Amy Lignor's Blog: Lover of Books, page 11

Blog Tour

Hey everyone!

Tribute Books and I are setting up a blog tour for Until Next Time coming out February 1, 2012. I'd love to be a part of the blogs out there! Let me know if there are any interested parties :)

Thanks alot!

Amy

RT Book Reviews Gives 13 - 4 1/2 Stars!

Had to share! Just received the February 2012 edtion of RT Book Reviews Magazine and they have given "13" 4 1/2 stars. The edition is on newstands now. On top of that, I'm situated right near Dean Koontz - one of my favorites, talk about fate!!! :)

Look Forward to the New…But Remember the ‘Old’

Soon we will all be singing Auld Lang Syne as that mighty crystal ball drops in New York City ushering in the New Year with all of its chances, goals and mystique. That is the moment. That is the second on this earth every year when you are looking ahead to another three hundred and sixty-five days and thinking about all the amazing things that could occur. At that one moment in time, everything is still fresh and new, and absolutely anything is possible. If you’re an entrepreneur, perhaps this is the year that you will open that long-awaited business and become bigger than Trump, himself. Perhaps you will write the next bestselling novel and your name will be mentioned by the media in the same sentence as, Jane Austen, Stephen King, Dean Koontz, and the beloved J.K. Rowling. Perhaps you will sing out the words to Auld Lang Syne so loudly and with such perfection that the whole wide world will stop to listen, because you’ve just proven that you are the next Justin Bieber. That’s the moment of sheer nirvana - where you look forward to being the ‘best of the best’ in 2012.

But there is something that also happens at that moment, and is the basis of the song you will be singing; the rhetorical question of whether or not it is right that ‘old times be forgotten.’ The answer? Absolutely not. This old song is a call - a shout out to the ones you love. These lyrics remind you of the friends who have stood beside you during your toughest times, and the family members that were so precious in your life who have now been taken up to Heaven - to run free in the fields with St. Francis and his animals. The losses that 2011 brought to many were difficult - more than a few hearts were broken. But those ‘days gone by,’ and the people who graced us with their presence and left our world far too soon, should most definitely be remembered and coveted for all time. Here are just a few…

Elizabeth Taylor: Her heart gleamed brighter than her jewels.

Jack LaLanne: Attempted to get the world off fast food and onto his workout machines.

Betty Ford: A woman who struggled with her own illness while fighting for the best that this country had to offer

Steve Jobs: The heart of a warrior, the soul of an angel, and the mind of a genius

Elliot Handler: Without him - no Barbie, no Hot wheels, no childhood.

Clarence Clemons: He was ‘The Boss’ - even Springsteen will agree.

Amy Winehouse: A spirit that was too late to save, but a voice that will live on forever

Al Davis: Go Raiders!

Andy Whitfield: Spartacus!
Arch West: Life without Doritos would’ve ‘sucked cheese.’

Arthur Laurents: West Side Story, Gypsy, La Cage Aux Folles - a true writer!

Bill Keane: Taught us what a ‘circus’ a family can be in every newspaper across the globe.

Bubba Smith: Moses Hightower in Police Academy. The laughs kept on coming…

Cliff Robertson: An Academy Award didn’t stop him from standing up for what was right!

Dan Wheldon: He went out in a blaze of glory doing what he loved, and sped quickly through Heaven’s gate.

Dorothy Emma Howell Rodham: a strong woman who brought the rest of the world one of the strongest women we will ever meet…and we NEED her!

Duke Snider: The Brooklyn Dodgers were lucky.

Harmon Killebrew: The ‘Killer’ who could hit a home run with his eyes closed.

Heavy D: The kindest man that anyone had ever met…and the most talented.

Jane Russell: Stunning…

Joe Frazier: An icon in the ‘ring’ and out.

Jerry Robinson: Without the Joker, Batman just wouldn’t have been Batman.

Michael Gough: A slew of films and the ‘watcher over Batman’ - again, the ‘Caped Crusader’ took the hit.

Anne McCaffrey: The science fiction writer who went out with pen in hand and imagination flowing.

Peter Falk: There will never be ANY detective as good as Columbo. There is just NO chance!

Harry Morgan: M.A.S.H. said it all, and Colonel Potter was the one we all wanted as our grandfather.

Yes…there were more. In all aspects of life - political, social, music, movies, directing, writing music, sports - people touched our lives on so many levels that they will never be forgotten. As people, we have had our own personal tragedies, as well. And we will never forget our own families and friends who are now in those fields with St. Francis watching over us and making sure that we do not join them before our time.

This writer’s saddest loss of 2011 was the great, Andy Rooney. The wit, the charm - from the writing to the delivery - he knew what life was about, what was going wrong, and didn’t apologize. An inspiration and a voice that is sorely missed.

This year marked the 10th anniversary of 9/11: Nothing to say…silence…

And our men and women who fought courageously: Thank God for them…

Everyone has their story of loss - some quick, some tragic, some a slow, final bow as they move on to reunite with their loved ones who have gone before. But the memories of each day, each second that we had with them, need to never be forgotten. They need to be cherished; stories need to be told of the person they were; the wisdom they offered needs to be passed down to the next generation; and the humorous moments that we were lucky enough to be a part of, as well as the sheer spirit that they brought into our lives, has to be remembered.

So as this New Year comes to pass and we gear up for a 2012 that we hope will be filled with luck, light, and laughter, we must always remember the beauty of the people who touched our lives and shared with us the ‘gifts’ that God gave to them.

Should old acquaintance be forgot,
and never brought to mind?
Should old acquaintance be forgot,
and auld lang syne…

We two have run about the slopes,
and picked the daisies fine;
But we’ve wandered many a weary foot,
since auld lang syne.

We two have paddled in the stream,
from morning sun till dine;
But seas between us broad have roared,
since auld lang syne.

And here’s a hand my trusty friend!
And give us a hand o’ thine!
And we’ll take a right good-will draught,
for auld lang syne.

For auld lang syne, my dear,
For auld lang syne.
We'll take a cup o’ kindness yet,
For auld lang syne.

Have a Safe and Blessed New Year

Until Next Time, Everybody.
Amy

Tribute Books - Until Next Time

Hey everyone! when you get a chance go to:

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13...

Just uploaded on Goodreads with more to come!

Hope you all had a terrific holiday and are looking forward to a truly fantastic New Year!

A New Author Interview with Clinton Festa!

For anyone who has read my review for the mythological tale, Ancient Canada, by Clinton Festa, you already know that I feel very strongly about the hard work and research the author went through to create this literary marvel. I have been doubly honored because I recently was able to 'sit and speak' with the author, and received a clear view of who he is and how Ancient Canada came into being. So, without further adieu, please meet Clinton Festa.
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The first question is a ‘must know’ for me. Where did this idea come from?

Ancient Canada began in New York City in the summer of 2006. I had just visited my old college roommate and was walking around, alone, looking for lunch while he was at work. Lebanese food, Korean, Peruvian... I couldn’t believe that I had eaten it all. I thought somebody needed to make up a country, an entire kitchen of cooking for that country, and open up a restaurant with its ‘authentic’ food. The restaurant idea became a mythological creation. Canada fit best for the story, but already had her mythology and folklore. In the end, an alternate Canada fit even better.

The research must have been a lifelong project - from celestial lights to Polaris, Horus…do you love research?

In the days before the internet I would have said, no. Today it can still be tedious, but I enjoyed it for several reasons. You start with a thought or a problem, like: “I’ve got a character who can see the dreams of others while they sleep…so, I better read up on dreams.” Then, first stop, the internet. One link leads to another and before you know it, you’re reading up on Carl Jung, archetypes, symbols in dreams, how those symbols are present in Greek and Roman mythology, etc. You’ve suddenly got more ideas to write about than you know what to do with. The more ideas you have, the more you can dovetail your story. And even if your little sister throws your manuscript into the fireplace, you’ve learned a lot.

There are many points in the story that ‘mirror’ a historical figure of some sort, such as Joan of Arc and her ability as a mere woman to lead an army. Did you base certain parts of the journey on historical figures that are perhaps favorites of yours?

Yes. Brother Lichen is a character based very closely on St. Francis of Assisi, one of my favorite historical figures. Funnily enough, Marigold’s character seems to be based on Oscar Wilde, but that was a complete accident. Polaris…ominous quatrains are based on
Nostradamus, ominous quatrains... There’s a lot of layering, and if anyone out there is reading it thinking there might be more to something, drop me an email at askmarigold@ancientcanada.com. One of the things I wanted to do with the book is create a character you can actually speak to, so don’t be surprised if I respond in character.

You go extremely in-depth on issues of inequality, spirituality, as well as gender-biased situations - did you do research on the political and religious backgrounds during ‘ancient times?’

No. I tried to focus more on modern ones. However, some of our modern issues have been around since ancient times. Like when one narrator states his belief that any spiritual inequality based solely on gender indicates an obvious absence of the divine. If that’s true, he states, we don’t need divine permission to fix it.

There is some beautiful poetry within the text of this novel, did you create each and every poem as well?

Yes, and thank you! One poem, The Good Dingleberry, has a story to it. I had just met my future wife in 2003 and was a little scared at how quickly we fell in love. I wrote The Good Dingleberry, a sonnet, in about fifteen minutes. Then I spent the next three hours agonizing over every word, and probably only changed two or three. I didn’t realize what a ‘dingleberry’ was at the time, but it still worked. She loved the poem. A chapter in the middle of the book is a love story about two creatures that are literally two of a kind, and I thought The Good Dingleberry fit perfectly. With my wife’s blessing, I included it in the novel.

Did you ever consider publishing this book as a continuing set of stories that could perhaps appear in historical magazines or newsletters?

Yes, I thought that might have worked, especially with the rotating narrator structure. I would have wanted to finish the whole thing first, though. I would have been too afraid that something would need a change, then I’d have to go back and alter something that’s already published or, more realistically, find a way to work around it at the expense of the narrative.

There are so many, but one of my favorite quotes appears ‘round the middle when Queen Erika announces: I will be silent when I have nothing left to say. Do you believe authors should feel the same way?

Yes. I’ve never thought of it that way, but now that I do, yes. Otherwise you wind up (forgive me, but) creatively constipated, even rotting on the inside. And we all know how uncomfortable that can be.

What project are you working on now?

The Fables of Ancient Canada, which I’m currently posting free on my website, www.ancientcanada.com. They’re about a page long each, and new ones are added regularly, about once or twice a week. After all, what good ancient world doesn’t have its fables to share? We have to be fair. Some people just don’t have time to read very much, or their ‘to-read’ list is a mile long. The fable format solves this. But, if I left the world of Ancient Canada, my dream project is The Trans-Saharan Railway. Cairo to Dakar. 1920’s, French and British imperialists, Bedouin, Algerians, a kingdom in the sand, a desperate love story, and maybe a talking robotic camel. Or…maybe just regular camels. I haven’t worked out all the details. Anybody reading this, feel free to steal this idea.

Is there a specific genre (or, genres) that you like to read above all others?

Epics and comedies.

And we always end with a few questions that our readers get a kick out of - it’s a bit of an ‘Ode to James Lipton’:

What is your favorite book?

Reluctant Saint: The Life of Francis of Assisi, by Donald Spoto (Viking Press). You could be any faith, or none at all, and be inspired by that man. I certainly was.

What is your favorite word?

Lately it’s ancientcanada.com. Okay, okay, sorry. Hmm... I’ve got a lot of fond memories from hearing people say ‘Found it!’

What is your least favorite word?

This is the easy one; the last one was the hard one. If I had to pick one word, and only one word, that I would call my single least favorite, they would be: moniker, coiffure, tome, whilst, thrice, shan’t, youngling, cusp, and persons (instead of ‘people‘). It made me cringe just to write those.

What author do you love to read?

Tolstoy.

What profession other than your own would you like to attempt?

Cartoonist for a daily comic strip. Thankfully I had a chance to be a cartoonist/writer for my college humor magazine.

What profession would you not like to attempt?

Politics. There’s too much politics in it.

What is your favorite thing about writing?

The six or seven times you finish writing the same novel. You get to enjoy the sense of accomplishment over and over and over again.

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As you can see, readers, this is a man who not only has the writing talent in spades, but his wit and wisdom make it impossible to not want to know more about him! Go read Ancient Canada now and you will NOT be disappointed!

Happy Holidays!

Until Next Time,
Amy

New YA Series Coming! New Blog!

Hey everyone - check out the new blog that will be 'live' with interviews from authors, publicists, and all industry insiders. And check out the new post! A brand new YA series coming from Tribute Books in February! Do you like the cover? See it at:

http://hellowriters.wordpress.com/

An Extremely Skilled YA Author - Adrian Stephens

Dear Readers:

I have recently been given a truly fantastic YA novel titled, In My Shoes by the author, Adrian Stephens, and I literally have to tell you this is a book that absolutely everyone - every age - would enjoy!

For a constant reader and an all-out book ‘obsessed’ woman, I find myself missing the classics. I’m not talking Shakespeare, or even Jane Austen (especially considering that there are hundreds of writers basing many novels on that great lady nowadays). I mean YA fiction. In this current world, YA is synonymous with demon-killers, witches, wolves, vampires, death, suicide, disease - you know - peppy subjects. Just kidding, there are romance and adventure YA’s out there that are fantastic reads, but writers like Judy Blume, Mary Rodgers, and others really put their stamp on the YA world long ago, and this one book has brought that all back to me.

Using a VERY modern take on the plot of Freaky Friday, Adrian Stephens has created a book that is filled with life lessons, humor, love and the ultimate discovery of who we are and how we can better appreciate the others around us.

Jake Matthews is a senior in high school and is sitting in his physics class day-dreaming. A top-student, Jake is highly dependable and is working his proverbial behind off to get great grades so he can land a full scholarship to college, and not have to put extra pressure on his Mom - a single parent who makes sure that Jake is raised in a house full of love, even though it’s short on money.

Mike is Jake’s best friend. Mike is one of those class clowns that loves to gain attention. However, Mike is also extremely smart - he just can’t seem to find the need or want inside his soul to work harder and make something out of himself. He just likes to kid, laugh and act a bit like a five-year-old. Jake and Mike always hang together, but Jake is a little off today. All he wants to do is stop Nicole Evans at her locker between classes so that he can ask her out. To him, she’s the perfect girl, and not only because of looks. He’s listened and watched Nicole for a long time and believes her to be one of the smartest girls he’s ever met. Unfortunately, Mike picks this day to embarrass his buddy by tripping him in class and making him look like the idiot. So when Jake does corner Nicole, she not only turns him down - she annihilates him.

Crushed and absolutely shocked, Jake heads home mad at his best friend and completely disgusted with that ‘perfect’ girl. The last thing he expects is to wake up AS the perfect girl. Morning arrives and Jake finds himself with female parts that he’s ashamed to look at, high heels that he needs to learn how to walk in, and jars of make-up that he has no clue what to do with. While back in Jake’s room, the perfect Nicole has become one of the creatures she loathes - a boy.

There are absolutely magical scenes in this novel, because it is not based on slap-stick comedy at all times. Yes, there are scenarios that are hysterical, but the conversations that each one of these teens have with parents, friends, teachers, and each other really delve into what it’s like to stand in someone else’s shoes for a while. As ‘Jake,’ Nicole has the ability to get Jake’s Mom to speak about past history, as well as finding out all the wonderful traits that Jake owns. And as ‘Nicole,’ Jake really sees how a two-parent family operates, and just how much they care for one another. (And yes, as always, the Twilight world takes a bow as father and daughter talk over the essence and ‘draw’ of the movie and its actors.)

Working together, and trying not to ruin each other’s life, Nicole and Jake find a balance, a friendship, and perhaps a future attraction. Not to mention the author offers an ending that, as a woman, I am in total agreement with. Fun, charming, and a really perfect story that brings back what YA used to be all about - a great story with a great lesson that everyone, teen and adult, should take the time to learn!

I was also lucky enough to ‘sit down’ with the author, himself, and get his answers to a few questions that will literally help and inspire many authors who wish to turn their writing dream into a reality. So, without further adieu, I give you the extremely skilled, Adrian Stephens.
**

Readers always like to know where the inspiration for a story came from. I sensed that you are a ‘Potter’ fan, and got a little ‘push’ from that magical author?

It’s funny you should say that because my bio mentions that the Harry Potter series sparked my interest in reading fiction. Growing up, I did not like to read. I was a fine reader, but the books I read just didn’t grab me. My brother got me the Harry Potter series (at least the six that were out at the time) and I finished them in a month. I read a lot now, but I still have a lot of holes to fill from my childhood with the classics I missed out on. So, the short answer would be, yes. J.K. Rowling had a large influence on my reading which eventually inspired my writing.

I have to ask, are you the Dad of any teenagers? You seem to really understand both girls and boys feelings at that age, so I was wondering if you are writing from past experience or, like me, currently immersed in the teenage world?

Thank you, first of all. I am the father of two amazing boys, but they have not yet reached their teens. I was the son of divorced parents and I lived with my mother growing up. I would say that I have pulled a lot from past experience, where I had very close friends - both male and female. In the end, teens today may have iPhones instead of Walkmans, but much of the same fears, frustrations and insecurities we felt during that time period are very relatable across generations.

Is the YA genre your favorite genre to write in, or will you be exploring other areas?

Young adult can cover a wide variety of stories, and I would guess that most of my works will at least fit into that genre classification. I do enjoy writing for a YA audience, especially because people of all ages can enjoy YA if the story is done right. I am working on stories that are not as light, but they will still be likely targeted to a YA audience.

With that being asked, what is the next book that you’re working on?

My next novel, 31 Days to Life, is actually much darker than In My Shoes. Sometimes I really struggle to write it, not because I can’t find the words, but because the subject matter is difficult to deal with…at least for me. It focuses on a girl who is kidnapped and assaulted for thirty-one days before being let go by her unknown captor. Once released, she must learn how to pick up the pieces of her life, knowing that the man who did the horrible things to her is still out there. 31 Days to Life is due out next August, but I have the first chapter of the book available on my website, www.adrianstephens.com.

Is your wife one of your ‘readers?’ I ask this because the female perspective, again, is so well done and right on the money, I was wondering if there was a wifely bit of input in the manuscript?

Again, thank you. My wife is one of my readers. That said, she did not want to read the book and feel like she was reading about herself. She would give me input when I asked, but most of the habits for Nicole came from lots of research. When I was done, I gave the book to many ‘readers,’ five of which were women. I asked them each to be as blunt as possible with anything that stood out to them as being unconvincing. I can’t thank my readers and editors enough. I think they did a great job helping me with Nicole.

Is writing your first passion? Readers love to know how it all began for an author - their first experience with the written word. Can you share your beginning?

I can say that, although it wasn’t always my first passion, it is wholeheartedly my first passion now. As a kid I was very practical. As much as I would have loved to have been a writer, singer, or actor, it wasn’t something I paid much thought to because I felt I couldn’t start a family with the instability that ‘trying to make it’ brings. I wanted a family more. So, I went to college and got a degree in Business Management, and started my family.

My beginning came a few years after I had read the Harry Potter series for the first time. It was that series that made me realize how amazing the journey can be to immerse yourself in a book. As I continued reading anything and everything after that, ideas would come to me and I would just write a bit down and save it for later. When I had the idea for In My Shoes, I finally said, “I really think I want to write this.” I didn’t know if I COULD do it, but I decided to try. I wrote the first chapter and, looking back, it wasn’t very good the first time around. As I continued writing I found my voice, my style, how I wanted to develop my story. I went back and fixed the first chapter, but the main thing is, when I got to that last page, I realized that I not only COULD do it, but I loved doing it.

What advice would you give to a debut author just starting out?

I’ve said this in other interviews, but I really feel that getting a good education is important. And, though I think college is really important, most of what I learned for writing occurred in middle and high school. The best advice I can give is, do yourself a favor by learning all that your teachers try to teach you. You never know - 15 years after you learned it, you may just find a real love for it. For every writer, you need to learn your grammar and spelling; spell check can only take you so far. Your characters won’t always use perfect grammar, but you have to know the difference so you can develop your characters with the ‘voice’ you are trying to give them.

Do you like the direction that YA is going in? What do you believe will be the next big ‘hook’ after the vampires recede?

I think it’s great that YA is opening up so many people to reading and finding worlds they would never have found otherwise. There is a lot of creativity out there. I just wish that the market weren’t so flooded with, say, vampires. I mean, I like vampires, wizards, and a couple of elves, but there is a lot out there to be discovered that doesn’t involve fangs. Hopefully we can find some diversity so that a great, original vampire or wizard story doesn’t come along when everyone is too burned out to read it.

And, we always end with a few questions that our readers get a kick out of - it’s a bit of an ‘Ode to James Lipton’:

What is your favorite book?

I know that people will feel it’s too easy an answer, but my favorite book is Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. J.K. Rowling is brilliant. I have never anticipated a book coming out as I did that one. Maybe it’s because it was one of my first, but that is my favorite.

What is your favorite word?

I don’t really have a favorite. As a kid I liked arduous. I don’t know why, but it stands out.

What is your least favorite word?

Again, I don’t really have a least favorite. Let’s just go with words of the four-letter variety.

What author do you love to read?

J.K. Rowling would be too obvious, but true. I’ve read a few series by authors I enjoyed, but I don’t have an author who I’ve followed across different stories. I read The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger. Time travel is so difficult to do and I felt she did an amazing job. I would love to read another story created by her.

What profession other than your own would you like to attempt?

For a practical profession, I would want to try architecture or engineering. Impractically, I would have loved to have been a singer. I love to sing.

What profession would you not like to attempt?

That’s more difficult because there’s not a lot that doesn’t intrigue me. Everything is something to learn. I think I’d have a hard time being a lawyer. I’d always be worried I helped convict an innocent person, or set someone free who was guilty.

What is your favorite thing about writing?

Much like reading, sometimes you don’t know where the story is going to go. I mean, you have the general idea of where you want it to go, but sometimes you start the journey and something occurs to you that changes everything. I love that creative process where even if you may have planned to take a story one place, you feel pulled to take it somewhere else.

My advice, readers? If you are in the mood for a truly inspirational, emotional, powerful and truly humorous story - In My Shoes is the perfect choice!

Until Next Time, Everybody!
Amy

New Interview for Authors!

Hey everyone! Last night I was interviewed about industry news, how debut authors can achieve branding, and had a few laughs - if you'd like to check it out - here's the link!

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/cwbywsdm...

November Writing! A Big Thank You!

Hey everyone. I was just informed that I was a winner of the Never Too Old For YA Books (Group) Writing Contest. I wanted to say 'thank you' - it made my day!! Below is the story :)

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Title: Meet The Reaper
Genre: Short Story
Date started: November 1, 2011
Date finished: November 10, 2011

I always said I would die in snow. God, I hated that stuff. Pounds and pounds of icy-cold crap that everyone in town called ‘pretty’ and ‘lovely.’ There was nothing pretty about it. And that old adage about sitting in front of a roaring fire with the one you love, looking out at the beautiful deer standing in the Norman Rockwell snowfall, is a bunch of crap that some writer made up to set a romantic scene. Frankly, a palm tree, an island, a hot guy, and a margarita with one of those fun little umbrellas would’ve been far more romantic.

But…here I am. The motorcycle underneath me is sputtering; even the metal body is sick and tired of being out here in the cold, not to mention the middle of nowhere. This is my hometown - a speck on the butt of humanity. Talk about small and boring. Besides the cars rusting, there’s not a whole lot of adventure to be found in these woods.

I glance over and see the little orange balls - the pumpkins sitting in their patch waiting for the kids to come and choose. Yup. Not even Halloween yet and the little would-be jack-o’-lanterns are already being covered with a blanket of snow that is SUPPOSED to wait for at least Christmas to get here. The graveyard is on the other side of me. The old, broken rock wall sits there, a sad bit of protection for the bones. The 19th century headstones are falling apart, lined up like an army just waiting to be summoned from their graves to take the rest of us out. Of course, even they don’t want to come out in this.

It’s too bad I wasn’t looking ahead of me instead of at the souls who were supposedly resting in peace. If I had, I might’ve seen the black sheen of ice peeking up from underneath the white blanket. I also would’ve seen the headlights come around the corner doing eighty miles an hour. But…all I ended up seeing was the tree - the big old oak that’d been the site of many accidents over the years. Hell, even some of my high school friends had bit the big one on this curve. And now…I was going to join them.

The impact was brutal. Now I know what a quarterback feels like when nine of those big guys sack him. Oddly enough, I stood up, and tried to get the helmet off that was now caved in and stuck to my head. I watched the car careen across the road and slam into the rock wall. The door opened with a squeal that sounded like my mother’s scream when I hadn’t taken the garbage out like she asked me to do six times in a row - it was that harsh. A body rolled out. Talk about long, flowing hair. If he stood up, he’d probably look like one of those Grecian soldiers ready for battle. But he stayed there, in the snow, curled up in a little ball. He looked like he had made a comfortable bed in the wintry slop, and was resting until the dawn. I walked a bit closer to see. Of course! Turns out my murderer WAS the star quarterback.

When the sky lit up it wasn’t with fire from the smoking car, or a bright light from up above - it was blue. A dark blue that seemed to shimmer and turn the bright white snow into an ice-cold ocean. The figure that suddenly appeared just stood in the graveyard looking around. The robe was black and tattered; the face was nonexistent, except for a pair of yellow eyes that seemed to go back and forth between the long, flowing blond hair resting in the snow bank, and me.

I struggled to get the helmet off, but I couldn’t. I tried to run, but it was like my feet were stuck in the ice. The creature’s scythe shone in the blue light. Yup. This was him. I always thought it was just another writer’s imagination, but it seems that the Grim Reaper I had heard so much about was real. Of course I knew he wasn’t here for me. After all, I was seventeen and, except for my bad attitude, I hadn’t done anything really sinful yet. So I waited for that burst of white light everyone always talked about. I figured if the dark dude was real, there must be some kind of angel waiting to take me up.

The Reaper looked at the figure covered in white and the mess of blond hair, and then marched right over to me. I couldn’t speak. I couldn’t get the damn helmet off. Grabbing me by the arm, I just…disappeared. The darkness surrounded me and I was simply no longer a part of life.

Too bad I didn’t get to stay for a couple of seconds. Only then would I have known that the angel did exist. Apparently he was just new on the job and went to the wrong place. Of course, when we met later on I didn’t blame him - everything looks the same in this town so it’s easy to get confused. He had looked at the blonde hair, too, thinking it was ‘the female’ in the snow, and reached out to bring ‘her’ up. Unfortunately, he had the wrong one…and so did The Reaper. And you will not believe how pissed off his boss was.

But, let’s just say, my world got a whole lot more exciting!

New Industry Blog!

Hey everyone. I opened the new blog for 2012 for industry news, debut author interviews, reviews, etc. Next week we will be having an interview with Amy Ferris, the incredibly funny author of Marrying George Clooney who just got her book to Broadway - believe it or not! And soon will be a one-on-one with a fabulous publicist who will be giving us all pointers :) Hope you can check it out! http://hellowriters.wordpress.com/

Until Next Time,
Amy