FEATURED AUTHOR: ROBERT T. GERMAUX

ABOUT THE BOOK

Miles Bradshaw, the dot-com billionaire owner of Pittsburgh’s first NBA franchise, hires private detective Jeremy Barnes to look into what appears to be a simple case of harassment of one of the team’s players.  But when Jeremy (JB to his friends) begins his investigation, the case proves to be anything but simple, eventually involving a local businessman with suspected criminal ties, a major FBI task force, a computer geek in California and a mob boss in Erie. 

Along the way, JB, who can quote Shakespeare as quickly and easily as he can land a solid left jab, uses his wits and his ever-present sense of humor to wend his way through a cast of characters who range from the ridiculously inept to the ruthlessly lethal.

As Hard Court unfolds, there are numerous surprises and plot twists, culminating in a dramatic confrontation that neither JB nor the reader could have predicted.

INTERVIEW WITH ROBERT GERMAUX

Do you have a writing routine?
Although I’m a very organized person, I don’t have any rules about writing a certain number of words per day. I’ll often whip off a chapter (about 1200 words) a day for several days, but then take a few days off. However, I’m always writing little notes to myself about characters, scenes, snatches of dialogue, etc. Fortunately, my wife is incredibly understanding about being awakened at 2:00 am when I turn on the light to get something down on paper before I forget it.

What do you think is the hardest aspect of writing a book?
For me, it’s the plots, especially endings. Sometimes I think I know how I’ll end a book, but the further I get into the story, the more I realize that I’ll need a different ending. Sometimes, as in The Backup Husband, my original ending works, but I have to change the setting. All too often, though, I just start writing and hope that somewhere along the way, I’ll figure it out.

What’s more important – characters or plot?
Characters, definitely. When I’m reading a work of fiction, if the characters don’t grab my attention, then I’m just not going to get into the book, no matter how good a job the author has done with the plot. I have to be engaged with the characters.

How often do you read?
Constantly! One of my earliest memories is of my parents taking me to the main branch of Carnegie Library in Pittsburgh on Saturday mornings for Story Time. Both my parents were big-time readers, and they passed that love of literature on to their children.

What books do you currently have published?
I have two books on Amazon. Small Talk is about a Pittsburgh police detective (a former pitcher for the Pirates) trying to track down a serial killer. The Backup Husband is a modern-day romance about a drop-dead gorgeous woman and the two equally-attractive men in her life, her husband and his best friend. The three of them share a bond that appears to be unbreakable, until the most powerful force in the world intervenes.


Sounds intriguing! What is the worst job you’ve ever had? What did it teach you?
I spent a summer during college working for a local moving company. The pay was bad, the hours were long, and the work involved heavy lifting in hot, humid weather. Some days, I came home literally too tired to eat. I’d just wash off most of the dirt and grime, then collapse into bed and sleep until the middle of the night, when I’d wake up and eat the leftovers my mom left for me downstairs. That job gave me a real appreciation for people who do manual labor for a living. I was lucky that I had other paths available to me, but I’ve never forgotten how utterly exhausted I was after work every day that summer.

Do you have any marketing tips you could pass on to indie authors?
Unless you’re already very knowledgeable about how to go about marketing a book online, the best thing you can do is find someone who is well-versed in that area. I knew absolutely nothing about cover reveals, virtual book tours, reviews from bloggers, etc., and I had zero online presence (Facebook, personal website, etc.). Fortunately, I connected with a woman named Susan Barton, who basically took me under her wing and helped steer me through the entire process of marketing both myself and my books. So I would say it’s imperative for any new indie author to find a “Susan” to help you navigate the ‘Net.

What do you love about where you live?
There are definitely things I don’t like about Pittsburgh (winter comes to mind), but one thing I do love is the fact that for a city its size, Pittsburgh has a thriving cultural scene. My wife and I love live theater, and thanks to this city’s Civic Light Opera and Broadway Across America, we get to see a dozen or so wonderful plays and musicals every year.

What drives you crazy?
People who are rude and inconsiderate. Cynthia and I are big fans of the whole random acts of kindness thing, and I wish more people would get on board.

I totally agree! Where is your favorite place to visit?
Hopefully, the next place my wife and I go on vacation! We’ve been fortunate enough to spend time together everywhere from Paris to San Francisco to the South Pacific, but we’ve also enjoyed ourselves much closer to home. So, really, anywhere with Cynthia.


Who is your favorite fictional character?
Probably Spenser, Robert B. Parker’s iconic PI. I read the first Spenser novel in 1974, and I was immediately hooked on the character, especially his sense of humor.

You and I are definitely reading buddies. Spenser is my favorite too. I have literally asked that question 684 times, and you're the first to say RBP. Love it! Okay, moving on . . . You have a personal chef for the night. What would you ask him to prepare?
Beef Wellington. Years ago, this dish was a staple in most good restaurants, but I haven’t seen it on a menu for quite some time. In addition to the Wellington, I’d want a few interesting side dishes, and for dessert, a Grand Marnier soufflé.


What would you do for a Klondike bar?
I grew up in Pittsburgh, where Klondike bars were sold in the Isaly Dairy stores that dotted the region. I can still remember my parents taking my siblings and me for Klondike bars on hot summer days. The trick was to try to eat as much of it as you could before the chocolate covering began to melt in your hands. So you’re asking this boy the wrong question, Amy. It should be what wouldn’t I do for a Klondike bar!


Excellent! What are you working on now?
I’m almost finished with Grammar Sex and Other Stuff, a book of thirty personal essays in which I give my (usually humorous) slant on a variety of topics. Some sample essay titles include “Proper Parking Lot Etiquette,” “PDF (Public Display of Feet),” “I Suck as a Bill Collector,” “That’s Right, I’m Cool,” and “Davy Crockett, Jesus and the Beatles.”

FROM ROBERT GERMAUX

Both my parents were readers. I'm talking stacks-of-books-on-their-nightstands readers. So it's no surprise that at an early age, I, too, became an avid reader. Everything from sports books (especially baseball) to Nancy Drew to the Hardy Boys to almost anything about distant and exotic places.
Although I've always enjoyed putting words on paper, the writer in me didn't fully emerge until I retired after three decades of teaching high school English. I quickly wrote two books aimed at middle school readers, at which point my wife urged me to try a novel for adults. As is usually the case, Cynthia's idea was a good one.

Over the next few years, I wrote several books about Pittsburgh private eye Jeremy Barnes. I took a brief hiatus from the detective genre to write Small Talk and The Backup Husband. Now I’m back and will be releasing my first Jeremy Barnes novel, Hard Court, on April 11.

In our spare time, Cynthia and I enjoy reading (of course), going to live theater productions, watching reruns of favorite TV shows such as Sports Night and Gilmore Girls, and traveling to some of those distant and exotic places I used to read about as a child. So far, we've been fortunate enough to walk in the sands of Waikiki, swim in the warm waters of the South Pacific, and share a romantic dinner in Paris.



I love interacting with my readers and getting their input on my characters and stories. Please feel free to contact me via my website.

FEATURED AUTHOR: DAVID S. ATKINSON

ABOUT THE BOOK

Life is absurd, ultimately beyond our comprehension, in [some awesome accomplishment] David Atkinson's latest short story collection Not Quite So Stories. Themes of adolescence, marriage, work, and death intersect in stories that will leave the reader at times amused, sorrowful, pensive, hopeful, and marveling at the bizarre things that make people tick.


INTERVIEW WITH DAVID S. ATKINSON

David, how did you get started writing?
My parents got me started, reading to me, taking me to the library all the time, all that. They seemed to consider that reading and writing were just things most people did, so I started doing them. I never even thought about it. At least, that's how I remember it. Other stuff they exposed me to has made it into my writing. My story "Domestic Ties" was influenced off of a 70s era Saturday Night Live skit (again, at least I remember it being a 70s era Saturday Night Live skit).

What's your favorite thing about the writing process?
I like the idea phase where everything is possible, but even that falls short of coming out the other side and seeing what came out. It's such a marvel when I'm sure I fell short and somehow there's something on the page that dazzles me. Personally, I think elves must be involved at some point, like the old fairy tales about the cobbler who leaves leather out overnight and wakes up to find shoes . . . or Elaine in my story "Monkey! Monkey! Monkey! Monkey! Monkey!" who opens the hood on her rental car to find the engine replaced with a cymbal monkey. Well, maybe less the latter.

Do you have a writing routine?
I tend to say that I have no specific routine, but really I have a number of different routines. Each project I take on seems to have an inherent way that I need to tackle it. As long as I'm successful in figuring out what it is, I listen and stick to that. Each different thing I write seems to work differently and I've never had much luck forcing a single routine onto that.

Do you write every day?
I write something every day, though not always fiction. I certainly blog every day, and my career as a patent attorney has me writing regularly. Book reviews, stories, there's always something. I tend to go with whatever the day brings as long as it brings something. The tales in Not Quite so Stories were majorly written in the past five years, but a few I've been fiddling with for about a decade.

What do you think is hardest aspect of writing a book?
The hardest part of writing a book is revision. As wondrous as how things have turned out, having to face the flaws that are there and correct them is both humbling and painful. Of course, there's no getting from the wondrous to the dazzling without it. I loved writing my story " The Des Moines Kabuki Dinner Theatre," but it took me forever to get it right.

What’s more important – characters or plot?
I think it depends on the particular story. I've seen good writing that focuses primarily on character while other good writing I've seen focuses more on plot. For me, the best is when both are working together in a story. In my story "The Onion She Carried," the character of Nan and the fact she'd decided to carry around an onion everywhere works together with what happens when she does so. However, there are a lot of ways up a mountain. If an author can make something work then I won't try to tell them different. From a writing perspective, whatever isn't working right is the most important.

How often do you read?
Reading is one of the major ways I spend my days, along with writing and working. In the last six years I've tended to come in at about 200-300 books a year. I try to read all around and not get stuck in a rut only getting exposed to one kind of writing. Sometimes I read writing like Amelia Gray or Etgar Keret, other times Dostoyevsky or Balzac, still others Harper Lee, and yet others Clive Barker. I try to read all over.

What is your writing style?
I write a lot of different things, and I think my style morphs accordingly. My first book, Bones Buried in the Dirt, was a realistic child narrator piece. My second book, The Garden of Good and Evil Pancakes, was very weird. There were several different layers of what was going on and the exact specifics depended on how you wanted to look at things. Not Quite so Stories is somewhere in between. It's fairly realistic, but then there's something off the wall and the ordinary people have to come to terms with that. For all of these different approaches, I write in a little bit of a different way.


What do you think makes a good story?
That's a tough one. Almost any rule I could come up with I could think of a story that ends up being good but still violates it. My story "G-Men" seems wildly different to me than my story "Dreams of Dead Grandpa." The biggest test is always how does it read. If it pulls readers in, even if those need to be a small distinctive group of readers, it's a good story.

Is writing your dream job?
Absolutely not. As much as I'd like to not have to have another job and be able to write more, since I'd be doing that anyway, I think writing as a job would reduce the joy it brings me. To some extent, it's fun because it isn't a job. Bringing a job into anything is going to drive out at least some of the play. I don't want writing to end up feeling like how the main character feels in my story "The Elusive Qualities of Advanced Office Equipment."


What is the worst job you’ve ever had? What did it teach you?
I worked for one day ringing bells for the Salvation Army. I wasn't even a volunteer, so there was no "doing good" to offset it. It was ten degrees below zero Fahrenheit, and my arm didn't stop hurting for a week. I'd still rather be as lost as the main character in my story "The Elusive Qualities of Advanced Office Equipment" than do that again. I learned to be nice to bell ringers, and to contribute without needing to be reminded by a ringing bell.

Do you have any marketing tips you could pass on to indie authors?
I think the best marketing tip is to be interested and involved in what's going on out there. If you care about what's going on out there and contribute to the discussion, it's far more likely people are going to be interested in something you publish. If you don't care, why would anyone care about you? We're all in this together, so we might as well act like it.

For what would you like to be remembered?
Hopefully something I've written as opposed to that time I was shopping with my wife and threw the cheese sticks I wanted to buy into a stranger's cart. They looked so strangely at me. I need to pay more attention sometimes. I'm as bad as Phil in my story "Home Improvement."

What’s one THING you never leave the house without .
A book. Seriously. I take at least one to work, on trips, to the grocery store, when my wife is getting a massage or her nails done, everywhere. My wife dragged me to Lululemon and sat me in the chair next to the changing area. She came out and noticed that I was facing the mirror where all the women were checking out how their butt looked in the yoga pants. She laughed because I was nose deep in a book and hadn't even realized the situation. Phil in my story "Home Improvement" has nothing on me.


What’s your favorite place to go on date night?
Queen of Sheba. It's an Ethiopian place in Denver. I love taking my wife there. Unfortunately, she never wants to go. We each have our favorite places we always want to go and end up making the other utterly sick of them. We tend to show our love by agreeing to go to one of the other's favorites despite hating them.

What is your superpower?
The ability to spout random possibly related Simpsons quotes in almost any situation. I even got the name for the main character in my story "Form Over Substance ≈ Eggs Over Easy" by messing around with Milhouse's last name on The Simpsons. After all, everything is coming up Milhouse.


Do you give your characters any of your bad traits?
Of course. How else would I be able to do bad traits as well? Some I can imagine, but it's a lot easier if I have some familiarity to fall back on at least some of the time. I really am as annoying about proper toilet paper replacement procedures as the husband in my story "A Brief Account of the Great Toilet Paper War of 2012."


What would you do for a Klondike bar?
I'd probably pay for one. Those commercials always bugged me. I mean, those things are about a dollar. The characters in the commercial all clearly can spare a dollar. Why not simply spend the dollar rather than do things that someone would usually have to pay you much more than a dollar to do? Though I know it's an imagined scenario, it baffles me as much as people baffle the cuddly killer teddy bear in my story "60% Rayon and 40% Evil."



You're taking it much too literally and missing the fun. What are you working on now?
Right now I'm working on a collection of little flash pieces that are way, way weirder than the tales in Not Quite so Stories. One story (published in Apocrypha and Abstractions) involves a character who keeps waking up with strawberry jam smeared in his boxers.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

David S. Atkinson’s writing appears in Bartleby Snopes, Grey Sparrow Journal, Atticus Review, and others and he is the author of three books. Not Quite So Stories (March 1, 2016 from Literary Wanderlust), Bones Buried in the Dirt (2014 Next Generation Indie Book Awards finalist, First Novel) and The Garden of Good and Evil Pancakes (2015 national indie excellence awards finalist in humor). He spends his non-literary time working as a patent attorney in Denver.


Connect with David:

Website  |   Blog   |   Facebook   |    
Twitter   |    
Goodreads  

Buy the book:
Amazon      

Rafflecopter Giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway

David S. Atkinson is giving away one paperback copy each – Bones Buried in the Dirt and Garden of Good and Evil Pancakes!

Terms & Conditions:

By entering the giveaway, you are confirming you are at least 18 years old.

Two winners will be chosen via Rafflecopter to receive either Bones Buried in the Dirt or The Garden of Good and Evil Pancakes

This giveaway begins March 1 and ends on May 27

Winners will be contacted via email on May 29.

 Winners have 48 hours to reply.
Good luck everyone!

FEATURED AUTHOR: JULIE ANNE LINDSEY

ABOUT THE BOOK:

It's been three months since Jake Archer rolled into town, accused Mia Connors of murder and stole her heart. She hasn't heard from him since. So when a man collapses at the fall Renaissance Faire, she's surprised to see the US marshal arrive on scene. And shocked when he points the finger at her—again. Mia would sooner be able to resurrect the poor fellow than poison him.

Jake Archer's career has been rising fast, but it's about to come to a crashing halt. The Ren-Faire victim was in protective custody — Jake's custody — and they were painfully close to nabbing a major crime boss. If Jake doesn't solve the murder soon, he'll be fetching donuts instead of protecting his nation. A difficult enough task without the alluring Mia Connors in the way.

Working with Jake to catch the killer might push Mia into crazy-cat-lady territory. But with a murderer on the loose — and Mia's reputation on the line — they'll have to work fast to find the killer before the killer finds them.

INTERVIEW WITH JULIE ANNE LINDSEY

Julie, do you write every day?
Yes! I’m a dedicated outliner, and I write one chapter every day, reread it for cleanup, then send it to my critique partner. By following this process, I finish writing my novels in under a month. (Of course, that doesn’t count the time spent prepping my outline, researching the project or reworking the novel after my beta readers have given feedback on the completed project). I’m a firm believer in writing every day. Writing daily builds momentum, finishes projects and give agents and editors a reliable time frame for completion.

How often do you read?
I read daily, though sometimes it isn’t more than a few pages. Reading is so important. I read for research, for entertainment, and to better understand the industry. Reading teaches me new ways to say old things, gives me a little reprieve from the writing, and shows me what editors are buying, what readers are reading and where to aim my next project.

What books do you currently have published?
Currently, I have two cozy mystery series with Carina Press.

The Patience Price Mysteries:
•    Murder by the Seaside
•    Murder Comes Ashore
•    Murder in Real Time

The Geek Girl Mysteries
•    A Geek Girl’s Guide to Murder
•    A Geek Girl’s Guide to Arsenic
•    A Geek Girl’s Guide to Justice (arrives this fall)

And several books for young adults:
•    Deceived
•    Prophecy
•    Goddess
•    In Place of Never
•    What She Wanted (arrives in July)

Is writing your dream job?
Absolutely. I love writing. I can’t imagine life without it.

For what would you like to be remembered?
I’d like to be remembered as the author who made people smile.
The wife and mother who put God and her family first.
The friend who never lets you down.

What do you love about where you live?
I live in rural Ohio, and I love everything about it. There’s little crime, beautiful seasons, a thriving Amish community, lots of open land and livestock. The library is nicely stocked and funded. The pace is slow. The neighbors are friendly, and the schools are fantastic. There’s no other place I’d want to raise my family.

What’s your favorite fast food?
Chipotle veggie bowl with fajitas, black beans, tomato salsa and guac!


What’s your favorite beverage?
Coffee. I live for the coffee.

Where is your favorite place to visit?
New Orleans!
I visited the city last summer when one of my books was nominated for a mystery award, and I fell hopelessly in love. I extended the trip and spent the extra time learning everything I could about local history and culture. Inspiration was everywhere. I started outlining a new mystery on the flight home. That book is called Cat Got Your Diamonds. It’s now finished! Sold! And in the fall lineup with Crooked Lane Books!

What’s your least favorite chore? Why?
I loathe laundry. There are five in my family, and the laundry never ever ends. There’s not even hope for an end. There will never be a feeling of accomplishment when I reach the bottom of the hamper. I don’t think my hamper has one. Dirty clothes, towels, swim gear (all three kids are competitive swimmers), ski gear, etc just keeps coming. It’s depressing to think about.

What’s the hardest thing you’ve ever had to write?
Last summer, I had to write a novel about a teen whose grandfather had a massive heart attack. The novel was sold months earlier on proposal and the due date was fast approaching. Unfortunately, my life was in upheaval. We lost my father-in-law to a massive heart attack while I was writing the manuscript. My husband, children and heart were in utter turmoil. It killed me to write/relive our loss. The wound was too fresh. I took days off writing to support my family and mental health, attend memorials and the funeral, but I had to finish the manuscript. So, every day that I sat down to write, I’d lose my mind. My emotions would take over, tears would blur the screen and I’d end up in bed. That book is called What She Wanted, and it releases this July, a year after our devastating loss. I’m not sure I’ll even be able to promote or talk about it when it arrives. A year later is still too soon.


What is the wallpaper on your computer’s desktop?
My wallpaper is a summer pic of my three kids playing in the rain, fists raised skyward, mouths open. They went out to play, but didn’t come in when the thunder started, so I went to call for them inside. I found them screaming, “By the power of Asgard!” (My family loves Marvel, especially Thor).


What are you working on now?
I’m writing book two in The Kitty Couture Mysteries! It’s a fun new series set in the famed New Orleans Garden District with lots of pets, fun and flavor. My heroine, Lacy Marie Crocker, runs Furry Godmother, a pet boutique and bakery on Magazine Street. She’s drawn into investigations that impact her close knit community of wealthy eccentrics and devoted pet lovers. Book one, Cat Got Your Diamonds, releases November 7, 2016!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Julie Anne Lindsey is a multi-genre author who writes the stories that keep her up at night. She’s a self-proclaimed nerd with a penchant for words and proclivity for fun. Julie lives in rural Ohio with her husband and three small children. Today, she hopes to make someone smile. One day she plans to change the world. Julie is a member of the International Thriller Writers (ITW) and Sisters in Crime (SinC). She is represented by Jill Marsal of Marsal Lyons Literary Agency. Julie also writes as Julie Chase.

Connect with Julie Anne:
Website  |  Blog  |  Facebook  | 
Twitter  | Goodreads 

GUEST POST BY JULIE SEEDORF

ABOUT THE BOOK

Jezabelle Jingle and her neighbors in the Penderghast section of Brilliant, Minnesota, have a mystery on their hands.

Someone is stealing sections of hardwood floors in their homes and the thefts may be connected to a long-hidden treasure left by the founders of Brilliant. Not only that, there's a dead body in a basement to add to the mix. Can Jezzy and her quirky friends figure out the puzzle and find the treasure before some other, unknown person – maybe the murderer – beats them to the punch? Or will the town's Chief of Police, Hank Hardy, prevent the group from their sleuthing? Anything can happen in the strange little town of Brilliant, Minnesota. After all, brilliant minds create brilliant finds!

GUEST POST BY JULIE SEEDORF

Birthing new characters at times for me is like birthing a new child. I remember the trepidation on becoming a mother for the first time. Would I know what to do with a baby? What kind of traits and character would my baby have? What kind of a parent would I be, and would my children inherit my good traits or my bad traits. Would I be able to handle a sticky situation or would I be stuck in fear and have to call for help from my parents. Some of the same nervousness happens when I create a new book and a new character.

In November, I decided to take a big leap and start another series. I already had four books in my Fuchsia Minnesota Series. My characters were well established and any new characters I introduced to Fuchsia fit in nicely. I wasn’t tired of the series, but I felt I needed to create another realm for my imagination.

Brilliant Minnesota was a community mentioned in the Fuchsia Series. Granny always traveled to Brilliant to visit Red Hot Momma’s Boutique, so I decided to explore the residents of Brilliant. They had a connection to Fuchsia and it seemed a good idea to have another fictional community in Minnesota.

So here I was birthing new characters. I began to write knowing who my main character Jezabelle was going to be. By that I mean, I knew she was different than Granny but I didn’t know how. I put my nose to the grindstone and began to write my new book having no idea what my characters would be like or what the plot line was. That is the way I write, with my imagination. It took until at least the fourth chapter before I began to connect with my characters and actually fall in love with them. They finally felt like family.

Writing, for each author, is so personal. Some authors live by plot lines and diagrams and they know when they start where they are going to end, but throw in some twists and turns they hadn’t planned on in their journey through their book.

When I first began writing, I felt unsteady, unsure, because I wasn’t doing it the way everyone recommended. I didn’t outline. So I would start to write the acceptable way. On my second book I began an outline, I began a plot and then . . . I hit the wall. It caused me so much anxiety I could not write. I felt my imagination had been stifled. I could not be a writer because I couldn’t do it the right way.

It took me a while to understand we each have our writing style and no matter what the books tell you and experts tell you, if a writer doesn’t stay true to what works for them they do not stay true to themselves and cannot write from the heart. That is my opinion.

It doesn’t mean everyone else is wrong and I am right. The end journey is the same even if our styles are different, and that is to give enjoyment and education to our readers. I color outside the lines, and in my old age I have let myself accept that coloring outside the lines is who I am. It means I take advice from others, I take critique from others, but I follow my heart and my gut when it comes to my writing. I can feel if what my editors and other authors are saying is right for me.

I do outline my plot and my characters, but after my book is done. Do I make mistakes? Absolutely, but Sophia Loren said it best when she remarked, “Mistakes are the dues you pay for a full life.” Isn’t that what every writer is asking for, a full life? It is for me, mistakes and all. I can say I am blessed to be a writer.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Julie Seedorf is a Minnesotan. She calls dinner, supper, and lunch, dinner. She has had many careers over her lifetime but her favorite career was that as mother to her children. In later life she became a computer technician, opening her own business. In 2012 Julie signed a contract with Cozy Cat Press for her Fuchsia, Minnesota Series. Closing her computer business in January 2014 Julie has transitioned to becoming a full time writer adding free-lance work for various newspapers, along with continuing her column Something About Nothing. She also is part of a group mystery by Cozy Cat Press Authors titled "Chasing the Codex." Julie's serious side is revealed in a story included in the Anthology, We Go On - Anthology for Veterans where the proceeds will go to Veteran's Charities. Enjoy the moments; they may carry you through a lifetime.

Connect with Julie:
Website  |  Blog  | Facebook  |  Twitter  |   Instagram   |  Goodreads 

Buy the book:
Amazon 

FEATURED AUTHOR: ERIC BURKHART

ABOUT THE BOOK

This is the story of a young American who would eventually fulfill his dream of becoming a CIA Case Officer, only to have a promising career cut short after having been purposely poisoned by a contact.

Eric Burkhart was raised in Europe in a bilingual household, and accepted a job in Africa right out of college. Upon his return to the United States, he was hired as an Immigration Agent in Laredo, Texas, working Inspections on one of the busiest port-of-entries connecting the United States and Mexico. This experience is detailed in this humorous, occasionally heartbreaking memoir about choosing to be a survivor.

In 2000, Burkhart accepted a position as a Case Officer with the Central Intelligence Agency. The book includes details of both the notoriously arduous hiring process and the rigorous training program, including Burkhart's eventual successful completion of the Espionage Course taught at the famous "Farm." Burkhart's first overseas working experience was in war-torn Kosovo, where he was unwittingly poisoned by an unstable intelligence contact. Burkhart would struggle with the repercussions of this episode for the remainder of his career, and eventually be obliged to accept full medical retirement from the CIA.

However, before retiring, Burkhart completed tours in Iraq and Africa. His time spent in the Green Zone almost immediately following the occupation of Baghdad, constitutes the majority of this enlightening book. Burkhart exposes the reader to the human element within the CIA, and we are introduced to a variety of characters, some who will seem familiar, and some who reveal the eccentricities we expect with this kind of occupation.

Follow Burkhart through the battlefields of Iraq, past the Iraqi Insurgency, and to his next assignment in Africa. Burkhart leaves no emotion unexpressed as he details his medical struggles with the horrific damage caused to his body from Toxic Exposure. Wracked by pain, Burkhart reaches the point where he must consider quality of life issues, and has to accept retirement as a necessary decision. Burkhart has a story to tell, and leaves no stone unturned during this turbulent time both in his life, and in our history.

INTERVIEW WITH ERIC BURKHART

Eric, how did you get started writing?
I have always been a reader. I can't remember the last time that I wasn't in the middle of a book. Along with reading, I've always enjoyed writing, but never considered becoming an author until I was facing medical retirement. It was difficult accepting full retirement at my age, but it was very important that I stay focused on the positive and work towards staying healthy. I decided to write the book as a part of "self-therapy." I have always been saddened by the dirth of available information regarding the realities of working in espionage in the 21st century, and I decided to write about my career, which included enough of a variety of scenarios and events to answer many questions that people have about the CIA. I also used the effort as part and parcel of my recovery; as I progressed, another chapter would be completed.

Do you have a writing routine?
When working on Mukhabarat, Baby!, I made a point, whenever possible, to write everyday. My book utilizes events from my career to provide the opportunity to explain the entire intelligence collection process. In that circumstance, it was easier for me to write as much as possible at one sitting, and leave as little time as possible in between writing sessions. This allowed for vital continuity to the mood and atmosphere of the story. In most instances, I used a full chapter to break down each respective story. I gave myself plenty space to adequately introduce the characters, storyline, and backdrop.

What do I think makes a good story?
A story won't be good if the author is not 100 percent committed. The best books are the ones that insist on being written. If the writer truly appreciates their own story, and is confident in his/her ability to paint the visual impression, then all that remains is the telling of the story.

Do you write everyday?
As I mentioned earlier, when I'm working on a book, I prefer to write everyday. For my style it is imperative to keep continuity of mood and atmosphere. A substantial break during the writing of a particular event or story can impact the its flow. At the moment, I haven't decided if a second book is in my future, but I can't imagine writing in any other style. Once a story decides to be told, it really tries to rush out of me, and at times I have no choice but to write everyday.

How often do you read?
I read all the time, and at times have been scolded for reading at the dinner table and when entertaining guests. I love to read more than anything, except discussing the book I've just read another serious reader. Actually, my reading preference is different from the genre in which I write. Normally I read biographies and non-fiction, but I truly enjoy classical literature. My preference is French classical literature from within the last two centuries, but nothing very recent. I also really enjoy a number of American writers as well, especially Flannery O'Connor and Katherine Ann Porter.

Is writing your dream job? 
No. I wrote my memoir because I seemed to have reached the perfect opportunity to focus on that form of expression. I was recently retired, in need of a focus, and in possession of a collection of memories that, if presented properly, should get the attention of many people. I began writing my book with a passion for the subject matter which has yet to wane. I have no idea if I have another book hidden away somewhere in the ol' grey matter.  Although I thoroughly enjoyed the actual writing process, I can think of a number of jobs that I would prefer. I love the world of espionage. It's something that I will forever feel connected to, and something at which I did well.

Do you have any marketing tips you could pass on to indie authors?
Absolutely - although I realize how it is when money is tight, all authors really need a Publicist. If your book has been published by a publishing house, then in most instances it will be provided to you (no guarantees that all in-house Publicists are top notch). I made the decision to contact a publicist and was lucky enough to get her to represent me. I went from book presentations at the local VFW, to traveling across the country for radio and TV appearances. Do your homework and read references; there are a couple of great publicists waiting for good books and dedicated authors.

Okay, now for some fun stuff. If you could watch one television station for a year, what would it be?
I would choose any 24-hour TV channel from France. French is my first language, and just hearing it spoke by a native speaker breaks back memories of a childhood in southwest France, surrounded by castles, quaint little villages, and the best bread in the world.

How often do you tweet?
I tweet roughly six times a day, enough to mention the subject of my latest blog post and provide a link. I can appreciate Twitter, but personally, I don't enjoy it enough to dedicate the necessary time.

How do you feel about Facebook?
Facebook can be useful, and it has helped me relocate with a number of old friends. Facebook has a number of useful options, including sharing pictures, chatting, spreading social awareness, organizing, and many more. But I remain concerned about the amount of information that Facebook not necessarily collects, but has the ability to collect. When I am on Facebook, I have no real assurance that Facebook hasn't found a way into my CP and all my tax and banking records. I also have great concern about the likelihood that children will be exploited through these new tools for social networking.

For what would you like to be remembered?
I would like to be remembered as my father's son.

What five things would you never want to live without?
I would not want to live without food, soap, shampoo, books, and my glasses.

Wise choices. What do you love about where you live?
I live in Texas, and I love its BIGNESS. West Texas is sparsely populated and contains the Guadalupe Mountains, the Marfa Lights, the McDonald Observatory, and Big Bend National Park. East Texas is full of forests and rivers, ideal for camping and searching for Bigfoot! South Texas binds together the Hispanic community that was here when Spain ruled over the Brazos, and the spirit of the American settlers that arrived her looking for a new life. What do I love about Texas? We Texans don't bicker with each other. I speak Spanish, and I think anyone who lives permanently this far south should consider it as well.

What is your favorite fast food?
Since my medical issues required an abrupt change in my diet, I can't eat the way I used to. Also, when I became a vegetarian at twelve, I wrote off all the Big Macs and Hunger Busters. But at the end of the day, nothing beats an order of French fries from McDonalds.

What drives you crazy?
I am annoyed to great lengths by hard-working demographic groups within our community, who continually vote the same way, year-after-year, regardless of what has or hasn't been accomplished. I am truly disgusted by the same political machines (on the border in Texas, they've made it an art form) taking for granted some of the most hard-working, honest, decent people that our country has the pride to call its own. Regardless if any of the promises have been fulfilled, its the same names and same party getting into office every election. Taking advantage of good folks really drives me crazy.

What is your superpower?
I have two: I can tell immediately when someone is lying, and I can also size up people quite quickly. Both skills were greatly enhanced during my career, and also used regularly.

Name one thing you're really good at and one thing you're really bad at.
I'm really good at finding four-leaf clovers and really bad at basketball.

What do you wish you could do?
I wish I could provide a home for every abandoned cat and dog in the world, and I wish I could make a law that only people who are willing to spade/neuter their animals should be given a license to have one. The situation is out-of-control, especially with cats. When people see abandoned cats hanging around dumpsters, they assume that cats live just fine in the wild, but they don't; they are domesticated and fall victim to diseases, predators, starvation, and the elements. And in Hollywood, tiny dogs have become fashion accessories.

Where is your favorite place to visit?
My favorite place to visit to see family is France, but for shorter excursions, I love Savannah, Big Bend, and South Africa.

What would you name your autobiography?
I would title my autobiography .... When The Long Trick Is Over.

Describe yourself in five words:
I am obsessive, compulsive, clean, neat, and private.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Eric Burkhart was born in North Carolina in 1965, and raised in France by his mother while his father was serving in Vietnam. Eric's parents retired to San Antonio, Texas in 1978, and Eric has considered himself a Texan since that time.

​After completing college, Burkhart relocated to South Africa for a job in community planning and design. After returning to the United States in 1994, Eric started a career in federal service by becoming a Federal Agent. In 1999 he moved over to the CIA, which became his passion and focus in life. After being poisoned while working in Kosovo in 2001, Burkhart was eventually obliged to medically retire, but not before extending his career to include tours in Iraq and Africa. Mukhabarat, Baby! is Burkhart's first book.
Connect with Eric:
Website  |  Blog  |  Facebook  |  Twitter  

Buy the book:
Amazon  |   Barnes & Noble 

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COVER REVEAL: ROGUES & RASCALS IN GOOSE PIMPLE JUNCTION

You've waited patiently, and now it's almost time to release the fourth book in the Goose Pimple Junction series. While we're waiting for the publication date, here's a sneak peek of the cover art. Thank you, to artist Emerico Imre Toth, for allowing me to use the image for the cover of Rogues & Rascals in Goose Pimple Junction.

Watch for the book to launch on May 15, 2016. But first . . . 

TA DA!

ABOUT THE BOOK

Like any good Southern belle, Caledonia Culpepper was raised by her mama to be gracious, charming, witty, and above all, a devoted mother and loving wife. Which is why she's baffled when her marriage falls apart.

Wynona Baxter is a professional hit woman at the top of her field. So when she's hired for a job in Goose Pimple Junction and things don't go as planned, she is stumped.

Crooked lawyers, restless husbands, a hoodlum intent on mischief-making – it seems there are rogues and rascals everywhere you look in Goose Pimple Junction.

When Caledonia and Wynona's paths cross, they prove there isn't a rogue or a rascal who can keep a good woman down. Mama always said there would be days like this . . .

OTHER BOOKS IN THE GOOSE PIMPLE JUNCTION SERIES

Murder & Mayhem in Goose Pimple Junction

When Tess Tremaine starts a new life in the colorful town of Goose Pimple Junction, curiosity leads her to look into a seventy-five-year-old murder. Suddenly she’s learning the foreign language of southern speak, resisting her attraction to local celebrity Jackson Wright, and dealing with more mayhem than she can handle.

A bank robbery, murder, and family tragedy from the 1930s are pieces of the mystery that Tess attempts to solve. As she gets close to the truth, she encounters danger, mystery, a lot of southern charm, and a new temptation for which she’s not sure she’s ready.

Heroes & Hooligans in Goose Pimple Junction

Goose Pimple Junction is just recovering from a kidnapping and a murder, its first major crimes in years, when trouble begins anew. Life is turned upside down in the quirky little Southern town with the arrival of several shifty hooligans: A philandering husband intent on getting his wife back, another murderer loose in town, a stalker intent on frightening Martha Maye, and a thief who’s stealing the town blind of their pumpkins, pies, and peace. Together, they’re scaring the living daylights out of the residents and keeping the new police chief busier than a set of jumper cables at a redneck picnic. Suddenly, he has his hands full trying to apprehend a killer, stop a stalker, and fight his feelings for the damsel in distress.

Short & Tall Tales in Goose Pimple Junction

This is not your average Southern town. With a hint of mystery and a lot of laughs, you'll catch a glimpse of everyday life in Goose Pimple Junction in this short story compilation. Short & Tall Tales occurs chronologically between Murder & Mayhem, book 1, and Heroes & Hooligans, book 2, in the Goose Pimple Junction mystery series. Tales is a fun escape that will answer readers' burning questions about the residents of this quirky, small town.

How did Johnny Butterfield become police chief?
How did Tess and Jack get engaged?
How did Ima Jean come to live with Louetta?
How do you celebrate an Apple Day?

These questions and more are answered in Short & Tall Tales in Goose Pimple Junction. Five short stories, one novella, and three recipes will give you more of the unique charm of Goose Pimple Junction, make you laugh, and have your mouth watering. If you want a feel-good read, you've come to the right place. Grab some sweet tea and escape to Goose Pimple Junction.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Amy Metz is the author of the Goose Pimple Junction mystery series and blogger at A Blue Million Books. She is a former first grade teacher and the mother of two sons. When not actively engaged in writing, enjoying her family, or surfing Facebook or Pinterest, Amy can usually be found with a mixing spoon, camera, or book in one hand and a glass of sweet tea in the other. Amy lives in Louisville, Kentucky. For more information, go to authoramymetz.com.

Connect with Amy:
Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Goodreads

FEATURED AUTHOR: TERESA WATSON

ABOUT THE BOOK

Cam Shaw is hoping that her life will be ghost-free from now on. But that hope dies with the appearance of Mac “the Faker” Green, a wise-cracking ghost from Vegas who has followed her grandmother home. And during the opening night of Blithe Spirit, someone has sent Susan Ingram to her ghostly afterlife. What does her death have to do with the death of her mother-in-law fifty years ago? Who is trying to wipe out the Ingram family one person at a time? And when will that Vegas ghost stop sticking his nose into Cam’s business?

INTERVIEW WITH  TERESA WATSON

Teresa, what books do you currently have published?
Since November 2011, I have published seven books for the Lizzie Crenshaw series; one book for Charlie Bannerman; two books for the Ghost Writer series; and two box sets.

Is writing your dream job?
I would have to say yes. I’ve been writing since I was in the fifth grade.


How often do you read?
I read books like people drink coffee. If I get on a roll, I can read two or three books in one day, depending on the length.

If you could only watch one television station for a year, what would it be?
Hmm, that’s a toss up between the Animal Planet channel (I love Tanked and Treehouse Masters) or ESPN (or NFL Network, NHL channel, MLB Network . . . I have a thing for sports)

How often do you tweet?
Not as often as I should. I used to a lot when I first joined, but when I started writing more regularly, I drifted over to Facebook.

How do you feel about Facebook?
Facebook, for me, is great. My editors are on there as much as I am, and we’re able to do a lot of brainstorming, especially when I’m stuck on a particular point of a story.

What’s your favorite thing to do?
My favorite thing to do is watch a good sports game or a movie with my husband, usually here at home.

What's your favorite treat for movie night?
It varies. Since we’re usually here at the house, then I’ll make some ultimate fudge brownies or cookies.

Can I come over? What's the biggest lie you ever told?
“Yes, I really liked that book.”

Ha! What’s your favorite fast food?
Fries.


What’s your favorite beverage?
Dr Pepper.

What drives you crazy?
When I work like crazy to clean the house, and my husband trashes it in less than a day.

Where is your favorite place to visit? Springfield, Missouri . . . it’s where my mother and my son live.

What would you name your autobiography?
Queen Klutz Lives, or How I manage to maim myself without realizing it and still survive.


Would you rather be a movie star, sports star, or rock star?
Movie star.


Do you give your characters any of your bad traits?
Oh, yes. Lizzie is as big of a klutz as I am, and she drinks WAY too much Dr Pepper (although I have been cutting back lately).

Do you procrastinate?
I'm making a note to answer this one later.

What’s your favorite/most visited Internet site?
Facebook, with ESPN a close second

What’s in your refrigerator right now?
A bowl of spaghetti and a bowl of meatballs. I’m trying to decide which one I’m having for dinner.

What is your most embarrassing moment?
Well, I know most of my friends would vote for the time I tore two ligaments in my ankle trying to reach for something in the back of my car trunk.

What’s the hardest thing you’ve ever had to write?
My father’s eulogy last year (should be self-explanatory)



Yep. Who is your favorite fictional character?
Jo from Little Women. I have a lot in common with her.



How do you like your pizza?
Light sauce, double cheese, beef and ham.


What is the wallpaper on your computer’s desktop?
A snowy mountain scene.



What would you do for a Klondike bar?
Not a thing; I don’t eat them. Now a Snickers bar is a different story . . .


What is your favorite movie?
The Quiet Man, with John Wayne and Maureen O’Hara


Do you have a favorite book?
Little Women.



What are you working on now?
The next Lizzie story, Death Drives a Zamboni.

I love that title! I hope you'll come back when you're ready to talk more about it!

FROM THE AUTHOR, ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Let’s see, I’ve lived in Texas most of my life, although I’m not a native Texan. I was actually born on an Army base in Washington State. I’m a daughter, a wife, a mother, a sister, a friend to many. I have a bachelor’s degree (trust me, it’s a LONG title, you don’t want to know). I love sports, and although I live near Dallas, I root for the Redskins and the Steelers, much to the chagrin of my Cowboys-loving husband. No pets (my son is severely allergic to every kind of pet!). In my spare time, I crochet, read, play Lego games on my WiiU, and this spring, I’m going to learn how to do woodcarving!



Connect with Teresa:

Website  |  
Facebook  |  
Twitter  |  
Goodreads  

Buy the book:
Amazon  |   Barnes & Noble  |  Kobo