S.T. Sanchez's Blog, page 16

Interview with Niki Lenz author of Bernice Buttman, Model Citizen

Today I'd like to welcome a new author. Niki why don't you start by introducing yourself.
Hi! My name is Niki Lenz and I live in Kansas City, Missouri, with my husband and children. I studied elementary education at Southwest Baptist University and taught kindergarten for six years. I enjoy reading, travel, glamping, polka dots, red lipstick, and oldies music. Bernice Buttman, Model Citizen is my first novel. 
 Congrats on finishing your first novel. It is an amazing accomplishment. Will you share a short excerpt from your novel?
Here are things that I, Bernice Buttman, was awesome at. One: burping the alphabet. Two: blowing up stuff with firecrackers. Three: wearing the teachers and puny kids of Oak Grove Elementary School into nubs. I was less great at knowing what to do with myself at recess.
I sat on top of the monkey bars, feeling like a booger on a cheese ball . . . out of place and unwelcome. Kids whirled all around me, talking to their buddies and playing games, but nobody came within arm’s length of me. That was probably real smart. There was only one kid in this whole mess who I didn’t want to clobber.




Which do you prefer: print books or ebooks? 

I love print books ! All the print books! I have never gotten the hang of reading things off of a screen.  Now, I do love audiobooks, and I pretty much am always listening to something. 


I love audiobooks too! They are especially great to listen to when I exercise. Will you eell us a little bit about your main characters

Bernice Buttman is a girl who was raised in a house of bullies.  She has a tough mom, and four mean, stinky, older brothers.  Bernice has never quite figured out how to make friends and keep them.  But when one of her pranks goes a little too far, her mom ships her off to live with her Aunt (who happens to be a nun) and Bernice gets a chance to start over.


Niki, what brought about the idea for your book?

I used to teach Kindergarten in a very low-income area.  I had a student one year who was a huge bully- a scrappy little girl! When I met with her mother to discuss her problems at school, the woman proceeded to bully me! I understood that little girl a lot better after that. And it made me wonder… are we all doomed to repeat our parent’s mistakes? Or do we get to make our own choices about the kind of people we become?


Wow a Kindergarten teacher. I am always in awe of Kindergarten. Anyone who can wrangle 20 to 30 five years old is awesome in my book. What was your writing process like?


I like to curl up on my couch with my laptop and a cup of coffee! That’s all I need really.  Oh, and silence helps.  I am not one of those people who can listen to music when I write because my brain really latches onto lyrics and pretty soon, I am typing them.


Silence. I wouldn't know what that sounded like. With three kids there is always a lot of noise in my house.What are your hobbies aside from writing, if any?


I love to play the guitar and sing.  Quite badly, actually.  But it gives my brain a little break and keeps my hands busy.  I love oldies music in particular.


In your novels, which character is your favorite?


I have a soft spot of Sister Angela Clarence, one of the nuns at the abbey who only speaks in book quotes. I think she is a love letter to all the great books that have shaped me.


Since you wrote in this genre, do you think you will ever write in other genres?


So far, all that the world has seen of my work is contemporary middle grade, but I love to write some fantasy and sci-fi elements, too.  I wouldn’t be surprised if someday you read a book from me with a little bit of magic in it.


What advice would you give someone who is considering publishing? Should they consider traditional or self-publishing?


If you are passionate about books and love to lose yourself in a story, then you should definitely work on getting your voice out in the world, however seems best to you.  Publishing can be a hard path, so you have to have thick skin and a steely will.  But as long as you love it, you should do it.


Niki, thanks for sharing with us! Happy Reading!!You can order Bernice Buttman, Model Citizen here. 
To learn more about Niki Lenz and her books and appearances check out www.NikiLenz.com
You can also follow her on Facebook or Twitter.

99 cents all week long!

One of my favorite my things I remember from my childhood was getting new books. It didn't happen a lot. It was always a special occasion. Sometimes we would find a book as we were doing our chores or get one on a holiday. So in honor of Valentine's Day coming up in a couple short weeks, I am offering all my books for .99 cents each in ebook format, and of course they are always Free to read on Kindle Unlimited.

The Portal Keeper - is great for any age but is especially aimed at 4th-8th grade level.



Sunwalker & Nightwalker are the first two books in my YA Vampire Trilogy.  These are free of sex and nudity, but do contain some violence.






















Check out a free sample of all my books on Amazon.com

Happy Reading!!

Carve the Mark by Veronica Roth

I haven't had much time to read lately and I have missed it. So I picked up this book in the library last week.  If the author's name sounds familiar, it's because she wrote the Divergent series.

Carve the Mark is an off planet story following the lives of Cyra Noavek and Akos Kereseth. Both are one of the few to receive a fate from the oracles. A fate is a statement that will come to pass that they are destined to fulfill. They live on a planet with two nations who share of a hatred of one another.

Akos is taken from his home and forced to serve Cyra. Cyra is powerful and has a gift. Her touch brings pain to everyone she encounters. She is coerced by her brother to commit unspeakable acts, or risk him bringing to light her darkest secret.

Akos has a gift as well, he is immune to the pain Cyra brings. Desperate to save his brother Eijeh, Akos enters into an alliance with Cyra. But can they get past generations of hated to trust each other or will they be the death of one another?

Carve the Mark is intriguing and unexpected. Roth paints a vivid picture of new worlds and it's easy to feel a connection to her characters. I can't wait to start the sequel.

Interview with Mark David Abbott author of A Million Reasons (A John Hayes Thriller)

Today let's give a warm welcome to Mark David Abbott, author of the John Hayes Thrillers.Thanks so much for taking the time to share with us today, Mark.
Why don't you start out by telling us a little about yourself.

I currently live in Hong Kong and have been a serial expat for most of my life. My father was in the Army and I was born in Cyprus while he was stationed there. We then moved to Germany and England before settling in New Zealand where I spent my childhood. The travel bug was instilled in me from then and as soon as I was old enough I left home and have lived in England, Hong Kong (twice), Thailand and India. I travel as much as I can, whenever I can and try and bring those locations into my books.


Traveling is something I would like to do more of. I love reading books about set in exoctic locations. What got you into writing?

I was fed up with sitting in an office answering mindless emails and trying to sell things (real estate) to people who didn’t want it. I thought there had to be more to life. I love to read and wasn’t bad at writing at school so I thought I would give it a try. I wrote my first book and loved the process. I realised that being able to work at something where you can be creative everyday is a blessing and plan to continue as long as readers keep buying my books.


Doing something you are passionate about definitely makes working a lot more enjoyable. And it's one of the few vocations that you can do anywhere, which I am sure is a plus to someone who loves to travel as much as you do. Which do you prefer: print books or ebooks?

I was a die-hard paperback fan and resisted buying a Kindle for a very long time. However now I have one I wouldn’t go back. I travel a lot so it is a much more convenient way to carry around the books I am reading, plus my partner is happy that I no longer have to read with the light on at night. So it has saved my marriage too.


Have you been given any helpful advice?

There is no such thing as writer’s block. Just sit down and write. Worry about what you have written later.


Tell us a little bit about your main characters


I love to read thrillers and a lot of thrillers have one thing in common. The hero is nearly always ex-military or has an espionage background. When reading these books I always wondered what I would do if I was put in the same situations. A man with no special skills or contacts to call upon. That is how I got the idea for the John Hayes series. Put an ordinary guy in extraordinary situations and see what happens.  He is a normal person just like you and me, but he just has a bit of bad luck. Or good luck? You will have to read the books to find out.




From the first spark of a plot to getting a novel in your hand can be a long process. Is there something you learned from writing your first book?

Not to self-edit while writing. Just let the words flow and worry about it later. The first draft is always going to need a lot of work. If I don’t focus on the quality of the first draft , the words flow easily. When I used to worry about the quality I procrastinated all the time, putting off writing until the very last minute. It used to cause me a lot of unnecessary stress. 
Mark, what are your hobbies aside from writing, if any?


I love to travel and eat good food. I’m also a keen runner and run most days. I am also a big fan of motorsport particularly Formula one. It is my dream one day to spend a year attending every race in the season.


I have tried to get into running this year but it is a hard sport.  I feel like I have to fight for every step. I admire runners who keep it up. It is hard work. What is your writing process like?  Do you have a routine?

I try to write every morning except perhaps Sundays. I write as early in the day as possible otherwise it is very easy to get sidetracked. I aim for 2000 words which takes me around two hours and then I have the rest of the day to do whatever I like, whether it is marketing, social media, or hanging out with friends.


What advice would you give someone who is considering publishing? Should they consider traditional or self-publishing?

Do it. technology has made it so easy and reasonably inexpensive to get our work out there. We can now reach millions of potential readers worldwide at the click of a few buttons. There is now no need for us to have someone else decide whether or not our work is worth reading. Get it out there and let the reader decide.
Even if you don’t become a best seller, it’s a wonderful feeling to have your name on a published book.



Don't forget to check out the entire John Hayes Series, and learn more about Mark at the sites below. Happy Reading!!

www.markdavidabbott.com


https://www.facebook.com/markdavidabbottauthor


The John Hayes Series


Vengeance ( Book 1) www.books2read.com/u/b62zd0


A Million Reasons ( Book 2)  www.books2read.com/A-Million-Reasons

Happy New Years!

Happy New Year
May 2019 be a fantastic year for everyone!

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas~Wishing you all a wonderful day~

Countdown to Christmas

Only 6 days left until Christmas...

I am always getting asked for recommendations of books I love. Here are a list of just a few of my favorite MG Fiction novels.  ~Enjoy~


For centuries mystical creatures of all description were gathered into a hidden refuge called Fablehaven to prevent their extinction. The sanctuary survives today as one of the last strongholds of true magic. Enchanting? Absolutely. Exciting? You bet. Safe? Well, actually, quite the opposite.
Kendra and her brother, Seth, have no idea that their grandfather is the current caretaker of Fablehaven. Inside the gated woods, ancient laws keep relative order among greedy trolls, mischievous satyrs, plotting witches, spiteful imps, and jealous fairies. However, when the rules get broken -- Seth is a bit too curious and reckless for his own good -- powerful forces of evil are unleashed, and Kendra and her brother face the greatest challenge of their lives. To save their family, Fablehaven, and perhaps even the world, Kendra and Seth must find the courage to do what they fear most.
The Fablehaven series is one of my favorites. Not only is it one of my kids favorites but I loved it as well.


Percy Jackson is about to be kicked out of boarding school . . . again. And that's the least of his troubles. Lately, mythological monsters and the gods of Mount Olympus seem to be walking straight out of the pages of Percy's Greek mythology textbook and into his life. And worse, he's angered a few of them. Zeus's master lightning bolt has been stolen, and Percy is the prime suspect. Now Percy and his friends have just ten days to find and return Zeus's stolen property and bring peace to a warring Mount Olympus. But to succeed on his quest, Percy will have to do more than catch the true thief: he must come to terms with the father who abandoned him; solve the riddle of the Oracle, which warns him of betrayal by a friend; and unravel a treachery more powerful than the gods themselves.
Skip the movies and go straight to the books.
  

Harry Potter has never even heard of Hogwarts when the letters start dropping on the doormat at number four, Privet Drive. Addressed in green ink on yellowish parchment with a purple seal, they are swiftly confiscated by his grisly aunt and uncle. Then, on Harry's eleventh birthday, a great beetle-eyed giant of a man called Rubeus Hagrid bursts in with some astonishing news: Harry Potter is a wizard, and he has a place at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. An incredible adventure is about to begin!
I couldn't have a list of favorites without Harry Potter. An epic fantasy. The books are great and add so much to the movies.

Give your child the gift of reading this Christmas. 

Happy Reading!!

A Time for Vengeance

If your looking for a good YA book to add to a teen's kindle this Christmas. Try out A Time for Vengeance by Nathaniel Wyckoff. A new release I just had the pleasure of reading.


Simon Mendez has an anger problem, and he’s about to unleash his fury on the Spanish Inquisition.The Mendez family is on top of the world. An upper-class family in 17th century Spain, they live a secret life – outwardly Catholic by all accounts, but desperately worried that, someday, someone will discover the Jewish traditions that they practice behind closed doors.Everything comes crashing down when the Inquisition arrests Simon's father. Incensed, Simon must retaliate with everything he’s got. With his father set to be burned at the stake and a sadistic hometown eager to see it happen, Simon has no time to lose. It will take his sharp wit, brutal weapons and raw courage to strike back hard at the Inquisition - before it’s too late.
The first in the series, I gave the book 4 out of 5 Stars.A time for vengeance is the first book in Nathaniel's new series. It follow's the life of Simon Mendez and his family. Being Jewish in Spain is a death sentence. Simon and his family must hide their beliefs from those around them. When Simon's father is accused of being holding secret Jewish classes, Simon's world is turned upside down, leaving the rest of his family homeless and in hiding. Simon must figure out how to take care of his family, while trying desperately to save his father as he weighs the importance of being true to himself. Definitely one to add to the kindle.
I'm looking forward to the coming adventure's of Simon. Give A Time for Vengeance a try and let me know what you thought.  Happy Reading!!Amazon

Who doesn't like a little something Free

Today Patrick McNulty's first book in his Monster series is Free.  A great addition to any kids reading list this year. And Adult too for those Middle Grade Adult lovers like myself.  Just click on the link to claim your free copy:)  Also don't forget to take the time to post a review. It will make any author's day!


Amazon
The children of Cripple Creek have been kidnapped!When school buses loaded with kids go missing, the Ministry of Monsters (MOM) send their top agents, thirteen-year-old monster hunter Milo Jenkins and his ghostly sidekick, Ruby, to investigate. Armed with magical tools of the trade and the latest in futuristic gadgets, Milo and Ruby find themselves up against an evil mastermind determined to transform the good people of Cripple Creek into an unstoppable army of monsters!Monster Factory is the first book in the action-packed Milo Jenkins: Monster Hunter series. If you like heart-racing action, cool gadgets, witty heroes, evil villains and stories full of things that go bump in the night, then you’ll love Monster Factory!

Interview with Patrick McNulty

Today I'd like to welcome author Partick McNulty. Tell us a little about yourself.  
Well, I grew up in Southern Ontario, Canada and I've always been a fan of dark, twisted fiction. I went to Vancouver Film School and worked with the production company called the Zanuck Co. on a script of mine called Dark Season. When that deal dissolved I converted the script into a novel called Sleepers Awake that I eventually sold to Kunati Press. About a year later Kunati Press went out of business and since then I have been writing screenplays and I have self-published a novel called The Blood Singer. As for a day job I was a medic in the Canadian Army for five years and now I am a police officer.  

That's too bad about your publisher going out of business. It's hard to have to start over again. Self publishing is a great option. What got you into writing?
I grew up in an age without the internet so streaming and Youtube were out, so I read. I loved Stephen King and Dean Koontz and Clive Barker growing up.

Which do you prefer: print books or ebooks?
I prefer print books when I'm at home but having all the digital books on my phone is super convenient and I find I get more reading done on my phone waiting in line than I usually get done at home.
Patrick, have you been given any helpful advice?
The greatest advice I've been given as a writer is that if you love writing and want to succeed, keep writing. Success always seems impossible but if you stick to it and keep learning you can accomplish any goal. And with the online communities out there to offer help every step of the way there really is goal you can't achieve if you are persistent . If you could travel anywhere in the world where would you go and why?
Currently, what are you working on?
Currently, I'm working on the Milo Jenkins: Monster Hunter series. My plan is to release a new book every month once the first one is out in stores. The first three are nearly completed, so I should be publishing the first one, Monster Factory shortly.
Wow, a book a month is ambitious.  Best of Luck. Tell us a little bit about your main characters.
My main character is a thirteen year old orphan named Milo Jenkins. He has been raised by the Ministry of Monsters (MOM) to be a monster hunter. He attends a private school of sorts called the Wychwood Academy where he learns all the tricks of the trade. While there he is assigned a partner, Ruby Sinclair. She is a ghost that helps him by collecting intelligence and assisting him while he is in the field on a mission.
Patrick, what did you find to be the easiest part of the writing process?  What is the hardest?
The easiest part of the writing process is the rough draft.  I love it because I can write really fast and not have to worry too much about grammar and punctuation, and all that jazz. The editing and proofreading is the hardest part for me. That is the only part of the job that feels like work, but in the end the work gets polished and refined and it really is crucial to the writing process.
Do you have people read your drafts before you publish?  How do you select beta readers?
I do have a Alpha Beta Reader, which is my wife. I've written rooms full of scripts and short stories and novels and she has always been there to give me an honest, straight forward critique. I love her but she's brutal. If it works for her – happy day, if it doesn't she will let me know about with both barrels.  After I get her stamp of approval I pass it along to my beta readers who have graciously agreed to offer me some early comments and suggestions. I have a link at the top of my website: www.patrickmcnulty.cawhere you can sign up to be part of my ARC Team and so far they have been phenomenal.
Brutal is my favorite kind of beta reader.  Better to find out before you publish is my thought. Who designed the artwork for your cover?  Or did you design it yourself?
www.100covers.com  did the artwork for my covers but I knew what I was looking for. Like any good service, the more information and feedback you give them the better the end result. I would highly recommend 100covers and I am using them for all of my Milo Jenkins covers.
What brought about the idea for your book?
Well, I love monster stories and I loved the format/length of the middle grade books. Like all my books I try to write books that I would want to read, and sometimes I get discouraged with a book that's too long. Most times I want a book that I can finish in a day. So I tend to write without a lot of fluff and like Elmore Leonard says, 'leave out the stuff people skip over.' 

Try it out and download it for FREE on December 4th & 5th at Amazon.


Thanks so much for sharing with us today. Happy Reading!! Be sure to check out more from Patrick at the links below.

AmazonBut the book is wide on every platform as of December 1st.WebsiteFacebookCover Designer