the cliffhanger, which annoys some people who read my work. I think that rush that comes from thinking, "Are you kidding me?!? What happens next?" is a lot of fun.

Q. Tell us 5 funny things about yourself. 
A. I hate being sniffed (long story for another blog post)
I once lost my car in a parking garageI often drive on "auto pilot" and sometimes end up in places I had no intention of goingI went to the New York Comic Con dressed as Doctor WhoI WANT to go to the New York Comic Con next year dressed as a super hero
Q. What inspires you the most? Why do you write?
A. The action of creating is so awesome; birthing something from your imagination that can jump start the imagination of other is such a fantastic and humbling process. My kids inspire me as well; I want to show them that art and expression are so much better than video games and TV (even thought those are cool too)

Great interview. My nephew would have loved seeing you in the Dr. Who costume. :) (I'm more of a Stargate girl, but I appreciate all things SciFi Fantasy.) And the Hobbit is priceless! Thanks so much for stopping by, Paul. It's been fun getting to know you a little better. 
Be sure to check out Paul's book and read an excerpt below. 
ABOUT THE BOOK:


The creature hiding in the barn can’t exist. Fifteen-year-old Jason Hewes knows it’s impossible. A live dinosaur would be more believable; at least dinosaurs once roamed the land which is now the Hewes Montana farm. But this beast from legend? Quite impossible—although it doesn’t seem to be going away just because it shouldn’t exist.
Jason is about to reevaluate what is or isn’t possible. His discovery is very real, leathery wings and all. Nor is his new friend alone. Others of his kind are awakening from a centuries-long slumber. Realizing how traumatic contact between mythological beast and modern life could be, Jason and his impossible new ally devise a plan to integrate the newly awakened creatures into society through teenage interaction. What could possibly go wrong?
As the sound of giant wings becomes a common occurrence on the Hewes family farmstead, a malignant force senses his old enemies are flying again. Determined to end an eons-long war forever, this being turns his attention to a small rural Montana town, a family farm, and Jason Hewes. 

Read an Excerpt Now...

Jason and the Draconauts:
           Jason sprinted into the house and grabbed the largest kitchen knife he could find. Then he took a second in his other hand. Then he put a meat mallet in his back pocket. And then, for some reason, he grabbed a carrot peeler, just for good measure. He ran back to the front of the house and burst out of the screen door into the yard as he shone the flashlight ahead of him and mumbled, “Stupid, stupid, stupid” all the way to the barn.
But in the short run to the old barn, the rain stopped. It was enough of a dramatic contrast that it made Jason pause in mid-run. He looked curiously into the sky and saw the clouds dissipating as stars became visible again. Had Jason been in any other state but sheer terror, he would have asked himself questions about the phenomenon, out loud, and probably made fun of weather forecasters again. But all he could do was keep going to the barn.Arriving at the barn’s large doors, Jason swallowed hard, insulted his own common sense one more time, and then slowly pulled them open.He saw nothing…mostly because it was night, and he hadn’t bothered flicking on the light switch yet. Jason always wondered why the previous owners had run power out to the red wooden structure. But he decided not to complain about it that night, and he groped along the wall until he found the switch and flicked the lights on.And there it was.Judging by its size, he could tell this was what had impacted the earth and had caused the tremor that he’d felt back at the house. It was over thirty feet long and resembled—Jason couldn’t believe he was thinking this—a dinosaur.It had a long neck attached to a muscular body and narrowed to a very long tail. Its body was covered in scales that were colored shades of brown and gray. Spines ran along the length of its neck and the length of its tail as well, and each of its four legs ended in a three-toed foot, with each toe ending in a long, curved claw. Its head was oddly shaped; a large curved plate extended back from the creature’s eyes on either side, arcing upward into two points and vaguely resembling a plowshare. It had a short snout tapering off to a rounded tip, with two nostrils on the top just short of the tip. But what made Jason realize that this was no dinosaur were the massive wings sprouting from either side of the creature. The wings were batlike, and Jason estimated the wingspan was close to sixty feet. Wings like those were not vestigial, like those of an ostrich or emu; this creature was made for flight. He noticed the membrane of one wing seemed damaged, burned away to form a hole with seared edges. He followed the lines of the wings back to the body and could see the creature’s chest expanding and contracting slowly and rhythmically. It was breathing; it was alive. Unconscious but alive.Jason finally took notice of his own body; his breathing was shallow and rapid. He whispered to himself, “Get a grip, Hewes. You’ve played enough fantasy games to know what this is, as unbelievable as it seems. This is a dragon.”


MEET THE AUTHOR:

Paul Smith lives in upstate New York with his wife and two sons, where he works with emotionally disturbed and mentally ill children. He earned a master’s degree in social sciences from Binghamton University in 1999.

A lifelong love of science fiction, fantasy, and superhero stories influences Paul’s writing. His most recent work was a popular weekly online series that generated over 20,000 views. Jason and the Draconauts is his first novel.


Amazon (to purchase)http://www.amazon.com/Jason-Draconauts-Paul-D-Smith/dp/0615866247/ref=tmm_pap_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1413761768&sr=8-1
Twitter:https://twitter.com/PaulDSmith4321
Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/jasonandthedraconauts
Blog:
http://jasonandthedraconauts.blogspot.com/

Look Upward and Come to Me

My sketch from 10/20/2014
When a baby learns to walk, it stumbles and falls often. On their own, they carefully watch their feet and wobble unsteadily a few steps at a time. But when a parent is in front of them calling to them and encouraging them, the baby looks up and locks eyes with the parent they love and trust. Their arms reach out and they focus on what’s before them. If they stumble or lose their balance, they know Mom or Dad will catch them, encourage them to keep moving – as long as they keep their focus on their parent.
And when they succeed? Their family sweeps them up and smothers them with love and praise in the excitement.
Monday, while listening to a sermon/class discussing the importance of each of us looking upward so that Zion can look downward, this image allegory played through my mind. I’m not a great artist, but I hoped to share with others how much of our call is all contained in something so simple to comprehend if we allow ourselves. 
Jesus calls us to: Come unto Him, be innocent and pure like a little child, and look upward and keep our focus on Him.
If we could each focus our personal walk to matching this, imagine the example we can set for those around us and the call that would go out simply from showing love and devotion to our Savior Jesus. Abba. Our Father.
After I was finished with my sketch, I thought it was interesting to see how other parts of the picture played into the message unintentionally (at least by me). It's in the baby's room, it's safe zone and home, Jesus meets us wherever we are and calls us out of our comfort zone to focus on Him and move into a bigger world. To leave the distractions of our toys/life and choose His Holy Spirit as our comforter over the pacifiers and safety blankets we cling to. And just beyond Jesus? The toy box full of treasure. Once we come to Jesus, there is so much more waiting for us after we join in that relationship. It's open a bit to give us a glimpse of what's to come, but we must look up and keep our eyes on Jesus, steadily walking in to the arms of our Father to receive the blessing of knowing ALL that treasure box holds in store for us. 
I so often find the stories or art I create for others actually teach me in ways I hadn't expected. I know others will see them differently, but I hope that they touch your heart in some way too. 
“And this is mine everlasting covenant, that when thy posterity shall embrace the truth, and look upward, then shall Zion look downward, and all the heavens shall shake with gladness, and the earth shall tremble with joy;” - Genesis 9:22 I.V.
“No man can come unto me, except he doeth the will of my Father who hath sent me. And this is the will of him who hath sent me, that ye receive the Son; for the Father beareth record of him; and he who receiveth the testimony, and doeth the will of him who sent me, I will raise up in the resurrection of the just.” - John 6:44 I.V.
“And behold I have given you the law and the commandments of my Father, that ye shall believe in me, and that ye shall repent of your sins, and come unto me with a broken heart and a contrite spirit.” - 3 Nephi 5:66 BOM
“Now this is the commandment, Repent, all ye ends of the earth, and come unto me and be baptized in my name, that ye may be sanctified by the reception of the Holy Ghost, that ye may stand spotless before me at the last day.” - 3 Nephi 12:33 BOM
God Bless! April