Chester and the Eggie Boo by Author Nick Mackie

All aboard! Choo - Choo, Eggie Boo! A beautifully illustrated children's picture book by Nick Mackie Chester lives in an old railway station that has been converted into a seaside café and home. When playing with his toys Chester dreams of a past when real trains stopped at the station. The magic machine in Chester's bedroom is the portal into the fantastical land of Eggie Boo. Its special tickets transform the old station into a magical railway, with a mysterious train, and eccentric passengers.

About the Author

N.R Mackie is an award-winning animator, director and illustrator.

As a creative he has worked for many years in the animation industry at studios such as the Oscar winning Aardman Animations, 4:2:2 and Picasso Pictures.

Dino Zoo is his first novel.

Nick has won a BBC Talent award for animation, a Royal Television Society award, been in competition at Annecy, Edinburgh, Portland, London and numerous other international film festivals.

He once even won the funniest film in Belgium award!

He has also illustrated & written two pre-school children's books and contributed to others.

Nick lives in the sunny South West of England with his musician partner, their young son, and naughty border terrier.

He is presently thinking about plots for the next Dino Zoo book.


Chester and the Eggie Boo available on Amazon

Read more about Nick Mackie and his work

Review of "Coming Out the Other Side"

This book is an incredible window into the mystery of life, struggles and the pains that come unexpectedly and change everything; just like when the remorseless monster called cancer announces itself.  As the author Alfred Samuels writes: “… 20 minutes prior, I was someone who was a functioning and real part of society, then minutes later, I’m told that I’m no longer going to be a part of that.”

I loved a part of the book where he writes about his life before cancer. He was a bodyguard for many celebrities, dedicated to maintaining professionalism and hard work. He lived the life full of excitement. He lived fast. Time left for himself and those he loved was scarce. I think many of us can relate to such fast-paced life.

This story is quite frankly the most meaningful non-fiction book I've read in very long time. This book is very well written and I admire the spiritual perspective in which it was presented. It can teach one a whole new approach to staying positive even then when that’s the hardest thing to do. 

I also found it quite easy to read, understand and follow. Most importantly, its ultimate message was not one of sadness and despair over things we cannot change, but one of deep illumination, determination and hope. I highly recommend this book.

                                                                                            About the Author

Throughout his extensive career Alfred Samuels, was a bodyguard to some of the world’s leading celebrities. Throughout he was an active, mentally alert, mega fit individual, given the needs of his particular industry. However, without announcement his world came to an unforeseeable crashing halt. On a fateful day in January 2012, his doctor informed him that he had been diagnosed with advanced metastatic prostate cancer, stage four. This book is a record of his journey from Ignorance to Coming out the other side with a mission, to change the world’s perception and awareness to the dangers of prostate cancer. It raises the inevitable question, How aware are you? It is predicted by the American Cancer Society that in 2015, 27,540 men will die from prostate cancer. Of the same disease in the UK in 2012, 10,837 men perished. Yet these statistics could be so drastically reduced. Alfred never thought prostate cancer, would dare to enter his world, yet it did without favour or kind. If you think it cannot enter your world, then think again because it can and in the blink of an eye take you out. 

In a world where men are seen as invincible, there exists, an attitude of invincibility; fearlessness, proudness, being in-control and invulnerability. Take a stereotypical example: A man without trousers, exposed and vulnerable to the dangers of the world around him, cannot truly be a man, can he? In their efforts to project that image, all they do is cause severe and profound damage, to themselves and all those around them. This is not a bad thing but it leads us to the belief that the same can be said of prostate cancer, that naivety is no answer to education and awareness. My diagnosis did not need to be so drastic, had I been more aware of the disease. With that said, I refuse now to leave this planet, before completing my mission to change the Taboo, as relates to prostate cancer. 

Read more about Alfred Samuels and his work

Patriots of Treason by Author David Thomas Roberts

A nation in crisis. A president of division. A deadlocked Congress. The United States is on the brink of civil war--again. Only a courageous federal whistle blower, an ordinary Texan and a governor who won't tolerate the shredding of the Constitution can thwart an evil conspiracy by the federal government.

President Tyrell Johnson, the first fully black president, is riding a renewed wave of popularity as he runs for his second term. He wins re-election, based largely on an ''October Surprise.'' An assassination attempt on Johnson creates the perfect scapegoat--the Tea Party--through a deceit so well disguised that it comes dangerously close to succeeding.

But, like patriots before them, some won't stand for it. Some will become Patriots of Treason!

Find more about Patriots of Treason



                                                             

About Author:

Originally from southern Illinois, David Thomas Roberts moved to San Antonio, Texas in 1967 when he was eight years old. His family made regular trips to the Alamo with family, friends, neighbors and visiting relatives during the1968 World 's Fair, "Hemisphere '68 and in years after."

The story of The Alamo, the spirit of all its Texan heroes, and the fight for Texas independence left an indelible impression on him that has endured a lifetime.

As a "naturalized" Texan, Roberts has become a staunch defender and admirer of all things Texas, including her rich and unique history, politics, culture and people.

The author is active in politics and the movement for modern-day Texas

Independence, and has been a speaker at Tea Party events.

Roberts is a serial Entrepreneur and is the CEO of a Houston, Texas area technology firm focused on telecommunications. Roberts holds a U.S. Patent and has one patent pending.

Roberts lives in Texas with his wife of 29 years. They have four children and one grandchild, all of whom have been blessed to have been born "Native Texans."


Read more about David Thomas Roberts and his work.

Review of The Zombie Truth by Vincent St. Vincent

After reading The Zombie Truth synopsis I expected a story that will keep me fiercely engaged, but I wasn't expecting it to be as intense as it was. The author created a great flow, pouring out this fast paced story at a believable race of wit against a reader knows who... one could clearly picture himself/herself right there... Hanging on...to the Honest truth... He captured the essence of violence; the book demonstrates it through the link between common dangers we are facing in today’s world and extraordinary threats that could become obvious in a near future. As the author wrote: “They’re out there! And now they’re after us.”  

I especially loved blended emotions presented in this work that pull the reader’s heartstrings as well as strike his/her nerves. Interactions between characters are presented in creative yet down to earth way. Overall, this book is very unpredictable and captivating. I highly recommend this great read and 

can't wait for the rest of this series. 

Synopsis:

Clip clop. Do you hear it now? Clip clop, clip clop. Nearer and nearer, as steady and inexorable as the tick of clock.

Before he hears it, Robert’s life is on track. Despite being an average sort of guy, he seems to have it all: a little apartment near Tampa Bay; a secure, longterm relationship with a charming, talented film major; the shining promise of a career in neuropsychiatry, a field he’s passionate about, once he finishes his doctoral thesis. Everything is going according to plan, and that’s exactly the way that pragmatic, stolid Robert likes things to go.

But when the world starts going mad one grisly news headline at a time, Robert’s life begins to fall apart in a relentless series of events ranging from maddening to deadly. His girlfriend’s ex-boyfriend is edging in, putting his formerly rock-solid relationship on suddenly shaky ground. Violent riots are taking over the city. People he knows are beginning to drop like flies, falling victim to or joining the mass insanity. Others are attempting to flee Tampa by the thousands, but as the terror sweeps the nation, no place and no one is safe from the monsters. They are everywhere: on the bus, in the streets…in the mirror.

Meanwhile, Robert must bear the heavy burden of being the only one who really suspects the truth. In an eerie coincidence, his thesis research foretold and parallels the sudden plague of malevolence corrupting society, making him perhaps the world’s premier expert on the topic. Now, instead of merely researching the trend, he finds himself inside of it, fighting for his life and that of the woman he loves in a city that’s rapidly transforming into a hellish landscape out of his worst nightmare.

And Robert knows nightmares. Long ago, something dark and evil shadowed his childhood and ripped his idyllic, small-town family apart, changing the course of his life forever. The twisted secret was locked away long ago, so why is it suddenly haunting him again now, when derangement is spreading through humanity like an unstoppable pestilence?

Poor Robert. It turns out that skeletons can escape their closets. They can hate you. They can hunt you. They can eat you alive.

As his past and present crash together with shocking fury, the explosion imperils everything Robert holds dear. But clues lie in the resulting wreckage…potential keys to unlock the deeper truths that hide buried in every human being’s soul, truths regarding mankind’s chaotic spiral into rabid viciousness. Is he brave enough to unlock them?

Are you? Clip clop. You’re running out of time to decide. They’re coming.

“We’re not admitting the true intention behind this project,” explains its creator. “I could be tongue-in-cheek; a way to add new spice to the world’s obsession with zombies and the apocalypse, or it could all be true and a genuine warning to humanity. We’ll leave readers to figure it out for themselves.”

Continuing, “The book’s adventure continues on the website, which again is steeped in enigma. There’s video, excerpts and a biography of the author that really do make it seem all too real. The question is, are you prepared to do what it takes to survive?”

Since its release, the book has garnered a string of rave reviews. Evangeline Tucker comments, “Vincent St. Vincent’s The Zombie Truth stacks up well against the very best novels of any genre over the past decade. It is set in Tampa, Florida. If our civilization reached a crest, where it might have just begun the work of troweling down a bit of plaster of society and good will over the raw swamp that is the original wild weed of human nature, it is indeed Tampa, Florida. There is no better setting for a zombie story than Tampa, because as civilization begins to ebb, it will likely retreat first in Tampa.” 

Karolyn Rice adds, “This book is seriously depressing because it feels like something that could really happen, almost. It seems like every day I read the news, there’s some new, horrific story about evil people in this world. I mean, there’s no doubt evil is growing day by day, so if that trend continues, what’s to keep something like this from happening?”

Find more about The Zombie Truth  

About the Author: 

Vincent St. Vincent published his first professional work at age eighteen while studying abroad at Cambridge University. The London Times purchased an opinion piece about the use of subliminal sexual imagery in cigarette ads which the young Vincent originally penned for his school paper. Soon afterwards Vincent realized he had found his calling in a profitable passion. He graduated at age twenty-one, already considered among the world’s foremost experts on subversive memetics inculcation indoctrination. With a minor in ancient middle eastern dialects and athletic accolades in both swimming and diving, Vincent St. Vincent could have pursued many an interesting path.

He returned to his home city of Santa Barbara where he lives with his pack of Danish wolfhounds. Vincent spends his days writing or creating subversive memes engineered to reveal the truths hidden from society. He spends his nights dining with socialites and attending lavish soirees. Although little is known for certain, Vincent has vanished from his ranch-style home for weeks at a time during large memetic operations involving the North American and European governing and corporate entities.

Of course there is no evidence that Vincent St. Vincent has ever used his expertise in subversive memetics to aid any of the world’s super powers, and his frequent travel is easily explained by the author’s many exotic hobbies. When he needs to get away from it all Vincent St. Vincent discovers new species in deep sea caves or reconstructs mechanical devices described in ancient Sanskrit texts. He is credited as being among the first ten independent practitioners to reverse engineer a working Baghdad Battery and recently began collaborating with cave divers mapping the massive network of flooded caverns beneath the Yucatan peninsula.

Kalki Evian: The Ring of Khaoriphea by author Malay Upadhyay

Every choice we make leads to its own unique consequence. To change the consequence, therefore, one must travel back in time to change the choice. But what if such change, instead of altering our future, simply created another - one that came to exist simultaneously with our world? 
This is a story of how one such moment of love led to two parallel futures; a story of how your choices have an impact far beyond the world you know; a phenomenon that we had sensed, and wished for, all along.

Review of Atlantis Explained by Author Dennis Brooks

As a writer and avid reader of nonfiction books, as well as lifetime learner of history, different civilizations and cultures, I was so eager to read this book. I have to say that ‘Atlantis Explained’ exceeded my expectations by being quite different in many aspects of its incredible plot… it has great content, easy to comprehend format and most importantly substance. It is obvious that Dennis Brooks is a diligent researcher in addition to being an excellent storyteller, and that's what makes this book so interesting. This book demonstrates to the reader something so truthful and amazing, when a person is in a quest for the meaning, he or she may realize that everything revolves around history. As the author wrote: Many people are searching for Atlantis, its treasures, and its connection to the modern world.
I found this book very enjoyable, informative, and engaging. I can’t recommend it enough. 


Find more information about Atlantis Explained

Review of Adaptation- Part 1 by Author Jeremy Tyrrell

This is a very well-crafted book that keeps a reader on his/her toes. I found the story to be thought provoking and filled with descriptive language painting a dramatic picture which simply drew me in and kept my attention all the way through. The characters are very realistic and engaging into an intriguing plot that is at the same time smooth and down- to- earth and adventurous and full of mystery. I got a good sense of each of their desires, struggles, and complex personalities. Also, I found the pace of the "reveal" to be very well timed that makes the read even more interesting and entertaining. My favorite line in Adaptation Part 1, which dictates the story, is “It had asked and answered many questions, often leading to further questions, always in an attempt to sate the hunger for knowledge.”

This is very captivating and riveting read with many unusual twists… a true page turner of some considerable quality. I highly recommend this book and very much look forward to reading a sequel. 

He Was (a Ray Lafayette Novel) by Author Thomas William Lowrie

Ever had one of those days, how about one of those weeks? If you haven't, you are missing out. I spent years priding myself in the fact that I was always with it, I always had my wits about me, until that day. My life changed and not just a little. I became someone else, someone who was far stronger than I am, someone who I could only hope to be. Ray Lafayette was a man who was neither rich nor famous yet I lived every day to see what he would do next. The fear I experienced in that time only made the happiness that much more exiting. I have heard the statement "Don't judge a man until you walk a mile in his shoes." I walked many miles in his and can say with pride that he and all others from his time were the greatest, all colors, all nationalities, young and old, men and women alike. It may sound great to know the future but there is a dark side to it, an almost unbearable side. Your eyes will be opened to things your mind may not handle.This event has changed me. I no longer wish for things, I live for them.

Available on Amazon

Find more information about Thomas William Lowrie and his work

The Writer's Sidekick for Novels: The Perfect Notebook for Writers by Author Mr. Andres Fragoso Jr.

                                                      http://www.writerssidekick.com

As a writer, do you struggle to get yourself organized when writing a story? Do you start with a character and by chapter four he became a she and with a different name altogether? Maybe at the beginning of your story, your heroine has blue eyes and has one name, at the end of the story she becomes a hero, with the same name, just different sex. Do you find some of your stories have the location as a town and in later chapters a city in a different country? Have you noticed that you employ more time and efforts looking for notes that you have written on napkins, in notebooks, or hiding under your bed? You have had enough of wasting time looking for information that you already took notes on. Now, unexpectedly you find The Writer’s Notebook that is formatted to address some of your specific needs. Now you can concentrate on writing and not seeking the specifics.


Available on Amazon

Author Franck Ismael D. and his new book "Éducation et santé alimentaire, le secret de la longévité"

La médecine moderne c’est éloigne de la conception d’hippocratique de la maladie. Hippocrate, le père de la médecine moderne sur lequel les médecins font leur serment. Hippocrate disait que soigner l’homme, c’est le soigner avec la nourriture. « Si quelqu’un désire la santé, il faut d’abord lui demander s’il est prêt à supprimer les causes de sa maladie. Alors seulement il est possible de l’avoir. » « Si tu es malade, recherche d’abord ce que tu as fait pour le devenir. » « Que ta nourriture soit ta médecine, et ta médecine, ta nourriture. » Ce livre est une invitation à l’éducation alimentaire et à la santé alimentaire (par le biais des aliments que nous mangeons). « Que ton aliment soit ta seule médecine. » Je ne les ai pas choisies par hasard, cette citation vient d’Hippocrate, le père de la médecine moderne sur lequel les médecins font leur serment.

Interview with the author of "Rose of Crimson" Zrinka Jelic

Zrinka Jelic lives in Ontario, Canada. A member of the Romance Writers of America and its chapter Fantasy Futuristic &Paranormal and Kiss of Death, as well as Savvy Authors, she writes contemporary fiction--which leans toward the paranormal--and adds a pinch of history. Her characters come from all walks of life, and although she prefers red, romance comes in many colors. Given Jelic's love for her native Croatia and the Adriatic Sea, her characters usually find themselves dealing with a fair amount of sunshine, but that's about the only break they get.

What inspired you to write this book “Rose of Crimson”? 

My fascination with old legends and since I’m from Croatia (Dalmatia to be more specific) what better story is there but the legend of Miljenko and Dobrila. I had to bring them back to life and told their tragic story to the world. 

Book Synopsis:

KATE ROKOV‘s grades are plummeting. She needs to get the voice out of her head or she will flunk her finals.

MATTHIAS ZRIN, a three centuries old immortal, born into an aristocratic family as Miles Rušinić, is enthralled with Kate. It is his voice preventing Kate from sleeping and her ignorance is testing his limits. He wants her to write down his story to settle his wife’s earthbound spirit. His tragic love story has become Kate’s obsession since fifth grade during her summer trip to Rušinić castle.

Their coming together settles the old spirit and breaks an ancient curse, and in doing so, a flame spanning over three centuries reignites and burns with wild desire. In this tale of two life times and desire versus emotional need, both know some dreams will have to wait for the right time, but the magic between them is impossible to withstand.

How long did it take you to write this book?

This is my 5th novel and it was released by Secret Cravings Publishing on December 23rd, 2014. This is a prequel to Bonded by Crimson which was published on January 15th, 2012. I’ve started working on the prequel the day I was offered a publishing contract for Bonded by Crimson. Then it got pushed to the back burner while I worked on other projects. Since then I’ve wrote and published Treasured Chest, a pirate romance, Love Remains, a time travel romance and Deck the Halls, a Christmas novella. 

Do you have a current work in progress?

Always! Right now I’m working on a suspense story under the working title “In the Stars”. It’s a story of high school sweethearts separated fourteen years ago by the heroine’s parents who forced her into a marriage with a rich but dangerous man who couldn’t love her. She is back in town her seeks her old love out. Their love rekindles in an instant, but danger follows her, plus, she has a secret of her own.

Where readers can find your latest achievements? (Book links, your website/blog, Facebook page, Twitter etc.)

You can pick a copy of “Rose of Crimson” for your:

Kindle
Kobo
Nook
iPad

And you can find me on Amazon  Facebook   Twitter 
Visit my  Blog   

Book review- Peeling Oranges by author James Lawless

Painted in descriptive language and spoken with a rich poetic voice, Peeling Oranges offers a storyline that is smooth, realistic, romantic and full of drama and mystery. The pages are filled with an honest style of writing which is accompanied by important historic events that make the read even more interesting and engaging.

The interactions between the characters are presented in a creative yet down-to-earth way. It is so easy to become emotionally involved with Derek, the main protagonist of the story who has to cope with a myriad of obstacles over the course of his search for two most desirable things in life: the ultimate truth and love. The author accurately describes this journey as “a higher truth, a poetic truth, a verisimilitude which strips away the bare facts which sometime can overpower us and blind us in our vision.” On his path to discovery Derek brings to light his family secrets and at the same time peels the layers of a Spanish and Irish turbulent history. He also needs to cross the long bridge from a beautiful ideology to an unwanted realization—is Sinéad, the love of his life, a woman he really wants and trusts? After all, can he be close to anyone or believe in anything? Yet nothing but diaries from the past have answers to his concerns and time-consuming doubts.

What especially amazed me was the re-readability of this story - when I looked back at a few chapters I found additional meaning from author’s daring and symbolic style. This book has everything: drama, suspense, action, tragedy, romance, and much more. I highly recommend it.

Award Winning Author Eran Gadot and his book Supernatural Hero

Eran Gadot is an award winning author. Gadot is married and a father to three children and two cats. He is proud to have ADHD and loves the fact that writing is the only way for him to focus on one thing. In his younger years he owned Pet Coffee, the first coffee place for dogs and their owners. He then opened a new coffee place, No Bill, where customers were free to pay as they please. He was the co-founder and CEO of a small high-tech company which was later sold to Playtech.

He is currently one of the owners of an advertising agency, works as the head of the creative department. His love for sports got him to be owner of a sports live scores website and an enthusiastic tennis player. He also has helped producing several independent films.









Few words from Gadot:
"I can't remember a time when I didn't write. I write about everything. As far as I'm concerned what isn't written down simply isn't important. Writing is in my blood. The words inside me are constantly trying to burst out, however much I may try to focus on other things.
My greatest dream was always to write a book for children, whose honesty and innocence constantly overwhelm me. It's thanks to children that my own inner child is sustained and never ceases to make his presence felt.
When my son started sixth grade and embarked on the journey known as adolescence my urge to write a book for children became impossible to ignore. His experiences granted me inspiration as well as fantastic ideas for my book.
As I began to write, the reactions of my son and his friends totally amazed me and I understood that I was on the right path. I completed my book, which became the first in a series of six. The responses from my readers renew my energy daily and strengthen my deep motivation to continue to write.
For me, writing is not a hobby but a vocation. I simply have to write. And I still feel like a boy, with a tremendous desire to realize my dreams, break new ground and transform the impossible into the possible."




Sneak Peek of Supernatural Hero:

Andy is the nerd everyone makes fun of. He's really skinny, wears glasses and talks to himself, but he falls in love with the prettiest girl in the class. One day Grandpa dies and turns into a ghost. Then, Andy discovers a new power, he can see ghosts and talk to the dead.
Join Andy's journey and find out how a nerd can become a hero.
Supernatural hero is a great children's book with an outstanding story, for the whole family to enjoy. This book series will stay with you forever.


Beverly Hills Book Awards 2014 - Winner
Reader's Favorite Book contest 2014 - Silver Medal
IPPY Book Awards 2014 - Bronze Medal
Purple Dragonfly Book Awards 2014 - Honorable Mention
Indie Excellence Book Awards 2014 - Finalist
London Book Festival 2013 - Honorable Mention


Readers' Favorite: Book Reviews and Award Contest /Mamta Madhavan

5/5 review!"Supernatural Hero (Action & Adventure) (Comics & Graphic Novels) by Eran Gadot is a story that children can relate to easily. Andy is the typical nerd you will come across in your class. He is in grade six, skinny, wears glasses, and then falls in love with Zoe, the prettiest girl in his class. The twist in the story happens when Andy's grandfather dies and turns into a ghost. Now Andy has the power of seeing ghosts and communicating with them. He decides to use that power to the fullest. The paranormal activities make Andy a supernatural hero and the book is about the transformation of nerd Andy into a supernatural hero.

It is a very entertaining theme where one can relate to Andy and his nerdy behavior, which sees him being the butt of many jokes in class. The transformation of this nerdy boy is done very well and the change is fluid. It is the type of story that kids will find fascinating. The black and white sketches are beautiful and they give an individuality to the characters and the scenes. The manner in which Andy handles the situations in his life is noteworthy.

The theme covers everything that is part of a child's life: parents, school, friends, bullies, pretty girl, and much more. It is an entertaining read with a relatable character and exciting adventures that make it a fast paced story. Now from the nerd that he was, will this supernatural hero get the girl?"


Supernatural Hero and Supernatural Hero and the Witches (Book 2) are available on Amazon!


Readers can find Gadot's latest achievements here:

 FACEBOOK : https://www.facebook.com/SupernaturalHero
 TWITTER :https://twitter.com/erangadot

Interview with the author of The Truth About Us, I.C. Kanu

I.C. Kanu is an editor, writer, and avid lover of all things literature, having spent most of her childhood years devouring books by her favorite authors at the time - Enid Blyton and Carolyn Keene. I. C. Kanu is a graduate of the University of Toronto with an Hons. B.A. in English Literature and double minors in Political Science and Philosophy. When she's not editing or reading anything in print, she's either enjoying quality time with family and friends or parading pet stores, grinning at adorable baby animals.

I.C. Kanu is also author of Love Is: A prose-poetry collection and Ruminations: A prose-poetry collection. She currently lives in Toronto, Ontario.

What inspired you to write The Truth About Us?
First of all, there are two things that motivate me to write: my intense love for writing, and my desire to share.  With the desire to share, my motivation lies in giving the world an opportunity to see things a little differently; perhaps it may not be the best perception, but it’s a different perspective nonetheless.  I'm always looking for life topics to write about that can be reflected and pondered on, a theme so real that it resonates in the minds of readers for a long time and makes them see things a little differently than they normally would. As portrayed in most of my poems, I love to reflect and ruminate about the various things we individuals go through in life, from love and joy and happiness to pain and bitterness and suffering, and so on. And so the more I ruminated on human pain and suffering, this idea came to me and I began to wonder, what if the pain that we feel is inflicted by a loved one, someone we hold dearly? What would be the longevity of our human temperament? To what extent can our forgiving spirit go when faced with a certain truth? And thus, The Truth About Us (TTAU) was born.

How long did it take you to write this book?
At first, TTAU started off as a very short story with very few pages (it had a different title then) in 2010, but like my other short stories, I hadn't really considered publishing it, so after writing a few chapters, I put it aside for a long time to focus on my full time job and other side projects. It wasn't until early 2013 that I went back to my draft, and the more I thought about the plot and what I wanted to reflect on the story, the more convinced I became to turn it into a novella, develop the story and characters, go deeper into the issue of forgiveness and human temperament, and see what happens. So to answer the question, it took me about 4 years to finally complete it.

What books and authors have most influenced you?

I’m an avid reader and I have acquired tons of favorite authors over the years; however, two of my favorite authors still remain my most influencers: Danielle Steel and Sidney Sheldon. I got introduced to Steel as a teenager, and I instantly fell in love with her writing style. Steele captured my mind with the way she weaved words that moved you to the core, the way she made you fall in love with her characters, feel their heart ache, their pain, joy, their every move. It's the emotions that she brought out in me that has influenced my writing and have fueled my desire to move my readers through the actions and feelings of my characters. Sidney Sheldon's writing style blew my mind when I first discovered it. I was shocked, appalled, intrigued by the somewhat abruptness of his story-lines, the ruthlessness of some of the characters, the way they made me laugh, cry, and laugh out loud some more, and it greatly influenced the way I interlaced my own storyline, to create that element of shock, of excitement, of the need to find out more.

If you were to write in a different genre, what would it be?
Literary Fiction. In fact, my next book leans heavily on this genre, and it's definitely one of my favorite genres to read. I have been influenced enough by literary classics like Jane Austen, Margaret Atwood, Toni Morrison, Vladimir Nabokov, that I just couldn't keep my writing urge away from this genre for too long. I always knew that I would one day write a literary fiction. Let’s hope it shall be a success!

Do you have a current work in progress?
I do, as I mentioned earlier. I can’t really say much about it, in fact I can’t give away its title because it’s not 100 percent confirmed that I’ll be keeping its current title. But I will give a brief synopsis. It’s the story of a 15yr-old girl, Thelma, who faces a heavy loss when her parents die unexpectedly and she's left with an older brother and two younger siblings. She teams up with her brother to look after the younger ones as they struggle to live life as normal as they could. Thelma, a strong, determined and enduring young lady battles with and conquers poverty, homelessness and other adversaries as she struggles to survive and keep her family afloat. She is smart, insightful, and readers won't help but love and feel for her as they go through her trials with her. The release date of this work is yet to be determined. And it’s actually a full novel this time, not a novella.

Where readers can find your latest achievements?

The Truth About Us can be purchased on the Amazon link here: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00KNL0PG0. To find out more about my other books, to follow my blog, and to know more about my writing, please visit my website at www.ickanu.com. You can also like and follow me on my Facebook fan page here: www.facebook.com/author.ick. Also, for a limited time only, The Truth About Us will be available for FREE download between October 10-12, 2014. Save the dates and be sure to get your FREE copy ASAP!!

Here is a sneak peek of The Truth About Us:

Aaron and Eden’s nine-year-old son almost dies from a hit-and-run. Both parents are frantic as they fear the worst, and they attempt to do everything in their power to ensure they don't lose their only child. In the process of doing this, hidden truths are suddenly revealed like an open can of worms, and both Eden and Aaron deeply wish they could get the worms back in the can, as their marriage stands in great jeopardy with these deep revelations. Can their marriage survive this threatening ordeal?

Narrated in two voices, The Truth About Us is a short but gripping read about betrayal, loss, and the true concept of love and forgiveness.

Three Rules by Marie Drake-Book Review

As a writer, an avid reader, and survivor of domestic abuse I was very eager to read this book. Certainly, Three Rules captured my attention from the very beginning. I found the story to be very touching and at the same time thought provoking and filled with intrigue.

It is so easy to become emotionally involved with the main character who had to cope with a myriad of abusive situations which impacted her over the course of her life. That’s how three rules were born for Hope Wellman…

1.) The most dangerous people in the world are not always strangers. 2.) The scariest things imaginable are not those that can kill you, but those you can live through. And probably the most prominent: 3.) The most horrible possibility is not what could happen to you, but what you could become – I became a killer.”

When a child is sexually molested, there may be no outward signs, so in many instances, there is no healing. Children often keep secrets about such experiences and suffer alone. After all, pain stays alive while trust is forever gone. In the end, Hope, as the author named the main character in this book, is one of the greatest things humans can have. It drives us to still exist, to survive.

Three Rules is a well written book; one that stays in the reader’s mind long after last page has been turned.

Interview with the author of Poets Are Not Useful, Gwyndyn Alexander

Poets Are Not Useful spans twenty years, detailing the author's abusive childhood, her recovery, her love for New Orleans, and the triumph of a broken soul healing and finding her voice.

Gwyndyn Alexander (1969-) is a feminist poet from New Orleans. She was born in San Francisco, but moved to New Orleans and never looked back. In 2005, she lost her house and job and her library to the Great Levee Failure. In April of 2006, she moved into exile in Austin, Texas where she currently resides. Her greatest hope is to someday move back to the city that will always be her home, because she knows what it means to miss New Orleans with all her heart. She survived an abusive childhood, and transmuted her experiences into art. She is a fervent supporter of Protect.org, donating 10% of all book sales to the organization. This is her fifth book.

What inspired you to write Poets Are Not Useful?

I had a very abusive childhood, 18 years worth of awfulness. It's never easy recovering from that sort of thing. These poems were very therapeutic for me. It really helped to tell my story, my way...to get that anger and grief out and on the page. My hope is that other survivors of abuse will read it and realize that they're not alone, that they can survive and thrive and transmute their pain into something positive.

That's also why I'm donating 10% of all proceeds from the book to http://protect.org. They are a wonderful group fighting for the rights of children, and fighting for justice against the abusers.

How you came up with such engaging title?

It's explained in the intro. I was having a drunken conversation with a hard core scientist type. He kept asking what the function of poetry is, what IS a poet, whether poets are even useful. The book as a whole is my answer to him.

At the very end is a kind of epilogue to the book, where I answer that poets are NOT useful. Microwaves are useful. Duct tape is useful. Poets are essential. :)

How long did it take you to write this book?

This book has been 20 years in the making. A year ago, I shared my poetry on Andrew Vachss' Facebook. He told me that it was criminal that such powerful, important work was out of print. He said that my voice needed to be heard.
So, I buckled down and got to work, revising old unpublished poems and writing new ones. I think it's a good collection.

What books and authors have most influenced you?

Andrew Vachss, definitely. His Burke novels introduced me to Protect.org, and were instrumental in helping me internalize the truth that what had happened to me was not in any way my fault.

Judith Tarr has also been a huge influence. I sent her an advance copy of Poets Are Not Useful, as a thank you for all of the hours of pleasure her books have given me over the years. Luckily, she liked it. :)

In fact, she gave me a blurb for the back cover: “These poems pierce the heart and twist the knife. Visceral, dark, and beautiful.”

If you were to write in a different genre, what it would be?

I would love to be able to write novels, science fiction would be great. Unfortunately, my mind seems geared towards poetry. Maybe someday, I'll discover I can write actual plots and characters...anything's possible in an ever-expanding universe.

Do you have current work in progress? 

I've just started work on a collection of poems about New Orleans. I lived there for over a decade, until the Great Levee Failure of 05. I lost my house and my business, and was forced into exile here in Austin.

Don't get me wrong, Austin is a great town, but there's no place like home. I just need to find some ruby slippers....

Where readers can find your latest achievements? 

The book has its own Facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/poetsarenotuseful

I'm Gwyndyn Alexander on Facebook, if anyone wants to say 'hi': https://www.facebook.com/idiomagic

My husband Jonathan runs the Twitter thing for me at https://twitter.com/GwynTAlexander. I may be a twit, but I don't know anything about tweeting.

Here is a sneak peek of Poets Are Not Useful:

Poet as Reflection

Do you know that late at night

alone in the dark feeling?

Too much wrong, too little love.

Helpless. Hopeless.

You can't cope,

can't go on,

can't face another day

alone.

I live there

in that cold empty pain.

If you look

in the too-bright 4 a.m. mirror,

I'll be there looking back at you.

Maybe we'll sense each other,

touch fingertips to glass,

and know

we are not alone.

Poet as Portrait

I had my portrait painted once

when I was five.

Static image:

the child I never really was,

never grows or learns,

two-dimensional innocence

in my painted eyes.

I see that portrait in my mind

and wonder,

was I ever that girl?

Five years old, so solemn.

Cheeks plump with baby fat,

mute accusation,                     
reproval.                                          

Sometimes I feel
that flat image

is truer to
than the me I push through
life,

my self as marionette.

I want to step into my painted
self and rest,

but my strings bind me,

tether me.

                                                         

Is this what I have become?

That painted girl transformed,

out of the canvas

but still

the work of someone else's

hands.

Available in both print and Kindle editions on Amazon

http://www.amazon.com/poets-are-useful-Gwyndyn-Alexander/dp/1500888575/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1409573206&sr=8-1&keywords=poets+are+not+useful