Empowered Book Excerpt!

Author Darlene Jones visits my blog and shares with us an excerpt from her book, Empowered.

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EMPOWERED excerpt

“Honey, can you talk to me? Please. Talk to me.”

The little girl stared straight ahead, eyes wide, unblinking. In all her years of teaching, Mrs. Craig had never encountered anything like this with a student—this … trance …?

“Sweetheart, come back. Come back.” She rubbed the child’s back; saw the flicker of an eyelid. Thank God. “Sweetheart?”

“Where are they?” the girl asked. She looked around the room and then at her teacher. “Where are they?”

“Who?”

“The babies.”

“What babies, sweetie?”

“The babies all in pieces.”

*

Jaz crawled out of bed. Three in the morning and she wouldn’t sleep now. She was seeing them again—the visions from her childhood. They’d been with her forever, tucked into a back corner of her mind, hovering over her protectively. Now why did she think of them as protective when they were mostly bloody and brutal and harsh and cruel? What happened in those visions was atrocious; she’d known that even as a child, so why hadn’t she been afraid then? Why wasn’t she afraid now? Why did she think of them as a safeguard, a shield? And a shield against what? Those babies in pieces … She shuddered, wrapped her arms around herself and paced.

God, she had to find him—the man she could share this with, the man who would help carry the burden, the man she’d been promised in those dreams.

Who was Jasmine in that other life? Why is she so sure she is invincible? Where will her beliefs lead?


Go to www.emandyves.com for more information and links to buy.

Editors – Who needs them?

Guest Post courtesy of Author Pete Abela:

With the advent of Ebooks, publishing a novel is easier than it’s ever been. There is the small task of writing the novel, but once that’s done you simply need to slap on a cover and upload it to Amazon or an equivalent site. The traditional role of an editor is seemingly no longer required. Or is it?

There is a Japanese proverb that says, “Better than a thousand days of diligent study is one day with a great teacher.”

I certainly found this to be the case when I wrote my novel, Wings. It took more than a year to write, although this included a period of nine months when it sat in the drawer, untouched and almost forgotten. When it was finished, I sent it to a publisher and prepared to wait.

I didn’t have to wait long.

“We like it,” replied the publisher within a week. “But it’s not of publishable standard yet. You can pitch it to other publishers if you like, but our recommendation would be to obtain a reader’s report.”

I took their advice and requested a reader’s report, which is a manuscript assessment by an accomplished editor. After six weeks, the report came back. It contained general comments about areas of weakness, as well as a specific example of where the weakness could be found in my manuscript. It was up to me to understand the comment and example and work out how to apply the feedback to the remainder of the manuscript.

The two major weaknesses were a lack of revelation of the character’s emotional response to major events and a scarcity of description about setting. They did observe that my natural writing style was lean and uncluttered, so they cautioned me against going too far with my descriptions and emotional responses. There were also some mechanical issues such as an over-reliance on “ly” adverbs and a passive writing style through the use of words such as “had”, “was” and “am”.

The reader’s report was an excellent initiative and assisted me to make the leap from “gifted amateur” to “polished professional.” The suggestions rang true and the fact that they used examples of my own writing to point out the areas for improvement helped me to grasp their suggestion and apply it to the rest of the novel. The fact that a publisher expressed interest in my work provided more than enough incentive for me to continue the process of refinement.

It took me a couple of months to rework the manuscript in accordance with the feedback. Within ten days of submitting Wings to Really Blue Books, I had an offer to publish. This was not the end of the editing process. My fantastic editor at Really Blue Books went through Wings line by line, identifying inconsistencies and weaknesses, and making numerous suggestions for improvements. None of the changes by themselves were large, but when put together, they have combined to make Wings immeasurably better than my first (and second) attempt.

In summary, professional editing help can be of great assistance in raising the standard of your novel and making it attractive to publishers. Despite the fact that Wings had been written to a high standard, the advice and feedback I have received from my editors has enabled me to raise the bar significantly. The Japanese proverb has proven true. The insights I have gained from my editors have been worth more than a thousand days diligent labour on my part, and I can now apply the learnings to my future novels. However, even with the learnings I have attained, I’ll still be looking for an editor when I’m ready to release my next book!

About Pete

Pete is a left-brained computer scientist whose love of reading propelled him to take up writing. Having surprised himself and those around him by getting Wings published, he is now revelling in the fun of dreaming up marketing and publicity stunts – tasks he never could have envisaged doing ten years ago. He continues to stretch the boundaries of his right hemisphere with his writing and is now working to complete a second novel.

His left brain hasn’t been totally neglected through this process. Pete still works as an IT Manager in order to help keep his wife and four kids fed and clothed. When he’s not working, reading, writing or enjoying the company of his family, Pete likes to sneak away for a bit of exercise – either tennis, soccer or a laborious run. Pete lives on the South Coast of New South Wales, Australia.

You can find more about Pete at his website and blog. The blog contains a number of really bad jokes. You have been warned.

Contacting Pete:
http://www.facebook.com/PeteAbela

Twitter: @PeteAbela

Website: http://www.peteabela.com

Blog: http://blog.peteabela.com

NEW RELEASE!

Pete's new book, Wings, is now available!

Synopsis:

"Wings" tells the story of Walt and his grandson Scott, who both have a fierce longing to fly albeit in vastly different circumstances. Walt - who grew up in the depression - found out first hand that becoming a pilot takes sacrifice and tenacity. When World War II broke out he pestered the RAF for eighteen months before they finally accepted him. Scott spent his childhood listening to tales of his Grandfather's aerial exploits and developed an intense craving to be a pilot. However, the number of people wanting to be a pilot vastly outweighs the limited opportunities on offer.

“Wings" weaves together two tales: one set in war-torn northern England, and the other set in the modern-day Illawarra region of New South Wales. As Scott progresses, his grandfather declines – Walt loses his wife, his sight and his hearing – but throughout these difficulties is still there to offer support and encouragement. With insights into the modern aviation scene and life in the Royal Air Force of World War II, this is a must for anyone who has an interest in history, aviation or simply an old fashioned love story.

You can purchase “Wings” directly from the publisher (www.reallybluebooks.com) or from Amazon (www.amazon.com).

My Review of Wings:

4 *'s!

I enjoyed this touching story of a grandfather and grandson, both lives intertwined through a passion they both shared: Their love of flying. Pete Abela's potrayal of Walt's life during the depression and the aviation history of the Royal Air Force during World War II was well thought out and cleanly written, as was the more modern era of Scott's story. Author Pete Abela has a very crisp and clean writing style that is consistently shown throughout the book. If you enjoy history and aviation, this is a good book to pick up!

On Tour With....

Kathleen Shoop!!

Author Kathleen Shoop is married with two children and has been seriously writing for almost a decade, though she dabbled much earlier than that. She's had short stories published in four Chicken Soup for the Soul books, is a regular contributor to a local magazine, Pittsburgh Parent, and has had essays in local newspapers as well.

She has a PhD in Reading Education and currently works as a Language Arts Coach at a school in Pittsburgh. She works with teachers and their students in grades k-8 and feels she's lucky to learn something new from them every time she walks through their doors.

Her first novel, The Last Letter (2011 IPPY Gold Medal--Regional Fiction, Midwest, 2011 Indie Excellence Finalist Award for Historical Fiction and Regional Fiction, 2011 International Book Awards Finalist for Historical Fiction and Best New Fiction), was a fascinating trip through history, punctuated with fictional characters and events. The idea for the story grew from her great-great grandmother's letters (see My Dear Frank for the complete set of letters!) written during the year of her engagement to Frank Arthur. The beautiful letters are the inspiration for the novel, the seed from which The Last Letter's characters and their voices grew.

She's also written women's fiction (COMING SOON!) and has written another historical fiction novel (COMING A LITTLE LATER!) set in 1948 in a town not far from Oakmont, PA.
She's considering revisiting her characters and setting of The Last Letter for a future book, but hopes readers will enjoy the fact that she writes about varied eras and places and that they will love each book for it's unique setting and time.

Synopsis for her newest book, After The Fog:

The sins of the mother…
In the steel town of Donora, Pennsylvania, site of the infamous 1948 “killing smog,” headstrong nurse Rose Pavlesic tends to her family and neighbors. Controlling and demanding, she’s created a life that reflects everything she missed growing up as an orphan. She’s even managed to keep her painful secrets hidden from her loving husband, dutiful children, and large extended family.

When a stagnant weather pattern traps poisonous mill gasses in the valley, neighbors grow sicker and Rose’s nursing obligations thrust her into conflict she never could have fathomed. Consequences from her past collide with her present life, making her once clear decisions as gray as the suffocating smog. As pressure mounts, Rose finds she’s not the only one harboring lies. When the deadly fog finally clears, the loss of trust and faith leaves the Pavlesic family—and the whole town—splintered and shocked. With her new perspective, can Rose finally forgive herself and let her family’s healing begin?

After the Fog can be found on AMAZON and Barnes & Noble

A Poopy Morning

Have you ever had someone snap on you for no apparent reason, over something insignificant? Ever had the thought "Jeez, I wonder who pissed in their Cheerios?" Or how about this, ever snapped back for the sole reason that "they started it"? This is an interesting era we live in, where people feel the old saying 'an eye for an eye' is standard practice rather that just a phrase. Our first instinct when someone is chewing our head off is to chew back, irregardless of what the issue is really about. Both parties feel they're right, end of story.

But what if it's not the 'end of story'? Let's back up the truck here a bit while I tell you a tale. One fine Spring morning our character, we'll call him Mr. X, woke up late for work by jumping out of bed and into a pile of dog poop. Nice way to start the morning, eh? But just wait, it gets even better.

Hopping on one foot to avoid getting dog poop on the carpeting, he hops into the master bathroom, stubbing his toe on the door joint. Switching feet, Mr. X is now hopping around on the tiled bathroom room howling in pain, poopy foot prints making an intricate pattern across the floor. Finally, he manages to take a seat on the toilet to assess the situation. Only his oldest son, Robbie, left the toilet seat up the evening before and Mr. X falls in.

With a soggy butt, poopy foot and stubbed toe, Mr. X climbs into the shower, jammies and all, to get cleaned up. Finally, he's dressed and downstairs for some coffee and breakfast. Except there's no bread to make toast or milk for cereal, and his wife brewed and drank the last of the coffee before she left for the day. Instead, Mr. X downs a glass of tap water and a saltine cracker before he heads out the door.

Climbing into his car, he puts the key in the ignition and turns it, only to find his car won't start. He'd left the headlights on all night and the battery was dead. Having no other options, he borrows his daughter's bright pink Jeep Wrangler. Mr. X is finally on his way to work and relishes the thought of stopping at the corner Starbucks to grab a cup of coffee before heading in to the office. A block from the office, his plans are derailed when he hits a traffic jam that takes twenty minutes to clear.

Now over an hour late for work, Mr. X finally arrives to the office. Taking the elevator up to the second floor, coffeeless and a slight dog poop odor still clinging, he waits while the doors slide open before stepping off into..............an empty office. It's then that it dawns on him. It's Saturday, his day off. The only person working today is Harry, the cleaning guy, who is shuffling down the hall towards him, towing his cart of cleaning supplies behind.

"Good day to you Mr. X, fancy seeing you here on a Saturday," he calls out, to which Mr. X curtly responds, "Good day my ass. Can you tell me what's so good about it?"
Not waiting for an answer, he turns on his heel and gets back into the elevator. Harry shakes his head, mumbling to himself, "Jeez, who pissed in his Cheerios?"

The moral of the story? The next time someone is irate and chewing your head off for no apparent reason, try and cut them some slack. They may have started out their day by stepping in dog poop.

On tour with.....

International Best Selling Author Beth Elisa Harris!!!

*Cue the Applause*

My dear author friend Beth Elisa has joined us on my blog to talk about her newest upcoming release: Soul Herder, book two of the VISION Trilogy. Stay tuned after Beth Elisa's Interview for my own personal review of Soul Herder.

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Q: Where did the idea come from for the VISION trilogy?

A: About ten years ago, we discovered some family history from Colonsay, an island off the coast of Scotland. We learned about our clan and others. From there my imagination took over. I’ve always been fascinated with the power of the sixth sense and human connection. The trilogy was because I needed the time to tell Layla’s story over a period of time and the spans large periods of time.

Q: SOUL HERDER, the second in the trilogy is set for release May 1. What can readers expect?

A: In VISION, readers are introduced to Layla, her family, her boyfriend and learn about her history. Her Clear abilities—the profound capacity to read thoughts and predict events through dreams—create danger and geo-political interest and bad things happen. She has a unique relationship with her mom and with a woman from Colonsay that blows the lid off life as she knows it. She discovers her connections and why she can no longer have a normal life. In SOUL HERDER, Layla is transformed. Without giving the story away, it’s a game-changer. Layla goes from isolated bookworm to a significant global citizen almost overnight. My hope is when readers finish SOUL HERDER they will recognize this is a story about transformation, connection, power, and fulfilling destiny. The geo-political component adds complex dimension but most important, Layla is not the same girl who left Portland the previous year. There is also tons of action in SOUL HERDER including an intense battle scene.

Q: What can we expect in the final book and is there a release date?

A: WRITTEN IN TIME will conclude the trilogy and go further back in history to unveil how Layla’s prophesy came to be. It will also reveal origins of the Bane revenge for power and land. ‘Nuff said! We are aiming for a release toward the end of the year. It’s ambitious—two in one year, but I have other projects I’m working on and I really want to have the full trilogy out there for readers why I turn my attention to other partially written books. As much as I love the story and characters, it will be time to say goodbye after the third and final. I am sure I will cry as I did with the others!

Q: Tell us about a typical day as an author.

A: First thing I do is check emails and social media to see if there are any hot or issues to tend. Then I either work on whatever book I’m writing, or I’m editing or formatting. I write well in the morning through noon, and prefer minimal conversing during that time. After that, I work on what seems most pressing. I don’t need inspiration or a particular place or a particular song playing to write. I don’t get writers block. I just need require time, and maybe some caffeine!

Q: What inspires you to tell stories?

A: Yikes! Well, when I was just learning to speak, my mom used to tell the story of how I would not leave her alone to use the restroom. She would hear me breathe under the door and I would beg her to let me in so I could tell her a story. So, the inclination started early. I am not sure where the inspiration comes from—people always ask me how I ‘come up with this stuff’ and I can only respond by saying ‘it just does.’ I can create a story around just about anything—the challenge is determining if that story can be expanded to a book and an interesting one people will want to read. I want interesting things to happen to my characters. I admire fearless story-telling, when authors go to a place others dare to tread. I can handle dark places, but give the reader something that is redeeming, that inspires or connects in some way. Otherwise, I think it’s a let-down and a negative experience. Fiction has the power to uplift and change people. I can finish a book and be a little sad, but I don’t want to be angry or feel the situation didn’t resolve well.

Q: What can we expect after the trilogy?

A: There are a few projects on the burner. One I started awhile back called FLYERS—about a young woman and others with the ability of flight. I am really excited about getting that published. I’m also working on a story about a mother who judges her daughter’s boyfriend based on appearance, and the fallout caused by her actions. Those are just two. It’s exciting!

Q: In your blogs, you talk a lot about the business of writing. Is being an author worth the time spent on the business side of the industry?

A: Ideally, I think most authors, if given a choice, would opt to write all day. The business side is unglamorous and requires a ton of daily attention, but it’s necessary to connect with readers, grow sales and promote your work. There is no way around it, unless you are not trying to make a name for yourself and earn a living. So, yes it’s worth the time and energy and effort, because selling books allows you to continue writing. It’s all connected.

Q: What is the most difficult part of the writing process for you?

A: Honestly, I agonize over every word, sentence and paragraph. I lay in bed re-phrasing something I’ve written and can’t relax until I’ve made the change or at least jotted it down so I remember. There are countless ways to say something. Then I consider how the character speaks. Is it true to their speech pattern and vocabulary. When you write a series, the voices become second nature because you know the characters well. In the VISION trilogy, Layla grows, matures and changes through the books, so her voice evolves. Stuart, on the other hand, is steadfast, although in SOUL HERDER we see more of his thick dialect influenced by years of living in proper times!

Connect with Beth Elisa Harris:

Amazon
Website
Blog
Facebook
https://twitter.com/Bethelisaharris
Goodreads

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My Review of SOUL HERDER:

A 5 Star Read!!

Beth Elisa Harris's Soul Herder is an excellent addition to the Vision Trilogy. We pick up where book one has left off with star crossed lovers Layla and Stuart who are facing a whole new array of challenges. The Bane are on the hunt for Layla and she's been whisked off to exoctic Morrocco, though without her true love by her side as Stuart has his own ghosts from the pasts to deal with. This book takes us on a journey of Layla dealing with Stuart's past, coming into her own right as a Clear and realizing her importance in the fight against the Bane. Love, battle and death surround this story that leaves you wanting for more. A sample of the third installment in the Vision Trilogy follows at the end of the book and promises to bring with it a climatic ending for the series. An excellent young adult series to follow, I'll be looking forward to the third and final installment!

On Tour With.....

Bonnie Trachtenberg!

I sat down with friend and co-volunteer at the World Literary Cafe, Bonnie Trachtenberg, and chatted about life in general and her newest book,

Neurotically  Yours!!

Where are you originally from?

I was born in the Bronx and raised in a suburb of New York City.

What inspired you to become a writer?

My enthrallment with wonderful, inventive stories by great authors and screenwriters inspired me to tell my own. I’ve always had an active imagination and I excelled in the subjects of English, writing, and literature so it was as natural as breathing for me to go in this direction.

How did you decide on your book's genre?

It wasn’t even a decision. I was born to write romantic comedies. I found writing both of my books this way to be an organic process.

What is/are your favorite genre(s)?

Romantic comedy has always been my favorite genre to read and to watch in movie form. I absolutely love great romances, especially when told with charm and humor. Needless to say, Nora Ephron is a heroine of mine. Making people laugh has always been so important to me perhaps because of my immense appreciate for others who have made me laugh. Life can be hard. Comic relief makes it bearable!

Are you currently reading anything?

Yes, I tend to have one novel and one metaphysically related book on my nightstand (or my Kindle) at a time. Right now, I’m reading Moonlight on the Nantahala by Micheal Rivers and After Here by Elizabeth Maxim, Ph.D. Of course I occasionally mix in a good nonfiction book, too.

Who or what is the driving force that keeps you going?

The inexplicable force that keeps me writing is some sort of internal urge that I’ve never been able to quell for long (despite many efforts in the past). I tried to ditch it for such unlikely career choices as lawyer (I had a panic attack and walked out of the LSAT) and FBI agent (Note: Girlie-girls need not apply) Now, I just think of Gene Kelly in Singin’ in the Rain when he belts out “Gotta Dance.” In my case, it’s gotta write! It’s become so second nature to me and defines me in so many ways that I can’t even imagine not writing.

How do you balance your personal life with your writing career?

Not extremely well, I’m afraid. Writing and marketing my book just seem to overpower my life now. In between those long hours I run out to dinner with my husband or plop onto the bed to read, watch a favorite television show, or meditate. If I accept an invitation to a party or event, I make sure I get a lot of work in beforehand so I can go with a clear head and enjoy myself. If I plan a weekend away I tend to feel panicky knowing that I’m not accomplishing on the work front and will most likely return to a very long list of emails. It’s hard to relax knowing that.

Tell us about your book.

I’m very excited to have just released my second novel, Neurotically Yours. It’s the story of Dara Harrison, a single, tell-it-like-is advice columnist in Los Angeles. Dara decides to open up a very unusual new dating service geared for perennially single, romantically challenged people who want to figure out what they’ve been doing wrong all their lives. At MateSearch, clients are encouraged to divulge everything about themselves, warts and all, in hopes of attracting true love. They are also asked to post reviews of their dates, which of course gets Dara into all sorts of trouble! With her company threatened and a publicity stunt gone haywire, Dara is forced to join the ranks of her lonely heart clientele and finds that saving her business means finally facing her lifelong fear of falling in love.

How do you create your characters?

I start out with a seed of a person, infuse them with opinions, emotions, attitude, and desires and somehow they come to three dimensional life in my head. Then I really flush them out with dialogue, which I consider a strong suit.

Do you have any upcoming events or book promotions?

I’m in the throes of a month long blog tour and details can be found on my blog:

http://www.BonnieTrachtenberg.com/bonnies-blog

Where can people find you and your work on the web?

Read all about me and my books on my website:

http://www.BonnieTrachtenberg.com

Read my relationship column at:

http://loveahappyending.com/editor-bonnie-trachtenberg/

Find me on Facebook:

http://www.Facebook.com/BonnieTrachtenberg

Follow me on Twitter:

http://twitter.com/#!/writebrainedny

Interview with April O'Brien

"April was here" is my auto autobiography yet reads like the best novel ever. Action adventure, survival, thriller and all that a gripping read needs to be.

I am originally from a small, small town that is now a legal ghost town called picher, Oklahoma, the population was about 500 until it was boarded up and marked as one of the most toxic places in the world. I have lived in almost every state but now make my home in the mountains above Denver, Co.

My unbelievable life is what caused me to start writing. I survived and lived this life for the specific reason to write about it. Then I found that writing came naturally to me. I am a story teller at heart and write in more than one genre. Even when I read one of my books I get lost in them, forget I wrote them and can't put them down. I also didn't have a TelivisiTelevisionild so books were my escape.

I was determined to get my story out so the world would know, so this book "April was here" picked the genre for me. My next two books I chose the genres because they are what I love to read. "It doesn't get dark until midnight" is the story of survival in the Alaskan wilderness with a young woman as the heroin. Lions and tigers and bears oh my, and of course horses. "Enter (at your own risk)" is a psychological thriller in the Dean Koontz or Steven King style. it isn't what you may think, it will stop you from ever entering another contest again.

Reading is a luxury now as I must spend so much time writing, rewriting and writing some more. I love any book that grabs me, makes me sad when I have to put it down and has an ending that leaves me wanting more.

I had someone say to me once "April, I don't know how you have survived your life." I looked at them and said "I didn't know I had a choice." I live to write and I learn from each experience. I wouldm't be wouldn't today without all of the yesterdays. No regrets, just memories to make, keep and share.

Writing and all that goes with it is my life. I fit everything else in around it. A writer writes, edits, promotes, does signings, writes some more and makes dinner somewhere in between. I am also fortunate to have a husband that is very supportive and understanding.


This book is such an unusual book. It's hard to explain it. The story is so hard to believe that some people think it's not true, but I assure you every word of it is. This is a book of survival by a young girl from her childhood through her young adult life. It is full of heart wrenching abuse, unreal and constant events that are jaw dropping. This book grabs the reader and leaves them with their mouths open. It is truly unforgettable. It is so full that reading it is the only way to catagorize it. categorize 5 books in one.

In this book the characters are real so I didn't have to create them. In my other books the charactures creacharacters.createite as if I am watching a movie. I said to a friend once that I was sending a few chapters at a time to as I finished them, "Wasn't it neat when such and such happened? I bet you didn't expect that." She wrote back, 'April, you are so funny, you act like you didn't know that was going to happen." It was hard for me to understand her because i didn't know what was happining until happeninged. That is just the way I write, I start with one sentance and the sentence then write themselves. Now, if only they would edit themselves. :) I am ambivilant about admitting this but I only completed the eighth grade. I am a story teller, not an english major.

English
I will do another free promotion on Amazon Kindle so watch for that and get my books free when you get the chance. I also am doing this interview so more people can learn about me and my books. I love doing book signings but can only reach people in small quantity that way. I find that the internet is the way of future for all writers.


You can check my books on Amazon.com and search inside all of them before you decide if they are right for you as a reader. Just look under April O'Brien or under the title of each book. You can also check out my books at Independant author network http://bit.ly/pLjWGK or at my website http://aprilsworld.com there you can learn much about me and my life, my books and find all the ways to connect to me on twitter, facebook and otherface social media.

Thank each of you that took the time to read this interview, I hope it allowed you to learn a little about me and my books and a big thank you to Amy for being willing to interview me.


April O'Brien

Author Interview with....

Richard Stephenson!

I sat down with Author Richard Stephenson and learned about what makes him tick as a writer and his Science Fiction Thriller, Collapse.

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Where are you originally from? 

I grew up in the North Texas area in the suburbs of Dallas.

What inspired you to become a writer?

I have been a voracious reader since I learned how to read.  I have been in law enforcement for the last fifteen years and have to right reports various memorandums detailing a wide variety of things.  My writing skills have always impressed my supervisors and co-workers.  I just sat down one day and starting sketching out an outline to my first book.  A week later I started Chapter One and have been writing like mad for the last two months.

What is/are your favorite genre(s)?

A little of everything I imagine.  If I had to narrow it down, I would say Science Fiction, Espionage, Thrillers, and most of all Dystopian/Post-Apocalyptic

Are you currently reading anything? 

Kill Shot, by Vince Flynn

 Who or what is the driving force that keeps you  going? 

Keeps me going in life or keeps me going in writing?  My wife and children are the driving force that keeps me going.  I'm not kidding, if I were single with no kids, I would either be a hermit living on top of a mountain, or that crazy homeless guy outside the library shouting conspiracy theories and stealing books to read.;

 How do you balance your personal life with writing? 

Well, being in law enforcement I have never enjoyed the typical Mon to Fri 9a-5p job. My "weekend" is usually in the middle of the week.  I have an empty house while my wife is at work and the kids are at school.  Can't ask for a better writing environment.

Tell us about your book.  

Collapse is set fifteen years in the future.  Our country is falling apart.  The Second Great Depression is crushing the spirit of a nation.  The Middle East has united into one terrifying army of jihadist warriors.  The most powerful hurricane on record has destroyed most of Florida.  Basically, really, really bad stuff is going on.  The book centers around three men, all from different walks of life, and how they manage to survive on their own.  In the end, they band together to hopefully save the country.

What made you decide to write your book? 

I have always been a sucker for disaster movies and end of the world type of stuff.  Not because of the science fiction aspect of it or the edge of your seat action.  Its much more than that.  I have always been fascinated with the survival aspect of it.  How ordinary, unremarkable people are truly tested in the face of destruction and find out exactly what they are made of.  If you take away all of our comforts, our fast food, our addiction to the internet, what would happen?  How fast would we descend into chaos?  Four years ago our region was hit with a category three hurricane.  Working in law enforcement, I had to send my family to stay with friends and I had to stay behind because of my job.  After the storm passed, we went at least sixteen hours completely cut off from the rest of the world.  No cell phones, no internet, no radio stations on the dial, no cable tv, no broadcast tv, absolutely no communication of any kind outside of building a fire for smoke signals.  When I say nothing, I mean NOTHING.  I remember thinking that aliens could have landed on the White House lawn and we'd have been none the wiser.  We were completely and totally on our own.  It was then that I imagined an entire country living like that.  It was terrifying.

Do you have any upcoming events or book  promotions? 

I have a sneak peek of the first seven chapters available for free available on my website.

Where can people find you and your work on the  web? 

      www.stephensonpowerspub.com

      www.facebook.com/CollapseTheNovel

      www.twitter.com/CollapseNovel

      collapsethenovel@gmail.com

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Be sure to check out Richard Stephenson's Website and catch a

sneak peek of the first seven chapters of Collapse!

SNEAK PEAK