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.”

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.

One Small Victory by Maryann Miller

Hardcover: 293 pages
Publisher: Five Star (ME) (June 18, 2008)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1594146993
ISBN-13: 978-1594146992

Book Synopsis:

Life can change in just an instant. That's the harsh reality that Jenny Jasik faces when her son is killed in an automobile accident, but never in her wildest dreams did she ever expect to be working undercover as a member of a drug task force. She is, after all, just a Mom. In the course of her work, she discovers that she is capable of much more than running a household and managing her floral shop.

I was fortunate enough to be able to interview the author. This is what she had to say.

You sure are busy! Could you tell us a little more about the organization Sisters in Crime and how you got involved?

Sisters in Crime is an organization founded to support women who write mysteries. It has long been known that women are often not taken seriously in the mystery field, relegated to being thought of as only able to do cozies. Women mystery authors also don’t get reviewed as often as the men do, so the organization started to see if the playing field could be leveled somewhat. I joined the organization about ten years ago and used to belong to a chapter in Omaha, Nebraska, That chapter helped resurrect the mystery con, Mayhem in the Midlands, and it was fun being part of that. There is not a chapter where I live now, so I am connected through the Internet chapter, but not an active volunteer.

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

Gosh. You don’t toss easy questions at us. It is hard to pinpoint one single thing that is most important. My family is the top of the list of people who are most important, and I work hard to maintain the close relationships we have. I also strive every day to find some balance between the demands of writing, promoting, the work for WinnsboroToday.com – the online community magazine where I am managing editor – and time to just enjoy life. I am living a childhood dream of being on some acreage and playing farmer, so I don’t want to miss opportunities to enjoy that. I get to go outside and greet my horse every morning with my first cup of coffee. For a “peaceful, easy feeling” nothing beats that.

How was it that you came to write One Small Victory?

A number of years ago I read a news item about a woman who infiltrated a drug ring and helped bring down the main distributor for that area. Her son had been killed in a car accident and drugs were found at the scene. The woman was a single mother with no background in law enforcement, but she bullied her way on to a drug task force and worked as a confidential informant. She was not able to tell anyone what she was doing, so all kinds of complications arose from that. I was blown away by that woman’s courage, and the central character, Jenny, started coming to life in my mind.

What was the most difficult part in writing it?

One of the most difficult parts of writing One Small Victory was trying to imagine what it is like to lose a child and deal with all those grief issues. As a hospital chaplain I’ve facilitated a lot of grief support groups and have experienced these feelings second hand, but trying to really feel them so I could describe them for Jenny was really hard. We truly can never know the depth of that kind of pain until we have experienced it. To even come close to knowing what it was like, I had to imagine what I would feel if one of my children died, and it was not easy to go there emotionally.

Do you have a ritual that you follow when finishing a piece of work?

Yes. I clean my office. Seriously, I do. When I am working on a book, my office gets messier and messier the more I get into it. I have notes all over my desk. Research material spread across the floor. Dust bunnies under the desk for the cats to play with. Books I received to review pilled up on the small table. When the book is finished, I do a major clean up and have a clear space to start all over again.

What cause are you most passionate about and why?

A current passion is recycling and conservation. My husband laughs at me when I use the old water in the dog’s bowl to water my plants, but hey, I save a little water for my grandchildren. For too many years we have lived in a disposable society, and now we are beginning to see what a huge mistake that was. At least some of us are.

We all have them, but what is your biggest vice in life?

Allowing myself to get distracted from something I’d rather not do. I’ve even been known to clean a toilet rather than call potential advertisers, and you’d think I’d be finding ways to avoid cleaning a toilet. I react the same way when I have to do edits and revisions on my work. Writing the first draft of any book is a creative joyride in many ways. The dialogue often comes fast and furious. The characters suddenly take me down a different path. A setting comes to life. Then the hard work of crafting the story begins. That’s when the toilet brush tempts me.

What are you currently working on?

My job with WinnsboroToday.com takes up part of my working day, updating the site and covering stories. When I have time for fiction, I work on the second book in a mystery series that I hope Five Star is going to pick up. The first book, Open Season, introduces Sarah Kingsly and Angel Johnson, two homicide detectives in Dallas. They are thrown together as unwilling partners during a time of racial unrest in the city and the department and have those issues to deal with as they track a serial killer. The second book is Stalking Season and I am about halfway through it.

What has been your greatest achievement as a writer?

One of the biggest thrills for me was to direct my play at a local community theatre. I had a wonderful cast that was so responsive, and on opening night I stood in the back to watch them and cried from the sheer joy of seeing the story come alive. There is a Time centers on four women in a cancer support group and how they and their families deal with the disease. Death is also personified in the show and appears to the women in their struggles.

Have you always wanted to be a writer, or did you aspire to be something else growing up (although the tales you told around the dinner table lead me to think writer all the way)?

Yes, I always wanted to be a writer, although there was a time when I wanted to be a veterinarian, too. Then I could be like James Herriot who wrote All Creatures Great and Small, and all the other books about his practice in England.

What authors do you enjoy reading?

There are so many, I hope I don’t leave anyone out. In mystery I really enjoy Dennis Lahane, P.J. Parrish, Harlan Coben, Sue Grafton, Robert B. Parker, Evan Hunter, Lawrence Block, Jonathan Kellerman… and the list goes on. In general and women’s fiction I love Anne Tyler, Toni Morrison, Anne Lamott, Anita Shreve, Laura Castoro…. and the list goes on here, too. I just finished a book that was sent to me for review, The Front Porch Prophet, by Raymond Atkins. It’s a wonderful book written so vividly it was like being in the small Georgia town and meeting the characters firsthand. I really appreciate authors who take the time to craft that perfect sentence to make the reader pause and read it again. If I can make someone do that, I consider myself a success.

About the author:

A diverse writer of columns, feature stores, short fiction, novels,screenplays and stage plays, Maryann Miller has won numerous awards including being a semi-finalist at the Sundance Institute for her screenplay, "A Question of Honor". More recently she placed in the top 15 percent of entries in the Chesterfield Screenwriting Fellowship with the adaptation of her mystery, "Open Season".

Publishing credits include work for regional and national newspapers and magazines: Lady's Circle, Woman's World, Marriage and Family Living, Plano Magazine, The Children's World, Byline, The Texas Catholic Newspaper. She has published nine non-fiction books for teens, including the award-winning Coping With Weapons and Violence : In Your School and on Your Streets released by The Rosen Publishing Group in New York. She has a short story in the All About Muse anthology, The Holiday Mixer. Her novel, One Small Victory, was a hardback release from Five Star Publishing in June 2008, and Play it Again, Sam, is a July 2008 release from Uncial Press in e-book formats.

She is currently the Managing Editor and writer for an online community magazine, WinnsboroToday.com, and does book reviews for ForeWord Magazine and two online review sites, BloggerNews.net and Curled Up With a Good Book. She also does freelance editing. Other experience includes extensive work as a PR consultant, a script doctor, and a freelanceeditor. She has been writing all her life and plans to die at her computer.

Until then, Miller stays active in a number of organizations including Sisters In Crime, The Trails Country Centre For The Arts in Winnsboro, Texas, and was a founder of The Greater Dallas Writers' Association.She makes her home in the beautiful Piney Woods of East Texas where she happily plays farmer. She has a horse, two goats, three cats, and two dogs. She shares these critters and five acres with her husband and an armadillo that visits frequently. You can visit her website at www.maryannwrites.com.

ONE SMALL VICTORY VIRTUAL BOOK TOUR '08 will officially begin on September 2, '08 and end on September 26, '08. You can visit Maryann's tour stops at www.virtualbooktours.wordpress.com in September to find out more about her and her new book!

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 with a recent release 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. The winner will be announced on our main blog at www.pumpupyourbookpromotion.wordpress.com on September 26!

This virtual book tour is being brought to you by Pump Up Your Book Promotion and choreographed by Jaime McDougall

Magus of Stonewylde by Kit Berry Review and Interview

When I received this book in the mail I was thrilled to be able to have the opportunity to read a book described by the author as "Not thriller, nor fantasy, nor romance. Yet all of these and so much more." All I can say is WOW!

From the first page I was sucked into a world that at first I was envious of, but ultimately grew to question how much I would really love living there, all things considered. The story opens with Sylvie and her mother Miranda. Sylvie has been suffering with horrific allergies and skin conditions that have caused her to loose her will to live. So, when she is hospitalized and a Doctor broaches the subject of how much Sylvie looks like the Hallfolk of Stonewylde, both mother and daughters interests are piqued. After being introduced to the Magus, who is the head of Stonewylde, it is decided that even though they are outsiders, they will be allowed to come to Stonewylde to see if something can be done to help poor Sylvie get well.

All truth told, Magus is enchanted with her and her mother both. Once in Stonewylde, Sylvie receives a magical gift from Magus - a gift that causes her ailments to recede, and allows her to start living the life that seems on the surface to be every girls dream. Her mother to, although at first skeptical, grows quickly to love the life they lead in Stonewylde, and becomes quite fond of Magus as well.

Even though Sylvie and her mother are considered Hallfolk, Sylvie is drawn to Yul, an unruly Villager who is constantly being punished by either his father Alwyn, or Magus himself. Even though they have been forbidden to see each other, they are unable to stay away - it is much more than a physical connection between the two and in the end they both need what the other doesn't have to try and right all of the wrongs that are taking place.

Let me just say that there was one thing about the book that I did not enjoy, the fact that I need to wait until the next book to pick up where this fantastic book leaves off. Wonderfully written, well thought out and developed characters and storyline, this book certainly left me wanting more. Kudos to Kit Berry!

Questions for the author:

Where did you get the idea to create a community such as Stonewylde?

I lived in Dorset for many years, the place where Stonewylde is set. It's a beautiful and mystical part of England, and there are many standing stones and sacred sites there. I've always felt the power and magic of nature when out walking in the hills and woods. There's a huge country estate which is walled off and completely private, and when I used to drive past it, I started to imagine what could be behind the boundary walls. Once the idea had taken hold, there was no stopping it!

Were you familiar with the rituals you wrote about, or was research necessary in order to write the book?

I have some knowledge of earth-based magic and was always empathetic to the concepts of paganism. I did do a great deal of research on rituals and customs, and the rituals and ceremonies described in Stonewylde are a hybrid of modern celebration, ancient customs and beliefs, and pure imagination. The point with paganism is that there's no definitive creed or dogma, so in creating Stonewylde is was possible to use artistic license. I was concerned that some of my ideas may offend practicing pagans but in fact I've had nothing but praise and support from everyone who's written to me - and there are lots of them! When I received very favorable reviews from Professor Ronald Hutton, the UK's leading authority on modern paganism and British folklore, I realized my fears had been unfounded.

Who/what was your inspiration for this series of books?

I was initially inspired to reconnect with the earth by an encounter in some woods with a great hare. Apparently these type of encounters with a creature from nature are not uncommon, and the hare in particular is seen in folklore as an animal of transformation. This rekindled in me a great interest in finding out more about the natural world and earth-based religion. Then I had a very profound and mystical experience a couple of years later in a labyrinth, and this epiphany inspired me to actually start writing rather than just dreaming about it.

What can we look forward to in the future?

There will be five books in the Stonewylde Series. In the UK, the first three are now published and proving very successful. I have written the fourth and am currently working on it, and the fifth is yet to be written, although I know exactly what's going to happen. At present only the first title in the series has been published in the USA. Depending on the success of that, the others will follow but there are no immediate plans for this right now. The US edition of Magus of Stonewylde is available on amazon.com and also through our US wholesaler, Magus Books (visit www.magusbooks.com for more details). The name is pure coincidence! I see that on amazon.com it's also possible to buy the UK editions of the second and third book, if anyone is interested. We've also had enquiries about film rights as the books would make fantastic movies. Reviews of all three books can be found on www.amazon.co.uk . Readers can visit my website too on www.stonewylde.com and also join our forum, leave entries in the guest book, and subscribe to the Stonewylde newsletter.