Featuring Author Barbara Barrett

Today, I'm featuring author Barbara Barrett. Help me welcome Barbara to QueenWriter News...

Barbara spent her professional career as a human resources analyst for Iowa state government, and that training has stayed with her in her writing of contemporary romance fiction. Now retired, Barbara spends her winters basking in the Florida sunshine and returns to her home state of Iowa in the summer to “stay cool.” Married to the man she met her senior year at the University of Iowa, they have two grown children and seven grandchildren. "Seduction on Wheels" is her sixth romance novel published by The Wild Rose Press and her second in the Matchmaking Motor Coach series. Her previous works include: "And He Cooks Too," "Driven to Matrimony," "Saved by the Salsa," "The Sleepover Clause," and "Tough Enough to Tango."

RELEASES TODAY! GET YOUR COPY NOW!

About "Seduction on Wheels"

When her ex-husband calls her frigid, Jenna DiFranco takes some incredible risks to prove her sexuality, including picking up men in bars. Realizing her behavior is unsafe and irrational and finding herself facing several days on the road alone with Gray McKenna, she makes him promise not to respond to her overtures.

Years ago, Gray swore off serious relationships with women, but that hasn’t stopped him from casual hook-ups. From the moment he meets her, he recognizes Jenna as trouble, the kind of woman who wants permanence in a relationship. The kind of woman to avoid.

But the promise and Gray’s resolve don’t stand a chance when close confinement, personal revelations, and Jenna’s need to prove she still has it ignite their mutual attraction.

To read more about Barbara, check out her website at: www.barbarabarrettbooks.com. 

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Disclaimer: Unless specifically stated on any feature posted, QueenWriter News has not read or reviewed a feature book.

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If you're an author and would like to be featured on QueenWriter News, email sgardinier@queenwriter.com.

Happy Reading!

Press Release

Award Winning Author Starr Gardinier Signs With The Wild Rose Press

“The Other Side: Melinda's Story” slated for republication by the Faery Rose line

Tarzana, CA; December 28, 2014:  Starr Gardinier announced today that she has signed with The Wild Rose Press in their Faery Rose imprint.

Her first book in her Other Side series—“The Other Side: Melinda's Story”—a story told in first person by protagonist Melinda James, is being republished in an entirely new format.

"I'm excited to see how Wild Rose is going to portray Melinda's story," Starr says, In this first book, “The Other Side: Melinda’s Story,” Melinda James is captive in an insane asylum—Skyview Haven—through no fault of her own. The book conveys Melinda’s journey told in her voice to a psychiatrist, beginning when her father ‘died’ to her eventual release from Skyview.  Her harrowing ordeal leaves the reader wondering what’s real and what’s not. Starr asks the readers: “If I tell you the story, will you believe me?” and it’s what Melinda asks of her psychiatrist. Melinda’s father is dead. He tries to warn her from the ‘Other Side’ that killers want something only she can give them. They are beginning to get too close for comfort. Does the ‘Other Side’ exist or is it all in Melinda’s mind? As portals open and close, Melinda must find a way to understand that the voices speaking are sending dire warnings. She is out of time. They are desperate to take what they feel is theirs and will stop at nothing to get it.

Jon Land, bestselling author of "Pandora's Temple" said, ""The Other Side: Melinda’s Story” is one of those rare paranormal thrillers that challenges as it entertains.  Starr's wondrous, chilling tale is the best exploration of paranoia and insular terror since Ira Levin's classic “Rosemary’s Baby.” Supremely crafted, masterfully crafted, and elegantly written, “The Other Side: Melinda’s Story” is a white-knuckled journey on the ride to hell."

Later,  Trent Miller will pick up his own story in “The Other Side: Trent’s Story.” This will also be published for the first time by The Wild Rose Press, its Black Rose imprint. Starr will keep you up-to-date with all release dates on her websites and blog.

Starr says that, “I believe creativity is limited to one’s imagination. The Other Side series beckoned me from deep within the recesses of my psyche; begging to be written.” She is now working on the third book in this series, which will be told in the viewpoint of evil at its most wicked.

Please follow Starr at www.twitter.com/SGReina, www.facebook.com/pages/Author Starr and check her blog at www.qw-blog.blogspot.com and websites at www.queenwriter.com and www.editing.queenwriter.com for release date information. The entire Other Side series will be available at Amazon, Nook, Itunes and all major digital release retailers.

Welcome, Author Chrys Fey!

Today, I am pleased to bring author Chrys Fey to QueenWriter News and her readers and fans. 

Chrys is a lover of rock music just like Dani Hart in "30 Seconds." She tells us that "Whenever she's writing at her desk, headphones are always emitting the sounds of her musical muses--especially that of her favorite band, 30 Seconds to Mars, the inspiration behind the title.

"30 Seconds" is her second eBook with The Wild Rose Press. Her debut, "Hurricane Crimes," is also available on Amazon.

What is "30 Seconds" all about? Here's the inside scoop:

"When a woman finds herself in the middle of a war between a police force and the Mob, 30 SECONDS is a long time."

When Officer Blake Herro agreed to go undercover in the Mob, he thought he understood the risks. But he's made mistakes and now an innocent woman has become their target. He's determined to protect her at all costs.

The Mob's death threat turns Dr. Dani Hart's life upside down, but there is one danger she doesn’t anticipate. As she's dodging bullets, she's falling in love with Blake. With danger all around them, will she and Blake survive and have a happy ending, or will the Mob make good on their threat?

Chrys offered us a look inside the pages:

She panted with fear. What if they see the chest? What if we get caught? What if my breath stinks and I’m breathing right into Officer Hottie’s face? She shut her mouth and let oxygen flow through her nose.

Her eyesight slowly adjusted to the darkness and she could see Officer Herro’s silhouette. His head was turned and he was listening to the thuds of heavy boots getting louder; the intruders were coming their way.

Then the thunder of footsteps sounded right next to them. “There’s no one here, Red,” someone announced.

“Look for documents,” a man ordered, who Dani could only assume was Red. “I want the name of the person I’m going to kill.”

A moment later, there was a reply. “All the mail is addressed to a Dr. Hart.”

Hearing her name said aloud by one of the men who had ransacked her place made her want to gasp. Her mouth fell open and her breath was reversing into her lungs, but before she could make a sound, Officer Herro lowered his lips to hers, silencing her. Stunned, she could only lie beneath him with her eyes wide and her body tense. She couldn’t believe he was kissing her. She wanted to push him back, but knew if she did he might hit the inside of the chest, giving away their hiding place. That was when she realized he was kissing her so she wouldn’t gasp.

She let her body relax. After her initial shock faded, she was able to feel his lips. They were comforting and caused a reaction deep inside her. She couldn’t stop her lips from reacting to his. It was an innocent connection, a soft touch of lips. Until his hand slid from her shoulder to her neck and the kiss deepened into something else.

"30 Seconds" is available for purchase at the following locations:

The Wild Rose Press: 

http://www.wildrosepublishing.com/maincatalog_v151/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=5801

NOOK: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/30-seconds-chrys-fey/1120324958?ean=2940150711938

KOBO: http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/30-seconds-1

Amazon US: http://amzn.com/B00N26EU9G

Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00N26EU9G

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22591698-30-seconds

But what about Chrys? We've heard the information on her latest novel and know where we can get it, but what about the author? Well, I was able to interview her. Here's what she has to say:

QueenWriter (QW): Question for your protagonist: Who do you consider your supporting character? And why?

Chrys Reys (CR): Hello, everyone, Dani Hart here. I am the heroine of Chrys Fey’s novella, "30 Seconds," a story detailing my thrilling account as a target for the Mob. I kid you not. Anyway, I’d say Blake is my supporting character, although he wouldn’t be too happy to hear me say that since he’s the hero and the hunky police officer who “saved” my life. But still, this is my story. He’ll have his own. Oops! I’m not sure if I was supposed to spill that secret...sorry, Chrys!

QW: Tell your readers what inspired you to create “30 Seconds.”

CR: I had a dream where I was spinning in a swivel chair to loud rock music when hands stopped the rotation and lips touched mine. I opened my eyes to find a sexy officer in full uniform who said, “I shouldn’t have done that.” Following his statement, I woke up and pondered a story idea where a woman falls in love with a police officer even though she knows she shouldn’t. Enter Dani and Blake. My dream even made it as a scene in "30 Seconds."

QW: You seem to write in several genres. Which is your favorite and why?

CR: That’s tough. I love romantic-suspense (like "30 Seconds") because it is the best of both worlds, but I also have a passion for the supernatural/paranormal. If I can blend all three into a story, I do.

QW: What is one thing—ie. character trait, style, voice, etc.—that you carry through all of your novels?

CR: All of my heroines are women of steel. I just love tough female characters!

QW: Many authors state a particular character in their book(s) reflect a trait of their own. Do any of your characters show a trait belonging to you?

CR: My heroines (Beth in "Hurricane Crimes" and Dani in "30 Seconds") have my anger. That makes me sound like I have anger management issues (I don’t), but I like to vent my anger through my characters and let them say and do what I won’t say or do. I had a lot of fun doing this with Dani, a witty and sarcastic character with a great sense of humor.

QW: Is there one book or one author that stands out in your mind that may have influenced your writing?

CR: Nora Roberts. From an early age, her books became my sources of reference, and she sort of became an invisible mentor to me.

QW: Other than your blog, is there other marketing you do? What is it?

CR: I utilize Facebook and Goodreads, my favorite social media platforms.

QW: The ‘always’ questions: What’s on your agenda now and in the future? Do you have a new book release you can tell us about?

CR: Well, "30 Seconds" is my newest release, but I hope to publish the sequel to "Hurricane Crimes" at the end of 2015. And since Dani already spilled the beans...I am planning on a prequel to "30 Seconds" from Blake’s perspective.

For fun:

QW: Tell us something fun about you that readers wouldn’t get a chance to know.

CR: I don’t usually listen to rap music, but I can rap all the lyrics to Eminem’s Lose Yourself.

QW: If you have three wishes (rub a genie’s bottle), what would they be?

CR: 1. To adopt.

2. To go to Ireland.

3. To buy my mom a house.

Discover Chrys's writing tips on her blog, and connect with her on Facebook. She loves to get to know her readers! You can find her at:

Facebook: www.facebook.com/chrysfey

Blog: www.writewithfey.blogspot.com  

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/ChrysFey

Please feel free to post any comments here. And if you know of anyone who would like to follow the QueenWriter News' Blog, share the link! I will be having more guest authors appearing soon!

Thank you, Chrys for taking time out of your busy schedule to appear here and to talk to your fans and readers. Much success to you!

Book Review - "The Thrill of the Haunt"

“The Thrill of the Haunt” by E.J. Copperman

Copperman brings us another Haunted Guesthouse Mystery in the series. When I saw it come in, I snatched it up, eager to read more of Alison (live guesthouse owner), Paul, and Maxie’s (dead guesthouse residents) latest excursions. Just as “Chance of a Ghost” did, “The Thrill of the Haunt” entertained and kept me reading (even when I should have been working—please don’t tell my boss).

Alison owns a guesthouse in which ghosts Paul and Maxie are stuck. Well, Paul is; Maxie finally found the ability to travel outside the house. Because Paul was a private investigator before he died, he has since enticed (coerced is more the word) Alison to aid him in investigating for those alive and well…dead.

In “The Thrill of the Haunt,” Alison is hired by Helen Boffice to track her husband David’s moves. Helen believes David is cheating on her. No, she doesn’t want to divorce him; she wants to make sure he is tied to her for life. Strange reasoning, but I’d be announcing Spoiler Alert! if I said more. But that’s not enough. Alison, among trying to entertain her guests who came for the ‘spook shows’ with the ghosts, is forced to investigate a homeless man’s death.

Running a haunted guesthouse and investigating crimes with two ghosts isn’t all Alison has to deal with. The one guy, Josh, who has been worthy of Alison’s desire for him to stick around is ready to bolt. Josh wants to know what Alison is keeping secret from him. Paul and Maxie want her to acknowledge to the world that they exist and go to lengthy extremes to accomplish this, and Allison’s supposed to be learning from her mother how to cook.

This book is filled with wit, hysteria (maybe that was my hysterical laughter there), and pure entertainment. If you like a good ghostly paranormal that will make your eyes water from laughing, this one is it.

Reviewed by Starr Gardinier Reina, author of “The Other Side: Melinda’s Story” 

Book Review - "Buried in Bargains"

“Buried in Bargains” by Josie Belle

What comes to mind when you hear the phrase ‘Good Buy Girls’ (GBG)? If you say a bunch of women who like smart finds, then you guessed it. But second hand shops, stationary stores, delis, and accounting are not all Maggie, Joanne, Claire, and Ginger are up to.

Much to the dismay of Sheriff Sam Collins—an ex-boyfriend of Maggie’s from her younger years—Maggie and her entourage insist on getting involved when a young girl is murdered. Joanne’s husband Michael is very protective of Diane Jenkins, his new hire at the deli, and the GBG girls can’t figure out why. Until plots, schemes, and stalkers make an appearance after Diane is murdered and Michael is knocked out and left for dead in his deli.

Maggie and Sam are lighting up their old flame again, but Maggie’s insistence in coming to the aid of her friend and getting in the way may be the one thing that may put that flame out again. But she can’t help herself when Michael becomes a suspect in Diane’s murder.

This is a tale of suspicions, Maggie’s amateurish sleuth, off-the-wall ideas, and mayhem, and it’s a load of fun! Recommended!

Reviewed by Starr Gardinier Reina, author of “The Other Side: Melinda’s Story” 

The Return of an Author David Swykert

I've had author David Swykert on my blog before and am bringing him back to you. If you are not acquainted with his work, this might help you to get to know it and him:

QueenWriter (QW): Tell us a little about you, David, the person.

David Swykert (DS): I’m a blue collar person from Detroit. I’ve worked as a truck driver, dispatcher, logistics analyst, operations manager, and ten years as a 911 operator, which was the very best job of them all. I have a pretty straight forward style of telling a story. I write a book like you’d watch a movie and put it down on paper. 

QW: Now, tell us a little about the latest book.

DS: The underlying theme in my latest book, "The Death of Anyone," poses the Machiavellian question: Does the end justify the means? I developed this story around an impulsive homicide detective, Bonnie Benham, who wants to use Familial DNA, a search technique not in common use in the United States. Only two states even have a written policy regarding its use, Colorado and California. Many legal analysts believe it violates Fourth Amendment rights which guard against unreasonable searches and seizures.

Bonnie is a no-nonsense cop who describes herself as a blond with a badge and a gun. She has her own answer to the ethical use of Familial DNA, but the actual legality of its use will be determined in a real life courtroom in the California trial of a serial killer dubbed by the media: The Grim Sleeper.

Lonnie David Franklin, the Grim Sleeper, was caught because his son’s DNA was the closest match to DNA collected at the crime scenes in the database. Investigating Franklin’s son led them to investigate Lonnie Franklin. But there was no direct DNA evidence that linked Lonnie to the crime scene until they obtained a sample from him after his arrest. Lonnie Franklin will be the first person in the U.S. to ever stand trial based on Familial DNA evidence, and its admissibility issues in court will be thoroughly tested by defense attorneys. These are the very same issues that face Detroit Homicide Detective Bonnie Benham and form the plot of my story. 

Detroit Detective Bonnie Benham has been transferred from narcotics to homicide for using more than arresting and is working the case of a killer of adolescent girls. CSI collects DNA evidence from the scene of the latest victim, which had not been detected on the other victims. But no suspect turns up in the FBI database. Due to the notoriety of the crimes, a task force is put together with Bonnie as the lead detective, and she implores the D.A. to use an as yet unapproved type of a DNA search in an effort to identify the killer. Homicide Detective Neil Jensen, with his own history of drug and alcohol problems understands Bonnie's frailty and the two detectives become inseparable as they track this killer of children.

QW: Have you done any research for this book?

DS: I first heard about the use of Familial DNA working as a 911 operator in 2006. It came up in a conversation with officers working a case. I thought at the time it would make an interesting premise for a book. I began writing the mystery some three years later after leaving the department. I had just finished editing a first draft of "The Death of Anyone" in the summer 2010 when news of The Grim Sleeper’s capture in Los Angeles was released. I read with interest all the information pouring out of L.A. regarding the investigation and the problems confronting prosecutors. All of which are explored in "The Death of Anyone."

QW: What else have you done that you can share with your readers and fans?

DS: My work has appeared in The Tampa Review, Detroit News, Monarch Review, Zodiac Review, Scissors& Spackle, Spittoon, Barbaric Yawp, and Bull. His books include "Children of the Enemy," a novel from Cambridge Books; "Alpha Wolves," a novel from Noble Publishing, and "The Death of Anyone" is his third novel, just released by Melange Books. 

Thank you, David, for appearing on my blog again. You can find out more about him and how to buy his books on the blogspot: www.magicmasterminds.com, they are also available at Melange Books, Amazon, and at select mystery bookstores. 

Book Review

“Pretty Little Things” by Jilliane Hoffman

A very good book. Jilliane Hoffman is an outstanding author. I love exploring new author's works and am glad I picked up Hoffman. It's edge of your seat action. It took me a while to read only because I had so much on my plate, but if I could have, I would probably have finished this book in a few days. It's that great. Thriller is just too tame of a word.

Bobby Dees is a special agent with FDLE and is on the hunt for a serial kidnapper/murderer. With the help of his friend and coworker Zo, Dees throws himself into the case. It's more than personal for him. His own daughter Katy is missing and he's not sure if she just ran off with her boyfriend or if she is the victim in this newest case.

As a reader, I was thrown headlong into the case with him, feeling as if I was there with him trying to solve this case and find little Katy.

I highly recommend this book. You will not be disappointed!

Reviewed by Starr Gardinier Reina, author of “The Other Side: Melinda’s Story”

Meet D.J. Swykert

Today, I'm proud to introduce D.J. Swykert to you. 

Beside being a wolf expert, D.J. Swykert is a former Michigan 911 operator living in Northern Kentucky. His short fiction and poetry has been published in: The Tampa Review, Monarch Review, Sand Canyon Review, Zodiac Review, Scissors and Spackle, Spittoon, Barbaric Yawp and BULL. "Children of the Enemy," a novel, from Cambridge Books is his latest book. His previous work "Alpha Wolves," a novel, is available on the Noble Publishing website. 

I was able to reach him for a short interview.

QueenWriter (QW): What are your writing practices? Such as, do you write each day? What 'space' do you reserve for your writing?

D.J. Swykert (DJS): When I begin a book it doesn't start with the writing. I am a ponderer. I will think on the theme of my story, what it really is about. Once I have this firmly in my head, I do generally write each day. I am a bit compulsive, once I get a story rolling I stick with it until it's finished, which for the first draft is usually a couple of months. I write a book like I was watching a movie. It’s how I move the story along, chapters being scenes, the end result being me as a director, assembling the chapter-scenes into a coherent story consisting of characters, conflict, and resolution. During the creative thinking on my plot, I have the end of my story firmly in my head; when I write the chapters I devise them so that each points towards resolution of the conflict.

QW: You can bring one book to an island that you will be alone on for 30 days. What would that book be?

DJS: I think I might reread Hemingway's "For Whom the Bell Tolls." I've always liked it, and am a believer in its theme, which is the futility of war as a way to solve problems. And it's just a strong story with powerful writing. And long enough to last me thirty days.

QW: Tell us a little about your latest book. And other than the synopsis of your book, tell us why you think readers will enjoy it.

DJS: "Children of the Enemy" is a story about innocents caught up in the Detroit drug business. It's a story I can authentically tell. There is considerable violence, but it was my feeling you could not write it any differently. My idea for the main protagonist, Raymond Little, was a man I saw running a salvage yard, which you might also just refer to as a junkyard. He was sitting on a chair outside of a house trailer, smoking a cigarette, with virtual mountains of scrap metal pieces and junk appliances surrounding him. I imagined him in real life as perhaps a cross between Dirty Harry and James Earl Jones, Paul Newman in Cool Hand Luke. I built the story around this image of him. "Children of the Enemy" is about justice, how the system so often fails. I worked in law enforcement. I know that only a third of all homicides are ever solved. People liked Dirty Harry because he gave them fair and immediate justice. Raymond Little in my story does the same and readers will resonate with his street smart integrity. 

 
QW: What avenues do you use for marketing? What works best for you?

DJS: I like doing spotlights on the different blogs, have done a couple that specialize in crime. You can see a review of "Children of the Enemy" on the Swedish crime blog The Crime House. Those Swedes do like their crime stories, i.e. The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo. I also have a publicist who is the webmaster of an artistic website that goes out to news magazines, media outlets and editors. The site features not only writers, but musicians and artists, and I think this diversity will help grow its audience. I have begun a sales campaign with Indie bookstores, and plan on continuing with it and will perhaps look at a book tour in early 2013 to publicize "Children of the Enemy" and a second crime story I have coming out titled "The Death of Anyone."
 

QW: What's next on your writing list? Are you currently penning this or is this in the 'thinking' stage?

DJS: I am writing a book titled "Counting Wolves." It's about a retired cop whose wife has died and he retreats to a mountaintop cabin in a remote corner of northern Michigan to try and rejuvenate his survival skills. He encounters a pack of young wolves and begins helping to feed them through the harsh winter. I know where the story is going, but not ready to reveal a lot more about it. I hope to have it ready for the Faulkner Competition next summer and after will look for a publisher.

Thank you, D.J. for taking the time to speak to me and our readers. If you would like to find out more about D.J., you can visit his website at http://magicmasterminds.com/djswykert/ or his blog at www.magicmasterminds.com. If you have any questions for him, you may email him directly at djswykert@hotmail.com or of course, leave your comments here and he will address them.

If you would like to be featured or contribute a blog here on QueenWriter News, simply email me at sreina@queenwriter.com.

December Sale of "One Major Mistake"

For the month of December, I'm offering a special price for my latest release "One Major Mistake." This is the last in the Ivanovich series that was released on July 10, 2012. From December 1 through December 30, 2012, the ebook version will be on sale for $2.00.

All you have to do is go to this link: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/180723 and use the following information:

Promotional price: $2.00
Coupon Code: MM74U
Expires: December 31, 2012

The Character's Perspective

As a post, I am not going to say a word. Instead, one of my characters from the Ivanovich series has opted to speak. Please allow me to introduce to you Teresa Mancini, daughter of mob boss Carlo Mancini and girlfriend to the FBI agent who took Carlo down.

 

___________________

From the voice of Teresa Mancini

“I’m definitely honored my creator asked me to speak to her audience. But I’m not surprised that she thought of me. Who else would be better to relay their regal existence? My creator—I am instructed to call her that, by the way, and it isn’t my first choice of names—told me to tell you about my life. 

“My life wasn’t always glamorous and definitely had its ups and downs. You would think growing up in a powerful Italian family that you would have it all. It’s not true. ‘Family’ was supposed to mean something, but all that it meant to my father—Carlo Mancini—was how much power he could yield and how many lives he could destroy. He didn’t care that in the end, it was his own family he shattered.

“When I was young, I thought I was the luckiest girl alive. Even though my father was busy building his empire, my mother Madeline, was always there. She did everything with me. She made me feel like a princess. But when I got a little older, she began to mold me into the young lady I was expected to be in an influential Italian family. At six, she began teaching me the proper clothing to wear, how to walk and even what to eat. Salads? Honestly! At that young age? I wanted junk food, but that was never an option in our house.

“I loved my mother, adored her, then she was ripped from my life when I was ten. I don’t know what happened, only what my father told me . . . she died. He never elaborated, but I recall sitting in church at her service holding my father’s hand. I started to cry, but he quickly shushed me, telling me that crying in public was not allowed. It made us appear weak. It was the last time my father touched me, let alone held my hand.

“It was very difficult after my mother was gone. I lost the smile I used to have, I lost the interest in being the perfect Mancini princess. My father showed less interest in me than he did before. I was pretty much raised by staff members. Our mansion was cold and completely loveless. It’s a wonder I’m as amazing as I am now.

“I came to understand what my father did. Let’s say it as it is: he killed people for a living. He was a drug runner and gun trader. If anyone dare come up against him for any reason, he had him killed.

“My father informed, he did not discuss. When he said something, it was as if Moses himself wrote it on the stone tablet. It wasn’t going to be changed. At least, that’s what Father told himself.

“I was pretty much treated like I didn’t exist in my own home. I grew up in that hateful mansion. You would think that because I had everything money could buy, I would have been happy. But money and power couldn’t bring my mother to me. I acted the part of the perfect daughter when I was called upon to do so. I was invisible when I needed to be. I was a good Italian daughter of a mob boss.

“That’s what I had everyone thinking. What I really did was listen to everything, paid attention to what deals were happening and when. I tucked everything away in my mind, knowing it would be useful later. And it was.

“When my father was finally arrested for years of criminal activities, I sang like a canary. I knew what he’d done, who he was. I gave the FBI information that would hang the bastard. And yes, I enjoyed every moment of it, just as he relished the power he exerted over so many people for so many years. I hoped the bastardo rotted in jail.

“Now though, I am my own person. No one controls me or tells me what to do. I’m still sort of lacking in the friend department, but I have Pavel Ivanovich. He’s enough. And I know that I’m certainly enough for him. Have you seen me? Pavel can’t keep his eyes off of me. I can’t say as I blame him.

“My creator made Pavel the FBI agent, but I think she made a mistake. I honestly believe that I should have been the agent. I would have been so good. Don’t you agree?

“It was nice to meet you, but I’m sure the pleasure was all yours.”

 

How to Meet a Deadline and Remain Sane

Sanity is defined differently for each individual. At times, all rational thought goes right out the window when I’m working on a deadline. It’s not sane for me to yell at my family to leave me alone. Nor is it smart to fore-go all other obligations. How do I meet that deadline and keep some sense of mental stability? It’s not easy.

Setting aside time is important, but what’s more vital is quiet, uninterrupted time. Someone will always need something, an urgent matter will always come up. If no one (real person) is bleeding, then I must keep writing.

The first thing I tell my family is I’m on a deadline and that I cannot be interrupted. They respect that. Then I go to my studio out back and close the door. It’s a blessed thing to shut everything and everyone out. When I shut that door, the world becomes mine . . . well, it actually turns out to be my characters’, but that’s what I want.

Now I have my calm space and everyone has been instructed. The problem then is my brain won’t shut off. It seems like the looming deadline recalls to mind all the obligations I have. Fine. That’s okay. They just become my characters’ problems to deal with. Sometimes, that works; other times, not so much. When the characters cannot deal with a situation similar to mine, I just create more harrowing ones for them, thus taking my mind off of what I still need to do after I’ve met my deadline.

Immersion is good. When I’m able to block out outside influences, I can submerge my psyche into the story at hand. Sometimes (most times), it’s a matter of rewriting and editing that has me walking closest to the missed deadline.

I think the most important thing for me to do is to try and remember that if a deadline is missed, it’s not the end of the world. The earth will still rotate and others will keep breathing and smiling, even amidst my quiet terror. Which, by the way, if I miss a deadline, my panic happens to be very vocal!

Peter Anthony Blush--Vietnam Vet and Author

Today, I'm pleased to introduce you to Peter Anthony Blush.

He is a freelance writer and forager living in Stratford and has written articles for the Stratford Beacon Herald, The National Catholic New Service and the Hullet Wildlife Conservation Area. During the Viet Nam War, he was a reporter for the US Army newspaper, Stars and Stripes.

Since arriving in Stratford six years ago, his passion for foraging has increased through the adventure of discovery and the understanding of the nutritional values of the wild edibles growing throughout southwestern Ontario. He was featured in a recent TV episode on the Oprah Winfrey Network’s “Fearless in the Kitchen.”

Now, his mystery novel, “Boreal Dreams,” has become the central focus of his life. After fifteen years of rewrites, rejections, and editing, "Boreal Dreams" was finally published in April 2012 where it is garnering a respectable amount of attention as well as several positive reviews.

I was lucky enough to interview him. Here is what he has to say:

 

QueenWriter News (QW): Tell us a little about your latest published work.

Peter Anthony Blush (PAB):On the surface, "Boreal Dreams" is the story of corporate greed and political corruption that lead to murder and mayhem in a small Vermont town while an epic winter blizzard forms to wreak even more havoc on its population. Universal Foods, a major bio-tech firm, has discovered that it has sent a genetically altered shipment of corn to a third world country which could have catastrophic effects on humans. Rather than recall the shipment and face massive fines, the firm decides to cover up the scandal at all costs.

 As storm clouds amass, County Sheriff Ray Lackner must deal with a tragic snowmobile accident. After the initial investigation however, the word “accident” no longer applies. It was murder. The following days are full of chaos, affecting the lives of his constituents as well as those of the nearby Mohawk Reservation.

As the story unfolds, the reader is introduced to a wide range of characters, with roles both major and minor. In "Boreal Dreams," every one of those characters has a story to tell. These are stories within a story, a patchwork of humankind, that reflect the diversity of communities found everywhere.

QW: What do you for marketing and what works the best for you? 

PAB: I’ve found that networking through the internet with such sources at Twitter, Facebook and Goodreads, introduces me to others like myself who are more than willing to share their knowledge and lend a helping hand to open doors. Also, I’ve been fortunate to have friends with ties to the entertainment business such as radio hosts, TV producers and actors, all of whom have a rich interest in the arts and promoting them. I really believe that if you have a good enough product, if your book is well written, professionally edited and you deliver an entertaining and plausible story that you will see a measure of success on the horizon.  

QW: Tell the readers something about you that we can't find on your blog or website.

PAB: Well, "Boreal Dreams" has been a 15 year project with countless months of rewrites, editing, rejections, rejections, and rejections. It was tough to take in the beginning, but as the process unfolded, I developed a certain hardness that kept me going through setbacks. About 10 years ago, "Boreal Dreams" was nominated for The Robinson Davies Prize, a prize specifically given to unpublished authors in Canada. Despite the fact my book took place in Vermont, it was short-listed and a semi-finalist. That won the attention of a literary agent in the U.S. who decided to take it on. Unfortunately, four months later my agent was being sought by U.S. authorities for trying to kill her mother with the family car. She fled to Canada where she made money setting up bogus writers' conferences. She was finally apprehended by the RCMP, placed in jail until she was extradited to the U.S. for attempted murder. Bye, bye agent. I mean, when you figure your agent has a life story that competes with your book, it’s time to move on . . . . not from writing, but to getting my book published no matter what. And I did.

Might I add one more thing? I found that in the course of writing this book, a few of my major characters had minds of their own. I would sit down and plan a scene, know full well how it would end, and my characters would step in and say, “No, that’s not me. This is what I want to do instead of what you had planned for me.” I found this absolutely fascinating.

QW: What's next on your writing list? Are you currently penning this or is this in the 'thinking' stage?

PAB: My next book will be a sequel to "Boreal Dreams." I loved my characters so much I hated to say goodbye and so I left a door open for a continuing story. Not so much the storyline but the lifeline of a certain few. "The Crossing" is currently being “penned”.

 

Besides, "Boreal Dreams," Peter has been busy with:

“It’s About Time”, a short story published by Garrison Keillor’s, A Prairie Home Companion, Stories from Home series. 2002

“Boreal Dreams”, available on Amazon.com in both paperback and Kindle.

If you have any questions for Peter, you can comment here on my blog. Or contact him at:

 

Website: http://www.peteranthonyblush.com

96 Birmingham Street

Stratford, Ontario

N5A2S9

Telephone: 519-271-3726

Email: peterblush@sympatico.ca

It was a pleasure having Peter here and we thank him. 

If you are a published author and would like to be featured, all you have to do is email me at sreina@queenwriter.com and put in the subject line: "interview me." Alternately, if you are interested in guest blogging, email me and put in the subject line: "blog me."

Until next time...