1 Dark Innocence Blog Tour: Rahima Warren Guest Post and Giveaway

 My Unusual Writer’s Journey

Once upon a time, I was a psychotherapist, minding my own business, and seeing my clients. I never thought I’d write a fantasy story, let alone a trilogy! Then one day, I wrote a little story in my journal. The idea was to write down my inner fantasy/dream character’s story so he’d stop bugging me. Big mistake!

That little story ignited a bonfire! Over a decade later, I’ve retired from my practice, and have written a dark, deep, spiritual and healing fantasy trilogy, entitled THE STAR-SEER’S PROPHECY. So far the first book in the trilogy, DARK INNOCENCE, has been published.

How’d this happen, you ask? It wasn’t my idea! The hero—his name is Kyr, by the way—had quite a journey to go on. The only way he could do it was to take over my life and turn me into a writer. Of course, I could have told him “no” and kept on ignoring him. But one thing I had learned on my journey was to honor whatever emerges from the unconscious/dreaming mind, no matter how uncomfortable; to give it artistic expression; and discover its message. At this point in my life, I was finally ready to listen to Kyr. I just had no idea what a long, deep journey I was getting myself into!

In fact, from one angle, it seems like my whole life was preparation to write Kyr’s story. I had to go on my own healing journey, which started during my first marriage in my 20s. I found myself spending hours contemplating homicide, but decided getting into therapy was a better idea. (LOL!) Having derived much healing and peace from my inner work, I wanted to help others in this way. So I went back to school in my late 30s, earned M.A.s in counseling psychology and transpersonal counseling, and my MFT license, and become a guide for others on their healing journeys. I was stunned by how much suffering and abuse people endure, and totally amazed by our ability to recover and heal ourselves with the right help.

Another part of my unwitting preparation to write Kyr’s story was learning to trust the messages of the unconscious mind. First, I learned to work with dreams through creative imagination. (You can see some of my dreamwork and expressive art on my site here:  www.soulplay.com) Then I delved deeper into working with the dreaming mind through sandplay therapy. Next, I become an expressive arts therapist, in which the creative process is focused on freely expressing whatever you are feeling or envisioning without any regard for art techniques or for producing ’fine art’ and/or pieces to sell. No critiques or even positive comments allowed! In all of these ways, I learned to ignore the inner critic/judge, go with the creative flow, and follow it to its natural conclusion.

After all this trusting creative play, I was finally ready. Kyr’s story blazed forth in a passionate, creative inferno. It was so much fun to write whatever came--no matter how dark--that I snuck off to write whenever I could, staying up late, neglecting the housework, and the marketing for my practice, etc. I wrote from my heart with no plan or outline. Being a psychotherapist, I did my best to imagine what Kyr would be feeling as he evolved from a cold, obedient slave of evil to a human, vulnerable man. In some sense, he was my alter-ego. I had to imagine being him, to see with his eyes, and write down whatever he showed me. It was an intimate relationship, a sort of thrilling, literary affair, and quite a lot of fun! If it had been work, such as outlining and plotting, etc., I never would have stuck with him and written his whole story.

After three years, I finished writing Kyr’s story, and realized that it is a powerful story with an important gift to offer, one of healing and “guidance through suffering,” as one reader has said. Finally, Dark Innocence, Book 1 of the Star-Seer’s Prophecy, was published by Rose Press in 2011, and now the e-book versions are available in all formats!

About the story, I’ll just say that Kyr’s dark and difficult journey brings him healing, redemption, and love. Yes, he does eventually fall in love – with Jolanya, a Priestess-Healer of the Banished Goddess. But to find out more, you’ll have to read the book. J

ABOUT Dark Innocence: Book One of the Star-Seer's Prophecy by Rahima Warren

The “twin-souled dark innocent,” Kyr, is a youth born and raised to blindly carry out the Soul-Drinker’s brutal commands. At first, Kyr’s one desire is death, the only escape from the Soul-Drinker’s hellish rule. Just when he is about to get his wish, the secret Circle rescues him. Now he has to choose between the familiar easy path of despair and death, or the hard path of healing, living, and a greater destiny, about which he knows nothing. How can a slave who has known only evil, pain and obedience choose to become a man of courage and compassion, and fulfill the Star Seer's Prophecy?

Giveaway Info

Rahima is giving away prizes, including an e-copy of her book at each blog stop on her tour AND a Grand Prize Giveaway of a Custom Jumbo Tote Bag with your choice of fan art, chosen from here: http://www.starseersprophecy.com/fan-art/, plus other goodies, including a signed copy of Dark Innocence for one lucky winner, shipped to anywhere in the world!

1)      To win a book: Leave a comment on this blog post about what is your favorite fantasy trilogy to be entered to win a book. Be sure to leave your email address in the comments so we can contact you if you’re the lucky winner. This giveaway ends five days after the post goes live.

2)      To win the Custom Jumbo Tote Bag with Rahima’s fan art of your choice, or a signed copy of Dark Innocence, or other goodies, click the link to go to Rahima’s website here: http://www.starseersprophecy.com/blog-tour/ and enter the Rafflecopter at the bottom of the page. A winner will be selected on June 21st.

Enter for the Grand Prize on Rahima’s website here: http://www.starseersprophecy.com/blog-tour/

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Or use this link: http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/share-code/MmE0MDZiZmU2OTBhOWFmOTJiNDU4OGFhZTYzMDhiOjg=/

Rahima Warren’s Bio:

Rahima Warren is the author of Dark Innocence: Book One of the Star-Seer's Prophecy, a deep, rich novel of the healing journey. With Master's degrees in Clinical and Transpersonal Psychology, she was in private practice as a licensed psychotherapist for over 20 years. In 2006, Rahima retired to focus on her expressive painting, creative writing, and spiritual studies.

In her work with clients recovering from abuse, she was awed by the human capacity to heal, and to reach new levels of forgiveness, wholeness and happiness. She also learned to trust the psyche's own process. This enabled her to allow a dark and mysterious story to flood forth unhindered: Dark Innocence: Book One of the Star-Seer's Prophecy. 

Rahima is a third-generation native of California and resides with her husband in Northern California, where she periodically chases squirrels off the wild bird feeders, and deer away from her roses. Her life-long love of fantasy is her parents' fault: they left sci-fi & fantasy magazines with fascinating cover art lying around the house.

Links

Rahima Warren’s website- http://bit.ly/YDWLdo

Read an excerpt of Dark innocence: http://bit.ly/11AqQ0o

Rahima Warren on Twitter: http://bit.ly/12dIIxc

Rahima’s Facebook Fan Page: http://on.fb.me/XZu15l

Rahima Warren on Pinterest: http://bit.ly/WBau8l

Dark Innocence: Book One of the Star-Seer's Prophecy on Amazon: http://amzn.to/11eiksn

Dark Innocence: Book One of the Star-Seer's Prophecy on Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/WTiwvA

0 Q&A with R.L. Bartram

1.Please tell our readers about your novel, Dance the Moon Down.
 "Dance The Moon Down" is an historical drama set against the background of the First World War. The novel attempts a new slant on an old theme by focusing on the lives of the women left behind. The novels central character, Victoria, has been married for  barely a year before her poet husband, Gerald, volunteers to fight and then goes missing on the Western Front, leaving her to fend for herself in a male dominated society. Her struggle to survive and her refusal to give up hope that her husband will one day return give the novel, I feel, a uniquely poignant flavor.
It is a story of human endurance. Of one young woman's courage and faith against almost overwhelming adversity.

2. Historical novels set in the WWI time period seem to be very popular. Why do you think this is?
People are always fascinated by global events, especially something on the scale of the Great War. However, I believe that it has more to do with what happened just after the war ended. The casualties were so staggering that the people who were left had to come to terms, to try and make sense of what had happened. The society of the day began to weave a legend around the whole affair, adding an element of romanticism, (the last golden summer of 1914) and furnished it with iconic symbols that suggested a time when personal honor meant more than life itself. A time populated by dashing young men and elegant young women, when gallantry and valor were the watchwords of the day. Add to that the undeniable sense of tragedy that comes through, even today, and it becomes a very potent concoction.
Some, or all of these themes regularly appear in any WW1 novel you care to read. In fact, as I well know, it's almost impossible to write a novel based on the First World War without including some of them. The legend of the Great War has persisted for a hundred years. I believe it will endure for a thousand more and even then there will be somebody weaving a story around it.

3. Victoria goes through a lot in this book. What do you think she'd say to you, given the chance?
 Would that be before or after she's punched me?  Luckily for me, she's too much of a lady to do that. I think, I hope, she would say "Thank you for making me strong. Thank you for bringing me through". I hope she would be glad that I had brought her into being and was proud that I had chosen her to represent all the women of that time, the unsung heroes, I think that should be,  heroines, of WW1, who made such a magnificent contribution to the war effort and for whom no monument has ever been raised. I think there might be a couple of other things that she might like to thank me for as well, but if I mention those, it might give too much of the plot away.

4.  How much of Dance the Mood Down is based on actual events?
About 75%.  Most of the incidents portrayed in the novel are based on actual events. All the historical facts are correct, they lend plausibility to the plot and give the reader a sense of "being there".  It took two years of research to assemble them. Weaving them seamlessly into the story was the hard part. I used the letters and diaries of some women who had actually been through the Great War to set the tone of the book. Naturally I didn't use the material word for word, but adapted it to fit the story and of course all the names are my own invention. I'm tempted to offer examples, but again, I think that would give too much away.

5. How did you come up with the title?
 During my research I read an article in "The Nation" a now obsolete periodical, written by John Galsworthy, the author of "The Forsythe Saga", in June 1914. Basically it was a critique of the times and of the younger generation, entitled "Studies In Extravagance, The Latest Thing". Among other things,  he said of them that they "had been born to dance the moon down to ragtime. Of course we now know that they in fact fought the bloodiest conflict of the twentieth century. The irony of this statement made such an impression on me that I was inspired to write my novel. Hence, "Dance The Moon Down" seemed the perfect title.

6. You're obviously a history lover. Is there a time period (other than WWI) that fascinates you?
 I'm very partial to ancient history, particularly Roman and Greek. The Victorian era also holds a special appeal for me. However, the period that particularly fascinates me is the time of the American Civil war. I suppose a lot of comparisons can be drawn  between that and WW1, but it is unique in its own way. I find the whole subject of the American Civil War quite compelling, so much so, that I'm planning another novel set in that period. This one will also have a female central character.  No- it won't be anything like "Gone With The Wind".

7. What is your writing process like?
Generally everything starts with an initial idea. From there I work up the sections of the story,  that interest me most at the time, until I have several chunks of disembodied plot. After that it's a process of marrying them together with a storyline, until I have a complete first draft. Then it's a matter of re-writing until I'm satisfied with everything. A novel will always run to several drafts. In the case of "Dance The Moon Down" it was six.
I always write in longhand. I find that's faster for me, especially when I'm on a roll and never commit the work to type until the final draft. I usually write from about 11pm to 3am. I like writing through the night, it's much quieter then and it's easier to hear my muse.

8. What are you working on right now?
I think I just let the cat out of the bag on this one. As I said before, it's a story based on the American Civil War. As with WW1, it's a subject that's been extensively written about, so I'm aiming at a new slant. There's a female central character, my favorite, and a ton of research to do if I'm to make it convincing. I think I've found a new angle and I'm happy with how it's progressing, but that's all I'm saying for now.

9.  Who is/are your favorite author(s)? why?
There are many, but the ones that stand out are Henry James, Ernest Hemingway and Herman Melville. James is a brilliant writer. His plots are perfectly executed and always with a superb twist in the tale. He's a master wordsmith. Hemingway's understated but quietly powerful style never fails to impress me. He seemed to have a unique perception of human frailty, probably based on his own, which comes through in all his novels. Melville's "Moby Dick" was, I think, a novel written before it's time. The psychological profiling of his characters is exceptional and cleverly underpins and drives the whole story along. Sadly it wasn't well received in it's own time, but now is rightly acclaimed as a masterpiece.

10.  What's on your desk right now?
You really want to know that? Alright then. To my left the notes for this interview and an empty cigarette packet. To my right a full packet of cigarettes,an ashtray and my glasses case, some letters to be posted and my tea mug. This mug holds a whole pint of tea which I drink black with no sugar. I usually get through three an hour. I'd die without tea. There are also the notes for my next novel nearby. In front of me is my computer. I'm only just getting the hang of this (it's only just replaced my typewriter). Mostly it's a pain in the rear with a mind of it's own, which never fails to throw me a curve when I least expect it, but I suppose that's progress for you.

Author Bio.
Born in Edmonton, London, Robert spent several of his formative years living in Cornwall where he began to develop a life long love of nature and the rural way of life. He began writing in his early teens and much of his short romantic fiction was subsequently published in various periodicals including "Secrets", "Red Letter" and "The People's Friend".
Never one to let the necessity of making a living get in the way of his writing, Robert has continued to write for the best part of his life whilst holding down a variety of jobs which have included Health Food Store Manager, Typewriter Mechanic and Taxidermist. Yes- you read that correctly.
His passion for the history of the early twentieth century is second only to his love of writing. It was whilst researching in this area that he came across the letters and diaries of some women who had lived through the trauma of the Great War. What he read in them inspired him to write his debut novel "Dance The Moon Down" and the rest, as they say, is history.
Robert is single and lives and writes in Hertfordshire.

Link to book: (UK)  http://www.amazon.co.uk/-/eB00A4E7JGA 
(US) http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006FKB9OU

0 Cleaning Off My Shelf Giveaway

Spring cleaning has turned into summer cleaning. And I've finally gotten around to it! I have a few duplicate books in my library that I want to pass on to some lucky readers. Each of these books need a new home. All books are new--never been read.  There will be four winners. To enter all you need to do is fill out the rafflecopter form below. You must be at least 13 years old to enter. This giveaway is open to US only to keep shipping costs down.


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0 Saturday Summer Oasis--Spring Water with a kick! And a giveaway!

"Spring Water"

2 liters of any kind of grapefruit citrus soda

2 liters of 7-Up or Sprite

Can of frozen limeade concentrate

Can of lemonade frozen concentrate

1 good quality bottle of rum (some people use vodka, but I like rum best!)

Mix well. Put a ton of ice in a pitcher and enjoy!!! Another idea is

to freeze the concoction in a large, empty (eating the ice cream is

half the fun) ice cream tub over night then scoop out like slush into

chilled glasses.

Jennifer DeLucy is author of The Light Series Trilogy. In addition to writing books, she also writes music. For more information about Jennifer and her books, check out her website: http://www.jenniferdelucy.com

I tried this recipe last night, and I can testify to its deliciousness. I used pink lemonade instead of regular and rum. As you can tell from the picture above I didn't freeze it either. It's a super easy and tasty drink recipe that will keep you cool all summer long. Not that I'm encouraging you all to become lushes. You should, you know, drink responsibly. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm off to drink more 'water'. While I'm gone you should totally enter the giveaway below. It's for a Light Series t-shirt and a signed copy of Seers of Light. Jen is willing to ship the prize anywhere because she's awesome like that. 

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0 Sally Smith O'Rourke Guest Post and Giveaway

To Read or Not to Read

Guest Post

Some years ago I re-read all of Jane Austen’s works which brought something to my attention that I’d never noticed before, perhaps because it was the first time I’d read them in succession. I realized that Jane Austen was a feminist, a gentle feminist but a feminist none the less. She wrote strong, intelligent women who were, for the day, independent thinkers and men who loved the women for those traits and not in spite of them. I was fascinated, not so much by her characters as the author herself. I wanted to know how it was that a woman in an era where women were, for the most part, not much more than chattel wrote about strong women and the men who love them. So I indulged myself by reading three biographies and the 160 surviving letters she wrote.

I discovered that her parents and brothers were feminists, at least to a degree. Her father educated his daughters the same way he educated his sons, at least up to the point of going to college. She still learned the ‘womanly’ activities like drawing, music and needlework but from the earliest age preferred reading and writing to every other activity. The support she received from her brothers after the death of her father was instrumental in her success. Not only did they provide for her (as well as her mother and sister) financially, Henry arranged for the publication of all her books. They never attempted to marry her off and made sure she always had the paper and ink so she could write. All the brothers were particularly proud of her ability and talent and in spite of the fact that she wanted some anonymity so had published as ‘a lady’ they couldn’t stop themselves from telling anyone and everyone that she was the authoress of Sense and Sensibility, Pride and Prejudice, Mansfield Park and Emma.

Something else I discovered was that most of the characters in her works could easily be identified as people from her own life experiences. Elizabeth Bennet’s relationship with her father is very much like the relationship Jane had with her own father. Jane, Elizabeth’s older sister is a reflection of Cassandra, Austen’s older sister. The one character in Pride and Prejudice, in fact in all her stories, who remains an enigma, is Mr. Darcy.

Here is a wealthy, although untitled, young man of the highest social standing who has the responsibilities of vast estates, which means a lot of people as well as the care of his young sister thrust upon very early in life. The situation makes him cynical, prideful and prejudiced particularly toward those not in his sphere. Being thrown in with those very people he distains and would judiciously avoid, he finds himself first attracted to and then falling in love with a women he considers beneath him.

Unable to control his feelings for Elizabeth Bennet he offers her his hand in marriage. He considers her his social inferior which he tells her during his proposal, still he is stunned when she refuses him (in fact he finds it inconceivable). She rebuffs him saying he has offended and insulted her. Horrified by her response he leaves, chagrined and mortified.

That however is not the end of it; this in no Cinderella story. Darcy is at first angry at the rejection but cannot escape the sting of her words, ‘had you behaved in a more gentlemanlike manner’. He reflects upon her reasons for rejecting him and finds himself dissatisfied by his own perceptions. He vows (to himself) to change those things she found abhorrent. Not in an attempt to win her for he is certain that is not a possibility, he makes a concerted effort to rectify those things because after introspection he realizes Elizabeth is right.

At their accidental meeting some months later he is determined that she sees the changes, again not to woe her, but to show her that he took her words seriously and to heart. She does see and is confused because she is certain his arrogance and prejudices were immovable, that implacability and resentfulness were shades in his character. But here he is, gracious and kind.

A few weeks later he saves her youngest sister from an elopement that would have ruined the reputation of her entire family. He does so with the help of her aunt and uncle whom he had derided in his proposal as low connections.

By the time she sees him again his transformation is complete and he is just as much in love with her as he was earlier possibly more, so risks a second proposal. He admits that she had properly humbled him by showing him “how insufficient were all my pretensions to please a woman worthy of being pleased.” She admits to being wrong about him as well then accepts his offer.

Darcy was unusual in 1813 when the literary world met him for the first time and he is unusual today and for all the intervening two hundred years. I can think of no era when a woman would not be touched by a man willing to change his perceptions and actions to better himself.

Yours Affectionately, Jane Austen and its prequel The Man Who Loved Jane Austen posits an explanation of how this character came to be. The what and who inspired Austen to write what even by today’s standards is an unusual and very romantic character.

A personal aside to this discussion is that the current interest (almost obsession) with Fitzwilliam Darcy has much to do with Colin Firth’s portrayal of the character in the Andrew Davies 1996 adaptation of Pride and Prejudice for BBC/A&E. By far the best adaptation ever done and the most touching portrayal. Firth’s Darcy coupled with the superb Jennifer Ehle as Elizabeth Bennet brought Austen’s characters to vivid life. I believe this production also brought about the resurgence in popularity of Jane Austen’s work. 

The audio book with Kendra Hoffman’s wonderful narration is now available at Audible.com, Amazon
 and iTunes

Trade paperback available at Amazon and eBooks available pretty much everywhere.

Yours Affectionately, Jane Austen

Was Mr. Darcy real? Is time travel really possible? For pragmatic Manhattan artist Eliza Knight the answer to both questions is absolutely, Yes! And Fitzwilliam Darcy of Pemberley Farms, Virginia is the reason why!

His tale of love and romance in Regency England leaves Eliza in no doubt that Fitz Darcy is the embodiment of Jane Austen’s legendary hero. And she’s falling in love with him. But can the man who loved the inimitable Jane Austen ever love average, ordinary Eliza Knight?

Eliza’s doubts grow, perhaps out of proportion, when things start to happen in the quiet hamlet of Chawton, England; events that could change everything. Will the beloved author become the wedge that divides Fitz and Eliza or the tie that binds them?

Follow the tour: Tour Schedule

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0 Finish The Series Reading Challenge

Hello fellow readers! I have decided that I am going to challenge myself to a reading challenge this summer. You see, I have a bit of a problem. I don't finish series. I don't know why. I get all the way to the last book of a series . . . then stop reading. 

Maybe it's because:

Then a few weeks I go I realized how stupid the whole thing is.

So I decided that I finally would address this issue once and for all.

And that's when I decided I was going to finish some of the series I've been holding on to for so long this summer. I went through my books and found quite a few. So many that I knew I couldn't possibly read them all this summer. So here's my reading list:

I also have Dead Ever After by Charlaine Harris on my Kindle.

Feel free to join me if you have this problem also. I'll be posting updates on my progress throughout the summer. I also have a few books that I might substitute for any of the above if the mood strikes me. Wish me luck fellow readers! 

0 Q&A with Lisa Becker & Giveaway

In your novel Click we get to know Renee, Shelley, Ashley, Mark, and Ethan through a series of emails. What can readers expect form the sequel, Double Click?

Double Click is the sequel to Click: An Online Love Story, the modern epistolary novel that book bloggers and reviewers called hilarious, clever and full of fun.  Double Click, which follows the same all-email format, picks up with the same main characters six months after the original books ends.  If the first book was about Renee’s search for love online, this book is about whether she and her friends have all found their “HEA” or “happily ever after.”  Through a marriage proposal, wedding, new baby and unexpected love twist, Double Click allows readers to cheer, laugh, cry and cringe following the email exploits of Renee and friends. 

Why did you choose to tell the story through a series of emails instead of the 'traditional' way?

Many years ago, I read a book called e by Matthew Beaumont which tells the story of a fictitious ad agency vying for a big account, with the story all told in emails.  I thought that narrative style would work really well for the story I wanted to tell about the online dating world.  It was a modern way of storytelling that fit the topic and the times. 

When writing emails, I sometimes find it hard to convey my emotions or tone to the recipient. Was this a challenge for you while writing Click?

Writing a novel entirely composed of emails certainly did pose some challenges and that was one of them.  I tried my best to establish each character’s personality so that it became apparent when they were being serious, sarcastic or sincere.  Emoticons were also a help.  But the hardest part was keeping the timeline and email exchanges organized.  Sometimes, I would have to look back a few pages earlier to make sure I had cc’d or bcc’d the right people on an email and that the subject lines were consistent.  In some cases, there were replies to forwards to replies.  Keeping it all straight was a challenge, but essential to the book’s format. 

In Click two of the characters sign up for an online dating service. Have you ever used an online dating service? Why kind of experience did you have?

My husband and I met online on a popular dating website.  After we married, I was recalling some of the hilarious experiences that I had with both traditional and online dating.  I decided to capture some of them in writing and from there, a novel emerged.  Click is loosely based on my real-life dating experiences, as well as stories friends have shared with me.  In some cases, things are written as they actually occurred.  Other scenarios are exaggerated for entertainment value or comedic affect.  And some scenarios are completely fictionalized. I really did go out on a date with someone I met online who started every story (no joke!) with “My buddies and I were out drinking last night.”  The ultimate goal was to create a fun read for anyone who has ever had a bad date, been in love, been dumped, or is searching for "the one."  But, the happy ending is real.  Steve and I have been happily married for 10 years and have two amazing daughters - ages 8 and 6. 

What advice would you give to someone who is new to online dating?

I’ve said many times before, if it happened for me, there’s hope for you.  And, as my grandmother used to say, for every chair, there’s a tush.  Love is out there; just be patient.  And concentrate on being a complete, happy and fulfilled person on your own.  When you are happy and secure in your own life, you will be much more attractive to someone else. 

Can we expect a third book in the Click series?

This reminds me of something my sister once said, and I’ve found it to be quite true.  The minute you start dating, people ask “when you are getting engaged?”  Once engaged, it’s “when are you getting married?” and once you are married, it’s “when are you having a baby?”  Well, I feel like I just gave birth to a baby and I’m not ready to have another one…not just yet.  A friend, after seeing the Double Click cover, said, “Can’t wait for part three, Right Click; the story of how Renee becomes a conservative and falls madly in love with a one percenter!"  While I don’t think Renee will become a member of the Tea Party anytime soon, I love the title.  So, you never know.  Right Click may be out there some day. 

What do you do when you're not writing?

I’m fortunate to have had a series of wonderful careers outside of writing including being a wife, mom, PR professional, college professor, volunteer and Girl Scout troop leader.  But, I’ve always wanted to learn to professionally decorate cakes.  Not only does it look fun, but really yummy!

What's your favorite summertime activity?

I live in a part of Los Angeles County called Manhattan Beach, less than two miles from the ocean.  I love walking along the strand, looking out over the ocean, searching for dolphins and playing in the sand with my girls. 

What's the best advice you've ever received?

I had interviewed Charles Rosen, one of the producers of the original Beverly Hills 90210, for an alumni magazine article while I was in graduate school. And I'll never forget what he told me, "Don't fall in love with your words, because somebody above will probably change them."  That advice served me well during my 15+ years in public relations.

What book are you dying to read?

More than a year ago, I read Michael Pollan’s nonfiction book, In Defense of Food, which examines the western diet and its effect on our health. His advice is simple: “Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants.” That, coupled with a viewing of a documentary called Forks Over Knives, which examines how many degenerative diseases can be controlled or reversed with a whole-food, plant-based diet, changed my life.  I’m now more than a year into being a vegetarian and have never felt better.  I just received “Forks Over Knives: The Plant-Based Way to Health” and am looking forward to learning more. 

Follow Lisa Becker of Facebook to find out more information. 

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0 Q&A with Kevin Moore & Giveaway

1. The title of your newest book is called Seven Out. Why did you choose this title for your book?

"Seven Out" is actually a term from the game of Craps. Most people think it's always good luck to roll a seven in Craps, but the majority of the time it's a bad thing. When you "seven out," the dealer clears the table of chips and takes all your money! Seven Out opens with Wil Driscoll and his partner in crime, Albert Crow, playing Craps in the casino on board a Mississippi riverboat while they wait for their contact who has information on a valuable historical artifact. That idea of "sevening out" is also a theme I carry throughout the story.

2. Describe the main character, Wil Driscoll.

Wil is a good guy at his core, but you would have to get to know him a long time before you would ever realize it. He's greedy, jaded about life, distrustful of others, a bit of a womanizer, and he has a penchant for being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Many heroes are almost Olympian in nature. What I mean by that is: they're infallible, they are the best at whatever it is they do, they always know the right thing to do at exactly the right moment and they always sail away into the sunset at the end. Wil certainly has his moments, but he's a broken hero. His moral compass doesn't point due North. Sometimes, he just isn't up to the task.  

3. Why did you spell his name with only one 'l' instead of two?

I actually met a Wil with one "l" in college at about the same time I was writing Wil's origin story. I thought it was extremely unique, so I tried it on for a few pages and it fit perfectly. 

4. Wil Driscoll seems like a scoundrel. What sort of shenanigans can readers expect from him in the future?

I hope to publish several more Wil Driscoll Adventures as short stories that can be read in one or two sittings. I think the action serial is a genre that has unfortunately been forgotten in reading culture for some time. The next short I plan on writing will take place in my hometown of Toledo circa 1930. I think that will be a fun little research project for me, and I hope it will be a fun read for members of the community. I also plan on taking Wil abroad and seeing how much trouble he can get into in a much larger work, but more on that in Question 7.  

5. How has your love for history influenced your writing?

For me, there's a deep level of enjoyment when I write an historical fiction. LIke you said, I do have a love for history and I even chose to pursue a master's degree in it. I'm a nerdy guy who likes research. In fiction, I like being able to recreate an era that's no longer with us. You would be surprised how many things we take for granted that need to be double checked in an historical fiction. For example, Wil walks into a room and switches on the light. Wait a minute, this is the 1920s. Does his location have access to electricity? Research reveals that if he's in a major city, yes, but if he's in the country, no. I try to get things as historically accurate as possible, and in doing so I try to educate my readers in an entertaining way.

6. If you could have dinner with any historical figure, who would it be? why?

George Washington, hands down. He's a very interesting figure in what I think is one of the most interesting times in human history, the tail end of the Enlightenment. George Washington has been called "The Indispensable Man," the linchpin behind whom everyone could rally. He's kind of an unlikely candidate for a great leader. Yes, he was an elite, but he wasn't the intellectual powerhouse that Jefferson was and he really wasn't that great of a general. But there was something about his character that inspired people. Interestingly enough, with that same charisma, he could have declared himself king and ruled for the rest of his life, but instead he became the first man to willing surrender the power of Caesar at the end of his second term.

7. So far, all of your books have been short stories. Do you have any plans to write a full-length novel?

I am currently drawing up ideas for a full length novel, which I hope to write this summer. Wil and Albert are on their way to North Africa to track down a legend from the ninth century. I will likely release a couple more short adventures before I finish the novel. I'm inspired by the way Sir Arthur Conan Doyle utilized both novels and short stories to construct Sherlock Holmes and I want to adopt a similar approach to the Wil Driscoll "universe." 

8. What is your favorite restaurant in Toledo?

As of late, I've been really liking a place called Balance Pan-Asian Grille, which has two locations in town. Their cuisine is a fusion of Korean, Chinese and Thai. It's pretty awesome. 

9. What book are you currently reading?

I like to read two books at a time, one in audio during my commute and one in hard copy. The audiobook I'm listening to is Edmund Morris' The RIse of Theodore Roosevelt, which is the latest contribution toward my goal of reading a biography on each president. The other book, which I am physically reading, is The Arabs: A History by Eugene Rogan. I'll give you a guess as to why I picked up this five-hundred page monolith.    

10. If you had to relocate to the moon, what three items would you make sure to bring with you?

Assuming I get to have my space suit as a freebie, I would take a Bible, the extended cut of The Lord of the Rings movie trilogy (plus associated equipment to play said trilogy) and one of those PODS moving containers filled with pens and paper for writing.

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2 Murder in Fact and Fiction Guest Post and Giveaway

Murder in Fact and Fiction

Guest Post by Elizabeth Buhmann, Author of Lay Death at Her Door

In the opening scene of Lay Death at Her Door, Kate Cranbrook learns that a man who went to prison on her eyewitness testimony has been proven innocent. That starting point—the exoneration of a man who has been incarcerated for more than twenty years—is lifted straight out of real world headlines. Since the mid-1990s, more than 300 people have been freed—some after serving decades for crimes they didn’t commit.

Like the fictional case, most real exonerations in recent years involve DNA profiling. Also like the fictional case, many if not most real overturned convictions were based on eyewitness testimony that turned out to be false. But here’s where we enter the realm of fiction: In real cases, the mistaken testimony is almost always just that—mistaken. In Lay Death at Her Door, Kate was not mistaken—she was lying.

Kate has done something unthinkable. At the age of twenty, after witnessing a murder and being beaten and raped, she deliberately accused an innocent man. And for twenty years she lived with the knowledge that he was in prison for something he didn’t do—because of her. It’s an appalling situation, one that cries out for explanation. We know she did it to protect herself—but what on earth could her situation have been, and what sort of person must she be, to have found herself on such a path? The answer is pure mystery fiction!

Although it opens with a forensic development, Lay Death at Her Door is not a police procedural, and the focus of the story is not the exoneration or a cold case investigation. Kate does not even come under scrutiny for her false testimony. This again is reality: Rarely would anyone double back to lay blame on a discredited witness. Victims are shielded from blame, and rightly so, in the real world. The fictional Kate, to add to her burden of guilt, flies under the protection of rape shield laws, her very name off-limits to legitimate media.

The character of the victim advocate, Diane, though wholly fictional, is realistic and has a realistic back story. Her role in the novel is pure drama, though—she serves as a conduit of information from Kate to her nemesis, a homicide detective who never did believe Kate’s story. In the book, a classic game of cat-and-mouse then brings a secret past to light.

In reality, at best we hope to feel sure the right person has been blamed and punished for a crime. The mystery novel offers something more: Everything is tied up and explained in the end. In real life, the need to know why is almost never satisfied. In the realm of fiction, the darkest deeds come within the reach of understanding. It is the theme of every murder mystery that justice will be done and the truth will out! Lay Death at Her Door is no exception.

Elizabeth Buhmann worked for twenty years at the Texas Attorney General’s Office. Lay Death at her Door is her first novel.

**EXCERPT**

“Don’t say a word.”

Adrian

 The room smells musty, unused. Kind of like the back storage buildings on the farm, or the old cellar the Chesanings don’t use any more where we explore and play games. Shafts of sunlight slant through the cracks in the heavy, dark red curtains, and when I take a step, more puffs of dust cloud the air. Chairs covered in white blankets line the walls and tower over me in stacks almost as high as the ceiling.

“What do you think they’re doing out there?” I whisper, but it’s so quiet, I could be shouting.

My servant, Will, shushes me. “If you listen closely, I bet you can hear your First talking.”

I creep over to the door and press my ear against it. Nothing. As if no one’s on the other side. “Isn’t this the Release Ceremony? Shouldn’t I be out there with him?”

Will nods, leaning against the wall, crossing his arms in front of him. “That’s normally how it happens. This is… odd.”

“Did I do something wrong? Did I make Thoreau mad?” I bite my lip to keep it from trembling. Grow up, Adrian. Stop acting like a baby.

“No, of course not.” He flashes me a quick grin, but I can tell he’s nervous.

“Are you sure?” I hate it when my voice is all shaky like a little baby’s.

“Definitely. I would know if there was a problem.” He shrugs, and a bar of light illuminates his carefree smile. “I bet it’s to save you from having to sit out there for the whole ceremony. Some of them can get pretty long.”

On the other side of the door, I hear clapping. An old man’s voice rises up as the applause dies.

“There, you see?” Will says. “Nothing to worry about.” I turn away and tune him out so I can listen to Thoreau.

“Thank you, my friends, for this most welcome reception. As a First, I’ve lived for hundreds of years, influenced this country in ways the average person can’t even begin to comprehend. With your continued support, and that of Princeton, I will use your gift to change the future and create a better tomorrow. Thank you.”

A dull roar follows his words, and I fidget in my seat, watching the door. My eyes dart to Will.

“This doesn’t make any sense, Will. I should be out there.”

“I’m sure they’ll call you shortly, Adrian. Maybe the usual waiting room was unavailable and—”

A loud boom shakes the room, and I almost fall down. The chairs weave back and forth in their towers, and millions of dust particles rain down. Will shoves me away from the wall and pushes me toward the back of the room.

“Move, now!” he shouts, but my ears are ringing, and I cough from the dust. He looks behind us at the door and forces me to move faster.

“Murderer! Child killer! Free the Second!” a loud, mechanical voice shouts from the other room. “Free the Second! Free the Second!”

There’s more yelling, but I can’t make out what they’re saying. Another, quieter boom. Will pushes me to a narrow closet.

“In here,” he hisses and shoves me inside. We stay like that for what feels like a couple hours before the door to our main room bangs open, and I hear the heavy clomping of boots.

“You in here with the Second, boy?” Will stays silent. There is a general grumbling outside, some swearing my mother would never approve of, then the deep, gravelly voice speaks again. “Alpha Code One, this is Underground Robin. Is the cargo safe and accounted for? I repeat, is the cargo safe and accounted for?”

Apparently these are magic words for Will because relief washes over his features.

“Who wants to know?”

“Papa bird.” The men march over to our closet and slide open the door. “Good spot, boy.” The head guard, an older man with a pinched face and a permanent frown sheaths his Artos. The other guards keep theirs out. Why? Is it still dangerous?

“What’s going on out there?” Will asks.

“Nothing we didn’t expect. Stupid rebels, always doing things half-assed.” He grins. “Let’s go.” One of them reaches out for me, but I jerk away.

Will touches my shoulder, reassuring me. “It’s okay, Adrian. We’re safe now.”

I shake my head and step back. “Where are we going?”

“Someplace safe.” The head guard takes my arm roughly in his. “Don’t worry. We won’t let anything happen to you.” One of the other guards laughs, as if that’s somehow funny.

“Is… my First all right?”

“He’s fine, boy.” He drags me from the closet. “Now let’s go.”

“Where?” My feet skitter, trying to find purchase as the guard forces me to follow him. The other men glance at each other, at me, then away again. Even Will won’t meet my eyes. Fear freezes me, and I dig my shoes into the thick carpeting. “Will? What’s going on?”

“Nothing,” he answers too quickly. “Just a trip down to the medical center, to make sure you’re all right.” He tries to give me another smile, but he’s lying about something. I can feel it.

“But I’m fine,” I protest as the guard pulls me to the side of the room, behind the curtains where, instead of a window, there is another door. “Can’t you just tell them that? I’m fine. I just want to go back to my room.”

Will shakes his head, sadly. “I’m sorry, Adrian, I really am.”

“What’s going on? Why are you sorry? Will?”

“Let’s go,” one of the other guards growls from the rear of our group. “We don’t have all day. Some of us have work to do.”

Book Links:

Kindle: http://www.amazon.com/Lay-Death-Her-Door-ebook/dp/B00CYMBUXI/

Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/lay-death-at-her-door-elizabeth-buhmann/1115408626?ean=2940016675145

Kobo: http://www.kobobooks.com/ebook/Lay-Death-at-Her-Door/book-WFRJw802YEebJ97R1uaK0g/page1.html?s=1xM0GppZSk6wvk0nfPFwew&r=1  

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17742954-lay-death-at-her-door?auto_login_attempted=true  

Author:

Website: http://redadeptpublishing.com/elizabeth-buhmann/    

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/elizabeth.buhmann.3

RAP Book Page: http://redadeptpublishing.com/lay-death-at-her-door/

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5 Saturday Summer Oasis--Summer Days Berry Dessert

Welcome to Saturday Summer Oasis where every Saturday this summer we'll feature a different author and their favorite summer treats. Today, Susan Mallery shares her delicious Summer Berry Days Dessert.

New York Times Bestselling Author

SUSAN MALLERY

Summer Days Berry Dessert

Ingredients:
6 C fresh strawberries, raspberries, and blueberries
1 T brown sugar
2 T Cointreau or other orange-flavored liqueur
3 slices of bread or 2 dinner rolls
2 T butter, softened
1 T brown sugar
1/8 t teaspoon cinnamon


Instructions:
Wash and drain the berries. Cut the strawberries into pieces. Toss the berries in a bowl with 1 T brown sugar and liqueur. Put
into a deep pie pan if you plan to bake it in the oven, or into an aluminum pie pan if you plan to cook it on the grill. In that
case, build up the sides of the aluminum pan with aluminum foil so the bread layer won’t fall out.
Tear the bread into pieces. Pulse in a food processor with the remaining ingredients. Sprinkle breading layer over the fruit.
Bake uncovered at 400 degrees for 20 minutes, or the same amount of time over indirect heat on a warm but not hot grill.

SUSAN MALLERY
read. laugh. love.
more free recipes at www.susanmallery.com!

*I've tried a couple of her recipes and they are delicious.
Be sure to check out her Fool's Gold series if you 
haven't already. It will make your summer even hotter!