Meet Author Stephen Tremp

It is my pleasure this month to host author Stephen Tremp as part of our on-going VBT book tour. Please read and get to know more about Stephen.



Author Stephen Tremp at a book signing for his novel “Breakthrough” at a Borders bookstore.

Now, let’s learn a bit more about Stephen Tremp’s biography:

Stephen Tremp was born in Marshall, Michigan, in 1962, the third out of four children of Duane and Joyce Tremp. When he was five, his family moved to Grand Ledge, ten miles to the west of the capital city of Lansing. Stephen attended Holbrook Elementary, Beagle Middle School, and Grand Ledge High School. He always dreamed of writing and enrolled in numerous English and writing courses throughout high school and junior college.

After living in Houston, Texas, for one year when he was nineteen, Stephen moved back to Lansing, Michigan, briefly a year before moving to Orange County, California, where he has lived ever since. He met his wife, Deena, and married her in October 1996 in an outdoor ceremony in Dana Point, California, high up on a bluff overlooking the Pacific Ocean. They have two children and a Yorkie. Stephen had to make a very difficult decision and gave away his beloved parrot, Pepper, a nanday conure, when the children were born.

Stephen attended Golden West and Orange Coast junior colleges before finishing his undergraduate degree with the University of Phoenix with a B.A. in information systems. After a two-year hiatus, he went back to the University of Phoenix, where he earned an MBA degree in global management. He is currently completing his doctorate program in business administration with the University of Phoenix.

Stephen spent over ten years in consumer finance for some of the largest companies in the industry, holding numerous management positions and often working over 60 hours a week. He has also worked as a classroom and online instructor, facilitating various courses in the field of Project Management.

After many years of writing short stories and poems — when he could squeeze in the time — Stephen has taken the last two years off to fulfill his lifelong passion: write and publish Breakthrough, the first installment of the Chase Manhattan trilogy. He has four more suspense thrillers to follow. Stephen receives his inspiration from some of his favorite authors: the Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child tandem, Dean Koontz, and Stephen King, among others.

Stephen has identified two charities to donate proceeds from his books: The Children’s Hospital of Orange County (CHOC) and Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure.

Now for some Q & A:

What or whom inspires you to write?

I just see life and all of my experiences as one continuous action suspense story just waiting to be transferred to paper. I see “what if” scenarios throughout the day, regardless of where I am, what I’m doing, or who I’m with.

Although I’m a bit of an introvert, I’m very passionate about developing “what if” scenarios. I can relate to the Drew Carey’s show Whose Line Is It Anyway?, an improvisational comedy show. Give me a simple “what if” scenario, and I can develop it into an action suspense trilogy that will keep the reader up late at night, turning the pages.

I draw much inspiration from Dean Koontz, Dan Brown, Stephen King, and the Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child tandem. I read a lot of fiction thrillers and felt I needed to identify a unique niche market that a large segment of the population could identify with and get excited about.

I think I’ve found it in a world where the Information Age is moving at breakneck speed, and breakthroughs in areas of science that were once fodder for science fiction are now becoming a part of our everyday life. I believe I’ve found my calling, my gift to the world.


How did you get started?

I accepted a voluntary layoff after toiling over 10 years in the banking and finance industry and took advantage of the opportunity to write full-time.

Breakthroughs in physics and technology are broadcast into millions of homes via numerous cable channels in layman’s terms and computer graphics anyone can understand. I thought I would capitalize on this particular niche and incorporate them into an action thriller series weaving together breakthroughs in physics and technology with greed, murder, and mayhem. Will these breakthroughs benefit mankind and be used to further civilization, or will they be stolen and used for greedy gain? I think we know the answer. That’s why the world needs a hero like my protagonist Chase Manhattan.


What did you find to be the most frustrating step/process of getting your first novel published?

I signed a non-exclusive contract with iUniverse, which was acquired by AuthorHouse. During the transition, much information was lost, and it took about two or three additional months to bring Breakthrough to market. iUniverse (really, AuthorHouse) originally sent my unedited draft off to print. Can you imagine my response when I received the (ahem) final product? This was just the beginning of a series of comedies of errors.

But iUniverse has terrific customer service. They fixed everything in a timely manner. So some of the sting of their mistakes (which were many) was soothed by awesome customer service reps.


Do you have an agent? If yes, how long did it take for you to find one?

I do not currently have an agent, but I am actively pursuing one. I use Publisher’s Marketplace, a site to look for reputable agents and view deals they have made over the past couple years.

It took about three months of receiving feedback from various sources before I felt my query letter was professional. I even had my editor / proofreader go over it. I now understand why, after my initial effort of sending out my query letter, I received rejection for every one.

I feel much more confident today and have recently sent out about 50 query letters to specific agents. I’m expecting big things in the near future.


How long did it take for you to write Breakthrough?

Two years from start to finish. I thought I could accomplish everything in about eight months. But after the first editing/proof reading, I realized I still had a lot of research to perform and character development to perform. Then I had a second editor / proofreader go over the entire manuscript a second time. This was money well spent.


Are your characters based on yourself or anyone else you know?

The protagonist, Chase Manhattan (I may have to change his name to Chase Hawkings) is loosely based on me, only he’s a little bit taller than I am, a little bit better looking, a little faster, stronger, smarter, and much richer.

The rest of the good guys (and girls) and bad guys (and girls) are partially made up and partially based on people I’ve known throughout my life.


Have you ever suffered from writer’s block? What seems to work for unleashing your creativity?

Honestly, I don’t suffer from writer’s block, although there are times when I do write, I can’t use the material because it lacks substance or excitement. So I save the material and revisit the snipits in the future. I have a junkyard of sorts, and if I need a part, I go to my junkyard, grab what I need, then polish, refine it, and insert it.


Technically speaking, what do you have to struggle the most when writing? How do you tackle it?

I really don’t struggle very much as I love what I do. I love performing due diligence in my research. Much of the two years I spent writing Breakthrough was devoted to researching the latest and greatest in the realm of physics.
I also had to research the Boston and Cambridge, MA area via the Internet as well as Boston police procedures. I also use Google Earth and yearly weather reports to describe a particular area. Honestly, there is so much information available at my fingertips, the biggest struggle I have is sorting through the wealth of information and eliminating relevant data.


What advice would you give someone who wants to get a book published?

The number one piece of advice I can give an aspiring author is to budget money for a competent editor / proofreader. Even editors who want to write and publish a book need an editor. This is the biggest, and one of the easiest, mistakes an author can make.

Editors / proofreaders are vital to your success. Vital is an appropriate word. It means: necessary for life. Don’t try to go it alone, even if you call yourself an editor. You need that second set of eyes to look over your manuscript before you forward it on for printing.

You’re only as good as your editor / proofreader. Perception is reality, and the person buying your book will be the ultimate judge, not you, the author. I can say this with confidence, and hope to convince everyone I can to find a way to budget for a quality editor / proofreader.

Most editors / proofreaders will review your first 10 pages for free. I’m confident even the most experienced writers will be amazed at the results. Do what I did; pay for a few pages here, a few chapters there. Before you know it, your entire manuscript will be transformed into a work of art.


Please share with us your latest work-in-progress.

I am currently writing the next two installments of the Breakthrough trilogy entitled Opening and Escalation. These two books will pick up where Breakthrough left off and take the story on an international level. The setting is the United States, China, and the Middle East.

These next books are very exciting as I use more discoveries and breakthroughs in physics in these books. It’s too early to give away anything from these books, but for those who read Breakthrough, they will have a pretty good idea what direction Opening and Escalation will go.

What’s awesome for me is that I do not have to not have to set my stories centuries in the future and use characters with pointy ears. Since mankind is on the cusp of discoveries and breakthroughs in just about every facet of our lives, I can use our modern day setting and not have to resort to using a science fiction genre.

I’m also outlining an eerie Stephen King-type thriller entitled Murcat Manor set in Michigan.


Steve, please include links so the readers can visit you and where they can buy your book?

Readers can visit my blog site at http://www.stephentremp.blogspot.com

Currently, Breakthrough can be purchased through traditional retailers. Currently, Breakthrough is cheapest though Barnes and Noble, but can also be purchased through Amazon, Borders Books and Music, and Target.

http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Breakthrough/Stephen-Tremp/e/9780595710706/?itm=1

http://www.amazon.com/BREAKTHROUGH-Adventures-Manhattan-Stephen-Tremp/dp/0595710700/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1244176584&sr=8-1

In two days I’ll post more about Stephen Tremp’s book Breakthrough. Please drop by and learn more about this fascinating book.

Cheers!
Harry

Meet Author Heather Paye

My guest writer this month on our VBT blog tour is Heather Paye, a remarkable young writer whom I’d like you all to get to know better. Please read and find out more about Heather, who has recently published her first novel, “A Gift From Above”.



Heather, please tell us more about yourself, starting with where were you born and where do you live?

I was born in Tucson, Arizona, and I still live there now… or I should say here.


How old are you, and what grade are you now in?

I am 15 years old, and I will be starting 11th grade next fall.


What does your family think about you having published a book?

My family stands behind me 100 percent. My family has given me the love, knowledge, and support that I need to keep my fire burning. At times, I feel that I am not moving fast enough or getting anywhere; and then, someone steps in with another path or idea that I had not thought of. If I need something, anything, my family members are there to assist me any way that they can. I bounce ideas off of my family and they have all done their share of editing and re-editing.

We recently did a book signing and every one in my family pulled together to make my signing a success. We put together bookmarks for each and every book; some members were cutting, laminating, and printing for days. The whole family turned out for the signing including my 8 –month-old, baby sister who smiled and cooed throughout the evening. I consider myself fortunate to have the family that I do because they made me what I am, without them I would be a completely different person.


How did you become interested in writing at such an early age? Does anyone else in your family write?

Well, boredom always sparks creativity for me. I remember the very first time I started writing a story, I was sitting down at my computer (this is before I had the Internet) and I wanted to be creative, I wanted to write something, so I opened up Microsoft Word and I wrote. What got my interest in writing was J.K.Rowling; her Harry Potter series inspired me so much. I read an article about her, and then I found out anyone can write. Before that I really thought that you had to be someone special to write a book, the president’s daughter or something, I didn’t know that anyone could try their hand at writing. And that’s what made me want to write, that’s why I started.

Yes, actually, my sister has this wonderfully creative Stephen King mind, and she’s as clever as it gets, and she’s always writing something, she’s also a great artist. And my mom, she writes too, she’s equally as wonderful as my sister, not half as demented, probably completely the opposite in her writing. I’m trying to think of words to describe it, it’s just close to the heart writing, just brilliant writing. My little brother isn’t quite old enough to write yet, but I really think he’s going to get the writing bug after he gets his spelling down, he’s almost there, but not quite yet. He has a great imagination; I get a lot of my inspiration from him.

My grandfather always kept a journal and inspired my mother to keep one too. I owe the honor of my great imagination to my grandmother who passed that down to my mother and then to me. The gift to dream and daydream came from a long line of dreamers and thinkers. Before I started writing I used to daydream quite a bit (and still do), my mother always told me that my head was always in the clouds. I live in a very small town and almost nothing ever happens here, except for when you open your eyes and look around with a writer’s mind. Yes, I would definitely say that boredom was one of the main contributing factors to my becoming a writer. I just cannot sit still and do nothing – ever.


What were the first things (poems, short stories, essays, etc) you started out writing?

First I started writing lyrics, just short little silly songs. I think one year I did a Harry Potter version of Jingle Bells… yeah, that was creepy. But, anyways, then I started writing short stories, and I wrote about two short stories before I wanted to write something bigger and better… Novels. I was 9 going on 10 years old when I started writing my first novel. I worked on it for 4 or 5 years – I think – before I finished it, which includes the editing. And then about a year later, I got interested in writing poetry. Oh, and this year I just finished a script.


What are your future writing plans? Anything currently in the works?

Yes, I actually have quite a few books in the works, I have a series of nine books that I’m working on called the Artifact Series. The first one is done and currently being looked over by publishers, the second book is still in the writing stage, but it’s about ¾ done right now. And, I get this question a lot, so I’m just going to answer it now, the titles of the books are: The Jewel of Onsolot, The Cloak of Erason, The Ring of Tellisgera, The Shield of Manicoli, The Sword of Anoshea, The Dragon of Landon, The Elves of Nardia, The King of Illion, and The Bracelet of Deloia. I also have a book in the works about a girl turning into a werewolf; no title for it yet.


What role do you envision for writing in your career as an adult?

Well, unless I turn out to be the next Nora Roberts, J.K.Rowling, or Stephanie Meyers, I’m probably going to be a part-time writer and full-time Game Designer. I couldn’t imagine a life without writing… at all, it’s just a dark and scary place.


What kind of writer do you consider yourself to be primarily, i.e. poet, short story writer, novelist, etc? What genre(s) do you write in?

I’d say novelist, I can live without writing lyrics, I can live without writing poems, but I can’t live without writing novels. Sometimes Horror, Drama, Drama, Drama (I have to have drama), Mystery/ Suspense, Children’s, Fantasy, Folklore, Teen, Tragedy, etc. What I don’t write is Sci-Fi, or anything non-fiction.


What challenges have you encountered as a young writer?

My challenges are mostly difficulties that I’ve overcome along the way to my publishing success. Issues that I’ve overlooked, etc., Writing takes quite a thick hide to stay in the business. First of all, you have to be able to take criticism with a grain of salt. Many reviewers can be quite harsh on your writing, and I learned to not take things too personal regarding my writing. Becoming a good writer also takes discipline and good planning. In order to meet a deadline and stay successful, you need to learn how to keep an exact record of how many pages or words to be completed on any given day.

Writing is a job and requires work. I learned to push and to push hard at an early age to be taken serious by fellow writers and publishers, usually two or even three times my age. I get mixed emotions when it comes to gaining the respect of other writers. Sometimes, I have to earn my place within the writing community. Every door that opened, I went in with gusto, asking questions and learning more every step of the way. After talking with me, many people comment they cannot believe that I am such a young person.

Writing is in my heart; I want this more than any thing. My drive comes from within. I am not going away any time soon. In addition to writing my novel series, I took on Nanowrimo last November and that is what created my current novel, “A Gift From Above”. I wrote the book in thirty days. Previous to the novel, I enrolled and successfully completed some college level writing courses at the Writing Academy online. A year ago I joined Writing.com and became a “newbie” member. Shortly after joining the group, I saw many good writers losing their memberships simply because they were unable to pay their dues. After some consideration, I started a group to help pay for the membership fees of the writers in need. My successful group became known as H.U.G.S (Heather’s Upgrade Giving Service). My group has never had to turn any one down for a membership to date. As a result, I learned to multi-task and multi-task fast.

While completing the aforementioned challenges, I continuously labored on my “first love”, my series of nine books. While pushing to publish or find a publisher to take on a teenage writer, I continued to edit and re-edit the first book and write the second. Now, if all of these above-mentioned challenges are not enough, I keep up with home-schooling and recently held my first book signing at our local middle school. I simply cannot wait to see what path life takes me on next. Come on world; I am ready.


I see that you have written some poetry and posted it on-line. Would you please share one of your favorites from your poems?

Sure! This is one of my favorite poems; it’s called “Peaceful”.

Look at you, look at me,
What big difference do you see?
I am me. You are you.
What did I ever do?

You've grown you've seen,
But all you can do is be mean.
You're peaceful now.
But I'm hurt somehow.

You don't understand anymore.
You're eyes are hidden behind doors.
Why do you criticize me?
I'm just here; just trying to be.

I've never done anything wrong,
So why won't you let me sing my song?
I'm not as evil as I seem.
My blooming heart sparkles and gleams.

So please don't be scared of me!
I'm harmless you see.
Please, I want to be peaceful you already are.
So why is it my heart you have to scar?

Now look at you, look at me.
What big difference do you see?


Is there anything else you would like the readers to know about you?

I love to learn something new, and am always ready and willing to make new friends, so feel free to stop by my blog and leave a comment or two! I’m always happy to hear from people and willing to give advice and receive it. Don’t be intimidated by me just because I’m an author.


Heather Paye’s blog: http://heatherpaye.blogspot.com

Heather Paye’s website: (I just have a fansite for my book right now, and it currently serves as both fansite for my book and fansite for me) http://www.agiftfromabove.webs.com

Heather Paye’s email: preciouskitty15@gmail.com

Where to find Heather’s book: Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/Gift-Above-H-Paye/dp/1441498389/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1246045655&sr=8-1
Amazon Kindle: http://www.amazon.com/A-Gift-From-Above/dp/B002BA5VTM/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1246045655&sr=8-3

CreateSpace: https://www.createspace.com/Customer/EStore.do?id=3375222
And I’m hoping to turn it into an audio book soon.

Whew! I hope you read all the way to the end so as to learn all the details about this fascinating young writer, Heather Paye. Please come back in two days to learn more about Heather’s book, “A Gift From Above”.

Cheers!

Harry

"Spider in Our Mailbox" by Linda Asato

In today’s post we are going to learn more about Linda Asato’s first book for children, "Spider In Our Mailbox”, which has now been published by 4RV Publishing and illustrated brilliantly by Ryan Shaw. The book was inspired by an actual spider in her mailbox, believe it or not!



Spider in Our Mailbox
by Linda Asato
illustrated by Ryan Shaw
published by 4RV Publishing
released May, 2009
ISBN-13: 978-0-9818685-5-4
Paperback: 36 pages

Children love stories about family, animals, and other creatures, especially when they can learn things at the same time. Linda Asato tells the tale of a little girl who checks the mail every day – allowing children to learn the days of the week, and sees a spider in the mailbox (number one). The second day, she sees two crows (number two). Each day the types and number of creatures changes, but the spider remains. Each day, the girl runs to tell her busy mother what she saw.

Lessons to learn are counting to seven and the days of the week, learned in a fun way.

Ryan Shaw brings Asato’s delightful story to life with his bright illustrations.

Here is a review Linda’s book has received:

Awesome, entertaining, and educational book for kids! May 19, 2009
By Earnest Entrepreneur

One of the best kids books I've seen! Fun, entertaining, educational, and the illustrations are fabulous - bright and cheery. Our 6 year old son couldn't put it down, and seemed to enjoy it as much as one of his childrens videos - it made him laugh, ask questions, and count all of the critters in the story. Clever story line. Bravo to the author! I foresee many more great books coming from Linda Asato. Add this one to your kid’s library!


Please check out Linda’s book. I feel certain you must know a child that it would be ideal for as a gift!

Cheers!

Harry

Meet Versatile Author Carolyn Howard-Johnson

My guest author this month in the VBT group is an exceptionally talented and versatile author. I’d like you to meet Carolyn Howard-Johnson. To get to know Carolyn better, first her bio:

Biography:

Carolyn Howard-Johnson's first novel, "This Is the Place", won eight awards. Her second book, "Harkening: A Collection of Stories Remembered", creative nonfiction, won three. Her chapbook of poetry, "Tracings", was named to the Compulsive Reader's Ten Best Reads list and was given the Military Writers' Society of America's Silver Award of Excellence. She just released "She Wore Emerald Then, A Reflections on Motherhood", coauthored with Magdalena Ball and self-published in the time-honored tradition of poets everywhere.

An instructor for UCLA Extension's world-renown Writers' Program, her book "The Frugal Book Promoter: How to Do What Your Publisher Won't" is recommended reading for her classes and was named USA Book News' "Best Professional Book 2004." It is also an Irwin Award winner. Her second book in the How To Do It Frugally series is "The Frugal Editor: Put Your Best Book Forward to Avoid Humiliation and Ensure Success" is also a USA Book News award-winner, as well as the winner of the Reader View's Literary Award in the publishing category. She is the recipient of both the California Legislature's Woman of the Year in Arts and Entertainment Award and the Glendale American Business Women's Association's Woman of the Year award. Her community's Character and Ethics Committee honored her for promoting tolerance with her writing. She was also named to Pasadena Weekly's list of 14 "San Gabriel Valley women who make life happen." She is a popular speaker and actor.



"Cherished Pulse" is available as an e-chapbook at: http://www.compulsivereader.com/html/images/cherishedpulse.htm



"Tracings" is available at: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1599240173/



"She Wore Emerald Then: Reflections on Motherhood" is available at: http://www.amazon.com/She-Wore-Emerald-Then-Reflections/dp/1438263791/


Carolyn Howard-Johnson’s website is: www.HowToDoItFrugally.com.

Come tweet with Carolyn at: www.Twitter.com/FrugalBookPromo


This month, since I am a poet primarily, I thought we’d focus on Carolyn’s poetry achievements and interests. Carolyn has been good enough to provide us with some of her tips to help beginning poets.

Perfecting Poetry: 10 Tips for the Beginner

1. Try free verse (no intentional rhyming).

2. Write dense, poetic prose, then divide it into lines—or not. If you don't, you'll have a prose poem.

3. Break lines after important words. If you scan down the last words in each line of a poem, you should have a good sense of what the poem is about.

4. Eliminate as many adjectives and adverbs as you can and strengthen your verbs. You poem will be more powerful.

5. Eliminate as many of the clutter words as you can. Articles, conjunctions, even some prepositions.

6. Try making different pictures on the page with the words. Your poem can be in triplets, couplets, indented unusually, even be set up in shapes. Try to make the design fit with the subject of your poem.

7. Avoid long, Latinate words.

8. Use images rather than explaining.

9. Know metaphors, similes, assonance and alliteration. Play with them. Don't strain.

10. If you want to rhyme, try to use uncommon ones. No moons and Junes.

11. One extra tip because one should always give a reader a little more than they expect: Try reading and/or writing poetry even if you don't think you want to. You may be surprised at how much you like it. It’s changed a lot since your high school English Lit days.

Here is an example of Carolyn’s poetry:

This is an example of what can be done with simple, everyday subjects that you experience or imagine. I imagined this while riding the wheel on the Santa Monica pier recently with my husband:

Death by Ferris Wheel ©

A woman who might be me, watches
roller bladers with supple bones and toddlers

with careless balloons from her seat in the
gondola. Far, far down on the pier. She opens the doors

--mini saloon doors of purple-- or
she crawls over acrylic barriers. Either way

she hesitates a moment. The lurch
of the wheel as it stops at the top finishes

the job. No scream. Even the plane floating
a campaign trail of plastic behind it, silent. Soundless

waves, too, that far up. She floats as if posing
for her close-up, delicate fingers, poised toes,

her red sunhat a Frisbee against
sky of pulled taffy clouds on blue.

Sea like scallops of Alençon lace below,
sand stretched away toward the Palisades,

the smell of sugary churros her last sensation.

by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, originally published in Pear Noir

To learn more about publishing, writing, promotion, and editing, check out Carolyn's classes at UCLA Extension's Writer's Program: www,uclaextension.edu/writers or (310) 825-9415. Her next class is August 1, Public Policy Building, UCLA Campus.

Check back in a couple of days to learn about a poetry book that would be a perfect gift for Mother’s Day.

Cheers!

Harry

Liana Metal: Q&A and more

With this post I hope readers learn a lot more about Liana Metal, starting with some Q&A:

Do you consider yourself to be more of a painter or an author?

I would say that, now, I am both of them; but looking back on my childhood,I remember that I started expressing myself through drawing and painting. I was six or seven when I was trying to copy Disney cartoons and other pictures from magazines. The best for me is to write a story and then spend hours illustrating it. I find the whole process very challenging and rewarding in terms of the pleasure it gives me.


What are some of your goals you hope to accomplish with your books?

My main aim is to be able to contribute to organizations that help kids and women around the world. If I can create and sell books for a good reason, I will be happy too. Another aim is to highlight issues that are essential, such as love and friendship, nature awareness, ecology, problems that affect kids and grown-ups alike, such as low self-esteem.


How long have you been writing children's books? What got you started writing children's books?

I have been writing children's stories for as long as I can remember; I was in the primary school when I used to create comics with my own characters. At a time I thought that would be my future career. But I had to work in another field first, as a Language teacher, to find my way back to my first passion. I have never stopped working with kids--a job that I've always enjoyed greatly-- all this time, and they were my inspiration, along with my childhood memories. Working in my own Language school in Corfu, I gradually realized my long-awaited desire: to write children's books. Thus I started creating books more than ten years ago and distributing them to my students. The kids encouraged me and even helped with the activities that I also created for them. My first book was titled: The White Snail activity book. Ten more titles followed and then a lot more. But it was only recently that I finally had a headstart and got my book published by a traditional
publisher!


Have you traveled in the U.S.A.? If so, where?

No, but I have traveled to Europe, such as UK, Spain, France, and other countries--Middle East too. I had studied English in UK in the 70s and since then I have never lost contact with my friends and the British culture.


What would you like readers to know about you?

Maybe my beliefs about kids; kids are very important since they are the citizens of the future; ultimate care for kids and moms should be top priority of every nation. Also, I am nature aware; that's why I mostly use small, insignificant-for-most-people animals in my stories. I believe that every single live species is worth mentioning and noticing.


Anything else you want to share with the readers?

My enthusiasm for every new creative challenge I encounter. Is there anything better than spending the day in a productive way that gives you joy and satisfaction? For me, there is not! So, let yourself be creative!

Liana’s BOOKS:

The Hostel
Fiction for young adults
http://LianaMetal.tripod.com/thehostel

Flowers for Women
An anthology for women by women
http://LiaMet.tripod.com/flowers

Achilleas' New Pet
Children's story included in Storytime, at Amazon.com
http://liamet.tripod.com/achilleasnewpet/

Storytime (Paperback)
by Liana Metal
Available from Amazon.com
http://www.amazon.com/Storytime-Liana-Metal/dp/1409224511/ref=pd_rhf_p_t_1#
Book’s Details:
Paperback: 34 pages
Publisher: Lulu.com (2008)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1409224511
ISBN-13: 978-1409224518
Product Dimensions: 7.5 x 7.5 x 0.1 inches
A delightful and thought-provocating children's book:


REVIEW:
Liana Metal is a talented writer of children's stories, and it shines in her latest book, Storytime. The book comprises three short stories. The first, The White Snail, is about a happy,lovable white snail who wishes his "home" was brown like all the other snails. He meets a lovely female snail, who admires his beautiful white home, and the white snail realizes that the grass always appears greener on the other side. This basic theme of self-esteem is the major factor in this charming tale.

The next story, Let's Bake a Cake, is about friends who get together to do something nice for their shy friend, Tom. His birthday is the following day, but he is staying with his elderly grandmother who is unable to throw a party for him. His faithful friends come up with an idea so that Tom can have a birthday party and gifts. Loyalty and friendship is the major theme.

The final story, Achilleas' Pet, is about a boy who loves pets. He already had four, but he wants one more, different from all the others. He finds a tortoise and keeps it against his mother's wishes. After Achilleas thinks the tortoise is lost, it eventually turns up with four little ones. Then to his surprise there appears five more, one of them "very big" and he is puzzled at the small miracles of nature.

Children of all ages, including seventy-year-old grandmas, will love these stories of universal themes and truths, and parents will enjoy reading them to their children. The illustrations, done by the author, are cleverly designed. Young children who do not read yet, will easily follow the story, looking at the lovable aninmals and the happy children.

Review by Pauline Hager, author
Memoirs of an American Housewife in Japan


REVIEWS/ARTICLES/INTERVIEWS
Free showcase for writers and artists
http://LiaMetal.tripod.com

Liana’s ARTWORK
http://liametal.tripod.com/myartalbum
and
http://ilianamet.cabanova.com

Liana’s OLDER publications (not available):
Bedtime Stories for kids
Writing Basics

Well now, I hope you feel that you know a lot more about Liana Metal and her works!

Cheers!

Harry

Author Pamela J.Devor

Karina L. Fabian & “Leaps of Faith”

It is my pleasure to have as a guest author this week Karina L. Fabian. First, a little about Karina:

After being a straight-A student, Karina now cultivates Fs: Family, Faith, Fiction and Fun. From Nuns in Space to a down-and out Faerie dragon working off a geas by St. George, her work takes quirky twists that keep her amused--and others, too. Winner of the EPPIE award for best sci-fi and the Mensa Owl for best fiction. In addition to juggling the stories from at least three different universes, Karina is President of the Catholic Writers' Guild and teaches writing seminars on-line.

Karina Fabian’s Book, “Leaps of Faith”:



In both Christian and mainstream science fiction, either religion or science always seems to take a back seat. In mainstream SF, religion may be portrayed as something mankind has “outgrown” or that has become as alien as the worlds visited; or only one faith is represented, as if the great tapestry of Judeo-Christian faiths has been bleached into a colorless whole. By the same token, in Christian fiction, accurate, plausible science may be downplayed to the point of device rather than vital story element.
Yet, in reality, faith and science have always nurtured each other. Mendel, the father of genetics, was a monk, and some physicists have said the more they delve into quantum mechanics, the more they are convinced in a higher power as Creator. Where is the SF to reflect the truer relationship between faith and science?

The 14 stories in "Leaps of Faith" cover the entire spectrum of the SF genre, showing the positive relationship between science and religion.

Space Exploration: In “High Hopes for The Dead,” we see Christian evangelism though faithful example of Luke “High Hopes” Kittery, a member of a band of space explorers for whom every trip is potential suicide. “Quantum Express” examines the status of one’s soul when the body is destroyed and reassembled through teleportation. In “God’s Gift,” faith is the key to preventing insanity brought on by a new method of interstellar travel. “Leaps of Faith” highlights the new industry of space search and rescue though the intrepid nuns of Our Lady of the Rescue. In “Confirmation,” harvesters of an exotic space fuel suspect they’re harvesting intelligent life--or perhaps the angels themselves.

Encountering Alien Life: “Lost in the Translation” chronicles the trials of a monk trying to evangelize to an alien species for which death results in corporeal rebirth. In “Lost Rythar,” evangelists seek to bring the Word of God to long-forgotten human colonies. In “Sometimes We Lie,” evangelism takes a bizarre turn when a native born being tries to spread an ancient human faith. Fr. Wren wonders if a sentient tree-creature can marry into the Catholic Faith in “The Convert,” while Fr. Travener faces persecution by ministering to sentient androids in “Comprehending It Not.”

Hard SF: An astrophysicist find the face of God in the stars of the universe in “The Smile.” God is a proven fact in “The Faith Equation,” leaving the question of the role of belief. “The Relics of Venice” combines genetic engineering and love to create a miracle.

Time travel: In “Tampering with God’s Time,” time travelers find they cannot change the timeline, but are themselves change as they encounter Christ personally, while in “Moses Disposes,” King Solomon deliberately uses time travelers to bring the Bible to future generations in an idiom they can understand.

Leaps of Faith Website: www.leapsoffaithsf.com

Publisher: http://www.thewriterscafe.com/

Amazon link: http://www.amazon.com/dp/1934284106?tag=virtuabooktou-20&camp=14573&creative=327641&linkCode=as1&creativeASII

Check out Karina Fabian’s book for yourself!


Cheers for now!

Harry

“Angeline Jellybean” by Crystalee Calderwood

Angeline Jellybean is a delightful story for children illustrated with colorful, delightful illustrations by Stephen Macquignon. Angeline is sure to win over hearts of young picky eaters everywhere.

Angeline liked jellybeans. She loved jellybeans. Angeline wants to eat nothing but jellybeans. Year round, for Easter, for Halloween, for Christmas, for her birthday, she asks for her favorite treat. But a strange event teaches Angeline that there's such thing as too much of a good thing!

Angeline Jellybean Description:
Paperback: 28 pages
Publisher: 4RV Publishing LLC (November 5, 2008)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0979751381
ISBN-13: 978-0979751387
Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 8.3 x 0.2 inches

Angeline Jellybean may be purchased at:

Amazon
http://www.amazon.com/Angeline-Jellybean-Crystalee-Calderwood/dp/0979751381/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1231990203&sr=1-1

Barnes & Noble
http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Angeline-Jellybean/Crystalee-Calderwood/e/9780979751387/?itm=1

4RV Publishing
http://www.4rvpublishingllc.com/Store-Books.html


Review by Rena J. Jones:

A wonderful picture book written by Crystalee Calderwood, illustrated by Stephen Macquignon and published by 4RV Publishing. A delightful story about a little girl who loves jellybeans. Angeline loves jellybeans so much that she wants to eat them all the time. When people try to convince her to try new foods, she replies, "Blah!" My boys laughed every time Angeline said that. For her birthday, Angeline gets a big bag of jellybeans and eats them until she feels sick. Boy, can I relate to that! This is a cute book for younger children that will hopefully encourage them to try new foods without being preachy. The story is full of charming rhymes, color references and vivid illustrations of favorite holidays and special events that kids love so much.


Review by Vivian Zabel:

Angeline liked to eat jellybeans, especially jellybeans, only jellybeans. The one thing she wanted for a gift or a treat -- jellybeans. She wouldn't take anyone's advice to add to her menu. She knew what she liked, jellybeans.

Crystalee Calderwood wrote a story that delights children, and Stephen Macquignon provided colorful illustrations to bring it all alive. The lesson found in the book, too much of a good thing is much too much, is one that children can understand yet not feel overwhelmed with moralizing.


Now, let’s talk with Crystalee about Angeline Jellybean:

Where did you get the inspiration for Angeline Jellybean?

I don’t even remember how I came up with the story. I was taking a picture book writing class back in 2007. Our assignment was to write a picture book under 500 words, and that’s what I did. I wrote it in rhyme because I wanted to see if I could write a rhyming picture book. I didn’t even really expect to like it. That’s how Angeline was born. A few rounds of revisions and a submission later, here it is!

Is Angeline anything like you?

Oh yes. *laughs* Angeline loves jellybeans almost as much as I love chocolate. Of course, I have learned to limit my chocolate intake, and I didn’t have to go through the nasty side effects that Angeline did! Angeline is also very strong-willed and has a bit of a temper, which reminds me of a certain little redheaded girl I once knew.


There you have it! Do yourself a favor and check out this book at one of the bookseller links above.

Cheers!

Harry

Meet Crystalee Calderwood

About Joyce Anthony's Book "Storm"

Joyce Anthony’s “Storm”:

Who he is and why he's here is a mystery, even to Storm...a mystery that can only be solved within the whirling rainbow. As he searches for answers, he touches the lives of society's forgotten people, and he changes their lives and heals their souls. When he finds the answer to his identity, nobody is left untouched and the world is changed forever. Upon closing the covers of this book, you will see the world around you in a far different light and find yourself wondering: Is it really fiction? Is it only a fantasy--or is it real?

Book Details:
Paperback: 236 pages
Publisher: Star Publish (March 3, 2007)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1932993746
ISBN-13: 978-1932993745
Book Dimensions: 7.9 x 4.8 x 0.7 inches
Amazon Link: http://www.storm.2freedom.com/

View “Storm” Trailer on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zCU-D9W72E4