Search Results for: DIE LAUGHING

Featured Interview With Thomas Anthony Lay

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
Hi there,
My name’s Thomas and I hail from the rural areas of Somerset, UK. I was raised in Street but moved to Glastonbury in 2016. It’s the perfect town for fantasy inspiration as the entire place is like stepping into a medieval village. I have a cat called Zelda and two rats called Ciri and Yen.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
It may sound a little odd, but I didn’t get into reading until AFTER I got into writing. In school, my English teacher always praised me for my creative writing skill, often using my work as a positive example to the rest of the class. It was around here I felt a passion for world-building and storytelling. The more I wrote, the more I read!

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
My favourite author is Douglas Adams. The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy was one of the few books I read in my youth and I’ve reread it so many times. It keeps me laughing the whole way through! My favourite genres are fantasy and comedy, but I also like sci-fi. My biggest inspirations are those around me. Other authors and fans who are a part of my writing journey showing great support and constructive criticism that ultimately makes me a better writer with each passing day. I love the community and always make an effort to be an active part of it.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
My latest book is also my debut novel. It took a total of ten years (!) to write. It has taken many shapes and forms, been scrapped and reworked from the ground up several times until I crafted it into something I was truly happy with. Fortunately, not all my works take this long – book 2 is almost complete already! It’s the first part of a trilogy set in the Naeisus universe and it’s called The Age of Reckoning. It’s an immersive, lore-rich, character-driven dark fantasy featuring completely unique races and an action-packed plot that is sure to keep you gripped from page one. Early readers have praised the character building and the drive behind them, one, in particular, being Captain Levana. She’s a ruthless, psychopathic killer who enjoys what she does. She’s cocky and badass and for some reason, readers fall in love with her. She has an allure despite her nature and it’s a great feeling being able to give an inherently evil character enough charisma to still be adored.

Connect with the Author on their Websites and Social media profiles

Thomas Anthony Lay Twitter Account

If you enjoyed this writer’s interview, check out our Featured Authors page. We have some of the best authors to learn about. They are just waiting for you to discover them. If you enjoyed this writer’s interview feel free to share it using the buttons below. Sharing is caring! If you are an author and want to get exposure to new readers submit your book to our book promotion service.

Featured Interview With Clive Fleury

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I am an award-winning writer of books and screenplays, and a TV and film director and producer. I have worked for major broadcasters and studios on a wide variety of successful projects in the US, UK, Australia, Europe, and the Middle East.

When I was young, a man behind a big desk who called himself a ‘Career Specialist’ fell about laughing when I told him I wanted to tell stories. The ‘Expert’ had other plans. “You should be an engineer, that’s what you should be,” he said. I ignored his advice and embarked upon a very different life.

Kill Code: A Dystopian Science Fiction Novel is my latest book-the first in an exciting new dystopian science fiction series set in a world facing climate catastrophe where nothing is what it seems.

Fans of fantasy adventure books like ‘The Hunger Games’, ‘The 5th Wave’, and ‘Divergent’ will be captivated by ‘Kill Code’.

Besides ‘Kill Code’, I also wrote ‘Scary Lizzy’ – a novel about an eight year old girl, Sarah Wilde, who befriends an African child ghost – and the teen action adventure book, ‘The Boy Next Door ‘ – or what happens when a teenage girl has a crush on her next-door neighbor, who isn’t all he seems. And I co-wrote ‘Art Pengriffin and The Curse of The Four’ – a young adult fantasy adventure about a teenage boy who discovers his father was Merlin the Magician. It was a Kindle Book Review Awards Semi-Finalist.

When I’m not writing, lazing on the beach, drinking coffee, reading, or going to the movies, I love to travel – anywhere, and anytime I have any spare cash. Oh, and I have a cat named Louis.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
My fascination with books started when I was around four years old. I didn’t actually read them but used them to make ‘marble runs’ – structures constructing so I could run marbles down. It was only later that I realized that it was more fun reading them. My real interest in writing came when I was at school and about ten years old. My English teacher encouraged me to write.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
As a kid, I read sci-fi books all the time. The novel Planet of the Apes (Pierre Boulle), which explored many of the themes that are still so relevant today particularly affected me. Since then I have read most of the master’s of sci-fi—Ray Bradbury, H. G. Wells, John Wyndham, etc. and more recently, Sabrina Vourvoulias’s (Ink), Emily St. John Mandel (Station Eleven) and the extraordinary Hav by Jan Morris. I love reading crime and thriller novels too, and the surprising twists and turns the principal characters go through when the genre is written by brilliant authors like the late Elmore Leonard, James Patterson, and Gillian Flynn. We often dismiss crime books as ‘pulp fiction’ but I find they can supply far more insight into people and their actions than so-called literary novels. I’m hoping eventually to write a series in this genre, but it’s a daunting task when you look at what’s out there already.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
The best way I can tell you about my latest book, Kill Code: A Dystopian Science Fiction Novel is to give you the synopsis. So, here goes:

It’s the year 2031. Our future. Their present. A world decimated by climate catastrophe, where the sun’s heat is deadly and the ocean rises higher every day. A world ruled by the rich, powerful, and corrupt. A world where a good man can’t survive for long.

Hogan Duran was a good man once. He was a cop, forced to resign in disgrace when he couldn’t save his partner from a bullet. Now Hogan lives on the fraying edges of society, serving cruel masters and scavenging trash dumps just to survive.

But after four years of living in poverty, Hogan finally gets a chance to get back on his feet. He’s invited to join the National Security Council, the powerful paramilitary organization responsible for protecting the rich and powerful from the more unsavory elements of society. All he needs to do is pass their deadly entrance exam, and he’ll be rewarded with wealth and opportunity beyond his wildest dreams.

But this ex-cop’s path to redemption won’t be easy. The NSC is hiding something, and as Hogan descends deeper and deeper into their world, he starts to uncover the terrible truth of how the powerful in this new world maintain their power…and just how far they will go to protect their secrets.

In a world gone wrong, can one man actually make a difference, or will he die trying?

Kill Code is the first novel in a planned new dystopian science fiction series.

Fans of The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey, and Divergent by Veronica Roth will be captivated by Kill Code.

You’ll also love this book if you enjoy:

• Dystopian novels and stories

• Stories about futuristic societies

• Stories about disgraced cops

• Stories about unlikely heroes

• Stories about conspiracies

• Stories about injustice

Connect with the Author on their Websites and Social media profiles

Clive Fleury’s Website

Clive Fleury Twitter Account

Featured Interview With A. Renee Hunt

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
My name is Alyssa Hunt and I’m originally from Orange County, CA. I’m the daughter of a Marine, so I’ve traveled and lived in many places, including the U.K., Japan, Hawaii and many states. I currently reside outside of St. Louis, MO with my son and husband. I own a 9 week old chihuahua named Magnus.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I didn’t discover a fascination with books, I was punished into it. I’m laughing as I state this, because my brother and I were so bad, my father would give us books to read that he’d previously read. Once finished, we had to give oral reports. It wasn’t until I was given The Time Machine, by H.G. Wells and The Dragon and The George by George R. Dickson that I became a true reader.

I began writing in fifth grade. I would write stories for my friends in thinned out, spiral notebooks. I literally ripped pages out to create books and drew my own covers. Needless to say, I got in more trouble for wasting paper.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
My favorite authors are all the people who’ve either terrified me to death, grossed me out or made me leap or attempt to detach myself from my own skin! Authors like Stephen King, Mark Tufo, Scott Sigler, Ted Dekker, Frank Peretti, Justin Cronin and so many more. They have truly planted seeds within me. But other authors like Stephenie Meyer, Marissa Meyer, Brom that caused me to develop a desire to write with a voice that resonates with my readers.

I want to write with the finger strokes of a poet and all of the aforementioned authors, along with those unnamed have pressed me to do so.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
I have one short story about releasing at the end of the month and an indie novel in the works. It will be my first novel (The Malignant Soul) since leaving traditional publishing behind. My latest book, An Omniscient Memoir: A Dark Retelling is the story of a young woman who decides her best way to get back at someone is through revenge. Sadly, she discovers no dish, served either hot or cold, can assist her in her situation.

I was inspired to write the story by a roadtrip to the Georgia Mountains. The seclusion, quite and constant crackling of leaves by critter feet helped me write it in two days!

Connect with the Author on their Websites and Social media profiles

A. Renee Hunt’s Website

A. Renee Hunt Facebook Page

A. Renee Hunt Twitter Account

Featured Interview With Elizabeth Johnson

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I was born to a family of six and raised in a middle-class family, in Lagos. In my early twenties, I moved to England to study, years later while doing a part-time job I met and married my husband. I started writing at a very young age but took it more seriously about ten years ago. I love dogs, I am not a fan of cats or any crawly animal. I love writing, I love romance, thrillers, suspense and I love reading books in those genres.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I started writing in my teens when I discovered the love of reading. I aspired to write like the authors of the books that I love.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
My favorite authors are indie authors, I have fancied a few books by traditionally published authors. J.K Rowling is top of that list. I love reading books by Jesse Joren, I love reading Stephen King’s books. My inspiration comes from everyday life. I look at a situation and then I build a story around it in my head. My head is always working, and my fear is that I may not be able to get all the ideas and books swirling in it down. So, I write and write, and at times, I find myself crying, or laughing along with my characters and in every way I feel very fulfilled and blessed that I am able to do this as a career.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
My latest release is Sebastian 3: Conquest of power. It is the third installment in my Sebastian vampire romance saga. It is a must-read, as a matter of fact, all three books are must reads if you enjoy high-quality vampire romance adventure. Even if you are not into that genre, I can promise you that you will find my books exhilarating and a breath of fresh air to the genre. Conquest of power like all my other books and books in this series is a real page-turner, I finished the first draft of a hundred thousand words in a month and a day. Conquest of power is packed with amazing characters, a lot of characters that from Sebastian 2: Dark times arising, come to play in this one, there is an epic war that had been brewing from the beginning, there is guilt, betrayal, forgiveness, love, power all displayed beautifully by My characters were screaming at me to write and I wrote every night for five to eight hours until it was complete. If you haven’t read the previous books be rest assured that you will not be left high and dry, all answers to any questions you will find at the beginning of the early chapters are definitely answered in the later chapters. I promise you, you would want to read more and it’s lucky that I am currently working on the fourth book Sebastian 4: The call of hearts, which will be released sometime in April so please look out for it. These books are amazing reads, starting from the very first one Sebastian: The Life of Sebastian and Hanna Greene. So please check them all out and treat yourself to a delightful read. I am also working on some children books. I also just release Jaekeal: The hunter Boy, it is a must read for children, a very interesting story about a boy who’s always wanted to be like his father but after going through his own adventure discovers he was nothing liuke his father.

Connect with the Author on their Websites and Social media profiles

Elizabeth Johnson’s Website

Elizabeth Johnson Facebook Page

Elizabeth Johnson Twitter Account

Featured Interview With Rae Louise

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I was born and raised in Staffordshire, England. I moved around a bit with college, living in Manchester and then West Yorkshire. My hometown – or ‘family town’ as I call it – is Burton on Trent; this is where I inherited my love for the horror genre. Being somewhat of a loner, my best friends were my notepad and pens. I spent most of my childhood in a house full of animals, and this is something that has always stuck with me. Cats, rabbits, guinea pigs, rodents, reptiles and even birds could be found roaming free. I’ve also spent the last 5-10 years caring for disabled animals, including a paraplegic rabbit and a degu.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I started with the Shivers and Point Horror collections at primary school, around the age of ten. Then I quickly moved on to adult works, probably a little younger than I should have done! Nothing seemed to terrify me; I just couldn’t get enough of horror, be it in books or onscreen. My grandma had tons of horror books, most of which were passed onto my mum and then to me. I started writing as soon as I discovered my passion for dark fiction: initially, I would copy pages from printed books to get a feel for how a story flowed. Then I began writing my own short stories, and once I developed a knack for it, I knew in my heart that I wanted to be an author.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
I think it goes without saying that I’m a horror junkie! James Herbert and Shaun Hutson will always be my favourite authors, likely because I grew up reading them. I love how Shaun’s twisted sense of humour always comes across in his writing, and the graphic descriptions leave me cringing and laughing at the same time. I also enjoy a bit of Martina Cole, misery memoirs and comedy or parodies.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
My latest book is a paranormal/psychological horror called The Fear. It took me less than a year to write, which is quite good for me! A lot of the psychological elements were plucked from real-life experiences, both my own and certain family members and friends, so the ideas were pouring out of me nonstop. It will probably become clearer upon reading the book where most of it came from, but generally speaking I’ve had a lifelong interest in the paranormal. So creating a work of fiction in a genre and subject matter that I’m passionate about felt like the right way to go for a debut novel.

Connect with the Author on their Websites and Social media profiles

Rae Louise’s Website

Rae Louise Facebook Page

Rae Louise Twitter Account

Featured Interview With Nikki Fuller

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
Nikki is as she describes herself just ‘one woman’. Whether this be as a daughter, mother, wife or business entrepreneur. Through the different caps she wears like many other women, she has seen and experienced the highs and lows in life so far. She now lives in the beautiful countryside near Buckinghamshire, not too far from London with her husband, daughter and crazy dog, in their own pub/restaurant. But in her growing up years, she lived in Holland, which certainly had a big influence on the way she is today. She puts her hands up to struggling with ‘Life’ and anxiety and strives every day to find that ‘Happy’ place and even some days finds it! Nikki tries to find positive affirmations that help make life more comfortable to wear and if she can’t, she’ll put a twist of humour on things, as sometimes laughing is the only answer!

She has dealt with depression and post-natal depression and scrapped her way through her entrepreneurial avenues, and what she didn’t know, she has learnt along the way. Her books are short reads (which she prefers), that give an insight into parts of her life and lessons learnt.

When asked what kind of book does she enjoy to read, she replied ” Ones that I can either relate to, or gain something from and if it can be done in short chapters or fit into 10 minutes here and there, even better!…I like to think that I write, how I would either like to read or as if I was chatting to a good friend”.
There are currently 2 books in this series, with the first being ‘One Woman vs Life’ but along with wearing different caps, she admits to having a few sides, hence also writing Children stories and other fiction and non-fiction. Why box yourself in, when you can be anything you want to be?

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I have always had a fascination with books, especially children’s books. I love the wonder of it all but as I got older (not grew up! as that’s still something I work on), I found myself drawn to autobiographies or books that would make me a better version of myself. That’s not to say, I don’t enjoy an easy beach read to escape to. In fact I love the idea that different books, genres open up different windows. Each will give you something different and each is personal to you. Which is the same with my writing, I won’t box myself into one genre. I have a pen name for my adult fiction and others pieces, I am simply myself. Writing myself didn’t come to only recently. Yes, when I was younger, I’d write short pieces or ‘dabble’ but it was really only a couple of years ago that I almost felt I needed to write. To let feelings that I had bottled up and going around in my head, be released. To help me and hopefully to help others who have gone through or are going through feelings of anxiety, depression or grief. Life deals us some highs and lows and sometimes sharing how we got through it, can be a comfort to all.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
I am fascinated with autobiographies but my favourite has to be ‘David Jason’ My Life’. A real treat to read with a journey of emotions.
If I had to save one collection of books that I have, I cannot deny it would be Beatrix Potter. The simplicity and yet mature tone of each is unique. So few words that she wrote for each, lead each reader to so much more. Purely charming in every way.
I have a collection of books which include easy reads and of course Jackie Collins. No bookcase is complete without something to indulge in with a glass of red but books that I can say changed the way I am, influenced me and guided me would certainly include: Don’t sweat the small stuff by Richard Carlson, The rules of Life, The curse of the strong by Dr Tim Cantopher and Susan Jeffers classic ‘Feel the fear and do it anyway’ to name but a few.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
One Woman’s PRIVATE LIFE “SHARED” is the 2nd in the series of ‘One Woman’ Books and is a warm and approachable short read. Events taken from my own experiences, whether love, death & grief or the darkness of depression, from just one woman’s point of view. Offers an insight into sensitive and private subjects and my experience of the twists and turns life can bring at work or at home. Have you lost someone close unexpectedly? Struggled finding your career path but fought to become successful and true to yourself whilst coping with anxiety or depression? Reads like women chatting in the ladies! or friends getting together over a drink, with openness and honesty with a light and approachable touch. If you have dreams and aspirations and have had to cope with the troubles that life can deal you, with Life and Loss, you may find reading this helpful, to know you are not alone. With some helpful affirmations and tips then ‘One Woman’s PRIVATE LIFE “SHARED” will be a welcome companion and motivate you to be kind to yourself and remain strong to embrace life today and all it offers. You deserve to be Happy and Successful. Even if success if just about successfully getting through today.

Connect with the Author on their Websites and Social media profiles

Nikki Fuller’s Website

Nikki Fuller Facebook Page

Nikki Fuller Twitter Account

Featured Interview With Lisa Orban

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
Lisa Orban was born in Galesburg, IL in 1969. She was moved by her parents (without even asking!) to Quincy as a small child. Bouncing from parent to parent, and house to house until at 16 she was given a broader tour of the state courtesy of foster care.

At 18, she voluntarily left for Phoenix with a high school friend where she lived for three years. After returning to Quincy, she went to college and earned an Associates of Arts in Psychology, with a minor in Art. Over the years she has held many jobs, but never quite found the right one. She has written poetry and short stories on a variety of subjects from raising children to finance for online publication. Finally in 2013, after much urging from her friends for years, she sat down one day and started writing about her life.

She is the mother of five children, all grown and gone, except her youngest. Which she is sure is trying to drive her mad (as all teenagers do) and has plans to write another book in the future about their childhood, much to their anticipated dismay.

She currently lives in her hometown, in the house she loves, and at the center of the chaos she enjoys so much. Often surrounded by her children, her loves, friends and the strays (both two legged and four) she takes in. She continues to seek out new adventures, misadventures and new mistakes to fill the pages of her next book, laughing as she goes.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I did not learn to read until close to 4th grade. I have dyslexia, which back then was not something they tested for or understood well. When suddenly one day, all those jumble of letters fell into place, and I began to understand what they meant. In less than a year I went from unable to read to reading on a college level. It was like a whole new world suddenly had opened up to me and I couldn’t get enough of it.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
I have a love of books, so much so I remodeled my dining room and converted it into a library. I have over 5000 books in my home, ranging from SciFi to Science and quite a bit in between. I love Heinlein, Rice, King and Fiest, there’s just too many to count or list here.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
Many years ago my friends and I would sit around and play what we called “Jerry Springer: the Home Game”. The object of the game was to see how many upcoming shows we qualified for, with the story to support our claim, and whoever had the most at the end of the program won. I was the reigning champion. This book started off as just a lighthearted collection of anecdotes, stories shared with friends over the years to both the horror and delight of my audience. But as I began to write I realized that the humor of my life comes not from the light moments, but the dark, and without those moments being included much of the humor would be lost without that context. This book is a bit darker than I initially intended, but I hope that while reading this I can make you smile, even on occasion laugh out loud at the ridiculousness of the situations I have found myself in over the years, and that you, like me, can find the humor in all the dark places. I do not believe I have any wisdom to share in this telling, nor is it even an inspirational tale of achievement by overcoming adversity, it is simply my life that I have survived. For better or worse, this is the mostly true, fairly accurate, and almost completely factual account of my life. Some liberties have been taken to protect the somewhat innocent and a few small embellishments were made for the sake of a good story.

This book was a labor of love, and insanity, that took around three years to write. It may have been the hardest, yet most satisfying thing I have ever done in my life.

Connect with the Author on their Websites and Social media profiles

Lisa Orban Facebook Page

Featured Interview With Dave Riese

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
Born in 1946, I grew up in Arlington, Massachusetts. I attended Bates College in Lewiston, Maine, majoring in English literature. During my junior year, I studied English Literature at Oxford University and travelled in Europe.

After graduating in 1968, I enlisted in the Air Force one step ahead of my draft board’s invitation to join the army and travel to Vietnam. I married Susan, my high school girlfriend, during leave between tech school and my posting to the Philippines at Clark Air Base.

Discharged from the military in 1972, I was hired by Liberty Mutual Insurance to attend their three-month computer training course. I learned later that the major reason I was hired was my writing and communications background. An English degree can be a valuable asset!

After 35 years in information technology, I retired from Massachusetts Financial Services in the spring of 2012.

My wife and I moved north of Boston in 1974. Our daughter lives in Ireland with her husband. Our son and his wife are pediatricians working in Rhode Island. We have four grandchildren.

Echo from Mount Royal is my first novel.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I’ve loved books for as long as I can remember. Since I was 7 or 8, I’ve dreamed of writing a book. I began writing at Bates College in Maine. While studying abroad at Oxford University in England during my junior year, I travelled throughout Europe during term breaks. For my B.A. thesis, I wrote stories, essays and poems based on my travel journals.

Like many young writers, I was ‘bitten’ by the poetry bug in my twenties. I was cured, mercifully, within two years. Three poems were good enough to escape the shredder.

In my mid-twenties, I began writing short stories. An early story, submitted to the University of Massachusetts literary magazine, was not accepted, but the editor wrote a personal note praising the story and encouraging me to continue writing. I have always treasured that ‘rejection.’

While studying for my MBA at Suffolk University in Boston, I entered stories in the university’s annual short story contests and won a couple of cash prizes. I knew I had to keep my day job. In my thirties, I began writing a novel off-and-on over several years. I finally finished the 400-page novel. It hides in a cardboard box under my desk.

When I decided to retire in 2012, I sat myself down for a serious talk. “You’ve always thought of yourself as a writer,” I told myself, “but you spend more time thinking about publishing a book than you do sitting down and doing the hard work to write one. Don’t die before giving your dream a real chance.”

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
My favorite Irish and English authors are Sebastian Barry, William Trevor, Colm Toibin, Frank O’Connor, Jaime O’Neill, Edna O’Brien, Jane Gardam, Brian Moore, Peter Ackroyd, John LeCarre, Patrick McGrath, Ian McEwan, Magnus Mills, John Mortimer, Roddy Doyle, Virginia Woolf, Michael Frayn, Graham Swift, Graham Greene, Elizabeth Taylor, Hilary Mantel, Charles Dickens, and Evelyn Waugh.

My favorite American and Canadian writers are Edith Wharton, Pat Barker, William Maxwell, James Cain, Jim Thompson, Willa Cather, Stewart O’Nan, Bernice Rubens, Mordecai Richler, Alan Furst, Muriel Spark, Patricia Highsmith, Ernest Hemingway (short stories), Scott Turow, Henry James, Eudora Welty, and Tobias Wolff

I’ve especially enjoyed Colm Toibin’s novel Brooklyn which has several themes in common with my book, Echo from Mount Royal.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
It’s 1951 in Montreal. Rebecca Wiseman, 18-years-old, from a Catholic-Jewish family, lives with her parents. At a dance, she briefly meets a handsome young man, but has little hope of seeing him again. When Sol Gottesman tracks her down and asks her on a date, her happiness mingles with disbelief when she learns he is the son of a wealthy businessman. She believes her romantic dreams have come true.

She soon learns that, despite Sol’s outward charm, he lacks self-confidence. On a visit to Mount Royal overlooking the city, Sol reveals the simmering conflicts in his family. Rebecca’s wants to protect Sol, but helping him stand up to the pressure from his family, puts her squarely in the midst of it all.

Class, religion, family secrets and sexual inexperience test their love and Rebecca wonders if the relationship can survive. And then, a late night telephone call changes her life forever.

The genesis of the novel:

Before going to work, I’d often meet an elderly Jewish woman in the coffee shop downstairs from my office. We talked ‘books,’ sharing a similar taste in fiction. When she learned that I was a writer, she told me many stories about her experiences growing up in Montreal before and after WWII. But it was her story about her engagement as an 18-year-old girl that astounded me. She invited me to ‘write it up,’ thinking it would make an interesting short story. Over the next ten months, I gave her chapters to read. When the 300-page manuscript was finished, she hefted the pages laughing, “This weighs more than a short story!”

Connect with the Author on their Websites and Social media profiles

Dave Riese’s Website

Dave Riese Facebook Page

Dave Riese Twitter Account

Featured Interview With Paula Houseman

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I was born in Adelaide, South Australia; I moved to Sydney, New South Wales when I was nineteen (for love, marriage, children and dogs).
For a long time, I just assumed my childhood was an average one (although … having a lamb as a domestic pet in an urban setting should have been a giveaway). My parents were not your average Aussies and I was not your average kid. They were born and raised in Egypt, Jewish and of Romanian descent; I was the misfit wild child, caught in a cultural crossfire as they struggled to assimilate. It felt tragic to me. But I also saw humour in it, and was often in sh*t for laughing at inappropriate times. It was not an easy road, but, oh … what fabulous raw materials for a writer!

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I became fascinated with books from an early age. Reading fiction stimulated my imagination, which is important for a right-brained person with a rich inner life. It provided relief against a dry and fact-based system of education. And where reading ultimately led me to escape this, writing has helped bring me back to a more organic reality.
The maxim, ‘Children should be seen and not heard’ was still in force during my formative years. And my parents, who were not progressive sorts, were tethered to it. Well, I had (and still have) plenty to say! Only, it didn’t go over well back then, so I stopped trusting my own voice. I lost it … until twenty-four years ago when my parents passed away. If I could pinpoint a time when my writing career began, I’d have to say that was it.
It started with a personal journal. I was my only audience and it was a safe space to express—I could say anything I wanted to without fear of being judged and shamed. And then at university, the gods conspired and led me to two lecturers who worked in tandem and had a reputation for ‘breeding difficult students’—encouraging us to think outside the square, they celebrated innovation. I now had an audience of three, and my progressive ideas were well-received. I then joined an online writers’ site and my audience grew. The praise my writing garnered encouraged me to finish and publish my book, and to start a blog.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
My favourite genres are fiction—mystery-thrillers and humour/satire.
Favourite fiction authors:
1. Lee Child, Michael Connelly, Robert Crais and Mary Higgins Clark (mystery-thrillers)
2. Harlan Coben (who infuses his thrillers with humour)
3. Janet Evanovich (humorous thrillers)
4. David Sedaris (satire)
5. Danielle Steel—her later novels because, apart from the fact that she addresses the major themes of the human condition, what woman doesn’t like a bit of romance! We’re inculcated with a fairy tale blueprint, and it’s not a bad thing to occasionally escape our harsh reality (as long as it doesn’t become a way of life).
And who inspires my writing?
1. Thomas Moore. His book, ‘Care of the Soul’ shot my fairy tale fantasy to hell and changed my worldview (in a good way)
2. Clarissa Pinkola Estés—a true champion of the wild spirit, her book, ‘Women Who Run with the Wolves’ (perhaps my favourite non-fiction book, ever) has been a game changer
Estés and Moore’s unusual take on the human psyche might seem like a new view, but it just revamps a cobwebby old one, and demonstrates how ancient myths can help us understand what really drives our thoughts, impulses and behaviours. For me, this has resuscitated another source of inspiration:
3. Baubo, the goddess of obscenity—she who embodies a holy kind of dirty! Her Bawdiness keeps reminding me of the absurdity of our humanness and the healing value of laughter in a society that gags on moralism and sees a little too much tragedy

Tell us a little about your latest book?
My book, ‘Odyssey in a Teacup’ is, essentially, the healing journey of the misfit. It’s a modern-day satire on ‘The Ugly Duckling’ meets ‘The Odyssey’.
A dissenting Ruth Roth rails against the injustice and insanity of her home environment, and is mystified by the stupidity she encounters outside of it. But she copes with the help of her closest girlfriends: ‘the genteel Vette with the big caboose, and the ballsy Maxi with the big mouth!’ And then there’s Ralph, Ruth’s hot-looking, eccentric cousin and best friend. Also a misfit in his family, he has his share of problems including a st-t-t-tuttering brutish father, and an obsessive-compulsive personality disorder—Ralph needs to do everything twice, twice.
Learning from a high school teacher that life is a tragicomedy, and just ancient myth in modern attire, helps Ruth tolerate what she’s up against daily. And over the years, as she increasingly starts to filter information through the ancient part of her brain, she discovers that she’s always been driven by the butt-ugly goddess of obscenity! Even when Ruth tires of the struggle and gives in to her family’s attempt to shrink her into a wholesome package of conformity, the irrepressible muse remains unstoppable. So, ridiculous situations still abound! And it’s a good homoeopathic dose of ancient mythology that helps Ruth find her way back through the sludgy shame and irrational fears choking her spirit. Then just when all seems well, she faces an apocalypse …
Odyssey in a Teacup has had a long incubation—I started it fourteen years ago! Hey, great things take time (and pay off)—I was chuffed when it became a bestseller on Amazon not long after its release, and after two months, a US Amazon #1 bestseller (humour & satire)—but I’ve got this writing thing figured out and my sequel is well underway.

Connect with the Author on their Websites and Social media profiles

Paula Houseman’s Website

Paula Houseman Facebook Page

Paula Houseman Twitter Account

Featured Interview With Dave Riese

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
Born in 1946, I grew up in Arlington, Massachusetts, graduating from Arlington High School in 1964. I attended Bates College in Lewiston, Maine, majoring in English literature. During my junior year, I studied English Literature at Oxford University and travelled in Europe.

After graduating in 1968, I enlisted in the Air Force one step ahead of my draft board’s invitation to join the army and travel to Vietnam. I married Susan, my high school girlfriend, during leave between tech school and my posting to the Philippines at Clark Air Base. During my final two years in the military, my wife and I lived near Andrews Air Force Base outside Washington D.C.

Discharged from the military in 1972, I attended Boston University on the GI Bill for a Master’s degree in Broadcast Journalism. The following summer, I was hired by the University of New Hampshire to script and film videotapes about government social programs for the elderly.

My videotape grant ran out in 1976, but luckily at that time, companies were eager to hire people for their IT departments. Although I had no computer experience, I was hired by Liberty Mutual Insurance to attend their three-month training course. I learned later that the major reason I was hired was my writing and communications background. An English degree can be a valuable asset!

During my 35 years in information technology, I worked in the financial and insurance industries. I retired from Massachusetts Financial Services in spring of 2012.

My wife and I moved north of Boston in 1974. Our daughter lives in Ireland with her husband. Our son and his wife are both pediatricians working in Rhode Island. We have four grandchildren.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I have always been fascinated with books.

I began writing at Bates College in Maine. While studying abroad at Oxford University in England during my junior year, I travelled throughout Europe during term breaks. For my B.A. thesis, I wrote stories, essays and poems based on my travel journals. Like many young writers, I was ‘bitten’ by the poetry bug in my twenties. I was cured, mercifully, within two years. Three poems were good enough to escape the shredder.

In my mid-twenties, I began writing short stories. An early story, submitted to the University of Massachusetts literary magazine, was not accepted, but the editor wrote a personal note praising the story and encouraging me to continue writing. I have always treasured that ‘rejection.’

While studying for my MBA at Suffolk University in Boston, I entered stories in the university’s annual short story contests and won a couple of cash prizes. Despite that success, I knew I had to keep my day job.

In my thirties, I began writing a novel off-and-on over several years. I finally finished the 400-page novel. It hides in a cardboard box under my desk.

When I decided to retire in 2012, I sat myself down for a serious talk. “You’ve always thought of yourself as a writer,” I told myself, “but you spend more time thinking about publishing a book than you do sitting down and doing the hard work to write one. Don’t die before giving your dream a real chance.”

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
My favorite authors are Irish and English, such as Sebastian Barry, William Trevor, Colm Toibin, Frank O’Connor, Jaime O’Neill, Edna O’Brien, Jane Gardam, Brian Moore, Peter Ackroyd, John LeCarre, Patrick McGrath, Ian McEwan, Magnus Mills, John Mortimer, Roddy Doyle, Virginia Woolf, Michael Frayn, Graham Swift, Graham Greene, Elizabeth Taylor, Hilary Mantel, Charles Dickens, and Evelyn Waugh.

My favorite American and Canadian writers are Edith Wharton, Pat Barker, William Maxwell, James Cain, Jim Thompson, Willa Cather, Stewart O’Nan, Bernice Rubens, Mordecai Richler, Alan Furst, Muriel Spark, Patricia Highsmith, Ernest Hemingway (short stories), Scott Turow, Henry James, Eudora Welty, and Tobias Wolff

Tell us a little about your latest book?
The Inspiration for Echo from Mount Royal came while having coffee one morning with a friend. Before going to work, I’d often meet an elderly Jewish woman in the coffee shop downstairs from my office. We talked ‘books,’ sharing a similar taste in fiction.

When she learned that I was a writer, she told me many stories about her experiences growing up in Montreal before and after WWII. Her story about her engagement as an 18-year-old girl astounded me. She invited me to ‘write it up,’ thinking it would make an interesting short story.

Over the next ten months, I gave her chapters to read. When the 300-page manuscript was finished, she hefted the pages laughing, “This weighs more than a short story!” After another year and a half editing the book, it was finally finished In October 2014.

A brief synopsis:
In Montreal, it’s 1951. Rebecca Wiseman briefly meets a handsome young man at a college dance but has little hope of seeing him again. When Sol Gottesman tracks her down and asks her on a date, her joy turns to amazement when she learns he is extremely wealthy.

Rebecca, 18 and a freshman in college, lives with her family in a working-class Jewish neighborhood. When Sol takes her in a chauffeured Rolls-Royce to the most expensive restaurant in the city, Rebecca enters the world of upper-class privilege. Her romantic dreams are coming true.

But clouds begin to gather as she learns that despite Sol’s outward charm, he lacks self-confidence. On a visit to Mount Royal overlooking Montreal, Sol reveals the simmering conflicts in his family and his fear that his brother plans to drive him out of the family business. Rebecca loves Sol and wants to protect him, but helping him stand up to his family, puts her squarely in the midst of it all.

Class, religion, sexual inexperience and family rivalry test their love. Rebecca, wondering if their relationship can survive, struggles to control events with humor and forgiveness. But Sol has a secret that threatens their future happiness. And then, a late night telephone call changes her life forever.

Connect with the Author on their Websites and Social media profiles

Dave Riese’s Website

Dave Riese Facebook Page

Dave Riese Twitter Account

Featured Interview With Jo Ann V. Glim

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I was raised in the beautiful Pacific Northwest on the island of Fidalgo in a town called Anacortes, Washington. It was an amazing place to spend a childhood in the 1950s. Today, my husband and I live on the Suncoast of Florida (gulf side). Both communities “live the outdoors,” considering both are surrounded by water and beach style living. A portion of the book, Begotten With Love” is set in Anacortes.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I was about 9 years old when I discovered a book about Amelia Earhart. From that point on, I was hooked on reading adventures about real people.

I was always scribbling notes about something and being an only child, I had a head full of characters. The one that got me in trouble was the church mouse family I imagined during Sunday service. I think it was the giggling that caught me a “Mom talk” that afternoon.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
There are the established writers like McCullough (John Adams) and Indie writers like children’s author Mariana Llanos (Tristan Wolfe series and her latest “Staircase on Elm Street”) that have recently become favorite reads for me.

I love biographies and memoirs; adventures and history but I also like fiction: Dune, Harry Potter, The Hobbit. When I need to unwind, I prefer something lighthearted. Right now, I’m following a series of liturgical murder mysteries set in North Carolina where the sheriff is also the church choir director. My favorite so far, “The Tenor Wore Tweed.” Still laughing.

As far as my own writing goes, I am inspired by our ancestors. Their courage and faith to leave everything: family, fortune, and homeland, to follow the dream of a better life not only for themselves but for us leaves me in awe. They truly understood the meaning of American ingenuity and lived it.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
“Begotten With Love” is a sometime turbulent, sometime rollicking true story spanning one hundred fifty years of American history and five generations of family. It’s based on 30 years of genealogical and historical research and brings to life each generation letting the reader live the experiences as the characters and plots unfold. As one of our fan’s put it, “It reads like fiction, but it’s not.”

Following is a portion of a critique I received from Writer’s Digest. “The author does a great job in capturing time, place, and character, with enough history thrown in to help readers place themselves in time. The book is nicely written, and the hard work the author did both with her research and getting the book just right shows . . .” Excerpted from the commentary — Judge, Writer’s Digest 21st Annual Self-Published Book Awards

I also received very exciting news last week. “Begotten With Love” is a finalist in the Florida Writers Association 2014 Royal Palm Awards competition. The outcome has already been determined, however we won’t know the outcome until the banquet in October. Very excited to just enjoy the moment.

Buy the book on Amazon.

Connect with the Author on their Websites and Social media profiles

Author’s Website

Facebook Page

Twitter Account