(Honestly, this is all just an excuse to post John’s author photo again. It makes our cool factor jump, like, 20 points. Don’t you think? )

Catching up with John, reptile enthusiast & horror writer

BG: So John, what have you been working on?

JT: Oh boy, What am I working on right now, is that a trick question? All kidding aside, when it comes to writing, I have about 3 short stories in the works. Two of which could be considered horror fiction the other is actually a ‘high fantasy’ romance piece with a working title of ‘Declination of Destiny’ wherein two people who should’ve been together end up separated and pursuing completely different lives then find one another through a ‘special’ circumstance that neither of them could ever imagine. Its also an examination of the trials that come with not following your instincts.

Outside of this I am redesigning the Reptileapartment.com to make it a more science based site as readers are very interested in the scientific aspect of reptiles. I am also recording podcasts for the Reptilelivingroom.com as well as publishing Herpetoculture House which is an eZine dedicated to reptile captive care, and much more such as field studies etc.

BG: You have a ton going on! That’s great. And I love the design changes you’ve made to Reptile Apartment. Well done!

As a Young Adult writer, I always get asked, “Why YA?” So, John, I have to ask, why horror?

JT: “Horror…why horror?” I have to laugh at this question not because its funny mind you but it’s the same one my family still asks me today after over a decade of serious writing. Typically my answer to this question is a flippant response of ‘why not?’ To be honest with our readers I want to really answer this with a well thought out answer so here goes:

Horror is a genre of media that has attracted me since I was a kid. I remember seeing Frankenstein with Boris Karloff, The Wolfman with Lon Chaney Jr., and of course Bela Lugosi as Dracula. I had no clue some of these were originally books until much later in life and even today I have yet to completely read Bram Stoker Dracula. All of these actors scared the living hell out of me and I loved it! It was a new sensation for me having a movie scare me that is.

Fast forward a decade or so and after I got done with reading about dinosaurs I moved onto fantasy fiction as I had no idea there was a horror genre. I read Tolkien, Weiss, etc. Then I discovered the horror genre in writing with of course the author I think everyone cuts their fangs on Stephen King. I remember reading Pet Semetary and hating it. Yes, I said I hated it.

Then in 1990 I met my writing mentor Michael McLarty who introduced me Clive Barker whom Stephen King called the “future of horror’. I read the Books of Blood collected short stories and was absolutely horrified and the renditions of seemingly normal average lives twisted into monstrosities of the macabre which were believable and could happen to anyone. I loved it, and I had to figure out how to do it myself!

I wanted to lull people into a an average reality then show them the monster of mankind whether it be a vengeful sister or someones odd sense of love.

That’s the long answer I like the psychology and emotions behind the fear, its actually more of a suspense thing really though when it comes down to it. Is the monster around the corner? What is the monster? That and twist endings that you would never see coming or expect I love stories and films like that and I try to create these myself when I write horror.

BG: Wow. Great answer, John. (And creepy. Remind me to read your fiction with the lights on.)  

What are some resources you would recommend for those just breaking into the Horror genre?

JT: One of, if not the best resources is a book I discovered On Writing Horror: A Handbook by the Horror Writers Association. Another resource would be Mike Arnzen.com whom is a horror writer I regard very highly and is very accessible to his fans. A lot of people really tout the HWA or Horror Writers Association and I haven’t joined as yet for various reasons but its still a good resource for things horror related. I must also mention before I get hate mail from Stephen King fans. I read Kings’ acceptance speech in the above mentioned On Writing Horror and afterwards read Duma Key by King and I am now a King fan. You want to know what it takes to be a Horror writer/writer of any kind read that speech.

BG: Do you ever write in other genres?

JT: As far as writing in other genres the answer short answer is yes I do. I write in the genres of science fiction, poetry, and as I had mentioned earlier I am currently working on my first fantasy piece, I have also considered doing some mystery work as well but have as yet to venture that far. A subgenre that really fascinates me however and I do plan to tackle sometime soon is that of Steampunk.

BG: One of your short stories was published in an anthology. Would you mind sharing a little of that process with us?

JT: As far as getting published is concerned its a really fun and exciting process. Essentially, by monitoring sites such as Ralan.com & Duotrope.com is how I find out about markets and places where I can publish and its really a matter of following the submission guidelines.

I cannot put enough emphasis on this, as it is the number one reason I hear from editors when rejecting work (not following submission guidelines).

This particular anthology was a paying gig based on how many sales of the book were made with your name being mentioned. Meaning when the customer ordered the book if they mentioned your name you got a percentage of the sale price. I would say the overall experience was a good one. The publishing world can be a very daunting one as there is so much that goes into publishing. You have to monitor markets, send out queries, keep in touch with editors if you have one (if you don’t get one now!).

I have also been published on several websites which were paid gigs as well and I am usually asked if its harder to get published in print or cyberspace so to speak. Truth is, quality is quality. If you can feel comfortable about publishing on a site rather than in print then do it.

Yes it’s it sometimes considered by some as not ‘really’ publishing as its not traditional but what is tradition but an act that we continually observe out of habituation. So forget the naysayers and publish wherever you can.

BG: How do you balance writing fiction, freelance writing, managing multiple blogs, chasing reptiles in the wild (AKA Field herping), attending reptile shows, traveling, and spending time with your famil?

JT: I am not really sure that I actually balance anything versus I have a very forgiving family that understands I am not really driven to write, I don’t have a choice I have to write.

But, please for the love of whatever you may hold sacred do not try to do what I used to do which was to work a day job of eight hours and then come home to work another 12 or more hours writing, promoting, recording podcasts, etc.

This is not healthy, several friends expressed concern about this habit and after a recent hospital stay which may have had implications due to my work schedule and not adhering to a proper rest period I cannot express enough the need for proper rest periods. The old saying “I’ll sleep when I am dead.” Don’t buy into the hype it may be more real than you realize.

OK, so back to balancing it. Blow up your television. It’s the number burglar of time. As I have said in other posts here there are ways to manage distractions and exert control over what you do with your time. That being said, I now ‘work’ only another 5 or 6 hours after my regular day job. Even this may change as needed by my personal health. Take time away, don’t force it to come out, it should flow naturally and it will. If you force it, it will come out that way.

BG: Thank you for the thoughtful answers, John! 

Read John’s Tough Love for Writers posts here.

Brittany is the writer behind The Write Stuff blog, where she interviews authors and hosts book giveaways on a regular basis. (It’s a great blog to follow if you like hearing about new books…and winning them!) She’s also a beauty, fashion, and style writer (thus the beauty giveaway) for the national online women’s magazine Betty Confidential, a health psychology writer for Health Daily Online, and writes a food column for her local newspaper. And there’s more! Brittany is an aspiring Young Adult fiction author, currently editing her first YA novel.

In her interview, Brittany dishes on how she’s landed jobs, what she’s working on next, and the secret to successful blogging.

Brittany’s Interview

BG: You recently landed a job with a local publication (Fort Collins newspaper). Would you mind sharing the story behind how you landed that job?

BR: Not at all! It’s my firm belief that freelance writers need to stick together and give each other plenty of advice and tips. When you want to write for a publication, the best thing you can do is to peruse the content regularly and keep an eye out for job openings. I happen to be reading an article online for The Coloradoan on a local restaurant and their food when I spotted an ad asking for freelance writers to contribute as restaurant profilers for the newspaper. I emailed the editor for the entertainment section right away.

BG: Awesome! Thanks for the advice and congrats on landing the job!

You also write for online markets such as Betty Confidential and Health Daily Online. Please share a little about your experience writing for online markets. Would you recommend it? Why, or why not?

BR: Absolutely, I would recommend it. I’ve been a contributing magazine writer for Betty Confidential for over a year now as a fashion, style, and beauty writer…and I have to say I love every minute of it. Since it is an online publication, it operates at an incredibly fast pace and I interact with my editor, fashion designers, and experts daily. The pace, the communication, the love for all things beauty related—is amazing and I thrive under it. The same goes for Health Daily Online.

What I also love is the ability to expand your interests and abilities as a writer through online content as well. I can easily be in multiple places at once. For Betty Confidential, I’m a beauty writer. For Health Daily Online, I’m able to use my background in social and health psychology to write medically sound articles for the entire Healthy Living section. I’m able to use my full potential as a writer in a multitude of places, which is perfect for me.

BG: I love your perspective on this. Hopefully our enthusiasm (and positive experiences)will get Inky Fresh readers thinking about their interests, and how they can use them to land writing jobs!

Are there resources you would recommend for writers who are also interested in writing for online markets?

BR: WhisperJobs at Ed2010 is a great place to look for job postings.

BG: Love WhisperJobs! I follow Ed2010 on Twitter and they have fabulous opportunities.

What recent writing accomplishment are you most proud of?

BR: I’d have to say finishing my first YA fiction novel. I’m in the process of editing it but I still can’t believe I wrote 65,000 words. It was a big dream for me since I was little and I’m glad I bit the bullet and went for it.

BG: Congrats! That’s a huge accomplishment! (And good luck with the editing.)

Your blog, The Write Stuff , is great! I love that you include so many interviews with such a broad array of authors. Where did the idea for your blog come from? Did you know that you would be mostly doing interviews and giveaways when you started?

BR: Thank you! Long ago when I just wrote fiction in my spare time, I had a burning desire to be a published writer but I had no idea how to get there. I started a blog and began posting articles about the news and personal events in my life. Then, it hit me a couple months later I should interview authors about how they became published since it’s the biggest question I had at the time. How on earth do they do it??! Soon enough, I had a new interview every week on tips from published authors and I started to host book giveaways.

BG: What advice would you give to writers who are new to conducting interviews?

BR: Have fun with it and don’t be afraid to ask the questions you really want to know.

BG: Awesome advice.

So, what’s the story behind your other blog (26 Countries and 1 Kitchen)?

BR: My husband and I started the blog with the idea that we’d love for nothing more than to throw caution to the wind and travel around the world…except you’d have to call us Ishmael because we can’t cover the ever increasing airfare. So we decided to bring the world to us instead. The tastes and smells of different countries, minus the jet lag, would be invited and experimented upon with the help of our tiny kitchen. We want to sample the exotic cuisine of 26 different countries and share what recipes worked out for the average American and which ones turned out disastrous such as the Canadian Tourtiere meat pies or the orange Russian Borscht soup.

Unfortunately as with traveling, we got stuck in China and never left, so we’ve decided to come back State side for a few days of reflection and to cook a few comfort dishes, like Rice Krispies Treats with Champagne, before tackling Chinese cuisine.

BG: It’s a fun concept! (More importantly, when can I come over for Rice Krispies Treats?)

With two blogs of your own, you’re something of an expert on blogging! What advice would you give to writers who are new to blogging?

BR: Get in touch with bloggers who match your interest and ask for their advice. They can connect you in ways you can’t imagine.

BG: The network of awesome people who blog never ceases to amaze me. This is fantastic advice. Especially since, in my opinion, new bloggers often feel intimidated by other bloggers (especially more experienced and/or successful bloggers). You won’t know for sure until you go for it, but I’ve found the blogging community amazingly helpful and supportive.

Ages ago, I sent you my advice on querying magazines. Did it help, or have you found other techniques that you prefer?

BR: Absolutely, it did help! Your advice on writing a magazine query with a hook, outline, credentials, and closing was spot on. Best tips I could have ever received!

Thank you very much for having me on Inky Fresh Press!

BG: Of course! Thanks for sharing your advice with us, and for the AWESOME Beauty Giveaway!

Brittany’s AWESOME Beauty Giveaway

Brittany is offering a $25 Beauty Giveaway to one Inky Fresh Reader. The only requirement? You MUST “Like” The Write Stuff Facebook page to enter.

Here’s what you’ll win:

• No7 Boots Mineral Perfection Eye Shadow Palette in Heather ($8.99),
• Sonia Kashuk Primer Vitamin Face Serum ($17.99), and,
• Wet n Wild best-selling nail polish shade in Heatwave.

The winner is:

Erma!

I’ll be contacting the winner with details.

Happy New Year!

Visit this post for details.

Happy New Year!

Darian will be giving one Inky Fresh reader a copy of her book, LOVE UNFINISHED. Scroll to the bottom of this post for details.

BG: Why did you decide to self-publish?

DW: This was not my initial plan when I took on writing professionally; in fact it never even occurred to me to learn about self publishing. I held the same daydream a lot of writers do, a contract with a great agent, signed deal with a huge publisher, and one day you walk into Barnes & Noble and oh look, there’s your book! I queried, and queried, and queried, but life has a way of trying to point you in the right direction if you’re willing to listen.

A friend asked me when I would put my work on Kindle. “What? By myself? Well, I…I couldn’t do that, could I?” It baffled me at first, no agent, no publisher, like he was speaking gibberish. I begin researching, burying myself in books and websites until my eyes might bleed. I am a take charge woman, I like to be in control of my life, and the more I dug through the information the more I realized self-publishing would be a better fit for someone like me than traditional publishing.

I am the boss, I hold the power to my future, I make the decisions. Sure, it’s terrifying at times, but at the end of the day holding my own fate in my hands outweighs the worry.

BG: I love the comment from your friend. (“Why not publish on Kindle?”) For so many readers, they don’t seem to care about whether or not the book is published by a big publisher. They just want a great story!

What was the self publishing process like for you? 

DW: With self publishing you can do it all yourself, hire it all out, or mix it and do a little of both as I did. That’s the beauty of this route, the choice is yours. The formatting I tackled myself, and through Createspace, the printer, it’s a breeze because they have pre-formatted templates for every trim size. Other distributors, such as Kindle, Smashwords, and the like was a challenging task because every one requires a different formatting.

Not everyone chooses to hire an editor, but I did. It only takes a few minutes skimming through reviews to see readers can tell the difference between books that were professionally edited, and which ones weren’t. I wanted to give my book every advantage I could, and was in the position to handle the cost of an editor.

I also hired a cover designer, which ended up being a bit of a co-op deal. She’s a photographer, has amazing images, and I have enough knowledge that I could alter the images with her until we reached the final result. Which I couldn’t be more pleased with! But, having gained the knowledge that I did in this process, for the next book I will probably do it all myself.

While the whole process was at times stressful, tiring, and scary, it was a lot of fun for me. I love a good challenge. Once I decided to learn about HTML and create a website, just to see if I could. That’s the kind of person I am; if life doesn’t create a challenge, I do. So the challenge of publishing and becoming an Indie author was a very fun ride for me.

BG: (As a side note: I have to say — your cover is fantastic! Kudos to your cover designer!)  

I think it’s interesting to think about the challenge of self-publishing, and how involved an author has to be in the process. Although it might be more time-consuming, and difficult because you have to learn so many new skills (formatting, cover design, etc.), you really do have so much more control over how your novel is presented to the world.

What advice would you give to other writers considering the self-publication process?

DW: Invest in Tylenol, lots of it! Be prepared to be permanently sleep deprived, and did I mention overworked? Aside from that, I think the best advice is to give the biggest consideration not to the work involved, but what type of person you are, and what your goals are. If you’re a loosey goosey, take life as it comes kind of person, then don’t set goals, or expect, success like Amanda Hocking. If you’re not a very organized, or business minded person (sticky notes everywhere, what filing system?), then expect to put a lot more work into it. Because you’ll not only have the work of publishing, but the work of changing your thinking and habits to reach the goals you set for yourself.

This is a business, and you’re the owner, and that’s not something you can approach with a nilly willy attitude, unless you’re OK with nilly willy results. If you’re a take charge, goal oriented, or organized person, then the transition to Indie author will be easier for you. So you need to ask yourself what kind of person you really are, and what do you want out of it.

The last thing is that if what’s holding you back is fear of the amount of work involved, don’t be scared. While yes, there’s more work in that YOU are responsible for getting it published, acquiring ISBN’s and such, but on the marketing side you’ll find it’s not much different than traditional publishing. Particularly for first time novelists. Because of the economy and it’s affect on the industry, much, if not all, of the marketing now lies on the authors shoulders. This is why you see many authors ditching their publishers for self publishing. They’re doing the same work, but getting much more royalties with self publishing.

BG: Great advice, Darian! I think it’s exciting to consider the possibilities self-publishing opens to writers, but it’s also refreshing to hear your perspective.

What will you be working on next?

DW: Currently I’m working on finishing my second novel, REINVENTING CLAIRE. It’s the story of a woman who thought she was happily married, until her husband says he’s been cheating on her and wants a divorce. It’s her journey of self-discovery, finding out who she is without her husband, and that there is love after him after all.

BG: Sounds like another intriguing premise. Is there anything I didn’t ask that you would like to add?

DW: I would just like to thank you for the wonderful opportunity to be on your site and share this experience with your readers!

BG: The pleasure is mine, Darian. Thank you for the interview and good luck with your debut!

LOVE UNFINISHED Givewaway

To win a pdf copy of Darian’s book, LOVE UNFINISHED, leave a comment on this post by December 31st, 2011.

You can earn extra entries by:

• Commenting on Monday’s post, part one of this interview (+1),
• Tweeting about this giveaway (+1),
• Linking to this giveaway on Facebook or Google Plus (+2), or,
• Linking to this giveaway on in a blog post (+5).

Darian will also be giving away a copy of LOVE UNFINISHED to one lucky Inky Fresh Press reader. Scroll to the bottom of this post for details.

A little about Darian:

Darian Wilk lives in Michigan with her husband and two small children. She has a background in Nursing, and has worked as a Home Health Aid to the elderly.

In 2007, Darian’s mom was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. Darian quit working to tend to her mother, and it was in those three years of taking care of her that Darian realized how precious life really is. In her mom’s last year of life, Darian finally found the courage to pursue what her heart had always secretly longed for; becoming a writer. It was then that she started her debut novel, LOVE UNFINISHED, and continues her journey today.

BG: Please tell us a little about your book, LOVE UNFINISHED.

DW: LOVE UNFINISHED is about soul mates from the past, who die a tragic death on their wedding day, leaving their lives and love unfinished. They’re destined to meet again in new incarnations to fulfill that love, but she is already married, and he has vowed to never love again.

BG: Sounds like a great premise, Darian! Where did the inspiration for this story come from?

DW: Actually it came from a free writing journal exercise, where the idea is to write whatever thoughts you have, as you have them. This particular exercise was meant to be hand written, with an actual pen and paper. I am a laptop kind of girl! I dug up the notebook I wrote in, here is exactly what I wrote:

“Ok, so I’m supposed to open my mind and write…ok, I’m writing, see the words on the page? Write what comes to me, well, this isn’t looking like much now is it? Where are the ideas? My finger hurts, why do I always squeeze a pen so tightly? And now I have a blue smudge on my finger, maybe I should use my laptop. I wonder why the task of actually writing, with a pen and paper, seems like such a daunting task these days? Maybe technology is ruining us. Maybe life would be better like the good old days, when kids rode bikes instead of texting, when women stayed home with their kids, when life was simple and not so muddled with pretend busyness.”

As I finished that sentence, a scene start to play in my mind, of this young couple in the 40’s or early 50’s, I decided it was there wedding day. I wondered about how horrible it would be, to die on such a fine day, and thus the idea was born.

BG: It’s amazing how different hand-writing can be. (I’m a committed laptop user as well.)

Is LOVE UNFINISHED influenced by events you have experienced?

DW: Specific events, no, but I think it could be influenced by parts of my personality. I love technology, the freedom women have to be and do what we want in life now, and all of the modern conveniences we have in life that are all too often taken for granted. But, running through that is a lot of ‘old school’. I like staying home with my kids, making home cooked meals, playing an actual board game with my kids instead of letting them play a video game. I’m Kat Von D meets June Cleaver, and I think my love of ‘old school’ life perhaps played a roll in beginning of the story.

BG: Kat Von D and June Cleaver? That’s quite the combination!

What is your writing process like?

DW: I work best when the house is calm, when I can lean back and let my mind wander through the silence and see where it takes me. However, I am a mom to two kids, a wife, and we have a puppy. The amount of time in a day that I have such ideal surroundings to write in is minimal, so you learn to overcome, or cave. I learned to overcome the noise and distraction, but I absolutely cannot hold a conversation while writing. It completely throttles the moment, the momentum, the feeling of the scene I’m in. It’s like dancing the Waltz, when suddenly someone changes the music to 2 Pac.

Typically I do not edit as I go, but if a particular scene or chapter just feels very off to me, I absolutely rip it to shreds until it’s fixed. I do that because I feel if I move on, knowing a portion of it is wrong, I will be continuing on in the wrong direction.

BG: It’s inspiring to hear about someone who has a busy home life, but who still manages to make it work.

Who in your life has influenced your writing the most?

DW: I would have to say my mom. Any hint of talent I might have came from her; she had powerful words when she chose to touch pen to paper. She was my biggest supporter, always encouraging me to press on with my dreams and find my writers voice. I also think some of the biggest influences in a writers life are not a who, but a what…what we read. Whether a writer intends it or not, what we read has a large influence on how we write. Which is why you’ll hear a lot of writers say, “I write better when I read good books.”

BG: I completely agree. In my opinion, good books are the best teachers.

Stop by on Wednesday for the rest of Darian’s interview. She’ll be sharing the reason why she decided to self-publish, and her tips for aspiring self-published authors.

LOVE UNFINISHED Givewaway

To win a pdf copy of Darian’s book, LOVE UNFINISHED, leave a comment on this post by December 31st, 2011.

You can earn extra entries by:

• Commenting on Wednesday’s post, part two of this interview (+1),
• Tweeting about this giveaway (+1),
• Linking to this giveaway on Facebook or Google Plus (+2), or,
• Linking to this giveaway on in a blog post (+5).

Please leave your links in the comments.

Good luck!

BG: In your post on this trip, you mentioned that this is a “medical mission.” What does that mean?

CVM: Essentially, it’s a voluntary medical work camp. My team of 25 medical and non-medical professionals is traveling to Haiti to provide a free clinic to the village of Saintard and surrounding areas, including some rural areas we’ll reach either on foot or by bus. The farthest we’ll go on foot is a three hour hike up a mountain with all of our medical supplies. While there is a clinic (as well as an orphanage) located within the compound where we’ll be residing in Saintard, at least half of our time will be spent holding mobile clinics away from the compound. The clinics will include well and sick care for adults and children, prenatal and wound/disease treatment, surgical procedures if necessary and possible, and dental care and procedures. At the end of the trip, if we’ve collected enough funds, we’re also hoping to be able to donate some food to the nearby tent city.

BG: How did you get involved?

CVM: I was actually inquiring about a mission to Senegal (which included some medical care) that I’d heard about, but I was directed towards the Haiti work camp which seemed to suit me better as I would be working more directly with people (especially children) and because it was closer and required less time away from my own family. Too, it just felt like there was such a need there. I liked the idea that we would be focusing on the medical welfare of people who so desperately need it. My heart responded to it so I said, “Yeah, maybe.”

One day I received a phone call that said, “If you’re interested in that medical mission to Haiti, there’s a meeting tonight you need to go to.” So I went. At that meeting (which was the second for everyone else) they told us about the mission, showed some slides. And then they said if I wanted to go I’d need to put down a deposit. I didn’t blink an eye. Just wrote a check. And I was going to Haiti.

BG: Will your entire family be going to Haiti, or just you?

CVM: It’ll just be me. That’s what made it such a difficult decision—there’s a certain degree of selfishness involved any time you leave your family behind. I knew that my husband would have to take valuable time off work to take care of our children who will miss me, and I knew they would worry about me, that my mom would probably be on her knees praying for my safety most of the time I was gone. But I also know that Mission Haiti Medical is a well established organization and that I’ll be surrounded by doctors even in the event I got injured or sick. I don’t anticipate such a thing happening, but it does seem practical to travel with doctors when you’re going to an area with cholera and malaria. Ha.

BG: What kind of work will you be doing on the trip?

CVM: I will do whatever they need me to do. I’ll be blogging about our trip, documenting the goings-on, but I’ll be hands-on as well. Whether that means sorting pharmaceuticals, crowd control, holding makeshift lamps during surgical procedures, holding heads during dental procedures, or holding the hand of anyone who needs it.

BG: Have you traveled to developing countries before?

CVM: I’ve traveled all over, but I was born in Ecuador and lived there until I was seven. I’ve returned a number of times as a child and as an adult. And while Ecuador is not nearly in the dire straits that Haiti is in, I’ve seen intense poverty there. You’d have to be a hard heart not to be affected by the orphans in the street or the families living in stick huts on the hillsides. I suppose it was seeing that kind of severe want that has always made me long to act in some way. I always felt like I couldn’t do enough. I might still feel that way after Haiti. I don’t know.

BG: What are you the most excited about?

CVM: The children. It sounds really stupid, but I actually can’t wait to play with them. I can’t wait to hear them running and singing and laughing. I think a part of me just needs to know that no matter what they’re facing, children will find joy.

BG: What are you the most nervous about?

CVM: The children. I’m nervous about the part of my heart I might leave with them, with Haiti.

BG: What was it about this trip/cause that spurred you to action?

CVM: I don’t know. It’s a need I can’t explain. Perhaps it’s an accumulation of need over time.

Am I afraid? Hell yeah. But if I allow myself to be frightened away from something I am meant to do–something beautiful and rewarding–because of some selfish (violent) jackholes, I will never forgive myself. And something remarkable will be lost.

~From Carol’s blog

Here’s how you can help:

Carol will be taking packages of over-the-counter meds with her to Haiti. Due to a connection with pharmaceutical companies, she’s able to get meds at cost, which means that a donation of $20 dollars could provide medical support  for 60 people. If you can spare even a few dollars, it will make a difference. Visit Carol’s site to make your secure donation via Paypal.

The winner of Kim Kircher’s memoir, THE NEXT 15 MINUTES is…

Dennis!

The winner of Jim Fuller’s book, SOCKS is…

Ginny!

I’ll be emailing the winners with details.

Thanks for reading Inky Fresh Press!

Click here for details.