Ebook Tour: Welcome to CK Volnek, author of Ghost Dog of Roanoke Island

My kind of book! Well with a dog-oriented blog, a "ghost dog" book is a perfect fit! The true-life history makes for a fascinating background for this book.

Today I welcome CK Volnek, author of the new eBook, Ghost Dog of Roanoke Island.

About the Book:
In 1587, 121 colonists disappeared from Roanoke Island, NC, never to be seen again.

Something evil is haunting Roanoke Island and it’s up to 12-year-old Jack Dahlgren to unravel the mystery of the lost colony and stop the hateful campaign of revenge. But can Jack solve the puzzle in time to destroy the beast, before it destroys him?

Interview with CK Volnek:

How'd you start writing?

Hi Chris. Thanks for letting me visit your blog today.

I have always loved telling stories. I remember sitting at the campfire when I was a kid and my cousins would all turn to me to spin the scary tale that would keep them up all night. I couldn’t help but oblige.:-) I also loved to read and after reading Black Beauty, I decided I wanted to be the next Anna Sewell.

My passion has always been to write for children. I love their imagination and thirst for stories. I never want to grow up and lose that.

What inspires you to write? What inspired this book?

I have a very fickle muse. She loves to spin a story and will whisper into my ear with ideas for stories on just about any news article I see. GHOST DOG OF ROANOKE ISLAND was inspired after reading a news piece about the Lost Colony of Roanoke Island. To be honest, I don’t remember studying the Lost Colony in school so the story truly intrigued me. I was fascinated by the mystery of what happened to the missing 117 colonists and my muse went wild coming up with a story of what she believes happened to them.

When I'm not writing, I'm....

I have to grin at this question. I dabble in so many other things than writing…spending time with my family, flower gardening, jewelry making, hiking, teaching 5th grade CCD (Sunday School)…but one of the main things I am known for around town is being the ‘dog woman.’

I have not two, not three, but four Papillon pups. I spend a lot of time with them and have trained them to do an array of tricks from the usual sit, down, stay to roll over and play dead, crawl like a marine, wave hello and good-bye and take a bow. Noah, my biggest trickster of the bunch, is quite a ham-bone and is actually a certified therapy dog. We have visited nursing homes, outdoor events, as well as being a regular at my CCD classes. But he goes to my classes with a lesson, such as unconditional love, patience and obedience.

How does your writing influences your life - and how does our life influence your writing?

One major way writing has influenced my life has had to do with the marketing of my books. At a workshop I attended, a speaker said that marketing with Twitter, Facebook and the like is about 80 percent promoting others and 20 percent promoting yourself. To accomplish this, you have to put yourself out there, reach outside your comfort zone and meet people. I’ve always been rather introverted so this was a challenge for me. But because of it, I began connecting with people and creating such an abundance of friends, I feel I have a whole new extended family. I’m so much happier and confident for having stepped outside my comfort zone.

How much of 'you' is in your books, and what?

I heard someone say once that an author writes for the genre that affected them the most. And so I write middle-grade/tween. The emotions evoked within my stories can be raw and cutting as well as positive and uplifting; the gamut of emotions every tween experiences. I may have grown up poor and in a small-town, but it created a world of emotions I think many kids can identify with.

What do you want people to take away from this book?
I hope my readers will retain the valuable lesson of tolerance and the power of forgiveness after reading GHOST DOG OF ROANOKE ISLAND. Though I did not intend to write a story with such a prominent lesson, my muse deemed it important to bring about. As the book unfolded for me, it created this story of acceptance and tolerance in hopes to stop the eternal flame of hatred and revenge.

Thanks Chris, for allowing me to join you today!
C.K. Volnek

About the author: CK Volnek has an associate's degree in art, thinking she'd write and illustrate children's books. Instead she focused on raising her family and continues to do computer graphics and layout to help pay the bills. She's excited to now focus on her writing and happy to come home after work to her small town in Nebraska where all she has to deal with are three stoplights and an occasional tractor.

* Visit her blog.

* Check out the book trailer.


** NEXT on YA Ebook Tour: Sue Perkins, "Spirit Stealer"


*BUY:

MuseItUp Bookstore or see Amazon link below.

Ebook Tour: Meet Pembroke Sinclair, author of Life After the Undead

Today, I welcome Pembroke Sinclair, author of LIFE AFTER THE UNDEAD.

About the Book:

The world has come to an end. It doesn’t go out with a bang, or even a whimper. It goes out in an orgy of blood and the dead rising from their graves to feast on living flesh.

As democracy crumples and the world melts into anarchy, five families in the U.S. rise to protect the survivors. The undead hate a humid environment, so they are migrating westward to escape its deteriorating effects. The survivors are constructing a wall in North Platte to keep the zombie threat to the west, while tyranny rules among the humans to the east.

Capable but naïve Krista is 15 when the first attacks occur, and she loses her family and barely escapes with her life. She makes her way to the wall and begins a new life. But, as the undead threat grows and dictators brainwash those she cares about, Krista must fight not only to survive but also to defend everything she holds dear—-her country, her freedom, and ultimately those she loves.

How did you start writing?
I've always enjoyed writing, ever since I was little. I tinkered with it on and off, but didn't get serious about it until about six years ago. A coworker really encouraged me to get my butt in gear!

What inspires you to write?
Everything. I will overhear a snipit of a conversation and think, "Hmm, that would make a great story." My dreams also play a big role in what I write, as I have some dooseys. This particular story was inspired by a dream, and it started out as a short story. From there, it grew.

When I'm not writing, I'm...
...Taking care of my children and working two part-time jobs. Really, my only hobbies include writing and editing. Occasionally (more often than I should), I spend my time on the couch in front of the TV!

How does your writing influence your life - and how does your life influence your writing?
Writing is what I really want to do. I don't want it to be a hobby, I want it to be my career. I'm constantly trying to make time to do it and wondering how much vacation I have saved up to take off work!

How much of 'you' is in your books?
I think authors always put themselves into books, whether its just the time and effort, or their actual soul. As I mentioned previously, I write to figure out how humans react to certain situations, and I like to look at it from different perspectives. Sometimes the reaction is what I'd do, and other times it's not.

What do you want people to take away from this book?
Fun. I want you to read my book for enjoyment and think: "Wow. That was one hell of a ride!"

What is your favorite part of writing and of your book?
This is hard to answer because I'm my own worst critic, and I kinda think everything stinks. I like how my character grows throughout the book, but I don't know that I have one favorite part.

My favorite part of writing is the initial process. I enjoy creating a new world and writing it down, then going back and editing it.

About the author:
Wyoming author Pembroke Sinclair has had stories published in the Cynic Online Magazine, Static Movement, Sonar 4 Publications, and Residential Aliens. Her story, “Sohei,” was named one of the Best Stories of 2008 by the Cynic Online Magazine. She also is author of COMING FROM NOWHERE, available in ebook and print. She is a staff writer for Serial Killer Magazine and works as an editor for an environmental consulting firm. Contact her at pembrokesinclair@hotmail.com.

** NEXT on YA Ebook Tour: CK Volnek, "Ghost Dog of Roanoke Island"

Miniatures Monday: Witch's Greenhouse Preview!

Halloween is coming!

Finally I decided to spruce up the Witch's Greenhouse (one of the Houseworks' Street of Shops) and get it finished. (I should've done that before and wrote a story on it, well... next time.)

The plants were all done, everything was piled inside, so all I had to do was organize. Easy? Well not when you're deciding on where to place tons of plants. (Have to count them yet and I realize some are still missing... Yes I made that many.)

So here's a preview of a small section. I'll detail the whole project during my annual 12 Days of Halloween in Miniature, beginning Oct. 20. (Third year!) here on the blog, so be sure to come back. It'll be fun and I'll have some prizes, too!

The floor is painted egg carton stones, same as on the bottom outside. Stray leaves have sprouted from the fertilizer shelves. A cute skellie dog is eating (ugh you don't want to know!) - (from Marie Gattis, Marie's Minis).

The scene's had more added since this pic, so check back later for more.

(Off to find the witch and her new employee. Remember my Flamingo lady doll? (See her here.) Well, she overdid the garage saling and had to get a job... yes at the creepy greenhouse! haaa! (How mean!) Stay tuned for details!)

* See early pix: Inside and exterior. (I still love that weird wallpaper, it was holly scrapbook paper.... Christmasy? Yeah if you're Tim Burton. haa! Perfect background for the greenhouse.)

Ebook Tour: Welcome to Shellie Neumeier, author of DRIVEN, a paranormal tale of good vs. evil

Today I welcome Shellie Neumeier, author of DRIVEN... Find the good inside....

Now for something a bit different - paranormal with a twist. It's good vs. evil... and I gotta say I love how Shellie describes her character, Robyn, in the line I'm stealing from the interview below: You take all the hits, all the trials and still your inner strength and faith shines through. Sounds like someone worth knowing...

About the Book:
Robyn can’t help but notice the handsome new guy at her school. She ignores, however, the arrival of another being at Brookfield Central High School—a demon assigned to destroy her…

Robyn loves her friends, enjoys her youth group, and looks forward to meeting cute Caleb Montague. But when a caustic news reporter challenges her school’s prayer team, Robyn must choose: defend their right to meet on campus and pray for whomever they wish or back down at the principal’s request.

Now she must learn what God wants her to do. And she had better learn fast, because there’s a supernatural enemy in town whose sole mission is to stop her—no matter the cost. (And don't forget to read the excerpt at the end!)

And now a word from the author... Oh wait. I guess Robyn Stanley, the main character in DRIVEN wants to say something....Let's see what she and Shellie are talking about....

Robyn: So why me? Why write about my life?

Shellie: You seemed like a good kid to write about, especially since you’re always getting into trouble.

Robyn: Am not.

Shellie: Are to. Have you read the book?

Robyn: **blushes** It’s on my Goodreads shelf.

Shellie: Seriously? I gave you a copy eight months ago and you haven’t read it yet?

Robyn: Hey, who are you, my mom?

Shellie: **raises hands** Okay, okay. Let’s get back to the interview. What’s your next question?

Robyn: I don’t know if I want to continue.

Shellie: I could always write your sequel…

Robyn: Fine! What’s your favorite ice cream flavor?

Shellie: **arches eyebrows** Favorite ice cream flavor?

Robyn: Yup.

Shellie: Your English teacher wants to know my taste in dairy treats?

Robyn: My Advanced Composition teacher doesn’t really read these papers; she just counts the pages and reads the first paragraph. I want to know your favorite flavor.

Shellie: Really? Why?

Robyn: Just tell me the flavor. Geesh you’d think I was asking for national secrets or something.

Shellie: **snickers** Vanilla.

Robyn: Well that’s boring.

Shellie: Gee. Thanks. Actually vanilla rocks when you put chocolate syrup, sprinkles, chocolate chips, and whipped cream on top. Next question, please.

Robyn: Hmm. **thumbs down her spiral notebook** Why’d you stick a demon in my story and why’d you make him target me for destruction? Kinda uncool, I’m just saying.

Shellie: **grins** Robyn, if anyone can handle a destructive demon, it’s you. You’re strong-willed, determined, DRIVEN—

Robyn: Nice marketing.

Shellie: You liked that?

Robyn: Just finish the question.

Shellie: Okay, sorry. Sebastian, the demon, may spend over two hundred pages trying to bring you down, but you spend the same two hundred pages figuring out who you are and how you can triumph over public humiliation, loneliness, dueling crushes, serious friend issues—

Robyn: Wow.

Shellie: Yeah, wow. Look, I wrote your story cause it’s a lot like my favorite ice cream.

Robyn: Vanilla? Plain, old vanilla? Gee, thanks.

Shellie: Hey, don’t knock vanilla. Vanilla ice cream takes on all the other flavors and toppings and makes them better. That’s you. You take all the hits, all the trials and still your inner strength and faith shines through. That’s better than any hot fudge sundae, if you ask me.

Robyn: Well, I couldn’t have done it without God. I have my favorite verse posted on my bathroom mirror, you know. 1 Chronicles 16:11 “Look to the LORD and his strength; seek his face always.” I’m glad I’ve got God on my side. I can’t imagine how messed I’d be without Him.

Shellie: True. Some of those nuts have sharp edges. Get it, sundae…nuts **grins, sheepishly**

Robyn: Very funny. Hey, thinking what I’m thinking?

Shellie: Ice cream?

Robyn: Oh yeah.

** Get DRIVEN on Kindle: click cover:

*Check out DRIVEN on Facebook. - ** See the book trailer.

** Excerpt from DRIVEN:
From a comfortable height above the trees, Sebastian circled the abandoned paper mill, drinking in the atmosphere of dereliction and decay surrounding the property. This place has more character than most of the humans I know. Half broken windows winked like the evil eyes of wayward souls, while snow drifts gathered in the corners. The wind toyed with the snow, whipping trails that could chill his feet and ankles. If he had feet and ankles, that is.

Slipping through a second-story window, Sebastian watched a rat scurry across the dusty floor in a dash for the shadows. Like an angry cloud—black as asphalt, thick as cigar smoke—Sebastian floated after the rodent, watching with mild interest as it raced for another shadow and nearly collided with an old tom cat whose eyes glowed bright with hunger. The tom sprang, but Sebastian turned away. He didn’t have time for these cat and mouse games today, no matter how much he enjoyed them. He had bigger game to consider, and as he moved over the room, he thought about the girl he’d come to destroy.

Sebastian peered through the panel of small rectangular windows overlooking the town of Brookfield, fifty in all, though most were broken, and he yawned as he watched the town stretch with morning life. Humans filtered in and out of the corner diner, scampered about in their shiny cars, and huddled against the wind in mindless oblivion. Sebastian’s mouth curled into a sneer.

** Shellie, thanks for stopping by and sharing your book with us!

**NEXT on YA Ebook Tour: Pembroke Sinclair, "Life After the Undead"

YA EBook Tour: Christine Verstraete

Today I'll be at Rebecca Ryals Russell's blog talking books and other stuff and a fave topic, "When Writing and Collecting Collide." Stop by!

Miniatures Thursday: In Miniature Style II - What else to do with those tote bags...

Another idea for what else to do with those tote bags from In Miniature Style II....

Ebook Tour: Welcome to Marva Dasef, author of the paranormal book, Bad Spelling. What's this about witches and werewolves?

Today I welcome Marva Dasef, author of the spooky-sounding BAD SPELLING, Book 1 of the Witches of Galdorheim - A klutzy witch, a shaman's curse, a quest to save her family. Can Kat find her magic in time?
** Coming October 14 from MuseItUp Publishing. **

About the Book:
If you’re a witch living on a remote arctic island, and the entire island runs on magic, lacking magical skills is not just an inconvenience, it can be a matter of life and death–or, at least, a darn good reason to run away from home.

Katrina’s spells don’t just fizzle; they backfire with spectacular results, oftentimes involving green goo. A failure as a witch, Kat decides to run away and find her dead father’s non-magical family. But before she can, she stumbles onto why her magic is out of whack: a curse from a Siberian shaman.

The young witch, accompanied by her warlock brother, must travel to the Hall of the Mountain King and the farthest reaches of Siberia to regain her magic, dodging attacks by the shaman along the way. At the Troll Kingdom, a young troll, Andy, joins the siblings in their quest to find the shaman and kill the curse.

(** Check out the book trailer!)


In keeping with the book topic, read on for what Marva has to say about... werewolves! And be sure to comment to be entered in the contest, see details at the end!

WEREWOLVES: Alternative Transportion

The most well-known werecritter is the werewolf. At this time in the cycle of what’s hot, what’s not, werewolves are getting great press via the Twilight books and movies by Stephanie Meyer.

I have to admit it. Werewolves can be totally sexy guys (gals) in human form. Meyer finally got one legendary being right. Well, she agrees with my concept, which I used before I read any of the Meyer saga. To tell the truth, I still haven’t read any of the books, because the first movie put such a bad taste in my mouth. OMG, Edward loves Bella because she SMELLS good?!?!? Gimme a break.

As we all know, werewolves are shape-shifters. When the full moon rises, your normal guy (or gal) changes into a werewolf. Sometimes, they are portrayed as mindless beasts who’ll rip the throat out of anybody they come upon. Other portrayals show that the maintain their human intelligence when shifted. Since the legends vary so wildly, I decided to not only have my werewolves remain intelligent, but also able to shift from human to wolf form at will.

How do I justify this turning away from the legend? I don’t need to. Some folks will howl in disgust with my tampering with the myths. Let ‛em whine or even bark. I’ve seen authors do just about everything with the tropes: weres, vampires, demons, fairies, angels, ancient gods. That, I believe, is perfectly okay. You want a half-vampire, half-demon? I’ve seen that in paranormal more than once. Gods less than god-like? Yup, been done.

Anyway, I have a six-pack of werewolves in BAD SPELLING. Here’s a taste (ha ha, get it?) of my werewolf mashup.


Excerpt from BAD SPELLING:

Rune joined them. “Are we going to stand around here all day? Where’s the alternative transportation you told us about?”

Andy tore his gaze from Kat and scanned the slope. “There it is.”

Kat looked where Andy pointed and gasped. “What—?”

“Don’t worry. They won’t hurt us,” Andy said with a confidence Kat didn’t quite trust.

“But werewolves?” There was no mistaking them for regular wolves. Besides being twice the size of the largest of the wolves, the eyes gave them away. Even from a distance, Kat could see them gleaming with intelligence.

“Look behind them,” Andy said.

The big wolves loped along easily; they were harnessed to a sled, bouncing along behind them. The speed with which they approached told her they would have no problem pulling a heavy load.

The wolves came up the slope and stopped in front of them. The lead werewolf looked at each of them with some interest. Kat felt like an item on a menu, like when they faced the polar bear.

The lead wolf said, “Good morning. Hmm. Humans, not trolls. Interesting.” The wolf looked over his shoulder at the others. “Remember, King Olaf hired us to deliver these people to where they want to go. You are not to eat them.” The other wolves nodded, but their long tongues hanging over gleaming, razor-sharp teeth was not a reassuring sight; their mouths dripped saliva in a most disconcerting manner.

The lead werewolf turned his pale yellow eyes back to Andy. “So, where are we going?”

Andy briefly explained what they wanted. The werewolf nodded and said, “If I understand correctly, we are looking for the Sami tribe. Do you realize they’re nomadic?”

“Sort of. All I know for certain is they spend much of their time on the northern coast.” Andy glanced at Kat. “Anything else?” She shook her head.

The wolf stared at Andy for a moment and then said, “Well, come closer so I can smell you. The girl, too.”

Kat hung back. “Why do you want to—? Oh, I understand. You can find the Samis through our scent.”

“Very good, young lady,” the werewolf answered and sniffed at her outstretched hand. He licked it once. Kat jerked her hand back. “Taste helps, too,” the werewolf answered, with a hint of humor in his gruff voice.

“What’s your name?” Kat asked.

“I call myself Mazi in my wolf form. I try to keep my human life separate.” The werewolf raised his head and howled. The other wolves joined in the chorus. Goose pimples rose on Kat’s arms. Then, they all fell silent and pricked their ears, turning their heads this way and that. From off in the distance, Kat heard a faint answering howl.

“Hop on the sled. It’s time to go,” Mazi said.

* Want more? Check out Marva's blog.

** CONTEST: ** Win a free ebook drawn from comments. Select either MG fantasy BAD SPELLING or adult mystery MISSING, ASSUMED DEAD.

* Marva, thanks for stopping by. Can't wait to read the book!

** Next YA Ebook Tour: Shellie Neumeier, "Driven"

Ebook Tour: Meet Meradeth Houston, author of YA Paranormal: Colors Like Memories

If you like eBooks, then stay tuned for a selection of great reads!

Today I welcome Meradeth Houston, author of the upcoming young adult paranormal book, COLORS LIKE MEMORIES (MuseItUp Publishing May 2012). * Cover coming! Be sure to comment to be eligible to win a copy!

About the Book:
Julia is a Sary, the soul of a child who died before taking her first breath. Without this "breath of life," she and others like her must help those on the verge of suicide. It's a job Julia used to enjoy, until the accident that claimed her boyfriend’s life—an accident she knows was her fault. If living with the guilt weren't enough, she's now assigned to help a girl dealing with the loss of her mother, something Julia's not exactly the best role model for. If she can't figure out a way to help her, Julia's going to lose her position in the Sary, something she swore to her boyfriend would never happen.

New school arrival Edison knows too much about her past. Now after revealing herself to her assignment, she'll have to trust that past, and learn to trust Edison, and herself to help her friend heal and face the true color of her memories.

Interview with Meradeth Houston:

How did you start writing?
Reading a lot is what really got me started. I remember thinking that I really enjoyed a particular book and didn’t want it to end. The concept that if I wanted to see something different occur in a story I could write it myself just kind of came to me when I was a kid, and that led me down the path to being a writer.

What inspires you to write? What inspired this book?
Music is what really gets the writing juices flowing for me. My book, Colors Like Memories, really came from listening to “Shadow of the Day” by Linkin Park (yeah, I know it’s an old song, but it was very recent when I wrote the first draft!).

When I'm not writing, I ...
...spend most of my time in the lab, and I also run when I can. I guess, in many ways, writing is my hobby (though using the word ‘hobby’ doesn’t really encompass the word well). Anyhow, I’m an anthropologist, and I work with the DNA of ancient peoples, which is pretty cool . I’ve always wanted to study people, so that fits in pretty well with both writing and anthropology!

How does writing influences your life - and how does your life influence your writing?
Writing is a big part of my life, mainly because it keeps my imagination under control—or maybe just gives it a focus. I’m always reading and studying the world around me for a new story idea, or some fun line of dialogue to fit into my stories.

What element do you try to use in your work?
I think a lot of my stories are about understanding why certain things (both good and bad—mostly bad because those make for more interesting stories) happen to people. I don’t always start out with this concept, but it works its way into almost everything I write.

About the author:
Born and raised in California, Houston left for college and moved back eight miles from her hometown. While finishing her doctorate, she works as a lab researcher and instructor at my university. A great job, she says, because "it allows for a lot of day-dreaming."

Contest: Leave a comment (with an email or link to contact you) to be eligible to win a copy of Colors Like Memories when it's released. Winners will be announced on Meradeth's blog at the end of the month.

** Next: YA Ebook Tour Post 3: Marva Dasef, "Bad Spelling"

This Week's Upcoming Blog Guests

Stop back this week for several authors coming by for the MG/YA (Middle Grade-Young Adult) Ebook and Blog Tour.

Tuesday: Meradeth (Snow) Houston, author of the upcoming fantasy/paranormal COLORS LIKE MEMORIES

Wednesday: Marva Dasef, author of BAD SPELLING, talks werewolves

** Friday: I'll be at Rebecca Ryals Russell's blog talking about the real "big boom" - When Writing and Collecting Collide.

Saturday: Shellie Neumeier, author of the paranormal-Christian book DRIVEN lets her character do the talking.

Remembering the Human, and Canine, Heroes of 9-11

Today we remember the brave men and women, the firefighters, police and rescue personnel, who answered the call for help during the horrendous attacks on the NY World Trade Center on 9-11.

Not to be forgotten are the hard-working rescue dogs who helped in search and rescue at the site, many suffering injuries in the process.

The American Kennel Club continues to offer funds and ongoing support to make sure that these working animals will be there to help and will also get the care they need.

* See 9-11 Memorial
See the video....

YA Blog Tour: Welcome to Barb Ehrentreu, author of "If I Could Be Like Jennifer Taylor"

Today I welcome YA author Barbara Ehrentreu, author of the intriguing-sounding, IF I COULD BE LIKE JENNIFER TAYLOR. Keep reading for the contest at the end.

About the Book:

Carolyn Samuels is obsessed with the idea of being popular. She is convinced that the only thing keeping her from happiness is her too-heavy-for-fashion body and not being a cheerleader. When she's paired for a math project with her middle school tormenter, Jennifer Taylor, Carolyn's sure it's going to be another pain-filled year.

Homework blackmail, lies and a chance to be made over make for an uneasy friendship, especially when Carolyn uncovers Jennifer's secret. Can she keep a secret and become one of the popular crowd - the cheerleaders - or will she be a mean girl target again? EBook available 9/16, MuseItUp Publishing.

Interview with Barbara Ehrentreu, author of IF I COULD BE LIKE JENNIFER TAYLOR.

What was the inspiration for IF I COULD BE LIKE JENNIFER TAYLOR?
I wrote this book, because my daughter had the beginnings of an eating disorder and she also felt bad about her body. I needed three chapters for this children’s workshop led by Paula Danziger, so I wrote them. In the story, the main character is being bullied by a girl named Jennifer Taylor, whom she both hates and wants to be like. She actually says, “If only I could be like Jennifer Taylor.”

Which authors have most influenced your own writing?
Lewis Carroll, Jane Austin, Paula Danziger, John Irving and too many others to list.

What's your ideal writing spot? Have any special writing rewards?
I can write almost anywhere, but right now I’m happy writing at my desk on my laptop. When I’m writing I like to have chocolate cookies available and caffeine free diet Coke.

Describe your writing style.
I just start out writing and have no idea where it's going. When I have a good sentence I write that and usually the story moves along by itself. Dialogue writes itself if I have fleshed out the character enough before I write.

What's next for you?
I'm working on an adult novel, as well as two other YA novels. WHEN MY LIFE CHANGED is almost ready to send out. This is also a YA novel about a 15-year-old girl whose life changes when her father has a heart attack and bypass surgery.

** CONTEST!!
Comment about your experiences as a freshman in high school to be entered in a drawing for a copy.

Excerpt from IF I COULD BE LIKE JENNIFER TAYLOR:

I spot him walking toward my locker with a small box in one hand and a plastic fork in the other. My Crush! He hands me the box, and I open it. Inside is a piece of luscious chocolate cake with chocolate frosting.

I look up into his blue eyes and give him the box so I can touch his cheek as I smooth his dark hair. “You always know just what I like.”

He smiles and feeds me a forkful of cake. I don’t have to worry about eating it because I can eat anything I want and not gain weight. He places the cake box in my locker so he can put his arms around me. The first bell rings in my ears. I ignore it because I’m thin and blonde and floating in the arms of my dark-haired crush. The other cheerleaders run up to us laughing and kidding around, and I’m about to speak. The ringing gets louder.

The dream evaporates, and I realize it’s the darn alarm piercing my sleep. Slamming my fist onto the snooze button, I get this nagging feeling. Then I remember. I have something to do. Worse luck, I have to do it, not as the slender blonde beauty in my dream, but as the real Carolyn Samuels with my brown curly hair hanging like shriveled spaghetti, mud brown eyes, and a body too large for fashion.

** TO Post 2 on YA Blog tour: Meradeth Houston, "Colors Like Memories"

Miniature Art by Anna Hardman - DOTY Winner

The October issue of Doll Reader Magazine includes the January winners of the Doll of the Year Awards for 2011.

Congrats to miniature doll maker Anna Hardman for her People's Choice award for Miniature Artist Dolls. This is her second win. She's getting miniature dolls the attention they deserve! And her doll - hand-sculpted and an original design - is indeed a work of art! Simply beautiful!

Miniatures Monday: New AIM for Sept - Fantastic Food and Make a Coat

The fantastic Sept. issue of Artisans in Miniature (AIM) Magazine is now out. Wow, dine in style with all kinds of wonderful food!

And... Kathy Mendenhall of Mini Patterns (who made and contributed the pattern and how-to for the wonderful yellow dress on the cover of In Miniature Style II) has a great coat pattern and how-to in the issue.

Download here free.

It's Alive!! New website, new minis, etc.

Finally! It works. yay! My new website is up! My worrying is over!

Well a few things have to be added yet, but I can do it at my leisure now. Do let me know if anything does not go to the right page or something.

** Got In Miniature Style II? -- I added a pdf for the Halloween printies to make the screen in my book. See miniatures page at site. Btw, if you have the book linked, the page has changed.... to www.cverstraete.com/in-miniature-style-ii.html. Stop by!

New Website Coming!

Finally, most of the pages are ready and I hope to launch a new website on a new server shortly.

The web address is still the same though it comes up direct with the wwww - www.cverstraete.com and the emails will be the same once I set them up. (or use christine.verstraeteATfacebook.com).

In case of any disruption, contact me at www.facebook.com/christine.verstraete.

Miniature Fast Food in AIM Magazine

Check out my fast food article in the August (#10) Artisans in Miniature (AIM) Magazine. Love all that food - and no calories! Looks so amazingly real!

See blog link. Download or read online here.

Miniatures Monday: Home on the Range

This has to be one of the most charming miniature scenes I've come across lately. Doll maker Gina Gagnon of Lone Wolf Miniature Creations recently shared her latest work inspired by a real-life woman.

Her miniature doll is based on a Montana rancher's wife named Beth whom, Gina says, is "a very feisty 80-year-old, who still saddles her own horses, herds her and her husband's cattle, raises llamas, goats, etc., and wins ribbons at the county fair."



You can just see that spirit in Gina's creation! We can only wish we'll all be so active and independent when we get to that age.

Interview with Shobhan Bantwal, Author of Bollywood Novel, The Full Moon Bride

Today I again welcome best-selling author Shobhan Bantwal who is giving readers another glimpse into the "Desi" life via her latest book, THE FULL MOON BRIDE.

Bantwal, who has calls her type of writing "Bollywood in a book," is not afraid to tackle sometimes controversial topics and show the sometimes dark side of Indian life. In her last book, THE DOWRY BRIDE, she addressed what can happen when wives are "sold" to the prospective husband via a dowry.

In her new book, THE FULL MOON BRIDE, Bantwal introduces readers to a practice that many Americans may not understnad, but which is still common in many Indian and European families--the arranged marriage. As the interview reveals, it also is something Bantwal is personally familiar with.

About The Full Moon Bride
What makes a marriage—love or compatibility? Passion or pragmatism? THE FULL MOON BRIDE is a compelling story that explores the fascinating subject of arranged marriage, as young Indian-American attorney Soorya Giri navigates the gulf between desire and tradition.

In choosing between two very different men, Soorya must reconcile her burgeoning independence and conservative background. And she must decide what matters most to her—not just in a husband, but in a family, a culture, and a life.



Interview with Shobhan Bantwal:

1. What keeps you writing?
The need to share a story with as many people as possible is what keeps me writing. Fiction writing is still very much a hobby and does not earn much in terms of money, but the satisfaction of publishing a book, entertaining so many happy readers, and then receiving loads of positive feedback is well worth it.

2. What has changed in your life since you wrote this book?
Some major changes have taken place in my personal life: I am about to retire from my career job (the one that paid the bills until now) and move to Arizona from New Jersey (where I have spent the last 37 years - my entire adult life).

3. What inspired this story? Was it harder or easier to write than the others? Why?
The inspiration for this story is the second-generation of Indian-Americans, young folks like my daughter, whose parents emigrated to the United States to follow their dreams and make a better life for themselves and their children.

These offspring of immigrants face many challenges: straddling two diverse cultures, striving to meet the expectations of conservative parents, fitting into their more emancipated American peers' lifestyles, and fulfilling their own private career and family goals. My protagonist in The Full Moon Bride is bright and successful, but miserable about her plain looks, especially when she compares herself to her American friends. Finding a man on her own is difficult when her low self-esteem gets in the way of progress. This book was fairly easy to write since the plot and scenes come from close daily observations.

4. Was your marriage or any family member's arranged? What are your views on it in this day and age? Does it still work?
Yes, I have been happily married for 37 years and my marriage was strictly arranged. My husband and I met two days before we were engaged, then married 10 days later. All my sisters, uncle, aunts and most cousins have been married by arrangement. I believe in the custom wholeheartedly, if it is done right, that is, with the potential bride and groom agreeing to the marriage and making a sincere effort to make it work. Approximately 75 percent of marriages in India are still arranged and most seem to work very well.

5. Since your marriage was arranged, why does it work? What were your initial views about it and how do you see it now?
Arranged marriages work because the families from both sides do a lot of discreet fact gathering and research before picking someone eligible for their children. The caste system is still alive and thriving in India, therefore seeking an alliance with a family of the same caste is still a significant factor, along with similarities in social and economic circumstances. With so many elements in common, adjustment is made easier for the newlyweds.

Additionally, complete family support from both sides makes for a stronger marriage. Initially, when I was young and enamored by the idea of falling in love, I was hesitant about walking into an arranged marriage, but now, after 37 years of living in a one, I am an enthusiastic advocate of the custom.

6. What is your goal in writing this story? What do you want your readers to know or learn?
My goal in writing this book was to bring awareness to some of the challenges faced by second-generation immigrants. Also, American society places so much emphasis on beauty and youth that many who are labeled as plain, or overweight or unattractive grow up with easily-shattered egos and lack of self-respect. Writing The Full Moon Bride was my way of highlighting this subject and the immigrant experience in America. I want my readers to know that despite the outward appearance of having realized the American dream, many immigrants privately face other challenges, some expected and others unexpected.

7. What's next? You have another book coming out?
Yes, there is another book, scheduled for release next summer. There is no title yet but it will also be about a young Indian-American woman navigating the gulf between desire and tradition, her family's expectations and her own dreams.

8. What advice would you give to authors starting out?
My advice to aspiring authors is to write the book of your heart, even if it does not fit into a "box." I did that myself when I started to write stories that are a mix of different genres. In essence I created a new sub-genre of women's fiction, which I call "Bollywood in a Book" — ethnic fiction with colorful characters, strong romantic elements, action and adventure.

Thanks, Shobhan for stopping by again. We've enjoyed your visit!
Thank you once again for hosting me on your popular blog. It has been a pleasure to talk about my books and share my experiences as an author.



About Shobhan Bantwal
Award-winning author Shobhan Bantwal calls her writing “Bollywood in a Book” —romantic, colorful, action-packed tales, rich with elements of Indian culture —stories that entertain and educate. Shobhan has five published novels by Kensington Publishing, with a sixth slated for 2012. Check out her
website or visit her on Facebook.

* Review: Let me say that I am hooked! This is the third book I've read by Shobhan and I can't wait to read more. I love the way she brings the culture and her characters to life. You can't help but root for the "underdog" beau-in-waiting, and almost want to give her main character a shove to open her eyes! The romance ends as you hope, with a little sizzle and a lot of emotion. While she wanted to focus on self-doubt, I almost felt like her main character was too down on herself. Finally, she does feel more confident and starts to look at herself as others see her, especially as this good-looking suitor (as he's described) clearly sees her differently than she's seeing herself at first. The details of the culture and family life make the novel even more interesting.

* Read my other interview with Shobhan about her novel, The Sari Shop Widow here.

Miniatures Monday: Updated Preview, In Miniature Style II

The preview for In Miniature Style II has been updated at Amazon if you want to take a peek! Click cover for preview!

Miniatures Monday: Woman Uses Miniatures to Teach Black History

While miniatures and dollhouses can be a fun way to recreate a piece of your personal past or capture a moment in time, they also can be used to document history.

Karen Collins began by making roomboxes with ice cream shops and other fun scenes, but after her son went to prison she found new purpose by recreating scenes showing the various aspects of African American history.

Fifteen years and 50 roomboxes later, she has created a collection that is as enlightening as it can be thought-provoking and disturbing: scenes showing a lively gospel choir and churchgoers, men sitting at a diner and Hattie McDaniel from Gone with the Wind as the first black Academy award winner, to the Klan in Black history, and more.

The exhibit, which often mixes scales and uses actual newspapers or photos for the backgrounds, includes many dolls she made herself. The rooms were used as educational tools in Los Angeles schools and will now become part of a permanent museum exhibit.

* Read the full story here. * See the roombox Photo Gallery

Happy Birthday Lucy!

Happy Birthday Lucy! Lucille Ball would've been 100 today. She's still one of the funniest actresses around and was one of the prettiest women of her era. Here's that iconic chocolate scene in her memory....

Flood, Fire... Blame it on the dollhouse....

Floods and fire ravaged an apartment building, but sources say it all started with the dollhouse... See story.

Darn those little people for not putting in smoke detectors...

New AIM Magazine for August

The new AIM Magazine (Aug. #36) is out.

I have an article on fast food and a how to for a fast food fish sandwich in it. See download page. (You may have to sign in to Scribd.)

Book Blogger Hop 7/29-31: A New Book You're Reading?

Decided to join in on the BOOK BLOGGER HOP at Crazy for Books.

** This week's question: Highlight one book you have received this week (for review, from the library, purchased at the store, etc.) that you can’t wait to dig into.

My answer:

I have several books I got a a garage sale, a rare YA stack! The one I keep looking at, curious about it, is WITCH & WIZARD by James Patterson. I may be the last person on the planet who has not yet read one of his books, and hearing about his writing methods with numerous co-authors makes me curious. As he also jumped into the YA field, I found this book intriguing.

Of course, as usual, I have several books I'm reading at once. I'm also reading, THE FULL MOON BRIDE, Shobhan Bantwal and THE HUNGER GAMES.

About Witch & Wizard:

Grade 5–9—Wisty and Whit Allgood have magical powers, but they don't know it. At least they don't know until they are arrested by the guards of the New Order, which has just come to power. Their parents have always been into herbs and plants and predictions; they don't send their kids to typical schools, and when the teens are allowed to take only one item each to jail with them, they send a drumstick and a book with no words that are visible to the naked eye. The kids start to get an inkling of what they can do when Wisty bursts into flames when she gets angry, and before long she is turning people into creatures and conjuring tornadoes, and lightning bolts shoot from her hands. The bulk of the book takes place when Whit and Wisty are locked up in a reformatory where they are bullied by the guards. ( - From School Library Journal).

Miniatures Idea: A Seashell House

Martha Stewart has a selection of interesting ideas for what to do with seashells - including an easy-to-make cardboard house covered with shells.

* Get the Instructions

Two Sentence Tuesday: Mystery to Romance....

Thought I'd join in on Two Sentence Tuesday at Women of Mystery.

Just finished reading a fascinating romance-crime story, The Dowry Bride by Shobhan Bantwal. (Great author of India-based tales. Come back on Aug. 24th for my interview with her regarding her latest book, The Full Moon Bride.)

In The Dowry Bride, a young bride overhears an extraordinary conversation, voices speaking of a plot to murder a wife who hasn't produced a child and whose family failed to produce the promised dowry... her.

Two sentences from The Dowry Bride (page 99): With a shudder Megha came awake from the sinister darkness of the foggy backyard to the brightness of the room, blinking-the scream still inside her throat. Her heart was beating so frantically it seemed ready to jump out of her breast.

My two sentences from the diner mystery I am reworking (pg. 99):
The giant picture window had a big hole in the center like someone had shot it out, except a gun didn’t do this. She eyed the palm-sized piece of red brick on the floor, thankful it hadn't hit any of them.

** Share your two sentences you read and you wrote. What are you working on?

Miniatures Monday: In Miniature Style II really mini!

Working on making up some items and making kits for the tote bags in In Miniature Style II.

A few of the items for the bags: pencils, and small books of course! (Non-opening.) Here's a completed tote I made before.

In Miniature Style II Print Sale!

The print version of In Miniature Style II has been updated (fixing pattern order and a couple things)

Good news is it's now on sale for $12. (Eligible for free shipping on Amazon if you're buying $25 anyway...)

EBook and other formats still available. (See link above.)

Writing: Too Much Nodding and other People Problems

Thinking I was "done," (really?) I let my wip (work in progress) sit a couple days, though deep down, I knew there was a problem I needed to look at. Nodding. As in She nodded, I nodded, Nodding, he, etc.

My characters nod. A lot. Nodding seems to be my oft-used, abused, and overused word. Going through the manuscript, I'm changing, fixing, deleting all those nods. After a while, though, the brain gets numb in thinking up new things to say.

So, share: what's your over-used or "fave" word or phrase? What do you put in exchange? And I'd love any suggestions for fixing mine (other than cutting off the characters' heads. Problem solved. haa!)

Books for Sale - Mini and Doll Related

**US shipping tbd; International, may cost more; not responsible for loss w/o insurance. click profile to email me. All books in very good and good condition. (Yes these are "real" full-size books!)


Doll dressing inspiration, wonderful details! Stunning costumes in The Tyler
Wentworth Fifth Anniversary Album. 176 pgs, hardcvr. Reverie Publishing (2004) VG condition.Collectible! Selling on Amazon and eBay, $55 and up. For Sale: $40 (or best offer) plus shipping.(RARE!)

In the five years since her introduction by the Tonner Doll Company, Tyler Wentworth has risen to the top of the world of fashion dolls. This book is a comprehensive collector's reference to all things Tyler, and a commemoration in words and photos of this groundbreaking doll. Entertaining and informative, this book offers a unique collection of facts, fiction and photographs. In this book, Tyler's storyline continues and is illustrated by new photographs featuring her and her friends in settings from their lives, such as Tyler's apartment and the fashion runway. Well-known contributors such as A Glenn Mandeville, who traces Tyler's place in the history of the American fashion doll, and Louise Fecher, as well as fashion designer Timothy Gunn, discuss Tyler's importance in various arenas. Masterful photographers Ernest Padro-Compos and Barry Sturgill pay homage to the doll in beautifully styled pictures, exclusive to this book. The collector's reference section shows every production doll and outfit ever made, with identification information as well as collector's notes, including nearly every exclusive and one-of-a-kind.

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British Teenage Dolls, 1956-1984, Frances Baird, 2004 New Cavendish, hc, 195 page. Great pix,history, clothes, dolls - Blythe, Charlie's Angels, more. Fun history. Sells for $30 (different cover). Selling for $20 plus shipping.
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A Beginner's Guide to the Dolls' House Hobby, Jean Nisbett, reprint GMC 1997. 120 pgs, sofcover. Oldie but goodie, good information, how to's and nice pix. Still a popular seller and good guide. VG condition, $10 plus shipping.

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The Doll's House Sourcebook, Caroline Clifton-Mogg, Abbeville Press, 1993. 208 pages, softcover, oversized. Wonderful, inspiring book, beautiful large color photos. Lots of gorgeous rooms, scenes and inspiration. $15 + shipping.
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Inside the World of Miniatures & Dollhouses, A Comprehensive Guide to collecting and creating, McKay, 1976; softcover, large size, 240 pgs, good condition, slight wear on cover side ends. Good overall information and photos, all b/w. Includes section on making basic furniture, bench, fireplace, etc. Good guide. Selling for $8 and shipping.

New Summer Mysterical-e - Mystery Interview and New Books

The summer issue of Mysterical-e is out!

My new Author Snapshot column features an interview with mystery author Deborah Ledford and shares new books by Bernadette Pajer, Victor J. Banis, John Lindenmuth, Ed Lynskey, Jeffrey Siger, Melodie Campbell and Jan Christensen.

Happy Reading!

Miniatures Thursday: Flowers for the Half Scale Tudor House

A few photos of a couple other things I made for the Half Scale Tudor House.
I made some of the flowers and others (plus the great birds!) I got in anniversary swaps from the Yahoo Half Scale Group and other swaps.



I made the cabinet a while back as I wanted something with a mirrored back. The fence is two pieces of the wood fencing you can buy at the hobby store. I glued it together, added shelves and cut out small brackets as I thought it would be a great display for a garden shop.

* See the door and links to other half scale house pix

Welcome to Guest Mystery Author Ada Madison aka Camille Minichino

Today I again welcome prolific, charming and talented mystery author Camille Minichino, who's come out with a new book, THE SQUARE ROOT OF MURDER, the first in her new Prof. Sophie Knowles mystery series written under the name Ada Madison.

In the book, Dr. Sophie Knowles teaches math at Henley College in Massachusetts, but when a colleague turns up dead, it's up to her to find the killer before someone else gets subtracted.

While Camille is a scientist and quite familiar with the academic world, she's also a miniaturist and author of the fun Miniature Mystery Series. And collectors, you'll be glad to know she hasn't left her hobby behind yet. Far from it as you'll see. (Keep reading, and be sure to check out the contest at the end!)




Tools for Life
By Camille Minichino/Ada Madison

The best thing about writing novels is also the best thing about doing miniatures: you get to manipulate the world any way you please. In fact, dollhouses are a kind of fiction, and fiction writing is definitely a craft.

Here are a couple of handy dollhouse realities: it's a fictitious roof, so if there's a little flaw in your gluing job when you laid down the tiles, the roof still won't leak; no one will know whether the sheet corners on the bed are perfect (or even there at all!) under the comforter in the master bedroom.

As you craft the novel, you have the same power to put things in order, or not. You can construct a satisfying Whodunit with justice for all at the end, or weave twisty plots toward a cliffhanger ending. As a miniaturist, you can construct a lovely half-inch-scale cottage with no bad plumbing or any other defect, but if you'd rather, you can mess things up by turning a miniature bedroom into a crime scene.

Pictured: One of Camille's mini crime scenes.

You can defy age: with only a little maintenance, your dollhouse will never get old or lose its resale value; and as long as you keep writing, your heroine can stay young, even through a dozen books, released a year apart. In my Miniature Mysteries (written as Margaret Grace), my protagonist's granddaughter, 11 years old, will never become a testy teen. How handy is that?

One of my favorite miniature projects was creating a museum. I love real-life museums and have been known to spend entire days in New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art. But my miniature museum has one feature that's impossible in real life: it has only paintings I like.

I've hung several paintings by Edward Hopper and Van Gogh (of course, Chris!) but none by contemporary artists whose work looks a little like a day care project to my untrained eye. There are sculptures by Rodin, but no ancient stone figures (apologies to the Egyptologists out there).

[Full disclosure: Unlike my blog hostess and her talented friends, I don't do miniature paintings; I take the low road and download them!] (Host Note: No judging here, I do that a lot, too! ha!)

My miniature museum has a bistro and a gift shop, of course, as well as benches everywhere for resting and contemplation. I used the power of crafting to make a museum that's perfect for me, just as I use the power of a novel to make characters and stories that satisfy me.

When I donate a dollhouse to a charity—a great move, since it also means I get to buy another one!—I supply some furniture, but not all. I include instead supplies for making pieces, sometimes with instructions, sometimes not. I want the new owner to have that same powerful feeling of being in charge of her environment.

Similarly, when I teach writing, I give my students guidelines, prompts, questions to help them shape their own stories.

In my new series, my protagonist, Professor Sophie Knowles, has a beading hobby. In fact, she manages to use beads as a defensive weapon! Writing and crafting—both powerful tools for life.

** Camille Minichino is the author of three mystery series. Her akas are Margaret Grace (The Miniature Mysteries) and Ada Madison (The Professor Sophie Knowles Mysteries). Read the first chapter of THE SQUARE ROOT OF MURDER, launched on July 5, at her website.

** Camille, thanks again for stopping by and I wish you great success with your new series!

** CONTEST: Comment and share a favorite scene from one of Camille's books, or a general observation for a chance to win a copy of THE SQUARE ROOT OF MURDER. Include an email so we can contact you.

Writing, writing,...What about you?

Nope haven't disappeared. Busy writing. 2,500 words to go to reach my 60,000 word goal on my YA girl zombie. Fixing some things, adding, re-editing the synopsis again. All that fun stuff. Nose to the grindstone. :>)

So if you stop by, please share what you are working on so I don't feel so lonely. ha!

Happy Fourth!

Have fun with BBQ's and relaxing today. Remember those who make sacrifices for freedom.

Here's my favorite scene I made fashioned after a vintage cookbook cover.

Fast Food and Fast Writing?

Fast or slow? Writing can be like fast food, right? That's the topic I'm talking about today at Acme Authors Link. Come on over and give your two cents worth...

Updating....

Note: the print version of In Miniature Style II at Amazon.com is being updated and should be ready in a day or two. The ebook and other format versions are still available. See links, details and photos at website

Hanging a Miniature Door - Tudor Half Scale House

An update on the Half Scale Tudor House I've been constructing (forever? ha!) (See other pix of the house here.)

The door is done in the top pic; I still need to add the bottom bay window.

The hardest part was figuring what to use as hinges for the door. In my full-size Tudor Tea Shoppe (see link on my miniatures page on my website), I used hard plastic strapping tape cut to size. Well, I have to reglue the tape now so I didn't want to do something like that again.



This time I tried something different and I'm pretty pleased with how it came out. As you see in the above pic, the hinges are metal. I cut sword-shaped strips from the top of a mixed nut can (the metal is fairly thin and has an opening tab you pull up.) It cuts easily with scissors.



I glued strips of balsa wood across the door for boards. I then dabbed the back of the metal strips with Quick Grip to hold them in place. Next, I cut regular straight pins very short, again with scissors. Predrill or gouge a small hole into the wood. Hold the pin with small pliers and push it into the hole as far as it will go. Once all the pins were in place, I hammered them in so they were flat and then glued the trim around the door.

I plan to age the metal slightly and add a door knob. I may have to make a door knob to fit the house style.

Talking about Characters...

I'm talking about characters and how to make them real today at the MuseItUp Publishing blog. Stop by and comment with your tips.

Miniatures Update: New Cake Displays

Sharing some of the latest cabinets I made for my Half Scale Tudor House which has a garden shop on the bottom floor and a bakery/cafe/bookshop on the top floor. The cabinets are about 1 1/2" high.



I got the bookshelf at a show and the size fit better for a cake display cabinet. I made the right cabinet for a counter. My friend Kitty made most of the cakes except for a few from a swap in the half scale group. I made the cakes on the top wire wicker shelves from wooden plugs.