Archive for the ‘Author Interview’ Category

Reign Of Terror By Leo Silva ~ Author Interview And Giveaway

Posted: February 9, 2025 in Author Interview, Excerpt, giveaways, Memoir, thriller, true crime
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Reign of Terror by Leo Silva is a gripping true crime memoir that takes readers deep inside the brutal world of Mexico’s Los Zetas cartel. Follow a rollercoaster of suspense, intrigue, and unrelenting action as you delve into this heart-pounding thriller.

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Reign of Terror

by Leo Silva

Genre: True Crime Memoir, Thriller

 

“One of the best DEA narco books I have ever read” – Dave Gaddis, DEA Chief, Global Enforcement Operations

 

Reign of Terror by Leo Silva is a gripping true crime memoir that takes readers deep inside the brutal world of Mexico’s Los Zetas cartel. Former DEA Special Agent Silva brings unparalleled insight, recounting his years on the front lines in the relentless fight against one of the world’s most violent criminal organizations. This powerful narrative unveils the hidden realities of the drug war, from the complex relationships between the cartels and law enforcement to the personal sacrifices made by those who risk everything to protect others. With raw detail and authenticity, Silva sheds light on the lives of those entangled in a web of corruption, power, and violence. Reign of Terror is more than a recount of battles won and lost—it’s a story of courage, resilience, and the cost of justice. A must-read for fans of true crime and international intrigue.

“In Reign of Terror, Leo Silva masterfully recounts the rise and fall of the notorious and ultra-violent Los Zetas cartel. But more than just retelling the story, Leo’s work is filled with inside information and insights that bring the reader into the world of those tasked with dismantling Los Zetas. Compelling, Leo brings profound humanity to the fight against the Zetas, a fight that brought both victories and tragedies, all of which are deeply felt by the reader.”
–  Jack Luellen, Author of Someone Had to Die Podcast Host: “Cartels, Conspiracies and Camarena”

 

**Get it for Only $3.99 on Kindle!**

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It was a scorching hot day on July 14, 2007, not unlike most summer days in deep south Texas. The kids were out of school and were eager to take a dip in the pool. I decided I would barbecue some burgers for the kids, and some ribs for some friends and family who would visit later in the afternoon. Because of all the pressure we had been under during the investigation, I had not celebrated my birthday. But today I was going to forget about work and celebrate my birthday the way any self-respecting Texan would celebrate, with beer and barbecue, surrounded by friends and family. I had the ribs marinating in my special marinade of pineapple juice, lime juice, soy sauce and a tinge of ginger and I had just lit the charcoal in my old pit when my wife came out to tell me she was going to make a quick run to the store because I had forgotten to buy her favorite side dish, corn, when I bought the meat earlier. I’m not sure what compelled me to assure her it was alright and that I would fetch the corn, while she stayed at home and supervised the kids in the pool. I have often thought about that specific moment and wonder what would have happened if I had not gone.

I took my wife’s gray 2002 Ford Focus with a “Hello Kitty” sticker in the rear windshield and hauled ass to the grocery store. The layout of the store was as familiar to me as the back of my hand. I knew it so well I could probably run through the entire store blindfolded and still find whatever I needed. I got my shopping cart, went straight to the produce section, and parked my shopping cart in front of the corn section. Carefully shucking the hulls and inspecting each ear, I started in on the corn to make sure there were no defects on the kernels, intent on getting home to cook the ribs and burgers.

As I was inspecting one ear of corn, three men turned the corner from the meat section into the produce section. I locked eyes briefly with a stocky built older man with grayish hair. The two men with him were much younger and walked behind the older man, in deference to his authority. They all passed by me on my right-hand side. I noticed that one of the younger men put his hand on the older man’s back, in a somewhat protective posture. I had seen the old man somewhere. The old computer in my brain started a file search in the most cavernous, obscure, and remote depths of my intellect. It transported me back to my office, to my desk, where I had posted a picture of Carlos Landin Martinez on the wall next to my door. Every day, for two years, the picture stared at me callously, devoid of feeling, almost mockingly.

I immediately went into high gear. Before taking any further action, I had to confirm for a fact that it was Landin, without a doubt. I watched them as they made their way in the produce section to the watermelon section. Landin himself picked out a large watermelon and gave it to one of the younger guys to inspect. I pushed my shopping cart closer to them so I could get a better look and confirm that it was Landin. I passed within 8 feet of him and got a good look at his face and confirmed that it was him. He glanced up as I passed them by, and we locked eyes again. The adrenalin was surging through every artery in my body, pumping out charges of electricity through my bloodstream. I could feel my carotid artery pulsating as the adrenaline flooded my blood stream. They placed their watermelon into their shopping cart and went to the checkout. While I was standing in line about four aisles away, I watched them through my peripheral vision, careful not to spook them or lose sight of them. I went through the checkout and paid for the corn, trying to fit in with the rest of the customers, despite wearing a shirt with the official DEA logo over the left side of my chest. I would not get close enough for him to notice that minor detail. They finished paying for the watermelon and they walked out of the north side exit of the store. I had parked on the south side, which could pose a problem for me, and I prayed they had not parked on the north side of the store—if they had, I might not get to see their vehicle.

Luckily, they were relaxed, taking their time to walk through the parking lot. I got the bag of corn, ran to the south side of the store, and quickly got into my wife’s “Hello Kitty” car just as they opened the door to a white Chevrolet pickup truck and got in.

We were in business!

They maneuvered their truck through the parking lot exiting on the south side, where I happened to be waiting. They left the store parking lot and approached 10th street, the principal thoroughfare in McAllen, Texas. I was behind them with two cars between us. It occurred to me then that if they made me, they would turn my wife’s Hello kitty car into Swiss cheese, with me in it. They turned south on 10th and then immediately turned into a car wash. I nearly panicked as they got out of the truck, as I didn’t want to lose them. But I remained calm and drove past the car wash and pulled into a furniture store parking lot that gave me a perfect view of them.

Landin and one individual got into a four-door sedan parked near the exit of the car wash and waited as the other individual took care of business with the car wash. I watched patiently as the other guy emerged from the car wash and entered the sedan on the passenger side, with Landin seated in the back. It was at this point that I pulled out my Nextel and called my McAllen PD task force officer, Erik Torres, gave him the description of the suspect vehicle, and my wife’s hello Kitty vehicle and told him to send me a unit immediately for a possible traffic stop. I could barely control my breathing as I spoke to Erik. I told him to keep it low profile because I wanted to make sure it was, in fact, Carlos Landin before letting anyone else know, especially the bosses in Houston.

When they left, the car was moving within the flow of traffic, going south on 10th street. I followed them cautiously for what seemed like an eternity. Erik called me and informed me that he had notified a unit in the area. Right after he said this, a McAllen PD unit pulled up alongside me and the officer gestured to me, as if asking which car. I pointed to the white four-door sedan, and he gave me a thumbs up and proceeded south on 10th behind the vehicle. Erik was in communication with the officer and gave me a play-by-play as the events developed. I dropped back and let the officer do his job. At the intersection of 10th and La Vista, the driver of the vehicle runs a red light, and the officer immediately pulls up behind him and flashes his emergency lights. The car with the three men pulled over, and I passed them up and pulled into an adjacent parking lot to watch the action.

The officer approached the vehicle, interacted with the occupants of the vehicle, and asked for their respective identification. My heart was pounding as I considered the magnitude of what was about to happen. The officer returns to his vehicle and calls Erik, who then calls me and says, “Leo, it’s him. It’s Carlos Landin Martinez! What do you want to do with him?”

“Get some more units to back up this officer and let’s lock him up!”

Within minutes, the place was swarming with McAllen PD units, and I watched as they handcuffed Landin and put him in the back of a patrol unit. His life would never be the same. My next call was to Jimmy Bird. He genuinely thought I was fucking with him.

I told him, “Jimmy, call Erik and get all the details, then call the AUSA assigned to the case and let her know what just happened. We have a lot of work to do before Monday and no, I am not fucking with you. Now get off the phone so I can call the boss and let him know.”

He let out a whooping victory cry before hanging up the phone.

So, I called my boss. He called his boss. And they called Washington, DC. Before dusk, the Administrator of the DEA was aware of what had transpired that Saturday afternoon in McAllen, Texas. I called our office in Monterrey to let them know. The rush of excitement swept through the whole agency like wildfire. I was taking and making calls all over the place, but there was one call I forgot to make in all the excitement. I forgot to call my wife and let her know I had gotten busy. She called me and when I saw the name on the incoming call list, my heart sank.

She had been worried sick, but I explained what happened and assured her I would be home soon. She understood. They always do.

Landin went to trial and on January of 2008, a jury of his peers found him guilty on 29 counts of charges ranging from Conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute over 150 kilograms of cocaine, laundering over $1.5million in drug proceeds and possession with intent to distribute cocaine and marijuana. For these crimes, he received a sentenced of life in prison, where he died in December 2021.

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So I revert to the question. Was it destiny or circumstance that brought us together?

All I know is that I did not wake up on the morning of July 14, intending or expecting to capture one of the most notorious members of the Gulf Cartel. I woke up expecting I would have a fun filled day with my family.

I truly believe destiny brought us together on that summer afternoon in July, and I often wonder what would have happened if I hadn’t gone to the store for corn at that specific time on that specific day. Why had I taken my wife’s place? There is no logic or order to be found in it like so much in this world. Hell, his wife probably sent him out for a watermelon for a family gathering as well. Our paths crossed because of our love for and commitment to our families. Isn’t that ironic?

I have always been curious what leads a man to a life of crime. In my research, I interviewed an old classmate of Landin’s from Primaria Articulo 1, an elementary school in Reynosa Tamaulipas. The classmate told me that even as a kid, Landin had always been a bully, picking on weaker or smaller kids. The classmate recalled a time when, for no reason, Landin brutally beat on a much younger classmate in the playground, leaving him on the ground, bloodied and practically unconscious. Landin just laughed it off as if it were a big joke. As they got older, the classmate withdrew from Landin and the company he kept, stating that Landin never seemed to have any parental supervision and was always on his own, doing whatever he wanted to do, He drank alcohol at fourteen, and avoided school altogether. So, from an early age, Landin lived a life of crime and violence, causing harm to others and had no remorse for it. He had to know that his life of crime would end someday—and it did, on that scorching hot summer day in July.

I did what I had to do, what I was trained to do, and what I love to do. I certainly don’t have any regrets and never will.

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What is something unique/quirky about you?

 

My passion and love for writing goes hand in hand in hand with my passion for music. In my family, I represent the fourth generation of musicians, with a love for music that is deeply embedded in my soul. I am both a singer and piano player and a huge fan of all musical genres with a special affinity for jazz and traditional Mexican boleros. My writing is interspersed with references to music and songs as I believe music plays a huge role in our daily lives and emotions.

 

Can you, for those who don’t know you already, tell something about yourself and how you became an author?

 

I am a native of Brownsville, Texas, a coastal city in deep south Texas. My love for reading books and writing stories was nurtured by my mother, who is an avid reader herself. In college, I majored in English with a concentration in American Literature and honed my writing skills under the tutelage of a highly talented professor. After college, I joined the US Drug Enforcement Administration as a Special Agent where I served in various assignments along the Southwest border and in Guadalajara and Monterrey, Mexico for a total of 28 years of service. My experiences as a DEA agent provide the backdrop for my writing. My first book Reign of Terror depicts my experience in Monterrey Mexico and the DEA’s struggle to assist in the apprehension of some of their most violent members.

 

Who is your hero and why?

 

Without question, my heroes are my parents, who taught me valuable life lessons at a young age. Lessons which have helped shape my character and lessons that I have passed onto my own children. My writing makes several references to the advice and lessons my parents have given me over the course of my life.

What inspired you to write Reign of Terror?

 

In my college years, I always dreamt about writing a book one day. After I retired from DEA, I saw it as the perfect opportunity to tell my story in Reign of Terror. I often see the narrative about El Chapo Guzman being played out in the news, movies, books and series but hardly anyone knows about the other Cartels that exist in Mexico, especially the Gulf Cartel, one of the oldest if not the oldest Cartel in Mexico. Reign of Terror gave me the opportunity to show the public that Chapo Guzman was not the only player in town and that there were people far more dangerous and treacherous than El Chapo.

 

Convince us why you feel your story is a must read.

 

Reign of Terror gives one the opportunity to immerse oneself into the darkest corners of Mexico’s Narco underworld. It is a collection of true stories, true events, victories and defeats, a rollercoaster of emotions told by someone who lived it firsthand.

 

What is your advice to new authors?

 

My advice to young writers is to be persistent and realize that writing is a marathon not a race. There may be days when one doesn’t feel like writing and that is OK.  But keep chipping away at it until you have told your story the way you want. Persist, every day, even if you only write one sentence. It will all be worthwhile when you are finally done.

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Leonardo “Leo” Silva is a native of Brownsville, TX, a charming seaside city on the border. He is a 1982 graduate of Homer Hanna High School and received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Literature from the University of Texas-Brownsville in 1985. He served as a Special Agent/ Supervisory Special Agent with the United States Drug Enforcement Administration from 1987 to 2015. During his career, he was assigned to offices along the Southwest border, Guadalajara, Jalisco and Monterrey Nuevo Leon, Mexico.

 

Website * Facebook * Facebook * X * X * Instagram * LinkedIn

 

Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!

Choice of Print or ebook copy of Reign of Terror,

$20 Amazon giftcard

– 1 winner each!

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

For a list of my reviews go HERE.

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Blood Lasts Forever By Jeff Gunhus ~ Review And Giveaway

Posted: February 7, 2025 in Author Interview, giveaways, reviews, thriller
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Book Details:

 Blood Lasts Forever by Jeff Gunhus
Category: Adult Fiction (18 +), 256 pages
Genre: Psychological Thriller
Publisher:  Seven Guns Press
Release date:   November 2024
Content Rating:  R. Blood Lasts Forever is a psychological thriller with supernatural elements and similar to a Stephen King novel. While not gratuitous, the story centers on an act of violence that could be disturbing to some. Could be PG-13 + M or R.

Book Description:

Not every death is a tragedy.

When fifteen-year-old Wyatt Bucks is found dead in the Sagasett River, the small town of Chambers breathes a collective sigh of relief. Wyatt was a troubled youth, feared and despised by many. But his death, deemed an accident by the local sheriff, leaves a chilling legacy that will haunt the town for decades.

Twenty years later, Mitch Ansel, now a middle school teacher, receives a call that resurrects the nightmares of his past. Alongside his old friends, the Fab Five, Mitch is forced to confront the dark secret they’ve buried for years—a secret that ties them to Wyatt’s death.

​As the friends reunite at a remote cabin, they must navigate a web of deceit, fear, and violence. Each carries scars from the past, but none are prepared for the revelations that await them. Mitch’s terrifying visions of Wyatt and the relentless pull of their shared guilt threaten to unravel their lives and sanity.

Buy the Book:
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MY REVIEW

Psychological thrillers are one of my favorite blends of genres. And so is isolating a group of people who think they know each other and have a big shared secret. What could be more thrilling.

In this book, something that was thought to be buried in the past is in danger of coming to light. A blood oath is about to be broken. Which of the five friends, known as the Fab Five in their youth, is wanting to spill their guts. And will the others convince him to be quiet or silence him forever.

The synopsis grabbed me right away. Take some close friends. Put them in an isolated place. Then drop a bomb and see who’s still standing when the dust settles. I particularly like that in group dynamics. I try to guess who will stay strong and who will cave. I’m right some of the time. But this is written by Jeff Gunhus and he’s a master at writing unpredictable characters. Outcomes too.

You’re taken from the present to the past to learn what the big secret is and what the main players have been up to. That worked really well. The pace stayed fast and exciting.

Jeff also doesn’t shy away from writing about the dark side of events and actions. It sure makes for an intense experience.

There was never a dull or awkward moment as I powered through this book. I loved every minute of it.

5 STARS

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Interview With Author Jeff Gunhus:
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How long have you been writing?

I’ve always enjoyed writing—it’s been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. I wrote my first ‘book’ at age 12, a 35-page story called The Amulet that actually won an award in Colorado. In college, I wrote a couple of novels too, though those are still hidden away. For me, writing has always been more than just a hobby; it’s an outlet, a way to process ideas and tell the stories that won’t leave me alone.

Do you have another profession?

Yes, I run a national home improvement company called Home Genius Exteriors, which has about 1,000 employees. It’s a big operation, and I love the challenges that come with it. My team thinks my books are crazy, though! I guess running a company and writing thrillers makes for an interesting combination.

There are many books out there about….What makes yours different?

There are a lot of books out there about dark and thrilling stories, but what sets mine apart is the balance I try to strike between edge-of-your-seat suspense and deeper, emotional undercurrents. I love crafting complex, flawed characters who feel real and throwing them into extraordinary situations. My goal is always to give readers a gripping story that keeps them turning pages but also leaves them thinking long after they’ve finished. Whether it’s a supernatural twist or a psychological battle, I always aim to bring something unique to the table.

Do you snack while writing? Favorite snack?

I definitely snack while writing—salty snacks like popcorn or nuts are my go-to. But when I finish a tough scene or hit a big milestone in the book, I celebrate with ice cream. It’s the perfect reward after a long writing session!

What is your favorite travel spot?

My favorite travel spots are places where I can climb around the ruins of ancient civilizations. I’ve climbed Mayan and Egyptian pyramids, explored Greek and Roman ruins, wandered through the incredible historical sites in Istanbul, and visited castles in England and Scotland. There’s something inspiring about standing in places with so much history and imagining the lives of the people who built them.

What’s the most courageous thing you’ve ever done?

The most courageous thing I’ve ever done? Hands down, being the father of five. Forget climbing pyramids or running a company—trying to negotiate bedtime with five kids is where the real bravery comes in. It’s like herding cats, but the cats are hopped up on sugar and bedtime stories!

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Meet  Author Jeff Gunhus:

Jeff Gunhus is the USA TODAY bestselling author of thriller and horror novels for adults and the middle grade/YA series, The Templar Chronicles. The first book, Jack Templar Monster Hunter, was written in an effort to get his reluctant reader eleven-year-old son excited about reading. It worked and a new series was born. His books for adults have reached the Top 30 on Amazon, have been recognized as Foreword Reviews Book of the Year Finalists, Kirkus Top 100 Indie Books, and reached the USA TODAY bestseller list. As a father of five, he leads an active life in Maryland with his wife Nicole by trying to keep up with their kids. In rare moments of quiet, he can be found in the back of Old Fox Books in Annapolis, working on his next novel, or on JeffGunhus.com.

connect with the author:  website  ~  X/twitter  ~  facebook ~ instagram ~ goodreads ~ bookbub

 
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BLOOD LASTS FOREVER by Jeff Gunhus Book Tour Giveaway

 

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For a list of my reviews go HERE.

For a list of free eBooks updated daily go HERE

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A Hush At Midnight By Marlene M. Bell ~ Review And Giveaway

Posted: January 27, 2025 in Author Interview, Excerpt, giveaways, Mystery, reviews
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Book Details:

  A HUSH AT MIDNIGHT by Marlene M. Bell
Category: Adult Fiction (18 +), 368 pages 
Genre: Mystery
Publisher:  Ewephoric Publishing
Release date:   October 2024
Content Rating:  G. No profanity or intimate situations

 

Book Description:

Celebrity chef Laura Harris dwells on the horror of finding her mentor’s body in the groundskeeper’s disheveled bed—pillow and bedding half covering her open eyes—purple bruising around her mouth. A grisly snapshot in time revealing the Texas woman’s last moments during her attack. The elderly matriarch from the small town of Stenburg has left the physical world, and Laura is shattered.

She is catapulted headlong into the pursuit of a casual executioner, one bold enough to come and go from the crime scene with ease, dropping bizarre crumb trails designed to mock the deceased. But Laura herself doesn’t go unnoticed. As she digs deeper, she is followed and bombarded by warnings to leave the state.

When the victim’s attorney informs Laura that she’s to inherit the entire Stenburg fortune, the last act of kindness has made Laura the main person of interest in the investigation.

​Message by message, Laura is methodically taunted by someone so deranged and driven they’ll do whatever it takes to dislodge Laura from Texas – permanently.

 
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MY REVIEW

I do like my mysteries and the author had me coming and going, at a loss as to the who or why in this one.

I like a strong female protagonist and Laura fits the bill. She has a protective instinct along with some stubbornness. When she visits her mentor and friend, elderly Hattie, she notices something’s off. She seems so frail. She knows something is very wrong when she discovers Hattie dead. What killed her? Why was she in the grounds keeper’s house? These are some of the questions she asks herself and she smells a rat.

I mentioned the author was adept at keeping me guessing. There were plenty of false trails and suspects. I’d love to say I had it all figured out. Not the case and I enjoyed how it all wrapped up.

4 STARS

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An Interview With Main Character Laura Harris

A HUSH AT MIDNIGHT

  1. Laura, you’ve spent your adult life as a pastry chef and suddenly you’re unraveling mysteries. Looking back, do you see any hints that your life would evolve like this? Did you love reading mysteries growing up? Were you especially observant or – dare I say it – nosy? Do you have any special training – maybe martial arts or military training?

Solving murders or unraveling a heinous crime never entered my thoughts on any level. Fate can drop things in our path, both good and bad. I’m a chef with a dream to attain the coveted Mechlin Star for my own restaurant one day. Being part of my family’s winery, tasting room, and restaurant was the avenue to accomplish this until the feud with my sister, DeeDee made it feel more like a wild fantasy. 

The closest I get to reading in earnest would have to be non-fiction cookbooks. My formal training is in French pastry but I love cooking in general. As a matter of fact, I’m in the process of publishing my first cookbook in a few months. I do love a good mystery, though. Except when it involves someone close to home and as special to me as Hattie Stenburg was. I can’t move forward in my career plans until I find the monster who killed my friend.   

  1. You moved back to Texas to help your family out but what do you miss most about California?

California is a beautiful state with everything for everyone; the Pacific Ocean’s pristine beaches, majestic blue foothills and craggy mountains, tall redwood forests and big city life, as well as quaint valley towns with a rich heritage. The overall weather in California can’t be beaten, in my opinion. It’s mild temperatures hardly vary from winter to the summer months unless you’re in snow country. 

My favorite place in the world is found at the 6,225-foot elevation in the high Sierra Mountains. Meeks Bay Resort near Tahoma, CA on Lake Tahoe. The cabins sit just off of the main highway that encircles the lake on the west side. I spent many family vacations there with aunts, uncles, and cousins, bunking in rustic cabins around the July 4th holiday. The aroma of native trees such as aspens and live oaks and numerous varieties of pines populate the landscape and surround that cold, clear lake. The freshest air imaginable enters the senses at high elevations. The most peaceful place on the planet! I learned to waterski in Tahoe’s freezing water. A sixty-degree mountain lake made from snow melt requires a wetsuit to swim the middle even in July. Novice skiers learn to pop out of the water quickly in an environment like that. I sure did! 

  1. What about Texas? What’s the one thing about home that you can never get enough of?

We actually see the changing seasons in East Texas. Fall color is unbelievable in the Woodlands. A plus is living in a wilderness with nature so close to our houses where we’re home to many creatures not seen in California such as the little excavators we call, nine-banded armadillos. They’re truly prehistoric-looking with their claws on each foot and armor covering them from their pointed snouts to the tip of their tails. Their armored plates have the look of metal, too. Armadillos have terrible eyesight, so if you’re lucky enough to come across one, you can photograph them until they smell your approach. I’ve learned to stay downwind for best results. White-tailed deer enter our properties by the hundreds and a host of skunks and foxes, including the nighttime prowlers; coyotes and the occasional mountain lion share the scenic grounds. In short, the wildlife is breathtaking and plentiful. It’s a plus when they’re near enough to get great photos. 

  1. You worked at your family’s restaurant, a friend’s bakery as well as many other places during your training as a chef. Do you have a favorite dish/sweet treat you like to make?

My personal favorite are French profiteroles like those I brought to Hattie before she, uh…was taken from us. Little puffs of heaven I like to call them. Luscious cream-filled puff pastries drizzled with the finest Belgian chocolate. When I want to liven things up, I sometimes fill them with the most delectable vanilla custard and add whisps of raspberries on top before serving. Of course, whiskey replaced the vanilla flavoring for Hattie. How I’ll miss making her special desserts and the decades of letters we wrote to each other.

Texans are partial to sheet cakes, I found out. Place a sheet cake on one end of the table and offer a tempting dish of handcrafted desserts at the other end to Texas guests—and when the party is over, the fancy plate will hardly be touched. The sheet cake will be gone with only crumbs remaining. It’s taken me a while to get used to the simple desserts locals prefer, like fried pies, banana pudding, and peach cobbler. Chocolate sheet cakes are the winner I always keep in the freezer. My bakery partner, Duska Novak can plow through an entire 13×9 cake she’s made herself, and it’s gone in two days!  

  1. Laura, I’m sure you know I love to read! So, tell us what do you like to read? Please tell me it isn’t just cookbooks (although they can be fun). 

Since you’ve taken cookbooks off the list, a close second are novels by new authors or independent writers. Writing books is arduous (as I’ve learned,) and anyone who has the time, money, and stomach to publish books on their own without a publisher’s backing deserves a chance at new readers. I’ve recently picked up an author whose written several books in an international series that spans Europe as well as countries down under. You might have heard of her; Marlene M. Bell. A Texas sheep breeder turned novelist. She has a new book out called, A Hush at Midnight. It’s not from her Annalisse series, but I’m curious to see how she describes Texas in this latest novel. I hear she has a main character with the same name as mine who is also a chef. Isn’t that interesting? I can’t wait to read her slant on Texas!

Thank you for the opportunity to speak to your readers!

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Meet Author Marlene M. Bell:

Mystery at a killing pace

Marlene M. Bell has never met a sheep she didn’t like. As a personal touch, her fans often find these wooly creatures visiting her international romantic suspense, thriller, and cozy mystery books as characters or subject matter.

Marlene’s multi-award-winning Annalisse series boasts numerous Best Mystery honors for all installments including the newest IP Best Regional Australia/New Zealand, and Global Gold Award for the fourth cozy mystery from down under.
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connect with the author:  website ~X ~ facebook ~ instagram ~ goodreads

 
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A HUSH AT MIDNIGHT by Marlene M. Bell Book Tour Giveaway

 

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

For a list of my reviews go HERE.

For a list of free eBooks updated daily go HERE

To see all of my giveaways go HERE.

Pilgrims By Michael Leonard ~ Author Interview And Giveaway

Posted: January 22, 2025 in Author Interview, giveaways, Science Fiction
Tags: ,
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Book Details:

​ PILGRIMS by M.R. Leonard
Category:  Adult Fiction (18 +),  412 pages
Genre: Science Fiction
Publisher:  Blue Castle Press
Release date:  November 2024
Content Rating: PG-13. There is death in my book. There are also religious profanities “God damn”. There are also a few swears (not many but some “F” bombs said by the villain at the end). There is no description of sex but my protagonist follows an online creator who does adult content (her content is never described at all other than to say it exists). The main thing is the violence in my book. It is not gory but it does involve children dying.

Book Description:

Latin was a dead language—until the aliens arrived.

Out-of-work Latin teacher and borderline alcoholic Austin DeSantis is determined to spend his final days in the arms of a prostitute—that is if the aliens don’t exterminate humanity first.

But when the aliens land at the Vatican, begin speaking Latin, and reveal themselves to be Catholic, the world turns upside down.

Pressed into service as a translator and thrust into the center of humanity’s first contact with a cryptic alien race, Austin must uncover their true intentions before religious turmoil rips the planet apart. But with Austin caught between the Catholic Church, the US military, and an enigmatic alien AI, he’ll have to decide where his loyalties lie as the fate of humanity hangs in the balance.

PILGRIMS is a sci-fi retelling of Augustine’s Confessions, mixing a high-concept premise à la Children of Time with the ceaseless pacing and rich characterization of Red Rising.

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INTERVIEW WITH AUTHOR MICHAEL LEONARD:
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Okay. The cover. We need to talk about the cover. How’d you come up with that?

It is a great cover, isn’t it? I wanted something that announced the genre clearly but said to the reader, this book is going to be different.

In PILGRIMS, instead of landing on the White House lawn and saying “take me to your leader,” the aliens land at the Vatican and ask for an audience with the Pope.

Is this like the far future, the past, the present? When do these “Catholic” aliens show up?

It’s set in the near future. I’m vague about the time because I think when books are super specific it kind of dates the story. Like in Back to the Future II Marty McFly goes to the “future” which is 2015. Needless to say, 2015 California in the movie didn’t look a whole lot like the real 2015 California (where is my hoverboard?!!).

So the story starts in a world that looks a lot like ours, with one key difference—humanity discovered an alien ship careening toward Earth five years prior and all attempts at communication have failed. No one knows if the aliens are friend or foe and if their arrival portends a coming apocalypse or a golden age.

As you can imagine, this has a pretty big impact on things, not really for the better.

The aliens are faking, right? Aliens can’t be Catholic. Can they?

You have to read the book to find out 😊.

But interestingly, this is a subject Catholic thinkers have been pondering for centuries (that’s right—centuries). While there is no official Church teaching, there are many scholars, including those who work at the Vatican Observatory, who believe that of course aliens can be Catholic if they sincerely want to be.

Speaking of the Vatican Observatory. That is a real thing. It’s in Arizona and one of the characters in the story—Father Ambrose—is the director. So read my book and learn more!

How long have you been writing?

About three years. This is my debut novel. I came from a business background before but I had this story burning inside me and I just needed to get it out. I’m happy to say the response has been phenomenal. A lot of major influencers have picked up on it. It’s not every day that a book about Catholic aliens invading Earth comes out . . .

Is this a one-off story or is it a series?

The book concludes about fifty days after Catholic aliens arrive on Earth. What happens to society ten years after such a momentous event? Fifty years? There is still so much story to tell and I’ll do it from the perspective for the main character—Austin DeSantis.

I didn’t want to write a book with a major cliffhanger at the end, however. The story is all wrapped up in a bow at the end. It’s very satisfying.

What’s this about you going to the Moon?

Even though I’m a sci-fi author, I’ve never really had an interest in space tourism. I like things on Earth just fine. But I do want to go to the Moon one day.

And here’s the thing—I think that is going to be possible in the late 2030’s. This isn’t a pipe dream. I already have permission from my wife an everything (which we all know is the hardest part about going to the Moon).

Speaking of the Moon, my Instagram handle is @Monksonthe_Moon. It’s about time we had monks on the Moon, isn’t it? I’m gonna work on making that happen. I like to have modest goals . . .

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Meet Author Michael Leonard:

Michael Leonard was born and raised in Boston, but the cities he’s spent the most time in are Beijing, Florence and Edgartown (in that order). After graduating from Boston College, he pursued a career in law before becoming a China market entry advisor and accumulating a few lifetimes worth of adventures in just nine short years. Somewhere along the way he lost his faith but he found it again in graduate school at MIT. Married with two young sons, he can be found discussing his next novel with his ten pound dachshund as he strolls around Boston Harbor.

connect with the author: website ~ X ~ instagram ~ goodreads

 
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PILGRIMS by M.R. Leonard Book Tour Giveaway

 

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The Axe By Linda Griffin ~ Author Interview And Giveaway

Posted: January 15, 2025 in Author Interview, giveaways, Mystery, suspense
Tags: , , ,
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Book Details:

​  The Axe by Linda Griffin
Category:  Adult Fiction (18+),  66 pages (1 hour, 46 minutes)
Genre: Mystery, Suspense
Publisher: ACX (ebook edition by The Wild Rose Press)
Release date:  July 2024 (ebook edition September 2023)
Content Rating:  PG-13. A few f-words. Sexual violence that is not depicted, but is described by the victim (not explicitly) and may trigger some listeners. ​

 

Book Description:

Sweethearts Eric Leidheldt and Desiree Chauveau are spending a weekend at his uncle’s cabin when they encounter two strangers cutting wood. Eric is knocked unconscious, and Desi is viciously attacked. The following day two police officers come to their apartment to arrest Desi. Her assailants are dead, murdered with an axe, and her fingerprints are on it. She confesses but is she really guilty? Eric is determined to stand by her, but the physical and emotional effects of the attack severely challenge their relationship. ​
 
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​add to goodreads
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INTERVIEW WITH AUTHOR LINDA GRIFFIN:
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Want to know more? Let’s talk to the characters, starting with Desiree:

What draws you to Eric?

Are you kidding? Have you seen his eyes? No, seriously, he’s a really nice guy. He’s very smart too, and not just brainy, but down-to-earth common-sense kind of smart. The most important thing though is that he lets me be me. I never feel like he’s competing with me or condescending to me. He came from a fancy, rich family, and I was just a kicked around foster kid, so you’d think he’d be all superior and stuck up, but he’s not. We’re more alike than we’re different. In the beginning, he made me feel safe…but now nothing makes me feel safe.

Tell us how you came to be in your current dilemma.   

We just wanted to have a nice weekend, and Eric’s uncle has this great cabin in the woods over near Nickels, in the back country. There was somebody cutting wood on the property without permission, and Eric told me to go on up to the cabin while he talked to them, but of course I didn’t. I was afraid he’d start a fight. And those bastards…They deserved it…I don’t want to talk about it.

Why do you turn to Eric for help?  

Honestly, I tried not to. He’s too good a guy to be dragged down with me, and I know he can’t really understand what I’m going through. But damn it, he wants to help, and he tries so hard, and for some strange reason he loves me. He still loves me. He’s all I have.

And now, let’s hear from Eric:

What draws you to Desi?  

You mean aside from how pretty she is? From the first time I saw her I couldn’t get enough of that smile. She had a rough start in life, and I admire the way she overcame it. I love her sense of humor and even her stubborn streak. She isn’t like anybody else I ever met. I never believed in fated love or any of that nonsense, but when I met Desi I knew I was done for. She’s the person I want to share the rest of my life with.

Why do you agree to help her?  

I can’t imagine not wanting to help her. I love her. We’re a great team. Even if we have to fight or wait a long time to be together, I don’t think we can give up on that. She thinks this has changed her, but I know everything I love about her is still there.

What is your biggest fear?  

That what happened to her will come between us and destroy our relationship. I can deal with anything else.

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Meet Author Linda Griffin:

Linda Griffin knew she wanted to be a “book maker” as soon as she learned to read and wrote her first story at the age of six. Her passion for the printed word also led her to a career with the San Diego Public Library. She retired to spend more time on her writing and has had stories published in numerous literary journals The Wild Rose Press has published nine of her novels. In addition to the three R’s—reading, writing, and research—she enjoys travel, movies, Scrabble, and visiting museums and art galleries. .

connect with the author: website ~X ~ facebook ~ instagram ~  goodreads

 
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THE AXE by Linda Griffin Book Tour Giveaway

 

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Vadom’s Journey By Sara J. Walker ~ Author Interview And Giveaway

Posted: December 23, 2024 in Author Interview, Excerpt, giveaways, historical romance
Tags: ,
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1925. His dream is to build a horse ranch in the Poconos.

Her dream is him.

God’s plan is bigger than them both.

Vadom’s Journey

The Heart’s Journey Series Book 2

By Sara J. Walker

Genre: Sweet Historical Romance

This is a sweet,
Christian Historical Romance set in the same world as my characters in The
Grumpy Guardian’s Redemption.
1925. His dream is to build a horse ranch in the Poconos. Her dream is
him. God’s plan is bigger than them both.
Pennsylvania, 1925
Vadom Stancher travels to the Poconos with only his extraordinary gift for
working with horses and a dream of owning his own ranch. He finds his
chance—and his heart finds the daughter of a wealthy rancher. But when tragedy
strikes, his grief leads him down a path of poor choices that will echo through
years to come.
Amanda Devoe, the preacher’s daughter, sees past Vadom’s wounded spirit. One
night of comfort becomes a secret she’ll carry alone to Georgia, where she
builds a new life as a schoolteacher. But some secrets can’t stay hidden
forever.
With God’s guidance, can two hearts find their way back to each other? Or will
the past keep them forever apart?
Vadom’s Journey is a tale of second chances and the healing power of God’s
perfect timing—perfect for readers who enjoy historical romance with themes of
faith and forgiveness.

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* Goodreads

 

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“What’s going on?”

“It’s Lightning,” Shorty said, shifting so Vadom could see inside the stall. “This is her first foal, and it don’t look good. Walker isn’t happy.”

Donnel raised his voice. “Do you want me to ride for the veterinarian? I hear tell they have one in Sommerville.”

Walker shook his head. “That’s twenty-five miles away. This will be over before you get back. One way or another.”

The mare groaned in agony and tried to wallow in the straw, but Petey lay across her neck, holding her on her side. Walker had discarded his jacket and had his shirt sleeves rolled up.

Lightning moaned and thrashed.

Vadom’s heart clenched in sympathy for the mare. “Mr. Walker,” he said softly.

“Don’t bother me unless you can help,” Walker snapped.

“I can.”

Five sets of eyes turned to stare at him.

Walker pointed at Vadom. “Tell me what you can do.”

Vadom swallowed hard. He didn’t want to expose his talent, because he couldn’t explain what he could do with horses. He could be labeled a heathen. “My father was a horse master on the estate we served in London. He taught me a great deal, and I helped with many foalings.”

“We should get the boy’s father,” Petey said from where he crouched over the mare.

“No time.” Walker motioned for Vadom to enter the stall. “Her name is Lightning. I would choose her over the foal if it comes to that.”

“Shorty said it’s her first?” Vadom asked as he assessed the situation.

“Yes. By Duke, my Palomino stallion.”

“I haven’t met Duke,” Vadom said, not realizing that sounded odd.

The mare groaned, and he felt her pain to his bones. “You poor girl,” he murmured, pressing his hands to her cheeks as he attempted to quell her panic and help her find calm. The pain was another issue.

“What do you need?” Mr. Walker asked.

Vadom never took his eyes away from the mare’s wide gaze. “Does your wife have any willow bark? It would be good to dull the pain.”

“She does. I’ll get it.” Walker rushed from the barn to retrieve the painkiller.

“Shorty, will you do something for me?” Vadom asked.

“Sure thing.”

“Boil some water for the willow bark and steep a small amount. Put a generous amount of sugar in the water and bring it to me. She’ll take it better if sweetened, and she could use the energy,” Vadom instructed. “Petey, I need you to move to the other side and lean forward on her neck so I can reach her belly.”

“Why do you need to do that?” Donnel asked.

Vadom finally felt he had a connection with the mare and could look away from her eyes. He glanced at Donnel. “I will palpitate her side to see how the foal is positioned. I’ll show you.” Lightning was still in terrible pain but breathing easier. The willow bark would help if he could get her to take some of it.

Petey shifted above her, keeping pressure on her neck so she wouldn’t stand, and Vadom ran his hands over her belly, maintaining a steady stream of low whispers all the while, making sure she could hear him.

“She wants to stand,” Petey said, “but the pains were so bad her knees gave out the last time. She don’t need to be fallin’.”

Vadom nodded as he pressed on her belly with gentle fingers. The life inside was … two. “Twins,” he said aloud.

“Now, how would you know that?” Jacob asked, his voice thick with skepticism.

Vadom thought fast. “Hooves,” he quickly offered. He couldn’t tell them he knew any other way. “I feel more than four hooves.”

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The Grumpy Guardian’s Redemption

The Heart’s Journey Book 1

The Grumpy
Guardian’s Redemption,
a sweet, historical Christian romance
 

 

This is a heartwarming Christian tale of redemption and love that touches the
souls of two lonely people in the mountains of 1920s Tennessee.

 

Set in the mountains of Tennessee in 1925, Liam McCord treasures his solitary
existence until a chance encounter disrupts his peace. When he discovers a
battered young woman near his cabin, he’s compelled to shelter her until help
arrives. As a solitary fifty-two-year-old man, he can’t care for her alone, so
he enlists the help of a local spinster.
Enter Millie Norton, a resilient woman with a heart untouched by love. She can
see beyond the surface and realizes the patient in the house is not the only
person needing care. Together, Liam and Millie embark on a journey of shared
challenges as they care for the woman and work a change in their community.
Somewhere along the way, the English recluse and the mountain spinster forge an
unexpected bond of love.
This heartwarming Christian story of redemption, healing, and the
transformative power of love will leave you feeling uplifted and inspired.

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* Goodreads

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Liam walked home from the general store with only a few pieces of peppermint in his pocket. He hoped to sweeten Millie up a little with the candy.

When he got back to the house, he decided to draw up some of his plans to show Sheriff Smith. At the table, he spent the next few hours outlining everything he had in mind: the school building, housing for a teacher, school supplies, how to approach the people so as not to offend them, along with separate lists for each heading. By the time he finished his notes, he had a terrible headache.

“Millie,” he called.

“Yes?” She stuck her head out from the kitchen.

“Do you know what I should take to get rid of a headache?”

“You shouldn’t be working so hard with that pen. You aren’t accustomed to labor, so you must be exhausted,” she said, her scolding ruined by a teasing grin. “Let me get you some tea and a wedge of sweet cake. That will be just the thing.”

He chuckled, thinking he’d planned to sweeten her with peppermint, and she seemed to have the same idea. “Are you bribing me with sweets?”

She smirked and disappeared into the kitchen.

He checked the time on his pocket watch. Scooter should be returning soon.

Millie reappeared with a tray and deposited it on the table at his elbow. “There you go.”

He looked from her to the tray. “Tell me the truth. Will this help my headache?”

“Eat the cake, drink your tea, and get some rest in your chair. Take a little nap, so I can have some peace in the house.” Her tone was chiding, but she gently brushed some lint off his shoulder as she spoke. He enjoyed the contradiction. She fascinated him. 

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I’m here today with Sara J. Walker.  Can you tell us a little about yourself?

My name is Sara J. Walker, and I’ve been a First Coast Romance Writers (FCRW) member for eight years. It took me seven years to learn how to write Romance stories and publish my first books, “The Grumpy Guardian’s Redemption” and “Scooter’s Heart.” I’m also published in seven FCRW Anthologies. My background is in Journalism, writing for newspapers and magazines. Before joining FCRW and enrolling in workshops and conventions like the one the Georgia Romance Writers put on in Atlanta, I had no idea how much I didn’t know about novel writing.

 

The monthly meetings with FCRW are educational, but working with the yearly anthology projects has taught me the basics of publishing a book. The members of our group encouraged and patiently helped me grow into becoming an author. I am grateful for their friendship and don’t believe I would be published today without them.

 

What kind of books do you write?

Most of my books are Sweet Christian Historical Romance. I also have a few anthology stories that are sweet contemporary. The stories I write come from my life’s journey. As a child, I idolized my father, Jeofry Jones, who the whole family called Papa. He loved the outdoors and spent a great deal of time studying the past and walking in the footsteps of Native Americans to learn how they lived. He spent several weeks living off the land in the Okefenokee Swamp and loved to tell stories about the snakes and alligators that ‘almost’ got him. Papa was a Boy Scout leader, and even though I was a girl, he let me tag along on some of the adventures when I was small. Papa also kept a small herd of eight or more horses just for pleasure riding.

 

My mother grew up in the depression, and she stressed the importance of education and faith in God. She also never threw any food away. Although my older sister, Linda Lou, was my idol, I might have been a thorn in her side growing up. We were close in recent years. Our little brother was Papa’s sidekick until he joined the Marines right out of High School. He was a great friend and treasured brother.

 

Why do you write historical romance?

I credit my mother with inspiring me to look to the past. She was native to the mountains of Tennessee, and every year, the whole family packed up and went on a relative tour near the homeplace in Pigeon Forge. She took us deep into the mountains, and we saw the struggles faced by those people we encountered. We traveled the winding roads to visit relatives whose lives had been affected by hard times. These trips gave me insight into how blessed I was. God had chosen my family, and I didn’t have those same struggles to survive.

 

Where did you get your education?

The University of Georgia. Go Dawgs!

Attending the University of Georgia was an eye-opener for this small-town girl. I had been a big fish in a small town and was now a tiny guppy on the vast campus in Athens, GA. I joined Alpha Chi Omega Sorority, which helped me adjust to being away from home. In my junior year of college, I discovered the School of Journalism and knew I’d found my calling. I was one of the first women’s editors for the Red and Black Newspaper while in school, and after graduation, I was hired to be the Woman’s Editor for The Macon News. A year later, I met my husband, Ray Walker, a local banker, and we’ve been married for over sixty years.

 

Why wait all this time to start writing?

I didn’t wait, actually.  I’ve been writing since grade school; I just had no idea how to publish anything. Also, I put my writing goals aside to raise a family and ended up with various office manager jobs.

 

I’m eighty-four years old and fulfilling my dream of being an author. I have stories to tell and love to hear from readers who enjoy my writing and offer suggestions for individual characters. I have three books planned for next year—two are completed and need editing, and the third will combine all my short stories from the anthologies I’m published in.

 

My daughter, Leah Miles, is my champion for writing. We joined FCRW when her youngest child went to college to give us a challenge in life. She excels at writing, editing, and correcting mistakes like timelines, descriptions, etc.  I wouldn’t be writing if she wasn’t here to encourage me. She writes Romantic Suspense using a lot of Navy SEALS. I thank God for her.

 

God has blessed me all through my life. I know He’s laughing at this older, small-town girl with big ideas and goals.

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Longtime
puppeteer and dramatic story teller, Sara loves both the spoken and the written
word. She has two grown children and resides with their husband of 57 years in
a small Georgia town.

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Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!

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a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Ode To A Pug by Jill Rosen ~ Guest Post And Giveaway

Posted: April 29, 2024 in Author Interview, Children's books, giveaways
Tags: , ,
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“Ode to a Pug” is full of heart… and a lot of slobber.

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Ode to a Pug

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by Jill Rosen

Genre: Children’s Picture Book, Pets

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A precocious pug delights in shenanigans which drive her frazzled owner to declare she will give her pup away!

Laugh along with the snorting, snoring and gaseous clown of the canine world as its owner struggles to reign in the messes and mayhem of a new addition. But there is nothing that a few licks and cuddles can’t fix, right?

A true delight that any family can relate to, Ode to a Pug is full of heart… and a lot of slobber.

“Ode to a Pug is a sweet and funny exploration of what unconditional love looks like.”

—The Children’s Book Review

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Amazon * Bookshop.org * Bookbub * Goodreads

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Interview with Author Jill Rosen:

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What is something unique/quirky about you?

I have a phobia of crumbs. Dirt, hair, dust, grime, you name it – I can happily clean it and deal with it. But crumbs, no way. They give me the icks. If I go to a restaurant or get on a plane and find my seat is full of crumbs, even after I close my eyes and quickly wipe them all away, I will be anxious and uncomfortable the entire meal or flight.

I think it started when I was very young and we would go stay with my ‘bachelor’ dad for the weekend (my parents were divorced when I was three years-old) and I would go to the kitchen to get cereal and there would be crumbs all over the counters and floor, often attracting pests like a trail of ants and once even a mouse that jumped out of the toaster when I tried to put in an Eggo.

On the positive side, this likely kicked off my lifelong love of vacuuming which comes in handy when living with a shedding machine that is our beloved pug Phoebe.

What kind of world ruler would you be?

I have a recurring dream where I’m saving the world. I am not yet the ruler, but rather the leader of the resistance. Fighting for the ‘little people’. The ones those in power counted out. The dream always ends after we win the battle, but I imagine I would be a leader who continues to serve and fight for, rather than rule over, the people. I don’t think it’s a coincidence though that I am only a smidge over five feet tall, so the dream might just be amplifying my need to defend those of us closer to the ground, constantly battling to make sure no one takes our space on the dance floor, bowls over us in the ticket line, or dares to cut us off on the road.

I also think part of it comes from being a female student, or woman in business, who never believed there was an unlevel playing field or glass ceiling, and even if there was, I’d just smash through it! Everyone will be treated fairly, because that’s what’s just. However, somewhere in my subconscious I knew there would be some fighting involved. Hence the dream.

Now as rhe ruler of our house full of rescue pets, I am still fighting for the little people, and it’s a win-win all around!

As a writer, what would you choose as your mascot/avatar/spirit animal?

It is probably no coincidence that the muse for my first children’s picture book was a pug. They are short (but think they are bigger than they are), funny, stubborn, loyal, loving, and a little crazy. I can certainly relate. My ‘zoomies’ involves driving kids to and from school, hockey, singing, or doctor and dentist appointments, all in between trips to the vet for our six pets. When our pug Phoebe continuously runs in circles, I get it.

Pugs are a lot in a small package. They never give up and they would do anything for their ‘pack’. They are also the clowns of the canine world, literally embodying what it means to be funny. I always look for the laughs in my life and in my writing, as it is something we can all use more of, even as we learn some of the harder lessons. Yes, the pug is definitely an excellent, albeit unexpected, choice for my spirit animal!

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Jill Rosen is a career marketer and advertiser who lives with two kids, three dogs, two cats, one bird, and a former stand-up comic and Princeton sketch-comedy writing husband. She doesn’t need to go far for comedic inspiration or advice!

Through her brand management work, Jill’s early recognition of, and appreciation for, powerful writing and artistic design only flourished. She is a seasoned workshop facilitator and strategic healthcare consultant, specializing in the areas of mental health and infertility.

Jill was inspired to begin writing her own stories by her two boys, both avid readers. Now Jill can’t wait to share them with all the young readers out there!

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Website * Instagram * Amazon * Goodreads

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Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!

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$20 Amazon – 1 winner,

Signed Hardcover copy of “Ode to a Pug” + Custom Die-Cut Pug Sticker – 3 winners,

Signed Hardcover copy of “Ode to a Pug” – 3 winners

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a Rafflecopter giveaway

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The Westwood Pack by F.D. Fair ~ Author Interview And Giveaway

Posted: December 24, 2023 in Author Interview, giveaways, Paranormal or fantasy, Romance
Tags: , ,
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Welcome to the 𝖂𝖊𝖘𝖙𝖜𝖔𝖔𝖉 𝕻𝖆𝖈𝖐… Where the fire burns h҉o҉t҉ … The water is as c҉o҉l҉d҉❄️ as Canadian winters… And a day of [̲̅p][̲̅e][̲̅a][̲̅c][̲̅e] just never seems to come.

If you love Alpha males who are both s♥w♥e♥e♥t and 𝕘𝕣𝕠𝕨𝕝𝕪 and watching women discover the power lurking just beneath the surface, then you’ve come to the right place.

The Westwood Pack Series follows the members of the Westwood Pack on their journey to find their mates. We have shifters 🐺, witches 🪄, fae🧝‍♂️, vampires 🧛and even a dragon 🐉or two..

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Rise of the Phoenix

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The Westwood Pack Book 1

by F.D. Fair

Genre: Paranormal Romance

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On “The Best Wolf Shifters of Romance” list on Goodreads!

He promised me forever. But when he shows his true colors, I have no choice but to run…

Alaric

I found my mate. It should be the happiest day of my life, right?
Wrong.
The problem?
She’s human and already has a family.
When her husband turns out to be a dangerous race once thought extinct, it becomes even more complicated…

Phoebe

I’m living the dream: A big house, a good job, a good-looking husband, and two beautiful kids.
I start to question everything when my husband shows his true colors.
Who is this man I’m married to?
As if it’s fate, I meet a stranger who sets my body ablaze and offers me protection.
But my husband won’t let me go that easily…

And now Alaric is risking everything to get me free.

Rise of the Phoenix is Book One of the hot and steamy werewolf shifter series, The Westwood Pack, and is a fated mate, rescued by the alpha romance.

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Amazon * Bookbub * Goodreads

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Second Moon

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The Westwood Pack Book 2

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He rejected me, and then he realized he made a mistake. Sucks to be him…

Skarlyt

My mate left me rejected and broken on the bathroom floor.
I’m going to make him pay.
Once I pick myself up and dust myself off, I’ll come back stronger than he ever could have imagined.
But when he realizes the mistake he made, how far will he go to get what he wants most?
Especially when he finds out about the hot new wolf shifter who says he’s my second chance mate…

Lennox

Rejected at first glance, she didn’t even know my name.
But when my sisters join a new pack, it offers me a chance to start over fresh.
No way could I turn that down.
I’m glad I didn’t…
Meeting a sexy witch isn’t something I had ever expected, but you know what they say – the moment you stop looking for a mate is the moment they appear.
This one comes with more than just a killer body and a scent that drives me absolutely wild.
She also has a past that comes back to haunt her with a fury.

But I’ll be damned if he ever gets his hands on her again…

Second Moon is Book Two of the hot and steamy werewolf shifter series,
The Westwood Pack, and is a rejected mate, second chance paranormal romance.

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Amazon * Bookbub * Goodreads

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Twin Flames

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The Westwood Pack Book 3

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One sacrificial lamb for the freedom of a mate…

Sophia

I’ve been their captive and slave for as many years as I’ve been on this earth.
I never dared to dream or hope for a better life.
But when these mages decide to turn me into a baby maker…things change.
I will not let them force me to bring their spawn into the world.
So, along with the help a friend, I run.
Running away turned out to be the best thing that ever happened.
I’ve finally found where I belong – with the Westwood Pack. It’s a family I didn’t know ever existed.
But it’s not long before the mages track me down…
And use my mate as bait to get me back.

Darren

Sophia being liberated from her cage and joining our family was the happiest day of my life.
The mages finding her and using me as bait to get her back was the worst.
But if they think that my family will trade one member for another, they’re in for a rude awakening.
We never give up on each other.

Even if we have to die in the process…

Twin Flames is Book Three of the hot and steamy werewolf shifter series, The Westwood Pack, and is a fated mate romance.

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Amazon * Bookbub * Goodreads

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Magical Mate

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The Westwood Pack Book 4

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Running from my father is a necessity. But can I trust the man who is offering me protection?

Sarah

Being raised by a single father was hard enough, add in that he’s an evil man who only cares about himself and the coven, and my life is a recipe for disaster.
Now he’s forcing me to marry someone even worse than him.
If I escape and he finds me, it will only be worse.
Now, another man is promising me the world, trying to convince me he’s different and is offering me protection.
But I don’t know if I can ever learn to open myself up again…

Sebastyn

I’m happiest when traveling the world, learning many kinds of magic that were lost throughout the centuries.
When my sister is kidnapped, I rush home, planning to stay long enough to rescue her.
Then she shows up…
She consumes my thoughts both day and night. Being anywhere else but here no longer appeals to me.
I know she’s attracted to me, though she’s hesitant.
How can I convince her I’m different from all she’s known? That I will keep her safe?
I can be patient…
I have to be.
She’s worth it.

Though I think my mom has been holding onto a secret…

Magical Mate is Book Four of the hot and steamy werewolf shifter series,The Westwood Pack, and is a fated mate paranormal romance.

Amazon * Bookbub * Goodreads

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INTERVIEW WITH AUTHOR F.D. FAIR

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Can you, for those who don’t know you already, tell something about yourself and how you became an author? 

I have always loved reading paranormal romance books. Specifically true mate books, and over the years, I found myself thinking up new stories in my head, wishing that I could find those books but couldn’t so I decided to write them myself.

What are some of your pet peeves? 

As strange as it is, open cupboards, toilet paper rolled under and not over are two of my biggest pet peeves.

How to find time to write as a parent? 

Writing as a parent is challenging, that’s for sure. I make it work though. I write while sitting in the parking lot of my son’s wrestling practice, in the mornings before school and work and after they go to bed.

What can we expect from you in the future? 

This series is set to have 13 books in total, though that number has already increased by 1 so chances are it could again. I have also been working on a spin-off series for the Westwood Pack and will hopefully be publishing the first one in 2024.

I’m also dipping my toe into my second favorite book genre, Paranormal Cozy Mysteries and hope to release the first of a long series in 2024 as well.

Do your characters seem to hijack the story or do you feel like you have the reigns of the story? Convince us why you feel your book is a must read. 

This is a hard question to answer because I would love to say that I plot out all my books (which I do) and stick to it, but the truth is that I plot out the books by chapter and 99% of the time it doesn’t work that way. It’s as if my characters take on a life of their own through me and hijack the story completely. I am usually able to end up where I wanted to be and have everything in there that I wanted to happen, just sometimes they take the long way there.

Do you read yourself and if so what is your favorite genre? 

I read constantly, except when I’m writing. In fact, it’s so much that my husband has joked about limiting my reading to one book a month because I can usually read a book in 1 day but for that entire day, I do nothing but read. I get sucked into the book and NEED to know what happens next. It’s one of the things I strive to do with my own writing. I want to be one of those authors that can grip you from the start of page one and you can’t put the book down until you find out what happens. It’s also one of the reasons that I write interconnected stand-alones. As much as I love-hate cliffhangers, I wanted to write each story to its conclusion. But to keep the readers wanting more, there is an epilogue in each book with a preview of what’s to come. To keep them wanting more.

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Hunter’s Heart

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The Westwood Pack Book 5

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Hunters have been tasked with eradicating my kind from the earth. The woman I want just so happens to be one of them…

Rayne

I am the descendant of Ullr, the Norse God of the Hunt.
I’ve hunted supernaturals all my life, always questioning if it was the right thing to do.
A woman on fire saved me during a battle, and now I can’t stop questioning my entire life.
So, I run to find out for myself.
And I run right into the supernatural world…
Which should have scared me, but instead I’ve found my home.
The supernaturals my father taught me to hate are more family to me than he ever was.
So, naturally, complications are sure to follow.
My complication is a tall, blonde, sexy-as-sin vampire, who’s also the biggest dick I’ve ever met.
But my real problem is that I can’t find the strength to deny him…

Drake

I’ve never wanted a mate.
I could never fathom how anyone could be tethered to a single person their entire life.
Then I met her. She’s gorgeous, strong willed, everything I could ever imagine in a mate.
She also happens to drive me certifiably insane.
The real problem? She’s a hunter.
And my kind are usually the ones in her crosshairs…

Can enemies truly turn to lovers, or will she betray us all at the first opportunity?

Hunter’s Heart is Book Five of the hot and steamy werewolf shifter series, The Westwood Pack, and is an enemies to lovers paranormal romance.

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Amazon * Bookbub * Goodreads

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Dragon’s Destiny

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The Westwood Pack Book 6

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A thousand years ago a prophecy was told of a love that would transcend time. Some things are worth the wait…

Drusilla

Severe PTSD? Check.
Low self-esteem? Double check.
Terrified to leave my home? Triple check.
I’m a vampire.
I was taken captive and tortured by a group of hunters when I was young.
Ever since I returned home, I haven’t left. I’m still being held captive by the scars they left.
Now, with my friend’s help, I’m learning to live again.
And I’m longing for a mate of my own…
When Andres confirms what my body already seems to know – that he’s my mate. It terrifies me.
I know I can’t love another until I can love myself again. I just hope he’ll be able to wait…

Andres

I’ve waited a thousand years for her, and I’d wait a thousand more.
She’s perfect and everything I’ve ever wished for–caring, beautiful, and a heart of gold.
The last great seer told me she wouldn’t be ready right away, and she would need time and understanding.
I’ve been preparing myself for that and thought I was ready.
But it’s so hard…
Every second of every day my dragon is riding me to claim our mate, and I’m not sure how much longer I can keep him under control…

Maybe unleashing him on the ones who held her captive would help.

Dragon’s Destiny is Book Six of the hot and steamy werewolf shifter series, The Westwood Pack, and is a fated mates romance.

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Amazon * Bookbub * Goodreads

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Bound By Fate

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The Westwood Pack Book 7

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I was given the gift of two identical twin mates…and then one of them rejects me. Now our souls can never be complete.

Opal

Meeting my mate was the best day of my life…
Until he rejected me seconds after giving me the best birthday present a girl could ask for.
I then ran and reinvented myself into someone who didn’t care.
But when he steps back in my life, I’m forced right back to where I started.
Though not for long…
Fate is a bitch and decided one man wasn’t enough to handle me, so she gave me two.
I’m not sure what was going through the goddess’ mind when she gave me identical twins—the one who rejected me and the one who promises me the world.
The problem?
Our souls will never be complete with one of them left out.
How do I trust these men after one has already ripped out my heart?

Zeke

Hunters murdered my father.
I left home to seek retribution and take revenge.
When I returned home one last time to say goodbye to my twin, I ran into the last thing I ever wanted…
My mate. But the only thing I can give her right now is death…
So, I do the unthinkable. I reject her.

Axel

I’m livid with my twin.
Not because of why he was banished, but because of his rejection of my mate.
Now I need to convince her I’m different from him…

Because there is no life for me without her.

Bound by Fate is Book Seven of the hot and steamy werewolf shifter series, The Westwood Pack, and is a rejected mate romance.

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Amazon * Bookbub * Goodreads

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Blood Magic

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The Westwood Pack Book 8

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Two choices, both impossible. One means death for my family, the other death for my soul…

Breanne

A puppet. That’s what I am. When the hunters offer me a choice between the death of my family or my soul, I choose my soul and I would do it again. Every. Single. Time. But now that means I am helping them hunt and kill my own kind.

When the sexiest man I’ve ever met gives me a chance at freedom, literally breaking the bonds that hold me captive, I jump. But it comes with a cost.

Only I’m not the one who will have to pay…

Matt

I take down the bad guys. The hunters. It’s what I do. But when I meet one of them, a sexy vixen who is both sinner and saint, and I learn she’s their captive who was forced into a life of slavery…I question if what I’ve been doing is right. How many of them have I punished for something they were manipulated into?

She thinks she’s broken, damaged. But she’s neither of those things. So, I use my magic to break the collar that her puppet master uses to control her and try my best to give her what she needs to heal.

But it’s not long before he comes to collect his missing pet.

And it’s over my dead body that he’ll ever touch a hair on her head again…

Blood Magic is Book Eight of the hot and steamy werewolf shifter series, The Westwood Pack, and is a fated mate vampire romance.

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Amazon * Bookbub * Goodreads

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Embrace your weirdness. It makes you unique, it sets you apart, and makes life more interesting.

F.D. Fair is married to the love of her life and a mother to three amazing boys. In their house, being weird is an accomplishment. They love everything strange and unnatural.

It was this love that prompted her to start writing…

Website * Facebook * FB Group * X * Instagram * Bookbub * Amazon * Goodreads

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Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!

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a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

For a list of my reviews go HERE.

For a list of free eBooks updated daily go HERE

To see all of my giveaways go HERE.

Creating Stories And Self-Publish In 10-Steps by Hank Quense ~ Interview And Giveaway

Posted: October 2, 2023 in Author Interview, giveaways
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Join Us for This Tour from Sep 25 to Oct 12!

Book Details:

Book Title:  Creating Stories by Hank Quense
Category:  Adult Non-Fiction, 106 pages
Genre: Self Help, ​
Publisher:  Strange Worlds Publishing
Release date:  April 1, 2017
Content Rating:  G 

Book Description:
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Do you have a story in you?

Do you know how to write it or how to tell it? Creating Stories has the answers. Hank Quense, the author of more than twenty books, tells you how to do it. He believes that stories come from the melding of three elements: getting ideas, story design and story-telling. Ideas have to come from the author. Creating Stories covers the last two. The book concentrates on developing characters including such rarely discussed requirements such as a dominant reader emotion and the character’s biography. Plots are also covered in depth and a number of graphics are included to illustrate complex points. Another topic discusses subplots and how to utilize them and how to nest them within the main plot. A separate chapter discusses the relationship between the plot and the emotional arcs. Other topics covered are: character arcs, scene design, point-of-view, writing voice.

Buy the Book:
Amazon
Add to Goodreads

After Creating Your Story:

 

Book Details:

Book Title:  Self-Publish a Book in 10 Steps: And Market It by Hank Quense
Category:  Adult Non-Fiction, 88 pages
Genre: Self Help ​
Publisher:  Strange Worlds Publishing
Release date:  Dec 1, 2021
Content Rating:  G 

 

Book Description:
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Self-publishing a book is difficult.

This book simplifies it by breaking down a self-publishing and marketing project into 10 steps. This step-by-step process will get your book published and initiate the pre-launch marketing.

Hank Quense has written and self-published over twenty books, both fiction and non-fiction. He is the author of the Author Blueprint Series of books. The Series concentrates on providing valuable guidance on fiction writing, self-publishing and book marketing. Self-publish a Book in 10 Steps is Book 6 in the series.

The book details such vital tasks as developing a compelling book description, building an author platform and getting book reviews to list a few.

Learn the ten-step process that will self-publish and market your book!

 
Buy the Book:
Amazon
Add to Goodreads
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Interview With Author Hank Quense:
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*What is your most recent book? Tell us a bit about it.

It’s called Creating Your First Novel.  Many if not most aspiring authors concentrate on writing their first novel to the exclusion of all other concerns.

However, the reality is that creating a book is a long-term, multi-phase project and writing it is only one facet of the project.

The complete project involves five separate phases:

  •  Planning the book
  •  Writing the book
  •  Publishing the book
  •  Marketing the book
  •  Author business issues

Unfortunately, planning and writing a book does nothing to prepare the author for the other phases of the project.  The only commonality between the phases is that they are about a single book.

Another difficulty with the creative project is that almost all information on the process only discusses one phase of it.

Until now.  Creating Your First Book covers all five phases.  It is written by an author who has gone through the project over two dozen times.

*Tell us something about yourself. (Where are you from, what is your background, how long have you been writing or anything we might find interesting about you.)

I was born and raised in Jersey City and went to college in nearby Newark where I earned a BS in mechanical engineering.  I live in Westwood NJ, about 25 miles from Midtown Manhattan.  We have two daughters and five grandkids all of whom live a few towns away from us.

When I was 50 years old, I was a  sales manager for a large telecommunications company with an office in Manhattan.  I realized it was only a matter of time before the corporation told me to get lost so some young hot-shot could have my office.  I decided my next career would be writing fiction and I started writing on my commute to and from the office.

My early works was a bit unfocused until I read The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams. I knew then I wanted to write satiric scifi.  Later I added satiric fantasy after reading a few of Terry Pratchett’s novels.

Since those early days, I’ve sold over 40 short stories.  My first two books were put out by a small indie publisher.  I found that experience so annoying, I decided to learn how to self-publish. Over time, I’ve self-published 25 books, both fiction and non-fiction, including Creating Your First Novel.

What inspired you to write this book?

Several factors influence me.  One factor was mentioned previously, authors who don’t understand the complexity of the book project.  On my first self-published book, I stumbled through the process using a trial-and-error method.  That way leads to unnecessary expenses. I want to keep aspiring authors from going through what I went through

Finally, I realized there was a lucrative market for scam artists in linking up with newbie authors searching for information or help.  These scammers include vanity presses and marketing “experts.”  Understanding the scope of the entire project lessens the chances of an author falling prey to these scammers.

Are you a pantser or a plotter? (i.e., Do you outline and plan your story or do you just sit down and write?)

I’m a plotter.  Perhaps to an absurd extent; I mind-map my books before I start the first draft.  My rationale is this: if I can mind-map the book, I know enough about it to write the first draft.  Another advantage of the mind-map is this. It’s much easier to move the thought bubbles around before writing the draft than it is to rearrange sections of the book after it is written. Some of my mind-maps became quite large and complex.

Do you have a daily or weekly writing schedule, or do you write only when you are inspired? How many words or pages do you complete in a typical day?

I work every morning from about 6 to 10:30.  About half of my time is spent on new books, the rest is spent on marketing, writing articles and maintaining websites.  When writing a new book, I don’t use a word count budget.  I write one scene (or topic for non-fiction) a day and I don’t care how many words it is.

How many drafts did you write before publishing your most recent book?

I wrote 3 drafts before sending it out to an editor.  So four in total.

What software do you use to write? Or do you prefer to write longhand or dictate your work? What made you choose the method you use?

I use Scrivener.  I do write some stuff (articles, notes etc) longhand using an Apple pencil on my iPad.  I’ve tried dictation but it just doesn’t work for me.

If you were doing it all over again, what would you do differently?

I honestly don’t think I’d change anything.  Possibly, my early marketing attempts would be a bit more effective.

What is the best advice you could give other writers about writing or publishing?

For writing a new story, know the ending before you start writing the first draft.  For an author self-publishing for the first time, get a mentor or a good guide book, like my new one.  Do not rely on the web for accurate information.

Do you have friends who are writers? How do you help each other to become better writers?

I have many author and writer friends.  Quite a few volunteer to beta read my stuff.  In return I critique their stories if they ask. We email questions and comments to keep in touch.

Who is the perfect reader for your book? (Please do not say “everyone.”) )

A writer who wants to create a first novel. Any experience in writing articles or short stories does not prepare one for the long-term, multi-phase project they are about to embark upon.

Where can readers learn more about you and your book?

My book is available in print and ebook on Amazon and other book sites.  Recently, I started a new venture called Writers & Authors Resource Center . https://hankquense.podia.com/

The site is dedicated to helping fiction writers master their craft and assisting self-publishing authors.

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Meet Author Hank Quense:

Hank Quense has self-published his books for over 12 years. His non-fiction books cover fiction writing (Creating Stories), self-publishing (How to Self-publish and Market a Book, Self-publish a Book in 10 Steps), marketing (Book Marketing Fundamentals) and author business (Business Basics for Authors).

He also lectures on these subjects in schools, libraries and on webinars.

Hank recently started https://hankquense.podia.com/ The site provides solutions to pain points (problems) for fiction writers, self-publishing authors and authors who are trying to market their books.

Connect with the Author: ​Website ~ X ~ Facebook ~ Pinterest ~ YouTube ~ BookBub ~ Goodreads

 
 
 
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CREATING STORIES Book Tour Giveaway

 

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

For a list of my reviews go HERE.

For a list of free eBooks updated daily go HERE

To see all of my giveaways go HERE.

Burning Secret by R J Lloyd

Posted: September 29, 2022 in Author Interview, Historical
Tags: ,
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Burning Secret tour banner
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Welcome to my stop on the blog tour for Burning Secret by R J Lloyd. Burning Secret blurs the line between fact and fiction, a retelling of the extraordinary life of Harry Mason – deceit, violence, power and wealth.

This blog tour is organized by Lola’s Blog Tours and the tour runs from 19 September till 9 October. You can see the tour schedule here.

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Burning Secret

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By R J Lloyd

 

Burning Secret book cover

Genre: Historical Fiction
Age category: Adult
Release Date: 28 June 2022

Burning Secret is a dramatic and compelling tale of ambition, lies, and betrayal inspired by actual events.

Born in the slums of Bristol in 1844, Enoch Price seems destined for a life of poverty and hardship—but he’s determined not to accept his lot.

Enoch becomes a bare-knuckle fighter in London’s criminal underworld. But in a city where there’s no place for honest dealing, he is cheated by a cruel loan shark, leaving him penniless and facing imprisonment.

Undaunted, he escapes to a new life in America and embarks on a series of audacious exploits. But even as he helps shape history, Enoch is not content. Tormented by his past and the life he left behind, he soon becomes entangled in a web of lies and secrets.

Will he ever break free and find the happiness he craves?

• • • • •

Influenced by real people and events, Enoch’s remarkable story is one of adventure, daring, political power and, in the end, his search for redemption.

Links:
– Goodreads
– Bookbub
– Amazon
– Amazon UK
– B&N
– Kobo
– Troubador
– Foyles

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Interview with Author R J Lloyd

 

Tell us about your book:

Burning Secret – It’s a true story. Well, almost, at least in my imagination. Burning Secret blurs the lines between fact and fiction as it reconstructs the real-life of Harry Mason, and is a story that many of us can relate to in our own families. It begins with Enoch Price, my great-great-grandfather, being born into the poverty of the Bristol slums of 1844, but he was determined not to follow his father to a brutal and early death.

An ambitious youth, Enoch becomes a bare-knuckle fighter amongst London’s underworld. But when misfortune befalls him and, facing ruin and imprisonment, he abandons his wife and daughters and flees to Florida. It’s here that Enoch becomes Harry Mason.

An opportunist by nature, Harry embarks on a series of risky escapades, playing an important role in the development and history of Jacksonville, building an extraordinary new life of wealth and power.

Enjoying popular success, Harry is elected to the city council and, in 1903, to the Florida State House of Representatives with the prospect of becoming State Governor. However, success brings neither happiness nor contentment. Seeking redemption for his many misdeeds, Harry plans to return home – but life is rarely that simple, especially as Harry harbours a secret that burns deep inside him.

I think the story operates on several levels; as a fast-paced thriller with plenty of derring-do, a morality tale of good vs greed, and how life can easily corrupt the pursuit of happiness.

 

In a nutshell, tell us what your readers should know about you: 

After retiring as a senior police officer, I turned my detective skills to genealogy, tracing my family history to the 16th century. However, after 15 years of extensive research, I couldn’t track down my great-great-grandfather, Enoch Price, whose wife, Eliza, had, in living memory, helped raise my mother.

It was my cousin Gillian who, after several more dead-ends, called one day to say that she had found him through a fluke encounter. Susan Sperry from California, who had recently retired, decided to explore the box of documents given to her thirty years before by her mother, which she had never opened. In the box, she found some references to her great grandfather, Harry Mason, a wealthy hotel owner from Florida who had died in 1919. It soon transpired that Susan’s great grandfather, Harry Mason, was, in fact, Enoch Price. From this single thread, the extraordinary story of Harry Mason began to unravel, leading me to visit the States to meet my American cousins, and it was Susan Sperry and Kimberly Mason, direct descendants, who persuaded me to write the book.

I graduated from Warwick with a joint in Philosophy and Psychology and a Masters in Marketing from UWE. Since leaving a thirty-year career in policing, I’ve been a non-executive director with the NHS, social housing, and other charities. I live with my wife in Bristol, spending my time travelling, writing and producing delicious plum jam from the trees on my award-winning allotment.

 

What topic or subject have you found it most challenging to write about?

I found the main character’s most inner thoughts and tormented emotions in Burning Secret were the most challenging. Describing the objective world of sights and sounds pose challenges, but conveying the emotions and heartache concealed deep inside, where often there are no overt behaviours, is made doubly worse by the writer’s advice of ‘show don’t tell.’

In my book, the main character must maintain a double life while burdened by the guilt that tortures him. Finding the words to describe his feelings as he struggles to resolve his dilemma was not easy, but these feelings play an important role in shedding light on the motives for what he has done.

 

What would you like to achieve with the publication of your book?

At the very least, I’d like to inspire others to wonder about their family history. Tracing ancestors has never been more popular or accessible, and what if these lost relatives turn out to be far more intriguing or extraordinary than one might have ever guessed – fact stranger than fiction?

Throughout my professional life, I’ve written; evidence to put before the courts and then, more latterly, reports to various statutory bodies seeking additional funding. You soon find out if your product is any good by the outcomes. So now I want to know if my novel and storytelling have merit, and it’ll be the readers who will decide through their reviews, recommendations and book sales.

 

What do you most enjoy about writing?

My first passion is gardening. There is so much pleasure when the blooms are in full blush during the warmth of a summer’s afternoon, and the vegetables swell and flourish. But this pleasure doesn’t come without pain and disappointments, and not everything you plant will grow or be good enough to reach the judges’ show table.

And perhaps writing is similar. Writing is not always enjoyable. Sometimes it can be frustrating, tedious and difficult when the ideas won’t fly, or the words won’t join into sentences. But like gardening, it’s creative. You create your version of the world, sharing your views and opinions with others and, like any conversation or standing on the box at Speaker’s Corner, not everyone will like what you have to say – but at least you’ve said it.

No two gardens are the same, which is true of authors and books, but the pride and joy of creating is.

 

How have you found your journey to publication?

Burning Secret arose from a conversation in 2012 with my two American cousins, Susan and Kimberley, who encouraged me to tell the extraordinary story of our shared ancestor, Harry Mason. It’s a massive disappointment that neither are with us today to witness its publication. And, as you’ll see, I’ve dedicated the book to their memory.

After many attempts at navigating the labyrinth of the query system, I realised that literary agents and publishers didn’t see me as a commercial prospect. At 70 years of age, I couldn’t waste time going down the traditional route. It wasn’t a career as an author I wanted; it was to fulfil a promise I’d made to Susan and Kim.

So, after reading an inspirational article by the best selling self-published author, Paige Weaver (Promise me darkness) and discovering that in 2017, over one million books were published in the United States, and two-thirds of them were self-published, the way forward was clear – and Matador, an imprint of Troubadour, was the obvious choice.

I liked the open and responsive team at Matador, who put me at the centre of decision-making and worked hard to meet their authors’ expectations to produce a book indistinguishable from a traditional publisher.

 

If you could give one piece of advice to your younger self, what would it be?

Well, I’m going to dodge this question. There’s never one piece of advice and too many what-ifs in life. I have one huge regret for not asking my parents about their lives and the history they lived through; two world wars, the Great Depression, rationing, the swinging sixties, and the roaring twenties. None of which they ever spoke about.

 

What do you think makes a good story?

This is the million-dollar question. There are plenty of creative writing courses that list the essentials of a good story. Some say there are three key elements, while others list ten; structure, character, plot, tension, and so on. I tend to go with the W. Somerset Maugham school of thought, “There are three rules for writing a novel. Unfortunately, no one knows what they are.”

But more seriously, a story that grabs and holds my interest must be authentic, relevant, and real to my experiences and imagination. Most of which depends on the storytelling and the flow of the language. I’m impatient, so a plot must race along to keep me turning the pages, and I want a main character that I can keep rooting for, even if they’re a bit iffy. And I like a book that keeps me thinking long after I’ve come to its end.

 

Do you have any tips for other budding authors?

Tell your story in your own voice, write from the heart and persevere, despite the naysayers – of which there will be many. Writing can sometimes be a slog, but you’ve got to keep going. If you’re going to publish, then invest in a good cover and quality production. Money spent on editing and proofreading is never wasted. There’s little point in going through the wringer to publish if no one is going to read it, so give it your best shot with marketing, and these days that means social media. Marketing is enormously important, but it’s tough, and most writers I meet wince at having to traipse around selling their cherished work. Still, the sad truth is, no one else is going to do it for you, not even in traditional publishing – but that doesn’t mean it can’t be fun.

 

Do you have a set writing routine and where do you like to write?

I’d like to tell you I write on my verandah overlooking the tropical Caribbean Sea, like Fleming at Goldeneye or Hemingway at his Lookout Farm in Cuba, but I can’t. I write from a small bedroom office.

One thing I like to do is to have a routine. My background, I suppose, has instilled the need to plan and schedule. Most of my productive writing occurs between 8 am and midday, but that’s not when I do my best thinking. That’s during the afternoons pottering in the garden or on the allotment. But clarity of thought, when all the ideas gel together, seems to arrive just as I’m about to nod off to sleep. And from bitter experience, I’ve learnt that I must wake myself and make notes because, by morning, every recollection will have deserted me.

 

What’s next in the writing pipeline for you?

I’m currently working on a couple of projects. The first is about another one of my close ancestors, Frederick Henry Seddon, who was hanged at HMP Pentonville for murder in 1912. His story has been told before, but never, as far as I know, from the family’s perspective. Another project involves a recently discovered family connection with two brothers, Peter and Veniamin Timkov, from the Russian village of Mukhouderovka, where Stalin’s secret police executed them both.

 

Is there anything else you’d like to add?

When one starts writing, it’s difficult to identify yourself as an author. But you only have to look at Twitter or Facebook to see how social media has democratised writing and has given a voice to so many aspiring authors – so please, have a go.

I’ve learnt such a lot from being involved in the process of publication. Next time I’ll be much better prepared, thinking about the title and book cover long before writing the opening paragraph.

I’d like to take a moment to thank everyone at Matador for their hard work and tremendous talent, and patience in bringing Burning Secret to the market.

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R J Lloyd author picture

About the Author:
Roger is the great-great-grandson of the main character, Enoch Price. A former senior police officer and detective, he has used his investigative skills to fashion this dramatised account of his ancestor’s extraordinary life. Fifteen years of genealogical research and interviews support the various factual strands of this pacy novel.

Roger graduated from both Warwick and UWE and has been a non-executive director with the NHS, social housing, and other charities.

He is retired and lives in Bristol with his wife. He travels, writes and produces delicious plum jam from the trees on his award-winning allotment.

Author links:
– Website
– Facebook
– Twitter

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