Blog Archives

Book Review: The Murderer’s Daughter by Jonathan Kellerman

12/31/2015

When fellow psychologist and thriller author of thirty Alex Delaware novels introduces a brand new protagonist, it’s got to be worth a look. And the debut of Dr. Grace Blades leaves me hoping to see more of her.

I’ve always enjoyed Kellerman’s books. He really gets the psychology right in his psychological thrillers, delivers complex stories, solid dialogue, terrific description, nuanced characters. But I’ve also found Alex Delaware a bit lacking in the quirks that make a protagonist really compelling. Okay, he’s super smart, intense, has a cool bromance with the gay cop he solves cases with, but…

So enter Grace Blades, brilliant shrink, damaged survivor, loner, risk-taker, and adrenaline junkie. Now we’re cooking! Kellerman’s well-paced story cuts back and forth between her harrowing childhood and equally chilling search for a psychopathic killer who has already stolen too much from her. You can just sense how much Kellerman is enjoying this break-out character. And so will you. I have a feeling this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship – and series.

http://www.jonathankellerman.com/

Guest Post by Kristin Seaborg MD

12/28/2015

I don’t know about you, but during the holidays every year I always unwittingly transition to survival mode. Book marketing, blog writing, and social media posts are quickly replaced by the more present and pressing tasks of cookie baking, present wrapping, and schlepping the kids to their Christmas programs. I find myself repeating the mantra I’ll work on that after the New Year again and again to assuage my mounting worry over tasks left undone.

But now that my memoir is published and I can finally – truthfully – consider myself an author, I’ve realized that there are many ways that I can write through the holidays without going near my computer at all. Sometimes when the living room is filled with children and presents and the dining room table is encircled with friends and family from near and far, I can find my inner voice more easily than ever.

If I look through my Writer’s Eye, its easier to see that the cast of characters drinking Bloody Mary’s at 9 AM on Christmas morning could be fantastic protagonists for my next novel. The bright sweaters and loud laughter flirt with the senses and invite happiness and cheer. The fog of suspense that danced around my children on Christmas Eve as they slept in front of the fireplace to wait for Santa had the edge and authenticity of the best mystery novel.

Parents and grandparents seated around the Christmas dinner table shared stories of their past which quickly became embedded in the narrative of my persona. The tears I shed of relief and exhaustion as I fell to bed yesterday evening had the bitterness of a drama that will undoubtedly be repeated every year, every holiday, every lifetime.

No matter the circumstances, when I take time to observe instead of react, I can find stories worth repeating and rewriting in even the most mundane settlings. Even the task of cleaning the hurricane of the holidays provides me with subjects to write. There must be a story why that one partially wrapped present was left under the Christmas tree. The candy wrappers mark a path to and from the kids’ rooms like Hansel’s bread crumbs led Gretel. And even in the quiet aftermath of the holiday storm, I can still hear the voices, the stories, and echoes of laughter; a drama ongoing that will last until it’s reenacted again next year

Though the keyboard is unfamiliar after over a week of absence, the keys are warm as I type and recount the stories of the past week. Perhaps writing is not always putting words on a screen but instead being present in the moment to create lasting memories. The words come quickly and artfully from the stories that have been written on my heart.

About the Author

Kristin is a practicing pediatrician in Madison, Wisconsin, where she lives with her husband and three children. She contributes magazine articles about pediatrics and parenting, and writes a blog about epilepsy, www.oneintwentysix.com. An advocate for epilepsy awareness, Kristin hopes that writing about her disease will help decrease the stigma associated with seizures. You can find Kristin at www.kristinseaborg.com, on Facebook at Kristin Seaborg MD, Author, and on Twitter @KristinSeaborg.

Purchase The Sacred Disease On Amazon: http://amzn.to/1XXQLAS

On Goodreads: http://bit.ly/1U5J4Ts

Author Interview with Laura E. Koons

12/27/2015

Tell us about your genre. How did you come to choose it? Why does it appeal to you?

Well, He Said, She Said is a writing guide, so it’s nonfiction. I suppose you could say that in this case the genre chose me. When we first started talking about putting out a series of writing manuals at Red Adept Publishing, I knew right away that I wanted to jump in and try my hand at a guide on dialogue. As a reader, I quite enjoy writing guides and books about the writing life. I’ve read quite a few—from the sort that are mostly how-tos to the kind that are more memoirs with some writing advice woven in. Writing can seem so overwhelming, especially if you’re staring down a blank page. It’s nice to turn to books that try to order all the aspects of the process and break them down into manageable bits.

What do you find most challenging about the writing process, and how do you deal with it?

Putting butt in chair. In other words, actually making myself sit down and do the work. This is seriously the hardest part of writing for me and always has been. I envy people who find solace in their writing. For me it’s work—often enjoyable and rewarding work, but work all the same. So the lure of more immediately pleasurable activities—reading, watching TV, going for a walk, whatever—can be really hard to ignore. To be honest, I don’t always deal with it that well, but if the usual self-disciplining tricks—setting aside non-negotiable writing time, doling out little rewards (a cookie when I’ve written 1500 words!)—don’t work, establishing an external accountability process helps a lot. Enlist a friend whose disappointment will upset you to help you out. Tell them to yell at you if you don’t email them one thousand words by ten o’clock every night. I work best under deadlines. Doing something like this imposes a daily deadline that I can’t wiggle out of (a cookie because I wrote 900 words that were really hard), and that’s often really helpful.

When and where do you do your writing?

This changes a bit depending on what other things I have going on any given day, but usually early morning (often before I do anything else) at my computer in a spare bedroom that I’ve commandeered into an office. It has a door that shuts. This is key.

What have you learned about promoting your books?

I’m still very new to this, so I’m still very much learning, but: you have to work at it. Duh, right? But I think there’s this tendency to think, “Okay, the book’s written, and the edits are finished, so I’m done, right?” Nah. I think this might be like thinking that you’re never going to have to parent again just because you’ve gotten the kid safely graduated from high school. Sure, the most fundamental, foundational work is probably done, but you’re going to be called on again.

What are you most proud of as a writer?

Finishing things. First drafts, edits, final drafts, what-have-you. There’s this tremendous sense of accomplishment in closing the book (ha!) on a piece, even if I know I’ll be coming back to it. I get this little surge of “See? You can do this.” There’s nothing like it.

If you could have dinner with any writer, living or dead, who would it be and what would you talk about?

I have to pick just one? There are so many writers I’d like to chat with—and for so many reasons. Some just to fangirl over, some to thank for writing books that have meant so much to me, some just because they seem like they would make fascinating dinner companions. But if I were truly trying to make the best use of my time, I’d have to pick someone I could talk about process with, I think. Jane Austen maybe, because there’s this image of her just fiddling away at a little table in the parlor and slipping her work under a letter or a blank sheet or something when people came to call. And, just, how—? Her plots contain such little intricacies, and she accomplishes so much through humor and point of view. I’d love to hear about her process—was she really writing like that, in the midst of family life going on right on top of her? If so, how did she manage to accomplish what she did in that environment? Or, if not Austen, J.R.R. Tolkien. I’m a procrastinator and a perfectionist, and I think he was too. I’d like to know if he has any advice about how to work well with those afflictions—or how to stop worrying about them and just carry on!

About the Author

Laura E. Koons attended Lycoming College and then completed graduate degrees in Creative Writing at both Ohio University and The University of Tennessee. She has worked on several literary magazines including Quarter After Eight, Drunken Boat: an online journal of art and literature, and Grist: The Journal for Writers, where she served as Fiction Editor for the inaugural issue.

She currently edits for Red Adept Publishing. In her free time, Laura can usually be found with a book in hand, but sometimes she puts them down long enough to enjoy swimming, crocheting, and doing volunteer work at both her local library and history museum. She lives in Virginia with her husband and two ancient, snarky cats.

On Red Adept: http://bit.ly/RAPHeSaid
On Amazon: http://amzn.to/1PgVlUI
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25784271-raining-embers
Twitter: https://twitter.com/lycomayflower

Guest Post: An Exercise for Strengthening Dialogue by Laura E. Koons

12/23/2015

One of the best ways to improve your own dialogue is to think about how you might change passages that you think fall short. Here’s a passage of dialogue I’ve written which might be improved upon. Think about what you might do to make this passage read better. Below the passage you will find a revision as well as a discussion of why I made the changes I did (you, of course, may have made other, equally effective changes).

Dialogue Passage:

“What should we get Carla for her birthday?” Toni asked Sue.

“I don’t know,” Sue said and shrugged. “She’s been campaigning pretty hard for a puppy, but I don’t think Dad would appreciate that.”

Toni snorted. “What do I care what Dad would appreciate?” she asked bitingly. “It’s not like he has any respect for any of us.”

“Toni,” Sue said. “Don’t.”

“Don’t what?” Toni asked. “Don’t tell the truth?”

Sue shrugged. “Just don’t right now. I know he’s been awful to you—”

“To all of us!”

Sue nodded. “Maybe.”

“Definitely, Sue.”

“Whatever. I just don’t want to talk about it right now. Can we get back to Carla’s birthday? Maybe deal with Dad later?”

Revised Dialogue Passage:

(1)Toni poured coffee into Sue’s mug then sat down across from her at the scarred Formica table. “What should we get Carla for her birthday?”

(2)Sue shrugged. “I don’t know. She’s been campaigning pretty hard for a puppy, but I don’t think Dad would appreciate that.”

(3)Toni snorted. “What do I care what Dad would appreciate? It’s not like he has any respect for any of us.”

(4)Sue’s eyes widened. “Toni. Don’t.”

(5)“Don’t what? Don’t tell the truth?”

(6)Sue ducked her head and rubbed one thumb along the handle on her mug. “Just don’t right now. I know he’s been awful to you—”

(7)“To all of us!”

(8)Sue gazed out the kitchen window and frowned. “Maybe.”

(9)“Definitely, Sue.”

(10)“Whatever. I just don’t want to talk about it right now. Can we get back to Carla’s birthday? Maybe deal with Dad later?”

Line (1) provides a setting in which the dialogue takes place and therefore removes the need for a dialogue tag which identifies to whom the dialogue is addressed. Line (2) removes a dialogue tag since Sue’s gesture coupled with her dialogue is enough to indicate that it is her speaking. Line (3) removes a dialogue tag because the gesture is enough to identify who is speaking. The adverb attached to that dialogue tag is also unnecessary in any case since the description of Toni it provides is implied in the dialogue. Line (4) provides an action for Sue that makes the dialogue tag unnecessary. Line (5) removes the dialogue tag because it is clear, even without any attributed gesture or action, who is speaking. Line (6) gives Sue unique, characterizing gestures instead of the generic gesture (a shrug) which does little to tell the reader anything about Sue, specifically, as a character. It also brings the setting back into the dialogue exchange and helps keep the narrative going while the dialogue exchange unfolds. Line (7) remains unchanged. Line (8) gives Sue more characterizing gesture and again eliminates any need for a dialogue tag. Lines (9) and (10) remain unchanged.

Doing quick exercises like this one with any dialogue you come across that you think doesn’t work should help you improve your own dialogue.

Happy writing!

About the Author

Laura E. Koons attended Lycoming College and then completed graduate degrees in Creative Writing at both Ohio University and The University of Tennessee. She has worked on several literary magazines including Quarter After Eight, Drunken Boat: an online journal of art and literature, and Grist: The Journal for Writers, where she served as Fiction Editor for the inaugural issue.

She currently edits for Red Adept Publishing. In her free time, Laura can usually be found with a book in hand, but sometimes she puts them down long enough to enjoy swimming, crocheting, and doing volunteer work at both her local library and history museum. She lives in Virginia with her husband and two ancient, snarky cats.

On Red Adept: http://bit.ly/RAPHeSaid
On Amazon: http://amzn.to/1PgVlUI
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25784271-raining-embers
Twitter: https://twitter.com/lycomayflower

Book Spotlight: Two Tales of the Moon By Jennifer Sun

12/23/2015

Two Tales of the Moon
By Jennifer Sun
Genre: Literary fiction

Two lives converge over a high stake international deal between U.S. and China - Will Donovan, a successful cyber technology business owner and Lu Li, a Wall Street investment banker. From New York City to Washington, DC, to Shanghai, together they have to face ethical dilemmas, make life choices, and come to terms with their past.

East meets West, past clashes with present. Blending romantic suspense with ethical intrigue. TWO TALES OF THE MOON is a compelling story that reveals that human struggle is the same regardless one's past or cultural upbringing.

Clarion/Forward gave the book a four star rating, calls it "a thoughtful portrait of a modern woman who must choose between the burden of memory and a future of her own making...the writing takes on the sharpened focus of a play... the work effectively captures the effects of communism in searingly personal ways.

BlueInk Review says:

"Jennifer Sun draws on personal knowledge of China and a former career in telecommunications/finance for her well-crafted debut novel about the meeting of East and West. Blending romance and ethical intrigue, Two Tales of the Moon is a unique novel, with characters of psychological depth.

Jennifer Sun has a MBA from George Washington University and a B.A. in English Literature from Fudan University in Shanghai, China. She has held several executive financial management positions at Fortune 500 companies in telecommunication and web technology industries. She currently writes full time and lives with her husband in Vienna, Virginia. She is also an avid reader, a runner and a foodie.

www.Facebook.com/JenniferSunAuthor
@JenniferSun8
www.JenniferSunAuthor.com

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14554078.Jennifer_Sun

Available on Amazon: http://amzn.to/1Ns0irQ

Family Album: The Fabulous Formans

12/17/2015

My maiden name was Freda Forman, daughter of Muriel, step-daughter of Leon and sister of Michael. Sadly, they have all passed. But today’s post is a holiday tribute, celebrating the year’s accomplishments by my surviving immediate family of Formans. What a trio of creative superstars!

Besides her career in medical research, my sister-in-law, Judi Lowenberg Forman, is a brilliant jewelry designer. From a small home studio in Vermont, Judi Forman Designs generates dazzling, unique necklaces, earrings, rings, bracelets and more. Judi enjoyed several successful shows this year and you can find her creations on Etsy (holiday shopping hint).

My niece, Hannah Forman (aka Hannah Neurotica) is the undisputed queen of women in horror. Founder of Women in Horror Month, Editor-in-Chief of the zine Ax Wound, Hannah is a writer and filmmaker. Her short film, Letting, garnered raves this year and she was a recent guest on NPR’s All Things Considered, speaking about holiday horror movies.

Noah Forman, my nephew, is a writer, producer, actor and inspired comic. Known for his work on the Chris Gethard Show, Noah is a veteran performer with the improv troupe, UCB (Upright Citizens Brigade). This year he was hailed as a “comic genius” for producing and starring in an homage Seinfeld episode. Now, that’s fan fiction!

Of course, those who knew my late brother Michael Forman would hardly be surprised. Writer, musician, humorist and teacher, he was a creative force. He’d be so proud of them.And so am I. Happy holidays, you guys. May the New Year bring even more great things!

Author Interview with Deanna Martinez-Bey

12/16/2015

Tell us about your genre. How did you come to choose it? Why does it appeal to you?

I write about books that are based on life transformation. When Life Gives You Lemons, Drink Coffee! is just that, a book about a woman who decides to change her life from a life lived to please others to a life lived to please herself. It falls under the “Fiction” genre. I chose this genre because it allows a great story to be told: a story that will hopefully inspire those who read it.

What do you find most challenging about the writing process, and how do you deal with it?

There are days when it is nearly impossible for me to take the time to sit down and write. I have a job and a family in addition to my writing career. I have to just accept it, and press forward. Normally, when this happened, the next time I sit down to write is a fantastic session where I make a lot of progress!

When and where do you do your writing?

I have created a writing nook! I like to write in the same space each time. I have a few special pictures hung in my writing area. I enjoy writing in a neat space, with a window! I do my best writing mid-afternoon to early evening. Early morning, I am not nearly awake and by night, I’m super sleepy and ready for bed!

What have you learned about promoting your books?

The more the book is networked, the more people will see it which means the chances of people purchasing it are greater. Promotion and networking are crucial!

What are you most proud of as a writer?

I am proud to simply call myself an author! It has always been something I wanted to do…ever since I was a young girl. I am proud to have my work published. I am also proud that the focus of my work is life transformation and that my books can actually help the individual who chooses to read it!

If you could have dinner with any writer, living or dead, who would it be and what would you talk about?

I absolutely love Martha Stewart! She is not only an author, but an independent woman who knows how to take care of herself without having to depend on any one else. I look up to her for that! I would ask her where she gets her strength and inspiration. I would also pick her brain about baking and organizational tips…we can all use more of those in our life!

Author Bio

Deanna has been writing since she was 7 years old. At that time she wrote poetry and short stories. She now enjoys writing novels, self-helps and cookbooks.

Deanna is from New Jersey, but now resides in Raleigh, North Carolina. She is a writer for Examiner.com and has been featured in Taste of Home magazine, Taste of Home “Best Of” cookbooks, Gooseberry Patch cookbooks, local publications and on Women’s Day online.

Twinkle, Twinkle Christmas Star is Deanna’s first published work. In addition to writing, Deanna enjoys cooking, photography, running and fitness.

Website: http://tastenccom.wix.com/authormartinezbey
Writers Blog: http://bookwriterdeanna.blogspot.com/
Food Blog: http://tastenc.blogspot.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bookwriterdeanna

Purchase Twinkle, Twinkle Christmas Star: http://amzn.to/1NL9lkA
Purchase When Life Gives You Lemons, Drink Coffee!: http://amzn.to/1lO2jVO

Interview with Michael Bradley

12/9/2015

Tell us about your genre. How did you come to choose it? Why does it appeal to you?

I write mostly thrillers with a supernatural twist to them. Early on, I tried my hand at mysteries, but I’m not very good at coming up with those obscure clues that are just ambiguous enough to mislead the reader. Thrillers are a bit more straightforward, not necessarily needing to have clues to guide the reader to the conclusion. Adding a supernatural spin gives me the ability to break accepted laws of reality. I always try to ground my stories in modern times, with all the usual things that one would expect: cars, mobile phones, etc. My characters have the same struggles that we all do, as well as the same joys and regrets. But, the supernatural twist provides a way to blur the line between the possible and the impossible.

What do you find most challenging about the writing process, and how do you deal with it?

If you ask my editor, it’s my grammar. But, I think my biggest challenge is being patient with my writing. I often want to rush things along in order to finish sooner, resulting in a story not being quite as good as it could be. I hear all the time where it took years for an author to finish their first novel, and I would have a lot of difficulty being patient enough for that. But, I know that a story can benefit from having that extra time to mature. A good story takes time to develop, and needs to be nurtured to obtain its full potential. That’s where I struggle, being patient enough to give my stories the time that they need. Have I found a way to deal with it yet? It’s a work-in-progress. I’m improving, but there is still a lot of work to be done.

When and where do you do your writing?

I usually do my writing in the evening, setting aside a couple hours in whatever room in the house no one else is in. I’m easily distracted so I often need to find somewhere quiet. More often than not, I end up in the basement, sitting at a small desk in the corner, just me and my laptop.

What have you learned about promoting your books?

It takes a lot of time and energy. Writing a book isn’t just about putting words on paper, and books don’t sell themselves. There is almost as much, if not more, work involved in promoting the book and building your audience as there is in the actual writing. Promotion on social media, as well as maintaining an online presence through a blog and website, can be time consuming, but is necessary to engage and retain an author’s readership.

What are you most proud of as a writer?

If anything, it would be the two main characters from my debut novel, SIRENS IN THE NIGHT. I spent a great deal of time developing Samantha Ballard and Jack Allyn, and a lot of people have said that they loved those two characters. There was an early reviewer write to me to say that she was upset to find out what happened to Samantha and Jack at the end of the book. It felt good to know that readers were making a connection with Samantha and Jack.

If you could have dinner with any writer, living or dead, who would it be and what would you talk about?

Terry Pratchett. Definitely Terry Pratchett. I’m a huge fan of his “Discworld” series. His novels have an infinite ability to entertain again and again with his ironic, and often, hilarious storytelling. Pratchett had an incredible ability to take an otherwise straight-laced fantasy world filled with dwarfs, goblins, wizards, vampires, and humans, and add just enough absurdity to turn the whole thing upside down. His characters have a charm all their own that draws me into with every novel. As for what we would talk about, I see my dinner with Terry Pratchett to be more of a “pupil sitting at the feet of the master” type meal. I’d want to know all about the inspiration for some of my favorite characters, how he developed his ideas, and what inspired him to write such hilariously twisted tales.

About Michael Bradley

Born and raised in southern New Jersey, Michael Bradley is an author and software consultant, whose frequent travels have brought him in touch with a variety of people throughout the United States. In his "day job", he has presented on a variety of subjects at several IT conferences, both in America and in Europe. When he isn’t on the road, working, or writing, Michael hits the waterways in one of his three kayaks, paddling creeks, streams, and rivers all over Delaware, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and New Jersey.

Before working in information technology, Michael spent eight years in radio broadcasting, working for stations in New Jersey and West Virginia, including the Marconi Award winning WVAQ in Morgantown. He has been "up and down the dial" working as on air personality, promotions director, and even program director, providing a wealth of fond, enduring, and, sometimes, scandalous memories that he hopes to some day write about.

Among the writers in which he finds inspiration, Michael favors P.D. James, Raymond Chandler, Leslie Charteris, Simon Brett, Terry Pratchett, and Ian Fleming. He lives in Delaware with his wife, Diane, and their three furry four-legged “kids”, Simon, Brandy, and Preaya.

Web: www.mbradleyonline.net

Twitter: @mjbradley88

Facebook: www.facebook.com/mjbradley88

Interview with Michael J. Bowler

12/8/2015

Tell us about your genre. How did you come to choose it? Why does it appeal to you?

As a teacher, coach, youth leader, mentor, and volunteer, I’ve spent all of my life around kids and youth, so writing books for teens seemed a natural progression. Within the teen lit genre, I tell stories that mash up other genres – the connective threads are thematic and the main characters are teens, but the stories don’t fit into neat little boxes. I don’t write just urban fantasy or horror or contemporary, but mix them up to create something different. I feel that too much media today sends the wrong messages to kids, teaches them to self-obsess and feel entitled to everything in life without having to make real choices, choices that involve right and wrong. In the world of modern media there is no right or wrong – if something benefits “me” in some way, kids are told to go for it and never consider anyone or anything else in the decision-making process. I like to tell stories that challenge readers to look beyond themselves and their wants and see that life is bigger than them. I want them to see that we all have a responsibility to make this world a little better for our having lived in it.

What do you find most challenging about the writing process, and how do you deal with it?

I tend to have numerous characters and plot threads in my books and I was never good at juggling. LOL So the challenge is to keep these various “balls” in the air until the precise moment each needs to drop, and then resolve every plot and character thread by the end of the book so readers feel satisfied.

When and where do you do your writing?

I usually do my writing in my upstairs office at home. I use my desktop computer, but if I have to travel, or even if I’m at the car dealership having my car serviced, I’ll bring my laptop and write wherever I happen to be. At home, I try to write most of the day unless I have other commitments.

What have you learned about promoting your books?

I’ve learned I’m not good at it. LOL I wish I had some brilliant pearl of wisdom about promotion that I could share with your readers, but I don’t. I would have to say that social media – which I use a lot – has proved to be an ineffective tool for me. I’ve gained lots of followers on Facebook and Twitter, but these people have no interest in reading my books, let alone buying them. I think, too, that teen lit is the toughest genre to promote because teens aren’t on social media to find books. For a teen lit author, gaining access to School Library Journal, Library Journal, and major publications seems to be essential. Thus far, I have failed to interest any major journal in reading/reviewing my books. It appears they only review books released by the “Big” publishers and aren’t interested in “indies.” I suspect they are obligated to read the new releases from big publishers and simply don’t have enough readers/reviewers on staff to also cover indie publications. That’s sad because there are some great books being released by indies these days.

What are you most proud of as a writer?

I made a choice to populate my books with characters not usually seen in mainstream lit – gay kids, gang members, kids of color, kids with physical and mental disabilities, abused kids, marginalized kids, incarcerated kids. My characters are not your standard-issue teen heroes because there is no such thing. Hollywood, and media in general, would have us believe that only white, suburban, smart, straight, drop-dead gorgeous kids can be heroes, and that’s simply not true. I want readers to know the kinds of kids I’ve spent my life with - kids who are extraordinary in their own way and deserve to be in the spotlight. So my books are very much outside the box, and that difference likely diminishes their sales potential. So be it. People who’ve read my books have come to love my different, outside the mainstream, flawed characters and embrace their stories. My philosophy is this: no matter what we look like or how much money we have or how smart we are, no matter our race, ethnicity, gender, or orientation, no matter our abilities or disabilities – at the end of every day we’re all the same. We’re all human. We’re human first, and everything else second. I want my teen readers to embrace their humanity, or rediscover that humanity if it has been lost along the way.

If you could have dinner with any writer, living or dead, who would it be and what would you talk about?

I’d love to dine with Mary Shelley, the eighteen-year-old who wrote Frankenstein, and discuss how she conceived such an insightful look into the very heart of human nature for a piece of literature as relevant today as it was in 1818.

Michael J. Bowler is an award-winning author of eight novels––A Boy and His Dragon, A Matter of Time (Silver Medalist from Reader’s Favorite), and The Knight Cycle, comprised of five books: Children of the Knight (Gold Award Winner in the Wishing Shelf Book Awards), Running Through A Dark Place, There Is No Fear, And The Children Shall Lead, Once Upon A Time In America, and Spinner.

He grew up in San Rafael, California, and majored in English and Theatre at Santa Clara University. He went on to earn a master’s in film production from Loyola Marymount University, a teaching credential in English from LMU, and another master's in Special Education from Cal State University Dominguez Hills.

He has also been a volunteer Big Brother to eight different boys with the Catholic Big Brothers Big Sisters program and a thirty-year volunteer within the juvenile justice system in Los Angeles.

He has been honored as Probation Volunteer of the Year, YMCA Volunteer of the Year, California Big Brother of the Year, and 2000 National Big Brother of the Year. The “National” honor allowed him and three of his Little Brothers to visit the White House and meet the president in the Oval Office.

He is currently working on a sequel to Spinner.His goal as a YA author is for teens to experience empowerment and hope; to see themselves in his diverse characters; to read about kids who face real-life challenges; and to see how kids like them can remain decent people in an indecent world.

Social Media Links:

www.michaeljbowler.com
FB: michaeljbowlerauthor
Twitter: https://twitter.com/BradleyWallaceM
Blog: sirlancesays.wordpress.com
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6938109.Michael_J_Bowler

Interview with Medric "Cous" Cousineau, SC, CD

12/7/2015

Tell us about your genre. How did you come to choose it? Why does it appeal to you?

I write in the Nonfiction genre, and Further Than Yesterday (FTY) is the first volume of a trilogy and there will be two more installments of the “Further Than” series. The genre was literally thrust upon me as FTY is truly my story, very autobiographical and very personal. But it represents only a part of my life’s journey, one which I feel comfortable sharing so that others who struggle with Mental Health issues, primarily PTSD will reach out and get help. The appeal is in the results of watching others regain control over their lives as part of the treatment process.

What do you find most challenging about the writing process, and how do you deal with it?

I believe the most challenging part of the process is objectively trying to evaluate the relevance of subjective experiences. Will the reader relate? Did I capture the emotions I was going for? Will this make sense to the reader? A huge part of the solutions to these questions comes in the edit and revisions phase. Having an editor who understands the issues and is willing to either call “BS” or conversely encourage you to delve deeper into areas that you may wish to gloss over.

When and where do you do your writing?

I find that my actual writing for me is done in front of the keyboard, in my office/den. I tend to be surrounded by my books, my dog, my aquarium, my music and my ever present coffee cup. I am truly addicted to coffee. But there are times when I will go to certain areas to write as the setting is such an integral part of the setting that you need to have been there or be present to truly capture the nuances of the environment. If you want to write about deserted beaches go walk one, soak in the experience, make notes, take pictures and try and employ as many senses as possible while there. It will reflect in the authenticity of your writing.

What have you learned about promoting your books?

I think the biggest lesson I have learned in promotion to individual readers is to set the hook and let the reader delve in and find out where the book takes them. In a group setting the strength lies in being to address the group, and lend a true voice to a passage that you read. It will help the readers throughout the rest of the book. I often read a passage called “The Nightmare Begins” and then take them into a later passage which gives them a glimpse into the Hell that PTSD is and how my service dog has had such a positive effect on my life.

What are you most proud of as a writer?

I think that the pride comes from hearing individuals relate to capturing the raw emotions and how it has served as the springboard for them to reach out for help for themselves or a loved one. Inspiring others to take action was the goal, and I know I have hit it. The book speaks to veterans, military personell, mental health sufferers and advocates, those with PTSD, Service Dog Handers and dog lovers as a whole. With so many interested segments in the readership, it is a balancing act. But those who suffer who need inspiration, Further Than Yesterday, That’s All That Counts delivers the message of Hope and Motivation.

If you could have dinner with any writer, living or dead, who would it be and what would you talk about?

Wow, the Million Dollar question. I am going to go with someone who has passed because there is always hope that I will cross paths with the living. That being the case, going with Abraham Lincoln. Specifically I would love to sit down and talk about the Civil War, the anguish he went through in the tough decisions, but mostly I want to talk about the “Gettysburg Experience” immediately following the Battle and during the period of the Gettysburg Address.

Author Bio
Cous, a Royal Military College graduate with a degree in English, was injured doing Search and Rescue in 1986, and was awarded the Star of Courage. He has battled PTSD ever since, and in 2012 was paired with his PTSD Service Dog, Thai. As a result, his wife Jocelyn and he co-founded Paws Fur Thought, an initiative that fund raises and advocates to pair other disabled veterans with their Service Dogs. “Further Than Yesterday” is the first volume of a pending trilogy. Cous has been awarded a Mental Health Inspiring Lives award and recognized as the PetLynx Urban Animal Innovator of the Year in 2014. When not busy writing and delivering motivational speeches, Cous can be found reading, traveling, studying history, fishing, listening to music and walking his dog at the beach. Cous also shares the house with his wife, her Service Dog, several cats and their grown daughter Jennifer when she chooses.

On Facebook: Paws Fur Thought - http://on.fb.me/1RADHd5
On Facebook: Further Than Yesterday - http://on.fb.me/1H9Ftwk
@pawsfurthought1
www.furtherthanyesterday.com
On Amazon: http://amzn.to/1H9FdgG

Author

Freda Hansburg is a psychologist and co-author of two
self-help books, PeopleSmart - which has sold more than 75,000 copies and has been translated into ten languages - and
Working PeopleSmart,
as well as numerous professional publications. Her first novel Shrink Rapt,
is a psychological thriller with a dash of romance. She lives in the South Carolina Low Country.

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