Coming For Money by F.W. Vom Scheidt

About the Author:

F. W. vom Scheidt is a director of an international investment firm. He works and travels in the world’s capital markets, and makes his home in Toronto, Canada. He is also the author of a new book, Coming for Money (Blue Butterfly Book Publishing), a remarkable and provocative novel about the world of international finance and the human quests for success, understanding and love.

You can find out more about his book at http://www.bluebutterflybooks.ca/titles/money.html.

About the Book:

How much money is too much? And how fast is too fast in life?

International investment firm director and author F. W. vom Scheidt, writes from his first hand-hand experience of the world of global money spinning with candor and authenticity in his remarkable literary novel Coming for Money.

As investment star Paris Smith steps onto the top rungs of the corporate ladder, he is caught between his need for fulfillment and his need for understanding; trapped between his drive for power and his inability to cope with his growing emptiness where there was once love. When his wife disappears from the core of his life, his loneliness and sense of disconnection threaten to overwhelm him. When he tries to compensate by losing himself in his work, he stumbles off the treadmill of his own success, and is entangled in the web of a fraudulent bond deal that threatens to derail his career and his life.

Forced to put his personal life on hold while he travels nonstop between Toronto, Singapore and Bangkok to salvage his career, he is deprived of the time and space necessary to regain his equilibrium.

In the heat and turmoil and fast money of Southeast Asia, half a world from home, and half a life from his last remembered smile, he finds duplicity, friendship and power --- and a special woman who might heal his heart.

A talented author, vom Scheidt has confidently crafted a fast-paced, highly readable and intelligent novel. His details are fascinating. His characters are real, and not easily forgotten. A deeply felt story about the isolation of today’s society, the prices great and small paid for success and the damages resulting from the ruthless exercise of financial power, Coming For Money is a taut literary page-turner about a man who refuses to capitulate to the darkness in his journey into the light.

I was lucky enough to get the author to answer some interview questions. Here's what he had to say:

Could you please tell us a little about your book?

In summary, Coming For Money is a novel about the world of global finance and a human quest for success, understanding and love.

Who or what is the inspiration behind this book?








How I came to write it is much like a montage of photographs, all taken of the same subject, but all taken from several perspectives.

I have always written.

Following the adage of write from what you know best, I wrote from my first hand-hand experience accumulated as a director of an international investment firm. I wrote as truthfully as possible of the world of international finance — not with the over dramatization so common in film and television, but with an intimate telling through a first-person narrative ... of what it can be like to labour in the world of money spinning ... of how the money’s immense leverage for triumph or disaster doesn’t so much corrupt people as corrupt the way they treat each other ... of how the relentless demands of the money so often deprive you of sufficient time and energy to live through the events of your emotional and interior life.

In addition to this witnessing of the world of international finance, Coming For Money is also a provocative literary novel.

That flows, I think, from the fact that, throughout my life, I have always sought to maintain my integrity in a struggle with questions that have no answers.

So the novel flows from some of the questions I continually ask about life. The plot advances along questions arising from how we relate to our careers: How much money is too much? And how fast is too fast in life? And the central character advances along deeper questions in his own life: How do we cope with love and loss?

Moreover, because our societies equate financial success with a successful life, we are often blind to the inner stories of countless people in all endeavors who, in their desperate search for inner happiness, endlessly repeat a formula for financial success even while remaining deeply unhappy due to unresolved emotional and psychological issues at their core. I wanted to bring one of these inner stories to life.

The result is a deeply felt narrative about the isolation of today’s society, the prices great and small paid for success and the damages resulting from the ruthless exercise of financial power.
I also wrote the Coming For Money to be a good story well told.

The story is event-driven. It follows Paris Smith. As he steps onto the top rungs of the corporate ladder, he is caught between his need for fulfillment and his need for understanding; between his drive for power and his inability to cope with his growing emptiness where there was once love. When his wife disappears from the core of his life, his loneliness and sense of disconnection threaten to overwhelm him. When he tries to compensate by losing himself in his work, he stumbles off the treadmill of his own success, and is entangled in the web of a fraudulent bond deal that threatens to derail his career and his life.

Forced to put his personal life on hold while he travels nonstop between Toronto, Singapore and Bangkok to salvage his career, he is deprived of the time and space to mourn the absence of his wife and regain his equilibrium.

In the heat and turmoil and fast money of Southeast Asia, half a world from home, and half a life from his last remembered smile, he finds duplicity, friendship and power --- and a special woman who might heal his heart.

As much as I want to write a literary novel, I wanted to write a story that was fast-paced and highly readable.

Did something specific happen to prompt you to write this book?

I sat down at the keyboard. Although I have always been a literary writer, I had no idea how I would capture my experiences in international finance in literary fiction. Without thinking, the first sentence came to me. I typed it. Then I looked at that sentence for a long time.

Instinct told me that the sentence had risen from something that was deeply absorbing me, and that it was something I had to tell. I knew I had to find some way to tell it truthfully. From that point, I knew there was no way out . . . except to construct the novel.

Who is your biggest supporter?

My wife.

Your biggest critic?








Me.

Who has influenced you throughout your career as a writer?








I was fortunate to come from an environment that valued reading and education. As a result I absorbed a broad spectrum. Having the experience of so much writing from so many writers was a far greater influence that any single author.

What are you currently working on?

I’m working on a new novel; and on bringing a new institutional investment fund to market.

Do you have any advice for writers or readers?








For writers … write.
For readers … read whatever interests and entertains you regardless of what it may be, but never stop reading.

What are some of your long term goals?

Value the gift of each new day by working at what I love, learning something new, being grateful for those in my life; and, before the day runs out, somehow becoming a better human being than I was yesterday.

What do you feel is your biggest strength?

Being able to see what I want to paint on the canvas of my life while it is still blank.

Biggest weakness?

Succumbing to the seduction of working too much.

What do you feel sets this book apart from others in the same genre?

At last count, I was not aware of many literary novelists coming from the international investment industry. I imagine I bring a unique perspective to a unique setting for storytelling.

You know the scenario – you’re stuck on an island. What book would you bring with you and why?

The collected works of Shakespeare, to populate my world with characters and stories.

What is the most important lesson you have learned from life so far?

If we are not here for each other, then we are only here to die.

Is there anything else you would like to share with us?

I was thinking the other day about how I came to writing.

When I was in the eighth grade our history studies focused on how colonists came from England to settle in Canada. It was mentioned that some immigrants came as indentured servants, working on farms for several years to pay off their passage; and it was pointed out that some of these indentured servants were the same age as we were in the eighth grade. Our assignment was to imagine that we were indentured children newly arrived in the Canadian colonies, and to write a letter to our families left behind in England.

It was assumed we would write about clearing the land, planting crops, building farm houses and everything else from our history lessons.

When I began the assignment, the first words I wrote were: “Dear Mother and Father, it is with great regret that I write to tell you that my sister, your daughter, died of typhus on the ship to Canada.”

I went on to express remorse over not sharing food with her and to describe the loneliness of the dark winter nights without her.

Later in the day, when the teacher was reading the assignments, something happened without expectation or warning.

The teacher took me and my assignment to the principal’s office.

The principal demanded to know what was wrong with me.

It was generally accepted in the eighth grade that the ultimate calamity was to be dragged to the principal’s office. And worse than that was to be asked by the principal to explain yourself when you had no explanation.

As I sat between the principal and my teacher, and resigned myself to the misery of their demands and derision, it occurred to me that I was the only one in my class who had caused so much trouble with something I written ... and maybe I had something that the others didn’t have.

No Mad by Sam Moffie

About the Book:

Sam Moffie is 49 years of age and resides in Youngstown, Ohio with his family. When not writing and marketing he enjoys walks with his dog, red wine, watching movies, reading fiction, arguing politics and being a big target for his children. No Mad is his third novel. His fourth, The Book of Eli will be published in the fall.

Visit his website at http://www.samsstories.com/


About the Book:

“No Matter where you go, there you are.” Sam Moffie’s third novel takes readers on an impromptu road trip that proves transformative.

No Mad takes a good natured look at failed matrimony, middle age, and empty nest syndrome. Moffie’s novel evokes humor and optimism as his hero embraces life’s pitfalls and learns to “roll with punches.” Often nostalgic, Moffie’s novel also proves relevant as he explores issues such as corporate monopolies, politics, commercialization and their effects on “independent thinking and acting people” – people like the main character Aaron Abrams.

Sam agreed to answer a few short questions for me - here is what he had to say:

Who is your biggest supporter?

My biggest supporter is my muse and live-in girlfriend: Juliette.

Your biggest critic?

It's a tie between my biggest critics. My editor Devra and ny step-father Donald. They are the epitome of the phrase "devil's advocate".

What cause are you most passionate about and why?

My cause is to eliminate the stigma of self-publishing being something that is unholy.

Who has influenced you throughout your career as a writer?

Kurt Vonnegut and John Irving are my biggest influences.

What are you currently working on?

I am currently writing a novel and also waiting for the editing process to be completed on my 4th novel -- The Book of Eli. Eli should be released in late October or early November.

What do you feel is your biggest strength?

My biggest strength with my writing style is my humor. My biggest weakness (besides misuse of a semi-colon), is that I don't write about teenage monsters, teenage wizards, christian fiction, self-help and diet material.

Thanks so much Sam!

A Band of Roses by Pat McDermott

About the Author:

Born and educated in Boston, Massachusetts, Pat McDermott grew up in a family full of music and myths that have found their way into her stories. She is a member of The New Hampshire Writers' Project, Seacoast Writers' Association, Romance Writers of America, and Celtic Hearts Romance Writers. A frequent visitor to Ireland, she lives in New Hampshire, where she is currently working on her next novel.

To find out more about the author and her work visit http://www.patmcdermott.net/


About the Book:

A Band of Roses is an alternate history adventure set in modern day Ireland. The "what if" premise of the story supposes that Irish High King Brian Boru survived the Battle of Clontarf in 1014 A.D. and founded a dynasty that rules Ireland to this day.

Crown Princess Talty Boru, the daughter of the current King Brian, is the heir to the throne, though she wishes she weren’t. She’d prefer to pursue a military career, but she’s resigned to her royal fate until England’s Prince Geoffrey seizes a tiny Irish island in the North Atlantic and the oil-rich ocean bed around it. Geoffrey plans to return the island to Ireland in exchange for oil wells in the Irish sea. He proposes a conciliatory treaty that would marry Talty to the unbalanced young English King. Talty agrees, as the terms demand that she relinquish her title as heir to the throne. She believes she’s free of her duties as crown princess, but a murder attempt on her wedding night turns her life upside down.

Multiple attempts on Talty’s life force King Brian to send her away to protect her, though he unwittingly sends her into further danger. From Japan to California, Talty must hide her true identity until her elders can set things straight. She can’t disguise her ingrained training as one of Ireland’s ancient Fian warriors, however.

Her recruitment into International Security Forces’ top secret Peregrine Project allows her to visit strange worlds, one an eleventh century Ireland preparing for the Battle of Clontarf. She finds romance and adventure and brings back a discovery worth more than any oil well, yet all she wants is to return to her family and her lifelong friend and protector Neil Boru, the adoptive cousin she secretly loves and can’t have—or so she thinks. Talty’s warrior cousin has a secret of his own, one that emerges as the Boru clan works with England's MI6 to thwart an invasion of Ireland and bring Talty home.

Pat agreed to answer my interview questions. Here's what she had to say:

Could you please tell us a little about your book?

A Band of Roses is a rollicking blend of historical fantasy, bittersweet romance, a little sci-fi, and a lot of action and adventure. The story supposes what Ireland would be like today if High King Brian Boru hadn’t perished at the Battle of Clontarf in 1014 A.D. His descendant, modern day Princess Talty Boru, wishes she were anyone but the heir to her father’s throne. An arranged marriage offers her an escape from her royal duties and the chance to pursue her dream of becoming a warrior. She quickly learns to be careful what she wishes for when a web of foreign intrigue and murder turns her world upside down. A Band of Roses is the first in a trilogy starring the indomitable Talty, her staunch protector, Neil Boru, and a lovable cast of dauntless heroes and delicious villains.

Who or what is the inspiration behind this book?

I have two extraordinary aunts who are both Irish history buffs. When I was a child, they entertained me with all sorts of legends and assured me we were descended from Irish royalty—as, I’ve since learned, is everyone who’s Irish. One of the many gifts they brought me from the old country was a copper statue of Brian Boru, and I wanted to learn more about him. Everything I read stated how sad it was that Brian didn’t survive Clontarf, as Ireland would be a very different place today. So, I started thinking . . . what if he had survived?

In the last year have you learned or improved on any skills?

I’ve learned how to make paella and colcannon and furthered my education in pirate lore.

Do you have any rituals you follow when finishing a piece of work?

Yes, I do absolutely nothing that requires thinking for at least a week. My novels take several years to write, and I need to reboot my head to clear out all the clutter.

What is the most important thing in your life right now?

Doing all the things I want to do before I can’t. Sometimes I have the most awful sense of running out of time.

What are you currently working on?

My present work in progress is Salty Roses, the third book in the "Roses" trilogy. (The second is Fiery Roses.) I’ve nearly completed the first draft.

Do you have any advice for writers or readers?

For writers - Join a good writers' group, take classes or workshops, never stop reading, and read a wide variety of books. Don’t be afraid other authors will influence your personal style. Whether you read for pleasure or research, you’ll not only learn what makes good writing, you’ll also find new ideas that will lead to dozens of other new ideas. Don’t let armchair writers and critics derail you from your quest to become a published author.

For readers - Go out on a limb and read a book you wouldn’t ordinarily read. To paraphrase an Oliver Wendell Holmes quote, a mind stretched by a new idea never returns to its original dimensions.

Is there an author that inspired you to write?

Not really. I admire many authors, but writing stories is something I’ve always done. Falling under the spell of the fairy tales I heard as a child made me want to create similar spells to enchant others. I did have some great teachers who taught the nuts and bolts of writing well.

What are some of your long term goals?

To travel more, for one. I’d like to live in Ireland for a year, if not forever. And, I should learn to manage my time better.

What do you feel has been your greatest achievement as an author?

Hearing people say they couldn’t stop reading A Band of Roses until they finished it makes me ecstatic. I write to entertain, and I love knowing I’ve succeeded.

What do you feel is your biggest strength?

I’m a good organizer. I can organize anything from writing a story to planning a trip to throwing a dinner party.

Biggest weakness?

I can be too organized. A little more spontaneity wouldn’t hurt.

What do you feel sets this book apart from others in the same genre?

A Band of Roses crosses several genres. Reading cross-genre stories has always been a treat for me. Writing one was an enjoyable challenge, one I believe will offer readers an entertaining escape. One writing teacher told me that no publisher would accept a story that didn’t fit into current genre formulas, and I wondered what the ancient storytellers would have thought about that.

You know the scenario – you’re stuck on an island. What book would you bring with you and why?

The Joy of Cooking. Anything edible I find on that island, that book will tell me how to cook it. I might not have all the ingredients, but I won’t starve.

If you could go back and change one day, what would it be?

I’ve already done this once in "A Band of Roses." No need to tempt fate!

Are you a different person now than you were 5 years ago? In what way/s?

My husband and I have both lost our remaining parents over the last five years. That puts us on the front line, so to speak. Gives you a different perspective of things. On a happier note, my parenting responsibilities have eased now that my two children are responsible young adults. I have more freedom now to explore new paths.

What is the most important lesson you have learned from life so far?

A little kindness goes a long way.

Is there anything you regret doing/not doing?

Not yet.

What is your favorite past-time?

Besides cooking, discovering. Whether through travel, taking classes, or meeting new friends, adventure awaits around every corner.

Is there anything else you would like to share with us?

For those who might be interested in reading A Band of Roses, it’s currently an e-book and is available from Red Rose Publishing either directly or through my website: www.patmcdermott.net I’d like to thank you for having me here today, Tracee. My sincere appreciation to everyone who took the time to stop by.

First Night by Tom Weston

About the Book:


Alexandra O'Rourke, aged 16, is not a happy camper. It's New Year's Eve. She should be partying in San Diego with her friends, but instead she is stuck in Boston, with just her younger sister, Jackie, for company. As if that wasn't bad enough, she is being haunted by Sarah, the ghost of a seventeenth century Puritan. Oh, and there is the small matter of the charge of witchcraft to be sorted out.

Armed only with big shiny buttons and a helping of Boston Cream Pie, the sisters set out to restore the Natural Order. Can Alex solve the mystery of the Devil's Book? Can Jackie help Sarah beat the sorcery rap? And can they do it before the fireworks display at midnight? Because this is First Night - and this is an Alex and Jackie Adventure.

About the Author:

Originally from England, Tom now hangs his hat in Boston, Massachusetts; with occasional spells in such faraway places as London and Luxembourg. Tom has a degree in Computer Science, and he claims to speak three languages: English, American, and Visual Basic. Before turning his hand to fiction, Tom had a successful career as the CEO of a systems consulting company, conference speaker, and writer of industry articles and business books.

As well as the novel, First Night, Tom has also written the screenplay, Fission, based on the true story of scientist, Lise Meitner, and the race for the atomic bomb. While Fission has yet to find a home in Hollywood, it garnered enough critical acclaim, including being named as a finalist at the London Independent Film Festival, that Tom was encouraged to keep on writing, resulting in his latest work which is, of course, First Night.

You can find out more about Tom's book at Amazon!

I was lucky enough to get the author to agree to an interview. Here's what he had to say:


Could you please tell us a little about your book?

In a nut shell, First Night is a ghost story, set in Boston on New Years Eve. It concerns two teenage sisters from California, Alex and Jackie, who meet a ghost named Sarah Pemberton, and agree to help her fight the charges of witchcraft that have been bought against her.

Did something specific happen to prompt you to write this book?

I had just written a screenplay called Fission, based on the real-life story of the scientist Lise Meitner, and the race for the nuclear bomb. Now, that story began in 1906 and ended in 1968, and included two world wars and the collapse of an Empire. It was very much in the mold of the epic or mini-series genre: quite serious and dramatic and high-brow.

When that was completed, I thought that it would be fun to go in exactly the opposite direction, and see if I could come up with a story where all the action takes place in just one day, something light and whimsical. And I was in Downtown Boston on New Year’s Eve, at the Granary Burying Ground, when I realized that Boston and the First Night Festival would make a great setting for a ghost story.

Who or what is the inspiration behind this book?

There were a number of factors: The first being the City of Boston itself, and the First Night Festival. I wanted to write a story that paid homage to my adopted city, and I put a great deal of history into the book. Secondly I wanted to create a story for the holidays, much like a Christmas Carol, and so the book serves as an intentional homage to Dickens as well. I was so delighted to have my book compared to that great work.

Who is your biggest supporter?

My wife, Leigh. Not only a supporter but also my benefactor and confidant. I’m lucky to have her. I think of my work as a collaborative effort between the two of us; a lot of her input makes it onto the page.

Your biggest critic?

Same person. I share my ideas with her as I go. She’ll shoot down the more off-the-wall and idiotic ones. I’m the dreamer. She’s the practical one.

What cause are you most passionate about and why?

Nothing in particular. I’m held in check by the Englishman’s fear of causing offense or embarrassment. But I do tend to get fired up by whatever project I’m working on. And I’ll talk people’s heads of with all manner of trivia that I’ve dug up during my research, to which, I’m sure, they would much rather not be subjected.

I have a number of interests and have an intellectual curiosity for all manner of things. If it was possible to be a modern renaissance man, then that’s how I would like to define myself. But as I get older, I am finding that I am becoming more interested in people, in their stories and interests. This is in sharp contract to the younger me, who was a socially inept.

In the last year have you learned or improved on any skills?

What has improved is my confidence. There was a turning point when I stopped trying to imitate the styles of other writers and just trusted myself. Whether or not this is an improvement I can’t say, and I don’t think I’ve fully found my voice yet, but at least it’s me. For example, I play the guitar and appreciate the skills of all the great guitarists, but the ones that I enjoy the most are the ones that have developed their own style of playing, and they are not necessarily the most technically proficient or talented.

Do you have any rituals you follow when finishing a piece of work?

Yes, we crack open a bottle of champagne. Of course, a work is never finished. It is hard to finally let go of it.

Who has influenced you throughout your career as a writer?

I’m a big fan of the works of Terry Pratchett and Douglas Adams, and the American writer, Christopher Moore, who all, in their own ways, write about the absurdities of this thing we call life. Christopher Moore has stated that he is an Adams and Pratchett fan. And Pratchett and Adams have both heaped praise on P.G. Wodehouse, who is the Zen Master.

Not that I would dare compare my style to those guys, but I like their way of looking at the world; what Wodehouse called Blurry Vision. They are called quirky, but the funny thing is, you can go into any pub in the world, whether in Liverpool or in Boston or in Munich, and the room is full of the kind of dialogue that is found on the pages of their books. So to me they are not quirky, but rather astute.

There is humor in my work, I think (and hope), but it is understated, not flat out, fall down laughing funny like the aforementioned. In fact, before I turned to fiction, I was writing business books and articles and my style was to try and lighten the mood with anecdotes and absurdities. I would ask myself, “How would Bertie Wooster say this?” I found out that the business world does not have a sense of humor.

What is the most important thing in your life right now?

Did I mention my wife, Leigh?

What are you currently working on?

The sequel to First Night, which is called the Elf of Luxembourg. I was very lucky to live in Luxembourg for a while, and was just blown away by its charm. In fact, although the Elf of Luxembourg will be the second in the Alex and Jackie series to be published, the idea for the story predates First Night by a couple of years. I’ve replaced the ghosts with vampires, but the ratio of history to mystery is still there.

Do you have any advice for writers or readers?

As Polonius said to his son, Laertes, ‘to thine own self be true’: Write from the heart about what you believe in, because if you’re not passionate about your work, you can’t expect your readers to be either.

Secondly, tell people about your writing: This is not boasting – it’s time management. For example, I’ve told so many people that my next novel will be published by the autumn that I’ll look foolish if I now miss that deadline. So the more people I tell the more incentive I have to keep writing.

What are some of your long term goals?

First Night began as a screenplay, and the purpose of forming my new company, tom weston media, was as much for audio and video production as publishing. So, although I stopped work on the screenplay to concentrate on the novel, and although the Elf of Luxembourg is now taking up much of my time, the long term plan is very much focused on multi-media entertainment. Initially, we are in the planning stage of a podcast production of First Night, and after that – who knows.

What do you feel has been your greatest achievement as an author?

Hopefully, it’s yet to come.

But, I had an email from an elderly lady, an octogenarian, who told me that she had been reading First Night in bed, unable to put it down, and at 2:00AM, when the ending was revealed, she ran around the bedroom, punching the air in jubilation. On reading that, I also ran around the room, punching the air. I wrote the story to please myself and no other. So to find that this little story has that kind of impact on someone else is just incredibly humbling and rewarding.

What do you feel is your biggest strength?

Being an Englishman in America, I think I automatically bring a little thinking-outside-the-box approach to everything I do. In the business world, where success comes from standing out in a crowd, this is as asset that has served me well. But I also think, to a certain degree, it is what differentiates my writing from others.

Biggest weakness?

I think that it’s probably the same as my biggest strength – the flip side of the same coin. Unfortunately, when it comes to selling, the corporate mind-set tends towards the derivative; just take a look at the summer blockbuster movies. The irony is in demanding originality, only to reject it when they find it.

What do you feel sets this book apart from others in the same genre?

From a publisher’s perspective First Night is a difficult book to categorize. It is part ghost story and part history lesson – a History Mystery one reviewer called it. It’s a story with teenagers, but a lot of my feedback has been coming from parents. “Unique - like no other book I’ve read,” said another reviewer. So where to place it on the bookshelf is a problem. They not about to create a new category called tom weston.

You know the scenario – you’re stuck on an island. What book would you bring with you and why?

This is a hard one, because I’m a book-worm and every room in the house has book cases. But, if I ignore the writers I’ve already plugged, and assume that the Complete Works of Shakespeare is already waiting for me in a treasure chest somewhere, I’d take The Code of the Woosters, by P.G. Wodehouse. Wodehouse is one of the greatest writers of all time, but The Code of the Woosters, and the follow-up, Joy in the Morning, are sublime even by his standards. Being marooned on that island, it would guarantee to raise my spirits. I tried to inject some Wodehouse type humor into First Night, but it’s not as easy as it looks. The man was a genius.

If you could go back and change one day, what would it be?

For me, that’s the wrong question, because it implies that by changing the past we will somehow be happier or more successful. I think that it is more important to change the future. Too many people get set in their ways and then look back and say, “If I could have done that differently, I would.” – Only too follow up with, “But, it’s too late now.” It’s far easier to change tomorrow than yesterday.

Are you a different person now than you were 5 years ago? In what way/s?

Yes and no. I think that personality wise, I’m pretty much the same person, but what have changed are my priorities. Before turning to writing, I ran a consulting company. The time I spent in Luxembourg allowed me to leave the proverbial rat-race for a while. I expected the respite to be temporary, but I found that I wasn’t in a hurry to return to the office. The question is: if the money wasn’t a factor, what would I do? The answer is: I’m doing it.

What is the most important lesson you have learned from life so far?

I’ve learned that I am happiest when I let myself be me. It sounds selfish, but my successes have stemmed from doing things my way; and my failures have come from giving in to the demands of others. My business colleagues and clients, I think, realized this before I did, and everyone benefited; but it was a while before I saw the correlation to my own happiness.

What is your favorite past-time?

When I’m not writing, which I also consider a past-time, I like to compose music: songs, symphonies, sound tracks, whatever I’m in the mood for. I have a little studio with guitars and keyboards, not that I have any ability, but editing software hides a lot of flaws.

I also like to cook, but no one is allowed in the kitchen when I do. It’s like writing, in that I’ve finally learned to stop being derivative, and find my own voice. Tonight will be pepper encrusted salmon with an olive sauce, on a bed of spinach and garlic.

Is there anything else you would like to share with us?

Grouch Marx once said, “Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog it's too dark to read.”

The Book of Unholy Mischief by Elle Newmark

About the Author:

Elle Newmark is an award winning writer whose books are inspired by her travels. She prowled the back streets of Venice to cook up The Book of Unholy Mischief and explored India by car and elephant to conjure The Devil’s Wind. She calls California home.

For more information on Elle or her work visit http://www.ellenewmark.com/


About the Book:

It is 1498, the dawn of the Renaissance and Venice teems with rumors of an ancient book that hold the secrets of unimaginable power. Rich and poor alike speculate abouthe the long buried secred tht might be scrawled in its pages and where the book might be hidden in the labyrinthine city. While those who seek the book will stop at nothing to get it, those who know will die to protect it.

As a storm of intrigue percolates in Her Most Serene Republic, Luciano, a penniless orphan, is plucked off the street by the doge's chef and taken in as the chef's apprentice. In the palace kitchen Luciano is initiated into the chef's rich and mysterious world where recipes are more than they seem.

It is not long before Luciano is caught up in the madness. Torn between loyalty to his street friends and his passion for Francesca, a convent girl, Lucianco's worthiness is tested. Armed with a precicious mind and insatiable curiosity, Luciano embarks on a perilous journey to uncover the truth. What he discovers will swing opent he shutters of his mind, inflalme his deepest esires, and leaven an indelible mark on his soul.

I was fortunate enough to get Elle to agree to an interview with me. This is what she had to say:


Could you please tell us a little about your book?

The Book of Unholy Mischief is a historical mystery with a culinary twist. It is 1498 in Renaissance Venice. The city is abuzz with rumors about a mysterious book that might hold secrets of alchemy and immortality. In this tumultuous atmosphere, the doge's chef takes an urchin off the street and makes him his apprentice. But there is more cooking in the the palace kitchen than food. It soon becomes apparent that the chef has ulterior motives for taking on Luciano and soon they are both swept up into a delicious but dangerous maze of secrets and intrigue.

Did something specific happen to prompt you to write this book?

I had just finished writing my first novel (which is still unpublished) and thought my writing career was finished. I had no new ideas. Zip. Nada. So my writing coach asked me to think about what I like, what interests me, and what I know about. I like Venice and I like a good story with an element of mystery. Also, since my father is a chef I know about good food. But that did not a novel make, so I slouched around the house for weeks, reading other people's novels and watching movies. One evening I watched The Name of The Rose and that night I had a dream. I woke up at 5 a.m. with a broad notion for a book about a chef in Renaissance Venice who mentors to a young man with the intention of grooming him for a larger purpose. The story revolved around a mysterious book, but I did not know what the book contained. I wrote and re-wrote The Book of Unholy Mischief for two years before it became clear what was so important about the chef's fictional book. I started with a foggy plot idea and two characters; the rest evolved in the writing.

Who or what is the inspiration behind this book?

Life and my own interests are the inspiration for all my books. I take things I know and things I'm interested in and mix them together. In the case of this book it was my love of Italy and food and my personal belief in Humanism.

Who is your biggest supporter?

Other writers. One of the things I love about writers is how we support each other. In other fields people doing the same work might be inclined to compete and trample each other in a bid to get ahead, but the writers I know are incredibly generous. Without the feedback, expertise and honesty of other writers I doubt I could ever have written a book.

Your biggest critic?

Me. I can be a real pain.

What cause are you most passionate about and why?

The cause that resonates in Unholy Mischief is humanism. No matter what anyone might or might not believe about the meaning or purpose of life, it cannot be denied that we are all stuck on this planet together. If we poison the earth or our children's minds we all suffer. But if we try to leave things better than the way we found them we all benefit. It sounds so simple; I don't know what it's so difficult to carry out.

In the last year have you learned or improved on any skills?

I have been privileged to work with a very fine editor at Atria, Emily Bestler, and . I've learned a great deal from her. Emily was able to pinpoint what was needed where with surgical precision and the book was much improved for her input. I believe that working with her has made me a better writer.

Do you have any rituals you follow when finishing a piece of work?

I take a shower, sit outdoors and breathe deeply.

Who has influenced you throughout your career as a writer?

Again, other writers. There are so many great writers, past and present, it is inspiring to read them and know that there is room in literature for many voices. That knowledge has given me the freedom to develop my own.

What is the most important thing in your life right now?

Becoming a better writer.

What are you currently working on?

I recently delivered my new novel (working title The Devil's Wind) and am about to start revisions with my editor. It is a tale of parallel love stories in India set against a backdrop of parallel wars. I spent last March in India researching.

Do you have any advice for writers or readers?

For readers: Don't read junk; be picky. Insist that an author leave you with something valuable. For writers: Never give up.

Is there an author that inspired you to write?

John Steinbeck is the first author that made me wonder how ink on paper could cause me to laugh and cry and make the world disappear. I wanted to know how he did that and I'm still trying to figure it out.

What are some of your long term goals?

To never retire and to never stop learning.

What do you feel has been your greatest achievement as an author?

Not giving up in the face of 20+ years of rejection from traditional publishing. I love to hear from readers who say they were discouraged and ready to give up until they read my story. That's the best!

What do you feel sets this book apart from others in the same genre?

The food. There are lots of historical novels out there, but one that makes its points with culinary metaphors is something different. I feel rather clever about that.

You know the scenario – you’re stuck on an island. What book would you bring with you and why?

Stuck on an island? Horrible thought, but okay. Probably Sohpie's Choice by William Styron. It has everything: Fine writing, fascinating characters who come to life completely, a fully imagined setting, and a heartbreaking comment on the human condition that I could think about for a very long time.

If you could go back and change one day, what would it be?

None. Everything I've experienced has been necessary to who I am.

Are you a different person now than you were 5 years ago? In what way/s?

Yes. I have a job.

Visit me at www.ellenewmark.com

Journal According to John by Sheryl Keen

About the Author:

Sheryl A. Keen has a bachelor’s degree in History with a minor in English Literature from the University of the West Indies. She lives in Canada where she works in Administration.

In addition to prose, Sheryl also writes poetry. When she is not writing, one of her other loves is painting.

You can visit Sheryl A. Keen’s website at http://www.sherylkeen.com/


About the Book:

Following a nasty bar brawl, John, a twenty-eight-year-old man, follows a close friend’s advice and begins keeping a journal. He’s recently divorced from his wife, Debbie, and he hopes the journal will provide a tool with which to make sense of his brief, failed marriage and to determine why he is so emotionally challenged.

As a therapist specializing in behavioral issues, he knows he has to pull his own life together. If he tells people to clean up their own lives, modify their thoughts, and learn new, more appropriate behaviors, he knows that he’s got to step up and follow his own advice. Early on, he realizes that his mother, the curator of a gallery that specializes in steel art and other nontraditional works, has largely shaped his thoughts and actions. But just how much can he blame her for his current state of affairs?

Soon the words in the journal are flowing easily and quickly. When painful thoughts are no longer avoided and dreams provide fuel for his writing, the journal takes on a life of its own. Will John discover the reasons for his dysfunctional situation? Can keeping a journal help him improve his life?

I was lucky enough to get the author to sit down and answer a few questions. Here's what she had to say:

Could you please tell us a little about your book?

My book is “Journal According to John.” It tells the story of John, a twenty-eight year old man who is recently divorced. When he finds himself miserable and uncharacteristically engaging in bar fights, John finally takes a friend’s advice and begins keeping a journal. He hopes the journal will provide a tool with which to make sense of his brief failed marriage and to determine why he is so emotionally challenged.

Early on he realizes that his mother, the curator of a gallery that specializes in steel art and other nontraditional works, has largely shaped his thoughts and actions. He continually blames her for his current state of affairs. As he continues to write, he begins to take a closer look at his own actions and decisions and soon he starts to make interesting discoveries about himself.

The questions are many. How much can he blame his mother for his problems? Will John discover the reasons for his dysfunctional situation? Can keeping the journal help him improve his life?

The novel really looks at the complex relationship between a son and his mother.

Did something specific happen to prompt you to write this book?

There was nothing specific that happened. I just thought it might be interesting to tell an emotional story from a male’s perspective and to tell it in a way that is not very male. I am not sure how many men write in their personal journals. Not too many I suppose. The story is told through John’s actual journal entries and this is ironic because it is a direct antithesis of the manhood that he is trying to find. It would be interesting to find out if John does come to terms with his masculinity while writing in this way.

The good thing about the story is that it lends itself to intimacy between the readers and the main character because they get to look directly into John’s journal.

Your biggest critic?

My biggest critic is me. I know myself, my work and story that I want to tell better than anyone else. The work that I put out there is representative of me so I am always trying to find areas to improve so that when people see my name they can associate it with good work.

Do you have any rituals you follow when finishing a piece of work?

I don’t have any rituals but I usually have two or three ways in which the story could end. When this happens, I always spend a lot of time obsessing over the ideal ending. As a rule, I try to use a realistic ending even if it’s not a happy one.

Who has influenced you throughout your career as a writer?

I have been influenced by the great Literature teachers that I have had in high school. They made books fun and they made them relatable to everyday life. The way in which they have been able to impart lessons and ideas from great books further cemented my enthusiasm to be a writer. They also taught me to think in a critical way. Although those teachers are not in my life right now, I can still hear their voices in my head.

Do you have any advice for writers or readers?

My advice for writers is to write even when you are not motivated. The act of writing can serve as motivation. It’s sometimes difficult to come up with a single line but once you start other lines will come.

Also, never give up on the dreams and goals that you have set for yourself as a writer. Rejection of any sort is simply a setback. Belief in your work and take yourself seriously and others will follow suit.

What do you feel is your biggest strength?

I am detail oriented. Sometimes when you go to an interview you are asked: are you a details person or a big picture person. It’s a funny question because you cannot have a big picture without details. It’s because I can see the big picture why I would know which details to put in and why I would know how important the details are.

The details are important in writing to give readers a sense of place, time and emotions. Moreover, life is made up of just that - details.

You know the scenario – you’re stuck on an island. What book would you bring with you and why?

I would take “To The Lighthouse” by Virginia Woolf. This is one of my favourite books because it explores the nature of human consciousness. If I am stuck on an island, I might be there for a while and this is not a novel that one hurries to read. It’s also a novel that has the lighthouse as a strong image and a lighthouse can represent enlightenment. Hopefully, I might find illumination about something in my life while stuck on an island with only myself and Virginia Woolf.

There is a theme of light and dark when it comes to a lighthouse. It’s possible that I would have some anxiety about being stuck on an island and this would be reflective of life’s frequently altering situations which can be stable at one moment and uncertain in the next. Obviously I would have a lot of time to think and I would want to gain some insight while I am there.

What is the most important lesson you have learned from life so far?

We have to take risks to obtain the things that we want. Nobody ever achieve greatness by playing it safe. When we go out on a limb, most times the limb will bend to accommodate us. It basically comes down to fear or faith.

What is your favorite past-time?

My favourite pastime is painting. I tend to think about it as a complement to my writing because the process is similar in that there are a lot of details used to create a big picture. In painting I use color and composition and in writing I choose words and a certain way of putting them together. They both end up giving the reader or the viewer a certain point of view.

I carry a camera everywhere because I never know what I’ll see. So I take pictures and then create paintings from them.

Gracious Living on Social Security by Valerie Kent

About the Author:

At eighty-eight, Valerie Kent is the survivor of a long lifetime spent adjusting to dramatically evolving worlds. She moved from Britain to the United States in 1933. Valerie began at the age of forty-six the drawn-out process of education - seven universities - that would generate, initially, a career as a drug and alcohol counselor for troubled women, then a decade as a celebrated college teacher and - ultimately - a final, exultant marriage. This is her story.

To learn more about Valerie and her book, visit http://www.treefarmbooks.com/.

About the Book:

Gracious Living is an easy-to-read decade-long journey that offers tips and suggestions on how senior citizens can stretch their dollar and get the most for their money. Eleven chapters cover every important aspect of living together, from the wedding preparations to where to live. Key considerations follow each chapter for quick reference: considerations like where and when to buy clothing, choosing a place to live and juggling your finances. Artist Jeff Nitzberg adds his unique touch with original drawings introducing each chapter.

Excerpt:

We all aspire to the many extras which supposedly make our lives more enjoyable. For some, the list is headed up by second cars, designer clothing, even dining out regularly in expensive restaurants. Where cash is scarce, it demands real discipline to examine spending patterns and determine just what we truly need, then prioritize whatever we merely want. Because money is one of the central issues in any marriage, retiring on a fixed income is likely to increase rather than reduce unavoidable tension over it. Careful planning and thoughtful shopping can help. This can reduce costs (even if our economy worsens) and thereby free up funds for luxuries further down everybody’s wish list. The discipline to follow through with a mutually-agreed-on plan, once made, is tough, but rewarding.

All this requires an investment of time: time, our most available resource. It is hard to change old habits, and an exertion of will is sometimes required to pay attention to details you never bothered about before. Joint planning, joint responsibility and joint action are vital now that you will be spending much more time together. Having that “we” approach is more important than ever to insure graceful living.

Our working years could certainly have benefited from this prescription for a happy life together, but the pressures and urgencies of raising a family and establishing a career often leave couples living quite separate lives. Each partner has had his or her own areas of responsibility, and in practice true collaboration is often lacking. Being forced to strengthen the bond of “we” during a financial squeeze may significantly improve living together in retirement by forcing the reconsideration of older, sloppier patterns.

One of the most difficult tasks is settling on those more urgent, less avoidable priorities. Dealing with the money forces decisions as to whose preference will prevail and facilitates true compromise. Inevitably somebody’s preference gets bumped off the budget. Thos fulfilled golden years are impossible without new level of mutual respect and open communication.

The author was gracious enough to do an interview with me. This is what she had to say:


Could you please tell us a little about your book?

This book came out of an awareness that two middle-class people, who later in life found themselves largely dependent on Social Security income, could build a gracious, productive life. The essence of the book is a series of strategies to accomplish this.

Did something specific happen to prompt you to write this book?

Yes. Close friends kept remarking about our wide-ranging and gratifying lifestyle and wondering how we brought it off in a modest income.

Who or what is the inspiration behind this book?

Ultimately, a very happy remarriage late in life made everything else possible.

Who is your biggest supporter?

Each of us would certainly identify the other.

Your biggest critic?

See answer 4.

What cause are you most passionate about?

It has always seemed important, especially after a bitter mid-life divorce, that women be well qualified and well recognized for what they do.

In the last year have you learned or improved on any skills?

Certainly writing this book was very useful. This was a chance to apply the principles of English and Journal Writing taught over the years to adult students at Eckerd College.

Do you have any rituals you follow when finishing a piece of work?

It’s always wonderful to celebrate with a bottle of good wine and a gourmet meal.

Who has influenced you throughout your career as a writer?

A course taken soon after arriving in St. Petersburg, Florida, with the well-known poet and essayist Peter Meinke, has exerted an influence to the present moment.

What is the most important thing in your life right now?

A recent medical setback makes getting well soon primary.

What are you currently working on?

A course to be taught at the adult center, Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Eckerd College, with Rick is scheduled to begin in October. The lesson plan is under development.

Do you have any advice for writers or readers?

It is important to keep journals and notebooks and train yourself to focus on details.

Is there an author that inspired you to write?

An important early influence was Virginia Woolf’s A Room of One’s Own.

What are some of your long term goals?

It would be wonderful to recover complete vigor and return soon to teaching and writing.

What do you feel has been your greatest achievement as an author?

It was very important to epitomize the way in which the lessons of a lifetime can help through good times and bad. Gracious Living on Social Security bristles with our secrets.

What do you feel is your biggest strength?

Vitality, sensuality, and an open and curious mind.

Biggest weakness?

Sometimes headstrong.

What do you feel sets this book apart from others in the same genre?

It is very conversational and at the same time very specific, so that the reader can easily pick up hundreds of valuable clues useful for upgrading his or her life.

You know the scenario – you’re stuck on an island. What book would you bring with you and why?

Recently impressed greatly by Jane Fonda’s My Life So Far, which is richly textured with a mature understanding of life’s ups and downs.

If you could go back and change one thing, what would it be?

Go to college sooner – not at 48, I was lucky to enroll as a non-traditional student at Ohio State.

Are you a different person now than you were 5 years ago? In what ways?

In general, since remarrying over a decade ago, life has stabilized and become a lot more productive.

What is the most important lesson you have learned from life so far?

Stick with your principles and be prepared to work hard professionally and personally to build a life.

Is there anything you regret doing/not doing?

A difficult early marriage prevented important self-realization until later than it should have.

What is your favorite pastime?

Reading about and talking about politics.

Is there anything else you would like to share with us?

“To thine own self be true….”
Discover your dream and follow it.

For a fuller treatment of Gracious Living on Social Security as well as the life of Valerie Kent, check out the Tree Farm Books website, www.treefarmbooks.com.

Lizzie's Rake by Hazel Statham

About the Author:


Hazel Statham lives in Staffordshire, England. She started writing at fifteen and has written on and off ever since. She has always been fascinated by history and writes mainly in the Regency and Georgian eras, although she has had a short medieval story published. When she was a child, she often told herself stories and this just progressed to committing them to paper to entertain family and friends. There have however, been gaps in her writing years where marriage and employment intervened, but now that she no longer works, she is able to return to her first love and devote her time to writing. She had her first two novels published in 2005.

She has been married to her husband Terry since 1969 and they have a grown daughter and beautiful grandson. Apart from reading and writing historical novels, her other ruling passion is animals and until recently, she was treasurer for an organization that raised money for animal charities. She currently shares her home with two lovely yellow Labradors named Lucy and Mollie, who are her constant companions. They are real sweeties, but it’s not always easy working at the computer with a large Labrador trying to get on your knee!

You can visit Hazel online at http://www.hazel-statham.co.uk/.

About the Book:

Can a rake reform his ways and truly love?

Lizzie's head tells her one thing, her heart another.Infamous rake and Corinthian, Maxim Beaufort, Earl of St. Ive, finding himself in possession of a property in Yorkshire, is unprepared for the changes it will bring into his life.

Irresistibly drawn to Elizabeth Granger, the former owner’s daughter, he attempts to help the family, finding himself filling the role of benefactor.

When the house is razed to the ground, he arranges for temporary accommodation for Elizabeth and her siblings on his estate and when Elizabeth rejects his proposal of marriage, he is nonetheless determined to win her over.

However, events and his reputation conspire to thwart his efforts and his course is one fraught with dangers.

Trust does not come easily and determined to protect her heart, Elizabeth struggles to resist her own longings. At times, their difficulties appear insurmountable but the earl is widely known as ‘The Indomitable’ and the name was not lightly earned.

I was lucky enough to get the author to agree to an interview. This is what she had to say:

Could you please tell us a little about your book?

Can a rake reform his ways and truly love? Elizabeth's head tells her one thing, her heart another.

When infamous rake and Corinthian, Maxim Beaufort, Earl of St. Ive, finds himself in possession of a property in Yorkshire, he is irresistibly drawn to Elizabeth Granger, the former owner’s daughter. Whilst attempting to help the family, he ends up filling the role as benefactor. When the house is razed, he arranges temporary accommodations for Elizabeth and her siblings on his estate but when he proposes to Elizabeth he is rejected.

Trust doesn’t come easily for Elizabeth and determined to protect her heart, she struggles to resist her longings, especially considering the earl’s reputation. At times, their difficulties appear insurmountable but the earl is widely known as ‘The Indomitable’ and the name was not lightly earned.

Who is your biggest supporter?

My family is very supportive and is always delighted when I sign a new contract.

Your biggest critic?

I have to say that I’m my own severest critic. I’m never completely satisfied with my work and even after publication feel the need to ‘tweak’ what I have written.

What cause are you most passionate about and why?

I hate cruelty and injustice in any shape or form, be it against humans or animals. I used to work as treasurer for an organization that raised money for animal charities.

What are you currently working on?



















My current work-in-progress is another Regency romance and I have finally settled on the title ‘For Love of Sarah’. It has been very much a start – stop process over the past few months but, hopefully, I will now be able to settle to it and finally see it completed.

Is there an author that inspired you to write?

I have to admit that, like many other writers of Traditional Regencies, I initially derived my inspiration from Georgette Heyer. When I read her books they opened up a whole new world to me, one I longed to recreate in my work.

What do you feel has been your greatest achievement as an author?

My greatest achievement is in becoming a published author. It never ceases to amaze me that people enjoy my writing. So far, I have been lucky enough to find a home for all my manuscripts and I am very grateful to the publishers who have given me the opportunity to share my work with others.

What do you feel is your biggest strength?

Writing is a compulsion I can’t ignore and I would continue to write regardless of whether it was published or not.

Biggest weakness?

Lack of self-confidence.

You know the scenario – you’re stuck on an island. What book would you bring with you and why?

‘Jane Eyre’ by Charlotte Bronte. I love the enigmatic Rochester and I think you will find a little of him in all my heroes.

Is there anything else you would like to share with us?

I hope everyone enjoys reading my stories as much as I enjoy writing them. I love to hear from my readers and promise to answer all my mail.

Wicked Burn by Beth Kery

About the Book:

He wanted all of her—and did she ever let him have it…Vic Savian knows what he wants when he sees it. And what he wants is his sexy neighbor, Niall Chandler. When he finds her in the hallway of their building being harassed by an aggressive suitor, Vic steps in—and finds himself greatly rewarded…Sleeping with her gorgeous neighbor—when she didn’t even know his last name—was the craziest thing Niall’s ever done. Now, she can’t seem to get enough of Vic—or the uninhibited passion he stirs in her. Suddenly, with his help, she’s opening to sensual pleasures she’s never known before. But when Niall’s past comes back to haunt her, will she and Vic let themselves venture beyond the bedroom and explore the possibility of the love that’s in their hearts?

I was lucky enough to get Beth to agree to an interview. Here's what she had to say:

What do you feel sets WICKED BURN apart from others in the same genre?

WICKED BURN is an extremely, unashamedly sexy book, but it's first and foremost a romance. It's about two people who crash into each other one night. The characters imagine it to be a purely carnal affair, but the reader immediately senses there is something much deeper than just sex going on between these two people. I firmly believe that sex is a form of communication, and sometimes, people use it to speak a wordless language.That's what it's like between Vic and Niall, my hero and heroine. It takes a struggle for them to eventually put what's happening to them into words, but when they finally do, it's very powerful. The emotion between them is very pure, palpable, and I think real.

Do you have any rituals you follow when finishing a piece of work?

Um, let's see. I do write, THE END. Once I do that, I try to have one or two beta readers look it over, because I can't see the most obvious errors. After I get it back from my wonderful readers, I go through it again. Various improvements will occur to me at odd times for the next week or so, depending upon how long I have before my deadline. One annoying regular ritual is that I send it off to my editor, and notice some stupid mistake...like the heroine's underwear never got removed or something.

What are you currently working on?

I'm working on a contemporary erotic romance with suspense elements called RELEASE. It'll be out in February 2010 from Berkley Heat. It's been a lot of fun, and a bit of a challenge writing it, because while the background of it involves spies, secrets and a murder, the core of it is an intense affair between two people who loved each other practically from first glance. It takes place over three days, during a Chicago snow storm, where the couple is trapped together in a penthouse, and finally have to face not only the obstacles between them, but the undeniable feelings they have for each other. All that intimacy, heat and sensual submission leads to the revelation of old, explosive secrets.

What cause are you most passionate about and why?

My marriage and my writing. In that order.

You know the scenario – you’re stuck on an island. What book would you bring with you and why?

I'd bring the romance classic, Pride and Prejudice. It's a cliche to say it, perhaps, but I've loved it since I read it when I was 16. I figure that it's inspired so many people for several centuries, it more than likely would keep me thinking up dozens upon dozens of new romances while I survived in my primitive island world. Besides, it'd be nice to picture all the proprieties and the crystal and the ball dresses while I was drinking out of a coconut.

What's the most valuable lesson you've learned so far?

Probably that you have to not only allow yourself to fail, you have to expect it to happen. If you're so terrified of failure, you just curl into a ball and go nowhere. But if you expect it as part of the weave of the fabric of life, it's much easier to take when it happens.

Not easy, granted, but easier.

Thanks for the thoughtful questions!

For more information, please visit http://www.bethkery.com/

Scattered Leaves by Richard Roach

Join Richard E. Roach, author of the suspense mystery novel, Scattered Leaves (Multi-Media, Sept. '08), as he virtually tours the blogosphere in April on his third virtual book tour with Pump Up Your Book Promotion!

About the Author:

Suspense/Mystery author Richard Roach was born in 1931 in Galveston, Texas. Short stories of his have been published in Man’s Story 2, Happy 2007, Vol. 20 and Bibliophilos 2006, Vol. 42. His first novel, Scattered Leaves, hit the book stores on September 1, ’08, and his second novel, Scattered Money, will be published in 2009.

You can visit his website at http://www.richarderoach.com/.

About the Book:

When Ben McCord comes home from a business trip to find his young wife raped and murdered, he starts out on a journey of death and destruction. Clues lead him to a dark world of drugs and violence in action that spans Texas, Colorado, and the Mexican border. McCord hooks up with a beautiful doctor, who was also victimized by members of the same drug cartel, and together they track down the killers, surviving bloody confrontations, and ending with a suspenseful climax in the Big Thicket of Texas.

I was lucky enough to be able to interview the author. Here's what he answered:

Could you please tell us a little about your book?

Ben McCord comes home from witnessing a blow-out on a drilling rig to find his wife raped and murdered. At first he’s overcome with grief; but soon the sorrow is replaced with black anger. Ben vows vengeance and starts looking for the perpertratiors.

Did something specific happen to prompt you to write this book?

No, but the murder of a family in Georgia caused me to realize it could happen to anyone.

Who or what is the inspiration behind this book?

I had no choice in the matter, I felt compelled to write.

Who is your biggest supporter?

My wife. She reads what I write, the poor soul, and never condemns me.

Your biggest critic?

Oh! Boy! The worst critics are the editors that tell me where I went wrong, rearrange the plot, and drive me crazy in general.

What cause are you most passionate about and why?

This is a loaded question! I would never finish this if I were to cover all my passionate causes but just to pick one is hard to do. However, I’ll go with this. I have little faith in the political situation concerning law making and law enforcement. Too much corruption, the media news is full of it every day. Look at Madoff and the trillion dollar debt.

In the last year have you learned or improved on any skills?

I like to think I have.

Do you have any rituals you follow when finishing a piece of work?

A big sigh of relief and satisfaction.

Who has influenced you throughout your career as a writer?

John D. MacDonald

What is the most important thing in your life right now?

My health. I hate going to the hospital for operations.

What are you currently working on?

Cecilia—Another crime novel. I have just finished Perverse Judgment.

Do you have any advice for writers or readers?

Beware of opening your door to strangers. Always carry a gun, keep your emotions in check and remember—if a thug comes in your domicile while you are there, HE’S COMING AFTER YOU! Burglars don’t rob home while people are there unless they’re drug mad.

Is there an author that inspired you to write?

Gardner , MacDonald, Short, Lamour, Hamilton , McBain and Charteris.

What are some of your long term goals?

To continue to write better novels.

What do you feel has been your greatest achievement as an author?

I don’t feel as if I’ve accomplished hardly anything but the best so far is to get SCATTERED LEAVES published.

What do you feel is your biggest strength?

My imagination.

Biggest weakness?

Lack of formal education. I should have studied English: Lit and Grammar and writers.

What do you feel sets this book apart from others in the same genre?

If you read it, I believe you’ll agree, Action! Violence!

You know the scenario – you’re stuck on an island. What book would you bring with you and why?

Any of the Travis McGee books. The reason: Simple. I could read it over and over. I have read the twenty-one books in the McGee series over and over as is. I also have a complete set stored in plastic containers where light never shines on them. I’m saving them for when I get old. I’m only 7711/12 at this time.

If you could go back and change one day, what would it be?

June 1, 1945 That’s the day I was forced to leave Livingston and go to Houston and work in a grocery store. I was fourteen.

Are you a different person now than you were 5 years ago? In what way/s?

Definitely! I have studied the art and written about ten books in that length of time

What is the most important lesson you have learned from life so far?

I’m still learning things . . . the most important thing so far, has to be, get a damn education! Money can’t buy happiness but an education coupled with hard work and perseverance can allow you to suffer in luxury.

Is there anything you regret doing/not doing?

Thinking I was smart enough for this world and quitting college.

What is your favorite past-time?

Writing a good story. You can control everything that happens, that’s called heaven.

Is there anything else you would like to share with us?

Yes! I love you for asking all these questions. It was my pleasure to answer them. I wish you and your family good health, happiness, and piles of nice crisp one-hundred dollar bills.

Win Prizes!!!

SCATTERED LEAVES VIRTUAL BLOG TOUR '09 will officially begin on April 1 and end on April 30. You can visit Richard's blog stops at http://www.virtualbooktours.wordpress.com/ in April to find out more about this great book and talented author!

As a special promotion for all our authors, Pump Up Your Book Promotion is giving away a FREE virtual book tour to a published author or a $50 Amazon gift certificate to those not published who comments on our authors' blog stops. More prizes will be announced as they become available.