Paul and Paula's Place: February 2012

Wednesday, February 15, 2012

February 15 on Come In, Sit Down, Tell us about...

Have you ever linked to someone and then can't find them? Well, I just did that - so that blog can wait until she appears again in my e mail. Now, don't go away! News, news, news - the book I was fortunate enough to be a contributing author in order to raise money for children's charities was featured for a fifteen minute {I guess that really is the limit allotted} slot on dictionary.com by AMAZON! Yes, we were a FEATURED book - here are the links for both kindle and print - remember all proceeds go to children's charity - we keep nothing of the royalties!

For the Kindle: http://www.amazon.com/Whimsical-Holiday-Children-Childrens-ebook/dp/B006MQ1A0K/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1329322920&sr=8-1

Print version: http://www.amazon.com/Whimsical-Holiday-Children-Childrens-Charities/dp/1468044761/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&qid=1329322920&sr=8-8

Got more news but I've got a ton of editing and, and .... well, gotta go - back soon! Oh, leave some news about you, before you go - down in that comment box

Wednesday, February 8, 2012

Today, February 9th, Gwen Steel is with us on Come In, Sit Down, Tell us about....

Laszlo Kugler is here, February 8th on Come In, Sit Down, Tell Us About....

Today, the 8th of February, we have Laszlo Kugler AKA Lazarus but on BookRix, to his friends, we call him, Laz. Laz is another fellow author and friend in the collection, Sandcastles on Amazon with Hannah’s Story being his contribution. Here is the link to Sandcastles:
http://www.amazon.com/Sandcastles-ebook/dp/B006Z6HHO0/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1328585883&sr=8-2

Laz, I am so happy that you finally were able to have your interview featured ~
What inspired you to write?
I always had a vivid imagination and loved fantasy/sci-fi stories. A few of my favorite authors were and still to this day are J R R Tolkien, Edgar Rice Boroughs, and such ones as Isaac Asimov.
Do you have anyone you show manuscripts to and get advice from or are you a loner doing it all yourself?
I have many friends at BookRix.com whom I show my work to. They are truly helpful since English was not my first language. I try to do my own editing, but when I’m done, I still like to have someone look it over.
What genre do you normally write in? Also, is there a genre you've always wanted to write in, but don't feel you could pull it off?
I love fantasy and science fiction, along with humor.. It takes me away from the REAL life, which can be so depressing. Just look at all the news in the media. I think people need more stories which will make them forget their troubles.
I thought about HORROR, but no….I’m not too comfortable with blood and gore.
What advice would you give to someone who was just starting off in writing?
I would tell them to write….put down whatever enters their mind. Or if they have a theme and storyline, start writing. Don’t just sit there. AND, above all review some grammatical point, and use a dictionary as if your life depended on it. A good story will be overlooked if the reader is turned off by bad grammar and spelling.
This question was posed by a fellow author and I loved it so much I decided to throw it into the mix ~ Oh no! One of your characters has escaped. Luckily, I have caught them! I will interrogate them with the help of a lie detector. Welcome! Take a seat, make yourself comfortable. You will be returning to your book once this is over. What's your name, where are you from and what is your role in the book?
That’s a tough one. I think Calvin from my story called “Faeries don’t need to work” would answer. He would say that his role was to simply enjoy an outing alone, but because of some enchanted woods, he met a slew of little interesting people and eventually joined them: this mostly because of one extraordinary character by the name of Mischievous Melissa. And along with that role, his goal was/is to give the reader some wholesome entertainment.
Tell us why we would enjoy reading your books?
They are light, fun to read, and occasionally have a moral to them.
Thank you Laz for agreeing to be interviewed and I would like to add that Laz’s stories are very enjoyable and most of his stories have love intertwined with the subtle use of sensuality. He is a must read for his fellow authors. Laz’s link: http://www.bookrix.com/-lazarus67

Tuesday, February 7, 2012

Stan I.S. Law AKA Stanislaw Kapuscinski is here, February 7th on Come In, Sit Down, Tell Us About...

Today, February 7th, Stan. I. S. Law AKA Stanislaw Kapuscinski is here at our place. I first encountered Stan’s writing on Author’s Den where he soon became a favorite for his stories and his non fiction.

Thank you for coming ~

What inspired you to write?

1. Freedom of artistic expression I never enjoyed as an architect. Also, I have a passion for the exploration of human potential.

Do you have anyone you show manuscripts to and get advice from or are you a loner doing it all yourself?

2. I used to have a professional editor, a bunch or inept proofreaders and semi-ignorant advisers. Now I have 3 friends, competent, knowledgeable, who like my work so much (LOL) that they do it all for free. Aren't I lucky.

What genre do you normally write in?

3. Mainstream, adventure, sci-fi, romances, all all tinted with metaphysics. I am a perennial student of human potential. Fiction and non-fiction.

Do you ever base your characters on people you know?

4.Sometimes, marginally. (actually, all my characters have trait of some people I know, but that's probably not what you mean.)

What advice would you give to someone who was just starting off in writing?

5. Write, write, write. A book is a reward in itself.

Do your stories tend to have morals, or special messages, included within them?

6. Always human potential. Never morals. Moral people are people who keep up (morally) with people who think like you. I like diversity. I believe in ethics, not morals.

Tell us why we would enjoy reading your books?

7. If you are tired of steaming sex romances, vampires and long for a feast to sate you mind, you'll enjoy my books. If not, you'd better stick to you own genre.

Stan’s books can be found on Amazon.com http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=Stanislaw+Kapuscinski&x=0&y=0

He is also on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000715466289

Author’s Den: http://www.authorsden.com/visit/author.asp?AuthorID=56493

Monday, February 6, 2012

Today, February 6th, Alexander Stone AKA Ken Polson on Come In, Sit Down, Tell us about....

This blog is a meeting place for authors and others in the arts .... each week as others are directed to our door or just stumble on by, they come and leave us information about themselves so they can tell about their new books or drawings or photos or to tell us about their new blogs. ****PLEASE be sure your comments are appearing on the latest most timely blog insuring your inclusion in the sending off to Google plus land at the end of the week.*****

Here is the link to Gwen’s site: http://www.indieauthornetwork.weebly.com/index.html G.D. Steel's blog is free promoting of your arts. As I am wont to say {as does Facebook} our site is free to comment and share and always will be free.

For the rest of the month of January and possibly into February of 2012,we will be interviewing new and seasoned authors, first at Gwen's and then over here.

Today, February 6th, we have with us, Alexander Stone AKA Ken Polson. I am on your Crypto and Company Squad - a geek in training, if you will. This weekend you launched your group event so I know how busy you are and want to say, I’m so happy you took a side trip and stopped in. Now, do you want me to call you Ken or Alexander?

Hello Paula, I write under the name Alexander Stone and that persona is the one in charge of this medium

Then, Alexander ~

What inspired you to write?

The truth is, the world of today inspired me to write. We live in interesting times as the Ancient Chinese curse implies. I suppose it was my Father that finally gave me the idea of putting it to paper. He wrote a book for his own enjoyment and the lights came on. With that said, I had to think of all the prophecies and mysteries we see today and had to find a medium to express how I felt about them. Since I was a child my favorite question was, “Why?” and now I have the chance to show the world the answers I have found.

Do you have anyone you show manuscripts to and get advice from or are you a loner doing it all yourself?

This is a hard question for many reasons. In the past I have thrown myself at “friends” for help with every aspect of my books and publishing. Truth is, if you want to publish quickly there are things you must let others do. Editing or Proofing for content, your own works, is an exercise in futility. Everyone makes mistakes but the problem lies in how the brain takes those printed words and turns them into a picture in the mind of the reader. An author has the story already in his mind because he wrote it. The words will fit the picture because the picture is already there. There are tricks that you can use to help get around it but I doubt that it works in the end. With that said, people who will go the distance with you on a project are rare. All of us have projects and things we need to get done other than the book we are working on. Unless there is a reason a person can make your work their priority, to get things done you will probably have to do them yourself. So yes I reach out for help and advice, but there is a very short list of people that I know will help.

What genre do you normally write in? Also, is there a genre you've always wanted to write in, but don't feel you could pull it off?

I write a combination of modern day Fantasy and Science Fiction. I would love to write a political column but my extremely volatile sense of humor is too politically incorrect.

Do you ever base your characters on people you know?

Of course, as a matter of fact I have asked and gotten permission from two of my best friends. Almost every character in my books have a personality that I have seen from one or more of the thousands of people I have met over my travels. My favorite thing is listening to how people feel about the things around them and use it in my books.

What advice would you give to someone who was just starting off in writing?

Write, write, write, and write some more. You are the leader behind your book, yes editors, proofers, and agents are there to help you out but it is YOUR message. Sometimes bad grammar tells your story better, sometimes the things a proofer wants to see now is not what needs to be, and agents are about making money and can create a feeling of retail book inside your message that can give a different impression than you want.

Do your stories tend to have morals, or special messages, included within them?

Every single one of them, even though the good guys do not always win.

This question was posed by a fellow author and I loved it so much I decided to throw it into the mix ~ Oh no! One of your characters has escaped. Luckily, I have caught them! I will interrogate them with the help of a lie detector. Welcome! Take a seat, make yourself comfortable. You will be returning to your book once this is over. What's your name, where are you from and what is your role in the book?

Hello I am Leon Crypto.
I guess I would have to say that I am from the mid west United States. Family moved around a bit so I really do not have a place I could say was my childhood home.
I am the Team Leader of Crypto & Co. We started as a group of reality TV Legend and monster chasers but are rapidly growing to something a little different. I don’t understand it all myself.

Basically, I am the handsome spokesman for the team, kinda the football player among the Geek Squad in a way. But, lately I have had to start understanding what a true leader is and doing more than just acting the role. Thanks to some wonderful lessons from members of my team, I hope to be leading them in the right direction.

If you would excuse me, we are about to get really busy now and I need to get the show on the road.

Tell us why we would enjoy reading your books?

My books are the epitome of a rollercoaster ride put on paper. Happy, sad, intense, funny, dramatic, and uplifting you will find in my books. When you are done reading them you will go to Google and shiver at how close to reality some of the things you see and have to pause for moment and wonder if there is something to the story that lies outside the boundaries normal news can cover. Just when you think you know where the story is going, just like in everyday life, something will happen and change everything.
Crypto and Co is where Fantasy and Reality Collide.

Find out more on my websites, become a part of a growing team of writers, editor, distributers, and artists.
Facebook (I would note that this fanpage is less than a month old and look at how many members there are, already)
http://www.facebook.com/AlexanderStoneAuthor
Web Page
http://alexanderstone.jimdo.com/
where you can find my books.
http://alexanderstone.jimdo.com/book-links/

Thanks Alexander for stopping by especially as this is your busy season - now don’t be a stranger. Do drop in again, hopefully soon.

Sunday, February 5, 2012

Today, February 5th, Carol Wills is here on Come In, Sit Down, Tell us about....

Carol Wills is with us today, February 5th.   I had the opportunity and pleasure to team up with Carol with our book, A Whimsical Holiday for Children: To Benefit Children’s Charities, under the banner, The Peacock Writer. We are hoping for another collection to be released this year. Welcome, Carol ~

Hey, hey, hey Paula, sorry couldn’t help it. Having been out for the count since NYE with some awful bug I’m just beginning to smile again. Thanks for the opportunity Paula, I’d be honoured to have you interview me. Ok, here I go:

What inspired you to write?

I don’t know as anyone inspired me to write but my Aunt Gladys did inspire me to read, she would give me great books for birthdays and Christmas. You see, the books she gave me and my sister were the only ones ever to enter our house when I was a kid. I soaked them up like a sponge which lead to me making up little stories in my head. I never wrote them down, couldn’t spell and my handwriting left a lot to be desired.

Do you have anyone you show manuscripts to and get advice from or are you a loner doing it all yourself?

Oh I bore the pants off my family with my stories. But they are so supportive they’d never tell me the truth so, I use peer feedback from my online friends. I can always rely on them for honesty.

What genre do you normally write in? Also, is there a genre you've always wanted to write in, but don't feel you could pull it off?
My writing never sticks to one genre, I write very short stories usually with a twist at the end. I guess I’m in the flash fiction gang although I also write children's stories.

Do you ever base your characters on people you know?
Not consciously, although I do use ideas from real life and give them the ‘what if’ treatment.

What advice would you give to someone who was just starting off in writing?
Always carry a notebook, you never know where an idea for a story will come from. In the early days I got caught out many times with nothing to write on and lost the idea before I could write it down. I also keep a notebook by my bed, I can’t tell you how often and idea pops into my head just as I’m drifting off to sleep. And finally, write, write, write, it doesn't matter if you think it’s rubbish; sooner or later you’ll have a good story down, and like all aspects of life if you don’t use it, you loose it.

Do your stories tend to have morals, or special messages, included within them?
Well, I don’t start out with that in mind but they do have a habit of ending up with a moral here and there, my collection of short stories ‘Five Minute Fiction’ has quite a few. And of course my children’s ‘Titus’ stories are all about the value of friendship.

This question was posed by a fellow author and I loved it so much I decided to throw it into the mix ~ Oh no! One of your characters has escaped. Luckily, I have caught them! I will interrogate them with the help of a lie detector. Welcome!Take a seat, make yourself comfortable. You will be returning to your book once this is over. What's your name, where are you from and what is your role in the book?
Ok, you got me, my name is Violet North, I’m from England and I’m the main character in the book. It’s even called after me, but the stupid woman hasn’t finished it yet. My role is that of a gung ho kinda girl; who manages to get herself caught up in a very dodgy situation in the middle of Africa. My writer says she’s stuck, but I think she’s just scared of writing anything that looks like it might be a novel instead of all that short stuff she churns out. Alright, I’m going back now, but I won’t wait for her much longer. You can tell her from me; I might just find another writer to finish it.

Tell us why we would enjoy reading your books?
Now that’s a hard one. Ok, if you’re a parent/guardian I think my children’s books are fun to read to children because Titus gets into all sorts of trouble and kids love that. My short stuff is ideal to read if you only have a few minutes to spare and don’t have time to get started on something long. I like short stuff with a good twist. When my kids were young that’s all I had time to read so, maybe that’s why I like to write this kind of story.

Also need your latest info and links

Bio:
Carol Wills is married with a grownup family. She lives with her husband in Chesham amid the beautiful Chilton Hills. Her children’s stories are all about a little bird called Titus who has many adventures. She also writes flash fiction and an e-book collection of her stories called Five Minute Fiction, can be found on Amazon. You can contact her at www.purple-hat.blogspot.com, Google+ and http://www.indieauthornetwork.weebly.com

Book links to my Amazon astore
Amazon.com astore: http://astore.amazon.com/womswor0ef-20
Amazon.co.uk astore: http://astore.amazon.co.uk/womenswords-21

eBook's on Amazon Kindle.
A Titus Adventure US
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B006H3JK32
A Titus Adventure UK
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B006H3JK32

Paperbacks
A Titus Adventure paperback on Createspace: discount code for A Titus Adventure LKUR7FJC
https://www.createspace.com/3739529

A Titus Adventure on Amazon UK
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Titus-Adventure-Carol-Wills/dp/1468026585/ref=tmm_pap_title_0

A Titus Adventure paperback on Lulu 25% off any books with Coupon Code: LULUBOOKUK305 Coupon expires 31 January 2012
http://www.lulu.com/product/paperback/a-titus-adventure/18737644?productTrackingContext=search_results/search_shelf/center/1

Promo Video for
A Titus Adventure
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9uJ0vIS6Os8
eBook's on Amazon Kindle
Five Minute Fiction US
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005MG2A96
Five Minute Fiction UK
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B005MG2A96

Parents’ Rules US
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B006I30XLE
Parents’ Rules UK
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B006I30XLE
Parent’s Rules paperback on Amazon US
http://www.amazon.com/Parents-Rules-Carol-Wills/dp/1467984728/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1326282405&sr=1-1

Thanks Paula

You're welcome, Carol and remember our doors are always open.

Saturday, February 4, 2012

Angela Theresa Egic, today, February 4th is here on Come In, Sit Down, Tell Us about....

Friday, February 3, 2012

Linda Scott is with us today, February 3rd on Come In, Sit Down, Tell Us About...

Today, February 3rd we have Linda Scott, a soon to be published Indie YA author. I am involved in editing Voyage of The Legacy, a science fiction book, the first in a series. Linda’s world is intrically woven and the first book serves as the launch into her world. Welcome, Linda ~

What inspired you to write?
The need to tell a story and the need to let my creativity out. I am an artist and I must create or explode. Art comes out in so many ways: plants, animals, drawing, creating anything including cooking.
As an artist my art flows in many ways. When young, I drew abstract art of flames and lines, to know where eyes that do not see, see everything. When I got older, it came out in the jewelry I created and in stones I cut; then, in the work I did caring for others. Art comes out of an artist in every form; whatever the uniform worn, it is drawn to the type of work they do, into the way they live their life. Life is that canvas.
Do you have anyone you show manuscripts to and get advice from or are you a loner doing it all yourself?
I wished I did but no one could or would stay with it. My sister was a great hope, but her mind is too far gone in her own fantasies to help; she, too, is an artist and we had the same background. I am a survivor and the only one to succed in my family intact with sanity. (maybe) My childhood was what nightmares are made from. In my life, I have walked in many shoes.
I have had many people read parts of my novel but only Lee, my husband of many years, has read it all. He says he likes it, but it really is not his cup of tea. And now, you are editing it and I am eagerly awaiting the finished copy.
What genre do you normally write in? Also, is there a genre you've always wanted to write in, but don't feel you could pull it off?
I want to write to a young adult audience. I feel it is important to write choosing good words and story scenes with purpose. I am a caregiver by trade, and when I choose a book to read to a sick friend I feel safe choosing YA. Anyone can write words and tell stories for adults but to tell a story for youth to understand and learn from, takes skill.
Do you ever base your characters on people you know?
I base my characters on everything I see, every person I meet. All of the animals I have had, find their way into my book. As a character comes to life I feel who is there and form the character’s personality. Willow the second most powerful clone in my book, Voyage of the Legacy, was based on Muphy, a cat I had for 24 years. My brother, name and all is in my book, Norman E Durkee. I gave him the life he would have wanted; at age forty-four. he committed suicide ending, what I thought, was a good life.
What advice would you give to someone who was just starting off in writing?
Put the words to paper and tell your story, the work begins when it’s time to re-read and edit your work. I have found such a release in writing … but my first copy does not resemble my current story at all. My first writing was dark and scary. My first read told me I needed to look at my story and lift it to a new level. By my third re-write my story took on a clean fresh look. Now in my seventh edit, it is a good story of life, freedom, joy, fun, and love.
Do your stories tend to have morals, or special messages, included within them?
Yes, my stories do have moralistic messages.They arel about life lessons and challenges. I have walked some very hard roads in my life, and this is a good way to give back, teaching some of the things I have learned.
This question was posed by a fellow author and I loved it so much I decided to throw it into the mix ~ Oh no! One of your characters has escaped. Luckily, I have caught them! I will interrogate them with the help of a lie detector. Welcome! Take a seat, make yourself comfortable. You will be returning to your book once this is over. What's your name, where are you from and what is your role in the book?
Ruud Farms is the name and I run the bio-garden on the Legacy … lost my wife five years back and I just want to grow things … I have a talent for growing things … I am rated a ten on Earth's talent scale … I can read minds and mind speak; I can teleport my body to other places … I took this mission to get away from Earth - I do not plan to ever go back … my name comes from a nurse the author worked with, but my appearance and feel is of Jack V. Kirby, the author’s stepfather … a big man, always had a smile on his face and a song on his lips … he laughed and cried if things were sad … he enforced what life was and would bring good and bad … in the story I marry Cora the oldest clone and we give of ourselves to form a integrated family … in the book, I am grandfather to everyone.
Tell us why we would enjoy reading your books?
I have created a wonderful new world in a brand new star system. I have brave new adventures and creatures no one has ever seen before. Want to ride a dragon? How about meet a SiiCor and help make SiiSilk? Want to get to know a sentient rat? How about ride a pug in a duck-n-pug-run, YEHaw!
Voyage of the Legacy is the first novel of 5 in the Giftsofdawn Books series
Here are Linda’s latest links
http://giftsofdawn.wordpress.com/ blogsite
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000528096411 facebook
http://astore.amazon.com/gifofdaw-20?_encoding=UTF8&node=350 my aStore

Chronicles of The K-9 Boys and Girls on Locus Street seriesre