Book festival in Memphis Sept. 19-20. Listen to the interview.

http://m.mywdia.com/onair/bev-johnson-2788/literacy-rocks-12774584/

Talk A Good Game by Angie Daniels.

Talk A Good Game

By Author Angie Daniels

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bio

Angie Daniels has released over two dozen novels. She has won or been nominated for four RT Book ReviewsReviewers’ Choice Award and numerous Emma Awards. She began her road to publication in 2001 with Genesis Press. In 2002, she signed with BET/ Arabesque which was purchased by Harlequin/Kimani Romance in 2005. Angie joined Kensington Publishing in 2003. In 2010 she unleashed her alter ego, Sasha Campbell, a free spirit who isn’t afraid to say what’s on her mind or even better, write about it. Since strutting onto the literary scene in five-inch heels, she’s been capturing her audience’s attention with her wild imagination and style for keeping it real. This vivacious woman knows exactly what her readers want and is always ready to deliver. The two have a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration. She is also honored to be the Romance Slam Jam 2014 Keynote Speaker.

 

Blurb

After years of failed relationships, two sexy single best friends decide to take their chances at on-line dating. At first the experiences are interesting and exciting, but it isn’t long before the women discover things aren’t always as they seem…

Air Force officer Nyree Dawson meets Howard Sinclair online, and as far as she’s concerned, he’s everything she’s ever wanted in a man. He’s spiritual, educated, and a beast in the bedroom. She thinks the ex-wife is a fool for divorcing such an amazing man, and before long they start planning a future together. It isn’t until after the couple is married that the lies begin to surface, and the relationship goes from “I do” to what in the world has she done?

Restaurant owner, Janelle Fox has always had a spare boo in her back pocket, but when she meets Kaleb Kerrington on a dating site, the rules suddenly change. He’s gorgeous and wealthy and she can’t believe her luck. Only Kaleb has been burned so many times he doesn’t trust his woman any further than he can see her. At first Janelle finds the jealousy cute and she’s determined to be the one to teach him how to trust. However, after a while the accusations get to be too much and she realizes the confident man she craved is insecure and unforgiving.

And that’s only the beginning…

 

Getting To Know Author Angie Daniels

 Can you tell us about your upcoming project(s)?

 

Sasha Campbell and Angie Daniels are busy planning for the future! I am planning an exciting year starting with Talk a Good Game, a Sasha Campbell/Angie Daniels collaboration; the next volumes of The Decadent Delight and The Sexy Simmons Series that readers have been asking for; and possibly one more special surprise.

 

 

Contact

angiedaniels.com

 

https://www.facebook.com/AuthorAngieDaniels

@AuthorAngieD

http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/376036.Angie_Daniels

 

                                                              links

www.amazon.com/Angie-Daniels/e/B001IU51B4

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/c/angie-daniels

 

Georgia Le Carre releases Besotted today! (Erotic romance for mature readers.)

Besotted

(The Billionaire Banker Series - Book 3)

 AN EROTIC ROMANCE

(18+ due to mature themes and sexual content)

Blurb/Synopsis:


In Forty 2 Days we cheered as we learned of Lana's opportunity for a second chance to put things right with our wounded hero, Blake. We read with joy at the news of baby Sorab's birth, and with tension in our bodies as the spirited Lana fought and finally overcame the might of Blake's powerful family to win the heart of the man she adored.

But Lana still needs answers to many burning questions?
The secrets are many and tangled? Will she get the answers she seeks?

Blake finally lays it on the line to Victoria, and declares his true love for Lana, but will that be the end of the matter?

Then there is the re-appearance of Marcus.

Can Lana keep her resolve and overcome all obstacles to claim her man forever?




Besotted excerpt:

The knock on the Lanesborough Suite's door is firm and unhesitant.  I glance at my watch.  Very punctual.  I like that.  I open the door and… My, my, she is a beauty: waist-length, straight blonde hair, gorgeous big eyes.  And scarlet lips.  Lana almost never colors her lips so red.  She is wearing a long, white coat belted at the waist and really, really high heels.  They remind me of the shoes Lana wore the first night I met her.

She is chewing gum, though.  I hate that.  She must watch too many movies about big-hearted hookers.  I put my hand out, palm outstretched.  For a moment she looks at me, clueless.  I raise my eyebrows and she hurriedly takes the gum out of her mouth and puts it into my hand.  Then she raises her own eyebrows and cheekily stretches her hand out.

‘Don't you want to come in first?' I ask, amused but not showing it.

‘Of course,' she says and walks past me.  Her accent is odd.  She must be making it up as she goes along.

I close the door and watch her walk ahead of me.  She has a good walk.  I like a woman who can walk with grace.  She stops in front of the low table where there is a platter of fresh fruit and a bottle of champagne cooling in an ice bucket, then turns around to face me.  For a moment I am distracted by the picture she makes standing in the agreeably English decor of traditional prints and chintzes teamed with bold choices of acid greens and Schiaparelli pinks.

‘I'm sorry, what's your name?'

‘Rumor.'

I smile.  The name suits her.  She looks like a rumor.  Couldn't possibly be true.

‘Would you like a glass of champagne?'

She lifts one foot and lets it swing back.  It is impossibly erotic.  ‘I'd like to be paid first.'

I don't react to the provocation.  ‘The money is by the lamp.'

She glances at the neat pile of money as she works the two buttons on her coat. The coat lands on the sofa behind her.  She is wearing a very short white dress.   Wordlessly, she turns away from me and bends from the waist, so her ass is pushed out and her skirt rides up to where her smooth thighs indent and I glimpse the other thing I had specified-a freshly waxed pussy.  The lips are already swollen and reddened, and as I watch moisture starts to gather.

Immediately I am hard as hell.

Slowly, holding that position, she counts the money.  The desire to ram her while she is counting her money is strong, but I resist.  She puts the last note on top of the pile she has counted, and turns to face me.

‘All there?'

‘Yeah,' she says slowly, her acquired accent undergoing another change. ‘All there.'

I move towards her and put my hand between her legs.  Obligingly, she parts them and my fingers start to play with the soaking flesh.

‘So Rumor, what shall we do with you?'

‘Mr. Barrington-'

‘Blake,' I say persuasively, as I continue to explore the silky, wet folds.

Author Bio

Georgia Le Carre lives in England, in an old 19th century romantic cottage surrounded by a magical garden filled with fruit and walnut trees.

When she is not feeding words into her laptop, she is either curled up in bed with a box of chocolates and a good read, or lost in a long walk in the woods. Especially on moonlit nights.  And often with the man of her dreams.



Links


Facebook -  https://www.facebook.com/georgia.lecarre


Twitter - https://twitter.com/GeorgiaLeCarre


Goodreads - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20641211-besotted

           
Email:  georgialecarre@gmail.com


Amazon links:


http://www.amazon.com/Besotted-Billionaire-Banker-Georgia-Carre-ebook/dp/B00KBI0P06


http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00KBI0P06


http://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B00KBI0P06


https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B00KBI0P06



The ISBN number for Besotted is  978-0-9928249-4-5.

HOW TO MAKE IT IN HOLLYWOOD: The Inside Story by Rick Friedberg. A book review.

A Realistic Career Story

http://www.amazon.com/Rick-Friedberg/e/B00C8D95F8

It's not every day that an award-winning writer/director of movies, documentaries, reality TV, music videos and commercials will reveal what really goes on in Hollywood, from a business and creative perspective. However, Rick Friedberg's 'How to Make it in Hollywood: The Inside Story' is a five star read. In today's instant gratification culture, this book provides realistic tidbits, a  dose of sobering reality, and a lesson in persistence regarding what it takes to make it in the Hollywood film business. Friedberg comes across down to earth, tells it like it is, chronicling his own professional ups and downs, while citing his body of work to demonstrate his expertise.

By rule 32, it's easy to respect the author's rocky journey. The chapters are well organized and full of tips for readers who would like a taste of Film Business 101. Any writer who has ever dreamed of bringing a book to the big screen, a recent film screen graduate, an individual considering making the big move to Hollywood, indie film makers, movie buffs and others would likely embrace the contents of the author's account. If you think you've done adequate research about film, Friedberg lends plenty of vicarious lessons to readers with a dash of humor, while proving that experience is the best teacher.  For example, Friedberg wrote "Just last week I committed a maverick sin. I didn’t follow Rule # 9: Never Get Your Hopes Up Higher than the Lowest Drawer in Your Desk. Once again, I did." The author follows up with a supporting story, appropriately demonstrating the rule. As a result, it's easy to regard him as an expert looking back over his victories and missteps. In that way, the title of the book may mislead some who may not expect Friedberg's method of showing what it takes to make it in Hollywood. He also uses some industry jargon, and references snippets of film scenes.

Overall, I enjoyed reading this insider's story. It delivered enough of what it should've. If a realistic account of making it is what you're seeking to read, you will find it between these pages.

5 stars

Author Victoria Warren Jackson stops by to discuss 'Untraditional Love In The Dark' and more.

Andrea: Do you have a favorite book that you've written? If so, why?



Victoria: My favorite book that I have written is Untraditional Love In The Dark because women have to accept the fact many of us are now married to or have dated a gay or bisexual man. We have to learn to discuss this taboo.



Andrea: Has your work as an educator influenced your writing style or writing goals in any way?



Victoria: Yes, most definitely. I started out teaching Reading at Miami-Dade College. I learned a great deal about grammar and writing. I then used this knowledge to interact with more people because I offered personal tutoring services. It never failed, many of the adults wanted to talk about their personal lives after they became comfortable with me. I have written several children's book, which are not published. I plan to publish them in the future. My interaction with my students influenced me to write those books.



Andrea: Since you mentioned that writing is therapy, and you continue to write daily, how do you find time to write? Do you keep a journal?



Victoria: I wake-up earlier on some days to write before going to work. While I am on the expressway heading to work, I think about new ideas. While I am heading home from work, I think about new ideas while I am stuck in rush hour traffic. When I get home, I write down my thoughts in a Composition Book or on College-Rule Paper.



Andrea: Do your students know that you write books? What strategies have you used to get youth to read more?



Victoria: I work with high school students, so I have not told them about my writing career. I wouldn't want them to read some of the material in my books, and start asking me personal questions. Some of the teachers know that I am an author. They give me lots of support. I am a Reading Teacher who works with students who have failed the Standardized State Test. Most of the difficulties these students experience is related to comprehension and understanding text. I teach my students how to analyze, evaluate, and gather information from text. I teach my students how to question the text by answering the six reporter's questions: Who? What? When? Where? Why? and How? My students are taught to make predictions based on the title, images, search bold words, and use context clues. The best strategy to get youth to read is allowing them independent reading time. Students can still learn when they are allowed to select reading material of their choice. As the teacher, I provide a variety of grade level material the students can choose from such as: novels, magazines, and newspapers.



Andrea: What writing tip would you offer an aspiring young author?



Victoria: Have thick skin. This is not an easy journey, but it is well worth the rewards as you go through the process.



Andrea: What's next for you?



Victoria: I am in the process of editing my fourth book. I plan to get this book published. I am searching for an agent. I am going to put more dollars into advertising and marketing my books. I am going to enter more writing contests. I have plans to do several open mic appearances in the very near future. I am going to expand my activity on social media. I am definitely looking into hiring a publicist. I have an upcoming Virtual Book Tour and several interviews.



Andrea: In two lines or less, please pitch one of your books.



Victoria: There is nothing wrong with having the best of both worlds when all parties involved are aware of the true situation. Loving on the down-low is Untraditional Love In The Dark.


My website address is: http://www.victoriawarrenjackson.com

My book availability sites are:

Untraditional Love In The Dark
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/untraditional-love-in-the-dark-victoria-warren-jackson/1027809995?ean=9780970742643

Not Just Us
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/not-just-us-victoria-warren-jackson/1027804690?ean=9780970742650

Can You Feel Me? Intimate Poetry
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/can-you-feel-me-victoria-warren-jackson/1114532054?ean=9780970742636

Pub day. New release by “Good Morning America” anchor, Robin Roberts. 'Everybody's Got Something.'

Do you read memoirs? The links below provide a synopsis and excerpt of 'Everybody's Got Something' by Robin Roberts.


Information from the publisher:
http://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/robin-roberts/everybodys-got-something/9781455578450/#desc

An excerpt:
http://gma.yahoo.com/robin-roberts-everybodys-got-something-read-excerpt-112053641.html?vp=1 


Purchase it from Hue-Man Bookstore:
http://www.huemanbookstore.com/book/9781455578450





In depth author interviews are available via our ezine www.issuu.com/bloggertime.

Julia Park Tracey stops by for a Saturday coffee chat about publishing her aunt's journals (The Doris Diaries). Bonus: A book review of the award-winning book, 'Reaching For The Moon.'

  

  

Julia Park Tracey recently won awards for The Doris Diaries. In my eyes, editing and publishing diaries that belonged to her aunt is a fabulous example of preserving history. I hope that you enjoy learning about this inspiring, unique project.


The Nook: What updates do you have about your award?

Julia: I recently was flown to Los Angeles to receive awards from the Great Northwestern Book Festival and Los Angeles Book Festival for the second volume of the Doris Diaries. I won the grand prize at the GNWBF and best regional book at the LABF.


The Nook: What's next for The Doris Diaries?

Julia: Volume 3 is set for fall release. The Great Depression has begun and Doris is no longer in school. She gets a job selling real estate -- or trying. And she's still looking for true love. And there is no money to be had!

The Nook: Please tell me why you decided to create this project, after inheriting the journals.

Julia: I felt that Doris's young voice was so refreshing and unique that I wanted to share her. I started by sharing snips on my own Facebook feed but it became so popular that I created her own FB and Twitter pages. We've all heard Anne Franks' voice but a girl from the 1920s was unique.

The Nook: What's next for The Doris Diaries?

Julia: Volume 3 is set for fall release. The Great Depression has begun and Doris is no longer in school. She gets a job selling real estate -- or trying. And she's still looking for true love. And there is no money to be had!

The Nook: Do you feel your aunt would've minded having her diary published?

Julia: She says that she's reticent in her diaries, at the time. But knowing her later, I think she would be pleased, and would very much appreciate the attention she's gotten from publication. Doris is loved, and she would enjoy that.

A Book Nook Review 

A Charming Celebration of Freedom

In 'Reaching For The Moon', Doris Bailey Murphy's grand-niece provides a glimpse of life in the 20's. Julia Park Tracey chronicles adventures of a teen girl, continuing events of The Doris Diaries, from 1927-1929.

In volume 2, Doris Bailey is a teen struggling with scarlet fever. This serves as a backdrop for a young spirit still interested in matters that are present in most teen and young adult minds--boys, friends and socializing. Some diary entries are a few lines long. Others give more insight into Bailey's opinions, spunk and personality. They prove to be more entertaining. Embracing freedom, despite challenges in life, dominates the tone of the majority of Doris's diary entries.

Doris is a likable subject, despite illness. 'Reaching For The Moon' may be best experienced as a collective work for those who are interested in history or intriquied by journals. The longer entries accompanied by photos offer the most insight. Ms. Tracey's inclusion of footnotes, and her introduction, strengthens credibility as a researcher and curator.

In futue volumes, longterm value of the project could be maximized by integration of more photos, inclusion of historical captions that may tie highlights of Doris Bailey Murphy's experiences together, and/or alternate considerations of including every entry.  'Reaching For The Moon' is comprehensive, original and insightful. It also possesses potential to be utilized as an entertaining teaching tool.

Reviewed by Andrea Blackstone



Purchase the first installment on Amazon.

Reaching For The Moon

Connect with The Doris Diaries on Facebook. Click here.

http://www.juliaparktracey.com/

Book review of Forty 2 Days (Book 2 of the Billionaire Banker series) by Georgia LeCarre. Hot!

Villain Meets Victim

If you like a steamy plot, this sequel to the 'Billionare Banker' featuring
Blake Barrington and Lana Bloom brings plenty of heat. Since I'm a book reviewer who was asked to read this title, I didn't read the first one. Nevertheless, I could still salvage general understanding of the setup. Kudos to Georgia LeCarre for accomplishing this.

Lana needs to repay a 42 day debt with her body, if she wants help during a personal jam. While she's in need of a businesses loan, Blake's demands set her up for an entertaining yet smutty roller coaster ride. Although Lana needed money, raw chemistry was mutual and obvious. Blake is dirty rich, cocky, mysterious, and oficially belongs to someone else. Despite Blake's demands, Lana seems humiliated in one sense, but an emotionally willing victim in another. LeCarre crafts her voice realistically.  Lana sounds authentic enough to be a real woman sharing an experience from her perspective.

On the other hand, the twist at the end makes the page turner feel like it's not an erotic romance story. A happy ending wasn't a requirement for me. The central thematic challenge was the way the story was resolved. The last portion of this book blended oddly with the previous content, considering that the author's writing style demonstrates her talent as a storyteller.

The overall delivery of 'Forty 2 Days' overcame his hurdle. It had enough potential to make me curious about what happened in the first book. Also, I felt interested in the characters enough to want to finish their future journey.

More story development with Sorab, Blake or Lana's emotional turmoil, and/or more care being taken in the end would possibly be beneficial. The series has 5 star potential and is a worthwhile read. In some ways the plot had a 'Fifty Shades of Grey'  feel. However, it still felt authentic enough. Georgia LeCarre offers a fresh voice. I would recommend the book to erotica lovers in particular. Rated H for Hot!


Click below to find it on Amazon.


http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00HWKW7K2?pc_redir=1397334640&robot_redir=1 4 stars

Surrounded By Madness: A Memoir of Mental Illness and Family Secrets by Rachel Pruchno, Ph.D. An author interview about her memoir.

 Rachel Pruchno, Ph.D. is located in New Jersey. Surrounded By Madness: A Memoir of Mental Illness and Family Secrets was released on March 24, 2014. Dr. Pruchno is a psychologist , presently Endowed Chair, and Professor of Medicine at Rowan University. More information about the author will follow the interview. 

Andrea: Can you briefly share what 'Surrounded By Madness' is about?

Dr. Pruchno: Surrounded By Madness chronicles the experiences I've had as the daughter of a mother and mother of a daughter with severe mental illness. As a child and as a mother, I hid the mental illnesses from which my loved ones suffered. As a psychologist, I understood how important it is to break the silence. If we don’t talk about mental illness, we will never make progress in terms of diagnosis and treatment.

Andrea: How difficult was writing this memoir? 

Dr. Pruchno: Writing the first draft was therapeutic. I cried a lot and so did my husband. After that, I enjoyed learning to write memoir. Because I knew I wanted people to understand, I worked hard to make the book as engaging as possible.

Andrea: Did you ever feel reluctant to publicly share details about what happened in your family?

Dr. Pruchno: For more than 40 years, I didn’t tell people about my experiences.  Even once I started writing, I told people it was a book about being the mother of a child with mental illness. Once I came to terms with my daughter’s mental illness, I tackled my mother’s illness. I think it’s safe to say my “coming out” was a process.

Andrea: Your mother struggled with manic depression, and ultimately committed suicide at 51. Did you worry about your own mental health?

Dr. Pruchno: Yes, I most definitely did. Because my mother and I were alike in so many ways – our looks, our personalities, our sense of organization, our intelligence – I was sure that mental illness would be my destiny. As I experienced each age – the age at which she first showed signs of illness, the age at which she killed herself – I was sure that I would follow in her footsteps. Happily, I didn’t.

Andrea: Does the book focus on your adopted daughter? Please share a little about how she ties into your story.

Dr. Pruchno: My husband and I adopted Sophie and took her home from the hospital when she was 3 days old. We cherished her. The book shows how Sophie’s mental illness developed and how my husband and I worked to help her.  It shows the inadequacies of the medical system as we experienced them and the flaws of our legal system. It shows how mental illness pervades families and devastates them.

Andrea: After three years of writing this memoir, did the process resolve any unanswered questions that you may have had about how chronic mental illness?

Dr. Pruchno: I learned that, no matter what resources a family may have and how hard a family may try to deal with the issues and help the person who suffers from mental illness,  mental illness has the potential to destroy all in its path. I learned that while we can protect our children when they are young, once they turn 18, parents are virtually powerless to help them.

Andrea: You are married with children. How did your immediate family feel about your decision to write a memoir? Were they involved in deciding how you would tell the story?

Dr. Pruchno: My husband and my brothers were very supportive of my writing the memoir. My husband listened to me read each chapter as I wrote it. He corrected my grammar and punctuation. He helped me remember many of the details. My brothers filled in gaps as I struggled to understand our mother’s experiences. My son was 14 when I started writing.  One of the first things I had to do was tell him that my mother had committed suicide.  He read an earlier version of the book and corrected some of my writing errors. While the men in my life have been supportive, however, they were not involved in deciding how I would tell the story. I worked with a writing coach who helped me understand narrative arc and an editor who helped me polish the writing. 

Andrea: What would you say to families who are currently struggling with mental illness?

Dr. Pruchno: One simple message: don’t hide. Tell your friends. Tell your neighbors. Tell the schools. Don’t be ashamed. You need all the support you can get.

Andrea: Could reading this book offer solutions or coping mechanisms to anyone touched by mental illness? If so, how?

Dr. Pruchno: I hope so. I hope Surrounded By Madness helps others touched by mental illness understand that they are not alone. I hope it helps people know that telling people about their experiences is critical and that it helps them ask others for help.

Andrea: Who is your target audience?

Dr. Pruchno: 
 1. Families of people with mental illness.
 2. Students and faculty in psychology, medicine, and social work
 3. Memoir readers

Andrea: What kind of feedback have you received thus far?

Dr. Pruchno: People tell me the book is gripping – that they can’t put it down and that they’re amazed at what I’ve lived through.

Purchase links: The book is available through most online booksellers. Amazon.com seems to be one of the few websites offering a pretty good discount:  http://tinyurl.com/k5xvmsz

Social media/contact information: The book trailer is on YouTube.com:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CypGRs0HjvU
Author website:  www.RachelPruchno.net
Book website:  www.SurroundedByMadness.net
Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/surroundedbymadness
Author’s Psychology Today blog:  www.psychologytoday.com/blog/all-in-the-famly

About the Author
Rachel Pruchno is Director of Research at the New Jersey Institute for Successful Aging (http://www.rowan.edu/som/njisa/) and Endowed Chair, Professor of Medicine at Rowan University’s School of Osteopathic Medicine. She earned her Ph.D. in Human Development and Family Studies at Penn State University.
Dr. Pruchno has been the Principal Investigator on numerous research grants funded by the National Institute of Mental Health, the National Institute of Aging, the National Institute of Nursing Research, the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, the Retirement Research Foundation, and the Cleveland Foundation. She has published more than 70 peer-reviewed articles in scientific journals, 10 invited book chapters, and co-edited Challenges of an Aging Society: Ethical Dilemmas, Political Issues. She has served as Editor-in-Chief of The Gerontologist (http://gerontologist.oxfordjournals.org/), a leading scientific journal, since 2011.
As a weekly blogger, since January 2014, Dr. Pruchno has been contributing to PsychologyToday.com, the website of the magazine Psychology Today. The blog, “All in the Family: Mental Illness and Caregiving Across the Generations,” may be viewed at www.PsychologyToday.com/blog/All-in-the-Family.
She is married with four children, two of whom are dogs.
If you would like more information about Dr. Pruchno’s academic work, including her CV and publications, please visit her personal website at www.RachelPruchno.net.

A recent Morgan State graduate released Mr. Illustrious. Meet Christian Smooth.

2013 Morgan State graduate, Christian Smooth, volunteered at the Annapolis Film Festival. His book, Mr. Illustrious, was released February 20, 2014. He is the Executive Producer of two web-series. The Student Body is described as a semi-anthology web series that parodies life at HBCUs. He also produces Speaks. Christian Smooth was born and raised in Annapolis, MD.



GS: Today we’re speaking with Christian Smooth about his new release, Mr. Illustrious. Where did you get the idea for the book?

CS: The story came about when I was going to the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. A girl asked me to write a sexy story, and I started writing Mr. Illustrious.

GS: So it was because someone asked you to write a short story?

CS: Yes. It was like a commission, pretty much.

GS: After that, what made you feel like you wanted to write the whole book? Can you give a synopsis of what Mr. Illustrious is about?

CS: I liked the character so much, I wanted to write some more stories about a college freshman who loses his college scholarship and becomes a man whore in order to pay for his college tuition.

GS: That sounds spicy. You told me you that you attended Morgan State University. Tell me more about your background.

CS: My background is in film and television writing. I went to Morgan. I was the only Screen Writing and Animation major to graduate. I also ran cross-country. I created a web series called ‘The Student Body’ about a HBCU. Since I’m back in Annapolis (not for long I hope), I decided to create a new web series called ‘Speaks.’ I interview people around the city and have them talk to me about whatever they would like. I believe that everyone is interesting to some type of degree, and I want the world to know what these everyday people are doing. I also hope to get a few narrative projects off of the ground. I have so many ideas, it’s not even funny.

GS: In two lines or less, how would you describe your book?

CS: Fun and whimsical.

GS: Great answer. Where is the book available?

CS: It’s available on Amazon, Kindle, and on my website, www.thesmoothhouse.com.

GS: What is your contact information?

CS:  You can find me on Twitter @SIR_ILLUSTRIOUS. You can type in Christian Smooth on Facebook. I’ll pop right up. You can also find Mr. Illustrious on Instagram @smoozus.

Episodes of the Student Body are available on YouTube. You can find various productions at www.thesmoothhouse.com.  Christian Smooth will also be working on a semi sequel to Mr. Illustrious, which he hopes to release next fall.






This excerpt was provided as a complimentary preview of our publication, Grove Street. More entertainment news is waiting for you there. You may also visit us via http://alexhaley.com/grove_street.htm.

Monday Book Club Spotlight shines on The DC Ladies & their online book club. Would you like to join them for a bookish discussion?

Melissa Foster's Have No Shame is the April selection of TDCL (The DC Ladies) Book Club. The DC Ladies is a fab collaboration that is led by a mother and daughter. Why did they start their community? http://www.thedcladies.com/about-the-dc-ladies/ Their book club is a recent addition to their website.

 The link below provides more information, if you would like to get acquainted with their book club schedule.

http://www.thedcladies.com/2014/04/07/tdcl-book-club-shame-2/



Have a great day!

--The Nook



Are you a new visitor here? Please also stop by issuu.com/bloggertime to read in depth author interviews and news.

101 Vagina by Phillip Werner was inspired by the Vagina Monologues. The LA launch of his book is tonight. (Mature discussion.)

Andrea: What is 101 Vagina about? Please share why the Vagina Monologues inspired your book enough to author this book.

Phillip: Basically 101 Vagina is simply about breaking down the taboo around vaginas. But it goes further than that to make people feel more comfortable with their bodies and themselves generally.

When I read the Vagina Monologues I was struck by how debilitating this taboo can be on a personal and societal level. Generally taboos point to some sort of shame. So many people hold shame or discomfort around their bodies and also their genitals. It leads to all sorts of anxiety and had sparked a huge increase in the number of women, and even teenage girls seeking out labiaplasty, even though they have perfectly normal labia.

Andrea: Is it accurate that you raised $20,000 for this project through crowd funding? If so, why do you think so many people were willing to support the project?

Phillip: Yes, I did this through the Pozible crowdfunding platform. What I found is that the project really struck a chord with people. It seems that this taboo was/is really ripe for the breaking and people want to support that mission. There was a real enthusiasm among so many different people, they saw it as a good idea and wanted to support the project.

Andrea: Is labiaplasty common? In your opinion, how does this tie into female body image?

Phillip: I would not go so far as to say it's common, but it is getting much more common. What seems to have happened in recent years is that a notion has spread that "normal" vaginas don't have inner labia protruding, that "innies" are more common, and more attractive, than "outies" where the inner labia protrude. But actually the opposite is true, and so from this point of view it's all about body image. That people have a distorted images of what's normal or attractive.

Andrea: How have women reacted to a man photographing a woman's intimate parts?

Phillip: Most people are fine with it, but there are also some who are quick to judge. "Man taking photos of vaginas" is a very easy target for quick assumptions and judgements. Yes, there are some people who are upset about my gender, but so far I've found that this kind of opposition only comes from people who have actually not engaged with the project at all. On the other hand there have also been many women who are particularly pleased that a man is doing this work, that a man is taking interest in women's issues. So it's a mixed bag, but overwhelmingly people are fine with it.

 Andrea: What is your goal with the book?

Phillip: My goal is to open people's hearts and minds. It's really that simple. In this case I'm trying to break down the vagina taboo and get people comfortable with it, open them up to being more comfortable with themselves and with bodies in general.

Andrea: As a German/Australian photographer, have you noticed that some people are more or less capable of looking at the project from an educational point of view, based on the place where they are from? Does anyone mistake it as erotic content instead?

Phillip: Again, people only mistake it as erotic if they have not taken the time to actually look. Sure, I think some cultures are more open about bodies and sexuality than other, but you can really never tell. A person might be from a very repressive culture but they themselves are very open. Someone else might be from a very open culture but they are very closed. So it's best to try and not make any assumptions about people based on their background. Many of my acquaintances have expresses surprise at their own reaction, expecting themselves to be more open than they actually found themselves to be.

Andrea: Who is your target audience?

Phillip: I want this book to reach out to the masses, to change as many minds as possible, even if just a little. I'm not that interested in preaching to the converted, and neither am I out to shock people. The taboos around our bodies and sexuality are changing rapidly, and so I just want to give people another reason to be more accepting of themselves and others. So really, this book is for anyone who's open to it.

Andrea: Please tell us about how you intend to also support charities through the book.

Phillip: Because the Vagina Monologues was my initial inspiration, and Eve Ensler started the VDay foundation to work against violence towards women, I also wanted to give back. I have already donated funds from the sale of the book to my friend Atira Tan's charity, The Art 2 Healing Project, which helps victims of sex trafficking in Asia. She does really amazing work and did a TEDx talk recently, very inspiring.

Andrea: How has the book been received during your first tour stop in LA? Have you received reviews or media coverage?

Phillip: The opening night is today !!! So we will see :) There will be some media there, but not sure how much or what will come of it.

Purchase link/website:

 http://101vagina.com

Social media information:

https://www.facebook.com/101vag

https://twitter.com/101vagina

Gerald Freeman's Kill Daddy book interview. Today is international Friday!

Gerald Freeman writes memoirs and adventure books. He is English, living in Portugal. Enjoy his interview about Kill Daddy.

Andrea: What inspired the book's plot and title?

Gerry: After living and travelling in Kenya and Uganda, I returned to Portugal, intent on helping all the people I had just spent the last two years of my life with. There were so many things I wanted to do, but as time went on, I realized I was accomplishing very little. People would ask me all the time what Africa was like, and unless they had a few hours to spare, I was only capable of giving inadequIate responses, which I felt did a disservice to the people I had met. I became ill with Hepatitis C, which I was fortunately cured of. However, I spent a year not leaving the house, and it was during this time, I decided to write my story about Africa. Halfway through the book, I realized I was being too selective with the storyline, and that some things didn’t make sense unless I was completely honest, and wrote about why I had disappeared to East Africa in the first place: To escape memories from the past that had reared their ugly heads again, in attempt not to let them break me down. The title came to me and fitted. It is not meant to express an evil intention, it’s jaunty and symbolic.

Andrea: Have readers been surprised by the setting, since the title is Kill Daddy?

Gerry: A few have said they were pleasantly surprised to end up in Africa, and quite a few have mentioned in their reviews that they feel like they really experience Africa, and feel as if they are there: this has made me most proud.

Andrea: Can you give us a brief overview of the book? What's it about?

Gerry: It’s about a young man who flees his home when demons from an abusive childhood come to haunt him again. Rather than succumb to them, he decides to run away to Africa in search of adventure and a way to put the past behind him forever. He finds more love and friendship in some of the poorest parts of the world, than he ever experienced back home, and his priorities change. He is no longer running to save himself, but instead walking headlong into an adventure that will change his outlook on life and human beings forever. Will Africa be enough to save him from his past, or will his demons devour him?

Andrea: Who is your target audience? What would you hope that readers take away from it?

Gerry:  I believe my story is for a wide range of readers because it is about something we all have in common: Life. Ideally, I would like to think that my story will be able to inspire other people suffering from the effects of child abuse and domestic violence, to go out and fight for a life they deserve, instead of accepting the one they feel they are doomed to. The story can also be informative to others and help create a better understanding of what abuse can do to a person, and how the healing process is dealt with in different ways, and comes in many forms. For many of us, our past is something we live with, and unfortunately not something we forget and move on from.


Andrea: Has writing this book taught you anything about yourself?

Gerry: I have realized the value of all of our life stories. Sharing our experiences with each other promotes understanding and empathy, we can all learn from each other’s experiences. I have realized that although things don’t always get done in the time you want them to, they do eventually get done.

Andrea:  What's next for you as an author? Is there a sequel planned?

Gerry: Yes, of course. I am not stopping there. My next book is almost finished and due to come out at the end of this year. It is called I Don’t Believe God Wrote The Bible, and is the prequel to Kill Daddy, or at least it is about a journey I made before Africa. I left England at the age of twenty, also running from my past, and went hitching around Europe with a girlfriend. We experienced wild and crazy adventures and learned valuable life lessons about people, which were extremely important in making me the kind of man I am today. It is a story of growing up and realizing that much of what you search for is already there. It’s a crazy read, full of wacky situations and people.

Andrea: How can readers connect with you online?


Gerry: I have an official Kill Daddy Facebook page, a blog and a website, and I love to hear from readers and other people with similar ideas and interests. Thanks for having me, and I hope people enjoy my stories.

Andrea: You're welcome. It was a pleasure learning about your book.

Gerry's contact links:

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Kill-Daddy/443631555746921

http://geraldfreeman.blogspot.pt/

http://gerryaldridgedesign.dinstudio.se/



Purchase links:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00FQQBV2O/

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/kill-daddy-gerald-freeman/1118325855?ean=2940045590365

https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Gerald_Freeman_Kill_Daddy?id=nrQfAwAAQBAJ

https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/kill-daddy/id805914726?mt=11

Kill Daddy is also available via Kobo and many other retailers.

Today's surprise Twitter spotlight is 'A Daughter's Hero' (A Tribute to a Veteran of Vietnam) by Julie Weber-Torres. This book sheds light on Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.

I applaud Julie K. Weber-Torres for taking a step to help others understand PTSD, and how war impacts families, so I decided to share information about this book with you today. Our parents who served often endured all sorts of life changing experiences. 

Enjoy, bookworms.

Amazon Description:

"A Daughter's Hero is a tribute to a veteran of the Vietnam War. The veteran in the story is about the authors father- Julius “Jerry” D. Weber - her hero. Following his untimely death, she was inspired to research his Vietnam War experience to create understanding about his life and struggles with PTSD, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and alcoholism. He completed two tours in Vietnam with the U.S. Army from 1968 – 1970 as a Light Equipment Engineer with the 557th Engineer Company. His two year involvement would forever change his life. After a few years of researching his daughter was able to put many pieces of his life together to create a genuine story that shares her father’s selfless dedication to our country and about his struggle transitioning back into civilian life, while fighting the demons that assailed him returning home. The war would take thirty-five years to end his life, but his daughter is not willing to forget his sacrifice. She is committed to raising awareness about Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder by sharing the challenges her father faced when he returned home from war. She provides intimate heartbreaking details about the devastating effects of war and the negative impact it had on her family. The book was written with love and honor and shares the unconditional love and compassion between a daughter and her father. She never gave up trying to save her father from the inevitable. She tells this story in hopes to aid others dealing with similar issues and to create understanding about those suffering with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder."

Follow @jkaytorres on Twitter.

Website:
http://www.adaughtershero.com/

Amazon purchase link:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/cr/1490514996/s=sd/ref=mw_dp_cr


Connect with me on Twitter, too. @AndreaBlackston

Today's suspense spotlight shines on John R. Dizon. An author interview about Tiara.

                                             John Reinhard Dizon

Andrea: I read that you have been writing suspense and thriller works for over twenty-five years. Why did a sixth grader in Brooklyn, NY decide to write his first novel?


John: I was absolutely fascinated by Ian Fleming's James Bond, as was the rest of the world back in the day. Enemy Ace was a Bond knockoff, but the protagonist, Fritz Hammer, is featured in Tiara and my work-in-progress, Rituals. Some ideas never die.

Andrea: How many books have you published? Are they all in the same genre?

John: Actually I enjoy the challenge of expanding into new genres just because I can. My novel Stxeamtown is the best example. I knew nothing about steampunk, but decided I'd give it a shot. It's been getting five-star reviews on Amazon thus far.

Andrea: What tip would you give an aspiring author about overcoming the fear to start and finish a first novel?

John: Writing a book should be like a virus. The only way to overcome it is to get it out of their system. If they don't have that bug that they can't shake, then they don't have the necessary drive and should just set the work aside until that overwhelming urge sets in. There's too much half-hearted effort out there these days. An aspiring writer shouldn't quench his spirit by contributing to it.

Andrea: What makes your writing style unique?


John: Imposing backdrop, dynamic characters, snappy dialogue and a powerful climax. Without these four elements there is no JRD novel. I can't get started without it.

Andrea: Could you please give a brief description of Tiara?

John: It's about Princess Jennifer of Edinburgh, a beautiful widow dedicating her life to humanitarian causes. In pursuing peace in Northern Ireland in 1998, she runs afoul of Loyalist militants who fear it will lead to Ulster seceding from the UK. She is kidnapped and the blame is placed on Republican militants, who accept an offer from the World's Most Wanted Man to rescue her. Berlin Mansfield has a fixation on her, and when he finally meets her it's like Beauty and the Beast. It ends as a touching love story against impossible odds.

Andrea: What research, if any, did you conduct to write this book?

John:I started this a quarter-century ago, and it culminated after years of study on a previous IRA novel, Bloody Sunday (which is still in the attic). There are so many activist groups in Ulster that the challenge was in making them distinguishable from one another lest the reader drowns in alphabet soup (IRA, UDA, SAS, RUC, UDR, et cetera).

Andrea: In three lines or less, please tell readers why you regard Tiara as a page-turner.

John: First and foremost, the love affair between Jennifer and Berlin is one for the ages. Second, the Princess Search is an action-packed hit-and-run affair pitting the SAS vs. the Mansfield Gang and the IRA vs. the UDA. Third, the cast of characters is an array of dauntless heroes, dastardly villains and charming maidens that you'll never forget.

Andrea: What's next for John Reinhard Dizon ?

John: Transplant , a horror/suspense thriller, is being released by Assent Publishing in May, and my publisher Les Denton has been so supportive that I've got a feeling this may be the breakout novel. I've also got Both Sides Now, a romantic comedy about pro wrestling with ETreasures Publishing, and Generations, a family saga with Solstice Publishing. As always, I've got a little something for everybody!

Andrea: How can readers keep up with you online?

John: I spend most of my time at http://www.facebook.com/johnreinharddizonUSA


Visit http://www.amazon.com/John-ReinhardDizon/e/B00DU9JNUQ/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_pop_1 to purchase Tiara.



About the Author

John Reinhard Dizon was born and raised in the Cobble Hill section of Brooklyn, NY. He participated in local and high school sports at Bishop Loughlin MHS, and was a key figure on the Brooklyn rock scene during the Punk Revolution of the 70's. Relocating to San Antonio TX in the 80's, he moonlighted as a pro wrestler before pursuing a BA at UTSA and degrees in Korean martial arts during the 90's. He currently lives in KC MO where he is studying for his MA in English at UMKC. Mr. Dizon has been studying and writing about American and European society and culture for over twenty-five years.

Author Merry Farmer stopped by with a message & a contest to enter. Romance is in the air!

Springtime of Love  

It's spring!  At last!  After the worse winter in my area that I can remember in my entire lifetime!  At last the weather is warming up, the birds are singing, and the world is turning green again.  I can't wait to see the flowers bloom again and bugs start buzzing around.  Okay, maybe I can wait for that.  I also can't wait to see the blossoming of love that always seems to happen in the spring.  I have a feeling it will be epic this year.   Have you ever noticed how so many more people seem to fall in love in the spring than during any other season?  I think it must have something to do with people as well as plants feeling the return of the sun and the flow of life through them again.  It makes perfect sense to me, considering how in ancient times spring was for celebrating fertility and reproduction.  It wasn't just the fields that were being plowed and sewn with seeds in the spring.  In fact, in a lot of ancient cultures, couples would go out into the fields after the seeds were sewn to both bless the potential crops and, of course, themselves by making love.  Now why is it that we've abandoned that practice?   Actually, I don't think it's been abandoned at all.  In fact, the coming of spring has always reminded me of young couples trying to get away with a little something-something by the light of the balmy moon.   Growing up, we lived across the street from a small public park and around the corner from a high school.  That high school was also a boarding school, and even though the boys and girls lived in separate dorms on opposite sides of the campus, they were allowed to go out for walks with each other.  Three guesses where they used to go.  The park across the street was the perfect destination for high school kids who wanted to be alone.   Granted, this was a different time and the kids that I knew back then were a lot more innocent than kids seem to be these days.  So before you start assuming that I heard all sorts of things I shouldn't through the open window of my bedroom (which faced the park), think again.  What I heard the most of was earnest teenage boys with guitars singing badly, and some not so badly, to the object of their desire.  It didn't matter how out of tune the guitar was or how few chords the boy in question knew how to play, I always wished that I was whatever girl was down there being serenaded.   Yep, springtime reminds me of young love and bad singing.  There's something about feeling those first warm evenings that makes any heart, even the heart of a grubby teenage boy, burst with song.  You can't keep the love inside when spring comes calling.  I was never very good in the real world of romance, but when the weather turned warmer, that's when I would scour the used book store for romance novels.  Then I would sit on my bed with the windows open, breathing in that fresh, clean spring air and listening to the sweet sounds of innocent love…while reading decidedly less innocent books.   But that's what spring is all about.  It's about awakening.  It's about loosening from the coldness of winter and embracing the new warmth.  I loved reading those romance novels as much as I loved listening to young couples singing in the park.  I think that's why I write romance now and why I find myself humming silly little love songs as the weather gets warmer.

Merry

In Your Arms is the third full-length novel in Merry Farmer's sweeping, engaging, and extremely historically accurate Montana Romance series. Never one to shy away from difficult or controversial topics while still imbuing her tales with more than a dash of romance and steam, Merry depicts a tale of love, trust, and stubborness against the backdrop of the turn-of-the-century American frontier. "[In Your Arms is] a book that intelligently tackles racial tensions of post-Civil War era...a highly engaging romance between two fiery-spirited individuals...I highly recommend this book to all fans of historical romance." --Mary Chen, Amazon reviewer Get In Your Arms on Amazon, Amazon UK, Smashwords, Barnes & Noble, and iBooks. Add In Your Arms to your Goodreads to-read shelf!

About In Your Arms

Lily Singer has never belonged. Taken from her tribe as a child and raised in a white man’s school, she no longer has a place in either world. Teaching has become her life. When that life is threatened by rumors and prejudice after a string of robberies, she must turn for help to the one man who spells disaster for her carefully ordered existence. Will he save her or steal her heart? Christian Avery, Justice of the Peace, is used to having things his way. Cold Springs is his responsibility, and when its citizens blame the local Indian population for the mysterious robberies, it’s up to him to restore order and maintain calm. The one person who refuses to follow his lead is the beautiful, native-born Lily. Her defiance turns his life upside down. But when town gossip shifts from robberies to romance after a foolish indiscretion, Lily’s job and reputation are on the line. She must choose between the only life she has ever known and the only place she has ever felt at home, in Christian’s arms.

About Merry Farmer

Merry Farmer lives in suburban Philadelphia with her two cats, Butterfly and Torpedo. She has been writing since she was ten years old and realized one day that she didn't have to wait for the teacher to assign a creative writing project to write something. It was the best day of her life. She then went on to earn not one but two degrees in History so that she would always having something to write about. Today she walks along the cutting edge of Indie Publishing, writing Historical Romance and Women's Sci-Fi. She is also passionate about blogging, knitting, and cricket and is working towards becoming an internationally certified cricket scorer. Find Merry Farmer on her website, Facebook, Twitter, and Amazon Author Page.

Get the book!

In Your Arms is available on Amazon, Amazon UK, Smashwords, Barnes & Noble, and iBooks. Don't forget to add In Your Arms to your to-read shelf on Goodreads. Connect with Merry Farmer on her website, Facebook, Twitter, and Amazon Author Page. a Rafflecopter giveaway

Book review of Universe 101: Learn Grow Evolve by Monica Ortiz.

Universe 101: Learn Grow Evolve challenges each reader to learn through brief stories that the author recounts. Monica Ortiz cites numerous examples of how she utilizes her spirtiual expertise through encountering other individuals. Lessons can be easily garnered through analyzing how others dealt with their human frailties, unhappiness, confusion or relationships. The manner in which Ms. Ortiz exposes her past wounds to evolve herself adds depth to the teaching element of this book. The teacher is willing to learn. Thus, the author's refreshing honesty strengthens the power of her words. This prevents a boring or preachy feel, which can be evident in some self-help books.

Each chapter is digestible and poses relevant questions that can serve as a foundation of a private assessment. I highly recommend this quick read for those who seek to understand their place in the world, how they can pay homage their role in it, and/or how to determine which areas need improvement. My primary caution is that some concepts in the book will resonate most with readers who do not have rigid religious beliefs. With that said, this book would make an excellent series, which is most likely in the works.

I enjoyed Ortiz's first book and look forward to more to come. After tweaking a few writing elements, Monica Ortiz's work as a self help leader could shine more brightly. I predict that her literary career will blossom as she helps others along the way. Well done.

Note: Click here to find this book on Amazon.

About the Author

"Monica Ortiz is author of Universe 101: Learn Grow Evolve. She founded The Universe Series has given lectures and assisted thousands of people with their healing path, speaking at venues such as Stanford University and CenterSF in San Francisco, California. From healing the body, spirit, and mind, she has helped many people turn their lives around or help them move forward for better health, advancement in their careers, forming successful relationships, and myriad of other matters.


Monica is dedicated to helping people achieve better things in all facets of their lives, ranging from career to relationships to health. Through the work she has been doing, Monica created the Universe 101: Learn Grow Evolve path and has guided people plagued with multiple problems down their healing path. The Learn, Grow, Evolve path enables people to learn from their past, grow from their life lessons into a more realized individual and evolve into the happiest, healthiest, most successful life meant for them.


Monica is currently working on Universe 202: The Process - Mind Body Spirit which she hopes will revolutionize the self-help industry and teach people how to address their issues and work past them in a successful and healthy manner."