Featured Author: Giacomo Giammatteo

Partners in Crime Virtual Book Tours brings Giacomo Giammatteo here today to talk about his mystery/suspense novel, Murder Has Consequences, published by Inferno Publishing Company.

About the book:

For a select few people, friendship lasts forever. Nicky Fusco and Frankie Donovan were friends like that, but that was years ago. Now Frankie’s a detective in Brooklyn’s Homicide department, and Nicky is a reformed hit man. But when Frankie gets in trouble—and the law can’t help him—he turns to Nicky.

The problem is that Nicky promised his family, and God, that he’d go straight. 

Book Trailer

Interview with Giacomo Giammatteo

Giacomo, how did you come up with the title Murder Has Consequences?

Murder Takes Time is the first in the Friendship and Honor series. In MTT, there is a set of six rules for murder. Murder Has Consequences is rule number two. All of the books will follow a rule of murder, so the next one out is Murder Takes Patience which is rule number three.

Excellent. Do you have another job outside of writing?

I’m a headhunter in the biotech and medical device industry. I’ve been doing this for thirty years.

How did you create the plot for this book?

All my plots are created in the same basic way. I have a concept or theme that I follow for each series. This is the Friendship and Honor series, so the theme revolves around the problems/conflicts that might arise out of a pact or oath of F&H. All I have to do is imagine a scenario that would create conflict and go with it. I always have an ending before I start, and then I work backwards. I despise a novel where the ending seems fabricated, so I swore I’d never do that.

What’s your favorite line from a book?

I’m a huge fan of the old noir films/books. Raymond Chandler, Dashiell Hammett...and I have to say my favorite lines from all time are from the scene with Sydney Greenstreet and Humphrey Bogart in The Maltese Falcon. Some of my other favorites are from Casablanca.

Tell us a book you’re an evangelist for.

The Count of Monte Cristo. My favorite book of all time.

How do you get to know your characters?

They’re real. I base them on real people, or on combinations of real people. I’m a huge believer in knowing my characters and not just the main ones. I think it is just as important, if not more so, to know your secondary characters as it is to know the primary ones. And when I say know them, I mean down to the core. Know what they’d do in a given situation, how they’d react if someone challenges them, if someone kisses them, if someone betrays them. That, in my opinion, is how great characters are created.

Which character did you most enjoy writing?
Nicky Fusco.

You say your characters are based by real people. Who?

Most of them. Can’t say.

Understandable. Tell us about your favorite scene in the book.

The scene where Nicky goes to see Millie in the bar. It seems like such a simple, nothing scene, but it isn’t. That scene allowed me to show so many things about Nicky, about the way things have changed in the neighborhood, and about the kind of conflict and respect Nicky had for people. I loved it.

Who are your favorite authors?


Alexandre Dumas, John Sandford, Raymond Chandler, Dashiell Hammett, Frank Herbert, Donna Leon, and when I need to laugh out loud, Luciano De Crescenzo.

How long is your to-be-read pile?

Far too long, unfortunately. And since I’ve been published it’s grown considerably. I’ve met so many wonderful authors, and they have books I want to read. My iPad is stocked with a lot of titles.

You get to decide who would read your audiobook. Who would you choose?

Me. If I find time, I’m going to try it myself.

What book are you currently reading and in what format?

I’m reading an ebook, Sleep Not My Child, by Christopher Bartley. He’s a gifted author, and I love his work.

Where and when do you prefer to do your writing?

I write mostly in the kitchen, and I start about 10:00 at night. If I have blog posts to write, I usually do those earlier, and if I have editing or proofreading to do, that comes before writing. My writing I like to do late.

Where’s home for you?

I live in Texas, outside of Houston, but I grew up in Wilmington, Delaware.

Your last meal would be…

Veal Marsala with good bread, and a good wine.

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

A lot of land for my animals.

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

Italy.

What are you working on now?

This is a loaded question. I always have a lot going on.
Mystery: A Bullet From Dominic, Blood Flows South book II
        Necessary Decisions, first book in new series, Redemption
        A novella about one of the characters in Necessary Decisions
        Murder Takes Patience, Friendship and Honor book III
        Old Wounds, a Redemption Novel

Non-fiction: No Mistakes Interviews, book II of the No Mistakes Career series
       No Mistakes Guide to Misused Words

Fantasy: Vengeance is Mine, Book IV of the Rules of Vengeance series

I realize this seems like an awful lot to be working on, but it’s how I work. I actively write on a non-fiction and a fiction (or 2) at the same time, depending on the mood I’m in, and I actively plot and write scenes as they come to me for the others.

I'm the same way. Good luck with all of your projects, and come back anytime!

Other books by Giacomo:

Murder Takes Time | A Bullet For Carlos | Finding Family | No Mistakes Resumes

Excerpt from Murder Has Consequences

Actions have consequences. I learned that long ago.

• I learned it when I was five years old and got caught stealing cigarettes.
• I learned it when Mikey “The Face” Fagullo beat our asses for not giving him a cut of the smokes we stole from a boxcar.
• I learned it when Father Tom caught us playing cards instead of attending mass.
• Mostly I learned it when I shot Freddy Campisi. That lesson cost me ten years in prison.

Different actions yield different consequences. Do something wrong—-get sent to prison. That’s one kind of consequence. But that’s the easy one. If you go to prison, you do your time and get out. It’s over. Done with.

But there is another, far worse, consequence-—the one you have to live with day in and day out. The kind of consequence you beat yourself up over. The kind that won’t go away. I did my time for killing Freddy Campisi. The other things I’ve done I have to live with. Those are between me and God. They are my cross on earth.

Nicky Fusco

About the author:

Giacomo Giammatteo lives in Texas, where he and his wife run an animal sanctuary and take care of 45 loving rescues. By day, he works as a headhunter in the medical device industry, and at night, he writes. 

Connect with Giacomo:
Website | Blog | Facebook | Goodreads | Twitter |

Buy the book:
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Apple | Kobo 

Featured Author: Christoph Fischer


I'm very happy to have the talented Christoph Fischer back today to talk about his third book in the Three Nations Trilogy. On the market for less than a week, the historical fiction/family saga The Black Eagle Inn is already an Amazon best seller. Christoph is a three-time A Blue Million Books guest. He's been here to talk about the first book, The Luck of the Weissensteiners and the second, Sebastian. You can read those interviews here (first book) and here (the second).

What reviewers are saying:

-A comprehensive, entertaining historical novel that does not hold back any punches.
-Brilliant historical fiction: fascinating and entertaining.
-Simply a masterpiece.

About the book: 

The Black Eagle Inn is an old established Restaurant and Farm business in the sleepy Bavarian countryside outside of Heimkirchen.  Childless Anna Hinterberger has fought hard to make it her own and keep it running through WWII. Religion and rivalry divide her family as one of her nephews, Markus has got her heart and another nephew, Lukas got her ear. Her husband Herbert is still missing and for the wider family life in post-war Germany also has some unexpected challenges in store.

Once again Fischer tells a family saga with war in the far background and weaves the political and religious into the personal. Being the third in the Three Nations Trilogy this book offers another perspective on war, its impact on people and the themes of nations and identity.

Interview with Christoph Fischer 


Christoph, you get frequent flier points for being such a good friend to A Blue Million Books. I'm happy to have you back. Can you briefly catch us up with your Three Nations Trilogy and give us your elevator speech for The Black Eagle Inn?

In The Luck of the Weissensteiners, I showed the terror that was WWII and its effect on one particular area and ‘nation’ in Central Europe. In Sebastian, I went to a happier time before WWI to show the issues of nations and identity then. In The Black Eagle Inn, war is in the past and the people who find themselves in Western Germany have to pick up the remains from the ashes and form a new nation.

What’s the inspiration for your characters?

I got some inspiration from life and real people that I have met over the years, from Bavarian and German stereotypes and characters, from comments I overheard on a bus or a train, from stories I picked up and some from the characters themselves as they began to form their life in my book.

You just retired from your “day job.” Are you happy with your decision to retire?

Yes, totally. A lot of it is to do with the changes at the old work place, but I am also happy to have more time for my family when they need me.

Do you have a routine for writing?

When the muse drives me I just sit down and write. All I need to do is walk the dogs first or else Molly will kick my hands of the keyboards and demand attention.

Where and when do you prefer to do your writing?

In my little office space, preferably starting very early in the morning, when it is quiet.

Where’s home for you?

I just returned from a trip to my ‘home’ town in Germany. Now I am back in the UK, home from home if you so will, and despite the lovely time I had ‘back home’ and despite the many things that make me feel like an ‘alien’ in the UK, when we got out of the channel tunnel I felt I was home.

Neil Gaiman said, “Picking five favorite books is like picking five body parts you'd most like not to lose.” So…what are your five favorite books and your five body parts you’d most like not to lose?

The Books: Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts, The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini, The Slap by Christos Tsiolkas, The Gift of Rain by Tan Twan Eng, and We Need to Talk About Kevin by Lionel Shriver.

Body Parts: Head (never bodes well to lose it); Heart (been my partner’s for so long, I’d hate to transfer it now); Voice (how else would I be telling people about my books or tell my dogs to give me back that tennis ball); Hands (writing, preparing food); Legs (jogging and running away from danger).

You’re leaving your country for a year. What’s the last meal (or food) you would want to have before leaving?

Tofu salad.

Would you rather work in a library or a bookstore?

Definitely a library, there’d be no commercial pressure to sell anything.

Where is your favorite library and what do you love about it?

My home town library in Bavaria. I used to work there, I know the staff, and they stock my books. Tons of others.

Give us an update on your dogs!

Wilma had six puppies in February and turned out to be a great young mother. Two of the puppies, Ianto and Molly Junior, are living in the vicinity, and we get to see them often. In two years’ time we will see if Wilma wants to have another go at motherhood. Molly senior will be 9 in November and Greta is most happy at this time of the year for her love of Conkers.

Um...what exactly is Conkers?

They fall from trees like chestnuts. Brown and shiny, once out of the shell. We call Greta conker bonkers when she gets hold of one.

Ah! I see. There's no easy way to segue from dogs and Conkers to publishing, so I'll just get to it. Why did you decide to self-publish?

I was put off by the difficulties to even get an agent to take your calls. As much as I can see why that is, it did not seem a trust-inspiring start. I also hear how new authors are required to do much of their own marketing and publicity work. It seemed easier to do it myself and see where that would lead me.

Are you happy with your decision to self-publish?

I am very happy with the decision. I was fortunate enough to have an Academic partner, a designer friend, and an editor friend who were willing to work with me. I also met a few great writers who have functioned as beta readers for my books and helped me find my foot in the world of FB, Twitter and blogging. Self-publishing is hard work, but it is also great fun.

What steps to publication did you personally do, and what did you hire someone to do? Is there anyone you’d recommend for a particular service?

My partner did all the formatting, and together with Deborah Wall he did the editing.
Read my interview with Debra here.

Design artist Daz Smith.

Do you have any advice for an author who is getting ready to self-publish?

Make sure to do the best you can in terms of formatting, editing and design. People will judge you on formalities, regardless of how good your book is. But also, don’t let anyone discourage you to follow your dream (big symphonic sound track).

What marketing or promotion ideas have worked best for you?

Facebook, blogging and Twitter in combination. Since I got seriously involved on Twitter (and it was hard work to get going) my sales have doubled.

In your last interview here, you quoted Neil Gaiman as one of your favorite quotes: “Everybody has a secret world inside of them. I mean everybody. All of the people in the whole world, I mean everybody — no matter how dull and boring they are on the outside. Inside them they've all got unimaginable, magnificent, wonderful, stupid, amazing worlds... Not just one world. Hundreds of them. Thousands, maybe.” Can you tell us one of your secret worlds?

I just told you about those secret worlds in my books.
Okay. I do occasionally meditate and one of my ‘happy places’ I retreat to is a dark green mossy area next to a wild mountain stream, bearing both Bavarian and Irish features, if that makes sense.

One of your characters has just found out you’re about to kill him off. He/she decides to beat you to the punch. How would he kill you?

If he is anything like me, he’d just take a hammer and smash my head. No need to beat around the bush.

What’s your favorite candy bar? And don’t tell me you don’t have one!

A German kinder bar.

What are you working on now?

A Time to Let Go, a novel about a family in contemporary England. The mother has Alzheimers and the rigid father and the chaotic daughter fight over how to handle the illness.

Excellent. And you will be back to tell us more about it--right?

Guest Post

Politics in The Black Eagle Inn

by Christoph Fischer

To write about any Nation and its generational renewal party politics are difficult to avoid, even more so in the case of Germany where for 12 years one party dictated world history. In one plotline of the book I have gone deep into the rivalry between the two main parties in post-war Germany, which exists to this day.

I must apologise for any perceived bias and any offensive remarks against either of the parties portrayed. Party politics at the time were more differentiated than I could afford to showcase them in this book. The fictional party affiliation of some of my characters in the book was determined by certain ideas they stand for and which of the actual parties at the time would have fitted their profile the most.

In my view politicians of every party can be corrupt as they can be idealists. By no means would I like to imply that I favour the politicians of one party of another. My book is not a manifesto for political ideas per se but for humanitarian ideas that should be the foundation for any type of politics.

Politics can also be a frustrating and hard business and I applaud all of the idealists who go into politics and struggle hard for their visions and beliefs. I do not have the endurance for it myself and would like to thank those who have done so and who selflessly help to form and shape Germany into a modern state that has learnt from its past.

About the author:

Christoph Fischer was born in Germany, near the Austrian border, as the son of a Sudeten-German father and a Bavarian mother. Not a full local in the eyes and ears of his peers he developed an ambiguous sense of belonging and home in Bavaria. He moved to Hamburg in pursuit of his studies and to lead a life of literary indulgence. After a few years he moved on to the UK where he is still resident today. The Luck of The Weissensteiners was published in November 2012; Sebastian in May 2013. He has written several other novels which are in the later stages of editing and finalisation.

Connect with Christoph:
Website | Blog | Facebook | Facebook/Black Eagle Inn
Goodreads | Goodreads/Black Eagle Inn | Twitter |

Buy the books:
Amazon Author page  | The Black Eagle Inn on Amazon 

Christmas Blog Tour

Yes, I do realize it's only October and we haven't even had Halloween yet. But what you may not know is...as of today, there are only 70 more shopping days until Christmas. And what better present to give someone than a good book? So without further ado, I present to you one stop on the Paul Anthony Associates Christmas Book Blog Tour.

Paul Anthony Associates Christmas Blog Tour

Welcome to the Christmas Blog Tour: A group of authors entertaining their readers with some thrilling tales of fiction. Let’s find out what they are up to at the moment. Santa Claus wants to ask some questions. Indeed, they’ve all been asked the same questions as they introduce themselves and their work. So, let’s hear what they have to say. First up is Amy Metz.

Q. Whereabouts do you live, Amy?

A. Sometimes I live in Goose Pimple Junction and sometimes Louisville, Kentucky, known as Louavul to native Louisvillians!

Q. Would you describe yourself as a full-time writer or do you have another job?


A. My day job is being a mom to a seventeen-year-old. Since he’s a high school senior, that doesn’t take up as much time as it used to, so I would describe myself as a full-time writer. Especially since my laptop is my constant companion.

Q. How do you spend your leisure time? 


A. I love to read, bake, and take pictures. Once I’ve been on a photography shooting spree, I love to create digital photo books. Outside of the house, my favorite thing to do is to attend my son’s marching band shows and his concerts. I never turn down an invitation to go out to dinner or to a movie either.

Q. Name three people you would like to entertain for Christmas dinner and why?


A. 1) An accountant. I’d like to talk to him or her about how to audit a publisher’s books. 
2) My publisher. I’d like to talk to him about his business practices. I’d also like to feed him an Ex-Lax martini.
3) Betty White. Who wouldn’t want Betty White at their table?

Q. If you could live anywhere in the world this Christmas, where would it be?


A. Ordinarily, I’d answer an “anywhere in the world question” with some place in the South, but Christmastime has to be cold, so I’d say in a house on Nantucket Island, overlooking the water.

Q. If you had one Christmas wish, what would it be?


A. Besides peace on earth, I would wish to be free and clear from my publisher.

Q. Describe yourself using only three ‘Christmas’ words.


A. Faith, hope, and fruitcake. And no, the last one is not because I like fruitcake or resemble it. It refers to my mental status.

Q. What makes Christmas special for you? 


A. Family traditions. I also like to decorate the house with my Santa and Snowman collections, along with a gazillion other decorations. And it wouldn't be Christmas for me without the smell of a real Christmas tree.

Q. What is your favourite childhood memory of Christmas?


A. It would be of my sister and me, ages 4 and 2, running down the hall toward the Christmas tree in the living room, bleary-eyed after just waking up but excited as only a child can be on Christmas morning. Although, I don’t know if it’s an actual memory or if I’m remembering it from the home movie my dad made. By the way, I'm the little one in the picture to the left, but I have no recollection of it!

Q. What is the worst Christmas you have ever experienced?


A. That would probably be Christmas 1987. Our dog was very sick, and a few days before Christmas we learned he wasn’t going to live much longer. I was pregnant with my first child at the time, and I either threw up or wanted to throw up 24/7. It was hard to get into the Christmas spirit that year.

Q. Are you currently published for Christmas or do you have a ‘work in action’ you can tell us about?


A. Murder & Mayhem in Goose Pimple Junction is available on online bookstores, and some Indie stores in and around Louisville. I’m hoping to publish Heroes & Hooligans in Goose Pimple Junction, and Rogues & Rascals in Goose Pimple Junction, but because I stupidly signed a bad contract, it may be a while before I can publish again.

Q. Tell us about your work and what influenced you to write in this exciting genre?


A. As a child, I’d heard stories about several murders that happened in my family in the 1930s. One of them was never solved, and I always thought it would make a great book. So I used that murder as the basis for the plot. At the time, I wasn’t familiar with the term cozy mystery, but that’s what it turned out to be.

Q.  Do you have a particular character that figures consistently or are you in the stage of developing a lead character?


A. The books will all have the same core characters throughout the series, although each book will focus on different main characters. Murder & Mayhem features Tess and Jack, Heroes & Hooligans features Martha Maye and Johnny, and Rogues & Rascals features Pickle’s mama, Caledonia.  Although you never know when a new character will move to town and demand attention. 
  
Q. Where can we find out more about your work?


A. My website is: http://amymetz.com. You can buy Murder & Mayhem in Goose Pimple Junction at any of the online stores. Specifically, Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

Q. And where can we follow and support you on social media sites?


A. My 
Facebook page--like and/or friend me; follow me on 
Twitter; friend me on 
Goodreads; or connect on 
Linkedin.

Q. Santa Claus thanks you for taking part in this interview, Amy, and wishes you good luck with your writing in the years ahead.


A. Thank you, Santa. Can I invite you to meet my friends in this wonderful world of writing? Just click on the names below and you’ll find yourself reading a different set of answers to the same questions. Please support my friends and fellow authors by visiting their sites and checking out their contributions. Thank you for joining me on my blog tour.

PS You do believe...don’t you? Just remember...when you stop believing in Santa Claus, you get underwear for Christmas.


Check out these other stops on the Christmas Blog Tour:

1. Jennifer Degl

2. Maria Swan
3. Jean Reinhardt
4. Joan Fallon
5. C C Champagne
6. Meg Johnston
7. Ceri London

Santa says to also take a look at Paul Anthony's Espionage & Crime Thriller Blog Tour:
Paul Anthony, Kenneth Kerr, James Bruno, Tom Reinhart, Dan Pollock, Ken Boehs, and Khallid Muhammad

Featured Author: Tamara Lee Dorris

Tamara Lee Dorris is here today to talk about her humorous women's fiction novel, Secrets of a Spiritual Guru, in which she puts her real life on the job knowledge of real estate to use. Since the book is subtitled, Real Estate, Yoga & Lies, we're going to assume she also has experience in yoga, but fiction comes in when it comes to the lies.

About the book:

Meet Melissa Murphy: wine-drinking real estate agent who finds herself "accidentally" assuming the role of a spiritual blogger when her boyfriend leaves her for his yoga teacher. Can she keep her role secret while trying to win her man back? If the lying doesn't kill her, the poses might!

Praise for Secrets of a Spiritual Guru:

"...Achingly funny and impossibly wise..." --Jenna McCarthy, author of, If It Was Easy They'd Call the Whole Damn Thing a Honeymoon; Living with and Loving the TV-Addicted, Sex-Obsessed, Not-so-handy Man You Married.

Interview with Tamara Lee Dorris

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

Since I was about 11. I fell in love with John Boy Walton and decided I would be a writer. Then I could meet him and we’d get married on Walton’s Mountain. What?

What do you like best about writing? What’s your least favorite thing?

I love the idea-generating process, the obsession I go through when I can’t wait to work on a project, the aha moments when plot thickens, and the feeling I get when people read it and tell me how much they loved it. The least favorite thing is formatting/copyediting.

How did you come up with the title Secrets of a Spiritual Guru?

I actually came up with the title and then thought of the story to support it. It just came to me. I liked the idea a guru online but not in real life.

Do you have another job outside of writing?

I do. I sell houses and am a part-time college professor.

How would you describe Secrets of a Spiritual Guru in a tweet? (140 characters or less.)

If you love or hate real estate, yoga or wine, you’ll want to read this book.
#humor #spiritualguru

How did you create the plot for this book?

Every novel has to start with someone who wants something they can’t have. From there, the obstacles just become more intense. I started with an average woman who wanted to win her man back.

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

I start every novel with a story board so that I can know when I’m at pivotal points, climaxes, etc. I tend to write a lot in my head (I go over scenes in my mind), then when I sit down to type, it comes quick and easy. It’s pretty much all planned.

Did you have any say in your cover art?

My neighbor Amy is a phenomenal artist. I gave her some basic direction and she ran with it. I love it! I think it’s contributed to so many purchases too.

Do you have imaginary friends?

I have a writing angel. His name is Martin and he helps me with plots, ideas, and story set-backs.

How do you get to know your characters?

I sleep with them. Seriously! I lay in bed and watch them in my mind until I feel like I know what moves them.

Best answer ever for that question! Love it. Okay...Sophie’s choice: Do you have a favorite of your characters?

Yes, Melissa, the main character.

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

Usually. In some books I do, though, a character will take on a lesser or greater role than I’d first envisioned.

Which character did you most enjoy writing?

Tac. Mainly because he’s arrogant but tries to pretend he’s not. That bugs me.

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

I like everyday names mostly, and then I like to throw in an odd one, such as Tac, just to shake things up.

What would your main character say about you?

That I’m a big fat liar, and I do not drink too much wine.

Are any of your characters inspired by real people? Who?


The mother in Guru is based on my own neurotic mother. Who is so neurotic that when I named her in the acknowledgements as the inspiration for the neurotic mother, she just laughed and said, “I’m glad I’m not like that mother.”

LOL. That reminds me of a Robert Burns quote: "O wad some Power the giftie gie us To see oursels as ithers see us!" How about you? Are you like any of your characters?

I’m like all of my characters in one way or another. I think all writers can only write what they know, and ultimately, we’re all interconnected, but since this isn’t a quantum physics quiz, I’ll just answer: Yes.

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?

Well, see? That goes back to your earlier question. You ARE like those characters in one way, but you’re letting your character do the dirty work for you (shame on you!). Seriously, I think all of us writers are guilty of that. My main character can be a little petty...not that I would ever be. ***looks around innocently***

If you could be one of your characters, which one would you choose?
Tac, because he’s a top producing agent with good hair and lots of awards.

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

Tac, again. For reasons mentioned above. But he won’t need to bring the awards to the island.

Tell us about your favorite scene in the book.

When the main character tells off a racist client.

Ooh, I love a good telling off! What song would you pick to go with your book?

“Walking on Sunshine.”

Who are your favorite authors?

I read a TON of spiritual development books, so Neville Goddard, Louise Hay, Wayne Dyer. For fiction, I like the classic authors: Harper Lee, Hemmingway, even Steve King.

What are your favorite books?
a) as a child: Charlotte’s Web; James and the Giant Peach

b) as a teenager
Go Ask Alice, Gone With the Wind, Valley of the Dolls

c) as an adult
 To Kill a Mockingbird, Bastard Out of Carolina, Legends of the Fall, Heads in Beds.

Which author would you most like to invite to dinner, and what would you fix me? I mean, him. Or her. 

Ha, ha. Whatever you, I mean, she, likes. As long as wine is involved. Besides you, I’d go for Ayn Rand. Mostly so I could ask her what the heck she was thinking versus what society said she was.

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

I call “Trick Question.” I have seven books on my Kindle and four paperbacks going at any giving time. Here’s a sample:
Spider Spin Me a Web, How to Get What you Really Want, Heads in Beds (re-reading it for pure delight), The Neville Goddard Collection.

How do you handle criticism of your work?

Poorly.
It happens. I used to make voodoo dolls. Just kidding. Actually, I’m pretty lucky thus far with reviews. I think we should learn from all the feedback we get (and then make voodoo dolls).

I totally agree! 
Do you have a routine for writing? Do you work better at night, in the afternoon, or in the morning?

As you know, when you’re a writer, time goes really fast, so I try to manage my writing time in the early afternoon when I have at least 2-4 hours to sit in front of my laptop and bang away. However, I could write anytime and honestly think that even when I’m not at my laptop, I’m still writing in my mind.

A writer's mind never rests! Where and when do you prefer to do your writing?

Funny you ask. My laptop at the kitchen table. Never mind I have a large, lovely office just down the hall. I use my office for administrative/real estate stuff, but do all my creative writing in the kitchen. It’s cozy in here.

Where’s home for you?

I’m most happy in the mountains, but since all my kids live in Sacramento, this is where we stay. I actually decorate my home like a log cabin to trick myself. It seems to be working.

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

Weird: I have a pet box turtle in my office who is 20 years old. The weird part is her toe-nails are longer than she is.
Nice: Sacramento is sunny a lot, plus we don’t have earthquakes, tornadoes or hurricanes. I consider that a plus.
Fact: We’ve had more celebrity politicians than any state...maybe that should be under “scary”?

Yes indeedy. Do you ever get writer’s block?

No. More like the opposite. I do most of my writing in my mind (I see my scenes), so when I sit down, my little fingers are poised and ready to type.

Is there anything in particular that you do to help the writing flow? Music? Acting out the scene? Long showers?

I see the scene in my mind. However, I might note that I do this most effectively when I’m in nature, the shower, or listening to Mozart.

What’s one of your favorite quotes?

“Just do it” --Nike.

What three books have you read recently and would recommend?
Heads in Beds, The New Testament, Yoga Sutras.

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

Think about writing. Seriously. And drink wine and cook things I can put on Facebook.

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

Colorado most the year and the Coast in the winter.

If you could take a trip anywhere in the world, where would you go?
I’ve always wanted to go to Italy...the back country, and go wine tasting on a bicycle. I suppose it should have training wheels , though.

What are you working on now?

I just finished a naughty book that I’m using a pen name for, so we won’t talk about that one. But, I’m working on a story called, The Boy Who Talked to Angels.

Great. Come back and talk to us about it when it's done!

Book Trailer:

Excerpt from Secrets of a Spiritual Guru

            In two days I will be closing the biggest deal in two years. And in two months, I will have a birthday. I am ecstatic about the first one and suicidal about the second. A little about me: Previously, I spent eleven years in the retail industry, mostly squandering my paychecks on the employee discount. I like cute clothes. Eventually, though, I decided to get my real estate license. Five minutes later, the market crashed.

            I am one of the lucky ones, though, because for one thing I live with my boyfriend, Ron, who has been around for several years now. OK, four years, eight months, and two days. How do I know this definite time frame? Because my mother reminds me weekly when we chat. I am certain she keeps a little calendar next to the phone entitled, How Long Since Melissa and Ron Have Been Dating Without Getting Married and Giving Me a Grandchild. And it’s not really a weekly chat as much as it is a guilt call, as in, if I don’t call her at least once a week she makes me feel even more guilty than she does about the fact I’ve not yet produced offspring for her viewing pleasure.

            Now, about Ron: He’s a nice guy, really, and pretty cute, too. He’s nice in the sit-on-the-couch-with-a-beer-yelling-at-the-television-screen-when-his-team-is-losing kind of way. Oh, and he has become a bit of an Internet fiend lately. Always on the damn computer. Ron is the one who convinced me to get my real estate license. He said, “You’ve been selling clothes for years; I bet you’d be great at houses.” While Ron had the ability to see the big picture, I found it difficult to imagine that selling houses would be anything at all like working in the Women’s Fine Fashion Department of Haddock’s. After all, it isn’t like you can stand outside the dressing room while someone tries on a house. And customers get so agitated when they try to return a cardigan; what happens when it’s a condo?

            Ron reminded me that with my own condo paid off (thanks to my father’s life insurance policy), and him covering the rest of our expenses (which is precisely how I donated so much of each paycheck to my special clothing and wine account) that living on commission would be a breeze, I would spend less on clothes (I knew he’d been snooping in my closet), and that when I did sell a house, it would be big money. So, I took the required classes online, passed the state exam, and suddenly found dozens of brokers pursuing me. OK, there were actually only two, but they both wanted me really badly. I choose Cal State Realty. Mostly because it’s close to my condo, and the broker reminds me of Sean Connery (without the accent).

            My mother, of course, had a coronary over me giving up such a “promising” career as assistant department manager of such a “fine establishment” where she got to enjoy my employee discounts almost as much as I did.
            “Oh, honey, I think it’s fine you got your real estate license, but you can’t be serious about quitting Haddock’s. There’s this cute little handbag I saw in the window last week—”

            “Yes, Mom,” I say, cutting her off, but knowing exactly which handbag she’s referring to. “I’ve got enough saved, and of course I have Ron…” my words trail off as I consider what shoes I could wear with that damn purse.

            “But I just read that the housing market is crashing. Things are going to get really bad.”

            “I know, but really, I need a change, and I already have a deal in escrow. Do you realize the commission will be like four paychecks?”

            My mother sits silent on the other end.

            “Well, that was pretty easy,” she finally says, referring to the fact that I only took this nice couple out one time, wrote an offer that day, and did most of the paperwork in an hour or two.

            “I know! Just imagine if I am not dead-dog tired from being on my feet all day, hanging up clothes and smiling at rude women.” And staying up drinking wine and eating ice cream from the container.

About the author:

Tamara Dorris has gone insane selling houses and likes to write books, blog posts and letters to Santa Claus (he has yet to respond). She understands that family, friends, wine and really cute clothes are what matter most in life, and she does her best to buy all of them as her Botox budget allows.

Connect with the author:
Website | Facebook | Goodreads | Twitter |

Buy the book:
Amazon 

Featured Author: J. Daniel Parra

J. Daniel Parra is a New York-based author of Pieces of Tracy, a work of contemporary fiction, published by Diversion Books. I'm happy to have him here today to talk about his debut novel.
  

About the book:

Two lives... two romantic cities... Meet Teresa Felicia Santana León. In New York, she's Tracy León, a would-be artist and telemarketer who falls for an older tycoon, Bruce Babich. When Bruce's mother sends her to Rome to find a stolen painting, Tracy assumes an alter ego, the zesty Felicia Santana. In Rome, she meets a younger artist named Mario Giordani who helps her on her quest. Before long, she is juggling two romances and two distinct identities: Tracy, demure trophy wife wannabe in New York's high society, and wanton, thrill-seeking Felicia in sultry Rome. Against the backdrop of these exciting cities, she follows her divided heart, even if it leads her in the wrong direction. The secrets behind the stolen painting send her on an unforgettable journey that prompts her to re-examine her own talents and inspirations. As the pieces come together, Tracy faces a life-changing choice, one that will lead to surprising discoveries about love and her own identity.

Interview with J. Daniel Parra 


Who are your favorite authors? 

It’s a long, eclectic list, but I would definitely say Henry James is my top favorite, followed by Edith Wharton, Philip Pullman, Charles Dickens, Leo Tolstoy, James Clavell, Anne Rice, Ian Fleming, Larry McMurtry, Sidney Sheldon, John Jakes, John LeCarre. And I love the French: Hugo, Dumas, Flaubert, Maupassant, Proust, Balzac, Laclos, Colette. I could go on.


With a list like that, you must have a very long to-be-read pile. Just how long is it?

I’m still working my way through my pile from BookExpo America which was in May. At this rate, by the time next year’s BookExpo rolls around, I’ll be only partially through my current pile. 

I think that is a common problem among authors! But it's a nice problem to have. What book are you currently reading and in what format (e-book/paperback/hardcover)? 

I just finished David Leavitt’s new novel, The Two Hotel Francforts in hardcover.  He has a real gift for dialogue. Now I’m starting The Three Musketeers by


Do you have a routine for writing?

I’m a morning person so the earlier I start, the clearer my head and my thoughts. When I’m writing the heaviest, I usually start around 7 or 8 in the morning and keep going until I’m in a place I can comfortably pick up again the next day.

Where do you prefer to do your writing?

I have a place along the beach that’s quiet and has an office space that’s piled high with reference books and magazines. It’s my escape from the city and its day-to-day stress. I do write in the city but it requires much more effort to concentrate.

Where’s home for you? 

New York City. There’s always something happening here, and I love to eavesdrop on conversations on the street, some of which have ended up word-for-word in my fiction. New Yorkers, you’ve been warned!

What’s one of your favorite quotes? 

From Henry James, of course: “Go everywhere, do everything; get everything out of life. Be happy—be triumphant.”
What three books have you read recently and would recommend?

All these are new releases that I’ve reviewed on my site: Songs of Willow Frost by Jamie Ford, The Engagements by J. Courtney Sullivan, and The Signature of All Things by Elizabeth Gilbert.

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

Not surprisingly, I read a lot. I draw compulsively and have since I was a child. I also love running and am frequently doing loops in Central Park. If you see me, please say hello.

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

I am lucky to say I already live here, in New York City.

What are you working on now? 

A new novel but that’s all I can say for now.

Well, I hope you'll come back when you can say more!

Alexandre Dumas in trade paperback. I love the French!

About the author:

J. Daniel Parra was born in Mexico City and grew up in Oklahoma and Texas. A graduate of Sarah Lawrence College, he has written for a variety of publications. His working experience includes ten years in advertising and marketing where he won awards for campaigns for major national advertisers.

 He lives in Manhattan and is currently at work on his next novel.

Connect with the author:
Website | Facebook | Goodreads | Twitter |

Buy the book:
Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Featured Author: Sarah Dunster

Sarah Dunster's new novel, Mile 21, is a romantic comedy one reviewer dubbed, "Amazingly Wonderful." Described as inspirational fiction, the book is about grieving, loss, and recovery. Mile 21 is published by Cedar Fort Publishing, and Sarah's here today to talk about it.

About the book:

Abish's husband died suddenly just seven months after their marriage, so she's allowed to be a little crazy and mixed up inside. But it's been a year now since it happened, and her family can't handle her quirky behaviors and emotional disconnect anymore. When mom boots her from the family apartment, it seems her only choice is to move back into single-student housing and attend the ward that (funny thing) her drill sergeant boss happens to preside over. Add in Bob, the divorced-single-parent who Abish accidentally walked in on in her underwear when he was trying to fix her Internet (and who also happens to be the executive secretary), and Abish is sure it's all some cosmic joke. Question is, will she be able to land on her feet, or is she going to allow her world to continue to fall apart until she has nobody left?

Book Trailer

Interview with Sarah Dunster

Sarah, how did you come up with the title Mile 21?

The 21st mile of a marathon is where a lot of runners break down and struggle. Abish is at a very difficult point in her life, and she needs help. And she is 21 years old. It just worked!

I like it! Do you have another job outside of writing?

I am a full-time mother of seven (soon to be 8) children. I homeschool them until age 8, and I’m a youth leader in my church. So I have the equivalent of several full/part time jobs, on top of writing!

Oh my goodness! I don't know how you find time to write. 
Do you have a routine for writing?

I get 1,100 words done a day. I do it in 1.5-2 hours. I have to work around having 4-7 kids who need stuff solved, a moment of lap sitting, lunch to be made, etc. So I’ve learned to be very efficient! On the other hand, having to get up and deal with kids sometimes gives me a moment to think and be inspired. I am not sure what I’ll do when I don’t have those distractions all the time.

How would you describe your book in six words?

Angsty chick laughs and can love.

How did you create the plot for Mile 21?

I have gone through some tough things in my life. Things that have made me feel alienated from those around me, who didn’t quite know how to handle my situation. I wanted to create a story that would draw a reader into the mind of someone who is really struggling, someone who is not necessarily functioning too well, and then see how the recovery process is a miracle. I wanted, in writing this story, to help people understand those around them who are going through things they might *not* understand, and learn how to help them and also give them some slack. But in the end, I wrote it because I loved the story, how it turned out. It’s funny and touching. And I think Abish is someone we can all identify with.

What would Abish say about you?

She’d probably think I’m a bit of a wimp. I’ve never punched anybody in the eye. And the most I’ve ever run is 2 miles.

What song would you pick to go with your book?

“Been a Long Day” by Rosi Golan. In fact, it’s in my book trailer!

You’re given the day off, and you can do anything but write. What would you do?

Aaaugh. I guess...go hiking somewhere. Hopefully not by myself...there are a lot of bears around where I live.

Do you have a favorite quote?

“Be the change you wish to see in the world.” --Gandhi

About the author:

Sarah Dunster is wife to one, mother to seven, and an author of fiction and poetry. Her poems have appeared on Wilderness Interface Zone as well as in Victorian Violet Press, Segullah Magazine, Dialogue: Journal of Mormon Thought, and Sunstone Magazine. Her first novel Lightning Tree was released by Cedar Fort in April of 2012. When she is not writing, Sarah can often be found cleaning, cooking vegetarian meals, holding small people in her lap, or taking long, risky walks after dark, especially in thunderstorms.

Connect with Sarah:
Website | Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads |

Buy the book:
Amazon | Barnes & Noble 

Featured book: Sight Reading

About the book:

Lyrical and evocative, Sight Reading by Daphne Kalotay is an intense, literary love story.

When Hazel and Remy happen upon each other on a warm Boston spring day, their worlds immediately begin to spin. Remy, a gifted violinist, is married to composer Nicholas Elko, who was once the love of Hazel's life. Over the decades, each buried secrets, disappointments, and betrayals that now threaten to undermine their happiness.

We follow the notes of their complicated, intertwined lives from 1987 to 2007, from Europe to America, and from conservatory life to the Boston Symphony Orchestra.

Sight Reading, from the author of the acclaimed debut novel Russian Winter, is an exploration of what makes a family, of the importance of art in daily life, and of the role of intuition in both the creative process and the evolution of the self.

Excerpt from Daphne Kalotay's Sight Reading

Chapter One

She arrived at rehearsal that winter evening to find behind the podium a young man in baggy slacks and a boxy tweed jacket.  This was Remy’s final semester at the conservatory; she was twenty-two years old and still one seat away from first chair.  The man said nothing as the other students trickled in, just nodded “hello” and waited for them to assemble themselves and their instruments.  The air was so dry, the clasps of Remy’s violin case shocked her fingertips.  She glanced at the man, whose face seemed to be trying to say that nothing unusual was happening, no, not at all.

     It was 1987, a Sunday.  A room full of students not quite recovered from the weekend’s parties and performances and one-night stands.  Their regular conductor, Mr. Bergman, was a short, lisping man with rolled-up pant cuffs; everyone looked at this new one in a tired, questioning way.  His skin was fair, and his dark hair flopped at a slant across his forehead.  There was something angular about his face, with its defined cheekbones and elegantly bony nose.  Remy tucked her violin up under her chin and tested the strings, enjoying the sensation of each one, with the slight turn of a peg, slipping into tune.

     Not until her stand partner, Lynn, hurried in to take the seat next to her did the man explain—not at all thoroughly—that Mr. Bergman wouldn’t be back.  “And so,” he announced in a British sort of accent that managed to sound both witty and bewildered, “I’ve been hired as his replacement.”

     He was too tall for the tweed jacket, or perhaps just too trim, too lad-ish: Remy decided he couldn’t be more than thirty.  “What did he say his name was?” whispered Lynn, who as concertmistress would surely end up on a first-name basis with him.  But no name had been mentioned.  The man had come from out of nowhere.  Remy pictured a small pile of luggage waiting just outside the practice hall.

     “Well, so, in that case, then,” the man was saying.  “I’m very excited about the selections we have.  Scheherazade is one of my favorites.”

     Mine, too, thought Remy, with slight bitterness.  Not a day went by that she didn’t wish she, and not Lynn, might be the one to portray Scheherazade’s seductive voice, with that first melodious proclamation and the passionate spirals that followed.  In private she practiced the solo bits as if they were hers.  Lynn, meanwhile, was briskly swiping rosin onto her bow, stirring up a low cloud of sticky dust, as if this man’s sudden appearance weren’t at all out of the ordinary and she might be called upon at any moment to play her cadenza.

     The man’s eyes were bright (though there were slight shadows beneath them) and his button-down shirt, open at the collar, was visibly rumpled underneath the tweed jacket.  His expression was one of bemusement.  Remy felt suddenly hopeful, though she couldn’t have quite said why.

     “Well, so,” the man announced in a cheery, English way. “Off we go.”

He had them start with the Sibelius. 

    “All right, so,” he said lightly, waving at them to stop.  Remy felt a surge of frustration.  She was just one of the many faces looking up at him; this late in the semester, what were the chances a new conductor might discover all she could do?

    “Starting at bar seventy-four, let the phrase play itself out.”  He hummed the phrase, as if from pleasure rather than in illustration.  “Let it come to rest, don’t rush into the next sequence.” He raised his baton. “Let’s start from there.”

    As they played, Remy could feel the conductor trying to hold them back, then allowing the music forward again.  Mr. Bergman hadn’t done it this way.

    “The thing to keep in mind,” the man said, tapping his baton at the podium for them to stop, “is that tempo is about more than just speed. It’s about the passage of time, really. In our lives—not just on the page. You know how sometimes everything seems to keep rushing forward, but then at other times things are peaceful and still?  How sometimes we feel stuck in time, or just plodding along day by day—and then suddenly it’s as if time’s passed us by, or we’re being hurried along, too quickly?  That’s what tempo is really about.  That’s what we’re expressing.  Not just how fast or how slowly the music moves.  It’s about how fast and slow life moves.”

    His eyes widened at the thought, and for a moment it seemed he might be about to make some personal confession.  But he just raised his baton and asked them to try the passage one more time.

About the author:

A citizen of both Canada and the U.S., Daphne Kalotay grew up in New Jersey and graduated from Vassar College before moving to Massachusetts to attend Boston University’s Creative Writing Program. There her stories went on to win the school’s Florence Engel Randall Fiction Prize and a Transatlantic Review Award from The Henfield Foundation. She remained at BU to complete a PhD in Modern and Contemporary Literature and, with Saul Bellow as her advisor, wrote her doctoral dissertation on the works of Mavis Gallant. (Her interviews with Mavis Gallant can be read in The Paris Review‘s Writers-At-Work series.) A MacDowell Fellow, Daphne has received fellowships from the Christopher Isherwood Foundation, the Bogliasco Foundation, and Yaddo. Her fiction collection, Calamity and Other Stories (Doubleday), was short listed for the 2005 Story Prize, and her debut novel, Russian Winter (HarperCollins), won the 2011 Writers’ League of Texas Fiction Prize, made the long list for the IMPAC Dublin Literary Award, and has been published in 21 foreign editions.  Her newest novel is Sight Reading (Harper, 2013). Currently co-president of the Boston chapter of the Women’s National Book Association, Daphne lives in Somerville, Massachusetts.   

Connect with Daphne:
Website | HaperCollins Publishers | Facebook

Buy the book:
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