R.J. Palmer's Blog, page 5

When It's Cute...They're My Kids!

Damien, Devon and Kaelyb singing Magnify the Lord

Engaging Read Review of Through the Gloaming by Donna Dillon

I truthfully don't think that Donna expects me to write a review but there's simply too much going through my head to just talk to her about, so here it is. "Through the Gloaming" is a light read that I would place firmly in the Young Adult genre though there are concepts that I believe that many adults my age (thirty something, for those who are wondering) still fail to grasp. It's about lessons learned and I can say that without giving away anything because that's right in the first chapter. The main character, Alex, is an incredibly selfish fellow who doesn't do a thing for himself and has tended to have everything handed to him in life. It's not so much his fault because I never read anywhere that his parents did anything to teach him otherwise but that still doesn't make this acceptable behavior. His friends and family accept him for who he is and love him just the same, but he has the capacity to be so much more. It's when he has a near death experience that he has the opportunity to turn his life around. But rehashing the plot is not where I intend this review to go.



I felt that the plot read easily though I felt that it moved a little too quickly. It was fairly Disney; the kind of novel where everyone always gets along. This is not something that I have a problem with because it's always wonderful to step into fiction where a person can escape reality even if it's just for a few short hours while curled up with a good book (yes, Donna, I'm calling "Through the Gloaming" a good book).



Here is where this review gets tricky for me because while I thought that "Through the Gloaming" was a heartfelt and thoroughly wonderful read, I also feel that you, Donna are capable of so much more. I was taken by surprise at a few points in the book and I'm used to reading adult level material. This means that you can weave together a very descriptive and entertaining story on a much deeper level and I for one wouldn't miss the opportunity to read it. So I'm going to issue you a challenge of sorts and I'm going to beg you right here and now not to sell yourself short. Stretch yourself beyond what it is you believe you can do and write something just as compelling but liberally mixed with an intricate plot. Be descriptive beyond what you might think is "too much" and prove me right.



"Through the Gloaming" is four star material as far as I'm concerned because while I enjoyed the read, I did feel the plot went a little too quickly. Put the storyline on a slow simmer and tend to character development just a trifle more because I want to know what the characters think and feel in fair detail. It brings them alive for me. On a final note, I'll be patiently waiting for you to show me something in a richly woven adult level five star because I know you can do it.



To purchase your own copy of "Through the Gloaming" visit here on Amazon and enjoy!

Hungry for More...Review of Commitment by Athanasios

This review is going to be a bit of a conundrum for me. I've read "Mad Gods" by Athanasios before and was thoroughly impressed with his spin on ethereal ideas like the melding of religion and reincarnation. He tends to have a more down to earth mind set and a common sense idea of what each should be. I was expecting when I started reading "Commitment" that I would get a continuation of where I left off with "Mad Gods" but Adam makes few appearances in this book and I struggled with a little bit of disappointment since I'd grown rather fond of his character. You see, Adam has choices to make that have everything and yet nothing to do with his ultimate destiny however, "Commitment" is more about healing. I can't be disappointed with this part, if I had been through what Adam had, I would need time to heal as well and no one could begrudge him that.



Athanasios shows a descriptive power when it comes to emotion of which few are possessed. He can really make you feel it; every heartache, every frustration and anger, every heartbreak, every moment of joy and every flash of relieved understanding, he knows how to break those emotions down and make them every bit as real for the reader as they are for the character. This is no small accomplishment and I issue my congratulations for this right now.



Now however, he's ended "Commitment" in such a way as he left it wide open for a third novel. When am I going to see Adam as he grows and learns, makes his choices and accepts his place and fate? He's already made a few determinations when it comes to who and what he is, when will he accept that and the determinations he's made? And how will he react when he starts to live the rewards and consequences of those determinations? Athanasios, you've shown an aptitude for writing about the correlation between choices and consequences and I want to see Adam take the next steps. Show me what you've got.



Now, onto the star rating because it's unavoidable. This is where I find myself in a conundrum because I'm adamantly unwilling to give three stars. "Commitment" is worth more than that both as a story and as a point of view. I also can't give five stars because there were some graphically written scenes that I found slightly off putting in the storyline. I'm going to settle on a happy medium and give four stars and then sit back and wait for the third installment in this (and there had better be a third installment...consider yourself duly challenged, Athanasios) and see where it takes the characters.



To find "Commitment" visit here on Amazon and here on Smashwords.

Book Giveaway: Rise of the Infected by Monique Morgan

Welcome to the

reality of River Black


River Black lives in a world where only the strong survive.

The earth has changed to a brutal climate and the survivors will do anything to

live. The eastern continents unleash a biochemical weapon on their enemies, and

directly onto River’s world. She will have to leave her quiet existence in the

forest and venture to the slaver fortress and further beyond, into the deepest

part of the surviving cities. If she doesn’t die first, or rise infected…  








Here is a chance to win signed swag and a free e-copy of

Rise of the Infected. A special thank you goes out to all the blogs

participating in the Cover Reveal Blog Tour. Rise will be released October 31st

2012.  The Giveaway  


Win signed Rise of

the Infected swag: signed cover photo and signed bookmark  





Win signed cover

photos of all of Monique Morgan’s books: Pursuer, Dreamer, and Rise of the

Infected.     Win a e-copy of Rise

of the Infected when it is released October 31st 2012, and all

signed swag!  Enter Now


  a Rafflecopter giveaway

She's Stuck In Estrogen's Funhouse and Workin' It!

Here recently, I did a book giveaway in honor of my favorite blog turning two...That would be this one in case any of you are wondering. I had the honor of meeting some very interesting and cool people, among them being Shayna Gier, author of Stuck in Estrogen's Funhouse. She did the exceptional thing and helped me get the word out there that my work was being offered for free for awhile and I asked her to guest post on my blog. I think she's a little shy because she opted for an interview instead but then she blew me away with how well she answered the questions; I'm used to people with AS occiasionally being somewhat disconnected or off-the-wall. My most heartfelt apologies, Shayna, for judging a book by its cover. Duly chastised...And well taken.

I think I'll just let Shayna have the floor now...Catch her if you can!



RJ Palmer:

Not to put too fine a point on it, but I noticed in your biography on your website that you were diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome. This is something you share in common with my son. How has this affected your writing and reading and more importantly, are you going to allow this to define you as an author?



Shayna Gier:

Asperger’s is very important to me. I was just diagnosed last year, so at the moment it feels like my very being is fundamentally different and controlled by Asperger’s Syndrome. It’s really odd to go from feeling like a misfit to having a bunch of qualities written up on a website by a stranger describe you so perfectly. So I haven’t made it to the place that many of those that have been diagnosed for a while have- where they feel as though “they have Asperger’s but it doesn’t define them.”



That being said, I think it does influence my writing. Since my writing is mine, and reflects my thought processes, then naturally Asperger’s influences what I write. I don’t know exactly how though. While I am rubbish when it comes to social situations myself, my characters seem to be very believable, and they don’t tend to struggle with socializing like I do. In fact, I’ve tried writing an Aspie character and it was very difficult to do. I do still want to publish something with a female Aspie in the future though.



I don’t know if I want Asperger’s to define me as an author, or how I would want it to if it does. I assume as it defines who I am, it also defines my writing, I just don’t know how.



RJ Palmer:

Tell me something about “Stuck in Estrogen’s Funhouse” that you’ve not told anyone before.



Shayna Gier:

Stuck in Estrogen’s Funhouse was my first completed work of original fiction. I dabbled in fan-fiction for several years growing up, and then I had a period of about 50 different story starters that never made it anywhere throughout the later years of my high school experience and into college. After my now ex-boyfriend/best friend broke up with me, I started scribbling notes to the story that is currently not finished but the most-developed outside of Estrogen’s Funhouse, and when I had a bit of a mishap with transferring computers I decided to do NaNoWriMo, which I completed and that basic story led to what you know as Stuck in Estrogen’s Funhouse.



RJ Palmer:

How do you relate to Marti, the main character?



Shayna Gier:

I love Marti! We don’t have a lot in common personality wise, but before my functioning level took a hit, I dreamed of being a bartender. I’ve been a waitress before, and I love the atmosphere of restaurants, but bartenders tend to have better stories so my goal was to become a bartender when I turned 21. My mother, however, did not want me to stay on tip-wages, and wanted me to get a “real job”. I did that, and managed to hold onto waitressing for about 6 months… but I couldn’t do both and had to let waitressing go before I turned 20. If my functioning ever returns to where it once was, I’d love to get back into the business.



RJ Palmer:

I don’t see anything else you’ve written yet. Do you have another novel in the works? Would you be willing to share a little bit about it?



Shayna Gier:

I have many novels in the works… none that are even close to publication unfortunately. You can read about the works-in-progresses on my website, but here’s a quick outline of the plot of a few of them.



My new pet-project that has only notes scribbled here and there with some research currently done:



I really want to write a fictional account of a woman/girl with Asperger’s! I found out about Asperger’s thanks to Jodi Picoult’s House Rules, and once I did I looked and looked for a fictional account of a female- there are none. Rudy Simone writes awesome nonfiction books about being a girl with Asperger’s, but the fictional world is lacking. I want to create a book that has the main character dealing with things girl-aspies deal with, but not in a way that seems instructive or diagnostic, just so that other aspie girls that are undiagnosed may stumble across it and look more into it, and hopefully enjoy a good story at the same time.



Imperfectly Perfect: Callie Harper is a Junior in high school who is faced with a decision to make- should she attend Prom with her best friend (and crush) as “just friends” or go on a date with her 2nd-best friend who actually likes her. How does she choose between hurting a friend, or letting go of her own deepest desire.



Imperfectly Perfect is thought out to be a trilogy following Callie throughout her final years of High School and into college.



Lilianna’s Story: Lilliana Rose Cardosa is a twenty-something year old who just had her first daughter and is holding her when this story starts, though you don’t really get to know Lillianna as an adult until later. When she is holding her child, she is swept back through her life to when she was 4 and her entire world changed. Lillianna’s dad worked as a nighttime forrest ranger, and one night he never made it home. Being a daddy’s girl, whose mom was pregnant with a younger brother, Lillianna’s world was rocked, spending weeks trying to figure out what happened to daddy and why isn’t he coming home—and eventually adjusting to life with only a mother. This was a life-changing event for Lillianna, and where she is narrating the story is the first time she’s actually come to grips with her childhood.



Lillianna’s Story is also slated to be a trilogy, this time divided into elementary years after her dad dies, Middle school/high school where her mom is moving on, and College-baby as she starts to come to terms with her dad’s death, culminating in the moment the trilogy started.



Finally, there’s Lucina’s Gift. Lucina’s Gift is about a young woman who takes handmade dolls to the local pediatric oncology wing of the hospital for Christmas every year since her younger sister died of Medulablastima. The year that the story takes place in, however, she meets a young girl Claire,(4 years old also) who isn’t expected to be alive for Christmas, and who just might impart to Lucina the greatest gift of all.



And, there’s tons of other small works here and there. But if I never start another story I really want to get these four down on paper. In my head they are so captivating and fleshed out… I just have to get the words onto the computer screen without everything falling apart.



RJ Palmer:

I see that your grandmother passed away and I’d like to offer my condolences. I would also like to know, will you use this experience in your writing? I know it sounds somewhat twisted, but some of my best work has come out of my painful past and there is release in the telling. Won’t you give it a try?



Shayna Gier:

Ninny (that’s what I called my Grandma my whole life) was my world. Her death was- and still is very difficult for me to deal with. It’s going to be a year ago in October and the last half of the year has been it’s own level of Hell. I don’t know if I will use it in my writing or not… just because it’s hard to tell. If I ever get Lillianna’s Gift written out, you’ll see a lot of Ninny in her grandma, but as of right now she’s not told me of any deaths. I suppose in a way, her reaction to her father’s death is a little bit like my reaction to Ninny’s… so maybe it will come through there.



I will say that Ninny’s death is a large reason Lucina’s Gift isn’t finished. She really liked the short-story part of Lucina’s Gift, and she made one request to me about the plot, which I can not change. The story isn’t the story without the plot… but anytime I sit down and try to type up the story, I feel like I’m breaking her last request in a way. I am working to get through that though. She was so proud of my writing and would hate that I’ve not written much since her death.



RJ Palmer:

Is there a favorite part of the writing process for you? A least favorite? Which part of the writing process do you love to hate?



Shayna Gier:

My favorite part of the writing process is interacting with the characters. My mother calls them “imaginary friends on crack” (paraphrased) but that doesn’t seem right to me. To me they are like precious children that I get to spend time with. I write in a controversial way- that is that the characters are in control. Before Estrogen’s Funhouse I would “censor” certain things, but I’ve stopped that and I just let the characters take on a life of their own. In this way I truly am the first reader- and I just love it! I say controversial because some writers, and readers, insist that made up characters are dependent on the will of the author and are not “sentient” or able to carve their own story. I insist there’s a dimension of “fictional characters” and they communicate to writers to get their story told in this dimension.



I can’t stand prewriting! Or too much planning. Like I said, the characters drive my stories. The “notes” I refer to above are just bits and pieces that are revealed to me before the entire story starts to play out.



And I love to hate editing. It can be tedious- especially when you are on your 9th edit and rereading passages for what must be the 25th time… but oddly, while I hated the idea of it, and toward the end I hated the process of it- I absolutely love the accomplishment you feel when you make that last edit; when you can finally say “it’s ready for others.” And starting editing was surprisingly a lot of fun!



RJ Palmer:

How do you get geared up to write? Are there certain steps you have to take or certain music you have to listen to in order to kick start the muse?



Shayna Gier:

I try and write daily. Emphasis on the “try”. Since Ninny’s death I haven’t been able to get anything coherent onto the computer, and this has been a struggle and deterrent. Usually though, I just have to write. I could sit and say the story out loud to my husband, but it’s not usually revealed to me all at once, and also I’m far too much in love with the characters to not share them with the world. So when inspiration strikes, I just sit and write as much as I can before it trails off again.



Usually, I end up writing the most after midnight- I’m slightly nocturnal.



RJ Palmer:

Is there anything you would like to say to your readers? Any advice for aspiring authors?



Shayna Gier:

It’s been said before, but write what you know and write often. I think one of the things that is so great about my writing is the realism of it. I’ve been told my characters seem very much like real people that readers either hate, or can really relate to. If you write something that you aren’t familiar with, it’s harder to convey that absolute realism that I think makes a wonderful story.



RJ Palmer:

If you could have cocktails with any one person from history, real or imaginary, who would it be, why and what do you think they’d drink?



Shayna Gier:

Does fictional history count? I’d absolutely love to have cocktails with Georgina Kincaid or Letha from Richelle Mead’s Succubus series. She’s lived so very long, so talking to her would just be amazing. Also, despite her age she’s still sarcastic and witty. She’d have a vodka gimlet as that is her favorite drink of choice. Me? I’d have a Brain Eraser just because I love the name of it.



And then I asked her to tell me a little MORE about herself...



My favorite short and sweet about me is: My name is Shayna Gier and I like to read and write- a lot!



As for the more about-me-ish bio. I’m Shayna Gier, author of Stuck in Estrogen’s Funhouse and Book Reviewer. I’m married, but regrettably have no children yet, and I really spend all of my time either on the computer playing games, reading, or writing. I don’t actually “work” but instead I’ve returned to college to get a degree in Library Science and hopefully become a librarian or museum curator/archivist. In the meantime, while I am struggling to finish stories, I review books for other authors on my website here.



Sooo, all my fellow wingnuts, if you like what you see...I mean, come on here, who can NOT like loving to hate editing??! Okay, okay...Back on track now...Find Stuck in Estrogen's Funhouse here on Amazon and here on Smashwords! Now go and buy the book...What are you waiting for? Why are you still reading this?



Okay, I'll stop. :)

Book Giveaway

As you can probably see I a in the midst of a giveaway this month on GoodReads. It can be found here http://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/sho.... This is for my novel Sins of the Father and I really want to make this a successfull giveaway so I would like to make it a bit better. The four copies will be signed by me and I will give the first thirty people after the four print books are awarded a free digital copy. How is that for making it better?

Book Giveaway: Sins of the Father

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Goodreads Book Giveaway







Sins of the Father

by R.J. Palmer

Giveaway ends September 30, 2012.

See the giveaway details

at Goodreads.

Enter to win

Enter the Dynamic Duo!!

Lately, I got the brilliant idea (thank you, Dragon, for supporting me in this) to do a promotional giveaway for my two year Blogoversary. I expected to have a certain amount of support from my fellow Indie Authors, expecially the ones with whom I've made personal friends. What I didn't expect however, was the overwhelming support and the rapid fire offer of a guest post from a rather dynamic couple of collaborating authors, Wodke Hawkinson. I have been acquainted with them, my husband was more so and so it really came as no surprise to him, but their generosity blew me completely away. After I picked my chin up off the floor and found out just how far they'd gone to help me out, I decided that it simply wouldn't be fair if they had gone the extra mile, while I just sat back and let it happen. That was when I decided to ask Wodke Hawkinson to honor me with a guest spot on my blog and, as it turned out, my timing was rather fortuitous. They had a book just come out that they're working on promoting that goes by the title "Zeke" and is a dark kind of thriller. They told me a little bit about it:



Description:



Zeke is a dark novel of sexual obsession, psychological manipulation, and peril. Sue Cox, a naive college student, falls for the exciting new bookstore clerk. Zeke captures her heart, awakens her sexuality, and begins to exert subtle control over her. Before long she’s wildly in love, ignores the warning signs, and makes a rash decision to go on the road with him. As they travel, he becomes increasingly unstable and deviant.



Sue’s parents refuse to believe she left willingly and hire a private investigator to locate her. Will he find her in time?



This brings me to MY point: Wodke Hawkinson needs your attention while they tell us a bit about this little treasure "Zeke."



I asked a few questions, they gave a few answers and thus, an interview took shape...



Interview of Wodke Hawkinson with RJ Palmer



I want you to note that they do think independently because it might just be "Invasion of the Body Snatchers" creepy if they answered everything in unison AND as a duo so where you see initials, that was where each of them took the time to answer on their own...Carry on...



RJ Palmer:



Which one of you, or is it both of you that love psychology? Is there anything you’ve learned while researching for your books that you found particularly riveting?



Wodke Hawkinson:



K- I took numerous psychology courses in college and have a strong interest in the subject. However, one thing I learned when researching Zeke was unrelated to psychology, but instead to geography. We mapped out the entire journey taken by Sue and Zeke and carefully constructed the timeline, although it doesn’t show in the book. It was an eye opener for me. Did you know there are really no straight roads from northern Maine to eastern New Hampshire? Or for that matter, all the way to St. Louis? That’s when we decided to invent the names of the roads and highways. lol.



Though the road trip in Zeke could actually be driven, we further confounded the likelihood of that happening by changing the names of most of the towns.



P- It is Karen that loves psychology, but who doesn’t know something on the subject just by being subjected to the news? We basically used common knowledge of a psychologically warped mentality when we wrote Zeke’s character.



RJ Palmer:



Your novels have a dark, sad or haunting and brooding aspect to them and I was wondering what experiences you draw upon to bring out such profound depth of emotion? You don’t have to go into a lot of detail, but I find myself curious. Were both of you over comers from abusive relationships?



Wodke Hawkinson:



K- No, the incidents in Zeke are not based on personal experience. They are purely fictional, although both PJ and I have known persons who struggled with similar issues. I suppose the haunting element comes from trying to capture the sadness we humans all face from time to time in our lives. Everyone has experienced common feelings like rejection, grief, pain, disappointment, helplessness, etc. For some reason, it seems that hurtful events hold a greater power over us than uplifting ones, which is unfortunate. I read somewhere that it takes at least ten positive incidents to counteract just one negative experience. I don’t know if that’s true, but it very well could be. Human beings are always stumbling, making bad choices, and getting into predicaments. I think readers are interested to find how characters deal with their circumstances and either pull through or fall victim to their unwise decisions and the distress imposed upon them by others. In Zeke, we attempted to show that abusive relationships don’t start out that way. They start out fulfilling a need. Often the abuse doesn’t develop until the victim has made a great emotional investment in the other person, and has already been significantly “rewired” by the abuser. Of course, Zeke (the character) isn’t a standard example of an abuser. He’s quite extreme.



We don’t actually stick with any one genre, although it might appear so because both Betrayed and Zeke have in common the theme of a woman in a perilous situation. But we have also explored various genres in our short story collections; and our other book, Tangerine, is more of a sci-fi. Tangerine is really quite different from our other two novels. (Tangerine was our first novel together. It has been picked up by a publisher so we pulled the original version from the e-book venues it was on. It has since undergone a rewrite and will hopefully be re-released at the end of the month in e-form)



P- No, we are not survivors of abusive relationships. I have been very fortunate to have been married to a wonderful man for thirty-five years and every one of them has been happy.



I do, however, have a friend who was in a bad marriage for many years. Her husband would be loving and friendly and then turn into a savage monster for no apparent reason. I suggested repeatedly that she should get out before he killed her but she had what seems to be a common reason for staying. If I leave, he’ll find me and kill me. What she couldn’t see was the fact that he was going to kill her if she stayed. Thankfully, the marriage ended and she is alive and well today.



On the other hand, I had a friend who had been in abusive situations and finally found a good man. She left the good relationship and found another bad man. She said she didn’t know how to handle having someone be nice to her. I don’t understand this thinking but the world is full of unusual people and situations.



RJ Palmer:



Tell me about the psychology of “Zeke”. Is there anything in particular you would like readers to know while they read it?



Wodke Hawkinson:



K & P- Zeke’s power lies in his ability to sense what a woman needs and wants, ferret out her hidden insecurities, and play on her doubts and fears. He doesn’t start exerting control until he has successfully won her heart. He also seems to categorize women; he targets a different type of woman in a different way, depending on his particular need at the time. It’s really all about him.



(Note from Yours Truly: I want for other women and men in these kind of relationships to recognize what's going on and empower themselves because I DO know from personal experience that it CAN be done. If this kind of thing happens to you, don't be ashamed or afraid to seek help and remember that they only want you to feel worthless because they feel that way and if you feel like nothing, you won't leave them. And now back to your regularly scheduled program.)



RJ Palmer:



What went through your minds the most while you wrote “Zeke”? What was it you most wanted to communicate in the writing? Sort of an underlying theme?



Wodke Hawkinson:



K & P- One thing uppermost in our minds when writing Zeke was our intense dislike for the character. At times, we even procrastinated on writing because we found Zeke so despicable. We eventually toned down a lot of the most shocking content and developed other elements besides Zeke’s vile personality.



K- For me, when we decided to expand the part played by the detective (who is a good, decent man), it was easier to go to the keyboard and write. Will Falstaff counter-balanced the nastiness of Zeke. Originally, the private investigator didn’t play a very big role because we wanted to focus on Zeke and his mind games. But, giving Will a larger part in the story felt right to us.



K & P- One thing we really wanted to communicate in the story is that with the right kind of manipulation, a person can be convinced to do things outside his or her character. Sue was simply out of her league when it came to Zeke. She was vulnerable, inexperienced, and easily exploited. Zeke managed to put her into degrading situations and then twist reality until she frequently doubted her own perceptions.



Another concept we tried to express is the superficiality of physical appearance. Zeke was very good-looking, which was another deception because his appealing exterior gave a false impression of his nature.



We also hope we conveyed that by a certain point in the story, Sue felt she had little or no choice in what happened to her. As outsiders, we can look on her situation and see things differently, but she couldn’t.



RJ Palmer:



You both seem fond of psychological thrillers, which is more an educated guess than anything. What do you read when you cozy up with a book for the afternoon?



Wodke Hawkinson:



K- I do like thrillers, but I’m also happy reading science fiction, some nonfiction, fantasy, horror, mystery, or even humor. I’m a multi-genre reader!



P- Actually, psychological thrillers are only one genre of book I enjoy. So far the books we’ve written contain a psychological thriller, Zeke; a suspense, Betrayed, and a book set in the future, Tangerine (coming soon). We have 3 short story volumes that run the gamut of genres. As for what I like to read, I tend to be the same as Karen; all genres are my friends.



RJ Palmer:



Ladies, your novels have rave reviews, congratulations for that for it is no easy feat. Are there any pearls of wisdom you might like to share with an up-and-comer? Advice for a would be author or for your following?



Wodke Hawkinson:



K & P- We’ve been fortunate that readers who appreciate the kind of stories we tell have managed to find their way to our books. It’s only a matter of time, though, until a reader who hates our style will stumble upon Zeke and leave a scathing review. It’s bound to happen. In fact, we would tell other authors not to dread the negative rating for it is normal that your writing will not appeal to everyone. As far as other advice to writers, our success is still too new to us. We don’t feel like we are authorities on the subject. The only two things we can come up with are these: Be sure to proof/edit your book meticulously, and don’t be afraid to hire a professional editor if you feel it will improve your work. We subject our books to painstaking proofing and editing and still mistakes sometimes slip through. The other thing is to stay true to your style and write the stories YOU want to tell. Oh, and one more: Read, read, read.



Now, if you want to find out more about this particularly dynamic duo, find them here on Amazon and here is their personal website and, of course, here for their wonderful blog FindAGoodBookToRead.



And while you're at it, you'll want to pick up your own copy of "Zeke" available here on Amazon, here on Smashwords and here on Nook.



Ladies, thank you for allowing me to play hostess here and thank you soooo much for your help and support!

Happy Blogoversary to ME!!!

Okay everybody AND all my precious Wingnuts for we are, indeed, in a class all our own...I wanted to let you know:



IT'S A BLOGOVERSARY!!!



It's the second birthday of the blog of Yours Truly and I thought that I'd be the one to give out the presents. I know, I know...Kind of have that backwards and upside down, don't I? Since you all benefit from it, I don't wanna hear any whining! Not that anyone is going to complain about getting something free...Again, let me stress FREE...I just figured I'd add that little tidbit because I do have some experience with some really weird people. You know, the kind of sick puppies that don't EVER want any kind of gift and would be willing to be charged twice, or something to that crazy effect.



Alright, now that I went way out over the deep end with that train of thought, let's get back onto solid ground, shall we?





My blog is turning two this coming Sunday, August 26th and in celebration, I'm going to once again demonstrate my incredible ability to give a book away. Most notably, it's Sins of the Father, my latest pride and joy.



Yes, I'm getting all crazy with the cheese whiz and stuff (got it from a song) and if that last line left you scratching your head, just shrug it off and realize that I say, "Woogie!" when I'm trying to release tension and excitement, so it's not that big a stretch to believe I might say something else similarly off the wall.





I've been most pleased with the reviews coming back about Sins of the Father, it seems people really like the story and since I spent so much time (sweat, blood and tears) on it, it seems only fitting. I've received nothing below a four star review and that makes me happy. If you don't believe me, check the reviews in older posts right here on my blog and look it up on Amazon. I rest my case.



Now that I've gotten the bragging and tooting my own horn out of the way for the sake of shameless self-promotion, let's get a little serious and get to the point of this post.



SINS OF THE FATHER IS GOING TO BE FREE!!!



Yes, August 24th through August 28th, in celebration of my blog's very special day, Sins of the Father is going to be free on Amazon. So grab your Kindles and help me get a few thousand copies out there for the best price of all. FREE!! I'm wanting to hit the top ten free in Kindle store and shooting for three thousand downloads. Here's hoping! Mark it on your calendars, send an email to everyone in your contact list, shout it from the rooftops and text everyone and their grandmother. Don't miss out on my blogoversary celebration!



You can find Sins of the Father for free on 08/24/2012 through 08/28/2012 at the following(only on those dates regularly $1.99):

Amazon US

Amazon UK

Amazon DE

Amazon FR

Amazon IT

Amazon ES

Please Welcome John Miles!!!

Okay, first and foremost, let me issue my most abject and humble apologies to one Mr. John Miles (Oh dear, I hope that that's his real name and not a pen name or I might've just called a girl "John"). I've been prohibitively busy these last months and though I know that's not an excuse to let some of the marketing go, I think he deserves to know that I didn't just forget, but that I was out in the real world having more adventure than I want to EVER have again.



And now on to more fun things...Like Mr. Miles' book! Judging by the things that I've seen on Amazon and Smashwords, the book Assula is a bit of a vampire comedy but I'll let John take the wheel and explain it a bit better. Shall we, fellow wingnuts?



RJ Palmer:

Tell us a little about the book, won't you?



John Miles:

Assula is the story of a young man named Smierfarts Necula who really wasn’t cut out for the life of a vampire. But when he was bitten by a powerful vampire---possibly Dracula himself-- he finds himself not only a vampire, but a vampire with some very poor luck indeed.



Soon he sets out on a series of sometimes funny, sometimes poignant misadventures that will keep you laughing and guessing all the way.



After becoming a butt biting vampire Assula is forced to leave his village---a butt biting vampire is just too embarrassing. He moves to New York and moves in with his Uncle Vlad, who is also a vampire and his Aunt Helga who is not.



There he lives for ten years before taking a trip to North Dakota with his aunt where he soon finds himself in George Custer’s army and finally the sole, albeit unofficial survivor of Custer’s last stand—or at least of those with Custer rather than Benteen or Reno.



Soon after that he finds himself in Deadwood where he marries and heads west to California to mine gold, but soon his wife betrays him and tries to kill him not knowing that he’s a vampire, and so he kills her instead---accidentally, he never did know his own strength—and then heads back to New York where he is soon identified as the probable killer of his wife and several others back in the California gold fields.



Assula is saddened to learn that because he can’t share with the police the fact that he is a vampire, he can not adequately explain what happened, and so he soon flees to England where he lives with Hannah, a colorful non-vampire ex-girlfriend of his uncle Vlad.



While in England, Assula meets a lovely young lady named Jeanette.



During the course of events he also meets with a Gypsy fortune teller who explains to him why he became what he is and how he can end his curse. It turns out that when people are bitten by vampires only those with evil in their hearts become vampires, the rest just die.



However, because he was bitten by a very powerful vampire, possibly even Dracula himself—for whom his uncle used to work, Smierfarts did find himself a vampire, but with the unusual proclivity of biting, but not really feeding on butts.



The gypsy woman also informs him that a woman who is close to him will soon be in danger by a werewolf. She can not see who for sure, only that it’s a woman with large breast and whose first name begins with the initial H, leaving him unsure if it is his aunt Helga or Hannah, the lady with whom he resides who’ll be in danger.



While at the gypsy camp Smierfarts gets his name, Assula. He can not fight the compulsion to bite a butt and so he picks out an old man whom he thinks will make a quiet victim. The man screams loudly, but Smierfarts finds cover before others arrive.

The others soon learn that the old man has been drinking and they disbelieve his story, which rather saddens Smierfarts who knows very well how that feels. Soon there are jokes about some old guy going around biting asses, but the old man says no, the man who bit me was young which causes someone to say that it must have been the son of the ass bitter---or Assula, and thus the legend, such as it is, was born.



Soon after meeting with the fortune teller he learns that his aunt Helga intends to visit from New York. When she arrives she soon becomes suspicious of Jeanette and decides to pay he father a visit, but Jeanette overhears their discussion and takes her captive, tying her up so that she can feed on here that very night. Only Assula can save her, but will he be in time?



RJ Palmer:

Now tell us a little bit about yourself, if you'd be so kind?



John Miles:

My name is John Miles and I am from Washington state in the USA. I am a us army veteran and former History teacher who has written articles---mostly political for various publications.



RJ Palmer:

Is there a work of your own of which you are particularly fond? Why?



John Miles:

I once wrote a short story called "A coward" which I seem to have lost track of, I guess I tossed it out out by accident. In any case it was fairly well received at the time. The story was about a young man in the Vietnam war era who intended to flee to Canada, not because he was opposed, but because he was afraid to fight in a war. His biggest fear was having to face his war hero father with the news. However, his father surprised him by telling him that he too was a coward because he had left the family out of fear that he would not make a good husband and father, but that he had always thought that he had seen in his son the makings of a good father that he did not possess. I guess what I liked about the story is that it showed that we all have insecurities and that fear and courage can take many forms.



RJ Palmer:

What is your favorite part of the writing process? Your least favorite?



John Miles:

My favorite part of the writing process is creating something that moves me, whether it makes me laugh or even sad to the point that I have to remind myself that hey, this is a character that I created. My least favorite part is when you stare at a blank page or computer screen and it just states back, unblinkingly like the bad guy in an old western, daring you to draw first.



RJ Palmer:

Describe in your own words (for there can be no other way) what direction it is to which you aspire when it comes to your work. Where do you want your work to take you?



John Miles:

I must say that this type of self reflection is very hard for me. I am reminded of the words of a stand up comedian whose name I have, sadly, forgotten." Yesterday, for the first time I saw myself on the insides and was shocked to lean that I'm as ugly on the inside as I am on the outside." Honestly to me the most important thing is to try to tell the best story that I can, as well as I can. Wherever that takes me is where I will go.



RJ Palmer:

Most writers have a favorite genre when it comes to reading that is not necessarily the genre in which they write, do you write in your favorite genre? If so, why? If not, why not?



John Miles:

I do like science fiction and fantasy, but I also like adventure such as the type that Clive Cussler writes. I also like military adventures like the type that Tom Clancy writes. On thing about the military adventures though, you really must be up on the latest technology or people are sure to call you on it. I also enjoy nonfiction, mostly politics, history or science.



RJ Palmer:

Do you have a favorite quote from a writer that you use for inspiration? What is it and why?



John Miles:

My favorite quote is from a writer from years ago, a lady I believe whose name, like the aforementioned comedian I have sadly forgotten, "No one likes to write, but everyone likes to have written." Often times, during moments of frustration I will remind myself of that.



RJ Palmer:

Some writers tend to have a unique step in their writing process that has nothing whatsoever to do with the actual writing but has everything to do with inspiration or balance. Most people would call it a little bit OCD. Do you have such a step? Would you care to share what it is?



John Miles:

I will at times find myself trying to act out in my mind the characters speaking to each other in fact, I often try to picture them in my mind. I may be wrong, but I think that doing this helps to make their dialogue seem more natural.



(And here I thought I was the only one that did that...Hmmm.)



There you have it ladies and gents, fellow wingnuts. If you like what you see and would like to know more about John Miles, feel free to look up Assula here on Amazon and here on Smashwords. Enjoy!!!