Book Readers

Guest Post by David LeRoy

2012-10-11T03:52:00.000-07:00

Title: The Paris Mayor for a Day

By David LeRoy

October 8^th, 2012

Part of my research behind The Siren of Paris included reading the French newspapers of the day from a few months just before the war, all the way up to the fall of France. My French is by no means excellent, however I could easily follow the headlines. I was initially interested in the general tone of the papers regarding the war. Was the situation desperate from the start, or did the papers paint a rosy picture until it was too late?

Something jumped out which I had not expected to discover through my search. Not one single week went by without some mention of the American ambassador William C. Bullitt. The newspapers were relentless in following this diplomat’s activities and speeches, wherever he went. He often upstaged other French officials. How is it that the American ambassador to France rivaled the activities of even heads of state? Lady Gaga or Madonna would not be able to compete with the likes of this social networker.

First, William Christian Bullitt was a close personal friend to FDR. This was widely known and at one point, he was even considered for a cabinet level position. Bullitt was regarded as FDR’s personal envoy to France and corresponded daily with the president by phone.

Second, William Bullitt was a hardcore Francophile who spoke French fluently. He carried on a close personal relationship with Leon Blum, the first Jewish progressive Prime Minster to France, and Edouard Daladier, another popular Prime Minister of the Third Republic. Bullitt was enmeshed in the daily political life of France like no other Ambassador.

Third, William Bullitt owned 18,000 bottles of fine wine. Before there was Facebook, Twitter, or Google Plus, William Bullitt had networked himself so tightly with Parisian high society, the state department would complain about how much gossip he would include in his briefings to Washington. In case you have no point of reference for 18,000 bottles of wine, if a standard case has 12 bottles, then Bullitt’s collection was 1500 cases. This is not a typical wine cellar, but a central point of distribution for the sake of America’s political leverage in France.

When the war broke out, Bullitt became a daily obsession of the French papers. Would America enter the war? What correspondence did Bullitt have with FDR? Every word and deed of this man became the subject of speculation, because he after all, was consider FDR’s personal envoy to France. Bullitt was to FDR, what Jesus Christ is to the Godhead, for he sits at the right hand of the thrown, or so the French Papers made it seem. Bullitt never actually turned water into wine, but with such a fine collection under his control, one must wonder if perhaps he could.

At the annual Embassy Christmas gala, I am sure that some of the 18,000 bottles of wine went to soothe the nerves of Americans trapped by the transportation crisis the war created. Perhaps some also were used to entertain French government officials in the spring of 1940, as the government became increasingly unstable? I am sure that around the time red certificates were distributed to Americans remaining in Paris, some of those bottles were liberated from the cellar. The corks popped to the hushed sounds of prayers that somehow this horror pass from France.

The most bitter of those bottles of wine were consumed upon the retreat of the French Government from Paris to Bordeaux. William C. Bullitt, personal envoy of FDR to France did not follow the government South. Against State Department orders and the wishes of the President, he insisted upon remaining in Paris as the last official Government agency. The duties of Mayor were transferred to him on June 10^th by request of the fleeing government, in Notre Dame Cathedral, as he wept before the priest.

On about June 11^th, after telephone lines had been cut from Paris, a call somehow made its way to the ambassador’s office from Switzerland. He was able to convince them to keep the line open and connect him with Berlin so he could inform the advancing army that Paris was an open city. On the night of June 14^th, he rode out to meet the German high command. The first question the Germans had for him was if he could recommend a good hotel. Bullitt recommended the hotel directly across from the American Embassy at the Palace de la Concord.

Soon after this, Bullitt passed south to Bordeaux and then down to Lisbon, Portugal, where he returned to America on the Pan Am Yankee Clipper. His insistence upon remaining in Paris angered FDR, and he found his career blocked upon his return. If you have been to Paris, and enjoyed the Eiffel Tower, Le Louvre, or other monuments of the city, well, it could have been different if Bullitt had not been there for that accidental phone call to the Embassy. Who could guess what would have been spared or lost had Germany actually shelled Paris? The Germans had originally planned to do so, until Bullitt convinced them otherwise.

As for his mythically large wine cellar, I am sure that it passed into the possession of the German forces. Perhaps it ended up on the tables at the notorious “traitors dinners” that many of the French social elite flocked to in the early months following the occupation. The wine became the last neutral party, and it facilitated the formation of what became known as Vichy France.

Due to the efforts and influence of William Bullitt, friend of Marc’s father Eldon in the book The Siren of Paris, there was something remaining for Marc to return to in December of 1940. Marc answered the call of The Siren of Paris, as William Bullitt found himself relieved of his diplomatic duties for the remainder of his career.

Buy from Amazon

Virtual Book Tour - The Siren of Paris by David LeRoy

2012-10-10T04:31:00.000-07:00

Excerpt

A light breeze entered through the open windows of the third-floor life-drawing classroom the following afternoon of September 1, 1939. Marc could not quite figure out if the room at one time had been a drawing room, dressing room, or parlor. The gold leafing of the plaster molds was barely visible. The mirrors held cracks in the gilding. He knew it was not a valuable room; otherwise, it would never have become home to an art class. The entire school might be held within the servants’ quarters, but Marc preferred not to ask and instead allowed his imagination to run wild.

“They say in the papers nearly 16,000 children have now left the city,” Marc overheard from a discussion next to him.

“I believe they are now passing out the gas masks,” another student said in a hushed tone.

“Take out a pencil and a sheet of paper. Place it to one side of your desk where you cannot see it,” the older instructor told the students. “Now, please, eyes forward. Marie, can you please remove your robe and give the class a comfortable pose? I want you to draw the contour of Marie’s body, without looking at the paper. This exercise will be seven minutes.” Marie gazed confidently at the nude, auburn hair with brown eyes, her figure full and hourglass.

“Why can’t I look at the paper?” a student complained from the rear of the room.

“How will I know if I am drawing her right?” one of the female students echoed.

“You won’t know,” the instructor retorted.

“This makes no sense to me,” another complained.

“This is the final? You have led us to a point of drawing without looking?” another complained bitterly.

“Do as I ask. And now, silence. My God, all of this worry and fuss over a certificate of attendance. You will get your paper but, right now, focus on Marie. Draw her slowly. Do everything you can to overcome the desire to check your work. Do not look at your hand, paper, or the pencil. Just look at the model.”

When the instructor turned his back, nearly everyone in the class looked, including Marc. The temptation inside him became overwhelming but the glance at his page did nothing to relieve his frustrations, fears, or doubts.

“Who just looked?” There was silence. “Liars,” he chuckled with a smirk. The time was finally over. “Now, let’s take a look.”

Sighs and murmurs filled the room. Students glanced away from their drawings. The man in front of Marc turned his paper over.

“What do you see?” the instructor demanded.

“I see a really shitty drawing,” a woman in the middle of the class said, her tone sharp.

“Excellent. Who else?”

“Mine looks good, not perfect, but good,” another student replied.

“Were you looking?” he asked.

“No, I did just as you asked,” the student answered.

“Amazing. Maybe later you can demonstrate for us this miracle gift you have,” the instructor said. A few laughs floated amongst the students. “The purpose of this exercise is not to draw what you think you see, but what you actually see. Most of the time when we draw, we are focused upon the paper instead of the model. You look up with a glance, and then look down at your paper and continue to work. But you are not drawing the model. You are drawing what you think you see as the model. This exercise is not about training your hand, but your eyes. Unless you really see your model with all your sight, you are just drawing from your imagination.”

Marc studied his own poor example. The shape he had drawn was nearly unrecognizable as a human form. He felt irate with himself as he stared at the distorted proportions and contorted lines.

A sound could be heard outside in the hallway, muffled by the door.

“This is the foundation of my class if you continue with me at École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts. You know how to draw, but you lack the ability to see,” he continued.

The noise became far greater outside the class. People in the hall spoke loudly; the stomping feet of someone running down the corridor grew closer.

“Marie, please replace your robe,” the instructor said, and then walked toward the noise.

As the door opened, Marc heard, “Guerre! La guerre!”

“Stop! Silence, please. I have a class in session. Have you gone mad?” Students from other classes poured into the hallway.

“No, sir. I was told to tell everyone of the war.”

“What war?” he asked.

“France. France is at war with Germany. If you have a radio, turn it on. They are calling up the troops.” The students gasped, and their teacher stood in the doorway, stunned.

That night, Marc’s roommate packed for the front. “It is all a farce. I am going to be bored to death,” he complained bitterly. “France is not Czechoslovakia, or Austria.”

“The war is not official yet. France and Britain made demands, but nothing is official until the third,” Marc said to him.

David Leroy did extensive research on the German occupation of France for his debut novel The Siren of Paris. This historical novel follows the journey of one American from medical student, to artist, to political prisoner at Buchenwald Concentration Camp during World War II.

Marc, a French born American student, never suspected that he would become trapped in German occupied France when he came to Paris in the summer of 1939 to study art. While smuggling a downed airman out of the American Hospital, through the Paris resistance underground, his life is plunged into total darkness when someone he trusts becomes a collaborator agent for the Gestapo. Marc then must fight to save his soul when he is banished to the “Fog and the Night” of Buchenwald, where he struggles with guilt over the consequences of having his trust betrayed.

You can purchase The Siren of Paris from Amazon -- http://www.amazon.com/The-Siren-Paris-David-LeRoy/dp/0983966710/ref=tmm_pap_title_0 and learn more about this author and novel at http://www.thesirenofparis.com/

For more information about this virtual book tour, please visit -- http://bookpromotionservices.com/2012/05/22/siren-of-paris-tour/Virtual Book Tour - The Siren of Paris by David LeRoy

The Winner of 'A Street Cat Named Bob'

2012-10-08T01:02:00.002-07:00

Congratulations

The Winner is...

Vanessa

who will receive a copy of James and Bob's in the mail direct from the publisher .

A big thank you to all who took the time to leave a comment!

Do check back from time to time, as I am interviewing many talented authors and several are offering book giveaways.

Prrrrrrrr

Many Excellent Books Up for Grabs!

2012-10-05T06:48:00.002-07:00

Go to my Book Giveaways Page

or click on links in the side bar

to enter

Drawing for A Street Cat Named Bob

Ends October 8th

Book Blast for The Reluctant Bachlorette

continues until the end of October

For Those Who Did Not Know...

2012-09-28T07:40:00.003-07:00

It Was Switzerland

Jungfrau & Eiger

Magical Mystery Tour

2012-09-23T07:11:00.001-07:00

Where Are We?

If you know...

Ladies of Class by Marjorie Owen

2012-09-14T05:29:00.001-07:00

Ladies of Class

Not to be Missed
Kindle

Mystery Trip

2012-09-13T05:31:00.001-07:00

Off on a Mystery Trip

A Birthday Treat from Mr. M.

Flying off into the sky destination unkonwn!

Hope it's warm and sunny

Back in a week

'Back to The Books Giveaway Hop' and The Winners are...

2012-09-08T05:03:00.000-07:00

Congratulations Leona

You have won a signed copy of:

http://www.3chipsongod.com/

Congratulations Jodi

You have won a copy of:

http://nadiakim.com/index/

an email will sent from the respective authors.

Enjoy!

Thank you to all who participated.

Reflection

2012-09-02T05:03:00.001-07:00

Welcome to my blog Nadia. Thank you for taking the time to answer a few questions about yourself and your book, ‘Reflection’

Book Giveaway Hop

Go to Book Giveaway Page to leave details to enter the drawing

For a copy of Reflection

Nadia is offering a free paperback copy for USA Contestants

AND

An ebook for International Contestants

Q. Tell us about your latest work—title, genre, etc. — and why you wrote it?

A. Reflection is a Romance/Urban Fantasy novel with a dabble of the Paranormal. I wrote it because I have always loved writing and had a great desire to write books since childhood. When the muse hit me, I knew it was time. And with some gentle encouragement from a friend, I sat down and started writing.

Q. What draws you to your genre(s)? Why is this type of story compelling to you?

A. I am a big fan of Paranormal Romance. The first novel I ever read was Interview with a Vampire when I was 12. After that I was hooked. Reflection isn’t as quite the same but it was a start and I wanted to write a captivating romance story. I just had no idea where this story would take me. Reflection is compelling because it deals with issues that many encounter but choose not to face. I wanted show a broken character and how through guidance one can be built up to achieve greatness. To send a message to readers that until we face our past, we cannot live for the future.

Q. What is your writing process like? Do you map the whole thing out or do you just let it unfold?

A. For me the best way to write is to start with a general idea. And then I put my fingers to the keyboard and let the story unfold. Sometimes I do sit down and do some brainstorming so I have a clear idea of how a scenario will pan out, especially if there is a time line involved. I do character interviews to get to know my characters and I write their back stories on paper so I know where they came from. It amazes me when I look back on what I have written and have no idea where it came from. As if my fingers and my brain are working behind the back of my consciousness. It’s an awesome experience.

Q. What kind of research was involved in writing your book?

A. Well for the paranormal part of this story I wanted to add a piece that seemed plausible, so readers weren’t like, yeah right. So, with the idea I had about something the character is experiencing, I sought out websites to look at other cultural beliefs to see if my concept jived with others. I also reached out to my mother about one of the skill sets of a character to make sure I had the information correct.

Q. How much of YOU makes it into your characters?

A. Well that’s tough. I think that anything a person writes comes from personal experiences in some form or fashion. Even if it’s just one tiny element that leads to a bigger concept.

Q. How do you balance the need to have time to write with the needs of family, society, etc.?

A. I have no idea. LOL. It’s not easy and I am sure that sometimes my family feels like I could give them more attention. These days, when I write, I try to set a goal to just get about 3k words done and then leave it. This way I pace myself and my story and at the same time leave room to spend time with my family and meet their needs.

Q. Have there been any authors in particular, that inspired your writing?

A. Anne Rice for sure. I read so many of her books growing up, even the ones under her pseudonym. I felt my greatest muse hitting me growing up after reading one of her stories. I craved to write my own vampire stories. And one day I will.

Q. Is there a story you want to tell behind or about your work(s)?

A. Well it’s funny; the muse to write Reflection came after meeting a woman who happens to be just like me. I mean literally. We are only a day apart in age and it’s almost like we live parallel lives. The most recent thing that happened, which still has us blown away and anyone we tell, is that we both had two kids and planned our third. Well my daughter ended up being born on her husband’s birthday and her son ended up being born on my husband’s birthday. This was just one of many “coincidences”. I started playing softball and not too long after tore a tendon in my right ankle. After surgery I was laid up with a boot for a few weeks. Well shortly after, she had started playing flag football and sure enough, she injures her left ankle and is forced to wear a boot. This happened within months of my surgery. It’s a long story, but we share so many similarities. We went on a cruise together and I found myself faced with someone who was just like me and it was scary. It was like looking in the mirror and I saw the flaws about myself I needed to change. It was an eye opening experience to say the least.

Q. What other projects are you currently working on or about to start?

A. I have a new series that I have completed book 1 for called, Love Curse. It’s a story about three generations of witches and their trials and tribulations with a curse none of them knew existed. It’s a case of mistaken bad family luck. The other book I am in the beginning stages of is a Vampire novel.

Q. Could you share some of your marketing strategies? Which ones are the most effective in your opinion?

A. I have reached out to bloggers like yourself for interviews and book reviews. I post on my facebook page to all my friends, asking them to share my information with their friends. I have my own blog on my website where I put any updates on the books progress. I talk to people in the street all the time to promote my book. I’d say it’s too early to tell which is most effective. I have found from all the people I’ve been talking with that paperback is still a more preferred medium for reading books, so I have joined the ranks of authors in paperback through createspace. The link to where paperback copies can be ordered is below.

Q. What would be the top five, (or 3 or 1 or however many) things you would tell aspiring authors?

A. Don’t stop writing! If writing is what you love keep at it. Also find good critique websites because they can be super helpful in helping your writing grow. I found this and have been so glad to be a part of the critiquing community; the other writers have taught me so much. Also if you like to write fiction, take fiction-writing classes. They are also very helpful. And hire an editor to edit and format your book, but make sure they are including in their pricing a full proofread.

Again, thanks Nadia for taking the time to share your knowledge with us. We appreciate you and your work.

Good luck with your current and future publications.

For more information:

Email: nadiakim@nadiakim.com

Purchase: Amazon.com, https://www.createspace.com/3938601-Paperback, Barnesandnoble.com, Ibookstore from Apple, http://ebookstore.sony.com/

Blog/Website: http://nadiakim.com

Please go to the comments button below in white box next to the time to interact with our Author and other readers.

Cell Wars – The Battle For Brian by Adam Fox

2012-08-26T04:30:00.000-07:00

Welcome to my blog Adam. Thank you for taking the time to answer a few questions about yourself and your book, Cell Wars – The Battle For Brian

Q. Tell us about your latest work—title, genre, etc. — and why you wrote it?

A. I blame my diet. You see I edit two health magazines and so believe in the power of nature I started “juicing” raw fruit and veg, which gave birth to www.best-health-juicing.com … and some strange behaviour in my head! My mind suddenly found renewed energy, like Lewis Carroll on speed. OK a dry martini or two of an evening may have helped, but suddenly this peculiar story was spilling into my laptop at an astonishing rate.

Oh, beg pardon, you asked about title and genre. It’s called Cell Wars, a reference to what happens when we don’t treat our bodies right. Yup, we’re talking cancer here so it may surprise many people that this novel is an attempt at humour. A little bit of education, too. All in a science fiction wrapper, I suppose, because it all takes place inside an accountant called Brian.

Am I losing you? I blame the juice, or the martinis, or both. Besides it’s difficult to explain except to say it’s probably the world’s first health book that’s actually a novel.

Q. What draws you to your genre(s)? Why is this type of story compelling to you?

A. I have edited several health magazines in my time as a journalist, and my wife and I have a library of thousands, half of which is categorised “health”. These are pretty much all dry, science-based books on body systems and nutrition. Not one novel until your eye falls on my Historical Fiction shelves.

Now I confess that I’m not good at reading non-fiction. I like historical novels, science fiction, a ripping yarn. And one day while I was researching the role of probiotics in the intestines, how the “good guys” are fighting a losing battle against the baddies in the average Western diet, that I decided to get right down there with them (figuratively speaking) and have a look-see at how the war was proceeding.

After several days of pure liquid nutrition topped with those miraculous martinis I realised the story was virtually writing itself and I had stumbled upon the “Protectorate”, the minuscule guardians that live inside each one of us, all of them quirky, full of character and mostly loveable. Except that in this “Host’s” case, they were about to face the battle of their comfortable lives because a team of cancer terrorists had sneaked in the back door, so to speak.

Q. What is your writing process like? Do you map the whole thing out or do you just let it unfold?

A. Ah, the writing process. I have written 2.5 historical novels (under my real name, Alistair Forrest, www.alistairforrest.com). These require a lot of research and I check facts as I go. My first novel “Libertas” took a year to write, my second, “Goliath”, six months. My third (and best in my opinion) is unfinished as yet.

But Cell Wars took just a few weeks. This is because I already have a grounding in body systems, but also because Cell Wars is very short at 25,000 words and – sorry about this folks – the characters are all made up thus requiring zero fact-checking. And yes, the story told itself. I was astonished how many words flowed each evening. I just let my fingers do their stuff on the keyboard and read the story as it leapt onto the screen. Amazing. My wife, children and the gardener read bits as the story developed and were all very kind. They could have sent for the men in white coats.

Q. What kind of research was involved in writing your book?

A. I am privileged to have a wife who buys every health book going, to work in an industry full of wonderful people who all want to share their knowledge of natural health, and to have lived a good proportion of my life under the influence of a Mediterranean diet. But I am no angel, and I know the pitfalls of stress, working long hours, Western diet and potentially harmful over-indulgence (ask any journalist about that). In other words, life itself has been my research for Cell Wars.

Q. How much of YOU makes it into your characters?

A. A lot. Not just me, but many of the people I love or admire. There are heroes and villains. I fall into both of those categories, I like to think, my past demonstrating more of the latter. But I say that with a twinkle in my eye, a bit like the hero of Cell Wars.

Q. How do you balance the need to have time to write with the needs of family, society, etc.?

A. I haven’t written in either genre for a year now, and it hurts. The reason is that my wife and I have moved house and country in the most trying of times and true to form we have spent all of our time and resources on restoring a fabulous Guest House on top of the Long Mynd in Shropshire, UK. Both of us eagerly await completion so we can enjoy our family and the company of our friends, and resume doing the things we love most – writing, photography, art and socialising.

Q. Have there been any authors in particular, that inspired your writing?

A. In historical fiction, good old Bernard Cornwell, plus names from the past like Mary Renault and Mary Teresa Ronalds. For Cell Wars, most definitely the artist at The Beano who invented the Numskulls! That brilliant comic strip about the little people inside Edd Case was my starting point, so that was my inspiration I guess. Terry Pratchett of course and Lewis Carroll too – you’ll see several throwbacks to Alice in Wonderland in Cell Wars.

Q. Is there a story you want to tell behind or about your work(s)?

A. I was digging a hole in the garden of our house in Monda, Spain, when we moved there in 2005. Suddenly my spade clanged on an old chest. Inside was a suit of armour, all burnished bronze, plumed helmet, short sword the lot. At the bottom of the chest was a fading Polaroid of the owner wearing his outfit, signed “Gaius Julius Caesar”. So, realising I was living on the site of an ancient battlefield, I wrote my first novel, Libertas, based on Caesar’s last battle (Munda, 45BCE).

Q. What other projects are you currently working on or about to start?

A. Alistair Forrest wants to finish Shamash, the story of a youth exiled after the fall of Samaria who returns to his homeland as an Assyrian diplomat.

Adam Fox wants to write a further 30 novels in the Cell Wars series and become Terry Pratchett.

Q. Could you share some of your marketing strategies? Which ones are the most effective in your opinion?

A. I used to own a PR company so you would think I could do this. But I am lousy at promoting myself. When I have time I’ll be active on several groups, create Facebook pages, Tweet, do Pinterest, get more Linkedin, do book signings and generally make a nuisance of myself.

But I’d really love it if the world would come to me instead.

Q. What would be the top five, (or 3 or 1 or however many) things you would tell aspiring authors?

1. Are you mad?

2. Do you want to be broke?

3. Looking forward to losing your hair?

4. And all those agent rejections?

5. What are you waiting for?

Again, thanks Adam for taking the time to share your knowledge with us. We appreciate you and your work.

Good luck with your current and future publications.

For more information:

Email: pathfinderbhj@best-health-juicing.com

Purchase: Amazon US amzn.to/Qt1MBc Amazon UK amzn.to/OxZNhw

Blog/Website: bit.ly/Pe0ACW

Please go to the comments button below in white box next to the time to interact with our Author and other readers.

2nd Annual Back to the Book Giveaway Hop

2012-08-24T05:57:00.001-07:00

Keep posted for lots of Exciting Events

Back to the Books Giveaway Hop

September 1st to 7th

Don't miss this!

And

my next interview with

Adam Fox on August 27th

I’ll Put 3 Chips On God

2012-08-13T02:52:00.000-07:00

Leave a comment on Preeti's interview below

to be entered into drawing for a signed copy of:

I’ll Put 3 Chips On God – just in case there is one

Welcome to my blog Preeti. Thank you for taking the time to answer a few questions about yourself and your first book.

Q. Preeti is an unusual name. What is the origin?

A. It is of Indian origin and it means “love” or “affection”.

Q. Tell us about your latest work—title, genre, etc.

A. My newly published book is called I’ll Put 3 Chips On God – just in case there is one. The book is about Spirituality, analyzed from an agnostic point of view. I take a look at common spiritual concepts such as the Ego, the Soul, Karma, Detachment, Heaven, God, Meditation, Vegetarianism, and Astrology, and examine them from an objective, “devil’s advocate” point of view. In other words, I analyze these ideas from all angles, including the possibility that they are valid, and the possibility that they are not. I do come to some conclusions at the end of the book, but it is less about preaching and more about the use of logic when exploring Spirituality.

Q. What draws you to your genre(s)? Why is this type of story compelling to you?

A. Well, let’s see—I was getting close to my 40s, was in the middle of a divorce, and was realizing that my numerous entrepreneurial attempts were not working and I would have to return to the corporate world. That was enough for me to dive headfirst into the lap of Spirituality!

When I did, I realized that a lot of existing material is written from a “purist” point of view, i.e. the idea of Karma or Detachment is not questioned, rather the focus is on how to incorporate these concepts into one’s life. I wanted to take a step back because I was not sure whether I even believed in these ideas in the first place.

So I had to do my own analysis of all that I came across. I wrote the book because I simply wanted to share whatever knowledge I’ve acquired with those who might think similarly to me.

Q. What is your writing process like? Do you map the whole thing out or do you just let it unfold?

A. This is my first book, so my writing was pretty juvenile at first. I had written short articles for local newspapers before, so I wasn’t a complete novice. However writing a book is much more challenging. There is more opportunity to ramble on and not be clear and concise when trying to make a point. I tried writing my first draft almost three years ago, and it was awful. I made another attempt a year later. Then one day, I was reading a book that was written very naturally, with a lot of humor, and I realized that the “voice” of the author was similar to the “voice” in my head. No, I was not a crazy person, what I mean is that the way he wrote was the way I thought. And I realized that if I simply write whatever I am thinking, without trying to formalize or alter it too much, I can communicate much better. So that’s what I did, and voila! . . . the words started flowing.

Q. What kind of research was involved?

A. None really. I write this from an everyday, layman perspective.

I had been exposed to all of these concepts as I was growing up, so there was a lot of learning that took place indirectly in the past. But when it came time to write the book, I simply presented whatever thoughts and questions had accumulated over the years. There was almost no research done for this, except for me referring constantly to the Thesaurus to avoid sounding like a repetitious parrot with a three word vocabulary!

Q. Is there any part of your Indian heritage that has influenced your writing?

A. As I mentioned, a lot of the discussions that I bring to the book stem from my background. We weren’t a particularly religious household, but I did attend a fair number of lectures, celebrations, and temples as a child. As you will see from reading the book, I do make a lot of references to Hindu and Buddhist beliefs because those are what I’ve learned and analyzed over the years. And while I come to the conclusion that many of them seem logical, I also cover those I don’t find to be so, like the ability to wear precious gems or special colors to ward off negative energy. Or Meditation which seems a great idea in theory (and I know genuinely works for others), but is a practice I’ve never been able to master.

Q. What would be some advice you would give to aspiring authors?

A. Give yourself time to “forget” the manuscript while writing. It was REALLY tempting to just edit quickly and get the book out. It’s exciting to see your name in print, after all. However I made myself resist, and took the time to set aside the book for 2-3 months between edits. That really made a world of difference as to how I was able to revise and improve the book.

Q. Could you share some of your marketing strategies? Which ones are the most effective in your opinion?

A. I’m planning to offer the printed copy to some local bookstores on consignment. In addition, I’ve done some postings on a few booklover sites, and I’ve also posted a fundraising project on a few crowdfunding sites. My objective was not to raise money, truthfully, I did it to expose the book to people. It worked in that I got a few supporters who learned about the book through those campaigns and are now interested in reading it.

However I don’t really plan to do much more in the way of marketing. I am not even sure I’ll be writing another book, unless this does well and people want me to expand on what I’ve presented. I always had it in my mind to write this particular book, because I felt I had something to say on the topic. But it was one of those things I thought I’d do in retirement or “later”. It wasn’t actively on my agenda. However the Universe presented a set of circumstances that led me to have the time and desire to write the book now. So I did. Where the book goes after this, and how well it does, I will leave to destiny, and to God!

(If there is one.)

Q. Any closing remarks?

A. I’d love to offer a complimentary copy of the EBook to your readers, downloadable at: www.3ChipsOnGod.com/EBook

There are also some excerpts available to read on the site. I am very interested in hearing everyone’s feedback, so I hope they will take the time to write me, or to post an honest review on Amazon. It would mean a lot.

Lastly, I want to thank you for taking the time to learn about the book, and for the opportunity to introduce myself. I’ve enjoyed sharing my experiences.

Thanks Preeti for taking the time to share your knowledge with us. We appreciate you and your work.

Good luck with your current and future publications.

READERS: Do not forget to leave a comment and be entered in the drawing for a free, signed copy of 3Chips on God. Preeti is generously offering two copies. So leave a comment and contact details to enter the drawing.

For more information:

Email: preeti@3ChipsOnGod.com

Purchase: Amazon, Barnes and Noble

Blog/Website: http://www.3ChipsOnGod.com

Please go to the comments button below in white box next to the time to interact with our Author and other readers.

The Poison Pen

2012-08-11T01:55:00.000-07:00

Detective Cheif Inspector Richard Hayward Returns

with The Poison Pen

Mum's next book is soon to be published! Edits and work on cover art are going well!

Keep posted for further announcements.

Tears for the Mountain

2012-08-06T00:53:00.000-07:00

Welcome to my blog Chris. I and my readers are intrigued to learn about your book Tears for the Mountain and your mission to Haiti. Thank you for taking the time to answer my questions and share your experiences.

Beautiful Haiti Sunset

Q. Chris, is ‘Tears for the Mountain’ your first book?

A. Yes, Tears for the Mountain is my first book.

Q. Please tell us about your book—title, genre, etc. — and why you wrote it?

A. Tears for the Mountain is a non-fiction book about a medical mission trip to Haiti in 2010 after the deadly earthquake there. It is the story of a team I worked with whose job was to deliver 20,000 pounds of medical supplies to hospitals affected by the quake. Along the way we dealt with gangs of roving bandits, heard heartbreaking stories of survival, and worked with a notorious Haitian warlord.

I wrote the book because I wanted to raise money for the orphanage in Port-au-Prince where we worked. A portion of the proceeds goes to New Life Children’s Home, which has been taking in children from the streets since the 80’s. I also wanted people to get a feeling for what relief work is really like. It’s not a book that says “look at all the wonderful things I’ve done, I’m a great person.” It just covers what something like this feels like, including the bad, the ugly, and the funny.

Haiti after Earthquake 2010

Q. What draws you to your genre(s)? Why is this type of story compelling to you?

A. When I started thinking about writing the book I researched what else had been written about Haiti, and I was disappointed to find that there were either fictional stories that included the earthquake or books written by high-level people. No one had put together a piece on what it was like working on the ground. It is one thing to read the UN envoy’s thoughts on the disaster, but it’s another to read what it was like to be working in the post-disaster environment.

The story is compelling to me for two reasons: first is that is raises money for orphans. To me, that really is the most important part of the book. The second thing is that the book just gives an honest look at what relief work is like, and I try to place the reader in my shoes during the journey. Part of my writing style is to describe the settings in as much detail as possible, and I’ve received a lot of feedback from readers that said they felt as though they were there with us.

Q. What is your writing process like? Do you map the whole thing out or do you just let it unfold?

A. The writing process for this book is a lot different from a novel. Since its non-fiction, you don’t have the option of adding pieces that didn’t happen; you are bound by fact. Because of that, I was able to base the book around notes I took when I was in-country. I usually keep a log or journal when I travel, and it’s been helpful for me when I’m trying to remember the name of the town I went mountain climbing in Mongolia or the restaurant in Nice I went to for my honeymoon. So it made sense to me to keep a journal when I was in Haiti, and I based a lot of my information on those notes.

I was also fortunate that Dr. Stephen Schroering, the orthopedic surgeon in the book, was able to go over the manuscript prior to publication. It really helped to tell a story that more than one person lived through.

Q. What kind of research was involved in writing your book?

A. Going to Haiti during a disaster.

One interesting thing about the book was reconciling what we heard/saw on the ground with what the ‘official’ reports were like after. For example, there was a big scandal that an aid agency had been smuggling children from Haiti to the Dominican Republic. The UN found out about it and came down hard on the aid agencies. The news was broken by a major news outlet – CNN or someone else big. But when we were on the ground, I heard leaders of other aid agencies saying that these guys had been doing this for years, that the UN knew about it, and that it was only a big deal because someone was putting it in the news. That made for interesting research a year later when I started writing because I had a degree of doubt as to what was accurate and what was the official story that the major agencies were telling.

Q. How much of YOU makes it into your characters?

A. A great deal. I normally try to keep myself out of books, but in this case it was impossible. This experience did make me enjoy writing about settings I have been to before, which is something I have used in my other books. This book is very different, however, and it is all about one world event seen through my eyes.

Q. How do you balance the need to have time to write with the needs of family, society, etc.?

A. You know, if you love writing, you’ll make time for it. You have to enjoy the creative process more than watching ‘Project Runway’ or else you’ll decide to spend your time watching TV instead of writing. It’s all about priorities, and you have to decide what is most important to you. I use all my spare time to write – when I’m in the shower, I’m thinking about the next scene I need to put down. When I drive, I’m thinking about the holes in the plot of the book I’m outlining. And whenever I have 10 minutes free, I’m on my laptop putting down words. You just have to be disciplined about it.

Q. Have there been any authors in particular, that inspired your writing?

A. I probably re-read “Catch-22” by Joseph Heller every year. I also have great admiration for Herman Woulk’s work, which still is gripping and captivating half a century later. Any book that grips me and makes me want to read more than eat or sleep interests me.

Q. Is there a story you want to tell behind or about your work(s)?

A. Dr. Schroering and I had lunch a few months back and he was telling me about another trip he took to Haiti this year. He had been trying to meet up with a priest who is also a physician in Haiti, and on this trip they had the chance to connect. When Dr. Schroering arrived, the priest was in the middle of mass, and there were 4 bodies laid out in the middle of the church. He realized it was a funeral mass, so he waited quietly until everything was done and the service was over. When he met the priest he said, “I’m sorry, I didn’t know you had a funeral today.” The priest replied, “This is Haiti. Every day I have a funeral.”

I think everyone forgets what the situation is like on the ground there, and I am hopeful that this book is a reminder that people still need your help.

Q. Have you been back to Haiti since your mission of mercy in 2010?

A. I haven’t been back to Haiti since, but I have done a great deal of work with some of the children that we met on that trip. Dr. Schroering and I worked to bring back a young boy whose legs were infected by wounds caused by sickle cell anemia. The hospital where we worked had one of the best wound care centers in the nation, and we were able to get him treatments to heal his legs. If he had not had access to the hyperbaric oxygen treatments there, both of his legs would have been amputated.

Q. Do you have continued contact with New Life Children’s Home in Haiti?

A. I do. Miriam is hard to get a hold of because she is always on the go, but fortunately I am able to speak with her and Dr. Schroering. Social Media also makes it really easy to keep track of them because you can go on Miriam’s Facebook page and see where she is. It makes me giggle when I think that most people use FB to show what movies they’re going to or what night clubs, and here’s Miriam showing what part of the mountains of Haiti she’s in, and she’s posting pictures of her and children being rescued.

Q. Has any particular child or children, of all who you met at the orphanage, had an impact of your life?

A. This might sound like a cop-out, but they all have an impact on you. I mean, when you see a 9-year old who has just had his leg amputated and is learning to walk on crutches, you can’t avoid feeling something. Every child who told me about their parents dying, babies who were scarred for life from the earthquake…they’re images that you can’t forget, and they’re people you can’t stop wanting to help.

Q. Please tell us how your experience has changed you?

A. There are a lot of things that changed. First is that I can never look at another story about relief work the same way again. It’s not glamorous; there aren’t these wonderful experiences that play out like a Hollywood movie. It’s hard work, you are dirty and tired, and it’s an emotional rollercoaster. I’m not sure why we always try and make stories out to be more than they are, but for some reason, we try to make relief work seem perfect, and it’s not. There are a lot of mistakes that NGOs and governments make, and we should be willing to acknowledge them and try to fix them.

I also learned that there are some pretty wonderful people in the world, and some pretty awful people in the world. The media members that I met who were there to get a story and not to help really made me sick. When I think about them, I actually still get physically angry. There is a fundamental human emotion to help those you see who are in trouble, and the members of the media who were there just didn’t display that. They showed a complete lack of compassion or caring for their fellow human beings, and frankly, I will always be disgusted by that. On the flipside, seeing people who dedicate their lives to helping strangers is a religious experience. When I say that Miriam Frederick is the Mother Theresa of Haiti, it’s not just a tag line. I really mean that she is someone who is a wonderful example of what each of us should strive to be every day.

The last thing that I think changed within me was my view on American society. Before I went to Haiti, it dominated the news, and it was all anyone was talking about. When I returned, it was as though someone had changed the channel and we were talking about other things, but for me, I couldn’t get over what I saw there. I was really sad that we, as a people, have moved to this culture where we move from topic to topic quickly instead of seeing things through. I fully understand that most people couldn’t find Haiti on a map or tell you more than 3 facts about the country, but it just bothers me that millions of people donated money, pretended to care about what was happening, and then forgot the next day. We need to have better character than that and see things through to completion.

Q. You say you have ‘taken a break to write fiction’; do you plan on another similar mission and subsequent book?

A. Did Dr. Schroering pay you to ask that? Every time I have lunch with him, he asks me the same thing! When I think about writing non-fiction, I want to write stories that have a purpose, that I can connect with, and that develop naturally. The idea of going to Haiti to write a second book seems a little…forced to me. I’m sure it would be a good book and it would sell and have lots of good information in it, but there’s just some part of me that feels it would be wrong to do that way. I guess what I’m trying to say is that I think non-fiction has to develop organically, and if it turns out that I went to Haiti with Dr. Schroering again and felt compelled to write a book, I would. But I can’t plan on it happening. You can’t plan your life-changing events.

Q. What other projects are you currently working on or about to start?

A. I have taken a break from non-fiction and am writing a 4 book fictional series. The thing I like most about fiction is that you can just make it up! If someone says, “Hey…that can’t really happen like that,” you can tell them it’s just fiction. It’s a liberty I did not have with Tears for the Mountain.

Q. Which is more satisfying, writing non-fiction or fiction?

A. That’s like asking whether homemade apple pie or homemade ice cream is better! They’re both fantastic, and I find writing both of them satisfying, but in different ways. Fiction is satisfying because it is creative. Fiction is the depths of imagination. Fiction is trying to weave a story where there was nothing before, forging your own path on a blank page. The only guide when you write fiction is the picture in your mind, and the limits are just what you can dream. Non-fiction is beautiful because it is a reflection of life. It is real. There are no exaggerations, no Hollywood gimmicks to make you feel something artificial. Non-fiction happened. It is much harder to write, and every sentence is a struggle because you have to ask yourself, “Is this 100% true? Can someone misinterpret what I’m saying here?” With fiction, none of that matters because you’re making it all up! If you write a novel and someone says, “Hey…that can’t happen!” you just tell them, “Dude…its fiction.”

Writing each has its own pleasure and pain, but if I had to choose one, it would be non-fiction, with a slice of apple pie on the side.

Q. Could you share some of your marketing strategies? Which ones are the most effective in your opinion?

A. This book has been successful mostly by word-of-mouth. I was lucky enough to get CBS to do a story on the book, and I think we have a nice promotional video that shows what Haiti really looks like – not just the devastation, but also how beautiful it is. But really, having people go out and tell their friends and family about the book is the best thing.

Q. What would be the top five, (or 3 or 1 or however many) things you would tell aspiring authors?

A. I would first tell people to ask why they want to be an author and what they think they’re going to get from it. I have had a few people tell me that they want to quit their jobs and write, and I hate to burst their bubbles and tell them that there are few full-time writers who make good money. For most writers, it’s a one or two-project thing that will not fully support them. So if it’s an escape from your current situation, it’s a long shot.

The second thing I would tell aspiring authors is that they need to write. Don’t get stuck in over-editing work. Don’t get me wrong – it needs to be edited and look professional, but for me, writing new material is the most important thing. This business is all about having new books/articles/stories being published, and you can’t do that if you spend 7 years on the same book.

The last thing I would mention is that you need to just keep going. It’s not uncommon to get hundreds of rejection letters before you have one person even acknowledge your existence. Just push through it and keep querying.

Again, thanks Chris for taking the time to share your book, thoughts, and experiences with us. We appreciate you and your work. I understand that you have a new book ready for release ‘The 8^th Doll’. Congratulations and good luck with your current and future publications.

For more information:

Email: E-mail: crakunas@Hotmail.com

Purchase: Amazon, BN, Book Depository

Blog/Website: www.facebook.com/chrisrakunas

Video: https://vimeo.com/42841856

Please go to the comments button below in white box next to the time to interact with our Author and other readers.

What impacted your life two and a half years ago?

2012-08-01T05:05:00.000-07:00

January 12^th 2010 Chris Rakunas was unaware of the events that were soon to impinge on his life.

On Tuesday, January 12th 2010, a magnitude 7.0 earthquake shook the island nation of Haiti. The United States Agency for International Development estimated the death toll to be somewhere between 46,000 and 85,000 people, with 220,000 injured and over 1.5 million homeless. Many organizations, both from the U.S. and abroad, responded to the appeal for humanitarian aid.

Dr. Stephen Schroering and Chris Rakunas went to Haiti to deliver over 21,000 pounds of medical and surgical supplies to the New Life Children’s Home in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, and several other hospitals. In Tears for the Mountain, Chris recounts his mission to deliver these supplies to the earthquake-ravaged island nation. Chris discusses both the triumphs and heartbreaks of the trip, the problems with distributing aid in a nation lacking the most basic infrastructure, and his unexpected encounter with a notorious Haitian warlord.

Chris Rakunas is a native of the Los Angeles, California area. He went to school at UC Berkeley, where he studied Molecular and Cell Biology. He moved back to Los Angeles to attend business school at USC's Marshall School of Business where he was on the Dean's List.

Rakunas spent 6 months travelling the world after finishing business school, including time climbing the Great Wall of China, living on the steppes of Mongolia, traveling on the trans-Siberian railroad, hitchhiking through the Baltic States, and living in Istanbul.

After a long career in healthcare, he and his wife, Darcey, moved to western Oklahoma. Chris Rakunas was the winner of the Silver award at the Dearborn Street Book Festival in 2012.

This biography was provided by the author or their representative.

In an interview with Dee at Book Readers on August 6th, Chris illuminates his reasons for going to Haiti and later his book:

Tears for the Mountain

Delivering Hope after the Earthquake in Haiti

Interview with David LeRoy

2012-07-27T04:15:00.000-07:00

Welcome to my blog David. Thank you for taking the time to answer a few questions about yourself and your book The Siren of Paris.

Q. Tell us about your latest work—title, genre, etc. — and why you wrote it?

A. The latest happens to be my first novel and that is The Siren of Paris. I wrote this book to shed light on an entirely different point of view on World War II. The main character is a young art student who was born in France but raised in America. He becomes trapped by the war. Due to survivor’s guilt, after his friend dies in the sinking of the RMS Lancastria, he returns to Paris for the duration of the war. His decision leads to his nearly complete destruction, leaving him, after the war, an utterly changed person.

Q. What draws you to your genre(s)? Why is this type of story compelling to you?

A. The people I discover in my research, hands down. The history is interesting and dramatic, but my key interest is how my characters change in response to those driving circumstances. I am attracted to underdogs, or the unlikely hero. For instance, among the more unlikely heroes I ran across in my research was a British nurse named Joan Rodes. She rescued 19 men from the sea at Saint-Nazaire on June 17th, 1940 when the RMS Lancastria sank. She is known among the survivors of the tragedy as the Angel of Saint-Nazaire. I decided to give this historical figure a large role in my book, similar to the role Molly Brown had in Titanic. But Joan Rodes is a very different character from the larger than life Molly Brown. She lost the baby she was carrying two days later and was sick for the next two years. What attracted me to her is that she is a wounded hero, and I think this is the type of character that can be very healing.

Q. What is your writing process like? Do you map the whole thing out or do you just let it unfold?

A. I am something of a control freak when it comes to writing, and this is likely due in part to my past jobs in project management. Once I have the basic plot and characters down, I write out a three-page summary of the story and test the emotional structure of the book at that level. Then, after making changes, I move on to writing a complete first rough draft of the novel. From there, I add more details, emotional content, description and dialog as needed as I work through the drafts of the story. Actual writing seems to be only a very small part of my process. Re-writing is the majority of my process. Once I have solved any pacing or tension issues, and all of the chapters and scenes of the story flow as I want them, I begin fine tuning the editing until I had it off to a copy-editor. Here is the control freak part; throughout the entire process, I am tracking everything on a large MS Excel worksheet so I know exactly where I am at in the writing of the book. Yes, I let things unfold through a highly structured and controlled method.

Q. What kind of research was involved in writing your book?

A. Most of my research for this book was reading various other books on the subject of Vichy France, or World War II With that said, books published just after the war, up to 1965, had far more rich details that I could use in my story. Books written after 1965 seemed to emphasize the political aspects of the war, and would not include the mundane details which actually bring the time period to life. I also read all of the major French newspapers from 1938-1939. I wanted to know if a common everyday person would have recognized the size and scope of World War II approaching. The frightening thing is that I don’t think they would. The papers have headlines about this or that crisis with Germany, but they really are just like our modern paper headlines about the Middle East or various social political crises. Over time, I am sure people would become desensitized to the news or even dismissive. And the papers would go back and forth between highly urgent headlines and just everyday normal news. I expect that instead of anticipating a new war, many people had just come to expect that each crisis would be resolved just like the last one. Of course, that is not what happened, but I wanted to understand exactly what my characters would see, hear and read as World War II engulfed their lives.

Q. How much of YOU makes it into your characters?

A. I suspect far more than I realize. My undergraduate degree is in Philosophy and Religion; therefore I am accustomed to dealing with questions that have no answers. Instead of glossing over these questions, I focused upon them in this story and tried to put the reader directly in front of the moral dilemmas people would face during the war. I have my own experience with survivor’s guilt and posttraumatic stress disorder. It was not difficult for me to know exactly how surviving the sinking of the RMS Lancastria and later Buchenwald would torment Marc.
Q. How do you balance the need to have time to write with the needs of family, society, etc.?

A. I am single and without children, so it is not too difficult. However, balancing my artwork with writing is a challenge. They are both creative processes, but I use completely different parts of my brain for writing vs. painting. Plus, because of the stories and characters I am attracted to, it is not practical for me to produce multiple books per year.

Q. Have there been any authors in particular, that inspired your writing?

A. I suppose Hemingway, but I am more likely influenced by John Steinbeck. But here is an unlikely one, and that is the American landscape photographer Ansel Adams. Before I took up painting, I used to spend a lot of time with fine art in the form of black and white photography, and Ansel Adams taught about the need, in photography, to pre-visualize your image as you are taking it, down to the type of negative you are creating and what it will look like as a final print. When I am writing, putting together a scene, I am completely pre-visualizing that scene in my mind’s eye. This is the most exhausting aspect of writing for me, because I have to see it in my mind first, which requires creating it from my imagination and then describing what I am seeing through words that communicate this vision effectively to the reader. Sometimes I pull it off, and other times I struggle, but I learned this technique from a photographer instead of an English professor.

Q. Is there a story you want to tell behind or about your work(s)?

A. The story behind The Siren of Paris is a spiritual story of rising above betrayal and survivor’s guilt. For a World War II novel written over 70 years later, that is a unique story, because most of our modern World War II novels focus upon a hero’s victory over the Nazis or some secret mission that somehow helps to turn the tide of the war. My own personal experience with survivors and veterans of the war is that time has healed the wounds very slowly. For instance, survivors of the Lancastria sinking are still trying to get the government to at least declare the ship to be a protected war wreck. My own personal hope is that there will be healing one day, even if it happens outside of the realm of the living. The war did tear the fabric of our human life over 69 million times.

Q. What other projects are you currently working on or about to start?

A. The next story will be smaller in scope than this epic war novel, but poignant all the same. I will be examining the choices and decisions that a Mayan orphan has to make after the death of her mother in San Cristobal de la Casas Mexico. Currently, I am in the middle of my research for this story, and I expect to have a finished product in 2013.

Q. Could you share some of your marketing strategies? Which ones are the most effective in your opinion?

A. Marketing is a terribly long race. In the past, I have run a few half, full, and even one ultra marathon. I am just starting out in this race, and my own goal is to pace myself and maintain a consistent level of activity. Eventually, I will reach my target audience of readers, but from my perspective, although social media might help, achieving this goal takes time, effort and patience. This is likely not the answer a new author wants to hear, but I think one of the problems new authors are having with marketing is unrealistic expectations of a small amount of activity within a short period of time.

Q. What would be the top five, (or 3 or 1 or however many) things you would tell aspiring authors?

A. First: read a wide range of books about the craft of story creation. Be on the lookout for new releases, and revisit the books that resonate with you the most from time to time. In other words, develop a library of tools at your disposal.

Second: Learn to experiment with your characters. Don’t get locked into only one set of decisions, but try out a scene involving several sets of possible choices. I use a square method to identify possibilities. I draw, on a piece of paper, a giant square with a cross through it.
Then, on the left side, both above and below, I have “fear,” and then on the right side, I have “desire.”   I use this template to explore my character‘s choices. For instance, Marc must struggle with leaving Paris before the Germans arrive. He has fear of leaving, fear of staying, desire to leave, and desire to stay all at the same time as he struggles to make the right choice.   I take the issue, and then look at how both fear and desire might influence a character’s choices in a given situation.

Third: you should embrace editing early in your process. Toss out the ego, and get used to the idea that what you have written is not brilliant and can always be improved upon. It is not easy to do and can be very discouraging, However, the reward is that both your story and writing exceeds what you would otherwise be capable of.   Personally, I found it easier to strip to pose nude for an art class than to allow others to read my writing. If you do it often enough, it no longer feels so strange. I am using this analogy for a reason, because both posing nude and being edited are both highly vulnerable experiences. If you are anxious about editing, that is natural, but don’t let it prevent you from embracing it, because if you become the shy sensitive writer, your craft will suffer for it later.

Again, thanks David for taking the time to share your knowledge with us. We appreciate you and your work.

Good luck with your current and future publications.

For more information:

Email: egl9sun@sbcglobal.net

Purchase: Amazon Kindle Edition

Blog/Website: www.thesirenofparis.com

http://bookpromotionservices.com/2012/05/22/siren-of-paris-tour/

Please go to the comments button below in white box next to the time to interact with our Author and other readers.

The Sirens of Paris by David LeRoy

2012-07-26T03:57:00.000-07:00

Promotional Book Tour, Review and Interview for David LeRoy’s Debut Novel:

The Siren of Paris

The Siren of Paris is a historical fiction novel inspired by the events of occupied France during World War II. David LeRoy’s research of the German invasion and occupation in France is impressive and lucid throughout the book. The story revolves around the life and experiences of an American; opening with his days as a student in the USA and France to his internment as a political prisoner of war.

Marc’s journey began before the outbreak of war in 1939. A broken relationship spurs him to leave the USA, abandon his medical studies, and voyage to the land of his birth, France. Marc forms many friendships on the transatlantic crossing destined for France. On his arrival in Paris and commencement at Art school, he realizes things are not as expected. The signs that war is looming becomes clear. Americans are encouraged to leave France but Marc chooses to stay. His life becomes convoluted as the war progresses. He works for the American Ambassador, meets Hitler, attempts to escape from France, and joins the resistance.

The Story tells of friendship, love, betrayal, guilt and forgiveness. The vivid imagerythat David paints with his word captures the meaning of the war and experiences ofthe characters. LeRoy’s story starts with Marc in death looking down on his own burial service watching the events of his life. As his past flashes by souls that emerge from French graveyards interrupt Marc. The ghosts represent all who died from the sinking of the RMS Lancastria on which Marc was attempting to make his escape from France.

The author has successfully employed flashback in time throughout the book. As the story progresses the reader can understand how Marc’s past experiences are an important part of the present. Marc’s recollections fall into place as the layers of his life experiences throughout the war unfold. I highly recommend the book as poignant, compelling, and provocative. The book provides an excellent historical chronicle of life during World War II in France and the importance of the Resistance.

Author David LeRoy has drawn from his own background and interests in this his first novel. David has a bachelor of arts in philosophy and religion and studied art in France in 2010. During David’s time in France he became interested in and researched the French Resistance of World War II. Through his research David discovered the Americans involvement with the Resistance and how difficult escape was during the war.

Keep Posted for David's Interview

Happily Ever After

2012-07-20T04:25:00.000-07:00

Short Stories from Mum's Collection

Another story from Mum's collection is available at Smashwords. Go to the link below to download.

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/206253

The First Day on the Canals

2012-07-11T04:58:00.001-07:00

Hatton Locks

The longboat is picked up and training is given on two relatively easy locks. Moor up for the night and nice dinner in a pub ready for the start of the trip next day. We are told by a fellow boater that the next part of the journey involves the 21 Hatton Locks. No problem we think!

There are 21 sets of locks altogether and they raise the Grand Union Canal to a height of 45 metres/144 feet, over a distance of 2miles/4km. For a narrow boat to make the climb it takes, between 3 to 5 hours, depending if they went singly or in pairs.

Well we did it under the 3 hours with help. A young couple in their 30's with a small boat. However, the wife was 7-8 months pregnant! But that did not stop her from winding up the sluice gates, opening the heavy lock gates, and steering the boat. If anything, she put us to shame with her energy and abilities!

After fourteen more locks we decide to call it a day and moor up for the night. All four of us tired out, wet from the several down pours, and ready for a nice drink and pub dinner.

At Lapwoth Locks

Wet Summer on the English Canals

2012-07-09T07:12:00.000-07:00

A week holiday on a Longboat in the rain of England!

More to follow.

Summer with Friends

2012-06-18T04:24:00.000-07:00

Time with Friends

Must be Noon in Valletta, Malta. The canon is fired.

In the days of the Knights this was a hospital with your own bathroom. Each arch is a bathroom for each hospital bed!

A ride through the Azure Window.

Only in Malta! A view from the balcony. Beautiful horse learning the ropes for the Malta Trot Racing.

A Bed of Knives

2012-06-11T04:22:00.000-07:00

Welcome to my blog Elizabeth. Thank you for taking the time to answer a few questions about yourself and your books.

Q. Tell us about your latest work—title, genre, etc. — and why you wrote it?

A. My latest work is A Bed of Knives. Before I became a writer, I was a keen reader. I read The Secret History by Donna Tartt and this story stuck in my head. When I wanted to write a contemporary romance, I remembered the story and decided to use friendship and love as the theme of the story, using two threads, one light and one dark, to explore these themes.

Q. What draws you to your genre(s)? Why is this type of story compelling to you?

A. I’m drawn to good writing in any genre and like to write books that go a little beyond a single genre in order to add richness and texture to my stories.

Q. What is your writing process like? Do you map the whole thing out or do you just let it unfold?

A. I spend a lot of time thinking about my characters and don’t write anything until I understand how they tick. Once I know them well enough, I place my characters into a difficult or unusual situation and the story unfolds without much interference from me, the writer.

Q. What kind of research was involved in writing your book?

A. For A Bed of Knives, I researched the working conditions and pressures of top restaurants, the lifestyle of UK soccer players, antiques and various cancer treatments.

Q. How much of YOU makes it into your characters?

A. I think there is a little bit of me in quite a few of my main characters, but I will never divulge which bits or which characters.

Q. How do you balance the need to have time to write with the needs of family, society, etc.?

A. I’m lucky enough to be retired from full-time work now and, after a lifetime of bringing up three children, over two marriages, and working full-time for most of my life, I love that I can now achieve my ambition of writing books that will entertain my readers.

Q. Have there been any authors in particular, that inspired your writing?

A. Dorothy Dunnett, a well-known Scottish writer of historical fiction is (now sadly deceased) is someone I have admired all my adult life. I also love Jilly Cooper’s writing. There are many, many more writers I love, but I think these two have had the most influence on my own writing style.

Q. What other projects are you currently working on or about to start?

A. I’m currently working on a sequel to my second book, Meggie Blackthorn. Meggie Blue takes up Meggie’s story four years on, when the swinging sixties were in full flow. I’m also writing a raunchy contemporary romance that will be published under another pen name when the time comes. That’s proving to be a lot of fun.

Q. Could you share some of your marketing strategies? Which ones are the most effective in your opinion?

A. First, having utter faith in the quality and high standard of writing and editing of your own work is most important. There are no short-cuts to producing a professional book. After that, persistence and a willingness to work consistently to achieve your writing aims. Next, never give up. Ever.

Q. What would be the top five, (or 3 or 1 or however many) things you would tell aspiring authors?

A. The first three things I would tell an aspiring author would be Read, Read and Read Some More – particularly in the genres you want to write in.

Next, use correct grammar and spelling and don’t try to be too clever by overwriting just to show you know a lot of long words.

Then, write a brilliant, original story that will enthrall potential readers.

Finally, Edit, Edit and Edit Some More – and if you cannot do it yourself, get a professional to help.

Again, thanks Elizabeth for taking the time to share your knowledge with us. We appreciate you and your work.

Good luck with your current and future publications.

For more information:

Email: Info@elizabethjasper.com

Purchase: All three available on Kindle, Lying in Wait is available in paperback through Amazon and all good retailers.

Blog/Website: http://www.elizabethjasper.com http://elizabethjasperwriter.wordpress.com

Please go to the comments button below in white box next to the time to interact with our Author and other readers.

This Business of Children

2012-06-04T05:15:00.010-07:00

Welcome to my blog Chloe. Thank you for taking the time to answer a few questions about yourself and your books.

Q. Tell us about your latest work—title, genre, etc. — and why you wrote it?

A. This is my first fiction book. I wrote it primarily to let readers know what teachers go through – trying to balance their personal and professional lives. I actually trashed the novel which I wrote in 1991. A friend retrieved it telling me that I couldn’t do so. I shelved it and went on to other writing but pulled it out a couple of years ago when everything I discovered that everything I was reading was reading in the news about teachers was in my novel. The title is This Business of Children but it definitely isn’t kid stuff!

Q. What draws you to your genre(s)? Why is this type of story compelling to you?

A. As a retired teacher myself, I felt that I had much to share but I opted for fiction instead of non-fiction because it was a challenge to develop male characters and develop a realistic setting.

Q. What is your writing process like? Do you map the whole thing out or do you just let it unfold?

A. I definitely map things out, beginning with the characters I want to develop. A writer must be able to get into the heart and soul of each character. I actually write in longhand before I type anything.

Q. What kind of research was involved in writing your book?

A. Not much research was involved with this book. For my non-fiction books, a lot of research was done.

Q. How much of YOU makes it into your characters?

A. People have asked me if I’m Dee or Vera and I must admit that there is a little bit of me in both of them. I was a teacher activist for many years – just like Dee and I think my motherly concern shows up with Vera.

Q. How did you begin your writing career?

A. I have been writing for years and had various articles published in newspapers and magazines. However, I began writing seriously in the late 90’s and my first book was published in 2003.

Q. Could you share with our readers some of the major crossroads you have taken to achieve your goals in life?

A. There have been some major decisions I’ve had to make to achieve these goals. One important thing I’ve had to do is to disregard lack of support from some family members whom I thought would really be enthusiastic about my achievements. I actually have written about this in a blog post for the World Literary Café where I was invited to do a series of articles entitled Taking Care of You the Writer.

Q. How do you balance the need to have time to write with the needs of family, society, etc.?

A. I am at a stage of my life where my family obligations are behind me. I live alone (widowed with grown children) but I am involved with several volunteer duties which I love!

Q. What do you do for fun when not writing or volunteering?

A. Well, I’m a world traveler – all 7 continents and that has been the greatest source of fun and adventure for me. At home, I play with my wonderful cats, enjoy a game of Solitaire or Poker, listen to classical music, and read.

Q. Have there been any authors in particular, that inspired your writing?

A. To answer fully, I would have to list these authors as fiction or non-fiction and there are several but to be perfectly honest, the Gospel writers are my greatest inspiration.

Q. Is there a story you want to tell behind or about your work(s)?

A. You are speaking with a woman who, at one time, suffered from life-threatening depression. I managed to overcome it and you would be amazed at what I have managed to do since the age of 55!

Q: You have had a very interesting career and do much work with women, motherhood, and the aged. Could you tell us more?

A. It would take pages to describe everything! My 2 previous books have been very helpful to caregivers working with the aged and women facing midlife transition. As a mother, I am blessed in knowing that I have raised 2 fantastic, successful children – a son and a daughter and I do believe it is because I chose to be a stay-at-home mother until they began school.

Q. I love your ‘Elegant Tips’! Do you have more that you would like to share with our women readers please?

A. (Smile): If I give them all away now, no one will want to buy my book,”Entering the Age of Elegance”! However, it’s simply this: Don’t buy into what the media, Hollywood; pharmaceutical and cosmetics companies are trying to sell you. These guys are laughing all the way to the bank while women’s self-esteem goes down the tubes.

Q: What is the hardest part of writing for you?

A. The hardest part for me has been getting into the mind and heart of male characters in my novel. As for writing in general, I’ve had days when my creativity was practically non-existent but as I’m fond of saying…O let go…and let God.

Q: What is the most positive experience in your writing process?

A. The most positive experience is mentally envisioning the finished product and being determined to make it happen!

Q. What other projects are you currently working on or about to start?

A. My next book will be a children’s book about a little girl who hates her name because it sounds foreign and is lengthy to write and does everything imaginable to get it changed.

The screenplay for my novel has been written and the screen writer is now presenting it to various film producers. The latest message I received from Don MacNab is that it is now in the hands of a film producer.

Q. Could you share some of your marketing strategies? Which ones are the most effective in your opinion?

A. Social networking, though time-consuming, is effective. I also offer freebies on my web site. It is definitely important to have an author web site.

Q. What would be the top five, (or 3 or 1 or however many) things you would tell aspiring authors?

A. Simply this: Follow my COPD plan – engage consistency, optimism, persistence, and determination daily.

Again, thanks Chloe for taking the time to share your knowledge with us. We appreciate you and your work.

Good luck with your current and future publications.

For more information:

Email: jonpaul65@aol.com - Put in subject line

'bookread-mumswritings'

Purchase: This Business of Children

Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books-a-Million, etc

Blog/Website: www.chloejonpaul.com

Video: You Tube

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Indian Summer by Dena Hamilton

2012-05-28T08:42:00.000-07:00

Welcome to my blog Dena. Thank you for taking the time to answer a few questions about yourself, and your books.

Q. Tell us about your latest work—title, genre, etc. — and why you wrote it?

A. Indian Summer is an inspirational adolescent fiction that addresses questions of faith, diversity, self-esteem, addiction, etc. in a heartwarming story filled with adventure and warmth. It is set in my childhood home of Southern Arizona and I drew upon many of my own memories in telling this tale.

Q. What inspired you to write for children?

A. When I decided to start publishing what I write, I promised myself that whenever possible I would not write anything that I would be ashamed for my children and grandchildren to read.

Q What draws you to your genre(s)? Why is this type of story compelling to you?

A. I enjoy writing stories that appeal to both young and old but my main target audience is preteen/teen. I see what my own stepdaughter and other young people are reading these days and see a lack of wholesome stories that address today’s social issues. Although I hope my work appeals to adults as well, I want to feel comfortable letting my children and grandchildren read my work.

Q. What is your writing process like? Do you map the whole thing out or do you just let it unfold?

A. As a woman of faith, I pray for inspiration. When it comes, I let it flow through me. I often find my characters telling me the story as it unfolds. It is a very exciting way to write as I usually ending up in great anticipation of what will happen next.

Q. What kind of research was involved in writing your book?

A. I did extensive research on my time period (1967) i.e.: music, television shows, movies, periodicals, etc and on the history and culture of the Tohono O’odham, who are featured prominently in this story.

Q. How much of YOU makes it into your characters?

A. I think all of my characters have some elements of my personality or that of people I have known.

Q. How do you balance the need to have time to write with the needs of family, society, etc.?

A. I am a disabled empty nester, so I returned to writing (which was the passion of my youth) as a way to fill my time. With just me and my husband being in the house and not having the constraints of a traditional job, I am free to work as the Spirit moves me.

Q. When you are able to take time away from your business what do you do for fun and relaxation?

A. I love to travel, read, cook, and I love music.

Q. I understand that you and your husband are disabled. Would you like to share how your disabilities have impacted your life and influenced your writing?

A. At first becoming disabled was devastating for both of us. We weren’t wealthy but we had a good life. We both worked and he had a successful career in local radio and television. Once the pity party ended though, we began to see it as a redirection instead of the end of our life. We are both writing now, working in ministry (Hubby is working on a Masters in Christian Studies with an emphasis on Pastoral Ministry), and enjoying more time with each other.

Q. Have there been any authors in particular, that inspired your writing?

A. I have always been a voracious reader. My taste is very diverse. I have drawn inspiration from Dickens, Shakespeare, Poe, King, Paolini, Dumas, Hemingway, Steinbeck, Frost, Keats and so many more.

Q. What other projects are you currently working on or about to start?

A. I am currently working on getting artwork for a children’s book I have recently finished. The title is If I Knew I Was A King and is the tale of a young stable boy who discovers his divine adoption into the family of God. The goal of this story is to introduce young children to the Kingdom principle.

Q. You say that ‘you are a woman of faith’ Dena. Could you please tell our readers more?

A. I believe that Jesus Christ died on the cross, was buried and rose the 3^rd day to sit at the right hand of the Father so that those who believe might be cleansed of sin and have eternal life. This is the faith that sustains me. I measure all I do against the divine Word of God and His command to establish His Kingdom in earth.

Q. What is ‘The Ultimate Blog Challenge?

A. The Ultimate Blog Challenge is the brainchild of Michele Scism and Michelle Shaeffer. The idea is to write and post 30 blog posts in one month. I have participated in one so far. It was very challenging but a lot of fun and it did boost my readership.

Q Could you share some of your marketing strategies? Which ones are the most effective in your opinion?

A. I am new to marketing and have relied solely on social networking and on networking with other authors. I have not been deluged with sales, but realize that it takes time to break into a market that is so large and diverse.

Q. What would be the top five, (or 3 or 1 or however many) things you would tell aspiring authors?

Believe in yourself.

Be yourself.

NEVER give up!

Listen to advice on what to write and how to write, but in the end write what is in your heart

Love what you do.

Again, thanks Dena for taking the time to share your knowledge with us. We appreciate you and your work.

Good luck with your current and future publications.

For more information:

Email: E-mail: jacksmom22002@yahoo.com

Purchase: Smashwords.com, amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com, kobo, sony, apple, diesel

Blog/Website: https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/denahamilton

http://theblogthatfaithbuilt.com/

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