Virtual Book Tour de 'Net

Closing Shop

2010-01-30T01:42:00.000-08:00

Dear Readers and Participants in Virtual Book Tour de 'Net:

I started this blog in 2007 after the MuseOnline conference because I was inspired by the power of the Internet and viral marketing to make people's work known. I envisioned VBTdN as part of a great cooperative, where I would tour people's books and they in turn would tour mine and others on the VBTdN website. When that idea didn't blossom, I contented myself with touring books just as a service.

After two years, however, I find that the hits on this blog are still low, and most of the comments are coming from people that author directed toward the site--i.e., people who already know their books. It's just not as effective as I'd hoped. At the same time, book blogs have sprung up everywhere, along with many social groups dedicated to just books. What I'm doing isn't unique anymore.

Meanwhile, my home life has gotten even busier, and as two of my children entered high school, I found their need for me increased as we ready them for adulthood. I need not only to cut time but things that draw my attention away from a few core items.

Therefore, I'm closing down this blog, at least for the time being.

I plan on restarting fabianspace.blogspot.com, and may on occasion comment on books I'm reading, but they'll be books I've chosen to read, not books I've promised to review. I'll also be talking about writing my own books and about my favorite things--sci-fi, fantasy, and faith.

It's been a fun run, and I'm glad to have been a part of the Internet marketing move. I enjoyed learning about each of your books and your goals as writers. I wish all of you the best of luck. Please look for me at one of these social sites and keep in touch.

Twitter.com/karinafabian
Facebook.com/karina.fabian
Shoutlife.com/karinafabian
www.fabianspace.blogspot.com
www.dragoneyepi.net (if you like dragons and satire, register on the site)

Blessings,

Karina L. Fabian

Mom’s Story; A Child Learns About MS by Mary Nickum

2010-01-28T01:07:00.000-08:00

Mom’s Story; A Child Learns About MS tells the story of a young girl who sees her mother with some frightening health problems and learns she has MS but she will not die from it. This book is a compassionate, accessible and easy to understand account of symptoms, search for help, diagnosis and adaptation to this heart-wrenching disease. Amy fears the worst, which is common when one is confronted by the unknown. Her best friend, Kayla, doesn’t quite understand why Amy is so worried. Amy’s older sister, Kelly is concerned and does her best to help, while older brother, Tony, tries to deny the whole situation. Information is the key to allaying much of her fear along with understanding from parents, adult friends and her older sister.

An Interview with Mary Nickum

Why did you write this book? I wrote the book to help demystify some of the fearsome events a child might experience when a parent begins to have symptoms of MS. They can be frightening—parent falling, dropping things, slurred speech and many others.

What was the hardest part? The hardest part of writing this book was reducing the technical explanations of this disease to a vocabulary that children 8-11 would understand. In this effort I was careful not to mislead or make an out-and-out error in fact. To be sure about this, I asked my neurologist to read and review it for accuracy, which he did.

What was easiest or most fun? The most fun was developing the characters, especially Tony. I have two sons, and at 11 going on 12, thinking back, I could “hear” Tony.

What do you hope people get from your book? I hope people will find information and solace in the book. Being diagnosed with MS is a life-changing event. Information is the key to allaying fear in adults and children.

How do you want to be remembered as an author? As an author, I want to be remembered for the accuracy and forthright telling of my stories.

What's next for you? I now have three picture books awaiting publishers’ decisions. I also have an e-zine article under publisher review. I’m considering writing books on the immune system for ages 8-11.

Yearly Harvest: A True Story of Christmas by Ryan Callaway

2010-01-25T21:51:00.000-08:00

Note: Despite the title, this is definitely fiction.

Jin Duyen, who often writes articles for prominent magazines, is assigned to do a story on the origins of Christmas' many traditions. After some research, she traces them back to Selah, a remote town in the Midwest. Jin travels there in hopes of finding something interesting for her article, and finds so much more. Amy Carson, a private investigator from a nearby town, decides to look into several cases of missing children which have gone unsolved. The authorities have ceased their own searches, so with little else to do during the holiday season, she heads to Selah as well. Oddly, the residents of Selah aren't caught up in the festivities that the rest of the world is taking part in. Jin and Amy soon discover that Christmas holds a much darker meaning here... one that pitches them into the same terror that had held Selah captive for years.
Interview with Ryan:

Why did you write this book?

I wrote Yearly Harvest because I wanted people to seriously consider the traditions that they follow, including those of Christmas. I'm in no way against the holiday, but I believe a lot of Christians blindly engage in certain practices without stopping to consider why. There was a huge controversy over the holiday around the time I started writing, with a lot of folks in the non-religious community pressing to remove Christ and any semblance of Christianity from Christmas. Yearly Harvest explores the idea that, in a way, Christ has already been at least diminished in Christmas festivities. More people probably think of Santa, presents, and bright lights when they hear the word, and not the one it's named for. The book can be enjoyed as a mere suspense/mystery story. But it's also a frightening eye opener revealing what Christmas could be WITHOUT Christ.

What was the hardest part?

The spiritual warfare that I endured from the day I realized the good purposes that Yearly Harvest could accomplish. The attacks were constant, and I almost gave up at one point when my computer unexpectedly crashed. I lost 20 pages of writing and it took me about a month to get back into it, but I did. I figured if the enemy found it worth fighting over, then it was a fight worth staying in.

What was easiest or most fun?

I really enjoyed the characters, particularly protagonists Jin and Amy. Jin and Amy were, and still are, the most unique characters I've written. They really came to life in their own way, and it was fun to sit back and see how they reacted to the situations I threw at them. They practically wrote themselves in that way, and it was cool to experience that.

What do you hope people get from your book?

There's three things I hope readers get from Yearly Harvest. First is a good, suspenseful read that'll keep them up at night - either because they don't want to put it down, or because they're creeped out. My editor told me that the publisher said she was going to have someone else read the suspense submissions from then on so she could sleep well at night. I took that as an extreme compliment. Second, is an emotional ride, because it's a very dramatic and character driven book. I think the lessons that the characters learn will be beneficial for readers as well. Jin, for instance, starts off as very unappreciative of her family, but by the end of the story she realizes how much they really mean to her. Third, I want people to reconsider the way they think about Christmas. While the other aspects of it may be fun, Christ should be at the center for Christians.

How do you want to be remembered as an author?

I want to be remembered as someone who is creative and writes real characters that readers fall in love with. An author who is able to scare readers, but make them think at the same time. I would also be honored to one day be mentioned in the same breath as authors like Ted Dekker and Frank Peretti, as my works have drawn comparisons from readers thus far.

What's next for you?

I'm currently working on producing a film version of another novel titled "Avenger of Blood". I am also writing a suspense/romance novel called Leviathan which takes places in a quiet southern town. And I hope to revisit Jin and Amy in the near future as well. I've been throwing around ideas for a Yearly Harvest sequel for almost a year now.

Please Help a Friend and Get Some Great Books!

2010-01-21T01:08:00.000-08:00

Hi, All,

Regina Doman is a fantastic writer of YA fantasy--fairy tales given a modern twist. I have loved every one I've read, as has my 14-year-old daughter. Regina sent me this message and plea.

My sister has diabetes, which she discovered in her college years. I remember the struggles she has. I can hardly imagine a 6-year-old going through it. Please help Regina as best you can. It's win/win, really--you'll adore her books! You Do Not Have To Be Catholic To Enjoy These!

Karina

A SPECIAL NEW YEAR APPEAL

My dear devoted friends,

I am making a special appeal to you today.

Last night we took my 6-year-old son, Thomas, to the emergency room because of symptoms he was displaying that indicated he may have developed diabetes. The hospital doctors confirmed that he had.

Our current financial and insurance situation leaves little if any room to cover the projected on-going costs of managing this illness.

What we are asking of you is this:

In addition to your prayers, please forward this email (Modify as necessary. There is a link at the bottom of this email.) to as many people, bookstores, libraries, youth groups, schools, and book clubs you can, asking them to consider buying Regina Doman's Fairy Tale Novels.

Regina's Fairy Tale Novels are not only available on Amazon.com and Barnes & Noble, but also from these websites and others as well:

www.AdoremusBooks.com
www.CatholicChild.com
www.CatholicCompany.com
www.Living-Bread.com
www.StGeorgeBooks.com

And in the United Kingdom: http://www.SouthwellBooks.com/doman-regina-150-c.asp

There are also order forms on the Fairy Tale Novels website for regular retail purchases http://www.fairytalenovels.com/RetailOrders.cfm and wholesale purchases http://www.fairytalenovels.com/BookstoreOrders.cfm.

THANK YOU! Thank you for your prayers for our family and especially for Thomas.

Peace and good, and blessings on your New Year.

Regina Doman

The Shadow of the Bear

During a howling snowstorm, a young homeless man with dreadlocks appears on the doorstep of two teen girls with their widowed mother. Mother and Rose are glad to help him, but Blanche is suspicious...
Once upon a time...
in New York City...
Dwarves. Dragons. Fighting. Fire. Princes. Peasants. Maidens. Mysteries.
But real life isn't a fairy tale. Or is it?
In my fairy tale novels, you'll find...

Knights. Nuns. Ninjas. Minstrels. Miracles.
Princesses. Priests. Chases. Escapes. Rescues. Revenge. Torture. True love.
...for those who have the courage to see life as a fairy tale.

Black as Night

Seven friars wake up to find a runaway girl in their homeless shelter: she has black hair and white skin. And she's terrified that someone is trying to kill her...

Waking Rose

A mysterious accident leaves a vibrant young girl comatose. The only one who can reach her is a young man struggling through a hedge of thorns within himself...

From Waking Rose:

"Bravo," Fish said, striding towards them. The two figures froze, and looked at him. Rose remained still, gazing at the girl with the knife.
What are YA readers saying?
Here's some excerpts from the many emails and letters I've received over the years:

The Shadow of the Bear is one of my favorite books ever. It's one of those books that I can't stop reading until it's finished. ... Thanks for writing such an awesome book! -- Joe N.
I LOVED your book! ... But it really should have a "WARNING: READING THIS BOOK IS ADDICTIVE" on it.
-- Brigid

I have to say Black as Night is the BEST book I have ever read. Thanks and please continue to write such great novels!!!
-- Bradley

I started Waking Rose about 9:00 PM or so, and couldn't put it down until I'd finished it at around 2:00 AM in the morning.
--Andrew H., 18 years.
i finished The Midnight Dancers at 1:22 am, ...and it was AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! -- Dominique, 18
The Midnight Dancers

Twelve sisters from a strict family find a secret way out of their home at night, and their midnight adventures and deception lead them into a dangerous dance...

How do you convince someone who's bored with goodness to learn to love it?

That's the tough job med student cum-ninja, Paul Fester, has in The Midnight Dancers, a retelling of the classic fairy tale "The Twelve Dancing Princesses" set on Maryland's bay shore.

"Regina Doman reinvents myths with a clever, engaging, and fiercely Catholic imagination." - National Catholic Register
Want to read chapter one of any of the books?
Visit my website www.fairytalenovels.com.

Embracing Your Freedom by Susie Larson

2010-01-18T01:18:00.000-08:00

Many women feel stuck in their faith. They are bored living in a Christian bubble and long for the greater adventure of significance God designed for them! But just how do we move past our fears and the lies that keep us bound to our past? And are we really called to change the world? Embracing Your Freedom will give you a deeper understanding of your freedom in Christ and a bigger view of God's heart for the world. Walk with Susie Larson as she helps you to:

* Prevent fear from bullying your dreams.
* Know increased boldness in the face of insecurities.
* Experience fulfilling adventures through compassionate service

Interview with Susie Larson:

Why did you write this book?

I wrote “Embracing Your Freedom” out of a burning desire to see Christians set free from fears, past mistakes, insecurities, personal hang ups, and other’s opinions. God has made it possible for us to be free from everything that binds us, and for a specific reason. We are called to be world-changers. We have it written in our spiritual DNA to minister that same freedom to others. Since we live in a wealthy nation, it’s easy to medicate our pain and prop ourselves up with things that keep us comfortable in our captivity. But as a result, we end up living small, insignificant lives.

“Embracing Your Freedom” calls Believers out of ‘ Self-preserving-Western-Suburban Christianity’ into a powerful life of risk-taking, freedom, significance and influence.

What was the most fun part to write?

I’ll be honest. This was the most difficult book I have ever written. I encountered a lot of spiritual opposition while working on this project.

I think I’ve hit a nerve with the devil. He wants to keep us living captive insignificant lives. He wants us comfortable in our captivity so we never want to leave. He hates the message of freedom.

Even so, I most enjoyed writing the last two sections of the book:
*Trusting God to be Big in Us
*Following His Lead, Changing the World

What was the hardest?

I can’t point to any one chapter as being the most difficult to write. For me, it was the daily grind of pounding out the words after sleepless nights, terrible dreams, and perpetual computer problems. Nothing about this project was easy. It tested my faith, my perspective, and my perseverance in every way. But, because I believe so strongly in this book’s message, I’d do it all again if God asked it of me.

What do you hope readers get from the book?

In the Gospel of John, chapter 10, verse 10 we read Jesus’ words: “The thief comes to steal, kill, and destroy, but I come that you might have life, and life abundantly.” When the enemy steals from us through pain, betrayal, rejection, neglect, or some other traumatic experience, we change. We live differently as a result of those experiences. Often times we live from a smaller plot of land (so to speak) than God intended for us. It’s time to get our land back.

My prayer is for my readers to be moved deeply in their souls to contend for their freedom; to walk with God to their next places of promise; to awaken to their God-sized call in such a way that they begin to change the world. It’s easier to stay safe and make all kinds of rules around our insecurities. It takes much more grit to step out in faith and face down our fears.

I want to see a whole generation of Christians contend for their paid-for freedom; and then I want to see them mobilized to change the world.

How do you want to be remembered as an author?

If I’m known for anything, I want to be known for knowing Christ. I want to be remembered as someone whose passions revolved around my relationship with Him. My heart for the hurting, the broken, and the slave all come from Him. My heart for attempting the impossible and believing for the inconceivable, come from Him. My refusal to be defined by painful memories and experiences that I might become the person God intended me to be, comes from Him.

As an author, speaker, occasional radio host, wife, mother, daughter, sister, friend (and so on), I want to be remembered as someone who inspired countless others to live out this same God-given call.

What's next for you?

Thanks for asking! This March (2010) my next book releases and is titled, “Growing Grateful Kids: Teaching Them to Appreciate an Extraordinary God in Ordinary Places.” We live in a day when kids ooze selfishness, entitlement, and disrespect. This book encourages moms (and grand-moms) to instill gratitude, honor, and humility into our children. And even though it’s critical that we do so, it’s not difficult. I am very excited about this book and I’m looking forward to my speaking tour this spring.

The Cat That Made Nothing Something Again by James Maxon

2010-01-14T01:00:00.000-08:00

A nameless cat lives in a town of dry, unhappy people devoid of moisture, joy and creativity. How did the townspeople get this way? Who stole the moisture? And how can one crafty cat return moisture -- and life -- to his town? "The Cat That Made Nothing Something Again" tells the tale of how a feline hero discovers these answers. On his journey he overcomes obstacles with wit and determination, finds new friends in unexpected places and learns the simple joy -- and transcendent power -- of helping others.

Interview with James:

Why did you write this book?

The house I grew up in was full of cats, and I had an idea to write a fairytale about one in particular named Sam, who was my mother’s favorite cat. I wanted to write a story about him mainly for her, but after receiving such positive feedback from people I decided to put the story into book format.

What was the hardest part?

Speed and time . . . or rather, lack of speed and lack of time. I’m such a perfectionist that I found myself constantly going back to rework the writing rather than just moving ahead and worrying about fixing the issues later.

What was easiest or most fun?

Writing dialog has always come easily to me. I enjoyed creating the speech of my characters and was constantly delighted to see where they [the characters] took me next.

What do you hope people get from your book?

In the book, I have a character called “the seed”. The nameless cat finds the seed -- which a farmer dropped by accident in the middle of the path -- and tries to help him to no avail. The cat decides that the best course of action is to eat the seed and put him out of his misery. Later in the story we find that the seed becomes the main tool in defeating the dreaded sponges (who have taken the moisture from the world).

I think it’s important for children to learn what it means to be someone of worth, and it is my hope that this book can reach children who are struggling like I did. I try to write in a way that can reach all ages, providing stories that children can understand, yet still giving enough depth and symbolism for adults to relate to.

How do you want to be remembered as an author?

It is said that an author often does not become famous until they die. Where this is not always an appealing prospect, it does have a strong sense of longevity. When I am long gone, my hope is that my words will remain in the world, showing the truths that I have learned, and changing others for the better.

What's next for you?

I'm currently working on a story about a 15-year-old boy who dreams of becoming a wizard. Even though his father is known throughout the land as a powerful wizard, both him and his mother have forbidden Traphis from learning magic. A year after the death of his father, Traphis finds new doors opening and the world of magic more than he bargained for.

It starts out like a typical fantasy story with a young boy living on a farm, but that’s where the stereotypical fantasy ends. My intention is to introduce many new and exciting elements into this genre in hopes of drawing in more readers.

A Witch's Lament by Catherine Anne Collins

2010-01-11T01:20:00.000-08:00

When Skye Temple buys a historic house in Salem, Massachusetts, the witch capital of the world, she ignites events that began centuries ago during the witch trials. Salem's bloody history unfolds with her discovery of ancestral diaries, the murders of local girls, and her attraction to Jerome Phips.

A local police officer, Jerome has returned to Salem vowing to uncover the truth of his mother's disappearance during a ritual gone wrong 30 years ago. His suspicion of Skye and her family's history keeps tension between them high.

Burdened with the birth-task of the Goods to keep an ancient knife protected, Skye gains a new understanding of her powers, while the need to avenge his mother's death drives Jerome. Past and present collide in a final ritual between evil, love and honor.

Interview with Cathy Walker:

Why did you write this book? I have an interest in the Salem witch trials and thought it might be interesting to write a book about them and have an excuse to do some research. Of course, this included a trip to Salem to do my research first-hand.

What was the hardest part? Even though A Witch's Lament is fiction, I wanted to imbue a true sense of the chilling events that occured in Salem, Ma. during the witch trials. It was difficult to be in Salem and imagine historical events without feeling overwhelmed and somewhat sad.

What was easiest or most fun? Oh, that's easy. In Salem there is this amazing candy store called Ye Olde Pepper Companie. It's the oldest candy store in America and well worth a visit. :-)

What do you hope people get from your book? Enjoyment. A brief look into a grievous yet fascinating historical event.

How do you want to be remembered as an author? As someone who wrote books that made people think, and maybe question life just a little.

What's next for you? A sequel called A Witch's Legacy and then more books, of course.

The Muse by Fred Warren

2010-01-07T05:27:00.000-08:00

Stan Marino is a struggling writer looking for shot of inspiration to take him to the next level. He finds his muse, but it’s nothing like what he expected, and he discovers his world’s a lot stranger and more dangerous than he ever imagined. He’s in a battle for his soul, with the fate of the people he loves most in the balance.

An interview with Fred Warren:

Why did you write this book? The Muse started out as a writing exercise--an attempt to prove to myself that I could write something more substantial than a short story. I figured I'd soon run out of ideas and resort to typing out random thoughts or my wife's recipe for chicken enchiladas, but to my great surprise and delight, the story kept flowing. The characters took on life, and things began happening that I hadn't expected. Fifty thousand words or so later, I had something I wanted to finish properly and share with other people.

What do you like best about it? In the course of having the manuscript reviewed and critiqued, I was pleased to discover that the story seems to make a solid emotional connection with the reader. I've had three different people tell me it made them cry--in a good way. There's a lot of lighthearted fun, mystery, adventure, romance, and even a few chills mixed in, but after all was said and done, I wanted the story to be uplifting, and I think it is.

What was hardest to write? The beginning and the ending were the most difficult in that I was worried about getting it right. The start of a story is like meeting a friend, and you only get one chance to make a first impression. Likewise, the end should leave the reader with a satisfying sense of closure and a memorable image that lingers in the mind.

What do you want people to get from the book? This story is about inspiration--its meaning, origins, and purpose. It also explores the idea that there's more than one kind of inspiration, and it's important to understand the source, nature, and ultimate effects of the creative energy we're using. I think creation is perhaps the most human activity of all, for in the act of creating, whether it's producing a work of art, telling a story, building a business, or raising a family, we express in microcosm the nature of the Creator, who gave us life and made us in His image with the intent that we, in our small, clumsy way, attempt the sorts of things He does with perfect excellence.

How do you want to be remembered as a writer? Well, being remembered at all would be really cool, but I guess I'd like people to think of me as someone who writes fun stories that they enjoy reading.

What's next for you? I've got two more novel projects in the works, a sci-fi action-adventure story and a sequel to The Muse. I've also got some short stories on the way, "The Silver Tree" is coming out at the end of this year in a print journal called Kaleidotrope, and "The Chamber of Doors" will be in the April 2010 edition of Bards & Sages Quarterly, an online journal. Digital Dragon Online Magazine is also featuring one of my stories in its December 2009 issue.

In-Sight by Jerry Webster

2009-12-31T01:03:00.000-08:00

Ward McNulty had it all…his own syndicated column, the love of the beautiful co-anchor for Channel Five News, and powerful friends—including congressional hopeful, Chet Garner. But in his pursuit of wealth and fame, Ward had distanced himself from his traditional Catholic family—especially his father—a common man with very uncommon insight.

State Senator Garner convinces Ward to support the conversion of the sleepy island town of Timuqua into an exclusive resort to be named “North Beach.” However, this pits Ward against his own father—a resident of the island—in a bitter eminent domain battle. Too late Ward learns that North Beach’s financial backers are not who or what they appear. And when Ward balks at being asked to slander his father’s attorney, he suddenly finds himself blind, broken, and charged with DUI manslaughter. Overnight, the whole structure of Ward’s “successful” life comes crashing down around him. He loses his job, his girlfriend, his eyesight, and is about to lose his freedom. When all his former “friends” abandon him, Ward turns to the only man who’ll stand by his side—his father.

In the meantime, North Beach’s financial backers will stop at nothing—including murder—to get what they want. In the ensuing struggle, Ward learns the secret of his father’s uncanny insight and the true meaning of sacrificial love.

In-Sight is the story of fall, forgiveness, and redemption…of deeply instilled family values triumphing over a culture gone awry…and of a lost son coming home. It’s for anyone who believes that God has a hand in destiny and is not completely surprised when He draws back the curtain for a brief instant and allows a glimpse at another reality.

Purchase http://outskirtspress.com/insight.

Interview with Jerry Webster:

Q. Why did you write this book?
R. About three years ago I was on a silent retreat. One of the meditations was on the gospel of the talents and we were challenged to think about what talents we had that we’d never used for the Lord. My BA was in English Lit., but I’d never done much with it. By the time the retreat ended, I decided to try to write fiction—but fiction that would serve the Master. However, I had no idea of where to begin. So I turned to prayer and meditation for inspiration. All I got in return were intrusive thoughts about a movie one of my kids had rented called Shallow Hal. It was about a very superficial young man who judged everyone by their looks—their beauty or lack thereof…until he was hypnotized to see their inner character rather than their outward appearance.

Every time I tried to think of something to write about, the memory of Shallow Hal kept pounding at my mind’s door. Finally I discussed it with a spiritual mentor, and he suggested that—instead of purging the intrusive thought—I should go with it and see where it leads.
That night I got home, grabbed a pad of paper, and starting writing down “What if” questions. What if a man really could see inside others—their character instead of only their looks. What if a worldly, selfish, sinful man could see the condition of his own soul…whether he was alive with divine grace, dead in mortal sin, or “wounded” by past sins? How would that affect him? How would it affect his relationship with others?

From that thin thread of an idea, the plot for In-Sight was born.

Q. What was the hardest part?
R. Initially, the hardest part was in trying to come up with a scenario in which the protagonist, Ward McNulty, could develop in-sight into his own and others’ souls. It had to be placed in a context that made it believable. Before even beginning, I did some research into other men who had actually possessed this gift—Don Boscoe, Padre Pio, and the Cure d’ Ars—to name just a few. Then I coincidentally happened to read about a woman who was temporarily blinded after being thrown from a horse. So I did some research on temporary blindness caused by trauma. When I put these two together, I was able to come up with a plausible scenario in which a formerly healthy young man might be temporarily blinded—and in which his “sight” would be altered when he emerged from his physical blindness.

Q. What was the easiest or most fun?
R. I really had a lot of fun with a minor character, Emma Lee Wheeler, who plays a significant role at the end of the novel. She was an elderly black woman who worked nights on a hospital janitorial staff so she could help her daughter and two grandchildren. She was also a spiritual delight—a very kind woman who reflected God’s love on everyone she met. She and Ward developed a bantering relationship while he was hospitalized after his DUI accident. The give and take of their exchanges was a lot of fun to write. I was smiling almost the whole time—and I watched my wife smile, too, when she proof-read the novel and got to that part in the book. I think it was the most fun I had while pounding out the story.

Q. What do you hope people get from your book?
R. I hope that they’re entertained. Otherwise I would have written pure apologetics. But by weaving a moral into an entertaining tale, I hope that the moral will make more of an impact.

Most of all, I hope that the readers will recognize the spiritual realities of their own souls—that it might cause them to look inside and wonder what they would see if they had in-sight. I remember a saintly friend of mine once told me the story of how he had asked God to allow him to “see” his sin. How God granted him that grace—and how he wept bitterly for hours afterwards and was finally consoled beyond anything he’d ever experienced by the sense of overwhelming love and forgiveness.

The other thing I hope readers get out of In-Sight is some sense of God’s love for us—no matter what we’ve done—the knowledge that He can and does forgive all…if we just ask.

Q. How do you want to be remembered as an author?
R. I’d like to be remembered as a man who could spin a good yarn with a good message. If all I had wanted to do was to entertain, writing In-Sight would have been a lot easier. I love the old classics that weaved a moral seamlessly into the thread of the story so that the reader absorbed it almost without being aware that it was happening. That’s a goal of mine. Hopefully, as I write more and become better at the craft, I’ll be better able to emulate those masters of yore.

Help My Husband Has Sexually Abused Our Daughter: a devotional by Debra Butterfield

2009-12-28T05:29:00.000-08:00

Help! My Husband Has Sexually Abused Our Daughter is a 30-day devotional based on the Book of Psalms. Written from personal experience, Debra L. Butterfield leads readers through the tumultuous journey of emotions mothers experience with this ordeal. Each reading includes four sections: My Story, Lesson, Take Action and Prayer.

Interview with Debra L. Butterfield

Why did you write this book? I wrote the book because I wanted mothers to know they were not alone in this ordeal and I wanted to help them through it.

What was the hardest part? Even though I thought I was fully healed from my experience, I had some emotional moments that revealed I still felt wounded in some areas. Writing the book helped me gain additional healing.

What was easiest or most fun? The easiest and most uplifting part by far was reading through the Psalms to find appropriate verses to use with each chapter.

What do you hope people get from your book? It is my intent the reader find hope, encouragement, and healing for her wounded spirit as well as practical tools to help her child and family heal.

How do you want to be remembered as an author? I'd like to hope that the openness and honesty about my life breaks down reader barriers and helps them to know I truly care about them and their lives.

What's next for you? I am working to build a readership through an online magazine called Glory and Strength.com. It's designed to bring readers hope and encouragement for the tough issues in life like abuse through stories of real people and the victories they have experienced.

Merry Christmas to All!

2009-12-24T01:47:00.000-08:00

Why Is There a Menorah on the Altar? Jewish Roots of Christian Worship by Meredith Gould, Ph.D.

2009-12-17T20:26:00.000-08:00

In her newest book, author Meredith Gould invites readers to learn more about the Jewish sources of Christian rites, rituals, and traditions. She draws upon scripture and historical sources to explain how Judaism has influenced liturgical worship; the design and décor of church sanctuaries; and how Baptism, Eucharist, and Confirmation are rooted in Judaism. Includes: questions for reflection; activities for individuals or groups; a glossary, easy-to-follow timelines, and key Christian-Jewish documents.

Website Link: http://meredithgould.blogspot.com

Interview with Meredith:

Why did you write this book?

Raised Jewish, I was taught that cultural and religious identity were synonymous; both permeated our home. Having come of age during the 1950s and 1960s, I was raised during a time when this was true for most Catholics as well.

When, as an adult, I became a practicing Catholic, I was somewhat shocked to discover how much had changed. Younger Catholics seemed fairly clue-free about how to create – let alone sustain – their Catholic identity outside church. As a result, I ended up writing The Catholic Home: Celebrations and Traditions (Doubleday, 2004).

While giving lots of parish-based talks about Catholic culture, I became aware that most Catholics know precious little (or nothing at all) about their Jewish roots. No joke: for some it came as news that Jesus was Jewish. (Really, I'm not making this up.) But, I was also delighted to discover a great curiosity about and hunger for learning more about Judaism among Catholics of all generations; that's why I wrote Why Is There a Menorah on the Altar?

What was the hardest part?

In both the "Foreword" and "Afterword" I describe some of the difficulties I experienced while writing this book. These difficulties ended up being personal, which is weird because I'm not exactly reticent about revealing factoids about my life in my published work.

I absolutely did not expect that researching and writing this book would plunge me into (yet another) murky night of the soul. Truly the hardest part was coming to terms with the fact that while Christians in the liturgical church (i.e., Roman Catholic, Lutheran, Anglican-Episcopalian) might be ready to embrace their Jewish roots, some Jews had "issues" about my qualifications (read: chutzpah) for writing this book. So what if I had scholarly training, I'd deserted the tribe!

My Conservadox Jewish therapist, who provided much positive support during my years of Catholic formation and when I worked for a parish, finally got very directive. One day after I wept my way through a session, he said, "Forget about writing for other Jews. They won't understand what you’re trying to do." What was I trying to do? I was trying to make the case for more similarities than differences among and between us.

What was easiest or most fun?

You might think that doing lots of research was tough, but I loved every head-banging moment of sorting through historical and biblical scholarship, reading theology, studying scripture, and then making all that highfaluting stuff accessible to regular folks.

I also had a lot of fun making quirky connections and poking some gentle fun at this and that. I was thrilled when Christopher Ringwald, author of A Day Apart: How Jews, Christians, and Muslims Find Faith, Freedom and Joy on the Sabbath and editor of the diocesan paper in Albany, NY characterized my book as "erudite and charming and breezy (in a good way)" on amazon.com.

What do you hope people get from your book?

My hope and indeed my prayer is that as a result of reading my book, readers develop deeper appreciation and gratitude for their Jewish legacy. And, having developed deeper appreciation and gratitude, I hope they commit to cultivating this in their children and grandchildren.

Scholarly theories abound about why it took nearly a century for a religion called Christianity to emerge from Judaism. In my book, I invite readers to look at this history through the lens of Judaism, then offer my own perspective – a family feud spinning out of control to the detriment of all its members.

How do you want to be remembered as an author?

In addition to being fondly remembered as an author who made readers laugh about things not normally considered funny, I'd like to be remembered for helping to heal the shattered world of Christian-Jewish relations. And, what the heck, I'd like to be remembered as an author who tried to break through barriers to ecumenical understanding. Not too ambitious, eh?

What's next for you?

If you'd asked me this question while Why Is There a Menorah on the Altar? was in production, I would've said, "Absolutely not another book." Thanks to the human capacity to forget pain, I've begun futzing with a book I started, then set aside, approximately six years ago. Sooner or later, I'll get around to writing a book about the spiritual value of fear. Write what you know, right?

Through the Open Window by Anne Faye

2009-12-14T04:42:00.000-08:00

Lucy Lyons is a woman trying to escape her past. Content to work as a librarian and live alone with her dog, all she wants is a simple life with no complications. When she decides to take the plunge and begins to write a novel during National Novel Writing Month, she gets much more than she bargained for. Her writing will not only force her to face her own secrets, but will also put her in the path of a handsome artist who shares her love of the written word. "Through the Open Window" is an engaging novel about the secrets we keep and the hope for second chances.

Why did you write this book? I had always wanted to write a novel. Last year, I decided I would do National Novel Writing Month in November. I knew that there was no way I could get the 50,000 words done in one month, but I decided I would get as much done as I could. Of course, then I needed an idea. Around October 30th, the idea of writing about someone doing National Novel Writing Month came to me. After that, the story all fell into place. It actually took me until January to finish the story.

What was the hardest part? There was a point in the middle of the project when I just hated the whole thing. I felt like it wasn't worth all the aggravation and frustration of trying to squeeze in writing on top of all the other busyness of life. But once I got through it, the thrill of completing it was well worth it.

What was easiest or most fun? Most fun was checking my word counts on a daily basis and watching them go up. Hitting 50,000 words meant so much to me, even though the story wasn't done and I had to keep going. There was a great sense of accomplishment.

What do you hope people get from your book? I hope people enjoy the story. It is light reading and a bit of a tearjerker. I hope that they come to care about the characters and spend some pleasant time reading it.

How do you want to be remembered as an author? I want to be remembered as someone who wrote stories that touch the heart.

What's next for you? Right now, I am working on promoting "Through the Open Window" and hope to begin work on a new novel soon!

The Self-Publisher's Guide by Karen Coiffi

2009-12-10T06:00:00.000-08:00

Do you have a book in you dying to come out? Do you want to self-publish a book you’ve already written, but you’re not sure what to do? Well, The Self-Publisher’s Guide is for you!

From Writing Your Book, to Self-Publishing Options, to Creating a Website, to Promotion - it's all included in this handy guide.

Topics include: learning to write, critique groups, being ready for publishing, choosing a publishing company, creating visibility through promotional strategies, bringing traffic to your site, resources, tools, and much more.

The Self-Publisher’s Guide offers great self-publishing and promotional tips, advice, information, examples, and resources!

Purchase link: http://www.lulu.com/content/e-book/the-self-publishers-guide/7747521

Why did you write this book?

There are three reasons I wrote this e-book. The first is that I listen to a number of teleclasses about writing and marketing. Hearing the questions asked from some attendees I realized there are many writers who don’t know the basics. I wanted to address these issues in an affordable manner.

The second reason is because I am a reviewer for BookPleasures.com and I review a number of self-published books. So far, almost every one of these books, it is obvious, has not been professionally edited. If fact, it is apparent that most of them haven’t even been critiqued.

I find this sad because a few of these self-published books had good stories. It is difficult to do a review for a book that is poorly written. One of the books I read didn’t even have dialogue punctuation. I am hoping that through The Self-Publisher’s Guide author’s who are taking this road will be better equipped to produce a quality book. I made the price of this e-book very affordable so those, like most of us today, with little money can still afford this guide.

The third reason I wrote this book is because I self-published a children’s bedtime story, Day’s End Lullaby, and this e-book. I put a lot of effort and time researching self-publishing and looked at a number of Print on Demand companies. I wanted to share this information with others who are venturing onto the self-publishing road.

What was the hardest part?

The hardest part was keeping the guide small. There is so much information on writing, publishing and marketing that it was difficult to narrow down the information I wanted to include in this 22 page e-book. It is intended to be a starting point that touches on everything from writing the story, to publishing it, to promoting it. While there are a number of very informative manuals that go into greater detail in these areas, The Self-Publisher’s Guide is meant to guide the writer so he/she knows in which direction to head, along with providing step-by-step instructions.

What was easiest or most fun?

The entire e-book was easy to write. When you know the topic well and there is so much information available, it’s easy to write about it. It began as a simple and basic 10 page guide, but every time I reread it, I added something else. Finally, I told myself I had to stop at 22 pages – I could have went on and on. And, it was fun trying Lulu.com to publish it.

What do you hope people get from your book?

I hope this e-book guides those who are beginner writers and those who are thinking of self-publishing onto the path that helps them produce a quality book. By taking time, a little effort, joining a critique group with experienced authors, and the extra cost of getting a professional edit, a poorly written or mediocre book can be turned into a great book.

This is especially true of children’s books. There are a number of tricks, strategies, and rules that are unique to this genre. If you’re not aware of them it’s a give-in that your book will reflect it.

How do you want to be remembered as an author?

I guess I want to be remembered as a good writer, one who knows the craft (still learning), and one who ‘pays it forward.’ What I mean by the last part is: recently I read in The Writer that writers are a generous lot. They give of their time and knowledge – they ‘pay it forward.’ I want to be remembered as part of that group.

What's next for you?

I have a number of things brewing. I’m working on a couple of children’s stories, I write articles about writing, marketing and health, and I want to write a guide for beginning writers, specifically children’s writers. As I mentioned above, writing for children involves additional rules and strategies. I know many beginner writers would benefit from a guide to get them started in the right direction.
In addition to this, I have the Karen and Robyn Writing for Children Newsletter that I send out monthly. It includes information, advice, tips, and links relating to writing, marketing, and reviews. In fact, sections of The Self-Publisher’s Guide are included in monthly installments. It also includes news bits from DKV Writing 4 U (http://www.dkvwriting4u.com). To subscribe readers can go to http://karenandrobyn.blogspot.com and just sign up!

A Chaunce of Riches by Chelle Cordero

2009-12-03T01:36:00.000-08:00

Ben Johnson was hired as a bodyguard for a rich widow and her kid, but he never expected to be working for the woman who had abandoned him just when he had needed her the most. Damn it all, he still wanted her. Samantha Chaunce never thought she would have to explain why she married the rich man instead of Ben. Or that her husband had been murdered...and Ben was the prime suspect.

An Interview with Chelle Cordello:

Why did you write this book? In yet another one of my random thinking spurts, I wondered how far a woman would go to help the man she loves – that’s how Samantha was born. I paired Sam with a guy who was educated in the "school of hard knocks" and who still had an attitude about those who "had".

What was the hardest part? Researching the setting so that it seemed authentic – while I've been to Baltimore and most of the other areas, I was not as familiar with them as my own backyard. Fortunately the internet provides a wealth of virtual sightseeing.

What was easiest or most fun? I will very often talk aloud as one of my characters as I write and I enjoyed talking like Samantha who went from being a financially poor orphan to the very rich widow of a publishing mogul. I enjoyed pretending some of the airs.

What do you hope people get from your book? Enjoyment, on the surface. And I guess I'd like them to think about what they would be willing to do for the people they love.

How do you want to be remembered as an author? I think I just want to be "remembered".

What's next for you? My next novel Common Bonds: Tangled Hearts will come out next February. This is another romantic suspense that involves some unusual twists of fate, greed, deception and hot romance.

Christmas Cookies are For Giving by Kristin Johnson and Mimi Cummins

2009-12-01T01:37:00.000-08:00

More than a cookbook, CHRISTMAS COOKIES ARE FOR GIVING is a celebration of family, friends and the joy of giving. Stories, recipes, tips and more...

Smells of cinnamon…cookie cutters…rolling and baking…eating dough…warm times with friends and family…Christmas cookies are a universal symbol of sweetness and family tradition at Christmas. But the joy of Christmas cookies goes beyond eating. In CHRISTMAS COOKIES ARE FOR GIVING, Kristin Johnson and Mimi Cummins reawaken the fun of giving Christmas cookies, as they remember doing when they lived next door to each other when young children.

From the original short story “The Giving Christmas Cookie,” which shows a family brought together by a special cookie at Christmas, to nearly 50 scrumptious recipes with mouth watering photos, to the timely, easy directions for making homemade “Gifts in a Jar,” CHRISTMAS COOKIES ARE FOR GIVING shows that old-fashioned Christmas gifts are the antidote to cynicism about Christmas. The secret to celebrating your family and friends may not be in the mall, but in your pantry where you’ll find the ingredients to make Triple Chocolate Caramel Brownies, Nut Roll, and Vanillekipferl—The Giving Christmas Cookie. Give this book as a present, and you may be rewarded when someone you love bakes the goodies in this book for you.

An Interview With Kristin Johnson:

Why did you write this book? My childhood friend Mimi Cummins started Christmas-Cookies.com, which is a top-rated Christmas cookie site. We came together in California for one of our reunions, and out of a reminiscing session with my mother came the idea to do a Christmas cookbook--not just any cookbook.

Both Mimi and I grew up around wonderful bakers--her grandmother, my grandmother, and my mother. We used to live next door to each other and have many fond memories of Christmas cookies at each others' homes. Somehow we knew that we had to blend the recipes with stories about giving, family, friends and, of course, cookies! We had many stories from our childhoods, and Mimi solicited stories from the Christmas-Cookies.com community.

What was the hardest part? I would say selecting the recipes, because there were so many yummy ones--also the stories. Another challenge was to make the spirit of the book stand out from other cookie books out there. I think of it as a Christmas storybook with recipes.

What was easiest or most fun? Working with my childhood friend Mimi Cummins. We had a blast doing this book. Also, getting lots of new recipes to try, and writing the short story "The Giving Christmas Cookie".

What do you hope people get from your book? You don't have to give the most expensive presents to make Christmas, or any occasion, special. In these economic times people are looking to simplify as opposed to the excess that we're all taught we should want. The Gifts in a Jar recipes especially are a terrific low-cost and thoughtful gift. Cookie dough bonds people together. As the stories from people on Christmas-Cookies.com that were published in the book illustrate, making and giving food is a spiritual experience and a way to connect family and friends.

How do you want to be remembered as an author? As an uplifting influence, whether I'm writing science fiction, literary love stories, screenplays, teleplays, or whatever I am currently passionate about,

What's next for you? I'm doing many projects, and hoping to get my teleplay "Bully.com" produced. Other than that, writing, writing, writing!

Gonzo the Curious Cat by Martha Ramirez

2009-11-26T01:42:00.000-08:00

Gonzo is a curious cat that lives on Farmer Louie's farm. As he learns the many lessons of life by his misadventures, he is often reminded of Farmer Louie's motto, "Safety First." Farmer Louie always knew that Gonzo's curiosity and adventurous personality would one day get him into trouble. But when Gonzo finds himself lost in an unfamiliar place, he discovers the true meaning of why it is important to be extra careful and less curious. Will Gonzo find the special gift he is searching for while lost? Come join the fun and meet all the playful barnyard friends, Gonzo the Curious Cat, and Farmer Louie. Learn what friendship and safety can bring.

Interview with Martha Ramirez:

Why did you write this book?

Gonzo the Curious Cat was inspired by my brother-in-law Gonzalo, AKA "Gonzo." When he was a young boy he was struck by a car, it nearly ended his life. In 2008 it happened again. A car struck him, nearly ending his life once more. What are the odds of that? I went to visit him in the hospital and I got this compelling need to write a story for children about safety awareness. Each character is named after a family member. The book is actually based on many misadventures that my brother-in-law has lived through. He's just like a cat with 9 lives. It is also dedicated to my father-in-law who recently passed away (Farmer Louie).

What was the hardest part? Can't think of anything LOL. Not with this particular book, anyway.

What was easiest or most fun? Naming all the animals after family members.

What do you hope people get from your book? Safety is important.

How do you want to be remembered as an author? I want to be remembered as a great entertainer. Also I would like my storytelling to be able to touch lives, in some way or another.:)

What's next for you? I am currently seeking representation for my debut novel. I am also working on both a paranormal story and a memoir (as well as other children books). You may visit my Website at: www.MartzBookz.com. I also have a blog at: www.martzbookz.blogspot.com and a reviews page:www.martzreviewz.blogspot.com

Gaea by Robina Williams

2009-11-23T00:58:00.000-08:00

The heavenly Design Center is where it all happens: new worlds, new species, are planned and built here, prototypes are tested, and the creations are sparked into life. Earth's greatest inventors, craftsmen and artists work here among the angels, contributing their skills and ideas. There's a great restaurant, too, with Saint Lawrence himself, patron saint of chefs, cooking personally for distinguished visitors. Among whom, one fine day in early summer, is Earth’s goddess, Gaea, dining in the company of Quant the seraph and saints George, Sebastian and Stephen—for the Lord's family is large and varied, and all its members are expected to get along together. Mostly they do get along, though Gaea is hopping mad at the way she has been treated by mankind lately. She herself has been the subject of a brutal assault, her animals, birds and fish are suffering, and her environment, her very fabric, is under attack.

The goddess decides to hit back and show Man that he needs to improve his behavior, in his own best interest. She calls in her relatives to assist her in persuading humans to mend their ways before they cause irrecoverable damage: men must learn to share earth’s resources and respect the planet that supports them. “Mister don’t care” must be made to care.

Interview with Robina:

Why did you write this book?

I wrote this book because I felt strongly about mankind’s degradation of earth and the harm that humans are doing to their fellow inhabitants of the planet. Because I don’t have the knowledge to write a scientific treatise, I decided to personalize the issue: I would write about Gaea as mother of her pantheon—mère de famille—and the difficulty she and her progeny were facing when a newcomer to earth began behaving so selfishly as to threaten her entire realm. Now I come to think about it, maybe for Gaea and her family it was somewhat akin to having a new and troublesome neighbor—or rather, a neighbor that had suddenly turned troublesome, for she had had no quarrel with early Man. Early Man had understood that Earth needed nourishing and caring for, but later Man had forgotten that Earth sustained him and that he needed, in his own interests, to look after her. If he overexploited her resources and damaged her environment, then he himself would ultimately suffer. Gaea—Earth—wondered why he failed to grasp the obvious.

Gaea is my somewhat alternative take on the problem of human activities harming the planet. I have never been quite sure that the ancient gods ever went away—I saw no reason why they should—and so I decided to use the old deities to cast fresh light on a matter of significance to us today. On my web site www.robinawilliams.com is an article I have written about my blending of the classical world and our twenty-first century world, with the gods helping to mend an environment we have damaged in our headlong rush for technical progress: take a look at Gaea Hits Back, on http://www.robinawilliams.com/Gaea_hits_back.html

What was your favorite part?

I especially enjoyed writing the scenes featuring the Lord and His seraph Quant. I felt that there was a relationship there. The seraphs, archangels and other angels, having all been created to serve their Lord, were given different tasks. The angels did as they were bid, of course, but they had preferences, and some of them found earth duty uncongenial. Not so Quant. He liked humans and happily lived among them at his Master’s behest. His Lord was appreciative of the sacrifices His faithful seraphic servant made and of his willingness to take feline form so as to blend with friary life. And the Lord was amused by the little jokes the quantum cat played on his beloved friars.

I also greatly enjoyed writing the final scene, where the entire cosmos joined in praise of the Lord of Life, species and stars alike raising their voice in thanks to their Creator, and the Lord, God of All, expressed His delight at hearing this universal harmony by stretching out His hand and lighting the heavens.

What was hardest to write?

I find that the beginning of a book is the hardest part to write. One has to structure the opening scene in such a way that it grabs the attention of readers, compelling them to want to read on. The very beginning has both to set the scene and to point to future possibilities. Also, of course, the author is introducing characters—probably the main characters in the story—and they need, to my mind, to be portrayed in a sympathetic light, so that the reader will identify with them and will be keen to know what happens to them later on.

What do you hope readers get from it?

My hope is that Gaea manages to convey a sense of the inclusiveness, the interconnectedness, of creation. People—indeed, creatures of all types—may look different from each other and differ in their nature, but all were brought into being by the Lord and are loved by Him in all their variety. Life is a network—perhaps literally, with the cosmic filaments; nothing lives in isolation. Mankind needs to realize this; Man is part of an ensemble, part of a divine symphony—again, perhaps literally, for each star and planet has its own signature note. The Lord is making heavenly music, and humanity is one of His players. Man needs to coordinate his activities with those of his fellow inhabitants of earth. As Gaea says in my book, “There’s plenty for everyone. I’ve resources enough…” Man needs to share; if he monopolizes Earth’s gifts, then there are stresses and strains which ultimately adversely affect Man himself.

What's next for you?

I am now writing the fourth book in my Quantum Cat series. I am also trying a ghost story but I’m not sure if this will work out.

Finally, I would like to say thank you, Karina, for giving me this opportunity to talk about my books on your book blog, Virtual Book Tour de 'Net.

Relics by John Desjarlais

2009-11-19T05:48:00.000-08:00

Relics tells the story of Jean-Michel d'Anjou, a young disinherited knight who tries to save the Sword of St. Martin in a burning cathedral but fails. However, a perfect cross is burned on his shirt, which the bishop takes as a sign that Jean-Michel should go on a quest to find relics to replace those lost in the blaze. Consumed by an impossible longing for the lovely baroness who finances the venture, Jean-Michel travels with a mysterious troubadour and wandering scholar to Crusader Palestine, where he becomes entangled in a terrorist plot to assassinate King Louis IX of France.

An Interview with John Desjarlais:

Why did you write this book?

After writing “The Throne of Tara” (Crossway Books 1990), set in Dark Age Ireland , I became interested in the rich trade in relics during the Middle Ages. These treasures of bone, cloth, and small possessions (rings, swords, shoes and such) were guarded by kings and monks, bought and sold for exorbitant prices, stolen, fought over, counterfeited, and, of course, used widely in devotions. Every cathedral altar had a relic embedded below it; every knight’s sword contained a relic in the pommel. People traveled long distances on pilgrimages to be near the remains of famous saints, seeking spiritual renewal or particular favors, especially healing. As a Protestant (at the time; I’m a Catholic now)), I was fascinated by this Catholic practice. The greatest relic of all was, of course, the Holy Land, which was fought over during the 200-year period of the Crusaders’ occupation of Palestine. My other historical fiction revolved around the collision of cultures, and the clash of Christianity and Islam in this period seemed strikingly contemporary. It’s more so now, post 9/11.

What was the hardest part?

The research was daunting, especially in the age before the Internet (I worked on it in 1991-2). But I loved exploring in libraries and museums, and research always revealed new plot possibilities. The hardest part, as usual, was getting out of bed early in the morning, at 4:30, to write before my day job as a media producer began at 8:00.

What was easiest or most fun?

The most fun in writing fiction is finishing a scene that you know really works. You read it over and it comes alive, even to you, and you ask, “Did I just write this?”

What do you hope people get from your book?

A few hours of entertainment with some learning along the way. There isn’t a deep ‘message’ in the story, apart from, perhaps, the protagonist’s real quest to be accepted by his critical father and discovering that God the Father accepts him as he is. But like the troubadours of the period, I mainly wanted to tell a good yarn with some intrigue, danger and romance.

How do you want to be remembered as an author?

I think I want to be remembered as a faithful and godly Catholic, a loving husband and caring father and grandfather first. As an author? I hope people regard my work as smart, stylish, and soulful – maybe even worth reading more than once.

What's next for you?

I’m working on two things. First, a sequel to my recently-released mystery BLEEDER (Sophia Institute Press) that features a minor character from that story, Latina insurance agent Selena de la Cruz, as the protagonist. VIPER, told against a rich tapestry of Aztec mythology and Mexican Catholicism, deals with the rural drug trade. My other project is a chapter in a forthcoming book that considers the work of J.R.R. Tolkien in relationship to books of the Bible. I’ve been asked to examine how St. Paul’s ideas about the nature of sin as discussed in The Letter to the Romans are exemplified in The Lord of the Rings.

CSFF Presents: Curse of the Spider King by Wayne Thomas Batson

2009-11-16T02:22:00.000-08:00

Fantasy. Mystery. Action. Humor. Parents, teachers, and librarians will no longer have to push kids to read-The Berinfell Prophesies will engage intermediate readers and leave them clamoring for more.

The Seven succeeding Elven Lords of Allyra were dead, lost in the Siege of Berinfell as babes. At least that's what everyone thought until tremors from a distant world known as Earth, revealed strange signs that Elven blood lived among its peoples. With a glimmer of hope in their hearts, sentinels are sent to see if the signs are true. But theirs is not a lone errand. The ruling warlord of Allyra, the Spider King, has sent his own scouts to hunt down the Seven and finish the job they failed to complete many ages ago.

Now 13-year-olds on the brink of the Age of Reckoning when their Elven gifts will be manifest, discover the unthinkable truth that their adoptive families are not their only kin. With mysterious Sentinels revealing breathtaking secrets of the past, and dark strangers haunting their every move, will the young Elf Lords find the way back to the home of their birth? Worlds and races collide as the forces of good and evil battle. Will anyone escape the Curse of the Spider King?

Purchase Curse of the Spider King: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1400315050

Learn more at these sites:
Wayne Thomas Batson’s blog - http://enterthedoorwithin.blogspot.com/
Christopher Hopper’s Web site - http://www.christopherhopper.com/
The Prophecies of Berinfell series Web site - http://www.heedtheprophcies.com

Brandon Barr
Justin Boyer
Amy Browning
Valerie Comer
Amy Cruson
CSFF Blog Tour
Stacey Dale
D. G. D. Davidson
Shane Deal
Jeff Draper
Emmalyn Edwards
April Erwin
Karina Fabian
Todd Michael Greene
Ryan Heart
Timothy Hicks
Becky Jesse
Cris Jesse
Jason Joyner
Julie
Carol Keen
Krystine Kercher
Tina Kulesa
Melissa Lockcuff
Rebecca LuElla Miller
Mirtika
Nissa
John W. Otte
Cara Powers
Chawna Schroeder
James Somers
Speculative Faith
Robert Treskillard
Fred Warren
Jason Waguespac
Phyllis Wheeler
Jill Williamson
KM Wilsher

The Last Protector by Daniel Starr (with Review)

2009-11-14T05:01:00.000-08:00

Scrornuck Saughblade, a tall, red-haired young man who wears a kilt and packs a "magic" sword, thinks he's just doing a good deed and maybe meeting a new girlfriend when he wades into a Saturday-night bar brawl to rescue serving-wench Nalia. Jape Phelps, the Ranger whom Scrornuck is sworn to protect, knows better: Nalia's ability to duck a punch before it's thrown is the visible display of a much deeper talent, a talent that just might save the world when the "streams of time" cross two weeks hence.

Read more about how Starr created his world's religion, Spafuism: Faith-Filled Fiction

Mini Review by Karina:

FTC Disclaimer: All I know was I was standing in this incredibly long line waiting to go on some crazy ride I wasn't looking forward to but my kids were clamoring for, when the tall, skinny bearded guy in armor and carrying the most freaking-amazing sword I'd ever seen pops into line in front of us. He said, "Expect a book. Review it. The fate of Topeka* depends on it!" and he's gone before anyone can protest his cutting into line! Well, the book showed up in my e-mail. I didn't pay for it. I'm not getting paid for it. But the fate of Topeka* is in my hands...

The Last Protector is laugh-out-loud funny with some very clever details. I enjoyed the characters and the general plot quite a bit, but I must admit, the details appealed the most to me. Things like The Sacred Yellow Bricks left behind when the construction crews got laid off, or the employees that magically appear to return your shopping cart for you. The "freaking-amazing sword" was a wonderful piece of high-tech placed into a medieval setting--a nanotech blade controlled by the grip and mental imaging of its bearer. Daniel Starr is full of creative ideas like that, woven into the book with a sense of fun. This is one I plan to read to my kids (9-16, who still love bedtime stories).

*Actually, it's spelled Taupeaquaah in the book, but how was I to know?

As the Eagle, Flies the King by Wendy McNeice

2009-11-12T07:38:00.000-08:00

Forced to be queen to an absent and evil king, Chaim, with her friend and servant, dress as scribes and escape the loneliness of a confined life, to begin a journey to Jerusalem to fulfill her father’s dying wish. The words of the prophet Daniel grip her consciousness just prior to her escape. The two are followed by an elite Mede soldier, working undercover for Persian King Cyrus. Chaim initially detests Mohganees, thinking he is a Persian conqueror who may one day entrap her enslaved people. Mohganees the Mede throws a talisman into her boat as she escapes and she kicks it into the Euphrates, thinking it an evil spell. The mystery of the talisman will weave its way into the book. During the famous battle in Opis, the place the Euphrates will be diverted, Mohganees twice saves Chaim and her friend Ettu from captivity. Mohganees commandeers a boat they are traveling in as he follows the king’s orders to map the Euphrates to re-channel its flow. He is believed drowned when the Arab trader’s boat they were traveling in is overturned by thieves.

The girls are taken into the camp of some highwaymen intent on enslaving them and Mohganees also becomes a (disguised) captive of the highwaymen. Believing Mohganees to be dead, Chaim professes a new found love for him and Chaim and Ettu assist Mohganees’ escape, unaware who he is. When Mohganees returns to find the talisman, Chaim and Ettu attempt to rescue an orphaned temple slave, the one who tells them the news that will make their decision clear. Sheera has overheard that Cyrus is on the march to Babylon. In a remarkable twist, Chaim comes to realize she must return to Babylon, as she understands that to follow the call of God unconditionally, she must trust in the Lord, which means that “He will direct thy paths.” In so doing, Chaim discovers the purpose of her mission was quite different from her expectations.

In the mean time, Mohganees makes a bid for peace to the soldiers manning the bulwarks at Babylon and helps open the way for a peaceful takeover of the city by Cyrus, the ‘annointed one’ of Isaiah. The mystery of the ‘talisman’ is revealed and after the final climax, joining the Persian army to release the Jews from Babylon, Chaim and Mohganees have professed their desire to marry and now have one more hurdle to face. Mohganees is not a Jew, and another twist will leave the reader with a pent up sigh of relief. And Ettu, Chaim’s former servant and long-time companion, becomes one of the ‘singers of renown’ at the request of the new king.

Power in the Blood by Linda Tate

2009-11-09T01:41:00.000-08:00

Power in the Blood: A Family Narrative traces Linda Tate’s journey to rediscover the Cherokee-Appalachian branch of her family and provides an unflinching examination of the poverty, discrimination, and family violence that marked their lives. In her search for the truth of her own past, Tate scoured archives, libraries, and courthouses throughout Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama, Illinois, and Missouri, visited numerous cemeteries, and combed through census records, marriage records, court cases, local histories, old maps, and photographs. As she began to locate distant relatives — fifth, sixth, seventh cousins, all descended from her great-greatgrandmother Louisiana — they gathered in kitchens and living rooms, held family reunions, and swapped stories. A past that had long been buried slowly came to light as family members shared the pieces of the family’s tale that had been passed along to them.

Power in the Blood is a dramatic family history that reads like a novel, as Tate’s compelling narrative reveals one mystery after another. Innovative and groundbreaking in its approach to research and storytelling, Power in the Blood shows that exploring a family story can enhance understanding of history, life, and culture and that honest examination of the past can lead to healing and liberation in the present.

Power in the Blood can be ordered directly from Ohio University Press ($18.36) or from Amazon ($17.90).

John Paul II High: Trespasses Against Us by Christian Frank

2009-11-05T00:50:00.000-08:00

Summary:

Spring semester at the first year of John Paul 2 High, it seems to Celia Costain that almost EVERYONE is dating: except her! Her parents don't allow dating, and Celia's mostly fine with that -- but that doesn't make her life much easier. Because she's the principal's daughter, everyone seems to think she's perfect. And when scary things start happening to her friend Allie, no one seems to want to tell Celia what's really going on!

As for George Peterson, his conflict with Tyler Getz is far from over. As Tyler targets more JP2HS kids, and threatening messages on Allie’s cell phone appear with alarming frequency, George starts wondering how long the good guys have to wait before they’re allowed to strike back?

As events escalate, George finds himself waiting for Tyler to cross the line so he can serve out justice … but the only person standing in his way is his former best friend: Celia Costain.

Mini Review:

Another terrific book in the John Paul II High series. Christian Frank takes on topics from teen dating to school shootings. I loved how the characters continued to be real kids; there was no perfect Catholic schoolkid portrayals here. As such, readers identify with the kids and what they're dealing with. I had a hard time putting it down, and indeed, swiped it from my daughter's room so I could finish it! Definitely a series to collect.

Interview with the Author: (Christian Frank is the pen name for a team of writers. One of the writers of Trespasses, Andrew McNeil, speaks to us today)

Ryan and I (and Johnny, author of books 1 and 3) have been on the JP2HS development team since “the beginning”, several years ago, when we all met around a small table in Regina’s kitchen (why is it that so many great Catholic endeavors have begun around someone’s kitchen table?) to hash out the concept. I’ve known Ryan for 15 years, and it was an extremely easy and enjoyable process tag-teaming Trespasses with a good friend. We wrote over the course of months, through many ups and downs regarding the series’ future (thanks be to God they seem to be worked out now), on two separate computers in the same room of my home. Although we were both tasked to concentrate on separate viewpoints (I wrote George; he wrote Celia), there was a constant exchange of ideas about story and character, so you can truly say that all of the book belongs to both of us, and really to the entire JP2HS team. These characters, their lives, motivations, and futures have been a part of OUR lives for a long time; I’m glad you and your daughter are enjoying them so much. Spread the wealth! Tell everyone about us!

On to your questions.

Why did you write this story?

Personally, I’ve always been a bit down on the quality and character of products made specifically by Catholics or Christians, meant for mass market consumption. This is just my opinion of course, but I’ve found the Christian book, movie, or album that competently entertains while it informs or glorifies to be pretty rare. I’m sure we could all name our favorites, but I’ve heard many “readers of faith” tell me they feel like they have to “settle” for some types of Christian entertainment because they feel compelled to avoid all things secular (a view I don’t necessarily share, but I can sympathize with people who feel that way; it’s often more trouble than it’s worth carefully picking your way through the minefield of non-religious media, some of which is brilliant and some repulsive, and often both). Even things produced specifically for the “serious” Christian community are often spotty in terms of quality, or are simply under-produced – there’s only so much production money to go around, after all.

So I was happy to agree to write book 2 when the opportunity arose. I had been attending JP2HS group meetings for some time, and I knew the characters and tone we wanted. Especially important to me was Regina’s insistence that we weren’t writing a “girl’s book” or a “boy’s book”, and we weren’t limiting ourselves to Catholic readers (although we knew, realistically, the majority of our readers would come from that audience). We were also trying to avoid pandering to a too-young age group – while adults aren’t our target audience, I’d hope that our books are entertaining and refreshingly “real” to adults (judging by all the “I read this book with my kids and we both loved it” type of responses, it seems like we’re achieving that goal). I look at this series as an opportunity to put out something authentically Catholic, faithful to our Holy Father, the Magisterium, and the long-standing Traditions of the church, that mixes high quality with a strong moral underpinning. Despite the uncommon situations our JP2 kids find themselves in, much of what makes the books compelling is a sense of realism – these characters live in a real world, with real people that aren’t always good or bad, and where the best thing doesn’t always happen.

To answer the question, then: I hope Catholic teens (and adults) reading our books will, first of all, enjoy themselves and have a good read. I also wanted to give something to the Catholic community that would reflect the experiences of real Catholics in the real world, while at the same time addressing issues within both the Christian and secular worlds, which are really the same world. Finally, I hoped to provide a positive and truthful image of Catholic teaching and thought to our readers outside the Catholic community, all while never compromising on the beautiful truth which is Catholicism. I think it’s safe to say that’s what all of the JP2HS team members are hoping for.

What was your favorite part to write?

I’m a humor kind of guy, so I enjoyed finding the funny little moments to write about. On the other hand, I liked the action scenes too, particularly the ending. For those of you who’ve read the book, I hope that doesn’t sound weird! My favorite scene from Celia’s point of view was actually right near the beginning – the description of daily life in the Costain house.

You have some pretty heavy scenes in this book—how difficult were they to write?

Perhaps not as hard as you might imagine. In fact, I found those particular scenes easier to write than some of the more day-to-day ones. For me, the hardest parts of writing are the little annoyances: making sure everyone is where they should be at a certain time or place. Getting the little details of setting just right. Describing mundane facial expressions. Big action or suspense scenes, on the other hand, seem to roll off the pen, so to speak. I usually get those correct on the first writing.

Would you have wanted to go to John Paul II high when you were a teen?

That’s a tough question. I went to public school all the way up until college. I’d never been to a private school, Catholic or otherwise, and my only exposure to home schooling were two friends (a brother and sister) who used the Seton program (excellent, by the way) for high school. I didn’t have the experience at the time to realize just how much secular culture informed everyday life in the public schools. I was Catholic, but not as courageous or forthright about my faith as I should have been. My faith was tremendously strengthened during my college years (at Christendom in Front Royal, Virginia), and I looked back on some of my high school experiences with horror and sadness, all the more because I hadn’t realized at the time just what I was missing, or what I was doing wrong.

On the other hand, I learned a lot from those bumps and bruises about how the secular world really works, its strengths and weaknesses, joys and terrors. My time at Christendom was in some ways the polar opposite, but not everything was completely different. My experiences in both environments helped me to learn which actions and attitudes, shared at both types of schools, arose from human nature, and which were the product of a good Catholic upbringing or surroundings. It also gave me a realistic window into both secular and Catholic thoughts and ideals, and I value that knowledge. In fact, in terms of writing the JP2HS series, I consider it one of my greatest assets.

My wife and I home school our own young children, and I would certainly consider sending them to a good Catholic private school like JP2HS before I would a public school, even though our public schools in this area are really good places. Public education is a mixed bag at best, and while I don’t doubt that it’s for some people, it’s certainly not for us. And of course there’s all the government intervention, forced secular culture, and poor standards to consider.

Even given all that, though, I wouldn’t trade my personal experiences in public school. That’s easy to say in hindsight, of course, when I’m sitting here happily married with two great kids, a bunch of solid Catholic friends, and at one of the best parishes on the planet. The teenage me might have jumped at the chance to escape the popularity rat race that is public school, or might have equally balked at a total student population of seven!

What's next for the kids of JP2HS?

Hmmm . . . so many secrets to keep. What can I tell you? Well, book 3 takes place entirely over the summer between the previous school year and the next, and is told from the viewpoints of Allie and Brian. Allie is dealing with fallout from the shooting, and Brian has his own problems. You can probably find out everything I’m allowed tell you at the official JP2HS website. Book 4, which Ryan and I are starting now, starts the next school year from George’s and Liz’s perspectives, and promises to include much in the way of surprises that . . . uh . . . I can’t tell you about. Let’s just say that life at JP2HS won’t be as easy as it used to be for our friends there. But then, life never is.

Anything to add?

Regarding Catholic entertainment, I should say that ever since I've been involved with the JP2HS project I've become more aware of quality Catholic literature and novels for all ages, not the least of which are Regina's own books. I used to think there simply WAS no good, modern Catholic lit. Now I'm more of the opinion that it's out there, but sometimes hard to find. And of course, there are unfortunately still poor efforts out there that get published anyway, simply because they have the words "Catholic" or "Christian" attached to them.

Book of Tentacles by Scott Virtes & Edward Cox, editors

2009-11-03T09:31:00.000-08:00

Special note: This anthology features my story, "Mishmash," from the DragonEye, PI, universe. Ever wonder how Sister Grace ended up working with Vern? It's all explained in "Mishmash" in The Book of Tentacles.

Come here . . . but not so close that THEY can reach you. Not so close that THEY can whisper their secrets into your ear.

THEY know the frailty of our minds, and the joy of perverting sanity. THEY long to share their stories of how the human race falls, of sacrificed princes, and of mad women roaming the streets of lost cities. THEY have tales to tell of murder, mystery, magic, and of things you cannot see.

THEY want you to listen. THEY want you to know.

Now come here. But not too close ... or the tentacles will find you.

- strange last words of the mysterious Edward J.

The Book of Tentacles contains 30 original stories in a variety of genre starring--you guessed it!--tentacles. Aliens to ancient gods, deep seas to outer space. Come and read the adventures of those who got too close.

* 1: INTRO by Scott Virtes
* 2: "A Lady’s Quick Reference Note on the Tentacle" – Camille Alexa
* 3: "Call of the Bailiff" – Matthew Bey
* 4: "Professor Hilliard’s Electric Lantern" – Robert J. Santa
* 5: "Lab Assistant" – Marge Simon
* 6: "A Quiet Neighborhood" – Laura J. Underwood
* 7: "In the Octopus’s Garden" – James Dorr
* 8: "Drosera" – Joshua Gage
* 9: "The Temple of Squoad" – Steve Goble
* 10: "A Ferrylouper at Stenness" – Christopher M. Cevasco
* 11: "Cascade" – Cathy Buburuz
* 12: "Hideki and the Giant Squid" – Mark Lee Pearson
* 13: "Mishmash: From the Case File of DragonEye, PI" – Karina Fabian
* INTERLUDE: Weird Art
* 14: "long and black in the middle of the night" – Sharon Bray
* 15: "Low Life" – Clinton Lawrence
* 16: "P6 is Burning" – Scott Virtes
* 17: "Slight Pudgy Writer Seeks Foreign Entanglement" – Tyree Campbell
* 18: "What Did She Know of Love" – Terrie Leigh Relf
* 19: "Taking Root" – Rob Brooks
* 20: "Sucker Punch" – Mark Onspaugh
* 21: "The Little Sea Maid" – Kendall Evans & Stephen M. Wilson
* 22: "One Big Drinker" – Billy Wong
* 23: "To See" – Jim Ehmann
* 24: "Mr Octopus Hands" – Brian Rosenburger
* 25: "Dead Wait" – Carl Hose
* 26: "Jar of Peaches" – Terry Hickman
* 27: "The Mantle of Power" – Matt Betts
* 28: "Blood Amber" – Keyan Bowes
* 29: "Ink and Shadows" – Kali Black
* 30: "Azure Doom" – William Blake Vogel III
* 31: "The Signal" – Aurelio Rico Lopez III
* 32: OUTRO by Edward Cox
* Cover Art & Design: "A Chance of Tentacles" by Scott Virtes

Buy a copy or get more info at the website, http://tentaclepower.com/.

CONQUER ALL OBSTACLES by Jo-Anne Vandermeulen

2009-11-03T08:57:00.000-08:00

A WOMAN WHO WANTS TO FIND LOVE …

Middle-aged divorcee, Tara Robstead, wants more than a secret love affair with her boss, Josh Henderson.

WILL DO WHATEVER IT TAKES FOR A HAPPILY-EVER-AFTER …

Yet, her search for a happily-ever-after costs her more than a price paid in blood—her soul is slaughtered.

EVEN TANGLING WITH A PSYCHOPATH …

Now confined in a mental hospital, she must confront her greatest fears in order to break a psychopath’s control over her fractured mind.

YET, LOVE HAS THE POWER TO …

Against the ticking clock, Josh must face his true love for Tara before it’s too late.

Visit the author’s website at:
www.joconquerall.com

Interview with Jo-Anne Vandermeulen

Why did you write this book?

When I wrote “Conquer All Obstacles” I was having a lot of internal conflict. I’d just returned from the Neurologists (after performing several tests) to confirm or rule-out the possibility of early Alzheimer’s. Thankfully, the tests turned out negative. The symptoms I’d been experiencing would have to be further examined.
In “Conquer All Obstacles” there are passages woven throughout the novel, taking the reader into the ‘NOW – at Gladstone Central Mental Hospital’. The main character’s collection of semi-comatose internal conversations, are the actual confused (or I call it practically insane) thinking I was experiencing—making this suspense/romance a very interesting read. The reader is taken from the NOW to the past (starting at 6 months prior) and gradually lead into the present time. “Conquer All Obstacles” is a real page-turner with a built in story structure that hooks the reader right from the start--the reader cannot help but wonder why a strong independent woman could end up in such a confused mental state, and how will she be able to conquer this internal battle that’s happening within her mind.

“Conquer All Obstacles” is a testimony for all who suffer...an inspirational message that confirms our internal strength can overcome whatever ailment or barricade that a person may have to face. Love, passion, and the true spirit of hope can work as weapons; battle and win against obstacles. An inner strength that most don’t realize we have.

What did you enjoy most about writing it?

When I wrote “Conquer All Obstacles”, I enjoyed feeling the characters become real in all forms—physically, mentally, intellectually, and spiritually. Their personalities developed and grew as the story unravelled.

What was hardest to write?

The most difficult part to write “Conquer All Obstacles” was the first 50 pages. I must have revisited and revised those pages anywhere between 30-40 times.

What do you hope people will get from your book?

By the time the reader completes “Conquer All Obstacles”, I hope they are inspired with new discoveries about love, courage, and internal strength of mentality. The readers will feel growth as they become each character—experiencing the truth about love, the power of courage; and the knowledge of making choices...the means to conquer all obstacles is controlled from within thy self.

What's next for you?

I live one day at a time—a journey that’s already predetermined by God. Yes, I plan; but, I don’t plan the outcomes. Expectations just get me into a lot of trouble.
Over the next 4-6 months, I plan to market “Conquer All Obstacles” through local and Internet promotions. I’ve become my own publicist, distributor, and marketer which leaves little or no time for writing.

Within this time frame, I will continue with the edits to my soon-to-be-released (November 2009) “Premium Promotional Tips For Writers” and keep building my author platform. Once this non-fiction is released, I will continue to take the rolls mentioned with a shift in targeted audiences—exchanging interests from suspense/romance to more writers and authors who are searching for practical tips to market their books. Having a fiction and nonfiction released fairly within the same time period should prove very interesting (which I’m up for the challenge).

There’s no way I can stay away from writing for a 6 month period. I plan to write another fiction. My readers will dictate whether or not there will be a sequel.

Corresponding with my fans is very important. I’m looking forward to our exchange of ideas and the building of relationships. Opportunities have a way of just showing-up behind all doors I open. Thank you Karina for THIS wonderful opportunity to share my some of myself and my writing with your readers. God bless.

John Paul II High: Catholic, Reluctantly, by Christian Frank.

2009-11-02T01:07:00.000-08:00

Summary:

When their parents decide to start a new high school,George, Celia, Liz, J.P., Brian, and James are all thrown together, although they have almost nothing in common. George and Celia attended the local Catholic high school, Brian and James were homeschooled. Liz just wants to attend a school where she can play sports, and J.P. just wants to make trouble.

Then there's a shooting at the local public high school, and Allie Weaver joins the class ...

Review:

What I love about this book is that just because the kids are in a Catholic school--a small "upstart" school begun because (it's surmised) the local Catholic school was secular in its thinking and curriculum--doesn't mean that they are isolated from the world or some kind of cliché of Catholic children. They do say the rosary, and they learn to apply Catholic teachings and philosophies to their lessons, but these are kids anyone can identify with. There's the jock, the beauty, the practical joker, the disdainful know-it-all, and the peacemaker. They have fights, break the rules, go to the school dance at the public school (and have fun). They have insecurities, crushes, and teenage angst. In other words, these kids are as real as kids you'll find in any school today. That makes for a great breeding ground of stories.

"Catholic, Reluctantly" is a great start. We see the kids in the first day throes--and the teachers, too, as they deal with the problems of starting a new school in an old (formerly abandoned) building. John Paul's practical jokes don't help the school's situation, either--especially when he brings in a cow on the day an inspector shows up!

Of course, the biggest adjustment is for Allie, whose mother forced her to attend because Allie had been held at gunpoint at her old school by someone in a costume. With the gunman still at large--and possibly among the student body--she's relieved to attend John Paul II high, but misses her friends, her old classes, and her boyfriend, captain of the wrestling team. However, as she gets to know the kids as JP II, especially George, also a wrestler and a sweet guy, she starts to see things differently. No, no sudden major change for "Catholic goodness" but a very natural and gradual realization that maybe her boyfriend isn't quite the Prince Charming she thought he was. (He is a jerk.)

George and Brian (another JP II student who had been homeschooled until then) join the public school wrestling team. Again, the situation is treated with realism, as George makes assumptions about his skinny, homeschooler friend, and appoints himself "protector" with disastrous results.

This is another book I passed on to my daughter, Amber, who has been homeschooled, Catholic schooled and is starting her first year at the public high school. She's identified with the characters to the point that she dreamed about them while reading the book. She found the plot exciting and believable. She begged me to get the next one even before she'd finished reading the first.

Sophia says of the JP II series: "It's about time Catholic teens have a fiction series they can call their own." It's true that Catholic kids will identify with the kids in JP II high, but I'm not sure I'd limit my readership. The issues addressed in these books are ones all kids face, and their responses are good examples to anyone. Not to mention, the book is just a great read.

Daughter of Narcissus by Lady Colin Campbell

2009-10-26T01:17:00.000-07:00

Daughter of Narcissus is a stunning analysis by Lady Colin of her own dysfunctional family positioned at the heart of upper class Jamaican society from the middle of the 20th century to the present day. Covering the end of the British Colonial Age and the rise of a liberated generation, whilst addressing the narcissistic personality of her mother, the author brilliantly interconnects the sociological, political and personal. As she dissects the family dynamics lying beneath the appearance of wealth and power, Lady Colin’s understanding of personality disorder is revelatory: compelling the reader to comprehend the destructive and tragic reality concealed by rational language and behavior.

Set against a backdrop of glamour, wealth and fame, this compulsive book is both a fascinating history of one socially prominent family, and a uniquely detailed analysis of narcissism, its manifestations and how to survive them in order to lead a purposeful and affirming life.

Interview with Lady Colin Campbell:

Why did you write the book?

Daughter of Narcissus was not my idea. The suggestion that I write it came from the eminent American psychoanalyst Dr. Erika Freeman. She thought that I could make a contribution of value to a subject, narcissistic personality disorder, that at the time (three or so years
ago) had been little addressed by professionals much less by those who had lived through it.

At first I baulked at the prospect, not only because I am not a professional psychoanalyst/psychiatrist/psychologist, but also because I felt it would violate my mother in writing a book about her. Erika convinced me that there would be no disloyalty in writing the truth about my mother, for she was already dead, and the experience I had gained as a result of her problems might help others who were living through or trying to recover from what I had survived and managed to turn into something psychologically and spiritually enriching.

What is your favourite part?

I cannot say I really have a favourite part. The book needs to be taken as a whole, for it is an amalgam of so many varied traits, qualities, blessings, curses, failings, and it covers such a wide spectrum of experiences and periods that the sum of the whole is greater than any of the parts, in my view.

What was hardest to write?

One must remember that I am a professional writer who has written many books, so writing comes as naturally to me as typing does to a secretary.

On a more personal front, because I had been through therapy many years ago, and had therefore buried all my ghosts, there was no one part of Daughter of Narcissus which was particularly hard to write.

I do feel, however, that it would have been impossible, rather than merely difficult, to write the book had I not been through the cathartic process which good therapy is.

Personality disorders are very damaging to everyone who encounters them, and I cannot conceive of any writer doing justice to a subject that is so complex, conflicting, contradictory and turbulent without first having gained a degree of emotional distance and serenity through therapy. I would go as far as saying that personality disorders are not fit subjects for writers to use as cathartic vehicles, for the damage they can do to others as well as themselves can be great indeed, unless they are in command of both themselves and their subject. And such command does not come through off-loading one's pain on a reading public which will often be vulnerable, but in healing yourself and understanding not only what you suffered, but what your perpetrator also suffered. In a word, compassion rather than judgementalism or emotional dumping will ultimately be more productive not only for the writer but also the reader.

What do you hope readers get from your book?

I hope they gain knowledge they did not possess before they started to read the Daughter of Narcissus, as well as confirmation for the instincts they have or have had when dealing with people who suffer from narcissistic personality disorder and its related personality disorders. NPD is quite a difficult disorder to cope with, and I hope that by being as honest and open as I have been, readers who might be in positions that are similar to that which I and my siblings and other relations were in vis-à-vis Gloria, will somehow benefit from my experience. I don't pretend that dealing with NPD is easy, or that it is painless, but I do hope that by the end of the book those who are locked into relationships with NPDs will have gained sufficient tools to lighten their load and maybe even to begin the process of liberation.

It may not be possible to have a truly good relationship with an NPD, but I found that it was possible, if one drew the lines very definitely and faced what one was dealing with constructively and positively, that I could have as good a relationship with my NPD as her disorder allowed. So instead of it always being dreadful, or of her usually making me feel dreadful, one could draw what little good existed out of the relationship, while minimising the inevitable discomfort.

What's next for you?

Daughter of Narcissus is the second book in a row I have written about an anti-heroine, the first being Empress Bianca, about a double murderess who evades being tried for her crimes but finds that public odium for her actions is so great that the world instead of a cell has become her prison.

I think a change of pace is appropriate as well as desirable, so after I have promoted Daughter of Narcissus I shall be embarking on two separate projects. The first is an intellectual indulgence which will most likely make me not a penny, but will bring such pleasure that I will not mind. It is editing an eighteenth century memoir of a French royal who had strong views on how Louis XV1 and Marie Antoinette reacted to as well as mismanaged their responses to the Revolution, with a foreword which will explain the characters involved and their significance in what has already gone down in history as the first great revolution. In my view there has been far too much partisanship in considering the French Revolution and its main players, and now that sufficient time has elapsed for consideration to be given to each participant in an even-handed way, thinking people should be able to digest and incorporate the facts and contradictions without becoming so polarised that they adopt unnecessarily pro-royalist or -republican positions.

My second project will be the indulgence of another interest. I
suspect it will have far greater general appeal. I have been
commissioned to update and expand my 1986 Guide to Being a Modern Lady.

Eden Fell by Lily

2009-10-22T01:53:00.000-07:00

A dark and modern fairytale that chronicles Eden's life as she falls from grace. Following a stream of consciousness, she journeys with her constant companions, the snake and the rhinoceros, through her life as an abstract painter to the end of the world. Together, the three of them encounter zombie marionettes, a frost prince, a winter sprite and a diligent gardener. Without the snake and the rhinoceros, there is only a punk kid, a clerk at a convenience store, an agent and a smattering of acquaintances. Watch... as Eden falls.

The Zombie Cookbook by Kim Richards: Reviews

2009-10-20T01:00:00.000-07:00

Order From Amazon

Mini Review by Karina:

I'll post other reviews below, but thought I'd put in my two cents. Light on the horror and heavy on the fun, this book has a lot of imaginative stories and cover the gamut of interests. "A Hard Message to Deliver" is very well done horror, while "A Zombie's APB" will make you snort out your brains. "The Secret Ingredient" has a "cozy mystery" feel to it, as did "Brain Food." I could see "Brain Salad for Dummies" featured in Zombieland. "A Zombie Named Clete," "Beer-Battered Brains," and "Quick and Easy Zombie Pastie" are cute, fun reads, while "Express Cuisine" never stops with the action. (I won't comment on "Wokking Dead" or "My Big, Fat, Zombie Wedding," except to say I was laughing for hours after I wrote them, they were such fun.)

I will warn you: a few of these stories have excessive profanity, IMHO. I don't recommend this for kids because of that.

Wrap of of Reviews!

The Zombie Cookbook helps, what really keeps the idea of zombies “fresh” in the mind of readers around the globe is its collection of stories, poems, sketches and recipes which orbit around a subject everyone can sink their teeth into: Food!
--Trent Kinsey, http://www.trentkinsey.com/reviews/091017-zombiecookbookKR.htm

As you can imagine, all of these stories are written tongue-in-rotted-cheek. So if you want a fun collection of writing that mixes humor, horror, and a dash of cilantro, pick up The Zombie Cookbook.
-- Sean McLachlan, http://midlistwriter.blogspot.com/2009/10/book-review-zombie-cookbook.html cot 5

"Are you a fan of rotting flesh, drooping eyeballs, dismembered bodies, romance? Romance? Yes, The Zombie Cookbook has something for everyone whether your reading tastes lean toward the gruesome or the romantic. Kim Richards has put together an eclectic collection of zombie tales and recipes... Interspersed with these delectable tales are eye-popping, finger-licking good illustrations provided by the talented George Silliman"
Penny Ehrenkranz, http://pennylockwoodehrenkranz.blogspot.com/2009/10/zombie-cookbook-review.html

The Zombie Cookbook is kick-ass, 'pee-your-pants' funny, and definitely worth checking out! For those with a dark, twisted, sick sense of humor, GET THIS!! 5 Stars!
--Shaun Collins, Purple Raven Reviews: http://thepurpleraven.blogspot.com/2009/08/book-review-zombie-cookbook-by-various.html#comment-form

If you’re a fan of zombie fiction, I would definitely recommend picking this up. Don’t try the recipes at home, though, unless you’ve got a shambling dead to feed.
--Muse's Block, Sinai Enantia, http://www.worldofenantia.com/musesblock/?p=146

...well-written. ...When the collection hits its high points, in stories like The Right Recipe and My Big Fat Zombie Wedding, you end up discovering some short stories that have a lot of depth and world-building done to them in addition to the puns and slapstick humour that pepper the book. ...definitely worth checking out.

Ryan Harron, http://harron.dreamwidth.org/4310.html?view=14806#cmt14806

The Zombie cookbook puts a totally new twist on the lives or rather lack thereof, of such creatures.
--Ron Berry, http://unwriter1.wordpress.com/2009/10/06/the-zombie-cookbook-tour/

full of surprises--a wonderful break from the traditional Halloween-type horror stories
-- Books and Authors, http://joyce-anthony.blogspot.com/2009/10/zombie-cookbook-some-answers-and-review.html

CSFF Presents: Haunt of Jackals by Eric Wilson

2009-10-19T11:46:00.000-07:00

Summary:

When Jesus was resurrected, ancient scripture says many rose from the grave. Today, 36 from this group of undead remain. Known as the Nistarim, they are here to watch over the world.

When Judas hung himself, his blood mysteriously gave rise to another group of undead: the unholy Collectors. Now very much alive, they feed on souls and human blood.

Both groups of immortals still walk among us in an eternal struggle. Now both are after a single target--a boy named Pavel who may possess the key to the Collectors' unlimited power...or ultimate downfall.

Gina, a woman fleeing for her own life, is determined to protect the boy at all costs. She has survived one battle with the undead already, but has no idea how long she'll be able to stay a step ahead of them.

The Jerusalem's Undead Trilogy takes readers on a riveting journey, as imaginative fiction melds with biblical and archaeological history.

Eric Wilson’s Web site - http://www.wilsonwriter.com/
The Undead Trilogy Web site - http://www.jerusalemsundead.com/

For More Information:

Brandon Barr
Wayne Thomas Batson
Jennifer Bogart
Justin Boyer
Keanan Brand
Amy Browning
Karri Compton
Amy Cruson
CSFF Blog Tour
Stacey Dale
D. G. D. Davidson
Jeff Draper
April Erwin
Karina Fabian
Beth Goddard
Todd Michael Greene
Timothy Hicks
Becky Jesse
Cris Jesse
Julie
Carol Keen
Dawn King
Rebecca LuElla Miller
Mirtika
Nissa
John W. Otte
James Somers
Speculative Faith
Rachel Starr Thomson
Robert Treskillard
Steve Trower
Fred Warren
Phyllis Wheeler
Jill Williamson
KM Wilsher

Dead Science, by Anthony Giangregorio et al.

2009-10-15T21:42:00.000-07:00

Science.
Research.
Knowledge.

The human intellect knows no bounds because of them.
We’ve built cities and nations upon them.
We’ve stopped the spread of terrible diseases because of what we’ve learned from them.
Lives have been saved . . . but lives also have been lost.
Now those lives have returned from the grave, seeking revenge.
Sometimes . . . science goes wrong.

Death.
Destruction.
Zombies.

Featuring the terrifying tales of 13 authors, Dead Science brings you stories of the undead unlike any you’ve ever read before. Prepare to go behind-the-scenes and learn about the causes of various zombie uprisings and the havoc these creatures wreak upon the living.

Stories by:
Gustavo Bondoni, Eric S. Brown, Michael Cieslak, Lorne Dixon, Anthony Giangregorio, Glen Held, Becca Morgan, Mark Onspaugh, Gina Ranalli, Vincent L. Scarsella, Jason V. Shayer, Ryan C. Thomas and Adam J. Whitlatch.

http://www.coscomentertainment.com/deadscience.html

The Zombie Cookbook Featured Chef Lin Neiswender

2009-10-10T03:04:00.000-07:00

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Lin Neiswender does a turn-about is fair play story with "The Right Recipe."

Lin knew from childhood, with the rich language of her Alabama surroundings firing her imagination, that she was destined to be a writer but lacked the courage to follow through on her dreams until her later years. She now lives in Central Florida and the climate must agree with her, as she has finally blossomed into a bonafide writer. Her work has appeared in Flashshot and will be in the upcoming anthology "Vicious Verses and Reanimated Rhymes: Zany Zombie Poetry for the Undead Head," with more work to follow. Lin spends her spare time collaging, cruising the Internet, and playing with her Shetland Sheepdog who thinks it is his job to try and kill the mailman. She can be reached though her website Land of Lin at http://landoflin.blogspot.com

Why did you write this story?

I started chuckling when I read the title, so I knew it was the project for me.
Not being an especially blood and gore kind of gal, I thought humor mixed in
would be just right for that anthology. I couldn't resist sending the call for
submission on to Carla Girtman, also published in the anthology. I knew she
would appreciate the unique juxtaposition of zombies and recipes. It turned out
to be a zombie year for both of us.

What was your favorite part of writing the story?

Working in the humor was the most fun; leavening the gruesome aspects was
important to me. Can't have a zombie without the dangling body parts, but I
wanted a different spin to it with the humor.

Do you like zombie tales? Why or why not?

I can't say that I was a great reader of zombie fiction. In fact, I had to go
brush up on my zombie facts and mythos to write the story. Then I made my own
vision of the creatures-- what any writer is expected to do.

What else do you write?

I write speculative flash fiction and poetry, and have several novels in
progress. I recently joined a crit group which I hope pushes my boundaries and
helps expand my publishing credits. I'm a closet literary fic gal so that may be
my next venture.

Zombie Cookbook: Featured Chef Carla Girtman

2009-10-09T01:53:00.000-07:00

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Carla Girtman brings a twist to zombie domestic bliss with "Brain Food."

Carla lives in Central Florida with her family and two cats. When she isn't working undercover at an international airport or teaching online, she manages to write speculative flash fiction and poetry. She has successfully participated in National Novel Writing Month (Nanowrimo) for three years. Her work has been published in Clockwise Cat, Flashshots, Demonic Tome, Flashes in the Dark and a poem will appear in the soon to be released anthology Poems of the Dead. Carla is currently working on "Wordscapes" a collection of her published and unpublished work. (Her cats claim they write better than she does and want their work included.) She hopes to have her website up and running by the end of the year.

Why did you write this story?

This story started off as a prompt from the Speculative Flash Fiction writing group. Then my friend Linda (also published in this anthology!) sent me the call for submissions for Zombie fiction and well, the Zombie muse said "Hey, you got one. Submit that one!" Of course there's nothing like waiting until the night submissions close. I am frantically editing using the critiques I got from the group and trying to meet deadline that is just seconds away. The Zombie muse breathing down my neck, "It's fine! Just submit the d*** story!!!" Less than fifteen minutes later, my story was accepted!

What was your favorite part of writing the story?

Crafting words into a well written story is always my favorite part of any story. When I do write zombie fiction, I try to put a different spin on the zombie world besides the "must eat brains" mentality.

Do you like zombie tales? Why or why not?

I don't go out of my way to read zombie fiction, but I will give it a fair shot once in a while. Piers Anthony wrote an interesting novel involving the Zombie King trying to find a wife that was pretty good. A lot of the zombie fiction I've read seems to dwell too much on the violent aspect of the Zombie world. I'm more into Greg Bear, Joan Vinge, or Robert Jordan's fiction. My all time favorite book is Kiln People by David Brin.

What else do you write?

I am the editor for my church's bi-monthly newsletter as well as being an online instructor for contemporary communication. Grading papers has taken away more of my writing time than I had ever expected. But when I find time to write, I focus on short speculative fiction every chance I get with the great prompts from our writing group's moderator, Michael Kechula. He and the group have spearheaded my confidence as a speculative fiction writer. As a direct result of their help and feedback, my list of publications continues to grow!

Zombie Cookbook: Featured Chef Lisa Haselton

2009-10-08T01:36:00.000-07:00

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Lisa Haselton bring culinary assassination to the Zombie Cookbook with her story, "The Secret Ingredient."

Mystery lover at heart, Lisa's writing was influenced by Stephen King at an impressionable age. She enjoys writing flash and short horror, as well as mystery and other genre pieces. Her fiction has been published in Mysterical-E, The Fiction Flyer, Pen Pricks Micro Fiction, and Flashshot. Lisa's first historical time-travel romance was published in June by Red Rose Publishing under a pseudonym. She's a full-time independent editor and freelance writer. There's nothing more satisfying than playing with words. Lisa Haselton has been writing since her youth. She's written in many genres including horror, mystery, and fantasy, and has several short stories published. Some stories have won or placed in contests. Words are like oxygen to her; she needs to write every day. She hopes her stories are as enjoyable for others to read as they are for her to create. She loves creating a perfectly good world and then twisting it out of proportion.

Why did you write this story?

I wanted to write a story to go with the poem “A Zombie Named Clete”. The poem came to me in a rush, and I thought it would be great to have a story to go with it. It took me quite a while to decide on the setting for the short story which turned into “Secret Ingredient”, but once I figured out the setting, the story developed for me.

What was your favorite part of writing the story?

Doing a little bit of research on zombies so my story would be based with zombie ‘facts’.

Do you like zombie tales? Why or why not? – in general I’m more of a vampire and werewolf person, but I like to try new subjects, and when the zombie one came along I thought I’d give it a shot.

What else do you write?

I write a lot of mysteries and horror. I was definitely influenced by Stephen King. I can be writing a happy-go-lucky story and then it’ll twist into something I never expected. I love that part of the process – when the story takes off and I’m along for the ride instead of trying to figure out the roadmap.

Where can we find you online?
I can be found at http://www.myspace.com/lisahaselton and http://lisahaselton.tripod.com

Is there anything in your story based upon a real life event? If so, tell us about it. – The setting is based a bit on a WY dude ranch I spent some time at this year. I liked the idea of having a ranch because it is set off from the general population. Serving meals and having a non-meat-eating zombie who loved to cook just made me giggle, so I had to work with it.

When did you first know you wanted to be a writer?

Since my very first journal when I was a young girl. I have always enjoyed reading and exploring (I grew up with very few neighbors and lots of land to explore), and I’d make up stories as I was out in the woods. There is a long family history with my home and so I tried to imagine what other generations experienced on the same property. My mind has always been awhirl with stories. I have to write to get them out and make room for new stories.

Have you ever written something that you’re afraid to let other people read? Why?

Absolutely. My dark side scares me at times. I have a couple of stories that I’m not sure anyone will ever see.

What is the toughest part about being a writer and how do you get past it?

The toughest part for me is deciding when a piece has had enough editing. Deciding when it is as good as I intended it to be. I get past it by eventually telling myself to stop editing and move on to my next piece. I believe I average about 5 rewrites for short stories now. It’d be so easy to keep tweaking and changing and rewriting.

About the rest of the contributors:

Kim Richards, Editor: Co-founder and CEO of Damnation Books, she's also on staff for Writer's Chatroom www.writerschatroom.com; writes columns for Myshelf.com and Writers and Readers of Distinctive Fiction; and blogs at The Write Brigade bi-monthly. Her website featuring her own writing is at http://www.kim-richards.com. Becca Butcher: Becca Butcher lives in western North Carolina with several family members who frequently give her strange looks. She can be found scribbling into a notepad while working the day job, singing loudly with the radio while driving, or online both writing and flirting, for research purposes of course. Becca writes fantasy, humor, romance, erotica and personal blogs on everything from writing to relationships. More info can be found at http://beccabutcher.blogspot.com, http://www.facebook.com/writerbecca and www.myspace.com/beccasmagicpencil.

Carla Girtman: Featured Oct 9.

Cinsearae Santiago, contributor and cover artist: A digital artist and still-photographer, Ms. Santiago is Editor/Publisher of Dark Gothic Resurrected Magazine--a 2nd place finalist in the Preditors & Editors Readers Poll for 2008--having created this publication to give new and unpublished writers and artists of the genre a chance to shine and see their names in print, preferring unique, edgy stories that are out-of-the-box. She also received the Author's Site of Excellence Award in December 2007 from P & E, and is a Cover Artist for Damnation Books. She is also author of the dark, paranormal romance series, "Abraxas", found here: http://bloodtouch.webs.com/abraxas.htm. An avid fan of 'old school' horror movies (Freddy, Jason, Michael, Pinhead, etc.), Halloween is her favorite time of the year. She attended Community College of Philadelphia, majoring in English, with interests in creative writing and Theater. Ms. Santiago enjoys the Vampire/Goth scene and can be found haunting Philadelphia's "Dracula's Ball" from time to time, or roaming cemeteries and state parks. She has always been drawn to the flipside of life--the supernatural, odd, bizarre, Gothic, and 'darkly beautiful' always being an inspiration to her. She can be reached through her website, http://Bloodtouch.webs.com. She did the awesome cover for The Zombie Cookbook!

Dawn Marshallsay: Dawn is a vegetarian writer, journalist and artist, whose fascination with zombies began after watching Night of the Living Dead as a child. She draws inspiration from natural beauty and decay in her local Kentish woodland. Find out more at http://www.myspace.com/484164002

George Silliman, artist: George is a 36 year old self taught artist living in New York. His specialty is horror. He confesses to having an endless passion for drawing and painting and is willing to try anything that allows him to experiment and further his boundaries. George's fondness of horror influences every piece of his work. "Imagination is the key to a great horror illo." George currently is on the art staff of DAMNATION BOOKS and his artwork has also been published in such magazines as RAZAR, Black Petals, The Corpse, Writers post Journal, 'Opinions' Magazine, Hoodz and Kopfhalter. He has also had his works appear on the website REVOLUTION SCI FI. George also does private commissions and frequently sells finished pieces. http://georgesilliman.daportfolio.com/

Karina Fabian: Karina Fabian suffers from an overdeveloped sense of humor and a twisted imagination. Little wonder, then, that she enjoys writing quirky stories for anthologies like Zombie Cookbook. In addition, she writes novels about a dragon detective working in the Mundane world. People have been warned not to read her DragonEye, PI, stories and books in the library. When she's feeling more serious, she writes and edits faith-filled science fiction and fantasy. Visit her website at http://www.fabianspace.com. Check out DragonEye at http://www.dragoneyepi.net. (Twitter: @karinafabian Facebook: Karina.Fabian)

Kate Sender: Kate Sender wrote her first short story as a child in response to her dad's encouraging challenge; that if she really wanted something, and worked hard for it, she was bound to attain her dreams. She sharpened her pencil with prose and poetry until, decades later, she realized one dream with publication in Falling Star Magazine. Encouraged now by the writing community where she is a moderator and monthly editor of Mystery and Horror Newsletters, Writing.Com, and the versatile, creative authors at Writerspace.Com, Kate continues the journey prosaic and poetic. While realizing her other dream, of being the first mortal female starship commander, required more math than she cared to master, she never lost her desire to explore physical and ephemeral wonders. Her stories and poetry are inspired by the natural world in its myriad manifestations, obvious to the discerning writer's eye.

Lin Neiswender: Featured Oct 10.

Scott Virtes: Scott Virtes has had over 400 stories & poems published since 1986. His works have appeared in Nature (June 2009), Analog (July/Aug 2007, Jan 1997), Space & Time, Ideomancer, Star*Line, Cafe Irreal, Illumen, and many more. He has two story collections and 5 poetry chapbooks available. You can watch him die in "Master and Commander", but he's okay now. Home page: http://scott.virtes.com

The Zombie Cookbook: Yes, the band called The Zombie Cookbook. Hailing from Amsterdam, these five rockers love zombies as much as we do, so we're honored to have had them write our introduction. If you like metal music, they're online at: http://thezombiecookbook.blogspot.com/ http://www.myspace.com/thezombiecookbook Be sure to tell them Damnation Books sent you!

The Zombie Cookbook by Kim Richards

2009-10-04T10:25:00.000-07:00

For the next couple of days, I'll be touring The Zombie Cookbook, edited by Kim Richards. I have two stories in it: "Wokking Dead," where zombies invade a Korean restaurant, and "My Big, Fat, Zombie wedding."

Brain-Teasing Stories and Recipes to (un)Die For!

A Hard Message to Deliver by The Zombie Cookbook (the band): Who would have known writing an introduction would be so dangerous?

Wokking Dead by Karina L. Fabian: It's war and love when zombies invade a Korean restaurant.

Secret Ingredient by Lisa Haselton: There's a zombie in the kitchen! That may be the case, but when spaghetti-eating zombie Clete takes a job as the assistant chef at the L-Double-J ranch, he's not the one you need to watch out for. It's a tale of catering and culinary revenge. Would you have added the secret ingredient?

A Zombie Named Clete by Lisa Haselton: A little poem in honor of the twice-deceased Clete. Was this on his tombstone, or did he carry a copy in his pocket?

Beer-Battered Zombie with Butternut Squash by Becca Butcher: What's a cookbook without a recipe? Not for the faint of stomach, though with a few substitutions, it might actually make a good meal. (Not everyone's a fan of squash, after all.)

The Right Recipe By Lin Neiswender: Zombie culinary aficionados had better watch out! The zombies are not pleased to be eaten, as the editor of the Zombie Cookbookery Publications discovers in this tale of turnabout-is-fair-play.

Quick & Easy Zombie Pastie by Kate Sender: A no frills, four-ingredient full course meal will satisfy both your Zombie's cravings and nutritional needs.

Express Cuisine by Dawn Marshallsay: Zombie attack on a speeding train--is there really any escape? Fight, hide, jump--none of it can stop you from becoming...Express Cuisine.

Brain Food by Carla Girtman: Ah, domestic zombie bliss! It's the Undead Cleavers mixed in with a little Arsenic and Old Lace. Can't tell you much about this story except that the ending will surprise you as much as it did Thelma!

Brain Salad for Dummies by Scott Virtes: The practical guide for that zombie invasion. Your own little zombie poison recipe, combined with practical advice. As Scott says--Follow his advice and you might get enough sleep at night to stay two steps ahead.

A Zombie's APB by Cinsearae Santiago: A zombie decides to give a "Hear ye, hear ye!" to the human race after getting fed up with the lack of "good food" these days. All he wants is some good, organic humans--is that too much to ask?

My Big Fat Zombie Wedding by Karina Fabian: So what if he's undead? That won't keep Vida from marrying her true love--and neither will challenges from prejudice to unusual dietary needs stop the wedding of the decade!

It's the Zombie Cookbook Virtual Book tour!

Check out the invasion schedule:

October 5 Virtual Book Tour de Net www.virtualbooktourdenet.blogspot.com info + tour schedule

October 5 Midlist Writer http://www.midlistwriter.blogspot.com review

October 5 It Came From Ryan's Brain; Goodreads http://theorangemonkey.livejournal.com/ review

October 5 Goodreads http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1341280.Ryan_Harron review

October 6 New Book News http://doylebooks.blogspot.com/ information

October One Writer's Journey http://pennylockwoodehrenkranz.blogspot.com/ review

October 7 Unwriter http://unwriter1.wordpress.com/ review, interview

October 7 One Writer's Journey http://pennylockwoodehrenkranz.blogspot.com/ interviews

October 8 Virtual Book Tour de Net www.virtualbooktourdenet.blogspot.com interviews

October 8 Joyce Anthony information http://joyce-anthony.blogspot.com/

October 9 The Writer Apprentice http://novaham.blogspot.com/ Interviews

October 9 Lily's News, Reviews and Interviews http://lilyauthor.blogspot.com/ interviews +

October 9, 10, 11 The Writer Apprentice http://novaham.blogspot.com/ interview of ZC authors

October 9, 10 Joyce Anthony interview http://joyce-anthony.blogspot.com/

October 11 Joyce Anthony review http://joyce-anthony.blogspot.com/

October 12 Word of Fennatia http://www.worldofenantia.com/musesblock review

October 12 Virtual Book Tour de Net www.virtualbooktourdenet.blogspot.com review

October 12 Yes We Can! http://kbaccellia.livejournal.com/ interview

October 1: If You Give a Girl a Pen http://giveagirlapen.com/ Guest blog

October14 Chelle Cordero's XANGA Blog http://cce613.xanga.com/ Interview with Kim Richards

October 14 The Writers Chat Room http://www.writerschatroom.com/blog.htm guest blog

October 14, 8-11 pm Eastern: The Writers Chat Room http://www.writerschatroom.com/Enter.htm join the chat to talk about writing for anthologies

October 15 Kim Richard's Blogs http://kim-richards.livejournal.com/

http://www.myspace.com/kim_richards

http://kim-richards.blogspot.com/

October 17: If You Give a Girl a Pen http://giveagirlapen.com/ Review and Interview

October 17: Trent Kinsey http://www.trentkinsey.com/ Review

October 18 Rites of Romance Reviews http://rorreviews.wordpress.com/ information, reviews

October19 Chelle Cordero's XANGA blog http://cce613.xanga.com/ book promo

October 20 Virtual Book Tour de Net www.virtualbooktourdenet.blogspot.com wrap-up of reviews

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It's Not About Him by Michelle Sutton

2009-10-01T03:59:00.000-07:00

When Susie discovers she is pregnant, she has no idea who the father is. She considers having an abortion, but decides to place her baby for adoption instead. Following through ends up being more wrenching than she'd imagined, but she's determined to do the right thing for her baby.

Interview With Michelle Sutton:

Is this a sequel to "It's Not About Me"?

Most definitely.

What can readers expect from this book?

Readers will participate in the emotional journey with Susie (the heroine) that parallels her decision to place her infant for adoption. Instead of having an abortion, she decides to have her baby but knows she can't take care of it. So she does an open adoption. Most people are only familiar with closed adoptions. This story is about a covenant agreement between the birth mother and adoptive family and the way and open adoption (done correctly) should look. This is an option that more teens could take if they were aware it existed.

What's your favorite scene?

My favorite scene is probably the one where Tony approaches Jeff (hero) the first time about his desire to be intimate with his girlfriend and his emotional/physical struggle with doing the right thing. I love how these guys discuss the particulars. That was fun to write.

Who's your favorite character?

In every book it's Tony. I love him because he is real, he's honest, but he's also human and frustrating. He's fun to abuse, too. I admit it. But that makes him loveable to me because he is always searching and like St. Paul, he asks himself "Why do I do the things I don't want to do and not do the things I should?" Though in much of book one he's just an idiot, he does change over time, but still struggles like we all do.

What's next for you?

Coming in Sept 2010 is It's Not About Her, the final book in the series. This is Tony's story, and in my opinion (as well as several other people who have read it), the best book of the three. Why? Because you finally see the world from his perspective. Up until this book all you know about Tony is what other people hear and think about him. By this time readers really want to see Tony happy. I show how difficult that is to achieve for him, but how much more rewarding it is as well - because he worked so hard to get there.

Review of The Midnight Dancers by Regina Doman

2009-09-28T01:43:00.000-07:00

Synopsis:

When teenaged Rachel Durham finds a way that she and her eleven stepsisters can sneak out of their Chesapeake Bayside home after midnight, their troubled fundamentalist father enlists the help of Paul Fester, an ex-soldier and traveling juggler, to find out what the girls are up to. A modern retelling of Grimm's fairy tale "The Twelve Dancing Princesses."

Review:

Regina Doman has written a fun and exciting tale for teens and older. I very much enjoyed the book, and think it's the best of her series I've read thus far. I'm impressed how she can take an ancient fairy tale and put it into a modern setting. The demons and magic in these tales are things you'd find in everyday life--the good-looking guy who cares only for himself, or the secret passage that promised the magic of freedom from chores and strict parents. Iliked the characters a lot as well.

However, this is a book aimed at teens, so let me tell you my daughter's reaction. Amber 14, has little use for romance, loves Lord of the Rings and has no tolerance for the abusive relationship that masquerades for True Love in the Twilight series. She devoured this book in a couple of days. She thought Paul, the hero, was absolutely cool and wants to draw him. (She's an artist.) She was fully absorbed in the story and the adventure--and would want to discuss the book with me as she read.
Definitely, if you have teen girls, you should get Midnight Dancers for them.

The Fairy Tale Novels by Regina Doman

2009-09-24T00:20:00.000-07:00

*

If you want to escape with a good book, try these Catholic fairy tales retold by Regina Doman. The Shadow of the Bear, Black as Night, Waking Rose, and the latest book, The Midnight Dancers.

In these contemporary novels for teens and adults you'll find Fighting. Friars. Fire. Dwarves. Dragons. Princes. Priests. Knights. Nuns. Ninjas. Maidens. Miracles. Chases. Escapes. Rescues. Revenge. Torture. True love. All with Catholic characters and themes. The Fairy Tale Novels have sold over 15,000 copies and each title has made Lulu's Monthly Top 100 Sellers List. The third book, Waking Rose, is still on the Lulu All-Time Bestseller list.

If you're looking for romance and excitement without the twisted values so commonly found in contemporary fantasy, check out these adventures by Regina Doman.

See more and read sample chapters at www.fairytalenovels.com

Order at http://www.fairytalenovels.com/RetailOrders.cfm Or from Amazon:

CSFF Presents: The Vanishing Sculptor by Donita K. Paul

2009-09-21T00:15:00.000-07:00

Summary:

Tipper is a young emerlindian who’s responsible for the upkeep of her family’s estate during her sculptor father’s absence. Tipper soon discovers that her actions have unbalanced the whole foundation of her world, and she must act quickly to undo the calamitous threat. But how can she save her father and her world on her own?

The task is too huge for one person, so she gathers the help of some unlikely companions--including the nearly five-foot tall parrot Beccaroon--and eventually witnesses the loving care and miraculous resources of Wulder. Through Tipper’s breathtaking story, readers will discover the beauty of knowing and serving God.

Interview with Donita Paul:

1. Why did you write this story?

I wanted to explore more areas of the world I had created. I had the image of the grand parrot in my head and he demanded a story, but he wouldn’t fit in Amara, so we had to go to Chiril.

2. What was your favorite part to write?

The battle in the ballroom.

3. What was most difficult?

Getting started with the story. That's always the most difficult part for me. I stew for ages before the story gels and I can put it on paper.

4. What do you hope readers will get from it?

A perspective of how non-believers feel when they are confronted with the truth of the gospel. I have lots of missionary friends, and they've told me that the thoughts and feelings non-believers have when we evangelize are greatly overlooked. I want those emotions to be shown to the reader so that they can understand.

5. What's next for you?

I'm in the process of writing The Wandering Artist, the second book after the Vanishing Sculptor.
Also, two children's picture books will be published in 2010 an 2011 about a turtle and dragon who go on adventures. I wrote these with my daughter who has sons in the picture book age category.

This September I will be going to the annual ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers) conference. Attending the conference are agents, editors, authors, etc. I strongly encourage writers to connect with ACFW. The organization is an encouragement and a place of connection that gives practical help for writers to improve their skill, insight into our peculiar industry, and spiritual guidance for those who are weary in doing good. Being an author is tough. We need friends and councilors.

Featured book, The Vanishing Sculptor - http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1400073391

Donita Paul’s Web site - http://www.donitakpaul.com/
Donita Paul’s blog - http://dragonbloggin.blogspot.com/

*Participants’ Links:
Brandon Barr
Jim Black
Justin Boyer
Rachel Briard
Karri Compton
Amy Cruson
CSFF Blog Tour
Stacey Dale
D. G. D. Davidson
Jeff Draper
April Erwin
Karina Fabian
Linda Gilmore
Todd Michael Greene
Katie Hart
Ryan Heart
Becky Jesse
Cris Jesse
Jason Joyner
Julie
Carol Keen
Krystine Kercher
Dawn King
Rebecca LuElla Miller
Mirtika
Eve Nielsen (posting later in the week)
Nissa
John W. Otte
Lyn Perry
Crista Richey
Cheryl Russell
Chawna Schroeder
James Somers
Speculative Faith
Rachel Starr Thomson
Robert Treskillard
Steve Trower
Fred Warren
Dona Watson
Phyllis Wheeler
Elizabeth Williams
KM Wilsher

Review of Freedom by Matthew Pinto

2009-09-17T03:46:00.000-07:00

Summary:

God has revealed His mystery of love through the Word made flesh Theology of the Body. This phrase is not only the title of a series of talks by the late John Paul II, it represents the very logic of Christianity. The Theology of the Body calls us to encounter the living, Incarnate Christ and to ponder how His body reveals the meaning of our bodies. This is where God meets us: in the flesh. Therefore, the theology of the body is for every-body. And, as you ll see from the stories in Freedom: 12 Lives Transformed by the Theology of the Body, John Paul II s teaching appeals to all different kinds of people: married, single, consecrated celibates, professionals, stay-at-home moms. And, as this book also demonstrates, it s not just for Catholics either. It s for anyone hungry for the meaning of life. For, as the Pope said, the TOB affords the rediscovery of the meaning of the whole of existence, of the meaning of life. In Freedom, you will meet 12 people who, through the Theology of the Body have encountered Jesus Christ in the flesh, who offered the truth that set them free. Through their new-found freedom, these people have come to rediscover the meaning of their very existence. Many have had dramatic, life-altering experiences; others had buried truths, innate in all of us, awaken within them. All of them have discovered for themselves that the Theology of the Body answers the two most fundamental questions: 1) What does it mean to be human? 2) How do I live my life in a way that brings true happiness and fulfillment? These are questions we all long to find answers to, and the world offers no shortage of answers. But the longer we seek, the clearer we begin to see the best the world can offer are counterfeits that wound us, betray us and leave us wanting. Sadly, the truth of the Christ s teaching on sex is confirmed in the wounds of those who haven t lived it. Our longings for love, intimacy, and freedom are good, but the sexual revolution sold us a bill of goods that simply can not satisfy. We haven t been liberated - we ve been bound and trapped. But here s the Good News: if we read the signs of the times, we will realize the Theology of the Body is not a fad. God is doing something. A new sexual revolution is underway spreading slowly and quietly in human hearts that welcome the truth that this Polish Pope proclaimed about the human person. The predominant cultural ideology will collapse when enough men and women realize who they really are and to what bodily glory the en-fleshed God calls them to. The TOB revolution is beginning to take root in one person, one body at a time. The world is a mission field ready to soak up John Paul II s Theology of the Body, and it s already changing so many lives around the world. In Freedom, you ll meet 12 people who asked the same questions you have and are here to proclaim from the rooftops: This is what you ve been looking for all along! In Freedom, you will discover the power of the Theology of the Body in the lives of: A man who was liberated from his addiction to Internet pornography. A woman who, after suffering terrible abuse by her family, was freed from a life of poor self-esteem, eating disorders, and drug addiction. A young mother whose woundedness from past sexual sin and a teenage pregnancy was healed, allowing her to become the wife and mother her family needed. A priest who learned how to live his priesthood mystically united with Jesus, the divine Bridegroom. An evangelical Christian whose relationship with Christ was deepened by a new-found appreciation for the Incarnation.

Review:

I've not read John Paul II's Theology of the Body, but I've heard that it's a powerful work with the ability to transform lives. Freedom demonstrates this with twelve stories of people who found healing and new direction for their lives in the writings by one of the most insightful and beloved popes of all time. Here are testimonies of Catholics who found freedom from the pain of abortion, the shackles of abusive relationships, and society's philosophies on birth control. I wish I'd had this book many years ago; I might have learned things then that took me years of experience to understand. I recommend this book for Catholics and for Christians who want to be inspired by stories of those who came to understand God's plans for us and our human bodies.

The Sin of Addison Hall by Jeffrey Onorato

2009-09-07T04:00:00.000-07:00

Breaking the Mold of a Traditional Hero Results in a Gripping Tale of Fiction... First-time author soars with his spellbinding story of a man fighting with human nature... Residing in a country where beautiful people are considered superior, Addison Hall is an anomaly. A mildly repugnant man, he is forced by the twisted hierarchy of his dictator to live in less than adequate living situations. The days become increasingly arduous as he toils in an unpleasant job, stricken with the disappointment of his current situation. Besides the dark comedy of his disastrous attempts at romance and his friend s antics, Addison s life is fairly dull. Then he meets Otka, a beautiful woman who owns the local coffee shop. After witnessing a chance encounter where Addison risks his life to save the life of a dog, Otka takes an obvious interest in him. Addison is perplexed by her reciprocated intrigue. Past experiences with such a valued creature of the opposite sex has left him tainted and doubting her motives. Jeffrey Onorato sensationally draws us into his world of relatable characters and witty dialect. He victoriously shatters the conventions of the true-blue hero to create a story that has both depth and originality. The Sin of Addison Hall entrances the reader with delicious conflicts of human wanting and wavering uncertainty with an ending that will leave you begging for more.

An Interview With Jeffery:

Why did you write this book?

Because our society collectively is superficial. We celebrate (and therefore value) physical beauty over all other individual qualities and its not getting better, rather its getting worse. I believe dangerously so... We are beginning to devalue those citizens that don't "tickle our fancy" with their appearance and if the moral slide continues, it could have horrific consequences.

One's ability to gather and show-off their wealth is a close second (and the theme for my next novel).

What was the hardest part of writing it?

In a word, "re-writing". I revised The SIN of Addison Hall 5 times, paragraph by paragraph, over the past 3 years. For me the act of creating is a wonderfully fun process, the act of refining... not so much :)

Additionally "letting go" of my novel was difficult. It will never be perfect although it is what I strive for... even now, reading the finished version makes me cringe because there are so many things, miniscule details, that I would love to change.

What was the most fun?

Finishing the first draft and realizing that I had communicated, albeit clumsily, the story that had been ricocheting around my mind like a bee in a mason jar for 10 years. It was thrilling.

Why a dystopic world?
Because I believe that is what will accrue given time and warped values. I was careful not to create a fantastical society because it would denude my warning. By morphing our existing society into a familiar but dangerous one hopefully haunts my readers and causes them to re-evaluate their own value system.

What's next for you?
I have just completed a draft of a novel that explores what horrible choices an individual will make when they choose "mammon" as their god. Now the re-writes start...yikes!

Danger at the Door by Michelle Sutton

2009-09-03T03:52:00.000-07:00

Summary:

Upon her fiancé's death, Laney became a recluse who only left her home for emergencies. She managed to survive - barely - on food delivery service and her work-at-home job. When she tries to move on from her grief, the commemorative meal she orders is ruined. However, it leads to an unlikely friendship with an attractive man, Bojan, who speaks little English.

As he befriends Laney he continually says the wrong things, but he doesn't give up trying to win her trust. Meanwhile, she has this strange feeling of being watched and wonders if she's losing her mind.

Complicating things further, every time she leaves her house something bad happens, confirming that she is safer at home. Can Bojan convince Laney she'll be safe with him, or will his presence put her in further danger? Will he be able to protect the woman he loves before it's too late?

Interview With Michelle Sutton:

Why did you write this book?

This might sound crazy, but I'd been talking to my agent about writing a category romance and I was trying to think about what might be fun for me to write that wouldn't be too edgy. There was this handsome guy who worked at the KFC in my town who always said hi to me and I thought about how it would be fun to write a story about a guy who worked in a restaurant but actually owned the restaurant even though he seemed like a regular employee. Then I thought it would be fun to hook him up somehow with a gal who seemed rich even though she wasn't wealthy but just had a nice house she inherited but couldn't afford. So he thinks she is rich, she thinks he is poor. That's where it started. Then when I actually started writing the book I decided to make English his second language but decided Spanish is too easy and wanted something that even had a different alphabet. I decided to go with Macedonian because I met someone briefly who I thought would make a great hero. I had a writer friend who lived in NYC who was Albanian and she spoke/wrote Albanian, English, Greek, and Macedonian. So I basically wrote the story and consulted with her on the particulars. It was fun to write. There will be a sequel called In Plain Sight that is about the hero's sister. That will release in April 2010.

What was hardest about writing it?

The hardest part was waiting for my friend to write me back. She worked full-time like I did so there would be a delay sometimes in getting my chapters back.

What was the most fun?

The most fun besides writing the English blunders was writing the scenes with the Chihuahuas. You have to read the book to find out why. Hilarious!

What do you hope readers get from it?

I hope readers will learn to overcome some of their fears as the heroine has a fear of leaving her house and getting in a car accident. Ironically, while writing this story, I met two different people who said they were afraid to leave their house. That must have been providence because that helped me, too, with my characterization.

What about thrillers and romance appeals to you as a writer?

I like romance because I love romantic tension between men and women. I love reading it and enjoy writing it. I don't much like thrillers unless there is more than just a bunch of chase scenes. I like meat in the story. Something that makes the characters think about their lives and what they are living for. That is stuff I enjoy reading and writing. Simple thrillers do nothing for me.

Available on Amazon or click here.

Review of The Knight by Steven James

2009-08-31T01:00:00.000-07:00

Steven James has written another compelling thriller with The Knight. I'm again amazed at his ability to weave together such complex tapestry of facts and events without confusing the reader but keeping them guessing until the end.

I'd been warned that The Knight is a darker book than his previous ones, and half-expected that I might not be able to finish it. (My imagination is too active, and I have tossed out books by some best-selling authors because they are too sick.) However, James manages to write about a truly sick, sociopathic killer and some hideous crimes without making me feel personally soiled by the images. (Although, I must admit, the snakes freaked me out, but that's a personal issue.) Don't get me wrong--I was on the edge of my seat at times, and Giovanni (the murderer) made my skin crawl, especially when he was remembering his grandmother's murder. This is an engaging book.

I've enjoyed learning more about the characters, especially the relationship between Patrick and his stepdaughter, Tessa. The warmth, the humor, the fumbling attempts to do the right thing. As a mom of teens, I want to shout advice to poor Patrick, but the whole relationship is very believable--and very touching. This time, Patrick handles some tough issues, and I admire his resolutions. No, no spoilers--go read the book.

In fact, go out and get your copy--or order it by clicking on the Amazon link. This is a terrific thriller, a solid mystery, and a great story.

The Knight by Steven James

2009-08-27T04:00:00.000-07:00

The stakes have never been higher. FBI Agent Patrick Bowers is used to tracking the country's most dangerous killers, but now it looks like a killer is tracking him. When he realizes the murderer is using clues from a medieval manuscript as a blueprint for his crimes, Bowers faces a race against time to decipher who the next victim will be and to stop the final shocking murder--which he's beginning to believe might be his own.

A word of caution: This book is considered "gritty, chilling and intense." It contains graphic descriptions of disturbing crime scenes. While not for the faint of heart, the series has been described as "suspense thriller writing at its highest level" and is likely to keep you up all night.

Steven's Website: http://www.stevenjames.net/

Interview with Steven:

1. Tell us a little about the series.

Patrick Bowers, an FBI criminologist who uses cutting-edge 21st century investigative techniques, tracks a variety of killers, arsonists, cult leaders and criminal masterminds. The novels are suspenseful and filled with high-octane action. I’ve loved working on the series and hearing from the growing fan base about how they’ve grown close to the characters, especially Patrick’s stepdaughter, Tessa.

2. What do you enjoy about writing these books?

Well, I’m not sure my wife appreciates the long hours I have to put in! At least she’s been very supportive over the years. Peraonally, I enjoy the challenge of coming up with complex plots. Each book feels like putting together 125,000 word puzzle. It takes me nearly a year, but in the end, it’s worth it. I think.

3. Does any part of the story, character or subject disturb you? How do you work through that,if so?

When writing from the point-of-view of the sadistic serial killers, it can be a bit troubling. All right, more than “a bit.” For instance, last summer, the killer from The Knight began to give me nightmares and I had to put the book aside and finish writing a prayer book I’ve been working on. (It’s called A Heart Exposed, and will be released later this fall.)

4. What reaction do you hope readers get from this book?

Two things. First, as a Christian, I have a strong belief in the reality of both good and evil, in the dignity of life and the tragedy of death. So, when I present evil, I want it to be disturbing rather than alluring. I want to bring humanity to the characters so that when someone is killed, it matters. That’s the way it is in real life and I want my fiction to reflect that.

Second, I write with a moral question in mind that drives the story. Typically, it’s a moral dilemma like “What’s more important, truth or justice?” I would like readers to spend time thinking about these questions that ultimately matter. The novels present hope as real and available from God, and of course I would like my readers to discover that as well.

5. What's next? The Bishop? The Queen? Checkmate?

The Bishop will release summer of 2010. We’re planning four more books after The Bishop: The Queen, The King, Checkmate, and then a prequel entitled Opening Moves, so I guess Patrick Bowers and his stepdaughter Tessa will be around for awhile! By the way, readers can find out more about the series at www.patrickbowers.com

Available August 2009 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

Bleeder by John Desjarlais

2009-08-24T06:00:00.000-07:00

When classics professor Reed Stubblefield is disabled in a school shooting, he retreats to a rural Illinois cabin to recover and to write a book on Aristotle in peace. Oddly, in the chill of early March, the campgrounds and motels of tiny River Falls are filled with the ill and infirm -- all seeking the healing touch of the town’s new parish priest, reputed to be a stigmatic. Skeptical about religion since his wife’s death from leukemia, Reed is nevertheless drawn into a friendship with the cleric, Rev. Ray Boudreau, an amiable Aquinas scholar with a fine library -- who collapses and bleeds to death on Good Friday in front of horrified parishioners. A miracle? Or bloody murder? Once Reed becomes the prime suspect in the mysterious death, he seeks the truth with the help of an attractive local reporter and Aristotle’s logic before he is arrested or killed -- because not everyone in town wants this mystery solved...

Interview with John Desjarlais:

1. Why did you write this book?

I’d been writing historical novels and wanted to try a contemporary mystery since I’ve always enjoyed reading them. But I wanted it to explore ‘higher mysteries’ of faith, love, suffering, and healing.

2. What was hardest to write about this book?

There were many more challenges with a mystery than there were with my historicals. You’d think the research would be daunting for an historical novel – and it is. But for this mystery, I had to do all sorts of research into professional areas I knew little about: blood diseases like leukemia and other medical material, poisons, police interrogation and investigative procedure, Catholic liturgy and theology of suffering. Everything must be completely authentic. Then there was the challenge of plotting a coherent and credible whodunit by following most of the time-honored ‘rules’ for the genre that readers expect you to follow. Then there was the fact that the identity of the killer was kept secret from me for a long time. The characters I suspected at first didn’t do it. That was a surprise.

3. What did you enjoy writing the most?

The End. Seriously, the ending where everything pulls together. It’s a shocker.

4. What do you hope folks will get from this book?

A sense of hope – that there can be significance in suffering. This will be poignant for Christians who can identify closely with the Man of Sorrows who is acquainted with grief. Catholics in particular have a strong theology about this, in uniting their suffering to Christ’s own Passion. At the same time, I hope readers enjoy the story and the puzzle aspect of it.

5. What's next for you?

I’m at work on the sequel that features a minor character from the first book as the protagonist. Latina insurance agent Selena De La Cruz learns her name has been written in a Catholic church’s All Souls Day ‘Book of the Deceased’ along with several other names – dope dealers who are being killed one by one in the order they appear in the book. Selena must work against time, the suspicions of her own Latino community, and the prejudices of a small town to help police find the killer before her turn comes up. The story will have a rich backdrop of Aztec mythology and Mexican Catholicism, and I’m doing lots of research on drug gangs, DEA operations, and venomous snakes. Oh, and guns. And fixing up vintage cars (Selena drives a ’69 Dodge Charger; she got it from her brother Antonio who was killed in a motor pool accident in Germany while on duty there with the Army and – well, I could go on).

More about John at: http://www.johndesjarlais.com

CSFF Presents: Offworld by Robin Parish

2009-08-19T06:06:00.000-07:00

Christopher Burke and his crew of NASA astronauts are the first human beings to walk on the surface of Mars. Their return to Earth was supposed to be a momentous day. But a surprise is waiting for them there that's beyond imagining.

Safe after a treacherous landing in Florida, the crew emerges to find the unthinkable: every man, woman, child, and animal has vanished without a trace.

Read the First Chapter Here

Learn more at these participants’ links:

Brandon Barr
Jim Black
Justin Boyer
Keanan Brand
Gina Burgess
Canadianladybug
Melissa Carswell
Valerie Comer
Karri Compton
Amy Cruson
CSFF Blog Tour
Stacey Dale
D. G. D. Davidson
Jeff Draper
April Erwin
Karina Fabian
Linda Gilmore
Beth Goddard
Todd Michael Greene
Katie Hart
Ryan Heart
Becky Jesse
Cris Jesse
Jason Joyner
Julie
Carol Keen
Krystine Kercher
Dawn King
Melissa Meeks
Rebecca LuElla Miller
Mirtika
Eve Nielsen (posting later in the week)
Nissa
John W. Otte
Lyn Perry
Steve Rice
Chawna Schroeder
James Somers
Speculative Faith
Stephanie
Rachel Starr Thomson
Steve Trower
Fred Warren
Dona Watson
Elizabeth Williams

Bookkeeping Basics for Freelance Writers by Brigitte A. Thompson

2009-08-13T04:00:00.000-07:00

(Note: Brigitte kindly supplied this interview, which contains the synopsis as well as some great insights.)

Tell us what Bookkeeping Basics for Freelance Writers is about.

Writers have many important questions to ask about income and expenses, but no single source for answers. I created this book, Bookkeeping Basics for Freelance Writers, to be that source. It is an easy-to-understand guide to organizing a writer’s financial life.

This book addresses issues writers face daily such as how to deduct travel expenses, determine taxable writing income, and claim home office deductions. Navigating through the recordkeeping required for a small business owner can be difficult. This book is written exclusively for those of us who earn money by writing.

Readers will also find that each part of this book works together to assist in forming an overall business plan. The chapters take the writer through a comprehensive process that works as a building block towards a successful writing business.

Have you found that freelance writers require a different set of bookkeeping rules?

Many bookkeeping rules are universal such as the requirement to record income, but there are some areas of the tax law that are of more interest to freelance writers. This includes dealing with royalty payments, bartering, personal property and agent fees. My book addresses the universal tax rules as well as the infrequently discussed rules that apply specifically to freelance writers.

Learning how to document expenses and how to track income will give writers the best chance at overall business success.

What are some tax deductions that freelance writers might not be aware of?

There are many tax deductions available to writers. Some expenses are common, such as the cost of purchasing a case of paper or paying for a computer software upgrade. Other costs incurred in the operation of your writing business may not jump out at you as expenses when they could be. For example, consider the following accounts.

Mileage: Trips made in your vehicle to pick up office supplies can be counted as a business deduction if you record the proper information to support it.

Meals: Treating your agent to a restaurant meal with the discussion focusing on your next book can also generate a tax deduction when properly documented.

Shipping: UPS charges and postage used to mail a query or review copy of your book can be a small expense, but it should still be tracked. Those small deductions add up and every penny spent as a qualified business expense will reduce the amount of income tax you owe.

Bookkeeping Basics for Freelance Writers devotes an entire chapter to expenses including a comprehensive listing of expenses and detailed information regarding what documentation is required to support each one.

I'm sure you've observed other freelance writers making accounting missteps that cost them time and money. What are some of the most common issues and how can we avoid them?

The most common misstep I’ve seen with writers is not taking themselves seriously as business owners. This can lead to financial pitfalls. Many writers have been honing their craft for years so it’s hard to identify an official starting date for their self-employment. Without this point to mark the beginning, it is easy to put off tracking income and expenses. This can be an unfortunate mistake.

The IRS will consider you to be in business when you are actively pursuing projects intended to generate income and expenses. This means they will expect you to file a tax return to report those transactions. Keeping track of your income and expenses from day one will enable you to pay the least amount of income taxes on the money you earn.

Many people find numbers, especially when related to bookkeeping and taxes, intimidating. Will this book make these things easier to understand"?

Yes, my book breaks down complicated number crunching into easy to follow steps. By reading the book, readers will understand why it's important to keep certain receipts and how those pieces of paper factor into the overall success of their writing business. Sometimes knowing the reasoning behind a task makes it easier to complete.

Writers can take advantage of some wonderful tax deductions, but only when they are aware of the possibility and know how to accurately document the expenses. My book explains it all in a reader friendly format.

What are some of the challenges readers face with regards to bookkeeping?

I found the most common challenge writers face revolves around what they can claim as income and what counts as a tax deduction. For example, if their first job is writing the school newsletter, is the money received really income? Do they need to do something with the Internal Revenue Service before they can be considered a business? How do they handle self- employment tax?

The second most common concern for the freelance writers is related to proper documentation. What receipts did they need to save? How should they be kept? What information needs to be recorded to prove the expense?

These are all great questions and they are addressed in the book.
Why is it important for writers to understand bookkeeping?

Writers are earning money and this money needs to be reported as income on their income tax return. If writers do not have any expenses to claim, their taxable income will be higher and they will owe more income tax.

Understanding what can be claimed as business expenses when you are a writer and how to properly document these expenses will help ensure the success of your business.

The most important thing you can do as a writer is to become organized. There are many books available on how to organize your writing, but this is the best book available about how to organize the financial side of your writing business.

Obviously, your book is a great place for writers to get information on bookkeeping. Are there are any other resources you recommend?

Yes, I recommend writers visit the IRS web site (www.irs.gov) to research specific tax issues and the Small Business Administration (www.sbaonline.sba.gov) for general business information.

I also recommend joining professional associations for writers such as American Society of Journalists and Authors (www.asja.org), The Authors Guild (www.authorsguild.org) and National Writers Union (www.nwu.org). There are many groups to choose from so consider the benefits of membership before joining.

I was interviewed recently by Freelance Success (http://www.FreelanceSuccess.com) which offers an insightful newsletter for their members. There are also online groups for writers such as MomWriters (http://www.MomWriters.com) offering networking opportunities as well as camaraderie.

How can we purchase your book?

Bookkeeping Basics for Freelance Writers is available through Amazon.com and my publisher (www.CrystalPress.org). Any local bookstore can order my book by ISBN-10: 0963212389 or ISBN-13: 978-0963212382. List price is $17.95.

Cling to Hope with Joy: Messages from Scripture by Janet Klasson

2009-08-10T04:00:00.000-07:00

Cling to Hope with Joy: Messages from Scripture is a dialogue with the living God of Scripture. In these excerpts from the author's Scriptural prayer journal, the voice of God speaks to the reader's heart. Through words of love, hope, joy, encouragement, correction, and consolation the reader feels drawn into the heart of God, the Breath of Love. These powerful messages are intimate, profound, and prophetic. In these reflections, the Word becomes flesh once again and dwells among us. He is near and He brings a message for our time: Cling to hope with joy!

Janet Klasson is a freelance writer and regular contributor to the newsletter of the Brothers and Sisters of Penance of St. Francis. In over eleven years of practicing prayerful lectio divina, she has come to know in a personal way the Word made flesh. By being open to the still, small voice of the Spirit, she has been given a pearl of great price—a collection of reflections and teachings that have helped her navigate through the treacherous waters of this age. Through a series of excerpts from the Pelianito Journal, readers are invited to draw near to the Beloved, who is "as near to you as your own breath." Come and see.

All proceeds from the sale of this book go to Ephphatha House, a retreat center in the Archdiocese of Edmonton, Canada, which features a perpetual adoration chapel. Ephphatha House will be the main distributor for the book in Canada.

U.S. orders may be placed through www.lulu.com. U.S. $10.00/Canada $12.00. For more information or to contact the author, please visit www.goldleafword.com.

An Interview with Janet:

Why did you write this book?

“'I have neither silver nor gold, but what I do have I give you.' (Acts 3:6)

For several years, I have been practicing lectio divina and keeping a Scriptural prayer journal. In remaining open to the still, small voice of the Spirit, I have been given a pearl of great price—a beautiful dialogue with the living God of Scripture. Almost from the beginning, I felt that the messages in my journal were not for me alone. And since many of them were written during a time of personal trial, they translate very well into this age of uncertainty and global instability. Indeed, there is a providential timeliness to them. Some of the messages speak about a time of trial for the world, one which is seems now to be well underway. I feel our Lord's purpose in revealing such things is not to instill fear, or even to predict future events, but to build hope and trust in the God who is with us to the end of the age.

What was the best part of writing this?

The best part of writing this book was walking with our Lord on the road to Emmaus and having Scripture opened to me. Scripture tells us that the disciples who met Jesus on the road to Emmaus recognized him in the breaking of the bread. In my experience, Scripture became the bread, broken through the reflections to reveal the Lord and to draw me into a deeper relationship with him. It is my great joy now to be able to share this bread, and through it I hope that many others will also come to recognize Jesus in the breaking of the bread.

What was hardest?

When you agree to follow Jesus, it shouldn't come as a surprise when he hands you a cross. The hardest part for me is making public something so deeply personal. My instinct is to hide my light under a bushel basket, to take no risks. But Jesus tells us to set our light on a lamp stand where it will give light to the whole house. He doesn't give us gifts for our own secret pleasure, but for the building up of his Body, the Church. In answering the call to publish my journal, I had to pray for the courage to answer, “Here I am, Lord, send me.”

What do you hope readers will get from this book?

Simply put—hope, that spring of living water whose source is the heart of Christ, the hope that no earthly trial can take away. When times are bad, people ask, “Where is God?” This book answers, “He is as near to you as your own breath. Cling to hope with joy.” That is the essence of the Good News.

What's next for you?

I am now working on getting more of my journal into print. This book is a very small sampling, bits and sips from the past eleven years. There is much more to share, many more pages of the beautiful words of love and encouragement that have helped me to navigate the treacherous waters of the age. I pray that God's will alone may be done in this project and in all things.

the Window to My Soul by Tannia Ortiz-Lopes

2009-08-06T04:02:00.000-07:00

The Window to my soul, My Walk with Jesus, is a remarkable and unique book of inspirational poetic prayers and meditations. The book is the author’s profession of her love for Jesus and of thanks to God for the many gifts and talents that He has given her. It also expresses her deep gratitude for God's sending His only begotten Son to die for her sins and allowing her and many more to find peace in Christ and an open door back to heaven. It is a total surrender to the teachings and guidance of the Holy Spirit during the study of the Scriptures. These poetic prayers and reflections are the author's way of pouring out her heart and soul while meditating on God's Word and the marvellous daily miracles in her life.

In March 2006, the book was voted “Best Poetry Book” by www.christianstoryteller.com

The book can be purchased directly from the publisher at www.tatepublishing.com, or from Amazon.

An Interview With Tannia:

Why did you write this book?

In 2003 I had a very vivid dream in which I was confronted with two realities: I was unprepared to die and the thought of this lack of preparation frightened me to my bones. In order to check my self-worth and seek some internal peace, I attended a silent spiritual retreat. Those who know me well always laugh at this, because I talk even on my sleep. The attendees were only allowed to speak during our evening meals. In one of those evenings, I shared two of my poems with another woman. She commented I should consider publishing them. The next day I asked my assigned spiritual director at the retreat house and she told me the same thing. The next week when I met with Fr. Bill, my permanent spiritual director, he shared the sentiment of those two persons. So I looked up at heaven and said: ''Ok, God. I got the message. You want me to publish them.'' On July 2004 my book, The Window to my Soul; My walk with Jesus was published by Tate Publishing.

What is your favorite part of it?

This question is hard to answer. The book is divided in four sections: A New Beginning, Walking a Mile with Job and then some... (Job 1-17), Reflections while walking with God and Jesus, and Through the Darkness. Each section is a reflection of my spiritual growth, my doubts, my victories, praises, and thanksgiving for God's blessings in my life. However, if I have to pick one poem, then I would choose: ''Who am I?'' This poem is the summary of my trials and triumphs. It is also the poem that most readers seem to identify themselves with. It is a poem that applies to all of us because it ponders over the never answered question, ''Who am I?''

What was hardest to write about it?

The hardest was the selection of the reflections and poems for the book and their edits. Some poems were very hard to reread and to write since they brought back those emotions that inspired them. Some of them were praises and joy for God's blessings in my life. Others had a darker tone since they echoed my uncertainty about God's will to my life. My calling was strong and my overwhelming respond to Jesus is still very vivid in my memory. I wondered in the wilderness for 40 years and then one day Jesus said: ''Enough! This one is coming back to the flock.'' He wanted to call my attention and he did in a very effective way. He used His tough love strategy and it worked! I am just glad that He never gave up on me.

What do you hope readers get from it?

It is my hope and desire that the reader gets a better better understanding of Jesus' unconditional love for each one of us. He is watching over us and waits patiently for us to come to His tender, loving arms to rest. All meditations, reflections, and poems are written in a very personal and intimate tone. The reader will be able to see through the window to my soul; my walk with Jesus. Most of the comments I have heard are: ''I was unable to put it down.'' ''I keep it at my night table and read it before I go to bed.'' ''Every time I read it, I get a new meaning to the reflection I read.'' I considered those comments from different readers very encouraging. Most of the readers who have been touched by my book are women. However, a couple of men have also commented on the depth of its message.

What's next for you?

I am currently working with the Spanish version of this book. This time, I chose the print-on-demand (POD) provider, Pleasant Word, to produce the book. I am very pleased with my choice. The Spanish title is El Espejo de mi Alma. This book will be published with my name and not the pen name of Mary Magdalene used for the English publication. In addition to writing inspirational poetry and meditations, I also write book reviews for www.catholicfiction.net and I recently joined the Thomas Nelson's book review blogers program.

However, my most ambitious project is the writing of a book in German regarding WWII. The book is based on eye witnesses account of Germans who survived the war and their experiences during that dark time in Germany's history. This book is scheduled for publication in 2012, if it is God's will.

Virtual Vice by Jason Kays

2009-08-03T04:00:00.000-07:00

In Virtual Vice by Jason Kays, readers follow disillusioned entertainment attorney Ian McKenzie as his professional life takes a decided turn for the questionable when he is hired by the charismatic and dangerous Scott White to represent Scott’s interests in his cutting edge Internet startup, Metropoleis Multimedia. Unfortunately for Ian, Scott has more in common with Scarface’s Tony Montana than Apple’s Steve Jobs, and things go from questionable to deadly in no time flat. As Scott’s confidant and consigliore, Ian soon finds himself caught between the Feds, La Cosa Nostra, and the Cali Cartel in a fatal game of corporate winner-take-all.

Website: http://www.virtualvice.net/

About Jason: Jason M. Kays is an intellectual property attorney with fifteen years experience in both information technology and entertainment law. Kays is an accomplished jazz trumpet player and his passion has always been music, technology, and convergence of the two in today's digital age. This is his first novel.

Read an excerpt:

The return of the Talking Head

The day of the Talking Head’s return to the compound for broadcast of the Metropoleis Messianic Minute was a tense affair for the Board members and Netcast crew alike. In fact, “Iron” Mark Rimer was insistent that all MIII executives be off-premise the day Clarice Westwater was on location for the weekly live Netcast. Westwater pulled up to the compound at break-neck speed in a 1955 sapphire blue Series 62 Cadillac convertible. A huge spiraling conical plume of dust marked her wake. Accompanying Westwater were two particularly striking fellow female flight attendants: one driving the car, the other serving as personal assistant, and tightly clasping the Talking Head’s Hermès agenda and portfolio. A third woman, a 5’11” tall striking Eurasian make-up artist sporting a Versace dress that left little to the imagination, shared the back seat with Clarice’s personal assistant. The Talking Head deigned to carry nothing more than the “pooch purse” containing her beloved dog, Bitsie.

Clarice’s entourage followed her lock step at a brisk pace into the Ministry’s broadcast studio. Westwater led the ensemble, with her handlers fanning out behind her as she walked, forming a quadrangle. This formation permitted the Talking Head’s minions to deflect any riffraff that might attempt to approach their leader from the rear or flank, such as the gawking and dazed johns stumbling from the dimly lit whorehouse into the blinding Arizona sun. The johns and the few sex workers milling about came to a standstill and stared at the procession, as it made its way towards Mark Rimer’s welcoming outstretched hand.

The CTO warmly greeted the Talking Head and walked her into the studio. The crew, accustomed to Westwater’s enormous ego, flamboyance, and eccentric excesses, found themselves staring at this latest display of pomp and circumstance. Those that didn’t check themselves and avert their gaze in time out of deference to MIII’s royalty were treated to Clarice’s icy, reproachful stare. Rimer found himself shifting position, using his body to shield the Talking Head from the invasive gaping of the “little people”, as she commonly referred to MIII staffers. Clarice asked Rimer to take her directly to her dressing room. Once she was seated, her make-up artist hurriedly began assembling her face, while the self-appointed diva barked orders to anyone within earshot for coffee and bottled water in her distinctive South-East U.K. accent.

Usurpation with a smile

Primped, preened, and primed for her adoring unwashed masses, the Talking Head summoned Pastor Petey for a pre-show huddle. No shrinking violet himself, Petey had been humbled by the Netcast’s drop in ratings and revenue since Westwater’s departure, not to mention the torrent of bad press. The Talking Head directed the good pastor to sit in a chair across from her. Her demeanor was as cool and detached as her eyes were inflamed and focused. Much like a fighter pilot’s targeting system locking in on its military objective, Westwater’s piercing eyes fixed themselves on the pastor’s pallid, weary face. She said nothing for a good thirty seconds, simply staring at her new subordinate. Although it was an affront to every fiber in his person, the pastor knew he was outranked by her. Clarice’s brilliant blue eyes seemed to take on an ethereal quality in contrast to her blood red Vera Wang dress. Pastor Petey likened the penetrating force of Westwater’s countenance to a horrific memory from childhood of watching a neighbor boy slip near a commercial chipping machine, and his skin being stripped from hand to elbow in mere seconds. The de-gloving of skin from bone, surgically and instantaneously carried out by that machine was not unlike the ability of Clarice Westwater’s brutalizing stare to cleave psyche, soul, and flesh. These past few years with Scott White had caused the pastor to question the existence of his God – any god. Sitting across from Westwater, Pastor Petey may have doubted the existence of God, but he was convinced of the existence of the Devil.

After what seemed like an eternity of silence, the pastor tired of the manipulation, and decided to launch in with forced cordiality: “Clarice, great to have you back on board. I admit there have been a few awkward moments between us, but I always have appreciated your contribution to the Ministry’s work, in general, and to the Metropoleis Messianic Minute, in particular. I just felt awful about . . .”

Westwater abruptly stopped Petey in mid-sentence by raising an alabaster hand with index finger extended heavenward. She spoke briefly and pointedly, instructing God’s servant thus: “Ahhh Petey, so good once again to be in your company! We both know that if Scott felt he had a choice, I wouldn’t be here. But he doesn’t have a choice, does he? The Ministry, and MIII along with it, is up against the ropes. Not only that, but news of MIII’s tailspin has been splashed all over the business section of the world’s most prominent newspapers. This can’t be good for investor goodwill; forget new investors, you’ll be lucky to hold onto the present shareholders. So, let’s cut the crap, Pastor.”

As if on cue, Clarice Westwater’s assistant handed her a portfolio containing the grim financials for Metropoleis Messianic Minute’s last two business quarters. The Talking Head was flanked by her personal assistant and driver, while her stylist continued to fine-tune her boss’ formidable head of hair. Clarice rattled off figures, as her bookends watched the pastor squirm uneasily in his chair. Then she continued, “We can sit here and argue the numbers, but it’s a moot issue: the Netcast is flat-lining. Hooker Nun’s lips weren’t able to bring it back from the dead, so I’ve been brought in for a mouth-to-mouth. Never send a whore to do a courtesan’s work.”

Pastor Petey bristled at the slur targeting his love interest, but let it go. Westwater concluded, “I don’t count necrophilia among my fancies; so the faster I’m able to get a pulse and make my exit, the better. No doubt we are like-minded here. If there’s a way to resuscitate the show, I’ll find it; in the interim, you and your trollop need to step aside. You still have a place in the Netcast, but it’s limited to doing what you do best – preaching from that dog-eared book of yours. I’ll be both hosting and scripting the shows. ‘Sister Lorelei’ had best return to what she excels at – blow jobs – and leave grifting to the professionals.

“As for the live audience – using your prostitutes and johns? If you creative geniuses ever bothered to leave the confines of this loony bin, you would see how this, more than anything else, has made a mockery of the show and turned it into a sitcom among the majority of your viewers. Since when have comedians received tithing, particularly when the comedy is unintended? No one is going to pony up donations for something they can see for free on network television. The studio audience goes. The Netcast’s audience – and its bad press – have grown exponentially, not because it’s good, but because it’s so bad. A big audience is never a bad thing, but it becomes irrelevant when a broadcast has no sponsors and its ability to attract donors has atrophied. My publicist has already sent out email circulars announcing my return to the parishioners. From here on out, I’m Christ’s Commandant; you follow my lead. For heaven’s sake, have make-up do something with that ever-present shine on your forehead before we greet our pious masses. That’s all for now, Pastor.”

Pastor Pete Huckalby was furious at this upbraiding, but knew better than to take on the Talking Head. Petey saw Clarice Westwater as a true paradox: both victim and victimizer. In his line of work, he often counseled battered women to leave their spouses. While each case was unique, there was a common pattern and shared traits. Westwater was different. Scott White had deposited her at death’s door numerous times and, more often than not, she had endured the ordeal without going to the police, family or friends. She would appear defeated and vulnerable in the aftermath of this violence. Yet, she always quickly reverted to her cold, calculating, unfeeling self, then proceeded to dish out the abuse verbally, psychologically, and emotionally to all, but her closest confidants – and that was a very small group, indeed. The Talking Head was so inherently manipulative, parasitical, and self-serving that it was difficult to have compassion for the woman.

“Lights, cameras, Jesus!”

After a visit to wardrobe and make-up to address that cranial glare, Pastor Petey joined his imperious co-host on the sound stage – littered, once again, with the Talking Head’s opulent rococo and Greco-Roman props. The set was saturated with rich embroideries, gilt, and tassels. Gold, purple, forest-green, and blood red predominated. Even Westwater’s pug, Bitsie, managed a disapproving countenance, lording over the scurrying grips and stagehands from atop her leopard skin recamier. Petey loathed the brainless purebred, but Bitsie’s return had been a precondition set by Clarice.

The Talking Head seated herself in a regal high-back chair, with her pug to her right. Both on and off-stage, Pastor Petey dressed with the conservative minimalism of a Quaker. His somber attire clashed dramatically with the Talking Head’s choice of wardrobe. Her outfit screamed “secular humanist”. Clarice was seldom satisfied with the imported haute-couture offerings of New York’s textile district. When her income allowed, she purchased directly from the various fashion houses in Europe. To mark her return, she was sporting a lavish Jean Paul Gaultier formal, dark green gown with plunging front and back. The empire waist accentuated her saline bosom. Clarice’s left shoulder was left bare by a drop strap, while ostrich feathers embellished the gown’s right shoulder, extending upwards, over the shoulder, and cascading down the back of the dress.

A technician cued the Netcast’s theme music, as Petey moved stage center to announce the return of Clarice Westwater from her (wholly fictitious) humanitarian crusade in Africa. The Talking Head’s reworking of the Netcast began with its theme music. The saccharine refrains of puddin’ pop alto saxophonist Kenny G. had been replaced with the sternum-vibrating Gangsta Rap beat of artiste Fifty Cent. The Talking Head intentionally hadn’t forewarned her co-host about the switch to throw him off his game. She succeeded in her endeavor. Historically, the Metropoleis Messianic Minute opened with a darkened stage and Pastor Petey in a soft blue spotlight, head bowed in piety, arms crossed prosaically, holding the Good Book snug against his crisp white starched shirt. Unbeknownst to the pastor, Clarice had replaced the aging audio equipment with six eight-foot-tall studio monitors and a bank of subwoofers, fueled by a rack of Crown power amplifiers, putting out 50,000 watts of libidinous lyricism. Fifty Cent’s “Candy Shop” hit the studio like a neutron bomb, following Scott White’s voice-over introduction of the show’s topics. Six back-up dancers – three male, three female – emerged from either side of the stage. The dancers, their lithe, near naked bodies well-greased, began to gyrate to the music. The wall of sound sucker-punched Pastor Petey, knocking him back on his heels. He lost his grip on his dog-eared Bible, dropping to his knees to catch the book before it hit the floor. While rising to his feet, Petey noticed the scantily clad dancers and dropped the Bible again.

The synchronized pelvic thrusts of the dancers slowed in rhythm as the music faded. The dancers struck rigid, statuesque poses behind the pastor: three female dancers to his right, three males to his left. The soft blue spotlight morphed to red, then purple, as Petey cleared his throat and head to speak. He was furious over the audio ambush and the change in show format. His face turned a deep crimson with rage at the mere thought of having to lavish praise upon the Talking Head, much less enact his new role as her footman. There were no doubts about her malicious intent: he could clearly see the mischievous grimace cross Westwater’s face as she watched Petey struggle to steady himself.

After regaining his composure, the pastor spoke into Camera #2 through clenched jaws, trying to conceal his anger, while feigning enthusiasm about the Talking Head’s return. He briefly summarized her manufactured mission to Africa, heaped praise on her for her bravery and selflessness, then welcomed her back to the MIII Ministry fold. From center stage, Pastor Petey pivoted towards the seated Clarice, hands clasped in prayer, as he exclaimed, “Back from doing her fearless and fearsome work in Hell’s abyss, the MIII Ministry’s Dove of Divine Providence – Clarice Westwater!” With that, there was an encore of Fifty Cent’s hit song, and the spotlight swung stage right to reveal the Talking Head seated regally upon her throne. At the Netcast’s opening, the loud music had terrified Bitsie, causing the dog to seek refuge under the stage manager’s chair. Bitsie, like Pastor Petey, had, by now, adjusted somewhat to the aural assault, and returned to her mistress’ side.

Warrior's Duty by Jeanne Tomlin

2009-07-30T00:57:00.000-07:00

When war comes to Wayfare Keep, Tamra has to fight, in every sense, to survive. Tamra is the Captain of the Guard of Wayfare Keep and nothing can distract her from her duty -- which is why she has joined her forces those of Sir Cedrian and the army of the city of Madrian to defend their land against invading enemies. When their army is routed and her lover, the scout, Jessup, is lost, she is shattered. Even worse lies ahead as the secrets of her past come to light. Each death in battle only makes their enemy stronger, allowing the enemy priests to summon invincible demons called ixich. Yet in their darkest hour, haunted by loss and with defeat imminent, Tamra and her allies call upon their deepest strengths to survive and triumph. When war comes to Wayfare Keep, Tamra has to fight, in every sense, to survive.

Why did you write this book?

I'm basically a story teller. These characters wanted their story told and gave
me the job.

What's your favorite part?

Tough question! Probably the part where Tamra and Jessup meet and, believe me,
it's not love at first sight. But unlike many writers, I enjoy writing battles
and fights. I love lots of adrenaline pumping, so those were fun too.

What was hardest to write?

The hardest for me is editing. Writing the first draft is fun. You're just
telling a story to yourself or that's how I do it anyway. Then you have to
figure out all the places where your story doesn't get across to a reader.
That's hard.

What do you hope readers get from it?

Since I'm a story teller, I hope the reader gets an enjoyable story. Is there
more to it? Yes, there are themes in there and thoughts about how the world and
people work, but they come out of the story, not the other way around.

What's next for you?

I have two new novels completed and I'm working on a third--so I suppose my next
job is the one I dislike most, like many writers. It's selling my work. *groans*

Unselfish Gene by Robert Burns

2009-07-28T02:27:00.000-07:00

It's love and terrorism in the time of cholera. In the mid-21st century, a form of bird flu has killed billions and turned most of the rest into mindless, stumbling zombie-like invalids. The few humans who had immunity now face the threat of a comet on a collision course with Earth. Settlers from the Moon colony were spared the disease, but face their own threats to survival: radiation-induced mental illness, a limited gene pool and shrinking resources. The Moon settlers have launched a last-ditch mission to Earth to salvage human DNA and other crucial materials ... before the comet strikes. The salvage crew find the biggest threat to the mission is neither the zombies or the comet, but insanity within their own ranks.

Interview with Robert Burns:

Why did you write this book?

Well, first I believe writing to be an obsessive compulsive disorder, that is a disease of the mind. Why else would I keep writing these things for little to no money? But Unselfish Gene was an attempt to write "normal" science fiction. I really tried to write an ordinary space opera, as these things tend to be selling. My other books, reject by too, too many agents and publishing houses are farther out. Unselfish was targeted at a more conservative publishing industry. I think I'm just not wired to do conservation, normal sci-fi.

What was your favorite part to write?

The love scenes, actually, and some of the scenes that examine the effect technology and environment have on religion and other cultural aspects. I just put in the violence and zombies because that's what seems to be what the market is calling for.

What was hardest to write?

The middle is always the hardest part to write for me. That's where it's all too easy to get off track and loose complete control of the novel. Some loss of control is good. It is those "where's this going" places that creativity is forced out of its hiding place.

What are your hopes for this book?

I hope readers get a book they can't put down. I hope they get pleasure from reading the Unselfish Gene.

What's next?

I'm alternating between working on a sequel to Unselfish, tentatively titled "Clear Mind" but which I think of as "Buddhists in Space," and the third novel of my occult sci-fi trilogy, Awakening of an Alien God. When I'm in an editing mode, I review changes made to Shibboleth, a novel about mind viruses (memes) that I wrote more than 25 years ago.

Ghost for Rent by Penny Lockwood

2009-07-27T05:24:00.000-07:00

This middle grade, paranormal, ghost story is aimed at youth in grades four to six. It is approximately 13,280 words, 10 chapters, and 65 pages long. The story begins when eleven year old Wendy Wiles learns her parents are planning to get divorced. Forced to leave her beloved city home for a cheaper country place, Wendy, her mother, and her twelve year old brother move to rural Warren, Oregon.

On move-in day, Wendy meets a neighbor girl who tells her their quaint country home is haunted. Events proceed quickly as Wendy, her new friend, Jennifer, and Wendy’s brother, Mike, see ghostly figures dancing in the woods. Despite Mom’s claims that “there’s no such thing as ghosts,” paranormal events continue to occur in the Wiles’ home. Meanwhile her brother Mike, arch-tease, continues to torment Wendy, claiming he’s causing the unusual happenings.

Wendy searches through library records to get to the bottom of the mystery. Finally with Jennifer’s help, Wendy begins to unravel the truth. At last even Mike can no longer disbelieve and decides to aid Wendy in her search. By the end of the story, the three young sleuths have uncovered an accidental death, a suicide and a murder.

KINDLE EDITION:

OR PAPERBACK FROM: http://www.hardshell.com/ProductInfo.aspx?productid=0759910057

Interview with Penny Lockwood:

1. Why did you write this book?

I actually wrote it as a challenge to myself. Previously, all my material was in the form of non-fiction articles and adult short stories for magazines. My daughter,who was still in middle school when I wrote it, had insisted I wasn't an author because I didn't have a book published. Of course, I had to write a book. I wrote this particular book because I have wanted to write children's stories for a long time. There are a lot of ghost sightings in our area and one of the scenes in the story had been described to me by a friend who experienced the incident. It seemed like a natural story to write. The odd thing is when I was a child, one of my first written stories was "Patty and the Country Ghost." :-)

2. What was hardest to write about this book?

Writing a book was hard for me in general. I am used to writing short stories which are quick, to the point, and don't have a lot of "extra" meat in them. Filling up
a whole novel with description, action, extra characters, etc. took a lot of effort.

3. What did you enjoy writing the most?

I loved coming up with the different ways the ghosts communicated with Wendy, my main character. I one of those people who believe in ghosts. I think that spirits can be "stuck" between planes of existence when something is left unsettled in
the "real" world. I also liked making Wendy a strong female character who won't give in even when the adults in her life are telling her ghosts aren't real.

4. What do you hope folks will get from this book?

Mostly, I hope that children will be entertained. That said, I also would like them to realize that families have problems, but they can be worked through.
Big brothers can be a pain, but they are also there for their siblings when they need to be. Finally, moving from someplace you love isn't always a bad thing. Sometimes you can make new friends and have great adventures.

5. What's next for you?

I am working on a sequel to Ghost for Rent. I hope to have it finished within the year. I've also got a picture book which is in a rewrite stage. Finally, I do a lot of article writing - primarily writing tips, parenting tips, and teen self-help. Lately, I've also done some short stories and articles for children.

Read Penny's blog at http://pennylockwoodehrenkranz.blogspot.com/

Transforming Realities by R. L. Copple

2009-07-23T04:53:00.000-07:00

When Sisko refuses the demon Beltrid's request to use his miracle-producing ring for selfish purposes, Sisko's world is turned upside down. Trapping Sisko's wife, Gabrielle, inside the "Crystal of Virtues," Beltrid sends Sisko and his two teenage children, Nathan and Kaylee, on a journey to find seven virtues that will free her. Simple? Not when a demon is involved. The trip takes several twists and turns leading to a showdown at the steam house where it all started. They discover that the reality of the ring transcends healing sicknesses—they discover a transforming reality.

This book is the second book in the Reality Series, the first being Infinite Realities.

Order author-signed copies of either book at: http://store.rlcopple.com

You can also purchase the e-book of Transforming Realities in pdf, pdb, epub, or mobi.

Want a Free Book? The ebook version of Infinite Realities, the first book, a novella, is available for free from his site. Rick says, "It is an easy read that will not only ground one in Sisko's world and story, but give one a taste for my writing style so you'll know whether you want to spend the bucks on Transforming Realities. I'd encourage folks to take advantage of it if they like original fantasy."

Interview with R. L. Copple:

1. Why did you write this book?

Pretty much why I write most stories. To tell a great story that will
capture people's imaginations, and to help others see perspectives that
they may not have seen before through new eyes. I think fantasy lends
itself well to those goals, and what I hope this novel has accomplished.

2. What was hardest to write about this book?

The hardest was the climax chapter. To tell you why would mean I have to
initiate a memory wipe right afterwards on you. Wouldn't want to give
away any spoilers. But I'll just say it made me cry. Even the first few
times going back over it to edit the chapter. Those who have read it
will know what I'm talking about. I don't expect everyone to have the
same reaction; I guess I'm sentimental that way.

To point to another take on this question, however, one of the more
difficult pitfalls to avoid since this series has a "magical ring" as
part of the story, was to avoid events and characters that felt as if I
were copying Lord of the Rings. More than once I would reject an idea
for something to happen because it had already been done to death or
would sound like something out of LOTR. That said, I do have one
not-hard-to-spot nod to the LOTR story in the book. But I did my best to
avoid having it feel like a LOTRs copycat story. And by the reactions
I've received to date, I'd say I succeeded. But it wasn't always easy to
avoid.
3. What did you enjoy writing the most?

There are several scenes that I enjoyed writing. What I like about any
story is when a scene comes together, and all the right pieces fall into
place that make it work on several levels. Sometimes that happens when
I'm writing the first draft. Other times it happens when I'm editing it
or when a critique partner points out something that leads my thoughts
into a different area I hadn't thought of before.

But when it works, I love it. Not only do I find a good scene that I
think people will enjoy reading, but it is natural to the characters and
the book's theme/story movement.

One particular scene I enjoyed happened on an edit when it was pointed
out to me that it didn't work, and I realized it was because even though
a lot of threats were happening, the characters never had to struggle to
avoid them. It then dawned on me that this scene with fire could fit
into the whole Realities theme and story arch, and I ended up writing my
first song in that chapter. One of the more ho hum chapters in the books
ended up becoming one of my favorites, and one I think will stand out in
reader's minds.

4. What do you hope folks will get from this book?

As far as specific lessons or morals, I'd rather allow the reader to see
those in the story themselves than to tell them what I want them to get
out of it. I've seen a few interpretations on my first book that I
didn't have in mind when I wrote it, but the reader sees it. A good
story will be like that, and so I wouldn't want to freeze the "lesson"
in place for folks, but allow God to use it with the individual as He
sees fit.

But, like I said above, I do hope that it will make them think about
their own faith, whether Christian or non-Christian, and look at things
from a fresh perspective. I titled it Transforming Realities because in
the end, it is exposure to God's reality that can transform our lives
for the better. So I pray that I've been able to give folks a taste of
that even within a fictional story that they will enjoy reading.

5. What's next for you?

I'm currently editing the third and final book of the Reality series,
and I fully believe I've been able to write a book that will top
Transforming Realities. These books follow the ring's journey, and I
love the ending I've devised for how the series ends, and a lot of fun
stuff happens on their way to that glorious event. Unfortunately it will
be next year sometime before I can share that with all but a few crit
partners. Such is the writer's life.

I also have a space opera novel that I'm getting ready to shop for a
publisher/agent. And I have one space opera novel I want to rewrite in
the future, as well as outlines/beginnings for about four other novels.
And on the side I keep writing short stories and flashes when I'm able.
So, I've plenty to keep me busy.

Learn more about Copple at http://www.rlcopple.com

CSFF Presents: The Enclave by Karen Hancock

2009-07-20T07:40:00.000-07:00

When Lacey McHenry accepts a prestigious research fellowship at the world-renowned Kendell-Jakes Longevity Institute, she sees it as a new start on life. But a disturbing late-night encounter with an intruder leads to an unexpected cover-up by Institute authorities, and she soon realizes there's more going on than she ever imagined.

She finds a supporter in genetics researcher Cameron Reinhardt. However, Reinhardt is a favorite of the Institute's director, and she can't help wondering if he, too, is in on the cover-up. The brilliant but absentminded researcher turns out to have his own secrets, some of them dark and deadly. The Enclave is characterized by adventure, intrigue, spiritual analogy, and romance, all set in an unusual but fully realized world--one that may have its foundations on earth but which, the more one learns of it, doesn't seem much like the earth we know at all.

For More Information:

Book link: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0764203282
Karen Hancock’s Web site - http://www.kmhancock.com/index.htm
Karen Hancock’s blog - http://karenhancock.wordpress.com/

*CSFF Participants’ Links:

Brandon Barr
Jennifer Bogart
Keanan Brand
Grace Bridges
Canadianladybug
Melissa Carswell
Valerie Comer
Amy Cruson
CSFF Blog Tour
Stacey Dale
D. G. D. Davidson
Janey DeMeo
Jeff Draper
Emmalyn Edwards
April Erwin
Karina Fabian
Beth Goddard
Todd Michael Greene
Heather R. Hunt
Becky Jesse
Cris Jesse
Julie
Carol Keen
Krystine Kercher
Dawn King
Mike Lynch
Melissa Meeks
Rebecca LuElla Miller
Mirtika
Eve Nielsen
Nissa
John W. Otte
Steve Rice
Crista Richey
James Somers
Speculative Faith
Stephanie
Rachel Starr Thomson
Steve Trower
Fred Warren
Elizabeth Williams

For Shrieking Out Loud by Joyce Faulkner

2009-07-16T19:09:00.000-07:00

An Erma-Bombeck style of humorous articles covering everything from marriage to writing to buying a new car with cash, Joyce takes an unorthodox yet-so-true look at life. Most of the stories tickled my funny bone; others made my nose sting with tears because what she wrote was so touching.

Want examples? Let's start with the story about how she cut off an SUV in order to get to the gas station before they changed the prices. After a harrowing (and funny) description of her aggressive driving, she discovers she saved $3.50:

"So I nearly killed us for roughly one third of a Cold Stone Creamery ice cream? Cool."

OR her explanation of the "bird" finger fits in God's plan: "If there were fewer jerks in the world, we'd only have four fingers." (She says it made sense at the time; it still does.)

OR her assessment of self-defense tips: "Go for your attacker's gonads. Get real. I want to stay as far away from them as possible--and besides, I have trouble with zippers, too."

While all the chapters were funny, some were deeply profound: her evening of space geekdom where she met some of the original astronauts and realized that they were ordinary men, or the man who cornered her at a reading to tell her the story of someone he knew--a story he'd wanted to write for decades, but could never do; the story he wanted her to write. "Story tellers are the glue between people who lived before and those who live now--and those who live in the future," she said. And when her husband replied that it was a great responsibility, she countered, "No, it's a blessing."

You are truly blessed, Joyce, and I feel blessed to have read your book.

Gonzo the Curious Cat by Martha Ramirez

2009-07-13T18:01:00.000-07:00

Gonzo is a curious cat that lives on Farmer Louie's farm. As he learns the many lessons of life by his misadventures, he is often reminded of Farmer Louie's motto, "Safety First." Farmer Louie always knew that Gonzo's curiosity and adventurous personality would one day get him into trouble. But when Gonzo finds himself lost in an unfamiliar place, he discovers the true meaning of why it is important to be extra careful and less curious. Will Gonzo find the special gift he is searching for while lost? Come join the fun and meet all the playful barnyard friends, Gonzo the Curious Cat, and Farmer Louie. Learn what friendship and safety can bring.

Visit MartzBookz.com for more info

An Interview with Martha Ramirez:

1. Why did you write this book?

Gonzo the Curious Cat was written in honor of my brother-n-law Gonzo and father-in-law. When my brother-in-law was struck by a car (the second time in his life) I decided that children need to be reminded about safety. My brother-in-law, Gonzo, is like a cat with nine lives! In the book I share stories on how Gonzo's curiosity gets him into trouble. Farmer Louie reminds Gonzo how to stay safe, but Gonzo is more mischievous than Farmer Louie would like.

2. What was hardest to write about this book?

My father-in-law passed away shortly before I started writing the story. Though he couldn't read English I still would had liked to have shown him what he would had looked like as a cartoon.

3. What did you enjoy writing the most?

Naming all the animals after my family.

4. What do you hope folks will get from this book?

The importance of safety.

5. What's next for you?

A romance suspense (YA) debut novel.

Gracious Living by Valerie Kent

2009-07-09T05:33:00.000-07:00

Gracious Living is an easy-to-read decade-long journey that offers tips and suggestions on how senior citizens can stretch their dollar and get the most for their money. Eleven chapters cover every important aspect of living together, from the wedding preparations to where to live. Key considerations follow each chapter for quick reference: Considerations like where and when to buy clothing, choosing a place to live and juggling your finances. Artist Jeff Nitzberg adds his unique touch with original drawings introducing each chapter.

FOR MORE INFORMATION: http://www.treefarmbooks.com/

READ AN EXCERPT

We all aspire to the many extras which supposedly make our lives more enjoyable. For some, the list is headed up by second cars, designer clothing, even dining out regularly in expensive restaurants. Where cash is scarce, it demands real discipline to examine spending patterns and determine just what we truly need, then prioritize whatever we merely want. Because money is one of the central issues in any marriage, retiring on a fixed income is likely to increase rather than reduce unavoidable tension over it. Careful planning and thoughtful shopping can help. This can reduce costs (even if our economy worsens) and thereby free up funds for luxuries further down everybody’s wish list. The discipline to follow through with a mutually-agreed-on plan, once made, is tough, but rewarding.

All this requires an investment of time: time, our most available resource. It is hard to change old habits, and an exertion of will is sometimes required to pay attention to details you never bothered about before. Joint planning, joint responsibility and joint action are vital now that you will be spending much more time together. Having that “we” approach is more important than ever to insure graceful living.

Our working years could certainly have benefited from this prescription for a happy life together, but the pressures and urgencies of raising a family and establishing a career often leave couples living quite separate lives. Each partner has had his or her own areas of responsibility, and in practice true collaboration is often lacking. Being forced to strengthen the bond of “we” during a financial squeeze may significantly improve living together in retirement by forcing the reconsideration of older, sloppier patterns.

One of the most difficult tasks is settling on those more urgent, less avoidable priorities. Dealing with the money forces decisions as to whose preference will prevail and facilitates true compromise. Inevitably somebody’s preference gets bumped off the budget. Thos fulfilled golden years are impossible without new level of mutual respect and open communication.

ABOUT VALERIE KENT

At eighty-eight, Valerie Kent is the survivor of a long lifetime spent adjusting to dramatically evolving worlds. She moved from Britain to the United States in 1933. Valerie began at the age of forty-six the drawn-out process of education - seven universities - that would generate, initially, a career as a drug and alcohol counselor for troubled women, then a decade as a celebrated college teacher and - ultimately - a final, exultant marriage. This is her story.

Higher Honor by S.M. Kirkland

2009-07-06T06:00:00.000-07:00

When Cadet Cassidy Sanders is brutally assaulted, she struggles to carry on as she turns further from the God of her youth. Her attacker is an acquaintance who has his own struggles to face. God uses their mutual friends to show both cadets the depth
of his grace and mercy.

Higher Honor is set within the sub-culture of America’s military colleges. The novel focuses on the elements of honor, brotherhood, duty, and the spirit of the characters to face and overcome challenges that grow them into the military’s
next generation of strong, capable leaders. The realism of Higher Honor’s setting and plot is a result of experience, observation, and much research.

Review:

Higher Honor is the story about a rape and how it affects not only the victim, but the perpetrator and their friends. Kirkland handles the situation--including the actual rape itself--with realism yet delicacy, so that you get the horror of the situation without the morbidity. Even more, she successfully portrays the emotional and psychological trauma Cassidy goes through--and does a convincing job of making Chris, the rapist, a believable and very human character instead of a cardboard human.

One of the themes is learning to depend on God, and finding strength in God's love. I think Cassidy explained it best when she told a support group that she had to remember that God defines who she is--not those few horrible minutes in the shower. For that line alone, this book will remain with me forever.
There is also an important theme of forgiveness, though I was not so pleased at her willingness to defend her rapist when he went to turn himself in. I was glad leveler heads prevailed.

I thought a few parts of it--like her recovery after she rediscovered Christ in her life--a little too easy, but not unbelievably so. Overall, a very good book, and I think many that Christians, especially any who have been in Cassidy's situation, will identify with her.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

S.M. Kirkland brings firsthand experience to her fiction.
While a student at North Georgia College and State
University (the senior military college of Georgia) she
enlisted in the Georgia Army National Guard. During a 10-
year military career, she served as a photo- and broadcast
journalist while serving in Italy and for the 1996 Summer
Olympic Games in Atlanta.

Kirkland currently works for the Calhoun Times as the
government reporter and her feature stories have appeared
in newspapers nationwide. Her first fiction publication was
a short story “Fair Balance” included in the anthology Light
at the Edge of Darkness (TWCP, 2007). This story received
several rave reviews.

Sacrifice of the Sage Hen by Susie Schade-Brewer

2009-07-03T06:00:00.000-07:00

1859: Pre-Civil War Independence, Missouri. The people are restless - the effects of prejudice and hate. Blood has already been spilled by some from over the border, and there is talk of war.

To add to the unrest from the border skirmishes, a devastating drought has fallen over the entire Northern region of Missouri.

Full of spirit and restless rebellion, Charlotte Mary West, called Charlie by her friends, is concerned, but what captures her most frequent thought is finding relief from her own boring and uneventful life. Grant, her husband of an arranged marriage, owns a general store in the embarkation town of Independence, Missouri. His only ambition is to make fistfuls of money selling supplies to the pioneers of the wagon trains leaving down the Oregon and California Trails. But waiting on customers and stocking shelves in a general store has never been Charlie’s idea of adventure. She feels life is going on without her.

And now her father and her best friend are joining a wagon train to go west, leaving her behind with her husband. Already chafing at the expectations he places on her to act like a proper lady, Charlie longs to break away and fly to freedom. Somehow, someway, she must convince her husband to forfeit his dream and join the wagon train.

Then tragedy strikes when a fire comes off the dry prairie and ravages half the town. Many buildings including West’s Mercantile burn to the ground. Some are injured – and a few die, including Charlie’s husband. Now at only age 19, she is a widow, no means of support - and quite unexpectedly - a mother to an orphaned mixed-race child.

Dirks Braelen is on the run from his life as a hired gun in Texas. He's ready to hang up his holster and try to find some peace for his soul. He may be ready to leave his old life behind, but the people he knew then may not let him.

He's trying to escape his past. She's trying to escape her present. To find happiness, Charlie and Dirks have to reach back into a story from Charlie's father and find out the true sacrifice of the Sage Hen.

For More Information: www.TheSacrificeOfTheSageHen.com

Interview with Susie Schade-Brewer:

Why did you write this book?

At the time I started writing the book, I was around 50 years old, and although I had done a lot of writing over the years, it had been bits and pieces, mostly because I was busy working, raising my family, and taking care of elderly parents. By the time the kids were raised and gone, my marriage was falling apart. I found writing to be like therapy. One can be as sweet – as angry – as submissive -- or rebellious as they want, and (I hate to admit it) the empowerment was wonderful.
I remembered an idea that had stuck in my head since I was about seven years old. The storyline revolved around one central character, a feisty young woman who was not remiss to speak her mind, and for some odd reason, a sage hen was always there too. I don’t know why that in particular, but who understands the brain anyway, right? I thought, ‘now is the perfect time to indulge this flight of my imagination.’ The manuscript underwent about 20 revisions over a 6-year period, and the end result was exactly what I had always wanted. Plus, the therapeutic value probably saved me a lot of money!

What was your favorite part?

I think the easiest parts to write, because they just flowed out of me, were the more intimate thoughts and feelings of the main character, Charlie West. She is 19, and stuck in a loveless marriage. Because she is living a life that others had arranged for her, she is unable to pursue her own dreams -- all of which seemed apropos for me (except the 19 year old part – but I was once). And although she wishes to be good and dutiful and obedient, there is a certain defiance at having lost control of her life.

What was the hardest to write?

The parts about the fire and the dying and having to describe to the reader how bad it hurts and make them really feel it. Also the parts about the criminal acts of the villains, because he killed and mutilated animals.

What do you hope your readers will get from your book?

This story is about life – and love – and making choices, which all humans must do. And making our dreams as much a priority to us as others’. I guess it’s about understanding our self-worth, the importance of not allowing anyone to take that from you. It is my hope that the reader will take that key message away with them.

What’s next for you?

I am working on the sequel to The Sacrifice of the Sage Hen. In this first book, much of the story takes place in Independence, Missouri, which in the 19th century was what they called ‘the jumping off’ place for those who wanted to travel over the Oregon or Santa Fe Trails. Charlie’s life is as a storekeeper’s wife.
The next book, which most of my readers have said they really want to read about, will be when they actually get on the trail and deal with the day-to-day challenges and dangers of trail life. At that time, those who were brave enough to pack up their families and all their worldly goods into a 4’ x 10’ wagon knew that 1 in 5 of them would die before reaching their destination. The trail to Oregon was wild and 2,000 miles long, would take them 4 to 6 months to get there, and was fraught with many hidden dangers.

So, this is what I’m currently working on, plus working at my other business, a professional writing service called TPW Writing Services, doing copywriting and resumes. Both projects are very time-consuming. I’ve thought about petitioning my Congressman to pass some kind of bill to avail more hours in the day, but I didn’t think it would do much good.

If anyone wants to visit my book’s website, it is www.TheSacrificeOfTheSageHen.com. Please also visit my blog, www.OneWritersView.blogspot.com, and leave a comment on a subject written there, or start a new one. I like discussing anything having to do with western lore or the writing life. Thanks, Karina, for the interview. All the best to you.

Rajah and the Big Blue Ball by Mosetta Penick Phillips-Cermak

2009-06-29T06:00:00.000-07:00

Rajah, the big black dog, likes to play in his big back yard. He chases the leaves. He sniffs the air every day. It is his favorite place. One day a strange thing happens. Something hits Rajah on the head. It scares him. A blue ball is up in the sky. Where did the ball come from? Did it do it on purpose? Did it want to make him afraid? Rajah has to find the courage to take back his own world. Written by the author of The Wishing Flower and The Magic of Laven-Rock, Rajah and the Big Blue Ball looks into the face of the unknown.

Available from: Barnes and Noble Online
Note: She is donating $1.00 of each sale to the Cleveland Animal Protective League.

Interview with Dr. Mosetta:

1. Why did you write this book?

It was originally written for one of my favorite group of children, in my favorite classroom. The classroom was in a model school for the District. Although the school first opened its doors eighty-four years ago (in 1924), it was the first year that this school had been K-8. As such, most of the 65 teachers were new to the school. I was new to the school.

Located in the middle of what is still considered a particularly dangerous inner-city neighborhood of a large metropolitan city, all of our students were considered disadvantaged. The families in our school were at or slightly above poverty level.

Most of the children came from single parent families, or were living with foster or adoptive families, but many have extensive support systems through a lattice of extended family within the same household, or within walking distance of the school.
There were no discipline problems even though two children were under psychiatric care. One student had seizures, and one student had severe asthma.

Of the 21 students, two were African-American, one was Asian Indian, five students were Hispanic, one was of mixed black/white ethnicity, and the remaining 13 students were white.

It was for these children that I wrote "Rajah and the Big Blue Ball". It was from their "Tell Me a Story" time that this book evolved.

Some students in the classroom were the subject of custody battles by their parents, and another student watched as one of his cousins was shot in the head by a drive-by shooter. The child was so traumatized by the sight of blood and neural material splattered all over him, that he did not speak for six months. But when he did, he asked me to tell him a story. And the story I told was "Rajah and the Big Blue Ball".

2. What was most fun about writing this book?

I think that the most fun part of writing this book came when the students asked me every Monday to read the new part of the story that I had written over the weekend.

We had an agreement. I set aside the last period of the day, every Monday, just to read the new parts of the story. They were so patient. They would ask me "what's going to happen next"? I would answer "Rajah hasn't told me, yet".

3. What was most difficult?

The most difficult part was the editing. It was often heart wrenching to let go of parts of the story that were great for oral story telling, but were not so great from a publishing standpoint.

4. Who should read this book?

This book was written for students in the second grade, but I believe that it is a wonderful story to read to children as young as kindergarten. In fact, one of neighbors reads Rajah and the Big Blue Ball to his four year old. She loves the story and asks for it by name. I have even had some students as old as middle school who have read it and seemed to enjoy it.

5. What's next for you?

I am under contract for six more "Rajah" books. I am also editing a middle grade chapter book, and a Young Adult title.

In addition, I have three new stories that I am trying to hone. These three stories are related to things we, as parents, want to teach or children. And, I hope to start an adult horror that I outlined. Finally, I have been working on a parenting book. I hope that after rearing successful children, who have also reared successful children, that I may have something to offer related to this concept.

CSFF Presents Vanish by Tom Pawlik

2009-06-24T04:45:00.000-07:00

Three strangers each encounter the same mysterious storm and awake the next day to find that everyone else has vanished. There's Conner Hayden, a successful but unscrupulous trial lawyer who has forsaken his family for his career; Helen Krause, a middle-aged model struggling to come to grips with her fading beauty; and Mitch Kent, an enterprising young mechanic unable to escape a past that still haunts him. Afraid and desperate for answers, their paths eventually cross and they discover they are being watched. Elusive and obscured in shadows, the "observers" are apparently forcing them to relive vivid hallucinations of events from their past. They discover a mute homeless boy in tattered clothing and believe he may hold the key to the mystery, but the "observers" soon become aggressive and the four are forced to flee. When the boy disappears, the four decide to head from Chicago to Washington, D.C., in search of answers...and more survivors. Winner of the 2006 operation first novel contest, Vanish is a nonstop suspense thriller in the vein of Ted Dekker.

Tom Pawlik’s Web site - http://www.tompawlik.com/
Tom Pawlik’s blog - http://www.tompawlik.com/blog.htm

*Participants’ Links:

Brandon Barr
Justin Boyer
Keanan Brand
Grace Bridges
Karri Compton
Amy Cruson
CSFF Blog Tour
Stacey Dale
D. G. D. Davidson
Jeff Draper
April Erwin
Karina Fabian
Alex Field
Beth Goddard
Todd Michael Greene
Ryan Heart
Christopher Hopper
Joleen Howell
Becky Jesse
Cris Jesse
Julie
Carol Keen
Krystine Kercher
Margaret
Rebecca LuElla Miller
Eve Nielsen
Nissa
John W. Otte
John Ottinger
Donita K. Paul
Epic Rat
Steve Rice
Crista Richey
Hanna Sandvig
Chawna Schroeder
James Somers
Speculative Faith
Rachel Starr Thomson
Robert Treskillard
Steve Trower
Fred Warren
Phyllis Wheeler

Jumble Pie by Melanie Lynne Hauser

2009-06-22T06:00:00.001-07:00

JUMBLE PIE is the story of the elusive nature of friendship, sometimes clinging, other times liberating; a story for any woman who has ever lied to her best friend just to make her feel better - and who has been brave enough to tell the truth, even when it hurts. And of course, it's a story about the remarkable healing power of pie.

"IN THE BEGINNING, there was the pie. The pie was without form and texture (and any manner of identifiable filling), and darkness was upon the face of the Home Ec Teacher…"

So begins the story of two women, a friendship, and a pie. JUMBLE PIE, to be exact. A Home Ec project gone very wrong, except for the fact that it brings together two very different young girls and helps them form a friendship that lasts through bad haircuts, unrequited love, endless incarnations of Madonna, and their own evolving dreams... Until New Year's Eve, 1999, when another pie comes along, resulting in a pre-party blow-up that sets Juliet and Emily, women now, to remembering how it all got started.

More about Melanie Lynne Hauser

Review:

Get ready to laugh, cry and find yourself totally involved in the lives of Emily and Juliet as they share a friendship that begins, ends and begins anew with pie.

"Girlfriend lit" isn't usually my thing, but I get drawn into the quirky yet very real characters right off. Hauser has a knack for creating unique characters that are nonetheless very familiar. Emily reminded me a little of myself (brainy and thinking that guaranteed success) and my best friend, who can be clueless and impulsive. I thought her passion for big words was a little overdone in the chapters of their childhood, but not enough to make me put down the book--and believe me, I have low tolerance. Juliet really captured my heart. Not incredibly gifted, coming from a broken family, she blossoms in college and learns how to capitalize on her strengths.

I really enjoyed that aspect of the book--that you make the most of what God gives you. Emily, while brilliant, didn't understand that smarts are not enough--you need to work on your skills. Life does not guarantee you success. This is a theme I am constantly hammering home to my own children; I'll be giving Amber a copy of this book when she's older.

I definitely recommend this book!

Jesse’s Girl by Gary Morgenstein

2009-06-18T06:00:00.000-07:00

How much should a parent sacrifice for a troubled child? In Gary Morgenstein’s taut new thriller, Jesse’s Girl, the answer is – anything. Anchored around a floundering father-son relationship, finding roots and re-uniting vanished bonds, the timely novel about teen addiction and adoption follows a desperate father’s search for his son, who has run away from a wilderness program to find his biological sister in Kentucky.

Jesse’s Girl opens as a jarring phone wakes lifelong Brooklynite Teddy Mentor well after midnight. It’s the Montana wilderness program saying that his 16-year-old adopted son has vanished – and they haven’t a clue where he’s gone. Only two weeks ago, Jesse had been taken to the program by escorts to deal with substance abuse problems.

Jeopardizing his flagging PR job in New York, Mentor rushes across the country to find Jesse, who is off on his own quest: to find Theresa, the sister he’s never known. When Teddy finally discovers Jesse at a bus stop in Illinois, he is torn between sending him back or joining his son on a journey to find this girl in Kentucky. He decides to go. They become embroiled in a grisly crime when Theresa’s abusive husband Beau attacks her – Jesse stabs the big beast of a man, leaving him for dead.

Given Jesse’s misdemeanor criminal record, Teddy can’t go to the authorities without risking his son’s arrest. However, Beau is not dead, merely wounded, and he hunts them down, thirsty for revenge. Teddy, Jesse and Theresa flee across the Bluegrass State with Beau in hot pursuit. Seeking safety but finding trouble, their story leads them to an ultimately shattering question: is Theresa really Jesse’s sister or has he been scammed?

Gary Morgenstein’s previous novels are Take Me Out to the Ballgame and The Man Who Wanted to Play Center Field for the New York Yankees. His latest novel Loving Rabbi Thalia Kleinman, a romantic triangle about a divorced middle-aged man who falls in love with a beautiful rabbi, was just published on Amazon.com. His play Ponzi Man played to sell-out crowds at a recent New York Fringe Festival.

Interview with Gary Morgenstein:

1. Why did you write this book?

Along with “Loving Rabbi Thalia Kleinman,” this comprises both sides of my Baby Boomer head and soul and heart: Love and parenthood. In "Jesse's Girl," I wrote from the perspective of a father of a teenager, which is fairly rare. Since we’ve lived in the caves, generation after generation it has been the duty of teenagers to torture their parents. As an adoptive Dad, I wanted to find a story that would weave in a father and son’s floundering relationship besieged by troubling issues on both sides -- a teen struggling with addiction and a father who feels he has failed as a parent. Then let all hell break loose over them and send them into a cauldron of a thriller, pursued both by the police and a deranged killer.

2. What was your favorite part of writing this?

My old and very dear friend who is my brother, John Balchunas, inspired the character of Klaus Weber. I had such fun writing Klaus and seeing what was sort of like him, but wasn’t entirely. Some things I wrote about Klaus, I said to John, that is how it really happened isn’t it, and he said no, and I said, well, I like my version better, more dramatic, feel free to use that for your life story. That is a very slippery mental slope to start on....Anyway, John, who lives in Madisonville, Kentucky (where several climactic scenes in the novel are based), was my unofficial “Bluegrass State” advisor. I’d worked in Kentucky for the now defunct Kentucky Post. Over the years I’d visit John, who’d lived in various parts of the state pretty much since we graduated college. But that’s not quite the same as living there. I’d be writing a passage and I’d email him, okay, if the characters are heading west from here, what road would they take…?

3. Where did you get the idea for this book?

I’ve never written about being a father. Maybe because it’s the hardest thing to write about since parenting is such a bewildering and painful confluence of emotions. In the novel (yes it is arrogant to quote yourself but bear with me), the protagonist, Teddy Mentor, talks about how when we marry we recite the vow “‘til death do us part.” Which is nonsense, as someone who is no longer married can attest. Or as the divorce rate can attest for that matter. But that vow really applies to being a parent. Take all the intense life-changing love and loyalty and feelings you have for your child, the way it changes when they become teens and aren’t your little doting boy anymore. Then blend in the anger and resentment and bristling rage that the parent of a teen battling the illness of addiction feels. Like could you please become an astronaut and blast off into space and leave me alone? Any parent who says they haven’t felt that -- or even said it -- are simply lying. This novel is my way of talking to all those parents and saying, you are not crazy. Hang in there. It will get better.

4. Are you a father? Were parts of it hard to write, emotionally, because of that?

Oh, there were times when I brought myself to tears. There’s nothing so nakedly raw as writing a difficult scene depicting the relationship with your child, because it is always layered with the emotional footprints of reality. Sometimes I’d have to break off because it was so agonizing. Then again, you can write scenes where your child actually listens to you and shows you respect, so how is that for the miracle of writing?

5. What's next for you?

My novel "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" will be published by Amazon in June. It's a political baseball novel, taking the economic turmoil and fear of contemporary America and combining it with the fanaticism of a baseball town. In my novel, Buffalo, New York goes mad over their Cinderella team, the National League Buffalo Matadors, driven by a ruthless owner, devious spinmeister, fading journalist – and one fan who really believes the rival team is the enemy.

Italian for Tourists by Jo Linsdell

2009-06-15T06:00:00.000-07:00

Italian For Tourists: Pocket Edition a phrasebook published through the online content marketplace Lulu.com is a basic guide to the Italian language covering phrases and words most needed by tourists. It includes all the words and phrases a tourist is likely to need during their stay in Italy as well as a pronunciation guide and a map of Italy.

The phrasebook is divided into 17 chapters including; Emergency, The basics, Common expressions, Learning Italian, Greetings and introducing yourself, Transport, Hotel, Sightseeing, Asking and giving directions, Food and drink, Health, Shopping, Offices and bureaucracy and Signs and notices and more.

Jo Linsdell came to Italy from the UK in June 2001 and now lives in Rome working as a freelance writer. She wrote the book drawing on her own experience. She explains “A tourist doesn’t need to know everything about Italian grammar or the in’s and out’s of buying an apartment. They want to have an easy to use reference book of the language they will need to use and understand during their stay”.

Jo Linsdell is a freelance writer who lives in Rome with her Italian husband and their baby son. She is also the creator and manager of the award winning site http://writersandauthors.blogspot.com and founder and organiser of PROMO DAY (http://jolinsdell.tripod.com/promoday), an online event for people in the writing industry.

A Peek Into the Book (My apologies, but formatting was lost putting it into the blog; however, it gives you a good idea of the information it contains.)

Contents

About the author: 11
Preface: 13
Pronunciation guide: 15
Personal pronouns: 17
Emergency: 19
The basics : 21
Common expressions: 31
Questions: 33
Learning Italian: 35
Greetings and introducing yourself: 37
Transport (public, car, train, Airport) : 39
Hotel: 49
Sightseeing: 51
Asking and giving directions: 53
Food and drink: 55
Health: 61
Shopping : 69
Offices and bureaucracy: 73
Signs and notices: 77
Map of Italy: 79
Useful Websites: 81
Notes: 83

Preface

Of all the countries in the world, there is none more magical than Italy, a traveller's dream destination. Millions of tourists come here every year from all over the world; be it for the fashion shows in Milan, the art in Florence, the history in Rome or the beautiful beaches of Sicily.

This book contains all the important vocabulary and phrases a tourist is likely to need when visiting Italy. It is divided into 17 sections to help you find what you are looking for in the shortest possible time. This is a really handy guide to have and refer to whenever you need to.

Italian words have been migrating to English over the course of many centuries, so you’ll be happy to discover you already know quite a bit of Italian (mafia, paparazzi, graffiti, ghetto, pianoforte, lasagne…to name a few). Many English words have also been adopted in Italian (club, flirt, shopping…).
Happy travelling!

Emergency

Emergency: Emergenza
HELP!: AIUTO!
DANGER: PERICOLO
FIRE!: FUOCO!
LOOK OUT!: ATTENZIONE!
Quick: presto

Get help quickly: chiami aiuto, presto
Get a Doctor: chiami un medico
There’s been an accident: c’é stato un incidente
I’m ill: sto male/ mi sento male
Call the police: chiami la polizia!
Police headquarters: questura
Thief!: Ladro!
My….has been stolen: mi hanno rubato...
I’ve lost my...: Ho perso...
Handbag: la mia borsetta
Passport: il mio passaporto
Wallett: il mio portafoglio
Documents: i documenti
Money: soldi
I’m lost: mi sono perso/a
Go away: Se ne vada
Leave me alone: mi lasci in pace
Poison: veleno

Loving Rabbi Thalia Kleinman by Gary Morgenstein

2009-06-11T06:00:00.000-07:00

What happens when a hopelessly romantic divorced man falls madly in love with a beautiful woman rabbi -- but he's not yet over his ex-wife? In other words, why are relationships always so difficult? Especially when you’re starting over again with all that baggage…

Welcome to Gary Morgenstein’s new novel, Loving Rabbi Thalia Kleinman, a look at love in the 21st Century from a man’s perspective: good, bad and everything in between.

As this poignant romantic triangle opens, women’s cable network publicist Joss Katz crashes a bat-mitzvah and becomes smitten with the enigmatic Rabbi Kleinman. Desperate to meet her, Joss contrives a wild excuse about needing spiritual guidance and they begin a roller-coaster relationship.

But Kleinman has a past shadowed by terrorism. She manipulates Joss into mentoring her younger brother Bobby. Brilliant and troubled, Bobby is embroiled with Meir Schlom, who has a dangerous and controversial scheme for confronting surging world-wide anti-Semitism.

Besides pursuing Thalia and his kooky former spouse Ellen, Joss deals with his curmudgeonly roommate and best friend, Mandelbaum. Embittered by his messy divorce, Mandy creates an organization dedicated to a life free of entanglements with women called Straight and Happy Without Them.

Gary Morgenstein’s previous novels are Take Me Out to the Ballgame and The Man Who Wanted to Play Center Field for the New York Yankees. His latest novel Jesse’s Girl, about a widowed Brooklyn father’s desperate search for his adopted teenage son who has run away from a wilderness treatment program, is also available on Amazon.com. His play Ponzi Man played to sell-out crowds at a recent New York Fringe Festival.

Interview with Gary Morgenstein:

1. Why did you write this book?

A few years ago I was dragged to a synagogue for a friend's daughter's bat mitzvah. Now while I’m very spiritual, I don't fare too well in organized religion. So I'm sitting there pretty bored and then onto the dais walks the most beautiful woman I've ever seen. My knees buckled -- and I was sitting down. I nudge this guy who is praying and whisper, "who is that woman?" and he mumbles, "the rabbi." Holy smokes. The rabbis I knew as a kid reeked of gefilte fish and were 130-year-old men. So I thought, what if a guy like me, completely secular, fell in love with a gorgeous woman rabbi? I brought in what it's like to be middle-aged and divorced, yet you're still a hopeless romantic and you want to believe in love but experience tells you, maybe not. Is love possible again after a certain age when you’re no longer looking to breed?

2. Do you read a lot of romances? How does a romance by a female author differ from one by a male author, do you think?

While my reading ranges from history to sci-fi and fantasy, with little romances in between (well there is Uhura and Spock now…), men and women view relationships fundamentally different. Big surprise, Venus, Mars…It grows more pronounced over the years as we add on baggage and suspicions. But we’re all lonely and all looking for someone who would care if we fell down an elevator shaft. We all want to hold hands and snuggle and whatever…In this novel, I want women to see what guys want, how we feel, and I do mean feel (and not just lust), our perspectives about love and romance and sex or the lack thereof. How we are emotional and sensitive and can cry and hurt, too. And guess what, we’re not perfect! My protagonist Joss Katz is about as imperfect as they come, cute, okay, but he is constantly messing up. Guys require a great deal of patience and understanding, we ain’t cactuses, but, for the most part, our hearts are in the right place.

3. What was the most difficult part of writing this book?

As an SFM (someone formerly married) I needed to separate that emotional baggage and turn it into fiction and not a rant. Taking what happened and using that as a foundation for entirely new, fictitious characters was at times very hard because it’s easy to use reality as a crutch, but I’m proud that some 95% of the novel never ever happened. I must confess those two online dates in the novel were pretty close to reality, though. OMG, people post pictures from the second Reagan Administration and then get angry when you don’t recognize them. And sure, guys do it, too.

4. What was the most fun?

Other than finishing, you mean, and not being obsessed 24/7 with the characters and story and whether I misused a semi-colon? Other than once again resembling a semi-normal human being, as much as a writer ever can? I think writing the wacky and passionately loyal friendship between Joss and his best friend Mandy, spanning more than 35 years of love; two guys who would do anything for each other. It was and is a very special relationship to me

5. What do you hope readers will take away from your book?

Never give up on love. That’s a difficult mantra since the preponderance of relationships/marriages fail and, if superficially alive, are as often as not merely convenient shells for financial needs or the kids. Yeah, because children never suspect their parents aren’t happy, I mean come on…But love can still happen. I wouldn’t say it’s all that likely and you might be disappointed and your heart might be broken again but you know, so what? Better to have loved and lost…

Daniel's Den by Brandt Dodson

2009-06-08T06:00:00.000-07:00

In this fast–paced thriller by popular author Brandt Dodson, a young government accountant learns to trust God when his life begins to fall apart and unseen enemies pursue him with relentless zeal.

Daniel Borden is a thirty–year–old government accountant who lives a quiet life and plays by the rules. But when events transpire that shatter his orderly world and a team of assassins mark him for death, Daniel must flee for his life.

While on the run, Daniel encounters Laura Sky. Carefree and easygoing, Laura is everything that Daniel isn’t. But when the killers assigned to eliminate Daniel find him at Laura’s bed–and–breakfast, gunfire erupts and the two set out on the run once again.

As they try to unravel the mystery that confronts them, they discover how tenuous life can be and how their very existence depends on the God who will never abandon them.

A perfect suspense tale for readers who love Dee Henderson, James Scott Bell, Brandilyn Collins, and James Patterson.

Interview with Brandt Dodson:

1. What do you love most about this book?

I’m a big believer that books – whether they are fiction or non-fiction – should convey an element of truth. It’s my personal opinion that fiction can do this in a way that biographies, essays, or other works of non-fiction never could. Story is powerful. It puts us in the character’s place and lets us feel their emotions as they confront the challenges that are common to us all.

In Daniel’s Den, I wanted to take two very different people and put them against the same obstacle. On the one hand we have Daniel Borden, a wealthy and secure individual who has yielded to the temptation of relying on his material wealth while he surrenders his dream of having a family to the dustbin of hopelessness.
On the other hand, we have Laura Traynor who has surrendered her own dreams of being a writer as she tries to fulfill her late husband’s dream of running a bed-and-breakfast.

Daniel is relying on his wealth, Laura is relying on her own efforts, but neither is relying on the God who has been with them all along – if they had just been willing to surrender their dreams to Him. My favorite part of the books is when Laura realizes that God was in the valley (figuratively and literally) all along. Symbolism and setting play heavily in nearly everything I write, but more so with Daniel’s Den.

2. What was the most challenging part to write?

I knew from the beginning that this book was going to center on the financial industry. My greatest challenge was going to be how I could portray a world of numbers, profit, and greed in an entertaining yet realistic way. If I lose my readers early in the book, I lose them for good. So trying to illustrate just how corrupt and greedy some – and I want to stress some – of Wall street’s power brokers can be was going to take a great deal of effort. At the time Daniel’s Den was written, the goings-on of Wall Street and the CEO world were not making the news the way they are now.

3. What do you want folks to get from reading this book?

I write because I have something to say. That being said, however, it is important that the reader comes away from the book having been entertained. But beyond that, it is my hope that the reader comes away with the same realization as Laura Traynor. “God was there all along. But my bitterness clouded my view of Him.”
There is a scene (no spoiler alert needed) in a hotel when Laura is expressing her anger toward God. As she does, she is looking out the window across the lake that lies beyond the building. A storm is brewing and lightning is flashing and she says that God is, “not going to come walking across the water on this night.” But in fact, that is exactly what happens – even if only in a figurative sense.

4. Why an investment analyst?

There are very few things that we rely on more than money. If the bank account is full, we are happy. If it’s not, we become fearful. Not only does this apply to individuals, but nations as well.

I think we as a church have failed the un-churched and the un-saved in this regard. We tell them that money doesn’t buy happiness, but the fact is – it does, even if it’s only temporary.

Think not? If your child is in dire need of an antibiotic and has a very painful, raging ear infection you will become quite happy if the money to buy the antibiotic suddenly becomes available. And none of us will turn down a pay raise.
But money doesn’t buy lasting happiness. In fact, it can often cloud our view of the only true source of happiness.

I chose an investment analyst for the protagonist of this story because I wanted to illustrate that Daniel Borden is a man that has gone beyond the level to which most of us will go. He isn’t content working at a great paying job or living within his means. He wants it all. He is chasing the dollar because that is the perceived source of his happiness – lasting happiness, in his case.

But of course, he is dead wrong.

5. What’s next for you?

I’m returning to my roots. I’m happiest when writing fast-paced crime thrillers.