Blog Archives

What Life Throws At Us

A.G. Flitcher Author Interview

A.G. Flitcher Author Interview

Boone and Jacque: Saddleton Haunting follows three kids who set out on a perilous quest to restore order and peace to their haunted town. What was the inspiration for the setup to your story?

This installment of the series concludes the three characters youth. In which I explore their mental growth. As for inspiration, I thought about my own troubles as a teen and child. Feeling like I had to grow up by myself. My father and mother taught me a lot, but I learned a lot about myself through my own reflection.

Secondly, I wanted to show how a person can learn about themselves throughout life without the influence of peers and parents. Sure we take lessons from all people, strangers or those we know well, but ultimately, it’s what life throws at us that makes us grow.

Boone, Shammy, and Jacque are interesting characters that are fun to follow. What were some driving ideals behind your character’s development?

Boone’s development had to do with untethering himself from the bad memories of his parents. Specifically when they started drinking and becoming neglectful. In addition, he had to learn how to deal with grief even though no one taught him how to do it in a healthy way.

Luckily Shammy was there to help him. However, she had her doubts about him because he wasn’t really showing any emotion until he decided to put his guard down and let the grieving process take over him.

Because she wasn’t meant to be a central character, I kept her development a little more internal. That way the readers can still her growing without overshadowing Boone and Jacque. She was unsure of her sexuality due to feeling distant from Boone. But once he started opening up, she realised it wasn’t her sexuality she wasn’t sure of. It was her trust and bond to Boone.

Jacque was unsure of his sexuality because he, nor the others, was taught about sexuality. He could be seen as gay at first, but he’s actually pansexual.

What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?

Sexuality, Greed, Power, Grief, Love, Feminism, Trauma, and Fear.

What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?

I’m working on the fourth installment of Boone and Jacque.

The subtitle was originally The Arnaud Murder, but I decided to change the title.

The story focuses on a murder of Jacque’s uncle, but the story runs far deeper than the mystery of a murder.

It will be out late 2022.

Author Links: GoodReads | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram

A strange being looms over Saddleton. Boone, Shammy, and Jacque must restore the balance in power and peace in this haunted town. However, just like in the beginning, there is no telling what will become of them in the end. Not even those in power and the sheep that follow them.

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We Go On A Journey

Christopher St. John
Christopher St. John Author Interview

War Bunny follows a young bunny who’s banished from her warren and must face a dangerous post-apocalyptic world alone. What was the inspiration for the setup to your story?

When my partner and I first started collecting rescue bunnies ten years ago, I knew nothing about rabbits. Like most people, I had been acculturated to think of rabbits as living plush toys: 24/7 snugglers created to be pets for tween girls.

I was surprised to discover how complex their lives were. How territorial they were. And how fierce.

We were bringing home rabbits one or two at a time from rescue organizations, and we gave them free run of the house. We did not know then that rabbits who don’t know each other may be highly suspicious on first meeting, and very protective of their perquisites.

We attempted to make them all one big happy family (called “bonding” in rabbit parlance) and were shocked to learn they had minds of their own.

The rabbits eventually organized themselves into two opposing gangs, each with its own leader. They competed for territory. They competed to control food, even though there was plenty for everyone. And they competed to monopolize the petting that came from the two amiable herb-dispensers and litter-box attendants who hovered over their world. Watching this, I was amazed at how “human” they were. 

Anastasia is an intriguing and well developed character. What were some driving ideas behind your character’s development?

Making any change in the world also means making changes in yourself. We go on a journey with Anastasia and she struggles to find her way out of the maze of beliefs she has been taught. The innermost kernel of herself is her guide. That is the thing that she will not give up. It’s her foundation in terms of judging what to do next.

What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?

Often the “truths” about the world are drummed into us at a very young age. In our own lives, we see enormous evils that we are taught cannot be changed because “they have always been this way.” Acquiescing is what the predators want you to do. If a rabbit can take on a world that assigns her the role of “victim,” so can you.

What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?

War Bunny is the first book in a series. The next book, Summerday, picks up right where War Bunny leaves off. I’m working on it now and it will be published in 2022.

Author Links: GoodReads | Twitter | Facebook | Website

War Bunny: Book 1 in the War Bunny Chronicles by [Christopher St. John]

A young rabbit fights back against a world that assigns her the role of “victim.”

In a post-apocalyptic world where humans are extinct and animals thrive, rabbits believe their god, Yah, has decreed that they must be Glorified by a Blessed One. That means becoming a predator’s meal, accepting their fate in a surrender called the Giving.

But Anastasia, a brown yearling doe living in Bloody Thorn Warren, is different from the other rabbits. She starts asking pointed questions of the warren elders and gets exiled for it.

Without a warren, she’s enormously vulnerable, but she reaches out to others in desperate straits. Soon, she’s leading a group of outcasts in a ferocious battle for survival—and maybe even freedom. It’s a fast-paced story about friendship, honor, love, and coming of age.

A great adventure read for teens and adults! (Fantasy, 13+)

Summerday, Book 2 in the War Bunny Chronicles, will be published in 2022.

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Humanity’s Biggest Problem

Alan Felyk
Alan Felyk Author Interview

Damaged And No Longer Under Warranty is book two in your Infinity’s Trinity series. What were some new ideas you wanted to explore in this book that were different from book one?

I think we all agree that nothing in this world is perfect. And if we believe in a creator, be it an individual or a force, does that mean the world was designed to be imperfect? Or did the creative force just have problems with all the details? I chose to explore that latter possibility. In addition, I often thought about what I would do to improve the world if I had the power of deity. I agree with Kurt Vonnegut, who believed that loneliness was humanity’s biggest problem. So, that became Paul Tomenko’s biggest challenge at the end of the novel.

I enjoyed the variety of characters in your story. Who was your favorite character to write for?

Allie Briarsworth was my favorite. She was the only character in the book who was “built from scratch.” I patterned everyone else in the book after a real-life character or celebrity. For example, Maggie Mae Monahan was an ex-girlfriend who required no embellishment. I still think she was the smartest person I’ve ever met. Whenever I wrote about Dr. Peter Lexington Townshend, I envisioned actor Peter O’Toole and that devilish smirk that he always seemed to display. But Allie was a patchwork of several women that I’ve known. She was a blend of intelligence, beauty, stubbornness, and sarcasm—someone who could easily embarrass Paul in public settings with sexual innuendos.

You tackle some grandiose scientific ideas in your story. What interests you in science and how do you bend that for your stories?

Some people believe that all science fiction writers understand such disciplines as astrophysics, biology, and chemistry. Certainly, there are those who could teach college-level courses in such areas. I tend to explore the “big picture” and not get bogged down in scientific detail. I’m the writer who will tell you the USS Enterprise used a warp drive for propulsion. Other writers will include a “word schematic” of the drive that includes all the parts and pieces. I don’t have the scientific knowledge to do that, but I’m smart enough to know that someone would shout “BS” if I tried. I like to focus on all the questions we have about our existence. No one really understands time and how it functions. We just assume that “yesterday you” and “today you” aren’t sitting in the same chair simultaneously. But then again, can we really say that isn’t happening? Hahaha.

What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?

My next novel, Time To Split, is about an everyday man who discovers that his universe is a computer simulation created by an interdimensional race. Not only are they manipulating the lives of everyone, but a group within the simulation is creating their own alterations. It will raise some interesting philosophical questions. Should we actually care if someone is pulling the strings in the background? It’s not like we can do much about it. Or, CAN we?

Author Links: Goodreads | Twitter | Facebook | Website

Damaged And No Longer Under Warranty (Infinity's Trinity Book 2) by [Alan Felyk, Cindy Swanson]

The battle to preserve eternity continues …

For Paul Tomenko, relocating trillions upon trillions of life forms on Earth to the Paraverse wasn’t all that difficult. So easy, in fact, he does it in his sleep. After slipping into a coma, Paul uses his latent divine knowledge to create the Paraverse while imagining 50 more years of continued life on Earth. Then he dumps—no pun intended—an incalculable number of souls residing in his lower intestinal tract into the new domain with the simplicity of a bowel movement.

But preserving the promise of eternal existence comes with a cost. Forced to abandon Maggie Mae Monahan, one of his two lovers, and two neo-Neanderthal children (Gronk and Grita) in what becomes known as the Originverse, Paul travels to Neoterica to begin anew with Allie Briarsworth, his other lover.

As default caretaker of the new expanse, Paul discovers he has committed a string of blunders that endanger forevermore. He can’t remember how he structured the Paraverse, and the schematics are deep inside him, retrievable piece by piece only when he makes eye contact with Allie. Unable to summon a heavenly version of Home Advisor to repair his expanse, Paul reassembles the Bioprovidence research team to make the needed modifications. But the crew lacks three of its essential members who are still in the Originverse. Challenged to create duplicates of the trio, he reluctantly does so, worried that a replica of Maggie Mae will re-create the love triangle that tormented him on Earth. And if all that wasn’t enough, the Cassamarians, fire-breathing alien insectoids determined to destroy humanity’s standing as the chosen species, have breached the barrier separating the Originverse and Paraverse.

In this sequel to Damaged Beyond All Recognition, Paul discovers how the cosmos began and who created the first universe. In doing so, he realizes he might have the power to do what untold gods before him did not: eliminate the number one scourge for all life forms.

Most of the supporting cast from the first Infinity’s Trinity novel returns in this book: Cher the Gatekeeper and Katharine Ross the Librarian, figments patterned after two celebrities for whom Paul has lusted; Gronk and Grita, two “resurrected” six-year-old neo-Neanderthals who are the most intelligent humans on Earth; Tsutomu Yamaguchi, an innovative bioengineer named after a Japanese man who survived nuclear bomb blasts in Hiroshima and Nagasaki; and Dr. Peter Lexington Townshend, the former head of Bioprovidence now forced to assume a job he detests. In addition, some new characters join the ensemble: Dzhambo the Ukrainian Vodka-Drinking Circus Bear, Paul’s self-appointed bodyguard; a sassy Tina Turner-lookalike who patrols the most significant storage unit among the stars; and Rovert, an asylum-seeking Cassamarian who is desperately in need of dietary change.

Buckle up for an existential trip oiled with humor that glides across all that has been on the way to all that we hope will be.

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Grievances And Blind Hatred

Author Interview
Henry Helbog Author Interview

Blood Feud finds Flint in the middle of a family feud and becomes the target of the Morgan family patriarch when he kills his eldest son. What were some sources that informed this novel’s development?

I drew inspiration from the Graham-Tewksbury and Hatfield-McCoy feuds as well as feuds involving Scottish clans. The opening scene in Blood Feud is loosely based on a shootout at the Tewksbury ranch in which John Tewksbury and William Jacobs were killed outside the ranch. There was a poignant moment during that shootout in which Tewksbury’s wife, Eva Tewksbury, came out with a shovel to bury her husband and Jacobs. The Grahams, who’d been firing on the ranch for hours, withheld their fire until she’d finished burying them and gone back inside. I was going to include a variation of this scene in my opening chapter, but I couldn’t quite find a way to fit it in.

What were some obstacles you felt were important to defining Flint’s character in this story?

Flint felt from the start that it was imperative he not take sides in the blood feud and be as neutral as possible. But at the same time, he had to focus his attention on protecting the members of one of the families — the Whitcombs– since it was they who had hired him. He even originally had notions of trying to help negotiate an end to the feud, which soon went nowhere. For Flint, it was probably an impossible situation from the start, but, as usual, he needed the money. He could have backed out of the arrangement when he realized just how intractable, vicious and hell-bent on killing each other both sides were, but he’d already given his word that he’d protect the Whitcombs. And at that point, pulling out would have meant letting down the most innocent members of the family, who would have been more vulnerable than ever.

What were some new ideas you wanted to introduce in this book that were different from your previous books?

Inheriting the grievances and blind hatred of previous generations can have disastrous consequences. Instead of continuing to take part in an ultimately futile conflict, it’s best that both sides find it within themselves to establish a truce and live for the future, not the past. However, that’s easier said than done.

What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?

The next one in the Flint series is Vengeance, which needs to bake just a little longer in the oven before it’ll be ready. It’s something along the lines of a murder mystery, though of course is set in the Old West. One by one, a group of men who have a common link to a nefarious period in their past are murdered. Flint is brought in to investigate the murders and unmask the perpetrator before they are all killed.

Author Links: GoodReads | Amazon

United States Marshal Flint, retired, is hired by the Whitcomb family to protect the Whitcombs from attacks by a rival family, the Morgans. For thirty-five long years the Whitcombs and Morgans have been sworn enemies. Dozens of family members in that time have been cut down in the prime of life. But the worst may be yet to come as the killings begin to escalate.

When Flint kills the eldest Morgan son during a raid by the Morgans, he is inexorably drawn into a conflict he wanted no part of. Now he too is fair game. Thaddeus Morgan, the ruthless, fanatical patriarch of the Morgans, vows that Flint’s days are numbered.

Will Flint survive the bullet of a sharpshooter sent to assassinate him? And, even if he does, will he be able to stay alive during the final battle between the two bitter rival families in their longstanding blood feud?

An Odyssey Of Self-Discovery

JAFE DANBURY
Jafe Danbury Author Interview

Leaving Phoenix follows a young woman who heads west to uncover a family secret but the answers come at a terrible price. What was the inspiration for the idea behind this thriller?

The inspiration for my follow-up novel, Leaving Phoenix, came to me following a pilgrimage to Arizona to visit my sister. The magic of the Arizona desert, in recent years, has really hit me like a lightning bolt. Something about it resonates deeply with me––from the saguaros to the roadrunners, and everything in between.

The idea of creating an exciting thriller against that backdrop was entirely dependent on my coming up with an interesting character I could completely get behind, and I wanted to create a strong female protagonist this time out. I also wanted to make the story an odyssey of self-discovery and empowerment, and I wanted to have it take place––at least initially––in the 1970s. Once I had the main character established, I had to dig deep and flesh out her backstory and, in doing so, I decided to deal her a horrifically-bad hand of cards to deal with.

Once the timeline was decided upon and the backdrop (Arizona) was established, I decided to make her quest for the truth evolve during a soul-searching–and perilous––road trip to California. With “Point A” being Arizona and “Point B” being another very special place to me, the central coast region of Monterey County, California, I began my plotting. This required my doing an inordinate amount of research, to the point of procuring copies of vintage maps of all of my regions, as well as historical and cultural references to assure authenticity, as the story spans a couple of decades. Music plays a huge part in this story as well, thus the book has a killer “soundtrack!”

Phoebe is a character that I enjoyed following. What were some sources that informed her character development?

For Leaving Phoenix, the idea for the main character, Phoebe, came to me very clearly. It started in dribbles, really, but her physicality presented itself vividly. As I started weaving the intricate plot, this young twenty-something, Phoebe, became subjected to some pretty brutal truth-bombs, and it’s a piece of cryptic correspondence from a mysterious stranger in California that sets her on her quest for the truth and, as it turns out, brings her to the crossroads with great peril. The byline on the back cover of the book reads, Everyone has a past. How prepared are we to go there? That’s the task––and the challenge––I put before Phoebe. The result is a visceral page-turner, as well as a heartwarming story of redemption, with a most satisfying ending. It’s been called a high-octane thriller with a lot of heart, and something to say.

What were some challenges you set for yourself as a writer with this book?

In deciding to make this a “period” piece, I chose to have the story start in 1974. The reason for that wasn’t arbitrary, as there were certain plot points that were dependent on that period, as well as cultural references, and societal attitudes that related to it. As I mentioned, music plays a large part as well, and I created mixed tapes for Phoebe to listen to her during her journey. The song choices not only bely her feelings but serve metaphorically as well, and serve to shape her. I created several playlists, and even tasked myself with making sure the songs all timed-out accurately to the cassettes she created. There were several songs I had to seek out licensing for as well, and that alone was a huge challenge. As the story spans some twenty-five years, so do the references, and I did painstaking research to assure it was both convincing and interesting. Readers of Leaving Phoenix have mentioned how impressed they were with the research I’d done to create this story, and they loved the music.

What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?

As the book was only recently released, I’m still trying to get this one safely out of the harbor. Some people have suggested that I might consider writing a sequel to Leaving Phoenix, as the characters were very well drawn. I may consider that, down the road, but if another lightning bolt hits me along the way, I may run with that. Sometimes lightning hits twice, or even thrice, as my debut novel, THE OTHER CHEEK, was awarded a Finalist prize in the Best First Novel category at the 2020 Next Generation Indie Book Awards. I’m also seriously considering adapting Leaving Phoenix as a screenplay, because there is an awesome movie there, plus the book’s cover is already movie poster worthy––not to mention the built-in soundtrack album… It’s the whole package! Stay tuned!

Author Links: GoodReads | Facebook | Website

EVERYONE HAS A PAST.
HOW PREPARED ARE WE TO GO THERE?


Born in a crucible, Phoebe has been living on borrowed time. Faced with a series of excruciating truths and a cryptic letter from a mysterious stranger, she becomes consumed with learning the truth about her past.

In the course of her journey, she finds that answers may come at a terrible price as she begins to witness an insidious evil and underbelly to her existence she could have never imagined.

– – – – –

From the award-winning author of THE OTHER CHEEK, a story of descent into a nightmare existence of abuse at the hands of a close family member, comes the thrilling tale of self-discovery that results after becoming embroiled in the decisions and lives of strangers.

When twenty-something Phoebe LaFlamme heads west to pursue further details of baffling correspondence filled with stunning evidence of a family secret, she has no idea of the danger she unwittingly chases. Can she trust the letter’s mysterious author? What else does this person know? Are this person’s associates as well-intentioned as she wants to believe?

And will Phoebe have any hint at all of the danger she draws closer toward?

LEAVING PHOENIX

A Victim Can Win

Mary J Schalla
Mary J Schalla Author Interview

Escaping My Predator details your experiences in an abusive relationship and the ordeal of bringing him to justice. Why was this an important book for you to write?

I started writing my story as a way to document everything that had happened to myself and my children. I didn’t want my story to disappear like so many others do. As I continued to write my story while continuing to go to court with my abuser, I realized I had to try to help others. I had to google a ton of information for my next steps to fight my abuser, and I realized someone in a way worse off position than I was in, wouldn’t think to do that. I wanted to make the court process slightly easier, by explaining where I had contact, explaining the protection orders I asked for and received, and also applying for a private information and how I was able to have charges laid on my abuser. Many do not know that this is even an option.

I also wanted my book to have the resources I was able to use. I wanted to show people that there are many resources to help them through something like this and to also give them an idea of how those resources help. I had to show people that a victim can fight and that a victim can win.

Upon completion of my book, my only goal at the time was the hopes of it helping even one person. Today my book is being read by police officers, lawyers and victims. My book won’t just help victims of domestic violence, it will help the police to understand that when they respond to a call like this, it is a call a victim will never forget. That call for the victim and how it is responded to will either save their life so they can escape if they haven’t already, or it will harm them further, possibly sending them back to further abuse and/or possible death because they felt unheard and now feel hopeless. My book details how I had a couple of officers who were very involved in my case, who took the time to listen, to document every detail, and who understood that I was calling because I was scared for my life and that of my children.

The police understood the importance of keeping my children safe from my abuser. They also understood the dire need I had, to ask them to come to court with me to explain to the Judge why my children and myself needed such protection. It will help family law lawyers and emergency protection lawyers better understand why it’s important victims fight for their safety and that of their children. This book gives them more than a glimpse as to where changes need to be made, from the first time they connect with a victim, to go through the multiple court battles, and between family and criminal court matters of the same two individuals (the victim and the abuser) when dealing with these particular matters.

Overall, I wrote the book to help victims in any way it can.

What is a common misconception you feel people have about being in an abusive relationship?

A big misconception I think people make is assuming it’s as simple as walking out the door. There are so many reasons people have a hard time leaving an abusive relationship. I had a hard time leaving because I didn’t understand what was happening to me, only realizing I was scared of him and of being alone with him. I was naive and truly didn’t know, my then spouse could sexually assault me. I didn’t understand that I was being pulled away from people I loved and cared for. I also didn’t realize the financial abuse and psychological abuse I was being put through until I left.

I had no money to leave, I felt guilty I was breaking up my family, I didn’t know where I was going to go, and I didn’t know if I would be able to get a place to live due to not having money and because he helped me ruin my credit. I thankfully didn’t have pets, but for many, this is also a big factor in whether or not a victim can leave abuse. There is a fear of what the abuser will do to the victim should the try to leave or successfully leave. It is not uncommon to be stalked and harassed by the abuser after fleeing.

So the big misconception is “if it is that bad, why don’t you just leave”, it is never, nor will ever be as simple as walking out the door.

What is one piece of advice you wish someone had given when you were younger?

I lived a very sheltered life as a child. My parents didn’t want us to see the effects of alcohol or drugs. My parents are old school and therefore never talked about sex or what rape and sexual assault were. As a child, I never experience or was ever around anyone being abused.

I remember learning about sex in school, but they only ever touched on the word consent. They never talked about sexual violence or what to do should you ever experience it. The schools also never talked about domestic violence. So I wish the schools had this in their teachings, and I also wish parents would talk about these issues more with their teens and young adults.

What is one thing you hope readers take away from your story?

I suppose the biggest things I hope readers take away from my story is that it’s okay to rely on resources, there are many that can help you. There may be road blocks, but you can walk around them. It’s okay to be scared, but call the police when you need them, even if you call the non emergency line to ask questions about your concerns, and it’s important to stand up and advocate for yourself and your children. Understand you are never alone, there are many people out there who have gone through this, who understand how you are feeling in these moments and who will listen and believe you. When you decide you are ready to leave, take it one day at a time.

Author Links: GoodReads | Twitter | Facebook | Website

Spousal abuse is all too common, and there are many-too many-families that are irreparably damaged.

This book is a first-person account of what it takes to survive sexual assault, emotional abuse, and long-term harassment by an intimate partner. It takes the reader through the fear and anguish, the hiding and moving, and the journey through the court system to finally achieve justice and safety for the author and her children.

Few of us can imagine that we could allow ourselves to fall victim to this kind of abuse, and this book is a perfect illustration of how a strong and confident woman can go from being on the verge of meeting her career goals to being under the control of a man who is not what he seemed, and who ultimately damaged her physical and mental health, her ability to support herself, and her sense of trust and safety in the world.

But this is also a story of hope: you CAN escape an abusive relationship; you CAN ask for help and be believed; you CAN keep your children safe; you CAN bring your abuser to justice through the courts; and you CAN come out the other side to happiness and safety.

Embellished With A Fantasy

A P Von K'Ory
A P Von K’Ory Author Interview

The Chase follows a man who has it all, but falls for a woman who is able to resist his charm and he’s willing to do whatever it takes to be with her. What was the inspiration for the setup to your story?

My inspiration for the book was my own personal relationship with my husband, who is also an aristocrat of French-German descent. I just wrote a blog article on this which you can find here:
https://bookstolightyourfire2.blogspot.com/2021/09/golden-shana-chase-by-p-von-kory.html
I first wrote about a fictive form of our relationship in my multi-award-winning Bound to Tradition Trilogy, which is very literary and an intercultural study in itself. Then I expanded on that to the next generation – the youngest daughter Shana, and her steamy, complicated romance with Roman.

Roman is an intriguing and well developed character. What were some driving ideals behind his character’s development?

Let me put it this way; Roman is a young version of my husband, embellished with a fantasy or two of my own (but no secret to my husband) woven into the story.

What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?

The vagaries of interracial attraction and relationships, pointing out the pitfalls in stereotyping that doesn’t exist in real life, and including the rough patches as well as the exhilarating ones. These relationships tend to be volatile in a positive sense and very enriching. It’s not a wonder that the Bound to Tradition Trilogy won so many awards in four different continents!

What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?

I’ve completed 4 books in the GOLDEN SHANA SERIES
English Book Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WkGuFzsRgsM
Bk 1 Golden Shana: The Chase
https://www.amazon.com/Golden-Shana-Chase-Von-KOry/dp/1511638451
Bk 2 Golden Shana: The Capture
https://www.amazon.com/Golden-Shana-Capture-Von-KOry/dp/1511638508/
Bk 3 Golden Shana: The Untouchable
https://www.amazon.com/Golden-Shana-Untouchable-von-KOry/dp/1725967073/
Bk 4 Golden Shana: The Deception
https://www.amazon.com/Golden-Shana-Deception-VON-KORY-ebook/dp/B08QLCNCGB
and I’m working on the 5th book – GOLDEN SHANA: THE CONQUEST – which I hope will conclude the end of Shana and Roman’s story. Those two seem to demand more from me each time I finish a book about them. We’ll see. Apart from that, I’m working on the second book of my psychological thriller LONDON SPARKS (https://www.amazon.com/LONDON-SPARKS-P-VON-KORY/dp/B085K5JZSM), as well as a new thriller UNTAMEABLE set in New York and The Hamptons. The first paragraph of UNTAMEABLE, consisting of only two sentences in the prologue, sets the theme of the book:

I was eight years old when my mother said the three familiar words that turned me into a murderess less than an hour later. At that age, I already knew things some septuagenarians have no idea about.

Author Links: GoodReads | BookBub | B&N | Twitter | Facebook | Website

Love, a word Roman can hardly spell, hits him when he sees Shana one evening. She’s the first woman not dropping to her knees at his mere presence. Used to getting whatever he wants, he chases her. Only to discovers that she prefers the girls. Roman can’t let that deter him. But is he for once up against his own comeuppance? At any rate, he needs assistance, which comes in the form of Alyssa, Shana’s BFF. Trouble crops up when Alyssa is all too ready and willing to drop on her knees for him. Roman can’t get anywhere near Shana on his own. Would he start anything with Alyssa as long as this finally leads him to meet Shana in person?

Then there’s Marie, his current companion who has a life-changing surprise for him.

Grow An Edible Jungle

Ja-Ne de Abreu
Ja-Ne de Abreu Author Interview

Sassy Food shows readers how to grow a sustainable garden that can provide food anywhere and any time. What inspired you to write this book?

I wanted to share the joy I found by growing food – especially in ways I never thought of before, like with sprouts and microgreens. Concentrated yummy nutrition can be grown easily in just a few days! If it’s that easy – we can all be happier!!!

What is a common misconception you feel people have about gardening?

People think that to garden you need land and a lot of space. That’s not true. You can grow an edible jungle on a window sill or a counter. No natural light? Use a grow light. There are almost endless possibilities!

What is one tip that has changed the way you grow food?

Flexibility is key. I use a small hydroponic container to start seeds. Once I get seedlings I transplant them to a container or my small aquaponic tank.

What do you hope is one thing readers take away from your book?

Get in touch with nature and find JOY with growing food in some way, even a small one. You’ll be better able to handle this chaotic world – I’m sure of it.

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Sassy Food is an empowering tool to transformation in a serious pandemic lockdown that led to growing a book from growing food. It is a confirmation of the power of your choices. Ja-ne’s inspiration to grow food in the pandemic led to much peace and calm to she and her 93-year old hanai mother while the chaos of the pandemic was out there. In their bubble of not allowing people inside the house and being just about completely isolated, they had positive changes every day, They added freshness to their meals with things they grew. It was exciting and gave them something to look forward to every day.

Many people think growing food takes a lot of time and space. And that is not true. Like the subtitle says, it really is possible to grow your own any size ‘farm’ anywhere, anytime of year with any budget. Sassy Food empowers you to take charge of adding peace into your life by bringing nature to your fingertips. All basics are covered from growing food from various growing methods, to cultivation and everything in between. It includes a flexible cooking technique showing how to create your own delicious recipes using a symphony of ingredients, without measurements. Artistic photos of gorgeous Eve models in Hawai’i will spark your creativity as to how you can grow food in your space, wherever you are in the world. Sassy Food shows women no matter what shape, color or age can shine their beauty from the inside out! This book honors food as we ought to honor all the women who plant, harvest, and cook it. Ja-ne hopes Sassy Food will inspire you to be lighter with yourself and bring sassyfreshhh into your focus.

This book is designed to bring light-hearted silliness into your life. It’s hard to maintain that levity with the constant seriousness of life. When Ja-ne does anything with her plants all of that goes away and she is present in the moment of seeing new changes, harvesting something to add to their meals, planting seeds that will grow into new vegan meals—this simplicity is bliss. It restores Ja-ne so she has more energy to go back to caregiving 24/7. Yes, she has not had any time off, much less one day off, since 2019. This is one way that helps her to keep on going. Inside a world pandemic, with wearing masks and social distancing, this artistic beauty was achieved. It shows we are all responsible for our individual choices and can make positive change despite any circumstance.

As soon as she finished writing Sassy Food, she caught up with her sister and brother-in-law. Grover described his experiences as a travel nurse going to COVID hotspots. He wanted to write a book about it and didn’t know how. Ja-ne teamed up with Sandra and Grover. In a few short months, Chasing the Surge was created.

20% of proceeds helps others grow food by providing growing kits and seeds along with growing workshops.