Blog Archives
Outside Of The Ordinary
All the Furs and Feathers is about animals such as cats and rodents that take on human characteristics who learn to live together. I think this original idea is intriguing. How did you come up with this idea and develop it into a story?
I usually write historical fiction so this was a step outside of the ordinary for me. It started after watching my two cats (Smokey and Autumn Amelia) interact when a mouse got into the house. It was funny to see how Autumn, an indoor cat from birth, was chasing the mouse and Smokey, a superb hunter, was watching her in a way that looked like she was mentally critiquing her technique or lack thereof. (I rescued the mouse and put it outside, by the way.) It got me thinking about what Smokey would have said about Autumn’s performance if she could talk.
At the time this occurred, I was recovering from major surgery. As an amusement for myself, I started writing about my cats in a very anthropomorphized way. It wasn’t meant to be a book at first. I was just passing the time while I recovered. But the more I wrote, the more ideas kept flowing and, eventually, it turned into what has become All the Furs and Feathers. I had so many ideas left over after I finished it that I knew it would need to be a series.
This book was really fun to write. It works by using anthropomorphized animals in a way that wouldn’t have worked had I used humans as characters.
I loved the personality and the morals that you gave to Smokey. What were some driving ideals behind your character’s development?
The characters of both Smokey and Autumn Amelia are based loosely on the personalities of both of my cats by the same names. Their appearances are described in the book just as they look in real life. In reality Smokey was a bit more high-strung than Autumn. She was older and tried to be a bit bossy. (Sadly, Smokey has since passed to the Rainbow Bridge.) Autumn Amelia, on the other paw, is an easy-going, laid back cat who never let anything Smokey did bother her – something that often annoyed Smokey no end!
As far as their morals go, I think that just flowed out of their real personalities. As I wrote, their characters naturally came to life as I thought about how the real cats might respond to given situations if they could.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
The idea of the “oneness” was very important to me. I do believe that we (humans, creatures, and all of creation) are interrelated. We are all kin because we all originate from the same Creator. This is a spiritual understanding. I am far from an expert on science, but I believe that some branches of science indicate that we are all connected on some level as well. It seems inconceivable that we should do other than treat one another, all creatures, and all creation with anything but respect, dignity, and compassion. Yet we do. I think that has something to do with a lack of conscious awareness of the oneness on an everyday basis.
Other themes that were important for me to explore in this book were those of forgiveness, acceptance of one’s self and others, and overcoming obstacles.
Can you tell us a little about where the story goes in book two and when the novel will be available?
In Book 2 Smokey and Autumn will get a huge surprise when they find out there is more to their family than they thought. There will be a wedding (not saying whose yet).
I’m very excited to announce that the book will have an interactive component. Autumn Amelia will start a blog called “Musings from Mama Cat’s Kitchen.” When she writes a blog post, digital readers will be able to click on the post and go straight to a blog that will be connected to my author website and read what she wrote. Reader’s of the physical copy will see the url and can put it into their browser to find the post.
I can’t give a release date yet because I don’t have one. The book has yet to be written. I’m currently finishing up my newest historical novel, The Folklorist, which I expect to be published in October 2023. Once I’ve completed everything I have to do for that, I’ll be diving right into the next book in the Cat Tales series.
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A dream come true? There’s one problem. The proposed park is adjacent to Rodent Way. Activist Jerome J. Ratley, quickly forms R.A.T. (Rodent Action Taskforce) and stages a protest.
Meanwhile, Smokey’s lovable but quirky sister and cooking savant, Autumn Amelia, is busy dishing up meals too delicious for any fur or feather to resist. And wandering uninvited into the kitchens of local restaurants to improve their recipes.
Together with their furred and feathered friends, Smokey and Autumn Amelia must find a way to make the proposed park a reality. But how to abolish the long-standing animosity between felines and rodents?
My Version Of Alice’s Adventures
Once Upon A Wonderland follows a young woman trying to find her love while encountering numerous challenges and life-threatening situations. What was the inspiration for the original and fascinating idea at the center of the book?
The first Wonderland story I wrote – Alice Falls Again – was a self-contained story, where Alice meets characters from the dark origins of popular nursery rhymes. However, when one reader said that the ending begged a sequel, a new story began to grow in my head, where Alice’s quest to discover herself and find love would be taken to the next level. The premise that saving Wonderland is tied to Alice saving herself is present in both stories, even if the second stand-alone story introduces characters from the sinister backstories of fairy tales. It would be disrespectful of me not to mention the overriding inspiration for my version of Alice’s adventures, namely Lewis Carroll’s masterpieces.
Your novel has some very interesting characters that have their character flaws but are still likable. How do you go about creating characters for your story?
On a very practical level, I first thought about their role in the main story – in the plot or sub-plots – as well as their motives, fears, likes/dislikes, habits and so on. At times, I felt like a profiler, building up a character profile from clues and bits of evidence. I even Googled and edited images that represented the characters’ physical appearance in order to bring them to life and sit beside me as I wrote. After that, the characters pretty much decided themselves what they did and said as I wrote the story. I knew that if I could keep them true to their characters, then they would reflect the fact that every one of us has strengths and weaknesses and, even in the case of a talking bear or poltergeist, be somewhat credible.
I felt that there were a lot of great twists and turns throughout the novel. Did you plan this before writing the novel, or did the twists develop organically writing?
In the first book – Alice Falls Again – writing was pretty much conscious stream of thought. However, with Once upon a Wonderland, I spent more time planning the plot, sub-themes and cadence, as well as character arcs. I’d say most of the twists and turns were either planned or a result of planning. But not all. For example, I was not aware of the major twists at the end of the story until I got there. I was as surprised as readers will hopefully be. There is a real risk in over-planning and something to be said for conscious stream writing, so I would never want to orchestrate everything beforehand. If I did, my characters would change things anyway.
I hope the series continues in other books. If so, where will the story take readers?
Never say never but for now Alice is where she wants to be. I have two or three other writing projects that need my attention. On the other hand, life has a way of throwing you curveballs. Life is full of surprises and Alice knows that from experience. With so much curiosity and a strong will, some might say she even embraces upheaval in her life.
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Can Alice uncover the truth to escape her twisted fantasy?
—
“Fee-fi-fo-fum!” boomed the ogre.
“Why do you keep quoting Shakespeare’s King Lear?” asked Alice. “And while we’re on the subject, why can you only smell the blood of Englishmen? Why not other nationalities? Or English women come to that?”
–A poltergeist in tattered leotards, a queen suffering from hypersomnia and a psychotic arsonist. These are not the Rumpelstiltskin, Sleeping Beauty and Cinderella that Alice has come to know and love. Nevertheless, she needs to get them and other fairy tale characters out of Wonderland if she’s to mend Time and return home. And rescue Jack, the feathered boy she’s in love with.
Alice’s quest is not helped by accusations of treason from the local inhabitants, the advances of an arrogant Pied Piper and the fact that she is growing younger by the hour. And then there is the Queen of Hearts and her cohorts to contend with.
Peppered with surreal events, gritty wordplay and the sinister backstories to popular fairy tales, this sequel to Alice Falls Again is a must for younger and older adults alike.
Reviews for the prequel Alice Falls Again:
“A brilliant and amusing reinvention.” KIRKUS REVIEWS
“An ideal fantasy for Carroll fans.” blueink
“Fantastical wonders and head-over-heels adventures abound.” Foreword Clarion
They Conquered And Destroyed Civilizations
History of Lies follows two people attempting to unlock the secrets of past lives in order to stop a powerful organization from controlling the world. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
This book has been a long time in the making (over 15 years), and the original concept was much more basic. My writing partner and I came up with an idea for scientists to find a way to help blind people see. They created a technology that converted brain waves to visual images. At first, it worked as they expected, but when they applied the technology to different parts of the brain, the scientists realized they were accessing memories. Eventually, they realized they were memories from past lives. As the ideas continued to flow, the story became bigger and bigger until we considered the concept that there are some people who can remember their past lives, and these people have been manipulating the world for thousands of years. From there, the story required a lot of research because we had to recreate the world’s history under this new paradigm. At times, it was a lot of fun learning about the different historical periods, but it was also complicated as we had to keep track of the various timelines and storylines, but in the end, we were proud of the story we’d created.
The element I’m most proud about is having a story structure where the past not only informs the present storyline (for readers), but the present also informs the past. It sounds strange, but little tidbits that the reader may not be focusing on will come into play, so it works both backward and forward.
What was the collaboration process like for writing this novel?
It was challenging because my writing partner and I both work full-time. That’s one reason the book took as long as it did. The other books we wrote together were much easier because the concepts were more straightforward.
Did you find anything in your research of this story that surprised you?
I learned a lot about the Romans, and they were far more controversial than I realized. Some of their values are questionable, and the way they conquered and destroyed civilizations was also surprising. Many of the emperors were not good people, at least from what we know, which leads me to the next big lesson I learned from writing this story. Many people reference history in a very factual manner, but none of us were there, and we only have bits of evidence. The true history is likely far more complex than we’ve been taught in school.
Do you think there’s a single moment in everyone’s life, maybe not as traumatic as discovering past lives, that is life-changing?
Yes, but just like many key historical events, sometimes you need enough time to pass before you understand the significance of it. When you experience something in the moment, you may not realize the ripple effect that it will ultimately have on your life until you’re several years or decades down the road and you understand just how significant something was. As an example, I was born later in the year, and my mom had the choice of holding me back in kindergarten or pushing me into first grade. I was small to begin with, and I believe that if I had been pushed into first grade, the whole trajectory of my life would’ve changed. I don’t think I would’ve done as well in school or sports. There are of course other moments that you know are significant at the time like getting married and having kids.
Author Links: Website | GoodReads | Twitter
Throughout human history, people have speculated whether we have past lives. In this fast-paced epic thriller, that question is answered—we do. Unknown to the masses, there are a select few who possess the ability to remember them. With knowledge and skills acquired over multiple lifetimes, these individuals are anything but ordinary, and they’ve used their gifts to manipulate the world for thousands of years.
When Ben Preston, a history professor, uncovers the lies created by this clandestine group, he becomes their number one target. Now they’ll stop at nothing to silence him and keep their secrets safe. Ben’s only chance for survival is to learn the true history but doing so means he must face the truth about himself.
From India to Rome and Alexander the Great to seventeenth-century pirates, History of Lies transports the reader around the globe to key moments that changed the world forever—but not the way found in most books.
Filled with real historical events and fascinating details, History of Lies is a unique blend of fact and mind-bending fiction that will keep you guessing and change how you view history.
Secret Magical Organisations
The Nephilim’s Fate follows a young witch who has been dreaming about a man only to discover he is a Nephilim, and their romance is forbidden. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
I always wanted to write a book that I would love to read myself. The Nephilim have been on my mind for a while, and I love stories with lots of magic and action. Alissia being a witch felt natural to me and gave me the possibility to explore the secret magical organisations in the story more deeply. While I was writing, more and more details came to my mind, as well as the arc for the rest of the story.
What was the inspiration for the relationship that develops between the characters?
I felt that Alissia and Nate had to fight for their relationship, and that their decisions should have consequences for the whole magical community around them. Their love should be a catalyst for change and a source of conflict that rages on far beyond what they could have foreseen.
How did you handle balancing the power and use of magic in the story?
Magic and casting spells are always great to read about. However, I didn’t want one magical species to be too powerful or too dominant in the story. There should be a delicate balance between the factions; the power struggle believable and engaging. Furthermore, I didn’t want to give Alissia and Nate too much magic, as this would quickly become boring and redundant if they could solve every problem with their powers. It is an important theme throughout the stories that the different magical species need to come together and unite to survive.
When will book 2 be available? Can you give us an idea of where that book will take readers?
Book two, The Nephilim’s Fear, will be released on May 16th and focuses on the love story between Azariel, the best fighter of the Nephilim, and Andrew, Charlie’s overprotective older brother. The story follows their journey as they learn to navigate their new relationship while also dealing with the existing supernatural threats caused by Alissia and Nate’s relationship.
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Alissia spent years longing for a mysterious man who only appeared in her dreams… but when Nate rescues her from a group of supernatural attackers, she makes a shocking discovery. She’s a witch, and he’s a Nephilim – the son of an angel and a human – and love between them is impossible.
Determined to prove the old texts wrong and find a future where they can be together, Alissia wades deeper into a mysterious world where vampires, fae, and demons lurk among humanity. After she discovers a surprising revelation, Alissia believes she’s found the answer. But their passionate love kicks off a wild chain of events that threatens to plunge the secret magical world of London into war.
With sinister magical groups vying for power and old rivalries bubbling to the surface, Nate and his love are quickly dragged into a conflict that will shape the destiny of their world forever. Nate knows that he’s fated to be with her – but is he prepared to risk everything to stay with his witch?
Gear up for a hot and pulse-pounding paranormal romance that’s bursting at the seams with wild action, forbidden love, steamy scenes, and a strong heroine. The Nephilim’s Fate is an exhilarating read that’s perfect for anybody who wants to watch their fantasies come alive. Scroll up and grab your copy today…
It Originally Had A Darker Ending
High Risk follows a self-absorbed businessman who becomes trapped in his building for four days with no internet, phone, water, or a way out. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
This story was originally written in 1999 as a screenplay. The idea came about when I was sitting in my office late at night working, and the cleaning crew came around. I wondered what would happen if they accidentally locked me in the building. My office wasn’t 50 stories high like Jim, but this idea of being locked in intrigued me. The basic premise for Jim came together quickly in my head, and I emailed my writing partner about it (who happened to be working late), and he got excited about it, too. The full story and details of the screenplay came together very quickly after that. It was probably the fastest and easiest thing we’ve written. It was one of those rare moments where the story just flowed. There is one key difference between the original screenplay and the final version—the ending. It originally had a darker ending, something neither of us liked. In subsequent revisions, we settled on something very close to the version in the book.
The screenplay seemed like it might get made in the early mid-2000’s. After it stalled out, it sat on the shelf for many years until the pandemic hit, and I decided to turn it into a book. Anyone who read the screenplay really liked it, and a common note we got from readers was that it was a fast and thrilling read. My writing partner and I were very proud of it and thought people would enjoy it, so it bothered me when it became this dead story. During the pandemic, I re-wrote it as a book and enjoyed the process so much that I wrote three more books and plan to continue.
I felt that there were a lot of great twists and turns throughout the novel. Did you plan this before writing the novel, or did the twists develop organically writing?
Most of the twists and turns happened as we plotted out the story. I’ve never had a story reveal itself as easily as this one. The only thing we struggled with was the ending. The original ending felt like it worked, but I didn’t like it. My writing partner and I kept kicking around versions and eventually settled on the final ending.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
We were both much younger in our careers when we first wrote this, and we saw executives who were older than us who had let their work consume their lives. Despite their success, they didn’t seem happy. Some people seemed to prefer being in the office rather than being at home. The book is by no means an anti-work story, but it does offer a picture of what can happen if you define yourself by your career and money.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
I’m working on a sequel to Nina Winter and the Age of Darkness which will be released at the end of the year. I also write short stories that I post on my website, and a new one should be released in May.
Author Links: Website | GoodReads | Twitter
From the authors of the mind-bending epic, HISTORY OF LIES, comes HIGH RISK, an intense, claustrophobic thriller set fifty stories high.
An ambitious business executive, Jim Sloane, is imprisoned in his high-rise office over the long holiday without food, water, or power. Cut off from the world, Jim must figure out who locked him in and why. As he unravels the mystery, Jim discovers that his list of enemies is long and his time to escape is short.
Can he find a way out, or will he die trying?
BE ALL YOU CAN BE – AND OWN IT!
Overcoming the Fear of Being Fabulous: 33 Keys to Creating Your New Life by Leaving Your Old Stories Behind is a self-help guide for those that want to improve their mental health and quality of life. Why was this an important book for you to write?
The two key issues that prompted us to write “Overcoming the Fear of Being Fabulous” are:
one – we were both professional actors – earning good money and easily cast over and over – earlier in our lives and we both walked away for “no good reason” except we both came from families where we were outdoing anything our fathers had ever done (our mothers didn’t work) – and when we met on a blind date we spent at least an hour discussing this “fear of being fabulous” as it showed up in our own lives
As PhD psychologists and now Executive Coaches for major tech companies for nearly 2 decades – we continually see how leaders at even VP, Sr VP, and C-suite levels can’t live up to the success they have achieved and instead play themselves down, even having difficulty receiving and owning praise and compliments.
— So we knew that we needed to get our point of view out to the public in a simple, easily digestible manner!
What were some ideas that were important for you to share in this book?
As you can see, we narrowed the issues down to the 33 Keys we use to illuminate the various ways people have trouble living up to their own excellence, their own self-respect! We wanted to make it practical so readers can implement what we suggest in their daily lives!
How much research did you undertake for this book, and how much time did it take to put it all together?
The research goes back to our early acting careers – before we ever met on a blind date in 1987!
And of course has continued throughout all of our coaching. It probably took about a year to put it all together and get it ready to publish.
What is one thing that you hope readers take away from Overcoming the Fear of Being Fabulous?
The ONE THING we hope readers take away from our book is BE ALL YOU CAN BE – and OWN IT!
Thanks for asking!!!
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Providing 33 practical everyday Keys to leaving old habits behind, this book promises that you can indeed create a fuller, more successful life! Whether it’s learning how to accept praise and compliments without embarrassment or discomfort, or seeing how you deprive yourself whenever you fail to ask for a promotion, being nice versus being honest; and even overcoming The Impostor Syndrome, these 33 Keys to Overcoming the Fear of Being Fabulous will put you on the road to a new, more expansive life!
And the authors, husband and wife Judith & Jim (Judith Sherven, PhD and Jim Sniechowski, PhD) share a lot about their process of overcoming their fears of living larger lives – so you will not feel alone. Quite the contrary. Judith & Jim’s stories will keep you company and provide deep insights into the process you are about to embark on when you get this book!
Order your copy of Overcoming the Fear of Being Fabulous right now as an e-book, paperback, or hardback, and soon as an audiobook. Whether you struggle with the Imposter Syndrome, negative head talk, stress and anxiety, or any other self-defeating emotions, beliefs, and/or behaviors that deprive you of a fuller. livelier, more fabulous life, this book will help you turn your life around!
Rediscover The Magic And Wonder
The Inspiring World of Ella Rose La Fleur follows a six-year-old girl who loves horses and travels as she prepares to visit her grandma in Paris. What was the inspiration for your story?
I wrote The Inspiring World of Ella Rose La Fleur during the pandemic, which was such a dark time in history, especially for children. Children could no longer attend school and interact with their friends, and their world became very isolated. I created precocious 6-year-old Ella Rose La Fleur as a beacon of light for young people and their parents. Viewing the world through Ella Rose’s eyes allows us to rediscover the magic and wonder in everyday life.
The Inspiring World of Ella Rose La Fleur inspired a series of animated videos on my YouTube channel, The Adventures of Ella Rose La Fleur. These videos help raise awareness and money for The Pinky Swear Foundation, a wonderful charity that helps children battling cancer. My favorite video is Ella Rose La Fleur, You Are Enough! This video sheds light on childhood depression and the importance of love, acceptance, and inclusivity for all children.
Is there anything about Ella Rose that came from yourself or your life experiences?
My husband and I have two grown children, a 26-year-old daughter, and a 21-year-old son. Some of Ella Rose’s interests were inspired by events in our own lives, such as rescuing an adorable calico cat named Jesse and traveling, especially to the beach and France. My husband’s family is French Catholic, and I am of Eastern European Jewish descent. We have always blended our family holidays and traditions, which has resulted in a rich cultural experience for our children.
What were some educational aspects that were important for you to include in this children’s book?
My goal in writing the book was to encourage children to talk about their feelings and to learn the importance of forming healthy relationships with their family, friends, teachers, and pets. One of my favorite poems in the book is You Can’t Be Sad On Your Bike!, which explores grief and the importance of comforting and supporting your friends during difficult times. Please Remember You Are Enough! explores feelings of sorrow and inadequacy and explains to children that we all have these days, and sometimes we just need a hug to realize everything will be okay.
Can you tell us what the second book will be about and when it will be available for fans to purchase?
The second book in The Adventures of Ella Rose La Fleur series will be Landon La Fleur, I Love You So! This book will tell the story of Ella Rose’s little brother, Landon, and will show the world through the eyes of a young boy. Landon La Fleur, I Love You So! will be available in approximately one year.
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Six-year-old Ella Rose La Fleur is a precocious girl who loves horses and traveling. In this unique children’s book, Ella Rose prepares for her first plane ride to visit her grandma in Paris. Along the way, she learns lessons on adventures and friendships that shape her world and teach her the importance of caring for others and living life to the fullest—even if she gets into a bit of trouble.
After she arrives at her grandma’s, she has so much fun exploring historic sites and trying new foods. The book culminates with a surprise that will forever change Ella Rose and her family’s lives. Life is always exciting for Ella Rose, who has a heart of gold and a head filled with dreams.
Have fun with these charming adventures of a little girl in verse.
The Serial Killer’s Next Victim
Beyond The Shadows follows a reporter and detective who are trying to track down a serial killer before he strikes again. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
As a television news reporter, I was assigned to cover and report on the trials of two serial killers who were both convicted and sentenced to the death penalty. After the convictions I was able to approach and interview them as they were being transferred out of the courtroom. You can feel evil and what you do as a reporter is you remove yourself from who you are, do the interview and then walk away. They both told me they were innocent; I felt the evil standing there with the microphone in my hand and I knew they were guilty, and the jury was right. I always wanted to be a published author and I knew I needed to share this experience of evil to warn everyone to be always alert and aware of their surroundings.
In my mystery novel, Beyond the Shadows, the talented Dallas television news reporter Claire McKenzie hits the airwaves, warning the public about the killer tagged the ‘Smiley Face Murderer’ and reporting the latest information on the investigation. While Dallas Homicide Detective Lance Harris searches for the killer of eight women, Claire, his former girlfriend, becomes entangled in the investigation when Harris discovers Claire knows the killer personally. In a race to find the killer, will Lance be able to save Claire? Find out if Claire becomes the serial killer’s next victim. The inspiration of goodness and love does defeat the bad and evil in the world.
How do you balance story development with shocking plot twists? Or can they be the same thing?
As an author your goal is to surprise and intrigue your audience. Writing, you put yourself in the story and turn the story for the readers in twists and turns. You write with concentration, you think of something that takes you by surprise, then take an angle in hopes you are on the right track for a successful plot twist. When writing you want to draw readers’ attention away from a plot directive and it will make the plot more surprising when you later reveal the truth of what happened. In writing a mystery you give enough detail to make the twist believable but then you keep it hidden for the surprise and reasoning behind the plot and the outcome. Let your characters create, bring together your plot twists, guidance of the story and final ending. Always write with momentum and guidance to your ending so your readers can feel it.
What was the hardest part about writing a mystery story, where you constantly have to give just enough to keep the mystery alive until the big reveal?
Anytime you write it is a challenge. Writing a mystery is challenging because you have your plot, your characterization and creation of suspense and you can’t give away the mystery and the hook.
You must know every detail of the crime and aim for constant intrigue and always remember your plot is the story of the mystery, and that you can’t reveal it until the conclusion. The main character is diligent until every clue is resolved. Your writing must connect and make your reader feel the trauma and suspense along with feeling relevant and significant. And then at the reveal, your reader must feel it, support it, and salute it for your story to be spot on. Enjoy reading!
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
The Beyond the Shadows story is far from over. Throughout the investigation, strange people, unusual incidents, and scary connections keep coming up and a startling reveal is just the beginning. As Chief detective Lance Harris knows as a homicide police investigator over the years, the connections to danger, fear and insanity never end and his determination to keep the community safe will never end.
Author Links: Amazon | GoodReads
The talented Dallas television news reporter Claire McKenzie hits the airwaves, warning the public about the killer tagged the ‘Smiley Face Murderer’ and reporting the latest information about the investigation. While Dallas Police Homicide Detective Lance Harris searches for the killer of eight women, Claire, his former girlfriend, becomes entangled in the investigation when Harris discovers Claire knows the killer personally.
In a race to find the killer will Lance be able to save Claire? Find out if Claire becomes the serial killer’s next victim.
LITERARY TITAN 