Heidi Ruby Miller's Blog, page 45
October 24, 2012
MEME: Tag! I'm it!
MEMES
Tag! I'm It!
Hope your shots are up to date… I’ve been tagged by Ann Laurel Kopchik in a game of author infection!
The rules are simple:
1) Search your work in progress for the first use of "look".
2) Copy and paste that paragraph and the ones immediately before and after into a blog post.
3) Then tag five other authors:
John Edward Lawson
Deanna Lepsch
Mike Mehalek
Jason Jack Miller
K. Ceres Wright
This is from my supernatural thriller ATOMIC ZION:
Half of his comrades marching with him now had been there in Warsaw when it happened.
A tip had come in, anonymous, as all tips were, accusing a math teacher of holding anti-party meetings in his house. When they came to arrest the grey-haired teacher, Skovajsa was struck by how much the man looked like his own geometry teacher from years ago, the one who had opened the world of art to him through angles and lines.
The teacher they went after that day had put up no fight, but his wife shouted and wailed at the soldiers, so distraught at one point she picked up an ashtray and hit Borikov in the shoulder. He beat her then, angry blows pounding her to the ground so some of the others could kick her.
Tag! I'm It!
Hope your shots are up to date… I’ve been tagged by Ann Laurel Kopchik in a game of author infection!
The rules are simple:
1) Search your work in progress for the first use of "look".
2) Copy and paste that paragraph and the ones immediately before and after into a blog post.
3) Then tag five other authors:
John Edward Lawson
Deanna Lepsch
Mike Mehalek
Jason Jack Miller
K. Ceres Wright
This is from my supernatural thriller ATOMIC ZION:Half of his comrades marching with him now had been there in Warsaw when it happened.
A tip had come in, anonymous, as all tips were, accusing a math teacher of holding anti-party meetings in his house. When they came to arrest the grey-haired teacher, Skovajsa was struck by how much the man looked like his own geometry teacher from years ago, the one who had opened the world of art to him through angles and lines.
The teacher they went after that day had put up no fight, but his wife shouted and wailed at the soldiers, so distraught at one point she picked up an ashtray and hit Borikov in the shoulder. He beat her then, angry blows pounding her to the ground so some of the others could kick her.
October 22, 2012
CAST YOUR CHARACTERS: The Haunted Housewives of Allister, Alabama by Susan Abel Sullivan
CAST YOUR CHARACTERS
THE HAUNTED HOUSEWIVES OF ALLISTER, ALABAMA
AUTHOR: SUSAN ABEL SULLIVAN
PUBLISHER: WORLD WEAVER PRESS (2012)
DESCRIPTION: Who knew a gaudy Velvet Elvis could lead to such a heap of haunted trouble down in Alabama?
When Cleo Tidwell said, “I do,” for the third time, she had no idea her marriage vows would be tested by a tacky piece of art. But Cleo’s not the kind of woman to let a velvet-offense-against-good-taste just hang--oh no, she’s on a mission to oust the King. Trouble is, Elvis won’t leave the building. And he’s attractin’ all manner of kooks, fanatics, and lookie loos to Cleo’s doorstep, including the entire congregation of the Church of the Blue Suede Shoes.
Everyone wants a piece of the painting, but Cleo’s starting to suspect that whatever’s haunting the Velvet Elvis wants a piece of her husband. Why else would he trade in his car for a ’56 pink Caddy, moonlight as an Elvis impersonator, and develop a sudden hankering for fried peanut butter and banana sandwiches?
Certainly it can’t be anything as simple as a mid-life crisis, because Cleo is not getting divorced again—her mother would never let her hear the end of it.
Cleo’s life is all shook up when the crazies up the ante with death threats, psychic warnings “from beyond,” kidnapping attempts, invitations to join the Blue Shoe Loonies, and even murder! Cleo fights for her life, her marriage, and the perseverance of good taste everywhere.
CHARACTERS:
Sandra Bullock as CLEO TIDWELL
Cleo's 3rd marriage is all shook up when her husband gives her a haunted Velvet Elvis for their wedding anniversary. The velvet-offense-against-good-taste has got to go, but unfortunately, Elvis won’t leave the building . . . or Cleo’s husband.
Jon Corbett as BERTRAM TIDWELL, Ph.D.
Is Cleo’s husband merely obsessed with the painting or actually possessed by it?
Reese Witherspoon as MOLLY SAENGER (Cleo’s sister) - Imagine Reese carrying an extra fifty pounds.
Cleo’s sister has woes of her own. Her husband of sixteen years left her for a stripper named Candy. He also left her with a mortgage and four daughters. Single again in her thirties, Molly has the hots for her daughter’s teacher Mr. Vassals, but it’s a good-ole-boy named Elmer who steals her heart.
Jean Smart as GEORGIA TIDWELL (Cleo’s mother-in-law)
A self-confessed Elvis fanatic, Georgia's claim to fame is a bit part in the Elvis Presley movie Fun in Acapulco. She also has a family secret that she's not telling.
David Eigenberg as ELMER INGLEBRIGHT - Imagine David with red hair.
A collector of oddities, Elmer is on a mission to acquire the haunted Velvet Elvis, but he winds up with something of greater value, Molly’s heart.
Gary Cole as DUPREE HARDCASTLE
A member of The Church of the Blue Suede Shoes, Dupree is dead set on getting his hands on the haunted Velvet Elvis. Key word: dead.
A Velvet Elvis as THE HAUNTED VELVET ELVIS
Is the painted actually haunted? Does it really sing “Heartbreak Hotel” in the dead of night? Or is it just a scam to dupe the gullible? There must be something to the hoax, otherwise, why would so many kooks, treasure hunters, and lookie loos want the kitschy piece of art?
Susan Abel Sullivan writes paranormal mystery and speculative Young Adult fiction, usually with a wickedly dark sense of humor. She has written a smattering of horror, and even some bona fide science fiction, and has recently tried her hand at writing songs about vampire hookers from outer space and fried zombie dee-light!
Some of her favorite authors are: Stephen King, Janet Evanovich, Peter Straub, Clive Barker, Carrie Vaughn, Sue Grafton, Allen Steele, Robert McCammon, Lane Robins, & Richard Adams.
In addition to writing, Susan holds a BS in Exercise Science from Auburn Univsersity and is a certified Group X & Water Fitness instructor, Personal Trainer, Fitness Specialist, and Health Coach, as well as a licensed Zumba Fitness instructor.
She lives in a spooky Victorian house in northeastern Alabama with a husband, two dogs, and way too many cats. Susan writes a monthly column for the Calhoun Community Press: FUNdamental Fitness and she has written for the Aquatic Exercise Association.
Find Susan online at these links:
WEBSITE - www.susanabelsullivan.weebly.com
- http://www.facebook.com/susan.a.sullivan.927
- @susan_abel - https://twitter.com/susan_abel
Buy The Haunted Housewives of Allister, Alabama :
- http://www.amazon.com/Haunted-Housewives-Allister-Paranormal-ebook/dp/B009Q9VL7M
THE HAUNTED HOUSEWIVES OF ALLISTER, ALABAMAAUTHOR: SUSAN ABEL SULLIVAN
PUBLISHER: WORLD WEAVER PRESS (2012)
DESCRIPTION: Who knew a gaudy Velvet Elvis could lead to such a heap of haunted trouble down in Alabama?
When Cleo Tidwell said, “I do,” for the third time, she had no idea her marriage vows would be tested by a tacky piece of art. But Cleo’s not the kind of woman to let a velvet-offense-against-good-taste just hang--oh no, she’s on a mission to oust the King. Trouble is, Elvis won’t leave the building. And he’s attractin’ all manner of kooks, fanatics, and lookie loos to Cleo’s doorstep, including the entire congregation of the Church of the Blue Suede Shoes.
Everyone wants a piece of the painting, but Cleo’s starting to suspect that whatever’s haunting the Velvet Elvis wants a piece of her husband. Why else would he trade in his car for a ’56 pink Caddy, moonlight as an Elvis impersonator, and develop a sudden hankering for fried peanut butter and banana sandwiches?
Certainly it can’t be anything as simple as a mid-life crisis, because Cleo is not getting divorced again—her mother would never let her hear the end of it.
Cleo’s life is all shook up when the crazies up the ante with death threats, psychic warnings “from beyond,” kidnapping attempts, invitations to join the Blue Shoe Loonies, and even murder! Cleo fights for her life, her marriage, and the perseverance of good taste everywhere.
CHARACTERS:
Sandra Bullock as CLEO TIDWELL
Cleo's 3rd marriage is all shook up when her husband gives her a haunted Velvet Elvis for their wedding anniversary. The velvet-offense-against-good-taste has got to go, but unfortunately, Elvis won’t leave the building . . . or Cleo’s husband.
Jon Corbett as BERTRAM TIDWELL, Ph.D.
Is Cleo’s husband merely obsessed with the painting or actually possessed by it?
Reese Witherspoon as MOLLY SAENGER (Cleo’s sister) - Imagine Reese carrying an extra fifty pounds.
Cleo’s sister has woes of her own. Her husband of sixteen years left her for a stripper named Candy. He also left her with a mortgage and four daughters. Single again in her thirties, Molly has the hots for her daughter’s teacher Mr. Vassals, but it’s a good-ole-boy named Elmer who steals her heart.
Jean Smart as GEORGIA TIDWELL (Cleo’s mother-in-law)
A self-confessed Elvis fanatic, Georgia's claim to fame is a bit part in the Elvis Presley movie Fun in Acapulco. She also has a family secret that she's not telling.
David Eigenberg as ELMER INGLEBRIGHT - Imagine David with red hair.
A collector of oddities, Elmer is on a mission to acquire the haunted Velvet Elvis, but he winds up with something of greater value, Molly’s heart.
Gary Cole as DUPREE HARDCASTLE
A member of The Church of the Blue Suede Shoes, Dupree is dead set on getting his hands on the haunted Velvet Elvis. Key word: dead.
A Velvet Elvis as THE HAUNTED VELVET ELVIS
Is the painted actually haunted? Does it really sing “Heartbreak Hotel” in the dead of night? Or is it just a scam to dupe the gullible? There must be something to the hoax, otherwise, why would so many kooks, treasure hunters, and lookie loos want the kitschy piece of art?
Susan Abel Sullivan writes paranormal mystery and speculative Young Adult fiction, usually with a wickedly dark sense of humor. She has written a smattering of horror, and even some bona fide science fiction, and has recently tried her hand at writing songs about vampire hookers from outer space and fried zombie dee-light!Some of her favorite authors are: Stephen King, Janet Evanovich, Peter Straub, Clive Barker, Carrie Vaughn, Sue Grafton, Allen Steele, Robert McCammon, Lane Robins, & Richard Adams.
In addition to writing, Susan holds a BS in Exercise Science from Auburn Univsersity and is a certified Group X & Water Fitness instructor, Personal Trainer, Fitness Specialist, and Health Coach, as well as a licensed Zumba Fitness instructor.
She lives in a spooky Victorian house in northeastern Alabama with a husband, two dogs, and way too many cats. Susan writes a monthly column for the Calhoun Community Press: FUNdamental Fitness and she has written for the Aquatic Exercise Association.
Find Susan online at these links:
WEBSITE - www.susanabelsullivan.weebly.com
- http://www.facebook.com/susan.a.sullivan.927
- @susan_abel - https://twitter.com/susan_abel
Buy The Haunted Housewives of Allister, Alabama :
- http://www.amazon.com/Haunted-Housewives-Allister-Paranormal-ebook/dp/B009Q9VL7M
October 18, 2012
Event: Countdown to DogCon #6 - Jennifer Barnes
EVENTS
DOGCON COUNTDOWN #6
October 20-21, 2012
The first ever DogCon , hosted by Raw Dog Screaming Press , will be part Halloween party, part writer's weekend, part State of the Dog address. This is an invitation only event but if it goes well could be a public event next year!
GUEST SPOTLIGHT - JENNIFER BARNES
Jennifer Barnes is co-founder and managing editor of Raw Dog Screaming Press. She graduated from the University of Maryland with an English degree and a concentration in Poetry and Creative Writing. She has had numerous poems and articles published both in print and online. Most recently her poetry appeared in The Greatest Chapbook Ever, A Little Poetry, Ascent, and sidereality. BETTER HAUNTED HOMES AND GARDENS, Jennifer's children's book with artist Kristen Margiotta, was released with Imagination Books. Jennifer is also a graphic designer with over ten years of web and print design experience.
Spy on her at the Raw Dog journal .
Books by Jennifer Barnes:
Better Haunted Homes and Gardens
DOGCON COUNTDOWN #6
October 20-21, 2012
The first ever DogCon , hosted by Raw Dog Screaming Press , will be part Halloween party, part writer's weekend, part State of the Dog address. This is an invitation only event but if it goes well could be a public event next year!
GUEST SPOTLIGHT - JENNIFER BARNES
Jennifer Barnes is co-founder and managing editor of Raw Dog Screaming Press. She graduated from the University of Maryland with an English degree and a concentration in Poetry and Creative Writing. She has had numerous poems and articles published both in print and online. Most recently her poetry appeared in The Greatest Chapbook Ever, A Little Poetry, Ascent, and sidereality. BETTER HAUNTED HOMES AND GARDENS, Jennifer's children's book with artist Kristen Margiotta, was released with Imagination Books. Jennifer is also a graphic designer with over ten years of web and print design experience.
Spy on her at the Raw Dog journal .
Books by Jennifer Barnes:
Better Haunted Homes and Gardens
October 16, 2012
Event: DogCon Countdown #7 - Natalie Duvall
EVENTS
DOGCON COUNTDOWN #7
October 20-21, 2012
The first ever DogCon , hosted by Raw Dog Screaming Press , will be part Halloween party, part writer's weekend, part State of the Dog address. This is an invitation only event but if it goes well could be a public event next year!
GUEST SPOTLIGHT - NATALIE DUVALL
Natalie Duvall received her undergraduate degree in English (the best subject ever) from Saint Joseph's University in Philadelphia. While there, she was able to further the love of Jane Austen that she first developed when watching Emma Thompson's adaptation of Sense and Sensibility and reading her sister's copy of Pride and Prejudice. Through the tutelage of Dr. JoAlyson Parker, Natalie was able to experience ALL of Jane's works, though she admits to disliking Persuasion and really liking Northanger Abbey.
It was during this time that Natalie also picked up the Regency anthology, A Christmas Holiday. This was Natalie's first taste of "contemporary" Regency romance. Natalie recommends this book to anyone, especially the story "Sheer Sorcery" by Elizabeth Thornton.
Having loved the romance fiction genre since age sixteen when she stole A Substitute Husband from the desk at work, Natalie enrolled in the Writing Popular Fiction Master's program at Seton Hill University. There she met (and continues to meet) many wonderful writers and people (see the Links page for more info), including her husband, Matt. However, Natalie didn't write Regency at the time. She wrote a terrible contemporary romcom entitled O'Feurstein's Education.
Skip several years. Natalie picked up or was gifted books by Eloisa James and Victoria Alexander.
Natalie lives in a big old house (circa 1900 -- so not as old as the Regency) in a charming little town in Central PA. She enjoys walking as much as possible, unless it's cold out. She is married with cats and a kid. Her real job (the one that pays the bills) involves teaching 11th grade English (British lit!). Her non-fiction work appears in Fine Living Lancaster . In what free time is left, she trains in Krav Maga and is a lackadaisical triathlete.
She is also co-editor of the charity anthology Hazard Yet Forward.
Spy on her at www.natalieduvall.com .
Books by Natalie Duvall:
Hazrad Yet Forward
DOGCON COUNTDOWN #7
October 20-21, 2012
The first ever DogCon , hosted by Raw Dog Screaming Press , will be part Halloween party, part writer's weekend, part State of the Dog address. This is an invitation only event but if it goes well could be a public event next year!
GUEST SPOTLIGHT - NATALIE DUVALL
Natalie Duvall received her undergraduate degree in English (the best subject ever) from Saint Joseph's University in Philadelphia. While there, she was able to further the love of Jane Austen that she first developed when watching Emma Thompson's adaptation of Sense and Sensibility and reading her sister's copy of Pride and Prejudice. Through the tutelage of Dr. JoAlyson Parker, Natalie was able to experience ALL of Jane's works, though she admits to disliking Persuasion and really liking Northanger Abbey.
It was during this time that Natalie also picked up the Regency anthology, A Christmas Holiday. This was Natalie's first taste of "contemporary" Regency romance. Natalie recommends this book to anyone, especially the story "Sheer Sorcery" by Elizabeth Thornton.
Having loved the romance fiction genre since age sixteen when she stole A Substitute Husband from the desk at work, Natalie enrolled in the Writing Popular Fiction Master's program at Seton Hill University. There she met (and continues to meet) many wonderful writers and people (see the Links page for more info), including her husband, Matt. However, Natalie didn't write Regency at the time. She wrote a terrible contemporary romcom entitled O'Feurstein's Education.
Skip several years. Natalie picked up or was gifted books by Eloisa James and Victoria Alexander.
Natalie lives in a big old house (circa 1900 -- so not as old as the Regency) in a charming little town in Central PA. She enjoys walking as much as possible, unless it's cold out. She is married with cats and a kid. Her real job (the one that pays the bills) involves teaching 11th grade English (British lit!). Her non-fiction work appears in Fine Living Lancaster . In what free time is left, she trains in Krav Maga and is a lackadaisical triathlete.
She is also co-editor of the charity anthology Hazard Yet Forward.
Spy on her at www.natalieduvall.com .
Books by Natalie Duvall:
Hazrad Yet Forward
October 15, 2012
Event: Countdown to DogCon #8 - Nathan Rosen
EVENTS
DOGCON COUNTDOWN #8
October 20-21, 2012
The first ever DogCon , hosted by Raw Dog Screaming Press , will be part Halloween party, part writer's weekend, part State of the Dog address. This is an invitation only event but if it goes well could be a public event next year!
GUEST SPOTLIGHT - NATHAN ROSEN
Nathan Rosen , the founder and editor of MicroHorror.com , lives in a crumbling old Victorian in Baltimore with his wife Jenesta Matthews and three spoiled cats. A mild-mannered paralegal by day, by night he can be found singing and carousing with Pirates for Sail as the dread pirate Black Dog Nate. He also keeps a personal blog at NathanRosen.com , where he talks about various horror and non-horror topics.
Spy on him at his blog .
Projects by Nathan Rosen:
Toe Tags
Deadlands: The Rising
The Book of Apex: Volume 1 of Apex Magazine
Pirates for Sail: A Shot Across the Bow
Pirates for Sail: Band on the Rum
DOGCON COUNTDOWN #8
October 20-21, 2012
The first ever DogCon , hosted by Raw Dog Screaming Press , will be part Halloween party, part writer's weekend, part State of the Dog address. This is an invitation only event but if it goes well could be a public event next year!
GUEST SPOTLIGHT - NATHAN ROSEN
Nathan Rosen , the founder and editor of MicroHorror.com , lives in a crumbling old Victorian in Baltimore with his wife Jenesta Matthews and three spoiled cats. A mild-mannered paralegal by day, by night he can be found singing and carousing with Pirates for Sail as the dread pirate Black Dog Nate. He also keeps a personal blog at NathanRosen.com , where he talks about various horror and non-horror topics.
Spy on him at his blog .
Projects by Nathan Rosen:
Toe Tags
Deadlands: The Rising
The Book of Apex: Volume 1 of Apex Magazine
Pirates for Sail: A Shot Across the Bow
Pirates for Sail: Band on the Rum
October 14, 2012
Event: DogCon Countdown #9 - Deanna Lepsch
EVENTS
DOGCON COUNTDOWN #9
October 20-21, 2012
The first ever DogCon , hosted by Raw Dog Screaming Press , will be part Halloween party, part writer's weekend, part State of the Dog address. This is an invitation only event but if it goes well could be a public event next year!
GUEST SPOTLIGHT - DEANNA LEPSCH
Deanna Lepsch lives in Minnesota's gorgeous Twin cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul with her husband and two mischievous dogs, Brigs and Holly. She is a graduate of Seton Hill University's Writing Popular Fiction program and co-editor of the charity anthology Hazard Yet Forward.
Some of her interests include (but aren't limited to):
Social Dancing - especially Swing and Polka. (Yes, polka! She's originally from the land of beer, cheese, and German music. That would be Wisconsin.); Screen Printing; Sewing; Reading; Writing; Travel; Music - both listening and performing; Vintage clothing - Mid-Century is her favorite.
Deanna can be found most Sundays curled up on the couch enjoying new and favorite movies such as: Harry Potter, Bottle Shock, V for Vendetta, The Marvel Movies, Notting Hill, Love Actually, The Day After Tomorrow (and other terrible disaster flicks) and the Shawshank Redemption, for example.
Spy on her at her blog .
Books by Deanna Lepsch:
Hazard Yet Forward
DOGCON COUNTDOWN #9
October 20-21, 2012
The first ever DogCon , hosted by Raw Dog Screaming Press , will be part Halloween party, part writer's weekend, part State of the Dog address. This is an invitation only event but if it goes well could be a public event next year!
GUEST SPOTLIGHT - DEANNA LEPSCH
Deanna Lepsch lives in Minnesota's gorgeous Twin cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul with her husband and two mischievous dogs, Brigs and Holly. She is a graduate of Seton Hill University's Writing Popular Fiction program and co-editor of the charity anthology Hazard Yet Forward.
Some of her interests include (but aren't limited to):
Social Dancing - especially Swing and Polka. (Yes, polka! She's originally from the land of beer, cheese, and German music. That would be Wisconsin.); Screen Printing; Sewing; Reading; Writing; Travel; Music - both listening and performing; Vintage clothing - Mid-Century is her favorite.
Deanna can be found most Sundays curled up on the couch enjoying new and favorite movies such as: Harry Potter, Bottle Shock, V for Vendetta, The Marvel Movies, Notting Hill, Love Actually, The Day After Tomorrow (and other terrible disaster flicks) and the Shawshank Redemption, for example.
Spy on her at her blog .
Books by Deanna Lepsch:
Hazard Yet Forward
October 12, 2012
BLOG HOP: The Next Big Thing - WEEK 16
Blog Hops
The Next Big Thing - Week 16
Thank you to Broad Universe member Jennifer Allis Provost for tagging me. Check out her post , then hop on over and visit these authors, all part of my #WordWar2 Twitter crew. We're all finishing our WIPs by Halloween and checking in for daily word counts and encouragement. Then it's onto #WordWar3! I've also included their Twitter handles so you can follow them there and get in on the #WordWar action!
John Edward Lawson (@bizzaroguy) - http://www.johnlawson.org
Deanna Lepsch (@dlepsch) - http://deannalepsch.blogspot.com
Mike Mehalek (@MikeMehalek) - http://mikemehalek.blogspot.com
Jason Jack Miller (@JasonJackMiller) - http://jasonjackmiller.blogspot.com
What is the working title of your book?
ATOMIC ZION
Where did the idea come from for the book?
I was the educational marketing director for Frank Lloyd Wright's House on Kentuck Knob, so I was consumed with all things Frank Lloyd Wright, including his utopia, Broadacre City, which was never built.
What genre does your book fall under?
Supernatural/Spy Thriller
Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?
Jeremy Renner as Nicholas Vanko
Emmanuelle Chiriqui as Evangelina Hawk
Will Yazzie as Calvin Coolidge Detsoi
What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?
After his grandfather's murder at the Guggenheim Museum, Nicholas Vanko is plunged into a conspiracy dating back to World War II and now must save the world from a genetic experiment gone wrong by finding Broadacre City, the fabled utopia designed by Wright, but supposedly never built.
Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency?
Yet to be determined.
How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?
One year.
What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?
Think most anything by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child.
Who or what inspired you to write this book?
I had access to incredible Wright archives, curators of Wright museums and buildings, the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation, and even former Wright apprentices. With this wealth of knowledge, I had to write a Wright book.
What else about your book might pique the reader’s interest?
Navajo CodeTalker, color grapheme synesthesia, Gypsy curses, skinwalkers, CIA conspiracies, Russian Mafia, encoded blueprints, non-stop action, Fallingwater, NYC, romance, violence, Prague, Arizona, polygamous compounders, insane Senator, ticking clock
The Next Big Thing - Week 16
Thank you to Broad Universe member Jennifer Allis Provost for tagging me. Check out her post , then hop on over and visit these authors, all part of my #WordWar2 Twitter crew. We're all finishing our WIPs by Halloween and checking in for daily word counts and encouragement. Then it's onto #WordWar3! I've also included their Twitter handles so you can follow them there and get in on the #WordWar action!
John Edward Lawson (@bizzaroguy) - http://www.johnlawson.org
Deanna Lepsch (@dlepsch) - http://deannalepsch.blogspot.com
Mike Mehalek (@MikeMehalek) - http://mikemehalek.blogspot.com
Jason Jack Miller (@JasonJackMiller) - http://jasonjackmiller.blogspot.com
What is the working title of your book?
ATOMIC ZION
Where did the idea come from for the book?
I was the educational marketing director for Frank Lloyd Wright's House on Kentuck Knob, so I was consumed with all things Frank Lloyd Wright, including his utopia, Broadacre City, which was never built.
What genre does your book fall under?
Supernatural/Spy Thriller
Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?
Jeremy Renner as Nicholas Vanko
Emmanuelle Chiriqui as Evangelina Hawk
Will Yazzie as Calvin Coolidge Detsoi
What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?
After his grandfather's murder at the Guggenheim Museum, Nicholas Vanko is plunged into a conspiracy dating back to World War II and now must save the world from a genetic experiment gone wrong by finding Broadacre City, the fabled utopia designed by Wright, but supposedly never built.
Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency?
Yet to be determined.
How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?
One year.
What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?
Think most anything by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child.
Who or what inspired you to write this book?
I had access to incredible Wright archives, curators of Wright museums and buildings, the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation, and even former Wright apprentices. With this wealth of knowledge, I had to write a Wright book.
What else about your book might pique the reader’s interest?
Navajo CodeTalker, color grapheme synesthesia, Gypsy curses, skinwalkers, CIA conspiracies, Russian Mafia, encoded blueprints, non-stop action, Fallingwater, NYC, romance, violence, Prague, Arizona, polygamous compounders, insane Senator, ticking clock
October 11, 2012
Event: DogCon Countdown #10 - Brian Keene
EVENTS
DOGCON COUNTDOWN #10
October 20-21, 2012
The first ever DogCon , hosted by Raw Dog Screaming Press , will be part Halloween party, part writer's weekend, part State of the Dog address. This is an invitation only event but if it goes well could be a public event next year!
GUEST SPOTLIGHT - BRIAN KEENE
Brian Keene grew up in both Pennsylvania and West Virginia, and many of his books take place in these locales. After graduating high school, he served as a radioman in the U.S. Navy aboard an LPD. After his enlistment ended, Keene worked a variety of jobs before becoming a full-time writer. Among them were stints as a foundry worker, truck driver, data entry clerk, dockworker, telemarketer, customer service representative, repo man, bouncer, disc jockey, salesman, store manager, daycare instructor, custodian, and more. In interviews, he credits this diverse background as the key to the characters that populate his books.
Keene has won two Bram Stoker Awards, one in 2001 for non-fiction Jobs In Hell and one in 2003 for best first novel The Rising. He is also the recipient of the 2004 Shocker Award for non-fiction Sympathy for the Devil as well as many small and regional awards.
In 2004 and 2005, Keene spearheaded a Books For Troops program, in which various horror authors supplied free, signed books to American troops serving in Iraq, Afghanistan, and elsewhere around the world. Keene was honored for this in 2005 by the 509th Logistics Fuels Flight Squadron based at Whiteman A.F.B. in Missouri.
In 2006, three stories from Keene's Fear of Gravity were adapted in the graphic novel Brian Keene's FEAR. The stories were "Castaways", "Red Wood", and the award-winning "The King, in: Yellow". In 2008, Marvel Comics announced that Keene would be writing for them. His first project for the company was the four-issue MAX series: Dead of Night: Devil-Slayer. Keene has since gone on to write for DC Comics, Antarctic Press, and others, as well as media tie-in work for Hellboy, Doctor Who, and other franchises.
In 2004, The Rising was optioned for film and videogame adaptations. In 2005, City of the Dead was optioned for the same. In 2006 the short story "The Ties That Bind" was optioned for film, and it had its world premiere on April 4, 2009 at the Garden State Film Festival. In 2009, Dark Hollow was optioned for film by director Paul Campion. Ghoul was made into a TV movie directed by Gregory Wilson and starring Nolan Gould and debuted on the Chiller Network on April, 13 2012. In 2011 "Darkness at the Edge of Town" was optioned, and "Castaways" was optioned by Drive-In Films.
Spy on him at http://www.briankeene.com .
Books by Brian Keene:
The Rising
City of the Dead
Dark Hollow
A Gathering of Crows
The Witching Tree
Clickers II:The Next Wave
Clickers III: Dagon Rising
Alone
An Occurrence in Crazy Bear Valley
DOGCON COUNTDOWN #10
October 20-21, 2012
The first ever DogCon , hosted by Raw Dog Screaming Press , will be part Halloween party, part writer's weekend, part State of the Dog address. This is an invitation only event but if it goes well could be a public event next year!
GUEST SPOTLIGHT - BRIAN KEENE
Brian Keene grew up in both Pennsylvania and West Virginia, and many of his books take place in these locales. After graduating high school, he served as a radioman in the U.S. Navy aboard an LPD. After his enlistment ended, Keene worked a variety of jobs before becoming a full-time writer. Among them were stints as a foundry worker, truck driver, data entry clerk, dockworker, telemarketer, customer service representative, repo man, bouncer, disc jockey, salesman, store manager, daycare instructor, custodian, and more. In interviews, he credits this diverse background as the key to the characters that populate his books.
Keene has won two Bram Stoker Awards, one in 2001 for non-fiction Jobs In Hell and one in 2003 for best first novel The Rising. He is also the recipient of the 2004 Shocker Award for non-fiction Sympathy for the Devil as well as many small and regional awards.
In 2004 and 2005, Keene spearheaded a Books For Troops program, in which various horror authors supplied free, signed books to American troops serving in Iraq, Afghanistan, and elsewhere around the world. Keene was honored for this in 2005 by the 509th Logistics Fuels Flight Squadron based at Whiteman A.F.B. in Missouri.
In 2006, three stories from Keene's Fear of Gravity were adapted in the graphic novel Brian Keene's FEAR. The stories were "Castaways", "Red Wood", and the award-winning "The King, in: Yellow". In 2008, Marvel Comics announced that Keene would be writing for them. His first project for the company was the four-issue MAX series: Dead of Night: Devil-Slayer. Keene has since gone on to write for DC Comics, Antarctic Press, and others, as well as media tie-in work for Hellboy, Doctor Who, and other franchises.
In 2004, The Rising was optioned for film and videogame adaptations. In 2005, City of the Dead was optioned for the same. In 2006 the short story "The Ties That Bind" was optioned for film, and it had its world premiere on April 4, 2009 at the Garden State Film Festival. In 2009, Dark Hollow was optioned for film by director Paul Campion. Ghoul was made into a TV movie directed by Gregory Wilson and starring Nolan Gould and debuted on the Chiller Network on April, 13 2012. In 2011 "Darkness at the Edge of Town" was optioned, and "Castaways" was optioned by Drive-In Films.
Spy on him at http://www.briankeene.com .
Books by Brian Keene:
The Rising
City of the Dead
Dark Hollow
A Gathering of Crows
The Witching Tree
Clickers II:The Next Wave
Clickers III: Dagon Rising
Alone
An Occurrence in Crazy Bear Valley
HEIDI'S PICK SIX: Jo-Anne Mason
HEIDI'S PICK SIX
Jo-Anne Mason
1. Which of your characters is your favorite?
I like them all but I guess my current favorite is Hattie the hermit crab since we have a garden full of them. They wander in and out, some have been coming for years, very social.
2. Tell me about your travels.
I love to travel! Been all over the U.S., Paris is my favorite city in the world but Barcelona is now a close second. Italy, England, Ireland and Belgium.
We love to just get a car and drive around Europe. Also been to Russia and all over the Caribbean. I enjoy the trip as much as the destination.
3. Coffee, tea, or milk?
Coffee, actually Café con leche is my current favorite since a recent trip to Spain.
4. What else can you do besides write?
I am an artist and illustrator and I love to cook and bake. I have my own wood burning pizza oven, if you are ever in Anguilla, stop by.
5. Who are you reading right now?
Moonwalking with Einstein - Joshua Foer
6. Pop culture or academia?
Probably a little of both. I love going into the past and out into space but I also enjoy what's next.
7. What is the toughest scene you ever wrote?
8. Where do you find your inspirations to write?
The Caribbean aside from it's great beaches is a fascinating place. Everywhere I go I find something that amazes me.
9. Food you could eat everyday.
Funny thing about food, you start out eating what you want and you end up eating what you need.
10. Are you into sports or other physical activities?
11. What kind of music speaks to you?
12. Do you outline your stories or do they just take you along for the ride?
I make the story up in my head and then write it down. Then I illustrate to suit the story. Good fun.
13. Celebrity crush.
14. Who are the biggest influences on your work?
Lewis Carroll
15. Do you still watch cartoons?
Everyday.
Jo-Anne Mason (born August 17, 1953) lives on the Caribbean island of Anguilla. Her first book, Paddy The Goat that Saved Anguilla is about a goat who saves the island from a hurricane. Since then she has written about a tricky monkey who lives on the island of Nevis and a hermit crab who lives in Sint Maarten/St. Martin. Her next book due this fall is about a geeko that takes a strange trip. She loves creatures of all kinds, even bugs so she uses them as the characters in her books.
Her books try to capture the spirit of each island and the kindle books contain an additional section about the island and creatures in the story to give the reader information about the Caribbean.
Jo-Anne is a digital illustrator and uses a computer and a digital draw pad to create all of her illustrations.
Find Jo-Anne online at these links:
WEBSITE - www.jo-annemason.com
- http://www.amazon.com/Jo-Anne-Mason/e/B00843H8X2/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1
- http://jo-annemasonbooks.blogspot.com/2012/10/playing-with-numbers.html
DESCRIPTION OF Patty the Goat that Saved Anguilla :
A highly illustrated children's story about a goat on the Caribbean island of Anguilla who saves the island from a hurricane.
- http://www.amazon.com/Paddy-Goat-That-Saved-Anguilla/dp/0982954913
DESCRIPTION FOR The Perfect Shell :
A highly illustrated children's story about a hermit crab who lives on the Caribbean island of St. Martin/Saint Maarten. Hattie's travel to the sea in search of her perfect shell and meets interesting island creatures along the way.
- http://www.amazon.com/The-Perfect-Shell-Jo-Anne-Mason/dp/0982954921
DESCRIPTION FOR Trixy the Monkey that Ate Nevis :
A children's book about a mischievous monkey living on the Caribbean island of Nevis who gets herself into trouble because of her enormous appetite.
- http://www.amazon.com/Trixy-Monkey-That-Ate-Nevis/dp/0982954905
Jo-Anne Mason
1. Which of your characters is your favorite?
I like them all but I guess my current favorite is Hattie the hermit crab since we have a garden full of them. They wander in and out, some have been coming for years, very social.
2. Tell me about your travels.
I love to travel! Been all over the U.S., Paris is my favorite city in the world but Barcelona is now a close second. Italy, England, Ireland and Belgium.
We love to just get a car and drive around Europe. Also been to Russia and all over the Caribbean. I enjoy the trip as much as the destination.
3. Coffee, tea, or milk?
Coffee, actually Café con leche is my current favorite since a recent trip to Spain.
4. What else can you do besides write?
I am an artist and illustrator and I love to cook and bake. I have my own wood burning pizza oven, if you are ever in Anguilla, stop by.
5. Who are you reading right now?
Moonwalking with Einstein - Joshua Foer
6. Pop culture or academia?
Probably a little of both. I love going into the past and out into space but I also enjoy what's next.
7. What is the toughest scene you ever wrote?
8. Where do you find your inspirations to write?
The Caribbean aside from it's great beaches is a fascinating place. Everywhere I go I find something that amazes me.
9. Food you could eat everyday.
Funny thing about food, you start out eating what you want and you end up eating what you need.
10. Are you into sports or other physical activities?
11. What kind of music speaks to you?
12. Do you outline your stories or do they just take you along for the ride?
I make the story up in my head and then write it down. Then I illustrate to suit the story. Good fun.
13. Celebrity crush.
14. Who are the biggest influences on your work?
Lewis Carroll
15. Do you still watch cartoons?
Everyday.
Jo-Anne Mason (born August 17, 1953) lives on the Caribbean island of Anguilla. Her first book, Paddy The Goat that Saved Anguilla is about a goat who saves the island from a hurricane. Since then she has written about a tricky monkey who lives on the island of Nevis and a hermit crab who lives in Sint Maarten/St. Martin. Her next book due this fall is about a geeko that takes a strange trip. She loves creatures of all kinds, even bugs so she uses them as the characters in her books.
Her books try to capture the spirit of each island and the kindle books contain an additional section about the island and creatures in the story to give the reader information about the Caribbean.
Jo-Anne is a digital illustrator and uses a computer and a digital draw pad to create all of her illustrations.
Find Jo-Anne online at these links:
WEBSITE - www.jo-annemason.com
- http://www.amazon.com/Jo-Anne-Mason/e/B00843H8X2/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1
- http://jo-annemasonbooks.blogspot.com/2012/10/playing-with-numbers.html
DESCRIPTION OF Patty the Goat that Saved Anguilla :
A highly illustrated children's story about a goat on the Caribbean island of Anguilla who saves the island from a hurricane.
- http://www.amazon.com/Paddy-Goat-That-Saved-Anguilla/dp/0982954913
DESCRIPTION FOR The Perfect Shell :
A highly illustrated children's story about a hermit crab who lives on the Caribbean island of St. Martin/Saint Maarten. Hattie's travel to the sea in search of her perfect shell and meets interesting island creatures along the way.
- http://www.amazon.com/The-Perfect-Shell-Jo-Anne-Mason/dp/0982954921
DESCRIPTION FOR Trixy the Monkey that Ate Nevis :
A children's book about a mischievous monkey living on the Caribbean island of Nevis who gets herself into trouble because of her enormous appetite.
- http://www.amazon.com/Trixy-Monkey-That-Ate-Nevis/dp/0982954905
October 10, 2012
Event: Countdown to DogCon #11 - Mary SanGiovanni
EVENTS
DOGCON COUNTDOWN #11
October 20-21, 2012
The first ever DogCon , hosted by Raw Dog Screaming Press , will be part Halloween party, part writer's weekend, part State of the Dog address. This is an invitation only event but if it goes well could be a public event next year!
GUEST SPOTLIGHT - MARY SANGIOVANNI
Mary SanGiovanni is the author of the novels THE HOLLOWER (nominated for the Bram Stoker Award), FOUND YOU, THE TRIUMVIRATE, and THRALL, and the novellas FOR EMMY and POSSESSING AMY. Her fiction has appeared in periodicals and anthologies for the last decade. She has a Masters degree in Writing Popular Fiction from Seton Hill University, Pittsburgh, where she studied under Gary Braunbeck, Tom Monteleone, Mike Arnzen, and others. She is currently a member of The Authors Guild, The International Thriller Writers, and Penn Writers, and was previously an Active member in the Horror Writers Association.
Spy on her at www.marysangiovanni.com .
Books by Mary SanGiovanni:
Thrall
The Hollower
Found You
The Triumvirate
Under Cover of Night
For Emmy
DOGCON COUNTDOWN #11
October 20-21, 2012
The first ever DogCon , hosted by Raw Dog Screaming Press , will be part Halloween party, part writer's weekend, part State of the Dog address. This is an invitation only event but if it goes well could be a public event next year!
GUEST SPOTLIGHT - MARY SANGIOVANNI
Mary SanGiovanni is the author of the novels THE HOLLOWER (nominated for the Bram Stoker Award), FOUND YOU, THE TRIUMVIRATE, and THRALL, and the novellas FOR EMMY and POSSESSING AMY. Her fiction has appeared in periodicals and anthologies for the last decade. She has a Masters degree in Writing Popular Fiction from Seton Hill University, Pittsburgh, where she studied under Gary Braunbeck, Tom Monteleone, Mike Arnzen, and others. She is currently a member of The Authors Guild, The International Thriller Writers, and Penn Writers, and was previously an Active member in the Horror Writers Association.
Spy on her at www.marysangiovanni.com .
Books by Mary SanGiovanni:
Thrall
The Hollower
Found You
The Triumvirate
Under Cover of Night
For Emmy
Heidi Ruby Miller's Blog
- Heidi Ruby Miller's profile
- 280 followers
Heidi Ruby Miller isn't a Goodreads Author
(yet),
but they
do have a blog,
so here are some recent posts imported from
their feed.
