The Eighteenth Issue

 

As Jerry Garcia of the Grateful Dead sang “What a long, strange trip it’s been!”   That sums up the action for the last month.  Seems like I just put the July issue on the board when it’s time for August.  How did that happen?   So for tidbits on writing, my latest projects (yes, like rabbits they have multiplied) an interview with an endearing character and some music, keep reading.  Time to get the party started.

Writing

          One component of writing that can be challenging, frustrating and ultimately rewarding is editing.  I’m a firm believer in the act of ‘just write, baby!’  Getting the words down in print or on the screen is the priority. There will be time later to make it pretty, to clean up all the nagging little grammatical and spelling errors, to address the redundancies.

          It’s part of my routine, especially when it’s been a while between writing sessions, to read what already been done. This gets me back into the mode, draws me back into the storyline. I’ve also taken to polishing the earlier work as I go, so when it gets close to being done, the work is in good shape. Then I’ll review, edit and tidy it up before letting anyone else even read the story.

          Years ago I was part of a writer’s group.  The idea was to share our efforts and get feedback.  One of the ladies who participated was hung up on the same three pages of her story.  Each time we met, she’d change a couple of words here or there. I kept encouraging her to move forward with the story.  She refused. “I’ve got to get this part perfect.” 

As far as I know, she never got past those three pages.

Just write, baby.  There will be time later to make it pretty.

 

Work In Progress

          The editor from The Wild Rose Press has been in touch, requesting some minor changes to “The Wayward Path” manuscript. We’ve traded a number of emails so far.  She did comment how much she enjoyed the story, which is always nice to hear.

          At the same time, I was notified by Melissa at Inkspell Publishing that the anthology “Once Upon A Summer” had reached the end of the contract. The eight authors involved had the option of taking their stories back on their own, or releasing them as individual novellas with Inkspell.  I chose the latter.

          That led to a mad dash to collaborate with the artist for a new cover and to reformat the manuscript.  With Melissa’s help, “Stealing Haven” is now it’s own book.  Here’s the cover.

 

          Now as the dust of all that activity settles, maybe I can get back to work on Jamie Four. 

 

Interview

A little change up is in order.  Instead of interviewing another author, occasionally I’ll conduct something in-depth with one of my favorite characters.  So it seems only appropriate that we shift the spotlight this month to Jamie’s best friend, Linda Davis. Some would say that she’s the voice of common sense and reason that helps keep Jamie in line.  Others might say she’s just along for the ride.

Here's what Linda might look like.

 

Tell us a bit about your relationship with Jamie:

(Sighs and then laughs) It’s a bit complicated.  We’ve been friends forever, since we met in the second grade. Jamie can be stubborn, determined and quick tempered, but she’s also the most loyal person in the world.

Care to share a little of your own background?

I teach history at a local high school. That’s something I’ve enjoyed for years. I’m passionate about teaching and always looking for new ways to get the students interested in the material.

How would you describe Jamie?

Sassy, determined, kind, lovable, beautiful, intelligent and talented. Mix in a little bit of smart ass and a good sense of humor. There’s more, but that’s what jumps to mind.

Jamie has described you as ‘drop dead gorgeous.’  Does that hinder your efforts with the students?

(laughs again) I don’t wear an evening gown while teaching, but no matter my outfit, my looks seem to keep the attention of the male students. Seriously, I usually dress to downplay my features, nothing too tight or revealing. But teenagers have active imaginations!

Tell us about your recent vacation:

It was supposed to be this relaxing little trip to the shores of Lake Michigan. An old family friend lives there and offered us the use of a spare bedroom. All I wanted to do was work on my tan, swim in the Great Lake and have a little fun. Enjoy some good food and maybe a little wine. Just me, Jamie and my dog, Logan. But while those ideas sounded promising to Jamie, she couldn’t resist getting…distracted.

Sounds like an ideal vacation. How did she get distracted?

          (lowers her voice an octave) It was a combination of ‘who’ and a ‘what’!  The ‘who’ was a guy interested in a little romance. The ‘what’ was a home invasion. That got her imagination percolating like an antique coffee pot. Or maybe it was the romance! (laughs) Or a combination of both!

Anything you’d like to share?

 Nope. I don’t want to spoil the story. That’s what “Stealing Haven” is all about. Although I will say that this vacation pre-dates her involvement with Malone.

Here’s an excerpt from “Stealing Haven”.  In this scene, Jamie and Linda are on their way to the beach when Jamie wants to follow up on something she saw the night before.

“Jamie, what are we doing?”

“I’m curious. That’s two nights in a row where we’ve seen someone running in the dark. Maybe there is something going on.”

“Why are you looking for trouble? We’re on vacation. Is this a way of diverting my attention from your misbehavior?” A wicked grin flashed across her face.

Ignoring her, I stood at the back of the house. The footprints were still visible in the yard. Randy had been right. There were no signs of activity near the building. But if they were running away from here, where did they come from? I turned around and faced the street, following the diagonal path. I could imagine someone racing between the two houses on the opposite side of the road. Curiosity got the better of me. We walked in that direction. Both houses were dark with no signs of life. I went between them to the backyards.

“Jamie, let’s go. The beach is waiting. Sun, sand, muscular lifeguards with tiny swimsuits could be looking for us even as we’re standing here.”

“There are no lifeguards on our part of the beach.”

“Maybe they’re on vacation, too.”

I was about to give up when something caught my eye. The back door to the house on the left, a quaint little cottage, was pried open. There were several gouges in the wood. Peeking through the window, I could see into the kitchen. The cupboard doors were ajar. Linda stood silently beside me for a moment. Then she moved around the corner. She returned, shaking her head in dismay.

“There’s a gap in the curtains on the side window. The place looks ransacked.” From her straw bag, she dug out her cell phone and a small piece of paper. I realized it was Randy’s business card from the other day. We walked down the driveway so we could find an address number. The look she gave me was less than friendly. “Only you, Jamie. Only you.”

Five minutes later, a police car pulled up in front. The uniformed officer had just begun taking down our information when another vehicle parked behind him. Jared stepped out of the car, drumming his fingers on the roof. But there were traces of a grin on his face.

“We gotta stop meeting like this. My wife is gonna get suspicious.”

“It’s not me,” Linda said innocently. “It’s her.”

He walked up the driveway. “Let’s hear how you two just happened to stumble onto this. Because it seems like the last thing you’d be doing on a vacation.”

Buy Links:

AMAZON: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09C51LR27

KOBO: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/stealing-haven

BN: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/stealing-haven-mark-love/1139986371

APPLE: https://books.apple.com/us/book/id1580300787

 

Music

Lately the incredible vocals of Al Jarreau have been getting a lot of play on my system.  During his career, which spanned fifty years, Al wowed audiences with his talent. Whether in R&B, soul, pop or jazz, he always delivered. That mellow voice led to over a dozen Grammy nominations. Jarreau claimed seven Grammy awards and was inducted into the Soul Music Hall of Fame.

Here are my top five favorites from Al Jarreau.

Moonlighting: https://youtu.be/qZxLXuFfPvM

Breezin’: https://youtu.be/Z-99Vr3IH8Y

After All: https://youtu.be/YfWjAex7R9E

Mornin’: https://youtu.be/kzXNdLVZs3k

We’re In This Love Together: https://youtu.be/otVH5cv9z1A

The Seventeenth Issue

 

It’s that time again, for another glimpse into my efforts at creativity.  You might discover where a writer gets their ideas (Ha!) how easy it is to plot out your story, (Umm) or where and when a story takes place (Hmm). Or it could be none of the above. That’s part of the fun.  As in the past, this month will include a bit of my efforts at writing, a glimpse at my latest project, an interview with another author and of course, music.  For as Nietzsche said, “Without music, life would be a mistake”.  With that in mind, let’s rock!

 

Writing

          Somebody asked me recently about whether or not vulgarities belong in stories.  I considered it for a second and said ‘It depends. Who your audience is can be major factor in that decision.’

 I don’t write for kids or young adults. I’ve had many different jobs over the years, from truck driver to collections specialist, to restaurant manager to human resources professional to college professor and more.  In most of those roles, I worked with adults. Many of them considered swearing or the use of vulgarities to be part of their common, everyday language.  Everyone understood it. So it’s only natural for me to include some swearing in my stories.

There are times when a vulgarity is the perfect way to convey a mood, along with the dialogue. It also gives your readers some insight into the characters. Which can make them realistic to your readers.

In “The Wayward Path” Jefferson Chene has several meetings with a priest from his childhood and two Dominican nuns from a local Catholic school.  These interactions keep Chene in line.  Yet when he’s among his fellow detectives at a squad meeting, it’s natural for him to drop the occasional ‘F’ bomb.

Some writers prefer to refrain from using vulgarity. That’s their choice and I totally understand it. But it’s part of daily life for me. A recent conversation comes to mind, with a woman who is quite a bit younger than me, and she was swearing up a blue streak.  Then she caught herself and blushed.  “Hope I didn’t offend you,” she said.

All I could do was laugh and think of how Pappy Cantrell would have reacted. “Ain’t nuthin’ ah ain’t never heard afore.”

 

Work In Progress.

The Wild Rose Press, which has published the first two Chene mysteries, requested the full manuscript for “The Wayward Path”.  Now I’m trying to keep busy, working on another project while the editor reviews it.  Hopefully, they will enjoy it and want to add it to the catalog.

Meanwhile, the story line for Jamie Four continues to grow. The main plot and a subplot are developing. A crossover scene keeps gnawing at my brain, so that will be written soon. It may turn out that more than one character from the Chene series makes an appearance here. We’ll see how that goes. 

Jamie can be very demanding.

                                           Author Interview

          However did authors connect with one another before the advent of social media?  Over the years I’ve met many at art festivals and author events and through my publishers.  I’ve also developed connections on several social media outlets.  Which leads me to Michelle Hollstein, this month’s guest.  To call her a prolific writer would be an understatement. The fact that she writes in several different genres just proves she’s likely to have written something that will appeal to you.

So let’s get to know Michelle.

 

 

Where are you from?  I live in beautiful Oceanside, California with my two children and my two spoiled kitties. Before moving to San Diego County just over eleven years ago, I lived in the desert near Palm Springs for eleven years.  My Aggie Underhill cozy mystery series mostly takes place in Palm Springs and my new Science Fiction/Horror series, Fatal Reaction, takes place in San Diego County.  I have a lot of fun using both areas in my writing.

Any favorite hobbies?  I love to paint with acrylics.  My degree is in Art Studio with a concentration in painting.  I also love to sing.

How long have you been writing?  I’ve been writing for about 17 years.  I was working as an administrative assistant and when work would get slow, I decided to write.  Once I got started, I couldn’t stop. 

Are you able to write full time or do you also have a job/career?  Unfortunately, over the years, I’d been writing part time for fun around my work schedule.  In the future, I hope to be able to write full time and make a career of it.

Is there a particular genre that you write? 

The first book I’d written was Fantasy.  I was feeling inspired after reading Harry Potter.  Since then I’ve written Fantasy, Science Fiction/Horror, comedy, cozy mysteries, paranormal mysteries, erotica and beginning painting books.

What is your favorite aspect or writing? Your least favorite?  Writing is an escape from reality for me and I love it.  My least favorite aspect of writing is editing.    

What aspect of writing would you most like to improve on? My grammar.  I have a habit of writing how I speak.   

 What have you learned the most from being in the writing business?   There are going to be people that love your work and those that hate it.  Unfortunately, you can’t make everyone happy.  I believe that it’s important to write what you enjoy and try not to think of those people that won’t like it.

How did you decide on your story plot?   A scene pops into my head and I go from there.  I never have an outline or know where my book is going to go.  I just have fun with the story and write whatever comes to mind. 

Describe how this method works best for you. Outline or ‘seat of the pants’? 

Always ‘Seat of the pants.”  I love letting my imagination run wild and I’m always amazed when the story eventually comes together at the end.

Let’s take a closer look at one of the books. Here’s a bit about “Something’s Fishy” An Aggie Underhill Mystery.

Join Aggie as she flies with her best friend Betty to Palm Springs where a $200,000 fish is stolen, an actress is kidnapped, and a man is murdered. Naturally curious, Aggie can’t help getting involved. Despite numerous warnings from her daughter to mind her own business, Aggie takes matters into her own hands.

 

Excerpt

 

Aggie frowned.  “I’d say this woman is what you’d call a neat freak.  Look at the room; it’s immaculate except for the bed.  So was the rest of the house.  Spotless.”

“She’s right,” Lance said.  “Tiffany makes her bed first thing every morning.  Always.  She does it as soon as she gets up.  She doesn’t even have her coffee first.  She’s a bit compulsive.  Everything and everyone must always be perfect.” 

Both Aggie and Sarah looked at Lance.  Aggie raised an eyebrow at him.  She’d detected a hint of bitterness.

Realizing the attention he’d drawn to himself, Lance felt he’d better explain and sighed.  “Tiffany and I have been dating.  It’s been an on-again, off-again sort of relationship.”

“I see,” Aggie said.  “And what are you as of now?”

“We’re off again,” Lance said, and then stared down at his hands.  “We had a little falling out.”

Aggie stared at him waiting for more of an explanation.

“That’s all,” Lance said, shrugging.  He left the master bedroom and peered into the spare bedroom across the hall.  It appeared to be untouched.  He then pushed open the door to Tiffany’s office.  Aggie and Sarah followed him.

“May I ask why you’re off again?” Aggie inquired.

“Mum!” Sarah snapped, embarrassed by her mother’s nosiness. 

Lance stood in front of the large oak desk.  A screensaver bounced across the computer screen.  He turned and looked at Aggie.  “I don’t think my personal life is any of your business.”

“Mum,” Sarah said, putting her hand on her mother’s shoulder.  “We should probably get going.  I don’t think we should be snooping around.  What if Tiffany comes home and finds us in her house?  I know I wouldn’t like it.”

Ignoring Sarah’s comment, Aggie watched as Lance turned his attention to the desk.  He stared at the bouncing screensaver.

“I’m sorry,” Aggie said.  “You’re right.  Your relationship is none of my business.  I’m just trying to help.”

Lance shrugged his shoulders again and sighed.  “She runs an online dating service,” he said.  “That’s where she makes her money, setting people up.  They pay her to use the website to meet other people.  She personally matches them up.”  He chuckled nervously.  “She’s so busy matching people up, yet, she won’t give up the site for me.  All her time is spent talking to eligible men looking for a woman.”

Lance turned to face Aggie.  “I’ve always worried that this obsession with her business of hooking people up would lead to something like this.  There are a lot of crazy people online.”

“I met my husband online,” Sarah said.  “It’s not that bad.” 

Aggie and Lance stared at her.

“Sorry,” Sarah said, shrugging.  “I was just trying to help.”

Aggie pushed past Lance and pulled out the chair from the desk.  She sat down and grabbed the mouse.  With a few quick movements, the screensaver disappeared.  The computer pulled up a web page called Heart’s Desire.  A photograph of a beautiful woman with long blonde hair was at the top right of the screen.  She was dressed in a seductive red dress and blowing kisses.  Red hearts emerged from her collagen filled lips and flew across the screen. 

“That’s Tiffany,” Lance said.

“Oh, I see,” Aggie acknowledged.  She now knew why Lance was leery of Tiffany’s career choice.  Tiffany was a very beautiful woman.

Beneath Tiffany’s photo were boxes.  They prompted customers to fill out the form with information about themselves, and then Tiffany would personally match them up with other singles within her database that fit their desires. 

“Tiffany’s site is different from the other online dating sites because she reads the files on each of her clients, and personally talks with them about their desires and fantasies.  She then hand-picks the matches.  She feels a personal touch is what makes her site so popular.” 

“And you don’t approve?” Aggie asked.

“I feel she gets a little too involved with some these people,” Lance said.

“What do you mean by too involved?”

Lance frowned.  “I think she becomes a little too close to some of the clients.  Their relationships seem to be more of a priority to her than our relationship.”    

“Is her computer always left on?” Aggie asked, wondering if the website had something to do with her disappearance.

“Yes.  It’s always on.  She also has a separate phone line for her office.  That way her business is always at her fingertips,” Lance said.  “I’m going to check out the rest of the house and have a look around.”

“Maybe we should call the police,” Sarah said as soon as Lance left the room.

“No.  Not yet, dear,” Aggie said while searching the drawers of the desk.

“Mum, this is creepy!  We don’t know these people!  And you shouldn’t be going through her things!”

“Nonsense,” Aggie said, pulling open the bottom left-hand drawer.  Inside was a bunch of files in a variety of colors.

 

Just follow these links to learn more about Michelle. 

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B004FSAF7Q

Audible Author page: https://www.audible.com/author/Michelle-Ann-Hollstein/B004FSAF7Q

www.MichelleHollstein.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Mhollstein/

Facebook Author page: https://www.facebook.com/Michelle-Ann-Hollstein-Author-Page-172084432819333

My books are available as Kindle ebooks, audiobooks and paperbacks 

In honor of being interviewed, I’ve set up some FREE Kindle ebooks to share with all of you.  I hope you enjoy them!

Something’s Fishy, An Aggie Underhill Mystery; Awakened Within, A Vienna Rossi Paranormal Mystery; and Book of Dreams, The Niburu Chronicles will all be available as FREE Kindle ebooks Monday, July 19^th through Friday, July 23^rd.  Enjoy!

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B084LYMZX5

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0051BBHF0

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08PJHBP4K

 

Music

 

Billy Joel has long been a regular on my music list and his variety of songs have spanned generations. For more than fifty years, Joel has been writing and performing.  He frequently has concerts at Madison Square Gardens in New York City.  Nominated more than twenty times, Billy Joel has won 5 Grammy awards, was inducted into the Songwriter’s Hall of Fame, The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Kennedy Center Honors.

During his tours, it’s not uncommon for Billy to conduct a Q & A session with his audience. You can see the results of one such event in the first video.

Picking just five favorites was a challenge. But here’s my list.

NY State of Mind:  https://youtu.be/htZnpnoHGgY

Keeping the Faith:  https://youtu.be/ph7oZnBH05s

Only the Good Die Young.  https://youtu.be/ERWREcPIoPA

We Didn’t Start the Fire: https://youtu.be/eFTLKWw542g

River of Dreams: https://youtu.be/hSq4B_zHqPM

 

 

The Sixteenth Issue

 

If it’s the 19^th, that means it’s time for the news. The 3 19 news that is. That little grouping of numbers continues to pop up when I least expect it.  Just last week, gas prices here in the Mitten were at $ 3.19 a gallon.  I was also reading “Lisey’s Story” by Stephen King and room 319 kept popping up in the story.  It’s a good thing I don’t believe in coincidences, or I’d be looking over my shoulder.

Here’s a peek into my world of writing, a bit about my latest work in progress, an interview with another great author and of course, music. How dull this world would be without music.  Let’s roll.

 

Writing 

          When and where your story takes place can have as much impact as a character. Some people enjoy reading about events from a hundred years ago. Others want to look at the future and jump several decades or lightyears ahead.  Does your story take place in a real location, or a mystical garden of make believe?

          The setting plays a role.  Almost all my novels take place in the metropolitan Detroit area, where I lived for many years. Set in a contemporary time frame, I like to use some landmarks that people familiar with the area will recognize.  This includes Comerica Park, Ford Field, the McNamara Federal Building, Belle Isle, the Grosse Pointe suburbs and more.  There are often restaurants mentioned where I’ve enjoyed a great meal.

          In addition to the physical geographic area, the time of year can be a factor too. In “Vanishing Act” the story takes place during the winter months.  While other parts of Michigan often get hammered with blizzards, it’s unusual for the Detroit area to experience this. Most storms move from west to east and it’s not uncommon for them to run out of steam crossing the mitten state.  But I need a storm to be part of the story.  The arrival of a snowstorm hampers the search for Jamie’s best friend when she goes missing.

          In one reader’s review of the story, they claimed to be able to feel the cold of these winter scenes. Considering they were enjoying the book during the summer and in the warmth of Atlanta, Georgia, I’ll take that as a compliment.

Here’s a picture of a favorite spot in Motown.       

 

Work In Progress

          The query for “The Wayward Path” was submitted ahead of schedule.  Feedback from my fantastic team of beta readers was very positive and they helped catch a number of screwups I made in the earlier drafts.  Now it’s time to ‘hurry up and wait’ to hear from the publisher.

          Meanwhile the fourth Jamie Richmond book has begun.  I hit 18,000 words the other day, which is a good start.  There is a main plot and one subplot slowly developing.  I’m looking forward to seeing what mischief my favorite redhead gets herself into here.   There may also be a crossover appearance.  Jamie has popped up in the second and third Jefferson Chene novels. Maybe Chene and his team will return the favor. Anything is possible.

 

Author Interview

          I think of this month’s featured author as a dear friend.  After all, we’ve both been featured in two anthologies and have been writing for a few years now. We’ve both appeared on Dr. Paul’s Family Talk on Impact Radio. The fact that we’ve never met might seem a bit odd. But the world is a smaller place these days. The wonders of technology do bring us all a little bit closer together.  I’ve no doubt that if the opportunity were to present itself, Liz Ashlee and I would gather at a corner of the bar, with a cocktail or two and pass several hours trading tales, ideas and experiences.

 

Where are you from? 
I’m from Independence, Kentucky! It’s located in Northern Kentucky, very close to Cincinnati, Ohio.

What’s your ‘someday’ or dream vacation spot and why?
I am obsessed with Banff in Alberta, Canada. A few years ago, I was looking at one of those slide shows that randomly pops up your Google News and the subject was beautiful vacation spots. Banff happened to make the list. I’m not sure if it was the mountains straight out of a Window’s Desktop background, the glassy water, or the Stephen-King-vibe Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel, but I vibed with it. Hopefully someday I’ll make it there!

What’s your favorite thing to do for relaxation?
Like a lot of people, I’m really into true crime. What better way to relax than to listen to a podcast or watch a documentary about murder, theft, or unsolved mysteries? Weirdly, it makes you very thankful that your life is normal and lacking those mysteries!

Any favorite hobbies?

I’ll be blunt: I’m not your average twenty-something. I love to watch TV shows like Columbo, M*A*S*H, The Twilight Zone and Green Acres. So it should be very shocking when I say that my hobby is to cross-stitch. There’s something magical about creating thousands of tiny squares and seeing them slowly form a message or picture. I’m currently working on a pattern of the Biltmore.

How long have you been writing?
I have been writing since I was in the second grade. It was probably horrendous, I’ll admit. It started with an amazing, kind teacher who recognized that a shy young girl had potential; she would exchange letters with me. I also remember yearning to be a writer because my mom was taking a writing class when I was around that age. I wanted to be just like her. Later in elementary school I started writing a book - it was a horrendous ghost story that will never see the light of day.

Are you able to write full time or do you also have a job/career?

I am Prospect Analyst for Northern Kentucky University. I like to joke that my job is to creep on people. I research alumni, community members, organizations, and foundations who might be interested in getting further involved with NKU, either by participating in events on campus, making a gift, or joining a board.

Is there a particular genre that you write?  Or more than one?  What led you there?

I write contemporary romance, particularly New Adult romance. I’m very much a happy-endings person! This is to the extent that I’ll intentionally spoil movies, books and television shows to see if they end happily - if they don’t, I won’t usually go down that path. Weird, considering I like true crime, right? But I just believe that there is enough unhappiness in the world and if I’m going to create something, I want it to be filled with love, hope and happiness.

Do you use friends or family as characters in your work?
I try not to! Because it’s fiction, I never want somebody I know to think, “Oh, this is me!” but then that character does something horrible or dies...how depressing would that be? I even feel weird about using the names of people I know half the time. For example, in Heart’s a Mess, the love interest was named John...and in the midst of editing the book, I began working for a man named John. Although, nobody else but me would probably feel weirded out by me!

I will say, though, that situations do slip in here and there that echo my life. I feel like writing is always an extension of the author’s world. Nothing that I’ve experienced directly correlates with my writing, but it’s always adjacent. With Step Toward You, I was dealing with the loss of my grandfather and my thyroid cancer diagnoses. When I was writing Sort of Normal, I needed to laugh, and Boone’s character made me do just that. When I started Heart’s A Mess, I was reading The Road to Jonestown: Jim Jones and Peoples Temple by Jeff Gunn.

What authors had an impact on you growing up and as an adult? 
I am probably one of the few writers who will say that I did not like reading when I was little. I’ve always been anxious about reading aloud and I’ve never been good at understanding as I’m reading, so I probably psyched myself out! But when I was in high school, I remember picking up random books here and there, and eventually I tore through the Morganville Vampire series by Rachel Caine at about a book a day. Those books taught me to love and appreciate what reading can do for you! The other authors who have impacted me the most are Mia Sheridan, Abbi Glines, Tonya Kappes, Kylie Scott, Jennifer Echols, Jennifer L. Armentrout, and Carian Cole. My favorite author is Agatha Christie - her books are marvelous and mysterious!

What is your favorite aspect or writing? Your least favorite? 

My favorite part of writing is dialogue. I feel like it is the best way for the reader (and myself) to get to know a character. Once you hear their voice, you see the way they look and act, and eventually, it’s like they’re sitting in the room with you. There isn’t anything as energizing as just letting your fingers fly over a keyboard as you’re just typing out dialogue - it feels like the characters are speaking through you.

My least favorite part is writing descriptions. I’ve gotten to a point now where I combat the problem by having Google Images at the ready, or I type “NEED MORE HERE.” Of course, when I go back in my first round of edits, those words make me feel sick to my stomach. I always find it difficult to know when you should tell the reader what they see, versus just letting them make up whatever they want.

What aspect of writing would you most like to improve on? 
Is it okay to say sitting down and writing? You would think that in this pandemic, I would have more time to write, but when I do have free time, I just want to watch TV and cross-stitch. 2020 was a big year for more - I got engaged, finished grad school, started a new job (my first without downtime to write during!), got married, and bought a house. I feel both guilty and thankful to say that 2020 was the best year of my life...but not when it came to writing. So, hey you, 2021...I’m coming for you.

Do you have any “must haves” with you while you’re writing? 

When I write, I usually have The Avett Brothers, The Lumineers, or The Head and the Heart playing quietly. I’m obsessed with those bands, so I have their lyrics memorized, so it’s something I can mindlessly listen to. Other than that, I can be in any environment at any time or anywhere. A few weeks ago, I was writing while I was getting my hair done!

Is there a common theme or item that appears in each of your work?  
I think that loss shows up a lot in my writing. Here I talk about only happy endings and loss is the exact opposite of that, but it’s a part of life. It’s something we can usually all identify with. But for me, when you have something like loss, it is always bookended with hope and joy because to have loss, is to have life. I love to write about people who are moving through loss and toward their happily ever after.

What have you learned the most from being in the writing business?

The writing business is a lot bigger than just writing. It’s something I expected but didn’t necessarily know. You have to be your main advocate and advertise yourself. There is so much competition out there, so you have to figure out a way to make yourself stand out. It’s not something I’ve cracked the code to, but it just gives you a reason to explore opportunities and try new things. This leads me to say, thank you, Mark, for giving me this amazing opportunity to be involved in your newsletter! 

Tell us about your latest work.  How did you decide on your story plot?

Like I mentioned before, I was reading a book on Jim Jones. Nothing as tragic happens in Heart’s a Mess, but it struck me how a person can make others follow them to that extent. I wanted my plot to have an antagonist with that charismatic quality and show people whose lives have been impacted by it. And, also, I wanted to rewrite history, in a sense - create a fictional world where *SPOILER ALERT, but also, duh, because happy endings* you can stop the bad guy before he becomes the big kind of bad that Jim Jones was.

Describe how this method works best for you. Outline or ‘seat of the pants’? 
I write by the seat of my pants! For me, I could never finish anything if I had an outline set - it wouldn’t be as exciting! Usually, the only thing I sort of know is how the book will end. Other than that, I like to let the characters write their own story through their dialogue and actions. I do wish I was more of an outliner, though! At least then I would have more direction.

Do you have a favorite scene you’ve written? What makes it special? 

My favorite scene to write was in Step Toward You. The love interests pretend to get married so the heroine’s dying mom can see her only child’s wedding. It was the one scene that I could see, hear and feel from the moment I first imagined Silas and Rooney. And, in part, it was also a wish that everyone could have their dreams come true in front of someone they’ve lost, even if it is just pretending.

Here’s an excerpt from the story. 

Sometimes our hearts break…

When John Smith’s father was dying, his family knew there was nothing to do, but they tried anyway. Paying more money than they had, they took John’s father and the last of their hope to Ezra Abel for a healing.

And we fight to keep it beating…

But Ezra’s faith healing is only a trick—a way to fool families out of their money. Worst of all, he humiliates these families when they’re at their lowest. After his father dies, John devotes his life to revealing Ezra for the evil person he is. And when Kinley walks into his life, he’s much closer to accomplishing his goal. But all you can do is hold it in your hands. Kinley Abel is Ezra’s weapon, milking families of their hard-earned cash. She doesn’t want to do her father’s bidding, but she has to. Except the more she falls for John, the more she questions her role in the church, leading her down a dangerous path which could break her heart.

Sometimes you fall in love with lies.

Here are some links where you can learn more about Liz.

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Liz-Ashlee/e/B07CHGG3GF/ref=dp_byline_cont_pop_book_1

Website: https://www.liz-ashlee.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LizAshleeAuthor/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lizashleeauthor/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/lizashleeauthor?lang=en

 

Music

          There’s been a lot of variety this month, but an old favorite keeps popping up when I least expect it. 

          Paul Simon has been performing for more than 50 years and his catalog of songs are still as popular today as they were back in the sixties and seventies.  Simon has won 12 Grammy awards, been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Songwriter’s Hall of Fame. He’s also been honored by the Kennedy Center and has won the Gershwin Prize.

          Here’s my top five songs from Simon. Picking just five wasn’t easy.

Call Me Al: https://youtu.be/uq-gYOrU8bA

Baby Driver: https://youtu.be/J8i4Rp3qizk

Me & Julio: https://youtu.be/Z6VrKro8djw

Obvious Child: https://youtu.be/9HKNAhAxMAk

Loves Me Like a Rock:  https://youtu.be/CjFzw8AxSBA

 

 

         

A Special Feature

Every once in a while, another author will reach out to share news about their latest effort and perhaps a new release.  Most of these contacts relate to fiction, which is my favorite.  Occasionally, I’ll get a request for someone with a non-fiction book.

So today it’s my pleasure to introduce Adi Mazor Kario.

Where are you from? 
– I'm from Israel. Some people call it the startup nation and I'd even say innovation nation.

What’s your ‘someday’ or dream vacation spot and why?

– I make my best to make my dreams come true these days, not "someday". I always love to travel with my 4 kids and my husband. Although in the past year the whole world stopped, I hope we will be back traveling together.

What’s your favorite thing to do for relaxation?

– I practice "The Work" of Byron Katie and it makes my life much better.

Any favorite hobbies?

– Reading, deep conversations with my friends and Zumba.

How long have you been writing?

– about 2-3 years.

Are you able to write full time or do you also have a job/career?

– I see it as another aim in my career, but surely not the main one. This is a way for me to share my expertise.

Is there a particular genre that you write?  Or more than one?  What led you there?

- I wrote one business book, to share what I've learned in my 20 years as leader in the Israeli tech scene.

What is your favorite aspect or writing?

I love the research part and the part you learn on the way.

What have you learned the most from being in the writing business?

I learned that even when I write a business book, I still want to bring my human and vulnerable parts to the writing. This is very important to me.

Tell us about your latest work.

Innovating through Chaos- The proven formula for launching unbeastable products during uncertain times.

Blurb:

The world is in a constant state of flux, making it imperative for companies to keep changing and innovating to meet the market needs. This is even more pertinent now, as we are witnessing the biggest crisis in recent history. This crisis might lead to more companies struggling, and collapsing.

 

If market-, client-, and user-needs change while companies don’t, they risk losing. On the flip side, businesses that stay relevant and lead the pack are those that are constantly and mindfully innovating with correct and proven methods.

 

This book was written in order to help companies transform every crisis into a business opportunity. Success is about doing the right things in a prudent and sustainable manner using a proven method.

 

This indispensable and step-by-step guide details the process of what it takes for companies to chart a way forward and stay ahead of the competition. It also details how these companies can create the right products for changing needs, in order to win the loyalty and trust of customers, users, and stakeholders.

How did you decide on your story plot? 

The book was born in the corona crisis.

How can we harness the wind of change for growth? How can we thrive in times of worldwide change? And more specifically, how can leaders turn a crisis into a business opportunity? These questions have kept me awake at night since the COVID-19 pandemic started. I believe the answers to these questions are the key to overcome the unknowns and uncertainties any crisis brings and come out of it more robust than when it began.

Include links to where the story can be found, along with any social media links for you. 

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08KSJ5V19/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i0

https://www.linkedin.com/in/adimazorkario/

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCiS_bezw9UcySAZffZTmocQ

https://invincibleinnovation.com/