Welcome Author Christina OW

A Big Welcome to Author Christina OW. Why don't we start with and excerpt of Star Bright, which I Loved by the way!

Maria weaved through the booths and walked to table five balancing four plates on her arms and hands. Sometimes she wondered why she took this job in the first place. But she didn’t have much of a choice, that and the fact there wasn’t much in the small town of Jacksonville Mississippi to do, and there weren’t many options of a job position for a twenty- two year old girl who didn’t have a college education, with a four year old son and a dead beat boyfriend. It was a good thing her mother worked as a seamstress or they would be struggling more than they already were.

“Two burgers with fries, a veggie salad and an omelette with toast,” Maria repeated their order with a smile as she set the plates down on the table. She placed the veggie salad in front of the girl silently congratulating her on her efforts to lose weight. She was so round and hefty, at first Maria didn’t think she would fit in the booth, but somehow she managed. She placed the omelette and the burgers in front of the three guys sharing her table. “Would you like anything else?” she asked with a pasted smile that her manager had insisted she needed to have on at all times.

“You got our orders wrong!” the girl answered, looking at Maria with lethal eyes. Her freckled forehead was creased and her chubby cheeks looked even bigger with her lips curved down. Maria looked at her with equally hostile eyes. She had a long day with many obnoxious, perverted customers, there was very little polite left in her.

“Oh, I’m sorry which one?” she said feigning concern. She was sure she had gotten the orders right and the girl just wanted to annoy her, for some incomprehensive stupid reason, customers thought it fun to make waitresses run around like hamsters on a wheel under the notion of customer service. She was about to pull out her note book from the front pocket of her apron when the girl switched plates with one of the burger guys and pulled the omelette closer to her. Maria looked at her shocked, “Those are both yours?” The shock echoed in her voice.

“Yeah, so?” the girl barked.

Maria looked at the man who didn’t have food, he was tiny and was wearing a shirt three sizes too big. He sucked on his straw nosily, looking at her from under his long brown hair and then she turned to the one who got the salad. His clothes fitted tightly on his small frame. He looked like a pubescent girl tossing the salad around on his plate. He needed that burger more than the chubby girl did. The two were thin enough for her to eat with one bite each “Enjoy your meal.” She turned around and walked away. As she made her way to the counter, she could feel several eyes on her. She suddenly felt under dressed as she did on several occasions in the diner. Their uniforms didn’t help much and made her discomfort even worse.

See, this makes me want to read it all over again! Great book! So tell us something about yourself.

What is your favorite thing about being a writer?

Being able to express my imagination on paper and the fact that there is no limit or boundaries when creating an entirely fictitious new life I can live in for a few months.

What genre(s) do you write?

Romance, Paranormal, Suspense, Contemporary

What was the hardest part of writing your book?

When you have to describe a very painful scene. I really don’t want to do it, but the book really needs it. I end up feeling guilty destroying a life.

Are you a plotter or a pantser?

Both.
 I like planning out my books especially the series. It gives me a sense of direction and how and when the characters are to grow.
  

In Star Bright I was a pantser. I knew who Maria was and who Dave was at the beginning of the book but when the other characters come in, they just shaped them and they became these other people, very different from whom I thought they would be. Maria grew into this fierce confident woman, mother and wife and this was all because of Dave and to some extent Ricky, the villain. 

 Why do you think people should choose your books over another author?

I don’t think my book is better than anyone else’s. A book is supposed to relax you, make you think or open people’s minds. It just depends on what rocks the readers’ boats, and if my books are it, that’s cool.

What do you hope readers take with them after reading one of your stories?

It’s not wrong to dream, true love does exist and to always think of yourself and be selfish sometimes. Or you could risk getting lost or stuck.

Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?

In Star Bright. The message is don’t make excuses when you are in an abusive relationship because there is a man out there just waiting to show you what true love is.
‘I am the master of my destiny, the leader of my actions, the dictator of my world for the power lives in me and no one else.’

What other careers have you had?

I was an intern at a law firm for three months and then I did two months as an apprentice at a fashion house. I also feature in other artists songs

Do you write under more than one name? Why?

No. I use only one pen name Christina OW.
 My real name is Rinah Lidonde

Are any of your characters based on real people or events?

Star Bright yes. Spousal abuse is everywhere so this was my way of writing a happy ending to all of them.

What else would you like readers to know about you or your work?

The romantic suspense thriller, Fatal Jealousy will be released in January 2013.
Twins Ellsa and Ellie are completely different in character, personality, taste and interests. Apart from the striking resemblance to each other, they share the one thing siblings shouldn’t…. the same taste in men.
They keep falling for the same man, creating a quiet rivalry between them. Determined not to let a man come between them ever again, Ellie and Ellsa agree to stay away from each others relationships. But when they meet Dale Carson, an FBI agent and a bachelor, their love lives are turned upside down. 
But they aren’t the only ones taken by the rogue. His partner and long time lover, Gwen Johansson, also called dibs.
 Carson is interested in only one of them. He is pulled by Ellie’s passion for love and art, and most importantly, him. What starts as a sexual chase, ends with his permanent retirement from bachelorhood.
But their love story is not a smooth one.
Carson’s day job comes knocking on his front door and before he knows it, his whole world is ripped apart.
 Out of all the possible suspects, Ellie has the most evidence stacked up against her. She is implicated in the brutal murders of her ex-boyfriends, and Carson is faced with the horror of arresting the love of his life. With two suspects of his own, he is convinced she is being set up, but he has no way of proving it.

Sounds exciting! Another one I am going to have to read! How can our readers find you?
www.5princebooks.com/buy.htm

Facebook: Christina OW

Twitter: @christina_ow
Blogs: http://www.goodreads.com/ChristinaOW
http://www.christinaow.wordpress.com
http://www.all-you-can-read-club.com/christinaow.htm

 

Thank you so much for stopping by. After Fatal Jealousy comes out, we will see you again!

NEW RELEASE

NEW RELEASE TODAY! CHECK IT OUT! DO YOU HAVE BOOK 1 BIRTHRIGHT BESTOWED? GREAT FOR CHRISTMAS!

 

 

 

 

Available from 5 Prince Publishing www.5princebooks.com  books@5princebooks.com

Genre: Fiction, Romance, Time Travel

Release Date: November 29, 2012

Digital ISBN 13:978-1-939217-16-5 ISBN 10:19392171761

Print ISBN 13:978-1-939217-17-2 ISBN 10:193917172

Purchase link : www.5princebooks.com/buy.htm

 

Secrets Revealed

Ilona’s story is provocative, rich in characters and detail that bring a lost world to life, a journey to treasure and remember. In book one Ilona is a lonely doctor discovering her rich tribal heritage and birthright to become a Healer. The barrier created by her insecurity kept others out, but also kept her caged in. She has to break the barriers to discover her true identity. She discovers growing magical abilities within her in the strange world of the Huns, which are beyond her wildest dreams. She can use her given gifts for absolute good or absolute evil; the choice is up to her. Ilona’s birthright as a Healer runs alongside her desires as a woman. She’s secretly and hopelessly in love with her best friend, he seems oblivious to her feelings. Fate brings Zoltan into her life. Will he break her heart, or will he bring true happiness? Ilona is hoping for a red tulip, the symbol of devoted love. Who will offer it to her? She discovers some secrets the Hun society is concealing, a society that is secretive and complex, with strict and fiercely enforced ancient rules; revealed to only those who come of age. Ilona is a rebel, who is determined to control and guide her own life. Resourceful and daring, she crosses the line and breaks those rules. She must face the consequences and has to fight for her men; both of them disappear from the face of the earth. She acquires magical abilities beyond her dreams to find and save them. Ilona has been evacuated from her easy and steady life. She is happy, but she still has many doubts. She hates that she has to hide in the past from a faceless enemy, however enjoys meeting her ancestors.

 

Author Bio:
Erika M Szabo is a Hungarian born American; she lives in the beautiful Catskill Mountains. She has a PhD in Alternative Medicine; she published a few books in this subject. Erika loves the art of healing; however, writing about dry medical facts doesn’t satisfy her thirst for storytelling. The ancient history of the Huns always fascinated her, it is full of holes, mysteries and speculations; there are only a few written facts about them besides their legends. Erika used her fertile imagination to fill the historical voids in the story of Ilona. She raises questions such as - What if healing by touch could be possible? - What if we could find a soul mate no matter the obstacles? - What if we could visit our ancestors on a whim? - What if our destiny is not written in stone and we can create our future?

 

 

HOW TO CONTACT ERIKA:

 http://www.amazon.com/author/erikamszabo

http://www.erikamszabo.blogspot.com
http://www.facebook.com/Erika.M.Szabo.ND.Author
http://twitter.com/ErikaMSzabo
 

EXCERPT: Thanks to these freaking well-guarded Hun secrets, my life became very complicated almost overnight. Today, in the secret society of the descendants of the ancient tribes everything is structured and everyone is on the need to know bases. They move people around like puppets and create their destiny. I don’t know much about their plans with me and my life yet; I just found out that I’m a Healer by birthright. I accepted and welcomed this discovery, because being a traditional doctor doesn’t give me the opportunity to restructure people down to the cellular level, to heal their diseases, being a kind of magical healer does. To make my life even more complicated, I met Zoltan. All my life I nursed my quiet love for Bela, my best friend. He never gave me any sign of feeling the same; he always just wanted to be best friends and nothing more. Zoltan stirred emotions within me that I didn’t know I was capable of feeling. He is handsome, gentle and sensitive and when he kissed me… oh, what a kiss that was. The dark man relentlessly hounded me and tried to kill me many times. He couldn’t do it himself for some mysterious reasons, but he could influence others to try. Then I found out Ema was my sister. She is the forbidden second daughter of the Healer, who according to the ancient laws could bring destruction to the Hun nation and have to be destroyed. My mother and Elza successfully hid her from the Elders council and the Leaders council– for eighteen years, and then Elza made a mistake by naming her with her true birthright in a dream address. The Leaders decided to visit us bringing – as we suspected – the Law Keeper with them to destroy Ema. We couldn’t let them do that and we were frantically trying to find a way to save her.

I called Ema, told her there was an emergency and she had to come home right away. She panicked; afraid something had happened to Elza. I assured her that she was fine, we just had to decide something very important in a hurry and that we couldn’t talk about it on the phone.

“What is it? Please tell me! You’re scaring me, Ilili,” she begged me.

I knew she was in great distress, because she used my almost forgotten pet name. I was suspicious, not wanting to reveal anything on the phone. Actually, the way I felt was borderline paranoia. Who knows what kind of resources they have? What if they can even listen to phone conversations? I thought, knowing that I had found out so many peculiar and mysterious things about my ancestry, it really scared me.

“It’s okay, love. Come home as soon as you can and I’ll tell you everything.” I tried to calm her, but that didn’t work. I heard the escalating anxiety in her voice.

“Sure you can’t tell me? Not even a hint?” she probed.

“No love, sorry.” She gave up and promised she would be home in half an hour.

I remembered an important task and told Elza we had to prepare some food for the guests. In our tradition, it is an insult from the lady of the household not to offer refreshments to announced guests.

“I’m on it! I’ll get the food.” Elza’s voice trembled as she hurried towards the kitchen, her long skirt floating behind her. She must have been feeling greatly honored, yet scared half to death, by the upcoming visit.

“I’ll help!” I yelled after her as I jumped off the sofa.

“No, you won’t dare!” She turned back, alarmed.

Zoltan gave questioning glances to each of us in turn, “What’s going on?”

“Her culinary talent doesn’t even cover boiling water!” Elza exclaimed, in a hurry.

He laughed lightly. “I’m a good cook. It’s kind of a hobby of mine. Can I help?” He turned to Elza, smiling.

“All right, but you have to keep Ilona out of the kitchen!” she warned him. He had an amused expression on his face. He chuckled, cocked his head towards me and then led me towards the kitchen by my hand. “Are you really that bad?” he whispered.

“So they tell me!” I confessed. He laughed softly and squeezed my hand.

“She’ll just sit and watch.” He promised, turning to Elza.

I sat down across the aisle on a stool, muttering under my breath. They set to work, deciding on small sandwiches and cream puffs, which Elza took out from the freezer to thaw. Soon they were slicing Italian bread which they loaded with various toppings of cream cheese, pepperoni and olives. They flavored them with mustard and red pepper paste. As the pile of small sandwiches grew, Elza looked over to Zoltan with approval. He was a lovely sight to look at. Shirt rolled up to his elbows, and a thin apron accentuating his muscular chest and flat belly. He sliced and chopped at a fast and efficient pace.

“You look beautiful when you’re pouting, by the way,” he announced, smiling at me. My heart sank a little - it must have been apparent how I felt.

“It’s not fair! How can I learn to cook if nobody lets me?” I complained, but I was easing up somewhat.

“I will teach you sometime.”

“Promise you won’t laugh if I mess up?” I asked, suspiciously.

He made the cross sign over his left chest, trying hard to conceal a smile, “Cross my heart.”

“Can I at least set the table?” I asked Elza, still pouting. I was feeling rebellious and left out.

“Actually we need only small plates, napkins and glasses,” Elza replied. “All right, you can put them on one of the cocktail tables. Get the ones from the side cabinet.” She sighed as if she was talking to a small child.

I jumped up happily, grabbing at the chance for something to do. I carefully arranged the cart as Elza had instructed. I dropped only one plate in the process which wasn’t so bad...or so I thought, compared to my usual performances. I heard Elza sighing behind me. “I knew it! That’s why I told you to get the cheaper china.” She admonished quietly, under her breath. I blushed deeply, feeling like a berated child.

“Elzaaa!” I yelled at her, embarrassed.

Zoltan snickered softly while I quickly gathered the pieces on a napkin. “You’re a real klutz, you know!” I swallowed my hurt and looked up. He flashed a warm smile at me.

 

NEW RELEASE

NEW RELEASE TODAY! GO CHECK IT OUT, WOULD MAKE A PERFECT CHRISTMAS GIFT FOR YOUR LITTLE ONES!

 

 

 

Chris Mouse and the Promise

Tina J Lackey Adams

 

 

 

Available from 5 Prince Publishing www.5princebooks.com  books@5princebooks.com

Genre: Children

Release Date: November 28, 2012

Digital: ISBN 13: 978-1-939217-00-4 ISBN 10: 193217008 (COMING SOON)

Print: ISBN 13: 978-1-939217-01-1 ISBN 10: 1939217016

Purchase link : https://www.createspace.com/3948608  http://www.amazon.com/Chris-Mouse-Promise-Tina-Adams/dp/1939217016/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1354043594&sr=8-2&keywords=chris+mouse+and+the+promise

 

Chris Mouse and the Promise

Chris Mouse has just tucked her three little ones into bed when she notices the most beautiful bright shining star in the heavens. As she dreamily admires the star she remembers a prophecy she's heard stories about since her youth. A magnificent star would mark the birth of the Savior. Could this be the promise she had waited her entire life to see? What happens next will change the world forever. Life for Chris Mouse will never be the same. A Whimsical Christian children's book about the first Christmas for children ages 10 and under. Perfect for Christian home school families.

 

Tina received an Associate of Arts in Pre-Social Work,Cum Laude from Coconino County Community College. Shecompleted her Bachelors in Social Work from NorthernArizona University and MSW from Arizona State UniversityAuthor Bio:

Tina received an Associate of Arts in Pre-Social Work, Cum Laude from Coconino County Community College. She completed her Bachelors in Social Work from Northern Arizona University and MSW from Arizona State University.

She is an alumni of Phi Theta Kappa, Beta Gamma Chi Chapter and Gamma Phi Honor Societies.

Tina is a freelance writer and poet growing up with a a passion for reading and telling stories. She has a heart for children and animals serving families in Northern Arizona.

Fill your list for $.99c this weekend with bestseller SHE BELONGS TO ME by @Author_Carmen:

Did you know that you are able to buy now and gift later?

Yep! Take advantage of this special pricing on the romantic-suspense bestseller, She Belongs to Me, for yourself, and buy one to deliver to your avid-reader friends for Christmas.

She Belongs to Me by Carmen DeSousa has sat alongside such writing greats as Nicholas Sparks and J.D. Robb, and this weekend it’s only $0.99 cents, so don’t miss the savings!

Book Description:

After secrets and a mysterious background leave a wife’s life hanging by a thread, a husband must look for answers in the only place he knows—the past.

When wealthy construction company owner and Charlotte detective, Jordan Monroe, meets Jaynee for the first time he is awestruck and determines to make her his wife. Jaynee, however, has a history she cannot easily overcome and is fearful to submit to love. Jordan succeeds in making her his wife, but five years into their marriage, he realizes she is keeping secrets.  Before he can decipher her duplicity, he discovers her unconscious in their home from a gunshot wound only hours after giving her an ultimatum concerning their relationship.

With Jaynee’s life hanging in the balance, the mystery of her past drives Jordan to investigate. But what appears to be an attempted suicide turns out to be something far darker. Is someone from her past stalking her? Or worse, is someone close to Jordan trying to kill them both? As Jordan edges closer to the truth, it may be deadlier than he could ever have imagined.

What readers are saying:

A passionate romantic-suspense of love, betrayal, and obsession, She Belongs to Me will have you falling in love and wondering who you can trust right up to the last page.

"You'll be swept off your feet along with Jaynee as she discovers the man of her dreams. You'll be drawn into the drama. And you'll flip the pages fast as Jordan must desperately figure out the truth in time. I was and did!" — New York Times bestselling author Jaime Rush

“Carmen DeSousa has written an incredibly stunning book, full of spot on visuals that put you in the midst of the conversations, like a ghostly guest that spies on a romantic dinner date.” — International bestselling author Ashley Fontainne

“If you love a romance read with a dash of danger, intrigue and suspense sprinkled in, this is the book for you.” — Bestselling Author and The Examiner's "Top 12 Fiction Books of 2011" Carolyn Arnold

Download She Belongs to Me:

Amazon US

Amazon UK

A writer of modern-day fairytales, Carmen DeSousa’s stories overflow with romance, mystery, suspense, and of course, tragedy. After all, what would a fairytale be without a tragic event setting the stage? All of her novels are sensual, but not erotic, gripping but not graphic and will hopefully make you cry, laugh, love, and hope.

Carmen loves talking about all things books, so please connect with her via one of the links below.

Website

Twitter

Facebook

Goodreads

Welcome Author M.O. Kenayn

A Warm Welcome to Author M.O. Kenyan.
Good Morning! Let's jump in shall we.

Why don't we start with a little blurb about Shades of Spring 1964:Letter to my Daughter.

Maxine tries to deal with her mother’s death in her own way. But when she finds old letters revealing her family’s past she finds herself creating a bond with someone else, not knowing how far their history goes.

Taylor is amused and infuriated with Marine, and no matter how hard he tries he can’t stay away from her. Now he finds himself being her main supporter, the only one she can lean on as she travels back to the past. And when the past is resolved they now have to think of their futures, while they concentrate on their present.

Sounds Wonderful! Now tell us a little about you.

What was the hardest part of writing your book?

The hardest part would be keeping in touch with reality. Even in writing fantasy I want to keep close to reality. The last thing I want is a reader to go like, “oh Please, are you serious!”

Are you a plotter or a pantser?

I plot, I think it’s important to know where you want to go at a certain point in the story. But apart from the basic skeleton I let the story and the character’s lead me. I could never force an independent character to suddenly rely on someone else.

Why do you think people should choose your books over another author?

I think every author drums their own beat and everyone should dance to it. You can’t possibly say choose mine cause I am better. We all have our audiences.

What do you hope readers take with them after reading one of your stories?

 That I put in my 100% into the story. Hopefully they can find a little piece of themselves in the story and maybe an Oh! Moment.

 Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?

I try to push the necessity of love and family and truth to oneself in everything I write. At the end of it all when we are stripped bare all we have are the self, love and family.

What other careers have you had?
 I’m still a student, so I wouldn’t call anything else I have done a career. But from being a receptionist I learnt a lesson in human interaction, an intern at BBC I learnt the importance of truth in a story and from being a legal aid I learnt the importance of work.

Do you write under more than one name? Why?

  I write fictional romance under M.O Kenyan, although my fantasy books are yet to be published, I write under M.O Knight. I think it’s important for there to be separate names for separate genres. It helps your audience distinguish which genre the book is written in without having to read the back cover.

Are any of your characters based on real people or events?

Most of my writing if not all have a piece of me in it. And if I have interacted with you in the past twenty three years you are probably in it too. But I try not to make it so obvious.

How do you come up with the titles?

I come up with title before writing some of my books. And sometimes a sentence or a word just jumps at me. No real thought process I am led by instinct.

Has your life changed significantly since becoming a published writer?

Honestly no, maybe. Having my work out there does make me nervous on how people receive it. But I am yet to have my Oh my God moment. I don’t know why.
 
Do you work on one project at a time? Or do you multi-task?
I write books one at a time. But plots and ideas may come to me at the same time. I may say multitask because if I think of a story and a scene seems very crucial to me I will start with that, then be done with it before I start working on another scene.

When not writing, how do you relax?

I sleep.

Care to give our readers a brief excerpt?

Excerpt from Shades of Spring 1964~ Letters to my Daughter

  “Yes, Maxine.” Maxine didn’t miss the hint of exasperation in the professor’s voice. When she had raised her hand in class, she had seen the professor roll his eyes before he forced a smile and called on her.  

“I think we should do African literature,” she began, almost bouncing off her seat. She saw the relieved expression on the professor’s face. It always bothered her when, each time she wanted to make a contribution, there was a look of dread on his face. Maxine looked around the room taking in her classmate’s expressions and, despite the frustration and anger she saw from most of them, she went on. “Especially books by authors who wrote during or about colonization in Africa.” She didn’t care what the professor or the rest of the class thought. She thought it was a brilliant idea.   

The resistance from the class didn’t take long. “Why?” her classmate Taylor yelled out from the back of the room. Maxine always felt like his voice was constantly at the back of her mind, always disapproving of her ideas or suggestions. There were times she thought Taylor’s voice was part of her subconscious.

“What do you mean by why?” Maxine slightly turned her head towards the back. She took in quick, short breaths as she prepared to defend her suggestion.

“Why should we?” Taylor went on, addressing the professor. “The books for this unit have already been chosen. I don’t think we should add another book just because she said so.”

“She has a name.” Maxine turned her body to face Taylor. Her eyes narrowed as she burned holes in his pale forehead with her acid gaze. “We can find the time,” she said through clenched teeth. Maxine turned back to face her professor. “As a student, I have the right to ask for more knowledge.” There was no way the professor could deny her the opportunity to learn.

“Get a private tutor. Some of us don’t have time to squeeze in more reading,” Taylor hissed out. Maxine could see the frustration on his face. He had reached his boiling point, but she kept on pushing.

“As an African American--”

Taylor cut in. “Oh please,” he scoffed. “No one focuses on that stuff anymore.”

“That’s why I suggested it. I think we should all remember that time.” Maxine’s voice was like that of a little girl trying to wheedle her father into a new pony, charming but unwavering because she wanted something and she wanted it badly. “We, as Literature students and as people of this world, should care. It is where our history begins.”

“Exactly! History!” Taylor made his way to the front of the class and stood beside the professor.

Maxine held on to the edge of her desk, her nails digging into the wood, and called on every single patient cell in her body. She wasn’t going to let Taylor beat her, not a chance. She needed to make an argument and a good one. With a smile on her face, she also made her way to the front of the class. “As Literature students, we also have to learn the African Literature way of writing.”

“I think we have learned enough about other types of writing,” Taylor smirked.

“I think the fact that you said that proves what an air-head you really are.”

Taylor turned to face Maxine. The anger in his glare displaced the warm humor in his usually kind, brown eyes. She could feel his gaze burn into her, but she refused to look away. She wasn’t going to be moved.

 

Very Nice! How can our readers get ahold of you?

http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/7355136-marita

twitter; @MOK_Author

facebook http://www.facebook.com/MokAuthor?ref=hl

http://mokauthor.wordpress.com

 

And to purchase your book?

Amazon, Barnes and Noble or www.5princebooks.com/buy.htm

 

Thank you so much for stopping by today! Hey, go buy this book!

 

 

 

 Welcome Ann Swann Author of All For Love. Let's get started shall we?

Please tell us something about your book, All For Love.

Liz falls in love with Quinn the moment they meet in college.  He professes to love her, too.  She begins to think about the future, but his past rips them apart.  What Liz does next impacts the rest of their lives, but she feels it is the only way… she does it all for love.

Very Nice! Sounds Like a Great book! Tell us a little about yourself.

I live in West Texas with my handsome hubby and three rescue pets.  All For Love is my first romance novel.  I am the author of the Young Adult books: The Phantom Series.  Book One is The Phantom Pilot, Book Two is The Phantom Student, and I am hard at work on Book Three, The Phantom of Crybaby Bridge.  I have also published short fiction in the anthologies Timeless (paranormal love stories) and Campfire Tales (spooky stories for the young at heart).

 

Keeping busy, I Like it! Now if you don't mind, we would like to ask you a few questions.

 

What is your favorite thing about being a writer?

Making up characters and bringing them to life while still dressed in my pajamas and nursing a cup of coffee.

What was the hardest part of writing your book?
I tend to rush to the finish.  I have to slow down and plump up.

Are you a plotter or a pantser?

I have to know the ending, then it’s strictly seat of the pants!

Why do you think people should choose your books over another author?

I like to make people cry.

What do you hope readers take with them after reading one of your stories?

Unforgettable characters.

Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?

In All For Love, I hope the reader gets the message that decisions made in haste often have life-long consequences.

How long have you been a writer?

Since I was old enough to string sentences together in a spiral notebook. 

How much time did it take from writing your first book to having it published?
Well, my first book was never published.  It died a slow and painful death at the hands of zombie-dust-bunnies in the bottom drawer of my old desk.
Twenty years later, I got serious and published a novella.  However, I was writing and publishing short stories all along.

Please tell us 5 miscellaneous facts about yourself.
I love roasted jalapenos.
My favorite drinks are coffee, chocolate milk, and Diet Coke (not usually all together).
My daughter, Sara Barnard, is also an author published by 5 Prince Publishing.
I have five grandchildren.
I once met Andre the Giant (from The Princess Bride).  He was very nice and very, very large

Well with the family and writing you seem to be very busy my dear! Care to share an excerpt from All For Love?

We were drinking iced tea at our favorite sidewalk café when the plastics plant exploded.

One moment Ronnie was checking my left hand to see if my wedding ring was still there, and the next thing I knew she was crawling across the blistered sidewalk in slow motion, reaching out for me.

Ronnie and I have been friends since college. She and Carol were my dorm mates. The best friends I’ve ever had. But college was a long time ago.

“How long do you think it takes to fall out of love?” I had just asked.

Stalling for time, Ronnie gazed about The Sidewalk Café. The strong breeze should’ve been cool, but it was dry and hot. Instead of our usual twelve inches of rain for the year, we’d received just less than two. The drought in our area of West Texas had been catastrophic; a simple spark from a piece of machinery could start a wildfire that might burn for days or even weeks. The weather channel delighted in telling us we were smack dab in the middle of the worst dry spell since the nineteen fifties.

In a way, it was fitting. I seemed to be smack dab in the middle of a drought myself. My nest felt as empty as the prairie, and my husband, who could’ve been the spark to light my world, was also brittle and dry. In fact, he was so dry he was practically nonexistent, like the prairie grass hiding in the earth, waiting for moisture.

Ronnie swished a fly away from her drink. “What’s going on, Lizzie?”

I hesitated. She was so good at taking the wind out of my sails. In fact, I’d swear she was using “wait time” on me, a technique we had learned in our education classes at the university about a hundred years ago.

Shrugging nonchalantly, I forged ahead. I really wanted her input. I still valued it every bit as much as when we were nineteen. “I think he’s screwing around again.” I sipped my tea. Mine was sweet, hers was not. She was usually the sensible one—at least when she wasn’t toasted on Mexican red.

She smoothed the shiny fall of hair off her face. It was still the fresh, reddish color of a blood orange.

“Are you sure?” she asked. “Or is it just suspicion?” She swirled her tea, giving me a moment to answer. The amber liquid climbed the inside of her glass like a tiny tsunami. She reached across the table to touch my hand. We weren’t very demonstrative anymore, not like when we were in school. I don’t know why, but I suspected it was my fault. A hug upon meeting was the extent of our physical relationship. Sometimes one of us would hug the other when we parted—it all depended upon our emotional altitude at the moment. But this time she wasn’t being demonstrative by clasping my hand, she was simply checking to see if my wedding ring was still in place. She turned my hand over and pushed it flat down on the table.

That is amazing! Well folks you read it here! Now go out and get it! Where can our readers find you and your books?

To Find me you can go to

Blog: www.annswann.blogspot.com

Website: www.annswann.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/annswann.author

Twitter: @ann_swann

Email: swannann76@yahoo.com

 

To Find my book, you can go to Amazon, B&N, Smashwords, Itunes and www.5princebooks.com/buy.htm

Thank you for sharing with us today! Have a Great Week!

Welcome Author Hillary Seidl

Welcome Hillary! I understand that The Amulet is your latest release. Why don't you tell us something about The Amulet.

Leah Mason is an ice cream slinger by day and a ghost hunter by night. Having been judged by some of the people of her home town of Black Springs, Colorado unjustly, she wants only to use her gift of clairvoyance to help ghosts and gather evidence of the other side.  But living the life she wants seems impossible until her high school crush Michael Dresden walks into her mother’s ice cream parlor, Supernatural Flavors. 

Back from traveling around the world, Michael has a problem.  His house is being renovated and strange occurrences lead him to believe that the residence might be haunted. Leah is the only one he can turn to for help. Wearing her amulet around her neck, Leah knows the dark entity terrorizing Michael's house is after her family’s magic and must be stopped.

Now, she must defeat the demon and prove to skeptic Michael that love and the otherworldly do exist.  It’s just hard to believe until it happens to you.

 

Sounds like my kind of book! What is your favorite thing about being a writer?

Telling the stories of love and the paranormal. 

Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?

Believe in love.

Are any of your characters based on real people or events?

I base some of the ghostly happenings in my book on my childhood. 

What books or authors have most influenced your life?

I love historical novels, paranormal or not.  Katherine Sutcliffe’s, A FIRE IN THE HEART, is a beautiful story that I re-read every chance I get. 

How do your family and/or friends feel about your book or writing venture in general?

I have such a supportive husband and family. 

How do you come up with the titles?

Titles are hard for me. I start with writing down things, people, places that are in my book and rearrange words until I have a title. 

Has your life changed significantly since becoming a published writer?

My time is more dedicated to my writing than ever. 

Do you work on one project at a time? Or do you multi-task?

I try really hard to multi-task as much as possible.

Can you give us an excerpt of The Amulet?

“Thanks for coming in.” Leah choked out the words. Her heart pounded as she handed the change back to Michael Dresden, the tips of her fingers met his skin.

He smiled and nodded biting into his Blackest Soul Walnut ice cream. As soon as he turned and headed for the door Leah made for the backroom.

Leah peeked around the corner one more time to make sure the man that she had dreamed about for the last eight years was gone. Not seeing anyone, she tilted her head, one eye discreetly scanning the room. Satisfied, she leaned against the doorframe. He was gone. She shut her eyes tightly willing the hot tears back.

One thing was for sure. He hadn’t remembered her. Seeing his eyes searching her cheesy striped vest for a nametag was her first indication.

The six-foot-two-inch, hunky, blond Michael Dresden, with those mesmerizing green eyes, had grown into adulthood and he didn’t know who she was. He had lost his boyish looks and swapped them out for manly, rugged features that included stubble and a little too long, blond hair. He was just as handsome now as he ever was.

The thought made her feel as un-pretty as ever. Sure, she had lost weight since high school but she still rocked a curvy form. The bigger curves had thinned out over her five foot seven, medium frame after high school. Learning about hair products and how to use them to fight her black, riotous curls had helped her look evolve. She had changed a lot too, so it wasn’t out of the realm of reality that he didn’t remember her. After all there were eighty of them that had graduated together. Surely she’d forgotten a few of them too.

That was almost a comforting thought.

SOUNDS GREAT! HOW CAN OUR READERS FIND YOU?

hillaryseidl@yahoo.com

Twitter @hillaryseidl

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Hillary-Seidl/176499375780087

 

And your books?

Amazon, B&N, Itunes, Smashwords, www.5princebooks.com/buy.htm

 

Thank you so much for stopping by!