Spotlight : Naked Tao by Robert Grant

Naked Tao by Robert Grant

Grant Li is a young Louisville attorney who is on top of the world, but his life is about to change.  Following his greatest courtroom victory for Pathogen, a pharmaceutical giant, Grant discovers his client is hiding an amazing medicine from the world.  Not only does it cure everything, it produces optimal health.  Even more astounding, his client has developed a bio-weapon and intends to use it against innocent people.  Grant sets out to stop them at all costs and along the way has a chance meeting with a lost love, Ginny Bardough.

Ginny left Louisville for college and didn’t look back until ten years later. She is forced to return in order to land bestselling author, Padma Ganesha, as the keynote speaker for her company-sponsored conference, “Ideas to Change the World”.  On the trip back home she runs into Grant at a wild party and the sparks begin to fly over their completely different views about love and sex.  Their problems grow when Grant is accused of a murder and Ginny disappears. Where is Ginny?  Will Grant avoid prison?  Can Pathogen be stopped?  Will Grant and Ginny overcome their relationship issues enough to build the amazing life they both hunger for?

Interview with Robert:

1.  What prompted you to write your book?

As long as I can remember, I wanted to be a writer.  Like many young people who are called to a creative life, I had to contend with well-meaning friends and family members who discouraged it.  While I have spent most of my career as a successful attorney, I never forgot my
dream.  In the meantime, I pursued many other interests and was fortunate enough to have some amazing adventures.  One of those interests was martial arts.  I spent many years studying and teaching Chinese Internal Martial Arts.  Before his death, I promised my teacher
I would someday write that book I always wanted to write and began to develop a story idea that pitted a young lawyer/martial artist against a powerful pharmaceutical company in a conflict over a miracle cure.  The hero wants to ensure the cure is freely available to everyone, but powerful enemies want to suppress it.

2.  Do your life philosophies coincide with the philosophies of your book?

Yes, my book provides a platform to discuss Taoist ideas about a well-lived life.  Taoism is the philosophical underpinning of Chinese Internal Martial Arts.  In a nutshell, it suggests strategies that help people live an authentic life and to minimize the harmful effects of well-meaning, but counterproductive advice from others.

3.  What genre of books do you like to read and why?

Over the years, my reading preferences have spanned many genres of books, but these days I read more thrillers than anything.    A good thriller builds suspense by revealing both the hero’s flaws and the overwhelming odds against her.  The stakes are high and she must overcome her flaws to succeed.  Becoming a better person in the face of what seems to be insurmountable challenges is what makes a person a hero.  I enjoy rooting for her.

4.  What are your hobbies and interests?

My wife and I love the outdoors, so we spend as much time as possible filling our senses with nature.  We are avid backpackers, motorcyclists, and kayakers.

5.  What would you like your readers to know about you?

I’m just a regular guy who likes to live large, so things don’t stay on my bucket list very long.  I’ll choose an adventure any day over a material possession.

6.  Favorites:  food, color, place, activity?

As long as I can remember I have loved the color red.  When I was a kid, my mother would have to chase me down on laundry day to get her hands on my favorite red shirt.  It never seemed to matter to me that I had been wearing it for days and it was filthy.

I love spinach and would eat it every meal if my wife didn’t revolt.

The woods are my favorite place. The instant I step on the trail anything weighing me down just falls away.  It is the best medicine I know of.

My favorite activity is story telling.  There’s nothing like a well-told story to bring us together.

7.  If you could give one piece of advice about life, what would it be?

I find the more I tend to my own life and allow others to tend to theirs, the happier we are.

Where you can find Robert:

www.NakedTao.com
http://www.facebook.com/AuthorRobertWGrant
https://www.google.com/+RobertGrantNakedTao
https://twitter.com/nakedtao
https://www.goodreads.com/goodreadscomRobertGrant

Review of Catnip 3: Revolution by J. S. Frankel

catnip 3-second photo (1) My rating:  4 stars!

Catnip 3:   Revolution is the third book in a series.  The story is a fantasy adventure about genetic engineering gone wrong!  Anastasia and Harry, two genetically engineered subjects, find themselves in the midst of a political controversy involving wayward scientists and unethical doctors who have decided to use their knowledge in hideous ways in an attempt to bring glory to themselves.  It is up to Anastasia and Harry to put an end to the madness:  an undertaking which involves mystery, death and mayhem!

Catnip 3:  Revolution is a very interesting story.  The plot is well conceived and the characters are very well developed.  Although it is a fantasy, the book is well constructed and the reader soon gets swept away by the story line.

If you enjoy fantasy, intrigue, a touch of romance and mystery, this book is for you!  It captivates the imagination and whets the imaginative juices of the reader!

Interview with J.S. Frankel:

1.  What made you decide to start writing?
I don't know, really. I got into writing very late, in my late forties. My older son was around thirteen at the time and he mentioned a cartoon he'd seen on television, something about walking trees, and that night I had a dream and eventually that became The Tower, my first novel. It isn't my best work, but it is my first, and that got me started.
2. How did you become interested in writing your genre(s)?
I've always been interested in science fiction and fantasy, ever since I was small. It has continued to this day and I like it because I can let my mind wander and dream up possibilities. Let the fantastic rule the day! That's what I try to do in every novel, start out with the mundane and then toss in the fantastic.
3. What are your favorite books to read and why?
I read a variety of novels, mainly sci-fi and fantasy, but also historical and biographical. They all give me insights into the human condition.
4.  What are your favorites?  (food, colors, activities, places)
Okay, for food, give me pizza and pasta, and sushi! I live in Japan and I love sushi as long as it's fresh.
Colors--anything dark. I don't go in for brightness.
Activities? If I have any free time from writing and work (I'm an ESL teacher) I watch movies or play baseballl with my sons.
Places--I love Guam and would like to go back there for a visit if my finances improve. I just got back from a brief visit with my family to Kochi Prefecture. (We live in Osaka). We explored the castle, the beach, and saw a number of interesting sights. It was a short trip, but it was fun.
5.  What is one thing you want your readers to remember about you?
Ha, will they remember me? I hope so! All right, if they're going to remember me for anything, perhaps it will be for the positive tone I bring to my novels. Yes, there's action and blood and death. Yes, there is loss...but in the end I always manage to add in a note of hope. Hope is all we've got. If we give that up, we have nothing.
6.  If you could give me one piece of advice, what would it be?
If you're a writer, start and don't stop. As a person, be true to yourself, your loved ones, give each day everything you've got. At the end of the day, go to bed satisfied that you've done your best.
You can find Catnip 3:  Revolution here:
http://www.devinedestinies.com/Revolution/
http://www.amazon.com/Revolution-Catnip-Book-J-S-Frankel-ebook/dp/B0137ZIH6S/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1440481027&sr=1-1&keywords=Catnip+3%3A+revolution

 

Connect with J.S. here:

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100007640056961

Twitter:  @JessSFrankel

Spotlight: The Heir by Lynne Stringer

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Synopsis: Sarah hates the prestigious high school she attends. Most of the other students ignore her. The only good thing about school is the presence of Dan Bradfield, the boy she adores. Dan is the heir to his father's multinational computer company, but he is dating Sarah's best friend, Jillian. When tragedy strikes, Dan is the one who is there for Sarah, but she can't shake the feeling there is something strange about him. Is he protecting her from something? Is there something going on that she doesn't know about? And did she really see a monster in the bushes? Sarah is desperate to uncover the truth, but it could take her to another galaxy, and change everything she believes about who she is. Will it bring Dan and Sarah closer together or tear them apart? The Heir is the first book in the Verindon Trilogy.

Current Reviews: I really enjoyed The Heir. It was well-plotted with good foreshadowing (but without making it obvious), good characters, and an ending that was both satisfying in the way it completed the current story, but left me wanting more. And unlike many current YA novels, it's clean. – Iola (Amazon)

I can't say enough good things about it! It was intriguing and fast paced. The first page had me hooked. I couldn't put the book down, and I can't wait for the next one! – Elizabeth McKinney (Amazon)

It made me shed tears and smile and that's the awesome part about a good book. It took me 5 hours to read it because I couldn’t put it down and I'm going to reread it today :) – Schuller (Amazon)

Author Interview: 1. What made you decide to start writing? I started writing stories when I was eight years old. Back then, they weren't too long but I was intrigued by the idea of telling stories like the ones in the books I loved. When I was a teenager I bought a typewriter and started novelizing movies and episodes of TV shows for the fun of it. This furthered my love for it and later developed into writing full-length, original novels. My time as a journalist also honed my writing skills.

2. What is your favorite genre to write about and why? I like the young adult genre because there's something intriguing about that stage in a person's life. I tend to mix it, though, with science fiction or fantasy because I like things that get away from our every day world. Sprinkle that with a dash of romance, and I couldn't be happier!

3. What books do you like to read and why? Mostly YA, science fiction or fantasy but also some historical novels. I always like a book to have a bit of romance too.

4. What inspires you to write? I'm inspired by the stories other people tell, whether it's orally, in books, movies or TV shows. I love stories in any form.

5. Favorites: your favorite food, color, activity, place? My favorite food would have to be chocolate. Blue is my favorite color, and I also enjoy going for walks with my family, reading (surprise, surprise!) and I love going to the mountains or the beach.

6. What would you like your readers to remember about you? I'd like them to remember me for the interesting characters I created and that those characters made them think.

7. If you could give me one piece of advice, what would it be? If you're a writer, then I'd advise you to keep writing. The more you write the better you'll become. Also, listen to your professional editor. Also, don't give up. If you're a reader I'd advise you to leave reviews on the books you love at as many sites as you can. Nothing delights an author more than hearing that someone loves their book. It's also the best form of advertising a writer can get.

Where you can find Lynne:

Lynne's website:
www.lynnestringer.com

Lynne's Verindon page:
www.lynnestringer.com/verindon

Lynne's Amazon author page:

Review of Demon's Ink by Kimbra Kasch

Product Details

Demon's Ink is an interesting tale about supernatural encounters and spiritual ramifications. The reader journeys down corridors of religious implications as he/she joins with the main characters of this book..

If you enjoy paranormal writing, you'll enjoy Demon's Ink. The story line is suitably gripping and is deserving of a 4 star rating. The only reason why I rated it 3 stars is because there are some formatting issues which need to be addressed. However, the plot is well constructed and the characters are easy to believe and identify with.

Further interest is generated into the story by the author's use of biblical quotes and symbols making Demon's Ink suitably compelling and thought provoking. A great read for the upcoming season of Halloween!

Interview with Kimbra:

1.      What prompted you to write this book?

I loved Stephen King’s Needful Things and the idea of a Demon taking up shop in town, where people buy needless objects that end up costing them more than their lives. And with so many people getting tattoos nowadays. . . I thought I could put a new twist on an old tale.

2.      What is your favorite genre to write?

Romance is the easiest for me to write but I love to read horror. But then maybe romance and horror go hand-in-hand ;D

 3.      What are your favorites:  

Color:   Blue

Food:   Could I say coffee…? No. That’s not a food. So, I’ll say chocolate.

Activity:   Reading/writing and maybe running.

Place:   Portland, Oregon

4.      What would you like your readers to know about you?

I grew up in a family with 9 kids and 1 t.v. so I spent my afternoons reading. Maybe not having much when I was growing up, brought me more as a grownup.

5.      Do you have any works in progress?

Yes.

6.      What are they?

I just sold a romantic thriller to Clean Reads and now I’m working on a historical horror. 

7.      If you could give one piece of advice about life to your readers, what would it be?

Set goals in life and then don’t let anything get in your way…not even yourself.

You can find Kimbra here:

http://www.kimbrakasch.com

 Goodreads

Amazon Author Page

Facebook

 Twitter

Pinterest

 

Kimbra's books are available at:

 AMAZON, NOOK, iBook, and Kobo

Review: Rarity from the Hollow by Robert Eggleton

  rarity from the hollo

Synopsis:  Lacy Dawn is a true daughter of Appalachia , and then some. She lives in a hollow with her worn-out mom, her Iraq War disabled dad, and her mutt Brownie, a dog who's very skilled at laying fiber optic cable. Lacy Dawn's android boyfriend has come to the hollow with a mission. His equipment includes infomercial videos of Earth's earliest proto-humans from millennia ago. He was sent by the Manager of the Mall on planet Shptiludrp (Shop 'till You Drop): he must recruit Lacy Dawn to save the Universe in exchange for the designation of Earth as a planet which is eligible for continued existence within a universal economic structure that exploits underdeveloped planets for their mineral content. Lacy Dawn’s magic enables her to save the universe, Earth, and, most importantly, her own family.

My Review:

Rarity from the Hollow dives into the trenches of the human condition and explores dark societal issues such as sexual abuse and psychological problems.

While not for the faint of heart, Rarity from the Hollow is peppered with satire to lighten the tone of the story. This story is intended for adult reading as it has frequent reference to sexual situations. However, the author of this book has written with a tone of sarcasm and wit that will appeal to those who have dealt with the “trenches” in society...those who can relate to the hardships of the human condition and accept them for their true nature.

Rarity from the Hollow is well written. The author has truly come to understand and reference many problems found in society. If one reads this book with a semi serious nature, one will come to understand the mindset of those who have suffered greatly from the addressed societal traumas in the storyline. Abuse in the life of those who have suffered almost becomes an accepted, every day way of living. Rarity from the Hollow expounds on this fact.

Rarity from the Hollow was written to help children who have been abused. I commend the author and wish him all the best in his endeavors. His book is interesting with its mix of science fiction, fantasy and satire.

Interview with Robert:

1. What prompted you to write your book? In the 8th grade, I won the school’s short story contest. “God Sent” was about a semi truck driver so consumed with theological debate that he caused a terrible accident. I began to dream of becoming a rich and famous author. As it often does, life got in the way. I worked and went to school, never finishing any more stories that I’d started, until recently when I incorporated some of those unfinished stories into Rarity from the Hollow.

I recently retired as a children’s psychotherapist for our local mental health center. It was an intensive day program Most of the kids in the program, like myself as a child, had been traumatized, some having experienced extreme sexual abuse. One day at work in 2006 it all clicked together and the Lacy Dawn Adventures project was born – an empowered female protagonist beating the evil forces that victimize and exploit others to get anything and everything that they want. Rarity from the Hollow is the first full-length adventure in a prospective series.

While my protagonist is a composite character based on real-life kids that I’ve met over the years while working in children’s services, one little girl was especially inspiring. Her name is Lacy Dawn. Rather than focusing on her victimization, she spoke of dreams – finding a loving family that respected her physically and spiritually. She inspired me to make my own dream come true -- to write fiction -- and I haven’t stopped writing since I first met her that day during a group therapy session. That little girl, unknowingly, prompted me to write Rarity from the Hollow.

2. What message do you hope to get across to the reader?

There are many messages in Rarity from the Hollow, everything that I have ever written and will write. That’s why I think of my writing as social science fiction – that’s what it’s all about. But that doesn’t mean the messages will be interpreted by one reader the same as interpreted by another. I don’t write or want to read anything that is “preachy.” Heck, I don’t even think that religious literature, like the pamphlets that one finds on the floors of public toilet stalls, should be so preachy. I wouldn’t want to touch such content, even if it would have been delivered under more sanitary conditions. I want to write about important issues that one person may think support a particular position but the next reader finds the opposite. I don’t have the answers to the most important questions and challenges that humans face.

The narrative of Rarity from the Hollow addressed social issues: poverty, domestic violence, child maltreatment, local and intergalactic economics, mental health concerns – including PTSD experienced by Veterans and the medicinal use of marijuana for treatment of Bipolar Disorder, Capitalism, and touched on the role of Jesus: “Jesus is everybody’s friend, not just humans.” These messages do not advocate for anything specific. In my opinion, it is critical that such messages be in every piece of literature, even comics and erotica, but each of us have to find truths within our own hearts and minds.

One of my personal truths is that enough is not being done to prevent child abuse / exploitation in the world. Author proceeds from the Lacy Dawn Adventures project, from sales of Rarity from the Hollow, have been donated to Children’s Home Society of West Virginia: http://www.childhswv.org/

3. What are your favorite things to do in your spare time?

Since I don’t have very much money in the personal budget for recreation, I’m so fortunate that my favorite things to do in my spare time are very cheap. I enjoy writing. I enjoy reading. I read and write in all genres, except extremely technical nonfiction. Every scene that I closed when writing Rarity from the Hollow was a thrill, and, all in all, that adds up to one heck of a lot of fun times that were shared with friends and family.

I enjoy video games, but I try to stay away from them because I’m easily addicted, and I hate that feeling – addiction. I enjoy vegetable gardening, but I never could get into flower gardening, probably because flowers don’t taste good – after all that work, they just wilt. I enjoy a good movie, but it has gotten so expensive that I get bummed out if the movie sucks. “Lacy Dawn Goes to the Movies” was the name of one of the chapters in Rarity from the Hollow. It was a documentary about her role during human evolution toward development of savior attributes, but she really wanted to go to the movies to see her first Harry Potter film, like the other kids at her school were talking about.

In a nutshell, and I could go on, I enjoy life and will be disappointed when mine runs out, unless there is something better on the other side.

4. Do you have any other works in progress?

I always have several works in progress at the same time. Since I’ve recently retired, the difference is that I’ve become productive. Instead of ideas, partially developed and then abandoned because life has always seemed so complicated, I’m reaching closure on a ton of older half-baked stories. A new short story just got rejected by a major science fiction magazine, so I’ve got some work to do on it, especially since I agree that it was prematurely submitted.

Ivy, my next novel, is almost ready for professional editing. I’m holding off, trying to build name recognition before I submit it to the publisher for consideration. My dream with respect to writing fiction is to get to the place where I no longer need to request book reviews, but instead book reviewers ask the publisher for a copy of my work to review. I’m hopeful that I’ll get to that place with Rarity from the Hollow and then have the release of Ivy perfectly timed so that I can concentrate on writing instead of promotions.

5. What would you like your readers to know about you?

The main thing that I want readers to know about me is that I’m giving this writing gig my best shot. I’ve worked very long hours, sometimes with little sleep, to tell people about the existence of Rarity from the Hollow. The actual writing part about being a Writer is a piece of cake. It’s the self-promotion that is a killer.

6. If you could give one piece of advice about life in general, what would it be?

My one piece of advice about life is general is to always do the right thing because in the end, one way or another, I believe that it will always turn out alright. Of course, each of us has to determine in our own hearts what the “right thing” means.

Where you can find Robert:

http://www.lacydawnadventures.com https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13603677-rarity-from-the-hollow https://www.facebook.com/robert.eggleton2 https://twitter.com/roberteggleton2

Where you can purchase Rarity from the Hollow:

http://www.amazon.com/Rarity-Hollow-Robert-Eggleton-ebook/dp/B007JDI508

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Rarity-Hollow-Robert-Eggleton-ebook/dp/B007JDI508

http://www.doghornpublishing.com/wordpress/books/rarity-from-the-hollow 

Spotlight: Opium Warfare by Justin Bienvenue

~Available September 25!~ 11899907_10155932721250007_2045234290583559538_n

Synopsis: It’s 1920. The city of Shanghai has been invaded by the drug trade. The drug trafficking and usage of opium have taken the city by storm. While the looks of the city seem calm, deep within there is a secret and nobody realizes that the small hidden drug world is about to get bigger..much bigger. The underground world that was once hush- hush is now slowly making it’s way to the surface to corrupt the public. However only a few are aware of it, for the rest it shall cause an uproar making some frantic and some in awe. Soon the drug is seen all around the city and it seems that getting one’s hands on it has become a problem so much so that it causes an all out epidemic. One that no one will see coming or seemingly be able to stop..

One of the few people aware of all this is Ryu Tsang, a local dock worker who grew up admiring the city for all it’s glamour. When strange things start happening Ryu takes notice. While at first he brushes off the first few encounters he can’t help but shake the fact that something bigger is unfolding. Shin Shaojin believes the city will be better off embracing such change. He has a vision of Shanghai’s future. One that involves his business to bloom and offer endless possibilities to all that are accepting. Will the city overcome the dark cloud that is the drug trade or will it be taken in and become the change that Shin Shaojin believes it can be?

Interview with Justin:

1. What prompted you to write your current novel? I had the title picked out and done before anything. For some reason the words Opium Warfare just sounded cool to me and I thought it would make a great title for a book. I would like to say something distinct prompted me to write it but to be honest it was rather random and spontaneous. I knew I wanted to write another novel and since I had a name a unique name so then the brainstorming and story ideas began soon after. 2. What is your favorite genre to write and why? Poetry and Horror. I enjoy writing Poetry because it really gives me a way to express myself and tell a story in a very different way. I can write my feelings and turn them into something or use my imagination and put it into a rhyme or more diverse way. I enjoy Horror because it’s one of the most popular genres so I know people will enjoy it. There are countless stories and movies of horror and people love to get scared and I enjoy the idea of giving people a reason to be scared. Also with poetry and horror there are so many inspirations that one can’t help but want to take a crack at writing within the genres. 3. What inspires you? I take inspiration from everything. I take in what I hear and see around me. My emotions and what I may be feeling at a particular time. Whether I’m outside on a walk or watching television I take things and they bring me inspiration. As I stated above when it comes to a more direct source, poets and authors like Edgar Allan Poe, Emily Dickinson, Robert Frost, Rod Serling, those people among more have inspired me. Their works and classics have inspired me to try new genres and new ways of writing. 4. What are your favorites: food, color, activity, place? Favorite Food: Chicken Parmesan Favorite Color: Green Favorite Activity: Video and Board Games(though soon to be watching Football) Favorite Place: Anywhere but cooped up in my house all day 5. What do you hope your readers will remember about you? My creativeness and wanting to be unique. I like to try and write about things or write in a way that most people don’t. Everyone wants to be themselves and be original but with me I want my writing to stand out and do that for me. For someone to say while he reminds me of so and so his work is truly unique and quite creative. 6. If you could give one piece of advice about life, what would it be? Live it as you wish to live it and live it to the fullest of your being. It seems days go by way too fast at times so make the most of what you can.

Where you can find Justin:

Website: http://jbienvenue.webs.com/ Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ThePlasmaticWriter Twitter: @JustinBienvenue Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/justinbienvenue/opium-warfare/

Evanthia's Gift by Effie Kammenou

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In the year 1956, Anastacia Fotopoulos finds herself pregnant and betrayed, fleeing from a bad marriage. With the love and support of her dear friends Stavros and Soula Papadakis, Ana is able to face the challenges of single motherhood. Left with emotional wounds, she resists her growing affection for Alexandros Giannakos, an old acquaintance. But his persistence and unconditional love for Ana and her child is eventually rewarded and his love is returned. In a misguided, but well-intentioned effort to protect the ones they love, both Ana and Alex keep secrets - ones that could threaten the delicate balance of their family.

The story continues in the 1970’s as Dean and Demi Papadakis, and Sophia Giannakos attempt to negotiate between two cultures. Now Greek-American teenagers, Sophia and Dean, who have shared a special connection since childhood, become lovers. Sophia is shattered when Dean rebels against the pressure his father places on him to uphold his Greek heritage and hides his feelings for her. When he pulls away from his family, culture and ultimately his love for her, Sophia is left with no choice but to find a life different from the one she’d hoped for.

EVANTHIA’S GIFT is a multigenerational love story spanning fifty years and crossing two continents, chronicling the lives that unify two families.

Interview with Effie:

1. What made you decide to become an author?

There is no simple answer o the question as to why I decided to become an author. Let me start by revealing that I am a very young fifty-eight year old woman. I attended Hofstra University and graduated with a Degree in Theater Arts. In many of my classes we analyzed plays line by line, or were assigned to write our own original dialogue. Years later, I wrote a few children’s plays for the church Christmas pageants, and another for my daughter’s elementary school class.

My day job over the last thirty-five years has not been in a creative field, but I’ve always found a way to fill that void. Either by working on the children’s plays, getting involved in some type of craft or by cooking and baking. Without realizing it, I ended up running a small side business, making decorative cookie favors for special occasions. I made them for my daughter’s class, and before I knew it, people were ordering them from me. I started writing a food blog a few years ago, sharing not only my recipes, but also the traditions behind the food. Most of the recipes were handed down from my grandmother to my mother and now to me.

When my mother got terminally ill with pancreatic cancer, the memories of growing up with the foods from our Greek heritage became even more important to preserve, as well as the recipes she now entrusted in my hands.

I’d always had a story in my head. I would sometimes daydream, and being the actress that I was, create scenes in my head, and develop characters. I thought that someday I might write it all down, but I wasn’t sure where to start. Then my mother passed away. I started to write in order to work through my grief. I came up with a character that was inspired by her. It was a way for me to honor her, and the heritage she cherished. I combined the story that I’d developed over the years with the one I created inspired by my mother. The result was a beautiful love story and family saga.

2. What is your favorite genre to write about and why?

My favorite genre to write about is women’s fiction/romance. Not the sappy fluff romance, but the genre where you really understand the characters. I like to learn something new when I read. A new culture, or religion. An industry I had no experience with. Maybe an understanding of a mental or physical affliction. Evanthia’s Gift is rooted in Greek heritage and history. To understand these characters, you must understand their customs and the struggle their people endured in their homeland. But ultimately, it’s what I love most – a love story.

3. Tell us what books you enjoy reading and why?

My tastes in books are very eclectic. I am just as likely to read East of Eden or any Jane Austen novel (I’ve read Pride and Prejudice many times), as I am to read Twilight or an erotic fiction. I love trilogies, mainly because I hate the idea of giving up my book friends. Nora Roberts and Jude Deveraux are masters at the love story trilogy. But I must say Sylvain Reynard has captured my attention to the point of obsession. His use of language, his knowledge of art and literature and his sense of romance are unsurpassed. The latest book I’ve read is darker, sadder, and in no way a love story. The Goldfinch took me on an unexpected journey.

4. What are your favorite foods, color, activities and places?

My favorite food is something most people will not be familiar with. It’s an aged and spiced, thinly sliced meat called bastruma. I mainly buy it at the holidays at the Greek grocery store. I am a cheesaholic. I always say, “Give me cheese and bastruma and I could live on those two things for the rest of my life.”

My favorite color depends on what I’m using the color for. I love to wear white. Several of my friends have made fun of me, commenting that my whole closet has nothing but white clothing for the summer. The walls in my home are mostly sage green. If I had a summer home I would decorate it in Caribbean blue and white.

I love to dance. I met my husband at a disco back in the 70’s. He asked me to dance. We still do the hustle on occasion. My children were competitive dancers in contemporary and jazz, and I loved watching them on stage. I miss that. They also played tennis in college. Our whole family plays. I try to play, that is. I cannot live up to the standard and skill of the rest of my family. But it is the only sport I watch and the only one I attempt to play. I also like to swim.

In the summer, I spend a good part of the time on the East End of Long Island. I live relatively close to the Hamptons, and I enjoy going to lunch and shopping there with my daughters. There are over fifty wineries on the East End, mostly on the North Fork, and each year I explore new ones. I write feature article and restaurant reviews for Boating Times Long Island Magazine, so I am always on the lookout for the next great place to dine. My other favorite place is, don’t laugh, Disneyworld. Our family visits Disney like other people travel to the next town. We have annual passes, and quite honestly, the plane ride takes the same amount of time as my husband’s commute into NYC. The EPCOT Food and wine Festival is one of our favorite events to attend.

5. What inspires you to write?

As I mentioned, my mother’s death inspired me to write Evanthia’s Gift. When you read it, you will understand whom she was. Although the book is not her biography, the essence of her shines through – her love, her strength and her determination.

My need to be creative inspires me to write. Whether I’m cooking, acting, or writing, I crave the creative process, and the ability to express myself.

6. What would you like your readers to remember about you?

I would like people to remember that I have a deep soul and that I feel emotions strongly. I want to be remembered as a kind person, who was always willing to help people as much as they have reached out and helped me. I want to be remembered as a good mother, daughter, sister and friend. And of course, I would like for them to think, she wrote that book that I can’t get out of my head.

7. If you could give me one piece of advice, what would it be?

Just one piece of advice? That’s a tough one. I’ve leaned so much in the last three years during this process. Let’s see…Maybe, when you get down on yourself and think all this work and nothing will come of it. That no one will like it, and what am I putting myself through this for….When you say that to yourself, remember that you are doing it for your satisfaction. That you finished it and gave it your full effort. You did something meaningful, something that enhanced and possibly transformed your life. And sometimes that’s all you need.

Visit Effie here:

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/effiekammenou Twitter: https://twitter.com/EffieKammenou Effie's Food Blog: https://cheffieskitchen.wordpress.com/

You can buy Evanthia's Gift here: http://www.amazon.com/dp/0692471839/ref=cm_sw_r_tw_dp_CwX3vb1KS8FQ3

My Review Of 'The Bird With The Broken Wing' by DL Richardson

The Bird With A Broken Wing Cover (DL Richardson)

Guardian angel Rachael finds herself trapped in Purgatory with Ben Taylor, a young soldier with a secret that's driving him insane. Desperate to see him ascend into Heaven she breaks the rules about becoming involved and keeping her identity a secret. Her risky decision to stay in Purgatory to help Ben seems a good plan. Except they've been stuck for ten years already and Ben is no closer to ascending. The unexpected appearance of a feisty teenager, Jet Jones, throws Rachael's wings into a tailspin. The instant attraction between Jet and Ben means the angel's work is getting ignored. And without her help, Ben's soul will be trapped and she will have failed in her mission. But Jet's appearance also brings a chilling revelation. Maybe Ben's soul isn't the only one that needs saving.

We all love a good book. A good book takes us on a journey to another realm...and this is the case with DL Richardson's book The Bird With The Broken Wing.

Although the plot line of this book takes place in purgatory, DL Richardson makes the plot and characters easy to believe and credible. The reader finds themselves looking in on the main characters of the story as they reason out why they have been put in a strange place and where they happen to be. It is a story that will build up empathy about life and its meaning.

The Bird With The Broken Wing is an engaging story about the possibilities of the after life--about love and forgiveness and coming to terms with the things that happen within the fabric of life's journey.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading paranormal or spiritual material.

Interview with DL:

1.  How did you become interested in writing?

I used to be a singer/songwriter/musician so I've always loved music, art, reading, creative writing, all forms of art and literature really. I was playing in a band when I realized that while I loved music, it wasn't what I wanted to do forever. I sat down and thought about what it was I wanted to do forever and the idea to write novels came to me. I was reading Dean Koontz and Stephen King novels at the time and I was impressed with the number of books they had published and I decided that I wanted to write many, many,  many books. I've never given up on this idea so it must have been the right decision for me.

2.  What genre(s) do you write and what do you like about writing that genre(s)?

I write fantasy. I guess my influences, Dean Koontz, Stephen King and Anne Rice, have really impacted the genres I write. The strange thing is that I read a lot of contemporary fiction too, and that's why I like to blend the two styles, and not just write about paranormal creatures. My books feature true life characters in true life situations and I use fantasy settings to explore the issues of teen suicide, post traumatic stress disorder, teen pregnancy, organ donations, video game addiction etc.

3.  What is your favorite book and why?

I'd have to say The Outsiders by S E Hinton because I read it in school and it blew me away. As a teenager I thought (as most teenagers do) that I was alone in the world and nobody understood me. And then I read this book, which was written by a young writer who just said all the right things in a book. It kick started my love of reading which eventually turned to a love of writing as well, because I too wanted to write young adult fiction novels that connected with the reader and left them thinking they weren't alone in the world.

4.  Some more favorites:  colors, foods, places, activities?

COLOR - My favorite color is mid tone grey, don't ask me why!   I just love the harmony it represents when I see it. Perhaps because it sits in the middle.   Who knows?

FOODS - My favorite foods would be pastries. I can't walk into a bakery and NOT buy something yummy to eat.

PLACES - My favorite place to be, chill out,  is home!  Dorothy got it right when she said "There's no place like home!"  My favorite place to feel loved is with my family. My favorite place to sit and contemplate life is on a quiet beach or in an empty field. My favorite place to have a laugh is with friends in a restaurant or bar. My favorite place to get a good night's sleep is camping. My favorite place to connect with other people is at writer's events.

ACTIVITIES - I like to play my piano and guitar, walk the dog, go camping, write and read!  (Of course)!  I love to go skiing and I'm booked to ski in Canada next February so I'm super excited about that.

5.  What inspires you to write and why?

I don't know that anything inspires me, but I know I have this burning need to write and if it were banned I would find a way to write under a blanket with a flashlight and paper and notepad. It's just something I have to do. And I'll see this journey through until the end.

6.  What do you want your readers to remember about you?

That I told them a great and beautiful story and maybe I brightened their world and gave them the courage to keep going.

7.  If you could give me one piece of advice, what would it be?

The piece of advice I give to everyone who goes out there are chases dreams is, "Do it, but remember that nobody asked you to."  The reason I say this is people can get quite negative when they don't get the validation they expect when they do something. I see it on Facebook, I hear it in their voices. You should do it because you have a burning desire to do it, not to seek fame and glory. Be happy, be at peace, and everything will fall into place. And if nobody stands up and cheers you on, why should you expect them to?   You're doing what you want to do, not what they asked you to do.

Where you can find DL:

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