Glenn Langohr's Blog, page 10

An Excerpt From Glenn Langohr From His Newest Prison Book, How to Make Prison Weapons To Survive a Gang War in Prison: Life in Lockdown

Chapter 2
No Warning Shots FiredI got up and walked to the cell door. The gun tower was 30 feet away. To the right along the wall there were two phones that inmates used when we weren’t locked down. In between each phone was a steel cage the size of a small phone booth for temporary security housing for inmates. Above, on the wall 15 feet high, were red block letters that read: WARNING! NO WARNING SHOTS FIRED, WARDENThe gun tower was constructed of tinted bulletproof windows we could see through. There were bars from top to bottom every few feet. In between the bars there were open spaces in the windows for enough room for guns to be pointed to fire anywhere below.One of the tower guards sitting in a swivel chair playing with his cell phone got up. He walked past the other guard sitting at a lit up control booth and stopped at a window that overlooked the prison yard.A loud metal noise reverberated through the building. Someone was yanking a steel handle on the vestibule door back and forth on the yard side signifying they wanted entrance.The tower guard looked down at whoever was outside and nodded his head. He turned to the tower guard at the control booth and said something.The tower guard at the control booth pushed a button and the vestibule door underneath shrieked and rattled open.The other tower guard walked back and looked down through a clear window overlooking the vestibule tunnel to watch the procession walk underneath him.At the end of the tunnel Gomez, our building guard, was the first one through. Behind him were a couple other guards. The three stopped and looked up at the tower guards standing up facing them at one of the portals.One of the tower guards asked, “Are we running showers this morning?”Gomez said, “Maybe later. First we’re going to move Johnson and Smith to building one.”Gomez was a short, stocky, mean looking Mexican who looked like he lived for the power he had as a prison guard. He turned and stared at our cell and looked right at me.The tower guard asked him, “How did they get authorization to move out of the building that fast? Did they get the green light from you?”Gomez stared at me with a frustrated look on his face and said, “I didn’t know about it until a few minutes ago. Inmate Grisham maneuvered it. I don’t know how that White inmate has so much juice on this yard.”The tower guard said, “I do. He types all the paperwork for the Sergeants and Lieutenants in the Program Office.”Gomez continued to stare right at me. He said, “I’m going to have a talk with Grisham and find out who authorized their cell move.”Damon was sitting on the stainless steel toilet soaking wet and buck-naked. He was facing the sink filled with water. He scooped a cup of water out and dumped it on his head and back and asked, “Are they moving us now? I can give you some extra time by flooding the cell.”Gomez was walking toward me and I muttered, “Here he comes. Flood the floor.”Damon used both his hands and scooped out a flood of water that I let run under our cell door.Gomez got to the cell and saw the water. He stepped to the side and said, “Get your bedrolls ready after you clean up all that water. You might be moving.”I asked, “What do you mean, might be moving? We either are or we aren’t, right?”Gomez said, “Not if I can help it. I’m going to try to block it because you guys didn’t get at me first. I told you we run the buildings and you guys run the yard. We give you that respect if we get ours.”When we arrived to this prison a few weeks ago, Gomez told us we could stab inmates on the yard but not in the buildings. I said, “No disrespect intended Gomez. An entire cell became open in one block where we want to be. We need to get there before it gets filled. It’s an emergency. Can you help us?”Behind me Damon said, “Way to clean that up homeboy.”Gomez shook his head and said, “It doesn’t work that way. I run the building and you get at me first.”Everyone heard a Mexican yell out the side of his cell. It was time for the Mexicans to work out.“EXCUSE ME ON THE TIER!! THIS IS STRANGER! IT IS NOW TIME FOR OUR WORKOUT ROUTINE! SURENOS, RAZA!! ESTAMOS LISTOS?”Over 70 Mexicans yelled out of their cells in unison, “LISTOS!!”Gomez shook his head and walked back to his desk. He sat facing the vestibule entrance to the building and the tower guards above. A minute later he had a phone in his right hand clamped to his ear and was talking to the tower guard standing at the window above.I went back to work on my prison weapon. There wasn’t any need to worry about noise now. Every Mexican cell in the building had an inmate dropping to the ground for pushups together in unison and the noise was boisterous and intimidating.Stranger yelled, “FIRST GROUP… READY, BEGIN!!”My right hand flew back and forth, back and forth, back and forth.Into the routine, Stranger yelled even louder, “MEXICANS HOW DO YOU FEEL?”Over 70 Mexicans yelled out of their cells in unison and it was like thunder, “ONE HUNDRED PERCENT!!”Stranger yelled, “NEXT SET, VAMANOS!!”I was down to one inch left, back and forth, back and forth, back and forth.Damon was at the cell door watching Gomez. He said, “As soon as you have that piece of steel removed I’ll make the carrying case while you stand at the door. We’ll leave the floor soaked for extra time if we need it. The gun tower won’t pop our cell for us to leave with it flooded.”The six inch long piece of steel was hanging by steel threads. I angled my razor edge intimately at just the right angle to carve it our cleanly and it fell to the floor. I picked it up and put it in the air and said, “Done. Check it out and make me a smooth carrying case to stick it up my ass. Be gentle. I’m a virgin.”I handed it to Damon and stood at the cell door.Damon said, “Virgin? Your ass has done squat routines with a seven-inch sword up it before. Miss me with that shit.”I laughed through gritted teeth and it felt like I was high on adrenaline. Gomez was still on the phone and he turned his head and looked right at me.I turned to avoid his stare so if we won and were moved, I wouldn’t be rubbing it in. He had already insinuated that he had gun tower guard friends in other buildings who would shoot us.Damon had a pile of plastic saran wrap on his lap. We saved it every time we took it off our state issued lunch sandwiches. He was busy molding it into a layered covering. My ice pick was going to fit snuggly inside with a half inch of plastic protection.Stranger yelled, “SURENOS, RAZA, COMO SE SIENTE?”I understood it to mean: southern mafia, Mexican race, how do you feel?”The now pumped camaraderie of the Mexicans was bursting out even louder. All the Mexicans yelled at the top of their voices, “ONE HUNDRED PERCENT!!”The echo of all of their voices resounded through the building. Every building on the yard could hear our building’s Mexicans working out. It was a show of force. Everyone in California’s prisons knew the southern Mexicans were warriors. It didn’t matter how small, or how young, they were known for kamikaze missions for respect and loyalty. They were a deadly foe and there was no bend in them.Unexpectedly, our cell door popped open. I looked at Gomez. He was staring at the tower guards and looked angry. The tower guard at the podium tapped the microphone signifying an announcement.“Inmates Johnson and Smith! You’re moving to building 1, cell 212.”Damon handed me my luggage and grabbed our floor towel to wipe up the water. I got behind him so he was blocking the view into our cell and studied my ice pick sheltered in plastic wrap. It was about the size of a long poop. I spit on the end of it for lubrication and bent over.With my weapon up my ass, I squeezed my butt cheeks together so it would climb deeper in me. There was a good chance Gomez would strip-search us. If he did, he would make us bend over and grab our ass checks to open them and cough three times. I didn’t want my ice pick to peek out at him.Want more? Email me at rollcallthebook@gmail.com for a gift copy. My Author page  http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00571NY5ATo contact Glenn on facebook~https://www.facebook.com/glennlangohrcaliforniaTo contact Glenn on Linkedin ~ http://linkd.in/ZH8lc7 Glenn’s audio books for a free sample on Amazon~ http://amzn.to/Yi9Uxo  PR Newswire articles

Roll Call, A True Crime Prison Story of Corruption and Redemption by Glenn Langohr is Now Available in Audio Book

I am so excited! Hit this link for a FREE sample of Roll Call, A True Crime Prison Story of Corruption and Redemption by Glenn Langohr  http://bit.ly/XPcVWE About 9 months ago  Jason Lovett contacted me and told me how much he loved my first novel Roll Call, A True Crime Prison Story of Corruption and Redemption. He is 20 years old and asked me if he could narrate it. He did and is perfect for it as that is the age of the main character BJ, who enters the drug war with abandon. Roll Call is one of those rare books that is both Character driven and Story driven. It is an epic battle of God over evil, hope over addiction and is a snapshot of how our culture is dealing with the drug war the wrong way, by sending people to prison over it. I told Jason, who is my nephew's age that I would focus on promoting this as I know how much time he put in!God says in the Bible when 2 or more pray for the same thing, if it in His will, He will grant it. So we are praying for Oprah and other publicity!Here's a couple of my favorite reviews: A harrowing, down-and-dirty depiction--sometimes reminiscent of Steven Soderbergh's Traffic--of America's war on drugs, by former dealer and California artist Langohr. Locked up for a decade on drugs charges and immersed in both philosophical tomes and modern pulp thrillers, Langohr penned Roll Call. A vivid, clamorous account of the war on drugs. --Kirkus Discoveries, Nielsen Business Media, 770 Broadway, N.Y Yk "Whacks you aside the head with the force of a baseball bat. Langohr's incredible description of his fight for survival in prison has 'screenplay' written all over it." John South, American Media
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An Excerpt From, How to Make Prison Weapons To Survive a Gang War in Prison: Life in Lockdown by Glenn Langohr

An Excerpt From, How to Make Prison Weapons To Survive a Gang War in Prison: Life in Lockdown by Glenn Langohr
by lockdownpublishingI had to stop making my prison knife. The razor edge of the fingernail clipper was digging to far into the steel table. It was starting to run into deep resistance. Little steel shank slivers were the problem and they were making an obscene amount of noise. The grinding sound was reverberating through the deathly quiet building into a hundred prisoners’ ears. Instead of hearing a pin drop, inmates who had experience, knew steel was being carved into a killing tool.I looked at my cell brother Damon on the top bunk from my crouch on the ground. His long angular, bullet shaped head had a prison made beanie over it wrapped just above his eyes. His eyes were the color of blue ocean water and were focused into laser beams of stress. He said, “Hey homeboy every cell in this building knows you’re carving out a knife. You might as well keep carving.”I laughed at my cell brother’s blunt way of putting things and pretended to go with it and focused on the steel table to see how he would react. The edge of the table had a piece of thin steel that folded over and tucked under that gave me two inches to work with along the two feet of table top length. I had a six-inch long straight line carved an inch deep that was starting to poke through. I had to be extremely careful not to push to hard and fracture off to small of a piece or all my work for the last three days would be for nothing. I positioned my clipper edge in the already cut open steel and angled it and slid it back and forth as lightly as possible.Damon grunted above me and I heard him moving in agitation as he maneuvered off the top bunk.I heard his feet hit the ground, as did the rest of the quiet building. I knew he was headed for the cell door to see what the prison guards were doing. I asked, “Are the guards trippin?”I knew the building guards were gone to feed the rest of the buildings but the tower guards were always there.Damon grunted and said, “They’re slippin. One is asleep and the other one is either texting someone on his phone or looking for a new girlfriend on Facebook. There are a few Mexicans in their cells staring over here. They know what you’re doing.”I asked, “What about the Black inmates?”Damon grunted and said, “None of them are up. They assume everyone has a knife and sleep through everything while locked down.”It was time for me to stop but I didn’t want to. I had to get this done before the guards came back inside. I said, “We might get moved to building one next to the Mexican Mobsters this morning or this afternoon. I want this done before then.”Damon didn’t even turn around and look at me. He stood like a statue staring at the inside of the building deep in thought. He was probably pissed at me for being so hard headed. I should have talked strategy with him before plowing through survival stress on my own these last three days. I knew he trusted me, but cell brothers had to stay on the same page.I said, “Excuse me for not consulting you on this. My bad.”That was all it took. Damon turned and faced me with a stoic expression. I got as close to a smile as I was going to get and saw him relax a little.He nodded his head and said, “So much for sleep. I’m going to work out to drown out some of the noise from your machine shop.”He stood two feet in front of me and had just enough room to drop to the ground for a set of pushups before the toilet and cell door swallowed up our space. I watched him pump out five pushups and then jump back to his feet and lift each knee to his chest. After his tenth set of burpies, his long and muscular white body got damp with sweat. It was over 100 degrees outside and sweat started glistening down his body. It made the ink on his tattoos shine with more clarity. On his shredded back I watched a collage of ink crafted into a gambling scene move around as his muscles flexed and contracted. There was an Ace of Spades and a three-leaf clover circling toward each other like they were being shuffled every time he did a pushup. Underneath, on his lower back there was crime scene tape that read: DEATH BEFORE DISHONOR.I turned back around and started carving again lost in my thoughts. Half of my shank was visible. The fingernail clipper, my third one in three days, was getting dull and it was taking longer.I got the last clipper of the two-fingernail set and went back to work. Very lightly, I slid the sharp edge three inches back and forth. Sweat beaded and ran down my forehead and I realized making the knife was a form of therapy. It was a calming reaction to the stress of a potential race war with the Mexicans, and always the possibility of other problems.Time disappeared and evaporated as another inch of my new shank became visible. My hand adjusted and found the two-inch range to drive the razor edge of the nail clipper back and forth.The sounds of Damon’s feet dropping to the ground and popping back up stopped. The grinding noise against the table shrieked obscenities unhindered again into the now quiet building so I stopped and turned to look at Damon.He was staring at me with his head tilted back in a look that I decided was a constant appraisal. Like he was studying an unknown insect to see if it was poisonous.He said, “BJ you can finish in a few minutes when the Mexicans work out. After I shower I’ll make you a carrying case for your new luggage.”I nodded my head and then couldn’t help but laugh at my life. How did it get to this point? Want more? Email me at rollcallthebook@gmail.com for a gift copy. My Author page  http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00571NY5ATo contact Glenn on facebook~https://www.facebook.com/glennlangohrcaliforniaTo contact Glenn on Linkedin ~ http://linkd.in/ZH8lc7 Glenn’s audio books for a free sample on Amazon~ http://amzn.to/Yi9Uxo 
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Glenn Langohr Spoke To The Orange County Performing Arts Group About His Best Selling Prison Books

Glenn Langohr Spoke To The Orange County Performing Arts Group About His Best Selling Prison Books
by lockdownpublishingGlenn Langohr Spoke To The Orange County Performing Arts Group About His Best Selling Prison BooksAfter being featured in the Orange County Register on the front page, Mel Menifee from the Cabaret Division of the Performing Arts in Orange County contacted Glenn to speak to their civic group. After speaking to Mel on the phone, Glenn researched their website. “I couldn’t believe what a perfect fit it was. Their mission statement, ‘Through art, we believe cultural, racial and poverty divides can be broken down”, is what I also passionately believe.A few minutes into the speech, Glenn said, “I’m a best seller in the Kindle store on Amazon, but I need you guys to get me on TV, preferably the Oprah Winfrey channel so I can be a best seller in print as well!”See video of Glenn speaking to the group~  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ujPUrK0cACUGlenn explained how he started writing redemptive drug war and prison books from a cell in solitary confinement after running away from home as a 12 year old kid, “The law started catching up with me at 18 years old for selling marijuana.” Glenn went on to meet a meth dealer and started using the drug in hopes of being able to make all the money back law enforcement seized from him. He says, “I was stuck in a cycle of trying to make enough money to feel like I could quit the business.”Glenn explained, “I love to speak at colleges to Criminal Justice classes at Universities as a guest Lecturer and expert on the drug war and prison culture. I also hope to speak to kids in High Schools about the dangers of using drugs.”Glenn read a portion from his first novel Roll Call and the Kirkus Discoveries Nielson Media review from NY, “A harrowing, down-and-dirty depiction–sometimes reminiscent of Steven Soderbergh’s Traffic–of America’s war on drugs, by former dealer and California artist Langohr. Locked up for a decade on drugs charges and immersed in both philosophical tomes and modern pulp thrillers, Langohr penned Roll Call. A vivid, clamorous account of the war on drugs.” –Kirkus Discoveries, Nielsen Business Media, 770 Broadway, N.Y YkGlenn Langohr also talked about his new Christian Prayer book that is in the top 5 in the Amazon Kindle store in prayer books. To purchase it in print or kindle go here~ http://amzn.to/YPq8ud After speaking to the group for 20 minutes, Glenn Langohr signed copies of his books and donated a few to their charity to auction off for underprivileged kids. He also answered questions about prison conditions.To find Glenn Langohr’s books and social media sites, or contact him for copies for review and interviews, go here:rollcallthebook@gmail.comTo purchase Glenn’s books in print, kindle or audio in the UK http://www.amazon.co.uk/-/e/B00571NY5AIn the US http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00571NY5ATo contact Glenn on facebook~https://www.facebook.com/glennlangohrcaliforniaTo contact Glenn on Linkedin ~ http://linkd.in/ZH8lc7 Glenn’s audio books for a free sample on Amazon~ http://amzn.to/Yi9Uxo http://www.lockdownpubishing.comhttp://www.audiobookprisonstories.comPR Newswire articles

An Interview With Best Selling Prison Author Glenn Langohr

An Interview With Best Selling Prison Author Glenn LangohrPosted on March 28, 2013by lockdownpublishingHow much of yourself is hidden in the characters in your books? A lot. I lived a life as a drug criminal for many years. It started as a runaway at the age of 12. It continued for 20 more years. Through writing, I found a spiritual way to deal with it in a positive way. How much of a story do you have in mind before you start writing? I usually have the story already done before I start. Of course a few new twists and turns can happen but for the most part, I see the story as if it is a movie.How do you develop and differentiate your characters? I paint with the true colors of life, with real characters, so they are divided by different drug gangs, different races, different sides of the law and different motivations.Do you have specific techniques you use to develop the plot and stay on track? At times, my writing turns to fiction to transition the story from point A to point B and that Is when it gets hard to stay on track. Sometimes I have to throw away sections and start over.How (or when) do you decide that you are finished writing a story? In the beginning that was hard because I wanted the perfect ending. My first novel, Roll Call: A True Crime Prison Story of Corruption and Redemption is 700 pages but I got the perfect ending! Kirkus Discoveries from NY Nielson Media reviewed it and called me a “Master Director” and said, “A Harrowing-Down-and-Dirty Depiction of the U.S. War on Drugs” they also related it to my favorite drug war movie “Traffic”. Now all my books are way shorter. I figured out how to end them a little easier.Is there a message in your writing you want readers to grasp? I have nine drug war and prison books that are meant to do two things. I strive to shine a light on how “tough on crime” political platforms are hurting us as a society because they aren’t “smart on crime” and we need more compassion in relation to the drug laws. My books show human beings being sent to prison who are addicted to drugs and fighting poverty the only way they know how. While in prison, the readers can see for themselves that the addiction is bred into an affliction much harder to escape, where gangs, tattoos and violence are the solution to the pressure. What do you think that does for the community when those petty drug criminals are released without any new skills or way to live, starting over from scratch, without a job, or a place to live? What are you working on right now? The TV show “Lock Up Abroad” interviewed me for the upcoming season that is going to focus on U.S. Prisons. They want me to write a story without any fiction at all about my time in prison toward the end of my sentence when some crazy stuff happened.Have you always wanted to be a writer? No, I never imagined it until I was in prison for 10 years and stuck in a cell in solitary confinement.At what age did you discover your love of writing? I was 32 years old at the time.What was the first story that you wrote? Roll Call: A True Crime Prison Story of Corruption and Redemption.When were you first published? How were you discovered? I published in 2009 after sending my manuscript to a bunch of publishers.What is the most difficult part of the whole writing process? Going over it again and again to make it perfect. The rewriting can be overwhelming and it takes other professional readers and authors to add their thoughts.What do you like to read? I love suspense thrillers, romance, young adult, crime anything, mystery and Westerns.What writer influences you the most? There are so many it is hard to name one. Lee Childs is fantastic. James Patterson writes short chapters the way I do. James Clavelle writes culture the way I do.If your book was made into a TV series or Movie, which actors would you like to see playing your characters? I envision making stars out of real prisoners who are in my books. Why have someone pretend to be a Mexican Mobster or Hell’s Angel when the real thing is available? Where can people learn more about you and your books?rollcallthebook@gmail.comTo purchase Glenn’s books in print, kindle or audio in the UK http://www.amazon.co.uk/-/e/B00571NY5AIn the US http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00571NY5ATo contact Glenn on facebook~https://www.facebook.com/glennlangohrcaliforniaTo contact Glenn on Linkedin ~ http://linkd.in/ZH8lc7 Glenn’s audio books for a free sample on Amazon~ http://amzn.to/Yi9Uxo http://www.lockdownpubishing.comhttp://www.audiobookprisonstories.com
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Glenn Langohr's Prison Book Underdog Got Another Great Review From One of Amazon's Top 500 Reviewers!

 Ionia Martin "Ionia" - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)   This review is from: UNDERDOG, A True Crime Thriller of Prison Life (Prison Killers- Book 4) (Kindle Edition)

I find this a difficult book to review--at least for me personally--let me preface this with the reasons why. I want this review to be fair and honest so I would like everyone who reads this to understand my position.

This is not my genre, nor is it my standard reading material. I tend to review literary fiction, genre fiction, non-fiction historical, and classics. I teach English Literature. I am not familiar with the writing style of this author or the subject matter at hand, and I lived in Crescent City, California so I may have a bit of a preexisting opinion of the City and Pelican Bay from that. I will do my best to offer an impartial review regardless.

Glenn Langohr has written a gritty book filled with truth about the side of prison life that we don't see from the outside. He writes from a position of authority, having lived what he writes about first hand. This makes his writing very honest, but also difficult for me to judge by my usual standards. I can't say that this was the most refined writing I have ever read, but the honest truth is--it didn't matter.

The tale this author weaves begins in a way I hadn't expected, and I wasn't sure what to think. The first chapter fumbled a little in my opinion, as though he was trying to find his legs beneath him. After that, the book really took off and it was impossible to put down after that. The story he tells of how inmates are treated at Pelican Bay was difficult for me to reconcile as I do know what a boost to the economy the prison brought to one of Northern California's most desperate cities. I do believe his story, and I feel for those who have had to live through the things he spoke of, but sometimes it is hard to accept reality--especially when you are used to seeing the other side of the coin.

What I liked about this book the most, and what I felt earned this book the four stars I gave it, was Glenn's ability to retain the reader's interest. He may not have attended a fancy university to hone his craft of writing, but there is such a human element to his words and his ability to connect with you as you read his story on a personal level made this the kind of book you want to keep reading and tell your friends about. His message at the end of the story is both compassionate and detailed, which added a lot to this book in my opinion.

The one negative I will mention, and it is just my opinion of course, is that I don't get the cover. It somehow reminds me of 'Joker' from batman, and I don't really get what it has to do with the story. It looks cool, but I also think it might make this book seem a little more fantasy than reality and might frighten off some of the more mature people who would ordinarily pick this book up and give it a try.

** Update: I have just discovered that the cover I am looking at is only one of the covers. So, disregard this last part if you have the orange and black cover, which is perfectly appropriate for the story.
Overall, this was short, unexpected and something that I think has a lot of value, both as entertainment and a dose of reality.

This review is based on a digital copy from the author. My opinions are my own.



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Please Welcome My Awesome Author Friend From The UK, Tracey Alley

Please Welcome My Awesome Author Friend From The UK, Tracey Alley! I had the chance to meet her about a year ago and wanted to give her story and her books some publicity here in the U.S. She has helped my books get publicity in the U.K, so please check her out and buy and share her books! Here's an interview with her:

Tracey can you tell me about the first book you published?

The first novel I published was Erich's Plea.  That's the first novel in the fantasy series The Witchcraft Wars.  It's a classic, epic fantasy tale that essentially asks the question 'how far would you go to save someone/thing you loved?'  It explores the different definitions of love such as romantic love, love of a friend, parental love and love for parents as well as love for your kingdom.  The story is told via the ambitions of conquest by an evil sorceress who possesses an alien form of magic to the land of Kaynos ranged against a motley assortment of extremely unlikely allies using their own, traditional form of magic as well as other battle skills.  There's a lot of twists and turns throughout the series and it's very character driven.
Erich's Plea is FREE today!





Can you tell me the order of your books?


Erich's Plea, Ursula's Quest, then Slade's Destiny.  I also have an anthology of short stories featuring background info on some of The Witchcraft Wars series which can be read either before the series or after although all the action in The Kaynos History Tales takes place before the events in The Witchcraft Wars.
What are some of the best highlights to your writing life so far?
So many highlights in my writing career.  All the expected ones I guess, first sale, first 5 star review, first fan letter but for me the biggest highlight of my writing career was having my Mum, now deceased, read Erich's Plea and enjoying it.  She, and my Dad, had always been my greatest supports but also my harshest critics - if they thought the writing was bad they never held back in telling me so and I cherish them both for that.
What frustrates you about the publishing process?
In terms of traditional publishing it is unbelievably frustrating at how difficult it can be to get someone to even look at your work.  The big publishers tend to be more interested in pushing their already established names rather than seeking out new talent - and believe me there is a huge world of very talented authors out there who can't get a look in with traditional publishing.  The other very frustrating aspect of traditional publishing is the extremely low returns to authors.  I actually had a contract with one of the big publishers for The Witchcraft Wars series but when I compared that to publishing independently there was simply no comparison.  I turned down their offer and have been Indie ever since and doubt very much I would ever change my mind.
In terms of Indie publishing the biggest frustration there is the lack of having a huge marketing team behind you to get your products in the public eye.  All of your promotion and marketing has to come through your own hard work and the help of people like yourself who are willing to give Indie authors a voice.
Can you tell me about some of your best reviews for your books?
I've had many wonderful reviews for my work, which is incredibly humbling.  I think the reviews where fans are asking for more of your work are probably the most gratifying.  Although, having said that, many reviews can be very favourable but still point out areas for improvement and to me, they are very important if you want to keep putting out quality work.
Can you give me the important links to purchase your books in the U.S. and U.K. for my readers?
U.S. http://amzn.to/143pdwWU.K.   http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=tracey+alley&x=0&y=0
Can you give me any of your social sites?
My website is http://traceyalley.weebly.com/Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/pages/Tracey-Alley-Author/127959000550782Twitter - https://twitter.com/traceylalleyWattpad - http://www.wattpad.com/mystoriesEmail - world.of.kaynos@gmail.com
I am a Christian myself who loves the Lord and I'm so glad you are as well! Can you tell me a little about how your faith has grown?
The story of my journey towards God and my walk with Him since is a rather long one with more than a few miracles along the way.  The short version is that I was not born into a specifically Christian household.  My Mum was what would best be called 'a seeker' - she was searching for something.  As a result she studied with many different denominations, looked at many other philosophies, studied the sciences extensively but she was in her 40's before she gave her life to God.  My Dad [Step-Dad actually] was an Aboriginal who believed in the Dreamtime and taught my sisters and I about that.  Briefly put both my parents encouraged my sisters and I to seek out 'the truth' for ourselves and not to be influenced by others but to think for ourselves.
I had an acceptance, if you will, of God's existence for a very long time - since I was a small child actually - but never considered it of any importance in my life.  I had been told a story by my Mum, which most people don't believe but I swear is true, that when I was age 4 we lived in a house across the road from a big park with a very large, very deep man-made lake.  I couldn't swim.  Mum was knitting and not really paying attention to what I was doing when she suddenly heard a voice, not in her head but in the air, which said 'socks and shoes off, in the water' and that is exactly how Mum found me - had it not been for that voice, an angel probably, I would have gone further into the water and drowned.  So I was always aware of God as a 'real' Being.  
I married first when I was very young and it was a tumultuous relationship that ended badly - no one's fault really, we were just both too young.  After my divorce I sunk into a very deep depression, something I had been prey to off and on since I was 14.  Mum was living in New Zealand at the time so I decided to go over and spend some time with her to maybe pull myself out of my depression.  Long story short I became the target of a very dangerous stalker.  He broke into our house many times, damaged my car - it was near continual and very scary.  The man involved was a paranoid schizophrenic with a long history with local police and yet, despite all his efforts I was never hurt by him, apart from being emotionally frightened, he was never able to actually get his hands on me.  This made me start really thinking about God in a much more serious way as I believed firmly that I was somehow under the Lord's protection.  I'm ashamed to admit that I'm quite stubborn so in spite of some very close calls where my escape can only be called miraculous I didn't immediately give my life to God.  It would take me another eight years before I finally realised how long He had been calling me and I gave myself up fully to Him.  I've never felt a greater sense of peace than I did at my eventual Baptism and my relationship with God continues to grow - in spite of me   I have never, in the 13 years since, considered that I had a very strong faith so I was taken completely by surprised about a year ago when I had several people, in different situations, tell me how strong my faith was and how much they admired my faith.  I was shocked and take no credit for this - whatever I may have, whatever I may be it is only Jesus living within me.
I love listening to worship music like that band Hillsong? Have you heard of them and do you have any special music or Bible verses that bring you closer to the living God?
I have heard of Hillsong and enjoy much of their music.  The congregation I worship with, small though it is, has our own band and they perform a combination of many different songs and hymns, including one my Mum wrote not long before her death.  I tend to be a little old fashioned in some ways and my favourite hymns are Ancient Words, There Is A Redeemer and The Battle Hymn of The Republic.  
As for favourite verses there are so many that inspire me it is hard to pick one.  If I had to though it would probably be "I will never leave you, nor forsake you."  Knowing that God is always there for me, that Jesus lives within me is the most incredible gift I have ever been given.  As you know, I started writing true life drug war and prison thrillers based on my old life of crime, but now I also write Christian Prayer books, do you plan on writing other genres?
I have published an anthology of poetry, a great love of mine, called Reflections: A Modern Anthology.  At the moment I'm working on a mystery/thriller and have plans for a series of novels after that before returning to fantasy.  I don't feel confident enough to put my thoughts or feelings about God into a book... yet - you never know what the future will bring and if that is something He calls me to do I will respond.  I do write a Christian blog which is based solely on my own studies and beliefs - I try not to 'preach' but simply outline the lessons from the Bible and I encourage my readers to seek out the truth for themselves by reading the Bible and prayer and meditation to hear that 'small, still voice of God'.  This is the address if you're interested - http://traceyalley.blogspot.com.au/  Should you read some of the posts you will realise fairly quickly I'm not the most conventional of Christians but that is just my walk with God 


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Lift You UP Blog - Always there for You: GUEST AUTHOR INTERVIEW WITH GLENN LANGOHR

Lift You UP Blog - Always there for You: GUEST AUTHOR INTERVIEW WITH GLENN LANGOHR Check out this awesome page from my new friend James in the UK. He has a great site for authors to promote their books and for readers to connect with authors and find great new books! He is a great Christian and he let me talk about how I went from writing in prison on drug charges to becoming a best selling author of drug war and prison thrillers that are chalked full of redemption.


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Attention All Authors and Readers of Great Books: authorsdb.com is the Hottest New Site

Attention All Authors and Readers of Great Books: authorsdb.com is the Hottest New Site

authorsdb.com

Authors DB is a great way to find a hot new author and book to read and it is also a great place for authors to share their books.

At Authors DB I was able to not only give my newest Prison Thriller Books a place to show off all my greatest review, book covers and awards, I am also able to update any new videos that relate to a book on youtube! Check this one out I posted:


I highly recommend dropping by Authors DB to meet hot new authors and to find something great to read! Stop on by authorsdb.com 
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Another Great Review For My True Prison Story Prison Riot!

Prison Riot by glenn langohr review From http://www.dealsharingaunt.blogspot.com I was not too surprised when I read Glenn's latest book Prison Riot. I previously reviewed Underdog here !
This book was about what happens after a prison riot. The prison dynamic is a  hard one to follow, and is not for the faint of heart. Being in lock down was horrible. They do not care if they get your name right, or your information right. The main goal is to keep the prison safe. What has to be done to ensure your own personal safety was a little surreal to me. We take for granted how we live, and our freedom. The thing that I took for granted the most was showers. It is a good thing that these prisoners were not afraid of small spaces. I would be terrified. The guards own you, and everything you do. This is a true story, and that made me feel even more for the innocent prisoners that were not involved in the prison riot. I recommend this to crime buffs everywhere so that they can see the other side of law enforcement. I am Giving this book a 5/5, because I am still interested in reading more from this author. Even though I have already read two of his books.






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