L. Leander is our featured author today. Linda's book, Inzared, Queen of the Elephant Riders, is available on Kindle and currently enjoys a rating of 4.6 from thirty-two reviews. Wow. Thirty-two! First, a little about the book:
Book Blurb:
Bertha Maude Anderson was born in the Appalachian Mountains of North Carolina. Raised on a small farm, she lives a hard life far-removed from everything she craved. Misunderstood by her parents, her only confidante her brother Ezra, Bertha yearns for excitement. A Gypsy circus comes to town and her world changes forever.
Coaxed into joining the Romanoff Brothers Circus, Bertha’s name is changed to INZARED, Queen of the Elephant Riders. She learns to ride Cecil, the elephant, and the two forge an unbreakable bond. Inzared falls in love, learns to co-exist with the Gypsies, solves a mystery and grows into a woman, all the while searching for the life she has always dreamed of.
Welcome, Linda. Your characters sound fascinating. Are any of them inspired by real people?
My main character, Inzared, was inspired by a woman who had a positive effect on me during my young adult life. She taught me that having little doesn’t mean being poor. She grew up in poverty in the Appalachian mountains of North Carolina. As a young wife and mother she moved to the Midwest and encountered hardships most of us never dream about. Through it all she remained true to herself and loyal to her friends and family. She is one of the people in my life I would most aspire to be. Her stories of growing up and being part of her inner circle taught me a lot about life and about following your dreams. When I began writing INZARED, Queen of the Elephant Riders, the main character took on a lot of her traits.
She sounds like an amazing person. What would your main character say about you?
Inzared told me more than once that I was a procrastinator and that I needed to get her story out. I put it off for three years until she drove me crazy, and I published the first book just to shut her up! (In actuality, I’m not so much a procrastinator as unsure of myself. I kept trying to tell her that but she wouldn’t listen.)
Characters. What are you gonna do with them. What do you like to do when you’re not writing?
I tell everyone I can do a lot of things, but I’m not great at any of them. I don’t mean that to sound like I don’t think I’m any good. I don’t believe that. But I am a perfectionist and get mad at myself all the time for making what I call “stupid” mistakes. (I’m working on positive reinforcement.) So, here goes: I love to play the guitar, fiddle, autoharp and dulcimer, and write songs. (I play a lot of instruments, but those are my favorites, and I’ve been writing songs since I was in my teens). I have been sewing and quilting since I was very young, and it totally relaxes me. I’m on an apron kick right now, but I love to sew absolutely anything! Reading has always been my passion – if I could pick books or television, books would win hands down! I enjoy cooking and baking (especially campfire cooking). I love, love, love to go to the movies, especially if I’ve read the book! My husband and I camp in the summer and like to take walks and visit with friends. I am reality-tv obsessed! My favorite tv show is Survivor, but The Amazing Race comes in at a close second. I also like The Voice, American Idol, America’s Got Talent – you get the drift!
If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be?
This one’s easy – Mexico! I live in Mazatlan, Mexico in the winter months, and it’s the best place on earth. Surrounded by the ocean, great food, wonderful events and fantastic friends – couldn’t ask for more.
Which author would you most like to invite to dinner, and what would you fix me? I mean, him. Or her.
Sorry darling. No room at the table. I’ve already invited Stephen King, Ann Rule, Amy Tan, and Harlan Coben. I’m doing research for my next novel – paranormal Chinese history true crime mystery with a surprise ending! I’d do a barbecue because my hubby is an awesome grillmaster. I’m the prep cook then, and I make drinks and desserts to go with whatever he has in mind.
Oh man. Are you sure I can't come? I'll be really quiet and eat just a little...okay, moving on. When you start a new book, do you know what the entire cast will be?
No. I’m totally a “pantster.” I have learned that I need to outline (dread the thought) my characters and flesh them out a little or I tend to think everyone understands them the way I do. The characters apply when I put out the call, and after I’ve interviewed them and chosen the ones I need, I write them in. It’s kind of like doing a jigsaw puzzle (another favorite pastime of mine).
What were your favorite books or favorite authors a) as a child: There
was an Americana series that I loved growing up. The books were based
on real historical figures, such as Abraham Lincoln, Betsy Ross, Abigail
Adams, Andrew Jackson, etc. I loved and read each one over and over.
By the age of ten I graduated to Zane Grey and read every one of his
books – Wildfire was my favorite. I also began reading Jack London
about then and couldn’t get enough of his books – loved White Fang!
Grimm’s Fairy Tales and Anderson’s Fairy Tales were my other favorites
as a child.
b) as a teenager: As
a teen I grew to love the classics. Thomas Hardy was my favorite, but I
also loved Bronte, Dickens, Shakespeare, Austen, Poe, London,
Longfellow, and many more. A Tree Grows in Brooklyn was one of my
favorite books as a teen.
c) as an adult: I have pretty eclectic tastes in reading. I don’t read Sci-Fi or Fantasy, as a rule, although I have found a few in each of those genres that I did like. I absolutely loved the Harry Potter books. For a refreshing read I like Sophie Kinsella, Janet Evanovich, and Stephanie Weiner. I have read everything Ann Rule has written as True Crime fascinates me. I cannot believe people are so base. Harlan Coben and Michael Connelly are my favorite mystery authors. Stephen King cannot be beat as the most intelligent writer of all time, in my mind. He proved that perseverance does pay. Amy Tan is brilliant, as is Barbara Kingsolver. I love biographies and autobiographies, and just about anything non-fiction. I love learning things, and research is my favorite part of writing, so I haunt the non-fiction section of the library. INZARED, Queen of the Elephant Riders is the title of your book. How did you come up with it?
I didn’t come up with it - she did! I had a couple of other names in mind, but Inzared was adamant. Some writer friends thought I should change it. She had a hissy fit. So it stayed.
My characters have hissy fits with tails. They're so dramatic. Thank you, Linda, for talking with us. I'm looking forward to reading about Inzared tomorrow in the excerpt you're going to share with us.
About the author:
L. Leander is an e-book author, freelancer, and songwriter. She writes for Yahoo! Content and does guest posts on author blogs and groups. As a child, L. Leander dreamed of running away to join the circus. Instead, she grew up to write about it, bringing the magic alive for all who read her work.
Ms. Leander currently resides between Wisconsin and Mexico. INZARED, Queen of the Elephant Riders is the first book in a series about a Gypsy wagon circus in pre-Civil War America.
I've known Wayne Zurl since we were fellow writers on an online critique site. I remember when he started posting Heroes & Lovers for feedback. Try as I might, I couldn't find anything constructive to say to Wayne. I loved the story, and I ended up being a "lurker." I read the book without offering a review. Gasp. But at a fifty-word minimum, there are only so many fresh reviews one can leave that say "This is great. I love it." Flash forward to the present day, and Wayne's book is published. We get a sneak peek today with a small excerpt from the book. Sit back, read, and enjoy.
About the book:
Sam Jenkins might say, “Falling in love is like catching a cold. It’s infectious and involuntary. Just don’t sneeze on any innocent people.”
Getting kidnapped and becoming infatuated with a married policeman never made TV reporter Rachel Williamson’s list of things to do before Christmas. But helping her friend, Sam Jenkins with a fraud investigation would be fun and get her an exclusive story.
Sam’s investigation put Rachel in the wrong place at the wrong time and her abduction by a mentally disturbed fan, ruined several days of her life.
When Jenkins learns Rachel has gone missing, he cancels holiday leaves, mobilizes the personnel at Prospect PD, and enlists his friends from the FBI to help find her.
During the early stages of the investigation, Sam develops several promising leads, but as they begin to fizzle, his prime suspect drops off the planet and all the resources of the FBI aren’t helping.
After a lucky break and a little old-fashioned pressure on an informant produce an important clue, the chief leads his team deep into the Smoky Mountains to rescue his friend. But after Rachel is once again safe at home, he finds their problems are far from over.
And now, for the excerpt:
The sixty-degree temperatures of several days earlier had cooled slightly. The cloudless Wedgwood blue skies we‘d been enjoying had turned to a muddy, hazy gray hanging over Prospect. The pollution of Knoxville and Oak Ridge had been blown southeast by the prevailing winter winds.
When we pulled up at the repair shop, it took me less than a minute to spot Elrod sitting in his office reading a magazine. Another young man worked on a pick-up truck in the garage bay and two others sat on folding chairs nearby, drinking soda from cans, talking with him. We sat twenty yards from the open garage door and heard a radio playing. Someone lamented the loss of his girlfriend and contemplated his exodus to San Antone. The song didn‘t sound like one of the icons of country and western to me.
Len Alcock, Bobby John Crockett, and Stan Rose pulled their marked police cars curbside, blocking the driveways after Junior and I drove up to the office door. The two soda drinkers were about to run when Alcock and Crockett put the arm on them.
Stanley rousted the mechanic, a guy who looked like he ate pit bulls for breakfast, before he could hide in the supply room off the work area.
Junior followed me into the office. I walked up to a scarred and dented gray metal desk. An open bag of pork rinds lay on top, next to a two-liter bottle of Mello Yello. A half-eaten corn dog hid in a wrinkled wrapper.
"Hi there," I said. "I‘ll bet you‘re Elrod Swaggerty, aren‘t you?"
He was a thin, shady-looking character with short hair and sideburns ending below his earlobes. His dark blue mechanic‘s outfit hadn‘t seen soap in a long time.
Elrod eyed me for a few seconds and then shifted his look to Junior and back again to me. If he didn‘t assume I was a cop, he was more mentally bereft than I anticipated.
"That‘s me." His voice cracked a little as he tried a nervous smile.
"The Elrod Swaggerty?" I started to enjoy myself.
"Uh-huh, whot‘s up?"
I held up a copy of the arrest warrant for him to see. "I know you were hoping Officer Huskey and I came from Publisher‘s Clearing House and we were about to give you a check for a million bucks, but I‘m sorry to disappoint you."
Junior tried to stifle a laugh, which came out like a combination snicker and snort from a clogged sinus passage. I should have remembered to smack him when we finished, but didn‘t.
Someone in the garage turned off the radio, stopping the Nashville sound.
"Elrod, my friend, you‘re under arrest," I said.
"Whot fer? I didn‘t do nuthin‘."
"You just committed a double negative in public. If you didn‘t do nothing, you must have done something. May I take that as an admission of guilt?"
"Do whot?" He was almost gasping.
"Elrod, son, you have the right to remain silent. I suggest you avail yourself of that right before I feel compelled to flatten your head with a brick."
"Hey now, don‘t go gettin‘ mean an‘ hateful on me, I really didn‘t do nothin'."
"Pal, you haven‘t seen hateful yet," I said. "We‘re only having a spirited conversation here. If you see me call in a helicopter or break out a field phone with little alligator clips attached to wires, you may infer I‘m going to get nasty."
I heard Junior giggling behind me. I should tranquilize him the next time we go on an arrest.
"Let‘s go, guy, on your feet. Time to put the cuffs on," I said.
"Cuffs? Are you crazy? I said, I ain‘t done nothin‘."
When he stood, I gave him a push and moved him up against the wall behind his desk. Just to the left, hung a two-foot-tall calendar showing a girl in a bikini, holding a gallon can of anti-freeze, standing next to a shiny black Mustang with the hood raised.
"Assume position one, Elrod. Hands on the wall and walk your feet back some."
Elrod seemed familiar with the steps to that dance. I took hold of his belt and backed him up even more, and then I used my right foot to spread his legs wider.
"I‘m going to search you now," I said. "Is there anything in your pockets or on your person that is a weapon or might cut me, stick me, or in any other way piss me off?"
"Do whot?" he croaked again.
"Now listen carefully, Mr. Swaggerty, these are not multiple choice questions, just a simple true or false. Do you have a weapon or something sharp on your body?"
"I got me a folder on my belt—that‘s it, it ain‘t concealed."
I removed a cheap knock-off of a Buck lock-back knife from a beaten-up leather pouch on his belt and handed it to Junior. I finished patting him down, put cuffs on him, double locked them, and brought him back to the position of attention.
"Whot am I charged with? I got a right ta know!" he crooned.
"Larceny by inveiglement—four times and scheme to defraud."
"Do whot?"
Obviously, vocabulary hadn‘t been one of Elrod‘s favorite subjects.
When Junior and I walked our prisoner out to the car, I saw John Leckmanski filming the festivities from a discrete distance, far off Elrod‘s property.
I looked toward the garage area and thought Stan and the boys also hit the jackpot. Elrod‘s three minions were in cuffs, too. Stan found the mechanic with a shirt pocket filled by a baggie brimming over with the evil weed. The guy drinking Dr. Pepper was wanted on a Blount County Traffic warrant for failure to pay fines, and the lad with the Mountain Dew was named on a bench warrant from the Rockford Justice Court for failure to appear. The two cops would transport the prisoners. Stan Rose would stay to secure the scene and inventory any cash found in the office.
The time involved in messing with Elrod‘s mind and processing his arrest would take us well beyond the 3:30 deadline for arraignments. Swaggerty would spend the night as a guest of Prospect PD and be transported to the county justice center in the morning. I timed the arrest that way for two reasons. I thought of Elrod as a first-class scumbag who needed to remember you don‘t screw around in Prospect. And second: I wanted to give my favorite TV newsgirl time to catch him tomorrow after he made bail and see if she could get an interview during the morning light.
When Rachel and I spoke, I suggested she attend the arraignment. She and John could watch the judge set bail, but because the county deputies and court officers may be less enamored with good-looking female reporters than I am, they wouldn‘t let her get close to the defendant. I thought they should wait in the Justice Center parking lot until Elrod‘s release and follow him back to Prospect, when he‘d undoubtedly go to his shop and check on the status of the working capital he left behind. There he‘d find a copy of the search warrant with an inventory of the confiscated or secured property.
I‘ve lived to regret that suggestion ever since.
About the author:
Wayne Zurl grew up on Long Island and retired after twenty years with the Suffolk County Police Department, one of the largest municipal law enforcement agencies in New York and the nation. For thirteen of those years he served as a section commander supervising investigators. He is a graduate of SUNY, Empire State College and served on active duty in the US Army during the Vietnam War and later in the reserves. Zurl left New York to live in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains of Tennessee with his wife, Barbara.
Fifteen (15) of his Sam Jenkins mysteries have been produced as audio books and simultaneously published as eBooks. Ten (10) of these novelettes are now available in print under the titles of A MURDER IN KNOXVILLE and Other Smoky Mountain Mysteries and REENACTING A MURDER and Other Smoky Mountain Mysteries. Zurl’s first full-length novel, A NEW PROSPECT, was named best mystery at the 2011 Indie Book Awards, chosen as 1st Runner-Up from all Commercial Fiction at the 2012 Eric Hoffer Book Awards, and was nominated for a Montaigne Medal and First Horizon Book Award. His second novel, A LEPRECHAUN’S LAMENT, is available in hardcover, paperback, and Kindle. A third full-length novel, HEROES & LOVERS, is scheduled for release on Sept 29, 2012.
For more information on Wayne’s Sam Jenkins mystery series see www.waynezurlbooks.net. You can read excerpts, reviews and endorsements, interviews, coming events, and see photos of the area where the stories take place.
I'm happy to have Wayne Zurl, author of the Sam Jenkins mystery series, here today to talk with us about his newest novel, Heroes & Lovers. This is Wayne's third full novel, although he's written many novelettes. Wayne writes mysteries with humor and great characters. Best of all, his town of Prospect, Tennessee isn't far from Goose Pimple Junction.
About Heroes & Lovers (A Sam Jenkins Mystery)
Sam Jenkins might say, “Falling in love is like catching a cold. It’s infectious and involuntary. Just don’t sneeze on any innocent people.”
Getting kidnapped and becoming infatuated with a married policeman never made TV reporter Rachel Williamson’s list of things to do before Christmas. But helping her friend, Sam Jenkins with a fraud investigation would be fun and get her an exclusive story.
Sam’s investigation put Rachel in the wrong place at the wrong time and her abduction by a mentally disturbed fan, ruined several days of her life.
When Jenkins learns Rachel has gone missing, he cancels holiday leaves, mobilizes the personnel at Prospect PD, and enlists his friends from the FBI to help find her.
During the early stages of the investigation, Sam develops several promising leads, but as they begin to fizzle, his prime suspect drops off the planet and all the resources of the FBI aren’t helping.
After a lucky break and a little old-fashioned pressure on an informant produce an important clue, the chief leads his team deep into the Smoky Mountains to rescue his friend. But after Rachel is once again safe at home, he finds their problems are far from over.
Howdy, Wayne. You've written a lot of Sam Jenkins mysteries. What is the best part of writing for you?
All
my adult jobs have involved writing in one way or another. Long before I
began dabbling in anything creative, I wrote reports in the Army and
police department. I got a kick out of hearing a senior officer say that
I’d submitted something well written. And, on occasion, someone in
upper management would read my report before they ever met me. So, I
made sure what I turned in would be good enough for them to remember the
guy who wrote it. All this is pressing ahead to how I enjoy hearing
people pump my ego with praise of what I write.
After
I retired, I took a volunteer job at a state park where among other
things, I wrote publicity for their living history program. Those pieces
led to twenty-six non-fiction magazine articles. Occasionally, I’d meet
readers who liked what I wrote—more opportunity for ego building. But I
also got paid for my efforts and thought that was cool.
In
2006, I decided to try writing fiction. I figured I could base (loosely
or otherwise) my stories on old cases I investigated or supervised.
That looked like the fun part of the chore. I enjoyed that aspect most
and still do. That’s the best part of writing.
What is the worst?
Post-publication
marketing and promotions. I’d love to be operating back in the old days
where a publisher’s PR department did all the work and writers only
attended book signings and radio and TV interviews. Realistically, I’ll
never see that scenario.
I would totally agree with you on that. How would you describe your book in a tweet? (140 characters or less.)
A
simple arrest ends in tragedy. Sam Jenkins does some serious ass
kickin’ to save a friend in HEROES & LOVERS, a #police #thriller.
That one weighed in at 132, sir. Lookin’ good. How did you create the plot for this book?
In
the first two novels and all fifteen novelettes, Sam Jenkins has been
developing an emotional involvement with TV reporter, Rachel Williamson.
Both characters are married (to other people,) and so far things are
professional and platonic. But I wanted something to make readers grit
their teeth, and I didn’t want the tired old tension-getter, common to
so many cop stories, where the hero goes into a situation without backup
and finds himself in jeopardy.
I’ve
seen several very successful TV shows go on for years with a premise of
sexual tension between two main characters who aren’t involved in a
conventional way. I liked the idea and needed a reason to get Sam and
Rachel a little closer. I wanted readers (and especially females who buy
more books) to question my sanity. I want them to say, “Hey, he’s
married. What is he doing?”
Those interested should stay tuned
and find out if Sam and Rachel have an affair. Does it last? Does Sam
leave Kate? Real soap opera, huh?
To keep this a cop opera, and
not steamy Harlequin romance material, I needed legitimate police work
to lead them into a story-worthy problem. The initial “scheme to
defraud” investigation gets Sam and Rachel working together closely.
Later, circumstances throw them into a relationship neither turns away
from.
As Rachel wraps up her news coverage of the fraud scam,
she’s kidnapped in Sam’s jurisdiction, and everything becomes
super-personal for the chief, and the reader sees a darker side of our
normally genial, wise-cracking ex-detective.
I dug into my bag
of war stories and used an actual incident of an assault / attempted
rape of one of the secretaries from where I worked. That wasn’t my case,
but for me and every other person around me, it became a top priority
and many people worked their off-duty time to find the guilty party.
How do you develop your characters?
Most
of the characters I invent are based on people I knew—or they’re
composites of more than one person. This helps me determine how those
personalities will react to a certain situation and what they’ll say and
how they’ll speak. That’s extremely helpful in writing dialogue and
giving these people unique voices. If I can hear how a real person
spoke, I can perpetuate their fictional voices.
Reviews are a necessary evil for authors. How do you handle criticism of your work?
Like
everyone else, I enjoy positive criticism. I feel the “warm fuzzies”
and they improve my day. Occasionally, someone tosses a few “cold
pricklies” at me and, by necessity, I dissect the negative information.
First,
I try to identify where the critic is coming from. Are they just
speaking about a personal dislike? Intellectually, I know I’ll never
please all of the people all of the time, and while nasty remarks hurt, I
have no choice but to let them go. Readers are entitled to their
opinions . . . Until I hunt them down and meet them in a dark alley
and then—just kidding.
If I can determine that the critic is
more professionally capable of analyzing my story technically, I’ll
still feel bad over the [possibly] nasty comment, but I’ll look for
important constructive criticism that may make future work better.
When
I belonged to an on-line writer’s workshop, occasionally I’d run into a
reviewer who lacked all bedside manner and never tried to soften the
negative comments they felt compelled to make. Fortunately, most of
those fellow writers were part of a minority and nothing but toads who
thought they knew it all. But among those assorted ineffectual readers,
I’d find a few intelligent but obnoxious authors who, in a most
unfriendly way, offered gems of wisdom. Only a fool would disregard good
information that could make a finished product better.
I’d always file away this good advice, but still look forward to that dark, back alley.
I’m a collector of quotes. What’s one of your favorites?
Back
in the 18th century, Edward Gibbon said, “I never make the mistake of
arguing with people for whose opinions I have no respect.” Good advice
that can save you a lot of aggravation.
That
reminds me of one of my favorite southern proverbs: Never argue with a
pig. It just frustrates you and irritates the pig." Anyway…you live in
beautiful Tennessee, but if you could live anywhere in the world, where
would it be?
After
an extremely warm and dry summer, I’ve rekindled my interest in
Scotland. Years ago, when the exchange rate was $1.03 to the pound, we
considered buying a stone cottage in the Highlands and retiring there.
But Reaganomics decided American tourists should spend their travel
dollars in the US and miraculously, a pound sterling ended up costing
$1.75 almost overnight. In effect, my pension dollar had been cut almost
in half and the idea of moving to Scotland took a back seat to the
mountains of East Tennessee. I’ve been to Scotland thirteen times. I’d
go back in a heartbeat. It’s a great place.
Discounting
Scotland, if you could take a trip anywhere in the world, where would
you go? Don’t worry about the money. Your publisher is paying.
I’m
getting in the mood for another trip to Alaska. And since money is no
object, I’d book the best cabin on a small cruise boat and go from
Ketchikan to Juneau along the Inside Passage. From there, we’d fly to
Anchorage and spend a couple of days in the Captain Cook Hotel. Then,
rent a cabin in Homer for a week of fishing for halibut and salmon and a
flight to the Katmai Peninsula to photograph the brown bear and watch
them catch a few salmon.
You have written a gazillion things and have had three books published this year. What are you working on now?
I’m
about ready to finalize the second pass of edits and revisions to a
novel I call PIGEON RIVER BLUES. It’s Sam Jenkins’ first venture into
the world of country and western music. Here’s the jacket summary I’ve
come up with:
Winter in the Smokies can be a tranquil time of year—unless Sam Jenkins sticks his thumb into the sweet potato pie.
The
ex-New York detective turned Tennessee police chief is minding his own
business one quiet day in February when Mayor Ronnie Shields asks him to
act as a bodyguard for a famous country and western star.
C.J.
Profitt’s return to her hometown of Prospect receives lots of publicity .
. . and threats from a rightwing group calling themselves The Coalition
for American Family Values.
The beautiful, publicity seeking
Ms. Proffit never fails to capitalize on her abrasive personality by
flaunting her alternative lifestyle—a way of living the Coalition hates.
Reluctantly, Jenkins accepts the assignment of keeping C.J.
safe while she performs at a charity benefit. But his job becomes more
difficult when the object of his protection refuses to cooperate.
During
this misadventure, Sam hires a down-on-his-luck ex-New York detective
and finds himself thrown back in time with old Army acquaintances who
factor into a complicated plot of attempted murder, the destruction of a
Dollywood music hall, and other general insurrection on Sam’s “peaceful
side of the Smokies.”
When I finish my work, I’ll see how my publisher / editor likes the idea.
I’m sure he will like it just fine. I hope you’ll come back when it’s ready to be published. Thanks for stopping by, Wayne.
Thanks, Amy, for inviting me to your blog and introducing me to your fans and followers.
About the author:
>
Wayne Zurl grew up on Long Island and retired after twenty years with the Suffolk County Police Department, one of the largest municipal law enforcement agencies in New York and the nation. For thirteen of those years he served as a section commander supervising investigators. He is a graduate of SUNY, Empire State College and served on active duty in the US Army during the Vietnam War and later in the reserves. Zurl left New York to live in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains of Tennessee with his wife, Barbara.
Fifteen (15) of his Sam Jenkins mysteries have been produced as audio books and simultaneously published as eBooks. Ten (10) of these novelettes are now available in print under the titles of A MURDER IN KNOXVILLE and Other Smoky Mountain Mysteries and REENACTING A MURDER and Other Smoky Mountain Mysteries. Zurl’s first full-length novel, A NEW PROSPECT, was named best mystery at the 2011 Indie Book Awards, chosen as 1st Runner-Up from all Commercial Fiction at the 2012 Eric Hoffer Book Awards, and was nominated for a Montaigne Medal and First Horizon Book Award. His second novel, A LEPRECHAUN’S LAMENT, is available in hardcover, paperback, and Kindle. A third full-length novel, HEROES & LOVERS, is scheduled for release on Sept 29, 2012.
For more information on Wayne’s Sam Jenkins mystery series see www.waynezurlbooks.net. You can read excerpts, reviews and endorsements, interviews, coming events, and see photos of the area where the stories take place.
Look for Wayne at these places:
Facebook page
Goodreads author page
Twitter
Amazon author page
Amazon: Heroes & Lovers
Barnes & Noble: Heroes & Lovers
Today we’re talking with Henry, Kyra Gregory’s young protagonist from Secrets Clad in Light. With little education, he spent most of his life working for the upper-class where Seth, the black sheep of the family, was in his care. Headstrong about his desires, he always prepared himself for the consequences of his actions, even those of loving another man. Although not very trusting by nature, he is known to be very caring and protective of those around him. And now, a chat with Henry:
Hello, Henry. Tell us about your favorite scene in the book.
I felt so many things in the moment I realized Seth was still breathing. The way those breaths felt, the way they sounded... It was all so terrifying. A part of me felt a sense of relief though, a part of me was happy that for at least one moment longer he was still here with me.
What’s the best trait Kyra has given you?
Perhaps my best would be my caring personality. Although it is a trait that gets me into plenty of trouble, I don't regret it.
What’s the worst trait?
Certainly my indecisiveness. Had it not been for other's influences I don't think I could have ever made certain decisions. When things progress, when I feel satisfied, a feeling of dread washes over me and I think back, wondering if had I not been assisted would I have made the same choices that I did. Of course, while the path one didn't choose always appears more dazzling than the one they did, perhaps I take worrying about that to an extreme.
Do you have any secret aspirations that your author doesn't know about?
I don't want to appear...ungrateful. I'm aware that things have improved considerably, but I do have my sights set on a better place to live. I'm prepared for the difficulties that come with trying to get that.
If you had a free day with no responsibilities and your only mission was to enjoy yourself, what would you do?
A day with no responsibilities eh? Perhaps I would spend the entire day worrying about having no responsibilities... I think that by the time I stop worrying, at the very least, half my free day would have disappeared... Being burdened, showing others you're burdened...it's troublesome, don't you think? I try not to appear burdened by responsibility for a little time each day; I don't want others to worry. I like to spend that time cherishing the one closest to me; I'd like to make more happy memories.
What's the worst thing that's happened in your life?
It had to be the moment I lost Seth. For however long it was, it was a terrifying experience.
What did you learn from it?
I think so much happened in that moment, and everything thereafter that I'm not too sure what I learnt. I suppose you could say that I learnt how quickly things can change. Maybe that was also the moment I realised that my indecisiveness is more of a problem than I ever thought. I'm not sure if that is a good thing. After all, learning about something you can't really control only makes you feel more helpless.
Tell us about your best friend.
Seth is my best friend. I don't think I could ever imagine anyone else in that role. A best friend knows who you are, more than who you are on the surface; they know the 'you' that is deeper than what anyone else can see. Even while knowing that, they accept you and your differences. I don't think he and I could be any more different, and yet I never feel more accepted than when I'm with him.
What do you like best about Seth? What about the least?
It's two sides of the same coin I believe. His resilience to things is admirable; I think faced with many difficult situations he still tries his utmost to persevere. Of course, as someone who tries so hard to care for him, that type of resilience is easily seen as stubbornness through my eyes.
How do you feel about your life right now? What, if anything, would you like to change?
Things could certainly be better, but I'm not foolish enough not to be aware that things could also be far worse. I'm accepting the moment as it is; I won't ask for more than what I already have.
You sound like a very intriguing character. If you want to know more about Henry, you should read Secrets Clad In Light, available in Kindle at Amazon.
For more about Henry’s author, Kyra Gregory, you can find her at:
Website/Blog
Goodreads
Twitter
Amazon
London, 1888. Henry decides to abandon all social conventions and rescue his lover, Seth, from an abusive household. He has replayed the moment in his head and has always known it wouldn't be easy. He has never thought that it would be Seth who would cut his time too short. With Seth barely breathing, Henry must make the hardest decision of his life: try to save Seth, possibly condemning him to a life of suffering, or let him pass on in peace. But the arrival of a young stranger forces Henry's hand, doing little to ease his qualms of uncertainty as everything he thought he knew changes.
Caught between self-doubt and his own selfish desires, Henry learns to fight it all, using this stranger as a light to shine on what he hopes is the right path... All the while aware that there is still so much he doesn't yet know... 
Author Bio:
Kyra Gregory is a young author from the tiny island of Malta. In those rare moments when she isn't writing or even thinking about writing she's furthering her education. Writing novels from a very young age, she began self-publishing in June 2011.
It's here! It's launch day for Tricia Drammeh's The Claiming Words. We've had a fun week leading up to today, and I'm thrilled to be in St. Charles for the launch. But before we send Tricia's book out into the world, there's one last piece of business: the review. So without further ado...
The Claiming Words: A heart racing and heart swelling fantasy novel
The Alexanders have a secret. Jace’s family is not exactly your normal, everyday, run of the mill family. They have certain supernatural gifts that make them very special. Jace’s girlfriend soon learns she has something in common with the Alexanders, and Jace’s best friend is taken into their confidences when she saves Jace from an attack from a Hunter.
As if keeping a secret of who they really are from the rest of the world, and trying to stay alive and out of the clutches of evil isn’t enough stress for a high schooler, Jace has to juggle the feelings of his friends. Life is tough when you have two girls who are in love with you. But one of them soon has another secret, and you’ll be as surprised as Jace when you find out what it is.
With The Claiming Words, Tricia Drammeh proves J.K. Rowling isn’t the only author who writes young adult novels that adults will enjoy. Tricia’s characters come across as real people—people we’ve all known and loved, and some we’ve hated. High school is like that, and Tricia nails the feelings associated with high school. Popularity, romance, bullies, friends, juggling sports and schoolwork…we all can relate to these characters. The Claiming Words is a young adult fantasy novel with three high school kids as the main characters. It can also fit under the romance genre, and even falls under the paranormal category, although you won’t see any vampires in this book. 
The three teens have some pretty heavy issues to deal with, but Tricia’s writing style keeps it from being depressing and gloomy. Amidst the drama, danger, and action, the book is sprinkled with humor, light-hearted moments, and romance. I have to say I really enjoyed the anticipation of the characters--I won't spoil it and say who--falling in love. I also loved the special gift Jace and his girlfriend share—they can carry on conversations in their minds without saying a word out loud, whether they’re great distances apart or in the same room. How cool is that? And she has the power to enter another person’s mind and find out what they’re thinking—or hiding. If I had a choice of a supernatural power, that would be high on my list.
I loved the sense of family in this book. Jace’s parents are so likeable. They’re friendly, warm, understanding, loving, and knowledgeable about the supernatural problems that pop up, making them the go-to people in time of trouble. It’s nice to see kids and parents interact in such a healthy way. They enjoy each other, and they help and support one another too.
I also like the way Tricia wrote romance into this story but left sex out of the equation. The romances were fun to watch, and once the characters did get together, the romance was more about them falling in love with each other rather than falling in lust. This is a great book for any age--even pre-teens, because the romances are chaste and wholesome. 
There is some evil at work in this book, and Tricia writes bad guys as well as she writes good ones. You will loathe and fear the bad guys as much as you root for and love the good guys.
The Claiming Words is a great book with action, adventure, mystery, love, and a bit of the supernatural. To be perfectly honest, I have to give a disclaimer: Tricia Drammeh and I are both published by Iconic Publishing. I know Tricia. I love Tricia. But I truly do love this book too. I have to give it five stars, because it deserves it.
The Claiming Words is available in paperback and in Kindle format. You can find it at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or other online stores.
About the author:
Tricia Drammeh is a wife and a mother of four children. Although she currently lives in Missouri, she has called many places home, including Georgia, Ohio, and California. She’s worked in retail, customer service, sales, and accounting, but writing has always been her dream career. When she isn’t writing, she enjoys reading, drinking vast amounts of coffee, and spending time with her family and the multitude of animals who have taken over her home. Tricia is currently working on her sixth novel.
You can find Tricia at:
Her website
Her blog
Facebook
Goodreads
Twitter
“Rachel, I’m not turning this car around just because you forgot something. What could possibly be so important?” My mother’s clipped, irritable tone would normally make me back down instantly, but I couldn’t afford to lose this particular argument.
“I need to…” I trailed off as I watched the figure draw closer to our car. I could feel his eyes on me and the pull at my magic as it came closer. My heart beat wildly and sweat began to gather on my upper lip. The Alexanders warned me about Hunters, but I’d never really believed them—not until now.
“If you need something, you’ll buy it here, or you won’t have it. Understood?” She opened the car door and grabbed her purse. I wondered if a Hunter would dare attack me in the crowded Wal-Mart parking lot. Prickles of fear shot up my spine, and I decided I didn’t want to find out how persistent a Hunter could be.
“Wait!” I shouted, grabbing the strap of her purse and nearly causing it to break. “I…” The Hunter was so close now; I could make out the ragged outline of his tattered clothing. He slipped in between parked cars and crept closer. I cursed myself for having left my necklace at home. I knew my request to drive twenty miles back home seemed absurd to my mother, but I couldn’t afford to travel all the way to Atlanta without it. If the Hunters could find me here, they could find me anywhere.
My mother’s furious gaze settled on me, and in times past, I would have stammered an apology. Opening and closing my mouth in helpless desperation, I glanced behind me; the creature was so close, I could see his glowing red eyes. Clutching at my mother’s arm, I vowed that if I escaped my present danger unscathed, I would never doubt Jerica’s warnings again. Panic emboldened me, and I met my mother’s angry stare.
I delved into her mind, felt our connection click into place, and overrode her will with minimal effort. “We must return home. You left the iron on,” I lied. Her eyes widened as the implanted notion took root.
She gasped. “Oh, my goodness! Rachel, I think I left the iron on. We’ll have to go back home. Call your brother and tell him we’ll be a little later than we expected,” she urged as she slammed the car door shut. Another mental nudge from my mind had her peeling out of the parking spot, nearly hitting the Hunter as we passed him.
I trembled from head to toe during our drive back home, and my shallow breathing made me feel light-headed. Scanning my surroundings, I flew into the house, grabbed my necklace, and fumbled with the clasp as I placed it around my neck. In an instant, my panic subsided, and I took a deep breath.
“Was I right? Did I leave the iron on?” Mama asked as I climbed into the passenger seat.
“Yes. It’s a good thing you remembered,” I said.
“It certainly was a blessing we decided to stop off at Wal-Mart, wasn’t it?” she asked. I nodded in agreement. It was a blessing. Had we made it to Atlanta without my necklace, I’d have been a Hunter magnet for a week. And, had one caught up with me, I never would have made it back to Oaktree. At least not alive.
The Claiming Words is available in paperback, and Kindle and Nook soon, at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and other online stores.
Connect with Tricia:
Website
Blog
Facebook page
Goodreads author page
Twitter
Welcome back, we're now on day 5 of TriciaPalooza. This week we’re featuring Tricia Drammeh in celebration of her book release, The Claiming Words, on October 6. Today, Tricia sent over main character Rachel Stevens to talk to us.
Welcome, Rachel, I’ve read all about you and feel like I know you. Did you ever think that your life would end up being in a book?
Yes, but not for the reasons you think. I thought I’d end up in the Who’s Who of Atlanta. Or, at the very least, within the pages of Forbes. I planned to be a lawyer or a corporate executive—something to make my mother proud. Now my main goal seems to be hiding the truth from my mother—and from almost everyone else.
You have so many great scenes in the book. Tell us about your favorite one.
My favorite scene…that’s a tough one. The Homecoming Dance is definitely a favorite, especially my dance with Jace. Well, that scene is sort of bittersweet. How about the scene where Jace texted me? Yes. I think that one is my favorite.
What do you like to do when you are not being actively read somewhere?
I like to run, and I like to play softball. My church is an important part of my life, and I spend a lot of time with my family.
If you could rewrite anything in your book, what would it be?
I’d rewrite every lie I had to tell my mother. I don’t know how I could possibly tell her the truth, but every lie I told her broke my heart just a little more. One day I’ll have to have a long talk with her, but not yet. *shudders*
Sometimes Tricia likes to mess with her characters. What is your least favorite characteristic your writer has given you?
My writer made me different from everyone else. Sometimes it’s good to be different, but not always. In my case, it’s a burden.
If you had a free day with no responsibilities and your only mission was to enjoy yourself, what would you do?
Free day? What’s that? *chuckles* I don’t know what I’d do. I’m always busy with cheerleading, softball, chores, or church. I’d probably curl up with a good book. No matter what else is going on in my life, I always find time to read. I love a good romance novel. Or a mystery. Have you read Murder & Mayhem in Goose Pimple Junction? It’s got a little romance and a lot of mystery. I’d recommend it.
As a matter of fact I have heard of that book. Did you know if you go to goodreads.com you can enter your name for a chance to win a copy of the book? We’re also giving away an eBook of The Claiming Words here on this blog. But I digress. Back to you…what's the worst thing that's happened in your life?
The worst thing that ever happened was when my father died.
What did you learn from it?
I was eleven, so I don’t know how much I learned then, but I sure am learning a lot now. I better not say anything else about that. I wouldn’t want my mother to find out.
What are you most afraid of?
This is going to sound crazy, especially in light of everything else going on, but I’m afraid of myself. I’m afraid of what I’ll find out. And I’m afraid of the person I really am deep inside. Yeah, I still fear all those things that go bump in the night, because some of those things are lurking at the periphery of my dreams, but I’m more afraid of why they’re after me.
After having read your book, I’d say you have a right to be afraid. But I’m sure Jace will always be there to take care of you and vice versa. You all are so good together.
Well, that’s it, Rachel. Thanks again for stopping by and talking with us.
Readers, don't forget to leave a comment for a chance to win an eBook of The Claiming Words.
For information about Tricia Drammeh, check out her website.
To read about Rachel and her friends in Tricia's book, The Claiming Words, go to Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or other online stores.
