A Conversation with Evy Journey, Author of Welcome Reluctant Stranger

Evy Journey, SPR (Self Publishing Review) Independent Woman Author awardee, is a writer, a wannabe artist, and a flâneuse. Her pretensions to being a flâneuse means she wishes she lives in Paris where people have perfected the art of aimless roaming. She’s lived in Paris few times as a transient.

She’s a writer because beautiful prose seduces her and existential angst continues to plague her even though such preoccupations have gone out of fashion. She takes occasional refuge by invoking the spirit of Jane Austen and spinning tales of love, loss, and finding one’s way—stories into which she weaves mystery or intrigue and sets in various locales.

In a previous life, armed with a Ph.D. and fascinated by the psyche, she researched and shepherded  the development of mental health programs. And wrote like an academic. Not a good thing if you want to sound like a normal person. So, she began to write fiction (mostly happy fiction) as an antidote.

Her latest book is Welcome Reluctant Stranger.

WEBSITE & SOCIAL LINKS:

WEBSITE | TWITTER | FACEBOOK

Interview:

Would you call yourself a born writer?

No, I wouldn’t. What is a born writer anyway? I believe the skills you need to be a great writer have to be and can be learned. You may have a unique eye and exceptional sensitivity to people’s behavior and feelings—which I think help with being a writer. Such traits are probably born with you but you still need to cultivate them.

What was your inspiration for Welcome Reluctant Stranger?

First of all, the impetus comes from the fact that this was the last book in a series I was writing about a family. In other words, I had to write it. But the inspiration for the plotline comes from the experience of some family members who had to flee a country on the brink of a revolution.

What themes do you like to explore in your writing?

I explore the nuances of what it means to love, mostly from the woman’s point of view. But loving is not something you can take outside the context of a how a particular life is lived. So, ultimately, the story I write becomes one about life, about real issues women and men face when they love. In the real world, love is a great catalyzer for a person’s growth.

How long did it take you to complete the novel?

One month for the first draft and another six months to revise, first on my own and, then, to get feedback from beta readers and an editor. That feedback led to more revisions.

Are you disciplined? Describe a typical writing day.

I’m not that organized in my writing. But I do devote a few hours of the day to writing or reading. I think reading great novels is essential to a writer. So, the first two hours after breakfast, I write either blog posts or the story I’m currently working on. Or I doodle ideas or research a novel I intend to write. In the evening, usually from 10 PM to 1 AM, I’ll continue what I was doing in the morning.

What did you find most challenging about writing this book?

Fleshing out the scenes that happen in the heroine’s old country to give it authenticity. I didn’t want to invent too much of what that fictitious country is like. Fortunately, I found someone on Fiverr who’s living in a Pacific island I interviewed her and corresponded with her on what her country is like.

What do you love most about being an author?

I was a researcher and I wrote book-sized research reports before I wrote fiction. Fiction requires much more imagination, gives you much more leeway. When you create a character and a fictional story, you have a lot of control, as opposed to facts and method having control of you. It’s freeing and it’s wonderful. And it’s a constant  adventure. You need to summon courage and imagination to change a beloved original storyline because of how characters or scenes develop. That makes fiction writing occasionally surprising and exciting.

Did you go with a traditional publisher, small press, or did you self publish? What was the process like and are you happy with your decision?

I went directly to self-publishing this book because I tried traditional with the first book in my series but nobody would bite. Besides, Amazon made it rather easy to go indie. It’s a heady experience having nearly full control over the publication of a book. Marketing, though, is another matter..

Where can we find you on the web?

I write about experiences that have inspired my stories, as well as my personal thoughts on writing at https://www.evyjourney.com .I share my views on books which made a deep impression on me at: https://margaretofthenorth.wordpress.com. I also have a blog about my thoughts on my other loves—art, travel, and food: https://eveonalimb2.com

I run a new Facebook group that I invite readers to join. We talk about things relating to books and food.  https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtful.romreaders.love.food/

About the Book:

Title: WELCOME RELUCTANT STRANGER
Author: Evy Journey
Publisher: Sojourner Books
Pages: 314
Genre: Multicultural Women’s Fiction

BOOK BLURB:

What happens when a brokenhearted computer nerd and culinary whiz gets rescued by a relationship phobic psychologist with a past that haunts her? For Leilani and Justin, it’s an attraction they can’t deny but which each is reluctant to pursue. More so for Leilani whose family had to flee their troubled country when she was only nine.

Leilani is focused on leaving the past behind, moving forward. But when she learns the truth behind her family’s flight—the shocking, shameful secret about her father’s role in a deadly political web—she is devastated.

Is her father a hero or a villain?  Can she deal with the truth?

But the past is impossible to run away from. Together with Justin, she must get her father out of her former home. Can she forgive her father, accept him for what he is? And can she reconnect with her roots and be at peace with who she is?

ORDER YOUR COPY:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble

 

Read Full Post »

Book Review: When Bad Backs Happen to Good People by Jordan S. Fersel, M.D.

Title: When Bad Backs Happen to Good People

Author: Jordan S. Fersel, MD

Publisher: iUniverse

Genre: Medical

Format: Ebook

Chronic back and neck pain is a thorny issue that plagues millions living in today’s modern world and has the power to take over a person’s life—not just physically, but also psychologically, emotionally, and physiologically. The good news is that there are effective ways of dealing with chronic pain that allows patients to return to a productive life without undergoing unnecessary surgery. Dr. Jordan Fersel is a board-certified pain specialist who relies on his diverse professional experience to distinguish the differences between acute and chronic pain, scrutinize the accuracy of an MRI scan to diagnose pain, examine the architecture of the spine, explain nerve injuries, differentiate between the various types of arthritis, and offer potential treatment options. Through included case studies and illustrations, pain sufferers will learn there is hope for managing pain through proper diagnosis and a treatment plan tailored to treat individual needs. It’s Not All in Your Head shares guidance from a trusted physician that explores chronic back and neck pain, its sources, and the many treatment options available.

PURCHASE HERE

MY REVIEW:

Being the wife of a chronic back pain sufferer I was very interested in reading this book. There are so many things that you hear when you suffer from chronic back pain – physical therapy, exercises you can do at home, pain management and surgery. This book was very well written and after I read it I handed it to my husband so he could take a look. some of the things we had heard before, but there was a lot of new information and the way the author lays out a lot of different information for you to study and should be helpful to all who suffer.

I would highly recommend!

Jordan Fersel, MD, is a board-certified, pain-management fellowship-trained physician who earned a BA in biology from Queens College and an MD degree from Mount Sinai School of Medicine. He has been director of Pain Management Services at Trinitas Medical Center Oncology Unit for several years. Dr. Fersel and his wife, Esty, divide their time between Philadelphia and West Orange, New Jersey.

 

Read Full Post »

A Chat with ‘Survivors’ Dawn’ Ashley Warren @survivorsdawn

 

The unending accounts of sexual assault on college campuses compelled me to write Survivors’ Dawn.

My goal in writing the novel was NOT to focus on the act itself, but instead, to write of the victim’s journey, to tell a story about the strength, courage, and determination of survivors, to describe the difficulties they face in their pursuit of justice, and finally, to offer hope for a future where students can pursue their dreams without fear of being attacked.

As Lady Gaga’s “Til It Happens to You” implies, non-victims can never truly know how it feels to be assaulted, but we can try to empathize, and we can try to help. Awareness is key to reducing the incidence of sexual assault on campus. Please do your part by taking the It’s On Us pledge and contributing to organizations that are fighting on the front lines.

Thank you to readers who give me encouragement. It means so much to me. Word of mouth is an incredible thing, so thank you also for telling your friends about Survivors’ Dawn.

WEBSITE & SOCIAL LINKS:

WEBSITE | TWITTER | FACEBOOK

Q:  Can we begin by having you take us to the beginning? When did you come up with the idea to write your book?

On a sunny day in early 2010, I sat in my parked car, late for an appointment, stunned by an NPR story about sexual predators. I had no idea criminals such as these roamed freely on university campuses.

Since then, I’ve paid close attention to the issue. It never goes away, and by all accounts, the crime is pervasive at every college. As I read story after story, I began to wonder if I could write a novel about victims whose lives were brought together by a common assailant.

Unlike murder—the inciting incident for thousands of mysteries published every year—only a handful of novels have been written about sexual assault. Why? When I asked people that question, they always gave me the same answer: No one wants to read a story about rape.

But just as murder mysteries are not about murder, Survivors’ Dawn is not about rape. Murder mysteries relate the journey of the protagonist as she seeks to solve the crime. Survivors’ Dawn is about the journeys of the victims after the crime: their struggle to survive, the obstacles they face in their pursuit of justice, and their hope for a future when students can pursue their dreams without fear of being attacked.

Brooke Flanagan, Lauren Le, and Nikki Towers are fictitious characters, but their stories are real. Victims face similar fates every day. And predators like Colin Jordan exist too.

Q: How hard was it to write a book like this and do you have any tips that you could pass on which would make the journey easier for other writers?

To write a credible story about the journeys of victims, I had to do a lot of research. When I read about and listened to the stories of college survivors, they broke my heart. But then I realized that the victims are in fact heroes. They suffer tremendous pain and stress, they wrestle with guilt and shame, and if they accuse their assailants, they often encounter indifference and/or victim blaming. They are heroes, and a hero’s story deserves to be told.

When writing a story about a tough subject, you will encounter setbacks along the way, not the least of which is your own hesitation. Have faith. Push through those barriers.

Q: Who is your publisher and how did you find them or did you self-publish?

Self-published.

Q: Is there anything that surprised you about getting your first book published?

Initially, I pursued the traditional route to getting published by sending query letters to thirty literary agents. Half responded with form rejection emails, and the rest never answered my query. I don’t know if any of them read the manuscript excerpt. Apparently, the agents didn’t believe they could sell the book to a publisher, and how could I fault their skepticism? After all, no one wants to read a story about rape. But by then, the story had taken ahold of me, and I had to keep pressing forward.

Q: What other books are you working on and when will they be published?

In my next novel, a poor kid from Appalachia bootstraps her way through law school and into a high-dollar lobbying job for the pharmaceutical industry. After legislation is passed that thwarts the DEA’s efforts to stem the tide of black market painkillers, she returns home for a funeral and must face the carnage brought to her former town by illegal prescription opioids.

The publication timeframe is TBD.

Q: What’s one fact about your book that would surprise people?

It’s not available in print. My budget demanded that I choose between hiring a great editor and spending money on print design. I chose editing, but if I sell enough eBooks, I’ll pump that money back into the print publishing process.

Q: Finally, what message are you trying to get across with your book?

College students have been sexually assaulted for as long as colleges have existed. The problem won’t go away by itself, and survivors can’t end the crisis on their own. They need our help. Remember, good women and men outnumber predators many times over. Good people everywhere must stand up and say no more.

Survivors’ Dawn will introduce you to the subject. As you walk with the survivors, you will experience fear, despair, anger, disgust, purpose, redemption, and finally, hope. You might even decide to get involved. A good start would be to take the It’s On Us pledge and make a donation.

Q: Thank you again for this interview! Do you have any final words?

Thank you for having me. Book bloggers make the world a better place!

About the Book:

 

A heroic story of three college women’s fight for justice

At first glance, Brooke Flanagan, Lauren Le, and Nikki Towers have little in common: a churchgoing virgin, a party , and a resident advisor. But they all have their own dreams, dreams that can be shattered in a single night.

When freshman Brooke Flanagan first arrives at the university, she’s excited to escape her sheltered life in a Southern town. Lauren Le, a scholarship student, likes to have a good time, but she never disappoints her hardworking, single mom. Nikki Towers always goes her own way. Confident, poised, and wealthy, Nikki’s biggest problem is what to do with her future.

Into these girls’ lives walks Colin Jordan. Colin is the son of a private equity titan, captain of his club basketball team, and a brilliant pre-law student. He is also a sexual predator.

Survivors’ Dawn relates a journey of heroes: the strength, courage, and determination of the victims as they fight to survive; the obstacles they face in their pursuit of justice; and finally, with its conclusion, hope for a future where students can pursue their dreams without fear of being attacked.

A contemporary novel, Survivor’s Dawn wrestles with issues of privilege, sexual assault, and the responsibility of academic institutions to protect their students.

ORDER YOUR COPY:

Amazon

Read Full Post »

Back Story: Stairway to Paradise by Nadia Natali

Back Story: Stairway to Paradise by Nadia Natali

This memoir is about my bumpy journey toward truth and authenticity with the hope that those of you who read it can glean some value.

You may believe fame and wealth bring happiness. That was not my experience.

My mother, sister of George and Ira Gershwin, and my father who invented color film were the primary models in my childhood. Growing up with such talent as I did, you learn early on that it distorts values.

I unwittingly set my brilliant father up as an authority figure, even though he was terrifying and unpredictable. And because the family dynamic was unhealthy I didn’t know whom to trust or even that trust was possible, especially in myself. Later as a young woman I turned away from my background and looked to teachers and professionals for the truth. It took some time for me to realize that their expertise could only take me so far.

After one false start and then another I found a caring partner, Enrico, whom I initially turned to, believing he could impart a way for me to find my own direction and answers, as he seemed to have found for himself. What was so radical to learn was how and where to look. What I learned was going to sensations in the body rather than the thinking mind was where the key to change and transformation lay.

We married and moved out to the wilderness where we faced floods, fire, rattle snakes, mountain lions and bears. In the years it took to build a house we lived in a teepee. We tried to create our own paradise where we raised and homeschooled three children.

Our life turned upside down when the kids became teenagers. Paradise crashed and my relationship with Enrico deteriorated. The grown children struggled to find a place in the outside world. We faced tragedy and I, cancer. This was when my hard earned ability to experience the somatic (inner experience as sensation) helped regulate me and provide me with a chance to find authenticity and authority, as well as a more mature relationship with Enrico. I was able to use this inner working as a way to help others, which I call DanceMedicine, a healing through movement.

We are still living in the wilderness and offer workshops and retreats to anyone who is interested.

About the Author

Nadia Natali, author of the memoir, Stairway to Paradise: Growing Up Gershwin, published by Rare Bird, Los Angeles, 2015, and The Blue Heron Ranch Cookbook: Recipes and Stories from a Zen Retreat Center published by North Atlantic Books, Berkeley CA, 2008, is currently working on a second cookbook titled Zafu Kitchen Cookbook. 

Natali, a clinical psychotherapist and dance therapist, specializes in trauma release through somatic work. She earned a master’s degree from Hunter College in New York City in Dance/Movement Therapy and completed another masters degree in clinical psychology with an emphasis in somatic psychology at the Santa Barbara Graduate Institute. Nadia is a registered practitioner of Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapy (RCST) and is also a certified Somatic Experiencing Practitioner (SEP) who trained with Peter Levine.

DanceMedicine Workshops is Natali’s creation where participants move through their trauma with dialogue and dance. She also offers the Ojai community, DanceMedicine Journeys. In addition to her private practice, Nadia and her husband offer Zen Retreats at their center.

Born into a famous family that was riddled with dysfunction, Nadia Natali made the choice to turn her life inside out and step away from fame and fortune. Against her parents’ consent she married an artist and moved to the remote wilderness in California. It was there that she found grounding as she and her husband raised and homeschooled their three children and opened a retreat center. As she gathered her own momentum, she enrolled in a doctorate program finally becoming a clinical psychotherapist specializing in psychosomatic work. She and her husband live in Ojai California.

WEBSITE & SOCIAL LINKS:

WEBSITE | TWITTER | FACEBOOK

 

About the Book:

 

Growing up as Frankie Gershwin’s daughter, the sister of George and Ira Gershwin, was quite a challenge. I didn’t have the perspective to realize that so much unhappiness in a family was out of the ordinary. But I knew something was off. My mother was often depressed and my father was tyrannical and scary, one never knew when he would blow up. I learned early on that I had to be the cheery one, the one to fix the problems. Both sides of my family were famous; the Gershwin side and my father who invented color film. But even though there was more than enough recognition, money and parties I understood that wasn’t what made people happy.

As a young adult adrift and depressed I broke from that unsatisfactory life by marrying Enrico Natali, a photographer, deeply immersed in his own questions about life. We moved into the wilderness away from what we considered as the dysfunction of society. That’s when we discovered that life had other kinds of challenges: flood, fire, rattlesnakes, mountain lions and bears. We lived in a teepee for more than four years while building a house. Curiously my mother never commented on my life choice. She must have realized on some level that her own life was less than satisfactory.

Enrico had developed a serious meditation practice that had become a kind of ground for him. As for me I danced. Understanding the somatic, the inner body experience, became my way to shift the inner story.

We raised and homeschooled our three children. I taught them to read, Enrico taught them math. The kids ran free, happy, always engaged, making things, and discovering. We were so sure we were doing the right thing. However, we didn’t have a clue how they would make the transition to the so-called ‘real world’. The children thrived until they became teenagers. They then wanted out. Everything fell apart for them and for Enrico and me. Our lives were turned upside down, our paradise lost. There was tragedy: our son lost his life while attempting to cross our river during a fierce storm. Later I was further challenged by advanced breast cancer.

It was during these times that I delved deeply into the somatic recesses of myself. I began to find my own voice, a long learning process. I emerged with a profound trust in my own authority. It became clear that everyone has to find his or her way through layers of inauthenticity, where a deep knowing can develop. And I came to see that is the best anyone can offer to the world.

Enrico and I still live in the wilds of the Lost Padres National Forest, a paradise with many steps going up and down, a life I would not change.

ORDER YOUR COPY:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Audible

Read Full Post »

Book Blast: The Possum in the Pool by Joy Liebl

 

 

Title: The Possum in the Pool

Author: Joy Liebl

Publisher: XLibrisUS

Genre: Children’s Book

Format: Ebook

 

A fun and educational book with attention grabbing illustrations for younger children and easy to read text for older ones.  The book’s focus is on listening to parents and the consequences of not doing so.  It also deals with a parent’s love and concern for their children. It received great reviews from “Pacific Book Review” and “US Review of Books (w/Eric Hoffer)”. 

Purchase Here

 

Joy Liebl was born and raised in Milwaukee, WI.  She spent 5 years living in Elmhurst, IL before settling in Winter Park and then Safety Harbor, FL.  Joy loves to crochet, do needlepoint & embroidery, sketch and work with dollhouse miniatures which she sells in her Etsy Shop “JoysHandmades” along with her crocheted pieces and varied vintage items.  She is an avid reader but enjoys “Fantasy” the most.  This is her first published book.  The story line is based on a true life experience of finding a small baby possum in her pool one morning and expanding her mind to create what she felt happened before and after the poor possum fell into the pool.  Joy designed every bit of the book herself as to how each page must be set up to maximize the story.  She was thrilled with D’Lynn Roll’s vision of how Robby would look and with each picture subsequently done.  Joy was equally thrilled with the wonderful reviews she received from “Pacific Book Reviews” and “US Book Reviews”  

GIVEAWAY

Joy IS GIVING AWAY A $25 GIFT CARD!

  

Terms & Conditions:

• By entering the giveaway, you are confirming you are at least 18 years old.
• One winner will be chosen via Rafflecopter to receive one $25 Gift Certificate to the e-retailer of your choice
• This giveaway begins March 19 and ends on March 30.
• Winners will be contacted via email on March 31.
• Winner has 48 hours to reply.

Good luck everyone! 

ENTER TO WIN!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

Read Full Post »

A Conversation with ‘Last Puffs’ Harley Mazuk @fswiver

Harley Mazuk was born in Cleveland, the last year that the Indians won the World Series. He majored in English literature at Hiram College in Ohio, and Elphinstone College, Bombay, India. Harley worked as a record salesman (vinyl) and later served the U.S. Government in Information Technology and in communications, where he honed his writing style as an editor and content provider for official web sites.

Retired now, he likes to write pulp fiction, mostly private eye stories, several of which have appeared in Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine. His first full length novel, White with Fish, Red with Murder, was released in 2017, and his newest, Last Puffs, just came out in January 2018.

Harley’s other passions are his wife Anastasia, their two children, reading, running, Italian cars, California wine and peace.

WEBSITE & SOCIAL LINKS:

WEBSITE | TWITTER | FACEBOOK

About the Book:

 

Frank Swiver and his college pal, Max Rabinowitz, both fall in love with Amanda Zingaro, courageous Republican guerilla, in the Spanish civil war. But the local fascists murder her and her father.

Eleven years later in San Francisco in 1949, Frank, traumatized by the violence in Spain, has become a pacifist and makes a marginal living as a private eye. Max who lost an eye in Spain but owes his life to Frank, has pledged Frank eternal loyalty. He’s a loyal communist party member and successful criminal attorney.

Frank takes on a case for Joan Spring, half-Chinese wife of a wealthy banker. Joan seduces Frank to ensure his loyalty. But Frank busts up a prostitution/white slavery ring at the Lotus House a brothel in Chinatown, where Joan was keeping refugees from Nanking prisoners.

Then Max sees a woman working in a Fresno cigar factory, who is a dead ringer for Amanda, and brings in Frank, who learns it is Amanda. She has tracked the fascists who killed her father and left her for dead from her village in Spain to California. Amanda wants Frank to help her take revenge. And by the way, she says the ten-year-old boy with her is Frank’s son.

Joan Spring turns out to be a Red Chinese secret agent, and she’s drawn a line through Max’s name with a pencil. Can Frank save Max again? Can he help Amanda avenge her father when he’s sworn off violence? Can he protect her from her target’s daughter, the sadistic Veronica Rios-Ortega? Join Frank Swiver in the swift-moving story, Last Puffs.

Praise:

.5 out of 5 stars Wonderful Read – Easy and Fun

February 10, 2018

Format: Kindle Edition| Verified Purchase

Frank Swiver is a detective. Murder investigations are his specialty. He likes wine, loose women and fast cars. Not necessarily in that order. Swiver inhabits an earlier world that is archaic and, without doubt, politically incorrect by today’s standards. Harley Mazuk recreates in Swiver a character from another era whose story is fun and entertaining. Mazuk has an impressive knowledge of wines and cars which permeate his narrative. As to his knowledge of women, I am not competent to judge. I do know that the geography and time period portrayed is well researched. There are many twists and turns to the plot as well as an injection of espionage that keeps the reader guessing. Fans of old fashion detective novels will enjoy this book. I know, I did.

— Amazon Reviewer

ORDER YOUR COPY:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Would you call yourself a born writer?

I’m a born story-teller perhaps. Nothing I’d like better than sitting down on the barstool next to you and telling you a story. But although I wanted to be a writer, even back in my college days, I was not a born writer. I studied the craft in various writing classes and workshops. Most of all, I read.

What was your inspiration for Last Puffs?

The main inspiration was a piece I heard on National Public Radio about an old-fashioned cigar factory like they had in Havana or Tampa. The workers rolled cigars by hand while a lector read to them. That idea—a factory so quiet that someone could read to the workers—appealed to me. I knew I wanted to write a scene in which a beautiful dark-haired, dark-eyed woman rolled cigars on her tawny, bare thigh while the lector read. It was a small seed, but the whole book grew from that.

What themes do you like to explore in your writing?

Non-violence—my series private eye, Frank Swiver, is a pacifist. The importance of courage. The duality of human nature—how villains can have some good, and how our heroes are often flawed, flawed to the point where they act in evil ways. The breakdown of civil order in society at certain times and places—for example during the Spanish Civil War in Last Puffs. How do characters act when there is no rule of law, when society cannot protect the weak or powerless? Finally, there are the classic noir themes like love, lust, loneliness, greed, jealousy, tough guys, lying dames, violence, double-crosses, and murder.

How long did it take you to complete the novel?

The first draft came along quickly—no more than 18 months, I’d guess. The first draft was good; it seemed to be what I was aiming at, but there were many disparate themes and plot lines. I had to pull it all together, and I probably spent twice as long on revisions. Last Puffs was not the only burner I was keeping lit at the time. I had short stories on the fire too, and all along, I was shepherding my first novel through the editing/publishing process.

Are you disciplined? Describe a typical writing day.

I’m lucky to have learned discipline early. I delivered the Cleveland Plain Dealer, a morning paper, for nine years. That meant getting up every day at 6 a.m., and in Cleveland there were about 14 snowy winters in those nine years! It took discipline to go out to deliver 100 papers on a morning that was not fit for man nor beast. I also learned discipline taking four years of Latin in high school. Reading 50 lines of Caesar or Virgil every night for homework—that too was discipline.

I’m retired now, so I have a very casual schedule. I used to write in the morning, but now, on a typical day, I run about three miles when I get up. I make myself breakfast, do household chores, and run errands. When I’m done with everything else, I settle down to write. Typically, I shoot for a minimum of 500 words, but I’ll go 1,000 some days if the mood is on me.

What did you find most challenging about writing this book?

My character’s backstory is tied up in his experiences in the Spanish Civil War, where he fought with the Abe Lincoln Brigade in 1937-‘38. But Last Puffs is also about a Red Chinese spy in San Francisco, a private eye, and a murder in Fresno in 1948-‘49. The challenge was tying these ideas together into a coherent narrative, spanning the continents and the years.

What do you love most about being an author?

I love writing and a wise person once said, “If you’re doing what you love, you’ll never have to work a day in your life.” I love not working.

Did you go with a traditional publisher, small press, or did you self publish? What was the process like and are you happy with your decision?

I went with a small press for my first novel, White with Fish, Red with Murder. They were perhaps too small. My book couldn’t support the publisher, and they went out of business in October. That put my second book and me back at square one. I sent my manuscript around to publishers who accept unagented submissions. Those are mostly small presses—folks who publish and sell e-books and print-on-demand books via online retailers. Last Puffs is a good book but getting published is a matter of finding the right home for your novel. I feel fortunate to have found New Pulp Press.

Since I signed with them, the process, the production of the book, has been quick, and very easy for me. I am quite happy with New Pulp.

Where can we find you on the web?

My web site is www.harleymazuk.com. I blog at http://harleymazuk.blogspot.com/. I’d be happy to hear from you on my Facebook author’s page, https://www.facebook.com/HarleyMazukAuthor/.

Thanks!

Read Full Post »

Book Review: Yesterday is Never Gone by Ilona Salley

 

Title: Yesterday is Never Gone

Author: Ilona Sally

Publisher: iUniverse

Genre: Thriller/Crime

Format: Ebook

Niki is no stranger to horrific personal challenges. As a child, she bravely endured abandonment by her father. While in her teens, she witnessed her mother’s murder and the abduction and presumed death of her only sibling. Although her secrets have always been carefully cloaked from others, they have shaped her personality more than she would like to admit. But with a past as terrible as hers, how can Niki ever hope for a bright future? Years later, Niki is a dedicated profiler in a criminal investigation agency with no idea her life is about to change exponentially. One day, through a quirky twist of fate, she receives startling news that her sister, Inge, is alive. As a driving force compels Niki to search for her, she embarks on a quest that takes her through cities and wilderness on two continents. She encounters difficult decisions, threatening mobsters, near-death experiences, and romance, yet nothing deters her from reaching her goal—not even a gruesome discovery about her father. But Niki is about to discover that things are never what they seem to be. In this thrilling tale, deception and inner turmoil hamper a young woman’s journey toward a new reality as she attempts to reconcile her past and find the truth.

My Review

When you think of a book that brings to light all the emotions, this is that book. Niki is a character who has a lot of depth and has a lot going on in her life. And while you aren’t sure if she will find her way, she does, even while dealing with situations that are far from ideal.

The plot flows easily and the reader is propelled forward with ease. A very well written book and one I would highly recommend.

Ilona Salley emigrated from Germany to Toronto, Canada, with her family when she was three. Throughout her life, her interests have included squash, skiing, wood carving, literature, art, and languages. Her fascination with architecture and archaeology has led her to travel in search of ancient places and artifacts. After a long career as an educator, she expanded her horizons by teaching in England and China. Now, she spends part of each year in Fort Myers, Florida.

 

Read Full Post »

Book Blast: Sgarrwrath by Sarah Kennedy

 

Title: Sgarrwrath

Author: Sarah Kennedy

Publisher: XlibrisUS

Genre: Fantasy

Format: Ebook

 

The Flame is the most mysterious and powerful entity in the universe. Even the Guardians, in whose hearts Flame burns, who breathe and wield its power, have never seen its Source nor harnessed its full potential. They are content to serve the Light. Arawn is not like the others. He is young, untested, and he seeks more power though a prophecy reveals the predominance of the Flame belongs to another. Arawn is easy prey for Sgarrwrath who lures him into Darkness to corrupt Arawnís Flame to his will. His brotherís, three powerful, incorruptible Guardians refuse to abandon hope. They journey into Darkness, how far will they go to save him?

I have always loved to write stories and was blessed with wonderful parents who still encourage me to follow my dreams. To hone my craft, I have taken courses through the Institute of Childrenís Literature and Long Ridge Writerís Group. In 2005, I was published in Angels on Earth, and in 2011, I published my debut novel, Sgarrwrath, Prequel to the Prophecy of Hope, which recently received an Honorary Mention in the Halloween Book Festival Competition of October 2013. Today, I live quietly in a small town with my three rambunctious cats. 

Normal
0

false
false
false

EN-US
X-NONE
X-NONE

/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:”Table Normal”;
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:””;
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin-top:0in;
mso-para-margin-right:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt;
mso-para-margin-left:0in;
line-height:115%;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}

https://http://www.sgarrwrath.com

Normal
0

false
false
false

EN-US
X-NONE
X-NONE

/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:”Table Normal”;
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:””;
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin-top:0in;
mso-para-margin-right:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt;
mso-para-margin-left:0in;
line-height:115%;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5VLxnIJTzTc

Normal
0

false
false
false

EN-US
X-NONE
X-NONE

/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:”Table Normal”;
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:””;
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin-top:0in;
mso-para-margin-right:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt;
mso-para-margin-left:0in;
line-height:115%;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}

https://http://www.facebook.com/fantasyauthorSarahKennedy

GIVEAWAY

Sarah IS GIVING AWAY A $25 GIFT CARD!

  

Terms & Conditions:

• By entering the giveaway, you are confirming you are at least 18 years old.
• One winner will be chosen via Rafflecopter to receive one $25 Gift Certificate to the e-retailer of your choice
• This giveaway begins February 26 and ends on March 9.
• Winners will be contacted via email on March 10.
• Winner has 48 hours to reply.

Good luck everyone! 

ENTER TO WIN!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

Monday, February 26

A Book Lover

My Bookish PleasuresTuesday, February 27

The Hype and the Hoopla

Write and Take FlightWednesday, February 28

Harmonious Publicity

Book Cover JunkieThursday, March 1

Fiction to Fruition

From Paperback to
LeatherboundFriday, March 2

She Writes

A Title WaveMonday, March 5

PUYB Virtual Book Club

The Literary NookTuesday, March 6

Voodoo Princess
C’est La TWednesday, March 7

The Revolving Bookshelf

The Dark PhantomThursday, March 8

The Book Refuge

The Book CzarFriday, March 9

The Zen Reader

I’m Shelf-ish

96

Normal
0

false
false
false

EN-US
X-NONE
X-NONE

/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:”Table Normal”;
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:””;
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Calibri;}

 

Read Full Post »

A Bookish Conversation with Thriller Author Karen S. Bell @karensuebell

When a Stranger Comes…is Ms. Bell’s third novel. Her debut, Walking with Elephants, was initially published by a small publisher who went out of business. Subsequently, she took over as an indie publisher. It went on to win the Awesome Indies Seal of Excellence and was a top-five finalist in the Kindle Book Review’s 2012 contest for the best indie books. Sunspots, her second novel, was awarded the IndiePENdents.org Seal of Approval for good writing. She holds a Master of Science in Mass Communication and for 15 years, she was an editor/copyeditor for a “Big Four” public accounting firm. Ms. Bell was also technical editor for an accounting industry magazine.

Here are some reviews of her previous work published in the Florida Times Union:

http://jacksonville.com/entertainment/2013-07-13/story/book-review-sunspots-karen-s-bell#

http://jacksonville.com/entertainment/literature/2011-03-13/story/book-review-karen-s-bell-fills-walking-elephants-charm

WEBSITE & SOCIAL LINKS:

WEBSITE | TWITTER | FACEBOOK

About the Book:

Achieving what you crave can also bring the terrifying fear of losing it. For Alexa Wainwright, this truth has become her nightmare. Born Gladys Lipschitz, the daughter of an unwed Soviet-era Jewish immigrant, her debut novel, A Foregone Conclusion, soared to number one on the bestseller’s list and became an international sensation. The accompanying fame and riches were beyond her expectations. Unfortunately, her subsequent work has yet to achieve the same reception by critics and readers. Yes, they have sold well based on her name recognition, but she dreads the possibility of becoming a mid-list author forgotten and ignored. She vows to do whatever it takes to attain the heady ego-stroking success of her debut. But is she really?

Witnessing an out-of-the-blue lightning bolt whose giant tendrils spread over the blue sky and city streets below her loft window, Alexa doesn’t realize just how this vow will be tested as she’s magically transported to an alternate reality. In this universe, the characters from her books are given the breath of life and she meets publisher, King Blakemore, who just might be the Devil himself. At first, she shrugs off her doubts about this peculiar publisher and very lucrative book deal offer because the temptation of riches and refound fame is too strong. But all too soon, Alexa realizes she’s trapped in an underworld of evil from which she desperately wants to escape. For starters, she finds herself in an iron-clad book contract that changes its wording whenever she thinks of a loophole. Desperate to get her life back, she devises schemes to untether herself from this hellish existence. She’s also aided by the forces for good who attempt to help her. However, King Blakemore is cleverer and more powerful than she can begin to understand. Playfully, he decides to give Alexa a second chance to save herself from eternity with him and to be free. He offers her the prospect of a rewrite, as most authors do as part of the writing process. Given this chance, will Alexa make the same choices and the same mistakes again?

Alexa, as the MC, is relatable, likable, and vulnerable with a keen sense of humor. Her world is very small because writing is her life and so she is an easy target for entrapment. Her pact with the Devil is an allegory for the evil lurking in our midst. The social decay of modern society with its excessive greed, the ignorance of our political leaders, and our indifference toward the survival of all species from the effects of climate change, among other environmental pressures, are perhaps brought forth by the darkest forces of human nature.

When A Stranger Comes is available at Amazon.

Would you call yourself a born writer?

No. First I was an avid reader but the urge to write began forming in my twenties.

What was your inspiration for WHEN A STRANGER COMES…?

I thought it would be fun to picture myself as a very successful author. Would it be all laughs or would there be a downside? Quickly, natural insecurities took hold like when you read about famous actors being afraid they will never work again. So making a pact with the devil seemed plausible…ha ha.

What themes do you like to explore in your writing?

I like to have an underlying social message. In this work it’s about our culture of greed and how it’s causing society’s moral decay. In my debut, WALKING WITH ELEPHANTS, written way before others on this topic, it was about the work/life pressures on working mothers. In SUNSPOTS, I explored a young woman losing her husband after just two years of marriage and how some women can lose their identity in marriage, so a loss like this is on many levels.

How long did it take you to complete the novel?

About two years.

Are you disciplined? Describe a typical writing day.

Before the plot takes hold, I find myself marketing my other books—avoidance technique. But I’m at the computer, so eventually a sentence or two is composed. When I’m in the throes of the narrative thoughts come to me all the time, insert themselves into my conscious space and then I add it to the narrative at some point. So short answer, I’m very undisciplined.

What did you find most challenging about writing this book?

Choosing the right word, always a challenge. Grammar, grammar, grammar always a conundrum.

What do you love most about being an author?

The honest answer is I love the process. I love composing sentences. Seeing the scene in my mind and getting it right using words. I love being enthralled in the narrative. Compelled.

Did you go with a traditional publisher, small press, or did you self publish? What was the process like and are you happy with your decision?

I really wanted to get an agent and then a New York publishing house. Big dreams. I thought this book had it. But, alas, after a year of “no thanks” I published it myself. My first book was published by an indie publisher who went out of business, so I took over. SUNSPOTS could not find a home so I self-published that as well. I’m not happy with the limited distribution of POD. I cannot afford a vanity press with a print run so my books are not stocked at Barnes and Nobles or other book stores. Very disappointing. But what can you do? My mantra: maybe my next one.

Where can we find you on the web?

http://www.karensbell.com

Read Full Post »

Book Blast: Arising by Sarah Kennedy – Win a $25 Gift Card

 

Title: Arising

Author: Sarah Kennedy

Publisher: XlibrisUS

Genre: Fantasy

Format: Ebook

 

Darkness comes. A world hangs in the balances. The Time of the Prophecy has begun.

Lorshinó

A cursed soul, wracked by guilt, plays a dangerous game with the Dark

Cadclucanó

Hiding and hunted, the Guardian of the Stone of Existence is the last of his kind remaining in the world.

Sgarrwrathó

He is the ancient evil relentlessly seeking the eternal object of his forbidden desire and the means to dominion.

And a Disruptionó

A Human whose face shines like the Sun.

Four lives bound in Prophecy.

One choice for all: Surrender or Die

An epic, dark fantasy saga continues . . .

I have always loved to write stories and was blessed with wonderful parents who still encourage me to follow my dreams. To hone my craft, I have taken courses through the Institute of Childrenís Literature and Long Ridge Writerís Group. In 2005, I was published in Angels on Earth, and in 2011, I published my debut novel, Sgarrwrath, Prequel to the Prophecy of Hope, which recently received an Honorary Mention in the Halloween Book Festival Competition of October 2013. Today, I live quietly in a small town with my three rambunctious cats. 

Normal
0

false
false
false

EN-US
X-NONE
X-NONE

/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:”Table Normal”;
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:””;
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin-top:0in;
mso-para-margin-right:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt;
mso-para-margin-left:0in;
line-height:115%;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}

https://http://www.sgarrwrath.com

Normal
0

false
false
false

EN-US
X-NONE
X-NONE

/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:”Table Normal”;
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:””;
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin-top:0in;
mso-para-margin-right:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt;
mso-para-margin-left:0in;
line-height:115%;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5VLxnIJTzTc

Normal
0

false
false
false

EN-US
X-NONE
X-NONE

/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:”Table Normal”;
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:””;
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin-top:0in;
mso-para-margin-right:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt;
mso-para-margin-left:0in;
line-height:115%;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}

https://http://www.facebook.com/fantasyauthorSarahKennedy

GIVEAWAY

Sarah IS GIVING AWAY A $25 GIFT CARD!

  

Terms & Conditions:

• By entering the giveaway, you are confirming you are at least 18 years old.
• One winner will be chosen via Rafflecopter to receive one $25 Gift Certificate to the e-retailer of your choice
• This giveaway begins February 26 and ends on March 9.
• Winners will be contacted via email on March 10.
• Winner has 48 hours to reply.

Good luck everyone! 

ENTER TO WIN!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

Monday,February 26
She Writes

Review From Here

Tuesday, February 27

Literal Exposure

The Writer’s LifeWednesday, February 28

As the Pages Turn

A Title Wave

Thursday, March 1

I’m Shelf-ish

The Dark Phantom

Friday, March 2

The Zen Reader

Inkslinger’s Opus

Monday, March 5

All Inclusive Retort

A Taste of My Mind

Tuesday, March 6

Bent Over Bookwords

Lover of Literature

Wednesday, March 7

The Book Czar

The Book Refuge

Thursday, March 8

The Revolving Bookshelf

Voodoo Princess

Friday, March 9

From Paperback to
Leatherbound

Harmonious Publicity

96

Normal
0

false
false
false

EN-US
X-NONE
X-NONE

/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:”Table Normal”;
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:””;
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}

 

Read Full Post »