Harmony Kent's Blog, page 136
March 14, 2016
RRBC PIF Week! Welcome to D E Howard!
Great to see you today 
It gives me great pleasure to host Author D E Howard on my blog today, as part of RRBC’s Pay It Forward Week!
The idea of this week is to pay forward support by promoting one author for a whole day. My author for today is D E Howard, author of Assaie’s Gift and Spirit of the Book. I did some digging around and came across this:
Random Facts (from DE’s blog)
Below is a list of random facts I have discovered or been told – I will add to this as new ones come to my attention – any contributions to the list will be most welcome.
Note: some of these may only be applicable in the UK
The best before date on a packet of crisps is always a Saturday (I just know you will be checking this on the next packet you eat – I did)
It is illegal to carry a tin of paint on a bus
Fingertips get wrinkly in the bath when the rest of your skin doesn’t to give you more grip when wet
The spelling of William Shakespeare’s name was not spelled any single way during his lifetime. So if you ever spell it wrong – don’t worry, it seems he didn’t know how to spell it either.
If you type askew into google it goes… well askew! (Go on you know you want to try it)
Disclaimer: I cannot confirm the validity of all of the above facts, they are just those I have gleaned over time from various sources and people and found them interesting, amusing or just plain weird.
Hilarious! And, yes, I did try them! Have you?
DE’s first book “Assaie’s Gift”, published in February 2015, is available in Kindle or good old paperback versions.
Human love can last a lifetime, the love of a Goddess is eternal.
“A pantheonic love story with several twists on the theme, I can highly recommend this first novel by this author”
“Amazing book from start to end”
“I shall be recommending it to my friends”
There was a time when the Gods and Goddesses watched over the world, a time when they were worshipped and loved, but that time has passed.
Their names became legends, those legends became myths and eventually even the myths were forgotten… but not by everyone.
Kia Deering had lived an ordinary life, raised by a loving mother her life was happy, but simple. On the morning of her eighteenth birthday everything began to change. Kia expects a day filled with excitement and fun, what she does not anticipate are the events that will change her life forever, turning the reality she believes in on its head and introducing her to the existence of the Goddess Assaie.
Read D E Howard’s debut novel Assaie’s Gift and follow a love that began in a time long passed
Buy it here: http://tinyurl.com/k3zmj7l
Available now – DE’s second book “Spirit of the Book”
Do you believe in magic?
Ellie Forrester didn’t.
Raised an only child by a mother who never hid her resentment Ellie learned from an early age to be self sufficient.
Finally moving away from her mother’s negative influence Ellie thought her small run down flat was a little piece of paradise.
The old book she found hidden away didn’t seem to be anything remarkable but Ellie soon discovered that it contained far more than just the words on the pages.
Ellie soon discovered that not only did magic exist but it was within her reach.
Do you believe in magic?
Ellie Forrester does!
BUY IT NOW – you know you want to!
Connect with D E Howard:
Blog or Website: https://dawndelivers.wordpress.com/
Twitter: @dehauthor
Facebook Page URL: https://www.facebook.com/DEHAuthor/
by 
March 10, 2016
RRBC Spotlight Author Janelle Jalbert!
It gives me great pleasure to welcome author Janelle Jalbert as part of her Spotlight blog tour with Rave Reviews Book Club!
Janelle’s blog topic today is on Writing Topic of Choice
To Niche or Not to Niche
In business, owners are encouraged to pick a niche to focus on in order to make a name, build a brand, and develop a client base. As indie authors we too are in business. The difference with publishing and writing is that the niche is otherwise referred to as genre. Authors get asked it is they write, and the answer sought and given is typically a genre. It’s a quick and easy way to convey the nature of a writer’s work. But, what happens when the Muse has you crossing genres for the sake of a story?
That is a question that I have grappled with throughout my writing career. I have diverse interests which results in visits from the writing Muse that leave me with book ideas that are equally varied. They are truly miracles, and it’s never smart to pass on a fortuitous opportunity. What to do?
A Writer Simply Wants to Write
My writing history includes academic, business, reporting, copywriting, ghostwriting and publishing under my own name. It was both out of passion and necessity. My business writing has covered everything from the motivational to the technical to public relations. Reporting started in education and shifted to motorsports. Copywriting, well that was even more across the board. Ghostwriting led to anonymous bestseller status in areas such as wellness, productivity, money management, biographies, and even sex advice. It brought in money to pay the bills but did little for my own fan base.
And then there were my own books. My first book was about wine thanks to being a wine enthusiast and a successful pitch to a small publisher. At the same time, I got the opportunity to be a regular contributor for a fiction magazine, which became the driver for FLASH 40: LIFE’S MOMENTS, a collection of flash fiction that went on to win the silver medal for anthologies in the 2015 Readers Favorite Book Awards.
Even while all that was going on, I was endlessly revising, polishing and pitching my debut novel, TRIANGULATING BLISS. Here’s the thing…it too didn’t neatly fit into a given genre. Agents and publishers repeatedly told me that the story was compelling, but the fact the novel was a mash-up of genres (mystery, romance, paranormal/supernatural, visionary, with elements of Magical Realism) meant it wasn’t marketable. “Cross-genre books just don’t work.” I was told repeatedly. Still, I believed in my Bliss Baby and pushed out on my own. The novel that was deemed ‘unmarketable’ was recently announced as the medalist for of all things Cross-Genre Fiction in the 2015 New Apple Book Awards.
To make things more convoluted, my writing therapy – in the form of vignettes about my time in North Carolina – screamed to be born as my latest book baby. Now, it’s off to the memoir world with WINGDOG: Soul Pup. I couldn’t say no to a book I believe in simply because it was a different genre, but it does leave me with a conundrum when it comes to building a fan base.
What’s the non-conformist to do?
First of all, I’m not implying that everyone who finds a happy place in a given genre is literally or metaphorically selling their writer soul for the sake of sales. It has been proven to be easier for an author to make a name by niching into a genre. Still, many authors face the desire to branch out. Does that mean they are doomed to obscurity? Is there anything the non-conforming author can do?
Here are a few thoughts and hard won personal insights:
Adjust your goals and expectations accordingly and be willing to celebrate the smaller victories along the way to keep your confidence high.
Developing an author platform becomes more convoluted when crossing genres. My advice, get comfortable building multiple platforms. Personally, I have an author site that is a clearinghouse for all information about my writing. It is a bit more static in nature. Then I have a series of websites that are thematic, in addition to specific book sites. In some cases the book site (domain name) is nested under a more established site if the works are complimentary.
List building is even more challenging with readers who have differing tastes and interests. Segment your lists based on the books/series that you produce. This allows you to do targeted marketing as well as help lead the unsuspecting to try new things. Instead of a single newsletter blast, you’ll likely find greater success with several mini-campaigns and a quarterly “bring them all together” blast. You’ll retain subscribers better if you provide content that touches existing interests, so a one-size-fits-all approach to newsletters doesn’t work best for diverse fan bases. It sounds like a lot more work, I know, but keep the mini campaigns short and sweet (and on subject topic) and leave the “big” send to the quarterly blast. Otherwise, forcing readers to review material that they don’t care about will likely make them hit the unsubscribe button.
If you can, find a way to unify your books. Have fun and think out of the box to find ways to cross promote. One way is to identify a common theme or mission and incorporate it into all or as many of your books as possible. For me, it is ‘a celebration of everyday magic’ and all the forms that can take. Also, if you can work in elements (even briefly) from your other genres it can help you promote multiple works. For example, my information book WINE FOR BEGINNERS is not likely to pull the same crowd as my novel TRIANGULATING BLISS. However, Bliss has a bar setting and there is talk of food and wine between the characters. So, I developed cross promotions to touch both fan bases. For example, a wine tasting where readers get the chance to sample food and wine similar to what is in the novel. They were also presented to with challenge of creating the best pairing. During the event both books are offered for sale. A similar book launch party is in the works for WINGDOG: Soul Pup by combining a fundraiser for animal rescues, with a wine event held at the place that inspired Bliss.
While we’re on the subject of cross promotion, be sure that you promote your books as equally as possible. Like human children, book babies don’t do well when favoritism is shown. Uneven promotion undermines the perceived quality and credibility of any specific book. If you don’t care about a book, readers don’t see a reason to invest time and money in your efforts either.
The current trend is to create a series to help build a following/sales funnel for your work. Under NO circumstances, begin a series if you are not going to follow through. It’s true for any author (genre-specific or otherwise), but it is imperative for the cross-genre author. Don’t make promises that you can’t keep. Angry readers will not only tank a given book but also they can make it nearly impossible to return to the genre again.
We cross-genre indies need to stick together. Tell me what you think. Are any of these pointers helpful? Do you have some tips, tricks and insights to add to the mix? I look forward to hearing from others who are also braving the less travel traveled road. Carry on and good luck to us all!
Janelle Jalbert discovered her passions at the age of 10. One was teaching, as she taught stuffed animals daily lessons. The other was writing, thanks to her love of reading. After reading about an aspiring writer in her favorite book series, the light bulb clicked on, and Jalbert said “I want to do that!” Thus, her writing career began with serialized stories for her friends.
Then, the cries to pursue a “stable” career won out over her dreams of writing.
After college, Jalbert taught language arts and writing at all levels. While deciding on a topic for her master’s thesis, Jalbert stumbled into the world of Magical Realism and was hooked, though at first it was limited to academic interest. Jalbert wrote while teaching including an educational book, contributing to a business book, blogging and reporting on education. Once Jalbert transitioned to online teaching, she simultaneously taught and served as a motorsports reporter and photographer while traveling the country for racing events.
It was during this time of pursuing education and a passion for motorsports that Jalbert took a leap of faith and relocated from Southern California to North Carolina. The move proved to be challenging in its own right. In trying to establish a new normal, Jalbert learned of a pup that had been rescued on the side of the highway after being dumped. Meeting Goose was a life changing experience for human and canine alike. It is that bond that is the focus of Jalbert’s latest release WINGDOG: Soul Pup, A Magical Mutt Memoir.
It took nearly five years for the ‘dog tale’ to see the light of day. In that time, Jalbert had an epiphany and realized that her love of writing was where her true passion lies. In the process of rededicating herself to the craft, Jalbert was faced with numerous heart-breaking challenges that tested her tenacity, yet her writing remained her lighthouse during dark times.
Jalbert seized any writing opportunity that presented itself, from copywriting to ghostwriting non-fiction books. The momentum and focus Jalbert maintained amid personal turmoil lead to her first book contract for a wine-themed book. While drafting WINE FOR BEGINNERS, she took the plunge and came out of the shadows with her fiction writing. Initially, Jalbert dabbled with a contributor role for an online flash fiction magazine. The work with the magazine gave her confidence to publish her first fiction title, FLASH 40: Life’s Moments, which went on to win the Silver Medal for Anthologies in the 2015 Readers’ Favorite International Book Awards.
In 2015, following the release of both a fiction and a non-fiction title, Jalbert’s new debut novel, TRIANGULATING BLISS, medalist for cross-genre fiction in the 2015 New Apple Book Awards. The first book in THE MYSTIQUE OF LIVING SERIES was released after two years of drafting, editing and planning during the most challenging years Jalbert had ever faced. The tale of living life to the fullest provided a touchstone for Jalbert, as she worked to reorganize her life once more, and illustrated the common theme in her literary projects: a celebration of the magic in everyday life.
Now, more than five years after the events that inspired WINGDOG: Soul Pup, Jalbert shares how the special bond between human and animal can be a case of unending love and loyalty that can overcome even the greatest of obstacles. It’s true, a dog may be a man’s best friend, but a wingdog is truly a woman’s gift.
In addition to her teaching and writing background, Jalbert loves to explore the world. Jalbert has traveled throughout Japan, Australia, Europe, the United States and other destinations. Her travels are often solo ventures with as little as a wallet, backpack and passport. Her interests include auto racing, the guilty pleasure of a story with a happily-ever-after, a glass or two of good wine, and some cooking therapy. Jalbert currently lives in Southern California with her rescue pups and regularly returns to her second home in North Carolina. To learn more about Janelle Jalbert and her current/upcoming releases and promotions visit www.triangulatingbliss.com or www.janellejalbert.com .
Website: www.janellejalbert.com
Amazon Author Page: http://bit.ly/JanelleJalbertRRBC
Twitter handle: @JustJJWriting
Facebook: Facebook.com/janellejalbert.author
WINGDOG: Soul Pup will be released on Amazon, March 7, with full release across most major retailers in June 2016
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March 8, 2016
Never Say Goodbye
Sometimes white magic can turn dark. Even with the best intentions.
When Angelica placed a protective curse over her granddaughter, Nancy, in a bid to keep her safe from society and her own powers until she was old enough to understand, she had no idea of the consequences.
It’s October 31st, and a grown-up Nancy is holding her annual Halloween party. Only this year she strays away from her traditional festivities that include her famous Halloween punch, and dancing to the Monster Mash, and opts for a spookier night. She will be holding a séance with the help of her friends and her new Ouija board. Little does she know that the protective curse her grandmother secretly cast over twenty-seven years ago is lifted tonight, and her true powers are finally presented to her.
A spirit is summoned. But only time will tell just who he really is.
Pre-order Links:
Amazon US http://www.amazon.com/dp/B01CITJ7V8
Smashwords https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/620767
Release Day March 18th 2016
Social Links:
Twitter @cbellAtrix09
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100010696021804
Website: http://authorcabell.co.uk/
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March 4, 2016
All About Imps
Hello folks!
Last month, I gave a 5 star review to Henry Herz’s latest children’s book: When You Give an Imp a Penny.
Today, it gives me great pleasure to host Henry on my blog. Read on to learn …
All About Imps by Henry Herz
According to German mythology, imps are lesser goblins who often seek humans on whom to commit mischievous, not evil, acts. Imps are described as small, wild and ; in some cultures they are synonymous with fairies. They are sometimes depicted as unattractive small demons. Although immortal, imps could be harmed with magical weapons or kept out of one’s house with magical wards.
There’s a certain pathos associated with imps, as their mischief is meant to attract human attention and friendship, but typically produces the opposite effect. Even in “successful” situations, the imp remains true to its nature, and continues to play pranks on its human host. Hence the term “impish” is often used today to describe someone who is a trickster or practical joker.
Given their quasi-demonic appearance, some believed that imps were servants of witches and warlocks, sometimes known as familiars. Such familiars, in the form of the all-too-common black cat, black dog, or toad, were considered proof of witchcraft during the era of witch hunts. Science!!
Imp legend in some cases associates imps with an object. Some imps were kept within a container, like a bottle or lamp. Others were not contained within, but magically bound to an object like a sword or jewel.
Imps could be considered the alter-egos of the far more helpful brownies (not to be confused with young girl scouts or a delicious chocolatey treat). According to Scottish and English folklore, brownies are small humanoids that inhabit unused portions of houses, such as attics, basements, or within the walls. Brownies help with the household chores, but because they don’t like to be seen, they work at night. They appreciate gifts of food, particularly honey, porridge and dairy products. But brownies may depart the home if their gifts are referred to as payments, or if the human occupants mistreat them. It seems like a brownie would be a natural solution to an imp infestation.
Imps appear in the games Forgotten Realms and Dungeons & Dragon, and in the books THE BOTTLE IMP by Robert Louis Stevenson, LIVES OF THE NECROMANCER by William Godwin, THE IMP AND THE CRUST by Leo Tolstoy, The Oz series by L. Frank Baum, and MONSTER GOOSE NURSERY RHYMES by Henry Herz.
Henry Herz’s latest picture book, published by Pelican (32 pages), is WHEN YOU GIVE AN IMP A PENNY. Before you lend an imp a penny, there’s something you should know—such a simple act of generosity could set off a side-splitting chain of events! A colorful picture book full of mythology, mischief, and magic, WHEN YOU GIVE AN IMP A PENNY shows us just what happens when an accident-prone—but well-intentioned—imp comes along asking for favors! The same writer/illustrator duo that brought you MONSTER GOOSE NURSERY RHYMES brings to life a comedy of fabled proportions.
From tracking mud on the floor to setting the broom on fire, this clumsy little imp causes accidents wherever he goes, but he’s determined make things right again. The only thing it will cost his host is a little patience—and maybe a bit of time cleaning up some messes! It won’t be long before this troublemaker has won over the entire family (except for the cat) with his irrepressible charm. Herz’s whimsical prose and Larson’s bold illustrations make this tale a laugh from beginning to end—and then again!
Thanks so much for stopping by. I hope you’ve had fun You can find Henry and his books at: 
Blog: http://www.henryherz.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/henry.herz/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Nimpentoad
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/When-You-Give-Imp-Penny/dp/1455621447/
You can find my review for When You Give an Imp a Penny here: http://www.harmonykent.co.uk/when-you-give-an-imp-a-penny/
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March 1, 2016
The Infinity Pool
By Jessica Norrie
Four out of Five Stars
Review from Harmony
The Infinity Pool is a book of Literary Fiction with a steady pace and a thread of unease running throughout the read until the end. On Amazon, one of its genre categories is listed as ‘Mystery/Thriller’, but this is somewhat misleading, as it isn’t anywhere near what a reader would expect from this genre. While it does contain a low element of suspense, it sits more firmly within the Literary Fiction category and doesn’t hold any twists or thrills and spills.
Rather, this story takes a look at what happens when a traditional small island community clashes with the Western interlopers from a nearby holiday camp that offers ‘Peace and Happiness’. The novel examines cultural prejudices and what might happen when lines are crossed. The book opens with the brutal attack of the resort director, Adrian, who is left for dead. It then covers the events leading up to his current demise. Once the tale weaves its way to the end of the summer, the narrative takes up in Part 2 with the resort re-opening in June of the next year, where Adrian is missing and unaccounted for.
The characters are well developed and distinctive, and the scene setting has the reader sitting at the pool right alongside them, fully a part of the community and experiencing what they do. Norrie has a knack for astute description that doesn’t overdo it. I love how she can mix the languid heat and siestas with a subtle sense of tension and menace, so that the two are woven together seamlessly.
This would have been a 5 star read for me if not for the numerous spelling and punctuation hiccups along the way. Which is frustrating when so much skill is shown in other areas. The amount of coughs and sneezes give this book a chronic cold that’s liable to leave the reader a little watery eyed if they notice this kind of thing–which I do.
So, it gets a strong 4 stars instead, which means it’s a great read and well worth buying. Just don’t expect a classic Mystery/Thriller, because you won’t get one, but you will get a tense and enjoyable read with a steady unfolding.
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February 29, 2016
March Madness! Prize Giveaways! Enter for a chance to win!
for a chance to win a $15 Amazon Gift Card!
Anyone who also leaves a comment on this post will be put into a draw to win their choice of ONE copy of one of my ebooks!
Read on for a sneak peek of my latest book, Interludes!
Competition open from midnight GMT 1st March 2016 until midnight 30th March!
Good luck
A collection of short erotic fiction that will tickle more than your taste buds and wet more than your appetite. With a range of genres and styles, this book has enough steam for everyone.
GREY MANCHESTER—contemporary romance in 1000 words. Will Nadine choose to drop her knife or her knickers?
DOUBLE TROUBLE—ménage a trois in 2000 words. After a dry spell, Sophia gets more than she bargained for with a solicitor and a teacher.
DRAGON KISSED—shifter romance in 3000 words. Jenna’s life is fairly run of the mill until she has a flying accident. With a dragon. All is not as it seems in this fiery romance.
TRYST—contemporary romance in 4000 words. Polly pushes the boundaries on a workplace night out.
LOVE ON THE CORNISH LINE—contemporary romance in 5000 words. Becky falls flat on her face, and madly in love. Her weekly commute home proves to be anything but routine.
THE INLAW—contemporary romance in 6000 words. At 43, amputee Carla never expected in her wildest dreams to be called a MILF by a hot young stud. Trouble is, he’s her son in law’s brother. And young enough to be her son. Sparks fly when she’s caught with her hands in the biscuit tin.
NIGHT NURSE—contemporary romance in 7000 words. Denise has only weeks left to live. What constitutes life, though? What fills the yawning hours of empty days? Who are you once the chemo and the cancer have stripped you bare? What to do?—Go out on a slow fizzle, or with a big bang?
OVERBOARD—contemporary romance in 8000 words. When Stella falls overboard in the middle of the Pacific, she gets more than she bargained for. Sharks and storms not withstanding.
ALIEN LIAISON—alien romance in 9000 words. When the military transport, Lunas Two, crash lands on Zorth, Jay is given the job of liaising with the locals. She’s seen plenty of aliens in her four years of service, but never one as finger licking good as Lemo. How far will she have to go to keep the peace?
SAVING FACE—historical romance in 10,000 words. Non-related step brother and sister, David and Annalise, break all the rules in this steamy historical romance. Forced to live apart from the love of her life and into an arranged and loveless marriage, Annalise has to grow up fast. When all is lost, will she be able to save face?
READER ADVISORY: This book contains explicit sex scenes and language hot enough to melt your Kindle. For mature readers only.
Pre-order Now at Amazon US / Amazon UK!
Release date May 2nd, 2016
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February 26, 2016
Street Team Open for Sign Up!
Hi there!
I hope you’re doing well I am looking for avid readers to create my very own Street Team. I am an awarded writer of multiple genres, which include:
Fantasy Fiction
Young Adult
Mystery/Thriller
Women’s Fiction
Poetry
Non-fiction (how to self edit)
Erotic Romance-short stories
And, so, I’m reaching out to my favourite people – YOU! Enter the Rafllecopter for a chance to win a $15 Amazon GC PLUS a chance to win one of my ebooks if you leave a comment to this post. HURRY! Competition runs from today through to March 18th! To be in with a chance to win, all you have to do is to sign up for my Street Team mailing list by going to the link in the Rafflecopter and to tweet about it! 
My latest book is called ‘Interludes’ and will be out on May 2nd. You can pre-order it now for only $0.99 – and I think you should – at AMAZON.
However, if you have the time and will, I am putting together my Street Team, and if you join me, you’ll get a chance to get ARC’s, review older books – the whole nine yards! Sign up now!
Goodreads
Amazon US Author Page
Amazon UK Author Page
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February 25, 2016
Writing With Harmony Podcast
with host Tom Evans and yours truly, Author Harmony Kent!
I am thrilled to bring you my entertaining half hour Podcast where friend and author mentor, Tom Evans, interviews me for his show THE ZONE SHOW.
If you’d like to share my interview, the link is: http://www.thezoneshow.com/2016/02/tzs171-writing-with-harmony/
Thanks so much for stopping by! And I hope you enjoyed the show
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February 15, 2016
100 THINGS WE ALL WONDER ABOUT NONNIE JULES
GIVEAWAYS:
(2) $10 Amazon Gift Cards
(1) $5 Amazon Gift Card
(2) e-book copies of “THE GOOD MOMMIES’ GUIDE…”
ULTIMATE PRIZE GIVEAWAY #1:
Anyone who purchases a copy of “THE GOOD MOMMIES’ GUIDE…” “DAYDREAM’S DAUGHTER, NIGHTMARE’S FRIEND” or “IF ONLY THERE WAS MUSIC” and send to me a copy of the purchase receipt to nonniejules@gmail.com, and also leave a comment along the tour, will get their name entered into a drawing for a $50 Amazon gift card! One entry for each book that is purchased, whether in e-book or paperback format. Purchases must take place between 2/14/16 – 2/29/16. If you’ve already purchased all of my books, then feel free to gift a friend, just for the chance to win!!! Spend a little, and you could win a lot!!!
ULTIMATE PRIZE GIVEAWAY #2:
Anyone who reads and posts a review of “THE GOOD MOMMIES’ GUIDE…” “DAYDREAM’S DAUGHTER, NIGHTMARE’S FRIEND” or “IF ONLY THERE WAS MUSIC” and sends the link to their review to nonniejules@gmail.com, will get their name entered into a drawing for a $20 Amazon gift card! One entry for each book read and reviewed. Reviews must be posted between 2/16/16 – 3/15/16 to be placed into the drawing.
Hello and welcome to my blog today. It gives me great pleasure to host author Nonnie Jules on her ‘100 things we all wonder about Nonnie Jules’ blog tour! Nonnie has come up with an awesome Q & A for today’s tour stop! Read on to get the low down on the gal who goes by the moniker of Wonder Woman
Q: Are you married, if so, for how long and are you happily married?
A: Yes, I’m married to the best husband there ever was! He’s the perfect father, the most perfect husband and the greatest friend to EVERYBODY. He is almost saintly (as well you’d have to be, to be married to me). We have been married a very, very, very long time and yet, it feels that I’ve not had him long enough. Am I happily married? YES!!!! (I can’t speak for him, though…remember, he IS married to me).
Q: May we ask your age?
A: Yes, you may ask -____________________-
Q: What is your biggest pet peeve about people in general?
A: WOW, Harmz! You can just look at me and tell that I have some, right? LOL. OK, pinky-truth: My biggest pet peeve is that people choose to live dirty and messy when they don’t have to. Mind you, I have two of these people in my home (my hubby and my oldest daughter). They can walk around mess and not even see it, whereas my teenager and I, actually start to break out in hives when we see so much as a water stain on the counter! That’s my biggest pet peeve. Now, you didn’t ask for all of them, so I’m going to mind my manners (unlike some of those folks who are being interviewed on my shelf at RRBC) and simply list that one. But, know that I have many!!!!
Q: You seem to be an extreme perfectionist. What’s that about?
A: I have no idea what that’s about, but I can tell you that I think that I am extreme when it comes to things being perfect. People say that nothing is perfect, I say boo ha! NOT TRUE. And, I think that we use that as an excuse to not try hard enough, to not push ourselves, and sometimes, to be just plain old lazy. There are perfect cakes! There are perfect cars! There are perfect animals. There are perfect shoes, houses, noses, etc. So, for those who like to say that nothing is perfect, why don’t you apply that label just to humans and all things that have a beating heart. NOW, there is where we find major imperfections!
Honestly, I just like things in order. The Governing Board members at RAVE REVIEWS BOOK CLUB will tell you that if something leaves our offices with so much as one misplaced letter, I almost spit nails! My husband says to my daughters: “Look at Mommy. She never walks out that door without being absolutely sure that everything is in place and perfect.” And, it’s true. If there really is no such thing as PERFECT, then I see no harm in striving to get as close to it as humanly possible! Again, I think that’s a crutch for those who don’t care to soar as high as others.
Q: There are some who might think that you come across as arrogant. How do you respond to that?
A: Harmz, anytime you have an over-abundance of confidence, OR just confidence of any kind, you are tagged as arrogant. There are lots of things that I choose to not do to appease and please others, just so that they’re happy within themselves, and again, dummying myself down, is definitely one of them. I said in my last interview at John F.’s that I know who I am, I know what I am, and I know whose I am, so people can apply any label to me that they’d like. In response to the question, how do I respond to that, well, I don’t. #SomethingsYouJustIgnore
To follow Nonnie’s tour to get more of your questions answered, please visit her Blog Tour Page on the 4WillsPub site http://wp.me/P43s9i-FEw. Thanks for stopping by today and good luck on winning some of these great prizes!
(Full disclosure: These questions did not originate from Harmony Kent. This full Q&A was provided by Author, Nonnie Jules.)
CONTACT NONNIE VIA:
Twitter: http://twitter.com/nonniejules
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BooksByNonnie
Blogs: www.nonniewrites.wordpress.com , www.BooksByNonnie.wordpress.com & www.AskTheGoodMommy.wordpress.com
TRAILERS:
“THE GOOD MOMMIES’ GUIDE TO RAISING (ALMOST) PERFECT DAUGHTERS,”
https://youtu.be/zg15rptFN2g
“DAYDREAM’S DAUGHTER, NIGHTMARE’S FRIEND,”
“SUGARCOATIN’ IS FOR CANDY & PACIFYIN’ IS FOR KIDS,”
https://youtu.be/fQBnt0wix88
“IF ONLY THERE WAS MUSIC,”
https://youtu.be/g2gNns8ZVFI
by
February 14, 2016
Jazz: America’s Gift
FAREWELL SUPERMAN IN A COWBOY HAT
How many people do you know who have earned the nickname Superman? Your list is probably a short one—maybe even zero. My list is a short one as well. There is just one person on it, and that’s my old friend blues guitarist David Shelley. Down here in sunny South Florida, where he was a legendary blues rocker, his fans and friends called him just that—and that’s how I’ll always remember him. You see, as I write this, I just returned from Superman’s memorial celebration on Fort Lauderdale Beach where hundreds of fans, musicians, and family gathered to bid him a gentle goodbye.
David was an exceptional blues guitarist with a strong, muscular voice. He had what seemed like superhuman-superstar talents with the looks to match. His flowing blond hair and trim but muscular physique made him a woman’s dream. He was also the epitome of a man’s man. We regular mortal guys did not stand a chance against him. Yes, he was the Rock Star poster child, but he also had a sweet, soft, and humble spirit.
David’s signature song was the powerful rocker “When I Was Your Superman.” When he’d soulfully blast this tune wearing his ever-present cowboy hat at gigs, it wasn’t hard to believe that he was indeed Superman. As far as Rock-‘n’-Rollers go, David Shelley was the real deal.
I met David back in the early 1980s. He was a young struggling musician, and I was the owner a health food store with a twist: a full-service restaurant. In the spirit of South Florida’s South Beach, the restaurant was an Art Deco celebration down to the high-gloss black mica bar. On Friday and Saturday nights, we showcased jazz musicians from the area and called the shows “Jazz Goes Natural.” David was one of the musicians who played there regularly.
David and I spent a lot of time playing side by side on stage and then hanging out during breaks and sharing our hopes and dreams over beers and carrot juice—with parsley and celery, of course. My dream was to one day open a large health food supermarket and his dream was to one day be a rock-‘n’-roll star. During one of our breaks he told me that his grandfather wrote the song “California, Here I Come.” My jaw dropped when I grasped the irony that this California-born “Adonis,” who had transplanted himself in Fort Lauderdale, was the grandson of the great songwriter Buddy DeSylva.
As the years progressed, David and I would bump into each other at clubs, and we’d laugh and reminisce about those “good old days.” We were also kind of amazed that the dreams we’d shared had become a reality for both of us. I’d ended up opening Natural Foods Supermarkets, and David had become, well you know, a rock-‘n’-roll Superman!
All of these memories flashed through my mind this morning on Fort Lauderdale Beach as I met up with faces, old friends, and musicians with whom I had the honor of sharing the stage. I had a chance to talk to David’s ex-wife and daughter, who reminded me that David’s grandfather was the great songwriter and co-founder of Capital Records, Buddy DeSylva. When I relearned this bit of trivia, a Twenty-One Gun Salute fired in my mind, bringing me back to the day David told me who his grandfather was. And then my brain juices surged, because I am a fanatic for George Gershwin, and he had collaborated with DeSylva on many projects.
Gershwin partnered with DeSylva to write the music for George White’s “Scandals of 1922.” Historically, the Scandals were full of half-naked wiggling girls and slapstick comedians, including The Three Stooges—seriously. The young songwriting duo scored a big hit with their show-stopping first-act closer “(I’ll Build A) Stairway to Paradise.” Gershwin wrote the music and David’s grandpa Buddy DeSylva and a guy named Arthur Francis wrote the lyrics. (Mr. Francis was one of the greatest lyricists of all time, but you may remember him by his real name, Ira Gershwin!)
In Ira Gershwin’s autobiography Lyrics on Several Occasions, he relates the evolution of the Gershwin/DeSylva Stairway to Paradise hit. The Brothers Gershwin wrote an unpublished number called “New Step Ev’ry Day,” which was about a singer who boasts of learning a new dance step every day. The brothers did not think much of the tune, but DeSylva wanted to use it as a springboard for a new tune in the “Scandals of 1922.” One night, after the threesome finished dinner at DeSylva’s Greenwich Village apartment, they drilled into the song and came up with the new and improved “(I’ll Build A) Stairway to Paradise,” finishing it up at about 1 a.m. They scrapped everything from the original tune except for the line, “with a new step every day.” So the “new step” was transformed from a dance step to a stairway step.
“Stairway to Paradise” ended the first act of George White’s “Scandals of 1922″ with a bang, but the song had legs . . . and not just dancers’ legs. It was dusted off and reused in the 1951 Vincente Minnelli and Gene Kelly’s silver-screen blockbuster “An American in Paris.” The movie won six Academy Awards! It has been reworked into a Broadway Musical and is currently playing on the Great White Way to rave reviews. It recently garnered twelve Tony nominations and four Tony Awards.
What an amazing story that the Brothers Gershwin and DeSylva could supercharge a little throwaway ditty and transform it into a mega hit, which is still being sung on Broadway today!
My favorite story about this highly successful and ambitious trio happened late in the evening of January 3, 1924. The three twenty-somethings were hanging out at the Ambassador Billiards Parlor on Broadway and 52nd Street, smoking cigars, downing a few beers, and shooting pool. Buddy and George were involved in a game of three-cushion billiards (which, by the way, George lost to Buddy), while Ira sat on a stool, perusing the early edition of the New York Tribune.
Ira yelled out, “Your name is in the paper!” Then, he read aloud, “George Gershwin was at work on a jazz concerto” that the Whiteman Orchestra would play at the February 12, 1924, Valentine’s Day Concert in Aeolian Hall.
Just to bring you all up to speed, this was the first time Gershwin heard about this, and it turned out it was the impetus for him to write “Rhapsody in Blue,” his signature work. George Gershwin’s buddy, Buddy DeSylva was with him at the moment he first found out he’d been hired to compose what is arguably his most-renowned work, “Rhapsody in Blue.” Amazing!
And, of course, all of this leads me back to my old pal, band mate, and grandson of Buddy DeSylva—David. Both Buddy and David were exceptional musicians. With great passion, David had inherited the building of his grandfather’s “Stairway to Paradise.” David added more than one new step every day. A gentle, kind, and talented man, he enriched us all through his music, presence, and friendship. It has been such an honor to share some time on this planet with him. He leaves us now to continue building the stairway ourselves. Be assured, David, we will continue to build that “Stairway to Paradise” by honoring your rockin’ music.
Rest in Peace in Paradise—Superman in a Cowboy Hat.
Find Richie at:
Contact info for Author, Richie Gerber:
Twitter: @jazzgift1
Website: www.jazzamericasgift.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/JazzAmericasGift
Trailer: https://youtu.be/bGQHPGikcQ8
Purchase link:
Jazz: America’s Gift – www.amazon.com/dp/B0100RC8CK
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