Blog Archives
But God Had Other Plans
Something We Never Imagined follows a journalist that does not believe in God, and through his encounters with a young woman finds forgiveness and faith are not beyond his reach. What was the inspiration for the setup to your story?
Honestly, I’m not sure where the inspiration came from, other than God. I have a bunch of story ideas I had been working on and this one sort of came out of left-field to me. I was actually in a very dark place in my life when I started writing this story. In fact, that day I started writing it, I was actually going to commit suicide and end my life. But God had other plans and it all resulted in writing ‘Something We Never Imagined‘.
Did you create an outline for the characters in the story before you started writing or did the characters personalities grow organically as you were writing?
I did not create an outline prior to writing this story. Normally I do work off outlines, but this story really grew organically as I wrote it, and I really had no idea how it was going to end, until I reached that point.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
After I had written the book and looked back and what God was trying to reveal to me, personally, I realized that forgiveness must start from within ones own self and that facing struggles, challenges and heartbreak in life is what makes us stronger, not weaker.
Proverbs 3:5-6 and Luke 1:37 have both been very important pieces of scripture in my life, especially over the past few years and I wanted to explore how faith does not make things easy, it simply makes them possible, while also focusing on how trusting in God, and not our own understanding of the things of this world, can help make our paths straight.
In the story, I reveal how Colton found his faith and trust in God, through writing daily prayer letters to Jesus, and that is something that truly happened in my own life over the past 7+ years. Last night was actually my 2711 starlight day of writing day prayer letters to Jesus, and doing so has changed my life in ways I can’t explain.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
I have several books I’m working on writing, which includes a series of children’s books, as well as some more Christian fiction books that focus on helping the homeless and the broken through faith, hope, love and trust in the Lord. I don’t have an exact time frame for when the next book will release, but hopefully within the next year. God has also been revealing how he wants me to share the story of my own life, and what I’ve been through the past few years, from nearly ending my life to becoming a self-published author who is simply trying to spread the love God has for us!
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The Pain We Inflict
Liberation follows a teenage girl that has escaped slavery and now is working with a group to liberate others. What was the inspiration for the setup to your story?
‘Liberation’ is the second book of my trilogy (‘The Liberation Trilogy’). It can be read on its own, however it is best read as part of the series for wider grasp of its context. I wrote the trilogy with deliberate intent to introduce what I would refer to as ‘Ethical Fiction’. As an activist, I am deeply influenced by the current, everyday exploitation and misfortune that we bring upon the weakest tier of society – our fellow earthlings. My books reflect the horror of enslavement and the pain we inflict, in such a casual and almost banal fashion, on so many suffering individuals. So yes, the books are quite relentless in that regard, but at the same time they are not gory. The emotional impact comes from the realisation that Sunny’s world is inspired by our reality.
Sunny is trying to adapt to being a teenager, part of a resistance organization, and life outside Nature’s farm. What were some driving ideals behind your character’s development?
I wrote Sunny to be a believable character, with a rich inner world. She is strong but has her weaknesses; resilient yet grappling with self-doubt. She grows up in a brutal world and is thrust upon freedom-fighting at an age so susceptible to inner turmoil and raging hormones. As an adolescent, it takes quite a strength of character to place others ahead of yourself, fight for strangers rather than being self-absorbed. Indeed, Sunny is flowering into a formidable young woman and a leader. In parallel to her demanding life, Sunny also falls in love with a fellow activist. As with everything else, Sunny doesn’t shy away from her emotions, nor her physical desires. I deliberately stayed away from love triangles. This is a solid love affair that nourishes her and empowers her, something I wish on all young women.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
The middle book of a trilogy is a bit of a difficult one. It has to continue the ideas and story-line that the first book created, yet develop further and bring something new, exciting and different. It also serves as the launching premises for the final book, the one that ends it all in a crescendo of events and emotions.
In ‘Liberation’ I decided to explore Sunny’s world, both external and inner. I was more direct with the analogy to our own world and who the slaves represent. I explored the ideas of friendship, loyalty and trust, concepts of manipulation and control. Is it true that once an adversary always an adversary? Do the people we idolise deserve to be? Can people truly change? Can we change the world?
What is the third book about and when will it be available?
The Third book of the trilogy is called ‘It Was in Our Hands’ and is out and available now. It brings the saga to a close in a very exciting, fast-paced, thrilling way. Full of mini cliff-hangers, unexpected twists, and loaded with emotional suspense, you will not want to miss it.
Author Links: GoodReads | Amazon | Website
The Art Of Creativity
Count and Play with K Dot follows as a friendly ladybug that wants to make friends and teach her new friends how to count to ten. What was the inspiration for this children’s book?
The inspiration for writing this children’s book was my father, John, who taught me that counting numbers was exciting and fun.
Ever since I was knee-high to a grasshopper, being physically active, having a vivid imagination, and asking endless questions were personality traits my dear mother could not handle alone. Therefore, my father was nominated to take me with him to work every day. John was a skilled contractor who built remarkable residential properties and custom homes but was also an education enthusiast and avid reader. Growing up on construction sites enabled me to learn the process of building things from scratch, the art of creativity, the details of coordinating colors, the value of friendship, how collaboration is vital, how teamwork makes dreams work, and the importance of determination.
I learned to count numbers by hammering nails in straight lines into scraps of lumber on numerous construction sites. As John taught me to utilize the hammer and nails properly, he created exciting counting games along the way. John insisted that I count the number of each nail out loud as it hammered into the wood. John’s games were simple and fun, making counting numbers memorable and rewarding. His simple but effective method of teaching to count numbers was the inspiration behind the book Count and Play with K Dot, Learning Numbers 1-10 is More Fun with a Friend!
I was impressed with how much detail you were able to put into the artwork and still keep it simple. What was the process like creating the illustrations for this book?
The process used for creating the illustrations for Count and Play with K Dot was specific and intentional. Once the storyline completed a clear message, I designed artwork that depicted my vision of K Dot’s story. Searching for art that expressed my imagination and vision took time, care, and consideration. I specifically designed K Dot with exaggerated eyelashes, big playful bows on her antennas, unexpected elfish boots on her many legs, and a warm smile that enhanced her whimsical character. After K Dot’s character came to life, I intentionally designed the storyline artwork on each page to compliment her simple and colorful style with bright and bold colors that enhanced her playful personality. I chose to implement five insects as her companions during the story, and they remain in every K Dot book as her insect friends in the Learning Garden where she lives.
What inspired you to become a children’s book writer?
Becoming a children’s writer has been my long-awaited dream for over thirty years that has finally come to fruition. Reading to my son during childhood sparked the idea to write children’s books focused on learning while still being joyful, entertaining, and fun. I imagined a spunky, spirited, teeny-tiny ladybug as a relatable character for him and every child to enjoy. I created K Dot to be an enthusiastic friend that likes to play learning games by inviting her new friends to learn and play together. My focus was to inspire every child’s imagination with stories filled with colorful characters and simple art that enhanced their fun, playfulness, and motivation.
Will there be more K Dot books on other topics?
The K Dot Learning Fun Series consists of three books with many more books encouraging learning fun on the way very soon. Count and Play with K Dot, Learning Numbers 1-10 is More Fun with a Friend is the Counting Numbers book, Find ABCs and Play with K Dot, Learning the ABCs is More Fun with a Friend is the ABCs book, with the Find Colors and Play with K Dot, Learning the Colors is More Fun with a Friend being the Colors book. All three books of The K Dot Learning Fun Series are available on Amazon for children to enjoy.
Author Links: Website | Amazon
Learning is more fun when it’s done with a friend!
Introduce the numbers 1-10 with a playing game that includes a new friend, K Dot. She is a teeny-tiny, little-whittle, sassy-frassy, bright and brassy ladybug that loves to play learning games with her friends!
Children are invited to count and play with K Dot, “Hi, friend. Let’s count from 1-10 and then do it again!”
K Dot’s enthusiasm and whimsical personality make learning fun, “Learning games are fun to play with a friend like YOU!”
Have a fun adventure in the learning garden with K Dot and her insect friends.
K Dot likes to play the game Hide-and-Seek. Can you find her hiding behind the numbers 1-10 and also hidden in other places to enhance the counting fun? K Dot’s insect friends join in the game and want you to count them too!
Learn the numbers 1-10 while you count and play with K Dot, The Little-Bitty Learning Ladybug!
Count and Play with K Dot, the Little-Bitty Learning Ladybug is a wonderful gift for all children 0-3, Baby Showers, Christmas stocking stuffers, Birthday presents, Grandparent gifts for any occasion, Pre-school fun, Friends, Teachers, Neighbors, or Family Members!
Beyond A Drug-smuggling Story
In Danger of Judgment follows two Chicago police detectives that are investigating a series of heroin deaths and stumble into an assassination plot. What was the inspiration for the setup to your story?
I’ve been interested in the so-called “Golden Triangle” and its role in heroin production and smuggling ever since I watched the Miami Vice series in the 80s, which featured it in a couple of episodes. The history behind it is fascinating, and I delve into it in the book. But I wanted to go beyond a drug-smuggling story by wrapping it into a larger conspiracy. The Vietnam War provided the perfect context for that larger story, both geographically and in terms of the era, so events in Vietnam became the spark for the plot.
Did you create an outline for the characters in the story before you started writing or did the characters personalities grow organically as you were writing?
I thought about the characters and the plot for 20+ years before I started writing the story. It’s not a very efficient way to create a book, but it did give me an opportunity to think about the characters for a good long while. By the time I started typing, the characters were fully formed, and I was so familiar with them that in any given situation, I knew what they’d say and how they’d act. Sometimes, I felt like the dialogue wrote itself.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
For me, the principal theme is the importance of friendship. The secondary theme is: when is it morally justifiable to kill someone?
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
I’m working on a sequel to In Danger of Judgment. It will be set in Chicago and, perhaps, elsewhere. I can’t predict when it’ll be finished because I won’t release it until I’m sure it’s as good as I can make it, but I’ll try to produce it a lot faster than I did with my first book!
Author Links: Website | Facebook | Amazon | GoodReads | BookBub
Chicago, 1987. Home of mediocre baseball teams, gangs that rule the streets, and a Mexican drug cartel that supplies the city with heroin. Chicago Police Detective Marcelle DeSantis and her partner, Bernie Bernardelli, are working a series of heroin-related murders, and their job just got more complicated. The man who sabotaged the Vietnam operation, Robert Thornton, is now the chief enforcer for a Southeast Asian heroin cartel, and after fifteen years overseas he’s arrived in Chicago to eliminate the reigning cartel and seize control of the city’s heroin trade.
Racing to stop a drug war, Marcelle and Bernie don’t realize they’re about to be caught in a deadly crossfire: another man is circling in the wings, one of Thornton’s soldiers from Vietnam, who’s preparing to exact his long-sought revenge against his former mentor. He’s the last person anyone would ever suspect, and when he finally makes his move, the paths of these four people will explosively converge.
Creating The History Of A World
The Kolri and the Koldar follows detective Shinjo as he is transported to a world he didn’t know existed after a Taman Knight from the planet Thalia crosses his path. What were some sources that informed this novels development?
Mostly my own views on religion and spirituality. We’re at a time when more and more people are awakening and learning that they religion doesn’t bring you closer to God but instead keeps you away. And we’re seeing churches/the religious right move further to the extreme, trying to silence anyone who thinks for themselves. This was the main inspiration for the Koldar Warriors, the dark counterparts of the Taman Knights. Like the religious right, they use fear to try and force their beliefs on others. They act out of desperation because their losing the power they once had over the populace. Much like the series as a whole, it’s about those who think for themselves vs those who blindly follow what others tell them to.
What were some things that excited you about exploring Shi-ria’s home planet in this book?
Mainly it was the world building, specifically the history of the Taman Knights. Sometimes I write bios about the locations in my stories, just like the kind you’d find on Wikipedia if you were to look up a real life country/region. I love creating the history of a world. I’ve always loved history, I’ve often read and re-read books on the history of Europe, Russia and so on. To be able to create my own world and give it as much life as any actual location is such a thrill! Maybe someday I’ll write a book about my universe and the worlds within it. Not a fictional story, but more something like “history of [insert planet name here].” As if I were writing a book on the history of Europe for example.
What were some questions you kept asking yourself as you were writing this book?
The main question is really, how much information can or should I give the reader? It’s a balancing act when writing an on going series. On the one hand you don’t want to overload the reader with too much info that they end up getting lost, or I as the writer get distracted and forget where the story is going. But at the same time if you give the audience too little then it becomes harder to follow as the plot doesn’t make much sense.
What can readers expect in book four of your Mystical Force series?
Book four: “Many are 1, 1 is 0” introduces the character of 0 (Zero). An omnipotent godlike being who shows up to cause chaos for his own amusement. He plays a big part in this series, though like any god it may not be obvious until later on. He’s one of those beings who’s subtly moving events along in the series, even when our heroes don’t know it. I’d say more but I don’t want to give too many spoilers away. Needless to say, volume 4 is already out. I’m currently writing volume 5, which introduces Shi-ria’s apprentice, Chiyoko, (I briefly touched on this back in volume 2, near the end of that book when Shi-ria looks into the future). Also I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention that I’m also working on a new series set in the same universe. It’s called, Liberator: The People’s Guard. Imagine, Captain America with Superman’s powers but set in a modern day Soviet Union. Stay tuned…
Author Links: GoodReads | Website | LinkedIn | Instagram | Facebook
Once Shi-ria finally confronts Knightwalker, she learns the startling truth about how Scarlet Knightwalker has already altered the past in order to prevent a disastrous future. However, their meeting ends up being cut short thanks to Zolida tricking Shinjo into following Shi-ria. As if that didn’t complicate matters enough, Zolida then sends both Shi-ria and Shinjo to Shi-ria’s home planet of Thalia.
Now Shinjo finds himself on an alien world he never knew existed, and it’s up to Shi-ria to bring him back to Earth. Unfortunately, a cult of Koldar warriors, dark counterparts to the Taman Knights, have learned about Zolida’s power to teleport anywhere across the galaxy and want this power to spread their sinister theocracy. Now it’s up to Shi-ria, along with her fellow Taman Knights Rirk and Kurai, to get Shinjo back home while protecting themselves from this dark cult, a cult tied both to Shi-ria’s past and Scarlet Knightwalker’s.
Scarlet Knightwalker now has a difficult choice to make: either save Shi-ria and risk bringing about the very future she wishes to avoid, not to mention risking her powers falling into the hands of the Koldar Warriors, or leave Shi-ria to die and ensure the future she wishes to prevents never occurs. Are the lives of a few worth saving at the risk of millions more dying? Or, since Knightwalker already altered the future, could things still turn out the way they already have? Will things change for the better, or does Knightwalker risk creating a future even worse than the one she originally came from?
Fallen Snow Is Just Reality
Fallen Snow follows a woman who must cope with problems she never dreamed of having in a world she never knew existed. What were some sources that informed this novel’s development?
Honestly, there were no immediate sources. Every good story relates to humanity. That’s what Fallen Snow does. Some people think it’s a little bold or dark for a YA novel, but I think it’s exactly what the genre needs. Reading is an escape, but it’s also a good way to learn things about humanity that are better to experience through the life of a protagonist. Fallen Snow is just reality. It’s raw on a level that some people aren’t ready for. Athena pulls back the curtain on real life, causing some people to face the truth about humanity, and others to be relieved that they can finally relate to a character.
Fallen Snow wasn’t written to make a point or solve an argument. Yet it is bold in a way that causes people to stop and think. Maybe it can make someone a little more gentle with themselves or another person. Maybe it can even help someone. That’s the point. Good stories do more than relate a series of events, they make you feel something.
Athena Jackson is an intriguing and well developed character. Was there anything from yourself that you put into this character?
It seems that with many of my characters, I unintentionally reveal a little bit about myself. So yes, I did. Writing Athena was really relieving. She is probably the closest I’ve ever come to being so raw and vulnerable with my audience.
I’ve never gone through exactly what she did (in terms of the physical abuse or pregnancy), but for a long time, I was in a very toxic, co-dependent, and emotionally abusive relationship. Along with other factors, it caused me to develop mental health problems and an eating disorder. Athena is where I think I might have ended up a few years down the road if I hadn’t gotten out of that relationship. She’s very special to me.
What scene in the book did you have the most fun writing?
Well, most of the scenes were pretty sad. I remember first writing the hallway scene–the prologue–and I really enjoyed that. I felt confident about how the story would progress from there. I cried a lot writing this book. It was so important to me that I needed to make sure the story was flawless. The hospital scene was very important to me. It wasn’t fun to write, but I poured a lot into it.
This is the third book in the EverGreen series. Do you have plans for a fourth book or are you working on a different project?
Fallen Snow is the last book in the EverGreen Trilogy. My newest novel, Scarlet Whispers, the first book in The Shades of Us Trilogy, was recently released. I’ve already finished writing that trilogy. At some point I may come back and write a companion novel (related to the story, but more of a spin off) between Moonlit Skies and Fallen Snow, but I’m not sure when that will be.
Author Interview: GoodReads | Facebook | Website
Less than a year after Lily Rhodes Marx delivers twins John and Mina, Athena Jackson finds herself facing an unplanned pregnancy. With Lily and Rowan’s support, she prepares for the arrival of her baby. Ginger, Drew, Giselle, Omar, Jack, and LeAnne also join in encouraging her as she begins this new chapter of her life. In the midst of her journey, she falls for a man who just might be everything she’s ever wanted. But when all of her plans for the future begin to crumble, Athena will have to cope with problems she never dreamed of having in a world she never knew existed.
Underground Street Crime
Underground in Tinseltown follows a young aspiring actor as he risks it all to make his dreams come true, the reality is far different from what he expected. Did you create an outline for the characters in the story before you started writing or did the characters personalities grow organically as you were writing?
These characters are based on a true story. However, the names were changed – and no one would admit to the original situation as being authentic. So, as it is now ‘hearsay’ and forensic recreations, we call the story ‘Basis on a True story’ dramatization.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
Realities of the entertainment ‘Hollywood’ system – and underground street crime in the 1980’s.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
‘The Solar Obliteration Experiment’ – now available on Amazon Books.
Author Links: Twitter | Facebook | Website
A Spirit Quest
Innocence Derailed follows a young woman from her mid-teens to adulthood on a journey of self-discovery in a time when everything was changing for women. Based on facets of your own life, why was this an important story for you to write?
I was a teenager in a rural town in Oregon during the Vietnam War and in the beginning of the marijuana and psychedelic drug scene. It was also in my generation that young girls suddenly had access to the pill –making them sexually liberated and equal to men. To capture that tumultuous time, I wrote this book based on a true story (my own) but in third-person so it would read like a novel. What resulted was a coming-of-age romance novel, a spirit quest, in a grand adventure story. I’ve had much praise from women of all ages and men too, for its raw and real authenticity and I wanted to get people thinking how their lives can change if they seek a spiritual connection of love and integrity.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
The novel vividly descrives innocent first love and sex, unwanted pregnancy, miscarriage, and a breakup after being pressured to have an ‘open relationship.’ The protagonist seeks revenge for being cast aside and joins the hippie scene. She goes on an acid trip, survives gale force winds on a sailing ship, rescues a friend who overdoses, and gets lost deep in a jungle cave only to contract a dreadful lung disease. She has hitchhiking adventures from Mexico to Canada all while being called to grow in spiritual maturity.
What is one thing that you hope the reader takes away from Innocence Derailed?
I hope readers consider listening to that small voice in their conscience because it may be God who is quietly offering guidance and love!
What is the next book in the Spirit Quest series that you are working on and when will it be available?
The next book is the series is titled Purity Found and will be available in the fall of this year!
Author Links: GoodReads | Twitter | Facebook | Website
Fifteen-year-old Kate gives her virginity away in glorious romantic innocence. She maps out a perfect life for herself – untilthe rose-colored glasses have to come off and grown-up trials engulf her. After questioning everything she’s learned about God and love, Kate contemplates suicide on a foggy cliff one night but then chooses to ride the 1970 hippie currents of free love and rebellion instead.
While the guys in her class are drafted into the violence of the Vietnam War, she too flees her country for grand adventures from Mexico to Canada. On this turbulent path of self-discovery, she’s pursued by mystical words that drop into her conscience. When Kate faces her destiny, she must choose to settle down in her hometown orfind the courage to follow Spirit where it leads.
This emotional page-turner explores the hurt and wonder of first love and the raw and real experiences of becoming a woman. Innocence Derailedis a stand-alone novel, the first in the Spirit Quest Series, and gives the early background to the author’s narrative non-fiction awarding-winning book, The Celestial Proposal.
LITERARY TITAN 