Ryan Schneider's Blog, page 16

Review: In Fifty Years We'll All Be Chicks: . . . And Other Complaints from an Angry Middle-Aged White Guy

In Fifty Years We'll All Be Chicks: . . . And Other Complaints from an Angry Middle-Aged White Guy by Adam Carolla

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



This is Adam's first book, which was followed by NOT TACO BELL MATERIAL.

I preferred NOT TACO BELL MATERIAL.

CHICKS is similar in tone and rant, but with a more shotgun-patterned-style of subject matter. He touches on everything from driving to animals. TACO BELL focused a bit more on how Adam grew up and extricated himself from the surety of a life of relative poverty.

I particularly enjoyed the inclusion of how he met Jimmy Kimmel, as well as the antics they've gotten up to in the ensuing years.

Fans of Carolla will like his books, as it's very much a written format of his rants popularized on his TV, radio, and podcast outlets.

I'm looking forward to his next book, PRESIDENT ME.

He's also becoming an accomplished race car driver. Maybe next year he'll be at Le Mans with his tool-borrowing racing buddy Patrick Dempsey aka Dr. Dreamy whom I recall from "Loverboy" and "Can't Buy Me Love." Amazing how things work out.



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Review: Not Taco Bell Material

Not Taco Bell Material by Adam Carolla

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



Fans of Adam will enjoy this. Others perhaps a bit less so. I enjoyed it thoroughly. Adam delves into his lackluster, challenging childhood and adolescence, shares anecdotes of poverty and teenage mayhem, and cites the many crappy jobs he endured after high school. Many jokes, asides, tan gents (no, that's not a typo; it's two words), and rants along the way.

What I DIDN'T like about this book is that Adam mentioned but then neglected to explain some of the key developments in his life (such as meeting Jimmy Kimmel) because he expoused on them ad nauseum in his first book IN FIFTY YEARS WE'LL ALL BE CHICKS. For some reason, I read NOT TACO BELL MATERIAL first. So I'm now reading CHICKS after having completed TACO BELL. It is indeed filling in the gaps.

Whereas CHICKS is (thus far) a lot of ranting similar to Adam's former morning radio gig (which I always enjoyed) and cultural criticism/deconstruction, NOT TACO BELL MATERIAL is more an examination of his life as viewed from where he is now. Being a well-qualified carpenter, Adam structures the book chronologically according to the houses he lived in through his life, culminating in the million-dollar fixer-upper he lives in today (which he personally rescued).

What I MOST liked about this book is that Adam presents a compelling example of how a kid with all the cards stacked against him busted his ass to make something of himself when no one would have blamed him one bit if he'd simply rolled over and accepted his poverty-stricken lot in life. While I do question some of Adam's descriptions of his various exploits because there are always two sides to every story, for the most part he comes across as a straight-shooter who is not afraid to call it like it is, particularly when it comes to the pussification of America and the decline of many elements of society.

NOT TACO BELL MATERIAL is a lot of fun and I'm looking forward to Adam's next book he announced on Leno in September 2013: PRESIDENT ME. That should be interesting. If Jesse Venture and Howard Stern can take the White House in 2016, I hope Adam is part of the administration. ;)



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10 Questions with Author Michael Cairns (@cairnswrites)

This Author Spotlight
features
Michael Cairns
author of
The Spirit Room
Chocoholic Michael Cairns is a writer and author of the real-world epic fantasy trilogy, The Assembly and science fiction adventure series, A Game of War. A musician, father and school teacher, when not writing he can be found behind his drum kit, tucking into his chocolate stash or trying, and usually failing, to outwit his young daughter.

1.How did you get into writing and why do you write?

The writing I do now began three years ago. I was on one of my wife’s retreats, ostensibly to help with the cooking and washing up. Fortunately for me, the cook we’d hired was super-efficient and I found myself with a long afternoon and an empty Word doc in front of me. Two days, ten thousand words and lots of ideas later, I was writing! I loved English in school, and wrote bad poetry for some of my twenties, but hadn’t ever thought seriously about writing, despite a voracious appetite for reading and stories and the escapism that accompanies them. There are few things I love more than cracking open a book and losing an hour (or six) in another world, someone else’s life. The thought of being able to give that to someone else is wonderful, if mind-boggling!

2.What do you like best (or least) about writing?

The writing bit! Putting one word after another is the most fun you can have on your own, except for eating chocolate brownies whilst writing. J I’m learning to love editing, much as a teenager learns to love hard liquor. It’s taking a while, but as the results get better and better, so it’s becoming easier.

3.What is your writing process? IE do you outline? Do you stick to a daily word or page count, write 7 days a week, etc?

My one rule is that I write every day. I aim for about twenty thousand words a week, but, as I work full time and have a young daughter and youngish wife, I don’t always quite make it.

In terms of process, it’s pretty simple. I start typing, usually with little more than a sentence in my head, and see where I go. There have been a couple of times when I’ve started with a ‘what if’ scenario, or a character, but even then I rarely have an end point in mind until I’m deep into things. So far, I haven’t needed to go back and do any serious re-writing, though I’m sure that’ll happen soon. For my novella series, A Game of War, I planned the most recent three parts in what, for me, amounts to quite serious detail (about a paragraph for each chapter). So, it does vary. When it’s planned, I write more quickly, but I love the more free-flowing approach as well.

4.Who are some other writers you read and admire, regardless of whether they are commercially “successful?”

I love Steven King, he’s the most readable author to me. Something in the way he constructs his sentences makes them jump off the page. I love Steven Erikson, for his scale and scope and imagination. I love Neil Gaiman for his atmosphere and work in comics. I love Sarah Waters for her descriptors and the emotion she wrings from every word. I love George R R Martin, both for A Game of Thrones, and also his fabulous work with the Wildcards series. In comics, I love Grant Morrison, for his sheer inventiveness, Warren Ellis for the cool, The Hernandez brothers for putting more humanity into a comic book than most literary authors ever manage, and Terry Moore, for writing about love better than anyone, ever. The list could go on and on!

5.Should the question mark in the above question be inside or outside the quotes?

Outside. Looks weird but does the right thing.

6.What’s your stance on the Oxford Comma?

I say yes, most of the time, more for the cadence of the sentence than concerns over ambiguity. If in doubt, or if it bugs you, switch the sentence around. Also worth mentioning, commas save lives. ‘She enjoyed cooking her family and her dog’. J

7.What is your book about and how did it come to fruition?

I’ve written a few, but the most recent release is called The Spirit Room and is the first in a Trilogy.

‘It’s supernatural conflict on a global scale. Action, adventure, aliens, magic, mayhem & modern day super-heroes…

An ancient cadre of magicians

A select team of extra-ordinary warriors

An unseen foe

As two ancient forces battle for control, reality as we know it is being torn apart. Caught somewhere in the middle, and tasked with ridding the world of the insidious alien intelligence are The Planets. Neptune hails from Rio, the gay daughter of strict catholic parents. Mars, from Ireland, still missing the sister he lost years ago. Uri grew up on the streets of New York, and Venus… well, no one knows and she isn’t telling. Imbued with extra-ordinary powers, these highly trained individuals take the fight across the globe. With startling and unnerving revelations at every turn, the depth of deception is only now becoming clear…’

It began on the retreat I mentioned earlier and took me about three months to write. It then sat in a drawer for a year or two, whilst I wrote the second one (which took considerably longer). Once we had a clear idea of what we intended to do with regards to publishing, I took a first pass at the edit, then sent it off to our editor. He, in the nicest possible way, tore it apart and I had a second go, chopping out nearly twenty thousand words in the process! It then went to beta readers, came back for a less strenuous final edit, got a proof read and was ready to go. Whilst that was going on, we were also working with our cover designer, getting that ready. That was tough, as the first cover, for the Game of War series, was so good, and had really ramped up our expectations. We were finished and ready to go with about two days before launch date, so I spent a couple of sleepless nights formatting and got it live a few hours before the blog tour started!

8.What’s your current writing project?

I've always got a number of projects on the go in different phases of production/publication. There's usually a short story or two, editing of a novel or adding to my novella series, and my main WIP, which is a full length novel.

I’m currently writing a contemporary fantasy novel tentatively entitled The Missing. It is based on a what if? the premise being: What would happen if the government had a database of the DNA of every single person in Britain that told them how predisposed people were to doing magic?

9.What book(s) are you currently reading?

I’m reading I Shall Wear Midnight, by Terry Pratchett, another fave of mine. I read everything he writes, and this one is great so far. Fun, funny, emotionally involving. Comic wise, I’m reading Fairest, a spin off from Fables by Bill Willingham, and Rachel Rising by Terry Moore.

10.Who or what inspires your writing?

That’s a tricky one. Everything I’ve ever read, everyone I’ve ever met. Sorry, bit of a cop out, true though.

Finally, is there anything you’d care to add? Please also include where people can read your published stories, buy your book, etc.

If you'd like to get a free taste of my own particular brand of escapism, at http://cairnswrites.com you can download a free copy of my first novella Childhood Dreams (A Game of War, Part one), find podcasts, free short stories, info about me, and of course, links to where you can buy my books.

You can connect with me on twitter www.twitter.com/cairnswrites.

Feel free to ‘like’ www.facebook.com/cairnswrites (I talk about chocolate mostly, and a bit on writing as well).

Enjoy some of the comic art and inspiring images I repin on www.pinterest.com/michaelcairns.

Thank you, Michael.  The covers look fantastic, and the accompanying plot sounds great as well. Let us know when the next book is ready!

Visit Michael at his website, follow him on Twitter, like him on Facebook, and grab a copy of  The Spirit Room or Game of War books at the links below:

Book links: ‘Childhood Dreams’ (A Game of War, Part One) is available for free download from cairnswrites.com.
A Game of War parts two and three are available on Amazon, Smashwords and all good e-retailers. (Amazon & Smashwords links below)https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/michaelcairnshttp://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=michael+cairns
The Spirit Room is also available from all good e- retailers:Amazon.com http://amzn.to/151HritAmazon.co.uk http://amzn.to/1c1x4zs
Smashwords http://bit.ly/13jmIT3
        

10 Questions with 11-year-old Author H.G. Sansostri (@HGSansostri)

This Author Spotlightfeatures
H.G. Sansostri
author of
The Little Dudes' Skool Survival Guide




This week's interview features a debut author:

H.G. Sansostri.

Harrison (Harri) is an 11 year-old-boy who likes to read and write in his spare time. He has written two books to date: The Little Dudes' Skool Survival Guide and W.C.P. (War Changes People).

He is also an accomplished child actor having appeared in film, commercials and West End Theatre (Lord of The Flies). He played 'Lenny Darwin' in Creation (Paul Bettany and Jennifer Connolly's youngest son) directed by Jon Amiel.

He hopes to study law and become an Entertainments Lawyer and study English and history at a University in London, enabling him to continue his acting and writing career.


What doesn't he like...? Brussel sprouts and Kit Kat bars. What does he like...? Chocolate and chips : )

1.How did you get into writing and why do you write?
Well, when I was ten I really wanted to write a book. More fiction than non-fiction but I found myself sort of writing about my school life and all its ups and downs, though a lot of downs for me, so I then became my book character 'Ethan' trying to cope and sort out my 'bad days.’ I then decided to lighten up the book’s mood with my second character 'Billy' who I thought could introduce some fun and games. We became quite 'A comedy Duo.' We laughed, we fought and we found solutions together! (Billy's character is based on my cousin, with whom I laugh and I fight but we are real good mates.)

Most evenings I just tapped away at my iPad and my mum saw my work and didn't tell me, but she kept emailing each chapter to her laptop when I was at school (as to not lose my work). She then decided to show a few people who showed interest for my book and that's how I started to write.

2. What do you like best (or least) about writing?
What I have never liked about writing is all the plotting and planning of the characters. I have always believed that if you just let your mind and fingers do the writing and let your ideas flow, your story flows too (obviously with some back editing)!

Ps I'm still not sure about my punctuation and brackets, but will improve on that one!

What I love about writing is that there is no end to it! Sounds odd, but you have so much freedom to express yourself and literally escape through your book. My book was really therapeutic for me!

3. What is your writing process? IE do you outline? Do you stick to a daily word or page count, write 7 days a week, etc?
I never force myself to write, because then it won't be natural and coming from my mind. I only ever start to tap away at the iPad if I feel inspired and have a fresh idea in my head.


4. Who are some other writers you read and admire, regardless of whether they are commercially “successful?”

Number one has to be Mark Haddon, he is the 'Ultimate Author' to me. I've read two of his books and just love the way he uses descriptives throughout his work.

Susanne Collins does come a close second though, as The Hunger Games are amazing, a must-read if you haven't read them!

5. Should the question mark in the above question be inside or outside the quotes?
The question mark will be contained in the quotations if it is a question. If it is a passive question then it is on the outside of the quotations?

6. What’s your stance on the Oxford Comma?
I do agree with the Oxford Comma, is that not the serial comma? I tend to use a lot of commas and full-stops in my writing to give emphasis and beats (hence the actor!) to my work.


7. What is your book The Little Dudes Skool Survival Guide about and how did it come to fruition?
The Little Dudes Skool Survival Guide came about because at the end of a school day I would think about how I felt alone and a little unhappy, so I wrote my thoughts and feelings on my iPad, through the eyes of a boy called 'Ethan'.

I decided to put it over in a witty way too, including my fictional buddy 'Billy' who just messes up all the time!

This book talks about school life, bullying and friendship, and what I have observed in school (from the playground bench), 'The Packs'… well, you need to read it basically!!!

There were so many problems, I had to write them down to show Mum... Eventually, I thought it would be a good idea to turn all my notes into a book. Not a boring book though! I decided to add a little comedy to lighten it up and I introduced my two main characters; Billy and Ethan. Amongst the advice we gave out, I wrote in jokes and fights between the two characters and lots of quizzes.

8. What’s your current writing project?
My current project is called The Chronicles of Derek Dunstable.

It is based on a sixteen-year old boy who's life gradually keeps becoming more and more unfair. Derek and his three friends need to survive the school year at any cost!

I currently still don't know what will happen in my book, as I write spontaneously (is that spelling right???)

9. What book(s) are you currently reading?
I am currently reading Who Could That Be at This Hour? and Breathe. They are written by two amazing authors; Lemony Snicket and Sarah Crossan.

Breathe is an amazing book. Although it does have a slow start, it gradually builds up to a highly suspenseful moment. Revolving around three characters on a treeless planet, they are on the run from the ministry, the corrupt replacement for the government and the founders of the company Breathe which allows the citizens to be given oxygen.

Who Could That Be at This Hour? is an astoundingly brilliant book. It does have the same slow start as Breathe but grows more and more interesting as it moves on. The book is based on two detectives; Thedora and Lemony Snicket. They are given the task to find out who has stolen the great statue of the 'Bombinating Beast.'

They soon begin to realise that the item may not have been stolen after all, not even touched actually! These two books are a must read! (I love exclamation marks and commas.)

10. Who or what inspires your writing?
The people that inspire me the most are:
My Mum, she's always there for me, in everything I do.
Mark Haddon- I aspire to write like him!
Susanne Collins- Her Hunger Games trilogy- astounded me!
Anthony Horowitz- Love the Alex Rider series.
My librarian- She's a nice lady that is always cheery and helps you out if you need a hand and is looking forward to getting a signed copy of my book!

Finally, is there anything you’d care to add? Please also include where people can read your published stories, buy your book, etc.
Also what inspires me to write are the children at my school. Observation is key to my book because most of my characters are based on real life children! All the different personalities and looks gave me an endless amount of material to write about. A lot of the stuff in my book happened to me and, as you will see, the ways I solved the bullies with my brain power... ZAP!

Thank you, Ryan.

You're quite welcome, Harri. Your book is a noble endeavor which can certainly help kids all over who are experiencing difficulties at school. Thank you for sharing your work and your story with us. And please visit with us again when your next book is ready!


THE BLURB

Are you having hard times at school?

Are your friends not cutting you any slack at all?

Then come and join Ethan and his goofy friend Billy on an adventure into the wilderness of school - more dangerous than a venture into a live volcano!

In order to survive you must adapt or otherwise...KABOOM!


Visit Harri at any of his social media:
Twitter      @HG Sansostri
Facebook  H.G. Sansostri
Email         hgs1709@hotmail.com

Be sure to pick up a copy of Harrison's book at the links below:
Amazon UK
Amazon US

10 Questions with Bestselling Author Wayne Thomas Batson

This Author Spotlightfeatures
Wayne Thomas Batsonauthor of
GHOST (A John Spector Novel)


This interview is of particular note for me because back in 2006-2007, I spent a great deal of time writing (working on The Go-Kids) at Border's Books near where I lived at the time. I often took breaks to stand up and stretch, get more coffee, and wander through the aisles of the book store, enjoying the volumes on the shelves and exploring new books and new writers.
On one end cap I noticed a series of brightly-colored books with brilliant, fascinating covers. They were written by a guy named Wayne Thomas Batson.



Fast forward six years, and here we are. I have the distinct pleasure of featuring Wayne and his books in this week's author spotlight. I encountered Wayne and his new book GHOST when Wayne did a guest blog on Joe Konrath's blog (which you can read HERE). So, thank you, Joe!
Now, here's Wayne.
Wayne Thomas Batson is the Bestselling author of fourteen adventure novels including the fan favorite Door Within Trilogy, the pirate duo Isle of Swords and Isle of Fire, the 7-book fantasy epic Dark Sea Annals, and a supernatural thriller for adults called GHOST .

A middle school Reading and English teacher for 23 years, Batson loves to challenge—and be challenged by—his students. So, when he began writing stories to supplement the school district’s curriculum, it was his students who taught their teacher a lesson. Batson’s students were so taken by one of the stories that, over a thirteen year span, they pushed him to make it into a full-length novel. That story became The Door Within. Since then, Batson’s students continue to be his frontline editors. Says Batson, “Two things you can count on from middle school students: Intelligence and Honesty. Kids are so much more perceptive than a lot of us ‘Big Folk’ give them credit for. And when something’s not right in the story, they’ll tell you about it in very clear terms.”

With over half a million books in print, Batson believes his books appeal to so many kids and adults because, at a deep level, we all long to do something that matters, and we all dream of another world.


1.How did you get into writing and why do you write?I got my start by writing stories for my middle school students. I always hoped to be an author one day, and the students’ encouragement pushed me to try. As for why? I guess I write because it’s fulfilling in a way that other endeavors are not. It’s like dark chocolate for the soul. Plus, I feel like God wants me to write. Who am I to second guess the Creator? ;-D
2.What do you like best (or least) about writing?The initial idea rush is my favorite part of writing. This is when I’ve got a kernel idea for a story and sit down to start plotting the outline, and WHOOOSH!!! It’s like standing in jetwash. The ideas just come streaming in. One leads to the next to the next to the next, and I just hold on for dear life, trying to get them all down without losing any.
3.What is your writing process? IE do you outline? Do you stick to a daily word or page count, write 7 days a week, etc?I am a bigtime outliner. But once I have the outline, I always have plenty of wiggle room for wild twists. When I’m on a deadline, I divide up the projected word count into daily goals. Then, I just pound away.
4.Who are some other writers you read and admire, regardless of whether they are commercially “successful?”For Prose: Cornelia Funke (Inkspell, etc.) The woman writes with such artistry and poetic brilliance. For Creativity: Brandon Sanderson (Mistborn & Way of Kings). The guy is just spectacular in Worldbuilding and Character Construction.
5.Should the question mark in the above question be inside or outside the quotes?
Inside.
6.What’s your stance on the Oxford Comma?
I always use it.
7.What is your book GHOST about and how did it come to fruition?GHOST is a supernatural thriller for readers who like Lee Child’s Jack Reacher and Jim Butcher’s Harry Dresden books. John Spector is a special kind of investigator, and he’s on the trail of a killer the FBI gave up on years ago. Both killer and detective are more than meets the eye, and when they meet, the pillars of both worlds will be shaken.
GHOST came about when I finally finished the manuscript and published it on Kindle this summer.
8.What’s your current writing project?Dreamtreaders is my current project. This is the first of a trilogy with Thomas Nelson/Harper Collins publishing. It’s a wild YA adventure that poses the question: what if having your dreams come true turns out to be your worst nightmare?
9.What book(s) are you currently reading?The Sky Riders by Christopher Hopper. Very cool epic adventure, fantasy, steampunk, pirate thrill ride.
10.Who or what inspires your writing?God. Seriously, I almost feel guilty being a writer because I all do is sit there and scoop up all the cool ideas God throws my way.
Finally, is there anything you’d care to add? Please also include where people can read your published stories, buy your book, etc.You can get all my books on Amazon or CBD with the exception of GHOST
which is an Amazon exclusive. Here’s the website: http://is.gd/SyTTsC

Nice to spend some time with you! Never alone.

Thank you, Wayne. It was great to meet you in such a serendipitous and unexpected fashion.

Be sure to check out Wayne's website/blog, and grab a copy of his latest book GHOST at the link below:

GHOST: A John Spector Novel

10 Questions with Bill D. Allen & Gary Jonas (@GaryJonas1)

This Author Spotlightfeaturesthe writing team ofBill D. Allen&Gary Jonas,authors of Pirates of the Outrigger Rift  (Kindle Serial)






Bill D. Allen is an Oklahoma writer and motorcycle enthusiast. His latest work is PIRATES OF OUTRIGGER RIFT a collaboration with Colorado writer Gary Jonas, from 47North. Bill's short fiction has appeared in publications such as PERSONAL DEMONS, BUBBAS OF THE APOCALYPSE, STORIES THAT WONT MAKE YOUR PARENTS HURL, SCIENCE FICTION TRAILS, SIX GUNS STRAIGHT FROM HELL and SMALL BITES. He also authored a dark fantasy novel titled SHADOW HEART and a short fantasy novel called GODS AND OTHER CHILDREN. Bill is also is a proud member of the Iron Butt Association which means he has been foolish enough to travel at least 1000 miles in 24 hours on a motorcycle. His website is billdallen.comand you will find him on facebook at:https://www.facebook.com/wildbillallen

Gary Jonas is the author of the Jonathan Shade fantasy series (Modern Sorcery, Acheron Highway, and Dragon Gate so far). His first novel, One-Way Ticket to Midnight made the preliminary ballot for the Bram Stoker Award, but alas, that's about like saying "I was fifteenth in line to meet Jessica Alba, and had she met me, she'd have wanted to marry me." He started a series of weird western novellas about a vampire gunslinger, and wrote the first book in that series, which is simply called Night Marshal: A Tale of the Undead West (Book Two: High Plains Moon was written by Glenn R. Sixbury, and Book Three: This Dance, These Bones was written by Rebecca Hodgkins). The best of his short fiction has been collected in Quick Shots, and yes, that includes the Hitman stories (people have been so polite after reading those tales--go figure). Gary is currently revising a novel called Guardians of the Sky while he works on the next Jonathan Shade novel.


1.  How did you get into writing and why do you write?
Bill: It all started with reading, of course.  I had a difficult childhood and ended up in foster care.  Reading was my escape.  By extension, writing became an even greater escape since I could fashion my own worlds. 
The question is, why do I still do it?  I ask myself that all the time.  It certainly isn’t for money and fame.  I am one of those writers who tell folks that if they can stop writing that they should…just stop cold turkey and give it up. It causes problems in your personal life and takes time out of more productive endeavors, like collecting lint or making birdhouses out of  popsicle sticks. Bottom line is I write because I can’t stop writing.  I can slow down. I can act like I’m not a writer. But sooner or later it pops up again and I am knocking out a short story or writing notes on the back of a napkin.  It’s a sickness.
Gary: Originally, I wanted to be a comic book artist, but to have comics to draw, I started writing stories to go with them.  Then in college, I took a writing class because I figured it would be an easy A.  Knock out a couple of short stories, and it’s all good.  Turns out there was a massive difference between the drawing and the writing.  With an illustration, people would look at it and say, “Cool.”  With a story, they had to invest of themselves a bit, and the tales could affect them emotionally.  I liked that.  Art can affect people too, but it’s harder to do that with comic book art.  Once I caught the bug, I couldn’t not write.  I tried time and again to walk away from it, but I kept coming back.  Finally I gave up and decided it wasn’t a choice.
2.  What do you like best (or least) about writing?
Bill: The best thing about writing is that wild feeling of elation when the plot points suddenly “click” into place.  You had no idea what was going on one moment with a mess of tangled gears, springs, and random fiddly-bits, then a flash of insight and you are holding a Swiss watch.  No plans, perhaps just a sore spot on your forehead where you had been beating it against a handy wall.  Your subconscious writer brain has been doing the heavy lifting the whole long time. 
Magic is wonderful.  The beating your head part is the nightmare…you can’t count on the magic.  You have to keep slogging on through the swamp, ignoring the dark demons of your self doubt.
Gary: When you nail something, and it works on every level you were aiming for, there’s nothing like it.  An example would be the ending of my novel, Acheron Highway.  With that one, I felt like I’d hit the right buttons, stroked the right emotions, and landed a kick-ass ending that would knock your soul right out of your body.  I love it when it’s like that.
What I like least about writing: the personal sacrifice.  The writing has cost me relationships with some amazing women because I spent all day working a job then came home to spend the evening writing some silly story when my girlfriend wanted to go out.  It doesn’t have to be an either-or situation, but too often it felt that way.
3.  What is your writing process? IE do you outline? Do you stick to a daily word or page count, write 7 days a week, etc?
Bill: I don’t formally outline short stories.  I get an idea of the entirety of the story before I start the project, then I power through the first draft as quickly as possible.  I think short stories are like fresh seafood.  You don’t want to let them sit around too long.
I outline my novels.  It’s the only way I can ensure that when I squeeze some writing time that I actually get something accomplished.  I will spend more time in the early stages of the book free writing background history and random thoughts about characters and story.  Although I spend a great deal of time thinking about my characters, I don't like those character profile sheets that you see everywhere.  My characters are usually Frankenstein constructs of real people I know.  So I don’t really need to create anyone from whole cloth.
I pick my plot points and then start filling in the scenes. I tend to have simple one-sentence explanations of each scene on a spreadsheet and I write from those.  It makes it easier to shuffle scenes and group them into chapters later.
There is a free tool called “YWRITER” from Spacejock software that works pretty well as an outline tool and I have had some success with that as well.  Nice bells and whistles for free.  I don’t see any sense in investing in all the over-hyped software packages that claim to write for you.  It’s a load of crap.  Take a pen and paper and sit under a tree with a tall glass of iced tea.  Works wonders for the creative process.
As to my writing schedule…well, much of it depends on my “real life.”  I work four ten-hour days as a supervisor for a 911 center.  This tends to suck a lot of emotional manna out of me.  I try to catch at least an hour or two of solid writing time or revision time on the days I work.  The best method for me is to realize that those are the days I need to outline, plan, correct and edit.  If I get a brainstorm I still go with it, of course.  I have had a lot of good production days that I would have never guessed could happen when I follow the current.  I also tend to do research on these days.
On my days off, I try to get up early, get some coffee and work toward accomplishing the scenes I have plotted out earlier in the week.  I try to avoid researching as that can be a time wasting trap and I need to make progress.  If I need to look something up, I make a note for it later.  Of course, there are times when I feel I just “have” to know some detail before I continue.  But, in general I try to avoid research because I will go off on bunny trails.
I write for a few hours.  Get up and do chores—mow the lawn, do some laundry, etc., anything to stretch my legs and let my subconscious catch up.  Then I go back for another round.
I like to post word counts but some days that is deceptive.  A very productive day might actually have a smaller word count.  Quality and quantity are equally valuable.
Lastly, I am very big on the subconscious working on your writing conundrums.  I think hard about any issues I am dealing with as I go to bed.  I truly think your mind works on these things when you sleep.  I can’t tell you how many times I have gotten up the next day and when I get back to work the path is clearly laid out.
Gary:  For anything longer than a short story, I prefer to work from an outline.  A short story can be held in your head, but a novel tends to be a sprawling thing that needs to be viewed in sections.  When I was writing screenplays, I found that structure was of extreme importance.  So I started outlining the scripts in advance, and those scripts turned out to be my best work.  Two were optioned in Hollywood, and one went into production locally, though the financing fell apart and the movie was never completed.  It happens.
With novels, outlining gives me more confidence because I’ve worked things out in advance.  I don’t necessarily stick to that outline because if something interesting occurs to me, I can always explore it.  If it works, I can take some time to re-outline from there.
As it happens, I’m currently writing a novel using the fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants method, and while I’m cranking out pages, I worry that it will need more work than my other books to whip it into shape.
Discipline was a problem for me for a while, so I took to posting my daily word counts on Facebook for all to see.  At first, it kept me writing because I didn’t want to post a big ol’ goose egg up there.  That would suck.  Once the daily writing formed into an actual habit, and I looked forward to the sessions, I planned to stop posting the counts, but I kept hearing from people that the word counts were inspiring.  Sometimes they’re low, sometimes they’re high, but as long as I’m moving forward, the books will be finished.
On days where life gets in the way, I do one writing session (usually about an hour).  On other days, I work in multiple sessions with breaks in between.
4.  Who are some other writers you read and admire, regardless of whether they are commercially “successful?”
Bill: One of my early mentors was Mike McQuay, a largely underappreciated writer who has since passed.  Roger Zelazny has got to be my favorite author of all time, although his style waxed a bit poetic, of course he has also shuffled off the mortal coil.  Tim Powers is very inspirational to me and thank God he is still alive!  Lastly, one of the hardest working writers in the world is Selina Rosen.  She is a rough and tumble street writer.  Not at all literary, but she writes from the heart and I truly appreciate that. 
Gary: I could post a long, long list here.  Bill and I were fortunate to have had Mike McQuay as an early mentor.  His novel Memories was an amazing book, and after reading that, I knew I could learn from him.  When I moved to Denver, I went out of my way to get into a workshop with Edward Bryant, who has written some truly amazing short fiction.  Other writers I admire have to include those Bill mentioned.  For an incomplete list in no particular order, some of the writers I read include Robert Crais, Joe R. Lansdale, Connie Willis, David Morrell, Lee Child, Elmore Leonard, Robert B. Parker, Shirley Jackson, Neil Gaiman, Ray Bradbury, and too many others to list.
A few writers I admire for other reasons would have to include J.A. Konrath, Dean Wesley Smith and Kristine Kathryn Rusch for doing so much to help other writers.  Lawrence Block for making me believe writing novels was even possible (and he’s written some terrific books).  Mel Odom for showing me that discipline is king—the man is a machine in the best sense of the word.  He can flat crank out book after book, and even with the work-for-hire books, he always brings professional competence to the work.
5.  Should the question mark in the above question be inside or outside the quotes?
Bill: Outside, the item in the quotes was not the question.
Gary: Outside.
6.  What’s your stance on the Oxford Comma?
Bill: My stance on commas in general is pretty loose.  I am not a grammarian, I am a writer.  That being said, I tend to avoid the use of the serial comma unless the group of items are groups of pairs.  I would not use it for a sentence listing apples, oranges and grapes.  I would use it in a sentence with apple and pear, orange and mango, and banana and strawberry.
Gary: I don’t have a stance on the Oxford Comma because I was taught it was optional.  However, every editor I work with clearly believes they’re required, so I’m trying to include them because, if I don’t, the editors might charge me for each comma they have to add.  If that ever happens, I’ll be flat broke! 
7.  What is your book Pirates of the Outrigger Rift about and how did it come to fruition?
Bill: Hey, space pirates…what else do you need to know?  Fun, adventure, beer—it’s in there.  The story is about a woman pursued by corporate security squads and brutal space pirates as she and her companion, a down on his luck freetrader, attempt to deliver secret information which will bring down a corrupt and power-hungry traitor.
Long ago Gary Jonas and I wrote a piece for a market called Dime Novels.  It was a short-lived company which wanted to sell small, pulp type adventure books to be sold as impulse buys in the supermarket checkout line.  They didn’t last long enough to send us the contract.  So, we decided to revise it, beef it up and put it out on the market again.  We’d always loved the story.  It has a ton of laughs and some genuinely likable characters and we were thrilled when it was picked up by 47North.   It was released on September 24, 2013 as an Amazon Kindle Serial.  It will have six episodes, released one per week.  Then it will graduate to a full novel download on Kindle and a print version.  Thereafter, it will move on to become an audio book available on Audible.com.
Gary: What he said.  We did get an acceptance letter from Dime Novels, so it was really disheartening when they went under.  Every few years, we talked about revising and expanding it, but finally last year, we just did it.  Selling the book to the awesome folks at 47North was like a dream come true.
I’ll add that we hope people have as much fun reading it as we did writing it.
8.  What’s your current writing project?
Bill: I am working on an urban fantasy based on a reluctant war god who is fed up with the family business and has taken up a blues guitar.  It’s a further tale in the world of GODS AND OTHER CHILDREN.  I really enjoy working with the character.  It gives me a great opportunity to riff on life in general and the folly of mankind.
Gary: I’m working on a novel called Guardians of the Sky, which I see as the first in a series of books about a UFO investigator.  It has action, humor, and aliens (and I even got the Oxford comma in there—my editors would be so proud). 
9.  What book(s) are you currently reading?
Bill: I am rereading Joe Lansdale’s COLD IN JULY.  Joe is a fantastic writer and I never get enough of that voice.
Gary: For non-fiction, I’m reading The Sky Is Not the Limit: Adventures of an Urban Astrophysicist by Neil deGrasse Tyson, which I highly recommend.
For fiction, I’m listening to the audio book of Death Masks by Jim Butcher, which was read by James Marsters, who does a terrific job.  I’d love to have him do the audio versions of my work.
10.  Who or what inspires your writing?
Bill: That is a difficult question.  If I sat around waiting to be inspired I would get nothing done.  The electric bill does wonders to inspire me to get more work out there.  I tend to be inspired by those writers I have met along the way who keep plugging at it no matter the odds.  I appreciate those writers whose voice is their own and not a carbon copy of anyone else out there.  Joe Lansdale is a good enough example of that.  In the world of media, Kevin Smith would be a great example.  When I experience their work and see their success it makes me remember that I am creating work that only I could have created.  Ultimately that is all we have to sell is our unique voice and vision.  If you get the opportunity to express yourself honestly and are lucky enough to find an audience who likes what you do, then it’s all “pussy and donuts” as Kevin Smith so aptly remarked.
Gary: For me it’s not a question of inspiration.  Some stories or books might be inspired by a person or an event or something I read somewhere, but I treat writing as a career.  That means I show up every day, put in my time to crank out the pages.  Once a novel is finished, I move on to the next one.  In that sense, I don’t have a Muse.  I just have too many stories to tell, and not enough time to get them all written down.
Finally, is there anything you’d care to add? Please also include where people can read your published stories, buy your book, etc.
Bill: My website is billdallen.com, from there you will find links to my Facebook page and Amazon.com Author Central site which has all my currently available work.
My email is ozarkpress@yahoo.com and I appreciate hearing from folks so don’t be shy, life is too short.
Gary:  My website  is at www.garyjonas.net
Feel free to “friend” me on Facebook: www.facebook.com/writer.garyjonas follow me on Twitter @GaryJonas1 and check out my rarely updated blog at http://www.garyjonas.blogspot.com/
You can gain extra cool points by ordering Pirates of the Outrigger Rift.


Thanks, guys.
Fantastic interview. The book looks amazing. I'd be remiss if I didn't compliment the cover art by Christian McGrath. (Visit his site HERE.)

Visit us again when you each complete your next book!
Be sure to visit Bill and Gary on their websites, Twitter, Facebook, etc. And grab a copy of Pirates at the link below.Pirates of the Outrigger Rift

Writing and Loneliness

Writing
and
Loneliness






Yesterday on his blog, author Nathan Bransford (pictured at left) blogged about a very interesting topic: writers and loneliness.

This got me thinking that perhaps it would be worthwhile to post about it myself.

Who is the gentleman in the above black and white photo? A lonely man who misses his wife? Or perhaps he's staring out the window, thinking about his children and grandchildren who rarely visit.

Writing can indeed and of course be a lonely endeavor. It requires hours of isolation, either mental or physical or both. I love to go sit in a book store or coffee shop to write. But then when I get there, if it's busy/noisy, I put on my noise-cancelling headphones and/or a pair of foam earplugs. So it creates an interesting contradiction: being alone in a crowd.

Other writers sit at home while writing. Outside of a day job, it can be a place of self-imposed isolation. This can lead to depression and loneliness and the spiritual lows that come with them.

As Nathan writes:

"There was a really moving article in Slate last month about the dangers of loneliness. According to studies, the health dangers of social isolation and loneliness is comparable to smoking, and twice as dangerous as obesity."

Actual risk to one's health is nothing to laugh at.

But Ray Bradbury said “Find out what your hero or heroine wants, and when he or she wakes up in the morning, just follow him or her around all day.”


Who has time to be lonely when we're stalking our protagonist?

Seriously, though. Social interaction is important and is a skill which can atrophy over time. So make it a point to get away from your writing on a regular basis. It doesn't make you any less of a writer. Who was it that said "You can't sit down to write until you've stood up to live."?

So hit the gym, the supermarket, the park, spend 60 seconds on ChatRoulette, whatever. Get or give a hug to or from your spouse, child, parent, or friend.

Pick up your phone and call a friend or family member.

Do not text.

Do not email.

Do not tweet them.

CALL them.

Oh no! She's not hands-free!
Oh no! She's not hands-free either! Ah!






"What? You mean I'm not allowed to talk on the phone while driving anymore? I have to get one of those ear thingies?"









"That's right. You have to get your brain tumor at home from now on. Like me."











Seriously, though, with the advent of social media, we have more communication with others than ever before. But our communication is less SUBSTANTIVE. There is a difference between a text and hearing the person's voice.

So if you're feeling lonely, reach out and touch someone.


Who doesn't love a clown?

Besides me.

And Russell Blake, whose brand new novel BLACK is now available. And whose dislike of clowns is legendary.







And remember, tomorrow is a new day.

Bonus points if you knew that the man in the above black-and-white photo is none other than the late Ray Bradbury, who is one of the all-time great writers, and who was anything but lonely.

10 Follow-Up Questions with PKD Award Finalist Lisa Mason (@LisaSMason)

This Author SpotlightfeaturesPhilip K. Dick Award finalistandScience Fiction writerLisa Masonauthor ofStrange Laides: 7 Stories


Lisa and I originally chatted last year. You can read that interview HERE.

Now, on with the show!

1. This is a follow-up interview, but for people who are not already familiar with your work, tell us what kind of books you write and what readers should expect from your stories? What is your latest book about?
LM: I mostly write character-driven science fiction and contemporary or historical fantasy (as opposed to epic fantasy), but I’ve also written more mainstream works, romantic suspense, and a screenplay or two.

My latest release, Strange Ladies: 7 Stories, is a collection of science fiction, fantasy, and horror stories published in top magazines and anthologies worldwide. I’m gratified to see the response so far has been awesome since I cherry-picked them from among my published (and as-yet-unpublished) short fiction.

2. What was the duration of the writing process for Strange Ladies?
LM: Since this is a collection, the answer is difficult to summarize. Some stories are what I call “a gift from the gods,” landing almost full-blown on the page. They’re a gift because a story seldom happens that way.

But the core idea, the inspiration usually does, and then the hard work of making the story happen proceeds from there. I’ve taken three weeks to finish a story; I’ve taken six months and more.

As for these stories, some go back fifteen years. Yeah, I’ve been around for a long time, was building up my career. A few years ago, disgusted with New York Big Publishing and hit with a personal set-back, I dropped out of the business altogether and spent some years studying and writing screenplays. That was a mistake from which I’m only just recovering.

Now that I’m back, New York Big Publishing is even worse than before. Thank God for independent publishing. Viva la revolution! Not that taking your career into your own hands is ever easy.

I re-edited every story in Strange Ladies to the quality standards I hold today after fifteen years of studying fiction.

3. To shift to a story of yours that’s already sold to the movies, when Tomorrow’s Child is adapted to film, and the producers ask for your dream cast, what will you say?
LM: At the beginning, there was talk at Universal Studios of Dennis Quaid as the father, Kirsten Dunst as the daughter. But really, as a full-time professional writer with forthcoming new books and the executive of a growing ebook empire, I don’t have time to follow all the new faces who might be right. (Though I do receive The Hollywood Reporter every week. Apparently I’ve been comp’d a free subscription for life. I have no idea how that happened.)

Anyway, producers never ask the opinion of print authors or screenwriters about anything.

4. Stephen King often makes a cameo in films adapted from his work. Stan Lee is also enjoying doing that these days. What supporting role would you like to play in the film adaptation of Tomorrow’s Child?
LM: In the scene in which Jack Turner confronts his spoiled society wife at a fancy brunch, and she tells him she knows that their daughter Angela is now a freak and that Jack should have let her die, and Jack smacks her on the face, I would definitely make a cameo as one of the society ladies at the brunch table, dripping in gold and diamonds, and dining on a caviar omelet and champagne.

The big studios always serve the real thing during food scenes.

5. For a writer, word of mouth is everything. What was the last book you read that you enjoyed so much that you wanted to share it with everyone you know?
LM: I’ve got a TBR List as long as my arms and legs laid end-to-end. (Ooh. That’s a creepy image.) Let me rephrase. I’ve got a TBR list a kilometer long. I’ll have to get back to you on this one.

6. As of this writing, the trend in publishing is toward series novels as opposed to stand-alone books. Do you have a series going?
LM: Yes, The Garden of Abracadabra is Volume One of the Abracadabra Series, and The Labyrinth of Illusions, Volume 2, is presently in R&D. Celestial Girl (A Lily Modjeska Mystery) is a miniseries of four books, which are done, though potentially Lily could go on. And I’ve got a new Top Secret High Concept Science Fiction Series in the works.

As a reader, I like stand-alone books; I also like series. It depends on the book I’ve read.

Authors and publishers love series because once the author has created a complex, multi-dimensional world, living and breathing characters, and plot arcs extending beyond what should be a self-contained, complete story in the first book, what’s not to love about creating more? From a marketing standpoint, a successful series will keep the backlist in print and win new readers of the later books. Always a good thing.

7. Saul Bellow said, “You never have to change anything you got up in the middle of the night to write.” Where do ideas for books come from, and where are you and what are you typically doing when inspiration strikes?
LM: Hah! That’s a great Saul Bellow quote. And very often, but not entirely, true. Everything needs more work in the morning.

That said, there’s no typical inspiration for me other than paying attention to life, people, what interests me intellectually and emotionally, searching constantly for information, and my own feelings, intuitions, experiences, and observations.

A fine and unusual example of how pure inspiration struck me instantly—after half a dozen years of preparation—is in my 30-day blog The Story Behind The Story That Sold To The Movies, included in the ebook of Tomorrow’s Child.

8. Brett Easton Ellis once said, “Do not write a novel for praise. Write for yourself; work out between you and your pen the things that intrigue you.” Indie publishing phenom Amanda Hocking has said that it messed with her head a bit when she realized so many people were going to read the books she’s now writing. Now that Lisa Mason is rapidly gaining recognition in the publishing world, has an established fan base anticipating her next novel, and is being talked about in the highly-reverent third person, will reader expectations influence how and/or what she writes? Or will she hold to Ellis’ suggestion?
LM: Oh, Ellis has it absolutely right for any serious writer—and by serious I mean if you write because you must, because your talent drives you to, because you always have something to say.

Edith Wharton, for example, wrote about women exiled to the wilds of snowy Massachusetts, women in the thick richness of New York high society, and women in some pretty good ghost stories. But in all the variety of her writing, the story was always an Edith Wharton story, the writing was always her vigorous Edith Wharton style, and the underlying theme was always a woman in an unhappy marriage. Always.

My writerly obsession is with self-realization, how life and circumstances may try to thwart you from what must be your true destiny, how you must overcome all the odds to realize your true self and find your personal power. My new book, Strange Ladies: 7 Stories, is a good example. The stories are wildly different but in each, the heroine empowers herself against the odds.

As a writer, you can only hope readers will share your obsessions. But if you chase after popularity and you’re not true to yourself, the readers will sense this, too. So what’s the point?

9. The world of indie authors is the new slush pile. What are you going to say/do when a traditional New York publisher and/or agent contacts you and asks for a meeting?
LM: Well, I’m not quite an indie author, I’ve been published by Bantam, Random House, Avon, William Morrow, Eos, Omni, Asimov’s Science Fiction Magazine, and more.

I actually presently have an email from yet another Big Deal New York Agent (I’ve hired and fired several over fifteen years). The printout has been sitting on my desk for two months. I haven’t responded to it yet.

I’ve got three blogs which began in February, 2013 on www.lisamasontheauthor.com titled “Crunching the Publishing Numbers,” which will provide you with a summary of the state of Big Publishing.

If you want a truly scathing insider’s view of just how bad New York Publishing is, check out www.kriswrites.com. My colleague Kristine Kathyrn Rusch, a respected, award-winning fantasy and science fiction author, sets out the numbers and realities in excruciating detail.

10. Someone once said, and it may have been my dad, “If you fail to plan, you plan to fail.” Where do you want your writing career to be in five years’ time?
LM: The Abracadabra Series is a happening thing; I can definitely see two or three more books in next five years, and more books in the years to come. My new Top Secret High Concept Science Fiction Series will definitely go on for at least five years. I have a dystopian fantasy concept on the drawing board. Plus short stories set in all those worlds.

I have two additional huge backlist books, my early Avon cyberpunks, The Quester Trilogy, and my later Bantam science fiction epic, Pangaea, both of which will take time to develop as ebooks.

Print books of all the Bast Books ebook titles are definitely in the works, but take time and a capital investment to do it right. I’m hoping that will happen within the next five years.

I may return to New York Big Publishing; I really don’t know. No one knows what Big Publishing will look like in five years. I’d sure like to see Tomorrow’s Child as a movie but, knowing Universal, their product will bear almost no resemblance to my very personal story and might make me look bad. So I don’t know if I want that as much as anyone might think.

Finally, I sincerely hope we do not find ourselves in World War Three in the next five years.

And there you have it, my friend, Ryan! Thank you for this follow-up interview!

My Bio and Publicity Release follow.

Happy Autumn Reading!

Bast Books Proudly Presents

The Virtual Bookstore

Fantasy, Science Fiction, Urban Fantasy, Romantic Suspense, Literary, Screenplay

Dear Reader,

Lisa Mason is the author of nine novels, including Summer of Love (Bantam), a San Francisco Chronicle Recommended Book and Philip K. Dick Award finalist, and The Golden Nineties (Bantam), a New York Times Notable Book and New York Public Library Recommended Book.

Mason published her first story, “Arachne,” in Omni and has since published short fiction in magazines and anthologies worldwide, including Omni, Full Spectrum, Universe, Year’s Best Fantasy and Horror,Asimov’s Science Fiction Magazine, Unique, Transcendental Tales, Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, Immortal Unicorn, Tales of the Impossible, Desire Burn, Fantastic Alice, The Shimmering Door,Hayakawa Science Fiction Magazine, Unter Die Haut, and others. Her stories have been translated into Chinese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese, Spanish, and Swedish.

Visit her at Lisa Mason’s Official Website for books, ebooks, stories, and screenplays, forthcoming projects and more, on Lisa Mason’s Official Blog, on her Facebook Author Page, on her Facebook Profile Page, on Goodreads, on LinkedIn, on Twitter at @lisaSmason, on Amazon, atSmashwords, and at Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America.

If you enjoy a title, please stop by the site where you bought the book and “Like” it, add stars, write a review, Tweet it, blog it, post it, and share the word with your family and friends.

Your participation really matters.

Thank you for your readership!



New! As Mason mulled over her short fiction, she found seven wildly different stories with one thing in common--a heroine totally unlike her. She’s the girl next door. She have no idea where these Strange Ladies came from.

In The Oniomancer (Asimov’s Science Fiction Magazine), a Chinese-American punk bicycle messenger finds an artifact on the street. In Guardian (Asimov’s Science Fiction Magazine), an African-American gallerist resorts to voodoo to confront a criminal. In Felicitas (Desire Burn: Women Writing from the Dark Side of Passion [Carroll and Graf]), an illegal Mexican immigrant faces life as a cat shapeshifter. In Stripper (Unique Magazine), an exotic dancer battles the Mob. In Triad (Universe 2 [Bantam]), Dana Anad lives half the time as a woman, half as a man, and falls in love with a verystrange lady. In Destination (Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction), a driver takes three strangers from a ride board on a cross-country trip as the radio reports that a serial killer is on the loose. InTransformation and the Postmodern Identity Crisis (Fantastic Alice [Ace]), Alice considers life after Wonderland.

Strange Ladies: 7 Stories is on Nook, US Kindle, Canada Kindle, UK Kindle, Smashwords,Apple, Kobo, and Sony.

Five stars on Facebook and Amazon! “Great work, Lisa Mason!”

From Goodreads: “Hilarious, provocative, profound.”



Romantic Suspense.

Lily is not quite a typical woman in Toledo, Ohio, 1896. She may be repressed and dependent on her husband, but she supports the vote for women and has a mind of her own. When Johnny Pentland is found dead at a notorious brothel, Lily discovers her husband is not the man she thought he was.

Pursued by Pentland’s enemies, Lily embarks on a journey that will take her across the country to San Francisco and across the ocean to Imperial China as she unravels a web of murder and corruption reaching from the opium dens of Chinatown to the mansions of Nob Hill.

Her journey becomes one of the heart when she crosses paths with Jackson Tremaine, a debonair, worldly-wise physician. Lily and Jackson begin a conflicted, passionate relationship as they encounter the mysterious Celestial Girl and her dangerous entourage.

Read the whole miniseries at--

Celestial Girl, The Omnibus Edition (A Lily Modjeska Mystery) includes all four books. On Nook,US Kindle, Canada Kindle, UK Kindle, Smashwords, Apple, Kobo, and Sony.

Or try the miniseries in three installments--

Celestial Girl, Book 1: The Heartland (A Lily Modjeska Mystery) on Nook, US Kindle, Canada Kindle, UK Kindle, Smashwords, Apple, Kobo, and Sony. Lily flees Toledo on the Overland train. She must share a seat with Jackson Tremaine and befriends the Celestial Girl, the daughter of a Chinese dignitary. But appearances are not what they seem.

Celestial Girl, Book 2: Jewel of the Golden West (A Lily Modjeska Mystery) on Nook, US Kindle, Canada Kindle, UK Kindle, Smashwords, Apple, Kobo, and Sony. Lily and Jackson arrive in San Francisco and discover the murder of an immigration official connected with the Celestial Girl. She and Jackson are compelled into a dangerous murder investigation. As they begin a passionate affair, a contract for murder is taken out on Lily’s life.

Celestial Girl, Book 3: The Celestial Kingdom (A Lily Modjeska Mystery). Lily and Tremaine journey to Imperial China, confronting soldiers of the Boxer Revolution and brutal slavers. Lily discovers secrets vital to the identity of the Celestial Girl. In Celestial Girl, Book 4: Terminus (A Lily Modjeska Mystery). Lily and Jackson return to San Francisco and solve the tragic mystery of the Celestial Girl.Both books on Nook, US Kindle, Canada Kindle, UK Kindle, Smashwords, Apple, Kobo, andSony.



Urban fantasy.

At her mother’s urgent deathbed plea, Abby Teller enrolls at the Berkeley College of Magical Arts and Crafts to learn Real Magic. To support herself through school, she signs on as the superintendent of the Garden of Abracadabra, a mysterious, magical apartment building on campus. She discovers that her tenants are witches, shapeshifters, vampires, and wizards and each apartment is a fairyland or hell.

On her first day in Berkeley, she stumbles upon a supernatural multiple murder scene. One of the victims is a man she picked up hitchhiking the day before. Compelled into a dangerous murder investigation and torn between three men, Abby will discover the first secrets of an ancient and ongoing war between Humanity and the Demonic Realms, uncover mysteries of her own troubled past, and learn that the lessons of Real Magic may spell the difference between her own life or death.

“So refreshing. . . .This is Stephanie Plum in the world of Harry Potter.”

From Goodreads: “I loved the writing style and am hungry for more!”

The Garden of Abracadabra, Volume 1 of the Abracadabra Series, on BarnesandNoble, US Kindle, Canada Kindle, UK Kindle, Apple, Kobo, Sony, and Smashwords.

Fun and Enjoyable Urban Fantasy January 12, 2012
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
This is a very entertaining novel- sort of a down-to-earth Harry Potter with a modern adult woman in the lead. Even as Abby has to deal with mundane concerns like college and running the apartment complex she works at, she is surrounded by supernatural elements and mysteries that she is more than capable of taking on. Although this book is just the first in a series, it ties up the first "episode" while still leaving some story threads for upcoming books. I'm looking forward to finding out more.

Or try Volume 1 in three affordable installments:

In Book 1: Life’s Journey, Abby arrives in Berkeley, filled with hope and promise, hoping to land a new job and start magic college, when she stumbles upon a supernatural multiple murder scene. OnBarnesandNoble, US Kindle, Canada Kindle, UK Kindle, Apple, Kobo, Sony, and Smashwords.

In Book 2: In Dark Woods, Abby is drawn into a dangerous murder investigation and torn between three men, Daniel Stern, her ex-fiance, Jack Kovac, an enigmatic FBI agent, and Prince Alastor, a potent supernatural man who lives in the penthouse and may be a suspect. On BarnesandNoble, US Kindle, Canada Kindle, UK Kindle, Apple, Kobo, Sony, and Smashwords.

In Book 3: The Right Road, Abby uncovers ancient supernatural secrets behind the murders and faces dangers and challenges ahead. On BarnesandNoble, US Kindle, Canada Kindle, UK Kindle,Apple, Kobo, Sony, and Smashwords.

Forthcoming! The Labyrinth of Illusions, Volume 2 of the Abracadabra Series.



Science fiction. The Bantam classic is back. A Philip K. Dick Award Finalist. A San Francisco Chronicle Recommended Book.

The year is 1967 and something new is sweeping across America: good vibes, bad vibes, psychedelic music, psychedelic drugs, anti-war protests, racial tension, free love, bikers, dropouts, flower children. An age of innocence, a time of danger. The Summer of Love.

San Francisco is the Summer of Love, where runaway flower children flock to join the hip elite and squares cruise the streets to view the human zoo.

Lost in these strange and wondrous days, teenager Susan Bell, alias Starbright, has run away from the straight suburbs of Cleveland to find her troubled best friend. Her path will cross with Chiron Cat’s Eye in Draco, a strange and beautiful young man who has journeyed farther than she could ever imagine.

With the help of Ruby A. Maverick, a feisty half-black, half-white hip merchant, Susan and Chi discover a love that spans five centuries. But can they save the world from demons threatening to destroy all space and time?

Nineteen five-star Amazon reviews
“Summer of Love is an important American literary contribution.”
“This book was so true to life that I felt like I was there. I recommend it to anyone.”
“More than a great science-fiction, a great novel as well.”

A harrowing coming of age. A friendship ending in tragedy. A terrifying far future. A love spanning five centuries. And a gritty portrait of a unique time in American history.

“Captures the moment perfectly and offers a tantalizing glimpse of its wonderful and terrible consequences.” San Francisco Chronicle

Summer Of Love, A Time Travel on BarnesandNoble, US Kindle, Canada Kindle, UK Kindle,Smashwords, Apple, Kobo, and Sony.



Science fiction and mainstream. A New York Times Notable Book. A New York Public Library Recommended Book.

The year is 1895 and immigrants the world over are flocking to California on the transcontinental railroad and on transoceanic steamships. The Zoetrope demonstrates the persistence of vision, patent medicines addict children to morphine, and women are rallying for the vote. In San Francisco, saloons are the booming business, followed by brothels, and the Barbary Coast is a dangerous sink of iniquity. Atop Telegraph Hill bloody jousting tournaments are held and in Chinatown the tongs deal in opium, murder-for-hire, and slave girls.

Zhu Wong, a prisoner in twenty-fifth century China, is given a choice--stand trial for murder or go on a risky time-travel project to the San Francisco of 1895 to rescue a slave girl and take her to safety. Charmed by the city’s opulent glamour, Zhu will discover the city’s darkest secrets. A fervent population control activist in a world of twelve billion people, she will become an indentured servant to the city’s most notorious madam. Fiercely disciplined, she will fall desperately in love with the troubled self-destructive heir to a fading fortune.

And when the careful plans of the Gilded Age Project start unraveling, Zhu will discover that her choices not only affect the future but mean the difference between her own life or death.

“A winning mixture of intelligence and passion.”

The New York Times Book Review

The Gilded Age, A Time Travel on BarnesandNoble, US Kindle, Canada Kindle, UK Kindle, Apple, Kobo, Sony, and Smashwords.



Science Fiction Thriller. The Net Meets Conspiracy Theory with Earthquakes.

Emma J for Joy Pearce is at her editorial offices on the twenty-second floor of Three Embarcadero in downtown San Francisco when the long-dreaded next Great Earthquake devastates the Bay area. Amid horrific destruction, she rescues a man trapped in the rubble. In the heat of survival, she swiftly bonds with him, causing her to question her possible marriage to her long-time boyfriend.

But Jason Gibb is not the charming photojournalist he pretends to be. As Emma discovers his true identity, his mission in the city, and the dark secrets behind the catastrophe, she finds the choices she makes may mean the difference between her own life or death.

A List of Sources follows this short novel.

This sexy thriller is an ebook adaptation of Deus Ex Machina published in Asimov’s Science Fiction Magazine, republished in Transcendental Tales (Donning Press), and translated and republished worldwide.

Shaken on BarnesandNoble, US Kindle, Canada Kindle, UK Kindle, Apple, Kobo, Sony, andSmashwords.



Science fiction. The Story That Sold To The Movies.

Jack Turner, a high-powered executive, is about to lose Angela, his estranged teenage daughter, to critical burn wounds and only desperate measures may save her life.

Tomorrow’s Child began as a medical documentary for the 3M Company, then got rewritten and published in Omni Magazine as a lead story, and finally sold outright to Universal Pictures, where the project is in development.

The ebook includes Mason’s 30-day blog, The Story Behind The Story That Sold To The Movies, describing the twists and turns from inspiration to movie deal.

Tomorrow’s Child on BarnesandNoble, US Kindle, Canada Kindle, UK Kindle, Apple, Kobo,Sony, and Smashwords.



Contemporary Fantasy.

Laurel, in the terminal stages of cancer, is obsessed with the Egyptian Book of the Dead. Jerry, her homecare nurse whose lover is dying of AIDS, gives her a surprising gift. A hummingbird feeder.

As Laurel comes to grips with her own death, she learns powerful and redeeming lessons about Egyptian Magic from the hummingbirds that visit her.

HUMMERS was published in Isaac Asimov’s Science Fiction Magazine, chosen for Year’s Best Fantasy and Horror 5th Annual Collection (St. Martin’s), and nominated for the Nebula Award.

Terri Windling received the World Fantasy Award for her contributions to the fantasy field and her editing of anthologies, including this one. Here’s her introduction to Hummers from Year’s Best Fantasy and Horror 5th Annual Collection:

‘Ursula Le Guin has described fantasy as a different approach to reality, an alternate technique for apprehending and coping with existence.

Fantasy, like myth and legend, provides a means of storytelling that at its best goes beyond entertainment to travel the inner roads of the human soul. The following story does this beautifully, using the form of fantasy fiction and the symbols of Egyptian mythology to enter one of the most mysterious lands of all: the one that lies at the threshold of death. Readers who have experienced the loss of loved ones to cancer or AIDS will find this story cuts particularly close to the bone, but the fear of death is universal, and Mason’s exploration of this fear is both unsentimental and compassionate.’

Hummers on BarnesandNoble, US Kindle, Canada Kindle, UK Kindle, Apple, Kobo, Sony, andSmashwords.



Literary fantasy

The year is 1941, and Hitler’s armies have swept across Europe. Nora, a budding young Surrealist artist, has fled to Mexico with B.B., a much older and acclaimed Surrealist playwright down on his luck.

Hundreds of European artists and writers have formed a colony in Mexico City, and Nora befriends Valencia, a fellow Surrealist artist and refugee. Together the friends explore Jungian psychology and the power of symbols in their visionary Art.

But Nora is plagued by an abusive relationship with B.B. She embarks on a harrowing journey of the soul deep into her own troubled psyche.

The novelette was inspired by Mason’s favorite Surrealist artists, Leonora Carrington and Remedios Varo. An Afterword summarizing the lives of Carrington and Varo and a List of Sources are included.

The Sixty-third Anniversary of Hysteria was published in the acclaimed anthology, Full Spectrum 5 (Bantam), which included stories by Neal Stephenson, Karen Joy Fowler, and Jonathan Lethem.

The Sixty-third Anniversary of Hysteria is on BarnesandNoble, US Kindle, Canada Kindle, UK Kindle, Apple, Kobo, Sony, and Smashwords.



Historical fantasy

The year is 1895, and Danny Flint is a young man living in the shadow of his controlling father, Professor Flint, a famous stage magician whose fortunes are fading. Uncle Brady, Professor Flint’s trusted assistant and business manager and Danny’s best friend, cannot stay in the same hotel as them—Uncle Brady is African-American.

Danny is grieving over his mother’s recent accidental death, for which he feels he is to blame.

When a mysterious beautiful lady asks them to contact her husband, Danny and his father confront the ethical dilemma between spiritualist séances and faked séances performed by stage magicians like them.

But things are not as they seem.

With the help of the mysterious beautiful lady, Danny learns to reconcile himself with his grief and guilt, learns the secret of Uncle Brady’s identity, and assumes his place at center stage as a talented magician in his own right.

Every Mystery Unexplained was published in David Copperfield’s Tales of the Impossible(HarperPrism), an anthology including stories by Ray Bradbury, Joyce Carol Oates, and Raymond E. Feist.

Every Mystery Unexplained on BarnesandNoble, US Kindle, Canada Kindle, UK Kindle, Apple,Kobo, Sony, and Smashwords.



Historical Fantasy

Sing Lin is a mooie jai, a girl sold into slavery at the age of five to a wealthy merchant in Tangrenbu, the ghetto of her people in the new country across the sea. One lucky day, while she is out shopping by herself, she meets another mooie jai, Kwai Yin, a bossy, beautiful girl two years older. Kwai has a secret. Before she was sold into slavery, she had a Teacher who taught her about Tao Magic.

But Sing watches Kwai succumb to the terrifying fate of all slave girls in Tangrenbu.

Soon Sing is destined to go to the same fate. But will her invocation of Tao Magic save her?

Daughter of the Tao was published in Peter S. Beagle’s Immortal Unicorn (HarperPrism), an anthology including stories by Charles de Lint, Karen Joy Fowler, and Robert Sheckley.

5 out of 5 stars
a beautiful novella! April 23, 2012
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
The characters in this little book jumped off the page and you really cared what happened to them. It is a rare talent that can do that so well! This was a compelling tale of a girl sold into slavery as her culture allowed. I found myself hooked from the very first page as I followed her through the twists and turns of her life. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a character-based story with a touch of magic and fantasy to it!

Daughter of the Tao on BarnesandNoble, US Kindle, Canada Kindle, UK Kindle, Apple, Kobo,Sony, and Smashwords.



Humor. Knocked Up meets E.T.

Nikki and Josh really want a child but have infertility issues. Gretchen and Mike have the same problem. When Nikki meets Gretchen at the Happy Daze Family Clinic in Pasadena, they discover that they share a love of music and have asked for a donor with musical talent. Nine months later, they each give birth to very unusual babies and, seeking an answer to why the kids are so special, they meet again at a pediatrician’s office. And the search is on: who—and what—is Donor Number 333?

Five-star Amazon review:

A very clever humorous novella! July 26, 2013

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

I had never read any work by this author, but I met Lisa on Facebook and twitter and she seemed a very nice person. For that reason, I thought I would try one of her books, but I really had no expectations; being a nice person is no proof that she will be able to write. As it turns out, she also was an excellent author!
By about the time I was halfway through the book, I found myself very involved with the characters and wholeheartedly cheering them on! I took a chance on someone I never read before and was rewarded by finding another favorite author. It wasn't until I had finished the book and read the end material that I learned that she had many other works published and some with pending movie contracts.
I would highly recommend this 82 page funny novella to anyone who enjoys a well written book with excellent character development in unusually subtle ways. Read this little book and I'm sure you will be as pleasantly surprised as I was. I am looking forward to reading more of her works as I'm sure you will be, too!

Mason adapted U F uh-O, A Sci Fi Comedy as a novella from her screenplay for a producer looking for the next Galaxy Quest or Men In Black.

U F uh-O, A Sci Fi Comedy is on BarnesandNoble, US Kindle, Canada Kindle, UK Kindle, Apple, Kobo, Sony, and Smashwords.

10 Follow-Up Questions with Everville Author Roy Huff (@EvervilleFans)

This Author Spotlight features10 Follow-up QuestionswithEverville author
Roy Hufffor Everville: The City of Worms







This week we have a return visit from Roy Huff, author of Amazon's #1 international bestselling epic fantasy novel, Everville: The First Pillar as well as the newly released Everville: The City of Worms . These are the first installments in the remarkable Everville series which combines elements of epic fantasy and young adult fiction in a form that nearly anyone will enjoy reading, young or old.

Roy is a man of many interests including but not limited to science, traveling, movies, the outdoors, and of course writing teen and young adult fantasy fiction. He holds five degrees in four separate disciplines including liberal arts, history, secondary science education, and geoscience. Roy Huff's background includes work in art, history, education, business, real-estate, economics, geoscience, and satellite meteorology. He was born on the East Coast but has spent more than half his life in Hawaii, where he currently resides and writes his epic fantasy sagas.

1. This is a follow-up interview, but for people who are not already familiar with your work, tell us what kind of books you write and what readers should expect from your stories, and what is your latest novel Everville: The City of Worms about?

Well, the second volume in the Everville series starts from where the first book left off. Owen sage and his friends must resolve a lingering issue and a darkness that is redoubling its efforts to take over Everville and the earthly realm. More races of creatures are introduced, and lingering mysteries are being uncovered. I don’t want to give too much away, but fans of Everville: The First Pillar should like where the second book is headed.

2. What was the duration of the writing process for City of Worms?

I wrote the first 15 pages in 5 months and the last 185 pages in 14 days.

3. When Everville is adapted to film, and the producers ask for your dream cast, what will you say?

Peter Jackson for the director hands down. Jennifer Lawrence would be a good female character. John Malkovich and Ed Norton would be good characters for some of the older male characters in the story, and I would like an unknown actor to play Owen Sage.

4. Stephen King often makes a cameo in films adapted from his work. Stan Lee is also enjoying doing so these days. What supporting role would you like to play in the film adaptation of Everville?

Dante’s Uncle Jack might be a good character for me to play as a cameo.

5. For a writer, word of mouth is everything. What was the last book you read that you enjoyed so much that you wanted to share it with everyone you know?

I read more non fiction than fiction, but as far as fiction goes, The Tale of Genji was the last fiction book that made me want to talk to other people about it.

6. As of this writing, the trend in publishing is toward series novels as opposed to stand-alone books. Is Everville part of a series? If so, where do you see the story going (ie how many books in the series)? If not, do you have a series you’ve written or plan to write, and if so, what is it? And if not, good for you. The squeaky wheel gets the grease!

Yes. Everville: The City of Worms is the second in a seven or eight part series.

7. Saul Bellow said “You never have to change anything you got up in the middle of the night to write.” Where do ideas for your books come from, and where are you and what are you typically doing when inspiration strikes?

I get inspired at all times from many different things. I think I often get most inspired when I have been writing for 10+ pages in a day and then walk away and let those pages sit for a few hours.

8. Brett Easton Ellis once said, “Do not write a novel for praise. Write for yourself; work out between you and your pen the things that intrigue you.” Indie publishing phenom Amanda Hocking has said that it messed with her head a bit when she realized so many people were going to read the books she’s now writing. Now that Everville: The First Pillar is rapidly gaining recognition in the publishing world, has an established fan base anticipating Roy Huff’s next novel, and is being talked about in the highly-reverent third person, will reader expectation influence how and/or what he writes? Or will he hold to Ellis’ suggestion?

It’s hard not to be influenced by what is happening around you, but I think the best thing to do is to just keep writing. Once you get in the zone, everything else around you just falls away.

9. The world of Indie authors is the new slush pile. What are you going to say/do when a traditional New York publisher and/or agent contacts you and asks for a meeting?

I’d be happy to sit down for a meeting.

10. Someone once said, and it may have been my dad, “If you fail to plan, you plan to fail.” Where do you want your writing career to be in five years’ time?

I expect to be finished with this series, and be working on another. I also hope to have finished a few single books in the fantasy or sci-fi genre.

Finally, because no artistic endeavor is a solo flight, would you care to share the names and contact info for your supporting players, namely your cover designer, editor, proofreader(s), research assistants, hairdresser, dog groomer, chauffeur, maid, butler, etc?

Damon is the best cover artist hands down. I want to thank my good friend and fellow author Ann Pearlman for her support, as well as all the other friends and family who supported me during both books in the series.

Thanks, Roy. Congratulations on the series and on its success. I'm looking forward to seeing the next installment.
Be sure to pick up a copy of both *Everville books via the links below:
(*Everville: The First Pillar is FREE!)

Everville: The First Pillar         Everville: The City of Worms               

10 Follow-Up Questions with Amazon Bestselling Thriller Writer Douglas Wickard (@DouglasWickard)

This Author Spotlightfeatures a follow-upinterview with
Douglas Wickard
author of
A Perfect Setup
(A Sami Saxton Novel)

I'm pleased to welcome once again Douglas Wickard, author of A PERFECT SETUP and A PERFECT HUSBAND. (You may read the interview for Douglas's debut novel A Perfect Husband HERE.)
Let's get right to it!

1. This is a follow-up interview, but for people who are not already familiar with your work, tell us what kind of books you write and what readers should expect from your stories, and what is your latest novel A PERFECT SETUP about?

I write psychological thrillers, suspense novels. Readers can expect a quick-paced, turning-of-the- pages, can’t put down until it’s finished sort of read. I particularly enjoy getting inside the heads of my characters so the readers can expect twisted personalities. Oh, and I also push the envelope, so my novels are not for the faint of heart. A PERFECT SETUP is the sequel to A PERFECT HUSBAND. It takes place in New York City. Sami returns from her near death experience with a serial killer at the country house and settles into a fifth floor condominium on the Upper West Side.

2. What was the duration of the writing process for A PERFECT SETUP?


That depends. When I’m working on the first draft, I let my imagination wonder. I never plot out anything, so the initial creative process usually takes around three months. I go to the end. The rewriting process takes all the time. For A PERFECT SETUP, the rewriting took six months.

3. When A PERFECT SETUP is adapted to film, and the producers ask for your dream cast, what will you say?

The current list of actors changes so frequently from hot to not hot, I don’t really think about it. I initially wrote the Sami Saxton character with Diane Lane in mind. She has all the characteristics I envisioned when I created her. Vulnerable, able, strong-willed, determined, yet flawed.
4. Stephen King often makes a cameo in films adapted from his work. Stan Lee is also enjoying doing so these days. What supporting role would you like to play in the film adaptation of A PERFECT SETUP?

I’m better on the sidelines. I don’t have any fantasies of being in the limelight.

5. For a writer, word of mouth is everything. What was the last book you read that you enjoyed so much that you wanted to share it with everyone you know?

Phillip Roth’s PORTNOY’S COMPLAINT. What an amazing author. I’m reading three of his novels now.

6. As of this writing, the trend in publishing is toward series novels as opposed to stand-alone books. Is A PERFECT SETUP a part of a series? If so, where do you see the story going (ie how many books in the series)? If not, do you have a series you’ve written or plan to write, and if so, what is it? And if not, good for you. The squeaky wheel gets the grease!

Yes, APS is the second in the PERFECT series. Readers can expect a few more Sami outings before she retires. I am going to start rewrites on a book I finished last year called ENCOUNTER which will also be a series revolving around a detective named Dan Hammer from Charleston, South Carolina.

7. Saul Bellow said “You never have to change anything you got up in the middle of the night to write.” Where do ideas for your books come from, and where are you and what are you typically doing when inspiration strikes?

My crazy imagination, newspapers, articles in magazines. My inspiration hits me usually while I’m in the bathtub with a glass of wine. For some reason all kinds of ideas begin formulating while submerged under hot water. The next book I plan to write came to me from a New York Times article. Its working title is called DEVIL MAY CARE.

8. Brett Easton Ellis once said, “Do not write a novel for praise. Write for yourself; work out between you and your pen the things that intrigue you.” Indie publishing phenom Amanda Hocking has said that it messed with her head a bit when she realized so many people were going to read the books she’s now writing. Now that Douglas Wickard is rapidly gaining recognition in the publishing world, has an established fan base anticipating his next novel, and is being talked about in the highly-reverent third person, will reader expectation influence how and/or what he writes? Or will he hold to Ellis’ suggestion?

I’m an artist. I work out everything in my writing and as much as I would love to say I don’t write for praise, of course I do. We all do, I’m sure even Brett Easton Ellis does, who I happen to be a huge fan of. Nobody is an island. I write what I choose to write. I don’t buffer my voice. I don’t take safe chances. I don’t try to write the next hit, although wouldn’t we all love that. I write because it is my voice, cultivated and true, warts and all. I’m not an imitator. I want my stories to pulse with life, sex, conflict and drama.

9. The world of Indie authors is the new slush pile. What are you going to say/do when a traditional New York publisher and/or agent contacts you and asks for a meeting?

I’ll cross that bridge when it arrives.

10. Someone once said, and it may have been my dad, “If you fail to plan, you plan to fail.” Where do you want your writing career to be in five years’ time?

Why not aim for the top. A PERFECT HUSBAND became an Amazon Kindle bestseller. Why not strive for the New York Times?

Finally, because no artistic endeavor is a solo flight, would you care to share the names and contact info for your supporting players, namely your cover designer, editor, proofreader(s), research assistants, hairdresser, dog groomer, chauffeur, maid, butler, etc?

My current cover designer is the talented Maddee James. XUNI.com. She designed my web page also. My current editor is BZHercules. I have a group of beta readers who I trust the first draft with, of which many drafts follow so I have to thank them as well. Karen Needles, Lynn Hill, LaDonna Perry, Helen White, Tori Klein, Penelope Childs.

Thanks, Douglas. The new book looks great. I'm sure it'll be as well received as your first book.
Visit Douglas's website DouglasWickardBooks.com and be sure to grab a copy of A Perfect Setup today!

A Perfect Husband         A Perfect Setup