Interview: Author Zaheen Nanji + Contest!

About the Book

WHAT WOULD LIFE BE LIKE IF YOU NO LONGER STRUGGLED WITH YOUR WEIGHT?

What if you could look good, feel good, and most importantly, end the mind chatter about your weight and how you look!

With these revolutionary insights to weight loss, you can! And best of all, you can kiss dieting goodbye forever.

No matter what sort of history you have with weight gain and dieting, you can attract your ideal weight. And it's easier than you might imagine. If you want to stop struggling with your weight and start attracting your ideal body instead, this is the book you've been waiting for.

purchase-from-amazonThis book is based on the latest scientific research and real life experience of people who have lost weight and maintained their ideal weight. It reveals the 8 secrets to attracting your ideal weight and includes inspiring success stories, helpful self-assessment questions and fun food experiments.

Interview with Zaheen Nanji

Q: What inspired you to write the book?
I have been successful in maintaining my weight, and people who knew me asked how I did it or what my secret was. They were prepared to hear a name of diet or that I exercise every day. I never did any of those except for exercise 3 times a week on my elliptical. My answer to them was simple – I changed my habits and changed my relationship with food. They were shocked with my answer. So I set out to find people that had lost weight and maintained it and what I found were 8 common themes which are outlined in the book.

Q: What advice can you give their families?
Teach your children how to listen to their bodies and know when they are satisfied. I teach my own daughter that if you have eaten until your stomach feel uncomfortable against your ribs than you ate too much. So now she is learning how to listen to her body. Eat what is closest to God. What I mean is eat what is whole instead of highly processed. Get back in the kitchen and cook as a family.

Q: How does this book benefit individuals struggling with weight loss?
This is not your typical diet book. I don’t tell you how many calories to eat. The reason that individuals gain weight is because after a diet or weight loss program they go back to their old habits and behaviours instead of breaking those patterns. They go back to their old triggers that cause emotional eating. They have not learned how to listen to their body. They have not learned how to build resilience in this area. In fact, my book is like a pre-requisite course for individuals to read before going on a diet. My book has also been labeled as “ The Psychology Handbook for Weight Loss”.

Q: Does this book cover food addiction?
This book covers the understanding behind food addiction – which is secret #2 –Every Negative Behaviour Has a Positive Intention. What this means is we have to become aware of the reason or the gain we are getting behind an addiction and deal with that rather than the addiction itself.

Q: Did you learn anything from writing your book and what was it?
In the process of writing this book I learned how others had started listening to their body for symptoms when they eat a certain food that does not agree with them. Similar to people who suffer from allergic reaction which are physical manifestations, naturally thin people and those that have maintained weight for a long time explained that we have similar internal symptoms – these are not life threatening but in time they do affect our bodies and health. For example, for the longest time I suffered from bloating, gas and abdominal cramps when I ate icecream or drank milk. I felt my stomach was inflamed. However, I never associated it with that food because it would occur hours later. Once I consciously started becoming aware of what I ate and how I felt after, I started eliminating that food because it didn’t agree with me.

Q: What do you think will surprise readers the most?
What will surprise the readers the most is first the size of the book – it’s more like a handbook and I intentionally did that because I want my readers or individuals to refer to it like a handbook. The other surprise is that I’m not telling you to restrict your calories or go on a diet. I’m just showing you how to start changing your behaviors so that you can build your resilience reflex when it comes to
attracting your ideal weight.

Q: The title of your book what does it mean?
I like the word attract because it puts you in control. Once you start changing your behaviors and mind set, you automatically become a magnet that will attract your ideal weight.

Q: How long did it take to do the research, write the book, and have it published?
It took me about a year to do the research and four months to write the book.

Q: Describe your book in 3 words.
Behavior weight loss

Q: Who is your intended audience?
People who have struggled with their weight for a long time

About the Author

Zaheen's love affair with the written word began at an early age. As a teenager who stuttered, it was easier to write well than to speak smoothly, but that wasn't what inspired Zaheen to write. What motivated her was the fire in her belly burning to reach out, connect, heighten her understanding, increase her knowledge and help others to do the same.

Her first co-authored book: Unlock the Power of YOU: 12 Keys to Health, Happiness and Success wasl released by Aviva Publishing, NY in December 2012.

She is also a co-author of, The Confident Woman,  an upcoming anthology.

Contest Details

This Giveaway is open Internationally.
PRIZES 1 Winners will each receive a $25 Amazon Gift Card or PayPal Cash. 1 Winner will receive a one on one weight loss strategy session, Kindle copy of the book and weight loss CD.

Note: If you are having trouble with Rafflecopter you can enter by leaving a comment on one of participating sites page.

You can start entering the contest now.

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Head to another CONTEST HERE!

Interview: Author Roch Zahradnik

Interview

1. What inspired you to write LAST WORDS?

The story started out as a “what if…?” What if a big-time police reporter were forced to do the dull work of obituaries, always dealing with the dead but never pursuing the why of their deaths.

2. The main character, Coleridge Taylor, mentions music often, are you a fan of the same bands Taylor references? What are your top 3 favorite songs from the 60s and 70s?

I like most of what Taylor likes, though found out about a lot of the groups later than he did. I was in high school from 1974-78. My group of friends and I thought we were mired in a musical wasteland, disco on the one side and hair bands (Styx, Foreigner, Kansas) on the other. Punk had not reached Poughkeepsie, so I did not become a fan of that music until I reached college, when I discovered the Talking Heads, the Police, and the Ramones. I also became a huge fan of Bruce Springsteen, who was neither punk, nor hair band, just real. My three favorite songs:

1. Thunder Road
2. Pyscho Killer
3. Sweet Jane (with the Intro)

3. How would you describe your journalism experience compared to Taylor’s?

Taylor obviously came up earlier than I did at a different time for newspapers. I started in the suburbs, while he’s always been in the city. He’s covered police stories far more than I ever did. Much of my career was in media and business journalism. I think Taylor is a much more tenacious reporter than me, braver even, doing anything to get the story. That’s what’s important to him. Other things have always competed with journalism in my life, including writing fiction.

4. When Laura and Taylor go out for drinks, the song “Gloria” by Patti Smith is playing in the background. What made you choose that song for them?

I loved Van Morrison’s “Gloria,” and I wanted to have Patti Smith singing a song from ’75 that she did sing and most readers would know.


5. What challenges did you face as you were writing LAST WORDS?

The first challenge was working full-time for a good chunk of the period I was writing the novel. There were days I might write half a page. That would get me down. I thought I’d never finish. The second was thinking that since I lived through 1975 I wouldn’t have to do a lot of research. I was wrong about that. It was all the little details that needed checking. Like when did the cost of a pay phone or subway token go up.

6. What scene was your favorite to write? Why?

The last, and not just because I was at the end. At that point I was really flying. You can see it all coming together. Second would be a scene early in the book when Taylor visits the makeshift homeless shelter.

7. Taylor carries a hefty literary name being named after the English Romantic poet Samuel Coleridge. What inspired you to connect Taylor to the English Romantic poet?

Taylor has a poor relationship with his father, an alcoholic English professor. His father gave him that name, and Taylor hates the ornamentation of it. Doesn’t much like his father either. Journalism is pretty much the opposite of poetry. I liked the name for all the contradictions it implies. I’m a huge fan of Morse and really wanted to go the one-last-name-only route, but didn’t want to be too much of copycat. This was my compromise.

8. Taylor works as a journalist in LAST WORDS. What was one of your favorite stories you covered as a journalist?

Covering the Cannes Film Festival. Stars. Glitter. Movies. Business. All wrapped into one two-week long party. At another time, I co-owned a weekly newspaper. Being the news outlet and voice for a community was a real kick, though there were a lot of different stories in there.

9. What makes 1975 so unique? What characteristics and traits define that time period in your perspective?

The year 1975 and the city of New York intrigued me because of the very striking parallels to America today. Then as now, an unpopular war was finally coming to its sad end. A major institution, the city itself, tumbled toward bankruptcy, threatening a cataclysm on the entire financial system. This as banks and ratings agencies ignored the warning signs or willfully misled the public. I chose this time period for the differences as well as the similarities. Solving a mystery in 1975 required good old-fashioned legwork and serious brainwork, rather than science fiction-like instant DNA typing and surveillance video available from any and every angle. Taylor has to find a pay phone when he needs to call someone. There’s something satisfying in that for me.


10. Is there any research that didn’t make it into LAST WORDS that you wish you could have included?

I learned a lot more about what a terrible beautiful mess Times Square was at the time than I could fit in. Some was cut; some I couldn’t even use. Things like the signage, the history of some of the restaurants. I could have written pages alone on the Horn & Hardart Automat and bored everyone but myself.

11. How would you characterize Taylor and Laura’s relationship? What keeps them together through all of the danger they face in LAST WORDS?

I think they are falling for each other in the midst of danger and a mutual love for breaking news. Laura may have the Columbia degree, but she loves Taylor’s street smarts and instincts for getting the story. Whether their work will be enough to keep them together is a question for the next book.

12. Did anything surprise you as were writing LAST WORDS?

Characters who came out of nowhere and became interesting and important.

How grim 1975 really was. Time has a way of mellowing things. I remember the mid-Seventies as a difficult period, but I was a kid so I wasn’t really plugged into how terrible things were in New York and the country. Gas shortages. Inflation. Unemployment. Crime. The South Bronx burning.

13. Taylor’s character faces his own pride along with other villains throughout LAST WORDS. Would Taylor consider his pride a virtue or vice? Why?

It’s a thin line there. His pride drives him to get good stories, the big scoops. When it drives him to the sins of hubris, he’s in trouble.

14. If you could go back in time, when and where would you go? Why?

I’m obsessed with time travel stories. In fact, I’m writing a time travel novel for middle graders. It’s hard to pick one, but if I had to, the time of Christ. His life affected all of Western Civilization, the entire glove. I’d like to see what really happened during that period. Either that or my own childhood, to see everything I’ve forgotten.

Read the Excerpt

The orderly rolled the gurney onto an elevator. Taylor stepped on, too. The orderly read his press pass. It expired in three months, and if Taylor couldn’t get back on the police beat by then, he’d lose it and all the access it gave him. Doors all over the city would slam shut. The thought chilled him.

“Coleridge Samuel Taylor.”

“Just Taylor.” He hated the literary ornamentation of his name.

“Name’s Jackson.”

The autopsy room looked like any operating theater with its silver-domed lights, trolleys of medical instruments and glass- fronted metal cabinets. The acrid smell of disinfectant was even stronger here.

A second orderly came in and helped Jackson shift the wrapped body onto a table, both of them grunting.

“Jesus, this body is frozen stiff,” Jackson said.

The second orderly shrugged and left, as if moving bodies was his only job.

“You said he died of exposure, right?” Taylor leaned in.

“Yeah, but he feels like ….” The orderly frowned. “The last time a body came in frozen solid like this was when a jumper went into the Hudson back in January.” He pulled the sheets open near the neck. The corpse was still dressed and the orderly fingered the material of the outer clothing. “The coat and sweater are cold but not frozen.” He slid his hand inside the sweater. “The undershirt feels like it’s iced right to him. The skin is frozen.”

“That doesn’t make sense.” Taylor looked from the orderly to the body on the slab. “It’s like he froze from the inside out. Or his outer clothes were put on after he froze.” He made a note of this. “Be interesting to hear what the pathologist makes of it.”

“Not much if he thinks he’s cutting a homeless boy. How are you going to do a story on a dead nobody?” The orderly sighed and turned away.

I’ll find out what makes him a somebody. Getting frozen in your underwear and dressed by another person might do the trick.

“You gotta be a big somebody to get your death notice in the papers here.”

This victim’s story already bothered him. The boy was going to disappear. Taylor was watching it happen. No last words for the family. No notice taken anywhere by anyone. It had happened before, with Billy. This was going on now in Taylor’s city. There was no excuse for it.

“When did the body come in?”

“Night watch. Three, four in the morning.”

“You’re just now rolling him in?”

“No room at the inn. Kept the body outside in the ambulance.”

“What if they got another call?”

“Couldn’t. No one to replace the driver’s going off shift. Poor bastards had to take a cab back to their house. These budget cuts are just crazy. So we kept him cold out there. The guys just came back to get their wagon.”

“Where’d they pick him up?”

“The Meatpacking District.” Jackson looked at the body again. “I’ll tell you one thing. I doubt they’ll be cutting today. It’s going to take a whole shift to defrost him. Very strange. Or plain bad luck.”

Only the facts interested Taylor. They’d explain how this boy froze from the inside out, the cause and effect. Nothing unlucky. Nothing strange.

Jackson pulled off the sheet. The dead boy wore an army field jacket similar to Taylor’s. Threads hung at the edges of the rectangle above the left breast pocket where a name patch should have been.

“Whatever the name tag said, it wasn’t this kid’s,” Taylor said. “He’s too young for the military.” Could be the father’s, Taylor thought. Or maybe the boy bought it at the Army-Navy. Taylor would check all that out. The jacket had seen a lot of wear and tear. Some of that might be from life on the street.

“Now that I think of it,” Jackson said, “it looks like the one I got when I fought in Europe. You don’t see these as much. Thing never was warm enough.”

Jackson was right. The boy’s jacket featured lapels instead of a circular collar and the fabric looked thinner. The kid wore dungarees, patched the length of both legs, more patches than jean material really. The “V” of a blue sweater, probably wool, showed under the jacket.

Jackson nodded at Taylor’s jacket. “You a vet?” 

“No.”

“Just like the look?”

“No.” The implication stung, as if his was a fashion statement. His brother, trained to fight somewhere cold in Europe, was ordered to Vietnam. Billy didn’t need the heavy jacket, or didn’t want to pack it, or had wanted to leave something behind with his older brother. Taylor wasn’t sure which. He gave it to Taylor and never came back. Maybe because of the question, the teenager became his brother Billy for a moment. Another kid forever lost to his family. The boy was the same height, though slighter and younger. What was younger when you were dead?

The orderly was saying something, forcing Billy’s face to fade, replaced by that of the dead boy. This face was smooth, without lines, and the nose straight. His lips were full, almost pouting, and his gray eyes looked directly into the bright overhead lights, unblinded and blind. His hair was thick, long and clean, which was odd. If this kid was homeless, it should have been matted and dirty.

“Look at this.” Jackson pointed to the jacket’s right sleeve.

More than twenty national flags were sewn down the outside of the right arm of the field jacket, from the shoulder to the cuff. France, Italy, USA, East Germany, Canada, the USSR, West Germany, Red China, and countries some Taylor couldn’t identify.

Taylor walked around the table. “Same on this side. No unit or rank. Those were cut away a long time ago. Just more flags. It’s like the UN.”

Thousands of army field jackets hung in the closets of New York vets, the families of the dead and even ex-hippies, but none would look like this one. Taylor knew people would remember it. This was starting to look like a story he could follow.

Jackson left the room. Taylor checked the boy’s left hand, leaned in to get closer and used his Bic pen to lift the fingers. They were smooth, almost feminine, with telltale signs of civilized living—clean, well-trimmed fingernails. Not a speck of dirt under any of them. The fingers on the right hand were the same. This kid wasn’t homeless, or hadn’t been for long. The field jacket would lead to someone who knew him, who could tell his story. He listed the countries of the flags he could ID and descriptions of those he couldn’t.

“I thought we were rid of you, Taylor.” Dr. R. Martin Quirk, the assistant coroner, stood inside the door. Taylor looked from Quirk’s long face to the stubby fingers that seemed imperfect instruments for prodding inside bodies, even dead ones.

“This kid wasn’t homeless,” Taylor said.

“What do you know? Don’t turn this John Doe into another of your page one specials. I’ve got six homicides in the cooler, bodies piling up in the emergency room—high priority, cops shooting civilians—and five accidentals, old people who froze to death in their apartments. I’ve got to cut them all anyway. They won’t let me put ‘unpaid Con Ed bill’ as cause on the death certificate.”

“Will you at least check the ‘missing’ list?”

Quirk always claimed to be overworked, but he was just plain lazy.

“That’s a cop’s job.”

“They won’t.”

“I’m not their master, thank Christ. Why don’t you do it? You’re the reporter.”

Taylor decided not to disabuse him of that notion. From his jacket’s right pocket, he pulled out and opened the collapsible Polaroid he carried for capturing a scene when a click was faster than taking notes. A snap-flash and Taylor held the instant photo, a black square until it developed. In two minutes, chemicals and metals would resolve into a color picture of the dead boy’s face. He needed it to track down who the kid was.

“I’ll call you to get cause of death.” He put the developing picture in his coat pocket next to his wallet and went straight through the double doors without glancing back.

Why didn’t the boy show the wear and tear of rough living? He might have been a recent arrival on the street, a runaway who didn’t bargain on the freezing weather and died almost as soon as he ran. A sad story. Newspaper readers loved sad stories, even if they said they didn’t.

About the Book

In March of 1975, as New York City hurtles toward bankruptcy and the Bronx burns, newsman Coleridge Taylor roams police precincts and ERs. In LAST WORDS by Rich Zahradnik (Camel Press, $12.49 paperback; $4.95 Kindle), Taylor searches for the story that will deliver him from obits, his place of exile at the Messenger-Telegram. Ever since he was demoted from the police beat for inventing

sources, the 34-year-old has been a lost soul. A break comes at Bellevue, where Taylor views the body of a homeless teen picked up in the Meatpacking District. Taylor smells a rat: the dead boy looks too clean and he’s wearing a distinctive Army field jacket. A little digging reveals that the jacket belonged to a hobo named Mark Voichek and that the teen was a spoiled society kid up to no good, the son of a city official. Taylor’s efforts to learn Voichek’s secret put him on the hit list of three goons who are willing to kill any number of street people to cover tracks that just might lead to City Hall. Taylor has only one ally in the newsroom, young and lovely reporter Laura Wheeler. Time is not on his side. If he doesn’t wrap this story up soon, he’ll be back on the obits page—as a headline, not a byline, in Rich Zahradnik’s LAST WORDS.

About the Author

RICH ZAHRADNIK is the author of the Coleridge Taylor Mystery series published by Camel Press. He was a journalist for 30-plus years, working as a reporter and editor in all major news media, including online, newspaper, broadcast, magazine and wire services. He held editorial positions at CNN, Bloomberg News, Fox Business Network, AOL and The Hollywood Reporter, often writing news stories and analysis about the journalism business, broadcasting, film production, publishing and the online industry.
In January 2012, he was one of 20 writers selected for the inaugural class of the Crime Fiction Academy, a first-of-its-kind program run by New York’s Center for Fiction. He has been a media entrepreneur throughout his career. He was the founding executive producer of CNNfn.com, a leading financial news website and a Webby winner; managing editor of Netscape.com, and a partner in the soccer-news website company Goal Networks. Zahradnik received his B.A. in journalism and political science from George Washington University.

the chronicles of trellah: the perpetual rain by t.s. graham

"The World's Toughest Book Critics" have weighed in, and it's high praise for Trellah! "An excellent choice for readers eager for a suspenseful, emotionally satisfying fantasy adventure." 

Kirkus Book Reviews 

Title: The Chronicles of Trellah, Book One: The Perpetual Rain
Author: T.S. Graham
Pages: 164
Rating: 4/5
Cover Rating: 2/5

Summary:
Fourteen-year-old Sophina Murray will be the first to tell you: Bad luck comes in threes. First, her father is lost at sea. Then, the rains start . And don't stop. And finally, her little brother is taken from his bed by a monster straight from her worst nightmare. A glimpse into the parallel universe of Trellah - a land of giant trees, bizarre creatures, and a glowing red mineral with mystical properties - convinces Sophina that all may not be lost. But first, she'll have to survive in a hostile world where her darkest fears live and breathe. Trellah is an original and realistic fantasy for ages 12 to 112. Parental guidance suggested for advanced readers ages 10-11 for moderate elements of horror. 

My Say:

The book is full of imaginations. Maybe a little like Alice in Wonderland with a Fringe-ish kind of Twist. However, the book has the horror that I feel like it is well complimented the adventurous storyline. Apart of the adventure, the story started with mysteries. I know it sounds as if the book is complicated read, but trust me, the author did it well to make simple with words and full of emotions. Sophina, losing her father and a missing brother are very tough for a 14-year old girl to accept and face it alone. Of course, with no one to be with her, looking for her brother is the best way to avoid her from being lonely forever. And now I know why the author love Sophina the most (please read the interview below!). As I love Harry Potter and The Lords of the Ring, I love the magical things the author included in the book. Simple words to describe things in sentences made my imaginations easy. Even with simple words, not too much unneeded details, the characters in the books are actually quite well-developed. It has a progress which increased, at the right pace towards the ending. Until I reached the last page, I never thought the story is already ended. For a debut novel, I think T.S. Graham made his bid well.

Interview with the Author

What inspired you to write the book?

My family, without question. Having read countless bedtime stories to my five daughters, I decided it was time to spin them a tale from my own heart and mind.

Who is your favorite character in the book and why should we love him/her too?

For me it’s Sophina, because she is a combination of all five of my daughters. She is brave, loyal, stubborn, and there is no one else like her in this world or any other. When times get desperate, her mind gets sharper. I think that’s what most people look for in a hero.

Tell us why people should read your book?

If you’re looking for a fresh take on the YA fantasy genre, free of vampires, witches, werewolves, magic, and talking animals, then “The Chronicles of Trellah” may be just what the doctor ordered. If you’re obsessed with the status quo, then my book may be out of your comfort zone.

What books have most influenced your life?

For me it’s always been about Stephen King. He has the talent and education to write Pulitzer Prize winning works, but he chooses to thrill and entertain instead. He taught me to write for myself and my audience (in this case YA), and not to worry about what those who prefer works outside my genre think. A writer’s genre can change with each new book, but they always need to put their intended audience ahead of the big-time critic who might scoff at their creation.

What is the most recent book you read?

I have two girls under the age of 6, so it’s all about picture books at my house. The stories we revisit the most are “Where the Wild Things Are,” “The Napping House,” and anything by Dr. Seuss. I would love to write a children’s book someday. In many ways, I think it would be harder than writing a novel.

If you are not a writer, who would you be?

A scientist. It would be my job to find a safe, natural cure for folks who suffer from irrational stress. Seriously…. No matter how many times you ask certain people to take a deep breath and chill, it never seems to work. My wife and children are not included in this equation. They’re always chill. ;p

Any advice for young authors?

Always write for yourself first, your audience second, and… well, there is no third. That’s it.

About the Author 

T.S. Graham was born and raised in midcoast Maine. He has worked as a sea urchin diver, fish monger, home renovator, and in several group homes for children and adults with disabilities. His original screenplay, Stone's Point, written as Clint Elliott, has won multiple awards. He studied English Literature at the University of Southern Maine, where, despite developing a strong dislike of the traditional curriculum focused on old, dead (and boring) scribes, he somehow managed to graduate with honors. His greatest influences are writers like Stephen King and Michael Crichton, whose talents would have allowed them to write more literary fare, but they chose to thrill and entertain instead. He now lives on a horse farm with his beautiful wife and five daughters, two poodles, two cats, two happy turtles, four playful ferrets, three fish, a corn snake named "Tiger," dozens of chickens, and, of course, four awesome equines. The Chronicles of Trellah, Book One: The Perpetual Rain is his debut novel. 

Follow T.S. Graham Website | Facebook | GoodReads 
Purchase this book on Amazon. 

The author is giving away a $100 Amazon Gift Card. This tour will begin February 14th. a Rafflecopter giveaway Follow The Tour!

dark passing by liz schulte + interview

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Title: Dark Passing
Author: Liz Schulte
Genre: Mystery, Thriller
Rating: 3.5/5
Cover Rating: 2
Date Published: October 2012

Synopsis:
Mary Nelson’s murder shocked the small town of Jackson. The vibrant, young college student disappeared on her way home. A week later her body was found in the trunk of a burning car. No suspects. No evidence. No case. Ella Reynolds’ life had finally turned around. With a new book released, the past safely tucked away, and a burgeoning romance, she begins to live again. Then a plea from a woman whose daughter’s murder remains unsolved ignites Ella’s curiosity—and drags her back into the dark world she fought so desperately to escape. Curiosity turns to obsession as Ella inches closer to the truth—and the murderer begins to claim new victims.

My Say:
This book is actually the second book which is the first book is Dark Corner in Ella Reynolds series. If only I could the first book first. Why? I find the book actually is as good as any other good mystery stories would be. Ella in my point of view is quite a great character. She's cool and kind of Nancy Drew wannabe. But I love her character as she is. Since I love mystery and adventure, the story is kind of predictable and I love guessing the culprit. Guess what? I kind of failed to guess this time when there's unexpected twist nearly at the end of the book when I should have know it! Now, I just have to get the first book and cant wait for her next book in the series. Yes, the book is highly recommended to all mystery and thriller readers.

And I kind of lucky to get an interview with the author. Hope you'll like her as well ;p 


D: What book are you reading right now? 
LS: Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl

D: Where do you do most of your writing? 
LS: In my office.

D: Do you have any quirks that come out while you are writing? 
LS: Hmmm I don't think so, I perhaps talk to myself a little more than normal.

D: What is your daily routine as a writer? 
LS: I don't have a routine. I only try to make sure that I write something every day to keep the creative juices flowing.

D: If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything in your latest book? 
LS: No. I am pretty happy with it. I honestly can't think of any plot points I would change in any of my books.

D: Which part of Dark Passing was the most enjoyable to write? 
LS: All the parts with Ella and Gabriel are a lot of fun to write. I also love writing the snarky bits as well.


About the Author

Many authors claim to have known their calling from a young age. Liz Schulte, however, didn't always want to be an author. In fact, she had no clue. Liz wanted to be a veterinarian, then she wanted to be a lawyer, then she wanted to be a criminal profiler. In a valiant effort to keep from becoming Walter Mitty, Liz put pen to paper and began writing her first novel. It was at that moment she realized this is what she was meant to do. As a scribe she could be all of those things and so much more. When Liz isn’t writing or on social networks she is inflicting movie quotes and trivia on people, reading, traveling, and hanging out with friends and family. Liz is a Midwest girl through and through, though she would be perfectly happy never having to shovel her driveway again. She has a love for all things spooky, supernatural, and snarky. Her favorite authors range from Edgar Allen Poe to Joseph Heller to Jane Austen to Jim Butcher and everything in between.

Find her at: Blog / Facebook / Twitter / Goodreads / Newsletter

interview: Author James Macomber

Hello peeps! We got James Macomber in the house today. I would to welcome the author to my blog with an interview. I would love to suggest all of you to read the book compilation of great stories including so many brilliant authors. Without further ado, James Macomber.

D: What is your guilty pleasure?  


JM: Some things are better left unsaid :-) but, confining this answer to the literary world... I, of course, read thrillers. But almost as much, I read histories, British history in particular. If I have a guilty pleasure, however, it will be Austenalia is that a word?). I only recently read Pride and Prejudice and loved it. So much so that I now look for the...I'm not sure what they're collectively called...derivatives, spin-offs, maybe?   I particularly enjoy Carrie Bebris' Mr. and Mrs. Darcy mysteries.    

D: Describe your favorite meal.   


JM: New England Clamboil. That's clamBOIL, not clamBAKE. ClamBAKEs are the hot stones in the sand tradition and they're good enough but a clamBOIL involves a huge pot with clams at the bottom covered in water, then all varieties of meats and sausages and sometimes fish then potatoes, eggs, onions on top. The pot is covered and the liquid brought to a boil then a simmer and everything cooks in the steam from the simmering clams. Moist and with a flavor that isn't duplicated anywhere...not even in a clamBAKE.    

D: If you were not a writer, what would be your career?   


JM: Well, I was a lawyer for a while, among other things. As some bios show, I have a rather eclectic background. My brother is an archeologist and that work utterly fascinates me. My older sister is a librarian and I have often said I would be very happy as a librarian or owner of a bookstore. But, way back when, my original plan was to be a history professor. I think that might still apply though at this point in my life, I think I'd enjoy being a historian – just reading and research, no teaching. Coming full circle, I'd probably like to write historical fiction. Hmm, maybe I will.    

D: If you could time travel, which year would be your destination?   


JM: Wow, that's a tough one. Some time in British history, probably. Most any time really. But if I have to pick one, maybe mid-sixteenth century Edinburgh. According to my brother's family genealogy work, we're first cousins to Mary Queen of Scots, something like fourteen times removed and I'd like to meet her – preferably while her head was still attached. Or a few years earlier, our mutual grandfather, James IV of Scotland. And Edinburgh is one of my favorite cities to visit. But then, being accustomed to twenty and twenty-first century amenities, I'd not enjoy the privations that go with that time period. Now if there was a nice Marriott in sixteenth century Edinburgh...    

D: What inspired your contribution to LOVE IS MURDER?   


JM: Actually, the story grew out of the characters I've created in my novels. I write about a Washington DC-based international law firm with ties to the intelligence community...from which some of their lawyers are recruited. The central characters of John Cann and Katherine Price are two such individuals, highly competent and highly accomplished, both in their pasts and in their presents. They were colleagues for years but finally became a couple after the third novel, “A Grave Breach”. So when the call went out for 'romantic thrillers' for “Love is Murder”, it was a matter of setting the scene in London, with Katherine representing a client...and then bad things start to happen. And to what lengths will one go to save the other?


James Macomber – Execution Dock

“No.” Refusing to look at the woman lawyer seated across from him, Sarnath Dutta addressed his remarks to the male magistrate. “I have a superior order from the Sharia court of Jessore that I, as father, have all rights.” “No, Mr. Dutta.” Katherine Price, senior partner with Loring, Matsen and Gould, leaned forward and just as pointedly addressed the dark-skinned Bengali man directly. “You married Mrs. Dutta in the United States. That marriage produced two children, now four and six. The marriage failed and divorce proceedings ensued, also in the United States. For good and valid reasons—we won’t  get into the issues of abuse unless we have to— that court awarded sole custody to Mrs. Dutta. You received specific and, under the circumstances, generous visitation.”

About the Author

James Macomber is the author of the international legal thrillers featuring former Special Forces/NSA/CIA operator, now lawyer, John Cann—whom Booklist described as a strong, multilayered protagonist with the star power to keep this series going for a very long time”—along with an ensemble cast of memorable characters in a Washington, D.C., international law firm with very close ties to the intelligence community. At one time or another, Macomber has been a serviceman, student, bartender, waiter, salesman, tennis instructor, actor, lawyer, photographer and writer. This eclectic background—or checkered past—is reflected in the range of subject matter for his novels, which include terrorist networks in academia in bargained for Exchange, assassinations in the Netherlands during the trial of the Pan Am 103 Lockerbie bombers in Art & Part, atrocities, international crime and human trafficking with the Bosnian war crimes trials as the backdrop in A Grave Breach and, in Sovereign Order, the horrifying prospect of a catastrophic WMD attack on the “crown jewel of Formula 1 racing,” the Monaco Grand Prix. When he’s not hanging out on Siesta Key, Florida, Jim is completing work on his fifth novel, Extraordinary Rendition.

Visit his website at www.jamesmacomber.com.

Please not to forget to visit http://booktrib.com/blog-tour-love-is-murder-heart-pounding-stories-of-romance-suspense/

interview: Author Andrea Kane

Today I have author Andrea Kane to the blog and happy to have and interview with her. She's on tour promoting the new romantic suspense anthology, "Love is Murder", to which she contributed a story, entitled LOCKDOWN.


D: What is your guilty pleasure? 


AK: I don’t even have to ponder this one. Ice cream. Always ice cream. If I could, I’d take a quart (maybe even a half-gallon if I had room J) of homemade ice cream, a giant spoon, and eat it all in one sitting. Too bad broccoli and ice cream can’t switch places in terms of calories, fat content, and healthy eating!

D: Describe your favorite meal.


AK: I’d start with a Caesar salad, move on to filet mignon and lobster tails with a lovely glass of Beaujolais, and end with some fabulous profiteroles. I’m getting hungry just answering the question.

D: If you were not a writer, what would be your career?


AK: I can never answer this question, because I can’t imagine being anything BUT a writer. I almost went to law school, but then my writing called me back. It’s no use. I’m just a diehard storyteller.

D: If you could time travel, which year would be your destination? 


AK: I’m fascinated with Regency England, which is why I set most of my historicals there. I’d have to visit some of the grand balls of the nobility, see the carriage rides through Hyde Park, and watch the Bow Street Runners in action. But I could never deal with the chamber pots!

D: What inspired your contribution to LOVE IS MURDER? 


AK: I really wanted to give my readers romantic closure on FBI agents Sloane Burbank and Derek Parker. But I was also dying to mix in one of my new Forensic Instincts team (the series I’m immersed in right now). “Lockdown” gave me the opportunity to do both, and to do it in a romantic setting and a life-threatening situation.

About the Author

Andrea Kane’s psychological thriller The Girl Who Disappeared Twice became and instant New York Times bestseller, the latest in a long string of smash hits. It introduced Forensic Instincts, and eclectic team of maverick investigators, each with different personalities and talents, all with one common bond: a blatant disregard for authority. The Line Between Here and Gone is the next exhilarating installment in the Forensic Instincts series. Armed with skills and talents honed by years in the FBI and Special Forces, and training in behavioral and forensic psychology, the team solves seemingly impossible cases while walking a fine line between assisting and enraging law enforcement.

With a worldwide following and novels published in over twenty languages, Kane is also the author of eight romantic thrillers and fourteen historical romances. She lives in New Jersey with her family, where she is plotting new ways for Forensic Instincts to challenge the status quo.

About the Book

Prepare for heart-racing suspense in LOVE IS MURDER, edited by New York Times bestselling author Sandra Brown, this original collection features 30 of the hottest bestselling authors and new voices writing nerve-racking romantic suspense today. Bodyguards, vigilantes, stalkers, serial killers, women (and men!) in jeopardy, cops, thieves, P.I.s, killers—these all-new stories will keep you thrilled and chilled late into the night.

 Go on vacation with Allison Brennan’s Lucy Kincaid, where she saves a man from drowning, only to discover he is in far greater danger on land. Meet Roxanne St. Claire’s “bullet catcher”—bodyguard Donovan Rush—who may have met his match in the sexually charged “Diamond Drop.” Debut author William Simon shows us what happens when the granddaughter of the president of the United States is kidnapped. And Lee Child’s pitch-perfect “I Heard a Romantic Story” puts a whole new spin on LOVE IS MURDER.

Love Is Murder is the third Thriller anthology written exclusively by members of International Thriller Writers, Inc. Barely seven years old, ITW has a roster that reads like a who’s who of thriller writing, with 1635 members representing 28 countries worldwide and over three billion books in print. Headed by current co-presidents Douglas Preston and Kathleen Antrim, its board of directors has included such notables as Lee Child, Tess Gerritsen, Steve Berry, James Rollins, M. J. Rose, Carla Neggers, Gayle Lynds, David Morrell and David Hewson. More information is available on the ITW website, www.thrillerwriters.org.

Book Excerpt

It was times like this that Claire Hedgleigh hated her psychic gift. Her best friend was about to get married. The chapel was alight with anticipation and joy. But all Claire could sense was darkness. Dark energy. Filling the room. Hovering over the fairy-tale setting.

For more information, cool prizes, giveaways, guest posts and interviews click HERE.

interview: Author Spencer Seidel

Today we have Author Spencer Seidel to share some interesting part of his life and his latest book; Lovesick! I've read The Dead of Wynter by him last year and totally love the book. I'll share the review once I've finish writing it.

~~~~~&~~~~~

D: Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?

SS: Just that I’m so glad I have readers! Thank you for spending time with my characters. I hope we have a long, complicated relationship!


D: Where do you do most of your writing?

SS: At a small wooden desk my father made for me in a small office with the lights off and the door shut tight.


D: Do you have any quirks that come out while you are writing?

SS: I think I’m secretly half-terrified that some psychologist will casually pick up one of my books and have a long, hard look at those quirks. “Perhaps a long rest in a relaxing countryside villa is in order, Mr. Seidel? Or these medications, maybe?”


D: What is your daily routine as a writer?

SS: When I’m trying to finish a manuscript, I write every day for about two hours when possible. I get uncomfortable missing more than one day of writing because then I risk losing momentum, and that can be a death sentence for a new manuscript, particularly a first draft. Oh, and I’ve begun to write in the evenings, after dinner. I like the open-endedness of writing in the evenings.


D: If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything in your latest book?

SS: Of course! I never feel that a book is perfect or complete. I could edit and revise forever. But I really do like Lovesick and my characters and believe in them, so I have to stand behind it as is.

Thanks so much to Spencer Seidel. For more giveaways, guest post and all, visit this SITE.

About the Author

Spencer Seidel’s love of reading and writing began as a child after he discovered Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. His first novel, Dead of Wynter, was published in 2011 and was well-received by critics and readers alike. When he’s not writing novels, Spencer enjoys playing loud rock guitar, something he’s been doing for over twenty-five years.

interview: Author Nelle Davy

Nelle Davy is the author of THE LEGACY OF EDEN, as Jenna Blum, a bestselling author of Those Who Save Us and The Stormchasers described Nelle Davy's THE LEGACY OF EDEN as "a combination of Daphne DuMaurier with Jane Smiley and this dark tale of a golden farm family is a wonderfully Gothic read."

I just started reading the book and quite enjoy it. Today I got lucky to interview the author, Nelle Davy. Please join her book blog tour and you can win giveaways! (Look at the end of the post!).

About the Book

For generations, Aurelia was the crowning glory of more than three thousand acres of Iowa farmland and golden cornfields. The estate was a monument to matriarch Lavinia Hathaway's dream to elevate the family name - no matter what relative or stranger she had to destroy in the process. It was a desperation that wrought the downfall of the Hathaways - and the once prosperous farm.

Now the last inhabitant of the decaying old home has died - alone. None of the surviving members of the Hathaway family want anything to do with the farm, the land, or the memories.

Especially Meredith Pincetti. Now living in New York City, for seventeen years Lavinia's youngest grandchild has tried to forget everything about her family and her past. But with the receipt of a pleading letter, Meredith is again thrust into conflict with the legacy that destroyed her family's once-great name. Back at Aurelia, Meredith must confront the rise and fall of the Hathaway family... and her own part in their mottled history.

**** & ****

D: There are some darker elements to this book–what did you draw from to write that?

ND: Nothing tangible. It was the natural course for the story to take. I don’t shirk from darkness. I was raised on it.


D: Are any characters in the book based on people you know or have met in your personal life?

ND: No – though I think Lavinia is the part of me I could have taken if I had chosen a different path in life.

D: Which part of THE LEGACY OF EDEN was the most enjoyable to write?

ND: The part where Cal announces their affair and Lavinia threatens to stab him in his sleep if he ever hits her again at the traffic lights once they leave to go to the farm. That cemented everything for me about the kind of person she was.

D: Which part was the least enjoyable?

ND: The end rape scene and Meredith’s reaction. I had to do it in a way that was unforgivable without making the audience hate her and also understand why she reacted the way she did. Not a pleasant moment.


D: How did Aurelia come to be during the course of writing the book? Was it always the way it is in the published novel?

ND: Yes – lots of things have changed or developed over time but Aurelia was a constant. It was the fixed point around which the novel rotated.

Thanks so much Nelle!

Head to BookTrib page and participate a scavenger hunt HERE!

About the Author

Nelle Davy was born in Grenada in 1984 and was raised in London within an Anglo-Caribbean family. She studied English with creative writing at the University of Warwick and then undertook a master of philosophy degree in creative writing at Trinity College Dublin. She currently lives in London with her husband, where she works in publishing. THE LEGACY OF EDEN is her first novel and she is currently working on her second.

interview: Author Rebeca Coleman

Rebecca Coleman is the author of THE KINGDOM OF CHILDHOOD, an utterly absorbing look at the breakdown of a woman and a family, beautifully written novel that explores a relationship between a teenager and a teacher as it veers from platonic to unsettlingly forbidden territory.

So today I got an opportunity to join her virtual tour and get to ask her some questions.

D: Your manuscript for the TKOC was a semifinalist in the 2010 Amazon Breakthrough Novel Competition! Tell us a little more about this.

RC: That was a lot of fun. My friend Erika suggested I enter my manuscript-- the contest hadn't been on my radar at all-- so I did, because it's free and I had nothing to lose. And then the book ended up making it through one round after another until it was a semifinalist. I'd gotten a Publisher's Weekly review as part of that process, and it was a very strong one-- they called the book "a scalding, engaging portrait" of two people "caught in a trap of their own making." Having that review in hand was extremely helpful in getting an agent. But the process was also just very fun and exciting-- it was like a horse race, betting on which entries would make the next cut, because Amazon posted excerpts at one stage. One of the finalists that year was Johnny Shaw, who I ran into at BookExpo as he was promoting "Dove Season." He's a great guy, very funny. Entering ABNA is like being on "Survivor"-- you make friends and alliances, and other people you want to vote off the island on the first day.


D: How long did it take you to write the book?

RC: From concept to completion, about two and a half years. That's not a very long time, on the scale of novel-writing, but it feels like a long time when you have no idea whether this is a work project or just an obsessive hobby.


D: Did you do any special research on Waldorf for the book?

RC: I read Torin Finser's "School as a Journey," which is a very detailed look into a Waldorf teacher's mind and classroom, and I read a great deal by Rudolf Steiner, who is the originator of the philosophy. But I also spent a lot of time reading forums and websites by people who felt disenfranchised by Waldorf and critical of it. Because I idealized it for so long, it's oddly painful to be critical. I felt I did my due diligence with research, but mainly I relied upon my real-life experience with it-- attending school events and festivals, observing my son's classroom, and working with the materials-- the toys and art supplies, the storybooks. It's all been a part of my life for many years.

Thanks so much Rebecca!


About the Book

The Kingdom of Childhood is the story of a boy and a woman; sixteen-year-old Zach Patterson, uprooted and struggling to reconcile his knowledge of his mother's extramarital affair, and Judy McFarland, a kindergarten teacher watching her family unravel before her eyes. Thrown together to organize a fundraiser for their failing private school and bonded by loneliness, they begin an affair that at first thrills, then corrupts each of them. Judy sees in Zachthe elements of a young man she loved as a child, but what Zach does not realize is that their relationship is, for Judy, only the latest in a lifetime of disturbing secrets.

~~~~ Scavenger hunt ~~~~

"Yeah, but it's still safer if you use them."

"Safer for what? I don't have any diseases. Do you?"

In a scornful voice he said, "No. But they say you ought to act like everybody does,anyhow."

I gave a deprecating laugh. "Oh, the things they teach you teenagers."


*Head over to Chick Lit Plus on 10/7 for the next installment from

THE KINGDOM OF CHILDHOOD*

~~~~~

About the Author

Rebecca Coleman received her B.A. in English literature from the University of Maryland at College Park and speaks to writers' groups on the subjects of creative writing and publishing. A native New Yorker, she now lives and works near Washington, D.C. Her manuscript for The Kingdom of Childhood was a semifinalist in the 2010 Amazon Breakthrough Novel Competition. An emotionally tense, increasingly chilling work of fiction set in the controversial Waldorf school community, it is equal parts enchanting and unsettling and is sure to be a much discussed and much-debated novel.

interview: Author Paula Renaye

Guys, we have Author Paula Renaye in the house! This is a part of her virtual book tour entitled "Hardline Self Help".

D: The title of your book is “Hardline Self Help” what does the title mean?

PR: Hardline Self Help means that you stop letting yourself off the hook—stop giving
yourself excuses for why you don‘t or can‘t have what you want—and you hold your own feet to the fire, face reality, take responsibility for your life right now and get busy doing what you know you need to do.

D: Describe your book in three words.

PR: Self Tough Love

D: What inspired you to write the book?

PR: I wanted to write a book for people who are stuck in a never-ending cycle of pain and can‘t see a way out. I know what that‘s like—and I know how wonderful it feels to finally be free of it. My first clue to this tough love approach came when I was singing my same old song of woe to a friend and she said, ―You know, isn‘t it great, that for the rest of your life, no matter who you tell your story to, they‘ll always say ‗you poor thing‘ and you can be a victim forever. Well, that jerked me up by the scruff of the neck and got my attention—fast—and in that moment I vowed I would never consider myself a victim again. I‘ve never forgotten how quickly my perception changed, simply because she had the courage to speak the truth to me. That‘s what I want to do for my readers—offer a little reality boot camp so they too can experience lightning bolt awareness moments for a ―blink of an eye‖ transformation.

D: What do you hope readers will learn/discover from reading Hardline Self
Help?

PR: Themselves. I want readers to really discover themselves—the true authentic version—and honor it! Most of us go through life being who we think we should be—we are products of our programming and don‘t even realize it. I want readers to be willing to look unflinchingly in the mirror and say, ―yeah, I did that, but I don‘t have to do it again. I have choices! If you face reality, make choices that a person with self-respect would, then take action toward what you want, you will have joy. So, ultimately, it‘s joy. I want readers to have joy—which is the natural state of the authentic self!

D: What Makes Your Book Unique?

PR: Well, let‘s just say that one title I toyed with was: Masochistic Self Help, which is different than Self Help for the Masochist, although I suppose that could work too. Whatever the case, this is about being willing to inflict short-term pain on yourself in ways that you would never tolerate from anyone else in order to get long-term happiness. I‘ve used the term ―a crash course in self tough love several times, but that‘s what it is. There‘s a chapter called ―Bullets You Need to Bite that might have some people wanting to aim one at me. If a friend said to you, ―Either start eating healthy and exercising or quit whining about being fat, you‘d probably never speak to her again. We just won‘t say those things to each other. You may, however, be willing—eventually—to take it from a book. Throw the thing across the room if you must, but when you‘re really ready for your life to be different, pick it back up and do what you need to do. And, as strange as it may sound, it probably won‘t be long before you‘re enjoying this self-inflicted tough love approach, and eager to find yet another way to feel better. So, yes, uniquely masochistic—in a good way!

D: What do you mean by “What Are You Willing to Do to Get What You Really Want?”

PR: When we are in tough spots in our lives and are in a loop of pain we just can‘t seem to find a way out of, we may say that we‘re willing to do anything to make things better. But is it really true? Many times, what we‘re really saying is, ―I’ll do anything not to hurt anymore as long as I can keep things the way I want them. For example, if what you want is a loving, peaceful and trusting relationship, but you‘re in constant turmoil and upset over the situation you‘re living in, what are you willing to do about it? Personally, I was willing to do absolutely anything except the one thing that I had to do—get a different partner. When I became willing to let go of my limitations—my attachment to that particular partner—I opened the door to being able to have what I really wanted.
Here‘s another example. A lot of people tell me they‘re going to write a book. Great! When? How? What are you willing to sacrifice to make it happen? Are you willing to watch less television to make time for writing? Are you willing to give up golfing on weekends? How bad do you really want it? I asked myself the ―what are you willing to do question repeatedly throughout the process of writing and launching this book. Every time the answer was the same—whatever it takes, which meant working 12 to 16 hours a day for months straight. Sure, I got tired, but I loved what I was doing, and getting this book in print was that important to me. I was willing.

D: How does this book help women?

PR: It‘s been said by many that the one thing we have to do in order to be happy is to simply love ourselves. Great, how? As women, we have so many ―shoulds pulling us in different directions. On the list of mother, wife, ―good girl, dedicated employee, family command center facilitator and other roles, just where does ―loving yourself rank? Even thinking about taking loving time for ourselves can feel selfish, greedy, self-centered and all those other undesirable traits we‘ve been warned against. I never did get the―just love yourself and everything will be fine model. What I do get, however—and what makes perfect workable sense to me—is self-respect. If I ask myself, ―Would a person who had self-respect do what I‘m about to do? I get a much better answer that I can work with—one that doesn‘t offer me the option of feeling bad because I shouldn‘t want so much for myself. Everyone can honor respect!

D: Where is Hardline Self Help available?

PR: The trade paperback and ebook versions are available through amazon.com and other online retailers as well as by order through most bookstores.
PDF versions of the book and the companion workbook (8½ x 11) are available from DiomoBooks.com.

D: At what age did you discover writing and when were you first published? Tell us your call story.

PR: I always loved to read and was drawn to journalism and served as year book editor in high school and college. I also wrote for the university newspaper and served as copy editor and news editor. However, I did what a lot of women have done—and still do—I gave it up to be married. I still continued to read and wrote a few feature pieces for local newspapers, but it was many years later before I really began writing again. And, it came in quite an unusual way.

My dad passed away suddenly in the fall of 1991 and it was a tough time for me. A few months later, songs—country songs, complete with tune and lyrics—kept popping into my head. So, I wrote them down. Having found my connection again, I wanted to expand and found a local writing group. A lot of people in the group were writing novels, and since I‘d read a zillion of them, I figured I could certainly write one. So, I did—a 400- page western historical with a love story that won a contest right off the bat. But it was the fourth book I wrote—Hot Enough to Kill, which is a humorous mystery—that made it into print. The second book, Dead Man Falls, won a WILLA Literary Award.


About the Author

Paula Renaye is a certified professional coach, motivational speaker, regression hypnosis practitioner and award-winning author. She has been a consultant for 18 years and is a member of the International Association of Coaches. She presents classes, seminars, hands-on workshops and events on self-development and self-healing, as well as writing and publishing. Her passion is helping people face reality and take personal responsibility for their choices in order to reclaim their own power and live the life they really want.

Email: info@diomobooks.com
Website: http://hardlineselfhelp.com
Website: www.diomobooks.com

interview: Author Alison Silbert

Today I would like to welcome Alison Silbert, author of Boost Your Revenues by Turning People Away for an interview about her book. The book has a very great insights to raise your income apart of other difficulties. Without further ado, I welcome you Alison Silbert. Don't forget to leave some love ;p

D: What inspired you to write the book?

AS: A colleague had suggested I put commonly asked questions into a book that I could hand out to prospective clients. It seemed like a good idea, so I went ahead and wrote the outline, then found potential book publishers (two of which showed interest in the outline). I completed the copy of the book, resubmitted the full manuscript to the same two publishers outlining the pre-qualifying process I had already completed, and signed a deal.

D: How do you determine your ideal client?

AS: “I” determine my ideal client by asking myself “who do I want to help?”, “what characteristics are included in my definition of an ideal client?”, and “what are the top 3 problems my ideal client has that I can solve quickly and easily for him/her?”

D: How important is choosing the right business?

AS: Imperative. If you are marketing to the wrong business you are wasting time, energy and money.

DS: What advice can you give other entrepreneurs feeling overwhelmed by the business, especially when a lot of things are going wrong at the same time?

AS: Have faith. Regardless of your beliefs, things have a way of working themselves out. There are numerous experts available, at various different price points, who are more than willing to assist you in generating the results you want.

D: What other advice can you give women entrepreneurs?

AS: Keep doing what you love.

D: The title of your book, what does it mean?

AS: Simply this: in spite of what most people use a website for (a glorified brochure available for everyone to see), it is possible to write website copy that builds ideal prospects’ trust in you and your business, and leads them to take some step towards starting the sales cycle for you.

D: Tell us about “Boost Your Revenues by Turning People Away”.

AS: “Boost Your Revenues by Turning People Away” is a compilation of all kinds of experiences I have had with clients over the past 10 years woven between many useful tidbits of information about how to get a website created and optimized so that it speaks only to your ideal client, rolled into one small book you can reference at a moment’s notice. Jam packed with useful tips on how to clarify the definition of your ideal client,three easy ways to put a website together and where to get the tools, and simple things you can do to increase your search engine ranking, this book is a must-have for any entrepreneur – seasoned or brand new. This book is also ideal for college/university graduates who want a leading-edge in a competitive job market.

D: How does this book benefit the reader?

AS: This book walks the reader through three distinct phases of creating a website. Phase 1: Clarifying who you want the website to speak to (i.e. clarifying who your ideal client is) and what message you want to convey through the website (i.e., what do you want your readers to know? What do you want your ideal prospects to do from your website?). Phase 2: Three simple ways to construct the website (choosing a professional, using a content manager and using a template). And Phase 3: Simple things that an average business person can do to increase the likelihood that the website will be seen by its ideal visitors (the business’s ideal clients).

D: Who is your intended audience?

AS: Anyone interested in learning for himself/herself how to put together an effective website that starts the sales cycle for them.

About the Author

Alison Silbert is the author of “Winning Websites” published in 2007, and “Boost Your Revenues by Turning People Away” published in January 2011. Alison's company Passionate Web Creations and Ideal Visitor Inc provides clients with a wide variety of business building, marketing services and web development services. She has helped clients of all sizes, including entrepreneurs, just starting businesses and fully operational corporate structures. Her clients have included such Canadian Universities as University of Toronto and University of Calgary.

Alison Silbert is among the prestigious ranks of Stanford Who's Who as a result of her exceptional professional career. Stanford Who's Who empowers executives, professionals and entrepreneurs around the world. During her collegiate career, she earned a Bachelor's degree in Computer Programming from Humber College of Applied Arts and Technology. She has also studied Business Management and Marketing.

When not running her business, she is a mentor, coach, and teacher, supporting individuals in living their dream of having a successful online business. She has taught database courses at the University of Toronto. She lives in Mississauga with her husband, 2 children and a loyal sheltie named Cocoa.

Buy the book at: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Website

interview: Author R.L. Stine

Author RL Stine is the 2011 Thrillermaster for this year Thriller Fest. Stine’s thrillers and horror tales have proven to be great reading motivation for young people. The YA series, Fear Street, started in 1989 and was followed in 1992 by Goosebumps, which quickly took off around the world. Goosebumps has been translated into 35 languages. These days, Stine continues to add books to the Goosebumps series, scaring a new generation of kids.

I grew up reading his books and totally adore all of of it. When I have the opportunity to interview him, I jump at the chance. Thanks to Sarah at Meryl L. Moss Media Relations, Inc. make this happens. Please welcome RL Stine!

D: As the author of over 330 books for children, and three thrillers for adults, there is no doubt that you are a ThrillerMaster! What does this title entail for this year’s ThrillerFest VI?

RS: I'm very honored to be singled out for this award. It means a lot to me to be recognized by other thriller writers, especially since I admire and read so many of them.

D: What is your involvement with the ThrillerFest sponsors, International Thriller Writers?

RS: I've been a member of ITW almost since the beginning of the organization. It's given me a chance to meet and make friends with many authors. And it allows me to talk and give advice to beginning authors who wish to write for young people—and to appear in panel discussions on all kinds of topics of interest to authors and readers.

D: Had you always assumed you’d become a writer?

RS: Yes. I started writing when I was nine. Not sure why I thought it was so interesting. I was a weird kid, just stayed in my room typing stories and joke books. I think I knew when I was nine that I wanted to be a writer.

D: You’ve been drawn to both horror fiction and humor – penning numerous joke books and humor magazines – is there a correlation between the two genres?

RS: I think there's a very close connection. When I go to a scary movie or read a scary book, I never get frightened. They always make me laugh. I write horror the same way you write jokes—a series of punchlines. And of course I use humor a lot in Goosebumps to keep the books from getting too intense for kids.

D: Some authors are very habitual in the way that they write – do you have any idiosyncrasies you’d like to share?

RS: I'm pretty much a writing machine. I can write anywhere. I treat it as a job. I'm usually at my computer by 9 or 10 in the morning, and I don't get up until I've written ten pages. If I write ten pages a day, I can do a Goosebumps book in two weeks. But of course you have to count all the planning—and then lots of revising.

About the Author

R. L. Stine is the author of over 330 books for children. His Goosebumps, Fear Street, and other book series have sold nearly 400 million copies around the world, making him one of the best-selling children’s authors in history. Stine is a three-time winner of the Nickelodeon Children’s Choice Award and a recipient of the American Library Association Award.

Find him at: Website | ThrillerFest

interview: Author Oana

I would love to welcome Author Oana for visiting my blog today for an interview. She is the author of The Healing, and a very nice person. The Healing is very special to me because I think it's a great reading material for motivation and if you want to find some laugh and jokes. You can read my review here. Welcome Oana!

D: Hello Oana! First of all, can you tell us about yourself?

O: I was born in Bucharest, Romania. As you might know, until 1989 Romania was under a communist dictatorship. After the fall of the communism in 1989 I studied languages at the University in Bucharest, then received my Master’s at the Jagiellonian University in Krakow, Poland. English is my third language; I have always loved learning languages. I have worked as a translator, as a teacher and eventually caring for animals both domestic and wild. I volunteered and worked for wildlife rescue and rehabilitation centers both in the United States and Canada. Now I live in Phoenix, Arizona, where I continue to work with animals and to write. I have become a pretty quiet person, when I feel I have something to say I just sit down and write.

I am lucky to work with animals. I go to work every morning knowing that there are no small office gossips there for me; instead, thirty puppies barking happily and waiting for me to feed them, give them medications and check on their well being.

D: What inspired you to write The Healings?

O: Undoubtedly, being around animals. They are a great source of comfort. When I used to work with wildlife, I spent most of the time in silence. You have to be quiet around these guys; you have to avoid stressing them; besides, the purpose of your work is to release them back into the wild without exposing them to human interaction too much. They have to stay wild. In a way, this type of work implies isolation – with very rare occasions when you communicate with other fellow rehabilitators. It was a great time for insights, you know. Because I grew up going on fishing trips with my dad – and silence was mandatory; he didn’t want me to scare his fish off – it was pretty easy for me to stay quiet. And focused. Observation is a key factor in working with animals. I started seeing a lot of details that usually go unnoticed: expressions, eyes, coats. It happens that writing requires a great deal of observation as well, so in a way, my passions completed each other. When I wrote the first chapter of The Healings, there was no cat. Then I realized that my character needed a companion.

D: I love the nameless man’s cat. Do you have a cat?

O: No, I do not have any animals right now, if you don’t count those at work. My parents still do. They have two cats and two dogs. One of the cats is an albino that loves sun and heat. In the winter, for example, he glues himself to the heaters and he sleeps there until his coat gets burnt. In the summer, they rush him to the vet with burns on his ear tips. He is a funny character; he loves heat but heat doesn’t love him. You can see his picture on my website. Cats are fascinating and sadly, misunderstood animals. We take their sense of independence as ungratefulness or selfishness.

D: Where do you do most of your writing? Anything special you must have or do while you are writing?

O: I do most of my writing in my head. I think of what I want to write, and how I want to write it. I think of it for days sometimes weeks and even years. Then I just write it and it is usually exactly the way I wanted it to be. For example, I had been thinking of The Healings for twenty years. I had not written a word all this time, yet I kept thinking of it. I had not “honed” my craft. I had never gone to a writing course. I had never picked English to be my language of choice the language picked me. One day I just started writing and it was overwhelming. My hands could not keep up with my thoughts that were coming at me so fast. It was an exhilarating experience.

The only requirement I have in order to write is silence. I cannot write in crowded coffee shops or at workshops. I can think of things, I can come up with ideas, but I need quiet time to put something down on paper.

D: Did you always know that you are going to be a writer?

O: In many ways, yes. It wasn’t clear to me where I was going until I joined the Central Phoenix Writing Workshop in 2008. When I got to know the people – it is a wonderful group – I realized that I was finally home, that I belonged there with the “crazy” writers and artists.

D: What are your top 5 favorite books? What book are you currently reading?

O: My favorite writers are classics. I love many authors; it would be hard for me to pick five of them. I love Chekhov, Dostoyevsky, Shalom Aleichem, Franz Kafka, Isaac Singer, and Bruno Schulz. I have learned so much from them, without ever wanting to copy their style or sound like them. Only great minds can teach you that.

I am currently re-reading a wonderful book written by my friend Robert Rubenstein. It is called Ghost Runners and it is a historical fiction about the only two Jews on the American Olympic team sent to Berlin in 1936 and who were removed from the relay. I think it is an important life lesson and history lesson as well. That marginalization of the Jews is what ultimately led to Holocaust. We should learn from that.

D: Do you have any tips for readers who are looking to become published authors?

O: Believe in yourself. Have patience. I know many awesome writers who just waited. A good book is like good old wine. Give it a little bit of time. Each of us has their own creative ways. Some write a thousand words a day, some struggle to write five words per day. You have to find your own pace. Don’t put stress on yourself trying to “catch up” with other writers. They are not you. You want to be yourself. Listen to others but also trust your instincts.

D: Tell us 3 things that we might be surprised to know about you.

O: I don’t know about three but I can tell you one: I rarely wear jewelry. I like it, but since I work with animals it is definitely in the way. I had given up jewelry, perfumes and scarves on daily basis years ago, something I would have never thought I’d be capable of. I am still very fashionable when I can be, which is kind of funny; it is almost like having a double life. I remember one conversation I had with a fellow wildlife rehabilitator many years ago. It was midnight, cold and the wind was blowing. We were in the middle of nowhere, dirty and tired, trying to catch a baby seal. She looked at me and she said, “Hey, if you told a date what you do for living, would he believe you?” We both started laughing, “Nah...”

D: Any last word?

O: Many people have asked me why my character is nameless. Partly an instinctual response to the general opinion among writers that he should have a name otherwise the book will not be interesting, partly the fact that I wanted him to be understood in any culture.

I had seen artists who come from a certain ethnic, religious or racial background and limit themselves to the point that when they promote their works they do it almost exclusively in their own world. I think this is dangerous. Writing should build bridges, should bring people together. We should learn about each other and about ourselves. We should stand for each other’s rights. But how are we going to do it if we do not reach out? To give you an example: I am working now on a memoir about the twenty years I spent under Ceausescu. I am not going to promote my book in Romanian circles. Sure I would love my fellow Romanians to read it, but they are not my target audience. Most of them know very well the horrors that took place; they have been there as well. I want people from other cultures to read and relate to that. And I am curious too to learn more about injustice around the world. We are profoundly interconnected. Discrimination against one human being is basically discrimination against humanity as a whole.
My intention is to cross the borders, to entice readers from various cultural racial and religious backgrounds. We are all humans. We all love, laugh, suffer and are happy or depressed. And this is the nature of The Healings.

About the Author

She has worn many hats, working as a translator, as a teacher, and eventually caring for animals both domestic and wild. She volunteered and worked for wildlife rescue and rehabilitation centers both in the US and Canada. She lives in Arizona, where she continues to dedicate most of her time to her animals and to writing.

Visit her at: Website | Facebook