Ally Shields's Blog, page 38

Meet Children's Author Joyce McPhe���rson

Welcome to the Wednesday Coffee Chat!
 
This week's guest is children's author Joyce McPherson, featuring her book The Pandora Device.
It's nice to meet you, Joyce. What may I get you to drink?
 
JM:  Tea with milk and sugar, please.
 
Ally: Coming right up! Meanwhile, please introduce yourself to readers.

Bio:
 
Joyce McPherson is the author of books for young people. She holds an MFA in Creative Writing and teaches for Belhaven University. In the summers she directs Shakespeare productions for young people. She is also the mother of nine children who give her useful advice for her books.
 
Something unique/unusual that isn't in your regular bio: "When I was twelve, I wrote to all my favorite authors and asked them for advice about being a writer when I grew up. Susan Cooper, Joan Aiken, and several others wrote back, and they all said the same thing—keep reading, experience life, and write, write, write. It’s still good advice today."
 
Contact the Author:
 
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JoyceMcphersonAuthor/
Twitter Handle: @JoyceMcP
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/67065.Joyce_McPherson
Website: https://mcpclan.wixsite.com/website
Amazon Page: https://www.amazon.com/Joyce-Mcpherson/e/B00665Z6NY

INTERVIEW:
 
Ally:  Describe your writing process.
 
JM:  When my second child was born, I told my mother that I planned to write books when my children were grown up, and she said, “Why don’t you start now?” So I did. I got up early each morning and wrote as much as I could before everyone woke up.
When my children were older, I would set the timer for 45 minutes every afternoon, and my kids knew to let me write until the timer went off. I published my first five books as our family grew to nine children.
I still write in short stretches like this. I find that I think about my book between writing sessions, and I can make good progress in 45 minutes.
For my friends who want to write but don’t have the time, I suggest setting a realistic goal like 20-45 minutes and sticking to this schedule day after day. I also find that rewriting takes about three times as long as the original draft, so don’t get discouraged when a project takes a long time. In the end, you will be glad that you committed to a little time every day.
 
Ally: What is your favorite leisure-time activity (non-writing)?
 
JM:   Traveling with family. I love visiting new places and talking about their history, art, and the many fascinating stories connected with them. There is something awe-inspiring about tracing a Roman wall that is thousands of years old or standing eye-to-eye with a gargoyle on an ancient cathedral.
 
Ally:  Which of your books is your personal favorite? Why?
 
JM:  It’s hard to choose a favorite, but if pressed, I would say The Dickens Connection, which is third in the series begun by The Pandora Device. It combines my love of travel (it takes place in England) with the memory of many of my children’s favorite pastimes—vintage dancing, Shakespeare quoting, and drinking tea with scones. It’s inspired by some of my favorite British authors—Charles Dickens, Robert Louis Stevenson, Jane Austen, Alfred Lord Tennyson, and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle—who founded the British version of Camp Hawthorne.
 
Ally:  How did you choose the title of the book you're featuring?
 
JM:  The Camp Hawthorne series takes place at a camp founded long ago by Nathaniel Hawthorne, who was one of the first authors to re-tell Greek myths for young people in English. The title of The Pandora Device was inspired by one of his stories about Pandora’s box. The box, once opened, released all the evils of the world. You will have to read The Pandora Device to discover why this particular device was so dangerous.
 
Ally:  Tell us about your next writing project? Anticipated release date?
 
JM:  I’m writing a Camp Hawthorne Christmas story for a winter anthology of YA and children’s fiction (Winter Wonder) coming out soon. It’s a rare glimpse of Stella and her friends back home in their neighborhood, and there’s a mystery to solve!
 
Ally:  Let's get to know you with a few short answer questions.a.  Favorite book: The Wolves of Willoughby Chase by Joan Aikenb.  Book you're currently reading: The Mark of Athena by Rick Riordanc.  An author (living or dead) you'd love to take to lunch: C.S. Lewisd.  Favorite quote: “That’s what we storytellers do. We restore order with imagination. We instill hope again and again and again.” ~from Saving Mr. Bankse.  What comes to you first - character or plot? Character! 
Ally:  Thanks for having coffee with us, Joyce. Good luck with your books. And speaking of which,  let's take a look at The Pandora Device.

The Pandora Device (Camp Hawthorne Book One)
Genre: MG/fantasy
 
Camp Hawthorne has a secret—it was founded by Nathaniel Hawthorne and his author friends over 150 years ago to protect and train kids with special powers. 

Stella learns about the camp when she searches for clues about her parents, and soon the camp’s secret draws her into extraordinary possibilities she never knew existed. Despite warnings to leave the past alone, she uncovers a mystery linked to her parents. Now she must decide how much she will risk to find the truth.

"THE PANDORA DEVICE is filled with all the ingredients one needs for a rollicking adventure: mad scientists, special powers, a desperate search for missing parents, and...American History? Who knew! Joyce McPherson has created a world at Camp Hawthorne that you will not soon forget, and probably wish you'd attended." -David Yoo, author of THE DETENTION
CLUB
 
Buy Link:

https://www.amazon.com/Pandora-Device-Camp-Hawthorne/dp/1533240043/

Free Print Copies of Embers of Fire!

Don't miss the Goodreads' Giveaway of three print copies
of my most recent release,
Embers of Fire (Guardian Witch Legacy #1). .goodreadsGiveawayWidget { color: #555; font-family: georgia, serif; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; background: white; } .goodreadsGiveawayWidget p { margin: 0 0 .5em !important; padding: 0; } .goodreadsGiveawayWidgetEnterLink { display: inline-block; color: #181818; background-color: #F6F6EE; border: 1px solid #9D8A78; border-radius: 3px; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; outline: none; font-size: 13px; padding: 8px 12px; } .goodreadsGiveawayWidgetEnterLink:hover { color: #181818; background-color: #F7F2ED; border: 1px solid #AFAFAF; text-decoration: none; }Goodreads Book Giveaway Embers of Fireby Ally Shields

Giveaway ends October 15, 2017.

See the giveaway details at Goodreads.

Enter GiveawayBlurb:
 
A chilling prophecy. A child in danger.
Following the defeat of the vampire elders, Guardian fire witch Arianna Calin and vampire prince Andreas De Luca are considering moving to his estates in Italy to raise their daughter in its idyllic setting. As if being descended from two powerful witch bloodlines wasn't challenging enough, Rayne was born with a mysterious star tattoo on her shoulder. Her parents suspect she is the Chosen, the focus of the Star of Esielen prophecy. But that's something to worry about in the distant future. Isn't it? After all, their child may be precocious, but she is only five.
 
Then the murders begin. The stench of demonic activity hangs over Olde Town, and a symbol carved in blood indicates Rayne may be the next victim. Suspicion points in several directions: a rival vampire prince, a mysterious stranger, and a werehyena leader attempting to break the bank at Andreas's new casino.
Abandoning plans for a quiet life, Ari and Andreas hunt for the killers. While Rayne may someday have to face her destiny alone, it's up to them to make sure she's ready...and to keep her alive.

Youtube book trailer: https://youtu.be/-I-B_OHsN2E
 
Excerpt:  Opening lines
 
A crisp breeze caught the last of the early morning fog and swirled it over the gravestones. The Olde Town cemetery slowly emerged from the mist, its silent memorial to the dead marred by an unusual amount of activity. A uniformed Riverdale cop completed a final loop of bright yellow tape around several stone vaults and two small crabapple trees. CS techs snapped photos and set out evidence markers as they processed the crime scene.
 
With a hot Styrofoam coffee cup in each hand, Arianna Calin bumped her jeans-clad hip against the iron entrance gate, knocking it open, and slipped inside, her footsteps crunching the brittle September leaves. When an eerie chill nudged her senses, she swept the scene with a sharp glance.
 
Nothing she hadn’t expected. Not yet. Nothing bad enough to trigger her witch alarms. But then, it was a graveyard. The remnants of so many dead souls could mask a great deal.
 
She ducked under a high section of the bright tape and focused on the blond man in jeans and a dark gray sweatshirt crouched beside a still form. “ME’s not here yet?” she asked.
 
Lt. Ryan Foster, her partner from the all-human Riverdale Police Department, looked up and stood, his blue eyes lighting on the cups in her hands. “On his way. One of those for me?”
 
A smile touched her lips, and she handed him one, withholding further comment until he’d taken his first jolt of caffeine. “Dispatch said it was a stabbing. Human female victim. Is the suspect one of mine?” As a supernatural cop and guardian for Riverdale’s Olde Town district, Ari wouldn’t be notified of an RDPD case unless the Otherworld was involved. Usually that meant vampires or werewolves—the predominant species in town—had run amok
.
“I’m not sure….” Ryan rubbed the bridge of his nose. “Sorry to drag you out so early on a hunch, but I have a weird feeling about this one.”
 
Ari nearly choked on her coffee. “Oh, no you don’t. That’s my line. There’s only room for one of us with spidey senses in this partnership.”
 
“Cop instincts,” he corrected. His early-morning face was grumpy, displaying his constant annoyance with things he didn’t understand. “It works for us mere mortals.”
 
“OK. Show me. What have you got?” She stepped around him, the humor slipping from her lips at first sight of the victim.
 
“Judge for yourself if something doesn’t feel off.”
 
Vivid red blood stood in stark contrast to the middle-aged woman’s light lemon sweater. Not a typical stabbing…her throat had been slashed, leaving a spray pattern of arterial blood on the fading grass around her and a glistening trail down the sides of a gaping wound. It had soaked her neckline.
 
Ari’s nostrils flared, taking in the sharp, metallic scent and seeking something more, whatever had triggered Ryan’s reaction. All kidding aside, working with him for eight years meant she trusted his gut feelings almost as much as her magic.

If you don't want to wait for the giveaway to be over, here are the Buy Links:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B073H49YJS/
Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/embers-of-fire
B&N: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/embers-of-fire-ally-shields/1126658380?ean=2940158758874
ibookstore: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/embers-of-fire-ally-shields/1126658380?ean=2940158758874
GooglePlay: https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Ally_Shields_Embers_of_Fire?id=ShQqDwAAQBAJ
Etopia Press: http://www.etopiapress.com/embers-of-fire/

You're Invited to Coffee with YA Fantasy Author DG Driver

Welcome, Booklovers!

Author DG Driver is visiting the Coffee Chat this week, and we're featuring her YA urban fantasy, Echo of the Cliffs.
Good morning, DG. How do you take your coffee?

DG:  I use a packet of Splenda and some hazelnut creamer. I pretty much always drink it from a coffee tumbler on my way to work. On the weekends I drink it while I watch the morning news or CBS Sunday Morning. I sip at it slowly and distractedly, so it is often cold before I’m done.

 Ally: Hmm. Cold coffee isn't the best, so maybe we'll put a magic spell on it to keep it warm during our chat. While I discuss this with my magic pot, please introduce yourself to readers.
BIO:
 
D. G. Driver is a multi-award-winning author of middle grade and young adult books. She loves to write about diverse characters dealing with social or environmental issues. In addition to writing, she is a teacher at an early intervention childhood development center in Nashville. She is also an actress and singer and can often be found performing in a local musical theater production with one or more members of her talented family.
 
Something unique/unusual that isn't in your regular bio: " I like to crochet. I taught myself when I was younger because I had a hard time being still and quieting my thoughts. I made hats and sweaters and wore them when I used to be a folk singer at coffee houses in California. It was my “look”. Then I got Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. So, now I only do it occasionally because I can get super obsessed with it and hurt my wrists. Then I can’t type my stories, so it’s a lose-lose situation. I’d been slowly making a mermaid tail blanket for over a year, and I finally gave up on it when my stepdaughters bought me one already made. Sometimes I think about finishing it just because I don’t like to leave things unfinished."
 
Contact the Author:
 
www.dgdriver.com
https://www.facebook.com/donnagdriver
https://www.twitter.com/DGDriverAuthor
www.instagram.com/d_g_driver#
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7867013.D_G_Driver
http://www.amazon.com/D.-G.-Driver/e/B00J70QN64
INTERVIEW:

Ally:  What were your steps to publication, including what worked and what didn't?
 
DG:  I first got published back in 1994 – a short story in a literary magazine. My career is one of small bumps of success, rather than those big leaps some authors get. I’ve had stories in magazines and anthologies. Articles in websites and periodicals. I’ve had a couple original plays produced. I’ve published nonfiction books with a scholastic press for libraries, and I had a whole run of middle grade books published and then go out of print when the publisher went out of business. Most of my current books have won awards. It has definitely been a writing career where I get just enough jolts to let me know I’m not foolish to pursue this dream. Every time I want to quit, something new happens as if to say, “Hang in there.” The Juniper Sawfather Novels are published by Fire and Ice Young Adult Books. I found a listing for them in a periodical that I get that lists a few publishers or agents per issue. They accepted Cry of the Sea back in 2013, and I’ve now published several projects with them. I will continue to work with them, but I am still working toward getting an agent.
 
Ally:   Talk about your main character and what makes her so interesting.
 
DG:  Juniper Sawfeather has just turned eighteen at the start of book three of this series. She is a headstrong, stubborn young woman who has been taught by her environmental activist parents to care about the environment and stand up for what is right. She’s very smart, top of her class, but her exploits have gotten her in trouble with the school’s vice principal, and she has been forced to drop out of school for the last semester. June encounters mythical creatures and magic, and many people think she’s a fake and a liar. She has a small group that stands behind her: her parents, her boyfriend Carter, her friend Haley, and a rogue reporter named Juarez. Two of these people go missing in book three. I won’t say which two, but she is desperate to find them. If she can locate the final piece of the American Indian legend she now knows to be true, and the missing mermaids she rescued in book one, Cry of the Sea, she’s certain she will succeed.
 
Ally:   How do you choose and name your characters?
 
DG:  I’m a teacher, and a lot of the time I take names from former students – a first name from one and a last name from another. Sometimes I take names from people I went to school with as well. Juniper Sawfeather, however, came to my mind the moment I came up with the concept of Cry of the Sea. I knew that I wanted her to be American Indian, and I knew that I wanted her parents to be environmental activists. I thought they would give her a name that came from nature. A woman who is a noted reviewer of books featuring American Indian characters balked at the name Sawfeather as being inauthentic, so I did a bit more research into names common from the tribal nations in the Washington State area. In book two, Whisper of the Woods, Juniper’s father tells a story about the name Sawfeather, how and why he chose it to be his name instead of the one he was born with. It’s a touching moment between him and June early in the book that reveals a lot about his young life.
 
Ally:  How much research do you do?
 
DG:  I have done quite a lot of research for the Juniper Sawfeather Novels. Each of the three books focuses on a different environmental issue: oil spill, logging of Old Growth trees, and industrial run-off pollution. I had to learn about the causes, laws, and damage done by these emergencies.
 
In addition to that, each book has American Indian mythology woven into the plot. There is just one myth in book one that I massaged to fit the plot, but the mythology becomes central to the plotline in book two. I specifically researched mythology from the Northwest Pacific region and was amazed each time I found a legend that fit my storyline perfectly. This is fiction, so I adapted the myths somewhat to fit, but not too much. For instance, the real myth of the ‘Three Warriors and the Sun’ (which is the myth that ties the series together) actually has five warriors.
 
Those were the big things I researched before writing began. I researched lots of little things as I wrote, like what the ferry times are to cross the San Juan Strait, what the ferries look like inside, where would the best beach for this story take place and what does it look like, how long would it take to drive from Olympia to the shore? Where are the American Indian reservations in Washington? How big are they? What are there politics? Lots and lots of stuff like that.
 
Ally: What is your next writing project? Anticipated release date?

DG:  I have a sweet romance novella out called Passing Notes. It’s about a teen boy who is clumsy at being romantic until a ghost starts giving him notes teaching him how to write the perfect love letter. It’s a very “aww” story and makes people cry at the end. Critics love it, but the world doesn’t seem to know it exists. So… I’ve decided to revise the story with a new ending and then write what happens next. I’m adding two more “parts” to this story to make it a full-length book. It will have more paranormal activity, some historical fiction, some contemporary teen romance, and most of all lots of love letters. I am calling it All the Love You Write. If I get my act together, the book should come out sometime next year. In the meantime, check out Passing Notes. It’s only 99 cents at all ebook vendors. And follow me at Facebook or Twitter where I will put updates on its progress.
 
Ally: I have a few short answer questions so readers can get to know DG, the person.a. book you're currently reading – Before I Left by Daisy White
b. hiking or sunbathing – Hiking. Used to do it more when I lived in California.
c. What comes to your first - character or plot? Plot. I always come up with what happens before I decide who it’s happening to.
d. Your pets - type and names – We have a cat named Angel, a bunch of fish that don’t have names, and a King snake that depending on which member of the household you ask is named Loki, Houdini or Gus (we never agreed).
e. a fantasy being/person you'd like to be – I guess, in keeping with my series, I’d like to be a mermaid, but definitely NOT like the ones in my book. I want to be a pretty one that lives in Hawaii.

Ally: It was a delight to meet you, DG. Before you go, please show us your latest book...
Echo of the Cliffs, A Juniper Sawfeather Novel, Book 3
 
Three warriors asked the sun to grant them wishes of immortality to protect their people forever. One was turned into a merman, another was turned into a tree, and final warrior was turned into a stone.

Juniper Sawfeather has learned there is truth to this American Indian legend. She knows how it connects the mermaids she saved from an oil spill to the ancient spirit that trapped her in the branches of an Old Growth tree. Now she wants to find out if the final part of this legend is true: that some kind of magical stone exists. A lone mermaid finds her and shares a vision of a cliff along the ocean shore. This must be the place, and June knows she needs to find it.

Tragedy happens when June and her boyfriend, Carter, join her parents on a mission to the San Juan Strait to collect evidence of construction run-off pollution, and they are attacked by a killer whale. June is convinced that the killer whale was led by mermaids, and she is desperate to find out why they attacked and where they are hiding. Once again, Juniper is on a heroic mission, the most frightening adventure yet. A thrilling ending to this award-winning trilogy!
 
Learn more about the whole series at www.dgdriver.com
 

Buy Links:
 
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Echo-Cliffs-Juniper-Sawfeather-Novel-ebook/dp/B072C4CFMP
Nook: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/echo-of-the-cliffs-d-g-driver/1126467771?ean=2940154387467
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/726371
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/echo-of-the-cliffs/id1241170527?mt=11
Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/echo-of-the-cliffs-a-juniper-sawfeather-novel-3
Lulu (for print): http://www.lulu.com/shop/d-g-driver/echo-of-the-cliffs/paperback/product-23195472.html
 
Book trailers for Cry of the Sea (book #1) and Whisper of the Woods (book #2).
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BSXZrIF3VqA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QXdYYYbHi2M

Meet YA Fantasy Author Mary Clare Emerine

Welcome to the Wednesday Coffee Chat!

Our guest today is Mary Clare Emerine, author of young adult and teen fantasy. So nice to meet you, Mary! What may I get you to drink?

MCE:  I take my coffee with milk added. If I’m out, I order a latte.

Ally: While I pour and everyone else grabs their drinks, please introduce yourself to readers.

Author BIO:

I am a writer.
When I am not writing, I enjoy spending time with my family and friends. I am an avid reader. I love walking, baking, drawing, and creating.
Likes
#2 pencils
clay
rainbows 
poetry
the freshness of a new day
old book stores
the smell of baseball fields
animals (I have two dogs and a cat.)
playing at the park
Brene Brown
Glitter is my favorite.
Coffee. Always.
I offer all that I do up to God who gave me the desire to write and my love of all things creative.

Something unique that isn't in my regular bio: "My first job was working as a potato grader. I plucked rotten potatoes off a conveyor belt. It was as gross as it sounds."

Contact the Author:

Website: http://maryclareemerine.wordpress.com
Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/thestonekeepersrealm/
INTERVIEW:
 
Ally: Shall we jump right into word craft? Describe your writing process. Schedule, goals, etc.
 
MCE:  It takes me about three months to complete a 60,000-85,000 word novel. I am a busy mom, so I don’t get to write every day. On a good morning, I can crank out 4,000 words. It truly is a purge. My imaginary friends bother me so much, and I love it!
 
Ally:  How do you choose and name your characters?
 
MCE:  My characters just come to me when a story starts nagging at my mind. Writing about them feels natural. Name meanings are very important to me. Every character name in my books is chosen because of its meaning and how it relates to that specific character.
 
Ally:  Tell us the following about your main character: a. age, gender; b. color of hair and eyes; c. level of education and/or training; d. favorite color; e. style of clothes; f.  pets
 
MCE:  Each of my books has a different sister as the protagonist.
 
Lorelei Darby: 19, female; Gray eyes, Blonde hair; GED/Culinary school for pastry chef; Purple; Trendy; no pets.
 
Emma Darby:  17, female; Gray eyes, Brown hair; High School; Peach; Boutique Chic; No pets.
 
Mara Darby:  15, female; Green eyes, red hair; Home schooled/High School equivalent; Green (If she has to pick one); Practical riding clothes (Tunic top, leggings, and riding boots).
 
Ally: What is your next writing project? Anticipated release date?
 
MCE:  I am at work on the third novel in The Stone Keeper’s Realm Saga, The Book of Fae. The protagonist, Mara, is the third Darby sister. She is an archer on horseback who works on a chicken farm in Australia hunting foxes before she enters the realm. It is to be released in Spring of 2018.

Ally:  Now let's tackle a few short answer questions about YOU.
 
    a.  favorite book:  My all time favorite book is Little Women.
    b.  manicure or pedicure:  Oh, if I could just get a pedicure every day.
    c.  favorite accessory (jewelry, scarves, shoes, etc.): Scarves, scarves, and more scarves please!
    d.  favorite quote:  “Only when we are brave enough to explore our darkness will we discover the infinite power of our light.” ― Brené Brown
    e.  favorite place to write:  My creative room is the most productive and serene place for me to write. I cannot write if there is people watching to do.
 
Ally: It's been a pleasure to chat with you! Please show us your books before you go.
The Stone Keeper’s Realm
 
Will Lorelei Darby’s quest to unravel her family legacy lead to self discovery or destruction?
Horseback riding
Battle training
Fairy fighting
Forbidden forest hiking
Stone bearing
Dagger wielding
Enchantment curing
Intramountain traveling
Haggle feasting
Snarl abducting
 
And a delicious love triangle can all be experienced if you join Lorelei in the Stone Keeper’s Realm.
 
https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=the+stone+keeper%27s+realm
 
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/The+Stone+Keeper%27s+Realm?_requestid=613900 Mysteries of Mer Isle (Book 2)
 
"I was triggered by his power and amazed by his restraint. It was a dangerous game--dating Briar and uncovering the mysteries of Mer Isle, and I was playing it."
--Emma Darby
 
In an effort to escape her dark past, Emma Darby dives into a world she's never known. She's faced with unexpected challenges as she falls for a sinister merman to whom she can't help being drawn. Unable to shake the feeling that something weird and secretive is going on in the underwater palace, she starts to investigate. With each disturbing discovery, things begin to unravel. Will she recover in time to claim her rightful place in the realm?
 
Find out in Mysteries of Mer Isle: Book Two of The Stone Keeper’s Realm Saga.
 
https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_2?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=Mysteries+of+Mer+Isle&rh=i%3Aaps%2Ck%3AMysteries+of+Mer+Isle
 
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/mysteries-of-mer-isle-mary-clare-emerine/1126701192?ean=9781387075454

The Book of Fae (Book 3)

Mara's story. Coming in the spring of 2018.
Thanks for stopping by the blog today! Come back soon...

"Keep on Slogging, You Sissy"

Welcome, Booklovers, to this week's Coffee Chat!
 
Wow, can you believe it's almost fall? I've even put away the summer flower blog logo. But it's always the season for book talk, and today I'm visiting with author, Sharon Ervin.
It is nice to meet you, Sharon. What may I get you to drink?
 
SE:  I'd love coffee with sugar and creamer.
 
Ally:  Coming right up! While I pour, tell readers about yourself.
BIO:
 
A former newspaper reporter, I have a degree in journalism from the University of Oklahoma, am married and the mother of four grown children. I live in McAlester OK, population 18,000, and am probate clerk and flunky in my husband and older son’s law office. 
 
 I have 13 (soon-to-be 14) published novels, from 6 (soon-to-be 7) publishers. JACK SPRAT COULD is Lucky Number 13.
 
Something unusual that isn't in your regular bio: "I was campaign manager for my husband's successful run for state representative back in 1972. Upset when he won and had to be away four days a week during Oklahoma's legislative sessions, With three small children, I consoled myself by taking flying lessons and earning a private pilot's license. It bolstered my stay-at-home mom's flagging ego."
 
Contact the Author:
 
Sharon can be contacted by email at ervins@sbcglobal.net
On Facebook, Twitter, her website which at sharonervin.com
And her blog: sharonervin.wordpress.com 
INTERVIEW:
 
Ally:  We'll showcase your featured book at the end of this interview, but tell us what type of book it is so we have a frame of reference for your writing.
 
SE:  JACK SPRAT COULD is a romantic suspense, probably rated PG-13.
 
Ally:  Tell us a little about your main character(s).
 
SE:  MaryBeth Gilland, a wealthy socialite who models for charity, suddenly needs to support herself. Of her family's many investments, she seeks what she thinks will be stimulating employment at For Your Eyes Only Detective Agency, which has been a tax write-off for a corporation too big to care. Gray Wheeler, 36, a snappy dresser, has been lackadaisical, content to muddle along not doing much in the investigative business. Until the two meet...
 
Ally:  Who or what first inspired you to write fiction?
 
SE:  Creative Writing Professor William Foster-Harris came across the hall to the office of the OU school paper and personally invited me to sign up for his class. He had a waiting list and I had not been able to enroll until he authorized it. I wrote news, not fiction, so I was not sure if his invitation was a compliment or an insult. With his help, my first short story to “Seventeen” Magazine nearly sold (they wanted me to change the ending). That made it look easy. I continued news reporting, however, to get Husband Bill through law school and established before I ventured into fiction. Able Oklahoma author Carolyn Hart was firm. If I was going to insist on writing fiction, I was going to have to “pay my dues.” She answered my letter of lament by saying, “Marilyn Harris (an amazingly successful writer) had 278 rejections on eight manuscripts before she sold her first.” The letter was kind, but in essence said, “keep on slogging, you sissy.” So I did.    
 
Ally:  What was your journey to publication, including bumps and missteps?
 
SE:  I felt nudged to write a book, and attended a novel writing short course at OU in June, 1982. With four children at home, I wrote from 5:30 to 7:30 on summer mornings so as not to neglect my family. By the time school started, I had penned 378 words of brilliant prose. It did not sell. I returned to the short course the next June and wrote a second marvelous book. It didn't sell either. I continued to write one unsellable manuscript after another, was working on #12, when a brand new publisher offered a contract for #8. I suspected a scam. It was not. I am now working on #25, and recently signed a contract for publication of #15. Our children are all grown and, while I am not getting rich, writing makes me feel fulfilled. My husband continues to indulge the muse and me.   
 
Ally:  What's your best marketing tip?
 
SE:  The owner of an independent book store told me, before my first signing, to put my picture on everything: bookmarks, cards, brochures, banners, and posters, and to make eye contact, smile, and speak to every potential customer. I didn't like pictures of me. He said that didn't matter, just to do it. We sold a dozen books at that first two-hour signing, which he deemed remarkable. It was to his credit. I did exactly what he said.
 
Ally:  Which of your books is your personal favorite?
 
SE:  A sister once asked if I was partial to one of my four children. I said yes, I was, but it depended on when you asked! By the time I sold my first book, I had 12 completed manuscripts. All were written for the mood that struck at that time, and I loved each one, a lot.
 
Ally:   What is your next writing project? Anticipated release date?
 
SE:  DO YOU LOVE ME? is due out in March, 2018. WHITTAKER is the best book I've written so far. It is complete at 76,000 words. No one has been interested, but it won first place in the mainstream novel category of the Oklahoma Writers Federation competition. Meanwhile, I'm fictionalizing a local true crime event I call FATHER OF THE YEAR. Also, our younger son Jim died March 1, 2015 of colon cancer. He was 39. Writing can be therapeutic and I'm working on a sort of a memoir I call JIMMY'S SMILES. At the same time I’m polishing a YA written several years ago that I call UNTIL THE MEEK INHERIT.
 
Ally: Let's finish up with a few get-to-know-you short answer questions.
 a. favorite book: GAUDY NIGHT by Dorothy Sayers
b. book you're currently reading: THE LAKE HOUSE by Kate Morton
c. an author (living or dead) you'd love to take to lunch: John Grisham or Judith McNaught
d. favorite movie: "You've Got Mail"
e. favorite quote: "If you think you can't or you think you can, you're probably right."
 
Ally:  Thanks for chatting with me, Sharon. Let's show readers your book, but I have one last question. How did you choose the title?
 
SE:  Jack Sprat is a nursery rhyme that was the theme of the entire plot.

Jack Sprat Could
Genre: Romantic Suspense
PG-13

Blurb:
    
Your Eyes Only Detective agency was a corporation’s tax write-off, until the death of the CEO sends his socialite daughter, MaryBeth Gilland, to Private Investigator Gray Wheeler for temporary employment. Instant discord between Gilland and Wheeler masks the chemistry of their mutual attraction.
 
Enter Treena Flowers, 51, in a flap, accusing Leland “Jack” Sprat, her sister’s new, younger husband, of killing his wife, although the victim is not dead yet. Wealthy, obese Clover Sprat, 54, arrived at the hospital that very morning in a coma. Her husband cannot explain her condition, but her sister is full of ideas, all pointing to Jack as a would-be killer.
 
Wheeler sees this as an easy case and invites Gilland to help investigate, an opportunity for MaryBeth to show she’s more than just a pretty face, and for Wheeler to prove he can actually investigate. After all, the husband’s a cinch to be responsible for his wife’s imminent death, isn’t he? The bickering duo takes the case.
 
Amazon: http://tinyurl.com/y9cmuupf
        or  http://tinyurl.com/ybz363rb           

Book Spotlight: Marked by Fate, YA Box Set

Spotlight/Preview

The Marked by Fate Box Set  is currently available on all vendors for preorder. This is a collection of 25 Full Length Young Adult Fantasy and Science Fiction novels.
Try out the writing of a variety of authors for a hard-to-beat price.
Book Blurb:
 
Marked By Fate.  Defined By Their Choices.
 
A collection of 25 Fantasy and Science Fiction YA coming of age novels from New York Times, USA Today, International, Amazon bestselling and Award-Winning authors!!
 
This action-packed collection is filled with teen warriors who encounter shadows, queens, witches, wizards, werewolves, and shifters. Sometimes these young adults partner with immortals, angels, vampires, demons, and gods. And with occasionally genetically engineered soldiers, cyborgs, and robots as they discover magical hidden fantasy worlds, encounter mind-blowing dystopian lands, space stations, and galaxies they could never have dreamed existed. Marked by Fate to complete these deadly and dangerous quests filled with nonstop action and adventure!

Full of time travel mysteries and paranormal lore, Marked by Fate is a box set with a message — that all women, no matter the age, can conquer their fears and heartaches to become the fierce, strong heroines they were always meant to be.
 
Pre-order available at all the listed bookstores:
 
Release Date:  Oct. 24th 2017
 
Buy Links:
 
AMAZON SMART LINK: http://smarturl.it/MBFBoxsetAmazon
 
B&N SMART LINK:  http://smarturl.it/MBFNOOK
 
Kobo SMARTLINK : http://smarturl.it/MBFKOBO
 
iBooks SMART LINK :http://smarturl.it/MBFibooks    

Have You Read A Visionary Fiction Novel?

Welcome to the Wednesday Coffee Chat!

This week's guest author is Theresa Crater who writes intriguing novels of ancient secrets and civilizations.
Good morning, Theresa. What may I get you to drink?

TC:  I’m a tea drinker. I recently found out my DNA is 73% British, so that explains that.

Ally: Then I'll pour you a spot of tea, while you introduce yourself to readers.
Bio:

Best-selling author Theresa Crater brings ancient temples, lost civilizations, and secret societies back to life in her visionary fiction. Her novels include The Power Places series, Under the Stone Paw and Beneath the Hallowed Hill, The Star Family and God in a Box  Her short stories explore ancient myth brought into the present day. The Star Family won best fiction in the Indie Spirit Book Awards in 2015. She blogs with the Visionary Fiction Alliance and Women Write the Rockies, and is a member of Sisters in Crime and the Independent Authors Network. Currently, she teaches writing and British literature online.

Something unique that isn't in your regular bio: "I’ve meditated all my life and taught meditation, plus studied Eastern, Western, and Native American metaphysics. A lot of that finds its way into my writing. "

Contact the Author:
 
Website
Twitter
Facebook
Good Reads
Pinterest
Linked In
INTERVIEW:

Ally:  Tell us about the genre you've chosen.
 
TC:  I write Visionary Fiction, but since that’s not so well known, think Urban Fantasy or Paranormal Suspense, only no vampires. The book I’m currently working on is Women’s Fiction.
 
Ally: Since I was going to ask you about it later, tell us more about this next writing project.
 
TC:  This book is different from my usual adventure stories. I’ve pretty much finished it and it is out to an agent right now, but the title is still eluding me. It’s either The School of Hard Knocks or The Worst Thing a Mother Can Do. What do you think? What’s it about? The segregation lines are clear in 1950s North Carolina, but the bloodlines—not so much. The past and present intertwine when Maggie Winters risks a friendship with Lily, a white woman, and rescues her daughter and Lily from abuse by the same family that tormented Maggie as a young girl in the 1890s.
If the agent passes, the book could be out in a couple of months. If the agent picks it up, it could be up to a year and a half before it’s out.
 
Ally:  My vote is for The School of Hard Knocks. Maybe some of our readers will comment on their choice. Does your real life show up in this book or any of your other novels?

TC:  This latest project is part fiction, part memoir, and all my books have some relationship to my life. I travel to ancient sites with my archaeologist husband and these mysterious temples and ruins find their way into my Power Places series. My last novel, The Star Family, came from the discovery that the poet and painter William Blake’s mother belonged to the same tiny Protestant church I was raised in, but her membership was in the 1740s when they were way more mystical, much to my surprise. I had to find out more. I did a great deal of research and found they practiced sacred sexuality, so I wrote my novel based on this research.
 
Ally:  Tell us about one of your favorite main characters.
 
TC:  Raised on a decaying plantation in 1890s North Carolina, Maggie Winters (from the yet untitled women's fiction novel) sees it all—a woman beaten nearly to death, hidden in the barn, and healed by her African-American mother; a man lynched; and the machinations of a white woman hired to teach her to read but who has become determined to marry Maggie’s widowed white father. When Maggie's father is forced by his Virginia family to marry someone more appropriate, Maggie and her mother are left without protection. The KKK attacks the house, murdering her mother along with other servants, and rapes Maggie. She is left wounded and pregnant. The son born from this tragedy is taken from her when the doctors fear she will die.

Ally:   How do you spend your non-writing/editing time?
 
TC:  My husband doesn’t drive, so a good part of it is spent chauffeuring. I read a ton and watch a lot of TV series these days. Currently watching Once Upon a Time, but waiting for Mr. Robot and Travelers with baited breath. I love to travel and my husband leads tours to Egypt. I’ve gone with him four times, once to Peru, and once to Scotland. I’m slated to help lead a tour to Cambodia’s Angkor Wat in December. That’s been on my bucket list for a while and I’ll be leading meditations at the sites. I’m very much looking forward to this and am sure another Power Places book will come from this trip.
 
Ally:  Tell readers a little about yourself with the following short answer questions.
 a. book you're currently reading - The Lightbearer by Alan Richardsonb. an author (living or dead) you'd love to take to lunch - Doris Lessingc. favorite accessory - My husband brings me tons of scarves home from Egypt and I can never decide which one to wear. I give a lot of them away.d. A guilty pleasure - Those big cupcakes from Whole Foods.e. favorite after five drink - I live in Colorado  
Ally: Thanks so much for chatting with us today. Now let's take a look at a few of your books that are already published and available to purchase.
Buy links:

Amazon page:  https://www.amazon.com/Theresa-Crater/e/B001K8MG44/

In the Mood for Mystery? Meet author Joanne Guidoccio

Happy Wednesday, Booklovers!

It's time for sharing book talk with another author. This week's guest is multi-genre writer, Joanne Guidoccio.
Welcome, Joanne! How do you drink your coffee?  
 
JG:  Each morning, I brew two cups of Chatty Matty coffee, an organic, fair-trade coffee sold at Planet Bean in Guelph, Ontario. I take it black with one-half of a Stevia packet.
 
Ally: Since my magic coffee pot can...well, do magic...your coffee will be ready shortly. While you wait, please introduce yourself to readers.
Bio:

In 2008, Joanne retired from a 31-year teaching career and launched a second act as a writer. Her articles and book reviews were published in newspapers, magazines, and online. When she tried her hand at fiction, she made reinvention a recurring theme in her novels and short stories. A member of Crime Writers of Canada, Sisters in Crime, and Romance Writers of America, Joanne writes cozy mysteries, paranormal romance, and inspirational literature from her home base of Guelph, Ontario.

Something unique that isn't in your regular bio: "I am controlled by a bird clock. Each hour, one of my feathered friends, among them the Downy Woodpecker, Belted Kingfisher, and Great Horned Owl, chirp and remind me to pace myself."

Where to find Joanne:

Website: http://joanneguidoccio.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/joanneguidoccio
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorjoanneguidoccio
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joanneguidoccio
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/jguidoccio/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7277706.Joanne_Guidoccio  
INTERVIEW:
 
Ally:  Tell us about your regular writing routine.
 
JG:  When I retired and started writing full-time, I expected to be inspired each day. Everything was in place—business cards, new computer, dreams of a runaway best-seller—but my underdeveloped writing muscles refused to budge.
 
After some experimentation, I came up with a daily regimen. Nothing too dramatic, but it works for me. I like to sleep in each day and enjoy a leisurely breakfast. After my second cup of coffee, I start writing. My goal – 1,000 words a day. After I reach that quota, I’m free to meet with friends for lunch or coffee and plan other outings.
 
Ally:  Do you have a writer’s cave?
 
JG:  When I first retired, I assumed I would be writing in my den. Everything was in place: desk, new computer, book shelves crammed with novels and craft guides, and inspiring Monet prints on the wall. But after several frustrating attempts, I realized the den was too small. While the room could easily be a second bedroom, it was not spacious enough for my creativity to flourish. So, I relocated to a corner of the living/dining area of my condo. With over 900 square feet of space and easy access to my kitchen and balcony, I no longer feel constrained. Regarding noise...I cannot write amid any chaos – auditory or otherwise.
 
Ally:  Talk about the main character in the book you are featuring today.

JG:  While imagining the protagonist of the Gilda Greco Mystery Series, I realized she could easily be my literary twin. In fact, I like to tell people that Gilda Greco is 70 percent of me. As to how I came up with that particular number, let’s just say my well-honed left brain did all the work. Our similarities…Italian Canadian, born and raised in Sudbury, relocated to Southern Ontario, mathematics teachers, career development practitioners, yoga enthusiasts, non-foodies.
One major difference – Gilda won a $19 million lottery. I’m still hoping!
Ally:  What is your next writing project?
 
JG:  A Different Kind of Reunion, Book 3 of the Gilda Greco Mystery Series, will be released in the spring of 2018. Haunted by a missed e-mail that could have prevented the death of a former student, Gilda agrees to participate in a psychic-hosted reunion.

Ally: I know you also write paranormal romances. If you could have any supernatural power, what would it be?
 
JG:  It would be wonderful if I could fly at will. Whenever I felt the need to travel, I would pack my bags, stand at the doorway, and visualize my intended destination. Within seconds, I would be transported to a five-star hotel room in that particular city. This superpower would also come in handy during lengthy meetings and sticky situations.
 
Ally: Oh, I want that power too! Lol. Now are you ready for some short-answer questions?
 a.  Book I’m currently reading: The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reidb.  Author I’d love to take to lunch: Canadian mystery author – Louise Penny. I’ve read all her novels and attended two of her readings. An inspiration to us all!c.  Favorite song: Blowing in the Wind by Bob Dyland.  Favorite quote: You can choose courage, or you can choose comfort, but you cannot choose both. Brené Browne.  A guilty pleasure: Baci Perugina, the most famous chocolate brand in Italy and popular with Italians worldwide. Perugina’s signature recipe includes whipped milk chocolate, Gianduia filling, and chopped hazelnuts all in bittersweet chocolate. Each baci comes individually wrapped in silver and blue packaging and hugged by a poetic love note.
Ally: It's been a pleasure having you visit. I hope we'll see you again. Before you go, please tell readers about your featured book.
Too Many Women in the Room
Genre: Cozy mystery
PG-13

Blurb:

When Gilda Greco invites her closest friends to a VIP dinner, she plans to share David Korba’s signature dishes and launch their joint venture— Xenia, an innovative Greek restaurant near Sudbury, Ontario. Unknown to Gilda, David has also invited Michael Taylor, a lecherous photographer who has throughout the past three decades managed to annoy all the women in the room. One woman follows Michael to a deserted field for his midnight run and stabs him in the jugular.
Gilda’s life is awash with complications as she wrestles with a certain detective’s commitment issues and growing doubts about her risky investment in Xenia. Frustrated, Gilda launches her own investigation and uncovers decades-old secrets and resentments that have festered until they explode into untimely death. Can Gilda outwit a killer bent on killing again?

Book Trailer:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CORaCadAnbA

Buy Links:
 
Amazon (US): https://is.gd/NRjAXT
Amazon (Canada): https://is.gd/1pX3Bn
Kobo: https://is.gd/5VwbTf
Indigo: https://is.gd/o3ZKRW
The Wild Rose Press: https://is.gd/1mns8Q
Barnes & Noble: https://is.gd/NFHdlS  

Embers of Fire: Ari and Andreas's new adventure

Help spread the news about my latest release!
Tell your friends to visit these terrific bloggers who are featuring
Embers of Fire (Guardian Witch Legacy 1) today!
Natural Bri
FB: www.facebook.com/naturalbripage
 
Teresa Noel
http://teresanoel.blogspot.com/ 
 
Books are Love
www.hello-booklover.tumblr.com
 
Hollow Unrest
http://iqurae.blogspot.com/
 
Lola White
www.lola-white.com
 
Books, Dream, Life
http://booksdreamslife0829.blogspot.com 
 
Ilana Caser
www.eager-reader.com
 
On The Broomstick
http://onthebroomstick.blogspot.com/
 
Diane’s Book Blog
http://dianes-book.blogspot.com
Blurb:
 
A chilling prophecy. A child in danger.

Following the defeat of the vampire elders, Guardian fire witch Arianna Calin and vampire prince Andreas De Luca are considering moving to his estates in Italy to raise their daughter in its idyllic setting. As if being descended from two powerful witch bloodlines wasn't challenging enough, Rayne was born with a mysterious star tattoo on her shoulder. Her parents suspect she is the Chosen, the focus of the Star of Esielen prophecy. But that's something to worry about in the distant future. Isn't it? After all, their child may be precocious, but she is only five.
 
Then the murders begin. The stench of demonic activity hangs over Olde Town, and a symbol carved in blood indicates Rayne may be the next victim. Suspicion points in several directions: a rival vampire prince, a mysterious stranger, and a werehyena leader attempting to break the bank at Andreas's new casino.

Abandoning plans for a quiet life, Ari and Andreas hunt for the killers. While Rayne may someday have to face her destiny alone, it's up to them to make sure she's ready...and to keep her alive.
 
Youtube book trailer: https://youtu.be/-I-B_OHsN2E
 
Buy Links:
 
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B073H49YJS/
Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/embers-of-fire
B&N: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/embers-of-fire-ally-shields/1126658380?ean=2940158758874
ibookstore: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/embers-of-fire-ally-shields/1126658380?ean=2940158758874
GooglePlay: https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Ally_Shields_Embers_of_Fire?id=ShQqDwAAQBAJ
Etopia Press: http://www.etopiapress.com/embers-of-fire/

Thanks, bloggers! You're the best!

Wanted: Mystery Author L.C. Hayden

Happy Wednesday, Booklovers!

L.C. Hayden is this week's Coffee Chat guest author with her mystery/thriller novel, What Lies Beyond The Fence.
Welcome, LC! What may I get you to drink?

LC: I drink Coke and Diet Coke mixed together. This way, only half of me gets fat.

Ally: (chuckling) I think we can arrange that. Why don't you introduce yourself while I get our drinks?


Bio:
 
Award winning author L. C. Hayden is the creator of the popular Harry Bronson and Aimee Brent mystery series and the standalone, Secrets of the Tunnels. Hayden is known in the mystery field for her edge of the seat suspense and her surprise endings. Her mysteries have hit the Kindle, the B&N, and the Pennsylvania Top Seller Lists. The books have been finalists for the Agatha and LCC Awards.

Her nonfiction angel/miracle series consists of spiritually uplifting books that leave the reader wanting more. Hayden’s other works include children’s picture books and other genres.

Besides being an accomplished author, Hayden is a popular speaker. She has done workshop and school presentations, has spoken to clubs and organizations, and was hired by several major cruise lines to speak while cruising all over the world. From October 2006 to October 2007, Hayden hosted Mystery Writers of America’s only talk show, Murder Must Air.
 
 Contact Links:
       Facebook: please befriend me: https://www.facebook.com/lc.hayden.3
       Please like my professional page: https://www.facebook.com/MysteriesbyHayden/      
       Website: https://lchayden.com 
INTERVIEW:
 
Ally:  I always ask authors to tell me something that isn't in their standard bio. Rather than a short answer, I understand you have a story to tell...
 
LC:  I have an FBI record!

It all began before I was a full time author. At that time, I was a high school teacher. I was at my desk when over the intercom a message erupted: L. C. Hayden, go to the principal’s office during your conference period.
I was a good teacher, so I didn’t panic.
When I walked in, instead of the principal being there, a man, whom I had never seen, stood before me. He looked at me and said, “Are you L. C. Hayden?”
I nodded and he reached behind me and locked the door. He showed me his badge. “I’m Detective So and So. Please sit down.” I did and he once again reached into his wallet, took out a card, and said, “You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law . . .”
As he read me my Miranda rights, I kept thinking was What’s going on? I haven’t done anything wrong. I don’t even speed!
He then placed a paper on top of the table. “Recognize this?”
Of course, I did. When my first book, Who’s Susan, was released, my author liaison told me that if I wanted people to buy my book, I would have to come up with a brilliant campaign. I thought and thought and came out with a brilliant idea.
I planned to send three separate batches of mail to local readers. The first batch wouldn’t have a return address and the flyer inside the envelope would read: Do you know who Susan is? When people received this, they would hopefully start talking. Who’s Susan? What’s this about?
The second batch would be mailed a week later, again, with no return address. The flyer would read: Did you find out Who’s Susan? Again, people would wonder about Susan.
The third batch, which would have a return address, would read: Introducing my new mystery Who’s Susan?, then I’d invite them to my Barnes & Noble signing.
That’s the way it was suppose to work. Here’s how it really worked. I mailed the first batch, but instead of people talking about who Susan is, they called the police because of the antiabortion campaign they had just received. How they came to that conclusion, I have no idea.
When the police started to investigate, they discovered that I was a teacher at a rough school.
Because I’m basically a lazy person, I didn’t mail the flyers from the post office that was two blocks away. Instead, I mailed them from my high school campus. That made it a federal offense, so they called the FBI who immediately knew it wasn’t an antiabortion campaign. It was a new drug called Susan. They hired an undercover agent to go to the campus to investigate.
“What new drug?” the students asked.
When they realized they had made a mistake, they hired another undercover agent. This time they knew it wasn’t a drug. It was a gun movement, code Susan.
Again, the students claimed, “What gun movement?”
In the meantime, I was in the principal’s office getting my Miranda rights read.
When the agent found out that it was only my promotional efforts for my book, he rolled his eyes as he held my book in his hands. “It would have to be a mystery!
 
Ally:  A great story! :) Now let's talk a little about writing. Describe your editing process, from first draft up to release.
 
LC:  Call me a dingle dorf or old fashioned. But I still write my books in long hand and I use blue ink. Then I edit for grammar in red. I type that into my computer and as I go along, I proofread for content and characterization. I print that out and revise the manuscript one more time. Any changes, I mark with a red pen. I let the manuscript sit for a while. When I go back to it, I revise it one more time, this time using green ink. I add all of those changes to the computer and as I do, I revise the manuscript. It’s now ready to go to beta readers. When I receive their comments, I make the changes as necessary. I revise one more time, then send it to my critiquers. I once again make any changes needed. I read the entire work one more time and make any changes that I feel I need to do. Then it’s off to my editor—who will require some changes too. Sigh.
 
Ally:  What is your next writing project? Anticipated release?
 
LC:  I am currently compiling and writing stories about people who have had an angel or miracle experience. This one, as of yet untitled, will be the 4th in the angel/miracle series. Should be out late 2017 or early 2018. If readers have had such experiences, I’d love to hear from them.
 
Ally: What is your favorite social media?
 
LC:  Most definitely Facebook. There, I ask my readers to help when I have a problem with the plot, I share my travel experiences with them and I love to hear their comments. That’s basically the bottom line, I love to talk to them. I feel they’re my extended family. If you’re in Facebook and you’re not my friend, please befriend me. 
 
Ally:  How do you spend your non-writing/non-editing time?
 
LC:  I love to camp, travel, read, do arts and crafts. The only days I really take off from writing—no editing, no writing—are those that I spend with my grandkids. I love being with them. We play, we laugh, we sing. I also love going on dates with my husband of 47 years, and I love my dog.
 
Ally: Take a shot at these quick answer questions:a. book you're currently reading:  Joel Goldman’s Deadlockedb. an item on your bucket list:  I want to sell thousands of copies of my books!c. high heels or sneakers:  Definitely sneakers, but I do love to dress up—and wear sneakers!d. hiking or sunbathing:  Hiking since I can sunbath while hiking!e. Your pets:  I love dogs. My current one is a basenji known as Honey. Super good dog—if only she’d eat! 
Ally: I've enjoyed our visit, LC. I hope you'll come back again. Before you go, let's see your featured book, What Lies Beyond The Fence.

What Lies Beyond the Fence
The Bronson Thriller
Genre: mystery/thriller

Blurb:

For Bronson, this was going to be an easy assignment. Find Roger and Norma, the teens that stole an important book and return it to its original owners. But when Bronson locates the book, Roger reveals the truth behind the book’s existence—a truth so shocking that Bronson is forced to help them escape.

Then Ellen, his partner’s ex, gets kidnapped and Bronson is forced to decide who he will save: Ellen or two stranded teenagers who depend on him for their survival.

Who will he choose? His decision will determine who lives—and who dies.

This action thriller is guaranteed to keep you glued to the edge of your seat with its many twists and turns. It is the fourth installment in the crime fiction series: first, Why Casey Had to Die, followed by When Death Intervenes, then When the Past Haunts You.

What people are saying:
Bronson (is) a very likeable guy with his heart in the right place, which was one of the factors that made this an addictive read. This light but suspenseful mystery, is fast paced and will have the reader quickly turning the pages, especially with the plot twists the author has adroitly employed in her unpretentious, flowing prose. This is an ideal read for mystery fans who enjoy a straightforward mystery with little gore or violence. Highly recommended.
 
Buy Links:
http://tinyurl.com/LCHayden  
http://www.bookgorilla.com/author/B001JP9SMQ/l-c-hayden