Blog Archives
Keeping Our Earth Clean
Tierra Day follows a woman who, with the help of her animal friends, organizes a clean-up day for the human and animal community. What was the inspiration for your story?
I was inspired to write “Tierra Day” (Earth Day), contemplating all the litter I have noticed in my neighborhood, local and interstate highways, and bringing this awareness through writing a book for children. I also thought about various animal habitats and how litter may affect their livelihoods. Children are our future leaders, and as I have a quote by Rachel Carson as a dedication page: “In nature nothing exists alone.” Keeping our Earth clean is a community effort with everyone graciously doing their part.
What educational aspects were important for you to include in this children’s book?
As a retired teacher, I felt the overall message of Earth Day being a community effort, was very important. Also, including a glossary, vocabulary, and fun facts about Earth Day may be used as opportunities for collaboration in an educational setting of the classroom for teachers, outdoor education, or within family outings at State and National Parks.
The art in this book is beautiful. What was the art collaboration process like with illustrator Rebecca Jacob?
Rebecca is my older sister of whom I admire her artistic talent immensely and we work very well as a creative team. I usually write my stories and then she reads them, beginning her wonderful illustration process. We correspond frequently through phone calls, text messages, and emails. She works out of her art studio in Pennsylvania and visits me in New Mexico during the summer for inspiration of the New Mexico landscape and critters on our outdoor hikes, road trips, rafting, and scenic adventures.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
I have been thinking about another book soon for children that would continue to include New Mexico critters, humor, rhyme, juicy vocabulary, and lesson(s) to contemplate.
Author Links: Facebook | Instagram | Website
A Healing Exercise For Me
Life Giving Dementia Care is part memoir and part self-help book for those in the role of caring for someone with Alzheimer’s or dementia. Why was this an important book for you to write?
The caregiving experience is such a roller coaster of emotion. Fear, discovery, fun, fatigue, isolation, joy and pain. I did many things pretty well during that time, but I also made mistakes. I wanted to use my experience to help my sons if I ever develop dementia, and ultimately help other caregivers, through the experience; to help them have an easier time than I did. Doing this also ended up being a healing exercise for me, which was unexpected.
I appreciated the candid nature with which you told your story. What was the hardest thing for you to write about?
The times I failed my mom were tough to revisit. But the few months between her broken hip and passing were especially difficult. When I recorded the audiobook, there were sections I had to re-record several times because i kept crying. She declined so quickly and became a shell of the woman I knew. At the same time, she became someone new who I found great joy in knowing. Mom’s body failed before her mind completely left her, so we became closer toward the end, if that was even possible.
What is a common misconception you feel people have about dementia?
That it’s all about patients forgetting things. Forgetfulness is part of dementia, certainly. But overall it is a small part. There are a myriad of challenges to deal with on a daily basis. Some originate from forgetfulness. Many from physical changes.
What do you hope is one thing readers take away from your story?
That a dementia diagnosis is not an instant black cloud. It’s a long road. If caregivers prepare, plan, and have appropriate expectations for themselves and their loved one, this can be a journey of growth and of joy.
Author Links: GoodRead | Twitter | Facebook | Website
If you are caring for a parent who has dementia or Alzheimer’s disease, what do you do first and where can you get help?
Written by a daughter who provided care for her mom, Life Giving Dementia Care is an easy-to-read, non-technical Amazon bestselling book (May 2021) that walks you step-by-step through dealing with all stages of dementia or Alzheimer’s care. It’s like you’re chatting with a friend who has “been there and done that,” candidly sharing their own fears, pain, joys, and lessons learned as a caregiver.
Featuring useful chapter takeaway summaries and an appendix with helpful resources and comments by other caregivers, inside you’ll learn:
how to spot early signs and get a diagnosis
understand and manage their mental and physical decline and increasing medical needs
work with day-care, in-home, and nursing homes
make financial, legal, and funeral plans
and finally, how to care for yourself and recover
The key purpose of this essential book is to help caregivers be confident, and even experience joy, as they provide care for a parent, the elderly, or other adults with dementia or Alzheimer’s. Life Giving Dementia Care, a book about Alzheimer’s and dementia care, will help both family members and caregivers understand and meet the many challenges of this disease. Buy a copy now for yourself and a friend.
Death’s Cheat
Zaven follows a group of high school friends who are in the middle of a Zombie pandemic and must rely on each other for survival. What was the inspiration for the setup to your story?
Funnily enough, being bored with my friends during high school gave me the ideas for the book. A lot of characters in the book are based off my school mates. When they read it, I hope they don’t find themselves too difficult to stomach.
How do you balance story development with shocking plot twists? Or can they be the same thing?
I start with the ending in mind. Zaven is the first book in a sequel and I have the final conclusion being the key aspect that I strive towards. With an ending developed first, the story balance and twists are quite simple to implement.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
My main theme was the definition of a Zombie. Ultimately, Tyler is the true zombie throughout the book as he blindly follows other’s advice without any contextual knowledge. Since Zaven is written in first person from Tyler’s perspective, the reader get’s the story through his eyes… This makes the reader as blindsided as Tyler. Overall, poor decisions result from poor observation.
The other main theme is Death’s cheat. It is symbolised time and time again throughout the book, though, readers will have to look deeper to find the meaning.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
I am currently working on the sequel to Zaven. It will likely not be available for a while due to my commitment to work. Nonetheless, the story is mapped out and there will be no loose ends. It will come full circle and answer all possible questions.
Author Links: GoodReads | Twitter | Facebook | Website
The Hamster Wheel of American-style Modernity
Onward, At Last looks at the reasons why the American Dream is not what it once was, what people are led to believe it can be, and what can be done to fix things. Why was this an important book for you to write?
Onward, At Last is a clarion call to those of us who are grinding on the hamster wheel of American-style modernity to stop, quiet the external noise of our busy lives, and reconnect with the inner voice of our true selves. Some people may refer to this inner voice as conscience, but regardless of the label, this quiet voice reflects the steeped wisdom of our lived experience. For far too long, we have been influenced by external interests to defer our sense of truth to social expectations & norms (virtues), public figures & leaders, credentialed experts, and social narratives. The book reminds us the truth we have come to know has been far more a function of the wisdom of our lived experiences than the reasons provided by external sources.
Did you do a lot of research to maintain the accuracy of the subject?
In the preparation of the book, I did no specific research. Outside of the book project, and over the course of a 30-year career in banking, I have done deep reading and research on American history, economics, politics, climate science, philosophy, Christianity, spirituality, music, and a variety of topics. See the Starting Points of Reference section of the book for a sample list. Yet, I do not ask the reader to trust my recounting of these topics. The value of my recounting is whether the commentaries resonate with the lived experience of the reader.
What were some ideas that were important for you to share in this book?
Nothing in nature lives independently.
We are each far more than these uniforms we wear.
Truth is found by looking inward not outward.
Sustainability is symbiotic not competitive.
The economy exists within the ecology.
Utopia has always been the next stage of our social evolution.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
I have no plans for a next book. Onward, At Last is my opus. The conversation continues with new commentaries which can be found on the blog tab at https://onwardatlast.com.
Author Links: Amazon | Website
I work hard, built a successful career, possess all the trappings of an American middle class success story, and yet I feel deeply disillusioned. As I look around, I realize most everyone I meet shares my disquieting sense of dread from experiencing our society and nation in decline. Where is this all heading?
Onward, At Last provides a deep exploration into the virtues that define our lives…freedom, independence, self-interest and competition, and asks the foundational question: What if our own defining virtues are actually the root cause of all that afflicts our society and ourselves? Onward, At Last presents a series of social commentaries that utilizes our shared experiences to examine what has gone so terribly wrong and what each of us can do to make it right.
Justice Was A Struggle To Achieve
If Trees Could Testify follows a defense attorney who is investigating and trying a double homicide that has more questions than answers. What inspired you to write a fictional novel based on this real case?
The actual case upon which my book is based generated a significant amount of publicity, particularly in the Asheville area of the western NC mountains. As is noted, I was the principal defense attorney and therefore privy to information that would be subject to varying degrees of privacy concerns. Those factors, combined with a need to protect both the innocent as well as the potentially guilty, gave me no choice but to fictionalize the account to some degree.
How do you balance story development with shocking plot twists? Or can they be the same thing?
The plot twists really weren’t planned or sensationalized as they were based largely upon an accurate rendition of how the case transpired, although I did take the liberty of injecting some degree of diversion with regard to characters such as the draft-dodging son of the snake-handling minister.
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?
The “mystery” was not overly difficult to recount in that it was based on events that had essential components of an intriguing story already built in. Many rabbits were chased in the form of biker gangs, organized crime, etc., but the essential and unfortunate message was that justice was a struggle to achieve for both defendants and victims. Human impacts can be lingering and strong when our system fails to fulfill its purpose.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
My next book will likely be a sequel to my first, that being “Pioneer Paddling Colonial Carolina.” I am an avid kayaker with a data base of over 350 bodies of water, but also a history buff with a passion for paddling in historical areas wherever they are found. I hope to expand and update the Carolinas, but also include much of Florida together with parts of Virgina, Georgia and Tennessee. Thank you for asking.
Author Links: Amazon | Website
On a quiet summer night in 1983, two elderly siblings were tragically murdered in their colonial, Georgian-style home across from Big Laurel Creek. Known for their distrust of banks and having a collection of antiques, gold, and silver coins, it was naturally assumed that robbery was the principal motive for the double homicide. The murders captivated a close-knit rural community for nearly two decades, as the local family roots of the victims dated all the way back to the early 1800s.
During the years that followed the senseless tragedy, a time during which the home was boarded up and abandoned, local folks rumored that they had occasionally seen the house lit up like a Christmas tree at night. There were also stories where the ghost of an elderly woman, walking and swinging a lantern, was reportedly seen along the highway which runs adjacent to the property. Some county residents have further claimed to have seen this apparition standing in a window on the second floor of the home during the time that it was vacant.
Suspects came and went as the case investigation spanned three different sheriff administrations. “Who done it” rumors abounded, with theories of involvement ranging from organized crime to outlaw biker gangs to even local family members. Finally, almost eighteen years after the murders, warrants were issued charging a father and two of his sons with having committed the crimes. The defendants maintained their innocence throughout the course of the legal proceedings, which blazed a trail of intrigue with numerous twists and turns along the way.
According to Fred Hughes, at the time the publisher and editor of the Madison News-Record and Sentinel, a Hollywood film crew was interested in producing a major motion picture based on the case. As noted in a subsequent editorial, Hughes was “reasonably certain” that the story could have made the silver screen, as it was full of “stranger than life events.”
This book should be categorized as a fictional mystery novel which is based on the true story of the murders and subsequent prosecution of those accused. Names have been changed to protect the innocent (as well as the potentially guilty), and a haunting tale is told with a focus on the search for justice for both victims and defendants. Colorful characters, including the draft-dodging son of a snake-handling minister, intertwine with more serious undertones as a surprise ending eventually unfolds. The author, William Auman, was the principal defense attorney in the actual case, and provides the reader with a dramatic and informative account of what was otherwise a tragedy to many.
There Can Be Love After Grief
Hollyland follows a woman with a passion for the arts and a Hollywood playboy who fall in love and change each other. What was one thing that excited you the most about writing this novel?
I wrote this novel during the pandemic to escape to someplace cheerful, hopeful, optimistic, and full of love. I wanted to remember that there’s always beauty and possibility. The characters in the book are searching for magic—or gold dust—in their lives. They find that magic in each other, in memories of their loved ones, and in the arts. I was excited to follow the trail of gold dust they left along the way.
Was there anything in Deanna and Ryder’s relationship that you pulled from your own life?
Yes. Deanna is an arts researcher. While she’s a fictious character, I did draw from my own experience. In addition to being a novelist, I’ve also been an academic researcher specializing in the arts for over two decades. Beyond that, I absolutely love the arts. My husband does as well, and we spend much of our leisure time at museums, movies, theater, and so forth. Deanna and Ryder also share that love of the arts. Some of the places they visit and specific nods to the arts come from my own life. For example, there’s a scene at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York that happens in front of a painting I’ve been lucky to see many times.
What scene in the book did you have the most fun writing?
There are two. The big restaurant scene, which takes place in LA and involves a bunch of celebrities, a director, and the head of a Hollywood film studio. That scene unfolds over two chapters and was a blast to write. My other favorite is when Deanna and Ryder exchange special gifts. I don’t want to give anything away, but the gift he gives her is my favorite moment in the book. I cried a mess of happy tears writing it.
What were some ideas that you wanted to explore in this book?
There can be love after grief. The real movie stars in our lives aren’t necessarily famous, but are those we hold most dear. Art matters. Always live and love with passion. Gold dust may be right around the corner.
Author Links: Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | Website
Dee Schwartz is a writer and arts researcher. Ryder Field is a famous actor descended from Hollywood royalty. On the night they meet outside a bar, their connection is palpable. Ryder’s mother—legendary actress Rebecca Field, half of Hollywood’s golden couple when she died—was kidnapped and murdered by a crazed fan in a shocking event that forever tarnished Tinseltown. Dee’s mother, too, died when she was young. Bonded by this loss, the two embark on a love story that explores their search for magic—or “gold dust”—in their lives. Everything changes, however, when Dee mysteriously disappears after an awards ceremony. Is history repeating itself? Can there truly be a happily ever after in Hollywood?
Set against the backdrop of contemporary Los Angeles, Hollyweird is a poignant novel that moves fluidly between romance, humor, suspense, and joy.
Am I Brave Enough To Conquer It?
Marky the Magnificent Fairy follows a young fairy who is teased for looking different and teaches the other fairies about acceptance and compassion. What was the inspiration for your story?
Writing Marky has been a very emotional journey. The book has always been about a Fairy who could not fly because she had a small wing, but she could still do so many other things. However, it began to evolve into much more as I started talking to teachers, doctors, families, and others who work with and/or live with special needs children.
I am so blessed and fortunate to have partnered with Linda Radke and the Story Monsters team on this book. The entire team fell in love with Marky as I did. It has been a passion project for all of us.
What were some educational aspects that were important for you to include in this children’s book?
Marky the Magnificent Fairy is written with the intent of eliciting back and forth discussions with children at home or in the classroom. This book is about diversity, inclusion, bullying, disabilities, kindness, believing in yourself, self-love, confidence, acceptance, positivity, and compassion. No matter what age you are.
The art in this book is fantastic. What was the art collaboration process like with illustrator Jeff Yesh?
I always had a firm vision of Marky in my head, and I could not move on to any other illustrations until she was created. I knew once we captured the essence of Marky everything else would fall into place. During a phone call I gave Jeff the “backstory” of who Marky was and how she came to be. That was helpful to him in understanding her background and importance.
As a surprise Jeff added in the small yellow Japanese Caterpillar which you see throughout the story. I have since named that caterpillar “Tomo” which is short for Tomodachi which means friend in Japanese.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
We are still busy rolling out Marky the Magnificent Fairy which is currently in Pre-Order. Tomo plushies are on the way and will be available for sale soon. We are currently updating my website to accommodate it all… However, there is a dystopian novel I started outlining a year ago, the question is, am I brave enough to conquer it?
Author Links: GoodReads | Twitter | Facebook | Website
I Wanted Them To Be Big And Scary
Dane Thorburn and Nature’s Revenge follows a courageous hero who needs to find out why Dragons are invading their land and why they are after the Princess. What was the inspiration for the setup to your story?
[Matt Galanos]: It was based on a question I asked myself as a result of the ending of the previous book. In Dane Thorburn and the City of Lost Souls, Dane manages to rescue the Princess from an ancient, long-lost wizard prison that no one has ever escaped from in the history of the land (readers will know all the details, so I won’t say any more about it). The question I asked myself was, what would happen if the actual Ruling Elements of Nature themselves (Air, Earth, Fire and Water) – the underlying source of every living thing in the land, did not realise the Princess was innocent and should never have been imprisoned in the City of Lost Souls, and sent their own creatures after her after she was rescued.
The creatures in this book were very intriguing. How did you go about creating them for this book?
[Matt Galanos] I needed to have one creature from each of the Ruling Elements, and I wanted them to be big and scary. A dragon is terrifying enough and a creature everyone knows about, but with the others, I wanted them to have their own special characteristics that would make them unique to this story and difficult to kill. So, after giving it some thought, I created each one:
A dragon – from the Fire Element, with all the fire-breathing and terror that dragons are known for.
A giant kestrel – from the Air Element, much larger than an eagle or any other bird seen in the land before, so large ‘it blotted out the sun.’
A serpent – from the Earth Element, one that was able to blend with its surroundings and where its mouth could spring from its body like a harpoon firing and latch on to its prey.
A sarkoe – from the Water Element. This was my favourite of them all. A ‘sarkoe’ is actually a name taken from an ancient breed of crocodile. To make this one unique and more terrifying, I added the shape-shifting ability and the ability to be equally adept on land as it is in water.
What scene in the book did you have the most fun writing?
[Matt Galanos] I liked all the scenes with the sarkoe – it was such a gruesome and fearsome beast, and if I had to pick a favourite, it was the scene where Dane, Will, Lord Frederick and the rest of the Brindabeare Knights have to fight it.
What is the next book that you are working on, and when will it be available?
[Matt Galanos] I’m working on the next instalment in the Dane Thorburn series, and it should be available in the first half of 2023.
Author Links: GoodReads | Twitter | Facebook | Website
Four mysterious and mythical creatures are weaving trails of destruction and mayhem across the land,
and it seems there is little anyone can do to stop them.
LITERARY TITAN 