My Book Place

Tell us about yourself and your books.:
All my work is inspired by social issues to which we all can relate. Work/ life stresses, the loss of a spouse and how marriage can sometimes swallow a woman’s identity, and the prevalence of greed in modern society.

Walking with Elephants was my first novel, although I am not new to writing. I was a dinner theater critic and celebrity interviewer for a weekly tabloid in Jacksonville, Fl and I earned a Master’s in Mass Communication from Oklahoma State University. For 15 years I worked in corporate America as a technical editor/editor/writer. I experienced first hand the politics and intrigue that goes with that territory and the balancing act that comes with being a working mother. I salute all those mothers who are the glue that holds their families together while pursuing the nine to five brass ring and they were the inspiration for this work. The audible book is available and narrated by me.

With my second novel, Sunspots, I continue to be in awe of the magical and wondrous phenomenon called life. As an observer and obvious participant in feminine values and approach to our human challenges, I bring this perspective to my work. Fascinated by the mysteries of the unseen forces that perhaps play a role in guiding our choices, I search for answers in the mundane as well as in the cosmic forces that surround us.

In my third novel, Alexa’s pact with the Devil in When a Stranger Comes…is an allegory for the evil lurking in our midst. The social decay of modern society with its excessive greed, the ignorance of our political leaders, and our indifference toward the survival of all species from the effects of climate change, among other environmental pressures, are perhaps brought forth by the darkest forces of human nature. The audible book narrated by me is available.

The genre of magical realism appeals to me and all my work has elements woven in. My current project is focused on a Bed and Breakfast that becomes a safe haven from the effects of climate change while celebrating the Feminine Divine and is set squarely in that realm.

I live in Ponte Vedra, Fl. with my husband and our two furry kitty kids. It true what they say that dogs have masters and cats have staff. We try to keep them wanting for nothing. Our four human kids have flown the nest and are scattered far and wide, alas.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
My writing habits are these: I turn on the computer and go shopping, check twitter, read the news, and check Facebook. I might as well write a couple of paragraphs as long as I'm sitting here. When I'm really in the throes of the plot and characters, thoughts come to me when I'm not at the computer and later on I try to remember them and add them to the story. Not very methodical and that's why it takes me several years from start to finish, but hey I'm self-published so who cares?

What authors have influenced you?
I love the work of Jodi Picoult because she brings social issues into her works as I do, Alice Hoffman because she weaves in magic, and the Latin-American writers like Isobel Allende who write in the genre of magical realism. I also respect good writing and if I think a book is poorly written, I can't finish it.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Keep your day job, have someone in your life that pays the bills, and write because you love it.

[Read more…] about Featured Author Interview: Karen Bell

Tell us about yourself and your books.:
Hi everyone! It can be somewhat difficult to talk about one's self in a situation such as this for I really am a private person. My heroines may be based, or partly-based on me, and they have been known to be colorful and endearing, but truthful, as am I.

I always loved to write, but literature wasn't where my life took me. I am an Interior Decorator by trade, and owned and operated a Residential Home Care service until I retired in 2015. In 2001, I became a serious writer and a published author in 2001 with my very first publication of contemporary and traditional poetry titled, Feelings: A Rhythmic Journey in Thought. I followed this in 2010 with my first collection of children's short stories titled, Young Minds. Both of these titles were followed by a second poetry collection titled, Impressions, and a children's collection titled, Through the Eyes of Innocence.

My first venture into main stream romantic fiction was tried with the 2011 release of the two-part Passion in Paris – Connections to the Past and Directions of the Heart, but they were not what I had hoped to achieve, so I revised the entire story and in 2013 released the Paris-based story in a grand scale novel titled, Passions in Paris: Revelations of a Lost Diary which garnered a 4-star rating by Amazon.

In 2012, I released the first installment of my ongoing Derwood Comedy Series titled, The Misadventures of Derwood Tugbottom.

In 2015 I released Willow's Walk, a romantic drama that brought me a 5-star-rating by Readers Favorite Books while still in pre-release.

In 2017 I released my second comedy installment titled, Derwood Returns, and this was followed in January 2019 with my multi award-winning, 5-star romantic fiction drama, The Perils of Autumn. This novel has been awarded Finalist in Romance by both The International Book Awards and The American Fest Best Book Awards.

Also in 2019, I released my third Derwood comedy installment titled, Derwood Goes Caribbean. I am currently writing the follow-up to The Perils of Autumn, titled Return to Autumn, expected for release in late 2020. I am also planning to release my fourth comedy installment, Derwood Comes Home.

As you can see, I love to write.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
It's hard to say what one considers unusual as all writers have certain habits that they apply while creating a literary piece. I am terrible for scribbling ideas and character conversation on scraps of paper. My desk can be a mess at times, but I have these scraps to refer to when working. I always make sure to write an idea down; this way it's not lost, or I have have to waste time trying to remember what it was. I got into that habit long ago, and for me it works.

What authors have influenced you?
I would say many authors have. I enjoy expressive writing, where the words pull you into the story, the plot, and sweep you away. I admire Margret Mitchell, and the writings of Canadian authoress Lucy Maude Montgomery, and American author Laura Ingalls Wilder. The last two are primarily known as authors of children's work, however, their expressive and informative stories entertain any age. I also try and support local authors in my area.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
The most important advice I could give, is to write what you know. In other words, write what you know about. The more you understand, or have experienced first hand, the better your written perception of it will be and the more professional it will appear to your readers. Only you know how you feel, and how you perceive things, so stay true to your heart and if you're not sure about your topic, or subject, research it completely.

[Read more…] about Featured Author Interview: Rusty Blackwood

Tell us about yourself and your books.:
I am a combat veteran who worked for the Veterans Administration helping veterans succeed in college. Basically I found myself repeating the same mantras to veterans throughout their college career so much that I decided to write some of that down. I wrote some articles about how veterans can be successful in the classroom and those morphed into this book.

People across the country go tens of thousands of dollars of debt to get a college degree and veterans who can go essentially for free with the GI Bill choose not to go. Those that do go often fail out, feeling out of place and struggling with the unstructured college life. There hasn't been a straightforward book written from a combat veteran to help other veterans navigate the college world.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I'll usually listen to podcasts, often military oriented podcasts while I'm running and speak notes into my phone that I want to explore or investigate. I also come up with good ideas when I'm working with veterans, most of what I write about comes from my military experience.

I also clear my head and often have lightbulb moments when I'm riding my motorcycle, it's therapeutic for me.

What authors have influenced you?
My main writing influences are people that get out of the military and do exceptionally well. When people get out of the military they often live out their dreams or their nightmares and that's based on their plan of action.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
I'm basically a brand new author but I think everyone has a story to tell. Even if you are only telling that story to yourself, might as well write it down.

[Read more…] about Featured Author Interview: John Davis