Friday, March 30, 2012

Sugar And Spice And Not So Nice, A Paranormal Mystery Thriller by Janet McNulty VBT Pit Stop Mar 30 - Author Interview

Click on the image to visit the Meet & Greet with Janet on VBT Cafe.


Janet McNulty currently resides in West Virginia where she moved after receiving her B.A. in History. She lives with her three cats who keep her on task.

Ms. McNulty has also recently published a novel, Legends Lost: Amborese, under the pen name Nova Rose. She is currently working on the second novel in the series called Legends Lost Tesnayr, but also has another nonfiction book in the works, that is untitled at this point.




Sugar And Spice And Not So Nice
Mellow Summers just wanted to go to college and get her film degree. She moved into a furnished apartment with her friend Jackie only to find that it already had a tenant: the ghost of a girl who was murdered a year earlier. Now it is up to Mellow to not only discover who the murderer is, but to prove it as well.

With the help of the ghost Rachel, Mellow sets out to solve the year old mystery. She soon finds out that she may have taken on more than she can handle. Pursued by someone who wants the identity of the killer to remain a secret, Mellow will have to use all her resources to outwit him and help the spirit of Rachel move on.
 



Louise: Janet, welcome to my blog! I’m so excited you could join me for a chat. When did you first decide to submit your work to be published? Tell us what or who encouraged you to take this big step.

Janet: Thank you for having me here, Louise. I first decided to submit my work for publication last year when I got the idea for the title of my book. I have always written short stories or poems, but never published any of them.  I decided to embark on a novel; my mom encouraged me to try publishing it. After considering it for a long while, I decided she was right. A manuscript is of little use if you allow it to collect dust on the hard drive. So, I did some research about the publishing process and jumped in, so to speak.

Louise: Please tell us a little about your new release Sugar And Spice And Not So Nice without giving too much of a spoiler away.


Janet: The book starts out with the main character, Mellow, who decides to start a new life with her best friend Jackie and moves to a new town. They managed to find a furnished apartment for a very low rent. The problem is, the apartment is haunted by a girl named Rachel, who was murdered the year before.

After recovering from her initial shock at meeting a ghost, Mellow decides to help Rachel solve her murder. Of course, Rachel gets Mellow into all kinds of trouble during all this, which she then has to help Mellow out of.

Louise: Do you plan all your characters out before you start a story or do they develop as you write?

Janet: A little bit of both. I planned Mellow’s character out as a plain, person who just wants to get her college degree. Rachel’s character was more of a make it up as you go along type. She is definitely a free spirited woman and I felt it best to keep her attributes unplanned so that she would appear as the spontaneous person that she is.

Louise: How much research do you do for your books? Have you found any cool tidbits in your research?

Janet: The amount of research I do depends on the writing project. I did a fantasy novel last year, for which I did spend time researching various myths and legends to incorporate in the story. I also wrote a nonfiction book that required at least five months of research.

For Sugar And Spice And Not So Nice I did very little. I meant for this to be a simple mystery/ thriller type. Most of my research involved people watching. I like to watch people and study their little habits. I use those observations in my writing.

Louise: What is your writing process? Do you outline, write by the seat of your pants (Pantser) or a combination of both?

Janet: Again this depends on what it is I’m writing. For my latest release, I wrote this more as a Pantser. I had maybe a three sentence outline to get started, but for the most part, I made the story up as I went.

Louise: Do you write full time? What did you do before you became a writer or still do?

Janet: Right now I write full time. When I lost my job a few years back, I turned to my writing as something to do and to keep me sane. Before then I worked part time in a library in the Children’s department. I even worked as a tutor at a university as part of their student employment program until I graduated.

Louise: Do you have a ritual when it comes to writing? Example….get coffee, blanket, paper, pen, laptop and a comfy place.

Janet: Before I sit down to write I usually make myself some tea.  Then I stick in some of my favorite music, pick up my laptop and start typing away.

Louise: Describe a typical writing day for you.

Janet: A typical writing day consists of me writing for at least three to four straight hours. Most of what I write is usually deleted when I go back and edit. Usually by the time I finish a day, I have a few paragraphs that I am completely happy with.

Louise: Please give us a sneak peek at your future books. What’s on the horizon?

Janet: Currently, I am writing the second novel in my Legends Lost trilogy. I hope to have that completed by the end of this summer. It will be published under the pen name of Nova Rose.

I am planning to write a sequel to Sugar And Spice And Not So Nice. I have a small outline for it right now, but haven’t quite gotten the plot worked out. It will be titled Frogs, Snails, And A Lot Of Wails. It should be released in the next 12 months.

Louise: What is your favorite genre to read and who is your favorite author?

Janet: My favorite genre is fantasy. But I love mysteries as well.  I’m afraid I am unable to pin down a favorite author. But some that I read frequently are Tolkien, Mary Higgins Clark, and recently I’ve read some of John Flanagan’s stuff.

Louise: Is there anything else you would like to tell the readers we have not touched on?

Janet: The only thing we haven’t touched upon is a writer’s inspiration. One thing I get asked about is where I find my ideas for my writing. I get them from anywhere. Sometimes I get an idea for my writing from just walking down the street or working out in the yard.  

That is something writers do all the time. We observe the world around us and draw inspiration from anything.   

Louise: Where can the readers learn more about you and find your books on the web?

Janet: I have an Author Profile page on Amazon which includes purchase links for anyone interested:
This page lists all of my publications. 

You can also go to www.legendslosttrilogy.com to learn more about me and my writing.

Purchase Links:
Watch for more of the The Mellow Summers Series coming soon!

CONTEST!
Readers, Janet will give away a signed copy to one lucky commenter! Answer this question in your comment and leave your email address (so we can easily contact the winner). Drawing will be held Friday, Mar 30

*How would you handle a ghost in your house or apartment? 

 

Tuesday, March 27, 2012

A Family Legacy Built on a Wild Land. A Struggle for Justice, Love and Survival: Gallagher's Pride MK McClintock VBT Pit Stop Mar 28 - 30

Click on the image to visit the Meet & Greet with MK at VBT Cafe.


M.K. McClintock is here until Friday to chat about her new release Gallagher's Pride, a western romance set in the beautiful mountains of Montana. There's a giveaway; details below.

McClintock was born on the west coast, but after less than eight years she left with her family to the Rocky Mountains. After more adventures around the country, business college and culinary school, McClintock found a place to call home in Montana.

"I've always loved books and spent more hours reading through school than any other activity. I wrote stories when I was younger and even tried my hand at a novel. It wasn't very good and I shelved the idea for years." 

She pulled the ideas off the shelf and began working on her first novel, Gallagher's Pride, the first in an historical series about a ranching family in Montana.

Over the years McClintock traveled the country and visited magnificent Scotland. She dreams of a time when life was simpler, the land rougher and the journey more rewarding. With her heart deeply rooted in the past and her mind always on adventure, McClintock still calls Montana home. McClintock is also the author of Alaina Claiborne, the first of her British Agent novels. She is currently at work on her next book. 

Louise: MK, welcome to my blog! I’m so excited you could join me for a chat. When did you first decide to submit your work to be published? Tell us what or who encouraged you to take this big step.

MK: Thank you for having me Louise! Why did I take that big step? Well, it was two parts for me. First, I just wanted to take the step for myself. I had the book, it was ready and I wanted it out there. I’m not always known for my patience and so waiting for a ‘big break’ from a publishing company just isn’t in my character. I had met with agents and editors and I just didn’t feel comfortable putting everything into their hands, at least for now. I also think my family was tired of me talking about it and so they not-so-subtly encouraged me to publish sooner rather than later.

Louise: Please tell us a little about your new release Gallagher's Pride without giving too much of a spoiler away.

MK: One would think with this being my book, coming up with a non-spoiler bit about it would be easy, but it’s really not so I usually revert to what’s on the back cover. Set in late 19th century Scotland and Montana Territory, basically Brenna Cameron has a family secret or mystery to unravel and travels to Montana because that’s where the clues led her. Ethan Gallagher and his family are cattle ranchers in a small town called Briarwood and this is where they have their meet-cute. The romance is there, but so is the adventure and humor and honestly anything else would give away moments in the book that are better left for the reader to discover.

 
Brenna Cameron travels from Scotland after losing someone she loves in search of family she didn't know existed. Alone now in the world, Brenna makes an arduous journey, following the trail of discovery to Briarwood, Montana. Here she meets Ethan Gallagher, and the rest of the Gallagher clan. Only with their help is she able to discover lost family, heal old wounds and embark on a treacherous confrontation with a man who destroyed her family. As head of the Gallagher clan, Ethan has more than enough to occupy his thoughts and time-he didn't need the complication of Brenna Cameron and he certainly didn't need the trouble that came with her. Ethan takes on the unwanted duty of self-appointed protector to the headstrong Scot, only to discover there is such a thing as second chances and more to life than revenge.

Louise: Do you plan all your characters out before you start a story or do they develop as you write?

MK: A little of both. In Gallagher’s Pride, Brenna and Ethan (our main characters) just happened. I didn’t plan them out and in fact changed their names about a third of the way through writing, but the others were planned as far as initial names and ideas (I love coming up with character names). Most of the time I conduct character interviews and summaries to give me a little insight into their individual personalities. The characters tend to develop on their own as the story progresses. I’ve found it much more enjoyable and natural to do that rather than trying to control everything they do.

Louise: How much research do you do for your books? Have you found any cool tidbits in your research?

MK: I do a bit of research, but very little actual history is in the story. I’m writing fiction and so I take advantage of that and grant myself some leeway, but I do try to make sure my timelines and events are historically accurate. Once in a while I veer from specific timelines, some of which I listed on a post at one of my other blog tour stops. For instance, September 2, 1883 marked the last stagecoach run in Montana, but I took some liberties with that in having the stagecoach run through October of 1883. Since the railroad would not have realistically come through the area where Briarwood was set, I needed a form of public transportation and extending the stage run for this purpose was doable.


Louise: What is your writing process? Do you outline, write by the seat of your pants (Pantser) or a combination of both?

MK: I don’t have a set process. I do what comes to me and sometimes my characters require a bit more planning, other times I just have to let them surprise me. As mentioned, I do character interviews and character summaries. I also always write the back cover blurb of the book before I begin writing. It may seem out of order, but for me, that summary really drives the writing. It’s broad enough so I know where I want the story to go and detailed enough so I know what I can and can’t do with the story. Once I have an idea of the characters and that back cover blurb written, I just let the story come. It’s an odd process, but it works for me.

Louise: I think all of us find the right process that works. I jot down my idea and characters, then the story just flows from there. Do you write full time? What did you do before you became a writer or still do?

MK: I don’t…yet! I’m always doing so many things that I find it difficult to imagine only writing, but since answering that question a few times now, I like the idea of writing full-time. Right now I have a business that takes up a good deal of my time and have had it since I finished college, but I work from home so it does make it easier to fit the writing in. I’m also a photographer and baker, so life is busy, which in the grand scheme is a good thing. I would bore too easily otherwise.

Louise: Do you have a ritual when it comes to writing? Example….get coffee, blanket, paper, pen, laptop and a comfy place.

MK: Well, believe it or not I write without help of caffeine. Too much natural energy I suppose. I do prefer to write at my desktop in my office. It’s my work space, but I also have it set up for writing, with my books and research material all around. Flowers on the desk, a wall with my book covers (present and future), so it’s a good space. Sometimes I’ll sit at my bedroom desk with the laptop so I can look out over the lake. I always have my eco-cup filled with ice water and something to nibble on like carrots or grapes (and of course there’s always a chocolate stash nearby). I like my area to be cooler when I write, so no blanket for me and I sit right on the edge of my chair-don’t like to relax back into it. I do always wear my slippers-can’t seem to write without those on. Yeah, I’m a little quirky. 

Louise: Describe a typical writing day for you.

MK: When I do have the chance to devote an entire day to writing, which is rare, I just sit down and write (after my quirks are taken care of). I often lose track of time and so sometimes I’ll have to set a timer so I can be sure to get up and stretch. Really though, it’s just about the writing. I ignore everyone and everything else around me when I’m brain-deep into the story. In fact, people pretty much know to just stay clear of my on devoted writing days because apparently (just a rumor) I’m not all that pleasant when I’m interrupted. 

Louise: Please give us a sneak peek at your future books. What’s on the horizon?

MK: Lots of good stuff! Gallagher’s Hope, the second book of the Gallagher series will be the next book to come out. I put a very early preview of the cover on my blog. I have five books total planned for the Gallagher series. I’m also working on a British Agent trilogy, the first of which is out. Then I have one more trilogy and single title books planned…basically the next five years, but the Gallaghers are definitely getting the focus of my writing time.

Louise: So you're dabbling in suspense as well. What is your favorite genre to read and who is your favorite author?

MK: I love historical romance and my top favorite author is Kathleen E. Woodiwiss. I wish I could say historical western romance, but there just aren’t that many authors in this genre I’ve had the chance to read. The few western romances Johanna Lindsey has written would probably be my favorite in that genre. Also at the top of my favorites list are Edward Rutherford, Larry McMurtry and Louis L’Amour. Otherwise, I just love books so I read a wide variety in both fiction and non-fiction.

Louise: Kathleen Woodiwiss is my first romance author to read when I was sixteen! Is there anything else you would like to tell the readers we have not touched on?

MK: I love writing. In fact, until that first book was published, I didn’t realize just how much I loved it. I’m grateful to all the wonderful readers out there who are reading my books – without them we authors don’t serve much of a purpose.

Louise: Where can the readers learn more about you and find your books on the web?

MK: I constantly keep my blog updated with not only the latest about my own books, but also a variety of guests and posts on writing, so always a lot going on there, including giveaways. The website is my official place in cyberspace, so that is also updated with the latest on my books, book summaries, etc.

Blog 
Kindle 
Twitter

Giveaway! I'll give a copy in eBook format to one lucky commenter! Please leave your email address in your comment so we can easily contact the winner. Drawing will be held Saturday, March 31. Good Luck!

Louise: MK, thank you again for visiting! Readers below is an excerpt of Gallagher's Pride. Enjoy!

Excerpt:

He was tired of waiting. Six days now he’d been camped out here and had nearly been caught by one of the Hawk’s Peak hands. He would’ve given up and ridden back to the ranch if he didn’t think his boss would take a whip to him. Why he was elected as watch when his boss found out the pair left the ranch was beyond him. He waited and waited until finally he saw two riders coming through the trees west of his hiding spot. He mounted his horse and rode just a little closer. The rider waited until he was sure it was the Scot who rode in with Gallagher. Once satisfied, he raced his mount up and over the crest and rode hard back to the ranch.
His boss was waiting for him on his front porch smoking a clean cheroot.
“Did you see them?”
“Oh yes, they just rode in, both of them.”
“From which direction?”
“North.”
“The only place north of here is Bright River.”
“Yes sir, unless you go way north and that would’ve taken them a whole lot longer.”
“Well done Bradford,” the older man said tossing the man a small pouch. The gold jingled bringing a smile to the rider’s lips. Those cold nights hadn’t been a waste after all.
“Why don’t you go and find one of the girls. Have a good night, you’ve earned it.”
“Thank you sir.”
“Oh Bradford, just be ready to ride out again.”
The rider nodded and headed to the bunk house. His thoughts turned to the pretty Scot staying over at the Gallagher’s spread. He licked his lips thinking how much fun she was going to be. He pulled the skinny pale girl with the red stringy hair out of her bunk and dragged her to his own. She was a poor substitute, but she’d have to do until he could get on top of Gallagher’s whore.




Friday, March 23, 2012

A Lighthouse, Hauntings and Lost Love, Whispers at Ghost Point by Deanna Jewel Mar 23 - 25


From March 23 through March 25, I'm very excited to have Deanna Jewel, my good friend, mentor and fellow author, visit my blog. Deanna will share a snippet of Whispers at Ghost Point due to be released late summer 2012. I'm very anxious to read it!

Louise, thank you so much for having me here and I hope your readers are interested in a mysterious ghost story with ties from hundreds of years in the past. I’ve had a love for lighthouses and storytelling since I was a child.

Whispers at Ghost Point


The mystery of what could lurk high up in the tower is an endless list of things…but ghosts stand in the forefront. I’ve connected the ghost to both of my characters although mainly to the heroine. He’s loved her for a ‘long time’ and their time together in the past didn’t go as he’d have liked it to so he’s being a jerk and taking what he wants now!

Dana is an interior designer/decorator with a contractor’s license and is looking to make a name for herself professionally when she moves to Wilmington. She knows of an abandoned lighthouse on the coast of Wilmington in North Carolina that she’s dying to get her hands on. Okay, maybe I shouldn’t say ‘dying’ here but…moving on…

The lighthouse is owned by a wealthy businessman who wants to remain nameless because he has no interest in ever going back into the place, but he doesn’t want it to fall into the hands of anyone else. When he was a child, he sneaked inside and encountered a being that scared the hell out of him then and still does when he thinks back on it…something he can’t help. He inherited the lighthouse from his grandfather and has no future plans for it.

At least he didn’t think he did.

His attorney is also his best friend and they spend time on the ocean off the coast of Wilmington/South Port on his yacht as they contemplate what to do next in their lives while they enjoy a few beers as they fish. When his friend meets an interior designer, he thinks the two of them should meet but Mitch makes it clear that he isn’t looking for a relationship; his business and women just don’t mix. He travels too much and when he is home, he works too much, which is the reason he’s divorced now.


Readers, thank you for stopping in today. I hope you’re interested in Whispers at Ghost Point and will follow my progress as I strive to get this finished for you. The characters in Whispers are from my historical, No Turning Back, set in England 1778 - I couldn't let them go so have reincarnated their souls to the present! As a thank you, I’m offering the contest below.

CONTEST:  Two lucky commenters will receive an e-book copy of NO TURNING BACK in the format of their choice. Please comment or ask a question and include your email addy so I can easily reach you. Comments are open until March 30. Drawing will be March 31. Good Luck!

Click on the image to read the first chapter on Bookbuzzr.com




Deanna Jewel lives in the Pacific Northwest and has been writing since 1991.  She has completed one time travel and one historical novel and has several others in the works. A trip to Dubois, Wyoming, south of Yellowstone, inspired her time-travel novel. The landscape and town locations described in NEVER SURRENDER are real.  Jon Daley, a professor at Boise State University, translated the Shoshone language that you will find in the book.
 NEVER SURRENDER, her time travel romance, was released in 2008 in print, e-book and iBook for download to e-Readers and i-Pads. This novel won an Honorable Mention in the 2008 Quill Awards at Writing.com.  Her second novel, an historical taking place in England, 1778, was released in April 2010, titled NO TURNING BACK, and is also in print, eBook and iBook for download to your electronic readers.
Hard at work on her next novel, Whispers at Ghost Point, which she hopes to have available in mid 2012. Whispers takes place at an abandoned lighthouse in Wilmington, NC and her main characters from No Turning Back are reincarnated into the present. Join Dana as she learns about her past while working toward her future. The dangers that lurk at an abandoned lighthouse pull her into a past she was unaware of but also involves a man she's never met...in this lifetime! Follow the books progress on her website.
She is married to a retired captain of the fire department. He’s also owned his own businesses for 23 years. They have two Siamese cats: Zoie and Sinbad, who keep them entertained. Deanna has enjoyed reading historical romance novels for over thirty years, camping with her family, and traveling.
    Her writing goal is to draw the reader into the story to experience what the characters feel, to show both the hero's and heroine's points of view, and to take the reader away from their every day stress to a place not yet visited.


Her site links:


*See her site for more places to find Deanna Jewel!

Buy Links:



Read a review of No Turning Back on Bren's Book Reviews, click on the Romance tab:   http://brensbookreviews.blogspot.com/



Wednesday, March 21, 2012

Book Bonanza - Antique Charming by Natalie-Nicole Bates on Amazon *FREE* for one day only!



What is a Book Bonanza?

A one day promotion of a FREE ebook on Amazon. March 22, Natalie will offer Antique Charming for free. 


Third-generation funeral director Lizzie Morton is about to have her dream realized. She has purchased the long abandoned Nichols Funeral Home and its upstairs flat, determined to restore the funeral home to its once former glory. But a late night visitor, Adam Nichols, claims the funeral home still belongs to his family. Lizzie scoffs at his odd behavior and outlandish claims, but when a vintage photograph appears, she soon realizes, to her horror, that Adam Nichols did once own the funeral home—more than one hundred years ago—and now she has allowed this entity to pass into her home. 

Visit the other Bloggers sponsoring the Book Bonanza by clicking on the links below.


Tuesday, March 20, 2012

Meet Joe Prentis, Author of The Relic Mar 20 - 22


Congratulations to T.W Fendley!
T.W. won a copy of Abraham's Bones!

For the next few days, I welcome a multi-genre author that I became acquainted with on Twitter. Joe Prentis followed me and I visited his web site, and then immediately followed back, thinking; I want to feature him on my blog. Why? You might ask. Because his books intrigued me. 

With eleven books under his belt, Joe writes humor, suspense, thrillers and historical fiction. Here's a bit about Joe before we begin.

Joe Prentis attended Union University and then worked for the FBI in Washington D.C. After he returned to his native state, he was the pastor of one church and the interim pastor of three others. He worked for Tenneco until his recent retirement. He is an avid runner and bicycle rider, but admits to having settled into a more leisure pace after retirement. 

He has written eleven novels, over seventy short stories and articles, and a musical production to commemorate the National Bicentennial. His play, Freedom 76, had a total attendance of almost 70,000 persons. He is now working on a sequel to Innocent and the third book in the Abraham’s Bones series.

Louise: Joe, welcome to my blog! I’m so excited you could join me for a chat. When did you first decide to submit your work to be published? Tell us what or who encouraged you to take this big step.

Joe: I can’t tell you how pleased I am to introduce myself to your readers. I started submitting my work to publishers when I was still in high school. Our school librarian was a published author and she read everything I wrote and encouraged me along the way. Each summer Mrs. Curry went to a writer’s retreat in North Carolina where she asked some of her fellow writers to read some of my work. I received some encouraging notes from several of them. From that moment I was committed. My first published work was in Reader’s Digest in 1980.

Louise: Please tell us a little about your new release of The Relic without giving too much of a spoiler away.

Joe: The Relic is the second book in a three book series about the religious and political conflict in the Middle East. It is set against the background of the archeological excavation at Ashkelon, Israel. It is a book with many twist and turns, plot wise, involving government leaders in Washington, Rome, and the Middle East. 

 
When John Christopher accepted his assignment as the Vatican's ambassador-at-large to the Middle East, he expected a routine negotiation session, much like the ones he had experienced in the past. He was soon to discover a secret agenda and a mystery that cast its shadow across even the simplest things.

The powerful Cardinals of the curia find themselves in a power struggle with the leaders of the Middle East, as they try to gain political advantage. They quickly discover that the authority of the Throne of St. Peter has met a formidable opponent in an ancient faith bound up in a modern political movement.

The Relic is a story of human emotions; a highly provocative mixture of irony, suspense, and the clash of armies, pagan rituals, passion, pain and enormous faith, all of it set against an apocalyptic atmosphere that will change the world.

Louise: Do you plan all your characters out before you start a story or do they develop as you write? 

Joe: My stories are character driven rather than plot driven. The main characters in my stories sometimes jump into my consciousness fully developed, but even if they don’t, I never have to work very hard to round them out. I think the mistake some writers make is to concentrate too hard on the plot. If you know the characters in your story, then you only have to place them into a situation and most of the plotting will emerge on its own. I worked in Washington many years ago and I came into contact with people in government service, in the FBI, the CIA, and in the Department of State. 

When I decided to do a book on the Middle East, it was easy to imagine the type of person I needed for my story. John Christopher, my main character, is an archeologist who was lured away from his job because he spoke the languages of the Middle East fluently. Once I had an idea of where the story was going, the other characters stepped on the literary stage as they were needed.

Louise: How much research do you do for your books? Have you found any cool tidbits in your research? 

Joe: The research depends entirely on the type of book I am writing. Abraham’s Bones and the sequel, The Relic, took a lot of research to complete the story. Innocent, a police procedural novel did not require any research. I wrote Innocent in 28 days, but spent two years on the other two books. I have a large table in my home office and it was piled high with books, notes, and computer disk where I recorded everything. I also went to the experts when I was uncertain about the finer details. I have a friend, who spent over half of her life in the Middle East. She is a Muslim. Another friend, who is Jewish, was able to give me his input on religious and secular matters. I guess the short answer would be that I do whatever is required to make the story authentic.

Louise: What is your writing process? Do you outline, write by the seat of your pants (Pantser) or a combination of both?

Joe: The more I write, the less I outline. People who write character driven fiction report the same strange phenomena that I have experienced. The characters tend to take control of the story and writers have to wrestle it away from them from time to time. Imagine the person you know best in some dramatic situation. If it is a minor accident, and they are transported to the hospital, you know exactly what you are going to see, hear, and experience before you get there. It is the same with literary characters you know well. I know where my stories are going shortly after I began plotting my book, but like a proud parent on a playground, I know when to stand back and let them do their thing.

Louise: Do you write full time? What did you do before you became a writer or still do?

Joe: I worked for the FBI and then for Tenneco for many years. Tenneco is a large cooperation that involves manufacturing as well as being a holding company for several other enterprises. I now write full time and have just completed my eleventh novel.

Louise: Do you have a ritual when it comes to writing? Example….get coffee, blanket, paper, pen, laptop and a comfy place.

Joe: I always write at my computer. I have a home office with bookshelves from floor to ceiling on one wall that contains many hundreds of reference books. I have a set of storage cabinets where I keep supplies, so my office is somewhat self-contained. I keep the blinds closed, the stereo off, and I don’t answer the phone when I am writing. I usually write in long sessions, stopping only for meals. If I get tired of sitting, then I put my manuscript on a flash drive and cross the room to another computer where I can write standing up. If that still doesn’t get the kinks out of my legs, then I step on my treadmill or rowing machine until everything is back to normal. I usually keep a glass of water handy and some small items of food, like almonds or a cracker or two. 

Louise: Describe a typical writing day for you.

Joe: Some writers complain of writers block, but I have never been bothered with that problem. When I start a writing session, I always back up a chapter or two in the manuscript to where I left off the previous day. I read carefully through the passage, making corrections and some other minor editing. By the time I get to my starting place, I can go on seamlessly without any problem. I do my best work when I write in long sessions, but sometimes I quit and do the things people normally do -- visit with friends, take care of family matters, or do something for recreation.

Louise: Please give us a sneak peek at your future books. What’s on the horizon?

Joe: For some unknown reason, I work best when I am working on different stories at the same time. I have about half of the third book in the Abraham’s Bones series finished. I am working on the second book in my Daniel Barrett series, and have done some work on some other stories. While this might sound like a disorganized process, it really isn’t. I like creating characters, plotting, researching, and all of the other things involved in the writing process. My works in progress are in various stages of completion, so I don’t have to just be in one stage at any given time. I am writing for the sheer pleasure of it. This is the way I normally work and enjoy it immensely. I will have the second book in my western series finished in a month or two, and the others will be completed before the end of the year.

Louise: What is your favorite genre to read and who is your favorite author?

Joe: I like suspense best, but I also like stories about the American frontier. I guess I should say that I like anything that explores the human condition. I like many authors, and I am awed by the talent of many others. I like James Michener, John Jakes, Michael Connelly, and James Patterson, but if I had to pick a single author it would probably be LaVyrle Spencer. Her stories have the right combination of suspense, romance, and the human condition. When you finish one of her books, you feel as if you have made some new friends and that you are involved in their lives. Spencer is about as good as it gets.

Louise: Is there anything else you would like to tell the readers we have not touched on?

Joe: Someone once said that if a writer is writing for any other reason except money, then he is a fool. Money is nice, but I write for the pleasure it gives me in creating a story, and I hope I can bring a little pleasure to my readers. I write to entertain, and I hope people will feel they have received something worthwhile from reading one of my novels.

Louise: Where can the readers learn more about you and find your books on the web? 

Joe: Information about what I have written in recent years can be found on my website or at most online booksellers. Check the following links:

Amazon author’s page
Joe's Blog 


Louise: Joe, thank you again for visiting my blog!

Readers, Joe is giving away a copy of the first book in the Abraham's Bones series, in Kindle format, to one lucky commenter! Please include your email address in the comment so we can easily contact the winner. Drawing will be held Mar 23.

The Relic - Excerpt 

    The windows exploded inward, sending an avalanche of glass and jagged metal across the room, while the steady blat-blat of a high-powered weapon shattered the early morning stillness. Christopher rolled off the bed and covered his eyes with his hands. A fraction of a second later, two vases setting on a trestle table exploded, sending fist-sized chunks of fire-glazed pottery ricocheting from the walls and ceiling.
    “Get down!” Christopher shouted when he heard Julia’s high pitched scream from across the hallway. In the sudden lull, he heard Daniella’s voice, faint and indistinct, from the opposite end of the house.
      The row of floodlights along the top of the walls snapped on, illuminating the carpet in the reflected glow. Fragments of glass glittered like hoarfrost at the far end of the room. Christopher turned in the opposite direction and crawled around the foot of the bed. He stayed low, to keep his body below the level of the windows, as he moved rapidly through the doorway. The tall windows at the opposite end of the hallway extended almost to the floor. He hoped the next attack would not come from that direction.
      Julia had evidently heeded his warning, for she remained silent, but in the eerie stillness Christopher could hear the sound of bare feet running in his direction. He came up on one knee and caught Daniella around the waist, then swung her to the floor and covered her body with his own.
      The shooter had evidently switched clips during the brief lull, for the sporadic firing commenced again. Chips of plaster exploded from the walls in the hallway as bullets whined away in the darkness like angry hornets. If Daniella had been a second or two later, she would have been cut down. Another weapon commenced firing from the direction of the gatehouse, a deep-throated thumping that drowned out the sound of the smaller weapon.
      The firing stopped abruptly. A few seconds later the lights in the hallway snapped on. He heard the pounding of hard-soled boots as someone raced up the stairway from below. Was it possible that someone had breached the outer perimeter?
      “Ambassador Christopher!” a familiar voice called from the landing. Lance Corporal Donavan ran effortlessly up the remaining flight of stairs carrying a M9 Beretta in his oversized hand.
      Christopher attempted to roll away from Daniella, but her arms were locked securely around his neck. He realized she was trying to shield her scantily clad body from the guard’s inquisitive gaze. Donavan stepped past them and went cautiously into the wreckage of the bedroom. Broken glass and pottery crunched underneath the soles of his combat boots. Someone shouted a question from the lower terrace, and Donavan called back to assure him that everything was secure. Julia’s tousled head appeared in the doorway of her bedroom for a second, and then she darted back inside. A second or two later she was back with a robe that she tossed in her sister’s direction. Daniella caught it and wrapped it around her body as Donovan emerged from Christopher’s bedroom. The radio attached to his belt suddenly came to life. Christopher could hear the rapid-fire questions and Donavan’s terse replies. After a moment, Donavan came slowly back, frowning down at the radio.
     “This was apparently a mistake,” Donavan said in an odd tone as if he couldn’t take it all in.
      “A mistake?” Christopher echoed as he examined the young soldier’s expression.
      “Yes, sir. The shooter thought this was Eli Cohen’s house.”
     “Cohen’s house is the next one down,” Christopher offered, then realized Donavan was already aware of that. In the three days since the transfer of the Marine Security Detachment from Company ‘B’ Headquarters in Nicosia, they had reconnoitered the neighborhood with the same precision they would have used to plan an armed assault.
      “Did the attackers give an explanation?” Christopher asked.
      “There was only one of them, sir, and they didn’t get much out of him before he died. If you’re sure everything is okay, I’ll report to Post One.”
      Post One was the way the Marine Security Guards referred to the guard posts they maintained near the front entrance of all American embassies. Dr. Siedman’s sprawling villa was not an embassy, but as special envoys to the upcoming negotiations they were qualified to receive the protection normally offered to embassy personnel.
      “I’ll be down in a minute,” Christopher said as Donavan turned toward the head of the stairs.
      Christopher walked to the door of his bedroom and looked at the wreckage. They were lucky the shooter hadn’t used a grenade launcher. Julia made a little sound of dismay as she surveyed the room. When he turned in her direction, she leaned her forehead against his shoulder. He thought at first that she was crying and then realized it was laughter bubbling up out of control.
      “A mistake?” Julia said. “This is too weird for words.”
      “I don’t think weird covers it,” he said.
      Daniella remained motionless, looking down the hallway in the direction Donovan had taken. “Is he going to come rushing up here at every little thing?” she complained.
      Christopher would have been amused if the situation had not been so serious. Donovan had seemed unaware of Daniella’s presence as he checked the hallway and the bedroom. At her age, being ignored was almost as bad as the advances of a stalker.
    “The house is secure,” he said as he encircled her with his other arm and pulled her against his shoulder. When Julia made a small sound of surprise, he realized Daniella was trying to elbow her out of the way.
      “Go and check on your grandmother,” he said. “I’m sure the noise awakened her.”
      Daniella moved back a few inches while her gaze darted from one of them to the other.
     “What’s going on that you don’t want me to know about?” she accused. “I’m not a kid anymore and I resent you guys trying to hide everything from me.”
      “We’re not hiding anything from you,” Julia said.
      The frown line deepened between her eyebrows. “Yeah, right, like I’d believe that.”
      It seemed for a moment that she was going to continue to argue, but she pulled resentfully away and went down the hallway without looking back. Christopher wondered if the situation had become too serious to allow her to remain in Israel for the summer. It would probably be a good idea to send her back to Harvard or to her mother in Washington. He decided he would wait until later to broach the subject with Julia. Some decisions would also have to be made concerning the other students. There would be over eighty of them arriving from colleges and universities around the world to spend their summer working at the archeological site. Hundreds of student workers in northern Israel were sent home the previous summer when rockets rained down on their area. After three days of relative peace, dangerous events were closing in on them again.
      Julia continued to stand with her arms around his waist, her forehead leaned against his shoulder. When he kissed her forehead, she made a small sound of surprise but did not lift her eyes to meet his.
      “Everything is secure,” Christopher said. “As soon as I’m dressed, I’ll go down and see what the guards discovered.” Julia pulled away with a show of reluctance and turned toward the door of her bedroom.
      During the previous weeks, the excitement over the kidnapping of Congressman Danville had moved from the front page of the newspaper to the bottom of page five. Christopher wondered where Keith Maitland was at that moment, and what kind of spin he would put on this.