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sarah’s journey- david beasley

Stephanie Hopkins
Author Interview with David Beasley David Beasley was born in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada and graduated from McMaster University with a BA in Arts. He worked, studied and wrote in several European countries for five years and then In Manhattan, New York for 35 years, where he worked as a research librarian in the New York Public Research Libraries for much of that time. He organized a union for library workers and used his experience to write a trilogy of mystery novels—The Jenny, The Grand Conspiracy, Overworld/Underworld. He earned a Masters Degree in Library Science and a PhD in political economics from the progressive New School for Social Research. He returned to Canada in 1992 and has been writing and publishing under the imprint Davus Publishing. He has written much fiction, including historical fiction novels, but has been recognized by the award of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Medal for his non-fiction and biographies. His blog on his website http://www.davuspublishing.com features the Major John Richardson Newsletter which gathers information on and controversies about Canada's first novelist, whose biography he wrote. He returned to Canada in 1992 and has been writing and publishing under the imprint Davus Publishing in Simcoe, Ontario. Stephanie: Hello…

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Authors' Chat

ANOTHER SPACE IN TIME -RICHARD BUNNING

Stephanie Hopkins
Author Interview with Richard Bunning Richard Bunning was born in Kettering, Northamptonshire, UK in 1956 and has subsequently lived his life in Lincolnshire, Vaud in Switzerland, and the Manawatu in New Zealand. His main schooling was in Leicestershire and Worcestershire, followed by enjoying a degree in International Relations at the University of Keele in Staffordshire and agriculture studies at Cirencester in Gloucestershire. Currently, having retired from fulltime farming he lives with his family in Switzerland. Writing as a self-published author is his main activity, whilst inconsistently helping to maintain the household. The share of domestic responsibility has recently been augmented by the need to walk the dog. This regularly imposed time in the countryside has greatly added to his time to daydream ideas. So what in the years and places has inspired his writing? A diverse education certainly helps, but what really has driven this ambition has been a nosey interest in others' fortunes. Innate character as well as experience has certainly added to the drive to write, in that it seems likely that whatever his upbringing he would have been more of a story teller, an observer, rather than a volunteer character in dynamic adventures. Of course, life often…

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Authors' Chat

VEGGIE’S BULLY – CLARICE WILLIAMS

Stephanie Hopkins
Author Interview with Clarice Williams Clarice Williams whose pen name is C. JoVan Williams, was born and raised in Chicago, IL, but now resides in New Jersey as an Air Force spouse, with a blended family of six. She credits her writing inspirations from her experiences as a military spouse, mother, college graduate, Government worker, silly daughter, and an overbearing older sister to many. She also writes for Military Spouse Magazine. Her books are available on Amazon. Email: clarice.jovan@gmail.com Stephanie: Hello Clarice! Congrats on winning the BRAG Medallion. Please tell me about your book, Veggie's Bully. Clarice: Thank you! It's the second book in my Chef ReCee Jay & Friends book series. This story is different from other bully books where everyone is shaking hands and becoming friends in the end. Veggie's Bully children's book shows the anger Veggie feels about being bullied, her friend who wants revenge, and the voice of reasoning who helps them see her situation a bit differently. For some events, I also sell Uncle Bear and Carb Monkey plush toys along with the book. I'm still searching for a vendor to help me with Veggie Bunnie. Stephanie: I really admire the premise of your story…

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Authors' Chat

The Mona Lisa Speaks – Christopher Angel

Stephanie Hopkins
Author Interview - Christopher Angel   Christopher, congrats on winning the BRAG Medallion for your book, Mona Lisa Speaks and thank you for chatting with me today. What a fantastic title for a story! Sounds so intriguing. Please tell me about your book. Christopher: Thank you for hosting this chat! The Mona Lisa Speaks is a fictional art heist story, about a Canadian computer programmer hired by the Louvre to update its computer systems. However, he's forced by a mastermind of the French criminal underground, to replace the Mona Lisa with a perfect copy to save the woman he loves. I also write a part for the Mona Lisa herself, who "speaks" to us in the grand tradition of magic realism. Writing her was a lot of fun! Stephanie: Okay, I have to ask. What was the inspiration for your story and how did you come up with/decide for Robertson Ross, to be an outdoorsy Canadian computer expert? What a great combination! Christopher: First, I was inspired to write this story by my own visit to the Louvre. I left wondering why the Mona Lisa was the most famous painting there – there are many great works in the Louvre…

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Authors' Chat

WOBBLY BARSTOOL – JANE LOWY

Stephanie Hopkins
Author interview - Jane Lowy Jane Lowy is an enthusiast of 19th century British literature, who has loved writing since childhood. She also enjoys singing/songwriting/electric bass guitar playing and is certified as a cytogenetic technologist. Jane lives in Houston with her husband, David, and their son, Orion. Stephanie: Hello Jane! Thank you for chatting with me today and congrats on winning the BRAG Medallion. I must admit when I saw the title of your book I thought it was a humor book of sorts. I was pleasantly surprised to read the book description and to discover your book is Literary Fiction. Please tell your audience about Wobbly Barstool. Jane: Thank you for having me, Stephanie! I feel very honored to have received the BRAG Medallion for Wobbly Barstool and am delighted to have this opportunity to discuss my novel. While the book is certainly infused with a fair amount of humor, that is only one of its many ingredients. Pathos, adventure, complex exploration of familial, romantic, and platonic relationships, and a bit of mystery are also included in the mix! I tried to create a fun, intellectually stimulating and genuinely moving story that follows the title character as he grows…

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Authors' Chat

JUNCTION, UTAH – REBECCA LAWTON

Stephanie Hopkins
Author interview - Rebecca Lawton   Stephanie: Rebecca Lawton is an author and naturalist whose essays, poems, and stories have been published in Orion, Sierra, The San Francisco Chronicle Magazine, Shenandoah, Standing Wave, THEMA, the acorn, More, and other journals. She has received the Ellen Meloy Fund Award for Desert Writers, three Pushcart Prize nominations (in fiction, nonfiction, and poetry), and residencies at The Island Institute in Sitka, Alaska, and Hedgebrook Retreat for Women Writers in Langley, Washington. Becca was among the first women whitewater guides on the Colorado River in Grand Canyon and on other rivers in the West. Her essay collection on the guiding life, Reading Water: Lessons from the River (Capital Books), was a San Francisco Chronicle bestseller and ForeWord Nature Book of the Year finalist. Her novel, Junction, Utah, set in the beautiful and resource-rich Green River valley, was released in early 2013 by van Haitsma Literary as an original e-book and later in 2013 as a softcover book (Wavegirl). With Geoff Fricker, Rebecca is co-author of the forthcoming Sacrament: Homage to a River (Heyday, 2014), and her first collection of short stories, Steelies and Other Endangered Species, is due out from Little Curlew Press in…

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Authors' Chat

Cnyons and Ice- Kayleen Johnson

Stephanie Hopkins
Author interview- Kaylene Johnson Kaylene Johnson is a professional writer and long-time Alaskan who lives in Eagle River, Alaska. She has written five books about Alaska and the people who live there including her memoir A Tender Distance: Adventures Raising My Sons in Alaska. Her award winning articles have appeared in Alaska magazine, the Los Angeles Times, Spirit magazine, Parish Teacher. Winner of the B.R.A.G. Medallion for her book, Canyons and Ice. She holds a BA from Vermont College and an MFA in Writing from Spalding University in Louisville, Kentucky. Stephanie: Hello Kaylene. Congrats on winning the BRAG Medallion and thank you for chatting with me today. I see that your book is non-fiction and I do enjoy reading in this genre. Please tell me about your book, Canyons and Ice. Kaylene: Canyons and Ice is the biography of Dick Griffith, a legendary wilderness traveler who has traversed more than 6,000 miles across the continent alone and unassisted. He is also a pioneer of river rafting on the Colorado and Green Rivers long before rafting the Grand Canyon became a recreational pursuit. Until the book was published, most of his travels were unknown except to people who know him personally.…

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Authors' Chat

Goodbye Paris Nash- Barbara O’Connor

Stephanie Hopkins
Author interview - Barbara O'Connor Barbara O'Connor lived on a small ranch on the outskirts of San Antonio, Texas, where she attend public schools. She graduated from Robert E. Lee High School, attended the University of Texas at San Antonio and McNeese State University in Lake Charles Louisiana. Her first short story was published in The War Cry, and she wrote a features column for The Leon Valley Leader. She also published country and western songs with her partner Jimmy Harris and wrote and performed stand-up comedy in San Antonio, Austin, and Lake Charles, Louisiana. Her first novel, Goodbye, Paris Nash, received a B.R.A.G. medallion after a friend submitted the book for consideration. She is currently working on her novel, The Resurrection of Elizabeth Moss. Barbara lives in New Braunfels, Texas, with her husband and two furred family members. Stephanie: Hello Barbara. Congrats on winning the BRAG Medallion. It is a pleasure to talk to you today. Please tell me about your book, "Goodbye, Paris Nash." Barbara: Hello Stephanie, It is my pleasure to share my experience writing "Goodbye, Paris Nash" with you. Many times in life, I've been surprised by the impact a chance meeting has had on me.…

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Authors' Chat

Morgallion – Arthur Russell

Stephanie Hopkins
Author Interview - Arthur Russell     Arthur Russell is a native of County Meath, Ireland. He is a professional in Agro-Industry and has worked in Ireland, Eastern Europe and Central Asia. He is currently on assignment in Mongolia. When he is not on assignment abroad, he lives with his wife Mary, in Navan, Co Meath. He has 4 adult children and 3 grand-children. His interests include history, especially local history, reading (good books!), photography and music. 'Morgallion', his first book, is a historic novel based on actual events during the Bruce Invasion of Ireland in 1315. His father's farm on which he was born and grew up, bordered Moynagh Lough, where the remains of a crannog settlement was discovered during the 1980's. This was subsequently subject of a comprehensive archaeological exploration under the direction of John Bradley from the National University of Ireland, Maynooth. More on website – www.morgallion.com Stephanie: Hello Arthur! Thank you for chatting with me today and congratulations on winning the B.R.A.G Medallion. You write about one of my favorite and one of the most intriguing times in our world history. Please tell me about your story, "Morgallion." Arthur: Firstly – thank you Stephanie for this…

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Authors' Chat

Reputed Wife- Jo Ann butler

Stephanie Hopkins
Author interview -Jo Ann butler Jo Ann Butler is a genealogist and one-time colonial archeologist, Ms. Butler has tapped her work in New England for her first historical fiction novel, "Rebel Puritan." She can be reached at www.rebelpuritan.com Stephanie: Thank you Jo Ann for visiting with me again and congrats for winning the B.R.A.G Medallion for the second time. It was a pleasure to interview you about Rebel Puritan and I'm delighted be chatting with you about The Reputed Wife. Please tell your audience about your book? Jo Ann: Thank you, Stephanie, and it's an honor to talk with you as a second-time B.R.A.G. Medallion winner! Readers of Rebel Puritan are familiar with Herodias Long and George Gardner. In The Reputed Wife, Herod raises a burgeoning family in 17th century Newport, Rhode Island, even as she and George try to conceal their unconventional relationship. Rhode Island suffers its own growing pains when more powerful Puritan colonies try to usurp its lands. Lastly, Quaker missionaries arrive in New England, bent on converting Puritans. Mary Dyer is one of their converts, and so is Herod, who takes her protest against Puritan abuse to the whipping post. Jo Ann book cover Stephanie: What…

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