Guest Author Kathy Handley

CMash September 20, 2011 Leave a Comment

Robyn and Jodi, from WOW never cease to amaze me with the authors that they want to share with us. Today, I am in awe, absolute awe, of today’s guest author. She is stopping by to talk about her debut book. However, you may be asking yourself, we have had many debut authors stop by and visit, why is she so different. Well…..the difference is…..she is 71 years young!!! So please help me welcome Ms. Kathy Handley!!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Her grandfather entertained his family with stories and dancing, her father quoted Shakespeare and her mother was known as “Mary the Poet” so naturally Kathryn would become a writer…eventually!

Now a published novelist at age 71, Kathy’s short fiction has appeared in many literary
magazines. She recently won Word Hustler’s Page-to-Screen Contest (2011) and currently serves as Prose Poetry Judge for the National League of American Pen Women Soul-Making Contest. A collection of her work will soon be released under the title A World of Love and Envy (short fiction, flash-fiction, and poetry).

You can visit her website here.

GUEST POST

Vacation Reading- Guilty Pleasure

There was a time when a reader had to set aside her time forreading. Now, it’s all about access. Wehave books to hold, Kindles, internet, books on tape, Facebook, Twitter,streaming, blackberry, Ipad, interviews, and blogs.

There’s no excuse not to read and sometimes bits at a timeor that long languid session with time to spare on vacation destination orcruise.

Vacation reading can be a guilty pleasure at home or away,but think of the benefits to friends and family. Reading expands our thinking,allows us to relax, dream, imagine and then, share our new ideas sky, and view the soft movement of the beachrose bushes and grasses, I ponder the joys of vacation reading. During cocktail hour last night in the midstof great cheeses and wines, I asked my fellow travelers about their readinghabits while away from home. Here’s whatthey are reading:

Maps, local tourist info booklets and local authors- CapeNoir stories, Jenna Blum’s latest book, Stormchasers, The Help, BonjourHappiness, and yes, one gal is reading my novel, Birds of Paradise.

When questioned if the genre changes when they pack forvacation reading, most said, “No.”

A history buff takes along historical nonfiction, one bringscurrent novel by Jodi- Picoult at the Indiana airport for full price andreturns it for 50 percent on the way back from family visits. Soduku andcrosswords were also popula. Past hobbies and interests provide a reading list.If you once were an avid sailor or skier, perhaps you take this free time toread and bring back memories for good conversation.

A good book will transport you to a new place or offer youanother take on a familiar spot. Curling up with a great book provides amini-vacation for busy moms, teachers, business men and women, and children.Enjoy!

ABOUT THE BOOK

SYNOPSIS:

When trucker Joe-Mack picks up a runaway in Vegas and drops him in Hollywood, he leaves him with a phone number—just in case. When the call comes, Joe becomes embroiled in Freddie’s life and the search for Starlet, the homeless girl who desires stardom. The three share a common search for love and for a place to belong.

With vivid imagery Handley tells a tale of dreams lost and found, of broken hearts and edgy situations. This is a story of life on the street. Handley’s characters meet life head on, taking risks and maintaining thin threads of dignity amidst troubling situations with surprising twists along the way.

Available as eBook for Kindle or soft cover.

THANKS TO THE AUTHOR KATHY HANDLEY

AND THE LADIES FROM WOW, I HAVE

ONE (1) COPY OF THIS GREAT BOOK TO GIVE AWAY.

CLICK HERE TO BRING YOU TO

THE GIVEAWAY ENTRY PAGE.

DISCLAIMER

I received a copy of this book, at no charge to me,

in exchange for my honest review.

No items that I receive

are ever sold…they are kept by me,

or given to family and/or friends.

ADDENDUM

I do not have any affiliation with Amazon.com.

I am providing this link solely for visitors

that may be interested in purchasing this EBook.

I do not receive any monetary compensation from any parties

Guest Author

Guest Author Carol Wyer

CMash September 16, 2011 1 Comment

Believe me……you are in for a treat today!!!!! Not so long ago, during one of my days of hopping, can’t remember which hop, I found this blog and thought that whoever was behind the screen was hysterical!! And of course, I could relate, since the blog’s name is Facing 50 With Humour. Then in July I received an email from Carol reminding me that I had given her an award and that she had some great news……She had written a book and asked if I would read and review it. Absolutely yes!!! But since I knew her “when” she was a blogger lol, and now that she is a published author, would she give me the honor of hosting her as my Guest Author. And the answer was Yes. Please help me welcome blogger, and now author, Carol Wyer!!!

She sent me 2 pictures and told me to pick one, I decided to use both.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

I have always been a communicator- worse still, a communicator (or ‘chatterbox’ as my mother called me) with a vivid imagination. It started from a very early age, when as a toddler I would chat to complete strangers, much to the amusement of my mother, and regale them with stories or ask them if they knew how to make scotch eggs. Language 2000 Ltd, and taught languages to individuals and companies and translated documents.
Mini Skirts and Laughter Lines

As I became older I had further complications with my back. A spinal fusion has cracked at the upper end and was causing much pain. I gave up teaching along with the language company to try something new – I became a fitness instructor. I trained and worked for several people in France and the UK. I even appeared in a fitness magazine

What brought about the desire to write a novel? There were several reasons. Being someone who loves to talk, my head was always filled with noise. For the last two or three years, since I stopped working, I find myself awake at night ‘talking’ to myself. My brain will make up stories to while away the hours. It was a natural progression to write down these thoughts and stories.

Last year was a significant one for me. My husband had retired; my son had turned twenty-one and had just flown the nest. I was facing fifty in July. Many of my friends were turning fifty that year too and they all seemed to be doing something radical. They were either having cosmetic surgery, taking up hobbies, moving abroad or even splitting up from long term relationships and going off on adventures. They all had one thing in common – they were embracing their fifties. Up until then I hadn’t given it too much thought and was only really focused on actually going away for my birthday for the first time which was quite exciting.

Looking at a friend’s wall on Facebook and at the photographs of her celebrating her birthday and reading about her plans I thought I ought to treat my fifties as an opportunity. Here I was, child-free at last, with the chance to enjoy life with my husband. I had already been extremely fortunate in life and had the opportunity to travel, to learn to fly a helicopter and to dive. The year before I had taken up art and drawn a series of pictures. I felt though I needed to do something more. I drew up a ‘bucket list’ of things to do. One of my first goals was to write an article or short story and get it published or win a prize. I set about rewriting some of the stories that had popped into my head.

Late in June 2010 I was visiting my usual haunt in town – a rather nice ‘boutique’. As always I was talking to the assistants and women there. I was regaling them with a story about my son and as usual they were laughing about it. One of them told me I was very entertaining and I really should write down some of the stories I had told them during my visits. As it happened I had by then written one or two. They seemed to flow quite well together and I suddenly decided that I might be able to write more than just a story.

Initially, I wanted to write my novel in the form of a diary of a woman aged 50 but this format has been chosen a lot over the years. In this day and age my character should be more ‘with it’. Most of my friends are on Facebook. They have iPads and iPhones My character would be more than able to use a computer. I decided to put it in a blog-like form. That way the reader wouldn’t have to complete a chapter if they were time-short as each entry stands alone.

Knowing nothing about blogging I had to research and set up a blog to see if the format would be viable to a fifty year old. Last July I created a blog, called it

I wiped the July entries from my blog and began the book. I did however restart the blog as a humorous take on facing 50 recording amusing events from my own daily life to see if the formula would work. It did. Within three months I had a few hundred followers and now I have thousands of hits a month and have guest blogged on several blogs.

Amanda is the main character and the novel is written through her eyes. She is not however the main character. She is a conduit or a mirror for the reader. The reader should be able to see something of themselves in her and as the novel progresses also reach the same understanding as Amanda; that life is for living and enjoying. Her background is deliberately vague so that the reader can associate with her better. It is more important that they recognise her anxieties and concerns and indeed have experienced those things themselves. The strongest and most amusing character is the mother, who remains nameless throughout the novel. As Amanda grows to appreciate her mother the more astute reader will notice that her tone has changed. Instead of calling her ‘my mother’ she starts referring to her as ‘Mum’.

Each character is equally important as they represent the various stages of ageing and problems associated with each age. Amanda has all of those difficulties associated with a woman reaching middle age; her husband wrestles with retirement and anxieties over their financial future as no more income is headed their way. Her son is struggling because he is trapped at home and cannot yet find the independence he desperately needs. Her mother is grabbing at every opportunity in her twilight years yet yearns to have her daughter as a friend.

The novel is more than one woman’s story. It is about the complexity of relationships and the need to nurture them. It is about friendship and how important that is to individuals. It is about embracing life and seizing the day. Mostly it is about enjoying life. You can’t succeed at everything but you can laugh at it and if you have a positive attitude you will have a positive life.

I couldn’t turn back the clock and relive my life. I had to face up to being older and not as fit as I was, or as wrinkle free as I had been, but I could stay cheerful and youthful on the inside. I wanted to share that message with others and help them laugh at what life offers sometimes. My mother’s mantra, even in the face of adversity is, ‘Well, you have to laugh at it, don’t you?’ I hope that my novel allows people to have a giggle for a while. I hope it lifts their spirits and I hope it enhances their laughter lines! is not the first book I have written. In fact I wrote a series of books for children that tell an amusing story about an animal and also teach them French. They were en route to being published when my friend and illustrator for the books unexpectedly died at the age of fifty. I didn’t continue with them after that. Zest as a ‘Before’ and ‘After’ story. ‘Facing 50 with Humour’ and wrote a series of entries as if I were Amanda Wilson. They formed the original first chapter. Having no followers at that point I asked the ladies in the boutique along with some of my Facebook friends to read the entries and tell me what they thought. The result was extremely encouraging. They urged me to continue and write the entire book. They loved every entry and claimed it was like ‘Grumpy Old Women’ only funnier You can find Carol at: Facing 50 With Humour and her website.

Born in Germany into a military family I spent my early childhood in Germany. I seemed to have an ability not only to talk a lot but in other languages too. Apparently, I would even talk in my sleep and often would dream in foreign languages – although as I gravely explained to my mother when I was about three – I had dreamt in German but not understood it!

I developed a love of reading early in life too thanks largely to my mother. I was brought up to read regularly. I had ample opportunity to read to my heart’s desire after a lengthy spell in hospital when I was 17 years old due to major spinal surgery which left me in hospital for weeks and bed-ridden for months. Here, I also started my writing career, as the only way I could stay in touch with friends, was to write long letters telling them about my stay in hospital and the characters in my ward. I was to spend a further year undergoing surgery and being housebound during my university years.

As I grew up, it was soon obvious to my parents that I would become either an actress or a teacher as I had a propensity (?) for language, and deciding I would get more lines and a better chance for a leading role, I chose the latter.

I studied English and French at the University of Keele and graduated in 1984. I then promptly headed to Morocco (Casablanca) where I taught English in English and American institutes and French to companies.

Two years later I returned to the UK where I took up a position at a private school in Staffordshire as a teacher of English to pupils aged 11-18.

After meeting and marrying my husband and giving birth to my son I set up my own language company,

Teaching allowed me to make full use of my linguistic and acting skills and afforded me the opportunity to communicate on many levels. To help people learn successfully and be a good teacher you need to be able to make the subject come to life. I have been known to teacher German to a group of accountants using puppets as a puppet show.

ABOUT THE BOOK

SYNOPSIS (from the author):

MINI SKIRTS AND LAUGHTER LINES is women’s light hearted fiction. It offers an entertaining insight into many of the emotions, dreams, relationships and concerns facing both women and men as they face up to becoming older.

Amanda Wilson and the sixteen cartons of half price soya milk, now filling the shelves of her fridge, have the same problem. They are all rapidly approaching their use by date. She is about to be fifty but she may as well hang a sign around her neck saying ‘Out Of Order’.

Whatever happened to her husband, Phil, the sparkling, fun-loving man who danced the conga, at 3am, with a pineapple on his head? Newly retired, and constantly under her feet, he now makes Victor Meldrew look like Coco the Clown. Nothing amuses him or interests him. His joie de vivre has evaporated as quickly as their life savings. Phil spends his days sitting fixated in front of the computer screen trying to manage their share portfolio uninterested in life and uninterested in her.

He only emerges to mope about the house or squabble with their son who admittedly, is making life very difficult since he boomeranged back to the nest unexpectedly. Tom appears to have his own agenda at the moment and no one can get through to him. It will require more than the average maternal skills to prevent war from breaking out between him and Phil. Although, if he pulls any more of his stunts, Mandy might just be the one to launch the first blow.

With nothing but gloomy prospects on the economic horizon it seems probable that at least one of them will have to seek employment. In the meantime, strict austerity measures will have to be enforced in the house, which can mean only one thing. Not only will Mandy have to hide her bottles of wine in the bottom of her wardrobe, but she will have to give up sneaking home new clothes. There are seriously no pleasures left.

Surely, fifty is supposed to be the new forty. In Mandy’s eyes she should be fab, not drab, at fifty and certainly not stuck in the dreariest village in England waiting for the excitement of the Annual Open Gardens Event. Even her effervescent mother, now in her twilight years, is enjoying life to the full. Her exuberant behaviour and increasingly wild adventures are the stuff of television comedy. Mandy can only admire and envy her. However, she begins to have serious reservations about the latest love interest in her mother’s life; Grego. After all, what sort of man cries at an opera and encourages your aged mother to buy a sports car?

Feeling unwanted by all around her, she reconnects with her first true love, Todd Bradshaw, now residing in Australia. Todd’s charm and zest for life is a welcome contrast to Phil. His life is chocablock full of adventure and a far cry from her existence. It’s not long before they are reliving old times and engaging in regular games of ‘Lust Scrabble’. Reminded of who she used to be, Mandy rediscovers her youthful side. Before long she is faced with a difficult decision. Should she meet the beguiling Todd who is coming over to the UK? He certainly wants to be more than internet friends. Could this be the opportunity that she passed up many years before?

However, determined to not give up on her family just yet, she endeavours to drag the reluctant Phil into a happier, more fruitful retirement, with comic results. Her plans to introduce him to new interests and hobbies go completely awry. Fortunately, the hilarious results are highly appreciated by a growing group of followers, who interact with her on her blog.

After endless battles and much heartache her relationship with Tom is finally given the opening it needs after he is jilted by his girlfriend. Mandy, reminded of how she felt when Todd and she split up, sets about mending her son’s broken heart by sending him on holiday for his 21

Meanwhile, her mother seems to be embracing life with the gusto of a pit bull terrier chasing after a postman. She has been hosting wild ‘Twister’ parties, and performing Tina Turner’s hits at the local
Karaoke evening. Her relationship with Grego is also heating up. Not only does he return to the UK with her mother but has asked her a vital question. If only Mandy knew what the question was and hadn’t dropped the phone into her lumpy gravy at that particular point. Her mother is suddenly out of contact and Mandy is left suspecting she is to be getting a toy stepfather.

Mandy gradually learns that the formula to staying youthful is to appreciate and laugh at life. She only has to take a look at the aged neighbours to recognise that life is to be fully enjoyed. They have bought themselves a ‘peaPad’ and a new motorbike. Others, equally aged villagers, have surprising amounts of fun at art classes, quiz nights and gardening events all with fun results. She must now decide the direction her life should take, and with whom she should make the journey. Or, is it too late and that particular decision has just been made for her?
Read my review here.

Watch the trailer:

Guest Author

Guest Author Jeffrey S. Stephens

CMash September 15, 2011 Leave a Comment

It is both a pleasure and honor to be host to today’s guest. Melissa from Simon & Schuster contacted me and there is no way I was saying no to an author who received rave reviews on his previous novel, Targets of Deception, and wanted to visit and tell us about his latest book. So, without further ado, please help me welcome, Mr. Jeffrey S. Stephens.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jeffrey Stephens was born in New York City and graduated from the Bronx High School of Science at the age of 16; he completed a B.A. in Creative Writing from Pennsylvania State University at 19. Jeffrey began his first novel in 1970, which would not be completed for several years as he entered the Fordham University School of Law. His private legal practice has included extensive civil and criminal courtroom experience, and he has represented a wide range of celebrity clients. Continuing to practice law while completing several novels, he only recently decided to pursue his career as a novelist in earnest, with the encouragement of his wife, Nancy.

Nancy and Jeffrey live in Greenwich, Connecticut, where they raised two sons, Graham and Trevor. All avid skiers, golfers and tennis players, they have traveled extensively as a family throughout the United States, Europe, Asia and the Caribbean, including a fateful trip years ago to Portofino, Italy, the setting for the climax of TARGETS OF DECEPTION.

You can visit Jeffrey at his website.

GUEST POST

WRITING THRILLERS IN THE MODERN ERA

Jeffrey S. Stephens,author of

TARGETSOF OPPORTUNITY

Someoneonce said that timing is everything. When it comes to creating relevant suspense novels in the twenty-first century no truer words have recently been uttered. As events occur around the world and are reported with lightning speed, they often lead to responsive activities and more media coverage as communication and action intertwine and seem to feed off one another. Markets crash, people panic, riots in one country lead to civil unrest in antother. Forthe good and the bad of it, we live in the age of instant access media.

Meanwhile,the creator of a contemporary novel—such as an espionage thriller—may takemonths or even longer to complete a first draft. By the time the story findsitself in its final version and makes it to print, it is likely a year or twosince the writer first hatched the idea for his or her plot.

Now,just take a moment to recall everything that has happened across the globallandscape in only the past two months. Then think back over the past two years!Suppose you had been writing a book about terrorism in North Africa featuringthe Qaddafi regime of injustices. Today, as your book is reaching the stores,the dissidents have taken control of Libya and Muammar has become yesterday’snews. Or what if you had a grand notion for a plot centered around the hunt forOsama bin Laden. Sorry, but you’ve just wasted a lot of time and energy. Thereal-life account of his discovery and demise is far more compelling than anynovel could be.

Thisis the tyranny of timing the novelist faces in the current age of ourfast-paced world. When I began writing TARGETS OF OPPORTUNITY I had the thoughtthat our oil industry in and around the Gulf of Mexico might be a vulnerablepoint of attack for our enemies. As I neared completion of my first version ofthe book I awoke one morning to the news of the horrific BP oil spill. You knowthe expression “You can’t make this up?” Well I certainly had made it up, but realityintervened. I was obliged to go back, tear apart my draft, re-invent the plotand also change the story to incorporate mention of that environmentaldisaster.

Interestingly,when I revised the terrorist plan being launched against our shores, I envisionedthe villains using a hurricane to help cover their actions as they undertookthe assault. I am no fan of damaging storms, believe me, but it turns out that TARGETSOF OPPORTUNITY was released last week as nearly half the country was reelingfrom the awful impact of Hurricane Irene. Not something I had anticipated whenI began the novel two years ago, but the ironic relevance has been noted bymore than one interviewer.

Writersare not engaged in the business of predicting the future. Quite the contrary, agood writer deals with what has already been in an attempt to portray people anddepict events in a way that will resonate with readers and hopefully make senseof this crazy life we live. If you choose current events as your palette thenyou certainly had better stay current.

ABOUT THE BOOK

TARGETS OF OPPORTUNITY

Jeffrey S. Stephens©

The CIA’s top covert operative is pressedback into service to uncover a secret alliance and to prevent the catastrophicassault these terrorists plan to unleash on the United States in JeffreyStephens’ exciting new ripped-from-the-headlines thriller.

Jordan Sandor is the CIA’s most effective agent—as well as its most dangerous—and he is on the move again. A former Iranian assassin has fled to Washington, seeking safe haven in exchange for information about a cabal of international terrorists working out of North Korea. It is clear their intentions are cataclysmic, but their target is unknown, and Sandor is assigned to lead a team into Kim Jong-Il’s fortress nation to uncover the details of this lethal scheme, then somehow get himself and his men out alive. Yet even as Sandor works to prevent this impending attack, two seemingly unrelated acts of mass murder are visited upon the sleepy, sensuous islands of the French West Indies. Now, as Sandor makes his dramatic escape from North Korea, carrying with him his dead and his nightmares, it is up to him to piece together everything he has discovered, knowing that the Caribbeanstrikes were only the beginning and that his mission has just started—the worst is yet to come, and it is racing towards the shore of the USA.

DISCLAIMER

No items that I receive

are ever sold…they are kept by me,

or given to family and/or friends

Guest Author

Guest Author Mari McCarthy

CMash September 12, 2011 Leave a Comment

The ladies from WOW!, Robyn and Jodi, are stopping by today with another exceptional and amazing author for us to meet and hear about a book that will help all of us. So without further ado, please welcome, Ms. Mari McCarthy!!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

After twenty years as a business consultant Mari McCarthy switched gears. The catalyst was a health issue for which the remedy became her new life path. Mari now assists others with personal development and health issues through therapeutic journaling.

Mari says that journaling has become her “tool for life”. She keeps a journal in her office for assistance in business, one in the family area for use with introspection, and one by the bed for dream work.
Visit Mari at her website and blog.

Through journaling Mari has discovered many things about herself, like her desire and talent for singing! Watch Mari’s video for “To Make You Feel My Love” on YouTube.

GUEST POST

BabyBoomers and Journaling

As a fellow baby-boomer, I am sympathetic to those of my peers who feellike they’re responsible for everything, and for good reason. We’re oftenresponsible for elderly parents, kids, a marriage, and a job, just forstarters. How is a person supposed to cope?

How long has it been since you sneaked a moment for yourself? How didyou use that sliver of time? If you’re like many, you probably either slept orself-medicated. Next time, if you try journaling, my bet is you’ll feel farbetter.

Your sweet Mom asks you the same question 43 times in one morning (youknow because you counted), your son is out of money again, your biggest clientjust exited stage left, and you hissed at your spouse last night.

Hissing can be worse than shouting. That why you need to startjournaling. You need a friend to whom you can say absolutely anything. You needa moment when you and only you are the center of attention, the adored one, thehero.

So you find a notebook with a lot of blank pages. Don’t worry aboutfinding a fancy one, it can be anything as long as it’s chock full ofblankness. You locate a pen that you like. You carry these tools with youwherever you go. You write, observe, write, feel, write, understand.

Funny word, understand. Standunder. That sure feels like what it is to be a Baby Boomer these days; standingunder the weight of all those responsibilities.

Understand alsomeans to get a better perspective, a better overview, too, right? If Iunderstand something, I see the why and wherefore of it.

Journaling is a practice that helps you understand / stand underyour life: giving you perspective on both your responsibilities and the reasonswhy.

· Taking Mom to the doctor? Journal while you wait.

· Mad as hell at your child? Journal to vent beforesaying something you’ll regret.

· Worried about work? Use part of your lunch hour tojournal every day.

· Feeling not-so-good physically? Get into dreamjournaling.

· Frustrated with your spouse? Figure out yourfeelings in your journal.

If, because all the responsibilities exhaust you, it seemscounter-intuitive to do somethingwhen your fondest wish is to do nothing,let your journaling be the equivalent of doing nothing. Lazily scrawl your penacross the page in whatever way it wants to go. Even this will give youstrength. It won’t be long before you’re madly scribbling every chance you get!

By Mari L. McCarthy – The JournalingTherapy Specialist, founder of Journaling for the Health of It™. Please visit Mari’s blog at http://www.createwritenow.com/journal-writing-blog/.In Who Are You? How to Use Journaling Therapy to Know and GrowYour Life (http://www.createwritenow.com/journal-therapy-store#ecwid:category=1077033&mode=product&product=4674145),Mari presents a gentle process for self discovery through journaling. Mari’slatest publication is titled, Your Money Matters! Use Journal Writing Therapy to Get Financially Fit Now. See http://www.createwritenow.com/journal-therapy-store#ecwid:category=1077033&mode=product&product=5436679for details.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Synopsis (borrowed from Amazon):

A fun, how-to manual on getting started in the practice of Journaling for self-growth. This e-book examines the basic process of journaling and then provides a few prompts, or variations on the basics, that can spark your imagination and enrich the potential of your journal writing. The goal of this guide is to give a clear picture of how to use journaling for self-discovery and self-growth. Includes color illustrations.

Book images

http://images-cdn.ecwid.com/images/152432/12253551.jpg Who Are You?

http://images-cdn.ecwid.com/images/152432/12253458.jpg53 Weekly Writing Retreats

http://images-cdn.ecwid.com/images/152432/6781461.jpg85 of Mari’s Most Museful Journaling Tips

THANKS TO THE AUTHOR, MARI McCARTHY

AND THE LADIES AT WOW!, I HAVE ONE (1)

EBOOK EDITION TO GIVE AWAY.

CLICK HERE TO BRING YOU TO

THE GIVEAWAY ENTRY PAGE.

DISCLAIMER

Giveaway copies are supplied and shipped to winners

via publisher, agent and/or author. This blog hosts

the giveaway on behalf of the above.

No items that I receive

are ever sold…they are kept by me,

or given to family and/or friends.

Guest Author

Guest Author Cheryl Crane

CMash September 7, 2011 Leave a Comment

Another treat for you!!! We have a bit of Hollywood visiting today combined with a “superb mystery”. What could be better than that? Judy from The Book Trib contacted me and, as you know when it comes to suspense or mystery, that 2 letter word that starts with N and ends with O is just so very hard for me to say. So I have the distinct honor to introduce you to today’s guest, author Cheryl Crane, daughter of the late movie star Lana Turner. Welcome Cheryl Crane !!!!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Cheryl Crane is the daughter of Hollywood legend Lana Turner and actor-restaurateur Josef Stephen Crane. Today, Cheryl works in real estate in Palm Springs, California. Her autobiography, Detour: A Hollywood Story, was a New York Times bestseller. In 2008 she published the ultimate illustrated biography of her mother, Lana: The Memories, the Myths, the Movies. She’s currently working on the next Nikki Harper mystery.

ABOUT THE BOOK

In the first of a wildly entertaining mystery series set amid the bright lights, big egos, and Botoxed brows of Hollywood, Cheryl Crane—daughter of legendary movie star Lana Turner—introduces a smart, hilarious, and utterly loveable heroine in realtor-turned-amateur sleuth, Nikki Harper.

For Nikki Harper, realtor to the stars and daughter of 1950s screen goddess Victoria Bordeaux, Hollywood is home. A completely dysfunctional home populated by a cast of crazies, true, but home nonetheless. While Nikki’s no stranger to scandal, she’s shocked to receive a hysterical phone call from her business partner, Jessica Martin, saying that TV has-been Rex March has been found dead in Jessica’s bed.

More shocking than Rex’s death is the fact that, as far as anyone knew, Rex was already dead. Six months ago, the star of the seventies sitcom Shipwrecked Vacation was supposedly killed when his plane crashed in the Mojave Desert. Nikki and Jessica recently sold his mansion on behalf of his widow, Edith. It’s obvious to Nikki that Jessica is being framed, but by whom? And why? And how on earth can Rex be dead a second time?

In search of answers, Nikki turns to the one person she can always count on. From her pink boudoir in her Beverly Hills mansion, the ever-glamorous Victoria suggests Nikki focus her sleuthing on Rex’s not-so-grieving widow. And there’s a veritable casting couch full of other candidates, including Edith’s boy-toy lover, Rex’s scheming lawyer (like there’s any other kind), and the diner waitress with whom Rex was having one of his numerous affairs. But with the killer readying for a repeat performance, Nikki will have to act fast—before her own screen fades to black…

“Cheryl Crane has written a superb mystery: rich in milieu, deep in plot twists, constant in the exercise of suspense and surprise. This book is a veritable primer on why people read and love crime fiction.” –James Ellroy
“In The Bad Die Twice Cheryl Crane has written what should have been the final role of her mother Lana Turner’s career. Bravo! I sure hope they make a movie out of this very entertaining book.” –John Waters

THANKS TO JUDY FROM THE BOOK TRIB,

I HAVE ONE (1) COPY OF THIS BOOK TO GIVE AWAY.

CLICK HERE TO BRING YOU TO

THE GIVEAWAY ENTRY PAGE.

DISCLAIMER

in exchange for my honest review.

No items that I receive

are ever sold…they are kept by me,

or given to family and/or friends.

Guest Author

Guest Author Cheryl Crane

CMash September 7, 2011 Leave a Comment

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

ABOUT THE BOOK

THANKS TO JUDY FROM THE BOOK TRIB,

I HAVE ONE (1) COPY OF THIS BOOK TO GIVE AWAY.

CLICK HERE TO BRING YOU TO

THE GIVEAWAY ENTRY PAGE.

DISCLAIMER

in exchange for my honest review.

No items that I receive

are ever sold…they are kept by me,

or given to family and/or friends.

Guest Author

Guest Author Joseph Hayes

CMash September 1, 2011 Leave a Comment

Today I have the great pleasure and honor of reintroducing you to a very special guest. He visited my blog back in February of this year and is back as he begins his second tour of his book, When No One Is Watching. There are a couple of differences about today’s visit, however, one being that today I will be interviewing him and the second, is that, this time he is touring with Partners In Crime Tours.

When I initially read his book, I have to be honest, I was a bit skeptical. I was a newbie reviewer, and at the time had only been accepting requests for a couple of months and his book was considered to be a debut novel, I wasn’t sure what to expect. I was quite surprised and impressed!! And to this day, that book is still vivid in my memory. I will be reposting my original review, in case you were not a follower of my blog back then and didn’t see it, because it is a book not to be missed!!! Please help me welcome back Mr. Joseph Hayes!!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Joseph Hayes is a native of Chicago. He grew up in a family of eight children in the Beverly neighborhood on Chicago’s Far South Side, where the Irish-Catholic heritage and influence was strong and visible. Joe attended St. Barnabas Elementary School, Brother Rice High School and De Paul University before leaving Chicago to attend law school in California, at UC Berkeley. Since graduating from Berkeley, he has practiced law in Chicago, San Diego and Houston. Joe currently serves as chief ethics officer and assistant general counsel for a large, publicly held company based in Houston, Texas, and is widely recognized as one of the foremost experts in his field. In his professional capacity, he has written extensively about legal and ethical issues and frequently speaks about such issues be! fore employee and industry groups. When No One is Watching is his first work of fiction. His second novel, a legal thriller entitled Consequential Damages, is expected to be published soon.

Joe currently resides in The Woodlands, Texas, with his wife, Susan, and their three children, Amy, Sean and Erin.
You can visit his website here.

Q&A With Joseph Hayes

CM: First, I want to welcome you back to the CMash blog. Just warning you, as my followers know, I tend to ask a lot of questions, so be prepared. Do you mind if we start with who Joseph Hayes is?

JH: By way of background, I was born and raised in Chicago, along with my seven siblings (4 sisters and 3 brothers). Although I left Chicago 25 years ago, I still have plenty of family and friends there, and in many ways, it will always feel like home. I have been living in the Houston area for 20 years now, with my wife, Susan, and our three children, Amy, Sean and Erin. I never expected to wind up in Texas, but we love it here. It can get pretty hot in the summertime, but I don’t have to shovel snow anymore!

Professionally, I am an attorney and chief ethics officer for a Fortune 1000 Company and feel extremely fortunate to have a job that a truly enjoy and that provides me with the opportunity to make a difference and do something meaningful. My other passion is writing. I’ve written two novels now, and definitely been bitten by the writing bug. I hope there will be many more to come

CM: You are a very busy and successful man. A husband, father of 3, family man, successful attorney, speaker of legal and ethical issues, what made you decide at this stage in your life to write your first novel?

JH: I’ve always enjoyed writing and have done a great deal of it in my professional capacity. However, I had never written fiction, and it is something I’ve always wanted to do. I remember being in college and considering the possibility of writing fiction as a career, and decided against it for two reasons. First, I didn’t know whether I could make a living at it. Second, I just didn’t know what to write about. Looking back, I now realize that, as a 20-year-old college student, I didn’t have much to draw upon in terms of interesting life experiences. By the time I was in my mid-forties, I had an abundance of great material to draw from based on both my professional and personal life. There was also something of a “bucket list” concept at work as well. I realized that writing a novel was something I always wanted to do and that I wasn’t getting any younger, so I just made up my mind to do it. Since my aging knees and back were making my prior pasttimes (basketball, weight-lifting and running) increasingly difficult, I needed a new passion — and I found it in writing fiction.

CM: When do you find the time to write? Do you allocate a certain time to writing?

JH: Before I began writing my first novel, I spent a month or two researching how to write a novel. For the most part, it was a waste of time; however, I did pick up one piece of advice that really worked for me: write every day. When I am in writing mode, that’s what I do. It’s easier said than done, because I have a very demanding day job. However, I can make time either very early in the morning or late in the evening. During the week, I may average an hour a day, but sometimes it may be only 20 or 30 minutes. On weekends, it may be five or six hours per day. The important thing for me is to do it every day, regardless of how busy I am with other things, regardless of whether I’m at home or traveling — even if I’m sick. No excuses. With this approach, each of the two novels I’ve written took me precisely 90 days to complete ( the first draft).

CM: Who are some of the authors that you read? What are you reading now?

JH: When I was young, my goal was to read all the classics. I read Dickens, Dostoyevsky, Mark Twain, Hemingway, and many others — most of the great works of literatute that have withstood the test of time. Some of the popular works of fiction I read now include the works of John Grisham, David Baldacci, and Mitch Albom. I’ve read all the Harry Potter books. I read my first Vince Flynn novel recently and just finished The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. As for nonfiction, I’ve recently read Freakonomics, The Tipping Point, and Outliers. My wife downloaded Decision Points onto her Kindle, and I hope to read that next.

CM: If you have any spare time, what are some of your hobbies?

JH: Right now, my major hobby is writing and marketing my books. Between that and work, I have very little free time, but I do try to make time to exercise and play guitar. I also really enjoy traveling, and now that my kids are getting older, my wife and I have more freedom to do that, and have our own travel-related bucket list we are working on.

CM: Now to When No One Is Watching. I read your book back in February and have to be honest, was skeptical, being a debut book, but it was the type of book that I call a “transport” book whereas I was pulled into the story and had no awareness as to what was going on around me. Kudos!! Was writing a novel something you always wanted to do?

JH: Yes.(See response to Question #2 above for more details.) A few additional thoughts: I’ve always enjoyed the craft of writing — choosing the right words and putting them together in a way that is easy to read and conveys exactly the message you are trying to communicate, in a way that really captures the attention of your reader. That’s an art. Some part of me also enjoys playing the role of teacher, and writing is the perfect way to communicate thoughts and ideas that will educate the reader. I also believe that the best way to teach is by communicating your messages in a way that is entertaining. People want to be entertained, and if they are, they will pay attention. Therefore, embedding messages into a novel that is engaging and entertaining is a great way to make people think — as long as you don’t come across as too preachy.

CM: You stated that the character Danny was inspired by your father’s winning sobriety, was it hard to relive the times before he won the battle of alcoholism? Was that primary premise of the book that you worked around? If not, what was it?

JH: My father’s life was the inspiration for When No One is Watching. As a recovering alcoholic, he made it his mission in life to help others who were battling alcohol addiction. I witnessed firsthand the many lives he touched and changed through those efforts, and came to realize that there are countless others within the recovery community doing the same thing every day. In my mind, those people are quiet heroes who make a real difference in our world every day, and I dedicated the book to them. I wanted to make the story gripping and engaging so that people would read it and enjoy it, so a tried to weave this story about alcoholism into a page-turning suspense novel and political thriller. In my view, the most rewarding aspect of writing this book was the feedback I have received from people in the recovery community who have told me that the story really resonanted with them, and came across as both a realistic novel about alcoholism, with all of its heartaches and tragedies, but also as a story of hope and inspiration. In fact one person contacted me and told me that he hadn’t had a drink in over six months after reading the book. That made it all worthwhile!

As for my father’s experience, writing the book for me brought back far more positive memories than negative ones. He stopped drinking when I was fairly young, so most of my memories involve his sober lifestyle and the efforts he made to help others who had not yet attained sobriety.

CM: There are also moral and ethical issues in When No One Is Watching, did you draw from your years of being a lawyer?

JH: Yes. One of my primary goals as an attorney is keep my clients out of legal trouble. With that goal in mind, I do a great deal of training, and one of my primary messages is that the best way to stay out of trouble is to do the right thing. If you conduct yourself in accordance with the right standards of ethics, you’re not likely to find yourself in legal trouble. In addition to my role as attorney, I am also chief ethics officer for my company and, in that capacity, do a great deal of training with a goal of developing a culture where everyone in our organizatiuon understands, and is committed to, the concept of doing the right thing in every situation, no matter how difficult, and regardless of whether the whole world is watching or no one is watching.

CM: You have another book that will be out soon, Consequential Damages, can you tell us a little bit of what we have to look forward to.

JH: Consequential Damages is a legal thriller. As with my first novel, I have tried to weave some thought-provoking issues into the storyline. Among other issues, it explores some of the weaknesses in our legal system in general and with our jury system in particular. It also explores various ethical issues as well as the far-reaching consequences of our particular decisions and actions.

CM: Thank you for visiting and taking the time to talk with us. I hope you come back when Consequential Damages is published. I am looking forward to reading your next novel.

JH: It has been my pleasure. Thank you for taking an interest in my work.

ABOUT THE BOOK

On the eve of announcing his run for Congress, rising political star Blair Van Howe causes a deadly car wreck. Passed out drunk in the passenger seat is his alcoholic best friend, Danny Moran. Panicked at the thought of seeing his promising future explode into scandal, Blair moves his comatose friend into the driver’s seat, dials 911, and flees the scene.

When the police arrive and Danny comes to, it appears to him and everyone else that he was the cause of the fatal wreck, and he is left to face life-altering consequences: criminal prosecution, financial ruin, public disgrace and overpowering guilt. As Danny struggles to pick up the pieces of his shattered life, Blair embarks on a meteoric rise to political stardom. But when a dogged detective digs deeper into the case, the political superstar must ask himself just how far he is willing to go to protect his dark secret.

Longtime lawyer and chief ethics officer Joseph Hayes spins a tale involving ambition, corruption and scandal within Chicago political circles. Within the framework of this page-turning thriller is a compelling contemporary morality play dealing with ethics, personal responsibility and making a difference. It explores the rationalizations our political leaders often make — justifying their self-serving personal agendas in the name of promoting the “greater good.” It examines the notion that character and integrity are defined by how we behave when no one is watching and the far-reaching consequences of the decisions we make when facing ethical dilemmas. It explores the impact of guilt on the human mind and heart and searches for inspiration and heroism in unexpected places.

When No One is Watching also explores the volatile and tragic world of alcoholism through the story of Danny Moran, who despite losing nearly everything due to his drinking, somehow manages to hold onto his moral compass and his sense of hope. Danny’s character was inspired by Hayes’s own father, an alcoholic who found lasting sobriety through AA and devoted his life to helping others do the same.

My Review posted 02/03/11
WHEN NO ONE IS WATCHING by Joseph Hayes
Published by Synergy Books
ISBN-13: 978-0-9843879-4-6
ISBN-10: 0-9843879-4-3
At the request of Phenix & Phenix Literary Publicists, a TPB was sent, at no cost to me, for my honest opinion.

Synopsis (back of book): On the eve of announcing his run for Congress, a charismatic Chicago politician causes a deadly accident. Panicked, he frames his best friend, a good-hearted alcoholic, and flees the scene. As one man tries to pick up the pieces of his shattered life, the other embarks on a meteoric rise to political stardom. But when a dogged detective digs deeper into the case, the political superstar must decide just how far he is willing to go to keep his dark secret. Author Joseph combines page-turning suspense with a poignant tale of inspiration and redemption as he asks, is “the greater good” just a lie we tell ourselves to justify the sins we commit when no one is watching?

My Thoughts and Opinion: Wow!! Where do I start without including any spoilers? This book pulled me in as fast as the Porsche was going the night of the accident. A page turning, suspenseful book full of real life characters, some you instantly feel for, cry with, despise, empathize with, some you want to hate but can’t, and those that you cheer on. A can’t put down book that at times has you holding your breath. This would be a great pick for a book club selection as it includes some very profound discussion questions. Full of lies, secrets, integrity, forgiveness, love, and friendship. Outstanding!!

AWARDS FOR WHEN NO ONE IS WATCHING

LOCAL AUTHOR HAYES HONORED BY NATIONAL INDIE EXCELLENCE AWARDS AND 2011 NEXT GENERATION INDIE BOOK AWARDS

Contests recognize outstanding independently published books

THE WOODLANDS, TEXAS. Joseph Hayes, author of the highly acclaimed When No One is Watching, has been named as a finalist in the category of Inspirational Fiction by the 2011 Next Generation Indie Book Awards. Aspiring to be the “Sundance” for indie books, this is the nation’s largest nonprofit awards program for small presses, larger independent publishers, university presses, e-book publishers and self-published authors.

Hayes was also recognized as a finalist in the category of New Fiction (First Book) by the National Indie Excellence Awards, which celebrates the “best of the best” in independent press.

Read an excerpt:

CHAPTER 1

“I love this ride, Dano!” Blair Van Howe yelled exuberantly to his partner, who was passed out cold in the passenger seat. “I’d buy one myself, but the voters might not approve!” He laughed loudly as he leaned forward and accelerated.

Blair had never driven a Porsche before and was relishing every second of it. The power and responsiveness of the 911’s massive engine, the tightness of the steering, and the way the tires gripped the road felt strangely seductive.

He was driving fast, which was not his habit, but it was past midnight, and the neighborhood streets were empty. The events of the past two days had him riding a wave of exhilaration, and rocketing around the deserted streets of North Beverly in Danny’s new Porsche 911 Turbo was a perfect way to conclude a thrilling week.

The north end of Beverly was a well-to-do enclave on Chicago’s far South Side. Danny Moran had grown up there, and Blair was captivated by it from the moment of his first visit, while he and Danny were still in law school. The houses were large, stately old brick structures built during the early and middle part of the twentieth century, on spacious tree-covered lots. The streets were winding and irregular, unlike the grid-like pattern so prevalent throughout the rest of the city. This was because the neighborhood abutted Dan Ryan’s Woods, the only forest preserve within the city limits. The woods served as a buffer between the affluent Beverly residents and the not-so-affluent areas to the north and east, and prevented any through-traffic, giving the area a quiet and secluded ambience. Tonight, those wide, winding streets felt like Blair’s private racetrack, an ideal place to be celebrating life with the assistance of a Porsche 911.

He was just a few blocks from Danny’s house, where he would have to leave the Porsche and walk the short distance to his own home. He would also have to find a way to get Danny inside, which would undoubtedly be a challenge, given Danny’s highly inebriated state. Before tackling that chore, he would treat himself to one more Porsche-delivered thrill to bring the evening to a fitting conclusion. The snake-like roads made it impossible to go for pure drag racing speed, so he’d been delighting in the 911’s maneuverability as he whipped around sharp turns with barely a tap on the brakes. Blair gunned the turbo-charged engine as he approached Hamilton Avenue, Danny’s street, inspired by the sonorous whine emanating from beneath the hood. He felt as if he were one with the vehicle, as if it had nerves and reflexes and were an extension of himself. He jerked the steering wheel hard to the left, leaning into the turn as the Porsche careened around the corner.

Suddenly, he was jolted out of his euphoric state by the harsh glare of high-beam headlights flashing directly into his eyes, blinding him momentarily. Exhilaration turned to panic as he felt the back end of the Porsche swerving and realized that he had lost control. He slammed the brakes hard, and they responded with a deafening screech as the oncoming vehicle veered out of his path, missing the Porsche by inches. Two other sounds simultaneously assaulted his eardrums: the sound of shattering glass as the trophy that had been resting in Danny’s lap was hurled into the dashboard, and the sickening sound of crumpling metal as the other vehicle slammed into some unknown object.

The terrifying cacophony lasted just a couple of seconds, and then everything was still. “Son of a bitch,” Blair whispered in a trembling voice. His entire body was shaking.

“Dano, wake up!” Blair shouted, staring at his partner, who was still tightly strapped into his seat. He hadn’t even stirred. “Wake up, Dano!” Blair yelled louder, gripping Danny’s shoulders and shaking him roughly. Still no response.

Blair reached down to unbuckle his seatbelt and felt a sharp pain shoot through his right hand as it struck a shard of glass, the remnants of their shattered trophy. “Shit!” he cried as blood spurted from a deep gash in his right index finger.

He opened the door and climbed out, gingerly confirming that all of his body parts were intact and that he was unhurt. He surveyed the Porsche. There was not a scratch on it. With a feeling of dread, as if moving in slow motion, he turned around and gazed up the street in the direction from which he had just come. “Oh my God,” he said, hearing the panic in his own voice as he beheld the horrific scene ninety feet away. He felt dizzy and almost vomited. He glanced quickly back at Danny, desperately hoping he’d come to, but Danny remained peacefully oblivious.

The car was an old one. He couldn’t tell what kind in the darkness, but it appeared to be 1960s vintage. That meant no airbags. From where he stood, Blair could see that the vehicle had run head-on into an enormous oak tree. The entire front end was grotesquely contorted and pancaked into the passenger area.

Blair approached the vehicle slowly. His stomach turned again as he stopped several feet from the driver’s door. The windshield looked like it had exploded into thousands of tiny particles, glistening in the pale glow of the streetlight. The driver was slumped over the steering wheel, his face and head a bloody mess, the lower half of his body pinned beneath a mass of twisted wreckage. The man weakly opened his eyes. Blair stared at him, recognition setting in. He couldn’t recall the man’s name, but remembered his face. He and his family were new to the neighborhood, and Blair had met them at a recent block party.

“Help me,” the injured man pleaded in a voice no stronger than a whisper. Then his eyes closed again.

Blair stared at him, feeling paralyzed, unable to think or act. He had always counted on Danny when things went wrong, and Danny always came through. Danny was right there, just ninety feet away, but he was dead drunk and utterly useless.

Blair moved closer to the car, and with a start, noticed a child in the back seat. She was weeping quietly, rocking back and forth, clutching a small stuffed animal.

“Are you okay, kid?” he asked, trying to collect himself.

The child looked at him, then turned away without responding.

Blair looked closer and saw that the child had the distinctive features of a Down Syndrome child. She appeared to be seven or eight years old, but it was hard to tell in the darkness. “Are you okay?” he asked again. He couldn’t help noticing the shakiness in his voice.

“Help my daddy … Help my daddy,” the child repeated, staring straight ahead with unfocused eyes.

“Don’t worry, kid. I’ll call for help. They’ll be here fast. Everything will be okay.”

The child shot a glance in his direction, then looked away again. “Help my daddy,” she whispered through her sobs.

Blair yanked at the driver’s door. It wouldn’t budge. He peered through the open window and looked more closely at the tangled wreckage covering the driver’s legs. He could see that the driver was pinned in tightly, and that there was no way he could extricate the injured man from the vehicle by himself. He had to get help. He raced back to the Porsche. Danny was still out cold. Blair shook him again and slapped him firmly across the face. No response. “Goddammit, Dano, wake up! I need you!” He shook Danny’s shoulders violently. Danny stirred and mumbled, but did not open his eyes.

Blair grabbed Danny’s cell phone and began dialing: 9, then 1–and then he stopped before adding the other 1. He stared at the phone for a long time. The events of the past few days flashed through his mind. He thought about all of the glorious publicity he’d received following the trial. He thought about the campaign. He was on the cusp of fulfilling a life-long dream, and he had never wanted anything so badly. Then he envisioned the police giving him a breathalyzer test and taking him away in handcuffs. This would be an unmitigated disaster.

He paced back and forth in front of the Porsche, gripping Danny’s cell phone and struggling to control his scattered thoughts. He stopped, put his elbows on the Porsche’s driver’s side door, and peered through the open window. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. Then he took a long look at his unconscious friend and partner. “I’m sorry, Dano,” he whispered to himself. He opened the door, knelt on the driver’s seat, reached across, and unfastened Danny’s seatbelt. As Danny slumped forward, Blair grabbed him beneath the armpits and began pulling him out of the passenger’s seat. Danny was dead weight, so it required great exertion, but he finally succeeded in moving him into the driver’s seat. Danny slumped forward, completely limp. Blair pulled the shoulder strap tightly around him and fastened it in place, leaving Danny sitting upright behind the wheel, his head hanging like a ragdoll.

Blair took a few deep breaths, then dialed 911 on Danny’s cell phone. “I’ve been in an accident–89th and Hamilton. I think the other driver is hurt pretty bad. We need an ambulance right away!”

“Of course, sir. We’ll get right on it. May I have your name please?”

Blair pushed the end-call button and dropped the phone into Danny’s lap. “Sorry, pal,” he said softly, tears welling up in his eyes and blurring his vision. He looked around. There was not a soul in sight. He patted Danny on the shoulder, then briskly walked away.

DISCLAIMER

I received a copy of this book, at no charge to me,

in exchange for my honest review.

No items that I receive

are ever sold…they are kept by me,

or given to family and/or friends.