Eden Baylee's Blog, page 101

Get Inside the Mind of Author Tim Dittmer (@TWDittmer)

Tim Dittmer is a gentleman in the true sense of the word—gentle, kind, and gallant. You may wonder how I can possibly know this having only interacted with Tim on social media. Let me put it this way—I just know.

I’ve never been a fan of people who come on too strongly. To me, it speaks volumes when someone screams at me to get attention. As with many of the finer things in life, less is more, so although Tim’s words and actions speak softly, they carry a lot of weight.

I had the pleasure of connecting with Tim in the latter half of 2012, and he’s now a wonderful, supportive part of my social network. I’m currently enjoying his book, The Valley Walker. It’s not normally something I would pick up, but knowing about the author makes a huge difference in what I read, and Tim is the type of man who draws readers to him.

It’s my great pleasure to welcome Tim Dittmer for an interview.

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Buy the ebook at:
Amazon US | UK | Canada

Smashwords | Barnes and Noble

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Read a blurb about The Valley Walker

“Yeah, though I walk through the valley… “

Special Investigator Teri Altro is a hard-case member of the Drug Interdiction Task Force. Cold and aloof, there is no room in her life for personal entanglements. No one is allowed to call her by her first name. No form of physical contact is acceptable. Altro is a driven woman, and people who work with her learn to keep up or stay out of her way. She carries a gun in her shoulder bag.

When Altro first notices the man staring at her, he doesn’t seem like anything special… just some guy in the drugstore. But when three men walk in the door to assassinate her, he kills them all with fluid ease, so quickly that she doesn’t even have time to pull her own gun. The confrontation is so eerily violent that it leaves Altro wondering just who… or what… the man is.

Over the next four days she learns that the man is John Walker Michaels, a man known to the Hmong of Laos as the Valley Walker, a man the army has classified as a deserter. He is an openly emotional man who draws her out of her shell and into the world of Hmong mysticism. At the end of this time… even after talking to him, learning his history and meeting his family… Altro can only shake her head when asked about him.

She had touched him and felt his warmth. She knew he was real.

Or was he?

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Inside Tim’s Mind

Thanks so much for asking me to do this, Eden. I mean, I really am just a guy. It’s truly an honor for a common man like me to be associated with such a refined lady.

[eden] I’m thrilled to have you here Tim, and I’d never in a million years describe you as common. Let’s start with a question about your writing process. 

What turns you on creatively? Just about anything can cause a spark. It might be music, a movie, a phrase I hear, a book I read, or just some random thought. That spark gets something lit, and it sits in there and smolders while I pace or stare out the window, fanning the embers. If nothing else gets the fire to break out, washing the dishes just about always does it. Yes, Eden. Washing the dishes. By hand.

[eden] I get ideas from mundane tasks too, like vacuuming.

What is your idea of perfect happiness? To me, it’s just knowing that you’re doing the right thing. That’s not so easy in this world, but if you manage to pull it off, it can bring a warmth that’s better than a hot toddy on a chilly night. It’s very important to my happiness… that and coffee… and ice cream… and potato chips.

Which words or phrases do you most overuse? I try hard to avoid repetition and overuse in my writing, but variations of heart and feel are a couple of my weaknesses. I’m often trying to convey to the reader what’s going on inside a character, and can fall into the tell-more-than-show trap. In everyday conversation my most overused phrase would be “Shit the bed, Irene.”

[eden] Wow, that’s one I’ve never heard before!

What quality do you most admire in a man? I AM going to be serious about this. Yes, really. What I most admire in a man is tolerance of other people’s beliefs, chosen lifestyle, and social standing. That tolerance will be naturally evidenced by polite behavior.

What quality do you most admire in a woman?  The quality I most admire in a woman is…. Wow. I like just hearing a woman’s voice, or smelling her hair, or looking at the dimples as she smiles or… Sorry, Eden. I just got sidetracked. Like I said, I’m just a guy. But what I was going to say is that the quality I most admire in a woman (when I’m not sidetracked, that is) is the same quality I most admire in a man. Tolerance.

What is your greatest regret? Right now my greatest regret is that my socks don’t match. I don’t know how that happened. Okay, Eden. I’ll get back on subject. Yes, I’ve done things that I shouldn’t have, not done things that I should have. I regret that. But my greatest regret? I don’t talk about that. To anyone. Ever.

[eden] It’s a very personal question, I understand.

If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be? I’m pretty happy with who and what I am. This is it, folks. Take it or leave it. Oh come on, Eden. Give me a break here! Okay, okay. I guess I’d like to be taller.

What is your greatest fear? Sometimes I lay awake at night worrying that the toilet will quit working. Then when I finally doze off, the nightmares will start. I’ll wake up covered in sweat and calling for my mom. All right, Eden, but you’re going to be pissed. My greatest fear is something else I don’t talk about.

[eden] Tim, you’re tough! I fully respect your answer.

Which living person do you most admire? This one’s easy. My mother-in-law. She’s sweet and kind and caring and hard working. Not anything like I am. This woman stood by me when I really needed somebody, when I was just about to crash and burn. AND she makes the best pot roast I’ve ever tasted.

What profession other than your own would you like to attempt? Hmmm. I’d like to be an heir. You know? The person that didn’t have to do a lick of work in their life, never had to fight and claw their way to the top, but just fell into a ton of money? Yep, I’d like to be a rich idler… ridiculously, filthy, stinking rich. I’d be good at that job.

If you could choose what to come back as, what would it be? A mongoose. You know those rodents that chase down snakes? Rikki-Tikki-Tavi? I’d have to live in Hawaii, though, so I wouldn’t have to chase snakes. I could just hang out by the beach all day and get fed by the tourists. Hopefully, ice cream and potato chips.

What do you consider your greatest achievement? I once chewed the same piece of gum for two days straight. What, Eden? You’re not accepting that?

[eden] Nope, and I’m hoping to get an answer here

Okay, I’ll tell the truth, but it’ll sound pretty corny. My three children are my greatest achievement. They didn’t turn out anything like what I had planned, but they all turned out to be people I like to be around. I have no idea how that happened.

[eden] What’s that “Apple doesn’t fall far from the tree” expression?

What is the trait you most deplore in others? If there’s anything I hate more than people that waste toilet paper, it’s people with shit under their fingernails. Come on, Eden. Did you think this was going to be easy?

[eden] Ha! No, not easy at all. 

Okay. I can’t stand people looking down their noses at others, like something the dog left on the rug, any person who thinks themselves superior to others of a different societal strata.

What is your greatest extravagance? Besides coffee? I’m a simple guy, but I guess my greatest extravagance is keeping the heat turned up higher than necessary in the winter. It’s wasteful and contrary to good sense, but I’ve never been a cold weather person.

[eden] I’m with you there. I hate the cold too.

What is one thing you want to do before you die? Really, I’m doing the things I want to do. There’s not much I would change. No, wait a second. Now that I think about it, I’d like to learn to speak French. That language sounds SO cool.

[eden] Do it, Tim. It’s not that difficult a language. Mind you, I learned it when I was ten … Okay, never mind.  

Who is your favorite writer/musician/film director? This is a tough one, but I’ll give it a shot. And I’ll be serious, I promise. My favorite writer varies with what mood I’m in, but my favorite book of all time is Hannibal, by Thomas Harris. I’d have to go with Eric Clapton as my favorite musician. The man can play! I don’t care much about true films and who directed them. I’m not very artsy. But Kelly’s Heroes is, no doubt, my absolute favorite movie.

What are some of your favorite curse words? There can be only one favorite curse word, Eden. Mine is the F word, of course. We studied it quite extensively in the army, until we could hold entire conversations using the F word exclusively. I’ve learned to use it well over the years… with all its different meanings and subtle nuances. It’s the one art I’ve excelled at.

[eden] Oh, you mean fart? Yeah, I like that one too

What is your motto? Two salt tablets, a canteen of water, and push on, Grunt. I adopted that as my mantra long ago, in the days when the army thought that salt tablets cured everything.

[eden] Tim, I said you were a gentleman at the beginning of this interview, but I had no idea you were such a jokester! I like this side of you too.

Readers, please say “hi” to Tim and show him some love — Don’t forget to connect to him on all his social networks too. 

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Connect with Tim

Website | Twitter @TWDittmer

Amazon Author page | Goodreads | Facebook

T. W. Dittmer’s full name is Timothy Watson Dittmer. His friends call him Tim.

He was raised in Gary, Indiana, the son of a steel worker who later turned to preaching the Gospel. After high school he joined the army and volunteered for service in Vietnam.

He started writing music and poetry in high school, and has carried the love of those arts through his life. That love shines through in his prose.

He lives quietly with his wife in Michigan, where he is busy working on his next book.

Filed under: Author & Artist Interviews

Read my article about Golden Clouds ~ JAMAICA written for @InClassicStyle Magazine

I returned recently from a fantastic holiday at Golden Clouds, a luxury estate in Jamaica. I wrote about it on my blog and received numerous responses, so I wanted to share this wonderful place with a wider audience who loves travel, enjoys great food, and takes pleasure in the finer things in life.

In Classic Style is an online travel and lifestyle magazine that specializes in sharing a lifetime of world experiences and maximizing one’s available leisure time, enhancing the social life by sharing a “one stop shop” collection of recommendations related to Travel, Dining, Entertainment and the Arts.

I was introduced to the magazine by author, Justin Bog. I interviewed Justin recently, and now his book, Sandcastle and Other Stories, is releasing in print! Stay tuned for news about this shortly!

My sincerest thanks to Carl Christian, owner of In Classic Style for posting my article. You can read it HERE.

Find out more about this beautiful magazine and all it has to offer. It’s a fantastic site for leisure, travel, and entertainment. Be sure to sign up for a complimentary subscription too.

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Connect to In Classic Style

Website | Twitter @InClassicStyle | Facebook | Pinterest

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Filed under: Eden's Guest Blogs, Important Announcements

Music Mondays ~ Peter Tosh

Feeling a little dangerous?

Then Peter Tosh is your man, as I continue with great Jamaican singer/songwriters.

If you’re also in the mood for some dangerous, sexy reading, pick up a copy of any of my books using the links below, (no kindle required).

US | UK | Canada | Germany | France | Japan | Italy | Spain

eden 

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Filed under: Musical Mondays

My first interview of 2013 features @JohnDolanAuthor

I met John Dolan toward the end of 2012. We immediately clicked. I think I liked the hat or perhaps it was the mystery of the man beneath the hat. Not surprisingly, his blog is called Galericulate (having a hat-like covering).

John is a witty man. Mysterious, witty men intoxicate me, so I picked up a copy of his book, Jim Fosse’s Expense Claim to see if his writing matched his intelligent Twitter ramblings. I’m happy to say it did. The book was hilarious! You can read my review on Amazon, Goodreads, or Smashwords.

Shortly thereafter, I bought his book, Everyone Burns, unaware it took place in one of my favorite countries in the world—Thailand. I read it while on holiday and truly enjoyed it. My review of it will be available shortly.

I imagine John’s writing style is a close reflection of who he really is—a charming man who doesn’t take himself too seriously.

As my first interview of the year, you’re in for a treat. Please welcome John Dolan and get to know more about the man under the hat.

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So…who the heck is John Dolan?

“Makes a living by travelling, talking a lot and sometimes writing stuff down. Galericulate author, polymath and occasional smarty-pants.”

John Dolan hails from a small town in the North-East of England. Before turning to writing, his career encompassed law and finance. He has run businesses in Europe, South and Central America, Africa and Asia. He and his wife Fiona currently divide their time between the UK, the UAE and Thailand.

His mystery novel Everyone Burns is the first book in the Time, Blood and Karma series.

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Available in print and as an ebook

BUY LINKS : Amazon US | Amazon UK

It is January 2005 and the charred remains of two Europeans have been discovered on the Thai island of Samui. Local Police Chief Charoenkul, sidelined by his superiors, enlists the reluctant David Braddock, a burnt-out private detective, to assist in an ‘unofficial’ investigation. But Braddock has problems of his own, including his affair with the same Police Chief’s wife … Peppered with irreverent humour and some pithy comments on everyday life in the Land of Smiles, Everyone Burns is much more than a crime novel. It is also a carefully-crafted psychological study of an anti-hero for our time.

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Jim Fosse’s Expense Claim is FREE on Smashwords and includes the first chapter of Everyone Burns by way of a taster.

Once you’ve met Jim Fosse you’ll never feel quite the same about opening your e-mails … A darkly humorous short story of obsession.

WARNING: Contains sexual references and some really terrible grammar.

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Inside John’s Mind

Hi, Eden. It’s a great pleasure to be able to spend some time with you. And it’s rather refreshing to be round the other side of the table being interviewed instead of doing the interviewing.

[Eden] You do wonderful interviews in your dungeon, John. Mine are a bit more serious, but I promise not to inflict any bodily harm on you, so no worries. Let’s start with an easy question.

Tell me your idea of perfect happiness. I’m not sure we humans ever reach a condition of perfect happiness. We have brains that are programmed forever to keep us wanting new stuff and that results in our being in a state of perpetual dissatisfaction. The advertising industry knows this only too well. I think that’s why Capitalism has been one of the more enduring systems in human history (though that is not necessarily a situation I’m comfortable with).

My idea of happiness is a state where basic needs are satisfied – through having security, somewhere to call home, enough to eat, meaningful activities to engage in, good health, and some loving relationships – coupled with an absence of irrelevant wants (which is pretty much everything else).

The older I get, the more I realise that possessions are just a burden; something else to worry about. An important realisation for me was that we never actually own anything – we’re just keeping it in good condition for the next person. So the less of this I have to do the better.

That probably all sounds a bit pretentious. But then I am a bit pretentious. A soupçon, anyway.

Not pretentious at all, what turns you on creatively then? The absence of having to think about business life is the short answer.

I have my best ideas when I’m not really thinking too hard – then my subconscious can do all the work (it’s far better at this type of thing than I am). So most of my writing really happens in elevators, queues at immigration, in the shower and when I’m half-asleep by a swimming pool.

I have no idea where it all comes from, it just happens by itself. And because my subconscious has no concept of what a ‘genre’ is, it does its own thing. I then have to struggle afterwards to work out which ‘box’ this thing I’ve written falls into. I slapped a ‘detective’ label on my novel ‘Everyone Burns’, but it’s not really a detective story at all. I’m not actually sure what it is.

When I’m writing music, I sit down with my guitar and switch off the ‘censor’ in my head. Once I’ve done that, somebody else seems to do the creative stuff. I’m just a medium really.

Which words or phrases do you most overuse? “To my mind…” and “obviously” – both of which are, of course, completely superfluous. Now I come to think of it, “of course” is another one. At least it is to my mind, obviously.

What quality do you most admire in a woman? Lack of morals would rate pretty high on my list, along with a strong sex drive.

[Eden] I was afraid of that.

But seriously, compassion is the quality I most admire in people – whether men or women (although I tend to find more of it in the fairer sex). Intelligence, wit and good looks are all very well, but all these facets in an individual stale or become overly-familiar with time.

The Dalai Lama says that his real religion is compassion. That sounds like a pretty good philosophy to me.

And to me too. What is your greatest regret? Not meeting you before I got married.

[Eden] Charmer.

OK, that’s a bit cheesy, even for me. I suppose I wish I’d done a bungee jump before I compressed one of the disks in my lower spine. Now I’d be a bit worried that I’d break in two if I did one.

I’m not prone to regrets actually – it seems a bit pointless.

Agree, so if you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be? I’d like to be able to relax more. My brain is far too busy. It’ll explode one of these days.

That would be messy. What is your greatest fear? That I will outlive my wife Fiona or any of my children.

There is an old Zen saying that good fortune is when a father dies before his son. I used to think that was a pessimistic take on life, but now I think it’s right on the button: it’s the natural order of things.

Which living person do you most admire? My wife, Fiona. She’s taught me that I over-complicate and over-intellectualise things and that I should just be. She’s also a very compassionate person, and you know how I feel about compassion.

[Eden] You’re a lucky man, John. She sounds lovely.

If you could choose what to come back as, what would it be? I hope I’m not coming back. I want to do everything this time around. But if I do have to come back, I’d like to come back as a woman just to see what a multiple orgasm is like.

[Eden] Not to make you regretful that you’ve never had one, but they are awesome!

What do you consider your greatest achievement? Surviving a bitter divorce relatively unscathed. ‘Nuff said.

What is the trait you most deplore in others? Selfishness. People should be more interested in me than in themselves.

[Eden] Ever the comedian.

What is your greatest extravagance? I’m not really into material things, but I love travelling and experiencing new cultures and people. So I guess aeroplane tickets to distant places.

[Eden] SO with you on that one.

What is one thing you want to do before you die? There is no one thing, I want to do everything. I’m not planning on dying anytime soon, so hopefully I’ll make this.

I definitely want to get the whole of the ‘Time, Blood and Karma’ series finished (seven books), and I have another seven books in mind – hopefully I won’t go gaga before these are all done.  And I’d like to record my songs at some stage before the old voice gets too hoarse.

So who is your favorite writer/musician/film director? Favourite writer has varied over the years – it has been Graham Greene, Michael Moorcock and William Boyd, among others. Currently it’s Haruki Murakami.

[Eden] I knew there was a reason I liked you. Murakami is one of mine too.

Musician – probably Tracey Chapman.

Film director – don’t have one. I don’t watch many films.

And finally, what is your motto? “Be nice to Canadians – you never know when you might need one.” Obviously.

[Eden] You’re a nut, but you’re an original nut! Thanks for indulging me with your answers, John. I knew you would provide my readers with more insight into your twitty, I mean witty mind.

Readers, please say “hi” to John and leave a comment for him. Connect with him on Twitter and Facebook. He really is a sweet man to know.    

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Connect with John  

Blog – Galericulate | Twitter @JohnDolanAuthor

Amazon author page: US ~ UK  |  Smashwords

Goodreads  |  Facebook

Filed under: Author & Artist Interviews

I’ve Got Dreams to Remember from Golden Clouds

I originally scheduled this blog for tomorrow as part of my Musical Mondays, but it seems fitting to post it now after returning from Jamaica.

Readers of my books know I’m inspired by beautiful places. Ireland, Austria, and Thailand are just some of the countries I’ve set my stories in, but I haven’t written anything in the Caribbean … not yet, anyway—soon come (as the Jamaicans would say).

I gathered with ten amazing people for a week. Along with a fabulous staff who tended to our every need, we experienced the wonder of each other in an exquisite oceanfront villa called Golden Clouds.

Located in Oracabessa about fifteen minutes from Ocho Rios, the villa boasts lush grounds, two swimming pools, and a Zen Garden.

One could choose amongst numerous sitting areas to relax, read, or meditate. For those who preferred more activity, a tennis court and exercise room were also available.

The coral reefs located off the private beach attracted colorful fish and other marine life, creating perfect conditions for snorkeling and diving.

On a daily basis, Blossom, the head chef prepared three wonderful meals. The authors, musicians, and creative minds of our group got to know one another while feasting on delicious, fresh food. It was similar to a family gathering during the holidays—only better because we all got along so well! Even the Christmas tree was still up!

Here I am standing in front of a tree I don’t know the name of. Those spikes are prickly, and several people have suggested: Banyan, Ficus, or Cypress. I’d love to get a definitive answer, so if you know it, please leave the name in the comments.

I’ve traveled all over the Caribbean and stayed in some beautiful places, but Golden Clouds tops the list. Its intimate setting, attention to detail, and a library with over 1500 books make it unique. For authors and filmmakers, you’ll also appreciate the villa neighbors “Golden Eye”, once owned by Ian Fleming where he created his character, James Bond. Talk about inspiration for your next book or film!

Finally, “I’ve Got Dreams to Remember” performed by Jamaican born, Toots Hibbert (of Toots and the Maytals) echos how I feel after my amazing stay at Golden Clouds. It’s paradise on earth—a terrific place to rejuvenate and create dreams that will last a lifetime. I cannot recommend it highly enough for your next holiday.

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Feel free to dream a little with any of my books too. Available worldwide on Amazon. Read them and enjoy (no kindle required).

US | UK | Canada | Germany | France | Japan | Italy | Spain

eden 

Filed under: Musical Mondays, Revelations & Humor

Music Mondays ~ Jimmy Cliff

I know it’s far from summer, but I’m scorching in Jamaica. It’s damn hot, and I love it!

If you’d like to grab your piece of sunshine now, pick up a copy of any of my books using the links below. Guaranteed to heat you up and no kindle required.

US | UK | Canada | Germany | France | Japan | Italy | Spain

In the meantime, listen to the great Jimmy Cliff.

eden 

Filed under: Musical Mondays

Scaling Back the Juggling Act

Back in September, I wrote a post called Planning by the Seat of my Pants.

It listed my writing goals for the final months of 2012. Well … those months have passed, and it’s time to reflect and share some news about goal-setting and the direction of this blog.

I’m happy to say I’ve accomplished most of what I set out to do in 2012. I now have eight books in the marketplace—three collections, and five short stories. You can find them here.

US | UK | Canada | Germany | France | Japan | Italy | Spain

I’ve blogged continuously since Nov. 2010 and have taken every opportunity to highlight others via an author/artist interview, author promotion, or sharing their work via all available social networks. This, in turn, has connected me to wonderful authors, filmmakers, and creative people from all walks of life. They are not simply virtual acquaintances; many have become good friends.

I’ve juggled writing, promoting my work, and promoting others’ work non-stop for over two years. Why? Because I’m a huge believer in supporting work I like—plain and simple. For a full-time writer like me, writing is a business, and like all businesses, we need a strong support network to grow, thrive, and continue.

Have I done it correctly? I don’t know. What are the benchmarks?

The number of Twitter followers? The number of friends on Facebook? The number of reviews on our books?

Though I agree these criteria are important, they are only part of the juggling act. Ultimately, as a business, my efforts must translate into sales of my books. That means, I need to continue writing and juggling. I can’t afford to discard even one ball … but perhaps I don’t need to juggle so quickly … and I don’t have to accept the bowling pins people throw in my direction.

I have three major goals for 2013.

Put out a full-length novel
Release the four novellas of Spring into Summer separately
Revamp my website and blog

I’m also helping friends with a major fundraiser in the city, and for the third year running, I’ll be on the jury for the Feminist Porn Awards (hard work, but someone’s got to do it).

All this to say, my professional goal for 2013 is not to stop what I’ve been doing, but to scale back certain activities to fit everything in—the main one being this blog. I’ll be reducing the number of blogs per month in order to keep up with the high quality of posts you’ve come to expect.

Check out January’s schedule.

I leave for a holiday shortly, where I’ll catch up on my reading. As always, y our comments—good, bad, or otherwise are welcome, and please accept my sincere gratitude for your continued support.

eden

 

Filed under: Important Announcements

Auld Lang Syne by @mairimusic and @greengolduk

Enjoy my favorite version of “Auld Lang Syne” by Mairi Campbell and David Francis who form The Cast.

Wishing you health, happiness, and peace for 2013. May all your dreams come true.

eden ♥

Filed under: Musical Mondays

Read my final post for Black Ink, White Paper – My author collective

Today, I write a final post for my author collective – Black Ink, White Paper. The group is disbanding and moving on, but we will stay in touch via social media, as I do with the majority of my friends.

If you’d like to read all the articles I’ve written from the beginning, go here. The topics range from writing posts to personal ones.

Today, my post is called: Thank You BIWP.

eden

Filed under: Black Ink, White Paper

Author @LisetteBrodey interviews me at her Chateau

Multi-published author, Lisette Brodey interviewed me at her fabulous Writers’ Chateau.

She asked wonderful questions, so  hop over and read the interview.

Don’t forget to connect to Lisette on Twitter @lisettebrodey

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 REMINDER

 My ebook, The Austrian and the Asian is still FREE until the end of Christmas day. It’s my gift to readers for the holidays. so be sure to pick it up!

Find all the LINKS on where to download it here.

Filed under: -Promo of Hot Flash