Archive for the ‘Author Interviews’ Category:

Pump Up Your Book Chats with Paul Levine

The author of 14 novels, Paul Levine won the John D. MacDonald fiction award and has been nominated for the Edgar, Macavity,International Thriller, and James Thurber prizes. His critically acclaimed and bestselling “Jake Lassiter” novels have been published in 21 countries. The first of the series, “To Speak for the Dead,” was named one of the top ten thrillers of the year by the Los Angeles Times, and is now a bestselling e–book. A former trial lawyer, he wrote more than 20 episodes of the CBS military drama “JAG” and co-created “First Monday,” starring James Garner and Joe Mantegna. He is also the author of the “Solomon vs. Lord” series
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Pump Up Chats with Author Jaime McDougall

Jaime McDougall is a citizen of the world, currently loving life in beautiful country Victoria in Australia. She loves eating sushi, kidnapping her husband and naming her pets in honour of science fiction authors. She has been published in Chicken Soup for the Soul: High School: The Real Deal and Chicken Soup for the Soul: Campus Chronicles. She has also enjoyed writing a column called ‘The New Australian’ in local newspapers as well as various articles online. So You Want to Write a Guest Post is her first ebook and is available on Kindle and at Smashwords. You can visit her website at InkyBlots.com On So You Want to
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Pump Up Your Book Chats with LL Reaper

L.L. Reaper is two multi-published, award-winning authors who decided to write under a pen name for their dangerously sexy suspense series, Black Widow and the Sandman. You can visit their website at www.llreaper.com or connect with them at Twitter at www.twitter.com/llreaper and Facebook at www.facebook.com/AuthorLLReaper. Q:Thank you for this interview, LL.   Can you tell us why you wrote your book, Black Widow and the Sandman? My now writing partner and I were creating characters one night (yep, we do this for fun) when we came up with a genius who isn’t the stereotypical nerdy social outcast and a mercenary who is more than an ex-sniper for the military.
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Pump Up Chats with Steven Verrier – Author of ‘Class Struggle: Journal of a Teacher In Up to His Ears’

Steven Verrier, born in the United States and raised in Canada, has spent much of his adult life living and traveling abroad. He is the author of Raising a Child to be Bilingual and Bicultural, a prizewinning book published bilingually in Japan, and several short plays for the student market. His novels, Tough Love, Tender Heart and Plan B, were published in 2008 and 2010, and his recently-published nonfiction book, Class Struggle: Journal of a Teacher In Up to His Ears, is sure to raise eyebrows over the coming months. Currently Steven Verrier lives with his family of seven in San Antonio, Texas, and New Brunswick, Canada. You can
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Pump Up Your Book Chats with Maria Lucia author of Liberation: Book One of the Andrusian Chronicles

About the Author: Born in Havana, Cuba, Maria Lucia immigrated to the United States in 1960. A University of Memphis education graduate and a professional musician and vocalist, she moved deeply into the study of music and launched a very successful musical career. She spent many years in private practice, facilitating her own seminars and counseling on creativity. Her experience includes programs for gifted children in the public school system and creativity seminars for musicians at the university level. She has been a musical director for church programs, a composer of music, and a producer of concerts. She has traveled nationally, performing and delivering seminars for more than twenty
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Pump Up Your Book Chats with Dangerous Lee

Dangerous Lee, HIV Prevention Specialist and Author of Keep Your Panties Up and Your Skirt Down – Six Erotic Tales of Safe Sex, is a brand with various projects in the fields of activism, writing, acting, painting, and internet radio. She lives in Burton, Michigan with her daughter and two pet rats! Learn more about Keep Your Panties Up and Your Skirt Down by visiting www.pantiesupskirtdown.com. Follow Dangerous Lee on Facebook www.facebook.com/DangerousLee.Biz and on Twitter www.twitter.com/DangerousLee Thank you for this interview, Dangerous.  Do you remember writing stories as a child or did the writing bug come later?  Do you remember your first published piece? A: I have been writing
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Pump Up Your Book Chats with Barbara Conelli

Barbara Conelli is an internationally published author and Chiquenist on the mission to bring Fantastic Fearless Feminine Fun into women’s lives. In her charming, delightful and humorous Chique Books filled with Italian passion, Barb invites women to explore Italy from the comfort of their home with elegance, grace and style, encouraging them to live their own Dolce Vita no matter where they are in the world. Barb learned to read and write at the age of four, and a year later, she wrote her first bestselling book that became a big hit in local kindergartens. She turned into an overnight success that lasted for twelve exciting hours. Since then,
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Pump Up Chats with Author Blanca Beyar

Blanca, who is known by students as Lavanya, wears several hats in the Spiritual/Holistic Arena. She is a Doctor of Natural Health, a Spiritual Counselor, Shaman and Guru. Blanca has also authored five self-help books and produces her own television show, “Spiritual Teachings with Lavanya.” Her greatest passion is to fulfill her mission in helping humanity to unveil their wholeness and to discover bliss and happiness. To learn more about Blanca, you can visit her website at: http://spiritascend.com Thank you for this interview, Blanca.  Do you remember writing stories as a child or did the writing bug come later?  Do you remember your first published piece? A: As a
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Talking Virtual Book Tours with Urban Mystery Author Ray Ellis

Ray Ellis, author of N.H.I.: No Humans Involved Ray Ellis began his law enforcement career with the Orange County Sheriff’s Department in Orange County, California. After working for a number of years in the maximum security facility, he transferred to patrol working along Orange County’s coast as well as the inner canyons and barrios. After 8 years he moved to Idaho and continued his law enforcement career, serving as an instructor for the Idaho POST Council. Ray was first ordained into the ministry while living in Orange County and now serves as the Associate Pastor in his home church in Nampa, Idaho. A former United States Marine, he is
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Pump Up Your Book Chats with Plastic Surgeon Author Dr. Frederick Lukash

Dr. Frederick N. Lukash, M.D.,FACS, FAAP, has consistently been voted one of “America’s Top Doctors,” by the Castle Connolly guide, and by the Consumer Research Council of America (www.bestdoctors.com). A board-certified cosmetic and reconstructive plastic surgeon in practice in Manhattan and Long Island since 1981, he is an Assistant Clinical Professor of Surgery at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine. Dr. Lukash received his college and medical degrees from Tulane University. His postgraduate training in surgery and plastic surgery includes Emory University, State University of New York, and Harvard University, where he held the position of Instructor in surgery. Dr. Lukash achieved board certification by both the American Board
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Pump Up Chats with Harriet Cammock – Author of ‘Through the Fire’

After an abusive marriage, Harriet determined she would use her own experiences in overcoming abuse to teach other women that help is available. She channeled those experiences in writing and through her blog; she provides inspirational and uplifting messages to many people. Harriet began The Faith Hour in 2009 and used this platform to launch The Renewed By Grace Conference, which was designed to bring together men and women whose lives were touched by abuse. “I want to show women that you don’t have to look like what you went through,” Harriet said. Using creative resources and with involvement from other community organizations, Harriet plans to host another conference
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Pump Up Your Book Chats with Michael Scott Miller

Michael Scott Miller works with numbers by day in the business world and with words by night. He began writing shortly after graduating from the University of Pennsylvania and has had his work published in the Welcomat (now Philadelphia Weekly) and wrote music reviews for the Wharton Journal while his wife was getting her degree there. Miller’s debut novel, Ladies and Gentlemen…The Redeemers, has been downloaded more than ten thousand times and has received tremendously positive reader feedback, earning 4-star to 5-star ratings at Amazon, barnesandnoble.com, Smashwords, and Kobo. The complete set of reader reviews and comments can be accessed at http://feeds.rapidfeeds.com/40309/ . Miller grew up in Cherry Hill,
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Pump Up Your Book Chats with Steve DeWinter, author of “Inherit the Throne”

Steve DeWinter’s goal as a writer is to transport the reader to fresh and exciting worlds that not only take them on a white-knuckle ride, but leave them hungry for more. He has made a solemn promise to the reader. He will continue to satisfy their never-ending desire for more. So keep reading! When one story ends, another begins. Steve’s debut thriller is Inherit The Throne. http://www.amazon.com/Inherit-The-Throne-ebook/dp/B004V9GKNW/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2&s=digital-text&qid=1307149362&sr=8-2 You can visit his website at www.stevedw.com. Connect with Steve on Twitter at http://twitter.com/#!/stevedw, on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/mythmakersdw and Myspace at http://www.myspace.com/stevedewinter. Thank you for this interview, Steve.  Do you remember writing stories as a child or did the writing bug come
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Talking Virtual Book Tours with Thriller Author Dave Zeltserman

Dave Zeltserman won the 2010 Shamus Award for Julius Katz, Ellery Queen’s Readers Choice Award for Archie’s Been Framed, and is the acclaimed author of the ‘man out of prison’ crime trilogy: Small Crimes, Pariah and Killer, where Small Crimes was named by NPR as one of the five best crime and mystery novels of 2008, and Small Crimes and Pariah (2009) were picked by the Washington Post as best books of the year. His recent The Caretaker of Lorne Field received a starred review from Publisher’s Weekly, calling it a ‘superb mix of humor and horror’, and was shortlisted by ALA for best horror novel of 2010. Outsourced
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Pump Up Your Book Chats with Police Mystery Novelist Wayne Zurl

Wayne Zurl grew up on Long Island and retired after working for twenty years with the Suffolk County Police Department, one of the largest municipal law enforcement agencies in New York and the nation. For thirteen of those years he served as a section commander supervising investigators. Prior to his police career, Zurl served on active duty in the US Army during the Vietnam War and later in the reserves. In 2006 he began writing crime fiction. Seven of his Sam Jenkins mysteries have been produced as audio books and simultaneously published as eBooks. His first full-length novel, A New Prospect, traditionally published by Black Rose Writing, debuted in
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Pump Up Chats with Renee Hand

Renee Hand writes because it is a passion in her heart. She is a homeschool parent and likes to create books that educate and inspire the children of today. She was born in Michigan and still lives there with her husband and two children. She has a degree in Zoology with a minor in Chemistry. Renee is the author of the amazing mystery series known as the Crypto-Capers Series that encourages children to read by incorporating several topics of interest. The reader participates into the story by solving cryptograms and puzzles to solve the case. She is also the author of the Joe-Joe Nut and Biscuit Bill Series, which
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Pump Up Your Book Chats with Jessamine Rose author of Don’t Let The Secret Out

Jessamine rose offers readers a glimpse into her life in this her memoir, Don’t Let The Secret Out. She was born in 1937, in a small town in eastern Kentucky. For many her upbringing will seem foreign but for some it will sound all too familiar. About Don’t Let the Secret Out The family’s cabin was cold, the cracks in the floor made it impossible to heat. The bathroom was an outhouse. Her father often beat her mother. Her father shot her mother to scare her. At one point the family lived under a cliff. In the hills of eastern Kentucky “you could shoot a dog and spend a
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Interview with Neil Cullen McKinlay – Author of From Mason to Minister: Through the Lattice

Born to Scottish parents Neil came into the world in 1956 on the northern shore of Lake Ontario. When Neil was three his mother and father took the “high road” to the southern bank of Loch Lomond, Scotland where he grew up. With Scottish accent well-rehearsed he moved back to Canada just before his twenty-first birthday. Sick of shoveling snow he then migrated to sunny Australia some thirteen years later. Neil is married and has three married daughters. He is a Presbyterian minister and a part time Army Chaplain. Visit his “Snow On the Ben” website: http://web.mac.com/macfhionn/Site/HOME.html His Blog is “Snow Off the Ben”: http://snowofftheben.blogspot.com/ Thank you for this
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Pump Up Chats with Jane Rowan

Jane Rowan is a New England poet and writer. After teaching science for three decades in a private college, she retired to pursue the creative life. She has published numerous articles and the self-help booklet Caring for the Child Within—A Manual for Grownups, available through her website and through Amazon (Kindle). An excerpt from The River of Forgetting appeared in Women Reinvented: True Stories of Empowerment and Change. Visit Jane at www.janerowan.com and find out more about her memoir at www.riverofforgetting.com. On The River of Forgetting: A Memoir of Healing from Sexual Abuse Q: Can you tell us why you wrote your book? It was sheer gratitude that impelled
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Pump Up Your Book Chats with Alexandrea Weis

Alexandrea Weis began writing at the age of eight. In college she studied nursing and went on to teach at a local university. After several years in the medical field, she decided to pick up the pen again and began her first novel To My Senses. Since that time she has writen several novels and sold two screenplays (White River and Blood Will Tell). Blood Will Tell is currently in pre-production with Buyer Group International. Her work has been critically acclaimed and is continually growing in popularity. Her most recent book is Recovery, the second novel in the Nicci Beauvoir series which takes readers on a Big Easy thrill
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Pump Up Your Book Chats with Thom Hunter

Thom Hunter is a Christian married father of five who fought, fell and rose again to fight against unwanted same-sex attraction. He encourages others to press on, moving beyond excuses, to claim responsibility and power through the Grace of God. Thom believes the church has failed in its responsibility to provide hope and healing for those who struggle with sexual brokenness. Thom is a former newspaper and magazine editor, journalism professor and speech-writer. He spent 20 years with AT&T as a public relations executive and chief of staff. He now writes and speaks full-time. Surviving Sexual Brokenness: What Grace Can Do is his third and most recent book. You
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Pump Up Chats with Therese Fowler

Therese Fowler is the author of Souvenir and Reunion. She has worked in the U.S. Civil Service, managed a clothing store, lived in the Philippines, had children, sold real estate, earned a B.A. in sociology, sold used cars, returned to school for her M.F.A. in creative writing, and taught college undergrads about literature and fiction writing—roughly in that order. With books published in nine languages and sold worldwide, Fowler writes full-time from her home in Wake Forest, North Carolina, which she shares with her husband, four amiable cats, and four nearly grown-up sons. Her latest book is Exposure: A Novel. You can visit Therese Fowler’s website at www.theresefowler.com. Thank
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Pump Up Your Book Chats with Jennie Helderman

Jennie Helderman broke the glass ceiling at age ten by becoming the first girl page in the Alabama State Legislature. That surge of girl power wouldn’t be the last time she saw a need to put women’s issues at the forefront. Years later, after she helped set up a crisis-call center in an old house, a cry for help at the other end of the phone line resounded in her head. That call was the catalyst; eventually, the empty bedrooms upstairs served as the community’s first shelter for victims of domestic abuse. From there, Helderman began work with women’s issues and leadership, community development, public relations and communications, beginning
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Pump Up Your Book Chats with Susan Kronick

Susan Kronick’s background is the perfect backdrop leading up to her latest paranormal novel, Sarah, They’re Coming for You.  She has a Master of Science in Psychology from Nova Southeastern University and a Ph.D. in Paranormal Studies/Psychology from Union Institute and Graduate School, as well as being an adjunct psychology professor at Barry University and Palm Beach State College.  A psychic and a medium, she has the gift of seeing the dead since she was a child.  She also has taught parapsychology classes through the Palm Beach County School Board, as well as at Palm Beach State College.  Susan has extensive experience in the area of investigations of haunting
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Pump Up Your Book Chats with Mitch Stephen

Mitch Stephen has been a full time investor since March ‘96. He’s flipped 1000+ properties and is author of the book, My Life & 1000 Houses. You may download the first 100 ages of his book at www.1000Houses.com. His autobiography is one of a high school graduate striving to find his place in the world. With over (70 ) 5 STAR REVIEWS, it is evident that this author has mastered the art of delivering inspiration and an educational value in a most entertaining way. In short, My Life & 1,000 Houses depicts the trails and tribulations of an amateur business man who stumbles upon the great, long standing revelations,
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Pump Up Your Book Chats with Carla Malden

Carla Malden grew up in Los Angeles, California. She graduated Magna Cum Laude from U.C.L.A. with a Bachelor of Arts in English and was inducted into the Phi Beta Kappa Society for her academic achievement. She worked extensively in the film business, both in production and development. With her husband, filmmaker Laurence Starkman, she wrote twelve feature screenplays; they also served as rewrite guns-for-hire. The team of Malden & Starkman wrote and produced the short romantic comedy Whit & Charm, which screened at eight major film festivals, including The Hamptons, and won several awards. They also wrote and created a series of Cine Golden Eagle Award-winning Art History films
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Pump Up Your Book Chats with Tinisha Johnson Founder of Have Stress Relief Now Inspirational Website

Tinisha Johnson is an author, writer, and poet and a mother of two. She resides in Denver, Colorado. She is founder of Have Stress Relief Now, a free online membership site dedicated to aiding growth and awareness in your professional and personal life. You can learn more about Tinisha at her sites: www.havestressrelief.com and http://www.facebook.com/pages/Have-Stress-Relief-Now/198204746886571 What are the benefits of site membership? Receive welcome gift of 3 unique audio mp3’s to help you relax Become connected with other “Stress Relief” members View and post on our ‘Work-from-Home ‘ Projects Board Submit postings and interact in our “Stress Relief” forums Upload your profile and bio, promote your services and expertise Receive
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Pump Up Your Book Chats with Nzingha West, author of “Is My Kid Stupid? Avoiding an Educational Disaster” “

Nzingha West is a special education specialist working in New York City. As an instructor, Nzingha’s expertise has been featured on Radio Disney, 106.7 Lite Fm in New York, News 12 Connecticut, NPR radio and in several parenting magazines. Before starting her education career Nzingha worked in several labs as chemist. Nzingha has honed her education expertise over 10 years in New York City schools and in private companies. Nzingha has worked with several prestigous schools/companies such as The Harlem Children’s Zone, University Settlement, the New York Foundling, The American Museum of Natural History and The city College of New York among others. Nzingha is also the owner of Urbane Academics where she provides Special Education
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Pump Up Your Book Chats with Krista Pettiford Author of Surrendered Balance; Daily Living for the Christian Woman

Hermina Krista Pettiford is the women’s ministry leader in her local church New Covenant Tabernacle located San Diego, CA where she lives with her family and works as an IT Manger for a local company. She has a degree in Biblical Studies from Southern California Seminary. Her belief is that the Spirit of God and the Word of God work together to create dynamic power for living the Christian life, thus, she ministers with a solid Biblical message and with the leading of the Holy Spirit. Her desire is to see women and families strengthened through God’s Word and their relationship with God as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
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Pump Up Chats with Sci-Fi Mystery Author B.A. Chepaitis

Barbara Chepaitis is the author of 8 published books, including The Fear Principle featuring Jaguar Addams, and the critically acclaimed Feeding Christine and These Dreams. Her first nonfiction book, Feathers of Hope, is about Berkshire Bird Paradise and the human connection with birds.   She’s writing a sequel about Eagle Mitch, a bird she helped our US troops rescue from Afghanistan.  Barbara is founder of the storytelling trio The Snickering Witches, and faculty coordinator for the fiction component of Western Colorado’s MFA program in creative writing. Facebook site for Barbara – http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=615302442 Facebook site for Jaguar – http://www.facebook.com/pages/Jaguar-Addams-and-the-Fear-Series/135879429815445 Barbara’s website:   http://www.wildreads.com Thank you for this interview, Barbara.  Do you remember
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