Greetings Cool Peeps,

Please join me in welcoming author Gareth Stokes as my guest this week.

Welcome, Gareth! Tell the cool peeps about yourself.

Hi, Molly. Thanks for inviting me. I’m a retired truck driver, teach guitar part-time, hug people and kiss them on the cheek and so far have managed to do so frequently without getting arrested. I write fiction across different genres and read across different genres because I do like variety in all things, live in the southeast of the UK, have a passion for washing dishes, music, idiosyncratic people, sniping about politics, love marmite and grilled cheese on toast, the Lord Of The Rings Trilogy, and sneaking into quiet churches to mess about on the big ol’ pipe organ.

A rare occasion when I’m not squirreled away writing. A night out with my girlfriend. I think she’s laughing because I’ve got my arm around her. Most people do laugh when I give them a hug. Don’t know why that is! Maybe I need to change my cologne.

Your novel, 5 Minutes, sounds intriguing. What’s it about? What inspired you to write it?

The core of – and in fact the inspiration for – this story is how children are too often victims of fickle politics. The story includes the execution of the Russian Royal Family in the early 20th Century, the struggle of single mothers in today’s society, even the young men sent to fight in wars, not even out of their teens. In this sci/fi adventure, the spirit of Tsarina Alexandra Romanov cannot rest after witnessing the execution of her children, and travels through time to a universe 5,000 years in the future. She becomes the autocratic leader of the colonised planet, Excel – and creates a duplicate Russian society. Her mission is uncomplicated and merciless: to use the resources of this planet, and those of the Universe itself, to destroy Earth as a savage act of revenge for the death of her children. It falls to the Tsarina’s eldest child, a strong opponent of Excel’s political infrastructure, to head off to Earth in an attempt to save it from destruction. Along the way, the would-be saviour must overcome a number of obstacles, some too bizarre to adequately describe here, and rely upon (amongst other quirky characters) a thinking/bitchin’ spaceship, an android with unreliable programming, and two young children each of whom possess special gifts. Will the Earth be saved?… is a question which teases throughout the novel – and the answer is not necessarily what you may expect.

I find it interesting that your story mixes tragedy with whimsical humor. How do you balance that?

Because this story involves that certain amount of dark tragedy, I felt it necessary to counterbalance this with some flighty humour, which is diagrammed through the characters, certain unethical events, and great chunks of convoluted dialogue. After all, no matter the genre, fiction is so often an imitator of real life – a muddle of tragic humour. We all endure those days or events which are heartbreaking, but also (often in an arbitrary fashion) those days when everything seems somewhat nonsensical and silly. I enjoy fiction that is a microcosm of reality – and reality is almost always a little bit of ugly and a little bit of daft! It’s rather like taking a bitter pill followed by a spoonful of sugar.

You’ve told me that your novel isn’t genre-specific and that it crosses several genres. Please, elaborate.

I knew I wanted to write a science fiction – but not a purist one. Although I was inspired by Asimov, Heinlein, Clarke, et al, I had so many motivations from a host of different genre writers that I felt the need to take this story across platforms. So it has history, politics, comedy, adventure, satire, and a little of my own humble philosophical musings. I believe it works – although I would say that, wouldn’t I? … The important thing was to blend these aspects in and around a straightforward adventure story with an underpinning of observational narrative. For which reason there is a character in the story, Adelphi Galvuurt, who is the narrator for much of the book. He gets to comment on the political environment of both the 21st Century and my futuristic dimension of Time. In summary, I gave him an artistic license that I don’t feel I personally am entitled to. (It’s a bit sneaky but it’s jolly good fun craftily whispering through the mouth of your character!)

I love psychological thrillers. I hear that you have one called Universal Language. What’s it about? Where did you get the idea for it?

Once upon a time, in a land far away and a decade almost forgotten… I had a cabaret act, and toured the club circuit in the northeast of England. This provided the germ of the novel’s idea in that the protagonist, Gary Price, has managed to take his ‘act’ one step further than I ever did… he’s on the brink of a big breakthrough. However, family issues have dogged his life and now threaten his ascendance to fame. Troubled by the guilt of past failures, haunted by the reminder of a childhood tragedy, hunted by a perverse killer, now the consequences of that terrible tragedy are forced back into his life by an old school ‘friend’. It’s a story of ambition, failed marriage, struggling relationships with your children… and revenge from a twisted antagonist who is more crazy than Gary ever gets on all the booze in his kitchen cupboard.

How much of you do you put into your books? Does one have more of you than the other?

I would say that 5 Minutes has a fair proportion of my political disillusionment and cynical attitude woven into the narrative. And Universal Language has the backdrop of my early-life musical ambitions and stage performing. But that’s about as far as it goes. For one thing, no one would want to read this unknown author’s thinly disguised autobiography… hell, most of us don’t want to read the autobiographies of so many non-entity Z-list celebrities but we have them shoved in our bookstores – so I aim to keep my fiction as far away as is humanly possible from my real life. For another thing, as tempting as it may be to some writers to use real people and events from their lives, it’s wise to remember a book can sometimes be a mere hop and a skip away from a libel action if you’re not very careful how you portray someone you’ve met. So, not to defy the old adage: write what you know… I really prefer to simply make stuff up! The less it has to do with me the more enjoyable the creative process.

What future writing projects do you have in the works or in your head? Anything you can share?

I’d like to write a cookbook – but I can’t cook. Or one of those self-help ‘How To Improve The Inner You’ books – but I think my inner-me is beyond redemption. Then again, a whim I also have is to write a D.I.Y. manual – but the last time I changed a light bulb I (honestly) broke the light fitting. So I think I’ll go with writing some supernatural-themed short stories for my next project. I need a little break from writing the Big Novel format, Molly.

Do you have any secret quirky writing habits that you’d like to expose to the world RIGHT NOW? ☺

On one side of my desk I have a thermos of tea, and on the other a glass of beer. I make story notes in my phone memory, but frequently forget where I put the damn thing. So I stare at a blank screen until I am able to draft some carefully laid plot lines, which I then proceed to totally ignore by taking the story in a completely different direction. If I get a block, I will just type…anything, anything…even a shopping list – until some sanity comes out of the mess. I like lots of computers around me, even though I can only use one at a time. (I used to prefer writing in my car at scenic locations, but I’m getting old now and need my comfort!) And I frequently listen to TV in the background because if it’s too quiet I can hear my own breathing and that really bugs me.

A less-than-sufficient writing environment – but it got me through 3 lots of edits.

A few years ago – a more comfortable writing environment – surrounded by more computers than I could possibly find a use for!

The world of publishing is changing so rapidly. It’s hard to keep up. Any thoughts about the ever-evolving landscape? Predictions?

I wouldn’t dare make any predictions – big corporations control this environ now where once upon a time book lovers did. It’s all about the accountants, isn’t it? But I am thrilled with this current e-volution, especially through Amazon Kindle. Needless to say it’s opened doors for so many writers who would otherwise end up on an editor’s slush pile simply because that editor hasn’t time to wade through the mass of unsolicited manuscripts. Online and affordable POD publishing has now leveled the playing field so we all get a chance. What comes next?… well, it rather looks like a war between Amazon and the rest of the world, which is a shame. But I would conclude that the market is now more diverse, buoyant and exciting for writers and readers alike.

Where are you from, Gareth? Where have you lived and where do you reside now?

Born in the Midlands of the UK, hauled up north by my parents when I was 15 to a rather rough housing estate ‘cause Dad took a teaching post up there, and I moved down to the London area 15 years later for better employment opportunities. So I’m a hybrid of middle, up, and down the country – and I have the strange dialect to prove it!

Dad. Taken when I was a mere sprat of a brat! Ex-Air Force and a canny business man. Passed away 1993.

Can you tell the cool peeps about your childhood? What are some of your fondest memories?

I am the eldest of four boys so growing up was a little chaotic, however my dad was a strict disciplinarian so we didn’t get away with too much nonsense – though God knows I tried. I remember of all the times my father told me off, there was one incident when I got caught snogging my girlfriend (I was 12) by the girl’s dad. Well, the outraged father chased me home, my mother threw a fit, and my dad, strangely, just said ‘behave yourself’…. And then winked at me. Ha ha – he had to pretend to be angry when I reckon he was thinking ‘that’s my boy!’… I loved playing soccer, cycle racing, making model aircraft (undoubtedly because Dad was in the Royal Air Force during WW2 and I was childishly fascinated with some of the “adventures” I overheard)… And I recall adding 50 candles to my mother’s birthday cake and watching with horror as they all melted into the icing. Of all the many presents I got over the years, the best two: a guitar and a typewriter. These two gifts shaped my lifelong interests in music and writing. Happy days. ☺

Mother’s 50th birthday. She gave me a drum roll right before I brought her cake in…. the one where all the candles had melted into the icing. Hmmm!

Unbelievably cheesy promo pic for my cabaret act back in 1980. We used to bravely leave this in club dressing-rooms with a contact number. (I can only laugh in hindsight.)

Durham cathedral … one of the scenic locations where I would park my car, enjoy the vista, and begin the journey of learning to write on my little Olivetti typewriter.

My favourite car – a classic Ford Capri circa 1977 – and the vehicle in which I would scurry away to those scenic locations and write short stories. (Or fiddle with the cassette player!)

What kind of books do you enjoy reading? Favorite films? Music?

I’ll read anything, Molly. I’ve been through phases – sci-fi, murder-mystery, thrillers, horror…but these days it’s whatever takes my fancy from the product description. (Never mind the cover – it’s the book’s bio that attracts me.) With music I’ve also been through phases – from jazz to rock and all between – but I’m fairly settled now on rhythm ‘n blues and swing. As for films – I like to be surprised. The Book Of Eli was one I watched recently and was thoroughly swept away – brilliant! I do also like thrillers and thought-provoking books and movies, but (and I’m really sorry about this readers) I’m not a big fan of Harry Potter, Twilight, or Avatar. I admire them all greatly for the skill involved to appeal to such a broad audience – but they just don’t do it for me. Should I hang my head in shame?

I’m always interested in the different jobs writers have had. What are some of the favorite and least-favorite jobs you have had?

I’ve been a milkman (Lord, that hurt my feet!), a shop assistant, car valet, photographer’s assistant, logistics & freight officer, car-rental assistant, door-to-door salesman, oh and a host of other jobs all of which paid the bills but none of which gave me any job satisfaction. However, I did enjoy driving jobs, and of course touring the cabaret circuit.

I’ve been forever called picky, but I maintain that we’re all picky creatures. What are you picky about?

I’ll have to snip this answer because (a) I’ve taken up a lot of your web page already and (b) there’s just TOO many to detail. So, summary: Tea… is not hot enough straight out of the kettle – it must be microwaved for 30 seconds / drivers… should never pick their noses at traffic lights or stop signs – unless they’ve got tinted windows and I can’t see them! / Underpants… I can not buy myself – too embarrassed for reasons I don’t understand (which is strange because I can shop for a girlfriend’s ‘Lady Products’ at the pharmacist without any embarrassment but I can’t purchase my own underwear! / self-obsessed people with sky-high vanities… just get off my radar! / fashion police… I’m a scruffy little tyke and proud of my usual attire of pyjamas and bathrobe / And… people who appear on reality TV shows – then act like big celebrities… Yuk, get over yourselves!!!

Any parting words for the masses? Any shameless plugs? Where can people find you online?

Life is like…noooo, I wasn’t going to say a box of chocolates – it’s like a weekend in cabaret. Saturday night, lousy gig, the audience hated my act, I got jeered off stage. Went home thoroughly depressed with myself. Sunday night, exactly the same act as the night before, but it’s a great gig, applause, cheers, encores, and a nice pay-cheque. Everything seems to be a balance of the rough with the smooth. I got a smashing 4-star review for a short story I published, followed by a crushing one-star the day after. I have a day where everything just works out neatly, followed by a day of utter stupid. If you can accept that peak-and-trough life pattern, that all things are a curious mixture of “Excellent!” and “Oh crap!”……..I think you can pretty much deal with anything. Well, try to!

My books are on:

Amazon US

Amazon UK

I’m on Twitter

Facebook

Facebook Author page

And finally – Goodreads

Thanks ever so much for having me here, Molly. I’ve had a crackin’ good time. Hope your US readers could cope with my Brit spelling! And to any and all of your readers who may be authors, I wish you all sincere best wishes for your writing projects. Good luck all… it may be a jungle out there – but it’s fun to scrape your way through it ☺

One of my grandchildren. Is she trying to get away? Yep – do need to find a new cologne! (Note to self: Must stop hugging people without warning…)

Tags: 5 Minutes, British novelist, Gareth Stokes, Midlands UK, Russian Royal family, Universal Language

I’m so excited about my special guest this week, Darlene Arden. =^..^=

Welcome, Darlene. Tell the cool peeps about yourself!

I’m an author, journalist, certified animal behavior consultant, speaker and learning facilitator. I’m really all about the human-animal bond.

As you know, I’m an animal lover and a writer. But you, lucky woman, write about dogs and cats! Please, tell us what that’s like.

I love animals. I’ve written about a variety of topics in the past but this allows me to help people take better care of their animals and develop a deeper, stronger bond with their pets. I may have attended and spoken at more veterinary conferences than some veterinarians. I just know it’s gratifying when someone says that something I wrote, or something I said, made a difference.

You’re also a certified animal behavior consultant. Sounds quite intriguing. Can you give us an insider’s view?

While it’s all about the animals, it’s really about the owners much of the time. They often don’t really understand the other species and I try to help them understand while resolving the problem at hand whether it’s litterbox issues or housetraining issues. Those are so common for cats and dogs. Once the problem is resolved and the lines of communication are opened between owner and pet, the bond is enhanced.

Tell us about your life as a professional writer and how it springboards to radio and TV?

The books have really done that. Once the books go out for review part of the process, as you know, is PR. It does no good to write a book if no one reads it. This has led me everywhere from radio interviews all over the U.S. and Canada (and today most can be heard all over the world thanks to the internet) to Fox News Network’s pet show that was cancelled when the Clinton Affair heated up. Sad. It was a good show. I’ve had an opportunity, thanks to my articles as well, to land on TV everywhere from D.C. to Albuquerque. Boston is home and I’ve found myself as a “go to” person for local media as well as national. I’ll admit that it feels “funny” to be on the other side of the interview. I’m so used to asking questions that I have to bite my tongue to keep from doing it when I’m the subject of the interview.

You’ve written several books. Please, don’t be shy. Tell the cool peeps all about them.

My first book, The Irrepressible Toy Dog, was the first to look at dogs 20 or 21 lbs. and under. They’re dogs but they definitely have special considerations including health and behavior. Only a few years ago I had the opportunity to update, expand and revise the book, which is considered “the bible” for small dog owners. It has a new title, Small Dogs, Big Hearts, to reflect the changes. It’s everything anyone needs to know who has a small dog, is thinking of getting one, or who loves them, including an entire chapter devoted to housetraining which is a big issue for little dogs. The Angell Memorial Animal Hospital Book of Wellness and Preventive Care for Dogs, took me to the famed Boston hospital every week for a year to research and interview in order to create a book that reflects their wellness program. It’s the first time their client handouts have been made public for anyone to use in concert with their veterinarian. With this book and your veterinarian you can create a wellness program for your dogs based on the place where you live, your lifestyle, etc. It goes from Puppy to Final Decision.

Rover, Get Off Her Leg! is my behavior book for owners of dogs of all sizes and shapes. It’s also the book written with my warped sense of humor. I think people learn better with humor. I’ve taken the most common behavior problems and told what to do, what not to do and then illustrated it with anecdotes from people around the world, most of whose names had to be changed to protect the guilty. If you think you have a problem, someone had the same problem or worse so laugh and let’s get on with changing the behavior. There are a couple of other dog books but my newest books is, finally, a cat book. I’ve wanted to write one for at least a dozen years. The Complete Cat’s Meow is all things feline, from where you’ll get your cat, to cat training (yes!), socialization, health, wellness, and more. There’s a section of color photos in the middle but there are black and white pictures throughout and I’ve chosen to use cat trivia as captions.

My cat, Captain Jack, like so many animals, has exceptional radar for who is worthy and who is not. Is it common for animals to be better judges of people than human beings? What do they sense that we humans miss?

Ahhh, yes. They are not only tuned into us but spend a tremendous amount of time watching us, and our body language. I wish we would spend more time watching and learning theirs. They see more than we do because they are so good at this. I encourage people to learn cat and dog body language to better understand their pets. They signal so much to us and owners so often miss important messages.

What are some of the easiest, and some of the most difficult things to teach a dog? A cat?

The easiest of all is Sit! There is a saying among clicker (operant conditioning) trainers, “Sit Happens.” And it does. Every dog has to sit eventually. Everything takes practice. Coming to their name is also easy. But getting a reliable recall takes longer, of course. Cats also learn to Sit easily, wave their paw, come to their name.

We’ve all heard incredible stories about lost pets who have found their way home —some traveling across the country to be reunited with a family, and some finding their family’s new home. It’s freakin’ miraculous. How in the world do some animals do that?

You know, Molly, I agree with you. It really is miraculous. I’m not sure how they do it: scent, sight, sound? What combination? I know that they make excellent use of their senses, which are often heightened.

You are an animal welfare person. Many people confuse that with an animal rights person. Can you explain the difference?

I’m glad you asked, Molly. So many people misunderstand. That’s because the term, “animal rights” was co-opted years ago. It is no longer what people might think it means. If you look carefully at the materials of the animal rights groups you’ll find that reading through it lets you know that their ultimate goal is that none of us will have any companion animals, no dogs, no cats, no service dogs, no therapy pets, no police dogs, no assistance dogs, no horses for riding and enjoying. Nothing. Years ago, one group’s members were accused of letting dogs out of their crates at dog shows “freeing” them. There are probably no more spoiled, beloved companions that dogs, cats, horses, etc., that are shown. The head of the organization and her publicist immediately filed paperwork so that only they were members so they could say that the people who did it weren’t “members” of their organization. Some groups have downright terrorists. I’ve seen the head of one animal rights group at a book signing where dogs were present and being “flooded” by crowds. There was no thought to the dogs. The people with them didn’t bother to ask people to step back and give the dogs some air and space. I had a signing at the same huge event in NYC but I can tell you that the canine musical freestyle demo dog I had there for my signing was given lots of space and people were supervised around her.

Also, be careful of the language. Once you say that you are your pet’s “guardian” you are on a slippery slope downhill to lack of right to own a pet. Animal Welfare people care deeply about the welfare of all animals and that includes finding cures for their illnesses, treating them with love and finding them forever homes as well as promoting that all-important human-animal bond. I’m proud to be an animal welfare person. I’m also one of the few layperson members of the American Association of Human-Animal Bond Veterinarians. I get aggravated when people lump “breeders” together as if they were all the same. There are commercial breeders, backyard breeders and responsible breeders. I believe that only responsible breeders should be breeding and I have some pretty exacting standards for them but I wish people would stop painting everyone with the same brush.

Switching gears a bit, I know you have a lot to say about being single and dealing with peeps who insist upon minding your business, not to mention those who ask absurdly personal questions. Care to elaborate?

Oh, Molly, I’m sure you can relate! Total strangers as well as family members think nothing of butting into your personal life! I had a much-loved uncle who was very old school. When I was in my early twenties he said, “This year I’ll wish you a Happy Birthday. Next year I’ll wish you a Happy Birthday. Oy, the year after that you should be married already!” Sure enough, on my twenty-fifth birthday I didn’t hear from him on my birthday. That lasted until I was thirty when I guess he gave up hope. I assumed that somehow this meant that if I was single, Jewish and over 25 I could be declared legally dead at any moment. I never wanted to get married for the sake of getting married. If it wasn’t going to be right, why do it? It’s only a path to heartache. I remember one woman in a beauty shop telling me in no certain terms, “You should settle like everyone else! Who do you think you are? We all settled!!” Good grief. I wish I hadn’t been so polite back then. I wish I’d had the courage to put her in her place or at least comment on something equally personal, like how much money she made or how tacky she looked. I just couldn’t bear to hurt anyone’s feelings. Apparently, others had no such compunctions when it came to me. I’m still single. I have no idea what people are thinking and I really don’t care. I live life on my terms, not someone else’s.

What’s it like living in New England?

Ahhh, it was wonderful when I was young and everything wasn’t overpriced. So much theatre, especially pre-Broadway tryouts, and so much culture: The Boston Ballet, The Opera Company of Boston, Brown Bag Opera, Symphony Hall, it’s mostly all there but unaffordable for me these days. Lots of culture. I grew up riding the Swan Boats in Boston’s Pubic Gardens, summer vacations in Maine and on Cape Cod. Theatre and concerts in The Berkshires during the Summer. And, of course, the brutally cold and snowy winters. People call us cold but we’re not. We just don’t make friends rapidly or easily because when we do you get a piece of our heart and we don’t readily give that away.

What else do you do in your very interesting life that I haven’t yet asked you about?

I used to do a lot of celebrity profiles, travel writing, women’s issues, etc. I like to take up new hobbies periodically. I’m currently toying with the idea of learning to make jewelry for no other reason than to explore something new. I used to be an actress/singer/dancer and occasional choreographer. I am a learning facilitator at Kutztown University, I’ve spoken at writers’ conferences and conferences for veterinarians, petsitters, groomers, behavior consultants, breeders, etc. I’d like to do more of that. I love meeting new people and exploring new adventures whenever I have the chance.

I’ve won the Maxwell Medallion from DWAA, the Angell Memorial Animal Hospital/American Humane Education Media Award for my body of work on veterinary writing and animal welfare; the Veterinary Partners Inc. special award for cutting edge veterinary medical article, tying with myself for it; my newest Muse Medallion from CWA is for Best General Care and Health Book for The Complete Cat’s Meow. I’ve also won a book award in the past from The National League of American Pet Women, an article award from an association of FL publishers, and probably more.

I started The Marcia Polimer Abrams Fund for Canine Behavior Studies at the American Kennel Club’s Canine Health Foundation. Whatever they fund usually helps people as well as dogs so it’s a win/win. I wanted to do something special in my mother’s memory, an ongoing legacy in her name.

I’ve been forever called picky, but I maintain that we’re all picky creatures. What are you picky about?

I’m picky about manners, about caring about others whether it’s people or animals. I’m fairly picky about language. I hate the sloppiness of texting. I don’t do it. I don’t want to do it. There’s precious enough privacy and “alone” time these days as it is.

Where can people find you in cyberspace?

I’m just about everywhere. In addition to my website, I’m on LinkedIn, Plurk, Twitter, I have three pages on Facebook; a member page, a fan page and a group page that discusses all animals and discussions are led by experts, Fans of Rover, Get Off Her Leg! which proves that you should never name anything at 3 a.m.!

Any parting words for the masses? Any shameless plugs?

Please don’t get a pet unless you are ready for a commitment for the life of that animal and take time to learn about the species and use the most gentle, positive training possible. Shameless plug? Please buy my books so I can pay my bills. I promise the content is worth the price!

Tags: animal welfare vs animal rights, being single, certified animal behavior consultant, Darlene Arden, human-animal bond, litterbox issues, living in New England, Maxwell Medallion DWAA, pet expert, Rover Get Off Her Leg, Small Hearts Big Dogs, teaching animals commands, The Angell Memorial Animal Hospital Book of Wellness and Preventive Care for Dogs, The Complete Cat's Meow

For my first interview of 2012, I’m delighted to have author Richard C. Hale as my guest. He is a thriller and paranormal writer who draws from his diverse background and interests. As his bio states: “His stories weave humor, angst and a touch of the unusual to bring the reader to a place they could not find on their own.”

Thanks for being my guest this week, Rich. Tell the cool peeps about yourself.

Thanks for having me Molly. I know you’re a little picky, so I’m honored you asked me to hang with you. I’m an Air Traffic Controller by day and make an attempt at pushing the proverbial pencil across the paper by night. Born and raised in a military family, I chose not to pursue that route in favor of becoming Billy Joel. When that didn’t work, I decided sucking mucus out of smoker’s lungs was the next best thing so, naturally, the field of Respiratory Therapy grabbed hold of me and wouldn’t let go for eight years. Very rewarding but highly underpaid. My growing family needed food and I was struggling providing it for them. The FAA and its screening program took a chance on me and 21 years later, every day, I get to tell pilots where they can…well, I tell them not to run into each other. Complex, yet simplistic in its nature. Mixed in there were jobs such as construction worker, mechanic, greens keeper, bartender and shepherd. Ok…the shepherd thing never happened but that might be cool. Writing came to me a bit later in life, and now I realize how much it would have saved me all those years.

A great number of writers have always loved to write. But you hated it from grade school throughout high school. How did you end up transforming into a writer?

I blame it on my English Composition teacher my first year in junior college. Or maybe I should say, he showed me the light. He was a bit of an oddball. He stood up in front of the class the very first day and said, “This grammar book you were required to purchase? Throw it away. It’s crap. We’re going to write what you love, what you need, and whatever your heart desires. Go!” We all sat there staring at each other for a minute, and I, being the ever bold one, said, “Now?” His response was, of course, “Now.” So, I wrote. And fell in love with it. He encouraged us to tell a story, truthful or not, big or small, funny or sad, and make it our own. He wanted to hear what we had to say, and if it had grammar errors, he didn’t care. Poetic license was his mantra and I took to it like gravy to roast beef (I was going to say a duck to water, but that’s been done). I received the highest grade in his class and everybody hated me, but I had found something no one could take away. Me.

You’ve worked several different jobs, including bartender, greens keeper, musician, respiratory therapist and an air traffic controller. Would you tell us more about your diverse employment history?

I guess my excuse for having such a wide range of professions stems from the fact of not only soul searching during my youth, but trying my best to keep boredom at bay. I find drudgery usually creeps its way into my activities after a while. I tend to get bored quick. But on the other hand, the three exceptions to this stigma are my family, my writing, and the Air Traffic Controller field. Those three have never been boring.

You’ve published a book called Near Death. Please, tell us all about the book and how it came to be.

NEAR DEATH was one of those things where two separate ideas came together as one. I had been surfing the web and ran across a website about real near death experiences. I was fascinated by some of the accounts and read through quite a few. A couple of days later, I was watching some Discovery show on TV and they were discussing how MRI technology was being developed that could read a person’s mind, up to a couple of hundred words based on a rudimentary vocabulary. Something clicked in my head and I wondered what would happen if science could actually prove there was life after death. The actual fictionalized version that is told in NEAR DEATH radically changed from that original idea, but that’s how the story started to form in my head. Here is the blurb from the cover:

For Jake Townsend, the loss was shattering. And every night for the past two years, he has relived the horror of what happened. The moonless night. The piercing screams. The horrific crash. The night his wife was taken from him. The last time he saw her alive.

Everyone tells him to move on. But for Jake, there can be no closure. A message appears in his dreams—a warning he is reluctant to heed.

The omens ignored, Jake finds himself caught between the desire to see his beloved wife again and disrupting the delicate balance of life and death.

The technology he developed has shown him the path, and others will do anything to use it, but at what price?

He must choose, and the consequences may ultimately shatter his world.

I hear you have a new book coming out called Frozen Past. Can you tell us what it’s about?

It’s a crime mystery. I know it’s a bit of a departure from the genre I normally write, but I love this kind of stuff and I had a blast putting it all together. So far, my test readers are really liking it and I’m pretty excited about it. A little sneak peek will be showing up on my website soon, but Molly, you’re going to be the first to hear a little about it.

Luke is only fourteen. Eliana is his whole world and for a fourteen year old, the burden is immense. You see, Eliana is being stalked. Stalked by a madman who wants nothing more than to see her dead. The madman knows things that no one should know and sees things that no one should see. He tells them if they say a word to anyone, they will both die. And Luke can’t let that happen. Eliana’s past is catching up with her and Luke must do anything to save her. Anything.

How would you describe your work? What are some of the common elements readers might find in your books?

I love twists. Not necessarily the all out shocker on the next to the last page, but the part where I take the reader to a place they didn’t see coming or expect. I also love the paranormal and even if the story is not horror or fantasy, I like to put a touch of the occult or unusual into it. Or make it seem as if there are things at play beyond this earthly plane. I read way too much Stephen King as a kid.

What is the writing process like for you? Any routines, quirks, mad-artist moments you’d like to share?

I’m still fascinated by the process. The first book I wrote, I walked around with this grin on my face for months because I was discovering the story as it wrote itself. Most authors know this feeling, and when you experience it for the first time, it’s almost like being born. I couldn’t wait to get back to it and see where it took me. I don’t like to outline and in most cases I don’t even like to think ahead. At least, not until I’m getting close to knowing how it’s all going to end. It’s crazy, I know, but I like to be surprised, and when I get into the zone, my mind takes me to places I didn’t even know it could. I can write in public places and even pick up the thread within a matter of minutes and shut it down just as fast. I can’t listen to music when I write, though, as it distracts me. Weird, huh?

What are you working on now?

I’m currently writing part 2 to NEAR DEATH. It will be a trilogy and the second one is shaping up to be a little darker than the first. The antagonists are pretty psychopathic and, for lack of a better word, evil. I’m liking it so far.

The world of publishing is changing so rapidly. It’s hard to keep up. Any thoughts about the ever-evolving landscape? Predictions?

I could write pages about this subject, but I won’t. Briefly, my thoughts: Right at this moment, I feel the opportunities for independently published authors offer much greater advantage over traditionally published authors. I earn higher royalties, I can have more control over the content and cover design, I can pick my editor(s), I can put the book out faster and cheaper than the traditional publishers and thus price it more attractively, and I earn higher royalties. I said that twice for a reason. As the rapidly changing electronic market guides the publishing world over the next few years, I continue to watch and pay very close attention to what is going on. As for predictions, some feel the big six will crumble because they refuse to embrace the new technology, but I disagree. They are huge corporations that monitor their products carefully and adapt. The ones that take advantage of the change quickest will survive and the ones who fight it will more than likely perish. It will be very interesting in the next few years. Right now, I’m sticking with Indie.

Social media can be a freakin’ crazy, demanding, and time-sucking beast. I know many peeps have a serious love/hate relationship with it. How do you feel about it? What do you think are the best and worst ways to feed “the beast?”

It is a huge time suck, but also enjoyable. I just have to monitor my time and make sure I’m actually producing something to read as opposed to spending all my time tweeting and blogging. It’s important to have a presence out there and since most of it is free, a huge marketing mistake if you are not taking advantage of at least some of it. There are millions of potential readers out there and I’m doing my best to introduce myself to each and every one…just not during football season. I was lucky enough to meet you on Twitter and consider that a blessing. Lots of cool peeps out there!

If you could have a dinner party and invite your favorite fictional characters, who might we see seated around the table?

I can read just about any genre and right now I’ve been into thrillers, so I’d love to talk with Jack Reacher, Myron Bolitar, and Cotton Malone. From the past, Pennywise (the clown from It), John Coffey, and Tom Joad.

You’re a husband and father of four girls. Wow! What’s it like to live in a house filled with women? ☺

It’s all about drama. There is always something dramatic happening in their worlds, whether it be real or imagined, and it makes for an interesting time. I wouldn’t change a thing. They are my world.

What do you hope to know in five years that you don’t know now?

How to be a grandpa. I know it’s coming soon and I have no idea if it will be harder or easier than being a father. Or writer. Or air traffic controller. I’m sure it will be entertaining.

I’ve been forever called picky, but I maintain that we’re all picky creatures. What are you picky about?

Vegetables. I’m not a huge fan and I’m pretty picky about which ones I’ll eat. Brussels sprouts are a huge no-no. I’m learning, and beginning to enjoy a few new ones, but I’m a meat and potatoes kind of guy. Oh…I also don’t like sweater vests…just saying…

Any parting words for the masses? Any shameless plugs? Where can people find you online?

I like to have fun on my blog and keep everything light. So far, my stories have a tendency to be a little more intense. I haven’t figured out why yet. But if you’d like to see the lighter side of me, visit my website here:

or on Twitter and Facebook:

My book can be found at Amazon in Kindle format or print:

Thanks Molly, for having me and have a great New Year! Be well!

Tags: air traffic controller, author interview, Frozen Past, Near Death, near death experiences, paranormal writer, Richard C. Hale, thriller writer

Greetings, Cool Peeps:

Happy New Year! It’s been a while.

Here’s the news from my neck of the woods. On December 1, 2011, the ebook edition of Molly Hacker Is Too Picky! was published. It’s available on Amazon, , , Apple, and many other sites. The paperback edition should be out in January 2012. If you want to know about my life beyond the blogs, you’ll find that I spill all kinds of personal secrets in the novel. And perhaps you’ll be able to answer the eternal “Is Molly Hacker really too picky?” question for yourself.

Remember all of those wonderful guests I interviewed in 2011? Well, several of them have come back to visit with us today and give us an update on what they’ve been doing since their original interview. I’ve provided links to all of the original interviews, so click away on as many cool peeps as you’d like.

I’d also like to let you know that I will be continuing my interviews in 2012, though they will not be weekly as they were in 2011.

All updates regarding Molly Hacker Is Too Picky! can be found on the home page of this site.

WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN DOING, COOL PEEPS?

TIFFANY KING – Original Interview April 5, 2011

It’s a pleasure to be back with the wonderful Molly Hacker and I am honored she allowed me to be a part of her one-year extravaganza. This past year has been a crazy year for me and it’s hard to believe I’m quickly approaching my one-year book birthday for Meant to Be.

In one year’s time, I released my baby Meant to Be and watched it grow into what it now is. I finished the sequels Forgotten Souls and The Ascended closing the series up. I feel more like a writer now, than I ever have before but I am still truly amazed when someone takes the time to look me up to tell me how much they enjoyed my books. I will be forever grateful to all of them for making my crazy pipe dream become a reality.

This last year has been extremely exciting for me made up of great opportunities. I have met some truly phenomenal people this year and consider myself very lucky to be able to call so many of them my friend, including the fabulous Molly Hacker. If I’ve learned anything this year, it is that the writing and book blogging world are one-of-a-kind, made up of truly fabulous people. They are supportive, encouraging, and always the cheerleader you may need.

Thank you Molly and everyone else for allowing me to become something

CHRISTA POLKINHORN –

Hello Molly and cool peeps,

I can’t believe that six months have already passed since I got to chat with Molly —who, in the meantime, became a famous character in the novel, Molly Hacker Is Too Picky! Congratulations, Molly. It was so much fun reading about you!

What I have I done since then? A lot, it seems, but as far as my writing goes, I am in what you could call a gestation period. I am working on the third part of my “Family Portrait” series. When I wrote the first book, I had no intention of writing a whole series. However, I can’t seem to get rid of the characters I created. They keep following me around and beg me not to let them die. We’ve been arguing back and forth. I tell them they had their chance and I would always think fondly of them, but I needed to move on. I wanted to write something totally different but every time I began to write, Karla, Andreas, Laura, or Tonio invade my mind and whisper to me: “Hey, guess what I just did? You should write that down.”

Well, we settled on a compromise. I promised to continue working on the third part, but I wanted the freedom to also explore other forms of writing. So here we are.

While struggling with my creative writing in English, I went to Switzerland for three months and was able to finish the translation of the first book, An Uncommon Family, into German. The title of the book is Eine ungewöhnliche Familie and the eBook version is now available on all the Amazon sites, including Amazon.de. Paperbacks will be available in the near future.

You can find out all about me and my books on my new website (I had to recreate it from scratch, but that’s another story):

Thanks, Molly, for the opportunity to say hello again!

LAURA CHEADLE – Original Interview September 13, 2011

Hi Molly:

Great to catch up with you. Well, my official bio describes me as “not just a thoughtful singer-songwriter, and not just a soulful funk diva, but a musician who offers audiences a lively performance filled with upbeat introspection.”

I’m a New Jersey native with four successful albums, including a Christmas album. I have opened for The Jonas Brothers, Sister Hazel, Spin Doctors, Ryan Cabrera, Kasim Sulton, Terrence Simien, Garland Jeffreys, John Oates/Hall and Oates, Average White Band and Constantine Maraoulis of American Idol. I was featured on Philadelphia’s 6 ABC’s “TUNED IN” segment as their very first Viewer’s Choice where my music and I were recently profiled. The Hit Radio Station 93.7 WSTW voted me “Best Female Singer of 2009” and “Best Female Artist of 2010.” Because of my active charity work, I was named a “super Woman of South Jersey” in South Jersey Magazine. I am sponsored by SENNHEISER Microphones and am an advocate for children who are less fortunate through various charities. My latest studio album “Change (It’s Alright)” as well as my latest new LIVE ALBUM, “Laura Cheadle: Living On” are now released and available at my website and on iTunes.

JOY KATZEN-GUTHRIE – Original Interview June 28, 2011

Molly, since we last talked, I have published the second in my SpiritVoice Greeting Card/CD series, Profound Blessings and Gratitude, with thanks giving poetry, guided meditation/affirmation, and traditional and original hymns (BlessBodyStore). I’ll serve as performer and Scholar in Residence on my coming Jewish Heritage Tour of Turkey, October 15-28: (TurkeyJewishHeritageTour), visiting many of the world’s oldest Greek, Roman, Jewish, Christian and Islamic archaeological sites. I have announced an eclectic 2012 schedule of Broadway, Big Band, Folk, and Spiritual concerts along with classes in humor, satire, history, biography, philosophy, television, film, and stage. In February, I join the Tampa Bay Area Cantorial Association in our 2012 Annual Cantorial Concert.

On a personal note, my dear mother Bess passed away recently, only weeks before her 90th birthday, so it has been a time of reflection and grief for me as well. Molly, she really loved reading and sharing our last interview. I want to thank you for that, and for the generosity you have extended in sharing my life’s work with others.

MICHELLE HALKET – Original Interview May 10, 2011

Hi Molly,

Thanks so much for following up with me. Things have been quite busy around here, we launched several books this fall, both in print and digital editions and are excited about them all. Our newest book is a change from what we normally do, it’s a book of poetry and photography by the acclaimed and very popular creators of the blog: I Wrote This For You. Come the new year, there will of course be more new releases, including the next in the series for Cold in California, Lily, Can You Hear Me Now, and the next in the Devlin Caine detective series.

We also have a few little things up our sleeves – and you being a reporter, well I guess I’ll tell you. We will be starting a new imprint called Central Avenue. Two of our books are already published under that imprint, but we’ll be moving more to that imprint, as well as our new releases.

We’ve had another record-breaking month so far here and we’re excited for what the new year will bring. I wish you all the best for Christmas and the New Year and I look forward to reading more about your very crazy, but fun life…

TOM OLIVER – Original Interview May 17, 2011

Hi Molly,

Since I last talked with you, I’ve been painting quite a bit and have had a few more shows LA art venues like the Cactus Gallery in Eagle Rock and the Monkeyhouse Toys and Gallery in Silverlake. I’m currently doing a series of paintings on the LA Farmer’s Market and the Grove. When they added the Grove shops to the Farmer’s Market I was worried that it would ruin the character of the Market. It had a great ambiance unlike any other Market. It was a gathering place for all kinds of people — movie stars, retirees, and hipsters, joined by the fun element of all the tourist buses that dropped by. However, the Grove has only enhanced the character of the older area by bringing in more people. In fact I think it has saved the Farmer’s Market from dwindling away, and has given some culture to people who usually stick to mall-type settings.

Coming up in February I have have a show scheduled in San Dimas at the 2nd Story Gallery in the Walker House on East Bonita Avenue, and in May I’ll have a whole room at the Long Beach Arts Gallery. If you would like to see some of my paintings in person right now, you can check them out at the Cactus Gallery, or buy them on Etsy.com. And of course my website is where you can find info about me.

Thanks again,
Tom

MARIA SAVVA – Original Interview August 23, 2011

Hi Molly, it’s been a while since we last had a chat. Congrats on publishing your new book; I hope it’s a bestseller! Can’t wait to read it! Since my interview with you in August, I’ve been very busy writing. I’ve finished the first draft of my new novel, and am currently editing that. I’m also having fun designing the cover. I’ve decided to do an acrylic painting inspired by the work for the cover. It’s quite a dark book, bordering on the paranormal but with a crime/psychological thriller theme. Since we last spoke, Bestsellerbound has produced two more short story anthologies and I have short stories in each volume. In Volume 2 I have a story called, ‘Isolation’, based around the theme of loneliness; and in Volume 3, I have a story called ‘Winter Blues’, which is a contemporary fiction tale with a humourous twist. Hope to catch up again with you soon, Molly. You can get all the latest news about my writing from my official website. Bye for now, Maria

DAWN KIRBY – Original Interview May 3, 2011

Hi, Molly! It’s so exciting to see you in print. I can’t even imagine how thrilled you must be. So many wonderful things have happened since we last talked. I signed a contract with Dark Dragon Publishing Company for the first book, SECRETS in my Paranormal Romance series in August. Edits are well underway now and it’s set to be released later in 2012. In October I was fortunate enough to have one of my shorts, DATE NIGHT appear in the 13 TALES of the PARANORMAL anthology published by Firefly and Wisp. The Seven Deadly Sins Anthology I was asked to participate in alongside six other brilliant authors is near completion and we hope to have it released very soon. Currently when I’m not editing I’m working on transitioning the TURNING serial I’ve been writing For Sabrina Ogden’s review site into a novel. I hope to be able to publish it on my own and donate a portion of the proceeds to a charity of her choice. So far 2012 is looking to be a terrific year.

MARGOT KINBERG – Original Interview August 9, 2011

Hi, Molly!

Thanks for asking how I’ve been. Since we last spoke, I’ve been working awfully hard. I’ve finished my third Joel Williams novel and I’m very excited about it. Right now it’s in someone’s hands and I’m waiting for feedback on it. I’ve also been doing some big freelance projects (Did I ever tell you I do freelance writing?). That’s been taking up a lot of my time, but I’m still making some progress on my own writing, too. For example, I’ve gotten started on a non-fiction book about crime fiction. I’m hoping to get that done this coming year. Also, I recently had a memorable trip to New Zealand where I presented a paper on using crime fiction as a literacy-development tool. So as you can see, I’ve been keeping awfully busy!

ROB DINSMOOR – Original Interview April 26, 2011

Dear Molly:
I’ve been quite busy since last we spoke. I’ve been amassing a new series of stories called “32 Dogs,” full of gritty and absurd autobiographical stories, including being air-dropped into the midst of a horribly dysfunctional family for a “vacation.” It will include a dog in every story and the gritty cover will be designed by my artist friend Helen. Helen and I are collaborating on a kid’s book about my earning the trust of her rescued Border Collie Dixie, and Helen will be doing the illustrations. Finally, my back burner project is a book about my continuing friendship with Dr. Amy Bishop Anderson, the so-called “Alabama shooter,” who gunned down her colleagues at a faculty meeting early in 2010. I want to show her other side — the sweet, brilliant, funny woman I’m still proud to call a friend and who continues to be “there” for me.

LAURA SCHULTZ – Original Interview October 11, 2011

Dear Molly

It’s so nice to speak with you again this close to 2012. 2011 was an exciting ride for me. In September, my first book was published entitled Arise and Shine: Laments from the Darkness, Songs of the Light. It is a transformational journey via verse that reflects my personal philosophy about poetry and life in general in that we are here to serve others, mutually share in our love for life, and be there for each other during our struggles.

A few months later I was asked to contribute to the new release entitled “Casey Anthony Murder Trial” by Claudette Walker for which I wrote the postscript encompassing a psychological profile of Ms. Anthony. I continue to review books in the areas of true crime, self-help, memoirs, poetry and some fiction for the New York Journal of Books and enjoy this immensely. I am working on both a memoir and a true crime book, both of which I’m passionate about.

You can visit me and my work at my website. All of the links to purchase my book are there.

LK GARDNER-GRIFFIE – Original Interview August 31, 2011

Hey Molly! It’s so good to see you again. I just finished reading your memoir about the year you’ve had and the ending is … SQUEEEEEEE!!!! *Locks lips and throws the key away* But I promise, NO spoilers. I will say this—I have been trying to read a chapter a night to keep me reading as my schedule has been so hectic lately, but with your book I was never content to stop with one. In fact, I’d read far later than I should have so a couple of the bags currently under my eyes belong to you.

What’s happened since August? Time-wise just a few months ago, but I’ve been so busy August feels like ancient history to me at the moment. You might recall I spoke of a fall launch of No Boundaries, the 3rd book in the Misfit McCabe series. Well, as you are probably familiar with, things in life don’t always work out as we have expected. No Boundaries changed names to Tattered, which suits it better, and released the same day as your ebook, December 1st so we share a book birthday. Technically the fall of 2011, but once we pass Thanksgiving, I always think of it as winter. For the launch, we did an eleven day blog tour, which was a lot of fun, and Katie got to do most of the talking—which made her happy. Tattered is a book near, and dear to my heart, not only because of the amount of growth I had as a writer during the process, but also because of the issues it covers—bullying, teen drinking, friendships, relationships, and making life choices. With the launch of Tattered, there are two books left in the series, and I’m currently mid-draft of book 4, currently titled One Way Ticket Home.

What else? Well, let’s see, finishing, finalizing, launching, and promoting a book, working on the next book in the series, searching for a home for my completed Middle Grade (MG) contemporary with magical elements, The Journal of Angela Ashby, and working on a new MG action/adventure book which is kind of like TAPS meets National Treasure, but set in the seventh grade. On top everything else, there’s the full time job to contend with, and the time needed to give love to my girls (pups). With all that, I don’t even have time to have a nervous breakdown.

RYNE DOUGLAS PEARSON – Original Interview July 5, 2011

Molly, thank you for the note following up on our interview. To be frank, a lot has happened since we chatted. First, I have fulfilled my lifelong ambition of watching an entire marathon on TV. After that, it was hard to keep the adrenalin pumping, so I had to take drastic measures. Yes, I bet you know what I’m talking about. I finally did it. I took that Ferret Grooming course I’ve been thinking about for years. Now, I can professionally style ferrets and bring them into the 21st century where pseudo-rodent aesthetics are concerned. Finally, to kind of slow things down a bit, I took a trip to Westover Glenn, Indiana, to visit the Swine Skeleton Exhibit at the Sakamano Museum of Swine. Glorious doesn’t begin to describe the beauty. In closing, I hope all is well with you. May the pork be with you.

(You can find Ryne at his website and/or follow him on Twitter.)

GABRIEL BARBARO – Original Interview November 1, 2011

Hi Molly — thanks for the followup! I have some good news. Since we last spoke, my music video for Cherry S/T’s song “Greatest Disaster” aired nationally, for two months on Cable TV’s Music Choice On Demand. I have to say, it was surreal to see my music video play on my parent’s Cable TV! I also created a pro Facebook page. Currently, I’m shooting a comedy pilot for a comedy competition in NYC. Once I’m done, I’m planning to post it on my YouTube channel. That’s all for now Molly, thanks for your support. Good luck with your new book!

L.M. STULL – Original Interview June 8, 2011

Hi Molly! Thanks so much for having me back on you site! What’s that, you say? Oh, what have I been up to? Oh, you know, just completely changing everything up, that’s all! As you are well aware, when I visited you last I wrote paranormal romance. Well… I don’t anymore. I know, I know, it’s all a little crazy. You see, I gravitated to that genre in the beginning because it was what I read. A lot. So, I wrote a few stories. But something seemed off and no matter how much I tweaked and reread, I just wasn’t all that happy. There had been a story that had been bobbling around in my head for a while. What is it? A Thirty-Something Girl. I abandoned everything I was working on and began to write completely from my heart. With passion. About life and all the things that it encompasses. A Thirty-Something Girl is heartwarming and heartbreaking. It’s a story about life, friendships and romance. About continuously trying to stand tall when faced with adversity. I’m happy to announce it was released in December as both an e-book and paperback, and is available on Amazon and Barnes & Noble!

SHYKIA BELL – Original Interview August 2, 2011

Hi, Molly: Since our August interview, I have gone on to publish CAMILEON: Beyond The Veil, released for Kindle in late-December 2011! I am presently working on the next installment of the saga as well as a possible spin-off. My current book is available through Amazon, from which you can sample nearly 5 chapters for free! To learn more about me and my work, check out my website.

RANEE DILLON – Original Interview July 19, 2011

The New year brought big changes for me, but with change comes new opportunities. I’m now living in Virginia with family. The first novel in The Binding of Twelve series is complete. I began sending queries out in December. It’s an exhausting process, but feedback has been great. I’ll begin the second book this month. Hope this New Year brings joy and light to your life as well as new friendships. Oh, and don’t forget to bubble dance once in a while. Trust me, it’ll put a smile on your face.

PETER POLLOCK – Original Interview May 24, 2011

Wow, it seems so long ago that you interviewed me! I can’t believe it was only May.

Since then, my business, NewBlogHosting.com has continued to grow and we had the excitement this last December of reaching our goal of raising $2600 to buy a well in Africa ($15 from each new hosting plan we sell goes into our well fund).

This last year has been amazing in many other ways, too. I started speaking at blogging conferences and had the honor of speaking at the Type-A Parent’s Conference in NC in June and then at BlogWorld L.A. in October. Speaking is a blast and it means I get to share what little knowledge I have with others and hopefully help them with their blogging.

It also introduced me to a whole new group of people, who are all awesome… kind of like you!

This year I hope to speak at three conferences and we’re pushing forward trying to help as many people as possible with a leg-up into the world of self-hosting for their blogs and websites.

AL BOUDREAU – Original Interview June 14, 2011

Hello, Molly,

Since we last spoke, I’ve been working on my second,
yet to be titled, mystery thriller. Progress is slow, but
steady, as it involves a great deal of research. I’m really
enjoying the process, and actively helping to promote
fellow author friends along the way.

CHRISTY LEIGH STEWART – Original Interview October 4, 2011

Hi Molly! I am working on a cyberpunk romance novel and a childrens book of Satanic bedtime stories.

Thanks for joining me, cool peeps. Hope you enjoyed the updates! And don’t forget, the ebook edition of Molly Hacker Is Too Picky! is out now at all major e-tailers. The print edition will be published later this month, January 2012.

Amazon

Tags: Al Boudreau, Chad Renfrow, Christy Leigh Stewart, Dawn Kirby, Deborah Riley-Magnus, Dellani Oakes, Elle Amberley, Gabriel Barbaro, Jeff Bennington, Joel Blaine Kirkpatrick, Joy Katzen-Guthrie.Michelle Halket, L.M. Stull, Laura Cheadle, Laura Schultz, Lili Tufel, Lisette Brodey, LK Gardner-Griffie, Margot Kinberg, Maria Savva, Marta Moran-Bishop, Molly Hacker Is Too Picky, Olivia Wilder, Ranee Dillon, rob dinsmoor, Ryne Douglas Pearson, Shykia Bell, Tiffany King, Tom Oliver