Featured Author: Matt Patterson

I'm happy to have Matt Patterson here today to tell us about his memoir, My Emily, a bittersweet account of a little girl's brief but meaningful life, told by a father who both celebrates her life and grieves her death. If this book doesn't touch your heart, just drive yourself to the nearest funeral home, because you're dead. This book isn't only a must read for parents of special needs children, but it is also a must read for people who question the power of God, and people who are seeking to find answers in the midst of pain. Matt shows that God is at work in ways we don't understand, but even in tragedy there are blessings. My Emily is free on Kindle on June 11-12 and .99 June 13-16.

About the book:

Honorable Award Winner - 2012 Reader's Favorite Book Awards

Finalist - 2012 National Indie Excellence Book Awards

Finalist - 2012 Next Generation Indie Book Awards



This book tells the story of a hurting family, an amazing little girl and a mysteriously faithful God.

Emily wasn't born perfect - so one might think. 

She was born with Down Syndrome and many would jump to the conclusion that she would have very little hope for a life with any significance. Two years later came the diagnosis of leukemia. What little hope remaining turned to no hope whatsoever - or so one might think.



The life of this little girl, with all its perceived imperfections, had great meaning. Her loving nature and courage touched the hearts of everyone she met. She also taught them how to value their own lives - even with their many "imperfections."

Interview with Matt Patterson:

You have a journalism background and have been a writer for over twenty years, yet it took you about twenty years to write My Emily. What finally made you decide to write the book?

Some 20 years ago, I sat down at my desk in a noisy newsroom and began to bang out my weekly newspaper column for a small daily in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.

I covered the courts and crime beat for The Daily Mining Gazette, but I tried my very best to distance those stories from my column.

I tried to present my readers with a different side to the guy whose by-line was normally associated with misdemeanors or felonies. The column was my opportunity to show readers I was human and that I actually had a sense of humor. And as a relatively new father, my young daughters were normally my subjects.

But on this particular column, this was going to be difficult and special simultaneously. It was our first daughter’s birthday. I wanted to relay in this column how much she had taught and touched me in what seemed to be a very short time here on earth. This column was about my two-year-old daughter Emily, who about a year prior, had passed away after a brave battle with leukemia. Emily was also born with Down syndrome. 

This column – as short as it could be – walked readers through her birth and eventual death. It told them of our shock and dismay at hearing words like Down syndrome and leukemia. It was short and sad. It was touching and a tribute.
For me, it was a release.

Two decades later, God has turned my tragedy into blessing and grief into mission.

This newspaper column has turned into a book – My Emily – and this book is my small effort to help families who have special needs children, little ones battling cancer or those heartbroken parents who have lost a child. Writing the column, the book and even this interview is comfort for me. It’s an opportunity to perhaps help or touch someone.

I love the story about when Emily was born and you thought she was a boy. Would you tell it again for those who haven't yet read the book?

To say I wanted a boy would be a massive understatement. I think any father has that frame of mind when expecting their first child.

With this enthusiasm and preoccupation of having a boy I did make a slight mistake at the height of delivery. 

As I continued to coach my wife to breathe and push, I began to see the crown of the head. The shoulders and torso quickly followed.

I yelled out – “It’s a boy!”

The nurse then quickly advised me, “Uh, Mr. Patterson – that’s the umbilical cord. You have a baby girl.”

I tried to make a quick recovery and said something like … “I knew that.”
Right Matt.

Sure.

It's great that you can laugh at yourself. Tell us about Emily before she got sick.

She was just an absolute bundle of joy. Always had smiles, kisses, high-fives, and love for anyone and everyone. Actually she carried this joy with her even through her treatments. Nurses and medical technicians would actually try to change their assigned patients to be able to care for her. Her joy and love was so very pure. It’s truly hard to put into words sometimes.

I know rocking Emily to sleep every night was so special to you. What's another of your happiest memories of Emily?

Besides getting my morning high-fives and “smoochies” (kisses) from her, I’d have to say seeing her smile when I walked in the door from work are memories embedded in my mind and heart.

I love the quote by Nayely Saldana: "We met for a reason, either you're a blessing or a lesson." It seems that Emily was both. What lessons did she teach you?

My goodness. This is a wonderful, yet difficult question to answer.

Emily taught me to never underestimate the impact one can have on others, no matter what the circumstances are. She left a legacy of courage, strength, and love that will live with me for the rest of my days on this earth.

She also taught me to never waste a moment to tell those closest to you how much you love them. I ask anyone who is reading this to take a moment and call someone you truly need to. Tell them you love them. That they’re important to you. We live in a time where communication can be shared in so many ways. If calling is awkward at this time. Perhaps a text message or a private message on any of the countless social media outlets that are available to us today. Never underestimate the power of a hand-written message on a card. The important thing is to not wait.

How does a parent cope when he's told his child has leukemia? You have to be strong for your child, but how do you find strength for yourself?

As a father, I put myself last. Any parent in this situation does this. Find the time and a quiet place to pray, meditate, and put your words on paper, if possible. From a physical standpoint, your body just runs. It finds another gear, more fuel – a level of adrenaline you’ve never experienced. I believe the emotional and spiritual aspect is as important, if not more important than the physical.

You mention in your book that prior to the health crisis with Emily, you didn't really know how to pray. Can you explain that?

Absolutely. At that time, we considered ourselves a “praying” family. We prayed before we left for school and work each morning, as well as every night before we hit the hay! I “prayed” personally and with my wife. We prayed and we prayed!

At times, I think it’s safe to say that we can get into a prayer rut. At least I did. We find ourselves saying the same thing and asking for help and for things that we look at as blessings – such as a better paying job, bigger home, better car, etc.  I now look at those prayers as selfish bellyaching more than anything. I was just going through the motions.

I point out in the book that our prayers become more humble, specific, and heartfelt once a crisis strikes. When Emily was diagnosed with leukemia – let me tell you – my prayers took on a massive overhaul.

What do you hope other people will get from your book?

I just want to convey that in even in our darkest days - God is good. He is. He really, really is.

You can open your heart to him. It can be in sadness, happiness and even anger. You can  let Him have it. He wants you to. He wants open, honest and real communication. He loves us. He wants us to come to Him. It's then we find out that He is good. Really, really good.

It’s my belief that each of us grieve differently. For example, I’ve always wanted to share Emily’s story, but was I ready to minister and comfort others some 20 years ago? Heck, 20 months ago? I’d have to say no. Now that I have a better understanding of the grieving process, I can truly say my passion to share Emily’s story and help others is at a level that’s difficult to quantify. It becomes very personal and emotional some days. There are still days when I need to lean on those closest to me for support and comfort. Sometimes all we need to be is a shoulder for someone. There have been times I was that shoulder, but in actuality, they were being mine as well.

In the book you say, "If we don't think we have experienced God's comfort yet, then we need to evaluate our attitude toward Him. Perhaps each of us should ask ourselves, 'How is my attitude affecting God's ability to comfort me?'" During the ordeal of fighting leukemia, did you feel God's comfort?

I have to say yes and no. When I did take that time to pray and meditate, I felt a sense of comfort – a relief, perhaps. Probably some of the hardest moments were waiting for test results. There were so many emotions running through my mind and heart. This comfort allowed me to recoup mentally, physically, spiritually and emotionally, preparing me for that next hurdle in her treatment.

Did you treat life differently after Emily went into remission?

We treated it like the most precious gift. We weren’t going to waste a second, minute, hour, or day. And we didn’t.

The joy of remission became the agony of relapse after just a few precious months. How did you cope with the sudden plunge of the roller coaster?

Great question! I really don’t believe there was time to cope. It was a very immediate and intense focus. My reaction was, “How are we going to get Emily back into remission? What do we need to do? Tell me what we need to do. I’ll do anything. Just tell me.”

Upon Emily's passing, you talk of a line the hospital staff formed outside her room just to say goodbye. How was she able to have such an effect on people?

The words that first come to mind are: innocence, love, joy, and smile. I have such a very deep respect for those who work in the specialty of pediatric oncology. It’s so emotional. I know I could never do it.

I believe some people look at Emily’s life and say that her birth with Down syndrome wouldn’t have led to a life with much significance. Toss in the diagnosis of leukemia just two years later and that life of little significance was now at zero. I say to those who think like that – I beg to differ. This little girl whose innocence, love, joy, and smile touched these hearts enough for them to line up at 1 a.m. outside of her ICU room. Some of these people who were in this line came from their homes. And today, some 20-plus years later, she still touches hearts.

After her death, you talk of your anger with God. Understandable! How did you repair your relationship with Him?

To be completely and perfectly honest, I think I had very little to do with it. It was all God.

I was indeed mad at God. I would ask that magic question that many of us who have traveled this road and that is, “Why?”

Why do you allow a special needs child to battle leukemia? You allow her to suffer through chemotherapy and bring her into remission. Then, you allow her to relapse and endure an even more intense regimen of chemotherapy.

WHY?

Shortly after returning  to our home base in Mississippi following Emily’s funeral. I would bump into people I hadn’t seen in weeks. They would of course ask how Emily was doing. I would then have to relate that she had passed away. It was painful. I couldn’t finish the story without crying.

Thing was, as I shared the story of Emily’s strength and courage, I began to realize that each of these opportunities were the path that led me to repairing my relationship with God. It allowed me to express appreciation for everything everyone had done for her and for us.

What advice would you give folks who are going through pain or tragedy?

Here are a couple recommendations; everything doesn’t work for everyone:

Be willing to reach out and ask for and accept help! Don’t try to bury your pain. I also recommend that couples or individuals keep a journal. Pour out your heart on these pages. It’s healthy. I also recommend prayer and/or meditation. It can cleanse your heart, soul, and spirit.

One thing I do know. If you keep these emotions of pain, hurt and anger buried inside, it can lead to not only emotional issues, but it will also take a toll on your health!

You have made it your mission to tell Emily's story to the world. How are you doing that?

Plain and simple – I’ll share the book or audiobook with anyone and everyone who will read or listen. In addition, I have started reaching out to speak. I am truly passionate about sharing Emily’s story to anyone who will listen. I tailor my presentations specifically to meet the needs of any group or organization. For those interested, they can fill out the contact information on my website under the “Request Matt” tab.

Which ways of marketing and promotion have you found to be the most effective?

I think it’s different for everyone. For me? I have found the use of Kindle Select to be effective, especially when using a combination of daily cross-promotion with other authors using twitter. In addition, when having a promotion on Kindle Select, I try to implement guest posts/interviews on blogs. 

What do you do in your free time?

Free time? I get that?

I do my best to spend time with my family, go to the gym to exercise, hit a good movie or just relax out by my pool. Living in Arizona, we get a little more pool time than others who live in different parts of the country.

Where's home for you?

I have called Arizona home for the last 13 years. I love the climate here. Sure, it gets hot – then again, you don’t have to shovel sunshine. If you have air conditioning, covered parking, ceiling fans and a swimming pool – all is well!

Okay, now for some silly questions. If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be?

I recently visited San Diego. That’s not a shabby place to call home, especially if you have an ocean view!

If you could only keep one book, what would it be?

The easiest one of the bunch! My Emily, of course!

Your last meal would be...

Two foot-long cheeseburger subs from Captain Harvey’s back home in Baltimore. Extra grilled onions and extra hot peppers! Throw in a side of fries smothered in Old Bay seasoning. Why two? Hey, you said it was my last meal, didn’t you?

Would you rather work in a library or a bookstore?

I would definitely take the library over the bookstore. Why? I think the retail aspect of a bookstore would ruin it for me.

You won the lottery. What’s the first thing you would buy?

Whatever my father wants. He has ALWAYS been there for me whenever I’ve needed anything. Time to return the favor.

After making sure my family is cared for, organizations that assist families who have special needs children, those battling pediatric cancers and families who have lost children would be receiving checks, for sure!

Name five people with whom you would pick to be stranded in a bookstore.

Napoleon Hill - Dale Carnegie - Mitch Albom – Rick Warren – Jack Canfield.

What’s one of your favorite quotes?

“Don’t cry because it’s over. Smile because it happened.” – Dr. Seuss

What three books have you read recently and would recommend?

Oldies, but goodies. Think and Grow Rich, by Napoleon Hill, How to Win Friends and Influence People, by Dale Carnegie, and last, but not least – The Purpose-Driven Life, by Rick Warren.


Are you glad you self-published?

Absolutely! Without a doubt!

Short and sweet – it works for me. Given the nature of My Emily, I want to keep a closer eye on things. I also hear horror stories from other authors who have gone with small or what others call vanity publishers, and I wouldn’t wish that on anyone.

For the most part, publishers – large or small – still want you to market yourself as if you were self-published. I have no problem marketing my book or myself. The atmosphere in the industry has changed drastically. Having to do the work myself has given me a wealth of knowledge. I have been approached by agents regarding My Emily and for now, it’s best that I stay self-published. This may change somewhere down the line, but for today, I’m VERY HAPPY to be self-published.

What are you working on now?

Right now, I am very focused on building my speaking platform. In addition, I am working on a book related to men and grief, which will be released later this year.

Excerpt from My Emily:

Once we heard the word “chemotherapy,” one of our first thoughts was Emily was going to lose her beautiful hair.

Emily’s soft, thin, strawberry blonde hair was like silk – absolutely beautiful. It’s amazing we stop to realize how beautiful a little one’s head of hair is when we learn that it’s going to fall out.

Bonnie was very quick to act, asking for a spray bottle with water, rubber bands and a pair of sharp scissors. My wife always enjoyed primping her little girl’s hair. From nicely brushed with a beret to pinned up with ribbons and little, braided ponytails, our Emily’s hair was always pristine.

With Emily lying in her hospital bed, Bonnie sat her up and prepared to give her a very special haircut. She sprayed her little girl’s hair and brushed it thoroughly. Before beginning the cut, she proceeded to make six tight, little braids of hair. Given the placement of the braids, I really didn’t understand what she was attempting to accomplish.

“What are you doing?” I asked.

“You’ll see,” Bonnie responded.

My wife then started to crop each of the braids. I really began to question what my wife was trying to do. “Um, if you don’t mind me asking, I’m lost here. Again, what in the heck are you doing?”

Bonnie, with tears in her eyes answered, “Emily is going to lose her hair Matt. I love her hair. I love doing her hair. Her hair could be gone for some time and again, this may be the last time she has hair. I have to prepare myself for that. I’m saving these braids for us.” 

After attaching each of the braids to separate pieces of paper, Bonnie began cutting and trimming her daughter’s hair in a short, but cute style that would limit any mess once her hair began to fall out.

It didn’t take long.

Within just a few days of treatment, her locks – one by one – began to attach themselves to her pillowcase. Then, the harsh reality of chemotherapy took its place – front and center.

Emily would often look at us and cry for help. Someone so small and so innocent had no idea why this was being done to her.  We did all we could to comfort her. We felt helpless.

If that wasn’t enough, we would then learn the incidence of leukemia in children with Down syndrome is greatly increased in comparison with the general population.

In a sit-down with our physician, he indicated that it is estimated the risk of leukemia for children under 10 years of age is increased by at least 18 times if they have Down syndrome. He told us that nearly one in a little less than 100 children with Down syndrome develops leukemia, compared with one in every 2,000 children without Down syndrome.

Wasn’t the Down syndrome enough? My gosh! I thought to myself with clenched teeth. Come on God. Can’t you give us a break? For crying out loud!

About the author:

Matt Patterson is a highly sought-after inspirational speaker, as well as an award-winning and international best-selling author.

His first published work - My Emily - has been an Amazon top-rated best-seller. This debut book has also received recognition as an award winner and finalist in the Readers Favorite Book Reviews & Awards Contest, the Next Generation Indie Book Awards, as well as the National Indie Excellence Book Awards.

Matt's background includes 20-plus years in marketing communications, public and media relations, as well as print and broadcast journalism.

In addition to speaking and writing, he volunteers his time to helping organizations and charities dedicated to assisting families with children who have special needs or those battling pediatric cancers.

To learn more about Matt and how you can bring him to speak at your next conference or event, please visit www.my-emily.com or www.mattpatterson.me.


Connect with Matt:
Website--Matt | Website--My Emily | Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Twitter-My Emily

Buy the book:
Amazon | Barnes & Noble 

Featured Author: Christine Meunier

I'm welcoming Christine Meunier here today to tell us about her novel, Horse Country, a new adult work of fiction, set in Australia. Horse Country will be available in hard copy and eBook on July 1. Check Christine's website for updates.

About the book:

Christine Meunier has lived a life breathing, dreaming and working with horses in the thoroughbred industry in Australia and has also traveled overseas to work in the industry. Horse Country takes her own personal experiences woven into a story about four young women studying and working in the horse industry.

Follow Lise and Wes as they work their way around North East Victoria, Australia in the seasonal world of breeding thoroughbreds. Horse Country follows the seasons of the thoroughbred industry and what the day to day of working on a stud could look like.

A few hours away, Maddie and Melanie are working hard in their parent’s metropolitan riding school, teaching others about horse riding and care of the horse. From the nervous first time rider, to the child who wants to run fast and jump high, the young women shape lessons to suit the individual.

Horses offer a great opportunity to study, learn, work and develop an incredible career around the world. Set in Australia, this novel shows that the land down under is indeed a Horse Country.

Interview with Christine Meunier:

How long have you been writing, and how did you start?

I love to write and have been creating stories for 15 or so years. However, this is my first novel that I have published.

Do you have another job outside of writing?

Absolutely! I teach about horses at a tertiary level in Australia, generally about the breeding of horses.

Do you outline, write by the seat of your pants, or let your characters tell you what to write?

Hmmm a bit of all three. Events occur or things are said that help me to establish characters and from here an outline is generated for future chapters. Then the characters take over!

Did you have any say in your cover art?

Yes. I was encouraged by my mother to get it done professionally and filled in a questionnaire from the designer of what I wanted. The cover photo is actually one I took whilst working on a stud. I’m rapt with what’s been designed.

What books have you read more than once or want to read again?


The Silver Brumby is my all time favourite that I could read over and again.

Tell us a book you’re an evangelist for.


The Bible. It’s got it all – romance, suspense, murder, good defeating evil and an incredible story of love.

What do you do to market your book?


I’m working on that currently, having created a personal .com website and Facebook page for the book, telling many I meet about the book, inviting friends to like the Facebook page, blogging regularly on the .com site and taking part in author features or interviews on other blogs.

When you start a new book, do you know what the entire cast will be?


Not at all. Horse Country actually has four main characters which I hadn’t originally anticipated. There are some other minor but consistent roles that managed to make their way into the cast too.

Which character did you most enjoy writing?


I think Declan. Each of the four women have a little bit of me in them (though Maddie is the outspoken character that I at times wish I had the confidence to be!). But I love Declan’s laid back and amused outlook on life.

Are any of your characters inspired by real people?  


Yes. I’d say that Wes most mirrors myself with regards to her walk in life and introduction to the world of breeding horses.

With which of your characters would you most like to be stuck on a deserted island?


Lise – she’s resourceful and levelheaded.


Who are your favorite authors?


Elyne Mitchell, Francine Rivers, and Dick Francis.

What book are you currently reading and in what format (e-book/paperback/hardcover)?


I tend to have many on the go at once! So, paperbacks: the Bible and Elyne Mitchell A Daughter Remembers by Honor Auchinleck and ebook: Murder is Ugly by Price McNaughton.


What’s one of your favorite quotes?


"Those who follow the crowd get lost in it."--Rick Warren

About the author:


Christine Meunier considers herself introduced to the wonderful world of horses at the late age of 13 when her parents agreed to lease a horse for her. She started experiencing horses via books from a young age and continues to do so, but recognises that horses cannot be learnt solely from books.

She has been studying horses from age 16, starting with the Certificate II in Horse Studies and is currently undertaking her Bachelor of Equine Science via distance education.

Christine has worked at numerous thoroughbred studs in Australia as well as overseas in Ireland for a breeding season.

She then gained experience in a couple of Melbourne based horse riding schools, instructing at a basic level before heading off overseas again, this time to South Africa to spend hours in the saddle of endurance and trail horses on the Wild Coast.

Particularly passionate about the world of breeding horses, she teaches equine studies focused on breeding, at a TAFE, Victoria, Australia.


Website | Blog | Facebook

Ten Authors, Twenty Questions!

Today I'm happy to run another Ten Authors, Twenty Questions feature. The first one ran in April, and you can read it here. I have some great authors for this second go-round, and I think you'll enjoy their answers...

1. Christoph Fischer

Christoph is the author of The Luck of the Weissensteiners and Sebastian.
He was here on April 25 and here on May 23.

1.    Love or money?
Love, always

2.    Plain or peanut?
Plain, how boring ;-)

3.    Beef or chicken?
I am vegetarian, but probably chicken.

4.    Coffee or tea? Coffee.

5.    Oxford comma: yes or no?
No.

6.    Hardback or Kindle?
Hardback.

7.    Salty or sweet?
Salty.

8.    City or country?
Country.

9.    Dog or cat?
Dog.

10.    Fame or fortune?
Fortune.

11.    Laptop or desktop?
Desktop.

12.    Health food or junk food?
Health Food.

13.    Mountains or beach?
Tough one, Mountains (near a beach please if possible) Oh! That's cheating!!

14.    Gourmet or diner?
Gourmet.

15.    Sweet or unsweet? (Tea of course)
Unsweet.

16.    Humor or drama? 
I like a laugh and should enjoy humor more often, but I tend to go for the big dramas.

17.    Dr. Seuss or Mr. Spock?
Mr. Spock, I love Star Trek – don’t know why...

18.    Halloween or Christmas?
Halloween.

19.    Spring or fall?
So tough, probably fall for the colours.

20.    Morning or night?
Morning.



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2. Cindy Blackburn

Cindy is the author of the Cue Ball mystery series.
She brought Wilson Rye here on May 28.

1.    Love or money?
Oh, what the heck. Love.

2.    Plain or peanut?
Plain, definitely. Unless we’re talking M&M’s. We're definitely talking M&Ms.

3.    Beef or chicken?
Beef. A gal needs her red meat.

4.    Coffee or tea?
Coffee, with lots of 2% milk, please.

5.    Oxford comma: yes or no?
Yes! I’ve become addicted to the Oxford comma ever since I read “Eats, Shoots, and Leaves.”

6.    Hardback or Kindle?
Kindle.

7.    Salty or sweet?
Now THIS takes some careful consideration, Amy! Okay, salty. As long as this includes an occasional salted chocolate treat?  Hmm...that could be cheating...

8.    City or country?
Country. More and more so all the time.

9.    Dog or cat?
Cat for myself. Dogs are fun to visit, though.

10.    Fame or fortune?
Fame. Is this somehow tied to question number one?

11.    Laptop or desktop?
Laptop. We are on the go, here at the Cue Ball Mysteries headquarters!

12.    Health food or junk food? 
Health food. But this might be a tad bit hard to swallow (no pun intended) looking at my other answers. LOL!

13.    Mountains or beach?
Mountains. The Green Mountains of Vermont, preferably.

14.    Gourmet or diner?
Diner, unless hubby’s the cook. Bless his heart, he’s into gourmet.

15.    Sweet or unsweet? (Tea of course)
Unsweet. I may live in SC most of the time, but I am a Vermont Yankee, born and bred. Bless your heart.

16.    Humor or drama?
Humor, humor, and humor. (Please note the correct usage of the Oxford comma) YES!

17.    Dr. Seuss or Mr. Spock?
Dr. Suess, especially since you can get the pointy ears from just about all of his

characters.

18.    Halloween or Christmas?
Christmas, as long as you don’t want to exchange blog gifts or some such. No Secret Santa Blog Edition here!

19.    Spring or fall?
Spring!

20.    Morning or night?
Morning. Why I chose coffee over tea. Ahhhh!

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3. Andy Nieman

Andy is the author of Free Man Walking. He was here on May 13.


1.    Love or money?   
Love

2.    Plain or peanut?
Peanut

3.    Beef or chicken?
Chicken

4.    Coffee or tea? Coffee

5.    Oxford comma: yes or no?
No

6.    Hardback or Kindle?
Hardback

7.    Salty or sweet?
Salty

8.    City or country?
Country

9.    Dog or cat?
Dog

10.    Fame or fortune?
Fortune

11.    Laptop or desktop?
Laptop

12.    Health food or junk food?
Health Food

13.    Mountains or beach?
Mountains

14.    Gourmet or diner?
Gourmet   

15.    Sweet or unsweet? (Tea of course)
Sweet

16.    Humor or drama?
Drama

17.    Dr. Seuss or Mr. Spock?
Dr Seuss

18.    Halloween or Christmas?
Christmas

19.    Spring or fall?
Fall

20.    Morning or night?
Morning

 Amazon | Goodreads | Facebook |

4. Chrissy Anderson

Chrissy is the author of The List Trilogy.
She was here on November 3 and May 1.

1.    Love or money? 
Love peppered with some cash on top. You are such a cheater!

2.    Plain or peanut? 
Peanut...Extra crunchy.

3.    Beef or chicken? 
Beef.

4.    Coffee or tea? 
Port. Ahem.

5.    Oxford comma: yes or no? 
I am ALL about the Oxford comma. I taught you well. :)
 
6.    Hardback or Kindle? 
HARDback.

7.    Salty or sweet? 
Salty.

8.    City or country? 
Who cares? Just get me outta both of mine for a week!

9.    Dog or cat? 

Dogger-Doo.

10.    Fame or fortune?
Fame.

11.    Laptop or desktop?
Laptop.

12.    Health food or junk food? 
Hell-Ju.  Cheater!!

13.    Mountains or beach? 
Beach.

14.    Gourmet or diner? 
Gourmet.

15.    Sweet or unsweet? (Tea of course) 
Unsweet.  I’m sweet enough.

16.    Humor or drama? 
Humor...all day, every day.

17.    Dr. Seuss or Mr. Spock? 
Neither.

18.    Halloween or Christmas? 
I’m an elf on Halloween.

19.    Spring or fall? 
FALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!

20.    Morning or night? 
Night, after everyone has fallen asleep.  The best.

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5. Elizabeth Delisi

Elizabeth is the author of The Midnight Zone and twelve other books! She was here on May 4.

1.    Love or money?
Since I married for love, now I’d like the money! Who said you can't have it all, right?

2.    Plain or peanut?
Peanut, so I can fool myself that it’s healthy.

3.    Beef or chicken?
“Chick-N” as I’m a vegetarian.

4.    Coffee or tea?
Tea is first choice, coffee second.

5.    Oxford comma: yes or no?
Yes. I’m “comma-tose.” Good one!

6.    Hardback or Kindle?
I’m leaning toward Kindle as it’s lighter and easier to hold.

7.    Salty or sweet?
Definitely sweet, for my sweet tooth!

8.    City or country?
Country, where I can hear the wild animals and birds, not humans.

9.    Dog or cat?
Ooh. Both! Cats are cuddly and independent, dogs are great friends.

10.    Fame or fortune?
Fortune, definitely. Fame is more trouble than it’s worth.

11.    Laptop or desktop?
Laptop, for portability.

12.    Health food or junk food?
Junk food, I’m ashamed to say.

13.    Mountains or beach?
Mountains, definitely.

14.    Gourmet or diner?
Depends on my mood...I like both. No fair!

15.    Sweet or unsweet? (Tea of course)
Sweet.

16.    Humor or drama?
I like both, but I watch and read more dramas.

17.    Dr. Seuss or Mr. Spock?
Mr. Spock...I’m a Star Trek fan through and through.

18.    Halloween or Christmas?
Christmas, definitely. Love the decorations and carols.

19.    Spring or fall?
Fall, with the gorgeous New Hampshire fall leaves.

20.    Morning or night?
Night...getting up any earlier than 8 is torture. We would get along very well!

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6. Peter Ochs

Peter is the author of Eyes of the Sage. He was here on May 5.

1.    Love or money? 
I’ve had plenty of love so let’s try money for a change.

2.    Plain or peanut? 
No preference.  It’s all good.

3.    Beef or chicken? 
Ditto.

4.    Coffee or tea? 
Coffee.  And not that I’m a Starbucks snob. I only went there a few years ago for the first time.

5.    Oxford comma: yes or no? 
If I said no, would you tell my parents, Bob and Fred? Yes, I certainly will.

6.    Hardback or Kindle? 
Nook!!!

7.    Salty or sweet? 
Salty.  Too much salt is overrated.

8.    City or country? 
Country.  But not as country as John Denver.

9.    Dog or cat? 
Dog. I’m getting my first dog in a couple of weeks. I can’t wait. (My parents wouldn’t allow us to have pets when I was growing up.)

10.    Fame or fortune? 
Fortune...and obscurity.

11.    Laptop or desktop? 
Still gotta have my tower right beside me.

12.    Health food or junk food? 
Junk food of course. I’ve got so much preservatives in me I’m almost eternal.

13.    Mountains or beach? 
Mountains. I grew up on a beach. Need a change of scenery.

14.    Gourmet or diner? 
I’ll eat anything, anywhere, anytime.

15.    Sweet or unsweet? (Tea of course.)
Not a tea drinker. La la la la la la...I didn't hear that...

16.    Humor or drama? 
Comedy is tragedy that happens to someone else. Think about it, then go watch Laurel and hardy.

17.    Dr. Seuss or Mr. Spock? 
Leaning towards Spock, but I am not a trekkie!

18.    Halloween or Christmas? 
Presents are better than candy.

19.    Spring or fall? 
Nothing better than fall in New England.

20.    Morning or night? 
Night. That’s when Jon Stewart comes on.

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7. Price McNaughton

Price is the author of A Vision of Murder. She was here on April 15.

1.    Love or money?
Love.

2.    Plain or peanut?
Peanut.

3.    Beef or chicken?
Chicken.

4.    Coffee or tea?
Tea.

5.    Oxford comma: yes or no?
Yes.

6.    Hardback or Kindle?
Hardback.

7.    Salty or sweet?
Sweet.

8.    City or country?
Country.

9.    Dog or cat?
Dog.

10.    Fame or fortune?
Fame?

11.    Laptop or desktop?
Laptop.

12.    Health food or junk food?
Health food.

13.    Mountains or beach?
Mountains.

14.    Gourmet or diner?
Diner.

15.    Sweet or unsweet? (Tea of course.)
Sweet!

16.    Humor or drama?
Humor.

17.    Dr. Seuss or Mr. Spock?
Dr. Seuss.

18.    Halloween or Christmas?
Christmas.

19.    Spring or fall?
Fall.

20.    Morning or night?
Night.

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8. RH (Rhonda) Ramsey

Rhonda is the author of Just Beneath The Surface. She saw the first "Ten Authors Twenty Questions," and wanted to take part in the second one. Yes, I'm that easy. Just ask!

1.    Love or money?
Love – always love

2.    Plain or peanut?
Can I actually pick macadamia? If not, I will go with plain...

3.    Beef or chicken?
It used to be beef, then it was chicken, now it’s back to beef.  Unless it’s shredded beef – if it’s shredded beef, I will choose chicken.

4.    Coffee or tea?
Definitely tea, unless there’s some sort of caramel cappuccino option.

5.    Oxford comma: yes or no?
Umm .. I think not. It was for some reason difficult for me to remember. Now that it’s ingrained, there’s no turning back.

6.    Hardback or Kindle?
Kindle, please!

7.    Salty or sweet?
Salty!!! (It’s really not even normal, anymore)

8.    City or country?
I’d have to say: City with a country feel or country town with a city feel. Hmmm...that might be cheating...

9.    Dog or cat?
Euw! That’s tough – definitely love puppies; I’ve always had dogs growing up. But I will go with cat, because they are so independent, moody and fun to watch.

10.    Fame or fortune?
Fortune (and favor from above) would be just fine by me without fame.

11.    Laptop or desktop?
Laptop! I am all about convenience.

12.    Health food or junk food?
I’ve been known to find ways to combine the two. Not in a way that they would cancel each other out, but just enough to spice things up. That's a good compromise.

13.    Mountains or beach?
Mountains...

14.    Gourmet or diner?
Diner.

15.    Sweet or unsweet? (Tea of course.)
Definitely sweet. The expression on my face when I order sweet and end up sipping unsweet is probably priceless. Sort-of happens often for some reason come to think of it. Oh yeah...I hate when that happens!

16.    Humor or drama?
Drama – that’s the genre I’m drawn to with music, reading, movies and writing. But then, again, there’s nothing like a good stand-up comic.

17.    Dr. Seuss or Mr. Spock?
Dr Seuss. “Today you are You, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is Youer than You.”
“Fantasy is a necessary ingredient in living, it's a way of looking at life through the wrong end of a telescope.”

18.    Halloween or Christmas?
Definitely Christmas. Halloween costumes are cute. But for me, there’s nothing like the reason for the season, the music, the smiles on the faces of children – I would have to say Christmas.

19.    Spring or fall?
That’s a difficult one for me. I’m a December baby and I love winter. I’m not a fan of summer. I enjoy spring rain showers. But I really love the fall foliage – it does something to the senses.

20.    Morning or night?
Sadly, I find that I’m a lot like Smeagol when I first wake up. No matter how much caffeine I get my hands on, I really don’t feel as if the “day” has started until around 11 p.m. I’ve always been a night owl, and now that I am an adult, I find that the wee hours are the best time for me to brainstorm and create.

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9. Tracy Sweeney

Tracy is the author of Living Backwards. She was here on April 11.

1.    Love or money?   
Love. Always.

2.    Plain or peanut?
Peanut. But I’d never turn down plain.

3.    Beef or chicken?  
Beef.

4.    Coffee or tea?   
Tea.

5.    Oxford comma: yes or no?
Never.

6.    Hardback or Kindle? 
Kindle, but I miss my bookshelf.

7.    Salty or sweet?   
Chocolate covered pretzels. Perfection.

8.    City or country?   
City mouse.

9.    Dog or cat?   
Dog.

10.    Fame or fortune?     
Fame. Also a great movie.

11.    Laptop or desktop? 
Laptop.

12.    Health food or junk food? 
Junk food. Sadly.

13.    Mountains or beach? 
Beach.

14.    Gourmet or diner?  
Diner.

15.    Sweet or unsweet? (Tea of course.) 
Sweet.

16.    Humor or drama?
Hah. Humor.

17.    Dr. Seuss or Mr. Spock? 
Dr. Seuss.

18.    Halloween or Christmas? 
Christmas.

19.    Spring or fall? 
Fall.

20.    Morning or night?  
Night.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Amazon

10. Danielle Stewart

Danielle is the author of Chasing Justice. Danielle will be here on June 12.

1.    Love or money?
Love.

2.    Plain or peanut?
Plain.

3.    Beef or chicken?
Chicken.

4.    Coffee or tea?
Tea.

5.    Oxford comma: yes or no?
Yes.

6.    Hardback or Kindle?
Kindle.

7.    Salty or sweet?
Sweet.

8.    City or country?
Country.

9.    Dog or cat?
Cat.

10.    Fame or fortune?
Fame

11.    Laptop or desktop?
Laptop.

12.    Health food or junk food?
Junk food

13.    Mountains or beach?
Beach.

14.    Gourmet or diner?
Diner.

15.    Sweet or unsweet? (Tea of course.)
Sweet.

16.    Humor or drama?
Humor.

17.    Dr. Seuss or Mr. Spock?
Dr. Seuss.

18.    Halloween or Christmas?
Christmas.

19.    Spring or fall?
Spring.

20.    Morning or night?
Morning.

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Featured Author: Rakesh Ranjan

Rakesh Ranjan is the author of Requiem: Will the Dead Come Back for Love? a novel that includes spirituality, mystery, and romance.

About the book:

Requiem is about love although it doesn’t look so until the latter half of the novel. It is the story of the unfulfilled love of the narrator. It is about Death, Love and Life. There are mistakes that a person makes but love often persists. And when it becomes so integral to your existence, you always tend to go back to it. It may haunt you in a sense but is often the sweetest memory that you carry. Requiem introduces Death as the beginning of a life beyond Life. Despite the vagaries it is associated with, Death can be a fascinating aspect of Life. It then moves to Love and describes how the two persons met and fell in love. And before love surmounts everything, one often loses to lust. Requiem details that journey of love. Requiem portrays Death and Love as the two continuous pursuits of man. While one fears the former, they always want the latter. Requiem shows how imagination can be a twisted reality. It shows the conflicts inside a human mind. The novel is written in a simple language and is an attempt to connect with the masses.

Interview with Rakesh Ranjan:

Welcome, Rakesh. Do you have another job outside of writing?

I finished my MBA and will soon be joining a top technology consulting firm.

How would you describe your book in a tweet? (140 characters or less)

This story of Death, Love and Life will enchant you and I promise you will end up with some tears. I’ll be disappointed otherwise.

Excellent! And with ten characters to spare! How did you create the plot for this book?

I think I had the idea long back. I luckily started writing and everything came together.

What do you do to market your book?

I have relied on the word-of-mouth thing and expect people to recommend my book to others if they find it good. I also aim to connect with readers with this blog interview. If my book intrigues them, they may go for it. I have just started but feel that the good reviews I have been getting will lead to more people getting to my work.

What would your main character say about you?

If Amy were to speak, she would say how much she loves me and misses me. If I say more, the mystery of the novel will be revealed. But Amy is wonderful and whatever she says would be the most precious words for me.

With which of your characters would you most like to be stuck on a deserted island?

It has to be Amy. It would be the most romantic and rewarding experience of my life.


Tell us about your favorite scene in the book.

I obviously started loving Amy. The novel is about her. The scene in the first chapter of the last part, 'Life' is very close to me. I cannot disclose the scene because it reveals a mystery. I cried a lot while writing it and every time I read it. A reader told me how he could not resist crying there. I feel I have succeeded when people say that the narrative is touching.

Who are your favorite authors?

Ayn Rand and Paulo Coelho

What book are you currently reading and in what format (e-book/paperback/hardcover)?

I am now reading the Bhagavad Gita on my Android phone. It’s a spiritual work, an amazing one. The concepts of Karma (duty) probably came from here.

Do you have a routine for writing?

I don’t write in a routine. For me, it’s more like getting my thoughts out and so when I feel like writing, I write at a stretch. While writing this one, there were times when I had not slept well for a few days but would make arrangements to keep myself awake for another day so that I could continue to write. I would then rest for a few days and restart when I had the material in mind.

Name one thing you couldn’t live without.

I would love to see my parents around forever, for as long as I live.

If you could only keep one book, what would it be?

The Fountainhead

What do you like to do when you’re not writing?

I love meeting people and experiencing cultures. Traveling is such a rewarding feeling. I have seen most places in Europe. All countries there are so beautiful. I have also been to some countries in Asia. And I have a lot to see. I need to see the remaining continents.

What are you working on now?

My next work is a fantasy. I would like to test my boundaries. I hope I can continue to bring joy to others.

Excerpt from Requiem: Will the Dead Come Back for Love?

A bolt from the blue

I could see the gloom on their faces. My relatives seemed to be mourning and they looked shocked. I had no idea why they had all assembled there. It looked very strange and I guessed something was wrong. My sister and cousins were crying. My uncles and aunts looked in deep agony too. I went looking for my parents. I then found my father at the front door. He seemed absolutely devastated. Something like that could happen only when everything had gone wrong. It was like a scene from a movie and it seemed as if someone had died. I sensed some disaster had struck my family and ran towards the room where I found my mother wailing in agony. A streak of fear gripped me. I dashed off to our maid, who was standing nearby, to enquire about the matter. I asked her why everyone was so sad and ended up getting a cruel shock. She did not hear me and so did not even react to me. Annoyed, I shouted in anger and realised that none of them could hear me. No one even seemed to realise my presence. Something had gone horribly wrong. Why was not anyone noticing me? As if I had no body, no existence and hence no relevance to the people! Restlessness and fear started overpowering me. What was that? Why was it so? I pushed my sister out of desperation but she did not feel anything either. Reality dawned upon me soon. And yeah, I could now understand why my parents were in a state of shock. They had just lost their only son. I had died and preparations were on to consign my earthly existence to flames.

About the author:

Rakesh Ranjan is an MBA from Management Development Institute (MDI), Gurgaon and Edhec Business School, Nice, France. He will soon be starting his job with a top technology consulting firm. He is an engineer and has a pre-MBA work experience of two and a half years. He has stayed in different parts of India and traveled to places in Asia and Europe. He loves traveling and experiencing cultures. His experiences have helped him write. He is a keen observer of human behaviour. His interests are varied and he tries to find meanings in ordinary things. He has wanted to write for a long time. The idea of writing a novel came to him in the first year of engineering. And he decided to do it now, after almost eight years. His poem, ‘My Love, My Life’, was very popular in college. He has blogged a bit before and has also written some articles.

Book Link: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00A7EFKV8
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorRakeshRanjan
Goodreads author page: http://www.goodreads.com/RakeshRanjan
Twitter: https://twitter.com/hamesha4u
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Rakesh-Ranjan/e/B00A7WVM08
Email: requiemthebook@gmail.com

Featured Author: Genevieve Fairbrother

Paranormal, suspense, romance, adventure, mythology...Genevieve Fairbrother's Eleusis has it all, and she's here today to tell us about it. Don't miss her guest post and book excerpt following the interview.

About the book:

Macy needs a break to sort out her life. Her parents are dead and now a moody trespasser has set up camp on the property she has inherited. When the stranger confesses himself to be an ageless sea-god and tells Macy she has been guarding a secret she never knew existed, her simple life takes a drastic turn. Just when she thinks it can’t get any stranger,  a back door to the Underworld opens up and it’s time to run like hell.

This fast-paced adventure romance novel explodes as the dark forces tracking Macy surface to capture her. In the transatlantic chase that follows, she learns of her forgotten past and an ancient connection to the sea-god who helps her escape.

As events challenge Macy, she must come to grips with her past, determine what she wants in life, and become a force in her own right. Family betrayal, sinister plot twists, and unlikely friends fill this exhilarating story of one woman’s journey to forge her own path as she learns her true identity.

She soon realizes that to gain real freedom and become legend, she must reject her assigned place in history and risk everything in the process.

Interview with Genevieve Fairbrother:

Genevieve, how long have you been writing, and how did you start?

About three years ago, my husband, who comes from a family of writers, talked about wanting to write a book. I had never considered writing a book but it made me think, why not? I had an idea for a story that had been rolling around inside of my head for a long time, and I decided to get it out of my head and onto paper. It started out as brain purge and ended up as a novel.

What do you like best about writing?

Through writing, I like to witness a character coming to terms with a new idea or a situation and then use the character’s conversations to share those ideas as they form. I like the feeling when I know I have successfully written a wild and suspenseful scene.

What’s your least favorite thing?

Commas...I insert them where I think there are natural pauses in an idea or conversation. I never learned the rules for commas. They make no sense to me...I need editors to tell me where they’re supposed to really go.

How did you come up with the title Eleusis?

When Persephone was released from the underworld she joined her mother, Demeter, in the ancient city of Eleusis.
 
Do you have another job outside of writing?

Yup. I’m a full-time obstetrician gynecologist. I work at the largest maternity hospital in the United States. I’m also chief of the medical staff of 2,000 doctors, so this is a true departure from my “real” life. I believe I surprised a lot of people with this book.

How would you describe Eleusis in a tweet? (140 characters or less.)

A goddess escaped from the underworld centuries ago. Hades hunts for her still but times have changed and she’s done running.

How did you create the plot for Eleusis?

I had several ideas (The Persephone mythology, women in society, and the allure of immortality) that were important to me, and I melded them together into a story.

Do you outline, write by the seat of your pants, or let your characters tell you what to write?

I have a rough idea of the map but a clear idea of my characters and their motivations. I know where I want my characters to start, and I know where I want them to end up. There are points of interest along the way that I’d like them to stop and visit in order to progress through the story. There is an order, but if a character needs to meander off of the path or go to a Point D before a point C, I let them.

Did you have any say in your cover art? What do you think of it? 

Yes! I took the photograph that was backdrop for the cover. The artist used my concept and took it to a different level so out of my league it is wonderful.

How do you get to know your characters?

They live in my head, and I imagine conversations that they might have with one another. I can see where they go, what their home looks like, what secrets they’re hiding and why.

Sophie’s choice: Do you have a favorite of your characters?

I, like most authors, could probably tell you who their least favorite character is before their favorite. I am sympathetic to all my characters even if they do terrible things because I understand their motivations.

When you start a new book, do you know what the entire cast will be?

The main characters, yes! I have a murky idea of the peripheral characters, then as the tale unfolds, they either crystalize and become clear or wither out of focus and I cut them out.

Which character did you most enjoy writing?

Artemis

I’m constantly on the lookout for new good names. How do you name your characters?

I looked for names that had meaning for their character either emotionally or linguistically.

How would your main character describe you?

Honest reliable, unflinchingly loyal.

Are any of your characters inspired by real people?

Aren’t all characters a mixture of the people in your life?

Eh...not always. I like writing characters who do and say things I never would, as well as characters who do and say things I wish I could. Do you have characters who fit into one of those categories? Who, and in what category do they fall?

Heck yeah! My characters have power over the natural world, and they’re immortal. Need I say more?

No. That about covers it! If you could be one of your characters, which one would you choose?

Probably Artemis.

With which of your characters would you most like to be stuck on a deserted island?

Are you kidding, Jason?!
 
Hmm...I don't know Jason, but now I want to! What song would you pick to go with your book?

"The Heavy’s Short Change Hero" and Jason Mraz’s "I won’t give up."

Which author would you most like to invite to dinner, and what would you fix him? Tom Robbins.

How do you handle criticism of your work?

It really doesn’t bother me. Most problems in life and in writing are a result of lack of communication. The kind of criticism I’ve encountered is usually a result of a misunderstanding. I look past any emotional content in a criticism and try to find the disconnect and fix it. It’s worked for me so far.

Where’s home for you?

Atlanta

Is there anything in particular that you do to help the writing flow?

Going for run really focuses the mind, as does a shower.

What’s one of your favorite quotes?

"The truth doesn’t change, only our understanding."

If you could take a trip anywhere in the world, where would you go?

Morocco or Prague, I’m not picky.

Excerpt from Eleusis:

When she lifted her eyes to look out, the view silenced her mind. A ground mist blanketed the field outside the barn all the way down to the surrounding tree line. It was ethereal. She grabbed her mug and stepped outside. This time she chose the path that led from the upper field and wove through the trees to the lower pasture that bordered Little Choestoea Creek above the waterfall. The mist stretched out across the field, undulating over the dips in the terrain. It felt like walking through a cloud. The birds’ morning chatter and the gurgling and chortling of the stream at the far border of the field broke the quiet. Gentle winds whispered among the dry autumn leaves. She crossed the field and joined the path that edged the stream and followed it to the waterfall. The mist overflowed the field and slipped down the bank, hovering over the stream.

At the head of the waterfall, the water rushed over the mossy rocks and curved around the massive granite boulders. The stream cascaded over the falls and flowed down the cove to join the lake in the distance. Macy decided to follow the cove out to the end, where she could see the mist floating like a blanket over the water. She picked her way along the side of the cove, climbing up and over boulders of granite as they sloped down to the water’s edge. Sometimes, when the terrain was too difficult, she clambered up into the tree line and walked along the edge of the forest. Shortly she came out onto the beachy area at the head of the cove.

The sun was starting to rise over the hill to her back, and golden light began to stream through the trees. She looked out over the mists to the far side of the lake, where the light was hitting the far shore. The trees, some deciduous and now nearly naked of leaves, created a wall of mottled brown and olive. It was hauntingly beautiful in the cold light of the early morning. She sank to her haunches and wrapped her arms around her knees. Brown and desiccated rushes crackled in the light breeze just below her perch. Macy gazed out across the misty cove and took in the view.

A hawk glided in lazy circles over the water. Across the small cove, three deer stole out of the woods, tasting the air. Macy held her breath and kept perfectly still.

Suddenly, from the middle of the lake, a man crested and soared high out of the water and turned a graceful arc in the air before arching backward and falling through the mist, diving soundlessly into the water.

Macy gasped. The deer fled. She leaped to her feet and spilt what little was left of her tea. What the hell was that? An Olympic water-polo player couldn’t get that kind of air. Immobilized, she kept her eyes glued to the place she had seen the man dive back into the water. It seemed to take forever. Did she just imagine it? Then again!

This time he came corkscrewing out of the water and shot up out of the lake with the mist trailing behind him. He whooped as he spun up and around, and Macy inhaled sharply, clasping her hand over her mouth as he disappeared under the water. Almost instantly he rose out of the mist. She stood very still. He turned slowly until he faced her, then began moving toward the shore. He had spotted her.

She started to back up, stumbled over a rock, and dropped her mug.

He appeared to be gliding on top of the water, picking up speed. Turning, Macy ran as fast as she could and fled for the tree line. Her heart pounded, and sudden fear twisted in her stomach. It was obvious he hadn’t expected a witness.

Macy hit the trees, scrambling through them. Her heart convulsed sickeningly. She didn’t dare look back. The forest grew a little denser as she made her way deeper into the woods. Her pursuer was already crashing around below her in the tree line. He had reached the shore very quickly, and she couldn’t outrun him. Macy passed a low bush behind a fallen tree. It concealed a hollow, and she wedged herself in the corner. She hunkered down as low to the ground as possible and listened. She heard wind rustling through the trees and the disturbances that little lizards make flitting through the undergrowth. Soon the sound of the man tramping through the woods faded.

Genevieve's Guest Post

What are the challenges of writing a book that mixes mythology with today's world?

Tom Clancy is credited with saying “The difference between fiction and reality is that fiction has to make sense.” The challenge for my writing is that mythology is the wild and fantastical reality around which I had to craft my fiction! My fictional “real world” had to seamlessly meld with an alternate mythologic reality that defies the laws of physics, ...all of the laws of physics, and I still need the story to be relatable to a contemporary audience. It’s fun because I can create situations that can defy gravity and mortality, but at the same time it's difficult because there is a fine line between ridiculous unbelievable fantasy and a paranormal reality that speaks to a person living in this earthly domain. Eleusis is a twisted mythology but what grounds the plot are the characters who share the easily recognized human desires for self-fulfillment, freedom, love and purpose.








About the author: Genevieve Fairbrother lives in Atlanta with her husband and two teenagers. She attended Wellesley.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Amazon

Featured Author: Michele Lynn Seigfried

Cozy Mystery Book Tours brings Michele Lynn Seigfried here today to talk about her new cozy mystery, Red Tape.

About the book: 

Red Tape is a tale about a single mom, Chelsey Alton, who is trying to balance her family and career when things start to go haywire at her job in a quirky little town named Sunshine, located at the Jersey shore. She encounters an irate resident, corruption in the government, and destruction caused by Hurricane Sandy. When Chelsey starts to figure out the truth behind the mayhem, she finds herself framed for a crime she did not commit. She narrowly escapes several attempts at her demise, only to find herself in a much more precarious situation.

Interview with Michele Lynn Seigfried:

Michelle, how did you come up with the title Red Tape? 

First I thought of calling it The Government, but everyone told me that was boring. They were right, it is boring! Then I thought of making my character of Robert Triggers, the irate resident, saying how he hates government red tape. Hence, the name Red Tape was born.

Do you have another job outside of writing?

Yes. I am a full-time municipal clerk. I’m actually answering these interview questions while at the International Municipal Clerk’s Association Conference in Atlantic City, New Jersey.

Do you outline, write by the seat of your pants, or let your characters tell you what to write? 

All of the above! I feel like I’m so all over the place when I write. I can’t seem to sit down and write out all chapters in order. I often don’t know if I’m writing chapter 2 or chapter 15 when I’m typing along. I try to do an outline too, to help me get the order of things straight in my head, but I usually don’t stick with it because the characters and plot take on a life of their own. 

What do you do to market your books?

In addition to book tours, I have done book talks at a local libraries. I’m also schedule to be at the Collingswood Book Festival in New Jersey in the fall. I periodically do giveaways and promotional pricing, so watch my Facebook page and Twitter accounts to get in on the deals and prizes!

Are any of your characters inspired by real people? 

Yes! Bonnie, “Tex,” and Kathy Norcia.

Who?

Bonnie’s personality and off-the-wall comments are inspired by a friend of mine, who wished to remain nameless. I find her hysterical.

Tex is named after a police lieutenant at my work, Scott Texidor. He is an awesome guy, and he graciously allowed me to use his name in the book. The character of Tex has a similar personality to the real Tex.

Kathy Norcia is a municipal clerk in New Jersey and is a friend of mine. She also graciously allowed me to use her name.

I like writing characters who do and say things I never would, as well as characters who do and say things I wish I could. Do you have characters who fit into one of those categories? Who, and in what category do they fall?

Bonnie absolutely says things I would never say in a million years. I think that’s why she is my favorite character. The way she describes the mayor, the way she gawks at the firemen, and how she speaks her mind. I would be likely get fired if I spoke like she does at work.

If you could be one of your characters, which one would you choose?

Again, I have to go with Bonnie. Bonnie is described as beautiful, rich, has a beachfront home and a nice family. Definitely Bonnie.

I wouldn't mind being her too! With which of your characters would you most like to be stuck on a deserted island?

I’d have to say Kris. He doesn’t really appear until the end of the book, but mmmmm, is all I can say about him! Officer Williams would come in a close second.


Where and when do you prefer to do your writing?

With a fifteen-month-old, times and places for me to write are limited! That leaves after she goes to bed at night, sitting in the front of the TV with my laptop.

Tell us one weird thing, one nice thing, and one fact about where you live.

One weird thing is that we have a three-eared rabbit in our neighborhood!

A nice thing is that we live within an hour’s drive of the beach, the mountains, the casinos and two major cities – Philadelphia and New York.

One fact is that we live along the Delaware River, which is great for fishing and boating.

You won the lottery. What’s the first thing you would buy?

My freedom! I’d quit my job in order to have more time to do the things I love to do.

What do you like to do when you’re not writing?
I enjoy arts and crafts, spending time with my family, traveling, wine tasting events, fishing boating, and lots of other activities!

If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be?

Near a beach on the island of St. John. It is the most beautiful place I’ve ever seen!

What are you working on now?

I’m currently working on a children’s book (I’m also the illustrator!) and also a sequel to Red Tape.

Book Excerpt from Red Tape

It was Columbus Day and I was thrilled to have a four-day work week. I was due to meet Bonnie for lunch. I lived a little closer to Jackson than Bonnie did, but since I had to drop off Mandy, I told Bonnie I would pick her up.

Bonnie’s house was powder blue today. “You had your siding painted again?” I asked her.

“I get bored and now that I’m no longer employed, I have too much free time on my hands.”

“Your husband must want to kill you.”

“Just a little. I told him I did it for him since he hated the pink. He keeps telling me to find another job.”

“I’ll drive today since you drove last time.”

“Works for me! That means I can have a couple of drinks.”

We hopped into my car and I turned out of her driveway toward the causeway. Driving in my Honda Accord was quite a large step down from Bonnie’s fancy Mercedes. Bonnie turned and looked behind her.

“That’s strange,” she said.

“What’s strange?” I asked.

“That black sedan behind us. It had been sitting across the street from my house for the past hour and now it’s following us. All the windows are tinted.”

“You’re starting to be paranoid like me,” I told her. “It’s not surprising they are following us; this is basically the only route off the island.”

“I suppose.”

We continued driving off the island and through Madisen Township. I opted to take the back roads to Jackson to avoid traffic.

“Speaking of being paranoid, I have a story to tell you about the elevator at work...” I started to say when I was interrupted by the sound of a car revving its engine and speeding up behind us. I glanced into my rearview mirror and could no longer see the bumper of the black sedan. Then smack! We were jolted forward upon the impact. The black car hit us. I slammed on the brakes and the sedan swerved to my left into the lane of oncoming traffic.

“What the hell?” Bonnie screamed as we felt a second impact in the side rear panel of the driver’s side. My car was pushed over into the right shoulder. I held tight to the steering wheel, trying to force it left. It was all I could do to keep the car on the road. The black car slammed on its brakes and shot behind us when a tractor-trailer was approaching it head-on. It then revved its engine again, coming for us from behind.

Bonnie yelled, “Speed up! They’re going to hit us again.”

I frantically pressed the pedal down like she said. I could barely think. I tried to reach over to my purse and grab my cell phone, when whack! We were hit again, thrusting us forward. My head hit the steering wheel. My purse and its contents went flying. I was afraid the airbags would go off and I wouldn’t be able to see. My heart was pounding. I was terrified.

“They’re trying to kill us,” I said in a panic to Bonnie.

“Well, they’re not going to be successful. See if you can get them to pull up alongside of you again.”

“What? Are you out of your freaking mind?” I shouted. “You want me to get next to them? They probably have guns!”

“Well, so do I,” Bonnie said as she reached into her purse and pulled out a small handgun.

“Where the heck did you get a gun?” I asked.

The sedan pulled into the left lane again and increased in speed in an attempt to get alongside of us. I crouched as low as I could behind the steering wheel, took a deep breath, held it, and tried my best to hold the car steady. My whole body was trembling.

Bonnie rolled down her window and climbed halfway out, aiming and shooting at the black car. “Pop, pop, pop.” She fired three times. I heard car tires screeching and I looked into my rearview mirror to see that the mystery car had veered off the road and was smoking. I started to breathe again.

“Good shot,” I said as I sped off down the road as fast as my demolished Honda would go, trying to get away as quickly as possible.

“Thanks. My husband and I go to the shooting range on occasion. It’s a hobby of ours. We went this Saturday. I had forgotten to take the gun out of my purse. Good thing!”

My heart was in my throat. My hands were shaking uncontrollably and I was still in a frenzy. I had gone into survival mode and now that the adrenaline was wearing off. I think I was going into shock. “Are they following us? Where do you think the nearest police station is? Are you going to get in trouble for shooting a gun? Would you call 9-1-1 from your cell phone?”

“I’m already dialing. I don’t think they are following us, but keep driving just in case. Make a bunch of turns so they don’t know where we went. And no, I don’t think I’ll get in trouble for shooting a gun. I have a permit, and it was self-defense. And, if I do get in trouble, it’s better than being dead. Plus, I have enough money for a good attorney.”

About the author:

Michele Lynn Seigfried is an author and public speaker who was born and raised in New Jersey. In her debut novel, Red Tape, she draws from her personal expertise in the area of municipal government, in which she has served for over fifteen years. She holds state and international certifications in the areas of municipal clerk and vital statistics. She lives in Bordentown, New Jersey with her husband and daughter.

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