Interview with Donna Galanti, Author of A Hidden Element

Donna Galanti writes murder and mystery with a dash of steam as well as middle grade adventure fiction. She is the author of books 1 and 2 in the paranormal suspense Element Trilogy, A Human Element and A Hidden Element, the short story collection The Dark Inside, and Joshua and The Lightning Road (Books 1 and 2, 2015). She’s lived from England as a child, to Hawaii as a U.S. Navy photographer. She now lives in Pennsylvania with her family in an old farmhouse. It has lots of writing nooks, fireplaces, and stink bugs, but she’s still wishing for a castle again—preferably with ghosts. 

Connect with Donna:
Site: http://www.elementtrilogy.com
Blog: http://www.elementtrilogy.com/blog/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DonnaGalantiAuthor

Twitter: https://twitter.com/DonnaGalanti

Where did you grow up?

All over. I was adopted as a toddler in Ohio and remained the only child of my parents. It was lonely at times for me growing up, just the three of us. My parents were travelers and we moved every few years. We lived in England for a while and I retain my first memories there of writing and knowing that was all I wanted to do. By the time I was seven I had devoured most of the library in the stately old stone private school I attended. I recall the Narnia Chronicles as my first series read curled in a nook there in my gray and pink woolen uniform. During our time in England we traveled all over Europe. I always was drawing and writing stories in the back seat of the car as we traversed through the Pyrenees or dashed through Paris. We then moved to a campground in rural N.H. to fulfill my father’s dream of running a vacation spot. I had kids to play with all the time and we had barns and horses and hogs. I loved gathering the rotten apples from the orchards to feed the hogs each day. Eventually, my parents settled down to country living in the hills above Albany, New York known as the Helderberg Mountains. We lived in a 200-year old farmhouse on acres of apple trees and falling-down barns. It was a child’s world to explore. I would roam the woods around our home with notebook and pen writing in fields and beside hidden ponds, and always with my two, frumpy dogs.

When did you begin writing?

The day I became a writer I was seven years old and wrote a murder mystery screen play that I had the neighbor kids act out. Short stories followed and poems. I wanted to become a reporter but found out you can’t survive on a reporter’s salary and so dived into a writing career in writing for marketing and communications. I later launched my own resume writing service, but it wasn’t until my mother died five years ago that I began writing novels out of my grief. Eventually that grief turned to peace and then at discovering what I love to do, be a true storyteller.

What is this book about?

A Hidden Element has several themes in it. Some are…Seeking power through good leads to salvation OR Seeking power through doing evil leads to self-destruction. Relinquishing the struggle to belong can lead to self-acceptance.  Choosing love over hate leads to peace.

In A Hidden Element evil lurks within…

When Caleb Madroc is used against his will as part of his father’s plan to breed a secret community and infiltrate society with their unique powers, he vows to save his oppressed people and the two children kept from him. Seven years later, Laura and Ben Fieldstone’s son is abducted, and they are forced to trust a madman’s son who puts his life on the line to save them all. The enemy’s desire to own them—or destroy them—leads to a survival showdown. Laura and Ben must risk everything to defeat a new nemesis that wants to rule the world with their son, and Caleb may be their only hope—if he survives. But must he sacrifice what he most desires to do so?

What inspired you to write it?

A Hidden Element is book two in the Element Trilogy. A few readers of book one, A Human Element, asked for a sequel. I always thought it was a standalone until I woke up one morning with a vision from a dream and dropped the book I was writing to start it.

I write from the dark side with a glimpse of hope and am drawn to writing the tormented hero’s journey–and tormented villain’s. I enjoy creating empathy for both by blurring the lines between good and evil. And I especially enjoy using the paranormal elements of mind control to shake the foundation of my character’s world. This is where the inspiration came from for A Hidden Element. I’ve also been fascinated with cult communities since I was a child and did a school paper on Jim Jones. I still have all the newspaper clippings from this tragic event. My fascination with this fed into the cult community within my novel.

Who is your favorite character from the book?

Definitely Caleb! I fell in love with him while writing him. He is my favorite kind of character, the tormented hero. I loved taking him to the darkest depths and even while there, he still sacrifices his own desires to help others. He has a full heart brimming with love just waiting to be given away, yet has no one to give it to.

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

I wish I had joined writer communities and organizations sooner. I wrote my book and then “came out” of my writing cave. I didn’t feel like I belonged or was part of the club. I now know that anyone who wants to write and improve their writing is part of the club. Also, I wish I’d learned about how to write a book before writing my first book. I took writing workshops after I finished my first book. This required going back and fixing a ton of things! I don’t regret the learning that took place afterwards as I can now write a better book from the beginning.

Where can readers purchase a copy of your book?

Purchase Book 2 in the Element Trilogy, A Hidden Element: http://amzn.to/1p1YD1o

Purchase Book 1 in the Element Trilogy, A Human Element: http://amzn.to/1mNcyCO
ON SALE NOW FOR JUST $.99cents!

What is up next for you?

I am now plotting the third and final book in the Element Trilogy, A Healing Element, and also a young adult medieval fantasy series. I also write children’s books and in 2015 have the first two books coming out in my middle grade adventure fantasy series, Joshua and the Lightning Road. In book 1, Joshua Cooper learns the hard way that lightning never strikes by chance, when a bolt strikes his house and whisks him on an adventure to a world where stolen kids are work slaves for the frustrated heirs of the Greek Olympians. You can learn more about it here: www.donnagalanti.com

Cover Reveal: Romancing the Million $$$ Ghost by Heide AW Kaminski, Pam Ryan, and Dorothy Thompson

Eccentric tobacco tycoon Rodger Hawthorne III can have anything his heart desires except his dead wife, Sarah. Feeling responsible for the car crash that killed her twenty years earlier, he offers one million dollars to anyone who can find her spirit and bring it to him within one week or the money is forfeited. Six spiritually-challenged—but highly intuitive—women find his ad over the Internet and accept his challenge only to embark on a journey they didn’t quite expect that covers astral traveling, past life regressions and spiritual encounters of the unworldly kind. While this book is lightly based on a true story of a real man who is offering one million dollars to anyone who can prove that spirits exist, this story is purely fictional. Or is it?

Coming October 2013!

ABOUT HEIDE AW KAMINSKI

HEIDE AW KAMINSKI is the mom of three very successful children and lives in southeast Michigan with her partner, her son and stepson. She teaches English in a high school for juvenile delinquent boys, as well as co-directs the Sunday school program for an Interfaith Center. She is also the editor-in-chief for the Interfaith Center’s monthly 16-page newsletter. She is currently the author of five books, ADHD and ME , Get Smart Through Art, The Ability Gang (a novel for upper elementary readers), Von Riesiggross bis Klitzeklein (a German children's book), and South of Eden (a not so serious novel about life in Heaven). She has also published stories in 15 anthologies, including Chicken Soup for the Divorced Soul.

Kaminski was born and raised in Germany, and after spending a year as an exchange student in the USA, she ended up marrying an American and has been a permanent resident in the U.S. since 1984, as well as a citizen of the U.S. since 2007. After dedicating many years to being there for her children first, she obtained her bachelor’s degree in English communications at the ripe age of 50 and her English teaching certificate two years later.

ABOUT PAM RYAN

Pam Ryan is a writer and professional psychic from Northwestern Ohio. She is the mother of two and has been a widow for the last five years. Her writing career began back in high school where she wrote a column for the Sylvania Sentinel Newspaper in Sylvania, Ohio. Pam was also the first page editor of the high school newspaper as well as doing the public relations for the high school musicals. At the University of Toledo she helped to create the Public Relations Department for the Department of Theatre and Speech, worked as a reporter for the college paper, The Collegian, and was assistant to the Public Relation Director of a local Toledo, Ohio, theatre group, Lynro Productions. After college Pam went to work for the United States Government and part of her duties were to write and publish a newspaper for the Migrant Opportunity Program in Phoenix, Arizona. Back in Ohio she lent her talents to the local Muscular Dystrophy Association, Make A Wish of Northwestern Ohio, worked on newsletters for Grace Lutheran Church and Christ the King Church, both in Toledo, and did public relations for the Parent Organization of Lake Elementary School. Pamela Ryan, as she is known professionally, began her professional psychic career in 1990. She presently does private readings and parties, and is also available at Lite the Way, Lambertville, Michigan, and The Healing Oasis in Clay Center, Ohio. Pam has recently completed classes and become a Certified Hypnotherapist and has completed the Master’s level for hypnotherapists. Publication is tentatively set for 2013, for her book, “My Dearest Children,” channeled by Mary Magdalene, and is presently working on a biography of world renowned journalist, Ruth Montgomery and a series of books about a fictional psychic medium. The first one is called, "The Macrame Cross."

ABOUT DOROTHY THOMPSON

Dorothy Thompson is the owner/founder of Pump Up Your Book, an innovative public relations firm specializing in online book promotion and social media marketing for authors. Pump Up Your Book was voted #1 in the Preditor's and Editor's Readers Poll in 2012. She is also the co-author/compiler of Romancing the Soul, an anthology which proves soul mates exist and has appeared in USA Today, Chicago Times and other publications. Dorothy loves the paranormal and is spatial clairsentient. She lives on the beautiful island of Chincoteague, Virginia.

Together, they make the writing team for Romancing the Million $$$ Ghost. Visit the official book blog at www.RomancingMillionDollarGhost.com or like them on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/RomancingTheMillionDollarGhost.

First Chapter Review: The Accidental Demon Slayer by Angie Fox

I downloaded this book for FREE the other day. Many moons ago, I used to be a Buffy the Vampire Slayer fan. I read great things about this book, so I figured I would give it a shot. The book is still listed as FREE right now.

BLURB: It's never a good day when an ancient demon shows up on your toilet bowl. For Lizzie Brown that's just the beginning. Soon her hyperactive terrier starts talking and her long-lost biker witch Grandma is hurling Smuckers jars filled with magic. Just when she thinks she's seen it all Lizzie learns she's a demon slayer-and all hell is after her.

Of course that's not the only thing after her. Dimitri Kallinikos a devastatingly handsome shape-shifting griffin needs Lizzie to slay a demon of his own. But how do you talk a girl you've never met into going straight to the underworld? Lie. And if that doesn't work how dangerous could a little seduction be...?

COVER: Love it. Great color scheme. Awesome weapon and just what I think Lizzie would be wearing based upon the first chapter if she was going to go kick some demon's butt. The addition of Lizzie's pet on the front cover is a nice touch.

FIRST CHAPTER: It's Lizzie's 30th birthday and she has plans to celebrate with her friends. Problem is, she opens the front door and her long-lost biker witch Grandma locks her in the bathroom. Things quickly go from bad to downright scary.

KEEP READING: Oh, yeah. I forget how much I enjoy sharp, witty stories because I don't read them very often. Lizzie is a turning thirty single gal with a fair amount of attitude. She's been tossed some lemons in life and she has a job that barely makes ends meet, so you want to cut her a break for not welcoming Grandma with open arms. This chapter has a fabulous cliffhanger. Let me tell you, this book made want to dig out my Buffy the Vampire Slayer DVDs and start a marathon viewing.


File Size: 384 KB
Print Length: 305 pages
Page Numbers Source ISBN: 0505527693
Publisher: Angie Fox (December 18, 2010)
Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
Language: English
ASIN: B00AWU8WO4

I downloaded a free version of this book for my Kindle. This review contains my honest opinions, which I have not been compensated for in any way.

Interview with Dianne Hartsock, Author of Alex

Dianne Hartsock lives in the beautiful Willamette Valley of Oregon with her incredibly patient husband, who puts up with the endless hours she spends hunched over the keyboard letting her characters play.

She says Oregon’s raindrops are the perfect setting in which to write her tails. There’s something about being cooped up in the house while it pours rain outside and a fire crackles on the hearth inside that kindles her imagination.


The intricate and fragile nature of the mind is always fascinating. Having worked with the public through various careers, Dianne has come to respect the resilience and strength of the human spirit. She’s always trying to capture that spirit in her writing.


Currently, Dianne works as a floral designer in a locally-owned gift shop, which she says is the perfect job for her. When not writing, she can express herself through the rich colors and textures of flowers and foliage.


Dianne’s books include Trials of a Lonely Specter and Alex.


You can visit Dianne Hartsock at: http://diannehartsocksalex.wordpress.com/

Can you tell us a bit about yourself?

After growing up in California and spending the first ten years of marriage in Colorado, I now live in the beautiful Willamette Valley of Oregon with my incredibly patient husband, who puts up with the endless hours I spend hunched over the keyboard letting my characters play. Currently, I work as a floral designer in a locally-owned gift shop. Which is the perfect job for me. When not writing, I can express myself through the rich colors and textures of flowers and foliage.

Where did you grow up?

I grew up in a lovely old house in Mar Vista, CA., in a large, boisterous and loving family.

When did you begin writing?
I’ve always been a story teller, and was very proud when my very first story in first grade was pinned up on the wall for everyone to read, the teacher liked it that much. I didn’t think much about writing again until seventh grade was a fantastic and talented creative writing teacher told me I had some talent and should develop it and maybe one day become published. She had me hooked! I’ve been writing ever since, though it wasn’t until about five years ago that I became serious about it. I went through a writing workshop given by Wolf-Pirate Publishing that really opened my eyes. And with this success with Alex and some online stories, I write every day and enjoy every minute of it.

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

Yikes. I suppose I’m a bit of a workaholic. I’m up at 7a.m. to get ready for work, then sit down to the computer for an hour, catching up on all the social media. If I’m very lucky, I might even have a little time for creative writing. I’m off to work at 9:15. Work all day, then home again at 6 p.m. to make dinner and spend time with the family. Hubby’s in bed by 8:30, and I jump right back on the computer until midnight, writing, editing, blogging, whatever’s on my ‘to do’ list that day. I am blessed to have Thursday and Sunday’s off for family outings and hopefully lots of writing!
What is this book about?

Raised in isolation by a physically and emotionally abusive parent, on her death, Alex is thrust into a world of violence and intolerance that bewilders and hurts him. He hears the cries of children, the screaming women. Alex has been left with horrible scars on his body and even worse scars within his mind. Even though it puts him in danger, he’s compelled to help those who call to him. He’s driven, motivated by his visions to rescue them and uncover the killer. When he can, he helps the police; yet some detectives suspect he’s the cause of the problem, not the solution. Often, Alex finds himself alone and afraid in a world he doesn’t always comprehend.

What inspired you to write it?

I’ve always been fascinated with the paranormal. I find the thought of being psychic intriguing to say the least. Alex started out as a vague idea I had I had one day I wondered what is would take to make someone psychic. I know a lot of psychics were born with their abilities, but I didn’t want that with Alex. I wondered what could change a person’s thought processes and open expand their minds to the possibility. I thought isolation would do it. Emotional trauma and abuse as a child. A mother with some with a touch of mental illness. These thoughts came together to form Alex’s character. The rest of the story built up around this.
Are you a member of a critique group? If no, who provides feedback on your work?

Writing can be lonely without support. Search around until you find a writer’s group you feel at home with. I belong to the Litopia Writer’s Colony, http://www.litopia.com/  which is the friendliest, most supportive group of people you could hope to meet. Their advice and gentle teaching has made me believe in myself as a writer.

Who is your favorite author?
C.J. Cherryh. I’ve fallen in love with more of her characters than I can count. I’d love to spend an afternoon discussing her worlds over a cup of coffee. Who was her influence for Tristen? Or her shy wizard, Sasha? What about Vanya? Josh Talley? So many others! Amazing writer.
Where can readers purchase a copy of your book?
Solstice Publishing: http://bitly.com/liLUSG

Amazon: http://amzn.to/r4qStN

Where can we find you online?

Blog: http://diannehartsock.wordpress.com/

FB: http://www.facebook.com/diannehartsock

Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/diannehartsock

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4850270.Dianne_Hartsock

What is one piece of advice you would like to share with aspiring authors everywhere?
When you sit down to write, take a deep breath. Don’t think about how anyone else would write the scene. Forget about all the advice you’ve been given. Simply write the words as they come to you. It’s the best way to find your own unique writer’s voice.

What is up next for you?
At the moment I have a fantasy/adventure novel being considered by a publishing house. I have the sequel to this book written and am in the midst of edits and revisions. Also, I’ve been jotting down ideas and am about to start on the sequel to Alex. I’m excited to spend time with him again. I also have several short romances to be released as eBooks in the near future.

Rie McGaha on Paranormal Romance

Today's guest blogger is Rie McGaha, author of Grounded, Deadly Dreams, and the newly released paranormal romance novel, Blood Line.

Truck driver Joshua Kaine and his wife, Jessie, enjoy the freedom of the open road, until the night Josh is attacked by a rabid dog. Josh kills the animal, but his and Jessie's troubles have only just begun.

Following the attack, Josh becomes deathly ill, but three weeks later he's feeling much better - much stronger - much more alive. When the moon rises full and bright, Josh experiences the change for the first time, his body morphing into that of a large, gray wolf. His appetite - for both food and sex - is enormous, and he spends every waking moment feeding his hunger.

Jessie doesn't know what's come over her husband, but she's not complaining. At least, not until a clan of werewolves comes after her and her family, intent upon seeking revenge for the death of their leader.

From a remote mountaintop to the swamps of Louisiana, Josh searches for a solution to their dilemma, but time is running out. When the absolute worst happens, Josh is forced to turn the tables and the hunted becomes the hunter.

About the author:

Rie McGaha lives in SE Oklahoma with her husband, Nathan, and their youngest daughter, Rocky. Rie rescues abandoned animals, gets them spayed/neutered, and tries to find them new homes. The ones who aren't adopted remain with Rie's family. She currently has 14 up for adoption.

When the dogs aren't demanding her time, Rie writes erotic romance novels.

You can visit Rie online at http://www.riemcgaha.com/.

Rie's turn:

The only thing I love more than reading paranormal romance novels is writing them! In this genre there are no rules and the characters can be or do anything the author can imagine, especially when paired with erotica.

Paranormal romance allows both the author and the reader’s imaginations to take them to places we’ve only seen in our dreams. I like writing about witches and vampires and werewolves and ghosts and other things that go bump in the night, but I like them to be more than the stories I read growing up. I like to push the envelope, stretch my own imagination, and make the places in my mind as real as the room I’m sitting in, not only for myself, but for the readers as well. As we all know, life can be less than what we dreamed it would be and the day-to-day details can leave us dragging, tired and less than enchanted with our existence. Although it would be nice to board a cruise ship and escape to an island somewhere, that’s not a viable option for most of us, but escaping into a world of make believe is only a novel away.

When I can create the man of my dreams in my imagination and then bring him to life with words so that others experience my fantasies the way I do, it gives me a feeling of satisfaction. When I’m able to tease and titillate the senses as well, I feel a part of my youth being revived!

I always loved bedtime stories when I was a little girl, so being able to write bedtime stories for grown up girls is a dream come true. Imagine being able to lie in bed and dream of the most glorious life imaginable, with a prince in shining armor, or a vampire prince, or a werewolf or shape shifter, and make him yours for the night or for eternity. That’s my job! I can’t imagine a better one!

While I write mainly for myself, sometimes getting away from my own worries is only done through the imagination of another author. One of my favorites is Alyssa Day and her Warriors of Poseidon series. Who wouldn’t fall in love with virile men from the lost city of Atlantis? Another favorite is Sherrilyn Kenyon and her Dream-Hunter and Dark-Hunter series. These dark, seductive vampires are enough to make anyone dream of getting just one good bite! The Argeneau Family series by Lynsay Sands is another tale of sexy vampires that I just love to eat up when I’m sitting in the Jacuzzi with a glass of wine!

So when you go to sleep tonight, dream of your perfect man and know that tomorrow you may be reading about him!

Rie McGaha…fantasy that keeps you up
http://www.riemcgaha.com/

February Featured Book: The Jaguar Legacy by Maureen Fisher

During the month of February, The Book Connection will be participating once again in National Blog Posting Month--which means we are going to try and post new entries every day of the month.



In addition to the authors on tour who I am hosting in February, I will be diving into my very large bookshelves to highlight some of my favorite romance novels. And to start us off, I want to highlight the book that was truly responsible for drawing me to romance novels--The Jaguar Legacy by Maureen Fisher.

When I reviewed this book in December 2007, I remember reading ahead to get to the love scenes--yes, I'm naughty--because Fisher created such realistic characters that I felt I knew them and I wanted to see them get together. I actually read the love scene about four times, because it was that well done. In addition, while I never considered myself to be a huge fan of the paranormal, the way Fisher wrote this story, I couldn't put it down. I would stay up late every night reading. The exhaustion was well worth it.

You can read my review of The Jaguar Legacy here.

The Inside Scoop on Sue Thurman

We continue today with our series of interviews featuring the contributors to Inside Scoop: Articles about Acting and Writing by Hollywood Insiders and Published Authors. When I read Sue Thurman’s accomplishments, I stood in awe. Sue is listed as the producer for Arizona Entertainment Weekly—which covers local and global entertainment news. She’s written a humor column for the Scottsdale Tribune and the ezine Stuff, and will be shooting a pilot in April, titled Ghost Hunters. She’s also working on two new books. I’m tired after saying all that, never mind doing it. Sue was kind enough to let me catch up with her to talk about some of these projects and her contributions to Inside Scoop.

Welcome to The Book Connection, Sue. I’m honored to have you with us.

Thanks Cheryl. It’s wonderful to be here and thank you for inviting me.

Let’s get started by finding out more about you. What is your fondest memory from your childhood?

My mother reading stories to me. She made me fall in love with books and the wonderful characters that came to life in my mind when she read their adventures. One of my favorite stories was Peter Rabbit. Then there was Mother Goose with her short little tales that would get my imagination going, then I’d think about what might have happened next. I often imagined they have a life off the pages of the books.

Do you still live in the place where you grew up?

No, I grew up in the Midwest and now live in the Southwest. I always wanted to be a cowgirl, so I got my wish.

Who is your biggest supporter?

My husband, family, and friends, especially my best friend in the universe, Vicki Ray.

From one busy woman to another, how do you manage to find time for all that you do?

For me, it’s all about having a passion for things. My days are filled with the things I’m driven to do. It’s not like there’s really a choice. I have to do them to sustain myself. My creative energy has to constantly be fed. Sometimes it’s overwhelming.

How do you stay organized?

If you saw my office, you’d really wonder. Without my computer, I’d be totally lost.

This looks like it will be a big year for you.

That’s my hope. I just signed a publishing contract for one of my books, Maybe We Are Flamingos, so now things are even more exciting.

In addition to your contributions to Inside Scoop, you’re in the process of developing some pilots for television and writing books. You’re involved in two extremely competitive industries. What keeps you going?

My husband, Pat and an inner need to express myself creatively. I’ve been producing play times since childhood for the neighborhood. It brings me tremendous joy to touch others in a positive way, to bring a smile to someone, and explore possibilities. When my twin sons were little, we had the greatest adventures. I loved watching them discover the world. I’ve always loved children and the way they think.

How do you keep from getting discouraged by rejections?

Those initial rejection slips from literary agents or publishers hurt, but now I just cross them off the list and move on to the next one. The same is true with the television pilots. It’s my belief that most of us know when we’ve created something special, something important. It’s just a matter of finding someone in the industry who shares the vision. Sometimes that takes longer than we’d like.

The entertainment industry fascinates me. Can you share with us a little bit about shooting a television pilot and what happens afterwards?

Cheryl, how much time do you have?

The entire process gives me a major adrenaline rush. Most people would probably be surprised how some actors need to be reassured and encouraged. One of my gifts is apparently being able to put people at ease and it’s like a special kind of magic. During a movie junket, one actress was so nervous before and after an interview and wanted to be sure she did a good job. It took a great deal of reassuring to get a smile on her face. She honestly did a fantastic job.

When taping an entertainment news program, like Arizona Entertainment Weekly, it’s critical to establish a comfort level quickly. The win-win part is providing an opportunity for the person being interviewed to share their dreams, passions, or work with the audience.

There is a tremendous amount of work that goes on behind the scenes. Writing, scheduling, arranging every tiny detail. There are differences each time, but there are always many, many things to keep track of to do the best job.

It’s hard to watch a movie or television show now and not notice when there’s a production error. Like someone is hurt and bleeding in a scene. Then in the next scene there’s no blood, then it’s back again. Most of the time scenes are shot out of sequence, so it’s important to have a script person tracking each character, how they look from scene to scene, what they are wearing, down to the jewelry, manicure, and makeup.

Taping outdoors brings another set of problems. Once we were doing a shoot at a fire station surrounded by wild peacocks. Every time the cameras started to roll, the peacocks would call to each other very loudly. It took numerous takes for a short scene. There can be airplanes and the sound of regular street traffic that also requires numerous takes.

One of my favorite television shows had a production error recently that drove me crazy. A female character had eye shadow on in one scene, then it was gone in the next, which was just a moment later on screen. In reality, it could have been several days later.

After the shoot, it’s all about editing, music, special effects, voice overs, b-roll, and other things that polish a rough story into a work of art. I rely on expert editors to do that. They are truly the wizards that make it magical and make it all look so great in the end. I’ve worked a lot with an incredible editor, Todd Hunt. He is amazing and we’re working together on the current pilots.

Once all of that is accomplished, comes the time to pitch the pilot to potential sponsors and/or studio, depending on the material. Often times it really boils down to contacts and who you know that may be looking for something.

Making a pilot doesn’t guarantee success, so it’s a gamble and often an expensive one, but somehow, it always feels like it’s worth the time and energy.

What are some of the reasons that pilots don’t get picked up by networks?

From my experience it’s typically funding or the person contacted isn’t interested in the subject matter, sometimes for personal reasons, other times because others have something similar. Then, sometimes they want something similar. Competition is strong. Many industry experts have turned a project down then have later been very sorry when it’s a hit elsewhere. Timing plays a major role too, along with production costs. If one can walk in with a sponsor, that’s half the battle.

Reality TV seems to have taken over television. Why do you believe these shows are popular with viewers, as well as, network executives?

That term is such a hoot, when there’s typically not much reality involved. They are less expensive to produce and typically don’t have a major star. I’m sure there are other reasons, but those come to mind immediately.

Let’s move on to writing. You write for the children’s market—among others—and one of the television pilots you’re working on is a children’s show to promote reading. What do you enjoy about reaching out to young people?

Absolutely everything! There’s nothing as exciting as the opportunity to ignite a child’s imagination. They are like thirsty little sponges taking in everything they hear, see, touch, taste, and experience. To have a chance to share a new experience with them and the potential to create a lasting special memory is the best. It’s really the same with most audiences. When it’s children and their families, that’s even better.

How can parents encourage a love for reading in their children?

By reading to them from the start. I read and sang to my twins before they were born. As infants, they heard many stories. When they were toddlers, they loved to pick out their favorite stories and we’d read them frequently, not just for bedtime. Sometimes I would make up stories to tell them. Soon, they wanted to learn to read themselves and begged me to teach them. So, at the age of around three, they started reading their favorite books to me. They have been avid readers ever since. Our theme song says it all, Reading is magic, all you need is a really good book, it’s the key. The key to unlock the realm of imagination. For many years we saw the success of this live production and now we’re going to bring it to television and touch millions.

Do you feel America has done a good job of promoting reading and writing in our public school systems?

That’s hard to say because schools are not identical across the country. However, during educators’ day at the opening of the Challenger Learning Center in Peoria, Arizona, we were amazed how many teachers shared their concerns with our cast. They said in the last 15 to 20 years, kids are more observers than participants.

This is due to video games, toys that entertain with little imagination required, and some television programs. Too much of anything is not a good thing, and kids need balance, just like adults. Teachers said children just aren’t using their imaginations. It hurt me to hear that and part of our mission is to ignite those imaginations. Creativity is where our inventions and scientific discoveries begin. If you give a child blocks, they use their imagination to create anything. Our sons created incredible things with Legos, even their own transformers. As the great Walt Disney said, “If you can dream it, you can do it.”

Is there anything else you think we can do?

Absolutely! Set a good example as adults and read more. Have a special story time to share with your kids. We often did this with a pot of tea. Take turns reading a story out loud, especially if your children are older. Discuss the story and maybe make up what might have happened to the characters after you close the book. Go to the library and to their story times. Support programs like ours, all about the magic of reading.

Let’s talk about Inside Scoop. How did you get involved in this project?

Through my virtual office, Emerald City Imagineers, on Zoetrope, I met Marilyn Peake. I’m very proud to say she’s one of my Imagineers. Marilyn publishes "Golden Goblet" Newsletter and invited me to contribute. Stories from "Golden Goblet" were included in the book.

You contributed an interview with Allison Dubois, who is a real-life medium. What is the focus of this interview?

It was my sincere pleasure to interview Allison for Arizona Entertainment Weekly. We spent an hour together and I was amazed and delighted to have the opportunity to spend time with her. Her segment was on-air about 2 minutes, which was typical for the format of the show. I had so much incredible information and wanted to share it with others.

In the interview she shared things about a book she had just written, her life, her family, and what it’s like to be a medium. She also talked about Patricia Arquette, the actress that plays Allison on the television show Medium. Allison talked about visiting the set with her children so they could play with the “little” actresses that play them on the show. She also shared what it was like to have children with her gifts.

I’ve always been interested in the paranormal, so meeting Allison was a very special opportunity for me.

You also contributed an article titled Ghost Busters. What can you tell us about it?

Since the first house I lived in from infancy until I was several years old was haunted, I experienced some odd things and since that time I’ve always had an interest in the paranormal.

Debe Branning is a ghost hunter and after sitting in on one of her classes and interviewing her, we discussed program ideas. Debe shared some of her experiences, which I thought people would find interesting. Most people are interested in celebrities and ghosts, not necessarily in that order.

We talked about shooting a program in the future, Now the time is right and we plan to shoot a ghost event she’s hosting in April. I’ve been sworn to secrecy, but will be happy to report on what happens. We hope to see a ghost during our adventure, which sounds like great fun. This could easily be a special, so that’s how we’re approaching the project. We’re going to visit some of the locations with Debe before the event, so maybe we’ll meet some interesting spirits along the way.

Can we look forward to more contributions from you to “The Golden Goblet” newsletter and books based upon them?

Absolutely! We’ve discussed another interview that was done with Jeff Willes, UFOlogist. Some of his footage of the Phoenix Lights was used in the DVD,
Dan Aykroyd Unplugged on UFOs. It was amazing to talk with David Sereda, the producer and director of the DVD and learn about his interest and Dan’s. Working with Marilyn is wonderful and she’s a dynamite editor, writer, and person.

What other projects are you working on?

In the writing area, as I mentioned earlier, I’ve just signed a publishing contract for my first book in the Safari Series, MAYBE WE ARE FLAMINGOS. It’s a series of children’s books inspired by my days as Safari Sue at the Phoenix Zoo, where I produced children’s programs.

I also have several paranormal romance novels and others in the works that can be easily adapted into screenplays. One day, my dream is to work with Ron Howard to bring them to life on the big screen.

Recently I decided to write a book based on interviews with psychics and those involved in the paranormal, along with actors that are also interested in the subject, or have been in TV series or movies with ghosts. I would love to talk with the cast of Ghost Whisperer.

Also thinking of developing some Internet casts for some interesting characters from our live productions.

Is there anything that you would like to add?

Yes, the material in my books and the children’s television show has been field tested with tremendous results. My dream is to share quality stories and shows with children and their families, while making a positive difference, and stimulating those wonderful imaginations. Please watch for the release of my book, MAYBE WE ARE FLAMINGOS, in late May, 2008.

Thanks so much, Sue, for sharing your time with us today. I hope 2008 turns out to be a great year for you. May you be blessed with continued success.

From your lips to God’s ears.

Thank you so much for your wonderful words and this opportunity, Cheryl.

Travel Across Time with Linda Kay Silva

Joining us today is author Linda K. Silva whose paranormal/urban fantasy novel Across Time was recently released by Spinsters Ink Books. Linda has a Masters in English and has been a teacher for twenty years. She is a multi-published author in a variety of genres. We’ll talk about some of this today and also how her fascination with past lives and soul mates plays a part in Across Time.

Welcome to The Book Connection, Linda. It’s great to have you with us.

It’s great to be here…and so much fun!

Let’s get started by finding out more about you. What came first, the teaching or the writing? What’s the first story you remember writing and what did you do with it?

The writing. I started writing when I was 21, and I wrote 4 horrid novels, wasting paper along the way. I was a cop for two years, until I decided that I really liked living, so I quit and went into teaching…which I love.

Do any of your teaching experiences or other interests work their way into your novels?

My first 6 novels were the Delta Stevens Mystery series. Delta was a cop who had a very colorful group of women friends who helped her in and out of trouble, so I’d say, “Yes, that work experience created my first series.” The only difference is that Delta was a much better cop than I was. I was not suited to that role at all, so I preferred writing about it instead of living it.

For my latest, Across Time, I had my past lives read twice, and the readings were too close to be considered coincidental. I knew that some day, I would write a book about time travel, but not in the physical sense. I taught history for 15 years and just love dabbling in it!

You’ve written novels in several genres. Do you prefer one over the other?

That’s like asking which kid do you love most! Still...the truth is, I am torn between Jessie, in the Across Time series, and Echo, who is the protagonist is a paranormal series I’m already 4 books deep in. I love the supernatural…and those two characters allow me to play in their worlds.

Where did the idea for Across Time come from?

I have always been fascinated by past lives. Past lives fascinate me. Love at first sight, five year olds who can play Beethoven, people who come out of comas fluent in a foreign language…past lives at work. What other explanation is there when we meet someone for the first time, yet they feel so familiar, so comfortable to us? Where do our phobias come from? How is it we know some of the things we know, yet have never learned?

I pondered these questions as I delved deeper into Druidry and the mystical arts, and the deeper I dug, the more I could hear Cate, a Druid Priestess from the first century, calling.

She wasn’t calling me. She was calling Jessie. And so, hearing this, I knew the novel needed to be written…that it was time to create a series and a character who manages to find herself only when she steps through the portal and into a hostile world where Druids are being hunted, their way of life destroyed. Jessie (and the rest of us) can only know where we’re going when we know and understand where we have been.

Cate needs her to save the Druids from annihilation, Jessie needs Cate to help her on her true path, and I needed them both to tell their story.

Tell us about Jessie Ferguson. How will readers relate to her? Why will they care what happens to her?

Great questions! Women readers will relate on so many levels because we all hear that inner voice from time to time. Call it instinct, call it women’s intuition, the fact is, we’ve all heard it. Some of us truly listen to it, while others don’t at all. This voice comes from our past…our past knowledge and wisdom returns to us through residual memories. Readers will want to see how revisiting her own past saves her present life; a life that has no goal, no ambition, nothing but a great big void. Many of us of feel or have felt that void and have no idea where it comes from. I believe it comes from not understanding our purpose here in this life. We think love will fill it, or a career, or children…and then we are disappointed when, even with full lives, that dull ache still exists. That ache means we are not living according to our purpose, and that purpose can be found by understanding what our purpose was in the past. What did we DO in our other lives to make an impact on the world? Once Jessie discovers that purpose, it changes EVERYTHING about her life.

You’ve drawn on the emotions of loneliness and emptiness in this novel. How difficult is that to write? Did you ever find yourself becoming overwhelmed by the emotions your character was experiencing?

Oh my…yes. I seldom feel lonely or empty…my head is too busy working on the next book for me to really take a breath, but I could really relate to Jessie’s feeling of “Why in the hell am I here?”

I killed a major character in Tory’s Tuesday, and I couldn’t write for three days. I just grieved. I know it sounds silly, but I care about my characters and their emotional well-being. I’ve been fortunate in my life to have experienced many different kinds of successes; athletic, academic, career, and now writing, so it discombobulates me when I have to write about someone being to incredibly lost. Let’s just say, I sighed with relief when Jessie finally realizes her calling.

When Jessie moves into a Victorian Bed and Breakfast her life takes an interesting change. She gets a call from her life two thousand years in the past. What do you believe about past lives?

We cannot understand where we’re going until we know, and remember where we’ve been. There’s a reason why a 10 year old child prodigy has the ability to grasp courses as difficult as med school courses and it has nothing to do with miracles or genetics; it has to do with memory…soul memories…residual memories. These memories account for things like déjà vu, love at first sight, and unexplainable phobias. Ask almost anyone you know if they have a phobia they don’t know the origin of, and 9 times out 10, they will tell you about something that frightens them and they have no idea why.

How can a ten year old who is not developmentally ready for anything greater than long division go to med school? She isn’t just brilliant. She remembers more about past knowledge that the rest of us do. She is capable of accessing past knowledge, experience, and memories that enable her to do things far outside the realm of other children. We all have those memories, but we pass them off as something else for fear of being labeled crazy. We can’t explain how it is we know something. We can’t explain away the time we met someone for the first time and after ten minutes, felt like we’d known them our whole lives. We can’t even explain why some of our dreams just feel so real.

They feel real because once upon a time, they were.

I know I might sound like a loon, but I had my past lives read twice by two different women in two different states and their readings were too close to be coincidental. One said I had lived 83 lives, the other said 82. One commented on feeling some sort of warrior spirit from my past, and I have a large women warrior tattoo on my back. Apparently, I spent many of those lives (by BOTH accounts) in Germany…which is so strange considering I was taking college German as a sophomore in high school because it came so easily to me. (And don’t ask me why I hate the circus, even though I have never been!)

What type of research did you perform to create the life that Jessie lived many years ago?

I taught history for 15 years, so I already had the textbooks necessary for the verisimilitude of the ages Jessie travels in. I read up on Einstein’s and Hawkings’ concepts of time, before realizing that time is the final frontier and I can play in that playground any way I want. I have almost every book on Druidry imaginable, and so I read through those to see where the wiggle room was. Jessie cannot change the future…she can only become a part of the past that actually created the future in the first place. We must remember one thing about history…and Jessie learns this down the road: History is written by the victors, not the vanquished…those “eyewitness accounts” are subjective, and often, erroneous. There are also gaping holes in history, and it’s those hole I get to manipulate. It was written that Queen Boudicca turned her chariot around for some inexplicable reason. Why can’t Jessie be that reason?

See? How much fun is that? And trust me…it becomes even more fun when she becomes a 16th century pirate facing off against Queen Elizabeth, an Egyptian priestess facing the pharaoh Akhenaten, and a soldier facing hourly death in the Viet Nam War.

Let’s talk about soul mates. Soul mates play a significant role in Across Time. How deeply do you believe in the power of soul mates? Do you believe a person can have more than one soul mate in their lifetime?

I believe soul mates exist, but the idea of there being only one doesn’t set well with me. We travel through our lifetimes with many others…sometimes, our soul mate is our lover in one life, our best friend in the next, our brother of sister after that. What Cate and Maeve attempt to do is stay connected throughout the ages by remembering, for, “It is by remembering the past that we create a better future.” A soul mate doesn’t have anything to do with sex or gender. It’s someone who knows us and understands us in a way unlike anyone else. We are drawn to these people for reasons we might not understand. Many of us are friends with people who are so different from us, so polar opposites, and yet, they are in our inner circle. Why? What’s the draw to be so close to someone who is the antithesis of ourselves unless there is a deeper connection?

This novel is the first in a series of books about Jessie’s travels across time. Can you tell us a little bit about your plans for the next book or books?

In a nutshell….here’s where Jessie is going after Across Time

Second Time Around

Jessie goes back to Elizabethan England as pirate Captain Spencer Morgan. Spencer is trolling the seas looking for a box that Francis Drake is also after. This box, as we discover later in the book, was once buried by Lachlan and contains the recipe for the transmutation of lead into gold. Jessie deals with Queen Elizabeth, Francis Drake, and we see Cate and Maeve again.

Third Time’s a Charm

Jessie is called to the past where it all began…ancient Egypt, when pharaoh Akhenaten ruled and tried to change the religion in Egypt. There, Jessie is Sakura, a priestess of Isis, who is trying to save the religion. Jessie’s attentions are split because Daniel, her little brother is being haunted by spirits living in the Inn. These ghosts in Daniel’s room are from a family that was killed in the Inn long ago…a family whose father was an Egyptologist. Jessie must uncover the mystery of the ghosts before she can help Sakura save the life of Queen Nefertiti.

Just Killing Time

Jessie is called back to the 16th century and finds that it’s 15 years since she last saw Spencer. He has called her because Duncan’s son has gone to help Mary, Queen of Scots escape from prison and Queen Elizabeth has put a warrant out for his arrest. On the open seas, Spencer /Jessie run afoul of one of the most famous female pirates in history, Grace O’Malley. With Grace’s help, they are able to find Barclay, and help ease the pain of the death of one of history’s greatest Queens.

In the Nick of Time

As the Guardian of the Gate, it’s Jessie’s job to protect the portal, but the one person she did not expect to use it, gets lost in time: her brother, Daniel. To save him, Jessie must deal with the Sidhe of the Otherworld and make a deal with them. They want her to protect Merlin’s daughter from Queen Mab, and if she does that, they will tell her where in time Daniel is: Viet Nam during the Viet Nam War. Jessie must find a way to save Daniel before he is killed in Viet Nam, and she must save Merlin’s daughter or lose more than just her brother.

I just finished In the Nick of Time and am now going back over the last four in order to tie things together and make sure the Easter eggs pay off from one novel to the next. It’s my understanding that you want to bring Second Time Around out in 2009, so I’ll need to know who to send the latest revision to. I am having a book launch party next weekend, and people from all over the country are flying in for it. I am so fortunate to have that kind of support…so hopefully, they’ll do all they can to help sell the book as well.

Where can readers purchase Across Time?

Spinstersink.com(I make more money if you order from the publisher!)
Amazon.com
You can also order it from Borders.

What’s up next for you? Will you be concentrating on anything other than continuing this series?

I have a second series I am working on involving the paranormal community of empaths, telepaths, and telekinetics living and training out in the bayous of Louisiana. I just finished the 4th of that series and will be sending that manuscript off to see if I can’t procure an agent.

Is there anything you would like to add?

Yes. Whether or not readers believe in past lives or time travel won’t play a role in their enjoyment of the book. The characters really carry this story and I believe that most of us have been in Jessie’s shoes at one time or another in our lives. She tries everything from drugs and alcohol, to sex in an effort to fill that yawning chasm in her spirit. Most of us have felt that throbbing, dark void in our hearts, and so we’ll root for Jessie as she discovers that there is so much more to her than just being alive. There is so much more to every one of us…if only we could dig deep enough (or far enough in time) to find it.

Thanks for sharing so much of your time and talents with us today, Linda. I look forward to hearing more about this series as it progresses. Best of luck in all you do.

Thank you so much. I have really enjoyed these questions and hope your readers will feel free to come by my blog and say hi or ask any questions I haven’t answered here.

This virtual book tour has been brought to you by:

Deborah Woehr and Prosperity: A Ghost Story Virtual Book Tour

I've known Deborah for a little while now. She's hosted my clients at her Paranormal Watch blog. So when Dorothy asked me if I would host Deborah and Prosperity: A Ghost Story on their Virtual Book Tour, how could I say no? Actually, I never thought of saying no because Prosperity sounds like one fabulous and spooky story.



Amanda Thorne is an embattled clairvoyant, who refuses to believe in God or the afterlife, even when the ghost of her murdered husband confronts her from his grave. More ghosts confront her when she finds herself stranded in a tiny town in Arizona.

Two of them mistake her for a prominent woman who was murdered 79 years ago. One of them wants to avenge him for the murder, and the other wants to kill her all over again. She and her misplaced deputy friend must uncover the truth about the murder before history repeats itself.

I asked Deborah where her fascination with the paranormal came from and what resources she uses for research. I also thought it would be neat if she would share one of her favorite ghost stories with us. Here's what she had to say:

I’ve always been fascinated by the paranormal, especially where ghosts are concerned. I grew up reading all kinds of horror stories, but it was always the ghost stories that got my heart and mind going. Are they real, or is the character crazy? Is the malevolent ghost going to hurt them? In the case of a lost soul, will they receive help to get wherever it is that they are going to go?

Whether I’m writing an article for Paranormalwatch.com or a novel, I find that research is key to discovering great stories for my articles and gaining new ideas/insight for my novels. My favorite research tool is Google Alerts, which sends me news stories on the subject of the paranormal everyday. I also rely on paranormal sites such as TAPS and Ghostvillage.com. Finally, there is my best online friend, Amazon.com. My paranormal book collection grows a bit each year.

Another key element in my research is history. What makes a place haunted? Who were the people that might be haunting this place, and why would they stay behind? Some examples are Sarah Winchester of the infamous Winchester Mystery House, the patients of Waverly Hills Sanitorium, and the guests of the Goldfield Hotel in Goldfield, Nevada.

The most fascinating story I’ve ever read was about the Monte Cristo Historic Homestead in Junee, Australia. I was reading an article about two journalists who fled after getting “spooked.” Their story was rather vague and uninspiring, but I clicked on the link to the Monte Cristo site and began reading various accounts of visitors breaking down crying for no apparent reason when they entered a certain room and stood in a certain spot, lights turning on throughout the mansion when no one was home, apparitions seen by visitors, etc.

Visit this link to read the accounts: http://www.montecristo.com.au/hauntings.html.

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PROSPERITY: A GHOST STORY VIRTUAL BOOK TOUR ’08 will officially begin on Feb. 1, 2008 and continue all month. If you would like to follow Deborah’s tour, visit http://www.virtualbooktours.wordpress.com.

Win a free copy of Deborah’s book by commenting on her tour stops! One lucky person will be chosen at the end of her tour on Feb. 29 and announced on her tour page at http://tinyurl.com/2q4jze!
Deborah’s virtual book tour is brought to you by Pump Up Your Book Promotion Virtual Book Tours at http://www.pumpupyourbookpromotion.com and choreographed by Dorothy Thompson. Check out http://www.pumpupyourbookpromotion.com/authorsontour.html to find out how you can get a free bookmark from Deborah (plus other incentives!) by purchasing her book at any online bookstore, her publisher’s website or her website (where applicable).