Rebecca Hefner "The End Of Hatred" An Interview with Rebecca Hefner by Jason E. Foss

                                                                                REBECCA HEFNER

                                           "Great Authors have something inside of them that is waiting to come out.  Sometimes they can't see it or they haven't found a reason to explore these inner talents.  It doesn't matter when they find out or who points out to them this quality of theirs once they discover it they will never be the same.  It's like Michael Jordan when he played for North Carolina and he hit that famous mid-range jumpshot with seconds left to get them the win.  From that moment on people saw value in him and knew there was something special about him.  Great Authors are very similar.  Just like the crowd of fans that pack up a stadium because their favorite player never disappoints at a home game fans and book lovers pay to read their favorite Authors book because they never disappoint.  Their words are like magic the way they connect a bridge of thoughts leaving the Reader entranced to the very end.  If someone interrupts them while they are reading their favorite Authors novel, even if it's a family member, they give that person this undescribable look that guarantees that they will never ever do that again.  Rebecca Hefner is one of these great Authors.  She let us know what motivated her."

                                                                                                                 Jason E. Foss



Jason:                                "What motivated you to write "The End Of Hatred"?"


Rebecca:

                                            "I actually started writing The End of Hatred over a decade ago!  I’ve always been an avid romance and paranormal romance reader and I would come home after a long day and read.  However, I’d noticed that there were a handful of really great authors (Nora Roberts, Lisa Kleypas, JR Ward and Julie James to name a few) but when they didn’t have a book out the other authors I found just weren’t that great.  I would complain about it and my ex finally said, “Hey, you’re a great writer.  If you don’t like any books that are out, why don’t you write your own?”  I think he was tired of me complaining!  And I will say that was the absolute best thing that came out of that disastrous relationship!  Miranda and Sathan had already appeared in my imagination so it was actually quite easy to begin writing their story and dialogue."


Jason:                                 "Which character can you relate to the most and why?"


Rebecca:

                                            "Oh man, I love all my characters.  They’re my book babies.  But, of course, I love Miranda.  She’s so fierce and kick-ass.  The Slayer traditions and culture are quite sexist and I see so many shades of her fighting the patriarchy, much as I tried to do growing up in the Bible Belt of North Carolina as a young girl.  She’s so fearless and strong but not perfect.  She’s stubborn, sometimes to her own detriment, and has an impulsive streak that blazes out of control on an occasion or two.  I think I want to be her when I grow up!  She’s just freaking fantastic."


Jason:                                 "For your fans and book lovers briefly describe "The End Of Hatred"."


Rebecca:

                                             "Okay.  Let me break down how my head works.  As a child of the ‘90’s, I loved Buffy and Angel (who didn’t?).  Vampires and slayers have always fascinated me.  When I discovered JR Ward I was like, holy crap, you can write sexy books with vampires and other made-up creatures??  Yes, please.  But I’m also an old-school romance fan who loves the slow-burn stories of Judith McNaught and Sandra Brown.  So, it was important to me that I combined all those elements.  Easy, huh (she asks, shaking her head dejectedly).  It took me over ten years to get The End of Hatred to where it is today and I’m extremely proud of it.  It is a reimagining of the age-old Slayer/Vampyre saga.  In my world of Etherya’s Earth, the Slayers and Vampyres were created to be dependent upon each other.  Vampyres would drink Slayers’ blood for sustenance and offer them their protection in return.  When the Slayer King slaughters the Vampyre royals, that balance is destroyed, thrusting the species into a thousand-year war.  The End of Hatred picks up after those thousand years, with Slayer Princess Miranda and Vampyre King Sathan wanting peace.  After hating each other for so long, trust is scarce, and their unwanted attraction to each other certainly doesn’t help.  The End of Hatred takes readers on the journey of how they try to finally secure peace."

Jason:                                 "Are you working on another book and if so what can you tell us about it?"


Rebecca:

                                            "There are now three books out in the Etherya’s Earth series.  Book 1, The End of Hatred, Book 2, The Elusive Sun and Book 3, The Darkness Within.  Book 4, The Reluctant Savior, is with the editor and will be up for pre-order very soon (please follow me on Amazon and Goodreads so you can track the pre-order and cover reveal!).  I love all of my books so much, as every author does, but I have to tell you that tears were streaming down my face as I wrote the final parts of Book 4.  It really wrung me out.  The heroine of that one is very complex and it took everything I had as a writer to construct a character that people would grow to root for although she might have been quite evil in the past.  We all are human and make terrible mistakes and I hope her character’s evolution and redemption touches something inside of the reader as it did me."


Jason:                                   "For those that want to read your book what is the easiest way to buy "The End Of Hatred"?"


Rebecca:

                                               "I’m only on Amazon at the moment, as I’m offering the first two books of the series for free on Kindle Unlimited.  If you don’t have KU, it’s only $4.99.  So for five bucks, you can read about a kick-ass Slayer princess who saves her people.  Oh, and there’s humor!  It has some snicker-worthy moments and tons of pop culture references, I promise!  So, why not take the 5 bucks you’d spend on something you’ll never use and buy a book that will give you action and feels instead?"

                                                   "Here’s the link:  http://mybook.to/TheEndofHatred


                                                                          CLOSING

                                                 "Rebecca Hefner was motivated by her ex when some of her favorite Authors had no new books out.  He reminded her of what a great writer she was and gave ger the idea to write her own book.  That was a blessing for all of us.  The energy from this Author is contagious.  The words in her book and when she speaks to her fans and the people around her.  My favorite thing about Rebecca is the way she described her books.  She loves them.  She cried while writing the end of Book 4.  If that isn't writing with Passion I don't know what is.  When you hear an Author speak to you about the characters in their book like they are really alive then when you open their book you better believe your imagination will come alive from the first chapter until the last.  Any book that can take you on a Journey without having to leave your seat is Priceless.  When you finally look up from Reading you feel like you were somewhere else because the story felt so real.  There are some Authors that can do that to your Imagination and Rebecca Hefner is definitely one of them. Click on the link above and buy "The End Of Hatred".


                                                                                        Jason E. Foss
                                                                                        Empowered-individuals.blogspot.com
                                                                                        954 743 8670

                   

Ashley R. King "Letters of a Dying Misanthrope" An Interview with Ashley R. King by Jason E. Foss

                                                                                     ASHLEY R. KING

                                        "Great Authors not only have a passion for writing but they also tend to be passionate about sharing it with others.  It's not their creative mind that has us in awe and admiration but their ability to take that creativity and transfer it from their mind to paper.  When their fans read their thoughts and their stories it is as if the Readers see exactly what the Author wanted them to.  They also give the Reader so much detail and images to expand their imagination and a great story to keep them intrigued all throughout their book.  Even though we all have our own unique experience and we visualize their captivating words differently we are pleased with everything we read and want more from these brilliant minds.  Their heart is in this.  They write with an energy that brings life to a story.  An energy that once we are done reading their work we walk off feeling an energy we did not feel before opening up their book.  And for that we are always grateful.  Ashley R. King is one of these great Authors.  She let us know what motivated her."

                                                                                                             Jason E. Foss


Ashley King



Hi Jason! I can't thank you enough for interviewing me for your blog. It truly is an honor. Please don't hesitate to let me know if I can ever help with promoting "Hour Glass" or any of your other books in the future. You rock and thank you again! :)

Jason:                              "What motivated you to write "Letters of a Dying Misanthrope"?"


Ashley:

                                         "What inspired me to write it was my amazing mother in law who is a two time breast cancer survivor. So many of us are affected by cancer in its many forms and I simply wanted to highlight that the people who fight, whether they live or die, are all valiant, are all heroes."


Jason:                               "Which character can you relate to the most and why?"


Ashley:

                                            "I relate most to the main character, Ava. She goes through a personal tragedy that causes her to recoil from the world, that makes her question her beliefs about life and love. After my father died when I was 21, I wanted to do the same thing as I had already gone through the death of my mother. I remember thinking, "Maybe it'd be better if I just didn't love or form any connections...maybe it wouldn't hurt as much..." But my husband, who was my boyfriend at that time, was like nope, not happening and he and his family rallied around me. Ava actually goes through with it and even when she starts to come back into the land of the living, she's still waiting for that other shoe to drop. Like me, Ava does eventually find love and realizes it's worth fighting for."


Jason:                              "For your fans and book lovers briefly describe "Letters of a Dying Misanthrope"."


Ashley:

                                           "A misanthrope is a person who dislikes humankind and avoids human society for a variety of reasons, some which include life circumstances, while others are due to personal choice. Synonyms include cynic, hermit, and Ava Rivers. At twenty-six she’d done a pretty fantastic job at becoming a young recluse, her father’s death having traumatized her years earlier. The casualties of her introversion include her mom, brother, best friend, and the boy that stole her heart at seventeen. Now working as a writer for the Berkmore Daily, Ava writes trivial society pieces (ironic, right?) while ignoring her assistant, Blair, and her good-natured boss, Ted. Her life turns upside down when she is diagnosed with breast cancer and forced to face the fallout from her earlier decisions, forced to realize that she does not want to live or die with any type of regrets. Thus, Letters of a Dying Misanthrope is born, a column where Ava is able to pour her heart out, to write letters to all those she’s wronged, to all those whose hearts she’s broken, in an attempt to bridge the gap. But before the column is published, she decides to deliver the letters personally in attempt to beg forgiveness, sometimes choosing to keep her illness a secret."


                                             "Maddox Ashbury was probably the biggest mistake of her life; she walked away from him when he proposed to her. There’s not really a way to come back from that is there? Regardless, Ava decides to give it a try with her newfound friends and family rallying behind her. What she doesn’t expect to find is an angry Maddox who has hardened his heart to her, proving this task to be more difficult than expected. Will Ava get her fairytale ending? Will the disease claim her before she even gets the chance to try? Twenty-six is an early age to die, but it’s not too early to learn the important things in life and to begin living."


                                               "Letters of a Dying Misanthrope is an emotional women’s fiction/romance crossover novel about strength, hope, and love. It is perfect for fans of Colleen Hoover, K.A. Tucker, and Tillie Cole."


Jason:                                   "Are you working on another book and if so what can you tell us about it?"


Ashely:

                                               "I am! I have two other books in the works. One is titled "Painting the Lines", which is a sports romance, and the other is "Angels in Cages", a Gothic romance set in the south and heavily based off of local folklore."


Jason:                                   "For those that want to preorder your book when it's available what is the best way to keep in touch with you on Social Media?"


Ashley:

                                                "The best way to keep in touch for preorder info, news, etc. is Instagram: @ashleykingwrites, Twitter: @ashleyk628, Facebook: facebook.com/ashleykingwrites, or my author web page:   https://arking28.wixsite.com/ashleyrking

     
                                                        Link:   https://www.amazon.com/Brightest-Hour-Ashley-King-ebook/dp/B00D0GE8OU/ref=mp_s_a_1_fkmrnull_1?crid=3TNODF1IVD5CW&keywords=brightest+hour+ashley+king&qid=1553699300&s=gateway&sprefix=brightest+hour+&sr=8-1-fkmrnull


                                                                               CLOSING

                                                "Ashley R. King was motivated by her amazing Mother in Law who is not only a Survivor but she is also one of Ashley's heroes.  My favorite thing about Ashley is her giving nature.  She was inspired by the fight her Mother In Law showed and continues to show each day and now she wrote "Letters of a Dying Misanthrope" and it's going to inspire a world of people.  She encourages us to get through whatever we're going through, still go for your dreams, still go for the person you loved,  and still go for the life you always wanted to have no matter how far and impossible the chances of succeeding are.  That 'you never know unless you try' and 'right your wrongs' and 'go for what you want whether you win or lose' attitude is contagious.  It can inspire us all in our own lives.  I admire the way she uses her creative energy to write a book that will give her Readers that have challenges in their life more reasons to believe in themselves and keep going.  Because deep down inside we all have things that we want to fix or improve just as much as we want to achieve new goals.  It's books like this that motivates us to go for it.  Click on the link above to Ashley's Author page monthly as she will keep you informed when "Letters of a Dying Misanthrope" will be available for Preorder.  In the meantime she has great reviews on another book of hers so click on the second link and buy "Brightest Hour".

                                                                                     
                                                                                         Jason E. Foss
                                                                                        Empowered-individuals.blogspot.com
                                                                                        954 743 8670

                           

                                                                                                     

                                                                                     

Christine Bode "Eden Refugee" An Interview with Christine Bode by Jason E. Foss

                                                                                 CHRISTINE BODE

                                     Great authors and poets write words that connect to readers. Theirs are not just words on paper and those words are not flat and don’t go over their readers’ heads. Instead, they touch the person reading them and each page starts to build a bridge of emotions until the last word is read. Every sentence feels like a tease as you eagerly look forward to the next. In poetry, a great writer’s poems are beautiful with every reader interpreting them in their own unique way. It is hard to put what you feel into words or to express thoughts perfectly through writing. However, we can sometimes revisit our emotional memories within the form of a poem. There are some talented people that can write about what others have felt and have always wanted to read about and enjoy in an art form. Poetry can recreate a memory and rejuvenate its beauty and emotions in such a way that it feels like it happened only days ago. Christine Bode is one such poet and here, she shares with us what motivated her to write poetry.

                                                                                                                             Jason E. Foss



Jason:                                    What motivated you to become a published poet?


Christine:

                                                I’ve written poetry since I was about 14 years old. It’s just something that I do to process my emotions and to record my experiences. My very first poem was about Shaun Cassidy and it got published in 16 Magazine and a book called Rock’s Biggest Ten by Scholastic Book Services in either 1977 or 78. I’m not a prolific writer though as I mostly write from experience and since I’ve been self-employed for the past ten years, I don’t get out much!

                                               From 2002-2004, I worked as a legal assistant to one of Canada’s leading entertainment lawyers in Toronto and he introduced me to Canadian broadcaster, author, actor, and all-around Renaissance man, Patrick Watson, who was Chair of the CBC (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation) from 1989-1994. Patrick reviewed my poetry manuscript and taught me about meter, encouraged me to edit my work, and told me I have an authentic street voice. He gave me the confidence to put my work out there and I self-published my first volume of poetry called Eden Refugee in 2008. It has been described as visceral, dark poetry, that contains the element of the song lyric. Here are a few quotes: 

“Christine Bode has created an achingly beautiful work of art here.” ~ Tom DiCillo

 “She covers such a depth of human ecstasy and suffering…” ~ Gretchen Cornwall

 “Remarkable for its honesty and encompassing approach to those aspects of the human experience directly concerned with the heart and the search for fulfillment.” ~ Paige O’Neill

 “Dark poetry at its finest. Highly relatable with its cosmically mind-blowing truth of emotions. Emotionally, mentally and spiritually invigorating. Reminds you, even within darkness, there is light…” ~ Dawn Kilby


Jason:                                      What is your favorite poem you ever wrote and why is it your favorite?


Christine:

                                                 It’s really hard to choose just one but if I have to, I think I’d choose “Icicles in the Sun”, not because I think it’s my best work, but because it was inspired by one of my heroes, Bob Geldof, and his work for Ethiopian famine relief, including the original Live Aid concert in 1985. I wrote the poem in 1987 and I sent a copy of it to Bob telling him that if I ever made any money from my poetry, I’d donate it to Band-Aid. It’s a good thing that he didn’t rely on me for that! Geldof wrote me back, on Band-Aid stationery, and he told me that he thought that my poem was “brilliant.” That validation encouraged me to continue to write and I’ve since met Bob a couple of times and even helped establish his social media fan sites many years ago.

                                 ICICLES IN THE SUN (inspired by Bob Geldof)   by Christine Bode


The brain is a battleground of conflicting thoughts,
each nerve-end wired, bristling and taut.
Tears that fall like acid rain,
permeate an ozone layer of pain.

Deep in the heart of nowhere brews an imminent storm,
where hope is lost and faith is scorned.
Another Cajun sunset lost in the lust;
poison gasses form emotional rust.

Ideologies cultivate,
expand, evolve and dissipate;
bereft of truths to consummate,
numbed minds frozen in the grip of hate.

Each season passes with no revelation,
time consumed to absolve expectation.
Images severed with the blink of an eye,
if one person forgets, a million may die."

"Toxic warfare breeds minds of indifference,
scarred and bruised souls ignite massive exodus.
Put down the guns, it isn’t too late,
melt icicles in the sun; help the children escape.


Jason:                       You have worked with a lot of musicians as their social media manager/marketer. What is it that you do for them and how does it feel to know that so many musicians enjoy working with you?


Christine:

                                   I’ve been working as a social media manager and marketer through my business, Scully Love Promo, since March 2008, so I’ve worked with A LOT of musicians and some of them have been Juno and Grammy winners! I do many things for my clients, including creating and posting or prescheduling content on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter as well as grow their audiences on those platforms and monitor and/or answer comments from fans, create and run ad campaigns, add tour dates to websites and sites like Bandsintown, Songkick, etc., promote shows on various online events calendars, share and write press releases, track statistics, and even create websites using WordPress and Bandzoogle. I also offer tutorials in best practices for using Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for marketing purposes.

                                     In addition to all that, I work as a proofreader and editor and have edited every kind of document you can imagine from CD liner notes to PhD theses to novels. I’m the chief editor for a Canadian company called Publish and Promote. Working with musicians has been the greatest joy of my life.  I’m proud of my clients’ achievements and some of my clients have become my friends. I wish I had more time to regularly cheer them on, even after I’ve finished working with them.


Jason:                       What is your favorite thing about delivering quality results to your clients so that they refer you with confidence?

                My favorite thing is when my clients listen to me and do what I tell them to do so that I’m able to help them reach their social media marketing goals within a specific campaign and especially, to help them sell out their shows. It’s not an easy thing to do so when it happens, I’m overjoyed for them. Selling music online isn’t easy these days either and most artists make very little money through streaming so I really enjoy it when I can help them to stand out from the crowd on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter and I see their fans engaging with them.  Creating a significant audience of super fans is what social media is all about for musicians.  I like to think that they believe in my integrity - in the quality of my work and my knowledge of social media best practices – and because I keep their confidential information, confidential. About 95% of my clients come from client or music industry colleague referrals so I guess I’m doing something right.


Jason:                            Are you working on any new poetry projects and, if so, what can you tell us?


Christine:

                                        I am. I’m working on my second book of poetry that I’ve titled Pagan Pathology. I’ve written 22 poems for it so far, but I have no idea when it will be finished. Like I said, I write from experience, so I just live my life and continue to try to experience new things to write about. My first book took me 30 years to write but I hope that the second won’t take even half that long!


Jason:                             How does someone who wants to invest in your services or buy your poetry go about doing so?


Christine:

                                         Anyone who is interested in contacting me about my services can reach me through my website at  HYPERLINK  https://scullylovepromo.com or by email at

 HYPERLINK "mailto:  scullylovepromo@gmail.com and then we can talk on the phone."

Eden Refugee can be purchased on demand through Lulu at:

                                                                       Link:  https://www.amazon.com/Eden-Refugee-Christine-Bode/dp/1435726308/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1530143192&sr=1-2


Please note that the best review of my book of poetry can be found here:

HYPERLINK.   http://www.tomdicillo.com/143-eden-refugee-by-christine-bode


                                        Christine Bode was motivated to write poetry because it is a great way for her to process her emotions and experiences. Her work has been said to be both achingly beautiful and dark. My favorite thing about Christine is that even though her poetry gets great reviews, and she has touched people with her work, she doesn’t make it her primary focus. Instead, she is constantly helping musicians to connect with their fans through social media and provides editing and proofreading services to others to make sure that they give their readers their very best. That is why it is always positive to shine a spotlight on someone that doesn’t look for it. Her quality of work and loyal followers guarantees you that in whatever she does, she will always give it and you, her very best.

                                        Click on the link above and buy Eden Refugee.


                                                                                        Jason E. Foss
                                                                                        Empowered-individuals.blogspot.com

                                                                                         954 743 8670

                           

                                                                                       

                       

J. Webb Garrett "Neon Calico" An Interview with J. Webb Garrett by Jason E. Foss

                                                                                  J. WEBB GARRETT

                                          "Great Authors have an imagination that far exceeds their Readers expectations.  They'll see the limitations of creativity and surpass it because their vision is beyond any boundaries.  It doesn't matter that a pen and paper is usually black and white when that pen hits that paper and those chapters start adding up all the Reader sees is color.  Action and vibrant life and a story that captures your attention to the very end.  This is not an easy feat for anyone.  They know their character like the back of their hand but when they write them they come out even better than they imagined.  Their love for their genre and their vision takes their story to the next level.  J. Webb Garrett is one of these great Authors.  He let us know what motivated him."

                                                                                                               Jason E. Foss



Jason:                                  "What motivated you to write "Neon Calico"?


J.W.:

                                             "I've had a love of science/speculative fiction for as long as I can remember, and cyberpunk has always been a sub-genre I've felt close to. I developed the character of Calico several years before I began writing NEON Calico, but held on to her for when the time was right."

                                             "When I returned to college to complete Graduate School, I opted for the route of a Creative Thesis, as my focus was in English and Creative Writing. During my second year, I took a class on cyberpunk fiction and through it was inspired to turn my thesis into a full novel. I sought to embrace many of the themes and tropes of the cyberpunk genre while not being fully constrained by them, using them to enhance the story while still telling the story I wanted to tell. I wanted to see a character who embraced human augmentation, rather than seeing yet another tale of "oh no, I have robot parts that make me into Superman. How tragic," I wanted to showcase a character who lived with her augmentations, who accepted them as part of her, yet who still struggled with issues of acceptance and cybernetic maintenance, an element I've not seen often portrayed within the genre."


Jason:                                     "What characteristic of Neon Calico can you relate to the most and why?"


J.W.:

                                                "I most relate to Calico in her questions of what it means to be accepted and her struggle between expectations of her and her own desires and dreams. Being a writer is no easy task, nor is it an easy road to success, but it is what I've always dreamed of being. Calico fights against what is expected of her, living her life her own way. I admire her for this, for her strength of will and character. She is, in many ways, the sort of person I would want to be."


                                                "Not in the sense of being a criminal mercenary, of course, but in sticking to one's beliefs, being true to themselves, and not letting others control what she does with her life."


Jason:                                     "For your fans and book lovers briefly describe the book "Neon Calico"."


J.W.:

                                                "NEON Calico takes place in a future vision of Chicago. Not a distant future, but one which might be possible within the next 100 years or so. This is an age of the auger, the cyborg, as humanity has developed the technology to enhance the human body through mechanical and genetic means."

                                                 "Calico herself is a troubleshooter, a mercenary agent who operates outside of the law, taking jobs from ordinary citizens and megacorporations alike. Having fled the corporate life her father, a Hong Kong businessman, created for her, she hopes to leave her past behind her."

                                                 "Of course, this is a hard thing to do when that past comes looking her for. From her half-brother, she learns about Project: Stray, something her father has in the works which may threaten her freedom, so she agrees to seek it out, her desire being to be free of her family's influence. Unfortunately, nothing is ever so easy, and she finds herself embroiled in a battle for her very identity and free will."


Jason:                                    "Are you working on another book and if so what can you tell us about it?"


J.W.:

                                              "I am working on other books. Currently, I am finishing a second draft of the third book in my urban fantasy series, The Morrighan's Song, which is a modern take on Irish mythology set in a modern, rural America. This book is titled The Mantle of Czernobog and should be available later this year. The other books in the series, which are both available now, are 'The Eye of Balor' and 'Curse of the Black Dog'."

                                              "Once I finish this draft and send it off to readers for review, I intend to start on a fantasy story I've long been in the process of trying to bring to life."


Jason:                                  "For those that want to read your book what is the easiest way to buy "Neon Calico"?"

J.W.:

                                              "You can find NEON Calico, as well as all my works, on Amazon  https://www.amazon.com/J.-Webb-Garrett/e/B07DFBLZGJ/ref=dp_byline_cont_book_1


                                                                                      CLOSING

                                   "J. Webb Garrett was motivated by his love for science/speculative fiction for as long as he can remember.  My favorite thing about this great Author is how he brought Neon Calico to life and created a character that represents the sort of person he wants to be.  His colorful and unique novel has great reviews which call it 'cyberpunk on steroids' or 'great main character, well written, and fun read.'  When Readers all come to the same conclusion and want more from Neon Calico after they read it you know it's worth the read.  J. Webb Garrett took his love for his favorite genre and added his own twist by creating a character unlike any other to give you a new experience.  This great book has the themes of cyberpunk but stands out and has no limitations making this one a page turner.  Click on the link above and buy "Neon Calico"."

                                                                                          Jason E. Foss

                                                                                          Empowered-individuals.blogspot.com
                                                                                          954 743 8670

Faye Rapoport DesPres "Little White" An Interview with Faye Rapoport DesPres

                                                                           FAYE RAPOPORT DESPRES

                                                 Great Authors are known a lot for their creativity and giving us an adventure for our minds.  They know how to open up our imaginations.  Their writing is so good that they can make us believe in the unbelievable.  When you have the ability to write something that can make someone who is going through hard times smile and forget about any and everything that ever bothered them you have the power to change lives.  When your book can do that for a kid than you can truly make a difference.  Faye Rapoport is one of these great Authors.  She let us know what motivated her."

                                                                                                                        Jason E. Foss


Jason:                                      "What motivated you to write  "Little White"?"


Faye:

                                                 "Little White is a feral cat who came into our lives some years ago, when I was involved in caring for and rescuing the cats from a feral colony in our former neighborhood. She is a very special cat (I know, they all are!) and her story is one that I knew would touch many hearts. Publishing my first book, a literary memoir-in-essays, was an extraordinary experience, but it was also emotionally challenging. I wanted to write something lighter and for a different audience for a change of pace. My publisher had specialized for much of her career in children's literature, and I floated the idea of telling Little White's story in that genre. She liked the idea. It took some time for us to make it happen, but I was motivated by a desire to raise awareness about stray and feral cats and to help children understand the importance of caring about animals. Little White's story is also a story about hope, survival, and finding a family, and that message transcends species."


Jason:                                       "What was one of your favorite compliments from a parent or their child about "Little White"?"


Faye:

                                                   "I have received a lot of wonderful photos of children reading Little White, and even one video of a child reading an entire page and giggling at the word "gobbled." All of that has been rewarding. I have heard from parents and grandparents who have said their children loved the book, and one child who kept telling his grandmother, "That's a true story!""

                                                     "I think one of the best compliments I received was in the form of one of the photographs. I had given a copy of the book to a mom whose family had been having a rough time due to domestic issues and financial problems. She sent me a photograph of her smiling young daughter holding up the book and their cat. Seeing that smiling child with the book when I knew she'd had such a tough year made it all worth it."


Jason:                                            "For your fans and book lovers briefly describe your book "Little White"."


Faye:

                                                        "Little White: The Feral Cat Who Found a Home is a children's picture book directed at ages 3-8. It is a true story about a feral cat who lived in our neighborhood. She was born outside and was very wild. Because of certain circumstances (I won't give it away), it became necessary to bring her inside, even though she'd never lived in a house. The book tells the story of how I got her inside and helped her enjoy a happy, safe life indoors. Little White (whose name is explained in the book) still lives with my husband and me today. The book is charmingly illustrated by Laurel McKinstry Petersen and published by Writers Coffee Bar Press, which is run by the wonderful MaryChris Bradley."


Jason:                                              "Are you working on another book and if so what can you tell us about it?"


Faye:

                                                          "The second book in the "Stray Cat Stories" series will be published on August 19, 2019, which is National Clear the Shelters Day. The book is titled Tribbs: The Cat Who Was So Handsome! and is based on the true story of another cat who appears in Little White's book. A portion of all of the proceeds from these books goes to animal rescue organizations. I am also always willing to donate a free copy to a non-profit who would like to sell one at a fundraiser, and I am happy to work with non-profit rescues who would like to sell copies of the books to raise money."

                                                            "Soon, I hope to start on more creative nonfiction, as well, and recently I've been writing some poetry."


Jason:                               "For those that want to read your book what is the easiest way to buy "Little White"?"


Faye:

                                            "Little White: The Feral Cat Who Found a Home is available online at Amazon.  

 https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1941523161?pf_rd_p=1cac67ce-697a-47be-b2f5-9ae91aab54f2&pf_rd_r=GXN86QQ2M4FNX0STM1CB  

                                                                                     and Barnes and Noble  

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/little-white-faye-rapoport-despres/1129720485?ean=9781941523179

as well as other online stores. As a matter of fact, they are having a bit of a price war on the hardcover at the moment, so the prices are lower than usual this week. The book is available in hardcover, paperback, and e-book formats."

           
                                                       "I also like to support local, independent bookstores, so anyone who would like to buy one locally can tell their local bookseller that the book is available from Ingram. Bookstores can order copies to sell in their shops."


                                                                                      CLOSING

                                      "Faye Rapoport DesPres was motivated by a desire to raise awareness about stray and feral cats and to help children understand the importance of caring about animals. My favorite thing about Faye is the impact she is having on a lot of people.  Her book is amazing from the cover all the way to the very last page.  I also enjoy the story behind her story.  The fact that she is an environmentalist.  That a portion of all proceeds from her book sales goes to animal rescue.  That her book is a bridge between parents and children everywhere and when they are done reading a memory was made that is worth more than Gold.  It's obvious that cats can't speak but I believe "Little White" knows what happened.  Knows that she was unsafe and unsure and someone made her safe and sure in a safer environment to this very day.  And that person is Faye Rapoport DesPres.  Books like this are turning stray cats to pets on a daily basis.  Click on the link above and buy "Little White".

                                                                               

                                                                                          Jason E. Foss

                                                                                          Empowered-individuals.blogspot.com
                                                                                          954 743 8670

Susan K. Hamilton "Shadow King" An Interview with Susan K. Hamilton by Jason E. Foss

                                                                              SUSAN K. HAMILTON

                                            "Great Authors have an answer to every writer's block and a resilience that defies any obstacle in front of their next story.  It doesn't matter how long it takes they will write a book that will amaze us.  Their imagination has taught their creative minds to fly.  If their story feels like their is a dead end they will make believe their is a secret trail that leads to a short cut to another great idea.  Their fans and Readers are impressed every time and have no clue of the adventure these brilliant writers put themselves through.  But in the end all that matters is the connection their words have with their Readers.  I admire their humble confidence to deliver quality books the way that they do.  Susan K. Hamilton is one of these great Authors.  She let us know what motivated her."

                                                                                                                             Jason E. Foss


Jason:                                  "What motivated you to write "Shadow King"?"


Susan:

                                              "To be honest, I was desperately seeking an idea for NaNoWriMo. I’d been a little stuck and not really coming up with any new, original ideas and it was the night before NaNo started—and as I raked leaves in my yard, I just started to wonder what the different kinds of faeries would do if they lived in our world. When I thought about the darker faeries, I immediately thought they’d be criminals…
And then the idea of Aohdan, the Fae who ran Boston’s criminal underworld jumped into my head. From there, it was off to the races and I used NaNo to construct my first draft."


Jason:                                    "Which character can you relate to the most and why?


Susan:

                                                "That would probably be Seireadan, my female protagonist, although Seireadan is way cooler than I am. I think I relate to her in the sense that she doesn’t like to show weakness or insecurity, and that’s something I think everyone can relate to at least one time or another."

                                             
Jason:                                      "For your fans and book lovers briefly describe "Shadow King".


Susan:

                                                  "Centuries ago, the faerie realm was decimated by a spell so vile and corrupt, it destroyed everything. To survive, the different faerie races—led by the Fae—escaped to the human realm."

                                                  "As the Fae Patriarch of Boston’s criminal underworld, Aohdan Collins enjoys his playboy lifestyle while he ruthlessly works from the shadows to expand his growing empire. Until one night—when he shares a shot of whiskey with the lovely Seireadan Moore…"

                                                   "A Fae Seer, Seireadan is haunted by a vision of the Fae responsible for destroying Faerie—and murdering her family. Common sense tells her to stay away from Aohdan, but his magnetism and charm are irresistible."

                                                   "As their passionate affair intensifies, Seireadan is pulled into the center of the underworld, but she can’t let go of her lifelong quest to hunt down the Fae who haunts her visions… especially when she realizes Aohdan might be the key to helping her find him."

                                                    "But is revenge worth betraying the one she loves?"


Jason:                                          "Are you working on another book and if so what can you tell us about it?"


Susan:

                                                      "I actually have another book in pre-production with Inkshares called The Devil Inside, and it is an urban fantasy about Mara, an ambitious devil who is dead-set on becoming Hell’s #1 sales and acquisitions devil, but then she meets Duncan, a disgruntled angel stuck in a dead-end job with a boss he can’t stand. Duncan is exactly the kind of trouble that Mara doesn’t need, but can’t resist and they start a passionate affair despite the well-known rumors that Lucifer will tear the wings off any devil that falls for an angel."

                                                       "But when Mara’s biggest rival begins to suspect, Mara has to choose. Let Duncan take the fall for her, or reveal all her secrets… and watch all Hell break loose."

                                                         "The Devil Inside will hopefully release at the end of 2019 or start of 2020—it will all depend on when it gets to the editor."

                                                          "In addition to that, I have started a follow up to Shadow King but that is a definite work-in-progress right now."

                                                   
Jason:                                              "For those that want to read your book what is the easiest way to buy "Shadow King"?"


Susan:

                                                           "You can find Shadow King online at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and IndieBound… or you can ask for it at your local bookseller!"


Jason:                                                 "Where can readers and fans connect with you?"


Susan:

                                                              "I’d love to hear from readers! On Twitter you can find me at @RealSKHamilton (same for Instagram), and on Facebook, you can find me at  HYPERLINK

                                                              https://www.facebook.com/hamiltonsusank

And if you’d like to sign up for my newsletter, you can do that at my web site: www.susankhamilton.com


                                                                                       CLOSING

                                       "Susan K. Hamilton was motivated when the idea of Aohdan, the Fae who ran Boston’s criminal underworld jumped into her head. My favorite thing about Susan is when she said once she found her next great idea it was off to the races.  Because I believe there is life and energy in a great book.  And if the Author is just writing to fill blank pages people may read it but for it to be a page turner more times than less the Author must have some level of excitement about it.  That energy will be felt as their story builds and builds and becomes real to the imagination of the Reader.  This dark fanatsy book continues to have great reviews and this Author has done a lot of great things but she has yet to let us down.  Click on the link above and buy the "Shadow King".

                                                                                          Jason E. Foss

                                                                                          Empowered-individuals.blogspot.com
                                                                                          954 743 8670

Cynthia Austin "Tainted Luck" An Interview with Cynthia Austin by Jason E. Foss

                                                                                  CYNTHIA AUSTIN

                                  "Great Authors have so many qualities especially the ability to write stories that stand out.  Their originality effortlessly is displayed throughout the chapters in their books.  Their main character is so unique that they seem real to you and the more you turn the pages the more you connect to the story.  A few chapters in and you're hooked.  There is no rules to what they write about because they refuse to limit the mind's imagination.  Their Readers are too important to them.  It's that mindset that gets people excited about reading their work!  Cynthia Austin is one of these great Authors.  She let us know what motivated her."
                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                        Jason E. Foss


Jason:                        "What motivated you to write "Tainted Luck"?"


Cynthia:

                                  "Surprisingly enough, the album Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge by My Chemical Romance inspires all of my books. Gerard Way describes Three Cheers as a concept album and although I know there is a story buried deep inside the music, every time I try to pull it out, I end up creating a new story completely different and unrelated.  In the end, it was music by the band, Anarbor that I found myself listening to while fleshing out Taylor James' unstable personality."


Jason:                        "Which character can you relate to the most and why?"


Cynthia:

                                    "I suppose I would say Taylor James could be my alter-ego. This eccentric, loud mouthed hyperactive girl that refuses to follow rules. Oh wait, maybe that’s just me in real life, minus the power of telekinesis."


Jason:                          "For your fans and book lovers briefly describe "Tainted Luck"."


Cynthia:

                                       "Tainted Luck is a story which highlights many taboo subjects such as inappropriate student teacher relationships, teen suicide, statutory rape and mental illness, all wrapped up in a short, at times, humorous fashion."


Jason:                              "Are you working on another book and if so what can you tell us about it?"


Cynthia:

                                          "I am currently working on the fourth installment of The Pendant Series. Adrian, the supernatural antagonist that Sidney fell in love with is back and with his return, her life is once again turned upside down. More lore is explored, new characters introduced and with it, readers will learn the story of the first vampire ever created."


Jason:                                "For those that want to read your book what is the easiest way to buy "Tainted Luck"?"


Cynthia:

                                           "Amazon is the easiest way, but for readers who would prefer a signed paperback, they can always reach out to me via social media."



                    https://www.amazon.com/Tainted-Luck-Cynthia-Austin-ebook/dp/B07G2WMMXK


                                                                               CLOSING

                                         "Cynthia Austin was motivated by the album by My Chemical Romance.  Also, listening to music by the band Anarbor helped her create Taylor James 'unstable personality'.  I admire her ability to keep creating completely different and unrelated stories each time.  My favorite thing about Cynthia is her creative process for writing her books.  There is usually something that gives us this spark that gets our creativity to flow.  Music is one of hers and she takes advantage of it and the results show.  She has a great personality to the point that some of her Readers literally shared some of their favorite quotes from her book when they gave Reviews.  Her ability to connect with her Readers is one of her many talents and she continues to deliver quality books each time.  Click on the link above and buy "Tainted Luck".


           
                                                                                          Jason E. Foss

                                                                                          Empowered-individuals.blogspot.com
                                                                                          954 743 8670

                                                                                                         
             

                                                                                       

H.E. Wilburson "The Day Of The Martians" An Interview with H.E. Wilburson by Jason E. Foss

                                                                                    H.E. WILBURSON

                                           "Great Authors have many qualities and one of those great qualities is to write with a sense of Purpose.  They can take on the toughest writing project but their love for what they are writing conquers any fear of letting anyone down.  They have this vision for what they want and they execute it.   They are passionate about the story and believe in it so much that the Reader feels their passion in every single page.  That's what Readers want.  They want to connect with the story.  And when you have an Author that gives themself this responsibility of giving their very best in every chapter the Reader will notice that what they are reading was done with care.  That lazer type focus to create something that will draw you in is a special talent especially when they don't do it for acknowledgement but for their love of writing.  H.E. Wilburson is one of these great Authors.  He let us know what motivated him."

                                                                                                           Jason E. Foss


Jason:                                "What motivated you to write 'The Martian Diaries'?"


H.E.

                                            "I have always loved 'The War Of The Worlds' by H.G.Wells, and felt I wanted to write a sequel to it. I hope that 'The Martian Diaries' is a seamless continuation of Wells' invasion story, both as a prequel and sequel. I have attempted to answer many of the questions that I feel Wells left unresolved in his original book, so that hopefully by the end of my trilogy, the classic 'The War Of The Worlds' has been concluded in a way that Wells himself would have been happy with."


Jason:                                  "Which character can you relate to the most and why?"


H.E.

                                               "Good question. It's not the same as liking a character. I think I relate more to the narrator who is a writer too.  He becomes involved in a new engagement with Martians,  and although he is not the heroic type he tries to do his best even when things don't go to plan."


Jason:                                     "For your fans and book lovers briefly describe 'The Martian Diaries'."


H.E.

                                                  "'The Martian Diaries' is my explanation of why the Martians came to Earth in H.G.Wells' original story and about how humans perceive their own existence within the universe. Ultimately it is about hope, even in the most hopeless of scenarios."


Jason:                                         "Are you working on another book and if so what can you tell us about it?"


H.E.

                                                     "I am in the final stages of finishing book 2 of the trilogy, entitled 'Lake On The Moon', which like the first book 'The Day Of The Martians', includes my own original music. At over 5 hours it is a longer and darker part of the series. It opens at the time of H.G.Wells' original Martian invasion, and contains a prequel to his story. I continue with the original primary characters, through the aftermath of World War 1 and an even more sinister engagement with Martians in 1919. It sets up the events to come in the final book 'Gateway to Mars'. If I have done my job well, listeners should find 'Lake On The Moon' resonates even more closely with 'The War Of The Worlds'."


Jason:                                           "For those that want to read your book what is the easiest way to buy 'The Martian Diaries'."


H.E.:

                                                       "Currently the audiobook is available on Amazon (Audible) here mybook.to/thedayofthemartians but also on iTunes, Audiobooks.com and Google Play. It will shortly be available on CD.


                                                                                     CLOSING

                                                        "H.E. Wilburson's love for 'War Of The Worlds' motivated him to not only expand on the story but to also give us his own touch so we can also appreciate his creative talents as well.  My favorite thing about this great Author is his humility.  He uses words like 'attempt' to answer any unresolved questions or he 'hopes' that his trilogy will be concluded in a way that Wells himself would have been happy with.  Not only did he write a great story but he did it selflessly with Wells and his love for 'War Of The Worlds' in the back of his mind.  And when someone writes with a sense of Purpose that is bigger than themself the quality of that book is going to be appreciated to those that read it.  Click on the link above and buy "The Day Of The Martians"."


                                                                                          Jason E. Foss

                                                                                          Empowered-individuals.blogspot.com
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