Writing Commando

Author, Alethia Brown faces her "Pink Slip" head on

2012-02-19T07:15:00.000-08:00

‘When I find myself in times of trouble, Mother Mary comes to me . . .’. In the case of my next guest, it was not a vision of Mary, but a vision of many, which spurred her on to follow her writing quest. This woman made it through her times of trouble and is helping others to keep the faith and forge ahead. Her message is clear: there will be better days to come.

Welcome to Author Sunday. Today’s lessons: Inspiration. Perspiration. Success. – In that order. Got coffee? Good. Let’s begin. Please welcome the lovely, Alethia Brown.

An author faces many challenges in this day and age. What hurdles have you faced with regards to publishing your work?

The biggest challenge since choosing to take the self-publishing route has been learning all the publishing processes, and building my resources needed to succeed while focusing on completing my manuscripts. Finding a good editor was trial and error for a while. The most important phase for me was finding someone who believed in my projects. I needed someone who could see my potential and help to make me a better writer, possibly even a successful author.

Your difficulties are not solely author-related. You confronted your demons and lived to write the tale. Share with us your reasons for writing ‘Pink Slip – Diary of a Black Author’.

In 2007, while working for a major bank in Charlotte, NC, at the height of my career, I was laid-off.

I struggled with unemployment for over 2 years, falling in the “over qualified zone”. Eventually, my long term unemployment lead to homelessness for me and my daughter. In 2009, while living in a hotel, my daughter almost died due to lack of insurance from a rare strand of the H1N1 virus.

Through my faith and prayer I refused to give up. When I found my inner strength, so did she. After missing over 50 days of school her senior year of high school, she still managed to graduate a semester early with honors.

It was an internal struggle with how I would and could rebuild my life. I’ve written a couple of screenplays and was converting one to a novel at the time of my first lay-off. A friend that helped me during my time of need said she couldn’t wait to see how I would write about my current experiences. First thing that came to mind was “Pink Slip” when I got laid off again after 18 months in Sept 2011,(from the bank)I decided I was going to devote my unemployment free time and limited resources to pursuing my writing career and self-publishing venture and take control of my collective destiny.

I started a blog “Diary of a Black Author”. During the first week, my daughter said “Are you saving the blogs? You know they could be a book later too”, and Pink Slip “Diary of a Black Author” was born.

I’ve always been a motivational life coach for single mothers and homeless Moms. My experiences, coupled with the inspirational tone of my blogs, suddenly all started coming together.

What is most important in your life?

Nothing is more important to me than my 19 year old daughter. The reality of all we lost during my long term unemployment could not be compared to losing her. The houses and cars I can replace. God blessed me with one child and I refuse to allow corporate America to dictate the standard of living we maintain, where we live and how we live. Showing her how to follow her dreams as a path for sustaining success is imperative to me now.

By the Grace of God, she is in her second year of college and on the Dean’s list. That means so much to me every day. Experiences like these open your eyes to what’s most important in life.

Tell us about Mahogany Productions.

Mahogany Productions was born, August 1988,in my mother’s living room with my best friend Andre. I had written my first screenplay Better Days and of course wanted to follow the lead of Spike Lee and a few other black writers in the late 80’s. The sacrifices were many trying to raise funding.

When single motherhood kicked in in 1992, everything else was put on hold. I’m hoping for success in 2012 with my three self-publishing works scheduled for release. There are still a couple of scripts on the back burner that hopefully will finally breathe “film making life” back into Mahogany Productions.

What do you hope to achieve with your site?

My website, Mahogany Productions is merely my corporate internet presence to give my followers a chance to learn more about me and my aspirations as an author (and in the near future as a screenwriter). It will also allow followers to track my book tour and motivational workshops scheduled. My publishing works initially will only be available for purchase via Amazon.com until I can afford staff to assist with inventory in order to allow orders via Mahogany Productions. I am hoping to build a following via Facebook as well.

Here is a sneak peak at Pink Slip – “Diary of a Black Author”:

Pink Slip follows one woman’s journey after her career path was downsized and side tracked during Corporate America’s worse recession. This is author Alethia Brown’s first inspirational non-fiction book documenting her personal account of Strength, Courage and Wisdom of one woman’s journey overcoming adversity after her career path was downsized and side tracked during Corporate America’s worse economic recession. Alethia hopes this book will show that no matter how bad things can get, if you look deep within yourself and find your inner strength and resilience you can learn and grow from whatever situation you are faced with. My Grandmother always use to say “God will never put more on you than you can bare”.
It is so easy to give up when you feel you’ve been knocked down with despair; I can only hope that “Pink Slip” will give someone else the glimmer of hope so that they too can triumph over their adversity. We are resilient beings, follow your heart, live your dream, you’ll be amazed of how much you can accomplish.

Where can we find you?

www.mahoganyproductions.com

Facebook/alethiabrown

www.facebook.com/pages/Pink-Slip-Diary-of-a-Black-Author

What is next for you?

I am currently finishing my 2012 scheduled releases and getting them press ready for printing. On April 14, 2012, my first motivational workshop tour starts in New York at a Girls Empowerment Conference.

My book tour starts in May with a Book Festival in Maryland:

First Release: Been There, Done That! A collection of short humorous stories, will be released in March 2012, Kindle E-book on Amazon.

Second Release: Pink Slip “Diary of a Black Author”, will be released in Spring 2012. This is my first inspirational and motivational non-fiction book.

Third Release: Better Days, Alethia Brown's richly drawn first novel brings to life the undying love one young girl has for her struggling dysfunctional family.

It has been wonderful to meet you, Alethia. You are an inspiration to everyone. Thank you so much for your words of truth and wisdom.

It’s my pleasure entirely. Thank you for this opportunity to discuss what has motivated my recent works.

Author, D.A. Heaton takes on 'The Haunting of Wolfe Haven'

2012-02-12T07:21:00.000-08:00

When an author bares their soul, the pages produced carry remarkable weight. When readers take notice, this weight increases remarkably. My next guest not only helps others with life’s difficulties, she writes about her own.

Author Sunday welcomes, D.A. Heaton as she opens up the doors to her life and The Haunting of Wolfe Haven.

For the past twenty-five years, your career has been in the field of social work and therapy, specializing in behavior modification. Is writing your source of therapy?

When you work in any therapeutic environment, you run the risk of taking the job home with you. Once you cross that line, your own mental health is compromised. I discovered long ago the importance of balancing my professional life with a fulfilling personal life. Reading has been a part of my life since I was introduced to it as a child.

My writing sprung from that interest. When I leave the office each day, I utilize the drive home to resolve any lingering issues from work. When I pull into my driveway, I shed the work day and pull on my writing cap. When I’m writing, I focus only on that and whatever else might be going on at the home front. This has helped me balance out my life and by doing that, I’m a better therapist.

You serve on your local Library Advisory Board and promote early childhood literacy in your community. Do you have a memorable childhood moment you would like to share?

Growing up, I was one of six children and my parents were not wealthy. They encouraged all of us to utilize the local library as a recreational source. I took that invitation to heart and visited my community library every Saturday following chores. That was, in essence, my reward for completing all of my responsibilities that week.

Upon entering the library, I felt a sense of awe that each book sitting on the shelf was an adventure that I had yet to live. I read everything and each page turned became an experience I was living through the eyes of the main characters.

To this day, my mother swears that I was the library’s greatest patron. She can still recall stories from my childhood when no one could find me until they called the librarian and verified that I had been sitting all afternoon curled up with a book in a corner. I believe that access to all those wonderful books inspired me to finish school and pursue a career, and eventually to write my own book.

Libraries, librarians, and books showed me that my life didn’t have to have boundaries—that I could be anything I wanted to be. That’s why I joined my local Library Advisory Board when the opportunity presented itself. I hope to help preserve this amazing institute for generations to come. Our children are our future. They will grow into future doctors, teachers and leaders. I’m willing to do anything to help them realize that their lives don’t have to have any boundaries either.

What inspires your writing?

There are many things that inspire me. I live in the desert and enjoy getting up early every morning to watch the new day begin. Just imagine watching as dawn breaks over the distant mountains. The skyline is suddenly ablaze with light, the golden glow stretching all the way across the desert until it touches you. The warmth of the sun on your face is like a caress—and right there, you know what a beautiful day it’s going to be!

Clearly, nature inspires me whether it’s watching the day begin or end or tracing a colorful rainbow to its end after a storm. I’m also inspired by the people that cross through my life, each of them reminding me that life has its ups and downs, its blessings and its burdens. But in the end it’s really all about how we as individuals stand up to the trials and tribulations that really defines us and our lives.

And children—I can’t bypass children. Children are such amazing creatures. They accept us along with all our faults and imperfections. I find that I discover some of the most insightful ideas and strategies while looking at life through the eyes of a child.

As a member of the International Women’s Writing Guild and Paranormal Romance Guild, what is the best piece of advice you’ve been given?

Hands down, the best piece of advice I’ve been given is - Never give up; there are no short cuts to success; try, try, and try again. I’ve made that advice my writing motto. If I make an attempt at a project and get no where with it, I take it apart, look at what I did, and ask myself, “How can I change that to make it better and make it work?” And then I try again.

Your novel, The Haunting of Wolfe Haven, won a bronze medal in Forword Review’s Book of the Year Award in 2010. Has this honor changed the way you approach your writing?

When I entered the book in the contest, I didn’t allow myself to think about how it would do. I just set the matter aside and pretty much forgot about it. Just prior to the awards ceremony, I received a message from the staff at Foreword Review specifically asking me if I planned to attend the ceremony. At that time, I was planning the trip but at the last minute was unable to do so. I was speechless when the award arrived quietly in the mail. There’s a standing joke in my family, “Debbie medaled, but didn’t stand on the podium.”

Did the award change my approach to writing? I think if anything, it gave me more confidence in my writing. I hung the medal so that I could see it from any angle of my desk. When I’m at my computer and in doubt about where I’m going with this character or this storyline, I just look at the medal and I’m reminded that I did do something right or the book would have been passed by.

How did, The Haunting of Wolfe Haven, come to be?

The manuscript underwent many changes in its journey to becoming a novel. Amidst its creation, my younger sister became severely ill. There was more than a year of hospitals, ICU rooms, ventilators, emergency rooms, and doctors. Add to that, the prognosis was not good and I found myself taking on more and more responsibilities while my mother struggled with the reality that she may very well outlive her youngest child.

I kept my focus and sanity by concentrating on the manuscript as much as possible. It helped me to relieve some of the stress and stay composed during this difficult time. There were several times when the doctors candidly told us that they did not expect my sister to survive. After hearing this more times than I care to repeat, I made changes in the manuscript because I wanted a part of her to live on beyond just in the hearts of those who loved her.

My sister has a lifelong fascination with wolves. I changed the family name to Wolfe and created the topiary garden in the image of a wolf pack, for her. The story is about ordinary, quirky, imperfect people who made mistakes during their lives and who fight hard to redeem themselves for a second chance at what they lost. That is truly an assessment of my sister’s life. She made some poor life choices that impacted her health, bringing her to the brink of death more than once. By the grace of God, my sister survived and is currently “reinventing herself,” having learned from her mistakes. The book was truly inspired by the path my sister chose in her own life.

As far as the paranormal/supernatural flare goes, I grew up in Albuquerque, New Mexico which is rich in paranormal happenings. I can't think of a time when I wasn't reading or listening to a ghost story. It seems perfectly natural to me to include the supernatural in my own stories.

Here is a sneak peak of The Haunting of Wolfe Haven:

Riley Russell is gorgeous, smart, and successful. Walking out on her marriage three years ago, she carried her broken heart with her while leaving her husband behind. Tristan, as handsome and accomplished as ever, is planning a wedding—his own in fact—but first he must divorce Riley. To save her broken heart, Riley must confront her feelings for Tristan, his family, and his haunted ancestral home, Wolfe Haven. Together, they must navigate a minefield of secrets and mysteries, including arson, betrayal, and murder. Coming to grips with things that go bump in the night, Riley must be careful or she may fall prey to enemies that are closer than she thinks.

Where can we find you?

You can find me on my website; follow me on Goodreads and the Library Thing, as well as on twitter and Facebook.

Website: www.debbieaheaton.com

Twitter: authordebbie@twitter.com

Facebook: www.facebook/DAHeaton

(Note: Facebook page is under DA Heaton)

WordPress:http://thehauntingofwolfehaven.wordpress.com/

(My blog covers a variety of topics including: my writing, answering questions for those interested in pursuing a writing career, and answers to domestic violence questions)

What is next for you?

I always envisioned, The Haunting of Wolfe Haven, as the first in a series I tentatively call the “Haunting series.” The sequel is currently under construction.

Thank you, Debbie. I appreciate you taking time from your busy schedule to appear on Author Sunday.

Thank you so much for inviting me to be your guest. I’ve really enjoyed answering the questions for you.

(Please let us know if you liked today’s interview. We would love to hear from you.)

Author, Tamara Lowery rides her 'Waves of Darkness'

2012-02-05T07:29:00.000-08:00

“Arrgh! Have you ever been to sea, Billy?”

I can’t even begin to count how many times my dad said those words when I was a kid. He would laugh. I would groan. It was a time when Vincent Price ruled the late night realm of horror and his movies were labelled as classics. They still are - at least in my opinion. Vampires and pirates; two entities my next guest embraced and lives to tell their tale.

Welcome to Author Sunday and the tales of Tamara Lowery.

You majored in journalism at Chattanooga State. At what point did the desire to switch to an author of fiction take over?

The first time I thought of myself as an author was in my late teens to early twenties, when I started writing the saga of one of my junior high and high school alter egos. The seeds of my desire to write were planted in junior high. At first, I thought my path was through journalism, specifically newspaper journalism. After getting my Associates degree reality dealt that dream a harsh slap. I didn’t have a high enough degree, any experience, or the financial stability that would allow me to work as an intern for the experience. I still pursued writing fiction, but with no clear focus or direction. For nearly two decades, my writing lay dormant. The writing bug finally bit again around 2001 with fan fiction. I was reminded how fun it was to write.

Adventure, horror and paranormal fantasy are included in your writing genre. You have recently added Steampunk to the list. How did “everything old” become new to you?

The blame for that lies firmly with one of my Plurk friends who goes by the screen name Tanarian. She shares Girl Genius, a Hugo-winning web comic by Phil and Kaja Foglio. Because of her and her RP and discussion group, I finally found out what Steampunk was.

While I was wondering how to revamp some old story ideas and/or characters, it occurred to me to give one a Steampunk twist. In high school, I’d had an assignment to take a nursery rhyme or fairy tale and rewrite it. I’d chosen The Three Little Pigs and had made it a space opera. (I was really into Star Wars at the time.) This has now been rebooted as The Adventures of Pigg & Woolfe, a Steampunk serial. It’s nowhere near complete enough to start shopping it, but I have written two episodes, so far.

Your novel Blood Curse was nominated in the ‘2011 Preditors and Editors readers poll’ for horror. Congratulations! How has this recognition affected your writing?

It hasn’t changed how I write. What it has done is changed a facet of how I market Blood Curse, which ranked #7 at the final tally. I was honored and surprised to be nominated, let alone have my debut novel place so highly.

The first in the Waves of Darkness series, how long did it take you to write Blood Curse?

Counting initial research before I started writing, I spent about 14+ months on the first draft. I am currently writing the fifth book in the series. The books have averaged about 11 months each, since most of my writing is done during work breaks. I’m not sure how long Hell’s Dodo will take, since I am dividing my writing time between it, The Adventures of Pigg & Woolfe, and a stand-alone YA fantasy titled A Dream of Water.

I read and reviewed Blood Curse. I’m not a vampire/pirate sorta gal, but you had me from page one. I’m hanging on for the rest in the series. What inspired you to write the tale of Viktor Brandewyne?

I brainstormed the Waves of Darkness series with my husband. He brought up that, at the time (2005-2006) while vampires were still popular and pirates were becoming popular, no one seemed to be combining the two. Of course, since I started writing the series in 2006, “vampirates” have been popping up all over the place. Long story short, Viktor’s story went through several transformations before I settled on the course it now steers.

Here is a sneak peak at Blood Curse:

Known as Bloody Vik Brandee, Viktor Brandewyne had a reputation as a bloodthirsty pirate. The world would soon learn just how bloodthirsty he had become. Thanks to the vengeful curse of a powerful witch, he had become a vampire. However, since he was cursed rather than bitten, he was not vulnerable to daylight or holy items. As curses went, he didn’t think it was all that bad, until Mother Celie, his foster mother and a witch in her own right, informed him that the curse would eventually destroy him. Now he finds himself in a race against time to find the seven Sisters of Power and gain some of their magic in order to survive the curse. He is aided in his quest by Hezekiah Grimm, his first mate, Belladonna, a siren and sea witch, and Lazarus, a creature that is sometimes a cat and sometimes a raven.

Where can we find you?

My author bio is available on Gypsy Shadow’s website: http://gypsyshadow.com/TamaraLowery.html#top

I can be found on Facebook at http://facebook.com/#!/profile.php?id=100001147240611&ref=tn_tnmn and http://facebook.com/pages/Waves-of-Darkness/209264812443773

I am also on Plurk a LOT at http://plurk.com/Viksbelle

Finally, I have a much neglected blog on Netlog at http://en.netlog.com/tamaralowery

My book trailer can be found here: http://youtu.be/k67QHiYAEA

What is next for you?

The second book in the Waves of Darkness series, Demon Bayou, will be released by Gypsy Shadow Publishing this October. There is no cover art, yet, but I do have a blurb for it:

Viktor Brandewyne’s search for the second Sister of Power leads him to the bayou country near colonial New Orleans. Along the way, he has his first encounter with vampires not made by him, as well as running afoul of smugglers. The black waters of the bayous hold their own danger, as well. An ancient demon guards the way to the Sister. Worse, the siren, Belladonna, begins to die in the swamps. Should Viktor return the siren to the sea or continue on to the Sister? Without magic from all the Sisters, he won’t be able to break the curse that has made him vampire before it destroys him. Without Belladonna, he cannot find the Sisters.

Thank you so much for taking time away from the sensually dangerous Viktor, to share with us today. It’s been a real pleasure, Tamara!

Thank you for having me, Lee-Ann.

(As always, we welcome your comments! Thank you for supporting Author Sunday.)

'Love And Liberty' - My latest ebook with Gypsy Shadow Publishing

2012-01-31T17:13:00.000-08:00

My latest ebook is now available through my fabulous publisher, Gypsy Shadow Publishing as well as various other locations including Amazon, Barnes and Noble and Smashwords.

Captain Dana Jenkins of the United States Army is about to embark on a mission that will change her life. This isn’t Dana’s first deployment, but it is proving possibly to be her last. As part of the platoon traveling from Camp Liberty, Iraq to Camp Taji, Dana’s convoy gets ambushed. She and the surviving soldiers are taken prisoner by the merciless Iraqi rebel group, Al-Moofoona. Their only hope lies in the hands of their fearless leader, Captain Jack Parsons—the man with whom Dana has fallen hopelessly in love.
Captain Jack Parsons can only sit and watch as what is left of his platoon is ordered into the back of a truck. Along with his men, they’ve taken the only woman he’s ever allowed to penetrate his heart. Jack is going to do everything in his power to save them all before it’s too late.

If you do end up buying it, please drop me a line and let me know what you think!

www.gypsyshadow.com/Lee-AnnGraffVinson.html

http://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-loveandlibery-677065-144.html

www.amazon.com/author/leeannvinson

Author, Sheila Deeth and her 'Flower Child'.

2012-01-28T23:41:00.000-08:00

     My apologies for not interviewing another fascinating author last Sunday. All work was halted for four, snow-filled days. Yes, you read right. Snow. Not only did Vancouver get hit, but we had a nice dump of the fluffy-whiteness for our brief holiday in the interior.

    My daughter, now almost eight, managed to ski her first full day up at Silver Star Mountain. She loved it and came back with rosy cheeks to accompany her sore bum. Frosty and Crystal were built from much too dry snow with the help of my four-year-old son, and looked more like blobs than snow people.

    Crazy carpets and sleds zoomed down the one-hundred foot, curved driveway at Grandma and Grandpa’s house to the road below, skidding to a stop before the threat of danger appeared.
    Even our dog, Louise, got in on the action. Her nose buried deep in the snow, ferreting out sleeping bunnies or deer poop. It was Family-time.

Someone else who knows the value of family time is my next guest. A mother to three boys, this woman knows the meaning of family and time. Most days, it is hard to work both into busy schedules. Somehow, she managed not only a family, but a career as well.

Today, I welcome Author and Mathematician, Sheila Deeth. You all know how much I adore getting to know my fellow authors better. We are much like long lost relations. Sit a spell, sip on that coffee, and get ready for a little Author-Sunday, family-time.

With a BA and Masters in Mathematics from Cambridge University, how did you wind up with the addition of “writer” to your resume?

That’s a good question. Actually I’ve always wanted to be a writer, ever since I learned to talk, but I think I liked the sense of being in control in math—knowing what I’d done was okay ’cause the answer was right. Perhaps that just means I lacked confidence in my writing. But the stories kept piling up in my head and I should’ve known they’d have to spill out sometime.

You grew up in England and now live in the United States. What do you miss most about your birthplace?

Family’s definitely what I miss most—mine and my husband’s, parents, siblings, aunts and uncles… they all live in England. Of course, our sons have all grown up in the States so now, wherever we go, we’ll always miss family somewhere else.

You run a local writer’s group. What made you get started and how has it helped you as a writer?

I joined the writers’ group when a friend saw an ad in the paper. We meet in the local library and it’s neat to get together with people who think telling stories is normal. We run monthly competitions, have regular group critiques, and listen to some really good speakers—local authors, editors, and other friends and family. I sort of ‘inherited’ the group when our fearless leader moved out of state, but I’m not very organized (or fearless) so we all benefit from having a team who arrange speakers and keep things on track.

You have self-published as well as gone the route of publishing company. What advice can you give to authors about the pros and cons of each?

I’m not really sure I’m qualified to give advice but if I had to I’d probably repeat that Nike phrase—‘just do it.’

Self-publishing wouldn’t have been my first choice, but it forced me onto the internet, gave me something to do (besides eat chocolate) when rejections came in, and it helped me focus on working out what I really wanted. After meeting lots of other authors on the internet I had more confidence and a much more effective list of publishers to submit to—even two that said ‘yes.’

You write fantasy, time travel and sci-fi books as well as doing book reviews and short stories. Which is your favourite to write?

I think my favorite’s always whatever I’m writing at the time. I’ve read lots of advice about branding yourself and choosing one specific genre to write in, but for me that’s like saying I can only read books from one shelf of the library. I want to read something from every shelf—even if my sons do say that proves I have no taste.

Your latest book, published by Gypsy Shadow Publishing, is entitled “Flower Child”. How did you come to pen this book?

Flower Child started from a prompt at the writers’ group. They said to write something inspired by music, and the first piece that came to mind was John Denver’s Rhymes and Reasons—especially that line, “the children and the flowers are my sisters and my brothers.” I put it together with a childhood memory of imagining babies grew from seeds in heavenly fields (strange child I was) and started writing. By the end of the first paragraph Megan had appeared and was telling her story. Then Angela took over on the second page. The question of what happens to unborn children comes from my own experience of miscarriage, so I guess Megan and Angela were ‘born’ inside me, waiting to come out.

Here is a peak at flower child:

When Megan’s first pregnancy ends in miscarriage it feels like the end of the world. Instead it’s the beginning of a curious relationship between the bereaved mother and an unborn daughter who hovers between ghost and angel.

Where can we find your work?

I finally created a website just for my books at http://sheiladeethbooks.com

but if you’re looking for my book reviews, blogs, facebook pages and all those other strange things, you might try my about-me page:

http://about.me/sheiladeeth

What is next for you?

My first novel comes out in paperback with Stonegarden in July 2012. It’s called Divide by Zero and it’s about the tapestry of lives in a modern subdivision where one man’s world is falling apart. I’ve just started working on a sequel, Infinite Sum.

Thank you so much for being my guest today, Sheila.

My pleasure, Lee-Ann. Thank you for inviting me.

(Thoughts and comments on Author-Sunday interviews are always welcome. We love to hear from you!)

My Review of 'Psyche's Prophecy' by Ann Gimpel

2012-01-17T22:33:00.000-08:00

Living out her daily life as a psychotherapist, Dr. Lara McInnis advised her patients on various conditions and ailments. Her days revolved around therapy sessions, teaching psychology classes at the local university, Trevor, her long-time lover, and her motherly secretary, Arabel. Her life was stressful, busy and mundane.

When Lara agrees to give marriage counselling to a couple, the mundane becomes insanity. Disgruntled about the advice she gives to his wife, Lara becomes the target of a killer, and all around her, the city she’d lived in for years, begins collapsing. Power outages become almost daily occurrences. Food and fuel shortages skyrocket, and riots increase throughout the states.

Then there was “the dream”. Lara, Trevor, and a few of Lara’s students had experienced its unsettling message. Upon dissecting it’s meaning, the conclusion raised was the spectre of death -- the earth was not going to last and neither was their civilization.

Lara enlisted the help of Lillian, a paranormal psychic, who guides her in her answers. Fairies and old world legends are where Lara finds her salvation. She also learns of her true self and gains the support she needs to strengthen her abilities. Her spirit force works in dreams, and she has much to learn if she is to overcome the demons.

Author, Ann Gimpel takes us on a fascinating journey of the origin of life and the possibility that humans are simply unknowing inhabitants of a greater world. The characters are endearing with their list of skeletons, and they befriend you as you follow their plight. Book One of ‘The Transformation Series’, ‘Psyche’s Prophecy’ is an intriguing story with a paranormal edge. I look forward to the reading more from this descriptive, insightful author.

Lee-Ann Graff-Vinson, Author of Callie’s Fate, Love’s Trust and Georgia’s Smile

Author, Chris Gande talks about his "Section Eight"

2012-01-14T21:03:00.000-08:00

“Sunday, Sunday, Sunday. Get your copy of Author Sunday here!” I know, a bit dramatic. Hey, we are authors, it’s expected. This intro is fitting for my next guest though, however theatrical it may be. Author and reporter, Chris Gande makes his living giving us the news of the world and he does what any good author does, he takes his experiences and creates fascinating fiction. Follow along as Chris takes us on his life’s journey, one which reads much like a suspense novel itself!

Welcome, my friend. It is so nice to finally get a chance to interview you.

You started your career as a journalist. Tell us about your experiences there.

I started my journalism career in Zimbabwe in 1990. The die was cast in 1983 when, at the age of fourteen, I published my first short story in a local magazine, Parade. However, I’d set my mind on being a journalist at the age of twelve. I sent a letter to the editor of a daily newspaper and it was published. Seeing my name in print inspired me to nurture a career in this noble profession.

When I was ten, my father asked me what I wanted to do when I grew up. I told him I wanted to be a journalist. “Journalist?” he asked, seemingly confused. “Why don’t you want to be a doctor, a teacher or something like that?”

I understood his perplexity. He had never seen a journalist. I did not have a ready answer for him then. As time went by, he would only shake his head in amazement as he saw me rise from a poor freelance reporter to a fully-fledged career journalist.

You now live in Washington, DC, and work as a reporter for the Voice Of America (VOA). Tell us about our experiences writing for this multimedia broadcaster funded by the U.S. Government.

In 2003, The Daily News, a highly popular newspaper I worked for was bombed by suspected government agents for its outspokenness. (By the way, working for this paper had been something like being a soldier; dodging secret agents, being sued and threatened always on watching my back.) Jobless, I looked for a job as stringer for the Voice of America, and got it.

In December 2003, I narrowly escaped death when I was involved in a high speed car chase by unidentified men who nearly forced my car over a bridge. It was such a big relief the following year when I was invited to come to the United States and work for VOA where I’m now based.

The switch over from a newspaper journalist to a radio journalist was not easy. There is not much writing in radio, but plenty of talking. I was not sure whether I had a broadcast voice because I never envisioned myself behind the microphone, only behind the pen.

Working for the Voice of America has been quite an exhilarating experience. The organization is probably the biggest multimedia syndicate in the world, boasting more than fifty radio and television stations.

Your interest in writing has led you to take a course on film-making. You have also written your first script. How difficult has it been for you to go from novel writing to script writing?

I have an insatiable appetite for writing and, I mean writing. It really does not stop with writing news stories. I also have a passion for writing novel scripts. It does not stop there, I also write movie scripts.

Your first novel, Section Eight, is self-published. Can you tell us why you went this route?

Section Eight is a self-published novel by Author House because I did not feel like waiting for regular publishers when I had a big story burning to be told.

Why did you feel the need to write Section Eight?

My first and only novel so far, Section Eight is a story that is based on the land acquisition program in my native country, Zimbabwe. The story was inspired by my work as a journalist in Zimbabwe at a time when the government was forcibly redistributing land from whites to the blacks.

I extensively covered the story for The Daily News, and also free-lanced for a host of other news organizations during this time. Some white farmers were killed and the country, once known as the breadbasket of the Southern African continent, became a basket case.

I did not want to tell the story as a hard news kind of thing, so I enmeshed these events with a love story in which the daughter of a white farmer falls in love with the son of a black government minister.

I narrowly escaped assaults (and worse) during my coverage of the farm invasions. I felt a need to tell the story with more than the mere news stories that I diligently filed for newspapers and news agencies.

Here is a peek at Section Eight:

Jane Bowman, the daughter of a white commercial farmer, falls deeply in love with Themba Moyo, the son of a government minister. The pair’s love affair faces still resistance from both families, but tragedy strikes as the affair manages to tear down the racial barriers. Jane’s father’s farm is acquired by the government and the tension of the pulsating story is heightened by his daughter’s affair with Themba. The story is inspired by true-life situations in the land reforms of Southern Africa’s, Zimbabwe. The murder, rape, mayhem and racism that accompanied the program displaced whites from their farms and reduced some of them to paupers.

What is next for you?

I always want to tell a story as vivid as I can, so mere words have not been able to satisfy my writing thirst. As a result, I have been dying to tell my stories in pictures and movies.

As I write this blog, I’m in the threshold of completing a BFA in film-making. This is my final year of a four-year-old course. It is my sincere hope that when I’m done with this course, I’ll turn my novel into a movie.

I have also completed a movie script called Dr. Sevantez, which is based on the origins of HIV and why it has killed more blacks than whites. The logline of the story reads: A group of US domestic terrorists out to avenge the death of Osama Bin Laden kidnap a virologist and force him to reconfigure the HIV virus so that it kills more whites.

This script is in its final edit and will be sent out to Hollywood executives in the next couple of months. My fingers are crossed.

Where can we find your work?

Contacts: email chris@gandemania.com

Facebook: facebook.com/gandex

Twitter: #gandex

Website: gandemania.com (under construction)

Book available here: http://www.amazon.com/Section-Eight-Chris-Gande/dp/1420814079/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1326485064&sr=1-1#_

Thank you so much for taking time out of your busy schedule to share your work with us today. I wish you all the success in the world with your future endeavours!

(Please feel free to comment on today's interview. We would love to hear from you!)

Author, Elizabeth Ann Scarborough's divine "purrrr-fections"

2012-01-07T20:33:00.000-08:00

Welcome, my friends, to Author Sunday. Today, my guest is a woman who knows the meaning of the words survival and ingenuity. A former Army nurse, Elizabeth Ann Scarborough has written over thirty-eight novels since embarking upon her scribing journey. Her success is in her drive to forge ahead and not be afraid to write outside the box.

Grab a coffee, sit for a spell, and find out more about the enchanting, Ann Scarborough.

You have penned many a novel over the years. Is there a particular work that is most dear to your heart?

Over the last 30 years I've written 38 novels originally published by Bantam/Doubleday/Del, Penguin/Putnam and also (with Anne McCaffrey) Harper Collins and Del Rey.

When my solo books went out of print, I was always careful to have the rights (to the books) the publishers had published reverted to me so that I could re-sell them if the chance presented itself. With the advent of e-books and print on demand, the opportunity is knocking the door down so, like many other authors, I converted print copies of the books to digital files, made or had covers made, and began putting them up on Amazon.

Gypsy Shadow has published them on as many of the other sites as possible and recently have published an original novel, SPAM VS THE VAMPIRE, and an anthology of my short stories about cats (also written over the last 30 years) called 9 Tales O' Cats.

All of my books are dear to my heart in one way or another. It's sort of like trying to pick your favorite child. I also have four books re-published with e-Reads. Those include my 1987 Nebula Award winner, The Healer's War. I guess that one is the one closest to my heart because it's the most personal, being a fictionalized (and slightly fantasized with a bit of magic) account of my experience as an Army nurse in Vietnam.

For some authors (I include myself here), going back and re-reading their first published works can cause headaches and cringing. Do you ever go back and re-read your earlier works?

My first published novel was SONG OF SORCERY, a humorous quest fantasy about a hearth witch and a minstrel going to seek the witch's half-sister, the lovely Lady Amberwine who's gotten herself into a spot of bother. I re-read it and all of my other work available as e-books when I edited them for re-publication. I was pleased at how well they held up over the years. SONG OF SORCERY and its four sequels have been favorites of lots of fans over the years and some people even named their kids after my characters!

Genres abound in your writing. You produce a mix anywhere from Gothic to Sci-Fi Thriller. Do you have one you particularly like to write?

Officially I write what is now often called speculative fiction but is usually referred to as science fiction/fantasy.

I am much more on the fantasy end of the spectrum, though writing with Anne McCaffrey involved a lot more science fiction. Fantasy itself has sub-genres and I think I've hit most of those, including gothic with LADY IN THE LOCH set in Edinburgh at the time of Burke and Hare and Deacon Brodie (the models for "The Body Snatchers" and "Dr. Jeckyll and Mr. Hyde.") and magical realism with THE HEALER'S WAR, NOTHING SACRED AND LAST REFUGE.

Mostly my work has some humor to it, a bit of mystery and I hope suspense, and much of it has a deeply researched historical background.

Is there an experience you’ve been through which you believe improved or added to your natural ability to write?

I think all of my experience is included, has been included or will be included in my work at one time or another.

I've always wanted to write but realized at one point that I lacked the life experience to create "middles" of my books, because the middle of a book is basically the problem-solving part and, as a kid, I hadn't solved very many problems. All I had to offer for plots was re-done TV shows.

So nursing, being in a war, living in Fairbanks, Alaska in the woods, caring for cats, everything has been grist for the mill. I didn't start writing until I was 32 and felt I had enough experience to have a viewpoint.

Cats appear quite often in your books. Have you always loved these furry felines or was there a particular moment bonding their fate with yours?

I've always loved them. I had cats when I was a kid but truly began to appreciate them when I got my first cat, Thundercat the Wondercat, as an adult. Since they are great individualists and their personalities are entirely their own, they're extremely interesting friends to have, besides being elegant and beautiful and often humorous.

Tell us about your latest release?

Well, the most recent is the short story anthology 9 TALES O' CATS which is just that--9 short stories about cats I've written over the years for other anthologies about cats. Most of them were composed for the Cat Fantastique series edited by two influential figures in science fiction/fantasy circles, Andre Norton and Martin H. Greenberg. I'm sorry to say that both of them, as well as my friend Anne McCaffrey, have now left the planet.

My anthology, 9 TALES, like SPAM VS THE VAMPIRE, my original novel for GSP, features cats in pivotal roles. Guinevere's cat tells us about the fall of Camelot, an archaeologist's cat does a little chore for the Egyptian cat goddess, Bast, to secure the safety of the human, another cat helps the old soldier hero of "The Twelve Dancing Princesses" discover the princesses' secret. And in four stories, Mu Mao the Magnificent, a cat character I originally introduced in my post-apocalyptic novel LAST REFUGE, helps other cats through the trials of life after life.

Here is a look at Ann’s latest release with Gypsy Shadow Publishing, Spam VS. The Vampire:

Spam and the other cats at website designer Darcy Dupres’ house are frantic with worry. Darcy walked out the door two (missed) wet meals ago and didn’t return or send anyone else to look after her beloved furry friends. The other cats think that she has abandoned them, but her office cat and (unbeknownst to her) protégé, Spam, suspects darker forces are at work. Darcy’s last project was helping a suspicious character who called himself Marcel de Montreal with a dating website for vampires and the women who dig them. Darcy thought Marcel was playing and besides, he paid her a lot of kitty litter to design the site. But before she can finish, the self-proclaimed vampire announces that he is coming to visit, and Darcy disappears. That and the–duh–black billowy figure with the white face and red eyes peering through the window seem like a dead giveaway to Spam. Using the computer knowledge he learned at his human’s side, Spam escapes to the world beyond his home to find Darcy and save his family. When the other cats are rounded up and hauled to the shelter, Spam’s only allies seem to be a hungry raccoon, some friendly deer, observant otters and the fact that Marcel happens to be allergic to cats.

Since the book is told in first person by Spam the cat, I consulted my "co-author," K.B. (call me "Kittibits") Dundee, for an authentic feline viewpoint. Since he was much more attractive than I am, his picture appears on the back of the book instead of mine.

Where can we find you?

My work is available online at the usual outlets such as Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble, Smashwords, etc. and also from our mutual publisher, Lee-Ann, Gypsyshadow.com.

I have all of the books and links to buy them listed on my own website: http://www.eascarborough.com

It is easiest to buy the print on demand copies of SPAM VS THE VAMPIRE and 9 TALES (the only two POD's thus far since the others have seen previous print lives) from Gypsyshadow.com. They have made arrangements for the lowest shipping costs to readers all over the world. Autographed copies are best ordered through me, I suppose, and I will acquire one from GSP, sign it, and send it out.

What is next for you?

In the immediate future, I wrote a long (11,450 words) story over Christmas about Spam's first Christmas called "Father Christmas." I've always wanted to write a Christmas story that was NOT a take-off on A CHRISTMAS CAROL (I did a book like that for Putnam/Penguin, the one book I do not have the reverted rights for, CAROL FOR ANOTHER CHRISTMAS). "Father Christmas" is about Christmas from the viewpoint of Spam and his fellow cats (and catpire Rocky), the deer and raccoon introduced in SPAM VS THE VAMPIRE as well as an owl. In this story, Spam protects a young mother cat and her newborn kitten throughout the night before Christmas.

I am also well into the first part of Spam's second purranormal mystery, SPAM AND THE TOUR BUS OF DOOM. I plan to follow it with a 4th book in my GODMOTHER series, originally published by Putnam/Penguin. I think the world in its current state really NEEDS the Godmother to return. There will be LOTS of toads in this one.

It is such a pleasure to host you, Ann. Thank you for sharing your world with us.

Thanks for sharing your blog with me, Lee-Ann.

(If you liked today’s Author Sunday, please feel free to leave a comment. We would love to hear from you!)

My Review of 'The Good Servant' by Doug Lucas

2012-01-03T12:06:00.000-08:00

“A man is judged by his actions, not his words”. Eli knew his beloved Camels had a firm grip on his breath as well as the remaining days of his life. He was a man who had done more than his duty. A man who knew he was dying and wanted peace for his family. He was providing it the only way he knew how – by coming clean.

Part of Alpha Company, the 1st squad of Weapons Platoon, 1st Battalion, 1st Marine Division when he was sent to Vietnam, Eli became quite familiar with the acronyms BOHICA and FUBAR, and knew he was now well beyond the latter. His family was about to get answers to their ageless questions. He only hoped God would grant him enough time to complete one last mission. He wanted time to explain what Hoa Cam Hue was and had meant to him when he was later assigned to a program that allowed him to really meet the people of South Vietnam. He tells his family about the JAC, CAC, CAP program in an effort to show why and how it affected the rest of his life.

Seldom does one come across a novel of such lingual magnificence and caustic humour wrapped so effortlessly beneath a bow of divine sarcasm. The Good Servant is a story that will beseech your every emotion. Author, Doug Lucas pries off the emotional gates of his characters and places them in your hands. Your heart will ache. Your voice will be heard as you laugh out loud. The character of Eli will stay with you long after you read his last words. Mr. Lucas is a phenomenal storyteller. My words to you, Sir, are “Well done, good and faithful servant”.

Lee-Ann Graff-Vinson, Author of Callie’s Fate, Love’s Trust, and Georgia’s Smile

Author Ann Gimpel gives us her "Psyche's Prophecy"

2012-01-01T08:10:00.000-08:00

You know, when I was a kid, there was a television show that took place in the 25th century. Then there was the ever popular sci-fi action film The Terminator, which came out in 1984 and took place in the year 2029. It was all about the future. I remember wondering what the world would look like, what I would look, like that far into the future. I mean, I would be really old by then, right?

Welcome to January 1, 2012, only a mere seventeen years away from when the cyborg assassin was sent back to kill Sarah Connor. I don’t feel really old, but there are still a few years to go until 2029. The point I’m trying to make is, where does the time go and why am I not watching it more closely? Why do I always feel like I’m playing catch-up in a never ending game of Life?^TM

One bright spot in the frantic pace of Life, however, is Author Sunday. The day we all get to sit down together, our little cyber family, and read about a fellow writer hard at work, and taking on her wildest dreams.

Today, I welcome the very lovely, Ann Gimpel, Ph.D.

Clinical psychology is your domain. What have you learned about yourself since embarking upon this profession?

A whole bunch of things I’d rather not have known!

Seriously, to be a therapist means you have to know yourself well enough to not let your agenda get in the way of what your patient needs. The way most of us do that is by spending many hours with our own therapists. Most reputable graduate schools actually require that their Ph.D. candidates in Psychology receive a minimum of sixty hours of personal psychotherapy. Because my interest has been in depth psychology and dream analysis, I spent literally hundreds of hours coming to terms with my shadow side and integrating it—or most of it anyway. We are all composites of dark and light. The dark (shadow) is not necessarily “bad” unless we try to bar it from consciousness.

What I learned about myself is that I’m an introverted intuitive who leads with my mind. What that means in practical terms is I am way too comfortable being by myself. Part of my personal work has been forcing opportunities for socialization so I don’t forget important aspects about being human. On the plus side, I have a great deal of compassion and a good grasp of clients’ presenting problems. Because I’ve done this for so long, I often know much of what someone is trying to tell me before they’re done finding the words. That’s one of the plusses of having a strong intuitive nature.

As a follower of the Carl Jung philosophy, you believe in the process of integrating the opposites of the conscious and unconscious. Do you feel your writing is more expressive using your conscious or unconscious? Is it the combination of both that achieves your most memorable work?

It’s not so much that the conscious and unconscious minds are opposites. The analogy I like best likens the mind to an iceberg. The conscious part is the little, tiny bit sticking up above the waterline. The unconscious is the great, hulking mass beneath. For those who spend time in any sort of psychotherapy, one of the primary tasks is bringing parts of the unconscious to light. We cannot control—or come to terms with—what we do not recognize as a part of ourselves.

Writing is an interesting experience for me. When I’m lost in a story, I’m truly there living it. I get lost in the imaginable world and god help the poor hapless family member who needs me to do something practical—like come up with something for dinner. I’ve started my day for years with an hour’s meditation. (I get up at five to work it into my day.) When I’m in the midst of a story, I find I fall immediately into the story when I meditate. It is often within this meditation hour that I find the answers to where my plot is going next. Or, I discover an incongruity, or something I need to fix. I’ve even found out about a character’s death.

So, to answer your question, writing for me is mostly unconscious process. I use the conscious side of my mind for editing.

What brought you along to your current path of penning novels?

Stories ran about in my head for years during long backcountry trips. My husband and I are mountaineers, so we do a lot of backpacking, climbing, ski mountaineering and other pursuits that translate into hours, days and weeks of solitude with a pack on my back. It was either after Labor Day 2008 or 2009 that I got back from a trip to climb Bear Creek Spire. A tale had begun weaving itself together, like many had before. This time I did something different, though. I sat down at the keyboard and began giving shape to the story line. Three months later I had a 550 page novel (yup, 170,000 words!). Of course, it wasn’t very good. But it was a start. I wrote a sequel that was nearly as long. Then I began writing short stories to try to garner some name recognition for myself.

My third novel, Psyche’s Prophecy, was picked up by Gypsy Shadow Publishing in the fall of 2010. In the last two years, nine of my short stories have been accepted for publication in a variety of webzines/anthologies. I’m happiest when I have a story in my head. Thankfully, the ideas keep on rolling.

You own wolf hybrids. Have you had to adapt to become a part of the pack?

These hybrids definitely march to their own drummer. I’ve had dogs since I was three years old, from Schnauzers to Shepherds. They all put me front and center. The wolves put themselves first. My husband and I are sort of auxiliary pack members.

They also know exactly what they want. When Kaniq was six weeks old and brand new to our home, I put him in a crate in the kitchen like I’d done for every other puppy I’d ever had. He cried so piteously all night, the next night we didn’t have the heart to try to put him back in the crate he’d hated. So we barricaded him into the kitchen. Well, this eight pound puppy managed to drag himself over a four foot wall. I found him curled up next to our door in the morning. Finally, I got the picture. In his lupine mind, packs sleep together. I moved the crate next to our bed, popped him inside it and, voilà. No more problems.

As a finalist in the 2012 EPIC eBook awards for Psyche’s Prophecy, do you find your approach to writing has changed?

It has over time, but not because of my finalist status for Psyche’s Prophecy. I’ve learned to infuse way more action into my books than I did at first. Book characters have to be larger than life, yet human enough for readers to identify with them. It’s a fine line. Too “large” and characters come off as plastic and unbelievable. Sort of James Bond to the nth degree. Too run-of-the mill and readers get bored. That first novel I wrote moved at a pace I can only describe as glacial. And sometimes it was unclear if the glacier was advancing or retreating. Like any craft, writing takes time and dedication.

Psyche’s Prophecy, published under Gypsy Shadow Publishing, is Book One of The Transformation Series and Book Two, “Psyche’s Search”, has just been released. Where did the idea to write this series materialize?

As you know, since you read Psyche’s Prophecy, the protagonist is a psychologist. People always ask me if I’m like Lara. Heh! Wish I was. What I mean by that is I wish I was psychic and had a direct line to Celtic magic with someone like Lillian or Raven to mentor me.

It was convenient having a psychologist as a protag, though. Because it’s my vocation, I think I was able to write convincingly about the day-to-day life and challenges of that profession. Believe me, I’ve read plenty of novels about a variety of topics where it’s clear to me the author knows next to nothing about their subject and were too lazy to put in the time to research things.

My ideas come from the imaginable world. I get glimpses of a scene and sit down and start writing. The scene that came to me that kicked of the Psyche books was Beauchamp lying in wait for Lara on the porch of her office building. The rest unfolded as I sat at my keyboard.

I belong to an online writer’s group, Other World’s Writer’s Workshop. Every year they sponsor a Book in a Week challenge where you write as much as you can of a book in a week’s time. That was the beginning of Psyche’s Prophecy. I got close to 50K words done. They got slashed and re-written half a dozen times, but it’s easier to fix something I’ve already written than to come up with brand new material.

Here is a peek at Psyche’s Prophecy:

What if your psychotherapist could really see into your soul? Picture all those secrets lying hidden, perhaps squirming a bit, just out of view. Would you invite your analyst to take a peek behind that gossamer curtain? Read your aura? Scry your future…?

Classically trained at the Jung Institute in Zurich, Doctor Lara McInnis has a special gift that helps her with her patients. Born with “the sight” she can read auras, while flirting with a somewhat elusive ability to foretell the future. Lara becomes alarmed when several of her patients—and a student or two—tell her about the same cataclysmic dream. Reaching out to the Institute for answers, Lara’s paranormal ability sounds a sharp warning and she runs up hard against a dead end. Her search for assistance leads her to a Sidhe and ancient Celtic rituals blaze their way into her life. Complicating the picture is a deranged patient who’s been hell bent on destroying Lara ever since she tried to help his abused wife, a boyfriend with a long-buried secret and a society that’s crumbling to dust as shortages of everything from electricity to food escalate.

Where can we find you?

www.anngimpel.com

http://anngimpel.blogspot.com

www.amazon.com/author/anngimpel

www.facebook.com/anngimpel.author

On Twitter, I’m @AnnGimpel

What is next for you, Ann?

Psyche’s Promise, last book in the Transformation Series, is complete. I need to do at least one more round of edits. Probably more like two or three once my publishers get a look at it. Terry Brooks wrote a book on writing called, Sometimes the Magic Works. He says he makes an outline, writes the story, edits it once and he’s done. Ha! I’d be happy if I could turn out a credible novel with four rounds of edits, rather than the six or so it takes me right now.

I’ve begun a new Young Adult dystopian novel. I’m about halfway done with it. I think it will be a standalone, but I’m not sure of that. Depends if I can work in everything that needs to be there in another 40K words.

And I will keep writing short stories. It’s a different skillset. I’d like to get at least three or four more stories accepted during 2012.

Thank you so much for taking the time to share your life and love of writing.

And thanks for hosting me on your blog

(We would love to hear what you think of this interview. Please leave us a comment!)

Merry Christmas to the "Fierce and Unforgiving Muse" of Mr. Gregory L. Norris, Author

2011-12-25T07:19:00.000-08:00

Well, here we are, December 25, 2011. This is a day of peace and happiness. A day to spend time with loved ones, see a child’s face light up in delight at the gifts Santa left under the tree, and relax. You’re done. You made it. And whatever you didn’t get done, bought or baked, who cares? No one knows but you and me. And I will never tell.

Today is also “Author Interview Day” on Writing Commando, a day which is very special to me. Sunday is the day that authors from across the globe (well eventually all the way across) appear on my blog with answers to all kinds of questions about themselves and their experiences. It is a day of connection, a day of harmony. And yes, a day of peace and happiness.

So, you could say this day is my Christmas. I just get to have it once a week instead of once a year. This is the day where I sit back and relax. The week is done and I made it. Now, it’s time to enjoy my family and friends, the authors who have become a part of my world by agreeing to appear here, with me, for you.

I cannot think of a more suitable writer/author/personality extraordinaire to appear with us today, than my next guest. This man has more publications and experience than you can shake a stick at. He is giving, instantly likeable and quite jolly. I daresay he could give Father Christmas a run for his money.

Merry Christmas, Mr. Gregory L. Norris.

As a writer with thousands of publications to your credit, do you remember a particular piece being seemingly impossible to write?

What a great question, Lee-Ann. I had the extreme pleasure of interviewing Leonard Nimoy some years ago for the Sci Fi Channel’s magazine. Mister Nimoy gave fabulous answers, was a delight to speak with – during that period in my life, I interviewed and met all of my childhood icons, stars of all the TV shows I grew up with, Nimoy included.

Laid out on a long library table were various projects to be completed, which included short fiction, a novel, a script, and various article transcriptions, including this Nimoy interview, which always got shoved aside in favour of something else more demanding. It seemed to be there every single day, staring at me. Glaring at me. I got so unnerved it languished for so long, I eventually wrote an intro and put it to bed as a Q & A just so that it could go to the magazine, when that style of interview wasn’t as popular as it is now.

At the other end of the spectrum, just last month, Suzanne Robb, a lovely editor working with Wicked East Press, wrote to me desperate for a short story to fill a key position in the anthology she has edited, Read The End First. Read contains twenty-four short stories, each set in a different time zone; each chronicling a different apocalypse scenario. The writer expected to deliver a particular time zone, time, and place dropped out at the last minute. Did I have anything hanging around, set in Islamabad, at midnight, regarding the end of the world? I did not, it turned out…but by the end of the day, I did have an idea. I wrote “The Midnight Moon” in an afternoon, tore through edits on the computer, and had it to her a full day earlier than her deadline.

Luckily and happily, I have more instances akin to the latter than the former.

You contribute to various magazines and newspapers. Do you have a preference toward writing for one or the other?

I have contributed a lot of nonfiction writing over the years to various newspapers and magazines – the aforementioned Sci Fi, Heartland USA where I wrote sports and adventure stories for almost fifteen years, the Boston Herald, Cinescape, Soap Opera Update, and the now-defunct gay men’s monthlies put out by Specialty Publications out of Los Angeles, among others. Thousands of individual feature articles and interviews, and I am not kidding you when I say that. But I most prefer fiction, and am entirely focused and passionate about that facet of writing now.

I am trying to live the literary life I always wanted – up early, coffee at the ready, a clean and welcoming desk, a clear point to jump into whatever story draft or multiple projects I expect to work on, the surprise of unexpected writing adventures popping up at the Muse’s spontaneous whim. I try to write a minimum of ten fresh longhand pages a day, plus whatever editing responsibilities await me on the computer.

“On Writing” by Stephen King is one of your favourite writing tools. What is the best advice you’ve gleaned from his extensive knowledge?

One of the best things that book extols is a permission slip to be a writer, without apology. I love that about “On Writing,” which is why I have read it twice yearly since 2004 when I first treated myself to it. I also love that the book doesn’t coddle; it preaches that if you aren’t serious and don’t make writing a priority, fine – there are others who do and will, and they’re the ones who will succeed.

Your credits also include storylines for Paramount. Describe your experience writing for a series.

I got vetted into the pitching pool at Paramount for Star Trek: Voyager by interviewing the cast and crew for various articles in Sci Fi, specifically creator and legend, Jeri Taylor. It took quite a long time of learning the ropes, learning to pitch story ideas for a show I was not on staff at, but whose characters I loved. Eventually, I broke through and created the episodes that became “Counterpoint” and “Gravity” in the fifth season, two of the series’ favorites. I was so green, I didn’t know a lot about contract minutia (Paramount’s freelance contracts are some twenty pages long and in microscopic fine print). I didn’t know about ‘Notice of Tentative Credits’ – which wasn’t sent to me anyway until after the two episodes had aired. It was a learning curve, but a fairly wonderful one, all told.

I pitched to Star Trek: Enterprise, and was also recommended to Andromeda by Majel Roddenberry, the late creator’s wife. One of the Andromeda pitches was nearly assigned as an episode, but Executive Producer Bob Engles, who took over at the end, had only so many episodes to assign, and freelancers came at the end of the list.

By the way, Kate Mulgrew, who played Captain Janeway on Voyager, considers me one of the top writers she’s ever worked with and recently penned the cover blurb for my newest book, which is due out shortly. Her blurb is brilliant!

Lunar Scientific Research Organization – tell us more!

LSRO…

That’s an insignia patch worn on uniforms in the second season of Gerry Anderson’s brilliant outer space epic, Space:1999.

At ten years old, I sat cross-legged on the living room floor of the enchanted cottage where I grew up near the big woods of Windham, New Hampshire, riveted by the first episode of 1999, in which Earth’s moon is launched out of orbit in a thermonuclear accident, taking the 311 men and women of a lunar colony with it into the dangerous reaches of unexplored space. After it aired, I was so smitten that I picked up my pen and notebook and wrote my first short story about the courageous denizens of Moonbase Alpha. It and the fan fiction tales that followed are still archived in the top drawer of the first of two lateral drawer filing cabinets in my writing room.

That little LSRO nod on my Facebook Page is directly aimed at my horrible high school experiences. I was miserable throughout my three and a half years there, and quit in December of my senior year – I once got detention for writing in class. In my defence, I was possessed by the Muse and at a moment of high tension in a story that couldn’t wait for the bell to ring. I wrote during detention. By my junior year, I had amassed 100 completed short and long stories, including a novel or two that stand up decently when I go back from time to time and scan their pages, considering that they are juvenilia from a very formative period in my life.

So yeah, I learned more about characters, dialogue, humanity, and life in general from Commander John Robert Koenig (Martin Landau), Doctor Helena Russell, Professor Victor Bergman, et al, than in any real school. I read Space:1999 paperbacks, developed a decent vocabulary as a result. And, as an adult, I got to meet the cast and interview quite a few of them for Sci Fi and other publications, including Landau for The X-Files Movie. Mister Landau didn’t offer many one-on-one interviews during that time. I’m one of the lucky few.

Your latest work, The Fierce and Unforgiving Muse: Twenty-six Tales from the Terrifying Mind of Gregory L. Norris, sounds quite intriguing. Tell us about it.

This is a monstrous collection of original fiction, short and long, for Evil Jester Press – who offered me my own book of stories. It is a very terrifying progression of stories, some literary, some pulp, set not only in this time, this place, but in various eras and locations across the globe, including Abydos in Ancient Egypt, the Carpathian Mountains in World War II, and Afghanistan, December 2001, right after Tora Bora was bombed.

I turned the book in ahead of the deadline when it was at a then-staggering 100,000 words and contained a baker’s dozen stories, the short and the long. My editor read through what he had and offered me an additional 100,000 words, basically doubling the size to create a gargantuan beast of a book. I have since been working feverishly to craft the right complimentary material for the collection, which ends on an unexpected note: a romantic novella with dark overtones.

What else do you have in the works?

I am finalizing edits on my M/M Rock & Roll erotic romance, The Duke and the Deadbeat, for Ravenous Romance, and was recently contracted by Renaissance Books for the first of several releases (my short story “Foodie” is set to appear in their A Lover’s Feast: Sensual Food Tales). I’m also writing a novel for Ryan Thomas at Grand Mal Press, an up-and-coming independent publisher who has featured several of my novellas and short stories in his front list. That novel, The Zoo, is next on my to-finish list.

Where can we find you?

I opened up a small blog at www.gregorylnorris.blogspot.com, my own little slice of real estate on the Web, and have gotten some massive hit counts since. I advertize new releases there, talk about my personal experience regarding the writing life, selectively review books, and interview publishers.

I’m also easy to find on Facebook:

http://www.facebook.com/people/Gregory-Norris/100002853549887

What is next for you?

2011 is about to end on a very high note – I’ve written more than seventy short stories, novellas, and a novel this past year. 2012 is going to be a return to an emphasis on paranormal and erotic romance, my favourite genres, as well as a continuation of my darker material.

I have certain bullet points I want to achieve with my career and am working diligently at maintaining a level of quality in my writing, as well as expanding my readership. I am enjoying the freedom to write and create at a level I’ve never known before 2011, and want that to continue into the New Year and far beyond.

I have a very demanding and seductive Muse; I love to write, and hope readers will feel that emotion in my work. I write to live, live to write.

Thank you so much for letting us into your world, Gregory. You truly are a man to be admired.

Thank you, Lee-Ann!

As always, comments are welcomed. Please leave a comment and let us know what you thought of today's interview! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you all!

Author R.Y. Swint tells it like it is from "The Other Side Of 30"

2011-12-18T07:44:00.000-08:00

Do you know what I love the most about Sunday? I get the privilege of interviewing some of the finest writers around. Today is no exception. R.Y. Swint is a Sergeant in the United States Army, has written and published her first novel and just recently started her own publishing company. Regina Swint is a woman I greatly admire. After reading what she has to say about her life thus far, I strongly believe you will too.

Ladies and gentleman. . . Regina Swint.

When did you decide you wanted to become an author?

     Although I’ve always loved writing, I didn’t decide I wanted to be a published author until I started college. I haven't always wanted to be an author, but I've always been a dreamer, full of ideas and thoughts bumping around in my head. But in college, that’s when becoming a published author started to seem like a possibility for me. My writing classes excited me, and my instructors and classmates energized and motivated me.

     Growing up, I just enjoyed writing and telling stories, but I never considered publishing any of it for the masses. It’s kind of a cool thing to be out there for public consumption, though. I would love for people to buy my book(s), since most of profits go to charity, but more than anything, I just want to be read as much as possible, by as many people as possible. I hope people who read my book(s) will share them with lots of other people. I feel validated by readers, and how they respond to my work. I love all feedback. Making money is nice, but as long as I'm getting read, I'm happy.

The path you chose is not an easy one. As a Sergeant in the United States Army, you have seen your share of strife. How do you deal with your grief and anger?

     I just returned from a deployment in Afghanistan. Some parts were very hard to deal with. I spend a lot of time praying and meditating. One thing that keeps me as close to sane as possible is writing down my thoughts. I know that sounds cliche or typical for any writer to say, but it’s true. Some parts of being a soldier are great; but it’s a job and a lifestyle that requires a lot from you, and it will take a lot out of you. Writing is my refuge, and I thank God for it. It's also kind of cool seeing light at the end of the tunnel. Knowing I can retire in Summer 2014 definitely keeps me on track.

New Renaissance Ink is your newest venture. Tell us about it.

     I had this idea about starting the small publishing house, New Renaissance Ink (NRInk) publishing short novella-style works, just a few titles a year, with a portion of the profits for each book going to charity (40%), a portion to author royalties (50%), and a portion back into expenses of running the business (10%). NRInk’s first title, ‘Up from Here,’ planned for release late this fall, is a collaborative work from about 10 contributors, of stories, poems, pictures, drawings, and inspirational prose, that will be sold 100% for charity. The ‘Up from Here’ project came about because I wanted to get together with other artists and authors to do something that served the community as well as serve my love for the writing craft. I’m hoping that doing so will give the NRInk publishing house and brand some credibility and momentum, and will pave the way for future works by me and other authors.

     I also hope to release what I’m calling Partial Audio Books, PABs, from NRInk. These will be CDs with specially chosen chapters from each book, with a musical soundtrack from not-yet-well known, but very talented artists. The PABs will provide customers the opportunity to sample our wares before purchasing the completed work. I’m planning to release the 2nd Edition of my own novel, 'The Other Side of 30,’ with the NRInk imprint. ‘The Other Side of 30’ will be our first PAB, kind of like our test case. I was going to give away PABs to my guests at my book release party for 'The Other Side of 30,' but time got away from me, and I deployed before I could get it completed.

     I first got the idea for New Renaissance Ink from a couple people in my blogging circle, back during the MySpace days. I was reading a lot of really good blogs, some of which included really good poetry or very eloquent, thought-provoking prose, and I commented to one blogger, “Enter, the New Renaissance,” as a compliment to her. I told her that she was among the generation of writers who would/could revive the Harlem Renaissance in the 21st century. Later, another friend and I were chatting about starting a publishing company. Immediately, I knew I wanted to call the publishing house New Renaissance, but the domain name and company name was already taken by another publisher.

     Then, while I was deployed, I started saving money and thinking that I could possibly make a go of it. I got a domain name, built a website, started a FB page, a Twitter page, a LinkedIn page, hired an attorney, hired an editor, got accounts with a printer and to buy ISBNs, and applied for a trademark.

     Sometimes, it all feels like a tremendous undertaking, but I’m trying to take it slow and get it right. Right now, I’m just taking baby steps, what I call, “short, deliberate steps” to pull it all together. Doing lots of research and learning as I go, still, from other writers and publishers, mostly. But I feel like if I do something that will help other people, that God will be pleased and that He will continue to bless this project. If it takes off, there will be lots of other special projects in the works to follow, including a calendar, a scholarship and an internship program. So many thoughts! The website is www.newrenaissanceink.com, and there’s a little more information there.

“In Her Shoes”, a novel by Jennifer Weiner, is one of your favourite novels. Why?

     It was such an effortless and easy read. I immediately loved the style of writing. I loved the voice of the characters. The writer’s work reminded me of something I’d like to publish. I read the book before the movie came out, and the people who portrayed the characters in the movie fit my mind’s description.

Down time is precious. How do you spend yours?

Besides writing, I get an inordinate amount of sleep. I really love sleep. It’s terribly under-rated, in my opinion. And I’d like to think that I get some really good ideas in my dreams and in states of semi-consciousness.

“The Other Side Of 30” is your first self-published novel. Is the idea of it based mostly on fact or fiction?

     The idea for ‘The Other Side of 30’ was based on some situations I’d witnessed and a few people I know, but the story is completely fictional. I haven’t spent a lot of time trying to publicize or market it due to the deployment right after its publication. I hope to do more publicity and marketing work for it, soon.

     It started out as a short story and just grew from there. When I was on MySpace, I shared some of it with friends, and they encouraged me to stop waiting for an agent or publisher to accept me, and to do it myself. Since I didn't know a lot about true self-publishing, I researched some POD (Print-on-Demand) publishers, and finally chose Booklocker.com. I'm super pleased with how it worked out; but as I mentioned, for my re-release, I plan to truly self-publish it with NRInk. Again, using my own work as the test case.

     It seems to be well-received for the most part, but I do feel like some readers may be resistant to it, possibly because of the lifestyle and choices of the main character, Sebrina Cooper, the "other woman"/homewrecker" villain. With so much about cheating going on in people's current life situations, in people's history, and being blasted all over the news as reasons for divorces and relationship breakups of celebrity couples, I'm not sure if people are ready to like this book, regardless of its quality.

     I knew I wanted to write a story with an imperfect/very flawed anti-heroine, because so many stories out there already have the perfect and strong types with all the right answers and smart decisions; but I found it a little bit of a difficult story to tell because it’s such an unpopular subject matter, told from the perspective of the “other woman.” I tried to make her sympathetic, but it’s hard to pull that off when people have usually already passed judgment on the character, and by extension the story, before even reading it. I tried to write the character honestly and without my own personal judgments creeping in, so that she would seem realistic. I hope I was able to do that. I hope people will give it a chance and share it with others

In any case, as long as people think the writing is good, then I'm fine with them disliking the character. Something about that is pretty flattering, because I’d feel like I did a good job of drawing a character who provokes thoughts and brings out emotions from the readers.

“The Other Side of 30” is one of my favourite books, and not because I know the author. I didn’t get to know Regina until after I’d read her novel. I fell in love with her writing style and honesty about life in the real world. Don’t take my word for it though, read for yourself:

Sebrina Cooper is about to turn 30 years old and has nothing to show for it. Sure, she has a good career in the Army, and a good reputation, but the rest of life seems to have passed her by, until one of "the few and the proud" walks through the door in the form of an ex-boyfriend, her first love, the man she almost married 10 years earlier...but is now soon-to-be married to another woman.
What starts as a one-night stand sparks into a complicated affair when Sebrina and Curtis decide that one night wasn't enough, despite his marriage and the military's strict rules against adultery. When Sebrina accidentally meets and befriends Curtis' wife, Andra-Lyn, she finds her head and heart tumultously conflicting, her better judgment constantly embattled with her biological clock. For Sebrina, the good girl-gone-bad, knowing better isn't always doing better, and the view from the other side of right isn't so clear...on the other side of 30.

The Other Side of 30 is a fictional first-person narrative, set in Atlanta, Georgia, during a two-year time period just before and shortly after September 11, 2001.

What is next for you, Regina?

     Well, I have so many thoughts to sort out. I’m taking myself on a Caribbean cruise for Christmas to do some relaxing and idea-sorting, and maybe some snorkeling. I will be writing my first donation check to the Army Wounded Warrior Program, The Wounded Warrior Project and the Armed Forces Retirement Home early next year, from the proceeds from ‘The Other Side of 30’ from September 2010-December 2011.

     As well, I’m trying to finish my revisions on ‘The Other Side of 30,’ and prepare the ‘Up from Here’ pieces for the editor, so that I can get those projects rolling for release by this fall. I’ve got several book reviews that I need to complete ASAP. Then, I have to pay very close attention to what my attorney and my accountant tell me are the best moves for the publishing house, so that I can publish more works by the end of the year. I have one non-fiction work in mind, but so far, it’s just notes. I have three new authors I’d like to work with this coming year, and I just entered a short excerpt of a Young Adult (YA) novel into a contest, mostly for the brain exercise and feedback. I’ve never written YA, so it’s a new territory for me.

Where can we find you?

     You can find me all over the web at, www.ryswint.com, www.facebook.com/ryswintauthor, on Twitter @NRInkSpot, on LinkedIn as R.Y. Swint, on www.SheWrites.com as Regina Y. Swint, and on my publishing house website, www.newrenaissanceink.com.

     You can find ‘The Other Side of 30’ at www.booklocker.com, on any online site, such as Amazon or B&N, and at your local bookstore by request. I also have a bio/profile posted on Amazon.com with my book.

Thank you so much for sharing your time with us today. And a great big thank you for all you have done and continue to do for your country. You are a truly inspiring woman.

      Thank you, Lee-Ann for allowing me to be a part of your blog. Thank you for all the kind words of encouragement and support. You’re pretty great, and I’m glad to be fortunate enough to call you my friend. (Right back atcha, Regina! J )

We would love to hear your feedback. Please feel free to leave a comment.

Author, Gary Starta's Sci-Fi Kingdom

2011-12-11T07:50:00.000-08:00

Author, Gary Starta is a man who has made science fiction his dimension. Now, Gary is branching out to the future of the criminal mind. ‘Follow along for a journey into a wondrous land whose boundaries are that of imagination.’

Gary, you began as a journalist. What brought your path to pen novels?

It was a very long path, I must say. Years ago, I started out from college as a newspaper reporter. I always wrote in that style, whether it was penning feature stories or articles about town meetings. It was a far cry from creative writing. I think, although I always loved fiction, I was intimidated. So a few decades later, I met someone who encouraged me to get back into writing. I didn’t really want to continue as a journalist, so I took the plunge and attempted a fictional short story. That completed, I began what I thought was my next short story. It turned out to be a full-length novel. Since then, I have written about a dozen novels. I do prefer the novel to short story, but that’s just my preference.

Science Fiction is your realm. How do you reach beyond the dramatic to create such fantastic characters and dimensions?

You have to keep yourself inspired by reading the genre and also watching it, whether it is movies or television. I also keep my eye on science and the latest discoveries. Theoretical science is fantastic. It posits the unthinkable can happen, and the best thing is it can’t be dismissed because ‘in theory’ it could transpire. Theories which suggest our DNA makeup is changeable are quite fascinating and great springboards for stories.

Your novel, ‘Gods of the Machines’, published under Gypsy Shadow Publishing (my fellow publisher), was a top ten finalist in the 2010 Preditors and Editors Readers Poll in Science Fiction. (Congratulations!) Do you feel that recognition has made you push yourself harder?

I know it has given me hope to continue writing in this genre because there are readers out there who enjoy it as I do. Ultimately, it always comes down to the writer and the piece of paper. You must be inspired and willing to write with you as your own motivator, creator, editor and publicist.

Myopic is your most recent release with Gypsy Shadow Publishing. Tell us a bit about how you came up with the idea for it.

I actually got this idea from reading a newsletter about the discovery of a new life form in our oceans a few years back. When I found out some life is so small you need a microscope to detect it, I came up with the idea that a near-sighted author might come upon a nearly invisible form of alien life because of his sight restrictions. Since only he can see it, he must convince the world, including his new EPA scientist girlfriend, this alien life actually exists and they bring a warning to our world: Go green or else.

Here is a look at the top ten finalist, ‘Gods of the Machines’:

Detective Sam Benson, a native New Yorker, is brash, opinionated and candid. Transplanted to work on Earth’s first colonized planet, he envisions a relatively peaceful job. But Benson’s ruthless nature might bring it to the brink of annihilation when a series of murders begins. He suspects a non-human is responsible—an android who once shared engrams with a psychopathic human. However, the detective doesn’t know other non-humans once called his new world—theirs. And as Benson obsesses with making a case against the android, he is oblivious to their return and the reason why they consider machines to be their gods.

What is next for you?

My next release is also with Gypsy Shadow. It is a departure from science fiction, a crime/mystery novel called Kindred Killers. A detective suspects a private eye of being a vigilante. Yet forensic clues are sparse. He now must find a way to stop the killings with the aid of his CSI girlfriend. I hope to have this published in early 2012.

Where can we find you?

For info visit my website:

http://www.garystarta.net

To follow my sci fi fan page:

http://www.facebook.com/GaryStartaSciFiFanPage

To follow and guest post on my blog

http://www.networkedblogs.com/blog/gary_startas_writers_blog_a_forum_for_novelists/

Thank you so much for being my guest today, Gary. It has been a pleasure learning more about your world.

You’re welcome. I appreciated the chance to talk about my writing, Lee-Ann.

Author Snjezana Marinkovic was 'Born In Sarajevo'

2011-12-04T08:23:00.000-08:00

Ah, Sunday. It has quickly become my favourite day of the week. Why? Because I get to interview incredible authors, such as Snjezana Marinkovic - woman who experienced life’s atrocities and lived to tell the tale.

Welcome, Snjezana it is an extreme pleasure to host you today.

When you moved to the U.S., you studied criminal justice. At what point did you decide to become a writer?

Writing was not on my forecast (even though, it first appeared with rain and it still often comes with it). This journey of words, papers, erasers, a few acceptances and many criticisms and rejections, started for me when I was twelve years old. As Alice, I stepped into Wonderland and here I am still searching, seeking, and more than ever enjoying every step of it. In a world full of disconnectedness I was lucky to find something to reach out to people, and that’s what writing is for me.

What would you describe your greatest strength to be at this point in your life?

Crossing barriers -- from war barricades to different languages, cultures, beliefs, and many other “borders.”

Who inspires you?

People. Especially when they rush to collect more of material goods while forgetting that inside of them are things that matter most. Love, peace and those little cells which defend our systems from that “enemy” cell. What else is needed? Pen and paper certainly for me (I will not mention keyboards because they belong to those material goods too).

You have done several readings over the past few years. Do you find them difficult to do?

As mentioned earlier, I like to connect with people. It is interesting, but when you are able to make an eye contact with your audience and you realize that at that particular moment they are not doing anything else but listening to you, your thought appears to be much richer, and more beautiful to you.

In 1996, you were awarded the Lazne Prize for Literature. In 2006, you won third place for your poetry. You’ve written poems, short stories, and now have a published novel with my fellow publisher, Gypsy Shadow. As an accomplished author, what advice can you give those just starting out in their writing careers?

I think we all have our own tactics and tools in this process of “shelving” our creative thoughts with different ideas. This as well applies to the stage when we are presenting our work to people other than our family and friends. Don’t be discouraged when someone says your “baby” has big ears, funny eyes, and her words make no sense. Anyway, you are a writer you are not suppose to frame rejection letters you receive in your mind, rather hang them on your walls so they can bring a smile on your face on that day when your qualities are recognized.

Tell us why you decided to write ‘Born in Sarajevo’.

I started writing ‘Born in Sarajevo’ when I was able to retrieve from my memory some of my writing which was burned in war. Fortunately, I was even able to remember some of the dates. I guess because I was somehow trying to prove to myself that my life existed before I found myself in the middle of havoc.

Here is a sneak peak at ‘Born in Sarajevo:

When first barricades and first gun shots occurred in the capitol of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Sarajevo, I was seventeen years old. It was the year 1992, and one of the worst mass killings in the history of mankind began. At that time, my family, my friends, my neighbors, and I were still unaware that we will lose all privileges related to peace. People of this country, which was called Yugoslavia, proudly holding the title of the biggest and the wealthiest Balkan country, started losing their freedom, their homes and their lives. I, as any other teen, knew about war only from movies and video games until my first encounter with those whose intention was not to act or play but to overpower, destroy and kill.

Here is the link for the trailer:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tkTOkjqRLF8

Where can we find your latest achievements?

You can find me at my blog: http://hopepost.blogspot.com/, my Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/BornInSarajevo , as well as at Twitter @pjesnik. I just love this virtual world. Recently, a couple of my articles were published at: http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Snjezana_Marinkovic

What is next for you?

I am finishing my two books. Both of them fit under the roof of criminal justice. “If” deals with domestic violence. “Just Point At Him” is a true crime story about a man whose voice, after eleven long years, reached the Innocence Project of Texas, and me, to write his story with my hope to knock at a door of ignorance and pierce through the silence that surrounds it.

Thank you so much for allowing us into your world, Snjezana. It’s been my extreme pleasure to host you today. I wish you every success in the world.

Thank you for coming into my world and visit again I am always open to share a word, unless you see that big sign “Don’t disturb, I am writing.”

My Interview with former Marine, now Author, Doug Lucas and 'The Good Servant'

2011-11-27T08:01:00.000-08:00

As many of you know, (or can tell by my blog title) I believe in giving back to the brave men and women who serve in the Military – to the Warriors who go into battle and give unfalteringly of themselves so that we, the civilians, can sleep safely tucked into our beds at night.

If you are a parent, you know what it is to give of yourself. It is just what you do for your children -- without question. Warriors take it to the next level. They give to us all. Forever.

Today, it is my extreme privilege to introduce to you a man who served his country and made it back home to tell the tale. Here to talk about his newest release with Gypsy Shadow Publishing is retired Marine, husband, father and author, Mr. Doug Lucas.

Doug has written a series of novels based on his experiences as a Marine. As I type this, only the first in the series has been published. As an author who has read some of the unpublished works, I will tell you this. A writer who has the ability to tear me away from my children and capture my mind in such an unyielding fashion, rendering me helpless to put their work down until I’ve read every last word, is one I will continue to read for as long as they publish. Doug Lucas is such an author.

I have rambled on long enough. Ladies and Gentleman, I present, Mr. Doug Lucas…

Doug, as a retired United States Marine, you saw a side of life many will never understand. Now, as a writer, how do your experiences shape the way you handle your characters?

The people I met while a Marine were men and women of honor. They understood what some today seem to have forgotten. Respect must be earned and with privilege comes responsibility. I believe that Marines in the past, those of today and our future members understand these facts. Marines have a love of family, God and country that allows them to recognize there are some things worth dying for.

Do Marines trip and fall? Sometimes, (normally involving bars and adult beverages) they do. I want the characters I write about to have all the warts and humor of real people. I also hope to show some of the honor and dedication I've encountered over the years.

I’ve tried to show people just what the men I met were really like. Most of you know them, you just don't know about them. Some of these men may not have been Marines, but in spirit they are brothers. They don't sit around telling the world how brave they are, or how hard it was to give you two, three, or four years of their lives. They gave you their time for a myriad of reasons, but they gave.

In a world where the term hero or honorable is attached to those who degrade the accomplishments of others, these men and women live their lives in quite anonymity. Take a second look at your grandfather, father or brother who gave you the gift of their time and recognize true honor.

For those of you who had a family member who served in Alpha 1/1 or the JAC, CAC, and CAP programs, you now know the war stories they will never tell you. You might note that it's not exactly the same as you've been told by others.

These were (and are) men who truly deserve to be honored. (You have done them just that, Doug)

Rejections are commonplace in the field of writing. How did your first rejection change the way you approached your writing?

I didn't start off to write and publish a book. I started writing for the very reasons that are the foundations for the character C.W. Burwell in the book Buzz Words.

I've retired twice in life - once from the Marines and once from the State Police where I worked as a civilian doing forensic video analysis work. After retirement the last time, I did buy a small computer and did intend to do some forensic work for a few small PD's in our area (and it did get just slightly out of hand quickly).

She Who Shall Not Be Named claimed I should have discussed the small purchase with her and felt like I was attempting to commit suicide by working myself to death. Therefore, I agreed to stop doing free work. I stress that it was my choice, fear in no way influenced my decision.

Then someone kept complaining about the waste of money for that monstrosity gathering dust. Any married man will tell you, if looking busy will buy you blessed peace----then by all means look busy. Once the book I wrote was complete, She Who Should Not Be Named suggested I submit it. I refer you back to the busy comment and I did just what I was ordered to.

The first three rejections were polite form letters of thanks but no thanks. The next three were less than gracious, lacked humor and torqued me off. I became determined to have the object of their disdain published.

One letter told me I had no understanding of the Marine Corps or combat operations in Vietnam and war stories don't sell books. I checked and found out that not only was I a Marine, but that I had served a few tours in Vietnam, and Band of Brothers seemed to make money (just to name one). The second told me that romance required more than sexual tension (I paraphrase here) to be of any value. I did reply, asking her if sex with a chicken or water buffalo would have helped.

The one that set me on the path to By God I'll Show You was a gem. They suggested that I had no understanding of the Vietnam anti-war movement or the good they did for our service men and women serving there. I told them----sorry this is a family blog isn't it? (By the way, I sent three copies of my contract to the three people most responsible for getting the book published)

If you let others control your life, you'll never know just what you could have done with it. A rejection letter is just another chance to find a better publisher and write a better introduction isn't it?

Your latest novel, ‘The Good Servant’ is published under Gypsy Shadow Publishing, my fellow publisher. Tell us a bit about your novel.

My wife and daughter have tried for years to get me to tell them about Vietnam. I would tell a funny story or just gaff them off, telling them both it'd be over my dead body before I ever told war stories. When I found myself in danger of becoming a body in a crime scene I had the perfect plot to buy time and hope for a pardon from the governor.

Stop and think for a moment. If you were about to assume room temperature, I'd bet there are a few things you would like to tell your loved ones? That's really what the book is all about -- questions about your life that you never bothered to share with the people who love you and your warts.

In every person's life, past events shape both the life and choices made in the future. Some of these events are so personal, we seal them away in the hidden vaults of our souls and never display them to anyone. Eli Connors is no exception, but he is an enigma.

A man of God who went to war and is unashamed of his service to God and country, his life has always been an open book, even though several chapters are written in invisible ink. Eli had never discussed the content of these hidden chapters with his wife, children, or the rest of the world. Those secret chapters are a very large part of the man he becomes. You might say all knew some, but none knew all—of Eli the man. When Eli finds out he has cancer and less than six months to live, he realizes he has hidden a large part of what made him who he is.

To give those final missing pieces to his family, he writes a book. With small careful steps, he struggles to write down what made him an angry, hurt young boy; a distrustful, slightly wild teenager; and what helped him grow into a solid Marine and set him on the journey toward becoming a pastor. He does the one thing he has never done before—he tells war stories. He gives his children the gift of an orphanage surrounded by war, filled with the wonder of love; and shares the tragedies of its end. He allows himself to relive a special time and to show a special place to his family. He does his best to help them understand the hidden disconnects of that part of his life.

Eli tells of the bonds of love and friendship from childhood that can never be broken by death—bonds he would never fully reveal before he realized he was dying. Eli views life as right or wrong. He is a man with a deep love of God and a complete disdain for some of the members of his generation. A pastor who won't speak to some of his fellow clergymen, he is very much a product of his times, and out-of-step with some of his generation.

Who is the character you most relate to in your novel? Who was your favourite to pen?

The characters I created are a combination of people I served with. They were all my favourites, especially those I served with in Vietnam. They were special people and I wish I could have been as good and decent as those brave men were.

Where can we find you?

Gypsy Shadow Publishing, Barnes and Noble and all the places our publisher lists their books (buy my book, I need the money, you have no idea how expensive a pooper scooper can be).

Facebook seems to work well also. I've found several people from the past, including Capt. Dye who should be an American icon.

http://www.facebook.com/people/Doug-Lucas/100002379133316

http://twitter.com/#!/HoCamHue

http://bing.search.sympatico.ca/?q=Gypsy%20Shadow%20publishing&mkt=en-ca&setLang=en-CA

What’s next for you, Doug?

A glass of wine and a nap. (A man after my own heart!)

Oh--you meant am I working on anything else? A month or so ago someone referred to me as a Neanderthal when I suggested that dusting was women's work. After I finished dusting the additional room, I decided to get even. I'm writing a book about an author who lives in a mountain in what was once an underground microwave station-----his wife is dead! I'm trying to do a mild spoof on life in general and how wrapped up some people can be in certain genres of books.

So if you write Westerns, Romance, Crime, Spy or Erotic novels, you may see yourself or your readers. I have the FBI, ATF, an American drug gang, and a Columbian Drug cartel to work with. {Lee-Ann has already met one of the characters (Jorge) who's the type of sensitive serial murderer every woman dreams of. He writes poetry and children's books}.

Thank you so much for allowing us to have a bit of your time today. It was an extreme pleasure to host you, Doug.

No good deed goes unpunished! (I’ll be waiting, Doug. Bring it, Marine. Oohrah!)

Author Jeanne Guzman and her 'Dragon Lover'

2011-11-20T07:11:00.000-08:00

It’s Author-Inspired Sunday again and excitement is in the air (or maybe that’s just the chill of our first snowfall here in Vancouver). Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing a fellow colleague and NaNoWriMo entrant, and all around wonderful lady, Jeanne Guzman. Welcome, my friend!

Jeanne, tell us a bit about yourself.

I would like to say I’m a stay-at-home-mom, but who are we kidding. My youngest is in her 2^nd year of college. I’m just lucky enough to have a wonderful husband who believes in my dream of becoming a published writer. So, who am I? I’m a writer. From the moment I wake up in the morning until I close my eyes at night and every minute in between, I’m a writer.

Family is important and we both have children. How do you balance your writing with your loved ones?

Balancing is the key word here. When I first started writing, I had 4 children at home and a husband who demanded my undivided attention. There were always school functions and chores to be done, but through it all, I took time out of each day to write, even if it’s one page and completely trash, at least I was writing. As the children grew older, and my writing became more important to me, my children began pitching in with the chores. (My husband still demands my undivided attention.)

I have had the pleasure of visiting your wonderful blog, ‘Romance In Flight’. What do you enjoy most about blogging?

What I love most about blogging is not only getting to know others who share my passion for writing, but the opportunity to help them advance in their careers. We writers need to stick together. (Amen to that!)

Gypsy Shadow Publishing just released your latest novel, ‘Dragon Lover’ (insert whoops of glee and thundering cheers here!). This is the first in your Dragon Hunter Series. Where did you come up with the idea to write ‘Dragon Lover’?

Dragon Lover is out! WooHoo. LOL. As for the idea of dragons, that I can lay at my youngest daughter’s feet. You see, she loves dragons, has statues and knives and even a sword with a dragon head on the hilt (She loves her sharp and pointies) One day, I was sitting in my office, reading yet another rejection letter, and wondering why no one wanted to take me on as a client, then my daughter came in and said “Mom, why don’t you write a fantasy about demons?” Well, I’d just finished reading a book about demons and thought, there are so many out there, why not write about...and then I saw her dragon earrings (told you she loves dragons) and the rest, as they say, is history.

Here is a peek at ‘Dragon Lover’:

For eighteen years Kimball Crossley trained for the day she’d come face-to-face with the demon who murdered her parents. Nothing could’ve prepared her for the dragon who would change her life forever.

Dmitri of the Langhier Clan is one of the elite Dragon Hunters. For eighteen years he’s stood against evil, believing he’ll forever be a warrior for his people. That is, until the night he’s confronted with his future.

With whispers of war in the air, can Kimball learn to trust what she’s always hated and accept her love for the Dragon Hunter? Dmitri’s skills as a hunter are superior, but can he accept that women, particularly his woman, can be as strong in mind and body as any well-trained hunter? Can they put aside their differences long enough to save both their worlds?

Where can we find your latest achievements?

You can go to the Gypsy Shadow website at:

http://www.gypsyshadow.com/JeanneGuzman.html#top

Or any of these other sites

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/dragon-lover-jeanne-guzman/1107412873?ean=2940013459717&itm=2&usri=dragon%252blover

http://www.amazon.com/Dragon-Lover-Hunters-ebook/dp/B00684D88I/ref=sr_1_4?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1321543809&sr=1-4

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/105272

http://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-dragonlover-641865-143.html

http://www.bookstrand.com/dragon-lover

What is next for you, Jeanne?

Next is book 2 of my Dragon Hunters Series “The Dragon Within” I’m in the last phase of my personal edits, then I’ll be sending the manuscript off to my editor, and after that, I’ll be starting my edits on book 3 “Child of the Dragon” for now, I’m halfway through with book 4 “Dangerous Dragon.” Through all this writing, I’m also trying to help my baby girl plan her wedding taking place in April of 2012

Thank you so much for taking time out of your busy schedule to give us a look at the woman behind, ‘Dragon Lover’. It has been such a pleasure hosting you today.

Thank you very much for having me. It’s been a pleasure being here today.

If you leave a comment here today, you’ll be entered into a drawing for a free download of Dragon Lover. You will also be entered into the drawing for the grand prize, a gift basket filled with goodies to be announced at the end of December.

Thank you again for stopping by, and remember to Let Your Heart Take Wing!

My Review of 'Where The Rain Is Made' by Keta Diablo

2011-11-18T10:53:00.000-08:00

Book Title: Where the Rain is Made

Author: Keta Diablo

Published By: Decadent Publishing Company, LLC

Recommended Age: 18+

Reviewed By: Lee-Ann Graff Vinson

Blog Reviewed For: Great Minds Think Aloud

Rating: 5

On the plains of Denver in 1864, lived a tribe of warriors. The Cheyenne Indians were feared for their Dog Soldiers, men who protected their land, homes and loved ones with a ferocity known throughout the land. One such man, Meko, was the leader of these great fighters. He was also a time traveler. A gift bestowed upon him by the Sacred Council, he vowed to protect the ways of the Cheyenne. By way of the raven, he took flight unto another time and place to fight for the preservation of the People. He was their fearless leader.

Francesca Duvall was a mere teenage girl when her father was cut down by the Cheyenne. Her village had done no wrong to these savages, yet they came and destroyed them like rabid dogs. Francesca and her younger brother, Marsh, ran from the evil overtaking their home, but they were caught. Instead of meeting their instant demise, they were taken prisoner and made to obey the rules of the Cheyenne.

Francesca became the property of Meko, but she refused to bend to the ways of the Cheyenne. She fought her new owner at every turn, earning her the name She-Wolf. She tries desperately to protect her brother, whose new owner beats his slaves. Marsh is in danger and Francesca will do anything to save him. Hatred for the savages seeps out every pore, and she refuses to become like the animals who took her. But the man to whom she belongs, is a strong-willed, chiselled, and wildly-handsome. Meko makes her long to be one with him at the mere sight of his exquisite body. The scent of him all but incapacitates her mind. She must free her brother, but she cannot resist the draw of the Dog Soldier.

The time spent with the Cheyenne brings awareness to Francesca and Marsh. They learn the ways of their culture, their history, their strength. They learn the ways of the Dog Soldier. They also experience the evils of the Blue Coats and their brutal treatment of the Cheyenne, giving them nothing but broken promises in their desire for complete annihilation of the Red Man.

Francesca is overtaken by her love for her captor, now her husband. She fears for the safety of the People, she fears for the man she loves, the man who captured her heart. The man who completes her soul. The passion between Francesca and Meko sets their bodies aflame with desire. The spirits have tested their strength to deny each other the perfection in their love, and they have failed. They could no more stay away from each other than they could stop the sun from rising.

Francesca and Marsh are prepared to fight beside the People to save their village. The attack is the largest in history and many deaths will come. If he survives, will the time traveler be allowed to stay in the world of the Cheyenne or will he be called back home? It is up to the Sacred Council to decide.

‘Where The Rain Is Made’ by Author, Keta Diablo is an exquisitely written tale borne of historic events dipped in the mystical beliefs of the Cheyenne Indians. It will tear at your heart and anger your soul. Her characters are passionate and devotional, as is the way of the Cheyenne. The spiritual beliefs of the Native Indian culture are centuries old. This story awakens your senses to the tribal rituals of yore and mixes them into the world we now know. You will lose yourself in this creative and sensual novel of divine intervention.

Author G.E. Stills And His Reason For Being 'Not Good Enough'

2011-11-13T07:05:00.000-08:00

Today, I have the pleasure of featuring fellow Gypsy Shadow Publishing Author, G.E. Stills. It is a wonderful thing when a group of writer’s, such as the ones in the Gypsy Shadow Family, can get together and learn about what makes each other tick (the added bonus of a book plug is always good too).

To mimic a famous late night talk show host, “Heeeeeeeeeere’s Gary!”

Gary, tell us a bit about yourself.

I live in southwest with my wife, dog and a cat. I have grown children with children of their own. In the past I was a mechanic and then a business owner, retired. I have always loved to read and enjoyed writing stories from an early age. Most of my time now is spent in front of my keyboard writing or sitting back and thinking about a current WIP or a new story to write. I host a local writers group on every other Thursday where we critique a chapter submitted by each person. When not engaged in my favorite past time of writing I enjoy boating and camping.

What genre is specific to your writing?

My stories primarily deal with paranormal, fantasy or science fiction and all of them, thus far, involve romance. The heat levels vary from non-erotic to sizzling. Most of my characters are strong, assertive and many are outspoken. Many of my characters have magical abilities or are normal people in abnormal situations with a strong sense of justice. My villains are, well…villains, doing villainous things

You have a few publications under your belt now (two with Gypsy Shadow Publishing). Describe the moment you received your first contract.

Let’s see. Happy dance naturally. Then I got carried away, okay maybe a little alcohol influence. Anyway taking my dog’s front paws in hand, I began dancing with her, leading of course. Right away she started gnawing on my hands while giving me a look that told me she thought I had lost my mind.

I am crazy, but that is a discussion best broached at a different time. I think all writers have to be a little insane, especially fiction writers.

Your latest book, 'Not Good Enough' is a contemporary romance. Delving into the cast of characters, who do you most connect to and why?

Most of my characters display emotions I have experienced myself. In this case, Jay experiences anger from rejection and insults. At the same time, I have shared Trish’s emotion of feeling not good enough.

Here is a peek at Gary’s latest novel, 'Not Good Enough':

The pleasure cruise is turning into a nightmare. The evening before, Jay asks a pair of attractive ladies to dance. One of them heaps insults on him and tells him he’s not good enough. He doesn’t even know their names but in his opinion, the two are nothing but trouble. After being thrown overboard, he drifts ashore on an island. To his dismay, he discovers that one of them has washed ashore with him. Swallowing his anger and cursing his rotten luck, he assists her away for the surf and sets out to find help.

While trying to apologize to Mr. Smiles, Trish sees the two men throw him overboard. She tries to rescue him and is tossed over herself. When she regains conscious, she is looking up into his non-smiling face. Stranded alone with him on an island, she wonders if he will assist her or leave her to fend for herself.

Gary is also a pro at book trailers. 'Not Good Enough' can be seen here:…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vj0nx0mLnYI

(One person will be chosen to win gift certificate to purchase an e-book from Gypsy Shadow Publishing. Simply leave a comment on the blog posting below, and Gary will choose the lucky winner by Friday, November 18th. Good luck to you all!)

On the personal side, I asked Gary what three writing skills he has improved upon with his time spent at the keyboard, and the one skill he still has trouble with. Here is what he had to say:

Hah, only three? Let’s see. Point of view shifts. I try to restrict them to a single POV in each chapter or, at most, change a few times and not every paragraph.

I like to think my vocabulary has expanded. Then there is grammar and punctuation. I’m terrible with those (I’m certain Denise and Charlotte will agree). I like to think I’ve improved there too, but the jury is still out on that – good thing I have patient editors.

I struggle daily with all my writing faults in an effort to improve. Don’t we

all?

What's next for you, Gary?

I’m currently in edits for a vampire story. I also have a story with GSP that I hope to start edits on early next year, as well as another story with a different publisher that I will start editing, hopefully, early next year also. I have, as always, several WIP’s.

And then I try to stay out of trouble. That itself is a full time job, one that I’m often not successful at.

Here's where you can find Gary's latest achievements:

Author web site http://www.gestills.com/

Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/gary.stillman

Publisher Gypsy Shadow publishing http://www.gypsyshadow.com/GEStills.html#NotGood

Thank you so much for taking the time to talk with me today, Gary. I look forward to reading more of your works in the near future. Write on, my friend!

Thank you, Lee-Ann for having me on your blog.

Author Liz R. Neman and 'An Affinity for Shadows'

2011-11-06T07:06:00.000-08:00

Well, here it is, my first ever author-inspired blog posting. I would first like to thank the very talented, Liz R. Newman for being the bravest of them all, and agreeing to plunge in with both feet. Much appreciated, Liz!

What astounds me about Liz, is the fact that she has the time to write with four children aged six and under. That alone is one heck of a feat. When you add in marketing, blogging, hosting authors, and book signings to the mix, my head starts to spin. I don’t know how you do it, Liz, but you have definitely found the balance and made it work for you.

So, without further adieu, I give you Author, Liz R. Newman on her latest novel ‘An Affinity for Shadows’.

Welcome Liz! Please tell us a bit about your latest novel:

An Affinity for Shadows is the dynamic story of Kate Theodore, an ambitious Broadcast Journalist who rushes to the scene of the 9/11 attacks, pressuring a beloved cameraman to accompany here. He perishes at the scene, and her transformation begins.

Before the attacks, she had left behind a string of transient friendships and loveless relationships. Her career was all she lived for, and thus became her only reason for living. After the attacks, she is forced to rehash the events which greatly traumatized her, and she realizes she must find a new reason to live, or be forever lost to the guilt which plagues her soul. She grasps at straws, so to speak, and just when she thinks nothing about her life will ever be meaningful but her work, along comes an intriguing and unlikely romantic interest.

What would you say is the core message of this novel?

This is a story about friendship, love, tragedy, and triumph. The romantic interest, a man named Sal Olivieri, is also a person with a past he'd like to forget, and he processes that past differently than Kate does. The book is full of surprises, and I don't want to give any little treats away, but in addition to the decadence of Manhattan and the romantic escape of the Italian Villa, the reader is treated to a wonderful storyline with some very comical ensemble characters, as well as some light hearted situations.

Why this storyline?

9/11 was a turning point for all of us, and for that I feel we can all relate to this book. As the images rolled over and over on our television screens, the reader will feel right there, at the scene, with Kate. It is my hope that the reader will also take the journey to love and recovery with Kate as well, and enjoy the romantic hero, Sal. A wonderful description of Sal, which I received from my publisher after she reviewed and made the final edits on the novel, was "Yummy!" That pretty much describes him to a tee.

What inspires the romantic in you, as well as in your writing?

I write mainstream literature with strong romantic elements because I prefer romance to my stories. Civilizations are won or lost, and most lives are changed for the better as a result of romance. Whatever deity or higher power inspired our species to feel such a thing as love knew that this makes life worth living for, and that most other functions of our lives can become redundant without it. I have daily romantic interludes not just with the love of my life, but with food, writing, reading, and all of the other activities I enjoy. I like to think that everything I do involves a level of love, temperance, and letting go when the moment is right. After all, isn't that what living life to the fullest is all about?

Where can readers find your work?

You can find the paperback version of my book ON SALE at Barnes and Noble at this website, and the eBook at Books on Board

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/an-affinity-for-shadows?keyword=an+affinity+for+shadows&store=allproducts

http://www.booksonboard.com/index.php?BODY=viewbook&BOOK=1129347

To find out more about upcoming book signings and live chats, please visit my website at www.lizrnewman.net.

I appreciate you taking the time out of your extraordinarily busy schedule to chat with us today. It has been a pleasure to learn more about the woman behind 'An Affinity for Shadows'.

Thank you so much, Lee-Ann for hosting me on your blog.

My Review of 'Thrill Me' by Lucianne Rivers

2011-11-03T20:22:00.000-07:00

BOOK REVIEW – ‘Thrill Me’ by Lucianne Rivers

Margo Caldwell just made detective at the Santa Fe Police Department. She was twenty-six and living her dream, until her mother passed away two days later. Her will stipulated the large ranch estate could not be settled until she and her two sisters located their father, Zachary Caldwell. The same father who supposedly died in the Gulf War over twenty years ago.

A private investigator their mother hired before her death located two Zach Caldwell’s. One her sister Jane was locating in Guatemala. The other, Margo would search for in the Virgin Islands. Not the worst place to have to search for someone, and good practice for her new job.

After checking into her resort, she sought out the only place where she could shake off her stress and perhaps lessen the grief. She found the gym in her resort, and picked up her first love, a weight bar. Enter, Adrian -- tall, dark and handsome, and a man who definitely knew how to handle the bench press. To say that he more than peaked Margo’s interest would be an understatement. A one-night stand might be just what she needed to get her through the next few days. Enter, Linda -- tall, blond, gorgeous, and obviously the girlfriend. Was that a look of irritation on Adrian’s face?

The next morning, Margo went in search of a boat for hire to locate her father. The only vessel she could locate just happened to be captained by the super, hunky man from the gym. The now single, Adrian agrees to take Margo along on his island hops to deliver goods to customers. The sexual heat between is more than just a mere release, it’s pure magic. The feel of Adrian’s body over, against, under or anywhere on Margo is one she’s never experienced before. And one Adrian cannot get enough of.

Sailing the open waters does have its perils. Adrian and Margo soon find themselves at the mercy of a gun wielding drug-runner, who happens to go by the name of Zach. Could this be Margo’s long lost father?

‘Thrill Me’ is two one of the Caldwell Sisters Series. Author, Lucianne Rivers is titillating in her action packed romance. Her characters are life-size and sizzling. A definite must read if you want steaming, hot, sensual romance.

Lee-Ann Graff Vinson/Great Minds Think Aloud (Author of ‘Georgia’s Smile’, ‘Love’s Trust’, ‘Callie’s Fate’ and ‘Love and Liberty’)

5 Ravens

My Review of 'Hold Me' by Lucianne Rivers

2011-11-01T14:23:00.000-07:00

BOOK REVIEW – ‘Hold Me’ by Lucianne Rivers

After the death of her mother, hard-nosed, news anchor, Jane Caldwell is thrown for a loop when she learns her mother changed her will just prior to her death. Jane and her two sisters now had to find their father in order to settle the large ranch estate. The problem? Their father died in action over twenty years.

An anonymous phone-call made to their mother before her death, telling her Zach Caldwell was still alive, prompted her to hire a private detective. Three men who fit the description of their father were located. Jane follows a lead taking her to Guatemala.

As she tries to negotiate her way through foreign territory, Jane meets Harrison Deneuve, a tall, delicious, handsome stranger. He kindly guides her through the purchase of a bus ticket to where her father was last seen. She is grateful for his help and certainly wouldn’t mind anything else he cared to share.

Harrison is a man who thought he’d left his past behind. When he meets Jane, the beautiful, alluring and extremely out of place American news anchor, stranded and in need of a bodyguard, he is worried his carefully hidden life will soon be exposed.

Jane’s arrival comes during the highly visited Fiesta celebration. Knowing he shouldn’t risk what will no doubt be his downfall, he agrees to let Jane stay with him at his hostel. Secrets don’t remain hidden for long, as Harrison’s control weakens. He allows Jane into his sanctuary and into his heart, two places that have been kept private for much too long.

Together, they locate Zach Caldwell but can Harrison let Jane go back to her home, or will true love finally help him to face the life he thought he’d left behind?

‘Hold Me’ is book one of the Caldwell Sisters Series. Author, Lucianne Rivers is titillating in her action packed romance. Her characters are life-size and sizzling. A definite must read if you want sizzling, sensual romance.

Lee-Ann Graff Vinson/Great Minds Think Aloud (Author of ‘Georgia’s Smile’, ‘Love’s Trust’, ‘Callie’s Fate’ and ‘Love and Liberty’)

5 Ravens

Blog Tour - Promoting 'Callie's Fate'

2011-10-28T08:20:00.000-07:00

I have the great honour of being hosted on "Fox Tales" this morning. Please stop by and check out Sutton Fox and her wonderful blog, and get to know me up close and personal, and check out my latest release, 'Callie's Fate'.

http://suttonfox.blogspot.com

As always, thank you for stopping by and giving two writers the chance to live our dream!

My Review of 'Not Good Enough' by G.E. Stills

2011-10-27T21:07:00.000-07:00

Book Review—‘Not Good Enough’ by G.E. Stills

Best friends, Trish and Sheila, set out to go on a cruise to Australia. The mission: to find Trish a man—not just any man—he needs to pass Sheila’s requirements of being rich and sexy. Before they board the ship, Sheila manages to disgruntle Jason, the man with the sensual, deep-blue eyes who happened to peak Trish’s interest. In Sheila’s eyes, her friend could do better.

A twist of fate intervenes. Trish gets a chance at redemption when an act of sabotage leaves her stranded with Jason on a deserted island. She learns Jason is just as beautiful on the inside as he is underneath his dress shirt, and much to Jason’s surprise, Trish is nothing like her loud-mouthed, vulgar friend. Love is born from months spent in each other’s arms.

Upon rescue, Trish learns Jason is the wealthy heir and partner in J. R. & Son, a very successful shipping company. Fearing she is now not good enough for him, she disappears out of his life. Jason is miserable when he finds there is no way to contact her. His true love is a woman who doesn’t want to be found. Will he ever find her, or has he lost Trish forever?

In ‘Not Good Enough’, Author, G.E. Stills explores the sensuality of self with this romantic love story. The depth of his characters draws you in, making you feel each soul-searching kiss. If you like to read about love in all the right places, you need to read this book!

Lee-Ann Graff Vinson/Great Minds Think Aloud (Author of ‘Georgia’s Smile’, ‘Loves Trust’, ‘Callie’s Fate’ and ‘Love And Liberty’)

My Review of 'Entice Me' by Lucianne Rivers

2011-10-27T21:00:00.000-07:00

BOOK REVIEW – 'Entice Me' by Lucianne Rivers

When Allison Caldwell’s mother dies, she and her two sisters are left with an impossible mission. Their mother’s will stipulates they need to locate the whereabouts of their father, Zach Caldwell before the large estate can be settled. The only problem being, their father had been dead for years.

    Robert Rivera, a private investigator, hired by Mrs. Caldwell before her death, is an ex-Navy Seal who still has all the right connections, and is the man with the link to Allison’s father. The fact that he makes Allison’s heart pound doesn’t hurt either. Together, Allison and Robert travel to Afghanistan to find Zach -- a trip that brings back haunting memories for Robert.

   Together they find out love is just as mysterious and complicated as the reappearance of Zach Caldwell. Robert faces the fear of death once more, but this time, he has someone to live for. Allison begins to realize what her mother always spoke of. True love does exist, and she’d found it in Robert.

‘Entice Me’ is book three of the Caldwell Sisters Series. Author, Lucianne Rivers is titillating in her action packed romance. Her characters are life-size and sizzling. A definite must read if you seek an exciting, romantic, sexy, feel good story.

Lee-Ann Graff Vinson/Great Minds Think Aloud (Author of ‘Georgia’s Smile’, ‘Love’s Trust’, ‘Callie’s Fate’ and ‘Love and Liberty’)

5 Ravens

My Review of 'Touch' by Jus Accardo

2011-10-21T11:35:00.000-07:00

Book Review – Touch by Jus Accardo

Deznee Cross is a girl who never backs down from a challenge, the biggest of which has been living up to her father’s great disappointment in her. A skill which has required daily effort to maintain.

On her way home from yet another death defying party trick, Dez stumbles across Kale, a hunky, teenage boy hiding out from strange men in leotards. Knowing her father wouldn’t be home yet, she seizes her chance at making the veins in his temple bulge by taking Kale home. In her attempt to make conversation, Dez learns there’s more to Kale than just hulking biceps and drop-dead eyes.

When her father comes home, his reaction to the boy standing in the living room was not one she expected. Neither was his instant knowledge of him, nor his cold, calculated reaction as he pulled a gun on them. One thing she did know, they needed to get out of there – and fast.

On the run, Dez learns why Kale is different. He was born a Six. His power enables him to turn humans to dust by his touch. He is also a trained weapon for Denizen, the company her father works for, the one he has just escaped. She learns there are others with similar powers forced into working on the Denizen force, most against their will. Dez finds out exactly what kind of monster her father is and what he does for a living. She also learns her body is not affected by Kale’s touch, at least not in a dusty death sort of way.

No one is aware Dez also has a secret, one she has hidden all her life. In trying to save Kale, she rediscovers her own ability. Together, they fight against the powers who want them broken.

Author, Jus Accardo brings her characters to life this young adult paranormal tale. Her writing is witty and real, capturing your attention until the very end. The innocence of true love between her characters will melt your soul. It is an absolute delight when an author is able to make the reader experience rather than simply read. A definite two thumbs up in my book.

Lee-Ann Graff Vinson/Great Minds Think Aloud (Author of ‘Love’s Trust’, ‘Callie’s Fate’ and ‘Georgia’s Smile’)

Review of my ebook 'Love's Trust' by Author of 'Blood Curse',Tamara Lowery

2011-10-09T07:27:00.000-07:00

I really enjoyed this military-themed romance. Lee-Ann Vinson keeps the story crisp and clean. There are four main characters, Daphne the heroine, John the hero (in more than one way), Jenny the best friend/moral support, and Jekholf the villain. Love's Trust is more fleshed out than Georgia's Smile,also by Mrs. Vinson. Mike, a secondary character with only a brief appearance, is still described in a way that makes him more than just a plot prop but a believable character. I will admit that the villain seems almost comically melodramatic at first, but the sad truth is that there are men like that out there in real life: narcissistic, power mad, delusional and just deranged enough to act on their delusions.

I am not as familiar with military culture as I once was, since I nolonger live near any bases nor have close relaitives still in active duty. However, going by news articles I have seen in recent years and things I have heard from a former coworker that pulled two tours in Iraq, I believe Mrs. Vinson has an excellent grasp of some of the troubles facing today's veterans and active military personell, and she has worked them into this romance in a very believable and acceptable way.

Once again, I have to say MORE! This was great, but it could be easily expanded on to make it novella length.

http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=260759423965877

'Love's Trust' - Military/Romance (My second book published)

2011-10-06T17:32:00.000-07:00

Love's Trust

Daphne threw the car into reverse and backed out of the driveway. She could see her now ex-boyfriend, Mike, yelling at her, but the driving rain drowned out the possibility of hearing his scathing comments as it thundered down on the canvas roof of her Mercedes.
Daphne would have laughed at the comical nature of Mike’s actions if it hadn’t been for the last six months of crap she had taken from this man. Another relationship bites the dust, and along with it another chance at happily-ever-after ground out like a spent cigarette. The possibility of finding a man who would treat her with the respect, hell even the common courtesy she deserved, seemed non-existent. As the car reached the edge of the driveway, Daphne turned the wheel and took one last look at Mike, standing there in his boxer shorts, giving her the finger. She felt dead inside. She focused on the road ahead and drove away from the promise of love.
Daphne wondered how she had ended up here again, how she always ended up here. She’d worked hard and won scholarships to put herself through university, graduating from Harvard with a degree in journalism. Daphne was smart and successful, so why could she not seem to find a man who appreciated her instead of always belittling her efforts? She shook her head as she drove along Pine Street, very thankful now that she hadn’t given up her apartment downtown when Mike had told her to. That had caused yet another argument but Daphne was not about to let go of her rent controlled, fully furnished apartment a mere two blocks away from her job as a reporter for The Boston Globe. No man was going to dictate where she lived or what she did again. Ever.
Daphne pulled into her designated parking spot at the newspaper. She turned off the engine and dropped her head back against the leather seat. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught the glitter of the parking lot lamplight reflecting off her stall nameplate in the downpour. Her boss had tacked a metal replica of a purple heart to it to remind her how close she had come to losing it all on her last assignment.
Daphne had been a slave to reporting the military political injustices of the world for the past eight years. She loved her job, which included travel to many war-torn areas. She’d seen the devastation caused by years of bullets and brutality. Her most recent trip to Iraq was one she’d steeled herself for. This time, instead of simply observing, Daphne got the chance to become part of the troops, and live the life of the American soldier. The assignment was one of the most difficult she’d ever taken, and she’d found that studying up on a topic and actually living it were two different things. She’d seen the terror on the faces of small children when the MRAP vehicle she was in rumbled along the dirt roadway through their village. Daphne had witnessed the missing limbs and scarred flesh of the civilian Iraqi men, women and children as she walked the dirt roads looking for (Improvised Explosive Devices or IED’s) with her assigned platoon. She was shown pictures of the enlisted friends of her troop members who no longer walked alongside them, but would never be forgotten. She saw first-hand the pain and suffering caused by militant war-mongers and it sickened her.
In her three months in Iraq, Daphne had gotten to know the soldiers very well. She’d watched as four young, vibrant, enthusiastic recruits became despondent shells of their former selves dealing with their injuries and the pain of being knocked down so early in their military career. In their eyes, the stigma of failing their country was worse than the injuries. The minds of soldiers were directed to giving their all for their country, and being sent home alive but crippled left them with a feeling of inadequacy almost unbearable to behold.
Daphne also remembered Sergeant John Romero, a well-respected leader amongst the men and women in his platoon, and the man who saved her when their patrol had triggered an IED. John lost his leg getting Daphne to the safety of the following MRAP vehicle. Two soldiers lost their lives on a day that was supposed to be a routine sweep. It continued to haunt Daphne that the IED wasn’t found when Sergeant Romero walked over it with his bomb detector. She wanted to do a follow-up story delving into the equipment failure rates of the military, but decided against it. She didn’t want to cause John any further angst over an incident he blamed himself for. John was thorough in his job. He never made errors. The day the explosion took the lives of his platoon members, his friends, he shut down. Daphne had tried to get him help, tried to make him keep the appointment with the psychologist the Army set up for him, but he refused.
John and Daphne were close, as close as the Army allowed without a reprimand. They drank many bottles of water together and shared a lifetime of memories in those months. Daphne was impressed by this quiet leader of men, who gave his all for his country and his platoon. He was the type of man you never forgot. Honorable. Courageous. Worthy.
Shortly after her return, Daphne wrote an award-winning article about her time in Iraq. It was an in-depth piece compiled from hours of interviews Daphne had conducted with the soldiers while they were in the field. It was her way of trying to help them heal. Once the piece was done, Daphne lost touch with the four wounded soldiers she flew back with after the accident, as well as with John. He’d told her that he needed to get away, needed to make sense of things. Daphne let him go, but her heart broke the day they said goodbye.
Still sitting in the car, Daphne closed her eyes and thought about one of the first nights she and John were on duty together. It was shortly after she had been trained to use the M9 9mm pistol. There was no way Daphne was going to be the weak link in this platoon. If she was going to live the life of a soldier, she needed to be trained as a soldier. Given the time constraints, she worked harder than she ever had at anything in her life. She was not going to let her platoon down. It paid off, she was a damn good shot with her weapon, even Lieutenant Jekholf was impressed.
John led Daphne around the perimeter of the camp, on the lookout for anything out of the ordinary. John had stopped to speak with one of his platoon members who had a few questions about the next days mission. Daphne thought she spotted movement behind one of the buildings. She did not want to interrupt them if it was nothing so, armed with her M9 and ready to shoot, Daphne walked in the direction of the possible intruder. She knew she was a decent shot and she momentarily got a little excited about the possibility of showing off her newfound talent. Daphne was close to rounding the corner of the building when common sense kicked in. The hair on the back of her neck stood up. The thought of coming face to face with the enemy scared the hell out of her. Sweat trickled down her back. She needed to pull it together and fast.
There was no way she was going to allow herself to lose it here. If mere kids could handle the stress of this type of situation, so could she. Daphne rounded the corner and could hear some rustling coming from a small shack that held sandbags. Before she could take aim, she was pressed roughly against the wall of the building and told to be quiet. Daphne’s heart was racing before, now it damn near exploded in fear. Her mouth was scared shut. She recognized the voice to be John’s and prayed that her stupid decision to go off alone wasn’t going to get them killed. John’s movements were quick and efficient. His gun was drawn and pointed as he silently made his way across open ground, and stood to the side of the doorway.
John nudged the door open further, using the tip of one boot to keep his hands free and on his weapon. Lighting was minimal in this area. Daphne felt her pupils dilating to compensate, almost willing herself to see something before it was too late. The shape was fast as it shot out past John’s boot. Daphne held a scream in her throat as she pulled her weapon to cover him. John took aim and shot. In less than a second, the form lay limp on the ground. Men and women came running from all directions with their weapons drawn.
Daphne was shaking and unable to move. Her hands trembled from the tight grasp on her weapon still aimed in the direction of the lifeless body. She stared at her platoon members now gathered around it, hearing a few of them laugh. She watched as someone patted John on the back before turning away and walking back to the camp. She couldn’t believe what she was hearing. They were laughing. Someone was dead, and they were laughing. Daphne felt the heat as it rose within her. Her anger forced her shaking limbs to close the distance between her and the rest of her team.

AVAILABLE NOW THROUGH GYPSY SHADOW PUBLISHING, AMAZON, BARNES AND NOBLE AND SMASHWORDS

http://bing.search.sympatico.ca/?q=Gypsy%20Shadow%20Publishing&mkt=en-ca&setLang=en-CA

'Georgia's Smile' - My first published ebook

2011-10-06T17:26:00.000-07:00

EXCERPT

On Tuesday morning, Georgia Robinson drove her usual route to her job at the floral shop. One eye was almost swollen shut behind her dark sunglasses, making it difficult for her to see the road. She came to an abrupt stop at a red light and watched as a young couple crossed the street in front of her. They were holding hands and laughing as they walked, as if to a single melodic beat. Georgia startled at the sound of a car horn honking behind her. She looked at the now green light and stepped on the gas.
Her life was not going the way she had intended. At thirty-six, Georgia sold bouquets to men and women wanting to surprise their loved ones. Her dream of university after high school and becoming a lawyer ended when her father died and she’d gone to work to help her mother pay the bills.
She met Philip the day after she turned nineteen. He had entered the flower shop and asked Georgia to give him the biggest and best bouquet of flowers she could create and send them to his mother for her birthday. When he came back to the shop the following day to ask her out on a date, she thought her struggle had finally ended. The day she brought him home to meet her mother, Philip told her she would marry him someday. He was handsome in a Phi Beta Kappa sort of way and worked at his father’s investment banking firm handling the investment loans department. He was successful and four years her senior; he looked out for her.
When Georgia’s mother passed away from alcohol abuse three years later, Philip proposed to her while standing at her mother’s bedside. Two weeks later, at city hall, Georgia stood beside Philip and exchanged vows. He moved into Georgia’s childhood home and assumed the mortgage, making changes to the décor here and there as he saw fit. Georgia didn’t mind because she thought she would finally be able to go back to school to fulfill her dream. Philip would take care of her now.
Stopped at another light, Georgia almost choked on the memory. The only person Philip took care of was himself. When Georgia had asked Philip if she could go back to school to become a lawyer, Philip made a guffaw sound first and then, when he saw she was serious, he let out a giggle that turned into a riotous laugh. In between fits, he told her no one as stupid as her would ever make it in the world of law. You needed intelligence, you needed animal instincts, and you needed a backbone. All of which, Philip informed her, she didn’t have.
Georgia tried to end her marriage to Philip shortly after his degrading verbal attack. That was when the first beating occurred. The backhand was unexpected and hit her square on the jaw. Now the violence was a regular occurrence. Typically, the marks were in areas that could be covered up but last night’s warring had left Georgia with a large shiner to her left eye, one she knew her boss, Natalie, would hit the roof over.
Georgia pulled into her parking spot and sat with the engine idling, staring ahead into the window of the flower shop. Her eyes scanned the jargon below the business name ‘Petunia’s Flower Shop. If she was good enough for Porky, she’s good enough for you’. Georgia reread the words and stopped on the phrase ‘good enough’.
“That is something I will never be if I stay with you, Philip,” Georgia said aloud. She let out a heavy sigh, shut off her vehicle and swung her door open.
“Whoa!” said a masculine voice in alarm. Georgia looked up and saw she had almost knocked over a man. On closer inspection, she noticed he was a very attractive man and he was smiling down at her.
“Oh, I am so sorry!” Georgia said. “Are you alright?” From behind the protection of her sunglasses, Georgia looked into the stranger’s eyes and felt a slight buzz shoot through her body. Her chest felt funny and then she realized it was the pounding of her heart.

AVAILABLE NOW THROUGH GYPSY SHADOW PUBLISHING, AMAZON, BARNES AND NOBLE AND SMASHWORDS

http://www.gypsyshadow.com/Lee-AnnGraffVinson.html#GeorgiasSmile

'Boston' by G.E. Stills - My Review

2011-10-06T10:40:00.000-07:00

BOOK REVIEW – ‘BOSTON’ – G.E. STILLS

Boston is an earth witch who worships the goddess Artemis and follows the strict code of the Rede. She never uses her magick to harm others. Boston is also a very lonely girl.

When the sexy and alluring Destin asks her to accompany him and his best friend on a sailing vacation to Hawaii, it was an offer she couldn’t refuse. She boards his private vessel, but gets more than she bargained for when she’s introduced to Sondra, a witch of the water, who is also along for the ride.

The three of them have wild plans for Boston, if she will agree to have them all in her bed. But the fun has to wait when the ship is boarded by kidnappers who demand a ransom for the return of the wealthy Destin. The two women work together and use their powers to bring the lives of their captors to a bloody end.

As their punishment for violating the Rede, the bond between Boston and Sondra is consummated as they share their fate from the goddesses. Their lives become joined. Anything Sondra experiences, physical or mentally, Boston in turn feels just as strongly, including hot, fiery orgasms.

Author, G.E. Stills takes us on a wild ride of wanton abandon in this captivating, sexual fantasy. Boston experiences sensual delights she’d never dreamed possible. The heat is bewitching and will make you rush to reach the explosive finish.

Lee-Ann Graff Vinson – Great Minds Think Aloud

Now Available at Captiva Press

http://captivapress.com/

'Blood Curse' by Tamara Lowery - My Review

2011-10-06T10:37:00.000-07:00

Book Review – Blood Curse by Tamara A. Lowery

Book One of the Waves of Darkness Series

Viktor Brandewyne committed his first act of piracy at the innocent age of eleven. However, there was nothing innocent about Vik Brandee. He cared about no one but himself, save Old Mother Celie, the woman witch who raised him.

Viktor overtook any sea he sailed with his loyal crew. He was a man to be feared. He was a man to be hated. His reputation as a blood thirsty pirate preceded him, as did his appetite for the wenches. When his lusting and killing had gone too far, Vik became the prey when Mamaan Juma sought out her revenge, and was turned into a vampire by her voodoo curse. His only hope of surviving was to search for the seven powerful Sisters whose witchcraft would break the spell. But, they do not give of their powers willingly, and Vik has many trials to pass before he can bring their magic back to Mother Celie, and be cured.

Author, Tamara A. Lowery is a phenomenal story teller. Her magical web entangles the reader, and pulls them into her pirate’s grasp. Her characters are vivid and real, making you like even the most horrible of the lot. What woman would not want to be held captive by Captain Viktor Brandewyne, the most notorious pirate who ever sailed the seas?

‘Blood Curse’ is book one in the Waves of Darkness Series. Like Viktor’s need for fresh blood, this fresh take on pirate/vampire lore is one that will keep readers craving more. Will he find the sisters in time? Read the series to find out. This author and reader certainly will.

Lee-Ann Graff Vinson/Great Minds Think Aloud

Now available at Gypsy Shadow Publishing
http://www.gypsyshadow.com/TamaraLowery.html#BloodCurse

'Callie's Fate' - My first erotica/Romance ebook

2011-10-06T10:28:00.001-07:00

Callie's Fate

Callie parked her car across the street from her house. Tears trickled down her cheeks, but she didn’t feel them. She was numb. Angry. Done. She had to hand it to him. Donald’s taste in women had improved since the first time she’d caught him cheating. The blonde, in her six-inch, cherry-red heels, clicked merrily across the driveway to her car. The Mustang was noticeably the same shade of slut as her shoes and was parked contemptuously in Callie’s spot. She scowled as the tart shimmied herself into the car. Her mini skirt was wrinkled and tight. She probably didn’t even take it off.

Callie had just arrived home from a five-day pharmaceutical conference where she’d been working twelve-hour days promoting one of her company’s new drugs. Exhausted, she’d caught the red-eye to make it back on time. Today was their fourteenth wedding anniversary, and she wanted to surprise her husband with a day of wine tours and food samplings she’d booked online while she was away. This was the second time the surprise had been on her.

When he’d done it the first time, she couldn’t believe the man she’d entrusted her heart to would hurt her in such a deceitful manner. She’d married him because he was safe. He definitely was not the partying type. He never stayed out late with the boys, and he’d always come home right after work. He was, well . . . boring. He was the one man she’d thought she didn’t have to worry about. Although they didn’t share the same interests—she loved the outdoors, running and biking and he was happy in front of the television drinking a few beers—she loved him and he loved her. Or at least he told her he did.

Back then she’d had an overwhelming sense of failure and guilt, thinking his affair was somehow her fault. Her job took her away quite a bit and when she was home, she worked such long hours they rarely had time for a quickie, let alone what he would call “substantial” sex.

She stared at the car backing out of her driveway. She didn’t have those same feelings of guilt, heartache and complete devastation as before. Only anger and emptiness remained. After eighteen months of counseling and thousands down the drain, this was what they’d accomplished? Well, not again. No more lies. No more wasted money. This time she was done for good.

Her first instinct was to throw open the front door and wipe that smirk off his face with a baseball bat, screaming every obscenity she could think of. She wanted to cause him extreme pain. It’s our stupid anniversary!

As much as physically beating him appealed to her, she needed to hit him harder, in a way that made complete recovery impossible. No, violence wasn’t the answer. Her next move needed to be one that would hurt him as much as he’d killed their marriage. She needed professional help. It was time to consult with the people who knew him best––The Law Offices of Divorce-A-Cheating-Ass.

Callie started her car and gunned it down the street. She expertly cut off Donald’s newest ride, eliciting quite a resentful honk from her, which she quite happily returned with the full length of her middle finger. She sped down the street and away from her beloved home.

The Starbucks parking lot was almost empty as she maneuvered her shiny, silver Chrysler 200 into a lonely spot. She popped her trunk and got out. She always bloated on long flights and her black suede platform heels were beginning to pinch. She tugged at the ruffled skirt she typically wore on business trips, which was now cutting into her waist. She was about to grab her jeans and sneakers from her suitcase to change into, when she heard the vocal admiration of a passing, very well-built, fetching, young male cyclist. She decided against comfort and tossed the items back in. Damn right, I’m sexy.

At thirty-seven, Callie still had a great figure. She wasn’t statuesque, but her legs were muscular, giving the illusion of length. Her waist was narrow. So was her chest, but nothing a Victoria’s Secret push-up couldn’t cure—and she wore it well. Her blonde hair was long and straight, fanning out across her shoulders to mid-back. However, her eyes were what gave Callie her power. The large cobalt orbs could stop men at twenty paces. A flutter of the eyelashes followed by an intent gaze could get her anything she wanted. She used her power well; it had gained many large contracts for her company.

She pulled out her laptop bag and closed her trunk. It was going to take a lot of research to find the perfect attorney who would represent her in the courtroom. Donald wasn’t going to get away with it this time. The son-of-a-bitch!

She found a table and took out her laptop, then stood in line to order while she waited for it to boot up. Now, what type of coffee does a day like today require? When it was her turn to order, Callie spoke with no emotion. “May I please have an I-just-caught-my-loser-of-a-husband-cheating-with-a-whore-and-I’m-going-to-take-him-to-the-cleaners grande, skinny, extra-hot, caramel macchiato?”

The barista stared at her for a brief moment before replying “Of course, and how about we just go ahead and make that a venti at no extra charge?”

The wink she gave Callie was one of a woman familiar with her kind of day, and Callie knew she’d chosen her sanctuary well.

Coffee in hand, she sat down in front of her laptop and sighed. She shook her head as she searched through the myriad of divorce attorneys. How did she get here again? How did she not see this coming?

Tramp-happy Donald was currently between jobs, as he liked to tell anyone who cared to ask. A plumber by trade, they’d met when the pipe in her en suite bathroom burst one Sunday afternoon. She’d called the first company listed in the yellow pages and paid an arm and a leg for the repair, but thoroughly enjoyed the view as she waited for it to be fixed. Donald’s well-rounded, firm, plumber-butt definitely drew her away from her laptop, and she was thrilled when he’d asked for her number. However, his idea of a stellar evening included darts and drinks at his favorite pub, which was where he took her on their first date. And the next five. She’d always dreamed she would find a man who was kind, loving and, of course, fabulously sexy. Instead, she’d found Donald. He drew her in with winks and compliments. He held mystical powers when it came to bullshit, which he opened up like a clogged drain when he was with her. They used to talk a lot back then. She was attracted to his easy-going confidence. She was comfortable in his company and satisfied in his bed. Now, Callie realized he’d played her. She was merely his meal ticket with the option of sex.

Callie had never had a long-term, serious relationship before she met Donald. Her drive to climb the proverbial ladder had kept her from having time to socialize outside of work. Somehow, this man had wrenched his way into her heart. She’d allowed him into her life, her home . . . and now she was paying for him to plumb someone else’s pipes.

“Idiot,” she said.

NOW AVAILABLE AT GYPSY SHADOW PUBLISHING

http://www.gypsyshadow.com/Lee-AnnGraffVinson.html#Callie

WARRIOR WORLD SERIES VOLUME#23 - MIKE (PART II)

2011-10-03T19:08:00.000-07:00

Mike stared at his wife of thirteen years. Everything he thought would always be a constant source of happiness in his life had shattered before his eyes. He still held the yellow shirt in his hand, the shirt that he found hanging in his closet. The one that belonged to another man.

No words came. None were offered by his wife. He simply stood in front of her, his mouth hanging open. He’d seen his platoon members, his friends, disintegrate in front of him as they took fire from the enemy. None of what he’d seen had hit him as hard as this. His wife was having an affair.

“When did it start?”

“Mike. . .”

“I said when did it start?”

“Six months ago.”

“Do the kids know? Has he become their new daddy? Is he around my kids, Janet?”

“Mike. . .”

“You better start answering my questions. What do the kids call him?”

“You need to understand, Mike. I thought you were sleeping with other women over there. These kids don’t listen to me when you aren’t here. I needed help.”

Mike stared at her in disbelief. Janet had always been a strong, self-assured woman. It was one of the things that had first attracted him to her. He never had to worry about home when deployed because he knew she could handle any situation that arose.

“Mike, I thought you were sleeping with other women. I know you have needs and a year is a long time to go without. When I saw the condoms, I just. . .”

“Assumed wrong. Janet, if you think I’m going to believe this pack of bullshit wrapped neatly in a yellow shirt, you really do need help.”

“Well what was I supposed to think, Mike?”

“More of me than that.” His reply was low and full of rage. “You didn’t answer me. What do the kids call him?”

“He’s not here that much. The kids know him as a good friend, that’s all. I was waiting until you got home before I told you.”

“That was good of you.”

“I’m sorry, Mike.”

He turned away from her, and dropped the shirt in the garbage can by the door before leaving the room. He heard something that sounded like “oh, shit” before footsteps followed him to the couch. Their couch. The one she had to have and he bought for their anniversary two years ago. Guess I’m no longer the one she has to have. His guts twisted and he thought he might vomit.

“Mike. . .”

“Why?” he asked. He looked up at his wife. “Why?”

“I wasn’t looking for it, Mike. It just happened. I was angry at you. I was hurt.”

“So, rather than talk to me, you thought you’d destroy me instead?”

“I’m sorry.”

“Janet, do you even understand what I have to go through mentally to leave you and the kids? How much I hurt knowing I was missing all those birthdays, school plays, our anniversary? My deployments were for promotions. They were for us. So I could provide a better life for us, Janet. How could you do this to us? You didn’t even try to talk to me. Who is it, Janet?”

“It doesn’t matter. I will end it. It was a misunderstanding, Mike. I thought you didn’t love me.”

“No. Sorry, Janet. It does matter. Because now, you are no longer mine. I can barely look at you. End it if you have to, but don’t do it on my account.”

“Please, Mike. We can work through this!”

“I’m going to pick the kids up from school. I want him here when I get back. You bring the home wrecker here. Do you understand? If the two of you aren’t sitting in this living room when I get back, you better not be here either.”

“What is that going to prove, Mike? I told you I’m ending it. We can go to counseling. I made a mistake.”

“Both of you, sitting right here when I get back.” He pointed to the couch, then turned and walked out the front door.

“Daddy! Daddy!”

“Hey there, munchkins! How was your day?”

“Good. Mrs. Nolan kept Carol after school because she said a bad word, and Jack got a one minute detention for rocking in his chair. That’s silly don’t you think, daddy? How can you get in trouble for rocking in your chair?”

“I dunno pumpkin. Sometimes there are no answers for things. Come on you two, hop in the car.”

“Aren’t we going home, daddy?”

“Not just yet, sweetie. Why don’t we go for ice cream first?”

“Can we?”

“Oh, boy! Thanks, daddy! I’m so glad you’re home and we can be a family again.”

Mike had every intention of taking his kids home and confronting their mother, his wife, in front of her lover. As he looked into his children’s eyes, he knew he couldn’t do that to them. As much as he wanted to punish Janet for what she’d done to him, his children didn’t deserve to be in the middle of it.

“Mmm. . ., I love chocolate. Thank you, daddy. That was so yummy.”

“Good. I’m glad you enjoyed it.”

“What are we gonna do now, daddy?”

Mike sat and looked at his children, his two beautiful, intelligent, wonderful, frustrating, happy children. What could he do?

“Let’s go home.”

He called Janet on his way home and told her that he was coming home with the kids to spend a nice, quiet family night in. When they arrived home, she had the table set for four and their favorite dinner on the table.

“Daddy, you have to say grace.”

“I do, do I?”

“Yes, you always say the prayer when you’re home.”

Mike looked into his wife’s eyes. She looked on the verge of collapse, and her hands shook as she held them to her chin. She closed her eyes and bowed her head.

Mike cleared his throat and began, “Thank you, Lord for the bounty you have set before us; our two beautiful children; and the power to survive life’s challenges. Thank you for the strength to overcome, and the strength to make it through the hard times as one unit, as a family, Amen.”

Janet’s eyes flew open. “You mean it?”

“I do. Do you?”

“I do.”

“We do too! Can we eat now?”

Mike smiled slightly, “Dig in!”

The rest would not be easy, he knew that. He also knew what his family was worth. No one could take that away from him, not as long as he still drew a breath. The relieved look on his wife’s face told him that she still loved him. They would move on, together.

The bastard who used his wife, if he ever found him, would never move again.

****THIS VOLUME IS THE LAST IN THE WARRIOR WORLD SERIES. WARRIOR WORLD WILL BE COMPILED INTO NOVEL FORMAT AND SOLD. MY PURPOSE FOR THIS IS TO HAVE THE PROCEEDS OF THE SALES DONATED TO BENEFIT VETS WHO SUFFER FROM PTSD/CBI.I AM CURENTLY WORKING WITH MY PUBLISHER, GYPSY SHADOW PUBLISHING, TO CREATE THE NOVEL.HOWEVER,I HAVE NOT YET FOUND AN ORGANIZATION TO WORK WITH ON THIS ENDEAVOUR. IF YOU ARE WANTING TO BE A PART OF THIS PROJECT, OR KNOW OF A SPECIFIC ORGANIZATION THAT WOULD BENEFIT FROM THE PROCEEDS, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CONTACT ME OR GIVE THEM MY EMAIL: (leeannv@hotmail.com). ****

(As always, comments are welcomed)