BRoP Interview: Lauren Jankowski

Grand CanyonWelcome to this week’s Blog Ring of Power guest, LAUREN JANKOWSKI. Lauren has been an avid reader for most of her life. She holds a B.A. in Women and Genders Studies from Beloit College. Aside from fiction, she has also dabbled in non-fiction, writing for sites like “The Next Family” and “Planet Fury.” She keeps a blog at Blogspot entitled “The Life and Times of a Writer.” She has been writing fiction since high school, when she noticed a lack of strong women in the popular genre books. When she’s not writing or researching, she enjoys reading (particularly anything relating to ancient myths) or playing with her dogs. She also participates in activism for asexual visibility and feminist causes. Her debut novel was Sere from the Green, the first volume in The Shape Shifter Chronicles. 

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Don’t miss the rest of Lauren’s interview:

  • Part 1 @ Sandra – Monday, August 19
  • Part 2 @ Vicki – Tuesday, August 20
  • Part 3 @ Terri – Wednesday, August 21
  • Part 5 @ Emily – Friday, August 23

 

PART 4: ABOUT YOUR CURRENT WORK

Tell us about your new book and when it is out? Where can people purchase it? My new book is Through Storm and Night and was released in July.  After that, From the Ashes (the third novel in my series) will hopefully be ready sometime in October.  Through Storm and Night picks up where my first novel, Sere from the Green, left off.  The prophesized Four are still looking for the Key.  A mysterious face from the past turns up and the mystery deepens.  The Four are plunged into dangerous situations as new enemies begin to emerge.  There’s a small oversight in their history that might prove to be their undoing. Through Storm and Night will be available on Amazon. I think you can also look it up on Barnes & Noble, which seems to be a part of Amazon now.

Is there anything new, unusual, or interesting about your book? How is it different from other books on the same subject? Like my other novel, this one also has a lot of nods to classical mythology I think people will enjoy.  I also enjoyed exploring the idea of the importance of history.

American Mary Shirt [cropped]What happens when we just assume things about our past without really thinking about it?  It also briefly touches on the importance of language.  As usual, strong women are front and center, which is something that is still largely absent from the fantasy genre.  Another thing that sets my work apart is the adoptees.  Two main characters are adoptees:  Isis and Alex.  I’ve done my best to provide an accurate depiction of the adoptee experience (based partly on my own experience).  For example, even though Isis meets her biological mother, she never calls her “Mom”, which a lot of non-adoptees would likely question (our society still tends to favor genetics when it comes to parental terminology.  It is strange how so many people come down on the nature side of nurture vs. nature when it comes to adoption).Another thing I think sets my books apart from others is that the shape shifters are revealed to be mostly polyamorous.  When I was planning these books, I was thinking about what it would be like if we were less hung up on sex and relationships.  What if polyamory was more common than monogamy?  I’ve put a lot of time and effort into crafting the culture of shape shifters and guardians.  What interested me was that even though they don’t have as many hang ups as humans (in regards to identity, gender, sexuality, and other –isms), they are far from perfect.  The guardians, for example, adhere to their ancient customs and traditions so strictly that they have become a bureaucratic nightmare.  Some of what happens in the second novel could have easily been avoided/prevented had the guardians just been a little more flexible.

What was the hardest part of writing this book? Without a doubt the hardest part of writing Through Storm and Night (aside from the four or five rewrites) was the portrayal of different relationships.  Like I mentioned earlier, I’m not good at writing romances.  Even though I don’t experience sexual attraction, I understand that for most people it’s a natural part of the human condition.  And when you’re writing a novel where one of the main characters is a woman in charge of the world’s passion . . .  well, you’re going to need to include sex at some point.When I was going through the rewrites, my inner perfectionist really came out.  Every word had to be just right, every scene had to be perfect.  I had to improve on my first novel.  I had to prove that I was just as good a writer as the next person.  I still have moments of doubt, of being extremely self-conscious, about being self-published.  It might be because I’m poor and need to be extra careful about where to invest (I have to sacrifice things like professional editing for marketing), but I feel like I have so much to prove and so much stigma to overcome.

What was your favorite chapter (or part) to write and why? Anytime I got to write a scene with rebels in it, I was a very happy writer.  I think the Rebel Lair is the best thing I’ve ever thought up.  The Lair is introduced in chapter five (an incredible fun chapter, writing-wise).  It’s a sanctuary for all supernatural and mortal species.   The Lair is a renovated hotel, owned by the rebels, and patrons are allowed to enact their fantasies and desires.  All the rooms have a different theme, some sexual and some not.  There’s a 20s room where people can dress up in twenties fashions and have a small party or whatever else they want to do.  The main floor is a combination bar and dance club, which is what the rebels enjoy.  I really love the idea of a place where you can go and be yourself or fulfill your dreams/desires and not worry about being judged or labeled.  In that chapter, Alpha also mentions something about women being more suited to rebel because they have infinitely more to gain and much less to lose.  I don’t often like dialogue I write, but I really like that particular line.  Rebels might be a little bit of wish fulfillment on my part.

Did you learn anything from writing this book and what was it? I learn that I can’t write a driving scene to save my life.  My brother, who edited the book, must have laughed his ass off reading the few scenes that involved driving.  I don’t drive and so I guessed a lot.  Guess what?  I guessed wrong.  Very, very wrong.  I also learned muscle cars are nowhere near as large as I had assumed.Whenever I write a novel, I learn a little more about the literary striptease.  You never want to give too much away, but you also don’t want to reveal nothing.  I have a tendency to mistreat the reader and reveal nothing.  Then, without realizing it, I assume they know what I do.  My brother had to point this out to me a couple of times.  So while I think I did withhold some information in this book, I am getting better at revealing just enough.  It’s a learning process.

If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything in this book? There’s a character introduced in this book that is a really fascinating individual, but he doesn’t get a lot of dialogue.  If I could go back, I would probably use him a little more.  So much happens in this book that he kind of gets forgotten.I also really love my villain and I can’t wait to bring him out even more.  He only has a small scene in this book, but I think it’s a good one.  I wanted him to play a bigger part, but it just didn’t work.  He’s one of those characters that works best when used sparingly (less is more).I get carried away with my kickass heroines that I sometimes forget their male allies, which I suppose is better than the other way around.  There are so many characters in my series and I think they’re all interesting, but man alive is it hard to juggle them sometimes.  I once told someone I know that one day I’m just going to snap and go on a character killing spree.

Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp? When I became an author, I wanted strong smart women to be the main characters in my books to show women were every bit as good as their male counterparts.  In this book, a few women screw up (some more than others) and I think that’s okay.  They’re not perfect.  Women are allowed to make mistakes and they’re still strong and badass. Another message is to learn from history.  Pay close attention, not just to what happened, but also who is telling the story and why.  Also, pay attention to the language being used.  The smallest oversight or mistranslation can potentially change the story.

Tell us about your book’s cover – where did the design come from and what was the design process like? Oh god, the cover. My wonderful brother also designed my cover (because he’s a special kind of awesome).  He came up with this incredible design that I loved. He even managed to create the symbol that is introduced in Sere from the Green and remains important throughout the series. After designing a beautiful cover, we uploaded it to CreateSpace and it looked fine.  I ordered a proof copy and it was too dark. The symbol had completely blended into the background and the two bars were completely different colors. So he had to go at it again.

Is your book in print, ebook or both? Both novels (Sere from the Green  and Through Storm and Night) will be available in print and ebook.

Please let us know where can your readers stalk you:

Blog: http://lifeandtimesofawriter.blogspot.com/

Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/laurenm.jankowski

Goodreads author page: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7013537.Lauren_Jankowski

Twitter: @Lauren_Jankowsk

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Lauren-Jankowski/e/B00BZH9BX4/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1373751102&sr=8-1

Other: Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lauren-j/

Through Storm and Night Covers OfficalTHROUGH STORM AND NIGHT (THE SHAPE SHIFTER CHRONICLES VOLUME 2): The Meadows is home to the guardians, a race of beings similar to the deities in ancient mythology. They watch over the Earth from their serene lands like the gods on Mount Olympus. For millennia, it has been peaceful. However, in the beginning, there was a great war. A war with Chaos: a war that is still remembered in the legends of guardians and shape shifters. More than five months have passed since Isis, a shape shifter/guardian hybrid and member of the prophesized Four, last saw Coop. The Four are still no closer to finding the Key and their search has yielded nothing but more questions. The sudden and unexpected return of a face from the past, one long believed dead, plunges them even deeper into the mystery of the Key. Meanwhile, a powerful enemy begins toying with them. Who are the strange, scentless men in suits who can move impossibly fast? Who are the strange shape shifters known only as “the glowing-eyes” and what connection do they have to the vanishing bodies? The answers may be found in the stories about the War of the Meadows, but a small oversight in the legends may prove to be the shape shifters’ undoing.

BUY IT NOW: Amazon | Add on Goodreads

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BRoP Interview: TJ Loveless

Welcome to this week’s Blog Ring of Power guest, TJ Loveless. She can often be found surrounded by the wonderful chaos of life, writing, editing and laughing at the antics of family.

Don’t miss the rest of TJ’s BRoP interview:

Part 1 @ Emily – Friday, August 9

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Part 2 @ Sandra – Monday, August 12

Part 3 @ Vicki – Tuesday, August 13

Part 4 @ Terri – Wednesday, August 14

PART 5: WORDS OF WISDOM

Tell us about your route to success – how/when did you decide to self-publish? Did you query an agent first? How did you handle the editing, proofreading, cover design, etc. I didn’t query this series, simply because most agents don’t take novella, and two, well, it felt right to self-publish The Fortune Cookie Diaries. When I first started thinking about it, I wondered, then realized, I wanted to self-pub it, to do it myself. It is hard work, and despite months of research, stupid questions aimed at those who’d gone before me, some things you have to do before you get it. Although I am a content/copy editor by profession, I still sent it out to another professional editor, and then several proofers. I contacted Cali McKay to handle the cover, with a general idea of what I wanted.

TJLovelessBookShe listened, tossed some ideas my way, and with a few emails, and a couple of changes, we had the cover for Lucky Number Six and Odd Number Five. Currently working on Unlucky Number Four. She’s a genius when it comes to covers. I didn’t do a massive shout out about Lucky Number Six, as it is really my learning the ropes. Despite nothing but glowing reviews, it’s Unlucky Number Four I plan to do a lot of marketing, blogging, etc. Another big learning experience.

What are the most important elements of good writing? First – pay attention. A writer can have a great idea for a premise, a wonderful plot and lovely 3D characters. But don’t pay attention to the stuff that makes the writing sloppy. Overuse of pronouns, redundancies, constantly repeating the same phrase over and over, constant POV changes or not sticking to either first/second/third POV, switching between present or past tense, small inconsistencies, info dumps. It’s the little things that kill a book. No, you can’t complete eradicate those things, but overuse … ugh. Second – know your characters. It shows when a writer only has a slight idea of the inner workings of the ones fueling the story. Even secondary characters are important. Third – have some idea of the message you are conveying. I’ve edited some MS in which the message changed three times in one book. I had to send it back to the author and tell them to do a complete revision.

Do you have any advice for other writers? See above. Most of all, don’t be afraid to color outside of the lines. Let your imagination soar, be different, twist it, turn it, flip ideas on their head. Don’t copy authors that have done it already – make your own. One book I edited by Matthew Graybosch, took fantasy and flipped it. Great writing, carefully placed hints, great world building, didn’t do a ton of backstory. Created his own creatures and myth, his own society, his own weapons – keeping a little bit of the familiar then created something all new. Loved it.

What do you feel is the key to your success? Is success that I finally hit the 200 books sold mark? Or that I put it up and so far I’ve heard nothing but good things? That not one person said it was badly edited, or that the favorite character is secondary? Is it that I put it up and bragged about it despite severe author insecurities? Maybe it’s the fanmail I’ve received? Honestly, I’m not sure. I will say I worked very hard, I asked questions, I offered to help where I could, researched, researched and researched. I took full responsibility for my mistakes, and tried not to make the same ones others made – I learned from them. I never stop learning, trying new things. Being the best I can be. 

What are your current / future project(s)? I still have Going Thru Hell out on query, with a few more rejections to go. But as I learn more and more about self-publishing, I may go that route. There are other options that I can’t talk about right at the moment, but I’m no longer thinking the traditional route is the only one. I’ve learned to follow my instincts. I also have to finish five more novellas, and have two more humorous novella series in the planning stages for next year. On the full length end, I have to finish the Braiders’ series, work on the Maiden series again, and two more in the planning stages. Lots and lots of writing.

What format is your book(s) available in (print, e-book, audio book, etc.)? All books are in eBook at this time.

Please let us know where your readers can stalk you: 

Blog: http://queenofpaddedroom.blogspot.com/

Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/TJ-Loveless-Author/129753790413808

Goodreads author page: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7142612.T_J_Loveless

Twitter: https://twitter.com/tjloveless3

Amazon: amazon.com/author/tjloveless

Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/tjloveless

LuckyNumber6LUCKY NUMBER SIX: In New Orleans, Louisiana, something with a weird sense of humor is stranding myth in a nonmagical world.

Dr. Tiffany Crews is a renowned psychiatrist, a klutz, Arkansas hillbilly born and bred with her feet firmly rooted in reality. Her two best friends, Janet and Mark, keep life interesting. Add in a duck with Houdini tendencies, and Tiffany leads a wonderfully laughter filled life.

One morning, they find a unicorn in the communal courtyard of their townhouse and life takes a surreal twist. It leads to burning the bacon, along with the kitchen, yet they nevertheless refuse to leave the animal in a possibly bad situation. Until they learn it talks, anything veggie causes rancid flatulence in the form of rainbows, and its grumpy attitude can only be helped by indulging his carnivorous tendencies with Shrimp Po’ Boys.

Drop in Flying Granny, sporting dragonfly wings and really flies, who calls herself The Fairy Godmother, and believes she was summoned to help find their soul mates. Reality takes another twist nobody is prepped for.

The three friends are on the prowl during New Orleans’ infamous Mardi Gras to find where the two myths truly belong. Every attempt to find the truth leads to hijinks and compromising situations for the three friends, and a true appreciation for the unknown. Tiffany needs to find a way for the two myths to fit into reality, and keep her sanity in one piece.

If only it was that easy.

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Birthday bash: Free short stories, novelette

Mother_coverJaguar HopeTo celebrate my birthday, I’m offering the two prequels to ZERO TIME–my historical fantasy novel–for free Aug. 13 & 14 on Kindle.

JAGUAR HOPE, a novelette, tells of the ill-fated journey to Earth’s Age of Crystal. Two black jaguars become the symbol of hope for a race facing extinction when they accompany a dying traveler back to her home planet.

Four-year-old White Heron begins her journey as a master shaman when she arrives in Teotihuacan with her sister Quilla and Mama Couen. Her fledgling skills prove the only defense against a priest of the Lord of Darkness in THE MOTHER SERPENT’S DAUGHTER, a short story.

Additionally, my contemporary short story, AND I FEEL FINE, will be free on Kindle from Aug. 13-17.

61CSJ6KisTL._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-sticker-arrow-click,TopRight,35,-76_AA278_PIkin4,BottomRight,-59,22_AA300_SH20_OU01_Jana’s puzzled when the traffic disappears so she makes it to work on time, and when the perfect boots and jacket appear in her cubicle just before a meeting with the big boss. She worries about her sanity until she realizes it’s Dec. 21, 2012. This is the end of the world? She pulls on her new boots and puts her theory to the test.

 

 

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Prime meteor watching Aug. 12-13

Reprinted from Space Weather News  

PERSEID METEOR SHOWER: The Perseid meteor shower is intensifying as Earth moves deeper into the debris stream of parent comet 109P/Swift-Tuttle. International observers are reporting as many as 30 Perseids per hour from dark sky sites, a rate which could triple on August 12-13 when the shower peaks. Check http://spaceweather.com for updates and observing tips.

Permanent link to this article: https://twfendley.com/3793/

BRoP interview: Jennifer Allis Provost

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Welcome to this week’s Blog Ring of Power guest, Jennifer Allis Provost. She is a native New Englander who lives in a sprawling colonial along with her beautiful and precocious twins, a dog, a parrot (maroon bellied conure, to be exact), two cats, and a wonderful husband who never forgets to buy ice cream. As a child, she read anything and everything she could get her hands on, including a set of encyclopedias, but fantasy was always her favorite. She spends her days drinking vast amounts of coffee, arguing with her computer, and avoiding any and all domestic behavior.

And here is where you can find the rest of Jennifer’s interview:

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Part 1 @ Terri – Wednesday, July 31

Part 3 @ Emily – Friday, August 2

Part 4 @ Sandra – Monday, August 5

Part 5 @ Vicki – Tuesday, August 6

 

PART 2: THE WRITING LIFE

What is your writing process? Do you follow a regular routine? Do you use pen and paper or computer? Work at home or at the library/Starbucks, etc. I like to get up early, and work for a few hours while the house is quiet. I usually use my laptop, but when I reach a block in the story I grab paper and pen and scribble away. I also talk out scenes, testing how the dialogue sounds in real life. That always garners a few odd looks from the pets.

How do you balance writing with other aspects of your life? Um…badly. *blushes* I have rather intense day job, three year old twins, and a house full of pets all depending on me. (Side note: my husband is a saint.) However, my compulsion to write is strong, which I why I end up waking up at 5am on weekends, and staying up way too late on weeknights. At times, it seems that my strongest support system is my coffeemaker.

How much time per day do you spend on your writing? I try to put in at least an hour per day, whether it’s writing, revising, or marketing.

Other than your family, what has been your greatest source of support? I have a few friends who have been with me since the beginning, talking about my books, writing reviews, and helping me get the word out. One of them even had her father contact the owner of his local indie bookstore to arrange a signing for me. Coincidentally, they all have A names – Ann, Amy and April. Maybe I should start calling them the Triple A’s.

Other than the Triple A’s, my biggest support system is Broad Universe (http://broaduniverse.org/ ). Back when I was just a fool with a single self published novel, they welcomed me with open arms. Through BU, I met other writers, got to have readings at major conventions, and have enjoyed the group’s considerable combined knowledge. Now, I’m a fool with a few more titles under her belt, and I still find BU to be an invaluable resource.

How do you deal with rejection and/or negative reviews? Reading is subjective, just like music and other forms of art. Everyone isn’t going to like everything, and no matter how well you hone your craft someone will always find a reason to dislike it. As long as most of the reviews are good, I don’t stress over the bad ones.

What format is your book(s) available in (print, e-book, audio book, etc.)? They are all available in print and ebook.

CopperGirlsFRONTcoverFINALhirez-1

COPPER GIRL: Sara had always been careful.

She never spoke of magic, never associated with those suspected of handling magic, never thought of magic, and never, ever, let anyone see her mark. After all, the last thing she wanted was to end up missing, like her father and brother.

Then, a silver elf pushed his way into Sara’s dream, and her life became anything but ordinary.

 

Please let us know where your readers can stalk you:

Website: http://www.jenniferallisprovost.com/

Blog: http://jenniferallisprovost.blogspot.com/

Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/jennallis

Goodreads author page: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2975887.Jennifer_Allis_Provost

Twitter: @parthalan

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Copper-Girl-Jennifer-Allis-Provost/dp/1939392020/ref=pd_rhf_gw_p_tnr_11

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L&L Dreamspell: Making dreams come true

Index page Logo Bar newI’m blogging today at The Writers’ Lens about L&L Dreamspell: Making dreams come true.

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ZT ebook temporarily unavailable

Zero TimeThis month has been a very sad one for authors published by L&L Dreamspell and for all who knew Linda Houle, one of the co-publishers. Linda died, and the other publisher, Lisa Smith, decided to close the business.

In an email a few days before Linda’s passing, Lisa said: “We started this publishing company because we love books and we wanted to help make authors’ dreams come true. I do not want to continue without Linda.”

I’ll be posting more about L&L and what I’ve learned through this process, but today I just wanted to let you know what’s happening. My historical fantasy novel, ZERO TIME, is temporarily going out of print. The Kindle version is already down and I don’t know how much longer print copies will be available.

Thanks to Lisa’s excellent support of L&L authors, I hope to have ZERO TIME republished within a couple of weeks, but if you can’t wait that long, please contact me directly at twfendley@gmail.com.

Teresa

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BRoP Interview: Tracy Lane

Welcome to this week’s Blog Ring of Power guest, Tracy Lane, who was fascinated by the paranormal when she was very young. She always felt like someone was around her even when she was alone. Those experiences inspired her to write a paranormal book where a teenager can see and hear ghosts, and actually makes friends with one.

Tracy loved to write short stories in school and had always wanted to be a writer. But raising children and working jobs got in the way of indulging her passion of writing. Then she realized her children had grown up into teenagers and they didn’t need her as much. She started toying with the idea of writing once again. So setting aside 5 to 10 minutes per day to write at least one page she thought she could end up with a book a year. Now Paranormal Properties is published and she still has a list of at least 8 more books to write. She doesn’t think she’ll be slowing down anytime soon.

Don’t miss the rest of Tracy’s interview: 

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Part 1 @ Terri – Wednesday, July 24

Part 3 @ Emily – Friday, July 26

Part 4 @ Sandra – Monday, July 29

Part 5 @ Vicki – Tuesday, July 30

 

PART #2: THE WRITING LIFE

What is your writing process? Do you follow a regular routine? Do you use pen and paper or computer? Work at home or at the library/Starbucks, etc. I found that since I wake up at 5 a.m. and the house is really quiet that it was a great time to get a page or two of writing done.  So I’d get up, make coffee and then write before the world around me woke up.

How do you balance writing with other aspects of your life? It is hard at times, I don’t feel like writing every morning. I work 7 days a week and some days it takes it’s toll on me.

What has been the most surprising reaction to something you’ve written? I had a top 100 amazon reviewer mention a line I had written in Paranormal Properties. This is what he wrote. (Note – It’s one of my favorite images from the book)  “Toots spat out a rusty belch from his trumpet before a long, low note sang clear.” That’s cool. Really cool.

What is the strongest criticism you’ve ever received as an author? The best compliment?

me me-1The strongest criticism was a lady who said I should not call children overweight. Tank, Jake’s friend, is a tomboy who is overweight. She thought I was contributing to the problem of children being called names. What I meant to do was show how she was accepted lovingly by Jake’s family no matter what she looked like.

Other than your family, what has been your greatest source of support? My friends are

my greatest support. They help me by passing out promotional material, telling their friends and family about my book, and telling me how proud they are of me.

How do you deal with rejection and/or negative reviews? I have not had a rejection.  After submitting Paranormal Properties I had a contract in hand 2 weeks later. My reviews so far have all been 4 or 5 stars. I am hoping I do not have to deal with anything lower. lol

Please let us know where your readers can stalk you:

Websitehttp://www.tracylane.us

Bloghttp://tossysbooks.blogspot.com/

Goodreads author page: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6549273.Tracy_Lane

Twitterhttps://twitter.com/TossysBooks

Amazon book: http://www.amazon.com/dp/0982727178/?tag=wwwpantsonfir-20

Kindle: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00BMHF6X6/?tag=wwwpantsonfir-20

Smashwordshttps://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/tracylane

Other: http://www.paranormalproperties.us

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PARANORMAL PROPERTIES: The Weir family has just arrived in Dusk, North Carolina, one of the most haunted cities in America, to scope out some of the town’s 127 reported “paranormal properties,” which just happens to be the name of their own ghost hunting show: Paranormal Properties. What Jake Weir doesn’t know, and what his parents could never imagine, is that Jake can see ghosts! And hear them. And talk back to them! This talent comes in handy when he runs into Dusk’s oldest, most famous ghost: Frank Barrone, a one-time lounge singer made famous by his booze-soaked ballad, “Barroom Eyes.” Frank was gunned down by a local mobster in 1951 and has been searching for his killer ever since. When he learns that Jake can see and hear him, Frank makes young Jake a deal: if Jake will help Frank find his killer, Frank will help his parents find a ghost to film for their upcoming Halloween Special on Public Access TV. Jake enlists the only friend he’s made in Dusk, an overweight tomboy nicknamed “Tank,” to help him track down Frank’s killer. As clues emerge and old leads heat up, Frank and Jake learn they make quite a team. But will Jake find Frank’s killer? And will Frank find a real haunted house in time for the Halloween special?

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Big Dreams Class begins in September

Following was provided by Deborah Weltman:

BigDreams

Become aware of your true desires,
Become aware of what you came to this life to do… to be… to learn…
Take the leap onto your life path.
Lose fear.
Gain courage.
Know your true value.
Be supported, inspired, and fully alive!
This is what Big Dreamers do.
The next Big Dreams Class will begin in September. Please call for information and to be put on the “interested list”. The format may be adjusted slightly based on feedback received from the first two groups. We will meet on a weeknight (to be determined based on participants’ schedules) and we will be meeting every week for 12 weeks. More info to come…

Call Deborah at: 314-544-2555

Read more about Big Dreams CLICK HERE

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BRoP Interview: Anne E. Johnson

BRoP Logo Revised-1AnneEJohnsonWelcome to this week’s Blog Ring of Power guest, Anne E. Johnson. Don’t miss the rest of her interview at:

Part 1 @ Sandra – Monday, July 15

Part 2 @ Vicki – Tuesday, July 16

Part 3 @  Terri – Wednesday, July 17

Part 5 @ Emily – Friday, July 19

PART 4: ABOUT YOUR CURRENT WORK

Tell us about your new book and when it is out? Where can people purchase it? Blue Diamond Delivery is a humorous science fiction novel. It takes place in an alternative solar system (with no humans, but myriad other species) called the Raralt Planetary Circle. The main character is Webrid, who delivers things for clients in a metal pushcart. When massive quakes threaten to crack all the Raralt planets apart, Webrid gets singled out to make a very unusual delivery that is supposed to stablize everything. He calls in some very brainy friends to help, but nothing is ever as simple as it seems where Webrid is concerned.

Blue Diamond Delivery is avail able directly from the publisher http://www.candlemarkandgleam.com/, on Amazon http://www.amazon.com/Anne-E.-Johnson/e/B001KME3L4 , Barnes & Noble, and elsewhere.

Is there anything new, unusual, or interesting about your book? How is it different from other books on the same subject? Readers seem to enjoy the imaginative characters in the Webrid books. I try very hard to be entertaining as well as providing a good story, and I think all the bizarre species and their distinctive, comical personalities help the entertainment value.

What was the hardest part of writing this book? As with any book, the hardest pa rt to write was the middle. I’m typical of novelists in that way: just before the halfway point in the drafting of any novel, I get this drumbeat in my head and an evil, monotonic voice says, “We have to work on THIS again? Can’t we do something new? Something fun?” It’s always a major haul to get to the two-thirds point in a novel, but then I’m usually fine.

What was your favorite chapter (or part) to write and why? I think my favorite chapter was a pitched battle in the middle of a desert: Webrid and his two best friends vs. the Slof-Borogin, a race of skeletal creatures who kill by injecting poisonous liquid bone marrow into their victims. I’d introduced these characters briefly in Green Light Delivery, the first Webrid book, but I was looking forward to devoting a whole chapter to them in Blue Diamond Delivery.

Did you learn anything from writing this book and what was it? The biggest lesson I learned was the power of revision. My first few drafts were lacking something, and I couldn’t quite tell what. Thankfully, when I sent it to my publisher, they responded with very specific suggestions (complaints!) as to why the story didn’t work for them. I spent about ten weeks disassembling the novel, rearranging, adding in a major character, etc. What I ended up with pleased me, pleased the publisher, and I’m sure will please the reader.

Tell us about your book’s cover – where did the design come from and what was the design process like? For both of the Webrid books, Green Light Delivery and Blue Diamond Delivery, my publisher hired graphic artist Chris Sobolowski. We wanted a retro-looking cover that harkened back to old science fiction and pulp novels. Chris did a fantastic job of coming up with the basic design in terms of color scheme, type face, and placement of the image. I was very pleased to be asked for my input on both Webrid covers, on ce there was a mock-up ready. The biggest discussion we had, for both covers, was about the expression on Webrid’s face. The shape of the eyes and the angle of the eyebrows were tweaked in many subtle ways  before the correct look of consternation emerged.

Is your book in print, ebook or both? BOTH

Please let us know where can your readers stalk you:

Website: http://anneejohnson.com/

Blog: http://anneejohnson.blogspot.com/

Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Anne-E-Johnson-Author/249053641780972

Goodreads author page: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/890108.Anne_E_Johnson

Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/AnneEJohnson

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Anne-E.-Johnson/e/B001KME3L4

Google+  https://plus.google.com/u/0/117903036647421462406/posts

And here’s a link to the blog tour list on my website home page: http://anneejohnson.com/

BDD_cover_front.1

BLUE DIAMOND DELIVERY: Webrid is a carter. He’s also the savior of the world. Is it so much to ask that he get a break, and get to enjoy the simple things in life – like booze and babes – without being asked to drop everything and save the day? Again.

But all the planets of the Raralt Circle will crack to pieces unless Webrid can complete one simple carting job. How hard could it be to save the world? After all, he’s done it before.

– – –

BLUE DIAMOND DELIVERY is the sequel to GREEN LIGHT DELIVERY, and gives us another look into the wisecracking, noir-tinged worlds of the Raralt Planetary Circle and the lives of Webrid, Stravin, Zatell, and an interplanetary cast of weirdoes you can’t help but love.

Candlemark & Gleam: http://www.candlemarkandgleam.com/shop/product-category/science-fiction/

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Blue-Diamond-Delivery-Anne-Johnson/dp/1936460483/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1371998734&sr=8-1&keywords=blue+diamond+delivery

BN: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/blue-diamond-delivery-anne-e-johnson/1115788876?ean=9781936460489

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