ideas take life in WordsA blog following the works (and shenanigans) of J.E. Klimov
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Welcome back to another wonderful author interview session. I am honored to host Dr. Caruso, author of Beyond Carrots. I'm particularly excited as I am a pharmacist by trade, so it's always amazing to find another health care provider who makes time to write. Let's see what Beyond Carrots is all about! Welcome, Dr. Caruso...JE: Thank you for your time! Let's start here--although I did look up Beyond Carrots, could you please let our readers know what this book is all about? BC: In Beyond Carrots, I tell the story of how I reversed my eye disease using lifestyle and nutrition. Believe it or not, even the eye doctor runs the risk of eye disease. In this book, I discuss some of the most common eye diseases and how they can be impacted by food and lifestyle. The book ends with a 10 step Beyond Carrots Plan for reversing eye disease. JE: Who is the primary audience for your novel? BC: The primary audience for my book is the layperson. Anyone who wants to protect their eyes from damaging eye disease should read this book. In fact, the Beyond Carrots Plan can even improve the night vision overall clarity of vision in the person who does not have eye disease. Pretty much everyone who puts the Beyond Carrots Plan into action will see improvement in some aspect of their vision and life. JE: What was it like writing about your own personal experience? What about it was easy, and what about it was challenging? BC: I actually shed tears at times as I wrote about my own personal experience. Reliving the fear of loss of vision through my writing was difficult to say the least. I never truly understood the emotions that go into vision loss until I faced them firsthand. JE: I can only imagine! I think we all take our vision for granted... Now, how long did it take to write and publish this book? BC: It took me almost two years to write the book and nine months to get Beyond Carrots published. JE: That's a labor of love, right there! What do you hope your readers will walk away with after reading your book? BC: My main goal is to drive home the fact that every thing you do to your body or put in your body affects your eyes. JE: In your opinion, what is a major misconception about eye health that you see in most patients? BC: A major misconception about eye health is that you cannot change the fate of your eye health. Many people do not understand the impact of what you do and what you eat on your eyes. You have the power to change your eye health destiny. JE: Wow! That's great to hear, and I hope a lot of people feel empowered by this! As a medical professional myself, many people are surprised I also write books. How did you find the time to write? What drove you to put your experience and wisdom in this medium? BC: When I found the powerful effects that diet and lifestyle had on my eyes, I made it my mission to get the highest level of certification possible with a Fellowship in Anti-Aging and Regenerative Medicine and educate as many people as possible. If I am able to help just one person prevent blindness, my prayers will be answered. JE: Very inspiring. Thank you for sharing. Do you have any plans for future books? JC: At the moment, I am working on creating an online program to supplement my book. The name of the online program is Beyond Carrots Masterclass. The program will dive into each step of the Beyond Carrots Plan with specific action steps. The estimated completion date of this course is November 15, 2022. November 2022 is right around the corner, so I wish Dr. Caruso luck with her program and I thank her for her time today. If you are interested in reading her book, click on the button below to be directed to Amazon!  When the eye doctor is going blind, we really have a problem on our hands!
Believe it or not, this happened to me. I am an eye doctor who had perfect vision and a clean bill of health. Then, I was diagnosed with a potentially blinding eye disease at the age of thirty-five. I was given thirty days of sight when I took my vision's fate into my own hands. I devised a plan to reverse my eye disease using nutrition and lifestyle changes. When I went to my eye specialist and found that my plan was successful, I knew that I wanted to become as informed as possible in the nutrition field. I become one of three optometrists in the nation with a Fellowship in Anti-Aging and Regenerative Medicine and a Fellowship in Metabolic and Nutritional Medicine. Now I feel compelled to share my knowledge with as many people as possible to help others save their vision. In Beyond Carrots, I tell my story and share the emotions that go along with a diagnosis of possible blindness. It is amazing how the body is truly connected to the eyes. What happens to the body directly impacts your vision. So, regardless of whether or not you are experiencing a potential eye disease, Beyond Carrots can help better your health! The causes of some of the most common eye diseases are discussed. You will find out how to reverse those diseases through simple lifestyle changes and how certain foods can impact eye health. To top it all off, the Beyond Carrots Plan puts it all together with a step-by-step plan to reversing eye disease. By following this plan, your eyes will not be the only area of your life that will benefit. Upon the completion of your Beyond Carrots journey, you feel better, think clearer, and improve your vision. So, let's get started!
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Author interviews are back, and I have a wonderful guest with several books under his belt already. Today I have the opportunity to speak with Mr. Robert Kono, author of a few thrillers such as Eye of the Star and Starburst Over China. However, I wanted to focus on an intriguing title, Westward Lies the Sun, featuring a protagonist who undergone significant trauma in his life and then undergoes a spiritual journey about the existence of a higher power. Before we begin, let's read the synopsis:  Greg Sonoda, a Japanese American attorney, embarks on a quest to determine what influence God has in his life. In the back of his mind is the question, first and foremost, of whether God exists at all. God is such an elusive concept to a humanist, who, from his earliest years, was made to question God's very existence""he suffered in the concentration camps for the duration of WWII""and he doubts his efforts will ever come to fruition. In Westward Lies the Sun, Greg's search for truth is given voice during the frequent debates with his poker foursome, although the late-night discussions produce more questions than answers. But they do serve to articulate thoughts and feelings about sundry issues such as the search for Greg's family heirloom: a samurai sword stolen during Greg's incarceration in the camps. More significantly, Greg is forced to ponder God's hand in his family's survival after being shipwrecked on a small, uninhabited Micronesian island. Greg and his family make several discoveries on the island that lead to financial success and miraculous physical healing. But will the island also heal Greg spiritually? The family sword""Onimaru""is ultimately used in a showdown on the island with Greg's quest for God, together with his mental and physical survival, hanging in the balance. Welcome, Mr. Kono...JE: In Westward Lies the Sun, your main character appears to undergo a spiritual journey and wrestling with God’s role in his and his family's life. What is your inspiration behind this theme? RK: The theme of the novel follows my own general spiritual evolution. I converted to Christianity as a youth, drifted away from it, then after college began to search for God and an overall meaning in life, an endeavor that brought me to mysticism. I realized at that point that I had been a mystic all my life, that my love of nature and of God had deep mystical roots, and I began a lifelong journey to try to understand myself in what can only be described as an inner exploration, which goes on till this day and will likely never end. I was inspired to write this novel for the sake of my grandchildren who are coming of age and provide them with some kind of sounding board against which to bounce off their thinking as they grow up–to become good human beings. I wanted the novel to be entertaining, informative and inspiring and lead to an acceptance of gratitude as the glue that holds all life together, for after all is said and done, after all the hardships, doubts and suffering, one still has life for which one must thank the Creator. JE: Very inspiring! Now, how long did it take to write and publish this novel? RK: It took me a little over a year to write it and about a year to publish it. JE: That's a great pace. How was your experience authoring this novel compared to your other works such as Eye of the Star and The StarMind Alert? RK: Compared to my other works described on my website, rhkohno.com, Westward Lies the Sun required an entirely different mindset. I needed to delve deeply within myself to develop the verities in a truthful fashion, bouncing off my experiences on the internal touchstone, and add the novelistic elements of adventure, suspense, terror to the ideational mix concerning the existence of God which the protagonist pursues but is assailed by questions and doubts throughout until his accident. It precipitates a psychotic break which he is forced to deal with. The heirloom samurai sword, once stolen but now recovered, figures into the climax at the end where he deals with the imaginary but real demon plaguing him because of his identity as a Japanese American. In this novel, an attempt is made to dramatize the spiritual evolution of a seeker, from a waffling agnostic to a full fledged believer who discovers–and knows as a result of his ordeal–that gratitude is truly the gateway to heaven, for one can go through life achieving everything one puts his hand to and enjoying every kind of success, but who does one thank for his good fortune? If it is oneself, that amounts to blind self-adulation–and hubris. To thank God is to accept one’s status as a humble human being. And such an acceptance amounts to stature. JE: That is amazing--I am wonder-struck to hear such passion. And that reminds me, your cover art is beautiful. Please describe your process in cover art selection/creation! RK: I submitted a suggestion to the publisher as to how I wanted the cover to show the silhouette of a samurai with sword drawn and poised against the background of a setting sun, and the publisher came up with the chosen design the first time around. JE: Who is the primary audience for your novel? RK: The primary audience for Westward Lies the Sun would be anyone from eighteen to eighty who is seeking to understand their relationship to God, whether he exists or not to begin with and who wants to delve into the effects of plunging into faith–which always results in an overriding sense of gratitude. JE: Would this novel appeal to both religious and non-religious people, alike? RK: I believe my novel would certainly appeal to both religious and non-religious people alike because it explores the issue of a person’s spiritual evolution, from being a questioning agnostic to the acceptance of Christ as one’s savior, taking the analytic approach of a physicist examining the significance of a particle which had brought forth many disturbing questions in his life. JE: What a great approach! I'm sure many people appreciate that! Now tell me, what was your largest challenge when writing Westward Lies the Sun? RK: My biggest challenge in writing the novel lies in the attempt to make it an organic totality. So many disparate elements went into the making, but what held everything together, in my view, is my approach to making each happening an intrinsic part of the narration. The connection between the different parts may–or may not–be apparent, but the attempt was made to make them all part of the protagonist’s life experience. JE: What do you enjoy most about writing? RK: I enjoy most the conceptualization, portrayal and development of a character whom I put through the paces to flesh out the plot. The character and plot always go together in an organic relationship, but it’s the character that propels the narrative, in my view. JE: Last but not least, what are your future plans for publication? RK: I am seeking representation and publication of the novel East Falls the Sun which is the first book of a trilogy. It is a semi-autobiographical novel set in the concentration camps and postwar Japan, following much of my own experiences. I can't tell you know thrilled I am to have interviewed Mr. Kono, as well as get to know his works. I will surely keep tabs on his incoming trilogy, and you should too! Please check out this author's website and Amazon page:
With Spring comes fresh ideas, inspiration, and motivation to achieve anything! Although the blog here has been rather dormant, I bring some great updates. 1) My next novel, Winds of Amicita, will release Summer 2022! I will be unveiling the cover and much more over the next few months! 2) In my never-ending quest to support all indie content creators, I am currently reading: West of Peaceful Haven by C.R. Leverette. My review will be posted when I'm done. I have read other stories by this author--check out my review on his first book of the series: 3) I have received wonderful feedback on my post regarding Depression and Creative Writing. Because of this, I will be working on a series for mental health awareness, and how content creation can be a place of peace and healing. Check out the article below! 4) Writing of all types is still writing! I will be incorporating my other works from Boss Rush Network and Another Zelda Podcast, including video game reviews and editorials.
Happy summer, friends. It's been two months since my last post, so I wanted to keep everyone up to date. Although this blog has been quiet, a lot has been going on! 1) My fourth novel is under way! My next YA fantasy's tentative release date will be fall 2021. I'm waiting on my publisher, Silver Leaf Books, to confirm so I may schedule the title and cover reveal. What I will say is that this book will take place in the same universe as The Aeonian Trilogy! 2) I have joined the writing team on Another Zelda Podcast. For those that don't know, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time inspired my debut novel, The Aeonians. I was granted a rare opportunity to work in a fantastic community and write about all things Zelda!  3) I have also joined the writing team on the Boss Rush Games Network. This is where most of my non-novel writing time has gone to. There, you'll see my editorials, video game reviews, and other things on the site under The Madpharmacist. I've also guested on a few of their podcasts. I recommend you check them out. The Boss Rush Games Network focuses primarily on video games and the passionate community behind the industry; however, they also provide sports and entertainment content. 4) I launched a passion project within the Boss Rush Network. It is called the Boss Rush Bucket List--50 amazing video games since 2014 you must play before you kick the bucket. It's a collaboration of twelve writers in a 10-article series, published every Friday from 7/2/21 to 9/3/21.I provided the link to the first week below.  5) I am still accepting and conducting author interviews and book reviews. If you are interested in either, please contact me HERE for author interviews and HERE for book reviews.
That's it. A quick and wicked update for my #amreading and #amwriting friends out there. Please know that even though the number of blog articles will remain on the minimal side for the rest of 2021, please know I am working very hard on my upcoming release. In the meantime, come visit me at Boss Rush! Peace JE I am STOKED to have Kerri back for another round of Q&A- but this time, we discuss her graphic novel series about a drunk, rude chicken. Seriously. Graphic novels were my first love- I used to draw them on pieces of paper in junior high/high school and share them with my friends. (I'm pretty sure I created fourteen issues and one "movie" version!) So this interview really spoke to me, and I am over the moon to share this casual "fireside chat". Sit back, relax, and enjoy Henny's story... Peace J.E. "Henny is abrasive, rude, a drunk, and he swears like a sailor."  JE: My first love was graphic novels. When did you start drawing Henny and how did the concept come about? KD: Once upon a time, in 2008/2009, I sat down to write a sticky note message for my husband’s lunch. This was something I normally did. (JE: Can I say...That's freggin' ADORABLE) A simple “You’re having a good day” or “I love you.” One day, I decided I wanted to draw a little joke to make him laugh. The original three sticky notes ended up being page 1 of volume 1. But that wouldn’t happen for nearly a decade… Long story short, the first knock-knock joke was a hit. I continued to write them and by the second set of notes, I had titled them The Chronicles of Henny in my head. Henny is abrasive, rude, a drunk, and he swears like a sailor. Some of the jokes make me cringe (after I rolled on the floor laughing). So why did I create Henny to be this way and why do I continue to love him after all these years? I didn’t create him. He wrote himself. Henny is the one who decided to move himself into Cst. (Constable) Poopers’ house and wreak havoc. And deep down inside, as the story progresses, you’ll find yourself rooting for Henny. It’s messed. My husband continued to bring the notes home every day, so I compiled them into a notebook. Not the best preservation process. Years went by and the pen and sticky notes turned to drawing paper and pencils. I had no intention to publish them. In fact, I didn’t have the slightest clue how I would do such a thing. Eventually, I stopped writing them. I took the notebooks I’d collected and photocopied them, gifting them to my dad and sister. That’s close to immortalizing them as I came. So I thought. In 2017, my dad Bruce brought his girlfriend Pat to our home. It was the first time I’d met her and she told me about her daughter who was a graphic novelist in her spare time. Jamie Isfeld is actually an amazing artist. Her mother gifted me one of her graphic novels (the real deal, not chicken-scratches) and asked about the comics I had drawn as she’d heard about them from my dad. I laughed and dug them out to show her. She said she’d like to take a copy of them home to her daughter and so I sent her off with photocopies. That year, my dad and Pat returned to visit on my birthday. They brought a gift with them, and he insisted on video taping me opening it. I couldn’t believe it when I found someone had already made The Chronicles of Henny. I was confused and outraged until I turned the book and saw my name on the spine. Pat’s daughter had taken the photocopies of my pen and pencil scribblings and created a proof copy of "The Chronicles of Henny Volume 1". This changed my life. I had the opportunity to meet Jamie Isfeld, and she directed me on how to go about publishing this graphic novel. She then asked how experienced I was with computers and graphics and all, so I would be able to continue on my own. I just shook my head in reply. Nevertheless, after a quick tutorial from her, I formatted and published "The Chronicles of Henny Volume 2". At this point, I’d run out of pre-drawn material and got back into writing them. For Volumes 3 and 4, I switched from black and white to color. From the first scratchy, barely legible Volume 1, I sold my first 200 copies and had to order more. In addition to the graphic novels, I created a line of swag including T-shirts, hoodies, beer cozies, ball caps, and toques. The Chronicles of Henny wasn’t just a comic. It wasn’t just a graphic novel. It was an experience. And it still is. "This changed my life."
JE: That's too funny! Who is the ideal audience for The Chronicles of Henny? KD: Grownups who need a laugh. As the disclaimer on the cover says: "WARNING: This comic may appear to have been drawn by an eight-year-old. It is NOT recommended for one. This book contains language and humor that may offend humans and chickens.” Morale of the story (yes, there is one): Read Henny. Laugh at Henny. Do NOT be like Henny. JE: Makes sense to me. Now, I admit drawing graphic novels was my first love, prior to writing. I know there are a lot of people out there who want to publish their works as well. Is the process to publishing graphic novels similar to that of a traditional written novel? Is one more difficult than another? KD: Loaded question. I hand draw everything then scan the pages into the computer. That’s the easy part. Enter Adobe Creative Cloud. You would think it would be simple to make a few square panels to insert the drawings into. You would be wrong. Break out the calculus book and learn, learn, learn. Formatting and pixel scrubbing takes up more time than creating the stories. And silly me. When I had my first book done up, it was a 6.7” x 6.7” square. I ran with it. Turns out, this is an uncommon paper size. Had I went with an even 6” x 6” it would have been slightly cheaper to publish. However, I managed to find a great printing company that allowed me to stick with my original size without too much additional cost. When I switched to full color in volume three, it got a lot more expensive. Still, I waddled on. Then COVID came and my printers closed. By the time I found the most reasonable quote from a new printer, I pretty much had to sell them at cost. Why do I still do it? Because I love my drunken chicken and I vowed to release six volumes of his life. This will be done. JE: Any hints or teasers for us on Volume 5? KD: I expect to release Volume 5 in 2022. I had originally planned on 2021, but fell behind as I wrote other books. Volume 5 teasers? Well, Henny’s a Pop. Again. He’s married. For now. He may or may not get struck by lightning and fall off a roof. Just kidding. He for sure will. One thing you can always expect are endless table-smacking laughs to enjoy again and again. I want to give one final shoutout to Jamie Isfeld. The ultra-talented and insanely patient girl who “discovered” Henny and set me on the path to publishing – not only The Chronicles of Henny. It was only after I saw my name on the spine of that graphic novel that I realized I could do this. I could publish books. If it weren’t for Jamie, I’m not sure I would have begun my journey into publishing actual novels at all, never mind the cartoons. She got me started with Henny, and to this day remains my cover artist for all my books. I would recommend her and promote her work but she does not take on new clients. She actually doesn’t take on clients at all. For some reason, I’m special. Jamie likes to work quietly in the dark and seems to require no praise at all. Well, suck it up, Jamie. I think you’re AMAZING!
"Electrifying....a fast-paced mystery....Fantasy fans won't want to miss this." --Publishers Weekly
It's April 2021, and I've got another interview for you lovely folks. Now, I'm very excited to introduce you to M.J. Kuhn and her debut novel, "Among Thieves" which will be released 9.7.2021. M.J. Kuhn is a bright-minded individual with a sharp wit and full of sarcasm. I first met her when I joined the Another Zelda Podcast family- and was amazed at her achievement. As a fellow author, I wanted to get to know her and her work a bit more. Read on and sink your teeth into this interview! JE: Thank you for swinging by! How *excited* are you about your debut novel? (I know I am!) How are you publishing it? MJK: It is beyond exciting to be publishing my debut novel at last! I signed with my lovely agent in 2017, we sold "Among Thieves" to Simon & Schuster’s Saga Press in 2019, and my book-baby finally comes into the world this September!! Traditional publishing is definitely a slow-moving process, but I have valued all the guidance and support I’ve gotten from my agent and publishing house along the way, so, personally, I wouldn’t trade it! JE: I LOVE the cover art. How did you come up with this concept? MJK: Isn’t it stunning?? I can claim zero credit for its brilliance, haha. Christian McGrath is the wizard behind that masterpiece. In most of traditional publishing, the author actually has shockingly little say over a lot of details like cover art. I did get to see it before the cover reveal, and I got to weigh in on a few minor details, but full credit for this gorgeous, striking artwork and its concept goes to the artist himself. JE: Who is the audience for this novel? MJK: "Among Thieves" is adult fantasy, so I wouldn’t recommend it for anyone under the age of maybe 16? Mostly for violence and language… my characters are sailors and thieves, and dammit, they swear like them! Really, I would say anyone who enjoyed books like "Six of Crows" or "The Lies of Locke Lamora" would probably enjoy this book. It’s a fantasy heist full of twists and turns and snarky dialogue. If you’re a fan of those things, and you like characters that are morally grey at best, give THIEVES a shot! JE: Sounds amazing! If you could describe your story in three to five words, what would they be? MJK: Banter, betrayal, magic, lovable assholes.  JE: The last one won me over. That's it- TAKE MY MONEY, DAMMIT! Anywho, what was your inspiration behind the story? MJK: My enduring love of heist stories, mostly. I adore heists, but it always seemed a little unrealistic to me that a whole team of thieves would work together without betraying one another at any point. I always really liked The Italian Job for this reason (SPOILER ALERT, I guess... but it's been out for a really long time haha). In planning "Among Thieves", I wondered, what if all the characters on the team are selfish jerks planning to screw everyone else over? From that thought, "Among Thieves" was born. Every single member of the heist team in THIEVES has their own plan for betrayal, which made the story really fun and twisty to write - I hope it’s equally fun and twisty to read! JE: I also love stories with sarcasm. Did that make the writing experiencing all the more fun? MJK: Haha yes! I am such a sarcastic person in real life that I honestly sometimes struggle writing my characters who aren’t super snarky. Dialogue is always one of my favorite things to write, especially when it’s something with a lot of back-and-forth, like banter or an argument. The dialogue in THIEVES is some of the most fun dialogue I’ve ever written. All the characters are so strong-willed and emotionally broken, which makes for fascinating conversations. When I started writing my first project post-THIEVES I had a lot of trouble letting those characters go! JE: That's great! Many struggle with dialogue! Next: what kind of magic is found in your story? MJK: "Among Thieves" is set in a pretty twisted world where magic-users are brainwashed and trapped in servitude to non-magic users, and where their trade is the basis of most of the world’s economic and political structure. As far as fantasy goes, it’s not hyper-magical. Think of the magic levels of works like "A Song of Ice and Fire" - there is definitely magic in the world, and it runs through the plot like an undercurrent, but most of the story is based around the people and their actions, rather than the magic. JE: What is your ideal writing environment? MJK: I’m not too picky! I have a full-time day job, so I write whenever/wherever I can sneak in a few words. Ideally, though, I like to write in my office at home, with soft lighting, listening to either soundtrack music or some lo-fi beats, sipping on a cup of herbal tea. That’s when I get the most done. JE: Mmm, tea... Is this a stand alone novel or will there be sequels? MJK: Presently, "Among Thieves" is a standalone. However, I have more to say about these scoundrels and cons, so if I’m given the opportunity, I’d love to continue their stories someday. JE: What's your next project? MJK: I’m currently working on a massive, sprawling adventure fantasy story! It features a cowardly magician who is sucked into a plot to stop an enemy magician from conquering his kingdom. I’m not currently under contract for it, but my agent and I are currently going through edits and I’m hoping we can take it on sub within the next year - fingers crossed! JE: Sounds like an amazing concept. I wish you luck, and I know I'll be keeping an eye out for it! Lastly, yes, the COVID question. How did COVID impact your productivity? MJK: WHOOF the million dollar question all year has been: How do we continue to create when the world is on FIRE all around us? I’ll admit, focusing has been tough this year. I have generally switched from my normal soundtrack music while writing to those lovely lo-fi beats because they’re just a little less distracting, so that has helped some. Other than the focus-levels though, honestly COVID gave me a lot more writing time than I’d had previously. I have been working from home 99% of the time for the past year. Normally, I commute an hour each way to my day job, so the work-from-home life has been incredible for me. Also, without a social life, I’ve had way more evenings and weekends at home to work as well! All told, I have written three new first-drafts since the beginning of lockdown, as well as completing both structural and copy-edits on my debut for my publishing house. In short, I definitely can’t wait for the world to go back to some semblance of normal, but I have been managing to get stuff done nonetheless. I'd like to thank M.J. Kuhn for her time. I hope you enjoying the peek into her world and got absolutely PSYCHED for her debut novel, "Among Thieves". I know I'll be ordering a copy. Please follow this amazing human being and stay tuned for all her works! M.J. Kuhn is a fantasy writer by night and a mild-mannered university employee by day. She lives in the metro Detroit area with her husband Ryan, a dog named Wrex, and the very spoiled cat Thorin Oakenshield. You can find more information about M.J. online at MJKuhn.com.
How did the COVID lockdown impact your writing in 2020?
Dear Reader, Another article with COVID in it?!? Yes, people are COVID-fatigued. Yet, even though we talk-it-to-death, it's hard to ignore that it's impacted everyone's lives one way or another. When many stayed home during lockdowns (Thank you, essential workers!), people leaned on current or new hobbies as means of coping. I started working from home March 2020, and I personally struggled a lot with that. Although an introvert at heart, I thrived with human interaction at work, and the constant reminder of my snack drawer didn't help. There had to be a silver lining... right? I at least could start my next novel! Yeah, that's perfect! Yet, as the weeks flew by, I procrastinated. Instead of using what would've been my hour-long commute to write my next YA fantasy, I searched for a distraction. I picked up gardening. I played more video games. I checked Facebook and Instagram WAYYYY too often. Excluding the excessive use of social media, those other things sound like a decent use of lockdown time, right? Sure it was. I enjoyed harvesting fresh zucchini and blackberries. It was nice to catch up on some amazing games. However, as someone who considers themselves a part-time author, I was just throwing time out the window. I had to look within and find the answers as to why I wrote less when I had more time? For me, I believe it was the gravity of COVID and political turmoil that dampened my creativity. 2020 was the beginning of. an incredibly stressful time- my depression worsened, and a major symptom of my MDD is diminished motivation. Even though writing brings me joy, it requires significant brain power and passion to sit myself down for hours. I felt that during lock-down, I was constantly processing what was going on, what could happen, and how I could keep my family and I safe. Gardening brought a sense of zen in my life that didn't require thinking. Gaming didn't either. I wanted to shut my brain off. I was COVID-fatigued. I was curious to see how other writers experienced 2020 with regards to their productivity. Casting a recent pole among my community, I found a relatively even spread of those that were more productive, less productive, or experienced no change. For those that were less productive, they were focused on other areas of life, but later explained they bounced back stronger than ever. I'm happy to say I fell in that "rebound" camp as well. I am now working on final edits to my forth novel, Winds of Amicita (title pending). So, what's the point of all this? Everyone processes life-changing events differently. COVID was life-changing for everyone on this planet. For those that write professionally or as a hobby seem particularly resilient as it provides them with the mental stimulation needed to move through challenges. While some like myself struggled, we worked through these challenges and became better. In fact, my current novel has been my most enjoyable writing experience thus far! No, the plot has nothing to do with a pandemic. Here's to my writing friends-let's carry on and continue to spin tales for people to enjoy. Let's give them an avenue of escapism during these rough times. I wanted to kick off my 2021 blog year with this- in part to explain my absence, but also let you know you're not alone. The pandemic touched us all one way or another. Even if you don't write, I'm sure your turned to or avoided something that brings you happiness...But now we reached a new year, and the advent of vaccines shined a bright light of hope on us. Anyway, I finally got my groove back and can't wait to fill this site with various topics, author interviews, and book reviews. Stay tuned! The next blog will come out later this March as I interview multi-genre Canadian author, Kerri Davidson. Peace! J.E New to this site?I am a pharmacist and published author of YA fantasy. I use this blog to write about various topics for readers and writers alike. I conduct author interviews and book reviews- with a primary focus on indie writers/stories. I firmly believe in authors supporting authors! I have three main links below if you want a quick tour to see if this may be a frequent stop for you in the future : ) Hello friends! I have an amazing interview with the lovely Kerri Davidson. It is one of two interviews with Kerri- this one focuses on her most recent novel, "Beneath the Snow" and upcoming release of a co-authored piece, "Eyes on the Road". Peace! J.E.
JE: Hiya! I know we've seen each other on the Twitterverse for quite a while, but I'm glad to spend time with you here. Now, about "Beneath the Snow". Residents of Hazelton tough out a severe storm, but many soon come to realize...it's not over yet, and Twyla get stuck in a shopping mall. How did you come up with this concept? KD: The idea...came from my vault of stories that I’ve always intended to write “one day.” I was born and raised in the Canadian Prairies but lived in many different locations. My father (now retired) was a member of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. His job required us to move every few years. When I married, lucky me, my husband chose the same career path. Honestly, I wouldn’t change a thing, but let’s just say I had been looking forward to getting out of that lifestyle. I’ve worked in a couple of shopping malls similar to the setting of "Beneath the Snow". Canadian winters can be brutal and highly unpredictable. I remember being at work, observing shoppers and fellow coworkers, when one winter storm or another would roll through. There was always that element of what if… What if the power went out and didn’t come back on? What if the whiteout conditions left us trapped in the mall overnight? What if the storm didn’t stop? How long could we survive in here together with such limited supplies? Who would take the lead and ensure all were provided for and chaos didn’t ensue? JE: This gripped me: "They need to get on with their lives. They need to go to work. They need to go shopping." This reminded me of how many people felt when the COVID lockdowns first started happening. It's a huge conflict people have- at what point/cost do we continue our daily lives in the midst of a disaster. How has COVID impacted your writing? KD: Ah, the COVID question. As a writer in general, COVID has not affected my writing much at all. I’m agoraphobic and work seven days a week on various writing projects, so not a lot changed there. The first and second drafts were completed before COVID was an issue. Looking back, I see the connections that could be made because some of the situations my characters found themselves in. There's even a part that deals with a highly infectious illness that runs through their mall world. All purely coincidental. In fact, one beta reader suggested I delete or dial down the illness part after COVID became worldwide news, but I decided to leave it as written. JE: I'm personally glad that you did. But what a odd coincidence! Now, who is the intended audience for this novel? KD: Every human I have ever so much as heard of. [JE: Literally laughs out loud] I kid. Sort of. The novel is speculative fiction, and it does contain some not-so-pretty moments and a smattering of f-bombs. Therefore, I wouldn’t serve it up to the kiddies. However, as with all my books, I encourage everyone I know to give it a try, if appropriate. My favorite feedback and reviews never fail to come from people who begin with, “This is not normally my genre…” JE: How long did it take to write this? KD: Cripes. This book fought me. I began writing it in the fall of 2019. After sending it out to critique partners, I rewrote it. Thrice. Then I set it aside in January of 2020 to write "The Soul Must Go On", a sequel to my debut full-length novel "Soul’s Choice". The 85KWriting challenge no longer exists, but it was similar to NaNoWriMo, and I had done it the year before. I’m straying off topic again. The point is I wrote this other book in January, sent it off to betas and my editor, and published it before finishing my final draft of "Beneath the Snow" in the summer of 2020. To this day, I can’t understand why "Beneath the Snow" took a full year to write and polish while another novel (and graphic novel) were released with ease during the process. I’m gonna call it special and move along. JE: It happens! I've had some works that took no time and others...Yeah... Moving on. A bit about yourself- describe your ideal writing space! KD: Simple. Me plus laptop plus coffee mug filled with water and a dash of silence. Make that a large dash of silence. In reality, I do have a lovely little spare room that functions as my office where I am quite content. JE: You are also prepping the release of a book you co-authored. Could you share your experience on what it's like to write a book with someone else? KD: I never thought I would see the day. In fact I used to laugh aloud at the concept. I’ve always been one of those people who would not allow anyone to peep anything until it was drafted and edited at least once. Mark Gelinas and I met through the Twitter #WritingCommunity. He had approached me and asked me to help him be held accountable for his writing progress. So it began as a daily Tweet from me, prompting him to report what he had written that day. Our writing relationship went from writing buddies to beta readers to critique partners and our online friendship also grew. Despite the miles that separate us from the Canadian Prairies to the Southeastern U.S., we ended up speaking most every day about writing or life in general. One day last summer, my husband and I were having a few drinks and talking about my writing. He’d heard a lot about Mark by then. I jokingly suggested I should just go ahead and write a book with Mark. Then I stopped laughing and sent Mark a message saying such. Of course, he thought I’d lost my mind. However, we did decide to have some fun and try it, calling it a writing exercise. We built our plot and our characters and many, many emails and video chats later, we ended up with an outline. When writing the book, we took turns writing chapters in the POVs of our characters Morgan and Josh. By the time we were on the fourth chapter, this book took on a life of its own. And by that, I mean it took over our lives. The synergy was like nothing I’d ever experienced before. We were each writing a chapter or two a day and finished the first draft in twenty-three days. All in all, I can’t say I think I could work with another writer like I do with Mark. JE: What is this book about and when is it coming out? KD: Eyes on the Road is a YA novel, and is printing as we speak. The expected release date is March 25th. JE: The 25th is around the corner, isn't it? I'm so excited! Well, thank you for taking your time to answer some of my burning questions! See you around for interview number two in April ! Hint hint to the readers ;) I hope everyone enjoyed the interview! HAPPY SPRING! Coming Soon... |
 | The world has ended. In its wake comes a new breed of ferocious, deadly abominations. One of which, barely more than a girl, seems to be going unnoticed. Over half the population has dropped dead. They litter every sidewalk, home and store. Instantly, explosively eradicated. All on the first anniversary of the discovery of alien life. Five months into the apocalypse, Jorah Sinclair has done well surviving on her own, though she has grown desperately lonely. Secretive, guilt-ridden and manic, she worms her way into a fellow group of survivors. There, she meets charming, handsome and arrogant Riley; neurotic and grumpy Geoff; and the powerful yet aloof Sana Mangal. To them, Jorah appears weak and innocent, to her they are both salvation and ruin. Within days of coming together, the group learns that the events that caused the end of the world may not be over. Battles of loyalty plague them while they search for some way to survive, but the clock is ticking. Meanwhile, there is a darkness hidden inside Jorah that seems to be slowly leaking out. |
About the author:
Hunter Letendre was born and raised in New Hampshire, holds a B.S in Marketing and Entrepreneurial Studies from the University of New Hampshire, and is a Co-Founder and CEO of the self-sustainability consulting company Wildline Solutions.
When not traveling, writing or starting new businesses, Letendre likes to indulge in a variety of author stereotypes. Such as living in New Hampshire, enjoying a glass of something strong, and hanging out with her cat.
Her debut novel, "Rivers, Weak Men and Wolves", will begin a long line of books by Letendre, where the pages slingshot between sarcastic, witty humor, and inevitable doom with intense violence.
When not traveling, writing or starting new businesses, Letendre likes to indulge in a variety of author stereotypes. Such as living in New Hampshire, enjoying a glass of something strong, and hanging out with her cat.
Her debut novel, "Rivers, Weak Men and Wolves", will begin a long line of books by Letendre, where the pages slingshot between sarcastic, witty humor, and inevitable doom with intense violence.
Side note: I visited the author's self-sustainability website. This is AMAZING stuff and I recommend you checking it out. Nope. Not some "plug". Just read it to be inspired!
I think it is BADASS, and I admire anyone who takes a stand to make a difference in the world (literary and non-literary!) Cheers, girl!
"What got me through those periods of self doubt was remembering my purpose in writing a memoir, which is to inspire and lift up other women..." -Hilary Burns
Welcome back, everyone. While I'm trying to stay cool in the dog days of summer, I invite you to check out the latest author interview with Hilary Burns. She is a woman with it all: a blog, YouTube channel, and... you guessed it, a riveting novel of self-worth and self-realization.
J.E.: "The Second Piece of French Toast" is your first novel. What inspired you to write and publish a book?
H.B.: My memoir focuses heavily on issues regarding body-image, marriage, and self-esteem. When I realized that I wasn’t the only one feeling a certain way or experiencing a certain problem, I knew I had to put my story out there in hopes of helping other people feel less alone.
J.E.: This is definitely a relatable topic! How long did it take you to write and edit it?
H.B.: I completed the first draft on 12/31/2012, but it wouldn’t be for another 7 years until it was finally published. In those 7 years, I edited, rewrote, then edited again. Part of the reason that it took so long was because not only was I a new author, but I never went to school for writing. Despite having no prior professional training, I was able to sign up for a great local writing class, which proved to be incredibly eye-opening. At the beginning, I didn’t even know the basic techniques and conventions of writing, like scene vs. summary, flashbacks, correct dialogue formatting, and so much more. I took these classes for over 5 years, rewriting each chapter dozens of times with feedback from my classmates and teacher. After that, I was able to finalize my book with the help of two different copywriters and get it published, 7 years after I finished the first draft.
J.E.: Wow. That's incredible- and inspiring. My background is in pharmacy, which is nowhere near writing, so I can understand the obstacles that were laid ahead of us. Now, what were the most challenging aspects of writing this novel?
H.B.: Not giving up. I constantly had the thought, “Who was I to write a book? Why is my story so important?” What got me through those periods of self doubt was remembering my purpose in writing a memoir, which is to inspire and lift up other women in similar situations as I was in. And, as I mentioned before, I have no formal training as a writer, which means I was unfamiliar with the industry in terms of editing, designing a cover, formatting, and publishing. I constantly felt like I wasn’t doing it in “the right way.” Luckily, I was fortunate enough to have mentors, teachers, and partners who believed in my project and helped me along the way. Their support really kept me going.
J.E.: What do you hope your readers will take away from your memoir?
H.B.: I hope that this memoir helps people realize that no matter how their life looks right now and no matter what problems they are facing, they won’t be stuck in that situation forever. There is always light at the end of the tunnel, and it’s never too late to turn things around and create a life you truly love. My story is proof of that.
J.E.: I am just chomping at the bits to read this! What is your next project, if any?
H.B: "The Second Piece of French Toast" was very recently published last December, so I currently don’t have any new writing projects in the works. However, I am devoting time to my YouTube channel called 'Getting Real With Hilary', where I share stories about my life and reflect on my experiences. On my website, gettingrealwithhilary.com, I run a blog and offer life coaching and planning services. My ultimate goal is to inspire others and help those going through difficult times, and my channel and blog is a vessel for that goal.
J.E.: Tell us one thing about yourself that you enjoy doing other than writing!
H.B.: I love laughing, spending time with loved ones, and being active. I also love working on my website and YouTube channel, and I love talking with my clients. I am truly passionate about helping others achieve their greatness.
J.E.: Any tips for aspiring writers?
H.B.: Just start writing. Don’t worry about getting it right on the first go. Accept the fact that you’ll have to edit and rewrite, but for the time being, just let your fingers fly. So many new writers get caught up with needing to have every word and every detail perfect that it prevents them from getting any actual writing done. If you just write, you can always make revisions from there.
J.E.: Before you go, tell us a little about your YouTube channel "Getting Real with Hilary"
H.B.: My YouTube channel is a way for me to connect with people in a real and authentic way. For most of my life, I put on an act of being pleasant and proper, always preoccupied with how to please other people or what others thought of me. When I decided to let that all go and be my true self, my daughter suggested that I start a YouTube channel. I had no idea how YouTube worked at first, but I started recording videos about what was really happening in my life and what I was really experiencing and thinking. YouTube has allowed me to take off the facade of picture-perfect Hilary, and I haven’t stopped since. Some of my favorite videos I’ve filmed are Getting Out of Victim Mode and 5 Steps to Creating the Life You Want.
I want to take the time to thank Hilary for stopping by and answering a few questions. If you are interested in a paperback or e-copy of her inspiring novel, click on the buttons below and start LIVING!
H.B.: My memoir focuses heavily on issues regarding body-image, marriage, and self-esteem. When I realized that I wasn’t the only one feeling a certain way or experiencing a certain problem, I knew I had to put my story out there in hopes of helping other people feel less alone.
J.E.: This is definitely a relatable topic! How long did it take you to write and edit it?
H.B.: I completed the first draft on 12/31/2012, but it wouldn’t be for another 7 years until it was finally published. In those 7 years, I edited, rewrote, then edited again. Part of the reason that it took so long was because not only was I a new author, but I never went to school for writing. Despite having no prior professional training, I was able to sign up for a great local writing class, which proved to be incredibly eye-opening. At the beginning, I didn’t even know the basic techniques and conventions of writing, like scene vs. summary, flashbacks, correct dialogue formatting, and so much more. I took these classes for over 5 years, rewriting each chapter dozens of times with feedback from my classmates and teacher. After that, I was able to finalize my book with the help of two different copywriters and get it published, 7 years after I finished the first draft.
J.E.: Wow. That's incredible- and inspiring. My background is in pharmacy, which is nowhere near writing, so I can understand the obstacles that were laid ahead of us. Now, what were the most challenging aspects of writing this novel?
H.B.: Not giving up. I constantly had the thought, “Who was I to write a book? Why is my story so important?” What got me through those periods of self doubt was remembering my purpose in writing a memoir, which is to inspire and lift up other women in similar situations as I was in. And, as I mentioned before, I have no formal training as a writer, which means I was unfamiliar with the industry in terms of editing, designing a cover, formatting, and publishing. I constantly felt like I wasn’t doing it in “the right way.” Luckily, I was fortunate enough to have mentors, teachers, and partners who believed in my project and helped me along the way. Their support really kept me going.
J.E.: What do you hope your readers will take away from your memoir?
H.B.: I hope that this memoir helps people realize that no matter how their life looks right now and no matter what problems they are facing, they won’t be stuck in that situation forever. There is always light at the end of the tunnel, and it’s never too late to turn things around and create a life you truly love. My story is proof of that.
J.E.: I am just chomping at the bits to read this! What is your next project, if any?
H.B: "The Second Piece of French Toast" was very recently published last December, so I currently don’t have any new writing projects in the works. However, I am devoting time to my YouTube channel called 'Getting Real With Hilary', where I share stories about my life and reflect on my experiences. On my website, gettingrealwithhilary.com, I run a blog and offer life coaching and planning services. My ultimate goal is to inspire others and help those going through difficult times, and my channel and blog is a vessel for that goal.
J.E.: Tell us one thing about yourself that you enjoy doing other than writing!
H.B.: I love laughing, spending time with loved ones, and being active. I also love working on my website and YouTube channel, and I love talking with my clients. I am truly passionate about helping others achieve their greatness.
J.E.: Any tips for aspiring writers?
H.B.: Just start writing. Don’t worry about getting it right on the first go. Accept the fact that you’ll have to edit and rewrite, but for the time being, just let your fingers fly. So many new writers get caught up with needing to have every word and every detail perfect that it prevents them from getting any actual writing done. If you just write, you can always make revisions from there.
J.E.: Before you go, tell us a little about your YouTube channel "Getting Real with Hilary"
H.B.: My YouTube channel is a way for me to connect with people in a real and authentic way. For most of my life, I put on an act of being pleasant and proper, always preoccupied with how to please other people or what others thought of me. When I decided to let that all go and be my true self, my daughter suggested that I start a YouTube channel. I had no idea how YouTube worked at first, but I started recording videos about what was really happening in my life and what I was really experiencing and thinking. YouTube has allowed me to take off the facade of picture-perfect Hilary, and I haven’t stopped since. Some of my favorite videos I’ve filmed are Getting Out of Victim Mode and 5 Steps to Creating the Life You Want.
I want to take the time to thank Hilary for stopping by and answering a few questions. If you are interested in a paperback or e-copy of her inspiring novel, click on the buttons below and start LIVING!
 | Hilary Arnow Burns grew up in Westport, Connecticut. She graduated from the Wharton Business School at the University of Pennsylvania in 1981. She spent over 30 years as a business consultant to companies all over the world. Her best accomplishment is having raised two remarkable children. She has a YouTube channel and website, "Getting Real with Hilary." She has a blog, "CreatingLifeOutHere.com." Her vision is to inspire people to live the lives they've always dreamed of. She is currently living hers. This is her first book. |
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