Wednesday, December 24, 2014

Interview with Douglas Gardham, author of The Actor

 
 
 
Title: The Actor

Author: Douglas Gardham

Publisher: iUniverse

Pages: 352

Genre: Fiction

Format: Ebook

It is 1991 when Ethan Jones finally wins the role of his dreams in an upcoming, big screen movie. With the envelope holding the script clutched in his hand, he arrives at his California apartment where he can hardly wait to tell his girlfriend the exciting news. But when he finds the door unexpectedly ajar, he has no idea that in just a few seconds, the life he has fought so hard to obtain will be shattered. Eight years earlier, Ethan is attending university in Ottawa, Canada. One evening after seriously contemplating suicide, he finds his way into a club where he meets Mila Monahan, a beautiful acting student who saves him from himself. After he watches Mila rehearse a university play, Ethan catches the acting bug and decides to pursue his own creative passions, causing a collision with his more secure ideals. But when Mila suddenly disappears, Ethan vows he will never stop chasing the dream she inspired in him, believing in a world entirely different from the one he is living in. The Actor is a gripping tale of a young man’s unforgettable journey of self-discovery in overcoming the trauma of a personal tragedy. It is a story of love, hardship, persistence and overwhelming joy where The Actor learns he can portray anything he can imagine.
Could you please tell us a little about your book?
The Actor: A Novel is the story of a young man’s journey of self-discovery in overcoming the trauma of a tragedy he goes through by chasing a dream—a dream that’s not quite what it seems. It’s a story of love, hardship, persistence and overwhelming joy. The Actor reads like a thriller—a psychological thriller—but it’s more than that with an unforgettable ending.

Who or what is the inspiration behind this book? 
The inspiration for the novel came from seeing the movie Titanic when it first came out. I became fascinated by what someone would go through—the ups and downs—of getting up from what they were doing and chasing a dream.

What cause are you most passionate about and why? 
Today, probably addiction—chemical and alcohol—because of how something that people know will destroy their lives and yet they can’t help themselves.

Do you have any rituals you follow when you finish a piece of work?
Not really. The feeling of completion is an unbelievable feeling of satisfaction. I’ll take my wife out for a nice dinner.
Who has influenced you throughout your writing career?
Two major writers who I’ve never met: Stephen King whose “constant reader” notes that accompany many of his novels made me feel I could actually write a novel and Robertson Davies whose quote “writing is more about discipline and diligence than anything else” helped me realize writing wasn’t just in the ability to write down a story. And Hemingway with his short sentences and ability to put into words, emotion and passion. I would be remiss in not including the band Rush—music creativity and craftsmanship.
What are some of your long term goals?
To get to write and create for the rest of my life. When you touch and get to do what you truly love, you can’t turn away.
Douglas Gardham is a writer who loves music, movies, and books. He lives near Toronto, Canada, with his wife and dog. This is his first published novel.

Monday, December 22, 2014

Your Divine Fingerprint: The Force That Makes Your Unstoppable by Keith Craft

Title: Your Divine Fingerprint: The Force That Makes You Unstoppable
Author: Keith Craft
Publisher: Harper Collins
Pages: 277
Genre: Christian Life/Motivational
Format: Paperback/Kindle

 Discover the key to all your future success and achievement, and learn that what makes you different, makes you great. According to science, 99 percent of our DNA sequence is the same as other humans. Pastor Keith Craft believes that the 1 percent difference in each of us is a type of glory that God has given us. Within the pages of his motivational and inspirational self-help book, Your Divine Fingerprint: The Force That Makes You Unstoppable, are the tools to help you discover a unique fingerprint that you have been given. These tools will help you deploy your unique difference that your family needs, your marriage needs, your job needs, your faith needs—that the world needs. And when you embrace and live in that uniqueness, you celebrate the glory of God.

For More Information

Keith Craft is the founder and lead pastor of Elevate Life Church in Frisco, Texas. He speaks in the world’s largest business/success seminars and has shared the stage with former world leaders such as Bill Clinton, George Bush, Mikhail Gorbachev, and Margaret Thatcher. For the past twenty years he has spoken alongside Super Bowl–winning coaches such as Mike Ditka, Don Shula, Mike Shanahan, and Tony Dungy; MVP quarterbacks such as Terry Bradshaw, Joe Montana, and Peyton Manning; and entertainers such as Jerry Lewis, Bill Cosby, and Goldie Hawn. As a leadership coach and strategist, Craft is also the founder of Leadershipology.com, an online quote service. You can visit Keith Craft’s website at www.keithcraft.org. For More Information
 

Keith Craft is giving away a $100 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Payment!

Terms & Conditions:
  • By entering the giveaway, you are confirming you are at least 18 years old.
  • One winner will be chosen via Rafflecopter to receive the prize.
  • This giveaway begins December 1 and ends on December 31, 2014.
  • Winner will be contacted via email on Monday, January 5.
  • Winner has 72 hours to reply.
  • VOID WHERE PROHIBITED.
Good luck everyone!

ENTER TO WIN!

Wednesday, December 17, 2014

Angels in Disguise: Stories from America's School Nurses by Dolores McNany Book Feature


Title: Angels in Disguise: Stories from America's School Nurses Author: Dolores McNany
Publisher: iUniverse
Pages: 166
Genre: Medical/Nursing
Format: Paperback/Ebook
 Purchase at AMAZON

 School nurses serve on the front lines of the everyday struggle for our children’s health, yet they are often perceived as little more than glorified dispensers of bandages. This false perception, held by many parents, officials, and administrators, does a serious disservice to this dedicated group of health professionals. Angels in Disguise tells the oral history of school nursing through the eyes, ears, and hearts of school nurses serving throughout the United States. By sharing their personal experiences, these nurses illustrate their love and compassion and throw the doors wide open on this often-undervalued profession, enabling readers to see into their world and understand how much they truly care for the children they treat. This collection of heartwarming stories offers unique insight into the daily responsibilities and duties of school nurses and serves to raise public awareness of the dedication, leadership, and exemplary pediatric health care provided by the devoted women and men who care for America’s schoolchildren. The sophisticated medical health care required in schools today can only be delivered by qualified professional school personnel, and that challenge is met by having a school nurse in every school facility.

    amazon  

Dolores H. McNany, EdD, RN, NJSCSN holds a doctorate in education from California Coast University and worked as a school nurse and health teacher in public and private urban school systems for more than twenty years. She resides in Maplewood, New Jersey with her husband Gene, and enjoys spending time at their summer home with their five children and seven grandchildren.

Dolores is giving away a $25 Amazon Gift Card!

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Terms & Conditions:
  • By entering the giveaway, you are confirming you are at least 18 years old.
  • One winner will be chosen via Rafflecopter to receive one $25 Amazon Gift Certificate or Paypal Cash.
  • This giveaway begins December 8 and ends on December 19.
  • Winners will be contacted via email on Monday, December 22.
  • Winner has 48 hours to reply.
Good luck everyone!

ENTER TO WIN!

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Tuesday, December 16, 2014

5 Tips About Your Website That Your Web Designer May Have Missed by Author Corey Perlman


Title: Social Media Overload
Author: Corey Perlman
Publisher: Garnet Group
Pages: 169
Genre: Business
Format: Paperback/Kindle

 You shouldn’t be on any social media site without a clear direction or purpose. This book will help you: • Determine which sites are right for your business and ignore the rest • Avoid website mistakes that are costing you business • Attract more prospects by outperforming your competition on Google • Stay “Top of Mind” with prospects using content marketing • Strengthen customer relationships and earn referrals using Facebook and LinkedIn

For More Information

Five Tips About Your Website That Your Web Designer May Have Missed
By Corey Perlman

If you leave your website’s look and feel strictly to the designers, be prepared to get a beautiful, sexy, artistic site that does everything but make you money. Why? Because they know website design, but they do not know your business. The five tips below will help ensure that you not only have a website that looks professional, but a website that’s open and ready for business!

#1 – Keep your important information above the fold.  64.9% of people don’t scroll. And 77.3% of statistics are made up on the spot. So forget the statistics, just remember that your phone number, physical address, “Buy Now” button all have a greater chance of being clicked on if you don’t require people to scroll down to click on them. Make sure all of your important information is eye level and consistent on every page throughout your site. 

#2 – Include an Opt-in Form on your Website. By securing a person’s contact information prior to them leaving your Website, you’ve ensured that you can continue to communicate with this person down the road. This is critical to your success via the Web. 

#3 – Link Clarity – Another rule of thumb: if the user doesn’t feel confident they know where the link they are about to click on is taking them, they won’t click on it. So take the guess work out of it and make your links abundantly clear. Contact Us. Yep, that’s pretty clear.

#4 – Mobile Responsive – Just having your site shrink down to the size of your device is not enough. A truly mobile responsive site will adjust its functionality based on the size of your screen. So if someone is on their phone, it will allow them to easily navigate your site via their thumbs.

#5 – Include Key Words in your homepage content – Key Words are those words your users will type in search engines to find you…or your competitors. You want any word or phrase that they might type in to be scattered throughout your homepage as the search engines will give you credit for those words and that will increase your likelihood of a higher search engine ranking.
 Corey Perlman is an entrepreneur, author and nationally-recognized social media expert. His most recent book, eBoot Camp, (Wiley) became an Amazon.com bestseller and received global attention with distribution in both China and India. Corey’s company, eBoot Camp, Inc., provides digital marketing services to small and mid-size businesses. A proud member of the National Speaker’s Association (NSA), Corey conducts his critically acclaimed Social Media for Business Keynote to audiences around the world. He’s the proud father of a 3-year-old daughter who has already tweeted, has a youtube channel, and asked for a Mark Zuckerberg doll for her brithday. The apple truly doesn’t fall far from the tree.
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Friday, December 12, 2014

When Santa Goes to Church by Sonja Grimsley Fambro Book Feature


Title: When Santa Goes to Church
Author: Sonja Grimsley Fambro
Publisher: AuthorHouse
Pages: 82
Genre: Fiction
Format: Ebook/Paperback
 Purchase at AMAZON

 Storytellers have long filled our imaginations with stories about Santa, Santa’s elves, Mrs. Claus, and Santa’s Christmas Eve trip. In fairy-tale land, it is no mystery that he, along with Rudolph and the rest of the reindeer, must have the busiest Christmas Eve night ever. After all, they are famous for going from town to town leaving gifts for good little girls and good little boys. Santa is a right jolly old fellow! Sometimes we’re told that he gets a plate of cookies for sliding down chimneys, or going through the back door, or whatever his entrance may be. Yes, fairy tales do what fairy tales are supposed to do; they take us on imaginary journeys. However, in this fairy tale about Santa, he remembers that Christmas IS NOT really about him. Do you know the real Christmas story? Well, in case you don’t, and even if you do, come and follow Santa as he hears the real Christmas story, which is NOT a fairy tale. It is the story about the greatest gift in the whole wide world! Do you know who He is?

  amazon 

 Sonja earned her B.A. degree with honors from Albany State University in Albany, Georgia. Later, after attending the University of North Florida in Jacksonville, she received her teaching certificate from the State of Florida. As an educator, she taught English in the Continuing Education Program for Norfolk Public Schools in Norfolk, Virginia. After returning to Florida, Sonja taught Business English at CareerCom School of Business in Jacksonville. Sonja is a multitalented writer whose literary works have intrigued audiences for the past several years. She writes plays, songs, essays, speeches, short stories, and poetry. Her poems entitled “Foolish, Bold, Prejudice” and “Operator, Get Me Jesus” have been published in anthologies. For two consecutive years, 1994 and 1995, Sonja received the Editor’s Choice Award for Outstanding Achievement in Poetry which was presented by the National Library of Poetry. Her poem, “The Church in the ‘Hood,” is a favorite among her friends. She has often been applauded for her inspirational speaking and her gospel plays, including Nobody, but Jesus. Sonja is also the author of another children’s book entitled Santa Spent the Night with Me! Additionally, she has plans for another project which will be on the market in the near future. In addition to writing, Sonja enjoys teaching, reading, spending time with her family, and traveling with her husband, Lewis. They have traveled extensively throughout the United States and to Canada, Mexico, Israel, and Europe. Sonja and her husband currently live in Dallas, Georgia.

Sonja is giving away a $25 Amazon Gift Card!

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Terms & Conditions:
  • By entering the giveaway, you are confirming you are at least 18 years old.
  • One winner will be chosen via Rafflecopter to receive one $25 Amazon Gift Certificate or Paypal Cash.
  • This giveaway begins December 8 and ends on December 19.
  • Winners will be contacted via email on Monday, December 22.
  • Winner has 48 hours to reply.
Good luck everyone!

ENTER TO WIN!

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A Guide to the Study of Basic Medical Mycology by Kee Peng Ng



Title: A Guide to the Study of Basic Medical Mycology Author: Kee Peng Ng
Publisher: Partridge Singapore
Pages: 92
Genre: Medical
Format: Paperback/Kindle

 Mycotic diseases are gaining importance because of the increase in opportunistic fungal infections in patients whose immune systems are compromised. The identification of fungi isolated from clinical material has posed a variety of problems to many laboratories because of lack of expertise and experience, especially in the identification of recently emerged rare fungi that had not been previously reported. A Guide to the Study of Basic Medical Mycology offers an overview of the basic characteristics of fungi frequently isolated from clinical specimens. This comprehensive guide, developed by authors Kee Peng Ng, Tuck Soon Soo-Hoo, and Shiang Ling Na from the Department of Medical Microbiology, University Malaya Medical Centre, Malaysia, details the macro- and microscopic features of each fungus through graphics and illustrations. Including specimens not often found in all teaching modules, A Guide to the Study of Basic Medical Mycology serves to help medical students identify and learn to deal with clinically important fungi and fungal pathogens.

  amazon

GIVEAWAY

Kee is giving away one $25 Amazon Gift Card!

Terms & Conditions:
  • By entering the giveaway, you are confirming you are at least 18 years old.
  • One winner will be chosen via Rafflecopter.
  • This giveaway begins December 1 and ends December 12.
  • Winner will be contacted via email on Monday, December 15.
  • Winner has 48 hours to reply.
Good luck everyone!

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Make a Stand by Agnew Smith Book Feature

Make a Stand Title: Make a Stand
Author: Agnew Smith
Publisher: iUniverse
Pages: 260
Genre: Fiction
Format: Ebook/Paperback
 Purchase at AMAZON

 Terry Freeman is a disgruntled computer salesman and talented musician and songwriter who, along with his best friend, Damon King, is attempting to fulfill his musical dreams through their popular band, Infinite Noise.  It appears the sky is the limit for Infinite Noise until tragedy strikes, derailing Terry’s and his band members’ dreams of fame and success. Nearly two years later, Terry tries to put the tragedy behind him and rekindle the magic that propelled the band into one of the most well-known and hottest bands in Atlanta and the surrounding area. When Infinite Noise receives an offer to sign with a major record label, Terry thinks things are finally going his way until he discovers that success in the music industry sometimes comes with a very high price.  He is confronted with an agonizing decision that will affect not only his music career, but also his life.

  amazon  

Agnew is giving away a $25 Amazon Gift Card!

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Terms & Conditions:
  • By entering the giveaway, you are confirming you are at least 18 years old.
  • One winner will be chosen via Rafflecopter to receive one $25 Amazon Gift Certificate or Paypal Cash.
  • This giveaway begins December 8 and ends on December 19.
  • Winners will be contacted via email on Monday, December 22.
  • Winner has 48 hours to reply.
Good luck everyone!

ENTER TO WIN!

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Thursday, December 11, 2014

Interview with T.W. Fendley, author of The Labyrinth of Time

The Labyrinth of Time Title: The Labyrinth of Time
Author: T.W. Fendley
Publisher: Silent Partner Publishing
Pages: 226
Genre: Young Adult Fantasy
Format: Paperback/Kindle

Can Jade restore the Firestone’s powers before the First Men return to judge humanity? 


 Spending spring break in Peru with her grandmother isn’t sixteen-year-old Jade’s idea of fun. She’d much rather be with her friends at Lake of the Ozarks. Then she meets Felix, a museum director’s son. Jade discovers only she and Felix can telepathically access messages left on engraved stones in the age of dinosaurs. Following the ancient stones’ guidance, they enter the Labyrinth of Time and–with a shapeshifting dog’s help–seek a red crystal called the Firestone. But time is running out before the First Men return on the night of the second blue moon.   

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Q: Thank you for this interview, T.W. Can you tell us what your latest book, The Labyrinth of Time, is all about?

A. Sure—to do that, I’d like to share an excerpt from a review by D. Donovan, Senior eBook Reviewer with Midwest Book Review:
“Any good fantasy adventure involves a quest—and a good young adult fantasy is no exception. Such a journey, when fueled with strong characterization and injected with a sense of urgency, can translate to a powerful read for adult audiences as well—but in order to do so, the tale needs to present the ‘bigger picture’ above and beyond the usual teen perspective of her/his world—and The Labyrinth of Time achieves this goal with satisfying twists of plot that keep all ages involved.”

Q:  Can you tell us a little about your main and supporting characters?

A: Jade, 16, and Felix, 18, meet at the Museo Carrena, a museum of engraved stones in Ica, Peru. Jade is a tourist from St. Louis, Mo., who’s reluctantly spending spring break traveling with her 65-year-old grandmother (Grams). Felix is the museum director’s son.
Jade soon discovers only she and Felix can access the ancient stones’ secret messages, but can they follow their guidance and save the world from fiery destruction? Assisting them are two teenaged shamans and their grandfather’s spirit, a Guardian from ancient times, and a shapeshifting dog.
Opposing their efforts are Max, a greedy merchant; Amaro, his henchman; and Enrique, Felix’s uncle.
My favorite character is Boss Lady, the shapeshifting dog. Peruvian hairless dogs—an ancient breed protected by law—play a key role beginning in the first scene. I didn’t realize why dogs kept showing up until Jade and Felix reached the Labyrinth of Time. Then it suddenly made sense.

Q: Do you tend to base your characters on real people or are they totally from your imagination?

A: My characters share traits with people I know, but they’re not patterned after any single person. As the story progresses, they become more truly “themselves,” as I strive to keep their actions consistent with their personalities.

Q: Are you consciously aware of the plot before you begin a novel, or do you discover it as you write?

A: My plots are character- and theme-driven and unfold as I write. This keeps the story exciting for me, since I only have a vague idea of where the story should end, but not how to get there. It also makes for some difficult moments as I backtrack out of situations that don’t lead in the right direction. It’s one reason why writing a book takes me about twice as long as my critique partners.

Q: Your book is set in Ica, Peru.  Can you tell us why you chose this city in particular?

A: While my story is fiction, it was inspired by the pictures engraved on more than eleven thousand stones retrieved from the Ocucaje Desert and preserved at the Library of Stone Books in Ica. In 2008, I visited the tiny museum, which is located about 200 miles south of Lima, Peru. When I learned the museum’s founder believed the stones were actually a library of messages from millions of years ago, I couldn’t wait to share the story.

Q: Does the setting play a major part in the development of your story?

A: I found Peru to be much different from the United States, or any other country I’ve visited. Perhaps it’s due to the high altitude or lack of rainfall—the thin, dry air is certainly different from our heavy, humid air in Missouri. But I think it’s more than that. Even within Peru’s large, modern cities, you are never far from the past. Archeological reminders of the Inca and those who came before them create a mystical connection to the ancient builders and astronomers. Their great love for Mother Earth and Father Sky remains powerful among modern-day Peruvians, and that feeling was vital to the story I wanted to tell.

Q: Open the book to page 69.  What is happening?

A: On page 69, the teenaged shamans complete a blessing of purification as their group prepares to enter the Labyrinth of Time. When Jade opens her eyes, “a beautiful young woman stood where Grams had been. She had waist-length white hair and wore a teal, ankle-length robe … I couldn’t believe my eyes, yet there was something about her—more than just her voice—that was familiar.”

Q: Can you give us one of your best excerpts?

A: Here are a few lines from Chapter Three, when Jade begins to realize what she’s gotten herself into:
“From what the stones have shown me, we will find the Firestone,” Felix said. “If it grows, it will bring life. If its light is extinguished, it will mean death for the world as we know it.”
“Death for the world?” I asked.
“The stones tell of how mankind grows toward evil without the light of the red crystal,” he said. “We regress to the level of animals.”
“You mean wars and murders will get worse?” Remembering the evening news just before we left the States, I shivered with dread. 
“The last Firestone was shattered many thousands of years ago in the cataclysm that destroyed the dinosaurs and most of humankind. Since then, we’ve lived without the harmony the Firestone brings.”
“It echoed the tone of creation, which harmonized with the vibrations of Pachamama and Inti—Mother Earth and Father Sky,” Thirteen Knife said. “At one time, all humans resonated to that tone, but each generation has slipped to lower vibrations. Our grandfather was one of very few shamans who achieved the higher resonance.”
“A bridge between Earth and Sky. That’s pretty hard to imagine,” I said.

Q: Thank you so much for this interview, T.W.  We wish you much success!


A: It’s been my pleasure. I appreciate the opportunity to connect with your readers.
TW Fendley T.W. Fendley is an award-winning author of historical fantasy and science fiction for adults and young adults. She began writing fiction full-time in 2007 after working twenty-five years in journalism and corporate communications. In October 2011, L&L Dreamspell LLC published her debut historical fantasy novel for adults, Zero Time. She fell in love with ancient American cultures while researching story ideas at the 1997 Clarion Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers’ Workshop. Since then, she’s trekked to archeological sites in the Yucatan, Peru and American Southwest.

When she’s not writing, T.W. explores the boundaries of consciousness through remote viewing and shamanism. She currently lives near St. Louis with her artist husband and his pet fish. Her latest book is the young adult fantasy, The Labyrinth of Time.

For More Information

   

T.W. is giving away two $25 Amazon Gift Card!

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Terms & Conditions:
  • By entering the giveaway, you are confirming you are at least 18 years old.
  • Two winners will be chosen via Rafflecopter to receive one $25 Amazon Gift Certificate or Paypal Cash.
  • This giveaway begins November 17 and ends on December 12.
  • Winners will be contacted via email on Monday, December 15.
  • Winner has 48 hours to reply.
Good luck everyone!

ENTER TO WIN!

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Interview with Jena Baxter, author of Reflections

Born in Ojai, and raised in the San Fernando Valley, California, Jena always loved to read, and dreamed of writing a novel. Having the ability, but lacking the confidence to do so, she enrolled in the UCLA Writer's Extension, and soon her first novel was in process.

Jena writes YA, historical fantasy, and paranormal romance. She is also a screenwriter, and reads for a screenwriting contest annually. She spends her free time with her husband, amazon parrot, and toy maltese. You can visit her website at www.jenabaxter.com.

Connect with Jena:

Author Website
Facebook
Twitter
Pinterest
Goodreads


About The Book

Title: Reflections
Author: Jena Baxter
Publisher: Independent Self Publishing / Jenabaxterbooks
Publication Date: October 31, 2013
Pages: 320
ISBN: 978-0991167715
Genre: YA / Historical Fantasy


When Juliette has a domestic servant beaten for pursuing a young man above her station, she finds herself cursed by a witch to live in a world behind her own mirror. She is unable to leave except on the first night of a full moon.

Juliette is forced to seek what food and shelter the new world provides with the help of a unicorn, a man who is half bear, and a centaur. Together they struggle to survive against lions, wolves, and the challenges of watching their friends live and die through the back of the mirror, as their own world, family and friends moves on without them.

Reflections begins in Regency era London, and ends in Clover Springs, California, an all but abandoned Gold Rush town.

A tale of love, friendship, and facing unavoidable challenges.








Can you tell us what your book is about?

Reflections is about a spoiled girl in the Regency Era sent to a fantasy world within her mirror, after she beats a servant out of jealousy. She watches her family and friends through the mirror, but they can’t see or hear her. Juliette is forced to live on her own with the help of a unicorn, a man who is half bear, and a female centaur.


Why did you write your book?

It’s based on a ritual from the Victorian Era. When people died the clocks were stopped, windows opened, and all mirrors covered, so the deceased wouldn’t become trapped in the mirror. Intrigued, I called a friend and we started plotting.


Can you tell us a little about your main and supporting characters?

My main character is a teenage girl named Juliette. She’s rude, spoiled, and treats her servants terrible. A witch curses her to a fantasy world she created but allows Juliette to walk the human world only on the first night of a full moon. She gets sick when she tries to go home and wakes up in the fantasy world the following morning. Juliette goes through a lot of changes but learns how to survive, and what it is to be and have a good friend.

The witch who cursed Juliette enjoyed collecting exotic magical creatures:

Colovere is a unicorn and Juliette’s wisest friend. Tricked by the Witch, he entered the fantasy world to search for his missing mate.

Tolor is a beran or half man and half bear. He is in love with the beautiful centaur Selene, but in the wild they are natural enemies. Tolor is also able to leave the first night of the full moon, to satisfy his natural bloodlust.

Selene is a centaur. Stolen from her family as a filly, she is the most reluctant to befriend or deal with Juliette. She sees her as spoiled and helpless after the girl throws rocks at Colovere and cannot take care of herself.

Emily is the servant beaten by Juliette. They were friends as children, but Juliette’s Mother interfered. Though Emily must go on with her own life, their friendship remains in her heart through this life and beyond.


Do you tend to base your characters on real people or are they totally from your imagination?

They are based on imagination, but sometimes I have to think out personality types to stay true to the character.


Are you consciously aware of the plot before you begin a novel or do you discover it as you write?

I used to write as I went, but then I took classes at the UCLA Writer’s Extension, and learned how to plan. Things still change as I write my way through though.


Does the setting play a major part in the development of your story?

Yes, Reflections is based on the Regency Era, a fantasy world and the California Gold Rush.


Have you suffered from writer’s block and what do you do to get back on track?

I don’t suffer from writer’s block. If an issue arises, I turn to an author friend. Planning in advance also helps.


What do you like the most about being an author?

I’ve always loved the creative imagination in all forms of art. Writing is that place for me.


What is the most pivotal point of a writer’s life?

Learning to take criticism. It can be difficult hearing something doesn’t work when you spent many hours writing and plotting it out.


What kind of advice would you give other fiction authors?

Avoid the arguments about instinct versus craft and learn everything you can about writing. There are reasons why some things don’t work well. There are resources all around us.




Wednesday, December 10, 2014

A Dangerous Marriage by William W. Blunt Book Feature


Title: A Dangerous Marriage
Author: William Blunt
Publisher: iUniverse
Pages: 332
Genre: Fiction
Format: Ebook/Paperback
 Purchase at AMAZON

 In A Dangerous Marriage, Julia Davenport’s social life has drifted into a backwater. Then she meets Peter Medea at a business reception in New York City. She is drawn by his aura of power and erotic magnetism and is lured into a hasty marriage. By indulging her compelling emotional and physical needs she finds immediate gratification, but at a devastating cost. Her romantic adventure turns out to be fraught with conflict and betrayal. And she becomes unwittingly involved in her husband’s shady business transactions, forcing her into unwanted intimacy with the sinister man who masterminds these schemes. She finds support in friendships with a victim of his fraudulent machinations, and others. She is nurtured and encouraged by a man who emerges from her past. But Julia alone must overcome the threats to her self-esteem, happiness, and well-being, which are the destructive consequences of her earlier surrender to passion.

Readers say this about A Dangerous Marriage –
Wow, what a page turner! Compelling and sexy, with the added intrigue of the nasty part of the financial world. Great story. —Constance Fulenwider A Dangerous Marriage is extremely well written. The characterization is great – the reader comes to know the characters really well. I didn’t want it to end. —Natalie Lee I loved A Dangerous Marriage. I really was glued to the plot and felt totally involved with the characters. It is written with great sensitivity and the story line moves along compellingly. This is a terrific novel! —Judy Bross In A Dangerous Marriage, twenty-six-year-old Julia Davenport’s social life has drifted into a backwater. Then she meets Peter Medea at a business reception in New York City that she’s attending as a favor for a friend. She is drawn by Peter Medea’s aura of power, apparent financial success, and erotic magnetism and is lured into a hasty marriage. By indulging her compelling emotional and physical needs she finds immediate gratification, but at a devastating cost. Her romantic adventure turns out to be fraught with conflict and betrayal. And she becomes unwittingly involved in her husband’s shady business transactions, forcing her into unwanted intimacy with Marco “Denny” DiNiro, the sinister man who masterminds these schemes. She finds support in friendships with a victim of DiNiro’s fraudulent machinations, and others. She is nurtured and encouraged by Danny Johnson, who has emerged from her past. But it is Julia alone who must overcome the threats to her self-esteem, happiness, and well-being, which are the destructive consequences of her earlier surrender to passion.

  amazon  

  William W. Blunt graduated from Yale University and Harvard Law School. He interrupted his corporate legal practice in New York City to serve in Washington, D.C., as Assistant Secretary of Commerce. Today he lives with his wife, Balirm in Irving, Texas. This is his first novel.

William is giving away a $25 Amazon Gift Card!

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Terms & Conditions:
  • By entering the giveaway, you are confirming you are at least 18 years old.
  • One winner will be chosen via Rafflecopter to receive one $25 Amazon Gift Certificate or Paypal Cash.
  • This giveaway begins December 8 and ends on December 19.
  • Winners will be contacted via email on Monday, December 22.
  • Winner has 48 hours to reply.
Good luck everyone!

ENTER TO WIN!

a Rafflecopter giveaway