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I recently read & reviewed Lost on Treasure Island which is Steve Friedman's candid and humorous memoir.
Please join me in welcoming the author as he stops by my blog today for an interview!






Bookworm: Welcome to my blog Steve, and thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedule for this interview. Please tell us a bit about yourself.


Steve:

I grew up in St. Louis, went to college at Tufts University for my freshman year, then transferred to and graduated from Stanford University. Almost got a master's degree at the University of Missouri School of Journalism, was a newspaper reporter for five years, wrote for and then was editor in chief of St. Louis Magazine, moved to New York City in 1992 to be Senior Editor at GQ, started writing full-time in '97 and except for a year when I worked as a Visiting Professor at the University of Missouri J-school in 2001, have been doing so since. I've written five books, ghosted another and am currently at work on another. That's my professional resume. My messier internal life and personal adventures are different stories. They're both detailed in Lost on Treasure Island.








Bookworm: What was the hardest thing about writing Lost on Treasure Island? How long did it take you to complete?

Steve:
I started the book in 2005, so about five years, though I wrote (and rewrote) in big chunks of months, then would let it sit.






Bookworm: Are you working on any other books at the moment?

Steve:
Yes, collaborating with Scott Jurek (famous long distance runner who was featured in the bestselling Born to Run) on his book about running, veganism and the spiritual dimensions of running. It's going to be published by Houghton Mifflin in Spring
2012.




Bookworm: Have you found Mrs. Friedman yet?

Steve:
I don't think so. But who knows?





Bookworm: What's the best part about being a writer?

Steve:
The writing. (It's also sometimes the worst.) There's an old joke, from the pre-personal computer age. "I like almost everything about being a writer. The only thing I can't stand is the paperwork."






Bookworm: Who are your favorite authors and what is it that really strikes you about their work? What is your favorite genre?

Steve:
My reading of the classics is sorely lacking, so most of my favorites are contemporary. Michael Chabon, Jonathan Franzen, Jonathan Lethem, Robert Stone, Kem Nunn, Gary Shteyngart, Francine Prose. I like crime/detective fiction a lot--the usual suspects: James Cain, Raymond Chandler, Jim Thompson, Elmore Leonard, also more contemporary Elmore Leonard, Denise Mina, Thomas Perry, Michael Connelly, Tana French, Kate Atkinson. I'm sure I'm forgetting lots. My tastes are all over the place. The last three books I've read are: 1861, by Adam Goodheart; Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand and i'm about halfway through The Last Werewolf by Glen Duncan. So--serious history, popular non-fiction and novel. I love all of them.
What I love about all the books above is that they all have strong narratives and complicated characters. And the authors write with precision and style.






Bookworm: Last but not least, if you were stranded on a deserted island, and were allowed to bring 3 items with you, what would they be?


Steve:
Whatever the machine is you use to desalinate salt water

A satellite phone

An inflatable raft





Bookworm:
Thanks again for stopping by Steve and best of luck with your work. The book with Scott Jurek sounds like it will be a really interesting one.

I do agree with your comment about your favorite books: 'What I love about all the books above is that they all have strong narratives and complicated characters.' I think that's the mark of a great story.






Readers, you can visit Steve's website here.

About the book:

What do you get when you plop a moody Midwesterner in Manhattan, the land of the quick and the mean, then grant him a dream job and visions of true love? One disaster after another…
In Lost on Treasure Island: A Memoir of Longing, Love, and Lousy Choices in New York City, Steve Friedman recounts with utter honesty and mordant clarity those fateful years, starting with his first job at GQ, including his awkward efforts to impress his terrifying boss and find his future wife. Friedman’s misadventures include real and imagined love affairs, catastrophic encounters at work and play, and desperate attempts to find authenticity – nearly all of which, in the end, fail miserably.

Good morning everyone. Today I'd like to welcome author Johanna Garth, who is stopping by for an interview. I recently read & reviewed her debut novel, Losing Beauty. Johanna is kindly taking time out of her busy schedule to stop by and answer my nosey questions :)




Bookworm: Welcome to my blog Johanna, and thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedule for this interview. Please tell us a bit about yourself.

Johanna:

Hi Naida, Thank you so much for inviting me to be a guest author here at The Bookworm.

I‘m not one of those people who always knew they wanted to be a writer. Instead I always wanted to be a lawyer. It wasn’t until my oldest was born that I realized my love of reading and telling stories could translate into something else. Ever since then I’ve been stealing away to scribble, or type, down my thoughts. When I’m not writing I am the mother to two, chef de cuisine, carpooler, errand runner, rule enforcer and general boo-boo kisser.






Bookworm: What was the hardest thing about writing Losing Beauty? How long did it take you to complete?

Johanna:
The hardest thing about all my writing projects is finding quiet time. The only time my household is quiet is when the kids are at school. Everyone knows not to call me between the hours of 9:00-3:00. Losing Beauty is the third book I’ve written and, oddly enough, it was the easiest to write. The first draft of it took about five months and then I revised and edited for another six months. Maybe I’m getting quicker or maybe it was just because my youngest started kindergarten and I’ve had more time.






Bookworm: What kind of research did you do?

Johanna:
The research for every book is different depending on the subject matter. Losing Beauty is loosely based on the Greek myth of Persephone and Hades. Even though I didn’t feel compelled to stick strictly to the boundaries of the myth, I still needed to understand it. I read several books on Greek mythology and ancient Greek history and relied on the internet to fill in any holes. The ancient myths are rife with betrayals, jealousies and interfamily strife. I wanted Losing Beauty to reflect those themes in a modern setting and in a way that would feel current to the reader.







Bookworm: If Losing Beauty were to be made into a film who would you like to see playing the roles of Persey, Aaron, Daniel and Haden?

Johanna:
One of my closest friends is a movie buff and also happens to be an early reader of Losing Beauty. She has been lobbying for the following choices and I have to say I agree.

Persey: Amanda Seyfried

Aaron: Chord Overstreet from Glee

Daniel: Gabriel Macht

Haden: Hugh Jackman







Bookworm: Are you working on any other books at the moment?

Johanna:
Yes , yes, yes! I’m working on the second book in the Persephone Campbell series. It’s called Losing Hope. It’s a funny title for a work in progress because, as a writer, the one thing you want to avoid is losing hope.







Bookworm: Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?


Johanna:
I write because I love it. My greatest measure of success is, not how many books I’ve sold, but whether the people reading my book have been able to step outside of their own lives and become lost in another world for a little while. I think that’s the mark of a wonderful book and something everyone should experience.





Bookworm: Who are your favorite authors and what is it that really strikes you about their work? What is your favorite genre?

Johanna:
That’s such a hard question to answer because I’ve always been a voracious reader. A few of my favorites, and I’m kind of picking at random here, are Judy Blume, Colette, Stephen King, Edith Wharton and Audrey Niffenegger. The thing these authors share is an amazing gift of telling story through dialogue and creating characters that feel real and present. As for genre, I’m a fiction omnivore. Occasionally I’ll read nonfiction but I do it exactly the way my kids their veggies, only because we know it’s good for us.






Bookworm: Last but not least, if you were stranded on a deserted island, and were allowed to bring 3 items with you, what would they be?

Johanna:
Can I just be a little silly here? Nobody wants to hear I would bring food, water and a first-aid kit, so barring those oh-so-boring-and-yet-extremely-practical items, I think I would bring the following:
1. A yoga mat so I could exercise and take a nap without being covered in sand. Also, in a pinch, I could roll it up and use it as a pillow.
2. An IPAD (because what deserted island isn’t fully equipped with wireless). I could read, write, look at pictures of my family and send out the occasional tweet and blog post.
3. The third item was a no-brainer. My friend Georgie’s pumpkin bars. They’re so amazing I’m certain they could sustain me for days. And healthy too, kind of, despite the cream cheese frosting, pumpkin’s a vegetable right?






Bookworm:
Thank you again Johanna. I truly enjoyed your book and am happy to hear you are writing the sequel. I like your casting choices, and I can easily imagine Hugh Jackman playing Haden!
I also like your three items of choice for the deserted island.

Best of luck with everything!







About the author:

Johanna Garth is a writer of urban fantasy and mythic fiction for adults who resides with her husband and two children in Portland, Oregon.

This is her debut novel.

About the book:



Losing Beauty

Child abuse, cross-dressing, theft, adultery—people in Persey Campbell’s town have terrible secrets and she is the unfortunate repository for all of them. What she can’t figure out is why everyone is so desperate to tell her their worst secrets.


Daniel Hartnett is a lawyer who has it all. People think he’s lucky. What they don’t understand is Daniel has a crap-o-meter that lets him hear the meanings behind other people’s words. He used to think his crap-o-meter was a gift from God. It made him successful with his career and women. Except now he’d like to meet someone and settle down and he can’t turn his crap-o-meter off. As long as it’s on, there are no surprises, no rush of anticipation and no falling in love.


When Daniel meets Persey he discovers the first girl he’s ever met who is immune to his special talent. The only problem is someone else discovered Persey first and is hell-bent on claiming her as his own. Haden is the king of the Underworld with a plan to make Persey his immortal queen. What Haden doesn’t plan on is Persey’s unique ability to compel secrets and how far the people who love Persey will go to protect her from the inner darkness that threatens to destroy her soul.

Yesterday I reviewed Slate by Brian Rowe. Today I have Brian here for an author interview. Please join me in welcoming him.





Bookworm: Welcome to my blog Brian, and thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedule for this interview. Please tell us a bit about yourself.




Brian Rowe: Thanks for having me! A little bit about myself… I grew up in Northern California and moved to Reno when I was twelve. I attended Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles for college, and after that I spent two years working in feature film casting. I've been writing fiction ever since I was in the third grade. I'm also a big movie buff, too, and really love anything to do with the arts.





Bookworm: What inspired you to write Slate? Is Vivien's character inspired by anyone you know?



Brian Rowe: Slate was inspired by the aforementioned two years I spent working in feature film casting. It's a fascinating profession, and I'd be surprised to know if there's ever been a work of fiction based around the world of movie casting. They say to write what you know, and after spending two years in the profession, I had enough ideas for three books about casting. The main storyline of Slate just came naturally to me, and I knew if I was going to write a book set in the world of casting, this was the story I wanted to tell. Vivien Slate is inspired by, not based upon, the woman I worked with in casting. She was a true force of nature—intelligent, passionate, and yes, sometime volatile. She also had a big, big heart. I really wanted to capture her spirit in the main character of Vivien, and also try to paint new colors in the character that were mostly figments of my imagination.









Bookworm: If Slate were to be made into a film which Hollywood actor would you cast as Vivien Slate?



Brian Rowe: Nobody's asked me this before, but trust me, I've thought long and hard about it. I basically have two answers, one, who I'd most love to play the role, and, two, who I think would be best in the role. I've had a love affair with Sandra Bullock for nearly twenty years, and it's no coincidence that Vivien is a complex character, in her mid 40's, with long black hair. Sandra's never played a role like this before, and it would be a dream come true for that to happen. But when I think in terms of pure acting excellence, and particularly of a middle-aged actress who would be more willing to drop her clothes for that pivotal sex scene, Julianne Moore would be my ideal Vivien. Choices for other characters would be Joseph Gordon Levitt for Brandon, Sigourney Weaver for Lila, and Zac Efron for Nathan. I think Slate would work best in a half-hour format on Showtime, like Nurse Jackie, Weeds, and the United States of Tara. So if you know anybody in Hollywood, tell them I'm interested in bringing this story to television! Haha!







Bookworm: What was the hardest thing about writing Slate? There's a few funny scenes within the story, particularly with Vivien. Where did you get the ideas for those predicaments?



Brian Rowe: The hardest thing about writing Slate, particularly in that first draft, was to try to keep the main through line with Vivien's story going and not get lost in all the characters. There's at least eight major characters in this book and it was sometimes tricky to navigate everyone throughout the narrative. But, you know, that's what revisions are for. I revised Slate probably ten to fifteen times over the course of a year and got it to a point where I felt ready to unleash it on the world. As for where I got the ideas for the funny predicaments Vivien finds herself in, most of them are just figments of my imagination. I would try to put myself in Vivien's shoes in certain scenes and try to think about what she'd do. The infamous kitchen island scene was something that I wasn't originally planning to write, but when I got to that chapter, it just felt like a natural progression for the character.




Bookworm: Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?




Brian Rowe: If there was something specific I wanted to say to the readers of Slate, it would be to go into this book with an open mind. A couple of readers so far have been disappointed with the direction this book goes in during the last fifty pages. This is definitely not a light-hearted chick lit novel with a typical happy ending. While there are chick lit elements throughout the story, this is definitely a story that heads into some dark territory. Be prepared for tragedy. I'm warning you!




Bookworm: Who are your favorite authors and what is it that really strikes you about their work? What is your favorite genre?




Brian Rowe: It's funny… My favorite author has always been Stephen King, and my first love has always been horror, but I didn't write horror until my third novel Townhouse (which I'm revising at the moment). The idea for Slate just lent itself more toward a women's fiction novel, and my second novel Happy Birthday to Me is a YA story. But I think you can see my horror tendencies in everything I write… You can certainly see some Stephen King inspiration in Chapters 41 and 42 of Slate, for sure. But let me explain that I hate horror that's just blood and guts for the sake of shock value. What really strikes me about Stephen King's work is how in the midst of all the scares he develops characters you truly care about. If you can get the reader to like your characters, the reader will be more surprised and emotionally involved when later in the book something terrible happens to some or all of the core characters.





Bookworm: How do you like to relax when you aren't writing your books? Any hobbies?



Brian Rowe: When I'm not writing, I'm usually reading books or watching films. Every day of my life is filled with stories, whether I'm writing them, reading them, or watching them, haha! A great way I love to relax is to exercise, and I love hiking and biking. Usually when I'm up in the Reno mountains on a gorgeous hike or bike ride, I find tons of great ideas hitting me front, back, and sideways. Getting outside and clearing my head is a great way to get ideas for more stories. And trust me, I have many, many more stories to tell!




Bookworm: Last but not least, if you were stranded on a deserted island, and were allowed to bring 3 items with you, what would they be?



Brian Rowe: Oh boy, let's see. I would bring a box of my favorite books, which would include Robert McCammon's Boy's Life, Stephen King's The Shining, Ray Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451, and Scott Smith's A Simple Plan. I would bring a box of organic crunchy peanut butter, the food I eat lately more than anything else—it's got lots of protein, and only a small amount fills me up for hours on end! And I would bring a universal cell phone, so I could make some calls to get me off the island!! :)





Thank you for the interview, and I hope your readers will take a chance on my debut novel Slate!


-Brian Rowe



----------------



Thanks again Brian! I enjoyed reading your interview questions. Slate was a fun read, and I did like Vivien's character. I think Sandra Bullock would play her perfectly.

Stephen King is one of my all time favorite authors as well.

Best of luck with your work.





Readers, you can stop by Brian's site here. Check out his blog and find out more about his work.

I recently read and reviewed Silent Partner by Jennifer Chase.
I enjoyed this fast paced thriller and today I'm happy to announce that author Jennifer Chase is stopping by my blog for an interview.









Please join me in welcoming her. Read on for her interesting answers.









Bookworm: Welcome to my blog Jennifer, and thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedule for this interview. Please tell us a bit about yourself.




Jennifer: Thank you Naida, it’s nice to be here. I have a bachelor degree in police forensics and a master's degree in criminology. In addition, I hold certifications in serial crime and criminal profiling. I’m also an affiliate member in the criminology section of the Academy of Behavioral Profiling (ABP). I’m an author, freelance writer, and criminologist with three thriller novels Compulsion, award winning Dead Game, and Silent Partner.







Bookworm: What was the hardest thing about writing Silent Partner? What kind of research went into it?




Jennifer: On a sad note, during the writing of this book my companion/protection black Labrador retriever was struck with an aggressive cancer and I had to put him down three days later. He was the dog that I modeled the main police dog Keno after. It was devastating for me and I almost didn’t finish the story, but I thought it would be a nice tribute to an amazing dog. I’m so glad that I was able to finish this book.




My research was time spent with police K9 units from training to riding with them on patrol. It was a great experience. I learned first hand what it’s like and the challenges they face every shift. I also spent a fair amount of time researching in more detail about serial killers, psychotic disorders, anxiety disorders, and specific types of crime scenes.







Bookworm: Police K9s are a big part of the story, what made you weave them into the plot?




Jennifer: I love dogs and I had the incredible opportunity to train with the local police K9 in my area. It struck me almost immediately the special bond these police officers have with their four legged partners. It’s not something that most people know about first hand and I thought that it was another approach to writing a crime thriller. I wanted to add another dimension to the plot and it actually raises the stakes in the story.







Bookworm: When you first began writing Silent Partner did you know you would have that surprise twist at the end or was that an idea that came later?




Jennifer: The idea came a little bit later as I was developing the story. I was actually brainstorming with my husband. We were throwing all kinds of situations out there and the twist came from that particular conversation. It posed somewhat of a challenge because I didn’t want a twist that came out of nowhere – I didn’t want readers to feel cheated in any way. I wanted it to make sense after the reader finished the book.







Bookworm: If Silent Partner were to be made into a film which Hollywood actor would you cast as officer Jack Davis? Who would you like to play the part of Megan O’Connell?




Jennifer: I love this question. I’m a big movie fan especially cop thrillers. I can’t just pick one actor. I could see an actor like Kevin Bacon, Matt Damen, or Leonardo DiCaprio as Deputy Jack Davis. All three of these actors are strong and could play a K9 cop convincingly. As for Megan O’Connell, that’s a tough one. I could see an actress like Maria Bello or Rachel McAdams taking the role and running with it.







Bookworm: Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?




Jennifer: I really want to thank my readers for supporting me and my books. They have been fantastic. I enjoy receiving questions and comments.







Bookworm: Who are your favorite authors and what is it that really strikes you about their work? What is your favorite genre?




Jennifer: My favorite genre is thriller and mystery. I do enjoy horror and sci-fi too. I love to read, so I have many favorite authors. The ones that rise to the top of my list are Dean Koontz, Jeffrey Deaver, David Baldacci, Lawrence Block, Tess Gerritsen, and Kathy Reichs. What I love about each of their work is that they know how to draw you into their stories right away, basically the first sentence or paragraph. I love that! The character development and storylines always seem to stay fresh and interesting with their series. Dean Koontz has been an inspiration with his writing style and different stories throughout the years. I’m a big fan of Jeffrey Deaver’s Lincoln Rhyme series. I also feel, as a writer, you learn so much from writers who are at the top of their field. The more you read, the more you continue to learn as a writer.







Bookworm: How do you like to relax when you aren't writing your thrilling stories?




Jennifer: Sometimes it’s difficult to turn off the current storyline I’m writing. I love the outdoors, hiking, the beach, and any excuse to take a nice long walk with my dogs. Photography has been a passion of mine for many years. I try and take short trips to specifically photograph a landscape, seascape, and wildlife. Living in California, there’s not a shortage of subjects to shoot with a camera.







Bookworm: Last but not least, if you were stranded on a deserted island, and were allowed to bring 3 items with you, what would they be?




Jennifer: Great question! The logical side of my brain says a boat, freeze dried food for a year, and plenty of water. However, my writer’s side would bring a notebook with plenty of paper and pens, my faithful dog companion to keep me company, and an entire library collection of either Dean Koontz or Lawrence Block.








Bookworm:
Thank you again Jennifer! It's been great getting to know a bit about the author behind the book. It sounds like you did some interesting research for your book.
What a lovely tribute to your beloved dog.


I agree, Leonardo DiCaprio would make a great onscreen Deputy Jack Davis. Dean Koontz is also a favorite author of mine, bringing his books to a deserted island is a fantastic idea.

Best of luck with your work!









About the book:


Northern California’s elite Police K9 Units arrive at an abandoned warehouse after a high-speed chase and apprehend two killers after they have fled a grisly murder scene. This barely scratches the surface of a bloody trail from a prolific serial killer that leads to unlocking the insidious secrets of one family’s history, while tearing a police department apart.



Jack Davis, a top K9 cop with an unprecedented integrity, finds himself falling for a beautiful murder suspect and struggling with departmental codes.


Megan O’Connell, suffering from agoraphobia, is the prime murder suspect in her sister’s brutal murder.


Darrell Brooks, a psychopath who loves to kill, is on a quest to drive Megan insane for profit.

Everyone is a suspect. Everyone has a secret. Someone else must die to keep the truth buried forever. Silent Partner is a suspense ride along that will keep you guessing until the bitter end.

I recently read and reviewed Donna Russo Morin's historical novel The Secret of the Glass.


Set in Venice during the 17th century, The Secret of the Glass is a wonderfully woven story full of drama, romance and Venetian history. You can visit Donna's website here to learn more about her.
Besides being a writer, Donna has been acting and modeling since she was 17 and she's appeared in the movie The Departed as well as the Showtime series The Brotherhood. How cool is that?














Today Donna has graciously stopped by my blog for an interview. Please join me in welcoming her. Read on for her interesting interview and to learn more about her work.






Bookworm: Welcome to my blog Donna, and thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedule for this interview. Please tell us a bit about yourself.


Donna: Thank you, Naida; it’s wonderful to be here.


Well, there are the typical answers to this question; I am a born and raised Rhode Islander who began writing as a young girl in grade school. My writing—and my life for that matter—was chiseled by the 60s/70s era in which I grew up. I attended college at the University of Rhode Island where I obtained two degrees in Communications and Psychology. Raised by first generation, Italian-Americans, I was pushed to get a good ‘day job’; the arts were thought to be a road to struggle (true, and yet…). So I worked, got married, had children and the time to write became lost in the shuffle. Then I contracted a chronic illness (Lyme Disease which turned to a permanent auto-immune condition), lost my father to cancer, and realized that if ‘now’ was not the time to follow my passion, when would it be?






The not so typical answers…I am a hard core football fan (New England Patriots rule…in fact, the male lead’s physical characteristics in The Secret of the Glass are modeled after Tom Brady), a head banging rock and roll lover, a video game disciple, and a new age spiritualist. My two sons ( Devon , 20, who is studying opera and Dylan, 17, who will go on to culinary school after graduating high school in June) are the blood that thrums through my veins.












Bookworm: What inspired you to write The Secret of the Glass? Is Sophia's character based on anyone in particular?




Donna: Like so much of life, the story and the title really came to me in the most unexpected of ways. When Katie Couric became anchor of the CBS Evening News, I decided to watch to support her, even though I’m not a great fan of television news programs. Within that broadcast was a two-minute feature story on the glassmakers of Murano. One point in particular caught and captured my imagination: for hundreds of years the glassmakers of Venice were virtual prisoners in their own land, captives of a government determined to keep the prestige and profit produced by the glass for themselves. Within a half hour of viewing that story, I had a two page synopsis written, a plot that mapped out a story about a young Murano woman who must somehow save herself while protecting ‘the secret of the glass.’




In the physical sense, Sophia is based on Sophia Loren; I think she epitomizes Italian beauty and she is a woman I greatly admire for her talent and her choices in life. The crux of Sophia’s conflict—whether a person can serve the needs of their family while honoring their own—is one I was grappling with at the time of the writing. My marriage had long broken down, and I struggled with the decision to divorce (which I did—or began to do—just as this book was released; thanks to the efficiency of the court and a difficult marriage evolving into a difficult divorce—it’s still not final).








Bookworm: What was the hardest thing about writing this book? How long did it take you to write?




Donna:
Two aspects posed challenges as I wrote. I fell in love with Venice , with its history, its people, its architecture; it became harder and harder as I went along to filter out information, to leave by the wayside beautiful aspects of this magnificent place that didn’t serve the plot. I also feared that I would reveal too much of myself; I often joked that if I didn’t separate before this book was published, I sure would have after.




Once a writer is contracted to a publisher, the question of time becomes one of contract. It is expected of me to release a book at year, at least at this juncture in my career. To that end, I typically research for seven months and write for five.








Bookworm: The Secret of the Glass is set in Venice and you did a wonderful job describing the beauty of this city. Have you ever been there yourself?



Donna:
I’m so sad to tell you that, unlike the first book, I was unable to travel to Venice (the trip to Versailles after the first draft of THE COURTIER’S SECRET was a-mazing); my heart longs to go and I make it a repeated part of my hopes and visualizations for my future to go. With the depth of my research, I did feel as if I traveled there every day during the writing process and I was quite melancholy when my time there came to an end.






Bookworm: You leave the ending a bit open in this book. Is there room for a sequel?



Donna:
While you’re perception of the ending is true, it was not done with a sequel in mind (though, for the love of my characters, it is not a possibility I discount completely, but I would have to find the historical events to support their story). It is my goal as a historical fiction writer to educate about the events of the past through intriguing fictional characters, but also to ignite imaginations. I try to include enough in my endings to answer the questions/conflicts of this particular story, but to leave it up to the reader as to what may come next. I always envision great dialogues as readers discuss what they think the characters are up to now.






Bookworm: Sophia loves to work the glass and she takes pride in her creations. In the book you describe the making of the glass in detail. Have you watched glassmakers before? Did you do alot research for this aspect of the book?



Donna:
In this, like the first book, I did learn to do what my character was doing. For the first book (basically a female Musketeer adventure), I took fencing lessons. For THE SECRET OF THE GLASS, I learned to make glass. I have to emphasize the word ‘learn’; while I took the lessons, I was less than successful in creating a viable piece (it exploded actually…too many air bubbles). This is, of course, in addition to months and months of academic research. For my next release (TO SERVE A KING, releasing Feb. 1, ’11), I learned to shoot a bow and arrow and a crossbow.



Like other historical fiction writers, research is a part of my profession that I consider a gift. I could easily get lost there if I allowed myself.








Bookworm: Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?



Donna:
I am astoundingly grateful to anyone who uses any of their disposable income (and in today’s world, we are all quite aware of how precious such a dwindling commodity this has become) to purchase one of my books. I do not take the honor lightly. I pay respect to it by writing to the very best of my ability and striving to find stories that will allow them to leave the challenges of this life behind and jump into another time, another place, one filled with adventure and romance and intellectual stimulation.





Bookworm: Who are your favorite authors and what is it that really strikes you about their work?
What is your favorite genre?


Donna:
Stephen King was the first great writing influence in my life. His ability to talk to his readers, to write in such a manner that we find ourselves in the very midst of his worlds, inspired me like no other writer before him. It was James Michener who brought me to my genre (my favorite to read as well as write) as well as Margaret Mitchell and Gone with the Wind. And it was Diana Gabaldon and her Outlander series that sealed the deal. In genre, other books that have made a huge influence are To Dance with Kings by Rosalind Laker, all of the Musketeer volumes by Alexandre Dumas, and Trinity by Leon Uris. Out of genre there’s The Once and Future King by T. H. White, Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen, Absolute Power by David Baldacci, The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown, and all of Harry Potter.






Bookworm: Last but not least, if you were stranded on a deserted island, and were allowed to bring 3 items with you, what would they be?



Donna:
This is such an intriguing question; I’ve had a lot of fun thinking about it. Of course, the true answer would be my children, because there is no life for me without them. But that’s boring, so I won’t go there. First, Jeff Probst (the host of Survivor—he has been my celebrity crush for years –he’s absolutely perfect for me--and I figure he would know his way around any island). Next, an endless supply of margaritas. And last, writing implements…so I can tell all about it ;-).






Bookworm: Thank you again Donna. It's been interesting getting to know a bit more about the author behind the book! I like that Teodoro's good looks are modeled after Tom Brady and that Sophia is actually inspired by Sophia Loren.

The research you do for your books sounds fascinating, especially since you learn to do what the main character does. I agree with what you say about following your passion now. There's no time like the present.

I will definitely be on the lookout for your books. Best of luck!













About the book:



At the dawn of the 17th Century, the glassmakers of Murano are revered as master artisans, enjoying privileges far beyond their station, but they are forced to live in virtual imprisonment, contained by the greedy Venetian government who fears other countries will learn the intricacies of the craft…and reap the rewards.


Sophia Fiolario, the comely daughter of a glass making maestro, has no desire for marriage, finding her serenity in the love of her family and the beauty of the glass. She learns of its secrets at her father’s side, where a woman is forbidden to be. The life Sophia loves is threatened by the poor health of her father and the determined attentions of a nobleman who could and would never love her but seeks to possess her wealth and the privilege it affords. Thrust into the opulent world of the Venetian court, Sophia becomes embroiled in the scheming machinations of the courtiers’ lives. The beauty of Venice, the magnificence of the Doge’s Palace, are rivaled only by the intrigue and danger that festers behind their splendid facades. As she searches for an escape, she finds the arms of another, a man whose own desperate situation is yet another obstacle in their path.


Amidst political and religious intrigue, the scientific furor ignited by Galileo, and even murder, Sophia must do anything to protect herself, her family…and the secret of the glass.


-quoted from the authors website





Donna Russo Morin

www.donnarussomorin.com


www.donnarussomorin.blogspot.com


TO SERVE A KING Coming Feb. 2011


THE SECRET OF THE GLASS-Outstanding Pick for 2010 (Book Illuminations) On Sale Now!


THE COURTIER'S SECRET Feb. 2009

Finalist: National Readers' Choice Award; Winner: Best First Book, MTM Contest

Hello everyone. Today I have a special guest here at my blog. Please welcome author Brian Cohen! Some of you may remember my raving about Brian's book, The Life O'Reilly. I really enjoyed this book and it will be on my top reads list for 2010.




The Life O'Reilly is a touching and emotional read. It's a story about life, love and finding oneself. You can read my full review here.

Visit the author's website here: http://www.briancohenbooks.com/



Not only is Brian stopping by my blog to do an interview, he has graciously offered to give away a signed copy of his wonderful book to one of my lucky blog readers!!
Read on for the interview, and the giveaway details.







Bookworm: Welcome to my blog Brian, and thank you for taking the time our of your busy schedule for this interview. Please tell us a bit about yourself.



Brian Cohen: A native New Yorker, I was born in Queens and raised on Long Island. I have had a passion for all things creative, including film, literature, and music, since elementary school. During my Middle School and High School years, when I was introduced to literary classics such as To Kill a Mockingbird, Catcher in the Rye, Les Miserables, and The Count of Monte Cristo, I discovered both a love of fiction and a knack for creative writing. But it wasn’t until my first semester of law school that I truly caught “the writing bug” and knew I had to become a storyteller. I have been practicing law for over 12 years, specializing in complex litigation. I live with my wife and our daughters in the suburbs of New York City.



Bookworm: What was the hardest thing about writing this book?


Brian Cohen: Without a doubt, the hardest thing for me was finding the time to write!





Bookworm: In your book, Nick O'Reilly goes through an emotional journey, he discovers love, hope and happiness along the way. Where did you get the idea for Nick's story?



Brian Cohen: I am a huge fan of crime fiction, so as an attorney setting out to write a first novel, it naturally followed that legal suspense would be my genre of choice. I spent six months researching, plotting, outlining, and creating character sketches, and then another six months cranking out 150 pages of material. During that time, though, a lot was happening in my life – stories of people my age dying prematurely were being told with alarming frequency, the rat race had become all-consuming, and my wife and I were getting ready to welcome our first child into the world. Then one day, I appreciated that everything I’d been experiencing had inspired another story; I realized that, though writing a crime novel was something I wanted to do, telling the story of Nick O’Reilly was something I had to do. So that evening, I told my wife that I was shelving the thriller and starting on a new project and, the following morning, I began writing The Life O’Reilly and have never looked back.




Bookworm: Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?



Brian Cohen: Thanks so much for all of your support and enthusiasm. You've made the journey to publication all worthwhile!




Bookworm: I've read you have a second novel in the works. Can you tell us what it's about?



Brian Cohen: It's an emotional story of love and redemption that explores the politics of a family business and the impact it has on the relationships of its inter-generational members who struggle to understand the differences in each other’s values.





Bookworm: Who are your favorite authors and what is it that really strikes you about their work?



Brian Cohen: I admire so many authors whose books have inspired me over the years, but to name a few: Harper Lee, Chaim Potok, Sloan Wilson, Bernard Malamud, John Grisham, George Pelecanos, and Dennis Lehane.






Bookworm: Thank you again Brian! It's been a pleasure getting to know a bit more about the author behind the book. Your new book sounds interesting as well. Best of luck :O)





--------------------------

Giveaway Details:

1. This contest is open worldwide


2. To enter to win, comment on this post and include your email adress

3. For an extra entry, blog about this contest or place it on your sidebar and include the link with your comment and email.

4. A winner will be announced on Friday Oct.1, 2010

Good luck!

Hello blog friends. Yesterday I reviewed Transformations: Give Up the Struggle. There was some really positive feedback on my review, thank you all for that. Today author Renee Wiggins is here for a blog interview. Welcome Renee!




About the author:


Renee Wiggins has mentored, trained and changed lives in the health and wellness industry for more than 20 years. A strong believer and encourager in living the authentic,healthy lifestyle , Renee specializes in designing customized lifestyle programs that are tailored to client needs, goals and habits. Renee's mission is to help people achieve optimum healthy through nutrition and fitness and supplemented with a stress management program.






Bookworm: What inspired you to write Transformations: Give Up the Struggle?




Renee: I saw men and women struggling simply because they didn't know that change is not a negative thing. I wanted the reader to break the bondage that is holding them back and move forward. When we are open to taking ourselves from one level to the next, we take our power back, chains are broken, and positive things began to happen in our lives.





Bookworm: While reading your book I found a few favorite passages, such as 'The past has no power over me unless I let it.' I agree that letting go of the past is the only way to move forward. What do you hope people who read your book will get out of it?



Renee: I want my readers to view hardships as helpers to become a stronger person and to look at obstacles as stepping stones to greatness. And just like a caterpillar grows wings and transforms into a butterfly, I want them to be open to a similar evolutionary process in their lives. If the reader is encouraged to move from one place in life to the next after reading the affirmations in this collection, the goal of my book will be met.






Bookworm: Who are your favorite authors, and what strikes you about their work? Can you recommend any books?




Renee:
My favorite authors are Max Lucado and Joyce Meyers. I like the way they take a Biblical verse and create a modern-day story that is very easy for readers to identify with. Their stories are not complicated, yet in a very powerful way they illustrate the presence of God and help readers see His role in their lives. One of my favorite books by Max Lucado is "Come Thirsty." And one of my favorite books by Joyce Meyers' is" Battlefield of the Mind."




Bookworm: Do you have any new books in the works?



Renee:

Yes, I have several, one of which will be a sequel to Transformations: Give Up The Struggle. It will be a collection of stories describing how people have danced their way through the storms of their lives. I'm really excited about it.



Bookworm:
Thank you for stopping by Renee, I enjoyed your book and the inspirational message it sends!




The book:





Transformations: Give Up the Struggle




Special thanks to Tracee over at
Pump Up Your Book Promotion for making this possible.

I recently read and reviewed The Queen's Pawn by Christy English.

Set during the Middle Ages in England, The Queen's Pawn is the story of Queen Eleanor of Aquitaine and Princess Alais of France, and the love and betrayal that occurs between these two women. Christy English weaves fact with fiction and the result is a great story that draws the reader in from page one. Highly recommended, especially to fans of historical fiction.

Read my full review here.



Today I am happy to say that Christy English has kindly taken the time out of her busy schedule to stop by my little corner of the web for an author interview. I've been in contact with Christy via email and she is a delightful lady. Read on for the interview...





Bookworm: Welcome to my blog Christy, and thank you for taking the time our of your busy schedule for this interview. Please tell us a bit about yourself.




Christy: Naida, thanks so much for having me. I am a writer originally from Wilmington, NC who has lived the last four years in New York City. I graduated with a degree in history from Duke University much longer ago than I am willing to admit. I love to travel, to Paris when I can get there, and through books when I can’t.





Bookworm: The Queen's Pawn is your debut novel, do you have any more books in the works?



Christy: I am fascinated by Eleanor of Aquitaine. She has absolutely captured my imagination. I am writing my second novel about her rise to power as duchess of Aquitaine and her first marriage to King Louis VII of Spain. To Be Queen: A Novel of the Early Life of Eleanor of Aquitaine comes out from New American Library next April.






Bookworm: What inspired you to write The Queen's Pawn?



Christy: I wanted to give Princess Alais a voice. In history, she is completely silent, and is only referred to in relationship to the men in her life: her father, Louis VII of France, her lover, King Henry II of England, her betrothed, Richard the Lionhearted, and her brother, King Philippe Auguste of France. I am fascinated by speculating on what women in history, once given a voice, might have to say to us.







Bookworm: What was the hardest thing about writing this book? How long did it take you to write?
What type of research did you have to do?



Christy: The hardest thing about writing this book, about writing any book, is the re-writing. The first draft flows and fascinates me, but then I have to look at it from more of a distance, and fix all the problems that I didn’t see before. My editor is a huge help in this, but ultimately, I have to perform surgery on my child until I get the novel right.


The Queen’s Pawn took three months to write the first draft and then three years to get right. I am no historian, so I did a lot of secondary research, taking in biographies about Eleanor of Aquitaine. One of my favorites is the one by Ralph V. Turner that came out in the summer of 2009.






Bookworm: In the Queen's Pawn, Queen Eleanor and Princess Alais have a strong bond, they are almost like mother and daughter. Even after they betray one another, they still love each other. What made you write them this way, with such a close relationship?



Christy: It is obvious to hate the woman who is your husband’s mistress. But I thought, how interesting would it be, what kind of a story would I discover, if Eleanor and Alais loved each other, but betrayed each other anyway? I like what I’ve found by answering that question. In the end, it is the people we love who have the power to hurt us the most.






Bookworm: Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?



Christy: Of all the books out there, thank you for choosing mine. After reading The Queen’s Pawn, I hope that you come to love Eleanor of Aquitaine and Princess Alais of France half as much as I do.







Bookworm: Who are your favorite authors and what is it that really strikes you about their work?



Christy: My favorite author is Mary Renault. She wrote about ancient Greece in novels such as The Persian Boy, The Mask of Apollo, and The Last of the Wine. What I love best about her work besides her amazing writing style is her ability to lift me from my regular, mundane life and transport me into the world she has researched and created.






Bookworm: Last but not least, if you were stranded on a deserted island, and were allowed to bring 3 items with you, what would they be?



Christy: A Kindle/Nook/I Book with endless battery power, a bottomless trunk of milk chocolate, and sunblock :) The perfect beach get away…






Bookworm: Thank you again Christy. I enjoyed this interview and always like learning a bit about the author behind the book. I think a bottomless trunk of milk chocolate is the perfect thing to bring to a deserted island :)

I'm happy to hear To Be Queen will be out next April! I look forward to reading it.

Happy Friday blog friends. I recently read and reviewed A Bad Day For Pretty, which is a crime mystery with some humor, a bit of romance and a no nonsense heroine. I really enjoyed the book and am thrilled that author Sophie Littlefield has been kind enough to stop by my blog for an interview.









Bookworm: Welcome to my blog Sophie, and thank you for taking the time our of your busy schedule for this interview. Please tell us a bit about yourself.



Sophie: I’m a forty-something author from Northern California. I was a stay-at-home mom and homemaker for many years, but I have also been writing for decades. A few years ago I made writing my full time job, and in 2008 I got an agent and sold my first book. Since then I’ve written quite a few more books, and with the help of my agent I’ve contracted for three series at three different publishers.


I spend most of my time either sitting in my chair working away, or with my kids, who are both in high school. I’m also blessed with fantastic friends in the writing community, and I might just spend a fair amount of time hanging out with them in bars and talking about – what else – books. My family, and my non-writing friends, have been very patient with me, but I think they believe I’m obsessed. And they may be right.





Bookworm: In A Bad Day For Pretty, Stella Hardesty is an avenger for women who have suffered from spousal abuse. Shes a great heroine, strong, intelligent and sassy. How did you come up with her character? Is she inspired by anyone you know?


Sophie: Erm, um, the sad truth is that all of Stella’s baser instincts – her jealous, mean, frustrated, insecure, or bitchy moments – are all me. Her better moments, when she is striving to help other women, when she is generous and kind and brave – that is the ideal that I would like to strive for.


I created Stella when I was still newly arrived in middle age, when I was in the “you-have-got-to-be-kidding” stage. I think some women, after they’ve experienced the down side of middle age for a while, learn to take it in stride – the hot flashes and weight gain and failing eyesight, being ignored or condescended to by strangers, being portrayed as matronly and sexless by the media, watching men our age abandon ship to go shopping for younger models – but in the initial throes there’s a sort of shocked fury that I channeled into creating the character.





Bookworm: A Bad Day For Pretty is your second book featuring Stella, the first being A Bad Day For Sorry, will there be a third book?


Sophie: Yes, and thank you for asking! The third, tentatively titled A BAD DAY FOR FANCY, will be out next spring. A fourth, which I am currently writing, will come out the following year. And I will keep writing them as long as there is an audience who wants to read them.







Bookworm:What was the hardest thing about writing this book? How long did it take you to write?


Sophie: This book practically wrote itself in a brief but intense period early in 2008. I had just finished a book that didn’t sell, after writing several other novels over the course of a decade that didn’t sell, and I was a little tired of trying to follow all the rules and write the book I thought the market wanted to buy. So A BAD DAY FOR SORRY was a little treat for me, a hell-bent project where I broke all the rules I’d been dying to break and just wrote flat-out for the joy of it.






Bookworm: Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?


Sophie: I’d like to thank them for giving a chance to a book that’s a little different from what we’ve come to expect from popular fiction. In particular I would like to tell them how much I appreciate their support for Stella, who isn’t young or pretty or educated or even very polite.


When I was trying to find a home for the book, several people suggested that I make Stella younger, better-looking, and less profane. I’m truly thrilled that I didn’t have to do that. I like Stella the way she is and I’m grateful to everyone who allowed me to keep her that way.






Bookworm:Who are your favorite authors and what is it that really strikes you about their work?


Sophie: I appreciate authors in any genre who make me feel deeply. A romance that tugs at my cynical heart, a thriller that terrifies me, a noir mystery that makes me think hard about the human condition…a young adult novel that reminds me of how hard it was to grow up, a graphic novel that gets my pulse racing. I’m always on the lookout for authors who are new to me, and I listen when a friend says there’s someone I “really have to read.” Recently I’ve been introduced to Marisa de los Santos, Clive Barker, and Derek Nikitas that way.





Bookworm:If your book was to be made into a film, what famous Hollywood actors would you chose to play Stella & Goat? How about Chrissy?


Sophie: I love this game! Goat is definitely J.K. Simmons (the dad in Juno). I think Wynnona Judd would make a great Stella. As for Chrissy…the problem is that there aren’t many plus-size young actresses getting juicy roles, so either some brave actress is going to have to give in and eat a few cheeseburgers, or some talent scout is going to have to discover some overlooked future star. There’s a young actress named Rebecca Field who’s had some TV roles who might be a good fit.






Bookworm: Last but not least, if you were stranded on a deserted island, and were allowed to bring 3 items with you, what would they be?


Sophie: If you let me count my kids as one (which would keep me entertained), that would let me bring a giant tub of Cetaphil moisturizing cream and a crate of Triscuits, which I believe are the perfect food.



Bookworm: Thank you again Sophie! I enjoyed reading your answers. I like Stella just the way she is too and am glad to hear there will be third and fourth books. I think Wynnona Judd would play a great Stella :)

------------------






special thanks to Tony over @ Blue Dot Literary for making this possible.

Hello blog friends, today I would like to give a warm welcome to Preetham Grandhi, author of A Circle of Souls. Mr. Grandhi has been kind enough to stop by for an author interview.



I recently read & reviewed his book A Circle of Souls here on my blog. It is a mystery/thriller that kept me hooked until the last page. Read on for the interview....


Bookworm: Welcome Mr. Grandhi, and thank you for taking the time for an interview. Please tell us a bit about yourself.




Preetham Grandhi: I was born and raised in Bangalore, in south India. I went to Baldwin Boys high School, one of the old British schools in Bangalore. Soon after high school I went to into medical school followed by residency in America. After my graduation from the Child Study Center at Yale, I have been the chief of service for House 5 at Bronx Children’s Psychiatric Center. I work on an inpatient unit (House five) with children aged 4 to 10 years of age. Some of them have true biological disorders like Childhood Schizophrenia and Bipolar disorder. Some of them have psychosocial issues, trauma and other adverse life events. Many of them have both.


I work with a wonderful team of people that include psychologists, social workers, teachers and direct care staff without whom this work would be impossible. The book was dedicated to House five. I also have a private practice and reside in Westchester County, New York, with my family.






Bookworm: What was the hardest thing about writing this book? How long did it take you to write?




Preetham Grandhi: A "Circle of Souls," delves into the darkest parts of human thinking and how life experiences change outcomes for different people. This is a book that will keep you thinking and wondering about many different aspects of life after you have read the book. Tying in all the characters and keeping it a page turner was challenging.






Bookworm: In A Circle of Souls, Leia Bines is the lead investigator on the case. She is a strong and intelligent woman. Was her character modeled after anyone in particular?




Preetham Grandhi: Leia is modeled after my wife Bindu, who has been a great support and my critic that made the book possible. She herself is a published author of a great cookbook titled "Spice up your life: The flexitarian way." Her wonderful recipes have kept me healthy through the years.





Bookworm: Are you planning on writing another book?




Preetham Grandhi: I hope to finish the next one in the next few years, but it is difficult to write after a long days work that is by itself mentally consuming. But surely I will continue to work slowly on it.






Bookworm: Who are your favorite authors and what is it that really strikes you about their work?




Preetham Grandhi: I grew up reading a lot of Enid Blyton books and Archie comics. It was Enid's books that opened my imagination. I think there are many fantastic authors like Alistair MacLean who are very capable of telling fantastic stories that were made into movies. I am very interested in books that make good movies. I wish I had the time to read more of them.






Bookworm: If A Circle of Souls were to be made into a film, what actors would you pick to play Peter and Leia?


Preetham Grandhi: Peter could be played by Brandon Routh and Leia by Michelle Rodriquez.






Bookworm: What would you like to say to your readers?


Preetham Grandhi: We are all held accountable for our actions in some way or the other, so be sure to think about what you do before you do it. In the end the choices we make now may haunt us for many lives to come.








Bookworm: Thank you again Mr. Grandhi for taking the time to stop by and chat with us. I enjoyed your interview answers, and the advice you give to others at the end is wise. I hope to read more of your work one day.







about the author:

Preetham Grandhi, M.D. immigrated to the United States from Bangalore, India to pursue a career in child and adolescent psychiatry. After his graduation from Yale he has been the chief of service for House 5 at Bronx Children’s Psychiatric Center. He is devoted to helping young children gain insight into their emotional and behavioral needs and empowers them to maximize their inner potential. He also has a private practice and resides in Westchester County, New York, with his family.

-quoted from the authors website: http://www.acircleofsouls.com/about.html

title: Still Running

author: Judah Raine

pages: 214

format: ebook

published: 2008

genre: romance

first line: She knew something was wrong the minute she opened the front
door.

rated: 4 out of 5






Josie Tate is left to care for Sasha Renwick's 6 year old twins after Sasha runs off with a man named Luke. Josie was caregiver to the twins for the past three years, living in Sasha's luxurious penthouse. Sasha has left a note instructing Josie to see her lawyer and make arrangements. When Josie goes to see the lawyer, he tells her that she is to take the twins, Matt and Emmy, to thier father to stay there permanently.
The twins dad is a man named Stuart Harper who lives in South Africa.

Sasha has left a deal for Josie, if she takes the twins to thier dad, the trip is all expenses paid and Josie will get a return ticket back to London.

For Josie, the idea of a ticket back to London seemed like a life-line,
a glimmer of hope. She didn’t have to stay. She could come back. She
still had the chance to reinvent herself and her life, finally make it work.
Right now the twins needed her. All she had to do was find Superdad,
get them settled, and she could come back and focus on herself. A whole
new start.

Josie however is wondering where Stuart has been all this time. He hasn't been in the childrens lives and she wants an explanation from him before she hands over the twins to him. Once they arrive in Africa, Josie decides to go and visit Stuart by herself to get some answers.

When she finds Stuart's home, she sees it is a horse ranch called 'Harper Estates'.



At the ranch she runs into a man and Josie is temporarily left speechless.

Hot damn. Josie hoped the words stayed in her head. Whatever
picture she’d conjured—something along the lines of old and weathered
like the stone in the paddock walls—this didn’t fit.
He was tall, built like a rock and with just the right amount of
muscle in all the right places. He stood there bare-chested, the missing
blue T-shirt pushed through a loop of his jeans. She was wholly
unprepared for the effect that all that lean, well-toned muscle seemed to
be having on her ability to concentrate on exactly why she’d come all
this way.

She tells him she is looking for Stuart Harper and the adonis tells her, 'My brother is dead'. Turns out this is Stuart's twin brother, Cade Harper. After the shock passes Josie tells Cade who the children are. Cade is single and lives on the ranch with his father and sister. What Josie worries over most is that the children will have a loving home and family.



And there is an instant attraction between Josie and Cade, this scares her because she is afraid of getting hurt.

Josie felt the panic rising, felt suddenly and hugely out of her depth.
She didn’t want that, didn’t want to be joined to this alarming,
disturbing, wholly unforgettable man. She was acutely conscious that
they came from different worlds, had different lives. They were poles
apart, he the larger-than-life kind and she simply one of the little people,
someone with a murky past and an even murkier future, and not much in
between.

I really enjoyed Still Running . It's just what I was looking to read right now, something light and romantic. I liked Josie and Cade, they make a good match even though Josie tries to fight it every step of the way. Josie does have some personal demons she is dealing with and no matter what Cade does to try to get her to open up to him, she fights him.

She saw Cade the minute they entered the room, as if some wayward
need within her had tuned to his vibrations like some sort of instinctive
sexual compass set unerringly to his. It rated as almost uncanny, not to
mention unsettling, how, in a room of close to two hundred people, he
was the first person she saw.

The characters are well written and the storyline was good. I finished this one up in a few days and was satisfied with the plot and ending. My one qualm is the book cover on this one. Even though this was an e-book and technically it doesn't have a real cover, I didn't like this cover image. I'm a sucker for a good book cover, and this one doesn't do this sweet story justice.


Special thanks to Judah Raine for sending me a copy of her ebook.



-------------------------

Judah has kindly taken the time out of her busy schedule to grant me a blog interview!

Bookworm: Hello Judah and thank you for taking time out to stop by my blog for an interview. Please tell us a bit about yourself.


Judah: Hi there, and thanks so much for having me along. I live in a leafy suburb of Durban , South Africa , called Westville, where I share a house on the bank of a river with my interior designer daughter and our “zoo”. I’m a “farm girl” at heart, which is why this setting is ideal for me, and when I’m not writing you’ll find me gardening, reading, and working on my current “pet project”, Classic Romance Revival – a group established to bring together authors, readers and publishers of Classic Romance that is sweet, sensual or sophisticated…




Bookworm: What inspired you to write Still Running?

Judah:
That’s a complex question, because it wasn’t really any one thing… but the character of Josie was really loud in my head and demanded exploration, and having seen the “power of the past” at work in people’s lives I quickly realized that Josie needed her story told. She’d lived in her pain for so long she could no longer find the way out, and was searching for the only thing that could change that. Love. From then on I was hooked…




Bookworm: If Still Running were to be made into a film, what actors would you pick to play Josie and Cade?


Judah: Well, for Josie I’d have to go with “SA’s own” Charlize Theron. And for Cade? Hmmm… Hugh Jackman springs to mind. He definitely has Cade’s “strong but sexy-gentle” look….





Bookworm: What got you interested in writing? How long have you been writing?

Judah:
My Dad used to say I was born with a book in one hand and a pen in the other… I’ve been writing as long as I can remember, though I only took the plunge into publishing in 2008. While growing up on a farm was an ideal childhood, it could be quite lonely, and the characters and places in my head were my “company”. I also find writing to be enormously therapeutic, and it’s been a common thread throughout my life, a place to go to explore things, work through things… looking back I suppose all of it was “growing” me to this point.





Bookworm: Are you working on any books now?
Judah:

I currently have 3 in progress, all set in SA and all contemporary romance. Being Mrs Bellamy takes a look at the “marriage of convenience” from a different perspective, The Unmaking of Missy follows the emotional journey of a young woman raised by an authoritarian grandmother as she discovers love and redefines herself, and A High, Wide Place explores love against the complications of emotional ties in estranged families. I am also currently researching a series on the British 1820 settlers to SA, a group of people who endured all kinds of incredible hardships in their journey to a new land.






Bookworm: Who are your favorite authors and what is it that really strikes you about their work?

Judah:
This is virtually impossible to answer – I have a broad taste, and will devour anything providing it is well-written. I suppose I have a strong fondness for the “classics” and will re-read these on a regular basis. I also get bored very quickly, so don’t usually stay with a single author too long. Let’s just say I could easily open my own library – gazillions of books, all of them “keepers”, depending on my current mood and which particular genre I may be into at any given time.






Bookworm: Last but not least, if you were stranded on a deserted island, and were allowed to bring 3 items with you, what would they be?

Judah:

Top of my list would be my laptop, though I guess that wouldn’t last long, batteries being the issue. So I suppose my guitar (I could finish all the songs I started out writing and never quite finished!), my old dog Keila, and a note pad and pencil (does that count as two? And if we tied them together? Hey a girl’s gotta write…)






Bookworm: Thank you for stopping by for a chat Judah! It's been fun getting to know a bit about the author behind the book. I think Hugh Jackman is a great choice for Cade's character! And I agree, a note pad and pencil are a must for a writer on a deserted island :)

I would like to give a warm welcome to Kathy-Diane Leveille. She has kindly taken time out of her schedule to stop by for an interview. Miss Leveille is the author of Let the Shadows Fall Behind You.

About the book:

When Brannagh’s boyfriend, Nikki, disappears into thin air, she reluctantly returns to the east coast for a reunion of the childhood club Tuatha-de-Dananns. She hides out at her Grandmother’s cottage near the woods where her mother was murdered fifteen years ago. As Brannagh tries to solve the mystery behind Nikki’s vanishing, she is haunted by the secrets hiding the most startling disappearance of all.

Author Bio:


Kathy-Diane Leveille is a former broadcast journalist with the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation who discovered the only thing more thrilling than reading a wonderful story is harnessing the power of the imagination to write one. Her short story collection Roads Unravelling was published to critical acclaim after a selection from its pages Learning to Spin was adapted to radio drama for CBC’s Summer Drama Festival. The tale Showdown at the Four Corner’s Corral was revised for the stage and performed by New City Theater in Saint John . She is a member of Sisters in Crime, International Thriller Writers, Kiss of Death RWA and Crime Writers of Canada.




And now...onto the interview....






Bookworm: Welcome Kathy-Diane, and thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule to grant me a blog interview. Please tell us a bit about yourself.




Kathy-Diane: I’m a former broadcast journalist with the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. I’ve always written stories and poetry, but when I was on maternity leave with my youngest son I decided to tackle my dream of writing a novel. I had tried on a couple of occasions, but I think that was the first time I took the elements of the craft seriously. Of course, I didn’t have a clue what I was doing! I still believe that even if I had realized how extremely difficult it is, and how much there is to learn, I would have plunged in anyway. There is something inside me that needs to ‘live life on the page.’ I live on the east coast and most of my fiction is set here. There is an ethereal quality to the ocean landscape that lends perfectly to mystery, suspense and thrillers. I live with my family (husband and 2 boys) next to a lovely garden inhabited by cardinals and humming birds.





Bookworm: What inspires you to write?



Kathy-Diane: My story ideas are born from a question. For example, on spring day when I was walking along the river I spotted something floating in it that looked like a box. That aroused my curiosity. I wondered what it was, who it belonged to and who would find it. That led to the short story “Maggie’s Wake” in my first book “Roads Unravelling.” Maggie’s convinced her life is over when she spots a coffin floating down the river. Question and character go hand in hand for me.





Bookworm: In your new book, Let The Shadows Fall Behind You, you write about mysterious disappearances. How do you research for a book like this? How long did it take you to write this book?




Kathy-Diane: My imagination has always been twigged by unexplained disappearances. I’m actually starting a new blog to document them all. (I’ll post it the URL when it’s ready). Some are quirky urban legends or folklore; others defy logic and hint at paranormal phenomenon; tragically; still others when solved irrefutably indicate foul play. I think the reason these incidents catch my attention as a writer is because they are the kind of events that are life-changing. You’re following your normal day-to-day routine, business as usual, when an unexplained disappearance occurs and life, as you know, is in upheaval, and it’s impossible to return to the sure footing you took for granted. Think of the passengers on flight 815 in the TV series LOST. In reality, when I read history books or the headlines I find myself wondering about the living, breathing people behind unsolved disappearances. Some incidents appear quirky, speculative and as harmless as childhood tales around the camp fire. Then a real life headline brings shock and anger when CNN announces that the unthinkable is a horrific reality as in the Lacey Peterson case.




I started writing LET THE SHADOWS FALL BEHIND YOU on coffee breaks while I was at the hospital. I began working as a medical transcriptionist because it didn’t sap my creativity the way journalism did, and left room to pursue my dream of writing a novel. I can’t remember the initial spark for this story, but I do know I wanted to write about a woman whose lover disappears into thin air. I usually don’t do research in my initial draft too much. I start with the question or puzzle first, followed by the character, and exploring their journey as they try to solve it. I find if I start researching too soon, it can be a distraction, and an excuse not to write. Also, the story could change completely with time, and I may not even need the material I’ve researched if I do it too soon. When I know I’ve nailed the plot, I go through the novel making notes. In this case, I then contacted law enforcement, a historian and a naturalist. I find things go smoothly if I’m professionally prepared before contacting an expert. If I’ve researched on my own as much as possible at the Saint John Regional Library, and have the questions down, I don’t waste anyone’s time. I live on the east coast, but I did travel to Toronto because the reference libraries are huge, and who can resist being around all those wonderful books.




Having said all that though, I don’t write FACTION. No matter how much research I do, I’m just using it to legitimize and enhance a story that is pure FICTION. It sprang out of my imagination and nowhere else. That’s the thrill of being a writer! I always put in the disclaimer that any mistakes are solely my own and not those experts kind enough to answer my questions.






Bookworm: Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?




Kathy-Diane: I hope you enjoy LET THE SHADOWS FALL as much as I enjoyed writing it. At heart, this is a book about the power of friendship. When Brannagh returns home for a childhood reunion of the Tuatha-De-Danaans, despite Nikki’s vanishing, she finally confronts the past she’s been running away from. Nothing can change the past, but friends hold the power to transform the future. Drop by my web site and let me know what you think. I always love to hear from readers: http://kathy-dianeleveille.com





Bookworm:Who are your favorite authors and what is it that really strikes you about their work?

Kathy-Diane: My husband and I love reading Harlen Coban because of his skilled plotting, and the challenge of trying to figure out who-dun-it. When I can keep guessing right to the end of the book, I’m your reader for life. I love novels that are intricate and unusual like the British Queen of Suspense Patricia Highsmith. (You may recognize her novel that was adapted to the motion picture “The Incredible Mr. Ripley”). I’ve read every book I can find by Nicci French, a British husband and wife team, who pen psychological thrillers because the plots are believable, the prose clean and poetic (an extremely difficult balance to achieve in genre); and the protagonists are smart, funny, sympathetic and real.





Bookworm: Do you have any advice for other writers?




Kathy-Diane: Join as many writers’ organizations and attend as many conferences as you can afford. Network, network, network. Even if you are a card-carrying introvert like me, you will connect with people in passing, in line at the wine bar or on the elevator. I started interviewing many of the generous authors I’ve met on the road to publication once a week on my blog, and always ask for a tip on how debut novelists can survive in today’s publishing world. It’s my security blanket! It’s nice to connect with friends when you’re heading into new territory. Most writers are big-hearted and willing to offer advice if time permits, and if approached in a professional manner. Never stop learning! That’s the unending challenge of writing. You complete one goal and another looms on the horizon. By the way, Shadows Fall N Friends interviews are every Thursday at http://lettheshadowsfallbehindyou.blogspot.com. For a schedule of who is up when, drop me a line at shadowsfall@kathy-dianeleveille.com





Bookworm: Last but not least, if you were stranded on a deserted island, and were allowed to bring 3 items with you, what would they be?



Kathy-Diane:

I’m going to assume that my desert island has water and fruit trees; landscape from which I could build a shelter, start a fire and fashion weapons for fishing/hunting/protection. I could rip down medium-size branches to weave into a shelter, and find razor-edged rocks or shells to carve weapons and shavings to start a fire in the Girl-Guide tradition. Once I got the fire going, I’d have to figure how to sustain it, but I’m sure like Tom Hanks in Cast Away, I’d manage. That means I can choose the three most important things outside of food, shelter and water. ONE: A box of pencils already sharpened. TWO: A box of note pads. THREE: The Narnia Series by C. S. Lewis in a plastic baggie.





The hardest thing to decide here was which book to put in that baggie. I settled on this one because it was a childhood favourite. It would be familiar and comforting. The theme is spiritually uplifting, Aslan is a gentle warrior/saviour. The powerful magic/fantasy in the writing would provide a huge distraction and escape from the pressures of surviving day to day. But most of all, the book is about my favourite topic: unexplained disappearances. Whoever steps into the magical wardrobe seemingly vanishes into thin air. You know, when I come to think about it, maybe that’s where my fascination began!



Naida, thank you so much for inviting me to be your guest and meeting all your readers. Let me know what you think of Let the Shadows Fall Behind You at shadowsfall@kathy-dianeleveille.com. I’d love to hear from you.
Happy Reading !

Kathy-Diane

http://kathy-dianeleveille.com




Bookworm: Thank you so much for stopping by Kathy, it's been a pleasure! I really need to read The Narnia Series, they sound like a fun selection to bring if stuck on a deserted island :) Let the Shadows Fall Behind You sounds like a great book, especially since it deals with a mysterious vanishing. It's always interesting to learn more about the author behind the book!