Growing Up Skinny

‎"I'm not as thin as I used to be, but I look like the woman I'm supposed to be."

I recently updated my profile picture on Facebook, and in staring at it I realized a couple of things. Number one, I’m definitely not the girl I used to be, ie I’ve “grown” quite a bit over the years. And number two, I’m Ok with that.

I used to have a complex when it came to my weight, stemming from being the skinny girl in high school everyone always picked on. Yes, I was actually picked on for being skinny, can you imagine! In addition to being called an Ethiopian poster child, my best friend happened to be larger in size than me and everyone called us Pork and Beans. Around eighth grade a nasty rumor was started that we were lesbians together, and being that we went to a small country school where our graduating class was 54 students, the rumor stuck for a number of years afterwards. It was the most horrible time in my life between breaking up my friendship with my best friend since kindergarten, screening prank phone calls at home and avoiding eye contact with anyone at school for fear of being made fun of. In my earlier blog post about Bullying, I mentioned kids could be cruel. For anyone who has ever been picked on you can understand how I still bear the scars from those tender days.

The interesting thing is, when I got out of high school and got older, I unknowingly made keeping myself thin as important as breathing. Luckily, I always had a fast metabolism so I was always able to eat anything I wanted and could burn the calories off later. And then I had children.

Children have an interesting way of turning your body (and viewpoints) completely around. My children changed me, and for the better. I became less conscious about trying to stay thin and instead turned my focus on being the best mom I could be.

Today I’m pleased to say I no longer worry about my weight (other than doing occasional sit ups to keep that body fat from becoming a muffin top) and keep my focus on the more important things in my life; My husband and children, my writing, family and friends. It took me many years to overcome the shadows of my past to become the person I am today, but in the end, it was a journey well worth the effort.

Time To Take A Stand......

Against (Cyber)Bullying

By Amy Manemann

Wikipedia defines Cyberbullying as the use of the Internet and related technologies to harm other people, in a deliberate, repeated and hostile manner. I recently had a friend who was the victim of intense cyberbullying, and upon reading this statement I was struck by the senselessness of it all. Why would people want to willingly treat others this way? I mean seriously, whatever happened to the Golden Rule? 

My friend has been verbally abused, both personally and professionally, and though she has tried to make amends to remedy the situation on a more neutral ground, the bullying continues. Why? What possible purpose does it serve to completely trash another person like that?

The why’s of it I’m sure we’ll never truly know (though I have my suspicions jealousy plays a strong role) The entire situation brought me to the realization that we as adults set the ground rules for our children, and if this is the way WE are going to act online, what makes us think our children won’t follow suit?

Bullying of any kind is not Okay in my book. I live in a community where teenage suicide is on the rise. One of the main causes? Bullying. Come on people! I don’t expect everyone to hold hands around the campfire and sing Kum-ba-ya (despite being a writer, I do sometimes live in the real world and know that’s just not going to happen).

What I am suggesting is that maybe, just maybe, we take a step back and realize those hurtful words we say or mean things that we do can really hurt someone. You can’t take what you say and do back, once you throw it out there, it’s there to stay. The sad fact of the matter is, when you hurt someone like that, those are wounds that leave a scar for a long time to come. Take it from a girl who was picked on in school for being so skinny. I still have a bit of a complex when it comes to my weight.

Kids can be mean, it’s a plain and simple fact. But adults can be meaner. Why? Because we know better. We know what it means to be hurt and hurt others, and sometimes, we just don’t care. That’s the truth of it, cut and dried. So before you jump on a person trashing band wagon and make it your mission to bring someone down a notch, please keep in mind; the upward trend of Cyberbullying and bullying of any form CAN be stopped, the choice is up to you. Are you strong enough to take a stand?



Sneak Preview of For Keeps!!

WELCOME to Aaron Lazaar!

Here's a sneak peak of his newly released  book, For Keeps.

Chapter One 

      “Murdered?” Sam juggled four pots of yellow daylilies in his arms, squeezing the cell phone between his shoulder and ear. “Where? And why in world do you need me?”
      Lou sighed. “I told you. The Twin Sisters Inn. And I can’t say over the phone, I just need your…expertise.”
      My expertise? Sam had practiced family medicine in East Goodland, New York for over thirty years, but couldn’t imagine how treating runny noses and chicken pox qualified him to help with a murder. And why was Lou being so damned secretive about the whole thing?
      “Hold on a sec, Lou.” He dropped the flowerpots on the counter and barely caught them before they toppled. Flashing the clerk an apologetic smile, he swept the spilled dirt into a pile and mumbled into the phone. “I’m at Palmiter’s. Just checking out.” 
      Lou groaned. “Why am I not surprised? Since you retired, that’s all you’ve done. Flowers and more flowers. Holy Mother Mary. Don’t you get sick of it? Or are you trying to get your place on the Home and Garden network?”
      Sam slid the plants toward the clerk. “You’re just jealous.”
      “Damn right I am. I can’t retire for another coupla years. Remember, I was two years behind you in med school.”
      “Just because I’m retired doesn’t mean I’ve lost my marbles. Of course I remember.” Sam thought back to the coroner when she was a student at the University of Rochester. Short strawberry blond hair, willowy figure, high cheekbones, and a ready smile. Aside from her gray hair, Louise Reardon hadn’t changed much after forty years and five kids. Except she was a hell of a lot pushier.
      The freckled teen behind the counter looked bored. “That’ll be fourteen ninety-two.” 
      Sam dug out fifteen bucks and paid her. “Thanks. Keep the change.” 
      She raised her eyebrows as if she couldn’t believe he’d actually try to tip her with eight lousy cents. “Gee. Thanks, mister.”
      He shrugged, loaded his plants into a green wagon, and pulled it toward the Highlander. He’d bought enough plants here to put all their kids through college. Anyway, who tipped sales clerks? “Lou? You still there? I’m almost at the car.”
      “I’m here.” She let loose another frustrated sigh. “How long ‘til you get here?”
      Sam loaded his plants in the back, got in, and turned the key. The SUV purred to life. “Not long. I’m putting you on speaker. Just a sec.”  He slid the phone into his breast pocket and backed out of the parking spot. None of those new-fangled blue tooth gadgets for him. It was hard enough to keep up with cell phones, laptops, iPods, and every new device that came out each year. “On my way.”
      “Geez. Finally. Watch out for the news vultures when you get here, though. They’re everywhere.”
      “Will do. Be there in a few.”
      He hung up and pushed his silver forelock back from his forehead. Shouldering his way through a pack of hungry journalists to view a dead body had not been in today’s plans. Today was supposed to be devoted to gardening, to feeding his insatiable need to dig in rich loam while the sun warmed his back. If Lou weren’t such a good friend, he’d have blown her off.
      Turning south on Route 39, he imagined the ribbing he’d get if she knew about his aversion to cadavers. A doctor? Afraid of bodies?
      He’d dealt with dead people before, but not a great deal. Med school, of course. He’d barfed his way through that ordeal. And when Mrs. Tupple had died in her bed ten years ago, he’d gone to the house at Mr. Tupple’s request. Reluctantly. But he’d gone. The most recent experience had been last fall, at his brother’s funeral.
      Well, it hadn’t really been a body…it was Billy’s bones, bones pinned underwater for fifty years. Submerged with heavy stones deposited by Sam’s three best friends. Billy’s disappearance had remained a mystery, until it was finally revealed last year. When things happened. Things he couldn’t explain to anyone, except Rachel. He couldn’t even tell her the whole story. But Billy connecting with him from beyond and helped him get to the truth.
      A familiar sadness took hold, and as if in response, Billy’s green marble hummed and warmed in his pocket. His brother’s face floated across his mind’s eye. Freckles. Clear hazel eyes. Sandy hair. Impish smile.
      Billy wanted to talk.
      Not now. I can’t. Later, buddy. He thought the words in his head, knowing Billy could hear him if he said them out loud or imagined them.
      Sam turned left at the Mobil Station on the corner of Main Street and Route 20A and headed for the historic brick building housing The Twin Sisters Inn. Willing the marble to be quiet, he forced himself to think of what lay ahead.
      A murder victim? Why the heck did Lou need his help? It didn’t make any sense, but in spite of his reservations, a trickle of excitement ran down his spine.
      News vans and squad cars jammed the lot. He parked on the side of the road and headed toward the building. The marble pulsed twice, then grew cold.
      Was it a warning?
      The green glass talisman had linked Sam to Billy since he unearthed it in his garden last year. He’d learned to respect it, and through it, Billy’s interventions had helped with a number of sticky situations. He’d saved the life of his friend, Senator Bruce McDonald, after the sudden collapse of Healey’s Cave. And more important, he’d found his daughter, Beth, after she’d been kidnapped.
      He locked his car and headed toward the building, skirting around vehicles and people. He brushed against the back of a policeman when several news reporters pushed past him. The officer swung his head around and stared.
      “Er. Sorry.” He smiled at the patrolman and kept going.
      If they had any idea. If they knew I talked to Billy, traveled back in time with him… A lace dragged from his shoe, threatening to trip him. He stopped to tie it. If they knew, they’d put me back in the asylum, just like they did when I was twelve.
      A chill stole over him. Memories of the day Billy disappeared assaulted him. Billy, on his brand new bicycle, driving down the road, never to return. Guilt coiled in his stomach. He’d answered a phone call from a damned girl, instead of following his brother on the bike ride like he’d promised. He’d never forgive himself for that.
      That moment had been the end of life as he knew it, and the beginning of his tortured life to come. The insane asylum had been the worst, though. He hated to remember the way they talked to him, the stupid pills they’d made him take that doped him up, and the disgusting smell of antiseptic that had followed him everywhere, even seeped onto his pillowcase at night. He shuddered and tried to put it out of his mind. Best to forget it and see what the hell Lou wanted.

      Chapter Two 

      Lou hailed him from the front steps. “Over here, Doctor Moore.” 
      She said it loud enough to discourage the eager journalists who craned their heads to see if he was anyone they cared about. When they realized he wasn’t a detective, they lost interest and swarmed toward the police chief’s car that just pulled in behind Sam’s SUV.
      Lou took his arm and steered him inside. The inn boasted antiques and wide plank floorboards. Inside the door, a pine bench with a stenciled backboard lined the wall; an old-fashioned pie cabinet anchored the opposite wall beside a mahogany sideboard, on which an essential oils diffuser sat, filling the air with the scent of balsam. Sam breathed it in, relieved it wasn’t one of those chemical smelling, fake candles. It bolstered his spirits and reminded him of the deep woods in the Adirondacks. He was damned sure it smelled a hell of a lot better than what he’d find upstairs in the crime scene.
      Mary and Alice Peterson, the inn owners and former patients of his, had been encouraging him to investigate the oils for years, and he’d meant to, but had been too swamped with patients to check them out. He’d always regretted that, and had resolved to do some research in his retirement that might help merge traditional approaches with those steeped in Eastern medicine. Time would tell if he could fit it in between the gardening, babysitting, and spending time with Rachel. She needed more care now that her MS had worsened, but he was up to the challenge. It was one of the reasons he’d retired a little early.
       He shuffled after Lou. Tin chandeliers hung over a long trestle table, decorated with dried crabapples and fresh flowers. The twins reportedly served scrumptious breakfasts to guests at that table, and he’d been invited more than a few times to partake of their homemade breads, jams, and other goodies. Again, he’d had to decline his patients’  generous invitations. There just hadn’t been enough hours in the day to socialize and run his practice. But now that he was retired, he wanted to find time for more of that kind of thing.
      A policeman sat in the corner, interviewing the hotel owners. Alice’s hands shook when she took a pen from the officer to sign a statement, and her complexion seemed unusually pale. Sam wondered if her blood sugar was low. She’d been his patient forever. He started toward her with concern, but Lou grabbed his sleeve.
      “Come on, it’s this way.”
      “But Alice—”
      “For crying out loud, you’re retired now. She’s not your patient anymore, Sam. It’s not your job. Come on.”
      Sam dug in his heels. He shook his arm loose and spun around. “Alice. Are you feeling okay?” 
      Alice’s face lit up. “Oh, Doc! I’m so glad you’re here. It’s awful. Just awful. A woman was killed in the Maple Nut room!”
      Mary put an arm around her sister’s shoulders. “She’s shook up, Doc.”
      Sam felt her pulse. “I think she’s more than shook up. Let’s get her some orange juice. She needs something to get her sugar back up.”
      “I’m fine, Doc. Just a little light-headed.”
      When Mary brought the juice, he sat while she drank it, sputtering the whole time about not needing such a fuss made over her. He waited another ten minutes, making small talk, while Lou fumed. When he was sure she seemed stable, he turned to Lou. “Okay. I’m ready.”
      Lou blew up a lock of her gray bangs and made a face. “Geez, Sam. You’ll never be able to leave it alone, will you?”
      “It’s not like I died when I retired. Alice has been my patient since I started my practice. I couldn’t just walk past her, for God’s sake. I’m not a monster.” He followed Lou up the stairs to the second floor, ticked off now. Did being a coroner make you callous toward the living? He shook his head, mulling it over while they threaded around police, through a carpeted hallway, and into a room already marked with yellow tape. The room crawled with technicians.
      Lou spoke through tight lips. “Just be careful not to touch anything.” 
      Sam nodded and followed her across the suite, around a coffee table, past a fireplace, and into a bedroom.
      “She’s in the bathroom,” Lou said. “You’ll have to stand in the doorway to see. They’re still taking photos of the blood spatter.”
      Blood spatter.
      Sam’s insides churned. There was a reason he didn’t become an emergency room doctor. And blood spatter had a lot to do with it. He took a deep breath and forced himself to focus.
      Inside the black and pink bathroom, a woman lay on her side, facing away. A three-foot long gray braid curled behind her on the floor, fastened at the top and bottom with elastic bands and fake daisies. She had been slim, and wore a silky Japanese dressing gown, covered with pink and black dragons that matched the floor tiles. Three technicians crowded around the body. Camera flashes blinded Sam as he tried to absorb the scene.
      Lou whispered in his ear. “She was hit from behind with that phone.”
      An old-fashioned beige rotary phone perched on the edge of the tub. Red smudges stained its edges. Blood soiled the back of the woman’s head and neck and splashed about the room on the walls and floor. A particularly large spot smeared the pink shower curtain. He felt sick and hoped he wouldn’t lose it in front of all these professionals.
      Lou leaned on his shoulder to look past him at the body. “Looks like it happened last night, sometime between midnight and four. We think she let him in, recognized him, since there was no sign of forced entry. The sisters didn’t see anything. Lights are out at ten, but guests are free to admit family or friends whenever they like.”
      One well-toned leg extended back from her body, with toes pointed toward the sink. An anklet glistened in the light of the camera flashes. Four silver stars marched around her slim ankle, separated by black pearls.
      A technician lifted the hem of the dead woman’s gown to reveal a vivid pentagram tattoo, circled with black roses. The photographer shot it from all angles.
      Sam caught a glimpse of painted pink toenails. One hand, nails unpolished, rested on the cold tile, as if the victim was ready to push herself into a sitting position. A bottle of nail polish had spilled on the floor by the tub.
      “She never saw it coming,” Lou said. The skinny, bald technician looked up and nodded as if he agreed, then went back to work dusting the edges of the phone and tub.
      “Maybe we should let these gentlemen finish their jobs,” Sam said. He backed up into the bedroom. “And I still don’t get—”
      Lou shushed him with steely eyes. “Wait. Just wait a minute, for God’s sake.”
      She’d been testy with him since she called, and he was starting to get sick of it. He’d come here to help her. He’d much rather be in his garden, or better yet, having lunch with Rachel.
      In ten minutes, the room cleared. One of the techs nodded to Lou on the way out. “She’s all yours, Doc. Let us know if you need anything.” 
      “Thanks.” Lou shot him a grim smile and motioned for Sam to follow her to the nightstand.
      “Look at this.” She flipped through the white pages using the eraser end of a yellow pencil. “There. There it is. The book was opened to this page when they found her.”
      Sam stared at the circled entry. “Are you sure she did this?”
      Lou shook her head. “No. But it’s pretty damned likely.”
      The name and address circled shouted at him. Dr. Samuel J. and Rachel S. Moore. 5125 Maple Beach Road. East Goodland, New York.
      Sam stared at the phone book, then glanced around the room. It was tidy, as if the occupant had just arrived. The suitcase lay unpacked and opened on a stand near the television. “Am I a suspect?” 
      “Hell, no. I just want to see if you knew her. I didn’t exactly broadcast the information to the police.” She gestured to the phone book. “I wanted to show you first. I’m not sure if they picked up on it.”
      “Thanks, Lou.” The last thing he needed was to be part of a murder investigation. He thought back to last night. He didn’t even have a good alibi—Rachel had fallen asleep early, and he’d read until he’d drifted off.
      He leaned over and looked at the books on the nightstand. Standard fare. The newest Dean Koontz novel and a women’s magazine.
      “According to the detective, the ID she gave at the front desk comes up bogus in the system, and her purse is missing. If she carried one, that is. No wallet, no identifying papers.” Lou’s voice softened. “You ready to see if you recognize her?” 
      Sam squared his shoulders and nodded, feeling less confident than he sounded. “Sure. But what makes you think I’ll know her? Maybe she was just looking for a local doctor.”
      They walked toward the bathroom. “Maybe.” Lou led the way. She crouched beside the victim and carefully rolled her onto her back. “But take a look anyway.”

Meet Erin Zarro!

Author Erin Zarro stops by to talk about her love of writing, her thoughts on the current market, and her book, Fey Touched.

~*~*~ 

AM: What inspired you to become a writer?

EZ: I think I've always been meant to be a writer.  I've always told stories -- from the time I was little until now, at the ripe old age of 36. ;)  I can remember clearly being eleven years old and telling anyone who'd listen that I wanted to be a writer when I grew up.  It was my ever-realistic, practical parents who suggested I have a job so I didn't starve while I was trying to get published.  They were right.  ;) I love words, I love imagery, I love making up people in my head.  My characters grow and evolve like real people and they tell me their stories.  How can I deny them?

Also, I love to touch someone through the written word, which is why I write poetry, as well.  It's like one perfect moment of connection between me and the reader.  I love that, and I suspect I always will.

And the fact that I taught myself to type when I was seven may have had something to do with it (it was an old Smith Corona typewriter that was my grandmother's.)

Other than writing, is there anything else you'd rather be doing?

No, nothing.  Just kidding.  Um...I love to read.  I also have few TV shows I'm addicted to.  I also enjoy fine art photography, which is my second love.

When did you get serious  about writing?

I've always been serious about writing, but I didn't do anything about it until I was unemployed and bored out of my mind in 2001.  That was my first real, adult attempt at novel writing.  It didn't go so well.  After I found a job and got married, I let the writing thing go for while.  Then, in 2003, I discovered National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) and I remembered that novel I tried to write.  I wrote (and finished) my first novel, called The Sacrifice.  And that was it -- I was passionately, totally in love with writing.  I was addicted to it.  In 2008, I was working towards finding an agent, and then last year, I decided to self-publish through Turtleduck Press (a writer's alliance I belong to.  We seek to publish works that are not as commercial, but are still of top quality).  So I guess you could say I've been serious all along, but came at it from different angles.

What is your viewpoint of the current trends going on in the publishing world?

I think that indie publishing will get even bigger as more and more writers decide to cut out the middleman and bring their work directly to the readers.  I have nothing against agents; however, I no longer believe that is the One True Path.  Writers of today have more opportunities than those in the past.  I think we'll see a lot more innovation and awesome, kick-ass books as we go, books that may not have been published if indie publishing hadn't gotten big. 

As for trends...I see a lot of YA dystopian going on (a la The Hunger Games) and vampires seem to be on their way out (in fact, Fey Touched came about because of that -- the first draft, which was The Sacrifice, was a vampire novel.  I wanted to change it, to get away from the vampire trend, and that's when I came up with the idea of Fey based in science instead of myth.)  I love vampire novels, though, and hope to continue seeing them, even if there are fewer. 

How has that affected how you went about publishing?

In 2008, I never would have thought of self-publishing.  Back then, it was not considered a good thing.  You found an agent, you got a contract, and that's how it was done.  But I've seen a lot of writers be successful at indie publishing, especially a very good friend of mine (SM Reine).  Now it's more accepted.  Fey Touched was actually -- and still is -- a bit of an experiment for me.  I wanted to see what I could do with it as an indie book.  I don't believe I would be able to get an agent -- or a traditional publishing contract for it.  It's just too different (and that's why Turtleduck Press exists -- to fill that gap).

You’ve recently published your first book, Fey Touched. Have you been pleased  with your results?

Not to sound like a dork here, but I've sold roughly ten Kindle editions so far, ten more than I thought I would sell.  Seriously -- I wasn't expecting big sales or bestseller status.  And this is very new to me.  I've never had to promote a book or myself, and it's been...pretty thrilling.  I'd be even more thrilled with more sales, but it's not about money.  As long as people are reading it, I consider this experiment a success.  I've also met a lot of great people and feel very humbled and lucky to have had the support I've had.

Please, tell us about Fey Touched.

Fey Touched is a blend of science fiction and fantasy.  It features the Fey -- genetically engineered humans who are immortal and feed on human souls (because when the scientists created the Fey, they failed to replicate the human soul, and the soul is needed for the person to survive).  The Fey are organized in Clans, with a Breeding Queen the ruler and, well, breeder.  Our main character, Asha, is running from her Clan because she does not want to be a breeder.  She wants to find love...and finds it in the most unlikely place..

There are also Hunters, called Fey Touched, because they have a bit of Fey genes in them so they can hunt them effectively.  They hunt rogue Fey, who kill humans for their souls (or mana, as it's called in the book).  There's a Hunter who falls for his enemy (guess who?) and another Hunter who is searching for her long-lost sister by time travel.  Time travel, in the world of Fey Touched, is made possible by virtual reality and a highly-addictive drug called faerie dust.  Naturally, the Hunter gets addicted to the drug and then must save her fellow Hunters from a mysterious illness that's killing them.

I really, really enjoyed writing Fey Touched and enjoyed weaving the three main characters' stories together.  It was amazing, and I'm so happy to be sharing it with the world.

Is there anything else you'd like to add before we wrap things up?

Buy my book!  (Just kidding).  Seriously, I'd love to hear from my readers, or even potential readers, so don't be afraid to email me.  I'm also currently looking for reviewers, so if you're interested, hit me up.

In the end, though, the important thing is the story.  Without it, there's nothing.  I used to be so depressed about not having any submittable novels and thus not being able to do the agent search, but I came to realize that I had it all wrong.  The only thing that matters is the story, and the vehicle for it to get out there is just that -- a vehicle.  Having an agent or not does not validate me as a writer.  I know I am a writer, I know I have worthwhile things to tell people, and I can't believe I let myself get caught in that trap.  So if you're a writer, and you're trying to find an agent, and it's everything to you (as it was for me), stop and think about what you're really trying to do.  Be open to other avenues.  Listen to your heart.  It won't steer you wrong.

I listened to my heart and it gave me Fey Touched.  ;)

Where can people find you on the web?

Various places:
Website: http://www.erinkendall.com
Twitter: @ekendall
Blog: http://erinkendall.wordpress.com
Email: ericon_22@hotmail.com
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4472103.Erin_Zarro
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Fey-Touched-ebook/dp/B008R15JFK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1344386374&sr=8-1&keywords=Fey+Touched  (Kindle edition) ~ Print edition forthcoming
Turtleduck Press: http://www.turtleduckpress.com

~*~*~

Thank you, Erin, for taking the time to stop by and visit. It was a pleasure getting to know you, and I wish you all the very best in your future endeavors!

On Tour With...

Andrea Buginsky!!

Guest Post:

My Dearest Wish has Come True

Years ago, I received one of the best fortunes from a Chinese fortune cookie that I’ve ever seen. It said, “You’re dearest wish will come true.” At the time, being a teenager, I applied it toward the possibility of an unrequited crush making an about-turn. Teenagers have these crazy kinds of thoughts, no? Well, I did. I even kept that fortune, and its duplicate which I got about a year or so later, tucked safely in my wallet.

Well, my unrequited crush didn’t reciprocate, which turned out well because years later I met the man I was really supposed to be with. But there were still those fortunes….

On December 14, 2010, I discovered what the fortune was all about: becoming a published author. That was the day “The Chosen,” my first book, was published. And now I have two more published books to my credit, and I’m working on the fourth.

The realization of this dream has been wonderful. I love writing, and I love knowing my books are out there for readers to seek out and soak in. I’ve created six characters that I’ve come to love as my own children and best friends, and I love coming up with more and more adventures for them to go on.

I fully believe in Amy’s motto for the blog: Life is definitely what you make of it. As my own motto goes, you have to reach for the stars, and make your dreams come true. This is my Holy Grail, and I stand behind it 100%.

So the next time you find yourself getting upset or frustrated trying to reach your goal and make your dreams come true, pull back, take a deep breath, and realize that any dream coming true is worth the effort it took to get there. You’ll be happier you put in all the work when you earn the reward yourself.

Author Bio:

Andrea Buginsky is a freelance writer and author. “The Chosen” was her first book, and was followed by “My Open Heart,” an autobiography about growing up with heart disease. “Nature’s Unbalance” is the second story in THE CHOSEN series. Andrea plans to write more in the series. She’s already done with the first draft of book 3 and has a concept for book 4. You can find Andrea on her website, Andi’s Realm. Her books are available at Amazon.

Warm welcome to...

Anna Patricio!

Australian native Anna Patricio visits and chats with us about writing and her book, Asenath.

~*~*~

AM: Where are you originally from?

AP: The Land Down Under, Australia.

What inspired you to become a writer?

It's really unusual, actually: the writing life found me. I have always felt an inclination towards writing though. During my student days, I would often get encouraging feedback on my writing assignments. However, I had to struggle to write something for leisure - write
something that I *wanted* to write. In retrospect, it was difficult simply because I did not know what drove me. I had no motivation or inspiration. So I thought that perhaps, writing might just be a fleeting thing for me. Not long after my graduation from uni, while I was in the process of figuring out what I wanted to do in life, I met a wonderful lady whose daughter was a writer. This lady lent me some of her daughter's works. As I read them, I began to marvel at how this woman could craft page after page of a compelling story. Then on New Year's, at a most unexpected moment, I got my laptop and started pounding out the pages of my own story. Once I started, I could not stop.

How did you decide on your book's genre?

Simple: I love historical fiction. I have been hooked on it ever since I was introduced to the genre in my teens. I didn't think I would write a historical novel, as the thought of
research intimidated me a bit. But when the historical novel idea found me, I decided, "What's there to lose?"

What is/are your favorite genre(s)?

The abovementioned, needless to say. Though I also try to expand my horizons to other genres. It's good to be widely read, I think. I've read some memoirs of people overcoming obstacles in their lives, and also some contemporary fiction like Amy Tan's 'The Joy Luck Club.'

Are you currently reading anything?

'The King Must Die' by Mary Renault. My friend recommended it to me. He and I pretty much have the same taste in books, and so far, I'm loving my first Renault novel.

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

I guess writing about things I am enthusiastic about. For instance, my debut novel 'Asenath' stems from my interest in Joseph (of the coat of many colours). In addition, I have had great fun writing about Ancient Egypt. I love this vicarious escape into another world, one of magic and mystery.

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

Hmmm... to be honest, the two have never really interfered with each other. Well, I do a lot of my writing at night, because that is the time my creative juices flow. When I am not writing, I have time for other things. I have always worked better at night. Not sure why. Even when I was a student, I studied better at night.

Tell us about your book.

'Asenath' is a fictional memoir of the little-known wife of Joseph the dreamer. As I said, I have always loved the story of Joseph. When I realised how obscure Asenath was, I began to imagine what she might have been like. The blurb of my book sums it best......

In a humble fishing village on the shores of the Nile lives Asenath, a fisherman's daughter who has everything she could want. Until her perfect world is shattered. When a warring jungle tribe ransacks the village and kidnaps her, separating her from her parents, she is forced to live as a slave. And she begins a journey that will culminate in the meeting of a handsome and kind steward named Joseph. Like her, Joseph was taken away from his home, and it is in him that Asenath comes to find solace…and love. But just as they are beginning to form a bond, Joseph is betrayed by his master’s wife and thrown
into prison. Is Asenath doomed to a lifetime of losing everything and everyone she loves?

How do you create your characters?

I kind of base them on people I know or I've met. I also base them on other people's stories I've heard. Who these people are though, I will not say. ;)

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

My website / blog is at http://www.annapatricio.blogspot.com.

And you can get my book here at the following......

Ebook edition:

Amazon - http://www.amazon.com/Asenath-ebook/dp/B005JSMUV0

Paperback edition:

Amazon - http://www.amazon.com/Asenath-Anna-Patricio/dp/1926997263

B & N - http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/asenath-anna-patricio/1033320057

Abbey's Bookshop (in Sydney, Aus) - http://www.abbeys.com.au/abbeys/home.do

Thank you, Amy, for having me on your blog.

Thank YOU, Anna, for being here!

Author Interview with...

Joyce Lavene!

Sit back, get comfy and get to know author

Joyce Lavene!

~*~*~

AM: What inspired you to become a writer?

JL: Sometimes I think I was born writing. I can't recall a time I wasn't writing something down. Writing novels was inspired by reading War and Peace when I was 14.  I thought if someone would publish something that bad, I had a good shot at being a novelist! What can I say? Fourteen year old ego.


How did you decide on your book's genre?


I've written more than 60 books with my husband and partner, Jim. They are many different genres. We've been lucky enough to find homes for all of them.


Other than a writer, if there was anything else you could do with your life, what would that be?

Photographer. Or travel writer.


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

It  might sound callous, but paying my electric bill keeps me going. I love it because I get to write every day, but I need it to survive now too.


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

What personal life? I spend a lot of time with my kids and grand kids. And my dog, Rudi, and my cat, Quincy. That's about it!


Please, tell us about your book.

Well, the new one coming out in September is Treacherous Toys, book #5 in the Renaissance Faire Mysteries. My protagonist is an associate history professor who spends her time at the Ren Faire when she isn't in school. It's Christmas time in this book, but there are still nefarious doings there. The other book this year is A Haunting Dream, book #4 in the Missing Pieces Mysteries. This is a paranormal series about the mayor of a real place, Duck, NC, who solves mysteries using her ability to find lost things with her mind. The new book is about finding a kidnapped child. This book will be out in December.


Do you have any upcoming events or book  promotions?

Beginning for a month in August, I'll be giving away copies of Treacherous Toys from my website: www.joyceandjimlavene.com and in November, I'll be giving away copies of A Haunting Dream.


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

At the website listed as well as www.facebook.com/joyceandjimlavene
I blog at Fatal Foodies, Killer Characters and my site, http://romanceofmystery.blogspot.com
Both of my new books are with Berkley Prime Crime.

Interview with author....

Anne Marie Ruff!

 

Anne Marie has taken a moment to stop by and answer a few questions, so sit back and relax while you read about the author and her book, Through These Veins.

~*~*~

AM: What inspired you to become a writer?

AMR: I don’t know that I can answer that.  I have been writing all my life.  I remember writing a letter to myself at 14 asserting that I knew I was meant to be a writer.  I seemed to have forgotten that letter for many years.  I floundered around for what seemed like an eternity during and after college trying to figure out what to do as a profession.  When I kind of stumbled back into writing when volunteering with a public radio station, I felt this incredible sense of relief, as if I had found something I had lost. 

How did you decide on your book's genre?

I think the book decided on me.  I didn’t set out to write fiction, which seems so contrary to the ‘just the facts ma’am’ axiom we associate with journalism.  I was living in Bangkok, Thailand working as a freelance journalist.  My intention was to shine a light on unreported or underreported environmental stories.  The medical reporting I did was not really my passion, as much as a byproduct of living in Bangkok; a hub for HIV/AIDS research and activism.

When, in the course of my reporting, I met a charismatic Italian scientist who approached plant collecting and conservation as if it were an adventure worthy of Indiana Jones. I had a shazaam moment.  He ignited an idea for a new approach, a fictional story centered on a character like him.  He could carry readers around the world, and inspire in others the passion he felt for the richness of life on the planet.

I met this man, Stefano Padulosi, in Malaysia at a scientific conference focused on agricultural biodiversity and the promotion of traditional and medicinal crop plants. I interviewed Stefano about his work, and he told me adventure stories about traveling across a dozen African countries in search of…hold your breath here… unusual varieties of beans.   He told me that he was planning a trip to Turkmenistan a few months later to study – what was at the time – the world’s largest collection of pomegranate varieties. So a week after the conference, I asked him if I could join the expedition to the mountain orchards of Turkmenistan. He said yes. Three months later I was there, peppering my notes for magazine stories with little tidbits about Stefano’s character.

I spent the next several years continuing my research and finally writing and revising (and revising and revising) the novel.

Other than a writer, if there was anything else you could do with your life, what would that be?

I think it would be easier to look back, as I have had a number of careers already.  From the ages of 9 to 19 I worked as a professional stage actress.  I have also worked as a bookkeeper, a cashier, a consultant to seed companies on agricultural issues, a secretary, a yoga instructor, a nanny, a media analyst for the government of the United Arab Emirates, a journalist, and most recently as a business development manager at a global law firm.  I toyed for a while with going to law school, getting a real estate license, opening a restaurant, finding a job as a sustainability officer, and have fantasized about running a retreat center. 

A teacher and dear friend told me years ago that no experience is ever wasted.  Indeed I have found that in writing fiction I draw on almost all of my disparate career directions.  Who knows what the future could hold?

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

I grew up in a family with an incredibly strong Germanic work ethic.  I began completing small tasks to help my mother’s business when I was 5 years old.  So a really strong internal drive and sense of discipline seems to keep me going.  As my mother would say, that is just part of the original operating equipment.

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

This is a nearly constant challenge.  No one could fault me for abandoning my writing in favor of dedicating that time to my children, right?  And plenty of people, including my children, could possibly accuse me of selfishness to steal away and continue my love affair with words, maybe.  (see the documentary Who Does She Think She Is? for an intimate exploration of this challenge creative women with children face http://www.whodoesshethinksheis.net/ ).

After some years of assuming that the reasons I couldn’t find time to write were external (the laundry piling up, the care my children require, the full time job that takes so much time), I realized that these external forces would only recognize the importance of my writing if I demonstrated its importance to me.  I started dedicating an hour every Saturday morning to leaving home to write.  The first Saturday there were tears and guilt and I almost turned around and walked home rather than attend to my writing.  But I bargained with myself that if I took this time for the novel, I would devote the rest of the day, undistracted, to my family.  I repeated the same bargain a week later.  By the third week my family hardly noticed I was gone. 

Then we moved into a house, and my weekday commute to my office went from a four block walk to a four mile bus ride.  The bus commute turned into a windfall of undisturbed time.  So for the last ten months, every weekday morning I meet with my novel, writing 250 words on the bus.  In fact, I am writing on the bus right now (I reserve the afternoon commute for blogging, article writing, or other non-novel writing).  The time is so precious that I don’t waste any of it.  I know by the time the bus passes through Chinatown I need to have an idea about what I am writing, I know that once the bus turns on to Grand Avenue, I better be at least halfway done, and I know that once I press the ‘stop request’ button on the bus, I have a single block to dash out the last thought.  

(along the way, a couple of resources helped me tremendously, including the books Art and Fear, and 12 Secrets of Highly Creative Women)

Please, tell us about your book.

I spent months drafting the back cover blurb to describe the story of Through These Veins, not sure I could do any better than this:

In the coffee-growing highlands of Ethiopia, an Italian scientist on a plant collecting expedition discovers a local medicine man dispensing an apparent cure for AIDS. As the medicine man’s teenage daughter reveals the plants behind the cure, their lives become irrevocably intertwined. Through These Veins weaves together the dramatically different worlds of traditional healing, U.S. government funded AIDS research, and the pharmaceutical industry in an intensely personal, fast-paced tale of scientific intrigue and love, with both devastating and hopeful effect.

All profits from the sale of this book will be distributed to the Campaign for Access to Essential Medicines of Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders and the Institute of Biodiversity Conservation in Ethiopia.

Do you have any upcoming events or book promotions?

I will be around the blogosphere in the coming weeks.  And if you invite me, I would be happy to promote the book by joining your book club, either in person if you are in Southern California, or by Skype to points beyond. 

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

www.annemarieruff.com, @annemarieruff, on Facebook, and Goodreads. Through These Veins is available on Amazon in paperback and Kindle.

~*~*~

Anne Marie, it was a pleasure having you here, thank you for taking the time to stop by! I truly wish you all the very best in your future endeavors!

Today's Top Interview!!

“It sounded so simple in theory; ready... aim... fire... but what actually transpired was so much more.”

Officer Nicole Nolan holds the gun steady in her hands, knowing that life will be forever altered once she pulls the trigger. Her position as a small town police officer is to protect those who cannot protect themselves. It is her job, her career and her life.

Amanda stands where protection does not exist. With several failed relationships behind her, Amanda turns a blind eye to the possessiveness Josh displays in order to sooth her desperate need to be loved. As the mental abuse turns violent, Amanda must deal with the denial and embarrassment of being a victim once again. With her emotional and physical health sitting on the edge, she must fight to regain control of her life.

A gripping story with one final destination, but will it be life or death?

Meet Author Stacy Eaton!

 

My dear friend and fellow volunteer at the World Literary Cafe, Stacy Eaton shares with us the amazing journey behind her fantastic new release, Whether I'll Live or Die.

~*~*~

AM: Whether I'll Live or Die. A heartbreaking, compelling story about two women's lives; the first of Amanda and her life of domestic abuse and the other of Nicole and her life as a police officer. Stacy, this was an amazing story that truly touched my heart. Where did you come up with the premise for it?

 

SE: I have seen abuse first hand in my life. In my job I see it on a daily basis. It is a topic that many do not take seriously and I thought it was about time to put it out there for others to read about and decide that this is a real problem that needs to be addressed.

It’s not just physical abuse that victims encounter, it’s emotional and verbal abuse that actually breaks a person soul down and destroys their self-esteem. The bruises from physical abuse will heal, the broken bones will mend, but the damage to a person’s mind is what stays with them for years and is the hardest part to deal with.

Well you definitely gave the story justice. Your portrayal of character Amanda’s abusive life left me breathless in one spot and angry in the next as she seemed to roam from one abusive relationship to another. In your experience, is this a typical pattern for an abused victim to follow?

Yes it is. Many times victims grow up seeing abuse in their younger years of life with their parents and they have a tendency to except it.  The mentality that “it just happens” and “My mom dealt with it, so I must have to deal with it too” is a very common thought to victims.

What they must remember is that no person has the right to abuse a person. No person has the right to belittle them, touch them in a way they do not wish to be touched. Somehow we need to break the cycle of abuse – and getting the word out is one of the best ways.

And what an amazing way you went about getting the word out by writing Whether I’ll Live or Die. Let’s flip hats for a second and look at your secondary character, Nicole. Nicole is a police officer who shares with us some of the hard things on the job she faces on a daily basis. While many of us “know” police officers face such hardships on an everyday basis, I don’t think we truly understand what it means to be “on the job”.

Your portrayal of Nicole’s routine as a police officer was an eye opener for me, as I hope it is with others who read it. What can you share with us about your own daily routine that would give the readers a better understanding of what it means to be a police officer?

Most people think being a police officer is about writing tickets and arresting people.  What most don’t know is that we wear many different hats.  It is not uncommon for us to be any of the kinds of things: a nurse, a psychologist, an animal control warden, a parent, a plumber, electrician, accident Reconstructionist, investigator, the bearer of bad news, a mentor, an enemy and a friend.

Most times when someone calls 911 – they are in one of the most stressful moments of their lives. When we arrive, we must figure out what is going on, we have to help in any way that we can, whether that is giving advice, listening, helping with first aide or making an arrest.  We make serious decisions in split seconds; we listen to people talk for hours.  We hold their hands, we put on cuffs, we pick them up and help them stand and we cry with them.

It’s just not in this book that I show people what police officers really do. I show that in all my books and I have heard over and over again how people love to see the side that they don’t know. They see us pulling over cars or speeding past them with our lights and sirens on and they don’t think twice about it.

What they don’t know is that car we just pulled over might have a guy who is wanted for drugs or assault. Or the reason we are driving like bats out of hell is someone just had a heart attack and seconds count. Next time your readers see a police officer, I hope they take a second to think about everything they do – not judge them for what they see in front of them at that moment.

And how true it is in the day and age where we find it easier to judge things simply by what we see right in front of us. I applaud you, Stacy, and thank you for your service to the community as a police officer. Thank you for keeping the streets safe so the rest of us can sleep worry free at night.

Whether I’ll Live or Die had a climatic ending that caught me completely off guard, yet I loved all the same. Now that you’ve finished with that amazing story, what comes next for you?

Well Amy, I know you are familiar with my Paranormal Series, My Blood Runs Blue, but your readers might not be. As you know there are already two book out in the four book series, My Blood Runs Blue and Blue Blood for Life. Right now I am working on the third book in the series, I think it will be called “Mixing the Blue Blood”, but I’m not positive on that.  This series is suspenseful and intense with just the right amount of hot romance thrown in.

I am working on a guardian angel book that could possibly be a series, but again… I’m still figuring that out. I like the way this book is coming along. Of course it would be much better if I had more time to write, lol… This book is about the Elite Guardian Angels that are trained to protect the most important people in the world, and they are not who you might think they are.

I also have a contemporary romance that is about two-thirds completed and has been sitting on the back burner for a while –I’d like to get that done and out soon.  Det. Jacquelyn Liveon keeps showing up just as Ryan Palmer, a silver screen God, finds himself at life threatening moments. When she has to go undercover to protect him from an unknown person on the set trying to hurt him, she has to protect more than him, she has to protect her heart.  We will see if she can do that…

Wow, you’re a busy woman! I’ve already read both of your Blue Blood books and loved them. They were very hard to put down and I am highly anticipating the third book in the series. Your Guardian Angel book definitely sounds like something I’ll be picking up as well. :0) 

As we wrap things up, is there anything you’d like to add that I haven’t already asked?

Amy, I appreciate you allowing me to come today – and to talk about my book.  I do want to talk about one more thing real quick. I want to talk about domestic violence and those that are victims. I pray that someone out there that is reading this will understand I am talking to them.

Do NOT feel guilty for being a victim – it is NOT your fault. Find help – get support – get away and start a new life!  There are people all over that will help you get on your feet and live a life that you deserve to lead.  It does NOT get better – they will not miraculously “never do it again”. Abuse continues… over and over again – and only you can break that pattern!  Do it! Get help!

Thank you Amy!!  I really appreciate you allowing me to come visit!

Thank YOU Stacy for coming, it was a pleasure having you here!!

~*~*~

My 5 Star review of Whether I'll Live or Die:

Life changing, compelling and heartbreaking are just a few of the words I would use to describe author Stacy Eaton's novel, Whether I'll Live or Die. The author takes us on a compelling and life changing journey with characters Nicole and Amanda, two women whose lives are at complete opposites and yet inextricably intertwined. Whether I'll Live or Die focuses on the realities of Domestic Abuse, something that is all too prevalent in this day and age. It also takes us through life as a police officer and the violent crimes they face on a daily basis. Nothing about this story is sugar coated.

This book is absolutely riveting, taking you on a kaleidoscope of emotions while you quickly turn pages to reach the climatic ending, an ending that won't disappoint. A highly recommended read.

~*~*~

To read more on author Stacy Eaton, follow the links below!

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Whether-Ill-Live-Die-ebook/dp/B008GWT8LG/ref=sr_1_3?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1341307308&sr=1-3

Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/whether-ill-live-or-die-stacy-eaton/1111941743?ean=2940014655798

Website: www.stacyeaton.com

Twitter: @StacySEaton

Blog: http://stacyeatonauthor.blogspot.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Stacy-Eaton/191880767522183

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4826711.Stacy_Eaton

Video Trailer Link to You Tube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qg6hnujjhmk&feature=youtu.be