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Book Spotlight – Evil Lives In Blue Rock – by Lila L. Pinord

Evil Lives In Blue Rock by Lila L. Pinord
‘Evil Lives In Blue Rock’ is the age-old tale of good vs. evil with a twist. Lucien Bluerock, a descendent of the town’s fathers, lives in his gloomy mansion on a hill overlooking “his” town. Benjamin, his grandson, returns to Blue Rock, along with Agate Mitchell—a childhood friend—to attend his mother’s funeral. They soon learn that the Riverman, Evil Spirit, Bad Tomanous—it has many names, but is known throughout history—the ANCIENT MENACE is loose, crawled up out of the sea where powerful shaman have kept it contained for many years. The atrocities begin upon the people of Blue Rock and members of the Quail River Reservation when the Evil Spirit inhabits the body of Jimmy Talltree, the local tribal policeman. It is all the chosen few with “the power” can do to force the Evil One back into the sea from whence it came, using ancient rites and ceremonies handed down through the generations. Only the gods know if they have succeeded in their endeavor to rid this earth of the anti-Christ. Review: Lila Pinord has followed up Skye Dancer with a barn burner of a second book- it’s both creepy and fascinating. — Gene Woodwick, reviewer – Canoe People’s Bookshelf

Genre: Fiction, General

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Fiction Author Lila L. Pinord is author of ‘Evil Lives In Blue Rock’, ‘In Time’, ‘Min’s Monster’, and ‘Skye Dancer’. Much of Lila’s stories are based on her upbringing on the Quinault Indian Reservation. She creatively pulls on all the legends, superstitions, and mysticism that abounded on the reservation making stories a work of fiction with a bit of the truth tossed in. Lila was born and raised on the Quinault Indian Reservation in a small fishing village called Queets, Washington. She was so small at birth that her father held her in the palm of one hand. She finished grade school at Queets-Clearwater, then it was on to Lake Quinault High School where she earned a scholarship to Grays Harbor College, being Salutitorian of her class. She married at the age of 21 and had one daughter Kimberley. Divorced, she later married her lifelong friend and loving husband James Pinord. He passed away in November of 2003 from the dreaded killer, cancer.  

Accomplishments: At Peninsula College in Port Angeles – her home now- Lila made the President’s List by attaining straight A’s during one quarter. She majored in secretarial and office machines with bookkeeping secondary. Deciding she wouldn’t earn much as a secretary, she went on to Western Washington University and graduated with a BA in Accounting. Even then, she knew that writing would play a big part in her life. Lila is now a contributing author to three publications out on the market: ‘Authors Guide to Promotion’, ‘200 Authors and How They Were Published’, and ‘Shameless Shorts’, an anthology written by a group of writers who met on an Amazon forum. Royalties are donated to a worthwhile cause.  

Additional Information: Lila worked at various jobs which she enjoyed very much including; The Clallam County PUD for four years, an attorney’s office for two years, and Tower Service for two more years. Lila and her husband became vagabonds for a while and traveled the country looking for work during the Reagan Years. They ended up in Houston, Texas, working for a while before returning to Port Angeles. After retirement, Lila went into writing full time and it certainly paid off when she published her first book ‘Skye Dancer’ in 2003. Her second book ‘Evil Lives In Blue Rock’ was published on April 30, 2005. Much of her stories are based on her upbringing on the Reservation with all the legends, superstitions and mysticism that abound there. ‘Min’s Monster’ was published in 2007 and is set in the village where she grew up, though it is fiction with a bit of the truth tossed in- as are the other books as well.  

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Amazon Author’s Page

Amazon Reviews
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Kindle Purchase Link
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****************************** Author Lila L. Pinord’s Published Books:
Evil Lives in Blue Rock
In Time
Min’s Monster
Skye Dancer
****************************** Lila L. Pinord’s Website


Cold Coffee Press Author Lila L. Pinord
Cold Coffee Café Author Lila L. Pinord

Cold Coffee Press Book Review For The Journal Of Ezekiel Walker by John J. Zelenski

 
The Journal Of Ezekiel Walker by John J. Zelenski
On furlough from his World War ll Civilian Public Service Unit in the fall of 1945, a war weary Ezekiel Walker returns to his family farm in Walker’s Vale, Pennsylvania. Everything about him, the world and his beloved town of Walker’s Vale, which had been founded by his grandfather Noah Walker 90 years ago had changed.

The town was dwindling despite his parents’ devotion to their community and the small church that they shepherd. Soon it became evident to Ezekiel that the changes surrounding this small community of Walker’s Vale weren’t just material orientated, or caused by the residual effects of the war. The changes were far more troubling and sinister than anything he had ever encountered.

Unexplained supernatural events were unfolding that were drawing him into a battle unlike a human battle known to man. Ezekiel accounts in his journal “Aware of my own thoughts, I concluded that I was caught somewhere between reality and the fantastic—between light and dark, but not a part of either. I suddenly recalled the story of Jesus being tempted in the wilderness and remembered how he defeated Satan by quoting the Father’s Word.”

The growing conflict that confronts Ezekiel tests his core beliefs and shapes the depth of his faith after a man named Mr. Simon Tremblestone arrives in town.

Cold Coffee Press endorses ‘The Journal Of Ezekiel Walker’ by John J .Zelenski as a depictive fictional supernatural account of spiritual warfare. We were given a PDF format to review. The review was completed on March 3, 2015. For more information please visit us at Cold Coffee Press. http://www.coldcoffeepress.com

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Back Of The Book Description: In the wake of light…evil waits. In the fall of 1945, just after Word War II, Ezekiel Walker has returned home on a furlough from his Civilian Public Service Unit. As Ezekiel tries to adjust back to life at the farm, strange and unexplainable events begin to occur at the homestead, and Ezekiel begins to experience visions and bizarre sightings. When a stranger suddenly arrives with promises to rebuild the small town of Walker’s Vale and befriend the young Ezekiel, a portal to the supernatural is opened and lives will never be the same.

“John paints a true landscape of the Christian experience in this prequel to his first book, Walker’s Vale. Within it he exposes the depravity of our enemy, Satan, who seeks to destroy Christians and the Church. However, we do not need despair, for our salvation is in God and His Son, Jesus Christ. John illustrates this perfectly through the experiences of Ezekiel Walker.” —Pastor Michael Frisbee, Liberty Gospel Ministries and Host of the Paranormal Christian Show

“John is very gifted in describing scenes in the spiritual realm with such visual detail that he makes you feel like you are actually witnessing the events described in the journal. This reads like an action movie as you are drawn directly into Ezekiel’s struggle with demonic forces.” —Les Carlsen, renowned vocalist for Christian Music Hall of Fame inductee and legendary Christian metal band, Bloodgood

*************************From Author, John J. Zelenski, comes the prequel (The Journal Of Ezekiel Walker)
to Christian supernatural thriller, Walker's Vale (soon to be movie).

*************************Introducing the Promo Trailer for book title 'The Journal Of Ezekiel Walker'.
From author, John J. Zelenski, comes the prequel (The Journal Of Ezekiel Walker)
to Christian supernatural thriller, Walker's Vale (soon to be movie). 

*************************About The Author: John J. Zelenski is an award-winning author who has appeared on television, radio, and has been featured in numerous print articles as well as receiving high-profile reviews from the popular community.

Having been inspired, in part, to write his first novel Walker's Vale, by his own paranormal experiences as a child, John has developed a keen understanding of the supernatural.

His second novel and prequel to Walker's Vale - The Journal of Ezekiel Walker - continues with the saga of Walker's Vale, with a future third installment presently in the works.

Walker's Vale, the film will be released through Allegentsia Productions with filming scheduled to begin sometime in 2015.

John, along with his wife and two children, love to watch the seasons change in beautiful Northeast Pennsylvania.

Amazon Author’s Page and Main Purchase Link John J. Zelenski’s Website
John J. Zelenski’s Blog Cold Coffee Press Author John J. Zelenski
Cold Coffee Café Author John J. Zelenski

Cold Coffee Press Spotlight Interview With Author John J. Zelenski

  Cold Coffee Press Spotlight Interview With Author John J. Zelenski
John J. Zelenski is an award-winning author who has appeared on television, radio, and has been featured in numerous print articles as well as receiving high-profile reviews from the popular community.

Having been inspired, in part, to write his first novel Walker's Vale, by his own paranormal experiences as a child, John has developed a keen understanding of the supernatural.

His second novel and prequel to Walker's Vale - The Journal of Ezekiel Walker - continues with the saga of Walker's Vale, with a future third installment presently in the works.

Walker's Vale, the film will be released through Allegentsia Productions with filming scheduled to begin sometime in 2015.

John, along with his wife and two children, love to watch the seasons change in beautiful Northeast Pennsylvania.

*************************Interview:
What makes you proud to be a writer from the United States? I think the most obvious answer would be the freedom and liberty to express myself in the form of the written word.

What, or who, inspired you to become a writer? My high school English teacher was the first person who believed that I had the ability to express myself with words. My debut novel, Walker’s Vale was in part inspired by supernatural experiences I had as a child.

When did you begin writing with the intention of being published? I have written for my own pleasure since high school, but only began to get serious about writing within the last five years.

Did your environment or upbringing play a major role in your writing and why? Yes, being raised in a strict Christian upbringing I was influenced a lot by the church I grew up in. Generally speaking, writers usually write about what they know; so for me the obvious tendencies to reflect the people and events I saw will make their way to the pages in some form.

Do you come up with your title before or after you write the manuscript? The title came to me before the manuscript was written, mainly through trial and error in the sense of what I thought sounded creepy or mysterious.

Why do you write in the genre(s) that you’ve chosen? I have always been fascinated by the paranormal or supernatural, most likely for the reasons I mentioned earlier. To combine them with Christian ideals was something that not a lot of people were or are doing right now.

What has been your most rewarding experience while in the writing process? Having someone tell me that my book has caused them to reaffirm their faith in God. I think sometimes writers forget that regardless of what genre their writing in; they have the power to influence the reader in so many ways.

What has been your most negative experience while in the writing process? Mainly, just the rejection e-mails. After a while though, you have to develop a thicker skin to let the negatives roll off like water.

What has been your most rewarding experience in your publishing journey? One has been to see my book on shelves next to best-selling authors. Kind of a surreal moment of sorts.

What one positive piece of advice would you give to other authors? It may sound almost clichéd, but just don’t give up. Writing to me is a skill that needs to be developed and honed like any other learning process. With time, each bit of writing gets better and more polished and you will notice a difference in the way it begins to flow.

Who is your favorite author and why? I don’t think that I have one favorite author. I admire the work of many diverse writers, but like to think that my main influences are Frank Pieretti and Ted Dekker.

What special projects are you working on now and what books do we have to look forward to in the future? There is a sequel and possibly a trilogy to Walker’s Vale. However, I am currently working on something totally different, although still in the supernatural / paranormal realm.

Is there anything else that you would like to share with us? Walker’s Vale is available on all of the larger online book sellers as well as many other smaller independent sites, so please don’t forget the little guys. The book is also available directly from Tate Publishing as a paperback and exclusively as an e-book.

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Walker's Vale by John J. Zelenski James Cooper moved his family to Walker's Vale, Pennsylvania, in search of the ideal life. What he got was the just opposite. As this small town's eerie history is revealed and repeated, it's clear the devil is in the details and he's waiting for the Cooper's young daughter. When the FBI come knocking at his door, James quickly realizes that his ideal life may come with a steeper price than he thought. This story of faith, deception, and horror will captivate readers as one man fights for his family's safety and embarks on a journey toward redemption in this suspenseful supernatural thriller.

Walker's Vale The Movie Is In The Works ************************* Amazon Customer Reviews
Amazon Author’s Page
Amazon Print Purchase Link
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**************************************************John J. Zelenski’s Website
John J. Zelenski’s BlogCold Coffee Press Author John J. Zelenski Cold Coffee Café Author John J. Zelenski

Cold Coffee Press Book Review For A Secret In Ash Brooke

 
A Secret In Ash Brooke - by Dutch Rhudy
A small town detective agreed to mentor a local newspaper reporter who wished to enhance his sleuthing hobby. In the process of improving his observational skills, the reporter scrutinized various citizens torso and behavior. As his facial recognition abilities increased, he grew more aware of subtle similarities and differences.
The reporter soon became intrigued with an exceptional physical likeness between two young women. Each portray different cultures, and appear nothing alike in manner of dress, or in their separate lifestyles. The reporter, convinced they must be twins, maintained a constant vigil on his suspects.

He befriended one of these ladies to learn more about her. All attempts at justifying to himself she was a twin, proved futile. Subtle comments among her friends and family, confirmed she had only one sibling, an older brother. These facts led our sleuth-hound reporter, to believe these two women were one in the same person.

Turning his attention from the proper lady, with her strict religious upbringing; to the one of questionable moral values. His observations only invited confusion and generated unanswered questions. Each time his suspicions exposed another clue, a positive clarification negated the probability.

Their timetables overlapped, and one person cannot possibly be in two places at the same time. Or can they? Certain his assumptions are correct, our reporter continued his quest to learn the truth.

Log Line: How can she be in two places at the same time?

Tag Line: Never take anyone at face value.

Genre: Fiction, Cozy, Mystery & Detective, Historical.

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Book Review: A Secret In Ash Brooke - by Dutch Rhudy

If you enjoy mystery, detective fiction with a little history thrown in, ‘A Secret In Ash Brooke’ should be your next read. 
The small town setting depicts both the advantages and disadvantages of communities where people know each other intimately. 
I especially liked the small mill town setting where men went off to war and some returned. Where women left the security of their homes (changing women's roles forever) to help in the war efforts and hold their communities together.
Sometimes it takes another perspective to not only notice but unravel secrets that loom large but that are dismissed by ordinary life. Dutch Rhudy’s characters are well suited for the mystery that unfolds in Ash Brooke.
Reviewed by Cold Coffee Press (July 2014): http://www.coldcoffeepress.com
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About The Author: Dutch Rhudy; referred to by his peers as the master of Mystery, Mayhem and Madness; resides in a quaint, east Tennessee post war cottage. Any similarity to serenity, abruptly ends right here. For this mysterious Author of Mischief is about to enter his study. Or should I say, make an attempt at entry.
With a quick two-step, hop-scotching around and over the wildlife feeding pans strewn along the pathway, his feet manage to find a surviving clear landing spot at the study door. He reaches for the doorknob, gives it a sharp push, then stands in the doorway carefully eyeing a profusion of every trinket imaginable, gathered to study and perhaps use as a cue for a scene in a novel; this Pandemonium Plus setting leaves not a square inch of surface or floor area.

Born in the mid-1940s; Rhudy actively interacted with his older relatives from the pre-1900s era. Each had a story to tell about the good old days, their pioneer ancestors, the many antics they pulled as children; including more serious matters, about crime escalating over the years and how they confronted these issues. Each family gathering added more unique stories of mirth and suspense which have found their way into Rhudy's mental archives.

As a young man, Rhudy worked evenings as a disc-jockey and script writer. Once available for full-time work, he assisted a small advertising firm and worked as a ghost writer for a columnist. Through this association more work followed; with a request to ghost write several novels for teens and young adults, his career was under way and consumed over a decade before he took a break from writing.

Rhudy is getting on up in years; the nest now deserted, peace and quiet has returned to the Rhudy household. Retirement affords him the time to release under the Roaring Falls series, many colorful stories spanning over 150 years. Included within each story are glimpses into the history of his hometown, its activities and bring to life the many crimes from past to present.

Often called "That Mysterious Mystery Solving Mayor of Roaring Falls," Rhudy claims he solves no crimes; he allows the unraveling of each mystery be conducted by the world-renowned Rumbleigh Investigations. There is much more about Roaring Falls than appears on the surface; if there is a secret to discover; a scandal, a sinister character, a hidden romance, or clue for solving a crime; some character will invariably let it slip out.

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Author’s Published Works:
The Roaring Falls Series: Historical Series:
The History of Roaring Falls: In Editing, Not Yet PublishedThe Journal of Josiah Stren 1820-1830 (Example Only): In ProductionMystery Series (Examples Only):
Death on The LandingRiverboat MurdersThe Oracle at Winnowing RockTorchlight at Summit RidgeRomance Series (Examples Only):
Phoebe's WishThe Blue PetticoatProm Night PartiesSecret Life of Maggie GruppStand-alone Novels (Stand-alone publications): Fiction
A Secret In Ash BrookeShort Stories (Stand-alone publications): Non-Fiction
Boot & Milk Balls (Plus three additional short stories)Lady Buff & Yardstick - The Three-Footed KittenFiction
The Elusive Smoking GunThe Vanishing Corn Mystery Author Dutch Rhudy’s Roaring Falls Website  

Please Visit Dutch Rhudy Author’s Page At Cold Coffee Press

Cold Coffee Press Spotlight Interview With Author Dutch Rhudy

Dutch Rhudy; referred to by his peers as the master of Mystery, Mayhem and Madness; resides in a quaint, east Tennessee post war cottage. Any similarity to serenity, abruptly ends right here. For this mysterious Author of Mischief is about to enter his study. Or should I say, make an attempt at entry.

With a quick two-step, hop-scotching around and over the wildlife feeding pans strewn along the pathway, his feet manage to find a surviving clear landing spot at the study door. He reaches for the doorknob, gives it a sharp push, then stands in the doorway carefully eyeing a profusion of every trinket imaginable, gathered to study and perhaps use as a cue for a scene in a novel; this Pandemonium Plus setting leaves not a square inch of surface or floor area.

Born in the mid-1940s; Rhudy actively interacted with his older relatives from the pre-1900s era. Each had a story to tell about the good old days, their pioneer ancestors, the many antics they pulled as children; including more serious matters, about crime escalating over the years and how they confronted these issues. Each family gathering added more unique stories of mirth and suspense which have found their way into Rhudy's mental archives.

As a young man, Rhudy worked evenings as a disc-jockey and script writer. Once available for full-time work, he assisted a small advertising firm and worked as a ghost writer for a columnist. Through this association more work followed; with a request to ghost write several novels for teens and young adults, his career was under way and consumed over a decade before he took a break from writing.

Rhudy is getting on up in years; the nest now deserted, peace and quiet has returned to the Rhudy household. Retirement affords him the time to release under the Roaring Falls series, many colorful stories spanning over 150 years. Included within each story are glimpses into the history of his hometown, its activities and bring to life the many crimes from past to present.

Often called "That Mysterious Mystery Solving Mayor of Roaring Falls," Rhudy claims he solves no crimes; he allows the unraveling of each mystery be conducted by the world-renowned Rumbleigh Investigations. There is much more about Roaring Falls than appears on the surface; if there is a secret to discover; a scandal, a sinister character, a hidden romance, or clue for solving a crime; some character will invariably let it slip out.

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Interview:
 
What makes you proud to be a writer from Tennessee? Pleasantly surprised is how I prefer to describe living in The Tennessee Valley. Born and raised in St. Louis County, Missouri; a Yankee moving south to ‘The Spunky Little City’ of Knoxville, Tennessee was a major cultural change for me.Warmly welcomed in my new spouses home town; I soon learned Knoxville was occupied alternately by both Confederate and Union armies during the Civil War. As the most populous metropolitan area in the Southern Appalachians, we were never at a loss for things to do.Meeting the many famous authors who live here, and their generous offer of expert assistance, has made me feel at home. We often invite fellow writers to our quaint little home, nestled on Rodgers Ridge in the Smoky Mountain foothills.

What or who inspired you to become a writer? I love to write, and have since before I was knee-high to a grasshopper. I still recall resting the log sized pencil, supplied by the school, on my shoulder. The nightmares from trying to form letters around the chunks of wood embedded in the crude paper have never subsided.While attending high school, one of my early works, a class assignment, was selected for publication. After graduation I did research and draft writing for a journalist, which led to a transcription job for a publisher. Soon I was ghost writing rough draft novels for them.Personal circumstances drew me away from writing for nearly a decade. I assisted the development and writing of a history book of my home town. After moving south I was invited to join a publishers writing team.Writing in a personal journal, and researching our family genealogy, gave me an opportunity to learn my ancestors’ stories. These family histories have provided my most recent source of inspiration for my current work in progress, the Roaring Falls series.

When did you begin writing with the intention of becoming published? Within my first year of returning to work as a writer, the itch to tell my story my way became overwhelming. I read every book I could get my hands on that fit my intended genre. Then realized the long learning curve to achieve my goal as an Indie would be a hard one.My various duties at work taught me each phase of building a series, so I embarked on world building first. It took over three years to establish a solid base to work from. I had the groundwork laid, and developed the overarching outline.Then came the scene and character sketches, the massive genealogy tables to keep track of every family, pet, livestock and structure in my story. This was followed by the individual outlines, plot lines and a lot of tweaking to make certain the chronology was accurate.After writing an overarching reference to follow, and finishing the rough draft for the first few novels in the series. Came all the critique group meetings, and hiring of editors. I still had a long way to go, and while waiting on edits, I pulled some of my old works out to study.They were horrible, so I rewrote each of them, mainly to have something to share with our critique group. A little bit of polish and some encouragement from the group, I cringed at the thought, but decided to take their advice and publish.Urged to join the NaNoWriMo Challenge, I wrote my next novel with full intent to publish. Not right away, but after it was edited and polished. This gave me the confidence I needed to take on the monumental task of developing and writing the multi-novel Roaring Falls series. I’ve come a long way in the past few years and have no fear of publishing my works.

Did your environment or upbringing play a major role in your writing and why? The town in which I was raised did not exist when my ancestors first settled in the remote area. My great-grandfather founded a protective association, and my grandfather, along with other businessmen, a law and order society.From this latter group, the town was incorporated, and grandfather was the Trustee. The town grew to become a 4th class city, with my grandfather as the first and longtime mayor. More importantly, I came from a large family who maintained accurate records.One of the eldest children of my baby boomer generation, many of my ancestors were still alive and loved to tell stories of when they grew up. I absorbed their stories, and observed the town grow from an empty field to a major metropolitan city.This lifetime of history, lore and resources has formed the very basis of my works. A wealth of information to draw from, and write about. I’ve stepped into my ancestors shoes through diaries, genealogical work, and research, to the point I feel I have actually lived their lives.

Do you come up with your title (s) before or after you write the manuscript (s)? The title my stories are marketed under are often written last. However, I assign a working title to the storyline concept long before the actual writing begins. I create a main folder with a title, and place my research, scene and character sketches, etc. in sub-folders.Before I develop a storyline, many scene sketches, not associated with any story yet, are also filed with a name for the scene. While writing a story, I may need an occupation for a character, which in turn leads me to a scene sketch I can glean information from.

How do you develop your characters? For a character to be believable, possess human characteristics and mannerisms, you must get to know your character intimately. The best way I know to do this is to forget about the story you are writing for the time being, and thoroughly interview your character.Let the character tell you everything about their life from cradle to grave. Fill out your character sketch form and add this interview. For a visual image of this character, dig through you old photo albums or glean an image from the internet as an aid.If you know your characters role in the story, let this character tell the story from their point of view and see where it takes you. My characters often come up with things that fit them perfectly, things I never would have never thought of on my own.You never know what is lurking in the depths of your own mind, until you step into the shoes of someone else and become that person. Now that you know their side of the story, return to your version and bring in the human equation imparted by this character.

Tell us why you write the genre (s) that you write? I have a story to tell, and want to relate it to the person I’m telling it to in the most meaningful and best way possible. I don’t think about genre until I’m trying to classify the finished work. Most of my works fall under Historical Fiction, even when they contain nothing about history.Trying to assign a genre to a work can and often is a nightmare. My latest novel is Cozy Mystery, which also fits Historical Fiction. Normally Mystery is linked with Crime on bookshelves. What do you do with a book, set in the past, is a mystery, but no crime to solve?A reader expecting something about history will give you a bad review, because it is not about history. Ditto with those readers who feel a mystery must revolve around crime. Trying to find an appropriate genre that does not exist or fit with your works, is asking for trouble.To answer the question of what genre I write, I’ll come up with a new one Cozy Historical Mystery with no violence, crime, vulgarity or sex. So they stick my books under genre Children’s Fiction. You can’t win when it comes to genre.

Tell us your most rewarding experience while in the writing process? The most rewarding experience is that aha moment when everything suddenly comes together in the manner originally intended. The twenty rewrites of the last few paragraphs, the worn out delete key, and the warm fuzzy feeling you get when it turns out perfect.

Tell us your most negative experience while in the writing process? When the perfect line you labored over for weeks, the one that gave you the warm fuzzy, comes back from the editor with a red line through it, marked ‘dele.’ Losing a thought before you have time to write it down frustrates me to no end.

Tell us your most rewarding experience in your publishing journey? My biggest reward came after waiting on pins and needles to see if the publisher botched my nearly impossible to duplicate cover. No printer I had access to, other than using a true photographic duplication process, could achieve what I desired.The publishing company that handled my book and cover printing was amazing. Everything about the novel came out perfect, the cover was perfectly registered, and came out exactly as I had it envisioned. Thank you CreateSpace!What I was trying to duplicate was how a greeting card, with a printed frosted cover, placed over the image on the card appears to the eye. It adds depth to the image, and the cover printing seems to jump off the page. I got both illusions, and the feel of the cover is awesome.

Tell us your most negative experience in your publishing journey? The most negative experiences I’ve encountered have to do with various e-book formats. One conversion process does not work to produce the files for different e-readers. Some of the claims made by conversion distributors is not accurate at all.A novel formatted for print is nothing at all like an e-book format. Conversion programs cannot possible handle the formatting tags used for a print book. The same is true for an e-book format being touted as printable.The copyright notice for a print book omits clauses necessary in e-books, and it looks stupid to have e-book clauses in a print book. Not to mention a book printed from an e-book formatted file is about as horrible as it can get.A properly formatted e-book for a particular device, may appear perfect on one model of that companies devices, and horrible on another model using the exact same file. I suggest going straight to the distributor for the device, for their version, and only use distributors for e-pubs. Format your work for each conversion system, or for printing, for best results.

What one positive piece of advice would you give to other authors? Keep writing no matter what. Write one story, edit, rewrite, edit again and then publish. Don’t keep trying to tweak your work, this work won’t get any better. Move on to the next work, you learn and improve with continual practice. Keep the beat going.Think of a music score. You hit a sour note, so what, you can’t go back, it’s water over the dam, or damage to someone’s ears, as the case may be. But the beat goes on, and timing in music is everything.If you go back to replay that sour note, the whole orchestra is way ahead of you, and the right note at the wrong time is as bad as the sour note. Ray Bradbury said it best. You can’t write fifty bad stories in a row. One of them will soar with the eagles.Many authors are not recognized until they hit their third, fifth, or seventh novel. Their early works may have been garbage, but only up until the time they hit a winner. Then all of their works are suddenly in demand, and critics enjoy bashing early works. Smile and go to the bank!

Who is your favorite author? This may sound like an odd response to who is my favorite author, but it is directly related to what I have done for over thirty years. My favorite author is: The Stratemeyer Syndicate, with Raymond Douglas Bradbury my individual favorite author.To explain further, Franklin W. Dixon does not exist as a person using a pen name. Franklin W. Dixon is a pen name, but not of an individual. The name represents a group of writers all working together in a team or in many cases individually. All under the same pen name.

Is there anything else that you would like to share with us? Because the main objective of my current works, as told in the Roaring Falls Series, is based primarily on true stories from my home town and my personal life.To protect the families, including my own, who’s lives, occupations, and history are portrayed in my novels. Their names have been changed, resemblances altered, the time period shifted, and the location moved to a fictitious state and city.I have also chosen the pen name Dutch Rhudy as the author of this series. Several pen names were chosen before I finally settled on the simplest of all options. The nicknames of my mother (Dutch), and mother-in-law (Rhudy), passed all naming convention clearance tests.
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A Secret In Ash Brooke by Dutch Rhudy
A small town detective agreed to mentor a local newspaper reporter who wished to enhance his sleuthing hobby. In the process of improving his observational skills, the reporter scrutinized various citizens torso and behavior. As his facial recognition abilities increased, he grew more aware of subtle similarities and differences.
The reporter soon became intrigued with an exceptional physical likeness between two young women. Each portray different cultures, and appear nothing alike in manner of dress, or in their separate lifestyles. The reporter, convinced they must be twins, maintained a constant vigil on his suspects.

He befriended one of these ladies to learn more about her. All attempts at justifying to himself she was a twin, proved futile. Subtle comments among her friends and family, confirmed she had only one sibling, an older brother. These facts led our sleuth-hound reporter, to believe these two women were one in the same person.

Turning his attention from the proper lady, with her strict religious upbringing; to the one of questionable moral values. His observations only invited confusion and generated unanswered questions. Each time his suspicions exposed another clue, a positive clarification negated the probability.

Their timetables overlapped, and one person cannot possibly be in two places at the same time. Or can they? Certain his assumptions are correct, our reporter continued his quest to learn the truth.

Log Line: How can she be in two places at the same time?

Tag Line: Never take anyone at face value.

Genre: Fiction, Cozy, Mystery & Detective, Historical



 *************************Book Review: A Secret In Ash Brooke - by Dutch Rhudy

If you enjoy mystery, detective fiction with a little history thrown in, ‘A Secret In Ash Brooke’ should be your next read. 
The small town setting depicts both the advantages and disadvantages of communities where people know each other intimately. 
I especially liked the small mill town setting where men went off to war and some returned. Where women left the security of their homes (changing women's roles forever) to help in the war efforts and hold their communities together.
Sometimes it takes another perspective to not only notice but unravel secrets that loom large but that are dismissed by ordinary life. Dutch Rhudy’s characters are well suited for the mystery that unfolds in Ash Brooke.
Reviewed by Cold Coffee Press (July 2014): http://www.coldcoffeepress.com 
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Create Space Print Purchase Link
Amazon Print Purchase Link
Kindle Purchase Link
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Nook Purchase Link
Smashwords eBook Purchase Link
 
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Author’s Published Works:
The Roaring Falls Series Historical Series:
The History of Roaring Falls: Draft Completed, In Editing, Not Yet PublishedThe Journal of Josiah Stren 1828 - 1829 (Example Only): In ProductionMystery Series (Examples Only):
Death on The LandingRiverboat MurdersThe Oracle at Winnowing RockTorchlight at Summit RidgeRomance Series (Examples Only):
Phoebe's WishThe Blue PetticoatProm Night PartiesSecret Life of Maggie GruppStand-Alone Novels (Stand-alone publications): Fiction
A Secret In Ash BrookeShort Stories (Stand-alone publications): Non-Fiction
Boot & Milk Balls (Plus three additional short stories)Lady Buff & Yardstick - The Three-Footed KittenFiction
The Elusive Smoking GunThe Vanishing Corn Mystery Author Dutch Rhudy’s Roaring Falls Website  

Please Visit Dutch Rhudy Author’s Page At Cold Coffee Press

Cold Coffee Press Book Review For The Gray Ship by Russell F. Moran

 
On the morning of April 10, 2013 the nuclear guided missile cruiser USS California left Norfork, Virginia heading toward Charleston, South Carolina. Once there the ship would anchor at Fort Sumter for a ceremony commemorating where the first battle of the Civil War took place on April 12, 1861. After the ceremony Captain Ashley Patterson would deploy her ship to the Persian Gulf, but as it turns out, time can be unpredictable.
Author Russell F. Moran like so many authors before him wrestles with science fiction and time travel to the extent of what would happen if we could go back into history and change just one event. He thanks his friends Bill Holland, Nick Wartella and his wife for their fresh perspective, input and editorial analyses. He also gives appreciation for invaluable technical input from his friend Lloyd (Hoss) Miller, Rear Admiral, Retired, United States Navy. Admiral Miller was the first commanding officer of the USS California, the ship that plays the pivotal role in the story. Admiral Miller makes a cameo appearance in the book as the strong leader, likeable person and gentleman that he is in real life.

The author is quick to point out that this is a work of fiction and with all fiction imagination plays a pivoting role. At the very start the reader is introduced by name to 55 major characters who bring the story of ‘The Gray Ship’ from the blue-green swells of the Atlantic Ocean through a port-hole (worm hole) that will not only change history, but tens of thousands of lives. His characters are realistic as with Captain Ashley Patterson while in her astute position wrestles with her own inner demons.
Who right now or in our future might want to go back in time to abolish war or the worse acts of humankind? When faced with the dilemma of being forced back through time into a dark period of American history, Captain Ashley Patterson and her crew had to risk mutiny or at the very least commit treason. If and when they could make it back to their own time, how would they be judged by friends, family, the military and the world? Who would believe their story?

One of my favorite quotes from the book reads, “Dr. Weinberg,” said Admiral Miller, “Do you believe these stories?” “It isn’t my job to believe stories or not to believe them, Admiral,” said Weinberg. “It’s my job to assess whether the witness believes his own story. But I will say this. I don’t know much about this time travel stuff, but ever since I worked on that book with Jack Thurber, I’ve noticed that I’ve developed an obsessive compulsive disorder. I never step on a crack…it may be a wormhole.”

Reading ‘The Gray Ship’ has left me wanting to read this authors other three books; A Time Of Fear, The Skies Of Time, and The Thanksgiving Gang.

Cold Coffee Press endorses ‘The Gray Ship’ by Russell F. Moran as a science fiction, time travel story that will cause the thoughtful reader to ask what he or she might change if the opportunity presented itself? We were given a PDF version of this book for review which was completed on February 21, 2015. For more information please visit Cold Coffee Press. http://www.coldcoffeepress.com

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Amazon Customer Reviews
Amazon Print Purchase Link
Kindle Purchase Link
Author Russell F. Moran’s Website and Related LinksWebsite: http://www.morancom.comLinked In: https://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=66247753&trk=nav_responsive_tab_profile Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/russmoranauthor Twitter @rfmoran Cold Coffee Café Author Russell F. Moran Cold Coffee Press Author Russell F. Moran

Cold Coffee Press Spotlight Interview With Author Russell F. Moran

 
Cold Coffee Press Spotlight Interview With Author Russell F. Moran
Russell F. Moran is the author of The Gray Ship (Coddington Press 2013), book one of The Time Magnet series. It's a story of time travel, romance, and a nuclear warship that finds itself in the Civil War. The Thanksgiving Gang is the sequel, and A Time of Fear is Book Three in the series. The next is Book Four, The Skies of Time.

He has also published five nonfiction books: Justice in America: How it Works—How it Fails. (Coddington Press, 2011); The APT Principle — The Business Plan That You Carry in Your Head. (Coddington Press, 2012); Boating Basics, the Boattalk Book of Boating Tips (Coddington Press, 2013); How to Create More Time (Coddington Press, 2014). He is a lawyer and a veteran of the United States Navy. He lives in Long Island, New York with his wife Lynda.

Interview:

What makes you proud to be a writer from Long Island, New York? A lot of published authors live on Long Island, and I’ve gotten the chance to meet a few of them.

What or who inspired you to become a writer? A teacher in High School and my wife.

When did you begin writing with the intention of becoming published? 2010

Did your environment or upbringing play a major role in your writing and did you use it to your advantage? Yes. I have a background in law and the military. I’ve used these backgrounds in my writing.

Do you come up with your title before or after you write the manuscript? After the manuscript or sometimes part of the way through.

Please introduce your genre and why you prefer to write in that genre? Science fiction/time travel and detective thrillers

What was your inspiration, spark or light bulb moment that inspired you to write the book that you are seeking promotion for? I first get an idea and then jot down story “beats,” or a rough outline of what the story is about. Then start writing. After that, the full story starts to show up.

What has been your most rewarding experience with your writing process? Praise from friends.

Have you had a negative experience in your writing career? If so please explain how it could have been avoided? One star reviews from Internet trolls on Amazon. I have absolutely no idea how to avoid them.

What has been your most rewarding experience in your publishing journey? The Gray Ship a Kirkus Indie Best books of 2013

Have you had a negative experience in your publishing journey? If so please explain how it could have been avoided? Allowing myself to get stuck. I don’t do that anymore. I avoid it by writing, not dwelling on plot problems. They tend to resolve themselves.

What one positive piece of advice would you give to other authors? Read On Writing by Stephen King, and The War of Art by Steven Pressfield. Then, dispel the notion that there is any such thing as writers block. It doesn’t exist unless you convince yourself that it does.

Who is your favorite author and why? Nelson De Mille. Great story teller with a conversational voice.

Is there anything else that you would like to share with us? Don’t give up!

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The Gray Ship: Book One In The Time Magnet Series – by Russell F. Moran
In this stellar time-travel novel, a modern-American nuclear-powered cruiser sails through a time portal and goes back 152 years to the days just before the beginning of the Civil War.

The USS California, under the command of Capt. Ashley Patterson, an African-American woman, is headed toward Charleston, S.C., to participate in a ceremony commemorating the first battle of the Civil War: the bombardment of Fort Sumter on April 12, 1861. But before her ship reaches its destination, the massive cruiser—and its 630 crew members—travel through some sort of temporal wormhole and end up near the Charleston Harbor in 1861, just hours before the Confederate assault is about to begin.

After eventually wrapping her head around the fact that her entire crew has traveled back in time, Patterson realizes that she has some difficult decisions to make: Does she let history repeat itself and focus on trying to find a way back home, or does she use the military superiority of the California—“outfitted with enough fire power to unleash Biblical hell on an enemy”—to help end the war quickly and thus save the approximately 620,000 soldiers who would otherwise die in the next four years?

Powered by a cast of well-developed characters—Lincoln and Lee are among the prominently featured historical figures—consistently brisk pacing and a pulse-pounding (albeit slightly predictable) conclusion, the humanist themes of this novel are momentous and just as timely today as they were back in the 1860s.

This provocative, intensely powerful novel is a must-read for sci-fi fans and Civil War aficionados, though mainstream fiction readers will find it heart-rending and inspiring as well. A rare read that’s not only wildly entertaining, but also profoundly moving. From Kirkus Reviews

Genre – Science fiction/time travel/alternative history

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Cold Coffee Press Book Review For The Gray Ship by Russell F. Moran
On the morning of April 10, 2013 the nuclear guided missile cruiser USS California left Norfork, Virginia heading toward Charleston, South Carolina. Once there the ship would anchor at Fort Sumter for a ceremony commemorating where the first battle of the Civil War took place on April 12, 1861. After the ceremony Captain Ashley Patterson would deploy her ship to the Persian Gulf, but as it turns out, time can be unpredictable.

Author Russell F. Moran like so many authors before him wrestles with science fiction and time travel to the extent of what would happen if we could go back into history and change just one event. He thanks his friends Bill Holland, Nick Wartella and his wife for their fresh perspective, input and editorial analyses. He also gives appreciation for invaluable technical input from his friend Lloyd (Hoss) Miller, Rear Admiral, Retired, United States Navy. Admiral Miller was the first commanding officer of the USS California, the ship that plays the pivotal role in the story. Admiral Miller makes a cameo appearance in the book as the strong leader, likeable person and gentleman that he is in real life.

The author is quick to point out that this is a work of fiction and with all fiction imagination plays a pivoting role. At the very start the reader is introduced by name to 55 major characters who bring the story of ‘The Gray Ship’ from the blue-green swells of the Atlantic Ocean through a port-hole (worm hole) that will not only change history, but tens of thousands of lives. His characters are realistic as with Captain Ashley Patterson while in her astute position wrestles with her own inner demons.
Who right now or in our future might want to go back in time to abolish war or the worse acts of humankind? When faced with the dilemma of being forced back through time into a dark period of American history, Captain Ashley Patterson and her crew had to risk mutiny or at the very least commit treason. If and when they could make it back to their own time, how would they be judged by friends, family, the military and the world? Who would believe their story?

One of my favorite quotes from the book reads, “Dr. Weinberg,” said Admiral Miller, “Do you believe these stories?” “It isn’t my job to believe stories or not to believe them, Admiral,” said Weinberg. “It’s my job to assess whether the witness believes his own story. But I will say this. I don’t know much about this time travel stuff, but ever since I worked on that book with Jack Thurber, I’ve noticed that I’ve developed an obsessive compulsive disorder. I never step on a crack…it may be a wormhole.”

Reading ‘The Gray Ship’ has left me wanting to read this authors other three books; A Time Of Fear, The Skies Of Time, and The Thanksgiving Gang.

Cold Coffee Press endorses ‘The Gray Ship’ by Russell F. Moran as a science fiction, time travel story that will cause the thoughtful reader to ask what he or she might change if the opportunity presented itself? We were given a PDF version of this book for review which was completed on February 21, 2015. For more information please visit Cold Coffee Press. http://www.coldcoffeepress.com

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*************************
Amazon Customer Reviews
Amazon Print Purchase Link
Kindle Purchase Link
Author Russell F. Moran’s Website and Related LinksWebsite:http://www.morancom.comLinked In: https://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=66247753&trk=nav_responsive_tab_profile Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/russmoranauthor Twitter @rfmoran Cold Coffee Café Author Russell F. Moran Cold Coffee Press Author Russell F. Moran

Cold Coffee Press Book Review For Lake Of Lies: A CJ Hand Novel (Volume 4) – by C. G. Haberman

  Cold Coffee Press Book Review For Lake Of Lies:
A CJ Hand Novel (Volume 4) by C. G. Haberman
‘Lake Of Lies’ is just one of four, hard to put down, CJ Hand Mystery Novels written by C. G.Haberman.
Main character CJ Hand uses his love for, comfort of and the serenity of the back roads from Iowa to South Dakota to capture its breathtaking beauty through his camera photo lens which illustrates lessons that he shares with his ecology and botany students.
Intuitive moments and detailed memories have become part of his life since working for the Department of Justice. While forcing himself to move forward, CJ’s past is never far behind. The news hits him hard when the parole board releases Tom Vaughn and he knows someone must warn Tom’s wife Donette to stay alert.
A call from his daughter Meaghan stirs some of the personal demons that haunt him. A trip down memory lane brings him back to the lake where he and his wife Marnie had spent countless, glorious hours together. He sits and stares out across the lake to the shoreline where the shadows still hold remnants of ice and watches as several boys cast their fishing lines into the cold water with hopes of catching a catfish. The ring of his cell phone brings him back to the present. 
His life with his fiancée Dee, his many influential friends and co-workers find their world mostly centered on the Mill Creek State University and the surrounding communities. CJ reluctantly confides in psychologist Dr. Adriane Peterson. Like all psychologists she asks a lot of questions, like “You said there were other students, especially female nontraditional students with sudden grade drops, correct?” He nodded. “The question is: why the focus on Tammy Day?”
Two boys brave the frigid temperature at the southern edge of an abandoned farmstead in hopes to “get the biggest damn buck you ever did see.” Hiding in silence they hold their bows taught with arrows when the approaching deer notice something and their heightened awareness and instincts cause them to bolt. Understandably upset the boys strike out on a new hunt for the source of the hunting debacle and what they discover makes them gag.
It is more than Dr. Trisha Baker who works at Mill Creek State University in the Psychology Center can stand. She sets out to seek revenge for her fiancé, friends and most importantly to “destroy a predator”.
Cold Coffee Press Endorses ‘Lake Of Lies: A CJ Hand Novel’ by C. G. Haberman. Each book in this crime, fiction, mystery series stand alone. We also have the privilege of reading and reviewing ‘Deadly Circles: A CJ Hand Novel (Volume 1)’. Dead Man’s Run and Mill Creek Malice are a couple more novels in the CJ Hand series.
We encourage you to read these four CJ Hand Novels sold in both print and e-book. Enjoy the written mastery of author C. G Haberman. ‘Lake Of Lies’ was given to us in print for a review that was completed on February 25, 2015. For more information please visit Cold Coffee Press. http://www.coldcoffeepress.com
**************************Back Of The Book Description: Two teenage boys on a deer hunt in northwest Iowa watch as a trophy buck flees before either can release an arrow. Something in the crumbling cellar frightened the animal. Curious to know what disturbed the deer they open the shelter door and hell erupts.
The sudden failure of an outstanding student, his fiancées new job opportunities, and a personnel action weigh on CJ Hand. His daughter calls with news of his former wife. A disturbing past leads him back to Lincoln, Nebraska to confront demons. At semesters end on an icy and snowy morning his life would change once again.
Dr. Trisha Baker becomes the hunter with the intent to destroy a predator. The revenge is for her friends and herself, and to erase the painful memory of losing her fiancé.
Book Genre: Fiction, Mystery

Excerpt
Amazon Print Purchase Link
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C. G. Haberman’s Published Books
CJ Hand Mystery Novels
Dead Man’s Run
Deadly Circles
Lake Of Lies
Mill Creek Malice
Historical Novel
Historical Novel: The Naturalists – A History of the Hayman Family – Volume 1
Great News: 100th Meridian Murders A CJ Hand Novel (Volume 5). Coming in the Fall 2015.
C. G. Haberman’s Website
Amazon C. G. Haberman Author’s Page Cold Coffee Café Author C. G. Haberman Cold Coffee Press Author C. G. Haberman

Cold Coffee Press Book Review For Secrets In The Fairy Chimneys - by Linda Maria Frank

 
Cold Coffee Press Book Review For Secrets In The
Fairy Chimneys by Linda Maria Frank
Annie Tillery Mysterys book three ‘Secrets In The Fairy Chimneys’ can be summed up as Indiana Jones meets Nancy Drew with the skills and precision of CSI. A mystery unfolds amidst a mix of ancient history and modern innovation, in an ageless Eastern country where time moves at a camel’s pace.

Dedicated research by author Linda Maria Frank leaves no stone unturned while great description text transports the reader to the streets of Turkey with it mosques and minarets, towers and modern buildings. One of my favorite quotes from the book is “Water droplets plunked into the pool from the vaulted ceiling. After the heat of the bazaar and the street chase, it was deliciously cool. Ornate columns with carved capitals supported the ceiling. The bases were decorated with animal and human figures. There were a few visitors, but the enormity of the space muffled their conversations.”

Strong characters with great dialog brings us to dusty archeological site in one of the oldest towns in human history called Catalhoyuk. Nothing can explain it better than this quote: “We were in a valley of shapes I couldn’t believe were not made by humans, humans with a fabulous imagination. Conical formations called fairy chimneys in various sizes spread away from us in every direction. The color of bleached bones, they sat majestically among the gray-green brush and white claylike soil. The air shimmered from the heat. I could smell the odor of clay mixed with a faint herbal scent that must have come from the brush.”

Cosponsors from Vermont University are looking for a DNA connection between residents of Catalhoyuk and our original nomadic ancestors in Africa. Annie Tillery and her team go to work excavating this archeological site with all its inherit dangers and a mystery brings out the detective in Annie.

From the spell of an Ouija board to a magical balloon ride in the sky nothing is lost as this time and space makes all their senses come alive with amazing black and white graphics that bring the main characters to life.

Students and young adults of all ages will enjoy Annie Tillery Mysteries. Although a series each book is unique and stands alone with no need to read in a particular sequence.

Cold Coffee Press endorses ‘Secrets In The Fairy Chimneys’ and the Annie Tillery Mysteries by Linda Maria Frank. We received a PDF version of this book for review. Review completion date February 5, 2015. For more information please visit Cold Coffee Press: http://www.coldcoffeepress.com

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Author’s Book Description: Amateur sleuth Annie Tillery has been warned to stay away from Nevshehir, Turkey, where she is heading to meet her boyfriend, Ty Egan, and Cedric Zeeks, Ty’s best friend. Intent on helping the two excavate an archeological site where they hope to link human remains to the first African ancestors, Annie does her best to shakes her foreboding feelings as her plane lands in Istanbul and she prepares to embark on her next adventure.

But when a stranger claims he is there to pick her up and then disappears once he sees Ty, Annie is immediately thrown back into worry mode—especially after Ty tells her there is unexplained tension surrounding the dig and she receives a threatening note at the hotel. Still, as the three head to Nevshehir, Annie is buoyed by the excitement surrounding ancient Turkey and the possibility of uncovering secrets. The dig is plagued by accidents and theft, however, and the three friends, assisted by the head archeologist’s twins, must search the ancient city of Istanbul and the caves of fantastic Cappadocia to find who is sabotaging their work.

In this young adult thriller, detective Annie Tillery must once again walk on a dangerous path in an attempt to unravel a complicated mystery and solve the secrets in the fairy chimneys.




Genre: Young Adult, Mystery
Book Excerpt
Amazon Customer Reviews
Read forensics articles and lots of little blogs about "Secrets in T F C".
Amazon Softcover Purchase Link
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Audio Book Purchase Link
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Author Linda Maria Frank’s Websites and Related Links
Amazon Author’s Page
Barnes and Noble Author’s Page
Linda’s Website Links
http://lindamariafrank.com/
http://lindamariafrank.com/reviews/
http://lindamariafrank.com/events/
http://lindamariafrank.com/tv-show/
http://booktown.ning.com/profiles/blog/list?user=13rf1utui2kg0
http://bookbzz.com/category/editorial/conrtibutor-pages/authorblogs/linda-maria-frank-authorblogs/
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Cold Coffee Café Author Linda Maria Frank
Cold Coffee Press Author Linda Maria Frank

Cold Coffee Press Spotlight Interview With Author Linda Maria Frank

 
Cold Coffee Press Spotlight Interview With Author Linda Maria Frank
After many years in the teaching profession, Linda Maria Frank, the author of Annie Tillery Mysteries, has launched a new career. Inspired by a childhood passion for the Nancy Drew series and the popular television series, CSI, she successfully married an appealing heroine (Annie Tillery) with gripping story plots to create these new fiction books for mystery readers.

THE MADONNA GHOST has earned the distinctive “Editor’s Choice” and “Rising Star” awards. As a result of this book, Frank is included in the Authors Show 2013 Edition of “50 Great Writers You Should be Reading”.  GIRL WITH PENCIL DRAWING, the second book in the series, ramps up the adventure and suspense. Annie stays one step ahead of the bad guys by the skin of her teeth. The third Annie Tillery Mystery, SECRETS IN THE FAIRY CHIMNEYS, takes Annie to Turkey where caves, treasure pirates and saboteurs threaten to close down the archeological dig where she and her friends are working to unlock the secrets in the oldest town ever discovered.

Continuing her passion for her former career in education, she has put lesson plans for her books on her website, www.lindamaria.com, and other teacher websites. Her conviction is that you can make your child a life-long reader by introducing them to exciting fiction that will provoke them to ask questions about the world they live in, or would like to know about.

Before venturing into writing, Frank’s first love was teaching science, her assignments ranging from Middle School to graduate level courses at Hofstra and Adelphi Universities. She was the science chairperson for the last five years of her career at Seaford, L.I. Schools. She was awarded teacher of the year in Seaford High School in 1989. She won an award from the American Association of University Women for her ability to inspire young women to pursue careers in science.

 At Hofstra University she taught courses in forensic Science and Biotechnology at Hostra College, as well as Science Methods courses in the School of Education. It was the Forensic Science courses that gave her the story lines for her heroine, Annie, who is based on a composite of former beloved students.

She recently retired from Adelphi University where she supervised science student teachers. To quote, “Writing, publishing, and marketing books is a full time job, and it’s time to change careers.”
Today she collaborates with children’s author, Karen Bonnet, to do presentations about their books and their journeys in self-publishing. Linda and Karen give a portion of the proceeds from their books to the Interfaith Nutritional Network, and are planning a series of programs for the Boys and Girl Club.

She also collaborates with author, Lois W. Stern, on a project called Tales2Inspire, a writing contest, an anthology of inspiring stories, and a marketing platform where authors help authors.
Presently Frank is involved in a project at LTV in East Hampton called “The Writer’s Dream”, an interview show where authors discuss the many different aspects of the profession. The show is aired on Cablevision 20.

Her ultimate goals are: to find an agent who will present my books to TV or film, to find venues to present my books and programs, and to organize book fairs as events for non-profit organizations to raise money.

Interview:

What makes you proud to be a writer from greater NYC? Being a writer in the greater NYC area is a challenge due to the competitive environment. There are many writers here in my little town of Massapequa Park. Long Island is proud to have many writers’ groups, organizations and Meet-ups. (My Meet-up is called FABLE of Massapequa Park). To have written, published and become active in marketing my Annie Tillery Mystery series is an accomplishment alone, and it is a second career. It’s been a great learning experience for me, as well as a teaching opportunity by way of sharing my experiences with others, both young students and other writers. I do a workshop on the ins and outs of self-publishing with another author. It’s called “So You Want to Write a Story”.

What or who inspired you to become a writer? The inspiration to write this series comes from my teaching days. I enjoyed exploring the world of science with my students. In particular, it was a pet project of mine to encourage my female students to peruse science careers, for which I won an award from the American Assn. of University Women.  When I started writing and creating the character of Annie Tillery, I drew from the characteristics of my female students. Secondly, I love the field of forensic science which I taught for over twenty years. And who of American adult women didn’t love Nancy Drew?

When did you begin writing with the intention of becoming published? The first two books were written when I took a writing course. I really didn’t know how to write a book, so I took a course in novel writing. My mentor said they were good, but it would take time to get them traditionally published. I put them aside. When self-publishing became a recognized entity, I decided to publish, picked a company, and in 2010 had my first published book.

Did your environment or upbringing play a major role in your writing and did you use it to your advantage? My parents were well educated, encouraged higher education, and fostered a love of reading. The schools I went to and the friends I had aimed for intellectually challenging careers. My first writing pieces were all about my life at home and the warm nurturing environment it provided.

Do you come up with your title before or after you write the manuscript? The first two books, The Madonna Ghost, and Girl with Pencil Drawing had titles from the start. Secrets in the Fairy Chimneys came to me at the very end of writing the book. I am writing book #4 and it has a working title for the purpose of filing, but I think this one will have to come after I have done significant work on the book.

Please introduce your genre and why you prefer to write in that genre? My genre is often listed as either YA mystery or Children’s Mystery. I am more comfortable with Mysteries for Girls of Any Age, because that is where I find my audience. The plots are intricate enough for adult readers, as is the CSI science. My heroine is 17 going on 19 as the books progress, and that’s what makes the series for young readers.

What was your inspiration, spark or light bulb moment that inspired you to write the book that you are seeking promotion for? I love archaeology. I read an article about an archaeological dig in Turkey. I thought, what a great setting for a mystery. I researched the area of Turkey which, by the way, has the weirdest landscape, and I went from there, even visiting Turkey.

What has been your most rewarding experience with your writing process? When my book club, Seaford Bookies, comprised of my teacher contemporaries, read my first book, The Madonna Ghost, and one of them said, “I love Annie”, I believed there was no greater reward. They continue to read and purchase my books. Who better to know a great teen girl than the teachers who spent their lives teaching, guiding and nurturing them?

Have you had a negative experience in your writing career? If so please explain how it could have been avoided? A fellow author said he knew an agent, and would I like him to give her one of my books. Of course I said yes. Her opening comment to me was, “I didn’t really read your book, but . . .” Her comments were the exact opposite of any reader comments I had received. Lesson: Never ask an agent for a favor. Their time is too precious to give you a comment based on actually reading your book. You must approach and agent in the proscribed professional way laid out on their websites. Breaches of this protocol are not well received.

What has been your most rewarding experience in your publishing journey? Having the first copy of The Madonna Ghost sent to me in the mail, opening the package and holding it in my hand. I had just completed medical procedures for a bout with cancer, and this was very sweet indeed.

Have you had a negative experience in your publishing journey? If so please explain how it could have been avoided? I have had to argue some points with editors about plot elements and science which they are not too up on, but otherwise, it’s been a good experience. The self-publishing companies offer many marketing packages for very steep prices. I tried one of the promotions that came with my publishing package and it was not effective.

What one positive piece of advice would you give to other authors? Search the internet for free help with your writing. Join a writing circle. If one doesn’t suit your needs, try another one. There are lots out there. When your manuscript is done, get the best professional editor you can afford.

Who is your favorite author and why? Don’t laugh. Charles Dickens. His stories are rich with, not only language, but plot twists. His characters are masterpieces of humanity. The social themes of his stories are cogent today. He has crafted wonderful, colorful stories.

Is there anything else that you would like to share with us? I would like to see more books written where girls are smart, strong, courageous, and independent.
I do a workshop on “Daydreaming”, because I think it is important to know the things you really love, and will lead you on a road to what you really want to be in life. Take your favorite daydream, and take baby steps to make it happen. Research it. Find out how to accomplish your dream. And soon, “wishing or rather, daydreaming, will make it so.”




    Cold Coffee Press Book Review For Secrets In
The Fairy Chimneys by Linda Maria Frank
Annie Tillery Mysterys book three ‘Secrets In The Fairy Chimneys’ can be summed up as Indiana Jones meets Nancy Drew with the skills and precision of CSI. A mystery unfolds amidst a mix of ancient history and modern innovation, in an ageless Eastern country where time moves at a camel’s pace.

Dedicated research by author Linda Maria Frank leaves no stone unturned while great description text transports the reader to the streets of Turkey with it mosques and minarets, towers and modern buildings. One of my favorite quotes from the book is “Water droplets plunked into the pool from the vaulted ceiling. After the heat of the bazaar and the street chase, it was deliciously cool. Ornate columns with carved capitals supported the ceiling. The bases were decorated with animal and human figures. There were a few visitors, but the enormity of the space muffled their conversations.”

Strong characters with great dialog brings us to dusty archeological site in one of the oldest towns in human history called Catalhoyuk. Nothing can explain it better than this quote: “We were in a valley of shapes I couldn’t believe were not made by humans, humans with a fabulous imagination. Conical formations called fairy chimneys in various sizes spread away from us in every direction. The color of bleached bones, they sat majestically among the gray-green brush and white claylike soil. The air shimmered from the heat. I could smell the odor of clay mixed with a faint herbal scent that must have come from the brush.”

Cosponsors from Vermont University are looking for a DNA connection between residents of Catalhoyuk and our original nomadic ancestors in Africa. Annie Tillery and her team go to work excavating this archeological site with all its inherit dangers and a mystery brings out the detective in Annie.

From the spell of an Ouija board to a magical balloon ride in the sky nothing is lost as this time and space makes all their senses come alive with amazing black and white graphics that bring the main characters to life.

Students and young adults of all ages will enjoy Annie Tillery Mysteries. Although a series each book is unique and stands alone with no need to read in a particular sequence.

Cold Coffee Press endorses ‘Secrets In The Fairy Chimneys’ and the Annie Tillery Mysteries by Linda Maria Frank. We received a PDF version of this book for review. Review completion date February 5, 2015. For more information please visit Cold Coffee Press: http://www.coldcoffeepress.com

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Author’s Book Description: Amateur sleuth Annie Tillery has been warned to stay away from Nevshehir, Turkey, where she is heading to meet her boyfriend, Ty Egan, and Cedric Zeeks, Ty’s best friend. Intent on helping the two excavate an archeological site where they hope to link human remains to the first African ancestors, Annie does her best to shakes her foreboding feelings as her plane lands in Istanbul and she prepares to embark on her next adventure.

But when a stranger claims he is there to pick her up and then disappears once he sees Ty, Annie is immediately thrown back into worry mode—especially after Ty tells her there is unexplained tension surrounding the dig and she receives a threatening note at the hotel. Still, as the three head to Nevshehir, Annie is buoyed by the excitement surrounding ancient Turkey and the possibility of uncovering secrets. The dig is plagued by accidents and theft, however, and the three friends, assisted by the head archeologist’s twins, must search the ancient city of Istanbul and the caves of fantastic Cappadocia to find who is sabotaging their work.

In this young adult thriller, detective Annie Tillery must once again walk on a dangerous path in an attempt to unravel a complicated mystery and solve the secrets in the fairy chimneys.



Genre: Young Adult, Mystery
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Cold Coffee Café Author Linda Maria Frank
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