Rachelle Ayala's Blog, page 85

#BookChat The Mystery Box by Molly Nyatanga

  Synopsis
After the loss of the key to the family secret treasures, family traditions withered and fell along the way, leaving cultural beliefs and practices to catch up. Finding no reason to hang on to an unpredictable future, nearly all family members moved on, in search of a better life. With the help of his Maker, one man clung to the tattered fabrics of his inheritance, hoping that a miracle would come his way, and find the lost valuable means to access the wealth. The unflinching hope kept him going, and he repeatedly told the story to his descendents. How long would he wait, and would it happen in his life time, he wondered. The Mystery Box dramatically takes the reader through all the events experienced by the Kwoyome family, in their attempt to reclaim their heritage and rewrite their history, and at the same time raising up their two orphaned grandchildren.  
Why I wrote the Mystery Box:
The Mystery Box is the first book in the Echoes of The Mystery Box series. It was passionately written in its simplest form with preteens in mind, for them to embrace positive values at an early stage. The core of the matter is family unit natured by sound relationships. Relationships are intricate, delicate and can come in many forms in a family set up. It is how we manage them, and how they mould our lives as we participate in such drama. My main concern is orphans, who have infiltrated urban areas of developing countries, and added to the growing street population. It frightens me when I think about this street generation in years to come. I used the Kwoyome family as one example of how orphans can be accommodated. In a loving, caring family, they simply fit in and grow up as normal children. Dramatically, The Kwoyome kids, under the custodian of their grandparents, greatly contributed in the reclaiming and rewriting of their family history.
To the Reader:
I am advocating that orphans need to be given a chance to live in a family set up, and in their communities to consolidate their cultural identity and heritage. Love and respect of one another, intertwined with whatever tangible material resources available, will keep families together.
People’s Views:
I had intentionally written the book for preteens, but it has turned out to be a family book. After reading my book some critiques still think that, no matter how you strive to help, a street population will always be there, even in developed countries. My response to them is that, if their vision is to leave the planet a better place than they found it, positive contribution is all I ask for. Combined effort makes a difference. Others were quite moved by how the whole family was dramatically involved in various adventures in a bid to find the hidden treasure. Many readers confessed it was difficult to leave the book and do other errands. Young readers enjoyed the drama displayed through out the book, and are constantly asking, “When are we getting Settle for nothing Less?”


The main character:
Mildew, the family dog is the main character. Where the family had misgivings, the dog took the lead. “You are such a good boy, Mildew. You do the unexpected and you come out right all the time. What are you made of?” he spoke softly to the dog. (excerpt from The Mystery Box)
Where Thiam and Tamara wanted to cover up, he exposed them.   Mildew shifted his eyes from the box to Thiam, from Thiam to Tamara, and then to grandfather.   “Mildew seems to have a story to tell me,” remarked Mr Kwoyome. (excerpt from The Mystery Box)
Behind the scenes:
I removed the tragic death of Thiam and Tamara’s parents. I didn’t want the young readers to get shrouded in the gloomy veil of death when they were supposed to enjoy the drama, mystery and suspense displayed in the story.
Links: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0089G3RMA

#AuthorInterview Joan Szechtman on a modern Richard III

Today we have Joan Szechtman, author of two books about King Richard III in the 21st century. Joan, please tell us about your latest book.

JS: First, I want to thank you for this opportunity to share my books with your readers. I currently have the first two books of a trilogy about Richard III in the 21st-century published—the third is still a work in progress. It will probably be easier to tell you about both published books than just the second, since the themes are connected. However, they can be read as standalone novels, because, for one, there are no cliffhangers from the first book to the second.

THIS TIME starts moments before Richard III loses to Henry Tudor on the field of Redemore near Leicester, England on August 22, 1485. In THIS TIME, a team of Ricardians substitutes an armor-clad corpse for the king and brings him into Portland, Oregon. Richard awakens August 21, 2004 to an alien world where even the English he speaks is different.

The story follows two parallel paths: the present where Richard must learn how to adjust to not only the technological advancements but also the more difficult cultural differences; and looking back at the past to solve some of the mysteries that have haunted and maligned his image for over 500 years.

The second book, LOYALTY BINDS ME, continues Richard III's story. Richard has married a divorcee, adopted her two daughters, and with the help of his new wife, has been able to rescue his son Edward, who had predeceased him in the 15th-century. Richard has lived in the 21st- century for two years, and his son has been with him for the past year. At the start of the novel, they have just arrived in London, when Richard is brought in by the Metropolitan Police for questioning about the alleged murder of Richard III's nephews in 1483. Richard must now find a way to clear his name and protect his family while concealing his true identity.

Rachelle: This is a twist in time travel since most travelers go back in time, but you chose to bring a character from the past to today. Why did you decide to write about Richard III and why not a straight Historical Fiction?

JS: In 2004, my mom recommended I read THE SUNNE IN SPLENDOUR by Sharon Kay Penman—a historical fiction about the life of Richard III. Even though the book was nearly a 1000 pages, I couldn’t bear to put it down. Her Richard was so different from the Shakespearean arch-villain I loved to hate, that I had to learn more. I was hooked and Richard refused to let go of my imagination. The more I learned, the more I felt compelled to write about this maligned king. But I wanted to look at Richard from modern eyes and not try to create a poor copy of Penman’s masterpiece. So, being a SciFi nut and more and more hearing Richard in my mind, I decided the best thing to do was to have a virtual chat with him. The chat expanded from what might have been an article or short story, to three novels.

Rachelle: I completely understand the sentiment, to look on the other side of a story for a character frequently maligned in history books. What were some of the things that impressed you about Richard III to make you want to set the story straight?

JS: Throughout his life, Richard was known as a fair arbiter. In his capacity as a judge in civil and criminal cases, he often found in favor of the commoner over the nobility when the evidence supported the commoner’s case. His practice of blind justice was in contrast to the norm of the day. One of his first decrees as king was to reform bail, juror qualifications and that one could not be held without charge (people were often held for months and years without charge, having to effectively pay a ransom to gain their freedom). He wrote, “The law shall cease to be an instrument of oppression and extortion.” He also established councils in London and in the north where a commoner could seek redress through the king’s proxy.

Although he had two “natural” children before he married Anne Neville when he was 20 and she 16, from all appearances he was true to his wife and didn’t philander. Unfortunately for him, he had only one child, a son with Anne, and they both predeceased Richard. He was only 32 when he was killed in battle. His last words were “treason,” not “a horse, a horse....”

Rachelle: This all makes him a sympathetic character. Please share something with our readers from your books.

JS: One of the things that many time travel books don’t take into consideration is how English (restricting this discussion to English) has changed over the centuries, especially if we go back before Shakespeare’s time. Richard III spoke Early Modern English, which is different enough from today’s English, that Richard would have had some difficulty understanding our speech, although I suspect the printed word would have been more readily understood. In THIS TIME, I provided a linguist, Katarina, to help Richard adapt to today’s English. In this scene, I had Richard observe Katarina have what we would call a sympathetic reaction, only sympathy was not a word that was part of Richard’s vocabulary and did not become part of the English vocabulary until the late 16th-century, about 100 years after Richard had died. So this is how I handled Richard noticing sympathy:

Katarina’s pupils grew large and her lips parted slightly. While Richard would not describe her expression as one of pity, the word that came to mind was in his Latin vocabulary-–misericors—caring heart.

The following snippet is from the second book, LOYALTY BINDS ME, where at the start of the book, Richard is arrested for the murders of the princes in the Tower. He took the name Richard Gloucestre in the first book. In this scene, Mortimer, the officer in charge of the cold case division that is looking into the murders of Edward IV’s sons, is waiting in a pub to speak to a solicitor. On the previous day, he had interviewed Richard about the princes. Mortimer had just gone to the National Portrait Gallery and viewed Richard III’s portrait and had bought a postcard of the portrait in order to study it.

Mortimer took another pull at his stout and traced his finger over the postcard's image—forehead, cheek, and chin. There was enough resemblance to the portrait that if Richard Gloucestre were standing next to it, a passerby might think they were related.

The features in the portrait were coarser and more pronounced. The man he'd met had wider cheekbones and a shorter chin than the image. The most striking difference was the appearance of age. Gloucestre appeared to be in his mid-thirties, agreeing with the age on his passport—thirty-four—whereas the portrait gave the impression of a man ten years older, yet Richard III was killed in battle at age thirty-two.

For Mortimer, the most disturbing feature of the portrait was the eyes. Somehow, the artist had captured the intelligence behind the dark gray eyes in that posthumous painting. These were Richard’s eyes. And if you could see a man’s soul in his eyes, then the man Mortimer had interviewed the previous day had Richard III’s soul, if not his body.

Rachelle: Great excerpts and character studies. What kind of books do you like to read? Which authors influenced you?

JS: While I won’t rule out most genres, in fiction, my favorites are (in no particular order) humor, science fiction, literary, historical fiction, mystery, and combinations of genres. In non-fiction, it would have to be books on science and technology, and lately history because of my newfound interest in Richard III. Some authors who’ve influenced me are Sharon Kay Penman, Paul Murray Kendall, Annette Carson, Mark Twain, James Thurber, Joseph Heller, Ken Kesey, Vladimir Nabokov, Charlotte Bronte, Charles Dickons, Louisa May Alcott, Harriet Beecher Stowe, Herman Wouk, Rachel Carson, Isaac Asimov, Arthur C. Clark, Lois McMasters Bujold, Ursula Le Guin, Gerald Weinberg, Pohl Anderson, Janet Evanovich, Richard Feynman,...to name a few.

Rachelle: That's quite a list! Are you a character driven or plot driven writer?

JS: I’m a character driven reader, so while my books have plot, the characters are more important for me. In fact, I ended up discarding about 30,000 words of my first book because Richard refused to do what I had initially set out for him to do. Metaphorically, he told me where he wanted to go and how I should get him there. Far be it from me to disobey the King of England.

Rachelle: Ha, ha, of course. You're his loyal subject. Do you have any advice for writers who are just starting out?

JS: First—write! Then find a critique group. I found a fantastic online workshop, Critique Circle. I would encourage any new writer, as I was, to find a critique group, either online, or if you’re fortunate enough to find people locally, in person. The online group has the advantage of being able to participate when you have time—local groups are unlikely to be willing to work with you at 3 am if this happens to be the time you can submit questions and/or work for critiquing. Grow a thick skin and seek out criticism. This is what will hone your craft. Join a group that has a focused interest in the subject on which your book is based. For example, I joined the Richard III Society so that I could learn more about Richard III and make contacts that could help me vet my assumptions and speculations to the extent that it wasn’t impossible for xyz to have happened. Then when you think your baby is ready to publish, find a freelance editor to go through the entire manuscript. Everyone needs an editor.

Rachelle: What is one thing you wish you knew before you began this journey?

JS: How to market my book. I’m still stumbling around.

Rachelle: Did you dream of being a writer or something else?

JS: Ever since I can remember, I wanted to be an engineer, with side trips to veterinarian, botanist, and doctor. But I always came back to engineering and got a degree in Electrical Engineering. After a brief stint working with hardware, I then spent the next 40 or so years in computers and network technology. It wasn’t until I retired and found Richard that I gave any thought to writing. So if I can do it, anyone who wants to write can do it—especially today with access to information and groups that was unheard of when I began my first career.

Rachelle: That is very inspiring and all made possible by the online communities we work with. Thanks Joan, for chatting with us. Where can readers find out more about you and your books?


Readers can visit my website and find my books on Amazon (paperback and ebook)-- This Time   /  Loyalty Binds Me ; Barnes & Noble (paperback and ebook)-- This Time  /  Loyalty Binds Me ; Smashwords (ebook only)--This Time  /  Loyalty Binds Me

#BookReview Mellifica by Melissa Mayberry #NewRelease

Mellifica by Melissa Mayberry
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Ms. Mayberry's book illustrates all too sadly how teenagers today are experiencing things that are way over their heads. When they should be studying for college entrance tests and taking Advanced Placement classes, the characters in this book are drinking and having underage sex. Their innocence is destroyed due to lack of parental supervision. Melissa, the main character, is enticed by a strange guy, Arien, who is friends with her cousin. Even though she has the superstar Sandy as a boyfriend, she allows herself to be seduced by a guy everyone warns her against.

The seduction turns into obsession as she is unprepared for the intense rollercoaster of feelings Arien dishes up to her, alternatively sweet and caring versus distant and strange. Things fall apart when Arien's dark secret is revealed and Melissa descends into a self-destructive spiral. Her mother belatedly starts caring about her, but the struggle for day to day survival is so difficult that it looks as if Melissa cannot recover. Broken and discarded, Melissa hits bottom before she is able to slowly pull herself back to a sense of normalcy.

The message for teens is to hold onto your innocence longer, and do not enter the soap-opera grownup world while your emotions are so fragile and unstable. The experiences described are traumatic and parents are advised to screen this book for younger teens.

View all my reviews

#BookChat Life on the Edge by Jennifer Comeaux

LIFE ON THE EDGE
Nineteen-year-old Emily is new to pairs skating, but she and her partner Chris have a big dream–to be the first American team to win Olympic gold. Their young coach Sergei, who left Russia after a mysterious end to his skating career, believes they can break through and make history.
Emily and Chris are on track to be top contenders at the 2002 Winter Games. But when forbidden feelings spark between Emily and Sergei, broken trust and an unexpected enemy threaten to derail Emily’s dreams of gold.

Why did I write LIFE ON THE EDGE?
I wrote LIFE ON THE EDGE because there aren’t many romance books set in the world of figure skating, and I wanted to showcase the sport I love so much. Many of the skating books and movies out there don’t portray the sport realistically, so one of my biggest goals was to keep the skating aspect authentic while bringing the romance between Emily and Sergei to life. I also thought the idea of a skater and coach falling in love would be a different twist since usually it’s the two skating partners who fall for each other.

What others think:
“Let me start with this – both the sports part and the romance part of the book were done perfectly. Nowadays, we see interpretations of forbidden relationships everywhere - in TV shows, movies, and even books - but Comeaux's story is unique in the way that it tugs at your heartstrings and makes you root for the couple to end up together.” – Lyra, Defiantly Deviant Reviews

“I love the level-headed yet innocent Emily, who tries to fight her feelings for Sergei. A losing battle, of course. And Sergei, a man with integrity, though still mysterious, is willing to risk everything for Emily. Two well-developed characters the reader can fall in love with. Though I'm not necessarily a fan of figure skating, this book was a wonderful love story and well worth the time and money spent. Clean with strong values exhibited.” – Scribbles on the Back of January Reviews

“Most of all, I loved the relationships made in this book- Sergei and Emily, and the rest of the skating team, are characters with depth and raw emotion. Comeaux writes with enough power to make you feel every emotion as though it were happening to you.” – Jessica Tornese, author of Linked Through Time

Behind the Scenes:
This scene was part of my very first draft of LIFE ON THE EDGE but wasn’t part of the final product. I loved it and wish I could’ve kept it, but it didn’t quite fit into the timeline of events in the published book. In this scene, Emily and Sergei are at a Halloween costume party. Sergei is dressed as a cop and Emily is in a 1940's-style dress.

 ~ ~ ~
Aubrey left to find Marley, and I turned to the makeshift bar on the kitchen counter for a soda. The ice chest was almost empty, so I scooted into the small utility room off the kitchen to get a new bag. Behind me, someone grabbed my right arm.

"Ma'am, you're under arrest," Sergei said, gently taking my other arm and circling handcuffs around my wrists."You have the right to remain silent."

I laughed. "What are you doing?"

"You have to come with me." He laid his hand on my shoulder and steered me toward the back door.

We walked out into the damp night, and I twisted my neck to look at Sergei. "What am I being charged with?"

He didn't answer as he continued to nudge me ahead of him. We turned the corner of the house, and he spun me to face him while backing me against the wall.

Leaning toward me, Sergei locked his eyes on mine. The corners of his mouth tipped slightly upward. "Endangering the life of a police officer," he said.

"How did I do that?"

He momentarily lowered his gaze. "You're killing me in that dress."

A shiver accompanied my smile. "I didn't realize I was lethal."

"I'm going to need to frisk you," he said, putting his hands on my waist.

"By all means. I'm not hiding anything."

Sergei angled nearer, his mouth hovering and teasing mine, making my heart race with anticipation. As his hands slowly traveled up from my waist and settled on the bodice of my dress, our lips finally met. The long and lingering kiss that followed proved worth the wait.

"What's a girl have to do to get out of these cuffs?" I asked breathlessly.

He eyed me with amusement. "How do I know you're not going to grab my gun?"

I stifled a laugh. After regaining composure, I said, "I guess you're just gonna have to trust me."

Sergei appeared to ponder my statement, but his smile grew wider. Turning me around, he released my hands from the cuffs. I faced him again and said sweetly, "Thank you, Officer."

As he moved closer to me, I quickly reached for the plastic gun in his holster and yanked it out. Sergei grasped my wrist, but I already had the barrel pointed at his nose.

"Don't even think about it," he said.

With a big grin, I pulled the trigger, sending a spray of water all over his face. I giggled as he wiped his eyes.

"You think that's pretty funny, don't you?" he said.

I laughed louder, and Sergei drew me to him, dripping water on me. My squeal was silenced by Sergei's lips covering mine. I wrapped my arms around him, letting the gun drop to the ground.

The breeze rustling the trees and the faint sound of music from inside the house provided the only background noise until a voice exclaimed, "Oh!"

Sergei and I broke apart and looked toward the voice. Jeremy and his girlfriend stood there, both with their mouths hanging open.

The Reviewer is In and Other News

July was a busy blog month for Rachelle's Window Book Blog. I managed to find content for all 31 days. The guest with the most Distinct Comments is Book Blogger Laurie Jenkins with 18. Laurie wins a paper copy of Michal's Window. Thank you Laurie for promoting your interview and letting us meet new readers.

Broken Build beta is completed with 16 people giving feedback! A big thank you to the best beta team ever. Flara Richards won the E-reader and Cate Beauman won the $25 Amazon gift card. But everyone is a winner in my heart and be forever acknowledged and appreciated. Broken Build has gone to my editor's desk for a fall release.

In August, I started a new feature called #BookChat. It is a friendly way for authors to introduce the salient points of their books. I've reorganized and tagged all my posts with Twitter Hashtags to make them easier to find. The bonus is that blog tweets going out on my Triberr stream are automatically tagged. The same is true with the #AuthorInterview and #BookReview tags.

Your interviews, reviews and Book features are tweeted through my 8 Tribes with a potential reach of 458,577 twitter followers. In addition, I personally tweet your Author Interview through WLC Tweet Teams. But don't leave it all to me, as you can see, those guests who promote the best have the highest pageviews, and that's a win-win situation. And this month, my Alexa ranking has gone below 500,000K thanks to you!

 458,597Alexa Traffic Rank 94,315Traffic Rank in US
I love reading great books and promoting authors and have begun taking some limited ad spots. For $20, I will take your book cover and create an ad for you, then post it for a week. The image is hyperlinked to your book's buy link. You get to keep your ad image and use it anywhere you like. Isn't that a deal? Send me e-mail through my contact form if interested. [Obviously I reserve the right to not take covers and interview topics at my discretion.]

Speaking of Book Reviews, I found a wonderful image from my friend, Ara, at My Book and My Coffee. Every so often, I'll feature and list the books I've accepted for review. Some are purchased by me, others gifted by the author or publisher. If you're a blogger and would like to participate in "The Book Reviewer is In" meme, please visit this link at Ara's Website. Don't forget to add your site in the comments below and we'll encourage everyone to visit too. That's all for now! Happy August everyone!

Now... drumroll to the books:

Deep As Bone by Malla Duncan







Growing Up Country: Memories of an Iowa Farm Girl by Carol Bodensteiner







Hyde, an Urban Fantasy by Lauren Stewart








At Road's End by Zoe Saadia








Through These Veins by Anne Marie Ruff








Wedlocked by Bonnie Trachtenberg

#AuthorInterview Paul Dillon on his Greek Travel Romance

Today, I'm happy to welcome debut author Paul Dillon to Rachelle's Window. Paul has a profound love of the Greek isles, particularly the beautiful and almost tropical Ionian Islands. It's no surprise that his first novel would be placed in this beautiful part of the world. So Paul, how long have you been writing and what got you started?Writing has always been part of my life. It’s been mostly business related, marketing, promotional copy, business plans. I got the fiction bug a few years ago; it’s quite a change of direction and style but I’m really enjoying it.You’ve just published your first novel. What was your experience? Did you self-publish?That’s a great question, Rachelle, we could probably fill a couple of pages on that topic. Briefly, I finished “Magic” and started querying. To be honest, it’s not the easiest book to pitch and I was planning to give it a few months, see if I got any nibbles, then think hard about self-publishing. I sent out a few queries during January of this year. That’s about the time I came across Mark Williams, from MWiDP. Mark was looking for titles for a new imprint that had location has a key story element. He asked for the manuscript, loved it and convinced me digital was the way to go.  The book’s also out in paperback.Location is sort of like a character in your book. Tell me about The Magic In The Receiver. What’s it about?Magic’s got something for everyone; it’s part family saga, there’s action (in the earthquake scenes), but ultimately it’s a story about love. I’d stop short of calling it romance, though I’m sure romance lovers will find plenty to enjoy. <smile>  Its certainly not a bodice-ripper, though. Something for everyone, except for the vampire crowd, right? The book is set in Greece. Are the characters Greek, is it about Greek culture?All the action takes place on the Greek Island of Kefalonia – which is the largest of the Ionian Islands. The characters are mainly Americans or Americans of Greek decent. The story could have been set almost anywhere but I wanted to contrast the American lifestyle with the slower pace of, say, Southern Europe. To me, the Greek Islands are the poster child for a laidback lifestyle. The main female character, Elena, is a twenty-eight-year old from Boston, visiting Kefalonia with her father (an expat who left the island as a child following the 1953 Kefalonia earthquake.) Elena discovers her roots through her Greek relatives and is drawn to the culture and way of life – she’s torn between staying and returning to her fiancé in the US.Tell me about the love story.Right, I had one reader tell me it’s a love story with a modern twist. I guess the overall theme deals with the nature of love; the male protagonist has a love-at-first-sight experience that he must come to terms with. I’m fascinated by love and what’s going on behind the scenes from a physiological perspective. Some of the work of Dr. Helen Fisher inspired that aspect of the story. Falling in love is one of the best feelings in the human experience, so what comments do you hear most often from readers?Without doubt it’s the feeling of being transported to a Greek island. I felt immersed in the landscapes and villages as I wrote the book and it seems to have carried over to the readers. I’m really thrilled about that.So not only do we get a love story, we also get armchair travel. What other books are similar to “Magic”?Well, Captain Corelli’s Mandolin keeps getting mentioned as it was a set on the same island. I’m told it even boosted tourism. I haven’t read the book so can’t comment on any similaritiesWould you say the genre is women’s fiction?Some readers have told me it’s women’s fiction but I’m betting the guys will enjoy it too. It wasn’t a conscious decision to write a book that appealed to a female audience but I’m pleased it turned out that way. <grin>  I hear women buy more books. Having cross-over appeal is always a bonus. Do you ever get writer’s block?It hasn’t been a problem so far. I tend to read over the prior days’ work and do light edits; that gets me into the swing of the story again. Some days are better than others, of course. If I’m ever sat at the keyboard for more than fifteen minutes and the words aren’t coming, I start a new document and write whatever comes into my head. After a couple of paragraphs, I go back to the WIP and keep on writing. This seems to work for quite a few author friends.Paul, it's been great chatting with you. Where can readers find out more about you?I’d love to hear from your readers, my website, www.pauldillon.net has all my online hangout information like Twitter and Facebook. Thanks Rachelle, it’s been nice being your guest.

#BookChat Malice and Murder by Nancy Popovich

SYNOPSIS: Malice & Murder is a tale of friendship, loyalty and the determined quest for a murderer. In the performance of a heroic act, intelligence agent Steven Hunter is badly injured. He surfaces in a familiar childhood place in the presence of his lifelong friend, Charlotte, who was murdered five years previously. Charlotte's ghost asks for his help to find her murderer. Still stinging from the end of their affair and what he considered her betrayal, Steven wrestles with his conscience to help, especially when Charlotte reveals a hidden, illegal side of her life. 
Using Steven’s suggestion, the search for her murderer takes Charlotte on a revealing journey back to her former life, her childhood home and the place where she was murdered. Along the way she encounters a new associate, who assists in her search for the truth. When all is revealed, they witness an unimaginable and hitherto unknown form of justice inflicted upon the murderer. 
From the Author: Malice & Murder came to be because I wanted to write something light to entertain my husband, who was battling a terminal disease at the time. He thought the premise was fun, but by the time it was written, chemo and potent drugs hampered his concentration and ability to read the story. As a result, he got a brief verbal synopsis. However, he loved the cover.
Reader's Reactions: The reaction to this book has been gratifying and enjoyable. One of the most fun ideas came from one of my beta readers.  “A very enjoyable read…I think it would make an interesting movie and with today’s technology it could be a lot of fun…the ending was very satisfying. I like happy endings.”
The ending was re-written because like my beta reader, I like happy endings. My expert consultant in Great Britain’s penal system advised the maximum penalty for my murderous antagonist, but it wasn’t satisfying enough. I didn’t believe it would satisfy a reader either, so took advantage of the ability to set the rules in my imaginary world, and penned a more satisfactory conclusion to the story.  
Malice & Murder is available at:http://www.amazon.com/dp/B007AW96WEhttp://www.smashwords.com/books/view/134180

Poor Misunderstood Michal - #AuthorInterview w Rachelle Ayala at Beachbound Books #reblog

Meet Rachelle Ayala, Author of Michal's Window


What inspired you to become an author?
I've always been an avid reader. I spent a lot of time writing specs and design documents during my career. One day, a character formed in my mind and screamed to get out on paper. She had a story to tell the world. She was misunderstood and since I sympathized with her, I determined to write a novel about her.

How did you come up with the idea for Michal's Window?
Michal is one of those fascinating women in history who had the guts to stand up to the establishment and the courage to take her punishment. I knew there was more to her story than the surface presentation in the Bible. If God was so adamant about men remaining with the wife of their youth (Proverbs 5:18-19) and not mistreating their covenant wife (Malachi 2:14), then why did it seem as if David got away with his burgeoning harem?

Michal was shortchanged in most history books, novels and Bible commentaries, so I decided to write my own version of her story to vindicate her.

What do you think readers will enjoy most about your books?
I like to mix highly dramatic situations with a undertone of comedy. Maybe some people think it's over-the-top, but if they recognize the tongue-in-cheek they will be rolling in laughter. Hint: any scene involving Ittai has that potential. I think a lot of my readers are in love with him. I know I am! ;)

What advice would you give to a new author trying to get their book published?
Perfect the craft of writing and be true to your characters. Don't allow traditionally held perceptions to hem you in. Maybe some readers will hate your approach, but there will be others who are tickled pink by it. The trick is to write from your heart and do not be deterred by naysayers.

Are you currently working on other books?
Oh yeah. I have several stories flowing in my mind and several drafts sitting around. I've decided to concentrate on a contemporary romantic suspense, Broken Build, as my next work. It's a romantic suspense mystery filled with surprises and plot twists. 


Reblogged from BeachBound Books.

NYT Bestselling Author Bob Mayer #AuthorInterview

Today we have author Bob Mayer visiting with us. Bob has had more than 50 books published and is a New York Times BestSeller. He is a writer of thrillers and futuristic fiction... for the most part.
Rachelle: In a few words, how do you describe the type of fiction you write?
Bob: Factual fiction.  I base most of my books on facts, then add fictional elements.  95% of my Area 51 series for example is factual, but the element where the WHY behind the WHAT is fictional is what makes it fun.
There are no rules except the three rules of rule-breaking:
1.  Know the rule.
2.  Have a good reason for breaking the rule.
3.  Accept responsibility for breaking the rule.
Rachelle: You’ve also collaborated with romance author, Jennifer Crusie. What sparked the collaboration and how do you make it work?
Bob: We literally got off the same plane flying to the Maui Writers Conference and taught next door to each other.  We each wanted to try something different.  She asked if I wanted to write about a woman who runs a B&B or a film producer.  I asked:  How many people can I kill in the B&B?
Rachelle: As many as there are rooms. That must have been an eye-opening experience. What was your favorite book resulting from the collaboration?
[image error] Bob: I learned so much in the process.  I learned about voice, about characters, about rewriting.  Interestingly, the last manuscript I just finished, Nightstalkers: Area 51 reminds me a lot of our last collaboration, Wild Ride.  My voice is very similar, except instead of third person, I’m writing omniscient, but it’s a very snarky omniscient.
Rachelle: So Jennifer introduced you to snark! An unexpected side effect. *smiley*
Bob: Yes, and I think we’ll see more and more collaborations as authors have to put more product out faster.  Also, it allows you to reach a wider audience.  I’d be open to doing another collaboration in the romance field with an established author, especially as it’s got the best audience out there, especially for eBooks.  With my coming releases from 47North on 11 December, it could be a great complement to that.
Rachelle: Ha, ha, I can think of quite a few authors who'd be a great counterpart [girls, leave your contact in the comments]. So, what kind of books do you like to read? Which authors in particular influenced you?
 Bob: As per Stephen King's advice: better writers than me.  I read what my wife tells me to.  She's the smartest person I've ever met.
Rachelle: And you're the smartest guy I ever intereviewed. What else?
Bob: I love Tolkein, Asimov, Larry McMurtry, Richard Russo, Dennis Lehane, Michael Connelly, a wide range of authors.
 Rachelle: All nice manly writers. Are you a character driven or plot driven writer?
Bob: I can do plot.  So as I've gotten better as a writer, I focus more on character.  A key is making sure a character is consistent.  And also know their secret.  Everyone has a secret.
  Rachelle: Hmm… true. Secrets. Can you tell us one--advice for writers who are just starting out? 
In these days of self-publishing don't waste time on promotion and marketing like most people.  Focus on content.  It's a marathon, not a sprint.
 Rachelle: Who was your most difficult character?
Robert E. Lee in Duty, Honor, Country: A Novel of West Point & The Civil War .  He doesn't have a big role in the book, but after focusing a lot of time on U.S. Grant who does have a big role, I had one of my fictional characters show up at Arlington, his home before the war.  And I started to wonder, as a West Point graduate, about all the cadets and graduates who broke their oath of office to fight for the South.  That must have been a terrible decision and it had terrible consequences.

I also had to understand Lee as a leader.  While he was a brilliant tactician, I do question his strategic abilities.
  Rachelle: It must have been a dilemma. My most difficult character is King David, of course, a polygamist in a romance novel, if you can believe that. If you could go back and change the ending to any novel you’d like, which would it be and what would be the change?
Bob: Hmm.  Hard to say.  I know the movie adaptation of The Mist was horrid.  Same with Starship Troopers.
Larry McMurtry is a great writer, but did Gus have to die?

Rachelle: Your latest title I, Judas, the Fifth Gospel tackles some religious themes. What made you decide to write about Judas Iscariot?
Bob: Because we don’t know exactly what happened?  He had a role to play.  What would have happened if he had not done what he did?  I’m not saying it was a good role, but who knows?
Rachelle: He is a tragic illustration of regret put in the wrong place. I wonder what would have happened if he went to the foot of the cross and asked Jesus for forgiveness. Are you at all fearful of taking on such a controversial person?
Bob: Not particularly because I’m not taking a stand one way or the other, which is kind of the point of the book.  I don’t know and I don’t pretend to know for others.  Each person needs to examine things for themselves and make decisions.  I respect people who have faith, regardless of what it is in.
Rachelle: So it's all a giant "What If?" And that's what makes good fiction. Thanks for the informative interview.
Readers can find out more about Bob's books at his website. And Bob has his own publishing company, Cool Gus (http://coolgus.com).
An excerpt of Bob's Jennifer Crusie Novel Wild Ride is available here.

#BookChat What's In A Name by Terry Odell

Running for the wrong reason can still get you killed.
Kelli Carpenter has changed her name, her appearance—her life—to avoid being connected to a crime she committed in self defense years ago. But just when she thinks she has nothing to fear, handsome stranger Blake Windsor shows up.

He claims to be the handyman her boss sent to help complete the project she’s working on—Camp Getaway—a place where inner city kids will get respite from concrete and drive-bys. Being a loner has kept her alive, and Kelli’s instincts tell her to leave. But without Blake’s help, the refuge for inner city children won’t be completed on time. Against her instincts, she accepts his help.

Blake Windsor, a corporate executive, accepted his boss’s request to find out if Kelli Carpenter is really a woman his boss thinks he knew years before. He begrudgingly returns to the blue-collar construction lifestyle he vowed to leave behind, hoping doing this favor will advance his career. The woman he meets bears little resemblance to the woman he’s supposed to find, but something about her mystifies him, and he decides to continue with his deception to learn more about her.

When someone makes an attempt on Kelli’s life, she runs—but she takes Blake with her. Keep your friends close but your enemies closer is her philosophy. And Kelli is convinced Blake knows something that will link her to her former lover’s death, ending her life as she knows it.

From the Author
What's in a Name has its roots in a series of short stories I wrote back when I was writing Highlander Fan Fiction. Although there's nothing left of that universe, Blake Windsor, the hero, bears a strong physical resemblance to Duncan McLeod. The short story concept was that Duncan met a woman who was working on a camp where inner city kids could get away from gangbangs and drive-bys for a while. That concept stayed, although "Camp Getaway" was downplayed in the novel, and instead of Blake being a Duncan McLeod style hero, for What's in a Name? my heroine was the experienced character.

What Readers are Saying
What's in a Name? was a Daphne du Maurier finalist, as well as a Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence and Heart of Denver finalist when it was first published by Cerridwen Press. I regained the rights and re-published it as an indie title, after some updating and re-editing. Reader comments include:

"loved this page turner from Ms. Odell! No one is who you think they are and every character has a secret agenda. Hot love story and a cross country adventure kept me on the edge of my seat."

"This book starts strong and just keeps getting better. Lots of great tension between the characters, unexpected plot twists, heart-wrenching love affair and a suspense that kept me guessing. Highly recommended!"

"I judge a book by whether I want to put it down or not, and I definitely did not want to put this one down. Fast paced suspense and steamy romance combined for a compelling read. Definitely recommend!"

Behind the Scenes with Terry
I write because I like to create characters. Until I know what makes them tick, the plot hangs in the background. Although Blake's physical attributes are very much Duncan McLeod, he's not the immortal Highlander. For Blake, the click moment was listening to Dan Fogelberg’s “Leader of the Band.” I knew I had to write about a character whose life was controlled by the line, “And Papa, I don’t think I said I love you near enough.”

Buylinks can be found here: