Sunday, October 27, 2013

For all the Mommies out there that love to read, my new novel:
BLOGS OF A CHEATER EATER 
Is out on Amazon and on The Wild Rose Press publishing site right now! 
It's a romantic comedy great for anyone who knows a thing about Cheaters!
When a woman gets cheated on, who can she call?
The Cheater Eater, that's who!

For years, Kat Clyne built a business slurping up man-stew for brunch with a side of mimosa, and devotedly labeling herself "the Cheater Eater" while working for the local paper. Being hired to carry out her own brand of justice is just the tip of the fork, and in order to reach a bigger audience of women in need, she starts blogging about her theories, rules, and advice.

That is until she meets Cave Maverick, the man assigned to be her partner at the paper and a cheater himself. Determined to help women everywhere with their broken hearts, Kat struggles with the idea Cave may be one of those mythical creatures known as a good guy, but will accepting a cheater make her lose more than her heart?

Saturday, August 24, 2013


Author Interview with J.C. Whyte! 

A strange little creature enters the lives of three tough guys at Higgins Elementary. And from that point on, pranks come back like boomerangs, smacking the bullies right in their fifth grade butts!

Sully, the leader of the gang, is the only one who can see this creature, which he names Karmack. Sully learns that the creature’s job is to balance all the bad pranks the bullies have pulled over the years. Karmack warns that if this fails, “dreadful, awful doom” awaits them all.

Sully soon realizes that he must save not only himself but his friends, who have no idea why they keep getting boomeranged by Karmack!
 
 I am honored to introduce the Author of  Karmack, J.C.Whyte!  Thank you for being here J.C. let's jump right in..
 

TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT YOURSELF AND YOUR BOOK. 
Karmack is the story of three tough guys notorious for pulling pranks at Higgins Elementary. But things begin to change when a strange little creature enters their lives. From that point on, their pranks start coming back like boomerangs, smacking them right in their 5th grade butts!

The leader of the bullies – Sully – is the only one who can see this creature, which he names Karmack. The creature tells Sully that its job is to balance all the bad karma the boys have amassed over the years. But if Karmack fails, the boys will suffer "dreadful, awful doom". As an example of such doom, Karmack reminds Sully of that neighbor kid who shot at crows with his BB gun – one day he crashed his bike into a pigeon coop and emerged as the Abominable Snowman of bird poop! Worse yet, his trigger finger had been crushed by a falling perch. That kind of doom.
Sully soon realizes he must save not only himself but his gang from this doom, even though his friends have no idea why their pranks keep boomeranging. Of course, calamity and hilarity follow. But in the end, Sully and the guys learn a valuable lesson about the consequences of being a bully, and what it takes to be a true leader.

 
WHEN AND HOW DID YOU BECOME A WRITER? 
I discovered a love for writing while I was still in elementary school. Back then of course, I wrote only children’s stories. But as a grownup, I had to face the harsh reality that such writing seldom pays the bills. So I got my degrees in Journalism and Communications, and turned to Public Relations, where for many years I focused my creative energies in feature writing.   
 
Then after marriage, kids, several more degrees and occupations (including stints as a travel agent and paralegal), I entered law school. While there, I became a columnist for the student newsletter and one of my humorous articles was even published in The National Jurist.
 
After graduating and passing the Bar, I realized within a few short years that creative writing was still what made my heart sing. So now, as a grandma, I’ve returned to writing for children. And with the publication of Karmack, I’ve truly come full circle, back to where my writing journey began.
 
 
WHAT IS THE HARDEST THING ABOUT BEING A WRITER?
Getting published! I was fortunate to find such a good publisher for Karmack, but since Muse It Up is a small publishing house, I’ve got to do my own marketing. I’m finding that’s tough too!

 
WHAT ARE YOU WORKING ON AT THE MOMENT?
I’m putting the finishing touches on a novel for adults, and hoping to find it a good publishing home soon. I’ve written other children’s and YA novels, but those have been scrapped. I’ve heard from other writers that their first attempts also aren’t even worth mentioning.
 
If Karmack sells well, I hope to publish a sequel which I’ve already started. It will bring back not only the creature but Sully and his pals. But this time, they’re all in middle school, where the bully stakes are much higher!
 
 
DO YOU EVR SUFFER FROM WRITER’S BLOCK?  IF SO, HOW DO YOU GET PAST IT? 
I’ve never really had a problem with writer’s block, just laziness. Some days I find a million and one reasons to avoid writing. But when I finally start, it’s like a magic spell has been cast over me and I lose all track of time. It’s a great feeling!

 
DO YOU HAVE A FAVORITE PLACE TO WRITE?
I just write on my computer in my home office. I have a sweet little office with a window where I can look out at the world. (And that’s a good thing when you lose all track of time!)

 
OTHER THAN WRITING, WHAT ELSE DO YOU LOVE?
That’s easy: travel! Now that my husband is semi-retired, we plan to begin hitting that old bucket list and start seeing the world.

 
DID YOU HAVE YOUR BOOK(S) PROFESSIONALLY EDITED BEFORE PUBLICATION?
Yes. Muse It Up Publishing is a really professional operation, providing editing and cover design. But what makes this house stand out is that the author gets input all along the way.
 
 
DO YOU SEE YOURSELF IN ANY OF YOUR CHARACTERS?
No. But my main character, Sully, is based on a boy I knew in elementary school. He was a real character, always getting into trouble. Yet he had clear leadership qualities which just needed some direction. That’s where my inspiration came from.

 
DOES THE PUBLISHING INDUSTRY FRUSTRATE YOU?
Somewhat. There’s just so much competition out there. I tried unsuccessfully to get an agent for my books, but it seems they’re all looking for that blockbuster series. I don’t write that type of book.

 
DID YOU EVER THINK OF QUITTING?
Never. When you get the kind of high I get from writing, you never consider quitting.

 
DO YOU HAVE ANY TIPS FOR NEW WRITERS?
Just write. Every day. You’ll get better with every word you write.
 
 
And now for the speed round of questions...
J.C.'s “BLONDE” BASICS:

FAVORITE FOOD?  Mashed potatoes. I could eat them until they came out of my pores.
FAVORITE MOVIE? Casablanca. Can’t go wrong with that classic.
FAVORITE BOOK? East of Eden by John Steinbeck, a giant of an author
FAVORITE AUTHOR?  Either John Steinbeck or Ken Follett (another giant).

 
A HUGE heartfelt thank you to J.C. for sharing some insights on herself and her book Karmack!   

Here's where you can get a copy:

Muse It Up Publishing-- https://museituppublishing.com/bookstore2/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage.tpl&product_id=670&category_id=69&manufacturer_id=304&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=1



AND here's an extra treat!  An excerpt from the book:


Through front yards, backyards, and down the main road, the pursuers continued to chase the squealer into town. Sully, Breeze, and Gonzo (also known as Curtis Sullenburg, Matthew Brezinski, and Carlos Gonzalez) were the toughest dudes in fifth grade. Everyone knew these three were definitely trouble. And the worst was Sully, their leader.

The old Statewide Bank building lay just ahead, on the corner of Main Street and Railroad Avenue. And that was where the squealer ran out of gas.

Sully immediately pinned him to the ground, right there at the corner. Lying in the snow, the squealer looked petrified. Sully laughed and let go of the boy—just knowing he scared the living daylights out of the kid was enough for Sully. But not Gonzo—he dropped his backpack on the left side of the squealer’s face. “That’s for making us chase you,” he said.

Sully let out a loud “Hah!”

Then the boys heard a rumble. It came from above them—from the pitched roof of the bank. Sully looked up in time to see a bundle of snow drop from the roof. It fell downward, toward Gonzo, who was still hovering over the squealer.

“Hey, look out,” Sully shouted, but not in time. Gonzo did look up, just as the pile of snow hit his face. The squealer managed to squirm out of the way and take off down the road. Breeze began to dig out his friend.

But Sully was frozen to his spot, still gazing at the roof of the bank. Because he saw something up there—a small figure no bigger than a two-year-old. And was it… laughing?

Sully knew it couldn’t be a child. Not with that long, fat nose. Definitely not a child.

Was it just his imagination? Or maybe…a reflection…from ice on the roof? After giving his eyes a good rub, Sully changed his view of the roof by walking around the corner. And there—there was that little guy, laughing again! The creature in the funny green outfit saw Sully too. Then came a flash of light as it darted to the other side of the roof, beyond Sully’s vision.

“Breeze…did you…see that?” Sully wanted to know.

“Yeah, Gonzo got dumped on. Lucky break for the squealer.”

“No, I mean…ah, forget it.” Sully knew he’d seen someone. Yet…

Never the shy one, Sully next ran into the bank to question the first teller he saw. “Is some guy up on the roof?”

“What?”

“You got some guy shoveling snow off the roof? My friend, he got dumped on.”

“Uh, not that I’m aware of.” The female teller turned around and asked the branch manager the same question. Then she returned to Sully. “No one’s on the roof. What’s the problem?”

“I saw…somebody…up there."

The manager came to the counter. “There’s no one up there, son. Some snow must’ve fallen from the roof. Is your friend all right?”

“Yeah, I guess. But I coulda sworn I saw someone up there.”

The teller smiled. “Probably just glare from the sun. Nice to have some sun today, isn’t it?”

But Sully only shrugged and walked out of the bank.

The guys were waiting for him outside. Gonzo was dusty with snow. And he was cradling the left side of his face. It was red and starting to swell.

“What’s going on?” asked Breeze.

“That’s what I wanna know.” Sully frowned as he committed the creature’s face to his memory. Anyone crossing Sully usually lived to regret it.

That is…until now.
 
 
 

Saturday, August 10, 2013


Author Interview with Lissa Brown! 

An ordinary, extraordinary relationship. Where does a young girl turn to survive family turmoil? Reaching into a past she never knew, young Ellen Brodsky establishes a transformational relationship with Grandma Hannah. But who is this dead grandmother, and why is their connection so crucial to the survival of three generations of women?
 
 
I am honored to introduce the Author of  Family Secrets: Three Generations, Lissa Brown!  Thank you for being here Lissa!!!
 
About the Author:  Lissa Brown has been writing since she learned how to form letters and put them on paper. She’s been a columnist, a speech writer, a ghost writer for elected officials and company executives, and a media relations specialist for gubernatorial and state legislative campaigns. After successful careers in teaching, public relations and marketing she retired to her present home in North Carolina’s Blue Ridge Mountains. There she discovered the luxury of being able to write for herself and quickly published the book, Real Country: From the Fast Track to Appalachia under the pen name, Leslie Brunetsky. Family Secrets: Three Generations is her first novel.
 
 
TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT YOURSELF AND YOUR BOOK. 

I’ve had several careers—teacher, public relations and marketing pro, columnist—and for the past eight years, full-time writer. Family Secrets: Three Generations is my first novel. It highlights the struggles of a young girl as she copes with a family that is less than ideal. She establishes a relationship with her dead grandmother, Hannah, and this mentoring helps her get through the challenges of a failing family and the usual things a young girl has to deal with as she enters her teens.
 
WHEN AND HOW DID YOU BECOME A WRITER? 
I’ve written since I was about seven years old. I was always drawn to expressing myself in writing and wrote for my junior high school newspaper once I realized I had a bit of talent. My first articles were published in school newspapers and later in magazines and newspapers. I didn’t publish my first book until I’d retired from full-time work.
 
WHAT IS YOUR GREATEST WRITING ACHIEVEMENT?
This might sound strange but I’d have to consider the results of the first article I wrote for my school newspaper to be the greatest achievement. I was assigned to interview the girl who won the naming contest for our school paper. I did that, wrote the article, and out of that contact a friendship grew that we share to this day. We’ve been close friends for more than 50 years!
 
WHAT IS THE HARDEST THING ABOUT BEING A WRITER?
For me, it’s rewrites. I spend far more time doing that than writing the book. It is painful to have to omit segments that I think are wonderful when I realize they don’t move the story forward. It’s like killing off a child or a pet.
 
WHAT ARE YOU WORKING ON AT THE MOMENT?
I’m writing a sequel to my latest novel, Another F-Word, about the bullying of a gay boy. I’m also doing a lot of speaking engagements about bullying in conjunction with that book.
 
WHAT GENRE(S) DO YOU WRITE?
I write humor, fiction and non-fiction. I’ve also written a memoir and have had several essays published in anthologies.
 
DO YOU EVR SUFFER FROM WRITER’S BLOCK?  IF SO, HOW DO YOU GET PAST IT? 
I’m not a very disciplined writer. I pretty much write when I feel like doing it. I suppose that’s why I don’t experience writer’s block. I’ve written under tight deadlines for many years  and always managed to come up with something.
 
 
DO YOU HAVE A FAVORITE PLACE TO WRITE?
I write at my PC in my home office.
 
WHAT’S THE GREATEST COMPLIMENT YOU EVER RECEIVED FROM A READER?
A young man who read my novel, Another F-Word, told me it gave him the courage to go on living because the book convinced him that somebody understood what he was going through.
 
 
WHAT WAS THE WORST COMMENT FROM A READER?
Someone said a book was poorly written. It happened to be what I thought was my best book.
 
OTHER THAN WRITING, WHAT ELSE DO YOU LOVE?
I love anything to do with nature. I hike, bird watch, spend as much time as I can outdoors.  Photography is something I especially enjoy. I love bluegrass music and tinker with a bluegrass banjo and write songs from time to time. My greatest passion is reading. I cannot recall a day when I didn’t read.
 
DID YOU HAVE YOUR BOOK(S) PROFESSIONALLY EDITED BEFORE PUBLICATION?
Yes. I’m a good proofreader but not a good editor of my own work. I always need a pair of professional eyes to edit my work. I also rely on other writers to critique my work.
 
HOW DID YOUR BOOK COVER COME TO FRUITION?   
I hired a professional illustrator to do the cover of Family Secrets: Three Generations. I’d used him to do another cover and was impressed with how quickly and how well he grasped the plot line and captured it with his illustration. Once I was pleased with the illustration, I turned it over to a professional book designer to incorporate it into a cover design.
 
DO YOU SEE YOURSELF IN ANY OF YOUR CHARACTERS?
There’s a definite resemblance to my main character, nine-year-old Ellen. The setting is a composite of places where I grew up so I was aware that I occasionally saw myself in her place.
 
DOES THE PUBLISHING INDUSTRY FRUSTRATE YOU?
Of course. The effort required to find an agent, get something published through the traditional route is so time-consuming that I decided not to bother with it.  I’ve self-published all three of my books. I’d rather spend the time writing than trying to cut through the maze of red tape with agents and publishers. Besides, like having the control over my books.
 
DID YOU EVER THINK OF QUITTING?
No. I write because I feel I must, so that’s not an option. I still enjoy it. If I ever reach a point at which I no longer do, I’ll quit, but I can’t imagine that happening.
 
HOW WOULD YOU DEFINE ‘SUCCESS’ AS A WRITER?
Each writing project has its own purpose. With Family Secrets: Three Generations my goal was to write a novel that conveyed to young readers that every generation has similar challenges. The particulars might change, but the issues we face as we grow up are the same. Another idea I tried to develop was that nobody needs to face problems alone. There’s always a way to get support from others.  If readers tell me they get that, I consider it a successful book.  When I write humor, I look for signs that people find it funny. That’s how I measure success with that type of writing. In my newest novel, I hoped to convey that being bullied is difficult, but when you have support from friends and family, you can survive it and even thrive. Readers have told me they feel that way about the book, so I’m pleased that I’ve met my major goal.
 
DO YOU HAVE ANY TIPS FOR NEW WRITERS?
First, write for yourself. Even if you never submit it to anyone, write what is important to you. Get several writers to critique your work. That is the single most important way to refine your skills. When you’re ready to put your work out there, remember that it’s your work people are reacting to; it’s not you. That makes it easier to accept criticism.
 
And now for the speed round of questions...
Lissa's “BLONDE” BASICS:



FAVORITE FOOD?  
Blueberry pancakes with maple syrup
 
FAVORITE MOVIE?  
Quartet


FAVORITE BOOK?
Les Miserables


FAVORITE SUPERHERO?  
Rosa Parks


FAVORITE AUTHOR? 
Barbara Kingsolver

A HUGE heartfelt thank you to Lissa for sharing some insights on herself!   

Here's where you can find her:

www.lissabrownwrites.com