Interview with Illustrator of Rumtum the Sailor, Mary Manning

                                                      Rumtum the Sailor by Kyle Duffy, Illustrated by Mary Manning  

Illustrator bio

As an illustrator/character designer, I've worked with numerous publishers and related industries over the years.  In my free time, I'm also dipping into 2D hand drawn animation and broadening my skills as an artist.  You can view Mary Manning's work at her Webpage

Do you have a preferred medium to work in?

I only work digitally these days.  It's much more convenient and time saving than traditional.

How long did it take you to convey the essence of  Rumtum the Sailor through your illustrations?

No time really.  You get a good sense of the character(s) when you read the story or manuscript. That's a main part of the illustrators' job.

What is your favorite piece of work in your portfolio?

Oh boy ... I don't know.  I don't think I have a favorite because in each one I see where I would have maybe done something differently ;)

Are you working on any new projects?

Always.  And if I'm not, I'll use it to do some personal work.



Special note: Ramtum the Sailor is being launched on Kickstarter 

The Season when past wears a Halloween mask is on...

The Balkan Sisters

The Legend says that Dracula, the Balkans’ Devil, was buried at the isolated Snagov Monastery not far from Bucharest, Romania. History has it that the Monastery was a torture chamber. Near to the end of the twentieth century, killing fields spread around this beautiful peninsula and most of them were in Yugoslavia, the biggest country in this part of the world. Many people never escaped from those bloody prisons. Even today, when they no longer exist, screams coming from the sites of the prisons are loud and painful. They remind us that even walls can’t keep secrets; they share stories of haunted souls that refuse to let peace breathe freely. The difference between you, me and them is that they are trapped in the darkness of their ghost towns and we are following the shadows of our ignorant world. Nevertheless, in the belly of our Earth Mother, they wait for us. When you hear the doorbell it will be too late to run or to hide. They will be pushing through. They will be delivered right before your eyes. As your path closes, their path will be a wide open way of possibilities.

Available on Amazon

Book review of "Researching the Heart" by author Olive Youngly

The story line of this book was easy to follow, yet it was intriguing enough that I looked forward to reading more. The main character Sylvia, a young, attractive, and strong-willed woman took this book from ordinary to extraordinary. Interactions between her and other characters, especially Dr. Jonathan Philip-Hankle were presented in creative but down to earth way.

The author had a way with words that made me as a reader to connect with the plot, the setting, the characters, and their lifestyle. My favorite line of Researching the Heart, which dictated the story, was: “Sometimes the things you fear are the best things in your entire life. Sometimes those things are your victories.”

I highly recommend this book.

 Readers can find more about Researching the Heart and the author on Amazon 

Book review of Not Flowers, but Love by the author Krys Batts

Not Flowers, but Love has engaging content, easy to follow format and most importantly substance.  Descriptive language painting a creative and romance-filled picture simply drew me in and kept my attention all the way through. It is a beautiful story that proves love can happen at any time despite the circumstances. I especially enjoyed blended emotions presented in this work that are able to pull the reader’s heartstrings as well as to take him or her into the world of sharing a better and deeper emotions.

The main character Jamie is building a successful career while overcoming her painful past. She has no courage or will to ultimately be open to trusting and learning to love again. Yet she is forced to drift away from her path.

This is a well- written book; one that stays in the reader’s mind long after the last page has been turned. I definitely look forward to reading more books from this author.  

Readers can find more about Not Flowers, but Love and the author Krys Batts on Amazon

Straight Out Of The Box:The Poetry Style Of S.L Batts

Fifteen of Sherlene Batts’s most inspiring poems. Separated into three chapters, poems to Motivate, poems to Inspire and poems Willy Nilly style, which means these are poems that contain urban lingo, and explicit lingo.

                                                                                           About Author

Sherlene Batts is a poet and writer. She was born and raised in Houston TX and attended Forest Brook Senior High School. She graduated in 1980. She also attended the University Of Houston/downtown College where she took some courses in Psychology. Some of the poems in "Straight Out Of The Box" center around her everyday life, prayer, and her faith in God. Poets who influenced her are Maya Angelou, Nikki Giovanni, and Phylis Wheatley.

Readers can find more about Sherlene and her work on Amazon 

Awakening Her-Book for Men by author Maja Monrue

"Awakening Her" is the first book of its kind. It is a hybrid of new philosophy, informal psychology, and everyday life. This amazing book is being launched on Kickstarter

A unique guide to loving a modern woman, including real-life stories, and lively illustrations.