Ally Shields's Blog, page 17
November 24, 2020
Birdie Song Writes Happy Endings
Welcome, Booklovers!If you’re in the US, I’m sure you’re anticipating some form of Thanksgiving tomorrow, hopefully with turkey and trimmings, but take a few minutes to join me and our other readers in this week’s Coffee Chat with guest author/sweet romance writer, Birdie Song.
Good morning, Birdie. How do you take your coffee?
BS: I like to match my coffee to my mood. Today, I’m celebrating the recent launch of my new book, The Guy From The Internet, so I’d LOVE an affogato, please!
Ally: My magic pot can meet any challenge, so affogato it is. While I get our drinks, please introduce yourself to readers.
Bio:Birdie Song is an Asian-Australian romantic who writes sweet stories about people falling in love. She believes love is more important than labels, integrity is our most attractive quality, and that no one should be judged for putting pineapple on a pizza.
Something unique/unusual that isn’t in your standard bio: “I have a song on Spotify (under a different name).” (Ally note: That’s amazing! Want to share the name in the comments?)
Author Contacts:
Website: http://birdiesong.weebly.com
Newsletter: http://subscribepage.com/birdiesong
INTERVIEW:
Ally: What inspired you to write your featured book?
BS: Initially, The Guy From The Internet” was meant to be a short and simple what-if about an online romance. But over the writing process, the story took on a life of its own. Holly went from being a bouncy, light-hearted character to someone who needed to reconcile her insecurities and find her self-confidence.
Ally: Do you write with a theme or message in mind?
BS: Not consciously, though I’ve noticed I tend to write heroines who are rebuilding themselves after painful experiences, usually with past relationships. Somehow it feels very natural to me to explore how people start their next chapters, having learned from past mistakes.
Or even how they may resist those crucial life lessons at first, but upon suddenly meeting someone worthy of their affections, they’re forced to grow in order to achieve a better, brighter relationship. For people who are relationship-inclined, I think the first heartbreak experience is an important rite of passage.
Ally: Do you know the book’s ending before you start writing? How specific is it? Does it ever change?
BS: Yes and no. I write romance, so I know there has to be a happy ending, but how it plays out, how the dynamic between the MCs shapes it all… sometimes you need to go through an entire first draft before you know what will make a satisfying ending.
Ally: What is your next writing project? Anticipated release date?
BS: I’ve got two manuscripts on the go right now. One is a short story covering the slice of time between a meet-cute and a proper first date — I’m not sure when this one will be ready. But the other manuscript is a novella (or novel?) about two people who find healing through their newfound friendship before finally opening themselves up to love. That one’s available to read in first draft form as a web fiction serial on my blog.
Ally: Which of the trivia questions did you select to answer?
BS:a. ebook or print? - Ebooks, these days. As much as I love the feel of a paperback, it’s just so much easier to carry around a digital copy.b. most watched tv show - I’ve watched A LOT of The Office (US). I think we’ve done 2 or 3 laps of the series at home, and the Jim & Pam storyline gets me every time.c. color of nail polish you have on - None at the moment, but I’ve always wanted to try a milky pastel pink.d. best place you’ve ever visited - I love the southwest region of my home state (Western Australia), but if I have to name international places too, then Queenstown (New Zealand) and Kyoto (Japan).e. a supernatural ability you’d love to have - Because I’ve been nursing a couple of injuries, today I’ll pick rapid healing. Oh, to be a perpetually healthy shapeshifter!Ally: It’s been a pleasure, Birdie. I hope you’ll come back and see us again. Before you leave, please show us your featured book.
The Guy From The Internet
Genre: A sweet romance novella with a touch of family drama.
Holly Chee does not have her life together. She’s flip-flopped on uni courses and career choices, and somehow scared off her long-term fiancé-to-be, much to the chagrin of her immigrant parents.
But she does have her streaming channel, where she broadcasts her art from her one-bedroom Mount Lawley apartment. And she has that guy from France… assuming he’s even who he says he is.
Buy link: https://books2read.com/u/3y7ljl Stay safe! Hope to see you next week...
November 17, 2020
Author Lyndi Alexander Dreams of Faraway Worlds
Good Morning, Booklovers!
Join me for this week’s Coffee Chat interview with author Lyndi Alexander, bringing us her featured YA 3-book series, The Color of Fear.
Welcome, Lyndi! How do you take your coffee?
LA: I love coffee! Hi-test, not decaf, and adding flavored coffee creamer for variety.
Ally: Excellent choice. While I pour, please introduce yourself to readers.
BIO:Lyndi Alexander always dreamed of faraway worlds and interesting alien contacts. A former journalist and multi-published novelist, she lives as a post-modern hippie in Asheville, North Carolina, a single mother of her last child of seven, a daughter on the autism spectrum, finding that every day feels a lot like first contact with a new species.
Something unique/unusual that isn't in your regular bio: “Since retiring to Asheville, I’ve become a kitty foster mom! I’ve lost count of the number of kittens and sick adults who’ve come through our home—except for the five we fell in love with and had to keep.” :)
Author Contacts:
Website/ Blog http://lyndialexander.wordpress.com
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/lyndialexander13/
Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4185290.Lyndi_Alexander
Amazon Author Page https://www.amazon.com/Lyndi-Alexander/e/B005GDYPU2/ref=dp_byline_cont_ebooks_1
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/lyndi-alexander
Smashwords | Lyndi Alexander
https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/lyndialexander INTERVIEW:
Ally: What inspired you to write your featured book? Which of your books is your personal favorite? Why?
LA: I got the idea for this series back in the early 2000s. The post-apocalyptic aspect was one that seems to come around frequently, but pairing it with the rise of the cultish white supremacists was, at the time, something I really worried would be outdated. It was all in one book at first, much shorter, obviously, and I shopped it to exactly 101 agents and editors.
Finally, in absolute frustration, I mentioned it to Liz Burton at Zumaya, who was publishing a women’s fiction book of mine at the time, and she asked to see it. When I showed it to her, she basically told me one book was too short, and could I make it a series?
Could I? Are you kidding? This story and these characters are definitely the book of my heart. I am so glad the whole thing is finally published—and so topical right now!
Ally: How did you get your first article or story published?
LA: My first non-fiction article was a personal column I sent to The Peru Tribune just before I went to college, talking about the wonders of my grandmother’s Indiana farm. I got paid a whole five bucks. I was thrilled.
My first fiction was a sale I made to Women’s World romance stories, about finding love in the produce section of a grocery store. That paid $300. A little more satisfying. :)
Ally: Do the people in your real life show up in your writing? In what way?
LA: More often than I should probably. I like to use people’s names, just so they feel noticed—the characters often reflect their attitudes and actions. When I set stories in familiar locations, I include friends and neighbors I might have known there. After my divorce, a character I had long associated with my then ex-husband had a terrible accident in the final story of that trilogy. Ooops.
Ally: What blog would you recommend to other writers? And one you’d recommend to readers?
LA: For writers: I’d definitely recommend Kristin Lamb’s blog https://authorkristenlamb.com/ She has good advice on a whole range of topics, from character creation to story structure to marketing.
For readers: Yours! Because you have a fabulous line-up of guests!
Ally: Hey, thanks for the thumbs up! So what’s your next writing project? Do you have a projected release date?
LA: I’m working on a sci-fi romance that is a ménage story with two humans and a gender-shifting alien. I’m getting a whole education in using individual specific pronouns and exploring new sorts of relationships. I’m hoping to see it out in mid-2021.
Ally: Which of the trivia questions did you choose to answer?LA:memorable book you’ve read - I love Anne McCaffrey’s dragon books and most anything by Stephen King. Hard to choose!most watched tv show - Fireflya movie you’ll always remember - Contact—how no one took Dr. Arroway seriously because she was a woman.If you were a color, what would it be? Deep forest greenYour pets - All rescue kitties--- gray tabby Twilight Sparkle, calico Dilly, tuxedo Zig, tortoiseshell Reba, tuxedo Clarice, split tortoiseshell Daisy Mae, and cow kitty Korben Dallas aka Monster Boi
Ally: Thanks for visiting with us, Lyndi. As we wind this up, please tell us about The Color of Fear.
The Color of Fear (3-book series)Genre: YA post apocalyptic
Rating: PG+
Terrorists launch a plague in the United States that spreads to kill most of the world’s Caucasian population. As the deadly bioweapon mutates, Tzu Lin Kwan’s father, a renowned medical doctor and biologist, defects from China to help develop a cure. His only daughter, Lin Kwan, is left behind in Hong Kong with her aunt.
Then Kwan’s father summons her from across the sea to bring him Chinese medicinal herbs. Lonely and missing her parents, she accepts the challenge, traveling with her sensei Li Zhong to the New World.
But a Chinese spy is on her trail, determined to kill her and Li Zhong, and when Kwan discovers her father has disappeared, she sets out on a journey to find him and deliver her precious cargo, a quest that she may not survive.
Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C5HtphfL7TE&t=15s
Buy Links: Amazon (click) Thank You for stopping by! See you next week?
November 10, 2020
Author John Bishop MD Talks About Writing A Medical Thriller Series
Good Morning, Booklovers!Thank you for joining me this morning to welcome another writer to the Coffee Chat! Today's guest is John Bishop MD, author of the Doc Brady mystery series of medical thrillers.
Welcome, John! How do you take your coffee?
John: I like to drink my coffee black, and hot please.
Ally: Me too! While I pour, please tell readers something of your background.
Bio:John Bishop MD is the author of Act of Revenge: A Doc Brady Mystery. Dr. Bishop has practiced orthopedic surgery in Houston, Texas, for 30 years. His Doc Brady medical thriller series is set in the changing environment of medicine in the 1990s. Drawing on his years of experience as a practicing surgeon, Bishop entertains readers using his unique insights into the medical world with all its challenges, intricacies, and complexities, while at the same time revealing the compassion and dedication of health care professionals. Dr. Bishop and his wife, Joan, reside in the Texas Hill Country.
Something unique/unusual that isn't in your regular bio: "I knew my father had been in the war, which would be WW II. He never discussed it. I occasionally would hear him quietly talk about an episode or two with his Army buddies, but those sorts of things were never discussed with the family. He remained active in the Army Reserve, which involved monthly meetings and a 2-week outing into the wilds of Ft. Polk in Leesville, LA. After he died, my mother gave me a box. She said my dad wanted me to have its contents. In that box were dozens of war medals...a Purple Heart, Medal of Valor, and a myriad of items that were awarded him during and after WW II. I would have loved to have discussed all his medals and awards with him when he was alive. For whatever reason, he could not. I am the son of a war hero, unknown to me until after his death."
For more information:
Wesite: https://johnbishopauthor.com
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/20293392.John_Bishop
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/John-Bishop/e/B07WQJZ8KG? INTERVIEW:
Ally: What inspired you to write your featured book?
John: I was an orthopedic surgeon and have been an avid reader my entire life. My favorite books have always been medical mysteries in the form of such authors as vintage Michael Crichton and Robin Cook. Back in the 1990s, I had a good deal of time on my hands, having retired from the publishing/presentation world of academic medicine, and was spending my time taking care of patients. We had a beach house in Galveston, and I would sit in an upstairs
alcove and ponder writing the "great American novel.”
One day, after attending the funeral of a child of one of my friends and partners, I started writing about the grief associated with the loss of a child. That morphed into writing about the death of the child which needed to be fictitious, so I then added a murder mystery scenario and came up with the first novel called ACT OF MURDER.
By then I had been bitten by the writing bug and continued to create stories and novels. My wife Joan found an agent in New York, who tried to get me a publishing deal but was unsuccessful. Undaunted, I continued to write, and produced ACT OF DECEPTION, ACT OF REVENGE, ACT OF NEGLIGENCE, AND ACT OF FATE. After that last book, I gave up and abandoned the writing career.
Ally: After setting aside those early attempts, how did you get your first book published?
John: Several years ago, my son's wife started writing a novel with her father. He would repeatedly ask about those books I had written when the kids were young. I ignored him for a while due to the painful memories of writing five books which never got published. One day, after his persistence, I rummaged through the "old forgotten memory box" and produced a small plastic case, inside of which were five floppy disks...the John Bishop novels, produced on a MAC desktop computer many years ago. He took the disks, said he would try to revive the texts, but thought it unlikely he would be able to recover the words after all that time. Besides, floppy disks? Forgotten and outdated technology.
Quite some time passed, and it was on Father's Day a couple of years ago that he gave me a gift-wrapped present. I opened it and to my shock, it was a bound professional copy of a novel called ACT OF MURDER. He had retrieved the first novel, gone through the publishing process at Amazon, and made me a published author after all those years. I read the book twice and decided it wasn't bad. I found a wonderful publicist Anna Sacca through Fauzia Burke at FSB Associates, and a wonderful editor Erin Willard, and now the first three books have been released with the fourth to be released in March. What an incredible turn of events. I have returned to writing the Doc Brady mystery series, and am thankful that I am able to rekindle those dreams from so many years ago.
Ally: Do you know the book’s ending before you start writing?
John: I do not have a clear picture of the ending of a book when I begin writing. I have an idea about a story line, then just sit down and start typing on a laptop computer. Much of the story I make up as I go. Sometimes I will venture down the wrong path and have to re-route myself. But I have been fortunate to be able to write "off the cuff" so to speak. Friends of mine will ask me how in the world do I come up with all this stuff??? I had a lot of life experiences being a doctor for 25 years. Also, I have played the piano since age twelve, and have played in many bands and with many people from different walks of life and have learned a great deal about human nature. Many of the characters I write about are represented by people I have come in contact with over the years, with names changed to protect the innocent...or guilty, as it may be.
Ally: What is your next writing project? Anticipated release date?
John: In the new novels I am working on, Dr. Jim Bob Brady and his wife Mary Louise have changed venues. Brady came into some money, and briefly retired, but then re-surfaced out in the Hill Country of Texas, where he plies his trade as orthopedic surgeon still but continues in his quest for justice and truth part time as a mostly unwanted investigator. Since resuming my writing, I have written four more Doc Brady books, ACT OF ATONEMENT, ACT OF MERCY, ACT OF GREED, and ACT OF DECEIT. I am working on the tenth in the series, ACT OF MADNESS.
Ally: I’m curious to see which of the quick answer questions you chose.
John:a memorable book you’ve read - Sycamore Row by John Grishama book you're currently reading - A Time for Mercy by John Grishaman author (living or dead) you'd love to take to lunch - Michael Crichtonebook or print - I prefer print books.type of music you prefer - I play Blues, Country and old Standards on the piano, and listen to the same genres. Ally: It was a pleasure to have you on the blog, John. As we close, please show us your featured book.
Act of Deception (A Doc Brady Mystery)Genre: Medical Mystery/Thriller
PG-13
Drawing on his years of experience as a practicing surgeon, Dr. Bishop entertains readers using his unique insights into the medical world with all its challenges, intricacies, and complexities, while at the same time revealing the compassion and dedication of health care professionals.
It’s 1995, and Houston orthopedic surgeon Dr. Jim Bob Brady has been sued for medical malpractice; a mysterious infection caused a knee replacement to end up as an amputation. Donovan Shaw, a ruthless plaintiff’s attorney, has taken the case and doesn’t seem bothered by the fact that he and Brady share a number of friends.
And Brady isn’t the only one in his practice being sued. How is Shaw getting his inside information? Can the patients afford to say no to filing lawsuits, even if the claims aren’t valid? Through a series of twists and turns, Brady once again doggedly goes into “sleuth mode” to get to the truth of the matter—even after his life is put in jeopardy. Will he survive, only to find himself at the mercy of the wild and wooly Houston court system? Is this whole mess his fault? Or is there an act of deception involved?
Buy link (kindle and paperback): https://www.amazon.com/Act-Deception-Medical-Thriller-Mystery/dp/1734251123/ Other books in the series: https://www.amazon.com/John-Bishop/e/B07WQJZ8KG
Thanks for stopping by! See you next week...
November 3, 2020
Share a "Cuppa" with Romantic Fiction Author Judythe Morgan
Good Morning, Booklovers!Grab your favorite beverage, put up your feet, and take a moment to recover from election fatigue. Author Judythe Morgan is joining us today with her featured box set of romantic women’s fiction.
Welcome, Judythe! What may I get you to drink?
JM: No coffee, please. I’m a tea-sip, not The University of Texas kind. Though I did attend UT Austin, my alma mater is Western Connecticut State. Here’s the story on a UT tea-sip, if you’re interested.
I drink Irish Breakfast tea. That’s why I’m a tea-sip. Let’s share a cuppa.
Ally: That cuppa is coming right up. While I pour, please share something about yourself with readers.
BIO:Judythe Morgan was an Army brat then Army wife, which means she's traveled a lot. She's been a teacher, an antiques dealer, former mayor's wife, and sometimes-church pianist.
Mommy to an Old English sheepdog named Finnegan MacCool and a Maltese named Buster, there's always a wild adventure brewing.
Her diverse experiences make her life full, her characters vivid, and her stories authentic and award-winning. Besides fiction, she writes a weekly blog at www.judythewriter.com
Sign up for her free newsletter at https://judythemorgan.com/contact/ to keep up with her latest news and subscriber-only sneak peeks.
Something unique about you: “One thing has never appeared in my bio, I’m a Pickleball player. Pickleball is a racquet sport that combines elements of badminton, table tennis, and tennis. A whiffle ball is hit with a paddle bigger than a ping-pong paddle over a tennis court type net set up on a badminton-sized court. I was introduced to the game when we lived in Colorado and played multiple times a week. When it snowed outside, we moved inside to basketball courts, taped off, and set up portable nets. Now I live in Texas and can play outdoors year round.
Not familiar with Pickleball? It’s the fastest growing sport in the United States because it’s easy, it’s social, and it’s exercise. Players of all ages, 6 to 96 love the game. Tournaments are televised on sports networks. Check out the USPA site for all the details. As they say, Pickleball, it’s a dilly!”
SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS:
Website: https://judythemorgan.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Judythe2
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JudytheMorgan/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6450879.Judythe_Morgan
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/judythe-morgan
Amazon Author Page: https://amazon.com/author/judythemorgan INTERVIEW :
Ally: What inspired you to write your featured books?
JM: The story idea came from my days as a Department of Army Civilian at Headquarters, Eighth Army in South Korea. All my stories come from a combination of my experiences and my fantasies.
These PROMISES series books are completely fictional, but actual historical events blend with many of my treasured memories from my days in South Korea. You’ll find these primarily throughout the first book, Love in the Morning Calm. You can read specific details about what to look for here: https://judythemorgan.com/behind-the-books/#promises_series
In the other three books, you’ll also find places from my days in East Tennessee and my years as an antiques dealer.
Ally: Do the people in your real life show up in your writing? In what way?
JM: You know that saying, Be careful or you’ll end up in my next novel. It’s my standard warning to friends and family whenever we’re together.
My characters do usually begin with a real person. Someone I know personally and/or people I’ve never met like actors or authors or politicians—all serve as entry points for my fictional character development.
I frequently use friends and family names, but never without their permission and the promise of an acknowledgement.
Ally: What three books in your genre would you recommend to fans (after they’ve read your books, of course!).
JM: I'm always delighted to share books that I have enjoyed. I write in multiple genres – contemporary romance, inspirational romance, military romance, romantic suspense, and women’s fiction so my reading choices are varied. Here are three titles I’ve read recently and thoroughly enjoyed.
First is Last Chance Beach: Summer’s End, an anthology of second chance romances. A boxed set with fourteen romantic short stories authored by NY Times and USA Today Bestselling Authors, the stories will leave you smiling and longing for a romantic beach. I enjoyed every one of them.
For romantic suspense readers, I recommend debut author Kim Ford’s Searching for Eden. An outstanding first novel filled with sizzling romance and suspense.
For military romance readers who love wounded warrior troupes, I recommend USA Today bestselling author Jessica Scott. She’s an Iraq war veteran, active duty army officer and wife to a retired First Sergeant. She knows what she’s writing about. Because of You, first in her eleven book series, is an emotionally packed love story in an authentic setting and some surprising laugh out loud moments. I’ve enjoyed all the books in this series.
Ally: What is your next writing project? Anticipated release date?
JM: I’ll be finishing my sweet and clean romance series about the Fitzpatrick Family, Eight preacher kids, each with a sweet romance story of his or her own. I’m excited to get back to small town romance.
Two books are out – When Love Blooms and When Love Returns. When Love Endures will be released first quarter 2021, and When Love Trusts in the second quarter.
From suspense and military romance to sweet romance, I’m not called an eclectic writer without reason.
Ally: Which of the short answer questions did you choose?
JM:most watched tv show: NCIS. I love Gibb’s rules. They serve me well. Rule #18: It's better to seek forgiveness than ask permission. Probably TMI. most beloved comic book character: Superman The TV series always began with “Look! Up in the Sky! It’s Superman…Faster than a speeding bullet, more powerful than a locomotive, able to leap tall buildings in a single bound and use his amazing powers in a never-ending battle for truth and justice and the American way.” Loved that quote! favorite comfort food: Plain M&Ms. Always have them handy because nothing calms like a handful of M&Ms Your pets: A ninety pound Old English Sheepdog name after the Irish giant Finnegan MacCool and a ten pound rescue Maltese named Buster. Guess who’s boss in our pet world. best place you’ve ever visited: Ireland. I’ve been nine times and love the countryside and the people. That’s why you find Irish characters in all my books. Ally: A pleasure to chat with you, Judythe. Before you leave us, please tell us something about your featured box set.
The PROMISES Series Books 1-4 BOXED SET
Genre: Military Romance/Women’s Fiction
Heat Rating: PG-13
Lily Johnson met Green Beret Alex Cabot and Captain David Sands at Eighth Army Headquarters, South Korea, during the Vietnam War and their lives were irreversibly united. Promises they make to themselves and each other bound them forever. Love in the Morning Calm The Pendant’s Promise Until He Returns Promises to Keep Buy Link ($.99 for a limited time): Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/PROMISES-Boxed-Set-Books-1-4-ebook/dp/B08L167T5W/ Thanks for stopping! Will I see you next week?
October 29, 2020
What Is This Thing Called NaNo?
Images courtesy of NaNoWriMo Every fall, social media chatter picks up about NaNo. But what is it? Has everyone suddenly gotten excited about the nanometer, one billionth of a meter in the metric system? Not quite... In fact, the complete logo referred to is NaNoWriMo.The National Novel Writing Month is a challenge to writers to complete a novel of fifty thousand words during the month of November—approximately 1,667 per day. It's grown from a handful of participants in 1999 to more than 450,000 worldwide participants. It's an opportunity for writers, published or aspiring, to push themselves, make new writing "buddies," discuss the ups and down of novel writing in the website forums, congregate with other writers in local area "write-ins," and even join lively discussions on online media such as Twitter.
It's a seat-of-the-pants style of writing, ignoring your inner editor, and simply concentrating on meeting those daily word goals. Editing as you go is discouraged, placing the emphasis on words rather than style or even plot. In some ways, it's more like free association than the serious business of writing. But it's a fantastic tool to get you started.
It's also messy. The first book I completed during NaNo was almost unreadable. Holes, holes, and more holes. Not to mention the terrible dialogue, typos, and inconsistencies. I rewrote it a dozen times or more over three years before I had most of the imperfections fixed. It became my first published book, Awakening the Fire (Guardian Witch #1) in 2012.
The next year (although still unpublished), I was an experienced noveler. And I came prepared. I've never been able to force myself into a real outline, but I did have a decent story summary. It kept those plot holes to a minimum, requiring less rewrites. I like to think I've gotten better at it every year, and all but two of my NaNo novels are now on online bookshelves.
This is the ultimate social distancing get-together of writers for 2020! Why not join the challenge today? You can click here to get started or to learn more about this non-profit organization and the good it does for writers. If you decide to sign up and stick it out, you’ll have a great sense of accomplishment on November 30, meet other terrific writers…and have a lot of fun!
If you decide to take up the challenge, give a shout out to IowaGal ... that's me!Good Luck!
October 27, 2020
October 20, 2020
Author McKenna Dean Writes Paranormal Romance with a Twist of the Past
Welcome to the Coffee Chat!Can you believe we had snow this week? A lot of snow, and it isn't even Halloween! Sigh. I guess that means no more chats on the deck for 2020. Sooo, I have the fireplace lit! Draw your chairs up close to the fire, grab your hot drinks, and meet author McKenna Dean, who is joining us today for book talk.
Nice to have you here, McKenna! What may I get you to drink?
MD: In all fairness, I was never a big coffee drinker (more of a cold Pepsi girl) but then a few years back, I developed a caffeine sensitivity and I had to give up caffeine altogether. I even have to be careful how much chocolate I have! *weeps* So these days, I usually have herbal tea.
Ally: Sounds like a good choice. While I fill our mugs, please tell readers about your background.
Bio:McKenna Dean has been an actress, a vet tech, a singer, a teacher, a biologist, and a dog trainer. She’s worked in a genetics lab, at the stockyard, behind the scenes as a props manager, and at a pizza parlor slinging dough. Finally she realized all these jobs were just a preparation for what she really wanted to be: a writer.
She lives on a small farm in North Carolina with her family, as well as the assorted dogs, cats, and various livestock.
She likes putting her characters in hot water to see how strong they are. Like tea bags, only sexier.
Ally: Tell us something not in your regular bio: “I’ve worked a lot of odd jobs in my life, including a short stint at a zoo. I had to hold a boa constrictor so my boss could administer a worming medication.” (Ally comment: Who knew that snakes got worms?!)
Author Contact Links:
Newsletter: https://motivated-teacher-3619.ck.page/8ce3b5d956
Website: http://mckennadeanromance.com/
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B075CRHQ7B/
Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/McKenna-Dean-Author-262328784224302/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/McKennaDeanFic
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mckennadeanromance/?hl=en
Tumblr: https://mckennadeanromance.tumblr.com/
Email: mckennadeanromance@gmail.com INTERVIEW:
Ally: When did you first know you wanted to be a writer?
MD: I’ve always been a storyteller. Even as a child, I wrote and illustrated my own stories. I think it was a natural progression of growing up in a reading household. We used to go to the library every couple of weeks and check out over 60 books at a time. Eventually the library began setting limits on how many books we could check out on a single visit! Reading was my favorite way of passing time. I was sick a lot as a child, and so I often made up adventures in which my dog and I battled trolls, explored strange vistas, and discovered amazing treasures.
As a teenager, I wrote fanfiction for a small group of friends, but I didn’t have any idea that’s what it was called. I just knew I wanted to spend more time with my favorite characters, so I spun stories about them.
I gave up the idea of becoming a writer as an unsustainable dream when I went to college and put aside my writing as one might put aside a treasured doll—something that was relegated to childhood. It wasn’t until much later that I discovered online fanfiction archives and I began dabbling with writing again. After a favorite show went off the air, I struggled to find a fandom that engaged me, and the encouragement of friends got me thinking about original fiction again.
On a whim, I submitted a story to a small publisher and was gobsmacked when they accepted it! I continued publishing with them until they went out of business. Faced with the choice of trying to find another publisher or going indie, I decided to self-publish. Mostly because my day job is demanding and indie publishing allows me to set my own schedule without being tied into deadlines, but also because I’m not sure my stories fit into one clear mold. A recent critique of Bishop Takes Knight (Redclaw Origins 1) by the 2020 BookLife Prize team said “the number of genres—mystery, romance, and paranormal—mix to create a truly distinct narrative.” I just can’t resist tossing in the things I enjoy!
Ally: Do you know the book’s ending before you start writing? How specific is it? Does it ever change?
MD: I usually have a rough idea where I’m heading, but the characters often surprise me. In this most recent book, Bishop’s Gambit, I had planned for the main character to make a very specific choice—and then she made the EXACT OPPOSITE DECISION. I was floored! My crit group loved it, and all the beta readers said they didn’t see it coming. WELL, NEITHER DID I! I had to pretend I meant to do it all along! AND figure out how to incorporate this decision into the next installment in the series!
Ally: What's the best writing/marketing advice you can pass on to other writers?
MD: I wrote a blog post on this subject not all that long ago: Rookie Author Mistakes and How to Avoid Them. The most important takeaway from that post is probably about reviews: The longer I’ve been at this, the less impact reviews have on me. Don’t get me wrong—I adore an awesome review! And excellent reviews—especially in large numbers—will definitely drive sales. But I no longer let bad reviews upset me.
Look at it this way: those really nasty reviews? The ones that go beyond ‘this is why this book didn’t work for me’ and seem to intend deliberate wounding?
Yeah, there are only two reasons someone writes a review like that. The first is because they have a following, and people read their reviews for the flaming zingers. You can’t take something like that personally. It’s not about your book as much as it is about entertaining a cadre of like-minded readers who enjoy the burn.
The second is because this unknown reader really does want to burn you. They want you to hurt so badly over their comments that you seriously consider never typing another word. You know what? SCREW THAT. They don’t get to decide that.
Don’t write for reviews. It will only make you bitterly unhappy. Ditto if you’re hoping that your next story will somehow launch you into Nora Roberts fame. Write because you can’t imagine not writing any more than you can imagine not breathing.
Ally: What is your favorite social media? Why?
MD: Probably Instagram. I love taking photographs (even though my world is pretty narrow right now due to the pandemic). I participate in various groups on Facebook, but otherwise I wouldn’t have a strong motivation to go to that platform. On Twitter, I’m much angrier than I am anywhere else—fair warning! But Instagram is my happy place. I can scroll through my feed and smile at the pictures of cats or goats or funny memes.
Ally: What is your next writing project? Anticipated release date?
MD: I’m currently working on a short story set in the Redclaw Universe for a holiday anthology. Then I’m diving into the next installment of Redclaw Origins: Bishop’s Endgame. Sadly, I’m a slow writer. I tend to release a novel once a year, usually in the fall. I’m hoping to get more writing done this winter, however. We’ll see!
Ally: Which of the lightning round questions did you pick?
MD:
most watched tv show: I have a tendency not to re-watch programs as a rule but a friend video-taped Babylon 5 for me when I didn’t have access to cable TV, and I watched the whole series over and over again.color of nail polish you have on: Clear right now, but I ADORE nail polish, so I have all kinds of fancy shades. I have thermal polish that changes color depending on the temperature, and metallic polishes that you finish by holding a magnet over it. My favorite polishes come from OPI or Live Love Polish.favorite comfort food: Mac and cheese! Hands down!last time you rode a train (not subway): When I graduated from college, I decided to celebrate by seeing as much of the country as I could on the cheap. I bought a round-trip train ticket to the West Coast and back. My friend and I travelled along the Canadian border out to Seattle, spent a few days with her family there, then went down the West Coast to California. From there we rode across the West back to the East Coast. It was a unique experience. We met all kinds of people and I got to see a snapshot of each state as we travelled through it.favorite holiday song: A toss-up between “White Christmas” or “I’ll Be Home for Christmas.”Ally: It’s been fun chatting with you, McKenna. Before you go, please show us your featured book...
Redclaw Origins: The year is 1955. Rebel without a Cause and The Seven Year Itch are playing in the movie theaters. The Chevy Bel Air is the most popular car in America. Gas is 25 cents a gallon and you can get a hotel room for $4 bucks. This flirty, fun series takes us back to the beginning and shows us how Redclaw Security got started.
Bishop’s Gambit (Redclaw Origins Book 2)
Genre: Paranormal Romance/suspense
Rating: PG-13
Newly-minted secret agent Rhett Bishop would rather face down a horde of angry wolf shifters or her father’s former mob contacts than accept her current assignment: pose undercover as a suburban housewife, complete with a husband, slippers, and pipe.
But after the debacle of her previous mission, Rhett has a lot to prove.
To redeem herself in the eyes of Redclaw Security, and to carry out her mission without distractions, she must table her budding relationship with Peter Knight while the two of them uncover the secrets of Forest Grove.
Armed with her trusty ray gun, her unique little dog, and Knight’s brains, Rhett is confident she can handle whatever the suburbs can throw at her.
Until they lob a curveball.
Buy links:
Available from Amazon and these other retailers. Thanks for stopping. Hope you enjoyed meeting another author.
October 13, 2020
Author Anna M Taylor Brings a Ghostly Tale to the Coffee Chat
Welcome, Booklovers!On this beautiful autumn day in the Midwest, I’ve moved the Coffee Chat to the deck. Pull up a chair and join us. Today’s guest is Anna M. Taylor with her featured Gothic romance, A Little in Love with Death. Sounds like a terrific Halloween read!
Good morning, Anna. What may I get you to drink?
AMT: Tea straight, no chaser. And thank you for the opportunity to be a guest on your blog.
Ally: My pleasure. I’ll prepare our drinks while you share your background with readers.
Bio:Anna M. Taylor is the gothic romance and women's fiction penname of Anna Taylor Sweringen, a retired United Church of Christ and Presbyterian Church USA minister. She has been writing seriously since joining Romance Writers of America in 2003. Her first published work appeared in 2008 under her inspirational romance penname, Anna Taylor. Her first erotic romance was published in 2016 with The Wild Rose Press as Michal Scott. Her Haunted Harlem contemporary gothic romance series launched in June 2020.
Ally: Something unique/unusual that isn't in your regular bio: “I wrote X-Files fan fiction for years under the pseudonym Rev Anna.”
Author contact links:
Website: https://annamtaylor.webs.com /
Twitter: https://twitter.com/revannable
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/2667164-anna
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/AnnaM.Taylor/e/B0894LFCTV?ref_=dbs_p_ebk_r00_abau_000000
FB Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/annamtaylorAuthor/ INTERVIEW:
Ally: How did you get your first book or story published?
AMT: The inspirational romance writers chapter I belonged to had a program called Finish the Book. If you finished a book within one calendar year, one of the published members would critique the first twenty-five pages. I finished my WIP on December 31st. The review I received was very encouraging so I entered it into the chapter contest and to my pleasant surprise, won second place. At about that time RWA had doubled down on its serious intent criteria to maintain your general membership in the organization. Back then that meant proof you were submitting, so I sent my story to an inspirational publishing line. I figured I’d receive a rejection and then could apply for PRO status. Instead the book was accepted. Thus my publishing career was launched.
Ally: What's the best writing/marketing advice you can pass on to other writers?
AMT: Marketing should be an extension of your creativity, not an added on chore. Once you think of it in this way, you’ll naturally find the marketing activity or activities that are fun and energizing for you.
Ally: What three books in your genre would you recommend to fans (after they’ve read your books, of course!).
AMT: Eve Silver’s Dark Desires, Daphne DuMaurier’s Rebecca and Louisa May Alcott’s A Long Fatal Love Chase (not a romance but definitely a fabulous gothic love story).
Ally: Describe what you would consider the perfect get-away weekend.
AMT: My husband, I and our cats in a hotel in the country that has paths where he and I can go on nature walks, a pool for late night swims, room service galore and two queen-sized beds so we can snuggle on one when we want then have our own when one of us (mainly me) needs to be writing but the other wants to sleep.
Ally: What is your next writing project? Anticipated release date?
AMT: I’ve got two slated for Valentine’s Day. The first is the third novella in my Haunted Harlem series entitled 10,000 Midnights Ago. A young woman disappointed by love in the present is lured into the past by the promise of love. The second is the first novella in my Hot Haunted Harlem series which I’ll be writing under my Michal Scott erotic romance penname. A sexually repressed woman in her forties finds release with a ghost haunting the Hamilton Grange. It’s a race to see which one or if both hit that release date.
Ally: Which questions did you choose for the lightning round?
AMT:
Memorable book you’ve read – Beverly Jenkins’ TopazMost watched tv show – Love It Or List ItA movie you’ll always remember – A Raisin in the SunFavorite comfort food – Mint chocolate chip SmashmallowsFavorite quote – “The time is always right to do what is right.” – Martin Luther King Jr.A supernatural ability you’d love to have – the ability to heal all diseases mental, emotional, spiritual and physicalAlly: Thanks for visiting the blog, Anna. It was a pleasure to meet you. Before you go, can you give us a peek at your featured book?
A Little in Love with DeathPub date: Oct. 31, 2020
Genre: Gothic romance
Heat level: sweet
Ten years ago no one -- not even the man who said he loved her -- believed Sankofa Lawford's story of being attacked by a ghost. Ten years later a new ghostly assault brings her back home to a mother going mad, a brother dangling at his wits’ end and a former love wanting a second chance. She’s at a loss what to do because the painful memories of her own attack prove stronger than her desire to heal her family or to find love again.
Mitchell Emerson believes science and reason can account for the ghostly happenings at Umoja House. He seeks a rational explanation that will prove him right and hopefully regain Sankofa’s trust and love. Instead what he learns leaves his own beliefs shattered.
Now reluctant allies, Mitchell and Sankofa uncover years of lies that threaten to pull them apart until help comes from an unexpected ally: the ghost itself.
Pre-Order/Buy link:
Amazon - https://www.amazon.com/Little-Love-Death-Haunted-Harlem-ebook/dp/B08JD5FD16/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=a+little+in+love+with+death+anna+taylor+sweringen&qid=1601482330&sr=8-1 Thanks for stopping! Will I see you next week?
October 6, 2020
Murder in the Gilded Age with Author Kathleen Marple Kalb
It’s Wednesday! Coffee Chat time!
It's been a hectic week, and I'm more than happy to sit down with a cup of java and indulge in book talk. Today’s guest is Kathleen Marple Kalb, the author of A Fatal First Night, a historical mystery set in the Gilded Age.
Welcome, Kathleen. How do you take your coffee?
KMK: Black when I’m working, cream and sugar after dinner as a treat!
Ally: Shall we make this a two treat day? While I prepare your coffee, please tell readers something of your background.
Bio: Kathleen Marple Kalb grew up in front of a microphone and a keyboard. She’s currently a weekend morning anchor at 1010 WINS Radio in New York, capping a career she started as a teenage DJ in her Western Pennsylvania hometown. She’s the author of the Ella Shane Mystery historical mystery series: A FATAL FINALE is out now, A FATAL FIRST NIGHT on 4/27/21. And, she just began a darkly comic new chapter series on Chanillo.com: ON THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS.
Something You Don’t Know About Me: The first time I went on the air as a professional news anchor (at a small local station in Springfield, VT) I forgot my name! Took me two seconds to un-freeze, and then I was okay.
Where to Find Me:
Website: https://kathleenmarplekalb.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Kathleen-Marple-Kalb-1082949845220373/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/KalbMarple
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kathleenmarplekalb/ INTERVIEW:
Ally: What inspired you to write your featured book?
KMK: I was involved in theatre in high school and college, and I loved the idea of setting a mystery during the run of a show. Using a made-up opera based on the story of the Princes in the Tower (the young heirs allegedly killed by Richard III during the Wars of the Roses) gave me the freedom to set up the show to suit the plot…and make sure Ella gets to do plenty of swordplay, which is her signature thing. And I wanted Hetty, who’s a reader favorite, to finally get a good assignment.
Ally: How did you get your first book or story published?
KMK: The hard way. Close to two years of querying agents with two earlier unsuccessful projects, to the tune of 200+ rejections, much of that during a family health crisis. It was clear very early on that Ella was different, but it took me a while to be able to accept that the other stories just weren’t going to happen and really push ahead. But I finally ripped up the first half of what became A FATAL FINALE and revised it – for the second time – on the advice of my now-agent. That led to him signing me…and he found Ella a home at Kensington literally within weeks. Of course, then there was the lockdown debut…but that’s another story!
Ally: Do you write with a theme or message in mind?
KMK: Not in the sense of any direct political or spiritual message…I think those are things best left to people to figure out on their own. But I absolutely do write strong women, and Ella isn’t afraid of talking about her faith, both in the comfort she takes in her father’s Catholic Mass and the way her mother’s Jewish ethics drive her to treat people well. And I do admit to one message: kindness. Ella’s a strong believer in being kind to everyone…and so am I.
Ally: Do you know the book’s ending before you start writing? How specific is it? Does it ever change?
KMK: I get the beginning and the end first and then work in. Usually, being a mystery writer, I have an idea of what the solution is, and build the story to get there. It’s like a puzzle. Sometimes the characters and plot surprise me along the way – and it’s tremendously fun when they do!
Ally: What is your next writing project? Anticipated release date?
KMK: A FATAL FIRST NIGHT is due for release April 27, 2021. A FATAL FINALE, the first Ella Shane adventure, is out now.
Ally: Which questions did you choose for the lightning round?
KMK: a. An author (living or dead) I’d love to take to lunch: Elizabeth Petersb. A favorite TV Show: Original Law & Orderc. The nail polish I’m wearing: Bright blued. Unique things in my bag: Radio Station ID – and a stray Legoc. My pet: Merritt T. Kalb, the Queen of Cats (black tuxedo)Ally: It was so nice to meet you, Kathleen. Good luck with your series. I hope you’ll come back and visit again. Before we end today’s chat, please show us your featured book.
A Fatal First Night (Ella Shane Mystery #2)
Genre: Historical Mystery
Rating: PG
A FATAL FIRST NIGHT is the return of swashbuckling Gilded Age opera singer Ella Shane, best described as part Beverly Sills, part Anne of Green Gables, and part Errol Flynn.
Ella, who sings male roles and handles her own swordplay, investigates murders with the help of her “confirmed bachelor” cousin Tommy Hurley and a cast of colorful friends. This time, the premiere of her new opera, The Princes in the Tower, is ruined when the singer playing Richard III apparently kills a man in his dressing room.
As Ella tries to clear him, her reporter friend Hetty finally gets a chance to cover a murder trial. Before it’s over, the cast will have to unravel a series of interlocking mysteries, including the unexpected return of a good friend, shocking revelations – and declarations.
Pre-Order: https://www.kensingtonbooks.com/9781496727244/a-fatal-first-night/ (links to other booksellers)
First book in the series, A FATAL FINALE, for sale now: https://www.kensingtonbooks.com/9781496727237/ (links to other booksellers) Thanks for stopping! See you next week...
September 29, 2020
Author K.F. Anderson Debuts Her Historical Southern Novel
Welcome, Booklovers!
This morning I’m also welcoming KRISTINE F. ANDERSON, author of Crooked Truth, a historical fiction novel to the blog. Won’t you join us for book talk?
Good morning, Kristine. How do you take your coffee?
KA: I couldn’t live without good coffee and used to drink three or four cups a day. Now I usually drink decaf coffee with half and half.
Ally: I’ve switched to half-caff, but I still get in two or three cups a day. While I fix our mugs, please introduce yourself to readers.
Bio:Kristine F. Anderson earned a Ph.D. in Communicative Arts from Georgia State University. She has worked as a freelance writer for national newspapers and magazines and taught high school English. She has also taught courses at Shorter College and Southern Polytechnical State University, now part of Kennesaw State University. Crooked Truth is her debut novel.
Something unique/unusual that isn't in your regular bio: “When I was in elementary school, I wanted to be an archeologist and explore the hidden tombs in the Valley of the Dead. I always hoped to find a mummy of a long-forgotten pharaoh.”
Author Contacts:
Website: www.kristinefanderson.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kfaphd/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/readingwritingthriving/
Twitter: @kfaphd
INTERVIEW:
Ally: Who or what inspired you to write your featured book?
KA: Crooked Truth was inspired in part by a story of a middle-aged couple who had a mongoloid son in a small Southern town in the early 1930’s. I heard the story from an elderly relative at a family cook-out. The mongoloid son never went to school and he was very limited. His older half-brother bullied and abused him, making him do the heavy work on the farm. One day the older brother was found shot to death on the front porch. People suspected the mongoloid son, but his mother always said he’d never hurt a flea.
It was also inspired by the experience I had working with a little boy with Down Syndrome while I was teaching in our local school district. Though he was also very limited, he was well liked and very sociable. No one ever bullied him or called him names.
Ally: How did you get your first book or story published?
KA: I sent out lots of query letters, but didn’t have much luck getting an agent. I was getting very discouraged. Then I found about Mercer Un Press’ Ferrol Sams Fiction Award Contest. I literally entered my manuscript at the eleventh hour and started lighting candles. Six months later I got a call from the editor and learned I’d won the award and a contract!!! Crooked Truth was selected as the best work of fiction that represented the human experience in a Southern context.
How’s that for beginner’s luck???
Ally: Do you write with a theme or message in mind?
KA: I didn’t begin writing Crooked Truth with a theme in mind, but as the characters and their conflicts became more real to me, the theme seemed to develop. And I went with it.
Ally: When did you first know you wanted to be a writer? What influenced that decision?
KA: I have always been a reader/writer. I kept a diary – complete with a small key –when I was young. As I got older, I began to keep a journal and taught high school English. I also worked as a freelance newspaper and magazine writer.
Ally: What's the best writing/marketing advice you can pass on to other writers?
KA: Keep reading and writing! You can’t publish an article or book if the material is tucked away in your drawer.
Ally: What is your next writing project? Anticipated release date?
KA: My next book, tentatively titled Outside the Diamond, follows two of the characters from Crooked Truth – Lucas and Cotton—into the early 1960’s. Lucas has stayed in the South. He lives in Atlanta and works as a freelance writer. But Cotton now lives in Cleveland, Ohio and is one of the first Negro ball players on a major league team. While their lives are very different, they both get involved in the early Civil Rights Movement. I hope it will be released in 2024 or 2025.
Ally: Which questions did you choose to answer in the lightning round?
KA:book you're currently reading: The Great Longing by Sue Monk Kidebook or print? Definitely print! I love the smell and feel of a book and I like to make notes in the margins.most watched tv show: Jeopardy, especially the tournament seriesfavorite comfort food: Sloppy Joe’sthe best thing a book fan has ever said to you: Sometimes true justice overrules our legal system.If you couldn't write anymore, what would you want to do? I hope I’ll always be able to write something – but if I couldn’t be a full-time writer, I’d like to be a Park Ranger and work at a historic site.Ally: It was a pleasure to visit with you, Kristine. Good luck with your debut novel. Before you get back to writing that sequel, please tell us a little about Crooked Truth.
Crooked Truth Genre: historical fiction for YA and adult readers
Rating: PG-13
A true Southern Gem—Daren Wang, author of The Hidden Lights of Northern Fires
Crooked Truth proudly takes its place in the ranks of Southern Literature—Christopher Swann,
author of Never Turn Back and Shadow of the Lion
Fifteen-year-old Lucas Webster doesn’t mind working in the fields and chopping cotton on his grandfather’s farm in South Georgia. But he hates getting stuck caring for his Uncle Robert.
Born with Down Syndrome, Robert can’t even tie his shoes or print his name. Though he is ten years older than Lucas, he follows Lucas around like a clumsy shadow.
Lucas wants to get out of Crisscross and be rid of his child-like uncle, but after his grandpa dies in the spring of 1948, things change. His grandmother withdraws in her grief and Alvin Earl, Robert’s half-brother, returns to manage the farm with his guns and stash of liquor. And Lucas must become more than a reluctant caretaker.
When a fatal shooting occurs late one hot afternoon, Lucas must decide what to tell the sheriff. As he discovers the ties that can destroy and bind a family, he cannot reveal what really happened to the local authorities or anyone else. He realizes that not all lies are alike. And he twists the truth to protect those he loves.
Purchasing links:
Amazon Books:
https://www.amazon.com/Crooked-Truth-...
Mercer University Press, Order by E-mail: mupressorders@mercer.edu
Thanks for spending time with us! See you next week?
