Imagination...

The imagination is an unlimited source of entertainment, and authors, screenwriters, artists of all types, tap into this sacred resource to provide the best in story telling.  

I've read a few books since Christmas that I would qualify as engaging stories.  At least they kept me occupied and engaged, which with the characters in my head constantly clamoring for attention, is a hard thing to achieve these days.

The Chronicles of the Uprising by K.A. Salidas is a series that kept me entertained from the beginning and I now have blasted my way through them all.  I really enjoyed this one, especially since it combines vampires and gladiators and Mira - the main character - is wonderfully complex and capable.  Ms. Salidas did a fantastic job bringing us into the dystopian world of the future. If you haven't picked up this series, and you like unique vampire lore, this is a must read.


I was a little hesitant to pick up Monster by Carmen Caine based on the reviews, but it was a free book and I still hadn't formulated the next scene in my upcoming novel Magick, so I downloaded this. Again, it's a vampire type theme and while I could see some of the inconsistencies some of the reviewer's mentioned, overall, it's an intriguing story line. I found the tension between Lucien and Cassidy compelling. The hot/cold of it was aggravating, but it kept me reading and silently wishing the two would let their guard down and just give in.

Both these stories are great examples of exceptional storytelling. They both have the ability to draw the reader into their worlds to the point we have to keep reading to find out what happens next.

A non-paranormal series that carries this same sense of urgency and dynamics between main characters is The Charlotte Hayes series by S.S. Lange.  I may be biased on this for a couple reasons, the first is that I chose to publish this intense series - it has a solid story line with a kick ass female lead, and as a publisher, I couldn't pass on the story.  The second reason was why I got to read the first draft of that first book. This wasn't a submission that came through our publishing house. You see, Ms. Lange is family and she asked me for feedback on her first foray into writing fiction. The last thing she expected when she sent me her rough draft was an offer of a publishing contract,  but it was THAT good and after a conversation about her publishing options (i.e. going traditional, publishing with a small press, or self publishing), she made the choice to sign on with Novel Concept Publishing.  If you like FBI suspense thrillers, then pick up this series, you won't be disappointed.

As a reader, I love to get sucked into a story and, as a writer, I have a high respect for authors that can do this without fail and the examples above certainly qualify.

As far as what I have on tap this year - well, my releases include Magick, a story about a ghost gone bad, and Angel Blood - the next book in the Ryan Chronicles series.  

Until next time,
Ciao.
JET

Dishing it up with Stuart Land

Today I have the pleasure of dishing it up with author Stuart Land.

Stuart’s story ideas come from his vivid imagination, but his inspiration draws from extensive world travel and fascinating careers: from US military medic to hairstylist, then Washington D.C. Police officer to NYC photographer.


Later, he converted a chicken coop in the woods into a live-in studio and taught himsself metal sculpture. That rudimentary craft expanded into the fine arts. Sculptures in bronze and fiberglass led to shows in the US, England and Thailand.

His passion for all arts segued into: costume design (top 100 designers in the book, Fashion: 2001); modeling agency art director; fashion show designer; water feature designer, computer illustrator and a top sculptor for special effects, sets and props in the entertainment industry with work in over thirty major films, hotels and theme parks worldwide.

During his film career, he learned screenwriting firsthand, writing over a dozen screenplays. To explore character and environment more, he took up narrative fiction. He’s completed many short stories and five novels. His writing places high in contests and his screenplays are optioned.

He continues on the journey.

JET: Stuart, can you tell us about your most recent book?

Stuart: My most recent book, BACK FROM THE DEAD: the true sequel to Frankenstein, is coming out this August. Frankenstein's creature, revived from a two hundred year arctic freeze, reveals a different perspective on his origins, why he survived, and what happened to his mate.  How he fares in the modern world is an assemblage, like the creature himself, of psychological drama, horror, romance, science fiction, and Gothic story telling.  It takes you on a trip through present day reality, with sojourns into the past that leaves you pondering the future.

JET: What drew you to supernatural thrillers?

Stuart: I like the quirkiness that the supernatural or paranormal can lend to a story. Myself, and another writer I recently met, call our work, Supernatural Realism, because we like to present the story as realistically as possible but add the supernatural elements. I live “real” life, but I like to create worlds that are different in some way to real life. I like showing how “real” people react to things that don’t conform to “normal” reality.

JET: What’s been your most challenging hurdle on the road to publication?

Stuart: Getting agents and publishers to read my stories. The gates are so narrowly open, that I hardly ever got my work read. And when I did, it wasn’t what they wanted for one reason or another. One agent sent me back a detailed breakdown of why my book wasn’t any good; the only problem with his critique was that it was for someone else’s book!


After working many years in the movie biz, I realized that an agent or publisher was only trying to foresee the future and what they thought was going to sell. But really, they didn’t know anymore than anyone else, yet almost everyone I encountered had a conceit that they were the only ones who knew the unforeseeable. And then there was personal taste. I had to appease the agent’s personal reading taste in order to get through to the wide varieties of everyone else’s reading tastes. Why was it that ten agents could find my work lacking, yet fifty or a hundred random readers didn’t?

JET: What was your favorite moment in the journey?

Stuart: My favorite moments are the actual writing. I love watching my characters

form from nothing and solve the situations they find themselves in, seemingly, with no help from me. As for marketing, I’ve met some really great people, both authors and readers.

JET: Which authors had the most influence over you growing up?

Stuart: Herman Hesse, Ayn Rand, Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Issac Asimov, Kurt Vonnegut, Stephen King, Robert Heinlein, Ray Bradbury, and many others.

JET: When did you know you wanted to take the plunge into the writing world?

Stuart: Well, I wrote short stories as a kid, but didn’t get seriously into writing until I worked in the film business in Hollywood and watched writers, directors, and actors create out of thin air. I figured I could do that...big surprise! It wasn’t so easy when I first tried it. But I’m a stubborn sort, so stuck with it year after year honing the craft of screenwriting and novel writing.

JET: What’s the craziest thing you’ve done in the name of book research? Most interesting fact you uncovered?

Stuart: I joined a vampire coven, drank baby’s blood, cavorted with female zombies...oh wait, that was my normal Saturday night. I guess I haven’t done anything specifically crazy in research, but most of my stories are based on things that I already did. Now, it’s just a question of interviewing people and tons of online research.

The most interest fact I’ve discovered, much to my horror, was that a hundred fairies can’t dance on the head of a pin. Actually, it’s my own fault, because for some reason, I thought they were talking about the pointy end. So since I found out they were talking about the flat end, well, jeez, of course there’s room for a hundred fairies there. But I was wrong. Only 89 fairies can fit nicely.

JET: Of all the novels and stories you’ve written - which one is your favorite? Why?

Stuart: Each novel I write is my favorite while I’m writing it. My stories are all so different and unique, that they stand on their own, so to compare them is an apples/oranges dilemma.

JET: Any advice (from a writer’s standpoint) for the novices out there?

Stuart: Everyone’s already heard the “don’t give up” advice. My advice goes a step further, but narrower. If you start a project, finish it. It’s easy to get caught in a cycle where you don’t finish what you’ve started. Second advice is to take as much effort in your rewrite as in the first draft. Maybe even more. This is where you can make your writing shine. It’s mandatory to put your first draft away for at least a month. You need to approach a rewrite with fresh eyes. I work with a writers group. It’s important to have outside opinions. If you’re writing to get by, it’s not necessary to take any of my advice, but if you really want to better your craft, you should consider it.


My one (may odd) bit of advice which may be different than most, is directed at those who truly want to better their storytelling craft. To be a better writer, means better at storytelling with efficient use of words, strong, but different plots, solid structure, and with concise and realistic dialogue. You will greatly improve these abilities if you learn the craft of screenwriting. Yes, they are two completely different ways of storytelling, but screenwriting helps define all those points I made above. Screenplays are like the poem of a story. For movies, these poems are interpreted by one hundred to two hundred people as they bring the story to life on the screen. For narrative writers, this shorthand of writing allows them to see their stories more completely, like an enhanced outline. I don’t write a screenplay for my novels, but I can use that ability to flesh out a story as I write it so that I never get lost or don’t know why characters do what they do.

JET: All right - now that I’ve hammered you with the big questions, let’s tackle my favorite (and geeky) quick ten. . . starting with: Paper or Plastic?

Stuart: I think all blow-up dolls should definitely be plastic. Paper just doesn’t hold air all that well.

JET: Steak or Tofu?

Stuart: Tofu steak smothered in paper mushrooms. Yummy!

JET: Beach or Mountains?

Stuart: I’ve always be partial to mountain beaches. Since I live five minutes from a waterfall, you can guess my preference. Now, Hawaii is no fair because they have mountains and waters right on the beach!

JET: Country or Rock-n-Roll?

Stuart: Country rock. And all other genres.

JET: Top 10 best seller or Unknown Back Shelf Find?

Stuart: The God of Small Things; Flashman series

JET: Zombies or Demons?

Stuart: Demon zombie vampires

JET: Paper or Digital?

Stuart: Both. But it’s getting harder and harder to carry around 5000 paper books.

JET: Silent Film Classics or Cheesy B Rated Horror?

Stuart: YES!

JET: Sword wielding ninja or Gun toting momma?

Stuart: Ninja, blades down.

JET: Coffee or Tea?

Stuart: Cha yen = Thai iced tea.

JET: Thank you for indulging me. Before we wrap this up, can you tell us what you're working on now? What's next?

Stuart: Just so you don’t forget the novel I put out last month, here’s a recap: EPIPHANY is cross-genre sci-fi/mystery/drama..

Doctor Sam Enright and his geneticist wife, Dorinda, face turmoil in their small town when a dozen adolescent girls show up pregnant at Sam’s office—and they’re all virgins. When their own daughter falls victim to the same fate, the Enrights rush to Homeland Security for answers. As the questions multiply, they realize they are at the vanguard of a worldwide epidemic, and the mystery deepens. As the events escalate, a disparate group of international doctors, scientists, and mothers-to-be are brought together at Dorinda’s genetics lab in Middle America. They race to find the cause and meaning of the mysterious pregnancies, but every discovery reveals a new, worse scenario, leaving humanity's very existence in question.

This story is based entirely on science fact with no paranormal elements.

Now, besides time-sucking marketing, I’m writing a chik-lit rom/com screenplay. My first in this genre, but based on a story by a woman friend, just so you know I’m not making up this female stuff. I’ve also started on the sequel to Original Blood, called Szejna’s Revenge. This story takes place over a three thousand year time span.

JET: Thank you so much for taking the time to chat on my blog. Folks, you can find out more about Stuart Land and his work at the following places:

Website,  Blog,  Twitter, Facebook, Linked In,  Goodreads, Ning

SHADOW HOUSE in the US.   SHADOW HOUSE in the UK. 

ORIGINAL BLOOD in the US.  ORIGINAL BLOOD in the UK.

EPIPHANY in the US.   EPIPHANY in the UK.


http://about.me/stuartland/  and  http://www.bookdaily.com/book/2760480/


Next week, I have author Cara Bertoia on tap.

Until then,

Ciao.

JET

Dishing it up with Robert Browne

Today I’m thrilled to be dishing it up with thriller writer extraordinaire Robert Browne.

Robert is an AMPAS Nicholl Award-winning screenwriter who ran screaming from the movie industry and jumped into writing novels.


His first novel, KISS HER GOODBYE, was recently produced in Chicago as a pilot for a CBS Television series tentatively titled THE LINE, by Sony Pictures and Timberman/Beverly Productions, with a script written and directed by Michael Dinner.

Before the jump, he developed screenplays for Showtime, Viacom, Saban/Fox Kids, Krost-Chapin, and Marvel. He was also staff writer for Fox Kids’ Diabolik, and a contributing screenwriter for Spider-Man Unlimited.

Post jump, Rob has written four thrillers for St. Martin’s Press in the U.S., Macmillan in the UK, Droemer Knauer in Germany, with books also published in Russia, Bulgaria and the Netherlands.

His books KISS HER GOODBYE (2007) and WHISPER IN THE DARK (2008 UK/2009 US), are critically acclaimed. Bookfinds.com proclaimed, “This is a writer whose name will soon be a household word” and Publisher’s Weekly gave WHISPER IN THE DARK a starred review: “The deeply satisfying story moves at a furious pace, packed with unexpected and original clues and plot twists.”

His third novel, KILL HER AGAIN, was released by Macmillan UK in May of 2009 and July in the U.S.

DOWN AMONG THE DEAD MEN was released in May, 2010 and has been nominated for a 2011 ITW Thriller Award.

His new thriller, THE PARADISE PROPHECY, was released on July 21, 2011.


JET: Can you tell us about the Paradise Prophecy?

Rob: The Paradise Prophecy is a big, edge-of-your-seat supernatural thriller about dark angels trying to take over the world and the two screwed-up mortals trying to stop them. It spans the globe from Brazil to Los Angeles, London, Istanbul and back, is full of exciting set pieces that scream make-me-a-movie, and will hopefully have you on the edge of your seat the entire time.

JET: What drew you to writing thrillers?

Rob: I grew up reading and watching thrillers. When I was a kid I watched all the Warner Brothers crime thrillers on TV and read every thriller I could get my hands on, including the Richard Stark Parker series and William Goldman's Magic and Marathon Man. I consider Marathon Man to be one of the greatest thrillers ever written. Goldman is smart enough to know that thrillers aren't just about plot mechanics. They have to have heart or emotion, and there's plenty of that in Thomas "Babe" Levy's life.

JET: What’s been your most challenging hurdle on the road to publication?

Rob: Believing I could write a book. I became a "pro" through the publication of a short mystery story in EasyRiders magazine, believe it or not. Then I broke into the screenwriting world and wrote a ton of screenplays, never feeling I was quite ready to tackle my true love, novels. When I became disenchanted with Hollywood, I decided to finally try my hand at it and Kiss Her Goodbye was born. The irony, of course, is that despite my abandonment of Hollywood, they came calling a few years later, wanting to adapt the book for a TV series.

JET: What was your favorite moment in the journey?

Rob: Well, besides getting the call telling me I'd sold Kiss Her Goodbye, it was standing on the set when they were filming the pilot and watching Dylan Walsh play a character I had created. Both of the worlds I loved had come together. It was quite a head trip.

JET: Which authors had the most influence over you growing up?

ROB: I already mentioned Stark and Goldman, Stark being Donald Westlake, of course. I also loved his comedy mysteries. In fact, the first book of his I ever read was serialized in Playboy magazine, which I read when I was thirteen. I was also a huge fan of James Kirkwood and Newton Thornburg. Kirkwood wrote quirky slice of life stories and Thornburg wrote some of the most literate thrillers I'd ever read. Cutter and Bone is a masterpiece.

JET: When did you know you wanted to take the plunge into the writing world?

Rob: When I read Westlake's novel in Playboy. It was a revelation to me and I knew at that moment that I wanted to tell stories for a living. To be able to keep a person glued to the page the way he did me, was to my mind the greatest thing in the world.

JET: What’s the craziest thing you’ve done in the name of book research? Most interesting fact you uncovered?

Rob: One of my books is a thriller about reincarnation called Kill Her Again. The male lead is a hypnotherapist who reluctantly delves into past-life regression in order to understand the visions that are plaguing the woman at the center of the story. In order to understand the process, I went to a hypnotist who specialized in past-life regression and had her put me under. It was an interesting experience. Mostly it was me doing what I do best—making stuff up—but it was fun.

The most interesting thing I think I've uncovered was when I was doing research for The Paradise Prophecy. I had never heard of the Codex Gigas—or Devil's Bible—before and I thought the legend surrounding it was fascinating. The book is about the size of a packing trunk and was allegedly written in a single day after the monk assigned to write it made a pact with the devil. Obviously, it was a perfect fit for The Paradise Prophecy. In fact, the entire mystery centers around the book's seven missing pages. And that's real. I didn't make it up.

JET: Of all the novels and stories you’ve written - which one is your favorite? Why?

Rob: I'll have to go with The Paradise Prophecy for a couple of reasons. It's my latest, and you always have high hopes for your latest, and it also signals a change for me. Not so much a change of direction. My books are all supernatural to some degree. But the size and scope of this novel is much broader than usual. It has a pretty large cast of characters, and covers a lot of ground. Raymond Khoury called it an epic and I think that applies. It certainly felt like one as I was writing it.

JET: Any advice for the novices out there?

Rob: The best advice I can give a novice is the same advice any pro will give: read a lot and write a lot. Always have a book with you and always be working on a book. It's really the only way you can learn. But equally important, I think, is don't be impatient. Learning the craft takes a long time and a lot of trial and error. Don't rush it. Eventually you'll get there.

JET: All right - now that I’ve hammered you with the big questions, let’s tackle my favorite (and geeky) quick ten. . . starting with: Paper or Plastic?

Rob: Plastic. Only because of the handles.

JET: Steak or Tofu?

Rob: I have to make a choice? I love both.

JET: Beach or Mountains?

Rob: I grew up with the beach a few blocks away from me, but have never been a huge fan. I actually prefer mountains.

JET: Country or Rock-n-Roll?

Rob: I lean toward rock-n-roll, but I've heard a few country songs I've loved. Just depends on my mood. My tastes are pretty eclectic.

JET: Paper or Digital?

Rob: Digital. I never print anything out.

JET: Silent Film Classics or Cheesy B Rated Horror?

Rob: Again, both. I love movies in general. So much so that I'll even watch direct to DVD fare. Some of it is very good. I think the only thing I don't love is torture porn. Watching people get skewered or skinned alive doesn't do a whole lot for me.

JET: Coffee or Tea?

Rob: Coffee. Coffee. Coffee.

JET: Salty or Sweet?

Rob: Oh, boy. Once again: both. But I lean toward sweet.

JET: Top 10 best seller or Unknown Back Shelf Find?

Rob: Unknown back shelf. Especially if they were written in the fifties and sixties.

JET: 2012 Mayan Prophecy Believer or Ain’t Gonna Happen?

Rob: Not the Mayan Prophecy, but The Paradise Prophecy, which is coming July 21, 2011. (Sorry, I couldn't resist.)

JET: LOL. Thank you for indulging me. Before we wrap this up, can you tell us what you're working on now? What's next?

Rob: The sequel to The Paradise Prophecy, of course… Oh, wait, that may have been a spoiler.

JET: Thank you so much for taking the time to chat on my blog. Folks, you can find out more about Robert Browne and his work at his website: http://www.robertbrownethrillers.com/

And if you haven’t picked up any of his books yet – what in the name of heaven are you waiting for?

Until next time,

Ciao,

JET

Manic Monday with J. Carson Black

I’d like to welcome J. Carson Black to my Manic Monday guest series.

J. Carson Black is the critically-acclaimed author of the Laura Cardinal series: Darkness on the Edge of Town, Dark Side of the Moon, and The Devil’s Hour.

Born and raised in Tucson, Arizona, she was inspired by Stephen King’s The Shining, to write her own horror novel, a ghost story titled Darkscope, set in the historic mining town of Bisbee, Arizona. Darkscope was published by Kensington Publishing Corp. and she never looked back.

Now the award-winning author of eight novels published by NAL, Kensington Publishing Corp. and Dorchester Publishing–and in France, Germany, and Norway, Black has partnered with digital publisher Breakaway Media to publish her novels in the digital space. She lives in Tucson, Arizona.

DARKNESS ON THE EDGE OF TOWN: IT TAKES A VILLAGE TO BUILD A DETECTIVE

When I first set out to write my crime fiction thriller, DARKNESS ON THE EDGE OF TOWN, I spoke to my friend John, a retired police officer. I told him I wanted to write a series starring a female homicide detective, and he suggested I make her a detective with the Arizona Department of Public Safety (Highway Patrol). As a state-run agency, a detective with the DPS can investigate crimes anywhere in Arizona, lending a hand to jurisdictions in need of manpower and expertise. I loved this idea. Laura Cardinal, based in Tucson, can troubleshoot homicide scenes wherever I wanted to put her.

Then my friend John made a request: would I consider writing about Internet sexual predators?

With the explosion of the Internet, sexual predators have now found validation through their network of friends. Their numbers have grown exponentially, and the child on the other end of a smartphone or Netbook is no match for them. These predators hold all the cards. A lot of people in law enforcement were worried that parents were unaware of the problem, that these kids were vulnerable through their computers.

I decided to give it a try.

At first I wondered how well I could write a story like this, which was disturbing to me. But I found a way – and I’m happy to say this story has no “ick” factor, just a strong female character, solid police work, some thrills along the way, and a story that really needs to be told. Since I wrote the book, many changes have taken place – social media moves fast -- and now there are even more dangers out there for kids. One thing remains unchanged: more than ever, parents need to be aware of what their children are doing, especially in this age of Social Media Gone Wild.

In writing DARKNESS ON THE EDGE OF TOWN, I depended on the help of a few key members of law enforcement, like the sex crimes detective whose job was to pose as a young teen on the Internet and lure the bad guys in. The predators came in droves. One night he invited me to his house and we got on the computer. He showed me just how scary it was out there. I used some of the conversations in DARKNESS ON THE EDGE OF TOWN. In fact, if you look at the cover of DARKNESS, really look at it, you will see print---bits and pieces of those conversations.

But before I could start writing, I needed a model for my main character—a detective with the DPS.

Terry, the DPS detective I worked with, is male, but I based my female homicide detective Laura Cardinal on him. He is a fine man and a great detective. He and his wife agreed to meet me in the mining-turned-tourist town of Bisbee Arizona, where my victim is found dead in the City Park bandshell. Terry came to “walk the crime scene” with me. He was methodical and careful and observant, and as I followed him in the glaring September sunlight up the steps to where the body would be, I felt as if a goose had crossed my grave. City Park, which is built on the flat roofs of three or four shops on Brewery Gulch, was the Bisbee town cemetery at the turn of the century---the bandshell itself was erected in 1916. Now here we were, bringing my story to life. One gentleman, a local, stopped us and asked if we were with the city council, and were we planning to do something to change his beloved City Park?

Afterwards, I learned that Terry encountered a car accident on the freeway on his way here. He immediately stopped and rendered aid, which was the reason he was late. “Protect and Serve” isn’t just a motto to him.

I tried to bring Terry’s brand of diligence and passion to my own DPS detective, Laura Cardinal.


To find out more about J. Carson Black and her books, please visit her at her website: http://jcarsonblack.com/

Joining me tomorrow is Katie Salidas with her one-day Book Blitz Blog tour!

Until then,

Ciao,

JET

Dishing it up with Tim Ellis

Today I have the pleasure of dishing it up with Tim Ellis. Tim was born in the bowels of Hammersmith Hospital, London, on a dark and stormy night, grew up in Cheadle, Cheshire, and now lives in Essex with his wife and five Shitzus. In-between, he joined the Royal Army Medical Corps at eighteen and completed twenty-two years service, leaving in 1993 having achieved the rank of Warrant Officer Class 1 (Regimental Sergeant Major). Since then he has worked in secondary education as a senior financial manager, in higher education as an associate lecturer/tutor at Lincoln and Anglia Ruskin Universities, and as a consultant for the National College of School Leadership. His final job, before retiring in 2009, was as Head and teacher of Behavioural Sciences (Psychology/Sociology) in a secondary school. He has a PhD and an MBA in Educational Management, and an MA in Education.


He has been learning the craft of writing fiction for four years, and is the author of ten novels including: Warrior – Path of Destiny and Scourge of the Steppe (Adult Historical Fiction charting the life of Genghis Khan); The Knowledge of Time: Second Civilisation (YA Science Fiction); Orc Quest: Prophecy (YA Fantasy); Solomon’s Key, Body 13, The Graves at Angel Brook, A Life for a Life, The Wages of Sin, and Jacob's Ladder (all Adult Crime Fiction); and a collection of short stories: Untended Treasures.

JET: Can you tell us about your latest book?

Tim: The Wages of Sin – The second in the Parish & Richards series, which was published mid-April, has been well received by readers. Usually, when people buy A Life for a Life, they also grab The Wages of Sin while they’re at it. I loved creating the characters of seasoned detective Jed Parish and new recruit Mary Richards and I know readers like them too. Parish is cynical, Richards is naïve and innocent, but not that naïve she doesn’t have the men around her dancing to her tune. When it comes to relationships though, she’s useless and this is further developed in the next book with devastating consequences. Hopefully, readers will see the development of these two characters in this second book and want more!

JET: What drew you to writing thrillers?

Tim: I love them. I read them, and watch them on TV and film, and I suppose we all want to write what we love to read and watch. Recent thrillers that grabbed me were: Steig Larsson’s trilogy and the Swedish films – both were brilliant – I loved Noomi Rapace as Salander she did a fantastic job; The Killing (which is coming back to BBC 4); Wallander (the books by Henning Mankel and the Swedish films); Spiral, Frost, Dalzeil & Pascoe, Case Histories – How long have you got?

JET: What’s been your most challenging hurdle on the road to publication?

Tim: Social networking – I know, you’re surprised at that. Trouble is, I want to write 24/7 and it takes an effort to do anything else. Once I’m throwing myself about a bit, I enjoy it, but its guilty enjoyment because in the back of my mind I have books to write, characters to develop, people to kill!

JET: What was your favorite moment in the journey?

Tim: Publishing all my books and realizing people were reading and enjoying them. Receiving emails from ‘fans’ – Now that’s spooky having fans at my tender age!

JET: Which authors had the most influence over you growing up?

Tim: I don’t know about growing up! That was a long time ago before books were invented. More recently though: Bernard Cornwell, Conn Iggulden, Steig Larsson, Leon Uris, Tim Willocks, Carlos Ruiz Zafon – how long have we got?

JET: When did you know you wanted to take the plunge into the writing world?

Tim: Forever! I got my first rejection at 16 years old for a book of poetry. Like most people, life got in the way, so I started writing four years ago with a view to writing full time in retirement, which is what I’m doing now. But… I often think what I could have achieved in the writing world if I’d started 40 years ago!

JET: What’s the craziest thing you’ve done in the name of book research? Most interesting fact you uncovered?

Tim: I spent a year researching Genghis Khan when I could have been writing!

JET: Of all the novels and stories you’ve written - which one is your favorite? Why?

Tim: Strangely enough, the one that hasn’t really taken off yet… Orc Quest: Prophecy. It was a lot of fun to write and I had some great reviews from beta readers, and it’s got some of the best characters I’ve created. I’m going to write the second in the series soon. If people like rooting for characters, there are lots to root for in this book. If you haven’t read it yet, put it on your bucket list!

JET: Any advice for the novices out there?

Tim: Even though I’ve written 11 books I consider myself a novice still. So, from one novice to another: Do it! Learn everything about the craft, but in the end you just have to do it – write that book – the readers will tell you in no uncertain terms whether you’re any good or not!

JET: All right - now that I’ve hammered you with the big questions, let’s tackle my favorite (and geeky) quick ten. . . starting with: Paper or Plastic?

Tim: Paper

JET: Steak or Tofu?

Tim: Steak – yum, yum with Tim’s world-famous crunchy coleslaw!

JET: Beach or Mountains?

Tim: Beach – I like the mountains, but lying on a beach reading is the next best thing to snorkeling in the coral reef at my age.

JET: Country or Rock-n-Roll?

Tim: Rock ‘n’ Roll – I was brought up in the era of the Rolling Stones, Deep Purple, and Led Zeppelin.

JET: Paper or Digital?

Tim: Digital – I write directly on computer now, and I very rarely print my books out. Digital is the future – save the trees!

JET: Silent Film Classics or Cheesy B Rated Horror?

Tim: Neither. If there’s nothing decent on TV I’d rather write.

JET: Coffee or Tea?

Tim: Coffee – I don’t mind tea, but coffee does it for me.

JET: Salty or Sweet?

Tim: Both – I like lots of salt on my food (he says guiltily), but I like to follow it with chocolate (he whispers even more guiltily!)

JET: Top 10 best seller or Unknown Back Shelf Find?

Tim: Both – I can go for a bestseller, but I have lots of back shelf finds as well.

JET: 2012 Mayan Prophecy Believer or Ain’t Gonna Happen?

Tim: It ain’t gonna happen – maybe!

JET: Thank you for indulging me. Before we wrap this up, can you tell us what you're working on now? What's next?

Tim: I’m currently writing the third in the Parish & Richards series called The Flesh is Weak. I’m at 40,000 words and it should be released mid-August. What I can say is that it’s about murdered children, but that’s not all. Also, Parish begins the search for information about his parents, but gets something else instead. Richard’s poor choice of men and her counseling continue; two new detectives join the team temporarily, and one of Kowalski’s children goes missing. I also have a fourth in the series in mind called: The Shadow of Death. I have a YA Science Fiction novel at 30,000 words called The Timekeeper’s Apprentice that needs finishing, a third Quigg book called The Graves Beneath Eternity Wharf (one reader who emailed me begged me to write another Quigg book, so she’ll be pleased about that!), and the second in the Orc Quest series called The Last Human – I can’t wait to get on to that one!

JET: Thank you so much for taking the time to chat on my blog. Folks, you can find out more about Tim Ellis and his work at the following places:

Tim’s website: http://timellis.weebly.com/

Orc Quest website: http://orcquest.weebly.com/

Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Ddigital-text&field-keywords=Tim%2BEllis&x=13&y=8

Amazon US: http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Ddigital-text&field-keywords=Tim%2BEllis


Next week is a busy week here on my blog. On Manic Monday, I’ve got J.Carson Black, on Tuesday, I’ve got Katie Salinas and next Friday, I’ve got Pam Jennoff on tap.

Have a wonderful weekend and don’t forget to swing in next week and help make my guests feel welcomed!

Until then,

Ciao.

JET

Dishing it up with Marcus Sakey

Today I have the distinct pleasure of having thriller author Marcus Sakey on my blog. Marcus has worked as a landscaper, a theatrical carpenter, a 3D animator, a woefully unprepared movie reviewer, a tutor, and a graphic designer who couldn’t draw. In 2007 his first novel The Blade Itself was published to wide critical acclaim, and thank god, because nothing else seemed to be working.


His books have been nominated for more than a dozen awards, named to multiple “Year’s Best” lists, and translated into numerous languages. Three are currently in development as films.

JET: Can you tell us about The Two Deaths of Daniel Hayes that came out earlier this month - June 9th to be precise?

Marcus: It starts with a man waking on a beach, naked and half-dead. He can’t remember how he got there, or even who he is. He’s haunted by a woman he sees on television, and sets out across America to find her. Meanwhile, the world is looking for him…

It’s a thriller, but it’s also an exploration of memory and identity and the stories we tell ourselves. It’s definitely my most ambitious book, and while it was a beast to write, I’m thrilled with the way it turned out.

JET: What drew you to writing thrillers?

Marcus: I’ve always been addicted to stories. I was the kid reading under the blanket with a flashlight. The main goal of a thriller is to keep someone up too late, so it kinda makes sense.

The best thing is that the thriller format lets you put people in the most desperate circumstances imaginable, which means you can explore the ideas with the heat turned all the way up. For me, thrillers that don’t take advantage of that are missing the point. It’s not about run, chase, shoot; it’s about everything that happens around that, the philosophies and relationships and beliefs that are tested amidst the running, chasing, and shooting.

JET: What’s been your most challenging hurdle on the road to publication?

Marcus: Writing the books. It’s a great job, the one I’ve always wanted, but it takes discipline, and when it’s going badly, it weighs on you. Especially around page two hundred, when everything seems to be falling apart and you’re contemplating suicide.

JET: What was your favorite moment in the journey?

Marcus: Writing THE END. It was purest and most powerful on my first novel, THE BLADE ITSELF, but I get a rush every time I type those two words.

JET: Which authors had the most influence over you growing up?

Marcus: Is it okay to say all of them? I was, and am, a voracious reader, and I tend to read in a bunch of different genres. I guess if I had to pick one name from young adulthood, I’d say Kurt Vonnegut. He was such a brilliant writer: a guy who could say so much with so little, who was troubled by mankind’s choices but honestly in love with people, who could blend the brutal and the awful and the hilarious.

JET: When did you know you wanted to take the plunge into the writing world?

Marcus: When I was four. I remember the moment I learned to read, and all of I sudden I could see Spot run. I just thought, “Man, that’s it. That’s the coolest thing in the world.” I still feel that way.

JET: I understand you’ve done a tremendous amount of research for your writing. What’s the craziest thing you’ve done in the name of book research? Most interesting fact you uncovered?

Marcus: I recently got pepper sprayed for research. It hurt.

The facts I love uncovering tend to be the little details, the things you couldn’t make up. They range from heart-breaking (a cop telling me that to gauge the power of a gang he counted the schools within their turf) to hilarious (tales of bumbling bad guys that you’d never believe if I wrote them) to exhilarating (shooting a fully automatic machine gun).

JET: Of all the novels and stories you’ve written - which one is your favorite? Why?

Marcus: My favorite novel is always whichever one I wrote last. But you love them all. You have to—you put so much of yourself into them. If the books aren’t you, they aren’t anything.

JET: Any advice for the novices out there?

Marcus: Butt in chair, fingers on keyboard. That’s how you get it done. The rest is window dressing.

JET: All right - now that I’ve hammered you with the big questions, let’s tackle my favorite (and geeky) quick ten. . . starting with: Paper or Plastic?

Marcus: Cloth bags that we re-use.

JET: Steak or Tofu?

Marcus: Ribeye, rubbed with good olive oil, lemon zest, and rosemary, flash-seared and served rare.

JET: Beach or Mountains?

Marcus: Beach. I love mountains too, but the ocean is magical to me.

JET: Country or Rock-n-Roll?

Marcus: Rock.

JET: Paper or Digital?

Marcus: Both.

JET: Silent Film Classics or Cheesy B Rated Horror?

Marcus: Battlestar Galactica.

JET: Coffee or Tea?

Marcus: Coffee.

JET: Salty or Sweet?

Marcus: Everything is better with salt. Salt is better with salt.

JET: Top 10 best seller or Unknown Back Shelf Find?

Marcus: There’s two kinds of literature, good and bad. I’ll take the former, and I don’t care where I find it.

JET: 2012 Mayan Prophecy Believer or Ain’t Gonna Happen?

Marcus: Let me consult the entrails of my enemy.

JET: Thank you for indulging me. Before we wrap this up, can you tell us what you're working on now? What's next?

Marcus: I can’t, really; it’s still taking shape. But I can say that I’m really excited about it, and that it’s unlike anything I’ve done before.

JET: Thank you so much for taking the time to chat on my blog. Folks, you can find out more about Marcus Sakey and his work at his website: http://www.marcussakey.com/

Next week it’s JULY! Woo-hoo, my birthday month. I’ll be highlighting some new July releases next Friday and then going on a much needed vacation before we get geared up with Tim Ellis, Pam Jenoff, Kiki Howell and Robert Gregory Brown. July’s a hot month. Stay tuned…

Until next week,

Ciao.

JET

Dishing it up with Brett Battles

Folks, I’m thrilled to have author Brett Battles dishing it up with us today. Brett has published eight thrillers since 2007, including The Cleaner and The Deceived. He was born and raised in southern California where his parents, avid readers, instilled the love of books in him early on.


Though he still makes California his home, he has traveled extensively to such destinations as Ho Chi Minh City, Berlin, Singapore, London, Paris, and Bangkok, all of which play parts in his current and upcoming Jonathan Quinn thrillers.

Welcome and thank you for hanging with us for a bit.

JET: Can you tell us about your latest thrillers Little Girl Gone and The Silenced?

Brett: The Silenced is the fourth in my Jonathan Quinn series. Quinn is a cleaner whose job it is to make bodies disappear. In this latest installment, the unthinkable happens. His past, a life he’s tried hard to bury, collides with his life in the secret world, and he has to do whatever he can to keep people he loves alive.

Little Girl Gone is the first book of my Logan Harper series. Unlike Quinn, Logan isn’t a professional working in the world of spies. He’s a former Army soldier who then worked for several years at a defense contractor training private troops before a horrible event caused him to quit. He now lives in his hometown, a small place on the California coast, working as a mechanic at his father’s auto garage. One morning he interrupts the attempted murder of his father’s friend, then is pulled into a search for the man’s missing granddaughter.

I also have a third thriller out right now called Sick. I’ll sum it up this way. Humanity is on the brink of extinction, and man is pulling the trigger. And a Middle School/Tween book called Here Comes Mr. Trouble about an unusual family that helps kids with a certain type of trouble.

JET: What drew you to writing thrillers?

Brett: They’ve always been a part of me. I’ve been a fan since I was a kid, reading Alistair MacLean and Jack Higgins. It was just a normal progression, I guess. I don’t think I realized I was even writing a thriller the first time I did it. I was just writing what was naturally coming out of me.

JET: What’s been your most challenging hurdle on the road to publication?

Brett: Getting a publisher to buy that first book. While The Cleaner was the first book I sold, it was the third I wrote, and I actually had a fourth done when I got the call. I think I sent out 100 queries each for the first two, and about seventy for The Cleaner. But I knew then that it was all about persistence. If one book didn’t sell, I immediately moved onto the next. I felt to do otherwise would have been to insure failure.

JET: What was your favorite moment in the journey?

Brett: Getting that phone call from the publisher saying they wanted to buy The Cleaner. I was sitting at Starbucks, working on edits on that fourth book. I had to stop him in mid conversation and say, “Wait. Are you saying you want to buy my book?” Everything after he said yes, I forgot.

JET: Which authors had the most influence over you growing up?

Brett: I couldn’t say it wasn’t just one. The sci-fi troika of Clarke, Asimov, and Heinlein were huge for me. Thriller-wise, Alistair MacLean. Later it was Ludlum, Graham Greene, Stephen King, and a rotating stack of other amazing authors.

JET: When did you know you wanted to take the plunge into the writing world?

Brett: Fifth grade. That’s not an exaggeration. I remember telling my friends that I was going to be a novelist. I loved stories even then, and I wanted to be the one to tell them. From that point on, I always knew it would be my future.

JET: What’s the craziest thing you’ve done in the name of book research? Most interesting fact you uncovered?

Brett: My most interesting research is location research. I love to travel, so I’ve made that a part of my work. Not sure what the craziest would be, but one of the coolest was taking the overnight train from Bangkok to Chiang Mai. I was in the second class sleeper car. It was like one of those 40s movies with each berth covered by a curtain. Spent several hours in the restaurant car with some Irish and German backpackers, drinking beer and sharing stories. Oh, for crazy, I also spent two day on Khao San Road in Bangkok for Songkran, Thai New Year. It’s four days of INSANITY. Basically a 12 hour long water fight each day on a street as crowded as Disneyland on it’s busiest day with music and drinks and dancing and water, water, water. To say that I was constantly soaked would be an understatement. While I’ve worked the train ride into a story already, Songkran hasn’t made it yet, but it will.

JET: Of all the novels and stories you’ve written - which one is your favorite? Why?

Brett: Impossible to say. I love each of my books for different reasons. I guess The Cleaner will always have a special place because it was my first published work. I love my three latest – The Silenced, Little Girl Gone, and Sick – a lot! But I’m honestly happy with all of them.

JET: Any advice for the novices out there?

Brett: Write, write, write, everyday. Even if you write crap keep going. It’s through practice of the craft that you improve. One of the most important qualities for a writer: perseverance.

JET: All right - now that I’ve hammered you with the big questions, let’s tackle my favorite (and geeky) quick ten. . . starting with: Paper or Plastic?

Brett: Paper

JET: Steak or Tofu?

Brett: Steak

JET: Beach or Mountains?

Brett: Yes

JET: Country or Rock-n-Roll?

Brett: Rock-n-Roll

JET: Paper or Digital?

Brett: Paper transitioning into Digital

JET: Silent Film Classics or Cheesy B Rated Horror?

Brett: Silent Film Classics

JET: Coffee or Tea?

Brett: Tea

JET: Salty or Sweet?

Brett: Both

JET: Top 10 best seller or Unknown Back Shelf Find?

Brett: Back Shelf Find

JET: 2012 Mayan Prophecy Believer or Ain’t Gonna Happen?

Brett: Ain’t Gonna Happen, but it’s going to be amusing watching people go a little nuts as the date grows closer.

JET: Thank you for indulging me. Before we wrap this up, can you tell us what you're working on now? What's next?

Brett: In the middle of the follow up to Little Girl Gone. Then it’s on to the sequel to Sick. This fall I’ll be diving into the new Quinn…I’ve got them lined up back to back to back.

Thank you so much for taking the time to chat on my blog. Folks, you can find out more about Brett Battles and his work at his website: www.brettbattles.com

Join us next Friday when we dish it up with Ian Barker.

Until next week,

Ciao

JET

Dishing it up with Libby Fischer Hellmann

Today I have the pleasure of interviewing Libby Fischer Hellmann, an award-winning crime fiction and thriller author. Libby has released her 7th novel. Set the Night on Fire, a stand-alone thriller, which goes back, in part, to the late Sixties in Chicago. She also writes two crime fiction series. Easy Innocence (2008) and Doubleback (2009) feature Chicago P.I Georgia Davis. In addition, there are four novels in the Ellie Foreman series, which Libby describes as a cross between "Desperate Housewives" and "24."


Libby has also published over 15 short stories in Nice Girl Does Noir and edited the acclaimed crime fiction anthology Chicago Blues. Originally from Washington D.C., she has lived in Chicago for 30 years and claims they'll take her out of there feet first.

JET: Can you tell us about your most recent book, Set the Night On Fire?

Libby: It’s my 7th novel but my first stand-alone thriller, and it goes back, in part, to the late Sixties in Chicago. Lila Hilliard, a young 30 something professional, is being stalked in the present. In order to find out who’s after her and why, she uncovers information about her family that indicates they were not the people she thought they were. In the middle section we find out who those they were and what they were doing during 1968-70. Then we return to the present where Lila and friends confront the forces that are stalking her.

JET: What drew you to the thriller genre?

Libby: I love not being able to put a book down, to stay up way too late just to finish it. A well-written thriller gives me an adrenaline-fueled energy and visceral emotion that makes me think about the story even after I’ve finished it. Especially when it depicts an issue or situation that is inherently unjust. Or it’s set during a time like WW2 or the collapse of the Soviet Union, or other places and times of major conflicts. I started out reading authors like LeCarre, Ludlum, Follett, Gifford, Deighton and others (Funny – they were all men back then), and while I’ve broadened my reading since, I ‘m still drawn to suspense.

JET: What’s been your most challenging hurdle on the road to publication?

Libby: How many do you want?  Really -- it seems the more I jump, the more there are. But I suppose the most challenging hurdle occurred when my very first agent dropped me after failing to sell my first book. I really had to rethink my objectives and decide whether I wanted to continue. Fortunately, I decided to keep going, and I eventually got published. Repeatedly. But I’m still hurdling over and barreling through obstacles today. I just keep hoping that there will be a happy ending one of these days.

JET: What was your favorite moment in the journey?

Libby: That’s easy. I’m in a writers’ group – have been for 15 years. For the first couple of years, I was the newbie, and the person everyone liked to gang up on and criticize. Clearly, my craft needed work. But when I started my first Ellie Foreman book and read the first chapter in group, there was a stunned silence. I freaked out – I was sure they were going to say it was trash. Instead, the person who’d been the hardest on me said, “You found your voice.” I still treasure that moment.

JET: Which authors had the most influence over you growing up?

Libby: I read Nancy Drew, the Hardy Boys, and then graduated to “literature.” I loved Charles Dickens and Margaret Mitchell. Then I discovered Mad Magazine. I graduated to adult literature in my teens… Salinger, Vonnegut, then Erica Jong and other female voices. They all had their influence.

JET: When did you know you wanted to take the plunge into the writing world?

Libby: I was a late bloomer. Writing was never on my master plan. I kind of backed into it in my 40s after I realized I wasn’t going to become a famous American film director. Once I started writing, however, I was relentless.

JET: What’s the craziest thing you’ve done in the name of book research? Most interesting fact you uncovered?

Libby: It hasn’t happened yet. I was hoping to go to Cuba because my WIP takes place there, but the trip has been postponed. Barring that, I suppose the most daring things I did happened during the late Sixties. But who knew they would provide grist for a novel years later?

JET: Of all the novels and stories you’ve written - which one is your favorite? Why?

Libby: That’s a hard one. Which of your children do you love the most? I loved my third Elllie book, AN IMAGE OF DEATH – it said things about women and their choices (or lack of them) that I didn’t know I wanted to say. I also loved EASY INNOCENCE, because it pulled the rug up on an affluent suburb and showed what was really going on. And I love SET THE NIGHT ON FIRE, because it’s personal.

JET: Any advice (from a writer’s standpoint) for the novices out there?

Libby: Join a writers’ group. Or start one. Hopefully, in your genre. If you get the right people, it can make all the difference in the development of your craft. And it is a craft. If you’re willing to learn it, you will do well.

JET: All right - now that I’ve hammered you with the big questions, let’s tackle my favorite (and geeky) quick ten. . . starting with: Paper or Plastic?

Libby: Paper

JET: Steak or Tofu?

Libby: Steak. Rare. On the grill.

JET: Beach or Mountains?

Libby: Both.

JET: Country or Rock-n-Roll?

Libby: Rock. No question. (Except for Dolly Parton’s “There You Go Again..” – which was crossover anyway)

JET: Leather or Lace?

Libby: Leather.

JET: Angels or Demons?

Libby: Demons

JET: Paper or Digital?

Libby: Digital.

JET: Silent Film Classics or Cheesy B Rated Horror?

Libby: I’m tired of Charlie Chaplin. And Eisenstein. Cheesy B Horror for me.

JET: Top 10 best seller or Unknown Back Shelf Find?

Libby: Depends on my mood.

JET: Salty or Sweet?

Libby: It’s funny. I used to say “sweet” – no argument. But recently, I’m liking salty. A lot. What does that say about me? No… don’t answer that.

JET: Thank you for indulging me. Before we wrap this up, can you tell us what you're working on now? What's next?

Libby: I’m writing a multigenerational thriller that is set largely in a Caribbean country. It’s my most ambitious work to date. So we’ll see how and if it turns out.

JET: Thank you so much for taking the time to chat on my blog. Folks, you can find out more about Libby Hellmann and her work at the following places:

Website: http://libbyhellmann.com/

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/authorLibbyFischerHellmann

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Libby-Fischer-Hellmann/e/B001HMMDZU/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_pop_1


Next Friday is the first of the month and I’ll be highlighting some new releases coming out in April. Catch you then! Have a great week.

Ciao.

JET

Happy March First!

Welcome March!

Today my daughter turns sixteen and is getting her driver’s permit – Lord help us all!

With such a thrilling event on tap, I figured I’d share with you folks some equally as heart pumping books. In the mix are my Backspace brethren’s releases as well as some from a great group of Indie authors. Relax, grab a glass of wine and one of these puppies and enjoy a nice quiet evening.

Blake Crouch – RUN – February 26, 2011
5 D A Y S A G O
A rash of bizarre murders swept the country...
Senseless. Brutal. Seemingly unconnected.
A cop walked into a nursing home and unloaded his weapons on elderly and staff alike.
A mass of school shootings.
Prison riots of unprecedented brutality.
Mind-boggling acts of violence in every state.

4 D A Y S A G O
The murders increased ten-fold...

3 D A Y S A G O
The President addressed the nation and begged for calm and peace...

2 D A Y S A G O
The killers began to mobilize...

Y E S T E R D A Y
All the power went out...

T O N I G H T
They're reading the names of those to be killed on the Emergency Broadcast System. You are listening over the battery-powered radio on your kitchen table, and they've just read yours.

Your name is Jack Colclough. You have a wife, a daughter, and a young son. You live in Albuquerque, New Mexico. People are coming to your house to kill you and your family. You don't know why, but you don't have time to think about that any more.

You only have time to....
R U N

Mel Comley - FINAL JUSTICE – February 18, 2011

After suffering a breakdown and quitting the force, former Detective Inspector Lorne Simpkins is contacted by a friend at MI6 to help in a covert operation. Against her will, Lorne is convinced to help track down an old enemy, a sadistic and calculating criminal whose ambition is to become the world's richest man.

It’s up to Lorne and the agent to prevent him, which results in a chase through France.

Claudia Gray – AFTERLIFE – March 8, 2011

Destiny awaits Bianca and Lucas . . .

Bianca and Lucas have always believed they could endure anything to be together. When a twist of fate not only transforms Bianca into a wraith but also turns Lucas into a vampire—the very creature he spent his life hunting—they are left reeling.

Haunted by his powerful need to kill, Lucas can turn to only one place for help . . . Evernight Academy. Bianca is determined to remain with him. But with the vampire leader of Evernight waging a war against wraiths, her former home has become the most dangerous place she could be, despite the new powers her ghostly transformation has given her.

A battle between wraiths and vampires looms, and Bianca and Lucas face a terrifying new reality. They've overcome every obstacle life has thrown at them, but is their love strong enough to survive the challenges after life?

Michael Haskins – FREE RANGE INSTITUTION – March 9, 2011

Mick Murphy, the newshawk hero of Haskins’ latest Key West mystery, makes a classic reporter goof. He pretends to be a little closer to the action than he really is. Both good and bad guys take him at his word, and the chase is on. At the heart of it all is a plot to bring a particularly cheap and addictive drug called paco into the U.S. As the good guys assemble behind Mick and check their guns, echoes of Miami Vice reverberate, with both its pastel glitz and its underlying despair. The cartels have more money and guns; the best the rest of us can do is hold together. Things get lively as the confrontation approaches, but this really isn’t a high-concept action novel or even a stripped-down thriller. It’s about adult relationships, and its generous use of the Key West setting will appeal to readers who like local color. Since it’s the Keys, a lot of beer and rum goes down, and there’s much eating of cheeseburgers, dolphin sandwiches, and breakfast eggs with hot sauce. --Don Crinklaw – Booklist

Carrie Ryan – THE DARK AND HOLLOW PLACES – March 22, 2011


There are many things that Annah would like to forget: the look on her sister's face when she and Elias left her behind in the Forest of Hands and Teeth, her first glimpse of the horde as they found their way to the Dark City, the sear of the barbed wire that would scar her for life. But most of all, Annah would like to forget the morning Elias left her for the Recruiters.

Annah's world stopped that day and she's been waiting for him to come home ever since. Without him, her life doesn't feel much different from that of the dead that roam the wasted city around her. Then she meets Catcher and everything feels alive again.

Except, Catcher has his own secrets -- dark, terrifying truths that link him to a past Annah's longed to forget, and to a future too deadly to consider. And now it's up to Annah -- can she continue to live in a world drenched in the blood of the living? Or is death the only escape from the Return's destruction?

Tracey Alley - SLADE'S DESTINY - March 2011

The war has begun but there is no sign of the shadowy witch Shallendara. Her allies, Prince Ulrich of Vestland and The Dark One rain down death and destruction on the Emirate of Kemet but the witch herself pursues her own goals from the safety of Ieriendi palace. Lord Michael and Solomon do their best to lessen the damage caused by the witch’s ally’s war of conquest but the enemy are more interested in causing death and destruction and Lord Michael’s Knights and Solomon’s Monks are badly outnumbered.


Meanwhile with the help of Roulibard and a sympathetic dragon Slade and Ursula seek out their dying father, High King Erich in the bowels of Ieriendi’s dungeons. Facing death at every turn the siblings know only that to strike a blow against the witch’s plans they must somehow save their beloved father before it is too late.

Can Slade manifest his destiny in time to save, not just his father, but an entire world?



And on the non-fiction side of the fence, check these books out…



Eileen Kennedy-Moore, PhD – SMART PARENTING FOR SMART KIDS – March 1,2011

"My kid is smart, but..."

It takes more than school smarts to create a fulfilling life. In fact, many bright children face special challenges:

• Some are driven by perfectionism;
• Some are afraid of effort, because they're used to instant success;
• Some routinely butt heads with authority figures;
• Some struggle to get along with their peers ;
• Some are outwardly successful but just don't feel good about themselves.

This practical and compassionate book explains the reasons behind these struggles and offers parents do-able strategies to help children cope with feelings, embrace learning, and build satisfying relationships. Drawing from research as well as the authors’ clinical experience, it focuses on the essential skills children need to make the most of their abilities and become capable, confident, and caring people.

John Elder Robison – BE DIFFERENT – March 22, 2011

“I believe those of us with Asperger’s are here for a reason, and we have much to offer. This book will help you bring out those gifts.”

In his bestselling memoir, Look Me in the Eye, John Elder Robison described growing up with Asperger’s syndrome at a time when the diagnosis didn’t exist. He was intelligent but socially isolated; his talents won him jobs with toy makers and rock bands but did little to endear him to authority figures and classmates, who were put off by his inclination to blurt out non sequiturs and avoid eye contact.

By the time he was diagnosed at age forty, John had already developed a myriad of coping strategies that helped him achieve a seemingly normal, even highly successful, life. In Be Different, Robison shares a new batch of endearing stories about his childhood, adolescence, and young adult years, giving the reader a rare window into the Aspergian mind.

In each story, he offers practical advice—for Aspergians and indeed for anyone who feels “different”—on how to improve the weak communication and social skills that keep so many people from taking full advantage of their often remarkable gifts. With his trademark honesty and unapologetic eccentricity, Robison addresses questions like:

• How to read others and follow their behaviors when in uncertain social situations
• Why manners matter
• How to harness your powers of concentration to master difficult skills
• How to deal with bullies
• When to make an effort to fit in, and when to embrace eccentricity
• How to identify special gifts and use them to your advantage

Every person, Aspergian or not, has something unique to offer the world, and every person has the capacity to create strong, loving bonds with their friends and family. Be Different will help readers and those they love find their path to success.


On Friday, I’ve got the talented Cat Connor on my blog talking about her latest release exacerbyte. Swing in and say hi!


Until then,


Ciao.


JET