Blog Archives
Critically Endangered
A Letter from a Gorilla explains the man-made dangers that gorillas face and tells readers, in a cute rhyming story, what can be done about it. Why was this an important story for you to tell?
Gorillas are the closest living relatives to humans after chimpanzees and bonobos and are among the most endangered apes in the world. Both the Eastern and Western Gorillas are critically endangered, despite having a population as high as 200,000 individuals. Human activities cause the main threats to their survival, such as poaching, habitat destruction, and disease. By educating future generations, we can help ensure the survival of these gentle creatures that are so similar to us.
What is one simple thing that people can do that will help gorillas?
Donating to conservation organizations that protect mountain gorillas is probably the most effective way to help the species. Even if we cannot help financially, we can all become more mindful of our impact on the environment and adjust our habits.
If someone wanted to take action and help gorillas in a big way, what should they do?
Some people, such as Dian Fossey, have dedicated their lives to the welfare of gorillas and paid the ultimate price. However, we can all make our voices heard to lawmakers and government officials to support conservation efforts.
What is one thing you hope readers take away from your book?
We can all make a difference in the survival of gorillas and other endangered species by educating ourselves and our children and by taking positive action to protect the environment.
Author Links: GoodReads | Twitter | Facebook | Website
I am a gorilla, you may be surprised to learn
And, although my words may bite and burn
With this letter, your respect I hope to earn
Silverback Jeremy is a mountain gorilla who lives in Africa. If he could write us a letter, what do you think he would say?
Discover why the mountain gorilla has become critically endangered and learn what we can do to protect these noble animals in this beautifully illustrated rhyming story for ages 5+.
The One Going Undercover
Midnight Cranes sets the Polish Dragon on a new murder investigation in a manufacturing plant that leads to the Dragon Trail. What inspired the setup to this mystery story?
Years ago as a martial arts student and as an employee in the material handling industry I had thought about how interesting it would be to have someone like Chuck Norris be the hero and discover, as an undercover cop, a drug ring going on inside of the plant. I had outlined the story and sent it to one of his students, who also was making movies, to see what he thought of the idea. He liked the idea but said he was too busy and didn’t really have the time. Fast forward many years and now that I am an author I thought why not make it into a book instead. The only change was having the Polish Dragon P. I. be the one going undercover.
I enjoyed how well the story is developed in so few pages. Is it your intention to make your stories short, or is that just your writing style?
It is a little bit of both. My intention is to write the story in a novella so that it makes for a quick and easy read. Some of my fans have said how much they enjoy the shorter read as sometimes a full novel can be too long and filled with unnecessary information. So if you’re riding a train say from New Jersey into New York City you could finish half the book on your ride in and the other half on your ride home. I have noticed though, that each new book I write seems to get a little bit longer each time.
What were some new challenges you wanted Tom to face in this book that were different from the previous books?
I wanted Tom to face the challenge of going undercover and having to maintain the cover as long as he could. Another one was to have him finding help from one of his colleagues and not just for digging up information but actually working on the case with him. That is where Suzie Mandrake comes in, a detective on the Cleveland police force who aspires to be a private investigator like Tom. Her big dream is to be a partner with Tom in his Polish Dragon Investigations business.
What is the next adventure you have lined up for the Polish Dragon P.I.?
Tom will now have to partner up with Suzie again as a friend of hers has a 600 year old family bible disappear after his father was killed in a car accident. The bible may hold clues to a dark secret from the families past.
Author Links: GoodReads | Twitter | Facebook
Find Yourself.
The Rules of a Big Boss provides readers with the inspiration and tools they need to improve their self love and self esteem. What inspired you to write this book?
My fourth grade teacher was my inspiration. One day when our class was acting up, she sat us down and talked about her daughters friend who was a year younger than us and she wrote a book and was traveling the world. That made me think “wow, here we are acting up and she’s traveling the world signing books.” So I wanted to inspire others and I decided to write the rules ,
What is the first step on this self improvement journey that readers need to take?
The first step is to find yourself.
What is the biggest challenge to young women’s self-esteem in today’s society?
Societal standards (European standards, gender roles, etc.). Pretty much placing unrealistic standards upon young women and shaming them whether they fit that standard or not.
What is one piece of advice you would give to someone who is struggling with their self-esteem?
Find the root of where your insecurity is coming from and then you can take the steps from my book (The rules of a big boss: A book of self-love).
Author Links: GoodReads | Instagram | YouTube | Facebook | Website
Atypical of the ‘Thriller’ Genre
Little Girl Scream follows a hotelier who must find a killer lurking in her hotel before he strikes again. What was the inspiration for the mystery at the heart of your story?
We wanted to write a thriller absent of the usual tropes and cliches. We were trying for a scene and situation somewhat atypical of the ‘thriller’ genre. Foremost in our objectives was to create a relationship between the two main characters wherein they did not end up romantically involved by the end of the story. Sort of a: “Yes. A man and a woman can be great friends who admire and respect each other.”
I loved the relationship between Dale and Sofia. What were some ideas that guided their character relationship?
The references in the book to the witty dialogue and ‘slightly combative’ repartee of the golden age of movies was something we both wanted to embody in Sofia and Mathis. In a sense, they are a little like Butch and Sundance from ‘Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid” in that while they do make the odd pithy and even disparaging remark, the duo do genuinely care for one another and will willingly risk their life for the other.
What was the writing collaboration process like with co-author F. Carod?
While I live in South Korea, F. Carod actually lives in Cancun. She’s a wealth of information that was put to great use in the development of the story. We’d write excerpts, post them in a ‘private’ Facebook page we created, give our critiques, do rewrites and revisions, etc., etc, until we were satisfied we had what we were after. It was a low process that took a while, but I think I speak for both myself and my co-author when I suggest we both learned a great deal from one another in the process. Lastly, modern technology is wonderful. It’s remarkable two individuals on either side of the globe can write a book together without having ever met.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
There are three books in the series. The second takes up a few months later with Sofia and Mathis living in Guadalajara. Her father is a wealthy hotel magnate, and he allotted them plots of land on his huge family compound to build homes with some of the money Tiara Tillman gave them. At the close of Book 1, when they watched Chief Ricardo’s press conference on TV, and he stated every person connected to Tillman would be hunted down, Mathis mused the man may be inviting trouble. Truer words were never spoken. But the trouble follows our faithful friends, as well.
Author Links: Amazon | GoodReads
A Passion Of Mine
Becoming a CFI provides readers with practical guidance that will help them be a better flight instructor. Why was this an important book for you to write?
I started writing this book in 2007 when I realized as an already experienced flight instructor that many, if not most, flight instructors don’t know the basics of education. Teaching is not about the knowledge that you have but about the ability to pass it along to someone else. And pass it along in a way that another person will understand and be motivated to acquire more knowledge on that subject. Education was and is a passion of mine for my entire life. It also runs in my family. Both of my parents were academic teachers; my grandparents were teachers. My great grandfather was a teacher.
What is a common misconception you feel people have about flight instructors?
The problem is that our system of developing young professional pilots forces them to do something many of them are not interested in doing—being instructors. To accomplish their ambitions to be an airline pilot, they have to “survive” until their “time-building punishment” is over. Most CFI candidates think that teaching is easy, and it is the way for them to quickly build hours in the air. In reality, it is an exceedingly complex and challenging task. The flight instructor position is probably the most essential certificate in aviation. Your action in the form of your signature in the student’s logbook stating that someone is ready to fly solo is literally a life and death decision that you must make. It is a huge responsibility, and not everyone is prepared for it.
What were some ideas that were important for you to explore in this book?
My overall theme, if you will, is that short-term fixes may alleviate short-term symptoms. Only long-term solutions based on an assessment of the big picture make any sense. It is up to us to guide, mentor, and demand a higher standard. This book aims to show the way for anybody who wants or “needs” to be a flight instructor the path which can be beneficial for their students and make them, flight instructors, successful. Doing the right thing is not only going to give the instructor “moral satisfaction,” If you will, but also has some tangible benefits. If your students like you, then your flight school will like you. There is no better benefit than a long list of positive referrals in your resume or when you are a well-known flight instructor in the industry when you apply for that airline job.
What is one piece of advice you wish someone had given you before you became a flight instructor?
I wanted to be a pilot since I was a child. I was able to start realizing this dream in my thirties. I always knew exactly what I want to do in life, but it was in a sphere of dreams. I always liked teaching, and I wanted to be a pilot. I concluded to connect those two passions late in my life. I could have done it a lot sooner. I wish someone would tell me it is doable when I was twenty. Most people think the aviation profession is something that is out of reach. It may seem that way, but it is more achievable and reachable than we realize. So, yes, I wish someone would give me that piece of advice by telling me it is possible much sooner.
Author Links: GoodReads | Twitter | Facebook | Website
Telling the Truth
FoxHide follows a family of foxes and the adventures they embark on to create a life for themselves in the forest. What was the inspiration for the setup to your story?
Well, I wanted to make a new story that was a pleasure to read, it made you happy and made you think. I’ve learned a lot in life and wanted to PASS IT ON. One of the main concepts that I have learned is the ability to use “WHO, WHAT, WHEN, WHERE, WHY, and HOW” for troubleshooting. I am a retired IT professional of 35 years. Using that skill & thought pattern brought me great success. In life, as I have been able to communicate that concept to those around me, once they GRASP the concept, they become better people. Smarter people. Happier people. Over time, they thank me for teaching them that. I tried to weave into FoxHide all the GOOD, POSITIVE, THINGS IN LIFE I have learned.
The characters in your story were endearing and well created. What were some driving ideals behind your character’s development?
My Family – Mom and Dad – Wife – and Co-Workers. I had MUCH good material to work with. I took all the GOOD things from all the people I knew in life, and used ONLY the GOOD PARTS of them. I was able to use many people to make each character. Then wove all that into a story that I wanted to be new and original. ‘Strike’ was my BOSS for many years. He was always so sharp, very sharp and smart. Even if he did not know something, he would be able to think it through and make up a solution. ‘BoomBoom’ is my little brother in life. To this very DAY, he is a Spoiled Brat and he is 52! He has never grown up! So, he made me really angry one day by his behavior. I told him I would write a book and change his name to BoomBoom because he is so thundering and mean and thoughtless of other people. HE then said, “I DARE YOU”. So I did. It worked. He is now called BoomBoom. ‘SlitherChameleon’ – was all my other MEAN bosses mixed together over time…..
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
Telling the Truth. Working hard. Paying attention in LIFE, to make My Life and the lives next to me better and more pleasant and more successful.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
I don’t think there will be a FoxHide II. Maybe, but not in the plans. IF there were to be a FoxHide II, it would be along the lines of a ‘Pawz and Foxxy Babe’ relationship. It would be a Men R from Mars, Women R from Venus. Where PAWZ has to figure out the mind of a WOMAN now that he has conquered the physical world around him. It would be fun, but a LOT of WORK.
Author Links: Website | GoodReads
A powerful poetic tide carries the lyrical prose of this story of a band of lovable foxes. Through their adventures, and misadventures, readers will gain laughs and life lessons.
Around Curiosity’s Edge
Hidden Meridians follows a young man who sets sail on a magical ship, but secrets about his family lead him to a place of myth where an age-old war is being fought. What was the inspiration for the setup to your story?
I wanted the setup of this story to be as boundless as our own world, and that also meant that the themes it tackles would also be incredibly broad. This was ambitious to say the least, but also provided a sense of freedom to play with the world-building. In that regard, I was inspired heavily by nature; especially the ocean as nothing else on our planet is as fluid or as constant. As for the setup on an antiquated ship, I first conceived the idea for Around Curiosity’s Edge while moving around the world, including places like Germany, South Korea, and India, and was inspired to use Curiosity as a major mode of transportation as I found it instills a timelessness vital to maintain a core element of the story’s plot, namely the bridge between the Commons, that is the world of humans, and the Fringe, the world of myth.
The tension between the worlds of humanity and myth were inspired by the current tensions playing out between our current world of industry, technology and growth, and that of nature. I think the story of the mythical creatures known as fringers in Around Curiosity’s Edge is the story of the biodiversity we are losing every day due to human greed.
The global cast of mythologies and characters which appear in the book(s) are inspired by the multicultural experiences I’ve been lucky enough to have throughout my life.
In short, diversity in all its wonderful shapes and forms inspired the setup.
Salem is an intriguing and well developed character. What were some driving ideals behind your character’s development?
I was that kid always lifting up rocks and looking for bugs, or catching salamanders and fish in the ponds and streams by my house. I think Salem comes very much from that place, while also mixed with some of the social anxieties many young adults face through their teenage years.
When I first started writing, I noticed that Salem was more of a sounding board for the adventure, rather than a true character with flaws and doubts. After listening to some wisdom of my editor, I shifted my character development of Salem from: this is happening to him to this is happening for him. From then on, Salem had felt much more natural as a soul who could learn and grow in the story.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
Three major themes pervade for me throughout the book:
- The importance of diversity and inclusion for a balanced and healthy world.
- Overcoming loss by building resilience.
- Acknowledging failure as a chance to grow.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
My goal is to have book two of the Around Curiosity’s Edge series out at some point next year. I’m so excited to continue to the journey and see where this story goes.
A shorter term goal that I am also so excited about is audiobook narration and production of Around Curiosity’s Edge: Hidden Meridians. I love narrating the book though I will say figuring out the many character voices is incredibly challenging. It should be available within the next few months.
Author Links: GoodReads | Twitter | Facebook | Website
Salem Swan knows none of this as he arrives in Easterly. He knows only that he misses his recently deceased mother, that his new guardian, his uncle Ulysses is unique, and that the boat which will now be his home is unlike anything he has ever seen.
Fearful of this new reality, Salem starts to ask questions that uncover the truth about his distant uncle, his long-gone father, and the true nature of the ship. The answers lead him into a place of myth and legend, where fantastic creatures wage an ages-old war with a radical group bent on eliminating them forever.
Rich with mythology from around the world, Hidden Meridians is the first installment of a fantasy series that takes readers into that place that is just around Curiosity’s edge.
The Complexities Of Her Relationship
Rise Of The Trials follows a young woman on a trip to see family when secrets are exposed and relationships are tested. What were some sources that informed this novels development?
It was important to me to take the reader on a journey into the past that Cadence and Trystan share to explain some of the reasoning behind why they behave the way they do with one another. Inserting Trystan into Cadence’s family dynamic to highlight the complexities of her relationship with Trystan proved to be a very intriguing concept for me to further explore. This element gave me the ability to get further into the complexity of Cadence’s character. It was the perfect backdrop to unravel Cadence’s carefully constructed world and bring out more elements of what makes her who she is and who she is in the process of becoming. The beautiful part of this process was that I was able to simultaneously draw out some very important character aspects of Trystan that is hidden from the reader in the first book. We get to see a deeper insight into Trystan’s experiences and this adds such a nice friction between Trystan, Cadence, and Blake.
What were some obstacles you felt were important to Cadence’s character development?
One of the biggest obstacles Cadence faces is certainly trying to better understand the unexplainable things that are happening to her. This is an essential component for laying the foundation of the next part of her journey. Trystan has always been a big obstacle for Cadence as well. He will continue to be an obstacle to her. This relationship dynamic is one of my favorite things about writing out the scenes between Cadence and Trystan. His will is just as commendable as hers and it adds such a nice flavor to their relationship. Blake hasn’t posed as much of an obstacle up to this point, but stay tuned…his role is about to change in a big way.
If your book was made into a movie what actress/actor do you see playing the lead roles?
There are so many talented actors/actresses and it would be intriguing to see some talent that has yet to be discovered assume some of the lead roles. There are some current actors/actresses that I have thought about playing the lead roles. I think a great fit for Trystan would be Dylan O’Brien. His ability to capture the emotion of the characters he plays is a truly amazing thing to watch. Saoirse Ronan would be incredible as Cadence. Her talent is amazing. Sam Claflin portraying Blake would be so much fun to watch. I think he could bring something quite special to that character.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
The next book I am working on is the third installment of the Perseverance Saga. This will be available 09/03/2021 and is titled Perseverance: Descension To Hell.
Author Links: GoodReads | Twitter | Facebook
Loving him was my secret. Mine alone. I never let anyone come remotely close to accessing that part of my heart. Not even myself, except on rare occasions. Trystan was simultaneously the source of my greatest love and the source of my greatest heartache. He never knew how I felt about him. I’d never told him how deeply and profoundly in love with him I was…and still am. He had always considered me a friend so that was the position in his life that I desperately struggled to maintain. I couldn’t let him know, but I also couldn’t let him go.
I tried to put Trystan in my past. To some degree, I was able to achieve just that. He lived so far away and only came back to visit on occasion. But every time he returned, it was like reigniting a smoldering inferno within me.
Then I met Blake.
Arguably the most eligible man in Hollywood. Wait, did I say Hollywood? I meant the world. He is the epitome of what every female dreams about. Falling in love with Blake was seamless. Trystan was rarely around and after spending years feeling like I was suffocating, being with Blake was like breathing my first breath of fresh air. It was a much needed reprieve for a wounded and tattered heart like mine.
Then an ordinary trip leads to extraordinary events. Extreme circumstances usher in changes in me and in my life that I could never have dreamed were possible. And a love I thought was beyond my reach is suddenly right within my grasp.
Past love collides with future love and there is nothing I can do to escape either.
Follow Cadence as she begins her travel into the unknown.
LITERARY TITAN 