Welcome to the Weekend With... Author Brian Cohen

Back in March, I did a brief review of Brian Cohen's book, The Life O'Reilly and today I give you the man behind the book.

First tell us a little about you-
A native New Yorker, I was born in Queens and raised on Long Island. I have been practicing law for over 12 years, specializing in complex litigation. I live with my wife and our daughters in the suburbs of New York City.

When did you first start writing and did you always want to be an author?
I have had a passion for all things creative, including film, literature, and music, since elementary school. During my Middle School and High School years, when I was introduced to literary classics such as To Kill a Mockingbird, Catcher in the Rye, Les Miserables, and The Count of Monte Cristo, I discovered both a love of fiction and a knack for creative writing. But it wasn’t until my first semester of law school that I truly caught “the writing bug” and knew I had to become a storyteller.

What is the most challenging aspect of writing? Most rewarding?
Having balance in my life is a top priority, so finding the time to write, while also having a family and a demanding legal career, is a challenge. When I'm writing, I usually wake up at 4 a.m. (as crazy as that sounds!), but with the busy life that I lead, it's not always possible to maintain that kind of schedule. After all, sleep is important!

The most rewarding aspect of writing is the wonderful reactions I get from readers!

When you sit down to start a new book do you begin with an outline or synopsis or do you just go with the flow?
I like to have biographical sketches for the main characters and a general outline that gives the novel structure, although as characters come to life during the writing process, they tend to take the story in new directions (which is a good thing!).

I know my readers really loved the cover of The Life O’Reilly. How involved do you typically get with regards to cover art for your books?
I had a vision of what I wanted the cover to look like, and shared that vision with my cover designer. She took that idea and ran with it and, after a few different drafts, we came together on the final product. She did an outstanding job, and I couldn't be happier!

Where did you get the idea for this book?
I am a huge fan of crime fiction, so as an attorney setting out to write a first novel, it naturally followed that legal suspense would be my genre of choice. I spent six months researching, plotting, outlining, and creating character sketches, and then another six months cranking out 150 pages of material. During that time, though, a lot was happening in my life – stories of people my age dying prematurely were being told with alarming frequency, the rat race had become all-consuming, and my wife and I were getting ready to welcome our first child into the world. Then one day, I appreciated that everything I’d been experiencing had inspired another story; I realized that, though writing a crime novel was something I wanted to do, telling the story of Nick O’Reilly was something I had to do. So that evening, I told my wife that I was shelving the thriller and starting on a new project and, the following morning, I began writing The Life O’Reilly and have never looked back.

How much research did you do for your book and how much ended up in the finished product?
I did a lot of research both before and during the writing process and a lot of it made it into the final version!

When a new book comes out, are you nervous about how readers will react to it? How much of yourself do you invest (emotionally and otherwise in your work)?
Sure, there is a bit of nervousness when a book comes out, but I pour my heart into what I decide to publish and do so knowing that there is an audience for my work.

What do you hope for your writing career in the next few years? Any goals that you have yet to obtain that you have set for yourself?
I hope that there will be many more books and, of course, that I will continue to connect with more and more readers!

Do you have written any other stories and yet to be published novels, when can we expect your next book?
I am currently working on my second novel. It's hard to say when it will be out, but hopefully sooner rather than later!

You can influence any one thing in the entire history, the present or the future of the world (what has occurred, how something works, etc.). What would you choose to change and why?
I would prevent The Holocaust from happening.


Thank you for joining us today, Brian.
 

Be sure to check out Brian's website.

Just got an email from the wonderful Brian Cohen and he is offering a signed copy to one lucky commenter. I will announce a winner on the 21st. All you have to do is leave a comment (following would be nice too, but not required.)

Welcome to the Weekend With... Author Jeremy McGuire

The week of St Patrick's Day I reviewed a wonderful book called O'Shaughnessey, The Faerie Circle. Today I welcome the author and illustrator, Jeremy McGuire for an interview.

CC: First tell us a little about your journey to this point. How did you go from being a soldier to an actor then director to then write about leprechauns and faeries?


JM: It does seem a rather meandering path, doesn’t it? Yet, in retrospect, each of these things has contributed to who I am now. The experiences as a soldier did provide a certain discipline, but more importantly an experience of different cultures and beliefs. In the army I began to act and of course, that widened my experiences even further. You cannot enact the greatest writing in the world, embodying a wide range of ideas, and not come away altered in very profound ways.

Acting led directly into playwriting because there were stories I read that I thought would make excellent plays and I wondered why nobody had written them? Then I said, “Why not me?”

As far as leprechauns and faeries are concerned, I think that was the result of boredom. I had created this character in high school, a leprechaun called O’Shaughnessey, and when I was, as they say, between projects, I hauled him out to see if there was something, anything I could do with him. Turns out there was. And once you cross that boundary between the world of the five senses and that other imagined world, well a whole universe opens up.

CC: How do you think the backdrop of your life has helped you as an author and story teller?

JM: We all draw on our own lives; it is inevitable. We can’t help it. Even if we aren’t aware of it, we all tell our own stories. The difference is, in fiction we get to correct our lives. All the opportunities we missed in real life, we grasp in the fiction. Things we should have said, we say. It probably works better if we’re not aware of that, because we’d get all self-conscious about it if we were. But in writing as in acting the characters are, as Eugene O’Neill put it, “masks that reveal more than they hide.”

CC: You have written plays as well as stories & novels? Which one was easier for you? I have also written plays as well as stories and sometimes find that I tend to write more dialogue than action because of the script writing background. Did you find it hard to transition from one form to another and which did you start writing first?

JM: Dialogue. Definitely dialogue. Well, it is the most natural, isn’t it? All our lives we play out these scenes to ourselves either in anticipation of an event or to re-play it afterwards. We practice job interviews, first dates, meeting the Ambassador of Slobovia, all of these things, and it takes the form of dialogue. What is she going to say? What will I say? We are running dialogues in our heads all the time. Narrative is tougher. It requires you to get out of your head and observe closely what people do, where they do it, how they move, what they actually look like … all that stuff. Then you have to be able to pick out only those most important things that move the action of the story along and describe them with some accuracy and, it can be hoped, with some imagination.

CC: What is the most challenging aspect of writing? Most rewarding?

JM: Most challenging is finding the voice. It isn’t the same for every piece. The voice for the O’Shaughnessey books is that of an Irish storyteller, to be precise, the character of Father Duddelswell in the BBC series, Bless Me Father. The voice for the book I’m writing for the adult audience now, From All Things Evil, is, if you can believe it, Alec Guinness. Yes, I steal. I’m an actor. But as Michael Caine once observed, “Only steal from the best.”

CC: What comes first for you when you sit down to write a book? Plot or Characters?

JM: Oddly enough, that varies with each book. In the first O’Shaughnessey book, A Boy and His Leprechaun, it was the characters. I had the devil’s own time coming up with an action for them! Once I got the voice, though, the story told itself, “one thing after the other.” In The Faerie Circle, what came first was, the girl at the lake being taken by faeries.. I knew I had to find a way to get there. Plot very rarely is a factor. If you create the action, the plot will take care of itself. Action is a conflict being resolved. Find the conflict and you’ll find the action. Find the action and you’ll have the plot.

CC: Do you "cast" your characters using pictures or actors to help inspire you when you're writing?

JM: Well, as I said before, when finding the voice, I sometimes depend on hearing an actor telling the story, but characters come from life. First comes the action, the conflicts that has to be resolved, then come the characters, the agents of that action. Many of the characters are composites of people I have known, some are direct portraits, but those are few. You cannot transpose someone from life and put them into an action and expect a good fit. Alterations have to be made to fit what the character has to do, but yes, I can say I draw them from life. O’Shaughnessey, though, I must confess, even when he was invented so long ago, was based on the Irish actor Barry Fitzgerald. O’Sullivan was drawn from Pat O’Brien, the other Pat O’Brien from the 1930’s

CC: I know you also do the illustrations in your books. Do you have to switch mindsets from writing to drawing? Tells us a little about your process.

JM: It's symbiotic. They both happen at pretty much the same time, each feeding the other. I sketch what I have conceived as a narrative, but if in the process of drawing I discover something that will affect the narrative I will change the writing. The process goes all the way back to my acting career; the first thing I did after getting a role and reading the script was make a drawing of the character in real life and put him into motion. It was my way of almost unconsciously discovering the character in me and at least getting the physicality. Costume designers in particular appreciated the drawings since it gave them a concrete visualization of where I was going with the character. I do the same thing in my writing. I have, by the time I am working on the first draft, a drawer full of sketches that I have used to visualize the characters in action. Only a select few of them ever make it to finished illustrations.

The first book was done in pen-and-ink, but the second in in pencil. In my public readings, I also like to demonstrate how the illustrations are drawn. I will hold up a pencil, a standard #2, and ask, "What do you think this is?" Usually the answer is the obvious: "A pencil!" I then go on to say, "If I were just a writer, I would agree, but to an artist, this is also a modelling tool. Imagine the paper is a slab of soft clay; by handling the pencil like a modelling tool, I can cut into the surface and carely shape the clay into a picture. I often hear people say, 'But, I cannot draw a straight line.' Well, my dear hearts, neither can I."


I will then start to lay down a series of smudges from which a portrait of O'Shaughnessey emerges, all without drawing a single line.


CC: When you sit down to start a new book do you begin with an outline or synopsis or do you just go with the flow?

JM: It depends. There is no one way to write a book. Sometimes, I go with Poe’s notion that a writer has to know where he is going in order to get there. Other times, I have found great success in improvisation, at least in the beginning. The Faerie Circle is made up of many different scenelets that came to me at different times and I wrote them down. Each one was a single action. I joined them together like pearls on a string to make up the final book. Of course, I mostly knew pretty much where in the story they would occur when I wrote each one, but not all the time. Above all, you cannot dictate to the story how it will present itself to you. Each one is different.

CC: How much does reader reaction mean to you as an author?

JM: While I’m writing? Not a lot. It means a great deal now that it’s finished. Being a storyteller, I do envision the audience out there “beyond the footlights,” but they are never that clear. I let the story tell itself and I write down what happens. Generally, if I am writing for an audience of children, I will imagine a group of children around me as I tell it, but it’s very general. It makes me speak in a voice that can be understood by children. I do not, however, write down to them. I don’t mind if they have to crack open the dictionary on occasion or ask their parents what a certain passage means. I think it is important to stretch them.

CC: What inspired you to write O’Shaughnessey’s stories?

JM: As I said, boredom, Looking for something to do. As Moira McCarthy says in the book, “You must cultivate boredom… It’s boredom that makes us create to keep ourselves alive and interested in life…’Tis in the silence that magic is found.” Now, some people call that meditation, but I call it boredom, the empty space, the vacuum waiting to be filled with…what? We don’t know, and that’s the greatest of all gifts, the not knowing. There’s where creativity lies. Once I remembered the character from my youth, and I gave him a human to react to, the seed of the story was planted.

CC: How much research did you do for your book and how much ended up in the finished product?

JM: Research? Enough. No more. If there was something that popped up as a result of the action, I would have to research that pretty fully. (Thank God for the Internet!) But sometimes I fudged. For example, there are few if any mountains in County Roscommon, Ireland. But I wanted Maeve, Queen of the Roscommon Faeries to live there and be part of the story. I also wanted the McCarthy farm to be on a mountain top. So, I put a mountain in western Roscommon, you know, kind of nudged it over from County Mayo. In fiction, very often, facts are agents of the action as surely as the characters are. Now, I would not allow Queen Elizabeth I to marry the King of Spain in a historical novel, but in a fantasy, anything is possible.

CC: Which character in this book most resembles you?

JM: Oh, I am Bobby Mahoney. No doubt about that. It’s highly autobiographical and all true. Okay, except for the leprechauns, the flying hat, the Ban-Shee ,the Fortress of Death or the Court of Finvarra under Knockmaa. Other than that it’s all absolutely genuine.

CC: Your story has several paranormal elements. If you had one of their abilities which one would you choose?

JM: Being a Walker Between Worlds, being able to go back and forth between the Five-Senses-World and the Invisible World. I understand there are those who can do that, can part the veil of glamour and see into Faerie, but I am not one of those. The person who Moira McCarthy was based on could, but that was a long time ago.

CC: What do you hope for your writing career in the next few years? Any goals that you have yet to obtain that you have set for yourself?

JM: Most of them. But primarily I want to keep writing. There are more stories in me and I’d like to have the time to get them out.

CC: Who are your favorite authors?

JM: At the risk of boring your audience, I have to go back to the nineteenth century. I adore Dostoyevsky and Chekov from Russia, and the American Mark Twain. Let’s see, who else? Poe, of course, and Walt Whitman whose poetry I equate almost with holy writ. And, as long as we’re talking poetry, I cannot neglect to mention Yeats and Elliot. Of twentieth century novelists, J.D. Salinger stands out. He wrote beautiful books.

CC: If you could spend the day with one person (someone in history, a favorite author, a public figure, a character in a book, etc.), who would you choose and why?

JM: Mark Twain. Hands down. I’m not all that certain he’s like me, but I’d follow him around anyway just to drink in the irreverence and the humor. Say what you like, if we want the truth, we have to depend on the humorists to give it to is. Twain was the best.

CC: I follow your blog and absolutely love your posts. Where do you get your ideas for your posts? Are they planned out in advance or do you just sit down and start writing?

JM: Everywhere from politics to the smallest observation. The fact that it is so hard to get a really good hamburger these days may develop into a history of the burger and its adulteration by the fast food chains. On the other hand, some events in the news might move me to look past the surface to examine what the fuss is really all about. I take Moira McCarthy’s observation to heart: “When crockery comes to grief, it’s not about what it’s about.” Whatever they say it’s about, if the voices are raised in anger and if violence occurs, it’s not about what it’s about. To find out what it is about requires some thought and a historical perspective. One article may take a month or so to write, others only take an afternoon. It depends.

CC: Your blog post on New Year’s Eve and the various calendars made me wonder, what is your opinion of all the 2012 hype?

JM; Not worth worrying about. If it’s going to happen, there isn’t a lot we can do about it, although I will be slightly annoyed that I put all that money into my 401k and didn’t have a good time with it.

CC: Loved the “Broke *** Christmas” post. In your end note you warned not to challenge you at Trivial Pursuit. Besides that game, what are some of your favorite games?

JM : That’s it. The only game I’m any good at. I’m not really a game-player.

CC: Finally, I know you are working on the third book on O’Shaughnessey, what's up next for the characters?

JM: The Faerie Circle centered on Margaret’s realization of her power once she got out of her own way. The next book picks her up at a very dangerous time for those who have the sight. She’s eighteen years old and, because she spent a year in Ireland, is only going into the Senior Year in high school when her summer with Moira McCarthy is over. In The Faerie Circle, the leprechauns describe how humans lose the sight as they get older and one, O’Sullivan, observes, “’Tis the fallin’ in love that is their downfall.” She has already gotten some flack from a boy at home because of the Sight and she’s tempted to give it up.

The third book is called “The Changeling” and is a love story. Michael McCarthy, Moira’s son, returns from Galway to take over the farm and because he understands people who see faeries, even though he cannot see them himself, and because he is safe, Margaret falls in love with him, and his mother, Moira McCarthy, encourages them for her own reasons. Soon after they form a romantic attachment, Michael is replaced by a changeling, a shape-shifting faerie who is sent by the Fir Bolg to use her love to steal her power and give it to them. If anyone has ever been in a relationship they thought was the answer to all their prayers only to find out they were attached to a changeling they didn’t really know who stole their power, then they will understand why I am writing the third book. It’s geared toward young adults at about the same age as Margaret.

Jeremy, Thank you so much for joining us today.

Be sure to check out his website and if you would like a MP3 of him reading the first chapter of The Faerie Circle, email me and I'll send it to you.

Welcome to the Weekend With.... Yeats, St Patrick and a host of Wee Folk

Today we are going to use a little Celtic magic and step back in time to the early 1900’s in Ireland…

Night has fallen as we walk down the Poolbeg Street in Dublin. Across the Anna Liffey River, the Abbey Theatre is letting out a performance. Soon the patrons may wonder over to these banks for a speck of food and a pint, at Mulligan’s, one of Dublin’s oldest pub. Mulligan’s has been around since 1782 and every true Irishman knows it pours the best pint in all Ireland.

Out on the street, we can hear the sounds voices and merriment. Let’s go in, and see who’s inside. As we walk through the door into the darkened wood-paneled interior, we are jostled about by the crowd. We manage to find a spot to sit at a small table near the bar. At the long table to our left is Lady Gregory, J.M. Synge, William Butler Yeats and Ezra Pound. Flitting about their table top are a dozen or so faerie. Two of which are arm wrestling over and overturned mug, several others are reclining in a bowl of soup as if it were a steam bath. Yeats laughs as a faerie whispers in his ear.

“William, you must share the secret with the rest of us, “Lady Gregory implores. To which he replies, “All in good time, my dear. All in good time.”

At the table behind them is a transparent man in what appears to be monk’s robes deep in conversation with some small couple and what could only be twin leprechauns dressed in mossy green outfits, both have short reddish beards and curly hair, round rosy cheeks and sparkling emerald green eyes that dance with mischief. One wears a green cap and the other a green top hat.

A small group walks through the door and captures everyone’s attention.

“ Maude, my eternal love, come sit by me and tell us of the show.” Yeats called out, standing to grab her a chair.

“ The audience was boisterous and Maude was magnificent and had a line of men waiting backstage as always.” Annie Horniman quipped as she led their party to the table.

Maude spoke to the ghost of St Patrick as she passed his table. “Why, Paddy, you are looking more solid than usual. Consorting with your druid roots suits you. Watch out for Finn and Cillian, the twins always have something up their sleeve to stir up trouble.” The two leprechauns clangs their beer tankards together. Cillian winked at Annie & Maude, and Finn pronounced, “don’t you know, under me cap is where I keep me mischief, lass.”

The patrons continued to drink, caint and make merry into the wee hours of the mornin’. We sat among them enjoying the ale and atmosphere….

Welcome to the Weekend With... L. Diane Wolfe

This week we are going to welcome the weekend with not only a great author and speaker but my dear friend. Many of you haved followed her previous tours and follow her blog, Spunk on a Stick Tips. Interviewing someone so loved and popular could be a little tricky... all the normal questions have already been answered at one time or another. So today, I have tried to think outside the box and give you some different insights into our fabulous feisty redhead at this stop on her Heather, Circle of Friends Book V tour.

What motivated you to write the Circle of Friends series?

I’d wanted to be an author since I was thirteen. I never envisioned this series to be my first fiction effort, but after a brief dream about Lori, I felt compelled to tell her story. Before I finished, I had outlines for four more books.

I believe everyone is capable of achieving his or her dreams. Through the struggles of my characters, I show that it is possible to overcome any challenge and accomplish one’s goals. One reviewer called this series “Encouragement personified” and I like that assessment!

Of all the characters in the five books, which character embodies you the most?
Oh my goodness, Sarah!!!

I strive to be a Lori, as she’s so positive and optimistic. However, under all this ‘spunk’ is a Sarah - an adventurous tomboy struggling with her self-esteem.

Your characters have been on a journey through the five books. Tell us about your journey as a writer with each successive book?
Things I wish I knew when writing Book I? LOL My skills as a writer have improved tremendously with each book. I’ve learned so much from other authors as well, reading up on writing tips at every opportunity. I’ve learned how to compact and focus more on conflict. I certainly learned a lot from the last book! Heather was NOT my favorite character and she kicked my butt throughout the entire writing process. Ironically, I think this resulted in the strongest of the stories…

As a reader, I felt your growth as an author with each progressive book. What advice would you offer to a new author who is embarking on a series?
Create a timeline! Especially if any of the books will overlap. An outline is essential for each book, but a timeline will prevent inconsistencies. Remember that characters, like people, will grow over time. It’s not just the changes during the course of one book - think about the growth from one book to another. And trying to juggle too many characters at once will only confuse the reader. Focus on one or two main characters per book.

With Heather being the final book in your series, what is next for you?
A break???

Next, I will tackle a teen version of my non-fiction book, Overcoming Obstacles with SPUNK! There are so many issues specific to young adults. And at that age, more than ever, they need encouragement!

My next fiction project is an anthology of stories - a mixture of urban fantasy, horror, and sci-fi.


When did you first get into photography?
I got my first camera when I was twelve - a 110. Remember those? After that I was hooked, and I took photography in high school and worked on the yearbook staff.

A few years after high school, I started working in the photo dept. of a contracting company. Soon after I started taking photos professionally and maintained my own darkroom for years.

Other than your fabulously photogenic furries, what is your favorite thing to photograph and why?
I love taking pictures of my cats! I have more photos of Calvin & Hobbes and Rocko & Spunky than most people do of their kids.

I finally found my niche with close up shots. I love getting up close to a subject and shooting it in a way as to reveal something new about the object. I really have a thing for water, too. Oh, and B&W is my favorite! I love shapes, textures, and patterns.

What camera do you usually use/How many cameras do you have/Do you have a dream camera you would love to own?
I have four Nikons - an 8008 and D50 SLR and two CoolPix point & shoots. The D50 is the one I use most of the time, although when traveling, it’s the newest CoolPix. I’m hoping to upgrade my digital to a Nikon D300 by the end of the year.

I read in one of your older posts that you had taken pictures while driving to your hubby's dismay. Do you always have a camera with you and do you really take pictures as you are driving?
Yeah, I do that! At 80 mph down I-95, too. Hey, I see a gorgeous scene or sunset, I HAVE to take a photo! It’s in my blood.

And yes, I always have one if not both point & shoots with me when I travel.

I love that we share a love for dragons. If you were a dragon, what would your name be and what would you look like?
Woo-hoo! Yes, we do love our dragons, don’t we?

My favorite series is Anne McCaffrey’s Dragonriders of Pern, so I’d want to be one of those dragons. My name would be Renth and I would be white, like McCaffrey’s Ruth - only I’d be the size of a bronze!

I know you love roller coasters. Describe for us your first experience with a roller coaster and why you still love them so much. Is there a roller coaster that you have yet to ride that you want to?
I rode my first tiny coaster as a teen, but I didn’t ride again until I was about 30. It was a small wooden coaster and it scared the crap out of me! I didn’t think I would ever like roller coasters, but a few years later, my husband took me to Busch Gardens. After the initial panic, I decided I liked the rush - and that was all she wrote!

I guess it’s because I would LOVE to fly on my own wings. Steel coasters are my favorite - smooth, gliding, and occasionally looping. I love the loops, too. I have no sense of balance, but when I ride a looping coaster, my equilibrium realigns. (Weird, huh?)

My two dream coasters-
The Steel Dragon 2000 in Japan (318 feet tall and the world’s longest steel coaster)

The Dragon Khan at Port Adventura in Spain (a B&M coaster with eight beautiful loops)

If you were transported into a book, which book would you want it to be? Describe the character you would portray (it can be a character already in the book or a new character that would fit in).
Well, I’d still like to be Renth the white dragon! And my rider would be the Weyrleader. (Well, with a name like Renth, I’d be a male dragon!)

Otherwise, a Hobbit character opposite Pippin from LOTR would be a blast! He’s all about the fun. And since Pippin was kinda cute, I’d want to be a girl Hobbit!

You’ve been a foster mom. How did that come about and how has it changed you as a person?
My husband and I didn’t want to have children of our own, but we considered adopting one. That led to four years as a foster parent and most of the kids were teens.

Dealing with those teens touched upon some personal issues of my own and helped me deal with them. It also made me realize how little it takes to really mess a kid up for life! It fueled my desire to let teens know that they CAN overcome their struggles, no matter what the circumstances.

You are an inspiration and a great motivator to many people. Who motivates you? What do you do when you are feeling defeated to build yourself back up? What words of wisdom would you share with the youth of today?
Aw, thank you, CC! The people I meet on my journey motivate me - appreciation from fans of my books, thanks from those who hear me speak, and kind words from fellow authors and speakers. My husband motivates me. He’s my biggest cheerleader! And I am motivated by God. I’ll never be a missionary or a prayer warrior, but I CAN encourage and inspire - THIS is what I can do to glorify God’s love. And that is what I share with young people - find YOUR path and realize you are capable.

If you could return for one year to one age in your life, knowing what you now know, to relive the year as you wish, which year would you return to and why?
No, you can’t make me go back!!

Maybe to when I first moved to North Carolina. My self-esteem was so low at that point, I’d want to go back and let myself know that I was a worthy person. Then again, if I hadn’t struggled, would I be where I am today…?

Thanks so much, CC!!!

Diane... thank you for making me one of your stops on this blog tour and being a great inspiration!

Readers be sure to check out her Circle of Friends books available directly at Dancing Lemur Press or on Amazon or Barnes & Nobles.

And her various websites:

http://www.thecircleoffriends.net/

 http://www.spunkonastick.net/

 http://www.circleoffriendsbooks.blogspot.com/

More on her latest book, Heather:
The Circle of Friends, Book V...Heather By L. Diane Wolfe

When confidence turns to frustration…
A new beginning awaits Heather Jennings. The position at Clemson means she will finally realize her dream of coaching basketball. Heather is ready to focus on her duties, using sheer force if necessary to prove her independence.

Sadly, her triumph is hampered as her father and greatest advocate lies dying of cancer. Battling her grief, she must also deal with a sister who appears incapable of responsibility or achievement. And once basketball season begins, a talented but cocky player who resembles her in every manner challenges all that remains of Heather’s patience.

Heather’s life changes when she encounters a man capable of handling her bold and feisty attitude. Straightforward and smug, he entices her to date him, and despite his gruff nature shows a great capacity for compassion. However, the last thing Heather needs is a serious relationship with a man equally fixated on work and opposed to marriage…


Release date: March 16, 2010, Dancing Lemur Press, L.L.C. 
$19.95 USA, 6x9 Trade paperback, 282 pages, Fiction/YA
ISBN 978-0-9816210-5-0 / 0-9816210-5-8
Winner of FlamingNet Reviews’ TOP CHOICE Award - a perfect 10

Welcome to the Weekend With....Kathleen Albertson

In February,  I reviewed a great book called, Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine for Women’s Health. She was kind enough to let me pick her brain and share with you the woman behind this wonderful resource.

Tell us a little about yourself, your background.


Very ethnic, blue collar, Italian family! I grew up in Buffalo, NY. I am the second of four kids (I think that is the overachiever position)!

What did you want to be when you were a little girl?

I was more of a tomboy than a girly girl and I hated when they tried to put me in fashion shows and all that. I liked animals, reading, and playing games better.

I never saw myself being a homemaker, or even having kids. I had little guidance from my folks…my Mom would say, “You are smart, go work at a bank.”

I am 59 so back then my parents thought being a bank teller was a respectable job, and that tellers had great work hours. Since they had no education, they could not see the need for sending a daughter for more education. They didn’t hold me back, but were not able to help me move forward.

A guidance counselor pulled my aside the last week of senior year, and asked me what my plans were…I had none. He helped me apply at a 2-year college in Business and it seemed like I never stopped going to school after that! On to a BS in Business and an MA in Counseling, an MS in Oriental Medicine, and a PhD in Holistic Nutrition (not trying to blow my horn).

When did you first decide you wanted to pursue medicine?

I really had no goals of what I wanted to do, just what I didn’t want to do. So I feel I was divinely guided into this. I spent many years in corporate America when one day a friend I was having lunch mentioned how tired she was of “corporate life” and that she was going to visit an acupuncture school that evening. I went with her and was mesmerized by holistic care, and how clearing acupuncture pathways improved health with ease. I went home and told (not asked) my hubby that I was going to start acupuncture school. I was about 40! It’s never too late. I encourage you to follow your passions.

I downsized my business job, started TCM school and never looked back. It felt right and my business and marketing background proved to be invaluable in my start up.

What compelled you to write a book about combined Western & Eastern practices?

Much that is written repels these two thoughts, when clinically it is more likely that our patients use both East and West. I felt the gap needed to be bridged-hence the title. The medicine worlds differ one is linear, compartmentalized and driven by double, randomized studies, and drugs that mask symptoms—the other treats the entire body, mind and spirit and resolves root cause. One is 200 years old, the other 5000.

I see so many fertility patients- mostly female who have been so discouraged by Western medicine and have been bantered around the system for so long without good care that I wanted to educate people on how effective and successful TCM is . Originally, the book was going to be on fertility and pregnancy, but it dawned on me that the precursor to many infertility issues was menstrual irregularities, stress, overwork, fatigue, and improper nutrition. No one writes on this, in this context, so my goal was to educate more women of today and to spare younger women the frustrating journey of having symptoms that are chronically masked for decades.

If more women were treated with TCM earlier in their lives, they may not be on the infertility journey. So many women suffer from PMS, migraine headaches, painful periods, or fail to ovulate. These are (generally) easily correctable with TCM. When a 35-year-old woman tells me she has chronic migraines and they started when she was 12—I see the connection to puberty and an imbalances in her “Liver “ and “Blood” systems that can be resolved...while western medicine only offers years of medications to mask the pain. They don’t know how to resolve the root problem…TCM does. Yet too many women never receive relief. Time for education! I am amazed at how many women don’t see that connection between puberty and their headaches until I show them the correlation.

Therefore, the book needed to be more comprehensive, a heavier read. I felt it was important for readers to be somewhat aware of and grasp the TCM concepts…even thought they are complicated.

Why focus of women only?

Women seek more treatment and have more health “plumbing’ issues!

I wanted a specific approach that covered women’s health from puberty to menopause. I see many, many tears every day from discouraged, depressed, and isolated patients who have suffered without western results…and without hope.

Gynecological and reproductive problems are on the rise (how scary) and western medicine offers medications with severe side effects, or surgery. We can do so much better-- improving patient care at a completely new level if we educate through these kinds of books. TCM is legitimate--- 5000 years of clinical success and history. TCM works. It is becoming more and more mainstream. Women are more inclined to understand the process. Men sometimes want a one- time quick fix (I am generalizing). So women first and… I am just starting a book on men’s health. It will be simpler and a much easier read.

What is the biggest mistake you see women make?

-- Taking better care of their cars, kids and pets before themselves.

--Overdoing, overdoing—work and thoughts. Take a breath!

--Asking permission from a spouse to try TCM.

--Feeling as if they have no choice in their health care. Staying with inept or uncaring doctors, not speaking up, or tolerating poor care. I encourage you to make choices that support your health. Don’t feel victimized...take control and take action. Your life and health depend on it. Doctors are human too- they need to know how you feel sometimes….some will do something about it… some wont. Just worry about moving yourself forward. Many patients feel frozen in their treatment protocol or in their level of care so they don’t expect anything better. Even in an HMO system, you have the power to change physicians.

--Not acknowledging or managing the defeating effect that stress and overwork has on our physical and emotional bodies.

--Letting stress, worry, or insomnia go on for too long thinking it will go away on its own.

How much research went into this book?

It started about 6 years ago when I did my dissertation on “The Role of Acupuncture and TCM in Treating Female infertility.” That had a lot more research and was quite dry—not suitable for the layperson.

I wanted to show that yes, research is on the rise, and supports the results of TCM and that is why I included it in the book. In China, the libraries are filled with studies, and empirical data of TCM success… but it is in Chinese! We are fortunate to have a few English speaking TCM practitioners and educators that translate into English.

This has broadened our body of knowledge, clinical efforts, and increased our understanding of TCM theory and treatment.

I love that you begin the book with the role of a patient and how to be a pro-active patient. They say doctors can be the worst patients. What kind of patient are you and do you find resistance when seeing traditional doctors? How do you overcome their skepticism with Eastern and alternative medicines?

This is a good question! I am pro-active, ready, and usually know what I have (or need) when I see a western doc. I underplay or may not mention that I am an acupuncturist. It is in my paperwork, so I get annoyed if they don’t read that fact or that I don’t like taking medications and that I choose herbs and nutrition over drugs. If I needed drugs ... I would take them but it is not my first line of defense. I am not opposed, just extremely careful. I use alternative care and herbs first whether it is herbs, supplements, acupuncture, chiropractic, energy work, and oh yes…rest first!

I hate when I am dissed! I get annoyed when the doctor withholds his thoughts and findings—and shares no information, and starts writing a prescription. I expect a lot!

I walked out of a dentist office after setting up an appointment where I said: “I am sensitive. I may need more time and I will pay for it.” The receptionist said, “No problem.” When the doctor came in and said, “Open up” and started for my mouth I freaked out. He had no intention of finding out if I was sensitive. ..or to what. He started working on me without any conversation so I just got up, and said this wasn’t for me. I feel they should have respect for you, the patient. I seek out doctors that meet my needs and that I think care about helping people. They are out there! Sorry to sound rigid, and picky, but that fits me! Therefore, I try to practice, as I would want to be treated.

I never try to convince a doctor of anything. I never try to upstage their ego or their knowledge but if I can show some evidence of TCM, I do so.

If the subject allows, I like to offer the doctor a free treatment … sometimes they can’t get a way from me fast enough (ha, ha, ha), but those that have taken the offer up, are usually glad they did.

I think they are taught to be skeptic of anything they didn’t learn in med school--- maybe it’s a protective mechanism. ‘If it isn’t done scientifically it can’t work.” I say, “Bull.” I have heard some doctors say ... “well it works for some.” Or, “it can’t hurt,” or “there is no scientific proof.” When they are condescending, negative, or neutral, my feeling is that they are trying to avoid any malpractice rather than encouraging the patients’ wellness (just a speculation on my part).

If they are closed and skeptic…I move on! I can’t change them, and my time is better spent helping someone else.

If the doctor listens and seems to have respect for me, I am happy. I am looking for him/her to help me and to give me a little information that shows me he understands my ailment or problem. I want to be on that team.

Many patients hide the fact that they seek alternative treatment from their western doctor. Too scared to bring it up? Repercussions? Will the doctor change how he /she will feel toward me?

I feel the patient should tell the doctor. This may help other patients down the road. If a pain doctor hears from enough of his patients that they got better with acupuncture, he is stupid to keep his eyes closed to treatments that improve patient outcomes. If a woman’s headaches stop because went for acupuncture and herbs, she should be congratulated. Something helped. If a patient’s allergies improved, or the skin rash cleared up… wow that’s great… who else might benefit? The risk minimal and the reward very high! Generally, we have great success in over 80% of cases.

What is your view of pharmaceutical companies?

Dim- when it comes to the overuse of medications-- profit is first and may not be in the best interest of patient care.

Dim- when I see the severe side effects they have, and dim again, when I see how research studies are slanted to promote a drug. Western drugs do excel for trauma and acute conditions so I believe they have their place. In my opinion, doctors could be trained more in nutrition. They get only a few hours of schooling on it. They could address stress, poor eating habits, and lack of exercise more diligently rather than putting patients on so many drugs. It is not uncommon for patients to take five or six medications daily--- and they are still sick! Western doctors tolerate poor eating habits, overeating, and lack of exercise from their patients.

If they expected more, patients would give it to them. TCM practitioners educate, discuss and request improvements in this area…and we usually get it! The results are healthier patients…less medications needed!

I often use a “tough love” approach. The patient and I want the same thing…improved health, so we discuss all of the aspects of how to get it. We are all guilty of being over busy, but sometimes mentally lazy when it comes to certain issues we can change about ourselves. The largest room in the world?

Do you know what it is? ……………It is the room for improvement.

Don’t get me started on vaccines!

Or cancer!

Herbs are plant based and have no proprietary right… that means no company can claim them as their own and make huge profits. Drug companies have no incentive to use or research herbs for healing for this reason.

Jus think how effective herbs are… if they work, and resolve the problem (in many cases) you don’t need to stay on medications. There are no lobby groups pushing herbs (because there is no monetary gain). The FDA and pharmaceutical companies, who have little interest in knowing more about their value, mostly criticize herbs.

Herbs could ruins profits! Therefore, there is no incentive for companies to go more natural. Our health care system is based on keeping you on drugs and formulating new ones for new profits.

With your busy schedule, what do you do to unwind?

I enjoy taking walks down to the beach with my husband, and my dog, Centavo. I swim, Jacuzzi, and hit the steam room at the gym every morning before work. I love to read and now that I have more time, I can enjoy more of it. I meditate and I confess to taping reality shows!

Being Italian, I do love to eat. I went through a “fat” phase, using stress and overwork as my excuses… just like a lot of people (!).

I subsequently went back to practicing what I preach and lost the additional pounds. It is truly in the mind!

You can influence any one thing in history, the present or the future of the world (what has occurred, how something works, etc.), what would you choose to change and why?

I would add “compassion” and “the will to do good” to our DNA. I am concerned by the mistreatment, cruelty, and abuse of people and animals. It is part of my prayers every night. I would influence how we treat each other as individuals, as families, as co- workers, as communities, and countries.

You may ask any three people from history (living or dead) one question each. Whom do you choose and what is your question for each person?

To God: I understand death, but why do so many people have to suffer, lingering so painfully, before they pass?

To Oprah: When can I be on your show?!

No pressing third question! It was difficult to think of a good one, so I guess I am not ready to ask it!


Kathie- Thank you so much for such a great interview!

Be sure to check out her book and her website.

Welcome to the Weekend With.......Marsha Sramek

Back in January, I reviewed a wonderful grammar book by Marsha Sramek. (I keep her book near my desk as a handy reference, because I need all the help I can get.) I was delighted to learn that Marsha is a fellow North Carolinian and asked if she would do an interview. She agreed and I sent out my questions.  To my surprise when I received her response, it was almost in the form of a letter. I thought, what a lovely way to address an interview. I think you will find her as charming as I do.

Several years ago my husband and I fell in love with Asheville, North Carolina, and we built a second home there on the side of a mountain. We can walk downtown, but our backyard is part of a forest where we see groundhogs, wild turkeys, falcons, foxes, raccoons, and bears. We’re both originally from Illinois, but in our early-married years we moved around the country a lot--from upstate New York to Hawaii--until we settled in Houston, Texas. I started teaching English over 30 years ago, pausing while our daughter was little, and then continuing until I published my book and started a new career.


The best thing about being a teacher was feeling that sometimes I was making a difference in someone's life. I was especially pleased when former students said I’d helped them learn to write better. The worst part was when I insisted that students meet reasonable achievement standards, which some students thought were unreasonable. Everyone wants to be liked.

When I first started teaching in the 1970s I was extremely disappointed with the grammar book the district used. I complained about it so much that a fellow teacher finally said, “You’re such a damn smart Yankee, you write a book.” That was my inspiration.

The diagnostic test is essential in teaching, and it evolved over the years. In terms of common grammar errors that I particularly dislike, “Me and him are . . .” might top the list. Close behind would be the mistake of confusing its and it’s or your and you’re.

An outline? I didn’t begin my book with anything as organized as an outline. I wrote the book on and off for nearly 30 years. When I’d become overwhelmed with the scope of my project, I’d put it on the shelf. But I always went back to it. Sticking with the project was my greatest challenge. Finishing it was my greatest reward.

The book cover is wonderful. One evening my husband jokingly suggested to our friend Rich Chiburis, who’d retired and become a budding artist, that he should design the book cover. The next time we were together Rich surprised us with the prototype. Later, I sent this to the graphic artist who did the interior layout and the cover, and she added the details that Rich had suggested. It was a breeze for me.

I was terribly nervous before the book came out, and intimidated about taking the book to a national English teachers’ convention where there were so many famous authors and publishers presenting their books. But the book was enthusiastically received and a top seller. One of the first teachers who came to our booth said, “I’ve been teaching 30 years and this is the best grammar book I’ve ever seen.” I wanted to jump across the table and hug her. The book reviews have all been very good, and that’s also bolstered my confidence.

I know perfectly well that I’m not a naturally gifted writer. All I can say is, “Edit and revise, and repeat the process over and over.” My next writing project will be a revised edition of the book. I’m not thinking beyond that.

Self publishing has been perfect for the book and for me. While I was writing the book I was shocked to discover that the publisher owns a book’s ISBN number and therefore absolutely controls everything else about the book, including distribution and whether or not the book will stay in print. I couldn’t turn that much control over to anyone. I’m having enormous fun learning this new skill-- publishing--at this stage of my life. I love being able to personally ship books to my customers. No distribution house would ever be as committed as I am to getting the books where they need to be. And I love directly communicating with the teachers who are using or considering using the book. I must say here that the aspects of running a small company that I would hate, such as the legal incorporation, the how, when, and where of tax collecting and filing, and establishing a banking, accounting, and billing system are all done by my husband Wayne. Without him, I would quickly land in the pokey.

My two favorite authors are J.D. Salinger and Harper Lee. Did you notice that they each wrote only one book? I also admire Edith Wharton, who wrote most of her novels in bed, dropping her hand-written pages to the floor for her maid to pick up and type. I could see myself doing that. It was my favorite fantasy.

The novel character that I would have most wanted to teach was Huck Finn--the most inventive, spunky, and plucky kid ever created. He had such a dreadful teacher. I think I could have gotten him to enjoy school, but that would have killed a pretty good book.


Be sure to check out her website and take the grammar diagnostic test.

Welcome to the Weekend With... Andrew Parker

At the end of January I reviewed a wonderful book called Prophecy of Power by Andrew Parker. Today, I have the honor of sharing a wonderful interview with this fascinating man.

First tell us a little about you-
My name is Andrew Parker, I'm 43 years old, born in Teddington England and unfortunately back in October 1985 had a serious car crash which resulted with me being in a wheelchair.

When did you first start writing and did you always want to be an author?
I first started to write about 4-5 years ago, a lot of ideas whirring around in my head which I thought would be fascinating to see in black and white. No didn't always want to be an author, but thought maybe there was a story waiting to come out...

What is the most challenging aspect of writing? Most rewarding?
For me is patience, I want this story on the paper and maybe I need to develop characters and expand detail a lot more. Rewarding is obviously seeing your idea turned into a book and then reading enjoyable comments from readers and critics alike.

What comes first for you when you sit down to write a book? Plot or Characters?
Definitely the plot, then you can develop characters and expand the storyline.

When you sit down to start a new book do you begin with an outline or synopsis or do you just go with the flow?
I have an outline and have the skeleton of the story from start to finish, then it requires meat to the bones.

What influenced you to get published? How long did it take for your first book to get published?
Influenced me was the challenge of trying to be as good if not better of some authors already published. It took me two years to get published, I didn't realize how difficult it was and how disheartening some publishers can be!

How much does reader reaction mean to you as an author?
Everything, reader reaction is more important to me than professional reviews.

As you know I loved your book. Where did the idea come from? Why did you choose to make the main character a rabbi?
I've always been interested in the different religions and the Bible and how it effects the lives of people around the world, so I wanted to research something that caught peoples attention and got them thinking, so a prophesied new world power I hope would do that?


A rabbi, because they believe in the old testament and not the new testament, so he took a courageous decision in his life to really examine the bible, especially Revelation. Chief Rabbi Ken Spiro in Israel is reading it at the moment, so it will be interesting to get his feedback.

What makes your characters so vulnerable yet strong? Can you describe them to us? What do you do when characters stop talking to you when writing?
Wow, good questions...maybe the readers will have a better angle on that, any character especially the main ones need to have inner strength to get the truth and battle through adversity. Jacob the main character has a roller-coaster of emotions and challenges especially when he divorces himself from the jewish faith he has held so close to go on a journey that could cost him his life. If a character stops talking, you have to draw on your own experience or friends personalities...

How involved do you typically get with regards to cover art for your books?
Very much, I wanted to be a book cover designer and still draw and paint now, but yes the cover is my idea.

Any advice for aspiring authors?
Perseverance, believe in what you've written and if its good, it will happen for you eventually...just look at JK Rowling who got rejected by three publishers.

How much research did you do for your book and how much ended up in the finished product?
A lot of research, especially on the bible book of Daniel, and most of it ended up in the book.

Which character in this book most resembles you?
Erm, blimey...don't know maybe all the characters have a little bit of me?

In your book, Rabbi has to decide whether to keep his finding secret or risk everything and let the world know. If it were you, what would you do? Do you think the world has a right to know regardless of what knowing may cause? Do you think that certain events are set in stone and whether we know or not they will still play out?
A tough call, would the world believe me anyway and if I did say, would almost certainly be killed. I think the world has a right to know a lot of things that are kept away from us by power hungry greedy world leaders who think they know best! Yes some events will always play out, especially if its Gods will.

I know you are working on the sequel, what sort of adventure/conflict can we look forward to? Will Rabbi Droutman be prominent
Yes Jacob still features and we get into the world of 'End-Timers'... a religious sect who want the second coming as quickly as possible and see the signs of earthquakes, disease, wars etc... as proof that the second coming of Jesus Christ is close at hand and will do anything to make it happen... and some of these powerful members are in the Whitehouse..

What do you hope for your writing career in the next few years? Any goals that you have yet to obtain that you have set for yourself?
It would be great to get recognition from best-selling authors, and the ultimate goal is to have a best-selling book.

I know you self-published. Why did you choose that route and what has been the best and worst aspects of that process for you?
I self-published to get a handle on reaction to my style of writing, story telling and whether it was worth pursuing as a career in the future, I think if anyone goes down that route.. then there are only worst aspects, as its a big cost to you personally, limited distribution and advertizing, plus does the book world take you seriously?

Does your environment help or hinder your writing/creativity?
My environment hinders me, I like to have my own space... peace and quiet for concentration and research... but writing from home you never know who turns up!

Who are your favorite authors?
I like the thriller world of reading, so John Grisham, Michael Connelly and David Baldacci spring to mind.

If you could spend the day with one person (someone in history, a favorite author, a public figure, a character in a book, etc.), who would you choose and why?
Have to be Jesus and the day he gave the sermon on the mount, best and most prophetic speech in history.


Andrew, thank you so much for joining us today. I don't think with your wonderful writing anyone will have a hard time taking you seriously. I look forward to reading you next book.

Be sure to visit Andrew's website for the latest updates on his work.

Welcome to the Weekend With.....Amor aka Cupid

With a holiday made to worship my talents only days away, CC asked me to stop by and give you some romance advice. Who am I to be giving advice on love, you ask (laughing heartily)? Maybe you envisioned a tiny naked child with wings, a bow and arrow?

I assure you I am all man, well a male god to be more precise (smirking). I am the son of Venus and Mercury, the goddess of love and the messenger god.

Don’t let mother’s title fool you. She isn’t always, how do you say it … charm and warmth. Oh yes, you females can be quite treacherous when it comes to love. Of course, we males can be too (winking). While mother is known for her jealousy, I do have to thank her for the love of my life, Psyche. It was her jealousy over the devotion Psyche’s subjects bestowed on her that caused her to order me to make Psyche fall in love with the vilest of creatures. Of, course, we all know I am more powerful than she because I also have dominion over the dead, the creatures, and of course the gods. SHHHH….they really don’t like it when I point that out.

My Psyche . . . she is quite the beauty. It’s no wonder they worship her. I fell in love the moment I laid eyes on her. Of course I couldn’t have her fall in love with another, but I knew I had to appease mother as well. So I went to her while she slept and made her fall in love with me in her dreams, but forbade her to look at me. AHHH such sweet torment I put us through. Then she had to go and listen to those hideous sisters of hers, who had convinced her I must be a monster. So she decided to gaze upon me to prove them wrong, after I told her she could not!! Well, of course I had to then punish her, so I left.

But not before dropping her in a field all alone, without harpy relatives for her to listen to. My devoted Psyche did not give up on me; she searched and searched until finally she stumbled into mother’s temple. Now you all know my mother, she knows how to charm, devious woman that she is. She gave Psyche many tests, all of which she passed easily. Would I be in love with someone not gifted? Please. Mother finally gave her one last task: Take a special box to Hades to steal some of Proserpine’s beauty and bring it back in the box. Of course, it was a trick. You have to watch out for mother-in-laws. When my darling opened the box, she was cursed with a deadly slumber from which I had to rescue her.

That’s when I knew I could never be apart from her again. We married and had a gorgeous daughter, Voluptas. Talk about giving a father nightmares! Never give your child the name for pleasure, because when she reaches her teens . . . well, that’s another story for another time.

The moral of my story, because you mortals love your morals, is that love truly does conquer all. It may bring joy, it may make you crazy; however, it will only allude you if you give up on it. True love does exist and sometimes you must fight for what you want,

PS. I don’t really shoot people with arrows. I have more clever and devious ways.

Happy Hunting Valentine's...

Welcome to the Weekend with Staci Carmichael

This week we have the lovely and talented Staci Carmichael joining us. Staci works in the publicity department at WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing. She graciously agreed to be interviewed and give us a glimpse into her life and the world of publishing.

First, tell us a little about yourself.

I am 25, was born in Texas, raised in Florida, and God brought me to live in the great state of Colorado! I have worked in the Publicity department at WaterBrook Multnomah for over 2 years, and have learned more about the industry than I ever thought possible, and feel like I have so much more to learn!

What made you decide to go into publishing?
Honestly, I think the best answer to that question is, God. I did not get a degree in anything related to publishing, but I am able to look back through the different steps in my life and see how God has led me to this field.

Describe for us your journey in publishing from just starting out to your current position.
It all started when a close family friend, and owner of one of the local Christian book stores in my home town (the best in my personally opinion :)), asked if I would be interested in buying her store. I was blown away considering I was 22 and had just graduated from Auburn University (War Eagle!), however I agreed to work with her for 6 months while she taught me the ins and outs of running a store. It still ranks as one of my favorite periods in life, and one of my favorite experiences with her was going to ICRS and talking with publishing reps. I decided that I was not ready to own a store, nevertheless gained amazing experience and knowledge while working with her.

Next, I decided to attend Focus on the Family Institute, a four month school that is offered through Focus. Part of my schooling involved an internship with The Christian Booksellers Association! I was very excited to be working with them, and looked forward to learning another side of the industry. When that was complete I knew God was calling me to stay in Colorado Springs (which is a big deal for a Florida girl :)) and I was extremely excited when He opened the doors for me to work at WaterBrook Multnomah Press. I have been here for over two years and have loved every minute of it! It is a fascinating and rewarding industry.

What is the role of the Publicist and why does an author need one?
The best way I heard Publicity described is “Marketing without paying for it”. Our role is to get positive press coverage for our authors. We do this by building and maintaining strong relationships with media outlets whether it is print, television, radio, or online. We handle interview/review requests for our authors and coordinate those to run around the time of the book release to generate the most buzz. It is extremely important for an author to have a good publicist working for them if they want their book to be successful in the market place.

What impact do you think digital books will have on book publishing? Are bound books destined to become endangered species?
I do agree that our world is rapidly moving toward everything digital, but I hope there will always be a market for books. There is just something comforting about curling up on the couch with a cup of tea and your favorite book that an electronic reader will never be able to provide. :)

What do you feel is the most important thing that a first-time author should know?
Looking at it from a publicity point of view, authors need to be willing to interact with the public through media outlets. The more often the public hears their name and the name of their book the better. Also it is very important to create a strong online following through Facebook, twitter, blogs, etc.

What makes WaterBrook Multnomah/Random House different from other publishing houses?
We try to acquire and publish a variety of books. I love our list because we have everything from Amish Fiction by Cindy Woodsmall to Dieting books by Chantel Hobbs, and everything in between. However, all of them having one thing in common, the message of God’s love.

What advice would you give to someone wanting to break into the publishing world (not as an author)?
Be willing to learn and read a lot. Things are always changing in this industry, so don’t become complacent. It is exciting and innovative, so make sure you are staying up on the trends!

How involved do you get with individual authors when helping them promote a book (do you offer guidance, set up a lot of things for them, etc)?
As a publicist in this industry, we work very closely with the authors whose campaigns are assigned to us. It is important for us to get to know the author and book so we can strategically decide where the book will be most successful. Each campaign is different, and should be approached in that manner. Some books will have more success in online promotion, while others have stronger radio or print campaigns.

Share with us one fun fact or event that you have encountered in the publishing world.
I am a people person, so I love talking to and building relationships with media outlets and authors. That is probably my favorite part of the job.

On a personal level, what books do you enjoy reading?
I love to read everything from biographies to fiction, but a book has to catch my interest and keep me turning the pages. Some of my all time favorite authors are Charles Martin, Kristin Heitzman, Karen Kingsbury, Lynn Austin, John Piper, Shannon Ethridge, Randy Alcorn, John Grisham, Ted Dekker, etc.

If you were stranded on a deserted island with three other people who were either authors or characters from books, who would you want them to be and what would be your topic (s) of conversation?
I would love to be stranded with C.S. Lewis, JRR Tolkien and characters from their books. I grew up reading The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe and The Lord of The Rings books and would consider it a privilege to talk with these great men. I would love to talk to them not only about their books but also the philosophies behind them.

If you were to jump in a time capsule and land 200 years into the future, what do you envision the publishing world to have evolved into?
Wow, that is a great question, and I am finding myself thinking about flying cars and space suits, but that has nothing to do with publishing. :)  Honestly, I have no idea what it will look like, maybe we will all have personal robots that download all the current books and read them to us.

What do you do in your free time, for fun or to relax?
I love to be outside ALL the time, I think it is a prerequisite to live in Colorado, haha ok maybe not. :) I LOVE skiing so that is usually where you can find me on the weekends, except for the fall when college football is on. Being raised with two older brothers caused me to be completely obsessed with football and basketball! I also have a golden retriever, so I enjoy going on runs with him.

Thank you Staci for giving us a glimpse into your world. Authors are lucky to have you working for them.

Welcome to the Weekend With... Boyd Printing and Publishing CEO, Carl Johnson

This week we Welcome the weekend with a gentleman who has spent his life in publishing. He is the CEO of Boyd printing and Publishing, Carl Johnson. He gives us a glimpse of the world of books from a publishers perspective.

What made you decide to go into publishing?
After over 30 years in book printing, and seeing all the changes, it appeared there was a need for an authors to be able to self publish effectively, which means planning and marketing. As the giant publishers gobble up or kill the medium sized independents, an author's options shrink dramatically. Many of the traditional "vanity publishers" provide no real marketing or ways for the author to succeed financially. Our goal is to fill that gap.

Describe for us your journey in publishing from just starting out to your current position as CEO at Boyd Printing & Publishing.
Having production and composition services along with fulfillment and warehousing, we added some editorial free-lancers and after much evaluation added an honest, effective book marketing partner.

How has the publishing world changed over the years?
As the large publishers acquired the independents, it appeared to me that the risk-taking of 20 years ago had given way to people in cubicles running a prospective manuscript through a spreadsheet to figure out how many units (they are not called books) will be sold and what the ROI is. This is fine if you are Dan Brown, not so good if you are unknown.

What impact do you think digital books will have on book publishing? Are bound books destined to become endangered species?
Digital books is a phrase that covers a mulitude of things. Is a digital book a POD, low res, high unit cost book that will keep an author from making any real money? Is a digital book a 100 to 200 copy, sheet fed, paperback that might allow an author with limited funds to test the market? Is a digital book a 750 run, full color hard bound book run on an expensive "digtial web"?

The answer to all is yes. So digital printing is having a big impact as it offers muliple opportunities to get started. It would be better to descibe a book by the number of copies and unit cost than the method of manufacture.

I doubt bound books will go away for a long time. Even E-books must be sold at a high enough price to allow the publisher/author to cover writing, editorial, marketing and a profit. 10 years from now, 20 years from now, who knows. But in the forseeable future, although E-books will take increasing market share, it will be a while before they have 50% of the market, let alone all of it.

What do you feel is the most important thing that a first-time author should know?
Answer the question why am I doing this - a hobby....to develop my professional standing....to make money when I give speeches or classes....to build a career as a writer. Second, do a marketing plan, and estimate all your costs, figure out how you are going to finance it.

Tell us about your current company- Boyd Printing & Publishing? What are your goals and/or mission as a publisher? And what makes your company different from others?
Boyd Printing & Publishing wants to give authors who are serious about getting a book out and making money a real way to achieve their goals. We do not trap them into contracts where they end up buying back copies of their own books. Our goal is their success. We are different because we bring all the services of a complete traditional publisher to bear on the challenges the author faces in succeeding. Although the author must pay for the services, all proceeds from the sales of all copies go directly to the author. We do not keep half of each copy for "production costs".

What advice would you give to someone wanting to break into the publishing world (not as an author)?
There are many things there - marketing, buying, editorial, general management, acquisitions. If you want to break into publishing, you will probably end up in "Corporate America". Match the various segments with your talents and go in that direction.

On a personal level, what books do you enjoy reading?
Well researched historical fiction and well done mystery/spy books.

If you were to become stranded on a deserted island with three other people who were either authors or characters from books, who would you want them to be and what would be your topic (s) of conversation?
Way too many choices here. This could be a discussion for an hour.

If you were to jump in a time capsule and land 200 years into the future, what do you invision the publishing world to have evolved into?
The only thing for sure, is that it will not be what we expect. In the 70's the movie 2001 A Space Odyssey was released. In it a man on the space station goes to a pay phone to call Earth. No one had even considered cell phones. So who knows.

What do you do in your free time, for fun or to relax?
I spend time with my wife of over 40 years and our dogs, children and grandchildren.

Be sure to check our Boyd Printing and Publishing's website.

Welcome to the Weekend With ... Author C.D. Baker

This week we are going to welcome our weekend with a wonderful inspirational author, CD Baker. His book, 40 Loaves, which I reviewed in December, is so simple yet inspiring. I have used it as a basis for a 40 day posting on my other blog Whispering to God.

First tell us a little about you- (brief bio- a sentence or two) I write from my small farm in Bucks County, Pennsylvania where I live with my wife, Sue. I have a master’s degree in theology from the University of St. Andrews in Scotland. I’ve learned that life is hard and religion doesn’t work but grace remains.


When did you first start writing and did you always want to be an author?
I had hoped to be a writer from elementary school onwards and had written a 5th grade comic strip. I began serious writing in the 1980’s with some not-to-be-published children’s books, then began my first published novel in February, 1994.

What is the most challenging aspect of writing? Most rewarding?
The marketing side of writing is very difficult; it’s hard to get your work noticed amongst such a variety of really good authors. However, reader feedback, even when critical is very exciting.

40 Loaves is such a wonderful tool. What inspired you to write 40 Loaves?

I spoke with a Catholic nun in Britain whose heart was heavy regarding her failing faith. I encouraged her to just go ahead tell God anything…and while she was at it, she should go ahead and ask Him anything. The look of joy and relief on her face reminded me that many of us are afraid to be totally honest with God. We harbor lots of thoughts and questions in fear, so I thought I’d explore some of our questins out loud in hopes of inspiring others to enjoy the freedom of Christ’s unconditional love.

How long, on average, does it take to write a book?
I write/research full-time and my novels have varied from one year to four, my devotionals about seven months.

What about the life you have led has helped or hindered your writing/creativity?
My failures in life have contributed to a deeper understanding of myself, the human condition generally, and the power of the Gospel, each of which have added depth to my work. However, my relentless work ethic sometimes interferes with my joy in writing, and the strain of the marketplace can be a discouraging distraction.

What do you hope for your writing career in the next few years? Any goals that you have yet to obtain that you have set for yourself?
I’d be dishonest if I said I wasn’t hoping for better sales! The reality of the marketplace is that publishers only offer what they think they can sell. Since I believe in my work, I really do hope my work gets broader attention so I can keep writing professionally. Otherwise, my only conscious goal is to be content with however God wills to use my work.

Who are your favorite authors?
Depending on my mood, T.S. Elliot, C.S. Lewis, Richard Bauckham, Honer de Balzac, and Thomas Mann.

You can influence any one thing in the entire history, the present or the future of the world (what has occurred, how something works, etc.). What would you choose to change and why?
Oh my. Wow. Well…besides keeping Eve away from the serpent, I’d probably want to impact the nature of the Enlightenment so that Rationalism was kept in check by an appropriate appreciation for mystical realities. (I know…that would require a whole book to explain…sorry!)

If you could spend the day with one person (someone in history, a favorite author, a public figure, a character in a book, etc.), who would you choose and why?
Assuming you mean other than Jesus, I would say John the Beloved who is the likely author of the Gospel of John, the epistles of John, and Revelation. Though not a member of the Twelve (that was John of Zebedee), John was especially gifted with deep, sensitive insight into the life and meaning of Christ.

What words of wisdom would you share with your fans?
Ask the Spirit to show you more of your heart so that as you face the gravity of your shortcomings you will be more dependent on God’s grace. This in turn will set you free from the suffocating power of the Self and enable you to rest in the joy of His love.

Here is a wonderful video interview with CD Baker:

CD Baker Talks About His New Devotional - 40 Loaves @ Yahoo! Video

 
Be sure to also visit his website for more of his wonderful work.