Interview with Cindy Blackburn

Interview of Cindy Blackburn  

Author of Playing with Poison

Questions: R. Murry

Can you tell me a little about yourself? I’m kind of boring. That’s why I write about Jessie. She’s far more fascinating! Me? I was born in Vermont, raised in NJ, and now live in SC. I read, write, walk, drink wine, play with my cat, and do typical middle aged lady stuff.

Do you remember the first story you wrote? I wrote a story about my pet hamster Hazel when I was 6. My mother liked it!

Were you inspired by someone or something? Other writers inspire me, as do my friends in Sisters in Crime, the Romance Writers of America, and my critique group. And, my hubby John has encouraged me from the get-go

What do you like about writing a story? I love writing dialogue. I love it when my characters start speaking for themselves and I’m just there as the secretary recording what they tell me to.

Can you tell us about your book? Murder meets menopause. Take a guess which wins. Pool shark Jessie Hewitt usually knows where the balls will fall and how the game will end. But when a body lands on her couch and the cute cop in her kitchen accuses her of murder, even Jessie isn't sure what will happen next. Playing With Poison is a cozy mystery with a lot of humor, a little romance, and far too much champagne.

What genre best fits for the book? Cozy Mystery

Are you working on something new at the moment? Yes! Thanks for asking! Book four in the Cue Ball Mysteries, FOUR PLAY should be ready sometime in November.

Do you have any tips for aspiring writers? Write every day, even if only for a few minutes. Join local writers groups. Writers are nice people and very willing to share their knowledge and skills.

Where can people go to read your work? All three Cue Ball Mysteries are available on Amazon! And my website has some more details about me and the books. That’s at www.cueballmysteries.com

Do you have anything to add? Just  I give you a big huge thanks for letting me join you today. Cheers.

Review of A Perfect Setup

Review of Douglas Wickard's
A PERFECT SETUP 

Reviewed by Author Roy Murry

The world revolves around Sami Saxton, as it seems in this complex character driven novel. The author delves into the background of the main women characters to the point of telling us their intimate sexual preferences and choices of men. Sami’s ex is the only male character that women migrate towards. That is the reason for their parting ways – other women.

A young woman is murdered and the story begins. Sami’s ex, Jerry, is the prime suspect, but he wasn’t there at the time of the crime. Sami living her somewhat psychogenic existence believes that Jerry could never kill anyone. Or, could he?  

The development of Mr. Wickard’s attractive Sami Saxton character has her in a delightful existence in New York City with her lovable dog. In her journeys around town, the reader gets a taste of the big apple. She drives taxi cab drivers crazy with her back seat driver’s attitude. But in all other parts of her life, she has little clue as to where she is going or what is happening around her.

This mystery is thrilling at points, because of Sami’s mental aliments which are minor and controllable with legal prescriptions. However, mixed with wine she gets the feeling that someone is out to get her. They are, but it’s not who she thinks it is.

Mr. Wickard keeps the reader’s attention using the character’s explanations as to why they are doing what they’re doing. Some of the explanations are intriguing and entertaining.

The novel is a quick read that a reader of suspense novels will find captivating. I can’t wait to see what will happen to Sami in her next adventure. Or, should you?

Purchase: http://
amzn.to/SPl3WK

Interview of David Ronwinski

Interview with David Ronwinski,

Author of The Open Pillow

Questions: R. Murry

Can you tell me a little about yourself? My name is David Rowinski. I grew up in New Jersey-went to school with Dea Lenihan, the illustrator of The Open Pillow. Then I escaped for college at UMass where I studied English, Communications and Arabic.

After school I worked construction, as a security guard, and eventually spent a year in Egypt teaching English before working at a youth hostel in Athens and survived on borrowed money in Budapest the year the Communist regime fell. I also spent time in Zurich working as a PCA. I am married to the Kenyan/Tanzanian musician Sali Oyugi and split time between East Africa and Amherst, Ma where I am painting houses to pay bills.

Do you remember the first story you wrote?  Yes, it was Unfortunately-Planet of the Dog Men, which was my take on Planet of the Apes.

Were you inspired by someone or something?  I am inspired by my wife whose talent and dedication continue to amaze me.

What do you like about writing a story?  I enjoy the feeling when things suddenly fall into place and a story makes sense beyond what I had initially envisioned.

Can you tell us about your book?  The Open Pillow has its roots in my putting a friend’s son to bed. He asked for a story about an open pillow. My first thought was a torn pillow with feathers everywhere but it occurred to me that open could mean growing. Improperly placed in a flower bed, the pillow encounters rejection from various animals but continues to grow as it seeks it place in the world. The book introduces the concept of exponential thought and the notion of growth with aspects of animal behavior.

What genre best fits for the book? Though it is a children’s bedtime story the notion of persistence in pursuit of goals should never be outgrown.

Are you working on something new at the moment? Yes, The Book of Complements which morphed beyond a children’s book into something somewhat unclassifiable that I am tentatively calling graphic poetry or illustrated myth. There is a book trailer on Youtube.com under ‘BOC Trailer 080813’  I have a number of other ideas including a story arch called The Wending Tree and a novel about a shaman that is have been struggling with for years.

Do you have any tips for aspiring writers? I shall give the most useful advice given from my wife, “Finish something.”

Where can people go to read your work? The Open Pillow can be ordered on Amazon, B&N, Smashword, etc but can also be requested at any brick and mortar store which I prefer in an effort to support local bookstores.

Do you have anything to add? Probably but I was renovating an apartment until 11:30 PM and it is now midnight so nothing is coming to mind apart from thank you.

Review of Pillow: http://bit.ly/1kOzhPp

The Open Pillow

THE OPEN PILLOW

Story by David Rowinski
  and
Illustrations by Dea Lenihan
     
Review by Author Roy Murry


This cute little story is one you want to introduce to your little ones. They will learn as the pillow develops. It grows by the numbers and meets many characters on its journey to fulfillment.

Using an easy to follow rhythm, David tells an unusual tale which can be repeated without boring a child. Dea's illustrations helps bring the story alive giving any child a delightful visual enhancement to David's words. 

Pillow arrives at its destination giving pleasure to its owner who found it in an unlikely situation - one of unused floundering in a flower bed; and we all know flowers don't need a pillows.

Delightful little book that will help your little ones learn about numbers and life.

The Eric Carle Museum of Storybook Art  recently has featured The Open Pillow.

LINK: http://amzn.to/1fpYOA1

David's interview: http://bit.ly/18rk6Yy

Interview of Douglas Wickard

Interview of Douglas Wickard

Author of A Perfect Setup

Questions: R. Murry

Can you tell me a little about yourself? I live in Los Angeles, I work a full time job in the hospitality industry, and I fit in my writing early in the morning, before the world wakes up so I won’t be disturbed. I live a pretty boring existence, actually. I love Mexican food with margaritas, of course, and like Sami, enjoy a nice vodka martini from time to time.

Do you remember the first story you wrote? Yes, I’ve often mentioned it before. I was twelve years old and Reader’s Digest had a writing competition called FIRST PERSON’S AWARD. It was an opportunity for readers to write about a particularly rough time they were going through in their lives.

Of course, with my wild imagination, I decided to write about my fictitious heroin addiction. At twelve! My sister, Karen typed up the manuscript so it appeared professional and we sent it out, fingers crossed. I didn’t win, but it sure showed me what an adrenalin rush fees like, as well as what the power of imagination can unleash with the written word.

Were you inspired by someone or something? I have a blog post entitled A DEDICATION TO TEACHERS. My 10^th grade English teacher, Patsy Grimm was that person for me. On my graduation day from High School, she presented me with a book, THE PROPHET. Inside she wrote a lovely letter, which is now framed and hanging above my writer’s desk, letting me know I would eventually come around to writing. Even though my mind was set on being a doctor at the time, I became a writer. Well, she was right! 

What do you like about writing a story? It’s freedom. The way a story unfolds. The relationship I develop with the characters from that first page until the last. It’s an amazing process.

Can you tell us about your book? A PERFECT SETUP is the sequel to A PERFECT HUSBAND. In my new Sami Saxton novel, I chose to make Sami more real.  My pitch is: Sami’s back, and this time it’s personal.  

After moving to the country house her deceased father built years ago and coming face-to-face with a serial killer, Sami moves back to the City. She is dealing with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and Agoraphobia from her experience. Then, the unthinkable occurs, her ex husband, Jerry, is taken into custody for the murder of a young woman found brutally murdered in a Midtown hotel.    

What genre best fits for the book?  Thriller; suspense; mystery.

Are you working on something new at the moment? I’m working on a new book called ENCOUNTER.  It is not a Sami Saxton novel, but a new series introducing FBI Agent Dan Hammer and Inspector Vanessa Sanchez from the SFPD. It is due for release on Halloween this year.

Do you have any tips for aspiring writers? Just do it! Go to the end. Don’t edit yourself during the creative process.

Where can people go to read your work? A PERFECT HUSBAND anywhere ebooks are sold and A PERFECT SETUP exclusively on Amazon.

Do you have anything to add? Thank you for this opportunity. I appreciate the support. Also, I send a big thank you to my readers.  

Review of Shadow of the Realm

Shadows of the Realm

Book 1 of The Circle of Talia

Written by Dionne Lister

Reviewed by Author Roy Murry

Ms. Lister has written a jewel of a young adult fantasy story for the reader who enjoys an adventure with imagination. The plot draws the reader in from the get go, by setting the ground work for a series a young reader will want to complete.

Our young protagonists are Bronwyn and Blayke. At the age of eighteen, they’re sent on separate paths towards their destiny by The Circle of Talia. Their antagonists are coming of age, again, from another realm, as our main characters are being mentored into becoming realmist. A spirit the reader will learn about as the story progresses.

The author has ingeniously interwoven morals and philosophy into the teachings of our young realmists. Bronwyn’s mentor Avruellen teaches her, paraphrased, ‘As you’ll come to realize over time…no amount of worrying will help to solve a problem for the better or the worst.’ Tidbits like this will get the reader thinking in the right direction.

After the tedious part of laying out the background of the story and the characters involved, Dionne Lister’s adventures takes off.  The reader, with the basic intro knowledge given, will be reading rapidly to see what next happenstance will develop.

This is Book 1 in the series The Circle of Talia. Ms. Lister will have the reader thinking and saying, “Don’t end now; not at this point, I want to know what will come next.”  And that is Book 2. 

The author has done her job. She has hooked the reader into her fantasy which he or she will want to continue, and they should to settle their restless minds. Otherwise, how will the reader know the end of the adventure? Buy the series to keep the flow going. It’s worth it.

Ms. Dionne Lister’s link:  www.dionnelisterwriter.com. 

Interview of Dionne Lister

Interview of Dionne Lister

Author of Shadows of the Realm

(The Circle of Talia)

Questions: R. Murry

Can you tell me a little about yourself? I was born in Australia to immigrant parents. My mum’s Italian, and my dad’s Greek. I live in Sydney with my husband and two children and enjoy playing competitive team sports.

Do you remember the first story you wrote? The first one I remember writing was a small book when I was about ten — The Silver Waters of Brumby Land. Brumbies are the wild horses in Australia. I still have it, and I illustrated it too. It’s funny to look back on because I always thought I got my horror streak from reading too much Stephen King as a teenager but in my first book, one of the horse characters slipped and fell and smashed his head on a rock. He died. Seems like it’s just my brain and I have no one else to blame lol.

Were you inspired by someone or something? No. I just wanted to be a writer because I loved writing and I enjoy the process so much.

What do you like about writing a story? Many things. I love the process of creating the story — putting the words on the page is incredibly fulfilling, and then I love reading it back and thinking “Where did that come from?” And of course, there is the joy of a stranger (or friend) reading your work and loving it.

Can you tell us about your book? I’ve written three books. The first one is Shadows of the Realm and the sequel A Time of Darkness, both in The Circle of Talia series. They’re young adult high fantasy and center around a group of realists — they draw and use power from the Second Realm. The two main characters, Bronwyn and Blayke, are learning as they go, having been forced to leave home. They’re eighteen and untried. Their daunting task is to learn as much about their Second Realm powers. As they can without getting killed and then band with the dragons, so they have a chance of defeating the gormons who are invading from the Third Realm (akin to hell) where they were banished from Talia (their world) over a thousand years ago. The gormons are angry and want blood; lots of blood.

The other book I have out is Dark Spaces, a book of suspenseful short stories set in the modern-day world.

What genre best fits for the book? Young adult epic or high fantasy is The Circle of Talia series, and Dark Spaces is thriller/suspense.

Are you working on something new at the moment? I’m working on a lot of things. I’m working on the final book in The Circle of Talia series, a standalone epic fantasy which is tentatively called Little Dove, a crime thriller. One which is comedy/women’s fiction which will be released under a pen name as it deals with things I’d rather not have associated with my young adult image.

Do you have any tips for aspiring writers? Write as much as you can, and if you can study writing, you will learn a few things a lot quicker than if you try to do it yourself (unless you are a freaky genius). Learn to take criticism — it can hurt to start with, but you get used to it, and if you listen to the people who are giving you good feedback, you will improve. No one’s work is perfect so be open to the fact that you need to keep working to get better.

Where can people go to read your work? I have a few short stories and the opening to Shadows of the Realm on my website www.dionnelisterwriter.com. You can also buy my books from all the usual places (where you can also read samples).

Do you have anything to add? If of your Australian readers are interested, I’m talking about self-publishing at The Sutherland Shire Writers Festival and the NSW Writers Centre in November and the Hunter Writers Centre at the end of October. For the US readers, I’m appearing at a book signing morning on 12^th October in Dallas (Texas). Twelve authors are getting together. We write in a wide range of genres, and we’ll be selling and signing paperbacks, so come down and see us at Half Price Books Dallas flagship store. And if you’re into speculative fiction, I co-host Club Fantasci — you can find us on Facebook and Goodreads or our website www.clubfantasci.wordpress.com. You can find me on Twitter @DionneLister if you’d like to say ‘Hi.'

Roy: Thanks so much for the interview! I’ve really enjoyed myself. Cheers, everyone J.