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Today we are interviewing Ellard L. Thomas, author of the personal development book Moving Forward, Courageously | Seven Secrets to Restoring Love, Money and Happiness in Your Life.
Tell us a bit about yourself.
For nearly two decades, I have helped professionals, educators and adult students to overcome their personal and professional challenges. Due to the impact that I have made in their lives, I have earned the title of "America's Break Your Barrier" expert. I truly enjoy helping people to reach the next level of their lives.
Describe the purpose of your book in a few sentences.
Moving Forward, Courageously reveals a seven-step plan designed to help people with rebuilding their lives after facing heartache, financial loss, the death of a loved one and several other common adversities. People must understand that they are far more powerful than the challenges they face.
Who do you think would most appreciate this book?
Individuals who would most appreciate Moving Forward, Courageously are individuals who seek to restore love, money and happiness in their lives following life's challenging or tragic events.
What inspired you to write a book about overcoming challenges?
Considering the hurt, abuse, failed businesses and other hardships I had undergone, I realized that countless others experienced similar afflictions. Sadly there weren't any books which revealed an easy-to-follow system to help them get back to living. From this revelation, Moving Forward, Courageously was birthed. One of my clients called it "a necessity during adverse conditions."
One of the themes in your book is that adversity offers opportunity. Can you elaborate on this a bit?
Within each of us lies a greater being. Unfortunately, this greater self is awakened only through adversity. Following in-depth studies of great people I've concluded that "The seeds of greatness are often watered by the rains of adversity and affliction. " Some of the world's greatest achievements were spawned from adversity.
How do you think reading your book will impact people?
Reading Moving Forward, Courageously will enable and empower readers to rebuild their lives. Many people struggle with overcoming hurt and loss and have a hard time returning to living with joy and happiness. This book helps them to find their way back to the life they deserve.
Outside of writing, what other endeavors are you involved with?
Good question. Outside of writing, my other endeavors include speaking and training, working in ministry, advocating for the youth and helping individuals with becoming entrepreneurs. My greatest endeavors are being a great father and husband.
What do you have in mind for your next writing project?
I am happy to announce my next project: Defeating Goliath. Focusing on the epic battle between David and Goliath, this book reveals how readers can unlock their inner warrior to defeat any obstacle that stands between them and their individual definition of success and their purpose. I am truly excited about it.
Is there anything else you'd like potential readers to know about your book?
Yes. Moving Forward, Courageously was written specifically for readers that need a systematic way of breaking their financial, spiritual, personal or professional barriers. It refrains from insulting readers' intelligence by not having rehashed or redundant "How to" information that's commonly found in other self-help or personal development books. If you struggle with overcoming hardships, or know someone else who is, make Moving Forward, Courageously a part of your life-restoration plan.
More Information
ellardthomas.com/store.html
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Today we are interviewing Stephen C. Merlino, author of the fantasy/YA fantasy novel The Jack of Souls, book 1 of the Unseen Moon series.
Tell us a bit about yourself.
I live in the Pacific Northwest of the USA with the world's most talented and desirable woman, two fabulous children, and three attack chickens.
I teach high school English to a group of fantastic kids. When people ask (and they always do), “Are teenagers really messed up these days?” I say, “Not at all. They are just like we were. They’re awesome.” And I mean it. Best job in the world, working with teens. :)
Describe the plot of your new book in a few sentences.
An outcast rogue must break a curse put on his fate, or die on his nineteenth birthday. His usual tricks won’t be enough so save him. He’ll need the help of other outcasts—and a lot of it. Ultimately, he must face the temptation of forbidden magic that could break his curse, but cost him the only woman he’s ever loved.
Who do you think would most appreciate The Jack of Souls?
1) Lovers of fantasy who want a fresh twist to characters and world. I enjoy upending old tropes and shooting for originality. Many of my reviews express appreciation of that, so think I must have succeeded in it.
2) Those curious about autism and who might appreciate seeing an autistic character.
3) Lovers of Shakespeare who might enjoy finding an Easter egg subplot from A Midsummer Night’s Dream. :)!
What inspired you to write a book about three outcasts, each with a shortcoming, that must band together to survive?
Flawed characters are the best characters. The more messed up they are, the more interesting their story, the farther they have to go to redeem themselves, and the more non-stop the action.
Tell us about the three main characters, Harric, Caris, and Sir Willard.
HARRIC is a bastard. Literally. As in, he was born to a single mother.
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| Harric |
If he’d been born thirty years earlier, he would have been born a slave, but the Queen abolished the slavery of bastards and women, so he was raised a free bastard.
Nevertheless, there are those in the land who wish to overthrow the Queen and re-enslave bastards and women, so Harric is very fond of the present government. His mother was one of the court ladies first educated by the Queen’s tutors and employed as a courtesan spy. When she raised him, his mother trained him in all the arts of the spy—etiquette, seduction, subterfuge, slight of hand, forgery, lock-picking, poisoning, etc.—so he could take her place in the Queen’s service.
Cool mom, right? She taught him to be the ultimate trickster!
Sadly, she also went mad, saw visions of him one day destroying the Queen, and cursed him to die on his nineteenth birthday, in order to protect the Queen.
Maybe not such a cool mom.
CARIS is a runaway noble maiden intent upon becoming the Queen’s first female knight.
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| Caris |
She is not your average charismatic Joan of Arc type, however. She is, in fact, horse-touched, which means she has several advantages and some serious disadvantages in her quest to serve the Queen.
Advantages include enormous strength and size, as well as uncanny ability with horses. The main disadvantage centers around the fact that she understands horses better than humans. This manifests in a sometimes crippling fear of social situations, crowds, and in a general blindness to subtle human social cues.
Needless to say, since Harric is a master of subtlety and social manipulation, they make quite a pair, each protecting the other’s weak spot.
SIR WILLARD is an ex-immortal knight who still rides the immortal warhorse that once made him immortal and gave him immortal powers. He has sworn off immortality, however, and is now aging and outcast and addicted to painkilling herb.
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| Sir Willard |
That being said, he is also arguably Arkendia’s greatest hero.
In his heyday as an immortal, he led the Cleansing—the war that rid the kingdom of the Old Ones, an order of immortal knights who once enslaved the land. In the flush of the Queen’s youth he served as her official Champion and unofficial lover. Everything fell apart when he fell in love with one of the Queen’s ladies; the resulting love triangle proved unforgivable, quickly making him an ex-champion, ex-lover, and banished from the court.
He is still in love however, and he seeks the Queen’s forgiveness by undertaking one final, desperate quest in her service.
Did you have a favorite character to write?
You know, I have to say, No, I love writing them all.
Harric is always fun because he’s a trickster and unpredictable and funny—qualities that get amplified when Fink shows up (not telling you about Fink, sorry!).
Caris is so powerful and flawed, and she’s such a plain-talking merciless ass-kicker that I just love to watch her go. Justice, especially, seems sweeter when she deals it. :)
Willard is wise, foul-tempered, good-hearted, old-fashioned, and constantly smoking ragleaf stogies. He’s funny, and like Caris is also capable of feats of astounding ass-kickery, despite his age.
Can you describe the creative process you had for this book, from the initial idea to the final manuscript?
1) Wrote a chapter, rewrote it, then shared w/ critique group. Revised per critique. Let it sit.
2) Wrote another chapter, rewrote it, shared w/ critique group. Revised based on critique. Let it sit.
3) Repeated chapter by chapter through entire manuscript until done.
4) Left that critique group.
5) Presented manuscript chapter by chapter to second critique group, revised per feedback, until done.
6) Posted entire book on Wattpad. Listened to feedback nitpicks. Tweaked.
7) Sent to beta readers. Revised according to feedback.
8) Sent to copy editor.
9) Published!
How do you feel about the increasing popularity of ebooks?
Because of ebooks, I have readers. If there were no ebooks, The Jack of Souls would still be languishing at the bottom of agent and editor slush piles doing no one any good—least of all, fantasy readers.
So I love ebooks! Thank you, Amazon and Nook and Kobo and Smashwords! :)
Have you ever had writer's block? If yes, how'd you deal with it?
If I’m having a hard time starting, I revise what I last wrote, and that gets the juices rolling.
Do you write with a computer, typewriter, or pen and paper?
Mostly computer. There is a time and place for the luxury of paper, but usually I go for the speed of computer.
What do you have in mind for your next project?
Book 2, The Knave of Souls, to be released at the end of summer 2015!
Book 3, The Prince of Souls, to be released at the end of 2015!
Is there anything else you'd like potential readers to know about The Jack of Souls?
The Jack of Souls won two awards for fantasy, and is top ten on two Amazon Bestseller lists. Check it out! The first three chapters are free, so you have nothing to lose. Read them and see what you think.
If you like it, pick up the ebook for less than a frappacino and let me know what you think!
I love to hear from readers. Just email me at stephenmerlino@hotmail.com. :)
Thanks for reading!
— S
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Today we are interviewing C.B. Garris about PARAMEDIC: M.O.S., a non-fiction look at the front lines of Emergency Medical Services in New York City.
Tell us a bit about yourself.
My name is C.B. Garris and I am an EMS Paramedic/First Responder, Firefighter and Emergency Management Specialist; and a former member of NYC EMS {the New York City Emergency Medical Service; now entitled FDNY-EMS}. A New York City native, I served as an Assistant Watch Commander/Senior Emergency Management Specialist and Operations Resource Coordinator in the 9-1-1 Command and Control Division, coordinating tactical operations. I was the EMS logistical resource coordinator for the original terrorist bombing attack on the World Trade Center in 1993, an Instructor of Emergency Medicine at the UCLA Medical Center/Center for Prehospital Care, an Emergency Management/Dive Rescue Coordinator to the motion picture industry, and I am a clinical regulatory/biomedical specialist in emergency medicine, tactical/urban combat medicine and advanced resuscitation.
Describe your book in a few sentences.
PARAMEDIC: M.O.S. is a profound and deeply personal look into the experiences on the front lines of Emergency Medical Services in New York City. Not only do EMT’s and Paramedics experience the highs and lows of constant life and death exposure the constant intensity of patients revived or lost due to traumatic accidents, or those medically compromised at scenes before they arrive; but they are also forced to deal with coworkers who are sometimes ineffective, self-serving, uncaring, as well as bureaucratic red-tape, politics and often personal tragedy within their own fraternal public safety family. These incidents rarely, if ever, get reported in the general media; yet these selfless rescuers of the city’s citizens push forward and return to their work every day and night.
Who do you think would most appreciate PARAMEDICS: M.O.S.?
Most certainly public safety professionals but even more, the general population who seeks to understand the profession and what it is like to be a rescuer. Thus, the book is scoped for truly everyone.
What inspired you to write a book about the involvement of Emergency Medical Technicians and Paramedics in Emergency Medical Services?
Having been apart of this field for so long, and having been the logistical resource coordinator for NYC EMS during the first bombing attack on the World Trade Center in 1993, I was extremely disappointed how the EMT's and Paramedics who suffered on 9/11 never received any true attention. They were consistently referred to as "emergency workers", while other rescuers were identified by their proper title. It felt as though EMT's and Paramedic's just didn't matter, as though it wasn't important to those that could, to identify them and give them respect for saving lives and also suffering in the tragedy.
In your book, you touch upon the media’s failure to recognize the role of the EMT/Paramedic in rescue efforts. Why do you think the media does this?
I don't think it's because of the media, I think it is actually more societal. When people call 9-1-1, they have the rightful expectation that help will arrive. We easily identify the firefighters or police officers, but EMT's and Paramedics have been cast aside. Some of this is because of politics at the local community level not wanting to recognize EMS as a true, independent emergency service, as has been the case for many, many decades. There are many complexities as to why EMS has very often been ostracized instead of appreciated. I think media essentially grasps the pulse of what the populous expresses, and since there has widely been a lack of recognition in general society; so goes the lack of representation in the media. I think mainly the specifics, the training and the workings of our insular profession are widely overlooked. I think if the general public had a better understanding of what the capabilities are of EMT's and Paramedics, and the service they provide; I think that there would be a much greater spotlight on these great rescuers. At the same time, it is also up to us, the EMT's and Paramedics, to work in a professional manner and earn and maintain that respect. It is definitely a two-way street.
What do you think are the biggest misconceptions the public has about EMTs/Paramedics?
Some of the biggest misconceptions include that the public thinks that EMT's/Paramedics are uneducated, callous, lazy, that they like racing with lights and sirens just for the fun of it, that when they see an ambulance or other EMS vehicle coming up behind them or towards them, that it really isn't an emergency. Also that when EMT's and Paramedics go to treat patients with highly advanced care, that they don't really know what they are doing, that they aren't serious or highly-trained also.
How has the EMT/Paramedic community responded to PARAMEDIC:M.O.S.?
I have been extremely fortunate and humbled by the outpouring of intense elation from the EMS community. As the book reviews on amazon and other sites will reflect, my peers have made it clear to me that they truly appreciate the angle which I created the book on, to represent us in a way that truly represents us and "humanizes" us to the public. Some have shared that my book made them become a better medic and even more, a better person. Some have said my book changed their life and others stated that for they first time, they felt visible to everyone else. I have been fortunate to receive many five star reviews from the EMS Community.
What do you hope people will get from reading your book?
I want readers to take away from this book a new-found respect for EMT's and Paramedics everywhere and hopefully humanity in general. I hope they will pay more attention to these rescuers now and realize that a lot of work goes int o what they do daily. I also hope that they will find different ways to appreciate their respective partner and mate in their own life, through the connective lines in this book between the characters. If they find a way to care more deeply for others or a new way to connect to those they care about and love; even better.
What do you have in mind for your next writing project?
I am working on a number of other projects, the subject matter I am keeping close to my vest until it is time to release it. However I can say that the new material I am working on is also public safety related.
Is there anything else you'd like potential readers to know about your book?
I hope that people will take the time to read it to know about not only the profession, but about the side that they don't see of first responders and how their lives can be affected by the things they see and do.
More Information
Visit the author's website
Buy PARAMEDIC: M.O.S. on Amazon
Buy PARAMEDIC: M.O.S. on the publisher's website
Today we are interviewing Tracy J Thomas, author of the nonfiction/motivational book "Zen in the Garden: Finding Peace and Healing Through Nature."
Tell us a bit about yourself.
I am an award-winning photographer, artist, author, and educator living in Northern California. I received my M.F.A. in Photography from the Academy of Art University, San Francisco and my work has appeared in mainstream publications, galleries, and personal collections around the globe. I am a contributing author to the 2012 Seal Press anthology "Dancing at the Shame Prom: Sharing the Stories That Kept Us Small and served on faculty at the San Miguel Writer's Conference and on the "Women Write Their Lives" speaker's panel in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico.
Describe the purpose of your book in a few sentences.
"Zen in the Garden" came about in the midst of my treatment for skin cancer. It is my way of sharing the healing power of nature through the Zen philosophy of mindfulness. My goal when writing this motivational book was to encourage spiritual awareness through helpful anecdotes and inspirational nature photography. My hope is my readers will slow down and experience the transformational beauty that exists in the small details that surround them on a daily basis.
Who do you think would most appreciate "Zen in the Garden"?
Anyone who is experiencing the stress of a fast-paced, noise-filled life and would like to take some constructive steps towards attaining peace and healing.
What inspired you to write a book about promoting peace, healing, and happiness through the Zen philosophy?
The past few years have been difficult for me. For the first time in my life I experienced health issues that resulted in a lot of stress and fear of the unknown. I found myself consumed with thoughts of "what if" and struggled to find peace of mind. One day in the midst of this stress I grabbed my camera and decided to take macro photos in our garden. I became so mesmerized with the minute details and beauty unfolding before me that I literally forgot about my fears and felt my body let out a deep sigh of relief as I relaxed into the moment. This became my daily routine during my treatment. When I became housebound I would meditate on my nature photographs and soon realized I felt the most peace and happiness when I thought about beautiful moments in my life. I began to write down my thoughts and felt moved to share these things with others who might also feel stressed. Thus the book was born.
What is it about the Zen philosophy that helps people find peace amid a chaotic life?
The practice of mindfulness, living in the moment, is a beautiful and simple concept. This is the aspect of Zen philosophy that has always resonated the most with me personally. Our busy, chaotic, and noisy lives cause us undue stress and anxiety which can lead to illness. Our minds tend to work overtime and are often overwhelmed with shame and regret for things in our past and fear of things we think might happen in the future. When we become overwhelmed with these thoughts, there is little room to enjoy the moment and we miss out on an enormous amount of beauty. The Zen philosophy of mindfulness allows us to clear our minds of all the unnecessary muck, thus releasing stress, and helps to bring about a spiritual awakening to the moment at hand.
How did you make the Zen philosophy approachable for people who have never practiced Buddhism?
I myself am not a practicing Buddhist in the traditional sense although I have studied books by Buddhist authors and do utilize meditation as a daily practice. For me the concept of mindfulness was transformational. For years I suffered from a mind that just wouldn't quit. I was always stressed about the past or worried about the future. When I spent time in nature, whether climbing a mountain peak or planting my garden, it always helped to alleviate that stress and quiet my mind. When I would leave those places the overwhelming stress would return. It wasn't until I began to practice mindfulness in all circumstances of life that the stress became manageable and I began to experience more peace and happiness. The book is written in a practical way that provides anecdotes to ponder, inspirational photographs to meditate on plus gardening tips and nature challenges to encourage readers to take action and begin to experience the small, beautiful things in life. Mindfulness is one of the basic tenets of Zen philosophy that doesn't require years of study and this book presents the concept in everyday terms.
How do you think reading your book will impact people?
My hope is readers of "Zen in the Garden" will begin to recognize the small beauties in each moment and realize the importance of living our lives right now. None of us truly know how much time we have so why waste it away on stress and negative energy?
What do you have in mind for your next writing project?
I am currently working on several books. The next in line for publication is another motivational book on the concept of compassion that will challenge readers to perform one compassionate act daily for thirty days. The working title is "30 Days of Grace: Changing the World Through the Act of Compassion."
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Today we are interviewing L.B. Johnson, author of "The Book of Barkley - Love and Life Through the Eyes of a Labrador Retriever."
Tell us a bit about yourself.
I write as a way to capture so many things around me. Working in a law enforcement related field, looking at everything in great detail is a big part of my day. I’m a wife, a rescue dog Mom and a licensed commercial airline pilot.
Describe your book in a few sentences.
The book has been described as memoir, pet essay and eulogy. In a way it is all three, my story of growing up, dealing with both loss and grief too young and how loving and being responsible for another living thing, literally changed how I viewed the world.
Who do you think would most appreciate this book?
This book will resonate with anyone who has love or lost, not only two legged friends and family, but four legged.
What inspired you to write a book about your relationship with Barkley?
Barkley passed away at the same time as my only brother, both to sudden, aggressive cancers. I wrote The Book of Barkley to capture both of their stories, so others could learn to love and live as they did, even as they remembered them.
Can you tell us about the first time you met Barkley?
He was just a puppy, sitting down at my feet and not leaving my side while his brothers and sisters gave a quick sniff and then went back to play. I think he picked me as opposed to the other way around.
What was it about Barkley that allowed him to have such a positive impact on you?
Barkley, as dogs do, didn’t judge or act based on experiences, prejudices or former pain. He just looked on each day as a joyous gift, loving everyone around him unconditionally. That was something I think we all need to learn.
In the book, you talk about how Barkley pulled you from the depths of grief and despair into a life chock-full of love. Can you compare what your life was like before and after meeting Barkley?
I lost three people I loved, in different circumstances, before I was even an adult. Finishing my education and getting a great job was exciting but it was incredibly lonely. I figured if I didn’t let anyone too close to me, they couldn’t hurt me. Barkley changed that, introducing me to laughter and trust again and inevitably, bringing the man that is now my husband, into my life.
Readers seem to have a strong response to reading your book. What is it about your journey with Barkley that resonates so strongly with readers?
Loving a pet is almost a universal response. We see ourselves in them, we put so much trust and joy and hope in them. When they leave us it is heartbreaking, yet we usually go out and learn to love again. For much of society pet’s aren’t just an animal that shares our home--they are family.
You’re involved with animal rescue and non-profits that help service/search/K9 dogs. Can you tell us a bit about your involvement and what inspired you to get involved?
Every cent of royalties of "The Book of Barkley" is donated to animal non-profits such as Search Dog Foundation, Kevlar for K9’s and dozens of small community rescue groups. Even the smallest bits of support may make a difference in an animal’s life.
What do you have in mind for your next writing project?
My second book “Saving Grace – A Story of Adoption” is being published by Outskirts Press in May of 2015.
Is there anything else you'd like potential readers to know about your book?
It’s sad in spots, as is any book in which a pet is ultimately lost, but there is great joy in it. I
hope it is the joy that stays with you.
More Information
http://www.amazon.com/dp/1478734345
Today we are interviewing Nancy Janes, author of the sci-fi/fiction novel Night Rumbles.
Book Blurb
Nineteen-year-old Brad wakes up in a foreign world with no memory and finds himself surrounded by hostile forces. Can he survive—and will he ever make it home?
Tell us a bit about yourself.
I am a Psychotherapist, retired to writing full-time. Books and writing have been a part of my life since I learned my ABC’s at five years of age.
Describe the plot of your new book in a few sentences.
A science fiction/fantasy based on a plot to out wit an evil tyrant. If events forced one to confront a malevolent reality that required a decision to yield or to defy, what would be the decision?
Who do you think would most appreciate this book?
Science fiction and fantasy readers who like books with a underlying message.
How did you first come up with the idea for the story’s plot?
I wrote the first book The Boy Who Walked A Way as a book of Light, centered on the peaceable kingdom. Night Rumbles is a book of darkness, the kingdom of the night, with humorous overtones, based loosely on the first book.
One of the themes throughout the book is faith. What inspired you to incorporate this theme into the book?
Faith is a basis of life. Each of us chooses which one it will be whether a secular faith, one grounded entirely in this world with other humans as the final authority— gods, or a spiritual faith grounded in a belief in other worlds that encompass this one with a god who rules all. My Faith is Christian.
Who was your favorite character to write?
Brat. He was a survivor and mastered his, seemingly, hopeless circumstances.
How do you think reading your book will impact people?
The book gives a sense of encouragement, hope and belief in oneself even if the situation seems impossible to navigate.
What do you have in mind for your next project?
I’m writing a book of short stories presently based on ordinary people who experience troubles in their every day life.
Is there anything else you'd like potential readers to know about your book?
It’s a book on choice, acts and the consequences of the actions.
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Today we are interviewing Bob Kern, author of We Were Soldiers Too: Serving as a Reagan soldier during the Cold War.
Tell us a bit about yourself.
Served in the infantry from 11/80 to 3/88. Retired hotel general manager. Raising three beautiful granddaughters with my wife of 23 years.
Describe your book in a few sentences.
The Cold War was an important part of history that ended with the fall of the Berlin Wall. Everyone knows the headlines of this era but few know the details and just how close the world was to World War III and a nuclear war. Politicians take credit for ending the Cold War, but the real credit goes to the men and women who served in the military. They trained hard and remained in a constant state of vigilance, ready to protect the world against a Soviet invasion and the spread of communism.
Who do you think would most appreciate this book?
I know veterans like it because I have had such an overwhelming, positive response from them, and not just those that have read the book. Hundreds of veterans have thanked me just for writing about our service. In fact, because of this, I am writing the sequel (which is quickly turning into two books) I think people who enjoy history will learn some things reading what was going on in the military in conjunction with world events of the 1980’s.
What inspired you to write about your time serving in the military during the Cold War?
The guilt I felt being thanked for my service after 9/11 because I knew people assumed I was involved in the war on terrorism and had no idea I was a peacetime soldier. I knew other vets had to struggle with this same guilt and shouldn’t. I wanted people to know Cold War veterans played a very key role in the world, particularly preventing World War III and a likely nuclear war.
Your book explores valuable lessons about the Cold War that history hasn’t recorded. Why do you think history glazed over such an important part of world history?
Media was much more limited in what they could cover and I am sure they didn’t care what we were doing. As long as the Soviets didn’t cross the border, nobody considered them the threat they really were. Out of sight, out of mind. To quote Jack Nicholson from “A Few Good Men”, “You don't want the truth because deep down in places you don't talk about at parties, you want me on that wall, you need me on that wall. We use words like honor, code, loyalty. We use these words as the backbone of a life spent defending something.” Cold War veterans were the wall around the world that kept the Soviets behind the “iron curtain”
One of the things you do in the book is document your transition from a naïve 17-year-old to a trained soldier. Can you share a bit about what it was like during your first few days in basic training?
Surreal. I grew up in a small town and was raised by a single mother and was completely clueless to what the real world was like. When the bus arrived at Fort Benning, I was certain the gates of hell had been opened and I had been thrown in.
Are there any parts of your book that will surprise readers?
The intensity and physical training we went through and the constantly being pushed to our limits. When my editor gave me the first round of edits, the first thing he commented on was the brutality of the training. He asked me if I could throw in some stories of what a normal day was like. I told him these were normal days in the infantry back then. There was nothing “9 to 5” about it.
How do you think reading your book will impact people?
The history I intertwine into my story is very eye opening to most people. Everyone who didn’t serve has stated they never considered the guilt Cold War veterans feel. They then tell me how much they appreciate all veterans and their service no matter when it occurred. I knew this. The guilt is something that we feel and have to deal with and really has nothing to do with other’s perceptions of veterans. There thanks to veterans for their service are sincere.
The response by readers so far has been overwhelmingly positive, especially among veterans. Why do you think your book resonates so strongly with people?
Almost all Cold War veterans feel their service is unappreciated. Especially by the government. Many efforts to have a Cold War medal issued have been shot down by politicians because of funding excuses, which is very lame. Not to mention, most state benefits for disabled veterans require service during a time of war which is absurd. A disabled veteran is a disabled veteran that was hurt while serving their country.
Do you see any similarities between US relations with Russia today and the relations during the Cold War?
Russia has never completely shed communism with the government’s control of the main media outlets there. This made it easy for Putin to revert back to Soviet Cold War games. He maintains high popularity while breaking all sorts of international laws because he controls what the people hear and see. Very Stalinist.
What do you have in mind for your next writing project?
I have already started one, possibly two sequels, because of the wave of support from veterans. I was going to dedicate each chapter to a different veteran and their story to paint a larger picture than what my story was by including other jobs, years, and even different branches of the military. In laying it out, I got some great stories from veterans that served in Korea between Vietnam the first Gulf War. I am probably going to write a separate sequel for these stories. Both will be released this fall if all goes well.
Is there anything else you'd like potential readers to know about your book?
Honestly, I just want to do right by Cold War veterans. At the end of the day, these guys deserve to know their service was appreciated.
More Information
https://www.weweresoldierstoo.com/
Today we are interviewing Elizabeth Bailey, author of the historical romance Hidden Flame.
Tell us a bit about yourself.
I love to read and lose myself in other worlds. Though I was born in England, I grew up in Africa and have travelled a lot. I adore bohemian clothes and artifacts, together with art and history. It’s no surprise I ended up a writer of historical romance.
Describe the plot of your new book in a few sentences.
Sheltering from a violent storm, Benedict helps a woman in distress, who turns out to be his dying godmother’s companion. A shocking inheritance blasts friendship apart, and Theda has to confront the ghosts of her past. Will the blistering scandals of yesteryear keep Theda and Benedict forever divided? Or will the flame of love triumph?
Who do you think would most appreciate this book?
Anyone who loves historical romance and the Georgian and Regency period of history.
What inspired you to write a novel in the tradition of regency romance?
Growing up, I fell in love with the novels of Georgette Heyer and still enjoy her work. When I began to write, it felt natural to choose this genre.
Tell us about the protagonists, Benedict and Theda.
Benedict is a charming young rebel, driven by a need to redress the wrong done to his mother and thereby make his fortune. Theda is in hiding from her past, living a life as a companion which is unsuited to her fiery personality.
What drives the attraction between Benedict and Theda?
They are both outcasts and share a common bond of sympathy, but it is Theda’s concealed red hair that inflames Benedict and heightens the attraction.
Who was your favorite character to write?
Lady Merchiston, the cantankerous elderly lady who is dying of cancer, and who Theda comes to serve. She is a complex character I loved creating.
What do you have in mind for your next project?
I’m planning the first in a series about Convenient and Cinderella brides, and this one will be set around Christmas.
Is there anything else you'd like potential readers to know about your book?
The sensuality is high, but actual sexual content is minimal. I write traditional clean romances but there is no less strength in the attraction between the hero and heroine.
An excerpt from Hidden Flame:
With a liberal
hand, he poured himself another glass. But as he raised it to his lips
the windows flashed bright again, and the heavens gave forth another
stream of rumbling abuse.
‘God, what an accursed night,’ mumbled Mr
Beckenham, and, sipping his liquor, he looked over the makeshift meal
with revulsion. ‘Hell and damnation, to what am I reduced?’
As if in
response to his cursing, the wild night struck back at him, flaring a
double blow of brilliant whiteness that seemed to tear at him through
the windows.
His head turned, eyes narrowing against the glare. As
the room lit, an image crossed his vision—of a thin black figure seated
in a corner, crouching witchlike in the gloom.
His heart lurched sickeningly. The devil! He was seeing things. Too much brandy.
But as the dark closed in again and his eyes began to adjust, the glimmering outline of a pale face encroached upon his senses.
The
thunder rolled away as Mr Beckenham stared, leaving the place eerily
silent, and his heart still. Was it a ghost? Or merely his imagination
playing tricks? Cursing briefly, he closed his eyes, looking away.
As he opened them again, they flicked, almost out of his own control, to check. It was still there.
Mr
Beckenham froze. His fingers about the stem of his glass tightened.
There was a sharp crack, and the broken glass fell from his hand,
tinkling on to the table and spilling its golden liquid on to the
pristine white cloth.
‘Hell and the devil!’ he swore, starting forward.
There was a frightened gasp and the ghost rose, too, staring at him out of the two hollows that were its eyes.
‘I—I beg your pardon,’ faltered the ghost. ‘I think I startled you.’
‘Dear God in heaven,’ ejaculated Mr Beckenham on a tide of relief. ‘You’re real!’
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Today we are interviewing Sara C. Roethle, author of the YA Paranormal novel "Xoe."
Tell us a bit about yourself.
Sara C. Roethle is a full time author and part time unicorn. She lives in the Land of Enchantment, as far away from civilization as possible...while still having internet.
Describe the plot of your book in a few sentences.
Xoe Meyers had a normal life. So she was stuck going to high school, and she only had a few friends to call her own. She liked her normal life. Things were about to change though, because there's a new guy in her small town, and he is anything but normal. Before Xoe can say, "Werewolf," her best friend's life is in peril, and Xoe's world is turned upside-down. Then, of course, there's Jason. Xoe doesn't trust him as far as she can throw him, and given that he's a vampire, she'd have to be able to catch him first.
Who do you think would most appreciate this book?
This book is intended for teens and young adults, but is suitable for all audiences.
What drew you to the YA paranormal genre?
I've always enjoyed reading YA paranormal, so it was natural that I would write it. I like that I can have a bit of fun with it, and try to focus a little more on humor than drama. It's enjoyable and interesting writing characters who don't fully know who they are yet.
Tell us a bit about the protagonist, Xoe Meyers.
Xoe is a bit of a firecracker. She's stubborn, and sometimes a little rude, but she's also loyal and will do anything she can for her friends.
Can you describe what this book’s creative process was like, from initial idea to published book?
This was probably the book that took me the least time to write, which is surprising since it was my first. I was at an antisocial phase in my life, and writing “Xoe” took the place of the massive amounts of reading I was doing at the time. I had no initial idea, and actually thought I would never publish. I just sat down and wrote every day, then suddenly I had a book.
Are there any authors who have influenced your writing style?
I love the humor and wit that Kim Harrison and Laurell K. Hamilton bring to their writing. It's like something super serious can be happening, then suddenly you burst out laughing at something one of the characters had to say. Though I'm an avid reader, Kim and Laurell's styles have always inspired me.
What do you have in mind for your next project?
I actually just released the first book in a new series, “Tree of Ages”. It's going to be an epic fantasy series, more aimed at adults.
Is there anything else you'd like potential readers to know about your book?
“Xoe” is free to download on all platforms!
An excerpt from "Xoe":
"While we waited for Lucy to shower, I worried over Lucy’s new
affliction. I also worried about the vampire sitting next to me on the
sofa and the werewolf lounging on the love seat. Not to mention that
tonight I had to sneak said vampire and werewolf into my house while we
waited to be attacked by another werewolf.
Since when was being a teenager so complicated?
Don’t answer that."
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Today we are interviewing R.D. Hunter, author of the paranormal/mystery novel, Eye of the Nightingale.
Tell us a bit about yourself.
I was born and raised in the foothills of North Carolina. I’ve spent most of my adult life working it some form of law enforcement. I’ve always had a passion for writing, but only recently decided to start taking it seriously. Once I did, I was hooked. There’s nothing quite like seeing this plot that’s been running through your mind splayed out on the page in front of you.
Describe the plot of Eye of the Nightingale in a few sentences.
The main character is Ava Foster, a young student nurse with the unwanted ability to sense other people’s emotions. When she’s assigned to a rest home as part of her clinical rotation, she’s shocked to uncover a web of patient abuse and neglect. In order to blow the whistle on those responsible, she has to learn to use those empathic abilities in ways she’s never dreamed of before.
Who do you think would most appreciate this book?
Anyone who enjoys a good thrill ride with a dash of the weird and strange thrown in. Not enough to take it completely outside the realm of possibility, but enough to add that certain amount of “Oh my God! I didn’t see that coming.”
What do you like about the paranormal mystery genre?
They go really well together. I don’t know anyone who doesn’t like a good mystery, and the paranormal genre compliments it nicely. It makes you think you know what is going to happen next, but then something totally unexpected can happen and it’s all right. It’s accepted.
Tell us about the main character, Ava Foster.
She’s tough, but she’s had a rough life so far. Her empathic abilities manifested in her early teens, and we all know how difficult those years were. Since then, she’s struggled just to get through the day without losing touch with herself, without letting someone else’s emotions cloud her own. But, she’s done it. She’s finishing up nursing school, which is a feat unto itself. Then, just when she thinks she’s got a handle on everything, she has to learn to use these abilities she’s shunned her entire life to help other people. The fact that she’s so driven to go through with it says a lot about her character.
Is there an author who has influenced your writing style?
I love Dean Koontz. The way he makes his characters so relatable is a talent few possess. I’ve tried to accomplish that as well, but in my own way.
What do you have in mind for your next project?
I’m actually working on a sequel to Eye of the Nightingale, entitled Silence of the Nightingale, due out this summer.
Is there anything else you'd like potential readers to know about your book?
Just that I had a blast writing it and I hope others have a blast reading it.
An excerpt from Eye of the Nightingale:
“It was you.”
I spoke in little more than a whisper, but it was enough to make both
men freeze in their tracks. I spit in the trash can once again before
continuing. “It was you. You did this to her. Your own wife. You
monster.”
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