Friday, November 25, 2016

Q&A with Cynthia H. Wise, author of Eyes of Autumn





Now available from BookLogix is the paranormal novel Eyes of Autumn, book three in The Marcel Experience series by author Cynthia H. Wise.

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The author has taken a few minutes out of her busy schedule for a Q&A about her newest novel.


When did you become interested in storytelling?

I have always enjoyed reading. At some point the idea “I can do this” formed in my mind. This was confirmed during high school in composition class. My teacher accused me of plagiarism. In the end, I received an A++ and she used my work during a teacher’s conference as a representation of her students’ best work. And as I continued writing my stories, I discovered that writing is a gift—a chance to lose yourself in a world of your own creation. It’s also an entertaining avenue for sharing a message, or daring a reader to believe. We’re living in a New Age. It’s time to open our minds and explore the metaphysical world around us.

What was your first book/story published?

Portrait of Rage

What inspired you to write Eyes of Autumn?

Q&A with Terri L. Austin, author of Dispelled



Now available is the urban fantasy Dispelled, book one in the "A Null for Hire" series by author Terri L. Austin.

Cover Artist: www.thedarkrayne.com

Amazon  *  iTunes  *  Kobo  *  Barnes & Noble


The author has taken a few minutes out of her busy schedule for a Q&A about her newest novel. 



When did you become interested in storytelling?

Thanks so much for hosting me today. It’s great to be here!

I’ve always had characters living in my head, which probably sounds a bit unhealthy, but it was like watching a movie that only I could see.

What was your first book/story published?

Diners, Dives and Dead Ends, which is a humorous mystery. I turned it into a series. Revisiting those characters is like going home and meeting up with a group of friends.

What inspired you to write Dispelled?

I wanted to put my own stamp on a paranormal world, add some humor and romance with a mystery thrown in for good measure.

What character in Dispelled is the most/least like you, and in what ways?

Thursday, November 24, 2016

DVD Review - I.T.


Not Rated; 95 mins; $29.96; Walmart

Now available on DVD & Blu-ray from RLJ Entertainment is the thriller I.T. Directed by John Moore (Max Payne), the film stars Pierce Brosnan (The November Man, James Bond Franchise), James Frecheville (The Stanford Prison Experiment, Animal Kingdom), Anna Friel (“Marcella,” “Pushing Daisies”), Stefaine Scott (Insidious: Chapter 3, “A.N.T. Farm”), and Austin Swift (Live by Night).

I.T. centers on an aviator entrepreneur Mike Regan (played by Pierce Brosnan) who plans on launching a new private jet app. After a computer glitch is fixed by a temp I.T. worker, Ed Porter (played by James Frecheville), during a board meeting, Mike invites the young man to his state-of-the-art-"smart home" to help fix a few problems with his security system, and he introduces him to his wife (played by Anna Friel) and daughter, Kaitlyn (played by Stefaine Scott).

Unfortunately, an unthinkable nightmare begins for Mike and his family as Ed becomes obsessed with Kaitlyn.

The film was released to limited theaters and video on-demand back in September of this year.


Bonus Features on the DVD includes:

Wednesday, November 23, 2016

Q&A with S.A. Stolinsky, author of Hot Shot





Now available from Fiery Seas Publishing, LLC is the thriller Hot Shot by author S.A. Stolinksy.



The author has taken a few minutes out of her busy schedule for a Q&A about her newest novel.



When did you become interested in storytelling?

From the time I could talk I was always devising little stories to tell my friends and my parents. I finally got a chance to tell all of San Francisco when my story, “The Little Pottery Wheel” was published in the Examiner. I have also been steeped in comedy. I did improve and stand up and usually enjoyed a great time performing. I loved plays and when I became a forensic psychologist, the stories just sprang out. The things people will do without any compunction of other people’s space, trust, or even awareness.

What was your first book/story published?

My first story, “The Little Pottery Wheel” was published by The Examiner newspaper in San Francisco when I was 13. It was a comedy about a Pottery wheel that took on a life of its own during the night when all the other little pottery wheels lay dormant, waiting for their operators to come back in the morning. My teacher, Anee, died of leukemia that year and I imagined she came back to life at night as that pottery wheel.

What inspired you to write HOT SHOT?

I love gambling and I do it for sport. Luckily, I’m not addicted. But one of my friends lost everything he had including his savings and that triggered interest about why someone could get so hooked. My friend lost fifty thousand dollars and then began borrowing from everyone he knew. He owed so much money that law suits sprang up from people he didn’t think he’d even met. During alcohol blackouts, he’d roam the streets late at night to make money and finally put himself in rehab just to get some boundaries. Hot Shot is a tome for him. A hope that he replaces this horrible addiction with love and connection to people.



Tuesday, November 22, 2016

How to Work Conflict Into Your Writing

*This is a sponsored post.


Conflict is the centerpiece of any good writing. Without it, whatever you write would turn out a little boring. In fact, if you think about it, real life is strewn with conflict. Even if it is only minor in the grand scheme of things, conflict is what drives us to get things done and helps us to accomplish some of the biggest goals. By using conflict in the right way in your writing pieces, you will be able to create a story that makes readers want to read it.

Use Real Life as Inspiration

The best ideas often come from your real life. Consider keeping a journal to note conflicts that may come up each day. One great source for some good ideas is work. You can easily find plenty of workplace conflicts that you could base a story around. For example, if you work at a college, like ACU, perhaps the conflict would be something involving trying to secure tenure, or if you work in an office, maybe the conflict is with an annoying co-worker. There are many types of conflicts that can prove to be an inspiration for your writing, even something as simple as an argument with your cat who is refusing to use the litterbox could wind its way into your writing.

Look at Hypotheticals

Maybe you can’t find the right conflict in your own life. However, chances are that there have been times when you avoided conflict or managed to side step it. Try asking yourself what would have happened if you hadn’t been able to escape the conflict. How would things have played out? What results could have occurred? Asking “what if” is a great way to spark some ideas that can really get your creative gears moving.

Q&A with Aubrie L. Nixon, author Darkness Whispers





Now available is the fantasy novel Darkness Whispers, book one in The Darkness Trilogy by author Aubrie L. Nixon.



The author has taken a few minutes out of her busy schedule for a Q&A about her newest novel.


When did you first become interested in storytelling?

I am a really good liar. I always have been. I always made up stories and adventures that I had been on. I even had this whole story where Daniel Radcliffe ( Harry Potter) was my cousin, and I used to handwrite letters from him and show them to everyone in my fourth grade class. The teacher finally called my parents to ask if it was true. I figured I should use my story telling talents and put them to good use.

What was your first book/story published?

Darkness Whispers is my debut novel. It was released November 2, 2016. It is the first book in a planned trilogy, along with one, maybe two accompanying novellas.

What inspired you to write Darkness Whispers?

In November of 2015 I went to my first author event to meet Leigh Bardugo. She looked me dead in the eyes and told me that I looked like a writer. I had always enjoyed storytelling and wanted to write books. But, I had never actually thought about doing it seriously. That night, I went home and started on a story i had been playing in my head for years. Thus came Darkness Whispers.

Q&A with Melissa Kate, author of Love In The Fast Lane





Now available from Fiery Seas Publishing, LLC is the contemporary romance Love In The Fast Lane by author Melissa Kate.





The author has taken a few minutes out of her busy schedule for a Q&A about her newest novel.



When did you become interested in storytelling?

I’ve always loved a good story. From as young as fourteen years old, I’ve put pen to paper to give outlet to the voices in my head.

What was your first book/story published?

Waiting for You

The blurb reads: Audrey Kelly finds her way back home to Crystal Valley with her bruised pride and a shattered dangerous past mocking her rear view mirror. What she didn’t expect was to be face-to-face with Adam Parker, resident bad boy, sexy Navy SEAL and one of the reasons that Audrey ran all those years ago.

Audrey was the last person Adam had ever expected to see back in Crystal Valley. Over a decade ago, they shared a sizzling night together before he received the worst news of his life and he hasn’t seen her since…until she’d moved back unexpectedly. She was no longer the sweet innocent girl he once remembered, but Adam has his own problems without having to deal with Audrey’s ice princess recital, no matter how tempting the auburn haired seductress may be.

Sparks begin to ignite between them but can they accept Audrey’s past when it threatens to engage them in a dangerous twist? Can they save each other from themselves and stop running once and for all?

What inspired you to write Love In The Fast Lane?

Two things actually. My husband – he’s an absolute grease monkey and adores all things engines and torque and speed and blah blah blah. I usually switch off when he’s trying to give me a mechanics lesson (Sssh don’t tell him). But I find a man who can handle…. Ehem…. His heavy machinery, to be quite sexy. And then you add a gorgeous little boy into the mix, and voila, the story blossomed. Children are funny, they really say the funniest things and I think that translates well into a story.