tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38745454666688614822024-03-17T23:01:17.973-04:00Vocal ExpressionsHello and welcome, everyone! My name is Deliah Lawrence and I'm an award-winning author, blogger, and workshop facilitator. This blog is a place where I write about my musings, my writing journey, my love of books, movies, and all things creative. So stick around, I’m sure there’ll be something you could get into!
Deliah Lawrencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12554322567411413414noreply@blogger.comBlogger831125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3874545466668861482.post-21831815812150548612024-03-14T21:57:00.000-04:002024-03-14T21:57:58.698-04:00Women’s History Month’s Feature: Jean Houston, Ph.D., Author, Scholar, and Philosopher <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">Hello book
lovers! In celebration of Women’s History Month, I would like to present to
you, author and philosopher, Jean Houston, Ph.D. She is a visionary thinker and
one of the founders of the Human Potential Movement which centers on the belief
that humans can experience an exceptional quality of life through developing
their human potential. She is an advisor to UNICEF in human and cultural
development and has worked around the world (over 100 countries) with many spiritual
leaders including the Dalai Lama in India. Since 2003, she has been working
with the United Nations Development Program, training leaders in human and cultural
development.<b> </b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">She has written
26 books including <i>Jump Time</i>, <i>A Passion for the Possible</i>, <i>Search
for the Beloved</i>, <i>Life Force</i>, <i>The Possible Human</i>, <i>Public
Like a Frog</i>, <i>A Mythic Life: Learning to Live Our Greater Story</i>, and <i>Manual
of the Peacemaker</i>. She has also created personal development courses
including “Unlock Your Quantum Powers.” Additionally, she is a Nautilus Book
Award winner. Check out her quote about change and opportunity. #womenshistorymonth
#author #visionary #advisor #humanpotentialmovement #quantumpowers #changeandopportunity
#NautilusBookAward #JeanHouston #vocalexpressions <a href="https://tinyurl.com/52rkxtzk"></a> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsZ1A4VHjqVNBkMwXNuDyj5mQF7OCF_8dTJLRrm2TcLPFXVlK34uF6e40YVOEDmj3wuUfK_7CwQQiFzsV7XwmCND0Mi3Cj0DB6oIw8HGUrVGDGlKfTPm1NrMam2J3ReK3zUBlaIg4Lhg4d7-nb4TxdYXmWqFvqZRfyIeVl3EIWMH3eMqP6XmEPk0xgq9u3/s350/Womens%20History%20Month_Jean%20Houston%203-14-24.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="350" height="274" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsZ1A4VHjqVNBkMwXNuDyj5mQF7OCF_8dTJLRrm2TcLPFXVlK34uF6e40YVOEDmj3wuUfK_7CwQQiFzsV7XwmCND0Mi3Cj0DB6oIw8HGUrVGDGlKfTPm1NrMam2J3ReK3zUBlaIg4Lhg4d7-nb4TxdYXmWqFvqZRfyIeVl3EIWMH3eMqP6XmEPk0xgq9u3/s320/Womens%20History%20Month_Jean%20Houston%203-14-24.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p>Deliah Lawrencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12554322567411413414noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3874545466668861482.post-66137224956149951052024-03-12T18:45:00.000-04:002024-03-12T18:45:00.827-04:00Women’s History Month’s Feature: Kiran Desai, Novelist<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">Hello book
lovers! In celebration of Women’s History Month, I would like to present to you
novelist, Kiran Desai. In 1998, her first novel, <i>Hullabaloo in the Guava
Orchard</i> received many accolades from literary figures such as Salman
Rushdie. It won the Betty Trask Award, a prize given by the Society of Authors
for best new novels by citizens of the Commonwealth of Nations under the age of
35. Her next novel, <i>The Inheritance of Loss</i> won the 2006 Man Booker
Prize and the National Book Critics Circle Fiction Award. </p><p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">In May 2007,
she was the featured author at the inaugural Asia House Festival of Cold Literature.
In August 2008, she was a guest on <i>Private Passions</i>, the biographical music
discussion show hosted by Michael Berkeley on BBC Radio 3. She was awarded a
2013 Berlin Prize Fellowship at the American Academy in Berlin. And in January
2015, <i>The Economic Times</i> listed her as one of 20 “most influential” global
Indian women. Check out her quote about writing according to a set of rules. #womenshistorymonth
#novelist #BettyTraskAward #ManBookerPrize #NationalBookCriticsCircleFictionAward #BerlinPrizeFellowship #KiranDesai #vocalexpressions <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6RnWSs519tVH3uMeCnGy7j5pO0j2phMnstYkAt4UBwsT_bQQVB10manptmhvvslLejLvO1RsCZ4Sl8CMaJt7z7P8Xmv01nLvrwhEpXMKH3YWaIjVCyfjY1h_BYOSdPSqkGPTZw2XMkZeAY6-9wvQ8r8e9_KDF-faGxDEPIceQOH5xDtYsVSN41RW4HuZv/s1080/Kiran%20Desai%20Quote%203-12-24.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6RnWSs519tVH3uMeCnGy7j5pO0j2phMnstYkAt4UBwsT_bQQVB10manptmhvvslLejLvO1RsCZ4Sl8CMaJt7z7P8Xmv01nLvrwhEpXMKH3YWaIjVCyfjY1h_BYOSdPSqkGPTZw2XMkZeAY6-9wvQ8r8e9_KDF-faGxDEPIceQOH5xDtYsVSN41RW4HuZv/s320/Kiran%20Desai%20Quote%203-12-24.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></p>Deliah Lawrencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12554322567411413414noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3874545466668861482.post-27947773253297829642024-03-07T19:17:00.002-05:002024-03-07T19:33:07.642-05:00Women’s History Month’s Feature: Nora Ephron, Journalist, Writer, and Filmmaker<p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #ff0066;">Hello book
lovers! In celebration of Women’s History Month,</span> I would like to present to
you, journalist, writer, and filmmaker, Nora Ephron. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After participating in a class action suit
against <i>Newsweek</i> for sexual discrimination (the magazine told her they
didn’t hire women writers), she went on to enjoy a prolific career in journalism
and screenwriting. She is best known for writing and directing romantic comedy
films for which she received various accolades and awards (a British Academy Film
Award, nominations for three Academy Awards, a Golden Globe Award, a Tony Award,
and three Writers Guild of America Awards). </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">Some of her
notable works include <i>Silkwood</i> (1983), <i>Heartburn</i> (1986), <i>When
Harry Met Sally</i> (1989), <i>Sleepless in Seattle</i> (1993)<i>, You’ve Got
Mail </i>(1998),<i> Bewitched </i>(2005), and <i>Julia & Julia </i>(2009). She
also produced and co-authored plays: <i>Imaginary Friends</i> (2002) and <i>Love,
Loss, and What I Wore</i> (2008). In 2013, Ephron received a posthumous Tony
Award nomination for Best Play for <i>Lucky Guy</i>. She was definitely a trailblazer
(1941 – 2012). Check out her quote about writing parts for women. #womenshistorymonth
#journalist #writer #filmmaker #screenwriter #producer #director #romanticcomedyfilms
#playwright #awardwinner #NoraEphron #vocalexpressions</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHyQEmAr7htru2lZrcSjsHYidN9WNQIbXx8QIctVEY42gsAGRuwb7evFHnYlXHLqDLHkPwBr_L0IvhPsfOMrKcP_EhGtuKfUDvQN0V1CRiWifbGhYTnuXylWOof3hqR7rGr9fCvBot54A16Nn_QSZM4iJvVBLvfKv8SxRAN8oqYZhnity1PldmKpwteo-x/s1080/Nora%20Ephron%20Use%20This%20Image%203-7-24.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHyQEmAr7htru2lZrcSjsHYidN9WNQIbXx8QIctVEY42gsAGRuwb7evFHnYlXHLqDLHkPwBr_L0IvhPsfOMrKcP_EhGtuKfUDvQN0V1CRiWifbGhYTnuXylWOof3hqR7rGr9fCvBot54A16Nn_QSZM4iJvVBLvfKv8SxRAN8oqYZhnity1PldmKpwteo-x/s320/Nora%20Ephron%20Use%20This%20Image%203-7-24.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></p><br /><p></p>Deliah Lawrencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12554322567411413414noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3874545466668861482.post-10537981102973844132024-03-05T21:28:00.000-05:002024-03-05T21:28:03.463-05:00Women’s History Month’s Feature: Rita Dove, Poet, Playwright, and Essayist<p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #ff0066;">Hello book
lovers! In celebration of Women’s History Month</span>, I would like to present to
you, poet and essayist, Rita Dove. In 1987, she received the Pulitzer Prize for
Poetry for <i>Thomas and Beulah</i>, a collection of poems loosely based on the
lives of her maternal grandparents. In 1993, she was named United States Poet Laureate
by the Library of Congress, a position she held until 1995. She has won several
awards and collaborated on many creative projects including a live reading at
the Lincoln Memorial, accompanied by John Williams’ music – a poem to Steven
Spielberg’s documentary <i>The Unfinished Journey</i>. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">Some of her other
notable works include her play <i>The Darker Face of the Earth that </i>premiered
at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival in Ashland, Oregon in 1996 and premiered at
the Royal National Theatre in London in 1999; her poetry collections - <i>Sonata
Mulattica published in 2009 </i>and<i> Playlist for the Apocalypse </i>published
in 2021; and various short stories and essays.<i> </i>Check out her quote about
being true to yourself. #womenshistorymonth #poet #poetry #PoetLaureate #literature
#essayist #PulitzerPrizeforPoetry #playwright #creativewritingprofessor #RitaDove
#vocalexpressions<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjyGx492uIFch6S-TUf4QX4sQd9-GLu_bMjIzTFJyu8lKGBRDpL5O6FeOfZkgz9yoNjrXzqDa9_JaTjvb9wwQAWy7XgLjkpzmMh1wCgr0kPJBVm4XjXxQd_mbnnRwZKbtY59qlnhPAer620NGzZlIt9nWItZUazN9q66qsOGprTRYEAyFzkQgR_d4A4ULS/s600/Rita%20Dove%203-6-24.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="398" data-original-width="600" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjyGx492uIFch6S-TUf4QX4sQd9-GLu_bMjIzTFJyu8lKGBRDpL5O6FeOfZkgz9yoNjrXzqDa9_JaTjvb9wwQAWy7XgLjkpzmMh1wCgr0kPJBVm4XjXxQd_mbnnRwZKbtY59qlnhPAer620NGzZlIt9nWItZUazN9q66qsOGprTRYEAyFzkQgR_d4A4ULS/s320/Rita%20Dove%203-6-24.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></p><br /><p></p>Deliah Lawrencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12554322567411413414noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3874545466668861482.post-41113679582954239952024-02-29T20:02:00.003-05:002024-02-29T20:02:32.832-05:00 A Review of Honeymoon for One by Lily Zante<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">This is
the first time I’m reading anything by Lily Zante and it won’t be the last.
This novel serves up a dose of doubt, a spoonful of mistrust, and a heaping of finding
love again. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">So, let’s
meet Ava Ramirez, an entrepreneur of an online kids store, reeling from hurt
after being ditched by Connor Beachcroft, her fiancé six weeks before their
Valentine’s Day wedding. After the suppliers, dressmakers, caterers, and party
planners are canceled she sets out for Verona, Italy - the honeymoon
destination, the one thing she didn’t cancel. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">When Ava
arrives at Verona airport, she finds out that her luggage didn’t arrive there. On
her way to speak to the Information Desk clerk, she crashes into Nico Cazale, who
happens to be carrying several hotel signs one of which says “Casa Adriana,”
the elegant five-star luxury hotel where she’s staying. Unbeknownst to her,
Nico is a billionaire hotelier who she mistakes for a driver. Nico is tickled
by the situation and settles in his role as a driver and takes her to Casa
Adriana, the hotel his family owns. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">Throughout
Ava’s stay, Nico offers to take her around to places off the beaten path: Montova,
an industrial center with rows of factories and warehouses with smaller shops
and retail units and to Montagnano twenty miles away from Montova with side
streets full of shops some of which sell eclectic pieces of jewelry. She enjoys
these trips, having lunches with Nico but gets confused after they share a
tender kiss, and he becomes abrupt and cold as he rushes off to a meeting. What
Ava didn’t realize is that Nico is dealing with his own drama: Silvia Azzarone
claiming that he’s the father of her five-year-old daughter, Alessa. When
Silvia confronts Ava at the hotel and shares this information, it further
complicates things between Nico and Ava, especially after Ava also learns who
he really is. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">Overall,
this was a quick and charming read. I enjoyed the storyline, the pacing of the
novel, and the descriptions of the various places Ava went. It makes me want to
visit Verona. Anyway, as with any love story, there will always be some
misunderstandings and then the characters will find themselves back to each
other. In this case, Ava’s reaction was realistic based on her hurt and her
mistrust of men. But love won over through Nico’s persistence in sharing the
truth with her. So, if you’re looking for a romantic love story that plays on
your emotions, then check out this novel. Two thumbs up! </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">Rating: <b>4
stars</b> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">Some of my
favorite lines: </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">“Are you
jealous?” he asked cheekily, his eyes daring hers and at the same time his lips
breaking out into a playful smile. He had taken his suit jacket off and wore a
white shirt underneath which made his olive skin look more tanned. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">Ava almost
laughed out loud. “Jealous? Who, me?” She surveyed him with interest.
“Certainly not.” <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><i>I hope
you’re not flirting with me</i>, she prayed, taking a sip of wine again
because she needed to do something with her hands. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">Nico
rested his elbow on the table and placed his index finger across his chin. As
he leaned in toward her, she suddenly caught sight of his Breitling watch. It
was almost two o’clock. He smiled at her again, watching her, as he often
seemed to do. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><i>He is
flirting with me</i>. Ava took another sip of wine then realized
her glass was empty.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj68YetrK3BlNsthqpoU_P6dUlFfWmeRo1DbQvClPRaqWG8lIyvw1HUezVsqPrkQDlst__GFadblH4UU0HRtvYUwb3rMywkKZ43WOM7wkqlv9ynVPbPKeWwvUcAKg5yyH8YUXvFOyn1bQLSYYm36Q6D5F30AvQlvUsmWStlUUCmHQv2upwSDkMqNuZ3iKWP/s425/Honeymoon%20For%20One_Lily%20Zante.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="425" data-original-width="283" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj68YetrK3BlNsthqpoU_P6dUlFfWmeRo1DbQvClPRaqWG8lIyvw1HUezVsqPrkQDlst__GFadblH4UU0HRtvYUwb3rMywkKZ43WOM7wkqlv9ynVPbPKeWwvUcAKg5yyH8YUXvFOyn1bQLSYYm36Q6D5F30AvQlvUsmWStlUUCmHQv2upwSDkMqNuZ3iKWP/s320/Honeymoon%20For%20One_Lily%20Zante.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><br /></p>
<p> </p>Deliah Lawrencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12554322567411413414noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3874545466668861482.post-85905968211918641972024-02-26T19:04:00.009-05:002024-02-26T19:04:54.617-05:00It’s A Book Thing Presents: An Interview with Kristin Paul, author of Drowning (pen name Katelin Maloney)<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Author’s Bio:</b>
Kristin Paul is a two-time award-winning author addressing social issues that
impact women. Her books extend beyond storytelling, creating a platform for dialogue
and awareness surrounding the challenges faced by women. She has spoken to
numerous organizations about the difficulties women experience including
domestic violence. <span style="color: #222222;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">Her books
are <i>Drowning</i> by Katelin Maloney<i> </i>and<i> Freeing Yourself
Financially: A Woman’s Guide to Rebuilding Her Finances After Divorce. </i>She
is also a book publisher at Purple Ribbon Publishing.<span style="color: #222222;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">Kristin Paul,
also a passionate advocate for empowering young single working mothers, is the
Strategic and Operations Administrator for the St. Joseph Neighborhood Center
in St. Augustine, Florida. With a Master's Degree in Finance, Kristin combines
her financial expertise with a heartfelt commitment to community service. <span style="color: #222222;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Deliah
Lawrence: What inspired you to write your book? <o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>KM:</b> The
inspiration to publish my novel <i>Drowning</i> came from the desire to help
domestic violence survivors; however, the idea of the story came from a dream. I
dreamed the story one night and the story wouldn’t leave my mind. I wasn’t an author.
I had never written a book or even an article. But I couldn’t shake the story.
It haunted me. Eventually, I started writing the story down in a notebook.
After seven notebooks, I had a very rough draft of a book! </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>DL: How do
you overcome the challenges of writer’s block?</b><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>KM:</b> Because
the story had been a vivid dream and it stayed with me, I didn’t have the
typical writer’s block. When I would sit down to write, it was as if I was
pressing “play” on a movie. The words just flowed. I was very lucky! </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>DL: What is your
writing process? <o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>KM:</b> Once
I had that very rough draft done, then the writing process became difficult. With
no writing experience, I wasn’t skilled in editing. When I edited <i>Drowning</i>,
I worked for twenty-five minutes, then took a five-minute break, and repeated
the process. I realized that I needed that discipline to make progress because
editing was daunting to me. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>DL: What elements
do you think make a compelling story? <o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>KM:</b> I
believe that a compelling story hinges on having an empathetic and relatable protagonist.
Given that my protagonist endured domestic violence, it was important to
portray her strength and resilience rather than weakness. Crafting her as a
likable and empathetic character was crucial to ensuring that readers would be
emotionally invested in her journey. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>DL: What obstacles
did you encounter while writing this book?<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>KM:</b> As
previously stated, I lacked experience in book writing and hadn't received
formal training in creative writing, so there was a steep learning curve ahead
of me. To address this, I enrolled in various workshops and classes, read books
on writing, and became a member of a critique group. Balancing the demands of
life was challenging, especially with two young sons and a full-time job at the
time. Consequently, there were multiple occasions when I had to set aside <i>Drowning</i>
due to my busy life. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>DL: What was
the most valuable piece of writing advice you’ve ever been given? <o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>KM: </b>“Just
publish it!” a friend said. I think that
I could have edited forever, but she convinced me that at some point I just
needed to publish the book. I had to ‘let go’. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>DL: What strategies
do you use to successfully market your book(s)? <o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>KM: </b>In
writing <i>Drowning,</i> I aimed to leverage the book as a platform to raise
awareness about domestic violence. To achieve this, I reached out to numerous
women's groups, church organizations, colleges, and bookstores, volunteering to
give presentations. Additionally, I specifically targeted book clubs as part of
my outreach efforts. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>DL: What tips
would you give to aspiring writers?</b><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>KM:</b> Don’t
give up. From the night I dreamed the story until the day I published it, ten
years went by. It doesn’t matter how long it takes to write, edit, and publish.
There is <b>no deadline</b>. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>DL: Would
you like to share an excerpt from <i>Drowning</i>?</b><i> <o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>KM:</b> Sure, here you go: <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i> Rebecca looked up at the sky. The clouds
parted and the bright sun strained her eyes. She shielded them with her left
hand. Her diamond sparkled in the sun. A spectrum of colors streaked through
the sky. A faint glow appeared through the cloudless opening. <o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i> The wet sand beneath her chilled her skin.
It contrasted the sun’s rays soaking into her body. The breeze blew wisps of
hair into her face. She wiped the strands away, leaving gritty sand behind.<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i> Conflicting emotions warred inside her as
the glow slowly approached, until a sense of calm swept over her. She felt him
before she saw his figure evolve from the light.<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i> “Daddy.”<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i> “Reba, I’m here to take your pain away.” He
held out his hand and she took it. “It’s time. Come with me.”<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i> “I’ve needed you.”<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i> “I’m here now.” Her father looked at her
with teary eyes. “I love you more than life.”</i><i> </i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>DL: Where
can readers learn more about you and purchase your book(s)? <o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>KM:</b>
Readers can get more information here:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Website: <a href="http://www.purpleribbonpublishing.com/">www.purpleribbonpublishing.com</a></li><li>Amazon Author
Page: <a href="http://tinyurl.com/yc2px238">http://tinyurl.com/yc2px238</a></li><li>Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/katelin.maloney.5">Facebook</a></li><li>Book Buy Links:
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Drowning-Katelin-Maloney-ebook/dp/B00Z7KJZK4">https://www.amazon.com/Drowning-Katelin-Maloney-ebook/dp/B00Z7KJZK4</a></li></ul><o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>DL:</b> Thanks
so much for being here with us today. I know my readers will enjoy getting to
know you and your work. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></p><p><b>KM: </b>Thank
you for interviewing me and learning about <i>Drowning</i> and my journey. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB3Xv4ovWqcQdbrGhDWQovJjARbGYfyq-kBFxKvYnQ8UJOpWBvndjeILpafdgw9Z2GUaSuRqi_zdj1qa1K7pClsTbmF77H55gBRtdkD7Imw2hXIJafsXOhEngkNawzIofsnFmRTAWSrvvfQWbbA34EvRF9QRAifAR3m9wODNokxgdUw1vAFJ-9IEmHkFsI/s2700/DrowningKindle%20-%20Kristin%20Paul_Pen%20Name%20Katelin%20Maloney%202-26-24.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2700" data-original-width="1800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB3Xv4ovWqcQdbrGhDWQovJjARbGYfyq-kBFxKvYnQ8UJOpWBvndjeILpafdgw9Z2GUaSuRqi_zdj1qa1K7pClsTbmF77H55gBRtdkD7Imw2hXIJafsXOhEngkNawzIofsnFmRTAWSrvvfQWbbA34EvRF9QRAifAR3m9wODNokxgdUw1vAFJ-9IEmHkFsI/s320/DrowningKindle%20-%20Kristin%20Paul_Pen%20Name%20Katelin%20Maloney%202-26-24.png" width="213" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE0NUxpvg_lrl7yYOLden88M7mRRIHFLjDyjiLeduaRBqEeQjhE8mhpjuPS3kPoG_QEILm_yogUsfkJCo0P8b05k_RMePEoRZctPtVZLFES44Te__U5ObgLeuLf8s2Ret1qHws-34__EqpZhWGnilScztQbjxUG3PvOx5j7jR9kfR7dckR4RdizYHxXMrF/s1341/Kristin%20Paul%20Headshot%202-26-24.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1341" data-original-width="1341" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE0NUxpvg_lrl7yYOLden88M7mRRIHFLjDyjiLeduaRBqEeQjhE8mhpjuPS3kPoG_QEILm_yogUsfkJCo0P8b05k_RMePEoRZctPtVZLFES44Te__U5ObgLeuLf8s2Ret1qHws-34__EqpZhWGnilScztQbjxUG3PvOx5j7jR9kfR7dckR4RdizYHxXMrF/s320/Kristin%20Paul%20Headshot%202-26-24.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />Deliah Lawrencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12554322567411413414noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3874545466668861482.post-6972938736838676252024-02-12T18:37:00.001-05:002024-02-13T14:36:10.737-05:00It’s A Book Thing Presents: An Interview with Mary Muduuli, author of The Book Of Hope: How Women Rise Up, Take Charge and Win in Retirement<p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" lang="EN" style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #ff0066;">Author’s
Bio: </span></span></b><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" lang="EN" style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #ff0066;">Mary dedicated over four decades to
</span><span>development</span> economics, with pivotal roles at institutions like the World Bank
and the African Development Bank. Her journey from Uganda to North America has
been marked by academic and professional pursuits and underscored by a
commitment to grab opportunities, seek excellence and meaningful
contributions to society.</span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" lang="EN" style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Now,
in her golden years, she champions women's economic empowerment to achieve
"Hope for a Better Future" for all and younger living for the
retired. She has authored two books in retirement, including <i>The Book
Of Hope</i> (published) and <i>Silver Linings</i> (an audio), <span style="color: black;">focusing on self-help, growth and success in a challenging
world</span>. She received the 2023 Lynn Quille Award for Economic Empowerment,
by the Focus On Women Magazine (USA). Mary helps women to find their purpose
and navigate life with confidence, without feeling helpless and overwhelmed by
the crazy world and events in their lives.</span><b><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" lang="EN"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" lang="EN" style="color: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Deliah Lawrence: What inspired you to write your book?</span></b><b><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" lang="EN" style="color: #222222; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" lang="EN" style="background: white; color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Mary Muduuli:</span></b><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" lang="EN" style="background: white; color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> The observations
throughout my career about the crazy world we live in today, full of fatalism
(threats to life and property - some man-made like war, conflict, genocide,
climate emergency and others natural like fires, droughts, hurricanes, floods,
epidemics, etc.), sense of hopelessness to change life
realities; </span><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" lang="EN" style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" lang="EN" style="background: white; color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The injustices, torture,
assault and inequalities particularly against women, rooted in a male dominated
world, cultural norms, traditions and practices;</span><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" lang="EN" style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" lang="EN" style="background: white; color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Achievements by women
around the world, warriors working as agents of change, for themselves and to
impact others;</span><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" lang="EN" style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" lang="EN" style="background: white; color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">My strong belief that
women, based on women’s gifts and roles and society’s expectations, have
capability and a special calling to give “Hope for Better” to humanity; and</span><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" lang="EN" style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" lang="EN" style="background: white; color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">My own story, which
proved to me that it is possible to reduce stress, depression and hopelessness
when we follow certain strategies and use certain tools. </span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: white;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" lang="EN" style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><b>DL:
What elements do you think make a compelling story?<o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" lang="EN" style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">MM:
</span></b><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" lang="EN" style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I believe the following elements make a compelling story: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" lang="EN" style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Story
resonating with society's issues or realities.</span></li><li><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" lang="EN" style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Real
people life examples as part of your research.</span></li><li><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" lang="EN" style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Offering
practical strategies, tools and or solutions.</span></li><li><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" lang="EN" style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Depicting
writer's own vulnerability, experience and achievements.</span></li><li><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" lang="EN" style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Short
for comfortable reading and contains a generous touch of humor.</span> </li></ul><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" lang="EN" style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">DL:
What obstacles did you encounter while writing the book?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" lang="EN" style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">MM:
</span></b><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" lang="EN" style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I encountered the following obstacles while writing my book:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" lang="EN" style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Getting
started and dealing with procrastination.</span></li><li><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" lang="EN" style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Multitasking
and juggling family schedules, home chores and book writing.</span></li><li><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" lang="EN" style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Content
research work and finding real people to interview for real life stories
and convincing them to be named.</span></li><li><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" lang="EN" style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Prioritizing
materials to include and aiming to perfect drafts.</span></li><li><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" lang="EN" style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Finding
financing. </span></li><li><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" lang="EN" style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Complying
with publisher's red tape and guidelines.</span></li><li><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" lang="EN" style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Working
with virtual editors.</span></li></ul><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" lang="EN" style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">DL:
If you could choose a superpower, what would it be and why?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" lang="EN" style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">MM:</span></b><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" lang="EN" style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">
Flight as a superpower because there are times when I want to travel the world
but cannot due to time and financial constraints, but always wish I could just
get there. I am well-travelled, been to over 40 countries, but there are
parts of this world, especially in Latin America, Eastern Europe and Asia
I really wish to see in my life.</span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" lang="EN" style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">DL:
If you were hosting a dinner party, which three authors, present or past, would
be your dream guests and why?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" lang="EN" style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">MM:</span></b><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" lang="EN" style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b><span style="color: #ff0066;">1)</span></b> Helen Keller – I am so fascinated by her
ability to write despite her disability. <b><span style="color: #ff0066;">2)</span> </b>Michelle Obama - She is such a
powerful writer and so inspiring. <span style="color: #ff0066;"><b>3)</b></span> Wangari Maathai - Her African woman
spirit and strong political activism, fighting for the environment is
entertaining.</span><b><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" lang="EN" style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" lang="EN" style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">DL:
What tips would you give to aspiring writers?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" lang="EN" style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">MM:</span></b><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" lang="EN" style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">
I would give them the following tips:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" lang="EN" style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Throw
out ideas but settle for relevant audience(s), their pain/need and what
you offer them.</span></li><li><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" lang="EN" style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Determine
title to keep you focused.</span></li><li><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" lang="EN" style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Get
started and keep going, do not procrastinate.</span></li><li><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" lang="EN" style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Don't
aim at perfecting drafts and create your own content.</span></li><li><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" lang="EN" style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Make
your book easy to read and illustrated.</span></li><li><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" lang="EN" style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Determine
how to use the book for impacting society, as many will not read it.</span></li><li><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" lang="EN" style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Decide
on marketing strategy early.</span> </li></ul><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" lang="EN" style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">DL:
What is your favorite line from a book?</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" lang="EN" style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">MM:</span></b><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" lang="EN">
My favorite line by <b>Dr. Maya Angelou:</b><i>
"No matter how miserable a hand we have been dealt, we have the power to
create our own destinies and to determine our future.</i>"</span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" lang="EN" style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">DL:
What are three fun facts about yourself?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" lang="EN" style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">MM:</span></b><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" lang="EN" style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">
<span style="color: #ff0066;"><b>1)</b></span> I love listening to different types of music and dancing, sometimes by
myself. <span style="color: #ff0066;"><b>2)</b></span> I enjoy comedy and laughter very much. <span style="color: #ff0066;"><b>3)</b></span> I love cooking, often
spicy, sometimes making up recipes on the fly, just as I make the dish.</span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" lang="EN" style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">DL:
What new projects are you currently working on?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" lang="EN" style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">MM:
</span></b><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" lang="EN" style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">As an Executive Contributor, I write articles in the UK
based Rich Woman Magazine, Monday editions, in an effort to impact retirement
styles of its readers, championing the concept of "living younger."</span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" lang="EN" style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">DL:
Where can readers learn more about you?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" lang="EN" style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">MM:</span></b><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" lang="EN" style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">
Readers can get more information here:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" lang="EN">My
page</span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" lang="EN">: </span><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" lang="EN"><a href="https://www.thebookofhope.ca/"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">https://www.thebookofhope.ca</span></a></span></li><li><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" lang="EN">Amazon
(Kindle</span><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" lang="EN" style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">): <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B098ZZSJZK?ref_=pe_3052080_276849420">https://www.amazon.com/dp/B098ZZSJZK?ref_=pe_3052080_276849420</a><o:p></o:p></span></li><li><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" lang="EN">Facebook</span><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" lang="EN" style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">:
</span><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" lang="EN" style="background: white; color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/Mary.Muduuli.7">https://www.Facebook.com/Mary.Muduuli.7</a></span></li><li><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" lang="EN">Instagram</span><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" lang="EN" style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/marymuduuli/">https://www.instagram.com/marymuduuli/</a></span></li><li><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" lang="EN">LinkedIn<b>:</b></span><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" lang="EN" style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">
</span><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" lang="EN"><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/mary-c-muduuli-3285731a2/"><span style="background: white;">https://www.linkedin.com/in/mary-c-muduuli-3285731a2/</span></a></span></li><li><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" lang="EN">Book
Buy Link</span><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" lang="EN" style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">: </span><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" lang="EN"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><a href="http://tinyurl.com/2p9d3bwn">http://tinyurl.com/2p9d3bwn</a></span></li></ul><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" lang="EN" style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">DL: </span></b><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" lang="EN" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Thanks so much for being here with us today. I know
my readers will enjoy getting to know you and your work.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" lang="EN" style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">MM: </span></b><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" lang="EN" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Thank you!</span><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" lang="EN"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPSPcWgsU3-dpqG9xByV2Zk8QxpB5D0hNTMsZkYBjwKW1fTW3qughiY060Rt136juvIHPLGP7Y_RDgFxv7sEU02pxMoSL_RHpqf8j1i2sbCvNU93fdx7MVsH1yQRRD_g_-aoPjIjZgUHZajt4SzhdWQZeQEQeeSOf2vPeqlKEAFJMFmZFq-2BTt4KSQQX_/s2700/MaryMuduuli_The%20Book%20of%20Hope%202-12-24.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2700" data-original-width="1950" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPSPcWgsU3-dpqG9xByV2Zk8QxpB5D0hNTMsZkYBjwKW1fTW3qughiY060Rt136juvIHPLGP7Y_RDgFxv7sEU02pxMoSL_RHpqf8j1i2sbCvNU93fdx7MVsH1yQRRD_g_-aoPjIjZgUHZajt4SzhdWQZeQEQeeSOf2vPeqlKEAFJMFmZFq-2BTt4KSQQX_/s320/MaryMuduuli_The%20Book%20of%20Hope%202-12-24.jpg" width="231" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnadQaSxaj2bLEF_3wuYkVWdKm7BgQOx9pO5WBAOifd58Jvhe1v0EvQ6U9o-mJIkZLGui1IjLsSClfFIfKsN9wzttq3H1nKDKSVitL8K8AGxt4__STKFSgaPdVhaSHBXh0SsR4ehtZc9ZI8sJX2oNOatvTlxHB35aiDFrDwdZGadFaxc3GlBaFoXWSPDPR/s2100/Mary%20Muduuli%20Pic%202-12-24.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2100" data-original-width="1400" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnadQaSxaj2bLEF_3wuYkVWdKm7BgQOx9pO5WBAOifd58Jvhe1v0EvQ6U9o-mJIkZLGui1IjLsSClfFIfKsN9wzttq3H1nKDKSVitL8K8AGxt4__STKFSgaPdVhaSHBXh0SsR4ehtZc9ZI8sJX2oNOatvTlxHB35aiDFrDwdZGadFaxc3GlBaFoXWSPDPR/s320/Mary%20Muduuli%20Pic%202-12-24.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><br /><span face="Calibri, sans-serif"><br /></span></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" lang="EN"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" lang="EN"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><br /><p></p>Deliah Lawrencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12554322567411413414noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3874545466668861482.post-10378874893029687882024-01-31T22:34:00.000-05:002024-01-31T22:34:00.947-05:00 A Review of The Engagement Gift by Lauren Blakely<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">Lauren
Blakely didn’t disappoint in this standalone novel about love, trust, and
sexual fantasies. From the very beginning you can feel the heat flying off the
pages between Lily Whiting, a sports reporter and Finn Nichols, a lawyer who’s
healing from the death of his brother. They bond over sports and although their
schedules are hectic, they find the time to get to know each other deeply. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">Now that they
are engaged, there’s just one ultimate fantasy (a threesome) that Lily wants to
indulge in but doesn’t know how to bring it up with Finn. When Finn sees her browsing
history, he wonders why she didn’t say anything to him. Anyway, being obsessed
with her pleasure, he wants to fulfill her fantasy, but he needs to find the
perfect person, someone trustworthy. So, he settles on his best friend, Jake.
Of course, Jake is thrilled but wants reassurance this is really something Lily
wants and that there are ground rules. What ensues afterwards is a night full
of heat and passion between the three of them making Lily grin like a “wicked angel.”
Totally fulfilling her fantasy…her engagement gift from Finn. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">Overall,
this was a quick, fun, and sexy read. I enjoyed the storyline, the pacing of
the novel, and the sex scenes. The characters were likable and the dialogue was
realistic. It was good to see partners who trust each other implicitly to
invite a third party into their relationship even for just one night. This was
a big ask and Jake was the perfect person who respected the love between Finn
and Lily to make this happen. So, if you’re looking for a steamy read, then
check out this novel. Two thumbs up! </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">Rating: <b>4
stars</b> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">Some of my
favorite lines: </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">I grabbed
her arm, whispering, “They’re best friends. Would that be weird? For them?” I
had to get her take. She was so smart and sharp. She’d know this. She’d
understand it. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">Kate’s
eyes glinted. “I don’t know. I guess that’s what you’d have to find out. But I
don’t think it’d be awkward for them if it’s what Finn wants for you. And I bet
it’s what he wants for you.”</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">I was a desperate woman now, focused on this brand-new
option. “How can you be so certain?” </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">“Because Finn is obsessed with your
pleasure.”</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisv3VRISUwcYbrpe87Z4Ifw5WFFlUI_U7BvB7I57rkoh8fB04CR3mm8SUhOHWe4JkvFuu1RHuHlR3vE7yj5VapvZd3TBx6UH4vSat6WksK93N6sPSV7sZuZ4C5nxXg7XLdZfkr755Yquz0jCE84uYnZfGKlqTPhaZNhKAL2uzjf8jo7n0PX5FPgpgcM724/s425/The%20Engagement%20Gift_Lauren%20Blakely%201-31-24.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="425" data-original-width="266" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisv3VRISUwcYbrpe87Z4Ifw5WFFlUI_U7BvB7I57rkoh8fB04CR3mm8SUhOHWe4JkvFuu1RHuHlR3vE7yj5VapvZd3TBx6UH4vSat6WksK93N6sPSV7sZuZ4C5nxXg7XLdZfkr755Yquz0jCE84uYnZfGKlqTPhaZNhKAL2uzjf8jo7n0PX5FPgpgcM724/s320/The%20Engagement%20Gift_Lauren%20Blakely%201-31-24.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p> </p>Deliah Lawrencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12554322567411413414noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3874545466668861482.post-64011609883304686022024-01-29T20:33:00.002-05:002024-01-29T20:51:54.672-05:00It’s A Book Thing Presents: An Interview with Julie Federico author of Blackness is Creativeness<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b><span lang="EN">Author’s Bio:</span></b><span lang="EN"> Julie Federico is an award-winning
children’s service author who writes books that help parents keep their kids
safe. She has written prevention books on
child abuse prevention, domestic violence prevention, school violence
prevention, race relations, and elementary friendships. She takes difficult adult topics and breaks
them down in a friendly and non-threatening way that preschoolers can
comprehend. </span> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><span lang="EN">Julie believes knowledge is power and protecting your children is paramount.
Her books are for readers 0-9 years old. All of her books are illustrated in a
welcoming fish theme. Two of her seven
books have been translated into Spanish. </span> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><span lang="EN">Julie is available for speaking engagements and loves to share the
powerful message of prevention. <a href="http://www.juliefederico.com/"><span style="color: #1155cc;">www.juliefederico.com</span></a> and <a href="mailto:juliefederico@gmail.com"><span style="color: #1155cc;">juliefederico@gmail.com</span></a></span> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b><span lang="EN">Deliah Lawrence: What inspired you to write your book? <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b><span lang="EN">Julie Federico:</span></b><span lang="EN"> I have worked as a school
counselor for 30 years. I see how
domestic violence and child abuse greatly affect children. I have made it my life work to prevent
children from experiencing either of these life changing events.</span> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b><span lang="EN">DL: How do you overcome the challenges of writer’s block? <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b><span lang="EN">JF:</span></b><span lang="EN"> When I have a block, I don’t go to my
computer I write in my journal. A
journal is less threatening than a laptop.
I just start writing and I do not re-read anything I wrote. I do not edit anything. I write a stream of consciousness
thought. I don’t stop writing until my
thoughts are finished. I have learned
too many times that thoughts come only once; they do not reappear. One has to compose these thoughts or they can
be lost forever in the noise of our minds.</span> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b><span lang="EN">DL: What is your writing process?
<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b><span lang="EN">JF:</span></b><span lang="EN"> I sit down and write all of my stories in
one sitting. Of course, my books are
small so this is doable. I think about
what I am going to write for a long time before I write so the story is already
written in my head. I just transfer it
from my mind to text. When I start
writing I don’t stop. Stopping creates
drama. I just go with the theme.</span> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b><span lang="EN">DL: What obstacles did you encounter while writing this book? <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b><span lang="EN">JF:</span></b><span lang="EN"> Many.
My own self was a big obstacle. I
almost talked myself out of it. I would
say to myself, “You have no formal training in race relations.” I have no training on race relations other
than what I have lived and witnessed. I
am not a race expert. I was willing to
put my fears aside to get this message out.
I think it is a good one. Formal
training does not make one a race expert.
Being aware and alert to problems does make one a semi expert. The voices inside of my head were
strong. I am glad they did not win. Race
is such a divisive topic I am very proud of myself that I completed this topic.</span> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b><span lang="EN">DL: What was the most valuable piece of writing advice you’ve ever been
given?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b><span lang="EN">JF: </span></b><span lang="EN">I heard Alexandra Fuller give a book
talk. She wrote, <i><span style="color: #0f1111;">Don't Let's Go to the Dogs Tonight: An
African Childhood</span></i><span style="color: #0f1111;">. She said, “Write what you know.” This was a huge gift to me.</span></span><span style="color: #0f1111;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b><span lang="EN">DL: What tips would you give to aspiring writers? <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b><span lang="EN">JF:</span></b><span lang="EN"> Join a writer’s group. So much synergy happens in these groups you
will learn a lot! Don’t share your dream
of writing with everyone. Not everyone
will be supportive, ignore these people, don't give them the animation to talk
you out of your goal. You don’t have to
know everything to start. You just need
to start. You can start today!</span> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b><span lang="EN">DL: What are three fun facts about yourself? <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><span lang="EN"><b>JF:</b> <span style="color: #ff0066;"><b>1.</b></span> I had never met a vegan until I moved to Colorado. <b><span style="color: #ff0066;">2.</span> </b>I always see the glass as half full not half
empty. <span style="color: #ff0066;"><b>3.</b></span> Jerry Seinfeld is my soulmate!</span> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b><span lang="EN">DL: Would you like to share an excerpt from <i>Blackness is Creativeness?</i></span></b><span lang="EN"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b><span lang="EN">JF:</span></b><span lang="EN"> Sure, here you go:</span> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><span lang="EN">Because of unfair rules and ideas set by society, government, schools,
police departments and the court system, black people and other people of color
have been and are currently being mistreated.
This is called discrimination.
Black and brown people have been mistreated just because of the color of
their skin. This is always wrong. We are all the same on the inside, even
though our skin colors may be different.
Certain people should not have life privilege while others receive
mistreatment just because of the color of their skin. This needs to change in
our society. Remember, the only reason our outsides look different is because
God created us in a variety of beautiful skin tones. I think children can start
to solve this pervasive problem easier than adults can. Children see these
problems as solvable, children as not afraid to talk about race issues.
Children by nature do not discriminate; this is why they are the perfect group
to help end this problem. Adults can
learn a lot from you if they will stop and listen. I want to empower you to begin the end of
discrimination in our country. There is
no greater work you could be doing. I encourage
you to help end discrimination today and every day. We need more acceptance of all races to make
our world a better place! Would you like
to join me in this important work? I am
so happy you said, "Yes!"
Together, we can end racial discrimination and make positive
changes. </span> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><span lang="EN">I struggled with the right words for this book, knowing I would
encounter criticism for what I did not mention:
Police brutality, Breonna Taylor, George Floyd, and institutional
incarceration, just to name a few. This
was intentional, though. As a child’s
first book on race relations, I wanted to begin the conversation in an age-appropriate
manner. I wrote this book for preschoolers and elementary students. Ideally, you will have many conversations
with your child about race over the years.
These conversations will change as your child gets older. When we can
teach a community of 2-year-olds to identify and define discrimination, we are
onto significant societal change! My goal is to introduce the subject and get
the conversation started.</span> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b><span lang="EN">DL: What new projects are you currently working on? <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b><span lang="EN">JF:</span></b><span lang="EN"> I have been so busy that I have not really
marketed <i>Blackness is Creativeness</i>. I want to start working on this as soon as
possible. You are helping me by allowing
me to be a part of your blog. This is
the first blog featuring <i>Blackness is
Creativeness.</i> Thank you, thank you.</span> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b><span lang="EN">DL: Where can readers learn more about you and purchase your book(s)? <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b><span lang="EN">JF:</span></b><span lang="EN"> Readers can get more information here:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span lang="EN">Website: <a href="http://www.juliefederico.com/"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">www.juliefederico.com</span></a></span></li><li><span lang="EN">Amazon Author Page: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B0034FIGKY?ingress=0&visitId=bde44a0e-e7dc-4c80-aed4-78e183d5fdf9&ref_=ap_rdr"><span style="color: #1155cc;">Amazon.com: Julie K. Federico: books, biography, latest
update</span></a></span></li><li><span lang="EN">Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100052869222661"><span style="color: #1155cc;">(20+) Facebook</span></a></span></li><li><span lang="EN">Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/julie_federico2/"><span style="color: #1155cc;">Author
Julie Federico (@julie_federico2) • Instagram photos and videos</span></a></span></li><li><span lang="EN">Book Buy Links: <a href="http://www.juliefederico.com/"><span style="color: #1155cc;">www.juliefederico.com</span></a></span> </li></ul><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b><span lang="EN">DL:</span></b><span lang="EN"> Thanks so much for being here with us
today. I know my readers will enjoy getting to know you and your work.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b><span lang="EN">JF:</span></b><span lang="EN"> Thank you! </span><span lang="EN"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjevv0dczWHq35_OT3eOGp8yrB0itJG__-F7ZAfSibv773CQ1-IjsI1zHO-AI_MSr11aJdyz9HaUYNNZptIqytIBYHRvUXrvGwAE41cQQ9jqSKkCWC1NdPqFGLGoBvL2-Y_3NGqIHwyCbgGAQBTnjEzndCJ8pkOMvBhrL6jVkbH-F4BXiBtg2zMHDNxv1Kn/s612/Blackness%20is%20Creativeness_Julie%20Federico%201-29-24.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="612" data-original-width="612" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjevv0dczWHq35_OT3eOGp8yrB0itJG__-F7ZAfSibv773CQ1-IjsI1zHO-AI_MSr11aJdyz9HaUYNNZptIqytIBYHRvUXrvGwAE41cQQ9jqSKkCWC1NdPqFGLGoBvL2-Y_3NGqIHwyCbgGAQBTnjEzndCJ8pkOMvBhrL6jVkbH-F4BXiBtg2zMHDNxv1Kn/s320/Blackness%20is%20Creativeness_Julie%20Federico%201-29-24.webp" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir5Z8Plot2TKZN7uh4TNiv61fz5fZq-rs9FhHNgfwE9el0FpSWks7qCPtYpesPrC76yInc6g14rn-KTj59w3f4bHWfGG_ucxCnCbNkGRnie3KIR0W1idBNdTmL3vBbSiCBXeXMBJkW2P6cg7B8wTQvhhfDWZdbyFmxG88Q97iyM0yqEc1lZ3yNU-1mtm96/s480/Julie%20Federico%20Photo%201-29-24.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="345" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir5Z8Plot2TKZN7uh4TNiv61fz5fZq-rs9FhHNgfwE9el0FpSWks7qCPtYpesPrC76yInc6g14rn-KTj59w3f4bHWfGG_ucxCnCbNkGRnie3KIR0W1idBNdTmL3vBbSiCBXeXMBJkW2P6cg7B8wTQvhhfDWZdbyFmxG88Q97iyM0yqEc1lZ3yNU-1mtm96/s320/Julie%20Federico%20Photo%201-29-24.jpg" width="230" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><span lang="EN"><br /></span><p></p>
<p> </p>Deliah Lawrencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12554322567411413414noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3874545466668861482.post-42184819952740269722024-01-15T19:48:00.002-05:002024-01-15T19:55:53.458-05:00It’s A Book Thing Presents: An Interview with Erica Ginsberg, author of Creative Resilience<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b>Author’s Bio: </b>Erica Ginsberg has drawn on
creativity in a variety of different roles: writer, documentary filmmaker,
story consultant, project manager, and social entrepreneur. She co-founded the
documentary film organization Docs In Progress and served as its founding
executive director for more than a decade. She co-hosts The D-Word, a
peer-to-peer global community for documentary professionals. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;">In addition to
working in the arts, Erica has organized professional development study tours
to the United States for mid-career professionals from around the world. She
has a BA in international affairs and an MA in film and video. She finds joy in
travel, painting, collage, reading, nature hikes, and spending time with
friends, family, and her dog, Lulu. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b><span style="color: #ff0066;">Note: </span></b>The most valuable piece of writing advice she has ever given is m<span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "ヒラギノ角ゴ Pro W3"; mso-themecolor: text1;">ake bad stuff so you can get to good stuff. Really great advice for those of us who lean towards perfectionism.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "ヒラギノ角ゴ Pro W3"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Deliah Lawrence: What inspired you to write
your book?</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Erica Ginsberg:</span></b><span style="color: #222222;"> I have found joy in creative
pursuits all my life – initially painting and later film, writing, and collage.
I also have relied on creativity in my other work, whether putting together
international exchanges or starting a nonprofit to help filmmakers find their
voices as they develop their work. Through my experiences both with making art
and helping other artists, I know that as fulfilling as making art is, it also
involves a lot of challenges. I wrote <i>Creative Resilience</i> as a way to
reflect on ways to navigate those challenges. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "ヒラギノ角ゴ Pro W3"; mso-themecolor: text1;">DL: What is your writing process? <o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "ヒラギノ角ゴ Pro W3"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><br /></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "ヒラギノ角ゴ Pro W3"; mso-themecolor: text1;">EG:</span></b><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "ヒラギノ角ゴ Pro W3"; mso-themecolor: text1;"> While I know many writers swear by routines
such as working for a set number of hours every day or committing to a certain
number of words per week, I think it comes down to your temperament and what
else is happening in your life. I have come to accept that I take a more
zig-zag approach. I originally planned to write a new blog entry every month
but soon realized that just wasn’t realistic for me. Sometimes I’ll write one
every month or every other month. Sometimes I may go six months between them.
That said, I think having forms of accountability are very helpful. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "ヒラギノ角ゴ Pro W3"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "ヒラギノ角ゴ Pro W3"; mso-themecolor: text1;">When I was
writing the first draft of the book, I partnered with a colleague who was also
writing a book. We committed to sharing a chapter of our respective books with
each other every week and kept it up without fail for six months. Some weeks,
the work was really rough, but having the built-in deadline and a way to get
immediate feedback was really helpful. Happy to say both our books were
completed and published.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "ヒラギノ角ゴ Pro W3"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "ヒラギノ角ゴ Pro W3"; mso-themecolor: text1;">DL: How do you overcome the challenges of writer’s
block?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "ヒラギノ角ゴ Pro W3"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><br /></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "ヒラギノ角ゴ Pro W3"; mso-themecolor: text1;">EG:</span></b><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "ヒラギノ角ゴ Pro W3"; mso-themecolor: text1;"> I prefer to think of creative blocks as
obstacles to be navigated rather than overcome, similar to how a ship traveling
from South America to Antarctica must go through the rough seas of the Drake
Passage. If you anticipate the challenge, you may not be able to avoid it
altogether, but you can be better prepared to survive it. I devote a whole
chapter of the book to dealing with creative blocks: why they happen and some
tools to help deal with them that I call GRITS which stands for Grace,
Ritual/Routine, Idleness, Time, and Switching. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "ヒラギノ角ゴ Pro W3"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "ヒラギノ角ゴ Pro W3"; mso-themecolor: text1;">DL: What obstacles did you encounter while writing
this book?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "ヒラギノ角ゴ Pro W3"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><br /></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "ヒラギノ角ゴ Pro W3"; mso-themecolor: text1;">EG:</span></b><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "ヒラギノ角ゴ Pro W3"; mso-themecolor: text1;"> My first draft was promising, but ultimately
was too short to be marketable. I didn’t want to be redundant just to add
pages, so I set it down for a few months while I was busy with other aspects of
my life. When I picked it up again, I realized there was quite a bit more to
say. I began working on four new chapters and interviewed more artists whose
experiences were relevant to those themes. This was an example of how a block
could be a blessing. Sometimes you just need to take a break so you can look at
your work in a new light. In reality, I was still working on the book while on
the break even though I wasn’t writing. So much of what goes into our writing
is not the writing itself, but how we are observing the world, being inspired
by seemingly unrelated things, reading, musing, and reflecting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "ヒラギノ角ゴ Pro W3"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "ヒラギノ角ゴ Pro W3"; mso-themecolor: text1;">DL: What strategies do you use to
successfully market your book(s)?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "ヒラギノ角ゴ Pro W3"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "ヒラギノ角ゴ Pro W3"; mso-themecolor: text1;">EG:</span></b><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "ヒラギノ角ゴ Pro W3"; mso-themecolor: text1;"> “Success” is another challenging term for me
since it can be measured in so many different kinds of ways. I think my main
strategy has been to rely on advice I used to take when it came to nonprofit
fundraising: the number one reason people donate to a cause is because someone
asked them. So much of marketing can feel like you are bombarding people
shamelessly. Ultimately though, what I write about is intended to connect with
and resonate with <i>other</i> people. If those people don’t know what I have
to offer them, they may be missing out on something that could be really
helpful.</span> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "ヒラギノ角ゴ Pro W3"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Getting
past the discomfort of promotion, I keep a mailing list. It is small but mighty
in the sense that I am less concerned with having thousands of subscribers than
having several hundred subscribers who actually open my emails, click on links,
and engage with me and the content. I also use social media. Ever-changing
algorithms make some more effective than others. I’ve rediscovered LinkedIn
which has been really valuable for getting out my content while Facebook and
X/Twitter are still necessary as earworms but seem on the surface to have less
engagement. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "ヒラギノ角ゴ Pro W3"; mso-themecolor: text1;">After more than a year of being a silent Tik-Tok viewer, I started
creating some content there as well. I don’t feel as confident with it yet, but
there is something magical about approaching it with a beginner’s mindset. I’ve
enjoyed talking with podcasters and bloggers like you to help the book reach
new potential audiences. I am also starting the process of getting the book out
through in-person and virtual events: readings, panels, and workshops. It’s fun
to connect with readers or prospective readers face to face.</span> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b>DL: What
tips would you give to aspiring writers?</b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b><br /></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b>EG:</b> Finish what you start, even if it is
imperfect (and it will be!) Read as much as you can in the same genre, but
don’t limit yourself to only reading within your genre. Find community, whether
it is through a class, an organization, a club, a writing group, or a mentor. If
you don’t see what you need, build it yourself and you’d be surprised how many
others will be happy to be a part of it. Community will help you improve, deal
with the challenges, and be there to cheer for each other as your work gets out
into the world beyond your brain, pad, or screen. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b> </b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b>DL: What are three fun facts about yourself?<o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b><br /></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b>EG: <span style="color: #ff0066;">1.</span> </b>I love pugs. They are the comedians of the dog world. They can
also be needy and demanding, stubborn and noisy when they sleep. I still love
them.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><span style="color: #ff0066;"><b>2.</b> </span>My happy place is in the desert…at least to visit. I am not sure I
could ever live there full-time.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><span style="color: #ff0066;"><b>3.</b> </span>When I was in elementary school, we had a field trip to a
hospital. At the end of the visit, they gave us paper hats as a souvenir. You
could have one for a doctor or one for a nurse. I was the only girl who stood
in line for the doctor hat. One boy told me I was in the wrong line. I said he
was mistaken. I was in the right line. Was this some big feminist statement?
Did I have a dream of being a doctor when I grew up? Nope. I just liked the hat
better because it had a light on it. That’s pretty much how I have approached
life. Go for the hat with the light on it just because, no matter what anyone
else is telling you.<b> </b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b>DL: Would
you like to share an excerpt from <i>Creative Resilience? <o:p></o:p></i></b></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b>EG:</b> Sure, here you go:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><br />
Excerpt from a chapter called “Confidence Game”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes;">While psychological studies vary, some have shown that as many as
85 percent of those studied suffer from impostor syndrome at some point in
their lives. When I conducted a thoroughly unscientific survey of my friends
and colleagues about impostor syndrome, I was flooded with responses:<br />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><i style="text-indent: -24px;"><br /></i></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><i style="text-indent: -24px;">I get it, too. No idea if it is as profound as others, but it’s always waiting for me.</i></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><span style="text-indent: -24px;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><span style="text-indent: -24px;">I experience it on a consistent basis. Have learned to push it away but it’s a struggle.</span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><span style="text-indent: -24px;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><span style="text-indent: -24px;">I definitely wrestle with the feelings; and it’s hard for me to imagine true creatives who don’t wrestle with them on some level.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><span style="text-indent: -24px;">It’s simply a lack of confidence. One has to find a way to fight through it.</span><span style="font-family: Symbol; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><br /></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes;">The language struck me. Struggle. Wrestle. Fight. Waiting for me.
Impostor syndrome was described as though it were a monster or criminal lurking
in the shadows. Confidence was viewed as something that could be missing or
that you must find somewhere…that is, if you didn’t get attacked by the
impostor-monster first.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes;">Yet what if instead of thinking about confidence as something we
seek to find, we thought about it as something always a part of us, but along a
spectrum? At one end is arrogance and hubris (overconfidence), at the other end
is excessive modesty and humility (under confidence).<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes;">These attitudes manifest in distinct ways when it comes to
artistic practice. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes;">On such a spectrum, too far to the side of overconfidence may show
up as what could be called “artist exceptionalism,” an elevated sense of
self-importance and an attitude that you are special and your work is beyond criticism. Ego gratification can distract
from substance and become unfulfilling— or even destructive—to the artist and
their art. It may appear the overconfident artist needs no outside validation,
but in reality, a ballooned sense of self can lead to a lot of hot air.</p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes;">Being too far on the spectrum to the side of under confidence is
seldom sustainable. It is normal for artists to have occasional doubts about
their talent or work, often expressed through self-deprecating humor, shyness,
or reluctance to engage in self-promotion. At its extreme, though, under
confidence can be just as debilitating. If you create a “cloak of invisibility”
around yourself and your art, not choosing to share your work or process with
anyone else, you might dream that someday after you are gone, your talents will
be discovered and appreciated. But, if you are reading this book, you likely
want to find a way to make art both for yourself and for the appreciation of
others in your lifetime.<b> </b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b>DL: What new projects are
you currently working on? <o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b>EG:</b> The
reality is that the outreach for the book feels like a new project from writing
it, so that is going to be my main focus in the coming year. Then I hope to
return to a documentary film project I had started prior to the pandemic called
<i>California USA</i> about what the American Dream means to people from small
town America who all live in cities called California.</p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b>DL: Where
can readers learn more about you and purchase your book(s)?</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b> </b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b>EG: </b>Readers can get more information here:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><o:p> </o:p>Website: <a href="http://www.ericaginsberg.com/"><span style="color: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "ヒラギノ角ゴ Pro W3"; mso-themecolor: text1;">http://www.ericaginsberg.com</span></a></li><li><o:p> </o:p>Amazon Author Page<span style="color: red;">: </span><a href="https://www.amazon.com/stores/Erica-Ginsberg/author/B0CM6TPT43?ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true">https://www.amazon.com/stores/Erica-Ginsberg/author/B0CM6TPT43?ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true</a></li><li><span style="color: red; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "ヒラギノ角ゴ Pro W3";"> </span>Facebook<span style="color: red;">: </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/resilientcreatives">https://www.facebook.com/resilientcreatives</a></li><li><span style="color: red; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "ヒラギノ角ゴ Pro W3";"> </span>LinkedIn: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/ericaginsberg/">https://www.linkedin.com/in/ericaginsberg/</a></li><li><span style="color: red; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "ヒラギノ角ゴ Pro W3";"> </span>TikTok: <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@cinecitizen">https://www.tiktok.com/@cinecitizen</a></li><li><span style="color: red; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "ヒラギノ角ゴ Pro W3";"> </span>Blog: <a href="https://www.ericaginsberg.com/blog">https://www.ericaginsberg.com/blog</a> </li><li> Book Buy Links: They are all linked to from <a href="https://www.ericaginsberg.com/books">https://www.ericaginsberg.com/books</a></li></ul><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b>DL:</b> Thanks so much for being here with us today. I know my readers
will enjoy getting to know you and your work.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b>EG:</b> Thank you.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwMHZp5cZDzXnS1PrWhsVjuMGCGoBnZNojctBAAsHsFod-pI-nKnltW5kyhuHTdg6_YEbq6FRHDxhsOPRvZctLlkhLj9lCo6kBImcLtJP-3xg7pL4LNniIVgVnsjx-x-VjpxydMgMI1m6BviSdP8q1E4nf1tx00wrTCRCM2zsCDeTob7kpkPWltb-31He7/s2560/Ginsberg-FrontCover-Final-Ebook-Aug28%201-15-24.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2560" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwMHZp5cZDzXnS1PrWhsVjuMGCGoBnZNojctBAAsHsFod-pI-nKnltW5kyhuHTdg6_YEbq6FRHDxhsOPRvZctLlkhLj9lCo6kBImcLtJP-3xg7pL4LNniIVgVnsjx-x-VjpxydMgMI1m6BviSdP8q1E4nf1tx00wrTCRCM2zsCDeTob7kpkPWltb-31He7/s320/Ginsberg-FrontCover-Final-Ebook-Aug28%201-15-24.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAfhCHFpSAhPYqE9vz76prhr1c-3CqGKoASaiXJ229VIjsnoxaZAldL9_-hg0kCQfuA1-5ytU4vwztwo-lK_jVZHdsYITR5m3oWmoKeEbB2GOD_0niVJtURYBSxBk8G6MF57SVEyoijfGulqkUDVNYDZwXNdgPHh5VggOwD9z7cBGlwTQmhSftOGnsrx6A/s1875/Erica%20Ginsberg%20author%20photo%201-15-24.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1875" data-original-width="1875" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAfhCHFpSAhPYqE9vz76prhr1c-3CqGKoASaiXJ229VIjsnoxaZAldL9_-hg0kCQfuA1-5ytU4vwztwo-lK_jVZHdsYITR5m3oWmoKeEbB2GOD_0niVJtURYBSxBk8G6MF57SVEyoijfGulqkUDVNYDZwXNdgPHh5VggOwD9z7cBGlwTQmhSftOGnsrx6A/s320/Erica%20Ginsberg%20author%20photo%201-15-24.png" width="320" /></a></p><br />Deliah Lawrencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12554322567411413414noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3874545466668861482.post-4669832523418559022023-12-21T19:56:00.000-05:002023-12-21T19:56:32.835-05:00A Review of His Christmas Wish by Fiona Murphy<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">This is
the first time I’m reading anything by Fiona Murphy and it won’t be the last. This
novel captures the essence of Christmas: family, love, good deeds mixed in with
some romance, a few surprises, and a heartwarming ending. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">So, let’s
meet Lydia Romano, a renowned and in demand sexy, sassy plus-sized stylist with
many rules that her clients adhere to like not contacting her before noon (it’s
on her business card that her hours are from noon to six). So, when she gets a
call at six in the morning, she is furious and lashes out at the caller who later
turns out to be Decker Holt, the ruggedly handsome, overbearing, commanding, and
possessive billionaire. After apologizing to Decker for the way she answered
the phone; Lydia agrees to style his sister, Juliet who is slated to attend
various events with him over the holiday season. When Juliet decides not to go
with Decker, he tells Lydia that she has no choice but to attend in Juliet’s
place. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">This is
where the romance heats up. Decker is intrigued by Lydia and offers to donate
money to her charity for each event she attends with him. However, he has a lot
of demands – what she should wear, no showing of skin and her tattoos, etc. When she defies him in the way she dresses for
the first event, she ends up embarrassing herself and is slapped with unkind
words by some of the women at the event. She is shaken but then follows his
instructions for the next event. Thereafter, the two become inseparable: arms
around each other at events, deep conversations, tense moments, and intimate
trysts. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">Overall,
this was a quick and fun read. I loved the pacing of the storyline, the theme
of friends to lovers, the dialogue, the well-rounded characters and their
edginess, as well as their vulnerabilities. Despite Lydia and Decker bumping
heads a few times, there’s no denying their chemistry sizzles on the pages of
this novel. Moreover, their backstories provide readers valuable insights into their
personalities and motivations. The ending was quite fitting for this genre and
very timely for the Christmas season with both their wishes coming true –
heartwarming. So, here’s to reading another novel by Fiona Murphy. Two thumbs
up! </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">Rating: <b>4
stars</b> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">Some of my
favorite lines: </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">Without
remorse or hesitation, I make an offer I know she won’t be able to refuse. I
need a date for six events over the next few weeks. I’ll donate ten thousand
dollars for each date she attends with me to the struggling charity she is
devoted to. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">She
counters with twenty-five thousand each date and a whole lot of hate. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">Deal. It's
a bargain, as far as I'm concerned. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">I have six
dates and her love of the magic of Christmas to get her to take a chance on the
magic of us.</span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIXBZRACaqAdQ5EiGxdkjZIS6Haa1HgPhxB9vjmGjv7mRHy0htRpKehSFWYwNb5TVtAAZ6SRo6DdZb0mLnPPAB03C7YJgDSzJ7g0ux6yf9W18MuzBtZAcb6Xdv7zvR-v0Zn3JGYWeYBjsjuhGDpwlqcJx7AwmZ0WC3STZyVsvKxOIQyeGVRa5IHIvDBBOo/s2560/His%20Christmas%20Wish%2012-13-23.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2560" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIXBZRACaqAdQ5EiGxdkjZIS6Haa1HgPhxB9vjmGjv7mRHy0htRpKehSFWYwNb5TVtAAZ6SRo6DdZb0mLnPPAB03C7YJgDSzJ7g0ux6yf9W18MuzBtZAcb6Xdv7zvR-v0Zn3JGYWeYBjsjuhGDpwlqcJx7AwmZ0WC3STZyVsvKxOIQyeGVRa5IHIvDBBOo/s320/His%20Christmas%20Wish%2012-13-23.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>Deliah Lawrencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12554322567411413414noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3874545466668861482.post-86154981441652806792023-12-18T19:33:00.001-05:002023-12-18T19:55:39.892-05:00It’s A Book Thing Presents: An Interview with LaDonnia Cole, author of Growing Beyond The Gardens<p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><span style="color: #ff0066;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Author’s
Bio: </b>Born
on the South Side of Chicago, LaDonnia</span><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"> Cole is the youngest of two daughters
born to high school sweethearts, Mr. Johnny Stevens and the late Ms. Carolyn
Fay Cole. She is a survivor and overcomer, calling “Stateway Gardens” her
childhood home. Growing up in the Stateway Gardens “Housing Projects” is where
LaDonnia learned some of life’s most-valuable lessons. High moral standards,
ethical values, the importance of education, cherishing family, and survival
skills are among those lessons LaDonnia uses as guiding principles in her life.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">In </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Growing
Beyond The Gardens</span></i><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">, she takes you on her journey from humble beginnings to becoming a
successful entrepreneur and non-profit founder. Come along for the adventure
and discover how you can overcome your toughest challenges while learning to
live your best life now.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Deliah Lawrence: What inspired you to
write your book?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><br /></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">LaDonnia Cole:</span></b> My
inspiration stems from my love for writing paired with the many trials and
tribulations that I encountered throughout my life. I always knew I had a
unique experience that was painful yet prepared me for the very purpose of
helping others. I realized that my story could help someone else who is in a
similar situation, so I now have the courage and the strength to allow myself
to be vulnerable with the intent to inspire someone else.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">DL: How do you handle writer’s block?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><br /></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">LD:</span></b><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"> In my opinion, writer's block is a
part of the process. As a writer, outside influences and the hustle of everyday
life can cause a writer to lose their train of thought and focus. I have found
that listening to instrumental jazz is soothing for me, it relaxes my mind and
allows my thoughts to flow freely. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">In addition, if I need to take a break and
revisit my manuscript the next day then I do that as well. Finally, there are
plenty of YouTube videos and documentaries that I find to be educational and thought
provoking which I watch at times and this too allow my thoughts to flow and I
can then write with a clear mind and focus my intent.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">DL: What were some of the challenges
when writing this book?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><br /></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">LD:</span></b> During my writing process as I
reflected back on the details of the time periods that I share in my book, I
relived those moments and became emotional at times, which was a challenge.
Also, when writing my memoir, the unthinkable happened to me. As I was nearing
fifty-percent of completion and feeling excited about my book and relieved to
finally express the many things that I held on to for years, my mom passed
away. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;">It was totally unexpected, and the grief hit me harder than I could have
ever imagined. The challenge of losing my mom sent me on an emotional roller
coaster ride. By the Grace of God and my perseverance I was able to complete my
memoir which I am happy to have done as I continue to find healthy coping mechanisms
and adjust to living my life without my mother's physical presence.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">DL: Is there any particular author or
book that influenced you in any way either growing up or as an adult?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><br /></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">LD:</span></b><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"> Growing up as a teen the author that
influenced me the most was Sister Souljah. I credit </span>Sister Souljah for opening my mind to
reading because the very first book that I read willingly, that was not a class
assignment from my instructor, was <i>The Coldest Winter Ever</i> by Sister
Souljah. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;">Reading this book was like watching a good movie that you don’t want
to walk away from. There were so many plot twists and dramas that kept me
engaged, paired with the fact that I could relate to some of the characters as
they were similar to some people I knew at the time. After reading this book I
was motivated to continue reading over the years. As I grew in life, I
gravitated more towards non-fiction books and self-help books as an adult.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">DL: What was the best writing advice
you’ve ever been given?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><br /></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">LD:</span></b> The best writing advice that I have
been given thus far is to “just start writing”. At times we may have plans to
do something, and it never happens so if you just start the process by keeping a
journal of events, or writing down your thoughts and experiences that you wish
to write about in your book, or you can even create an outline covering your
ideas and main points. These are various options to use for writing, but the key
point is to start the process. You will go back and format and edit later, the
important part is to get the story out, on paper. This is the best advice given
to me and I now have a finished product.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">DL: If you could choose a superpower,
what would it be and why?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><br /></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">LD:</span></b><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"> The superpower I would choose to have
is the ability to time travel. I would love to see the lives of ancient
civilizations and compare it to the information we have then determine if what
is believed to be factual is true or false. I would also travel to the future
to satisfy my curiosity of what this world would look like one hundred plus
years from now, would society solve their socioeconomic problems or would they
still exist on a different scale. Finally, being able to see what the
developmental period was like in the early stages of music for artists in Motown
records, the Harlem Renaissance Era, and much more. This superpower may be
connected to me being intrigued by history, but I think it would be cool to
time travel.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">DL: What tips would you give to
aspiring writers?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><br /></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">LD:</span></b><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"> Find your target audience and speak
directly to them. Some people may not get it, and that is completely okay
because it simply means that it is not for them. Try not to be overly concerned
with finances, just do the work and the money will come. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">If you’re writing and
the work you produce is in the form of community outreach there are grants as
well as others who you could partner with. Find your niche, focus on your
target audience, and do the work and your writing will open doors and create
opportunities that will propel you forward.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">DL: What’s your favorite line from a
book?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><br /></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">LD:</span></b><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"> “Trust in your own ability that you
were created in divine essence and all the gifts and talents you need to
navigate life, you already possess them.” <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Growing
Beyond The Gardens</i><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">(Chapter 3)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">DL: What new projects are you
currently working on?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><br /></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">LD: </span></b><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">I have created a workbook to pair with
my memoir to aid my readers in their healing journey and provoke new ideas for
self-help techniques. Furthermore, I founded a community outreach program
called Tru Harmony Network where I assist teen moms with their essential needs.
I accept cash donations and supplies for both mom and baby. For more details visit
our website at <a href="http://www.truharmony35.com/">www.truharmony35.com</a> or
email </span><u style="text-underline: #1155CC;"><span style="color: #1155cc; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><a href="mailto:truharmony35@gmail.com">truharmony35@gmail.com</a></span></u><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">DL: Where can readers learn more about
you and purchase your book(s)? <o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><br /></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">LD:</span></b><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"> Please feel free to contact me for
further discussion, collaborations, speaking engagements, podcast, or with any
questions at the contact details below. Also click the link to Purchase your
copy of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Growing Beyond The Gardens </i>and
support <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Tru Harmony Network.</i><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Purchase Your
Book and Support: </span></b><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><a href="https://beyondthegardens.my.canva.site/"><span style="color: #1155cc;">https://beyondthegardens.my.canva.site/</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></li><li><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Linktr.ee: </span></b><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><a href="https://linktr.ee/legacy888"><span style="color: #1155cc;">https://linktr.ee/legacy888</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></li><li><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Website: </span></b><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><a href="https://truharmony35.com/"><span style="color: #1155cc;">https://truharmony35.com/</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></li><li><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Email: </span></b><u style="text-underline: #1155CC;"><span style="color: #1155cc; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">truharmony35@gmail.com</span></u></li><li><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Instagram: </span></b><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/lady_d_35/"><span style="color: #1155cc;">https://www.instagram.com/lady_d_35/</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></li><li><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Facebook: </span></b><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/LaDonnia1"><span style="color: #1155cc;">https://www.facebook.com/LaDonnia1</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></li><li><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">LinkedIn: </span></b><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/donna-c-49594a44/"><span style="color: #1155cc;">https://www.linkedin.com/in/donna-c-49594a44/</span></a></span> </li></ul><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">DL: </span></b><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Thanks for being here with us today. I
know my readers will enjoy getting to know you and your work.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">LD:</span></b><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"> Thank you for your time and continued
support of my efforts to help those who need it most.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvwNhVOvnFaKHY250PsgmDhZwoAb3Fv7bNxTJd-1auU2Xa0tcboM2-yEtLa5GLCcjGTCs05Dj4E6nq6rkmo898PTEAd0J8y28cU1hO7vZVkw58Dj_vnM3SGjrY9zE2C5g_NkTBZzKVJP3Vh93iMjRq2rGzZLPqopacsJbk5sShh_t2bLZx03zltT0hU1SM/s4000/LaDonnia%20Cole%20Book%20Cover%2012-18-23.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2667" data-original-width="4000" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvwNhVOvnFaKHY250PsgmDhZwoAb3Fv7bNxTJd-1auU2Xa0tcboM2-yEtLa5GLCcjGTCs05Dj4E6nq6rkmo898PTEAd0J8y28cU1hO7vZVkw58Dj_vnM3SGjrY9zE2C5g_NkTBZzKVJP3Vh93iMjRq2rGzZLPqopacsJbk5sShh_t2bLZx03zltT0hU1SM/s320/LaDonnia%20Cole%20Book%20Cover%2012-18-23.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdwuK5ZNk8pORMbXODoXyBSK29W7lYc8IyXw_bVcrI4aQk_XQ96jx4o57OmVRNEZ3iQ4GJ4WCuenxd-ffNFtQAoCdi0I1T2R1UXRA6n48HHNZmI15XlU6j7UfxvFC0DvSLeZ3NYeUh_5PNs_Cj8nMVeBf-PfhapxQ6CpNyKhz4KUEuVaCHDY0ibmVpAD12/s1385/LaDonnia%20Headshot%2012-18-23.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1385" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdwuK5ZNk8pORMbXODoXyBSK29W7lYc8IyXw_bVcrI4aQk_XQ96jx4o57OmVRNEZ3iQ4GJ4WCuenxd-ffNFtQAoCdi0I1T2R1UXRA6n48HHNZmI15XlU6j7UfxvFC0DvSLeZ3NYeUh_5PNs_Cj8nMVeBf-PfhapxQ6CpNyKhz4KUEuVaCHDY0ibmVpAD12/s320/LaDonnia%20Headshot%2012-18-23.jpg" width="250" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p></p><br /><p></p>Deliah Lawrencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12554322567411413414noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3874545466668861482.post-60768369710167564372023-12-04T19:20:00.000-05:002023-12-04T19:20:19.885-05:00It’s A Book Thing Presents: An Interview with K.L. Brady, author of The Nick Before Christmas<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b>Author’s Bio:</b> USA Today Bestselling author K. L. Brady is a D.C.
native and award-winning author of 20 novels. She self-published her first
book, THE BUM MAGNET, after an Oprah "live your best life" moment,
which was picked up by Simon & Schuster in a two-book deal. She’s been
publishing romantic comedies ever since. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;">K.L.
is a Washington football fan and professed nerd-girl who loves all things Star
Trek, Star Wars, and Big Bang Theory. She lives to write stories involving
hilarious quirky characters looking for love. She's hard at work on her next
several projects, including <i>Sincerely, Santa</i>, a heartfelt romantic
comedy that also celebrates the special friendship between her late mother and
grandmother. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b>Fun Fact:</b> If K.L. could choose a superpower, she thinks she would
be a mind reader so she could embrace those who really care about her, and she
could cancel those who don’t. She figures out motives over time, but reading
minds would make the process go much faster. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b>Deliah
Lawrence: What inspired you to write your book?<o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b><br /></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b>K.L.
Brady:</b>
It’s truly a Generation X story. The core of this story is about a woman
in search of her second act. She’s reached the big 5-0 on her birthday
(Christmas in July) and part of her realizes she’s stuck. When you reach the age
of 50, you question what direction to take with the gas left in your tank. Are
you on the right path? Or have you been on your current path because it’s
comfortable and easy?Personally,
I live by walls and windows. If I feel like I’ve run into a wall—a roadblock, a
point at which I can go no further in a life decision—then I look for a window.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;">Well,
our character was in the easy and comfortable space until she hit a big wall. A
“heavenly presence” basically forces her to go look for and find a new window
by Christmas Eve or the rest of her life will be cursed. Given the credible
source, she sets out to find her second act. During her journey for a new
window, she meets a new man and confronts the one that got away, which is where
the fun really begins. With the clock
ticking from Christmas in July to Christmas, will she find her second act and her
“person?” <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;">In
addition, like the heroine in this story, I lost my mom to cancer, and she died
so quickly that I never got the chance to say goodbye or thank her for all she
given to me. When that happens, it leaves a void in your life. So, nestled in
this romantic comedy is a truly heartfelt goodbye from daughter to mother and
vice versa. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;">It’s funny
that my 20<sup>th</sup> book would follow the path of my first in that I drew
heavily from personal experiences to derive the meat of the stories and then
wrapped fiction around them to make them more fun and less depressing for
readers. This was truly a labor of love, especially after going two years
without publishing. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b>DL: How
do you handle writer’s block?<o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b><br /></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b>KLB:</b> I’ll be honest, I’ve struggled with writer’s block. It’s
a beast that hunts creatives at some point in their careers. I’ve experienced a
lot of upheaval over the past couple of years, personally and professionally (9
to 5 versus writing). So, how do you write when your life is spinning and
flipping and you’re upside down every day? It’s like my life gave me whiplash
for so long. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;">I
have a few techniques to overcome a block – and it begins with making a habit
of just writing every day. I pull up a story every day. Somedays I write a
word. Somedays I write a paragraph. Somedays I write pages. The point is to
never break the habit of writing every day but give yourself the grace not to
be productive. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;">Sometimes,
you have to change your location (I’ll go from my office to the deck).
Sometimes, you have to change your writing tool. I use a MacBook, MacBook Air,
Freewrite, digital notebook, pen and paper, whatever…as long as the words come,
I don’t restrict myself. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;">Sometimes,
you have to declutter. Even as I wrote this, I cleaned my bedroom, made my bed,
and folded my laundry. Decluttering your space allows you to clear your mind of
responsibilities and honey-dos, so you can connect with the creative part of
yourself. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b>DL: What
is your writing process? <o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b><br /></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b>KLB:</b> On my good days, I’m usually awake by 4 am. I jump out
of bed, put on my writing clothes, pray (because my 9 to 5, good Lord), and
then I write for an hour or so before work. I save editing for after work
because my job usually sucks the creativity from the marrow of my bones. <span style="font-family: "Apple Color Emoji";">😊</span> After work
is the perfect time to focus on mechanics. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b>DL: What
were some of the challenges when writing this book?<o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b><br /></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b>KLB:</b> Sobbing. I cried a lot at the end, even though it makes
me laugh, too. No book I’ve ever written has ever made me cry. They’ve all made
me laugh…this is the only one that chokes me up or brings tears. It’s more
funny than sad, but it’s got its moments. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b>DL: Is
there any particular author or book that influenced you in any way either
growing up or as an adult?<o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b><br /></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b>KLB:</b> I’ve read black authors my entire life. One of my
favorites is Toni Morrison. Her prose is truly art. With that said, reading
Terry McMillan’s <i>Waiting to Exhale</i> really helped me connect with my
voice…and realize that my voice was okay. I came to understand that I didn’t
have to write like Toni Morrison to be a writer…or even to be read. It would be
a long time before I wrote my first book (didn’t do so until I turned 40), but
that book was incredibly impactful in that I finally accepted that, for better
or worse, writing was my path to fulfillment. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b>DL: What
tips would you give to aspiring writers?<o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b><br /></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b>KLB:</b> Write…every day to build your creative muscle so you
won’t be dependent on a “muse” to be productive.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;">Never
compare yourself to other writers/authors, don’t compare your career to theirs.
Their calling is not yours. Their path is not yours. Their vision is not yours.
Only compare where you were yesterday to where you are today. Find your special
lane (whatever that looks like for you) and stay in it. The race is you against
you. Otherwise, you’re setting yourself up to be constant defeated and
depressed.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;">If
you want to be productive, be a plottser (plotter and pantser). Plot your
novels so that you stay productive and have content to write to even when you
don’t feel like it…but allow yourself to change directions if your imagination
takes you in a different direction. Don’t be chained to your outline but
develop one. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;">So,
keep writing. It’s that simple and that difficult. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b>DL: What
are three books you’ll never part with?<o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b><br /></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b>KLB:</b> I’ll
never part with these books: <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><i>I
Know Why the Caged Bird Sings</i>, Maya
Angelou – What a voice!</li><li><i>On
Writing</i>, Stephen King – One of the best
books on the writing experience I’ve ever read.</li><li><i>The
Nine Lives of Christmas</i>, Sheila
Roberts – Helped me find my way into Christmas books.</li></ul><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b>DL: Would
you like to share an excerpt from <i>The Nick Before Christmas</i>? <o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b>KLB:
Sure, here you go: <o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b><br /></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"> Sasha
approached…and based on the sound of footsteps, she wasn't alone. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"> "Nickie?
Uh…You have company?" <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"> "Who?"
<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"> Into
the threshold stepped Evan…and Jordan, both carrying sizeable brown shopping
bags scented with contents that smelled a whole lot like dinner. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"> Evan
ghosted her for weeks, dropped off the radar. J. Dev blew her off and was off
parading with Ava, or so she thought. Now both stood in her living room, in the
flesh, at the same time. She had no idea how to handle this. Nickie had never
been a juggler so two potential courters in her presence, in her house, wasn't
a situation she expected to face. She couldn't have orchestrated this cluster
if she tried. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"> Their
faces sapped the air out of her lungs. Laying the blame on Sasha wasn't an
option. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"> Her
stomach growled, reminding of her greatest need in the moment. If worse came to
worst, Nickie pledged to keep the dinner and cannoli...and dump the two
unexpected guests. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"> "Jordan,
Evan…what a surprise to welcome you…both…in my living room…right now,” Nickie
said, her eyes volleying between them so as not to give one more attention than
the other. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"> Evan
glanced at Jordan without speaking a single word, and Jordan returned the
favor. She suspected each was eager to learn what the other had to say. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b>DL: What
new projects are you currently working on? <o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b><br /></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b>KLB:</b> I’m working on a small-town Christmas novel called <i>Sincerely,
Santa</i>. Set in a town based on my old hometown of Bellaire, Ohio (Belle’s
Aire). It’s another romantic comedy with a fun meet cute. It’s about a woman who
doesn’t believe she deserves Christmas because she made one mistake—so she
spends her time and effort gifting Christmas to everyone around her. At its
core, it’s a celebration of the friendship between my mother and grandmother. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b>DL: Where
can readers learn more about you and purchase your book(s)? <o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b><br /></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b>KLB:</b> Readers can get more information here: <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Website: <a href="http://www.klbradyauthor.com/">www.klbradyauthor.com</a></li><li>Facebook
Page: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/KLBRADY">https://www.facebook.com/KLBRADY</a></li><li>Instagram:
<a href="https://www.instagram.com/klbrady_author/">https://www.instagram.com/klbrady_author/</a></li><li>Bookbub:
<a href="https://www.bookbub.com/profile/k-l-brady">https://www.bookbub.com/profile/k-l-brady</a></li><li>Amazon:
<a href="https://bit.ly/40UVJSt">https://bit.ly/40UVJSt</a></li><li>Goodreads:
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2975069.K_L_Brady">https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2975069.K_L_Brady</a></li><li>Newsletter:
<a href="http://klbradyauthor.com/sign-up/">http://klbradyauthor.com/sign-up/</a></li></ul><p></p><o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b>DL:</b> Thanks so much for being here with us today. I know my
readers will enjoy getting to know you and your work.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><o:p></o:p></p><p><b>KLB:</b> Thanks so much for inviting me to participate on your
blog! </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg09hmNrJtKTifnCsLqmp7sFy2nie8xqhyphenhyphen6zJBbLXX1ASjQivycJLA3G0cctw1fEMh4V68RK-1vtVQHxrQOZSzoECVyOmrrPXa7I3P7pJTcMaaIdJ619t3YM8RNv5WSvapvDBVE-qnHH0gHy-L2kQOZCbXgxPjKpA7pHAob8JMtWS75jQhcprNvchIiRhwm/s2560/The-Nick-Before-Christmas-KL%20Brady%2012-4-23.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2560" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg09hmNrJtKTifnCsLqmp7sFy2nie8xqhyphenhyphen6zJBbLXX1ASjQivycJLA3G0cctw1fEMh4V68RK-1vtVQHxrQOZSzoECVyOmrrPXa7I3P7pJTcMaaIdJ619t3YM8RNv5WSvapvDBVE-qnHH0gHy-L2kQOZCbXgxPjKpA7pHAob8JMtWS75jQhcprNvchIiRhwm/s320/The-Nick-Before-Christmas-KL%20Brady%2012-4-23.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdoSTo0u9nNCUnJJ780iC4vTCMh8hTCBuqP_1B-Pr5U5WZ2_5Yr7HHELen1jt3BCCEorraY-HpYdZ4flih3hahPBw14gMH_PxOZkzaHdXAwzTigBg2UIs1CAO0sFFBCvN4aMJxgFLg3RbOEmaqNeCMiyQmuXMKtd1ktKjXwDYitMdb6e2ZHrzmKR2kpmca/s2048/KL%20Brady%20Pic%2012-4-23.PNG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1565" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdoSTo0u9nNCUnJJ780iC4vTCMh8hTCBuqP_1B-Pr5U5WZ2_5Yr7HHELen1jt3BCCEorraY-HpYdZ4flih3hahPBw14gMH_PxOZkzaHdXAwzTigBg2UIs1CAO0sFFBCvN4aMJxgFLg3RbOEmaqNeCMiyQmuXMKtd1ktKjXwDYitMdb6e2ZHrzmKR2kpmca/s320/KL%20Brady%20Pic%2012-4-23.PNG" width="245" /></a></p><br />Deliah Lawrencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12554322567411413414noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3874545466668861482.post-17978692683247337602023-11-30T20:51:00.005-05:002023-11-30T20:59:29.115-05:00A Review of The Broken Soul (A Sloane Monroe Mystery) by Cheryl Bradshaw and Janet Fix<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">This is the first time I’m reading anything by Cheryl Bradshaw and Janet Fix and it won’t
be the last. These two authors have teamed up to write a story that is chock
full of mystery, drugs, survival, and lifelong friendships. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">So, let’s
meet Sloane, a private investigator and Maddie, a retired medical examiner. Two
best friends who are on vacation during the festival season (Mardi Gras) in New
Orleans. A place of fun, food, and seedy places. While waiting on Sloane to
return with a Canal Street Daisy, a bourbon-based drink infused with orange and
lemon, Maddie takes off to see what a couple was doing down a dark alleyway. Within
a few minutes of checking on the young woman she found lying on the filthy
ground, someone from behind a dumpster pierces her neck with a needle and she
is shoved into the back of an old sedan. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">Panic
ensues when Sloane returns, and Maddie is nowhere to be found. Sloane asks around
and is pointed in the direction of the alleyway where she finds the young woman still lying on the ground, Maddie’s phone,
signs of a struggle, and a freshly used syringe. She dials 9-1-1 to get the
woman some help. Later the woman is identified as a college student who died
from an overdose. And this kicks off Sloane’s investigation to solve this mystery puzzle
and find her friend. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">Overall,
this was a quick read. I loved the mystery, pacing of the story, the dialogue,
the descriptions, and Sloane’s investigative instincts. I also enjoyed reading
about the secrets being kept by some of the other characters. So, here’s to
reading another story in the series. Two thumbs up! </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">Rating: <b>4
stars</b> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">Some of my
favorite lines: </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">He nodded.
“Yup, yup. I seen her,” he said, pointing across the way. “Ran over there.” <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">“How long
ago?” <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">“Not long.
Twenty, thirty minutes ago, I guess. I was curious about it, so I tried to keep
an eye out.” <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">“Curious
about what?” <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">“D’way she
darted across the street like dat. Looked upset.” <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">“Where did
she go after that?” <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">He
shrugged. “Dunno. I watched her for a minute, and then the floats and stuff got
in da way. Next time I looked, she’s gone.” <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">He spoke
with the Yat dialect that was so common to the area—a local. I found it
charming and challenging to understand at the same time. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">“Gone,” I
repeated, looking in the direction he was pointing. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">Sure
enough, no Maddie.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji4y2sLBNkN3QRt4zrySQWA89hgpAa5UabVJXbHskOaLvG6Lfl_z9kmLMXoov160RwbsAFDT1h6WoWL8POxGMpVEVOIzpnxz6Y83mlKlIPNWPnQnvQqz5R3kCMQr7Lmt214slqrak8f9k6fTU-Ek2sNKA1BM9i8VZ-iBFmHgiW_fRyM1tZB_pI2sApfLuL/s466/The%20Broken%20Soul%2011-30-23.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="466" data-original-width="311" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji4y2sLBNkN3QRt4zrySQWA89hgpAa5UabVJXbHskOaLvG6Lfl_z9kmLMXoov160RwbsAFDT1h6WoWL8POxGMpVEVOIzpnxz6Y83mlKlIPNWPnQnvQqz5R3kCMQr7Lmt214slqrak8f9k6fTU-Ek2sNKA1BM9i8VZ-iBFmHgiW_fRyM1tZB_pI2sApfLuL/s320/The%20Broken%20Soul%2011-30-23.jpg" width="214" /></a></div><br /><p></p>
<p> </p>Deliah Lawrencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12554322567411413414noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3874545466668861482.post-28080888177707084512023-11-20T19:56:00.000-05:002023-11-20T19:56:13.658-05:00It’s A Book Thing Presents: An Interview with Diane Papalia Zappa, author of Dear Bobby: My Grief Journey<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #ff0066;"><b>Author’s Bio:</b> Diane Papalia Zappa
grew up in Fort Lee,</span> NJ. She graduated from Vassar College in 1968. She earned
an MS in Child Development and Family Relations and a PhD in Life-Span
Developmental Psychology from West Virginia University in 1970 and 1971,
respectively.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">She then joined the
faculty of the Department of Child and Family Studies at the University of
Wisconsin-Madison, attaining the rank of full professor at age 30. While there
she and co-author Sally Olds wrote <i>A Child’s World</i> (in its thirteenth
edition) and <i>Human Development</i> (in its fifteenth edition). </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 1.0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: standardcontextual;">While at Wisconsin she
met Frank Zappa’s younger brother Bob, who was the marketing manager for one of
her textbooks. They married in 2015.</span> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 1.0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: standardcontextual;">Her first memoir, <i>The
Married Widow: My Journey with Bob Zappa</i>, describes their relationship
since meeting in 1986. Dear Bobby describes how she handled her grief after he
died in 2018.</span> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 1.0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: standardcontextual;">Deliah Lawrence: What inspired you
to write your book?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 1.0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: standardcontextual;">Diane Papalia Zappa:</span></b><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 1.0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: standardcontextual;"> This book, <i>Dear
Bobby: My Grief Journey</i>, was inspired by reactions to my debut memoir, <i>The
Married Widow</i>. Many widows told me that they found that book helpful in
coping with the loss of a spouse or partner. So <i>Dear Bobby</i> was a natural
outgrowth. In it I talk about what helped me cope, focusing on how writing
letters to my late husband helped ease my pain. The centerpiece of this book is
26 of those letters. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 1.0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: standardcontextual;">DL: How do you handle
writer’s block?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 1.0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: standardcontextual;">DPZ:</span></b><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 1.0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: standardcontextual;"> Before I actually sit
down to write, I like to mull things over in my mind. This may take time, but
when I actually begin to write, the words flow quite easily. By approaching my
writing this way, writer’s block hasn’t been an issue.</span><b><o:p> </o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 1.0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: standardcontextual;">DL: What were
some of the challenges when writing this book?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 1.0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: standardcontextual;">DPZ:</span></b><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 1.0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: standardcontextual;"> Writing the letters
was a very emotional experience since in them I tell Bobby how I’m doing and
reminisce about things and experiences we shared. Some brought me to tears and
readers have told me the letters have brought <i>them</i> to tears as well. </span> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 1.0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: standardcontextual;">DL: What was the best
writing advice you’ve ever been given?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 1.0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: standardcontextual;">DPZ:</span></b><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 1.0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: standardcontextual;"> Write because you
have something to say, never for the royalties. The money may or may not come
but if you have a story to tell, let that be your motivation.</span> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 1.0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: standardcontextual;">DL: If you could
choose a superpower, what would it be and why?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 1.0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: standardcontextual;">DPZ:</span></b><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 1.0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: standardcontextual;"> I would choose
dimension hopping: the ability to travel between different dimensions and
universes. I’d love to be able to visit my husband in the afterlife and my
family and friends on Earth!</span><b><o:p> </o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 1.0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: standardcontextual;">DL: If you were
hosting a dinner party which three authors would be your dream guests and
why? <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 1.0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: standardcontextual;">DPZ:</span></b><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 1.0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: standardcontextual;"> I would invite my
late husband (who wrote <i>Frankie and Bobby: Growing Up Zappa</i>), his late
brother musician Frank Zappa (who wrote <i>The Real Frank Zappa Book</i>), and
psychic medium Matt Fraser (who wrote <i>We Never Die: Secrets of the Afterlife</i>).
I had never met Frank and would love to see the brothers interact. Matt channeled
Bob in a private reading a couple years ago. And, of course, I’d love to have
another dinner with Bobby.</span> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 1.0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: standardcontextual;">DL: What are three fun
facts about yourself?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 1.0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: standardcontextual;">DPZ: </span></b><span style="color: #ff0066;">1. </span>I haven’t driven a
car since 1989 when I moved to Manhattan. <span style="color: #ff0066;">2.</span> Mac and cheese is my favorite
comfort food. <span style="color: #ff0066;">3. </span>British actor Martin Clunes (star of Doc Martin) was a friend
of Bobby’s. He came over for a sushi dinner when he was filming in Manhattan. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 1.0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: standardcontextual;">DL: Would you like to
share an excerpt from Dear Bobby? <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 1.0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: standardcontextual;">DPZ:</span></b><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 1.0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: standardcontextual;"> Sure:</span> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>After Bob died, I began to write him
letters…. In my "Dear Bobby" letters, I share with him memories of
things we enjoyed together and explain how I'm doing. Writing to him allows our
relationship to continue. It helps keep our love alive. Here are two letters:</b><b> </b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>July 28, 2019<o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Dear Bobby,</b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>So, I think this will be my new
project. Writing to you as the spirit (so to speak) moves me. I really miss
being with you, having dinner, cooking, joking around, the cocktail hour. The
little things that make up a life together. I miss turning down the sheets with
you before we go out. I miss you turning on the music before we would go to
sleep. I haven't been able to do that since you passed away. I miss you asking
me if I'm cold and then turning your back to me to warm me up. I miss checking
if that solitary hair had grown back on your nose.</b><b><o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>I simply miss vou.<o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Love, <o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Diane<o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b> </b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>May
22, 2021<o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Dear
Bobby,</b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>One of the things I
remember most fondly is when we’d wake up together every morning, you right
next to me. Before going to the kitchen to make your breakfast and my coffee,
you’d hold me in your arms, brush my hair away from me face, and kiss me on the
forehead. Then you’d murmur “Good morning, Mrs. Z.” It’s such a precious
memory. And I miss it. <o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Love, <o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Diane</b> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 1.0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: standardcontextual;">DL: What new projects
are you currently working on?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 1.0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: standardcontextual;">DPZ:</span></b><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 1.0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: standardcontextual;"> I have a new website
that covers both <i>Dear Bobby</i> and <i>The Married Widow</i>. I plan to blog
there. I’d also love to write a third book, and I hope ideas will come after I
see reactions to <i>Dear Bobby</i>.</span> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 1.0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: standardcontextual;">DL: Where can
readers learn more about you and purchase your
book(s)? <o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>DPZ: </b>Readers can get more information
here:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 1.0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: standardcontextual;">Website: dianepapaliazappa.com</span></li><li><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 1.0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: standardcontextual;">Amazon Author Page:
Diane Papalia Zappa</span></li><li><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 1.0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: standardcontextual;">Facebook: </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/diane.papalia"><span style="color: #0563c1; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">https://www.Facebook.com/diane.papalia</span></a></li><li><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 1.0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: standardcontextual;">Instagram: dianezappa</span> </li></ul><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 1.0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: standardcontextual;">DL:</span></b><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 1.0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: standardcontextual;"> Thanks so much for
being here with us today. I know my readers will enjoy getting to know you
and your work.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 1.0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: standardcontextual;">DPZ:</span></b><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 1.0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: standardcontextual;"> Thank you!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkf1HKDQgHbDltoGfS8BpkHK-S-474BVW1YJt-L_m3T4x4R_emv2llpvbQJkvwCy1trZBI2y1jTBvvB4VGhnuWKOKEbuw1cTYd68ZWDelHm7KGlX1FXVEWYpBNWCnWpV1ZDIlaGSt7hkfe8hGUgSXVBv5WbB_mVLY7JOxXV-lguoy3Qm-cB1rUncaj2jNo/s3200/Dear%20Bobby%20Cover%2011-20-23.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3200" data-original-width="2000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkf1HKDQgHbDltoGfS8BpkHK-S-474BVW1YJt-L_m3T4x4R_emv2llpvbQJkvwCy1trZBI2y1jTBvvB4VGhnuWKOKEbuw1cTYd68ZWDelHm7KGlX1FXVEWYpBNWCnWpV1ZDIlaGSt7hkfe8hGUgSXVBv5WbB_mVLY7JOxXV-lguoy3Qm-cB1rUncaj2jNo/s320/Dear%20Bobby%20Cover%2011-20-23.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOjU6zlecVvomIuO5b_U5jzDWLffQzI20qSgFwkhY26ZEWLNyDVhhszTAkIIY8nsWVzuQ5N6kP3V6VuuqciIHQqznaVX3kvt9LkspangUN6TxfIcEHJDgFfrO0M0JmbiftqIhSYJgYyDGdd61Ehq429XNgkvXQCPS0mnYOLjxPTgGMcYbjq3FZz47xqQLB/s1280/Papalia%20Zappa%20author%20photo.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOjU6zlecVvomIuO5b_U5jzDWLffQzI20qSgFwkhY26ZEWLNyDVhhszTAkIIY8nsWVzuQ5N6kP3V6VuuqciIHQqznaVX3kvt9LkspangUN6TxfIcEHJDgFfrO0M0JmbiftqIhSYJgYyDGdd61Ehq429XNgkvXQCPS0mnYOLjxPTgGMcYbjq3FZz47xqQLB/s320/Papalia%20Zappa%20author%20photo.PNG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 1.0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: standardcontextual;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br clear="all" style="mso-special-character: line-break; page-break-before: always;" />
</span>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>Deliah Lawrencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12554322567411413414noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3874545466668861482.post-14629539997730588072023-11-06T19:40:00.001-05:002023-11-06T19:49:30.419-05:00It’s A Book Thing Presents: An Interview with David Swinson, author of Sweet Thing<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b>Author’s Bio: </b>David Swinson is a retired police detective from the
Metropolitan Police Department in Washington, DC, having been assigned to Major
Crimes. Swinson is the author of the critically acclaimed Frank Marr Trilogy – <i>The
Second Girl</i>, <i>Crime Song</i> and <i>Trigger</i>, and the standalone <i>City
on the Edge</i>. He lives in Upstate New York.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b>Deliah Lawrence: What inspired
you to write your book?<o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b><br /></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b>David Swinson:</b> The song,
“Sweet Thing” by Van Morrison. It’s both beautiful and sad.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b><span style="color: #ff0066;">Here's the Synopsis:</span> </b>In a red brick
house on a tree-lined street, DC homicide detective Alex Blum stares at the
bullet-pocked body of Chris Doyle. As he roots around for evidence, he finds an
old polaroid: the decedent, arm in arm with Arthur Holland, Blum's informant
from years ago when he worked at the Narcotics branch.<br />
<br />
But Arthur has been missing for days. Blum’s only source: Arthur’s girl,
Celeste—beautiful, seductive, and tragic—whom he can’t get out of his head.
Blum is drawn to her and feels compelled to save her from Arthur’s underworld.
As the investigation ticks on and dead bodies domino, Blum, unearths clues with
damning implications for Celeste. Swallowed by desire, Blum’s single misstep
sends him tunnelling down a rabbit hole of transgression. He may soon find the
only way out is down below.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;">Set in 1999, Swinson, a former DC
cop, offers a look back at a rougher, grittier, bygone DC replete with seedy
strip clubs, pagers beeping, and Y2K anxiety. It’s here we’re taken inside
sting operations, fluorescent-tinged interrogation chambers, and rooms that
have seen irreversible mistakes. At once authentic, gritty, tragic, and
profound, <i>SWEET THING</i> asks how far can you fall when the world teeters on the
edge? <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b>DL: What is your writing process?<o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b><br /></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b>SW:</b> Music is essential. I
always create a playlist for the books I write and then listen to them over and
over. I’m inspired by music. It is an important part of my life. I take a lot
of notes when listening to music and come up with characters before the story.
After that, I try to sit down at the same time every day and hope for the
best. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b>DL: Is there any particular
author or book that influenced you in any way either growing up or as an adult?<o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b><br /></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b>SW:</b> Without even having to
think about it I’d have to say <i>To Kill a Mockingbird</i>. I have read it numerous
times and each time I get something new out of it. It is, in my opinion, the
perfect book. It is so many genres put into one – Crime, Mystery, Suspense,
Courtroom drama and so much more.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b>DL: What was the best writing
advice you’ve ever been given?<o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b><br /></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b>SW:</b> A bestselling author, and
a mentor of mine, told me years ago to always have a time designated for
writing, and to just sit and stare at the screen until something happens.
Hopefully, what happens is wonderful.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b>DL: If you were hosting a dinner
party which three authors would be your dream guests and why?<o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b><br /></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b>DS:</b> Donna Tartt, because she
is absolutely brilliant; Stephen King, because I’d be an idiot not to invite
him, and if I could resurrect him from the dead, James Baldwin. He is one of
the greatest American writers and I could learn so much from him.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b>DL: What tips would you give to
aspiring writers?<o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b><br /></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b>DS:</b> Don’t ever give up and
never realize the obstacles in your way because it will cripple you. Most
importantly, read as much as you can.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b>DL: What are three books you’ll
never part with?<o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b><br /></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b>DS:</b> My hardcover first
editions of <i>The Friends of Eddie Coyle</i> by George Higgins, <i>The Poets and the
Lunatic</i>, by G.K. Chesterton, and my paperback of <i>To Kill a Mockingbird</i> by
Harper Lee.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b>DL: What’s your favorite line
from a book?<o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b><br /></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b>DS:</b> “Here at last is the
thing I was made for.” ― C.S. Lewis, <i>The Problem of Pain</i><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b>DL: What are three fun facts
about yourself?<o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b><br /></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b>DS:</b> Three fun facts about
myself are:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"></p><ol style="text-align: left;"><li>I promoted alternative and punk rock
concerts in the eighties.</li><li>I developed and produced a feature
film for New Line Cinema and had the rights to a couple of very popular books,
but quit and joined the police academy in Washington, DC and eventually became
a police detective.</li><li>I wrote my first book when I was
seventeen and got my first rejection when I was eighteen. I have always wanted
to be an author but did not get published until I was 51 years old.</li></ol><o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b>DL: What new projects are you
curre</b><b>ntly working on?</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b><br /></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b>DS:</b> I’m working on my next
book, <i>Hound of Heaven</i>. It takes place in a small fictitious town in Upstate,
New York. A retired homicide detective moves there after his father dies
because he has to take care of his younger brother who suffers from severe
agoraphobia and PTSD. It isn’t long before something bad happens and he finds
himself assisting the very small local jurisdiction with the case.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b>DL: Where can readers learn more
about you and purchase your book(s)? <o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b>DS:</b> Readers can get more
information here:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Website: <a href="https://davidswinson.com/">https://davidswinson.com/</a></li><li>Amazon Author Page: <a href="https://a.co/d/g6LriOC">https://a.co/d/g6LriOC</a></li><li>Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/sluglord.presents">https://www.facebook.com/sluglord.presents</a></li><li>Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/d.swinson/">https://www.instagram.com/d.swinson/</a></li><li>Goodreads: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/dashboard?ref=nav_profile_authordash">https://www.goodreads.com/author/dashboard?ref=nav_profile_authordash</a></li></ul><o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b>DL:</b> Thanks for being
here with us today. I know my readers will enjoy getting to know you and your
work.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b><br /></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b>DS: </b>Thank you so much for
your support! </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYuAyQW8jWpD71J5B75IgW8FmWomqY5bydcZN7MGBpCc8CwRu9G4-QKfsKJFlWRenn1CoiIGUvxqJdWXI61JQXiqgtTymeZhNz1Ewu0cN3X1t6xoRDUgKfWMeqQRP2xl7QF27D8p77gNq4ASEF7UIG5CBCjFZcOxVvvqns4LCokucz483W4fQqhLCx8QOu/s2048/Sweet%20Thing_David%20Swinson%2011-6-23.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1321" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYuAyQW8jWpD71J5B75IgW8FmWomqY5bydcZN7MGBpCc8CwRu9G4-QKfsKJFlWRenn1CoiIGUvxqJdWXI61JQXiqgtTymeZhNz1Ewu0cN3X1t6xoRDUgKfWMeqQRP2xl7QF27D8p77gNq4ASEF7UIG5CBCjFZcOxVvvqns4LCokucz483W4fQqhLCx8QOu/s320/Sweet%20Thing_David%20Swinson%2011-6-23.jpg" width="206" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2L__iA8WfBtYKuCwyaMBON7eoTjO3RnwgmPx9NqWp7Yeff4pNydTM2lI3P1Rb9Wy2dAK_-OE-LZBmSV-k9KeJTJ9LyYjJG1yoC0rXVhwVqif3hcbYAgMbj4vdmb8YlArTAGT-tK5OYgV_kiVP6mbSXHk19I3yPQSwRGDgYOXztP68NRcvEi0ZeYB4bZbs/s2048/David%20Swinson%2011-6-23.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2L__iA8WfBtYKuCwyaMBON7eoTjO3RnwgmPx9NqWp7Yeff4pNydTM2lI3P1Rb9Wy2dAK_-OE-LZBmSV-k9KeJTJ9LyYjJG1yoC0rXVhwVqif3hcbYAgMbj4vdmb8YlArTAGT-tK5OYgV_kiVP6mbSXHk19I3yPQSwRGDgYOXztP68NRcvEi0ZeYB4bZbs/s320/David%20Swinson%2011-6-23.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><br /></p>Deliah Lawrencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12554322567411413414noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3874545466668861482.post-174121812059893312023-11-01T00:13:00.002-04:002023-11-01T00:13:53.870-04:00 A Review of Night After Night (Seductive Nights Book 1) by Lauren Blakely<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #ff0066;">This is
the third contemporary romance novel I’ve read </span>by Lauren Blakely. She knows how
to turn up the heat between the sheets and wherever her characters can find a
place to sneak a kiss or two. So, let’s meet Julia, a sexy bar owner (Cubic Z) and
a bartender who knows how to churn out her signature drink – the Purple Snow Globe.
She has a sharp wit and knows how to deal with customers who try to hit on her. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">She’s also
looking for a no strings relationship until McKenna, her sister plays matchmaker,
and she meets Clay, a sexy entertainment lawyer. The chemistry between these two
is hot and heavy. However, Julia is trying her best to shield her heart. She’s also
in deep as a poker player in an underground poker ring run by Charlie, a man
she owes a lot of money all because of an ex-boyfriend. Because of this, she is
also shielding those she loves for fear of Charlie hurting them.</span> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Overall,
this was a quick read. The sex scenes were well done. I enjoyed the characters,
dialogue, and motivation. I also enjoyed the intrigue of danger lurking in the
shadows because of the debt Julia owes to Charlie. And just when I was looking
to turn the pages to see what happens next (Charlie and Clay come face-to-face),
the book ended and I was prompted to read the other book in the series. Anyway,
two thumbs up for this first book in the series!</span> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Rating: <b>4
stars</b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Some of my
favorite lines:</span> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I could
act all prim and demure like I planned to just kiss Clay and send him on his
way. But the thought of getting hot and bothered and then forbidding any
south-of-the-border activity had zero appeal to me. If I was going for him, I
was going for all of him. I didn’t care if that made me look sex-hungry. I was.
I was jonesing for the kind of roll in the hay that would demolish the tension
in my shoulders, let me forget the things I wanted to forget. I had so much trouble
in my life, no thanks to my ex, who’d left town and saddled me with all his
problems. Life had been non-stop pressure and worry since then, and I needed a
break from it for just one night.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTpmjl_kOCI4rQACJSeoX3fhF22r_uV5DuYsTatq0R_xxY20B3GLtmYvlCQz308nrGpCHjDOu3euR8-lXVAAPSRtifEzgHtABrKE5xzL7qdi6bnJsYKfmNaRsSPUjS5UCyrSwtGs3ZzmeNpookvOA1Yn5D6E8D85CYppq9tAgw24w63_uKTUUa3W9GJ8YP/s445/Night%20After%20Night_Lauren%20Blakely%2010-31-23.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="445" data-original-width="279" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTpmjl_kOCI4rQACJSeoX3fhF22r_uV5DuYsTatq0R_xxY20B3GLtmYvlCQz308nrGpCHjDOu3euR8-lXVAAPSRtifEzgHtABrKE5xzL7qdi6bnJsYKfmNaRsSPUjS5UCyrSwtGs3ZzmeNpookvOA1Yn5D6E8D85CYppq9tAgw24w63_uKTUUa3W9GJ8YP/s320/Night%20After%20Night_Lauren%20Blakely%2010-31-23.jpg" width="201" /></a></div><br /><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>Deliah Lawrencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12554322567411413414noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3874545466668861482.post-8051457327756346482023-10-16T19:36:00.000-04:002023-10-16T19:36:02.816-04:00It’s A Book Thing Presents: An Interview with Natalina Reis, author of House of Blood and Whispers<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b>Author’s Bio:</b> <span style="color: #1d2129; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Natalina Reis is an international bestseller who wrote her first
romance at the age of thirteen. Since then, she has published many romances
that defy the boundaries of her genre. She enjoys writing all kinds of rebels
and outcasts into her stories and she always roots for the underdog. </span><span style="color: #1d2129;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><span style="color: #1d2129;"><br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><span style="color: #1d2129; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Natalina doesn’t believe you can have too many
books or too much coffee. Chinese historical fantasy dramas are her (not so)
guilty pleasure and she is pretty sure she could survive on lobster and bananas
alone. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><span style="color: #1d2129; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><span style="color: #1d2129; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">When she is not writing or stressing over
lesson plans, she shares her life with her husband and two adult sons.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><span style="color: #1d2129; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b><span style="color: #1d2129; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Note</span></b><span style="color: #1d2129; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">: The best writing advice she has ever been
given is simple: just write. Nothing will happen if you don’t write, so sit
your butt down somewhere and write. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><span style="color: #1d2129; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b>Deliah Lawrence: What inspired you
to write your book?<o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b><br /></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b>Natalina Reis:</b> I wrote this
book, <i>House of Blood and Whispers</i>, after I purchased a pre-made cover
from my favorite cover artist Adriatica Creations. It’s funny but the picture
just called me, begging me to give it a story. Who am I to disobey?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b>DL: What elements do you think
make a good story?<o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b><br /></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b>NR:</b> I love good character
development. I used to love TV shows like NCIS (the original) and Buffy the
Vampire Slayer but hate other forensic or paranormal shows and I always
wondered why. What’s it about these particular shows that make me love them so
much while others in the same genre leave me meh? It’s the characters and their
relationship with each other, the humor inserted here and there, the inner
struggles that those characters had to deal with, the mystery, and yes, a touch
of romance always catches my attention. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;">I feel the same about books. I love
a book with characters that have believable and healthy relationships within a
plot that takes them in a journey they won’t ever forget, be it an emotional or
actual one. In a romance I want to see the love reflected in everyday acts, not
just when they are in bed: a here-you-can-have-the-last-bite-of-my-cake, a
have-my-coat-even-though-I’ll-freeze, a
I’ll-sit-in-silence-with-you-until-you-feel-better type of thing.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b><o:p> </o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b>DL: Is there any particular
author or book that influenced you in any way either growing up or as an adult?<o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b><br /></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b>NR:</b> As a kid I read all the
classics of crime literature and I fell in love with Agatha Christie. Her style
of writing, deceptively simple and easy to read really made an impression on
me. In school we were reading all these flowery, complicated proses that are
hailed as the classics and even though I loved many of them, it was the
simpler, more accessible writing that really attracted me as a reader and then
as a writer. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;">Later, writers like Sophie Kinsella of romantic comedy fame, Jane
Austen, and Kate Morton, all inspired me and taught me valuable lessons about
how good writing can take all kinds of different forms. As you can tell by my
choices I am influenced by a lot of different genres, the reason why my books
tend to be a mash-up of romance, mystery, adventure, and social commentary.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b>DL: If you could choose a superpower,
what would it be and why?<o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b><br /></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b>NR:</b> I’m torn between flying
so I could go visit my mom and sister in Europe whenever I felt like and time
manipulation. I NEED more time to do all the things I need and want to do.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b>DL: What are three books you’ll
never part with?<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b><o:p> </o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b>NR</b>: Tough question. There are
so many, but I’ll try to pick three. Harry Potter series (okay I know that is
more than one book but let’s say it’s a boxset, lol), <i>The Hunger Games</i>,
and <i>Sense and Sensibility</i>. Phew, that was painful.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b>DL: What’s your favorite line
from a book?<o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b><br /></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b>NR:</b> “You love me. True or
false?” “True” (The Hunger Games)<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b>DL: What are three fun facts
about yourself?<o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b><br /></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b>NR:</b> <b><span style="color: #ff0066;">1.</span> </b>I’m a language geek
who speaks five languages in varied states of fluency and is learning (or
trying to) Mandarin. <span style="color: #ff0066;"><b>2.</b></span> I used to teach medieval dancing as a medieval
reenactor in Scotland and then Washington State. <span style="color: #ff0066;"><b>3.</b></span> I have crossed the Congo
River in an overloaded, overcrowded ferry twice.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b>DL: Would you like to share an
excerpt from <i>House of Blood and Whispers</i>? <o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b><br /></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b>NR:</b> Sure – here you go:<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The weird daze that kept me
prisoner had blurred the contours of my thoughts. No matter how many times I
shook my head to dispel the fuzziness that had taken residence in my brain, I
couldn’t clear it. It was as if something had anchored me to that spot. My legs
and arms felt as heavy as my head. I couldn’t shake the feeling something was
wrong but couldn’t muster the energy to fight it.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“We got her,” I heard an
unfamiliar male voice say. “<i>Jeonha</i>, come see.”</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">My unfocused eyes couldn’t
quite make out who was beside me, but two dark legs appeared in front of me.
“This is her?” a low voice asked. The figure crouched beside me and studied my
face. “She’s in bad shape.”</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The voice told me it was a
male, but all I could discern from his body and face was darkness. All of him
was dark, from the boots he wore to the hair on his head. </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Go get the carriage,” the
man said, standing up. “Quick.”</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">My voice seemed to have
vanished, and I couldn’t move as the stranger scooped me into his arms. Fear
should be filling me, but whatever was holding me in place didn’t allow me to
panic. Instead, just like the man who was carrying me, everything around and
inside me turned dark.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">And I let the darkness take
me away.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b>DL: What new projects are you
currently working on? <o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b><br /></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b>NR:</b> I am working on an origin
story/prequel to <i>House of Blood and Whispers</i> and also a new MM
paranormal series that features mystery, humor and romance of course.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b>DL: Where can readers learn more about
you and purchase your book(s)? <o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b><br /></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b>NR:</b> Readers can get more information
here: <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Website: <a href="https://natalinareis.com/"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">https://natalinareis.com</span></a></li><li>Amazon Author Page: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Natalina-Reis/e/B01ADQ9FJW/"><span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">https://www.amazon.com/Natalina-Reis/e/B01ADQ9FJW/</span></a></li><li>Facebook: <a href="https://bit.ly/FBNatalina"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">https://bit.ly/FBNatalina</span></a></li><li>Instagram: <a href="https://bit.ly/ReisIG"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">https://bit.ly/ReisIG</span></a></li><li>Blog: <a href="https://natalinareis.com/"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">https://natalinareis.com</span></a></li><li>Book Buy Links: </li><ul><li>Amazon
Kindle: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CGPFXWGW">https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CGPFXWGW</a></li><li>All others: <a href="https://books2read.com/houseofbloodandwhispers"><b>https://books2read.com/houseofbloodandwhispers</b></a><b><o:p> </o:p></b></li></ul></ul><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b>DL:</b> Thanks so much for being
here with us today. I know my readers will enjoy getting to know you and your
work.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b>NR:</b> Thank you so much for the
opportunity!<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXk8yAokP50XSJhEmLeiZWsfGmVQRjcLieCeHLBwYemL4loIjnqPeP33tjWJd1QxILcLsbZDEYdaBIizPd-rvgIpI_iL3kGLdU73Q81tgxLVyFf9gGH0wI53QbBJFJrZMdRxslv0QnvPbpNvg9MdiLKcPrt6C4n9jTrnLBt5ZEz7et1AOscOQkyG71MkbA/s2700/Natalina%20Reis_House%20of%20Blood%20and%20Whispers%2010-16-23.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2700" data-original-width="1800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXk8yAokP50XSJhEmLeiZWsfGmVQRjcLieCeHLBwYemL4loIjnqPeP33tjWJd1QxILcLsbZDEYdaBIizPd-rvgIpI_iL3kGLdU73Q81tgxLVyFf9gGH0wI53QbBJFJrZMdRxslv0QnvPbpNvg9MdiLKcPrt6C4n9jTrnLBt5ZEz7et1AOscOQkyG71MkbA/s320/Natalina%20Reis_House%20of%20Blood%20and%20Whispers%2010-16-23.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie2HYXuxmYT8KDjgPwnUQqejduwr-xW0X5m6y1h64ys_Kdm-mim1WCwQuYaMN6WR0WB7bSXPBtXZU67Fc5hN5drAarnN-BNRGipmFkDGhDkJduUFOfv5FUjGascEyp7gEa4_8XjzbaTBTqXDogo8vhCYQyOwt2lzZ_FXNZGuHTsCwU1zqW1tvKOAB_Khlp/s500/Natalina%20Reis%20Headshot%2010-16-23.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="390" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie2HYXuxmYT8KDjgPwnUQqejduwr-xW0X5m6y1h64ys_Kdm-mim1WCwQuYaMN6WR0WB7bSXPBtXZU67Fc5hN5drAarnN-BNRGipmFkDGhDkJduUFOfv5FUjGascEyp7gEa4_8XjzbaTBTqXDogo8vhCYQyOwt2lzZ_FXNZGuHTsCwU1zqW1tvKOAB_Khlp/s320/Natalina%20Reis%20Headshot%2010-16-23.jpg" width="250" /></a><br /><br /></p><br />Deliah Lawrencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12554322567411413414noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3874545466668861482.post-48967393454084677052023-10-02T20:24:00.003-04:002023-10-05T20:17:10.298-04:00It’s A Book Thing Presents: An Interview with Reverend Jennifer McSween, author of TRUE FORGIVENESS: The Proven Path From Pain To Power In 5 Simple Steps<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b>Author’s Bio:</b> Reverend Jennifer McSween is the International
Bestselling Author of the book: TRUE FORGIVENESS: The Proven Path From Pain To
Power In 5 Simple Steps. Her first book, it’s about her struggling, searching,
and discovering true forgiveness… healing the emotionally painful relationship
she’d had with her mother since childhood. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;">Also, a Speaker, Podcast Host, and
Personal Transformation Strategist - spiritually oriented, open-minded, and mature
adults reserve Rev. Jennifer’s services to help them be fearless and
resilient, so they can live authentic, empowered, happy, deeply fulfilling
lives… regardless of the circumstances, conditions, or even other people that
come into their lives.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;">In addition to writing and helping
transform lives, she offers an exclusive, concierge-style wedding officiating
service, to couples who want to experience a unique, personalized, spiritual
ceremony. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;">She is a contributing Author of the
Bestselling “GET PUBLISHED BUSINESS BOOK VOLUME 2” and “Creating Your Legacy
Journal”. She is also a member of Bestselling Authors International.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;">Interviewed and featured in:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;">Write Now! Blog Radio 1/21/2021<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><a href="https://bit.ly/AuthorRevJennMcSweenOnWriteNowRadio">https://bit.ly/AuthorRevJennMcSweenOnWriteNowRadio</a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;">PUBLISHED! MAGAZINE 7/21/2021<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><a href="https://bit.ly/PUBMagzArt">https://bit.ly/PUBMagzArt</a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b>Deliah Lawrence: What inspired
you to write your book? <o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b> </b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b>Reverend Jennifer McSween:</b> That’s
a great question and I cannot only tell you “What inspired me”… but the moment
I had the inspiration. It was August 11, 2002 and I was in the Wisconsin
Airport during a 3-hour wait for a connecting flight home to Montréal. I was
returning from Pathways of Light spiritual college in Keil, Wisconsin. I had
attended the In-Person Training section of my spiritual counselor training
program.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;">The day before, August 10th, we were
Ordained. We had completed our training and were now Certified Ordained
Ministerial Counselors. One of the gifts we received from the Founders of the
college, was a book titled “Inner Healing” by Dan Joseph. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;">I began reading that book while
waiting for my flight. It was a little book and Dan wrote in a very clear,
simple, and engaging manner that drew me in from the start. In his book, Dan
shared a 3-Step process he had developed for finding peace whenever he felt
troubled. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;">Because Dan’s process was not only
simple but practical, I applied it right then on a minor troubling situation
that came to mind. I immediately felt less troubled. I found that though Dan
Joseph’s process was simple, it was very effective.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;">As I read further, I found myself
thinking that I would love to write a similar book sharing simple, practical,
spiritual processes. The more I thought about it, the greater the desire to do
it became and the more excited I became. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;">Because, at that time I had already
realized that my purpose was to help people heal and transform their lives.
Writing and publishing a book would be yet another way to express my purpose. I knew then, without a doubt, I
would one day write and publish a life transforming book.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b>DL: How do you handle writer’s
block? <o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b> </b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b>RJM:</b> Although, between 2013
and March 10, 2017 I made several attempts to write this book, I wouldn’t say
that it was due to having writer’s block. I see writer’s block as staring at a
blank screen or a blank page and having no idea what to say. With me, however,
there was no shortage of ideas floating around in my head. The problem was, I
just couldn’t get the ideas out of my head and onto the paper or screen in
front of me. At the time, I thought it was “Imposter’s Syndrome.” However, I
later came to realize that it was simply because I had not yet fully understood
and/or lived the idea or experience I wanted to share. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;">Because, on March 10, 2017, starting
with a blank page, I wrote the complete first rough draft in 27 days. During
those 27 days, there was not one day that I woke up not wanting to write. I may
not have written every day, not because I did not want to… but because I chose
not to. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;">I still don’t understand it myself.
The moment I started writing on March 10th, it felt like I had become a
different person. I literally woke up every day looking forward to writing that
day. I didn’t have to create mock-up images of my book to keep motivated or
promise myself some kind of reward to keep writing. I was naturally inspired.
The ideas were easily flowing out of my head and I had this constant underlying
feeling of joy. I remember wondering to myself during that time… “Who is this
person?” <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b>DL: What is your writing process?
<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b> </b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b>RJM:</b> Whatever I’m writing, my
writing process is the same. I start with pen and paper and do a brain dump,
pouring out all the thoughts and ideas related to my topic on paper. They could
be full sentences, phrases, related quotes, or even a single word. Nothing is
censured, if it comes to my mind, it goes onto the paper. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;">Then, I organize and group by
related themes or ideas. These become chapters, headings, or sections. Once
I’ve finished organizing, I start writing. I write a first draft without
editing. I then read what I’ve written and edit as I go. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b>DL: Is there any particular
author or book that influenced you in any way either growing up or as an adult?
<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b> </b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b>RJM:</b> Growing up, one book
that influenced me most was Maya Angelou’s first book, <i>I Know Why the Caged
Bird Sings</i>. I read this book when I was sixteen years old and it helped me
to feel truly worthy and valued. Skip ahead about 20 years… I get to see and
hear Maya Angelou speak in person and it further reinforces my sense of
worthiness and value. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b>DL: What was the best writing
advice you’ve ever been given? <o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b><br /></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b>RJM:</b> Well, the best writing
advice I’ve ever been given… not only got me started writing… but kept me
writing my book all the way to publication. And still guides all of my writing
today. And, it came from the same person. Chandler Bolt, Founder of “Self-Publishing
School.” <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;">To this day I still can’t recall who
sent me the email in February of 2017, promoting Chandler Bolt’s Webinar on
going “From Blank Page To Published Author in 90 Days.” I attended that Webinar
and what Chandler taught was to first, do a brain dump; then organize your
material; then write your complete first draft without editing. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b>DL: What tips would you give to
aspiring writers? <o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b> </b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b>RJM:</b> First, I would say make
sure you’re writing for the “Right Reasons.” In other words, don’t write
because you think it would give you credibility or make you feel worthy or
successful. Write only if it’s something you feel genuinely inspired to do. A
way of expressing your purpose. Or… if you have a message to share or something
that would improve or transform the lives of others. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><span style="color: #ff0066;"><b>Here are 4 tips for writing with
ease and joy:</b></span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"></p><ol style="text-align: left;"><li>Don’t overthink it.</li><li>Keep in mind you’re just ‘telling
your story’, and it’s your story. You can tell it the way you want and use
whatever examples you choose. </li><li>Remember… there is no one waiting in
the wings to “rap you on the knuckles” like a grade school teacher and judge
what you have written as wrong or right. </li><li>Not everyone will agree with your
ideas or perspectives, but that’s okay.
They can choose to write their own books and express their own ideas.
Plus… they are not the ones for whom you are writing. There are those for whom
you are. </li></ol><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b>DL: What are 3 fun facts about
you? <o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b> </b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b>RJM:</b> Three fun facts about myself are:</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"></p><ol style="text-align: left;"><li>I consider myself to be
the only Black Person with no rhythm.</li><li>I absolutely love Classic Country
Music and I’m a big Willie Nelson Fan.</li><li>I’m passionate about all things
related to Ancient Egypt… so much so that I have a tattoo of the bust of Queen
Nefertiti on my right forearm. </li></ol><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b>DL:</b> Would you like to share
an excerpt from <i>TRUE FORGIVENESS: The Proven Path From Pain To Power In 5
Simple Steps</i>? <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b>RJM:</b> Sure… here’s an excerpt
from the Back Cover material: <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;">“Rightly understood, forgiveness is
not about denying you feel hurt, rationalizing, what happened, or looking for
the good that came from a painful experience. Forgiveness - True Forgiveness -
is shifting your perception in such a way, that regardless of what happens or
what you experience, the thought of judgement doesn’t occur in the first place.
From this perspective… there is nothing to condemn, nothing or no one to
accuse, and no guilt to be felt."</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;">In <i>True Forgiveness: The Proven Path From
Pain To Power In 5 Simple Steps,</i> I share a simple, practical way to make this
radical shift in your perception so you can put an end to your struggle to find
peace and healing. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b>DL: What new projects are you
currently working on? <o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b><br /></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b>RJM: I</b> felt led to create a 5
Book Series titled “The Other Way Series” with my first book “True Forgiveness”
as Book #1. I’m currently working on the course for implementing book #1 and,
I’m working on book #2 in the series. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b>DL: Where can readers learn more
about you and purchase your book(s). <o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b> </b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b>RJM:</b> Readers can get more
information here:<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Author Page: <a href="https://bit.ly/IBAuthorRevJenn">https://bit.ly/IBAuthorRevJenn</a></li><li>Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/thetfgvgrp">https://www.facebook.com/groups/thetfgvgrp</a>
- Please join my Facebook Group if you
feel so led</li><li>Book Buy Links: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07687NZ2Q">https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07687NZ2Q</a></li></ul><o:p></o:p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b>DL: </b>Thanks so much for being here with us today. I know my readers will
enjoy getting to know you and your work.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b> </b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b>RJM:</b> Thank you for this wonderful opportunity!</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif1iZsUZhvrtqslQHfoT0QXbCVK8upnyJ0vEmNNm7Rs8NRF_d897Cky2FBOgqQzy9EMvw0vS9wCiatTUPpXqx-vw2I8Irc21j1_IUuFt7SA_SSiLK5RUOq8APQ_U3kXNXUHTMH-tHiDR5YdaILfaM4gMHJCuJZcUHQ2q7VM_y5VV_wqDoI_uq-0vVo0F-r/s500/Jennifer%20McSween%20Alt%20Book%20Cover%2010-2-23.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="324" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif1iZsUZhvrtqslQHfoT0QXbCVK8upnyJ0vEmNNm7Rs8NRF_d897Cky2FBOgqQzy9EMvw0vS9wCiatTUPpXqx-vw2I8Irc21j1_IUuFt7SA_SSiLK5RUOq8APQ_U3kXNXUHTMH-tHiDR5YdaILfaM4gMHJCuJZcUHQ2q7VM_y5VV_wqDoI_uq-0vVo0F-r/s320/Jennifer%20McSween%20Alt%20Book%20Cover%2010-2-23.jpg" width="207" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglBJ36ctP6kZYBXetZ2UTJXDx1-h05FGZ7iEmY2m9LXSLiVzUo-xcO7lf7YAILlWDOihb__37OjO9qlwoL7aSH6L-GEcPcssLPW_OH6yjOQZfja2RbABfhyIq6Yp774hswinynAFnm_wgG4HK7KpMZWej2pEzFeR45S2a57X8YzjPp7JddsLyv3Mh6X5kj/s4017/Rev%20Jennifer.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4017" data-original-width="3543" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglBJ36ctP6kZYBXetZ2UTJXDx1-h05FGZ7iEmY2m9LXSLiVzUo-xcO7lf7YAILlWDOihb__37OjO9qlwoL7aSH6L-GEcPcssLPW_OH6yjOQZfja2RbABfhyIq6Yp774hswinynAFnm_wgG4HK7KpMZWej2pEzFeR45S2a57X8YzjPp7JddsLyv3Mh6X5kj/s320/Rev%20Jennifer.png" width="282" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;">
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;">
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p> </p>Deliah Lawrencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12554322567411413414noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3874545466668861482.post-55893952451168453082023-09-30T20:52:00.002-04:002023-09-30T20:52:58.335-04:00 A Review of Romeo’s Fight (A Mike Romeo Thriller, Book #4) by James Scott Bell<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">This is
the second Romeo thriller novel I’ve read by James Scott Bell. This time, Mike Romeo,
an investigator for Rabbi Ira Rosen, Attorney-at-Law, former Mossad agent is in
the midst of trying to help Archie Jennison, an old friend (cage fighter) with
a murder rap. Archie is also attached to an old unsolved Hollywood murder in a
weird way – his father maybe the killer. While trying to get to the bottom of Archie’s
dilemma’s, Mike is also trying to help some other folks: C Dog, the leader of a
punk rock band (“Unopened Cheese”) to settle up with a loan shark he owes
Twenty grand with penalty and interest, and Artra Murray, a doctor who runs a
public medical clinic who is on the verge of closing due to lack of funds.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Zane
Donahue, a rich and well connected (not all legal) cage fight promoter could be
the key to helping Mike solve the murder cases and help him out financially. But
Zane is not a man to be trusted and Mike must use his instincts and intellect
to outmaneuver him. Along the way, folks are hurt and Mike escapes from an
attempt on his life because he was getting too close to finding out the truth.</span> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Overall,
this was a quick and well-written read. I loved the intricacy of the storyline,
the snappish dialogue (Mike never misses a beat to perplex folks around him
with his intellect – Shakespeare, Kierkegaard, Latin, etc.), well developed characters,
and realistic fight scenes. There were many times I laughed out loud and sat on
the edge of my seat during tense moments. I enjoyed this novel especially the
ending with a twist. I will definitely read another novel showcasing Romeo’s wit,
charming personality, and helpful disposition. A great read! Two thumbs up! </span> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Rating: <b>4
stars</b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Some of my
favorite lines:</span> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"> “Why won’t
you consider fighting for me?” Donahue said. “That hundred grand is real cash
money.” <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"> “I’m not a
violent person,” I said.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"> Donahue
snorted. “I know your cage record. Funny, but I can’t find anything before
that.” “Nothing funny about it,” I said. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"> “You are
apparently a man with a past. And you don’t want anybody to know about it.” <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"> “Life can
only be understood backward,” I said. “But it must be lived forward.” <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"> “You come
up with that?” <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"> “Kierkegaard.”<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"> He took a
languid pull on his cigar and let the smoke issue from his mouth like a genie
from a lamp. “A fighter who reads Kierkegaard. You are going to make a lot of
money.”</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixqKWjQ2HLau8t9V1rAoTs7VQvF8-uKOlWy4RQjdYzrYzlAdLjd7UFrTWif3nAGvGA8l4s8fdEaSqjscTh7gZ9Ee-sNY3QkaeMv1swzEDiJKNxXnTWIaZbEy2N7g-yIeDqnXBsNHQXXLR25KiKCepDHfYaNssl9OABK35qOWbF4eQs-A0zRgq4XYXmthfl/s466/Romeo's%20Fight%20Alt%20Pic%209-30-23.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="466" data-original-width="291" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixqKWjQ2HLau8t9V1rAoTs7VQvF8-uKOlWy4RQjdYzrYzlAdLjd7UFrTWif3nAGvGA8l4s8fdEaSqjscTh7gZ9Ee-sNY3QkaeMv1swzEDiJKNxXnTWIaZbEy2N7g-yIeDqnXBsNHQXXLR25KiKCepDHfYaNssl9OABK35qOWbF4eQs-A0zRgq4XYXmthfl/s320/Romeo's%20Fight%20Alt%20Pic%209-30-23.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br /><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></span><p></p>Deliah Lawrencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12554322567411413414noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3874545466668861482.post-80100059543019991192023-09-18T23:38:00.004-04:002023-09-19T00:02:30.993-04:00It's A Book Thing Presents: An Interview with Shannon Wilkerson, author of Girl Go For It! The Single Black Woman’s Blueprint to Living Life Fearlessly<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Author’s Bio:</b> Shannon Wilkerson, a
native Washingtonian, is an author and book strategy and productivity coach.
She has dedicated her career to helping other women to be successful in their endeavors
and has built a business around the premise that, with the right tools, anyone
can succeed personally and professionally. Shannon enjoys solo travel,
journaling and playing with her two children. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Deliah
Lawrence: What inspired you to write your book?<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Shannon
Wilkerson:</b> I was inspired by the need that I saw among single black women,
through watching interviews, having conversations and observation. A lot of
women were making decisions based on fear and believing the lie that there are
certain things that are just not for us. I wanted to squash that and see us
elevated. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="color: #990000;"><u>Note</u></span>:</b> This book will be released in October 2023.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>DL: How do
you handle writer’s block?<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>SW:</b> I
don’t have writer’s block because I have developed an outlining strategy that
has eliminated that issue for me and for many of my clients as well. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>DL: What
were some of the challenges when writing this book?<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>SW:</b> I
didn’t want my book to be negative. I wanted to focus on the positive and the
things that make us amazing. However, I had to also address the stereotypes and
stigma that we have been labeled with. It was a challenge to create a balance
of the two. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>DL: What are
the keys to success in marketing your book(s)?<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>SW:</b> Warm
the audience up with the prelaunch. Build anticipation. Use a professional for
graphics. Your image matters! Sell from your own website. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>DL: What tips
would you give to aspiring writers?<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>SW:</b> Write
well, not fast! </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>DL: What are
three fun facts about yourself?<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>SW: </b>Three
fun facts about myself are:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>I love eating
breakfast food for dinner.</li><li>I like to
travel alone.</li><li>I text my
mother and sisters at least 50x a day </li></ul><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>DL: What new
projects are you currently working on? <o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>SW:</b> I’ve
created a coaching program based on my book. I help women to get what they want
out of life by fearlessly going after it. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>DL: If you
could choose a superpower, what would it be and why?<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>SW:</b> I
would want the ability to read minds. That way I could see what actually holds
people back from living life how they want to as their true self. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>DL:</b> <b>If
you were hosting a dinner party which three authors would be your dream guests
and why?<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>SW:</b> My dream guests would be: </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><b><span style="color: #ff0066;">Michelle
Obama</span></b> - I just want to know what it was like being the first black family in
the white house.</li><li><b><span style="color: #ff0066;">Cynthia
Brazelton</span></b> - She’s a woman of great faith and integrity and I enjoy her company.</li><li><b><span style="color: #ff0066;">Tabitha Brown</span> </b>-
I just love her energy and have interest in her story. </li></ul><o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>DL: Where
can readers learn more about you and purchase your book(s)? <o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>SW:</b> Readers
can learn more here:</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Website: shanniwilke.com</li><li>Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ShanniWilke3/">https://www.facebook.com/ShanniWilke3/</a></li></ul><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>DL:</b> Thanks
so much for being here with us today. I know my readers will enjoy getting to
know you and your work.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>SW: </b>Thank you!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicenIdcyI0oGE9w-Q1s3UMEOP5OiXPx9IRAd6I6RXtVqugqduvb5UrOiT4QLjMOavNLfku26ZugNBcB10HNbbE0nC9RDbaHSYX4CzbqDas7beZgzZzw1DqofOVnsu4vS24KJQS1jlHRSY2x2u1_d1yjGlkYPMKjxG-uk0FF1CbHi0M69m6zqsyx4v4A7_T/s1080/Shannon%20Wilkerson_Book%209-18-23.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicenIdcyI0oGE9w-Q1s3UMEOP5OiXPx9IRAd6I6RXtVqugqduvb5UrOiT4QLjMOavNLfku26ZugNBcB10HNbbE0nC9RDbaHSYX4CzbqDas7beZgzZzw1DqofOVnsu4vS24KJQS1jlHRSY2x2u1_d1yjGlkYPMKjxG-uk0FF1CbHi0M69m6zqsyx4v4A7_T/s320/Shannon%20Wilkerson_Book%209-18-23.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHCBq1OHzcyFOzfvN_F0mTaJNnCn9KAzBGeuyMu4GFd6D_68xGruzy2ixmWnXtQVWRZgR-lguUlHzqnNv72J1c_dIBxZwsxCToDVJfGUImHhnTVtfbwikSTiJf8kiIwnOsd5R9vrOrZAIqOnX6RjhsjtNDV2idUhgXNLVBrZ2-h3X_fRSF9G8Ej-29dYbX/s779/Shannon%20Wilkerson_Headshot%209-18-23.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="625" data-original-width="779" height="257" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHCBq1OHzcyFOzfvN_F0mTaJNnCn9KAzBGeuyMu4GFd6D_68xGruzy2ixmWnXtQVWRZgR-lguUlHzqnNv72J1c_dIBxZwsxCToDVJfGUImHhnTVtfbwikSTiJf8kiIwnOsd5R9vrOrZAIqOnX6RjhsjtNDV2idUhgXNLVBrZ2-h3X_fRSF9G8Ej-29dYbX/s320/Shannon%20Wilkerson_Headshot%209-18-23.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p>Deliah Lawrencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12554322567411413414noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3874545466668861482.post-26183035197436519982023-09-04T20:45:00.001-04:002023-09-04T20:45:42.529-04:00It’s A Book Thing Presents: An Interview with Rita A. Gordon, author of 30 DAYS IN BELFAST<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Author’s
Bio:</b> Rita Gordon is a California native living in the Bay Area and a
San Francisco State University graduate. As an emerging voice in the
contemporary romance genre, Rita brings a fresh perspective to storytelling.
Inspired by the power of love and the beauty of cultural exploration, her
writing captures the essence of human emotions, leaving readers spellbound with
each page turn. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">In addition to writing, Rita is an avid reader and has amassed
an extensive collection of books that fill the rooms of her house. When not
reading and writing, she travels, draws flower designs for her coloring books,
or volunteers in her community. Her debut novel, <b>30 Days in Belfast</b>, is
available in print and e-book. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Deliah
Lawrence: What inspired you to write your book? <o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Rita A.
Gordon:</b> I had been writing stories since college but never completed an
entire novel. In 2016, I challenged myself to complete a novel in thirty days
because I read somewhere that was possible. Although I didn’t finish my story
in thirty days, I did complete it in about three months. Then I let it sit
until 2019, when I started editing it. I believe the concept came from applying
math to completing a novel. I thought if I wrote one day in my character’s life
every day over thirty days, I could finish the book in thirty days. It’s funny
when I think back now. And Belfast happened to be the birthplace of the person
who was the inspiration behind the main male character on whom I was trying to
build a backstory. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>DL: How do
you handle writer’s block? <o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>RAG:</b> Writer’s
block is a real thing. I step away from the writing and do other things. I
listen to songs on the music playlist I created for the book I’m writing, which
helps put me in the mood of the book and my characters. I also keep a Pinterest
board of my character inspiration and location settings. So, I keep the book’s
Pinterest board open while I write to keep me in the mood and setting. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>DL: What
is your writing process? <o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>RAG:</b> My
writing process aligns with how plotters write. I keep a spreadsheet that
tracks the characters, ages, persona types, and family relationships. I also
show which future books they will appear in. I develop a spreadsheet that maps
out the scenes, and I create writing prompts that help me know what I should
write about in each chapter. With <b><i>30 DAYS IN BELFAST</i></b>, I kept a
calendar that mapped out the days. A lot of activity happened in the book in
the morning, afternoons, and evenings, so I had to keep meticulous notes. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>DL: What
was the best writing advice you’ve ever been given? <o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>RAG:</b> The best
writing advice I received is to simply write. Don’t worry about editing, etc.,
while writing. Let the thoughts flow and put it on the page. Then, later, you
can go back and fix things as needed. I applied that to my current work in
progress, and it was amazing how fast I could put my thoughts on the page.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p><b>DL: If you
were hosting a dinner party, which three authors would be your dream guests and
why?</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>RAG:</b> Oh, this
is easy. Kennedy Ryan, because she was born to write. She’s the queen of prose
and romance. Kenya Goree-Bell because she is unabashed—and I love it. Her
energy is contagious, and her stories are bold, creative, and smoking hot.
Evelyn Sola because she has bewitched me with her stories. All three of these
authors are on my auto-buy list. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>DL: What
are the keys to success in marketing your book(s)? <o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>RAG: </b>This is a
tricky question since I self-published. A lot of marketing is based on
algorithms. So, for indie authors, if you post on social media, it’s essential
to get audience engagement in the form of likes, follows, subscribers, and,
most importantly, reviews. People like to tell you in comments, emails, or DMs
how much they like the book or your work, which we absolutely love, but if
readers don’t go onto Amazon or Goodreads and leave a review, it doesn’t help
the author get seen by more readers. So, the key is to <u>get readers to post
reviews and buy the book</u>.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p><b>DL: What’s
your favorite line from a book?</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>RAG:</b> “Be with
me always—take any form—drive me mad! Only do not leave me in this abyss, where
I cannot find you!” – Heathcliff, <b><i>Wuthering Heights</i></b>, by Emily
Brontë. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>DL: Would
you like to share an excerpt from</b> <b><i>30 DAYS IN BELFAST</i></b>? <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>RAG:</b> Here is a
blurb from the book.<b> </b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Just one distraction could lead to
failure—several may spell ruin.</b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">As the daughter of the wealthiest Black man in
the country, Rose Ross struggles to make a name for herself as the COO of her
father’s tech company. She’s even forced to let go of a promising relationship
to focus on her career, but still cannot seem to escape her father’s legacy.
Rose fears that if she remains at Rick Ross Enterprises, she will never rise
above the vast shadow his name casts. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">When her ailing friend reaches out to her for
help, Rose doesn’t hesitate. She has just thirty days to curate the most
important charity art exhibition in Europe and break into a field she is truly
passionate about. However, just before she leaves for her flight to Belfast,
her father informs her that she has only three weeks to decide whether she will
succeed him as CEO. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">With her concentration already split between
one life-altering decision, Rose is stunned when she meets her friend’s
handsome and overprotective brothers. Right away, she recognizes an undeniable,
yet different, attraction to both. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">Her mind in turmoil, Rose’s focus is now
fractured among love and business. If she cannot make a decision—or if she
makes the wrong one—she will lose everything she has worked for and, perhaps,
more. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>DL: What
new projects are you currently working on? <o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>RAG:</b> My
current work in progress is a three-book fiction romance series. The first book
in the series is called <b><i>SEVEN DAYS IN SEATTLE</i></b>. This book is about
an attorney who flies to Seattle the week before an important meeting to get
away following a breakup. Then, a stranger at a bar offers a pretty
distraction, a one-night stand that turns into a week-long affair. They soon
discover fate is about to punish them for staying anonymous… by throwing them
into each other’s lives in the worst possible way. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>DL: Where
can readers learn more about you and purchase your book(s)?<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>RAG:</b> Readers
can get more information here: <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Website: <a href="https://www.ritaagordon.com/">https://www.ritaagordon.com/</a>
[all my books and corresponding links to buy are here]</li><li>Amazon
Author Page: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/author/ritagordon">https://www.amazon.com/author/ritagordon</a></li><li>Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/authorritagordon">https://www.facebook.com/authorritagordon</a></li><li>Instagram:
<a href="https://www.instagram.com/rgordonshaw/">https://www.instagram.com/rgordonshaw/</a></li><li>TikTok: <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@authorritagordon">https://www.tiktok.com/@authorritagordon</a></li><li>Book Buy Links:</li><ul><li>Amazon: <a href="https://a.co/d/amRB9wX">https://a.co/d/amRB9wX</a></li><li>Barnes
& Noble: <a href="https://bit.ly/30DIBbn">https://bit.ly/30DIBbn</a></li></ul></ul><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>DL:</b> Thanks so
much for being here with us today. I know my readers will enjoy getting to know
you and your work.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></p><p><b>RAG: </b>Thank you! </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiehnz2_LuBAQJTkOtVGEHPPY3pSfK83lt37uLTLi9l2tsZm8A2Ji9atBAB0fm4qrBeUIWHWdDiMYTqeYWHk-AntvHsUUl9fjkO20yXWnD9n9ZklNBP-u_Afot649Gua58cO8Mv-pARExBQDx7fKPTv92CI9xzSoWATTO0Pr5SarA12HwfstHiuXCr07dXB/s2700/30%20Days%20in%20Belfast_Rita%20Gordon%209-4-23.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2700" data-original-width="1800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiehnz2_LuBAQJTkOtVGEHPPY3pSfK83lt37uLTLi9l2tsZm8A2Ji9atBAB0fm4qrBeUIWHWdDiMYTqeYWHk-AntvHsUUl9fjkO20yXWnD9n9ZklNBP-u_Afot649Gua58cO8Mv-pARExBQDx7fKPTv92CI9xzSoWATTO0Pr5SarA12HwfstHiuXCr07dXB/s320/30%20Days%20in%20Belfast_Rita%20Gordon%209-4-23.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2QXthiuEH-MX9lmTeO8pxV9zVhDF7EgLB5kCR-GzhRyt2TBcGBIYTnyZsL5IGbsrIA1cjMcCbY3JSblPU0uNzTm8TAcvvlV3PHjCb4FvRTLjs6l4nEtld_NeHYITmOHaqzTU89A0bToGZ1QZlR2TGxZj5y8HpGVLT4ytWS2HVPJSSTPOZoPYNaSAvadHt/s1323/Rita%20Gordon%20Pic%209-4-23.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1304" data-original-width="1323" height="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2QXthiuEH-MX9lmTeO8pxV9zVhDF7EgLB5kCR-GzhRyt2TBcGBIYTnyZsL5IGbsrIA1cjMcCbY3JSblPU0uNzTm8TAcvvlV3PHjCb4FvRTLjs6l4nEtld_NeHYITmOHaqzTU89A0bToGZ1QZlR2TGxZj5y8HpGVLT4ytWS2HVPJSSTPOZoPYNaSAvadHt/s320/Rita%20Gordon%20Pic%209-4-23.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />Deliah Lawrencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12554322567411413414noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3874545466668861482.post-73437875130587898022023-08-31T21:56:00.001-04:002023-08-31T21:56:26.851-04:00A Review of Snatched (Vanished Book 1) by Michael Arches<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">This is
the first time I’m reading anything by Michael Arches. The book cover and the
title immediately drew me in. So, let’s meet Athena Kazan, a former Cheyene federal
prosecutor who was shot in the head when she came upon a cash exchange between
Wyoming’s Attorney General and Dominique Santiago, the daughter of a drug
cartel leader. Athena was maimed (wears a glass eye and walks with a limp) and
is now in witness protection in Colorado because Dominique’s father has a huge
bounty on her head to prevent her from testifying against his daughter. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Fast
forward and Athena (now Christina Nielsen) gets embroiled in a dangerous
situation. It all happened while she was waiting in line to use the bathroom at
a discount gas station when Jackie, a pregnant woman slipped her an index card asking
for help. Jackie was with her nurse, Mia and they both got whisked away by an
armed man into a Chevy Suburban. Unable to get the feds to send help, Athena
decides to follow them (I admired her spunk). But things get dicey when she is later
kidnapped from her apartment and taken as a surrogate in the care of Misha Chekov,
psychopathic boss on behalf of Mr. Langer, an insane New York billionaire.</span> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Overall,
this was an intense read. This book had me on the edge of my seat once the feds
finally got involved and ramped up a rescue mission of the women and young
girls who were trapped as surrogates and sex slaves. The subject matter (kidnapping)
isn’t one that gets a lot of attention, so I think the author did a great job
shining some light on it and giving the storyline a good resolution.</span> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Nevertheless,
I was a bit disappointed that Misha Chekov didn’t get a death deserving of his
cruel treatment of these women. Also, I really wanted to know who the mole in
the FBI was but everyone including Dr. Wu, the OB/GYN cut a deal to spill their
guts about the surrogacy operation. Otherwise, this was a great read! Two
thumbs up!</span> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Rating: <b>4.5
stars</b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Some of my
favorite lines:</span> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> Jackie
uttered a quiet gasp, looked with pleading eyes at Athena and pressed an index
card into her free hand. That done, Jackie hurried after Mia and Rico. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> Athena
froze. What the hell was going on?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> But before
figuring that out, she really had to relieve herself. She hurried into the
bathroom and sat to do her business. Only then did she check out the
three-by-five card. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> In clear
block print, it said: Over forty women and girls—mostly pregnant—held prisoner!
Five dead already. About an hour east of Durango. Call the FBI. Sheriff’s
office corrupt. PLEASE HELP US!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdKBuN9SMhxAZolV9153i1MNaMj6en1WllrugjiOgYMgZdlbw3Mrs1H7utlIZG5d2ED1LUMxbJpwmui7IT5eCH3K8KhnheRGKu_GT8JWntTjce3tewlrG2kcnf9cDueLHQlx0iFNa1JrFRnykZr_3bk9FTQtQJJBQg80Nh8J5An1riXg8k5Y_FQldTLU3w/s500/Snatched%208-24-23.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="333" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdKBuN9SMhxAZolV9153i1MNaMj6en1WllrugjiOgYMgZdlbw3Mrs1H7utlIZG5d2ED1LUMxbJpwmui7IT5eCH3K8KhnheRGKu_GT8JWntTjce3tewlrG2kcnf9cDueLHQlx0iFNa1JrFRnykZr_3bk9FTQtQJJBQg80Nh8J5An1riXg8k5Y_FQldTLU3w/s320/Snatched%208-24-23.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><br /><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>Deliah Lawrencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12554322567411413414noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3874545466668861482.post-71447587672662463772023-08-21T19:27:00.000-04:002023-08-21T19:27:20.877-04:00It’s A Book Thing Presents: An Interview with Maurice W. Dorsey, author of So Many Angels<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b>Author’s Bio:</b> Maurice is the author of five books: <i>Businessman
First, Remembering Henry G. Parks, Jr</i>., <i>1916-1989</i>, <i>Capturing the
Life of a Businessman Who Was African American, A Biography</i>, 2014; <i>From
Whence We Come</i>, 2017; <i>Of Time and Spirit, a Tribute to My Father</i>,
2020; <i>Zelma's Aphorisms, Old School Wisdom, Instructive, Inspirational,
Hilarious to Outrageous</i>, 2022; and <i>So Many Angels</i>, 2023.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;">His books are biographical in
nature, highlighting the lives of key protagonists in his life. He is
also a character in each of his books. His writing goals have been to
remember, honor, appreciate and to pay tribute to others and also to untangle
and make sense of the dysfunctions and neuroses of his life.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;">Prior to these writings, he worked
in the public and private sectors, concluding a professional career of
forty-two years. He retired from the United States Department of
Agriculture, National Institute of Food and Agriculture. This agency provided
federal funding and program leadership for state land grant colleges and
universities.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;">He is a graduate of the University
of Maryland-College Park, earning a bachelor of science degree in arts and
sciences (1970) and a doctorate in philosophy of education (1983). He
also earned a master's degree in arts and science from the John Hopkins
University (1975) and a master's degree in education from Loyola University of
Maryland (1976).<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;">He resides in Washington, DC.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b>Deliah Lawrence:</b> <b>What
inspired you to write your book?<o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b><br /></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b>Maurice W. Dorsey:</b> I
was inspired by an Oprah Winfrey's post regarding: "....surrounding
yourself with positive people".<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b>DL: Is there any particular
author or book that influenced you in any way either growing up or as an adult?<o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b><br /></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b>MWD:</b> Yes, Michelle
Obama's book: <i>Becoming</i>; and Augusten Burroughs book: <i>Running with
Scissors</i>. These two authors' purity and honesty of writing styles
influenced me in my writing to be open and honest without hesitation but with
kindness and purity.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b>DL: What are the keys to
success in marketing your books?<o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b><br /></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b>MWD:</b> Showing up and
being present in as many relevant platforms and venues as possible to advertise
the value of your work.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b>DL: What tips would you
give to aspiring writers?<o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b><br /></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b>MWD:</b> Just write!
Just get started with an idea, brainstorm, your book will take a shape of its
own.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b>DL: What are three books you will
never part with?<o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b><br /></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b>MWD:</b> <i>The Fountain
Head</i> by Ayn Rand; Caste, <i>The Origins of Out Discontents</i> by Isabel
Wilkerson, and <i>The Razor's Edge </i>(the story of a man who found a faith) by W. Somerset Maugham.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b>DL: What's your favorite
line from a book?<o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b><br /></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b>MWD:</b> "The real
drawback to marriage is that it makes one unselfish. And unselfish people
are colourless" from <i>The Picture of Dorian Gray</i> by Oscar Wilde.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b>DL: What are three fun
facts about yourself?<o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b><br /></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b>MWD: </b>I started writing
independently at the age of 66, I have averaged one book every two years, I am
so damn happy!<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b>DL: Would you like to share
and excerpt from <i>So Many Angels</i>?<o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b><br /></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b>MWD:</b> Sure thing! Here you go:</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;">The dean listened
to all of my personal history and university woes and the treatment I
experienced at the university during my freshman year. Her view was
racism was the same as sexism; neither is an excuse for holding on to hurts
feelings and grudges that cancel out your dreams.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;">She said, "I would never have
been dean of this college, Maurice if I did not have to stand up to
men!"<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b>DL: What new projects are
you currently working on?<o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b><br /></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b>MWD:</b> I just completed
an article for the Harford County Historical Society, In Their Own Words,
Harford in the 20th Century, Stories, Maryland Celebrates Harford 250,
1773-2023, a Harford Black History (featuring the Dorsey family) by Maurice W.
Dorsey, Ph.D., page 41-43. I also have two ideas for future books: on
fate and endings. Stay tuned! <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b>DL: Where can readers learn
more about you and purchase your books?<o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b><br /></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b>MWD:</b> Readers can purchase my
book on my website: <a href="http://www.mauricewdorsey.com/" target="_blank">http://www.mauricewdorsey.com</a> or Google my name (Maurice W.
Dorsey) in their search engine to purchase from other retailers such as Amazon,
Barnes and Noble etc.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Amazon maurice-w-dorsey or Amazon.com/author/mauricedorsey</li><li>Instagram@mauricewdorsey</li><li>Facebook Search: Maurice W.
Dorsey </li></ul><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b>DL:</b> Thanks so much for being
here with us today. I know my readers will enjoy getting to know you and your
work.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b>MWD:</b> Thanks again for the
invitation!<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVWhubfTotVGdjFuATO_aOFWWyPTagE8TIVRM3zal9J8CwoWBF1H7OfTq0hs0W39r1P5xuUNyJhjcg6UlXsEwe0ax6hdC83Av5CO_69rJ-1nSV5Na2J8JhHIpo2XMdATcfmfXx5zGqr65KNcA0uQ2RPK_g0wvf6zAtq6J_CRVIL3mkSNgtcTG3XAJ5jOYe/s495/So%20Many%20Angels%20Maurice%20Dorsey%208-21-23.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="495" data-original-width="330" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVWhubfTotVGdjFuATO_aOFWWyPTagE8TIVRM3zal9J8CwoWBF1H7OfTq0hs0W39r1P5xuUNyJhjcg6UlXsEwe0ax6hdC83Av5CO_69rJ-1nSV5Na2J8JhHIpo2XMdATcfmfXx5zGqr65KNcA0uQ2RPK_g0wvf6zAtq6J_CRVIL3mkSNgtcTG3XAJ5jOYe/s320/So%20Many%20Angels%20Maurice%20Dorsey%208-21-23.gif" width="213" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2_fTX8C1jrSikqtLMtTjKczr8PoWWh51dtiQvPfP0lvEXo96wui-6lLVcvefbt8MEcrBIvzLY8PKMfRoEnvgBmg8N247-_KoZ7yz7o6b7HDEQSYkVCdpOuro-racLsWOKqxHxsYlJe-VI2kfignE_ITMf1z571QpT8i_kDrq3c2dz05HWH0vNp4t6xBis/s1570/MauriceDorsey%20Pic%208-21-23.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1570" data-original-width="1256" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2_fTX8C1jrSikqtLMtTjKczr8PoWWh51dtiQvPfP0lvEXo96wui-6lLVcvefbt8MEcrBIvzLY8PKMfRoEnvgBmg8N247-_KoZ7yz7o6b7HDEQSYkVCdpOuro-racLsWOKqxHxsYlJe-VI2kfignE_ITMf1z571QpT8i_kDrq3c2dz05HWH0vNp4t6xBis/s320/MauriceDorsey%20Pic%208-21-23.jpg" width="256" /></a></p><br />Deliah Lawrencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12554322567411413414noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3874545466668861482.post-88548782587293060012023-08-07T20:32:00.001-04:002023-08-07T20:32:22.530-04:00It’s A Book Thing Presents: An Interview with Khadijah Z. Ali-Coleman, author of The Summoning of Black Joy<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b>Author’s Bio:</b> Khadijah Z. Ali-Coleman, Ed.D. is a
cultural curator with over 20 years of applied experience transforming places
into arts and educational spaces. She is award-winning performance artist
Khadijah Moon, and a multi-genre writer who is a producing playwright
and filmmaker. She is currently the 2023 Poet Laureate of Prince George's
County, MD. She is founder of Liberated Muse Arts Group.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;">She would love to have the superpower of invisibility.
So, she could protect and navigate spaces to save people without capture. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b>Deliah Lawrence: What inspired you to write your book?<o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b>Khadijah Z. Ali-Coleman:</b> The
poems in <i>The Summoning of Black Joy</i> were written over the past 10 years
with many written during Covid-19. I perform regularly as a solo artist and
part of Liberated Muse Arts Group and have performed many of the poems over the
years. When I was appointed as Poet Laureate of Prince George’s County, Md, I
thought it was high time to have a published book that contained my poems.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><o:p>
</o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b><span style="color: #cc0000;"><u>Note</u>:</span></b> I will release my
next poetry book, <i>For the Girls Who Do Too Much</i> in December or 2024.
Working on a stage presentation, “Voices of Freedom,” that my arts group,
Liberated Muse, will present at the Kennedy Center in February 2024. It will
highlight the work of Fannie Lou Hamer, Ella Baker, Ida B. Wells and more.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b>DL: How do you handle writer’s block?<o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b><br /></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b>KZAC: </b>I don’t have writer’s
block. One of the ways that I keep ideas flowing is to write regularly using my
phone’s Notes app, having journals all over the house and to use my phone’s
voice app to record ideas. I don’t think every idea needs to be expanded on in
that moment. I have returned to ideas to expand on them and work on completing
days later or sometimes weeks or years later. I believe that spirit will move
me to let me know when it is time to complete something. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b>DL: What is your writing
process? <o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b><br /></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b>KZAC:</b> For fiction writing,
songwriting, screenwriting and playwriting, I am a very good extemporaneous
writer and can be given an idea and shoot something out immediately. I love
projects like the 48-hour film project that helps build that muscle. I have
good formula that I’ve developed to tell a compelling story within a given
timeframe and include elements that are engaging. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;">I love writing stories with twists,
or those that feature people who aren’t typically centered in certain genres.
But, with poetry, I take way more time. Poetry is much more personal. I often
return again and again to a poem that wants me to release it.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b>DL: What elements do
you think make a good story?<o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b><br /></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b>KZAC:</b> Elements that make a
good story when writing fiction or nonfiction are consistency, realistic
language, dimensional characters, pacing that doesn’t lag and a hero’s journey
that is interesting. When writing poetry, I make certain considerations based
on if the piece will be performed or exist as written word. There are certain
elements of alliteration and metaphor that translate better when spoken by the
performer versus when read by the reader and vice versa. The ability to
evoke feeling and convey meaning through poetry is also dependent on the story.
But, stories coveted through poetry aren’t necessarily as linear as they
typically are in other genres.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b>DL: What were some of the
challenges when writing this book?<o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b><br /></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b>KZAC:</b> I was challenged with
including poems in the book that showed me at my most vulnerable. I don’t like
people in my business. It is much easier for me to write a historical poem or a
political poem or a poem as prayer. I can easily write tribute poems. But, to
write a poem about my mother’s death, or my challenges navigating spaces as a
light-skinned Black woman literally involve pushing through grief and pain.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b>DL: Is there any particular
author or book that influenced you in any way either growing up or as an adult?<o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b><br /></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b>KZAC:</b> I think I am like most
women who grew up in the 80’s and read Judy Blume as a child. I loved her books
and all of the themes she addressed. As a playwright, George C. Wolfe and his
play <i>The Colored Museum </i>touched me and let me know that I would write
plays, in addition to films. <i>The Wiz</i> was an early film that inspired me
to want to write films. I was five when it came out in the theater. I love the
film more than the play and will cry and cheer today when watching it, just
like I did as a child. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;">Today, I find Charlie Brooker,
creator of <i>Black Mirror</i>, Jordan Peele and Donald Glover to be three of
my favorite screenwriters out today. I am inspired by the fiction and
nonfiction of the late great Randall Robinson, and the genius of Toni Morrison.
I had to truly grow up to recognize the masterpieces that <i>Beloved</i> and <i>Song
of Solomon</i> are. Poets Lucille Clifton, Gwendolyn Brooks and Langston Hughes
are consistent influences and inspirations. Maurice White, the founder and
creative genius behind Earth, Wind and Fire is a songwriting and artistic
inspiration. Reading his memoir now and it is deeply touching.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><b><u><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Note</span></u></b><b><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">:</span></b></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> T</span><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">he saying, “Everything happens for a reason, season or a lifetime” has
always resonated with me. I read that first while in college and reading Iyanla
Vanzant’s book, <i>Acts of Faith</i>. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b>DL: What are the keys to success
in marketing your book(s)?<o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b><br /></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b>KZAC:</b> I think success is
relative, but we want people to buy and read our books. I am still unsuccessful
with convincing people to understand the importance of writing positive book
reviews on sites that sell books. Folks may post on social media or send an email
about how important one of my books is, but I wish that they would also post
their reviews in ways that other book buyers will see. It’s hard to have yet to
ask for a review from someone who has already bought your book. But, these are
the things that really make a difference for independent writers. I don’t think
I have a handle on the keys to success on marketing. I’m still trying to
determine best routes as technology continues to expand.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b>DL: What tips would
you give to aspiring writers?<o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b><br /></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b>KZAC:</b> I encourage all
aspiring writers to find a community. There are online writing communities,
in-person writing communities and writing associations. Don’t reach out
to other writers to “pick their brain.” Pay for coaching and workshops. Build
and develop your craft. Be your best champion. Don’t blame others for not
helping you in your writing career. That is your passion. You aren’t entitled
to anyone being more invested in your journey than you are. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b>DL: Would you like to share an
excerpt from Poem from <i>The Summoning of Black Joy</i>?<o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b><br /></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b>KZAC:</b> Sure, here you go:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;">Like Water<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;">Rushing<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;">Fluid<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;">Clear yet muddied<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;">Quenching<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;">Never enough<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;">Like water<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;">Freedom stands at arms length<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;">Laughing out loud<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;">At our goggles and swim caps<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;">Our multi-colored bathing suits<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;">Ready to swim<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;">Ready to dive in<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;">Ready to be dipped and saved<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;">To be saved to be saved<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;">Oh, Freedom<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;">Stop laughing<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;">Put out this fire<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;">This unwavering burning <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;">Be salve and cooling <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;">Extinguisher of all that burns<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;">Let us seep beneath your surface<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;">and lay deep<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;">Cover us in your depths<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;">Ocean us within your waves<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;">Stop laughing at our tears<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;">be a balm be a balm<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;">Of courage and conviction<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;">Jewel us sacred stone<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;">and carry us as treasure<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;">to be protected<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;">to be lightened from this
heavy <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;">Rescued from this continuous
drowning<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;">Oh, Freedom<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;">In your murky vagueness,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;">We seek your light<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b><o:p> </o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b>DL: Where can
readers learn more about you and purchase your
book(s)? <o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b><br /></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b>KZAC:</b> Readers can find out
more information here:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Website: KhadijahAli-Coleman.com</li><li>Facebook: Facebook.com/KhadijahOnline</li><li>Instagram: Instagram.com/KhadijahOnline</li></ul><o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b>DL:</b> Thanks so much for being
here with us today. I know my readers will enjoy getting to know you and
your work.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b>KZAC:</b> Thank you so much!<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIRx86IBw4GS0Lk44_jwhji-weXqGvB_H8ocq-Op0YRiHlarhcBgGYg40z0_QhNz1HajTfJlItrg1JqYHquIukZQcJj4304ETr6ewfDLjI-cYjFfGZbzLghliFtA3kh4RFDKh5imKd_3D02-5jzD48z2oJyApY-yQ5H70XAMsLlirs5rlA7m7V8Y372bGp/s640/Summoning%20of%20Black%20Joy%20Alt%20Book%20Cover%208-7-23.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIRx86IBw4GS0Lk44_jwhji-weXqGvB_H8ocq-Op0YRiHlarhcBgGYg40z0_QhNz1HajTfJlItrg1JqYHquIukZQcJj4304ETr6ewfDLjI-cYjFfGZbzLghliFtA3kh4RFDKh5imKd_3D02-5jzD48z2oJyApY-yQ5H70XAMsLlirs5rlA7m7V8Y372bGp/s320/Summoning%20of%20Black%20Joy%20Alt%20Book%20Cover%208-7-23.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRmz2sY_3aUzS27l-pe-P8xpQIzgxS4KM3c7ZingKaX7SrIDKrlNtjml33ebydQdRF6haxEn-4Ozh29JPLqkakz0_fKavDvTGnVaKSUUbYiPy9yy8odzbWXimF2fBIB6lEwkUoY-0vG3gzkBJL00ELCwYgrZ6VQiIn_2-n6AQIqpif3YMWygjWOerFldz3/s2048/Khadijah%20Pic%208-7-23.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRmz2sY_3aUzS27l-pe-P8xpQIzgxS4KM3c7ZingKaX7SrIDKrlNtjml33ebydQdRF6haxEn-4Ozh29JPLqkakz0_fKavDvTGnVaKSUUbYiPy9yy8odzbWXimF2fBIB6lEwkUoY-0vG3gzkBJL00ELCwYgrZ6VQiIn_2-n6AQIqpif3YMWygjWOerFldz3/s320/Khadijah%20Pic%208-7-23.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p></p><br /><p></p>Deliah Lawrencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12554322567411413414noreply@blogger.com0