Wednesday, May 27, 2015

Untaught and Unlearned Knowledge by Fred G. Womack Book Blast - Win a $25 Amazon Gift Card!


Title: Untaught and Unlearned Knowledge
Author: Fred G. Womack
Publisher: iUniverse
Pages: 466
Genre: Fantasy
Format: History

 Much has been said and written about faith in recent times, but do people of this generation really know what faith is? Why has raw faith, through the centuries, chosen Christianity in preference to other global religions when the freedom of choice was allowed? In Untaught and Unlearned Knowledge, author Dr. Fred G. Womack provides information and insight into the functioning of faith, which has been neglected by Biblical scholarship for several years. What is faith? How is faith? When is faith? Why is faith? Womack explores these questions and more and addresses what can be done to increase and strengthen faith. He discusses that an ancient paradigm ensures that authentic Christianity will prevail through faith, and it guarantees the ultimate triumph of truth in religion. In Untaught and Unlearned Knowledge, Womack casts light into the shadows where little or none has been directed with regard to faith, a theme central to all religions and one that enables Christianity to stand apart from the rest.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Fred G. Womack, D. Min., earned a Master of Divinity in New Testament Theology and a Doctor of Ministry. He is a Christian minister with thirty-five years of experience and has been an adjunct professor at the collegiate and seminary level. Womack is married and has three children.

Fred is giving away a $25 Gift Card!

 
Terms & Conditions:
  • By entering the giveaway, you are confirming you are at least 18 years old.
  • One winner will be chosen via Rafflecopter to receive one $25 Gift Certificate to the e-retailer of your choice
  • This giveaway begins May 25 and ends on June 5.
  • Winners will be contacted via email on June 6.
  • Winner has 48 hours to reply.
Good luck everyone!

ENTER TO WIN!

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The Drive In by Douglas Gardham Book Blast - Win a $25 Amazon Gift Card!





Title: The Drive In
Author: Douglas Gardham
Publisher: iUniverse
Pages: 130
Genre: Short Stories
Format: Kindle/Paperback

 Have you ever been intrigued by what mysteries lie behind the doors and windows of the places you pass by on your drive into work everyday? The Drive In takes you on Tom Johnson‘s commute. Unlike Tom, you’ll get to peek behind some of those closed doors. Remember going to the “Drive-In” theatre? Each story reveals what goes on like watching the “dusk ‘til dawn” features through your car’s windshield. Meet the people at the places Tom only passes by each day. Then discover how his drive in ends like no other.  

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

 Douglas Gardham is the author of the STARbook-awarded novel The Actor. He lives near Toronto, Canada with his wife, dog and cat. He loves books, music and movies. This is his second published novel.

Douglas is giving away a $25 Gift Card!

 
Terms & Conditions:
  • By entering the giveaway, you are confirming you are at least 18 years old.
  • One winner will be chosen via Rafflecopter to receive one $25 Gift Certificate to the e-retailer of your choice
  • This giveaway begins May 25 and ends on June 5.
  • Winners will be contacted via email on June 6.
  • Winner has 48 hours to reply.
Good luck everyone!

ENTER TO WIN!

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Tuesday, May 26, 2015

The Rabbit Culture by Tito Capaldo Book Blast - Win a $25 Amazon Gift Card!



Title: The Rabbit Culture
Author: Tito Capaldo
Publisher: AuthorHouse
Pages: 200
Genre: Family/Relationship
Format: Kindle/Paperback

 Direct and vivid in its telling of the details of the adoption of a 7-year old boy from Romania after the collapse of Communism, the novel manages ultimately to deliver much more. Despite this story, I have been very lucky in my life … I had two wonderful parents, who, in their simplicity they taught me to love and respect Nature and its Laws. I have had satisfactory work experience both economically and professionally, first as a military pilot in the Italian Air Force, and now as a Fire fighting Pilot for the Civil Defence . I am not rich, but I can not complain .. I have everything I need. If you have the adventure to stumble upon this book and buy it, you can be sure that every cent will be used for the survival of the protagonist, my adoptive son ,when I’m gone.    

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

 Antonio Capaldo was born at Campo di Giove (AQ) on 14thJuly 1948. Authentic mountaineer, he spent his adolescence in close contact with nature in a mainly agricultural and pastoral farming environment at the foot of the Majella massif. After high school he passed the admission course and joined the Air Force Academy, then he obtained the license as military pilot at USAF Air Force School in the US. He served as an Air Force Pilot on C-130 aircraft at Pisa Air Base for 19 years. He had the opportunity to travel around the world and carry out several humanitarian missions. Then he was transferred to Latina Flight School where he worked as an instructor and flight examiner where he held the position of Group commander. After a 2-year service for the Major Staf (Italian Air Force) he went on leave.

Tito is giving away a $25 Gift Card!

 
Terms & Conditions:
  • By entering the giveaway, you are confirming you are at least 18 years old.
  • One winner will be chosen via Rafflecopter to receive one $25 Gift Certificate to the e-retailer of your choice
  • This giveaway begins May 25 and ends on June 5.
  • Winners will be contacted via email on June 6.
  • Winner has 48 hours to reply.
Good luck everyone!

ENTER TO WIN!

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Generations of Betrayal: Lies, Lies, and More Lies by NSLeumas Book Blast - Win a $25 Amazon Gift card!


Title: Generations of Betrayal
Author: NSLeumas
Publisher: Trafford
Pages: 690
Genre: Political Science
Format: Kindle/Paperback

 . . .more-praises “You need to know everything in GOB if you are to understand the subversive forces which are destroying our nation, & our White-Heritage.” -gp “GOB is the one phenomenal’ ‘underground’ book that -- if read by enough people -- will turn America upside down!” -ss ¼-million words * No greater-action exists that YOU now can do for our-cause than to spread “GOBs” message!! * Hidden-truths revealed. . . .never-before combined in one-book * The most-important book of the 21st-century ! (published at-locations worldwide) NSL chose to be the mouthpiece against the schemers, before his own voice is stilled You’ll be fascinated by my-uncoverings, be satisfied that this is the final-word in exposing the lying-deceivers, & so-give your-commitment to spreading GOBs iconoclastic-&- scholarly research N.S. Leumas: He is multiply-published in all genres. He has voraciously-studied everything-historical since-ancient-times, revealing connected-links of ramifications, up to present times. He excels in history-research. “GOB” took him 25-years to complete.  

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Compiler/Commentator NSL is retired from the professions of music, education, publishing, while continuing his literary/political/social writings, & his mentoring prison-outreach. Besides being focussed on his AA-Teachings, he assists an international-seeking of a “survival-homeland” for kindred-families. Multiply-published in varied-genres (200+ times to-date), including poetics/criticism/editing/ courses/column-syndication, he’s edited/compiled 2 chaps, & is now-processing a book of his-own poetry. He was led into his present-scholarship by the late Jost, of NSK. Recently, he concluded that this, his scholarly-work of 2-decades, has been ‘lost’ (ie, ‘refused’) within the biasing/prejudicing/censoring Anti-Truth Anti-FreeSpeech Jew-Rom publishing monopoly, & so decided to self-publish in typescripted m/s form. He relaxes by singing/piano-styling his-set(“Memories & Remembering”) publicly, after voraciously study-reading everything historical/philosophical/religious/economic since ancient-times, in his isolated hermitage-home in-nature.

NSLeumas is giving away a $25 Gift Card!

 
Terms & Conditions:
  • By entering the giveaway, you are confirming you are at least 18 years old.
  • One winner will be chosen via Rafflecopter to receive one $25 Gift Certificate to the e-retailer of your choice
  • This giveaway begins May 25 and ends on June 5.
  • Winners will be contacted via email on June 6.
  • Winner has 48 hours to reply.
Good luck everyone!

ENTER TO WIN!

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Monday, May 25, 2015

Interview with Seth Mullins, author of The Edge of the Known Trilogy


Title: What Casts the Shadow
Author: Seth Mullins
Pages: 240
Genre: Metaphysical
Format: Paperback/Kindle

 A troubled young rock musician, a mystic mentor, and a generation of lost souls longing for a new voice to emerge from the wilderness... When an altercation outside of a performance venue nearly proves fatal, Brandon Chane begins to realize how far his life is spinning out of control. His efforts to channel his pain, frustration and thwarted loves into his music may not suffice to save him. Then he meets Saul, a crisis counselor with the soul of an ancient medicine man, and a far-reaching journey of healing - one that may teach him how to steer away from the very edge of the abyss - begins.


  For More Information:
  What Casts the Shadow is available at Amazon. Pick up your copy at Barnes & Noble.

Title: Trust in the Unseen
Author: Seth Mullins
Pages: 234
Genre: Metaphysical
Format: Paperback/Kindle

 "We'd all thrown our fates to the wind, trusting in the unknown - in the Unseen, as our EP so proudly proclaimed - and that leap had thus far landed us in a place where we couldn't even grope our way forward in the dark anymore." Brandon Chane was beginning to realize that discovering his voice was only the first step of the journey. Now he must somehow learn to trust the depths from which it comes, and the unknown horizons that it may sweep him away to, even as every part of his personal world seems to be falling apart.

 For More Information:

  Trust in the Unseen is available at Amazon.
Pick up your copy at Barnes & Noble.

Humanity's Way ForwardTitle: Humanity's Way Forward
Author: Seth Mullins
Pages: 246
Genre: Metaphysical
Format: Paperback/Kindle

 "The echoes of those scars can clearly be heard in Edge of the Known's music. But one can also discern, quite distinctly, that other inexplicable thing that is within us all, the undying flame that transcends our wounds and sufferings..." Brandon Chane had always seen life through the eyes of an outcast, a misfit, a young man at odds with the world and with himself. Now they're calling him a wounded healer; a shamanic Pied Piper for the throngs of alienated youth; a thief of fire. He wonders if he and his band can escape the claims that the world has suddenly laid upon them. But what about the cherished dream that he's struggled so desperately to fulfill, the dream that finally seems to be coming to fruition?"

 For More Information:

 Humanity's Way Forward is available at Amazon.
Pick up your copy at Barnes & Noble.

      1. What are you most proud of accomplishing so far in your life?
The Edge of the Known trilogy, actually. This is a story I was born to tell.
2.How has your upbringing influenced your writing?
I don’t want to cast my past in a totally negative light, but there were aspects of it that felt unstable and instilled in me the idea that the world was unsafe. This, in turn, led me to seek refuge in writing. It was the safe sanctuary where I could explore my inner world; but it also became my pathway back to the world.
3. When and why did you begin writing?
I began writing at age 12, shortly after discovering The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant the Unbeliever. That story struck me with total wonder, and gave me a whole new conception of how deep a story could go and how much scope it could encompass. I wanted to instill my readers with the same kind of wonder that I had felt.
4. Do you recall how your interest in writing originated? When did you first know you could be a writer? 
There were a few creative writing projects that I did in 8th grade Language Arts that made me realize that I had a unique perspective, that I wrote in a voice that was mine and didn’t resemble anyone else’s. I wanted to explore that more. I think that even then I sensed it was a ‘calling’.
5. What inspires you to write and why?
Writing is a way of exploring my own depths and also of connecting with the world around me. It’s drawing upon inner experience and somehow making a communal experience out of it, something that others can partake in.
6. What genre are you most comfortable writing?
Metaphysical fiction.
7. What inspired you to write your first book?
My lifelong love of creative expression and, in this case, particularly music and self-exploration.
8. Who or what influenced your writing once you began?
There have been many. Here’s a partial list: Jane Roberts, Stephen R. Donaldson, Charles Bukowski, J.R.R. Tolkien, Arthur Rimbaud, Jack Kerouac.
9. What do you consider the most challenging about writing a novel, or about writing in general?
Exploring character interactions and emotional terrain is my real forte. Action scenes can be challenging if they involve a lot of mechanics and technical aspects and not so much ‘felt experience’.
10. Did writing this book teach you anything and what was it?

These books showed me how you can really explore your personal reality and recognize how your own thoughts, feelings and beliefs have created your life experience. That’s something that one can read a lot of theory about but not so often see in practice. Brandon’s journey illustrated it for me. 

Seth Mullins first conceived of his dream to write novels in his early teens, and this one desire has stayed with him throughout all the other myriad twists and turns of life. His inspirations include methods of inner exploration such as dream-work and shamanism and his experiences as a songwriter and performing musician. He studied creative writing at Santa Fe Community College in New Mexico and Lane Community College in Oregon. Seth has lived in Connecticut, New Mexico, Oregon and (currently) Vermont.

For More Information
Visit Seth’s website. Connect with Seth on Twitter.
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Destiny's Tapestry I Walk This Path by Betty June Gilliland Book Blast - Win a $25 Amazon Gift Card!



Title: Destiny's Tapestry
Author: Betty June Gilliland
Publisher: iUniverse
Pages: 346
Genre: Biography
Format: Kindle/Paperback/Hardcover

 On a stormy night, as a hurricane raced up the Gulf Coast and created havoc in its path, Betty Gilliland was born on a corn shuck mattress in a barn at the foot of Sand Mountain. As soon as the midwife wrapped her in a blanket and gently laid her in a cow manger, Gilliland began a journey through life that would eventually test her spirit, courage, and, most of all, her power to forgive. Gilliland begins by chronicling her growing up years during a challenging time in America’s history. Her father was drafted into the war and then abandoned his family, leaving Gilliland and her mother to eke out a life for themselves in their tiny cabin, surviving on a diet of wild greens, nuts, and roots. As she weaves through the threads of her life’s tapestry, Gilliland recalls the challenges she confronted during her difficult coming-of-age journey as she suffered through hardships, physical abuse, emotional abandonment, and her own self-destructive behavior. Yet through it all, she never lost the faith. What’s more, she used that faith to begin building a new life and to discover her roots. Destiny’s Tapestry shares one woman’s poignant memories of moving from the darkness of abuse into the light of healing.  

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

 Betty June Gilliland is the mother of three sons, two daughters, and grandmother to many grandchildren. She and her miniature pinscher currently reside with her eldest daughter on Sand Mountain in Alabama, where she enjoys friends, winter nights, firelight, and good books

Betty is giving away a $25 Gift Card!

 
Terms & Conditions:
  • By entering the giveaway, you are confirming you are at least 18 years old.
  • One winner will be chosen via Rafflecopter to receive one $25 Gift Certificate to the e-retailer of your choice
  • This giveaway begins May 25 and ends on June 5.
  • Winners will be contacted via email on June 6.
  • Winner has 48 hours to reply.
Good luck everyone!

ENTER TO WIN!

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Hearts Beneath the Badge Book Excerpt Tour - Excerpt #16 - Win $50 Amazon Gift Card!



We are thrilled to be hosting Karen Solomon and her Hearts Beneath the Badge Book Excerpt Tour today!  I'm Shelf-ish kicks off excerpt #16 and if you follow her tour here, you could win a $50 Amazon Gift Card!  All you have to do is fill out the Rafflecopter form below and leave comments on each of her stops for extra entries.  Good luck!

-----------------------



Title: Hearts Beneath the Badge
Author: Karen Solomon
Publisher: Missing Niche Publishing
Pages: 247
Genre: Nonfiction
Format: Hardcover/Paperback/Kindle/Nook

Hearts Beneath the Badge is a unique compilation of interviews with officers across the country. It's not about the crimes they witness or the judgment they face; it's about them - Damien, Danny, Frances, Ken, Pamela, Brian, and more. Their thoughts, their fears, their proud moments and their heartbreak. It's about the people we often don't see because we are blinded by the uniform.

They are among the hundreds of thousands that are unseen each day, the men and women that go back for more no matter the personal cost. They provide meals, rides, lifesaving breaths and prosthetic legs. Yes, even prosthetic legs. There is much more to them than meets the eye-or the news camera. By reading this book, you will open yourself to a world of people you may have forgotten existed. You will see the names, families and some of the faces of the police officers that don't make the news.

Hearts Beneath the Badge is a book about the good deeds officers perform. There is a pressing need for people to see more than just the officer's hearts; they need to see their souls. Society as a whole needs to accept police officers for who they are - mere mortals. In order to do that, they must look through the layers of the officer's lives and see the heartache and joy, the same heartaches and joy we all experience. Society also needs to know that, whether we want to admit it or not, there is a price to be paid for pursing the love of the law.

90% of all sales will be donated to National Law Enforcement Memorial Fund, Safe Call Now, Concerns of Police Survivors (C.O.P.S.) and PoliceWives.

For More Information



Excerpt 16:

Brian knows he can’t learn everything about everyone, that he can’t save the world. If someone is in need of assistance, Brian is the first one to make sure they get to the right agency. But when it comes time to take down a drug dealer or stop a burglary, Brian is the first one through the door. “I’m not the tooth fairy, but I am able to separate the two. Today’s police officers have to be everything, and that’s a hard thing to do.” He believes the police officer of the future needs to be able to balance helping the good while taking down the bad. It’s a fine line to walk with high expectations.
Brian also knows that a little goodwill goes a long way. Cops can’t work alone. They need the help and support of the community around them. If there comes a time when Brian needs a little information, one of the people he has connected with will be more likely to provide it. The next officer may find himself, or herself, having an easier time because they see the people in uniform as people with feelings. And, if a time ever comes when Brian is in mortal danger, away from the mainstream crowds, he will be more likely to find an ally willing to get help and offer him comfort. He won’t lie alone on the cold, hard ground because he wouldn’t let someone else lie there either.
“Matthew 25:40 says, ‘The King will reply, I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for Me.” That is how I try to live my life, policeman or not,” said Brian.
As for his family, they are proud of him. He and his wife have been together for 30 years, and it hasn’t always been easy. “In this job there’s no sleep; you work at night, are expected to be in court during the day, and sometimes you need to find a second job to make ends meet. It’s incredibly stressful,” he said.
Although his wife is very supportive, they’ve had some rough patches, in large part due to the demands placed on him and his family because of his job. And Brian isn’t the only one in the family who is in law enforcement. His wife and daughters are as well, they aren’t employed by any law enforcement department; they are in the business because they are Brian’s wife and daughters. Although they haven’t chosen this life, they accept the risks, challenges, and stigmas that come with Brian’s job. It’s just the way it is. One can’t just take off the uniform; it becomes a second skin and it’s with you wherever you go. The people closest to you will become partners in your job, or they will become victims of the stress it causes. Brian’s wife and children have become his partners; they stand with him wherever he goes.



About the Author




Karen Solomon is interested in the feelings of law enforcement and whether or not they have someone that will listen to them, most of them do not. Most books on the market are written by the police officers themselves, in almost textbook fashion relating protocol and situations with the orderliness of a police report. Her books are different from every book out there because the officers bare themselves to her; many of the interviews end in tears because they have opened up something that is very difficult to close. Karen Solomon is a graduate of Eckerd College and blogs as The Missing Niche. Her writing has been featured on PoliceMag.com and To Write Love on Her Arms. She lives in New England with her husband, 2 children and 2 dogs. Proceeds of her latest book, Hearts Beneath the Badge, will be donated to law enforcement charities.

For More Information


Book Giveaway!


Giveaway Details:

Karen Solomon is giving away a $50 Amazon Gift Card!  Leave a comment on all the book excerpt blog stops and win 5 extra entries each time!

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Wednesday, May 20, 2015

Lost Princess by Dani-Lyn Alexander Cover Reveal!

Lost Princess Cover Reveal

LostPrincess 
Title: Lost Princess
Author: Dani-Lyn Alexander
Publisher: Lyrical Press

  Ryleigh Donnovan’s life changed forever the day she met Jackson Maynard, a Death Dealer, and followed him home to the kingdom of Cymmera. Now she is trying to care for her sister while saving a realm she knows nothing about…

Jackson has reluctantly accepted the throne of Cymmera, in place of his father. But his world is in turmoil, the kingdom under constant threat of attack. Worse still, Jackson suspects there is a traitor among his court. A powerful prophet has suggested a way to protect the realm, but that solution may drive Jackson and Ryleigh apart forever…

 When a magic relic goes missing, Ryleigh has no choice but to journey in search of it. When Jackson discovers Ryleigh is missing, he must make a choice that will either claim their destiny, or bring an end to the only home he’s ever known.

  PRE-ORDER INFORMATION Lost Princess  is available for pre-order at Apple, 
1348221922 Amazon, B&N,  Kobo and Google Play        

 Dani-Lyn lives on Long Island with her husband, three kids and three dogs. She loves spending time with her family, at the beach, the playground, or just about anywhere. In her spare time, which is rare, she enjoys reading and shopping—especially in book stores. Some of her favorite things include; Bernese Mountain Dogs, musicals, bubble baths and soft blankets. She’s an incurable insomniac, and she has an addiction to chocolate.

For More Information

Visit Dani-Lyn’s website. Visit her at FacebookTwitter
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Monday, May 18, 2015

Interview with Bart Baker, author of After Ozz


Title: After Ozz
Author: Bart Baker
Publisher: CreateSpace
Pages: 254
Genre: Young Adult
Format: Kindle/Paperback

 With her uncle, the President of the United States, presumed dead and her beloved younger brother, Ozz, missing, Dot Gale is whisked into an odyssey in a different, very strange dimension. With the aid of three friends she makes on this arduous adventure, Scared Crow, Heartless and half man/half beast, Lars, Dot must battle the diabolically deadly Empress West if she is ever to return home with Ozz. Can Dot survive the evil machinations of the Empress and return home to rescue the United States before her wicked Aunt Emily succeeds with her sinister plan to take over the country?

To Purchase After Ozz

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What are you most proud of accomplishing so far in your life?
My family.   All the other accomplishments, money, success comes in a very distant second. 
How has your upbringing influenced your writing?
I grew up very working class.  It’s how I see the world.  I’ve treated writing like a job even before it actually was my job.  Also, my family is large and borderline insane with lots and lots of very colorful, crazy, flawed but loving people, so I’ve been blessed with a huge font of inspiration.  Whenever I’m creating characters, I have plenty to draw from.   
When and why did you begin writing?
My friends tell me I was writing all the time as a kid.  I don’t remember that, but I never focus on much more than the present and the future.   When I was 20, I moved to Los Angeles to chase the dream of becoming a writer.  It was a wonderful time, I worked a lot in the theater, having a couple plays produced and eventually segued over to screenwriting where I have been blessed to have over a dozen projects produced for film and television.  And then I slid over to writing novels.  My first, HONEYMOON WITH HARRY, was successful and it’s in the works to be produced with Bradley Cooper attached as writer and director.  Now I move back and forth between film and novels.  Presently I am writing a remake of BEACHES, the Bette Midler film for the Lifetime Network, then back to the sequel I’m penning to HONEYMOON WITH HARRY, then the second installment of the AFTER OZZ series. 
Do you recall how your interest in writing originated?
I’ve always loved storytelling.  I have always had a very vivid imagination and I loved reading and going to the movies as a kid.  The mix of those things converged and I knew in college that it is what I wanted to do with my life.
When did you first know you could be a writer?
I’m still not sure I am.  I’m more comfortable calling myself a storyteller.  That being said, I never doubted my abilities, but I always figured most people had the same talents I did, that I wasn’t that special, that anybody could write.   It took much longer in life to discover that wasn’t true.  And I’ve had enough success with getting movies produced, plays mounted and books published that someone must like what I do.  I just feel blessed. 
What inspires you to write and why?
Well, first and foremost writing is what I do for a living, so putting my kids through school and feeding them inspires me to keep at it.  But as far as where inspiration comes from with each project, it is simply second nature to me to be keen on the things around me that spark my imagination.  Each story has a different source, sometimes they are completely from my imagination, sometimes I read, see or hear something that sparks me, sometimes it’s a certain person, or even an image that I can’t shake.   But I keep myself open to it all and that allows me to never be short of material.  I always have more projects to write than I have time.
What genre are you most comfortable writing?
I think I’m best writing a mix of humor and heartache.  That’s not really a genre, more of a description of what I believe I do well.  I am known for being able to tap into the emotions of a character and making the reader feel that.  But as I said earlier, I come from a brood of crazy, colorful people who never cease to make me laugh – either with them or at them – and so I tend to leaven my pathos with lots of humor.
What inspired you to write your first book?
I was coming off a movie project, a film that got made but will remain nameless, and it was a horrible experience.  The people I worked for were awful and sleazy.  They lied to me all through the process and the my trust in them was so dim that I literally went into their office with a draft of the script, made them put the check on the table as I put the script on the table and then we passed them to each other.  It was crazy.  But I remember saying to myself over and over that I was too old for this kind of crap.  I had a body of produced work behind me and I shouldn’t be treated this badly by these scummy people.  
Around that time, I remember getting an image in my head of two men, one big, one small, standing at the edge of the ocean, the sun setting.   And that was all it took.   HONEYMOON WITH HARRY came out of that imagine in my head.  I did not want to write another screenplay and go through what I had just went through, so writing a novel really appealed to me.  I knew it would be a challenge and I think if I had known more about the process I would have talked myself out of it, but I launched in.   It took about four months, four very emotional months, of writing and I had the first draft of the book.
Who or what influenced your writing once you began?
I wanted to prove to myself that I could write a novel.   Being a playwright or screenwriter, you certainly don’t think in terms of three or four hundred pages.   So that was daunting.  But I took it chapter by chapter, never looking too far ahead and just telling this story.   Now I’m no longer freaked out by hundreds of pages of prose.  And I love the process of editing, or fixing and finding new and better ways to say things, more powerful images.  I thrive on that.
What do you consider the most challenging about writing a novel, or about writing in general?
Making a living.  Money is huge factor in everyone’s life.  And being a “professional writer” is difficult.  Making any kind of sale is hard but making it your sole or primary source of income is wildly improbable.   That being said, I’ve done it.  And thankfully, I’ve been very smart with my money and put it away when I made it so that I’d have it when the work wasn’t coming.
Did writing this book teach you anything and what was it?
Each book teaches me something, about my strengths and weaknesses as a writer.  This was challenging because I’ve never written a YA novel before, and I wanted to aim AFTER OZZ at both teens and twenties, predominately female (because the book has a female lead.) 
Do you intend to make writing a career?
It is my career.  And I hope to keep doing it with some level of success until I’m very old.
Have you developed a specific writing style?
Yes.  Sometimes I try and break that style, to challenge myself or to find a different voice that coincides better with whatever project I’m working on.   But I have a certain “voice” that I write it that is very specific to me.  And I like that people recognize that.
What is your greatest strength as a writer? 
Characters are probably my greatest strength.   I believe all story comes out of the characters.
What is your favorite quality about yourself?
I’m compassionate.   I don’t suffer fools well but I understand when someone is hurting or in need and having been a writer so long, it doesn’t take much for me to feel some level of their pain or sadness.
What is your least favorite quality about yourself?
I’m short tempered and moody when I’m working.   It’s like living two lives, my actual life with those I love and the life I am involved in with my characters.   That creates conflict in my life as I don’t want to be disturbed when I am involved with my characters and I wish they wouldn’t bother me when I am with my family.
What is your favorite quote, by whom, and why?
Sometimes it’s better to remain silent and be assumed a fool than to open your mouth and remove all doubt.  --  Mark Twain

It’s such a useful quote and considering the amount of crazy I hear, the amount spouted by politicians and people who have a camera put in their face, it pops into my head quite often.
Bart and his family, Pastor Joe Elvis and their two sons Isaiah and Emmanuel, moved to St. Louis, Bart’s hometown. For nearly 30 year, Mr. Baker resided in Los Angeles, where he worked as a writer/producer in the entertainment industry.

He has had two feature films produced LIVE WIRE for New Line Pictures, and SUPERCROSS for Fox, as well as eleven films for television, including CHILDREN OF THE BRIDE, which spawned two sequels, BABY OF THE BRIDE and MOTHER OF THE BRIDE on CBS, as well as the Christmas perennial, A DIFFERENT KIND OF CHRISTMAS for Lifetime.

 Mr. Baker has worked on film and TV projects for Warner Brothers, Tristar, New Line, Fox, CBS, NBC, ABC, Lifetime, USA Network, Syfy Network, Fox Television, The Family Channel, as well as working on staff on the FX Network series, DIRT starring Courteney Cox.

 Presently, Mr. Baker has two projects in development, HONEYMOON WITH HARRY a feature film based on Bart’s debut novel of the same name at New Line with Bradley Cooper attached to star. Mr. Baker has also completed his second novel, IMMEDIATE FAMILY.

Mr. Baker also has eight produced theatrical plays under his belt. An avid fitness buff and political junkie, Bart enjoys spending his free time with his family and friends, and enjoys teaching film/television writing classes at Webster University. Writing is his passion and he feels blessed that he’s been able to make a living doing what he loves and for all the interesting people and events that he’s been exposed to through his work.

For More Information

Visit Bart at his website
Visit him at the following locations:
  Facebook
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Thursday, May 14, 2015

Interview with R.L. Byrd, author of Black Coffee







Title: Black Coffee
Author: R.L. Byrd
Publisher: R.L. Byrd Publishing
Pages: 304 

There are ALWAYS two sides to every story. In R.L. Byrd's debut novel, Looking for Sweet Love, the Love Forum Divas told their side. 


Now it's the Brothers' turn. . . .

 The Love Forum is back and the relationship dilemmas continue within the infamous Dallas, Texas, urban radio station, K103.5. DK "Love" Niles, the popular Disc Jockey from the DK and Melissa Morning Show, takes over the reins of hosting the new Love Forum called The Brothers Speak, and man, are the Brothas talking. DK, in his pursuit to finding good love himself, discusses relationships from a black man's point of view and enlist the help of the husbands, boyfriends and lovers of the Love Forum Divas. Known as the Brotherhood; DK, Quentin, Miguel, Michael, Donnell, Pastor Levine, Dr. Houston and Brass aim to set the record straight and talk about dating black women, marriage, infidelity, personal struggles, what distinguishes a throw-back from a keeper, and answers the question the radio listeners really want to know: What really went down in their relationships? 

Along the way, the Brothers break the silence on some of the most pressing social issues challenging today's black males: Disproportionate homicide rates, unintentional injuries, suicide, HIV/AIDS, and disparities in employment and graduation rates.If you thought the Love Forum Divas were dealing with issues, you may be surprised at what the brothers have to say about those relationship woes. In the end--when all is said and done--one Diva will be asking, "Am I drinking the right cup of Black Coffee?"
 

For More Information

Black Coffee  is available at Amazon and Barnes and Noble.  

What are you most proud of accomplishing so far in your life?
It would be my social media campaign Project HUSH; an acronym for Homicide, Unemployment, Suicide and HIV/AIDS. A campaign which promotes discussion about the many social inequalities faced by black males.
How has your upbringing influenced your writing?
I was born in the coastal town of Brunswick, Georgia, in a time (early 70’s) where America (especially the south) was growing and evolving. That early upbringing (seeing and experiencing the world as it was—the good and the bad) shaped my world not only as a person, but as a writer.
When and why did you begin writing? Do you recall how your interest in writing originated?
I’ve been writing ever since I can remember (poems and whatnot since grade school), however, my authorship journey really didn’t start until late 2008. The backstory to that is that when I was working on my MBA (doing my field residency in Vietnam), the whole overseas experience opened up a new world for me; one where I dropped my conventional beliefs and ways of thinking to a much broader and accepting belief system and way(s) of thinking. Upon my return to Atlanta, I just so happened to hear a voice on the radio (doing psychic readings for the station’s callers) and said, “hey, why not.” When I scheduled my appointment with the clairvoyant, she immediately asked me, “Have you been working on something? Something for the last ten years. Writing?” I hesitantly answered and she told me, “Boy, you’re a writer and you need to write.” That was my confirmation, and that’s exactly when (and how) my authorship journey began.
When did you first know you could be a writer? 
Well, that would be when I got confirmation that I should embark on my journey as a writer.
What inspires you to write and why?
Life. Simple as that. I guess that’s why my branding point is: “Writing enlightening stories about the trials and tribulations faced during one’s journey through life.”
What genre are you most comfortable writing?
I don’t think there is a comfort level in writing within any genre. I say this because I want to explore many styles of writing, or telling a story, and doing so in the medium (genre) that would best deliver the storyline is my ultimate goal.
What inspired you to write your first book?
My debut novel, Looking for Sweet Love, was the segue into the current novel, Black Coffee. In Looking for Sweet Love, six women (the Love Forum Divas) blow up the Dallas radio airwaves with their sassy discussion about life, love, and relationships; a story told from the female point of view. The inspiration behind Black coffee was to provide the male voice (as there are always to sides to every story) lacking in Looking for Sweet Love, as well as, bring light to some of the plaguing social issues impacting men of color. This could not have been done without first having the females tell their side of the story (from their point of view) in Looking for Sweet Love.
Who or what influenced your writing once you began?
Usually when asked this question, normally you’re looking for author influences; but to tell you the truth, I wasn’t influenced by the James Baldwins, Zora Neale Hurstons or Toni Morrisons of the world. My influencers were the old folks from back in the day; especially my grandmother, who was a great story-teller. I can remember her throwing card parties (Mavis Staples, Aretha Franklin, Betty Wright playing in the back ground) and her and her girlfriends dishing out the dirt and talking about what’s happened in and around town. As a kid, you quietly listened (in the other room, of course) and wondered how all of that could be. But as you grow older, and experience life yourself, you eventually figure it out. And although times have changed, people are dealing with the same issues as they were back in the day—the names, stories and backdrops are just different. 
What do you consider the most challenging about writing a novel, or about writing in general?
For me, narration has always been my Achilles heel. Writing dialogue comes so easy for me; however, I have to continually work at, and fine tune, the narration parts of my books. So, if you read a descriptive piece in my works, then know it was probably modified at least ten to twenty times, over several months, before it reached the point to where you are actually reading it. For example; if I would initially have written it in January, then I probably would have revisited it over several months (now March or April) until it flowed, in my opinion, just right.
Did writing this book teach you anything and what was it?
Black Coffee, as I’ve said in many interviews, deals with so many issues that it’s hard to narrow one teachable moment, or thing, down. However, I would say that the one “learned” thing, that’s the basis of the book itself, follows Dr. Robert J. Ackerman’s premise of “Silent Sons” and how to overcome not being one. I too am a silent son; and although writing is my voice, I’ve learned not to hold things in that could possibly lead to negative outcomes.
Do you intend to make writing a career?
A chosen pursuit; yes. A profession or occupation; I’m not sure that many authors (or writers) could sustain themselves on just writing alone (I know I can’t); although I know there are a few that can.
Have you developed a specific writing style?
Good question. A reader wrote me and said that my debut novel, Looking for Sweet Love, was like “Waiting to Exhale on crack, in a good way.” (You know I cringed when I read that, right?) But, after some thought, I could relate to what they were saying. I write in a real and raw kind of way—unrestrained—the way you would talk to your best male friend, or best female friend in those private conversations. To tell you the truth, I guess I’m so engrossed in being politically correct on my day job that correctness just escapes me in my writing.
What is your greatest strength as a writer? 
Mmmm, another good question. Well, I just love being creative and putting a storyline together (I’m an outline writer, by the way); as well as writing dialogue—the latter comes to me with such ease. It’s amazing to me how I can zip through writing dialogue, without much effort or afterthought, but writing narration is a “happy” chore; a whole other story (believe me).
What is your favorite quality about yourself?
I’m a perfectionist.
What is your least favorite quality about yourself?
Being a perfectionist.
What is your favorite quote, by whom, and why?
My favorite all time quote (and there are many) is Maya Angelou’s, “There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside of you.” It speaks volumes for a writer, I think. Can you imagine having a story inside of you and not being able to get it out, write about it, or tell it to the world; what greater agony (for a writer) could there be?

For more information about R.L. Byrd, Black Coffee, and Project H.U.S.H., please connect with him at:
Twitter:  @author_rlbyrd


 R.L. Byrd was born in the coastal town of Brunswick, Georgia, in a time where America and the South was growing and evolving. His early upbringing there, would shape his world not only as a person, but as a writer. His passion for writing was delayed by a similar passion for Architecture which he pursued by obtaining a Bachelor of Architecture degree from the University of Oklahoma in 1992. After many years of carrying stories, characters and images in his mind, R. L. found them revisiting him on a more frequent basis as the years rolled by; and beginning in 2007, it wasn’t a day that went by that the pull to write didn’t lure him back to the pen and paper. Looking for Sweet Love (2010) was his debut novel, followed by the sequelBlack Coffee (2012, reissued in 2014).

He is currently working on his third novel, The Art of Scandal (a story inspired by true events), scheduled to be released soon.

  For More Information
  Connect with R.L. on Twitter and Facebook
  Find out more about R.L. at his website  
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