Joyce T. Strand's Blog, page 14

WHAT THE EXPERTS SAY: Shannon Muir, Author

Shannon Muir, Author
GHOST OF THE AIRWAVES
"Pretty as a Picture" NEWSHOUNDSShannon Muir’s recently released short story GHOST OF THE AIRWAVES takes readers back to solve a mystery in the “golden age of radio,” a topic she knows something about given her degrees in radio/tv and communications. The author writes non-fiction and fantasy, science fiction and mystery stories, including  "Pretty as a Picture," a mystery in the anthology NEWSHOUNDS.  
In the future, she plans to focus on Mystery, New Pulp, and Genre Fiction. In the meantime, she expects stories submitted to Pro Se Press to be published. When she’s not writing, Muir likes to play multiplayer online games. She lives in California where she works in animation production.
Q: What led you to write your latest short story, GHOST OF THE AIRWAVES – ‘a new pulp tale’? Why set the story in ‘the golden age of radio?’ Is this part of a series?
Shannon Muir: The first two questions you have somewhat go together. I originally wrote GHOST OF THE AIRWAVES because I had one published story out with Pro Se Press (part of Pro Se Productions) called "Pretty as a Picture" in the anthology NEWSHOUNDS. At that time, Pro Se Press also ran an e-magazine, and GHOST OF THE AIRWAVES was submitted for that with the hope it would raise my profile as a writer for the genre and the publisher. Not long after the submission, the e-magazine folded, with the publisher remaining focused on full books, anthologies, and the "Single Shot" digital short story singles that were just starting up then. Anyone who had submitted to the e-magazine ended up in the Single Shot pile to be considered, but as a result over a year went by before I got to the right place in the queue to be considered and released.
As to how it ended up being the specific story that it is, that goes back to when I was in college as a double major in Radio-TV and English-Creative Writing. I wrote a thirty minute teleplay script called FROM THE FATAL HEART in which a dedication and request show DJ (those were very popular at the time) thought his wife committed suicide but she really hadn't; it turned out to be a carefully orchestrated murder. I'd chosen that subject matter because I was a Radio-TV major and in fact a DJ in college; I later established a show on our 10,000 watt college jazz station called "Women of Jazz" which I believe is still running over two decades later. Though that script actually received national recognition as a finalist for an award from a national college radio-television honor society, as I've looked back at it over the years there are some things I wished I'd done better. My DJ lead really played more of a passive role in the story, and I decided to challenge myself by writing a female centered story with a more active lead and see what I got. Also, because most traditional pulp stories are 1920s or 1930s for the most part, I decided to see what happened if I shifted to that time period. DJs as we know them today weren't around yet; radio's power lay heavily in the serialized programs that were broadcast, and the actors and actresses in them the stars of the airwaves. From that core, I built the rest, and I really like the way it turned out.
Right now, GHOST OF THE AIRWAVES is not part of a series, but in my mind I have certainly left it open ended enough to be one. I also really want to do more with these characters. To be honest, though, it's going to take a couple things to make that happen. First, enough people have to buy the short story to show demand. Second of all, positive reviews indicating demand for more would be needed, since a lot of people might buy it but find that was all they needed. Third, of course, is the publisher would have to be open to it. While they don't own the story, Pro Se does do a line of Single Shots that are series in nature, so it seems like if I would continue I owe the courtesy of continuing to work with that publisher if possible.
Q: You’ve written in a variety of genres—both fiction and non-fiction. Is GHOST OF THE AIRWAVES your first mystery? Do you have a favorite? Mystery? Fantasy? SciFi? Romance? Why?
Shannon Muir: My first mystery story actually was the previously mentioned "Pretty as a Picture" in NEWSHOUNDS, which features a newspaper staff in the 1950s using the power of the press to right wrongs. Mine is one of three stories in that book. Those characters were actually based on a "bible" as developed by Pro Se Press, which gave all the backstories of the characters. In a way that was kind of like writing for television – this is done for live-action and animated series, and I have written for an animated series in Japan, as well as worked in other positions on animated shows in the United States. This meant I was accustomed to the challenges of writing a story making sure I followed the rules set out for me. Again, that was extremely fun, and I really became attached to those characters even though they're not my own. If I got the chance to do more with them, I would.
My personal favorites to read are science fiction, fantasy, and mystery. Science fiction and fantasy are exceptionally hard because you have to be able to build a completely believable world. While I have a passion for world building, I haven't built anything strong enough in science fiction or fantasy that I'm really happy with yet. The New Pulp works need some world building because you're often working in another time and place, but by no means to the same extent.
I've done a lot of stuff in a self-published vein that came out of ten years of completed National Novel Writing Month attempts. For people not familiar with it, writers challenge themselves each November to complete a 50,000 word or more first draft of a novel within the month of November. I've done that for ten years straight, and succeeded, but I don't think I'll do that again. It taught me a lot about writing under pressure and how to get out of tight writing corners, and I discovered a lot of ideas that are interesting that I'm making available after doing editing and clean-up on them, but they kind of define being categorized. While they have leading women, they tend to not be Romances. I made that mistake initially, and quickly learned that Romance has a very defined set of terms; most of what I've written doesn't seem to fall there and what little can is a bit of a stretch. They're definitely all about contemporary women trying to find their identity in a variety of situations.
Going forward, I definitely plan to stick heavily to the mystery, New Pulp, and Genre Fiction work. To that end, there are still several stories in the pipeline forthcoming from Pro Se Press and one from Emby Press. Unfortunately I don't know dates for any of them at the moment.
Q: GHOST OF THE AIRWAVES is a short story. Do you prefer writing short stories or novels? How difficult is it to develop characters in a short story? How helpful is setting?
Shannon Muir: Short stories are harder overall. You have a limited amount of time to set up your location and characters so that people can jump in and follow the plot. You can do a lot in a little time but it takes a lot of planning ahead. Every word counts. I prefer on writing whichever way best suits the story I'm trying to tell. If it's a complex character tale, that usually needs a novel. However, if the character's essence can be captured enough to tell the story that you don't need to go into tons of self-examination, novellas or short stories can be more appropriate.
Q: Can you leverage your writing skills from your non-fiction books to writing fiction? What are the key differences?
Shannon Muir: Honestly, this is reversed. I've been trained in writing fiction long before I wrote my columns and later textbooks on the animation writing and production process; I just wasn't aggressively publishing it until later. I didn't do print journalism in college, or broadcast news. My columns and to a degree even the textbooks probably could be better likened to the tone of conversational blogs, helped out by the fact that I did a lot of guest interviews with fellow animation professionals. By then, I'd worked for Sony Animation and Nickelodeon and just had it on my heart to pay what I'd learned and what my friends could teach forward. In fact, I actually got hired to do the textbooks after the textbook company rejected a pitch based on my past columns plus new material, asking me to focus on the material they wanted to feature. That was a very specific situation of wanting to educate in a medium that has captured my heart since my youth and for which I've been proud to have be part of my career, and as you may notice I've not done anything non-fiction since. I'm not sure I feel qualified to compare the differences.
Q: Why do you focus on female protagonists?
Shannon Muir: I think in general because being a woman, I feel more confident coming from that viewpoint. As noted above, I did have a male lead in the FROM THE FATAL HEART teleplay, but I found him too passive. It also gave an interesting challenge to me when pitching stories to Pro Se Press because traditionally private investigators in those types of stories are male, so I hunted out the untold stories of how women might be able to make a difference outside of the norm. Even in the NEWSHOUNDS story with the ensemble cast, the characters prominently featured are the two women. That said, I think I've also gotten past that. I recently did two stories waiting to come out from Pro Se Press that have strong male leads and I really like how both of them turned out.
Q: Do you write to deliver a message, educate, inform, or just to entertain readers?
Shannon Muir: Again, it depends on what I'm doing. The New Pulp and Genre Fiction I write to entertain. Some of my more personal self-published projects are meant to get readers thinking on certain topics.
Q: How helpful is humor to your story-telling?
Shannon Muir: Humor tends to be a real challenge for me. I'm usually that person in the room who doesn't get the joke everyone else just got. I can be too serious for my own good sometimes. If I use humor, it may come in the form of puns or higher level intellectual humor, which both my father and his late father were very good at so I borrow what I learned to figure out.
Q: Do you use the concept of heroes vs villains in your story-telling? What makes a good villain? Do you need a villain to have a hero?
Shannon Muir: I use protagonists, antagonists, and villains. Maybe it's just my English degree training kicking in, but I think heroes and villains might be a bit too black and white. Antagonists are people who conflict with the protagonist but who may have some redemptive qualities, while villains tend to not have anything redeeming about them. I think what makes a successful opponent to your protagonist – or hero, to use your word – hinges on the motivations being convincing. In short, if there's no good reason for he or she to do what causes the problem, the whole thing falls apart. As far as needing a villain to have a hero, you don't need a hero but you need some sort of opposition or conflict. That can be – to draw on the English training again – man versus man (or woman versus woman, or whatever mix here), man or woman versus society, man or woman versus nature, or even an individual with a personal struggle. There must be an opposition to be conquered. If the person focused on in the story triumphs, this can make them a hero, but even that might not be necessarily true. Stories can go in so many directions, and that's what makes it fun.
Q:  What’s next?
Shannon Muir: Hopefully more of the stories I know are pending with Pro Se Press will come out soon, in the short term. I've got a couple of personal project series I've published myself I want to wrap up in 2015 or early 2016 at latest. The mystery, New Pulp, and Genre Fiction is really where I plan to be putting the bulk of my effort in the future, however.
Q: Tell us about Shannon Muir. What do you like to do when you’re not writing?
Shannon Muir: I like to play massive multiplayer online games, in particular LORD OF THE RINGS ONLINE based on the world development of J.R.R. Tolkien's THE HOBBIT and LORD OF THE RINGS. My father raised my sister and I on those stories and THE HOBBIT is still my favorite story of all time; I identify with Bilbo Baggins an awful lot to this day. As an interesting aside, I actually worked for several years on a virtual world intended for younger audiences; I was part of the team behind the launch of the now-closed PETPET PARK that was a spinoff of the NEOPETS franchise. While an interesting way to empower the players to craft their own stories, there's also a lot that goes into it from a game balance and world development perspective and I learned a lot in the several years I got to be a part of it.
Also, I've liked board games all my life but don't often find enough people to play them with. Got together with some old friends for the first time recently and they introduced me to TICKET TO RIDE, which I really enjoyed. I hope to be able to do more of that again.
I'm also known as the person behind two writing focused blogs. INFINITE HOUSE OF BOOKS at http://www.house-of-books.comand DISCOVER WORDS at http://www.discoverwords.com, which have been around for a couple years now. Interviews and guests posts tend to be the focus of INFINITE HOUSE OF BOOKS, while excerpts reign at DISCOVER WORDS. However, in early 2015, I had a huge hiccup with my provider that cost me both the blogs and it is going to be an uphill battle to reconstruct them. I'm going to try and get everything reposted that people have taken time to assemble for me, but with over two years of content this may not be completely possible though I will give it my utmost best.
On that note, thank you so much for giving me the time to share about my emerging work in New Pulp and Genre Fiction, along with my creative passions.
About Shannon Muir
Shannon Muir’s most recent genre fiction release is the Single Shot GHOST OF THE AIRWAVES a New Pulp digital single tale, preceded by her debut genre fiction story "Pretty as a Picture" in the anthology NEWSHOUNDS from Pro Se Productions. Prior to venturing into the world of New Pulp, Muir is best known to genre readers as co-writer of the long-running webcomic FLYING GLORY AND THE HOUNDS OF GLORY with her partner, Kevin Paul Shaw Broden (featured in Pro Se's anthology THE BLACK FEDORA, his own story in NEWSHOUNDS, and the self-published REVENGE OF THE MASKED GHOST). She tends to gravitate towards writing stories with females in leading or influential roles, which can prove a challenge in the time periods that pulp stories are set in. Muir aspires to bring different perspective to a classic time period by taking on this viewpoint. Muir also has credits in new adult contemporary fiction, as well as published textbooks on the animation industry, a field in which she's held writing and production positions as part of her nearly twenty year career focused in family entertainment. She currently resides in Glendale, California.
About GHOST OFTHE AIRWAVES
GHOST OF THE AIRWAVES is from Pro Se Productions’ Single Shot line. It is a tale of mystery and murder set against the backdrop of the Golden Age of Radio! Through this stand alone digital single, Author Shannon Muir introduces the world to Ghost of the Airwaves!
GHOST OF THE AIRWAVES is the suspenseful tale of radio actress Abigail Hanson, whose husband died under mysterious circumstances. Everyone believes the culprit is caught until a mysterious typed letter from "Ghost of the Airwaves" comes through her mail slot. Abigail becomes determined to find out who killed her husband and uses her own observant eye to help coax the police along. But, as she delves deeper into the mystery, Abigail may learn she should have stayed behind the microphone…to stay alive! Cover art and logo design by Jeff Hayes and digital formatting by Russ Anderson. A Pro Se Single Shot digital single from Pro Se Productions!

NEWSHOUNDS  
News For All, Justice for the Innocent and Weak!
That is the Masthead of The Partisan and the mission of its keepers in Pro Se Productions’ action packed tribute to the printed press- NEWSHOUNDS! Dogged reporters, crusty editors, copyboys and cub photographers with dreams of grandeur. Pressmen who know the city lives and breathes by what they print. Characters like Editor ‘Red Dillinger, reporters Viv Bailey and Ted Boland, photographer Margie Haviland, and more all work for The Partisan, a 1950s paper partial to the common man, to righting the wrongs done against the housewives and the blue collars! And this gaggle of hard bitten, hard fighting men and women are known near and far to those who love them and those who wish to see them dead! Do No Wrong in Their City unless you want it covered by the Newshounds! Started in 1930 to stand up for the little person and to protect the rights of the rightless. The Partisan has always been the paper that focused on both accurate news reporting and standing up for the common citizen against crime and corruption of all types. This led to a style of writing both factual and fiery that the paper is known for. Authors Kevin Paul Shaw Broden, Shannon Muir, and J. Walt Layne bring life to the chaotic adventures of a larger than life newspaper staff in this three story collection. Only two types of people work at The Partisan- Those truly interested in standing up for truth and justice and what’s right…and those with a death wish or nowhere else to go. Either way, they make great stories for Pro Se Productions’ NEWSHOUNDS!

Excerpt: from NEWSHOUNDS "Pretty as a Picture"

"Are you out of your mind?" Margie Haviland insisted to her editor in the main press room of the Partisan, a paper known for exposing more than a few dirty downsides of the city and fighting for the everyday citizen. "You expect me and Viv," Margie said, thumbing a finger at Vivian Bailey, the tall and knockout female reporter of the group, "to just go and crash some charity function?" '"Definitely not crash it, at least not openly," Red responded, much calmer and collected than the saucy, petite Margie. "We don't want to call attention to ourselves. But the reality is you and Viv are the only female reporters we've got that can swing this kind of a high pressure undercover job. As you know though, there are, shall we say,added complications.""Such as the fact that Margie comes from the same rich elite that will be attending this function," pointed out Ted Boland, the lead male reporter for the Partisan. "Some of these folks could even be family or friends.""Trust me, they'd be no friends of mine," Margie all but spat in Ted's face. "I left that life behind a long time ago.""Not only are you our top photographer, you also know how to get around and what to look for," the editor reassured Margie. "That's why you and Viv need to do this. Augustus Morton says he's doing this all as a charity benefit, allowing a sneak peek at next year's European styles before they trend in the States. All the proceeds would be to benefit business scholarships to further the education of young people, including internships with Morton's companies."“Internships with him will just teach them how to play dirty pool. This Morton's got a history of being nothing but trouble," stressed Viv. "He looks so great on the surface with what the public sees, but as you all know we've turned up a few dirty things about him. Unfortunately, we never quite witnessed his involvement in those dealings.""Which is why we can't miss this time, doll," Ted responded."You're walking on thin ice calling me doll and you know it, Mr. Boland," Viv threw back, not even giving him the respect of answering with a first name."All right you two, we get it," spoke up Dice, the circulation manager. "I think everyone knows what's at stake here. We all got to play it like pros. Viv, Margie, come up with a strategy of how to get into this special event. The big thing, our friend Augustus Morton," Red underscored sarcastically, "emphasized in his little invite is that this charity fashion show will culminate with the unveiling of his new personally discovered star, name of Kitty Kline.""Knowing you Red, you researched like crazy about this star doll of his," ace reporter Ted added in. "So, what kind of dirt did you uncover?""That's the thing. I came up with nothing.""You mean she's squeaky clean?" asked Margie."I mean, I found diddly squat. All my years in this biz and I can't even turn up a hint as to who this gal is.""If she even exists at all," Viv pointed out. "Maybe that's the ultimate joke of it. Morton's pulled bigger ruses and gotten away with it.""That's true," Red agreed. "But what's Morton's game, if that's the case?"LinksGHOST OF THE AIRWAVESKindleSmashwords
NEWSHOUNDS "Pretty as a Picture"Print at AmazonKindle Smashwords AmazonAuthor PageSmashwords Author Page 
BlogWebsiteTwitter: @Shannon_MuirGoodreads

WHAT THE EXPERTS SAY: Ken Poirot, Author and Mentor

Ken Poirot, Author and Mentor
MENTOR MEKen Poirot’s MENTOR ME “will give readers direction to help them reach their greatest life’s goal,” according to reviewers. Described as a motivational book, it is based on Poirot's own extensive experience and success in the financial services industry and his degree and studies in microbiology. In the following interview, he clarifies that success is not restricted to financial gain, but to “getting to the next level in life” or “improving... life” depending on our own individual definition of success.
Poirot has a broad list of things he likes to do when he’s not writing or motivating people, which include history, science, travel, and meeting new people. His favorite traveling experience occurred while staying in the Belize jungle and making a day trip to the Mayan ruins of Tikal in Guatemala.He is currently working on a new book to offer a leadership and management model.
Q: Why did you write MENTOR ME? Your life seems quite full without the need to produce a book!
Ken Poirot: I have a deep desire to help people and to influence others in a positive way. You can only touch so many people’s lives directly on a daily basis, even as a manager sometimes interacting with hundreds.
In contrast, a book is a medium you can use to leverage yourself and potentially positively affect many, many more lives. Additionally, a book is permanent. We all face the fact we are mortal; as I wrote in MENTOR ME, “Time (T) is our most valuable commodity. None of us knows how much Time (T) we have on this earth, and no matter how much money we have, we cannot buy any more of it.” Writing this book was a way to leverage my time to potentially help more people presently and even after I am long gone from this earth.
Q: Why did you divert your life from a career in microbiology to financial services? How did you learn financial management when your background was in microbiology?
Ken Poirot: Moving to Houston from New York and attending graduate school made it necessary for me to take on student loans in order to continue my studies. I decided economically that didn’t make sense for me.
For this reason, I began an internship with American Express Financial Advisors, Inc. during the second year of my graduate studies. I learned financial management during this internship and later made the leap to work as a financial advisor.
I will also say the scientific process is directly applicable to business. I joke with people all the time how microbiology and cancer research are very similar to business….as I pause and enjoy how people look at me with a blank stare, all speechless, not knowing what to say.
I then explain: science is a process. In science, you design an experiment (plan) in order to achieve a stated result (a hypothesis). It is very similar to business, except in business most of the variables are known, whereas in science very often you are dealing with the unknown. The thought process, designing an experiment/plan, then executing that experiment/plan to achieve a goal/stated result is the exact same process in science and business.
Q: What makes your book unique from other mentoring books?
Ken Poirot: MENTOR ME has many different layers and levels. Differences on the surface: this book is interactive and will provide the reader with an individualized experience. It is focused on the reader to help them reach their goal(s)/life purpose based upon their individual goals/dreams/desires. On this level it functions as a personal success, self-help, and self-improvement book.
Another major difference is this book is based upon proven, time tested, real-world practical experience. So many books of this genre are written from an ivory tower as theory, and/or are difficult for the reader to figure out how to adapt the information to their own real life experiences. In contrast, with MENTOR ME the reader can literally walk through a book written in a practical, conversational tone, implement its ideas, and readily use them for their own individual, real-world circumstances as they read.
On the next level, MENTOR ME is a coaching, mentoring, leadership, management, and business book. There are stories and examples from my own personal experiences that provide anecdotal lessons on these topics.
On the deepest level, MENTOR ME has a plethora of subtle and some not so subtle themes. What I find interesting is only one reviewer so far has seemingly discovered just one of these deeper themes (“Know Thyself”) intentionally scattered throughout MENTOR ME.
In the Preface of the book I provide an answer for what I believe to be the meaning of life and introduce other deeply philosophical themes. This should alert readers there is so much more to this book than a “typical, self-help or business book.” It has so many different themes and layers purposefully placed throughout its pages.
 I recently described it in my blog as, “...the crossroads and convergence of where science, metaphysics, religion, and utopian society intersect.”There is a lot more complexity written into this seemingly “simple, real-world, practical self-help and business book.” As these themes are revealed by readers, it will give them a great deal to think about and ponder. In this sense, it is a bit of a “literary chameleon.”
Q: What are the 3-5 most important tips to motivate people to succeed?
Ken Poirot: Motivation begins with a fire inside the individual; I spark this fire and continue to feed it with a few carefully constructed psychological/emotional exercises in MENTOR ME. These tips summarized are:
1) Defining goals/dreams/desires2) Visualizing the emotions/experience of achieving those stated goals/dreams/desires3) Designing a plan to make these goals/dreams/desires a reality4) Taking action based upon that plan5) Keeping focused by continually reviewing those goals/dreams/desires while surrounding yourself with like-minded people who will give you support along the way
In MENTOR ME I provide tools to help the reader accomplish this and more effectively communicate with others to help the reader with their relationships.
All of these steps are designed to kindle the fire of motivation, feed it, and keep the fire going over time.
Q: Who should read your book? Are you targeting people who want to be financially successful?
Ken Poirot: Anyone who wants to get to the next level in life should read this book. I am targeting anyone who has the desire to improve their life. Unfortunately, not everyone is willing to take the steps necessary to improve their lives, so I am specifically targeting those who have goals/dreams/desires and who are willing to make the commitment to turn their goals/dreams/desires into reality.
Everyone’s definition of success is different, for some it is financial success, for others it may be helping others, having more time with family, happiness, etc… Readers can use MENTOR ME to achieve whatever their personal definition is of success. It is not necessarily financial success, as this is dependent on each person to define what success is for them; this book will help the reader achieve their personal definition of success.
Reviewers tout the book as both motivational and also helpful in terms of offering tips on how to succeed. Do you believe one is a higher priority than the other? Is motivation more important than planning? How important is balance?
Motivation and planning/tips to succeed are equally important. You can have all the motivation in the world, but without a well-constructed, defined, plan to focus this motivation, someone will meander with no direction or ultimate goal for their motivation, therefore, accomplishing very little.
Conversely, having a plan but lacking the motivation to begin it, implement it, and continue with the execution of that plan will not lead to success. So it is important to have both: a carefully constructed plan to lead to success and the motivation to take the steps necessary to consistently execute that plan.
Q: Did you do any research to confirm your instruction or is your book based on your own experience?
Ken Poirot: MENTOR ME is based upon not only my personal and professional experiences, but my hands on experience working with hundreds of professionals one-on-one. This is what makes MENTOR ME so practical and easy-to-implement; it is written based upon proven, time tested strategies that actually work in the real world.
Q: Would you say your advice applies to a broad variety of careers and positions? Or is it geared to financial services? Management careers? Or to financial success?
Ken Poirot: I wrote MENTOR ME to help people in any career or position. Also, it is not necessarily only applicable to careers as someone may decide their Greatest Achievement (GA) or goal(s) may have nothing to do with their career.
It is applicable for any goal someone may have for their life. I draw analogies and experiences from my time in financial services in the book, but these anecdotal stories have lessons that can be applied to any goal or career.
Q: What’s next?
Ken Poirot: I recently outlined a leadership and management model based upon the elements that made me a successful manager. I developed an easy way to relay this information to other managers/leaders so they have a framework to increase their effectiveness as leaders/managers. I will be working on turning this into a book in the future.
Q: Tell us about Ken Poirot. What do you like to do when you are not writing or motivating?
Ken Poirot: I have many interests: meeting new people, traveling, history, As an example of my diverse interests, on a given day I may be reading a story about string theory, watching a television program about some historical event on the History Channel, or researching a story about hunting for an ancient legend or some mythical beast.
I am also a bit adventurous. My favorite experiences from traveling were taking a day trip to the Mayan ruins of Tikal in Guatemala while staying in the jungle in Belize, swimming in huge waves in the Pacific Ocean at Lover’s Beach after kayaking/snorkeling in Cabo San Lucas, and swimming with sharks in The Bahamas.
I am sure my future will include more travel and additional exciting adventures.
About Ken PoirotKen Poirot grew up on Long Island, New York in the quaint village of Northport. After graduating from Cornell University with a B.S. in Microbiology, he moved to Houston, Texas to pursue his Ph.D. studies in Cancer Research at MD Anderson Cancer Center through UT Health Science Center. Upon receiving a US Patent for his research, Lipid Complexed Topoisomerase I Inhibitors, he left graduate school for a career in financial services.Over the last two decades, he worked for many of the top financial services firms—some better known New York Stock Exchange-listed companies like American Express, Charles Schwab, Merrill Lynch (now part of Bank of America), JP Morgan Chase, as well as some smaller New York Stock Exchange-listed companies like Cullen/Frost Bankers (NYSE: CFR) and Guaranty Bank (now part of BBVA, NYSE: BBVA).As the Senior Vice President and Sales Manager for Frost Investment Services, the brokerage division of Frost Bank (NYSE:CFR), he led his department to four consecutive years of double- digit revenue growth, increasing revenue by over 83% while substantially increasing the profit margin from approximately 27% to 37%. During this same time period, his financial advisors increased their individual production from an average of less than $25,000 in revenue per month to over $41,000. He achieved similar results at various other firms, including Guaranty Bank and JPMorgan Chase, consistently increasing the sales of his territories/producers by double-digits as a regional manager and personal/professional coach.About MENTOR ME Happiness. Success. Motivation. Influence. Inspiration.
Groundbreaking Practical Self-Help, Mentoring, Coaching, Personal Success, Business Guide
We all want to have success and happiness in every area of our lives, as well as be a positive influence and inspiration to other people. But too often, we get lost in our resolutions to do just that, having no idea where to start or how to get there. 

This book is the perfect guide! Fun, Concise, Succinct, Proven, and Filled with Wisdom! 

Successful mentor and coach Ken Poirot provides answers and walks you through in this groundbreaking book, Mentor Me: GA=T+E—A Formula to Fulfill Your Greatest Achievement! 

Finally a Real-World Practical Self-Help, Mentoring, Coaching, Personal Success, Business Book!
In MENTOR ME, you will discover: 

- How to formulate a plan to achieve your dreams 
- Your personality style and how it relates to the personality styles of other people 
- How to most effectively learn new information, motivate yourself, and others 
- The two most powerful words in the English language and how to put them to work for you 
- The best and most effective way to handle any conflict in life 
- And so much more... 

MENTOR ME delivers what other books only promise: real-world strategies, techniques, and information that produces effective, tested, and proven results! 

Easy-to-implement directives and personal life illustrations combine to provide readers with the pathway to success they have only previously dreamed about. 

Including some fun "smile" moments included along the way... 

Begin reading and following the plan found in Mentor Me today and step-by-step, you will transform your life! 

A Fun and Simple Self-Help, Mentoring, Coaching, Personal Success, Business Book!
Excerpt
Preface
What do you want out of life? When you look back on your life, what do you want to see?
              What do you want to accomplish…to achieve for yourself…or to give to others? What do you dream that people will say about you and your life?
Maybe you seek happiness. Maybe your desire is to help other people, or to lead a life that motivates, inspires, and influences others to accomplish things they never thought they could achieve. I don’t know what you want in life or where you are in your current situation. Maybe you are in the Abyss of Emotional Bankruptcy looking for a way out, looking for the next rung in the ladder on your climb to the Peak of Happiness, or you may even be at the Peak of Happiness already, looking for a way to stay there. Wherever you are in life, this book is designed to give you the tools necessary to help you achieve your goals.
My Greatest Achievement (GA) in life is spending my Time (T) and Energy (E) helping, motivating, inspiring, and influencing others to create their own Greatest Achievement (GA). (GA = T + E: Greatest Achievement = Time + Energy).
My hope is, in turn, these individuals will also motivate, inspire, and influence others to do the same. Through this medium, writing, I can leverage my Time (T) and Energy (E) in a focused and methodical way to create a chain reaction that positively affects the world.
It is my dream to be the GATE, the conduit, to help someone from where they are today, to where they want to be in the future. It is also my dream to have a society of people who will be that GATE for someone else. Imagine if we lived in a world where everyone utilized their Time (T) and Energy (E) to positively affect others’ lives?
I have been a success and I have been a failure. I have experienced the greatest joys life has to offer (the Peak of Happiness), and I have experienced the seemingly endless Abyss of Emotional Bankruptcy. I can say, having been there, the greatest transformations in my life, the most personal development, and ultimately my greatest breakthroughs, all came on the back of complete Emotional Bankruptcy.
Sometimes we get so busy with our daily lives we do not take the steps and the Time (T) necessary to be introspective—to analyze where we are and where we want to go; to decide what is working well for us and what is not going well; and to make the appropriate adjustments so we can get to where we want to be in life.
As I see it, the meaning of life is each other, and we are all we have in this world. I will even go so far as to say that this world we live in, in my humble opinion, may, in fact, be hell.
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Twitter: @kenrp713

WHAT THE EXPERTS SAY: Ryan Leone, Author

Ryan Leone, Author
WASTING TALENTRyan Leone’s WASTING TALENT, a novel about drug addiction, is described by reviewers as “intense” and “captivating and real.” Reviewers also say that it is a book that “stays with you.” Leone brings his own experience with heroin addiction to the novel, and describes writing it as a "therapeutic experience" and "vicarious escape."
Despite a history of drug addiction, Leone has always been able to successfully return to writing and has had several poems and short stories published. Today he is off  drugs and lives in Los Angeles with his photographer fiancé. He is working on a second novel about “lucid dreaming and prison,” which he claims will be more realistic than WASTING TALENT.


Q: Despite some serious interruptions in your life, you have always pursued writing with some success. What makes you write? What drove you to write your latest novel WASTING TALENT?
Ryan Leone: I started writing poetry and short stories while I was in high school. It was always an outlet for me; if I was angry I’d write a story and feel better. I ended up getting some stuff published early on and it was encouraging enough to make me want to pursue a writing career as I got older. I had a pretty nasty spell with heroin addiction. I ended up going to federal prison for four years and I used the time to write my first novel about my experiences with addiction. Writing offered a form of vicarious escape and solace while I was in prison. I wrote for five hours each day and I completed a lot of material.
Q: Reviewers seem to agree that WASTING TALENT is “intense” and the “darkest story I’ve ever read.” Others claim it’s their “new favorite book” and “captivating and real.” Did you write WASTING TALENT to entertain, educate, and/or deliver a message?
Ryan Leone: I don’t know what I set out to do when I wrote it. I knew that I had been through some indelible life experiences that would make a good story but the themes and messages didn’t reveal themselves until the end. It was a therapeutic experience for me because it allowed me to internalize the horrible things I had been through and gain some clarity. In 2009, when I started writing this book, it was en vogue to write literary/genre novels, so I was trying to do that. A lot of the straight literary novels out there are incredibly boring because they aren’t plot-driven. There is plenty of subtext in my book but I wanted to make sure that the reader was entertained the entire time. 
Q:  How important is humor to telling your story?  Many of the reviewers of WASTING TALENT mention it.
Ryan Leone: I address humor in the epilogue: “…it’s the only functioning device they have left to deflect sensitivity.”
I was talking about how drug addicts use humor to comfort themselves. I made the novel darkly satirical because that’s the way addicts deal with the insanity that’s happening around them. When I was an addict I found humor in everything, it didn’t matter that I was in and out of jails or that people were dying around me. A big commonality between addicts is the way they use humor as a coping mechanism after all of their other emotional responses have been stripped away. It was an important part of the story because it made it more authentic and helped readers get through some pretty awful imagery.
Q: Is the concept of villain vs hero important to telling your story?
Ryan Leone: I tried to make a really memorable villain with Mike Virgin. But what I think is more interesting is that the hero of my story becomes less and less of a hero as the novel moves forward. When you’re on drugs your self-worth deteriorates and you get to a point where you legitimately hate yourself. I wanted the protagonist to start having things about him that the readers found deplorable. In a sense, he becomes just as much of a villain internally and externally as Mike Virgin, forcing the reader to choose the lesser of two evils to root for. If I did my job as a writer, you accept Damien for his faults and cheer him on unconditionally. These are the same dynamics you deal with in real life with an addict.
Q: Why do readers care about your characters? How much of you is part of your characters?
Ryan Leone: I think that character development was one of the deficits in the book. It’s really difficult to create multi-faceted characters that are strung out on heroin. There is this empty stoicism that all of the characters exhibit, essentially they are thin shells of the people they used to be before the drugs. I really admire strong character development in literature. I look at my characters more as caricatures: the stripper, the rave princess, the agent, etc. The characters in my book are mostly based off people I actually knew and a lot of times I didn’t even change the names. I really had an agent named Adam, I had a run in with a guy named Mike Virgin (he died from an overdose a few years back, I read the obituary online), I knew a pregnant stripper, etc. Damien was me in a highly sensationalized way. I wasn’t a rock star but I always fantasized about that lifestyle in my drugged out delusions. The only character that was completely fictionalized is Blair. She’s the girl of my dreams and I ended up meeting her a few months after I completed the manuscript, she is even prettier in person.
Q: WASTING TALENT is described by several reviewers to be “good insight into the world of drugs.” Do you agree? Why?
Ryan Leone: I think I have some real authority on the subject. I shot heroin for a decade and sold everything from cocaine to peyote. I was involved in the festival and rave culture. I spent four years in federal prison on drug charges. I’ve been to rehabs and detoxes all over the country. I’ve experienced almost every facet of the drug world and everything is included in the book except for my experiences in prison.
Q: Who are the most likely readers of WASTING TALENT? Do you consider it an “inspirational” book?
Ryan Leone: I think that the readers of WASTING TALENT are addicts themselves or have been touched by the disease in some way. I didn’t want to romanticize addiction but at the same time I wasn’t trying to give an inspirational message. The themes of the book are about isolation and what it means to be truly alone. I think those themes are pretty universal and can reach people that have no experience with addiction at all. I was just trying to write something with candid authenticity, an honest look at the mistakes I made while I was using. If being honest about addiction conveyed an anti-drug message then I’m all for it. But it wasn’t what I intended.
Q: How helpful is setting to create a background for your story?
Ryan Leone: I think that setting is an incredibly important aspect of any good novel. The setting of WASTING TALENT is California because that’s where I grew up. I think the most lyrical lines of my prose have to do with the natural beauty of California. It was a love letter to a state I’m still very much in love with. I really tried to make atmospheric scenes that would resonate with people that have been there, like the foggy cityscape of San Francisco, the picturesque mountains of Santa Barbara, and the urban decay of Los Angeles.
Q: What’s next? Will we see more novels?
Ryan Leone: I’ve been working on a second novel about lucid dreaming and prison. It’s much more realistic than my first book and it lacks the hyperbole. I have several short stories that I’ve written over the last six years and I think I’m going to polish a few and submit them to literary magazines that I’d like to be included in. The other day I was talking to an agent about optioning my book as a film. I feel that a screenplay writer would try and sanitize my story and give the protagonist redeeming qualities that would mutilate the book’s message. The agent said, “Why don’t you just write the script yourself?” So I might spend some time doing just that.
Q: Tell us about Ryan Leone. What do you like to do for fun when you’re not writing?
Ryan Leone: I recently got engaged to a beautiful professional photographer, she helped conceptualize and shoot the cover for WASTING TALENT. We moved to Los Angeles a couple of years ago and I think it’s the best city in the country. There’s always something to do. We go to a lot of concerts, art shows, and other events. Sometimes on the weekdays, when we’re bored, we go see television shows being filmed. We go hiking, play poker, travel, go to the beach, and spend a lot of time watching movies and reading. I’ve been sober for three years now and I attribute my success to lifting weights, it’s something I picked up in prison and it has been a great addition to my life.
About Ryan Leone
Ryan Leone grew up in Santa Barbara, California. He was expelled from three high schools for drug related offenses, spending much of his teenage years in and out of institutions. Despite these setbacks, he got several poems and short stories published in various anthologies. He was later accepted to a prestigious internship program in Boston for television writing but was quickly asked to leave because of his growing drug problem. He spent the next decade in innumerable jails and rehabs throughout the country. In 2008, after a two year federal investigation, he was indicted for his involvement in an international heroin cartel based out of Mexico. He spent four years in prison and wrote his first novel, WASTING TALENT, during his incarceration. It was published in 2014, and he recently had an essay appear in Beatdom. Rehabilitated and off drugs, Ryan Leone currently resides in Los Angeles with his fiancé.
About WASTING TALENT
His music could have made Damien Cantwell the star of his generation.

But living fast has its consequences, and Damien soon finds himself spiraling into a dark world full of unfettered debauchery and brutal violence.

The horrors of drug addiction are painted in sharp, biting prose in this novel about throwing away everything and finding that some things are too precious to lose.
Links
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WHAT THE EXPERTS SAY: M. Howalt, Serial Author

M. Howalt, Author
ACONITUM M. Howalt  is a unique author for this blog for two reasons: She is Danish, but writes in English; and she writes in serialized format. Her story is free for anyone to read—a format that she embraces as a way to get reader input. Readers can read and comment on her novel ACONITUM here by chapter--a story which features a werewolf hunter who hears about a werewolf who can change shapes.
 Howalt has been drawn to science fiction and fantasy since she was a child. She currently lives in Denmark, serves as a translator, and teaches English to adults in addition to writing. She is working on a middle-grade children’s book and is considering publishing ACONITUM as a book. She enjoys photography and her cats.
Q: You post your novel, ACONITUM, piece-by-piece, free for everyone to read. What inspired you to publish in serialized format? How does this format benefit the reader? Who likes to read serialized novels? How does it help you as an author?
M. Howalt: I had not considered serialising the novel before I came across the publishing site JukePop Serials, but when I read about the submission process and the benefits (such as detailed analytics regarding reader habits and the potential of being included in library catalogues), it seemed like the perfect option for my story.Serial novels are a little like TV series. A lot of readers enjoy the idea of following the story as it develops through regular updates that lengthwise are suitable for a commute, a lunch break or for reading before bedtime.  The chapters can be read in a web browser or an app for smartphones and tablets and stay available so new readers can catch up on the story whenever they want to. According to the analytics, people of all ages read serials (my readers are between 18 and 64), and the interest does not seem to be related to gender. A lot of writers like to read serials. And since they're free to read, it's a great way to sample novels and help other writers by providing some feedback.
Which brings me to the benefits for an author. The best thing, to me, is that I get to see my readers' reactions to the story as they happen. I get invaluable insight into reader responses when people comment that they are surprised by a plot twist, are suspicious of a certain character, can relate to a situation in the story, really like a specific scene, and so on. All that is not something you would find in a review of a story that is published as a complete novel.
I finished writing the story a while before serialising it, but I am still editing as I go. Knowing that I have readers who wait for a new chapter every Thursday is a great motivation.
Q: ACONITUM features a werewolf hunter. Why werewolves? What drew you to this type of story?
M. Howalt: I've always wanted to tell good stories that engage the audience, and I've been drawn to science fiction, fantasy and supernatural fiction for as long as I can remember. I think these elements can add a dimension to a book and be used to shed some light on various dilemmas and human conditions.
Werewolves are interesting to me because of the duality involved. Are they people, or are they wild animals with a thirst for human blood? Sometimes they're both. The protagonist of ACONITUM is indeed a licensed werewolf hunter, but he discovers that there is more than one kind of werewolf and has to deal with some very difficult choices on his journey. What do you do when someone you want to protect is turned into a monster? Or when a so-called monster doesn't behave at all like a monster should?
Q: How important is credibility to engaging your reader in a story about werewolves? If it’s important, how do you make it believable? Did you conduct any research?
M. Howalt:Credibility is everything to me as a writer. The most important thing is that my readers believe in the characters. They don't always need to sympathise with them or agree with them, but I hope that they can relate to them on a general, human level. I suppose you can call what I strive for emotional realism. It's essentially a story about people, and I think that plays great part in making any story believable. ACONITUM is a story about very human characters in a fantastical world. But of course such a world and the werewolves in it need to be credible too.I did do a lot of research on werewolf myths and folklore. When writing a story with supernatural settings, it's important to have clear rules. I hope to create a realistic and believable account of the world in the novel. There needs to be backstory and a reason why things are the way they are. I can't claim that a person gets turned into a werewolf if they are bitten by one without having considered whether it is a supernatural, immediate transformation, or a gradually spreading illness, if the condition it can be cured, what society's reactions are, and so on.
Q: How helpful was setting ACONITUM in an “alternative Germany” to telling your story?
M. Howalt: I didn't want to write a story with a modern urban fantasy setting in which nobody knows that werewolves exist. In the world of ACONITUM, their presence is common knowledge. I wanted to explore how and how much it would shape society. It turns out that it's a lot. Silver is in high demand (since it is used for fighting werewolves), licensed hunters are treated like soldiers or heroes, the industrial revolution was halted, criminals can try to pin a murder on a werewolf, and some religious groups view werewolves as a godsent punishment. - Just to mention a few things. I chose the area around Frankfurt am Main as the point of departure for a couple of reasons; There is a lot of werewolf folklore in the region, and the properties of the landscape, the climate and the culture there suited me very well for this kind of story.
Q: What makes readers care about your characters? Is humor useful?
M. Howalt:Personally, I respond well to three-dimensional characters in fiction, and I believe that my readers do to. The characters in ACONITUM are not perfect, and they all have a past that has shaped and molded them. I hope to make them feel like real people. Sometimes it makes readers care when they see traits in the characters that they can regonise in themselves. I remember one person telling me that the protagonist's reactions during an emotional scene in the novel really mirrored feelings that they had experienced in a similar situation. That meant a lot to me. Humour is definitely useful too, and I think it's part of creating credibility. ACONITUM is not a comedy, but funny things do happen in life, even during serious or tragic events, so they do in my novel too. I also like to make a little bit of fun of the characters now and then to lighten the mood.
Q: Does the concept of “heroes vs villains” apply to ACONITUM? What makes an effective villain?
M. Howalt: I think that almost every character in the novel are both. People can have good intentions and still do bad things, and unlikable characters can do the right thing. I suppose you could say that the werewolves are the villains and the hunters are the heroes, but I believe I can disclose that it isn't entirely accurate without giving too much away. So it's not a story with good guys versus bad guys in the traditional sense. However, I think that what applies to creating effective protagonists applies to villains too. In order to be believable, they have to have motivations and goals.
Q: Do you write ACONITUM strictly to entertain or do you want to deliver a message? Educate? Make readers think? Other?
M. Howalt: I definitely want to entertain readers with an engaging story and interesting characters, but I certainly would like them to think and to feel something as well. There's no lesson or message wrapped up in the prose, though. It is up to the readers to decide for themselves what they think of the characters' actions.
Q: You are Danish, but you write in English. How influential is your Danish background to your writing? How does your day job of a visual media translator affect your approach and attitude toward writing?
M. Howalt: I am very comfortable with writing in English. I actually think and dream in English half of the time, and most of my favourite literature is written in English. But I still think that my linguistic and cultural background has some influence on my writing. We are only a few million speakers of Danish in the world, and we are taught several languages in school to be able to get by internationally. Denmark is surrounded by other nations with different languages, so we learn very quickly to identify and notice languages and accents. This combined with the fact that my English accent is not one I was brought up with, but one that was learned and cultivated at the university, may make it easier for me to put aside my own vernacular in English and adopt another for the narrative or a certain character's voice or accent.
When you make subtitles, there simply is not room or time for translating everything. One of the most important factors is learning how to keep things short and precise and still make the written word convey feelings or a mood to the viewer. That discipline has influenced my writing. ACONITUM is a serial, but I want everything in it to be there for a reason, so there are no filler episodes or scenes or descriptions that are not essential to the story. And because my main narrator is very blunt in his way of thinking, this style suits the story really well.
Q: What’s next? Will you continue to write serialized novels?
M. Howalt: A lot of JukePop authors submit their works for traditional publishing, crowdfund their novels or self-publish afterwards, and I think it's safe to say that I'll explore the possibilities when the ACONITUM serial ends. I am considering writing a sequel as well. There are plenty of storylines and characters that I would like to explore further and which won't fit into the current book.
I am also in the middle of the second draft of a children's book (middle grade) in Danish that I think is more suitable for traditional publishing. Apart from that, I have a number of first drafts for stories, which I really want to work more on at some point.
One of the projects that I have in the works would work well as a serial novel, and I must say that I have grown very fond of the medium because of its dynamic nature, so I certainly expect to serialise more novels in the future. I am also writing a collaborative story with a talented fellow serial author from JukePop, K.R. Kampion. That's a great project to get to work on, and I'm always excited for the next part and enjoy sharing ideas for it.
Q: Tell us about M. Howalt. What do you like to do when you’re not writing?
M. Howalt: I am a translator and I also teach English to adults at night school. And like every other writer, I enjoy reading. I am fond of a lot of different books, but have a penchant for supernatural, speculative and literary fiction. I also take a lot of photos. Many of them are of my lovely cats and some of urban and rural landscapes. I used to work with graphic design while I was studying. These days I only draw in my spare time, though (often characters from my stories). But I took the photo for the cover of ACONITUM and did the design myself. I enjoy listening to music and have a playlist that serves as the unofficial soundtrack for every story I write. When I want to unwind, I like to go for a walk, hang out at a café or play computer games with friends.
About M. Howalt
M. Howalt was born and raised in Denmark and started writing stories at the age of 11 when the local library ran out of the kind of books that the science fiction and fantasy enthusiastic kid longed to devour. Over the years, the stories grew quite a bit more complex and some of them a whole lot longer, but it was not until after graduating university with a master's degree in English studies that Howalt decided to pursue writing more seriously. By now, a number of flash fiction pieces have been published, most notably on Every Day Fiction and QuarterReads. The novel Aconitum is currently being serialised on JukePop Serials. When not writing, M. Howalt translates TV shows, teaches English at night school and serves feline overlord Reid and his furry nephews.
About ACONITUM
As if being a certified werewolf hunter isn’t enough of a moral morass already, Hector Rothenberg hears rumours of a wolf who can change its shape at will, and he realises that he must investigate the truth.
But he needs to hurry up - especially if routine missions keep going almost fatally wrong.
ACONITUM is the story of one man’s physical and mental journey. It is also the tale of a society which knows that werewolves are a real threat, of a doctor with a dark secret, a skilled lady in a lucrative business, a rich aunt, a grumpy, old mentor, a cheeky Frenchman, a village idiot, tragic death, romance gone wrong, and a young man who really wanted nothing to do with any of that.
A literary supernatural tale of werewolves, the ones who hunt them, and the people who are caught in the crossfire.
Excerpt
The villages in this area were rarely visited by hunters unless they specifically sent for one. It had taken Hector several days to get there from Darmstadt, and he was met with curiosity when he approached the cluster of houses that was called Kleinburg on the few maps it was on. At least that was charmingly self-conscious of the inhabitants. Was there even an inn, or would he have to rely on a family to put him up for the night? Judging by the looks he was given, people did know what he was. And since nobody rushed to him, they probably were not in dire need of his help.
A wooden sign swung sleepily from rusty chains on one ordinary looking house. The Little Lark, a tavern. He would have a beer there and something to eat. In case there had been any sightings of werewolves, the barman would know, or the customers. No reason for him to go about this in an official manner and flash his badge at the priest, the doctor or any other authorities that the village may boast of having.Hector had only been sitting at the bar for a couple of minutes with his beer when a man noisily dumped a bag on the floor and sat down on the stool next to him.
“Heading south, hunter?”
Hector looked up. There was a certain tone to the question, an almost teasing know-it-all note, that made him study the man for a moment. His clothes were ragged and had been patched up in several places, and his shoes were worn and dirty. Not bad. If anyone possessed more gossip and information than people of Sera’s profession or a barman, then it had to be a man of the road. They caught on to details that other travellers wouldn’t necessarily do because they were used to going from place to place, and because their lives may depend on those details.
“Should I be?” Hector asked. No reason to reveal whether it was his intention or not and whether he had any idea what the vagabond was hinting at.
The other man sized him up. “I would say so.”
“Then maybe I am.” Hector gestured at the barman. A beer for the ragamuffin. “Why don’t you tell me what you know?” Headquarters received reports from all over the district regularly, but they could not possibly know everything. It was ridiculous to expect that they did, but nevertheless people tended to. And did a hunter not know of a particular case, there was always a risk that they would lose credibility.
The vagabond thanked him for the beer and sucked the foam off the top. “Well, there’s that werewolf what was captured,” he said, purposefully casually, “in Niedermark. I haven’t seen it myself, but the rumours …”
“Yes?”
The vagabond’s eyes met Hector’s. “They say it’s not your normal werewolf.”

Links
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Twitter: @mhowalt

WHAT THE EXPERTS SAY: David E. Shaolian, Author

David E. Shaolian, Author
HAPPY CAMPERSDavid E. Shaolian brings HAPPY CAMPERS to us—a thriller inspired by his experience as a photographer at a summer camp and books such as William Golding’s Lord of the Flies. Shaolian depicts his villains as “corrupted” and his protagonist as ‘a fish out of water.’ Although the story is a thriller with some “potent messages,” he adds humor to “lighten the mood.”
Originally from Ottawa, Shaolian currently lives in Toronto with his wife and two children. When he’s not writing, he serves as a high school English teacher, and enjoys spending time with his family and friends. He takes pleasure in pursuing photography, swimming, dining out, and traveling, and despite his book he still likes to go camping.


Q: What drove you to write HAPPY CAMPERS? How did you conceive of the story? Did you have an experience on which you based the novel?
David E. Shaolian: A number of summers ago, I was the camp photographer at a great camp, and some staff members were consuming alcohol and/or drugs, something that occurs, to some degree or other, at all overnight camps.  After all, everyone is there to have a great time, so it’s inevitable.  This issue, which is highly exaggerated in the novel for dramatic effect- and the safety concern it poses, inspired the novel.  However, I should mention that while the camp in this novel could be virtually any camp, in reality, it’s completely fictional, as are all characters and events.  
HAPPY CAMPERS was also inspired by some classic works of literature, especially William Golding’s Lord of the Flies; although the two novels are quite different, my novel deals with some of the same issues.  Once the story came to me, it got stuck in my head, and I kept getting flooded with more and more ideas, until I decided to begin writing the novel.  
Q: A reviewer applauded your ability to “hook” readers and describes HAPPY CAMPERS as a “thriller.” Would you characterize the book as a thriller? How do you “hook” readers?
David E. Shaolian: It is befitting in the sense that there are many surprises, things that you would never see coming in the story.  In fact, some of these events, which were never in the original draft, would have surprised even me.  There is one event in particular that’s really ‘out there’ later in the novel, and I had never considered including it originally.  It was included in the final draft since it is crucial to the protagonist’s character development and the story’s progression.
Q: How do you get readers to care about your protagonist? What makes us engage in his story?
David E. Shaolian: Simon Green, the protagonist, could easily be considered ‘a fish out of water.’  At camp, he’s considerably older that almost everyone, so he doesn’t relate well to many staff members, and his values differ greatly from theirs.  As a result, some of these relations are highly antagonistic. He spends a great deal of his time there alone. Even back in the city, he’s a bit of a loner, since all his friends are married and busy with their families, while he’s still single, so he rarely sees them. I think many people can relate to feeling out of place or lonely at times. 
Also, Simon experienced a break-up a few years before the novel opens, and has not recovered, so he is still discontented, and feels a great deal of regret as the novel opens. Most people have experienced this at least once, so this is another way readers will connect.      
Q:  You’ve written HAPPY CAMPERS in the first person. Why? Did you find it restrictive or helpful?
David E. Shaolian: I found it very helpful.  I wanted readers to understand what Simon Green is all about, what makes him tick. He’s basically a good person who tries to do the right thing, but he has some character flaws, which are an impediment.  No other perspective would allow readers to access the character, his thought process, actions, and the impact of his decisions like the first person point of view.
Q: Does the concept of heroes vs villains apply to HAPPY CAMPERS? If so, can you identify your villains? What makes an effective villain?
David E. Shaolian: Yes, this concept definitely applies to HAPPY CAMPERS. There are three main villains in the novel, namely Miranda Divine, Haze (Jake Hazelton), and Ted Savage.  Miranda is the camp director, who turns out to be extremely cruel and corrupted.  It is also largely due to her weak leadership that the situation is so chaotic at camp.  There are some fascinating revelations about her as the story unfolds.  Haze is the camp program director, who is often high on drugs, and unconcerned about his responsibilities, or anything else, except having a great time.  Ted Savage is a very violent counsellor, who is also often high, and blindly obeys his close friend, Haze.
A good villain is someone who is evil or corrupted, someone the reader dislikes more and more as additional information is revealed in the story.  The reader hopes that the villain gets what he or she deserves by the end of the novel, that there is a sense of justice.  In HAPPY CAMPERS, although Miranda Devine is quite loathsome,  she is briefly humanized too, through an account of her back story.
Q: Do you like to go camping? Just curious! Have you had any interesting experiences you’d like to relate?
David E. Shaolian: I do enjoy camping a great deal.  I had a wonderful time as the camp photographer, roaming around the campsite as I worked, meeting lots of great people, and enjoying the facilities, especially the lake.  I also enjoy pitching a tent at a campsite with friends or family.  I did that a few times many years ago, and it was lots of fun too.
Q:  I really appreciate your cover. The sign with its broken chain link tells me immediately that there is more to HAPPY CAMPERS than, well, “happy” campers. Did you intend to deliver a message when you wrote the story, or were you writing strictly to entertain?
David E. Shaolian: My publisher’s graphic artist did a great job with that cover; it’s really reflective of what’s inside.  Just like the sign is broken down, so is the situation at camp- broken down and corrupted.  The intention was to deliver some very strong messages, especially about the importance of responsible leadership, as well as the significance of conducting oneself altruistically, instead of placing personal concerns first.  The title is supposed to be highly sarcastic. Simon is anything but a happy camper, even before starting to work at camp; he's been devastated by a horrible break-up from a few years earlier, and still hasn't recovered from it. Although he enjoys his gig as photographer at camp, he is mistreated there, and is forced to face a major dilemma, and this only adds to his troubles.  Later in the novel, as a result of the corrupted situation and its inevitable consequence, nobody will leave camp a happy camper.  However, perhaps someone will, ultimately, emerge a happy camper, as a result of his/her camp experience.


Q: How helpful is humor to telling your story?
David E. Shaolian: Although HAPPY CAMPERS is a serious story with some potent messages, there is some mild humour throughout the novel.  It’s not all doom and gloom, but I included some humour to lighten the mood, especially before some very intense scenes.
Q: What’s next? Will you write more novels?
David E. Shaolian: Hopefully, I will write more novels.  I absolutely love writing, but I need the right idea to be inspired. 
Q: Tell us about David E. Shaolian. What do you like to do when you’re not writing?
David E. Shaolian: When I’m not writing, I enjoy spending time with family and friends, photography, classic literature, swimming, dining out, and travelling.
About David E. Shaolian
David E. Shaolian, who is originally from Ottawa, Canada, is an experienced high school English teacher.  He is an alumnus of Tel Aviv University (Overseas Student Program), Carleton University, and the University of Windsor.  This book, his debut novel, was inspired by his experience as camp photographer at one camp, issues of alcohol and drug abuse at overnight camps generally, and classic works of literature.  He lives in Toronto with his wife and two children.
About HAPPY CAMPERS
Simon Green, high school English teacher and photography enthusiast, is offered the camp photographer position for Camp Black Pines, an overnight camp attended by campers from mostly wealthy families in one of the most prestigious cottage areas in Canada. Following a thorny period in his life, Simon accepts the position, attempting to escape his woes by immersing himself in his passion for photography.  However, the natural beauty of this locale masks weighty issues: a prevalence of an 'anything goes' attitude concerning widespread drinking, illicit drug consumption, and promiscuous sexual activity among staff, eclipsing concern for the safety and well-being of the children attending the camp. It's a volatile recipe for disaster, where anything can happen at any moment.  How long will this situation persist before everything boils over and disaster strikes?  Will Simon, an innate procrastinator with a commitment phobia, act altruistically, or will his reluctant nature prove an impediment?  And how would such a situation impact on him and others?  
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WHAT THE EXERTS SAY: Paul R. Hewlett “What Will Get Children to Read?”

Children’s author Paul R. Hewlett writes books to increase children's interest in reading "by combining entertainment and values." In the following article, previously published on this blog, he highlights how we can encourage our children to read across various age groups.

Hewlett, a US Air Force vet, lives with his wife in Illinois. When he’s not writing or reading, he loves White Sox baseball and Indiana Hoosiers basketball.








What Will Get Children to ReadBy Paul R. Hewlett
This is an age-old question.  As a children’s author I have asked myself this very question many times. 
There are several points to examine in order to answer this question. First, is reading age dependent, and if so, does one need to use different means for different age groups? The next question deals with how to get them to read. Is there a certain approach that should be used?  Finally, we must ask what kinds of characters and situations children want to read about. In taking a closer look at these points, we will find the answer to our question.
I don’t believe that reading is age dependent.  I believe exposure to reading should start at a very young age and continue throughout one’s life.  I do believe, however, that different means should be used for different age groups.  Exposure should start with reading aloud to children.  Reading to children creates an interaction between child and parent that is very strong.  They will remember this time spent with Mom and/or Dad and will look forward to this time and the story that is being read to them. 
Continue to build on that, adding to it piece by piece as they get older. I like to view this approach as layering. Layering is a fantastic approach to help children build a strong foundation in reading. As children get older, another layer should be added. Introduce them to libraries and book fairs. Make sure to sign them up for a library card. Most libraries issue library cards to children older than the age of five. This will make them feel invested in the experience.
Let them pick up books, handle them, examine them, and check them out using their very own library card. It doesn’t matter if they are reading advanced books or comic books, as long as they are reading. Libraries often have activities such as book clubs or readings. This is another great opportunity to further expose children to the wonderful world of reading. 
Add another layer to that, such as setting aside family reading time. Parents can read aloud to younger children, and then as children get older, set aside time for the family to read their own individual books together in the family room. Teenagers may want to read on their own, and in this case I would still encourage parents to ask questions and encourage discussion about the books they are reading. 
Do not be afraid to reward children for reading, even if the reward is simple praise. I believe parents are the biggest influence on getting children to read. By incorporating these different means for different age groups and layering these activities, I believe, the foundation will be built for a lifetime of reading pleasure and enjoyment.
The next point to be examined is what kind of characters do children want to read about? Do children want to read about certain types of characters? I’m not convinced that there is any one type of character that appeals to all children. Children have different tastes, just like adults do. With that being said, there are certainly specific types of characters that they seem to prefer to read about. 
A strong main character that they can relate to is important. A likable character that has flaws and a good heart is always well received, everyone has flaws after all. They can identify with them and they tend to pull for these kinds of characters. If you don’t believe me, ask yourself how many children are rooting for Harry Potter? Children, for the most part, want to read about strong, likeable characters with flaws that they can relate to.
That begs the question then of what kind of situations do children enjoy reading about these characters in? They enjoy all kinds of situations, quite honestly. They certainly enjoy ones that they can relate to. Many children imagine themselves as the main character and enjoy reading about them in situations that they have experienced and can relate to. They also enjoy fantasy; finding themselves in other worlds or using magic is very well received. 
These types of situations allow children to leave everyday life, go to new places and experience new things, things that are impossible to do in the real world. Whether it is a familiar situation or a fantasy, the only thing that really matters is that it reaches the child. That is why it is so important to take them to the library or book fairs, read to them, encourage them to read, discuss what they are reading, and let them pick up dozens of books and look through them. By doing this, they will learn what characters and situations appeal to them.
In closing, I believe getting children to read is extremely important. We have determined that reading is not age dependent and that different means should be used for different age groups. We have examined these means and in doing so, have identified the layering approach to help get them to read. Like building blocks, layer one experience onto the next as children get older to build a solid foundation.
We also looked at types of characters and situations that they like to read about. The comprehension skills, vocabulary, and imagination that they develop and use from reading are invaluable. Parents play a vital role in getting children to read and should take steps to encourage it. Ultimately, it is up to the child whether they will read or not, but by exposing them to the many layers of reading mentioned here, I have no doubt that read they will. Children are very smart and as a children’s author, I always write with Maxim Gorky’s words in mind:
          “You must write for children in the same way as you do for adults, only better.”
Let’s all put our best foot forward and get children to read.  They deserve it!

About Paul R. Hewlett
Paul R. Hewlett is the author of the Lionel's Grand Adventure series. Lionel’s Grand Adventure: Lionel and the Golden Rule was released in December of 2011. Lionel’s Christmas Adventure: Lionel Learns the True Meaning of Christmas is the second book in the series. These books are early chapter book for ages 7-10. Paul is a US Air Force vet who is married and lives with his wife in Illinois. He loves White Sox baseball, Indiana Hoosiers basketball, reading, writing, and spending time outdoors (when it’s warm enough). He is currently working on finishing his degree at Eastern Illinois University while writing and working full time. His aim is to increase and foster children's interest in reading by combining entertainment and values
About LIONEL AND THE GOLDEN RULE (LIONEL'S GRAND ADVENTURE BOOK 1) 
Lionel is sick of his brother picking on him and of his mother yelling at him. One day, while cleaning the closet his mother has been after him about, he discovers not only boxes and old clothes, but a lucky charm with more magic than he bargained for. After an unusual encounter with his brother, Lionel knows things are about to change for the better.
Together, Lionel and his lucky charm are able to stand up to his big brother as well as make Carrie—the cutest girl in his class—notice him. While learning the quirks of his magical charm, Lionel ends up at a casino in Las Vegas, escapes an evil dog, becoming a hero to the other kids, and finds himself playing in the Great Series with his favorite professional baseball team. Will Lionel master the trickster, over-the-top magic, or will it mess things up beyond repair?
About LIONEL AND THE GOLDEN RULE (LIONEL'S GRAND ADVENTURE BOOK 2)
Lionel is sick of his brother picking on him and of his mother yelling at him. One day, while cleaning the closet his mother has been after him about, he discovers not only boxes and old clothes, but a lucky charm with more magic than he bargained for. After an unusual encounter with his brother, Lionel knows things are about to change for the better. Together, Lionel and his lucky charm are able to stand up to his big brother as well as make Carrie—the cutest girl in his class—notice him. While learning the quirks of his magical charm, Lionel ends up at a casino in Las Vegas, escapes an evil dog, becoming a hero to the other kids, and finds himself playing in the Great Series with his favorite professional baseball team. Will Lionel master the trickster, over-the-top magic, or will it mess things up beyond repair?

LIONEL'S CHRISTMAS ADVENTURE: LIONEL LEARNS THE TRUE MEANING OF CHRISTMAS 
Have you ever wanted something you couldn't have? Meet Lionel, a loveable bully-magnet who desperately wants a new sled and will do anything to get it.This fun Christmas book follows Lionel from Larrystown to the North Pole. His magical Three-Toed-Potbellied Walbaun foot is back and is as unpredictable as ever. Whether Lionel's sledding, ice skating, or in a life-sized gingerbread village, it takes him on some grand adventures. Filled with great Christmas imagery, this book is perfect for young readers and family story time. This 2012 holiday, be careful what you wish for, you never know what might happen!




Coming soon!






Links
Twitter link:  https://twitter.com/#!/lionelsnod
Amazon author page link  Lionel's Grand Adventure:Lionel and the Golden RuleLionel's Christmas Adventure:Lionel Learns the True Meaning of Christmas   Lionel's Grand AdventureFacebook Page   Paul R Hewletts website  
Youtube trailers:Lionel'sChristmas Adventure
Lionel and theGolden Rule 

WHAT THE EXPERTS SAY: Alyssa Gangeri, Chef and Author

Chef Alyssa Gangeri, Author
MIMI'S ADVENTURES IN BAKING
CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIESChef Alyssa Gangeri took time from running her custom cake company and serving as Executive Chef at Riverwalk Bar and Grill in New York in order to write MIMI’S ADVENTURES IN BAKING CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES—an interactive children’s storybook which she describes as the first of its kind. It is a storybook that also teaches children how to bake with the participation of an adult.
When Chef Alyssa isn’t competing on the Food Network as a pastry chef, baking customized cakes, or cooking at her restaurant, she enjoys walking her Jack Russell Terrier in Central Park. The second Mimi's Adventure is a story about how Mimi prepares a sweet for a friend with an allergy and is due out the end of 2015.
Q: What drove you to write an interactive children’s book, MIMI’S ADVENTURES IN BAKING CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES, that combines learning with a story?
Alyssa Gangeri: I believe baking should be a fun and interactive activity for adults and children. I developed the interactive storybook cookbook because as a child, and as chef I have always been a visual learner. When trying to decide on what type of cookbook to write I quickly realized there were not a lot of children’s cookbooks. In this day and age with the amount of cooking shows, competition shows, and now even adolescent cooking competitions there is a large gap in the children’s cookbook category.
I found that the cookbooks that did exist for children, even though they were filled with bright colors, fun recipes and themes it was still a standard cookbook. Recipe, picture, procedure. I don’t believe we are engaging a child enough with that. Why read a boring cookbook filled with long procedures when you can read an interactive story that teaches you the same thing? It’s a new concept for the cookbook world but at the same time we are teaching children a lot of things through storybooks. Why not baking or cooking?
Q: What makes MIMI’S ADVENTURES IN BAKING so unique?
Alyssa Gangeri: MIMI’S ADVENTURES IN BAKING is the first ever storybook cookbook. No more boring procedures, no more long lists of ingredients. Now a child can follow along and do what Mimi does. This book series incorporates not just learning how to bake but also counting, measuring, and following directions. Baking can be an intimidating craft but with the right instructions it’s fun and easy! With only one recipe per book the focus is no longer on flipping through countless recipes. The focus returns to the actual art of baking and learning. Even for the parent that swears they are a horrible baker, I promise this book can make a baker out of anyone! Plus, it’s a fun interactive activity for an adult and child to enjoy together. Who doesn’t like playing with food?
Q: Is the character, Mimi, based on a real-life person?
Alyssa Gangeri: Mimi is inspired by my childhood growing up learning how to bake in my grandparents’ kitchen. My relationship with all of my grandparents inspired my career as a Pastry Chef so it was only natural for me to gravitate towards bringing Mimi to life in a storybook format. 
Q: How do you engage your readers—both children and adults—into the story and desire to bake cookies? Did you do research or testing to assure that children would be interested?
Alyssa Gangeri: Being a Pastry Chef that has competed on the Food Network I realized how deeply interested people were in my career and cooking in general. Desserts are a celebration and should be enjoyed with others, but many people do not know the basics of baking. The basics allows you to become creative in the kitchen, but without them the world of baking can be rather intimidating. The amount of cooking shows, cooking classes and even children’s cooking classes that have blossomed over the past couple years really inspired me to write this book series.
The desire to learn the craft is there. Children want to do what their parents do. They want to watch the shows their parents watch. It was only a matter of time before children’s cooking competition shows arose. I knew the desire was there, I just had to figure out a way that was like nothing else out there. As a chef you try and relate to your diners, you try and figure out what drives them to eat what they eat, and dine where they dine.
I spent a lot of time working with kids and adults to inspire my publishing path. I believe this type of book has the potential to change the world of children’s cookbooks. You have to relate to a child, you have to get on their level and figure out what drives them to learn. I hope MIMI’S ADVENTURES IN BAKING does just that.
Q: How important are the illustrations? Did you conceive the story first followed by the illustrations?
Alyssa Gangeri: I believe the illustrations to any children’s book is a crucial part. Illustrations are the initial selling point to any child. If they are not drawn to the character or the illustrations you lost them before they even read the book.
 For this type of book I knew the illustrations were going to be difficult because there is so much information being given throughout the book. After writing the book I spent a lot of time with my illustrator to ensure everything was right even down to how the tools looked, or how her hand sweeps across the cup of flour. Illustrating a procedure takes time, and a lot of attention to detail, but in the end I am thrilled with how Chiara brought my words to life. Trusting your illustrator is a major part of this process. They see things differently than writers do, and I was very happy with her vision.
Q: Did you write MIMI’S ADVENTURES IN BAKING to entertain your reader, to educate, to teach them how to make cookies? Or did you want to deliver a message?
Alyssa Gangeri: I wrote MIMI’S ADVENTURES IN BAKING as an alternative learning tool that was fun at the same time. Baking is fun, and I wanted reading and learning how to bake to be just as fun. The goal always was for the child to gain confidence in the kitchen and become the chef, and the adult the assistant. Not only are they learning how to bake but they are also learning self-confidence, measuring, counting, and most importantly how to follow directions. I think that if you can learn without even realizing you’re learning you have accomplished a lot. To me it’s all about having fun while you learn! 
Q: Do you enjoy writing? What else have you written?
Alyssa Gangeri: I genuinely enjoyed writing this book. This is my first book, and first of the series and I could not be happier with it. It was a difficult learning curve for me because I am a chef, and I am always working with my hands creating things. This was a whole different way to work with my hands, but I had a lot of fun doing it. If I can inspire children to bake and enjoy being in the kitchen I’ve done my job.
Q: What do you believe are the most important elements of a children’s story?
Alyssa Gangeri: I think the most important elements of a children’s story is the relatability. Children want to feel comfortable and relate to the characters. I think without that it becomes difficult to keep them engaged.
Q: What’s next? Will Mimi go on other adventures?
Alyssa Gangeri: Mimi has a lot of adventures ahead! The second book in the series is due out in late 2015 where Mimi will make a sweet treat for her allergy ridden friend. I am very excited about this second book because food allergies are so apparent now.  I believe it is very important for kids to not only be aware of them, but to be knowledgeable about these unfortunate allergies that affect so many. Mimi also will be venturing into some savory treats as well! She is a busy little bee!
Q: Tell us about Alyssa Gangeri? What do you like to do when you’re not on an adventure with Mimi?
Alyssa Gangeri: When I am not on adventures with my favorite little girl I am baking specialty birthday cakes, wedding cakes and pasties. I have a boutique cake business in New York City called AllyCakesNYC as well as a restaurant on Roosevelt Island, Riverwalk Bar and Grill. I love cooking because it’s a profession that allows you to be creative every day. Although, when I am not in the kitchen I love to spend my free time in Central Park with my Jack Russell Terrier, Rudy, which you can also find him roaming around Mimi’s Adventures in Baking.
About Alyssa Gangeri
Chef Alyssa has been baking since she was a little girl in her grandmother's kitchen. Since graduating from the Culinary Institute of America she has worked for famous chefs and elite companies such as the Ritz Carlton, Tom Colicchio, Norman Van Aken and Gray Kunz. She currently is the Executive Chef at Riverwalk Bar and Grill on the Historic nook of New York City, Roosevelt Island. She also has a boutique custom cake company called AllyCakesNYC where she creates cakes to appease the imagination. Through her journey of baking she developed Mimi, her very own miniature version of herself.
   
As a child she loved baking and everything that came with it. As an adult and food lover she realized there was something missing when she frequented bookstores. An interactive children's cookbook. And we are not talking about a boring old cookbook for kids with lots and lots of recipes, and some pictures. Children these days have just as much interest in the kitchen as their parents do, but the ordinary cookbook is just not going to cut it. She created MIMI’S ADVENTURES IN BAKING to give children and adults a way to get into the kitchen and allow the child to become the chef and the adult the assistant. Each book has one recipe and an interactive storyline the child can read, and at the end go into the kitchen and do what Mimi did!  And for the "non-baking" parent, these elite pastry chef recipes are tested and ready for even the most inexperienced baker! Impress other moms with Mimi's creations!
   
MIMI’S ADVENTURES IN BAKING will also teach children how to measure, mix and bake their way through the kitchen while also giving safety tips along the way. No more boring cookbooks! Now there is a fun, exciting and educational way to learn how to bake!
About MIMI’S ADVENTURES IN BAKING
MIMI’S ADVENTURES IN BAKING is the first storybook cookbook that creates a fun and interactive way of learning how to bake. Follow Mimi as she learns to measure, mix and bake her way to her very first batch of homemade chocolate chip cookies. Learning how to bake can be easy and fun with Mimi!
Navigating your way through a kitchen full of tools, ingredients and of course safety measures are brought to life in this storybook cookbook. No more flipping through endless recipes and boring procedures. Mimi makes baking fun for the whole family. Let your child take control and become the chef they always wanted to be!
Purchase Links
MIMI’S ADVENTURES IN BAKING CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES releases in March 2015!
Pre-Order now:
Amazon Hardcover
Barnes and Noble On Goodreads Twitter: @AllyganInstagram: AgangeriFacebook AmazonBarnes and NobleWebsite

WHAT THE EXPERT SAY: Alyssa Gangeri, Chef and Author

Chef Alyssa Gangeri, Author
MIMI'S ADVENTURES IN BAKING
CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIESChef Alyssa Gangeri took time from running her custom cake company and serving as Executive Chef at Riverwalk Bar and Grill in New York in order to write MIMI’S ADVENTURES IN BAKING CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES—an interactive children’s storybook which she describes as the first of its kind. It is a storybook that also teaches children how to bake with the participation of an adult.
When Chef Alyssa isn’t competing on the Food Network as a pastry chef, baking customized cakes, or cooking at her restaurant, she enjoys walking her Jack Russell Terrier in Central Park. The second Mimi's Adventure is a story about how Mimi prepares a sweet for a friend with an allergy and is due out the end of 2015.
Q: What drove you to write an interactive children’s book, MIMI’S ADVENTURES IN BAKING CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES, that combines learning with a story?
Alyssa Gangeri: I believe baking should be a fun and interactive activity for adults and children. I developed the interactive storybook cookbook because as a child, and as chef I have always been a visual learner. When trying to decide on what type of cookbook to write I quickly realized there were not a lot of children’s cookbooks. In this day and age with the amount of cooking shows, competition shows, and now even adolescent cooking competitions there is a large gap in the children’s cookbook category.
I found that the cookbooks that did exist for children, even though they were filled with bright colors, fun recipes and themes it was still a standard cookbook. Recipe, picture, procedure. I don’t believe we are engaging a child enough with that. Why read a boring cookbook filled with long procedures when you can read an interactive story that teaches you the same thing? It’s a new concept for the cookbook world but at the same time we are teaching children a lot of things through storybooks. Why not baking or cooking?
Q: What makes MIMI’S ADVENTURES IN BAKING so unique?
Alyssa Gangeri: MIMI’S ADVENTURES IN BAKING is the first ever storybook cookbook. No more boring procedures, no more long lists of ingredients. Now a child can follow along and do what Mimi does. This book series incorporates not just learning how to bake but also counting, measuring, and following directions. Baking can be an intimidating craft but with the right instructions it’s fun and easy! With only one recipe per book the focus is no longer on flipping through countless recipes. The focus returns to the actual art of baking and learning. Even for the parent that swears they are a horrible baker, I promise this book can make a baker out of anyone! Plus, it’s a fun interactive activity for an adult and child to enjoy together. Who doesn’t like playing with food?
Q: Is the character, Mimi, based on a real-life person?
Alyssa Gangeri: Mimi is inspired by my childhood growing up learning how to bake in my grandparents’ kitchen. My relationship with all of my grandparents inspired my career as a Pastry Chef so it was only natural for me to gravitate towards bringing Mimi to life in a storybook format. 
Q: How do you engage your readers—both children and adults—into the story and desire to bake cookies? Did you do research or testing to assure that children would be interested?
Alyssa Gangeri: Being a Pastry Chef that has competed on the Food Network I realized how deeply interested people were in my career and cooking in general. Desserts are a celebration and should be enjoyed with others, but many people do not know the basics of baking. The basics allows you to become creative in the kitchen, but without them the world of baking can be rather intimidating. The amount of cooking shows, cooking classes and even children’s cooking classes that have blossomed over the past couple years really inspired me to write this book series.
The desire to learn the craft is there. Children want to do what their parents do. They want to watch the shows their parents watch. It was only a matter of time before children’s cooking competition shows arose. I knew the desire was there, I just had to figure out a way that was like nothing else out there. As a chef you try and relate to your diners, you try and figure out what drives them to eat what they eat, and dine where they dine.
I spent a lot of time working with kids and adults to inspire my publishing path. I believe this type of book has the potential to change the world of children’s cookbooks. You have to relate to a child, you have to get on their level and figure out what drives them to learn. I hope MIMI’S ADVENTURES IN BAKING does just that.
Q: How important are the illustrations? Did you conceive the story first followed by the illustrations?
Alyssa Gangeri: I believe the illustrations to any children’s book is a crucial part. Illustrations are the initial selling point to any child. If they are not drawn to the character or the illustrations you lost them before they even read the book.
 For this type of book I knew the illustrations were going to be difficult because there is so much information being given throughout the book. After writing the book I spent a lot of time with my illustrator to ensure everything was right even down to how the tools looked, or how her hand sweeps across the cup of flour. Illustrating a procedure takes time, and a lot of attention to detail, but in the end I am thrilled with how Chiara brought my words to life. Trusting your illustrator is a major part of this process. They see things differently than writers do, and I was very happy with her vision.
Q: Did you write MIMI’S ADVENTURES IN BAKING to entertain your reader, to educate, to teach them how to make cookies? Or did you want to deliver a message?
Alyssa Gangeri: I wrote MIMI’S ADVENTURES IN BAKING as an alternative learning tool that was fun at the same time. Baking is fun, and I wanted reading and learning how to bake to be just as fun. The goal always was for the child to gain confidence in the kitchen and become the chef, and the adult the assistant. Not only are they learning how to bake but they are also learning self-confidence, measuring, counting, and most importantly how to follow directions. I think that if you can learn without even realizing you’re learning you have accomplished a lot. To me it’s all about having fun while you learn! 
Q: Do you enjoy writing? What else have you written?
Alyssa Gangeri: I genuinely enjoyed writing this book. This is my first book, and first of the series and I could not be happier with it. It was a difficult learning curve for me because I am a chef, and I am always working with my hands creating things. This was a whole different way to work with my hands, but I had a lot of fun doing it. If I can inspire children to bake and enjoy being in the kitchen I’ve done my job.
Q: What do you believe are the most important elements of a children’s story?
Alyssa Gangeri: I think the most important elements of a children’s story is the relatability. Children want to feel comfortable and relate to the characters. I think without that it becomes difficult to keep them engaged.
Q: What’s next? Will Mimi go on other adventures?
Alyssa Gangeri: Mimi has a lot of adventures ahead! The second book in the series is due out in late 2015 where Mimi will make a sweet treat for her allergy ridden friend. I am very excited about this second book because food allergies are so apparent now.  I believe it is very important for kids to not only be aware of them, but to be knowledgeable about these unfortunate allergies that affect so many. Mimi also will be venturing into some savory treats as well! She is a busy little bee!
Q: Tell us about Alyssa Gangeri? What do you like to do when you’re not on an adventure with Mimi?
Alyssa Gangeri: When I am not on adventures with my favorite little girl I am baking specialty birthday cakes, wedding cakes and pasties. I have a boutique cake business in New York City called AllyCakesNYC as well as a restaurant on Roosevelt Island, Riverwalk Bar and Grill. I love cooking because it’s a profession that allows you to be creative every day. Although, when I am not in the kitchen I love to spend my free time in Central Park with my Jack Russell Terrier, Rudy, which you can also find him roaming around Mimi’s Adventures in Baking.
About Alyssa Gangeri
Chef Alyssa has been baking since she was a little girl in her grandmother's kitchen. Since graduating from the Culinary Institute of America she has worked for famous chefs and elite companies such as the Ritz Carlton, Tom Colicchio, Norman Van Aken and Gray Kunz. She currently is the Executive Chef at Riverwalk Bar and Grill on the Historic nook of New York City, Roosevelt Island. She also has a boutique custom cake company called AllyCakesNYC where she creates cakes to appease the imagination. Through her journey of baking she developed Mimi, her very own miniature version of herself.
   
As a child she loved baking and everything that came with it. As an adult and food lover she realized there was something missing when she frequented bookstores. An interactive children's cookbook. And we are not talking about a boring old cookbook for kids with lots and lots of recipes, and some pictures. Children these days have just as much interest in the kitchen as their parents do, but the ordinary cookbook is just not going to cut it. She created MIMI’S ADVENTURES IN BAKING to give children and adults a way to get into the kitchen and allow the child to become the chef and the adult the assistant. Each book has one recipe and an interactive storyline the child can read, and at the end go into the kitchen and do what Mimi did!  And for the "non-baking" parent, these elite pastry chef recipes are tested and ready for even the most inexperienced baker! Impress other moms with Mimi's creations!
   
MIMI’S ADVENTURES IN BAKING will also teach children how to measure, mix and bake their way through the kitchen while also giving safety tips along the way. No more boring cookbooks! Now there is a fun, exciting and educational way to learn how to bake!
About MIMI’S ADVENTURES IN BAKING
MIMI’S ADVENTURES IN BAKING is the first storybook cookbook that creates a fun and interactive way of learning how to bake. Follow Mimi as she learns to measure, mix and bake her way to her very first batch of homemade chocolate chip cookies. Learning how to bake can be easy and fun with Mimi!
Navigating your way through a kitchen full of tools, ingredients and of course safety measures are brought to life in this storybook cookbook. No more flipping through endless recipes and boring procedures. Mimi makes baking fun for the whole family. Let your child take control and become the chef they always wanted to be!
Purchase Links
MIMI’S ADVENTURES IN BAKING CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES releases in March 2015!
Pre-Order now:
Amazon Hardcover
Barnes and Noble On Goodreads Twitter: @AllyganInstagram: AgangeriFacebook AmazonBarnes and NobleWebsite

WHAT THE EXPERTS SAY: Susan Leigh Noble, Fantasy Author

Susan Leigh Noble, Author
THE HEIR TO ALEXANDRIA
THE ELEMENTAL TrilogySusan Leigh Noble likes stories with “magic, dragons and sword fights” all included in her recent release THE HEIR TO ALEXANDRIA as well as her original trilogy THE ELEMENTAL. Reviewers tout her “memorable characters” and “solid story.” For the sake of credibility, Noble develops the details of her various worlds, characters, and magic before she even starts writing. She considers believability critical to her stories.
When she’s not writing, Noble enjoys spending time with her children and helping out at their school. She currently lives with her husband, two children, and three cats in Texas.



Q: Your previous books include a fantasy trilogy featuring a girl who could start fire with a thought and a fourth book with a telepathic cat.  How did you conceive of your new novel, THE HEIR TO ALEXANDRIA, a story about a girl looking for her own parents meeting up with those either searching for or trying to prevent discovery of the heir to Alexandria? What draws you into writing fantasy stories?
Susan Leigh Noble:I have always loved fantasy stories with magic, dragons and sword fights so those have been in both this story and my original trilogy – THE ELEMENTAL. The plot for THE HEIR TO ALEXANDRIA started with just a few scenes revolving around a girl with red hair that was destined to fulfill a prophecy. I had jotted down those scenes in between writing SUMMONED and QUIETUS (Books 1 and 2 of my trilogy) but didn’t develop those scenes into an actual novel until after I finished my trilogy. A lot has changed from those first basic scenes though most of them – or at least a version of them – did end up in the final book.
Q: Who would enjoy reading THE HEIR TO ALEXANDRIA? Do you target youthful readers? Or is it relevant to all of us?
Susan Leigh Noble:I think THE HEIR TO ALEXANDRIA could be enjoyed by anyone who likes adventure or fantasy novels. This story has more dark scenes than my trilogy which was quite tame (though more death and destruction happened in the third installment.) I know some readers consider THE ELEMENTAL trilogy as a young adult book because the heroine was 18 but that market was not my intention when I wrote it.  And the same applies to THE HEIR TO ALEXANDRIA.
Q: I applaud the creativity of your stories and the fantasy genre in general. How important is credibility to telling your stories? What makes THE HEIR TO ALEXANDRIA and your other stories believable?
Susan Leigh Noble:I think credibility in any story is important. The reader has to believe what is happening whether the story takes place here on Earth or on some other made up world. I spend quite a bit of time building my worlds, developing character histories and of course the system of magic before I even begin writing my novels. I believe as a writer, it helps to know all these details even if they don’t make it into the actual book. These small details can add quite a bit of credibility to both your story and your characters.
Q: Are there any cats in THE HEIR TO ALEXANDRIA? I know you like cats!
Susan Leigh Noble:I do love cats but there aren’t any in this book. I like wolves a lot too so I included one as a protector of my main character, Alista.
Q: What pulls your readers into your fantasy world? The characters? Suspense? Action? Romance? Back story? How important is back story to telling your story?
Susan Leigh Noble:I like to think it is the characters that people will like and relate to in my novels. But I do try to include some good fight scenes and there usually is some romance thrown in there too.
Backstory is always important to telling a story. I spend quite a bit of time building histories for my characters – at least the main ones. A lot of that backstory may not make it into the novel but I think it helps write well-rounded characters.
Q: What makes us care about your protagonist, Alista? Is she a perfect heroine?
Susan Leigh Noble:Alista is far from the perfect heroine. She is more of the reluctant heroine. She doesn’t want anything to do with being tested as the heir to Alexandria but she is thrust into this adventure because she curses someone in front of the King’s court. This is a type of magic not been seen before so they immediately assume she could be the heir. As she travels, her magic grows and she spends a lot of time trying to conceal it.
Q: What are the characteristics of an effective villain? Are there villains in THE HEIR TO ALEXANDRIA?
Susan Leigh Noble:To have a good villain you have to know WHY they are the way they are. No one is born evil. Something had to have triggered their behavior which for them might seem quite “normal.” As for this book, the Order of the Black Dragon, a secret society set on preventing the return of the Alexandria line, is the antagonist. One of the members, Keres, ends up having a personal vendetta with another of the main characters and I guess becomes the true “villain” of the story.
Q: Do you write for entertainment only? Or do you also intend to deliver a message?
Susan Leigh Noble:I write purely for entertainment. I always try and write a story that I would like to read.
Q: What’s next?
Susan Leigh Noble:I have a few ideas. Since I love dragons, I am currently working on the plot details for a story focusing on a dragon as one of two main characters. Then I have also had some fans ask for another story involving Lina and Val from my THE ELEMENTAL trilogy so I am considering another trilogy that would take place about 10 years after my original story.
Q: Tell us about Susan Leigh Noble. What do you like to do when you’re not writing?
Susan Leigh Noble:I am an author (obviously) as well as a blogger and a mother. Most of my time is taken up with writing or volunteering at my kids’ school. I am the treasurer for the school parent-teacher association as well as handle the bookkeeping for my husband’s law office. If I do get any spare time, I do love to read. However, I find reading while writing is often too much of a distraction so my downtime often turns to watching TV after the kids are in bed.
About Susan Leigh Noble
Susan Noble has always loved dragons and magic so it is no wonder that she became an author of fantasy novels. As a cat lover, she also had to throw in a telepathic cat to the mix in her THE ELEMENTAL trilogy. Her latest book, THE HEIR TO ALEXANDRIA, was released in January 2015.
When she isn't writing, Susan is an active volunteer in her neighborhood and at her children's schools. She lives with her husband, two children, three cats and a Cocker Spaniel in Texas.
About THE HEIR TO ALEXANDRIA
Believed the descendants of the Gods themselves,The Alexandria line ensured peace,Until they were brutally murdered.But rumor spread a maid escaped with the youngest daughter.
Now as the world rushes toward a period of unrest, the nations’ Kings continue their 200-year-long-search for the Heir to Alexandria – the one person who can bring peace and stability through divine power.
Alista has her own search – for the parents who abandoned her as a baby years ago. When her only lead proves to be a dead end, she heads to the capital with a reluctant escort. Grayson is just following his aunt’s order, but he would rather be on one of his solitary scouting missions for the Landra Guard. However, when Alista unintentionally curses a guard in front of the King’s court, everything changes for both of them.
Now forced to travel to Covington for testing, danger lurks at every turn as a secret society strives to prevent the return of the Alexandria line. Are Alista’s visions of the future enough to save herself and those traveling with her?







LinksAmazon Author page
THE HEIR TO ALEXANDRIA - KINDLEBlogFacebookTwitter-@SusanLeighNoble

WHAT THE EXPERTS SAY: Cate Beauman, Romantic Suspense Author

Cate Beauman, Author
REAGAN'S REDEMPTION, 8th book
The Bodyguards of L.A. County seriesWelcome back, romantic-suspense author Cate Beauman who has just released REAGAN’S REDEMPTION, the eighth book in The Bodyguards of L.A. County series.She features Reagan Rosner, physician—a profession requiring significant research by Beauman—who joins with her Ethan Cook Security bodyguard in Eastern Kentucky where they meet “a few mishaps.”
Beauman, who says she doesn’t “know how to tell a story that doesn’t weave romance and suspense together,” also appreciates  strong women, doses of humor, and protagonists with interesting careers. Reviewers of previous books in the series claim they have “a great balance of romance, action, and suspense” and that “the characters are developed very well and the story believable.”
When writing, Beauman MUST have music playing, and she creates a song list for each of her stories. You can see the REAGAN’S REDEMPTION list following her interview. She currently lives in North Carolina with her husband, their two boys, and St. Bernard’s, Bear and Jack.

See the giveaway opportunity following this interview.
Q: Your Bodyguards of LA County books incorporate some interesting backgrounds for your main characters. For REAGAN’S REDEMPTION, what drew you into the medical field? How much can you use a chosen occupation, such as doctor, to tell your story? Do you research a suitable occupation?
Cate Beauman: Since the men of Ethan Cooke Security are all close protection agents, I really like to give the heroines of each story eclectic careers. I think it’s important to the series as a whole to keep things fresh and exciting. For REAGAN’S REDEMPTION, it was vital that Reagan be a physician. The entire plot is driven by her work and the trouble she uncovers during one man’s physical examination.
Yes, yes and YES!! I research everything I write about. Authenticity is so important to a story. It’s hard for readers to get lost in an adventure if the facts don’t ring true. Sometimes I’ll skim over details if they don’t work for my plot, but I always try to keep things as reality-based as possible.
Q:  I believe REAGAN’S REDEMPTION is your 8thBodyguards of L.A. County book. How do you manage to keep each book fresh?
Cate Beauman: It’s really important to develop each character and their circumstances separate from the characters in the previous novels. Although the Bodyguards of L.A. County is a series, each book can technically be read on its own. That really allows me the freedom to “play” with each plot. There’s nothing from the novel before or after that rides on the current story I want to tell.
Q: Would you characterize the women in the Bodyguards of L.A. series as modern women? Independent? Or do they require a man in their lives in order to be successful? Likewise, are the men of the series “modern” men? Would they do the laundry or cook? Or do both men and women fulfill traditional roles?
Cate Beauman: I grew up in a single-parent household. There was never a “man’s work” or a “woman’s work,” there was just work. I myself am a strong, independent woman and expect nothing less from the characters I write. Men are not required to help these ladies through the trials and tribulations of their lives, but the Close Protection Agents of Ethan Cooke Security do offer a support system. All of the characters in the stories are facing some sort of crisis as each adventure unfolds. Often the men and women find themselves working together, growing and evolving to conquer their personal and external conflicts.
Q: I know you enjoy mixing suspense with romance in your stories. What other elements help engage readers? Does humor entice them? What about setting? Villains vs heroes? How important is credibility?
Cate Beauman: I honestly don’t know how to tell a story that doesn’t weave romance and suspense together. Both are vital to each story I share. I also believe that adding a good dose of humor and making each character as flawed and as human as you and me is paramount. No one wants to read about perfection because it doesn’t exist. If you have strong characters and a good plot the rest follows along.
Q: You typically provide a list of songs that you play while writing. How does music inspire you?  In general, do you think music jumpstarts creativity?
Cate Beauman: I can’t write without music. As I tell each story I get so excited when I hear the lyrics of a song that match perfectly with my characters’ situations. It’s motivation and validation that their story is exactly right. Music is vital to my career. I know some writers need complete silence to be creative but not this girl!
Q: What inspired REAGAN’S REDEMPTION?
Cate Beauman: I’ve wanted to tell Reagan and Shane’s story for quite a while now, but I kept putting it off, knowing where the weeks of research would take me. Reagan Rosner is a doctor, which is great for her but not so much for me as the writer. Unfortunately, I’m a bit of a hypochondriac who is afflicted with White Coat Syndrome. Typically, I stay as far away from anything “medical” as possible, but for Reagan’s Redemption I had to dig deep and conquer a personal demon or two. There were many days where I cringed, watching how-to videos on IV insertions and blood draws and hyperventilated my way through more than one resuscitation tutorial, but I did it, making Reagan’s character all the stronger for it.
After the days of dreadful research, I really knuckled down and got to work. I had so much fun with this story. Reagan is kind and dedicated and Shane extremely funny. This couple complements each other well, which is perfect because they’ll face more than their fair share of trouble in Black Bear Gap, Kentucky.
Q: I have to ask. Your bio says you have two St. Bernards. How do you manage? I assume they’re not lap dogs!
Cate Beauman: Jack, our one-year-old thinks he’s a lapdog! He’s more than happy to come and sit on us if we happen to be settled on the floor! I love our pups to pieces. They do drool quite a bit and eat A LOT, but they’re wonderful with the kids and are great protectors. I can’t imagine life without them.
About Cate Beauman
Cate currently lives in North Carolina with her husband, their two boys, and St. Bernard’s, Bear and Jack. She is the author of the best selling romantic suspense series, The Bodyguards of L.A. County.  Before her career as an author, Cate worked in special education for 12 years.
“I’m a pretty lucky girl; one day I woke up and my entire life changed. I saw the light, so to speak, and decided I was going to be a writer. Now, five years later, I’m working on my ninth novel, Answers For Julie, which I plan to release during the summer of 2015.  I remain so very grateful for the support and success that I have had.  Thank you!”  - Cate
About REAGAN’S REDEMPTION

Doctor Reagan Rosner loves her fast-paced life of practicing medicine in New York City’s busiest trauma center. Kind and confident, she’s taking her profession by storm—until a young girl’s accidental death leaves her shaken to her core. With her life a mess and her future uncertain, Reagan accepts a position as Head Physician for The Appalachia Project, an outreach program working with some of America’s poorest citizens. 

Shane Harper, Ethan Cooke Security’s newest team member, has been assigned a three-month stint deep in the mountains of Eastern Kentucky, and he’s not too happy about it. Guarding a pill safe in the middle of nowhere is boring as hell, but when he gets a look at his new roommate, the gorgeous Doctor Rosner, things start looking up.
Shane and Reagan encounter more than a few mishaps as they struggle to gain the trust of a reluctant community. They’re just starting to make headway when a man’s routine checkup exposes troubling secrets the town will do anything to keep hidden—even if that means murder.
Excerpt
The front door opened and closed. “Shane?”
“Down here.”
Reagan hurried in, her eyes full of excitement. “How are things going?”
“Good. Faith is clean, eating, and will hopefully be sleeping in the next couple of minutes.”
“I can take a turn. I know I’ve been gone for awhile.”
He shook his head. “We’re fine. Looks like you’ve had a run today.”
She smiled. “Two patients—one ear infection and a strep throat.”
“Good stuff.”
She nodded, sitting on the edge of the mattress. “That’s not the best part. I was talking with Jodi, Josiah’s mother, about her gardens—trying to break the ice a little. She was telling me how she grows some of the best corn around but constantly has trouble with her beans. Apparently, Sue Anne’s family seems to have the opposite issue.” She swiped her hair behind her ear. “Anyway, while Jodi was talking, I got this idea. I was thinking we could organize an evening where families can get together here at the clinic and swap fruits and vegetables for a bigger variety of healthful foods—kind of like a farmer’s market. We can offer some simple snacks and drinks, and I’m hoping I might be able to throw in a few nutrition facts while we’re at it. There are so many kiddos with bad teeth. They’re drinking too much soda.”
“Sounds like you’ve got a plan. Go get ‘em, tiger.” He liked seeing her like this—her eyes bright, her hands punctuating certain words as they spilled from her mouth, caught up in her own enthusiasm.
“I will.” Her smile dimmed as she touched Faith’s toes peeking out from the blanket. “But I don’t know how many people will come.”
“So you won’t have standing-room only on your first try.”
She licked her lips. “They’re afraid.”
He frowned. “Who?”
“The people here. They’re frightened by either me or the clinic.”
“Why do you say that?”
She shrugged. “I don’t know. That was the sense I got when I spoke with Jenny’s mother and then again with Jodi.”
He remembered Mrs. Hendley’s weird spewings about heeding warnings and staying away, but she also seemed like a bit of a whack job. “I don’t know, Doc. When I look at you ‘intimidating’ isn’t exactly the first word that comes to mind.”
“Maybe not to you, but they were certainly uneasy. Maybe I’m trying to make sense of an unusual situation, but I don’t think so. Both women kept looking toward the trees, like they were being watched or something.” She shuddered. “It gave me the willies.”
“We’ll keep an eye on the situation, but things have been pretty low key so far.”
She nodded. “I just really want this to work. I can help this town if they’ll let me.”


The Unofficial REAGAN’S REDEMPTION Soundtrack
“Here are a few of the songs that I had on “repeat” while I created Reagan and Shane’s story!  You can listen to them on my website www.catebeauman.com.”
The soundtrack, of sorts, for Reagan’s Redemption:·      Devil Town by Tony Lucca ·      So Easy by Phillip Phillips ·      Not A Bad Thing by Justin Timberlake·      Science and Faith by The Script·      Daylight by Maroon Five·      Hazy by Rosi Golan ft. William Fitzimmons·      Get Out by Casey Abrams·      First Flight Home by Jake Miller ·      Human by Jon McLaughlin·      Have A Little Faith In Me by Jewel·      Thinking Out Loud by Ed Sheeran·      Parachute by Train

Purchase Links Amazon Author Page REAGAN'S REDEMPTION KindleBarnesand Noble Author Page
Author LinksTwitter: @CateBeauman
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