Interview with a Humorous Author Annie Oeth

A lifelong Mississippian, Annie Oeth is a graduate of Mississippi University for Women. She currently works as a features editor for The Clarion-Ledger, the state’s largest daily newspaper. She writes about family and fun and The Mom Zone blog. Annie is the author of Because I Said So: Life in The Mom Zone, which was published in April 2014. She is a solo mom to four, and currently resides in Ridgeland, Mississippi. Connect with Annie on Facebook and Twitter.

“Whether you’re a mama to sons who have an affection for reptiles and bottle rockets or a daughter who thinks you’re wrong… just when you’ve figured out your own mother was right, you’ll love yourself, your kids and your life more after this read. Why? Because I said so.”

Hello, Annie. This is such a classic statement. All of us mother have said, “Because I said so.” Please tell us about your book. What is it about?

Hello, Linda, and thank you for including me and "Because I Said So: Life in The Mom Zone" in your blog! And yes, I have also said, "Because I said so," many times. The book is about life in general and being a mom in particular. There are some laughs, but also some tears, in these pages. There are some stories about growing up and being a grown-up. I think parents will identify with it, but I also think there are things readers would identify with because they are part of the human experience.

What was your inspiration for this book?

The inspiration for the book comes from knowing and working with mothers, swapping stories and my own four children. I think we've all had moments when we loved a memory or a story so much we just had to write it down. These are some of the ones that were written down.

Are these your own experiences or from talking to other parents, or both?

In "Because I Said So," I drew mostly from my own experiences, although there are a cast of characters involved, but talking with others raising children also provided inspiration. They inspire me every day. Being a mom or a dad is not easy.

Will you please share with us one of the funniest things you inserted in this book?

There are quite a few of them that make me laugh, from my boys putting frogs in mailboxes to kids putting two and two together about Santa Claus. I also had to laugh about our preacher asking if I needed help with the housework (nothing is more mortifying) and about being asked by my son, after I brought home third place in my age group in a 5K, if there were only three people in my age group. If I wasn't a mom, I would have to pay for entertainment. 

Now it’s time to tell us something about the real you that we’ll never forget.

One of the most difficult times in my life was the time from 2004 to 2006, when I lost my mother to a stroke, then my husband, and five months later my father, both to heart attacks. Coming back from that was hard, but I had to. There were four children depending on me. Raising my children is a great joy to me, but keeping my family strong and connected is, for lack of a better word, my mission in life. It's for this reason that I treasure all kinds of memories.

Wow! You have had some real challenges in life. Thank you for this wonderful interview, Annie. I’m sure my readers will enjoy this fun filled book. Below is an excerpt for all of you to read. Happy reading!

KIDS IN CHURCH

---

There was a time of retribution like no other in my growing-up years. It was when church let out.

Church misbehavior would get you a warm behind faster than setting fire to the school back then. It was a reflection on your parents‘ child-rearing in the public-est place in town. You didn’t challenge authority too much more than acting like a heathen in church. It was like asking for the physical motivation to stand awhile.

We would witness someone wearing out their young’uns‘ backsides beside the family‘s Chevy Malibu and be thankful that our own badness, doodling, whispering and note-passing didn’t cross the line that Sunday.

Our badness continued, though, not unlike a game of Russian roulette. We’d keep talking during the preacher’s sermon, never knowing when the bullet of getting a backseat beating had our names on it.

Of course, we all grew up, and many of us kept the habit of going to church. We had even learned to behave by the time we had children of our own. And this is when I learned the lesson my parents and all my friends‘ parents knew: Never commence to punishing your child during the sermon.

The oldest boy was somewhere between two and three at the time and was bored out of his little mind. To occupy his time, he picked up the Methodist hymnal and began flipping all gazillion pages from hard front cover to hard back cover.

Whap.

Whap.

Whap.

“Stop, baby,’’ I hissed.

Whap.

Whap.

Whap.

It was like the tide, steady and relentless, and also pretty darned loud. I started getting disapproving looks from my fellow congregants.

Whap.

Whap.

Whap.

In desperation, I folded my arms and gave him a pinch, surreptitiously, to get his attention.

Instead, he got mine. Along with the preacher’s and everyone else in the congregation that day.

“Mama!’’ he said in a nice, clear, outside voice. “Quit pinching me!’’

The preacher had to pause to get his composure back, shaking while he stifled a laugh, and the choir twittered with muffled laughter until the altar call.

The rest of the week, folks around town would tell me to stop pinching my little boy and laugh. That was the last time he got pinched by me, in church or elsewhere, by the way.

The oldest boy was lucky he was a child of his generation. In the church parking lots of my day, that would have gotten him a walloping of Biblical proportions.

Interview with Western Writer Heidi Thomas

Heidi M. Thomas grew up on a working ranch in eastern Montana. She had parents who taught her a love of books and a grandmother who rode bucking stock in rodeos. Heidi’s first novel, Cowgirl Dreams, has won an EPIC Award and the USA Book News Best Book Finalist award. Follow the Dream, a WILLA Award winner, is the second book, and Dare to Dream is the third in the “Dream” series about strong, independent Montana women. Heidi also teaches memoir and fiction writing classes in north-central Arizona.

Welcome back to my blog, Heidi. Dare to Dream is the third book of the “Dreams” trilogy. Please tell us about your new book.

This new book takes place in the 1940s when women’s participation in rough-stock rodeo was declining, partly due to the world wars and partly because the all-male Rodeo Association of America did not include women’s events in their sanctioned rodeos. Just as Nettie Moser has regained her heart and spirit, following the loss of a dear cowgirl friend in a freak rodeo accident, she is barred from riding. She is determined to “do something” about this outrage, but her fury at the discrimination can’t change things for women—yet. She begins mentoring a couple of teenage neighbor girls in trick riding, the only thing left for women. Against the backdrop of ranching and rodeoing is also the heart-rending affect of WWII on the Montana home front and for Nettie’s family.

Where did you get your inspiration for this trilogy?

My grandmother was my inspiration. She was a real Montana cowgirl who rode bucking steers in rodeos—these were the big wild range animals that were a lot bigger than the steers we see the kids ride in today’s rodeos. After she died when I was 12, my dad told me she had done that, and it stuck in my head until I was an adult and started to write books.

That’s impressive. I bet you felt close to her as you wrote this story. What kind of research did you do for this book?

I got a lot of first-hand information from my dad about growing up with cowboy parents. I also read a number of books about the old-time cowgirls who competed in the heyday of women’s rodeo, and read articles that related to the times and what Montana was like during those eras. Since I grew up on a ranch, I had first-hand knowledge of that lifestyle and could somewhat identify with the homesteaders of the early 1900s because we didn’t have electricity until I was six and no indoor bathroom until I was in high school.

I know this series is based on your grandmother’s rodeo experiences in the 1920s and I think it’s interesting when authors add real life situations to their stories. Did you follow your grandmother’s experiences perfectly or use her as an example for this book?

A little of both, actually. Although the timeline follows some family history, my Nettie character in Dare to Dream is more fictionalized than in the first two books, since she didn’t actually go on to rodeo that late in life and to my knowledge did not mentor other cowgirls (except me).

When I was eight, my grandparents bought me my first horse, a little black Welsh/Shetland cross named Money. Big mistake. That pony was a stubborn little cuss, and he knew he had the authority over that little eight-year-old girl on his back who just wanted to ride with her dad and grandma. He refused to budge, no matter how much I urged him to. Grandma jumped on his back—gonna show him who’s boss—and he proceeded to buck with her. Money immediately went back in the horse trailer and my next horse was a gentle strawberry roan who was my pal on many a roundup for many years. (Needless to say, I did not follow in my grandmother’s rodeo footsteps!)

Thank you, Heidi, for this wonderful interview. I don’t know anything about cowgirls and rodeos, so I learned something new today. When I was a kid, I watched Roy Rogers and Dale Evans and wanted to be like her. But that was all I knew about cowgirls. Haha. The next stop for Heidi's tour will be Tuesday at Carolyn Howard-Johnson’s Blog.

You may read the blurb below about this awesome book.

Blurb: Montana cowgirl Nettie Brady Moser has overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles on the journey toward her dream of being a professional rodeo rider. In the 1920s she struggled against her family’s expectations and social prejudice against rodeo cowgirls. During the Great Depression, marrying Jake Moser and then raising their son took priority over rodeos. And then she was devastated by the death of her friend and mentor in a rodeo accident.

In the spring of 1941, Nettie, now age 36, is regaining her heart and spirit, and she is determined to ride again at an event in Cheyenne, Wyoming. To her dismay, the male-dominated Rodeo Association of America enforces its rule barring women from riding rough stock and denies her the chance to ride. Her fury at the discrimination can’t change things for women—yet.

Based on the life of the author’s grandmother, who rode rough stock in Montana in the 1920s, this sweeping rodeo saga parallels the evolution of women’s rodeo from the golden years of the 1920s, producing many world champion riders, and shows its decline, beginning in the 1930s and ending with World War II in 1941.

Interview with Sweet Romance Author Darcy Flynn

Darcy Flynn is known for her heartwarming, sweet contemporary romances. Her refreshing storylines, irritatingly handsome heroes and feisty heroines will delight and entertain you from the first page to the last. Miss Flynn’s heroes and heroines have a tangible chemistry that is entertaining, humorous and competitive. She has written Sealed With a Kiss, Keeper of My Heart, and Rogue’s Son.

Darcy lives with her husband, son, two English Setters and a menagerie of other living creatures on her horse farm in Franklin, Tennessee. She raises rare breed chickens, stargazes on warm summer nights and indulges daily in afternoon tea. 

Hello, Darcy. I absolutely love sweet love stories that involve feisty heroines. Please tell us about your novel, Rogue’s Son.

Tough and driven, Kit Kendall replaced frills and dresses with no nonsense haircuts and wranglers years ago. As owner of Sage Brush, the once thriving west Texas bed and breakfast ranch, she now struggles daily to keep her business afloat. Since McCabe Lodge reopened next door as a multi-million dollar resort, her financial difficulties compound, as she suffers one cancellation after another.

Just when she thought things couldn’t get any worse, Kit’s former neighbor and childhood nemesis, returns as the new owner of the resort that’s now putting her out of business.

Sam Dawson, cowboy turned entrepreneur, has returned to Sugar Creek after six years of exile with a secret that could destroy Kit’s happiness. He left town because of it and for the past two years has secretly tried to make it right. Having failed, he now returns to make one last attempt to undo the tangled web created by his father. Set in motion by his father’s Last Will and Testament and with the clock ticking, Sam has only weeks to convince Kit to sell him her ranch or reveal the truth that will break her heart.

This sounds like an intriguing story. Where did you get your inspiration for this book?

I love westerns, both historical and modern day and since I live on a Tennessee horse farm it was a natural setting for me to explore. I adore reunion stories and love to write them. A few years ago I had this kernel of an idea where the heroine’s former neighbor and childhood nemesis returns as the new owner of the hunting lodge that’s now putting her Bed and Breakfast out of business. And the story just developed from there.

What kind of research did you have to do for this novel?

Living on a horse farm and working around them on a daily basis translated easily to the west Texas setting I used in Rogue’s Son. My husband and I have been out west many times. We especially love to visit Texas and Arizona. I have some wonderful photos of Old Tucson that also served as inspiration. Also, Google is every writer’s friend! I found the most charming town called Turkey, Texas and posted pictures of it over my desk.

Another thing I did, which may seem strange to non-horse people - I took a daily walk while I was writing and went to our barn and “whispered” to my horse. I pressed my nose in her neck and just breathed. There’s something about the smell of a horse. They’re addictive! Their flesh is sweet and wonderful. J I told you it would sound weird!

Actually, it sounds quite wonderful. Who is one of your favorite characters in this story and what do you love about him or her?

I love my hero, Sam. He's strong and sensitive and completely captivating. I love that he comes back to help Kit, and does everything he can to protect her from the truth of her situation in spite of her sass and resistance. J

The hero sounds like an awesome man. Now it’s time to tell us something about the real you that we’ll never forget.

Oh, there are so many fun things I’d like to share here. But I’ll stick to one. I was a professional model for many years. I was in national TV commercials, national magazines and did runway for some of the top designers of that period.

Wow! That’s so interesting. I bet it was fun trying on all those stylish clothes. You went from the model world to the author world. Thank you, Darcy, for this wonderful interview.

Interview with Historical Fiction Author Bill Christy

Bill Christy, a native Kansan, was raised on a farm and educated in Kansas. He became a Certified Public Accountant and retired as a financial administrator in higher education. Bill has 8 grown children and lives with his wife in a small college town in central New Mexico. He has published two family chronology books about his mother’s family and published one book prior to this: TOMMY DE BURGH/A SOLDIER’S LEGACY.

Welcome back to my blog. It’s so nice to see that you’ve written another book. Even though this novel is considered historical fiction, it is about your great grandfather from Ireland. The events are historic but written in story form in first person. Please tell us about The Dynasty of Laurence Burke: Legacy of an Irish Immigrant.

In my prior research I had all the material needed to follow the time line of Laurence’s life but that did not tell his story. I decided to let him tell his own story by connecting all the known events of his life. He had left Ireland just ahead of being arrested by the English for violation of the Penal Codes and started with nothing in America. He made his fortune in Kansas starting with a homestead and helped many people along the way. A fine example of what hard work and honesty can accomplish. He is the hero of my family. The stories are his even though I put the words in his mouth.

That’s wonderful. Since this story is so personal, I bet you felt real close to your ancestor. What inspired you to write this novel?

Yes, it is personal even though he died when I was about two years old. My great-grandmother survived him and brought him to life for me. I have been inspired to write about his life for years but could not find a way to put it into a story. Historic is dull and hard to capture in a story. I wanted to honor the truth but in researching history you find out that there are many different versions of truth so I followed the documents and filled in the dots to retell the family tales about him.

As you know, I teach people how to write their family’s stories at libraries. It’s so important for our children to know who their ancestors are. What kind of research did you do for this book?

I was able to find many recorded documents from County and Community records. I carefully followed a time line of his life and gathered publications of the period and gathered tons of information from extended family in America and in Ireland. I also made two trips to Ireland and England. I have about ten years of research in the books and have written and enjoyed every minute of it.

You love to write historical novels concerning your ancestors. This is the second one you’ve written. What intrigues you most about writing these stories?

I enjoy writing about things I have learned about and that inspired me.

Thank you, Bill, for this wonderful interview. I love the cover of your book. I know this will be an enjoyable read for those who like historical novels.

Interview with Christian Romance Author Shirley Ray Redmond

Shirley Raye Redmond is the author of several "sweet" romance novels and dozens of children's books. Many of her titles have won both national and regional awards. She is a member of numerous writing organizations, including Women Writing the West, Southwest Writers, American Christian Fiction Writers, Romance Writers of America, and the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators. She lives with her family in New Mexico. Amanda’s Beau is her 28th published title.

Welcome back to my blog, Shirley Raye. Please tell us about Amanda’s Beau.

Thanks, Linda. The novel takes place in the year 1905 in New Mexico territory. My heroine Amanda Dale is burdened with the responsibility of caring for her widowed sister, an invalid, and Ella’s two children—one a premature infant. Schoolteacher Gil Gladney is handsome, intelligent and sensitive. When he and his pupils discover the relics of an ancient culture among the ruins outside the village, Gil contacts an old college friend. The possibility of an archeological excavation excites the community of cash-strapped farmers, eager to earn extra money working on the site. When a rabid skunk reels through the excavation site, threatening the lives of Amanda and her nephew Rex, Gil realizes that life is short and the possibility of true happiness can be fleeting. In the end, Amanda learns to trust God to provide the happily-ever-after ending she’s been praying for.

I read your book and I enjoyed it very much. Where did you get your inspiration for this novel?

My novel was inspired by the true story of a schoolteacher in New Mexico who (along with his pupils) discovered some ancient Anasazi ruins on the outskirts of the town. I took my own youngsters to Aztec, New Mexico, several years ago and knew then that one day I wanted to write a story focused on the ruins there.

I am so intrigued with the ancient ruins of America. What kind of research did you do for this book?

To refresh my memory about the history of the Aztec ruins and to learn more about the early excavations there, I read the book, Aztec Ruins on the Animas by Robert H. Lister and Florence C. Lister, which I bought years ago in the museum bookstore when we visited the Aztec Ruins National Monument. I also read Rabid, A Cultural History of the World’s Most Diabolical Virus by Bill Wasik and Monica Murphy to help me with the rabid skunk scene. It was grim but fascinating reading.

I think it’s interesting when authors add real life situations to their stories. Did you put real experiences from your research in this book?

Absolutely! Much of the information about chickens I learned from my son, who raises chickens as a hobby. Like Gil and his pupils, my family and I rambled through the ruins on the outskirts of the town of Aztec. So the sights, sounds, smells and tactile sensations in the story are all based on personal experience.  

Even Bonita, the ragtag Irish setter in the novel, is based on a real dog named Fly, which belonged to my father when he was a boy in the 1920s back in Virginia. Unfortunately, the dog succumbed to blood lust, attacking chickens and other animals on the family farm. When the dog snatched my dad’s infant cousin from a blanket on the ground during a family picnic, he had to chase the dog into the woods, shoot her and rescue the baby. I vowed my story would have a happier ending, and it does.

I had never heard of blood lust before. When I read your novel, I was so surprised. Thank you so much for this interview, Shirley Raye. I hope my followers will check out your book.

Interview with Mystery & Sweet Romance Author Linda Weaver Clarke

THE BALI MYSTERY: Amelia Moore Detective Series 

“Linda Weaver Clarke paints a beautiful portrait of the island of Bali. In fact, she made me wish I were there. I’ve read her books before and she has a wonderful way of drawing the reader right into her stories. Amelia and Rick were very realistic to me. I thought Rick’s Bucket List gave readers a great insight into his character. Throughout the book you couldn’t help pulling for these two to realize they were more than co-workers. The mystery and romance flowed beautifully through each page.” –Socrates Book Reviews

George Clarke: Welcome to Linda Weaver Clarke’s blog! This is Linda’s husband and I’m interviewing her today. We've been married 41 wonderful years. We met at college and now have six daughters and 5 super grandkids. Linda usually interviews authors, but today I’m interviewing her. Now the shoe is on the other foot!

Linda: So does the shoe fit, Sweetheart?

George: Not as good as it fits you, I guess. So Linda, you have written both sweet romances and adventure/mysteries. I have read all your books and your mysteries are my favorite. Why did you change genres?

Linda Weaver Clarke: Because of the challenge! I wanted to see if I could do it and in the process fell in love with this genre.

George: How does writing a romance differ from writing a mystery?

Linda: The writing process has a completely different mind set. With romance, you plan out the plot around the meeting of a couple. As you write, you develop some sort of charisma between the characters, making the reader feel excited that one day they're going to fall in love. You, as the reader, know what the outcome will be. But with a mystery, the reader is in the dark. The author has to come up with a plot that no one knows about until towards the end of the story and hope they haven’t figured it out. In a mystery you may or may not allow your reader to know who the bad guys are, depending on the plot of the story.

George: What is a cozy mystery?

Linda: Cozy mysteries are in a genre of their own and are usually a series of stories. It should be a G-rated story with no swearing or sex. It has many twists and turns and must have likeable characters. A cozy mystery focuses on the plot and characters, and the main character is usually an intelligent woman.

George: You have a new cozy mystery series named “Amelia Moore Detective Series.” This cozy mystery is different from the usual mysteries. Instead of solving a crime, in each story Amelia and Rick will find a missing person. Will you tell us about The Bali Mystery?

Linda: Amelia Moore, the founder of the Moore Detective Agency, specializes in missing persons. Her cases have taken her to some very interesting places and put her in some dangerous situations, but she always solves the case. With the help of Rick Bonito, her business is flourishing.

When Mrs. Brody hires Amelia and Rick to find her missing brother, they find themselves in Bali, Indonesia. They are mystified why her brother quit his job, put his home up for sale, and ran off to this mysterious and exotic island without telling a soul.

To read an excerpt, go to http://www.lindaweaverclarke.com/bali.html

George: How much research goes into writing a book like this?

Bali means “The island of the gods.” My research about Bali Island was so much fun. The Hindu temples are unique and the gardens surrounding them are absolutely beautiful. The ocean is a turquoise blue and dolphins can be seen in the water around the island. The island is known as one of the most romantic spots and affordable places to visit.

I learned what a religious people the Balinese are. They pray with their families daily and visit their temples weekly, giving thanks to God. Another interesting fact is that Indonesian law requires that everyone hold an identity card. Included on the card is the person’s faith or religion. Indonesia does recognize Christianity but does not recognize atheism. By the way, blasphemy is illegal in Bali and in any of the Indonesian islands. I read that you can be arrested for profanity.

I also had to do research on self-defense techniques so Rick could teach Amelia how to defend herself if the need should arise.

George: What is your next cozy mystery about?

Book two has already been written and it’s with my editor right now. It’s called The Shamrock Case. When Amelia is hired to search for her client’s grandparents, the case takes them to Ireland. Kate must learn about her heritage. Who are her grandparents and could they still be alive after all these years? Why did her parents leave Ireland suddenly and move to America? Is there more to this case than meets the eye?

George: Where can you find The Bali Mystery?

Linda: At Amazon and Barnes and Noble. E-books are also available at Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

George: Thank you for this interview, Linda. I have read The Bali Mystery and found it very enjoyable and can’t wait for the next one.

Interview with Christian Author Sharon Srock

Author Sharon Srock went from science fiction to Christian fiction at slightly less than warp speed. Twenty five years ago, she cut her writer's teeth on Star Trek fiction. Today, she writes inspirational stories that focus on ordinary women using their faith to accomplish extraordinary things. Sharon lives in the middle of “nowhere” Oklahoma with her husband and three very large dogs. She is the proud mother of six, the prouder grandmother of twenty, and the great grands are coming with three and counting!

Welcome back to my blog, Sharon. Pam is the third book in the series: “Women in Valley View.” Each book focuses on a new title character. Please tell us about your new book.

Pam’s story is about secrets and forgiveness, and the harm we do to ourselves when we carry these things around instead of giving them to God.

Where did you get your inspiration for this novel?

I’ve been divorced and I know the pain of ending something that was supposed to last a lifetime. I’ve also had to learn to forgive. I never faced any abuse on the scale that Pam did, but it made me wonder… Could I forgive if I had?

What kind of research did you do for this book?

I had to talk to a counselor. I needed to have legitimate reasons for Pam to act like she does in the early part of the story.

Your characters have a great sense of humor in your stories and I love it. Does it just come naturally for you to come up with comical things?

When it comes to my dialogue, I tend to write like I talk, with just a hint of sarcastic humor. I’m glad it works for my women, cause it usually just gets me in trouble.

Thank you, Sharon, for this wonderful interview. I hope my readers will check out your books. I read the second one in this series, which was a sweet romance, and totally loved it.

Purchase links for THE WOMEN OF VALLEY VIEW: PAM
Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Pelican Book Group.

Interview with Children’s Author Sherrill Cannon

Sherrill S. Cannon is a former teacher, mother of four and a grandmother of ten, who is also an Award-Winning Best-Selling Author! In less than four years, her previous five books Manner-Man, Gimme-Jimmy, The Magic Word, Peter and the Whimper-Whineys and Santa’s Birthday Gift have received eighteen 2011-13 national awards. She is also the author of seven published and internationally performed plays for elementary school children, produced throughout the world. She is a resident of New Hope, PA and travels with her husband of 53 years throughout North America in their RV, sharing her books along the way!

Have you ever seen a work of art worth millions, which looks like something your child brought home from school? This story is about a child who paints a fingerpaint print in class and then loses it in the wind on the way home. What happens next when it’s found and official judges interpret the fingerpainted art?

Welcome back to my blog, Sherrill. This book sounds amazing. Where did you get your inspiration for this story?

I’ve often thought, when seeing a painting that sells for millions and looks like someone threw paint on a wall, that my child has brought home better artwork from school! So a little bit of “Beauty is in the Eyes of the Beholder”, and a trace of The Emperor’s New Clothes! Themes of perspective and perception – with some self-esteem as well!

Each of your children’s books is done in rhyme. Could you give us a few lines of your story please?

One day in my art class, Ms. Gallagher said,

“Just fingerpaint something you see in your head.”

So I dipped all my fingers in paint that was green

And drew on the paper my very best scene.

Then right in the middle, I put a red blob

'Cause I wasn't quite sure how to best draw my dog;

But then the bell rang, so I put things away

And never got back to my picture that day.

Wonderful! I love children’s books that rhyme. They’re my favorite. Do you get to have a say about all the illustrations for your book?

That’s the most fun about working with Kalpart (the team that has illustrated all my books.) I am able to give them the instructions for each illustration, and then get a sketch back that I can either approve or change…before reaching final approval on the color version. This tends to happen occasionally, since they are in India and we do everything by email and there’s sometimes a language misinterpretation. One wonderful thing about this book is that not only is the theme of the story about perception and perspective concerning artwork, but the book is illustrated from the point of view of the child narrator – the reader sees what the child sees - so the reader interprets whether girl or boy, good or bad, etc.

You love to write children’s stories. What intrigues you most about writing these stories?

I love poetry and I love children. I especially love to get them to hear the music of the words. It makes my heart smile when I am reading aloud to children and hear a delighted exclamation, “It rhymes!” Also, as a former teacher, I usually try to teach social manners, such as consideration for others and self-esteem, disguised as fun stories.

Thank you for this wonderful interview. I hope my readers will check out your books. You can buy her books at Amazon. Just click here: Amazon Link

Fantasy, Adventure, Romance, and Intrigue!

The Alliance of Isian! 

What is this romantic fantasy about? Read an awesome review below and find out.

“I am quickly becoming a huge fan of Serena's. I loved this book even more than the first one in the series. I am always intrigued by stories of arranged marriages and how they turn to marriages filled with love. These two characters had so much to overcome, coming from different cultures. Yet, they bravely took on the challenge because of the love they had for the people who they ruled over. There is plenty of action and intrigue in the storyline. I lost quite a bit of sleep reading way too late into the night. I love the characters. I want to know even more about their lives. I can't wait for the next book in the series!!!!!!” -- Cheryl Larson

Book: The Alliance of Isain

Synopsis: War is coming and all the kingdoms must choose a side. Isian decides to make an alliance with their long time enemies in order to defeat a common enemy. So Isian sends a proposal, offering their daughter to the prince, in order to ensure an alliance. Princess Gabrielle and her new husband, Prince Alec must learn to work together and trust each other in order to triumph in the approaching war. With a mysterious beast attacking the kingdom, their lives in danger, and overcoming their vast cultural differences, will love grow despite their trails or tear them apart? Enjoy the fantasy, danger, mystery, and romance!

Sample Chapter: http://serenaclarke.wordpress.com/sample-chapters

“The Alliance of Isian was one of the best fantasies I’ve read. This book was enchanting and very difficult to put down. Gabrielle is a strong character and I could feel her frustration in being forced to marry someone she did not know, and whose background was totally so different from her own. Alec is likewise a strong character and has his definite opinions, but he is also very sensitive to Gabrielle’s feelings of inadequacy in marrying a stranger. I noticed the change in both characters, a change for the better, as Gabrielle and Alec fall in love. I found myself wishing the story would never end.” –Linda Weaver Clarke

This book may be purchased at Amazon and Barnes and Noble. It is also available as an e-book for $2.99. Visit Serena’s website at http://serenaclarke.wordpress.com/about-author and learn more.

Interview with Mystery Author Jon Foyt

Jon Foyt is 81 years old, an octogenarian prostate cancer survivor, a marathon runner (60 completed), hiker, and political columnist. He lives in a large active adult retirement community near San Francisco. Jon is the successful author of 11 fiction books.

Hello Jon. Wow! You have accomplished quite a bit in your life. To run 60 marathons is fantastic. Nothing holds you down. Now you're writing mysteries and entertaining those around you at your retirement community. That's awesome.

Time to Retire is filled with mystery, romance, and adventure, as Willy and Sally explore the lifestyles of aging retirees. Things are not quite what they seem at Sunset Gardens, an active adult retirement community in California. The directors of the Homeowner's Association has been handling money in questionable ways, there's secret meetings occurring at The Silent Front, a former speakeasy, and an influential resident recently committed suicide. Reporter Willy Herbst, approaching retirement, is curious about what’s going on in the neighboring community “over the hill.” He and his eager intern, Sally Saginaw, team up to investigate. Their discoveries are surprising.

Where did you get your inspiration for this book?

The inspiration for writing Time to Retire comes with living in an active adult retirement community with so many people with amazing backgrounds and interests.

Now that really is “inspiration.” What kind of research did you have to do for this novel?

I’ve lived in three active adult retirement communities, and am quite active in the present one in Northern California. So, I’ve met hundreds of retirees and learned their stories and felt their concerns. All of which is inspiring to write about.

I can see how you can create some good stories with this atmosphere. Who is one of your favorite characters in this story and what do you love about him or her?

Willy Herbst is the local investigative journalist who, himself, is nearing retirement. So, he wants to investigate a mysterious death and learn about life in a retirement community because that’s the sort of place he may live one day soon. Having once been a reporter, I think I can empathize with Willy and his intern Sally. Willy is very human, believable and vulnerable.

Okay, Jon, now it’s time to tell us something about the real you that we’ll never forget.

I grew up in Indianapolis and dreamed of racing cars at Inde, but, of course, I never did. It was a fantasy. Maybe most novels are a fantasy of sorts, one’s imagination venturing off on a lark.

That is a great dream. My brother used to race cars at a figure eight track and he also entered several Demolition Derbies. Haha. But that’s nothing compared to the Inde. Thanks, Jon, for this awesome interview. I hope my readers will check out your mysteries.

Interview with Mystery Author Linda Baten Johnson

Linda Baten Johnson has spent many hours packing and unpacking as she and her husband George have lived in 20 different places in the United States and enjoyed a stint in England. Growing up in White Deer, a small Texas town, which boasts one blinking light, Linda won blue ribbons for storytelling in elementary school. She still loves telling stories. Linda’s books include The Friendship Train, Her Christmas Cowboy, Healing Scars, Orphan Train Riders-Kathleen’s Vision, and three books in the Young Texans series: Tiny’s Emancipation, Elsie and the Hurricane and  Henry Goes to Texas. She co-authored Homer the Racehorse with Katherine Loughmiller, a friend who raised racehorses. Her books are available through Amazon, Barnes and Noble and in e-formats.

Hello, Linda. This book can be enjoyed by all ages. Please tell us about The Friendship Train. What is it about?

The Friendship Train is based on America’s generous donation of over ten thousand tons of food to starving Europeans in 1947. The train’s trip began in Los Angeles on November 7^th and culminated in New York on November 18^th. Pearson’s goal to collect 80 boxcars on the journey was quickly exceeded with over 700 cars filled. The humanitarian effort was completed without any government assistance. 

In the book, Jimmy Burns, an eighth-grader whose brother died in World War II, wants to help the hungry people in France, but doesn’t know how. When he and his family learn about the Friendship Train, they’re quick to respond, and Jimmy and his father are selected to ride the train as representatives of the people. On the cross-country journey, the thirteen-year-old uncovers a plot to sabotage the train, but no one believes him. Jimmy relies on detective skills gained from reading Hardy Boy books to solve the mystery, to ensure the food gets to its destination, and to survive.

Adults like the history in the book and young people like the mystery.

What kind of research did you have to do for this novel?

I was able to use Drew Pearson’s documents. Watching the idea of the Friendship Train grow from idea to reality through his correspondence, through his columns, broadcasts, and records of phone calls was thrilling. Oh, Pearson was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize for his part in organizing the Friendship Train, but the nomination came the year Gandhi was assassinated, and the committee decided not to award a prize that year.

Where did you get your inspiration for this book?

That’s a strange story. When my husband and I were vacationing in Idaho, we read about a tourist attraction called the Idaho merci car. This was one of fifty boxcars sent to the United States in response to the Friendship Train of 1947. The Train of Gratitude arrived in the U.S. filled with gifts from French citizens, ranging from a little boy’s stuffed dog to an elaborate carriage. I majored in history and had never heard of either train. After returning home to Texas, I discovered Drew Pearson, the driving force behind the Friendship Train, had donated all his papers to the LBJ Presidential Library, only twenty minutes from my home. I felt this was a sign I should write a book about this story of American generosity.

Who is one of your favorite characters in this story and what do you love about him or her?

Can I have two characters? I love Jimmy and Samuel. Jimmy’s optimistic spirit and his insecurities are constantly at war. Due to all the changes in his life during this story, he grows emotionally. I found myself rooting for him to overcome his problems and I cried with him when he experienced loss. In my writing experience, characters sometimes take on a life of their own. This happened with Jimmy and he did a couple of things that surprised me.

My other favorite is Samuel, the porter on the train. He is steady, kind, perceptive, and non-judgmental. He’s the type of person who enriches the lives of everyone he encounters.   

Your story sounds very intriguing. Okay, it’s time to tell us something about the real you that we’ll never forget.

My husband and I lived in a lighthouse as volunteers for the National Park Service. Squash is my favorite food. I’ve been on three TV game shows, The Price is Right, Family Feud, and Scrabble.

Wow! Now these are unforgettable experiences. Thanks, Linda, for this wonderful interview. I hope my readers will check out your new book.