Andrew Fine #Interviewed By Mistral Dawn

 Hey Everyone!! :-)

Andrew Fine is here with us today! :-) Will you tell us about yourself and how many books you have written, Andrew?

Andrew: I am a retired mad scientist some 52 years old, a full-time homemaker, sometime silversmith, and occasional creative writer. I've struggled with autism my entire life, but despite this I hold a master's degree in computer science and held down a 15 year career as a software designer before the bottom finally fell out of the industry due to off-shoring of work to China and India since 2005. I have a beautiful wife and a lovely 11 year old girl who I help care for. I've only written one book so far.

Me: Sounds like you're a busy guy! :-) What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?

Andrew: My only, and therefore latest book, is Alouette's Song. It's a re-imagination of a space opera set in the Depression Era and published in 1928 which had fallen into the public domain. This original book under a different title inspired me as an 11 year old to do my best to rise above a lifetime of very oppressive treatment by family, classmates, and co-workers, and it also opened the door to my incessant consumption of science-fiction and fantasy novels.
It wasn't until a few years ago when I hospitalized myself for depression since no-one on God's green Earth would hire me for any reason, that I actually had the inspiration to write a novel at all. While hospitalized, I was required to write almost a ream of forms regarding every moment of my life, and when I left I was allowed to take those notes with me. It occurred to me then I could write about my life in a way that would put no one on display, if I found the right framework to do so. The old book became available to do this, and I divided my life experience into 4 completely redesigned public domain main characters for a now completely redesigned story set in the 2015-2020 period. I chose that novel as an homage to its original author, and kept original continuity where I could.

Me: Interesting! It's great you were able to turn your troubles into something you can be proud of. :-) What are you working on now?

Andrew: The sequel. I'm thinking of calling it Alouette's Dream. It will be set a generation later, here the first child born off-world will be fighting to keep alive the dream her parents had won for all humanity.

Me: Awesome! :-) What authors, or books have influenced you?

Andrew: Which ones haven't? I've had a lifetime to read books by various authors. I believe Piers Anthony, Jacqueline Carey, Catherine Asaro, Mike Moscoe, Robert Heinlein, Wendy & Richard Pini, and C. S. Lewis would all do for starters. I'm very much also influenced by the entire Yamato mythos, first created in the 1970. I also enjoy Sailor Moon, and (just because my daughter addicted me to it) My Little Pony.

Me: Wow! Eclectic tastes! :-) What are you reading now?

Andrew: Mostly the novels of other people requesting reviews. My family lives on my SSDI and so I cannot afford to actually buy novels at a bookstore anymore.

Me: I hear you there! For those who might consider reading your book, what would you tell them to expect?

Andrew: To laugh. To cry. Maybe even to think. To the old-timers out there, to give my re-imagination of a novel I'm paying home to, a decent chance, to listen with an open mind the story being re-told in its own different way and by its different point of view, not unlike the way Battlestar Galactica was re-imagined into BSG.

Me: That was an interesting take on a classic Sci-Fi story. :-) What is your favorite part of being an author?

Andrew: Creating characters and making them come alive to live, breathe, and love.

Me: Yes, that's a lot of fun! :-) Do you have a day job as well?

Andrew: Being an author is just a one-to-two hour hobby. My real job is keeping house, cook, clean, fold laundry, and do chores around the house and the garden.

Me: Cool! What is the hardest and easiest part about being a writer?

Andrew: I think the hardest part of being a writer is figuring out how to get myself out of the corner I've painted myself into sometimes. When that happens, writing becomes a virtual act of will, I have to leave the work alone for days. The easiest part of writing is how frequently it occurs that I happen to write wrongs on my keyboard.

Me: Ha! Yeah, that happens. ;-) What genre do you place your book in?

Andrew: YA/NA Speculative Fiction

Me: Wonderful! :-) Is there anything else you'd like to tell your readers?

Andrew: I began my adulthood at 16 as a result of graduating high school early. I have two teenagers at 16 and 17 accelerated into college who begin relationships soon after they become legally emancipated minors. I consider that status as morally equal to adulthood. It's the one exception that those who consider New Adult fiction as appropriate only to 18 and over people seldom consider. That said, nothing said in the novel is explicit, most everything depicted is indirect and metaphorical. What happens is meant for the sake of character development and nothing more.

Me: Interesting perspective. :-) Are there any links you'd like me to post?

Andrew:
www.facebook.com/alouettesong
www.pinterest.com/iamextremelyuse
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00V0YQPWC
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25204382-alouette-s-song-adventure-cover
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/alouettes-song-andrew-jonathan-fine/1119344642

#Interview With Veronica Randolph!! :-)

Hey Everyone!! :-)

Ch'kara SilverWolf has again managed to corral one of my characters and ask them some questions!! :-)  This time it's Roni on the hook, and it I'd really appreciate it of you'd take a moment to check out the interview and see what they found to chat about. ;-)  And please give Ch'kara's wonderful blog some love while you're there!! :-)  Thank you all!!

Roni's Interview With Ch'kara

#Announcing Savannah Morgan's #NewRelease: #Dakota's #Autumn!!! :-)

Flowers can be beautiful, For over twenty years Shane Black has been a man searching; searching for his missing twin brother, searching for the man who tore his family apart, searching for a way to reclaim his identity, searching for home. In the middle of a mission where his cover is blown, Shane awakens to find himself in a shack in the middle of South America where the beautiful little flower who saved his life has left him and taken the formula he was sent to recover. Now he must find his way home with the few items she has left for him and start a new search. For her. Flowers can be deadly, When Autumn is abducted by the man responsible for destroying Shane’s family, he must face his personal demons and join forces with those he holds responsible for betraying Autumn.While Shane and the Deadly Flowers race to bring Autumn home safely, she stumbles onto what Shane has searched most of his life for, but will they be too late to end the reign of terror of a mad man. Flower can be healing. Autumn Bennett is a woman of many talents and secrets. A top rate trauma surgeon and a master of Dim Mak, she is as complicated and deadly as the flower she is named after, the Autumn Crocus, a flower known to have both healing and life-threatening properties. Autumn’s professional life is turned upside down when she is falsely accused of killing a patient. At odds as to what she should do she turns to the family business, a private security firm where her cousins have banded together to create an all female covert ops team, the Deadly Flowers. Using her skills as a healer, and her mastery of Dim-Mak, Autumn winds her way in and out of her two careers searching for answers to where she belongs, in her life, in her complicated family and the man who fascinates her above anyone else.

Buy on Amazon

About the Author

I have traveled the world, dove the deepest sea, climbed the highest mountains. I’ve fought against tyranny and injustice, and brought evil to a grinding halt. I have been a queens handmaiden, made kings and lived the life of a princess. I’ve built realms and destroyed empires. I have owned businesses and been work drone. I’ve been a desperate housewife and the sexy neighbor next door. I’ve ran fortune 500 companies and been a irreplaceable assistant. I have written PR campaigns for product and evil candidates alike. I have built towns, created lovely art, photographed the world and produced crafty little items. I have been betrayed, found the answer to the secret within the lie, and found love in the most unlikely places. I have scratched and clawed my way out of dissolute situations and I have caused those I love pain. I can fly a fighter jet and swoop in for a rescue in a chopper taking fire. I can dismantle a bomb. Find a cure for the worst diseases. I can shift into any creature I wish to be. I am magical. I am a Warrior Goddess who will smite you down or send a faerie in to help you find true love. I am all these things and more...in the fertile depths of my imagination. In truth, I live in Central MS with my husband and two dogs and live a simple life, which I love. I have an adventurous spirit and thoroughly enjoy seeing new places while meeting new and interesting people.

Where to find Savannah Morgan:

Website: http://www.author-savannahmorgan.com/ Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7853656.Savannah_Morgan Facebook: http://tinyurl.com/praot6y FB Author Page: http://tinyurl.com/nsxeq9m Google+: http://tinyurl.com/onagba8 Twitter: https://twitter.com/AuthorSavvyM Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/smorganauthor/ TSU: https://www.tsu.co/SavannahMorganAuthor Are: http://tinyurl.com/pc22uxj Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdEO886VR1Sf_CdhP9QFTEg Authorgraph: https://www.authorgraph.com/authors/AuthorSavvyM Blog: http://savannahsthoughtgarden.blogspot.com/ FB Blog Page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Savannahs-Thought-Garden/368698966666651

More titles from Savannah Morgan

Dreams: A Sapphire Springs Novel
Secrets: A Sapphire Springs Novel
Touch of the Irish: A Collection of Erotic Fantasies: Part 1: Dragon’s Lair

#RRBC #Spotlight: #Character #Interview with Gwin Scawen – #Cornish #Piskie

Hey Everyone!! :-)

Please welcome Rave Reviews Book Club's Spotlight Author, Nancy Bell and her character Gwin Scawena Cornish Piskie from her book Go Gently!! :-)

Greetings, children of Adam and Eve. *Gwin doffs his pointy hat and bows* I’ve been asked to share a tiny bit about meself, so I have. I am Gwin Scawen, my names means White Elder in old Cornish. I have known Laurel’s Gramma Bella since she was a young thing and running from that bounder Daniel Treliving. *stops to shake his head* Now that was a right mess, so it was. But, that is for another day. I was instrumental, so I was, in getting Laurel and Vear Du, the Selkie together. Vear Du means Big Black in old Cornish. Vear and me have been mates for many long years. At first I didn’t realize he was Laurel’s grandfather, can you imagine that? I was fair blown away when I soused that out. Oh my, what a mess. The Selkie didn’t even know he had a half mortal son, let alone a granddaughter. What a treat to see the Selkie at a loss for a change. Quite conceited his kind can be at times, if you know what I mean. Anyways, back to me, Gwin Scawen. I am a full blooded Cornish Piskie, that’s me. Laurel’s friend, Aisling, is my very favorite human mortal. I watch over her and keep her safe. When it pleases me, I help out her and her friends if they get into trouble. It was great fun when me and me mates put the run on the bleeder Daniel Treliving. He’ll not bother that young Gort anymore, you mark my words. Oh, dear, they say I’ve rambled on too long. I must be off now. So nice to make your acquaintance, so it was. *bows again and steps sideways and disappears*

Book Blurb:
Laurel Rowan is determined to find her estranged grandmother. She wants answers to some questions that arose after her visit to Cornwall. Laurel needs to know why her father is angry with Gramma Bella. Arriving in the hamlet of Bragg Creek, Alberta, Laurel is disappointed to find Gramma Bella has gone to England. A Christmas visit to her friends in Cornwall seems like a good idea, after all that’s where all the questions started. What she finds there is both exciting and disturbing. Laurel and her friends embark on another adventure over the windswept moors and down the narrow winding streets of Cornish villages. The biggest question is: Where is Gramma Bella and what does Vear Du know about it?

Book Links:
Amazon - http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00VH5O2HY/ref=cm_sw_su_dp
Books We Love - http://bookswelove.net/authors/bell-nancy/

Author Bio:
Nancy M Bell is a proud Canadian and lives near Balzac, Alberta with her husband and various critters. She is a member of The Writers Union of Canada and the Writers Guild of Alberta. Nancy had numerous writing credits to her name and her work has been recognized and honored with various awards. Nancy has presented at the Surrey International Writers Conference and the Writers Guild of Alberta Conference. Her publishing credits include poetry, fiction and non-fiction.

Twitter - @emilypikkasso
Facebook - http://facebook.com/NancyMBell
Website - http://www.nancymbell.ca
Blog - http://nancymariebell.blogspot.ca/

#Grand #Finale!! :-)

Hey Everyone!! :-)

The final part of my chat with Savannah Morgan is posted on her blog today!! :-)  Please take a moment to check it out, and maybe let us know what you thought!! Thank you, everyone, for joining us, and for making Savannah's new blog a success!!!  You're all awesome!!!! :-)

Interview With Savannah Morgan Part 4

Jamie Jeffries #Interviewed By Mistral Dawn! :-)

Hey Everyone! :-)

Jamie Jeffries has joined us today to talk about her awesome novels! :-) Can you tell us a bit about yourself and how many books you have written, Jamie?

Jamie: Let’s see. I started writing because I didn’t want to work in retail, the only option open to me at the time. I started out by ghost-writing non-fiction books, and then a client approached me about fiction. Since then, I’ve written five thrillers, four erotic romance novels and a novella in that category and three romantic suspense novels. Not all of them are published, and some are published under different pen names. Jamie Jeffries is the pen name for the romantic suspense books. As of April 9, I’m about to publish the third one, literally today.

Me: Wow!! Busy lady! :-) What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?

Jamie: The latest is Fatal Divide. During my research for Fatal Exposure, I learned that the Tohono O’odham tribe has endured even worse treatment than other Native American peoples in nearby regions. Their ancestral lands were actually cut in half when the border between Mexico and the US was established in 1870. I’ll save the rest for the book, but it’s a truly discouraging situation, and I wanted to bring it to light in the context of the series I’m writing, Desert Heat.

Me: That's terrible! I hate that history is full of tragedies. What are you working on now?

Jamie: I just gave Fatal Intent, the third book in my Desert Heat series, to my editor, and now I'm outlining the fourth book. I plan to release Fatal Intent on June 5, but of course that will depend on when I get it back from the editor.

Me: Best of luck with that, it's great that you are able to educate and entertain at the same time. What authors, or books, have influenced you?

Jamie: Too many to name, actually. I grew up on Louisa May Alcott and classics from previous generations. For the romantic suspense category, JA Jance, Nevada Barr and a newer writer, Kendra Elliot.

Me: Cool! :-) What are you reading now?

Jamie: I’m actually reading some Young Adult titles, as a judge for my local RWA chapter’s annual contest. Sorry, can’t reveal which ones.

Me: Ha! Mysterious! ;-) For those who might consider reading your book, what would you tell them to expect?

Jamie: They can expect to follow the main character, Alex, and her love interest, Dylan, from Fatal Exposure as they delve into another murder mystery that seems to involve Dylan. Alex and Dylan have major problems to overcome if they’re ever going to be together in a more serious relationship, and this book explores both of their feelings about how it’s going.

Me: Ooooo! Sounds fun! :-) What is your favorite part of being an author?

Jamie: The freedom. That was the first attraction, and it remains the best, though I’m enough of a workaholic that I don’t often exercise it. I also love the creation process, and the ability to connect with readers, who always have higher praise for my books than I expect.

Me: Ha! Yes, readers are awesome!! Do you hear that, readers? We love you!! :-) Do you have a day job as well?

Jamie: This is my day job. ALL day, EVERY day. LOL

Me: Lucky lady!! :-) What is the hardest and easiest part about being a writer?

Jamie: I think the hardest, for me, has been the realization that even though I’m an English major and can recognize superior writing, it isn’t that easy to do it. The easiest part is finding educational resources to help with that. The internet has so much to offer, both in learning writing technique and for research. One could literally be home-bound and still do it.

Me: True, the internet is truly one of the greatest inventions ever! ;-) What genre do you place your book in?

Jamie: All of the Jamie Jeffries books are romantic suspense. The first one, Impermanent and the Desert Heat series have protagonists in the New Adult age group. As time goes on, I expect to branch out with older characters, but it will still be romantic suspense.

Me: Awesome! Is there anything else you'd like to tell your readers?

Jamie: Oh yes! Thank you, thank you, thank you, for reading my books and for reviews. But especially for reading!

Me: Amen! :-) And so these fine folks can find your work, are there any links you'd like me to post?

Jamie: Sure! Would you post my website. www.jamiejeffriesbooks.com, and maybe my Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/JamieJeffriesBooks?

Absolutely, there they are! ;-) Thank you for stopping by today, and thank you everyone else for joining us! Please stay tuned for more of Mistral Dawn's musings! :-)

#Fae20KGiveaway!! #Books & #Bookswag #Giveaway! :-)

Hey there! It's Sarah Fae here from FaeBooks.co.uk. Today I'm celebrating! I am celebrating not only reaching 20,000 followers, but now over 25,000 followers!

I've teamed up with a bunch of authors, crafters, bloggers and more and together we're bringing you this awesome event! Squeeee!!!!

I just want to point out that this is another INTERNATIONAL giveaway of mine. So nobody gets excluded! Always awesome, right?

Anyway...

Welcome to the
#Fae20kGiveaway

... Oh yes, it has a hashtag!

I'm super excited right now, so let's just get straight down to business and tell you who the fabulous sponsors of this giveaway are.