GUEST POST: LARRY PETERSON, AUTHOR OF, "THE PRIEST AND THE PEACHES" (TRIBUTE BOOKS)

You asked me to tell you a bit about the "writing process." Just remember that this is MY way and, since I am (like my books) a work in progress, this process may metamorphosize into something else as time goes by. Having laid out the disclaimer which comes from my insecurities, let me begin.

For me, the initial process begins with pen and paper. This might be the easiest. It is like my brain is a dump truck loaded with all of the necessary materials to build a house. The paper is the property where the house will be built. So I dump it all in a big pile on the paper as it pours out of my pen or pencil. Now all I have to do is figure out where everything goes. Onward to the keyboard to sort this mess. That's the hard part. I know where the foundation will go and I can see the finished product with its roof, doors, windows, shutters and even the landscaping. That is the "big picture". But I have not been inside that house nor have I painted the outside. I still have to install plumbing, heating, electrical, cabinets, sinks, decide on colors etc. Okay, I have seen the "big picture" and now I have to figure out how all of those NECESSARY parts will fit together. As I write there are many changes that continually take place. By the time I have finished I have re-constructed that house many times.

As far as the characters are concerned (those folks living inside the house) I want the reader to get to know them in a way that they want to know more about them. As I write, these folks develop and sometimes I am even surprised when I find out who they really are and what makes them "tick" or what they are capable of. It is like meeting real people. Sometimes you might meet someone and become life-long friends. Then there are those who initially impress you but you find out soon enough that you just do not "connect". That is the end of that. So, that is the way with me and my characters.

As far as The Priest and The Peaches is concerned the idea came to me at my brother's funeral several years ago. There were five of us and we did lose our folks at an early age. But I had never considered writing about it. Then, after Bobby's funeral, my sister, brothers and I, were reminiscing about our early years. One thing led to another and we were laughing like crazy. All of us had different memories of a shared time in our lives and it was a beautiful afternoon for all of us even though we had just buried our brother. That is when the idea for the book began to germinate. However, it is a work of fiction. I just seized that moment in time and ran with it.

Larry Peterson's blog:
http://www.ThePriestandthePeaches.com

Larry Peterson's Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/#!/larrytpbx

Larry Peterson's Twitter:
http://www.twitter.com/slipperywillie

Tribute Books website:
http://www.tribute-books.com

Tribute Books Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Archbald-PA/Tribute-Books/171628704176

Tribute Books Twitter:
http://www.twitter.com/TributeBooks


The Priest and the Peaches Book Summary
Historical fiction novel set in the Bronx in the mid-1960s

Take a seven day journey with the five, newly orphaned Peach kids, as they begin their struggle to remain a family while planning their dad's funeral.

They find an ally in the local parish priest, Father Tim Sullivan, who tries his best to guide them through the strange, unchartered and turbulent waters of "grown-up world." A story that is sad, funny, and inspiring as it shows how the power of family love and faith can overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles.

Larry Peterson's Bio:

Larry Peterson was born and raised in the Bronx, New York. A former Metal Lather/Reinforcing Iron-worker, he left that business after coming down with MS. He, his wife and three kids moved to Florida 30 years ago. Larry began doing freelance newspaper commentary after graduating from Tampa College in 1984.

His first children's picture book, Slippery Willie's Stupid, Ugly Shoes was published in 2011. In 2012, his full length novel, The Priest and the Peaches was released and he is presently working on the sequel.

He also has a blog (http://www.ThePriestandthePeaches.com) where he posts weekly commentary. He lives in Pinellas Park, Florida and his kids and six grandchildren all live within three miles of each other.

eBook
ISBN: 978-0-9837418-4-8
ISBN: 978-1-4658-6327-0
Pages: 285
Release: January 1, 2012

Kindle buy link:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006P0E....ASIN=B006P0EYI8

Nook buy link:
http://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/clic....the%252Bpeaches

iBookstore buy link:
http://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/stat....artnerId%253D30

Smashwords buy link:
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/116166?ref=tributebooks

PDF buy link:
https://www.payloadz.com/go/sip?id=1538819

REVIEWS BY GMTA FOR "THE PRIEST AND THE PEACHES"

"The Priest and the Peaches" by Larry Peterson is an amazing heart wrenching story about a family and their bond with each other, the unseen forces and the people in their lives. The family consists of a father and five children living together under one roof. They lost their mother to illness and their dad became lose in the world of alcohol and grief. He loves his family and does the best he can consider the circumstances.
When a tragedy hits the Peaches Family they have to fend for themselves and became a close knit family. More calamities occur and they are lost in a personal tumult storm and experience events that were detrimental yet they are courageous, miraculous and the trails transform them all. Their father was as I was seeing my own father when alive; a man who would give his own shirt off his back to help his neighbor and kept his deeds quiet. His mantra of L.Y.N. is such a powerful tonic of unconditional love and teaches others to share. The theme of paying forward had this reader reaching for the tissue box.

The hidden poetry of the story was so familiar to this reader's life I felt as I was reliving some of my childhood experiences and was being pulled into a whirling pool of emotions, from love, anger, hatred and finally forgiveness. The writer has the gift of a master in explaining the secret of how pride, anger and hatred blocks the wondrous gifts that were meant to be cherish, and are lost in the rush of daily life of all business and some strangers and loved ones unleashing their selfish ego attitudes it is not to be spiteful but to hide behind the defenses so they do not have to unveil their broken hearts and shame secrets. I think this author is trying to tell the readers to keep their priorities in order and live life as it was meant to be and let the petty things go.

Everyone in this story is like a family member and it is easy to connect with each one. It was like my uncle and aunt was whispering to me and sharing wisdom with this reader. It is filled with knowledge, love, hope and faith and mysteries we all ponder about.

This author broke down all those barriers by writing a touching soul wrenching story about trials in life and shows with faith anything is possible. The twists and life rituals of this wonderful family and their personal journey through heart ache to victory is very inspiration and has this reader thinking about returning back to her former faith and strive harder to release the human qualities of pride and ego; to connect more with a higher force which may be the answer to live on this planet and we should live as in Let It Be as in the Beatles song.

This book is a winner and has a message for all ages. I was joyfully taken hostage by the story and sad to be release. This reader definitely looks forward to read more enlightening stories from this writer. This choice will probably stay as my number one choice for 2012.

(REVIEW BY SUSANNA MAHONEY)

This was truly an amazing story of The Yimey Peach Family from the Bronx, New York. "The Priest and the Peaches" story started with five children being newly orphaned and their struggle to survive together as a family. With the help of Father Tim Sullivan steering them to make good and wise decisions the children were able to overcome many obstacles that were presented to them. And in the end this Peach Family got a surprise from a person who had once been their enemy, they were now there for them showing much love.

I really did enjoy reading this novel. It did cause me to cry a little but I also laughed at so much of it too. The story really makes one think of just what really could happen when you are an orphan. The book is really a page turner. I believe Mr. Larry Peterson did a excellent job with the telling of this story "The Priest and the Peaches" and I definitely would recommend this novel to all. The Priest and the Peaches" was a excellent read!

(REVIEW BY ARLENA DEAN)

Yimey knew the secret to life. He made sure his family and friends did, too. Even when the love of his life died, he kept the faith. But then, Yimey died and his five children were left to fend for themselves – orphans in a grown up world.

Teddy and his sister, Joanie were now the adults of the house, taking care of the everyday happenings of a family. Their three younger siblings were more than handful. With work to attend, and high school exams to complete, Teddy and Joanie tried hard to fill the enormous shoes their parents left behind.
There were those, however, who did not agree with five children living in an apartment without any adult supervision. Orphans could not raise orphans. Just days after they buried their father, the “adults” went back to work, leaving the younger ones at home. Catastrophic events led the three young children to be taken into custody by the police, and a call made to Child Protection Services. They had lost their mother and father, and now they were about to lose each other. The only way out was through a dead man’s secret to life.

Author, Larry Peterson, uses loving humour to guide his readers through a novel of heartache. He writes with a message to us all, one that shows the true worth of love for thy neighbour. The Priest And The Peaches will leave you with feeling of warmth after days spent in the cold, bleakness of reality. This is a story worth reading and recommending to family, friends and neighbours. The secret to life is worth sharing, right Yimey?

(REVIEW BY LEE-ANN GRAFF VINSON)

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INTERVIEW WITH AUTHOR, OF "ESSENCE & FOLLY",
JORGE DAVID AWE

Hello David, thank you so much for taking the time to interview with us. After reading your biography it sounds as if you had a very rich and adventurous childhood. Do you feel this has been a big inspiration in your ability to write?

A colourful childhood, as I lived, is undeniably a great source of material for any writer; as such, significant bits and pieces are splattered all over this book. Writing about your formative years (especially when they occurred during simpler times) lends a measure of pureness and honesty to your storytelling for the simple fact that during this period in life you have no filters.

Tell us what some of the things you dreamt about being as a child before you decided to write.

Growing up with Shakespeare and reading such classics as Huck Finn, Tom Sawyer, and the Pearl, it’s easy to imagine why writing offered great romantic appeal to me. Reading transported me early on in a way my very mundane life couldn’t. At the same time, as someone who was raised Catholic, I also felt this profound sense of duty to contribute to humanity - so I also dreamt of becoming a priest!

What is one thing you miss most about your childhood?

The thing I miss most about my childhood is simplicity of life and being fearless.

Tell us more about your book and what it's based on.

My book is a childhood memoir. It is set during the late 70’s, a time of great cultural and political flux in Belize’s history: we were in a final push for independence from Great Britain at the same time as many Belizeans were emigrating to the US. These events coincided with my formative years, a period in my life when I was trying to situate myself, find my own independence. I turned to my neighbours, since my parents had left for California, and discovered for the first time a raw, flawed, colourful, and vibrant bunch of people. I lived in a blue-collar neighbourhood where most people were engaged in manual labour of some type. To get them through tough times, they relied greatly on their sense of humour; my stories explore this dynamic interplay.

Tell us more about your home country and the culture there. Have you been back to visit recently?

Belize is a multicultural society that is predominantly African and Hispanic. The population is around 360, 000, and the size is just under 9000 square miles. Aside from the coastal areas, the flora consists primarily of lush, tropical jungle and pine ridges; many rivers and lagoons wind their way through this backdrop. We have the second largest barrier reef in the world, a feature that attracts scuba enthusiasts the world over. Also, almost the entire country’s covered in Mayan ruins – a characteristic that seems to be drawing many American tourists given the 2012/Mayan calendar doomsday association!
I visited towards the end of January when I launched my modest book in my hometown of San Ignacio. I’ll be returning next month to participate in Reading Week, an annual event that promotes reading nationally.


Who are some of your inspirations in literature today?

This might surprise many but on this point I’m a bit of a throwback. I love reading Rumi’s poetry, Gibran, Jorge Luis Borges, Ruben Dario, Flaubert, Ernest Hemingway - I could go on and on. In terms of short stories, I absolutely love Stephen Leacock (Canadian), V.S. Naipaul (Trinidadian) and Nikolai Gogol (Russian). I connect with their experiences, writing about small town life. I believe they try to capture the essence in the mundane and inane, something I hope I’ve managed to do in my own stories.

What other genres have you thought about writing in and when can we expect your next book?

Some days I feel larger than life; others, as insignificant as an atom. As a result of this Yin-Yang dynamic, I’ve started keeping a diary of my existential conversations with the larger-than-life force that threads this planet together. I’d love an opportunity to publish those someday. I’ve also written a collection of essays, reflections on people and events that have been instrumental in my life. Of course, as I write this I’m currently working on a second collection of short stories. While there will still be some strong Belizean content, compared to Essence & Folly, this collection should have broader appeal as the settings and storylines aren’t exclusively Belizean.

If you had to choose one thing that really inspired you to write what would it be?

My diving accident (which I write about in some detail in my introduction), without a question. This more than any other previous experience in my life drove home the issue of my mortality. It was the kick in the pants I needed to finally put myself out there and take the risk.

Do you allow your wife and daughters to read and critique your work?

Yes. In my introduction I shed a little light on this very unique and oftentimes testy relationship. In my family of four, I consider myself the fourth-best writer! I often joke with my wife and daughters that the only reason I’m published, compared to them, is because I had the kind of childhood that I did.

Do you have any advice you'd like to share with other aspiring authors? Please give us your links as well, so we can learn more about you and your works.

Persevere.

Trust your voice: if silky and smooth rolls of your pen go with it; if edgy and choppy is more your thing style, fire away. Your own perspective is what makes a piece unique.

Suffer every word with the thought in the back of your mind that even after you publish you’ll find a few flaws.

Also, consider writing a privilege: when you write you get to lend the reader your eyes for the duration of your book. And their personal time, when they choose to curl up with your book instead of a loved one, offers the kind of intimacy reserved for precious few!

Thank you again David for this wonderful opportunity, I do hope we can do this again in the future!

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Book Title:"NeverDark"
Author:C.S. Einfield
Published By:Self-Published
Age Recommended:10 +
Reviewed By:Kitty Bullard
Raven Rating:5

Review:C.S. Einfield is a master at children's storytelling. I absolutely loved this book. It balanced the perfect amount of adventure with the perfect amount of excitement and kept me riveted the entire time. The characters are bright, lively, and completely loveable. There is even a surprising and wonderfully happy ending and the entire book is illustrated with pictures that children will simply adore.

The imagery of this novel is spectacular, you completely forget at times while reading that Fiera and her friend Sparky the Firefly are traveling on a tree! It seems their adventure is taking place on a landscape much larger and in regard to their size you can see where a tree would be much larger to them than it could ever appear to us. I whole-heartedly recommend this beautiful story to all kids from ages 10 and up. Even children younger will love the story and parents could definitely read a chapter a night as a special treat before bedtime. It's the kind of story that could promote some magnificently adventurous dreams for the little ones!

I feel all parents should grab a copy of this novel for their children you will not be disappointed this book brings so much wonder to the young and the young-at-heart. I await more to come from this author with great anticipation!

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INTERVIEW WITH CIJI WARE, AUTHOR OF "A LIGHT ON THE VERANDA" AND MANY OTHER WONDERFUL WORKS!

Hello Ciji, thank you so much for allowing us to interview you. It seems after reading your biography that you have come for an extremely long line of writers. Do you think this is the reason you chose to write or is this something you have always wanted to do?

Absolutely, I think was very influenced by having been born into a family of professional scribes in the same way children of doctors or lawyers or horse-trainers often find their way into the “family business.” Recently, I found this publicity photo shot of my parents, my dog and me as a twelve-year-old for the “Contributors” section of the now-defunct magazine, The Saturday Evening Post that was famous in its day for publishing short fiction by some very well known mid-century writers. Not only did I grow up around authors and Hollywood screenwriters who were friends of my dad, Harlan Ware, but my two uncles, Leon Ware and Darrell Ware were also published and produced writers. (Uncle Darrell was nominated for an Oscar for “Tall, Dark, and Handsome” the year I was born). No wonder I tend to write historical novels that always have a solid love story in them!

You have held a number of titles from reporter, lecturer, on-air host, and even Emmy-Award winning television producer. Can you tell us more about some of your amazing achievements?

Well, it’s true, I’ve had a pretty varied career, but when you get down to it, everything I’ve done has been in the field of some form of communication. My first job in radio was as a lifestyle/health reporter, basically telling TV and radio audiences “How to freeze fish safely,” or “How to get your maiden name back after divorce”….but in the midst of all this “How To,” I always knew I wanted to write historical novels. However, growing up in a writer’s household, I also new I had to have a way to “support my novel writing abit” while I was learning the craft, writing the book, and getting that first advance. I decided not to go the simple ‘day job’ route, but to remain in the media field, which paid much better than other work-for-money activities. My speaking career, for example, has tended to be better paid than one would think. Whatever I did in these related industries, I tried to give it my best work, and I guess, looking back, I can say channeling all that energy into attempting to do a good job—whatever the endeavor-- paid off by way of honors and awards.

[Ware, a much sought-after event speaker, won the Dorothy Parker Award of Excellence for her historical novel, Island of the Swans; an Emmy as the producer of a public affairs show, Parents Who Kidnap Their Own Kids, the American Bar Association Silver Gavel for her magazine work, and the John Harvard Award for service to Harvard University]

Has history always been a subject you were interested in, or have you thought about writing in other genres.

I grew up reading Daphne du Maurier and Anya Seton, to say nothing of seeing scores of swashbuckler movies that my dad and I adored, so gravitating to writing historical fiction was basically in my DNA. Fortunately, my husband, Tony Cook (whose father told us the family name had originally been MacCook) were both what we fondly term “Scot-o-maniacs” from early on in our marriage, so I had great support for tending in this direction in my writing. However, as a result of my “other” career in journalism, I’ve done two nonfiction books based on magazine articles I wrote on the subjects: Rightsizing Your Life about simplifying one’s surroundings, and Joint Custody After Divorce, a prescriptive nonfiction book about making shared parenting work.

You have been extremely successful with your writing. Who are some of your inspirations in the literary world?

I fell in love with Cornwall, England, from the first page of du Maurier’s Rebecca and then proceeded to read every thing she ever wrote. It’s no surprise, I guess, that I set my own A Cottage by the Sea in the same general territory! Of course, what historical novelist doesn’t love Jane Austen and, a century or so later, Georgette Heyer? But I also remember devouring James Michener, Irving Stone, and Mary Stewart. I also had an incredible ancient history teach in high school named Juanita Bray who made learning about the past a total joy.

When you have time to read, what are your favorite books, and why?

I’m still working my way through all the Georgette Heyer, now reissued by my publisher, Sourcebooks-Landmark, because of her wonderful depth of history and ability to weave fact and fiction so compellingly. I also like a good mystery, such as PD James or the Maisie Dobbs series by Jacqueline Winspear. As a reporter, one is basically a sleuth, trying to ferret out the facts and figure out what really happened, so I enjoy reading about others doing the same—whatever the century they’re writing about.

What are some of the most important pieces of advice you have been given throughout your career?

Ciji:I remember my father preaching that for a writer to be a true professional “…and make a living at it, you have to be able to do it all!” He had written for newspapers, magazines, film, [link tohttp://www.imdb.com/name/nm0912111/] radio (the long-running NBC radio drama “One Man’s Family”- link tohttp://www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/One_Man’s_Family ), and growing up, I think this nimbleness-in-the-face-of-imminent-starvation made a deep impression on me. One minute, we were eating beans, the next we were boarding the Super Chef with our own double stateroom and a champagne bucket in the corner, heading across country for New York. As my mother used to joke, “Darling, a writer’s family lives from hand-to-mouth in a BIG way!” I think that attitude that writers must be prepared to tolerate the financial roller-coaster and be willing to ply their craft in whatever medium will pay the light bill carried me a long distance.

If you had to choose one of your books as your most favorite to write, which would I t be and why?

By far the most fun to research and write was my first “time-slip” novel, A Cottage by the Sea. My writer pal, Cynthia Wright, was researching an historical romance that year--also set in Cornwall--so we decided to pool our resources, rent a National Trust Cottage, and head for the wilds of the West Country. We had a glorious couple of weeks in a converted stone lime kiln, piloting a little motor boat that came with our digs in and out of the town of Foy when the tides were cooperating. Daphne du Maurier had actually walked along the path near our cottage on her way to get married at a small church nearby. My book was one of those few projects that practically wrote itself. I mean, what could be more perfect than that? Sourcebooks issued it in 2010 with the most wonderful cover and it seemed to strike a chord with a lot of my readers…

When can we expect your next novel to be out?

Well, Sourcebooks is publishing A Light on the Veranda in March, so that’s my latest effort to date. However, I’m in stealth-mode about my next project. Expect something that ties in with one of my earlier works. That’s all I’ll say!

You and your husband have been together for over three decades. In a world where marriages seldom last even ten years, what would you say are some of your secrets to keeping a marriage alive?

In a word? Humor! My husband can make me laugh even when I’m furious with him! Like any marriage of long duration, we’ve had some bad patches, but somehow we’ve both been able to see the ludicrousness in many aspects of life. And we’ve endured because of a solid friendship we’ve forged based on common views, common interests, and a shared sense of adventures. We both were journalists in our younger years who traveled the world chasing after stories that took us to some very fascinating places. In other words: we had some lucky breaks and we also worked at it.

Now your son Jamie Ware Billett is also a young man of achievement. What is some of the most important advice you remember giving him?

I know this is his mother talking, but Jamie is a very talented photographer, editor and video shooter…and we had quite a “discussion” when he was in college because he wanted to major in something called Visual Studies and I insisted that he major in a heavy-weight academic concentration. I felt he could learn the mechanics of film or video later, and could certainly take classes as electives, but that he needed a solid grounding in history, government, literature, etc. I wanted him to learn to be a critical thinker who could evaluate things based on the facts, not just emotion. If he had those skills to bring to his art, he’d be better for it. I don’t know if he’d agree, but I think I was proven right.

Do you have any advice you’d like to share with other aspiring authors? And please give us your links so we can learn more about you and your works:

In the words of my sainted father who always encouraged me to be an author, “Writing consists of writing. Do it everyday in some form or other. It keeps the fingers and the brain limber.”

I love to hear from readers of fiction atwww.cijiware.comFor more information about my nonfiction work, visitwww.rightsizingyourlife.comand if it’s ‘Live” by the time this blog posts:www.jointcustodyafterdivorce.comThanks for having me as a guest on this lovely blog!

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INTERVIEW WITH AUTHOR, RENEE SHERKNESS

Thank you so much Renee for allowing us this interview. In today's society it seems more and more people are interested in learning and studying Yoga and a lot of people really feel that it helps maintain their health. Can you give us more insight into Yoga and some of the things it actually can do for the body and mind?

Thank you for the opportunity to participate on your website! I think yoga has become so popular in today’s society because it not only physically helps our bodies but also benefits us mentally and spiritually. Adults and also our children are under more and more stress in our culture in my opinion and more and more heath care providers feel the same. I think yoga is a way to target our stress while allowing us the chance to learn more about ourselves. Yoga means “Union” in Sanskrit as I explain in my book. It is the combination of Body, Mind and Spirit to create a whole person. Most people include breathing exercises and yoga poses when doing yoga but yoga can incorporate a whole lifestyle with moral values, healthy eating habits and meditation or relaxation techniques. You can take Yoga as far as you like. That is the beauty and simplicity in it. As far as children practicing yoga, the benefits are enormous. As I write in my book: Stories That Come Alive Through Yoga, studies showed over and over that yoga greatly reduces the excessive hormones released into our bodies from chronic stress in both adults and children. Those who practice yoga may develop mental and physical strength, balance, flexibility and healthier life habits. Children’s studies show that children who practice yoga often develop better attitudes, strengthened immune system, and abilities, such as teamwork and leadership skills, often are increased.

I write: “Many studies have been done, but the most widely used of all seems to be the one completed in 2007 by The Symposium of Yoga Therapy and Research in Los Angeles. The study found that a percentage of children who practice yoga are more relaxed, focused, concentrate better, and had improved sleeping patterns, along with a better sense of well-being than prior to practicing yoga. Respect for others and ourselves; having compassion, confidence and high self-esteem; and greater academic achievement are benefits that often are attained by children who practice yoga. With the increasing amount of budget cuts for physical fitness programs in our schools, coinciding with the child obesity epidemic in our country, the time seemed perfect for introducing yoga to our children”.

What was the reason you decided to start teaching Yoga to children?

Well, I always say: “Teaching Yoga to children found me I did not find Yoga”! I am a former educator who taught for over 18 years. I always practiced yoga as an adult. During some challenging times in my life Yoga pulled me through and kept me balanced. One of those times was when my husband and I were forced to give up our business of 22 years due to the economic crisis. We lost our home in the process. Yoga became a closer friend then ever at this time to manage stress! Being an educator and wanting to help our situation, I considered what I could do at this juncture in my life to help. I happened across some literature on yoga for children and began to research its benefits on our youth. I was amazed at what I discovered! Being an educator it just seemed to click to combine my passion for education with my passion for yoga and share yoga with children. More and more parents would ask for things they could do at home with their children after a yoga class I did with their children. That’s why I wrote the book: Stories That Came Alive Through Yoga.

You seem to have a great love for nature and a respect for everything around you. What are some of your concerns about the environment we live in today?

Having a background in biology I always had a great respect and interest in our environment and nature. When I taught health in kindergarten many years ago I saw the excitement in the faces of the children and their eagerness to learn about taking care of our environment and themselves! I knew then that this was a mindset that could blossom in our young and help our future.

Conservation of our oceans is a concern that in my opinions needs to be addressed. Over and over I am saddened when I see more and more destruction to our ocean and its habitants. Diminished wildlife has a huge impact in our ecosystem and food chain of life. I just saw on the news dolphins beaching themselves in Massachusetts possibly due to erratic temperatures in our oceans or lack of food resources. Such a shame..

The deterioration of our forests concerns me for our health and for our future. We don’t realize the impact excessive use of our resources can have on us. We could not exist as we do if there were no trees. A mature leaf producing tree produces as much oxygen in a season as 10 people inhale in a year. In addition, the forest acts as a giant filter that cleans the air we breathe.

The consequences of oil spills in our waters, excessive hunting and poaching, the need for more recycling and energy conservation as well as the impact all of this has on our climate and our future are important issues to discuss. Education, on these subjects in my opinion is the key! When I moved into Berks/Montgomery County in Pennsylvania, the beauty of the area prompted me to write about healthy awareness and share my stories I have written from my Nurturing Nature Collection. It was my intention to spark an interest in our young and their families to the need for conservation and healthier lifestyles to help our world become a better place to live for us all.


Tell us more about your books and how you came to be an author.

I have always written from a young age and through my career with children in education. After retiring from teaching I enjoyed sharing my stories with my grandchildren who also inspired some of the topics I write about today! Moving to the beautiful country side of Berks/Montgomery County in Pennsylvania gave me the time and opportunity to put my writings into book form.

I have two books out now. In my first: Stories That Come Alive Through Yoga children and families are able to share a healthy moment together practicing yoga through kid friendly stories with illustrations specifically written for yoga, with breathing exercises and relaxation visualization. Also information is given to what yoga is and its benefits and how yoga has impacted my life and others. A great "go to" book for instructors or families wanting to share a healthy moment with their children! It was created as a way to express to parents, grandparents, teachers and fitness instructors, or anyone for that matter new or old to yoga, who interacts with children ages 4 to 11 years old, how to share the experience of yoga with their child/children. Included at the end of this story, is a summary on yoga and a glossary of words with definitions.

My second book: The Day Mother Nature Decided to Paint Her House, children 4 and older are introduced to the whimsical character, Mother Nature, as she enlist the aid of her dear friend Father Time to help her paint her house. In her attempt to paint her house, an unexpected calamity turns out to be the creation of the season autumn, with the changing colors of the leaves on the trees.

Children/ parents and educators will be amused with the adventures they share with Mother Nature. At the same time children will gain an understanding of the four seasons, and discover in the glossary and summary at the end of the book how and why leaves “really” change colors in the fall.
Children are also informed as to the importance of trees and ways to help the trees in our environment. They are exposed to web sites for further information on tree conservation and places to visit and experience the beauty of the fall foliage. This is a great resource book for teachers as well as parents wanting to introduce the four seasons to their student/child and also begin a discussion on forest conservation and recycling!
Both books can also be purchased on amazon.com, barnes & noble.com, borders.com and various studios and stores and other websites. See my website for links. In print and e book and apple I pad. Also see my websitehttp://reneesherkness.webs.com/

It seems a lot of your writing revolves around children. I truly think this is fascinating and wonderful. What do you think the most important things as a parent that we can teach our children?

The most important thing I think we can teach our children is that they matter! I think we accomplish this by taking time out of our busy schedules and stop and really “see” our children. Get to know them and let them know how much they are loved by you. Spend time with them, playing reading or just hanging out. Let them know you’re glad they are around!

As far as values go.. I think instilling a mindset exemplifying tolerance and acceptance of diversity will help us to better our society. I also think teaching them respect for their bodies, modeling healthy life styles, and sharing the importance of taking care of and respect for our world are all things to foster in our young.

Are there any authors that inspire you or authors whose stories you enjoy reading when you have spare time?

Surprisingly I love as good mystery for myself. A James Patterson novel or Steven King suspense never lets me down. Belva Plain and Luanne Rice are other authors I enjoy. As far as children’s books, Chris Van Allsburgh’s books and illustrations are some of my favorites. As are Eric Carle’s books. And of course Dr. Seuss!

What were some of the things that your parents taught you as a child?

My father would take my brother and me to the park behind our home every Sunday when we were growing up. I think I gained my respect and appreciation for nature from these outings. They taught me that family and love were important in life. My parents taught me to appreciate and enjoy the gifts we are given from this world but also to respect and work hard to achieve them as well.

If you had to choose one lesson you learned that defines who you are now, what would it be and why?

Wow a difficult question for sure! I don’t think there is just one in defining who I am. Compassion, empathy and staying open to new ideas all define who I am. But if I named one of the lessons I learned that made me who I am today I would say it was never give up on your dream and the tenacity to “stay the course” to achieve it.

Tell us about some of the books you have in the works and what we can expect from you in months to come.

My third book coming out this spring of 2012 is Winston the Whale and the Blanket of Darkness. Ripped from our headlines today, Winston the Whale and the Blanket of Darkness is a heartwarming story for children ages 4 and up. It tells the tale of Winston, a humpback whale and the perils he must face because of the pollution contaminating his home. Follow Winston and his friends, through words and illustrations as they encounter the danger and the beauty that exists in their home, the ocean. See what happens when Winston and his fellow sea life, including his dear Albatross friend Lea Le come face to face with an oil spill (the Blanket of Darkness) and must escape before it is too late. WILL THEY ESCAPE IN TIME? WILL THEY HAVE TO LEAVE THEIR HOME? Find out in this educational and entertaining children’s story that will introduce your child to the connection we all share with our environment.

Included at the end of this story, is a glossary of words with definitions to help children learn more about the characters in the story. In addition there are web sites to go to for further information about oil spills and other pollutants. Places to visit for further information about our oceans and what we can do to help save our oceans are also included. A wonderful resource book for parents and educators on ocean topics including protecting our oceans!

It is my hope that Winston the Whale and the Blanket of Darkness give children and their parents an entertaining and informative journey into our ocean environment.
Other books on the back burner hoping to come out in the future for my Nurturing Nature Collection include:

Malachi: The Caterpillar Who Was Always Late!

Xavier And China: The Story of Care and Cooperation
The Flower Shop

"More" Stories That Come Alive Through Yoga Part II

Do you have any advice you'd like to share with other aspiring authors? Please give us your links as well, so we can learn more about you and your works.

If you are writing you are already an author. We are all authors of our lives! I’d tell any inspiring author “Keep on writing! And don’t give up on your dream!”

My website link for my books, with reviews and testimonials and information on workshops and book signings at your school or organization is: http:reneesherkness.webs.com/

My books can also be purchased on amazon.com, barnes & noble.com, borders.com and various studios and stores and other websites. See my website for other links. In print and e book, and apple I pad.

Thank you again Renee for this wonderful opportunity, I do hope we can do this again in the future!

Thank you so much for the opportunity to chat! Look forward to the book giveaway contest for your viewers on March 9th!!

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INTERVIEW WITH SAMANTHA HALE, AUTHOR OF "SPARKLE'S SONG" FROM MAVERICK CHILDREN'S PUBLISHING

Hello Samantha, thank you so much for allowing us to interview you. I would love to know how you got into writing children's books and what was your inspiration for "Sparkle's Song"?

Hi there. Thank you so much for the opportunity to be interviewed. Well similar to what happened with how I became a filmmaker...it just happened. I never intended to write a children's book to be honest, but Steve Bicknell of Maverick Publishing saw my documentary on music, and sent me a message saying he loved how passionate I am about music. He asked if I wanted to try coming up with a children's story involving music. Of course I was very flattered and wanted to give it a shot. When he messaged me back saying they were excited with the idea I came up with I was thrilled. I'm really just so grateful I got to do it. If anyone would have said to me "You are going to write a children's book that is going to be published" I would have said "Yeah...Right." But it happened.

The book seems to be richly music motivated. It seems I read somewhere that you were into music as well, can you tell us more about what you do besides writing?

Well my main interest as an artist is documentary films. My first film, "Map the Music" explores the therapeutic value of music, and premiered last year on The Documentary Channel. I got the idea for it because going to concerts was how I got through the loss of my father, and I wanted to document my experience with the music, as well as other people's. My new film I am working on is about the connection between music and love. Obviously music is a huge part of my life - and I am not even a musician. But it keeps me going. So of course the protagonist in my book would be inspired by music as well. Sparkle and I have a similar story.

Who are some of your inspirations in the literary world and what books do you like to read when you have the time to do so?

My favorite author is Neil Gaiman. "Neverwhere" is the only book I have read more than once. And his wife, Amanda Palmer (The Dresden Dolls), is one of the featured musicians in my second film. I am so excited about that. But I tend to read a lot of plays. I am a huge theatre geek. I love Shakepseare. Especially the tragedies. So it would make sense that my own book would have an element of tragedy in it. But being that "Sparkle's Song" is meant for children, it was really important to me that it have a hopeful ending and that kids know that even when something awful happens...something beautiful can come from it.

Do you have plans to write more books in the near future and if so can you give us an idea of what you have in store for us?

I would absolutely love to. If "Sparkle's Song" does well, I would really like to continue with her and see what other adventures she may get herself into. I am excited enough about having one book published. The opportunity to do another one would be fantastic.

With children's books being so important to help endorse reading as a quality part of life, what do you feel is the most important message you can convey being an author?

I think its important for kids to be able to put themselves into the story in way, and not only be able to learn from the character's mistakes and triumphs, but come away with the feeling that they are not alone. Perhaps that is why kids identify with and connect to certain characters so strongly...they see themselves.

Other than writing and music what are some other hobbies you enjoy when you have the time?

Believe it or not I was doing stand up comedy for a while. I love it. I really love being on stage and connected to the audience. I thought I was going to be a comic for a while, but realized my true passion is in filmmaking.

Is Sparkle's Song the first book you've written?

Yes. When I was little I used to write short stories all the time, but I never thought I would be a published author!

Tell us a little more about your background, your family, where you live.

I was born and raised in Los Angeles, CA. I come from a family of actors so we my family has been here since the 1930s. My grandfather, Alan Hale, Jr. was "The Skipper" on Gilligan's Island. Growing up I thought I would be an actor as well, and I pursued it for a while, but then I realized I was much happier behind the camera working on my own projects.

Right off the top of your head what do you believe the most important word in the English dictionary is and why?

Inspiration. I need to feel it to feel anything. And in order to move forward with anything in my life,whether it be a creative endeavor or a relationship with a loved one...I need to feel inspired to see it through. Passion is another one. But inspiration popped up first.

Do you have any advice you'd like to share with other aspiring authors? Please give us your links as well, so we can learn more about you and your works.

I would say, and this applies to anything anyone would want to accomplish...make it up as you go along, make mistakes, don't be afraid to ask for help, and don't give up.

Map the Music website:www.mapthemusic.com
Facebook:http://www.facebook.com/MaptheMusic
Link to film streaming on Doc Channel:http://documentarychannel.com/movie.php?currID=9890&t=Map-The-Music

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GUEST POST: JOLENE PERRY OF TRIBUTE BOOKS, TALKS ABOUT HER IDEAS FOR HER NEW NOVEL "NIGHT SKY"
Let me start by saying that MOST of my ideas come to me while trying to sleep. This does not lend itself to a very interesting story. BUT, the idea for Night Sky came to me a few days after Valentine's Day in 2011.

Mike (my husband) and I were sitting in the Taco Bell drive-thru talking about old movies. We were laughing about some of the old eighties movies we watched in middle school and Pretty in Pink came up.
I have always felt like the MC should have ended up with the best friend, not the rich, spoiled guy that she did end up with. (Since the movie came out in the eighties, I'm feeling okay with ruining the ending for you ;-)

I really wanted to write a story that started from the POV of the guy who never had the courage to tell his friend he loved her, and then she finds someone else before he gets the chance.

The girl I came up with as Jameson's distraction from Sarah, became a lot more than a distraction VERY quickly.

I thought about Jameson as Mike and I ate our Taco Bell (hot date, right?) on our way to Anchorage, and then more at the bookstore (which is where we end up on most dates), and by the time I got home, I had a really good feel for him. The first draft came to light in just a few weeks, and then the long process of editing, tweaking, and finding the perfect spot in Jameson's crappy night to start the story took over.

Jameson is probably equal parts my husband, and my cousin Rudy. And now I just hope that neither of them reads this blog today, lol.

Sky is kind of the sexy, smooth, cool girl I've always wanted to be. I grew up in Alaska, and have spent a LOT of time with the native population up here, so that part of her was easy to write.

Sarah is a conglomeration of a LOT of girls I knew in high school, and I loved her sweetness and confusion in equal parts.

Neither Sky OR Jameson made the decisions I would have, and I love them more for it.

One really convenient thing that just happened, was that Jameson had to do a project for a class at school, and fell in love with Nirvana - a band whose music came out in his birth year or thereabouts. I listened to Nevermind and Nirvana Unplugged almost non-stop in the weeks it took me to write this, and then again while editing.

Sometimes when I'm writing, I really have to push through certain points, or have hard decisions to make on which direction I want the story to go, but I didn't have either problem with this one. It was a blast all the way through - yes, even the editing ;-D

Thanks for having me!!

~ Jolene

Night Sky Summary:

After losing Sarah, the friend he’s loved, to some other guy, Jameson meets Sky. Her Native American roots, fluid movements, and need for brutal honesty become addictive fast. This is good. Jameson needs distraction – his dad leaves for another woman, his mom’s walking around like a zombie, and Sarah’s new boyfriend can’t keep his hands off of her.

As he spends time with Sky and learns about her village, her totems, and her friends with drums - she's way more than distraction. Jameson's falling for her fast.

But Sky’s need for honesty somehow doesn’t extend to her life story – and Jameson just may need more than his new girl to keep him distracted from the disaster of his senior year.

Jolene Perry's Bio:

Jolene grew up in Wasilla, Alaska. She graduated from Southern Utah University with a degree in political science and French, which she used to teach math to middle schoolers.

After living in Washington, Utah and Las Vegas, she now resides in Alaska with her husband, and two children. Aside from writing, Jolene sews, plays the guitar, sings when forced, and spends as much time outside as possible.

She is also the author of The Next Door Boys and the upcoming Knee Deep.

Night Sky web site:http://www.night-sky-book.com

Night Sky Twitter hashtag:
#NightSky

Night Sky GoodReads page:
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12588673-night-sky

Jolene Perry's Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100002038196677

Jolene Perry's Twitter:
https://twitter.com/#!/JoleneBPerry

Jolene Perry's Website:
http://www.jolenebperry.com/

Jolene Perry's Blog:
http://www.jolenesbeenwriting.blogspot.com/

Jolene Perry's GoodReads:
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4944599.Jolene_B_Perry

Tribute Books website:
http://www.tribute-books.com

Tribute Books Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Archbald-PA/Tribute-Books/171628704176

Tribute Books Twitter:
http://www.twitter.com/TributeBooks

Tribute Books Blog Tours Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Tribute-Books-Blog-Tours/242431245775186

eBook
ISBN: 9780983741862
ISBN: 9781466052338
Pages: 247
Release: March 1, 2012

Kindle buy link:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007C5T....ASIN=B007C5TMLE

Nook buy link:
http://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/clic....%252F1109102038

iBookstore buy link:
Coming soon

Smashwords buy link:
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/135310?ref=tributebooks

PDF buy link:
https://www.payloadz.com/go/sip?id=1567843

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INTERVIEW WITH THE AUTHOR OF, "THE NECRO DEVICE" & "DARKNESS & DAEMONS" SERIES, M.T. DISMUKE

Hello Mike! Thank you so much for taking time to interview with us. You and I speak frequently on the phone and you have so many awesome ideas for your novels. Enlighten us on some of those ideas, tell us about what you already have out and plans for future works.

Hi Kitty and thank you for your interest in my current and future work. Currently I have a full length novel out titled, The Necro Device which is my debut novel. The story is in intricate web of betrayal and secrets with a twisting plot that keeps readers on edge. The Necro Device is a suspense thriller on the darker side and is a very unique, captivating, and thrilling story that readers get to live as events unfold.

My current work is Darkness & Daemons: Invasion. It's composed of 11 short stories that are slated for release once per month throughout 2012. The concept behind the story was to create a non-stop action sequence that allowed readers to interact and feel like they're living the event along with the other characters. The series has 5 main characters that readers follow along with and in the end can choose their favorite to finish the series. The main characters have many traits and not all of them are what we would consider 'good'. Some are evil while others are just plan bizarre. The story itself is a dark fantasy laced with drama as survivors try to escape the brutal, out-of-control, evil force with alien-like properties.

As for future novels I actually have many ideas. The story I'll mention here is the one I'm working on right now. It's another full length novel titled, Cult of Tattoo. The story takes place 100ish years into the future. I'm basically predicting what society will be like based on current day technology and then fast forwarding time into a future Earth. To me this does two things. It opens eyes at what current day technology is truly capable of as it evolves and secondly it allows readers to live the future that most of us won't ever see. That, however, is only the back drop. Cult of Tattoo is a mind-bending, twisting story built in an internet run world that is fully interactive no matter where one is. It's everywhere. It's everything. Imagine instead of sitting at your pc or using your phone to use the internet that instead we just walked outside our house and could breathe it, touch it, and see it. The story digs even deeper into humanity and our own survival as a race. The main drive of the story is evolution. Not of the internet. Not of computers. The evolution of humans. The story will be like the rest my stories, presence tense and living it as it unfolds. The story revolves around Tyler Andrew Tipton, but don't call him that; call him Tat.

You recently wrote one short story called "Lewis Levi, U.S. Marshal Protecting the Transit." I already know the story behind why you decided to write this humorous novel but I'd like you to share that with our readers if you will.

Well, I'm not one to write comedy meaning that I never thought I would... but I did. What inspired me to write it was the fact of how easy people let our privacy be invaded when convinced that it is good for us. I was watching the news and there was a report of somebody failing the security metal detector at the airport yet swore it was malfunctioned and they asked to pass through it a second time. They wouldn't let them. Instead, they had to have a body search. I thought, sheesh, why not let them go through it again before putting your hands all over them? So I question... What do we give up? What are we protecting? How far does it go? I know many may agree with TSA style searches but the real question is how far does it go before we decide it's no longer acceptable? How many years have we lived without that sort of treatment? Most of all, how truly effective is it? In my mind, if somebody is bent on destruction, they will find away. I basically wrote a short story satire using extreme... EXTREME measures to insure the safety of a transit system, buses. The procedures may be extreme, but given what we already accept, it could be our future. After writing it, I foresaw other episodes for Lewis Levi. I sort of got attached to him. I'm not making any promises here, but there may be some more adventures for him.

Now your current work that you are slaving away at, at the moment is "Darkness & Daemons" tell us about how these stories are set up and what you hope to accomplish with this series.

Darkness & Daemons is a short story series that I began almost 7 years ago. The original vision has changed somewhat since then, but the main idea behind the story still exists. The first volume of Darkness & Daemons is Invasion. It's the introductory volume as the 'evil' forces begin working their way into our world. The story has very unique formatting properties. Since the story has time-repeating scenes it allowed me to tell the story from multiple advantage points. For instance, stories 1 through 5 are actually 5 different main characters living the exact same moments in time, but the reader gets to see each story from that characters perspective. What makes it even more fun is that the other characters and their stories are weaving in and out of the other stories. So you may see a 'mysterious person' in the current story being read then later you get to see the story behind the 'mysterious person' and walk in their shoes. Stories 6 – 10, the repeating time stops and the characters can now work together and advance. Story 11 is 5 endings; one for each of the characters. This allows the reader to follow their favorite character as well as see what the others did. These endings are the beginning of Volume II; Onslaught which will be released later on. Another unique formatting property I used with this series is each story begins with a statement from the lead character of that story. It basically allows the reader to get inside their head and learn information about them, their mindset at the time, and what's driving them before their next story unfolds. Most of all, the stories are designed to be non-stop action, captivating, and intense!

Everyone usually has authors that they are inspired by, who are some of your all time favorites?

Many things inspire me. It's not just one author or one idea, it's many many authors, concepts, and ideas put together. This may sound funny, but as a child I was highly inspired to write due to the Dungeon and Dragons game concepts. I loved these imaginary worlds. One in particular that really inspired me to write was the Ravenloft Realm of Terror set written by Bruce Nesmith and Andria Hayday. This was probably the beginning of my writing career. Prior to that I always loved to tell stories and in many many formats. I even wrote software games as a child on the, dare I say, commodore 64. The game Zork which is basically an interactive story got me to devote many of my teenage years writing interactive stories for the computer. Although I tend to write darker themed stories, I have a hard time calling my work horror. The question is, how did the dark themed ideas get into my work? One Author that truly inspired me was Bram Stoker. For a while I was really into the vampire world... I even wrote a 4 part campaign setting based on Ravenloft guidelines and hosted it at a local card shop. Oh gosh the story was so compelling and interesting that those who took part in it, bragged about it. After about 8 months, I had to turn people down because I couldn't keep up with all those that were interested in taking part. It was crazy. Anne Rice's Interview with a Vampire was another story that really got me thinking. I liked walking in the shoes of the bad guy. That concept alone can be found in Darkness & Daemons because two of the characters are bad guys. Just because somebody is bad or evil, in my mind, does not mean they don't have a good story to tell.

When did you first realize that writing was what you wanted most to do with your life and what was it that helped you make that decision?

I began writing or 'telling stories' when I was around 8 or 9. I used to make up games and stories to entertain and scare my younger brother. I started programming games when I was around 13ish. I did that for about 3 years then slowly backed away from writing and story telling as I stepped into the adult world. Around the age of 26 I wrote the vampire campaign. It took me a few months to do it, and I think that was the turning point for me and made me think about writing more stories. Shortly after, this is when the eureka moment hit. I had a vision, a dream. It woke me up in the middle of the night and I knew, I knew I was going to write my first full length novel. That's when The Necro Device came to me. It wasn't that easy though. I was busy. I didn't have a clue how to write a full novel nor did I have the time. Basically that idea smoldered in my mind for about 3 to 4 years. I had repeated nightmares about it. Eventually it was all I could think of. I had to write it and get it out of my head. During that time, I foresaw many other titles which some are currently being written while others are still in outline.

Now I did not realize until after reading your bio that you were born in Italy. How long did you live there before moving to the states and what were the circumstances for you being born there?

I was actually a military brat. My father Tom Dismuke was serving in Italy at the time I was born. I lived there until the age of 3 and can't recall much of it. Unfortunately, I never learned the language. I have never been back, but someday I hope to revisit my birth place. There is a part of me that misses it even though I can't remember it. It's hard to explain.

You are really into pushing the action in your novels and not so much dependent on romantic aspects. What are your beliefs as far as writing a great novel goes?

Thank you for noticing. I do strive to make my stories action first. I use this as a guideline when writing. I want action to tell it, not me. Meaning, I don't want to narrate to the reader of how somebody feels or why something the way it is, rather, I want action to tell it. I believe this makes for a more intense and thrilling read. The other thing I really focus on in writing is emotion play. I may not write romance novels, but I do have elements of romance in all my stories. People connect with emotion, so using it as a tool for story telling is very important to me. Something I rarely ever mention about my writing is I use emotion to create an intense atmosphere. Here's an inside scoop on The Necro Device in how I used emotion to fully enthrall the reader, and I did this purposely. There is a scene in The Necro Device for Thanksgiving Dinner. The scene was written as a comedy scene to hopefully invoke laughter. In this example I used comedy as a key to unlock the readers emotions. The reason for this was because the following chapters were utterly, nail-biting intense. I wanted the readers attention and emotions at full throttle from that point forward.

What is your long-term goal in life and where would you like to see yourself in the next 10 years?

Life questions are always tough because it never seems to play out the way you hope. All one can do is try. As for now, I have committed myself to writing. I, however, cannot continue this committeemen indefinitely. Being such a new author in the world of writing and publishing it has made it very tough to earn a living. I have set aside my education, training, and skills to purse writing. So this is the promise I made myself. I plan on completing Darkness & Daemons and Cult of Tattoo. At that time, I will promote my books and take a few steps back from writing until I can start earning a simple living with it. At this point in my life is where things get fuzzy. A lot of what happens from there all depends on how well my books are doing. If they are doing well I will most likely begin work on the next novel. (I have a few to choose from) If not, I will have to return to my field which is a full time job and training, and I won't have much time to write anymore. I will, however, continue to work on Darkness & Daemons until all 3 volumes are complete. That story in its basic design allows me to write mainly because each story is a short story. It's the really big novels that eat up so much of my time and mentality. I have a very hard time writing those novels while working or in school due to the complexity of them. They basically consume me. As for in 10 years... If all goes as planned I hope to be working on my 7 or 8 full length novel at that time with The Necro Device showing in a theater near you.:)

When not writing what are some of your favorite pastimes or hobbies?

Oh gosh... It all depends. Before I was writing, I used to program all the time as a hobby, but I have not done that for a couple years now. A few of the things I truly enjoy doing are... I love playing interactive games with dark themes and puzzles such as Resident Evil. I also enjoy playing MMO's. Outside the realm of computers, I'm big into world news. I love keeping up with world events, but that's probably not a hobby:P I'm captivated by cosmology, technology, physics, and ufology. I love reading up on all of that stuff. Basically if I'm not writing, I'm reading or playing. When I do find time to escape and get away, I enjoy going to the mountains. In addition, I'm a HUGE fan of The Walking Dead series. I won't miss that for anything!

Do you have any advice you'd like to share with other aspiring authors? Please give us your links as well, so we can learn more about you and your works.

I'll try to make my advice a bit different than the norm. Obviously if you want to put out a novel you have to write it, revise it, edit it, and polish it. Talking about it and dreaming about it are all indicators that you want to tell a story, but until you finish it, it's just that; talk and dreams, so finish it!
My best advice is to stick to what you know. Tell it the way YOU want to tell it; not somebody else. There is no wrong or right way to tell a story, it is your story and your way that makes it unique and captivating. I say this because I almost gave up on writing a few years ago because this 'Mr. Knowitall' read a public post on my first chapter. They told me how much my work sucked and to give up writing that I didn't know what I was doing. It angered me, but most of all, it made me question it and evaluate it more. I actually did make changes, the ones he hated, because it made me realize those were my strong points. Then with a bit more help from some friends, The Necro Device became more than just a dream, it became reality. I write present tense. I lead with action. I love intense scenes. It took many years to refine my style, but in the end The Necro Device is my vision, my work, my dream, and my story the way I felt it should be told. I didn't give up and I didn't quit. That person who told me how to write is probably still on that very same forum telling others how to write and has yet to publish a single novel. Don't be or listen to that person, be yourself.

My novels can currently be found on Amazon: The Necro Device and Darkness & Daemons in ebook. The Necro Device is in paperback as well. They will be available on nook in April/May and on other websites.

The best place to find links to my novels, information, and updates is on my website:
www.mtdismuke.com

Thanks once again Kitty for this opportunity. For those interested... Please pick up The Necro Device and experience the intensity and suspense for yourself. It's not like anything you've read before. It's one of those gem stories... You have to experience it before you can believe it. It's that amazing.

Thank you again Mike for this wonderful opportunity, I do hope we can do this again in the future!

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INTERVIEW WITH AUTHOR OF "BEATITUDE", LARRY CLOSS

Thank you Larry for allowing us to interview you. I have to say, you are a mysterious man. I looked at your bio on your site and there was only one sentence about you so I hope I can get a bit more from this interview. Now, in that one sentence I was able to form my first question. Where have you traveled in your lifetime and tell us some of the things you've seen and done.
My travels began right after college, when I drove cross-country with a couple of friends and camped every night along the way for six weeks. I hadn’t read On the Road by Jack Kerouac at that point, but, in retrospect, it was a very On the Road experience—“all that road going, and all the people dreaming in the immensity of it”—and inspired a desire to see the world.

Since then, my travels have been divided, in a manner of speaking, between cities and mountains, and nearly always in other countries. There are few experiences I find more exhilarating than waking up in a place that is completely foreign in every respect—culture, customs, food, transportation, architecture, language, landscape, electrical outlets. To that end, I’ve traveled in Europe, Latin America, Southeast Asia and Nepal.

Spain is a favorite in the “cities” column, for the art, the food, the pace of life and the company I keep when I go there. The Costa del Sol, the Alhambra, the Albayzin of Granada and Gaudi plus fresh chocolate croissants, café con leche and Choco Clack ice cream bars—it doesn’t get any better than that.

Cambodia and Nepal are “mountain” favorites. I spent a week exploring the ruined, breathtaking temples of Angkor Wat, including the rarely visited Beng Mealea, which is several hours from the main complex, way out in the jungle. A friend and I were the only two there at the time, avoiding snakes and “Danger: Mines” signs while imagining ourselves as the first-ever explorers to stumble upon the magnificent remains of a lost civilization.

Nepal holds a special place in my heart. I’ve been there three times and spent several months trekking in the Himalaya through Langtang, Gosainkunda and Helambu as well as the Annapurna Circuit. I’ve also visited Nepal’s most remote region, Humla, which is accessible only by foot or by plane. I went there to shoot photos and videos for Next Generation Nepal, a nonprofit that reconnects trafficked children with their families, where I serve as Director of Communications.

When I’m not traveling, I’m in New York, which is as close as you can get to experiencing what it’s like to be on the road even when you’re not.

As for my professional background, I have been a national writer, editor, photographer and videographer for nearly 20 years at News Corporation, TimeWarner, Hearst and Viacom. At Gesso, a communication design studio I co-founded, I worked with clients that included Sony, Estee Lauder, Smithsonian Institution, USAID, National Cancer Institute and the NBA. I’ve also produced digital shorts for the Travel Channel and co-produced two mobile apps.

Tell us about your novel, what was your inspiration for "Beatitude" and how did you come to write the story?

Beatitude began as a story about two young men, Harry and Jay, who become fast friends over their shared fascination for the unfettered lives of Jack Kerouac, Allen Ginsberg and the Beat Generation. The book was inspired by own love of the Beats and the coincidental spike in their popularity in the mid-90s, when Beatitude is set. As the book evolved, so did Harry and Jay, and their relationship. Jay’s girlfriend, Zahra, took on a larger, surprising role. When the parallels between the entanglements of the Beats and Beatitude’s main characters became apparent, the Beats themselves entered the picture and became characters in their own right.

I live in New York City and I was lucky to be able to set Beatitude there. New York is instantly familiar to nearly everyone on the planet and instantly epic at the same time. Nearly every book, movie or television show that’s set in New York has an air of verisimilitude, which is something I wanted to convey. I’ve always loved books that blend fact and fiction, especially in New York, to create a sort of hyper-reality—Winter’s Tale by Mark Helprin, Forever by Pete Hamill. You want to believe that they really happened, or could have happened, and that makes the story and the characters more identifiable.

Who are some of your inspirations in the literary world?

Beatitude might lead you to believe that the Beats are a major influence, and while I’ve read just about everything they’ve written—as well as most of what’s been written about them—in the end, they inspired me not to write like them but to write, period. That said, my inspirations and interests vary widely. I love modern fiction, creative nonfiction and adventure. I recently read Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand and Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson—incredibly compelling biographies brought to life by years of intense research. I could imagine just how much work went into each based on the amount of research I did about the Beats for Beatitude.

A modern novel that continues to resonate is Life of Pi by Yann Martel, which I read a few years ago. In the book, Pi, the young narrator, tells two versions of the same story, one fantastic, the other dull. When asked which is true, he replies, “Which is the better story?” With Beatitude, I set out to write a book that discovered truths in everyday life, but I discovered that everyday life can always be improved upon and Pi’s message really guided me—tell the better story.

Have you begun to write on a new project and if so what is it about?

There’s a file on my laptop but that’s all I will say. I don’t like to talk about writing projects until I at least have a first draft. For me, writing is a process of exploration and I don’t always know which path I will take or where a path will lead until I follow it. When I do, I may discover that I need to go back and take another path—“the one less traveled by.” It may take me several drafts of a manuscript before I even know what it’s about, or what it could be about, and I want to know that before I show it to anyone else.

Tell us a bit about the cover art for "Beatitude" and what was the inspiration for that.

Every author imagines what the cover of his or her book might look like. In most cases, it’s the first visual representation of all the purely conceptual work that went into writing the book. I’m not an illustrator or a designer, but I co-owned a design studio for several years and have a design sensibility. To get ideas for the cover of Beatitude, I studied thousand of covers on websites like Book Cover Archive. I also visited bookstores, stared at walls and tables of books and noted which ones caught my eye. I wasn’t trying to come up with a design, just an approach.

A friend put me in touch with Anthony Freda, an incredible artist and illustrator whose work has appeared in Rolling Stone, The New Yorker, Esquire, The New York Times, The Village Voice, Entertainment Weekly, Playboy and many others. Anthony read Beatitude, liked it and agreed to do the cover. He asked me if I had anything in particular in mind. I said only that I preferred covers that were simple, iconic and graphic. We talked about some of the book’s key elements and images. Anthony latched onto the cat and the subway token and combined them with a distressed-paper background and grungy typography to create an intriguing, eye-popping cover that is simultaneously classic and contemporary.

Another amazing designer, John Barrow, created the equally important spine and back cover, which features a reverse image of the cat on the front cover—the yin to the yang that figuratively reflects Beatitude’s two main characters, Harry and Jay. John also pointed out just how perfect the image of the cat and the subway token are: Short of a Buddha, nothing but a contented cat could better represent a state of beatitude. And nothing conjures New York City—and the journey that Harry and Jay undertake—like a subway token.

I am thrilled with the cover and eternally grateful to Anthony and John for illuminating the intangible and making it look magnificent.

What is your all time favorite book, if you had to choose just one?

Like everyone, I have many favorites and the list changes with every new book I read. I’m not sure I could pick just one but, in line with Beatitude, I would say that one of my all-time favorites continues to be On the Road by Jack Kerouac. Certain elements are dated and what was once provocative—an experimental attitude toward drugs, sex, relationships and religion, as well as a rejection of materialism and middle-class conformity—might now seem much less so. But the joy of seeing the world for the first time and the sheer elation of experience for experience sake continues to captivate.

Do you have any wisdom you'd like to share with other authors?

The best advice I can give, besides “Don’t give up,” is “Don’t get too attached.” Ask for feedback from those whose opinions you value and trust—and listen to them. An editor friend suggested cuts to Beatitude that I ignored for far too long because I was too attached to certain sentences, sections and paragraphs. “But that’s some of my best work!” I protested. When I finally did agree to the cuts, scenes that crawled suddenly took off, dialogue buried in too much exposition suddenly snapped and the barely interesting became intriguing. A tough lesson to learn and one that I will definitely never forget.

Give us your links, let us know where to find your book.

My site—www.larrycloss.com—is the best place for everything you’d like to know about Beatitude: News, reviews, readings, the book trailer, my Instagram photos. You can also follow me on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Instagram (@larrycloss). Beatitude is available from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Rebel Satori Press,and multiple independent and international booksellers through AbeBooks..

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INTERVIEW WITH AUTHOR OF "THE KURE", JAYE FRANCES

Hello Jaye, thank you again for the opportunity to interview you. My first question has to do with your work at the NUSA SUN Magazine. You are a featured columnist there, what do you cover in your articles?

I’ve been contributing to the NUSA SUN magazine since it was launched nearly 2-1/2 years ago. The magazine is published monthly in Florida and distributed internationally, partnering with other publications in the UK. It’s been a rewarding experience, allowing me to share inspiring stories based on real-life experiences of people I’ve known and met.

A half-dozen of my articles from the NUSA SUN can be found on my website (www.jayefrances.com), and I’ll be releasing a collection of my favorite stories from the magazine in the near future, tentatively titled, “Straight From The Heart.”


You have a book which is the first in a series called "The Kure" can you tell us a bit more about this series and if you have an idea already of how many books you plan to do?

The Kure began life as a novella, originally to be included in a collection of similar genre short stories. But as I began to combine characters, setting, and circumstances, the story became much more compelling, giving birth to The Kure series.

There are currently three books planned, however the main characters, John and Sarah, have been grumbling about a fourth . . . they are quite a persistent pair.


From reading your bio it sounds as though you have always had your own opinions and have been rather independent. How do you think being open-minded has helped you in your chosen profession?

Since my life’s destination has been the result of rebellion, I often wonder what might have become of me if I had been raised in a hippie commune, surrounded by free spirits and wandering gypsies. Perhaps instead of paranormal/occult fiction and romance, I’d be writing annual reports for a Fortune 500 company.

I’m fortunate to be blessed with an over-dose of indulgent curiosity that’s directly hard-wired to an obsessive imagination. I find a story in nearly everything: I’ll watch a flock of birds take roost on an overhead telephone line, and wonder if they’re drones from some backwoods military offshoot, or perhaps the watchful eyes from a mothership looming behind a lightning-fired thunderhead; I’ll sift through clothing at the local Goodwill, imagining I’ll find a secret note or letter tucked in a pocket of designer jeans, a hand-written litany of love that will never be expressed or shared, perhaps breaking a heart or ending a life; I pick up a tomato at the local farmer’s market, and wonder if it’s been tainted with alien spores, it’s seeds ready to impregnate me with a cuddly six-eyed beast that I’ll wind up raising in my basement. By imagining a single situation—a scene that is touching, scary, or humorous—I ask myself what might happen next. And what happened before? In this way, my stories evolve in a more-or-less natural way—both forward and back.


You also enjoy cooking, do you have a favorite recipe you'd like to share with our readers perhaps?

One of my passions is cooking, and there’s nothing more enjoyable than looking through my cabinets and pantry to gather an assortment of items from which to create the perfect meal. Rather than following a specific recipe or precisely measuring each ingredient, I prefer to “feel” my way through an entree or dish, personalizing it with a little creativity and imagination. I’m told I come by this trait honestly, inheriting it from the previous three generations of women in my family.

I have many favorite recipes, but the one that I absolutely love preparing (and eating!) also happens to be my husband’s most requested dish—Pasta. So here it is—feel free to tailor it to your own tastes, keeping in mind that the next time I make it, I’ll be doing the same.

Pick your favorite type of pasta noodle (linguini, angel hair, rigatoni, ziti) and boil in a pan of water with a tablespoon (give or take) of virgin olive oil. My favorite is penne, but I also have a special place in my heart for good old-fashioned thin spaghetti.

Cut up some fresh veggies (broccoli, cauliflower, zucchini, peppers, mushrooms, asparagus, onion, whatever’s lurking in your fresh storage bin) and sauté with chopped garlic in virgin olive oil until heated through but still a little crisp. Add a little oregano or basil while cooking.

If you want to include protein, you can add some chicken or shrimp. Cut into small pieces and, in a separate pan, sauté in fresh garlic with virgin olive oil, adding spices at will.

I usually prepare a white cheese sauce with some, or all, or the following ingredients:

Slice or shave some romano, parmesan, mozzarella, provolone, ricotta cheese—combine in a blender and grind until you have small/fine pieces. In a medium size pan, heat milk or cream, adding butter, olive oil and salt, and stir in the cheeses until you have a creamy consistency. Add spices (oregano, basil, rosemary, pepper) and water or more milk until you have the consistency you prefer. (Sorry I can’t be more specific with quantities, but it all depends on what’s in the fridge and how it develops . . . )

Okay, time to throw it together! Drain and rinse the pasta. Put a serving on the plates and pour a little bit of sauce on top. Mix the veggies with the meat or fish, and spoon a good portion on the noodles. Add more sauce, and sprinkle with some grated mozzarella (or parmesan, whichever is your favorite). Then serve with a piece of toasty garlic bread and a smile!

(Hint: I always make enough for leftovers. Combine ingredients as above and put in a freezer-proof container. And yes, it always tastes better the second time . . . )

When you travel to tropical environments, which ones are your favorites and where are some places you have been?

The majority of my vacations over the last twenty years have been to the Caribbean, and although I didn’t realize it at the time, I was looking for my favorite island. I found it in St. Martin. Although the scenery, beaches, and weather are second to none, it’s the people who won me over. The island is half-Dutch and half-French, and the residents are some of the friendliest on the planet. For me there’s no better place to rest and recharge. In fact, a large part of The Kure was written there. My favorite spots on the island are Baie Rouge beach and Orient Bay, both on the French side.


It seems you are quite a shoe shopper, do you think this is really only a female trait or do you think that men can be just as bad when it comes to shoes?

I’d have to speculate that it’s most likely a singularly female trait—no doubt the result of some quirky twist in our DNA. My husband had long given up trying to understand the relationship between shoes and female chromosomes, until one day I explained the compulsion as part of an inseparable trifecta—a love for shoes, an insatiable desire for chocolate, and the ability to flawlessly apply make-up while driving. He’s never asked me about it since.

I love the fact that your series is set in the 1860's, being a great lover of history it's always makes me happy to see authors take that leap and go back in time rather than forward. What was the inspiration for writing your series around this time period?

One of the most frequent questions I’ve been asked to date is how I developed the concept for The Kure series. First, I wanted to write a love story that fit into the paranormal romance genre—but with a twist. Rather than immediately plunging the reader into an unnatural world populated with the genre-requisite vampires, werewolves, and other genetic misfits, I wanted the setting and characters to be of more conventional origins, and based on some degree of historical accuracy—in other words, a story that could have actually happened.

Setting the story in 1868 Kentucky gave me the opportunity to draw from a large documented undercurrent of sorcery and witchcraft, which in turn, offered a glimpse into the mindset of an alternative minority— the same group of people who would have believed in demonic-based healing. This provided a fertile backdrop to discretely introduce the influence of druidic warlocks and the practice of red magic, a theme that will have an expanded impact on the characters and their actions in the next book in the series, The Karetakers.

Do you allow your spouse to critique your work?

I’m extremely lucky (and grateful) to have a talented and resourceful husband who not only supports my career, but also plays a very active part in its success. I value and trust his objective and honest opinions. And equally important, he calms me back to sleep when I wake up screaming from nightmares after spending the day working on a particularly frightening or gruesome scene.

I know you can't tell us exactly what 'The Kure' is in your books but if you had to use just one word as a hint what would it be?

Before I answer this one, I hope you’ll indulge me in unveiling some background. Although it was my intent to keep the specifics of the Kure a secret, I’m afraid the cat is out of the bag. This was one of those most-often-asked questions from so many readers who wanted to know more about the inspiration, influences, and origin of the ancient manuscript of healing—the Kure—and the ritual taken from its pages.

From the beginning, my goal in writing The Kure was to open a long-locked door, hoping to provide a revealing look inside a huge room filled with superstition and ignorance. I wanted the ritual and the spells associated with curing John’s malady to be portrayed as accurately as possible. Bottom line, the ritual’s source and relevance—albeit a dark one—has a very real place in history, with derivations contained in satanic texts used by practitioners of the occult.

So, just one word? Hmmmm . . .I’d probably say sinister, or evil. No wait, what I meant to say was dark-hearted. (Sorry, I couldn’t resist!)

Is there any advice you'd like to share with other authors, and please leave us your links so we can find out more about you and keep up with what you're writing next!

Allow your imagination to take you to places that are uncomfortable, unsettling, or rarely visited. It is from those unexplored and often disturbing realms that the most incredible tales are born . . . and they’re just waiting to be written.

Thank you, Kitty, for the thought-provoking questions! The following links have lots more information, including updates on new releases, and excerpts from The Kure and my upcoming books, The Possibilities of Amy, a novella about a high school senior’s love-at-first-sight experience, and Journeys From Above and Below the Belt, a collection of adult fiction novellas and short stories.

Links to:

Website:http://www.jayefrances.com

Blog:http://blog.jayefrances.com

Goodreads:http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12718447-the-kure

Facebook:http://www.facebook.com/jayefrancesauthor

Amazon:
Paperback:
http://www.amazon.com/Kure-Jaye-Frances/....17073140&sr=1-1

Kindle eBook:
http://www.amazon.com/The-Kure-ebook/dp/....28373312&sr=1-1

BN
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/the-kure....ces&store=ebook


Here’s a brief synopsis of The Kure:

John Tyler, a young man in his early twenties, awakens to find a ghastly affliction taking over his body. When the village doctor offers the conventional, and potentially disfiguring, treatment as the only cure, John tenaciously convinces the doctor to reveal an alternative remedy—a forbidden ritual contained within an ancient manuscript called the Kure.

Although initially rejecting the vile and sinister rite, John realizes, too late, that the ritual is more than a faded promise scrawled on a page of crumbling paper. And as cure quickly becomes curse, the demonic text unleashes a dark power that drives him to consider the unthinkable—a depraved and wicked act requiring the corruption of an innocent soul.

Ultimately, John must choose between his desperate need to arrest the plague that is destroying his body, and the virtue of the woman he loves, knowing the wrong decision could cost him his life.

* * * *

In the following excerpt, one of the main characters, John Tyler, has made his way to the office of the village doctor. After a thorough examination results in a life-threatening diagnosis, John is reluctant to proceed with the doctor’s prescribed treatment—a painful and potentially damaging leeching. With too many unanswered questions, John procrastinates, remaining unconvinced that a bleeding is the only option.


An excerpt from The Kure:

A knife-edged spasm ripped through John’s torso like an axe through brittle timber. Sucking back a labored breath, he grabbed at the treatment table and leaned hard, praying it would remain level under his weight. As he hunched over the cold surface, he felt his legs turn weak and useless.

“You see, John, the symptoms are worsening. We need to begin right away.” The doctor spoke without sympathy.

“I just need a minute,” John wheezed.

“Don’t you remember what I told you, and what will happen if we don’t act quickly?”

Unable to answer, John stared at the floor. His skin covered in clammy sweat, he tried to focus on the planks beneath his feet—anything to take his mind off the constant ache. Concentrating on the gaps between the boards, he tried to pretend the dark intersecting lines flowing through the wood were tiny roadways leading away from the doctor’s office, to somewhere safe and unthreatening. But as he lifted his gaze to the front of the room, he could see the lines in the floor ran back to where he was standing. Back to where it would be done.

John labored to get it out. “What . . . about . . . the scarring?”

“That shouldn’t concern you,” the doctor said. “It’s not an area of your body normally seen by others.”

John ran his hand over the dimpled leather surface, curious if anyone had tried to comfort the animal in the same way when it was alive, before turning it into upholstery.

“Lie back on the table,” Harwell ordered, “and I’ll begin the preparations. The sooner we get started, the sooner you can return home.”

John struggled with how to say it, how to tell the doctor he needed more time.

The symptoms had come on rapidly and without warning, the first burning wave jarring him from a sound slumber. But when the piercing spasms abruptly subsided, he dismissed them as simple irritation, or even the imagined sensations of sleep. It wasn’t until several hours later, when the pain returned with agonizing intensity, that he knew it was no dream.

Throwing off the covers, he struck a match and lit the oil lamp. Afraid he would find the sheets stained with blood, he scanned the bed linens. They were clean.

Sitting back on the bed, he brought the lamp close. At first, it was difficult to tell. The pinpoint patterns cast by specks of soot from the glass chimney mottled his midsection with a flickering, spotty mask. But as he moved the light back and forth, he could see the damage was real.

Large red pustules covered his abdomen. Some were as large as a tack-head, with many of the white-tipped eruptions raised on two layers. Just underneath the skin were more blisters, sprouting like angry seeds, pushing toward the surface. He waved the lamp, moving the shadows, hoping the malady had gone no further. But even in the tainted glow, he could see the center of the outbreak was lower, concentrated in the worst possible area. He touched himself with a fingertip, then jerked back his hand, concerned he might have accidentally transferred the disease to a different part of his body.

He had spent the rest of the night on his feet, worried that returning to his bed might force the infection higher into his chest, affecting his breathing or slowing his heart.

“What are you waiting for? I need you to lie back on the table.” The doctor was becoming visibly annoyed with John’s hesitation.

John stared at the floor, ignoring the question as he slid his boot across the deep hollows of wear surrounding the treatment table. He noticed the wood underneath was stained, and unlike the rest of the floor, dotted with what looked like small medallions of dry red clay.

Probably street mud, left from dirty boots. It’s odd, almost arranged in a definite pattern, as if each clump had been purposely dropped from the very edge of the table.

In spite of the discomfort, John bent down, almost thankful for the distraction. Not caring the doctor could see, he poked at one of the reddish-gray mounds. It was surprisingly hard and stuck firmly to the floor. Pressing on it with his thumbnail, he applied more pressure, finally cracking the brittle surface.

That’s strange. Little rings of light and dark. And the texture is different on the inside, with tiny cavities that look like they could have held--

John groaned as his arm flew back in a contracted spasm. He prayed it was something else—a dried clump from an old poultice or a scrap from a dirty plaster cast. But the deep red streaks radiating from the center of the mound left little doubt.

Leeches.

Pulled from previous patients, they had been thrown to the floor and squeezed under the heels of the doctor, their exploded bodies left to dry into hard crusty lumps.

He tried to stand, but a wave of nausea held him like a vise. In dizzy blindness, he reached out, desperate for support. Finding the tall cabinet located to the left of the treatment table, his fingers skated across the ornately carved doorframe until he found the cold smoothness of the stopped-in glass. Lowering his chin, he forced his throat closed, fighting the acrid liquid pushing up from his stomach. There was nothing else he could do but hold on, suspended between the cabinet and table, waiting for the queasy feeling to pass.

“Well, John? Are you ready?” The doctor was standing a few feet away, leather straps cascading from his hands.

Unable to find his voice, John managed to shake his head before surrendering to the cradle of his arm.

The doctor’s frustration was evident as he responded with a deep, labored sigh. “All right, I’ll show you.”

John heard the bindings drop to the desk.

Just a few hours, that’s all I need. To secure the house, feed and water the animals. Then tomorrow I’ll be ready.

Lifting his head, John tried to find something to focus on, to clear his mind and settle his stomach. Scanning the interior of the cabinet that supported him, he looked at the shelves with forced scrutiny. Most were empty, revealing only the dusty outline of missing instruments and odd-shaped containers. The top shelf, however, still held medical supplies: cloth wrappings, stranded cotton, several small boxes of Jesuit’s bark and ground chalk. In the back, he could see a half-empty bottle of alcohol and a tarnished metal tray holding six scalpels, their tapered wooden handles coated with the blood of previous patients.



“Resolve To Read”
For a limited time, read The Kure for only $.99 (kindle version)

One of my resolutions for 2012 is to read more new authors – especially those whose books normally fall outside my favorite genres. As I began to search reviewer’s blogs for some ideas, I realized how many more people were reading books of all kinds, primarily due to increased availability and choice of low-cost ebooks for the kindle and nook. I often saw comments from readers who had decided to read a particular author’s work because it was ninety-nine cents, or in some cases, free. Realizing a lower price would motivate more people to read The Kure, I decided to temporarily lower the price. I’m calling it “Resolve To Read”, and it’s going on right now. The kindle version of The Kure can be purchased for ninety-nine cents on Amazon. So if you were planning on buying a kindle version anyway, why not take advantage of the “Resolve To Read” promotion and save two bucks?

Author Bio:

Jaye Frances is the author of the new paranormal/occult romance The Kure, the first novel in The Kure series. Her next release, scheduled for March 2012, is titled The Possibilities of Amy, a coming-of-age story about a young man forced to choose between alignment with his peer group and protecting his new love interest. She is also a featured columnist for the NUSA SUN magazine. Jaye was born in the Midwest and grew up surrounded by traditional values and conservative attitudes (which she quickly discarded). She readily admits that her life’s destination has been the result of an open mind and a curiosity about all things irreverent. When she’s not consumed by her writing, Jaye enjoys cooking, traveling to all places tropical and “beachy” and taking pictures—lots of pictures—many of which find their way to her website. Jaye lives on the central gulf coast of Florida, sharing her home with one husband, six computers, four cameras, and several hundred pairs of shoes.

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