This afternoon I’ll be interviewing Alicia Sparks on Journal Jabber. Alicia has quite a few books out there and I am really looking forward to finding out all about them.
One of her books, Penalty Kill, is free on Amazon and her newest book, Sin Bin releases TODAY!
Stay tuned for the show link, and in the meantime grab your free copy of Penalty Kill…
Released today!
Free today!
Today I’m thrilled to have author Crystal Clifton on Dandilyon Fluff to tell us about her children’s books, Thimble Kisses and Jefferson the Colorful Caterpillar. She will also be our guest on Journal Jabber this afternoon and you can listen in here.
Tell me about your books.
I have two published works one is Thimble Kisses I wrote it about an event that happened with my kids when they were little. The other is Jefferson the Colorful Caterpillar I wrote back in 1997 on my oldest daughters Birthday.
What inspired your stories?
Thimble Kisses was inspired by my kids from when they were children. Jefferson I wrote on a whim one day after picking my oldest son up from school and he told me he had been made fun of because his hair cut was not up the the other kids standard. He grew up to be a wonderful runner and one of the most popular kids in school.
Where do you want to see these go? (series, movie, etc.)
Oh man If Jefferson could become a children s movie I would be in heaven but if Thimble Kisses could be a Christmas Classic like Charles Dickens(I know I am reaching) LOL I would be over the Moon.
Can you tell me about your marketing?
I promote my books through mostly social media on Facebook, Google, Goodreads and twitter. I make my own promo banners as well.
It’s Groundhog Day, again, and in the spirit of the holiday we have author Jonathon Gunger visiting, again, to talk about his book, 34/4. Jonathon was on Journal Jabber last fall, and now he is returning today to share more insight into his excellent book. Since we last talked I’ve had the pleasure of meeting Jonathon in person as well as finding the time to delve deeper into his story. Listen to today’s interview here!
The tale of 34/4 is one of humanity distilled into the a family. They are struck with calamity, and each of them reacts in different ways. The story of 34/4 is one all of us live through. Trials and tribulations will come to us all. We choose what we will build with the materials we are given.
To celebrate this inspiring book, I have an interview from Jonathon here, we will be chatting with him live on Journal Jabber today at 2 p.m. CST and he has agreed to giveaway two download cards to get free ecopies of his book. And now, from Jonathon Gunger himself…
For anyone not familiar with your book, can you give us a summery?
The story begins in January 1976. The United States is full of optimism and preparing to celebrate the bicentennial with exuberance because the Vietnam War is over and we are moving past Watergate. But all is not well in the small town of Shelton, Connecticut; there, the Taylor family is dealing with the results of events that have been thrust upon them on by a frozen New England river.
Bill Taylor, a husband, father, and engineer with a bright future, deals with tragedy by hiding in a bottle. Anne Taylor, a wife and mother, must decide if she can persevere and save their family, or does she now want the romance and excitement being offered by the man with the sparkling blue eyes. Peter Taylor is growing up in this chaos and stumbles as he comes of age and attempts to find purpose in his life.
After a great deal of soul searching the family decides to pursue an opportunity and a new beginning so they escape to the small town of Niceville in Northwest Florida.
What is the inspiration behind 34/4?
I have been able to meet some amazing people and for some reason they invited me into their home and took time to speak to a long haired twenty something year old rock tosser. They gave me a great deal of perspective and inspiration and I felt that if they shared it with me, I should share it with others. From Generals, to scientists, and survivors of occupation they all believed the title of this book to be true and I have found the title to be true more than once.
Is this based on real events in your life?
Many of the events in this book are based on real people and real events. Most of the names have been changed to protect the guilty, and a few of the characters are composites, but there are many things and many people who are real. Frank Van Lenten, Hillbilly Bill, Mrs. Anderson, Grandpa Nevers, Joe and Jeff Nevers, Art Evens; They all helped to shape my life, and I owe them I debt I can never repay.
Can you share your favorite passage?
“Reach your hands in there and grab a big handful, it won’t hurt you. Now listen to me, son, there are two kinds of —- you can get yourself into. This kind of —- you can wash off, but the stench from the other kind will make you smell for the rest of your life. Do you understand what I’m telling you?”
“Life’s hard, son, and it damn sure isn’t fair. I don’t know all the answers. Hell, I don’t know all the questions, but I do know this. If you keep looking back, you can’t go forward without crashing. Do you understand what I’m saying? Don’t let the past destroy your future. You’re alive, and it’s up to you to make that mean something.”
Where can we find you and your book?
Online and at all the usual suspects: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Bayou Books in Niceville, Sun Dog Books in Seaside. Any bookstore that doesn’t have it in stock, can get it for you. In a few days I hope to have the paypal working properly at my website, JonathonGunger.com, So that people can order a personalized copy from there.
It was one of those rushed kind of days where I have learned that “good enough” is better than stressing or not at all. The end though, talking with author Bracken Macleod about his book, Mountain Home, was worth it.
He was nice enough to read parts of his book to us, and the story was so well written and tightly packed with the story meat rather than fat… I didn’t want him to stop. I’m purchasing a copy of Mountain Home as soon as this post is done and I’m looking forward to diving back into this world he created.
In the meantime, be sure to listen to tonight’s interview to hear this brilliant book for yourself. Here’s a little bit about Bracken from his bio on Amazon:
Bracken MacLeod has worked as a martial arts teacher, a college philosophy instructor,
at a children’s non-profit, and as a criminal and civil trial attorney. While he does his best to avoid using the law education, he occasionally finds uses for martial arts and philosophy. His work has appeared in Sex and Murder Magazine, The Siren’s Call e-zine, and twice in Every Day Fiction. He also has stories in the anthologies, The Alchemy Press Book of Pulp Heroes, Anthology: Year One, and most recently in Femme Fatale: Erotic Stories of Dangerous Women from Go Deeper Press.
His first novel, MOUNTAIN HOME, is available from Books of the Dead Press.
It’s not enough to publish a book this weekend. It’s not enough to be competing in The Iron Writer’s challenge, gather two new authors for Journal Jabber and write 40 hours a week at the newspaper. For some of us, apparently, there are never enough words. My newest challenge is competing in Blogger Idol.
I’ve auditioned, and if I’m selected, I will be one of 12 blogs competing for the title of Blogger Champion of the WORLD (or something similar ;p) and a fat pack of great prizes. Auditions close Saturday, Sept. 21 so if you’re interested, read up on it and try out.
Remember, many will enter, 12 will be selected but there can be only one Blog Idol… until next year ;p
Wish me luck!
Listen in! Welcome to another Tuesday and another episode of Journal Jabber! Tonight’s guest is Jonathon Gunger, author of 34/4, a novel set in the town of Niceville… the same town I currently live in.
Come join us as Gunger shares all his secrets on how he makes his way through the autho-verse. While you wait, visit his book on Amazon. Gunger was also the featured poet last Poetry Slam Sunday!
Visit the new show schedule to see what’s coming up next!
Tonight’s show is sponsored by The Eyes for Editing.
Warning: This show may have explicit content.
Tonight I’d like to welcome Sable Hunter, author of erotic novels such as Cowboy Heat and Finding Dandi. Yes, ironic that one of her books is called Finding Dandi, my online moniker for the last five years or so. Wouldn’t it be funny if we knew each other already by different names? Things are sure to heat up tonight on Journal Jabber.
Tonight’s show is sponsored by The Eyes for Editing – your story, only better!
Listen here! It’s another Tuesday and tonight’s guest has had to cancel so my wonderful editor, fellow hostess and Journal Jabber sponsor Amy Eye has stepped in to fill he void.
There will be surprises, announcements and Jabber-hijinks galore!
It’s another Journal Jabber Tuesday and another opportunity for us to pick the brain of a new author and find out what makes them tick… and more importantly, how can we tick like that?
Tonight’s guest is Rhonda Jackson Joseph, author of Call it What You Want, The Act and A Dog or Something.
Rhonda is a member of the steering committee for the annual National Black Book Festival in Houston, which is in its fifth year. Also, she’s putting in hard work towards her MFA in Writing Popular Fiction at Seton Hill University.
Rhonda currently lives in Pearland, Texas, with her husband and four children. Her first novel, Call It What You Want, was released by Tea and a Tome Publishing in March 2007. She is currently working on several other novels and a screenplay. When she’s not writing, she can usually be found wrangling kids or reading way more than she should be.
Tonight’s show is sponsored by The Eyes for Editing, your one stop solution for all your editing needs.
We are bursting at the seams with love tonight!
It’s Share the love night again 🙂 Every Thursday I like to introduce worthy authors and artists in all genre… please go explore and show them some support. It isn’t easy being creative – click on the hearts to go to their Facebook pages.
Tonight I’m sharing the love with…
This week’s Journal Jabber authors, the dynamic duo of Sherry Ficklin and Tyler Jolley, authors of the upcoming book, Extracted. Hear here! ;pWendy Nystrom, author of James Saves the Moon.
Jodi B. Stone, author of Savannah’s Story.Monette Pangan, author of Erin.Emily Fogle, author of Dragon Wars.A special congratulations to T.F. Walsh who will be releasing Cloaked in Fur on August 5. Check out her Wolf Charm giveaway!
And Crystal recommends Teresa Gabelman‘s Protector Series. This is one of the best series I have ever read and Teresa has become a very personal and amazing friend,” said Crystal.
