Ally Shields's Blog, page 20

Multi-Genre Author Kris Bock Discusses Writing and her Cat Cafe Romances

Welcome to our weekly Coffee Chat!
 
Today’s guest is multi-genre author Kris Bock, featuring The Furrever Friends Cat Cafe Collection, books 1-3 of this sweet romance series.
Thanks for providing us some distraction in the middle of the pandemic, Kris. What may I get you to drink?
 
KB:  I can't stand coffee! I'm totally a tea drinker. Black tea, only, please – most herbal teas smell nice but don't taste like anything. I'm not affected by caffeine.
 
Ally:  No problem. Black tea it is! While I fix our drinks, please introduce yourself to readers. Bio:
 
Kris Bock writes novels of romance, mystery, and suspense. Her Furrever Friends Sweet Romance series features the employees and customers at a cat café. Watch as they fall in love with each other and shelter cats.
 
Kris also writes romantic suspense set in the Southwestern U.S. If you love Mary Stewart or Barbara Michaels, try Kris Bock’s stories of treasure hunting, archaeology, and intrigue in the Southwest. Learn more at www.krisbock.com or visit Kris Bock’s Amazon US page or Amazon UK page. (For other countries click here.)

Something unusual that isn't in your regular bio: "I’m writing about a cat café. However … I am very allergic to cats, so I cannot have one. Instead, my husband and I keep ferrets. At least writing about a cat café gives me a chance to look at lots of pictures and videos of adorable cats and kittens."
 
Sign up for the Kris Bock newsletter at https://sendfox.com/lp/1g5nx3 to get a free 10,000-word story set in the world of the Furrever Friends cat café. You’ll also get a printable copy of the recipes mentioned in this book and future cat café novels.

Author Contacts:
 
Kris Bock website
Kris Bock Blog: The Southwest Armchair Traveler
Kris Bock on GoodReads
Kris Bock on Facebook
Kris Bock on Twitter
Kris Bock on Pinterest
Kris Bock on Instagram INTERVIEW:
 
Ally: Why did you write your featured book?
 
KB:  I've noticed lots of sweet, small-town romance series involving dogs, but few with cats. I think it's because dogs clearly bring people together – think dog parks, walking your dog, obedience training – while cats don't.
 
Until you consider cat cafés. These are a relatively recent trend, but you can now find dozens and dozens of cat cafés all around the world. Typically they partner with a shelter, so all the cats are available for adoption. This gives visitors a chance to spend more quality time with the cats before they choose one. Those of us who can't keep a cat in the home for whatever reason can at least visit some.
 
Ally:  Do the people in your real life show up in your writing? In what way?
 
KB:  Real life experiences sometimes give me ideas. What We Found is a mystery inspired by finding a dead body while hiking. Someone in law enforcement said that people often don't report crimes they stumbled across. That got me thinking – Why? What reasons would you have for not calling the police? The book also includes falconry, based on experiences I’ve had hanging out with a falconer.
 
Whispers in the Dark follows a young archaeologist who stumbles into danger as mysteries unfold among ancient Southwest ruins. That was inspired by a trip to Hovenweep National Monument some years ago. I loved that setting and had to use it in a book!
 
I had an idea for a series about treasure hunting adventures in the Southwest, so I read up on some lost treasures. In The Mad Monk’s Treasure, two friends search for the Victorio Peak treasure – a heretic Spanish priest’s gold mine, made richer by the spoils of bandits and an Apache raider. Their experiences in the desert are based on my experiences hiking in New Mexico, though they get more danger and drama.
 
The cat café series is less inspired by my life, but I look for lots of fun cat behavior in videos, friends’ Facebook posts, etc.
 
Ally:  What's the best writing/marketing advice you can pass on to other writers?
 
KB:  I blog about writing at Write Like a Pro!. (I don’t post often now, but check out the older posts. I especially love cliffhanger chapter endings.) I've also published two books of writing advice. Advanced Plotting is designed for the intermediate and advanced writer who still struggles with plot. The book includes insights and detailed tips to help you build a stronger plot and become a better writer.
 
You Can Write for Children: How to Write Great Stories, Articles, and Books for Kids and Teenagers is available for the Kindle, in paperback, or in Large Print paperback. When you write for children, you have the most appreciative audience in the world. But to reach that audience, you need to write fresh, dynamic stories, whether you’re writing rhymed picture books, middle grade mysteries, edgy teen novels, nonfiction, or something else.
 
Ally:  What is your next writing project? Anticipated release date?
 
KB:  I expect to keep writing in the cat café series. I'm hoping to have one out every couple of months. I also put a mystery on hold when I got this idea, and I'd like to get back to that.
 
In another genre, my brother is a script writer who wrote the original screenplay that eventually became the movie Sweet Home Alabama. Together we're writing prequel novellas about the characters when they were teenagers. The first one – tentatively titled Felony Melanie and the Pageant Pandemonium – may be out by the time this blog goes live.
 
Ally: Which of the short answer questions did you choose?
 
KB:a. ebook or print?  Ebook. My eyes prefer the larger font now.b. favorite accessory (jewelry, scarves, shoes, etc.):  Um … scrunchy to hold back my hair? I’m pretty casual, especially living in New Mexico and working from home. Dressing up means jeans instead of sweat pants.c. most beloved comic book character:  Scooby Doo. I've been reading Scooby Doo mash up graphic novels, which I get to the library app Hoopla. Scooby and the gang partner with everyone from Batman to Hong Kong Phooey. They're fun.d. Your pets:  Our ferrets are Princess Pandemonium (Panda) and Teddy Black Bear (Bear Bear). They are similar to cats in some ways. When they play, they are as rambunctious as kittens. Like adult cats, they sleep most of the time. They provide us with lots of amusement, snuggles, and cute photos for social mediae.  If you couldn't write anymore, what would you want to do?  Read all the time.​  Ally:  It's been a pleasure to have you, Kris. Continue to stay safe and healthy. Before you go, please show us your ebook containing novels 1-3 of your contemporary romance series.  THE FURREVER FRIENDS CAT CAFE COLLECTION: 
​Furrever Friends Sweet Romance books 1-3
Genre: contemporary romance  
Rating: G, "clean and wholesome."
 
The Furrever Friends Sweet Romance series features the workers and customers at a small-town cat café, and the adorable cats and kittens looking for their forever homes. Each book is a complete story with a happy ending for one couple (and maybe more than one rescued cat). These sweet romances will leave you with the warm, fuzzy feeling of cuddling a purring cat.

Coffee and Crushes at the Cat Café
 
What do you do when you meet the guy of your dreams? Set him up with your sister, of course.
 
Kittens and Kisses at the Cat Café
 
He’s loved her forever. She still sees him as the neighbor kid. Can five desperate kittens bring them together?
 
Tea and Temptation at the Cat Café
 
Can two lonely people get a second chance at finding love?
​
 
Buy Links*:
​
Now get all three books in the series!
ebook $7.99, free with Kindle Unlimited, paperback $14.99
 
Get the collection on Kris Bock's Amazon US page or Amazon UK page. (For other countries click here.)
 
(*Direct Link to US ebook: https://www.amazon.com/Furrever-Friends-Cat-Caf%C3%A9-Collection-ebook/dp/B084DYXKTY) Stay Well, and Come Back Soon!

Meet Cozy Mystery Author Camille Minichino aka Elizabeth Logan

It’s finally Wednesday, Booklovers!
 
Time for coffee (or the beverage of your choice) and book talk with guest author Camille Minichino with her featured cozy mystery, Mousse and Murder, published under the pen name of Elizabeth Logan.

Welcome, Camille. How do you take your coffee?
 
CM:  Decaf cappuccino, whole milk, bone dry, so the to-go cup feels empty.

Ally: Since I have a magic pot, I can meet any request. Please introduce yourself to readers while I fill our mugs. Bio:
 
Camille Minichino, a retired physicist turned writer, is the author of more than 25 mystery novels in five series, plus short stories and articles. Camille teaches science at Golden Gate U., and writing in the San Francisco Bay Area.
 
Something unique/unusual that isn't in your regular bio: “I was a Sister of Notre Dame for almost 20 years.”

Author Contacts:
 
Website: http://www.minichino.com.
Blog: http://www.minichino.com/wordpress.
Facebook: http://tinyurl.com/minichino
Twitter: @minichino INTERVIEW:
 
Ally:  Do you write with a theme or message in mind?
 
CM:  Yes, sometimes too many! In my first series (first book, “The Hydrogen Murder”) I tried to cover a love of my hometown and Revere Beach; a tribute to the Italian-American neighborhood I lived in; lessons in science literacy; and feminist themes with a woman physicist character, to name a few! I pared it down in later books.
 
Ally:  If you could meet your favorite author, what would you talk about?
 
CM:  It would be Joyce Carol Oates, and I would ask how she manages to write so dark, but not appear to be a dark person. Can she get into the mind of darkness and leave it easily to return to chatting with a friend over coffee? Can she give me tips on moving from cozies to Goth? Has she ever been approached with a movie deal? And, of course, how does she manage to write so many stories?
 
Ally:  Do you read reviews of your books? Do you respond to them? Good reviews are wonderful, but are you affected by the bad ones?
 
CM:  I read them with clenched teeth. And I never read from my own published book at a signing or on a panel. It’s finished, and I can’t correct anything! The same with reviews; I scan, and never respond.
 
Ally:  Do you prefer to read standalones or series books? Is it the same for writing?
 
CM:  Standalones for both. Although it belies my own writing (5 series!) I think standalones are usually better written. In the one that I wrote off-series (“Killer in the Cloister”) I wasn’t worried about “saving” something for the second book, or trying to keep continuity, or developing an arc that left growth for future books. It was all there: the character arcs, the setting, the complete story.
 
Ally:  Describe what you would consider the perfect get-away weekend.
 
CM:  An easy one! A room of my own in New York City, around Rockefeller Center. On Friday, I’d sit in the Times Square bleachers with my laptop and write a short story starring the energy of the city. The tourists, the office workers, the smells from the food carts, the chatter of people around me. Walk around, see a drama on Broadway—not a musical! Then “Home” to my doorman building and sleep to the sound of jackhammers. On Saturday, cab to the Met arriving at opening time, go from gallery to gallery on the second floor, visit the special exhibit. Edit short story at coffee spot near American wing. Walk through the Medieval wing, more galleries, lunch in the members’ dining room, fourth floor. More galleries, shopping in the main floor store, out the street level exit at closing time. Cab to Little Italy for dinner, visit the Italian-American Museum if reopened after remodeling; cannoli from a Mulberry St. vendor or Ferrari’s. Sunday mass at St. Patrick’s, shop Rockefeller Center, polish short story in Grand Central Terminal coffee shop, continue on to Bloomingdale’s. Take the last flight out, or buy a townhouse and stay.
 
Ally: Do you have another book in progress?
 
CM: Mousse and Murder was just released this month, but I do have Book 2 of the same series, Fishing for Trouble, coming out in November.
 
Ally: Which of the short answer questions did you choose?
 
CM:  memorable book you’ve read: The Chatham School Affair by Thomas H. Cook.most watched tv show: Ray Donovan. I love hit men, and he’s so much more.a movie you’ll always remember:  All the Godfathers. I can recite many scenes from memory.pie or cake? Strawberry rhubarb pie, or just rhubarb if available.Your hobbies: Miniatures—furnishing dollhouses and room boxes, making miniature scenes Ally: Thank you for being on the blog, Camille. Before you go, please show your featured book, Mousse and Murder.

​MOUSSE AND MURDER (An Alaskan Diner Mystery)
​Author Pen Name: Elizabeth Logan
Genre: Cozy mystery, whodunnit
Released: May 5, 2020
 
When Chef Charlotte “Charlie” Cooke was offered the chance to leave San Francisco and return home to Elkview, Alaska, and take over her mother’s diner, she didn’t even consider saying no. For the past year, she’s built a comfortable existence, spending her days making sure the restaurant runs smoothly and that her orange tabby, Benny, is appropriately pampered.
Determined to bring fresh life and flavors to the Bear Claw Diner, Charlie starts planning changes to the menu, which has grown stale over the years. Then her head chef, Oliver, turns up dead after a bitter and public fight over Charlie’s ideas—leaving Charlie and her staff the prime suspects.
With her career, freedom, and life all on thin ice, Charlie must find out who the real killer is, before it’s too late.
 
Buy Links List:

https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/622413/mousse-and-murder-by-elizabeth-logan/
​ Stay safe and healthy...

Author Carol Preflatish Branches Out into Mystery Fiction

​Good Morning, Booklovers!
 
Another mystery author is visiting the Coffee Chat this week. Please join me in welcoming Carol Preflatish with her featured novel, Homecoming to Murder, book one in a brand new mystery series.
Thank you for coming, Carol. How do you take your coffee?
 
CP:  I normally drink one cup of coffee with two sugars in the morning. On different mornings, I might use whatever creamer I have in the refrigerator. Right now, it's Starbucks Caramel Macchiato creamer. That's my favorite drink when I go to Starbucks. During the winter months, I love having Peppermint creamer in my coffee, and in the summer when it's warmer, I like to drink hot green tea first thing in the morning.
 
Ally: Since it’s neither summer nor winter, how about that Starbuck’s Caramel Macchiato? :)  I’ll fix our mugs while you introduce yourself to readers. Bio:
 
Carol Preflatish knew at an early age that she loved to write. In high school and college, her favorite classes were composition and creative writing, but it wasn't until after she married and then became a parent that she decided to pursue it seriously. She published her first romantic suspense in 2009 and followed that up with six more.
In 2019, Carol decided to switch to writing mysteries, with the first book in her new series, Homecoming to Murder, released in March, 2020. She's a member of the national Sisters in Crime organization, and active in the local SinC group in Louisville, Kentucky. Carol lives in southern Indiana.
 
Something not in your regular bio: “I have a degree in Physical Education, and I've been a licensed Amateur Radio Operator for over 20 years.”
 
Author Contacts:
 
Web site: http://www.carolpre.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/AuthorCarolPreflatish
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/CarolPreflatish
Amazon Author page: https://www.amazon.com/author/carolpre
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/carolpre
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4957220.Carol_Preflatish
INTERVIEW:
 
Ally:  Do you know the book’s ending before you start writing? How specific is it? Does it ever change?
 
CP:  With the first two books in my series, I knew from the start who I wanted the murderers to be and how he/she was discovered. However, I'm currently writing chapter four of the third book and I still can't decide who the murderer is going to be.
 
Ally:   Tell us about your reading habits. Favorite genres. Books read per month, year? Print or ebooks? Current favorites?
 
CP:  I love reading mysteries, with my favorite authors being James Patterson, Lisa Gardner, and the late Robert B. Parker. Unfortunately, I love watching TV a little too much, so my reading is limited to Saturday and Sunday. I usually get one book read a month. I read both ebooks and print, but lately have been reading more print books. The last book I read was Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens. It was such a good book.
 
Ally:  Describe what you would consider the perfect get-away weekend.
 
CP:  Always the mountains. My late husband and I always went to the mountains in Tennessee at least two or three times a year. We would rent a cabin and my favorite thing is to sit on the back deck with my laptop and work on my books.
 
Ally:   Do you write on a desktop, laptop or on paper? Why? Does it make a difference whether it’s a first or last draft?
 
CP:  I write mostly on my laptop, but if I'm going somewhere, I will take my tablet to write with. Whenever I get stuck, I usually will switch to paper and pencil. I feel so much more creative when I'm writing on paper. When I worked full time and before the invention of tablets, I would write on paper during my lunch hour and then come home at night to type it up on my laptop. For the final draft, it's always on the laptop.
 
Ally:   If your house was burning (your family and pets are already out safe), what one thing would you try to save? Why?
 
CP:  My laptop, or at least the external drive of my laptop. I have so many pictures and documents on there. My manuscripts are saved in the cloud, but not my other things. I also always carry a flashdrive with me wherever I go, just in case of a disaster. It may seem a little paranoid, but I lost a couple chapters of a manuscript once when I didn't back up my work. It was horrible trying to recreate them. Ever since then, I backup, backup, backup.
 
Ally:   What is your next writing project? Anticipated release date?
 
CP:  I just finished the second book in the Nathan Perry mystery series, The Coin Collector. I don't have a release date, but I'm hoping for late 2020 or early 2021.
 
Ally: Which of the quick answer questions did you choose?
 
CP: 
an author (living or dead) you'd love to take to lunch:  Robert B. Parkermost watched tv show: There's so many, but I suppose the show I try to never miss is Seal Team on CBS.favorite comfort food: My homemade mac and cheese.What type of music do you prefer? I love listening to 70's classic rock.If you couldn't write anymore, what would you want to do? I love photography and would spend a lot of time taking photos, specifically nature and wildlife photography. 
Ally: I’ve enjoyed our chat, Carol. Before you go, please show us your featured book.
 
CP:  Thank you so much for hosting me today. This is my new  mystery, Homecoming to Murder...



Homecoming to Murder (Nathan Perry Mystery series, No. 1)
Genre: mystery
Rating: PG-13
 
Nathan Perry, having recuperated from his Gulf War injuries, returns to his hometown of Mystic, Massachusetts to become the police department's first detective. His initial assignment is to discover who has been breaking into homes in the most affluent part of town, but more importantly, find out who murdered one of the residents.
 
Buy Links:
Amazon - https://amzn.to/2wy6m3K
Barnes and Noble - https://bit.ly/2wuIVZy
Kobo - https://bit.ly/2xpceg0
iTunes - https://apple.co/39glxw0 
​ Thanks for stopping. Stay safe, and Come back soon!

Mystery Author Liese Sherwood-Fabre Explores Sherlock's Early Years

Welcome to the Coffee Chat!
 
This week’s guest for book chat is mystery author Liese Sherwood-Fabre, bringing us her featured book, The Adventure of a Murdered Midwife (The Early Case Files of Sherlock Homes, Case One).
Good morning, Liese. How do you take your coffee?
 
LSF: I like my coffee with some type of creamer (anything from half and half to almond milk—the lower the fat, the better.) In a pinch, I’ve been known to go with the artificial ones.
 
Ally:  No need for artificial ones here. :) While I pour, please tell readers something about yourself. Bio:
 
Liese Sherwood-Fabre knew she was destined to write when she got an A+ in the second grade for her story about Dick, Jane, and Sally’s ruined picnic. After obtaining her PhD from Indiana University, she joined the federal government and had the opportunity to work and live internationally for more than fifteen years. After returning to the states, she seriously pursued her writing career.
 
Her writing has been recognized with a series of awards, including a Pushcart Prize nomination, a Golden Heart finalist, and a blue ribbon from Chanticleer Book Reviews. Steve Berry has called her work “Good old-fashioned, gimmick-free storytelling” and Gemma Halliday enthused her current novel is “a classic in the making.” A recognized Sherlockian scholar, her essays on Sherlock and Victorian England are published across the globe and have appeared in the Baker Street Journal, the premiere publication of the Baker Street Irregulars.
 
Something unusual about yourself: “I’m in a handbell choir at my church. I have played handbells since I was in the seventh grade and managed to continue at different churches in my college years as well as an adult. Unlike some choirs or instruments, it has to be a total group effort. Only together can you make music. If you’ve never heard this type of music, you can check it out here (not my choir).”
 
Social Media Links:
 
Website
Facebook
Twitter
Amazon Author Page
Goodreads Author Page INTERVIEW:
 
Ally:  Why did you write your featured book?
 
LSF:  A few years ago, I was working out on a treadmill (I get some of my best ideas when working out) and wondered how Sherlock Holmes came to be the “world’s most famous detective.” A little research revealed Sir Arthur Conan Doyle provided very little about his character’s origins. In one story, Holmes shares that his ancestors were country squires and his grandmother was the sister of Vernet, the French artist. That information along with having a brother named Mycroft represented the extent of his history and provided basically a blank slate to create a series around him and his family. I decided that the conventional idea that his father somehow shaped his development was too boring. Instead, I decided his mother was a very intelligent woman who was restricted by Victorian society but shaped her children’s instruction in a way that made him into the logician we find in the later stories. I fell in love with my young Sherlock and hope others do too. To date, the reviews have all been 5 stars, so there are some out there that truly enjoy it as well.
 
Ally:  What's the best writing/marketing advice you can pass on to other writers?
 
LSF:  Something I learned in grad school: you can’t edit what isn’t written down. I was working on my master’s thesis at the time and attended a panel presentation on thesis and dissertation writing. During the discussion, someone said, “Get it down on paper. It doesn’t have to be perfect. You can edit it later. But it needs to be written down.” I live by that.
 
Ally: If you met JK Rowling (or any other favorite author), what would you talk about?
 
LSF:  I’m a Potterhead, and I would probably pester JK Rowling with many different questions. I think the one I’m most interested in is the arc through the eight books. I’m such a pantser (develop the plot as I go), I have only a vague idea how the story will develop. I know she had boxes of notes for each book, but how much was truly plotted out ahead of time? How much was written/developed on the fly? When did she come up with the idea of horcuxes? Did she have this idea from the first book? She’d probably kick me out after the first five hours.
 
Ally:  What three books in your genre would you recommend to fans (after they’ve read your books, of course!).
 
LSF:  There are several editions of the collected Sherlock Holmes stories. Arthur Conan Doyle wrote four novels and fifty-six short stories (60 cases in all). I would suggest fans begin there (after mine—which will give you a good background). Sherry Thomas has a Miss Holmes series, which has a different twist—Sherlock Holmes is the fictious brother of Charlotte Holmes who actually solves the cases but gives her “brother” the credit. Bonnie McBird has another series that follow those in the original tales.
 
Ally:  Do you prefer to read standalones or series books? Is it the same for writing?
 
LSF:  I enjoy both, but there’s something special about series. Often, I get to the end of a book and wish there were more. With a series, I get to catch up with the same main character(s). They are like old friends who share what they’ve been up to since last you spoke.
 
I’ve not written a series before, but there was so much material for this one to spin as he grows. I have about seven years I can cover from age 13 to about 20. So much fun!
 
Ally:  What is your next writing project? Anticipated release date?
 
LSF:  I’m in the final editing stages of Case Two: The Adventure of the Murdered Gypsy. It will be available for pre-order in May and will be published in late July/early August. I’m finishing Case Three: The Adventure of the Deceased Scholar with pre-orders scheduled for June and publishing in August/September. After that, I will be releasing my third volume of essays: The Life and Times of Sherlock Holmes: Essays on Victorian England for October/November. In between all this, I have plans for one or two short stories.
 
Ally: What an ambitious schedule. Good luck with it. Now, I’m eager to see which of the short answer questions you chose.
 
LSF:An item on your bucket list:  “I want to go to Antarctica and see the penguins. Ever since I first learned about the frozen continent and these birds, I’ve always thought it would be so cool to actually go there and observe them in the wild. I’m not a huge fan of freezing cold, I’d brave it for this.”Most watched tv show:  “I enjoy Big Bang Theory immensely and watch the reruns every night when I prepare dinner. Of course, it’s over and now I have to satisfy my craving for new stories with Young Sheldon. I think part of the attraction is he reminds me of Sherlock. That and I was a nerd in school (I once won a math trophy) and so relate well with all the characters except Penny (I can only wish I looked like her.)”Last time you rode a train (not subway):  “My son is studying in Europe for the year, and we went over to visit him in late 2019 and early 2020. We took trains a number of places from the boring (airport to city) to the interesting (Verona, for example). Once we had to ride the whole way standing up. Long story (and ride) there.”Pie or cake?  “It depends on the kind. Lemon—pie; Chocolate—cake.”Your pets - type and names:  “My son left us a border-collie mix about ten years ago because he moved into an apartment and couldn’t keep him. His name is Guaro—for a Costa Rican rum he came across while visiting the country.” Ally:  Thanks for visiting with us, Liese. I hope your Sherlockian series really takes off. Can you tell us a little more about Case One before you go?

The Adventure of a Murdered Midwife (The Early Case Files of Sherlock Homes, Case One)
Genre: mystery (historical)
Rating: PG-13
 
The Adventure of the Murdered Midwife introduces Sherlock having endured a miserable few weeks of his first year at Eton. Sherlock’s father calls him and his brother back to Underbyrne, the ancestral estate. The village midwife has been found with a pitchfork in her back in the estate’s garden, and Mrs. Holmes has been accused of the murder. She must depend on the family—but especially Sherlock—to solve the murder and save her from the gallows.
 
Pre-Order/Buy Links: 
Amazon
Barnes and Noble
Kobo
Apple Stay well, and come back soon!

Mary Keliikoa Goes from Law to Murder - Novels that Is

Good Morning, Booklovers!
 
I hope you’re staying safe and well as we hit the midpoint of another week of sheltering. Guest author Mary Keliikoa is with me today (virtually, of course) with her soon-to-be-released mystery book, Derailed, to join us in talking about books instead of the latest news.
 
Welcome, Mary! How  do you take your coffee?
 
MK:  Coffee you say? Why, yes please! Just fill the bottom with some non-fat milk and pour coffee to the rim! French Roast if you have it, but anything from the islands is a treat!
 
Ally: My magic pot can meet any request. While I pour, please introduce yourself to readers. Bio:
 
A Pacific Northwest native, Mary Keliikoa enjoys the area in all its beauty. She spent 18 years in law and uses that experience to create a twisting story where justice prevails. She’s published a short story with Woman’s World, and is the author of the PI Kelly Pruett Series that debuts with DERAILED on May 12. When she's not in Washington state, you can find Mary on a beach on the Big Island where she and her husband recharge. But even under the palm trees and blazing sun she is plotting her next murder-- novel that is.
 
Something unique/unusual about you: “I am a musician at heart. I play 10 instruments, half of them well enough that won’t make you want to run away.”

On Beating the Devil, Working from Home

​Welcome, booklovers!

How is everyone coping with the "new norm" and sheltering at home? It gets a bit tedious, I know,  but Kath and her dragons are back this weekend to give us some tips (and a lot of smiles.)

​Take it away, Kathye! On Beating the Devil, Working from Home




The Devil whispered in my ear,
"You're not strong enough to withstand the storm."
Today I whispered in the Devil's ear,
 "I AM THE STORM." ​I love this shirt!  As a country, as a world, we face a huge challenge. We have the choice: whimper and whine or stand up and fight. We’re a country born of fighters. We’re a world born of fighters. We’ll stand and fight the Devil. And we will win.
 
And best as humans, we are creative. We find the way.
 
A quick word on how I fight beginning with anything we bring in the house.  Quarantine level one is in our garage. Hand sanitizer at the back door gets used constantly. ( homemade with ⅔ rubbing alcohol and ⅓ aloe gel) Shoes worn outside the house are left outside.
 
Deliveries and Pick up orders hit, much to First Husband’s amusement,  my cardboard boxes production line. Produce gets to come on inside but is washed at once (tiny bit of soap and lots of water). Anything else is spread out on the boxes that have undergone decontamination, at least 24 hours untouched in the garage or in the sun if possible. Items that can be sprayed with a solution of alcohol and water are sprayed on the cardboard boxes line but still wait a day to come inside. Scissors used to open boxes are sprayed. Hands are thoroughly washed all day long. Whenever I’m not writing, I’m sitting on my hands to keep from touching my face. ​

​Weeks ago, here in PA we started out with social distancing and closing the schools. Here’s the empty local high school parking lot with the socially distanced Driver’s Ed vans. They usually park side by side. As a writer, I’m used to working from home. Because I don’t live alone in a cave, that has its own challenges.

First, let me deny the rumor that I locked First Husband out of the house so I could have quiet for writing. These so called potential witnesses are looking forward to a large order of cat treats. They saw nothing.
​
​It’s really true that routine is necessary. Get up at a regular time and treat the day as if you are going to an out of the house job. Get breakfast. Get dressed. Report to work. Really, this works.  Specifics:
Getting up: I rely on getting up before First Husband. This alone-time gives me a chance to do a plethora of things without supervision. He is used to supervising, and I am used to doing it my way. So ….
Okay, this photo is why I really get up before dawn. I wait for it each and every day. Sometimes it’s rain clouds dark and light, big and small, today fog that makes me think of spooky stories. But most days I watch the sun paint cloud bottoms orange and then slide like a golden snake over the valley edge. 

Of course I’m not watching naked. We have too many windows, and it’s not good to scare the neighbors. So I get dressed. I do this in the dark, careful not to wake First Husband. Which I could use as an excuse for the result, but I do pick my clothes the night before and lay them out in the bathroom. And yes, since I am not going out, I love sweatpants and one of the completely inappropriate t-shirts I’ve been collecting for years. If they’re clean, I choose the chic black sweatpants. I wish I owned the I Am the Storm cat t-shirt. 


Did I mention hair and make up? I am a general failure on this one. See photo.

I’m already weeks past a new round of highlights and haircut. I have one of my dad’s old Marine jungle hats. Yeah. That’ll do it.

Breakfast. I’m up first, I can eat anything I want, including the imaginary leftover pizza we are too far out in the country to get delivered. I think I’ll imagine cheese and onion for tomorrow’s breakfast. 

If you eat while you work, keep the pizza away from electronics. I am working on removing chocolate bits from between my laptop’s keys. Don’t ask.

 I think back to what I would do if this pandemic had happened before Professor Daughter grew up and ran away to be Professor Daughter.
 
Once the rest of the household is up, work hours are trickier. With all your loved ones locked up in the house that felt like a huge mansion the last time you cleaned, home now feels smaller than the inside of a Smiley car. 
If you can, assign personal work spaces to each person in the house. Whether it’s a chair at the kitchen table for school or work work or a corner on the floor. Just a space for each.
 
Now for your own work space. Short of locking the family out of the house, you need: a closet, a light source- flash light or lantern, pencil and paper and/or your laptop computer. Stay put even if you have to block the door with your body. Make your family prove they’re really on fire if they start yelling to get you out. As you dial 911, scream at them to run outside and roll in the grass that they were supposed to have cleared of the dog’s poop yesterday! 

Of course that assumes you are not also in charge of home schooling the next generation. If you are, you are my hero! I taught Professor Daughter to read when she was four. An experience for which I doubt either of us will ever find there is enough therapy. And maybe why she is a Professor of Psychology. I’m not going to think about that.
 
There is a time when you’ll come out of the closet where you have written the next great novel or done two weeks’ worth of work from home. Dinner. Variety is the spice of dinner. Each person in your household gets a turn being in charge of dinner. Everybody participates. It doesn’t matter if their choice is a sandwich or a bowl of cereal. But make a ‘date’ with everybody to gather for this. Prepare and eat it together. 

After dinner, after work, pick a peaceable fun activity to do together. Let me think. Monopoly turned into a war game last time we played. My grandfather taught me how to cheat at cards; which for some reason gets on other people’s nerves. I’m out. I have no clue what to pick.
 
All that said, I have to admit that I am an accomplished procrastinator. Instead of writing on my newest project, I worked on this post. Which gave me joy. 
​
As we put our days together to stand against this pandemic, we humans will, as the I Am the Storm t-shirt says, “beat the Devil.” We will come out of this pandemic a little sadder, a lot wiser, and definitely stronger. 
​
Kathye

About the Author:

Before Kath Boyd Marsh moved to Pennsylvania to write about dragons, wizards, and other fantastic creatures, she lived in eight states, Panama, and one very haunted colonial house. The Lazy Dragon and the Bumblespells Wizard (CBAYBooks.blog) was her debut novel. Visit her and the dragons at KathBoydMarshauthor.com.
 
Contacts:

Website: http://kathboydmarshauthor.com
Blog: http://Kath-LettersfromEarth.blogspot.com
​Twitter: http://twitter.com/kmarshfen The Lazy Dragon and the Bumblespells Wizard-http://amzn.to/2c6IOH4,
Dragon Bonded-  https://amzn.to/2MMNhhF
 
The Pendragon Crystal from the Dragons and Witches anthology- http://amzn.to/2nOX8tv)
Perilous Princesses-  https://amzn.to/2In05gn .
 
 Bubbles and Smush: Closet Monsters -  https://amzn.to/2mW7OrJ
Bubbles and Smush: Trick or Treats-   https://amzn.to/2mWjf2C
Bubbles and Smush: Dragon Rescue: https://amzn.to/2lQSRas
Stay safe. Stay healthy.

Author Mary Caelsto Merges Her Love of Horses and Fantasy

​It’s time for our weekly Coffee Chat!

I hope you’re all staying safe and healthy. From her "shelter" in the Ozarks, this week's guest author, Mary Caelsto, is joining us for book talk and a peek at her featured fantasy book, The Pegasus Project.

Good Morning, Mary. How do you take your coffee?

MC:  Thanks so much for having me. I am probably more of a coffee snob than someone who lives in the Ozarks, 100 miles from the nearest Starbucks (or any good coffee shop, really) should be. I drink my coffee with a splash of milk (almond or whole milk, whatever I have on hand) or if I’m feeling fancy, half and half. I treated myself to Keurig-Duo on a Black Friday special this past holiday season, so I have refillable coffee cups, and use coffee blends that I’ve purchased. My favorite is Verena Street’s Cow Tipping Blend. It’s delicious!

Ally: My magic pot can do that, so while I’m brewing and pouring, please tell readers something about your background. Mary and "Super Duck" 3/2019 BIO:

Mary Kit Caelsto never grew out of the phase of being a "horse crazy girl". Though she's now over 40, she's finally fulfilling her dream of writing equestrian books for others who haven't grown out of being "horse crazy". She lives in the Ozarks with her four very spoiled and very opinionated horses, as well as a large flock of poultry and enough cats to qualify her as a crazy cat lady. Her husband, though not an equestrian himself, understands and supports all her equestrian dreams.
 
She's convinced three of the best things in the world are the smell of a sun warmed horse, the smell of leather tack, and making sure to hug her horses every single day.
 
MC: “You asked about something unique that isn’t in my regular bio. Well, I’m sure it’s not unique, but I’m a D&D geek and would love to make a table top RPG (roll playing game) of my Musimagium world. That’s been on my mind since I initially conceived of the world about ten years ago.”
​
Author Contacts:
 
Website: http://marykitcaelsto.com (Visit and sign up for free stories!)
Patreon: https://patreon.com/marykitcaelsto (Patreons receive free stories. Support starts at $1/month.)
Twitter: http://twitter.com/charmedozarks
Facebook: http://facebook.com/marykitcaelsto
Instagram: http://instagram.com/marykitcaelsto
GoodReads:https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/98579871-mary-caelsto 
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/mary-kit-caelsto INTERVIEW:

Ally:  Why did you write your featured book?
 
MC:  As someone who is open about my chronic illness and advocates for chronic pain/chronic illness patients like myself, my writing as of late has turned to marginalized characters, whether by disability or other factors, and Sonia came to mind very easily as a mature adult with RA who had her career taken from her. I wanted to bring her, and honestly people like her who are living their daily lives, a bit of magic. So I set her in The Land of Enchantment (New Mexico) and brought her a couple of Pegasus and some unicorns.
 
Ally:  Do the people in your real life show up in your writing? In what way?

MC:  Sometimes. *Evil writer’s grin* Under another pen name, I’m not ashamed to say that I had a couple of bad bosses killed off by an alien invasion. It’s a writer’s prerogative, right? Recently, I placed one of my longtime best friends in a book doing a job she’d love to do and being a strong supporting character for my goddess-main character. She was thrilled, and I can’t wait to show her the finished work.
 
Ally:  Describe what you would consider the perfect get-away weekend.
 
MC:  Since I live on several acres in the Ozarks, my perfect get-away weekend would be one where I don’t have any mundane duties (grocery store runs, homestead chores, etc.) and could just spend the time as I wish, with my horses or perhaps working on beautifying our land, or even in the garden. So instead of getting away from my location, I’d be getting away from the mundane demands of life.
 
Ally:  Do you write on a desktop, laptop or on paper? Why? Does it make a difference whether it’s a first or last draft?
 
MC:  This is a rather funny question since the tech gods have been unhappy with me as of late. (I don’t know what I did to peeve them off. I work in IT for a day job, and tech normally loves me.) In the span of about two months, I’ve had two laptops, my old standby and then the replacement one, die. So as of this, I’m on a desktop that I’d been using just for a file server, and am finding I like the idea of turning off the computer and going to relax for the evenings, rather than taking a laptop to the bedroom with me to work and watch television.
 
I type all of my drafts, but then when I edit, I print it out on paper and do a markup, which I then transfer back to the digital file. I think it helps me to see errors better.
 
Ally:  What is your next writing project? Anticipated release date?
 
MC:  I recently finished a string of novellas for boxed sets in this world, and I was about to finish book 11 in my women’s equestrian lit series when the laptop died. So I need to get the files off that one and look at my April planner and see what I have up my sleeve. I tend to write short and am pretty prolific, so I encourage readers to sign up for my newsletter or follow me on Amazon to see what I’m releasing next.
 
Ally:  Show me which of the short answer questions you selected.
 
MC: a. An author (living or dead) you'd love to take to lunch:  Mercedes Lackey. It was her book (I’ll talk about that later) which got me into the fantasy genre. She’s a fellow bird person, as am I, so I suspect we could talk parrot stories (or raptors or chicken) for a good long time before turning our talk toward writing.b. An item on your bucket list:  I’d love to see parrots in the “wild”. Whether that’s the Telegraph Hill parrots in California, or the Monk Parakeets in Hyde Park in Chicago. I don’t fly, so I doubt I’d get to South America or Australia, but to see them in a wild habitat would be lovely.c. The supernatural character that got you hooked on the genre:  The first fantasy book I read was Mercedes Lackey’s Magic’s Pawn. Vanyel has stolen the heart of many a reader, and when you combined the equine companion with a brooding, handsome young man on the cover, well my pre-teen heart was lost—both to the character as well as the genre. And I’d say that Kerowyn (By The Sword) was the character that sold it for me. She’s a stubborn, hard-headed warrior who happens to find herself on adventure, as well as becoming a Herald of Valdemar. Ride, warrior, ride indeed…d. A little known fact about you:  I could probably be MacGyver in another life. Whether it was growing up and spending time with my dad, who was a mechanic and did a lot of DIY Projects, or hanging out with my grandpa, or just some kind of natural, knack, if something is broken in our house or we need to do something, I can come up with a solution that while not pretty or elegant, quite often works to fix the problem. Whether it’s computer surgery, homestead issues (fencing, etc.), or something related to our livestock or pets, I can take care of it. Ally: It was a pleasure to meet you, Mary.
 
MC:  Thank you so much for having me. It’s been great! Take care, and everyone stay safe.
 
Ally: You too. We’ve one last thing to do... please show us your featured book, The Pegasus Project. ​

The Pegasus Project
Genre: Clean Contemporary Fantasy/Magic Realism
Novella

Once a celebrated concert pianist, Sonia Morales retired to the New Mexico countryside after her RA made it impossible to continue her career. She cared for her special plot of land and some magical equines as best as she could. She never imagined getting close to them or forming a bond until the night a storm knocks down their shelter and the fate of their filly is revealed.
If she doesn’t bond with a human and fly, she’ll die.
Sonia fears her body isn’t up to the task, though her magic and spirit are willing. Discovering the reason for the filly’s fears of humans makes her more determined than ever to protect them. She’s offered the chance of a lifetime and an opportunity to help not just her filly, but all pegasus. Is she strong enough to take it? And can a disabled woman and a pegasus with PTSD bond enough to fly?

Buy for 2.99 or Amazon  KU: https://amzn.to/3asoYkt  Hope you'll be back next week!

Author DV Stone Writes Contemporary Romance with Hope

Good Morning, booklovers!
 
As we’re all sheltering in place and keeping our social distance, grab your coffee or tea and join me in welcoming guest author DV Stone, featuring her contemporary romance, Rock House Grill.
 
Welcome, Donna. How do you take your coffee?
 
DVS: I love it with 1 Splenda and cream. My hubby brings me my first cup every morning. Then my sister and I say good morning to each other by delivering virtual coffee to each other via memes.
 
Ally: What a terrific way to start your morning! While I fill our mugs, please tell readers a little about yourself.
Bio:
 
“Hi, my name is D. V. Stone. Rock House Grill, a contemporary romance, was just released on April 6th by Wild Rose Press. I host Welcome to the Campfire, a weekly blog. I am also a multi-genre author of two independently published books. Felice, Shield-Mates of Dar is a fantasy romance. Agent Sam Carter: The Mystery at Branch Lake is a mid-grade paranormal.
 
Born in Brooklyn, I moved around a bit and even lived for a time on a dairy farm in Minnesota before moving back east. Throughout my wandering, I always considered myself a Jersey Girl. I met and married the love of my life, Pete—a lifelong Jersey Man, and moved this time to Sussex County.  We adopted Hali, a mixed breed from the local shelter, who is still working things out with our cat Baby.
 
Thank you for taking the time to read about me. Each time you open the pages to one of my books, I hope you'll be swept away by the story and find encouragement in your own life, never to give up on hope.”
 
Something unique/unusual that isn't in your bio: “I worked for many years in a women’s state prison. It’s where I met my husband and actually became engaged.” 
 
Author Contacts:
 
Website     Facebook     Twitter          Instagram
Pinterest    Bookbub     Goodreads     Newsletter
Welcome to the Campfire Blog          Amazon Author Page
INTERVIEW:
 
Ally:  Do you write with a theme or message in mind?
 
DVS: All of my work is about hope, love, and friendship. No matter what the circumstances of our lives, with hope, we can move forward. Life can really toss us some nasty surprises. I’ve been divorced, lost a business, been laid off from a job I loved. Medical problems are a struggle for me. If I didn’t have hope for better days to come and family and friends to help me, I’d probably be a quivering bowl of jelly.
 
Ally:   Do the people in your real life show up in your writing? In what way?
 
DVS:  As a writer, I think I am a piece of all my characters, whether contemporary or fantasy—good or bad. Some of my characters are an amalgamation of people and events in my life.
 
Ally: Do you know the book’s ending before you start writing? How specific is it? Does it ever change?
 
DVS:  Generally, it ends with Happily Ever After. I am about hope, after all. Life is tough. Sometimes, we need the idea of things coming to a full and satisfactory ending. Sometimes when I’m bogged down in the middle of a story, I’ll go to the end and work backward. Since I know where I want to end up.
 
Ally:  Which of your books is your personal favorite? Why?
DVS:  My heart is still in my work in progress folder. Kingdom at a Crossroad is an epic fantasy. It’s my first baby. One day I hope to finish it and the other two in the series. I retire soon and hope to find the time to re-engage with it.
 
Ally:  Describe what you would consider the perfect get-away weekend.
 
DVS:  I’m so blessed to be able to live my perfect get-away weekends. My husband and I own a 5th Wheel travel trailer. We love to camp or Glamp, as I call it. Often we take friends or family with us. Sitting around the fire talking while something bubbles in the Dutch Oven over the fire while our favorite music plays in the background. Heaven.
 
Ally:  What is your next writing project? Anticipated release date?
 
DVS:  I’m diligently working on the second book of the Impact Series titled Jazz House. This story has many of the same characters, but I’m very excited to introduce a new character named Vanessa. I also have a novella coming out this summer titled Rainbow Sprinkles. It will be part of the Wild Rose Press’s One Scoop or Two series.
 
Ally:  Which of the short answer questions caught your eye?
 
DVS:a. memorable book you’ve read - Lord of the Rings- all of themb. book you're currently reading - Australia Burnsc. an author (living or dead) you'd love to take to lunch - JRR Tolkiend. an item on your bucket list - Visit the Valley of the Kingse. ebook or print? eBook - I almost always read on my phone.Ally: Thanks for visiting, Donna. Talking books is a ray of sunshine at a time we need it. Before you go, please show us your new release, Rock House Grill.
​Rock House Grill
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Rating: sweet
  
One man’s choices—One woman’s impact
 
Aden House, successful but driven chef and TV personality, refuses to slow down. His life implodes one night, damaging him both physically and emotionally. He's rescued by a woman he thinks of as his angel.
 
Shay McDowell has rebuilt her life after her divorce. She juggles volunteer EMT duties and her job, while dreaming of becoming a chef. She finds her way to Rock House Grill and back into the life of the man she helped save.
 
Can love be the ingredient needed to survive the many obstacles they face?
 
Buy Links:
Amazon           Barnes & Noble          iBook’s
 
 
Excerpt
 
“Easy, you’re going to be okay.” A soft voice eased through the chaos around him. The owner of the voice grabbed his arms and held them in a firm but gentle grip. “I’m right here with you. You are not alone.” “Can hardly m-move.” His voice slurred. “C-can’t see anything.” “You’ve been in an accident. I’m an EMT with the ambulance squad,” the velvety voice calmly explained. “You can’t see well because we’re under a tarp. Hold still, okay?” “‘K.” A small light flickered at the edge of his vision. It shone into a bag next to him. Penlight. “You’re restrained to a board. It’s to keep your head from moving and causing more injury.” She continued to talk to him. The voice reached down somewhere inside him, calming and peaceful, so he focused on it. A glow from spotlights on the outside lit whatever covered them. The shadow gave the woman the appearance of a halo—like an angel.
Please take care of each other...

Augustina Van Hoven Puts a Bite in her Books!

Welcome, Booklovers!
 
Our guest author this week is Augustina Van Hoven, featuring her vampire romance, The Hidden.
It's nice to meet you, Augustina.  How do you take your coffee?
 
AVH:  I like lattes and mochas rather than regular coffee.  I have a machine that makes both.  My favorite is a mocha latte with a shot of caramel.
 
Ally: My magic pot can make anything, so while I pour that mocha latte with caramel, please introduce yourself to readers. Bio:
 
Augustina Van Hoven was born in The Netherlands and currently resides in the Pacific Northwest with her husband, dog and two cats.  She is an avid reader of romance, science fiction and fantasy.  When she’s not writing she likes to work in her garden or in the winter months crochet and knit on her knitting machines. 

Something unique that isn't in your regular bio: “My bio says I was born in The Netherlands.  What it doesn’t say is that English is not my native language.”
 
Author Contacts:
 
Website:     https://augustinavanhoven.com/
Twitter:  https://twitter.com/augustinavhoven
FaceBook:  https://www.facebook.com/Augustina-Van-Hoven/
Pinterest:  https://www.pinterest.co.uk/augustinavhoven/
Amazon Author page: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=augustina+van+hoven&i=digital-text&crid=UB2V9AGQJ51D&sprefix=Augustina%2Cdigital-text%2C346&ref=nb_sb_ss_i_1_9
Bookbub page: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/augustina-van-hoven INTERVIEW:
 
Ally:  When did you first know you wanted to be a writer? What influenced that decision?
 
AVH:  I’ve always written things like short stories and poems.  In the 7th grade I had an English teacher who gave the class a special writing assignment.  We had to write a paragraph with the line “and suddenly the phone rang.”  Everyone else wrote a paragraph, I wrote an entire story about a detective agency and cast every kid in the class as a character.  After that assignment, my teacher encouraged me to keep writing.
 
Ally:  Do you know the book’s ending before you start writing? How specific is it? Does it ever change?
AVH:  Every time I start a book, I know the beginning and I know the end.  The fun for me is figuring out the middle.  Sometimes my characters take me in a direction I didn’t see coming, but we always end up where we’re supposed to.
 
Ally:  Do you prefer to read standalones or series books? Is it the same for writing?
 
AVH:  I prefer to read series.  When I find a story with a world that I like, I want to stay in it as long as possible.  It’s the same way when I write.  I usually create a lot more details then actually appear in the first book.  When I write the next books in the series I can add more details, expand the world and write deeper stories.
 
Ally:  Do you write on a desktop, laptop or on paper? Why? Does it make a difference whether it’s a first or last draft?
 
AVH:  I use a desktop for all aspects of writing. Because my mind works faster than I can type, I use Dragon Speak to write my books. Dragon understands me better with my headset in a quiet room then trying to use my laptop on location.  I make notes on paper, but when an idea strikes and I try to write it down too quickly, I have trouble reading my own chicken scratches.  
 
Ally:  What is your next writing project? Anticipated release date?
 
AVH:  I am currently working on book four in my time travel series.  This time we go to 1944 and end up in occupied Holland.  My family lived through the war and some of their real life stories appear in the book.  I don’t have a title yet, but the book will release on May 19th.
 
Ally:  Which quick answers questions did you choose?

AVH: a. book you're currently reading – Book 4 of Extreme Medical Services by Jamie Davis b. most watched tv show – Outlander based on the books by Diana Gabaldonc. favorite comfort food - chocolated. What type of music do you prefer? Classic Rocke. Your pets - Guinevere, a German Sheppard; Zayden, a long haired black cat; Tyrion, a long haired grey cat. Ally:  It was a pleasure to chat with you, Augustina. Before we get back to what passes for “normal” life right now, please show us your featured book, The Hidden.

The Hidden (A Tovenaar Novel)
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Rating: PG-13
 
The monsters are real...
 
For most of her life, Lily Montgomery had thought the creatures that inhabited her dreams lived on only in the pages of the horror novels she wrote. Until she was kidnapped by a vampire and forced to go on the run from werewolves and other shapeshifters. And from her emotions. For, against all reason, her heart was also at risk of being captured by the vampire.
 
Valerian DuCharme had been turned into a vampire against his will. But in the turning, he did not lose his charisma or his caring. Now the enforcer for one of the princely houses of the Community, he tried to ensure the safety of anyone who came within range. And of many who didn’t. But it was all reflex, until he met Lily. And emotions he hadn’t felt for hundreds of years surfaced.
 


Buy Links: 
​
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0852T1L3Z/ref=sr_1_9?crid=2KPLZSCQ5AO3P&keywords=augustina+van+hoven&qid=1582564196&sprefix=augustina+v%2Caps%2C306&sr=8-9
Apple:
https://books.apple.com/us/book/id1500280915
Barnes & Noble:
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-hidden-augustina-van-hoven/1136528401;jsessionid=8408FDF3ACB5A1A901BA323B5B9AAFD5.prodny_store02-atgap13?ean=2940163897896
KOBO: 
https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/the-hidden-32 Keep safe. Stay Healthy.

Writing Books is Easy, Right? by Guest Author Kath Boyd Marsh

​​Writing Books is Easy, Right?
 
by Kath Boyd Marsh 

Ally is taking a break this week.
​Here’s my chance to talk about how easy writing is.
 

Anybody can write a book. Right? Just scribble the story down and send it off to the publisher of your choice.
 
Not so much. But when I first started out, that’s exactly what I thought. Recently a friend sent the first un-proofread draft of his first book. Reading it brought back all the mistakes I made when I began writing. It made me think of the mountain of education I’ve acquired since.
 
Several weeks of silence from my friend tells me he didn’t really want the line edit I returned to him, or the suggestions I made. Mea Culpa.
 
But that is probably the first lesson I ever learned. Don’t send out your un-proofread first/rough draft. The phrase ‘rough draft’ is so important. It describes the first time I write out my stories, essays, whatever. It also refers to the second, third, and fourth time I revise that draft. When I share a draft, I only send what I truly believe is publishable. I’m at the stage where I need ‘fresh eyes’ to tell me what works and what needs work.
 
When I started writing, I was certain writing was natural and couldn’t be taught. I was wrong. I have gathered an education that turned me into a writer over the years. I found it at conferences, workshops, critique groups, courses run by writers, and the edits from my editors. While I learned, I submitted and got rejection after rejection. It took a long learning path to get me to a publishable manuscript.
 
Favorite Fun Fact for Fiction: An engaging protagonist is essential, whether likable or detestable. If the reader doesn’t want to know more about the protagonist, the reader will wander off and play video games. Giving the protagonist foibles and flaws is better than making her perfect. How else can she have a sense of humor or a terrible bad mood?
 
It’s a plus if your secondary characters are just as engaging. I love to make mine eccentric, really eccentric. In small doses, they don’t slow the action. And of course, they can add humor.
 
My favorite character fact: The antagonist needs to be as engaging as the hero. Years and years ago when I wrote the first draft of The Lazy Dragon, my villain was a cardboard figure, literally a shadow with no characteristic other than ‘villain.’ It took draft after draft to find the evil antagonist to drive my protagonists to their adventure and give them a real victory. Interesting and engaging adversaries make an interesting and engaging story.
 
I’ve rambled. I have a story to revise. Draft number: I’ve lost count. I promised to deliver this draft to my critique partner, because what else would she want to do when she's taking a break?  About the Author:
 
Before children's author Kath Boyd Marsh moved to Pennsylvania to write about dragons, wizards, and other fantastic creatures, she lived in eight states, Panama, and one very haunted house.
The Lazy Dragon and the Bumblespells Wizard (CBAYBooks.blog) was her debut novel. Visit her and the dragons at KathBoydMarshauthor.com.
 
Contacts:
 
Twitter: https://twitter.com/kmarshfen
Website:  http://kathboydmarshauthor.com
Blog:  http://Kath-LettersfromEarth.blogspot.com
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Kath-Boyd-Marsh/e/B01LVUP8KU Kath's Books: The Lazy Dragon and the Bumblespells Wizard-http://amzn.to/2c6IOH4,
Dragon Bonded-  https://amzn.to/2MMNhhF
 
The Pendragon Crystal from the Dragons and Witches anthology- http://amzn.to/2nOX8tv)
Perilous Princesses-  https://amzn.to/2In05gn .
  
Bubbles and Smush: Closet Monsters -  https://amzn.to/2mW7OrJ
Bubbles and Smush: Trick or Treats-   https://amzn.to/2mWjf2C
Bubbles and Smush: Dragon Rescue: https://amzn.to/2lQSRas Take Care of Yourselves