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Month: October 2017
Meet The Author, Donise Sheppard
Enjoy getting to know, Donise Sheppard:
Thank you for joining me today. Tell us in three words how you would best describe your writing.
Articulate, clean, and pithy.
Your book, The Altered: Subsist, was released April 22, 2016. Share a passage that you’d like for us to enjoy.
Then several things happen at once. Daren’s face turns from playful to horror and he yells my name as I feel strong arms grab me across the waist. I see Mr. Forest look up and aim his bow as Daren begins to climb the ladder. I’m pulled back, hard, and yanked to a door that probably leads to the store below us. I try kicking and hitting and biting to get away, but it’s too late. I’m being taken. I’m going to become an altered. Or worse.
You’ve been presented with the opportunity to be a best-selling author, but can never write again, or write forever, but never have a bestseller. Which scenario sounds more tempting?
Even though being a best-seller is on my bucket list, I would give it up if it meant never getting to write again. I’m not me when I’m not writing. I will continue to write for the rest of my life, even if I never sell more than a few copies.
If you could live on a college campus and never leave, or live in a small town but be able to travel, which one would you choose?
Considering I already live in a small town, I’d have to be really unhappy to choose a college campus. Living in a small town isn’t so bad. We can go wherever and do whatever everyone else does, it just takes a little longer to get to the city.
Okay, how about in an amusement park or in an airport?
I would probably choose an airport because they have a bar area where I can sit and write and enjoy the occasional drink.
And how about Ireland or Germany?
I would move to Ireland in an instant. From the country to the cities to the culture and the accent, everything in Ireland sounds completely amazing.
Who is your favorite 90’s band (I’m thinking Counting Crows, Blink 182, Hootie & the Blowfish)?
I honestly don’t have a favorite 90’s band. I was born in ’91 and didn’t really get interested in music until I was around twelve, and then it was more solo artists than bands. Hootie and the Blowfish were pretty good, though.
Are there any good bands out there today that we’ll talk about in 50 years?
I don’t know about everyone else, but I have several bands I’ll still love in fifty years: Rascal Flatts, The Band Perry, Lady Antebellum, Sugarland, Skillet. Probably a ton more.
And what about your favorite comedy on TV (My favorite is still The Office)?
I have to pick just one? Friends is my all-time favorite, followed by Roseanne, then Will and Grace (which is back, btw). If I’m picking from current shows it would be Will and Grace, The Good Place, The Ranch, and Grace and Frankie. Yep. I can’t pick just one.
Is there anything you’re currently working on?
I have a very long work in progress list. I have a young adult, science fiction novel I’m working on, I’m editing three short stories, I have to edit two young chapter book, I’m writing a young chapter book, there is another short story about mermaids I’m working on, and a ton more story plots that I have written down.
Who is your favorite author and if you could ask him/her one question, what would it be?
I have two favorite authors: Jodi Picoult and J.M. Ames. I would ask Jodi why, with so many credentials, did she choose writing as a career. I would ask J.M. why he waiting so long to become a writer, instead of starting as a teen like most of us.
Lightning round:
Ocean or mountains? Mountains
Yogurt or ice cream? Ice Cream
Chocolate or Sour Candy? Chocolate
Jimmy Fallon or Stephen Colbert? Jimmy Fallon
Happy or sad ending to a novel? Sad
Beer or wine? Beer
Flying or driving? Driving
Hemingway or Twain? Hemingway
You’re stranded on a desert island, and you can take two things with you, as well as two people. What and who are you bringing?
I would bring a tarp to catch water so we don’t dehydrate, and matches to start fires to cook food. I would also bring my husband so he can hunt and tell me which plants were edible, and my dad so he could build us a boat to get off the island.
You’re able to sit down with any leader in world history. Who would you choose, what would you talk about, and would you rather have him/her over to your house, or meet at their place of royalty?
I would meet up with John F. Kennedy, who could have been America’s best president if given the chance. I would love to shake his hand and personally ask him what plans he had to make our country better. I would definitely meet at their place because I think my house may be too small for his security team.
You can wish for one thing and one thing only (not world peace and no more wishes). What’s it gonna be?
I would wish for the unlimited opportunity to travel where I want, when I want, for the rest of my, all expenses paid.
Author Bio
Donise Sheppard is a fiction writer born in Ohio, but residing in Southern West Virginia with her husband and four children. She has five self-published novels on Amazon including The Altered series, a short story published in A Haunting of Words titled “Coal Run Road”, a short story published in Tuck Magazine titled “Walk Tall”, and a short story titled “Broken” in the anthology Relationship Add Vice. When she isn’t writing, she’s reading, baking, or chasing her rambunctious children.
Into The Water, by Paula Hawkins
There was so much that I disliked about this book, but where to start? While there were some interesting aspects and plot lines in the novel, most of it was tiresome and annoying. Hawkins switches amongst her characters too often and fails to connect like she should with any of them. This felt like a story that could have been great, but instead it tried to do to much, and didn’t do anything well. I give it two stars because there were interesting moments and it was not entirely bad.
The Cutting (McCabe & Savage), by James Hayman
While I enjoyed this book overall, I found it lacking in a bit of character depth. Also, the cussing and sex scenes seemed somewhat forced and unnecessary to me. I don’t mind timely language in a novel, but the majority of the “bad” language in this one came off as inauthentic. Still, the story kept my attention, and it was a decent mystery/thriller. I give it 3.5 stars and recommend it if you don’t mind quite a bit of language.
Meet The Author, Patrick Adams
Enjoy getting to know, Patrick Adams:
Thank you for joining me today. Tell us in three words how you would best describe your writing.
Inspired By Travel.
Your book, “Lisa Goes to India” is set to release in January 2018. Please share a passage with us that you’d like for us to enjoy.
Jonathan and Ravi started running around with the monkeys. “Be careful, you guys,” shouted Daniel. It was too late. The boys and the monkeys were laughing and running, heading towards the Taj Mahal. To get away from Ravi and Jonathan, the monkeys climbed all the way up Taj Mahal to the top. “Whew,” said Bali, the monkey. Then, looking down, he realized it was easier climbing up than it was going back down. They were stuck!
You’ve been presented with the opportunity to be a best-selling author, but can never write again, or write forever, but never have a bestseller. Which scenario sounds more tempting?
Write forever but never have a bestseller. I can live with #2 on the New York Times Best Seller List 😊.
If you could live on a college campus and never leave, or live in a small town but be able to travel, which one would you choose?
Super easy choice! Live in a small town but be able to travel. Unless that college campus was in Tahiti or Fiji……
Okay, how about in an amusement park or in an airport?
Amusement Park. Last time I checked, Airports don’t have Roller Coasters, Games, Shows, and Fireworks.
And how about Ireland or Germany?
This is a tough choice, but if I have to pick one, I’ll go with Ireland. I don’t tend to learn new languages easily, so I’d assimilate better into Ireland. Unless I’m in a part that only speaks Gaelic.
Who is your favorite 90’s band (I’m thinking Counting Crows, Blink 182, Hootie & the Blowfish)?
Not many people may remember them, but my favorite 90’s band is Tripping Daisy. Their first album, Bill, is incredible. Some may remember their song “I Got a Girl” from their second album, I Am an Elastic Firecracker, as that was a fairly big hit on radio and MTV and got skewered by Beavis and Butthead. I’ve re-discovered them recently and their entire back catalog. Huge fan of their singer, Tim DeLaughter, who went on to front two other bands, Polyphonic Spree and Preteen Zenith. I was happy to learn Tripping Daisy had reunited this year.
Are there any good bands out there today that we’ll talk about in 50 years?
I wish there were. I don’t see bands of today sporting 40+ years of longevity like the Rolling Stones and U2. Of course, I could be wrong and One Direction will still be HUGE in 2067.
And what about your favorite comedy on TV (My favorite is still The Office)?
The Big Bang Theory, hands down. I never get tired of watching it, and the characters are brilliantly written. In the 80’s and 90’s, it was Married With Children. You gotta love Al Bundy. We’ve all felt like him at one time or another.
Is there anything you’re currently working on?
I have multiple projects going on. My first novel, “The Vacationer”, is under developmental edit. Targeting a 2018 release. It is a harrowing story about a man experiencing a life crisis as he journeys across the globe on a path of self-destruction. Will he be saved? Can he be saved? Amazing Lisa children’s book series: The fourth installment, “Lisa Goes to India”, is currently being illustrated. Rhythm’s World children’s book series: The third book, and the start of a series of books themed around travel, called “Rhythm’s World Tour Vol 1: North America” is currently being illustrated.
Putting the final touches on a new blog series about travel called Diary of a Travelman. It’s based on another book I wrote, featuring humorous and poignant travel stories from my journeys around the world. Debuting November 2017.
Planning a Podcast that will spotlight up and coming authors and travel bloggers. Tentatively titled “Book It! with Patrick Adams”, I’m looking to give a voice and a spotlight to those with a creative vision. Targeting a debut in January 2018.
Who is your favorite author and if you could ask him/her one question, what would it be?
My favorite author is J.K. Rowling. My question would be: “Did you map out the entire Harry Potter series story before you wrote the first book?” I’m curious how much she planned that wonderful story out over seven books.
Lightning round:
Ocean or mountains? Oceans. Less climbing involved.
Yogurt or ice cream? Ice Cream!
Chocolate or Sour Candy? Chocolate in a landslide.
Jimmy Fallon or Stephen Colbert? Jimmy Fallon. Loved him on SNL.
Happy or sad ending to a novel? Happy, always.
Beer or wine? Wine. Red.
Flying or driving? Flying. Gets me there faster with no traffic jams.
Hemingway or Twain? Twain. Not sure why.
You’re stranded on a desert island, and you can take two things with you, as well as two people. What and who are you bringing?
Things: A spear for fishing and a flashlight.
People: My wife and daughter. Because I’ll surely get an earful if I don’t pick them.
You’re able to sit down with any leader in world history. Who would you choose, what would you talk about, and would you rather have him/her over to your house, or meet at their place of royalty?
I would choose Queen Elizabeth II of England. I would read her my book, “Lisa Goes to England”, because she stars in it in one scene. If I could get her seal of approval on my book, skies the limit! We would definitely meet at her place of royalty!
You can wish for one thing and one thing only (not world peace and no more wishes). What’s it gonna be?
Since you didn’t exclude money, I’d have to say a bank account with $1 Billion dollars in it. My family and kids would be set for generations and I could definitely be a full-time writer and traveler 😊
Bio:
Patrick Adams, founder of Patrick Adams Books, is the author of the Amazing Lisaand Rhythm’s World children’s book series. His journeys around the world inspired him to become a writer. As a book architect, Patrick is dedicated not only to publishing his own books but also helping other independent authors achieve their dream of seeing their children’s books come to life, and getting published. Through his blog, “Rhythm’s Miracles”, and the Rhythm’s World book series, Patrick is a strong supporter of families dealing with a rare form of Epilepsy called Infantile Spasms.
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Win A Signed Copy Of The Earth Bleeds Red
Goodreads Book Giveaway
The Earth Bleeds Red
by Jackson Paul Baer
Giveaway ends November 17, 2017.
See the giveaway details
at Goodreads.
Jackson Paul Baer 