Month: July 2015

T.C. Ricks on his new book ‘Grenademan Vs the Zombies’

INTERVIEW

Thwarted from conquering the world via Molecular Biology in undergraduate school, T.C. Ricks went into the world of Technical Writing. To keep from dying of horrible death by a thousand cuts, he began to write fiction. Five novels and close to sixty stories later, he has begun to sell his works on Amazon.com. He also maintains a podcast, Tossing Grenades at Windmills. T.C. Ricks enjoys life in Charlotte, N.C with his wonderful wife Julia.

Today I have the pleasure to have a little chat with T.C. Ricks about writing and his new book ‘Grenademan Vs the Zombies’.

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  • So, how did you decide to pursue a writing career?

“After 10 years of being a contractor, I looked around and decided that I wasn’t accomplishing well…anything….I wanted something to feel like I had done something with my life. 5 Novels and 30 short stories later, I’m very happy with what I’ve done. This novel is the first one I’ve polished to professional standards for sale on places like Smashwords and Createspace.”

  • Was getting published hard?

“I’m currently self-published.”

  • Are your characters based on people you know?

“No, but the people in the gaming group in the book are inspired by archetypes in many of the gaming groups that I’ve been in the past for good or ill. Other characters are based on amalgams of several people.”

  • What genre are your books?

“’Grenademan vs the Zombies’ is Urban Fantasy.

‘Spiders in the Sugar Factory’ is next which will be a chapbook of poetry.

‘Forever West’, which is currently being proofed, is Steam Punk.

  • Which of your books is your most favorite?

“’Forever West’ is my BEST, which I suppose makes it my favorite.”

  • Do you have a specific writing routine?

“I will write 100-200 words, read, then repeat. I try to get 1000 words a day done but it comes in stops and starts.”

  • What are your current projects?

“Tossing Grenades at Windmills the Novel which is the first of the trilogy that Grenademan Vs the Zombies is in. I’m also planning for a Fairy Tale Modern Novel for National Novel Writing Month.

  • What’s next for you?

“Spiders in the Sugar Factory. The poems are selected and ready, but I need to select pictures and graphics to go with the chapbook and put it together.”

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Grenademan Vs the Zombies

Order and Chaos have fought their little chess matches on world after world, often coming to draw. So when Order found a new, and powerful champion in an insane superhero, Chaos had to step up his game. And he found it in an ambitious would be sorcerer called Jarvi who had bet his gaming group that they could not survive the Zombie Apocalypse and really MEANT it. Now Jarvi would start an apocalypse just to prove them wrong.

And somehow, Grenademan had to stop it. While the Circle of Gamers regard him an insane, the government trying to kill him and his own sanity quite questionable, Grenademan has to keep four people alive while seven different kinds of zombies are trying to kill them.

BUY LINKS

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/558157

http://www.amazon.com/T.C.-Ricks/e/B00IEGTHY/

KEEP IN TOUCH WITH T.C. RICKS

http://tossinggrenadesatwindmills.blogspot.com/

http://www.stitcher.com/podcast/tossing-grenades-at-windmills-podcast

E.B. Joseph talks about ‘Homeschool Adventure Show: Interview Highlights –First Grade Book I’

INTERVIEW

E.B. Joseph is a retired U.S. Marine of over 20 years. She is the Founder/CEO of Plan2Win, Solutions, LLC. She is an Online Entrepreneur and currently a Homeschool Mom. What she does best is consolidate information in simple and easy to follow formats.

Recently I had the pleasure to have a little chat with E.B. Joseph about her book ‘Homeschool Adventure Show: Interview Highlights –First Grade Book I’.

“When I retired from the military, I had two dreams-homeschool my child and work for myself. It started with writing the books floating in my brain and it has blossomed into much more,” she said to me.

  • So how did you decide to pursue a writing career?

“It started as a way to generate extra income while being a Homeschool Mom.”

  • Was getting published hard?

“I self-published on Amazon Kindle.”

  • What genre is your book?

“My Book is non-fiction. It is a collection of Interview Highlights from the transcribe show notes from my Homeschool Podcast from BlogTalk Radio. It is a look into the teaching and learning of a homeschool child. It is targeted for those currently homeschooling or thinking about Homeschooling.”

  • Do you have a specific writing routine?

“I like to write in the early morning hours.”

  • What are your current projects?

“Building my online presence with Facebook.”

  • What’s next for you?

“I’m planning to position myself as a Testing Evaluator for homeschoolers.”

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Homeschool Adventure Show: Interview Highlights –First Grade Book I

Amazon link: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00XU5551Q

Facebook link: https://www.facebook.com/HomeschoolAdventureShow

Website: http://www.homeschooladventureshow.com/

YouTube link: https://youtu.be/c18yFhKsxmg

Emma Plows on ‘Autistic Blessings and Bipolar me: A frank and brutally honest diary from a mother with Bipolar and her two Autistic boys’

INTERVIEW

Emma Plows is a 37 year old mother with Bipolar.

“I have Bipolar, it doesn’t have me!” says she.

Emma has been married for 18 years and has two teenage boys with Autism.

Today I have the honour to talk with Emma about her book ‘Autistic blessings and Bipolar me.: A frank and brutally honest diary of a mother with Bipolar and her two Autistic boys’.

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  • First of all, who exactly is Emma Plows?

“In February 2007 I was diagnosed with Bipolar type one after a long battle with post-natal depression, where I was hospitalised numerous times. Throughout the period between 2004 to 2009 myself Noah and Moses were all given a diagnosis of something life changing, but as a mother I refused to be labelled and judged by a medical condition. I am Emma Plows; I am not Emma Plows with Bipolar.”

  • Could you please tell me more about your book?

“My book is my diary so it’s literally the way I felt at the time. Brutally honest and the odd naughty word now and then.

My book is a memoir and should appeal to anyone who has encountered mental illness, grief or Autism.

It’s my understanding that when you discover your child is on the autistic spectrum you really need to accept the diagnosis. Accept it, let it grow and don’t hinder its development. Autistic people cannot understand how the world works like we can and have difficulty understanding how people think, but we can. We have that capacity to understand them, if we choose too we should take advantage of that capacity.

“I have Bipolar, it doesn’t have me!”

If we don’t accept that our children are autistic, then we are only condemning ourselves and our children to a life of frustrating misery. Work with it, not against it, it doesn’t matter why they behave the way they do as we cannot change it, but we must find the beauty in the condition and all the positives it has to offer, if we try, it gets easier and can become very rewarding.”

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  • How did you decide to pursue a writing career?

“I suppose I became a writer by accident. I have dyslexia, I take powerful medication for my Bipolar and my sons need a lot of support so becoming a writer was never on the agenda. Whilst I was ill, years back, I started to write a diary, to put down on paper what I really felt. I felt that as soon as the words hit the paper the negative feelings belonged to the paper and not me.”

  • Was getting published hard?

“I tried to get published by a publisher but I was knocked back so many times I thought now is the time to just do it. Just go it alone and tell my story. I wanted other parents to know that they are allowed to be ill but they shouldn’t feel guilty. Look after yourself to ensure your family are well too.”

  • Do you have a specific writing routine?

“I can write at any time of the day and usually just with paper and a pencil. I like the sound a pencil makes.”

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  • What’s next for you?

“I’m currently writing my second book, The Autism chronicles which explains many other parents’ experiences of the Autism assessment process.”

Autistic Blessings and Bipolar me.: “A frank and brutally honest diary from a mother with Bipolar and her two Autistic boys”

Kindle book: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Autistic-blessings-Bipolar-me-brutally-ebook/dp/B00UP14762/

Paperback: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Autistic-Blessings-Bipolar-me-brutally/dp/1508886075/

GET IN TOUCH WITH EMMA PLOWS

Website: http://www.autisticblessings.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/PlowsEmma

Nick Mackie on ‘Chester and the Eggie Boo’, his latest children’s picture book

INTERVIEW

Nick Mackie is an award winning animator, director, illustrator and writer. He has worked for studios such as Aardman Animations & Picasso Pictures. Nick has won BBC Talent for his animation and a RTS award. His animation films have been shown on BBC, Canal + and others and featured in competition at many international festivals.

Recently I had the honour to have a little chat with Nick and here is what he said to me…

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– Nick, what is your latest book?

“‘Chester and the Eggie Boo’ is my latest children’s picture book. It was published in July and was originally a kickstarter project. It is a 32 page full colour hardback book aimed at pre-school readers.”

– How did you decide to pursue a writing career?

“I started writing as I had stories that I wanted to tell that would have taken too long in animation and for which I didn’t have the budget. I was always working on illustrated books and small press comics while working in animation.”

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– Was getting published hard?

“Getting published is hard as is getting an agent. So far I have self-published all my books. Thankfully self-publishing has become a respectable way of getting well-made books to the public.”

– Are your characters based on people you know?

“Chester in ‘Chester and the Eggie Boo’ is loosely based on my son who is now five and was inspired by watching him play with his toy trains.”

– What genre are your books?

“I currently write and illustrate children’s picture books.
I have also written on YA novel and am currently writing a second novel which is a crime thriller.”

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– Which of your books is your most favourite?

“Chester and the Eggie Boo is my favourite at the moment because it’s my most recent and I am really happy with the way the design and illustrations turned out.”

– Do you have a specific writing routine?

“I probably do my best writing in the early morning when everyone else in the house is still asleep. I illustrate or animate during the day.”

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– What are your current projects?

“I am planning the next in the Eggie Boo series and working on a new picture book.”

– What’s next for you?

“I’m looking at book apps and working out how to go about making one. As an animator it would be great to combine my animation skills with my picture book illustration.”

 

KEEP IN TOUCH WITH NICK MACKIE

http://www.nickmackie.co.uk/

Chester and the Eggie Boo

www.eggieboo.com

Twitter: @nickmackiebook
Facebook: www.facebook.com/eggieboobook

BUY LINKS

For a signed hardback copy of Chester and the Eggie Boo

http://www.eggieboo.com/

Chester and the Eggie Boo at Amazon.co.uk

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Chester-Eggie-Boo-Nick-Mackie/dp/0956329012/

and at Amazon.com

http://www.amazon.com/Chester-Eggie-Boo-Nick-Mackie/dp/0956329012

 

D.E. Haggerty and her new book ‘Jack gets his man: Gray-Haired Knitting Detectives’

INTERVIEW

Author D.E. Haggerty celebrates the release of her new book Jack Gets His Man and today I have the pleasure to have a little chat with her about books, surfing and Gray-Haired Knitting Detectives!

But first things first, THE BOOK:

Book title: Jack Gets His Man

Series: The Gray-Haired Knitting Detectives, Book 2

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Author: D.E. Haggerty

Genre: Romantic Comedy (M/M)

Published: July 1, 2015

Buy links:

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Jack-Gets-His-Man-Gray-Haired-ebook/dp/B00YBZITC6

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25552260-jack-gets-his-man

Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/551332

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Synopsis:

Jack’s life is awesome. His store is making money hand over fist and his best friend has found love. So what if he’s feeling a bit restless and put out about his upcoming birthday and his ex is being a pain in his fabulous behind? That’s nothing he can’t handle. But then his smoking hot new bookkeeper discovers things at the store aren’t actually as they seem. Someone is playing fast and loose with the finances. Jack’s bestie and his gal pals, the gray-haired knitting detectives, jump at the chance to solve Jack’s problems. When they aren’t re-enacting scenes from spy thrillers, they’re setting Jack up on dates and generally insinuating themselves into his love life. They’re determined to find love for Jack as well as his missing money. Will Jack catch a thief or find love? Either way Jack’s going to get his man.

  • First of all, congrats on your new book. It sounds amazing, I can’t wait to read it. However I would like to know more about you. So who exactly is D.E. Haggerty?

“I was born and raised in Wisconsin, but think I’m a European. After spending my senior year of high school in Germany, I developed a bad case of wanderlust that is yet to be cured. My flying Dutch husband and I have lived in Virginia, Ohio, Wisconsin, the Netherlands, Germany and now Istanbul. We still haven’t decided if we want to settle down somewhere – let alone where. I’m leaning towards somewhere I can learn to surf even though the hubby thinks that’s a less than sound way to decide where to live. Although I’ve been a military policewoman, a commercial lawyer, and a B&B owner, I think with writing I may have finally figured out what I want to be when I grow up. That’s assuming I ever grow up, of course. Between playing tennis, running much slower than I would like, trying to adopt every stray dog within a 5-mile radius, traveling to exotic new locales, singing off tune, drinking entirely too many adult beverages, addictively watching new movies and reading books like they are going out of style, I write articles for a local expat magazine and various websites, review other indie authors’ books, write a blog about whatever comes to mind and am working on my sixth book.”

  • How did you decide to pursue a writing career?

“I tried everything else out and writing was the only thing left? But seriously, I’ve always been writing stories, poems, songs, etc. I wrote my first book on a school bus when I was in 6th grade. I’ve converted my Bed & Breakfast into a group rental and so now I have the time to write.”

  • Was getting published hard?

“I’m self-published so no. A lot of companies try to make self-publishing sound more difficult than it is so that they can make money off of new writers, but it’s just a matter of doing your research. Formatting is boring but it’s not difficult.”

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  • Are your characters based on people you know?

“Everyone assumes that, don’t they? When I started writing, I was definitely ‘borrowing’ characters from real life. The more I write the easier it is to develop characters that are entirely unique (at least I hope so!).”

  • What genre is your book?

“Jack Gets His Man is a romantic comedy (M/M) with a side of mystery. It’s the second book in my Gray-Haired Knitting Detectives series. The series will consist of three books – unless I get caught up in a new character who I thinks deserves his or her own book.”

  • Which of your books is your most favorite?

“That’s like trying to pick a favorite child! Each book is a favorite for a different reason. Jack Gets His Man is a favorite because I overcame my fears of writing the novel from the perspective of a gay man.”

  • Do you have a specific writing routine?

“I’m pretty anal and organized so yeah I have a routine. For each book, I have a diary in which I keep my character descriptions, outline, chapter ideas, and research. I write first thing in the morning for three hours. I try to write a chapter a day when I’m working on a book. I’ve learned to take a month off after a book is finished to concentrate on marketing because otherwise both the writing and marketing suffer if I try to do them at the same time.”

  • What are your current projects?

“I have three books in the works. In the first place, I want to finish the Gray-Haired Knitting Detectives series with the third book. It will be the toughest case the ladies have to solve as one of their own is accused of murder. I’m also working on a spy/romance set in Istanbul during World War II as I’m living in Istanbul at the moment and I’m a total history geek. I also want to write a sequel to Life Discarded in which I explain what happens to a woman after she throws her life away (which is what the heroine did in the Life Discarded).”

  • What’s next for you?

“Besides working on the three books I mentioned, I’m trying hard to give my personal blog more attention and improving my Readsalot blog (a blog to market indie writers). On a personal level, my husband and I are researching where we will be heading after November when his contract in Istanbul expires. I’m pushing Australia as I’m dying to learn to surf before I’m too old (although that ship may have already sailed).”

Author links

Website: http://www.dehaggerty.com

Blog: http://www.dehaggerty.com/mymusings

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dehaggerty

Twitter: https://twitter.com/denaehaggerty

Google+: https://plus.google.com/u/0/+DEHaggerty/posts

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/denahaggerty/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7210211.D_E_Haggerty

Email: dena@dehaggerty.com

 

David Keith Wardrop: A science fiction author with an interest in nature

INTERVIEW

David Keith Wardrop was born on the 24th of December 1984 in Glasgow Scotland.

David started writing at the age of twenty and mostly writes Science Fiction. He reads a lot of graphic novels and Science Fiction and occasional non-fiction having been a subscriber to Scientific American for three years.

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Also has an interest in nature and is a member of many conservation groups such as RSPB, Butterfly Conservation, Plantlife, Bumblebee Conservation Trust, Buglife, Glasgow Natural History Society and Scottish Wildlife Trust.

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In addition to writing David currently spends a lot of time on two website www.zooniverse.org and www.futurelearn.com.

David Keith Wardrop’s Books

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Long Walk Home

It is the end of the world as we know it. The planet has run out of petroleum and the main character decides that this would be a good time to take a long walk home.

Buy link: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/537805

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The gardens of Zarma

The gardens of Zarma has species of plants from all over the universe. Zarma is considered by many to be the greatest paradise in existance. When a chemical used to fuel starsips is found in the planet Zarmas oceans the paradise comes under threat.

Buy link: http://www.lulu.com/shop/david-wardrop/the-gardens-of-zarma/ebook/product-17411265.html

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After

AFTER by David Wardop is a story about mental anguish and suicide told in two parts. Keith Campbell is a quiet and shy boy who loves comic books and science fiction until he begins to contemplate suicide. The first part of the story, which is told in reverse order, describes the world of tragedy that is left after Keith dies with his family struggling to understand why he kills himself. The second half of the story, on the other hand, describes the world that Keith lives in because he did not commit suicide. This is a reflective and revealing account of one person’s mental struggle with suicide and the effect that it has on his health and those who care about him.

What sets this novel apart is the fact that Keith takes his own life right and the novel opens after his death attempting to illustrate Keith’s rationale for his suicide. The novel is, at first, depressing, sombre and dark, yet it progressively gets more blithe and hopeful. The novel’s conclusion is ironic and thought-provoking, and the reader has to remind himself/herself that although the novel ends on a positive note, because of the manner in which the narrative has been presented, this is not necessarily the case.

Buy link: http://www.amazon.co.uk/After-David-Wardrop/dp/1849910154