Xpressions!

1.What inspired you to write this book?

a. At the time I started writing MATEGUAS, I lived on an unconnected island off the coast of Maine. Access was only by private boat or ferry. I also had recently purchased a new invention called the iPad. I had a lot of "down time" either on the ferry or waiting for the next one so I decided use the iPad to try to write a novel. I'd written songs and poems before, but I always had stories rattling around in my head and it seemed the right time to attempt to actually put one down on virtual paper.

2. If you had to co-author a book, who would be your ideal partner and why?

a. That's a hard one. In my genre, one of the obvious choices would be Stephen King. I love his early writing (THE STAND, IT, SALEM'S LOT, THE SHINING) and his collections of short stories. But I think, if I had to make a choice, I'd pick Shirley Jackson. Her THE HAUNTING OF HILL HOUSE is, in my opinion, the best haunted house story ever written. I also loved her very dark WE HAVE ALWAYS LIVED IN THE CASTLE.

3.Tell me a little bit about yourself.

I'm a retired, single lady, living in a big rambling house with three special needs rescue dogs -Splatter, Spudley and Jasper. I was born on the East Coast but my family moved to Michigan when I was very young. After college (Carnegie Mellon, '70), I moved to the San Francisco Bay area where I lived most of my life. I think I will always consider the Peninsula 'home'.

I worked at various jobs before ending up at Stanford University School of Medicine, staying there for twenty wonderful years working as a Senior Financial Analyst in the Department of Pediatrics. When I turned 50, I was lucky enough to be able to take early retirement, sold my home in Belmont for a bundle of money, and moved to the high desert in Central Oregon. That's where I adopted my three dogs and became involved in animal rescue. From there, I moved to the aforementioned island in Maine and then, full circle, back to Michigan where I live now.

4. What do you do for a living?

a. I'm retired so the only "work" I do is writing and promoting my writing. My dogs - one blind, one with difficulty walking, and one diabetic - take up a good deal of my time, too.d grew up in Burlingame, not far from where I used to live on the Peninsula.ng, and one diabetic - take up a good deal of my time, too.

5. What part of the world do you live in?

a. Right now, Michigan. Tomorrow, who knows? I'm thinking about the southwest - maybe Sedona.

6. How long have you been writing?

a. Novels - only about four years. Before that, I wrote mostly songs and poems for fun. When I was quite young, my sister and I used to write comical plays based on popular TV shows of the time. When we were finished, we'd record them on a big old reel-to-reel tape recorder my father had. My sister, by the way, is also a writer.

7. What is your writing process like? Are you a pantster, a plotter, or somewhere in between?

a. I am definitely a pantster. Outlines, index cards and stuff like that make me cringe! I write in my head late at night, then sit down at the computer in the morning and regurgitate it. Or I just sit down and write.

8. When and where do you write?

a. I write directly into the computer. I used to use the iPad a lot but not anymore. Since I'm a morning person, I do most of my best work before noon.

9. What sorts of conditions are most conducive to productivity?

a. I like it quiet. I don't play music or anything. And I take lots of breaks. I'll stop and play a computer game or do something around the house or walk the dog, then come back to what I've written and read it aloud to see how it sounds.

10. What's your favorite aspect of being a writer?

a. The fun stuff I get to do with my characters. You can't do those things to people in real life! I get to kill them off, put them in horrible situations, ruin their lives, make them fall in love with the wrong people, etc.

11. Your least favorite?

a. Marketing and promoting - I don't know any author who really enjoys that stuff. It takes up so much time that could be better used for writing!

12. What are the biggest challenges you face as a writer?

a. Right now getting the third novel in the MATEGUAS SERIES written! I've have the prologue, the epilogue, and some pieces of the middle done, but I'm having trouble with the beginning. It was the same with RETURN, getting everyone to the island is difficult and not the fun part of writing a supernatural novel.

13. Who are some of your favorite writers and why?

a. John Fowles because he wrote my favorite book of all time, THE MAGUS. Stephen King's early work because I love his characters, especially the younger ones. One of my favorite books of his is THE GIRL WHO LOVED TOM GORDON, a story about a young girl who gets lost in the Maine woods. Baseball plays a big part in it, too. And, last but certainly not least, Vladimir Nabokov because he wrote LOLITA!

14. What are your favorite books?

a. My all time favorite book is THE MAGUS by John Fowles. I don't know how many times I've read it, but each time I come away with something new. Another favorite is THE ART OF RACING IN THE RAIN by Garth Stein. I'm a dog lover so this book has a special place in my heart. A WALK IN THE WOODS by Bill Bryson is another great and fun read. SHADOWLAND by Peter Straub - very dark horror. And THE STAND and THE SHINING by Stephen King - both masterpieces.

15. What writing tools do you use, if any?

a. If by tools, you mean writing programs, I don't use any - just the computer and WORD.

16. How long does it typically take for you to write your first draft?

a. The first draft of MATEGUAS ISLAND took me two seasons - from April to September. RETURN TO MATEGUAS was done in pieces. I wrote about two-thirds of it in a couple of months then left it for six months or so. Then I rewrote the whole thing.

17. Your final draft?

a. It took me about three years to get to a final draft of MATEGUAS ISLAND that I was happy with. RETURN was quicker, probably about a year and a half. I was actually working on both of them at the same time - polishing MATEGUAS while writing RETURN.

18. Who's your favorite character from one of your books? Why?

a. Gotta be Karen. Many people don't like her, but I do. She's not your average heroine - she's selfish, bitchy and sometimes mean. But she grows and learns - and that's why I like her.

19. If you could have one superpower what would it be?

I'd like to be able to teleport! Not fly, but be able to just move through space instantaneously from one locale to another. I'd like to get up in the morning in Michigan and, if it was snowing, be able to transport myself (and my dogs) to a tropical beach for the day. Or maybe to the wilds of Australia. No driving to the airport, going through TSA screening, struggling with luggage, missing connections - none of that. Just one moment I'm here and the next, I'm there!

"Angelica Mason is no joke. In ten short years, she made a name for herself. Her designer bookshelf of awards and citations shouted her accomplishments in perfect harmony synchronized to the beat of her up-tempo 'do it my way' lifestyle.

After graduating from the University of Georgia, she took advantage of two of the many graduating gifts she received: a set of Louis Vuitton luggage from her god-mother and an all expense paid trip to Italy from her parents. For five months, she enjoyed the Mediterranean and authentic Italian cuisine while showcasing her five years of studying Italian. She'd never admit -out-loud anyway-that her cerebral experience at the Sistine Chapel was overshadowed by her shopping spree in Milan's Montenapoleone. St. Peter's Square and the Vatican were no match for Dolce & Gabbana!

Refreshed and invigorated by the ancient leaders of Western civilization, she returned from Italy heading to the political powerhouse of the 21st century; Washington, DC. Here she planned to match the political theory behind her Masters degree in political science with the realities of US politics. She was off to a great start when she learned just before her return that she landed a spot in the Presidential Management Fellows Program. She fast tracked through the program when the Director of Immigration learned she scripted the white paper on 'Immigration Reform: Constitutional Issues and Exploration'.

She excelled in her position in the Director's office earning quite the reputation for trouble shooting: the big and the small. Initially she thrived on living life in the fast lane and with the powerbrokers that refused to use signal lights or warning signs or so she thought until she learned to read their unwritten, not to be violated, rules and moves.
Suddenly, and if asked, Angelica could articulate in great detail the moment she made the conscious decision to no longer interpret the unwritten DC maneuvers and machinations: 6 PM, Monday, January 1st."

I enjoyed learning what makes author P.J. Fiala tick! She's a great writer and this is how she does it!

MEET Patti!

1. What inspired you to write this book?

a. I was and am inspired by life. Have you seen the news? Read the papers? Good grief, life is complicated, unusual, interesting and mind boggling. There isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t hear or read something and think, that is some crazy stuff. Keep in mind that my day job is as a paralegal, so I hear some crazy stuff. So, back to my inspiration. Because of the complexities and unusualness of life, I write stories that have a little angst (not too much, life gives us that), a little adventure and a lot of love (sometimes, life doesn’t give us enough of that).

2. If you had to co-author a book, who would be your ideal partner and why?

a. I love Sylvia Day. She is my inspiration and I would absolutely love to know how her mind works, what her writing process is and how she puts it all together.

3. Tell me a little bit about yourself.

a. I live in Wisconsin, just outside of Green Bay, though I was born in Missouri and spent my summers with my grandma’s family in Kentucky. I call Kentucky home more than Missouri. I still have family in Kentucky, and visit at least once a year to see them all. I have four children, all grown and three beautiful grandchildren. My husband and I ride motorcycles. We ride whenever we can. We’ve been on some fabulous trips and are looking forward to so many more. With retirement only about a year away, we are hoping to be on the road several months each year. I come from a long line of Veterans. My great grandfathers, grandfathers, father, brother and two of my sons. My two sons both have served in Iraq and Afghanistan and my youngest is still in the Army Reserves. I have a concealed carry permit and believe strongly in the right to keep and bear arms and do so proudly, but not without the understanding of the awesome responsibility of carrying. Our whole family will go to the gun range together, or as many of us who can, to practice. It’s a fabulous privilege. And, lastly, I love to write steamy romances.

4. What do you do for a living?

a. As I mentioned, I am a paralegal. The law office I work in deals mostly with business related law. I have my bachelor’s degree in Human Resources Management with a minor in ParalegalThe law I work in is heavily geared to employment law, business law, and litigation.

5. What part of the world do you live in?

a. I live in the United States, just outside of Green Bay, Wisconsin.

6. How long have you been writing?

a. I have been writing for about three years now, though I have wanted to write my whole life. I let fear stand in the way for a very long time and finally decided I deserved to do what made me happy. My husband has been a huge supporter and encourages me to follow my dreams.

7. What is your writing process like? Are you a pantster, a plotter, or somewhere in between?

a. I’m totally a pantster. When I sit to write, I usually have my basic story in my mind, never on paper. When I have the basic story in my mind and sit down to write, I can go all day. The story just flows and usually takes me places I didn’t intend to go when I first started. My characters usually misbehave, but if I left them go, I’m usually happy with the direction. That’s not to say there aren’t major revisions along the way.

8. When and where do you write? a. I write when the mood strikes me, as long as the mood strikes me when I am not at work. When I have a story mostly puzzled out, I will set aside a weekend and let everyone know this is my writing weekend – Leave Me Alone. I have a dedicated office at home, but lately have found that I prefer to stand while writing, so I will often take my laptop into the kitchen and stand at the counter for long periods.

9. What sorts of conditions are most conducive to productivity?

a. I like having music on or the television, especially home DIY shows. I need noise or music. I find that when I need to, I can tune out things I don’t want or need to hear. When I need a break, I have the background noise to fall back on.

10. What's your favorite aspect of being a writer?

a. The creativity. I love being able to invent people that I would like to know or be related to. I love inventing scenarios and situations.

11. Your least favorite? a. Marketing. YUCK. It is so dang time consuming. There is so much out there and it’s so darn frustrating sometimes. And, it takes away from my writing time.

12. What are the biggest challenges you face as a writer?

a. Time, always time. Still working full time, I have to fit the writing, marketing, editing, cover design, teaser creation, formatting, uploading, swag creation, etc. into a few short hours a week. It never seems to be enough. My to-do list seems to grow rather than shrink.

13. Who are some of your favorite writers and why?

a. I mentioned Sylvia Day before. I love her books, her characters and her writing style. I like Jill Shalvis. She is so darn funny and her characters are light-hearted and fun. I like S.C. Stephens. Her writing style grabs hold and hangs on. Lauren Dane is fabulous. Gosh there are so many fabulous writers out there.

14. What are your favorite books?

a. I love steamy romances, not necessarily erotic, but I love being titillated and some steamy, panty melting scenes. But, I want there to be a story to go along with it. I love it when two people need to fight to stay together. Not always fight with each other, but there areusually outside forces to battle and win.

15. What writing tools do you use, if any?

a. My mind and my laptop. I suppose you could say Pinterest. I create boards for every book. Any inspirations I have for characters, clothing, places, foods, drinks, houses, bikes, anything, I locate and pin to my Pinterest boards and look at them often for additional inspiration. I also create music lists on Spotify to go with my books as well.

16. How long does it typically take for you to write your first draft?

a. It depends. My first book is 455 pages. That took me about a month to write. It went through many revisions and, even recently, another revision as I am republishing it this month. Dog Days of Summer took about that same about of time for the first draft. Rydin’ the Storm Out took about three weeks. I have others coming soon, that have taken about 2-3 weeks. I like to write them and then put them away for a little while. I’ll pull them back out and look them over in a few weeks and usually make some changes. Two weeks ago, I wrote a short story for inclusion in an anthology n a day. I started on Saturday morning and before six o’clock Saturday night, I was finished with it. That was a fun day.

17. Your final draft?

a. Oh, that can be a while. As I mentioned, I’ll put them away a bit and come back to them. I would say another month or two after the first draft.

18. Who's your favorite character from one of your books? Why?

a. Grayson Kinkaide from Second Chances is my favorite H. He was my first and he’s simply unforgettable.

19. If you could have one superpower what would it be.?

a. Ooooo, I would like to be Storm from X-Men. I could control the weather. I would like that. People I disliked would find themselves in perpetual thunder, lightning and just plan crappy weather all the darn time. While people that I cared about would enjoy all the warmth and sunshine they wanted.

Book Info:

Title: Rydin’ the Storm Out
Publication Date: January 9, 2015
Genre: Adult Contemporary RomancePages: 226
Publisher: Rolling Thunder Publishing
Format: eBook and Paperback
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00RI9I4DQ
Universal Amazon Link: http://myBook.to/RydintheStormOut
Barnes & Noble: http://goo.gl/zpLuVr
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/24146271-rydin-the-storm-out

This is the second novel I read by this author and I was not disappointed! The first novel I read, 'Snagged, was very good and I enjoyed it tremendously. This historical novel is very different and I could not put it down!

I learned that Templar's Treasure is not the first novel in author Cherime MacFarlane's MacGrough Clan series; it's actually the seventh. Although seven books precede this one, I was able to easily follow and enjoy the storyline. The author moved the Clan series forward sharing just enough of previous story lines to allow readers to understand the plot and storyline of Book 7--leaving enough out to make us want to finish this one and grab the first in the series.

The characters are well developed each contributing to a plot filled with enough twists and turns to keep you guessing throughout the story. The author's use of Scottish vernacular (index of terms included) provides a legitimacy to the characters and setting.

I highly recommend this novel and can't wait to read others in the MacGrough Clan series.

I have read several books by this author, enjoyed all of them but 'The Healer', by far, is my favorite. In this novel, author Christoph Fischer, tackles a subject near and dear to my heart; the medical profession and the impact of physician decision making on individuals particularly those with severe medical conditions and diseases.

In Fischer's novel, we meet Erica in the aftermath of a round of chemotherapy intended to treat her pancreatic cancer. Readers learn very quickly that Erica is seeking the impossible; healing. We empathize with Erica knowing that she has one of the most painful and fatal forms of cancer. While Erica's "hair had not fallen out from the chemo...it turned gray and made her look much older than she was. People used to think of Erica as at least five years younger than she actually was, now people thought she was five years older. She looked tiny and felt thin and weak."

Out of desperation and the advice of her assistant, Erica searches for a renown spiritual guru known for his non-traditional unusual treatment protocols and more importantly for his fees. She persuades recluse Arpan self re-named Amesh to use his gift to heal her body in exchange for emptying her bank account.

Believing she's fully healed, Erica returns to her job basically broke but thankful for her life and ability to go forward.

Without spoilers, the author convincingly creates a story line, over and above the medical treatment issues, that revolves around core concepts such as faith, trust, relationships, integrity and more. He craftily develops the plot to allow for suspicion, anticipation and 'in the box' conclusions. While it could be easy for many readers to neatly make certain assumptions and form a simple conclusion, I was unable to do so. Perhaps it is because of my familiarity and extreme sensitivity (I must admit) to many of the topics raised in this outstanding novel, I completed the book having a myriad of questions and thoughts. I'd love for the author to have a sequel to this book. If he'd already written it, I would purchase it today!

Congratulations Christoph Fischer on another great book! Keep them coming.

― John William Gardner

“Make New Year's goals. Dig within, and discover what you would like to have happen in your life this year. This helps you do your part. It is an affirmation that you're interested in fully living life in the year to come.

Goals give us direction. They put a powerful force into play on a universal, conscious, and subconscious level. Goals give our life direction.

What would you like to have happen in your life this year? What would you like to do, to accomplish? What good would you like to attract into your life? What particular areas of growth would you like to have happen to you? What blocks, or character defects, would you like to have removed?

What would you like to attain? Little things and big things? Where would you like to go? What would you like to have happen in friendship and love? What would you like to have happen in your family life?

What problems would you like to see solved? What decisions would you like to make? What would you like to happen in your career?

Write it down. Take a piece of paper, a few hours of your time, and write it all down - as an affirmation of you, your life, and your ability to choose. Then let it go.

The new year stands before us, like a chapter in a book, waiting to be written. We can help write that story by setting goals.”
― Melody Beattie, The Language of Letting Go: Daily Meditations on Codependency

I loved, loved, and loved this story. Let me say that again: 48 Hours 'Till Christmas, by Stephany Tullis, is a heart warming tale that will make your Christmas spirit come alive with the joy, magic and wonder of Christmas. This holiday season, as an alternative to the "Grinch Who Stole Christmas" (or as a contrast to complement it) read "48 Hours 'Til Christmas". You will not be disappointed with this well written Christmas tale. It is a must read for those of us who still believe in Santa Claus, reindeer and the transformative power of a collaborative effort with our fellow human beings in an opportune moment. This was my first time reading anything by Stephany Tullis, and I look forward to reading more from her in the future.

Reviewed by Thomas Jerome Baker
Author of "How To Coach A Debate Team"