AN INTERVIEW ABOUT "THE THIRTEEN HALLOWS" WITH MICHAEL SCOTT & COLETTE FREEDMAN!

Thank you both for doing this interview for Great Minds, the first question that I have, is what was the driving force behind "The Thirteen Hallows" and how did the idea come about?

Michael -I was introduced to the Hallows more than two decade ago when I started to research the character of Dr John Dee (1527-1608), for a horror novel. (Image, published by Warner Books in 1991). My researches into myth and legend had brought me in contact with the legend of the thirteen hallows. There are “hallowed” legends all across the Celtic lands – blessed, sacred or cursed objects. Traditionally, stories talk about the hallowed objects being used for good, but myth and legend tell us that the opposite was often the case. So, like all novels, it began with the question: what if someone were collecting the thirteen hallows of Britain intending to use them to unleash the ultimate evil.

I love the fact that this book is a high adventure, fantasy type novel for adults. If either of you had to choose a favorite character from the book who would it be and why?



Colette -Sarah. I love strong women. Sarah is a fascinating character because she is unaware of how much inner strength she possesses. And while the sword helps ignite her self-confidence and assuredness, she discovers that she truly had it all along. She’s a terrific heroine and easily identifiable to women. I also love Robert Elliot because, in my opinion, there is no one more dangerous than an intellectual and wealthy thug.

Michael –Mine would be the mysterious character (whom I cannot reveal for spoilers sake), whose identity you discover quite late in the text.

Tell us more about the writing process how did you both collaborate on the novel?



The first step was to create a very detailed synopsis, a chapter by chapter breakdown of the entire book. Initially, Michael flew to LA and spent some weeks working with Colette, and then later, she flew to London.

We live thousands of miles away from each other, in different time zones and we make this time difference work in our favor. Colette writes a chapter and emails it to Michael before he wakes up. Michael then tweaks it, doctors it, embellishes it and writes the next chapter which he sends to Colette. She does the same with his chapters and they go back and we go back and forth until the book is complete.

We then Skype almost every day, working through the plot points. Skype, and shared Google docs really helped make this book happen.

I know a lot of authors love the idea of their books being made into a movie, what do you both think about "The Thirteen Hallows" being made into a movie?

Colette –I’m excited about the possibilities. There has been a lot of interest and we’ve taken a bunch of meetings. We’ll see … but it would translate nicely to the screen.

Michael –I am always very cautious about seeing my work translated to the screen. I suppose I’ve sat through far too many movies which simply did not resemble the book I’d read. However, when it’s done well, a good movie really does enhance the book and a knowledge of the book improves the movie experience. The Harry Potter movies and the LOTR are perfect examples of this.

As Colette said, there has been a lot of interest in The Thirteen Hallows, and one of the factors which is exciting producers at the moment is that it is so very visual, so the translation from page to screen should be fairly straightforward.


This question is for Colette, I read that you are a playwright, actually an award-winning, internationally produced playwright. Was writing this novel much different for you from writing plays?

Colette-Much different! Plays are character and dialogue driven. Because they are so intimate, plays have the luxury of being set in a single location with a few actors who basically talk…quite a lot. Sure, there’s story and plot and action; however, it’s secondary to the motivations, which drive the characters. In a play, there are generally at least two people in a room, usually with opposing wants; thus, the conflict is built within the dialogue. In a book…the conflict must be plotted out quite precisely: In a novel, the possibilities are endless, and the story must be the priority. It has to be researched, properly structured and fleshed out. A play averages 75 pages, while our book pushes 400… so there is also a lot more to write.


Michael you are the fantastic author of "The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel Series" which I have read and loved, what was it like for you writing a novel that is geared more toward adults?

I have always written for adults and my work has always been split 50/50 between adult and young adult, though in the United States, I am more recognized as a YA author. I published my first book in 1982 and wrote my first horror novel in 1990. I first tackled the legend of the Hallows in a novel of the same name back in 1995.

I specialize in myth and legend and so much of that material absolutely lends itself to the horror genre. If you think back to some of the great myths and legends you grew up with, you will see that all of them had a strong horror thread running through them.

The earliest stories, the oldest myths, are about monsters and those things which haunt the dark. I am sure that when the first humans huddled in caves there was someone there telling a ghost story, making those gathered around the fire glance nervously out into the night.

All of the Hallows in the story are drawn from myth and legend and each one had a wonderfully dark legend attached to it. So, it made perfect sense to mix the two genres.

The difference between writing for the two age groups is principally one of language and themes.

Do you both have plans to write more novels together, perhaps turn this book into a series?



Colette –absolutely. This has been an amazing collaboration and I’ve learned a great deal. We’re currently working on the sequel to The Thirteen Hallows and we have a few more projects we’re currently collaborating on.


Do either of you have any 'pearls of wisdom' you'd like to share with other aspiring authors?



Michael –if you want to be a writer, the first (and probably the most important) rule is: READ. Read everything. In every genre – do not limit yourself. And then write.

Colette –Splurge on a really comfortable chair. You’re going to be using it a lot.


Thank you both so much for the honor and opportunity to interview you. I greatly appreciate the time you took for our literary community and I cannot wait for the next installment of "The Thirteen Hallows"! Keep a watch for my review coming later tonight!

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"GOOD TIDINGS & TRIMMINGS" CHRISTMAS INTERVIEW WITH DOUG LUCAS

Thank you again for donating a book for our 1st annual "Good Tidings & Trimmings" e-book Giveaway! What book or books did you donate, tell us more about them.

The Good Servant and a unpublished book titled Buzz Words which are both part of the Good Servant series that will be released by Gypsy Shadow Publishing. The Good Servant was just released and Buzz Words is the fifth in the series. I thought I'd get a jump on telling everyone just how fabulous Buzz Words and I really are. All should note just how humble I am as they think about that last statement.

The Good Servant was written as an act of revenge against my wife and daughter. Over the years they've asked me about Vietnam and some of the alleged crimes my mother has accused me of, crimes which for the most part I'll add I may or may not be guilty of depending on your point of view.

My daughter is an English teacher, I also write in an effort to show her students the humiliating background she came from, it's always good to embarrass your children when you get old, it teaches them about revenge served cold.

The Good Servant is about a man's life and an effort to help answer some of the questions he'd been asked by his wife and children over the years. Questions that at the time he either wouldn't, couldn't or didn't see the need to respond too when they were asked. He tries to explain(that normally means justify for most of you) how past events molded him into the type of man he became.

Buzz Words was written as an attempt to survive. I've retired three times if you count social security. Once from the Marines and once from the State Police where I worked as a forensic photographer and video analysts.

After I retired the second time I was bored. I did buy a very small computer system, did intend to do some work for a few of the smaller departments in the area and it did get just a tad out of hand. My lovely, ever understanding and mostly gentle wife felt just a little differently than I about these facts.

She felt I should have discussed any ever so small purchase I may or may not have remembered to tell her about first and that I intended to work myself to death. It was also suggested that I should consider how our home would look after the crime scene guys got done with it. I decided that I really didn't want to work anymore. But I did have the foundation for a book about a family of serial murders.

I tried to give an inside look at an investigation. I'm tired of reading about lone wolf investigators who solve everything off the cuff or with notes from their underwear. It takes a lot of well coordinated efforts by many skill sets to solve a crime. It also takes hours of grinding research done by dedicated men and women working in and around law enforcement. That's the story I wanted to tell.

Buzz Words hasn't been through the editing process, so you have the chance to see all the warts before the editor saves the day.

What is your favorite thing about the holiday season and what does Christmas mean to you?

Christmas is family, fellowship and reflection on the gifts God has bestowed to all of us. Take the time to reflect on those gifts of family given by God and you might discover that you also have a Wonderful Life.

What is your favorite holiday memory?

There are two that I cherish.

My father was a World War II veteran, he showed his love for family in a thousand ways, but rarely said much more than I love you boy to any of his sons. Christmas day on my first tour in Vietnam we were lucky enough to receive mail. I got a letter from him that has meant more to me than any gift he 'd given me before or since. He wrote about just how proud and how much he loved me.

After the bombing in Beirut, it didn't look like I'd make it home for Christmas that year either. My daughter and wife sent me a letter which I still carry in my wallet next to my fathers.

Do you still have any of the toys you got when you were a kid?

No, I was a parents delight as a child. It didn't matter to me whether the toy was supposed to be taken apart or not, at some point I dismantled them just to see how they worked.

Sometimes I even managed to get most of the toy back in one almost working piece.

How do you celebrate the holidays?

By following the example my parents set for me as a child.

Do you still believe in Santa Claus?

Of course I do and you should see my Christmas wish list, by the way would any of you like a copy? I even tell folks just which bike shop has the color I want for item five.

A lot of people get that warm, fuzzy feeling around this time of year, are you one of those people?

No, I stopped drinking after I turned twenty-one, it just wasn't as much fun. Oh that's not the warm fuzzy feeling you meant?

Christmas is about love, why should we only take the time to enjoy that love at Christmas or on birthdays?

Have you ever gone caroling or wanted to?

Like I said, I gave up drinking a life time ago. That question will tell everyone who has ever heard me sing that you really don't know me.

If you had a choice of the perfect weather for Christmas would it be cold and snowy, or warm and sunny?

Does it really matter? If you're surrounded by the people who really mean something to you, why should you care about weather. But if certain people would check item forty-one on my wish list for this year, they'll note that heated riding leather would negate the affects of cold winter days.

I'll remind them that it was item forty-one last year also, as a matter of fact for a number of years. You can hide socks with Santa's smiling face all over them in your riding boots, but please let's get real here: poker money, cigarettes or riding leather are always useful. I don't need another cute tie or anymore neat socks that will cause me to suspect certain people are serving me cold revenge.

Give us your links! Tell us where to find your books and more information about you!

I can be found on face book and at Gypsy Shadow Publishing's web site. If you want to chat with me go to face book. I'll be glad to hear from you, but keep in mind my Mom is still(a blessing from God) with us. Her memory is superb(sometimes a curse), so I may or may not answer some of your questions. Also for the record I may in some very trifling way, but mostly may not be responsible for the small affair involving the destruction of the Smoke House and its contents. Love you Mom.


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"GOOD TIDINGS & TRIMMINGS" CHRISTMAS INTERVIEW WITH DEANNA KNIPPLING

Thank you again for donating a book for our 1st annual "Good Tidings & Trimmings" e-book Giveaway! What book or books did you donate, tell us more about them.

I donated Tales Told Under the Covers: Zombie Girl Invasion & Other Stories, written as De Kenyon, which is a collection of short strange stories for kids 8 to 12. I used to read all kinds of ghost and mystery stories (Alfred Hitchcock!) when I was a kid, so I wanted to recreate that experience. A bunch of these stories came out of conversations with kids and teens, too--for example, the beginning of "Zombie Girl Invasion" came almost word for word from a boy I know who came up with this list of the world's most horrible punishments, and getting kissed was like #1 or #2.

What is your favorite thing about the holiday season and what does Christmas mean to you?

My favorite thing about the holiday season is the lights. I get a little depressed every winter, and the lights cheer me up. I'm one of those people who drives slowly through the pretty neighborhoods. We have a parade of lights in my town, too, which is a nighttime parade where you drink a lot of cocoa and try to take terrible pictures in the dark.I would like to say that Christmas means family to me, but I remember getting dragged all over as a kid to the houses of relatives where I had a perfectly boring time because I had to be good and there was nothing to do, so I guess I don't mean that. So instead I'll say Christmas is a time where I want to tell the people in my life how much I appreciate and treasure them.

What is your favorite holiday memory?

My favorite childhood holiday memories are a mishmash of hanging out with my Grandma on Christmas Eve. My favorite adult memories are of my daughter, ever-so-shyly, trying to persuade us that it is, indeed, time to get up.

Do you still have any of the toys you got when you were a kid?

A few; I gave one of my unicorn music boxes to my daughter when she was much younger, and she's decided she doesn't want it anymore, so now it's sitting on my computer desk. I still have my childhood blanket (my ginkie) in the linen closet, though.

How do you celebrate the holidays?

We live far enough away from family that we don't drive back for Christmas (preferring to save that for the summertime, when we're pretty sure errant snowstorms won't hit at weird times), so for the last few years, we've been having a Geek Christmas, where we get all the locals that are in town by themselves, have them over, feed them whatever experiment I feel like feeding them (I like to cook), and playing games of one kind or another.

Do you still believe in Santa Claus?

Of course I do; I've been drafted to help in the cause.

A lot of people get that warm, fuzzy feeling around this time of year, are you one of those people?

I swing back and forth: ugh, winter--I like the snow, but I need sunshine--ooh, pretty lights and cocoa...

Have you ever gone caroling or wanted to?

Yes, I remember going caroling at a nursing home once, and it was good. I like making people happy, and that worked like a charm. Plus, you know, bellowing Christmas carols in the car used to be a family ritual, so I had plenty of practice.

If you had a choice of the perfect weather for Christmas would it be cold and snowy, or warm and sunny?

Cold and snowy! Lots of snowy! I live in south-ish Colorado, so it wouldn't stick around long, but I'm already impatient for more snow!

Give us your links! Tell us where to find your books and more information about you!

I blog at:www.deannaknippling.com.
I have my own small e-press where you can find all kinds of stories atwww.wonderlandpress.com.
I have a website for my De (kids') pseudonym atwww.dekenyon.com.
I'm on Twitter as@dknippling,@wonderlandpress, and@writerde, respectively.


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"GOOD TIDINGS AND TRIMMINGS" CHRISTMAS INTERVIEW WITH AUTHOR, DAMIEN KELLY

Thank you again for donating a book for our 1st annual "Good Tidings & Trimmings" e-book Giveaway! What book or books did you donate, tell us more about them.

The Christmas Gifts is my anthology of short horror stories. They're more macabre than gory; real sting-in-the-tail types of tales. Some are paranormal, others entirely human in their creepiness. There is a 'gift' at the heart of each—sometimes literally, other times just notionally—and the idea of 'giving' and what it really means to us ties all the stories together thematically. As generous as it is meant to be, as selfless, sometimes giving is as much about our selfishness, about our need for reciprocity and our ideas of sacrifice, and it was these impulses I wanted to explore. And I think they're blackly funny as well, which is always a big plus for me.

What is your favorite thing about the holiday season and what does Christmas mean to you?

I was a Scrooge, largely because I was raised by Scrooges, but I eventually married a beautiful woman entirely in love with everything Christmas and that has led to me really looking at what I like or dislike about the holiday and having to embrace all that glitters or comes frosted or mulled. Probably the best part of the holidays now is having my two kids, because the excitement and wonder is infectious, but also the fear and trepidation comes back to you. I'd forgotten just how much Christmas is a time of trial when you're a child, and it's little bits of darkness like this that sowed the first seeds of The Christmas Gifts.

Christmas still means all things joyful to me because my family have so much spirit, but rather than seeing its darker side in the commercialism, I think there are more primal, pagan shadows to the festival that make it a truly rich time for the soul.

What is your favorite holiday memory?

My eldest child's first Christmas was really special, but more for us than him as you might expect. So my favorite holiday was the first one he really knew what was happening, and the morning he came down to the first feat of Santa 'magic' he could get his head around. Father Christmas left a kid-sized motorized car in the living room in direct contradiction to all the laws of physics. The look on my son's face as he boggled this miracle is a picture I'll take to my grave.

Do you still have any of the toys you got when you were a kid?

I was a breaker. Toys came into my hands knowing their time on Earth was limited and they were loved to utter destruction. Which is how I think it should be. I still have lots of the books, which is also telling.

How do you celebrate the holidays?

Traditionally. Ireland is still very religious and we go through the motions for our folks' sakes. Holidays are celebrated at home with large family gatherings and neck deep in all our kids. And meat: we eat all the meat in the world.

Do you still believe in Santa Claus?

He's still a major figure in my life, that's for sure. And I'm heavily involved in empirically substantiating his existence as my kids enter those border years between blind belief and bleak skepticism.

A lot of people get that warm, fuzzy feeling around this time of year, are you one of those people?

I am. I'm quite happy to indulge the tinsel and the schmaltz as well as the deeper symbolism and pagan spiritualism. It's hard not to look forward to a thing if it's making everyone around you smile, regardless of its faults. And I'm a horror fan, so creepy things make me happy too: you've seen The Polar Express, right? That's seriously screwed up.

Have you ever gone caroling or wanted to?

I was a choirboy. I went to Catholic school. I'm Irish. You might as well ask if I've dabbled in breathing or ever wanted to try not setting myself on fire.

If you had a choice of the perfect weather for Christmas would it be cold and snowy, or warm and sunny?

I totally want the sun. We live out in the country and when the snows come in it's like being trapped in Ice Station Alpha. There's a fantastic Australian musician and comedian called Tim Minchin who has a Christmas song called "White wine in the sun" and it's my absolute favorite holiday track ever; funny and poignant and life affirming and heart-breaking. Everyone should discover it and him and get over their issues with Christmas once and for all.

Give us your links! Tell us where to find your books and more information about you!

You can find The Christmas Gifts on Amazon athttp://amzn.to/o3MhAXand there are links to both the paperback and Kindle editions to be found if you follow the links there.

You can also get it from Barnes and Noble, the iBookstore, lulu.com and DriveThruFiction.com in a variety of formats and the links to all of these, plus extra stories, audio readings, a free picture book of snap horror stories and videos from my YouTube channel are all to be found on my own site:http://christmasmacabre.com

A scary Christmas to all, and to all a good fright.

Damien Kelly
[email protected]


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"GOOD TIDINGS & TRIMMINGS" CHRISTMAS INTERVIEW WITH AUTHOR, CORAL RUSSELL

Thank you again for donating a book for our 1st annual "Good Tidings & Trimmings" e-book Giveaway! What book or books did you donate, tell us more about them.
I believe I went crazy and donated three eBooks to the Giveaway! Hehe

The first is Playing with Fire Anthology of Horror. I got together with six other authors who like psychological horror, not so much the gross-out kind. It took about six or seven months to put it all together and it was well received on the Indie circuit.

The second one is The DIY Guide to Social Media Marketing and eBook Publishing. I started reviewing books about a year ago and writers started asking me questions. I had been collecting this information over a period of seven months when Mike Cyra, author of Emergency Laughter, gave me the inspiration to put it all together into a 'guide'. A lot of guides are out there, but I believe I'm one of the only ones that gives 1000 resources that you can start using right away no matter where you are on the eBook Publishing time line.

The third book is Amador Lockdown which you were gracious to give a review! I'm very proud of my five Ravens! This is a continuation of the two short stories you'll find in Playing with Fire with Hector and Marcos from the Paranormal Posse. I really do go ghost hunting with the El Paso Ghost Tours and that's what inspired me to write the stories.

What is your favorite thing about the holiday season and what does Christmas mean to you?

I love Christmas. I always have. I grew up with strong traditions that I've carried over to my own family like, the decorations go up the weekend after Thanksgiving and they don't come down until after my birthday in January. We always have a big family dinner. Kids get three presents to represent the three gifts the wise men gave. I love singing carols and listen to the holiday music all month. We have a lot Christmas collections, handmade decorations and ornaments. I had major surgery in the fall when I was forty and that Christmas I was so thankful that everything had turned out all right I went a little over board in my Christmas decorations (even my clothes) that my co-worker said, I looked like Christmas had thrown up all over me! hehe It had! Just the spirit of the season is wonderful.

What is your favorite holiday memory?

My first Christmas with my husband and then a couple of years later with my daughter after she was born. We still have special decorations from those years.

Do you still have any of the toys you got when you were a kid?

No. I've been on a cleaning spree. I have several things that are dear to me and have been passed down from my family, but I'm at the age where less is more. My hubby gave me a Kindle Fire for Christmas this year. I'm spoiled. I got it early.

How do you celebrate the holidays?

We have a LOT of decorations. We painted a huge Christmas village over five years. We had to stop because we ran out of room. At one point we had a table that we'd drilled holes in and set up lights with a train track running around the village! Now we just spread them out all over. We have a Christmas stuffed toy collection. We have a large tree with hand-made and collectible ornaments. I cook tamales and a ton of different cookies. My daughter is getting older, but we'll probably still put out the milk and cookies for Santa and she still loves to decorate the sugar cookies. We've been collecting holiday movies and we watch those leading up to Christmas.

Do you still believe in Santa Claus?

I most certainly do!

A lot of people get that warm, fuzzy feeling around this time of year, are you one of those people?

Yes!!

Have you ever gone caroling or wanted to?

Yes!! I love singing Christmas songs. I love singing in the choir. My dad organized a big holiday Christmas party at his house one year and we drove around and picked the guests up by caroling in front of their houses. It was so much fun!

If you had a choice of the perfect weather for Christmas would it be cold and snowy, or warm and sunny?

I'm originally from Ohio so definitely cold and snowy!! Let it snow! Only Christmas, then it can go back to being warm and sunny.

Give us your links! Tell us where to find your books and more information about you!

First, thank you for this interview. It got me all ready for Christmas!!

I'm at alchemyofscrawl.wordpress.com for the book reviews, news, and resources.

All three books are available through Amazon, B&N, and Smashwords. Here are the book websites:

Playing with Fire
The DIY Guide to Social Media Marketing and eBook Publishing
Amador Lockdown


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"GOOD TIDINGS & TRIMMINGS" CHRISTMAS INTERVIEW WITH AUTHOR, CHYNNA LAIRD

Thank you again for donating a book for our 1st annual "Good Tidings & Trimmings" e-book Giveaway! What book or books did you donate, tell us more about them.
I’m so excited to be able to contribute! I have three books I’m donating:

1)Not Just Spirited:A Mom’s Sensational Journey With Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) – This is a memoir talking about what it’s really like raising a child with SPD. My oldest daughter, Jaimie, went through such a hard time because not only did we not know what was going on with her, but none of the professionals around us were steering us in the right direction. This book is about caregivers trusting their guts when they suspect something is going on with their child and continuing to forge ahead finding the right diagnosis and treatment.

2)White Elephants– This is another memoir talking about what it was like being raised by a mother who lived with bipolar disorder she refused to acknowledge or treat. My mother was a brilliant musician and artist but instead of turning to her talents, she chose to self-medicate. The book is about what happens behind closed doors…talking about the white elephants all around us we refused to see. When we ignore them, they grow until they take over. And it’s also about forgiveness.

3)Blackbird Flies– I love this story. It’s so close to my heart. Here’s a book blurb: Fifteen year-old Payton MacGregor is a musical prodigy. To him, though, his music is merely a way for him to escape from the chaos that surrounds him. All of his life, he’s had to care for his mother, who copes with her bipolar disorder with booze instead of turning to her own musical talents. He refuses to become a statistic. Then he’s thrown a curve ball.

His mother suddenly dies, leaving him to be cared for by his aging grandparents. As much as they love him, they decide to send him halfway across Canada to live with his father, Liam—the man Payton always believed abandoned him and his mother. Payton isn’t making the relocation easy on anyone until he finds out he's going to attend the prestigious School of the Arts for musically gifted youth. Any second thoughts he has about his new life are erased when he meets Lily Joplin. Their connection is instantaneous.

Lily is a talented singer, but her struggles with drugs and bipolar disorder hit too close to home for Payton’s comfort. And when her issues become all-consuming for Payton, he wonders if his music will be enough to carry him through.

What is your favorite thing about the holiday season and what does Christmas mean to you?

Oh, I love Christmas. There were so many hard times when I was growing up but Christmas was always special because my grandparents made sure it was.

My favorite thing about the holiday season is the music. I love singing the carols, playing them and absorbing myself in the memories they elicit. OH! And I love decorating the tree with my kids (it can be a bit stressful BUT it’s worth it in the end when I see the smiles on their faces).

What is your favorite holiday memory?

Most of my favorite holiday memories revolve around my grandparents. The one that sticks out in my mind most vividly involves a beautiful brass Christmas bell.

It would be one of the last decorations to come out every year. Grandpa had a special hook for it on the fireplace, hanging on the left side under the mantle. It was about the size of your palm, shiny bronze with three angels on it and it hung from a thick, gold cord tied at the tip with a sparkly gold fringe. It was the most beautiful thing I’d ever seen. When you wound it up, it played ‘Silent Night’.

After my grandparents had both passed, each of the grandkids were asked if we wanted something of our grandparents that held a special memory. I chose the bell. Now, every Christmas, it hangs from the left side of my mantle. It makes it feel like my grandparents are still with me during the holidays.

Do you still have any of the toys you got when you were a kid?

What a great question! I still have a Mickey and Minnie Mouse that I got from Disney World. My brother and I got the tickets as our ‘big gift’ when I was seven.

How do you celebrate the holidays?

I have two children with high sensory issues so our Christmas is usually pretty calm, quiet and low-key. But that’s just fine with me. We decorate the tree on the first weekend of December. Because of transition issues, we do things a bit at a time so it’s a weekend-long project. Which is awesome and just makes it more fun!

We do an online Christmas calendar where we ‘open’ a new window each day until Christmas. It’s fun for the kids because there’s a little visual for each window.

On Christmas Eve, we go tobogganing if there’s enough snow. After that we have a scrumptious supper of ‘puffs’ (which is pudding stuffed pancake balls) we keep track of Santa’s whereabouts around the world on Santa Tracker. After bathtime and stories, we let each child (I have four!) open one gift before they go to bed.

In the morning, we open the stuff in our stockings first thing then open the gifts under the tree throughout the next day. Again, we make it a day-long thing to reduce the chances of the kids becoming overwhelmed.

We try having an easy-going afternoon, playing with all of our new stuff. Then we have a Christmas dinner, which is usually a roast beef with all the trimmings. This year should be interesting, though, because I’ve gone back to vegetarianism. But I know that it’ll still be fun because we have each other.

Do you still believe in Santa Claus?

Absolutely. My grandparents taught me about the spirit of giving, which has very little to do with the actual presents but more where it comes from. I know how cheesy that sounds but it’s so true. The best Christmas present I’ve ever gotten was the year Jaimie gave me a hug—she was going on five. It took a tremendous amount of courage and inner strength for her to share that with me and it was in that moment—when she wrapped her tiny arms around me instead of just touching me with her head and saying, “Hug!”—that I finally understood my grandparents’ words.

A lot of people get that warm, fuzzy feeling around this time of year, are you one of those people?

For sure. The first couple of years after my grandparents passed away were excruciating for me. I didn’t even want to think about Christmas. But they wouldn’t have wanted me to do that…to ignore Christmas. So I remembered why we celebrate it in the first place and did everything I could to make my own children’s Holidays as special as my grandparents had made it for me growing up.

Have you ever gone caroling or wanted to?

I never went carolling and not sure I wanted to. It would be nice to go do that for folks that need it the most, you know, like people sick in the hospital at Christmas or people in retirement homes who can’t get away. But I was always in the church choir. I loved Christmas Eve in the choir.

If you had a choice of the perfect weather for Christmas would it be cold and snowy, or warm and sunny?

I joke all the time about wanting to move somewhere warm and sunny because I detest the cold winter months. I really do. But on Christmas, I think I’d miss the snow and the weather being chilly enough to have a roaring fire going. Those are some of the things that helped create the beautiful memories I have.

Give us your links! Tell us where to find your books and more information about you!

Okay! Well, people can come on over to the new ‘home’ for my author Website atwww.chynna-laird-author.com.You’ll find information about all of my books as well as many of the freelance work I’ve done. Please come on over and ‘Follow’ the site to keep track of what I’m doing and where!

I also have a main blog called, “The Gift” where much of the focus is on children and families living with sensory issues and SPD. I have many useful resources on there as well as some great features like Music Mantra Monday, Foodie Fridays and Jaimie’s blogging day on Wednesdays (‘The Sensational World According to Jaimie). The link there iswww.the-gift-blog.com.I even have a newsletter folks can sign up for!

I also have an author page on Facebook(https://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Chynna-Laird-Author/203311629699211) I’d love to have people connect with me through there. Folks can find me on Twitter (@lilywolf), MySpace, Goodreads, and LinkedIn. I have a full list of where to find me on my Website (http://www.chynna-laird-author.com/p/contact.html).

Finally I have a special blog I’ve started called ‘White Elephants’ (www.seethewhiteelephants.com). There is where I open the discussion about many of the issues I bring up in ‘White Elephants’. The way to make some of these things less taboo is to talk about them. Through understanding we elicit acceptance. And that’s so important.

Thank you so very much for having me here today.

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"GOOD TIDINGS & TRIMMINGS" CHRISTMAS INTERVIEW WITH AUTHOR, CHRISTY ENGLISH



Thank you again for donating a book for our 1st annual "Good Tidings & Trimmings" e-book Giveaway! What book or books did you donate, tell us more about them.

I donated my romantic comedy Dial “L” For Loser about Marty, who after a long dating drought finds herself juggling two men. She has a lot of fun, but as she gets involved more and more with Ben and Brad, she finds her dating life slipping out of her control. And when “Dr. Perfect” is added to the mix, a friend of hers who seems to show up everywhere she goes, Marty has a wild time trying to decide whom to love.

What is your favorite thing about the holiday season and what does Christmas mean to you?

I love spending time with family and friends, making fudge and buying presents for them. It is a time when I can show the ones I love that I cherish them, and that is a lovely thing.

Have you ever gone caroling or wanted to?

I love to sing, though I have not gone caroling since I was a kid. When I was in the fifth grade, I went with a group who sang at a nursing home. It was poignant, but also a blessing to be able to reach out to people who were alone on the holidays.

If you had a choice of the perfect weather for Christmas would it be cold and snowy, or warm and sunny?

I would love to experience a true white Christmas. I live in the south, so it is never going to happen here. Still, the idea of drinking hot chocolate by the fire with loved ones is appealing to me.

Give us your links! Tell us where to find your books and more information about you!

Dial “L” For Loser is found for $2.99 on Kindle at Amazon.com

http://www.amazon.com/Dial-L-Loser-ebook....22494625&sr=1-1


When I am not writing romantic comedies, I spend a lot of time with Eleanor of Aquitaine, Princess Alais of France, and the Plantagenets of the 12th Century. I am the author of the historical novels The Queen’s Pawn and To Be Queen: A Novel of the Early Life of Eleanor of Aquitaine from New American Library.. My first Regency romance, How to Tame a Willful Wife, a re-telling of Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew, will be published by Sourcebooks in the fall of 2012. Please join me on my continuing adventures athttp://www.ChristyEnglish.com

Christy English
Author of the Historical Novels
To Be Queen: A Novel of the Early Life of Eleanor of Aquitaine
and The Queen's Pawn
From New American Library
www.christyenglish.com

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_"LEAH'S WAKE" BY TERRI GIULIANO (BLOG STOP WHIRLWIND TOUR)


Announcing the In Leah’s Wake Social Media Whirlwind Tour!
As part of this special promotional extravaganza sponsored by Novel Publicity, the price of the In Leah’s Wake eBook edition has dropped to just 99 cents this week.

What’s more, by purchasing this fantastic book at an incredibly low price, you can enter to win many awesome prizes, including Amazon gift cards of up to $500 in amount and 5 autographed copies of the book. Be sure to enter before the end of the day on Friday, December 16th, so you don’t miss out.

To Win the Prizes

1. Purchase your copy of In Leah’s Wake for just 99 cents on Amazon or Barnes & Noble
2. Fill-out the form on Novel Publicity to enter for the prizes
3. Visit today’s featured event; you may win an autographed copy of the book or a $50 gift card!
4. BONUS: If you leave a comment on this blog post, you have another chance at $100!

…And I can win too!

Over 100 bloggers are participating in this gigantic event, and there are plenty of prizes for us too. The blogger who receives the most votes in the traffic-breaker poll will win a $100 gift card as well. So when you visit Novel Publicity’s site to fill-out the contest entry form, don’t forget to say that I referred you, so I can get a point in the poll.

The Featured Events include:

Monday, Radio Interview with Novel Publicity! We’re kicking-off on the Novel Publicity Free Advice blog. We interviewed Terri on our radio show Sunday night and have embedded the full podcast and blogged about its highlights. Give it a listen and then leave a comment on the blog post. This is a great chance to get to know more about this inspiring and friendly author. One commenter will win an autographed copy of In Leah’s Wake. Don’t forget to enter for the other contest prizes while you’re over there!

Tuesday, Twitter sharing contest! A tweet is tiny, only 140 characters. But on Tuesday, it could win you $50. Send the following tweet across the twittersphere, and you just may win a $50 Amazon gift card. An autographed copy of In Leah’s Wake is also up for grabs. The winner will be announced Wednesday morning. Here’s the tweet: In Leah’s Wake has taken the publishing world by storm. Get the book for just 99 cents http://ow.ly/7ywpZ #whirlwind
Wednesday, Google+ sharing contest! Yup, there’s yet another awesome opportunity to win a $50 Amazon gift card, and this time it just takes a single click! Visit Google+ and share Emlyn Chand’s most recent post (you’ll see the In Leah’s Wake book cover included with it). On Thursday morning, one lucky sharer will be $50 richer. An autographed copy of In Leah’s Wake is also up for grabs. Three chances to win! How about that?

Thursday, Facebook sharing contest! Stop by Novel Publicity’s Facebook page and share their latest post (you’ll see the In Leah’s Wake book cover included with it). It’s ridiculously easy to win! On Friday morning, one lucky sharer will be $50 richer. An autographed copy of In Leah’s Wake is also up for grabs.

Friday, special contest on the author’s site! Win a $500 Amazon gift card, simply by leaving a comment on Terri’s most recent blog post. Yup, you read that correctly—$500! How easy is that? An autographed copy of In Leah’s Wake is also up for grabs.

Remember, it’s all about the books!

About In Leah’ Wake: The Tyler family had the perfect life – until sixteen-year-old Leah decided she didn’t want to be perfect anymore. While her parents fight to save their daughter from destroying her brilliant future, Leah’s younger sister, Justine, must cope with the damage her out-of-control sibling leaves in her wake. What happens when love just isn’t enough? Get it on Amazon or Barnes & Noble.

About the Author: Terri Giuliano Long grew up in the company of stories both of her own making and as written by others. Books offer her a zest for life’s highs and comfort in its lows. She’s all-too-happy to share this love with others as a novelist and a writing teacher at Boston College. She was grateful and thrilled beyond words when her award-winning debut literary novel, In Leah’s Wake, hit the Barnes and Noble and Amazon bestseller lists in August. She owes a lot of wonderful people – big time! – for any success she’s enjoyed! Visit her on her website, Twitter, Facebook, or GoodReads.

Interview with Terri Giuliano Long
In Leah’s Wake and the Characters Who Make It a Story

Please tell us a bit about your book and what you hope readers take away from reading it.

In Leah’s Wake tells the story of a family in collapse. Sixteen-year-old Leah, a straight-A student and star soccer player, has led a perfect life. When she meets and dates a sexy older guy, attracted to his independence, she begins to spread her wings. Drinking, ignoring curfew, dabbling in drugs—all this feels like freedom to her. Her terrified parents, afraid they’re losing their daughter, pull the reins tighter. Unfortunately, her parents get it all wrong, pushing when they ought to be pulling, and communication breaks down. Soon there’s no turning back. Twelve-year-old Justine, caught between the parents she loves and the big sister she adores, soon finds herself in the fight of her life, trying desperately to pull her family together.

Parents, wanting the best for their children, often push their kids to be perfect – and push themselves to be perfect parents. It’s tempting to believe that only bad kids from bad families get in trouble. This attitude allows us to distance ourselves – this could never happen to us – and creates unhealthy competition. When families have problems, we judge and ostracize them, only adding to the difficulties they’re already facing. The truth is, when problems arise, the fallout affects the entire community. The epigraph from The Grand Inquisitor says it best: “everyone is really responsible to all men for all men and for everything.” As Hillary Clinton famously said, it takes a village to raise a child. For the sake of our children, we must all do our part to be supportive members of the village.

Although the Tyler family is far from perfect, they love one another. Had the community rallied around and supported them, perhaps Leah would not have gotten as lost. Like adults, most teens just want to feel accepted and loved – not for what they accomplish or contribute, but for who they are. I’d be thrilled if my novel inspired readers to suspend judgment, to look less harshly at troubled teens and their families. I think we owe it to our teens, to our communities, and to ourselves to work harder to support and encourage all kids, not just those who conform.

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

LEAH TYLER: Leah is a strong young woman, beautiful, smart, a superstar in the community. As long as she lives up to their expectations, she’s accepted, even celebrated. As soon as she tries to take control of her own life, question the rules, spread her wings, she meets resistance. When she chooses her troublemaker boyfriend over a promising college soccer career, and heads down a path of drugs and self-destruction, she rips her once happy family apart.

JUSTINE TYLER: Justine is twelve, in that awkward stage, not really a child anymore and not quite a teen. Justine is intelligent, faithful, and kind, and she sees the best in people, sometimes to her own detriment. Deeply religious, she sees God as Father and protector – a belief that will be challenged by her family’s turmoil. Her best friend is Dog, the family’s aging pet Labrador. Although only twelve, Justine is left to be the rock as the rest of her family plunges into depression.

ZOE AND WILL TYLER: Zoe and Will are hardworking parents – too hardworking – who love and want the best for their children.

Ambitious and strong, Will is willing do whatever it takes to help his children reach their full potential, even if it means alienating them in the process. He can’t sit back, watching his teenage daughter destroy her promising future. Zoe, a child therapist and motivational speaker, is a peacemaker who avoids confrontation, and thus easily falls into depression. Their divided approach to Leah’s rebellion drives a wedge into their marriage.

Rather than listen to their daughter, accept that she’s growing up, that her choices may differ from theirs, and guide her down the path that’s right for her, Zoe and Will try to take control. This is a classic problem between parents and teens. The minute we put our foot down, say no, they can’t do this or that, they tend to focus all their energy in that direction. Zoe and Will’s escalating attempts to control their daughter result in her pulling away. This is a difficult cycle to break.

JERRY JOHNSON: Jerry Johnson, the police officer, is the only non-family member with a voice in the novel. Jerry’s work as a police officer brings him into frequent contact with the dissolving Tyler family. Though flawed like all the characters, he takes his responsibility for others to heart. He’s the connecting force in this novel.

TODD CORBETT: Leah’s boyfriend, Todd, a former roadie in a rock band, is a modern day James Dean, a rebel without a cause. He’s been arrested for dealing drugs, so it’s easy to blame him for leading her astray; really, he’s a conduit. He makes her feel comfortable and safe and encourages her blossoming independence.

By the time Leah realizes that he wants to control her, too – albeit in a different way – it’s too late. If only she’d realized how deeply her family loves her, she might have avoided the dire consequences she suffers. That’s the central irony in the book – perhaps the irony in many relationships between parents and teens.

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

Bob Sullivan, the owner of Sullivan Farms Ice Cream, and Dorothy Klein, the beautiful woman who designs the button bracelets Zoe buys for Leah and herself, are real people.

Every other character is completely imaginary. I did borrow gestures, habits, and physical characteristics from real people – the runaway arm belongs to my youngest daughter, KK; my husband is a darker physical stand-in for Will. Of course, borrowing sometimes results in unfortunate assumptions. I’m lucky – my family puts up with my thievery and ignores the conclusions readers draw.

Personality, motivation, and behavior of my characters I’m fully responsible for.

Q: Your book is set in Cortland, MA. Can you tell us why you chose this city?

Geographically, the town of Cortland is modeled after the town of Harvard, MA. In the fall, we used to go there to pick apples. Harvard is stunningly beautiful – with the rolling hills, the stone walls, the orchards. Sometimes, Dave and I would drive there and just ride around. This family is in tremendous pain; they’re struggling. That these fierce struggles might take place in this bucolic setting felt surprising, and that tension felt important to the book.

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

Judging from the stories I hear, the social and political climate in the imaginary town of Cortland reflects that in many middle- and upper-middle class towns across the U.S., and perhaps outside the U.S. I’ve talked with parents who’ve expressed frustrations similar to Zoe and Will’s. Culturally – not always or only by their parents – children feel pressure to live up to impossible expectations. When children step out of line, the parents and families often feel judged.

Community plays an important role in setting expectations and shaping and maintaining connections. The expectations, the constant demand to perform, can be overwhelming. In small towns, everyone knows everyone else, by sight if not by name. You can’t hide. If you or a family member is in trouble, everyone knows it. That claustrophobia and the constant feeling of condemnation, being watched, inform the inner lives of these characters and influence their behavior.

Q: Who are your favorite characters in the story?

My characters are all imperfect – they behave badly and they’re sometimes, perhaps often, enormously irritating – but I love them all, for their strengths as well as their weaknesses and vulnerabilities. Justine is sweet and caring and kind, so she’s easy to love, but I also love Leah. Although Leah drives the parent in me crazy, her heart is in the right place. The same applies to Zoe and Will – they often make terrible choices; despite their failures, they act out of love.

In the novel, Jerry Johnson, the police officer, is the only non-family member with a voice. Though flawed like all the characters, he takes his responsibility for others to heart. I’ve always admired Gail Mullen Beaudoin, a police officer in Chelmsford, MA. Gail brings strength, dignity and grace to a very difficult job. I see police officers as the connecting force in communities. Every day they put their lives on the line. To me, they’re our real life heroes. As the connecting force in this novel and for this family, Jerry is my favorite.

Q: Do you have a favorite line or excerpt from your book?

In a chapter called “Sisters Redux,” Justine, the geeky, goody-two-shoes little sister, asks Leah for a cigarette. It’s almost painful to see her trying so hard to win her big sister’s acceptance and affection. At first, Leah scoffs; then it dawns on her that Justine is actually serious and her conscience takes over. Leah has made difficult choices and been ostracized for them; for Justine, that path would be wrong. In certain arenas, dorks have the advantage, she thinks.

As she’s about to say no, it occurs to Leah that Justine has a right to make her own choices. With this insight, for the first time since they were young kids, Leah sees Justine as her equal. Despite her reservations, she gives her sister the cigarette. In a sweet moment, later in the chapter, Leah teaches Justine to dance. This love between the sisters is, to me, heartbreaking and special.

Q: If In Leah’s Wake were to be turned into a movie, who would you love to see play what characters and why?

Will Tyler – Matt Damon. Mr. Damon exudes fatherly love and protectiveness and he’s also very intense. If his daughter were in trouble, I can picture him going into overdrive, like Will, and doing whatever it takes to pull her back.

Zoe Tyler – Sandra Bullock. I see her as loving, driven and ditzy, a less strident version of Leigh Anne Tuohy, the mom she played in The Blind Side.

Leah Tyler – For the role of Leah, I’d search for new talent. Caroline Wakefield, as played by Erika Christensen, in the film Traffic, reminded me of Leah, in her all-American beauty and stunning transformation from preppy to drug-addicted prostitute. Ms. Christensen is too old for this role, but she’d be the prototype.
Justine Tyler – Abigail Breslin. Like Justine, she’s sweet and dorky and cute. She’s also precocious and strong.

Jerry Johnson – Vince Vaughn. He’s not the guy who walks into a room and gets the girl, but he’s centered and responsible, the rock for the others to lean on.

Todd Corbett (Leah’s boyfriend) – Jordan Masek. Jordan plays the role of Todd in my trailer. Jordan is actually a sweet guy, in real life. But he knows how to channel his inner bad boy. I can’t imagine a more appropriately cast Todd.
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_"GOOD TIDINGS & TRIMMINGS" CHRISTMAS INTERVIEW WITH AUTHOR, CHARITY PARKERSON

Thank you again for donating a book for our 1st annual "Good Tidings & Trimmings" e-book Giveaway! What book or books did you donate, tell us more about them.

I donated my book “A Secure Heart”

Here is the blurb:

What does it take to secure a heart? For the Smith Security Services team it’s Flowers, Chocolate, Wishes, and Sparks!

Flowers: Fashion Designer Flower Calloway’s next big show could make her famous all over the world, but she ends up uncovering a few secrets that could break her heart instead.

Chocolate: A quick trip to the store for some chocolate therapy, and a fateful encounter with a few gorgeous men, shakes up F.B.I. Agent Genie Cook’s once secure life.

Wishes: For Jacob and Gracie, it is love at first sight, but it will take more than a few wishes to hold them together when Jacob’s career threatens to tear them apart.

Sparks: Twin brothers Weave and Bob are hardened fighters, but two special women are going to have them throwing off sparks instead of punches.


What is your favorite thing about the holiday season and what does Christmas mean to you?

Christmas is all about family to me. I love to see the excitement on my children’s faces as they open their presents.

What is your favorite holiday memory?

My sister and I would sneak into the living room in the middle of the night, and try to catch Santa in the act, but he is a slick one. Well played Santa, well played…

Do you still have any of the toys you got when you were a kid?

I do. My great-grandmother gave me a doll, and I still have it to this day!

How do you celebrate the holidays?

We celebrate on Christmas eve and then spend all of Christmas playing with our new toys.

Do you still believe in Santa Claus?

As a parent, I am now Santa Claus

A lot of people get that warm, fuzzy feeling around this time of year, are you one of those people?

I get excited for my children. It is a wonderful time in their life, and I do the best that I can to keep the belief in magic alive in them.

Have you ever gone caroling or wanted to?

I could not carry a tune in a bucket.

If you had a choice of the perfect weather for Christmas would it be cold and snowy, or warm and sunny?

I’m a warm weather kind of gal. I know that snow is what we think of when we think of Christmas morning, but I would rather have warm weather perfect for traveling to see family members.

Give us your links! Tell us where to find your books and more information about you!

You can find all of my books on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Charity-Parkerson/e/B004C4I35E/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_pop_1
If you would like to know more about my work I have two different sites:
http://www.charityparkerson.com
http://charity-thesinners.blogspot.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/authorCharityParkerson
You can also follow me on Twitter: @charityparkerso
I know, I know. They couldn’t let me have just one more letter
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_"GOOD TIDINGS & TRIMMINGS" CHRISTMAS INTERVIEW WITH AUTHOR, BRUCE ADAMS
Thank you again for donating a book for our 1st annual "Good Tidings & Trimmings" e-book Giveaway! What book or books did you donate, tell us more about them.

The Continuing Case of Manny Tippitoes

A young girl awakes in her room to see a strange man singing a catchy song. Meanwhile, her uncle, the youngest detective on the force, is handed an old leather attache case. He is told it contains the results of over 100 years of secret police investigations. Working together, and separately, Marcella and "Uncle Detective" follow a trail that leads past Victorian detectives, singing waiters, vaudeville showmen, 1930s Hollywood, World War Two and comic book heroes to the present day. Who is breaking into the homes of the city's richest citizens? Why can't the police catch this intruder? And what's the deal with all the socks?

What is your favorite thing about the holiday season and what does Christmas mean to you?

The opportunity to dedicate time and presence to my wife and family.

What is your favorite holiday memory?

Too many to detail, really. Each Christmas shares characteristics with the other but has distinct memories of its own. What I always enjoy is the opportunity to spend uninterrupted time with my family.

Do you still have any of the toys you got when you were a kid?

Not that I know of. Maybe some are lurking in a box somewhere.

How do you celebrate the holidays?

My wife and I travel from Chicago to Waukesha, WI. to spend the day with her parents and siblings. She has eight brothers and sisters plus their spouses and offspring and there is usually a huge crowd.

Do you still believe in Santa Claus?

Yes, this belief spontaneously regenerates itself in December whenever there are kids around.

A lot of people get that warm, fuzzy feeling around this time of year, are you one of those people?

Sure.

Have you ever gone caroling or wanted to?

Usually under the gentle compulsions of a group. But not since I was in junior high school.

If you had a choice of the perfect weather for Christmas would it be cold and snowy, or warm and sunny?

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow.

Give us your links! Tell us where to find your books and more information about you!

http://www.mannytippietoes.com
http://www.amazon.com/Continuing-Case-Ma....7046007&sr=1-1
http://twitter.com/#!/MannyTippitoes
http://www.facebook.com/MannyTippitoes
http://indiebooksblog.blogspot.com/2011/....-tippitoes.html
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