Joyce T. Strand's Blog, page 18

WHAT THE EXPERTS SAY: Chrissie Parker, Author

Chrissie Parker, Author
AMONG THE OLIVE GROVESUK author Chrissie Parker just released her latest novel, AMONG THE OLIVE GROVES, a suspense story with threads of romance inspired by an occurrence on a Greek island in World War II. She wanted to tell a “raw and real” story about her main character Elena, whose life was typical of what happened to Greeks during WW II. She also wanted to attract people to visit Greece, a country that has had “such a hard time lately.”
Parker, who lives in London with her actor husband and two cats named appropriately after Roman goddesses, enjoys ancient history and archeology. She has also published the thriller INTEGRATE, and is working on two sequels to it along with two historical novels set in Egypt and Jordan. In addition to writing, she likes making spiral beaded bracelets.
Q: How did you conceive of the story for AMONG THE OLIVE GROVES?  Is it based on a true story? Or on characters from your family?
Chrissie Parker: The entire book is based on a conversation I had with a Greek local while on holiday in Zakynthos, Greece in 2005.  During the conversation the local told me all about something that happened on the island during World War Two (I can’t tell you what it as it’s a huge spoiler for the book!).  Needless to say, the conversation stayed with me and I decided to write about it.  I also wanted to set a book on the island of Zakynthos as it’s a beautiful place and Greece has been through such a hard time recently.  I wanted to write something that would inspire people to visit it.
Q: How would you characterize AMONG THE OLIVE GROVES? Is it a “coming of age” story? Or romance? Or suspense?
Chrissie Parker: AMONG THE OLIVE GROVES is Historical Fiction.  It is very definitely a suspense, but there are aspects of romance weaving through it.  I think in essence the book is about change, and dealing with things in your life that you can’t control.  Both Elena and Kate are faced with things that they have to deal with head on.  It’s about strength of characters and doing the right thing for ‘you’ as well as others.
Q: How helpful was setting to telling your story? Thinking about events in Greece during WW II invokes all kinds of possibilities. Could you have told this story as effectively at any time in any place?
Chrissie Parker: The setting was crucial.  As the story hinges on this one piece of information I heard, Zakynthos was the only place it could have been told.  If you then combine that with the main character and the isolation of the island and its idyllic nature, I don’t think the story would have worked as well anywhere else.
The thing that surprised me the most was the lack of researchable material that remains.  Most information about what happened on Zakynthos in World War Two, came from a limited number of sources, either word of mouth, or from one book in the island’s library. Many records of what happened were destroyed during a big earthquake on the island in 1953. 
Q: How did you assure historical accuracy? Is accuracy important for credibility and believability? Or for enhancing the story?
Chrissie Parker: I did a lot of research.  I love history, but I’m more into Ancient History than modern, so World War Two was a bit of a learning curve for me.  I read books about the war, the Greek resistance, and women’s roles during the war.  I watched a lot of documentaries on the subject and also visited some museums.  I also had to do a lot of research about Greece in general.  For this particular book, accuracy was incredibly important, as the chapters set in Greece are chronologically set from 1938 to 1944, so I needed to make sure that any world events mentioned, that impacted the story, fell in the right place in the book.  
I wanted the book to not only tell a story but to be raw and real.  It is rumored that what eventually happened to my character Elena actually happened to Greeks for real during the war.  I needed to understand why, so that I could write in the best way possible without sensationalizing it. 
Q: What did you do to help readers engage with your characters in an historical setting? Why do we care what happens to them?
Chrissie Parker: I think Elena is an important character.  She is a woman, she is expected to act a certain way for a woman of her time.  She breaks with conventionality in many ways in this book.  Everything she does is for others, she is completely selfless and I love that about her.  She is strong willed, has a big heart and is also very feisty.  In a way I feel that what happened to her was always meant to be.
Q: Did you write AMONG THE OLIVE GROVES strictly to entertain? Or did you also want to educate readers? Or deliver a message?
Chrissie Parker: I wrote it to both entertain and to send a message.  In fact there are a few messages in this book.  War is hard, it changes life, but Elena fought for everything she believed in, people are strong and will do everything they can to protect those they love, and whether we are at war or just living life normally, we should always look after those we love and protect them the best we can.  There is always an answer to your troubles if you search hard enough, and I think all of that comes across in the book. 
I also wanted to show people what a wonderful place Greece is.  As I mentioned above, it has been through a really hard time over the last few years and if people read the book and choose to then visit it, it means that it is helping the people who live there. 
Q: Does the concept of “heroes” vs “villains” play an important part in AMONG THE OLIVE GROVES? Do you need a villain to have a hero? What makes a good villain?
Chrissie Parker: Very much so.  There are a number of villains in this book, and a few heroes too.  War changes people and people have to choose sides whether they like it or not.  In this book we have the typical villain, Italians and Germans who have invaded the island and taken away the freedom of those who live there.  There are also people who have unintentionally become villains by choosing to align with the enemy as a way of self-preservation. Sometimes in life people don’t always pick the right side, and they unintentionally then become a villain, but if there is good in them, they will do something heroic in the end.  There is a definite need for hero and villain in AMONG THE OLIVE GROVES, the war was full of both, and it very clearly comes through in this story. 
In the case of this story a good villain is one that suppresses the masses, one that takes away their freedom, that leaves them scared and afraid, with no choice but to fight against the oppression.  This in turn makes the islanders heroic, they fight for their family and their neighbors and for their ultimate freedom.
Q: Are you in control of your characters, or do they take over occasionally and make you write something you never intended?
Chrissie Parker: Most of the time I am in control of my characters but I struggled a lot with Elena.  She is such a feisty and headstrong character.  She led me down paths I was least expecting. I knew what I wanted from her, but she really did break all of the boundaries, and ended up being much braver and more determined than I could ever have imagined.  I also struggled with a few others too, Kate Fisher was hard to predict, in the book she receives a big shock, and she handles it very badly, she definitely suffered with mood swings during the writing process!
Q: What’s next?
Chrissie Parker: I am currently working on two sequels to INTEGRATE called Temperance and Retribution, both of which will be released next year.  I also have two works of historical fiction in the pipeline that I need to revise, they are set in Egypt and Jordan.
Q: Tell us about Chrissie Parker. What do you like to do when you’re not writing?
Chrissie Parker: I am married to an actor, and live in London (UK), and we have two cats that are named after Roman Goddesses.  I’m a history and archaeology geek, and I have completed a 6 month Egyptology course and a 6 month Archaeology course with Exeter University. I love collecting and reading history books and watching documentaries about ancient history too.  I also make beaded spiral bracelets.
Quirks:- I always write with a green pen- I can’t say the word anonymous – it comes out as anomynous- My favorite sandwich is cheese and orange marmalade – everyone thinks it’s odd
About Chrissie Parker

Chrissie lives in London with her husband and is a freelance Production Coordinator working in the TV, documentary and film industry. 
Chrissie is also an Author.  Her thriller INTEGRATEwas released in October 2013.  Chrissie is currently working on two sequels to Integrate called Temperanceand Retribution.  Both will be released in 2015.
Other written work includes factual articles for the Bristolian newspaper and guest articles for the charities Epilepsy Awareness Squad and Epilepsy Literary Heritage Foundation.  Chrissie has also written a book of short stories and poems, one of which was performed at the 100 poems by 100 women event at the Bath International Literary Festival in 2013.
Chrissie is passionate about Ancient History, Archaeology and Travel, and has completed two six-month Archaeology and Egyptology courses with Exeter University.   She also likes to read, collect books, make bracelets and listenAbout AMONG THE OLIVE GROVES

Elena Petrakis adores living on the Greek island of Zakynthos. When World War Two looms her way of life is threatened. Left with no choice she joins the island's resistance to fight for what she believes in; her family, her home, and her freedom.
Decades later, thousands of miles away in the Cornish town of Newquay, Kate Fisher prepares to celebrate her twenty-first birthday, but her joy is fleeting when she learns she is adopted. Abandoning life in England, Kate flees to Zakynthos, where she is forced to acknowledge a life she has struggled to come to terms with, one that will change her future.
From the beautiful crystal turquoise seas of the Ionian Islands to the rugged shores of the Cornish coast, AMONG THE OLIVE GROVES  is a story of love, bravery and sacrifice.
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WHAT THE EXPERTS SAY: A.R. Williams, Author

A.R. Williams created The Camellia Trilogy as a result of a conversation with a friend about superheroes and their origins and the realization that “There's always some accident, some government-engineered scientific mishap.” Reviewers of the first book in the trilogy, THE CAMELLIA RESISTANCE, say it’s an entertaining and interesting read… of mystery, survival, conspiracy, and adventure” and “a dystopian future in a society obsessed with hygiene.”
A.R. Williams has always wanted to write, and she embraces the politics and available opportunities offered by living in Washington, D.C. She also appreciates making a “killer” salsa.


Q: How did you conceive of the plot line for THE CAMELLIA RESISTANCE? Is it a story that has to be told?
A.R. Williams: THE CAMELLIA RESISTANCE started as a strange conversation with a friend back in 2009.  We were talking about writing naughty stories and he suggested superheroes having sex.  As the conversation evolved, that turned into superheroes and their origin stories.  There's always some accident, some government-engineered scientific mishap.  Why not a virus, and since we're talking about superheroes and sex, why not a STD?  
I wish I could claim JK Rowling's discipline when it comes to plotting, but the plot and the ideas behind it have evolved over time.  I started writing in November of 2009 and the last big idea fell into place in the beginning of 2012.  As a writer, this is the story that hasn't let me go. From my perspective, it had to be told.  
Q: What draws you to write in your genre? Would you characterize THE CAMELLIA RESISTANCE as SciFi, fantasy, dystopian fantasy?
A.R. Williams: It is probably a cop-out, but I never set out to write in a particular genre.  It was the characters and the world they live in that came first.  Then it was a focus on "oh dear, I've got to live up to this concept."  Where the book would fall in the groupings at Barnes and Noble was the last thing on my mind, at least while I was writing it.
That being said, it turns out that the trilogy falls solidly in the dystopian fantasy genre.  
Q: How do you create credibility for a world set in 2044? How important is back story?
A.R. Williams: Back story is crucial.  Where we come from sets us the parameters for where we can go next.  Our history informs everything.  Our assumptions about the world we live in, the things we take for granted, everything rests on the foundation of what comes before.  In the writing process, the back story weighs as much as the current activity.  I think that will become more evident as we move into the second book.
As for creating credibility, I may have taken the easy way out.  A pandemic flu wiped out most of the population in 1987, an event that was followed by the disintegration of the constitutional government of the United States.  That's pretty much going to grind technological progress to a halt. I didn't put myself in a position of having to build a world where flying personal space suits are the norm.  I think that puts the burden of credibility with the characters living in the culture with its norms and expectations instead of adequately describing the technology.  
Q: What makes us care about Willow Carlyle as a character?
A.R. Williams: Well, I've found out that Willow isn't universally likable.  She's been a bit sanctimonious and judgmental, she doesn't understand herself very well, she thinks she has things under control and she doesn't.  But what happens to her - not just the specifics, but the experience of hitting rock bottom - is a pretty universal experience.  She gets to this thing that she never thought would happen to her, this experience that is the end of her world, and it doesn't kill her.  Much to her surprise, she keeps going, imperfectly, of course, but she keeps going. 
Some readers can't stand Willow, but really like one of the other characters.  Which is okay with me, because although Willow is the introduction to the world of the Camellias, it is a bigger world than just her.  
Q: Are there villains in THE CAMELLIA RESISTANCE? What makes an effective villain?
A.R. Williams: There are villains, but it depends a little on your perspective.  There are people in the book who do bad things, who hurt other people carelessly, who kill.  Back when Veronica Mars was still on TV, the actor that played Logan (Jason Dohring) said about his character "no one thinks of themselves as the bad guy."  The quote is paraphrased because it's been so long ago even Google is having trouble finding the exact quote, but that idea really stuck with me.  I think he was right.  We all do stuff other people don't like, but none of us thinks of ourselves as bad people. From the internal perspective of a "villain," you're just doing what you have to do, right?  We all have our reasons.  When you cut someone off in traffic, you never think of yourself as the asshole, it is always the other schmuck that wouldn't let you in.  
So to me, an effective villain has some ambiguity, believes in whatever course of action he/she is pursuing, and has moments of likability.  
Q:  Why write a trilogy instead of just a standalone book?
A.R. Williams: There are two answers to that question, one has to do with the story itself and the other has to do with impatience.  
The trilogy structure, at least as I'm planning to use it, allows me to widen the aperture to this world a little with every book.  Willow's perspective is the first one we meet, and THE CAMELLIA RESISTANCE is about her understanding of the world she lives in. Books two and three will each take a step back, widening the perspective until the whole big world, back-story and all, comes into view.  
As for the impatience, my experience with the real world has taught me about the importance of getting started.  You can do something now or you can wait and do everything later, but if you're going to do everything later...  well, later never shows up.  Now is here.  Now is about all you can count on.  I've spent too much time waiting for the perfect conditions, waiting to have everything 100% ready, and really, that's just fear talking.  Do what doesn't take permission.  Do it now.  To quote Janis Joplin, tomorrow never happens man.    
Q: Do your characters push you around and lead you to write something you never intended? Or do you stick to your outline?
A.R. Williams: I'm not much of a planner, but I did start out with ideas about who my characters were - and pretty strong ideas at that.  Sometimes they comply, sometimes they don't.  Ianthe started out as a side-kick, Marshall started out as a nice guy 100% of the time.  Warren, at least, was always Warren.  And then some characters showed up wholly formed without invitation.  I keep talking about Morrigan, who shows up in the last half of the book.  She arrived all by herself and pretty much pointed her cane at me, waved her joint around, and said "listen lady, this is how it is going to be."  A lot of things have happened in the process that I didn't intend, but that's why you write...  as much as the reader, I want to know what happens next.  
Q: Do you write to entertain your readers and/or do you want to deliver a message or educate?
A.R. Williams: The two aren't mutually exclusive in my view.  We engage with stories to entertain ourselves, but that doesn't mean that the entertainment doesn't contain a thread of truth or doesn't serve a purpose in our lives.  Some of the best stories we've got teach us that we can survive, that others have experienced what we're experiencing - again, rock bottom is pretty universal - and have found a way to carry on.  Other authors have been with me through that rock bottom experience, have held my hand and shown me that it is possible to keep going.  If I can be that for someone else, even just a little bit, then I can count myself as a success.  
So if there's a dogma to be found in the book, it is in the value of showing up, as imperfect as you are, as ill equipped as you may be.  It is in making peace with the way life is inevitably going to scar you, and learning to find the beauty and the strength in those scars.  It is that living unafraid is going to get you hurt, but hurt and alive is better than walling yourself off from everything because you're afraid of pain.   
Q:  What’s next?
A.R. Williams: I'm about 75% done with the next in the Trilogy - The Camellia Reckoning.  Then there is the editing and the re-writing and the early reader feedback and the perfecting to do.  That should keep me busy for a while, and when I'm done with that, book three.  I'm booked for the foreseeable future.  Literally.  
Q:  Tell us about A.R. Williams. What do you like to do when you’re not writing?
A.R. Williams: I'm afraid the most interesting part of me is what happens when I'm not paying attention to what the thoughts in my head are up to.  Other than that, it is all pretty normal.  Work.  Swimming.  Music.  My 13 year old dog that has no idea she can't see, can't hear, and can't smell anymore.  Making a killer salsa.  This is another quote I can't find, and I don't even know who said it, but it applies: I live a restrained life so my imagination can run wild.    
About A.R. Williams
A.R. Williams is obsessed with language and myth, not just playing with words and making up stories, but with the real-world impact that our words have on the way we live. Words are the only puzzle that never gets boring, and writing is the only thing she has wanted to do consistently. Other interests, such as sewing and photography, become alternate means to feed the writing habit.

Ms. Williams feeds her obsession with curiosity: people, philosophy, technology, psychology, and culture. Living in Washington D.C. is a good source of inspiration. From the sublime heights of arts and achievement available for free at the Smithsonian to the bureaucratic banality of Beltway politics and scandals, it is a great city for fantasy, possibility, power, and consequence—ideal fodder for the fictional life. She lives between an ordinary external life filled with time cards, meetings, and deadlines; and an extraordinary imaginary world where anything is possible and everything is fueled by music.
About THE CAMELLIA RESISTANCE
2044. Willow Carlyle is the youngest cultural epidemiology research director in the history of the Ministry of Health and is on the fast-track for further promotion until a night of passion shatters her carefully constructed life.
Marked and unemployed, Willow falls in with a band of dissidents. Everyone wants something. In the process of discerning friend from foe, Willow begins to unravel secrets that will shake the New Republic of America to its foundation. 
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WHAT THE EXPERTS SAY: Morgan Bell, Author

Morgan Bell, Author
SNIGGERLESS BOUNDULATIONSAustralian author Morgan Bell offers SNIGGERLESS BOUNDULATIONS, a group of short stories of  “bizarre medical conditions, industrious creatures, conniving cops, killers, dead bodies, a rescue mission, homoeroticism, nonchalant students, a secret garden, and the road to hell.”  Reviewers praise the “many layers,” and “great characters.” Bell says, “it’s a little book of feelings told through the tears of a clown.”
Many of Bell’s short stories have been featured in various publications. She plans to release a second book of short stories later this year and is working on a speculative fiction novel. When she’s not working or writing, Bell likes to go to the movies, live theater, and drag shows. Born in Melbourne, she currently lives in Sydney.
Don't miss the brief excerpts following her interview.
Q: How much and/or did your upbringing, current surroundings, or life events influence your stories in SNIGGERLESS BOUNDULATIONS?
Morgan Bell: Many of my stories feature overt Australiana, such as eucalypts and butcherbirds in Telfer Speck, some feature real places, such as Stockton in Granted, or my old front fence in Newcastle in Shark Fin Soup. A lot of dialogue is expanded fragments of real conversations from real life. Stories like The Package and Mini Play are based on real exchanges, just extrapolated out and with some invented backstory or motivations.
Q: Reviewers say that there are “many layers” to the stories in SNIGGERLESS BOUNDULATIONSand were pleased that they are thought-provoking. How do you provide multiple layers in a short story? Did you intend to deliver a message with your stories?
Morgan Bell: I am a believer in the saying: a good story reads you. It is the ultimate compliment that my stories have been interpreted in so many ways. I find that is part of the craft of writing, leaving enough negative space that any reader can relate. I keep my stories concise and my dialogue and descriptions pointed. Rather than telling the reader what to think present a situation of moral ambiguity and let them draw their own conclusions.
Q: What makes your stories unique?
Morgan Bell: They come from a unique place, within the world, within society, and within my perspective. They do not conform to short story conventions, in structure or in length. They also have a common narrative and themes running through them as a collection. I write entirely in third person, and I have a strong voice, its like being led into the wilderness by someone you trust.
Q: Reviewers also like the range of stories – from the “rather amusing, to deeply disturbing, and even heartfelt.” Were you trying to evoke reaction to various emotions?
Morgan Bell:  Absolutely, it’s a little book of feelings told through the tears of a clown. The face of it is quite funny, but like most comedians there is an underbelly of hurt and sadness. Many of the stories are about not fitting in and the general unease that comes with forming an identity relative to other people.
Q: I was interested to see that your reviewers appreciated your characters. How do you develop multiple engaging characters in a series of short stories?
Morgan Bell: To see the best or the worst of a character you need to put them in a character defining situation. I don’t put them through an obstacle course like a mad puppeteer, I just introduce them to one scenario and let the camera rest there while tensions boil. I also like to present queer characters, characters of various ages and socio-economic groups and stages in life, and present couplings where the relationship is not defined. The reader can observe the dynamic and decide for themselves.
Q: How important is setting to your stories? Could they occur anywhere?
Morgan Bell: Most of the time the setting is not very important, it can be anywhere from a faraway land to the house next door. As a default I will set them in Newcastle Australia, but often the location is not even named.
Q: Can you explain the meaning and significance of the title SNIGGERLESS BOUNDULATIONS?
Morgan Bell: It is a non-sense phrase that stuck in my mind while I was half-asleep. It sounded to me like something the Dormouse from Alice In Wonderland would talk about in between tales of treacle and drawing a “muchness” from much of a muchness. Linguistically it translates to a calculated series of steps forward. I like the riddle quality and the weightlessness of the phrase.
Q: How relevant is the concept of “hero” vs “villain” in your stories?
Morgan Bell:  To think there are no good people and bad people, just people capable of doing both good and bad things depending on the situation. Someone like Constable Skillion in Telfer Speck may seem like a villain in some lights, or maybe he’s lonely and socially awkward and just trying to do his job. The young woman in It Had To Be Done acts in a way that may negatively impact another person, but what motivates her is more defining to her character than the end result.
Q: What’s next? Will you write more short stories? A novel? What genre interests you next?
Morgan Bell: I have another collection of short stories coming out later this year, called Laissez Faire. I am also working on a speculative fiction novel, it is bare bones at the moment, but it will have various female protagonists, the working title is Daughters of Mallory.
Q: Tell us about Morgan Bell. What do you like to do when you’re not writing?
Morgan Bell: I love watching movies, especially at the cinema, and watching tv series like Game of Thrones, Girls, Shameless, True Detective etc. Recently I began a class in mosaic, which has been fabulous. I also like going to see live theatre and drag shows, and dining out and in with friends. I am a bit of a people-watcher so I just like being out in the community, listening and observing.
About Morgan Bell
Morgan Bell is a young Australian woman, born in Melbourne, Victoria in 1981. She attended school in regional areas of New South Wales, including the Northern Rivers, the South Coast, and Newcastle. She currently lives in Sydney and works in Local Government as an engineer. Bell is university educated in civil engineering, traffic engineering, technical communications, linguistics, and literature. She is a member of Hunter Writers Centre, Newcastle Writers Group, and Newcastle Speculative Fiction Group.
Bell’s short story “It Had To Be Done” was first published in the Newcastle Writers Group Anthology 2012, and her short story “Midnight Daisy” was published by YWCA Newcastle in 2013 as part of the She: True Stories project, with live readings on ABC 1233 in February 2014 and Newcastle Writers Festival in April 2014. In March 2014 Bell’s short story “Don’t Pay The Ferryman”, an anti-travel piece, was shortlisted for the Hunter Writer’s Centre Travel Writing Prize 2014. Bell’s short story “The Switch”, based on Germanic folklore, is featured in Novascapes, the 2014 Hunter Speculative Fiction Anthology, alongside award-winning authors such as Margo Lanagan and Kirstyn McDermott.
About SNIGGERLESS BOUNDULATIONS
Debut collection of short stories by indie Australian author Morgan Bell. A cross-section between dreams and reality. An examination of the horrors of life, with plenty of peering, in the form of vignettes, micro fiction, flash fiction, and short stories.
Themes include fear, time, aging, anxiety, and jealousy.
This collection of fifteen stories contains bizarre medical conditions, industrious creatures, conniving cops, killers, dead bodies, a rescue mission, homoeroticism, nonchalant students, a secret garden, and the road to hell.
Excerpt from SNIGGERLESS BOUNDULATIONS
“Her eyes were itching and beginning to water, she pawed at them with the backs of her hands until they went red. A mosquito buzzed in her ear, she trod on a bee, and a single line of tiny black ants curled up around her flamingo shin. She began limping, her foot swollen, shaking the other leg like a cat who had stepped on sticky tape.” (Tiptoe Through The Tulips)
“The tune was the call of his love, a tune only he and she knew. But it was different, peppered with some menacing mannerist malice. Constable Skillion swaggered out from the scrub with a shovel slung over his shoulder, tobacco smoke unfurling. He spied Telfer lingering over the dirt mound and stopped his whistling. Telfer snapped to face the silence.” (Telfer Speck)
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WHAT THE EXPERTS SAY: Sarah Elle Emm, Author

Sarah Elle Emm, Author
HARMONY RUN SERIES:
PRISMATIC
Sarah Elle Emm has authored the HARMONY RUN SERIES, a fantasy dystopian four-book series for teenagers and young adults. PRISMATIC, the first of the series, features Rain, a multiracial girl who joins with friends in a segregated country to fight a dictator. Reviewers tout the book as a “truly original, unique and inspired storyline” with “vision and imagination” and “very emotive, truth-drawing and utterly thought-provoking” and an “unexpected and quirky twist within the plot.”
Emm loves to write, and she enjoys exploring the “what if” scenario offered by dystopian fantasy because she gets to create her own “rules” for her world. However, she also has written a lighter novel, MARRYING MISSY, and appreciates that genre as well. She plans to publish the third book in the HARMONY RUN SERIES:  CHATOYANT this summer and is currently finishing the fourth book in the series NACREOUS —in between fighting off fake lizards placed in her bed by her kids, taking photos, and cooking. She is well-traveled and currently lives in Florida.
Don't miss the opportunity to enter a giveaway following the interview.
Q: Reviewers of PRISMATIC praise the novel as “truly original, unique and inspired.” How did you conceive of the story? What makes it unique?
Sarah Elle Emm: From what I’ve seen in the reviews and from the emails I’ve received, people tend to agree that one of the reasons my story is unique is because the protagonist, Rain, is a multiracial girl. While multiracial fiction is out there, it isn’t the largest genre.  The story takes place in the future, in a newly segregated country, under the ruling thumb of an evil dictator. Rain and her friends, who are from varying ethnic backgrounds, take a stand against their oppressor when most of the adults have lost hope and given up. This story was inspired by real life events in history such as the Holocaust, slavery, apartheid, and segregation, to name a few. It was also inspired by my own childhood and life experience. I have multiracial relatives, cousins, friends, and children, and I’ve seen prejudice and racism in my travels around the world and in the U.S.A. I decided to write a story where multiracial teenagers could try to help spread the word that we are all just humans.
Q: How did you draw readers into the dystopian, fantasy world of PRISMATIC? How did you make the world believable? Do you think believability is important?
Sarah Elle Emm: The cool thing about writing fantasy and dystopian is that as the writer you get to create your own rules for your world, which is nice.  But as far as making it believable, I think the most important thing for me is making the characters seem real.  As far as setting goes, this futuristic society of mine has droid technology, hover technology, and many technological advancements, but most important is that you believe Rain and her friends are real. I don’t just want you to enjoy her as a fiction character, I want you to care about her, to carry her with you in your mind when you aren’t reading the story, and to think about her after you’ve put the book down.  Let’s be honest, this is a four book series, and I’m currently writing the final book, so these teenagers are very real to me. Still, while the reader may never be able to care about them as much as I do, I still have that hope, and that’s my goal. So yes, believability is important!
Q: A reviewer called your protagonist, Rain, “a worthy heroine.” How do you make her engaging?
Sarah Elle Emm: Rain’s character is good. She cares about her brother and her friends.  She cares about her family. She’s not afraid to stand up to injustice, but she still has fears. The story takes place four years after her family has been sent to this deplorable, walled city, so she still remembers what life was like before. I think that desire to get her freedom back makes her even more engaging. She wasn’t born into this undesirable society. She was sent here. She’s also just your average teenage girl in the midst of a scary place. She wants the same things other girls might want, who don’t live in a world like this. She jokes around with her friends, has arguments with her mom, and even falls in love. But you’ll have to read PRISMATIC to find out more about her crush…
Q: Is the concept of “hero” vs “villain” relevant to PRISMATIC? Do you need a villain in order to have a hero?
Sarah Elle Emm: Yes, I definitely have a hero vs villain in this story. Rain is one tough female hero, but she definitely has the help of her heroic friends, and they are waging a war against the worst of the worst as far as villains go. While there is actually a person who is the villain in this story, I think in other stories it is possible to have a hero without having a person as the villain.
Q: You describe PRISMATIC as a dystopian fantasy for teens and young adults. How do you direct the story to that segment? Do you believe older readers would enjoy reading PRISMATIC?
Sarah Elle Emm: While PRISMATIC is technically a young adult and teen story, I have found that a lot of adults are reading it too. For one thing, adults these days are reading more and more teen dystopian than ever. I’ve heard from some adults who say they like to read what their kids are reading, so that is the interest. I’ve also heard from adult readers of my series who say they enjoyed the history in my story. Older generations can pick up on the WWII parallels in this series that young adults haven’t even learned about yet in school. A lady in England emailed me that she was sending PRISMATIC to her son’s school in hopes they would add it to their history lesson. I’ve met with young adult readers who’ve read PRISMATIC, and they tell me they can relate to the characters as far as the conversation goes, their sense of humor, and the teenage feelings of love. So, I hope PRISMATIC can entertain young adults and adults alike. 
Q: Did you write PRISMATIC strictly to entertain? Or did you want to also deliver a message?
Sarah Elle Emm: Both. I wanted to entertain readers with Rain and her story. I want people to care about her, to root for her as she stands up for her rights, and as she falls in love. But this series has a very simple, but important message. We are all just humans, regardless of our outward differences. We should celebrate our cultural diversity, yes, but in a positive way, and we shouldn’t label each other because of how we look on the outside. 
Q:  You have also written a novel, MARRYING MISSY, which is not a fantasy/dystopian story. Which genre do you enjoy writing more? 
Sarah Elle Emm: I enjoy reading lots of genres, which is why I think I enjoy writing in more than one. Personally, I loved writing MARRYING MISSY because it was so light and fun. Sometimes, I’m in the mood for light, and sometimes, I’m in the mood for more intensity. Of course, I just love a good ‘what if’ scenario like you can find in dystopian fiction. I’m not going to say I enjoy writing dystopian more because to be honest, I just love to write, but I will tell you I’ve been taking notes for another YA dystopian series I’d like to write. 
Q: Do your characters ever take over your writing, or do you stick to your outline?
Sarah Elle Emm: I take notes and plan plot points, but sometimes my characters do take over, and suddenly I’m going on an adventure I hadn’t planned at all. 
Q: What’s next?
Sarah Elle Emm: My current project is to continue and finish the fourth book in the HARMONY RUN SERIES, NACREOUS.  The third book in this series, CHATOYANT, comes out this August, too.  In between writing and promoting, I’ll try to keep up with my kids. I emphasize the word try. They like to play tricks on me every single day. I don’t care how many times they pull the same prank on me, when I get into bed at night and feel a lizard under or on my pillow, I always have that moment where I forget it’s their fake lizard and scream. The fake lizard is their favorite.
Q: Tell us about Sarah Elle Emm. What do you like to do when you’re not writing?
When I’m not writing, I love to cook. Since I made a healthy lifestyle transformation a couple of years ago, I’m cooking vegan food these days. I like to take traditional recipes, like my grandmother’s banana bread for example, and convert them into healthy vegan recipes. I love speaking Spanish and try to stay in touch with my native Spanish speaking friends, I go to church, stay active, and I love to read. I also dabble in amateur photography, and Florida has so much for me to photograph. When I can, I post Florida photography at my blog, Sarah’s View from the Bottom.  (www.Sarahsviewfromthebottom.com)
Sarah Elle Emm is the author of the HARMONY RUN SERIES , a young-adult fantasy and dystopian series, released in May 2012 by Winter Goose Publishing. ( PRISMATIC , May 2012, OPALESCENT , February 2013, CHATOYANTset for release August 2014, NACREOUS release TBD) Her debut fiction novel, MARRYING MISSY , an Amazon Best Seller in marriage, was published by Bird Brain Publishing in October 2011. Sarah is a graduate of The University of Evansville. She has lived and worked in Mexico, Germany, England, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and has traveled extensively beyond. Her love of journal writing, travel, and multicultural experience have all influenced her novels. Sarah lives in Naples, Florida with her family. When she’s not walking the plank of her daughters’ imaginary pirate ship or snapping photos of Southwest Florida scenery, she is writing.

About PRISMATIC


Rare glimpses of birds are the only reminder of the freedoms Rain Hawkins once had. Now segregated into a mixed-race zone within the United Zones of the Authority, under tyrannical rule of President Nicks, Rain is forced to endure the bleak conditions set upon her. The possibility of a way out arises when Rain discovers an organized resistance called The Freedom Front, and learns that she, along with many other multi-racial people, has special abilities. Determined to overcome her situation, Rain sets out on a mission with the resistance that will fill her life with wonder, romance, and the undying hope for a better world.


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WHAT THE EXPERTS SAY: Alysha Kaye, Author

Alysha Kaye, Author
THE WAITING ROOMAuthor Alysha Kaye will soon release her novel, THE WAITING ROOM, a romance about an ordinary couple, Jude and Nina, who are in love. When Jude dies, he awakens in a room that looks like an airport terminal where he waits for his name to be called out of a group of souls. But his name is not called. Instead, he waits for Nina. 
Kaye—who has an AB in creative writing—teaches in Austin, TX, a vocation she enjoys as much as writing. When she’s not teaching or writing, she enjoys exploring the restaurants, bars, parks, and museums of Austin.




Q: How did you conceive of the idea for THE WAITING ROOM?
Alysha Kaye: I offhandedly wrote my boyfriend a cheesy poem about waiting for him after death—being reborn together again and again. For some reason, it stuck in my head and I started writing about it more. I never thought it would turn into a novel!
Q: The story of the death of a loved one is not, well, pleasant, nor would it be a topic many would consider reading. How or why is THE WAITING ROOM inviting to read? Do you consider it a romance?
Alysha Kaye: It is definitely a romance—I think that’s what buffers the obvious element of death and mourning. Jude and Nina lose each other, yet time and time again, they reunite.
Q: How do you engage readers to care about your main characters, June and Nina? Is there something special about their relationship? Are they just normal, every day people?
Alysha Kaye: They’re very normal—they fight quite a bit actually! Although they are the only couple in history who have been able to wait for each other after death, and to be reborn together—they are not “more in love” than any other couple in the universe. I like the idea that they could be any couple—the fact that they were somehow chosen to wait for each other feels more like happenstance.
Q: How important is credibility to the story? What will make readers believe that there is such a place as a “waiting room?” Can they appreciate the story if they don’t accept the premise?
Alysha Kaye: The room is very “real”—it actually looks exactly like an airport terminal, as you can see on the cover. There are characters that arrive in the waiting room who are of every age, race, and religion. The book invites readers to believe their own interpretation of what the room could mean.
Q: Did you write THE WAITING ROOM to entertain readers? To deliver a message? To educate?
Alysha Kaye: I think the age-old question of “What happens after you die?” will always appeal universally. There are three parts of myself that struggled with the main purpose of this novel: the creative writer wanted to solely entertain, the middle school English teacher wanted to deliver a message about equality and loyalty, and the curious philosopher wanted to explore the endless questions I have about love and death.
Q: Is there a “villain” in THE WAITING ROOM? Do you believe that you need to have the conflict between a villain and a hero to have an entertaining story?
Alysha Kaye: There is no real “villain”. Some characters definitely feel contempt and frustration for whomever/whatever is “running” the waiting room, but the conflicts are clearly internal. I think the most interesting stories involve that struggle within—in real life, everyone is a hero and a villain at times.
Q: Did your characters lead you to write what they want? Or did you draft an outline and stick to it?
Alysha Kaye: I am not really an outline kind of writer, although I encourage my students to use them all the time! I started writing about Jude and Nina and it became a rabbit hole of discoveries.
Q: I notice that you have a degree in creative writing. Did you always want to be a writer? And you also have a degree in education. Do you enjoy teaching? Which do you prefer?
Alysha Kaye: I’ve been writing since I was very young. I was an only child and writing was definitely a creative escape for me. I never thought I would feel more passionate about anything, until I began teaching. My kids are amazing. They inspire me to be a better writer, and hopefully I do the same for them!
Q: What’s next?
Alysha Kaye: Well, the novel will be released in July. I can’t wait. I’ll continue teaching and hopefully start writing my second novel soon! Quite a few ideas brewing.
Q: Tell us about Alysha Kaye. What do you like to do when you’re not writing?
Alysha Kaye: When I’m not teaching or writing, I’m probably exploring Austin with friends. I moved here recently and it seems there are endless restaurants, bars, parks, and museums to check out. It’s an extremely creative, eclectic city—I love it!
About Alysha Kaye
Alysha Kaye was born in San Marcos, TX, where she also received her BA in Creative Writing from Texas State University. She worked in marketing for a brief and terrible cubicle-soul-sucking time until she was accepted into Teach for America and promptly moved to Oahu. She taught 7th grade English in Aiea for two years and also received her Masters in Education from University of Hawaii. She now teaches in Austin, TX and tries to squeeze in as much writing as possible between lesson planning. She dreamt about THE WAITING ROOM once, and offhandedly wrote her boyfriend a love poem about waiting for him after death. Somehow, that became a novel.

About THE WAITING ROOMTo be released in July 2014
Jude and Nina are the epitome of that whole raw, unflinching love thing that most people are jealous of. That is, until Jude dies and wakes up in The Waiting Room, surrounded by other souls who are all waiting to pass over into their next life. But unlike those souls, Jude’s name is never called by the mysterious “receptionist”. He waits, watching Nina out of giant windows. He’s waiting for her. What is this place? How long will he wait? And what will happen when and if Nina does join him? THE WAITING ROOM is a story of not just love, but of faith, predestination, and philosophy, friendship and self-actualization, of waiting.
Links
website Facebook blogTwitter: alyshakaye7

WHAT THE EXPERTS SAY: Stacy Eaton, Author

Stacy Eaton, Author
DISTORTED LOYALTY
SIX DAYS OF MEMORIES (To be published)
SECOND SHIELD
LIVEON - NO EVIL
WHETHER I'LL LIVE OR DIE
GARDA-WELCOME TO THE REALM
"My Blood Runs Blue" seriesFull-time police officer Stacy Eaton writes romantic suspense novels in the world of law enforcement. She just released DISTORTED LOYALTY, a story about a relationship between a married ER doctor and a married police detective. Reviewers tout her “amazing story telling” and appreciate the “emotional maturity of the hero and heroine” who they believe “are real people dealing with overwhelming problems.”
Eaton is getting ready to release her second book this month, SIX DAYS OF MEMORIES, featuring Detective Foster who responds to a crash scene with a dead female passenger, a bag full of money in the back seat, a body in the trunk, and a driver with no memory!  

Fans also enjoy her “My Blood Runs Blue”series, and WHETHER I’LL LIVE OR DIE, a novel about domestic violence—and many others.
When she’s not fulfilling her crime investigation responsibilities as a police officer, or writing her books—she has several in the works—, or running her business, she enjoys watching her daughter train or perform Tae Kwon Do, spending time with her husband, and reading. She also has a son in the Navy.
Q: How much does your profession as a police officer influence your characters, plot, and back-story?
Stacy Eaton: One word – Completely!  Over the last fourteen years, I have a seen a lot on the job – and bits and pieces of those things are woven into my stories. Every female detective is me, to an extent. She will have different points of view on some things, or deal with situations differently than I would, but her thought process, the way she handles herself, it’s all very similar to how I do it. It’s easy to write stories when you know so much about the subjects.
Q: Is the concept of “villain” vs “hero” relevant to your stories? If so, do you think you need a villain in order to produce a hero?
Stacy Eaton: Since I write a lot of romantic suspense in the world of law enforcement, there are a lot of criminals in my stories, but their stories are not all that important to me. What is important is the story of the hero, whether it is my detective or another character.  It is their mind, heart and soul that I want to bring forth to the readers. We see enough bad stuff in real life, who really wants to see more?
Q: Your most recent novel, DISTORTED LOYALTY, concerns a relationship between an ER doctor and a married police detective. Why will readers care for these two characters? What makes them engaging, or not?
Stacy Eaton: Just so you know, Rachel is married, too. She’s the ER doc. There is chemistry between these two that starts in the first chapter when Grant whispers something in Rachel’s ear. From that point on, these two are torn apart by circumstances, and then thrown back together so many times it puts your washing machine agitation mode to shame.  My beta readers told me that after so many real life struggles that they have to deal with, they deserve to be together.
Q: Without spoiling the plot, can you explain the significance of your title DISTORTED LOYALTY? Whose loyalty gets distorted and what does that mean?
Stacy Eaton: Oh boy! Like I mentioned before, Grant and Rachel are constantly in motion with issues. If it’s not their spouses, or their children, it’s the chemistry between them. At times the things they find out seem so disjoined, or distorted that they are unsure of anything in their lives. I think we have all been there at one time or another. We also like to think that the people we marry are loyal to us, but sometimes they are not.
Q: You have written vampire/romance/suspense books as well as the “emotionally riveting” WHETHER I’LL LIVE OR DIE. Would you say that your newest book, DISTORTED LOYALTY, is a new type of story different from anything you’ve written before?  
Stacy Eaton:  Nope! In the last year and a half, I have written 4 romantic suspense novels. LIVEON~NO EVIL came out early July 2013 and SECOND SHIELD came out late November 2013. Of course there is DISTORTED LOYALTY that came out on June 13th, and at the end of the month, SIX DAYS OF MEMORIES will be released. All four of those are Romantic Suspense. I like this genre, a lot. While I still have plans to add a second book to my GARDA series, the guardian angel series, and I have a second domestic Violence novel, YOU’RE NOT ALONE (hopefully to be released late 2014), I plan on spending more time playing around in this genre. I find that it depends on what is going on in my life to what I write. Sometimes my life is filled with enough drama that I need to jump over to the paranormal and pretend for a while, lol…
Q: We are eagerly awaiting your next book, SIX DAYS OF MEMORIES, due to be published shortly. The plot sounds so intriguing, i.e., “When Detective Foster responds to the scene of a crash, she finds the female passenger dead, a bag full of money in the back seat, and a body in the trunk.” And then the driver regains consciousness and can’t remember anything, including who he is. It lines up so many mysteries. How did you conceive of such a plot?
Stacy Eaton: Lol… Joyce if I tell you that it just popped into my head while I was in the shower, would you believe me? Because, that is exactly what happened.  I wasn’t even trying to come up with any plot lines. I have enough already, but this one hit me hard and I sat down and started writing the minute I was out of the shower. Okay, I got dressed first, then sat and wrote. That is usually how it works. I told one of the officers I work with what the plot was, and they thought it was time for me to go have a psychological exam, lol….
Q: How important is setting to telling your stories? Could they occur anywhere at any time? Big city, small town?  
Stacy Eaton: I’m partial to small towns, not like everyone knows your name small towns, but not big cities. I tend to write most of my books in the southeastern PA area, but there are a few books that you really have no idea where they are placed, and it’s not important to the story. It could be anyone’s home town area.
Q: Do you write your stories purely for entertaining your readers, or do you also try to educate or deliver a message?
Stacy Eaton: Most of my books are purely for entertainment. WHETHER I’LL LIVE OR DIE was the exception. That story revolved around Domestic Violence, something I know a lot about, not only from my job, but my personal life. There was a strong message in that one, that you don’t have to be a victim, you can choose to live a full happy life.  Of course, in SIX DAYS OF MEMORIES, you might think that crashing your car with a dead body in the trunk and a bag full of money might be an educated message not to break the law, lol…
Q: What’s next? (Can you believe I dare ask such a question in the month that you’re launching two new books?!)
Stacy Eaton: lol… Of course you dare! And of course, I have several things on the plate.  YOU’RE NOT ALONE is another domestic violence novel that is about 2/3 done. I’m hoping to complete that this summer and release it this fall. SECOND SHIELD 2 is about half way done, and I’d like to see that published later this year, too.  I’m also working slowly on GARDA 2 – and I just started a new story that is called ONE EVERY THIRTY SIX.  This is another suspense novel, but this one adds magic to the mix. Other than that, there are a few other ideas lying under everything else for when I have some extra time.
Q: Tell us about Stacy Eaton. It’s hard to believe that you have any spare time between rearing a family, working as a police officer, and writing novels, but what do you like to do when you’re not writing or policing?
Stacy Eaton: Wait? Am I supposed to be doing anything else? Lol… Actually, I also own a business and I do that early morning and late evening around everything else. My daughter is working hard on her last few months of training to get her black belt in Tae Kwon Do, and I love to watch her train and perform, so I spend what time I can doing that. My down time is spent reading, and I read fast. I just got done reading the 487 pages of Divergent in 6.5 hours. I kind of read like I write, really fast. Once in a while I even get to see my husband, and sometimes I even get to see a friend or two for coffee. I love my life and there is little I would change about it.
About Stacy Eaton
Stacy is a full-time police officer who enjoys crime scene investigation above all else, taking a passion in putting the pieces together to figure out the crime. She is also a business owner where she helps people get the awareness out for the causes they care most about. She is a mother of two, a son proudly serving in the United States Navy and a young daughter. Her husband is also in law enforcement. She is very much into photography and carries her Nikon Digital SLR with her almost everywhere, just in case.
About DISTORTED LOYALTY
Emergency room Doctor Rachel Wilde and Detective Grant Murphy meet by chance and it takes only one glance and a simple gentle touch to ignite their senses.
When Grant’s wife is in a tragic accident, Rachel goes above and beyond the call of duty to save her life. It is the moment she faces Grant again that their lives begin to spin out of control and they realize the lives of their loved ones were deeply intertwined.

The distorted loyalties of the ones they lost will drive a wedge between them and it will take another death, a last will and a look beyond the grave to find the path they must follow.
(This novel does contain adult language)

About SIX DAYS OF MEMORIES (Coming soon)
Detective Natasha Foster will put her job on the line to prove her gut feeling is dead on.
When Detective Foster responds to the scene of a crash, she finds the female passenger dead, a bag full of money in the back seat and a body in the trunk.  It is only when the driver, whom she nicknames Jay, wakes up with no memory that she must go with her instincts and continue the investigation in a way that was never taught.
Jay finds himself lost, but drawn to the beautiful detective who steps above and beyond the call of duty. His need to know if he was a victim or the criminal pushes him to try and recall what happened and who he is. With the pull of a trigger, Jay’s memory will suddenly return and with it, the terrible truth.
(This novel does contain adult language)
Purchase Links DISTORTED LOYALTYAmazon Kindle Barnes and Noble NookAmazon Paperback 
Kobo 
Amazon Author Page 
Author LinksFacebookTwitter: @StacySEatonBlog Website Goodreads 

WHAT THE EXPERTS SAY: Annamaria Bazzi, Author

Annamaria Bazzi, Author
INCANTATION PARADOXAnnamaria Bazzi departs from her usual YA books with her recently-released first paranormal mystery, INCANTATION PARADOX, reviewed as “An enjoyable paranormal read with the subtle hints of romance blended in” and “a good creep factor.” Bazzi wrote it for pure entertainment as “an escape novel.”
When the author isn’t writing or reading, she loves to paint, crochet, or go on hikes. She confesses that she’s not a very good cook, but she’s getting better—she enjoys having all her children to dinner.  She plans to release her next YA novel by the end of the year.






Q:  INCANTATION PARADOX departs from your series of the YA fantasy world of Kendíka. How would you characterize the new genre?
Annamaria Bazzi: I actually wrote INCANTATION PARADOX before Kendíka’s story. I wrote the novel because an author told me that to be a good writer I needed to come out of my comfort zone and write something I’d never write. So I did, coming up with mystery and murder and suspense, I hope.
Q:  How do you create a “tangled web of murder, intrigue and magic?” How important is building suspense to telling your story?
Annamaria Bazzi: It wasn’t too difficult to build the intrigue and murder, all it really took is a very evil person as the antagonist. You know, I originally wrote the novel in first person, but became so fascinated by Eric, the evil maniac, that I had to rewrite it in third person just so I could get into his twisted mind.
Building the initial suspense was very important because it was something that could never happen in real life, or at least that’s what Dolores, the main character, believed. The suspense creates tension within Dolores, making her feel like she’s gone crazy.
Q:  Can you explain the title INCANTATION PARADOX (without spoiling the plot)?
Annamaria Bazzi: I’ll give it a try. First, I’d like to say that the original title was Trapped in a Nightmare, but I found another book in the market with this title. Wanting my book to be unique, I brainstormed. Nothing came to mind. I was too ingrained with the nightmare title to see past it. I asked a few author friends who were familiar with the book and Michael Drakich, author of The Brotherhood of Piaxia, came up with this new title for the book. I really liked it.
Q: Your previous works were targeted at young adults. Who are the most likely readers of INCANTATION PARADOX? Is it intended for the YA audience?
Annamaria Bazzi: This novel I did not write with a YA audience in mind; this novel is more for New Adults and adults in general. In the real world good doesn’t always prevail, unfortunately, so this is an escape novel where good wins over evil and the man ends up with the woman of his dreams. But make no mistake, this is not a romance novel.
I would assume that anyone who enjoys reading urban fantasy would enjoy this piece.
Q: What inspired you to create Dolores Raynard? What did you do to make her engaging? Why will readers care about her?
Annamaria Bazzi: Dolores is a single mother with two teenage daughters who is literally plucked from her existence and thrown into a strange world, inside a strange body, surrounded by intrigue and murder. In her devastating predicament, she fights to return home.
Q:  Did you write INCANTATION PARADOXpurely for entertaining your readers? Or did you also intend to deliver a message or educate?
Annamaria Bazzi: No, no messages, no education, this novel is for pure enjoyment, quite different from my usual.
Q: Do you have villains and heroes in INCANTATION PARADOX? What makes an effective villain?
Annamaria Bazzi: I definitely have a villain in this story and his name is Brian, at least that’s what it was in his old life. He’s a typical power hungry male who will stop at nothing to gain it. I can’t really say what makes an effective villain, because in my mind to be effective he must also be successful in his endeavors and well, you need to read the novel to decide about this particular villain.
Q:  How helpful is setting to telling your story?
Annamaria Bazzi: With this particular novel, setting is not very important. The interactions and actions of the characters are important. For the longest time, till the end of the novel I had no idea where it was taking place. I finally settled on Seattle, Washington.
Q: What’s next?
Annamaria Bazzi: Next is the YA novel White Swans A Regency World. I’m hoping it can be released around the Christmas holidays. The main character, Kendíka, even has a website where she gives updates on my work. At present Dolores, from INCANTATION PARADOX, lends her a hand. You’re welcome to stop by at http://annamariasbooks.com
Q: Tell us about Annamaria Bazzi. What do you like to do when you’re not writing?
Annamaria Bazzi: One thing I find extremely relaxing is painting, but I also like to crochet. Most of the time I read. I love going for hikes or long walks in the park, I hate cooking, but am getting better at it. The most pleasurable thing is having all my children for dinner.
About Annamaria Bazzi
Although born in the United States, Annamaria Bazzi spent a great deal of her childhood in Sicily, Italy, in a town called Sciacca. Italian was the language spoken at home. Therefore, she had no problems when she found herself growing up in a strange country. Upon returning to the States, she promised herself she would speak without an accent. She attended Wayne State University in Detroit Michigan, where she obtained her Bachelor of Science in Computers with a minor in Spanish.Annamaria spent twenty years programming systems for large corporations, creating innovative solutions, and addressing customer problems. During those years, she raised four daughters and one husband. Annamaria lives in Richmond, Virginia with her small family where she now dedicates a good part of her day writing.About INCANTATION PARADOX
A car accident cuts Dolores Reynard’s life short, leaving her with a long list of unfulfilled dreams. When she awakens in a strange bed, inside a much younger body, and living with a new family—she can’t worry she might be going insane. How can she be a teenager again?
Jason Richmond understands the danger awaiting his new houseguest. Wanting to ease her concerns, he works to earn Dolores’ trust. But attraction flares in the most unexpected way, and he finds himself caught between setting the situation right and following his heart.
An enduring evil threatens not only the blossoming love but their lives as well. As Dolores and Jason struggle to unravel the truth behind her resurrection, they find themselves tangled in a web of murder, intrigue and magic. Only together can they hope to overcome the incantation paradox holding them captive.
LinksPurchase Links 
Amazon SmashwordsBarns and Noble
You can visit Annamaria at:blog 
website 
facebook 
goodreads 
Kendíka’s facebook page

email:  annamariascorner@yahoo.com
twitter:  https://twitter.com/AMBazzi

WHAT THE EXPERTS SAY: James Eddy, Author

James Eddy, Author
IN DREAMS
DIAMONDS
THE DARK ERA (To be published)James Eddy has written and published screenplays, short stories, and a novella and now is getting ready to publish his first novel THE DARK ERA—inspired by the life of his grandfather, a Polish immigrant who moved to Britain following WWII.  Eddy says the story is largely about father/son relationships but also about self-identification.
Eddy, who currently resides in South Norfolk, UK, likes to listen to a broad range of music. He admits he also likes to read, but finds he can’t appreciate reading without looking at books through a writer’s eyes.  He plans to write more novels, once he launches THE DARK ERA.
Don’t miss the excerpt from THE DARK ERA following the interview.


Q: You have written screenplays (IN DREAMS), short stories , a novella (DIAMONDS) about romantic relationships. What can you tell us about your first novel THE DARK ERA due to be published this year? Is it also about relationships?
James Eddy: It's certainly not about romantic relationships. This is a story that's more about the dynamics of family and friendship. As important as romantic relationships can be in our lives, I feel that it is often our families and our friends which most define who we are as people. With THE DARK ERA the story is largely about the relationships between fathers and sons but it is also a story about identity and how each of the three main characters chooses to define himself. That is seen in relation to each other, to their backgrounds, to the events of their lives, and to the people they’ve loved and lost or are going to lose.
Q: What inspired the story in THE DARK ERA?
James Eddy: The main inspiration for it was my grandfather. He was a Polish immigrant who came to Britain at the end of World War II. We know certain things about what he went through but it's all a bit limited. He had Alzheimer’s in the last years of his life and now that he's gone there's really no way of finding out exactly what happened to him back then.
It was actually at his funeral that I got the idea for the book. During a reading of 'Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night' by Dylan Thomas, I realized that the themes of the poem seemed to fit perfectly with what we knew about my grandfather and also, potentially, with many of the gaps that remained in our knowledge of him. What I wanted to do was to find a way to tell his story as a piece of fiction and it occurred to me that to make his story and remembrances a fantasy was a good way of doing it.Something else that also stemmed from that and from him was a feeling that I wanted to tell a story that did some justice to the people of Poland. To the men and women of that country who fought and died in the name of freedom during World War II and who were left without freedom at the end of it because the country was effectively swallowed up by The Soviet Union.
Q: What did you discover is different about writing a screenplay, short story, or full-length novel? Which do you enjoy writing the most?
James Eddy: To put it simply it’s mainly about detail and the way the story is communicated. A screenplay is generally sparer in terms of description and much of the story comes through in the dialogue. Short stories are also quite dependent upon brief but telling descriptions of the action and characters. Novels seem to be a bit different in that there is a greater scope for more indulgence. It's less condensed than a short story and the broader canvas is something I've definitely enjoyed, although to a certain extent I’ve tried to maintain my short, concise descriptions.
In fact, that’s probably why I’ve enjoyed writing this novel so much; because I’ve been able to combine the elements I’ve learned from screenplays and short stories and apply them to something a little bit larger.
Q: How do you engage readers to care about your characters?
James Eddy: That’s a tough question but I think the best way to answer is to say that I try to make each character as honest as I can, so their actions and reactions and words within the story are true. That’s ultimately how I think that we, as readers, connect with them. Whether they are positive or negative figures within the story, if what they do makes sense then it will be easier to connect with them.
Q: How important is the concept of “heroes” and “villains” to your stories?
James Eddy: Well, there are definitely both in most of my stories although I’d say that I tend to prefer writing characters that are more ambiguous and avoid being one thing or the other. I have to say though, that I’ve found that easier to do within short stories rather than in a novel.  THE DARK ERA certainly contains a lot more out-and-out heroes and villains than anything I’ve written before.
Q: Do you write strictly to entertain or do you try to educate or deliver a message as well?
James Eddy: I think there’s definitely room for both things, although I can't help thinking that if I genuinely attempted to do only one of them then the chances are that I’d end up not managing to do either. Personally, I always think there is a message in any story. It might be the most frivolous, boring, silly, unnecessary message but it is still there. The difficult part always seems to be in making the story entertaining.
Q: How important is humor and/or suspense to THE DARK ERA?
James Eddy: I’m not going to pretend that it’s a comedy or anything like that but there are certainly a few lighter moments. Most of them were inspired or directly taken from the stupid drunken antics of myself and a group of my friends. There are some exaggerations and distortions to those things for comedic/dramatic effect but they are basically things that happened. They are also things that I feel are necessary to the story because they provide a counterpoint to the darker elements.
And in terms of suspense, I think that the structure of the novel means that it plays quite a large role in the overall story. There are three stories with each of them being told a chapter at a time. This means that when a climactic event happens at the end of one chapter, there is a wait of at least one more chapter to find out what happens within that story. My hope is that I’ve successfully managed to do this well enough to keep readers turning the pages to find out more.
Q: Is THE DARK ERA set in today’s world, the past, in a dream? How do you make the story credible?
James Eddy: It is set in today’s world and also within a coma, and it takes place over the course of three days. In terms of making it credible though, I’m not really sure. I think when you undertake a story like this you have to commit to it completely and hope that the quality of your writing and your characters are enough to make people care.
Q: What’s next? Will you write more novels?
James Eddy: Yes, definitely. At the moment I’m running a crowdfunding campaign for THE DARK ERA to raise funds for a front cover and the promotion and marketing of the book, so I don’t have as much time to write as I’d like. What I do have are ideas and there are two or three of them that I think will work well as novels. I’ve also got a few collaborations in the pipeline including a series of children’s books and a trilogy of dystopian fantasy stories that I’m planning to write with my brother. There may also be some short stories and screenplays somewhere in amongst all that too.
Q: Tell us about James Eddy. What do you like to do when you’re not writing?
James Eddy: When I’m not writing I like to listen to music. My taste is fairly broad. I like Rock, Folk, Hip Hop, Jazz, Blues, Hardcore Punk, Metal, Country. For the most part it’s the words to songs that grab me and they can often inspire the feelings within a scene or the imagery that I write about. In many ways I find songs more inspiring than books in this way. That’s not to say that I don’t love to read because I do but, as a writer, I can sometimes be too much in awe of the quality of great writing in a book. It can be intimidating and has been known to make me wonder why I’m bothering to write at all. Songwriting and, to a certain extent, movies aren’t the same. Because they are a different medium, I can appreciate a great song or a great movie in a different way. In a way that’s purely about what it is. No intimidation, just appreciation of a craft that I'm not trying to emulate.
About James Eddy
James Eddy was born in Braintree, Essex. After moving first to Colchester, Essex, his family settled in South Norfolk and James has been able to call it home more or less ever since. Following University, he began writing scripts for films and drinking far too much. Eventually, he managed to focus long enough to write a collection of Short Stories called DIAMONDS. His most recent release is the Novella IN DREAMS and a Novel called THE DARK ERA is set to be released in 2014.
About THE DARK ERA  
‘Sometimes the first thing on your mind is the last thing you remember.’
When Stanislaw Gombrowicz falls into a coma, he finds himself inside a fantasy world that has some striking similarities to the conflict and experiences that had brought him to England from Poland in 1945.Meanwhile, in the real world, his son, David, is trying to come to terms with the past and the difficulties in their relationship as he races across the country to be at his bedside. At the same time, David’s son, Jonathon, is also struggling to put together a story about his grandfather’s experiences during World War II; hindered by Stanislaw’s Alzheimers ravaged memories, the distractions of his own life and his attempts to avoid seeing his father; unaware that between them they may possess the means to keep Stanislaw's story and past alive, even as he is slipping away from them.
Taking place over three days in May 2010, The Dark Era is three stories in one that are all about history, memory, fantasy, reality, family, and the attempts to both preserve and let go of the past to create a better future.
Excerpt from Chapter 1 of THE DARK ERA
Karski opened his eyes and tried to breathe. He couldn’t. Something was blocking his throat and nostrils. Fighting for breath, he felt his heart beating. His limbs flailed. Ineffective. Useless. He surrendered to it and drank it down. Slowly allowing himself to become one being and one essence. And all of it was liquid and choking darkness and then it was nothing at all. Fear grew within his chest and the world seemed to slip away.
Karski saw glittering shades of blue, purple, yellow, and orange within the clear liquid, which was also the closest thing to air in this place. The ripples of coloured light and warm bubbles of luminescence were the imperfections in something that was absorbing and being absorbed by his body.
And in an instant it was all over and he was plunging beneath the surface of a liquid that was much more familiar. The water was freezing but he hardly felt it at all. His earlier struggle had already weakened his body, if not his spirit. He was exhausted and drowning again until two hands grabbed his arms and pulled him up onto a river bank.
He was barely conscious but, as the light gradually returned to his eyes, his mind went somewhere else entirely. Images went flashing through it like a parade of horror emanating from the future and the past at the same time. He was shown a great city in ruins; a blonde woman in a red dress; exterminating angels with black wings and eyes filled with flames; and three sad indentations in three empty mattresses. He didn’t recognise or understand any of what he saw.
“Are you all right, friend?" he heard someone say.
The voice cut through the disorder and brought his mind back. By then, the water had been absorbed by his skin and he got to his feet feeling nothing. There was no cold, no warmth, no pains, cuts or bruises. Only emptiness remained.
"Yes I think so," he replied, without looking at the man who had just saved him. Instead, he looked everywhere else. The most noticeable thing then was that there seemed to be no sun in the sky. What remained was a low-powered light in the form of a misty blue haze that was coating the entire world around him. It was a haze that was only distorted by small ripples he saw every time he blinked his eyes.
It briefly looked like the only other source of light was the glistening silver lava shining on the snow covered ground and trees. Except that it only lasted until Karski blinked his eyes again. Just another distortion in what wasn’t quite the air.
Suddenly, a bullet buzzed past his right ear and he instinctively threw himself onto the snow.
"GET UP QUICK!" the other man shouted, grabbing him roughly by the arm and dragging him onto his feet.
LinksWebsite Facebook Twitter  https://twitter.com/dasmonkhouseDIAMONDS on Amazon UKDIAMONDS on Amazon.com DIAMONDS on Smashwords.comIN DREAMS on Amazon UKIN DREAMS onAmazon.com IN DREAMS on Smashwords.com 
Crowdfunding site  

WHAT THE EXPERTS SAY: Jason King, Author

Jason King, Author
VALCORIA: CHILDREN OF THE CRYSTAL STARJason King has been creating the world of Valcoria since he was 14. He recently published VALCORIA: CHILDREN OF THE CRYSTAL STAR, a unique fantasy set in a 19th century world without dragons, knights, or wizards. King appreciates villains and his stories revolve round them. He likes writing “exciting stories with lots of action, magic, and drama.” He believes readers will  follow a story if they are invested in the characters.
When he’s not working or writing, King enjoys spending time with his wife and four children. He likes watching movies and playing table-top role-playing games. He has just completed a manuscript that is Part 2 of his first published novel THE LURE OF FOOLS. 
Q: What inspired you to write VALCORIA: CHILDREN OF THE CRYSTAL STAR? Where/how did you conceive of the concept? Would you type VALCORIA as fantasy?
Jason King: I’ve actually been working on the Valcoria world, and story since I was fourteen, so I’m sure there are a lot of movies, games, anime, comics, and authors that have influenced its development. I would class VALCORIA as a fantasy, but not the usual dragons, knights and wizards fantasy. I’d class it closer to flintlock fantasy.  
Q: How do you create believability in the fantasy world you build? Is believability important?
Jason King: I think it is, and I think the way to achieve that is through the characters. If readers can relate, even just a little to a hero or villain, they are much more likely to stay invested and engaged in the story.
Q: A reviewer mentions that you shift point of view from one character to another. Why? Did this shifting help to develop your characters? Or to tell the story?
Jason King: When I first wanted to write for a career, it was screenplays and I spent a lot of time learning that format. So I guess some of the “scene switching” device used in writing movies carried over to my novels. Also, Robert Jordan is one of my influences, and he employs a lot of character P.O.V. changes in his narratives, which I like. I like to get the story from different angles.   
Q: Reviewers claim your book is different from the typical “epic fantasy.” Do you agree? How is it different? How is it typical?
Jason King: I do agree. Like I said earlier, it’s not the usual elves, dwarves, knights, and fairies that people always associate with fantasy. The setting for VALCORIA is not medieval. Rather, the story takes place in more of an 1800’s kind of world, and part of the plot involves a return of ancient technologies that are futuristic. I hope it isn’t typical, but there are elements of supernatural powers and destiny that will resonate with fans of traditional fantasy.   
Q: How important is the concept of “heroes” vs “villains” to telling your story?
Jason King: Very. I actually build a lot of my stories around the villain. To me a story is only as good as its villain. I like my heroes to be a bit more reactive, forged in their struggles against my villains while battling their own inner demons at the same time. To me heroes and villains often start on the same road, and it’s how they cope or fail to cope with life that I think leads them to their roles.  
Q:  How do you create engaging characters that your readers will care about?
Jason King: I don’t think I have a formula for this other than I try to give my characters some dimension of realism. I’ve found that humor is one of the best ways to do this.
Q:  Did you write VALCORIA to entertain your readers and/or to deliver a message or to educate?
Jason King: I don’t usually write to deliver a message, or teach anyone anything. I just love exciting stories with lots of action, magic, and drama. That being said, I don’t think any author can write without their personal beliefs seeping into their narrative to one degree or another. One of Valcoria’s themes is the reality of life after death, which as a Mormon, I believe in. But no, my books don’t try to promote a message or an agenda. 
Q:  Reviewers tout your storytelling and “exciting action scenes, and plenty of twists.” How do you create these action scenes and twists?
Jason King: I do a lot of day-dreaming outside of my actual writing. Usually in the car while listening to music. That helps me visualize what I want in a fight scene. I also get inspiration from action movies, anime, and JRPG’s. And of course, other authors. Brandon Sanderson writes some really awesome action scenes.   
Q: What’s next?
Jason King:  Well I just submitted the manuscript for part two of my first published novel “The Lure of Fools.” So that will be my next release. And I’m hard at work on the final part of that trilogy so I can get back to VALCORIA.
Q: Tell us about Jason King. What do you like to do when you’re not writing?
Jason King: I like to spend time with family and friends. I have a very supportive wife, and four wonderful children. They are a constant source of entertainment. When I’m not writing I like to watch movies, play table-top role-playing games, and take naps.
About Jason King
Jason King wishes he was raised on a desert planet by his aunt and uncle and watched over by a mysterious old recluse, but his life is much duller than that. He supposes that’s why he started making up stories. Born in Salt Lake City Utah, Jason grew up on a steady diet of anime, science fiction, Dungeons and Dragons, JRPG’s, and chocolate cake donuts. He pretended not to be a nerd just long enough to get married and start a family. And although dismayed by the revelation that Jason was a geek, his wife stuck with him and they are now the proud parents of four beautiful children. Jason holds a bachelor’s degree in I.T. Management and is currently the Internet Marketing Manager for a local bookstore chain, but he is determined to one day quit his “9 to 5” and write full-time. Jason is also the author of The Lure of Fools from Curiosity Quills Press.

About VALCORIA: CHILDREN OF THE CRYSTAL STAR
History repeats itself like a song. The verses may vary, but the melody is always the same. The eastern empire of Aukasia has a new leader, a man who means to bring war to all the land. Yet, even in all his bloody ambition, he does not realize that he is but the puppet of a greater evil. Only the Kalyra - The Children of the Crystal Star - can stand against what's coming. Only they can protect the world of Valcoria from the mad hatred of the fallen god, Aedar. A new verse of the song has begun. The last verse…
Links
@JasonKing1979 
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WHAT THE EXPERTS SAY: Leah Borski, Mommy Fitness & Family Nutrition

Leah Borski, Author, Family Nutrition
THE FAMILY TABLE COOKBOOK:
WHOLE GRAIN PANCAKE AND BAKING MIXLeah Borski specializes in Mommy Fitness and Family Nutrition and has produced a unique cookbook to enable busy parents serve their kids healthy meals—reviewed  as “Great versatile recipes!”  THE FAMILY TABLE COOKBOOK: WHOLE GRAIN PANCAKE AND BAKING MIX offers a base recipe for a mix accompanied by recipes using that mix for a variety of healthy pancakes/waffles, toppings, dips, breads, muffins, desserts, simple dinners, and purees.
In the following interview, Borski provides five top tips to busy parents who want to assure their children eat healthy foods--including, patience, persistence, simplicity, and creativity.  She defines success as “having my kids willing to try new foods and opting for healthy choices most of the time.”
When she’s not cooking, trying new recipes, or writing cookbooks, Borski stays busy, especially with her family. She likes yoga, enjoys nature, reading, painting, crafts – and so much more. And she even occasionally relaxes with a cup of hot chai tea while reading a book. 

Check out the giveaway opportunity following the interview.
Q: What drove you to write THE FAMILY TABLE COOKBOOK?
Leah Borski: The struggle I had with transitioning my first child from baby food purees to self-feeding. I was determined to do it in a way that would keep his love for the healthy foods I had been making and feeding him as a baby, and I had a really hard time finding recipes that included them. So I set out to make my own. It didn’t really occur to me to write a cookbook until my mother-in-law saw the recipes I was making and the healthy foods I was still able to get my son to eat as a toddler, and she suggested that I should write a book to share my recipes with others.
Q: Where/how did you conceive of your recipes?
Leah Borski: When I first started out, I would just look for recipes online or take some of my favorite meals I’d been making forever (I’ve been cooking since I was a kid myself), and then experiment with alterations or substitutions to make them healthier, like using applesauce, fruit & veggie purees, and honey to cut unhealthy fat and refined sugars.
After months of experimenting, adjusting, and learning about the science involved with baking, I reached the point where I was able to develop the multifunctional whole grain baking mix I use in all of the recipes in my cookbook. That opened the door for me to branch out with different flavor combinations and then the ideas for new recipes just sort of snowballed from there. 
Q: Does your family serve as testers, i.e., do they benefit from you practicing your recipes?
Leah Borski: Yes, my husband and son have been testing my recipes since I started, and now I also have a daughter who has been testing since she was old enough to eat purees!
They definitely benefit when the recipes are good, and they have certainly endured trying out some that were not so good the first go-around! There was a long period of trial and error involved! Now that the recipes have been perfected, I use my cookbook on such a regular basis it is not really testing anymore, just part of our everyday meals.
Q: What are the five top tips you’d offer to any busy parent trying to assure the family eat healthily?
Leah Borski:Be patient and persistent. Kids’ taste buds are constantly changing and developing. They won’t always like everything we put in front of them. It’s important to be understanding of that and try to keep our frustrations over it to ourselves. Because their taste buds are constantly changing, it can take several tries before a child will accept certain foods. If they don’t want it the first few times, do not give up! I know how aggravating it can feel to go through that repeated rejection of foods, BUT when we continue to try, our children continue to have the opportunity to experience enjoyment of foods they might have never reached that point with had we given up and stopped offering it.  Also, when persisting, it is important to not be too emotionally tied to the outcome. When our children sense that, there tends to be a battle of wills over the whole thing. That is not what we want! Be sure to leave at least a few days between each new attempt and remember to stay calm!Keep it simple! The #1 way I save time with healthy cooking is by investing a little time into prep work. Batch cook staple foods like brown rice or whole wheat pasta, and wash/cut what veggies or fruits you can ahead of time to make actual meal-cooking time quick and easy, especially for weeknight dinners which can be hectic!  Make 5 days’ worth of lunches or snacks at a time. Use my cookbook to make batches of whole grain pancakes or muffins that can be frozen and used later for quick healthy breakfasts or snacks. Be creative. The more variety we can provide when we want our children to try a certain food, the more likely they are to try it. Try different cooking and presentation styles. For example, broccoli can be served steamed, raw, shredded with carrots and mixed into a ‘slaw’, covered in cheese, added into soup, used to make a fun design on their plate, stir-fried with other veggies, chopped and mixed with cream cheese or ricotta as a dip or spread for whole wheat crackers, etc. If your child keeps saying ‘no’ to steamed broccoli, try it another way and see what happens.  Make it fun if you can! Be a good example. Our children are going to do what we DO, not what we SAY! Deep down we all know this, but it can be hard to accept when what WE crave is not what we know will be best for our children to develop good eating habits. I had to learn this the hard way, and it is still challenging at times! But it is worth the effort for the sake of our families’ health AND our sanity! It is so much easier to make one meal everyone in the family can eat than to have to make separate things for everyone. Be OK with the fact that everyone isn’t going to like ‘everything’ and just do your best! It’s OK if your child still refuses broccoli after 10 tries, as long as he/she is still offered other veggies! I think the biggest mistake we can make is to think that if our child doesn’t like one certain healthy food, they just won’t like ANY healthy foods and give up completely. Be open to accepting that you can keep trying with other foods and it’s not the end of the world if your child doesn’t like ‘everything.’Q: What qualifies you to write about nutrition and food allergies? 
Leah Borski: I am not a credentialed/certified nutritionist.  However, I do have 7 years’ professional experience working as a medical transcriptionist, a field in which it was critical that I be thoroughly adept at finding and understanding reliable medical information in a variety of specialties, in order to ensure I was not risking patients’ lives or welfare by including inaccurate information in their medical reports. 
I understand that I have a responsibility to my readers to be just as thorough and careful with the information I present in my cookbook and website, and to point out instances where they should seek the expert opinion of a medical professional based on their specific needs. I may not know them personally, but I DO care about their families’ wellbeing – it’s the reason I decided to share my recipes and experience with family nutrition in the first place!
I also have the experience of having fed my own 2 babies, starting 8 years ago, and finding ways to successfully keep them on-board with enjoying healthier foods throughout this span of time.  When I was first starting out feeding my son solid foods, I realized there is so much confusing and contradictory information out there. A lot of it is based on opinion, ignorance, or propaganda. I felt like I had an advantage, being educated in medical language and knowing how to locate and comprehend accurate information, that most parents don’t, and as time progressed I began to realize that what I knew could help so many people feel less overwhelmed and confused when it comes to family nutrition.
Q: What kind of research do you do to help corroborate your recipes?
Leah Borski: I utilize several resources, including medical journal reports from the NCBI database and medical association publications, to corroborate age-appropriate introductions of foods for babies/toddlers as well as nutritional guidelines and information.
I also utilize several cooking resources, including Cook’s Illustrated, Exploratorium.edu, and Better Homes and Gardens, to improve my knowledge of cooking techniques and learn the science of baking.
Q: How successful have you been applying your cook book recipes to your family? How would you define “success?”
Leah Borski: My definition of success, in regard to my family eating healthfully, is having my kids willing to try new foods and opting for healthy choices most of the time, and also having a simple way to set the example with foods we all like.
I believe that incorporating my cookbook recipes into our eating routine has definitely helped me to be successful.  We enjoy these recipes together on a regular basis and have developed a preference for whole-grains, fruits, veggies, and healthy fats over highly-processed, sugary, fatty, and nutritionally-void foods. Cooking together also opens the door to conversations about how the foods we eat help our bodies to be healthy, and that adds an extra layer of motivation for all of us!
Q: What did you find the most difficult to do to complete THE FAMILY TABLE COOKBOOK?
Leah Borski: Final proofing of the recipes for print. I had gone through many trial-and-error sessions with developing the recipes at first, and then after the recipes were perfected I was using them on a regular basis to cook for my family. The process became very routine to me, and so separating myself from that routine and being able to look at my recipes with ‘fresh eyes’ was definitely a challenge. I depended on the help of close friends and family who agreed to be ‘recipe proof testers’ and also my husband, and then did the final test run after that on my own. I also hired a professional proofreader to inspect the final draft as an additional pair of fresh eyes. It was a long process, but definitely well worth it!
Q: What’s next? Will you be writing a followup book?
Leah Borski: I am actually in the process of writing another book now. It is focused on batch cooking, similar to the concept in this book, using several purees and ‘base’ recipes to create a variety of simple and delicious dishes. This next book will include soups, casseroles, dips, snacks, and convenient dinners.
Q: Tell us about Leah Borski. What do you like to do when you’re not cooking or writing?
Leah Borski: I am also a health and wellness coach, so I enjoy learning about and teaching everything to do with fitness, nutrition, wellness techniques, and healthy lifestyle practices. My passion is family nutrition and health, so my main focus is helping moms with simple ways to develop healthier habits themselves and incorporate those into their family life. I coach online fitness & nutrition groups and also teach monthly kids’ healthy snacks classes in my local community.
I love to learn, and I am also studying to improve my entrepreneurial and mentoring skills, as well as constantly expand my knowledge of nutrition and healthy behaviors.
When I am not doing anything work or study related, I love to hang out with my husband and kiddos, enjoying nature, reading, playing and laughing, listening to music, painting and making crafts, exercising/doing yoga, watching performing arts, and experiencing new places like nature centers, museums, and zoos.
During my alone/free time (which is rare) I like to sit back with a comfy blanket, a cup of hot chai tea, and relax with a good book or watch travel documentaries.  Occasionally I’ll take the opportunity to soak in a candlelit bath with a good cold beer!
About Leah Borski
Leah Borski is a family nutrition specialist and health coach whose passion is helping busy families with easy healthy meal solutions. She shares simple strategies and family-friendly recipes at her internationally recognized blog and website, as well as insight into some of the challenges and triumphs she's experienced as a work-at-home mom of two and military wife who is determined to provide a healthier lifestyle for her own family.
Her debut publication, the highly acclaimed EAT TO BEAT STRESS: 10 SUPER FOODS TO PREVENT MAJOR SYMPTOMS OF STRESS showcases several of her recipes as tantalizing tools for busting life's most prevalent stressors, offering a preview of her streamlined methods for creating single meals that satisfy the whole family.

She currently teaches "Kids in the Kitchen" healthy cooking classes in her local community, promoting nutrition education in a fun environment for parents and kids, and aspires to collaborate with local and national organizations to promote family nutrition and wellness in conjunction with authoring and publishing THE FAMILY TABLE COOKBOOK series of recipe/meal planning books.


About THE FAMILY TABLE COOKBOOK: WHOLE GRAIN PANCAKE AND BAKING MIX
THE FAMILY TABLE COOKBOOK: WHOLE GRAIN PANCAKE AND BAKING MIX combines the superior nutrition of whole grains, fruits, and veggies with the convenience of a simple mix to create fluffy pancakes, moist and flavorful muffins, aromatic quick breads, and delectable sweet treats.
This convenient mix is made with easy-to-find ingredients and provides a simple solution for time-crunched families who need an inexpensive alternative to packaged whole grain mixes and a smart method for providing homemade. Loaded with the powerful benefits of hearty whole grains, every recipe reduces harmful fats and eliminates processed sugar by incorporating smaller amounts of natural sweeteners which are lower on the glycemic index.

Weary parents longing for a fuss-free way to get their families to eat healthier, especially those with babies new to solid foods or children who are at varied developmental stages, will find relief with the section of multipurpose Power Purees. Providing natural sweetness and a nutritional boost for many of the recipes in this book, these purees can also be served as individual or combo baby foods and as healthy additions to snacks for kids and adults of all ages. Simple, concise instructions take the guesswork out of providing healthy family meals and snacks.


Links
My distributor page, with links to all online retailers who sell the e-book version
Amazon print version
Direct order print version from Createspace
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Giveaway:First prize: $30 Amazon gift card and The Family Table Cookbook: Whole Grain Pancake & Baking MixSecond prize: $20 Amazon gift card and The Family Table Cookbook: Whole Grain Pancake & Baking Mix


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