Literarily Speaking

Wednesday, October 31, 2018

Book Review: Our Secret Powers by Terje Gerotti Simonsen

thewriterslife October 31, 2018 2 Comments

Title: OUR SECRET POWERS: TELEPATHY, CLAIRVOYANCE AND PRECOGNITION
Author: Terje Gerotti Simonsen
Publisher: Pari Publishing
Pages: 528
Genre: Nonfiction/Spiritual/Consciousness/Paranormal

BOOK BLURB:

Is the paranormal normal?

Many readers will be surprised when learning that reputable scientists, among them several Nobel laureates, have claimed that telepathy is a reality. Their curiosity will increase when reading that both Cleopatra’s lost palace and Richard III’s burial place were recovered by means of clairvoyance. And some will think it to be sheer science fiction when finding out about Stargate––the espionage program where the American military and CIA for 20 years engaged in the development of psychic spies!

Simonsen, a Norwegian historian of ideas, introduces an array of entertaining paranormal tales from history, archaeology, anthropology and psychology, and presents scientific research that has provided fascinating results. He argues that the stories we hear about telepathy, clairvoyance and precognition ought not to be dismissed as superstition.

In step with spiritual and occult traditions, the author suggests that consciousness is not limited to our own head. Rather he thinks that all humans (and perhaps all living beings) are linked together in a “Mental Internet.’ Via this network we may exchange ‘telepathic emails’ with friends and family and make clairvoyant ‘downloads’ of information. Thus perhaps what we usually call ‘supernatural’ is completely natural but little understood communications via this Mental Internet?

Our Secret Powers gives us a thoughtful and engaging presentation of a controversial subject and would make an excellent travel companion.

ORDER YOUR COPY:

Amazon

Review:

I always find it interesting that ordinary people unravel the deepest and sometimes darkest tragedies just by 'knowing.' What I mean by that is some of us are born with gifts - probably all of us have at least one gift if we know what to zero in on - that lead experts to solve crimes in fact. The world is divided between those who say it's all hogwash or coincidences or that those other people have a screw loose or two and then...there are those who know what to look for and use their gifts for the good of mankind.

When Terje Gerotti Simonsen's Our Secret Powers: Telepathy, Clairvoyance and Precognition became available for review, I was so excited. Yes, I am one of those believers in gifts but I wanted more and Our Secret Powers provided just that.

The tales inside this book are so amazing! This was exactly the book I was looking for because to have someone tell me instead of show me doesn't have that same oomph. Proof...that's what I believe will convince naysayers, but I digress....

This guide has everything you need to find out about the paranormal, Sixth Sense, mysticism, psychic phenomena, clairvoyance, and more!

Strongly recommend!

A Bookish Conversation with Jennifer Chase, Author of 'Scene of the Crime'

thewriterslife October 31, 2018 0 Comments

“The darkness still loomed around him, but there was a quietness that overcame him.

A brief hundredth of a second, a peculiar whizzing noise filled Roger’s ears and then a brutal blow struck his head and knocked him off his feet. With a ringing in his head and a groggy consciousness, he tried to sit up but more savage blows pummeled his body. It sounded as if a tree splintered just before it fell in the forest. His breath caught in his lungs. Everything went dark.

The anonymous whispers stopped.

All buzzing in his ears stopped.

Roger Case’s heart stopped too.”

From Scene of the Crime by Jennifer Chase

Jennifer Chase is a multi award-winning and best-selling crime fiction author, as well as a consulting criminologist. Jennifer holds a bachelor degree in police forensics and a master's degree in criminology & criminal justice. These academic pursuits developed out of her curiosity about the criminal mind as well as from her own experience with a violent sociopath, providing Jennifer with deep personal investment in every story she tells. In addition, she holds certifications in serial crime and criminal profiling. She is an affiliate member of the International Association of Forensic Criminologists, and member of the International Thriller Writers. Her latest book is Scene of the Crime, Book 2 in the Palmer Forensic Mystery series.

Book Description:

A calculating cold-blooded predator closes in…

When a community has barely recovered from a ruthless serial killer six months earlier; now two more horrifying murders hit the radar again. It leaves police burdened with two of the most shockingly contaminated crime scenes ever documented in California’s law enforcement history. The Slayer works behind the scenes as a sinister puppet master, precisely pulling the strings, taunting the police without leaving any viable evidence, and orchestrating his killer hit squads.

The sheriff and district attorney bring in the best investigators. Reunited again, Dr. Chip Palmer, a reclusive forensic expert, joins DA Inspector Kate Rawlins to sort through the crime scene aftermath in search of the truth—all without a probable suspect or a solid motive. Complicating the investigation—sparks reignite between the two.

Ratcheting up the suspense, Chip suffers a nasty fall hitting his head, impairing his perception and giving him a mind-blowing ability for specific detailed recall. Palmer and Rawlins assemble an unusual team including a rookie detective, a forensic supervisor, and an ex-military operative turned bodyguard. After one of their own is kidnapped and the investigation is taken over by the FBI, the now rogue team must pull together their own resources—alone—with a killer waiting to take each one of them out. Scene of the Crime takes no prisoners and leaves everyone fighting to stay alive.

Interview:

Welcome Jennifer! Can we begin by having you tell us how you got started writing mysteries? Did the movies influence you? Books?

Jennifer: Books, movies, news headlines, true crime stories have all inspired my writing. I’ve loved books ever since I was old enough to appreciate the amazing stories at the library. Mysteries have a special place for me. I love puzzles, forensic evidence, and the delicate balance of the human psyche of what makes a person do the things they do. I’ve always written stories and screenplays, but it was not until 2008 did I chose to write novels professionally and I have not looked back.

Do you find writing mysteries comes natural to you or did you struggle sometimes?

Jennifer: I think when you love something, it comes a bit more easily and you don’t have to fight as hard. I have more ideas than I could ever write in a lifetime. It’s difficult to turn off the writer’s brain sometimes. These ideas come to me when I’m basically anywhere, running errands, exercising, driving, and even in the shower.

Do you think someone could be a writer if they don’t feel emotions strongly?

Jennifer: Anyone can write. You have to sit down with something to say and convey it to the reader. But, I do feel that you have to understand emotions, not necessarily feel all of them in order to express emotions in your characters that readers will respond to. It helps, for example, that if you’ve felt great loss or extreme fear at some time in your life to write those strong emotions with conviction.

Do you view writing as a kind of spiritual practice?

Jennifer: That’s a very interesting question. The way I see it, at least for me, is that it’s the ultimate expression to tell a story and have your readers experience an incredible journey understanding what you’re trying to express. My first novel, Compulsion, was actually similar to therapy for me as I wrote it. I had experienced a violent psychopath neighbor, so being able to write through my stress and experiences was very liberating.

How hard is it to establish and maintain a career in fiction writing?

Jennifer: It’s a difficult balancing act. I don’t mean to sound pessimistic, but it is challenging field because there’s no sure thing in this career. There are definite successful levels that you can achieve, such as a best seller and award winner, but that doesn’t mean you’ve now have it made. Every book you write there is always some type challenge you must meet and overcome.

Can you tell us a little about the main characters of your book, Scene of the Crime?

Jennifer: Taunting the police and orchestrating killer hit squads, The Slayer is the ultimate puppet master. He believes that he has discovered the recipe for the perfect murder.

Dr. Chip Palmer, a reclusive forensic expert, joins DA Inspector Kate Rawlins, together they are reunited as a team to sort through the crime scene aftermath in search of the truth—leaving them vulnerable and fighting to stay alive. But that still doesn’t stop the sparks to ignite between them.

What was the hardest scene to write?

Jennifer: With my background in criminology and profiling, most would think that writing from the mind of a serial killer would be easy. To some degree it is for me, but it takes the most energy and effort to create the killer in a way that doesn’t seem contrived and superficial. I make sure that I put aside enough time with breaks to complete this part of the book.

They say all books of fiction have at least one pivotal point when the reader just can’t put the book down. Can you give us one of those pivotal points in your book?

Jennifer: Without giving anything away, there will be someone within the underdog team that will be kidnapped and you’re not going to see it coming. Everything changes from that point on for the characters.

Will there be a follow up book to Scene of the Crime or other books in the near future?

Jennifer: Absolutely. I love creating mysteries for Dr. Chip Palmer to solve. Evidence of the Crime will be out early 2019. In addition, Dark Lies from the Emily Stone Thriller Series will be out this fall.

Thank you so much for the interview!

# Interviews

Monday, October 29, 2018

A Bookish Conversation with Sheila Roberts, Author of 'Winter at the Beach'

thewriterslife October 29, 2018 0 Comments

“

Someplace good, she realized as she crawled into bed. A holiday festival was bound to lure people to town. Who didn’t like fairs and festivals, especially holiday ones? She could see it now—the storefronts all lit up with multicolored lights, trees in the restaurants decorated with glittery shells and little lighthouses and mermaids, amusement rides and cotton candy and hot chocolate down at the pier, a live Nativity scene in front of one of the churches. And a Christmas parade with Santa bringing up the rear for a grand finale. You had to include Santa. In fact, the jolly old guy was such a draw, maybe they could include his name in the festival. Sandy Claus? No, that was too close to

Sandy Claws, the pet goodies shop. Santa in the Sand? That sounded like he’d gotten his sleigh stuck. Santa at Sea. Sea, seaside… Seaside with Santa! Oh, that had a nice ring to it. Come to Moonlight Harbor and experience the Seaside with Santa Festival. Waves of fun! Wow, was she brilliant.” –From Winter at the Beach by Sheila Roberts

USA Today best-selling author Sheila Roberts has seen over fifty books, both fiction and non-fiction in print. Her novels have appeared in many different languages and been made into movies for both the Lifetime and Hallmark Channels. She writes about things near and dear to women’s hearts – love, friendship, family and chocolate.

Book Description:

Jenna Jones, manager of the Driftwood Inn, a vintage motel in the Washington beach town of Moonlight Harbor, is convinced that a winter festival would be a great way to draw visitors (and tourist business) to town during those off-season months. Everyone in the local chamber of commerce is on board with her Seaside with Santa festival idea except one naysayer, local sour lemon, Susan Frank, who owns a women’s clothing boutique in town. The beach gets hit with storms in the winter, no one will come, too close to Christmas. Blah, blah. What does Susan know?

It turns out that Susan knows a lot. A big storm hits during the weekend of the festival, wreaking

havoc with the parade and producing power outages all over town. Including at the Driftwood Inn.
Jenna finds herself with a motel filled with people, all with no power. What to do? Enlist the help of friends, of course. Her friends take in many of the stranded visitors, and Jenna and her Aunt Edie take in the others, stuffing them into Aunt Edie’s house next door to the Driftwood.

All the guests come with their own unique stories. The last thing Taylor Marsh wanted was a getaway with her husband. His refusal to give up on his dying business is taking them down financially and killing their marriage. But her sister Sarah (she who has her financial act together and never lets her sister forget it) insists this will be fun for both their families. It will only be fun for Taylor if her husband gets eaten by a giant squid. Then there’s Darrel Wilson, who planned the perfect anniversary getaway for his wife, who’s been undergoing chemo. So much for the perfect anniversary. And the sisters, Lisa and Karen, who can’t seem to go on a sister outing without it turning into a Lucy and Ethel adventure. Unlikely roommates, all of them. But perhaps each one has a valuable lesson to share with the others. And perhaps, what looked like a disaster will prove to be the best holiday adventure of all.

Interview:

Welcome, Sheila! So excited about your second book in the Moonlight Harbor series. Winter at the Beach is looking like it’s going to be just as exciting as Welcome to Moonlight Harbor. Are the same characters in this book that were in your first book of the series? If no, can you tell us about them? If yes, can you refresh everyone’s memory of who is in it?

Sheila: Yes, you will be spending time with characters from the first book once more: Jenna Jones, who runs the Driftwood Inn, her Aunt Edie and Pete the mooching handyman as well as good old Jolly Roger the parrot. Jenna’s sister will be on hand, too, to help with winter disasters. But you’ll also meet some new people who are about to share some bonding experiences at the beach when Jenna’s well-laid plans go awry.

Over the years, what would you say has improved significantly in your writing?

Sheila: Oh, my. That’s a hard question to answer. I hope my writing voice has improved and I hope I’ve managed to achieve more depth in my stories right along with the humor.

Do you proofread and edit your work on your own or pay someone to do it for you?

Sheila: I edit my own work but, thankfully, I also have the editor and copy editor at my publishing house to watch over me. I’m not always good with details, and when you’re building a town it’s easy to lose track of things. Even with people helping I know stuff falls through the cracks sometimes. We do the best we can and hope readers will enjoy the stories no matter what.

Do you believe a book cover plays an important role in the selling process?

Sheila: I know I’m initially drawn to a great cover. Of course, we all have a different definition of what a great cover looks like. I think my publisher has done a wonderful job with mine. Of course, in the long run I think it’s the story that brings readers back for the next book.

What did you want to become when you were a kid?

Sheila: I never thought that far ahead. But I can tell you this, I was already writing stories when I was in grade school.

Do your novels carry a message?

Sheila: I think, often there is a message underlying every story. The specifics may vary, but I think the basic message is “Don’t give up. Hang in there and keep working toward your happy ending.”

Is there anything you’d like to tell your fans?

Sheila: I appreciate you all. So much.

# Interviews

Friday, October 19, 2018

A Bookish Conversation with Daniel Kenner, Co-Author of 'Room for Grace'

thewriterslife October 19, 2018 0 Comments

“Dr. David Sanfred, our family practitioner, walked into my room at 6:45 a.m. and stood at the end of my hospital bed. “Maureen, we’re getting ready to send you home soon,” he said. And then, “It’s time to talk.”

It was time to face what I’d avoided all week.

“I’m sorry to tell you, but it’s very serious.” Though by our family’s side for many difficult situations, I’d never heard Dr. Sanfred’s tone this methodical. “We thought it was Stage 1 but the cancer metastasized from the colon to your umbilicus and has advanced to Stage 4.””

--From Room for Grace by Daniel and Maureen Kenner

Daniel Kenner rocked out to Bob Dylan’s “Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door” while other infants sang “Mary Had A Little Lamb.” A proud member of Actor’s Equity, SAG-AFTRA, and National Players Tour 60, Daniel was a Presidential Arts Scholar at George Washington University and Scholarship recipient at The British American Drama Academy. Directed the Washington D.C. premier of Sarah Kane’s Crave. Author of the manuscript, Roux. Winner of the Rhode Island Playwriting Festival for his World War II letters home drama, Fields of Sacrifice. Adapted Les Misérables for high school stages.

Maureen Kenner’s heart was in the classroom. For thirty-five years she was a Special Education teacher in the Providence Public Schools. Born and raised in Dobbs Ferry, New York, Maureen graduated from Rhode Island College with a degree in education and later earned a Master’s Degree from Providence College. Maureen was a vital influence at the Vartan Gregorian Elementary School at Fox Point, working tirelessly as a mentor for the betterment of all children and their families. Honored with many accolades throughout her career, Maureen was awarded Providence Teacher of the Year in 2003. Living with cancer, as a model patient, Maureen exemplified integrity, courage, grace, and hope. For thirty-one years, through sickness and health, Maureen was the beloved soul mate to the late Jacob “Buddy” Kenner, her intense love recognized in 2016 as a Rhode Island Caregiver of the Year.

Book Description:

Stage 4 cancer for her and a debilitating disease for her husband: life crashed down in an instant. Maureen Kenner found resilience, however, in the lessons she learned from her Special Ed students in Providence, RI. Her students lived with their hearts opened despite struggles of the highest magnitude. Through these students, Maureen gains courage, humor, and the strength of spirit to face her devastating realities, head on. Maureen’s oral history was captured by her son Daniel who tenderly wrought this book out of their recorded conversations. Through anecdotes and hard-earned lessons, Maureen tackles challenge after challenge and reframes daily struggles with a positive outlook allowing her to transcend and conquer mortal fears with dignity and room for grace.

Interview:

Welcome Daniel! What an interesting background you have. Do you believe that your other interests such as adopting Les Miserables for high school stages provided a solid background for eventually becoming an author?

Daniel: Absolutely. I’ve gravitated towards stories and visual arts since I was young. Bob Dylan and John Grisham were my favorite writers by the time I was eleven years old. My dad’s bookshelf was full of plays, everything from classical to the absurd to the theater of cruelty. I was in heaven. There was always so much to absorb. And then, I wanted to find my own voice, and I think I was able to find that through the process of creation. To tell a story. To play. The dance of the controllable and the uncontrollable. I became obsessed with the idea of what would I leave behind. What would symbolize my life, my meaning? So to me, creation was vital. Our world is patched together with the human capacity for love and over time, through poetic meditations of love, loss and desire, I’ve found ways to create the art of my experience, my interests and my existence.

Were you a detail freak when it came to writing your book, Room for Grace?

Daniel: I had to be. My mom got cancer five months after my dad was diagnosed with dementia. We had to make a lot of lemonade if you know what I mean. My dad, my idol, was disappearing. It was the disease. I had to have a project that would keep me close, that would give me a purpose. There were nurses and doctors, social workers and volunteers, but I felt like I could help by listening to their story. And to try to capture it in some way. So yes, I definitely became frantic about writing and recording the stories. Preserving my family’s legacy. My dad was losing his ability to communicate. I had to be sure that my mom’s voice was heard. It took three years to complete Room For Grace but I can hear my mom very clearly. And I’m very proud of that.

Finding out your mom had stage 4 cancer must have been devastating and I know this is a hard thing to talk about, but how did you get through it without crumbling?

Daniel: I allowed myself to crumble. I was very low and very depressed, unmotivated. There was stasis. I couldn’t move. I mean both of my parents in such a short amount of time, really? But they were soul mates. It’s almost not surprising now when I think about it. But for a very long time, before I had Room For Grace, a project to keep me close, a project that filled my heart with purpose, I was angry and my faith was basically demolished. It was like a perpetual snow storm. All the routes I had learned through life were suddenly blocked and impossible to see. There was a lot of sadness and isolation and confusion.

I’m sure it was an emotional ride reliving everything to write your book. What was your driving force?

Daniel: The first year was daunting. There were so many hours of oral history tapes. It took a long time to transcribe. It was slow going. Then in the summer of 2016, my dad fell down the stairs which resulted in an incomplete spinal cord injury. He was basically bedridden for the last six months of his life. He counted on nurses and family for all activities of daily living. Then a month and a half later, my mom went on hospice. It was my thirtieth birthday. She had done 63 chemos. We were told she had weeks to months to live. The first draft of Room For Grace was my last Christmas gift to her. I needed her to hold it. To be proud of a life well lived.

What do you believe people will learn after reading your book?

Daniel: There’s an existential force about how to handle the tragedies and situations in life. No one gets out unscathed. We’re going to have scars, and there’s going to be repercussions for sure, and hurt, and all of those things, but we have to acknowledge how much work it really takes. When it hits the fan, you got to stand firm. You can’t turn away because when you finally do face it, it’s just going to have morphed into something different and probably more difficult. A lot of what happens early on in tragedy shapes the healing of the future. Going forward. I can’t underestimate the importance of that. And some people will walk away from tragedy. They just can’t handle it. And I guess there’s time for that, but trauma should allow you to see the good in people, the positives of tragedy. If Mom and Dad did all the hard work by themselves, they would never have had the chance to realize how big their community was. My parents embraced the concept of “yes,” and allowed others to carry them when they needed to be carried. “Yes” shows love and trust and respect. It’s an art. There are givers and there are takers. As humans, we want to help others in need. Mom knew how to be a good teacher, but she had to relearn how to be an exceptional student. She made the decision to say “yes” to every opportunity because she wasn’t sure which piece would be the piece that helped. Mom and Dad knew the value of community effort and by allowing others in, our family, friends and neighbors got to see the best of themselves. It was an opportunity for others to come to the rescue. If everything was perfect we wouldn’t see the opportunities for empathy, compassion, generosity of spirit. To gain the positive, those traits, those qualities. The insight of acquiring grace, if you will, and the intuitive sensitivity and wonderment for the world. That belief in yourself, that you are a good caring person, that you are capable, that you are smart, loved beyond measure and that you have a great responsibility to do your fair share. To find out who you are supposed to be in the world and how to share that with the world. To live a life that’s not self-centered but centered on helping others because when you do that, you learn about yourself and where your talents lie. And where your weakness lay as well. And then, like Tony Kushner wrote at the end of Angels In America, you can let the great work begin.

What’s next for you?

Daniel: A glass of lemonade. And I feel like singing, so I think I’ll put on the original cast recording of Les Miserables.

# Interviews

Monday, October 15, 2018

A Bookish Conversation with Marian L. Thomas, Author of 'The Caged Butterfly' @marianlthomas01 #womensfiction #VBT

thewriterslife October 15, 2018 0 Comments

“I want you to laugh a lot. I believe that laughing is like a sweet-smelling aroma for the soul and the heart. I used to laugh all the time. Back when life was good and innocent, and I was good and innocent.

Don’t prove my dream a lie.

Don’t be a caged butterfly.

Become something and someone that is even better than what I could see.

I don’t know what your new parents will call you, but in my heart, I whispered Thomas Gray Livingston III in your ears, if you be a boy. Mama thinks that you are and like I said before, she ain’t never wrong.

If I could give you one piece of advice, I’d tell you this—love the skin you’re in.”

From The Caged Butterfly by Marian L. Thomas

Award-Winning Author and Speaker, Marian L. Thomas, has penned five engaging novels to date. Her books have been seen on national television stations such as the Oprah Winfrey Network, Ovation, and the A&E Network. She has been featured in print magazines, newspapers and a guest on local, national and online radio stations. For her book, I Believe In Butterflies, Marian ranked among the top 100 Most Popular Authors in Literary Fiction on Amazon. She spent most of her teen years in Oak Park, Illinois, but now resides in a suburb of Atlanta with her husband. She enjoys a good bag of popcorn, a plate full of pasta, and a grape pop.

Book Description:

Who Would Think That One Act of Love Could Affect Four Generations?

On December 29, 1930, Mildred "Millie" Mayfield gave birth to a beautiful baby girl, Addie. Millie teaches Addie three things that she feels matters most in life; inner beauty, reading books and giving your “special something’ only to the man you marry. Addie lives up to the first two. On one autumn night in 1949, Addie falls for the irresistible red curls and vibrant green eyes of a young man from the other side of the railroad tracks. Neither knowing that the consequences of their love would have lasting effects. Known as one of the greatest white jazz pianists in New York, Timmy Taylor never had a reason to question his identity – until truth and betrayal strike. Will Timmy be able to push past the pain? Beautiful and talented, Nina Taylor inherited her father's gift, but not his looks. Certain that's how he made it big, she dives deep into an obsession that could be deadly. Will Nina learn to love the skin she’s in before it’s too late? Spanning from 1920 to 1996, this captivating tale of secrets, betrayal, and forgiveness will pull at the strings of your heart, and keep you turning pages while you pray for a happy ending.

Interview:

Welcome, Marian! So excited about your new book, The Caged Butterfly. Can you tell everyone why you wrote it?

Marian: When an idea for a book comes to mind, it’s hard to dismiss it. The Caged Butterfly, was no different. I wanted to write a book that was rich in ‘real-life’ dialogue and captured the essence of

what we, as women, go through. Love, heartache, loss and even a little betrayal from those we love most if we’re truly honest with ourselves.

Also, I love books that show how the decisions we make, affect the generations that come after us. There’s real truth in that journey.

The prologue made me cry (an excerpt is above). Can you tell us a little about your main characters?

Marian: First, let me say that I love these characters. The reader’s introduced to each of them through the first-person narrative.

Addie Mayfield is a young southern woman who falls in love with a young man from the other side of the railroad tracks.

Mildred ‘Millie’ Mayfield is Addie’s mother. She’s a strong-minded, morally-driven woman with three main beliefs in life: inner-beauty is the core of a woman, reading books is vital, and young women should only give their something ‘special’ to the man they will marry.

Timmy Taylor is fighting the bitterness of the past through the keys of his piano.

Nina Taylor is a young woman who must learn what it means to love the skin you’re in before her decisions in life take her down a path that could be life-threatening.

If someone found themselves being a caged butterfly, what kind of advice or wisdom can you give them?

Marian: There’s freedom in believing in yourself and strength in loving someone with all your heart. Don’t be afraid of either of them. Without love and belief, where would we be?

What was it like growing up as a child and what did you want to become when you grew up?

Marian: When I was a youngster, as they say, I wanted to be a journalist. Although, this revelation didn’t hit me until I was wrapping up high school. Before that, I was into drawing with charcoal, tie-dying and working with clay.

My mother sent me to various art classes, and I even represented my high school at a State Art competition, during my freshmen year.

What do you attribute your fine art of storytelling? Does it come naturally?

Marian: For me, the recipe for storytelling comes from a few cups of life experience, a heaping spoon of learning from other storytellers, and a dash of natural ability.

When you're not writing, what do you do for fun?

Marian: My husband and I enjoy the beach. I also enjoy sappy or funny movies, and I get a real kick out of watching a good Sci-Fi movie on a Friday night with a giant bowl of popcorn.

Is there anything you'd like to tell your fans?

Marian: Let’s stay connected. Feel free to follow me on Twitter, like me on Facebook, and by all means, please hit the ‘follow’ button if you’re a member of Bookbub.

# Interviews

Wednesday, October 10, 2018

A Bookish Conversation with Nancy Gray, Author of 'Spine Chillers: Big Bad Wolf'

thewriterslife October 10, 2018 0 Comments

"Mrs. Rose walked in front of them and said, “First of all, congratulations on all of your parts. Since this is a Halloween play, I chose the rolls based on who could portray their parts in a suitably ominous way. Remember, these are fractured fairy tales, so nothing is supposed to end well. And, the common element in all of them will be the big, bad wolf.”

Patrick stood up and gave a quick bow.

Jane thought, “Show off…”"

Mrs. Rose continued, “The main theme is Little Red Riding Hood, but as you can see, there will be elements from other stories incorporated. While she’s going to grandma’s house, she’ll run into Snow White being chased by the woodsman, and themes from other stories as well, as she continues to get lost further and further in the woods.”

-- From Spine Chillers: Big Bad Wolf by Nancy Gray

Nancy Gray has published a number of works including her middle grade series Spine Chillers. She also published her YA fantasy series Blood Rain. Her short story “Chosen” appeared in Jim Henson’s The Dark Crystal Author Quest: a Penguin Special from Grosset & Dunlap. Her work also appears in various anthologies.

Nancy Gray has been writing for over ten years. Gray lives in South Carolina with her husband and two daughters. She enjoys books, video games, anime, manga, and horror.

Her latest book is the mid-grade horror, Spine Chillers: Big Bad Wolf.

Book Description:

Jane is ecstatic when she gets the role of Red Riding Hood in her school play, but she didn’t realize that they’d be using the stuffed wolf prop as the Big Bad Wolf. That tattered old prop has always scared her and, lately, she has been having strange dreams about it that make it seem like it’s something more.

Jane will have to get help to save herself from the hungry spirit that has haunted her people and her nightmares before it consumes her, or worse, escapes the prison of the last creature it took to sate its horrible appetite.

Interview:

Welcome back, Nancy. So excited about your second book in the Spine Chillers series. Big Bad Wolf is looking like it’s going to be just as exciting as The Scarecrow. So can you tell us where this book takes us?

Nancy: This book will take you into the mind of the main character, Jane, where she is chased by a cannibal spirit determined to consume her body and soul. Jane has nightmares about a gray forest that she instinctually knows but can’t place from where. It is the hunting grounds where the spirits of her ancestors have wandered. She is dressed as Little Red Riding Hood, the role from her school play, but something wolf-like and wild is chasing her and her cape stands out like blood against a white canvas. Jane will have to be clever and seek help to escape from the nightmare creature that haunts her dreams and will have to come to know her heritage to banish the spirit before it’s too late.

Are the same characters in Big Bad Wolf that was in The Scarecrow? If no, can you tell us about them?

Nancy: There is a cameo from Sophie in the beginning of the book. She tells the main character, Jane, that she won’t be able to see her play because she’s visiting her cousin at the farm. It’s assumed that Sophie’s story is going on at the same time as Jane is encountering her own monster.

Jane is part of the drama club. This year she has finally gotten the lead role in a play. The play is about fractured fairy tales and she is playing “Little Red Riding Hood.” Jane’s dream is to one day be an actress on Broadway. After she accepts the role, she finds out that they will be using the taxidermy wolf in the prop room beneath the stage as the wolf in the play. Something about the wolf scares her. After that, she has nightmares where she is being chased by the wolf. Jane soon discovers that Native American legends are more than just stories and her bloodline means more than she knew.

Over the years, what would you say has improved significantly in your writing?

Nancy: Many things have improved over the years. It’s almost painful to look back at my old work knowing how bad it actually was. My grammatical errors have gotten better. I don’t repeat words as much. I had an issue with putting the wrong punctuation at the beginning of dialogue that I fixed recently.

Stylistically speaking, I don’t feel the need to change the perspective of the story to someone other than the main character. This was a style that I used a lot in my early work, but I found that it detracted from the action of the story. Also sometimes a reader doesn’t like the secondary character as much as the first. By changing perspectives they have to go through an entire chapter wishing they got back to what happened to the character they identified the most with. Generally this is the first character they are introduced to, so I’m glad I don’t make this mistake anymore.

And finally, I think I actually do have a style now. I tend to describe things while leaving enough to the imagination of the reader to fill in the blanks. I also try to make my writing straightforward, but I don’t talk down to my audience. I don’t feel the need to use overly flowery language to describe a scene, but I don’t shy away from big words either. I feel like as a writer I can always improve, but at least I can already see major improvements.

Do you proofread and edit your work on your own or pay someone to do it for you?

Nancy: I proof my own work initially, but I do have some grammatical issues that sometimes I don’t notice. So I send my work to those better qualified. I’m fortunate that many people in my family are skilled when it comes to grammar and can double check my work. My problems aren’t huge problems, mostly comma usage and repeating words too often. I feel grammar is important in my finished work especially since it is geared towards middle school children. (Apologies if my grammar isn’t excellent during these questions. I am writing this while prepping for a hurricane to hit my state.)

Anyway, I ask members of my family to proofread my stories and then I send my stories to my friends to test read. The test readers help me make sure that the scenes flow together well and that I don’t have any continuity errors. I highly recommend that you do this for your own work because sometimes it’s hard to spot grammar or continuity errors on your own. Your mind can sometimes just skip over them because you know what you meant to say.

Do you believe a book cover plays an important role in the selling process?

Nancy: Yes! It absolutely does! Some people still buy a book based solely on the cover. One of the most satisfying things that came from this series was seeing my ideas come to life through the covers of the books. Samrae Duke is my artist for Spine Chillers: Big Bad Wolf. I love her attention to detail. Her style is very interesting as well. She captures a dark, foreboding feeling but also combines it with fantasy elements that sort of pull the person in. It makes them want to know more. She is a great artist and is a pleasure to work with. Hire a good artist for your cover! It’s very important. One of the best things about self publishing is you actually can. With traditional publishing the cover is out of your hands.

What did you want to become when you were a kid?

Nancy: When I was very little I wanted to be a veterinarian or a marine biologist, until I found out how I felt about blood and about the thought of losing an animal. After that I focused on marine biology.

When I said that I wanted to be a marine biologist, what I actually meant was that I wanted to be one of those people that dives with the underwater life or gets into a shark cage to observe them up close. Of course, that isn’t exactly what most marine biologists do. When I found out the truth, that most marine biologists do a great deal of lab work, I decided I wanted to be a graphic designer.

I stuck with that goal and graduated with a media arts degree and did indeed become a graphic designer for a little while. Initially I enjoyed it, but I found that my passion was for writing. I then became a homemaker and during my free time I decided to write. I’ve been writing now for ten years.

Do your novels carry a message?

Nancy: Well they all tend to have a similar set of themes. I wouldn’t say they carry any sort of hidden message but the theme of good versus evil is definitely within them. Many also have the theme of battling one’s inner demons and overcoming or discovering flaws within oneself. There is also the theme of growing up and having to deal with your own problems your own way.

This is a good message for children in middle school because it’s a time when they are in between two worlds. They are just out of elementary school and have more independence, but not quite ready for the challenges of high school. It’s a very difficult time, and the transition can be scary. With news about violence in school and the fact the world is a scary place in general middle school feels even more dangerous than it used to be.

With these books if there is any message it’s that you are strong enough to stand up to what frightens you. While things might not end happily ever after, you can still overcome more than you might think you’re capable of if you use your talents to overcome your fears.

Can you tell us a little about the next book in the series?

Nancy: I can tell you a little, but I’m going to try to avoid spoilers. The next book in the series is called Spine Chillers: The Beast of Black Pond. The main character is a boy named Duane. He has always been considered odd and made fun of at school because loves writing horror stories and reading horror comic books. For a school assignment he decides to write a horror story about the nearby pond where a few students have drowned in the past. When he investigates the pond, something terrible happens. The creature responsible for the deaths of the children attacks him and seems determined not to leave him alone until he becomes a victim as well.

Is there anything you’d like to tell your fans?

Nancy: I would love to hear from you if you have any comments or suggestions! Please, follow me on my facebook page, WriterNancyGray, and my website nancygray.net. I’ll keep you posted on the new books coming out for the series and I’ll do my best to answer any questions that you have. It means a lot to me that you support me by reading my books. I hope they were as much of a pleasure to read as they were to write. Thank you so much!

# Interviews

Monday, October 8, 2018

A Bookish Conversation with Jamell Crouthers, Author of 'Code Blue'

thewriterslife October 08, 2018 0 Comments

“Police Chief Bulletin #1

My fellow police officers, thank you for your hard work,

Putting your life in the line of duty every day.

This will be the first of many bulletins that I will be sending,

Your supervising officer will be having meetings about my bulletins.

I want to address an issue that’s been going on in our community,

There have been too many minorities driving in our neighborhoods.

I’ve been told by residents that they’re scared and afraid of them,

I don’t know exactly why as I am not in the streets everyday.

In order to get control of our community again we must pull over cars,

Any car that is expensive and they look out of place, pull them over.

Find a reason to pull these cars over, whether it’s a tail light,

Or they can be driving too slow, too fast, failure to signal when changing lanes.

There are certain cars to look for, especially tinted windows,

Ferraris, Bentleys, Mercedes Benz, Lamborghinis, you get my drift.

You know the procedure, asking for a driver’s license and registration,

Make sure that you’re assertive in your behavior and taking control of situations.

I want officers to be partnered up in the cars while you’re on duty,

We need to conduct these pullovers between 7pm and 5am daily.

It seems to be that at night these minorities are driving through our neighborhood,

Even if you recognize cars and know who these people are, pull them over.

I can’t have our citizens of our community constantly calling me about this,

So let’s clean this up as soon as possible and I want it tracked how many you do.

I want three done a week amongst partners and body cams will show that,

If you have to agitate a driver to escalate a situation, do it.

Cars swerving means they must be drunk or high so sniff out the car,

Find a purpose and reason to search the car without a warrant.

I appreciate your time in reading this bulletin,

If you have any questions or concerns, please consult your supervising officer.

Police Chief”

--From Code Blue by Jamell Crouthers

Jamell Crouthers is a poet, author, blogger and podcaster who has taken on a journey of writing in the prime of his life. He has been writing poetry since the age of 13 but never thought he could utilize his talent to tell stories and write books. He is not the traditional author as he writes his books in poetry format with a focus on storylines and societal issues.

After publishing 11 books (so far), his goals and plans are to continue writing books on taboo subjects that aren't discussed enough in today's world and bringing those main subjects to the forefront. Jamell's blogs tackle societal issues, how he writes his books, his journey as an author and some motivational blogs that will get you to focus on your goals. His goal and moniker is, "to change the world, one book at a time."

Book Description:

The Code Blue: An Oath to the Badge and Gun series chronicles a police officer named Gary who has been on the force for a few years. He soon is entrenched in a lot of lies, corruption, racism and agendas being pushed by his superiors. The question throughout this series is whether he as a good

cop becomes part of the corruption or does he report it?

Part of this series features his son Gary, Jr who is a young teenager wanting to be like his father and go into the police force. He soon learns through the news daily that the police force is not what it really is. Gary ends up having to share the truths of what goes on at work and the relationship between him and his son changes because of it. Now it becomes up to Gary what he is going to do about what goes on at work.

Interview:

Welcome, Jamell! Your series, Code Blue, sounds thrilling! Can you tell us why you wrote it?

Jamell: I wrote the Code Blue series because of all that's been going on in America with police brutality, racism and corruption on the police force. I felt that I needed to write something but it had to be different than the average police book you would read. With all of the news coverage, I wanted to ask the all-important question, do good cops know who the bad ones are.

Your protagonist, Gary, is put in a sticky situation. Does he become part of the corruption or does he report it? What a situation to be in. Can you tell us more about Gary?

Jamell: I don't want to give away too much but if it's a series, you can say he condones the corruption and is involved in it to where he covers up for his partners and lies to his family about what's going on. Let's just say it takes him time to report all of it and his guilty conscience and sanity become a major component to his life. Gary is a compassionate person who wants nothing more than to make the neighborhood he grew up in and his city a better, safer place to live. He's definitely a family man who has a young son and a wife that he loves dearly and has great parents who raised him to do right by others. The only problem is he's involved in a lot of things he never thought he would be and it ends up costing him the most important people in his life, his family and friends.

Can you tell us a little about the other main characters?

Jamell: The other main character in this series is Gary, Jr. He is a young teenager who is growing into his own and starting to see the world for what it really is. He's no longer living in this shell that his father tried to put him in (moving to the suburbs, putting him in a better school, living in a nice home). The series takes a different dynamic where Gary and Gary, Jr talk to each other through letters and it gets to a place where their relationship becomes tumultuous and it's due to Gary not being honest with what goes on in the streets every night he goes to work.

They say all books of fiction have at least one pivotal point where the reader just can’t put the book down. What is one of the pivotal points in your book?

Jamell: In Code Blue Part 1, I will say the pivotal moment is when Gary's partners shoot and kill a man who wasn't the suspect in a store robbery. They botched the ID because the suspect was wearing a hoodie and so was the man that they killed. Gary's ride to the police station that night was very long and the question is, will he write up another falsified report of what happened or will he tell the truth.

Over the years, what would you say has improved significantly in your writing?

Jamell: I definitely will say yes my writing has improved and it's because I'm constantly challenging myself to write story lines that have relevance to what's currently going on in the world. With me working on various series, and a plethora of characters, there's always the challenge of how can I keep a reader engaged in these characters? How can I make the reader feel, emote and understand these characters and where they are coming from. It's all about putting the reader in these character's shoes to make them say, "Hey this character is me, or I know someone who has gone through this."

Do you proofread and edit your work on your own or pay someone to do it for you?

Jamell: I edit and proofread my work and it's a tedious and arduous process but eventually, it gets done.

Do you believe a book cover plays an important role in the selling process?

Jamell: Yes it does in some ways, which is why some of my books I've paid someone to make them for me and some I've been fortunate to make on my own. One of my series I've changed the book cover 3 times to make it more appealing.

What did you want to become when you were a kid?

Jamell: I wanted to be a lawyer at first, I was into police shows like New York Undercover, Law and Order: Criminal Intent and SVU (I've literally grown up watching Mariska Hargitay) and then I wanted to be a sports broadcaster (I have old YouTube videos of me talking about the NBA).

Do your novels carry a message?

Jamell: My novels definitely do, each book carries a message and I want readers to take the time to think about the world, discuss it with others and try to make the world a better place to live in. A lot of us are fortunate to live comfortable lives but there are others who need us to be there for them or to understand them and who they are. We spend too much time being judgmental of others and not being compassionate enough.

Is there anything you’d like to tell your readers and fans?

Jamell: There are a lot of books coming in the near future, I do podcasts where I discuss societal issues and in my spare time I'm always listening to music. I love my sports (basketball, football and baseball) and I'm big on family and keeping my close knit friends around me. My quote with my writing journey is, "Trying to change the world, one book at a time."

# Interviews