Who are the best fans in the world? You are!

This is a thank you post to all of you! My viewers, people who have taken the time to read and review my books. A thank you to those who have taken the time to check out any of my books whether you purchased one, left a review or not. A thank you to anyone who has passed on any of my books through word of mouth or otherwise. What I love most about publishing is the entertainment my books provide. I love when someone sends a message out of the blue through social media or otherwise and says, "I loved your book!" Big Smile :-D

July was a phenomenal month for me. Here is a list of all the awesome bloggers who took the time to read and review one of my books. Please click the links to read their full reviews. I hope I didn't leave anyone out. I would feel bad so if you promoted my book this month and aren't below please contact me so I can add you in. Thanks a million to everyone!

As Snow Falls

"The opening threw me a little and for the first portion of the book, I was a tad confused, yet still completely engrossed. You are reading about one woman’s entire life, birth through death, and everything contained within her life. Some of the beginning scenes are written such that you’re almost reading from an infant’s point of view. As she grows and matures, the writing settles into that of a young woman full of sass and somewhat lost in the world. I loved how the writing changed to match the woman’s point in life."
Diane Bixler Author

"Deciding to purchase and read As Snow Falls by Elle Klass hinged on something intriguing that many authors have attempted to do: Pigeon-hole human behavior and/or the human experience. From the 1984 popular and somewhat controversial Passages by Gail Sheehy through current day, countless authors have taken on that challenge of defining the human experience. But often the approach is to lump our human experiences into big chunky categories, e.g., the teens, the 20s, 30s, 40s, etcetera. I think you get the picture."
Candi Silk Author

As Snow Falls Feature At John Tucker Must Live Blog

Interview at Heibooks- All my books can be found there as well.

Baby Girl Book 1

"This is such a powerful story. A young girl runs away from a mother who had never been an actual mother to her."
S.B. Morales at SBM Book Obsession

Book Promo at Bookmuni

Baby Girl Book 2

"She reinvents herself and gives herself a whole new background and even personality. I am just loving this series." 
S.B. Morales at SBM Book Obsession

"Yes, yes yes I love it, I am so captivated by the story and the main character."
Jane Peskara at My Novels, My World

Baby Girl Book 3

"Elle Klass keeps writing such captivating and suspense stories about Cleo and her search for the answers to her past."
Stacie from The Mercy Gray

"I am just loving this series. Cleo changes to fit into her surroundings while tracking down the truth of her past." 
S.B. Morales at SBM Book Obsession

"This episode is filled with additional mystery, intrigue and adventure as the story and plot deepen. Amid the challenges and sometimes shocking revelations, Cleo is gradually discovering who she is at the core even if her actual identity still eludes her."
Marcha Fox Author

 Interview with Marcha Fox at Marcha's two Cents Worth

Lessons My Father Taught Me by Alan Cohen: Be prepared to smile :-)

Introducing one of the most beautiful, inspirational, and smile provoking short books I have read, Lessons My Father Taught Me by Alan Cohen. 

Book Review:

Lessons My Father Taught Me by Alan R. Cohen is a guide to living a happy, positive life through the eyes of the author taught to him through his father.  The short book is a dedication the Alan’s father while at the same time sharing a legacy in which his spirit and positive attitude can live on through Alan and all others who

practice these simple cheerful ideals.

The book is short and structured through a lesson per chapter.

There are plenty of examples within the short text to give the reader a more upbeat look at life. I would even suggest reading a lesson each day to start off the day in a positive manner. Happiness is infectious which seems to me to be the point of this book. Think good thoughts, made good choices and spread the joy. One’s life can be improved simply by improving one’s outlook on life no matter what obstacles a person is up against.

A book that will leave the reader with a smile across their face.

Meet Alan:

Elle:   Tell us a little about yourself?

Alan: I make my living as a technical writer writing about software and computer security. I also do some part time referral marketing for Melaleuca.com to enhance the lives of those I come in contact with by helping them reach their goals. Like my dad, I enjoy making people laugh and doing random acts of kindness.

Elle:   What gave you the idea to write Lessons My Father Taught me?

Alan: One reason was to honor my dad who had a great influence in my life and was my best friend. My dad taught my brother and I simple lessons that have helped us enjoy life. I thought these simple lessons could help others. 

Elle:  In three words how would you describe the book?

Alan: Enjoy life now.

Elle:  How can people work the positive ideas from lessons My Father taught Me into their daily life?

Alan: Every day when you wake up, you get to choose if you are going to see life in a positive way or a negative way. It's your choice. The key is to believe that you want to live life in a more positive manner and begin changing how you view and act toward things that occur in your life. It takes time as does any behavioral change, but the choice is always yours.

Elle:  What was your favorite chapter and why?

Alan: Give them the roses while they can smell them. It is easy to say thank you when someone does you a favor or to compliment someone when he or she deserves it. It is the easiest lesson in the book. Every one loves to be thanked or complimented.

Elle:  Do you have any writing plans for the future?

Alan: Yes. I have a few technical-related books that I want to write plus I want to continue with positive books like "Lessons My Father Taught Me."

Elle:  Do you have any past publications?

Alan: No.

Elle:  Where can people find Lessons My Father Taught me?

Alan: At my TinyPass site - https://dashboard.tinypass.com/download?did=Ddbnw58

Where to find Alan: 

Twitter

Google+

Bonnie Marlewski Author of Horse Tales - A fun loving and endearing series

Get to know Author Bonnie Marlewski, a multi-talented, amazing individual who has a deep love for horses; and uses her writing as a tool to share, and raise funds for therapeutic riding centers. 

Horse Tales for the Soul,: Volume SEVEN at Amazon

Overview of the Series

The Horse Tales for the Soul books showcase heartwarming, true stories from horse lovers around the globe. Each story focuses on a life lesson that was learned (or earned) through the experience and it is that life lesson that will touch the hearts of readers from all walks of life – whether they be horse lovers or not.

These books are wonderful gifts for children and adults alike who love horses or who would benefit from sharing in the life lessons other people have learned through their unique stories.  All of the stories in all of the books were personally selected from the thousand of submissions by 20-year professional horsewoman, Bonnie Marlewski-Probert.  Her experience teaching students for 20 years and training horses during all of those years made the creation of these books a logical extension of the work she was doing throughout her career. “Every lesson I ever taught was focused on teaching more than just what button to push on the horse to get the desired outcome.  I focused on the life lessons, on the character building elements of riding that would not just create a great horseman but a great human being.”  Said Bonnie Marlewski-Probert.  “The Horse Tales for the Soul series of books focus on those same life lessons, those same character building elements that are so prevalent in the world of horses and are responsible for changing so many lives for the better.”

Interview with Bonnie

Elle: Tell a little about yourself


Bonnie: I was born in the Midwest and raised by three generations of business owners (my parents and

grandparents on both sides). I learned a Midwestern work ethic early by being raised in our family grocery story, but also learned the loneliness that occurs when your parents are working from 6 am until 10 pm in that same family business. I was fortunate to have a family friend who introduced me to the world of horses as an 8 year old and it was that introduction that led me on a lifelong path that included teaching, training, showing, writing, authoring 18 books myself, speaking and now, the proud owner of a book publishing firm.


Elle: What is your latest writing accomplishment?

Bonnie: We are currently wrapping up a new book called Horse Tales for the Funny Bone which will be used as a fund raising tool for Therapeutic riding Centers across the USA. This book includes true, funny, horse-related stories from horse lovers around the globe.

Elle: What was your inspiration for your latest work?

Bonnie: When I was in High School, I sustained a back injury in gymnastics which has haunted me throughout my career in horses. I know what it is like to have a physical issue that gets in the way of living the life you want. Producing books that can help raise money for the great work being done at Therapeutic Riding Centers is near and dear to my heart. We produced the 7 Horse Tales for the Soul books for that reason and the new book, Horse Tales for the Funny Bone will be used for the same purpose.

Elle:  Tell us a little about any other works you have published or will be publishing.

Bonnie: I have been privileged to work with hundreds of authors around the globe, helping them bring their dreams into reality by publishing their work. I have worked with Viet Nam Vets, retired Police Officers, horsemen, nuns, grandmothers who wrote children’s books and so many others who had something special to say. It is a transformational experience to watch a first-time author go from frightened writer to confident author and I’m delighted to be a part of that process each and every time. Right now, we are in the middle of publishing a second sci-fi book for a wonderful young author, we are working on a WWII book, a horse-related humorous book and several others.

Elle: How long have you been writing and how did you fall into it?

Bonnie: I started writing after owning my own horse farm in my 20’s. I was forever frustrated that I could only work with a small number of riders per day. One day, I was at a large horse show with my clients and students who were showing and having a great time. While standing at the rail watching a little girl riding her pony around the course, she fell off and rather than her trainer or her mother encouraging her to proceed, the trainer screamed at the top of her lungs, berating the child for having embarrassed the trainer in front of all these people. That was the moment when it dawned on me that the way I taught my students was 180 different than the way others did it. My students were winning blue ribbons all day long and having the time of their life while others were terrified of their trainers and being yelled at. My frustration over only being able to work with a small number of students grew after that day and eventually led to me writing how-to magazine articles for major horse magazines. I realized that by writing articles for horse publications, I could reach hundreds of thousands of riders through my writing. That realization led to syndicated columns, book deals, how-to videos, speaking engagements and many opportunities outside of the horse world. And it all started the day I watched that little girl come off her pony on a hunt course.

Elle: Please tell us a little about your writing process.

Bonnie: Because of my upbringing, I am someone who likes to beat the sun up every morning. By that, I mean, 4:00 am is the best start-time for me. I have found that I can get a full day’s work done by 9:00 am, when I start the day at 4:00. There are no phone calls, no interruptions. I often write with music playing in my headsets.

Elle: If a fiction writer, are any of your novels based on events in your life?


Bonnie: The first fictional work I have written is in play right now and it is based, in part, on my life on myown horse farm in my 20’s. It is a contemporary romance, set in a horse barn and combines romance with horses, riding, showing, living on a horse farm and more.

Elle: What was the greatest challenge you faced with publishing your work?

Bonnie: Early in my career, I signed two traditional publishing deals. Before I signed those, I “thought” the biggest challenge was getting a deal. Once I had the deal, I quickly discovered that the real challenge was getting the traditional publisher to abide by the contract they wrote. After two dismal experiences with two different traditional publishers, and countless stories of woe from other authors who encountered the same challenges, I decided to go indie and that eventually led to starting my own publishing house for outside authors, which I have been expanding for the past 20 years. The whole point of Whitehall Publishing started when I decided to empower myself and take control of my own future. That success led to helping others do the same and that eventually was the spark that created Whitehall Publishing. It is all about empowering authors and ensuring that they maintain complete creative and financial control over their work.

Elle: Do you have a favorite author or book?

Bonnie: No, I enjoy a wide variety of authors.

Elle: Do you have any advice for other indie authors?

Bonnie: My best advice as an author and as a publisher is to recognize that in the 21st century, the authors who stand out the most and sell the most books are those who are equally talented both as a writer and as a marketing person.

Elle: What genre or genres do you write and why?

Bonnie: Non-fiction within the horse industry, dog industry, how-to markets because my background was in teaching. It made sense to continue in the how-to market. However, my publishing firm works in almost all genres.

Reviews
 “Over a decade ago I stopped riding as a serious hobby. Today, after reading this book, I have been inspired to again take up this sport. While reading these pages I was reminded of the great learning, joy, friendship and inspiration that horses brought to my life, and how much I miss them. Thank you to all of authors for sharing their amazing stories and for providing the motivation to make new friends.” Linda P, La Porte Indiana.

“In between the tears of joy and sorrow in reading these heart-warming tales, I have again felt the awe and wonder, the generosity of spirit in the connection between horses and their humans. It takes a lot of wisdom and courage (let alone a good sense of humor) to live our lives, especially when it comes down to proper horsemanship, and I for one am honored to have shared these amazing tales... Thank you all.” Bandy Schmidt, Life-long horse lover, proud companion of Joe the Quarab. Lake Five, Wisconsin.

“While reviewing Horse Tales for the Soul I found that this book had such wonderful stories I couldn’t help but share them with my son. Ian, my 8 month old son, enjoyed many of the tales, sitting very quietly listening closely, and always turning to see why I had momentarily stopped reading to wipe away a tear. Thank you to all the authors who have shared such emotional pieces of their hearts with horse lovers everywhere. I found so many stories I could relate to in so many ways, whether a tissue box was needed or not. After I finished reading the last story I couldn’t help but feel the urge to go out and get my own horse to start having my own horse tales to share...” Tifane Grayce Worsley. Artist &at home Mom. Reno, NV, USA. 

Where to find Bonnie and Horse Tales

http://horsetalesforthesoul.com - autographed copies available here for $19.95

http://horsetalesforthesoul.com/

Horse Tales at Amazon
Here at the troubledoyster Must Read Book Store

Calling all history and car enthusiasts, J. E. Pendleton- The Special

The cover of this novel says it all! Immediately my mind flashes back to a time long before I was born, when America and the world were entirely different. Look for my review in the near future.

click here to visit The Special at Amazon

The idea behind the book:

A call from a stranger leads me on a journey I could never have imagined. The caller said he had my uncle’s car. How could this be? My uncle died in WW II when his plane was shot down over the Bay of Biscay off the coast of England. After some questioning I realized I had the opportunity of a lifetime. An opportunity to learn a bit about the uncle I had heard about my entire life, an uncle who died 3 years before I was born, an uncle I had always wanted to know more about. I also was being given the gift of a car that had been built by this uncle’s own hands and the hands of those he had been close to in his final years. The real treasure was the bond I formed with a man and the incredible story he told. The story of my uncle, the building of the car, and the people they both loved. The Special is a fact based novel; the story of family, love and trust in the face of worldwide catastrophe. In 1941 Billy Pendleton hitch-hiked to California to seek his fortune; little did he know what the future would bring. After encouragement from his new found friend and landlord he is soon building an automobile to set speed records and rubbing elbows with some of the legends of motor racing history. Into this heady world walked the woman that would change his life forever. As the car is built romance blooms and the world slips into a war that will touch every person on the planet.

Author Biography:

J. E. (Jim) Pendleton was born and raised in Fort Worth, Texas. He has had an interest in automobiles and history for most of his life. He spent several years as an SCCA road racer and a lifetime involved with hotrods. It wasn't until after he retired from a long career in the telecommunications industry that Jim decided to pursue another of his dreams and write his

first book.

His first novel, The Special, was born from his love of family, hotrods and history. These are topics that are sure to be the center of future works. He is currently working on a series of novels where a young China Marine watches regional conflict explode into what becomes World War II. Jim has long considered World War II the single most important historical event of the twentieth century. His father fought in the Pacific and his uncle, Billy Pendleton is the main character in The Special and was lost in the Battle of the Atlantic.

J. E. Pendleton is a member of Military Writers Society of America and LexiCon Writers Group. He still resides in Texas with his wife and family.

Interview with Jim Pendleton

Elle: Tell a little about yourself 

Jim: I am a retired telecommunications area manager. I was born and raised in Fort Worth, Texas. I am married to my beautiful wife Nancy and we have three wonderful kids and six extraordinary grandkids. I was born shortly after the end of WW II. My father was a veteran of the Marine Corps and took part in several pivotal battles in the Pacific. His only sibling, an older brother named Billy, was in the Navy and fought in the Battle of the Atlantic hunting German submarines flying out of southern England. His B-24 was attacked by a pair of German fighters south of the Irish coast in February of 1944. In the ensuing battle one of the German fighters and my uncle's B-24 were both shot down. The only witness to the battle was the remaining German fighter, so my uncle and his crew were listed as MIA, Missing In Action. The uncertainty of this event left a lingering doubt in my grandparent's and father's mind about what actually happened to Billy and they never gave up hope that maybe he was alive somewhere. When I was born both my parents worked and my grandparents kept me during the day. Those years in their house immersed me in the memory of my lost uncle and the family's great loss leading to my

writing of The Special.

Elle: What is your latest writing accomplishment? 

Jim: I have written rough drafts of two more books that will become a series about the origin of WW II. The series title is Soldier of the Sea, the first book is entitled Salt Winds and the second is Gobi Dust. The story begins with an orphan boy in Chicago and the tale of how he becomes a U. S. Marine and ends up in Shanghai, China in 1933. The second book is about his adventures on a scientific/espionage expedition into the Gobi Desert. My plan is for the books to tell the story of the conflict that develops in China and eventually breaks into WW II. The story is little known in the U. S. and will be told through the experiences of a young Marine corporal, one of the famous "China Marines".

 Elle: What was your inspiration for your latest work?

Jim: The "China Marines" were a small group of U.S. Marines stationed in China between 1927 and 1941. The U.S. and many of the European powers were heavily involved with the China trade during this time. Marines were stationed in China to protect American citizens, mostly businessmen and missionaries. It was an exotic and volatile era in the far East, especially China. Japan was an emerging world power and the stage was being set for the conflict that would determine the future of the Pacific. As I read about the events of this period I was taken in by the intrigue and little known events that built predictably into the raid on Pearl Harbor in 1941.

Elle: Tell us a little about any other works you have published or will be publishing.

Jim: I have another rough draft nearing completion set in Fort Worth, Texas during the Great Depression. It is a tale about wealth, power and corruption and how normal people fought back.

Elle: How long have you been writing and how did you fall into it?

Jim: I've been writing for about ten years. My first book, The Special, came about while I was building an unusual automobile. The project was a ground up build, but I found myself barraged by questions about where the car came from. A story began to form inside my head and before long it consumed me to the point I had to write it down or go crazy. Once I started writing, I found that I enjoyed it a great deal. I wish I had started much earlier.

Elle: Please tell us a little about your writing process. 

Jim: I write in longhand using a fountain pen on spiral notebooks. The feel of the pen on the paper is part of my creative process. The problem with it is that it leaves me with a manuscript that is illegible to most people and so my wonderful wife Nancy types the book from my collection of scratching. It is impossible to give her too much credit for the work she does to turn an idea into a real book. I write in the evenings after supper. It is not uncommon for me to write until almost midnight.  I have an office full of maps and research books that contribute greatly to my writing.

Elle:  What was the greatest challenge you faced with publishing your work? 

Jim: I was lucky to have a generous wife that has put every bit as much work into this process as I have. After completion, my first manuscript sat in a drawer for a long time because we didn't know what to do. During the time it sat the indie pub revolution was in progress. We decided this was the perfect vehicle for us to publish the book ourselves.

Elle: Do you have a favorite author or book?

Jim: I have three favorite authors and they are W.E.B. Griffin, Bernard Cornwell, and Patrick O'Brien in no particular order. My favorites from Griffin are "The Corps" series and also "The Brotherhood of War" series. They are both excellent. My favorites from Cornwell are "Saxon Tales" and "Sharpe" series, I love them both. Last, but far from least is O'Brien and his superlative "Aubrey Maturin" series. All of these books are excellent and have influenced me

greatly. I can not recommend them enough.

Elle: Do you have any advice for other indie authors?

Jim: There is a great deal of information available online for indie authors. We were lucky enough to find a local group of authors at their inception called the Lexicon Group and our experience with those folks has been a great benefit. We also joined World Literary Café and found them quite helpful as well. I am also a member of the Military Writer's Society of America, another great organization.

Elle: What genre or genres do you write and why?

Jim: I write mostly military fiction set in a specific historical period. These are the things that interest me most having grown up in a military influenced family. All of us owe so much to those men and women that put their lives on the line daily to protect our way of life it is impossible to pay them back. My books try to tell their stories so that they won't be forgotten. The least we can do is to remember their sacrifice.

Book Reviews: (not my review. I will post mine in a future blog)

"I can't recommend this book highly enough," HopUp Magazine Jan 2013 issue. "First of all, the car on the cover has been in Hop Up, built by a friend of Hop Up; or you may have seen it at Lone Star Roundup.

Jim began to write the story of his 'Special' build...and the story got legs, became a smash of a first novel and God knows where it will lead. Don't miss it: cars, lakes history all the right names of the prewar, wartime and immediate post war, a little bit of sex and intrigue and excellent development of characters and plots that, well, professional writers can do."

Where to find J.E. Pendleton

Whitehall Publishing

jependleton.com

Twitter
The Special at Amazon

Meet Author Steve Bartholomew- Black Bart Reborn

Steve Bartholomew is the author of Black Bart Reborn, his latest novel- historical fiction novel. I was able to get an interview and will at a later date post a book review of Black Bart Reborn. The novel seems wildly exciting. I invite you to read the following interview and meet

this creative, interesting man. 

Elle: Tell a little about yourself (short bio)

     Steve: I lived most of my life in San Francisco, except  for four years in NYC. As cities go, it’s one of the best,  but I always preferred the countryside. I got out as soon as I could and moved to a small town in Northern California (Lakeport). I worked as a social worker for more than twenty years, while continuing to write short stories and articles of various types. Now I identify myself as a full time writer.

    Elle: What is your latest writing accomplishment? 

    Steve: My most recently published book is “Black Bart Reborn,” pub. 2013 by World Castle. Here’s a blurb:

“           It is an historical fact that Charles Boles, aka Charles Bolton, aka Black Bart was released from San Quentin prison in February 1888, having served his prison term for attempting to rob his 28th stage coach. He had previously robbed 27 others without getting caught. It is also a fact that a month after his release he disappeared from the pages of history. The following story is a fantasy about where he might have gone and what he might have done.”

     In other words, this book is not based so much on actual history as it is on what I perceive as the character of Charles Boles, and how he might have acted in certain situations. Read the story for entertainment, not education.

Click the link to view on Amazon

Black Bart Reborn 

Elle: What was your inspiration for your latest work?

Steve: The inspiration for all my stories is history itself. I often read historical essays and books for pure entertainment, because that’s where you find the best, most fantastic stories. Another source is old newspapers and out of print books, some of them now available in only digital form.

Elle: Tell us a little about any other works you have published or will be publishing.

Steve: I have eight books currently in print. My first novel was “The Terrorist Plot at Gopherville,” a satire on the CIA and Homeland Security. I also did a book titled “Chapel Perilous,” a tale of the paranormal. And then there was “Ariella,” a YA fantasy about a troubadour and his enchanted lute. My other books are all based in the Western Historical genre. I have two completed manuscripts currently on review by a publisher. One is “The Inventor,” about a crackpot scientist in Old San Francisco. Another is “Tunnel 6,” based on the building of the transcontinental railroad. I’m currently working on number eleven, about a photographer in 1850’s San Francisco.

           Elle: How long have you been writing and how did you fall into it?

Steve: I remember writing my first story at age nine. (It wasn’t very good.) I think I wanted to be a writer since I began reading. Sold my first short story to Astounding Science Fiction when I was twenty. I was paid the generous sum of $45.00.

           Elle: Please tell us a little about your writing process. 

Steve: I do nearly all my writing between sunset and midnight, when things tend to be quiet and nobody calls me on the phone because they’re all busy watching TV. I taught myself to type at age 13, on a portable Remington my mother bought me. I admire writers who compose in longhand, but I never could. Typing is faster, but computers are faster still. Sometimes even keyboards are not fast enough to keep up with my thoughts.

           Elle: If a fiction writer, are any of your novels based on events in your life?

Steve: No, I wouldn’t say that. I think most people would find the external events of my life rather dull. Of course, as with all writers, my stories emerge from my own viewpoints and perceptions. A painter makes up his own palette.

Elle: What was the greatest challenge you faced with publishing your work? 

Steve: One challenge is not to rush into print. Several of my books have spent two or three years cruising past different publishers until finding the right one. A few are self published for different reasons. “Ariella,” for example was one which I wrote several years ago but never finished because I couldn’t find the right ending. I rediscovered it when culling some of my old floppy disks. Reading it again, I decided it wasn’t half bad. The right ending popped into view. So I published it in time for Christmas.

Elle: Do you have a favorite author or book?

Steve: Among contemporary writers, I think Stephen King is the Charles Dickens of our time. He has been typecast as a writer of horror tales, despite his producing many other kinds of tales. Of course literary critics hate it when an author functions in more than one genre. Jack London was another case in point. I also admire G.R.R. Martin for his ability in creation of convincing characters. But if I had to settle on one favorite book, I would choose Moby Dick.

Elle: Do you have any advice for other indie authors?

Steve: Just two pieces of advice: 1. Don’t be in a hurry. When you finish a book, stick it in a desk drawer for six months, then take it out and look at it again. 2. Get a professional to edit it. Not a friend of yours or anyone who knows you. Find an editor who is ruthless and cruel.

Elle: What genre or genres do you write and why?

Steve: I think I have pretty much answered that already. I have at times taken up other genres; at one time I wrote science fiction. I have also done some fantasy/paranormal. These days I’m mainly taken up with stories of the Old West. That does not mean cowboys or ranches. The main industry of the West was never cattle ranching. It was always mining. I’m fascinated by the gold mines of California and the silver works in Nevada. If I should ever run short of inspiration, all I need do is pick up an old book or newspaper and begin reading. 

Where to find Steve and his books
Whitehall Publishing
Steve's website/blog
Steve's books at Amazon
Steve's Books in thetroubledoyster Must Read BookStore

The Willow Tree- Elan Carson

I am proud to feature new author author Elan Carson and her novel The Willow Tree. Her descriptive, poetic writing is like non I've read before.The novel as an impressive work that will be loved by many for generations to come.

         The Willow Tree by Elan Carson is a sorrow filled story about Emma, an awkward and abused young lady. Her step father leaves permanent scars upon her soul as he takes her innocence replacing it with haunting pain and nightmares. The novel covers a several years span in Emma’s life from junior high through college. She flounders to make friends, always strives to be a “cool kid”, and has a deep desire for a boyfriend. She awkwardly foils every attempt to fit within the structure of her mind, although it seems that would be her own insecurities, and lack of confidence; her own self- destructive voice mimicking that she isn't good enough.
          Emma’s struggles aren't unlike the average teenage girl who seeks to be something more than what she is, who pursues popularity and acceptance, who desires to be beautiful and admired.  The years that she was abused physically, mentally and sexually forced deep pitted gashes inside the twisted crevasses of her mind. They control her, pushing her to depression, and actions that place her on the edge; reminding her that she is alive, putting pain into her numbness.

          Elan Carson uses a lyrical sing song poetic tone in her writing. The images flow easily from one page to the next within visual scenes drawn from the words of the text.  The novel places the reader front and center in Emma’s horrific world where they witness her pain, suffering and anger, but also her unnatural feelings towards her stepfather as both a “lover” and a torturer.  Few authors have such a profound ability to illustrate emotions, and feelings, bringing the reader on an impassioned journey with the protagonist.

         The Willow Tree is a novel I envision as a beloved paperback; crinkled edges, sagging binding, countless pages twisted over in a familiar book marking pattern, and borrowing disallowed by the owner in fear of it not being returned. This novel is timeless and will be endeared every bit as much in a hundred years as it is today.

Click here for chance to win a copy of The Willow Tree- Goodreads giveaway, ends March 1, 2014

Interview with Elan

Elle: Tell us a little about yourself.

Elan:I’m a 24-year-old creative writer, with a passion for lyrical language, dynamic

characters, and truthful endings. Outside of fiction, I love fashion and photography as well. 

Elle: What is your latest writing accomplishment?

Elan: Publishing my novel, The Willow Tree is my latest writing accomplishment. It’s a project I started 8 years ago, and I never imagined it blossoming into a full-length piece available for public consumption. 

Elle: Tell us a little about works you have published or will be publishing?

Elan: Outside of fiction writing, I dabble in journalism and have had multiple feature-length pieces published in Romantics Homes and Victorian Homes magazines. I don’t plan to start my next book until 2015 though.

Elle: How long have you been writing and when did you fall into it? 

Elan: I’ve been writing my whole life. My grandmother was an English teacher and she taught me how to read and write. I really started crafting short stories in first grade and never stopped. By the time I was in high school and throughout college, I experimented with journalism as well, though I majored in creative writing and still enjoy that the most. 

Elle: Please tell us a little about your writing process.

Elan: I draw from a lot of personal situations. If I experience something particularly interesting or adventurous, I immediately jot it down, detail by detail, when I get home. I go back later and try to make sense of everything and work into a plot line.

Elle: If a fiction writer, are any of novels based on events in your life?

Elan: Definitely. The majority of my writing mirrors my life. My work is very revealing and sometimes I find it difficult to be so vulnerable. However, I know that a lot of people can relate to scenarios that I went through, which ultimately makes the whole process of purging rewarding. 

Elle: What was the greatest challenge you faced with publishing your work?

Elan: Having enough confidence to actually go through with publishing. It’s a very solitary feeling and sometimes my negative thinking would get the best of me. Now that I’m starting to get the hang of marketing, it’s a lot easier to keep following through with the goals I set for myself. 

Elle: Do you have a favorite author or book?

Elan: White Oleander by Janet Fitch is hands-down my favorite. So dynamic, beautifully written, and haunting. I aspire to be more like her with my own fiction. She really creates a world in which a reader can easily escape. 

Elle: Do you have any advice for other indie authors?

Elan: Don’t stop going. It may seem hard or difficult, or you may simply lose the confidence to follow-through with something, but really have faith that the story you have is worth sharing. 

Elle: What genre or genre's do you write and why? 

Elan: I enjoy contemporary fiction the most. You can hide pieces of yourself in the work and that’s always a luring treat. 

Elan can be found at:

http://www.thewillowtreebyelan.com/ -website

The Willow Tree- At Amazon

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A cute way to explain adption and racial acceptance to very young children- Author Rachael Snead

This week's featured author is Rachael Snead, author of Long Tail, Short Tail, a children's book with a powerful message for our youngest members of society about adoption and racial acceptance . Please take a few minutes to read my review and Rachael's interview which explains her motivation in creating Long Tail, Short Tail.

Long Tail, Short Tail by Rachael Snead and illustrated by Laurie Barrows is a fantastic children's book. Ollie is a chipmunk who is adopted by squirrel parents. The important messages this book relays to our youngest readers and/or listeners is that adoptive children and step children are loved every bit as much as biological children making a complete family unit, and it's OK for a child to be racially different than their parents. The racial message goes beyond the family, and enters acceptance within society.

Rachael is able to send a powerful message written in a context young children can understand using chipmunks and squirrels as characters. Laurie does an excellent job portraying the message of the book within the pictures. Any great children's book needs strong illustrations to back up the plot in order for the youngest audience to fully understand. Together Rachael and Laurie have truly created a moving story about love and acceptance.

Long Tail, Short Tail is an excellent story that I recommend not only for adopted children but for all youngsters. Many of today's families are not traditional or should I say the knew idea of traditional is changing. This story goes a long way in explaining that concept to children.
  
Rachael's Bio-

Rachael Snead is a children’s book author and poet. Rachael has just launched her first published children’s book, “Long Tail, Short Tail”. “Long Tail, Short Tail” will be the first in a series of seven books designed to educate children about unique families. Future topics will include physically disabled children and interracial families. Rachael is a transracial adoptive parent. She has a preschool son, the inspiration for “Long Tail, Short Tail”. Rachael knows firsthand how rare and unique transracial families are and has dedicated much of her time to teaching others about transracial adoption. In her spare time, she teaches Sunday School. She is naturally an avid writer and frequently blogs about the humorous situations she finds herself in as an adoptive mom. Rachael is married to Chris, a Navy veteran from Texas. The couple often takes their young son to local attractions such as zoos, aquariums, gardens, museums, and amusement parks. “We want people to realize that yes, transracial adoption does occur, and it’s not a bad thing. We are just like any other family—we have fun, we laugh, we love—we may not look like everyone else but we are just like any other family”, Rachael says.
 
Interview 

Elle: Tell a little about yourself.

Rachael: I am a transracial adoptive parent. I'm married to a Navy veteran. We live in Virginia with our adopted son and our two puppies.  

Elle: What is your latest writing accomplishment?

Rachael: I had trouble finding adoption themed books that applied to my son's situation. One day after a frustrating search for adoption books at Barnes and Noble, a sympathetic B & N employee told me that I should just write my own book. I started writing within an hour of returning home and 5 months later, I published 'Long Tail, Short Tail'. I made this book generalized enough to pertain to almost any voluntary adoption placement. 

Elle:  Tell us a little about any other works you have published or will be publishing.

Rachael: I have two books planned for 2014. One is another children's book called 'The Amazing Adventures of Camellia and York'. This is a story about a bunny and a squirrel who have an interesting afternoon. The other is called 'Chasing Joey', a novel for adults. It's the story of my 8-year journey through marriage, infertility, adoption, and parenthood. I am compiling all the strangest and funniest stories of my life, so this book will be extremely entertaining and insightful. 

Elle:  How long have you been writing and how did you fall into it?

Rachael: I have been reading since preschool and writing since elementary school. My mother encouraged me to keep a journal, which I did from about 7 to 18. In high school I wrote poetry and songs as a way of relieving stress.  As I grew older, I wrote resumes, college essays, and after becoming a mother I wrote about my son's toddler escapades. I write to-do lists regularly. I have a poor memory, so I prefer to stay organized and keep track of everything by writing it down--including memories of my son's childhood and my experiences as an adoptive parent.  

Elle:  Please tell us a little about your writing process.

Rachael: I like to start with a pen and a spiral notebook. I write three rough drafts that way, then transfer the manuscript to MS Word. From there, my editor edits three times for grammar, spelling, and sentence structure. After a final edit, I send the manuscript to the illustrator.

Elle:  If a children's book author, are any of your novels based on events in your life?

Rachael: Absolutely. 'Long Tail, Short Tail' is almost entirely based on true life, from Ollie's chubby cheeks to the soft  boots. 'Chasing Joey' will be one hundred percent actual events.

Elle:  What was the greatest challenge you faced with publishing your work?

Rachael: The formatting, believe it or not. Converting from .pdf to .epub to .txt to .doc, adjusting pixels/resolution, getting the layout just so, and paginating is all very frustrating for me.

Elle:  Do you have a favorite author or book?

Rachael: C.S. Lewis! I love very descriptive writing. He makes the words come alive and jump off the paper.

Elle:  Do you have any advice for other indie authors?

Rachael: Work work, work. Treat it like a full-time job. Research everything, all the time. Never stop writing. Be as stubborn as a mule.

Elle:  Tell us a little about Long Tail, Short Tail's illustrator and how did you come to work together?

Rachael:  I did a web search for illustrators and one of the first links to appear was www.guru.com. I signed up and created a project profile. Laurie Barrows was one of about a hundred illustrators who offered their services to me. I liked her sample artwork and the rest is history.

Where to find Rachael Snead and her book:

Rachael's Website
Blog
Barnes and Noble
Long Tail, Short Tail Amazon
LongTail, Short Tail Smashwords

Vampires, Hot Men, Sexy Scenes- Introducing Clarrissa Lee Moon

Clarrissa Lee Moon is a master at paranormal erotica. Her words beg the reader to keep turning the pages with steamy sex, action packed plots, and extreme detail of mystical creatures. I have read two of her novels, Celeste Nites first trilogy and Nightwolves Coalition each are the first books in their respective series and wonderfully entertaining.

Nightwolves Coalition by Clarrissa Lee Moon is a paranormal erotica novel that is a little of both paranormal and erotica and is pleasingly the right amount of each and refreshingly not too much of either. The novel takes no time in jumping into the action and plot as Catrina Garcia a vampire, newly modified, finds herself in the clutches of terrorists on a passenger airliner where she must find a way to save the day. Both evil and benevolent forces spice the conspiracy as twists take the reader into a suspense filled story and at times an entirely different world.

There is a very grounding sediment to the paranormal activity within the book that is quite compelling and utterly believable. The characters are three dimensional quality and the action and landscape unfold before the reader's eyes. Clarrissa Lee Moon truly uses the right amount of everything in her recipe for this book to create a novel about the age old dogma of vampires making it unique and exhilarating.


Grade A awesome book!

Celeste Nites by Clarrissa Lee Moon is an intriguing Vampire erotica novella. The exquisitely beautiful vampire Celeste unintentionally hijacks the affections of two rich, powerful, and sizzling hunk brothers Jacques and Armand. While Celeste is attempting to rid the world of her evil ex lover, Jacques and Armond continue to waylay her plans as she is equally attracted to them. This novella is packed to the hilt with red-hot erotic scenes while maintaining a powerful plot. 

Now having read two of Clarrissa lee Moon's novels she has a true talent in illustrating with extreme detail erotic scenes while keeping the plot embedded and developing within her stories. There aren't too many authors who share this talent making her stories unique. Her words flow and transition easily from one page to the next which keeps the reader hooked and wanting more.


Celeste Nites is a provocative and captivating must read novella.

Interview with Clarrissa

Elle: Tell a little about yourself.

Clarrissa: I have 3 boys grown who wont leave. I think they like my homemade fudge too much. Who knows:) I write, do my hobbies and try to stay out of the big bad world as much as possible. 

Elle:  What is your latest writing accomplishment?

Clarrissa: Nightwolves Siren's Song was my last big work. Since then I have written many poems, quotes and other misc pieces.

Elle: Tell us a little about any other works you have published or will be publishing.

Clarissa: Nightwolves Dawn to Dusk is almost finished, soon to be in editing mode. It will most likely be launched in March of this year. It will be followed closely with Nightwolves Battle for Kla' din as well and Celeste Nites 2 and 3 to finish that series out. After that I will be putting some serious time in writing a children's book series that will be based on pixies, the Fae and other wonderful mythological creatures. I have many irons in the fire with finishing the Nightwolves series out (an 8 book series) Celetse Nites, Nightwolves Triad of Destiny(a 22 book series) and my childrens book series.

Elle: How long have you been writing and how did you fall into it?

Clarrissa: Off and on all my life but what got me to see if I could actually be published was Nightwolves. I smiled the whole month it took me to write the first two books. I figured a job that can actually make me smile while doing it was a job worth pursuing for life:)

Elle: Please tell us a little about your writing process.

Clarrissa: First I play some games, computer solitaire, Jewels and such just to relax and clear my head of the days stresses. Then select some music to set the mood for the scene I have in mind and then just start writing.

Elle: As a fiction writer, are any of your novels based on events in your life?

Clarrissa: You'd be surprised how much truth you can put into a book that's fictional :)

Elle:  What was the greatest challenge you faced with publishing your work?

Clarrissa: Finding a publishing house willing to give me what I want in a contract:)

Elle: Do you have a favorite author or book?

Clarrissa: The list would be long but my main favs are Lindsay Sands, Angela Knight and Christine Feehan.

Elle: Do you have any advice for other indie authors?

Clarrissa: Never give up. Believe in yourself, your book and follow your heart. Network, network, network. 

Elle:  What genre or genres do you write and why?

Clarrissa: Urban fantasy and paranormal erotica....they trip my trigger really. They are fun and can take you far away from the stresses of daily living in the mundane world...which frankly can suck most of the time. I would rather spend the night writing the Nightwolves world than doing anything else in this one:) Much more fun, much more empowering.


Where to find Clarrissa Lee Moon and her novels:
Clarrissa's Blog

Clarrissa Lee Moon on Amazon

Proud Member of Paranormal Romance Guild
http://www.paranormalromanceguild.com/
http://www.clarrissaleemoonauthor.com/
http://www.worldcastlepublishing.com/
http://www.authorsden.com/clarrissalzamora1.