Interview with Elisabeth Doyle, Author of War Stories

Elisabeth Doyle is a writer and attorney living in Washington, D.C. She studied fiction writing at Sarah Lawrence College and the University at Albany, and is completing a Masters of Laws Degree at Georgetown University Law Center. Ms. Doyle’s short fiction was published in the literary journal Nadir and was awarded the University at Albany’s Lovenheim Prize for best short fiction. Her first short film, Hard Hearted One, was admitted into the Philadelphia Festival of World Cinema and the Street Films Film Festival, and was shown on Public Television and Manhattan Cable. War Stories is her first collection of short fiction.

Visit Elisabeth online at http://www.warstoriesshortfiction.com/.


Please tell us about your current release.

War Stories is a lean collection of short fiction – nine stories – many of which are set against the backdrop of contemporary conflicts, including the war in Vietnam and current wars.

Can you tell us about the journey that led you to write your book?

In January 2002, I traveled for the first time to the country of Vietnam. I went there on a bit of a lark – a childhood friend of my mother’s was working there and had extended a kind of “open invitation” to visit. For some reason, I decided to go. Maybe I shouldn’t say “for some reason” – I was born during the war in Vietnam, and the conflict endured throughout my early childhood. I had vague memories of the images of war that flickered on our small television screen each evening. Usually, these images were mere background to our lives – they played out as my mother cooked dinner. No one seemed to pay great attention. I also had vague recollections of the scenery of Vietnam – some mountains and a village. I’m not sure where or when I saw those early childhood images – perhaps on a news program, or in a later documentary.

In any event, I traveled to Vietnam in 2002, and it’s safe to say that the experience changed my life, and opened for me new doors of interest, of passion, and of compassion. I returned with a deep and abiding interest in the war in Vietnam, its history, and its effect on American soldiers and Vietnamese citizens. I read – and continue to read – anything that I can get my hands on regarding the war. I focused primarily on first-hand autobiographical accounts by soldiers.

I had a background in fiction writing, but hadn’t written a short story in years. When I relocated to Washington in late 2006, I resolved to return to writing, mostly at the urging of my mother and grandparents. Away from the distractions of family and familiarity, in a new city, I was able to find the peace in which to write. It should be noted that I did not set out to write a collection of short stories on the topic of war. In fact, I did not set out to write a collection, at all. I just wrote – one story after another. And what I found, as I wrote, was that the theme of war continued to assert itself in each of these stories, in one way or another. After years of reading and learning, war had apparently become the foremost, organizing principle in my mind; the circumstance around which all other things revolved. It emerged as a theme that linked all of the new stories that I wrote, without conscious or deliberate effort or planning on my part.

It should be noted that these are not combat stories, nor do they attempt or purport to be historically accurate or to give voice to the actual experience of those who have fought. Only those who have had to fight, or who have lived in a war zone, can truly understand that experience. These stories are just that – stories – written with the deepest respect and empathy for those who have found themselves in such extreme circumstances, and who have faced the kind of difficult, unforgiving choices that most of us can only imagine.

Can you tell us about the story behind your book cover?

Sure. Well, suffice it to say that the book cover underwent a lot of changes, much to the annoyance of the cover designer, who (nonetheless) was a wonderfully good sport about it. It was important to me to create a cover that was NOT obviously rooted in or reflective of the topic of war. This was so because, first, the title War Stories is used both literally and figuratively. That is, while the majority of stories in the collection are set against the backdrop of war, other stories are not. These additional tales reflect “war stories” of another kind – the kind that we might all experience. So I wanted the cover to encompass all the themes in the book.
I chose to use a triptych of photos - a series of photos that could each be traced, if a reader so desired, to one or more of the stories in the collection. The characters in the photos are loosely representative of several of the characters in the book.

What approaches have you taken to marketing your book?

The book has been sent out to numerous reviewers and publications, in the hopes of garnering print reviews, and will be presented to bookstores, with stores having the option to carry the book or not. The book also has a website, through which people can purchase the collection, and a face book page. I’ve provided free advance copies to certain friends and colleagues, as well, in the hopes that – if they enjoy the stories – they will post reviews on their face book pages.

What book on the market does yours compare to? How is your book different?

I don’t really think that I can make comparisons – each book, each author, are entirely unique.

What would you say is your most interesting writing quirk?

I tend to write in a “spare” style, and make a deliberate, conscious effort to avoid sentimentality or over-statement of any kind. That’s just me. I don’t know that I succeed, but I try to convey the characters’ circumstances and states of mind without excess or manipulation of the reader. I also deliberately write without any “message” or agenda in mind. None of these stories, even those that are set against the backdrop of war, are intended to convey any kind of political message, and none of them were written with any kind of agenda or judgment. I wouldn’t even begin to know how to write a story with an agenda or message in mind. In general, I write short stories as a series of vignettes – as moments in time, things that happened - from which the reader can draw his or her own conclusions, messages, etc. I prefer to leave the interpretation of the “meaning” of my stories in the hands of the reader.

Open your book to a random page and tell us what’s happening.

I did as you asked and opened the book to a random page. It happens to be the first page of the story “The Deepest, Darkest Part of the Woods,” on page 53. This happens to be one of my favorite stories, and one of the last in the collection that I completed. It’s one of the stories in the collection that takes the most risks, I think, and revolves around a young veteran who returns to his suburban neighborhood and struggles to re-integrate. This first page is also one of my favorites in the book, as it describes the return of this young man – and others like him – into a familiar setting that is now entirely unfamiliar to him.

Do you plan any subsequent books?

I hope so. I’ve begun a growing list of new short story ideas, and I hope to begin working on them in the very near future. I’m looking forward to that. I also hope to segue back into filmmaking at some point, to work on one or more of the documentary projects that I’d like to explore.

Tell us what you’re reading at the moment and what you think of it.

I’m a bit of a history buff, and (in particular) have a longstanding interest in the Civil War and the civil rights movement. I’m currently (slowly) reading through the Taylor Branch trilogy about the civil rights movement – I’m working on Part 1 of the series, which is called Parting the Waters.  I’m so deeply moved by the courage of those individuals – known and unknown – who put their lives and safety on the line for the higher purpose of justice and freedom. I can only hope to develop some small fragment of that kind of courage. I also just purchased several new books – The Fiery Trial – Abraham Lincoln and American Slavery by Eric Foner, and a history of the civil war by Shelby Foote. I think the Civil War and the civil rights movement are pinnacles in the evolution of our nation, and moments in which we can observe what is highest, best, and most divine in humanity.

    

Paperback
Price: $14.95
Publisher: Two Harbors Press
ISBN: 9781937928407
Pages: 119
Release: August 7, 2012

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Guest Blogger: Dr. Gerry Steiner, Author of Gotta Call BS on That One (Giveaway)

Was missile defense started to save the free world or start a new empire? Do religions help us understand God or help keep God a mystery? Do schools prepare us for life or delay our lives? Does Congress help protect us or help exploit us? Has there ever been any BS involved in any of the above? Have we embraced or challenged the BS.? Could we make a difference? Would we want to make a difference?

Whether reading a newspaper, watching TV, or listening to a song, we are probably observing and absorbing a certain amount of BS. Do we recognize it, realize it, reject it or absorb it. This book provides a beginning to considering these questions. It can provide a basis for understanding, a basis for action, a cause of laughter, a foundation for tears, or some combination. This book often states the obvious, but it’s the obvious that often we collectively don’t seem to own up to. Much of the strife of life, the inequities of the world, even the causes of wars and disasters of the economy might be rooted in our collective self-deception.

The adventure starts with a reflection on a fairy tale from our childhood and one from Washington. It then joins a pair – a professor and his young assistant on an American adventure. They look at such topics as social interaction, sports professional and local, and our individual fitness. Business and education provide many examples and insights. Next, religion and science provide contrasts and similarities.

Government, politics, the legal system, and military service complete this brief trip. In each area, the presence and effects of BS are noted. The final section is devoted to the three greatest downfalls of society in the last century. They are identified and their drastic effects on our society are briefly examined.

Don't Get Mad by Dr. Gerry Steiner

Have you ever wanted to stand up during a speech, lecture, sermon, advertisement and just yell. You weren’t being directly harmed or attacked. Nothing was physically being stolen from you. No one was demanding your mind or your money. Just the same, you felt violated in a very real sense. BS steals from us all. Pretending to accept the false makes it harder to trust the authentic.

It seems very important that we know what is real and what is BS. It is also important that those that generate BS, (we all do some) realize that they’re not fooling anyone. It would really mess things up if all BS were challenged and rejected, but it might be useful if it were identified and acknowledged. As I started to collect my thoughts, I was almost overwhelmed by the examples and challenges that life presents us. Almost every area of our experience is affected. In the book I have not put much emphasis on politics. As we proceed in this election year I am sure that we will have ample opportunity to find “sterling” examples. (Sterling BS is sort of an oxymoron!)

As we proceed we’ll need active participation to make this the best experience. Maybe we can have some awards on the blog for different classes of BS. Your suggestions are encouraged. As with any blog, it is your participation and our interaction that will provide the richness.

I have spent much of my life being frustrated by the BS and by the frequent pretense that the BS is reality. Through the book and this blog I want to challenge this. I believe most of us recognize BS when we stop and think about it. I’ve often felt that putting up with BS is societies definition of maturity and wisdom. I don’t think most of us really feel that way. This is an effort to observe, laugh and possibly change.

Throughout the book you will see a wagging finger beside the text. There was a small group of us at work that would silently use this finger wagging as means to silently, but visibly, point out BS when we see or hear it. It would be great to establish this as a nationally recognized and accepted symbology, It might even become an effective way of communicating our knowledge and feelings to those that provide the BS.
Maybe we can also create a list of BS. Postulates. The first might be: “If you wonder if it’s BS, it almost certainly is!”

Please enjoy. Laugh at the BS, act but don’t get mad!

Excerpts Link:
http://gottacallbsonthatone.blogspot.com/2012/07/excerpts.html

Price: $13.99 paperback, $6.99 ebook
Publisher: Two Harbors Press
ISBN: 9781937928919
Pages: 178
Release: August 5, 2012

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Gerry Steiner has enjoyed a life that is varied in location, vocation, and activities. He started in the land of tradition and history, Hampton, Va., the oldest continuous English speaking settlement in the United States. After high school and eighteen years surrounded by history. Gerry was ready to venture away from Virginia. After considering Cornell, he caught a train to California and went to Caltech. He left Caltech after a couple years to work in seismic oil exploration. His Uncle invited Mr. Steiner to visit Asia. Gerry picked the Navy as the best way to get there. This kept him busy for ten years. A year of Navy school as an electronics technician started the process. Fortunate circumstances led him to his wife and “stability?” for the next 40 years. Gerry then finished his BS and an MS in oceanography before sailing for Vietnam, There gunfire support and chasing aircraft carriers kept him in touch with the real world. Receiving fuel and supplies at sea gave him an appreciation for close quarters’ steerage. A pleasant break provided a week in Olongapo followed by a week in Hong Kong. His wife, Marilyn joined him.

After the Navy and back in Seattle he continued his work in sonar research at the UW Applied Physics Laboratory. He started work on a PhD in electrical engineering. He made sonar measurements from an ice floe in the Arctic Ocean north of Barrow, Alaska. Two visits by polar bears approaching to 20 ft. added to the excitement Dr. Steiner moved to Ridgecrest, CA where he held a position at China Lake Naval Weapons Center. Several years in automatic target recognition included radar field measurements from Pt. Loma, San Diego. Next he started the Airborne RF Targeting Branch. Gerry also completed his doctorate in electrical engineering.

From China Lake Dr. Steiner ventured off to Denver, Colorado to join Martin Marietta. The initial year in Denver was focused on space based radar plans. A movie and a president changed his focus. The movie was Star Wars, the president was Reagan, the focus became the Strategic Defense Initiative. He spent the next decade on issues related to SDI. After the space based interceptor there was a space based laser concept. His efforts contained analysis, management, design, and testing. A couple years were spent developing a new rocket to provide a re-useable single stage to orbit vehicle. Only physics stood in the way.

Gerry’s wife was diagnosed with stage IV pancreatic cancer and given six months to live. They had great times that were ended. Dr. Steiner moved to Maui five years ago. He has written this book to share his observations on how the world works and how it could work better.

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Interview with Larry Buchanan and Karen Gans, Authors of The Gift of El Tio

Larry Buchanan earned his PhD in Economic Geology in 1979 and taught university-level geology for several years, but his love of the field led him to gold and silver prospecting in Asia, Africa, and the Americas. In 2006, he won the coveted Thayer Lindsley Award for the San Cristobal silver discovery. Dr. Buchanan has published a dozen scientific works and is a sought-after speaker at international conferences and college campuses.

Karen Gans earned her Master’s degree in Early Childhood Development and has thirty-five years experience as an educator, counselor, and mental health consultant. She taught English in the Quechua village while the couple lived in Bolivia. Ms. Gans and her husband have four children and two grandchildren.

To find out more visit http://thegiftofeltio.com.


Where did you grow up?

Larry – I was born and raised in the Pennsylvania coal fields, but at 11 moved to the Mojave Desert of California where I fell in love with the wide open spaces. Each weekend I hiked up and down the canyons and ridges, crawled through abandoned mines, and searched for veins of silver and gold. I read geology books before I was in high school, so you might say I was a prospector since my pre-adolescence.

Karen – I grew up in Connecticut, surrounded by trees and no desert in sight. That made living in the high desert of Bolivia a challenge!


When did you begin writing?

Larry – I began writing in 1964, my sophomore year of college. My professors said my imagery was like that of Saroyan, whom I had never even heard of but I assumed it was a compliment. Then for about 30 years I was too busy making a living to give creative writing much thought.

Karen – I wrote professional reports from the time I was in my twenties. The Gift of El Tio is my first creative non-fiction endeavor. Larry and I began to document events in 1998 and it took twelve years to write our book.

Do you write during the day, at night or whenever you can sneak a few moments?

Larry – I write best from 5 AM to 11 AM, then the day's crises take over.

Karen – I like to write in the mornings, read what I’ve written later in the day, and revise the next morning.

What is this book about?

Larry – Initially, we planned to merely document the changes in the people as my company destroyed their village. At the time, I felt that everything could be reduced to a mathematical common denominator, that cold, hard facts trumped culture, feelings, history and religion every time; and that the impoverished 17th Century village had nothing worth preserving. The silver discovery was mine, by God, they were going to move, and nothing more needed be said. Imagine my surprise when not only did I become intrigued with the color and value of Quechua culture and cosmology, but I also learned that the silver discovery wasn’t mine at all: The people knew the silver was there all along, they were just waiting for the fulfillment of a 400-year old prophesy from their god, El Tio, who promised them a gift that would change their lives forever, a gift to be revealed in the year 2000. It seems I was just a convenient messenger for this god to help fulfill his promise. Indeed, El Tio’s silver gift did change their lives forever, but he never said the changes would be for the better, and like most gifts, this one had many strings attached.

Karen- Although we set out to document the changes in the village, the book also became the story of the changes in each of us. As I describe in your next question below, Larry and I came from polarized viewpoints regarding development in third-world countries. We wrote The Gift of El Tio in alternating chapters, first my voice, then Larry’s. People tell us it reads like a suspenseful novel.

What inspired you to write it?

Karen – I was appalled when Larry told me his company would have to move an indigenous village in order to build a mine. I am quite liberal; Larry, conservative. I argued that it was immoral to destroy a culture; he, that the mine would bring jobs and eradicate poverty and that culture did not feed hungry people. I felt so strongly that I demanded we live in the village and document the changes.

Larry - Karen made me do it. Women have a way of controlling men.

Who is your favorite character from the book?

Larry – Without a doubt it is that old sprite, Juan de la Cruz Copa Quispe, the chief of the village whose perpetual smile was only broken by a grin. Don Juan was the keeper of the customs and he was eager to teach us the myths, prophesies and rituals of his people.

Karen – My favorite character is based on the adolescent, Soledad, who befriended me early on. She could understand my faltering Spanish and would interpret what was going on around me. This young lady was so resourceful – she maneuvered the rocky terrain like a goat, could hunt and catch the desert critters, and she dreamed of becoming a mechanic/chauffeur.

Was the road to publication smooth sailing or a bumpy ride?

Karen- After numerous “almosts” followed by rejections from agents, we were fortunate that our writing instructor, Molly Tinsley, and her colleague, Karetta Hubbard, created FUZE publishers and wanted our book. Molly not only helped us get published, but she also did an excellent job of editing our manuscript.

If you knew then, what you know now, is there anything you would have done differently?

Larry – Yes, I would have made the book twice as thick. We have so many fascinating stories we didn't put in. Of course, the conventional wisdom is that thick books don't sell.

Karen – I can’t think of anything. Larry and I had great fun – for the most part – writing together. I do feel sad that we had to omit some of the chapters.

Where can readers purchase a copy of your book?

From: Fuzepublishing.com
Amazon.com,
Kindle and Nook

Do you have a video trailer to promote your book? If yes, where can readers find it?

Yes, the trailer can be found on our website: thegiftofeltio.com (media and press –radio,television,video), Fuzepublishing.com or Youtube


What is the best investment you have made in promoting your book?

Larry - Getting to know our editor Molly Best Tinsley and our publisher Karetta Hubbard. Fuze Publishing also puts out an excellent newsletter thanks to Meg Tinsley.

Karen – Larry contacted 3,000 geologists, letting them know this book is available. I thought Larry might lose his professional credibility. (You’ll see why when you read the book). However, the book is being used to sensitize geologists to how they impact cultures. It does help that Larry is a world-renowned geologist. Also, selling electronic books is profitable.

What is one piece of advice you would like to share with aspiring authors everywhere?

Larry – Live first, then write.

Karen – keep writing

What is up next for you?

Larry – An autobiography in which I not only tell you how to discover huge silver deposits, but also give you clues that tell you exactly where one is waiting to be discovered.

Karen – I’ve witnessed the struggles of an illegal immigrant family and I’m hoping to tell their story.

Is there anything you would like to add?

Larry - There is nothing like huddling around a fire in the cold nights while the wind whistles through the grasses and sage, listening to the stories told by the shaman and chief of the village, watching their faces as the wind screams…is that a man?…a spirit? …maybe El Tio is hungry tonight? Wrap the llama fur about you and stay close to the fire.

Price: $19.95 paperback, $5.99 ebook
Pages: 254
ISBN: 9781450739146
Publisher: Fuze Publishing
Release: December 2010

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Interview with Kathy Leonard Czepiel, Author of A Violet Season

Kathy Leonard Czepiel is the author of A Violet Season, a historical novel set on a Hudson Valley violet farm on the eve of the twentieth century. She is the recipient of a 2012 creative writing fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts, and her short fiction has appeared in numerous literary journals including Cimarron Review, Indiana Review, CALYX, Confrontation, and The Pinch. Czepiel teaches in the First-Year Writing Program at Quinnipiac University in Connecticut, where she lives with her husband and their two daughters. Learn more about her at www.kathyleonardczepiel.com, like her on Facebook, or follow her on Twitter at @KLCzepiel.

When did you begin writing?

I’ve been writing since before I could write. When I was a little girl, my mother would make stapled booklets and I would dictate stories to her, then draw pictures to go with them. Later I graduated to clacking away on an old manual typewriter after school, a very dorky childhood pursuit, but one that has paid off!

Do you write during the day, at night or whenever you can sneak a few moments?

My writing schedule is somewhat unique. I wrote A Violet Season mostly over the course of four summers. I teach during the school year, and I have two kids at home, so it’s hard to squeeze in time to write. I reject that old piece of advice that you have to write every day. Write whenever it works for you, but try to be disciplined about it. That said, in a sense I do write every day. I’m always writing in my head and grabbing a moment to jot down ideas for later.


What is this book about?


A Violet Season takes place on a violet farm in New York’s Hudson Valley at the turn of the twentieth century. It tells the story of a mother, Ida, and a daughter, Alice, who are struggling to help their family keep its share of the farm. Both of them are pushed to make increasingly great sacrifices which eventually set them against one another in a lifelong struggle for honesty and forgiveness. It’s about life in that time period not just for these two particular women, but also for women in general, who had shared struggles to overcome.

What inspired you to write it?

I grew up in the Hudson Valley, but it wasn’t until I returned to my hometown as an adult that I learned the area had once been known as the Violet Capital of the World. I was intrigued by the fact that such a booming industry could have existed and then so utterly disappeared. Learning more about the violets was the original seed of the novel, and the mother-daughter story quickly followed. I am, of course, a daughter, but I am also the mother of daughters. While Ida and Alice’s story is fiction, I think it contains some emotional truths about mothers and daughters and the ways in which they can fail one another without ever meaning to.

Who is your favorite character from the book?

I’m partial to Ida, of course; you have to like your protagonist because you’re going to spend a lot of time getting to know her and working with her. Despite her flaws, I admire Ida’s resilience and her strength. Of the minor characters, I’m especially fond of Mrs. Schreiber. She’s the kind of woman you want to have in your life, someone who isn’t afraid to be different and who knows the right thing to say and do, even in difficult situations. I want to be like her when I grow up. I like Claudie, too. She’s a little bit sassy. I enjoyed putting her in dialogue with the more reserved Alice.


If you knew then, what you know now, is there anything you would have done differently?

The main thing I’m doing differently in the process of writing my second novel is outlining more. I spent a long time thinking about the story and tinkering with it in outline form before I began drafting. Like many writers, I thought this might stifle my creativity and the element of discovery, but what I’m finding is that the first draft is coming much more easily because I’ve put in more forethought, while at the same time those little discoveries and surprises are still happening. They’re just not happening in such a big way that they change the entire trajectory of the novel. At least not yet! All that said, I don’t think I could have done it this way the first time out. The first book is inevitably going to take longer and require more fits and starts before you get it right.

Where can readers purchase a copy of your book?


Always think first of your local bookstore, if you still have one! Be sure to support them if you value having them in your community. A Violet Season is also available from several booksellers online. You can visit my website at www.kathyleonardczepiel.com and choose any of the links on the home page to purchase it. A video trailer for the book is also there. Thanks for asking!

What is up next for you?

As I mentioned, I’m working on my second novel, which is set in 1929 and post-World War Two. This time, the inspiration comes from the story of the building of my grandparents’ house, which I loved visiting as a child. I hesitate to say much more, since it’s only in its first draft, and anything could happen!

Kathy Leonard Czepiel's web site:
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Price: $15.00 paperback, $9.99 ebook
Pages: 272
ISBN: 9781451655063
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Release: July 10, 2012

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Guest Blogger: Molly Best Tinsley, Author of Entering the Blue Stone

What happens when one's larger-than-life military parents--disciplined, distinguished, exacting--begin sliding out of control? The General struggles to maintain his invulnerable façade against Parkinson's disease; his lovely wife manifests a bizarre dementia. Their three grown children, desperate to save the situation, convince themselves of the perfect solution: an upscale retirement community. But as soon as their parents have been resettled within its walls, the many imperfections of its system of care begin to appear.

Charting the line between comedy and pathos, Molly Best Tinsley’s memoir, Entering the Blue Stone dissects the chaos at the end of life and discovers what shines beneath: family bonds, the dignity of even an unsound mind, and the endurance of the heart.

Between Insanity and Poetry

by Molly Best Tinsley

Growing up as a military brat, I never stayed long in one place.  I made friends and learned the ropes at one school only to leave everything behind when my dad got transferred somewhere else.  I think that’s why I have a tenacious memory—to take the edge off the continual loss, I hung onto the people and places in my mind.  The same motivation started me writing—it felt like a way to rescue all that stuff, keep it from falling off the edge of my world.  I wrote my first fairly long story in fourth grade, a plot-based narrative involving a girl and a dragon.  By high school, I’d started to be conscious of style—the idea that there were always a number of ways to give voice and shape to an amorphous impression.  Playing with style, coming up with le mot juste, remains my favorite part of writing.

Entering the Blue Stone recounts what happened after the bottom dropped out of our parents’ world, and my sister, brother, and I had to build them a new one.  My father, a retired General, always had everything under control, but he was growing more and more debilitated with Parkinson’s disease when my mother began manifesting Alzheimer’s.  Just as they had uprooted us a dozen times in our childhoods, now we had to tear them away from their last home in the Midwest and move them east where we could monitor their care.  Hah!  Call it dark comedy of the absurd, or disaster epic, or heart-breaking romance, or a lesson in surrender—their final five years shuttled between insanity and poetry, despair and epiphany.  And of course it was all about loss.  I was compelled to write about the experience, save something from the oblivion that was swallowing our parents up.

Entering the Blue Stone is a classic memoir, in that it portrays a limited slice of life, based on a particular time and specific issue.  One thing I was asked to do by several publishers was focus on the how-to of dealing with diminished parents, in other words, offer general advice.  I refused.  The whole point of the story for me had to do with bumping up against something for which there is no how-to, no instruction manual; nothing to do but open the heart and laugh and cry and get mad and keep on trucking.

Entering the Blue Stone is available in hardcopy from the Fuze website, www.fuzepublishing.com, Amazon, and select independent bookstores.  It’s available for download from Amazon, Barnes and Noble, mobi.

Thirteen years ago in an episode of sanity, Molly Best Tinsley resigned her position on the English faculty of the U.S. Naval Academy and moved to the west coast to write full-time.  Her memoir, Entering the Blue Stone (Fuze Publishing), was preceded by My Life with Darwin (novel, Houghton Mifflin), Throwing Knives: Stories (Ohio State University Press), The Creative Process (non-fiction, St. Martin’s), and Satan’s Chamber (spy thriller, Fuze Publishing).  Learn more about her at www.fuzepublishing.com and www.satanschamber.com.

Price: $14.95 paperback, $9.99 ebook
ISBN: 9780984990818
Pages: 195
Release: May 2012

Amazon paperback buy link:
http://www.amazon.com/Entering-Blue-Stone-Molly-Tinsley/dp/098499081X?tag=tributebooks-20

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Interview with Kathleen Toomey Jabs, Author of Black Wings

Kathleen Toomey Jabs is a 1988 graduate of the United States Naval Academy. She served on active duty for six years and is currently a Captain in the Navy Reserve.  She holds an MA from the University of New Hampshire and an MFA in Creative Writing from George Mason University. Her stories have been published in a number of literary journals and received several prizes, including selection in the National Public Radio Selected Shorts program.  She lives with her husband and two children in Virginia.

http://www.facebook.com/#!/KathleenToomeyJabs
 

Where did you grow up? 

I grew up in Milton, Massachusetts, just outside of Boston. 

When did you begin writing? 

I can’t remember a time when I didn’t write. I kept a diary starting in grade school, wrote bad poetry as a teenager and continued with a journal through high school, college and even now. Writing helps me think through issues, remember good times and capture special moments. 

What is this book about? 

Black Wings is a mystery centered on Navy Lieutenant Bridget Donovan and her quest to discover what really happened when her former Naval Academy roommate, Audrey Richards, dies in a botched take-off from an aircraft carrier. The setting shuttles between the Pentagon and the United States Naval Academy as Bridget confronts secret societies, gender politics, and the possibility of murder. Bridget’s unofficial investigation into what really happened, both during their past Academy days and in Audrey’s final hours, forces her to examine the concepts of honor, justice and the role of loyalty in the pursuit of those ideals.    

What inspired you to write it?

I had a vision of a female Navy pilot crashing into the sea. I hate flying but I’ve always been fascinated by aviators. I wanted to understand what happened to Audrey and why she crashed and it kept going back to her time at the Naval Academy. The only person who would be able to put the pieces together was her roommate, Bridget.  I worked on this novel for almost ten years, with some breaks, and during that time, I interwove Audrey’s past with some of the events in her current position as one of the first female aviators. I also developed Bridget as the protagonist.  

Who is your favorite character from the book?

I’m torn between Bridget and Audrey, the two Academy roommates. They’re so different. Audrey is strong, fierce, resolute and insanely confident. I admire her a lot even as she makes mistakes. Bridget is smart and mouthy, more introspective, but just as dogged in her own way. Especially once she suspects that Audrey’s death wasn’t an accident. I’m probably closer to Bridget, but I love both of them.

Was the road to publication smooth sailing or a bumpy ride? 

Bumpy! The entire process of writing, rewriting, sending out, revising, and finally, publication took 10 years.  After too many rounds of interest then rejection as well as outright silence from agents, the novel (literally) sat in a drawer for 2 years. I felt like Edgar Allen Poe’s character in “The Telltale Heart” – instead of a beating heart, I had a failed dream, knocking at my conscience. When I connected with Fuze Publishing, the process was a lot smoother but it still took time. I was working full-time so I had to do most of my editing and revising on weekends. The Fuze team was incredibly helpful so I enjoyed that long but smooth ride. 

Where can readers purchase a copy of your book? 

My book is available at www.fuzepublishing.com and also at Amazon in trade paperback and e-book formats.

Do you have a video trailer to promote your book?  If yes, where can readers find it? 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8xTkpVxj2Yg 

What is one piece of advice you would like to share with aspiring authors everywhere? 

Keep moving forward! If you really want to write, keep writing. The publication of Black Wings is a testimony to perseverance. If anyone had told me the whole odyssey would take 10 years, I wouldn’t have believed them. I’m so happy to have this novel out in the world. 

What is up next for you? 

I’m working to promote the book and taking notes for a follow-on novel involving Bridget Donovan. 

Is there anything you would like to add? 

I really appreciate the opportunity to blog with readers! Thank you to the hosts of this site and also to the followers. It’s wonderful to be part of a community dedicated to reading and writing.

Price: $19.95 paperback, $9.99 ebook
ISBN: 9780984141272
Pages: 314
Release: December 2011

Amazon paperback buy link:
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Guest Blogger: Pavarti K. Tyler, Author of Shadow on the Wall (Giveaway)

Recai Osman: Muslim, philosopher, billionaire and Superhero?

Controversial and daring, Shadow on the Wall details the transformation of Recai Osman from complicated man to Superhero. Forced to witness the cruelty of the Morality Police in his home city of Elih, Turkey, Recai is called upon by the power of the desert to be the vehicle of change. Does he have the strength to answer Allah's call or will his dark past and self doubt stand in his way?

Pulling on his faith in Allah, the friendship of a Jewish father-figure and a deeply held belief that his people deserve better, Recai Osman must become The SandStorm.

In the tradition of books by Margaret Atwood and Salman Rushdie, Shadow on the Wall tackles issues of religion, gender, corruption and the basic human condition. Beautiful and challenging, this is not a book to miss.

"How a Unitarian from Jersey writers about a Muslim Superhero"

Have you ever gotten that feeling in the back of your head that there's something not quite right about the way you think?  I've always daydreamed about things others have considered impossible or ridiculous.  I'm the loon who decided statistically charting various vampires' awesomeness was a good idea.

So when the suggestion was made that someone needed to write about a Middle Eastern superhero my imagination went into overdrive.  Of course we need a Middle Eastern superhero!  Others have tackled this topic to great success, like Dr. Naif of the99.org. What’s different here is that I am not from the Middle East.

I sat down and started writing and a character named Recai Osman appeared on the pages before me.  With green eyes and red beard, Recai stood in the middle of a windblown desert, daring me to take the challenge.

And cue the theme to Beyond Thunderdome.

A problem soon presented itself.  It's impossible to discuss the Middle East in any meaningful way without bringing religion into the conversation, and while I've studied Islam, I am not a Muslim.  I'm not Jewish either.  In fact, I'm about as far from the religious spectrum of the Middle East as you could get.  I'm a Unitarian Universalist.

UUism is based on the idea that we all have the right to our own path to Truth.  For some that Truth is God, for some it's not.  What connects us within the UU church is the belief that the search is valuable and that there is benefit to having a supportive and respectful community with whom to share that search. (You can read more about our principles here: Our Unitarian Universalist Principles)

For me, the importance of an individual’s expression of faith within a community is huge.  I believe in God.  Because of this, I often find myself listening to the fundamentalist rhetoric of all religions with a frustrated sigh.  Why does someone have to be wrong in order for another to be right?

It was with this in mind that I thought about Recai.  What makes a good man?  What makes a good Muslim?  And in a society in which religion is such a prominent part of day-to-day life, what would be the shape of evil?

Recai is a faithful man; he's erred and he's sinned, but his belief in Allah and in humanity is solid.  Underneath his layers of confusion and self-doubt is a good man.  His day-to-day life has been isolated from the city he lives in: Elih, Turkey (Google it for a good giggle). What would happen if a flawed man was forced to confront real evil, real sin?  Could he rise to the occasion?

Islam and Judaism run throughout Shadow on the Wall. Some of the phrases and cultural idioms may be unfamiliar to Western readers, but I hope that you will see a little of yourself in the characters. The issues they face are written at high stakes, but the questions posed are ones we must all answer.  Who am I?  What do I stand for?  Although Shadow on the Wall has supernatural elements, I like to think heroes exist in life, and I like to think that religion can fuel the good in people.  Perhaps we're all capable of great things.

Pavarti K Tyler is an artist, wife, mother and number cruncher. She graduated Smith College in 1999 with a degree in Theatre. After graduation, she moved to New York, where she worked as a Dramaturge, Assistant Director and Production Manager on productions both on and off Broadway.

Later, Pavarti went to work in the finance industry as a freelance accountant for several international law firms. She now operates her own accounting firm in the Washington DC area, where she lives with her husband, two daughters and two terrible dogs. When not preparing taxes, she is busy penning her next novel.

Throughout history, literature and the art of story-telling have influenced politics, religion and culture. The power of the epic tale is universal. Why is it that those who never read The Iliad know Helen of Troy? Her story, Homer’s story, transcends the written word and has become a part of our human lexicon. The power of the written word is undeniable and Pavarti is honored to be part of the next wave of literary revolution.

Pavarti K. Tyler's Web Site:
http://www.fightingmonkeypress.com/

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Shadow on the Wall Goodreads:
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Shadow on the Wall blog tour site:
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Paperback
Price: $11.95
Pages: 248
ISBN: 9780983876908
Publisher: Fighting Monkey Press
Release: May 1, 2012

Amazon buy link
http://www.amazon.com/dp/0983876908?tag=tributebooks-20

Pavarti is running a giveaway during her Shadow on the Wall tour. One lucky Book Connection follower will win an ebook of Pavarti's fantasy romance novels, Two Moons of Sera: Volumes 1 & 2.

Please use the Rafflecopter form below to enter. The form is taking a few seconds to load, but it is there.

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