Meglena Ivanova's Blog, page 6
September 17, 2015
EXCERPT & INTERVIEW – The Opposite of Love by T. A. Pace.
Welcome to my tour stop of The Opposite of Love by T.A.Pace.The full tour schedule can be seen here.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
When 37-year-old Melanie is challenged to find a mate by her overbearing mother, she finds herself in a relationship that pushes her sexual boundaries, and in a place like Sin City, that can be a precarious ride.
An homage to Erica Jong’s Any Woman’s Blues, The Opposite of Love is a psychological / sexual ride through Las Vegas and its local sex scene as experienced by two lovers who will test each other’s ability to accept them as they are, as well as their own ability to accept themselves.
Goodreads | Amazon
EXCERPT
James arrived at Melanie’s door promptly at seven-thirty wearing a suit and carrying a bouquet of flowers. Melanie opened the door in a burgundy chiffon gown that draped modestly in front and dramatically in back, with a slit up to her mid-thigh on one side. She spun in a circle, modeling for him, and he let out a low growl in sincere approval. Without a single strap holding it in place, it seemed like the dress could just slide right off of her shoulders. The thought made his dick pulse.
“That is some dress, babe.”
“Glad you like it,” she said. Then, nodding at the flowers, “For me?”
“Who else?” He handed them over with a kiss on the cheek.
He’d had his truck washed and waxed and when he opened the door she climbed in gracefully, her leg sliding out of the open slit in her dress, then sliding back in before he closed the door. That visual image reminded him of what he’d be doing to her later.
James didn’t always bring a date to the policemen’s ball. The last time he had was three years before and his date had worn a short, silver sequined dress with porn-star cleavage and platform heels that looked like they’d just fallen off a pole dancer. She’d had too much to drink and giggled at everything anyone said. Did she make his dick hard? Sure. But she looked like she was paid for, and that didn’t help his image with the higher-ups. Melanie was the kind of woman who could be sexy without being trashy and manage interesting conversation and drinking without being silly or embarrassing him. She was the kind of date who could help him get promoted.
It was August and monsoon season was at its worst. Almost daily, black storm clouds materialized over the valley, looming like dark ghosts, dropping an inch of rain and hundreds of lightning strikes in the matter of an hour, downing trees and power lines and causing flash floods before moving on and leaving the residents feeling vaguely assaulted. But worse, the air had become the one thing locals couldn’t tolerate: sticky. Even humidity of thirty percent was likely to have a Las Vegan mopping his forehead and complaining of swampy weather.
They valet parked, and once inside the casino, they were safe. No matter the weather outside, the air-conditioned wombs of the casinos were always mild and dry. As they crossed the casino floor heading toward the banquet hall, men playing blackjack and craps twisted their heads around and leaned back from their tables to get a look at Melanie. With her high heels she was still about two inches shorter than James, but the way she held herself made her appear statuesque. She didn’t have bombshell curves, but her femininity was palpable and what curves she had were classy. She held her head high and kept her arm threaded through his as they walked. James tried to remember ever feeling so proud to have a woman on his arm, and couldn’t. The thought made him a little nervous, but more than anything, he felt like the man. His colleagues would be insane with jealousy and insatiable with questions.
A MOMENT TO SHARE WITH T. A. PACE …
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?
I was a good student and excelled at English because of my mother—both her genes and her constant correction of my grammar. My ambitions for my writing career are just to be able to make a living at it and to write stories that resonate with people in a way that’s unexpected and memorable.
Which writers inspire you?
I’m very inspired by Erica Jong, especially for this particular story. She’s imperfect and brave, witty and serious, sexy, sophisticated, and so very smart. (Girl crush, big time.)
What was your life like before becoming an author?
I’ve worked in publishing since 1996 as a magazine editor, book editor and writer, so it’s not a completely foreign land. But the process of putting your own work out there is a new one for me, and I learned a lot of lessons—some the hard way.
Which comes first – the character’s story or the idea for the novel?
In the case of The Opposite of Love, I think they are one and the same. Melanie’s story is the main idea for the novel, and I wanted to watch her discover herself, her desires, and see if she could consolidate risk-taking with her desire for control. The story comes from her past experiences as they conflict with her present circumstances, specifically James and his need to push her out of her comfort zone.
When did you decide to become a writer?
I don’t think anyone decides to become a writer. I think we just get a story in our heads and want to see how it turns out. From what I hear, most folks have a story they want to write (usually their own), but few do it. While Melanie’s story is not my own, it does feature issues that I have faced indirectly, and perhaps there is a bit of therapy in processing these things through a fictional character.
Why do you write?
To understand, I listen for the same reason. The human condition is complicated, but not unique. I want to know why people behave the way they do, so I use fiction as a tool to study that. An author can drop characters into a fictional world where they can do whatever they want, but their thoughts and actions must coincide with their personality and experiences. Understanding what makes us human makes us better writers.
Give me an insight into your main character. What does he/she do that is so special?
Melanie is a 37-year-old woman who is unmarried and has no children. She has avoided risk for most of her life because of an accident that claimed her father’s life when she was nine, and she is starting to realize that this might be affecting her detrimentally. Her attempt to be welcoming to love, to be vulnerable and open to the unknown, is a journey that she takes with careful steps and trepidation, but with a sense of bravery as well.
What sparked the idea for your book?
Erica Jong, one hundred percent. Her 1990 book Any Woman’s Blues was the first book I ever marked up. I don’t know where I got it, but I still have the original copy with all its underlines and yellow highlights, and the parts that resonated with me 25 years ago still do today. Jong was the one who introduced me to the concept of control vs. love, which is the main theme of my novel.
What advice do you have for someone who would like to become a published writer?
Listen to people, especially when they’re talking about themselves. Take a writing class. Write. Edit. Repeat.
How can readers discover more about you and your work?
August 25, 2015
EXCERPT on Violet Chain by J. Kahele
J. Kahele
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
I am a proud mother of three daughters who are my absolute complete existence. I write to relieve the scattered thoughts that stream through my mind, constantly. My biggest downfall is that I a a huge procrastinator, which makes my life at times hectic!
Website | Blog | Goodreads | Pinterest | Facebook | Twitter
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Violet Chain by J. Kahele
A book for the edge of your seat, a super hot glamour & a truly awesome romance read…
Blurb:
After catching her fiancé with another woman at their engagement party, Violet Townsend’s world is turned upside down.
Desperate to numb the pain, she falls into the arms of charming, young entrepreneur Chain Alexander.
Chain, a notorious womanizer of Philadelphia, not looking for anything more than a night of pleasure with a woman, is drawn to Violet instantly. There is something about her that he needs and wants so desperately and it’s not just sex.
But Violet is resistant. Can she open her heart again after having it broken so brutally? And more importantly, should she?
This book is intended for mature audiences.
EXCERPT:
***
Chain
Who was she? Where the hell did she come from? I had known David for nearly ten years and not once had he mentioned this woman, Violet. Violet, I laughed to myself, the name reminding me of a sweet scent, a delicate flower.
I watched as she glided across the pale carpet. Her curvy figure fit nicely into the snug cream-colored sweater dress she was wearing, her hips swaying as she walked out of sight. I smiled to myself as I remembered staring into her innocent light brown eyes and the way her chestnut hair was neatly combed back into a silver band, showing off her alluring, flawless skin. She was definitely a beauty.
David placed a bottle of beer in front of me, interrupting my thoughts, as he took a sip from his.
“So, Chain, I was thinking we would have Gary’s bachelor party at your house, what do you think?” David suggested.
Gary was one of the guys in ur crew. He recently announced that he would be marring within two months, after he found out Helen, his girlfriend of three years, was pregnant.
The quick wedding gave us little to no time to prepare for the bachelor party. Originally, the bachelor party was to be thrown at David’s, but that was before he had bought a house with Callie. It was understandable that he didn’t want a bunch of drunken men in the house he shared with his girlfriend; I known I wouldn’t want some drunken assholes around my woman, if I had one that was.
***
MORE INTERVIEWS WITH J. KAHELE YOU CAN FIND BELOW:
Great reading!!! NEW AMAZING BOOK BY J. KAHELE!!!
A MOMENT TO SHARE with JANELLE KAHELE
August 18, 2015
A MOMENT TO SHARE with Glenn Cooper
To celebrate the release of The Down trilogy, I’ve decided to interview the one and only Glenn Cooper, who creates excellent characters, great concepts and wonderful stories.
Share, Like, Comment, and Stay Thrilled… :) :) :)
Glenn was born in New York City and grew up in nearby White Plains. He attended White Plains High School before enrolling at Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts where he graduated from Harvard with an honors degree in archaeology. He then attended Tufts University School of Medicine and did his post-doctoral training at the New England Deaconess and the Massachusetts General Hospitals becoming a board-certified specialist in Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases. After practicing medicine, Glenn began a research career in the pharmaceutical industry which culminated in an eighteen-year position as the Chairman and CEO of a biotechnology company in Massachusetts. Glenn began writing screenplays over twenty years ago and his interest in movies prompted him to attend the graduate program in film production at Boston University. He is currently the chairman of a media company, Lascaux Media, which has produced three independent feature-length films. In 2006 Glenn turned his hand to novel-writing. His debut novel, THE LIBRARY OF THE DEAD, the first in a trilogy, became an international bestseller and was translated into thirty languages. All of his seven published books have become top-ten international best-sellers. Glenn currently lives in New Hampshire.
Glenn Cooper
Hi Glenn, thank you for participating in this interview.
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 an undergraduate degree in archaeology from Harvard and then got a medical degree at Tufts before becoming a practicing infectious diseases physician. Later when I was doing research in biotechnology I took up writing screenplays as a hobby. After a rather unsuccessful Hollywood career with a few script sales but no productions, I turned to novels. Fortunately, my first book, Library of the Dead, was a success with two million copies sold in thirty translations. Now, eight years later, I’ve just finished my tenth novel and have sold over six million books so I’m pretty sure I’m not going back to script writing anytime soon.
What was your life like before becoming an author?
For eighteen years, up to 2009 when first novel was published, I was the CEO of a publicly traded biotech company so my lifestyle was pretty far away from the life of a novelist. I must say I prefer a writer’s life in virtually every dimension. About the same time my first book came out I sold my company so I didn’t have to choose between careers. I’ve been writing full-time ever since.
Which comes first? The character’s story or the idea for the novel?
For me it’s the idea. I write rather complex historical thrillers with religious and philosophical themes and like to find characters that fit the storyline. Sometimes my hero is an FBI agent, sometimes an archaeologist, once, a Catholic nun.
Why do you write?
I write because I have stories to tell and if they don’t get onto the page I tend to get cranky.
So, what have you written?
Books by Glenn Cooper
The Library of the Dead trilogy
The Devil Will Come
The Tenth Chamber
The Resurrection Make
The Down trilogy
The Down trilogy
Where people can buy or see them?
In the US I’m published exclusively on Amazon. In Europe my books are available pretty much everywhere.
Give me an insight into your main character of your last book. What does he/she do that is so special?
In the Down trilogy, a modern take on the myth of Orpheus and Eurydice, John Camp is an ex-soldier, a man with a troubled past, who must journey to Hell to rescue the woman he loves, a physicist whose experiment opens a connection between the two worlds. Who wouldn’t like a guy who literally goes to Hell and back for his lady?
What sparked the idea for your books?
I like subjects that interest me like explorations of fate and predestination, the nature of evil, the intersections between faith and science. If I’m passionate about a subject and do a lot of detailed research, there’s a chance that readers will be too.
Fans of Glenn…
How do you market your books?
In Europe and Latin America I’m published by large publishing houses. I started with large publishers in English language territories but wasn’t as happy with my results so I created my own imprint, Lascaux Media. So I’m a hybrid author, enjoying traditional publishing in part of the world and self-publishing in the rest.
Do you have any advice for other authors on how to market their books?
If you work with a traditional publisher, be their partner. They’ll find ways to work with you and will welcome your cooperative marketing efforts. If you self-publish, then you’ve got to be prepared to do it all — cover design, hiring editors, doing all the marketing, social media, you name it. It’s hard work but it can be really rewarding, personally and financially.
What do you do to get book reviews?
Glenn’s Website Page!
I ask my readers for them via social media and interact with a lot of bloggers.
What advice do you have for someone who would like to become a published writer?
Read a lot and write a lot. And be persistent. When I was looking for an agent I wrote 66 query letters. Only one agent said yes and that was enough.
How can readers discover more about you and your work?
Website | Facebook | Twitter – @glenncooper
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It was a great privilege for me to get to interview Glenn Cooper, who has inspired me in many different ways. Thank you Glenn!!! Good Luck with everything!
August 3, 2015
Shannon A. Thompson – about her exciting adventures that have occurred within the pages of her books…
Shannon A. Thompson
Shannon A. Thompson is award-winning, young-adult author, poet, and blogger. Represented by Clean Teen Publishing.
Shannon is a 24-year-old author, avid reader, and habitual chatterbox. She was merely 16 when she was first published, and a lot has happened since then. Thompson’s work has appeared in numerous poetry collections and anthologies, and her first installment of The Timely Death Trilogy became Goodreads Book of the Month.
In this interview you will be able to learn More Than You Ever Wanted to Know about her and her new release of Minutes Before Sunset, book 1 in The Timely Death Trilogy.
How did you begin writing?
Like many writers, I started writing at a young age, but I began writing as a coping mechanism for night terrors. My mother was a writer, so she encouraged me to write and to turn my dreams into stories in order to make sense of them.
Did you intend to become an author, or do you have a specific reason or reasons for writing each book?
The day I intended to become an author—seriously intended to be one—was the day my mother passed away. I was eleven years old, and I guess you could say I snapped. I decided I wanted to write for the rest of my life, and I wanted to write seriously. I pursued novel writing and publication right away, and my first novel was signed and published when I was 16. I haven’t stopped since. I love it more and more every day. Most of my novels are still based on those dreams I had that she encouraged me to explore.
What book or books have had a strong influence on you or your writing?
Oh! I’m sure every book I’ve ever read has influenced my writing, but the ones that stick out to me the most are the Magic Tree House series, The Daughters of the Moon series, and anything by Meg Cabot.
What is the name of your NEW book? Where’d you get the main idea?
The Timely Death Trilogy
Minutes Before Sunset is the first book of The Timely Death Trilogy, but don’t you worry. The second novel, Seconds Before Sunrise, releases August 25, and the last novel, Death Before Daylight, comes out September 15. (So you don’t have to wait years to get your hands on the next book!)
The reason this is happening is because this trilogy was originally with a different publisher that closed down right before the last book came out, and my new publisher signed it on!
Like stated above, most of my novels are inspired by dreams/nightmares I’ve had.
The Timely Death Trilogy is based off of a serious of dreams I had as a teenager, which included a boy coming to visit me at night.
At first, it was calm—simple conversations—and then, it turned deadly, and dark, and terrifying. When they suddenly stopped, I knew I had to finish the tale.
Are the characters old or new?
All the characters in The Timely Death Trilogy are found only in the trilogy.
Did you have any goals for the story when you wrote it – to get published, or just to finish, etc?
I don’t worry about publication until it’s time to.
That being said, I didn’t publish it immediately. I left the publishing industry while I went to college, and during my last year of college, my first publisher of this series signed it.
During the first month, it received an award—Goodreads Book of the Month—that was awesome! I signed on with a new publisher this past January, so it’s coming out again with new scenes, typography, and wonderful covers!
Which chapter you like the most and why?
Minutes Before Sunset
In Minutes Before Sunset, I loved the scene between Jessica and Eric in Eric’s room to study. Without giving away too much, I think it was the first time they actually saw one another and opened up to each other as humans.
Is there any secret message in the story?
Of course there is! But I leave that up to the reader. :]
Which actors / actresses you would like to play your characters?
I’m not one to pick actors/actresses to be honest, but I do have a Pinterest board where I find pictures that remind me of scenes and characters. I also have an Extras page on my website with fan art, room layouts, and more.
What is the “perfect” event where you can promote your book according to your imagination
I would love to go to UtopYA or Book Expo America within the next year or so. I just got back from Penned Con, and I LOVE bok events where you can meet authors face-to-face and get books signed (all over a cup o
f coffee).
Are you working on a NEW BOOK and if yes, what is it about? When should we expected?
I’m currently working on re-releasing November Snow, which was my first published novel. I feel like it never got a real chance on the market (since I basically pulled it down for school the second it released back in 2007). November Snow is a YA fantasy/dystopian
novel about bad bloods.
“Bad bloods” is a term for a group of people born with limiting supernatural abilities and /or physical deformities. The term came from a war where they were massacred and their blood filled the streets, but I don’t want to spoil the book too much. ;]
Any last thoughts for my readers?
I would love to see you on my website for readers and writers at www.ShannonAThompson.com.
I’m also on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
The Timely Death Trilogy will be released in full this fall.
Minutes Before Sunset: book 1 available now: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Goodreads
Seconds Before Sunrise: book 2 releases August 25: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Goodreads
Death Before Daylight: book 3 releases September 15: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Goodreads
Minutes Before Sunset, book 1 of The Timely Death Trilogy
Two destinies. One death.
“Her kiss could kill us, and my consent signed our death certificates.”
Eric Welborn isn’t completely human, but he isn’t the only shade in the small Midwest town of Hayworth. With one year left before his eighteenth birthday, Eric is destined to win a long-raging war for his kind. But then she happens. In the middle of the night, Eric meets a nameless shade, and she’s powerful—too powerful—and his beliefs are altered. The Dark has lied to him, and he’s determined to figure out exactly what lies were told, even if the secrets protect his survival.
Jessica Taylor moves to Hayworth, and her only goal is to find more information on her deceased biological family. Her adoptive parents agree to help on one condition: perfect grades. And Jessica is distraught when she’s assigned as Eric’s class partner. He won’t help, let alone talk to her, but she’s determined to change him—even if it means revealing everything he’s strived to hide.
Where can my readers find MORE about you?
Website | Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Lnkedin | Goodreads | Amazon Author
July 30, 2015
DARE TO LIVE IN FULL COLOR… be magnificent with Couture Life Road and his creator Josip Majer
CREATIVE FASHION stands out BLOGGER – Josip Majer Couture Life Road – Walk with style . . .
With an original voice and unique perspective, “Couture Life Road” is a concrete jungle of inspiration and place where you can discover the Art of Fashion….
The founder of this “Out of the Box Fashion Blog” is the astonishing and true master of couture style, Josip Majer, who is a freelance fashion photographer, stylist and writer. From personal experience I know that he is incredibly thoughtful, compassionate, go beyond the standard and he appreciates every person in his life.
COUTURE LIFE ROAD – FACEBOOK PAGE!
Josip started his blog as a way of highlighting the latest fashions and trends. His blog, “Couture Life Road,” also provides styling tips and inspires people to step outside of the box and feel confident while creating a stylish look. Very passionate about fashion, art and lifestyle, Josip loves to talk about everything related to this industry. SO naturally, I have decided to ask him a few questions about his wonderful journey!
COUTURE LIFE ROAD – WEBSITE PAGE!
Can you tell my readers about yourself and your blog? How did you first get into blogging? What inspired you to start your blog?
Josip Majer
Couture Life Road (www.coutureliferoad.com) is a New York-based lifestyle blog. It is a place where you can find style but not just in a typical way.
As editor of this blog, I’m bringing something NEW – style inspired by the streets of New York. With an original voice and unique perspective, Couture Life Road is a concrete jungle of inspiration and place where you can discover art of fashion that lives in almost every person on the streets of Big Apple.
I think that this is not just a typical blog about fashion. In every post I’m trying to give my readers glimpse of my life and experience in New York.
What inspired me to start blogging?
Inspiration is everything. Life, New York, clothes, fashion, colors, people… Now when I think back blogging was actually one of my longtime dreams when I was still living in Croatia; Another dream of mine also was to live in New York City.
Simeon Mishev aka The Fashion Clown!
After I got my green card I immediately moved into this beautiful town. Here I’ve meet amazing people, I start working, and thanks to my friend and roommate Simeon Mishev aka The Fashion Clown, I start pursuing things that I really like, one of those things is blogging.
I like to think that being fashion and writing about fashion is what I am meant to do. Before I came to NYC I worked as a TV journalist and host.
So writing and some kind of reporting is in my blood, obviously. :)
Who was your first style icon?
Audrey Hepburn! No thinking! Amazing, sophisticated, beautiful and elegant. She is testament of elegance. Also next to her is Sarah Jessica Parker. I just love everything she does. She is always true to herself. Not just as “Carrie”, but as a mother or wife. I just love each of her appearances on the red carpet; especially on MET Gala, when she wore custom made H&M dress and Phillip Tracy hat. That’s fashion for me. You have to live it, work it and play with it… Last month I came across to an article in Harper Bazar about Diane Vreeland. She spent 26 years as an editor of Harper Bazar blazing an indelible trail with her daring approach to fashion. After I’ve seen the documentary about this amazing fashion icon I was mesmerized by her work and her style… Anyway, those are my top three style icons. But I think that there is so many more influence people, not just among celebrities, but also among people on the streets of NY. NYC is like non-stop living fashion runway.
Who is the main character in your stories?
Fire Island, New York!
I would love to feature more stories with other people and their personal style.
I think that it’s going to happen really soon, but so far I am the main character in most of the stories. My blog is still young, but I feel like I’m positively doing something right. Feedback is more than welcome.
What would you say that is for you the biggest challenge about fashion blogging?
The two biggest challenges for me are time management and writing in English. I am still struggling to get the right words in English, but it’s getting better, and during that process I am learning something new every day. The other thing that is challenge for me is like I said – time management. I have a day job, and doing everything by myself makes it a little bit hard to persuade my dream of being fashion blogger, but I still love it. That’s life!
How would you describe your personal style and is there a person who is a fashion inspiration to you?
Rudolf Valentiono style!
I really don’t know how to describe my style. I think I really love everything. I can’t fit in box and tell well this is “Me”. I like to play; I love to mix things that usually don’t go together.
New Normal / Formal!
I don’t care for the rules or trends (don’t get me wrong I have some of the trendy pieces), but I love vintage stores unusual cuts, prints, and I think that just simple T-shirt with jeans can look amazing. It’s all about how you feel. Sometimes I like to put nice suit, or a designer shirt and look polished; sometimes I like to look like “luxurious” homeless person. I think my style is all about how you feel.
What would you say that is the greatest satisfaction of being a fashion blogger?
Well I hope invitations for events will come soon, but for now the greatest satisfaction is the fact that I can write and express myself using not just words and paragraphs, but clothes and accessories as well.
I love to interact with people and talk about fashion and trends, give them advices, but for me is the biggest satisfaction when I can tell myself: You did it good!
What was the most challenging moment in your blogging journey so far?
Ivo Kudini’s Website Page!
Oh, let me think about it. The most challenging part was standing in front of a camera. It still is.
It is so amusing because for seven years I was in front of television camera with no problems at all.
Now standing in front of the camera of the amazing and very talented photographer Ivo Kudini (www.ivokudini.com) is something new to me. Definitely challenging, but it’s also so fun, and after a while you feel comfortable and you trust your photographer, who becomes also your friend.
Would you encourage other people to create their own blog?
COUTURE LIFE ROAD – TWITTER PAGE!
If you like to put your thoughts out and share with the world you should do blogging. My blog is mostly fashion, but I also write in Croatian language, for my people back at home. I’m giving them a glimpse of different life, and a taste of some challenges that big city like New York can offer. Over all, I’m writing about different struggles and about my emotional roller coaster, and it really helps me to move forward.
To be honest, I’m blogging because of me, and if someone recognizes that as something that’s worth it, that’s even better. But my blog is still young. It takes time and lots of effort. As long as I’m having fun, the most important thing for me is that I had the courage to spread my wings and fly free for the first time. Writing about fashion and my experience in that area, it’s really exciting, and sometimes even overwhelming.
Where would you like to be in blogging five years from now?
COUTURE LIFE ROAD – INSTAGRAM PAGE!
My secret wish is to work maybe as a writer and stylist for fashion magazine. I see myself doing photoshoots, interviews, interesting stories.
Also I’m fantasizing about how maybe one day my stories on Croatian will become a book.
I have a lot to say, and I’m just on the beginning of my journey. We will see what is going to happen. Meantime stay tuned with Couture Life Road and my fashion adventures.
Where can we find you?
Facebook | Instagram | Website | Twitter
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Josip, Thank you for participating in this journey with me. Wish you luck and hopefully more success then you ever imagined to achieve.
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Thank you for reading!
P.S. BE BOLD, BE BEAUTIFUL AND REACH FOR THE STARS!,
XO-XO,
Meglena Ivanova
July 26, 2015
LIVE FREE AND BE FIERCE… get inspired by THE FASHION CLOWN!!!
THE MOST EXCITING, MOST INVENTIVE, MOST MOVING
MENS FASHION BLOG THAT HAS EVER COME TO LIVE!!!
The Fashion Clown is a mens fashion blog covering new and old trends in fashion and home decor by editor Simeon Mishev. He starts his love affair with fashion 9 years ago when he relocated to New York City from Bulgaria.
S imeon is the most intellectual, creative, chic, lively and brave person I ever met. His personal vision can be described with the famous statement – “Dare to dream and all you wish for will come true”!
Starting a fashion blog was a long-time dream of his. He lives, breathes and dreams fashion. I hope that his blog reaches people who share his obsession with all things fashionable and who dare to dream just like him!
~ Now more about him…. and THE FASHION CLOWN ~
The Man behind The Fashion Clown!!!
Can you tell my readers about yourself and your blog? How did you first get into blogging? What inspired you to start your blog?
I relocated to New York City in 2006 after receiving my Bachelors in Social Work from Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridsky” in Sofia, Bulgaria. I continued my studies and obtained Master in Social Work from CUNY “Herbert H. Lehman” College in 2009. I am also a freelance writer with a focus on menswear, men style and home decor.
“The Fashion Clown” (www.thefashionclown.com) is a mens fashion blog covering new and old trends in fashion and home decor. Based in New York City and having an interesting point of view and distinctive outlook, The Fashion Clown is a place of endless entertaining and limitless daydreaming.
I always felt that I had a lot to say both verbally and visually and blogging allowed me the platform I needed to do all of that. I must admit, it took me awhile to get the courage to start writing, but once I started I felt very excited.
2. What inspired you to start your blog?
The Fashion Clown
Living in NYC for almost a decade has provided me with a lot of material for my blog. The city itself is a constant source of inspiration and when you add the tons of people living and visiting the city… it almost gets overwhelming to think how many individuals and points of view there are exhibited everyday outside my door… that is the greatest inspiration of all. Naturally, movies and fashion play big roles as well.
3. Who takes the majority of your photos?
Ivo Kudini’s Website!
The majority of my photos are taken by my dear friend and collaborator Ivo Kudini ( www.ivokudini.com ), ( Facebook ), who has proved to be an irreplaceable part of my creative process. He has an amazing point of view and always manages to get the best shot. I hope to continue working with him even when he reaches stardom as it is inevitable that shall happen in the near future.
4. What would you say that is the biggest challenge about fashion blogging?
Facebook Page!
Honestly, the biggest challenge of blogging… and pretty much every other part of life… is being persistent and sticking to a regiment. I post new blogpost every week and no matter how lousy I feel, I make sure that the post is out by Monday morning. It seems to me that a lot of bloggers start strong and with time they get tired or discouraged by lack of interest, and they begin to post rarely and ultimately stop posting altogether.
5. How would you describe your personal style and is there a person who is a fashion inspiration to you?
I am definitely in favor of more fitted silhouette – more of a skinny leg pants or jeans, slim blazer jackets, etc. For some reason I have always been inspired by the slim and slender, elongated and proportional outfits showing the best (and hiding the worst) parts of a man’s or woman’s body. I absolutely love color and often incorporate lots of it in my outfits. Even though many might think that florals are too feminine or girly, I strongly believ
e that any confident man can pull off a nice Gucci floral shirt.I do get inspired by many people, but I don’t really have an absolute favorite one. Besides, nowadays with all the talented stylists out there, you can’t really tell if its the person or the stylist who put the outfit together. However, I am strongly attached to several brands that consistently have provided me with tons of inspiration – Gucci, Prada, Chanel and Dior are timeless!
6. What would you say that is the greatest satisfaction of being a fashion blogger?
First and foremost, I simply enjoy writing about fashion, putting an outfit together and staging a photoshoot, it is such a rewarding experience for me. Of course, working and interacting with many talented people is surely a bonus by itself. The events I’ve gone to have surely been great experiences and I am certainly looking forward to attending more as they are an amazing opportunity to network.
7. What was the most challenging moment in your blogging journey so far?
I think that the most challenging part of the blogging process was to start! Yes, once the first photoshoot ended and I wrote the piece that went with it, it took me some time to get over all the “if-s” before clicking on that “publish” button, but once I did it, I felt great. From then on there have been many others challenging moments, of course, however, nothing quite so intimidating like posting for the first time.
8. Would you encourage other people to make their blog?
Absolutely! If there is something you want to share with the world, you should start blogging immediately! Blogging is the best way to express yourself and have your work, either writing or more visual, available to everyone to experience. And if you are really good at what you do, you might get noticed by the right people and make your hobby an actual job!
9. Where would you like to be in blogging five years from now?
Instagram Page!
I would love to see the blog grow to the point where I can actually hire people to mange the different parts of it – menswear, lifestyle, and home decor – under my supervision and keeping up with my vision, of course.
Certainly, I imagine venturing into branding and developing “The Fashion Clown” brand.
I am extremely excited about meeting more talented people and learning from them… but most importantly I want to continue enjoying myself ;-).
10. Where can we find you?
Facebook | Instagram | Website
———————————————————
Simeon, Thank you for participating in this journey with me. Wish you luck and hopefully more success then you ever imagined to achieve.
———————————————————
To you my friends, thank you for reading
& Keep On Smiling,
LOVE,
Meglena Ivanova
July 2, 2015
Sarah Wathen – INSIDE and OUT!!!
Sarah Wathen
Tell me about your book. Why did you choose this title?
Catchpenny is the name of the entire serial novel and Wicked Lover is part one. The word “catchpenny” means something to sell readily at a low price, regardless of value or use. It sounds like something my grandma would say, kind of like “pantywaist” or “poontang.” Weird and almost funny, but with really crappy undertones. That line of thinking is perfect for my new book, which centers around a forward-thinking girl in a backward-thinking small town. She’s uninhibited, smart, quirky…and thereby not too well accepted in her high school. Basically, Meg Shannon is the town slut, but there is nothing basic about any person’s real story. Originally, the whole series was to be titled Wicked Lover, until I realized that title only names one aspect of Meg. By the end of it, she’s no wicked lover and she’s finally realized that she is nothing to be given away at low cost.
How did you start developing the story, how did you get inspired for it?
The Tramp by Sarah Wathen
Like many new authors, I wanted to put every thought into my first book—kinda like a Facebook spew where you post everything you shouldn’t and your friends have to plan an intervention. That’s what editors are for, right? I had to cut so many characters, tangents, and poetic interludes to streamline my first novel, The Tramp. But I had fallen in love with fictitious Shirley County where it takes place, and I wanted to explore. I knew I couldn’t put the whole town and all its inhabitants into one book (and editing is such a damn long process), so I decided to write an offshoot serial novel. That’s Catchpenny.
It’s a lovely read. Where The Tramp is an epic adventure of many characters spanning centuries, Catchpenny is a love story between two people here and now. I love the idea of a serial book, because you can sample without much cost or time involved. It’s a great way to connect with readers and for them to check out my writing, without too much commitment either way.
What are the major themes of your work?
This is a story of a young woman coming to understand her worth as a human being. Regardless of her looks (better than she realizes), her brainpower (considerable), her talents (notorious), or her friends (very few), she must accept that who she really is has nothing to do with any of that.
When naming your characters, do you give any thought to the actual meaning?
That’s a funny question to answer, because I named these characters long before I planned to write the book. The people I thought they were in The Tramp (stereotypical pawns to fill out the background of a story they had little part in) where nothing like who they became in Catchpenny. Tristan is the love interest, maybe even the hero of Catchpenny. But in The Tramp, he was a spoiled rotten star quarterback, with his beautiful photo on the school billboard. I tried to think of an annoying, jerkwad name for him (sorry for all those nice Tristan’s out there!), and that was what I thought fit the bill. Now I love Tristan and I couldn’t name him anything else. Interestingly, the name Tristan means “a knight.” And he is definitely that for .
After starting Catchpenny, I knew Meg was a nickname for something else. I decided on Mekaela, usually spelled Mikaela. It means “gift from God,” which is perfect for the Catchpenny story.
Wicked Lover by Sarah Wathen
What’s your favorite part of “Wicked Lover”?
***
“Careful, you’re really close to the edge.”
I shot him a look full of arrogance. Valley boys visited the mountains, but they never played there. “Please.”
A narrow column of rock jutted up from the valley, separated from the main cliff by about two feet. We had always called it the exclamation point (or just “the point” for short) when I was a kid, because that’s exactly what it looked like. It was the first and smallest of the buttes, as the valley below met the canyons, and the mountains on either side squeezed the land into a bottleneck, with violent rapids rushing below. The point was wide enough for a couple people to sit on, maybe four people to stand on carefully. I hopped out onto the column of stone, my bare toes gripping the stone when I landed, steady and sure. I’d done it a million times. I focused on the moon; it looked as big as a planet about to crash right into the earth. A yellow sphere of Swiss cheese, in planetary proportions.
“The wolves will be out in force tonight,” I said, then threw my head back in a long howl. A prompt response echoed in the distance, the owner of which was more likely a hound dog hunting with his master than a roaming wolf. I laughed and looked back to see my date turning green behind me. “Don’t worry, I’ve got good balance—my mom says I’ve always been a mountain goat.”
He shook his head, sizing me up from the rear. “More like a mountain lion. Please come back, though.”
He held out his hand, obviously closer to the rim than he was comfortable with, but I ignored it. I turned back to the moon. “It’s not full yet.”
“Looks pretty full to me.”
“No, it’s still waxing. It’ll be full tomorrow.”
“Want to bet?” He stuck his hand out further, daring me to accept a shake on it.
“Okay. I know I’m right.”
The instant my hand made contact with his, his grip turned to iron and he yanked me towards himself, off the point and across the chasm. I crashed into his chest and he moved backwards with me—solid, not stumbling. His arms wrapped around my shoulders like steel girders, his body immovable and his face unflinching.
“You’re dangerous,” he mumbled, eyes blazing.
I tried to say, “You should talk,” but I’d somehow lost my voice.
“Away from the sheer drop.”
“Okay.” I nodded, glad to finally produce a sound with my startled vocal chords. I let him thread his fingers through mine, and he led me back to the car.
In the safety of the limo, he lounged back onto the seat, his eyes smoldering as he watched me. I settled myself opposite, arranging the beads of my cocktail dress and fluffing my curls, not really sure what had just occurred between us. Maybe he was angry with me; he sure looked it. I said, as innocently as I could manage, “Are you afraid of heights?”
“Afraid of having to dive off a cliff to catch you, maybe.”
I snorted. “Right.”
“Reckless,” he sighed, shaking his head.
“Sorry…”
“Sorry? You’re not like any girl I’ve ever met, Meg. It’s a lot to take in, but there’s no reason to be sorry.”
I fumbled with my beads a little more, unsure of how to proceed. I felt the car start to roll and I looked up in reaction, to see a door in the ceiling just over Tristan’s head. I had an idea. “Hey, we can get a perfect view of the moon from in here. That’s a sunroof, right?”
He looked above his head and his expression cooled. “Actually, I’ve been wanting to try that ever since I first got in.”
“You mean…ejector seat?” I met his spreading grin and he nodded, then reached over to push a button by his armrest. The window in the ceiling slid open and Tristan grabbed my hand, pulling me over to crouch with him on the seat below the skylight.
“Ejector seat!” we yelled together, springing up through the open roof, him laughing and me cheering like a five-year-old. The sky spread over us like velvet lavender, a blanket of winking stars around the glowing lunar orb. It felt so close I wanted to reach up and touch it—moments like that are the closest I ever get to church.
***
Why don’t you illustrate your book?
Sarah in action!
The whole reason I got into writing and publishing was because I wanted to illustrate books! I thought illustration would help bring out the beauty in the written word and maybe push literature into the hands of a larger audience (or vice versa). But then I tried to illustrate a novel that I loved dearly. It was written by a good friend, who had always loved my artwork and leaned toward graphic, illustrative work himself. Initially, I was excited about the project. Yet, as I developed the imagery, I became increasingly disappointed with the way I was representing my own interpretation of the literary work. I knew I couldn’t come close to what was in the author’s head, and forget about the countless others that might read it. They would form their own images in their minds, just as I had—images that were precious and intimate. That was when I realized that the beauty of imagination is what binds a story to one’s soul. There is something special that happens when we read, apart from any other kind of visual entertainment. Who am I to interfere with that personal, unique experience?
Why should people buy your book?
Because they’ll love it. Promise. This book is meant to entertain, to celebrate love and life, being young and growing up. What’s not to like? Well…unless you are particularly religious or prudish. Please, if you are, don’t read any of my books.
What question have you always wanted to be asked in an interview? How would you answer that question?
Hhhhmmmm… :) I like doing interviews but I wouldn’t offer any additional questions. Writing is a way for me to hide behind the page and feel normal doing so. I’ve always been a very shy person, with a good bit of social anxiety running through me at any kind of human interactivity in the real world. I’ll hide behind my books as much as I can get away with it!
What’s next for you? What are you working on now?
My next undertaking is the completion of the second book in the Bound Chronicles (The Tramp was the first book in this series). It’s called The Glamour and I really have a lot to live up to. I’ve set up a good game and now I need to keep the action running, reveal another mystery, and stay true to the epic story arc. It will be difficult; there is no denying that. The entire story has already been written in my head, but I need to translate thoughts and dreams to paper in a way that people will love (much of it is already scribbled in composition books). I’ve learned a lot in writing the first one, and that only reminds me how much work it will be to complete the second. I’m up for it, though—I’ll deliver if it kills me!
How can readers discover more about you and your work?
Goodreads | Amazon | Twitter | Blog | Facebook | Tumblr | Pinterest | Website
It was a great privilege for me to get to interview Sarah Wathen, who has inspired me in many different ways. Thank you Sarah!!! Good Luck with everything!
May 28, 2015
A moment to share with Cathy McGough
Mathematical State Of Grace by Cathy McGough
Hello, everyone! I am pleased to share with you the official cover of Cathy McGough’s NEW book Mathematical State Of Grace.
Book Blurb:
“The laws of the Universe are ordered and finite. Every mathematical equation has one perfect solution. Jocks lead the high school pack, and nerdy girls go unnoticed.
But what would happen if one day, everything changed?
In one fateful moment, sixteen-year old mathematical prodigy Grace Greenway and Vincente Marino, all-around high school athlete, are unexpectedly thrown together. From that moment on, Grace and Vincente are forced to navigate a strange and wonderful new world together, quickly learning that they must depend on each other if they want to survive.
Now, imagine a world where the rules of the ordered Universe no longer apply, and the line between reality and fiction becomes blurred beyond all reason.
Imagine living in A Mathematical State of Grace.”
Cathy McGough
Cathy McGough is amazing author, blogger and a publisher. She lives in Stratford, Ontario, Canada with her husband and son. She is also like me a huge fan of J.K. Rowling and her books. :) To find out more about Cathy please visit www.cathymcgough.com.
Hi Cathy, thank you for answering my questions.
Tell me a little about yourself and your background?
I was born in a small Canadian town called Stratford, Ontario. I am the oldest of 5 children, two brothers and two sisters. My Dad is still around and recently turned 80. I have been married for 29 years and we have one son who is 17. For most of my son’s life we lived in Sydney, Australia but recently moved back to Canada to my hometown.
What were you like at school? Were you good at English?
Cathy’s Facebook Page!
As the eldest of four younger siblings, let’s just say that I was a little – no, I think more than a little bossy. I learned to read before Kindergarten and have never stopped. I have always loved to write and have always excelled at English.
What are your ambitions for your writing career?
To have my books read by as many people as possible and to write books, which will stand the test of time.
Which writers inspire you?
I wrote a book called Interviews With Legendary Writers From Beyond – where I “interview” writers who inspire me with the help of a psychic. If we are talking about living writers, Margaret Atwood, J.K. Rowling, Paulo Coelho, Hugh Howey, Stephen King to name but a few.
What was your life like before becoming an author?I always write, it has only been in the past few years that I have taken control of my writing destiny and publishing destiny by becoming a Publisher myself.
Which comes first – the character’s story or the idea for the novel?
With my most recent book, A Mathematical State of Grace the first thing, which came to me, was the ending. Each novel is different and presents itself in a totally unique and sometimes unexpected way. That is what is so exciting about writing.
When did you decide to become a writer?
I have always wanted to be a writer – as far back as I can remember.
Why do you write?
Why do I drink water? Survival. :)
So, what have you written?
A Mathematical State of Grace
I have 3 novels: Three Friends, Interviews With Legendary Writers From Beyond and A Mathematical State of Grace. I have a Short Story called Death Wish and a book of poetry called Painting With Words.
I won a writing competition in 2012 and the prize was a signed copy of J. K. Rowling’s The Casual Vacancy.
Where people can buy or see them?
All of my books are available on amazon.com here is the link to my author page:
http://www.amazon.com/Cathy-McGough/e/B001K8ZY70/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0
Give me an insight into your main character. What does he/she do that is so special?
Grace Greenway is a Mathematical Prodigy.
What sparked the idea for your book?
As I mentioned before, the ending came to me first – but I don’t want to talk about that now as the second book has yet to be released.
How do you market your book?
Cathy’s Website Page!
Mostly via Social Media and my website – although recently I hired Elite Book Promotions and Vidya has been awesome in helping me.
Do you have any advice for other authors on how to market their books? What do you do to get book reviews?
Social media is mostly free – so use it to your best advantage. You need a website, you can set one up at weebly.com and the site is really easy to use. Hire a publicist if you can afford it.
What advice do you have for someone who would like to become a published writer?
Everyone has to choose their own path, which works for them. Try the old things, try everything – but in the end you are the master of your own destiny.
Is there anything else you would like to add that I haven’t included?
I’d like to say thank you Meglena Ivanova for allowing me the opportunity to participate in this interesting interview – so THANK YOU!
How can readers discover more about you and your work?
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Amazon | Goodreads
It was a great privilege for me to get to interview Cathy McGough, who has inspired me in many different ways. Thank you Cathy!!! Good Luck with everything!
May 20, 2015
A moment to share with Mike Walters
Mike Walters’ debut Novel, The Outlaw River Wilde, sprung from an idea while watching Ancient Aliens on the History channel. He intertwines his love of Native American culture and a passion for the Pacific Northwest, primarily his birth state of Oregon. Mike sat down one day and started writing. The characters and story were revealed each and every day he wrote.
“Every session was as if I were reading something new myself
for the first time. It was a blast seeing what would happen next.“
Mike Walters
Hi Mike, thank you for participating in my MOMENT TO SHARE interviews section.
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?
Well this could take a long time for sure. I am quickly approaching 50. I was born and raised in Southern Oregon, had a less than picture perfect childhood, escaped to the Air Force in my early twenties and haven’t been back to my hometown for over 20 years. I was shy in school and a good athlete. My shyness kept me from really excelling in a lot of ways. No I was not good at English. I somehow managed to get an A on my report card due to my ability to tell a good story and I knew my vocabulary. My grammar was not a strength. My ambitions for writing? I want to build my reader base into a self-sustaining venture so that I can quit my day job, move to a lake in Sweden with someone I love and write every day.
Which writers inspire you?
Elite Book Promotions Blog Tour May 18 – May 22
I love Tolstoy and Dostoevsky. I love the romantic and familial aspects in their work. Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale was one of the first pieces of literature I remember reading at a young age that had an impact on me. T.C. Boyle, in particular The Tortilla Curtain, had an impact in telling a story. I love Ayn Rand’s The Fountainhead and Atlas Shrugged. David Sedaris makes me laugh my ass off and Malcom Gladwell is almost impossible to put down. Stephen King particularly The Dead Zone and Christine are favorites. King has such a great ability to simplify characters, story lines and keep me turning the pages. Finally I absolutely love The Martian by Andy Weir for a couple of reason. First the novel has the best opening of any novel I have ever read. Laughed my ass off when I read it. I have the same smart-ass sensibility that Weir does so it was appealing for this. Second, Weir originally self-published proving there is hope out there for us indie authors.
What was your life like before becoming an author?
I am not a self-sustaining novelist yet. Yet. So my day to day life is a 9-5 Director of Marketing & Product for a company in Ontario, California that makes library software. It is a good job and we make a product that makes a difference so it is easy to get up and go to work every day. With this being said, I would rather roll out of bed, kiss a loved one, grab a cup of coffee and head to my office and write. Someday soon…..
Which comes first – the character’s story or the idea for the novel?
For me it is a loose idea. Then the main character and I start writing and the rest starts to fall into place. One of the things I love so much about writing is the story unfolds as I go. I never really know what will take place until I write. For me it is like reading a novel for the first time. I learn what is going to happen as I go. My creative process gets bogged down when I try to chart it out or choreograph it.
When did you decide to become a writer?
Probably in my early 40s I realized I wanted to be a writer. I was around some creative people and new I could do it. I was told I was a good story-teller at a very young age. The internet and social media has opened up so many new doors for artistic people and self-publishing made it possible for me. I would like to find an agent, and publishing house to do some of the heavy lifting, but I am not going to get consumed by it. As long as I laugh and enjoy what I write I will be satisfied. The rest will at some point take care of itself.
Why do you write?
Writing helps me get out some of my pent up creativity. I have also learned that it helps me think more clearly and brings clarity to some of my concerns and issues – – – some big, some small.
So, what have you written?
The Outlaw River Wilde by M. Walters
So far I have only published The Outlaw River Wilde. It is book 1 in a 2 or 3 book series based around the main character Mitch Wilde in the Pacific Northwest. I have written other stories throughout my life that I may resurrect at some point and time, but right now I want to get Mitch Wilde’s story out. I am half way through book number 2 in the series, Still Wilde in the Outlaw River. I hope to have it finished later this year.
Where people can buy or see them?
Amazon: http://goo.gl/HjiTi4 4. Nook: http://goo.gl/eewaef
Smashwords: http://goo.gl/D9n3I5 5. iBook: http://goo.gl/bMHyGD
Kobo: http://goo.gl/S6lLgJ 6. Amazon UK: http://goo.gl/UWYdvS
Give me an insight into your main character. What does he/she do that is so special?
Mitch Wilde is hopefully a character that everyone can relate to. He is approaching middle age and is very much in love with his wife and life and doesn’t take her or his situation for granted. He has a solid core set of friends. He is good at a lot of things, perhaps not great at any one thing and he is okay with this. He is passionate about photography and brewing his own beer. He is curious by nature and the curiosity will serve him well in the novel.
What sparked the idea for your book?
Mike’s Twitter Page!
A number of years ago, like so many people, I started watching Ancient Aliens on the history channel and some ideas started percolating. I decided to sit down one day at my computer and started writing.
How do you market your book?
Lots and lots of social media. I am working on some press releases and signing events. This I find to be more difficult than writing the novel.
Do you have any advice for other authors on how to market their books? What do you do to get book reviews?
Like anything in life, try and learn from other people’s failures and successes. I have only been published for a month now so it is still very new for me. I have a tremendous amount to learn and figure out. Ask me again in a year. As far as book reviews, I hope that my story and characters are strong enough that people will want to review them. I have a number of copies out write now to review houses and am waiting patiently to see what they say and if it will generate any press.
What advice do you have for someone who would like to become a published writer?
Mike’s Website Page!
If you love to tell stories and put them down on paper than go for it. Pick something you are passionate about and hopefully know a lot about and just start writing and see where it takes you. I think the most important thing is to not over think the story and just let it take you wherever it wants to go. You can edit later.
Is there anything else you would like to add that I haven’t included?
10% of all my book sales go to the Westside German Shepherd Rescue in Los Angeles. I volunteer here and take a lot of photos hopefully helping the dogs find their “forever homes”
How can readers discover more about you and your work?
Goodreads | Amazon | Twitter | Blog | Facebook | Pinterest | Website | Linkedin | Smashwords
* * * A Rafflecopter GIVEAWAY!!! * * *
It was a great privilege for me to get to interview Mike Walters, who has inspired me in many different ways. Thank you Mike!!! Good Luck with everything!
May 6, 2015
Great reading!!! NEW AMAZING BOOK BY J. KAHELE!!!
FA��ADE: UNVEILING THE MASQUERADE�� BY J. KAHELE��
J. Kahele
So are you excited to hear about this NEWS? J. Kahele have a NEW book out.��She��is a phenomenal writer and her style is amazing. I loved her story! Like all of Kahele’s��other books, she has wonderful and unique��characters and character-lines.
Tell us a little about yourself?
Facade – Unveiling the Masquerade [Kindle Edition] J. Kahele
I am a 47 year married mother of three teenage daughters. My mother is of Hawaiian descent and my father is of Italian descent. I spent most of my childhood traveling as my father was a Master Sergeant for the U.S. Army.
When did you began to write and why?
I have always written, I just began publishing my works, a few years ago. I do it to release the thoughts in my head.
Your favorite book when you were young and/or your favorite book now?
Dr. Seuss, Cat in the Hat. My favorite book now, Frankenstein, by Mary Shelley.
What is the name of your new book?
Fa��ade ��� Unveiling the Masquerade.
Plot overview:��
When Liam Sheldon is summoned to Chicago, to testify for the prosecution against Kate, and is again reunited with Ally, he realizes he can no longer hold back his feelings for her and his want to be with her, takes over his complete existence.
He reveals to Ally that he has made a terrible mistake, leaving her, that he loves her and asks her to take him back. But Ally is reluctant, afraid he will break her heart again.
How do you go about promoting your work?
I use promotion companies and social media.
How do you think electronic books have changed things?
I think it makes it easier on the authors, to get their books out.
Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
Same place, writing and happy. :)
Something close to your heart?
My children.
Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Pinterest | LinkedIn�� | Website
A little bit from the book…
EXCERPT 1
After months of hard work and dedication, the Maryland project was finally ready for sale. With over five hundred business owners bidding for the new improved company, Liam sat in on negotiations for weeks before finally choosing a buyer.
The project not only proved to be the most profitable one, but it also defined his company as one of the most sought-after investment companies in the world. His email constantly swarmed with potential customers begging for him to buy them out.
He should be ecstatic, proud that he had finally accomplished the one feat he strived for���success. But the triumphant prosperity was bittersweet. Selling out his heart to a life of loneliness was not worth the price.
Sitting at his desk, he glanced fondly at the Polaroid, snapped by a photographer when he traveled with Ally to New York to see the play��Les Miserables. He frowned as he saw the dingy yellow cast surround the fading picture, a common consequence of the cheap film. His lip quirked up on one side slightly as her reflection caught his eye,��her shiny dark hair framing her face elegantly, bringing attention to the gold flecks in her amber eyes.��She is so beautiful.�� Even after eight months, his heart still ached for her every breathing moment.
Sliding his hand into his suit coat pocket, he pulled out the folded paper that he carried with the Polaroid everywhere he went. It was his reminder of a happier time, the only thing that helped him make it through each agonizing day without her.
A lump began to form in his throat as he carefully unfolded the note she had left him the morning after they had made love for the first time. It read:
Liam,
I wanted to thank you for an unbelievable night. I know it may be a one-time thing, and I don���t expect more. But I need you to know that it was very special to me and a night I will always remember.
Ally xoxo
Memories instantly flooded his mind: her invisible scent tingling through his nose; her smile playing tricks on his eyes as he envisioned her staring down at him.
���Ally,��� he muttered, and instantly the vision disappeared. The illusion devastated him and he grunted, squeezing his eyes closed tightly as a soaring fleet of mixed emotions shot through his head, making him restless and shaky.��God, I miss her!
The guilt and regret still lay heavy on his heart, igniting the suffering and agony that seemed to haunt him since he had left Chicago. Breathlessly he grabbed the sides of his head, yanking at his hair, attempting to quote his mantra, the one that made him better, stronger���but�� the words dissipated from his mind and only visions of Ally and the last time he saw her lingered behind his eyelids.
Her eyes���those beautiful eyes, glazed with hurt and pain that he had cast upon her, after he selfishly shattered his promise to never break her heart.
���We were no good for each other,��� he mumbled under his breath. But even as the words floated out of his mouth, he knew there was no real truth to them.
EXCERPT 2
Gazing out into the distance, Ally watched as the sun blinked through the trees, lighting up the hilltops, the scenery like a picturesque postcard. It was an unusually warm day for mid-May in Chicago, a sweltering 88 degrees. Staring down at the brook, Ally exhaled as she thought about Liam.
She wondered if he thought of her as she thought of him. She found it disheartening that someone could be such an important part of her life and then just disappear without a trace. She attempted to convince herself he was just a fa��ade of her heart, an illusion of her soul, but that was not true, not true at all. Maybe in his heart what they had was a masquerade, but in hers it was special, true love, one that could never be replaced. I will always love him!
