Writers in the Sky Podcast and Blog

Free Teleseminar - Allison Maslan Offers Her Expert Advice to Twitter Followers!

Tue, 29 Sep 2009 06:00:00 PDT

New Twitter followers of @AllisonMaslan get a free download of a teleseminar on “Creating Your Own Financial Freedom, The Steps to Becoming a Winning Entrepreneur.”

In this audio, Allison offers practical advice, leads you through one of her amazing exercises of self discovery, explains some of her innovative processes, and provides many how to tips and advice in this jam packed 60-minute free teleseminar recording.

Here are a few questions she answers:

What makes this a good time to start a business venture?

Tips to figure out what kind of business to start

How to start a new business while working in your old job

The cardinal rule of business success (can you guess this one?)

How to stay motivated and positive when naysayers, doubting relatives, and environmental negativity surround you

What kind of "ducks" need to be "put in a row" when you launch a business (legal, accounting, web support, vision statement, and more)?

Click here to follow Allison on Twitter and subscribe to the “Creating Financial Freedom Teleseminar.”

Keyboard Shortcuts When Using Microsoft Word

Wed, 30 Sep 2009 06:00:00 PDT

Most PC users have Microsoft Office and use Word as the word processing software on the their computers. There are several keyboard shortcuts that can be utilized to make working in Word faster. And, we all know that faster means a better use of our time.

Right click is your friend! The mouse has a right and left button. Each accesses different option menus. You may copy, cut, paste, change font settings, adjust your paragraph settings, create bulleted or numbered lists, add a hyperlink, look up a word online, find a synonym, get a translation of a word in another language, or adjust your style settings by utilizing the right click button.

This next feature comes in handy when your document is large and there are many occurrences of a word or phrase. Pressing Ctrl and F together (Ctrl+F) opens a box that allows you to type in the word or exact phrase that you are looking for in your document. Type the word or phrase in the box that reads: “Find what.” Click OK and Word will start from the point in your document where your cursor is located and find the next word or phrase that is exactly as you typed in the search. Click “find next” to go to the next place that word or phrase appears in your document.

To replace that particular word or word phrase, click the “replace” tab at the top of the search box and type the word or phrase you want to substitute in the “replace with” box . If you click “replace,” Word will replace one at a time so you may review each change or all of the occurrences at the same time. If you select “replace all,” Word will replace all occurrences of the word or phrase at one time. If you need to select words that are only lower or uppercase, explore the More >> button on the left hand side near the bottom of the box.

In this same search box, you may click on the “go to” tab and locate a particular page number. This is very useful if you have a lot of pages to scroll through but you know that you want to be on a certain page. Just type in a page number and Word will take you there. This option is also accessed by Ctrl+G.

Pressing Ctrl+A will highlight everything in your document.
Pressing Ctrl+C will allow you to copy the text currently highlighted onto your clipboard. If you used Ctrl+A, it will copy everything in that doc!
Pressing Ctrl+V will paste whatever was last copied to your clipboard.
Pressing Ctrl+X will cut the currently highlighted text.
Pressing Ctrl+Z will un-do whatever change you just made.
Ctrl+S will save your document to the last place it was saved. If it hasn’t been saved yet, it will open the “save as” option so you may specify where you want it saved.
Highlight the text you want to use to “hide” a URL. Press Ctrl+K to open the box. Type in the URL in the bottom blank where it reads “address” and click okay. You can also use the drop down menu to show and select from recently used URLs.
Pressing Ctrl+Home will take you to the very top of a document.
Pressing Ctrl+End will take you to the very end of a document.

These are only some of the shortcuts Word has to offer. And, did you know that many of these commands will also work when you are browsing the Internet? Give it a try!

Yvonne Perry, is the owner of Writers in the Sky Creative Writing Services—a team of highly qualified writers and editors with many years of experience in writing for articles, books, ad copy, media releases, PR kits, Web text, biographical sketches, and newsletters. Editing, proofreading, book review, and book evaluation services offered individually and as packages. Find us online at http://www.writersinthesky.com

Follow WITS on Twitter: http://twitter.com/writersinthesky

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John English Podcast is Forthcoming

Thu, 01 Oct 2009 03:26:00 PDT

An interview with author John English was supposed to have been available last Friday. However, John was sick and unable to record his interview. A lot of people were expecting to hear John, and we do plan to have him on the show. Barbara Milbourn is set to record the interview today, and we will upload John's show as soon as possible.

Thanks for your patience.

October Podcasts Offer Series of Podcasts with Personal Reflections and Connections

Thu, 01 Oct 2009 06:05:00 PDT

Writers in the Sky October Podcasts to Feature Several New Works of Fiction and a Thesis on Our Political System

Nashville, TN, September 29, 2009—The Writers in the Sky podcast this month offers five Friday interviews that cover a diverse series of topics. October begins with a novel that delves into the complex psychological issues that surround a long-term marriage. The next week features a coming-of-age story of a boy who escapes his emotionally distant family through poetry. The month of interviews will offer a break from the world of fiction as Writers in the Sky shares a book that outlines a new approach to many aspects of our government. The following week will see a return to fiction with a novel about a woman who rises above the many forms of discrimination she faces in her life. The month comes to an end when our youngest ever podcast guest shares some information about his series of children’s books.

The October series of podcasts begins on October 2 when Mary Verdick will be Sarah Moore’s guest to discuss her novel As Long As He Needs Me. In this novel, main characters Clem and Kitty face a crisis in their marriage while on a cruise to celebrate their thirty-fifth wedding anniversary. The storyline examines the psychological dynamic present in long-term relationships and the importance of family structure. Mary Verdick will be discussing her personal reasons for creating such a story, what impact she hopes the book will have on its readers, and her extensive background in writing. To purchase As Long As He Needs Me, please visit the Amazon website.

On October 9, the novel Let’s Find You by first-time author Jeffrey Barbieri will be the subject of a podcast interview. This book tells the story of a boy named Benjamin whose father is absent and whose mother moves the family often to avoid her past. Let’s Find You includes the familiar stories of love and war between siblings as well as the personal introspection of a boy who is becoming a man. Mr. Barbieri will tell our listeners about the unique format of his book, how he developed the featured personalities, and what his plans are for future publications. Please visit the Amazon website to purchase Let’s Find You.

The podcasts continue on October 16 with a conversation between Don Quigg and Sarah Moore. Mr. Quigg has released a new work of non-fiction entitled Runaway Debt, Flat Taxes, and Voter Apathy. In this book, he shares his proposed solutions for a variety of problems that currently face our federal government from taxes to immigration to transparency from our elected officials. During the interview, Mr. Quigg will discuss the reason for his interest in government reform and how he is working to share his ideas with those in power. Please visit the Amazon website to purchase Runaway Debt, Flat Taxes, and Voter Apathy.

The focus returns to fiction on October 23 with the new novel USA Anytime Anyplace by Ercell Hoffman. This book details the struggles of a black woman in the United States who faces both racial and gender discrimination in her workplace and personal life. Despite the odds being stacked against her, she is determined not only to survive but to excel. Ms. Hoffman will be discussing how her own life experiences contributed to the storyline of her book, her extensive writing background, and who she believes will be most drawn to her novel. To learn more about Ercell Hoffman and purchase USA Anytime Anyplace, please visit the Amazon website.

Writers in the Sky concludes its month of podcast interviews with a very special visit from Sidney McCurley, the inspiration behind the series of children’s books written by Writers in the Sky owner Yvonne Perry. Sidney is the grandson of Yvonne Perry and the two of them enjoyed adventures which led to The Sid Series of stories. Through these books, children can learn wonderful lessons about love, acceptance, using spiritual gifts, and much more. Sidney will be discussing how he served as Yvonne’s muse, the spiritual gifts that he shares with his grandmother, and what other children can get from reading these stories that bear his name. Please visit The Sid Series webpage to learn more about these books.

“This month offers five Fridays and therefore an opportunity for five wonderful podcast interviews!” shares Yvonne Perry, owner of Writers in the Sky Creative Writing Services, which produces the podcast. “I am excited about the great new authors we will be introducing to our listening audience, and very proud that I will be sharing the microphone with my young grandson to finish out the month.”

About Writers in the Sky: Writers in the Sky blog, podcast, and newsletter is a three-fold production filled with information about writing, publishing, and book publicity created by Yvonne Perry as part of Writers in the Sky Creative Writing Services (http://writersinthesky.com).

Listening to Writers in the Sky Podcast on a computer is easy. Go to http://yvonneperry.blogspot.com. On the right sidebar there is a list of archived shows. Click on the interview you would like to hear and it will open a post that has a link to the audio file.

Author Mary Verdick Joins Podcast Today

Fri, 02 Oct 2009 06:00:00 PDT

Writers in the Sky welcomes author Mary Verdick to the podcast today to discuss her new book As Long As He Needs Me. This novel focuses on Kitty and Clem, a couple that is celebrating their 35th wedding anniversary with a wonderful cruise. Instead of being a romantic getaway, the husband and wife find that the trip brings to the surface many relationship problems. As the story unfolds, readers get to know the personal history of Kitty and Clem, the successes and failures of their children, and the obstacles that get in the way of their marriage.

Mary Verdick will be discussing how she developed the idea for this book, the psychological issues that are covered, and how her writing process has evolved over the years.

Click here to listen... to the entire interview.

To purchase As Long As He Needs Me, please visit the Amazon website. Also, check out Mary Verdick's website to learn more about the author and her work.

Title of Document: Book Review
Book Title: As Long As He Needs Me
Author: Mary Verdick
ISBN Number: 978-1-4327-2427-6
Publisher: OutskirtsPress.com
Genre and Target Market: fiction; romance; family
Publication Date: 2009
Book Length in Pages: 215

There are times when I want to dive into a completely fantastical novel that transports me to a life or a place that could never be my own. Maybe it’s a sci-fi adventure in which an alien life form threatens the existence of everyone on our planet. Or, it could be a historical piece that takes place in the royal courts of Victorian England. Sometimes books can provide that perfect escape that a reader needs from her everyday existence. However, other times I prefer to settle in with a story that is completely familiar, one that portrays the challenges and comforts that come with human relationships and exposes the emotional frailties that exist in all of us. As Long as He Needs Me, the new release by author Mary Verdick, beautifully fits into the latter category. This fictional work does not necessarily allow the reader to escape, but certainly provides an opportunity to be challenged with very real emotions.

As Long as He Needs Me tells the story of Kitty and Clem Johanssen, a couple that has just embarked upon a cruise to celebrate their thirty-fifth wedding anniversary. However, the ship does not even leave the port before events change the course of their vacation. Both husband and wife are forced to confront their own feelings of guilt, self-doubt, and loneliness. Along the way, Verdick does a beautiful job of slowly revealing details of the history of Johanssen’s lives through flashbacks and conversations. We learn about their children, their parents, and other relationships that all contributed to the current dynamic of the marital bond. I imagine every reader will be able to identify with at least one of the supporting characters in the novel, if not with the husband or wife directly, making the emotions all the more piercing and convicting. You cannot help but become invested in the success of Kitty and Clem’s marriage once their entire story is told.

One of the great strengths of Mary Verdick’s writing throughout As Long as He Needs Me is her ability to capture a genuine sense of human frailty. She does this without creating a sense of pity for her characters and without making them exaggerated in their weakness. Instead, Verdick illustrates the delicate nature of an intimate relationship that has weathered heartache, devastating losses, and old-fashioned jealousy all while being comprised of two unique individuals. No one is completely evil or saintly in As Long as He Needs Me. Just as the reader is about to condemn a character for a despicable act, a detail will be revealed to show the situation is more complex than originally assumed. When writing a story about human nature, that is about as realistic as it comes!

As Long as He Needs Me is a book that I read from cover to cover in one day. This is not because the writing was overly simple, but because Mary Verdick managed to create characters in which I took an interest. I wanted to see the story of the Johanssen’s relationship through to the end. And, along the way, I took the time to do some self-reflection on the weaknesses that exist in my own relationships and the way in which I may be contributing to the current dynamic. If you enjoy works of fiction that force you to examine some personal truths, As Long as He Needs Me is a book for you.

Author Jeffrey Barbieri to Join Podcast This Friday

Mon, 05 Oct 2009 06:00:00 PDT

Please plan to tune into our podcast this Friday when Writers in the Sky team member Sarah Moore will be joined by author Jeffrey Barbieri. Jeffrey will be discussing his new release Let's Find You, which is a coming-of-age novel that offers the unique feature of combining prose and poetry. Readers of Let's Find You will discover chapters that each read like a short story and share tales of sibling rivalry, first loves, absent parents, and adolescent insecurities.

Please visit the Amazon website to purchase Let's Find You. You can learn more about Jeffrey Barbieri by visiting his website.

Title of Document: Book Review
Book Title: Let’s Find You
Author: Jeffrey D. Barbieri
ISBN: 978-1-4327-4365-9
Publisher: OutskirtsPress.com
Genre and Target Market: fiction; family relationships; coming-of-age
Publication Date: 2009
Book Length in Pages: 207

As someone who works in the writing and publishing industry, I am asked to read books by new authors nearly every day. While I am thrilled when anyone makes the decision to express themselves through the written word, I sometimes am left wondering why a writer felt the product they handed me was ready for public consumption. The message is jumbled and the mechanics are messy. Other times, the writing may be admirable but the author is simply rehashing a literary approach that has already been done. While imitation is supposed to be the sincerest form of flattery, it does not get me excited about a new author’s work. However, there are those instances in which I am presented with a book that captures me from the first page and has me reach the last sentence with an eagerness to share my discovery with others. Such is the case with the new release Let’s Find You by Jeffrey Barbieri.

Let’s Find You offers its readers the first-person account of Benjamin, a boy who shares both trivial and life-changing moments of his life through the pages of the novel. The book is divided into chapters that each read like a short story, but also come together seamlessly to provide an emotional depiction of Benjamin’s life from the time that he is a young boy through the point that he is on the verge of manhood.

While many of the stories that Barbieri shares through the perspective of his character Benjamin are light-hearted and remind us all of incidents from our own childhoods (playing pranks on our siblings, spending hours dreaming about our first love), the undercurrent of Let’s Find You is heart-wrenching. There were instances in this book during which I felt a kick in my gut, and that is a testament to powerful writing. Benjamin must face life with no father, an emotionally absent mother who moves frequently in order to avoid this absent dad, and no one with whom he can share the difficult insecurities of adolescence. Although it sounds a bit clique, the statement holds true in this instance – you will laugh, you will cry.

One unique feature of Let’s Find You is the integration of poetry throughout the novel. It seems that Barbieri uses these pauses to let us into an even deeper level of Benjamin’s emotions. For example, when a tragic moment involving a family member happens right in front of his eyes, Benjamin wonders why there is a ridiculous need in his home to remain strong and show no emotion. Readers then find the following: “The storms that surround me/Block me in,/Seeking some shelter/Dying within.” After that interlude, we move right back into the storyline. Most of Barbieri’s poetic offerings are quite short, and therefore offer the perfectly succinct summation of his character’s thoughts and fears at any particular moment. I loved this component of the novel.

If you are interested in reading a novel that beautifully captures difficult emotions and also offers amusing anecdotes to which any of us with siblings can relate, I highly recommend that you find yourself a copy of Let’s Find You. This book is the first offering by new author Jeffrey Barbieri, and I look forward to the promise of future novels in the series.

Jeffrey Barbieri Discusses His New Book Today

Fri, 09 Oct 2009 06:00:00 PDT

Tune into our WITS podcast today to hear author Jeffrey Barbieri discuss his new book, Let's Find You. This novel tells the coming-of-age story of a boy who is dealing with sibling relationships, an absent father, an emotionally distant mother, a first love, and many other young teen mishaps. Barbieri offeres a unique feature in his book by integrating poetry with the standard prose to connect the reader further with his character's emotions.

Jeffrey Barbieri will be discussing how he developed the stories within Let's Find You, why he decided to use poetry in the text, and what he hopes readers will take away from the book. He also will let us know about his upcoming publications.

Click here to listen... to the entire interview.

Please visit the Amazon website to purchase Let's Find You. Also, you can visit Jeffrey Barbieri's website to learn more about his work.

New Book Provides the Strategies Needed to Advance Your Career

Tue, 13 Oct 2009 09:13:00 PDT

Nashville, TN—On October 12, Joe Lavelle released his new book Accelerate Your Career Success, The Employee Handbook that Your Employer Hasn’t Given You from his “Act As If It Were Impossible to Fail” brand.

Joe Lavelle has dedicated his career as a strategic business adviser to ensuring that his clients achieve maximum performance while insisting that the members of his consulting teams experience accelerated personal growth. His new book is intended for all professionals who would like to get a promotion and increase their pay.

“The tools outlined in my book provide the strategies needed to advance your career. These have not been taught in college, and you won’t learn them from your employer,” says author Joe Lavelle. “I developed these practical strategies through observation and nurtured these ideas through many years of experience and research. They are applicable in every economic climate, especially in the current recession.”

Why a book for career-oriented professionals who want to accelerate their career growth and find strategies, knowledge, and tools to get promotions and raises faster? Because it is more important than ever to know how to stand out from the crowd and move up the ladder. Just like buying stocks at a low price during a recession, this book can give you inside tips for climbing the corporate ladder when others are struggling to hold on.

Joe was a guest on Writers in the Sky Podcast last June where he discussed the principles outlined in his book. This talk show about writing, publishing, and book marketing features interviews with authors and their books and may be found on iTunes .

“In our current economy, many people hope to simply be able to keep the job they already have. Not many are thinking of ways they can advance their career,” says Yvonne Perry, host of WITS podcast. “But, while others are being laid off, Joe Lavelle has come through with a book that gives people the tools needed to actually advance their careers. This is important information for our listeners and I believe Joe offers something people really need.” Ms. Perry is the owner of Writers in the Sky Creative Writing Services, which produces the podcast.

Act As If it Were Impossible to Fail (ISBN: 9781439240724) is now available on Amazon.com and on http://www.actasifsite.com/.

About Joe Lavelle

Joe Lavelle’s desire to positively affect as many people as he can has led him to a personal coaching career that allows him to share the expertise he gained from thousands of hours coaching and mentoring his teams and clients. His aspiration to impact even more people has led him to brand “Act As If It Were Impossible to Fail” and to write his first book. http://www.actasifblog.com/

About WITS:

Writers in the Sky Creative Writing Services (WITS) is a team of writers, ghostwriters, editors, and proofreaders offering a professional, quick, and easy method for outsourcing a wide variety of writing and editing projects. http://writersinthesky.com .

An Author and Her Dog Ask a Favor and Give a Gift to You

Thu, 15 Oct 2009 06:53:00 PDT

Frankie the Walk ‘N Roll Dog and Barbara Techel are asking for your help. It really is quite easy to do… and for helping them, you get a gift! Here’s a message from them:

We are now offering Virtual Visits with Frankie, the Walk ‘N Roll Dog! We are now able to do our Frankie presentations that we currently offer to our local schools in person (and rolling dog!) via the free software of Skype and a webcam, but these are done… well, virtually!! Here is a video clip explaining:

Video explaining a Virtual Visit

Would you be willing to let elementary teachers or librarians know about this? Just email us that you have sent someone the link to our virtual visit page and we will send you a link to download Frankie’s Activity E-book. It is that simple! When you share this with any teachers or librarians let them know that the first one to contact us will receive their Virtual Visit for FREE!

Thank you so much for your help and for helping us spread Frankie’s message of hope and inspiration!

Joyfully,
Barbara & Frankie
http://www.joyfulpaws.com
http://www.frankiethewalknrolldog.blogspot.com

Today's Podcast Interview Takes on the Government!

Fri, 16 Oct 2009 06:00:00 PDT

Please join WITS author's assistant Sarah Moore today as she interviews Don Quigg about his new release Runaway Debt, Flat Taxes, and Voter Apathy. In this book, Mr. Quigg shares his frustrations with the way in which our country is currently being managed by our lawmakers and offers many concrete policy solutions that cover a wide range of issues. Throughout the book, Mr. Quigg provides insight into the extensive research that he conducted to prove the validity of his ideas. Some of the book's topics include; the benefit of a flat tax, creating a Federal Accounting Standard, and a proposed database known as Voter Link that would allow for greater transparency in our government.

Don Quigg will be addressing why he decided to write this book, provide some insight into a couple of his specific proposals, and share the type of feedback he has been receiving so far.

Click here to listen... to the entire interview.

Please visit the Amazon website to purchase Runaway Debt, Flat Taxes, and Voter Apathy.

Author Ercell Hoffman to Join Us This Friday

Mon, 19 Oct 2009 19:19:00 PDT

Please plan to tune into our podcast this Friday when WITS welcomes author Ercell Hoffman. She will be discussing her new book, USA Anytime Anyplace, with author's assistant Sarah Moore. This novel focuses on the life of main character Kithira Manoff, a woman who faces discrimination and difficulties in her work, her community, and her personal relationships. Despite all of these obstacles, she is determined to overcome and succeed in life.

Ercell Hoffman is an experienced writer, with articles in several California publications and a previous book to her credit. She brings her personal life story, as well as her academic background in psychology, to USA Anytime Anywhere.

You can learn more about Ercell Hoffman and USA Anytime Anywhere at her author page on the Outskirts Press website.

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Title of Document: Book Review
Book Title: USA Anytime Anyplace
Author: Ercell Hoffman
ISBN: 978-1-4327-4344-4
Publisher: OutskirtsPress.com
Genre and Target Market: fiction; psychology
Publication Date: 2009
Book Length in Pages: 323

Sometimes I am simply in the mood for a light read that allows me to escape from my ordinary circumstances. Give me a simple romance or a fun adventure in which the good guy always comes out ahead. These novels pass the time and do not result in much lingering thought after the last pages are closed. In other instances, when my psyche is in a place of introspection, I enjoy books that challenge me to think and reflect on the circumstances that I face in my own life. With the new release USA Anytime Anyplace by Ercell Hoffman, the latter type of experience is the one that readers should expect. Hoffman offers us a psychological profile of a woman who is struggling with a series of hardships that seem to compound without a moment of respite.

Readers likely will not be able to relate to every hurdle that the main character, Kithira, must handle, but almost certainly will find at least one area of her life that resonates. As a woman, I connected with Kithira’s struggle to receive respect in the workplace, her difficulty in finding a healthy relationship with a man, and the insecurities that comes from being a woman living alone. Others who pick up USA Anytime Anyplace may find themselves connecting with Kithira’s legal battles stemming from racial discrimination she faces from employers. Or, perhaps you will recognize a bit of your own situation in the frustration that Kithira experiences in her neighborhood. You may never have purchased a shotgun and fired it into the ground as a way of silencing some troublesome people on your street, but you may be able to relate to the sentiment. When all of these situations come together, they weave a story of one woman’s struggles and successes as she moves forward with a determination to excel in her life.

Author Ercell Hoffman does a wonderful job of taking her reading audience into the mind of Kithira Manoff and making us see the world through this character’s perspective. By allowing us to be present not only for the major events in Kithira’s life, such as the death of loved ones and her brave battles to defend her professional honor in federal courts, but also those everyday moments like dealing with an office nemesis or chatting with a girlfriend, we are given a complete portrait of the woman. Hoffman skillfully blends well-written dialogue, including a captivating scene in the latter half of the book in which Kithira faces lengthy questioning from attorneys concerning her claims of prejudice against her employers, with great descriptions of her protagonist’s inner conflicts and feelings of self-doubt. We come to know Kithira Manoff as a woman who simply wants the recognition, respect, and peace of mind that she deserves.

Ercell Hoffman is an accomplished author who brings her strong writing background, as well as an education in counseling, to her new release USA Anytime Anyplace. With this expertise, she develops Kithira Manoff and a novel that reads almost like an intensely personal memoir. Anyone who wants to cheer for a woman who makes the decision to be strong despite the odds of the world being stacked against her will be glad that they decided to read USA Anytime Anyplace. And, just maybe you will find some way in which you can apply this indomitable spirit to overcome to your own lives as well.

Proof Copy of the Sid Series

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 18:33:00 PDT

I got the proof copy of The Sid Series today. The cover looks fantastic! The interior? Not so much.

Things really look different in print than they do on the screen! I've got about 50 changes to make to the layout before I can offer the book to the public. If only I had printed the book out before now. I hope to meet with my technical book guru tomorrow to get these changes underway.

Then, it's back to Lightning Source to upload the revised book interior. I promise, I will get this book done! I have to; my 8-year-old grandson, Sidney, is going to be my podcast guest next Friday! He's the main character in the book and I can't let him down!

I could write another book about all the things not to do when self-publishing a book. Maybe I should have used a publish-on-demand service to bring this book to market, but nooooo, I have to do things the hard way. :) I'm sure I'll be better at this when I publish my next book. If only I could get college credits for attending the School of Hard Knocks and Experience. Hmmmmm....

Author Ercell Hoffman Joins Us Today to Discuss Her New Novel

Fri, 23 Oct 2009 06:00:00 PDT

Author Ercell Hoffman will be talking with WITS author's assistant Sarah Moore today to discuss her book USA Anytime Anyplace. This novel shares the story of Kithira Manoff, a woman who faces repeated instances of discrimination and heartache but displays a strong determination to triumph over all of the struggles.

Ms. Hoffman will be discussing how she developed the character of Kithira, the meaning behind the title of her book, how she has been marketing her book, and the writing projects she has planned for future publication.

Ercell Hoffman is an experienced writer who has written articles for the Los Angeles Herald Examiner, The Los Angeles Times, The Long Beach Press-Telegram, and The Los Angeles Sentinel. Her first book, The Acknowledgement, was published in 1978.

Click here t o listen... to the entire interview.

You may visit the Amazon website or Ms. Hoffman's page at the Outskirts Press website to purchase your copy of USA Anytime Anyplace.

The Sidney of the Sid Series is Coming to WITS Podcast

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 05:06:00 PDT

Some of today’s children are showing early signs of a having a deep understanding of spiritual concepts. But not many parents, grandparents, and teachers know how to relate to the spiritually-gifted child, much less how to help him or her develop spiritual intellect and use these mystical gifts properly.

This Friday, October 30, Yvonne Perry's 8-year-old grandson, Sidney, will be the guest on Writers in the Sky Podcast. Sidney is the inspiration and the main character in the holistic stories of The Sid Series, A Collection of Holistic Stories for Children.

Using adorable and entertaining stories, The Sid Series gives examples of how spiritually gifted youngsters experience the paranormal in their everyday lives. From seeing ghosts in his closet at night to healing with herbs infused with the magic of the full moon, Sid and Von-Von explore some of the many ways spiritual children of all ages express their unique and powerful views.

The stories in The Sid Series collection of holistic stories for children were originally published as e-books that could be downloaded for $3 each. Now, all twelve stories are available in one full-color printed book.

This collection of body-mind-spirit stories highlights unique lessons about love, acceptance, self-worth, caring for the body, diversity, facing fears, dealing with change, experiencing the death of a pet, using spiritual gifts, and psychic experiences today’s children exhibit. There’s even a book about recycling that alludes toward organ donation.

Each story in The Sid Series (ISBN:9780982572207) focuses on skills such as overcoming fear, being environmentally conscious, helping others, being true to one’s self, and following inner guidance.

Titles in The Sid Series include the following:

Sid’s Fairy ~ Learning about Inner Guidance
A Stormy Adventure ~ Facing the Fear of Storms
The Pirate’s Treasure ~ Finding Treasure Within
You Can Be! ~ Understanding Destiny and Making Choices
Ask Your Body ~ Understanding the Body’s Needs
A Ghost in My Closet ~ Communicating with Angels
A Powerful Potion ~ The Power of Imagination
My Friend’s Skin ~ Accepting and Appreciating Diversity
Puppy Love ~ Dealing with the Death of a Pet
Old Things New ~ Learning About Recycling
Always Be Honest ~ Learning to Tell the Truth
Making Room for Brother ~ Coping with Family Changes

Any parent or teacher with a child who speaks of imaginary friends, reincarnation, or past lives will find guidance and inspiration in The Sid Series. To preview each of the twelve Sid Series stories, and purchase individual e-books or the entire collection, please visit The Sid Series Web page.

Listening to Writers in the Sky Podcast on a computer is easy. Just click this link: www.writersintheskyblog.com and go to my blog. On the right sidebar, there is a list of archived shows. Click on the interview you would like to hear and it will open a post that has a link to the audio file.

Rhythm Can't Keep Time, Sometimes Love Just Ain't Enough

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 06:00:00 PDT

Denver author Deondriea Cantrice is excited to report the re-launch of her book Rhythm Can’t Keep Time, Sometimes Love Just Ain’t Enough (ISBN 9780615327136) with GSH Publishing scheduled for release in November 2009.

Can people really be two halves of the same whole? If so, Sterling and Sheridyn are a perfect fit. Sterling is intelligent, has a great sense of humor and a charming personality. After experiencing one betrayal after another, he has put his heart under lock and key. When beautiful Sheridyn enters his life, will he be willing to unlock the one place no one can enter? Or, will he be afraid of another disappointment?

Sheridyn is a vibrant, witty, young lady who can mesmerize men with her captivating smile and magnetic personality. After her first love left her broken hearted, she vowed to never love again…until she meets the handsome Sterling. When Sterling and Sheridyn’s worlds collide, will they be able to control the passion between them? Or will their harmonic rhythm laced in humor and vicarious personas cause this seductive dance to burn up in flames?

Rhythm Can’t Keep Time, Sometimes Love Just Ain’t Enough is a sensual, passionate urban love story that vividly explores the intimacy of relationships. Its fascinating surprises and revelations will leave its readers searching within their souls to find their true mate. Rhythm Can’t Keep Time is not a sappy love story or an unrealistic male-bashing narrative but it explores love through an erotic lens and exposes the battle of the sexes. Love is subject to the understanding and expression to which individual’s experience, which makes love relative.

Author Bio

Deondriea Cantrice is a student of the human condition, wielding the written craft to captivate the mind much like an artist wields a brush. The pages are a blank canvas on which to draw from a talent heralded by many and matched only by an imagination that rises to the task. For Deondriea, writing started as a way to improve her penmanship. It quickly advanced into a passion and expression of her active imagination and inner thoughts.

Deondriea sharpened her literary skills by writing newsletters, penning poetry, short stories, developing program curriculum, and most notable, crafting Rhythm Can’t Keep Time, Sometimes Love Just Ain’t Enough her first fiction book.

Deondriea uses life experiences to develop characters and storylines that engage both men and women. She aspires to entertain, educate, and inspire her readers with tales of true life. Deondriea greets everyone with a smile and aim to have a positive impact on everyone she encounters through effective communication, veracity, and affirmative interaction. Deondriea believes, “with direction and discipline, accomplishment is attainable.”

Learn more about Deondriea and Rhythm Can’t Keep Time at http://www.deondriea.com/.

Yvonne Perry - Skype An Author Network

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 05:11:00 PDT

Did you know that an author can visit your classroom virtually? Thanks to Skype An Author Network, I can come visit your class or group whenever you desire. The only equipment required is a computer and Skype's free software.

The visits are initiated by email and/or phone between the author and the teacher and/or librarian.

Learn how to have me visit your home or classroom to read from The Sid Series of children's holistic stories! Yvonne Perry - Skype An Author Network

Progressive Blog Tour for Children's Holistic Book

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 04:37:00 PDT

Yvonne Perry is hoping to network with about 20 blog owners to help get the word out about her children’s book of holistic (body, mind, spirit) stories. Each book teaches skills such as following inner guidance, being true to one’s self, or overcoming fear. Modeled after the lessons Yvonne's grandson, Sidney, these are great for the classroom, young readers, or toddlers being nurtured at home.

Think of a progressive dinner where you travel to one house for the appetizer, another house for the soup; at the next stop, you get an entrée, etc. Now, put that into book and Internet terms, and you get a virtual blog tour. Your blog could be one of the “houses” or stops on Yvonne’s virtual book tour. She would love to make a guest appearance on blogs that have to do with parenting, grand-parenting, children, family, spirituality, inner guidance, communicating with angels, healing, diversity, death of a pet, or recycling.

If you would be willing to participate on a date between Nov. 26 and Dec. 10, please let Yvonne know. She will help you invite folks to come to your blog and partake of the goodies that you offer as the host. Yvonne will even provide the goodies: an article, interview, video clip, or other free content-rich material.

Podcast Schedule for November

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 06:00:00 PDT

November 6

Charles Toftoy will be joining the podcast to discuss his new book It’s in the Eyes. This novel, set in Washington, D.C., focuses on the murders of four university co-eds whose killer uses the rituals practiced by a gang in India several centuries ago. Lars Nielsen, a college professor, brings together his Alpha Team of private citizens to solve the crime. Mr. Toftoy will be discussing how he developed his characters, why he incorporated the idea of ritualistic killing, and whether or not readers can expect more books involving the Alpha Team.

November 12

Abe Rosa joins the podcast to share his new release entitled The Drummer. Mr. Rosa wrote this book as an extension of his Christian faith, hoping to share with readers an example of strength in courage in convictions. The book focuses on a young woman who is the greatest drummer in the world and who now faces the greatest challenge. Her mother has been captured by the government. Abe Rosa will tell the audience why he chose a drummer as his voice in the book, what he hopes readers will take away from reading his work, and how he is marketing this new release.

November 13

Our younger listeners and their parents will want to tune in when Joseph Adegboyega-Edun talks about his new book Succeeding in High School. This new release takes readers through each step of the high school experience and offers practical advice for getting the most out of the academic opportunities. Mr. Adegboyega-Edun also provides a helpful guide to the college admissions process as the second half of this handbook. He is an experienced advisor at both the high school and college level who speaks as someone who knows what works.

November 20

Author Mike Thompson shares another offering for our younger readers with his new book Twinsational. This work of children’s fiction shares one day in the life of eleven-year-old twins Mark and Michelle Johnson. Young people will relate to the concepts of class bullies, demanding teachers, and first crushes. Through every moment, the close relationship between the siblings is evident and heartwarming. Mr. Thompson will share how he developed the idea of Twinsational, what he believes children can learn from his book, and if he has future plans for Mark and Michelle.

November 27

Julia Booker joins the podcast to discuss her book I’m Still Standing. This novel tells the story of a mother and daughter who are caught in a cycle of constant abuse, including beatings, rape, and emotional cruelty. The mother uses drugs and alcohol to numb the pain, while the daughter fears that her life is headed for the same fate. The book is based on a true story, which makes the abuse even more gripping. Ms. Booker and WITS author’s assistant Sarah Moore will discuss the difficulty in writing such a painful and personal book, how the characters were developed from real individuals, and what lessons she hopes readers, particularly women, will take away from her work.

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Listening to Writers in the Sky Podcast on a computer is easy. Just click this link: http://yvonneperry.blogspot.com and go to my blog.On the right sidebar there is a list of archived shows. Click on the interview you would like to hear and it will open a post that has a link to the audio file.

The Sid Series ~ A Collection of Holistic Stories for Children

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 22:00:00 PDT

Writers in the Sky Podcast interviews a very special guest today and he's the youngest guest we've ever had on the show. Sidney McCurley is Yvonne's 8-year-old grandson, and he's the inspiration behind the series of children’s books written by Writers in the Sky owner Yvonne Perry.

The two of them enjoyed adventures which led to the writing of The Sid Series of holistic stories. Through these stories children can learn wonderful lessons about love, acceptance, using spiritual gifts, and much more.

The individual stories were published as separate e-books and sell for $3 each on Yvonne's Web site. Now, the print version containing all twelve stories is available. Please visit The Sid Series Web page to learn more.

Inspired by adventures Yvonne has had with her first-born grandson named Sidney, each story in The Sid Series (ISBN:9780982572207) focuses on skills such as overcoming fear, being environmentally conscious, helping others, being true to one’s self, and following inner guidance.

This collection of body-mind-spirit stories highlights unique lessons about love, acceptance, self-worth, caring for the body, diversity, facing fears, dealing with change, experiencing the death of a pet, using spiritual gifts, and psychic experiences today’s children exhibit. There’s even a book about recycling that alludes toward organ donation.

On our show today, Sidney will discuss how he served as Yvonne’s muse, the spiritual gifts that he shares with his grandmother, and what other children can get from reading these stories that bear his name.

Click the arrow to listen to the interview

Titles in The Sid Series include the following:

Purchase on Amazon.com.

Author Charles Toftoy to Join Podcast This Friday

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 06:00:00 PST

Be sure to tune into the Writers in the Sky podcast this Friday as our author's assistant Sarah Moore sits down with Charles Toftoy to discuss his new release It's in the Eyes. This book tells the story of a team of private citizens, known as the Alpha Team, who use their diverse set of talents to investigate crimes. Led by a professor named Lars Nielsen, the team is now hoping to solve the recent murders of coeds in Washington, D.C. These murders, inspired by the Thuggees of several centuries ago who terrorized India, have the entire region gripped by fear.

Dr. Toftoy brings a rich background in academics, business, and the military to his plot and the characters found on the pages of It's in the Eyes.

Please visit the Amazon website to purchase It's in the Eyes.

Title of Document: Book Review
Book Title: It’s in the Eyes
Author: Charles Toftoy
ISBN: 978-1-4327-1196-2
Publisher: OutskirtsPress.com
Genre and Target Market: thriller; fiction; criminal psychology
Publication Date: 2009
Book Length in Pages: 312

Book Review by Sarah Moore

You know that you’ve hit the literary jackpot when you find a novel that combines several of your interests into one great story. For example, someone who enjoys reading about both sports and romance may be intrigued by a book that features the long-distance relationship between a football star and his girlfriend. Or, perhaps you prefer a book with a science-fiction focus that also includes military confrontations. For me, I found a great synthesis of setting and plot in the new release It’s in the Eyes by Dr. Charles Toftoy. This thriller is set in my hometown of Washington, D.C. and features academia, action, and suspense. Knowing this information gave me high expectations before I even read the first page, and I was not disappointed.

It’s in the Eyes grabs the readers immediately by placing us at a crime scene that is central to the entire plot and whose victim returns posthumously throughout the book to motivate the self-proclaimed detectives to solve her murder. Readers quickly learn that there is a series of murders of young women who attend universities in the Washington, D.C. area. These crimes have created uneasiness among the population and a sense of urgency in the Arlington Police Department. Lars Neilsen, a college professor with very personal reasons for wanting to catch the predator responsible for these gruesome deaths, assembles his “Alpha Team” of experts to piece together clues and hopefully end the violence.

One of Dr. Toftoy’s greatest strengths in his writing is his ability to select language that creates a sense of tension in the readers. While the murderer remains anonymous for most of the novel, we are let into his mind periodically as the story unfolds. His narcissism and lack of emotion for any of the pain he has caused is quite disturbing. As he ponders the fate of his next victim, you want to find the woman yourself and warn her before it is too late. The author maintains this sense of discomfort by revealing just a little more about the criminal and his motivations with every chapter. With such a well-developed mystery, I often found myself nervous as I turned the page because the next event was either so shocking or revealing. And, I will simply say that I did not see the ending coming at all. It’s in the Eyes is a suspense novel from beginning to end.

For those who have not been to Washington, D.C., Dr. Toftoy does a wonderful job of illustrating everyday life in that world capital. By providing details like the traffic reporter of the local news station, favorite eateries, and the feel of the diverse neighborhoods, you really get a sense of the environment in which the characters live. And, the decision to include what Lars Neilsen and the other members of his Alpha Team prefer to eat at the local Silver Diner or drink at the Capitol City Brewing Company drives home the idea that these are ordinary private citizens with whom all of us can relate. It just so happens that they are choosing to put themselves in extraordinary circumstances.

The author of It’s in the Eyes, Dr. Charles Toftoy, brings a wealth of academic and business experience to his writing. I hope that he finds the opportunity to put this great background into another novel soon. It’s in the Eyes is a complex thriller that combines history, action, strong character development, believable dialogue, and a plot that will keep you guessing. If you enjoy curling up with a compelling mystery, this is most certainly a book for you.

Test-Market with Self-Publishing: Get Your Ideas Reader Ready

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 06:00:00 PST

Notes from “Test-Market with Self-Publishing: Get Your Ideas Reader Ready”

Kati Neville is co-author of Fix, Freeze, Feast (Storey Publishing, 2007) and an expert on self-publishing. She was quite successful with self-publishing, and was a great resource for those interested in publishing their own works.

Kati Neville asked some key questions for writers to explore when thinking self-publishing:

1.) How is your idea unique? What resources are similar/different from it? Make the business case for your project without emotion.
2.) Who is your market?
3.) Who will sell it?
4.) Competition?
5.) Think about timing, try to tie into key events.

Read more here.. http://tinyurl.com/yjx9zrq

Organizing, Putting Together, and Writing a Non-Fiction Book

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 06:00:00 PST

A non-fiction book is built, then written. The key to finishing a book is having a plan that organizes the steps from start to finish. Learn how this ghostwriter puts a book together.

There are several key components to writing a non-fiction book and you really need a plan. Sure, you can sit down and start typing or writing and just see where things go, but you may find that you get stuck after the first few chapters. You may even be tempted to give up when you find the task overwhelming. I have used this plan to write about twenty books.

1. Decide on a working title. This may change later, but you need a title when referring to the book in any of the preliminary stages. Your title should be short and easy to remember. Include keywords that people might use to search for a book on your subject. The subtitle needs to further explain what the book is about. If someone reads your title and subtitle and still has to ask what the book is about, you need to rethink your titles.

2. Get the domain name for your book title. Get several versions (.com, .net, .org, .info) and purchase domains that have keywords that refer to your book. For example, if your book is titled Super Soccer: Training Young Girls to Play Soccer, you might want these domains: SuperSoccer.com (.net, .org), YoungGirlsSoccer.com, GirlsPlaySocccer.net, SoccerTraning.info, GirlsSoccerTraining.net, and so on. These domains can be forwarded to the site that actually contains your Web content.

3. Write your query letter. Even if you don’t plan to use a conventional publisher, write a query letter anyway. You will need an elevator speech for your book anyway. This concise one-page document that is normally part of the process of asking a publisher to accept your book and offer you a lucrative contract is a great way to get an overview of what your book is going to be about. You can use part of this query as your back cover blurb—a very important part of your book marketing. But mainly this query will bring clarity to the overall scope of the project.

4. Write your book proposal. This requires you to do your marketing research, see what your competition is doing, determine what the book will do for the reader, and outline every chapter that will be in your book. By the time you are finished with the proposal, you will have a clear picture of how your book is going to be organized. All you have to do is flesh it out.

5. Begin to structure your book. Use the chapter outlines from your book proposal to create a skeleton structure of your book. Make chapter headings and bullet point anything you want to cover in that chapter. This is when I assign styles to my headings. This allows me to create a hyperlinked table of contents, which makes it easier to move around in the document once it gets larger.

6. Research the topic more fully, conduct interviews, ask people for stories that will help illustrate your points, and use this information to fill in the bullet points on your outline. Get contributors to sign a release form that gives you permission to use their stories in your book. As you come across experts, contact them and ask if you may send them the part of your book that mentions their topic of expertise and have them critique it.

7. Document your sources as you go! You may not remember where you found certain information a month or so after the fact. If I am using text or a quote, I will copy the URL of the site where I found it and put it in a comment bubble (using MS Word) or as part of the text. I can go back later and get the article title, author’s name, etc. and put it into proper format for the bibliography. If I copy and paste text directly from the Web or an e-book, I will highlight that section in yellow until I can get back to it. The yellow highlight reminds me that I must cite or rewrite this material to avoid plagiarism.

8. Round one edit. You have a rough draft and it is called rough for a reason. It hasn’t been edited. It is jumbled and needs more organization. In your first round of edits, you may move part of one chapter into another place in the book. As you rewrite the copied text, you will begin to see where you need to do more research and flesh out certain weak parts. You may add or remove an entire chapter!

9. Send pertinent sections of your revised rough draft to the experts you’ve contacted. Make revisions using the feedback they give you.

10. Add your front and back matter. This includes the introduction (which is a summary of what the book is going to be about). Pull this from the proposal you created in step 3.

11. Round two edit. At this point, you should have a cohesive manuscript that flows well and contains the material you want to include. Start correcting grammar, punctuation, spelling, and other mechanical errors.

12. Ask your friends to read your manuscript and give feedback. You are still perfecting the manuscript so it’s not too late to make changes.

13. Ask the experts you have worked with along the way to give you an endorsement or write
the foreword for your book. You may use their endorsements on the back cover, inside the book’s front flap, or as part of your marketing material. If the expert is pressed for time, write the foreword for them and ask them to make changes or sign off on it. Make it easy for them to say yes to you.

14. Hire a copyeditor. The book is now ready for the eyes of a qualified editor who will mark your every error in red ink. Yikes! This is the part we all hate, but I can’t tell you how much I have learned from seeing red ink on my pages! Not only will your book be better, all your future writing will benefit from the effort.

I wish you well in writing your book. If you get stuck, you can always contact me for help.

Yvonne Perry, is the owner of Writers in the Sky Creative Writing Services—a team of highly qualified writers and editors with many years of experience in writing for articles, books, ad copy, media releases, PR kits, Web text, biographical sketches, and newsletters. Editing, proofreading, book review, and book evaluation services offered individually and as packages. Find us online at http://www.writersinthesky.com

Follow WITS on Twitter: http://twitter.com/writersinthesky

If you liked this article, please share it on del.icio.us, StumbleUpon or Digg. I’d appreciate it.

November Issue of Writers in the Sky E-zine is Now Available!

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 17:15:00 PST

The November issue of Writers in the Sky E-zine is now available at
http://writersinthesky.com/ezine/news-nov09.html. Enjoy articles about writing, publishing, and book marketing, find networking opportunities, read poetry and book reviews, and find out who will be the guests on our podcast.

Archived issues for the past four years may be read at http://writersinthesky.com/writing-newsletter.html.

If you would like to contribute an article, announcement, poem, or other material to our free monthly e-zine, please see the submission guidelines at http://writersinthesky.com/writing-newsletter.html#guidelines

Yvonne Perry,
Owner of Writers in the Sky Creative Writing Services
http://writersinthesky.com

Lillian Cauldwell and Carolyn Howard-Johnson Partner To Offer Fiction Reading Opportunity

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 09:37:00 PST

Lillian Cauldwell and Carolyn Howard-Johnson invite authors to participate in a frugal and fabulous reading and cross-promotion adventure

Starting March, 2010.Passionate Internet Voices Talk Radio will feature authors of published books of fiction to join in the first-ever serial weekly literary festival where authors read brief excerpts from their books over PIVTR’s radio network.
(Nonfiction and Poetry Weeks will come later in 2010.)

Authors may book a reading on what may be a first-of-its-kind event:It is only $10 for 10 minutes. Authors may contact lillian.cauldwell@gmail.com before January 15, 2010. The special will air March 21 thru March 28, 10 to 11 p.m. (New York time) except Wednesday evening when the show starts 10:30 and ends at 11:30 p.m.

Text Lillian at 734-277-2733 Or E-mail: LSaraCauldwell@gmail.com for details!
The planned program also includes:

§ Authors book reviews will be posted on Carolyn's The New Book Review blog: http://thenewbookreview.blogspot.com. That blog was recently named to Online Universities 101 Best Blogs for Readers list.
§ A special authors' page will be created on Passionate Internet Voices Talk Radio (www.pivtr.com) Web page.
§ Lillian will make MP3 streams (html codes) of participating authors' presentations available for $3 each plus shipping. Proceeds from the MP3 streams will go to Mission Socorro and Capuchin Soup Kitchen to help the homeless, migrant workers and recently released prisoners get back on their feet.

Passionate Voices Radio is based on three principles: to market and promote published mid-list and unknown authors to the media; to provide a conduit for voices not otherwise heard in this noisy world; and to provide quality educational and informative content to listeners so they can use it immediately in their spiritual, personal and business lives.

Lillian Cauldwell is an author of one award-winning nonfiction book, "Teenagers! A Bewildered Parent's Guide." She writes multi-cultural paranormal mysteries for mid teens (9 to 14 years) and mentors junior and senior high school students to write their first books. http://lilliancauldwell.com and http://internetvoicesradio.com.

Carolyn Howard-Johnson is an award-winning novelist and poet. She is also the author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. www.howtodoitfrugally.com.

The pair plans future reading festivals for poets and writers of nonfiction.

####

Media material available on request

Carolyn Howard-Johnson

Website: http://www.HowToDoItFrugally.com
E-mail: HoJoNews@aol.com

Author Charles Toftoy Joins Podcast Today

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 06:00:00 PST

Dr. Charles Toftoy joins the podcast today to discuss his new release, It's in the Eyes, with WITS author's assistant Sarah Moore. This novel focuses on the murders of young coeds in Washington, D.C. and the efforts of a group of private citizens who call themselves the Alpha Team to solve the crimes. Each member of the group brings a unique background and set of skills to the detective work and are led by Professor Lars Nielsen. The killer they are tracking models his killings on the Thuggees of several centuries ago who terrorized India.

Charles Toftoy will be discussing the integration of the Thuggees into the storyline, the meaning behind the title of the novel, and how Washington, D.C. provides the perfect backdrop for his story.

Click here to listen... to the entire interview.

Please visit the Amazon website to purchase It's in the Eyes.