Monday, November 30, 2009

Live Chat/Interview with Leighton Gage 12/6/09



The Writer's Chatroom presents Leighton Gage.

WHEN?

Sunday, December 6, 2009

Eastern USA Time.....7-9 PM

Not sure what time that is wherever in the world you are? http://www.worldtimeserver.com

WHERE?

The Writers Chatroom at: http://www.writerschatroom.com/Enter.htm

Scroll down to the Java box. It may take a moment to load. Type in the name you wish to be known by, and click Login. No password needed.

Please note: The chatroom is only open for regularly scheduled chats.

Monday, November 23, 2009

Live Chat/Interview with Dr. Norman German 11/29/09



The Writer's Chatroom presents Norman German.

WHEN?

Sunday, November 29, 2009

Eastern USA Time.....7-9 PM

Not sure what time that is wherever in the world you are? http://www.worldtimeserver.com

WHERE?

The Writers Chatroom at: http://www.writerschatroom.com/Enter.htm

Scroll down to the Java box. It may take a moment to load. Type in the name you wish to be known by, and click Login. No password needed.

Please note: The chatroom is only open for regularly scheduled chats.

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

VBT stop for Yvonne Perry for her new book The Sid Series ~ A Collection of Holistic Stories for Children



Today marks the kick-off of Yvonne Perry's book tour for The Sid Series ~ A Collection of Holistic Stories for Children geared toward 2-5 year olds.

What is The Sid Series about? Listen to a 30-second explanation.

Yvonne will be stopping here on Sunday, December 6 to address any comments left via the book review I will be posting. Below is her full schedule, if you'd like to follow her along her tour and see the variety of stops she has included.

•Today: Yvonne will run a media release about The Sid Series blog tour. Great information for authors who may want to do their own virtual book tour some day.

•Nov 19, Yvonne will post a video on Youtube about The Sid Series.

•Nov 20, Yvonne's article about psychic children and their imaginary friends will post to Irene Watson of Reader Views blog.

•Nov 21, WITS Blog will feature an interview with 8-year-old Sidney, the inspiration for the writing of The Sid Series. Join him as he discusses with his grandmother the books and his spiritual gifts.

•Nov 22, Janet Riehl is hosting a question and answer interview about Yvonne's process for writing, publishing, and marketing The Sid Series.

•Nov 23, Yvonne will be the radio guest of Maxine Thompson on Dr. Maxine Show. The Shift Guru, Barbara Joye, will feature part 1 of a 3-part article on how Yvonne shifted from religion to metaphysics when her grandson, Sidney, (for whom The Sid Series was written) started manifesting psychic gifts.

•Nov 24, Yvonne will also be Suzanne Lieurance's radio guest on Book Bites for Kids

•Nov 25, The Shift Guru, Barbara Joye, will feature part 2 of a 3-part article on how Yvonne shifted from religion to metaphysics when her grandson started manifesting psychic gifts.

•Nov 26, Yvonne will be visiting Karen and Robyn - Writing for Children where Karen Cioffi is the hostess. Yvonne will tell how she self-published The Sid Series.

•Nov 27, Stephanie Ward will post information about Yvonne’s book on Stark Raving Bibliophile. The Shift Guru, Barbara Joye, will feature part 2 of a 3-part article on how Yvonne shifted from religion to metaphysics when her grandson started manifesting psychic gifts.

•Nov 28, Yvonne will post a press/media release about the book's debut. This will go to multiple online sources.

•Nov 29, Amy, the owner of Equinaut and Vitesis has invited Yvonne to stop by and share an article titled, “The Writing of a Children’s Book.”

•Nov 30, Carolyn Howard-Johnson’s blog, The New Book Review, will feature a book review written by Katie Chalfont that highlights how The Sid Series has influenced her three children.

•Dec 1, Barbara Techel and Frankie the Walk 'N Roll Dog welcome Yvonne. You won’t want to miss this article on pet death.

•Dec 2, Shayne Packer of Grandparents TLC will host Yvonne as she offers an article about young age grandparenting.

•Dec 3, Dallas Woodburn’s Writing Life will introduce authors to Skype, an Author Network’s virtual classroom feature.

•Dec 4, Elena Dorothy Bowman will post an article titled "Why I wrote The Sid Series." This article features why Yvonne wrote the book and discusses some of the spiritual gifts Sidney manifested at an early age.

•Dec 5, Yvonne will upload to Youtube a book trailer for “A Powerful Potion,” one of the stories in The Sid Series. Jennifer Brown will post Yvonne’s “Love List”.

•Dec 6, Yvonne will be stopping here to reply to any comments left with the book review of The Sid Series!

•Dec 7, Liana Metal will host Yvonne on Art Stories with an article about how she worked with 15-year-old Hayley John to create the illustrations for The Sid Series.

•Dec 8, Hal Manogue of Short Sleeves Insight will host Yvonne on with the posting of an article about children having remembered past lives.

•Dec 9, Chelle Cordero will host a “Woman in Charge” interview of Yvonne as an author and business entrepreneur. You don’t want to miss “Combining Authorship and Free-Lance Writing Business” on Chelle Cordero’s Promo Page.

•Dec 10, Sidney’s mother, Amanda McCurley, will host Yvonne on Fashionably Late by providing a book review and her thoughts about her son being the main character and inspiration for The Sid Series.

•Dec 11, Mama Paro and her three kittens: Elina, Bibble, and Tuktuk, will write a book review for The Sid Series. You’ll get a child’s perspective of the book when you visit.

•Dec 12, Anita Revel has invited Yvonne to stop by Daily Blissings and discuss why she is thankful for the learning process of self-publishing using Lightning Source.

•Dec 13, More Than Meets the Eye will feature an article, “Out of the Mouths of Babies! Channeling 101” about how Yvonne’s grandson at age three channeled an import message from his higher self.

•Dec 14, Lillian Brummet will host Yvonne Perry as she reads “Sid’s Fairy ~ Learning About Inner Guidance.”

•Dec 15, In a radio interview, Yvonne will discuss why The Sid Series was written for her grandson, Sidney. Hot Books - Great Authors is hosted by Valerie Connelly, publisher at Nightengale Press.

•Dec 16, More Than Meets the Eye will feature a flip book version of "Puppy Love ~ Dealing with the Death of a Pet," which is one of the twelve stories in The Sid Series.

•Dec 17, Heart Song's Hymnal will post a book review for The Sid Series.

•Dec 18. WITS blog will feature a question and answer interview with Hayley John, the 15-year-old student who illustrated many of the stories and the cover for The Sid Series.

•Dec 19, stop by Dennis Martin's blog, I Write Some, and read “A Book for Kids (and Adults) Who Love Fairies” and listen to an audio of the author reading the story, “Sid’s Fairy ~ Learning About Inner Guidance.”

Monday, November 16, 2009

Live Chat/Interview with Camille Kimball 11/22/09


The Writer's Chatroom presents Camille Kimball.

WHEN?

Sunday, November 22, 2009

Eastern USA Time.....7-9 PM

Not sure what time that is wherever in the world you are? http://www.worldtimeserver.com

WHERE?

The Writers Chatroom at: http://www.writerschatroom.com/Enter.htm

Scroll down to the Java box. It may take a moment to load. Type in the name you wish to be known by, and click Login. No password needed.

Please note: The chatroom is only open for regularly scheduled chats.

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Interview with J.M. Cornwell, fiction and non-fiction writer


Welcome, Jackie Cornwell, aka J.M. Cornwell, to Reviews and Interviews!

Let's warm up with a little introductory information.

Where are you from? That's not an easy question to answer. I was born in Columbus, Ohio, but I'm from a lot of places: Germany, Panama, and 46 of the 50 states.

Do you write full-time? Yes and I also work full time.

Can you tell us a little bit about your non-writing job? I am a medical transcriptionist for a network of acute care hospitals in New York and New Jersey, which is the long version. The short version is that I type operative reports. I've been doing it for about 25 years, which sounds like a long time even to me, but, with the advent of the Internet and home computers, I am able to work at home, which gives me more time to procrastinate on writing by worrying about laundry, dishes and cleaning the house.

What made you decide to tackle the genres you write in? I started out writing nonfiction because I had, and still have, a lot of questions. It's the same reason I write fiction. I don't stick to any one genre and let the characters lead me where they want to go. I get them started and they do the rest of the work.


Now we’ll focus a bit on your published writing.

Please tell us about your current release. Past Imperfect is about a woman in a near fatal accident that required a lot of plastic surgery to her face, giving her a new identity. She decides to go back and convince her ex-boyfriend that they are right for each other, but it isn't as easy as pushing characters around in a novel; she's a writer. Her best friend, and handyman, John Logan, who knows about her plans for Adrian Cahill, decides she's making a mistake and can't see what's right in front of her so, he lets Diana Palmer know that she has another choice.

What inspired you to write this novel? I had just broken up with someone who said I wasn't his soul mate and yet when he described his soul mate it was the same way he described me. I decided to write a different ending to our story.

Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp? It's the same message that ends The Wizard of Oz, Dorothy's revelation. Sometimes your heart's desire is right in front of you.

If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything in your latest book? I chose a very narrow point of view and focused on Diana, so the only thing I'd consider changing is getting more into Adrian's and Logan's thoughts.

What kind of research do you do to make your novel(s) realistic? It depends on the novel. With Past Imperfect there wasn't much to research because I had lived and dreamed most of the book. I have flown planes and I'm a writer. I've known men like Adrian and Logan and I've been to almost all the places in the book, with the exception of Kelly's Island. For that, I did a lot of reading and looked at thousands of pictures and then talked to people who had been there. The rest of the places in the story are places I know intimately.

What can we expect to see from you in the future? I have two novels that will be published in 2010. Among Women is about a woman who is put in jail for someone else's crime and gets lost in the system for six weeks. She considers most women silly and not worth knowing and is locked in with over 50 women, so it's a nightmare from many angles. She connects with her own voice and in turns gives the women a voice.

The other novel is called Whitecastle Hearts and is a twist on Jekyll, Hyde, and Jack the Ripper. The one thing that has always been missing from the story of Jekyll and Hyde is motivation, so I provided it by finding the motivation in a woman named Delilah Makepeace and Victorian morality. The dates that Hyde appeared in the original story were almost identical to the times The Ripper killed, so it seemed like a natural connection.

I'm also working on a post-apocalyptic vampire story and more stories for the Chicken Soup and Cup of Comfort anthologies. So many stories and so little time.

What ways have you found effective for promoting your books? I'm a novice when it comes to promoting my books, so I hired a publicist. I know my limits and I don't have a lot of time, so I put promotions in the hands of someone who knows more than I do, Linda Barnett-Johnson.


And now for a few fun questions.

When and why did you begin writing? When I was eight years old and living in Panama. Drunk on Homer and Edgar Rice Burroughs and having an active imagination, I wanted to create my own stories and put make my dreams real. My first book was about a little girl lost in the jungle who finds a lost city.

What have you read for fun lately? I read a lot of books for reviews, but the most fun I've had is reading a story by a fellow writer, Mary Ann Peden-Coviello about a wealthy southern family who resurrected their grandmother to find out where she hid her money. The voice and the situation were wonderful even though the story was very short. Even though I had to review Green by Ted Dekker, I thoroughly enjoyed it and rushed through it as quickly as possible to find out what would happen next.

Besides writing, what do you do for fun? What are your hobbies? Well, I used to cross stitch and draw and paint portraits, but I haven't had much time for that. My favorite way to have fun is to write letters to friends, the kind with fountain pen and paper and envelopes and stamps, and to watch movies. I don't watch television and gave up cable because it took too much time away from writing, but I do love watching movies, especially those that are based on novels and short stories. Other than that, I am a licensed amateur radio operator, ham radio, and a sometime gardener.

What would you say is your interesting writing quirk? I'm not sure how to answer that. I've been told my stories seem very real to people and they feel like they're actually there because my descriptions are so vivid. I do use all the senses when creating scenes and I love being able to tie in little tidbits of information from history and personal experience.

As a child, what did you want to do when you grew up? Do you want them in order? A writer and a ballerina at the age of eight, a Supreme Court Justice, a world traveler and a writer. Three out of five isn't bad.


And to wrap up…

Is there anything else that you would like to share with the audience? Past Imperfect was contracted by two publishers before L&L Dreamspell published it. The first publisher quit publishing three months before my novel debuted. Two weeks after the contract was signed, the second publisher decided she didn't like the book after all and wasn't going to honor the contract. Six months later I had another publisher and crossed my fingers, which makes it very difficult to type. L&L Dreamspell followed through and the proof is between the covers.

Do you have a website where writers can learn more about you and your writing? I keep a blog where I write about whatever comes into my head called Cabin Dreams at http://fixnwrtr.blogspot.com. It's a mix of personal observations, all the forbidden social subjects (sex, politics, and religion), using tarot cards to help create stories and characters, and the occasional grammar column that has moved to Suite 101.

How can people to get in touch with you? I'm easy to find through Cabin Dreams or just by emailing me at jcornwell@peoplepc.com.


Thank you for your time with this interview. It's been fun. I wish you luck with your writing endeavors. Thank you for inviting me to talk about my favorite subject. No, not me, writing.

Monday, November 9, 2009

Live Chat/Interview with Thomas Norman DeWolf 11/15/09


The Writer's Chatroom presents Thomas Norman DeWolf talking about Inheriting the Trade and other great stuff!

WHEN?

Sunday, November 15, 2009

Eastern USA Time.....7-9 PM

Not sure what time that is wherever in the world you are? http://www.worldtimeserver.com

WHERE?

The Writers Chatroom at: http://www.writerschatroom.com/Enter.htm

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Wednesday, November 4, 2009

Review - Leviathan's Master: The Wreck of the World's Largest Sailing Ship by David M. Quinn



Captain George W. Dow knows the sea from spending most of his life on ships in all types of weather. When his seven-masted sailing ship encounters several rough ocean storms in a row, both it and the crew are left more than tattered.

Dow knew the 400-foot schooner’s history and reluctantly accepted the post to transport over two million gallons of kerosene from the U.S. to London. The T.W. Lawson started its first, and last, transatlantic crossing in late 1907 with a small, hurriedly selected crew.

The tale of the largest sailing vessel’s ocean crossing is compelling at a very human level. The author weaves the survival tale of his great, great uncle with dialogue and descriptive historical facts to create a story that ebbs and flows as waves on an ocean. It is engaging and intriguing to be brought back in time for such an event, in such a personal way.

David M. Quinn was born in Tennessee and grew up in the Washington, D.C. area. His passion for genealogy led him to uncover remarkable stories within his family history. He shares the story of his great, great uncle Michael Quinn, in the historical novel, It May Be Forever - An Irish Rebel on the American Frontier, published in 2005.

In the annual USA Book News competition, Leviathan’s Master is a 2009 Award-Winning Finalist in the Historical Fiction category of the National Best Books Awards.

Leviathan’s Master is a highly recommended read for anyone interested in seafaring tales. It is gripping.

Available through Amazon.com and other online venues.

Title: Leviathan’s Master: The Wreck of the World’s Largest Sailing Ship
Author: David M. Quinn
Publisher: iUniverse
ISBN: 978-1-4401-5535-2
Pages: 110
Price: $10.95

Reviewed for Allbooks Review

Monday, November 2, 2009

Live Chat/Interview with Tom Piccirilli 11/8/09


The Writer's Chatroom presents Tom Piccirilli.

WHEN?

Sunday, November 8, 2009

Eastern USA Time.....7-9 PM

Not sure what time that is wherever in the world you are? http://www.worldtimeserver.com

WHERE?

The Writers Chatroom at: http://www.writerschatroom.com/Enter.htm

Scroll down to the Java box. It may take a moment to load. Type in the name you wish to be known by, and click Login. No password needed.

Please note: The chatroom is only open for regularly scheduled chats.