Anne Patrick's Blog, page 22
January 31, 2011
Fire and Ash won LRC's 'Best of 2010'
Best Thriller-Romantic Suspense/Mystery
http://annepatrick.weebly.com/fire-an...
http://annepatrick.weebly.com/fire-an...
January 30, 2011
Interview with F.V. Edwards
Thanks for joining me today, Floyd. I'll begin by sharing your bio:
Last five years focused on fiction writing. Now published in short story anthologies with two mainstream novels released in 2010. Taught GBC Continuing Education Courses "Writing For Publication" and "Patents, Trade Secrets, Trademarks & Copyrights" during Fall 2010 semester. Adding a course in "Logical Decisions Process" for the Spring 2011 semester.
Extensive management and participant experience covering multiple industries and services with skills in all aspects of business endeavors from small startup service operations through to leading groups of up to 231 personnel. Positions held range from owner/janitor to all aspects of corporate management including Sales, Marketing, Financials, Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality Assurance, Union negotiations, and Employee training. Primary area of expertise in the Medical Device industry.
Strong history as a problem solver in design, manufacturing processes, internal systems and operations.
Named on 19 technology patents since 1976. Assisted in development of 5 Trade Secret processes in last 30 years. One design from the seventies now in Smithsonian Museum. Computer literacy extends from equipment and system setup through paperless operations.
Author, Speaker & Teacher: Products, processes & systems to meet GMP, SMDA, ISO9000, MIL-Q-9858A, SAE, SME & other standards; Numerous Articles and presentations on TQM, SPC, JIT, Design of Experiment, Concurrent Engineering, Data collection & analysis, CAD, & other management systems.
Member of MD&DI (Medical Device & Diagnostic Industry) magazine Editorial Advisory Board since 1991. Served on Technical Advisory Board for MD&M (Medical Device & Manufacturing) Shows and Conferences from January 1992 through July 1998.
Dealt with all levels of government agencies from Washington DC down to obtaining local building permits. Served on Federal Agency Budget formulation committees, Ad Hoc Mil-Spec Review committees, State and Federal election campaign staffs.
United States Air Force veteran during the Korean conflict.
[Anne] First of all I'd like to thank you for your service to our country, Floyd. And now comes the questions :-). When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer, Floyd?
[Floyd] I became an inveterate reader in early childhood willing to tackle anything in print and I haunted the local libraries whenever I wasn't working, competing in sports or at school. In the sixth grade I started drawing cartoons about those I observed. They evolved into comic book like stories not of professional quality. I did have fun with them. Mrs. Maxine Rinker an English Teacher came into my life as a sophomore in high school. (note: she is acknowledged in all my books.) She encouraged my writing and poetry. I was published in the National High School Poetry Anthology and had the desire to write firmly entrenched well before graduation.
[Anne] Tell us about your latest book.
[Floyd] The God Business was released in June 2010 and is available in print and E book from Whiskey Creek and Amazon. Readers Favorites classified it as a mystery and gave it a great review. The story takes place over a one week period in Denver, Reno, and Anaheim with a flashback to how Joshua, Bobby and Cheryl got their immensely successful evangelistic endeavor going. Josh battles several problems with Bobby's changing personality, a massive blackmail situation by unknown sources and pressure from politicians who want an endorsement by the crusade. He finds a unique resolution for the problems and protects the flock that supports their billion dollar business.
[Anne] What inspired you to write this story?
[Floyd] The genesis came from time spent assisting a relative in behind the scenes facets of what one might call a California cult. The ancillary aspects provided an immense education. Watching the early growth of other evangelistic organizations provided the overall concept.
[Anne] How did you go about researching your book?
[Floyd] The internet was a major tool. Personal knowledge of the city sites at the time periods of the story was incorporated. We have lived in Reno, Anaheim, Cary NC, and visited Denver; I've had driver's licenses in 13 states as a result of my corporate and military brat years.
[Anne] Do you have anything new in the works?
[Floyd] One is being considered for publication now, another will be submitted in February and drafts of two more await the rewrite/revision phase. A collection of short stories will be submitted by April. My novels are basic historic mainstream with some suspense mystery. The short stories tend to be sci-fi/fantasy works.
[Anne] What is your writing process like? Are you a plotter or a pantster?
[Floyd] You might say some of both. I tend to develop the plot as an engineer, allow seat-of-the- pants changes to evolve during the draft, and be analytical in the rewrite stage. My spouse Carol and a few others are excellent reader/critics whom I rely on to discover story glitches. Carol is the read aloud sounding board during the polish stage.
[Anne] If you could be anyone of your characters, which one would you chose to be and why?
[Floyd] It's a toss-up between Phillip in "Glass Angel With Skillet" and Joshua in "The God Business". They are objective and honest characters who pause to think things through with consideration of the consequences before vocalizing or taking action.
[Anne] Say your publisher has offered to fly you anywhere in the world to do research on an upcoming book, where would you most likely want to go?
[Floyd] During my military and technical career I had the good fortune of visiting every USA state, two when they were also territories, plus Puerto Rico and Guam. I've also been to every continent except Australia although there are many countries yet to visit. I think I would take advantage of the offer and go to the Scandinavian countries, particularly Sweden and Denmark.
[Anne] You've just been informed that your latest release was a NY Times bestseller and Hollywood wants to turn it into a movie. What actors would you choose to play your main characters?
[Floyd] I'm sure the Producers, Director, Script Writer and their staffs would be far better prepared to make those calls while I look forward to seeing the results of their work.
[Anne] What type of books do you like to read when you're not writing?
[Floyd] Everything from sports through philosophical histories. I try to learn something new every day.
[Anne] Name three things you can't live without (excluding spouses and family because that's a given).
[Floyd] I once thought my old Royal manual typewriter was the proverbial cat's meow and the ultimate tool of its time. The computer with unlimited software tools and memory is now an absolute need. The internet saves so much time doing research compared to the library days of yore, it would be difficult to live without the service. I guess the third item would be a toss up between food and my old Volvo station wagon.
[Anne] What advice would you give to any aspiring writers out there?
[Floyd] I currently teach a course "Writing For Publication" at the local college. The base line is learning to rewrite effectively. Don't fall in love with your own words. Become part of a positive reinforcement critique group. Understand the immense changes in the publishing world over the past few years. A major point is learning to fully read and understand the guidelines before you submit.
[Anne] Where can we find you on the web?
[Floyd] My web page is http://fvedwards.wcpauthor.com. I am slowly in the process of building a web site and plan to have a blog. April is a good guess.
[Anne] Where can we purchase your books?
[Floyd] The God Business and Glass Angel With Skillet are available in electronic and print from Whiskey Creek Press and Amazon. The anthologies with my short stories are Ruins Terra and Desolate Places, edited by Eric T. Reynolds and available from Hadley Rille Books and Amazon. They are all carried in stock by the Bookstore in Elko, Nevada.
[Anne] Is there anything else you'd like to add?
[Floyd] Thank you. I've enjoyed the challenge of finding out how I'd answer so many probing questions.
Last five years focused on fiction writing. Now published in short story anthologies with two mainstream novels released in 2010. Taught GBC Continuing Education Courses "Writing For Publication" and "Patents, Trade Secrets, Trademarks & Copyrights" during Fall 2010 semester. Adding a course in "Logical Decisions Process" for the Spring 2011 semester.Extensive management and participant experience covering multiple industries and services with skills in all aspects of business endeavors from small startup service operations through to leading groups of up to 231 personnel. Positions held range from owner/janitor to all aspects of corporate management including Sales, Marketing, Financials, Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality Assurance, Union negotiations, and Employee training. Primary area of expertise in the Medical Device industry.
Strong history as a problem solver in design, manufacturing processes, internal systems and operations.
Named on 19 technology patents since 1976. Assisted in development of 5 Trade Secret processes in last 30 years. One design from the seventies now in Smithsonian Museum. Computer literacy extends from equipment and system setup through paperless operations.
Author, Speaker & Teacher: Products, processes & systems to meet GMP, SMDA, ISO9000, MIL-Q-9858A, SAE, SME & other standards; Numerous Articles and presentations on TQM, SPC, JIT, Design of Experiment, Concurrent Engineering, Data collection & analysis, CAD, & other management systems.
Member of MD&DI (Medical Device & Diagnostic Industry) magazine Editorial Advisory Board since 1991. Served on Technical Advisory Board for MD&M (Medical Device & Manufacturing) Shows and Conferences from January 1992 through July 1998.
Dealt with all levels of government agencies from Washington DC down to obtaining local building permits. Served on Federal Agency Budget formulation committees, Ad Hoc Mil-Spec Review committees, State and Federal election campaign staffs.
United States Air Force veteran during the Korean conflict.
[Anne] First of all I'd like to thank you for your service to our country, Floyd. And now comes the questions :-). When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer, Floyd?
[Floyd] I became an inveterate reader in early childhood willing to tackle anything in print and I haunted the local libraries whenever I wasn't working, competing in sports or at school. In the sixth grade I started drawing cartoons about those I observed. They evolved into comic book like stories not of professional quality. I did have fun with them. Mrs. Maxine Rinker an English Teacher came into my life as a sophomore in high school. (note: she is acknowledged in all my books.) She encouraged my writing and poetry. I was published in the National High School Poetry Anthology and had the desire to write firmly entrenched well before graduation.
[Anne] Tell us about your latest book.
[Floyd] The God Business was released in June 2010 and is available in print and E book from Whiskey Creek and Amazon. Readers Favorites classified it as a mystery and gave it a great review. The story takes place over a one week period in Denver, Reno, and Anaheim with a flashback to how Joshua, Bobby and Cheryl got their immensely successful evangelistic endeavor going. Josh battles several problems with Bobby's changing personality, a massive blackmail situation by unknown sources and pressure from politicians who want an endorsement by the crusade. He finds a unique resolution for the problems and protects the flock that supports their billion dollar business.
[Anne] What inspired you to write this story?[Floyd] The genesis came from time spent assisting a relative in behind the scenes facets of what one might call a California cult. The ancillary aspects provided an immense education. Watching the early growth of other evangelistic organizations provided the overall concept.
[Anne] How did you go about researching your book?
[Floyd] The internet was a major tool. Personal knowledge of the city sites at the time periods of the story was incorporated. We have lived in Reno, Anaheim, Cary NC, and visited Denver; I've had driver's licenses in 13 states as a result of my corporate and military brat years.
[Anne] Do you have anything new in the works?
[Floyd] One is being considered for publication now, another will be submitted in February and drafts of two more await the rewrite/revision phase. A collection of short stories will be submitted by April. My novels are basic historic mainstream with some suspense mystery. The short stories tend to be sci-fi/fantasy works.
[Anne] What is your writing process like? Are you a plotter or a pantster?
[Floyd] You might say some of both. I tend to develop the plot as an engineer, allow seat-of-the- pants changes to evolve during the draft, and be analytical in the rewrite stage. My spouse Carol and a few others are excellent reader/critics whom I rely on to discover story glitches. Carol is the read aloud sounding board during the polish stage.
[Anne] If you could be anyone of your characters, which one would you chose to be and why?
[Floyd] It's a toss-up between Phillip in "Glass Angel With Skillet" and Joshua in "The God Business". They are objective and honest characters who pause to think things through with consideration of the consequences before vocalizing or taking action.
[Anne] Say your publisher has offered to fly you anywhere in the world to do research on an upcoming book, where would you most likely want to go?
[Floyd] During my military and technical career I had the good fortune of visiting every USA state, two when they were also territories, plus Puerto Rico and Guam. I've also been to every continent except Australia although there are many countries yet to visit. I think I would take advantage of the offer and go to the Scandinavian countries, particularly Sweden and Denmark.
[Anne] You've just been informed that your latest release was a NY Times bestseller and Hollywood wants to turn it into a movie. What actors would you choose to play your main characters?
[Floyd] I'm sure the Producers, Director, Script Writer and their staffs would be far better prepared to make those calls while I look forward to seeing the results of their work.
[Anne] What type of books do you like to read when you're not writing?
[Floyd] Everything from sports through philosophical histories. I try to learn something new every day.
[Anne] Name three things you can't live without (excluding spouses and family because that's a given).
[Floyd] I once thought my old Royal manual typewriter was the proverbial cat's meow and the ultimate tool of its time. The computer with unlimited software tools and memory is now an absolute need. The internet saves so much time doing research compared to the library days of yore, it would be difficult to live without the service. I guess the third item would be a toss up between food and my old Volvo station wagon.
[Anne] What advice would you give to any aspiring writers out there?
[Floyd] I currently teach a course "Writing For Publication" at the local college. The base line is learning to rewrite effectively. Don't fall in love with your own words. Become part of a positive reinforcement critique group. Understand the immense changes in the publishing world over the past few years. A major point is learning to fully read and understand the guidelines before you submit.
[Anne] Where can we find you on the web?
[Floyd] My web page is http://fvedwards.wcpauthor.com. I am slowly in the process of building a web site and plan to have a blog. April is a good guess.
[Anne] Where can we purchase your books?
[Floyd] The God Business and Glass Angel With Skillet are available in electronic and print from Whiskey Creek Press and Amazon. The anthologies with my short stories are Ruins Terra and Desolate Places, edited by Eric T. Reynolds and available from Hadley Rille Books and Amazon. They are all carried in stock by the Bookstore in Elko, Nevada.
[Anne] Is there anything else you'd like to add?
[Floyd] Thank you. I've enjoyed the challenge of finding out how I'd answer so many probing questions.
January 23, 2011
Interview with P.I. Barrington
P.I. Barrington, after an extended detour through the entertainment industry, has finally succumbed to the career of writing that has chased her down over the years! She lives in Southern California and is an avid ancient history buff, a determined gardener, and occasionally dabbles in art and music.
[Anne] When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer, P.I.?
[P.I.] I really didn't have much of a choice; it chased me down no matter how far I tried to run! I always end up writing in one form or another. I was Editor of my college newspaper and from that got hired as a reporter for my hometown newspaper, when I went into radio, I was the News Director, journalism again! Finally after working in entertainment, music in particular, I had a long break and decided to try my hand at fiction which was what I really wanted to write. I had a few short stories published, very tongue-in-cheek urban fantasy before I really made a serious attempt at finishing a novel.
[Anne] You have a new release. Please tell us about it.
[P.I.] Final Deceit closes the Future Imperfect trilogy which is a near-future crime thriller romantic suspense—what a mouthful, lol! It wraps up the two cliffhangers of Crucifying Angel and Miraculous Deception and also explains the characters and their relationships as well as resolves the unanswered questions and mysteries that started with the first book (Crucifying Angel).
[Anne] Sounds really great. What inspired you to write this it?
[P.I.] You know, it's funny but I've just started realizing that when I start either a book or a series/trilogy, I usually know the first and last lines of the book(s). That's how it happened with Future Imperfect. I knew the first line and the ending line of the books and (except for the epilogue which existed vaguely) and it just worked itself out from there. Final Deceit is the finale in more ways than one and I knew it had to be big and I knew it had to sort of wrap itself around itself to finish the storylines. Plus, I got involved with the characters and had to see for myself what was going to happen to them, lol.
[Anne] How did you go about researching your book?
[P.I.] I've been to Las Vegas a lot of times so I had basic visuals on the area but I did look at maps and aerial shots a little after I'd begun the trilogy just to double check and I did a tiny bit of research on animal mutations resulting from pollution of the early mining days. That was to be able to set up the environmental destruction of the area, the city especially. I didn't realize I set the military research facility pretty much on the actual spot where Area 51 sits until I went back to research something else and panicked until I figured that it would all work out even better that way. And nobody ever asks me about this but I also did some thinking about the technology I put in the series. It's almost like readers just accept it as matter of fact plausibility, which I guess I should be happy about! But things like the Sedadone foam spray for crowd control and the Ghoster technology are my own inventions. They really are based on basic biology of DNA sloughing for Ghoster and Sedadone and the tank cannon actually came from my thinking about real non-violent forms of crowd control.
[Anne] Do you have anything new in the works?
[P.I.] Well, I've got a bunch of projects going on right now and I'm trying to focus on one at a time to get at least something completed. I'm attempting a real fantasy which is something I tried to write in my teens but really lacked the discipline and world building techniques. I'm planning to make that a trilogy as well. But, like all of them, it'll have to sit in the queue until I finish the one I'm working on right now. I'm still superstitious in talking about projects before they happen though.
[Anne] What is your writing process like? Are you a plotter or a pantser?
[P.I.] Probably a little of both but more so a pantser. The closest I ever get to plotting out is writing disorganized notes on plot ideas and characters and conflict—a partial sentence here or there with an arrow pointing at something else on the bottom of a page—as I said very disorganized but just to not forget my idea. I actually did wake up in the middle of the night about two months ago with a perfect plot point but didn't write it down and now it's gone probably forever! Mainly, I know the first and last lines of the book or story and just start at the beginning and write. People are always telling me, "you can go back and correct and edit" but for some weird reason, I can't even if I need to do major rewrites of sections after the book is done. I just have to start and continue to the end and try to edit as I go along.
[Anne] If you could be anyone of your characters, which one would you chose to be and why?
[P.I.] I know she's not the main character but I've grown to love Amy Strand. She's I think closest to my personality in that she's an uncontrollable smart ass and she tries to hide her emotions behind a veneer of toughness. But she's also funny, she and Nick Kincaid are my comic relief in Future Imperfect. Their scenes, especially in Final Deceit were my favorite to write! I like Payce but she's much more cerebral, much more of a thinker than Amy who just goes directly at things in blunt kind of way.
[Anne] Say your publisher has offered to fly you anywhere in the world to do research on an upcoming book, where would you most likely want to go? (Okay so maybe this isn't very likely to happen but since I'm asking the questions…)
[P.I.] The Middle East. All of it. Egypt, Iran(Persia), Israel, the whole shebang! I love ancient history in that area of the world and after I got through weeping with joy, I'd be in my khaki shirt and shorts digging away on some archaeological site! Oh, and can't forget my favorite civilization: Roman! Gaius Julius Caesar and I walking up to the Senate…forgot to tell you I am a geekette!
[Anne] Sounds like a blast to me! Okay, here's another fun question. You've just been informed that your latest release was a NY Times bestseller and Hollywood wants to turn it into a movie. What actors would you choose to play your main characters?
[P.I.] Wow! Payce Halligan came from a headshot of a blonde woman shooting target practice and Gavin McAllister is loosely—operative word here—loosely—on John Nettles—at least his voice is. John has that British understated speaking style—you could stab him in the foot and he'd never raise that voice! I've never been able to cast Gavin successfully though I did age Jared Leto at one point. All the others have actors attached in my head. Nick Kincaid came from a shot of Alain DeLon smoking a cigarette; Ali Larder IS Amy Strand to a T; I demoted Jared Leto to Logan McKaye since I was never really happy with him as Gavin. Georgene Channing can only be played by Tamara Tunie. Those are the majors. I have the other characters but it would take a year to list the casting, lol!
[Anne] What type of books do you like to read when you're not writing?
[P.I.] I read ancient historical though not necessarily romance or even Christian (though I do prefer Christian) but anything about ancient Middle Eastern civilizations. It's odd because I write futuristic crime thrillers most of the time, but for me ancient history is my addiction of choice!
[Anne] Name three things you can't live without (excluding spouses and family because that's a given).
[P.I.] Music, books, pen/paper.
[Anne] Great choices! What advice would you give to any aspiring writers out there?
[P.I.] Finish the book. Once you finish, the rest fall into place. But you need discipline to finish that first one. And two, be your toughest critic. If you are, you'll almost always put out something of quality which also enhances your drive toward success.
[Anne] That's sound advice, P.I. Now, where can we find you on the web?
[P.I.] http://thewordmistresses.com; Twitter/PIBARRINGTON; Facebook: P.i. Barrington; DesertBreezePublishing.com
[Anne] And where can we find your books?
[P.I.] www.desertbreezepublishing.com; Amazon.com; Barnesandnoble.com
[Anne] Is there anything else you'd like to add?
[P.I.] Just that I love to hear from readers directly! I love to hear their opinions on my work! They can email me at wordmistresses@yahoo.com but be patient it may take a little while but I will get back to them!
[Anne] Thanks again, P.I. I wish you the best in all your writing endeavors!
[Anne] When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer, P.I.?
[P.I.] I really didn't have much of a choice; it chased me down no matter how far I tried to run! I always end up writing in one form or another. I was Editor of my college newspaper and from that got hired as a reporter for my hometown newspaper, when I went into radio, I was the News Director, journalism again! Finally after working in entertainment, music in particular, I had a long break and decided to try my hand at fiction which was what I really wanted to write. I had a few short stories published, very tongue-in-cheek urban fantasy before I really made a serious attempt at finishing a novel.
[Anne] You have a new release. Please tell us about it.
[P.I.] Final Deceit closes the Future Imperfect trilogy which is a near-future crime thriller romantic suspense—what a mouthful, lol! It wraps up the two cliffhangers of Crucifying Angel and Miraculous Deception and also explains the characters and their relationships as well as resolves the unanswered questions and mysteries that started with the first book (Crucifying Angel).
[Anne] Sounds really great. What inspired you to write this it?
[P.I.] You know, it's funny but I've just started realizing that when I start either a book or a series/trilogy, I usually know the first and last lines of the book(s). That's how it happened with Future Imperfect. I knew the first line and the ending line of the books and (except for the epilogue which existed vaguely) and it just worked itself out from there. Final Deceit is the finale in more ways than one and I knew it had to be big and I knew it had to sort of wrap itself around itself to finish the storylines. Plus, I got involved with the characters and had to see for myself what was going to happen to them, lol.
[Anne] How did you go about researching your book?
[P.I.] I've been to Las Vegas a lot of times so I had basic visuals on the area but I did look at maps and aerial shots a little after I'd begun the trilogy just to double check and I did a tiny bit of research on animal mutations resulting from pollution of the early mining days. That was to be able to set up the environmental destruction of the area, the city especially. I didn't realize I set the military research facility pretty much on the actual spot where Area 51 sits until I went back to research something else and panicked until I figured that it would all work out even better that way. And nobody ever asks me about this but I also did some thinking about the technology I put in the series. It's almost like readers just accept it as matter of fact plausibility, which I guess I should be happy about! But things like the Sedadone foam spray for crowd control and the Ghoster technology are my own inventions. They really are based on basic biology of DNA sloughing for Ghoster and Sedadone and the tank cannon actually came from my thinking about real non-violent forms of crowd control.
[Anne] Do you have anything new in the works?
[P.I.] Well, I've got a bunch of projects going on right now and I'm trying to focus on one at a time to get at least something completed. I'm attempting a real fantasy which is something I tried to write in my teens but really lacked the discipline and world building techniques. I'm planning to make that a trilogy as well. But, like all of them, it'll have to sit in the queue until I finish the one I'm working on right now. I'm still superstitious in talking about projects before they happen though.
[Anne] What is your writing process like? Are you a plotter or a pantser?
[P.I.] Probably a little of both but more so a pantser. The closest I ever get to plotting out is writing disorganized notes on plot ideas and characters and conflict—a partial sentence here or there with an arrow pointing at something else on the bottom of a page—as I said very disorganized but just to not forget my idea. I actually did wake up in the middle of the night about two months ago with a perfect plot point but didn't write it down and now it's gone probably forever! Mainly, I know the first and last lines of the book or story and just start at the beginning and write. People are always telling me, "you can go back and correct and edit" but for some weird reason, I can't even if I need to do major rewrites of sections after the book is done. I just have to start and continue to the end and try to edit as I go along.
[Anne] If you could be anyone of your characters, which one would you chose to be and why?
[P.I.] I know she's not the main character but I've grown to love Amy Strand. She's I think closest to my personality in that she's an uncontrollable smart ass and she tries to hide her emotions behind a veneer of toughness. But she's also funny, she and Nick Kincaid are my comic relief in Future Imperfect. Their scenes, especially in Final Deceit were my favorite to write! I like Payce but she's much more cerebral, much more of a thinker than Amy who just goes directly at things in blunt kind of way.
[Anne] Say your publisher has offered to fly you anywhere in the world to do research on an upcoming book, where would you most likely want to go? (Okay so maybe this isn't very likely to happen but since I'm asking the questions…)
[P.I.] The Middle East. All of it. Egypt, Iran(Persia), Israel, the whole shebang! I love ancient history in that area of the world and after I got through weeping with joy, I'd be in my khaki shirt and shorts digging away on some archaeological site! Oh, and can't forget my favorite civilization: Roman! Gaius Julius Caesar and I walking up to the Senate…forgot to tell you I am a geekette!
[Anne] Sounds like a blast to me! Okay, here's another fun question. You've just been informed that your latest release was a NY Times bestseller and Hollywood wants to turn it into a movie. What actors would you choose to play your main characters?
[P.I.] Wow! Payce Halligan came from a headshot of a blonde woman shooting target practice and Gavin McAllister is loosely—operative word here—loosely—on John Nettles—at least his voice is. John has that British understated speaking style—you could stab him in the foot and he'd never raise that voice! I've never been able to cast Gavin successfully though I did age Jared Leto at one point. All the others have actors attached in my head. Nick Kincaid came from a shot of Alain DeLon smoking a cigarette; Ali Larder IS Amy Strand to a T; I demoted Jared Leto to Logan McKaye since I was never really happy with him as Gavin. Georgene Channing can only be played by Tamara Tunie. Those are the majors. I have the other characters but it would take a year to list the casting, lol!
[Anne] What type of books do you like to read when you're not writing?
[P.I.] I read ancient historical though not necessarily romance or even Christian (though I do prefer Christian) but anything about ancient Middle Eastern civilizations. It's odd because I write futuristic crime thrillers most of the time, but for me ancient history is my addiction of choice!
[Anne] Name three things you can't live without (excluding spouses and family because that's a given).
[P.I.] Music, books, pen/paper.
[Anne] Great choices! What advice would you give to any aspiring writers out there?
[P.I.] Finish the book. Once you finish, the rest fall into place. But you need discipline to finish that first one. And two, be your toughest critic. If you are, you'll almost always put out something of quality which also enhances your drive toward success.
[Anne] That's sound advice, P.I. Now, where can we find you on the web?
[P.I.] http://thewordmistresses.com; Twitter/PIBARRINGTON; Facebook: P.i. Barrington; DesertBreezePublishing.com
[Anne] And where can we find your books?
[P.I.] www.desertbreezepublishing.com; Amazon.com; Barnesandnoble.com
[Anne] Is there anything else you'd like to add?
[P.I.] Just that I love to hear from readers directly! I love to hear their opinions on my work! They can email me at wordmistresses@yahoo.com but be patient it may take a little while but I will get back to them!
[Anne] Thanks again, P.I. I wish you the best in all your writing endeavors!
This scene is for you!
Desert Breeze authors would like to invite you to join Desert Breeze Connections Yahoo loop!
Between January 23 – January 29, 2011, you will be able to read a scene from each and every book Desert Breeze Publishing has ever published, and also a scene from books which are coming soon!
Over 43 authors will choose one scene from each of their books and post on Desert Breeze Connections for your reading enjoyment. Some authors have multiple releases, which means countless scenes will be showcased!
Each day during this very special week, one member of Desert Breeze Connections who joins in the fun and posts what their favorite scene is, will win a free download! Yes, one winner every day! Become a part of the Desert Breeze family and join our Desert Breeze Connections Yahoo loop today.
http://dir.groups.yahoo.com/group/Desert_Breeze_Publishing_Connections/?yguid=200521954
We look forward to seeing you!
Between January 23 – January 29, 2011, you will be able to read a scene from each and every book Desert Breeze Publishing has ever published, and also a scene from books which are coming soon!
Over 43 authors will choose one scene from each of their books and post on Desert Breeze Connections for your reading enjoyment. Some authors have multiple releases, which means countless scenes will be showcased!
Each day during this very special week, one member of Desert Breeze Connections who joins in the fun and posts what their favorite scene is, will win a free download! Yes, one winner every day! Become a part of the Desert Breeze family and join our Desert Breeze Connections Yahoo loop today.
http://dir.groups.yahoo.com/group/Desert_Breeze_Publishing_Connections/?yguid=200521954
We look forward to seeing you!
January 16, 2011
Ralph Horner Interview
[Anne] Thanks for joining me today, Ralph. Please tell me about your latest book.
[Ralph] Tandem Tryst is a Time-travel, Mystery, Romance. Three years after Jeff's young wife, Marcy dies, he finds an enchanted ring that takes him back to the World Columbian Exposition of 1893, one hundred years ago. On one of his visits he meets Melody Bishop who is the spitting image of his late wife. Marcy. Melody is Marcy's great great grandmother and also her living soul in this time. Jeff feels he has a second chance with the love that was taken from him prematurely. During the time Melody spends with Jeff and gradually falls in love with him, they are continually stalked by a woman in various ethnic disguises, who tries to steal Jeff's magic ring, even by murder.
[Anne] What inspired you to write this story?
[Ralph] I was mowing the grass and the idea came to me that what if my wife died, but through time-travel I found her duplicate in another time, before she was reincarnated. A person would be overwhelmed with seeing their loved one again. That was the main idea, then I gave the time-traveler a White City setting, and next added a mysterious woman who is trying to steal the enchanted ring.
[Anne] It's interesting how our muses work :-). How did you go about researching your book?
[Ralph] I used the Chicago historical society, the internet, and books about the late 1800s and the Columbian Exposition. I also researched clothing, customs and speech patterns of the time. Maps of that world's fair, showing every building and cultural area were also necessary. I was helped by photos taken from some of the buildings and also the rides, like the giant Ferris wheel. I even bought a diary written by a thirteen year old boy who went to the Exposition that summer with his father and a friend. There were some great descriptions in that.
[Anne] Do you have anything new in the works?
[Ralph] Yes, I'm finishing the Tandem Tryst sequel, Midnight Mist. I don't want to give too much away, but let's say this story ends the saga of Jeff and Melody.
[Anne] What is your writing process like? Are you a plotter or a pantser?
[Ralph] I'm a plotter. I always have an outline before I write a story. It changes as I go, but I have to have some idea where I'm going with a story.
[Anne] If you could be anyone of your characters, which one would you chose to be and why?
[Ralph] I'd be my main character, Jeff Voss. Because I'd love to time travel to the World Columbian Exposition.
[Anne] Say your publisher has offered to fly you anywhere in the world to do research on an upcoming book, where would you most likely want to go?
[Ralph] Probably London England. I love the Dickens stories, and also Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. The fog and the old world atmosphere would be a great place to write for a murder mystery.
[Anne] Oh, I would love to go to London some day! Okay, say you've just been informed that your latest release was a NY Times bestseller and Hollywood wants to turn it into a movie. What actors would you choose to play your main characters?
[Ralph] I would choose relatively unknown actors because I wouldn't want overused stars that are know for other roles. I'd want viewers to enjoy the movie for the sake of the story line and the history of the White City.
[Anne] Name three things you can't live without (excluding spouses and family because that's a given).
[Ralph] My PC, video equipment, and fossil collection.
[Anne] What advice would you give to any aspiring writers out there?
[Ralph] Keep writing and working on your craft. As discouraging as it can be with rejections never give up trying to get published. Sometimes the first book you wrote won't be the one that gets published, as in my case. I wrote three other novels before I got my fourth, Tandem Tryst, published.
[Anne] Where can we find you on the web?
[Ralph] Ralphehorner.weebly.com
[Anne] Where can we purchase your books?
[Ralph] From my publisher Wings-press.com and on Amazon. The Chicago Architect Foundation, where they conduct the White City tours also carries my book and a couple of other specialty stores.
And here is Ralph's Bio:
The first writing Ralph ever did was in grade school. He wrote a comic strip called 'McDroodle and the Devil'. Once a week he'd show it to whoever was interested.
"It was about a nerdy family man who is constantly tempted by the devil and then gets into various adventures. My brother did the art work and I handled the story line. Other than that I always had story ideas in my head but I didn't start to write novels until 1981."
He was married in 1973 to his current wife, Toni and has two grown children, Angie and Randy and three grandchildren from Angie.
Taking night classes, he received his Computer Science Degree from Prairie State College in Chicago Heights, IL, in 1985.
He joined his first writers' support group in the early nineties, and has been in one ever since. He now belongs to the South Side Scribes in Orland Park, IL where he's been for about twelve years.
Since he was a kid he performed magic and some ventriloquism. In July 1991 he got the opportunity to train with a local clown agent, Clowns, Characters and More.
"By late October I did my first birthday party. In December I played Santa Claus for the first time. I couldn't believe I was having fun and getting paid for it. Now I had a weekend job working for a talent agent while I was a computer programmer during the week."
After 9/11 there was an economic slowdown in data processing and soon Ralph was working part-time jobs, not related to computers, just to get by. A couple of years later, with that industry getting even worse, he went into my own entertainment business, Always Clownin'. He also writes comedy bits for a couple of clubs and teaches balloon art, magic and humor at a local community college.
He has had various short stories published since 2002. In August 2007, 'Pandora Spoxx' was featured by Wild Cat Books in their monthly 'Startling Stories' Anthology. In June 2008, 'Atalanta Alters the Tide of Alida' was published in the 'Heroes of Ancient Greece' anthology by Night to Dawn Books. In March 2009 his first novel, Tandem Tryst was published by Wings Press.
Ralph can be contacted at Horn149@comcast.net.
[Ralph] Tandem Tryst is a Time-travel, Mystery, Romance. Three years after Jeff's young wife, Marcy dies, he finds an enchanted ring that takes him back to the World Columbian Exposition of 1893, one hundred years ago. On one of his visits he meets Melody Bishop who is the spitting image of his late wife. Marcy. Melody is Marcy's great great grandmother and also her living soul in this time. Jeff feels he has a second chance with the love that was taken from him prematurely. During the time Melody spends with Jeff and gradually falls in love with him, they are continually stalked by a woman in various ethnic disguises, who tries to steal Jeff's magic ring, even by murder.
[Anne] What inspired you to write this story?
[Ralph] I was mowing the grass and the idea came to me that what if my wife died, but through time-travel I found her duplicate in another time, before she was reincarnated. A person would be overwhelmed with seeing their loved one again. That was the main idea, then I gave the time-traveler a White City setting, and next added a mysterious woman who is trying to steal the enchanted ring.
[Anne] It's interesting how our muses work :-). How did you go about researching your book?
[Ralph] I used the Chicago historical society, the internet, and books about the late 1800s and the Columbian Exposition. I also researched clothing, customs and speech patterns of the time. Maps of that world's fair, showing every building and cultural area were also necessary. I was helped by photos taken from some of the buildings and also the rides, like the giant Ferris wheel. I even bought a diary written by a thirteen year old boy who went to the Exposition that summer with his father and a friend. There were some great descriptions in that.
[Anne] Do you have anything new in the works?
[Ralph] Yes, I'm finishing the Tandem Tryst sequel, Midnight Mist. I don't want to give too much away, but let's say this story ends the saga of Jeff and Melody.
[Anne] What is your writing process like? Are you a plotter or a pantser?
[Ralph] I'm a plotter. I always have an outline before I write a story. It changes as I go, but I have to have some idea where I'm going with a story.
[Anne] If you could be anyone of your characters, which one would you chose to be and why?
[Ralph] I'd be my main character, Jeff Voss. Because I'd love to time travel to the World Columbian Exposition.
[Anne] Say your publisher has offered to fly you anywhere in the world to do research on an upcoming book, where would you most likely want to go?
[Ralph] Probably London England. I love the Dickens stories, and also Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. The fog and the old world atmosphere would be a great place to write for a murder mystery.
[Anne] Oh, I would love to go to London some day! Okay, say you've just been informed that your latest release was a NY Times bestseller and Hollywood wants to turn it into a movie. What actors would you choose to play your main characters?
[Ralph] I would choose relatively unknown actors because I wouldn't want overused stars that are know for other roles. I'd want viewers to enjoy the movie for the sake of the story line and the history of the White City.
[Anne] Name three things you can't live without (excluding spouses and family because that's a given).
[Ralph] My PC, video equipment, and fossil collection.
[Anne] What advice would you give to any aspiring writers out there?
[Ralph] Keep writing and working on your craft. As discouraging as it can be with rejections never give up trying to get published. Sometimes the first book you wrote won't be the one that gets published, as in my case. I wrote three other novels before I got my fourth, Tandem Tryst, published.
[Anne] Where can we find you on the web?
[Ralph] Ralphehorner.weebly.com
[Anne] Where can we purchase your books?
[Ralph] From my publisher Wings-press.com and on Amazon. The Chicago Architect Foundation, where they conduct the White City tours also carries my book and a couple of other specialty stores.
And here is Ralph's Bio:The first writing Ralph ever did was in grade school. He wrote a comic strip called 'McDroodle and the Devil'. Once a week he'd show it to whoever was interested.
"It was about a nerdy family man who is constantly tempted by the devil and then gets into various adventures. My brother did the art work and I handled the story line. Other than that I always had story ideas in my head but I didn't start to write novels until 1981."
He was married in 1973 to his current wife, Toni and has two grown children, Angie and Randy and three grandchildren from Angie.
Taking night classes, he received his Computer Science Degree from Prairie State College in Chicago Heights, IL, in 1985.
He joined his first writers' support group in the early nineties, and has been in one ever since. He now belongs to the South Side Scribes in Orland Park, IL where he's been for about twelve years.
Since he was a kid he performed magic and some ventriloquism. In July 1991 he got the opportunity to train with a local clown agent, Clowns, Characters and More.
"By late October I did my first birthday party. In December I played Santa Claus for the first time. I couldn't believe I was having fun and getting paid for it. Now I had a weekend job working for a talent agent while I was a computer programmer during the week."
After 9/11 there was an economic slowdown in data processing and soon Ralph was working part-time jobs, not related to computers, just to get by. A couple of years later, with that industry getting even worse, he went into my own entertainment business, Always Clownin'. He also writes comedy bits for a couple of clubs and teaches balloon art, magic and humor at a local community college.
He has had various short stories published since 2002. In August 2007, 'Pandora Spoxx' was featured by Wild Cat Books in their monthly 'Startling Stories' Anthology. In June 2008, 'Atalanta Alters the Tide of Alida' was published in the 'Heroes of Ancient Greece' anthology by Night to Dawn Books. In March 2009 his first novel, Tandem Tryst was published by Wings Press.
Ralph can be contacted at Horn149@comcast.net.
January 13, 2011
Valentine Kindle Giveaway!
Share your favorite Valentine Day memory for a chance to win a Kindle WiFi. Contest begins January 13th and runs through midnight (CST) February 13th. Winner to be announced Valentine's Day (sorry, US residents only). I'll also be giving away three of my ebooks (open to international entries), and a $20 gift certificate to Amazon or Christianbook.com. Here's what to do:
Post your Valentine's Day memory (must be G-rated of course) here for one entry. Please make sure you leave contact info of some sort if it's not in your profile.
Become a follower of my blog (be sure to mention in your post) for one entry.
Subscribe to my newsletter via contact form at my website or email for one entry.
Advertise this contest (only once a week please) and send the link to annepatrick07[at]yahoo[dot]com . Put ADVERTISE VKG in the subject line for one entry.
Review one of my books, post your review online at Barnesandnoble.com, Christianbooks.com or Amazon.com and send the link to me at annepatrick07[at]yahoo[dot]com. Put BOOK REVIEW VKG in the subject line for two entries. Only one review per book.
Answer correctly five of the following questions via email for three entries.
1. What is the name of Mackayla's dog in Every Skull Tells a Story?
2. Who looks after Mackayla's place when she's out of town in Every Skull Tells a Story.
3. What is the name of Morgan's captain in Journey to Redemption?
4. Tell me the name of Jared's dog in Journey to Redemption.
5. What gift did Logan give Erin in Lethal Dreams to win her over?
6. What does Marcus Wheeler do for a living in Lethal Dreams?
7. What ministry did Erin start in Lethal Dreams?
8. Where does Royce live in Out of the Darkness?
9. Tell me the name of Royce's son in Out of the Darkness.
10. Who is Sadie's aunt in Fire and Ash?
11. What is the name of Kelsey's dog in Fire and Ash?
12. What is Sadie's favorite meal in Fire and Ash?
13. Who is Anne's favorite author? (answer can be found on my website)
14. What is the first song on Anne's playlist that she listens to? (answer can be found here on my website)
15. Name the state where Anne was born? (answer can be found here on my website)
Have fun, and good luck!
Post your Valentine's Day memory (must be G-rated of course) here for one entry. Please make sure you leave contact info of some sort if it's not in your profile.
Become a follower of my blog (be sure to mention in your post) for one entry.
Subscribe to my newsletter via contact form at my website or email for one entry.
Advertise this contest (only once a week please) and send the link to annepatrick07[at]yahoo[dot]com . Put ADVERTISE VKG in the subject line for one entry.
Review one of my books, post your review online at Barnesandnoble.com, Christianbooks.com or Amazon.com and send the link to me at annepatrick07[at]yahoo[dot]com. Put BOOK REVIEW VKG in the subject line for two entries. Only one review per book.
Answer correctly five of the following questions via email for three entries.
1. What is the name of Mackayla's dog in Every Skull Tells a Story?
2. Who looks after Mackayla's place when she's out of town in Every Skull Tells a Story.
3. What is the name of Morgan's captain in Journey to Redemption?
4. Tell me the name of Jared's dog in Journey to Redemption.
5. What gift did Logan give Erin in Lethal Dreams to win her over?
6. What does Marcus Wheeler do for a living in Lethal Dreams?
7. What ministry did Erin start in Lethal Dreams?
8. Where does Royce live in Out of the Darkness?
9. Tell me the name of Royce's son in Out of the Darkness.
10. Who is Sadie's aunt in Fire and Ash?
11. What is the name of Kelsey's dog in Fire and Ash?
12. What is Sadie's favorite meal in Fire and Ash?
13. Who is Anne's favorite author? (answer can be found on my website)
14. What is the first song on Anne's playlist that she listens to? (answer can be found here on my website)
15. Name the state where Anne was born? (answer can be found here on my website)
Have fun, and good luck!
January 9, 2011
Author Interview with Elaine Cantrell
Joining us today is Elaine Cantrell. Elaine, why don't you tell us a little about yourself?
[Elaine] I'm a Southern girl, born and raised in upstate South Carolina. I say ya'll, which is always plural, and I like grits. I graduated from Clemson University with a BA in secondary education and went back for a Master's degree in personnel services. I'm a member of Alpha Delta, Kappa, an international honorary sorority for women educator's, Romance Writer's of America, and EPIC Authors. My first novel was the 2003 winner of the Timeless Love Contest and was published by Oak Tree Books in 2004. I'm still teaching social studies at our local high school, and in my spare time, if there is any, I like to read, play with my grandchildren, and collect vintage Christmas ornaments. You can see my vintage collection in my Facebook photos at http://www.facebook.com/#!/profile.php?id=10000015304148
[Anne] When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?
[Elaine] Oh, I wrote my first book when I was around five. I couldn't really write at the time so I dictated the story to my dad. It must have been a great story. He laughed the entire time he was writing. He kept that story until he died a few years ago. When my stepmother was cleaning out a cedar chest where he kept important paper she found it and gave it to me.
[Anne] Tell us about your latest book.
[Elaine] The book is called Return Engagement, and it's the book I wanted to write for years but wouldn't because I was afraid I couldn't do it justice. I fell in love with all of my characters, and when the book was over I couldn't let them go. I wrote a sequel which I'm in the process of revising, and I have a third book almost completed. Here's a blurb about Return Engagement:
Elizabeth Lane has it all, but an actress isn't the kind of woman Senator Henry Lovinggood wants for his son, Richard. Ten years ago he broke Richard and Elizabeth up, but this time Elizabeth's fighting back, a decision that leads to kidnapping and attempted murder and alienates her from the man of her dreams.
[Anne] Sounds like my kind of read, Elaine. What inspired you to write this story?
[Elaine] We were studying Greek heroes at the high school where I teach, and it made me think of what the modern world sees as the ideal hero. I compiled a list of traits and found that several of them appeared over and over in my writing. Return Engagement is my attempt to portray the modern American hero as I see him. A word of caution, though. My heroes aren't perfect. They have warts and quirks just like real people.
[Anne] Those are the best kind of characters! How did you go about researching your book?
[Elaine] I usually use the internet for my research, and in the case of Return Engagement I got some help from a friend of mine who works in law enforcement. Richard, my hero, is an FBI agent.
[Anne] Do you have anything new in the works?
[Elaine] I sure do. I have a book tentatively titled Jilted! coming in June from Lachesis Press. This story is about a girl whose sister steals her fiancé. Of course, that's nothing at all compared to what happens next!
[Anne] What is your writing process like? Are you a plotter or a pantser?
[Elaine] A little bit of both, but more of a pantser. I'm at point A and I know where I want to end up, but I decide how to get there as I go along.
[Anne] If you could be anyone of your characters, which one would you chose to be and why?
[Elaine] I'd be Elizabeth Lane, my heroine in Return Engagement. I like all of my heroines, but I'd choose to be Elizabeth because of my hero Richard. I promise you with Richard's personality life would never be dull, boring, or mundane. Besides that he's incredibly handsome, passionate, romantic, and tender.
[Anne] Say your publisher has offered to fly you anywhere in the world to do research on an upcoming book, where would you most likely want to go? (Okay so maybe this isn't very likely to happen but since I'm asking the questions…)
[Elaine] It doesn't hurt to dream, right? I'd go to Brazil. My third book in the Lovinggood trilogy is set in Brazil. It begins with a plane crash that strands my hero and heroine in the Amazon rain forest.
[Anne] Great choice! I'd love to go to Brazil too. You've just been informed that your latest release was a NY Times bestseller and Hollywood wants to turn it into a movie. What actors would you choose to play your main characters?
[Elaine] I've been asked this before, but I just can't answer it. In my mind I have a picture of such perfection that no one could ever meet it.
[Anne] No problem. That can be a tough one :-). What type of books do you like to read when you're not writing?
[Elaine] I guess I'm what you'd call an eclectic reader. I like romance, suspense, action/adventure, mystery, westerns, and I love ghost stories. I also read some young adult stuff. As a teacher I want to keep up with what they're reading.
[Anne] Name three things you can't live without (excluding spouses and family because that's a given).
[Elaine] Books, chocolate, and jewelry in that order. For Christmas I got all three! Have you ever eaten a chocolate orange? Yummy.
[Anne] Humm, a chocolate orange...No, but it sounds really good. What advice would you give to any aspiring writers out there?
[Elaine] Don't quit. Keep revising your work and sending it out, and eventually you'll find the right publisher for you.
[Anne] Where can we find you on the web, Elaine?
[Elaine] My web site is http://www.elainecantrell.com/
My blog is http://www.elainepcantrell.blogspot.com/
My Facebook page is http://www.facebook.com/#!/profile.php?id=100000153041486
I'm also on Goodreads at http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/4213683
[Anne] Where can we purchase your books?
[Elaine] Most of them are on Amazon, but the publisher's price is usually better. You can go to my web page and click on the book covers which will take you to the publisher's web site.
[Anne] Is there anything else you'd like to add?
[Elaine] Yes, I'd like to thank you for letting me come today. It's been fun to visit with you and your readers.
[Anne] I'm glad you could make it, Elaine. It's been great learning more about you and your books. I wish you continued success!
[Elaine] I'm a Southern girl, born and raised in upstate South Carolina. I say ya'll, which is always plural, and I like grits. I graduated from Clemson University with a BA in secondary education and went back for a Master's degree in personnel services. I'm a member of Alpha Delta, Kappa, an international honorary sorority for women educator's, Romance Writer's of America, and EPIC Authors. My first novel was the 2003 winner of the Timeless Love Contest and was published by Oak Tree Books in 2004. I'm still teaching social studies at our local high school, and in my spare time, if there is any, I like to read, play with my grandchildren, and collect vintage Christmas ornaments. You can see my vintage collection in my Facebook photos at http://www.facebook.com/#!/profile.php?id=10000015304148
[Anne] When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?
[Elaine] Oh, I wrote my first book when I was around five. I couldn't really write at the time so I dictated the story to my dad. It must have been a great story. He laughed the entire time he was writing. He kept that story until he died a few years ago. When my stepmother was cleaning out a cedar chest where he kept important paper she found it and gave it to me.
[Anne] Tell us about your latest book.
[Elaine] The book is called Return Engagement, and it's the book I wanted to write for years but wouldn't because I was afraid I couldn't do it justice. I fell in love with all of my characters, and when the book was over I couldn't let them go. I wrote a sequel which I'm in the process of revising, and I have a third book almost completed. Here's a blurb about Return Engagement:
Elizabeth Lane has it all, but an actress isn't the kind of woman Senator Henry Lovinggood wants for his son, Richard. Ten years ago he broke Richard and Elizabeth up, but this time Elizabeth's fighting back, a decision that leads to kidnapping and attempted murder and alienates her from the man of her dreams.
[Anne] Sounds like my kind of read, Elaine. What inspired you to write this story?
[Elaine] We were studying Greek heroes at the high school where I teach, and it made me think of what the modern world sees as the ideal hero. I compiled a list of traits and found that several of them appeared over and over in my writing. Return Engagement is my attempt to portray the modern American hero as I see him. A word of caution, though. My heroes aren't perfect. They have warts and quirks just like real people.
[Anne] Those are the best kind of characters! How did you go about researching your book?
[Elaine] I usually use the internet for my research, and in the case of Return Engagement I got some help from a friend of mine who works in law enforcement. Richard, my hero, is an FBI agent.
[Anne] Do you have anything new in the works?
[Elaine] I sure do. I have a book tentatively titled Jilted! coming in June from Lachesis Press. This story is about a girl whose sister steals her fiancé. Of course, that's nothing at all compared to what happens next!
[Anne] What is your writing process like? Are you a plotter or a pantser?
[Elaine] A little bit of both, but more of a pantser. I'm at point A and I know where I want to end up, but I decide how to get there as I go along.
[Anne] If you could be anyone of your characters, which one would you chose to be and why?
[Elaine] I'd be Elizabeth Lane, my heroine in Return Engagement. I like all of my heroines, but I'd choose to be Elizabeth because of my hero Richard. I promise you with Richard's personality life would never be dull, boring, or mundane. Besides that he's incredibly handsome, passionate, romantic, and tender.
[Anne] Say your publisher has offered to fly you anywhere in the world to do research on an upcoming book, where would you most likely want to go? (Okay so maybe this isn't very likely to happen but since I'm asking the questions…)
[Elaine] It doesn't hurt to dream, right? I'd go to Brazil. My third book in the Lovinggood trilogy is set in Brazil. It begins with a plane crash that strands my hero and heroine in the Amazon rain forest.
[Anne] Great choice! I'd love to go to Brazil too. You've just been informed that your latest release was a NY Times bestseller and Hollywood wants to turn it into a movie. What actors would you choose to play your main characters?
[Elaine] I've been asked this before, but I just can't answer it. In my mind I have a picture of such perfection that no one could ever meet it.
[Anne] No problem. That can be a tough one :-). What type of books do you like to read when you're not writing?
[Elaine] I guess I'm what you'd call an eclectic reader. I like romance, suspense, action/adventure, mystery, westerns, and I love ghost stories. I also read some young adult stuff. As a teacher I want to keep up with what they're reading.
[Anne] Name three things you can't live without (excluding spouses and family because that's a given).
[Elaine] Books, chocolate, and jewelry in that order. For Christmas I got all three! Have you ever eaten a chocolate orange? Yummy.
[Anne] Humm, a chocolate orange...No, but it sounds really good. What advice would you give to any aspiring writers out there?
[Elaine] Don't quit. Keep revising your work and sending it out, and eventually you'll find the right publisher for you.
[Anne] Where can we find you on the web, Elaine?
[Elaine] My web site is http://www.elainecantrell.com/
My blog is http://www.elainepcantrell.blogspot.com/
My Facebook page is http://www.facebook.com/#!/profile.php?id=100000153041486
I'm also on Goodreads at http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/4213683
[Anne] Where can we purchase your books?
[Elaine] Most of them are on Amazon, but the publisher's price is usually better. You can go to my web page and click on the book covers which will take you to the publisher's web site.
[Anne] Is there anything else you'd like to add?
[Elaine] Yes, I'd like to thank you for letting me come today. It's been fun to visit with you and your readers.
[Anne] I'm glad you could make it, Elaine. It's been great learning more about you and your books. I wish you continued success!
January 8, 2011
Raffle Basket for JDRF
To help show support to Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, or JDRF, Whimsical Publications is holding a basket raffle through the entire month of January. The purpose of this raffle is to raise money to aide in finding the cure for Type 1 (juvenile) diabetes.
Type 1 (juvenile) diabetes is a devastating disease that robs a young person of his or her childhood, of their limbs, heart, eyesight, and affects other organs later in life.
Whimsical Publications is also donating $2 from the sale of each and every print books ordered through the WP web site until March 31, 2011. (If you haven't purchased Lethal Dreams, not is a great time *grin*).
For more information on this very worthy cause, visit http://www.whimsicalpublications.com/ then click on a colorful sneaker near the bottom of the page. Or copy and paste the address.
Finding the cure can make all the difference in the world. With your help, the life of a child, or anyone with diabetes, can hopefully be changed forever to a life without needles.
Thank you in advance!
Janet Durbin
Owner/Publisher
Whimsical Publications, LLC
http://www.whimsicalpublications.com/
Type 1 (juvenile) diabetes is a devastating disease that robs a young person of his or her childhood, of their limbs, heart, eyesight, and affects other organs later in life.
Whimsical Publications is also donating $2 from the sale of each and every print books ordered through the WP web site until March 31, 2011. (If you haven't purchased Lethal Dreams, not is a great time *grin*).
For more information on this very worthy cause, visit http://www.whimsicalpublications.com/ then click on a colorful sneaker near the bottom of the page. Or copy and paste the address.
Finding the cure can make all the difference in the world. With your help, the life of a child, or anyone with diabetes, can hopefully be changed forever to a life without needles.
Thank you in advance!
Janet Durbin
Owner/Publisher
Whimsical Publications, LLC
http://www.whimsicalpublications.com/
December 27, 2010
Interview with Cate Masters
Cate Masters has made beautiful central Pennsylvania her home for the past 20 years, but she'll always be a Jersey girl at heart. A lover of all great writing, she aspires to entertain and enthrall with her own stories. Most days, she can be found in her lair, concocting a magical brew of contemporary, historical, and fantasy/paranormal stories with her cat Chairman Maiow and dog Lily as company. Look for her at www.catemasters.com, http://catemasters.blogspot.com, and in strange nooks and far-flung corners of the web.[Anne] Thanks for joining me today, Cate! When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?
[Cate] First, thanks so much for having me as a guest today Anne!
Good question. I think writing chose me rather than the opposite, lol. When I was a girl, poetry was my means of self-expression. I grew up in a very artsy community with wonderfully gifted friends, so music and art and writing were all part of it. In high school, my love of research took root when my writing expanded to journalism. Fiction followed in my twenties, and I loved it so much, I never stopped.
[Anne] Tell us about your latest book.
[Cate] My Native American historical novel, Follow the Stars Home, came together after meticulous research. Based on the 1879 founding of the Carlisle Indian Industrial School, the novel weaves true accounts with fictional characters.
Here's the story blurb: What's left for the Lakota when everything around them is changing? Quiet Thunder and Black Bear fear for their tribe's welfare when buffalo and other game become scarce. A military captain named Pratt promises to teach them white man's ways so they can become successful. Quiet Thunder follows Black Bear to Carlisle, Pennsylvania, to the Indian Industrial School. The school's rigid schedule allows little time together, and Black Bear grows more distant as his confusion over his identity grows. Can Quiet Thunder make him believe her love is as eternal as the stars?
Reviewers have described it as: "an insightful and entertaining novel that's bound to teach you a few things about history. Kudos to Cate Masters for another winning novel. You won't be able to put Follow the Stars Home down until you turn the last page." And "Quiet Thunder and Black Bear love each other. But can their love survive them being uprooted from their people, betrayed and lied to by the white man? Will they ever find their way back to their own people? You will have to read this story to find out. But it is a fabulous journey, and you will enjoy it every step of the way." And "The love story between Black Bear and Quiet Thunder is tenderly told, and well-written."
[Anne] Sounds very fascinating. What inspired you to write Follow the Stars Home?
[Cate] Like most people, I knew nothing about boarding schools for Native American children. Shortly after moving to Carlisle, Pa., I first learned about the Carlisle Indian Industrial School from a PBS special. I found the episode so compelling, I would purposely drive by the students' graveyard on what is now the Army War College. The school's founder, Captain Pratt, gave the school its motto: Kill the Indian, Save the Man. In some cases, it just killed the Indian. Students died of exposure to foreign diseases, or sheer homesickness, or sometimes suicide. Many ran away. In fact, many ran away to join the spectacular traveling show Buffalo Bill's Wild West, which was fun to research. So many of the students' stories were tragic, it was wonderful to give two characters a happy ending.
[Anne] How did you go about researching it?
[Cate] Because it fascinated me, I found myself researching the school before I knew I was going to write about it. The Cumberland County Historical Society has a wonderful exhibit of student photographs and artifacts at its Carlisle museum, which I visited. Later, Dickinson College's Trout Gallery had an exhibit on the school, included photographs of the students, some of their personal effects such as drums, clothing and moccasins.
I wove in Lakota mythology and legend, using books such as Richard Erdoes and Alfonso Ortiz' American Indian Myths and Legends, and James Mooney's The Ghost-Dance Religion. Linda Witmer's "The Indian Industrial School" provided a great deal of information about the student's daily lives, along with fascinating photos. Pratt was careful to document students' progress through photographs, showing them as sad savages upon their arrival, and happy, neatly dressed civilians after attending his school.
[Anne] Do you have anything new in the works?
[Cate] In June 2011, Lyrical Press will release Rock Bottom, a fun contemporary. Whiskey Creek Press will release a mainstream novel, The Bridge Between, sometime in 2011. I just subbed a fantasy novel, The Magic of Lavender, and two shorter fantasies to publishers. About a dozen other stories are in various stages. Don't even ask about the piles of notebooks in the corner, lol.
[Anne] What is your writing process like? Are you a plotter or a pantser?
[CateI like to joke that my muse has ADD. She's great at throwing story ideas at me, but follow through is a challenge for her. I wish I were better at plotting, but I'm a pantser. At most, I'll sketch out a rough idea for a story, but the characters usually surprise me and hijack the story line wherever they want it to go.
[Anne] You've just been informed that your latest release was a NY Times bestseller and Hollywood wants to turn it into a movie. What actors would you choose to play your main characters?
[Cate] Stories run like videos in my head while I write, so oftentimes I'll have specific people in mind during the process. I thought it would be fun to create a blog series to show who starred in each. You can view the Casting Call for Follow the Stars Home here: http://catemasters.blogspot.com/2010/... To view the others, enter the key words Casting Call into the search box. The series was a lot of fun, though I need to finish for the rest of my books!
[Anne] What type of books do you like to read when you're not writing?
[Cate] Pretty much anything. I love finding new authors, and am trying to catch up on a lot of my contemporaries. The TBR pile on my nightstand's about to fall over, lol, with everything from humor, suspense, paranormal/fantasy, literary and nonfiction works.
[Anne] Where can we find you on the web?
[Cate] Like my bio says, I'm in all sorts of strange nooks and far-flung corners, lol. But the four main sites are: Web site: http://www.catemasters.com, Blog: http://catemasters.blogspot.com/, Facebook fan page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Cate-Masters/89969413736?ref=ts and Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/CateMasters
[Anne] Where can we purchase your books?
[Cate] Follow the Stars Home is available in ebook from Eternal Press: http://www.eternalpress.biz/book.php?isbn=9781615721696 and in print from Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Follow-Stars-Home-Cate-Masters/dp/1615721703/ref=sr_1_8_title_0_main?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1292781427&sr=1-8
[Anne] Is there anything else you'd like to add?
[Cate] I love to hear from readers! Email me at: cate.masters AT gmail.com
If anyone has read my books, I'd love for you to leave a review on Goodreads, Amazon, Fictionwise or the publisher sites. All are linked to my blog and web site to make it easy! :)
Thanks again for having me Anne. Hope you had a wonderful holiday, and wishing you all good things in the coming year.
December 20, 2010
Interview with Larry Hammersley
Joining us today is fellow TSRA author, Larry Hammersley. Tell us about yourself, Larry.
[Larry] I am married to Sue coming up on 49 years this December 29, have two children and four grandchildren. I graduated from Purdue in January 1961 with a BS in chemistry and from IU in January 1975 with a MS in chemistry. I enjoy writing science fiction and romance, jogging, amateur radio, a bit of woodworking, and am active in our local church. I worked as a civil service chemist for forty years and retired in September 1999.
[Anne] Congratulations on your upcoming anniversary! That's awesome! When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?
[Larry] I believe it was almost forty years ago when I dreamed up a science fiction novel. I had fun plotting and getting ideas while doing such mundane tasks as mowing the grass.
[Anne] Tell us about your latest book.
[Larry] May I talk about my last novel I've written early this year? It is strictly romance involving two of my favorite characters from a short story. Leroy and Jody have resolved to avoid the opposite sex as they enter college. They've had unhappy experiences in high school. The story covers six years of their life and involves Leroy trying to break down Jody's icy barrier and her opinion that a career woman has no room for a man in her life.
[Anne] Sounds like a wonderful story, Larry. What inspired you to write it?
[Larry] The Leroy and Jody characters exist in my first accepted short story with Wild Rose called Lab Partners. That has been my most popular story if you can call 15 downloads popular. It is available in the Vintage Rose line. The novel casts Leroy and Jody into modern day but is not a time travel. I had to give these characters closure.
[Anne] How did you go about researching your book?
[Larry] Leroy and Jody moved to Pittsburgh after graduating from college so I did a bit of internet search on the three rivers there and a little of scenery involved. I already have knowledge of chemistry labs and chess tournaments which form a part of the story. I also did a bit of reading on the H1N1 virus which both Leroy and Jody contracted.
[Anne] Do you have anything new in the works?
[Larry] Two things. I've been thinking about a short historical story, romance, based on a true happening in my home town of Williams, Indiana. The event was the building of a hydroelectric dam in 1910. I have a number of photos of that project and would like to build a story around a young man and woman, fictional of course, around that project. The other project is one based on the Biblical character of the Shunammite Woman. It can be romance as her husband I perceive from the scriptures is probably 40-50 years older than the woman. She was a marvelous woman.
[Anne] What is your writing process like? Are you a plotter or a pantser?
[Larry] I'd say mainly a plotter, a little dose of pantser included.
[Anne] If you could be anyone of your characters, which one would you chose to be and why?
[Larry] Well, now that is a revealing question. I'd say Leroy from my Lab Partners story or Leroy from the modern version novel which is entitled A Change of Heart. Why? Because he's a lot like me but with more ability and more deep feelings. He's a track star, an ace in chemistry, and lucky enough to have romance in college. I told you this would be revealing.
[Anne] Say your publisher has offered to fly you anywhere in the world to do research on an upcoming book, where would you most likely want to go?
[Larry] Alaska, although I've been there but I'd like to get to the real wilderness or I'd like to go to Antarctica perhaps for an adventure involving one of the science stations based there.
[Anne] You've just been informed that your latest release was a NY Times bestseller and Hollywood wants to turn it into a movie. What actors would you choose to play your main characters?
[Larry] Jason Ritter would play Leroy, but he'd have to shave the facial hair away. He's on the TV show The Event. I had to do some searching on Jody. I like Gemma Arterton with red hair and she would need the straight hair and bangs hair do. I've not seen her acting but liked the photo.
[Anne] What type of books do you like to read when you're not writing?
[Larry] I like science fiction and sweet romance, both of which I like writing. I always have romance in my science fiction stories.
[Anne] Having read some of your work, I have to say you do a great job writing both, Larry! Name three things you can't live without (excluding spouses and family because that's a given).
[Larry] Freedom of worship, blessings of good health and ideas for stories.
[Anne] Awesome choices! What advice would you give to any aspiring writers out there?
[Larry] Keep plugging away and don't sweat the rejections. This is what I must continually remind myself.
[Anne] Where can we find you on the web?
[Larry] http://larryhammersley.blogspot.com/ I hope to have a website one day. A friend is supposed to be constructing one for me but she is very busy.
[Anne] Where can we purchase your books?
[Larry] You can get Motorcycle Woman at Red Rose Press.
Here's the blurb:
Tess McBride relied on her motorcycle to carry her away from an unhappy past, one that involved her father leaving her mother for another woman and her mother dying a year later.
Resolved to avoid men, judging them to be all alike, she meets Johnnie Parker, a stranded biker whose motorcycle she repairs. Her staunch resolve is undermined by Johnnie's kindness, respect and lack of a sordid agenda toward her, not to mention him being handsome.
Should she stick to her plans to take to the open road again after replenishing her traveling bankroll from her motorcycle mechanic's job in Johnnie's hometown? In the past, that question was easily answered, but what about now? Johnnie has fallen in love with her. The answer is obvious when she knows he's genuine, he treats her special, and she realizes that she has fallen in love with him too.
And you can find my other titles on my author page at The Wild Rose Press or at Smashwords. You can read a free story, very short on my blog.
[Anne] Is there anything else you'd like to add?
[Larry] Thank you, Anne, for having me.
Thanks for the interview, Larry! I hope you and your family have a very merry Christmas and an awesome New Year!
[Larry] I am married to Sue coming up on 49 years this December 29, have two children and four grandchildren. I graduated from Purdue in January 1961 with a BS in chemistry and from IU in January 1975 with a MS in chemistry. I enjoy writing science fiction and romance, jogging, amateur radio, a bit of woodworking, and am active in our local church. I worked as a civil service chemist for forty years and retired in September 1999.
[Anne] Congratulations on your upcoming anniversary! That's awesome! When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?
[Larry] I believe it was almost forty years ago when I dreamed up a science fiction novel. I had fun plotting and getting ideas while doing such mundane tasks as mowing the grass.
[Anne] Tell us about your latest book.
[Larry] May I talk about my last novel I've written early this year? It is strictly romance involving two of my favorite characters from a short story. Leroy and Jody have resolved to avoid the opposite sex as they enter college. They've had unhappy experiences in high school. The story covers six years of their life and involves Leroy trying to break down Jody's icy barrier and her opinion that a career woman has no room for a man in her life.
[Anne] Sounds like a wonderful story, Larry. What inspired you to write it?
[Larry] The Leroy and Jody characters exist in my first accepted short story with Wild Rose called Lab Partners. That has been my most popular story if you can call 15 downloads popular. It is available in the Vintage Rose line. The novel casts Leroy and Jody into modern day but is not a time travel. I had to give these characters closure.
[Anne] How did you go about researching your book?
[Larry] Leroy and Jody moved to Pittsburgh after graduating from college so I did a bit of internet search on the three rivers there and a little of scenery involved. I already have knowledge of chemistry labs and chess tournaments which form a part of the story. I also did a bit of reading on the H1N1 virus which both Leroy and Jody contracted.
[Anne] Do you have anything new in the works?
[Larry] Two things. I've been thinking about a short historical story, romance, based on a true happening in my home town of Williams, Indiana. The event was the building of a hydroelectric dam in 1910. I have a number of photos of that project and would like to build a story around a young man and woman, fictional of course, around that project. The other project is one based on the Biblical character of the Shunammite Woman. It can be romance as her husband I perceive from the scriptures is probably 40-50 years older than the woman. She was a marvelous woman.
[Anne] What is your writing process like? Are you a plotter or a pantser?
[Larry] I'd say mainly a plotter, a little dose of pantser included.
[Anne] If you could be anyone of your characters, which one would you chose to be and why?
[Larry] Well, now that is a revealing question. I'd say Leroy from my Lab Partners story or Leroy from the modern version novel which is entitled A Change of Heart. Why? Because he's a lot like me but with more ability and more deep feelings. He's a track star, an ace in chemistry, and lucky enough to have romance in college. I told you this would be revealing.
[Anne] Say your publisher has offered to fly you anywhere in the world to do research on an upcoming book, where would you most likely want to go?
[Larry] Alaska, although I've been there but I'd like to get to the real wilderness or I'd like to go to Antarctica perhaps for an adventure involving one of the science stations based there.
[Anne] You've just been informed that your latest release was a NY Times bestseller and Hollywood wants to turn it into a movie. What actors would you choose to play your main characters?
[Larry] Jason Ritter would play Leroy, but he'd have to shave the facial hair away. He's on the TV show The Event. I had to do some searching on Jody. I like Gemma Arterton with red hair and she would need the straight hair and bangs hair do. I've not seen her acting but liked the photo.
[Anne] What type of books do you like to read when you're not writing?
[Larry] I like science fiction and sweet romance, both of which I like writing. I always have romance in my science fiction stories.
[Anne] Having read some of your work, I have to say you do a great job writing both, Larry! Name three things you can't live without (excluding spouses and family because that's a given).
[Larry] Freedom of worship, blessings of good health and ideas for stories.
[Anne] Awesome choices! What advice would you give to any aspiring writers out there?
[Larry] Keep plugging away and don't sweat the rejections. This is what I must continually remind myself.
[Anne] Where can we find you on the web?
[Larry] http://larryhammersley.blogspot.com/ I hope to have a website one day. A friend is supposed to be constructing one for me but she is very busy.
[Anne] Where can we purchase your books?
[Larry] You can get Motorcycle Woman at Red Rose Press.
Here's the blurb:
Tess McBride relied on her motorcycle to carry her away from an unhappy past, one that involved her father leaving her mother for another woman and her mother dying a year later.
Resolved to avoid men, judging them to be all alike, she meets Johnnie Parker, a stranded biker whose motorcycle she repairs. Her staunch resolve is undermined by Johnnie's kindness, respect and lack of a sordid agenda toward her, not to mention him being handsome.
Should she stick to her plans to take to the open road again after replenishing her traveling bankroll from her motorcycle mechanic's job in Johnnie's hometown? In the past, that question was easily answered, but what about now? Johnnie has fallen in love with her. The answer is obvious when she knows he's genuine, he treats her special, and she realizes that she has fallen in love with him too.
And you can find my other titles on my author page at The Wild Rose Press or at Smashwords. You can read a free story, very short on my blog.
[Anne] Is there anything else you'd like to add?
[Larry] Thank you, Anne, for having me.
Thanks for the interview, Larry! I hope you and your family have a very merry Christmas and an awesome New Year!
