Vocal Expressions

Surprisingly, this is the first novel that I have read by Mary Monroe and I must say that I really enjoyed it.  This novel has all the juicy stuff of past love that hangs around, neglected present love, family jealously, scandal, lies, deceit, double cross and the list goes on. Christine Thurman’s life hasn’t always been easy. Growing up she was ignored by her parents who left her to do whatever she wanted and she wasted no time taking full advantage of it. She ran with a rough crowd, stole clothes, electronics and cars, did drugs and had sex with countless and nameless boys. But the only person she kept going back to time and time again was Wade Eddie Fisher, who looked like a “low-income Lenny Kravitz.” Wade had big dreams to make it in Hollywood and Christine couldn’t get enough of him.  But when Wade ignored her after she chased after him to Hollywood, it was time for her to make a change in her life. Fast forward a few years later, Christine has met and married J...

Author’s Bio: I am a stay at home wife (to Dan – the other Dan Brown) and mom of one girl (Lizzie), two cats (Max and Ruby), and two dachshunds (Nikita and Reggie).  My daughter has special needs and it’s much easier to get her to and from multiple appointments when I can be home.  I live in Massillon, Ohio and enjoy spending time with my daughter.  I enjoy listening to classic rock and going geocaching with Lizzie when we have the time.  I’m also a huge Cleveland Cavaliers fan. What inspired you to write your book?  I was inspired by my own imagination and for my love of the sport of basketball.  I continued to revisit this story in my mind and one day just decided to put it down. Is there any particular author or book that influenced you in any way either growing up or as an adult?  As a child my favorite books were Shel Silverstein’s books of poems.  I loved the humor of the drawings and the stories.  It wasn’t until I was a...

A lot of authors or writers in the making need to have a platform, a place for getting their message out about their works. There are so many ways to do this, but I find the most effective way is through content marketing. This is a strategic marketing tool which focuses on the distribution of consistent content that engages your target audience. Here are 4 ways to get started: 1.        Blogging. This platform is a great way for folks to find you when they are Googling topics related to your book. Also, the content you write about brands you as an expert in the topics you are writing about.   2.        Video Content. Videos are great whether you create them on Periscope, YouTube or your own website. It gives you an opportunity to show off your personality – so don’t be shy. 3.        Brand Your Images. Folks are very visual. So, if you want to expand your readership on Pin...

Author’s Bio: I’ve written six novels about Washington DC-based private eye Hannibal Jones, five in the Stark and O’Brien international adventure-thriller series, and the detective novel, Beyond Blue . My short stories have been featured in several anthologies including Dying in a Winter Wonderland – an Independent Mystery Booksellers Association Top Ten Bestseller for 2008 - and I’m proud to be featured in the Edgar nominated African American Mystery Writers: A Historical and Thematic Study by Frankie Y. Bailey. I’m also the editorial director for Intrigue Publishing, a Maryland small press, so I work with our authors to improve their manuscripts. And I’m deeply involved with the writing community. I’m a past president of the Maryland Writers’ Association, past Vice President of the Virginia Writers Club, and I’m still an active member of Mystery Writers of America, International Thriller Writers and Sisters in Crime. What inspired you to write your book? My most recent n...

If you truly love something you are passionate about wouldn’t you put the work in? Absolutely YES! But sometimes when there are so many things competing for your time, it’s not always that easy. I can certainly attest to that. For me, the competing things include volunteering, mentoring, other non-writing projects, etc. So, I’ve been seriously lagging in getting my next writing projects off the ground. Right now, my characters from Gotta Get It Back are just about sick of me and have been clamoring for me to work, work, work, work, work. Yep, they have been neglected enough. I hear them loud and clear as they are very anxious for my readers to get into their drama and either fall in love with them or not.  Well, off I go to put the work in so my next novel can be done, done, done, done, done! So, how much work do you put into your writing or anything you’re passionate about?

Author’s Bio: I've been writing fiction almost as long as I can remember, starting with fan fiction at 13 (before I even knew there was a term for it). In my late teens, I tackled my first novel: a thriller from the most sedentary kid you'd ever known. It was every bit as bad as you're thinking. A few years ago, I decided it was time to finally make my dream a reality. Inspiration for the characters in my Warlock Case Files series hit, and I started writing. I've published three books in that series with more to come. My most recent book is the start of a spin-off series, introducing a new warlock character. What inspired you to write your book? I’ve been working on The Warlock Case Files for several years, and the series is going well, but I had this book I wrote several decades ago that I wanted to get back to. My initial idea was to rewrite it as a Warlock Case Files , but I liked one of the characters in the original draft so much that I wanted to make hi...