Joyce T. Strand's Blog, page 4

WHAT THE EXPERTS SAY: John Achile Yusuf, Author

John Achile Yusuf, Author
SURVIVALJohn Achile Yusuf wanted to envision what it would be like to need to survive. In his recently-published novel, SURVIVAL, he tells the story of a group of students who crash in the jungle. He places everyday people in the extraordinary setting of a jungle where they face a choice of waiting for help or figuring a way out.
Yusuf, who says he’s not much of an outdoors person, did travel to the forest to get a feel for what it’s like to be alone there. He also checked in with others on how it feels to survive. He considers this first novel to be adventurous literary fiction and plans to continue writing.







Q: What inspired you to write SURVIVAL? Would you characterize it as “action and adventure” or “literary fiction?” Why?
John Achile Yusuf: My inspiration for SURVIVAL came to satisfy my curiosity. A friend of mine had died in a car accident and I couldn't shake the thought that he had survived and was somewhere in the forest waiting to be rescued. Added to that, I was fresh out of secondary school with no direction whatsoever. I seemed lost myself and needed to go on a journey of discovery. SURVIVAL is what you want it to be to you. To me it is an adventure and literary fiction. Though the regions exist, the settings are fiction as are the characters. So to me, it is an adventurous literary fiction.
Q: Do you have experience “surviving” in a jungle? If not, how did you envision your characters’ actions and responses to their setting?
John Achile Yusuf: I have not had a near-death situation in the jungle if that is what you mean, but I have been in the forest a few times during the writing of the book, not to spend days but to have a feel of what it would be like to be lost. I've stayed while it rained with no covering but trees, after a while the raindrops begin to hit you. I made sure to have some of the experiences firsthand, that way I could relate with my characters. Other aspects of experiences were gathered from other sources. I remember getting information from a soldier on surviving in that kind of environment for days and how it would begin to wear you down.
Q: How do you help readers engage with your characters? Why do we care what happens to them? Have you based them on real people? Are your characters heroic or normal people set in extraordinary circumstances?
John Achile Yusuf: My characters are based on everyday people, but to draw the reader to engage with the character I try to make the character outstanding in a particular aspect. Everyone has fantasies of what could be, and when you see someone with what you wish you had, you'll want to know how it plays out; one could relate with a particular character because it reminds him/her of someone and so on.
This will make you care what happens to the character, because you have either linked the character to yourself or someone you know; better still, you'll care because at that moment (reading the book) you have become a part of that world and you'd want to know how the characters fare.
The characters are mostly based on real people. But the trick is to take traits from a couple or more people and merge them into one character. The characters are not heroic, they are just everyday people plunged into extraordinary circumstances.
Q: By setting the book in the jungle, you were able to present specific circumstances to your characters in order to tell your story. How did your setting support your story?
John Achile Yusuf: In order for an adventure to take place, there has to be events and these events had to be created. In this case the setting is in a jungle. It was an open-ended setting. They have a chance at life; wait to be rescued – if at all help will come – or try to find a way out. In life people are programmed to survive, this story reflects the struggles young people go through when faced with decisions. Without proper guidance, many are lost and are never recovered.
Q: Is SURVIVAL a story to inform readers? Or to entertain?
John Achile Yusuf: It serves as both entertainment and a lesson to inform about the struggle for survival and the urgent need for guidance
Q:  Are there villains in SURVIVAL? What characteristics contribute to a compelling villain?
John Achile Yusuf: Not villains per say, just everyone playing out their roles and trying to survive. A compelling villain will be at the center of the story, working his way into the hearts of the readers/audience, make them hate, despise, blame or even like him/her. Not all villains die, by the way. But a compelling villain knows he is a villain and would do anything to protect that title.
Q: How do you create the tension or suspense to cause readers to want to turn the page?
John Achile Yusuf: We have the setting, the storyline and the characters. The most important thing for me is to create a flow and keep at it. Each scene linked to another and making sure not to drop into the black hole of boredom. So I read three to four scenes back before creating a next scene. This keeps the tempo for me and if the tempo drops beyond a certain mark, I cancel and create a different scene.
Q: Do you use humor to create characters or tell your story?
John Achile Yusuf: I use humor to tell story more than I use it to create characters
Q: What’s next? Do you plan to continue writing?
John Achile Yusuf: I have various write-ups I need to work on, and yes, I hope to continue writing
Q: Tell us about John Achile Yusuf. What do you like to do when you’re not writing?
John Achile Yusuf: I read, watch documentaries and movies. I am not much of an outdoor person so good movies and good music keep me going. I don't like to cook alone but I like to help when the cooking is going on.
About John Achile Yusuf
John Achile Yusuf holds a Bachelor's Degree in Geography and Planning from Kogi State University, Anyigba, Nigeria. SURVIVAL is his first book.
About SURVIVAL
When the plane carrying a group of Nigerian students to South Africa for the annual African Colleges Competition, crashes into a Congolese jungle instead, there's a lot at stake. These students were chosen to represent the nation, because of their academic brilliance and sportsmanship; their ability to beat competitors is the reason they are their country's hope.
But in the jungle, there are different sets of rules … and some are being made up along the way. Thrust by Fate into hostile territory, it's not just a question of who will survive. There's also the issue of what – their friendships, innocence, sanity, sense of right and wrong, and hopes for the future.
Excerpt
Prologue
The quiet air of the Congo jungle was suddenly broken. A fierce-looking, young man leaped over a log and through the shrubs. He was running breathlessly, cutting his way through marshy lands, hanging vines, low branches, twigs and the thistles. In his left hand, he clutched a white cowboy hat. The hat had been reduced to a dirty, brownish moistened piece of clothing, but its owner was not ready to let it go. In fact, he had just killed a man for this same hat—this same dirty brownish piece of clothing. In his right hand he held on tight to a re-curve folding knife.  It was The Commander.
He scuttled through the jungle, trying to keep from falling due to exhaustion. He kept at it. He was fleeing for dear life. There was nothing else on his mind, but to make a getaway. With no destination in mind, he ran aimlessly.
Hard on his trail were two vicious 4-foot-tall men with spears in their hands. They were quite familiar with this jungle so their feet went faster than his and began to gain on him. As he ran through the jungle, his mind raced over what would happen if he were caught. He began to think of those he had left behind, his friends who were in the hands of these brutal pygmies. It was with a jolt, that he remembered the two men he had stabbed. Had he really killed two men?
“Don’t be a fool,” he thought as he sped on.
He took a quick glance at the knife in his hand as if to make sure the bloodstain was really there and to confirm he had really stabbed the men. To his dismay and relief, there was blood smeared along the shaft of the 3-inch blade. He ran, swinging it through the air.
His blows had been precise and he had sliced the right nerves and veins, so their continued existence was out of the question. Come to think of it, taking their lives was worth it. If the men died, then he had done a good deed.
Femi was injured and it was by the arrows of one of these men. So what if he had killed them? It was in self-defense, he encouraged himself. Then his mind returned to the escape.
He had to lose these men as soon as possible, then think of what to do. As he thought on these things, his legs gained ground, vigor returned and he began to run faster. He only began to slow down when he listened but heard no footsteps behind him. He came to a sudden halt and turned around sharply. He didn’t know why he decided to stop, but a thought was forming. Perhaps he could fight these two men and take their lives as well.
But when he turned, there was nothing. Apart from the chirping of a few birds, the croaking of distant frogs looking for mates and the crickets making their evening appearance, it was just quiet. He dropped his jaw wider and let in as much air as possible—he needed the jungle air.
He remained alert. He scanned the area with his eyes and his grip on the handle of the knife became firmer. It was too quiet for his liking. He had expected his pursuers to burst through one of the openings. But they didn’t. He waited. Then, his nerves began to relax. He managed to drag himself to the hidden shades of a thicket, before beginning to sob. He went down on one knee, then on all fours, weeping hysterically.
LinksSURVIVAL  is available for purchase on  Amazon  Apple, Kobo, Barnes and Noble (Nook), Okadabooks and  Smashwords

Twitter  https://twitter.com/achilegodson  Facebook
Goodreads  

WHAT THE EXPERTS SAY: Nataša Nuit Pantović, Author, Trainer, Yogi and Spiritual Researcher

Nataša Nuit Pantović, Author, Trainer,
Yogi & Spiritual Researcher
TREE OF LIFENataša Nuit Pantović brings us her ninth book, TREE OF LIFE, as part of the Alchemy of Love Mindfulness Training series. She considers the Alchemy of Love Mindfulness a spiritual rather than a religious endeavor. TREE OF LIFE is poetry— spiritual not religious—that is an “inspirational and motivational encounter with various spiritual journeys into Love, Consciousness, Bliss.”
Nataša Nuit Pantović has traveled widely and currently lives in Malta with her two children. At the moment she is working on her next book, “Conscious Creativity.”







Q: You’ve just published the ninth book of your Alchemy of Love Mindfulness Training series. What is love mindfulness and what drove you to write this series?
Nataša Nuit Pantović: A team of spiritual researchers worked hard for 5 years to give birth to a serial: Alchemy of Love Mindfulness Training, non-fiction and fiction books that explore the alchemy of soul, and our inner quest to reach our highest potential. The serial includes 2 books on Mindful Eating (exploration of a vegetarian and vegan life-style), 2 courses on Mindful Living (Mindful Being and Conscious Parenting), 12 modules of a personal development journey that inspire creative thinking with hundreds of transformation tools, 2 spiritual poetry books (Art of 4 Elements and Tree of Life) and a Spiritual Fiction Novel set in Macau at the Time of Enlightenment (17th century) called: Ama Alchemy of Love.
Q: TREE OF LIFE is your newest book. On what aspect of love mindfulness does it focus?
Nataša Nuit Pantović: TREE OF LIFE is a spiritual poetry book that explores our relationship to Divine. Through the meditation poetry, mindfulness poems, alchemy meditations, we enter a yin & yang journey into Tao. Spiritual not Religious the book is inspirational and motivational encounter with various spiritual journeys into Love, Consciousness, Bliss.
Q: Why did you select poetry as the best way to communicate TREE OF LIFE?
Nataša Nuit Pantović: Tree of Life in various religious interpretations, within myths, and as a mystical concept represents the inter-connectedness of all life on our beautiful planet. The Tree of Life is considered to be the symbol of 'Creator'. Mayan believed that Heaven, Earth, and Underworld are connected by the ‘world tree’.  The world tree flows out into four directions. I am deeply fascinated by the four directions, the four manifestation of life on Earth and the symbolism that connects Eastern and Western mythology and philosophy.  The cross with branches passing through each of the layers of existence - underworld, earth, and the sky. The poetry expression is the easiest way to express this most amazing journey.
Q: You’ve traveled widely and researched multiple approaches to “love mindfulness.” Does one approach appeal to you more than another?
Nataša Nuit Pantović: The Eastern and Western approaches to God and spirituality developed in different directions. The western thrived exploring science, music, sports while the eastern focused on the interconnectedness of all, with a greater emphasis on myths, occult, micro-macro relationships. There are Yin and Yang approaches to life. Within my novel A-MA: ALCHEMY OF LOVE, I explore these in greater details. A-MA is set in 17th century China, at the time of first real contact of Eastern and Western civilizations, first printing books, first Universities that translated ancient works, first enlightened minds that saw that the merge of the two could lead to an amazing wisdom sharing.
Q:  Could you list 3-5 tips on how readers can practice and/or achieve love mindfulness. What’s most important in their quest?
Nataša Nuit Pantović: We all have a wish to live our highest potential and with a conscious effort we can learn to listen to our Souls. Mindfulness is a Spiritual Transformation Tool that works with Mind Training and it just cannot be compared with any 'fast food' recipe, or quick 'out of the box' enjoyment technique. Learn from the elements, from water the vastness of Blue, “Allowing oneself to Be in Silence, to Be with Nature, explore various Spiritual Exercises,…, respecting each unique Being, our Mother Earth and our amazing Matrix of Causes and Effects.” Nuit (Mindful Being quote). We waste tremendous time and energy with all the technology gadgets. I have never had a TV or a mobile phone, and I use my Internet only to work, does this fact resonate with you? Can you imagine the amount of creative time you would gain if you would learn how to “control” your technology addictions and focus on creativity, love, relationships?
Q:  You have included CONSCIOUS PARENTING in your series. Can children be taught to engage love mindfulness? Vice versa, can adults embrace it without childhood exposure? Or do we need to be reared to be mindful of love?
Nataša Nuit Pantović: After helping Father George (a most inspiring Priest who works in Africa) build a school in a remote area of Ethiopia, I decided to enter the most amazing world of parenthood adopting two angels from Ethiopia as a single mum. My 25 years of yoga and meditation, and my spiritual exploration journey through Theosophy, Zen, Tantra, Antroposophy, Yoga, my yogic vegetarian life-style where I danced barefoot in the rain, meditated for hours in search of God, read 1,000s of spiritual books still could not prepare me for the joys and troubles of parenting. My children Ema and Andrej are my biggest Conscious Parenting teachers. They took me on to this mindfulness journey of parenting taking me out of my comfort zones. It is us parents that need to engage and train Mindfulness and Love, it is us parents that need to go back to inspiration, creativity and contact with Soul, Nature, God. 'Soul stands at the center of the children growth and development, as an Essence, an Observer, consciousness coming forth to experience the magic of Life. Be tentative to the Soul’s whispers. A child has a deep longing to discover that the world is based on truth. Respect that longing. In our attempt to help children grow into inspired adults, we wish them to carry the youthfulness of their souls, and the wonders of childhood into their old age.' Nuit, Conscious Parenting
Q: You have been to many countries (150) and exposed to many people and cultures. Do you see differences between the poor in developing countries versus the more affluent in Western developed countries regarding love mindfulness?
Nataša Nuit Pantović: My soul is the one of a nomad and I learn tremendously every time when in a different country. Travelling through Christian, Buddhist, Muslim or Hindu countries often as a single woman or without a lot of money helped me see that we are all One in our search for God, Oneness, Inspiration, Beauty, that we just call God different names. Once you hugged a 3,000 year-old Kaori tree, been chased by an elephant on your way through Savana, shared tea with Bedouins in Sahara, faced a lion walking with a Maori guide, prayed with Tibetan Buddhists, Hindu Priests, Portuguese Alchemists, within Orthodox Christian caves, you know that this amazing mix of cultures help us enter the space of New Consciousness.
Q: Do you consider love mindfulness a religion? Why or why not?
Nataša Nuit Pantović: The Alchemy of Love Mindfulness Training is Spiritual not Religious endeavor: we do not represent any Religion or a Sect. There is NO attempt to sell the offering as an offering of a ‘Guru’. The spiritual exercises from various Gurus and Philosophers are used within our mindfulness courses. We also do not want to sell ‘Instant Happiness’. No ‘Get Rich in a Day’ messages, with a firm belief that if we do learn how to listen to our Soul we will be able to live our Highest Potential.
All the major religions in the past, together with New Age philosophies, have used practices such as: mindfulness, meditation, prayer, music, dance, singing, writing, art, sports etc.  These practices improve health but also help in living a better life. Exploring the field of Mindfulness we found our mission. It is to help the explorers grow as conscious human beings. Alchemy had the same goal. We do not attempt to answer questions but to inspire the search and research within this area.
Q: What’s next? Will you continue to write love mindfulness training articles?
Nataša Nuit Pantović: At the moment I am preparing a new book called: “Conscious Creativity”. Working as Head of Business Development of a UK IT company for 10 years left me with some inspiring personal development tools that I wish to explore further within a course that has a “Creativity” focus, creativity as a divine inspiration.
Q: Tell us about Nataša Nuit Pantović. What do you like to do when you’re not writing?
Nataša Nuit Pantović: Nature, friends, family, books and learning something new. I learned to roller-blade when I was 25, started my Chinese and piano lessons when I was 40, went into deeper explorations of Astrology when 30. The world is full of exciting explorations and I am its very devoted explorer.
About Nataša Nuit Pantović:
Nataša Pantović Nuit is author, trainer, yogi and spiritual wesearcher who lives and works in Malta. She is the author of 9 Mindfulness Books called Alchemy of Love Mindfulness Training.
Nuit has traveled through more than 150 countries and lived in 5: UK, New Zealand, Holland, Serbia and Malta. She Worked as Head of Business Development, Trainer and Organizer of various Body Mind Spirit Festivals. In Malta, she now writes and lectures about a variety of spiritual and self-development topics.

Always fascinated with energies of: Love, Divine, Power of Mind, Creativity, Tao, Living one's Highest Potential, Nuit writes self-development courses, poetry, novels exploring topics of inner-development, esoteric or occult teachings, and New Consciousness. The main theme of her Mindfulness Books is our alchemy transformation, the alchemy of soul, our everlasting quest to find the gold within, discovering the stone that transforms metals into gold.
She holds a BSc Economics, Belgrade.
About TREE OF LIFE
Tree of Life Spiritual Poetry Book Spiritual Poetry. The beauty and wisdom of alchemy is in transforming a soul into its highest potential. Within the Nordic cultural myths we find Yggdrasil, the tree that provides a magical spring-water of knowledge. In Chinese mythology a Taoist story tells us of a peach magical tree that produces a peach every three thousand years. The one who eats the fruit becomes immortal. At the base of the Tree of Life is a dragon, and at the top is a phoenix. Climbing the Tree of Life, enjoy my poetic spiritual exploration into alchemy, meditation, Tao, Tantra, magic and mysticism and feel free to create your own journey.

About A-MA: ALCHEMY OF LOVE Novel
A-ma Alchemy of Love Novel Spiritual Historical Novel. A-Ma is a historical spiritual novel set in the 17th century Macao that follows lives and spiritual insights of settlers of this little peninsula in the middle of China. A-Ma main protagonist is Ama, an African alchemist, Goddess, a guru, a lover, a story-teller that inspires and gathers artists, preachers, priests, philosophers from all around the world within the magic settings of her coffee house. She believes in a Spiritual truth that we all can live our highest potential, discovering the gold within. Traveling through space and time, we find ourselves in the midst of an amazing blend of Chinese, Portuguese and Africans that live together on this little peninsula. This magic place that is rapidly growing as a center of trade offers a consciousness pot for the highest alchemical practice ever, the alchemy of humanity, creating an energy matrix that will change the lives of generations to come.

Links
Link to Amazon for TREE OF LIFELink to Amazon for A-MA ALCHEMY OF LOVE 
Link to Ama Blog Published by Artof4ElementsFacebookTwitter @alchemylovenuitBooklikesGoodreads 

WHAT THE EXPERTS SAY: Mark Flagel, Author

Mark Flagel, Author
PEACH MOMENTS
PRICE OF GOLDMark Flagel offers PEACH MOMENTS, his new short piece to inspire readers to realize that recalling their “peach moments” can help guide them through tough times. He believes that these special moments of happiness and exhilaration can help overcome some of life’s hardships.
In a previous interview here, Flagel discussed his novel PRICE OF GOLD based on the East German secret doping of its female athletes in the 1976 Olympics—an occurrence that he believes needs to be better understood. 
He is currently considering setting up a web page for people to describe their “peach moments” and writing a new book with the working title “A Millennial Handbook”.  Flagel is a retired lawyer, who has always wanted to write. 
Q: What drove you to write PEACH MOMENTS?  Why reach out to people to get them to savor their best moments?
Mark Flagel: We live in a complex, mysterious, painful, unjust, yet magnificent and wondrous world. When I was 18 years old, I was a bit pissed off at the world, at what I perceived to be the unfairness of having to work 30 hours a week to help support myself through college, at the fact that so many people had so much more than I had. Then I bit into that peach and dissolved into a state of pure euphoria.
When I emerged from that moment, I felt maybe, just maybe, my and anyone else’s relative disadvantages didn’t matter so much, because I knew no one on earth, no matter how advantaged they were, could experience more bliss than I just had in that moment, and everyone is capable of having similar moments. Disadvantage and injustice and hardship abound. We see it everywhere. It can be debilitating.
So I felt it important to reach out and write a very short piece that will (I hope) be inspirational, motivational and contemplative, and suggest to everyone that peach moments are one of life’s great equalizers, and that a reflection on the peach moments of your life can lift you up through difficult times.
Q: One of your reviewers says PEACH MOMENTS is “an inspirational book for all ages.” Did you intend for it to be for a specific age group? Or do you believe that even the “youth” should take the time to relish their special moments? Who can benefit most from your book?
Mark Flagel: I didn’t intend to be limiting. Peach moments are blind to age, there for everyone, and the idea of taking time to relish special moments is a universal one. It’s my hope that everyone who reads PEACH MOMENTS will benefit in some way, either by focusing on, remembering, and looking forward to their own peach moments, or just by thinking about some of the complexities of life addressed in the book. Of course, some parts of the book are intended for mature audiences, as peach moments can involve physical intimacy and other adult oriented situations, so parents might want to exercise some discretion with children.
Q: What is there in your story to make people cherish their best moments? How do you make readers care about your “character” or comprehend your message?
Mark Flagel: The goal of PEACH MOMENTS is to have readers focus, not on me or my character, but on themselves. The articulation of some of my own peach moments is intended to evoke reactions like: “Wow, I remember a moment like that;” or: “I felt the same way when [fill in the blank]”. Jumping back and forth between some of life’s complexities, injustices and mysteries, on the one hand, and peach moments, on the other, is intended to get readers to think about their own views on these issues, but to end up back within the realm of blissful remembrances of their peach moments.
Q: Do you believe that your message is relevant universally?
Mark Flagel: I do. Mysteries and complexities and ups and downs follow everyone through life. Everyone should be reminded that, no matter their circumstances in life, they can experience moments that take them to the highest of heights, and that eliminate or at least lessen some of the disparities they feel and injustices they see around them.
Q: Can you provide 3-5 tips to help us cherish our special moments?
Mark Flagel: Take a moment, every day, to reflect on the positive. If you feel sad or angry or stressed out, pull out a photo album of your last family gathering or vacation. Then think about the next time you’ll be seeing family or good friends or celebrating a special occasion. Put your favorite music on, turn it up, and let it envelop you. Dance. Call someone close to hear the sound of their voice. Think about some of the simple things that add joy to your life.
Q: What do you believe prevents people from appreciating their special moments?
Mark Flagel: I don’t think of anything as preventing people from appreciating special moments. That said, life has a habit of knocking people down. The world is full of hardship and injustice. Difficulties can be suffocating, and the swirl of life can cause anyone to feel angst and sadness and stress. PEACH MOMENTS is really just a simple way for me to suggest a path to rise above and know that each and every one of us, despite the difficulties of life, can pull ourselves up to the highest heights of bliss, happiness and serenity.
Q: You’ve also written PRICE OF GOLD, a novel about the East German secret doping of its female athletes in the 1976 Olympics. Did you enjoy writing one more than the other? Do you prefer fiction over inspirational writing?
Mark Flagel: The books are very different, and I greatly enjoyed writing both. PRICE OF GOLD allowed me to fictionalize a very real and troubling doping story that I still feel has been largely and unfortunately overlooked. PEACH MOMENTS, on the other hand, allowed me to express a message of hope, optimism and egalitarianism, with emphasis on this last notion – that peach moments are great equalizers; they are for everyone, and allow everyone, regardless of circumstance, to reach the highest heights imaginable.
Q: You spent most of your life as a lawyer. What caused you to want to write?
Mark Flagel: Ever since I can remember wanting to be anything, I wanted to be a writer. I decided, though, early on, to focus on making a living first, so I chose law. It was a good choice for me, as I greatly enjoyed my 31 years as a practicing attorney. But the yearning to write things (other than legal stuff) never left, so I decided to pull the trigger and indulge that yearning.
Q: What’s next?
Mark Flagel: I’m considering building a website to allow people to post their own peach moments and comment on the peach moments of others. I’m also working on a book that’s tentatively titled “A Millennial Handbook”. Stay tuned on both fronts.
Q: Tell us about Mark Flagel. In a previous interview you said you like to play poker, walk and think, and spend time with your family. What special moments have you had recently that you’d like to share?
Mark Flagel: All those things are still true! I’ve been very blessed this past year to have taken some fun trips with family, to Galway and London and Paris and Berlin and good old Big Bear, California. There were many special moments, and I’ll share one. My older son is in the Army. My wife and I took him, three of his Army and one of his Navy buddies up to Big Bear just before Christmas. One evening we all sat around the dinner table, and I asked them if they were happy having chosen a path that will likely call on each of them to put their lives at risk defending our country. To a man, they didn’t blink, they didn’t flinch, and they each, with gleams in their eyes, said they couldn’t be happier or more proud and they couldn’t conceive of doing anything else. There were many reasons for the tears in my eyes at that moment. We are the free; they are the brave. I, too, could not have been more proud. It was a very special moment.
About Mark Flagel
Mark Flagel was born in Los Angeles, California, in 1958. Westminster, the neighborhood he was raised in, was a blue-collar, middle-class environment that did much to shape his future values. Flagel moved to Long Beach in 1974 before attending UCLA to study political science. He graduated magna cum laude in 1980 and went on to law school at UC Berkeley. He practiced law for thirty-one years before retiring in 2014 to pursue his lifelong passion of writing.
About PEACH MOMENTS


Peach Moments are the great equalizers. They’re the blissful, euphoric moments that can arise from love, achievement, beauty, a spiritual experience, and so many other, simple sources (including, for example, biting into a juicy, succulent peach on a hot summer day). No matter who we are or how much money we have, our Peach Moments can take us to the highest heights imaginable. No one—not your boss, not the millionaires or billionaires of the world, not the royal families or politicians of the world—has ever experienced a higher level of bliss than you did in your Peach Moments.

PEACH MOMENTS describes author Mark Flagel’s original “peach moment,” then alternates between observations regarding some of life’s mysteries and other Peach Moments from Mark’s life, as food for thought and to remind you of Peach Moments from your own life—those moments, there for every single one of us, that take us to a blissful, euphoric, serene state of mind.

Links
AmazonPurchase Link Amazon Author LinkAuthor web page Author Twitter: @peachmoments

WHAT THE EXPERTS SAY: Christopher Hansen & J.R. Fehr, Authors

Christopher Hansen, co-author
THE MAGICIAN'S WORKSHOP
Volumes 1 and 2


Christopher Hansen and J.R. Fehr bring us THE MAGICIAN’S WORKSHOP, volumes 1 and 2, described by one reviewer as “Whoo whoo whoosh! A mega magical experience!---- A wonderfully written story of a world where everyone has magic and can do magic, the authors take it one step further into the world of augmented reality.” Both authors value their characters and even learn from them, have an appreciation for the rules of world-building and magic, and combine approaches of “reflecting” images or feelings along with “echoes” of real life.
Although they live 1,000 miles apart in different countries, they collaborated on all parts of the two volumes. They plan to continue to write together. Christopher Hansen enjoys spending time with his family and exploring with his three children. J.R. Fehr has a day job working with people with disabilities but also finds time for an active social life in Vancouver, British Columbia.


J.R. Fehr, co-author
THE MAGICIAN'S WORKSHOP
Volumes 1 and 2Q: What led you to write THE MAGICIAN’S WORKSHOP? Are you a fan of fantasy stories? Do either or both of you have a favorite fantasy author?Christopher Hansen: Yup I’m a fan of fantasy. But I’m not a fan boy; I don’t have a real sword hanging on my wall and I don’t have the slightest clue how to speak elvish. I have plenty of fantasy authors I enjoy, but there is one I think is way-WAY-way above all the rest. This may seem nutty, but it’s whoever made all of the fantastic stuff we see here on earth.
Take geckos for example. They are so cool. I once spent the night in a rundown wooden hut in Hawaii. It was awful. But there was a gecko climbing around on the walls chirping all night long. And somehow, it transformed this nightmarish hut into something wonderful. 
Or take volcanoes. Think of lava exploding up into the air or rivers of hot red, liquid rock. Who could have thought up something like that? It’s absolutely crazy. And then don’t get me started about all the photos the Hubble telescope has taken of the stars. Geesh, if I could invent a fantasy story one billionth as fantastical as that I’d be happy. 
J.R. Fehr: When I was younger, I was a big fan of The Wheel of Time, but I’d have to say my favorite fantasy author is C.S. Lewis (and not just Narniaeither). I took a class on his fiction in university and loved every second of it. His final novel, Till We Have Faces, was one of the biggest influences on my first novel, Skyblind.


As to the bigger question, what led me to write THE MAGICIAN’S WORKSHOP . . . well, that is a bit of a story. It all started when Chris Hansen, my co-writer and friend, was up visiting me at my home in Vancouver, Canada. One day, we decided to meet with another artistic friend of mine who had just completed a new project. And, much to his dismay, the initial reception was not great. This friend was deeply discouraged and was on the brink of giving up his art altogether.
This encounter left a lasting impression on Chris and myself. Without saying too much about it, this experience ended up being one of the key pieces in the formation for the original idea of THE MAGICIAN’S WORKSHOP.
 Q: Who are the target readers for THE MAGICIAN’S WORKSHOP? Young adults? Would you also characterize it as a “coming-of-age” story?J.R. Fehr: It is definitely a “Coming of Age” story, and the target audience would fall to teens, but I wouldn’t want to limit it to just them. I feel like the themes discussed here are relevant to all ages, and that this story is full of characters that (hopefully) anyone can relate with. Most of the characters are 16, but there’s a few point of view characters who are older.  
Q:  Did you create “rules” for the magic of your characters? Do these rules help to offer a sense of credibility?Christopher Hansen: Did we create rules? Wow. That’s like asking if presidents create executive orders or if Texans like BBQ. (Texans generally do, by the way.) Yup, we spent a lot of time creating rules. We did this primarily because we, as authors, needed to stand on solid ground when we were writing the story. We needed to know what could happen and what could not in this world. 
J.R. Fehr: Oh yes. We spent a significant amount of time working out the rules for the magic, as well as the rules for everything else. This was part of a “world building” phase that we were in. I’d estimate that we spent about 5-6 months working steadily on this, as the “magic” in our story is quite different than traditional magic.
Q: Are there heroes and villains in THE MAGICIAN’S WORKSHOP? What are the characteristics of a compelling villain?Christopher Hansen: Yes there are. But the heroes and villains might be difficult for some people to see. I wanted the characters in the book to reflect ordinary people in our world. So there aren’t Super-heroes or Super-villains. There are people who have aspects of themselves that are heroic as well as aspects that are villainous. We had fun taking characters and flipping our understanding of them upside down and then upside down again. In one chapter a character will act heroic, but then later on they will be a real stinker, only to later on do something marvelous. 
This said, there is one primary villain in the series of books. He/She/It is very hidden. But he/she/it is hard at work, doing diabolical, villainous stuff. Muwah ha, ha. Cackle. Hiss. 
Q: How do you engage your readers to care about your characters? How will we relate to characters who make magic?Christopher Hansen: For me, THE MAGICIAN’S WORKSHOP is all about the characters. Writing it was such a joy, primarily because I fell in love with the characters. I spent a tremendous amount of time listening to them (which, I’m sure must sound utterly strange and maybe preposterous) and getting to know them.  I never know if readers will relate to my characters. But people really have connected to the characters in these books. I have no idea how this happens.
Practically what I do is rather straightforward. I assume no one will care about my characters unless I care about them. I figure if I can relate to them, others might also. I also think it’s important for characters to feel real, or believable. This is especially true with characters who have magical powers. So we spent a lot of time working out the rules of the magic so that what the characters did with magic felt “real.” 
J.R. Fehr: The simplest explanation is just giving the characters time to be real people. Both Chris and I try to let the characters speak to us out of their own characteristics, rather than force them to say or do things to advance a plot. As a result, this is a story full of rich characters. 
As to relating to characters who make magic . . . all fiction echoes real life. It is my hope that when people read the things I write, that they’ll get a sense of themselves. Readers can think “What would I do in that situation?” or “How would I act if I faced those obstacles?” Everyone can’t cast out magical projections in our world, but we can do other things that are similar. I encourage any readers to ponder that, and consider what the equivalent of making magical projections would be in our world. We may not be able to make a magical blue wallaroo appear, but we can certainly create other things with our talents.
Q: Is THE MAGICIAN’S WORKSHOP primarily for entertainment or did you embed a few messages along the way?Christopher Hansen: Can I say, “Neither”? I sure hope people find the books entertaining. I love fun stories and I love to write things that interest me and make me laugh. As a result there are many silly, fun things in the books. And I also hope some readers find some message in the books that helps them in life. However, neither of these things was a goal. 
Instead the objective was for the books to reflect something. Think of a painting. A painter takes something they see and then attempts to reflect that something onto a canvas with paint. It may be something they can see with their eyes, like a waterfall, a buffalo, or their daughter. Or it might be something imaginary, say a dragon or a person they’ve never seen. It can also be something abstract, say a feeling or an idea.
Before I set out to write a book I generally want to know what it is a reflection of. Sometimes I don’t know what this is until I’ve written an entire first draft of the book. On occasion it may take even longer. Other times, like with THE MAGICIAN’S WORKSHOP, it was clear in my mind right from the beginning. For me this isn’t a message. It’s something that exists in reality. To give you an example, it may be childhood friendship. You know those relationships that you have before puberty, hormones, and dating seem to scramble our brains and change what friendships are. That’s not the theme of  THE MAGICIAN’S WORKSHOP, by the way. I’m just giving an example. 
It’s generally wise for an author to keep the specific thing a book is reflecting a secret. This is because the thing it reflects is often killed when the author reveals it. It’s like taking a living frog and dissecting it. While this does have value to help people understand frogs, it does end the frog's life. After you look at the heart, lungs, and gall bladder of the frog, it’s not going to get up, start hopping around the table, or make its cute croaking sound. I as an author desire to create living things, but I’m happy for others to dissect the books I write. Thus, I’ll leave it to you to open up THE MAGICIAN’S WORKSHOP and see what reflection of reality you find inside. 
J.R. Fehr: Just as I said “all fiction echoes real life” I’d also say that fiction is very rarely (if ever) purely entertainment. I believe that every story has some meaning and is filled with messages—even if the readers (or authors) don’t recognize them.
Q: How do you use your settings or worlds to propel the story?
Christopher Hansen: For me stories consist of a world, the characters that exist in that world, the actions the characters take in that world, and finally the way the world changes because of those character’s actions. Thus, I need to know a lot about the setting/world and characters before I can begin to craft a story. 
Put another way: Stories are propelled by characters. But those characters exist in a world that has rules, history, geography, weather, and all kinds of things that affect those characters. The more solid the world, the more solid your characters can be. And if you have solid characters who have clear dramatic desires the story usually flows pretty easily. 
Q: How do the two of you work together as authors? Do you divide chapters or character development between you?Christopher Hansen: We have loved working together; co-writing has been the best experience. 
The short answer is that we did everything together. This was easier than we expected even though we live in different countries, about a thousand miles apart. But it took a lot of time, about three to four times as long as it would take writing a book alone. Most of our work was done over the phone. We must have racked up thousands of hours. Pity the cell phone company that sold me an unlimited international calling plan for $5 a month. 
J.R. Fehr: Ah, yes. Co-writing is quite the interesting endeavour. It was really easy in the beginning. It was just a matter of brainstorming ideas and coming to agreement on things. When we actually started writing, we divided up pieces of the plot and assigned certain characters to each-other to work on. We’d write an initial “1.0” pass on a chapter, then share that with the other person, who’d go through and improve it with a “2.0,” which they’d then send back. We’d go back and forth like this, editing each-other’s work and improving areas where one might be weaker. Honestly, it was so much fun. I’ve been writing all my life, but I definitely think co-writing is my favorite. It’s so nice to have someone else to bounce ideas off of and to help me out when I get stuck.
Q: What’s next? Will you continue to work together?J.R. Fehr: That’s the plan! I’m mega excited to share the rest of the story with you!
Q: What do you both like to do when you’re not writing?J.R. Fehr: I have a day job working with people with disabilities, which—when combined with writing—takes up most of my week. I’m pretty active in my community here in Vancouver, and I have a rich social life. I don’t have any hobbies that are anything that exciting, but I do enjoy board games, hiking, movies, and traveling.
Christopher Hansen: I spend most of my free time with my family. I have three kids and we do all kinds of things together. One of our favorites is to be out in nature. Just last weekend my son and I went on a nighttime snowshoe hike. We trekked in the dark up to the top of a mountain where the wind was blowing at forty miles an hour. It was so strong it was constantly knocking us over. Bits of snow were flying through the air and stinging our nearly frozen faces. We were hungry. Our hands were damp and numb. 
But despite all this it was absolutely incredible. A huge wall of clouds covered the full moon. Every so often the wind would blow the clouds in a way that allowed the moon to peek out. Whenever this happened the moon was so bright that it was able to light up everything, almost like it was day. By its light, a nearby mountain range would appear. The valley below us would light up. The snow covering the grove of trees behind us would glow. It was an utterly inhospitable place for humans, yet there we were, witnessing something incredible. 
We stood, fighting against the wind, watching the world blink in and out of existence, like someone was switching the light switch on and off in their bedroom. One moment we would be standing in nothing but darkness, then the moon would break free and the world would light up. This only lasted for a brief moment before a new patch of clouds would rush in and cover over the moon once again, thrusting everything into darkness once again. Back and forth it went, like some cosmic battle. But all along, the moon kept on rising. Bit by bit, it traveled higher in the sky. Eventually, it was well above the clouds, and there was no fear of it being covered again. Everything remained lit up. 
And in this light we hiked down the mountain. It was easy to see; there was no fear of getting lost. The whole experience was magical.
About Christopher HansenThe first glimmering Chris Hansen had that there was far more to reality than he had ever imagined occurred six days after his ninth birthday. “Christopher!” cried a wise, old sage. “Life is full of deep magic. Miraculous things happen all the time and all around us, if you know where to look for them.” Full of expectation and childlike optimism, Chris began searching for this magic, prepared to be surprised and amazed by it. And he was: he found Wonder! Now he’s chosen to write stories about it.
About THE MAGICIAN’S WORKSHOP: Volume 1 Everyone in the islands of O’Ceea has a magical ability: whatever they imagine can be brought into existence. Whoever becomes a master over these powers is granted the title of magician and is given fame, power, riches, and glory. This volume of books follows the journey of a group of kids as they strive to rise to the top and become members of the Magician’s Workshop.
Layauna desperately wants to create beautiful things with her magical powers, but all she can seem to do is make horrible, savage monsters. For years she has tried to hide her creations, but when her power is at last discovered by a great magician, she realizes that what she’s tried to hide might actually be of tremendous value.
Kai just wants to use his powers to have fun and play with his friends. Unfortunately, nearly everyone on his island sees him as a bad influence, so he’s forced to meet them in secret. When one of the creatures they create gets out of control and starts flinging fireballs at their town, Kai is tempted to believe that he is as nefarious as people say. However, his prospects change when two mysterious visitors arrive, praising his ability and making extraordinary promises about his future.

Follow the adventures of Kai, Layauna, and a boatload of other characters as they struggle to grow up well in this fantastical world.
About THE MAGICIAN’S WORKSHOP: Volume 2Return to the world of  THE MAGICIAN’S WORKSHOP: WHERE DREAMS BEOCME REALITY.
In Volume Two, the Festival of Stars has finally arrived, and the Color Ceremony is about to commence. As children from all over the islands gather to stand before a puller, one question remains: who will have a Color, and who will be found void?
Rejoin your favorite characters as they step forward and receive a label that will have the power to dramatically alter the course of their lives forever.
Links Purchase linksAmazon Volume 1            In Canada 
AmazonVolume 2  
Author sitesWebpage FacebookGoodreads 

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WHAT THE EXPERTS SAY: Ashley Borodin, Author

Ashley Borodin, Author
THE JEALOUS FLOCKAshley Borodin wants to start conversations by getting readers to think. He believes that writing in the “older style of English novel,”—from Joseph Conrad to JG Ballard— will fuel those conversations. He targets THE JEALOUS FLOCK at that purpose. One reviewer said, “This story dives deep into your thoughts and twists open the cap on unique thinking and encourages ideas of change and acceptance.”
Borodin also writes short stories and poetry and claims that “Writing chooses me at the moment,” which drives his output.  At the moment, he is working on releasing an anthology of his poems and also writing his next novel. When he’s not writing, he likes to play his fretless guitar, sing, design games, sculpt, animate, go on walks in nature, take photos, and collect “cool things.’ Plus he enjoys antiques and garage sales.

Don't miss the excerpt at the end of the interview.
Q: How would you characterize THE JEALOUS FLOCK? In what genre would you place it? What inspired you to write it?
Ashley Borodin: Part of the problem with getting people to read it is how I tend to characterize it I think. I either call it a ‘normal book’ or ‘philosophical’ and things like that. I don’t have the same values as most of the book buying public evidently, and I’m not sure how to relate it to their interests.
To me it’s like the older style of English novel, from what I consider the ‘great period.’ Joseph Conrad up to JG Ballard. Books that challenged you, that spoke about truth and taboo unabashedly.
I suppose broadly it falls into Literary Fiction, but then readers have arbitrary expectations of that slot as well.
As to inspiration, it was a mixture, a synthesis of the underlying trends changing society around me, the taboos no-one wanted to address and the stories bumping around in my own head. They coalesced through short stories initially, and then I began to weave those stories together into a cohesive plot. So it gradually evolved from its constituent parts.
Q: Who are the most likely people to read THE JEALOUS FLOCK?  What will they gain from it?
Ashley Borodin: I’d like to know that myself. I haven’t found my tribe yet. But I think it’s for the mature reader who doesn’t mind a bit of hard graft in their reading. People like me who will read a chapter and then put the book aside and just ponder it for a while, soak it in.
Q: A reviewer says that you present “well rounded characters that are both uniquely interesting and deeply complex human beings.” How do you create characters that are both interesting and complex? Why will readers engage with their “complexities?”
Ashley Borodin: Another reviewer said my characters lacked depth. I think it depends on the insight of the reader and also the allowances they are willing to make. I did skim on character development. Not consciously, but I had to make a choice between ever finishing the book and making it perfect, where perfect would involve a five year break at least, then overcoming Autism so that I can relate to people properly.
I’m working on the Autism now.
But as far as somewhat succeeding with character development - they grew out of an interaction with the environment in which I placed them. So basically I’d dim the lights and start narrating into a voice recorder. Placing myself in the scene, looking around in the dreamscape of my mind and seeing where I’d left my keys the night before, the surface of the bench, the fear, my expectations of myself in this person’s shoes. Method acting I suppose. And over the course of the story the character develops on their own.
Q: One of your reviewers said that your story “teaches how one needs to look beyond their own ideologies and thinking.” Did you write THE JEALOUS FLOCK to entertain, or were you more interested in delivering a message or getting readers to think?
Ashley Borodin: Thinking is something we need a lot more of in the world right now. But even moreso thoughtful conversation. I wanted to start a conversation, a bunch of them if possible.
Three years ago when I’d finished the book, no-one was talking about these things. Now they’re all over the news. But there is still a large proportion of society with a heavily vested interest in denying reality.
I’m not a very entertaining person, but I like to engage and debate ideas. The book is an honest representation of myself. I don’t care what side of the argument you are on, as long as you’re willing to talk, think and be rational.
I entertained myself in writing it, but my sort of entertainment clearly isn’t held in high regard by the masses. You wouldn't recognize the world if it was.
Q: How relevant is “setting” to tell your story? Could your characters be located anywhere for their story to unfold?
Ashley Borodin: These days, yes. At the time of writing, less so.
Q: You also publish poetry and short stories in addition to novellas. Do you have a favorite? When do you choose to write poetry rather than a novella or short story?
Ashley Borodin: Writing chooses me at the moment. It’s always been capricious like that. But it’s not just writing. Everything chooses me. I hope in the years to come that I gain some mastery over it, over my life. It remains to be seen.
Q: What are your favorite topics to write about?
Ashley Borodin: I like to sink my teeth into things. Anything really. Mainly ideas if I’m honest.
Q: Do you use humor to develop your characters or tell your story?
Ashley Borodin: I think I do. Whether that works for readers is another matter.
Q: What’s next?
Ashley Borodin: At the moment I am engaged in the thankless task of marketing.
I’d like to release an anthology of my poems - as a coffee table book.
I’ve also started a second novel, which might be more relatable, but I don’t know where it’s going yet.
Q: Tell us about Ashley Borodin. What do you like to do when you’re not writing?
Ashley Borodin: I play the fretless, try to sing and make tunes on my ipad. I tinker with game design, 3d sculpting and animation. I also like getting out into nature, walking, photography, collecting cool things I find. And I love antiques, op-shops and garage sales.
About Ashley Borodin
Most advanced readers agree that of all contemporary fiction novels, this kindle book will linger with you long after you put it down. It may one day even be ranked among the modern classics of 2017.
Ashley comes from a poor, Fundamentalist background, so it seems natural that he would be drawn to write about experiences similar to his own in contemporary fiction.
He tends to wax Contrarian, and possibly due in part to his Autism (undiagnosed until late in life) his writing tends to dispense with the usual hand-holding of many modern authors and gets right to the cerebral matter.
He's not really influenced by anyone but if pressed to answer this, of all demeaning questions, he will point you in the direction of authors such as:
Iris MurdochAldous HuxleyCharles BukowskiJohn WyndhamDavid MaloufJ G BallardAyn Rand (yes, Ayn Rand - remember he's Autistic, so to him she's just another author with ideas worth debating).
About THEJEALOUS FLOCK
Forced from their collective comfort zone, all three members of Martin’s family come face to face with the realities that underpin their urbane way of life. Each is faced with a paradox that will test their belief in themselves and their image of the tolerant, liberal society they believe they inhabit.
A Literary Epic in Miniature, THE JEALOUS FLOCK takes readers from the cloistered air of Professional London through the harsh realities of the Middle East and on to the culture war simmering beneath the surface in Australia.
Through their interwoven narratives each character tries to grapple with change as they question their authenticity and value as individuals amidst THE JEALOUS FLOCK.
Excerpt
Perhaps it had always been there, unrequited on the kitchen wall. Every morning this Sufi poem had spoken to me of its longing while I buttered my toast. Now here I stood for the first time gazing back into it. The script held out the promise of golden wisps of sand blowing in from the dunes. It spoke of the mystery of the desert, the beauty of the word, and a god that can’t be seen. The Arabic font curved and undulated; snake-like, simple yet elusive.
Fear and anticipation had coiled up inside my chest, and I closed my eyes, frowning earnestly. I was out of my depth. Maybe I should call it off, I thought. I could back out now and no one would think the less of me.
Through the kitchen window the suburbs were grey and listless; they had nothing in particular to say on the subject. Staring into this drizzling scene only deepened my resolve, and I knew what had to be done.
“He’s not called Rumi, you know,” Doris’s voice broke in.
I must have been muttering the whole time. Embarrassed, I tried to steady myself against the window sill, turning my back to the muted streetscape beyond.
“...And you're not called Doris.” I made my first sleepy attempt at wit, accompanied by a reassuring smile. The angle of my mouth implied everything was normal while my eyes drifted far beyond where she stood. We weren’t exactly fighting, just a little unhinged. Doris by the secrecy and anguish she had seen in me lately, and I by the effect it was having on my family.
Links
Amazon com (US)
Amazon UK
http://ashleyborodin.weebly.com http://ashleyborodin.weebly.comhttp://books.noisetrade.com/ashleybor...
Twitter: @0rWouldUrather

WHAT THE EXPERTS SAY: Chinedu Enechi, Author

Chinedu Enechi, Author
IFECHIDEREChinedu Enechi writes the story of IFECHIDERE to tell us about child abuse and the unfair treatment of women and the underprivileged. It is a story based on the real life of his mother.
Enechi says he has more stories to tell and plans to continue writing.  When he is not writing, he enjoys watching movies, cooking, and reading.
Don't miss the excerpt at the end of his interview.





Q: In what genre would you place your novella, IFECHIDERE? Would it be in contemporary women’s fiction? Why?
Chinedu Enechi: Yes it is; it has a lot to do what is happening now in our society in terms of child abuse and traditional violation in terms of the Osu/Ohu nightmare that hurts a lot of marriages. Everyone should be treated with fairness and the same. The same women that give birth to so called Osu/Ohu give birth to so called free ones. From time immemorial, women have faced rejection from so many quarters and it needs to stop.
Q: What inspired you, a man, to write a woman’s story?
Chinedu Enechi: I have a lot of faith in women. I hate it when women are marginalized or disrespected.
Q: How does your setting influence your story? Would Ifechidere have had a similar life wherever she was living?
Chinedu Enechi: No, not really. I think the part of the problems Ifechidere faced came from the culture and tradition in which she found herself. A culture and tradition that neglects and takes the less privileged for granted and creates an illusion of people not being equal. I think if she had to be in environment that respects and cares more for children as well as less privileged, her life wouldn't have been the same.
Q: Why will readers care about Ifechidere? How will they relate?
Chinedu Enechi: “Ifechidere” is actually based on my mother's real life story and it's a really touching one. It's the kind of story that makes people ask questions and re-evaluate how they treat the less privileged, or even how people relate with each other.
Q: Does the concept of hero vs villain apply to your story? Is Ifechidere a heroine? If so, Is there a villain? What makes a compelling villain?
Chinedu Enechi: Yes, Ifechidere is a heroine and there are a number of villains. I think a compelling villain actually adds to the character of the hero.
Q: Did you use humor to tell your story or develop your characters?
Chinedu Enechi: Not really … but there are some places you laugh, because some things in the book are just naturally funny.
Q: How do you drive readers to want to “turn the page?” How important is suspense or romance?
Chinedu Enechi: “Ifechidere” is full of a lot of moments. There's also suspense, such that when you start reading, you won’t want to put it down.
Q: Did you write IFECHIDERE strictly to entertain your readers, or did you embed a message in your story?
Chinedu Enechi: Ifechidere’s story wasn’t actually for entertainment. It’s a story that conveys a message.
Q: What’s next? Will you continue to write fictional stories?
Chinedu Enechi: Absolutely yes, I have more stories to tell.
Q: Tell us about Chinedu Enechi. What do you like to do when you’re not writing?
Chinedu Enechi: I am a determined person. I also enjoy going out whether or not I am with friends, watching movies, reading and cooking.
AboutChinedu Enechi
Chinedu Enechi is a Philosophy graduate of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka and an MA student of Political and Social Philosophy at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka. His hobbies include cooking, reading, watching movies and hanging out with friends.
About IFECHIDERE 74 pages
The loss of both her parents, even before she is old enough to speak, appears to pre-determine Ifechidere's life. She is made to toil from dusk to dawn.
Yet, Ifechidere is no modern-day Cinderella, as she finds that faith in the will to survive, which is stronger than any absentee fairy godmother, will propel her to find herself. And it'll lead her to the thing that was always meant to be ...
Excerpt
Chapter One Ifechi sat pitifully on the damp floor with her two legs crossed. It was sometime after the heavy and hideous pouring of rain. The storm had been riotous and sharp. It was the last rain of the year, in the middle of November, which would inevitably usher in the harmattan.
It was exactly 8pm. An hour earlier, she had been summoned by her clod uncle and wicked aunty. Onukwube, the stubborn, little child of Ifechi’s uncle, refused to sleep, crying himself into a popper. He had kept up the crying since his mother left him and went out with his father. Ifechi did everything humanly possible to stop him from crying; she sang the lullabies, which mothers and nannies often used to lure kids to sleep whenever they were disturbed, all to no avail.
Onukwube was a boy of six years, with a fat face; he was ugly like his mother, heavily built, with small eyes and a big head. When they came back, they saw him crying beside Ifechi, who was standing outside their small three-bedroom mud house. Ogolo, Ifechi’s aunty, upon seeing him, took him and started petting him, claiming that Ifechi was bewitching her son. She scolded, then hit her with a wooden stick. Then she went inside the house with her son, leaving poor Ifechi, to cry on the floor. After they had finished eating the soft and smooth pounded yam with ogbono soup Ifechi prepared for the family, they called Ifechi in and ordered her to clear the empty dishes. She wailed disconsolately like a maniacal dog, with her nose running.
With not even a sympathetic neighbour to console her, Ifechidere sobbed. She lamented painfully and her stomach grumbled. She had not been offered even a morsel of the food she had prepared.
Ifechidere’s mother, Obidiya, died while giving birth to her after many years of childlessness. She named the child 'Ifechidere' – Ifechi, for short – as she gave up the ghost. The name alluded to destiny; it literally meant 'what the gods have written'. Ifechidere was only three years old when her father died in a bicycle accident – caused by his wicked, greedy younger brother, who had his eyes on his brother’s inheritance.
The fact that Ifechidere was alive, was a miracle. Even the daily beating, meted out to her by her uncle and his wife, did not stunt her physical growth. She was nine years old now, with an elegant oval shaped face, pointed nose, small, bright, sharp eyes, long and straight legs and beautiful dark skin. She was the spitting image of her mother. That was the reason that Ogolo and Obande hated her so much; each time they looked at her, they saw her mother.

Links
IFECHIDERE is available in Kindle format in Amazon markets in the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, France, Spain, Italy, Netherlands, Japan, Brazil, Canada, Mexico, Australia and India.
It is also available as an EPUB on Smashwords, Kobo, Barnes & Noble (Nook), Okadabooks and major online stores, as well as in the Apple store as an iBook
Publisher Facebook: https://facebook.com/FearlessStoryteller Publisher Twitter: Twitter: https://twitter.com/ChiomaNnani

WHAT THE EXPERTS SAY: John Ukah, Author

John Ukah, Author
MURDER AT MIDNIGHTJohn Ukah brings us a new detective sleuth--ex-police officer Alex Simpson--in his recently published story MURDER AT MIDNIGHT. Simpson travels to the resort area of Ubudu, Nigeria to rest at a guest house after an illness, but instead encounters murder. Ukah says crime fiction readers can solve the mystery with the clues he provides. Nonetheless, one reviewer said, "this plot kept me guessing."
Ukah, a banker by trade, first became interested in mysteries when he read Agatha Christie. He plans to continue writing more detective stories and is currently working on his next one. When he’s not writing, he enjoys listening to music, watching movies, or reading.
Q: Would you characterize MURDER AT MIDNIGHT as a procedural, crime fiction, thriller, or cozy mystery? Why?
John Ukah: MURDER AT MIDNIGHT is crime fiction. It is a detective story in the whodunit subgenre. The reader has the opportunity to engage in the deductive process as the sleuth who is investigating the crime. The reader is provided the same clues from which the identity of the perpetrator can be deduced. 
Q: What led you, a banker, to write a detective story? Do you enjoy reading mysteries and crime fiction? Who is your favorite author of detective/crime fiction stories?
John Ukah: I enjoy reading mysteries and crime stories. My love for writers like Agatha Christie drew me to this genre. She’s my favorite author of detective/crime fiction stories.  
Q: How do you engage readers to care about your detective protagonist, Alex Simpson? Is he likable? Is he a hero?
John Ukah: Alex Simpson is an engaging character with personal struggles that readers can easily identify with. He is likable and this makes it easier for the readers to care about him. He is also heroic as he untangles a web of clues to expose the murderer at the lodge.
Q: Did you exploit the setting of Obudu, Nigeria to tell your story? What attributes of the area supported your plot?
John Ukah: The story is set in a guesthouse with a gallery of guests who become suspects. The book is supported by the springing up of guesthouses which boast decent facilities in Obudu. Thestory portrays the serene and therapeutic Obudu environment. It captures the beautiful scenery and comfortable weather conditions – beaches, gardens, amusement parks and ranch resorts which have turned the Obudu Ranch Resort into a holiday-maker's delight.
Q: Does the concept of hero vs villain apply to MURDER AT MIDNIGHT? What makes a good villain?
John Ukah: There is a hero and a villain. I think a good villain has to have likeable attributes. It makes him compelling, yet credible. He should be a worthy opponent to make the hero look good. He should be clever and persuasive.
Q: Did you write MURDER AT MIDNIGHT strictly to entertain? Or did you embed a message or two along the way?
John Ukah: The book covers a spectrum of societal issues in an entertaining way.
Q: What do you consider to be key attributes of a compelling detective story?  Suspense? Red herrings? A competent detective? An interesting puzzle? An intriguing villain?
John Ukah: The key attributes of a compelling detective story are characters that keep the reader captivated till the very last page and live on afterwards in the mind. A compelling detective story has to be well crafted, full of action and suspense. Red herrings, interesting puzzles and an intriguing villain all add to the thrill.
Q: How important is humor to tell your story?
John Ukah: It is vital to telling my stories. I always incorporate humor.
Q: What’s next? Will you continue writing detective stories?
John Ukah: I am currently working on another detective story. This one is a saga of love, pitiful criminalities, investigations, assumptions and deceits. I will continue writing detective stories.
Q: Who is John Ukah? What do you like to do when you’re not writing?
John Ukah: I grew up in Benin City, Edo State of Nigeria. I am a graduate of Business Administration from the University of Benin, Benin City. I am a banker and an Associate of the Institute of Capital Market Registrars (ACMR). I enjoy reading, listening to music or watching a movie when I am not writing.
About John Ukah
John Ukah is a seasoned banker and Associate of the Institute of Capital Market Registrars (ACMR). He is a graduate of Business Administration from the University of Benin, where he was listed as University Scholar. He also holds a Masters degree in Business (MBA)
About MURDER AT MIDNIGHT
MURDER AT MIDNIGHT is set in Obudu, which is a part of Cross River State in Nigeria. The area boasts prime relaxation spots in rustic surroundings, as well as urban trappings for a more contemporary lifestyle.
Alex Simpson, an ex-police officer, decides after a bout of typhoid fever to take a break in a serene and therapeutic environment. The last thing he expects is to be called upon to solve a murder at the Kinging Guest Lodge. But that is what happens, when the delectable and vivacious Maria Marshall is found dead in her bedroom at midnight.
The gallery of characters living at the guest-house and thrown into the mix, do not make his task of solving this chilling and brutal murder any easier.
Excerpt
Chapter One
Back to Obudu
Back to Obudu It was in late November, after I suffered a severe case of typhoid fever, that I decided to visit Kinging Guest Lodge. I needed to rest. I had overworked myself prior to the illness, which had kept me down for about two weeks. For me, it is like coming home.
I had visited the Lodge earlier in the year; if my memory served me well, it had been in January. The area is reputed to have the most clement weather in the country. With its beautiful beaches, gardens, amusement parks and ranch resorts, it is a haven for tourists. The springing up of guest-houses, that boast decent facilities and affordable rates, has also turned the Obudu Ranch Resort into a holiday-maker's delight. Some people come here on doctors' orders, to recover from one ailment or the other.
Yet, not all my visits have been refreshing. In fact, one could argue that given some of my experiences, I ought to stay away.
During my previous visit, two of the guests died at the Lodge. One, a very old man, of natural causes; the other who had died on the same night, committed suicide. I had been a member of the Nigerian Police Force, at the time. I resigned in May and went into private practice.

LinksPurchase LinksThe direct links to purchase MURDER AT MIDNIGHT on Amazon are:  United States United Kingdom   Germany France Spain Italy Netherlands Japan Brazil Canada Mexico Australia India  
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Author Links Goodreads Publisher web site   www.chiomannani.com Twitter @JohnUkah 

WHAT THE EXPERTS SAY: Chioma Nnani, Author, Publisher, Blogger, Ghost Writer

Chioma Nnani, Author
FOREVER THERE FOR YOUChioma Nnani describes her novel, FOREVER THERE FOR YOU, as crossing multiple genres that include modern romance, contemporary fiction, and coming-of-age.  Reviewers say the book is “funny, inspiring and informative” and “deals with the complex and sensitive issue of domestic violence and all that it entails.” Nnani did not write her story to entertain but to introduce the issues of  “love, friendship, domestic violence, religion, sisterhood and cultural clashes.”
Among Nanni’s many accomplishments are that she holds an LLB from the University of Kent, a Postgraduate Certificate in Food Law, and is the founder of The Fearless Storyteller House Emporium LTD. She has also received numerous writing awards. She plans to release a collection of short stories next, but has several other books underway along with her publishing company and other activities. She values sleep as her primary past-time, but occasionally gets to read a book or watch TV.
Don’t miss the excerpt following the interview.

Q: In what genre would you place FOREVER THERE FOR YOU? Is it modern romance, contemporary fiction, or ? Does it cross over several genres?
Chioma Nnani: FOREVER THERE FOR YOU does cross over a number of genres: chick lit, modern romance, contemporary fiction, coming-of-age … it's quite busy (laughing). But in a nice way.
Q: What are the characteristics of your protagonist Nadine that will engage readers? Why will we care what happens to her? Are there standard traits to associate with a protagonist to draw readers into a story?
Chioma Nnani: She's a lovely girl. Starts out a bit naive … in the first chapter, she is 16 years old and has just arrived London from Nigeria. She's literally still at Heathrow Airport. So, there's a bit of coming-of-age angle there. There's culture shock, first love, friendship, finding the right work-life balance (even from college) and a lot of things that people can relate with. She's also intelligent … she's the cute girl that you're rooting for to do well, even while you're mad at her for not taking certain decisions.
Q: Does the concept of “hero versus villain” apply to FOREVER THERE FOR YOU? Would you consider “culture” or “perception” or “religion” as a “villain?” Or can only people be villains?
Chioma Nnani: Wow! If you'd asked me this question a couple of years ago, I'd probably have given a different reply. I see the evil that people perpetrate, using religion and culture as tools and it's ridiculous. On the one hand, these are perpetrated by human beings – and I think you're either good or bad – but then, it's very disconcerting to note how that a lot of times when people are maltreated (especially where domestic violence and even other societal maladies are involved) … it's really weird how that religion and culture are like recurring decimals dancing all over the place.
Q: Is FOREVER THERE FOR YOU a story for women? Or do you believe—or hope— that many men will also read it?
Chioma Nnani: It's a story for women and men. Some men are lovers of women who have been abused … situations that they had nothing to do with. Some men are also law enforcement agents, EMTS, doctors, nurses and counselors who have to see abused women everyday.

Q: Did you write FOREVER THERE FOR YOU to entertain readers or did you embed a serious message in the story? One of your reviewers said that this book “should be at seminars organized for women.” Did you intend to help guide women?
Chioma Nnani: Oh FOREVER THERE FOR YOU wasn't written for entertainment. There are issues of love, friendship, domestic violence, religion, sisterhood and cultural clashes. These are all very serious issues. I don't think there was a conscious decision that I took along the lines of “Right, I want to guide women with this book” but there was a thing of “Let's start a conversation about domestic violence and why women think that it's OK for a pastor to tell them to stay in an abusive marriage.”
Q: How helpful was your own background as an educated woman with an LLB and advanced degrees to create your perspective of the behavior of women? Do you believe that education can help women make improved choices of life partners?
Chioma Nnani: Erm … I don't think my LLB degree made me understand, as much as it made me just go, “Right, this is what it is!” I remember the first case we learned about … Criminal Law was a first year module at the University of Kent, which is where I went. And this case was really harrowing to listen to – R v Brown. There was sadomasochism that was so intense that someone got a lot of injuries they didn't quite bargain for, even though they had agreed to the acts of sadomasochism. And you have to read this stuff over and over again, partly because you're in utter shock and disbelief; it was very descriptive!
Some of us came from a conservative background, so there's that aspect as well. Did we understand it? No. But that's your introduction to, “It is what it is; you don't have to understand it, in terms of agreeing with it.” In my third year, I was part of the Criminal Appeals Team … the university I attended, was very proactive. They encouraged us to go beyond just reading cases in class. So, there were all these different things; we had the Kent Law Clinic, where students dealt with Employment and Immigration cases for real clients, and they did this as part of their degree. So, the Criminal Appeals Team … we looked at cases where people had been incarcerated for sexual crimes. Reading some of the paperwork was horrible, because you're just thinking, “How is this even possible?” There's just no way to understand certain things. But some things are what they are.
So even now in my career, there are things I don't necessarily understand and I don't try to … because when you try to understand something, you try to find justification for it, and it's not necessarily what I want to do with certain situations because it's more emotional than logical. Some things are not justifiable. So, with certain things it's like, “It is what it is.” Which is weird because when you look at lawyers from the outside, it does appear that their job entails trying to find justification for certain things their clients have done (laughing). 
My perspective of female behavior is informed by a lot of stuff. Look, to fully understand women, you'd probably need 10 Psychiatry degrees or something. Sometimes, I go with precedent and evidence, other times, I go with instinct. I see some things as they are just what they are; a qualified psychiatrist would probably be in a better position to say why one woman would lie about being raped, and why another would choose to see her violent husband's money as a reason to stay. 
I do believe that education does help women choose better partners, but education is a sum total of a lot of things. It's not just about BA or the Msc … I mean there are women who have got a couple of university degrees, but have made (or continue to make) disastrous choices in partners. There are things like religion and culture, or self-esteem issues, which tends to make a mockery of whatever knowledge a woman has gleaned in any classroom.
Q: Were you able to exploit the various settings in your book to help tell your story? Is the story relevant to women everywhere? Do the various settings help to present different aspects of the issues?
Chioma Nnani: Yes and no (laughing).
Did I personally visit all the different settings? No. I have visited and/or lived in some of them. With the rest, I did a lot of research and hassled people I knew, who lived or schooled there, including those from a different generation. I mean the book does have throwbacks to the eighties – with their fashion, parties and mindset. I wasn't old enough to be personally aware of these things. And there are also mentions of the Nigerian Civil War and its impact; I hadn't been born then.
Relevance to women everywhere? It's definitely relevant to some women. Having said that, there was this previewer (so, she read the manuscript during the publishing process) who was really baffled. She didn't understand how certain things in the book could happen. She was like, “This could never happen”, which was odd to me because I'd seen some of it happen. So, for someone like that, it wouldn't be relevant to her because it's not her reality … and when I say 'her reality', I don't even mean her as a person per se. I'm also referring to people she knows and has relationships. Yes, we do learn about other people's realities from books, movies, films, whatever but if it's not something you can learn from because you can't wrap your head around it, then the situation is what it is.
Presentation of issues in a specific setting … to an extent, yes, because some things are really specific. So, for instance, one of the characters has to go spend a year in Paris; she attends Universitie de Portiers for year abroad. She's doing a Law and French Law degree … and that's a real thing. There are universities in England that offer that, meaning the student has to go abroad (to Paris) in their third year. The university she attends there is real. So are the other issues from food to racism to culture shock even within academia, to the cost of living.
These are things that would not have worked in another setting. In England, some universities will have a student go to the United States or Germany for their third year, but obviously these places have their own peculiarities, which would not have worked well for the book, if I had tried to superimpose some of the issues on another setting. Bear in mind that people need to be able to relate to the material … there are real people who live in France, there are real people who have to or have gone to study in Paris from the United Kingdom. It would be really embarrassing if they had to go, “None of those places or things you mentioned is real. Yeah, we know it's fiction but hey!” 
Q: How helpful was humor to develop your characters or reach your reader?
Chioma Nnani: It was very helpful. The stories I tell are character-driven. It's really important that the audience can connect with a character, whether they hate or like the character. Sometimes, we like or hate a person because we see ourselves in them or see someone that we know. And humor is one of those things that we see in other people and we may share. Obviously, people do have different senses of humor, so what's funny to one person may not be to the next and so forth. The character of Nadine in the book, she's witty and her friend, Stella is a bit more sarky … so they get into this banter from time to time, and they can say certain things to each other that they find hilarious, but another person might hear and find offensive. I think with some relationships, even non-romantic ones, where you have that kind of back and forth that either keeps you on your toes or makes you feel comfortable, but you're both laughing … this is something that happens to real people, so it's something that readers will be able to relate with.
Q: What’s next?
Chioma Nnani: As an author, a collection of short stories is next. That will be followed by the first trilogy of a series aimed at teenagers, in time for summer. And I'm working on a collaborative autobiography, which we hope/project will be released in September. As a publisher and ghostwriter, there are a number of projects in the pipeline. As a blogger, there are a couple of new mini-series that I'm still trying to package. Same with my radio show…there are some boxes to tick, before I embark on a specific series. And as a producer, there are some screen productions to work on and release. Yes, quite a bit (laughing)
Q: Tell us about Chioma Nnani. What do you like to do when you’re not writing?
Chioma Nnani: When I'm not doing any writing or anything related to writing, I try to sleep. It is literally the only way I can shut down or relax properly. From time to time, I will read a book purely for leisure, but that really doesn't happen very often. I do watch television series, but the shows I like are the ones that make me think – so I don't know if that counts as leisure…(laughing)
About Chioma Nnani
Chioma Nnani is an award-winning storyteller, as well as a two-time UK BEFFTA (Black Entertainment Film Fashion Television and Arts) Award nominee, in the 'Best Author' category. A talented ghost-writer who is known for “being able to get into your head and under your skin, before writing down exactly how you're feeling”, Chioma is also a 2016 DIVAS OF COLOUR finalist (in the category of “Diva Author”), a 2016 CREATIVE AFRICAN Awards finalist (in the category of “Best Fiction Writer”), and was named “One of 100 Most Influential Creatives in 2016” by C.Hub Magazine.
She holds a Law (LLB) from the University of Kent and a Postgraduate Certificate in Food Law (De Montfort University, Leicester), is the founder of THE FEARLESS STORYTELLER HOUSE EMPORIUM LTD, typically contributes to lifestyle and literary publications, and runs the “Memo From A Fearless Storyteller” blogazine at www.fearlessstoryteller.com for which she won the 2016 BEFFTA (Black Entertainment Film Fashion Television and Arts) Award for “Blog of the Year”.
About FOREVER THERE FOR YOU
When NADINE is confronted with the reality of her failing marriage, her first instinct is to work it out. She has had it drummed into her that marriage is ‘for better, for worse’. Walking out is just not an option – her faith would condemn her and her culture would make her a pariah.
The combination of Nadine’s background, education, social standing, friendships, faith, experiences and past relationships is meant to equip her to become a success. Failure is alien to her and love means forgiving at all cost.
As she tries to survive and make the most of the curves that life has thrown her, she discovers that ’success’ is a subjective term, and ‘happily ever after’ is something that you have to discover and define for yourself ...
Excerpt
Prologue

Christmas Eve, 2010 Sitting at the wheel of her car as it crawled along, well below the speed limit on the black-iced streets of Central London, Nadine was riddled with mixed feelings. Even after so many years, she still wondered how beauty and ugliness could exist side by side. The snow-covered side walks in this part of London, made for a picturesque background. It was easy to see where manufacturers of those Christmas cards got their inspiration. Yet, further down the road, the snow told a different story. Partly-melted, sitting in ghastly-looking piles and constituting major hazards to all kinds of road-users. A crazy, quirky, eccentric, creative person – otherwise known as an artist – would be ecstatic. Because it wasn’t so much a blank canvas, as it was the perfect muse, if they were looking to remind the world that loveliness and hideousness were never far apart. This wasn’t the kind of Christmas she wanted or would have predicted for herself, but it was the best she was going to get; of that much, she was sure. Her life had changed so drastically in the past year, and she was still recovering from the blows that life had dealt her ... literally. She was looking forward to the start of a new chapter in her life. As far as she was concerned, things could be a lot worse. In fact, they had been a lot worse ... until now. And no way was she going to throw away her life, or what was left of it just because she was seeking the approval of people ... especially now that she knew they were the wrong people from whom to seek the validation she had so desperately craved.
The voice of Jim Reeves coming from the radio on her dashboard, and announcing to the world that he was dreaming of a white Christmas, made her smile, despite her troubles. They were definitely having a white Christmas. She absolutely refused to allow bad memories spoil it for her. She was young, beautiful and would soon be completely free. She had been wounded and was scathed, but was still standing. Barely, but still. And she was alive. Which was why she was now on her way to a Lebanese restaurant where a table for nine had been reserved for her and her closest friends.
Nadine sighed, as she forced her mind to return to her surroundings. She stepped on the accelerator as she looked at the clock on the dashboard. She should be at her party in fifteen minutes, but with the unfortunate combination of the way she was mulling over past events that could not be changed and the snail pace she had been reduced to, there was no way she would make it there on time.
Suddenly she saw something out of the corner of her eye that compelled her to bring the car to an abrupt halt, a few metres further than she originally intended. As she slammed down on the brakes and her car swerved dangerously, she noticed that she had started shivering and her teeth had all but begun to chatter, yet she knew it was not from the cold outside her warm car. So intent was Nadine on reaching the other side of the road, where she had spotted two perfect strangers ... a couple in the midst of an obviously ugly argument that was getting physical with the man having the upper hand, and everyone else more intent on minding their own business than getting involved in a lovers’ spat – this was London – that she stepped right into the path of an oncoming car, whose teenage driver did not know what surprised him more; her sudden appearance from nowhere in front of his cherished eighteenth birthday gift from his parents, or the impact felt on collision.
LinksPurchase LinksFOREVER THERE FOR YOU  is available as an e-book on Amazon at: United States ,  UnitedKingdom ,  Germany ,  France ,  Spain ,  Italy ,  Netherlands ,  Japan ,  Brazil ,  Canada ,  Mexico ,  Australia  and  India . 
It is also available on  Smashwords ,  Kobo , Apple ,  Barnes & Noble (Nook) ,  Okadabooks ,
As a paperback, it is available on Amazon in the  United States ,  United Kingdom ,  Germany ,  Brazil ,  Canada , and  India . 
Author LinksTwitter address is @ChiomaNnani Facebook Blog   Goodreads book trailer

WHAT THE EXPERTS SAY: D. Melhoff, Author

D. Melhoff says he wanted his recently-released GRIMM WOODS to remind us of Hollywood “slasher” films, but with a more complex villain. He has set his story at a holiday camp because “remote, helpless, isolated, etc.” helped him create the “tone” he wanted. Kirkus Reviews says the book is, "The literary equivalent of a slasher movie, one that garners its biggest frights with mere implication."
Melhoff is working on his next thriller, which he plans to finish by the end of the year. When he’s not writing, he studies and practices Spanish and hopes to be able to carry on conversations—also by the end of the year.




Q: You have described GRIMM WOODS as a thriller or a horror story. What makes it a thriller?
D. Melhoff: From day one, I wanted GRIMM WOODS to feel like a Hollywood slasher film—in fact, the first draft was a screenplay, not a novel. A lot of elements are reminiscent of those films, including the setting (a remote summer camp), the characters (horny teenage counselors), and the antagonist (an unknown terror in the woods). While the story draws on these familiar components, I also didn’t want the antagonist to be a typical 2D slasher villain, so that area required more thought and exploration. 
Q: What turned you to writing horror stories?  Who is your favorite “horror” author? Why?
D. Melhoff: Writers write what they like reading, and I’m no exception. If I had to name a favorite author, I’d say Stephen King, although Thomas Harris would be a close second. You can’t top Silence of the Lambs.
Q: Why will readers care about your characters? Are they bigger than life or just ordinary people?
D. Melhoff: The main character, Scott, isn’t very likeable at the beginning. He’s arrogant, irresponsible, selfish—the list goes on. But throughout the story, he’s forced to make decisions that reveal his true nature is really that of a protector, which gives him a significant bump in likeability (according to the book’s Kirkus review, at least). Most of the secondary characters are one-dimensional murder props, but that’s par for the slasher course. Again, it was the tone I was going for.
Q: Does the concept of villain versus hero apply to GRIMM WOODS? What makes a compelling villain?
D. Melhoff: Oh, yes. In fact, the concept of “who’s a villain vs. who’s a hero” is one of the central themes in the book. More specifically, it explores the idea that sometimes bad things are necessary in order for good things to happen. A compelling villain is one whose idea of good vs. bad is the opposite of your protagonist’s.
Q: Is humor helpful in telling your story?
D. Melhoff: You need a healthy dose of humor and suspense in any story, regardless of genre. Think of your favorite thriller novel—chances are you can pick out funny characters, situations, or lines. Conversely, with non-thrillers, moments of suspense create conflict and propel the story forward.  So yes, humor is certainly helpful in telling my stories and making them more believable.
Q: Do you write strictly to scare, i.e., entertain, readers? Or do you embed a few messages along the way?
D. Melhoff: I write to thrill more than scare. In fact, I actually don’t like movies that make you jump, which most friends consider strange. In GRIMM WOODS, there aren’t embedded messages so much as interwoven themes. People can draw their own conclusions.
Q: How important is believability or credibility to engage your readers? How do you pull them into your story?
D. Melhoff: Suspension of disbelief is paramount. Readers can’t be thinking, “Why doesn’t someone do X” or “Why haven’t they tried Y?” If you can cross your t’s and dot your i’s to the point where your audience has no clue what they would do in a character’s situation, you’re on the right track.
Q: Do you use the setting at a camp to build suspense? Could you have told the same story in a city?
D. Melhoff: The camp was necessary given the tone I was going for—i.e., remote, helpless, isolated, etc. Placing it in a city would have resulted in an entirely different story, one that would have likely involved more of the crime genre.
Q: What’s next?
D. Melhoff: I’ve begun outlining my next project but don’t have a first draft yet, which I’m hoping to complete by the end of the year. It’ll be another thriller novel—i.e., nothing paranormal or supernatural.
Q: Tell us about D. Melhoff. What do you like to do when you’re not writing?
D. Melhoff: When I’m not writing (aka procrastinating) I can usually be found eating or fumbling my way through a variety of Spanish workbooks. My goal is to be able to carry out conversations in Spanish by the end of the year. Duolingo says I’m currently 27% fluent, but whoever came up with that algorithm is an overly generous liar.
About D. Melhoff
D. Melhoff was born in a prairie ghost town that few people have heard of and even fewer have visited. While most of his stories are for adults, he also enjoys terrifying younger audiences from time to time, as seen in his series of twisted picture books for children. He credits King, Poe, Hitchcock, Harris, Stoker, and his second grade school teacher, Mrs. Lake, for turning him to horror. For more information, visit grimmwoods.com.About GRIMM WOODSA remote summer camp becomes a lurid crime scene when the bodies of two teenagers are found in a bloody, real-life rendering of a classic Grimm’s fairy tale. Trapped in the wilderness, the remaining counsellors must follow a trail of dark children’s fables in order to outwit a psychopath and save the dwindling survivors before falling prey to their own gruesome endings.
Drawing on the grisly, uncensored details of history’s most famous fairy tales, Grimm Woods is a heart-pounding thriller about a deranged killer who uses traditional children’s stories as tropes in elaborate murders. Set against the backdrop of modern-day Michigan, it’s a journey through the mind of a dangerous zealot and a shocking glimpse into the bedtime stories you thought you knew.
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Author LinksWebsite ~an online hub for everything related to classic fairy tales, as well as the promotional site for D. Melhoff's thriller novel of the same title Twitter: @dmelhoff  FacebookGoodreads Instagram 

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WHAT THE EXPERTS SAY: R. W. Hacker, Author

R. W. Hacker, Author
KILL'T DEAD OR WORSER. W. Hacker describes his recently-released KILL’T DEAD OR WORSE as a detective story at its core but “with a sense of humor.”  Set in Texas, the book explores the life of protagonist private detective Nick Sibelius with cases of characters we might expect from the State. In fact, Texas is so important to the story that Hacker considers it to be a character. Critics applaud the book for being "entertaining", "well-written," and "so original you won't find anything like it."
Hacker plans to release two more Nick Sibelius novels in 2017, and he also is planning to release two other novels:  a science fiction and historical fantasy story. He and his wife moved from Texas and now live in Seattle, where he loves to cook and sing in a jazz group.

Check out the giveaway opportunity at the end of the interview -- and don't miss the excerpt.
Q: You have categorized your new novel, KILL’T DEAD OR WORSE, in multiple genres, including Mystery, Detective, and Humor. Which one dominates? Is it more of a mystery than a humorous story? Would you say that your story is a whodunit?
R. W. Hacker: The Nick Sibelius novels fit into the storytelling of Elmore Leonard (GET SHORTY) and Carl Hiaason (SKINNY DIPPING). The story has quirky characters pulled out of the fabric of Central Texas, some with a bit more criminal intent than others. I think of it as a detective story with a sense of humor.
Q:  How important is humor to tell your story? Does the use of humor help to develop your characters?
R. W. Hacker: In some ways my protagonist, Nick, plays the straight man to a world of unusual characters. Junior, for example, is at his core a good guy, but he makes poor decisions and takes actions before thinking through the consequences with a wake of destruction trailing behind him. Whatever he does, you know something unexpected will happen. At its core, the novel is a detective story, but some of the characters create humorous situations.
Q: Why will readers care about your protagonist, Nick Sibelius, private investigator? How will they relate? Why will they care what happens to him?
R. W. Hacker:Nick is a man who worked hard to have a family, a career, and a purpose, but like many of us, life does not go as planned. And for Nick things really went off the rails. After his wife left him for another man and his partner in the Houston Police force died when they responded to a call, Nick lost track of his life. He spirals down, finally landing in a trailer sitting on a plot of land east of the small town, growing Austin suburb of Pflugerville through the urgings of an old friend to rebuild his life. We meet him when he is just beginning to sort out his life and find some direction. He’s looking for meaningful work, maybe someone special in his life, and most of all, some peace and quiet without any drama. I think readers will care about Nick because most of us empathize with his struggle through our own unique life challenges.
Q: Your story is set in Texas. How helpful is the setting to tell your story? Would the plot be similar in any other State?
R. W. Hacker: In my mind Texas, and especially Central Texas is a character in the story. Like the rest of the country, condos rise, suburbs sprawl, and big boxes and franchises line the roads. But if you look in the right places, you still find the flavor and character of Texas which infuses the novel—BBQ smokehouses, diners serving chicken fried steak and coconut cream pie, pick up trucks, dance halls for two steppin’, and a sky that goes on forever. The story relies on characters rising out of the independent spirit and confidence of Texans and plays out in the context of the Texas Hill Country.
Q: Did you write your story strictly to entertain or did you embed a message or two along the way? Do you have something to say about toxic waste?
R. W. Hacker: My focus leans to entertainment, but I suppose my antagonists tend to have a general disregard for the environment. A disconnect, really. Texas ranchers and farmers know the critical importance of water and the impact of something like toxic waste on their land and the aquifers. Separating our actions from their impacts almost always comes back to bite us in the end.
Q: Does the concept of hero versus villain apply to KILL’T DEAD OR WORSE? What are the traits of an effective, compelling villain?
R. W. Hacker:Absolutely! Nick Sibelius, while a bit down and out when we meet him, is the hero of the story. He faces a ecosystem of villainy which offers a cross section of what it means to be a villain. At the bottom of the system is Jason, a killer and destroyer by nature. In some ways there’s a ‘simpleness’ to Jason. He’s just nasty. Barry, the toxic waste and drug manufacturing entrepreneur who employs Jason is the more dangerous kind of villain. Intelligent, methodical, narcissistic, and pathological. He doesn’t present the physical threat of Jason, but he brings much more to the game. And then there’s Junior who provides a bit of villainous comic relief. He wants to be bad, but at his core he’s too good-natured to be a villain. And so he often takes actions intending to present the aura of villainy, but not having his heart in the business. However, the results are almost always disastrous.
Q: How important is suspense to drive your mystery? How do you create suspense?
R. W. Hacker:  Suspense drives the story forward from the first chapter when we ponder the fate of a couple in the woods, followed by other disappearances near Junior’s farm. Sometimes the suspense is a piece of information withheld from the reader, like the fate of the two lovers. At other times the reader knows more than the protagonist, and so the suspense is in our knowing what Nick does not yet know.
Q: How helpful is romance to tell your story? Does it help the hero to have a heroine?
R. W. Hacker:I’ve used romance to explore the state of Nick’s mind and spirit. He’s lost a wife, a colleague, and a job when we meet him. There’s a loneliness and sadness in the background of his life. Then he meets a woman who brings the hope of relationship and happiness again. And for Nick, the sudden intense feelings also magnify and bring into focus the emptiness he has been sojourning. In this case, the woman also happens to be a very strong female character with serious skills. I’ll let the reader decide if she turns out to be a protagonist or an antagonist.
Q: What’s next? Will you write another detective story?
R. W. Hacker:Yes. KILL’T DEAD OR WORSE was originally published by a small press under a different title. This novel is a reworking of the story—a director’s cut, if you will. And as an indie author I have control of things like the title, cover, and marketing in a way I didn’t before. So I’m excited to get this story out in the world and am hopeful to find new readers.
There are at least two more Nick Sibelius novels which will be coming out in 2017. Readers can check out the first two chapters of ALL HAT & NO CATTLE at the end of KILL’T DEAD OR WORSE. The third novel, entitled CROOKED AS THE COLORADO, should be out later in the year. I also have been shopping a couple of novels around to agents. One is a science fiction novel with a humorous lean called THE BIFURCATION OF DUNGSTEN CREASE. And the other is a historical fantasy with a working title of ADDISON SHAW AND THE LORDS OF ALCHEMY. I’m hoping to release both of those into the wild either through a publisher or as an indie author in the coming year.
Q: Tell us about R. W. Hacker. What do you like to do when you’re not writing?
R. W. Hacker: I moved from Austin, Texas to Seattle, Washington in 2009. In Austin my activities centered around flying and cycling. In the Pacific Northwest, I still cycle, and I love to go hiking, driving my little Miata, top down, through the mountains, cooking (and trying not to eat everything I cook!), and I sing in a vocal jazz ensemble of friends who love jazz as much as I do.
About R. W. Hacker
Richard Hacker has been writing most of his life, and professionally, in support of his work in management consulting, public speaking and training in the healthcare and pharmaceutical industries. In 2009 he moved, along with his wife, from Austin to Seattle, shifting his professional focus from business consulting to writing fiction full time. Wanted by authorities for smuggling Texas BBQ across state lines, he now writes and lives in Seattle. His writing has been recognized by the Writer's League of Texas and the Pacific Northwest Writers Association. As a judge in literary contests such as PNWA and ChicLit, he enjoys the opportunity to give writers honest critique to move their craft forward. In addition, he is the science fiction and fantasy editor for the Del Sol Review, an online literary magazine.
About KILL’T DEAD OR WORSE
After a murdered partner, a cheating wife and a lost job in Houston, Nick Sibelius sets up a private investigation business in a small Texas town hoping to find some peace and maybe, himself. When two lovers disappear and a fisherman turns up dead, he finds himself drawn into a web of crime and deceit involving MaryLou, a beautiful woman with a mysterious past; Junior, a failed farmer whose best intentions seem to always result in a dead body; and Barry, a sociopathic dentist turned illegal toxic waste entrepreneur with a violent right wing agenda. When the felon who killed Nick’s partner in Houston joins forces with Barry, Nick must not only stop the toxic waste dumping while finding his client’s missing daughter, but keep from being killed in the process. In the end, MaryLou’s dark secret will either save him or kill him -- whichever comes first.

EXCERPT
A banging startled him awake. Nick lifted his head off a stale, damp pillow case, the bed creaking as he sat up. Three fifteen. He slipped on some shorts and checked the safety on his Glock. The banging continued, which in his trailer sounded like Thor hammering on his head.
He shouted, "Who's there?"
"Reverend Anderson."
Nick didn't know a Reverend Anderson since he had no desire to step through the transom of a church anytime soon. This had to be the same guy who called. Why would a minister go to this much trouble to wake me up? He held the gun behind his back, opening the door to a large black man, six foot four, dressed in tan slacks, a green polo shirt and shoes with a shine that reflected the light from inside Nick's trailer.
"Did you call earlier?"
"Yes, that was me. I need to speak with you urgently."
Nick slipped the gun behind a cushion of the built-in seat by the door. "As I told you..." He searched for the man's name.
"Reverend Anderson. I'm the pastor of Victory Church in town."
"Yes, mister...Reverend Anderson. Like I said, we can talk during normal business hours."
Nick reached to close the door.
"You shut that door and you're condemning my little girl to God only knows what." "Trust me, Reverend. It can wait until the morning." Nick pushed the door closed, but Anderson stiff armed the door open. "You don't want to go down this path, Reverend."
"I've heard what people say about you."
"So I'm the talk of the town, eh?"
"They say you're rude, arrogant and a drunk."
"Well you can tell them to kiss—"
"And that you get it done." Anderson took a step forward, placing his large frame in the doorway. "Is that correct, Mr. Sibelius. Do you get it done?"
"It's Nick. And yeah, I suppose I do." He breathed a weary sigh. "Do we really need to talk about this right now?"
The Reverend stared at him. Nick eased away from the door, nodding toward the trailer's interior. Anderson took the two steps through the opening of the trailer, ducking to avoid banging his head against the doorway. 
Nick said, "I take it I'm not going to get rid of you until you tell me what's crawling up your ass, right?"
"Yeah, that's right, Nick. I need your help." 
Nick looked to the right at dishes piled in the sink, empty bottles on the counter and the remains of last night's dinner still sitting on the table, and then left, to a pile of dirty clothes and towels. He grabbed a barbecue stained paper plate off the table, folding it up and placing it in the trash under the sink. "So what's this burning issue?"
"It's my daughter. She's missing."
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