Meglena Ivanova's Blog, page 5
February 14, 2016
Happy Valentine’s Day!
Good morning and happy Sunday, Everyone! Hope you’re all enjoying your weekend! I just wanted to say a quick hello and to wish you a very Happy Valentine’s Day! Whether you are spending time with someone special, with friends, or even on your own, I hope you have a fabulous day! And remember that love comes from many different places – so even if you don’t have a special Valentine this year, think of all the love that you already do have in your life!
Love,
Meg Ivanova
January 22, 2016
From Inspiration to Action – My Journey Starting a Career in Tech
From Inspiration to Action –
My Journey Starting a Career in Tech by Meglena Ivanova
I am a Software Test Analyst. From my experience so far I can say, that this is one of the best jobs someone can do. It is creative, demanding and extremely rewarding plus it has an awesome community with friendly and intelli- gent people. When I was thinking about entering the test analyst work market I had various questions and I did lots of research. I can tell you that it takes time and constant practice to learn the fundamentals in order to become a great candidate and pursue the career path I wanted.
Although it is possible to be self-taught and still find employment as a software test analyst, attending classes can be a good way to obtain a deeper understanding of the skills required for the position you are aiming for.
I will share my observations and experience of how I become part of an awesome software team under the supervision of even more remarkable managers. I hope my story will help inspire you to start your own journey in the tech industry.
Well here’s how it happened…
A few months ago, I participated in Per Scholas’s Soft- ware Testing Education Program, which took place in their New York office in the Bronx. The course is an intense and comprehensive hands-on oriented technical 8-weeks training, and is primarily taken by adults look- ing to change their careers.
When I first entered my classroom in Per Scholas, my first observation was that this was not the crowd I had imagined. A sea of faces from many different racial and ethnic groups greeted me, covering a wide whole range of generations. I immediately wondered how much more would I have gotten from college if I had that kind of diversity in my classes. The range of perspectives and life experiences in that room practically vibrated.
During the first half of the course, my classmates and I were able to learn test concepts and methodologies along with the fundamentals of programming and test- ing tools. The training included team project presentations and assignments, as well as individual challenges and exercises, which were built up in a very creative way so we could learn easily how to apply immediately our new skills into our own projects. I enjoyed learning Git (and even created a few extra projects using Java and Python). The teacher provided us with a “functional understanding” of Git, including the ability to clone and fork repositories and contribute on GitHub using pull requests, in order to be able to submit our homework and course projects. This definitely was a valuable learning for us, though we didn’t spend that much time on merging conflicts. I’m glad that we spent time study- ing it, because for me GitHub workflow was an important part of building my online project portfolio (as repositories), as well as contributing to open source projects.
The second half of the course we were more focused on testing techniques and hands-on real world testing. For example, we spent time practicing with Keith Klain, co-CEO of Doran Jones, and Paul Holland, Managing Director also at Doran Jones, one of the foremost experts on Rapid Software Testing. Because learning to test is as much about practicing as it is demonstrating methods, during the training we spent more time on walk- throughs and exercises than we did on slides explaining concepts. My fellow students and I really appreciated seeing such quality, well commented material, both for its explanatory and reference value.
The impact of working with people with tech oriented ideas and views from diverse cultural and age groups, presented so many challenges during the course.
Undoubtedly, gaining an understanding of coding and testing, including the choice of different languages and tools was great. But from my point of view the course provided me with something even more priceless, which was an excellent environment for networking. Once a week in the cafeteria different IT professionals were invited as guest speakers for “Lunch and Learn” sessions. Individual mock interviewers and resume re- viewers were helping us to build confidence and practice our skills learned during the career development seminars. Presentations focused on “women in tech” and “software testing techniques” were scheduled after classes, so that we could have the chance to connect with more professionals in this field and ask as many questions as we could. The school also provided mentors who helped us to identify our personal strengths and weaknesses, and a recruiter who was trying to help us with finding employment.
I strongly believe that my efforts to perform well in class and to connect with my colleagues, teachers, guest speakers/presenters, and potential employers, directly helped me in obtaining a job as a Software Test Analyst at Doran Jones, a software consulting company, focused on building better technology and delivering high qual- ity business value to its clients.
Now I am collaborating with great co-workers that are funny, interesting and smart people. Working with them is awesome. Their energy keeps me “awake” and sharp. I am constantly talking and getting new ideas and thoughts to better my own ideas. I feel like my desire to be a part of something meaningful, bigger than myself, finally paid off. I realized that being a member of a highly passionate and collaborative team, working together to organize a creative environment, is a highly successful model of making ideas happen.
I definitely feel more fulfilled working in a software team, especially now that I’ve benefited from various critique and support partnerships. Perhaps it’s the unex- pected exchanges and collisions with others that I am
working with that are most rewarding for me. Or maybe it is because my team is creating the support I need when things get rough. I am not sure exactly of all the motives of why I enjoy working in this team as much as I do, but I think I will continue to see more and more reasons in the future. So far I think that making a team work well is not easy, but when it does, there is nothing better.
During the past few months, working in the IT industry, I’ve also learned that it is very hard to
catch up, and keep up, with technologies and business needs on a day to day basis. A co-worker used to say, “We’re always working with the impossible”. I learned that if we keep a balance with people skills and technol- ogy, we can do it better. So I started attending different test conferences. I become a member of several meet-up groups related to the lasted trends in the software test- ing, and the IT sector in general. I also started using Twitter and other social media platforms, which I really find very helpful, in order to stay in touch with other testers and tech enthusiasts.
There are, of course, many other ways to further your knowledge and develop the skills you need throughout your tech journey. The bottom line is that, if you want to be a truly successful person in whatever it is that you do, or you want to do, being a woman, or not, you simply just have to give it a try. It might work for you as it worked for me!
So, what are you waiting for? Pick the program, or programing language that looks the most interesting to you, and set aside time this month to learn the funda- mentals. You might even realize that you’ve discovered a new passion and decide to get a foundation in tech to advance your career! Or not. Either way, learning new tech skills can only help your career.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR . . .
Meglena Ivanova is a Software Test Analyst at Doran Jones Inc. She completed her BC in Information Technology back in 2011 at the University of Economics, Varna, Bulgaria. She is a recent graduate of Per Scholas’s Software Education Program in the Bronx, NY, where she was chosen for a valedictorian for her class along with another female co-student. She collaborated with UpWardly Global /non-profit organization, which trains and helps skilled immigrants to find better jobs in the US/ on multiple resume workshops, cover letter reviews and networking practice events.
WOMEN TESTER
Download WomenTesters – 7th Edition 2.61 MB
Download WomenTesters – 7th Edition
January 18, 2016
Thank you to MAKIN BOOKS PUBLISHING for the amazing interview
Good morning everyone!
I am pleased to post today my interview for MAKIN BOOKS PUBLISHING agency. 
“We believe that everyone has a story to tell. So we built our company around helping people do just that.” ~Dave Makin~
WHAT THEY DO . . .
They believe everyone has a story to tell and they want to help us share it. From local and independent bookstores to giant retail chains to popular ebook sites, they have the ability to get your book where it needs to be. Their mission is simple really:
They connect authors with their readers.
They are Makin Books Publishing.
They are purveyors of good reads.
If you want YOUR STORY to be told THE WAY IT WAS MEANT TO BE TOLD you should visit their website!
MAKIN BOOKS PUBLISHING posted on their awesome website my interview
Author Spotlight – Meglena Ivanova on January 17th, 2016.
You can read part of the interview here and the rest on their website.
~ Enjoy! Comment! Share! ~
. . .
1. What does your writing process look like?
I just find something I’m excited about and then I will just start writing about it. It’s important to remember that when reading over what you wrote if it doesn’t excite you, it probably won’t excite anyone else, so you’ll do some tweaking till you get it just right. I will usually brainstorm what I’d like to say about my subject, then I will research a bit in order to find some credible information to back me up, and then I will -rewrite the story, the chapter, the interview or the article.
2. Do you have any strange writing habits?
I love writing offline. Nothing like a notepad and a pen at the sofa to spur creativity. Especially when there is some music as a background.
3. If you could cast as your characters in the movie adaptation of your book?
Sometimes it’s fun to think about which actors could best portray the characters in your book. Sometimes, I think it even helps get a better picture of what these characters could look like and how they could carry themselves.
. . .
Read more here!
Thank you for visiting! :)
Meg Ivanova
18 INTERESTING DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. FACTS
Martin Luther King Jr. (1929-1968) was a Baptist minister and social activist who played a key role in the American civil rights movement from the mid-1950s until his assassination in 1968. Explore 10 surprising facts about the civil rights leader and 1964 Nobel Peace Prize winner.
1. His name was originally Michael, not Martin.
His father was also Michael King, hence why Martin Luther King Jr. was originally named Michael King Jr. However, after a trip to Germany in 1931, Michael King Sr. changed his own name in homage to historic German theologian Martin Luther. Michael King Jr. was two years old at the time and King Sr. made the decision to change his son’s name to Martin Luther as well.
2. At the age of 12, he seems to have tried to commit suicide.
It was May of 1941 when his grandmother passed away after a heart attack. At the time of this event, King Jr. was off disobeying his parents by going to watch a parade when they told him not too. When he came home and learned his grandmother had died, he went upstairs and jumped from the second story window of his house.
3. King entered college at the age of 15.
King was such a gifted student that he skipped grades nine and 12 before enrolling in 1944 at Morehouse College, the alma mater of his father and maternal grandfather. Although he was the son, grandson and great-grandson of Baptist ministers, King did not intend to follow the family vocation until Morehouse president Benjamin E. Mays, a noted theologian, convinced him otherwise. King was ordained before graduating college with a degree in sociology.
4. Amazing pu blic speaker who started with C his seminary.
Although King today is often remembered as being an amazing public speaker, he got a C in public speaking during his first year at seminary. This likely isn’t because he was actually bad at public speaking at this point. His father noted that even before going to seminary King Jr. was one of the best public speakers he’d seen. Whatever caused his professor to give him a C, by his final year King had straight A’s, was the valedictorian of his class, and the student body president.
5. He almost didn’t become a minister.
After graduating from college, he still had serious doubts about Christianity and the Bible and told his father (who was a Baptist minister, as his grandfather had also been) that he didn’t want to be a minister and instead was considering becoming a doctor or a lawyer. He later decided that the Bible had “many profound truths which one cannot escape” and chose to become a minister, entering seminary at Crozer Theological Seminary in Pennsylvania. He graduated with his PhD at the age of 25.
6. King convinced “Uhura” on Star Trek, Nichelle Nichols (who incidentally later went on to work for NASA), to continue on with the role after the first season.
Nichols stated he told her not to leave the show because she was not only playing a black person as a main character on TV, but she was also playing a character that didn’t conform to the stereotypical black person of the day, usually portrayed. Rather, Uhura was portrayed as an intelligent member of the crew and an equal to those around her.
This seems to have had the intended effect. Whoopi Goldberg once stated when she first saw the character of Uhura on TV, she said “Momma! There’s a black lady on TV, and she ain’t no maid!” It was partially because of this that Goldberg became a huge Star Trek fan and later pushed so hard to get a character on Star Trek the Next Generation, despite the disbelief of the producers that she’d actually want to be on the show.
Astronaut Ronald McNair, the second black person in space (who also died in the Challenger explosion), was inspired to become an astronaut because of the character of Uhura. McNair’s brother stated,
“Now, Star Trek showed the future where there were black folk and white folk working together. I just looked at it as science fiction, ’cause that wasn’t going to happen, really.’ But Ronald saw it as science possibility. He came up during a time when there was Neil Armstrong and all of those guys; so how was a colored boy from South Carolina – wearing glasses, never flew a plane – how was he gonna become an astronaut? But Ron was one who didn’t accept societal norms as being his norm, you know? That was for other people. And he got to be aboard his own Starship Enterprise.”
7. King was jailed 29 times.
According to the King Center, the civil rights leader went to jail nearly 30 times. He was arrested for acts of civil disobedience and on trumped-up charges, such as when he was jailed in Montgomery, Alabama, in 1956 for driving 30 miles per hour in a 25-mile-per-hour zone.
8. King’s “I Have a Dream” speech was not his first at the Lincoln Memorial.
Six years before his iconic oration at the March on Washington, King was among the civil rights leaders who spoke in the shadow of the Great Emancipator during the Prayer Pilgrimage for Freedom on May 17, 1957. Before a crowd estimated at between 15,000 and 30,000, King delivered his first national address on the topic of voting rights. His speech, in which he urged America to “give us the ballot,” drew strong reviews and positioned him at the forefront of the civil rights leadership.
9. King’s last public speech foretold his death.
King had come to Memphis in April 1968 to support the strike of the city’s black garbage workers, and in a speech on the night before his assassination, he told an audience at Mason Temple Church: “Like anybody, I would like to live a long life. Longevity has its place. But I’m not concerned about that now … I’ve seen the Promised Land. I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight, that we, as a people, will get to the Promised Land. And I’m happy tonight. I’m not worried about anything. I’m not fearing any man. Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord.”
10. King Jr.’s autopsy revealed that stress had taken a major toll on his body.
Despite being just 39 at the time of his death, one of the doctors noted that he had “the heart of a 60 year old”.
11. King is to date the youngest male to win a Nobel Peace Prize.
Winning it in 1964 at the age of 35 (at the time he was the youngest overall for the Peace Prize). The youngest ever to win the Peace prize today is Malala Yousafzai who won it in 2014 at the age of 17.
12. King donated all of the $54,123 (about $400,000 today) he received for his Nobel Peace Prize to the Civil Rights movement.
During his acceptance speech, he stated “I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word in reality. This is why right temporarily defeated is stronger than evil triumphant.”
13. King won a Grammy and was awarded a Congressional Gold Medal and a Medal of Freedom.
The Medal of Freedom and the Gold Medal make sense, but how on Earth did he win a Grammy, you say? He won it in 1971 for Best Spoken Word Album for “Why I Oppose the War in Vietnam”.
14. His house was once bombed.
This was during the Montgomery Bus Boycott, which lasted a total of 385 days (more interesting facts on this boycott here).
15. His mother, Alberta Williams King, was also murdered.
She was killed while attending church in Atlanta in 1974 by a 23 year old man, Marcus Wayne Chenault, who believed “all Christians are my enemies”. He shot and killed her while she was playing organ at the church.
16. It wasn’t until the year 2000 that all 50 states officially observed Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
The last states to join up where Arizona in 1992, New Hampshire in 1999, and Utah in 2000. The holiday itself was originally signed into federal law by President Ronald Reagan in 1983, with the first MLK holiday on January 20, 1986.
17. One street in almost every major city is named after Martin Luther King Jr.
Today over 700 streets in the Unites States are named after Martin Luther King Jr., with one such street in almost every major city. This is not even counting the amazing number of buildings, schools, and the like named after him.
18. There are only two other people in American history that have a national holiday in their honor.
George Washington and Christopher Columbus. As such, Martin Luther King Jr. is the only native born United States citizen to have a national holiday in his honor. In 1983 President Ronald Reagan signed a bill that created a federal holiday to honor King. The holiday, first commemorated in 1986, is celebrated on the third Monday in January, close to the civil rights leader’s January 15 birthday.
I’ll end this post with the following quote from the great Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on non-violent resistance:
“Non-violent resistance is not for cowards. It is not a quiet, passive acceptance of evil. One is passive and non-violent physically, but very active spiritually, always seeking ways to persuade the opponent of advantages to the way of love, cooperation, and peace.”
If you liked this article, you might also enjoy:
The First African American Invited to Dinner at the White House
Jackie Robinson was Not the First African American to Play Major League Baseball
Jane Elliot and the Blue-Eyed Children Experiment
The Great Frederick Douglass
The First African American to Co-Star in a Dramatic TV Series
January 8, 2016
A MOMENT TO SHARE with A. J. Cosmo
A. J. Cosmo
Hi everybody, I am happy to present the amazing author of children’s books – AJ Cosmo (that’s him on the left side). AJ has been independently publishing quality children’s books for over four years. Each story is age appropriate (1st-4th grade), has a moral (without being boring), and is affordable (because reading is for everyone.)
He will share with us some insides on his process and his inspirations. Hope you will enjoy this interview. :)
So AJ, tell me a little about yourself and your background?
I inspire heart and imagination in children. My work aims to be of use by either solving a common problem for the child, such as bullying or the fear of monsters, or for the parent, such as dating as a single parent or the sacrifice of going to working. The stories seek to do all of that while still being entertaining, funny, and easy to understand. I’ve been writing and illustrating professionally for over four years now. In that time I have completed over thirty titles and sold well over a quarter of a million copies. Most of my work is available on the Amazon Kindle while a few titles are in print and for the iOS. There’s a huge cast of characters across the library, so it’s hard to pin anything down, but I always put the highest quality content out there.
What were you like at school?
A. J. Cosmo’s Bio
I was a lazy, above average, student. If it was taught in class I would have it memorized but any advanced level of reading or research would usually be my downfall. I found school boring and so I would often get distracted and doodle. I now recognize boredom as the mother of creativity and try to make time to be bored.
Were you good at English?
That depended on the teacher. If the teacher valued creativity and communication- I did well: if the teacher valued grammar rules and spelling- I did poorly. I believe that language is malleable and constantly evolving, so I have no problem breaking rules in order to communicate better.
What are your ambitions for your writing career?
I wish to continue creating and living as a working writer and to expand the worlds I have made into other mediums. I want to be of use to people and I want these characters to live on the same way that Peter Pan has lived on.
Which writers inspire you?
Kurt Vonnegut for adults. Roald Dahl for children. Charlie Kaufmann for screenwriters. Neil Gaiman for everything else. I tend to prefer writers who tilt the status quo sideways and twist genre expectations- writers that get away with much more than they should.
What was your life like before becoming an author?
I have always written, however, the time before choosing to make it my primary means of living was filled with compromises. I would take work “for now” and write when I could. The problem with that approach, and most people take this approach, is that you rarely have time for what you want to do when you’re doing something else. There are simply too many chores to do on top of your job. If you are serious about being a writer, you have to take a leap of faith.
Which comes first? The character’s story or the idea for the novel?
A. J. Cosmo’s Website
That depends on the piece and the author. For me, the concept usually comes first, however, concept and character are interconnected and your main character should spring from the concept. All parts of the story are interconnected, so it doesn’t really matter what piece the muse gives first.
When did you decide to become a writer?
I spent the majority of my life so far asking permission to be a creative. I had a sense that a committee like American Idol existed that deemed people artists or everyday workers. In truth, people call themselves whatever they want and if the world agrees with their assessment- they become what they say. If you say that “someday I’ll be a writer” then you will be just that- a person waiting for tomorrow.
Why do you write?
I write to be heard. I think a lot of authors felt marginalized early in their life and use writing as a means of expression and validation. To have someone closely read your work is to hold their attention so tight that they only listen to you. Hopefully you have something profound to tell them, because we also write to share the common truths that we don’t understand.
So, what have you written?
I have written a lot of children’s books, over thirty, and they are surprisingly complicated. You can find a full list of them on my website. The most popular title is “The Monster That Ate My Socks.” While the book I’m most proud of (right now) is “Soaked.”
Where people can buy or see them?A complete list is available on my website while the most popular titles are ranked on Amazon.
Give me an insight into your main character of your last book. What does he/she do that is so special?
“Soaked” was my last major release and the main character of that story is Aiden Jones. Aiden is special because he stands up to fear (in this case the school bully.) Most people think about standing up. They fantasize about how they would say X if Y happened, but in reality most of us are silent. Aiden isn’t silent and on top of that considers himself a coward. He simply acts in the way he feels is right, even though he knows that doing the right thing will be the hardest thing.
What sparked the idea for your books?
A. J. Cosmo’s Twitter page!
I believe most of the stories come from my own childhood and an attempt to work out deep seeded personal issues. If that’s not the source, then something that makes me laugh out loud will often be the seed- though even then I will try to add depth to it.
How do you market your books?
It’s a constant moving target but I think most of my sales are through word of mouth. I write a blog, have a website, have a mailing list, have a large twitter base, a decent Facebook page, have done school visits, book fairs, and have even bought advertising- but if the book isn’t good it won’t move. I often wonder if marketing brings any returns at all. People love to share a hidden gem.
Do you have any advice for other authors on how to market their books?
Experiment. Read everything you can but understand that what works for one person will not necessarily work for another. You wouldn’t sell a cake the same way you sell a car, yet people think you can apply rules for selling genre fiction to non-fiction self-help books. There is one universal truth however: “what does it do for the customer?” If your book doesn’t solve a problem for the reader, it’s useless. That includes fiction (if you can’t at the very least be entertaining, no one will buy your product.)
What do you do to get book reviews?
A. J. Cosmo’s Amazon Author Page
I don’t do anything. If people aren’t moved to review your book, you need to take another look at your work. If you buy reviews, you have failed. If you have to beg everyone for reviews, you’ve done something wrong.
What advice do you have for someone who wants to become a published writer?
Dedicate yourself to it. You will either spend a huge amount of energy on one book being traditionally published, or a hundred self-published books that are sort of bad- before you see any return on your investment. Remember that anyone can self-publish now, so you have to be so good that readers will pay for yours over all the content that’s available free. Make sure you are offering your best and be honest with yourself about what you are actually creating. No one starts out good and no one dies perfect, we’re all at different points along the same unending path.
Is there anything else you would like to add that I haven’t included?
You need to be decisive and persistent if you want anything from this world. When you start creating, you are no longer a customer, and we are all used to lavish treatment as a customer. Expect hardships and learn to offer more than you take.
How can readers discover more about you and your work?
Visit my website at ajcosmo.com. :)
Current writing projects, school visits, and persistence:
Current writing projects, school visits, and persistence: #hangout #amwriting @mctiller
It was a great privilege for me to get to interview A. J. Cosmo, who has inspired me in many different ways. Thank you AJ!!! Good Luck with everything!
December 2, 2015
5* BOOK REVIEW – The Spike (Kindle Edition) by Marilyn Thompson / * Current Price: $0.00
by Marilyn Thompson * Current Price: $0.00
The Way Horror Fairy Tales Were Meant To Be Told…, December 2, 2015I found this book very inspiring. I’d recommend it highly to almost anyone at any age. The simple, elegant narrative contains true wisdom and reveals more with each read. I read this in one sitting at a coffee shop without looking up. I felt like I was right there in the story. That is how absorbing this short fairy tale is.
A bit more on the story…
Marilyn Thompson does such a remarkable job with this horror fairy tale. Тhe characters are living, touching, unnerving, heartfelt, and very decisive. There was quite a bit of clever exposition in the story. Тhe witch was described to be wicked, dark and scary. She is having the ability to manipulate and control the little boy who makes a deal with her in order to get what he desire the most – which is to be a writer. Her eloquent talk charmed the little poor, naive and desperate boy and with the right opportunity she begins to gain enough power through the deal.
Walter’s character shows the weakness of innocence. He is incurably optimistic dreamer who has fallen into the temptation of the truly crafty witch. He is hoping to be able to write like a famous author and he is willing to give anything in exchange. His wish is granted by the evil witch but the “so desired happiness” turns out to be the greatest darkness of his life and unfortunatly his doom.
This story teaches us instead of thinking about what we want, first to consider: What are we willing to give up to get it?
I wish that there were more stories in the book and may be a few illustrations. :)
If You want to discover more about this author and
her work you can go to any of the following links…
Website | Blog | Twitter | LinkedIn | Pinterest | Goodreads | Facebook | Amazon Author Page US
INTERVIEW at my blog – A MOMENT TO SHARE with Marilyn Thompson!!!
November 29, 2015
A MOMENT TO SHARE with Marilyn Thompson
Hello All! Very pleased to say, today, I am happy to welcome Marilyn Thompson. She is the author of The Spike, Guns, Horses, and Death: The Life of a Wanted Man, Outlaw Children A World Re-Created, Outlaw Children: Sacrifice and Redemption, God Really Does Have a Sense of Humor and Whispers in My Heart.
Marilyn is someone who extends a helping hand to new authors and I’ve certainly benefited from her great advices. She is an amazing Writer, dedicated Reader, awesome Reviewer and a professional Proof Reader. Marilyn is a writer with two published novels, one novella, and one short story. She is currently working on a short story compilation as well as a book of poetry.
Marilyn Thompson
Hi Marilyn, thank you for participating in this interview.
1. Tell me a little about yourself and your background? What were you like at school? Were you good at English? What are your ambitions for your writing career? Which writers inspire you?
I have a theory that there are two kinds of people, those who have a brain for numbers, and those who have a brain for words. I fall into the latter. I suffer from a condition known as Aphantasia, which means I cannot see images in my mind. I think that is why I write in such detail. As a child, I suffered a traumatic brain injury and perhaps that is what contributed to my condition.
What was your life like before becoming an author?
Outlaw Children Sacrifice and Redemption by Marilyn Thompson
My life has not changed since I published my first book. I am completely happy with my life and hope it never changes. I am not wealthy but have everything I could ever need or want. Should my books ever begin to sell well, all proceeds will go to helping the less fortunate. As I said I have everything I need, my house is small, but it is a warm a place out of the elements, I do not need as larger house. My car is five years old but it runs perfectly, I do not need a new car. I have food and clothing. I see so many without these things and I only write for the love of the story and hopefully someday be able to help others through the sales of my writing.
When did you decide to become a writer?
It really wasn’t a decision; it was more of a part of who I am. I have always written stories for my children, and poetry, and stories for myself. I decided to publish however in 2005.
Which comes first – the character’s story or the idea for the novel?
Outlaw Children A World Re-Created by Marilyn Thompson
I have had it happen both ways. Sometimes the character’s story is the strongest driving force. In that case, the novel seems to write its self, building around everything that is happening in the life of that character. When the novel is driven by the character’s story, I rarely have the need for outlines. Other times the idea for the novel is the foundation and when that is the case, I find myself using outlines to build storylines and characters.
Why do you write? What advice would you give to aspiring writers?
I write for the love of storytelling. It has been something that has been a part of me for as long as I can remember. I think that I first fell in love with literature because of my dad. He would often tell stories, and recite Poe, Longfellow and Twain. After I learned to read and write, I read everything I could find, I even read the encyclopedia. I began by writing short stories and poems in second grade. As I got older, I began to write poetry based on whatever I was going through emotionally at the time. As for aspiring writers I would tell them to read everything they can. Reading gives insight into how to structure the plotline and how to create good character dialog and action.
So, what have you written?
Marilyn Thompson’s Books
I have written so much over the years, but as far as published works I have two novels that are part of a series, book 1 is Outlaw Children Sacrifice and Redemption, and book 2 is Outlaw Children a World Recreated. I have one novella, a western, Guns Horses and Death the life of a Wanted Man. One short story in the horror genre, entitled The Spike. One humor book based on things that actually have happened called God Really Does Have a Sense of Humor, and one book of poetry, Whispers in My Heart.
Where people can buy or see them?
Marilyn Thompson’s Amazon Author Page
They can be found on all Amazon sites worldwide, here on my author page: http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B002BM9AXI
I try to run a free promotion once a month at the end of every month.
Give me an insight into your main character from your last novel /first novel/. What does he/she do that is so special?
I will tell you about Mike Bishop my first main character from the Outlaw Children books. Mike is a strong and intelligent character. He begins as a hunter of imperfect people and evolves into their champion. Due to events in his life he becomes compassionate, but his ability to be ruthless remains and he uses that to overcome a government that has no tolerance for those with less than perfect genetics.
What sparked the idea for your book/s?
I cannot say what sparked the idea for my first book Outlaw Children Sacrifice and Redemption it just came into being. I wrote A World Recreated because so many people requested a sequel.
Marilyn Thompson’s Goodreads Page
I wrote The Spike for my then thirteen-year old daughter who loves to read, and who, by the way writes short stories and poetry as well. The idea for it came because I thought of how much a writer is willing to sacrifice for success.
Guns, Horses and Death came from my love westerns and wondered if I could write one. So I sat down and drew from all of the westerns I had ever read or seen, and used that style to develop the characters and story.
God Really Does Have a Sense of Humor is a compilation of all of the unfortunate humorous things that have happened to my wonderful husband over the years.
Are there any character traits in your book that are based on someone you know?
Yes, I have put character traits of friends and family into most of my characters. One character in the Outlaw Children book is based solely on characteristics of several serial killers.
Do you read much and if so who are your favorite authors?
When I am not writing I am reading. I have many favorite authors some you may have heard of others probably not. Stephen King is one of the more well known. As for lesser-known authors, Neil Davies, Nick Christofides, C.J. Lawson and Patti Morelli are at the top of the list.
Where is your favorite place to read and write?
Marilyn Thompson’s Pinterest Page
I don’t really have a favorite place to read or write as long as it is quiet without distractions I can do either almost anywhere.
How do you market your book/s?
I have to admit I am not very good at marketing. Most of my marketing is through social media and word of mouth.
Do you have any advice for other authors on how to market their books?
No but I could use some. :)
What do you do to get book reviews?
I try to get reviews through giveaways and social media; unfortunately most people who get my books through these methods do not leave reviews.
What advice do you have for someone who would like to become a published writer?
Don’t do it for the money, do it for the love of writing. Don’t take a bad review personally; use it to make your writing better. Read all that you can and pay attention to what you are reading, notice what really catches your attention and what turns you away from story then use those things to make your writing the best you can. If you cannot afford to pay someone to proof and edit your book, be vigilant when you edit. I spent six months writing my first novel and over twelve editing it. It is easy to read a missing word in a sentence just because you know it should be there. Editing is the most important part of publishing. You can write the most fantastic story in the world and if it is filled with spelling, grammar, punctuation, and timeline errors, the reader will not enjoy it and it will reflect on your writing ability.
Is there anything else you would like to add that I haven’t included?
Marilyn Thompson’s Twitter’s Page
I also do reviews as well as editing. Authors can go to my blog and send me a request. I blog the reviews as well as posting on Amazon, Twitter, Facebook, Google Plus, Pinterest and Good Reads.
Also when writing I have discovered that for me my ability to write is directly tied to what I eat. I know that sounds odd but whenever I have hit a wall and was faced with writers block if I increased the amount of protein in my diet I was able break it in a couple of days. I made this discovery purely by accident while writing my first novel. Since then, I always increase my protein intake before starting a project and keep the levels high until I have finished. I haven’t had writers block since.
How can readers discover more about you and your work?
Go to my website. There you will find excerpts and a few of my other writings. At my blog I post reviews for other writers.
Website | Blog | Twitter | LinkedIn | Pinterest | Goodreads | Facebook | Amazon Author Page US
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It was a great privilege for me to get to interview Marilyn Thompson, who has inspired me in many different ways. Thank you Marilyn!!! Good Luck with everything!
November 15, 2015
EXCERPT on Shielded Past by Patti Morelli
Shielded Past by Patti Morelli.
“Shielded Past by Patti Morelli is a well-written tale of mystery and intrigue. It is a tale about how little we all know about our pasts and the ones we love….”
– Marilyn D. Thompson
The full tour schedule can be seen here.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Shielded Past is riveting and full of suspense. So many questions need to be answered. We find out about Kate’s life in foster care after being abandoned by her mother. We meet Annie Collins, her best friend since their high school days.
Kate meets her ideal man and they purchase their dream home. This home was restored to its magnificent grandeur by her husband Gregg, and it is here that the intrigue begins. There is a light that shines every evening from the adjacent abandoned Marlboro Psychiatric Hospital in New Jersey, and with this, the suspense commences. We journey with Kate and Annie as they seek answers to the source of the light.
It is not only the light they are seeking answers to, Kate’s past is also in question. Her seemingly bright future becomes more clouded by the unknown as the questions multiply. Kate wants to know who she is and finds out rather quickly that she was lucky to be shielded from her past. The forces that must be contended with are both dark and light. The two are not always distinguishable, and knowing who to trust is not always obvious. When Kate finds out her real surname, it connects her to a family she never knew existed. With the help of her new found family the past is unravelled and the truth about her parents is revealed.
Kate must now live with the memories of the horrors that were inflicted on her loved ones. Meet the man and learn his reasons for torturing so many innocent victims. The suspense does not end here.
There are questions that still remain. Was there a connection to her dream home and her past? Why does Kate and all those who love her feel that she is in danger?
Buy @ Amazon
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Patti’s first book was written under a pen name because the personal contents. Her book was the first in 2014 to received the Gold Seal of Literacy Excellence through Trafford Publishing.
Patti Morelli was born in Manhattan, she previously lived in Staten Island, New York and Marlboro, New Jersey. Patti now resides in Oxford, Florida
Patti has achieved success in business, politics, marriage, motherhood as well as the challenges life has given her. She is a mother of three and now enjoys the moments shared with her children and her two grandchildren.
Patti’s husband suffered a massive stroke in 2008, being his caretaker has open a world she had never known before. She finds peace in her writing, Patti has been writing for over 30 years, she now has the confidence to publish her work.
Shielded Past was written over ten years ago, after Patti viewed the grounds of the Marlboro Psychiatric Hospital. She said standing in the halls of the building, she felt an eeriness that could not be explained. Through her vivid imagination and her love for suspense novels, she conjured up the characters and then invented what could have happened in this hospital many years before.
Website
QUOTES FROM SHIELDED PAST
Kate walked over to the window and saw the light also. When the light moved, Sam barked again.
“You know something is out there, don’t you Sam, you’re a good boy.”
Annie walked over to one of the windows, exclaiming, “Look Kate you can see the side of your house from here. I can see your bedroom window. This must be the room that the light comes from and look, there is a staircase in the hallway.”
“A family has been reunited because of their faith in God. They have truly suffered in the past and are being rewarded by the Lord because of their strong faith. This is a day of rejoicing for this wonderful family and for all of us. This is a blessed day. Let us pray and praise the Lord for His mercy and kindness.”
“What a case. This man is like an onion, I peel one layer and another one appears. Where do I start?
One night, when I had gone to bed, he locked my door and then I heard the car leave. I looked out of my window towards the hospital and about ten minutes later I saw a light go on, it was on the second floor. I shuddered, remembering how he would go into Joshua’s room at night. Could that be Joshua’s room, I thought to myself?
“I was not always this monster. I believed I was going to change the world for the better. I truly wanted to help people.”
“Are you kidding me? We are dealing with possibly two murderers out there and you are falling in love with me? Don’t you think there is something wrong with this picture?”
October 6, 2015
EXCERPT on “Your Invincible Power: How to tame your ego and fuel your ambition” by Pamela Hamilton & W.T. Hamilton
Welcome to my tour stop for “Your Invincible Power: How to tame your ego and fuel your ambition” by Pamela Hamilton and W.T. Hamilton. You can see the full tour schedule here.
How to Tame Your Ego and Fuel Your Ambition explores the ways ego plays a role in hindering your ambition. We give you ways to tame your ego and build the drive needed to fuel your ambition.
In this book you will see ways to:
Understand how your ego affects your decision process
Be a gift giver and receiver
Take your thoughts off of autopilot
You will discover:
Why some ambitious people fail
The key ingredients for ambition
How to bring what you deserve to you
How to Tame Your Ego and Fuel Your Ambition gives you the tools and techniques you can use to achieve your goals. In this book we reveal one of the biggest secrets of the Law of Attraction.Everyone claims to have the missing secret piece to the law of attraction. Many people say they know what it is but very few can really explain why it works so well for some people and not very well for others.
Discover how you can really bring the life that you deserve to you and turn your dreams into reality.
Amazon
ABOUT THE AUTHORS
Pamela and W.T Hamilton (a mother and son team) created a book series about taking responsibility for your life. How to Tame the Ego and Fuel your Ambition is about understanding the way the ego works within your everyday life. It is the part of us that creates those unwanted doubts.
The ego is that illogical part of our nature that gives us a false sense of self. The part of you which constantly says that you are not worthy. That you are not deserving and therefore you cannot reach your desires in life. It is all of these negative emotions that are buried in your subconscious mind. It is the residue of false ideas that were presented to you about you throughout your life. These thoughts that we reiterate contribute many obstacles to what otherwise would be an obvious pathway to ones life’s work.
The ego shows up in that negative part of us to remind us of past failures. It’s that little voice in your head that gives to you flawed ideas of who you are and who you can be. The ego mind is conditioned by fear. As long as you are fearful of change, of stepping out of the box, it is apt to keep you where you are. It is when we are aware of this hidden entity and understand the many ways it shows up in our lives that it loses its power over us.
How to Tame the Ego and Fuel your Ambition shows you how to defeat this hidden entity. The authors give the reader exercises and techniques in effective ways to dissociate from the ego, therefore disconnecting from unwanted people, situations and events taking place in one’s life.
Pamela and W.T invite you to join them on this journey of self-empowerment and abundance. Please visit us at http://www.yourinvinciblepower.com
Pamela Hamilton and W.T. Hamilton are a Mother and Son team. They do not always share the same beliefs or viewpoints. Pamela follows the Law of Attraction from the spiritual perspective and W.T follows it from a practical point of view. They have been working and studying the Law of Attraction for the past few years and have written a series of books to teach how to use it in various aspects of daily life.
EXCERPTS
September 22, 2015
EXCERPT on THE RUBY LYER DIARIES by Laxmi Hariharan
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Laxmi Hariharan
She almost died. But when dystopia romance author Laxmi Hariharan had a near death experience, she was told to write. Laxmi is the creator of dystopian romance series, RUBY IYER SERIES (The MANY LIVES OF VIKRAM ROY – FINALIST Indie Excellence Awards, the bestselling The RUBY IYER DIARIES , The FIRST LIFE OF VIKRAM ROY, The SECOND LIFE OF RUBY IYER & VIKRAM ROY, PANKY’s FIRST LIFE), and the Amazon bestselling, eLit Gold winner, The Destiny of Shaitan (Bombay Chronicles, 1). If you’re looking for books like Divergent and Angelfall, you’ll love the RUBY IYER SERIES.
Laxmi writes books similar to Hunger Games while listening to electronica & progressive rock, and downing innumerable cups of extra sweet ginger-chai. She is also an avid photographer of street art and believes she was a tree — a redwood — in her past life. London is where she creates. Bombay is what fires her imagination.
Instagram | FB | Blog | @laxmi
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Welcome to the excerpt tour and release event for The First Life of Vikram Roy by Laxmi Hariharan! The First Life of Vikram Roy is book #1.5 of the Ruby Iyer Series, but can be read as a stand alone novella.
An angry young girl, a sexy cop & a chance to WIN $30 Amazon gift voucher!
About Ruby Iyer Diaries (Book #0.5):
This novelette is a companion book to The Many Lives of Ruby Iyer. A peek into the soul of an angry, young girl, who will come of age in a city on the verge of total annihilation. Ruby kept a diary from the age of ten till she ran away from home at sixteen. It is from here that I picked out a few diary entries for The Ruby Iyer Diaries. This short series of vignettes from Ruby’s life, tells you more a little more about the origins of Ruby Iyer.
Amazon | Goodreads
About The Many Lives of Ruby Iyer (Book #1):
With over 100, 5 and 4 star reviews across Amazon, Goodreads and Netgalley, don’t miss this chance to get your copy of THE MANY LIVES OF RUBY IYER. At 99p/c & Rs 69 for this week only. This is BOOK 1 in the Ruby Iyer series. A YA ACTION THRILLER with strong dystopian undertones, and a kick-ass protagonist, taking you on a white knuckle ride through a disintegrating Bombay City. It’s also placed as FINALIST Indie Excellence Awards 2015 & as YOUNG ADULT FINALIST in the 2015 IAN Book of the Year Awards.
A girl desperate to rescue her best friend. A cop willing to do anything to save the city he serves. A delusional doctor bent on annihilation. A terrifying encounter propels Ruby Iyer from her everyday commute into a battle for her own survival. Trusting her instincts, she fights for what she believes in, led on a mysterious path between life and death on the crowded roads of Bombay; and when her best friend is kidnapped by the despotic Dr Braganza, she will do anything to rescue him. Anything, including taking the help of the sexy Vikram Roy, a cop-turned-rogue, on a mission to save Bombay. The city needs all the help it can get, and these two are the only thing standing between its total destruction by Dr Braganza’s teen army.
As Bombay falls apart, will Ruby be able to save her friend and the city? Will she finally discover her place in a city where she has never managed to fit in? And what about her growing feelings for Vikram?
Amazon | Goodreads
About The First Life of Vikram Roy (Book #1.5):
His family is being held to ransom by a deadly mastermind.Vikram never should have left his family, but when Vikram’s father bring his half-brother Vishal home, life will never be the same.
Vikram thinks things will be better now that he’s gone. He’s met the love of his life, his future looks bright and then everything is shattered.
Now, his family’s life is hanging in the balance, and only Vikram can do what needs to be done to save them.
From the bestselling dystopian fiction author with over 200 reviews and ratings of her dystopia books across Goodreads, Amazon and other retailers.
“A killer ending and the pacing of the story and the build-up is really good. I related to Vikram, really liked it.” Richard Sheehan, Author and editor
“I raced through the book… And the killer ending! Oh my God! It left me with a hangover, and makes me want to physically push the author to write the next book in the series faster.” Ritesh Kala, Book reviewer & blogger
If you’re looking for books like Hunger Games, then this dystopia romance, The Ruby Iyer Series.
Amazon | Goodreads
EXCERPT FROM THE FIRST LIFE OF VIKRAM ROY
Lose a girl. Fall in love with a game.
Fair exchange?
I do miss my weekly cricket sessions
with Ash. I got to be better than her at the game a long time ago. The only
reason I kept turning up for practice was to see her. Thanks to her, I
discovered a love for cricket. One that would last a lifetime. As it turns out,
I am a far better player than her … Or Amar. Good enough to make it to the
school’s official cricket team. Of course, it helps that while everyone wants
to get into the basketball team, not many want to go for the cricket team. But
I’m not complaining. I’ll take any opportunity I can to play the game.
As for the
Ash-shaped hole in my heart … well I don’t know it then, but it’ll be gone.
Soon. Filled over with other memories. Leaving just a light scar behind. Guess
I didn’t feel as much for her as I thought I did.
Between prepping for grade twelve
exams and playing cricket, I feel like my every waking hour is packed. I spend
all my spare time with Tenzin and his friends, which is how I come to be
hanging out in the mall at Mussoorie instead of hitting the books. But Tenzin
had insisted and so here we are.
Clad uniformly in jeans, hoodies and
baseball hats, the boys look pretty slick. Tenzin wears a brand new Lacquer jersey, another gift among the
many he receives from home on a weekly basis. Me—I like my faded old leather
bomber jacket. My concession to fitting in with the boys is my very own pair of
Wu-Tang jeans. There’s just something
badass about them. It’s a brand I am going to stick to, especially in the more
trying times of my life ahead.
Not that you’d know it that day, as
the five of us swagger up the strip in the town centre. It’s August, just a few
months into the start of the school year. The sun is just beginning its
descent, and the shop lights twinkle on, one by one. We perch at the gang’s
customary spot. It’s a bench at the edge of the mall. If you look down you can
see the rest of the town spread out one way. Look the other direction and the
entire mall spreads out before you. More importantly, you can see every single
girl who walks by. It also gives them a clear view to check us out.
“So remember, stay cool. Don’t
give these girls the time of the day,” Tenzin lectures as I take in the
scene. “Especially this girl, Miriam—Mirri—boy, I so want to get into her
pants. But, you know, got to act all casual around them. Let them come to you,
know what I mean?”
“The Italians call this passeggiata,” I say to Tenzin, as I
stand next to him at the bench.
The others sprawl in various poses,
meant to convey casual disregard of their surroundings. All of them have a lit
cigarette that they puff at. Tenzin offers me one, which I refuse. “What
the fuck is passe … passage … dude?”
“It’s an Italian
tradition,” I say. “A gentle stroll in the evening through the town
centre—for which you are meant to dress up, of course—and then you walk through
the piazza, to see and be seen.”
“Yeah, whatever, man.”
Tenzin puffs away on his cigarette, coughing a little. “You going to Italy
or something?”
“Nope, Oxford probably. It’s
just … this reminds me of a passeggiata,
Indian-style.”
“Dude,” he taps me on my
forehead, “all that studying is frying your brains. You need to get out
more often. Check out the girls … know what I mean?”
“Hmm! You need both brains and
muscles … dude.” I grin, but I know what he means. The flame I’ve been
carrying for Ash has died a natural death, but it’s left me with a bitter
aftertaste. No, I don’t think I am headed anywhere near girls anywhere soon. I
might look at them, but that’s about it for now.
“Hey, Tinny!” A girl in
mini skirt, boots over her knees, leather jacket zipped up to enhance the
thrust of her breasts, approaches us.
“Tinny?” Did she really
call him that? I chuckle. Once. Before wiping all expression off my face.
“Hey, Mirri,” Tenzin nods.
He’s playing it super cool, but his body is wound tight; he is almost vibrating
in anticipation, hoping to speak with her.
“Who’s your friend here?”
She nods at me.
I raise an eyebrow at her and almost
choke at the surprise on Tenzin’s face. Apparently she’s interested in me. The
rest of the boys are watching us, too distracted to smoke now.
“Ah, my friend, Vik. Vik, meet
Mirri.”
I nod, unsure what to do next. Then
I put out my hand, and when she places her smaller palm in mine, I kiss it.
“Enchanted,” I say.
The boys around me chuckle. But
Miriam takes no heed. Taking a step forward, she looks up and her eyes round
with interest. Curling a strand of hair around her forefinger, she asks,
“So, you want to go see a movie?”
Charm. It definitely gets you
everywhere.
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