Blog Archives
Overcome and Prosper
From Rubble To Champagne shares your personal story as a child in post WWII Berlin to young adulthood as a struggling German immigrants, to marriage, family and fulfillment in the U.S. Why was this an important book for you to write?
There are many heart-wrenching German Holocaust stories. A story that hasn’t been told though is, with post-WWII Germany in ruins, the horrific challenges that everyday citizens and families faced, and how I was a young girl dealt with them.
I wanted to write about all the challenges I faced and conquered and show people that with positivity, perseverance, and determination we can overcome and prosper.
I appreciated the candid nature with which you told your story. What was the hardest thing for you to write about?
I think the hardest thing to write about was when I reflected on the lowest point of my life when I attempted to end it.
What do you hope is one thing readers take away from your story?
I hope my story will serve as an inspiration for anyone who feels defeated and suppressed. My hope is that the reader will draw life lessons from the past. The horrible human aggression of war.
What is one piece of advice you wish someone had given you when you were younger?
I wish someone would have told me that life is the most precious gift. That life is not static, it will change and things get better.
Author Links: GoodReads | Facebook | Website
Falling in love with a fellow German immigrant, Wiland, proved a pivotal turning point for Vivianne. He saw a wellspring of potential in her and believed that she could become more than she had ever imagined. They married and moved to the United States. In the land where so many immigrant dreams are built, Wiland encouraged Vivianne to pursue endeavors that would test her mettle, including piloting a plane, running a marathon, and taking on a key role in supporting his business enterprise. Vivianne’s journey of personal growth later gave her the courage to battle cancer and embrace a spiritual life.
Through hardship, demoralization, yearning, searching, loving, inspiration, and growth, Vivianne has discovered the ultimate secret to a life well lived: a grateful heart.
His Humanity And His Divinity
Guided Ignatian Contemplation provides readers with meditations on the gospels to help them come closer to Jesus. Why was this an important book for you to write?
It was important for me to write the book because I find that Ignatian Contemplation assists me with prayer and getting closer to Jesus. The stories of Jesus’s life are well known, we have heard them so many times, and for this reason, certain things may be taken for granted or pass unnoticed. Saint Ignatius of Loyola asks us to stop and enter into the stories imagining them vividly as if we were watching a movie, and we may find hidden treasures and blessings by doing this. I wanted to bring the stories to life, limiting my imagination as much as possible to Bible’s truths and Jesus’s teachings. At the same time, I wanted to make the participants real, people we can relate to so we may see ourselves in them or someone we may know. I wanted to bring the stories down to earth and at the same time elevate the readers to new heights by entering into them and meditating on them. I also wanted to emphasize Jesus’s character, holiness, and power so that we could experience both His humanity and His divinity.
You share 14 stories from the gospels in this book. Which of these stories stands out to you personally?
The story that touches me most is Jesus’s anointing before His death. In this story, we can see Jesus’s humanity and divinity in a highly moving way. We can also experience our fragility as human beings, which is yet embraced by His boundless love.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
For me it was very important to show Jesus’s constant humility and His Father coming in without delay to exalt Him. As Jesus mentioned God was always with Him. Jesus is humbling Himself and making Himself dependent on God throughout. Another theme is Jesus’s humanity and divinity at the same time, and that He would not use His power to ease His human trials. A third theme would be His compassion, the way He would work to exhaustion, be moved, change His plans and treat with gentleness those with frailties due to His empathy, caring love, and compassion.
What is one thing you hope readers take away from your book?
I would like them to come closer to the knowledge of Jesus by meditating on the stories and making themselves active participants, leading them into a conversation and deeper relationship with Jesus.
Author Links: Amazon | GoodReads
After contemplating the gospels, Saint Ignatius suggests that we have a conversation with Jesus based on what we have experienced—the thoughts and emotions the stories may have stirred in us, called “colloquy.” You can do so after reading or listening each story. Also, you can pause at any time for personal reflection.
I Wanted to ‘Close The Circle’
Chicken Nibbles teaches readers about chicken behavior through fun art that educates as well as it entertains. What inspired you to write this book?
In 2007, I published Chook Tails. I was caring for my wife and I drew cartoons to escape from the stress of caring full time. After my wife’s death in 2017, I was free to fulfil my desire to have a professional cartoonist redraw my book. I selected the best of the old and added a number of new cartoons. I wanted to ‘close the circle’. This book, like the last, is dedicated to my now ‘late’ wife.
The art in this book is wonderful. What was the art collaboration process like with award-winning cartoonist Mark Lynch?
The idea and caption for the cartoon was always mine. I would describe the scene that I had in my mind. Mark would then draw a draft cartoon and we would gradually refine the cartoon until I was satisfied with the finished product. That process usually took two or three drafts but occasionally I drove him ‘nuts’ with too many refinements.
What is a common misconception you feel people have about chicken behavior?
They can be contained behind a wire fence!
What was one of the most surprising things you have learned about chickens?
Keeping backyard chickens can have a positive impact on people’s lives. They can relieve stress, bring neighbours together and provide a good laugh with their antics.
Author Links: GoodReads | Website
Enchanted Forest Adventures
Amber Tambourine and the Land of Laugh-a-Lot follows a young girl into a wonderous land where she makes many friends, but she worried she wont’ be able to find her way back. What was the inspiration for the setup to your story?
As a child I lived in a house with a backyard that was all forest and farmland. I used to wander around back there and make up little adventures for myself and imaginary friends. So certainly that was an inspiration for Amber’s backyard enchanted forest adventures.
As a child I was also obsessed with “magical otherworlds” as I call them – like when Dorothy went to the Land of Oz…or in the movie “Brigadoon” where a magical village only appears for one day every 100 years. The Land of Laugh-a-Lot is a “magical otherworld” I created based on these inspirations.
This seemed like a fun book to write. What scene was the most fun to write and illustrate?
I loved creating the look and feel of Laugh-a-Lot – it is a very colorful and vibrant place with lots of interesting characters, so definitely the scene where she first encounters this magical place is my favorite.
What do you hope young readers take away from your book?
In the book, Amber and her family have just moved to a new house and she has left her old life and friends behind. It is at its core a book about transitions in a child’s life, but I hope that it will impart the message that although change can be hard and scary, there is light at the end of the tunnel. It is possible to move on, and sometimes life will take you in new and exciting directions you never thought possible.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
I have so many ideas whirling around in my head for future Amber Tambourine books, so that is a possibility. Still in the process of figuring it all out at the moment, but I just kind of go where the inspiration takes me – that for me is the fun of writing!
Author Links: GoodReads | Twitter | Facebook | Website
We Are At Crossroads
Echoes of Light is a collection of thought-provoking poetry and stories that explore powerful but common emotions. Why was this an important book for you to write?
Echoes of light is a book of short stories and Poems. Each one inspired from people I meet during my extensive travels to remote places.
We are at Crossroads as a race… we need to re evaluate ourselves.
My desire was to refresh our minds and bring back the nostalgia of simplicity , the sensitivity, the joy of human bonding that we had before life became so hectic, digitized and impersonal. The simple acts of kindness without expectations that we have forgotten and the immense joy it brings.
The last few years have been globally difficult and challenging in many ways and more so for the impoverished and broken sections of society. Now , more than ever is the dire need to reach out and do what little we can to help and provide some relief to those who have very little or nothing at all and despite of our phenomenal advancement, we are fraught with stress, restlessness, mindless competitiveness and the financial, mental and emotional damage that takes away the joy from everyday living.
this is the time for us to set aside our differences and unite as the privileged superior race we are and rediscover the simple joys of living and giving and to heal more than we hurt.
What is your favorite poem from this collection?
Requiem is my fav Poem & the short story close to my heart is “ The last Fortnight”
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in your poetry?
The futility of War, the magic of Love, nostalgia of the old times, the senselessness & folly of our fanatic competitiveness and self -obsession, the forgotten basic secrets of real happiness, the incomparable joy of simple gestures of kindness, the undervalued importance of living in the moment, and the vanishing sensitivity and empathy that are the fundamental threads that bind us as a race.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
My next book is a coffee table photo book of my art & quotes– I paint with knives and blades on Oils.
Author Links: GoodReads | Website
will warm the spirit and uplift the reader as they appreciate
a world woven with messages of love, compassion and hope.
Echoes of light accentuates the basic, simple requirements for
the happiness we so desperately crave, and the essential quality
that we are all gifted with, to attain it.
These Stories and poems are immersed with the myriad emotions
of the magnificent human psyche – kindness, hope, redemption;
the magic of compassion, and the unparalleled joy of giving
spontaneously.
The Poems touch on the futility of our hyper active lifestyles
and the need for slowing down to truly enjoy this beautiful
journey called life.
The stories are set in various parts of the world – reaffirming
the fact that wherever we are, whichever part of the world
we belong to and whatever religion we choose to follow –
the fundamental thread that binds us and unites us is love,
humanity and joy.
Discover a world of true inspiration, of generosity and love so
rarely experienced in our fast-paced world.
Each story and poem reflect so much which has been forgotten
and the humanity we long to rediscover and would love to
teach our children….
Fictional Action And A Pinch of Humor
Valor Tale: Disenthrall follows a band of freedom fighters fighting to go on an epic journey to save humanity from a forgotten biological project. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
When I was growing up I played many video games. There were two in particular that inspired me to write this LitRPG series. Those games being Final Fantasy 7 (original) and Legend of Dragoon. Also some elements of the story Robin Hood and the politics of the early 2000s. I just found the concept of role-playing games to be fun and how “human” it can be by relating to people if you develop the characters right.
Dew Wilder is an intriguing and well-developed character. What were some driving ideals behind your character’s development?
Well, his first name is based on my initials. His military experience somewhat mirrors mine. Just like Dew Wilder, I had a close relationship with my grandfather too. From the story and two games I mentioned above that I got my inspiration from – I kind of took bits and pieces of each main protagonist mixing it with my personality. I didn’t want to make him too much of an archetypical hero. I wanted him to be grounded somewhat close to reality.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
The central themes in this book deal with government corruption, oppression, and media control and censorship (more mirroring a lite version of Communist China), the futility of war (a lot of inspiration from the political propaganda of the Vietnam war and Operation Iraqi Freedom, and how the politicians benefited from such while the service members were strung along), the disconnect of the social classes, and just plain fun fictional action and a pinch of humor and memes.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
The 2nd book should be out the latest in October 2021. I feel it’ll be better than the first. The main cast of characters get together and have a lot of fun.
Author Links: Twitter | Facebook
I Loved That Cat’s Tenacity
Birds Fly, A Cat Tries is a wordless picture book that follows an adventurous tabby who tries to take flight. What was the inspiration for the wordless idea behind your story?
I enjoy finding ways to help children understand the importance of working together and never giving up in many of my stories – to keep trying no matter the obstacles that are placed in front of us. As a child, our family had a pet cat named Buttercotton. He was an orange Tabby, and this cat loved to hide behind furniture and jump out and try and scare us. He always found a different hiding spot and was forever improving on his scare tactics. I loved that cat’s tenacity.
I find this book to be wonderfully educational for children to insert their own dialogue. Was that the intention or was there a different educational aspect your aimed for?
Wordless picture books are my favorite to work on because I know that children can find many different educational aspects within the story without even knowing that the author has designed the plot with specific educational elements. With their unique ability to imagine the world in so many different ways, children can sense and feel so much within the story of a wordless picture book. And even though my intention, for all my wordless and near wordless picture books, is for children to insert their own dialogue into the story and use their imagination, I always design my picture books to have some kind of positive influence.
I loved the art in this book. What was the funniest scene for you to draw, and what were some sources of inspiration?
That is a difficult question for me to answer. There really isn’t any particular scene that wasn’t fun to draw. I did however enjoy creating the elephant at the end of the story. She went through many variations in order for me to find the right look on her face. As for my source of inspiration, well, I was no different than most children when growing up and wanted to jump off the roof of our house holding an umbrella and float down to the ground. Did I try taking the great plunge? No. But I did think about doing it.
What is the next book that you are working on, and when will it be available?
I am working on two new picture books right now. The Lost and Lonely Tumbleweed, which will be published in June 2022. It is another story about never giving up and to keep on trying, no matter what. Although, The Lost and Lonely Tumbleweed has a lot of words in it. The other book I am working on is titled, Never Was A Grump Grumpier. It will be available in June of 2023, and it is a story about the choices we make in life, particularly the not-so-good choices where we have to accept the consequences that come with the choices we make.
Author Links: GoodReads | Amazon
Destined for Change
The Book of Thieves and the Joker’s Game follows a young man who discovers a magical new world after his father dies and is faced with the decision to follow his father’s legacy. What was the inspiration for the setup to your story?
There were actually two versions of the book. One version there was only “Earth,” or one world, and the second version had Earth and Mysthia. I decided to setup the story with two worlds to help isolate Abell from the norm further. Plus, it helped the reader learn and experience the new world together. With two worlds, it is more liberal freedom to be expanded upon, which makes for a better setting for a fantasy novel.
Abell is an intriguing and well-developed character. What were some driving ideals behind your character’s development?
Abell, as seen in the book, is destined for change. And not a good change. His character starts out very idealistic and passive, almost innocent. By the end of the book, you can see his character hit a wall. A switch is clicked.
Book of Thieves and the Joker’s Game is just the first book of the series. And in this book, you can see Abell’s childhood innocence. As the story continues, the reader will be able to see Abell change, and perhaps not for the best.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
There are multiple themes at play. Nature vs nurture easily, but also coming of age and good vs evil.
Abell’s natural character is quite noble and moralistic, partly because of how his father and Sally raised him. He was a good student, great kid, and well-rounded, always meaning well for others until his world changed. Even though Abell’s father did his best to shelter from the truth, and raised him as any loving family could, Abell is suddenly thrown into a world that his father left a stigma behind. A world scorched with the hatred of their family name, and it burned Abell’s innocence to ash. Even though Abell was bullied on Earth, it was never targeted at his identity, his family, and his entire existence.
The past of Abell’s father shifted the idea of good vs evil. Who is exactly evil in this story? Was it Abell’s father, and is it Abell now?
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
The second book of the series, “Heirs,” will be released soon. Exact date? Not sure. I am quite excited to release it, the story follows Abell’s “clicked” personality.
Author Links: GoodReads | Twitter | Website
LITERARY TITAN 