Me and Some Faith-Based Poetry ~~ A Podcast

July marks the second installment of CLG-E's Once Upon a Time... podcast series.

This month, I'm showcasing three faith poems: "On Soft, Tender Knees," "I'm Sorry," and "Loose"!

You can listen below and also take the time to check out my podcast site (CLG-E Podcasts) for future podcasts on writing and storytelling!

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Please leave comments - let me know your thoughts!

Writer of All Trades: Kristin Johnson

The Writer



A graduate of the University of Southern California Master of Professional Writing Program and member of Women in Film and Television, Kristin Johnson draws on her multitude of experience in writing and storytelling. She is an award-winning poet (Blue Mountain Arts) and short story writer whose fiction has appeared in anthologies including the Southern California Anthology and Aleatory’s Junction, a journalist and Web writer, and a produced playwright with theatre award nominations (Desert Theatre League, Palm Springs, California). She is the author of the Midwest Book Review 'enthusiastically recommended CHRISTMAS COOKIES ARE FOR GIVING (Tyr Publishing, 2003), co-written with Mimi Cummins. ORDINARY MIRACLES: My Incredible Spiritual, Artistic and Scientific Journey, written by Sir Rupert A.L. Perrin, M.D. with Kristin Johnson, was published by PublishAmerica in 2004. Ms. Johnson is also the author of BUTTERFLY WINGS: A Love Story (iUniverse, 2000).

Her essay "Lincoln, YouTube and History Reconsidered" was excerpted for HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MR. LINCOLN, A National League of American Pen Women anthology celebrating the Lincoln Bicentennial and officially sanctioned by the Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Celebration.

Her short screenplay “Daniel’s Letter From Heaven” has been a finalist in the 2003 British Short Screenplay Competition, ‘The Best & Most Prestigious Short Screenplay Competition in the World,’ and a quarterfinalist in the 2007 Screenwriting Expo Screenplay Competition in the Short Screenplay category.

Kristin is a writing consultant with many projects in the works.

Wanna learn more about Kristin? Check her out at Dotcomers.tv, A Ghost Writers Blog,MySpace, and Facebook.



The Interview

What are three colors that reflect your personality...why?
Red, because it is my favorite color and I'm passionate about what I do. Pink, because it's romantic. And blue, because it's a healing color, a peaceful color.


What was the first inkling in which you thought you wanted to be a writer?
As a child, I would make up plays, written on a typewriter, and cast either my stuffed animals or my family and friends. I also wrote an Elizabethan-era (unfinished) romantic novel when I was twelve. However, my mother, a former teacher and librarian, and my seventh grade favorite teacher, Mary Delaney, told me I was a writer, and that stuck.


What is your favorite movie...why?
I would have to say "Casablanca," just because of its brilliance and redemptive message -- and you haven't experienced it until you've witnessed Robert McKee analyze it scene by scene, moment by moment. However, I also will watch "The Shawshank Redemption," same reason, or "Legally Blonde" (just because it's always cute and diverting) any time they show on cable. "The Big Chill" is a favorite because of the connection to my alma mater, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor.


What is your favorite beginning of a movie...why?
"Shawshank Redemption" is one of my favorites. Also, "Breakfast at Tiffany's". You learn so much about Andy DuFresne and "Red" in those first few minutes of "Shawshank," and the image of Holly Golightly in those big sunglasses eating her pretzel outside Tiffany's is hard to forget. I also like Disney's "Beauty and the Beast" and "The Little Mermaid," just because they set the magical tone so well.


You are a writer of all trades - poet, stories, screenplays - what form do you enjoy writing in the most?
Another great question. Screenplay writing challenges me, so I enjoy it the most for that reason. However, with fiction, I love playing with words and expanding on character. For the fourth annual MuseOnline Writers' Conference, the free virtual writers' conference where you and I first met, I'm presenting a chat and weeklong workshop on what writing both screenplays and fiction can teach you about writing action. I cover more than action, of course -- character, dialogue and the Hero's Journey. I've converted scripts to novels and novels to scripts.


Talk to us about one of your first YES moments - a time when you received positive reception for your words.
Reading the wedding poem for my sister and brother-in-law, "On Our Wedding: Ahava," that later won first place in the Blue Mountain Arts Tri-Annual Poetry Competition. That poem was my wedding gift to them. When a local playwriting group staged a reading of my one-act play "Greetings and Salutations" (that later appeared in its playwriting festival and was nominated for five local theater awards), one of the audience members, an actor, jumped up and said, "I love it!"


You're strutting down the street - looking, feeling like a million bucks - what's your theme song?
"Wind Beneath my Wings" by Bette Midler, "One Heart" by Celine Dion or "That's Life" by Frank Sinatra.


What are some of the things you're doing to get your writing into the right hands?
Beyond the usual, writing contests and submitting to publishers/producers/agents (which I need to do more of), I would say: Networking, networking, networking. I network with people who aren't, strictly speaking, in the business, because you never know. I go to screenwriters' events hosted by Women in Film-Palm Springs, an organization I cannot praise enough. I connect with people through wonderful groups such as the Original Palm Springs Writers Guild, National League of American Pen Women and The MuseItUpClub Online.


Why do you write?
Author Christopher Rice, son of Anne Rice and a formidable professional in his own right, spoke to one of my writers' groups recently. He said, "What you do is valuable to our culture." While that's uplifting in the grander scheme (and a comforting thought on those writer's block days), my more elemental answer is that writing is part of who I am. I have a passion for it. Words, ideas, thoughts. A painting can spark a story. Anything I'm reading about or watching inspire stories, or else make it into my writing. I am a voracious reader and moviegoer. The written word is my lifeblood. My great-grandmother was a writer and my mother published a children's book.


To all those screenwriters out there looking to get a moment in the limelight, what are three pieces of advice you'd offer them?
Don't be afraid to take chances. Don't be afraid to put your work out there. I think of a friend of mine who died this year, actor Elwood Carlisle, who began his acting career as an extra "at the young age of 74". He died at 84. Among his career achievements was creating a "FANTASTIC" (his catchphrase) documentary on his life, "Elwood Superstar," produced by two amazing people who worked on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" and are now filmmakers. I am in the footage of that documentary. Whenever you think of giving up, think of Elwood, as I do.

And don't do screenwriting unless you genuinely love movies and television. The upside of that is that every time you go to a movie, any movie (good and bad), that's research.


What projects are you currently working on?
I'm doing quite a bit of work for clients, all types of writing, and enjoying the people who have given me their stories to work with. I have clients all over the world, from the UK to Illinois, New York to the Netherlands, from the Middle East to my home state of California.

I've started a novel of my own, just finished a rewrite of a script about cyberbullying (I'm working with the marvelous Michele Wallerstein), and am still writing on the "Dotcomers" project that I talked about in All the Blog's a Page when you so generously gave me the spotlight. By the time this is published, I will be in Japan and have visited Malaysia, which will inspire plenty of writing, I'm sure -- including travel writing for sites such as goparoo.com.

Culture & Writing w/ Author Angela Henry

For the months of June and July, All the Blog's a Page (AtBaP) is looking at how culture plays a role in writing. In June, we talked with erotic author Dapharoah69 and women's fiction author Wendy Tokunaga. Up next is an author I have enjoyed for a while now, Angela Henry!

Part-time GED instructor Kendra Clayton's spring break is proving to be anything but relaxing. First her best friend, Lynette, suffers a major panic attack days before her wedding and vanishes. Then her sister, Allegra, who craves attention the way Kendra craves chocolate brownies, arrives in town determined to land an interview with screen legend Vivianne DeArmond for the TV show Hollywood Vibe.

But Allegra's interview plans hit a glitch when she discovers the diva's lifeless body in her dressing room, stabbed in the back with a letter opener. The police peg Allegra as the prime suspect, but Kendra knows her sister is no murderer, even if she is guilty of acting a little too friendly around Kendra's man lately.

As Kendra starts to investigate and whittle down the list of Vivianne's enemies, she uncovers some surprising Hollywood secrets. But she'll need to act fast. Because every step toward the truth puts her in danger of becoming a victim of a ruthless killer's encore performance...

Come by AtBaP to read more Angela Henry's thoughts on the African American culture and writing...and to also read an excerpt from her book, Diva's Last Curtain Call!



ALL THE BLOG'S A PAGE (AtBaP) - Where everything relates to writing[http://alltheblogsapage.blogspot.com]

Taste Mississippi in Patricia Neely-Dorsey's Poetry

Patricia Neely-Dorsey's Reflections of a Mississippi Magnolia-A Life in Poems is "a true celebration of the south and things southern." The author states, "There are so many negative connotations associated with Mississippi and the south in general. In my book, using childhood memories, personal thoughts and dreams, I attempt to give a positive glimpse into the southern way of life. In my book I try to show that there is much is more to Mississippi and the south than all of the negatives usually portrayed. I invite readers to Meet Mississippi (and the south) Through Poetry, Prose and The Written Word."

SOUTHERN LIFE

If you want a glimpse of Southern life,

Come close and walk with me;

I'll tell you all the simple things,

That you are sure to see.

You'll see mockingbirds and bumblebees,

Magnolia blossoms and dogwood trees,

Caterpillars on the step,

Wooden porches cleanly swept;

Watermelons on the vine,

Strong majestic Georgia pines;

Rocking chairs and front yard swings,

Junebugs flying on a string;

Turnip greens and hot cornbread,

Coleslaw and barbecue;

Fried okra, fried corn, fried green tomatoes,

Fried pies and pickles too.

There's ice cold tea that's syrupy sweet,

And cool, green grass beneath your feet;

Catfish nipping in the lake,

And fresh young boys on the make.

You'll see all these things

And much, much more,

In a way of life that I adore.

Copyright 2008 Patricia Neely-Dorsey

from Reflections of a Mississippi Magnolia-A Life In Poems

BOOK AVAILABLE: www.reeds.ms/book.asp

or www.Amazon.com

AUTHOR WEBSITE: www.patricianeelydorsey.webs.com

Making the WORD Work for You: Writer Shari Smothers

The Writer



Shari Smothers works as a transcriptionist and freelance writer currently. Her entrepreneurial interests lie in writing, editing and website development. Writing is what she does for her health, and being paid for it is just practical.

Shari’s work experiences presented her with opportunities to write occasionally. Several years ago she decided to focus on writing and editing as her main selling tool to get jobs. She hasn’t looked back since.

You can find Shari ALL over the web via the following sites:

Blog About It
Telling Stories
The Word 'Mage
Facebook
Twitter
StumbleUpon
Delicious



The Interview

Take each letter of your first name, S-H-A-R-I and write a word that presents YOU.
Sincere
Hardworking
Artistic
Reliable
Intuitive


What type of web copy do you write, and how did you get into that?
I worked for years as an administrative assistant. Often, in those jobs, I would be asked or volunteer to write for them. Sometimes it would be to offer letters, acceptance letters, or ad copy for magazines or website publication. I was up for it all. I enjoyed it so much, I decided to make writing my focus in job searches.


Tell us about your site, BLOG ABOUT IT. What's its goal?
The goal of this blog is to share things that I’ve learned while pursuing my professional goals. My hope is that it will be helpful to others. This is the place I write about working and living as a woman who writes in various genres.


According to BLOG ABOUT IT, you write not only for the web, but you also write print copy, poetry, essays, and more. What is it about the WORD that excites you the most?
The WORD is how we communicate. If we didn’t have words, we’d only have pictures and gestures. You can’t even fall back on sign language because that is based on language–words. It’s thrilling to me to be able to communicate ideas, to share stories. While I love pictures, words allow for much more precision, more details in telling about something or some event. Words can entice you, can move you to tears of joy or of sorrow. Writing a story or an article is chiseling a statue from a marble block. And to be able to write of experiences, and bring people to where you are, is a profoundly rewarding thing.

Once, after I had read from my poetry, a woman said it was like I had talked with her before writing it. Another young girl couldn’t stop crying because I had put her in mind of her grandmother when she heard the poems about my grandmother. A lady once cried about a poem that I read to her group, but I had no tears when I wrote it. Her interpretation was astute and poignant and informed by what she brought to it. When people react to what I write, I know that I am connecting, and that is exciting.


You're walking down the street, looking and feeling fantastic; what's the song that plays in the background?
Two songs pop into mind, the first is "I’m Grateful"; a close second is "It’s Gon' Be Nice," both by Yolanda Adams, from the album Day by Day. And some days, the second choice is in first position.


Do you find that many of the things you write about are intrinsically connected to you?
Yes, easily, my creative writing is connected with me. With commercial writing, though, I try to connect with my subject in a personal way. It helps me to write authentically even when I’m not writing about me.


How important is social media to the promoting of your writing?
I think social media is really powerful. I don’t use it regularly to promote my work so much as to socialize. When I do use it for my work, I see the difference in my traffic. For my next book, I will use it much more.

I’ve heard that mainstream publishers are advocating their writers join social media sites, naming Facebook and Twitter. The self-publishing company I used for my book also advocates using social media and provides offers to help you get set up on the sites. Like them, I respect the power of word-of-mouth and personal interactions.


Writers READ - who are three of your favorite writers and why?
Lucille Clifton - poetry - Blessing the Boats is her collection of poetry that comes to mind. Her writing is simply profound. The short length of some of her poems can travel the depths of generations. From the collection, Study the Masters is a poem that draws me back to it time and again.

Billy Collins - poetry - The Art of Drowning is his collection of poetry that brought him to my attention. His writing is soothing in a different way. And the effect is similar. He writes things and commands my attention and I am present with his subject. A prime example would be Directions.

Kirk Byron Jones - inspiration - Holy Play: The Joyful Adventure of Unleashing Your Divine Spirit. Kirk’s writing is clear and expressive. His books are empowering because they put the ball in your court, so to speak. He reminds us in all of his books that we have the choice to do or not do, in most if not all of our life situations. Self-care is important to be able to present your best self to all that you do. And Dr. Jones and I have that belief in common.


What is one important thing you've learned through your writing life?
One important lesson that surfaces often is that words have power. And wielding that power is a privilege best tempered by humility and gratitude.


What are some of your writing goals, and what are you doing now to achieve them?
Goal 1: I’d like to put my poetry in the forefront of my writing. Toward that end, I am writing more and posting more on my blog. And, I’m actually pulling together pieces to publish in another collection.

Goal 2: Most of the writing that I do is uncredited, ghost writing, and parts of larger works. To build my portfolio, I am writing articles, based on things I’ve written.

Goal 3: Website development is also in my creative and professional arsenal. A website is actually a collection of instructions to say how a site should look and function and allow interaction. I enjoy writing the code.

I am customizing a new business site. The one that is live now, http://www.thewordmage.com, I built from scratch. It was fun and I like it, but my new site will be on a content management software [CMS] platform. It looks like the WordPress platform is the one I’m developing faster, although, I’m learning Joomla too which is another very popular CMS application.

Writing in Translation: Author Wendy Nelson Tokunaga

For the months of June and July, All the Blog's a Page (AtBaP) is looking at how culture plays a role in writing. I have a great lineup of six writers, and up next is a writer I enjoy, one who finds herself entrenched within the Japanese culture: Wendy Nelson Tokunaga!

Midori Saito, a young woman, fresh from Japan and too independent for Japanese society, refuses to heed her mother’s advice that marrying a foreigner will bring her nothing but trouble. Turns out Mom was right and Midori is now suddenly on her own in San Francisco. Will she be able to find her American Dream and the perfect dessert?

When asked How important is it for you to integrate your cultural experiences into your writing, Tokunaga said, "As you can probably tell from my photograph, I am not Japanese. I’m Caucasian, was born in San Francisco, and my Japanese last name comes from my husband. Both my novels are about Japan and Japanese culture. When I took my first creative writing class many years ago, the teacher required us to complete three short stories in a semester. And all three that sprang out of me were about some aspect of Japanese culture. I didn’t plan it that way, but that’s what happened, and it made me realize how important this culture has been in my life.."

Come by AtBaP to read more about Tokunaga's appreciation of the Japanese culture and to learn about her next book coming this fall: Love in Translation!


ALL THE BLOG'S A PAGE (AtBaP) - Where everything relates to writing[http://alltheblogsapage.blogspot.com]

Conversations about Writing - "Good" Books & Character

Conversations about Writing is a bi-monthly feature starring authors Shōn Bacon (editing guru) and Miki Starr Martin (graphic design guru) who share their thoughts on writing and their reviews on books!

Shōn Bacon

Miki Starr Martin [website]

For the premiere rap session of CAW, Shōn and Miki Starr in their freestyle conversational style, talk about what makes a "good" book and begin a discussion on character!

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SB: A "good book" is pretty subjective. There's no one type of a good book, but I believe that that there are "objective" components that are necessary to make a good book like strong characters, great action and dialogue, tight conflict, etc.

MSS: Not only that but a clear understanding on the part of the author is just as important to constructing a good book. An author with no true connection to the characters and the world which the author has created will read like formula fiction. Being that what makes a book "good" is indeed subjective, it's that connection and commitment that makes a good story great.

SB: I really like that response, Miki, and I totally agree. Author's connection with the project is vital. How do you, as an author, find those connections with the story and the characters?

MSS: I become the characters. They are not external beings for me. I am not an observer writing the things that I see. It's like acting. An actor/actress becomes the part that they are playing and so it becomes real for them. The emotions, the reactions, gestures...in the moment of telling the story, it IS my reality.

What is your recommended approach to the creation of characters?

SB: I dig that; I always have something that connects me to the characters. As far as approaching the creation of characters, I work on character dossiers. I create a folder for each character, and in that folder I have images of what the character looks like, the car he or she drives, the house the character lives in, siblings, parents, etc. I write up a dossier in which I look at things like where the character was JUST before the start of the story, fears, joys, memorable moments, morals, convictions, etc. Now these things I always do when I start a project in organization mode, meaning, when I set out to develop the work and its outline before writing. When the urge hits me to start writing the story without the dossiers, I oftentimes find myself coming BACK to develop the dossiers and get more inside the characters. How about you?

MSS: Wow... that's really cool. I can't say I'm quite THAT organized. I do create a file of sorts but mine could fit in one small folder! I make notes of things such as their full name, age, siblings, what sort of home they were raised in, some morals and convictions. I also like to write out where the characters were before the story began but I can't say I ever really stick with what's there.

It doesn't work for me to be too specific because the characters will not come to life until I write. At that point it's irrelevant who I wanted them to be, they are going to take shape how they see fit. Names change, descriptions altar, personalities shift. Fully formed characters appear who I had no idea even existed in my main character's life. It's almost as though they are real and are somewhere close by whispering their truths to me and my job is simply to record it. When I think back it's funny to me how little control I actually have over these so-called characters. None of them are who they were designed to be in my notes.

I assume this is true to some degree for every writer.

I do find that research is crucial in telling a good story. Even the smallest detail is Googled for accuracy. Laws, names of cities, cultural references...or dress styles, colors, movies. The more real everything is for me, the more it will feel real for the reader. If I don't believe it why should I think anyone else will.

How much does research play a role in your writing?

SB: You know, I do want to make one comment. Robert McKee, in his awesome book, STORY, makes a comment about this "moment" for writers, the moment in which characters unleash themselves and we as writers have NO control over it. He claims we DO have control; we may not fully know where characters are going as we sit before the page, but we do control whether the story continues, whether characters go where they go in the story. I prefer to believe McKee, LOL It takes away that "magic" writers think exist when they come to the page, but it gives them back their "mastering" of writing a good story.

NOW, having said that, lol, to answer your question, I don't do a lot of research unless absolutely necessary. If I'm doing a story on a subject I'm not too familiar with, then I do major research, but mostly, I do "life" research. I examine people - at grocery stores, in parking lots, in the drive thru, at the cafe - I read a lot of non-fiction to get people's depictions of their lives; I try to get more from real life as possible.

---

Come back in August when Shōn and Miki Starr continue their discussion on character and also review the book Make You Mine by Niobia Bryant!

Every Day She's Hustling: Author Ni'cola

The Author


Striving to establish a new flair to the term contemporary fiction, Ni’cola entered the literary scene with her debut self published novel, OVER AND OVER AGAIN. Establishing NCM Publishing, Ni’cola creates themes in her work revolving around situations that are a compulsive desire to see women overcome challenges. Her next novel THE APPETIZER will be released in 2010.

Ni'cola Mitchell is originally from Kingston, Jamaica; currently she resides in North Las Vegas with her two daughters, Destani and Diamond. She holds a B.S. in business management and is currently pursuing an MBA in health care management. When Ni'cola isn't writing, she loves to spend time with her family and volunteer as a mentor for youth activities.

You can learn more about Ni'cola through her website, MySpace, Twitter, and her Ning group!



The Book


At first glance, 27-year-old Dionni Stone, owner of Whatever You Like Entertainment seems to have what all black women desire: natural beauty, a successful business, and a beautiful black man on her side. Until…

Dionni has found the love of her life – once again – in a compromising situation. For Dionni, this is the final heart break. With the love and support of her family and friends, she concentrates on her business, and it’s there she meets new client, Xavier “Zay” Grey, an investment banker that hires her to plan a surprise graduation party for his baby sister. Timidly, Dionni begins to think she might have found “the one” for her, but a devastating secret finds her world once again shaken. It also finds her back in the arms of an unlikely man, and even more pain than even she could imagine.

Over and Over Again is a funny and sensual tale that weaves between lies and love, deceit and truth, teaching Dionni the ultimate meaning of what is honesty, passion, and friendship.


Click cover to order OVER AND OVER AGAIN!


The Interview

Fill in the blank: "To read OVER AND OVER AGAIN is like riding the rollercoaster of life featuring the ups and downs of today’s urban relations. By the end of the book one will have a reality check with their own life situations."

What are THREE adjectives that best describe OVER AND OVER AGAIN?
Emotional, suspenseful, hilarious


What are THREE adjectives that best describe YOU?
Intelligent, beautiful, hard worker


As writer, what's one thing you loved the most about OVER AND OVER AGAIN?
The thing that I love the most is that I produced this myself. When I got my proof copy in the mail, I held it like it was a newborn baby. I still can’t believe that I did this all by myself. That feeling is what I love most about Over and Over Again.


How did the idea for OVER AND OVER AGAIN come about?
The idea for Over and Over Again came from sections of journals that I kept going for several years. I would take events from my life, family and friends and just jot them down.

A girlfriend of mine was reading through them and joked that I should put the entries into book form. I created the characters from people that I know or have met in my life. Some of my characters are a combination of attitudes and mannerisms of several people that I know evolved into one.

I took some real life experiences and let my imagination run wild.


NI'COLA: THE SOUNDTRACK. What are three tracks that would HAVE to make it onto the soundtrack of your life and why?
The first song would be Beauty by Dru Hill. I believe Beauty comes from the inside. I will do anything for anyone. I go the extra mile at all times. One thing that I am complimented on is how well I treat others. I believe those attributes is what makes a person beautiful.

The second would be No More Rain (In this cloud) by Angie Stone. Just like anyone else in life, I have been through a plethora of trials and tribulations. I had to decide that I was going to be stop letting life harbor me, and press forward. So I consider the cloud me and my life, and I had to learn to stop crying and start living up to the potential that I know that I have. I’m only half way there though. The storm tends to come, but I do not allow for the rain to develop.

The last song would be Queen of the Pack by Patra. Being from Jamaica, I know all about struggle. But I had to let people know that I am not accepting anything. The song compares life to a pack of cards. It basically states that I am telling you what I am about, and I am not going back on my word. What ever life brings, I will come out on top, and be the Queen of the pack. I make my own destiny, so you better watch out.


You're strutting down the street - not a care in the world, looking like a million bucks; what is your theme song and why?
My theme song would be Everyday I’m hustling by Rick Ross. The title speaks for itself.


Are you a plotter or a pantser?
I am a pantser. When I think about something, I follow through and complete it.


What are you doing to promote and market OVER AND OVER AGAIN?
I have several different campaigns running right now to promote Over and Over Again. I am doing interviews, I am on a multi city author tour, I have an online publicity campaign, Print/Mail campaign, e-blasting, and web marketing.


You are indie publishing OVER AND OVER AGAIN through your company NCM Publishing; did you attempt to publish through traditional publishing routes? If so, how was that journey?
Yes, I did attempt to publish through the traditional, but I am very impatient. By the time I began receiving feedback from a traditional publisher, I was already half way through with self-publishing.

I really have not had any major issues with self publishing. In fact, I believe that this was the best route for me. I prayed about it and jumped in head first. I know this is what I am supposed to be doing because everything has gone smoothly from day one.


What are three pieces of advice you would give to writers thinking about going into indie publishing?
To be patient, work hard, and make sure that your product can hold its own with books in your sector being produced by a traditional publisher.


Word Association. What comes to mind when you see the following words:
Over and Over Again: Rollercoaster
Writing: Stress Reliever
Dionni Stone: Strong
Relationships: Indescribable
Ni'Cola: Grinder


What projects are you currently working on?
Currently, I am working on my second novel The Appetizer, (When you are not his main course.) and my third novel Twisted which is the continuation of Over and Over Again.

BOOK BYTES: Something Old Something New (review)

3.5 out of 5 Rating

Love Never Dies

You're the happiest woman on the planet because you are about to marry the love of your life: then tragedy strikes.

Imagine having to go on and live your life as if a huge part of you hasn't died and broken off. Imagine having a mind and a heart that can't let go of that love, that constantly replays precious, wondrous moments of absolute happiness. How do you go on? Can you really?

Erica N. Martin's novel Something Old Something New is a remembrance of love story that shows us through Audrey, the dedicated main character, that love never dies, and when it's real and when it's true, you will never lose it.

Martin does a good job pacing this story to its climactic ending with a nice twist, and what I enjoyed most of the story is the importance of love and memory. We all know the traditional love stories of boy meet girl, gets her, loses her, then gets her back; but this is a story that celebrates the sweet moments of a love story cut short but is determined to return.

If you want a story that reaffirms love, then definitely check out Martin's latest fare.

Click the cover to order your copy of Something Old Something New today!

BOOK BYTES: Rude Awakenings of a Jane Austen Addict (review)

4.5 out of 5 Rating

It's Hard Being a Woman-No Matter the Time

It's hard being a young woman in today's world - just imagine what it would be like for a gentleman’s daughter from Regency England who is thrust into the technologically-driven, "loose" world of the twenty-first century.

This is the initial setup of Laurie Viera Rigler's novel Rude Awakenings of a Jane Austen Addict, a novel I highly enjoyed for its great main character, solid storytelling, and social commentary on women, independence, and love.

Rigler does an excellent job keeping the main character Jane Mansfield within her time and culture's speech, a difficult task when placed around the contemporary setting, people, and things that are 21st century L.A. It was that ability of Rigler's that kept me throughout the story, seeing little things like Jane marvel at the TV thinking it to be a window. I believed the main character, and I was willing to follow her throughout the story.

And this was a strong story, a coming-of-age (albeit, in another's body) story that explores the world in which a woman lives in and how she is to find her place in that world. No matter the time period, no matter the language barrier, a woman still needs to find her place, and Rigler does a fine job showing us that this idea crosses time and space.

I don't know how Rigler will top this novel, but I do look forward to seeing where her creative mind wanders next.

Click the cover to order your copy of Rude Awakenings of a Jane Austen Addict today!

Talking about Writing & Editing

Today, author/radio host Anjuelle Floyd had me on her show "Book Talk, Creativity & Family Matters" to talk about writing & editing.

Check it out below!