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FEUD-DEREK BIRKS

Stephanie Hopkins
Author Interview with Derek Birks Author of B.R.A.G.Medallion Honorees Feud and A Traitor's Fate Derek was born in Hampshire in England but spent his teenage years in Auckland, New Zealand where he still has strong family ties.He misspent his youth at the University of Reading, where he studied history but spent most of his time in the Drama Studio. He could be discovered most afternoons in the university library fast asleep but was always willing to wake up and go for a coffee.For many years he taught history at a secondary school in Berkshire but took early retirement several years ago to concentrate on his writing.Apart from writing, he spends his time gardening, travelling, walking and taking part in archaeological digs at a local Roman villa.Derek is interested in a wide range of historical themes but his particular favourite is the late medieval period. His debut historical novel, Feud, is set in the period of the Wars of the Roses and is the first of a series, Rebels & Brothers. The series follows the fortunes of the fictional Elder family as they struggle to survive a very turbulent period of English history. Derek aims to write action-packed fiction which is rooted in…

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Authors' Chat

THE HOUR OF PARADE-ALAN BRAY

Stephanie Hopkins
Author Interview with Alan Bray Author of the B.R.A.G.Medallion Honoree Hour of Parade Alan Bray started writing fiction sixteen years ago and has published a fair number of short stories in literary journals. The Hour of Parade is his first novel. He is currently working on a second, also set in historic time. Alan lives in New Hampshire with his wife and daughter. He has worked as a musician and clinical social worker. Read Alan's interview at Layered Pages  

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SHAMAN’S BLUES -AMBER FOXX

Stephanie Hopkins
   Author Interview With Amber Foxx   Author of the B.R.A.G.Medallion Honoree Shaman's Blues Amber Foxx writes the mystery series featuring healer and psychic Mae Martin. Amber's professional training and academic studies in various fields of complementary and alternative medicine, as well as her personal experience and travels, bring authenticity to her work. She has worked professionally in theater and dance, fitness, and academia. In her free time she enjoys music, dancing, art, running and yoga. She divides her time between the southeast and the southwest, but Truth or Consequences, New Mexico is home. Read Amber's interview on Layered Pages              

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Authors' Chat

Girl with the Crooked Smile-Darah Zeledon

Stephanie Hopkins
Author Interview with Darah Zeledon Darah's interview with Layered Pages Darah Zeledon is the devoted mom of five and wife of one. When she's not mothering or "wife‐ing," she's a suicide prevention activist, author, inspiring speaker, life coach, and trained group facilitator. Darah's completely fluent in Spanish, holds a B.S. in Psychology, M.A. in International Relations, and is a Certified Life & Success Coach (CLC, CPSC). She joined The Miami Herald's MomsMiami as a featured blogger in 2010, began writing for the print publication, The Parent Notebook in 2011 as their family editor and founder of the witty and provocative"This Parenting Gig" column, and worked as an editor and features columnist with the South Florida monthly newspaper, the Happy Herald. Be sure to stop by Darah Zeledon's website and blog-

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Don’t Tell Anyone-Laurie Boris

Stephanie Hopkins
Author Interview with Laurie Boris    Author of  Don't Tell Anyone Laurie's website Laurie Boris is a freelance writer, editor, proofreader, and former graphic designer. She has been writing fiction for over twenty-five years and is the award-winning author of five novels: The Joke's on Me, Drawing Breath, Don't Tell Anyone, Sliding Past Vertical, and Playing Charlie Cool. When not hanging out with the universe of imaginary people in her head, she enjoys baseball, cooking, reading, and helping aspiring novelists as a contributing writer and editor for IndiesUnlimited.com. She lives in New York's lovely Hudson Valley. Laurie is the author of the B.R.A.G.Medallion Honoree Don't Tell Anyone Read Layered Pages full interview with Laurie Boris

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Authors' Chat

THE LAST SEAL-RICHARD DENNING

Stephanie Hopkins
Author Interview with Richard Denning Richard Denning lives with his wife and two children in Sutton Coldfield in the West Midlands of England where he works as a General Practitioner (family doctor). Away from his medical practice he is a writer of historical fiction and fantasy with a special interest in the early Anglo Saxon period. He owns a sizeable collection of Anglo-Saxon replica items which he takes to school visits and local history societies. Two of his books are BRAG medallion honourees: The Last Seal and The Amber Treasure. A keen player of board games and other games he is one of the directors of UK Games Expo (the UK's largest hobby games convention). He is also a board game designer and his first Board Game 'The Great Fire on London 1666′ was published by Medusa Games and Prime Games in October 2010. Stephanie: Richard I am delighted to be chatting with you today about your book, The Amber Treasure. Your story is one of the best I have read this year. I am so intrigued with the setting and period of your story and how complex your characters are and the vivid historical detail you give... Cerdic is…

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Authors' Chat

THE STONE LIONS-GWEN DANDRIDGE

Stephanie Hopkins
Author Interview with Gwen Dandridge Stephanie: Hey, Gwen! Congrats on the B.R.A.G. Medallion! That is wonderful and what high praise indeed for your story. How did you discover indieBRAG? Please tell your audience about your book? Gwen: The Stone Lions is a multi-cultural fantasy that takes place in the late 1300s in Islamic Spain. As a minor note, it also teaches band symmetry so it is idea for the common core curriculum. It can be read as a pure fantasy or used to understand historic Islamic culture or teach symmetry. There are levels upon levels that it touches. Here's the basic story: In the last throes of the 14th century, Islamic Spain is under pressure from Castile and Aragon. Ara, the twelve-year old daughter to the Sultan, finds herself in the center of a political intrigue when her eunuch tutor is magically transformed by the evil Wazir. Can a little girl save her friend and tutor with the help of a Sufi mathemagician? Intertwined in a mystery of math, art and magic, Ara races to find the seven broken symmetries before time runs out. Stephanie: What genre would you say this falls under and why did you chose the middle…

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ROOM 732-MERLE SAFERSTEIN

Stephanie Hopkins
Author Interview with Merle Saferstein     Stephanie: Hello, Merle! Congrats on the B.R.A.G. Medallion and thank you for chatting with me today about your medallion book, Room 732. Before we begin talking about your book, tell me how you discovered indieBRAG. Merle: Thanks, Stephanie. I learned about IndieBRAG from a friend of mine who had written a novel and had become a B.R.A.G. Medallion winner. She suggested that I enter my book. Stephanie: What are your thoughts of the self-publishing industry today? Merle: When I first started to write Room 732, I knew that I was going to self-publish. By 2012, the industry had changed significantly. Instead of the stigma that used to exist years ago, self-publishing had become mainstream and popular. I felt sure that this was the right choice for me. At that point in my life, self-publishing meant I was saving myself from the grueling process of trying to find an agent and the possibility of agonizing rejections. Besides, self-publishing would allow me to have complete control over my work. I could write the book, edit it, submit it and would not have to wait for a publisher's schedule to get Room 732 into readers' hands.…

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Authors' Chat

THE TWELFTH OF NEVER-BRENDA ORTEGA

Stephanie Hopkins
Author Interview with Brenda Ortega Presley may be smart, but she buckles under pressure – or more specifically, she alphabetizes. In stressful moments her mind grabs words and compulsively sorts the letters, like a frightened guard dog chasing its tail. So it's no surprise when signs from the universe constantly warn her: stay out of the spotlight. That's hard to do when her Elvis-loving mom, the school secretary, plays embarrassing snippets of The King's hits on the PA every day. It's even harder when the school's biggest goofball nominates Presley for president and her campaign speech turns disastrous. Her greatest refuge from the drama is her adorable nephew. But Luke's mom – Presley's teenage sister – has a secret that threatens to tear the boy from the family forever, unless Presley can stop it. Maybe the universe is out to get her. Or perhaps it's whispering a new message: Stay cool. Step into the spotlight. Summon your inner Elvis. Stephanie: Hello, Brenda! Congrats on the B.R.A.G. Medallion and thank you for chatting with me today about your book, THE TWELFTH OF NEVER. Please tell me how you discovered indieBRAG. Brenda: Hi, Stephanie. Thank you so much! I can't tell you…

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NO STRANGER TO DEATH – JANET O’KANE

Stephanie Hopkins
Author Interview with Janet O'Kane Janet O'Kane is a British mystery writer. Originally from the south of England she now lives in the Scottish Borders. Her varied career before moving to Scotland and writing full-time included selling underwear to Roger Moore in Harrods, the famous London department store, and marketing nappies for a national chemist chain. It was when she helped run a family doctor's surgery that she decided a doctor would make an excellent main character for the series of crime novels she had always wanted to write. Janet lives with her stonemason husband and a cat, two dogs and far too many chickens. She is now writing the sequel to No Stranger to Death and learning to tap dance. Stephanie: Hello, Janet! I am delighted to be chatting with you today and congrats on the B.R.A.G. Medallion! I see that in your bio that it was working in a family doctor's surgery that inspired a character for crime stories...It truly is fun and amazing where you find inspiration for stories. Please tell me about your book, No Stranger to Death and how you discovered indieBRAG. Janet: Thanks Stephanie. I'm thrilled to have been awarded a B.R.A.G. Medallion for…

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