Fantasy Book Chick Review

Hello Everyone,

I hope you all had an enjoyable Fourth of July!

A quick "Thank You!" to Jamie at the Fantasy Book Chick Blog for her review of Four Hundred Days. If you haven't visited this blog, you're missing out! It's home to a veritable cornucopia of all things Fantasy Lit, including book reviews, giveaways, and my personal favorite, Teaser Tuesdays (a fun book meme). You'll definitely want to add Fantasy Book Chick to your list of "must follow" blogs!!!

OMG, Becky! She's Ba-ack!

Hi all! 

I decided that it's high time I started blogging again. (Woohoo, I know!)

First, an update... 

I am still working on book 3 in the Lor Mandela series, as well as trying to make headway on two other titles. I think this last year and a half has (have, had)  proven to be the most non-productive of my life, but hopefully I've emerged from my wretched funk at last, and with any luck, word counts (totaling greater than, ya know, seven or eight), will follow. 

My dilemma has been this: I write; I revise; I re-read; I cry. Then, I try again, only to revise again, which leads to  re-reading again, which leads to further shameless weeping. (Tragic fact...one of the books I'm writing right now has the tentative title, "Tears"-- no correlation whatsoever.)  

Anyway, I'm trying to stop with all the revising and re-reading until the end, but, for me, this seems comparable to scaling the Empire State Building in footed pajamas. (I mean, c'mon! I've revised this post twelve and a half times already!)

So, here's a question for all you authors: How do you know when what you've written is good? Or do you ever? Is it possible to be happy with your writing? (Yeah, that's three questions. I'm an over-achiever.)

Post your thoughts below...PLEASE!! I'M BEGGING YOU!!!!

Oh, and to all my Yank friends, a safe and happy 4th!!!!

Question for the Authors...

Hi all! I really should be writing right now, but I am having blogging withdrawls. (Only took 8 months or so). Anyway, in order to avoid guilt for abandoning my literary progress, I shall strive to keep this fairly short. I just have a question I'd like to put to my fellow authors:

What, specifically, made you decide to become a writer? I'm curious to see what motivates others to lock themselves away from civilization, ditch hygiene, and talk to imaginary characters. (Oh, come on! You all know you do it!)

Share your stories by commenting; share your thoughts by commenting on the comments; share your wealth by wiring money into my account...oh, wait... just kidding, (unless, of course, you were actually going to wire me money. Then I was absolutely serious!)

Have a productive, word countful sort of day!

MIA...Literally!

So, MIA means Missing In Action, right? That is exactly what (or where) I've been...ACTION being the operative word. See, the reason I haven't been blogging, Tweeting, Facebooking, Goodreading, or any of those other wonderful internet based activities can be summed up in this statement: Hello, I'm L. Carroll and I'm an author with a writing problem. (They say admitting it is the first step.)

So, here's the issue: I'm currently working on not one...not two...but three...yeah, that's right, three new novels. Please don't ask what mental illness drove me to this brand of personal torture. I don't have an answer. Besides, I'm liable to burst into wholly unladylike hysterics if you do. At any rate, that is why I've been (hopefully) noticibly absent online. I'd like to say that I'll be back soon, but that would be a lie. In reality, I don't know when I'll return, or even if I'll survive this madness in the end. But don't be alarmed. 'Though they find my corpse staring, glassy-eyed, at the screen of my laptop and surrounded by empty Dr. Pepper bottles and Twinkie wrappers, 'twas done in the name of the books. THE NAME OF THE BOOKS, I SAY! (Wow, I guess I really do have a problem!)

Anywho, until we meet again, my friends, I just wanted to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! (Also a Happy Ground Hog's Day, Valentine's Day, President's Day, St. Patty's Day, April Fool's, spring, summer, etc.) 

And now, I must away to the lair!   

Happy Halloween Everybody!

Hope you all have a wonderfully spooky day! This week's question is: Do you believe in ghosts? I know this isn't about books, but hey...it's a holiday thing! Share your comments below!

What's Your Muse?

Hello all,

Hope everyone's off to a great start this week! Here's the book question of the week:

Hey writers...tell us about your muse. What inspires you to write?

Leave your comments below. It should be lots of fun to see where other authors find their motivation!

Have a spectacular week!!!

Whattya Think of This?

It's Monday...and that means another Book Question of the Week!!! So here goes:

Let's talk classics! My favorite classic novel is Jane Eyre...What's yours?

Share your fave here!!!

Ghost Stories...or...Erm...Ghost Stories!

Happy new week, everyone!

First...Allow me to welcome JESSICA, AINSLEY and J.C. to the blog! It's wonderful to have you gals along!!! I'm really looking forward to hearing from you!!!

Alrighty then, let's continue on to this week's question, (or questions...there are two this week). As it is October--the month where ghouls rule and ghosts are the most--I thought it might be fun to scare up your favorite terrifying tales!

I'm sure you're all aware that paranormal is a HUGE book genre at present, (I even dabbled a bit in ghostly visitations myself in "Four Hundred Days"),  therefore question #1 is: What is your favorite novel that deals with the paranomal, and why? And question #2: Have you ever experienced the paranormal yourself?

Feel free to answer one or both of the questions! Go ahead...try to really freak us out!!!

P.S. Check out the voice we caught in our house a couple years back! This is a true EVP. No one heard this until we were watching the video. The vid is uncut/unedited, (you can fast forward through the first part if you want...the EVP doesn't come in until right at two minutes). I can't tell you where the voice came from. There were only two girls and an eleven-year-old boy, (prior to man-voice age), in the room. What do you think? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-regeIE8cJ8  

Book Question of the Week

Hi Everyone,

I'm even later with the question this week! (Grrr!) I really need to put an alert in my phone or something!

Anyway, here goes:

It's not uncommon for a movie to be based on a book. What stories have you both read and seen as a movie? Which did you like better; the book or the flick? Enqiring minds want to know...

Leave your answers below!!!

Book Question of the Week!

Hi Everyone,

Sorry...I'm a little late posting this week's question. Hopefully it'll stir up some interesting comments. (By the way, thanks to everyone who shared their thoughts on ebook pricing! As a result, I've changed the price of the Lor Mandela books from $3.99 to $1.99!)

 This week we'll be delving into our darker sides, but before we go there...I'd like to WELCOME WELCOME WELCOME LAUREN, JEREL, RYAN, DAYNA, JEANNE, PATTI and MERRY!!! So happy you could join us!!!

Alrighty then...here's this week's BOOK QUESTION OF THE WEEK!!

WHO IS YOUR FAVORITE LITERARY VILLAIN, AND WHY?

I'm excited to see what you all have to say!!!

Leave lots of comments!!!

QUESTION OF THE WEEK!!!

What's the most you'd EVER pay for an ebook? .99 cents? Ten bucks? Three? (Be brutally honest!)

LEMME KNOW WITH A COMMENT BELOW!

New Fun on This Old Blog!

First and foremost, I'd like to welcome the following awesome new blog followers: HEIDI, METALLIFAN15, KATHLEEN, JOLENE AND HER LOVELY FAMILY, and SARAH!!!  Thanks to all of you for coming along for the ride!!!

Now then....

You may, (or may not) have noticed that I have been shamefully absent for the last couple of weeks. I could ramble off a long list of reasons, (and/or excuses) as to why, but who has time for that, really? The gist of it is, I was afraid that if I did post, I'd just be blah-ging!

Blah-ging, you ask? Yes...blah-ging. You see, blah-ging is not the same as blogging. Blogging is posting what you hope to be helpful, entertaining or constructive information on a blog, whereas blah-ging is posting ANYTHING just so you can say, "Hey, I posted today." Blah, blah, blah-didy blah....

But wait...there's more! In addition to my fear of turning into a droning blah-ger,  I have to admit it. I've become SICK to death of reading my own posts! Does anyone else agree that I come across like a caffeine-jacked cheer captain? It's okay. You can say it! I won't be offended! What it boils down to is this: I don't want to hear from me anymore, (and maybe you don't either); I want to hear from YOU!!!

So, here's my idea. This is a blog for books, authors, and readers, right? So let's talk about YOUR books, YOUR fave authors, and what YOU like to read. I'm going to post a "Question of the Week" each Monday and invite YOU, the blog followers, Twitter friends, and Facebook buds of AWESOMENESS to respond. This should be entertaining and enlightening for all of us, and (most importantly) you won't have to subject yourself to my sorry posts for a while!

Please, oh please, oh please, (do you get that I'm begging here?) check back often and join in the mayhem by answering questions and leaving your feedback. Or, if you have a question you'd personally like answered, let me know that as well!  

Thanks a bunch everybody and stay tuned...today's question will be coming in just a bit! Let's have FUN with this, shall we? With your help we can find a cure, and put an end to mindless blah-ging forever!

Book Reviews and Giveaway Reminder!

On September 1, the featured author was Allan Richard Shickman, author of the Zan-Gah series. Here, now, are my reviews of the first two Zan-Gah books, ZAN-GAH: A PREHISTORIC ADVENTURE, and ZAN-GAH AND THE BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY. Just a reminder...Mr. Shickman is giving away ALL 3 of the Zan-Gah books to a lucky commenter!!! Comments can be left on this post, or on the interview post found here.

REVIEWS:

ZAN-GAH: A PREHISTORIC ADVENTURE (4.5 out of 5 stars)

When Bonnie at Earthshaker Books asked if I would read and review the ZAN-GAH books, by Allan Richard Shickman, I was slightly dubious. You see, my genres of choice are epic fantasy and classic literature, but as a home-school mom, I concluded that the books might be good reads for my thirteen-year-old son, and so agreed; I am glad that I did. This is a beautifully written, engaging story, set in prehistoric times, about the coming of age of a boy named Zan. 

In the first book, Zan gains the respect of his tribe by killing the lioness thought to be responsible for the death of a small child. This feat earns him the title Zan-Gah -- or Zan of the Rock, after the place where he began his trial of manhood, and where he stood, immovable, in the face of danger. It also infuses Zan with the courage needed to embark on what is sure to be a difficult and potentially deadly journey.

This is the type of book that I would not be surprised to find on a multitude of junior-high/middle school suggested reading lists. While the book was a little slow, and difficult to get into at first, (perhaps because of my inexperience with the genre), by the third or fourth chapter I was mesmerized. I enjoyed the imagery created through the author's vivid descriptions, the depth of the characters and especially the subtle transition of Zan from uncertain youth to strong, mature leader. I recommend Zan-Gah for both YA and adult readers alike.



ZAN-GAH AND THE BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY (4.3 out of 5 stars)

In book number two, ZAN-GAH AND THE BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY, the already rich tapestry created in the first book becomes even more complex as Zan's twin, Dael, struggles with some pretty powerful inner-demons, thus creating conflict and turmoil for his brother and all those around him. Zan is challenged with attempting to subdue Dael, while keeping his people united, as their large tribe migrates from their home to a new and unfamiliar land.

I enjoyed this book, although not quite as much as the first. It was still very well written with an appealing plot, but at times, I felt a bit like I was watching a Discovery Channel documentary. (I should reiterate that this is not my usual genre of choice). I did, however, love the female characters Pax, and Siraka-Finaka who were strong, animated and endearing. I also felt that the principles of forgiveness, unconditional love, and power to overcome hardships were all skillfully integrated. I recommend ZAN-GAH AND THE BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY to readers who enjoy a profound, exceptionally-told, book list worthy adventure.

Now get commenting everyone! Good Luck!!

Lovely to the Last

Well, we've reached the last interview of the Authorpalooza, and what a wonderful event this has been. I would like to thank all of the delightful authors who have made it so much fun, and who have entertained us with their interviews, guest posts and, not least of all, their books! Today we have yet another fantastic novelist with delightful stories to share! Join me in welcoming Arlene Webb!

LC: Hello Arlene, and thank you for being on the blog today. Can you give us a brief synopsis of your books as well as the genres they fall into?

AW: My debut novel, Ashes, (MuseitHot, May 2011, ebook and print) came about on a sizzling summer day. Out of nowhere, I wrote a brutal opening paragraph. A beaten man dead in the desert. I started wondering who he was, why he’d died, and who’d care. His brother popped in and yep, he was seriously pissed. Took 90,000 words to make things right. A paranormal suspense, romance, it tells the story of a man who will go to any lengths, give up anything for his sibling.

Splintered Energy is my debut inde novel, published in June. Earth-based science fiction, romance, suspense, and first in a series of 4. I hope readers enjoy the humor, subtle look at humanity, prejudices, and social development from the perspective of vibrant aliens. These flawed characters shouldn’t be easily forgotten, and readers will be apt to reconsider their favorite color.

LC: They sound awesome! What would you say has been your greatest triumph as an author?

AW: Myles Logan from Ashes. I had to work hard until his voice was heard. And, of course, sticking with this writing obsession through the ups and downs.

LC: Writing does have plenty of those, for sure. Okay, if you were stuck on a desert island with one of your characters, who would you want it to be, and why?

AW: With flawed characters who must hate their creator, that’s not an easy question. I should plead the fifth, but I guess I’ll go with Beni, a 3000+ y/o flamebird, for the obvious reason. Be good to have wings on an island, and the other guys with wings might be more apt to strangle me.

LC: Eek! We wouldn't want that! Just for fun, where is the most exotic or strange place you've ever traveled to?

AW: Most recently, it’d be Paris. Fun.

LC: I would assume so :o) How long have you been writing? Have you always known that you wanted to write?

AW: Since childhood poems for dead pets, threatened with counseling for essays on killing gym teacher and controversial politics in high school, creative writing in college, until full blown obsession about a decade ago.

LC: Hehe! So, what is YOUR favorite movie of all time, and why?

AW: Shrug. Like favorite author, there’s many and age and mood plays a role. Princess Bride, Star Wars, LoTR, Star Trek, Blues Brothers, Rocky Mountain Horror Picture Show, Christmas Story etc, yep the list is quite long.

LC: And speaking of movies, if a big-shot Hollywood producer offered to turn your latest book into a motion picture, who would you want to play the lead roles?

AW: In Splintered Energy: Johnny Depp, Jason Statham, and Amy Hacker (Fred from Angel) would be an awesome start.

LC: Do you have any strange habits or rituals when you write?

AW: Nope. I try and write wherever, whenever, and the only certain thing to jar concentration is the buzzing of a fly.

LC: Oh...flies have been the bane of my existence the past week! They -- indeed -- can be so distracting. Tell us, Arlene, what do you like to do when you're not writing?

AW: Read, naturally, and I’ll admit to watching some TV series after I can fast forward commercials.

LC: I hear ya! Well, thanks again for being a part of the Authorpalooza! It's been a pleasure. Just one last thing. It's time to SELL IT! Tell us why we should read your books. (No pressure...well, not much!)

AW: It sounds like something every author would say, but I feel my characters are quite memorable, plots unlike others, and with appeal for both genders.

In the color series, dawn literally breaks. A photon splinters, and seven fall dead while sentient light is trapped in their bodies.  Five of the seven aliens are introduced in the first book, and each relates to humanity with a flawed personality. For example, obsessive-compulsive savant, suffering from superman syndrome, sociopath, and so forth. The aliens bond to the first human whose kind to them, and the series is told from alien and human point of view.

The books should appeal to science nerds interested in twisted physics, adults who enjoy a read with powerful characters that must learn to cooperate or all will be lost, and those who like layers of romance making vulnerable aliens even more human.

Book 2, The R Word is scheduled to release in a week or so. I hope to get the third out in October, leaving the conclusion to a series that has been close to a decade in the making for December/January

Thank you, so much, Lisa for hosting me on your lovely blog.

LC: You're so very welcome! Alright everyone...time for a giveaway! You can win an ecopy of Arlene Webb's Splintered Energy just for leaving a comment (or a few). Here's more about the book:
Splintered Energy is a 110, 000 word, science fiction suspense story with layers of romance. It’s suitable for mature audiences and the first in a four book series.
* * *

California. A widower’s twelve-year-old son is rather young to bring home a woman, especially a collapsed green beauty too frightened to open her eyes.

Arizona. A divorcee blinks hard, but the gorgeous red guy stepping in front of her car is still red—hello, ditch. When she comes around, she wonders which layer of hell she’s fallen into.

Ohio. A teen also fears he’s dealing with the demonic, but no matter how dangerous things become, he’s determined to stand by a man with inhumanly blue eyes.

No question, their lives will never be the same again.

Dawn breaks—literally. Energy sparks across the horizon, power grids go down, and the journey to understanding what, where, and why begins.

Energy splinters and a few hapless humans fall dead. A moment later, hearts regain their beat and the confused aliens witness their first sunrise through the eyes of the deceased. Sentient beings can’t recall a past, other than a blissful haven. Nor do they have memories from the host whose body they unwittingly hijacked.

Only one learns to hide his unique skin color, and he assumes the identity of the victim, Malcolm James.

Malcolm learns of escalating violence through news clips. The cohorts he’s able to locate—vibrant personalities with enhanced predatory skills—are breaking every law there is. He has a goal: return to wherever it is he belongs. But he can’t do that alone, and is forced to shoulder the burden of reunification, despite his fear those who cross paths with color, himself included, may become permanently scarred or worse, killed.

This reluctant leader has no doubt—living light does not belong on Earth.

Alright all, get those comments comin'! On or around September 20th, we'll choose one lucky winner to receive a pdf copy of this intriguing book! Make sure you leave your email address so we can contact you if you're the winner! Entries must be posted no later than 11:59 p.m. EST on the 19th. GOOD LUCK!!!

http://www.arlenewebb.com/

     Sci-fi, paranormal, thriller-mystery, indefinable, I'm an author who adds sweet and spicy layers of romance to any genre.
     I was born in upstate New York, land of cows, snow, drizzle and sometimes a ray of sun. Mom played with bacteria as a lab technician, read many magazines and books, made up charts for chores, cooked and cleaned, and drank vodka upon occasion. Dad worked for the phone company, fixed things, built houses, decapitated chickens, shot deer, and drank vodka and beer as often as possible.
     Second oldest with four siblings, I spent my childhood reading everything I could get my hands on. Adolescence found me questioning the validity of everything I read, along with acquiring the usual scars of high school.
     Early twenties, I headed for the Pacific. A stop off to visit a friend in the desert turned into years in Tucson, Arizona. I worked as a waitress, bartender, greenhouse worker, greyhound trainer, while swapping a pysch major for one in plant sciences at the University of Arizona. Fired for skipping employee meetings at restaurants, employee gambling at the dogtrack, refusing to use live rabbits as bait, it fell to planting cacti and bartending to pay my way through college.
     My late twenties found me running family owned greenhouses and florist shops in New York. When the reality of retail life became too mundane to handle, I began an obsessive love of creating more interesting worlds.

Forget Reality!

Hello one and all!

We only have a couple more interviews left on the Authorpalooza *tear*, and I'm sure you've noticed that all of the authors got the same questions asked of them. I've mixed up the order and the wording a bit along the way, but essentially you've heard many different, (and wonderful), answers to the same set of questions.

Today's interview is no different -- in that the same tired old inquiries have been put forth -- but today's answers...these will absolutely charm the socks off of you! (Don't believe me? Slip on some socks and see for yourself!) If, after reading this, you're not dying to run out and pick up a copy of this author's work, you may want to have yourself checked for a pulse! (Just sayin') So, without further jawing from me, please enjoy this sparkling interview with Edward Medina!

LC: Hello Edward. I'm very happy you could join us here today! Can you give us a brief synopsis of your writing tell us what genre it falls into?

EM: To begin with, I’d like to thank you for this opportunity. This is my first interview since becoming a published author and I’ve been looking forward to it. And I love that we’re starting with a question that can mark me as a trouble maker, because I loathe being put in a box.

The books and stories I create come in various genres. Some of them have people. Some have very smart animals. Some have imaginary creatures. Some have all of the above. I will say this, my work tends to be dark, epic, fantasy with a very healthy dose of steampunk. I love all those labels. But my work is always presented in a hopeful light. I believe in the better angels of all our hearts and minds.

I’m also frequently asked what the “age range” of my books are. When I was seven I read Frankenstein and Dracula. Were they written for my young mind? I would say, not. But I read them. Did I get what they were about? In my own way, yes. And as I reread them again and again over the years I always found something new.

I had the pleasure of working for the late, great Jim Henson for three years before he passed. He was fond of saying that the Muppet Show wasn’t written or made for kids, but that they understood it on a whole other level. That has become my philosophy.

I write. I create worlds and populate them with characters that have a story to tell. Whoever finds my work and enjoys it, I welcome. I don’t categorize or limit anyone based on the age of their mind. That is a marketing decision. That is something I leave to others to decide.

See, trouble maker.

LC: Of the best kind! What, would you say, has been your greatest triumph as an author?

EM: Every day that I write, and every piece that I finish, is a triumph.

Beyond that it would be the discovery of self publishing the ebook way. For years my writing floundered. I would write and it would sit there. There was always the concern that my work would never be seen because there were so many other people that had to like it and say yes to get it out there. And that once they did like it, there would still be more time to wait while they decided what to do with it.

Then a dear friend of mine introduced me to ebooks. I suddenly realized that I could get my work ‘out there’ myself. My writing began to flourish. Good or bad my voice and my stories could be had for the adventurous to enjoy. I say, put it out there, and they will come. Write well, be good to your fellow writers, and the powers that be will find you.

LC: Awesome. Okay, if you were stuck on a desert island with one of your characters, who would you want it to be, and why?

EM: This one is easy. Of the Mathias Bootmaker books it would be Elias Darke. He is a scientist and inventor. He’s a forward thinking mechanical genius. He applies his thoughts in a logical manner in order to create and envision great things for his people.

If you’re going to be stranded on a deserted island then go with someone who thinks the steampunk way!

LC: I like it! So, just for fun, where is the most exotic or strange place you've ever traveled to?

EM: I’ve traveled quite a bit actually, and I love it. I’m a native New Yorker who has lived in England for a little over a year. Spent my weekends in France while I was there. Here in the United States I’ve driven around a good portion of our country. I love a good road trip. Lived in Atlanta, Georgia for a couple of years. Finally settled here in Central Florida. For how long? Who knows.

However, my favorite place to visit was North Pole, Alaska. I spent a couple of weeks there a few years back. It was November. It was bitter cold and breathtakingly beautiful. I was hired to direct a commercial and the shoot was at the Santa Claus House. Anybody who knows anything about Santa Claus knows that this is his real home. I spent a lot of time with Mr. and Mrs. Claus and it was magical. They make the best hot chocolate on the planet there. 

You have to understand that to this day I truly believe in the man and the goodness he represents. On the last day of the shoot he asked me to sit on his lap. I did. I was in awe. He asked me what I wanted for Christmas. I thought about it and said, I want all my friends to get what they want for Christmas. He said, cut it out and tell me what you really want. I’d like to find a steam train set under my tree, I said. I love trains. He thought about it for a moment and said, it might be too close for this year but I promise you you’ll get your wish next year.

There were no trains under my tree that year, but the following year I was offered a position as an Engineer and Fireman on the Walt Disney World Railroad at the Magic Kingdom. I drove real antique locomotives around the Magic Kingdom for five years.  All thanks to Santa Claus. True story.

LC: I've always said it...Santa's the greatest! Tell us Edward, how long have you been writing? Have you always known that you wanted to write?

EM: I’ve written for as long as I can remember.

As a child I would cut pictures of people from magazines, glue them to construction paper and write dialogue balloons for them. My first short story was about a penny that escaped from the mint that created him. Over time I wrote poems and short stories. At the age of eleven I presented my first novel, all 35 pages of it, to my mother. One of her girlfriends got a hold of it, copied it and passed it around to all her friends. The women in my young life had decided that I was going to be a writer.

No matter where my career went after that I always found the opportunity to write.  Including the books to two musicals for the New York Off-Off Broadway stage. One about Robin Hood, and the other about Frankenstein. 

LC: Movie question time! What is your favorite motion picture of all time, and why?

EM: This, my dear, is not an easy question to answer for me. I love movies. It is a deep and unending passion of mine. If I mention twenty, there will be twenty more that I have forgotten to mention.

I like big movies the best. Movies so large they spill off the screen. Lawrence of Arabia. Dances With Wolves. Citizen Kane. I also have my favorite directors. Hitchcock. Welles. Spielberg. Lucas. Lean. Wilder. Just to name a few. I like new movies and old movies. I’ll watch them in color and in black and white. I’ll watch them on the big screen, on television and even on my cell phone.

But if you were to hold my feet to the fire I’d have to say Shawshank Redemption. Ended a relationship over that one. She said it was a terrible movie, from an awful writer and that Morgan Freeman’s voice was annoying. Really. Can you blame me?

Oh yeah, Shaun of the Dead kicks ass, and so does Kick Ass.

LC: *Note...at no time have I been in the habit of holding authors' feet to the fire. (hehehe!) Speaking of habits, do you have any strange ones when you write?

EM: I was a latch key kid growing up. I’d come home from school. Mom was still at work. Homework was to be done before she arrived that evening. So I would do my assignments with the television on in the background. That holds to this day. Usually there’s a favorite movie on while I write. Zombieland is playing right now as we chat.

I also like to write outside. Usually at the beach. In this part of Florida we can drive on the beach. I park. Pull out the notepad and start writing. For those times it’s music in the background. Don’t get me started on favorite music. We’ll be here forever.

LC: Um, forever times two if you get me started! Aside from compiling stellar play lists, what do you like to do when you're not writing?

EM: When is a writer not writing?

That’s why I always carry some index cards with me wherever I go. I’ve also been known to text or email myself story ideas or lines of dialogue from wherever I am.

I’m a foodie so you’ll find me in the kitchen cooking or out at some wonderful, quirky restaurant. I’m sure you won’t be surprised that I can be found at the movies. I also live in theme park country and I do love thrill rides.

Most importantly, when I’m not writing I’m reading. Stephen King. Mark Twain. Jules Verne. Aldus Huxley. Alexander Dumas. Mary Shelly. Seth Grahame-Smith. And of course Dr. Seuss.

LC: I must admit, there are some pretty amazing classics in that list! Okay, last, but not least, SELL IT! Tell us why we should read your books. (Feet to the fire time, buah ha ha!)

EM: In the case of the Mathias Bootmaker Trilogy it’s because I wrote a grand fable about us. Us, as in Americans, and citizens of the world. I wanted to reflect what we’ve been and what we can become again.

I truly feel we’re losing ourselves as a great people. We once reached for the stars, but we have lost a great deal of that passion. We’re bickering amongst ourselves. Lines have been drawn in the sand, and they’re getting deeper. We’re forgetting that we once fought, long and hard for acceptance of our individualities and to protect the needs of those amongst us that have been pushed down.

Don’t get me wrong. I’m not being preachy and neither is the book. This book is an entertainment. It’s a dystopian tale but it is filled with a great deal of hope. Hope that we can get passed this time in our history.

I believe that artists, in whatever form, have a responsibility to shine a light on the world we see. I hope that my work as a writer does that for my readers and that whatever the style I choose, it opens a door in their minds to amazing possibilities.

LC: Here's more about Edward's first book "Mathias Bootmaker and the Keepers of the Sandbox - It is Said"

The world of Mathias Bootmaker and the Keepers of the Sandbox, Book One: It Is Said, is a fantasy full of mysteries, riddles and secrets.

It is the story of Mathias Bootmaker, a young man searching for the better parts of himself. His search for what he's lost begins an amazing adventure through a world of extreme imagination. A world he helped to create but a world he can't remember anything about. There's a dragon. and a genius. There's a very scary little boy and a very gifted little girl. There's darkness and light, deadly evil and glorious good. It's the story of his life, the birth of creativity and the true power of the energy all around us.

In this tale of redemption, in order to find what he seeks, Mathias must save a people who were once great but are now, by their own hands, victims. He must help them face a terror that they themselves created. He must find a friend that disappeared. Befriend a reluctant guide and rescue a very unique group of children trapped in a cursed castle full of tragedy.

Mathias Bootmaker and the Keepers of the Sandbox is a dream embedded within a nightmare. A maze inside a labyrinth. It reads like an adventure. It plays like a thriller. It's designed to make you question every place you go and every character you meet. It's designed to be a puzzle you must solve. It's meant to blend grand fun and fright in the tradition of Carroll and King.

Turn the pages. Follow the path. Keep an eye out for clues. Beware of traps. But most important of all... you must not fear the Darke.



     Edward Medina is a native New Yorker now living in Orlando, Florida by way of Atlanta, Georgia and London, England. He was raised by his mother and grandmother to believe that life is an adventure best lived to the fullest.To that end Edward has lived his life on the edge of creative possibility.

     Over time, he has been a radio and voice over artist. He built a significant career as a producer, director and writer for both digital media and the New York Off and Off Off Broadway stages. He also had the honor and the privilege to work for the late great Jim Henson. He then went on to become a theme park designer. For fun, he became a steam train engineer and since childhood, a sometime magician. Although, at this point in his life the magic he creates is for the page.
     Edward recently published his first novel in the Mathias Bootmaker and the Keepers of the Sandbox Trilogy through Amazon Kindle. His next book,The Upiies of Isla Mona is the story of a very special little family living on a very special little island. This tale holds a warm place in his heart. It's soul is wrapped around his love for his grandmother. In the near future Edward is looking forward to completing the Keepers Trilogy and beginning his next. X Pirates: Nightthorn's Revenge promises bold swashbuckiling exploits but in a very different setting.

Have You Seen Who Is New?

Oh m'gosh! It's MURAT, JENN, JEFFREY and VIOLET! Welcome to you all, and I hope you'll find the blog somewhat entertaining from time to time! I'd love to read any comments you'd like to share!!!

Contest Winners Thus Far!

Hi Everyone,

Here are the names of the Authorpalooza Winners so far!!! There are still plenty of giveaways going on, so make sure to leave your comments on your favorite authors' posts! Your name might be on the next list!!!

Winner of Tonya Kinzer's Giveaway - Blackroze37
Winner of Steven Montano's Giveaway - Devyn Dawson
Winner of Anne Tibbetts' Giveaway - RomanceGirl
Winners of Lisa Vaughn's Giveaway - Javid Suleymanli & Doreen McGettigan
Winner of Raymond Masters' Giveaway - Glogan16
Winners of Lakisha Spletzer's Giveaways - The Happy Booker & Christina Manning
Winners of Devyn Dawson's Giveaways - Leider Madchen, Denise Z & StuckInBooks
Winner of P.H.C. Marchesi's Giveaway - Anne Marie Jenner
Winners of Jeffrey Littorno's Giveaways - Rob "Sharky" Pruneda, Dan Kleinman & Christina Manning 

Congratulations to you all!!!

For the Love of Peter Pan! (And Books You Can Win About Him!)

Today, I am quite ecstatic to share an interview with an author who has taken a story we all know and love, and has -- while remaining unfailingly faithful to the original creator -- given it his own spin, so to speak. Here to tell you more about his book, "Peter Pan's NeverWorld", is Peter (coincidence?) Von Brown 

LC: Hi Peter, and welcome! Can you tell us a little bit about your book and about its genre?

PVB: From my perspective, J.M. Barrie helped pioneer the genre of Urban Fantasy.  That’s the very allure of the tale -- magic encroaching into our mundane lives. Peter Pan’s NeverWorld, then, follows suit.  All of my works fall into Urban Fantasy, which I quickly define as something we’d find in The Twilight Zone.

LC: I know from previous correspondence with you that you've had some pretty exciting moments as an author. What, would you classify as your greatest literary triumph?

PVB: I’ve been told that my greatest triumph is an epic novel called What If It’s a Trick Question? But I’m inclined to believe it’s being told by others that they loved a book of mine.  There’s nothing like having someone come over to me, itching to talk to me about the story I’ve set down to paper.  It doesn’t get old and a perk like that has to be a triumph, no?

 LC: Well, I'd certainly call it one! Just for fun, if you were stuck on a desert island with one of your characters, who would you want it to be, and why?

PVB: What an apropos question for a book about Peter Pan!  I suppose the answer seems obvious, but then Pan would be a horrible brat on an island with no adventure lurking, not to mention fly away.  More importantly, Peter Pan is not my character.  So, to answer honestly, it would be Thom from my still-pitching-around novel Carabas.  But don’t tell Jeremy.

 LC: While we're talking about exotic locales, where is the most exotic or strange place you've ever traveled to?

PVB: Just about everywhere I go is exotic or strange because I tend to see life that way.  I’m not sure if it’s truly exotic, but the highlight of my travels has to have been roaming around Kensington Gardens in London, J.M. Barrie’s stomping grounds with the Llewelyn-Davies boys.  I take that back.  On that same London trip, the highlight is most definitely being invited into Barrie’s home by the Lady who now lives there.

LC: Okay...I'd call that a definite highlight!  How long have you been writing?  Have you always known that you wanted to write?

PVB: I’ll have to go with the proverbial “since forever.”  From being imaginative with my toys and onward, creating stories is just something I’ve always enjoyed.  As for always knowing, yes, but once upon a time I also had an ambition to be a cartoonist.

LC: Something we might've guessed from your author pic! Speaking of pics...What is your favorite movie of all time, and why?

PVB: This is an unfair question.  How can we lump all genres and “mentalities” (e.g. classic art, silly fun, poignancy) and distill a single favorite?  My knee jerk reaction is Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure.  Yes, it’s wacky, but I’m a sucker for time travel and you don’t get many with that zest for life as well.  And let’s face it…a lot of us would use time travel in the same manner as those two guys.  I have fond memories of going to see it (we went multiple times) with a friend who has since passed on, so it holds a special place in my heart.  I also have to mention Fritz Lang’s Metropolis, a truly visionary masterpiece that hasn’t lost any luster since 1927.

I can, however, tell you my favorite song of all time.  “Mediational Field” by Susumu Hirasawa.  It’s on the soundtrack to Paprika (another favorite movie) and each and every time I hear it, it makes me happy to be alive.

LC: Good movie with good music? Bonus! Alright, so if a big time Hollywood producer offered to turn "Peter Pan's NeverWorld" into a motion picture, who would you want to play the lead roles?

PVB: I’m more a fan of finding “unknown” actors.  It seems counterintuitive to me not to search for the one person out there who truly embodies the character.  Not that I don’t see the rationale of big name stars.  I’d prefer to see Peter Pan’s NeverWorld done in performance-capture CGI, so any dream cast would be vocal talent.  And nothing would please me more than to have Jeremy Sumpter voice Michael Pan.  He’s the fine young actor who played Peter Pan in the 2003 movie.  It only makes sense to have him, now grown up, playing Peter’s “older younger” brother.  And while we’re at it, Amanda Bynes as Amy Alexis Richards.

LC: There's a movie I think I'd like to see! Do you have any strange habits or rituals when you write?

PVB: A while ago I tried to induce some to no avail.  I don’t even have a particular spot where I write.  My only habit is listening to music while I compose (mostly instrumental and especially movie scores.)

LC: Hmm, movie scores.  I don't know if you can tell or not but I am also a fan! What do you like to do when you're not writing?

PVB: Reading, of course, but I also dabble in drawing (both natural and computer.)  I enjoy video games, taking walks, storytelling via TV and hanging with friends.

LC: I'm thinking you should do some of the illustrating for your CGI movie, right? Alright Peter... Last, but not least, SELL IT! Tell us why we should read "Peter Pan's NeverWorld" (Even though I think it might be obvious...)

PVB: The future of Peter Pan comes from his past in the further adventures J.M. Barrie left behind.  With utmost reverence and care, Barrie’s notes for more have been compiled into a tale that escalates the original to new heights, upping the stakes beyond saving Tinker Bell to a journey into the very heart of magic.  Unlike other recent additions to Pan which contradict the original stories of the eternal boy from minor details to thematic discords, Peter Pan’s NeverWorld upholds the magic of Barrie’s genius. 

LC: Wanna win your own SIGNED copy of "Peter Pan's NeverWorld"? Leave your comments below! On or around September 17, Mr. Von Brown will choose one random commenter to win! Make sure you leave an email address so we can reach you if you win! (Entries must be posted no later than 11:59 p.m. EST on September 16.

Here's more about it:

When the Neverland shows up on RADAR, the eternal youth must relocate to the NeverWorld: a planet of adventure-prone islands.  But a bigger playground means bigger trouble.  Besides the Neverland’s wild beasts, pirates and pitfalls, Peter confronts the one who pinpointed the fabled isle – his brother Michael.  Sporting the same magic, Michael Pan is out to avenge grievances past.  But he’s not the only one.  Alistair Adams is an adult who is certain Peter Pan exists.  Does Adams hold the key to destroying magic forever?  Together with new friends and old, Peter must defeat these fearsome foes while restoring balance to both his own affairs and the heart of NeverWorld itself.

     Peter Von Brown graduated from Knox College in 1993 with Honors for his research into Sir J.M. Barrie as a modern mythmaker.  He lives in Chicago on the third floor.  He prefers vanilla.