Tag Archives: author

MEET #AUTHOR A.G. MOYE

1 Reply

Today, I have the pleasure to #interview a man whose storytelling style has been compared to Mark Twain’s.  A. G. Moye became a #novelist fairly late in life, and has produced a number of works that cross several genres.

DSCF3877

Interviewer: Writing is a solitary profession, in my opinion. How do you feel about it?

A.G.: #Writing may be solitary but every writer needs to gather with people to get ideas, character personalities and so forth. “No man/woman is an Island”. I go to the local taverns to gather with people and socialize while taking a break from writing so I can become refreshed in my thinking.

Interviewer: What has been the single most important thing to occur in your life? What changes did it bring?

A.G.: Besides my children, the biggest change in my life occurred when I married my current wife. Besides bringing me happiness and being my best friend, she read one of my books and encouraged me to publish. I had been writing my Lightning in the Tunnel series for twenty years along with other stories.

Interviewer: What genres do you write in and why did you pick those genres?

A.G.: I write in several genres, publishing first in Dystopian/apocalyptic genre first followed by my one mystery book. That was followed by my only time travel story. I write mostly Science fiction now but took a break to write my first fantasy, Sasha. When a story comes to my head, I write it not caring what genre it is in.

sabolcompfinal2 (1)(1)

Interviewer: What one person has had the greatest influence on your writing and in what way?

A.G.: Robert Heinlien comes to mind. As a teenager I was captivated by his books. Tunnel in the Sky being my favorite. Maybe the name of my first book was because this book was my favorite.  I took part of it for my series’ name. The first two books have Lightning in the Tunnel in the first of their names.

Interviewer: List four things that make your novels unique and tell us why/in what way?

A.G.: In my Lightning in the Tunnel series, I take the reader through the destruction of the world and governments. The heartache and heartbreak of all this.Then I add hope as the main character helps unite the world in peace–no countries and no fighting–supported by his wives that help develop this new world.

8242144539_bbff92029f_n

Even after my character retires from public spot light he is called back into action, going into space. So this is different than most other writers that leave the reader in the black cruel world these type of books portray.

In my Chronicles of the Marauder, I take my main character that has everything in his life go wrong then he wins the lottery and can live his dreams of going into space. I give hope to even those that make mistakes in their lives that with a lot of hard work and a little luck, they can change the direction of their lives.

8445385637_fc199b1951_z

Interviewer: How many books have you read this month? Can you name them?

A.G.: I have read and reviewed six books this month. The Harvest by Anne Ferretti , Life II by Scott Stopson, Troubles by Ian Miller, Arousing the Legacy by A.J. Raven, In the Beginning by Jane Dougherty, Angels and Aliens by Chryselle Brown. Since this was answered at the start of the month, I used those I read in February to answer this question. I am currently preparing to read Endless Sky by Stuart Land ( I think I have his name right)

Interviewer: Give us a three short sentence review of the LAST book you read.

A.G.: The Harvest. Very seldom does a book make me stay up most of the night to reach the ending like this one did. Normally, I only stay up late to write when the story is really flowing. All I can say right off is “WOW” Anne Ferretti’s The Harvest kept me locked into reading most of the night. It took hold of me and I had to even read while eating my dinner.

Interviewer: Do you live through your characters or do your characters live through you?

A.G.: I tend to live through my characters such as in the Lightning in the Tunnel series, I was Brad in my mind. In the Chronicles of the Marauder, I was Neil. In the Stranger Comes Crawling, I was Rip in my head. In some books where the female is the lead, obviously not; she lives through my head.

8188876205_bbf9fde75e_n

Interviewer: What is the first element of a new novel that comes to you? (plot, character, etc.)

A.G.: The first thing that comes to my mind is the story beginning and then the characters create themselves as the story unfolds. Many times, I have no idea where the story is going or how it will end. I let the characters and their actions guide me through telling the story. Only in my mystery did I know the solution before I ever came to the end and that was the hardest part of writing the book. By the way, the mystery is called “Brandi’s Nightmare.

Interviewer: What value do your books give to readers? Otherwise, why should readers read your books?

A.G.: The first thing is escapism reading and to entertain the reader while reading the story. Each book shows problems the characters face and how they dealt with them. I know not all their solutions to problems can be dealt with in the same way, but they can see themselves facing the same problems in life.

Why should anyone read my books? That is a good question, I think they should to escape from problems and concerns of everyday life since I write fiction about other worlds, other places and to see how these people (They are alive in my mind) deal with problems of living and with relationships.

I may never be the best writer in the world, but I feel I am a very good story teller. I had one person on GoodReads say that after reading my book “Brandi’s Nightmare” that I tell a story like “Mark Twain” style and for me not to let the editors change that. I find most editors want to change it to the acceptable format of writing. I balk at that.

A.G. Moye was born in the cotton fields of Arkansas. He is married with seven children, twenty-two grandchildren and three great grandchildren. A.G. starting writing seriously in 1987 when he got his first computer; long hand before that. Hayloft filled with old stories.

Published in 2011 after being prodded by his wife when she read the first of the Lightning in the Tunnel series.  There are ten books in the Lightning in the Tunnel series. A Stranger Comes Crawling was his first SiFi.  His time travel/love story, T.T. Gristman, followed. Brandi’s Nightmare came next. They were all followed by the highly successful series called “Chronicles of the Marauder”. Book three of the trilogy is due out some time in 2014.

To find A.G.’s books:

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/323360 Chronicles

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/214021 Stranger

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/268840 Begins

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/302271 Gristman

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/306274 Bullet

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/312016 Brandi

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/327192 Need

http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/341678 Rescue

His social media links:

google https://plus.google.com/112198287464668940516/

linkedin http://www.linkedin.com/pub/a-g-moye/53/850/628

goodreads http://w.w.w.goodreads.com/agmoye

Facebook http://www.facebook.com/Author.A.G.Moye

website: http://sites.google.com/site/booksbyagmoye

One of A.G.’s blogsites http://booksbyagmoye.blogspot.com

on Amazon http://www.amazon.com/author/agmoye

on Mars http://marsocial.com/groups/Lightning-Chronicles/

WordPress blog http://lightningbooksbyagmoye.wordpress.com

New WordPress blog http://booksbyagmoye.wordpress.com

email address is  agmoye.moye406@gmail.com

Always more exciting news and posts. CLICK AND FOLLOW!

Check out Aya’s author page for the latest news: http://www.facebook.com/AyaWalksfarAuthor

Visit with Aya on http://www.facebook.com/ayawalksfar

Loved having you drop in! Catch ya later!

 

 

AFTERMATH OF #ADDICTION!

Leave a reply

I write about #strongwomen, women who make tough decisions and strive to positively impact their world. Today I have the honor of an #interview with Sandra Shrewsbury, #author of Outside the Addiction and Aftermath of an Addiction. In these books, Ms. Shrewsbury captures the lives of strong women who survive the devastation that addiction brings to families.

In these two heartbreaking novels, Ms. Shrewsbury takes us from the depths of despair to the heights of triumph. In OUTSIDE THE ADDICTION, she leads us on a journey through a mother’s nightmare.

Susan Green is a single mother raising three children. She has had it rough… But, always managed… Until now.Susan’s daughter, Tina, has been acting strange. She has always been a very calm child, then one day she begins acting out.  Is it drugs?

As she delves into the strange behavior of her daughter, Susan discovers more than she ever wanted to know.

Susan’s life changes, and not for the better. Faced with a demon she can’t control, how can she fight for a life that’s not hers to control? Can Susan save her daughter?

Cover of Outside an Addiction

In Ms. Shrewsbury’s second book, Aftermath of an Addiction, she draws us into the world of Susan’s granddaughter, Kelly, and the pain of living with an addicted parent. Read how one child survived THE AFTERMATH OF AN ADDICTION

??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????

AFTERMATH OF AN ADDICTION: TEASER: 

The words were enough to send a cold chill of terror down my spine. Our lives had been irrevocably destroyed; we would never see our angels again.   Tears pricked my eyes but I forced them back and shook my head. No. I never thought this day would come. The day when justice would not prevail, the day my daughter would destroy our lives once more. How do I tell them that she is fighting me for full custody of them? “Dammit,” I muttered, frustration beginning to peak. The real question is will she win? I had to look out for their best interests. And I am determined to do whatever it takes to make sure my grandchildren are happy, to keep them safe. She cannot win this battle. I don’t know why she bothered; she hadn’t shown any concern over these children for years now. My mind was racing and plagued by the fear of something terrible happening to them if she did get them back.

Ms. Shrewsbury has always loved reading from a wide range of genres, though her favorites have been romance, paranormal/supernatural and non-fiction. Over the years, she realized the power of the written world to bring hope to others. As a nurse with ten years experience, and through her many connections with others, she saw the heartbreak of addiction, the devastation to families, and realized she needed to tell those stories.
Sandra Shrewsbury brings to us two outstanding testimonies of the human spirit.

If you have ever had your life touched by addiction, you need to read these two books.

Sandra hails from West Virginia where she currently lives with her family.

Sandra runs a facebook page where she often posts interviews of authors, reviews of books and more information about her own work. Visit Sandra at  https://www.facebook.com/SandraShrewsbury.Author

OUTSIDE THE ADDICTION  BUY HERE

http://www.amazon.com/Outside-Addiction-A-Mothers-Story-ebook/dp/B00ERYQ5RM/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1394149161&sr=8-1&keywords=sandra+shrewsbu

Be sure not to miss new posts. CLICK AND FOLLOW this blog. Feel free to leave comments. I love hearing what you think. Is there a special subject you would like to hear about? Is there a special author you’d like to tell me about?

You can connect with Aya on facebook  http://www.facebook.com/ayawalksfar   Love to have you jump right into the conversations! Have a facebook page? Send a friend request. Aya loves to connect with new friends on facebook who celebrate strong women who positively impact their worlds.

Or come visit Aya’s author page and catch all the latest about her work.  http://www.facebook.com/AyaWalksfarAuthor  LIKE  AYA’S AUTHOR PAGE and get the latest updates. Comments are always welcome.

To find the latest photos of wonderful places, inspiring thoughts and fun animals visit Aya on Pinterest  http://www.pinterest.com/ayawalksfar  Be sure to CLICK AND FOLLOW the boards you love!

 

DOG ON DEATH ROW!

4 Replies

DSC09039

DOG ON DEATH ROW

Gertrude, a beautiful five-year-old German Shepherd housed in Kennel Run 10, was scheduled to die in the morning.

I had worked at whatever odd jobs I could find all summer long.  Dusting furniture when it was so hot sweat dripped from the tip of my nose.  Slashing at bramble vines until my arms and even my face looked like I’d had an argument with someone welding a horse whip.  But I was nine that summer and Mom told me if I earned the ten dollars required, she would let me choose a puppy from the local shelter.

We had several dogs at home.  Dogs my mother and I had scraped up off the highways, crushed by speeding cars, patched back together by a vet mom knew who didn’t charge us much.  I’d helped those dogs to survive, getting up every two hours around the clock to feed them gruel and to change the newspapers when they got wet and nasty.

But this dog would be mine.  One I had chosen.

The puppies at the shelter were housed in two kennel runs at the end of the aisle back near the right corner of the huge concrete room.

The older black man who led us through the heavy door and into the back, cautioned as we neared Kennel 10,  “Ya’ll want to stay way away from that fence now,”  he said in his deep, kind voice.  “That thar dog wuz brought in ‘cause she mean.  Cain’t noone git nowheres near her.  Cain’t hardly feed her even; not without a catch pole.”

Just as we came even with the kennel run, the German Shepherd flew from the back of the short run, slamming herself into the cyclone fencing so hard it shook and rattled.  Teeth bared, hackles up, she snarled.  Clawing the fence, she seemed determined to reach us.  I could feel my heart pounding as I scooted so quickly behind our guide that I stepped on the heel of his shoes.  We were three runs away before I realized Mom had stayed behind.

I stopped and turned.  The old gentleman did too.  We both stared.  He amazed; me in resignation.  Fingers through the wire diamonds of the fence,  I could see Mom’s lips moving. The German Shepherd stood, pressed against the wire, gazing up into my mother’s face.

“I be dogged,” the old man breathed.  “I ain’t never seen the like.”

I shrugged.  “My mom has a way with dogs.”

We proceeded to the back corner where Black Lab-mix puppies tumbled around each other as they all struggled to get closer to the fence.  I stuck my fingers through and their tiny tongues slurped as if I had dipped my fingertips in cream.

“I’ll let you in to sit awhile.” The old man took a ring of keys from his belt loop.  “You jest holler when ya want out, okay?”

Happily plopped on the cool concrete, puppies crowding in my lap, I nodded.

What seemed like a long time later, the old man returned.  “Ya’ll ready to come outta thar?”

I carefully stood up, gently dislodging several sleeping pups. “I guess so.”

He walked me back up the aisle until we arrived at where my mother still stood in communion with the German Shepherd from Hell.  The old man kept walking.  I stopped a few feet away, but Mom whispered, “You can come on over, Sis.  She won’t hurt you.”

I edged forward, only partially reassured by my mother’s words.  Mom sometimes forgot that dogs who wouldn’t hurt her would gladly eat the rest of us.  The big black-and-tan female glanced at me, but quickly returned her loving gaze to my mother’s face.

I could hear the tears in my mother’s voice when she said, “They’re gonna kill her tomorrow morning.  No one wants to take her.  They’re all afraid.”

Clearing my throat I asked quietly, “Why don’t you get her, Mom?”

My mother shook her head.  “Money’s tight, Sis.  I need what I got for groceries tonight.  And I won’t get paid till Friday.”

Desperately, I said, “Maybe they’ll hold ‘er for you.  It’s just a coupla days.”

“I asked.”  Mom sighed.  “They’re afraid of her, too.”

As I stood there behind my mother’s squatted form, I saw a tear trace silently down her cheek.  My mother never cried.  Not when our house burned nearly to the ground.  Not when she got into a bar room fight that left her needing stitches from the slash of a knife.  My mother never cried.

Taking a deep breath, I whispered, “I found my dog, Mom.”

Mom took a deep breath and I could see her pulling herself together. With a sad look she gave the dog a last cheek stroke then pushed up and turned to face me.  The smile she forced on her lips wavered.  “Well, what’re we standin’ here for?  You better show me this wonderful animal.”

Closing my eyes for a moment, I slowly opened them and looked up at my mother.  “Don’t need to go nowhere.  I want to buy her.”  I pointed at the German Shepherd who’s eyes had never left my mother’s face.

“Oh no, Sis,” Mom replied.  “You don’t want her.  She’d never really be your dog.”

I shrugged.  “Don’t matter.  Laddie’d be hurt if I brought home ‘nother dog.  I wanna buy her for you.”  Seeing my mother getting ready to argue, I hurriedly added, “For your birthday.  An early birthday present.”

“Oh, Sis, you don’t have to do this.  You’ve been waiting a long time to get a dog for yourself.”

“It’s okay, Mom.  I can wait a little while longer.  She can’t.”

The old man handed a leash to my mom.  After he unlocked the cage, he scrambled away down the aisle.  Everyone moved away as Mom led Gertie out of the front door.

Gertrude went home that day. As she heeled beside my mother, out of that cold concrete building and into the midsummer sunshine, Gertie never realized any other human was close by. Her eyes never left my mother’s face.

cedar

I hope you enjoyed this true story of Gertrude the German Shepherd dog and my mother, a complicated woman with a great love for animals.

I wrote the original story, Dog on Death Row, long ago as a high school English assignment.

The dog pictured in this post is the spitting image of Gertrude from those many years ago though her name is Niki. Like Gertrude, Niki is a proper German Shepherd who would fight and die for her family.

Unlike Gertrude, Niki has never seen the inside of the Death Row for Dogs.  Handled properly, Niki’s protective instincts have garnered her admiration instead of the fear with which Gertrude was viewed.

For more adorable pictures of German Shepherd dogs, German Shepherd puppies and other fun things, visit my Pinterest page:  http://www.pinterest.com/ayawalksfar

Do leave a comment. Tell me about the special dog you remember.

Visit me on facebook and join in the conversation there.  http://www.facebook.com/ayawalksfar

Or see the latest writing news on http://www.facebook.com/AyaWalksfarAuthor

I HIT BESTSELLER STATUS!

5 Replies

Allison Bruning

Allison Bruning 4:36am Feb 23
Congratulations to Aya Walksfar!

Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #85,432 Paid in Kindle Store
#48 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Mystery, Thriller & Suspense > Crime Fiction >Kidnapping

What do the bodies of two young children have in common with the murders of two adult men?
Eleanor Hasting, a black bookstore owner and child advocate, knows these killings are linked. How can she convince Lieutenant Michael Williams, head of the Special Crimes Team? Someone is abducting street children and their bodies are showing up sexually abused and manually strangled.
Psychic and member of Missing Children’s Rescue, Jaimie Wolfwalker, is prepared to do whatever it takes to locate and rescue the missing street children. The law be damned. Jaimie’s attitude and methods place her on a collision course with Sergeant Nita Slowater, second-in-command of the Special Crimes Team.
Four dedicated people struggle to come to terms with each other in their desperate search for clues. Every day brings more missing children, more young bodies. Can they stop the monsters before another child disappears?

Street Harvest (Special Crimes Team)

www.amazon.com
What do the bodies of two young children have in common with the murders of two adult men? Eleanor H…

#FEMINIST #EROTICA: IS IT REALLY GOOD FOR WOMEN?

Leave a reply

Feminist Erotica?

Today I am #interviewing Diana Persaud, author of Lucien’s Mate, an erotica novella. I have asked her to talk about what she terms ‘feminist erotica’ and why she writes it.

As my readers know, I support strong women, women who face challenges and make tough decisions. All too often in the past erotica has been more of a man’s fantasy and has revolved around the submission and humiliation of women, or at the very least, had reduced women to parts such as breasts and vaginas to be used and abused.

However, as an author, a feminist, a lesbian and a woman, I would be remiss not to explore what current erotica presents to its audience.  Of course, my question is always: does this celebrate women and their lives, their sexuality or is it simply another mask for presenting women as disposable chattel?

Let’s hear what author Diana Persaud says:

“Feminist erotica. An oxymoron? Not necessarily. The general idea behind feminism is that women and men are equals. Unfortunately, in our society, men are allowed to be sexual yet women are not. We are taught to be ashamed of our bodies and called names if we embrace our sexuality. In the name of feminism, I urge you to stand for your rights. Embrace your sexuality. Be proud of your bodies, no matter what the shape. Don’t listen to the media. They prey on women, making us feel insecure about everything from our physical looks to our sexuality.

You would be very shocked to discover that this #erotica author is pretty conservative. Yet I have embraced my sexuality. I enjoy sex. Often. I have multiple orgasms 99% of the time. If you label me a slut or a whore, you’re about to be shamed. The only partner I ever had is my husband. Frankly, for me, it’s incredibly arousing to know that he is the only one that’s ever touched me intimately. It didn’t matter to him at first but now I think it’s arousing for him as well.

Embracing our sexuality means discovering the things that arouse us. Are you visual? Do you like to watch? Or do you prefer to use your imagination and read? Do you prefer vanilla sex or are you more curious about taboo subjects?

Given the popularity of the 50 Shades series, it seems that a lot of women are now interested in the BDSM lifestyle. I applaud sexual curiosity, but I caution, the fantasy is sometimes better than reality. A long time ago, I asked my then boyfriend to engage in a little light bondage. The moment my hands were bound, I began to think: What have I done? I’m completely helpless and at his mercy. He could kill me or rape me. What if he wants to try something sexual I’m not ready for? I’m not exactly in a position to say no. After about thirty seconds of panic, I asked him to untie me. I was so relieved when he did. I learned a few things about myself. One, I was very naïve. I also realized that it’s ok to satisfy sexual curiositybut only with someone you trust. Obviously, at that particular moment, I didn’t trust him fully.

In my journey to discovering and embracing my sexuality, I discovered erotica. There are so many subgenres, I’m sure there is something for everyone. Almost a decade later, I am writing erotic and I would classify it as feminist erotica because my females are strong women who stand up for themselves. Some might be more submissive than others, but they are not doormats. My main characters treat each other with respect, even if one is more dominant than the other.

In my newest novella, Isabella’s Dilemma, Isabella faces a choice that most women eventually face: housewife or career?

Isabella is a Soldier. In her culture, this is simply not done. Her father expects her to be a housewife. Incidentally, her soul mate has the same expectations. Izzy has to decide which is more important: being a “good” mate an giving up her career to raise (future) children or sacrifice her love life so she can focus on her career. She faces an extreme choice.

Real women make these choices with varying degrees of compromise. Some women stay at home and once their children are old enough, they return to work. Some chose to be a “housewife” permanently while others remain childless and focus solely on their careers, like Oprah.

The wonderful thing about feminism is that we have a choice. We can choose to be full time or part time house wives. We can also choose not to be a housewife. The choice is entirely ours. So embrace your sexuality and read an erotic novella. I hope you will check out Isabella’s Dilemma and see if she made the right choice for her.

~Diana”

One interview cannot change my mind, but Diana has presented some thoughts to allow for exploration of the concept of feminist erotica.  PLEASE remember, that the beliefs expressed in the interview belong to Diana Persaud and do not speak for the author of this blog, Aya Walksfar.

If you wish to learn more about Diana Persaud….

Connect with Diana: www.facebook.com/diana.persaud.146

Blog: http://dianapersaud1.wordpress.com/

Follow Diana on Twitter @LuciensMate to receive tweets about Giveaways and New Releases. Don’t forget to check out her webpage dedicated to Lucien and his pack, dianapersaud.weebly.com.

http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7314263.DianaPersaud

Discover Diana’s eBooks on:

Amazon.com/Diana-Persaud/e/B00FPOAEAM

Apple: log in with your iTunes account and search Diana Persaud

http://ca.axis360.baker-taylor.com

Barnes and Noble:  Go to Barnes and Noble then search for Lucien’s Mate by Diana Persaud

http://search.dieselbooks.com/index.php?page=seek&id%5Bm%5D=&id%5Bc%5D=scope%253Dinventory&id%5Bq%5D=diana+persaud

Kobo

Smashwords  http://www.smashwords.com/author/dianapersaud

Sony (this site is slow to update new releases)

Don’t miss exciting new posts!  CLICK AND FOLLOW! Every week brings new thoughts and explorations into the world of the mind and soul!

Connect with Aya on facebook and see the awesome VIDEOS and other postings at http://www.facebook.com/ayawalksfar

Have you heard the latest about the heart-breaking case the Special Crimes Team faces now? If not, go to http://www.facebook.com/AyaWalksfarAuthor and check out the updates for Street Harvest, Book 2, Special Crimes Team. COMING SOON! TO BE RELEASED FEBRUARY 21st! Watch for this exciting mystery to become available on Amazon.

AWARD WINNING #AUTHOR: KELLY MILLER

Leave a reply

Today I have the privilege of interviewing award-winning author, Kelly Miller. We’ll discuss her newest book, Deadly Fantasies, but we’ll touch on a few other subjects as well.

Q: What is your #mystery novel, “Deadly Fantasies,” about?

Deadly Fantasies Promo_WebLg

A: A ringing phone at 1:17 AM is never a good thing, but Homicide Detective Kate Springer doesn’t have the luxury of ignoring the call. On the other end of the line, a confessor admits to murdering her husband. Dr. Nina Grace needs help, and Kate knows it’s time to repay a debt. No matter the consequences, Kate must fight to keep the investigation from focusing solely on her friend.

Jonathan Grace controls the people in his life like he does his business—with a chokehold. His insatiable appetite for living life on the edge leads him to a club where he’s encouraged to act out his darkest desires. But what happens when one man’s fantasy becomes another person’s nightmare?

Did Dr. Nina Grace kill her husband or did Jonathan’s secret life lead to his death? Detective Springer believes that no matter what her friend admitted, she couldn’t be capable of the horrific torture and murder of her husband. But will Kate’s blind loyalty be her downfall?

Q: Do you have any other books published?

A: Yes. “Deadly Fantasies” is actually the second book in the Detective Kate Springer Series. The first book, “Dead Like Me,” was all about the protagonist. It’s her story and in it, the reader finds out what makes Kate tick, why she makes the decisions she does. In this second book, “Deadly Fantasies,” I wanted to develop the secondary characters and explore Kate’s relationship with them. But even though the two books build off each other, it’s not necessary to have read the first novel, to enjoy the second.

Q: Can you give us an insight into your main character?

A: Homicide Detective Kate Springer is a flawed woman. When you first meet her, you may not like her—she seems a bit cold and bristly. It’s just her way of keeping everyone at arm’s length. She’s lived too much life in her thirty-eight years and she struggles with issues of trying to control the people and the circumstances in her life. Yet once you get deeper into the story you realize she’s trying to become a better person. She knows her faults and she wants to overcome them. But just like all of us, she makes mistakes on the path to becoming the woman she wants to be.

Q: How would you describe your writing style?

A: I’m the “Law & Order: SVU” of books. My stories deal with dark adult themes, but they would still only get a NC-17 rating.

Q. Why did you decide to write in the genre of mystery/crime fiction?

A. You’ve heard the saying, “I didn’t pick the genre, it picked me.” For me, this is true. Before I started my writing career, I was a voracious reader. I still love to read, but now my schedule is so full it’s difficult to find time to finish reading a book. At the bookstore, I’ll pick up a variety of genres. My favorites are mysteries, suspense, thriller, and paranormal novels. The way my voice comes through in a book perfectly matches the crime fiction genre. So for now, I’m sticking with what works.

Q. What advice would you give to writers trying to get a book published?

A. Enter your novel into writing competitions. When my novel kept getting rejected, I entered the manuscript into the Florida Writers Association RPLA competition. I won second place in the Best Mystery category. In addition to winning the award, I got back invaluable information from three judges who’d critiqued my work, pointing out the weak areas. It was an inexpensive way to get feedback on my work.

Something else happened after I won the award. I finally got the attention of agents and publishers. I changed my query letter, adding the information about the award I won and each submission was met with positive feedback. I got past the first stage with the agents and publishers, each requesting the first three chapters of my book. Eventually, I signed with Black Rose Writing. Another option to keep in mind is that many small independent publishers offer their own writing competitions. Prizes sometimes include a publishing contract.

Q: What was one of the most surprising things you learned when first started out in the business?

A: I always thought, “If you write it, they will come.” That’s a laughable thought now, but I really thought if I wrote a great book, I’d easily hook an agent. But I started querying when the economy was sour, and I couldn’t get a bite. The same thought goes for readers. Just because I published a book, doesn’t mean everyone wants to read it. It takes a lot of work to get attention in such a crowded marketplace.

Q: Do you enjoy watching movies or TV shows?

A: When I’m not reading during my downtime, I’m watching television. I have to admit, I’m a reality TV junkie. In fact, when I was trying to sell my first book to an agent/publisher I created a comical animated movie on what a reality show based on writers would look like. You can check it out on Youtube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZM4FRGTMogw. In my wild imagination, I envisioned the video going viral and eventually getting an agent out of the whole deal. Did I mention I’m a dreamer! Anyway, I’m a real sucker for all the reality shows where the average Joe gets a shot at making his dream come true. I love Project Runway, Top Chef, Face Off, and The Voice to name just a few. It’s amazing I ever find time to write!

Q: What should readers walk away from your books knowing? How should they feel?

A: I write mysteries with a sexual element. And not the 50 Shades of Grey kind. I shine a light on sexual taboo topics like in the case of Dead Like Me, childhood sexual abuse. But not in a preachy way. In the first book in the series, readers see one example of a girl who’s lived through horrible childhood trauma and the path she took because of it. I also want to make sure my readers get a satisfying ending. You know the type of story where you exhale. Readers have invested days, sometimes weeks into reading my book. They’ve immersed themselves in my characters, they’ve followed them through thick and thin, and when that final resolution happens, I want readers to close the book, hug it to their chest, and exhale. As a reader and author, it can’t get much better than that.

Bio for Kelly Miller

Kelly Miller lives in Tampa, Florida where her novel is set. She’s married, has three children, and a black Labrador named Gracie. Kelly is a proud member of the Florida Writers Association.

Deadly Fantasies is the second book in the Detective Kate Springer series. The first book, Dead Like Me, won second place in the best mystery category of the 2011 FWA Royal Palm Literary Awards competition. It was also named a semi-finalist in the mystery category of The Kindle Book Review’s 2013 Best Indie Books Awards competition.

REVIEW OF DEADLY FANTASIES

Detective Kate Springer is back! And this time, she has to save her friend, Dr. Nina Grace.

What do you do when the phone rings at one in the morning? If you’re Detective Kate Springer you answer it. And what do you do when your friend is on the line confessing to murdering her husband?  Kate never hesitates: she plunges into a dark world to find the real killer before Dr. Grace winds up in prison.

The thing I like about Kate is her loyalty; misguided perhaps, but always there. It is her strongest asset and her greatest liability as she races into situations most of us would turn away from.

Author Kelly Miller weaves the past and the present together, creating a tangled web for her characters. In this second book, Ms. Miller deepens some of the supporting characters from Dead Like Me, Book 1 of the Springer Series. Not only do we get a different perspective on Dr. Grace, but we see another side to Detective Patrick Jessup, Mr. Quiet himself. To tell the truth, I was a bit shocked at how he acted this time, but when I understood why, well…I had to forgive the guy.

One of the things I enjoy about Ms. Miller’s work is the way she uses the past events to illuminate the actions of her characters in the present. It is part of what makes her characters real: the stress of personal issues tangles with the need to follow the facts and trips Kate up, time and time again. Still, she isn’t a quitter.

A good, solid story.

Buying Links

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Deadly-Fantasies-Detective-Kate-Springer-ebook/dp/B00HNDRYP6/ref=sr_1_5?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1388949073&sr=1-5&keywords=kelly+miller

Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/kelly-miller?store=allproducts&keyword=kelly+miller

Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/393871

Social Media Links

Author Website: www.kellymillerauthor.com

Author Blog: http://apps.kellymillerauthor.com/blog

Facebook Fan Page: http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Kelly-Miller/218746298149725

Twitter: @MillerMystery  https://twitter.com/MillerMystery

Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/KellyMillerMysteries

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/ksmill7/

Linkedin: http://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=298040958&trk=nav_responsive_tab_profile_pic

Google+: https://plus.google.com/u/0/104212278637740810813/posts

Rafflecopter

This rafflecopter is a giveaway to one person for two signed paperback copies of each title in the Detective Kate Springer series, “Dead Like Me” and “Deadly Fantasies.”

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/b193cf0/

I hope you enjoyed reading about Author Kelly Miller as much as I enjoyed speaking with her. Would LOVE TO HEAR YOUR COMMENTS!

For more author interviews, as well as the latest about my upcoming novel, Street Harvest, JUST CLICK AND FOLLOW my blog.

You can also visit with me on my Facebook pages:   http://www.facebook.com/AyaWalksfarAuthor    and  http://www.facebook.com/ayawalksfar     On my profile page, I post a short book review on Fridays of what I’ve read that week.  I love hearing about what my facebook friends and visitors read so be sure to stop by on Fridays and POST IN THE REVIEW THREAD about the books you love.

My guest poster on facebook, Biker Granny, posts every Tuesday. Please join us there and become a FRIEND and give us a LIKE. See you there!

HE SAID WHAT??!!

1 Reply

In order to support my addiction to writing novels, I work outside as a wildlife habitat designer/manager. Today was a long one battling invasive plant species while trying to preserve the indigenous plants, ones that wildlife and wild birds so desperately need. Back screaming, hip throbbing, wrists aching from bending and whacking; pulling and carrying, I finally stumbled home.

But, there’s no time to rest just yet. I have four German Shepherd dogs and two Papillons. They all have needs, and wants. So, it wasn’t until close to 11 PM that I at last sat down at my computer and opened up my social media to….

Gunnar Lawrence, author of A Perfect Day, posted his review of my book, Sketch of a Murder.

To see just what Mr. Lawrence thought of my book, go to http://gunnarangellawrence.blogspot.com 

You might be surprised. I was.

#RAFFLECOPTER #GIVEAWAY WINNERS ANNOUNCED!

Leave a reply

I am SO EXCITED! Our #Rafflecopter #Giveaway #Winners are:

Sandy Bartles of Georgia: Congratulations, Sandy! Sandy won an autographed paperback copy of Good Intentions by Aya Walksfar

Good Intentions Final cover

Renita McKinney of Texas: Congratulations, Renita! Renita won an autographed paperback copy of Sketch of a Murder by Aya Walksfar

Sketch of a Murder Final cover

Jeselle Grace of New York: Congratulations, Jeselle! Jeselle won an autographed paperback copy of Dead Men and Cats by Aya Walksfar

deadmenCover

THANK ALL OF YOU FOR PARTICIPATING IN “A Perfect Day” Rafflecopter!  To enhance your reading pleasure, please visit my blog where you can read character interviews, book reviews and so much more!

To get ALL the latest, FOLLOW my blog. It’s EASY! Just click on the Follow button.

Be sure to watch for the latest news on Book 2 of the Special Crimes Team series. Sergeant Slowater thought this last case was tough, but she ain’t seen nothing yet!

#THRILLER : A PERFECT DAY BOOK REVIEW

Leave a reply

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/1e40b20/

CHECK OUT THIS COOL GIVEAWAY! JUST CLICK THE ABOVE LINK TO RAFFLECOPTER.

#BOOKREVIEW BY AYA WALKSFAR: THE PERFECT DAY

A nail-biting #thriller!

Gunnar Lawrence’s book hooked me from the first page. The author has woven a story full of surprising twists and turns. How does a homeless man figure in a series of seemingly unrelated murders? What does the killing of illegal immigrants have to do with the past war in Iraq?

The descriptions are spare, but they draw the reader right into the scene.

The characters are so well-drawn that I felt like I wanted to help that homeless man, assist that woman and her daughter; and they weren’t even the main characters!

It’s a novel with graphic violence that isn’t gruesome. That is a difficult thing to pull off.

The chapters give the reader different perspectives on the unfolding drama, but it is all woven into a tight story.

The subtle romance in the book doesn’t depend on sex or the ‘hottest looking…’  It’s real and poignant.

The Perfect Day is a story with meat on its bones and heart in its plot. A book that I highly recommend.

WHERE TO FIND GUNNAR ANGEL LAWRENCE:

https://www.facebook.com/gunnarangel.lawrence

https://twitter.com/GunnarALawrence

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6445679.Gunnar_Angel_Lawrence

http://gunnarangellawrence.blogspot.com/

http://www.amazon.com/Perfect-Detective-Paul-Friedman-Thrillers-ebook/dp/B00CKS8FFM/ref=sr_1_6?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1387042785&sr=1-6

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-perfect-day-gunnar-lawrence/1116237807?ean=2940045186636

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/339529

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/1e40b20/

Did you find this post interesting? Would love to hear!

Want to get notified of more interesting posts? Just click on the Follow button.

You can also visit me on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/ayawalksfar