Author Interview with Cy Young (Deathload)

 

Deathload

By Cy Young

Genre: Thriller

When his Marine son is killed by friendly fire in Desert Storm, ex-CIA agent and truck tycoon Vincent Fazio constructs two trucks and out of revenge, sends them on a destructive rampage across the country blowing up air force bases.  Tracking the behemoths is Phoenix P.D. detective and karate champion Manny Breen.  Breen teams up with Phoenix P.D. chopper pilot Sharon Kramer.  Together they follow the trucks and end up at the White House for a powerful ending.

 

What do you find most challenging about the writing process, and how do you deal with it?

Most challenging: striving for a schedule needed consistent with the amount of writing I’ve taken on.  Writing is the fun part; finding the time when there are family obligations that often take precedence is sometimes like threading a needle.  But the desire to write always prevails and the time needed magically appears.  How do I deal with it? Through patience, planning, and improvisation.

 

When and where do you do your writing?

My favorite time to write is early a.m.; however, this has become increasingly impossible; therefore I grab hours when I can.  I write in my office; I have a desk that surrounds me making it possible to see different projects right at hand.

What have you learned about promoting your books?

The necessity of riding the Learning Curve as quickly as possible. Amazon/Bookbub ads demand a knowledge of bidding, CPR, CPM, joggling images, A and B ads to determine which one works; gathering key words; constant revisiting of ads to determine their effectiveness; seeking out promotional sites and using as many of them as possible. I need a website which I’ll have in a few weeks; and I have to grow my subscriber list. Also I’m writing a trilogy, soon to finish the second book.

What are you most proud of as a writer?

I try to stay away from pride.  I’m grateful that in writing for many, many years in many different mediums, I’ve learned how different genres interconnect; this helps my writing in terms of tying ideas into comprehensive concepts.  My basic goal as a writer: to create order out of chaos.

If you could have dinner with any writer, living or dead, who would it be and what would you talk about?

Paul: his conversion on the Road to Damascus.

About the Author

Cy Young performed as a dancer/singer on Broadway and co-starred at the Globe Theater in London in Divorce Me Darling.  He worked with Howard Keel (On A Clear Day) and Buster Keaton (Once Upon A Mattress) as a featured player with great reviews.  Young has many recordings on the Painted Smiles Records, performed a night club act at New York's famous Number One Fifth Avenue, and has done numerous commercials and voice overs.  Also a writer, Cy has written three published (French) plays, three musicals, and has a song on the Streisand Third album, Draw Me A Circle, which Barbra used to open one of her early TV Specials.  Cy's short story, The Schitzle Connection, has been published by Twit Publishing (Winter/Spring. 2011 edition) and won Best Short Story in an Oklahoma City Writer's Group contest.

 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/indie.lector

Twitter: https://twitter.com/CyrilCCC.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cy.young.jr/

 

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1209374.Cy_Young

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Deathload-Highway-Destruction-Cy-Young-ebook/dp/B07R1RDYHS

Book Blitz: A New Planet by Todd M. Thiede

A New Planet

By Todd M. Thiede

Genre: Science Fiction

As World Leaders Xiao, Rothchild, and Fisk work with and against one another, their government and way of life fall apart. One misstep creates a ripple effect that leads to the demise of the planet.

Tal Fisk and Jae Xiao, star-crossed lovers, meet as the stars have ordained. Fate and power work to keep them apart while they defy their parents. As the fragile ecosystem of Hongsu falls apart, the authority that comes as the children of World Leaders with very different views weighs heavily upon them.

Bastien works to end the unequal class system that keeps the poor down and helps the rich get richer. With the unwitting help of rich connections, Bastien’s part in an elaborate plan to scare the Council into action has disastrous consequences.

As they try to save their civilization they can’t help but wonder…Is it technology, greed, or human nature that causes the world to collapse?

About the Author 

When you think of an Amazon bestselling author you probably won’t think of Todd M. Thiede. He’s been a finance manager at a car dealership in Illinois for over 15 years. He’s a father of 4 and now a grandfather of 3. When he’s not working or spending time with his family, he’s writing books. His Max Larkin Detective series has been on Amazon’s Bestsellers list for multiple books in the series. He’s also written Political Thrillers under the pseudonym T.T. Michael, and those books have won multiple awards from Readers’ Favorite and Book Excellence Awards.

Todd M. Thiede is now diving into the Sci-Fi world with his new book “A New Planet”.

toddthiede.com

https://www.facebook.com/todd.thiede

https://twitter.com/TTMICHAEL9

On Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07Y5VQCJP

On B&N: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-new-planet-todd-m-thiede/1133740962?ean=2940161135693

Blog Tour Stop & Book Review: HerStory by Delaina M. Waldron

HerStory
By Delaina M. Waldron

• Paperback: 124 pages
• Publisher: XLIBRIS (December 26, 2012)
• Purchase Link: Amazon

Book Synopsis

HerStory a novel by Delaina M. Waldron is a paranormal/thriller that takes the reader on a journey in the life of a young African slave woman named Ayira who has a dark secret.  A dark secret she does not understand and is beyond her control.

Ayira can see the past and the future and she can also speak to the dead. 

It is the beginning of slavery in America, a Native American tribe rescues Ayira and she struggles to balance her special powers and face her dark past to help the people around her.

Ayira must overcome her fears of her dark past, survive the present and accept her destiny to help prevent the Indian tribes fatal outcomes.

My Review

HerStory is a paranormal story that takes place during the beginning of slavery in America. Ayira is a young African woman who is one of the many people captured and sold into slavery. Ayira’s father was both a witchdoctor and healer in their tribe. His spirit haunts her as she travels from her homeland to America.

When the slaves reach their destination, a tribe of Native Americans attack the white men and rescue a few of the slaves, including Ayira. From the beginning, everyone in the tribe realizes there is something very different about Ayira. Her distance from the tribe causes them to be suspicious of her, but Ayira is being tormented by the dead.

The young woman believes the gifts that have been passed on to her are curses and torment her soul. Ayira must battle her personal demons, while coexisting with the Native American tribe. HerStory is a captivating read that includes the paranormal, love, and betrayal.

Author Bio

Delaina M. Waldron is a Screenwriter, Novelist and freelance writer in her spare time.  She wrote two feature length screenplays one of which was adapted to her novel "HerStory" and the other a comedy called "Ghetto Ghost Hunters" was a finalist in the 2011 Hollywood Screenwriting contest.  She also wrote a short screenplay a thriller called "Peeper", which is currently in production.

Delaina M. Waldron is a single mother of one and is currently a city bus driver and a military veteran for the Army Reserves, based in New York City.

Website:  www.herstorynovel.com

Twitter:  @delainawaldron

Blog: http://delainawaldron.wordpress.com/2012/12/07/hello-world/

Facebook page:  https://www.facebook.com/pages/Delaina-M-Waldron/227854963892903?ref=hl

Follow the HerStory Virtual Book Tour:

February 17th Four A’s & a D.
February 20th Lavender & Camomile Press 
February 21st Penny Lane Writes
February 25th Beagle Book Space
February 28th Book Fidelity
March 1st Aspired Writer 
March 1st Bookworm Babblings

Book Release, Kindle Freebie, & Grand Giveaway

Today, I'm happy to spotlight author, Tara Chevrestt!

Love Request /Tara Chevrestt

     I’m pleased to share with you my latest release, Love Request. This one is special to me because it’s not only the first romance I penned, but it features a “hearing-impaired” heroine, like myself.

I say “hearing –impaired” because really, there’s nothing wrong with Ciara. She’s not damaged or in need of repair. She just can’t hear as well as others.

     As a reader, I grew tired of all the women in romance novels being perfect. In real life, many of us have disabilities—and they are disabilities others can’t see. And worse, they are disabilities others can’t understand, and a lot of times what people don’t understand becomes something they fear…and belittle.

     This is where the bullying comes in. You see, this is more than just a romance novel. Open its pages, hit that Kindle “next page” button, and find out for yourself. Learn. Be enlightened. Relate.

Want to sample it first? No problem. Available on Kindle and FREE for the next five days, is a humorous Valentine short story, Mating Instinct.

You’ll find the first chapter of Love Request at the end.

      Thank you, readers, for celebrating this special time with me. Happy Valentine’s Day! In honor of you, I’m giving away a print copy of Love Request, a plush dog, a lipstick for that special date, and 5 pheromone-soaked chocolate incense sticks! WARNING: Be careful if dogs are in the vicinity.

Blurb:

     When Ciara Littleton finally joins Facebook to socialize without the limits her hearing impairment gives her, she looks up a childhood friend on a whim. In sending him that first message, she ignites the memories of a crush from twenty years ago. Can a simple friend request fix all that stands between them and maybe even lead to something more?

     Hunter's plate is full. A recent divorce, a pregnant sister, and now, he realizes he's in love with a woman who lives states away. Can he overcome the boundaries of Internet romance to make this desire turn into something real, or will adversity and distance be their undoing?

     This book was formerly titled A Facebook Affair and has been revised with a new ending.

Love Request has been named a LASR Best Book and is now up for vote on Best Book of 2012 Poll. You can cast a vote here. I’m so excited and so grateful!

Blurb for Mating Instinct:

     This is exactly what you need!

     It’s Valentine’s Day and when Ariel receives a package of incense in the mail from her Pagan friend and mentor, she isn’t sure what to make of the enclosed note. Sure, she has some issues, but who doesn’t?

     When the smoke releases its magic, Ariel gets an evening of surprise humor and romance, and it is indeed exactly what she needs.

Links:

Love Request on Amazon

Mating Instinct FREE

     Tara Chevrestt is a deaf woman, former aviation mechanic, writer, and an editor. She is most passionate about planes, motorcycles, dogs, and above all, reading. That led to her love of writing. Between her writing and her editing, which allows her to be home with her little canine kids, she believes she has the greatest job in the world. She is very happily married.

     Her theme is Strong is Sexy. She shares a website with her naughty pen name: http://tarachevrestt.weebly.com/index.html and they have a Facebook page:   

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Tara-Chevrestt-Sonia-Hightower/218383211513877.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Author Interview: Jennifer Manghisi (A Sarcastic Guide To Beating Breast Cancer)

A Sarcastic Guide To Beating Breast Cancer

by Jennifer Manghisi

Purchase Link: Amazon

Book Description:

"Author Jennifer Manghisi was diagnosed with breast cancer at the very early age of twenty-four. Sitting in the doctor’s office listening to the diagnosis, Jennifer and her parents were shocked. Jennifer’s life had only just begun. A recent college graduate, she had only just launched her career in the fashion industry. Now, before her life had truly begun, Jennifer was faced with the prospect of losing a breast.

But she was strong. Though the diagnosis was bleak, Jennifer found the strength to be grateful that the prospects were not worse. Death as a result of breast cancer is on the decline, and she was thankful for that. Even so, there is more to deal with when facing breast cancer than mortality, as Jennifer has since learned. In her motivational memoir, A Sarcastic Guide to Beating Breast Cancer, Jennifer Manghisi shares what she learned on her journey to survival. From coping with the diagnosis to managing chemotherapy to managing the depression and becoming healthy again, Jennifer shares important and insightful advice on becoming a breast cancer survivor that only experience can teach.

In this inspiring true story of will, determination, and perseverance, Jennifer shares the highs and lows of her intense battle for her life. If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with breast cancer, Jennifer’s story can be a source of inspiration to you."

Author Info:

Jennifer Manghisi was born on June 1, 1984. She is a native New Yorker. Jennifer grew up on Long Island and graduated from Bentley University with a Bachelor of Science degree from Bentley University in Business Management. Her hobbies include; traveling, cooking, fashion, and writing. She currently resides and works in New York City.

Author Interview

Welcome to my name is: Sage. Thanks so much for participating in an interview. How long did it take you to write your memoir, A Sarcastic Guide to Beating Breast Cancer? 

That is a great question.  This actually version of the memoir took me a week and a half from start to finish however, this book has been in the making for several years.  I’ve started and not finished many many times before so this time I’m over the moon that I actually finished it.

Can you tell us about your memoir? 

I would love to.  This book is a memoir of my four year experience with battling breast cancer from the time of diagnosis to being cancer free.  I dedicated this book to the faculty and staff of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center which is where I was treated and where I currently am a patient.  In my acknowledgements page at the beginning of the book I wanted to thank a small group of people that were very supportive along the way.  I wanted my experience to speak to others who have been impacted by this disease whether it has effected them directly or a loved one.  I chose to tell my story in a sarcastic manner because i wanted my story to appeal to men and women and a little humor can help when discussing a serious topic.

 

I could only imagine the mixture of emotions you experienced while writing about your battle with breast cancer. What did you learn most about yourself during the writing process? 

What I really learned was that I had been keeping so many emotions to myself all this time.  I thought that by not crying or by being emotionless that I was being strong.  But, in actuality I think I chose to deal with having breast cancer in that way because I was almost in denial of the fact I had been through it.  Writing this book allowed me to come to terms with a lot of feelings that I had cast aside, and for that I am grateful.

What kind of feedback have you received from readers? 

In general, I have received excellent feedback.  People have told me that it helped them get through a difficult time which made me feel really good because that was the point of me putting my story out there for others to relate to.  I’ve also heard that readers have thought it was just the right amount of funny and sad which was also something I struggled with when writing the book.

Do you have any other writing projects in the works? 

I do! I am currently working on a cookbook of recipes that have been in my family for ages.  The cookbook will highlight my Italian Polish heritage and many of the recipes will be things my mom, grandmother, and aunt have cooked for my family for different occasions. 

Blog Tour Stop & Author Interview: Black and White and Dead All Over by Michael Bradley

In October, I had the pleasure of reviewing Michael Bradley's novel, Black and White and Dead All Over. If you missed my book review, you can go back to this post and read it. I enjoyed it a great deal. Mr.Bradley is currently on a blog tour with his novel and today I am hosting a tour stop with an interview. 

Hi Mr. Bradley, thanks so much for joining us today. Can you tell us a little about yourself?

I was born and raised in southern New Jersey, the part of the state that is NOT influenced by New York.  My friends from high school could certainly tell a few good tales about my writing from back then.  I had this terrible habit of putting all of my friends into the stories that I would write.  I also wrote a little poetry back then, although it wasn’t very good.

 

Eventually, I moved into radio broadcasting, working as an on-air personality at stations in New Jersey and West Virginia.  After eight years, I ran out of things to say, and made the transition into IT, which is where I have been ever since.  My job keeps me on the road quite a bit.  So, this year, in order to stave off some boredom in my hotel rooms, I started writing a bunch of noir detective short stories, which eventually became my first book, The Case Files of Doyle & McCraken.  Since then, the words have just flowed.

My wife and I now live just outside of Newark, Delaware with our two little dogs, Simon and Brandy.

I thought your novel, Black and White and Dead All Over, was a wonderful read. Where did the inspiration come from for your story?

Oddly enough, the inspiration came from an old house in Newark.  This house has been boarded up, unoccupied for years.  I would drive past it about once or twice a week.  It became a fascination for me.  I kept wondering what it was like inside, who might have lived there, and what secrets it might hide.  My imagination started churning, and eventually, I came up with the idea of the murder that became the basis for the book.

What was the hardest part of writing your book?


I think the hardest part for me was sketching out the ideas, the storyline, and the characters.  Once I have that, the actually writing seems to come fairly easy.  But, getting that initial outline of where the story is going to go and what is driving the characters is definitely hard.

Are there any similarities between you and your main character, Brian Wilder?

There are probably more differences than similarities.  For one, he has more hair. J You know, one sometimes hears about parents living vicariously through their children.  To a certain extent, I feel like I did that with Brian Wilder.  He gave me a chance to explore things in life differently than I can as myself.  Brian has had his share of tragedy, and I found myself, during the writing process, almost feeling pains that I myself have never had to experience.  To a certain extent, Brian Wilder, for me, represents my ideal hero.  He isn’t perfect.  He has those areas in his life that define who he is, and no matter how painful those moments may be, they are eternally a part of him.  They define him, define his character, and define his actions.  Perhaps, to a certain degree, Brian Wilder is what I long to be.  Not so much from the perspective of career and lifestyle, but longing to reach a point where my actions, words, and beliefs are more defined by experience than money, fame, or power.  I guess that could be a bit counter productive for an author.

Did you learn anything from writing your book? If so, what was it?

Yes.  I learned that when you think you are done editing, you’re not done editing. In all seriousness, I think I learned how to step into other people’s shoes.  When writing about a character’s reactions to certain situations, I found that I wanted to write about how I would react in those situations.  And, I needed to step back and learn how to become someone else.  I needed to learn how to get deep into my characters minds and really think like them, and not myself.  It meant learning how to be a fiftyish police chief, a newspaper reporter with a tragic past, and even a twenty something female punk photographer.  Creating characters is a lot harder than it seems.

Who designed the cover of Black, White, and Dead All Over?

I designed the cover for the book.  I just started playing around one Sunday afternoon on my Mac.  Then a few hours later, I had the first draft of what would eventually become the cover for the book.

What are your current projects?


I am currently working on the final edits of the follow-up to BLACK and WHITE and DEAD ALL OVER, which is called Deadlines.  I am also in the process of writing a little something that I am calling Synchronicity, which is more of a supernatural mystery involving a curse with an evil connection between Delaware and Scotland.

Next Stop: December 10th Aspired Writer  (full tour schedule here)

--

Author Interview: Ron Laughlin (The Deadly Quiet Sea)

The Deadly Quiet Sea

by Ron Laughlin

• Print Length: 202 pages
• Publisher: Booktango (September 13, 2012)
• Purchase Link: Amazon

Book Description:

On a quiet night reef fishing in the Florida Keys, Clint McGuire is startled by the sound of gunfire. He hurries to investigate and discovers a boat covered in dead bodies and blood—with one survivor, a frightened young woman named Ericka. He takes her on board his boat, but they soon find themselves pursued by men firing machine guns. Clint knows the area well, so he heads for shallow mangrove islands where they find safety.

They are pursued by a relentless Colombian drug cartel that will stop at nothing to keep their activities in Florida from being discovered. No one that crosses them is allowed to live. Clint, prompted by his honor and his interest in Ericka, decides to help keep her safe—and the pair find that they are both developing feelings for each other.

Clint and Ericka escape to the romantic Bahamas ending up on an isolated island south of San Salvadore, where all hell breaks loose. Clint calls on his old pals—Dan, a former Army Ranger; Bill, a former Navy Seal; Jim, a US Air Force Pararescueman; Glenn, DEA Miami officer, and Andrew, of the Royal Bahamas Defense Force. Together, they form the Fishing Club, and vow to take out the drug lords from the top down. Only time will tell if they succeed in stopping the evil in its tracks—or pay the ultimate price themselves.

Author Bio:

Ron Laughlin – An Ohio native for the early portion of his life. He then moved to the Florida Keys, where he became involved in the lifestyle of fishing, diving and sailing the Caribbean writing about it. He now resides in New Zealand, where he is a travel writer and photographer. www.ronlaughlin.net 

Author Interview:

Q:Please tell us about your background as a writer.

A: I began writing articles for outdoor magazines in the 60’s and then began travel writing and have been at that until recently. I had two radio shows, several newspaper columns and created a TV show in Ohio and wrote the intro/closing for a Florida TV station .

I was co-owner of a small newspaper in the Florida Keys.

I have written three travel books on New Zealand and am writing another right now.

Q:What was the inspiration behind your novel, The Deadly Quiet Sea?

A: Twenty years living and sailing in the Florida Keys and the Caribbean and personally experiencing the time period of the 70’s and 80’s when drug smuggling became a major occupation.

Q:Was there one character particularly that you enjoyed writing about the most?

A: The major focus is on one character, Clint.

Q:Are you working on any new projects?

A: The Deadly Quiet Sea is the introduction actually of a series of books based upon what happens. It is a story about a group of military experts called the “Fishing Club”. I also have been asked to write a campervan travel book on New Zealand.

Q:Do you have one set place in your home or office where you write? If so, can you describe the space for us?

A: My desk is in the living room that overlooks the marina in Picton, New Zealand.

All I have to do to relax is to swivel my chair to the left and I am looking across the harbour full of boats.