Joyce T. Strand's Blog

  Mari Reiza against Verona's Romeo and Juliet 's wall.
Author: Opera and t he Retreat Mari Reiza is a romance author who “doesn’t set out to write romance.” Readers enjoy the emotions she brings to her stories. She writes both short stories where you can “live in the moment,” and novels where her characters can be developed and “turn around and surprise you, almost mocking you.” Her most recent novels are Opera described as “A scorching rendition of human resilience” and the Retreat, "an uncomfortable but fascinating ripening journey."
Born in Madrid and currently living in the U.K., Mari likes to travel, especially in the mountains which "clear her mind for writing." She enjoys hiking, climbing, and skiing with her daughter when she’s not writing. She plans to spend time in Nevada to write her next novella.

Q: You’ve written romances set in a variety of times and locations.  Readers tout the emotion you bring to your stories. What inspires you? Do you have a favorite romance author?
Mari Reiza: First of all I don’t set out to write romance. I only see, sense and speak, as a woman. And what I see is that the feeling of excitement and mystery associated with love still remains, at a risk of talking clichés, a prime maker and wrecker of lives. All around me. What more engaging is ever there to speak about than love or death? 
And romance per se is but the tip of the iceberg, the flame making us blind and fearless which is interesting but almost always transient. Empathize with Opera’s Ivanka who can’t stomach grievers orbiting around her, live with her through the agitation and accident of her encounter with Maria (a man, despite the name), followed by a growing love-force determined to push out the most unmovable of deadlines. Or with Carmela’s cousin in Caro M, beautiful and innocently in love with him and her wedding dress, ready to embrace marriage like a magic portal. 
But it never lasts. 
And still, there’s nothing more real than the dream of love.
Although falling out of love can also prove intriguing. PHYSICAL’s Fátima, for example, drops out of love with herself then with her husband. ‘And thus things were being taken away from me one by one,’ she complains. ‘How was I going to enjoy sex if I was a nobody? Not even earning any money?’ (Is sex a requisite for love? another question altogether.) 
It can be equally painful when your lover falls out of love with you. What are you supposed to feel then? ‘He asked me for the ketchup, in a whisper, and I gave it to him. Somehow, I felt that it was the least I could do, now that I understood I had been but a vague irritant for the last few months, that I did not arouse him anymore,’ tells us Kiki, Fátima’s friend. 
What I mean is, it’s nice to see people on a high but they are even more arresting when breaking down, forced from hero back into humbled human.
In essence, I like romantic books exploring female sexuality and power on the upturn then resourcefulness and resilience on the downfall from love. Deborah Levy’s Hot Milk, Margaret Atwood’s The Robber Bride and Lily King’s Euphoria are amongst my favorites.

Q: Your most-recently released novel the Retreat has been described by a reviewer as “a feminist, coming-of-age novel.” Do you agree? How would you characterize it?
Mari Reiza: In t he Retreat , something has happened to Marie (a girl, unlike Opera's Maria) in her youth which she can’t get rid of, something that prevents her from building relationships, understanding her sexuality and the place for God in the world. It is definitely an uncomfortable if fascinating ripening journey and yes, almost everyone that counts in the novel is a female. The only man that could have made a difference is absent and from that you can draw your own conclusions.
Q: Several reviewers describe your recent novel Opera as “a Romantic story in the classical sense rather than what a modern romance story would be.” How would you characterize Opera? Do you consider it contemporary romance?  
Mari Reiza: Mmm… when I search contemporary romance it says: ‘Contemporary romance is a subgenre of romance novels, generally set contemporaneously with the time of its writing. ... Heroines in the contemporary romances written prior to 1970 usually quit working when they married or had children, while those novels written after 1970 usually have, and keep, a career.’ Puzzling. 
Well, Ivanka is a beautiful young woman born in Saint Petersburg, wedded to rich banker Alexey. She definitely lives like an old-fashioned heroine and has indeed quit her Operatic career to follow him to London. In addition, her love with Maria has the chivalric and supernatural feel of a classical tale. So, I can see why they call it a classical romance.

Q: You write both short stories and novels. Do you find that each offers you a way to better tell a story or deliver a theme? Do you prefer one over the other?
Mari Reiza: I love the short stories to live the moment; they can almost be cinematographic. However, the novel allows time for the character to show you her true colors then totally turn around and surprise you, almost mocking you.

Q: How do you make your readers care about your characters? Are their issues, problems, and joys relatable to readers?
Mari Reiza: I should not be saying this perhaps, but I do not worry too much about the reader when I’m writing characters. My assumption is, this is a story that is happening or has happened or if not exactly so, it could have happened or may still happen. It's real despite being fiction. Then I try to focus on the humanity of my heroes and inject as much humor as possible. I hope this will help make the tale entertaining, relatable and readable but perhaps it won’t work for everyone. I’ve learnt, at the end of the day, I have to do what works for me. Writing, like the other arts, should be an expression of what we have inside, even if perhaps it’s not very commercial half the time. But hopefully it may still make a small difference.

Q: Why do you write? Do you choose topics that concern you to help reveal them? Or, do you want primarily to tell a story? 
Mari Reiza: I do not write with a topic in mind, for any audience in particular or with a specific aim. I only relate things I have observed, often mismatching the different bits, throwing them together to play the what if game. 
In  Physical : What if we put the anarchic girl with curly black hair and thick-rimmed glasses with the straightforward, rational and practical woman, fair-haired and attractive in a sexy-cute kind of way without being stunning? 
In  Opera : What if Ivanka’s masseur slim as a river reed and pretty despite his cut-rate-dental teeth, was hired for his osteopathy services but tried to cure her of her fatal illness instead? What if her trusted prince was not to be trusted, but was instead wanted back in Moscow by a hysterically resentful, erotically hyper-charged Cuban (male) ex-lover, and Ivanka's masseur was (again) the only one who could help him?
What if... 
You get the picture. 
Q:  You were born in Madrid and now live in the U.K. and you write frequently about women’s issues. Do you find that your topics are applicable across broad national boundaries and are as relevant in Europe, Asia, United States etc.? 
Mari Reiza: We call ourselves a global society but I think there are still tremendous cultural differences between countries, even regions you consider close neighbors. I like the differences to last, but in my books I ensure they co-exist. I often write about London, situations where different people come together. In Room 11, the patient's husband is Italian but the nurse is an African immigrant and the doctor is of Indian origin. In  Opera , the heroine and her accomplice are Russian but the masseur and the composer are Italian. In Physical, one lady is Brazilian and the other is from Northern Italy… (what's my fixation with Italy you may ask?) It's undoubtedly my background. I left Spain at twelve and have lived since in Brussels, Amsterdam, the US, Milan and the UK (and loved almost exclusively Italian men.)

Q: How and why did you make the transition from investment research writer and management consultant to author of contemporary romance novels? 
Mari Reiza: I’ve always been an avid reader and written on the side, short stories and poems since school, first in Spanish then in English. My jobs took me away from fiction but still involved a lot of writing. Although of course it was a very different kind of writing. I knew I loved the writing and the salary but had not much interest in the subject matter. The opportunity came to step down, perhaps it wasn’t seen as an opportunity at first to be honest but more like forced upon, and I took it. The rest is story.

Q: What’s next? 

Mari Reiza: I’m off to Nevada this Easter. A writer I like back in my land of origin, the Basque country, Bernardo Atxaga, wrote his days in Nevada some time ago. I love that book. I’m thinking to write my own little Nevada novella perhaps.

Q: Tell us something about Mari Reiza. What do you like to do when you’re not writing? 
Mari Reiza: I have become passionate for the mountains: the Dolomites (Italy again!!!). I enjoy hiking, skiing and climbing with my daughter. We are there whenever we can. The scenery helps the writing too: it clears the mind, for more.

About Mari Reiza

Mari Reiza was born in Madrid in 1973. She has worked as an investment research writer and management consultant for twenty years in London before becoming an indie fiction writer. She studied at Oxford University and lives off Portobello Road. Also by her, Inconceivable Tales, Death in Pisa, Sour Pricks, Pack of Wolves, STUP, Mum, Watch Me Have Fun!, Marmotte’s Journey, West bEgg, PHYSICAL, Room 11, Triple Bagger, Caro M, Opera, the Retreat.

About Mari Reiza’s Books
the Retreat: An uncomfortable but fascinating ripening journey
Ahmed has abandoned her. Nadia is gone the way Isabelle did before, her two fallen warriors. But Marie can still hear His voice clearly. A deep call for justice takes hold in an impressionable teenage girl from a recently broken family during a religious retreat; what happens next will mark her life for years to come. the Retreat is a story of men playing God, of hurt that doesn’t find its way out.






Opera : A scorching rendition of human resilience 
Suffering Ivanka, once an arts patron in Moscow, receives a wrongly delivered letter at her secret address in Kensington. Her therapist Fer recognizes the intended recipient immediately, leading her into the hands of Maria, a faded Italian pop-idol living a reclusive life only a few houses away. Maria unintentionally wakes Ivanka up to the nature of the spiritual depth she has been craving, convinces her it's the lack of it that has made her sick. Can she, with the help of Igor, her sweetest long-life friend and accomplice, help Maria back into music?


Links
Amazon Opera

Amazon the Retreat

Amazon Author Page 
Twitter and Instagram address @mari_reiza
Wixsite 

Ruchi Singh, Author
GUARDIAN ANGEL
THE BODYGUARDRuchi Singh brings us GUARDIAN ANGEL, a romantic thriller, which is her favorite genre. The book spins off a  character from her previous novel, THE BODYGUARD, and tells how an “angel“ rescues a security expert in mortal danger.  
Singh is an award-winning author who writes both romance and romantic thrillers. When she's not writing, she enjoys reading and exploring classical Indian dance forms. She is currently working on an emotional romance novel and is also planning a detective series.



Q: How did you conceive of the plot for GUARDIAN ANGEL? 
Ruchi Singh: I had released THE BODYGUARD prior to GUARDIAN ANGEL. Nikhil Mahajan, though an important character, played a secondary role in that novel. After the release of THE BODYGUARD, I received numerous personal messages and review feedback that people want to hear Nikhil’s story as well. 
Hence GUARDIAN ANGEL came into being. Essentially it is a spin-off from THE BODYGUARD and can be read as a standalone book.
Q: Reviewers in a previous book, THE BODYGUARD, said your characters were “well fleshed out.” How do you make readers care about your characters? 
Ruchi Singh: There are certain expected social, physical, and notional perceptions. If we as an author understand those qualities and perceptions, defining a character’s traits become easy. 
Then throughout the story, those traits have to be released or written depending on the circumstances and situations. I cater to those perceptions and hope that the readers would fall in love with them. They generally do. 
Q: Reviewers also tout the thriller aspect of your books. How do you create suspense while simultaneously producing romance?
Ruchi Singh: In a suspense, the information about the plot has to be revealed in a piece-meal fashion. For romance to simultaneously flourish, both hero and the heroine have to be actively involved in the main plot as well as be thrown together in the scenes. The plotting, characterization and internal conflicts are important here.
Q: Is the concept of villain vs hero relevant to GUARDIAN ANGEL? What are the characteristics of an effective villain?
Ruchi Singh: Yes, of course it’s relevant in GUARDIAN ANGEL. Every story has to have a villain. Though it’s not necessary that the villain has to be a human being. The inner conflict, weaknesses, and circumstances can also play a part in traumatizing a protagonist and can thereby be termed as a villain. GUARDIAN ANGEL, too, has a villain of the human variety. Although the protagonist and the villain do not confront each other face to face, they do go after each other in a more covert manner.
The characteristics of a villain should be such that readers also share the hero’s revulsion, fear, or distaste. A villain lays down the conflicts in the path of the hero and should be one notch more powerful than the hero. A story, where the hero is able to overpower the villain against all odds, is a real entertainer. 
Q: In GUARDIAN ANGEL, how helpful is back story, especially that of setting?
Ruchi Singh: GUARDIAN ANGEL is set in the backdrop of conflict in Kashmir. The backstory and the setting are revealed to the readers at opportune scenes throughout the story. There are certain chunks which are revealed through inner monologues, thoughts, and dialogues. Some aspects are just hinted using a word or two here and there, and let the reader imagine the rest. The backstory and settings help readers to get a reference point for the location, story and the characters’ motivations. If used judiciously it’s a very powerful story element.
Q: Did you write GUARDIAN ANGEL strictly to entertain? Or were you trying to educate or deliver a message? 
Ruchi Singh: Every novel I write is to entertain the readers. I consider myself a storyteller and entertainer.
Q: What caused you to pursue a career as an author and away from that of IT career?
Ruchi Singh: It all started in 2012 when I had left my regular job to be a full-time homemaker. After a year my daughter joined the college in a new city. I was feeling a little low due to empty nest syndrome but didn’t want to go back to the corporate rut. That was the time friends and family suggested writing. My family members and friends said when you read so much, you can write as well.
Since I am very fond of novels, I began with a novel. I really enjoyed the first few days of putting my thoughts on paper. The result was the debut novel TAKE 2. But it was only when I had won the Indireads short story competition, in Oct 2014, I knew I will become a fiction writer.
Q: What’s next?
Ruchi Singh: I am writing an emotional romance which is again set in Kasauli, the backdrop of my second novel JUGNU (The Firefly). I’m also planning and plotting a detective series, which is at a very nascent stage. There are lots of ideas floating in my mind, but very less time.

Q:  Tell us about Ruchi Singh. What do you like to do when you’re not writing?
Ruchi Singh: I am generally a happy-go-lucky person. I go with the flow of events happening in and around me. When I am not writing I read a lot, and I also like to spend time and relax with my friends.
About Ruchi Singh
Winner of TOI WriteIndia Season 1, Ruchi Singh is a novelist, and writes in two genres: romance and romantic thriller. A voracious reader, she loves everything—from classics to memoirs to editorials to chick-lit, but her favorite genre is ‘romantic thriller’. Besides writing and reading, her other interests include dabbling with Indian classical dance forms.
About GUARDIAN ANGEL
The Man Security expert Nikhil Mahajan is in mortal danger. Gravely injured and unable to see, he is in the midst of hostile strangers in an unknown place. Any hope of survival is fast fading away. 
The Angel Should an innocent man be left to die just because he had been in the wrong place at the wrong time? Someone has to intervene.
Excerpt:In the bathroom, he stripped off his clothes and looked in the mirror for the first time since the day of the bomb blast in Mumbai. He couldn’t recognize the man staring back at him in the mirror. His hair, matted with dirt, was stuck to his skull. The only things which were clean were his wounds and the skin around it which had been taken care of by the hospital nurse.He had a full-fledged beard with a patch of bandage where the skin on his face had burned. The scar would definitely leave a reminiscence of…? Of what? What should he call the events of the past weeks? An incident? An episode? A misfortune? He drew a blank. In retrospect, past few weeks seemed like something which could not be explained in words.Pushing his confused thoughts aside he examined his leg. The burns were deeper on the shin and thigh, the doctor had told him. He looked gaunt, a shadow of his former self. He must have lost at least ten kg, if not more. Sighing audibly, he unwrapped the new toothbrush and remembered his own electrical one in his bathroom back home. Everything unfamiliar, and every person a stranger. A new name. A new identity. His ordeal was far from over. He picked up the new tube of the toothpaste and felt like a beggar.Taking the support of the wall, head bent down, he stood under the shower with the water running down his face, and wept. The adrenaline rush of keeping himself alive receded as he emptied the fears, worries, and helplessness of the past month down the drain with the bathwater. The thought of being able to see his parents soon made him more emotional. He sniffed and sniveled, and resolved to take back control of his life. And most of all, he resolved to do something about those monsters back in the Tral forest.
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Joyce T. Strand, Author
Dangerous Delays
Dangerous ChangesFollowing is an interview with my newest character sleuth, Emily Lazzaro, who is here to tell us what she’s been doing since her first book, Dangerous Changes, and to give us some hints about her second mystery, Dangerous Delays.
Fans of my other books might recall that Emily is the daughter of the winemaker at Brynn Bancroft’s Hilltop Sunset winery. When we encountered her in Overcast Sunset she had just broken up with her fiancé and is heading back home to Ramona, Calif. where her adventures begin.











Q: I understand that in your new mystery there is a body discovered on the first page?
Emily Lazzaro:  Yes. I was so upset. One of the workmen helping with the renovation uncovered it with the excavator. It was disturbing to see—I have trouble getting it or her out of my mind. And then the Native American artifacts surrounding her – we assumed it was a she because of the skirt.  It was all so surreal.
Q: I’ve heard about frequent discovery of artifacts in San Diego County but I thought bodies only turned up in burial grounds. Is this site a burial ground?

Emily Lazzaro: We don’t know. Several branches of different law enforcement, including the local Barona Tribal Council and an archeologist are investigating. 
Q: What can you tell us about why you were even at this site? 
Emily Lazzaro: I was hired to help manage a new B&B that we’re hoping will become a vital part of our town. I enjoy this job much more than preparing tax returns, by the way. Anyway, the first step in that project is the renovation of this mansion. I’m so excited to be part of it. The wife of the couple who owns it is from Ramona, and wants to create an iconic place that will represent the community.
Q: What will make it represent the community?
Emily Lazzaro: Well, there will be horses, riding instruction, and hikes available to those who stay there. As you know, Ramona is an equestrian town. And our menu will reflect local specialties, such as turkey and avocados. And, although we want it to be somewhat upscale, the décor will contain some aspect of Ramona—that is, if we ever get it complete given all the delays.
Q: What about your parents we met in the Brynn Bancroft trilogy? How are they doing?
Emily Lazzaro: My dad continues as the winemaker of the Hilltop Sunset winery, and my mom loves helping Brynn—the co-owner of the winery—whenevershe needs it. They’ve become really good friends. My parents still grieve for my brother who was killed in Afghanistan, but we’re all getting more used to it even though we miss him terribly.
Q: Has anyone special entered your life? 
Emily Lazzaro: Not really. I have made great friends with a local chef but we’re just friends. I met him through an incident that occurred with his brother who suffers from brain damage due to an accident. But, so far, we’re just friends.
Q: What’s next?
Emily Lazzaro: Well, I’m not sure—about that someone special or about the B&B. We’ve had so many delays—the usual kind due to permits, labor shortage, and material problems. But with this new cadaver in our back yard, well, that means more and more delays—dangerous ones, at that.



Dangerous Delays: An Emily Lazzaro Mystery
Finding a corpse buried with Native American artifacts wasn’t the first delay of the renovation Emily faced. But she was not prepared for what followed. A murder investigation, excavation to uncover more artifacts, and drug dealers looking for missing product further delay the mansion's restoration into an iconic B&B. While facing these setbacks, Emily is also realizing her growing attraction to a local chef, a man who believes a relationship isn't possible due to his commitment to care for his brain-injured brother.
Reminder: although there will be a total of three Emily Lazzaro mysteries, each is standalone and can be read without  knowledge of the previous book.
About Joyce T. Strand, Author
Joyce T. Strand is the author of who-done-it contemporary and historical mysteries set in California. Actual events and/or real people inspired all of her published novels, although they are definitely fictionalized. Dangerous Delays is her tenth book.
Strand headed corporate communications at several biotech and high-tech companies in California's Silicon Valley for more than 25 years. Unlike her protagonist Jillian Hillcrest in her first trilogy, however, she did not encounter murder in her career. She currently lives with her collection of cow statuary in Ramona, California, and enjoys exploring and writing about the growing wine region in the Ramona Valley near San Diego.
Links
Dangerous Delays Paperback Kindle 
Barnes and NobleNook 
Dangerous Changes PaperbackKindle
Barnes and NobleNook
Webpage
Facebook
Twitter @joycetstrand
Goodreads

Ciara Lake, Author
CURSE OF A DRAGON'S CLAIM (2)
FORSAKEN NORSE WIND (4)
ENCHANTED WAVES (6)Elise Whyles and Ciara Lake teamed up to write The Forsaken Series, a paranormal series of books about families on the brink of war returning to their homes and love following a king’s banishment. The two authors take turns writing each book. Lake believes that the creative paranormal is an extension of fantasy and offers a  place for romance. Whyles enjoys the freedom and excitement of creating characters in this genre. 
Lake, who lives on a farm, likes to travel and embroider when she’s not writing. She plans to continue to write more books for The Forsaken Series and has other projects in mind.  Whyles, who lives in Canada, also likes to travel and particularly enjoys the West Coast of British Columbia. She is working on a Romantic Suspense Paranormal as well as the next book in The Forsaken Series.


Elise Whyles, Author
FORSAKEN HEART (1)
FORSAKEN PARADISE (3)
SKARLET KISS (5)
Q: Elise Whyles – you wrote the first book in the Forsaken Series, FORSAKEN HEART. Did you intend for this to develop into a series? Why did you choose this genre?
Elise Whyles: Yes, I had the idea for a series and this is such a great topic. I picked the genre simply because I could have a lot of fun with it. I’d started reading some paranormal romances and fell in love with the idea of writing about mythology, and such, and this was the easiest way to do it. It didn’t hurt that my co-author is a huge fan of paranormal romance as well. 
Q: What draws you to write in the paranormal genre? 
Ciara Lake:  I like the ability to be inventive and more imaginative in paranormal fantasy type of books.  There is no limit to what you can create.  I enjoy the freedom it gives the author to create worlds, creatures, people, places, heroes, and villains.  
Elise Whyles: The freedom to create believable characters in unbelievable settings. The only limits are those I put in place. There’s a lot of freedom and excitement to be had creating a world and species as we move along. 
Q: Elise Whyles--You write in multiple genres in addition to paranormal, including LGBT and contemporary. Do you have a favorite? Why? 
Elise Whyles: Hmm, I have to say of all the genres I write in, the one I love the most is paranormal. But combining all three genres is even more fun so when I can write a story which features an LGBT paranormal character in a contemporary setting it’s even more fun.
Q: Ciara Lake--You also write in multiple genres besides paranormal, including romance, fantasy, and SciFi romance. What made you decide to write paranormal fiction? Do you like to incorporate romance somewhere in your story despite the primary genre? 
Ciara Lake: To me paranormal is just an extension of fantasy.  And Sci Fi is another genre that is similar allowing for the imagination to be the only limitation.  They are very similar genres.  Each of them allows for the creative reach I mentioned above. I started out wanting to be a romance writer.  The paranormal, sci fi, and or fantasy was created to be the worlds for the lovers to exist in. I like creating fantastic characters who are drawn to true love.  I am a romantic who dreams bigger then real life.  
Q: How do you create credibility for your paranormal stories or fantasy worlds?
Elise Whyles: When I build a world I rely on what I can see. I try to intersperse what we have in our world into their world. If a reader can see the image I’ve tried to describe, that lends itself the credibility. 
Q: What would cause your readers to stop reading? 
Elise Whyles: Stagnation, is a huge concern when it comes to writing. If you’re working on a major story line, such as Forsaken and you’re retelling the same story over and over in each book, a reader will lose interest and stop reading.
Q: How did the two of you get together and decide to write a series? 
Elise Whyles: We met when we published with another publishing house, which has long since closed.  I began helping Ciara with her writing, and when I came up with the tiny idea of a series of paranormal stories I asked her if she’d like to jump on board and develop the plan and get it going. 
Q: Why will readers care about your characters? How will they relate? Do you have villains and heroes? 
Elise Whyles and Ciara Lake: Our characters are very relatable. Each is flawed in their own way, be it obvious or not. When we began talking with our characters we wanted to ensure they were 3-D. They needed to have a personality – in fact most of the time we were able to create characters who came to life on their own. There are villains, and heroes, and heroes who are villains. 
Q:  Elise Whyles and Ciara Lake--What’s next? 
Ciara Lake:  I’m continuing to write books for the Forsaken series.  I also have several other projects in mind such as writing the next in the Triaxen and Xihirah books.   
Elise Whyles: I’m currently working on a Romantic Suspense Paranormal as well as the next book in the Forsaken Series. 
Q: Tell us about you. What do you like to do when you’re not writing?
Ciara Lake: I live on a farm and I enjoy being outside with our animals. I like to travel and drive. I also embroider and other crafts. 
Elise Whyles:  Travel is a big one, my family and I routinely take day trips all over BC and Alberta. We love the coast of BC. 
About Elise Whyles
Born in Northern British Columbia, Elise is a small-town girl. She writes in a variety of genres including paranormal, contemporary suspense, m/m in various lengths. Currently, she lives in British Columbia with her husband and son, one dog, one cat, and a gecko. Elise enjoys reading as much as she does writing, with some of her favorite books being read until they fall apart. 
She is currently working on the next book in the Forsaken Series, Burning Rain. As well she has a new contemporary she’s working on. For more information on Elise, or to check out her books you can find her on Facebook, Twitter, and her website.
About Ciara Lake
Welcome to Ciara Lake's World. Meet Gorgeous Werewolves, Vampires, Dragons, Mermaids, Wizards, Witches, Mythological Gods and Goddesses, Mere Mortals and More! Fiction has always been a passion of mine. Creating worlds and developing characters is a great way for me to relieve the stress and strain of my everyday world. In fantasy (paranormal) and sci-fi stories, the author has the unique ability to invent wonderfully exotic places and people. I do that in my books. These fantastic genres provide a limitless ability to be creative and inventive. My stories provide an escape into a special world filled with unique and otherworldly things. And there is always a happy ending.
About THE FORSAKEN Series
Punished for crimes they didn’t commit, entire family lines were banished from their true homes by a grief stricken king. Now, on the cusp of war, they are finally finding love and their way home.
About FORSAKEN HEART (TFS #1)
Punished for sins not her own, can a mortal claim her vampire mate?
The world of immortals must unite to save both themselves and the mortals they co-exist with from an ancient evil.
For Bede MacTaggert this means trusting in the warrior sent for her sister—a man of mystery, of power, and one who could easily sweep her into a world she's destined to be part of.
An imperial guard to the king of vampires, Gawain has always tuned out the needs of the flesh. Dedicating himself to the service of the royals, he's lived on the fringes of his people for centuries. Now he's forced from the shadows and into the arms of a woman who will awaken his heart and body to a passion unequaled.
Content Warning: graphic sex, some violence
About CURSE OF A DRAGON’S CLAIM (TFS #2)
The flame within a dragon warrior's heart awakens Arianna's passion as she begins a journey in which she will discover she's something more than she ever imagined possible. 
The realm of the dragons is a world of magic, danger, and mystery. For centuries they've been at war with the vampires, but now the two enemies must work together to save all immortals, and the mortals they co-exist with, from an ancient evil. In order to do so, they need the help of the Forsaken, descendants of immortals who were cast out into the human realm, their memories wiped clean of their true heritage.
Clayne MacDagon is a powerful dragon warrior who is sent on a mission to find one of the Forsaken. Although he's told that this woman is his fated mate, he can't believe it could possibly be true. Arianna Mergliano possesses both dragon and vampire blood, and Clayne has an intense hatred for anything even remotely related to vampires, the evil beings who were responsible for his beloved twin's death. 
When Arianna meets Clayne, she's convinced that the man is insane, or maybe he's a warlock or even the devil himself, but whichever it is, she wants nothing to do with him.
Clayne knows he can't fail at his mission. And once he meets Arianna he also knows that what he's been told is true—she is, ironically, his intended mate. 
Convincing her to accept him is only the beginning. He has to protect her from those who might want her dead. Together, they must face the shadows and evil that have long plagued the immortal realms and find a way to survive the coming war.
Content Warning: graphic sex, some violence
Links
Book 1 - Forsaken Heart by Elise WhylesBook 2 - Curse of a Dragon's Claim by Ciara LakeBook 3 - Forsaken Paradise by Elise WhylesBook 4 - Forsaken Norse Wind by Ciara LakeBook 5 - Skarlet Kiss by Elise WhylesBook 6 - Enchanted Waves by Ciara Lake
Goodreads (series) 
Ciari Lake Website Twitter Goodreads
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Jenny Morton Potts, Author
HIDINGJenny Morton Potts brings us HIDING, a psychological thriller that reviewers say has a “terrific concept, in-depth personalities” whose author has a “gift for creating terrifying atmospheres” “with twists and turns that border on incredible.” Potts confirms that the story is about the study of the two main characters, which might take it out of the crime thriller genre—but she believes it falls within that genre as well. She also allows the story to pull her away from traditional rules, when she believes the “unusual” is the way to go.
She has recently moved to a new location near London and lives there with her family. She  loves to travel and would like to do more, enjoys opera, theater, sudoku, and her dog. She is in the process of finishing a new thriller.
Don't miss the chance to win a copy of HIDING at the end of the interview.
Q: You describe HIDING as a psychological thriller. What makes it so?
Jenny Morton Potts: It’s an incredibly deep psychological study of the two main characters. Although there is a lot of plot, HIDING I feel moves out of the classic crime thriller and into the realms of deep characterization analysis. That’s why I classified it as a psychological thriller. But it fits well within crime thriller too!
Q: Many of your reviewers claimed that HIDING is “character driven” “great” …“believable characters” and “in-depth personalities.” What character traits are important to develop in a psychological thriller? What will draw readers in and what will push them away?
Jenny Morton Potts: I think readers are drawn to the edge, the jeopardy the character finds themselves in. The trick is to make the reader feel it so closely, that they question their own responses fully. Then you must allow them to move away from that, back to safety, as the ‘baddie’ turns so bad that they are lost, and the reader no longer has to question themselves to the same extent.
Q:  First, congratulations on numerous thoughtful reviews of HIDING.
I was struck by the mild disagreement by your reviewers regarding the dual storylines that you use to tell your story. Some unequivocally enjoyed its use; others did not, but applauded how well executed it was and also suggested it would make a great movie. Why did you use this approach?  
Jenny Morton Potts: I think what distracted reviewers more was the fact that the duality lasted so long. I didn’t really intend for that to happen but it did, and it was strong, and so I rode that wave. I knew it would be controversial but that is mostly because it is unusual.
I once wrote a short story in second person and because that was rare, people fretted over it. However, by the end of the story, they got it, and I won a prize for it. I don’t mean to give the impression that I do controversy or gimmicky for the sake of it. It all grows organically. Sometimes I put a stop to it but then if I halt a process because of concern over feedback, I can, on occasion, question why am I writing? Who am I writing for? You know?
Q: One of your reviewers – who gave HIDING a high rating – was disappointed that not all the loose ends were tied up as normally done in mystery novels. I tend to also look for resolution when reading mysteries, my favorite genre. Did you deliberately write your story to leave out tying up loose ends for some reason? Are you planning a follow-up book?
Jenny Morton Potts: I could follow up this book but am very satisfied with it as it is. Most reviewers who remarked on loose ends thought that they were tied up in HIDING but I remember someone saying what you quote here. That was surprising, since I only left one end loose. And that was deliberate. It was a minor character and I just don’t think it is realistic to have total neatness.
Q: Were you able to use elements of the setting to help tell or enrich your story?
Jenny Morton Potts: Yes, setting was very important. Because I had an unusual story and an unusual take on spinning it, I wanted to make other elements simple and fully embraceable. That is why I picked an austere Highlands mansion and used the classic, American ‘porch.'  I didn’t want the reader to have any work to do with settings, just to love them!
Q: In addition to writing novels, you also have written a screenplay PIANO FROM A 4TH STOREY WINDOW. Do you prefer one over the other? Are you able to borrow techniques from one to apply to the other?
Jenny Morton Potts: I think ‘Piano…’ is the best piece of work I have ever done, as a novel. If I had to choose from plays and books, I think I’d pick novel writing, because you get to do dialogue and prose. I couldn’t relinquish the prose. I can’t think of how I appropriate a technique from one to the other, except that the screenplay is so disciplined for dialogue, it instils great honing for spoken scenes in a novel.
Q: One of your reviewers says that HIDING is “A wacky thriller that breaks all the rules.” Do you believe that you broke “the rules?” Why and what rules did you break?
Jenny Morton Potts: I think that reviewer is absolutely right. I am a wacky writer. But as I explained above, this isn’t something I focus on or try for. It is just me. I am also a gentle writer and a funny writer. I am thinking of the reader all the time and trying to make the experience as good as possible for me and you, in partnership. There are an amazing amount of rules in writing and whilst I think they should be read and understood, the best books will often break rules.
Q: What techniques or approaches did you use to create the “thriller” or suspense parts of HIDING?
Jenny Morton Potts: This is an interesting question (well, they all are). As if there was a little cupboard to go into and choose. What I did was lay clues. Some were supposed to lead you quickly, some were subliminal. I laid those and also creepy lines. I often let them hang. Later, I go back and lay more or uproot and replant them. HIDING is a puzzle. It was so much fun to make that puzzle.
Q:  What’s next?
Jenny Morton Potts: I’m just completing a new thriller. This has all my hallmarks but it has a more regular structure. I take you to places you’ll want to see and places you’ll dread. Fascinating dilemmas and unique situations. There’s death, birth, loss, mayhem, sex, heartache. All my staples.
Q:  Tell us about Jenny Morton Potts. What do you like to do when you’re not writing?
Jenny Morton Potts: I like travelling. I’d like to do a lot more, so that I can write about the far-About Jenny Morton Potts
Jenny Morton Potts was born in a smart, dull suburb of Glasgow where the only regular excitement was burglary. Attended a smart, dull school where the only regular excitement was the strap. Worked in smart, dull sales and marketing jobs until realizing she was living someone else’s life.
Escaped to Gascony to make gîtes. Knee deep in cement and pregnant, Jenny was happy. Then autism and a distracted spine surgeon who wanted to talk about The Da Vinci Code, wiped out the order. Returned to wonderful England – and unlikely ever to leave again – Jenny, with assistance from loyal hound, walked and swam her way back to manageable health.
Jenny would like to see the Northern Lights but worries that’s the best bit and should be saved till last. Very happily, and gratefully, partnered for 28 years, she ought to mention, and living with inspirational child in Thaxted, Essex.
About HIDING
Keller Baye and Rebecca Brown live on different sides of the Atlantic. Until she falls in love with him, Rebecca knows nothing of Keller. But he’s known about her for a very long time, and now he wants to destroy her.
This is the story of two families. One living under the threat of execution in North Carolina. The other caught up in a dark mystery in the Scottish Highlands. The families’ paths are destined to cross. But why? And can anything save them when that happens?
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Antwan Floyd Sr., Author
PIECE KEEPERAntwan Floyd Sr. brings us a crime drama, PIECE KEEPER, with unique characters, according to his reviewers, where “even the good guys are bad.” His reviewers also say that the novel “was on a whole other level.” 

Floyd believes that the “human element”—where readers can relate to emotional aspects of the characters—is an important element of any genre. He also provides unpredictability with unexpected twists to engage readers, and uses relatable humor to enhance his characters. 
Floyd enjoys traveling and also likes to meet other authors and read their books so he can discuss them. He is currently working on Dope Fiction pt. 2 and also on a spinoff from his Black Love Detective series.
Q: You describe PIECE KEEPER as a crime drama, but reviewers have also applauded the unique characters and plot. Is this “just” a crime drama or is it also a police exposé or more about uncovering the gritty side of life? 
Antwan Floyd Sr.: Technically it is just a crime drama/mystery novel but like all great fiction it has elements of real life within the pages. In my opinion no matter the genre be it mystery, horror, romance or sci-fi it is all about what I like to call the “human element” and if you can have human emotional aspects to the story and people relate then it will make for a better story.
Q: One of the reviewers of PIECE KEEPER said, “This is a book where even the good guys are bad, it's a matter of degree and intent.” Another reviewer describes them as “think outside the box characters.” By creating more unique characters, what traits do you provide that will enable readers to engage with your characters? What will make readers care what happens to them?
Antwan Floyd Sr.: I just think about what my father told me all the time growing up “it takes all types of people to make up the world.” Now I don’t know if that is an original quote from him but nevertheless it makes sense. So I apply that to my story when creating characters, people interact with a wide array of people sometimes in their inner circle more often than not outside their inner circle and when the main character comes across another character that is a complete opposite of their belief system that makes for not only interesting writing and situations but hopefully interesting reading.
When you give characters a goal they are trying to accomplish and place obstacles in the way then on top of that give that character a human flaw be it a drug or alcohol problem, perhaps they are a chronic procrastinator or a bad guy turned good fighting to earn the trust and respect of another character to achieve said goal. These are all things that the average reader has gone through personally or knows someone who has and that makes it relatable and if well written enjoyable and easily attachable.
Q: “Suspense was awesome.” “Page-turning storyline.” How did you create suspense? Were mystery, suspense, and surprise twists an important part of telling your story—maybe even more than character development?
Antwan Floyd Sr.: When I write I don’t specifically think of a way to add suspense. I suppose it just happens as the story progresses. I just try to keep the story on track and keep the reader engaged. I suppose an important aspect for me is to not have it be predictable so I am conscious of adding unexpected twists.
Q: “The bad guy is really creepy and evil, a great character to hate.” What character traits do you believe contribute to creating an effective villain that readers would want to hate?
Antwan Floyd Sr.: In my opinion a great villain is one that is as equally good as they are evil sometimes in some ways more good or should I say righteous in their cause or in what they believe to be right but are willing to cross over to the dark side sort to speak to achieve their goals.
Q: How useful was humor to develop your characters or tell the story?
Antwan Floyd Sr.: When it comes to humor I am no comedian by any stretch of the imagination but I do have a jaded sense of humor and sometimes like to add it to my stories, perhaps implement them into the character’s lives to lighten the mood sometimes in the story yet at the same time always make it relatable, someone out there reading that story has either gone through it or knows someone that has.
Q: Were you able to exploit the setting to tell your story? How big a part of your story involves location? Could it have occurred in any city in any time period?
Antwan Floyd Sr.: Not for this particular story, no I’ve never been to Danville, IL so I relied more on interior locales, things that I could use my imagination for depending on the character and their lifestyle in the story: where they lived, bars or restaurants they would frequent, placing them in places outside of their comfort zone be it beyond their wealth status or beneath it. All of these aspects of locale and their comfort zone will dictate how said character will interact with other characters.
Yes, for this particular story it could’ve occurred in Any Town, U.S.A.
Q: You’ve also written a second Black Love novel, CANNIBAL IN THE CITY.  Tell us about Black Love. Is he based on anyone? On you? Is he a hero?
Antwan Floyd Sr.: I created Black Love as an ode to strong, book smart/street smart black men. I suppose he could be classified as a hero but he is not without flaws. He tries to do what he feels is right but has his own set of internal code that he lives by and that code is not always on the same side that the law is on so I suppose he is more anti-hero than hero. And no, he is not based on anyone in particular.
Q: What’s next?
Antwan Floyd Sr.: Next I am working on Dope Fiction pt. 2 “Greed Between the Lines.” Black is a prominent character in that story and I am also preparing to write Purple Reign “A Trigger Brown Mystery” a spin-off from The Black Love Detective series.
Q: Tell us about Antwan Floyd Sr. What do you like to do when you’re not writing?
Antwan Floyd Sr.: I enjoying traveling and meeting new readers. I truly love interacting and discussing books, not only mine but others so I do a fair amount of reading so if a reader I meet talks about a book I can join in the conversation because I’ve actually read it.
About Antwan Floyd Sr.

Antwan Floyd Sr. is a Publisher, Author, and Reviewer. He publishes Crime Fiction novels under his publishing company Maleah Solange Books. He has released two titles in the Black Love Detective Series: Piece Keeper & Cannibal in the City. He has also written Dope Fiction and Dope Fiction pt. 2 "Greed Between the Lines". Originally from Chicago, IL he currently resides in Indianapolis, IN where he is penning his next novel.
About PIECE KEEPER

Teresa Prince, a small-town girl with a big heart, had dreams of working in law enforcement. Her goals are deterred when she is violated in the worse way possible. Will she overcome this tragedy and emerge triumphant with her mind and soul intact? Or will the mental anguish be too much for her to bear?
James is a twisted soul with ideals of love and grandeur with a woman that doesn’t feel the same for him, at least not yet. That will all change if he has anything to do with it. To complicate matters worse her old flame has stepped into the picture. Will James be able to win her over and make her the love of his life before the flame is re-kindled between her and her ex? Or will he be left in the cold while they live happily ever-after?
Black Love was always more white collar than rider. When an unfortunate incident occurs in a small town in Illinois he rushes to the side of his ex-fiancé to attempt to save the day. It doesn’t take long to figure out that not everyone wants to see justice served. On top of that, his feelings for his past love may not only cause conflicts in the case but also add a rift to his new relationship. Will Black put his past behind him and find out who violated Teresa?
In this fast-paced tale of pain, misguided passion, and lost love we follow these three souls as they embark on a journey of romance, rape, and retribution. When there’s no one to count on but yourself will you stand and deliver? Or bend and break? Each will be faced with that question in the midst of questioning what they once thought was true. They all find out that when love turns to war, someone has to be the Piece Keeper!

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Dhruba D. Roy, Author
MY FIRST BREAKUPDhruba D. Roy brings us his novel, MY FIRST BREAKUP, which he wrote to help himself but believes will also help others worldwide, given that we’ve all faced a breakup at one time. A reviewer says that “It is much more intimate and relatable” than the usual ‘boy meets girl’ novel with “A different and fresh approach.” He uses humor to develop his characters but also incorporates a little of himself in each of them.
In addition to being a writer, Roy also is a musician and a software engineer. He is currently working on two projects: a sequel to MY FIRST BREAKUP and a mythological fiction based on Greek, Christian, and Hindu history.



Q: Tell us about MY FIRST BREAKUP. Would you consider it a romance or contemporary fiction? What theme did you want to develop?
Dhruba D. Roy: MY FIRST BREAKUP is about a character whose name is Anirudh. The story revolves around this character who falls head over heels in love with a girl in his childhood only to be drifted apart from his girl before high school itself. The protagonist is obsessed with the girl of his dreams and after being separated makes it the motive of his life to win her back in his life.
The story then gradually unfolds where both of them do meet again. By this time both of them have entered their adulthood and deeply respect the bond that they had developed over the period of time. Anirudh discovers that he loves music equally and also starts performing at many different gigs with his musical band. But as we all know, nothing lasts the same forever. His world is turned upside down when he had to abandon his musical band and move out of the city.
The next sequence of events paves the plot for the climax of the story which is the most gripping part of the story. Let’s just keep that a secret for now.
MY FIRST BREAKUP is a combination of both romance and contemporary fiction. Infact the book has a musical touch to it and I feel that’s a value addition for the readers.
Q: You are an engineer by training, as well as a musician and a freelance writer. What caused you to also want to become a novelist?
Dhruba D. Roy: Hahaha…. let me tell you something about this question of yours. It certainly wasn’t the engineer in me who made me want to write a novel. Freelance writing was just a way to engage myself in some activity when I was free. ‘Music’ is perhaps the driving force behind this. I love music, especially the Rock N’ Roll of late 1970’s-1995’s. The Beatles, Queen,  Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, Eddie Van Halan, Eric Clapton, etc. I loved their music. The lyrics of their songs were so strong and captivating. It’s sad that I cannot write lyrics of songs that good. And it was when my music band disbanded after our graduation that I decided to start writing a book. It was a tedious task and after many years of struggle, here I am with my debut novel MY FIRST BREAKUP.
Q: MY FIRST BREAKUPis set in India. What makes it universal whose characters will relate to multiple nationalities and countries?
Dhruba D. Roy: MY FIRST BREAKUP is based on three fundamental things: Love, Music, and Friendship. These three factors are very much universal to me, and the readers of any contries shouldn’t have any problem connecting to it.Another thing that I feel readers will most certainly feel a strong connection with is the plot of the novel MY FIRST BREAKUP. It is very simple and very realistic. It is very common and it happens to almost all of us. Most of us go through our First Breakup and it’s very difficult for any one to get break the shackles and be normal again after such an event . This story is all about that and much more :)
Q:  Is there a hero or villain in MY FIRST BREAKUP? If so, what are the character traits of a villain? Does a villain need to be a person? Or can a culture or circumstances substitute for a villainous person?
Dhruba D. Roy: Yes, I consider that there is both a hero and a villain in this story. I guess, both the characters of being a hero and a villain is played by  the same factor called ‘Time’. It is ‘Time’ that gives happiness to the protagonist and it’s ‘Time’ who knocks him down. It is ‘time’ that teaches the protagonist the most valuable lesson in his first Breakup and that is ‘Learning to Let Go!!’
Q: Did you write MY FIRST BREAKUP primarily to entertain readers, or did you want to deliver a message?
Dhruba D. Roy: I wrote it to help myself. I wanted to write, and I feel my thoughts might not even be well accepted by my readers, but to be blatantly honest with you, that’s how I feel and all my characters are endowed with a bit of my soul in them.
Q: How useful is humor in telling your story or developing your characters?
Dhruba D. Roy: As a writer, I feel a story should be a combination of all the flavors that can give satisfaction to its readers and humor is one of those important ingredients. The story should always have an element of humor, not necessarily all throughout the story, but in a calculated fashion. This theory of mine stands true not only for humor but also for all the other ingredients that are necessary to write a story.
Q: Did you find that your experience as a freelance writer helped you to write a fictional novel?
Dhruba D. Roy: It definitely did. It gave me the freedom to think and be more imaginative. Not only that, but my days as a freelance writer also helped to become a better writer when it comes to structuring the plot.
Q: What’s next? Will you write more novels?
Dhruba D. Roy: Presently I am working on two projects. The sequel to My First Breakup and another one is a mythological fiction which is based on Greek, Christian and Hindu History. So, hopefully either one or, if God permits, perhaps both of them.
Q: Tell us about Dhruba D. Roy. What do you enjoy doing when you’re not writing or working?
Dhruba D. Roy: Dhruba D. Roy is a boring engineer, a creative writer and an exhilarating vocalist.I enjoy playing my guitar or traveling to new places with my friends when I am not writing or working. This gives me happiness.
About Dhruba D. Roy
Dhruba Das Roy is a freelance writer, a musician by passion, and a software engineer by profession. He is from Assam, but born in a small town of Meghalaya, where he finished his schooling. He then obtained his degree in engineering from the esteemed college of National Institute of Technology. He discovered his love for music there and was the lead vocalist of his band, “The Rozarts”.
He loves rock and roll and is a great fan of the pioneers of rock and roll-(Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, Queen and the list goes on).Unfortunately, as engineering life came to an end, the band had to split. Recently, he moved to Kolkata where he is working in one of the leading software service based companies in India.
Not everyone can put thoughts into words. Dhruba had never tried his hand in writing; but he had an experience, an experience which changed his life for the better. Being a vocalist, his only way of expression was through the creative way. He decided to pen down his thoughts, and he discovered that writing came naturally to him. His thought process in the novel relates to the general mass in many ways. He decided to stretch his limits and ended up voicing his thoughts in a different way this time.
About MY FIRST BREAKUP
“Oh God, why me?”
This is perhaps what we think of when we go through a ‘breakup’.This story is about Anirudh and Anvi.

Both of them have their own thinking which are not alike.

The story begins with Anirudh meeting with an accident. As he slowly succumbs to the pain, he starts reflecting about his bygone college days where he found his love for music. He loves Anvi dearly who is a long-lost friend of Anirudh.

The story reveals how Anirudh struggles as the hands of reality strikes him down.
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Don’t misunderstand – I love Texting, Facebooking, Instagramming, Tweeting....
But I wonder what the impact will be on the current generation focused on these cryptic forms of communication. Will we forget how to write a complete sentence? Will the next generation even know about adjectives and adverbs? Will we be able to write anything without adding the ubiquitous hashtag?
I suspect my concern might be inflated. After all, our schools still teach reading, writing and arithmetic. Well, at least reading and arithmetic. How much longer will they count writing as a requirement? As we eliminate music, art, and sports form our schools, can writing be far behind? 
OK, OK. I’m exaggerating again maybe just a little – but I fear JUST a little.  However, just in case, I’m thinking that we might want to offer some tips to assure we continue to think in sentences and paragraphs. And what better place to hone our writing skills than having fun with our family and simultaneously increasing quality time together.
FunFamily Writing Exercises
My suggestion is that you schedule time for family activities and include some writing exercises as one of the “games.” Don’t make the timing inflexible – after all we’re all very busy being cryptic. And if it works better for your family just to do it extemporaneously, then so be it. But make it a priority.
Maybe Sunday evening as part of an informal family dinner you could do some of the following exercises to involve as many family members as possible. I suspect if you’re a parent you already know that you’ll have to work on topics of interest to the age group of your kids, although "superheroes" seems to be a subject for all ages at the moment. 
By the way, you might also consider this as a great way to tell Mom what you think of her for Mother’s Day; or Dad for Father’s Day; or for any family member birthday. Eventually you might like the exercises so much that you start to write prose and poetry. 
Consider using one or more of the following as part of your routine family gatherings. Once you start, you will most likely think of many other exercises that your family might appreciate.

·      A special gift for Mother’s Day or for Mom’s birthday: each family member choose a topic to build a story about Mom. Then put it together in one document. You can print it out or read it to her. Suggested topics:o   Her sense of humor – she always laughs at my jokeso   Her fantastic appearanceo   The cool way she tells me I’ve made a mistakeo   How she helps me with my homeworko   Her favorite movies ·      Each family member is to write a paragraph that includes a topic sentence and at least 2 detail sentences and a conclusion about a favorite super hero without telling anyone who it is. Write a physical description, special gift that makes your character a super hero, and why you like him/her. Read your description to your family. The first one to guess gets to go next.   ·      Each family member writes a paragraph describing the family getting ready for school or work in the morning. For a little something extra, include some dialogue. This should make for some interesting discussion when you read your paragraph aloud to the rest of the family and then they read their paragraph. The different perspectives could be very enlightening.·      Write a dialogue that occurred between you and your teacher, friend or even a stranger. Ask the rest of the family to act it out. 

Of course, in today's world of school, earning a living, commuting, baseball games, music lessons, extra-hour work meetings, hobbies, television, movies, and errands--and so many unexpected interruptions, maybe we don't have time to learn to communicate. But surely we can try.

Busy schedules frequently eat away at our reading time, especially as our families grow, jobs become more demanding, and events pull us away. But if we want to continue to read -- fiction, nonfiction, newspapers, magazines -- we can make time. But it won't just happen. We need to plan it.

Following are some tips on how to make time to read. 











We’re all busy. We commute to work where we spend at least eight hours a day. We chauffer our children to school and their various activities, or we change diapers and attend to baby’s needs. We prepare our meals and those of our family – even picking up fast food takes time. We travel for work or pleasure. Then there’s the cleaning, clothes-washing, food shopping, dry cleaning – whew.
When do we ever have time to read?
Well, the answer lies in making time to read, not finding time!  Here are a few suggestions:
1.     Set a reasonable goal for reading. Plan which book you want to read next and by when. Don’t make it hard on yourself. Allow plenty of time. 
2.     Schedule reading time
Share some of your TV-watching or other entertaining time. By recording TV shows, you can schedule when you watch your favorite shows and work reading into that schedule.
Check how much time you are spending on housecleaning – could you break up your dusting into different sections each week—I mean, do we really need to dust the entire house EVERY week?—and use the extra time for reading a chapter or two.  I heartily encourage you not to take the time from your family. I have always been willing to do less housecleaning, however! 
What’s important is that you consciously set aside time to read – even put it on your calendar. And you’ll need to take it from somewhere.
3.     Alert your family when you are starting your reading time. Ask them not to disturb you. Oh, sure, I know that sounds tough, but it might work—especially if you suggest they join you and read their books at the same time. Arrange for family reading time.
4.     Discuss your book with your family. That might make them more willing to give you the time to read, especially if you keep them updated.
5.     If you have a long commute, you might consider “books on tape”.  In today’s digital world, you can easily download them to your iPhone (or other device) and play them through your car speaker. Or, you can listen to a book with ear buds while commuting on a train or subway.
6.     Try an e-reader, e.g., Kindle, Nook, or iPad. You can carry it with you. I keep mine in my purse, and when I have to wait at the dentist or doctor’s office or in a long line, I pull it out and read my newspaper or whatever novel I have underway.
Regardless of which means you choose, take some time to figure out how to make time for reading.  You will be rewarded with engrossing characters, mysterious circumstances, and maybe even a little romance.
Other articles for additional ideas on making time for reading:Dave Astor, “Finding Time to Read More Novels,” The Huffington Post, 4/20/2012http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dave-astor/reading-time_b_1402627.html
Blogher Original Post, “How do You Find time to Read? My top ten answers,” October 25, 2008http://www.blogher.com/how-do-you-find-time-read-my-top-ten-answers?page=0,1
MichaelHyatt: Intentional Leadership, “5 Ways to Make More Time to Read,” Guest post by Robert Bruce,
http://michaelhyatt.com/5-ways-to-mak...

Regardless of age, gender, or status, most of us are confronted with a request to write a few sentences, paragraph or a biography to sell ourselves.  And we hate it.
Following are six tips on how to write a description of ourselves that I have found useful.











Places of employment ask us for a brief summary of our background and experience to initiate a job application.  Teachers or colleagues in high school require a few sentences for a newspaper, program, or high school yearbook –whether for the debate or football team.  Non-profit Boards of Directors ask you – a retired executive—for a paragraph about your qualifications for their organization.
Unless we’re surrounded by professional public relations officials who prepare something for us, we just don’t like to talk about ourselves. It’s not part of our upbringing. We’re told not to brag about ourselves. So how do we make it easy and fun to draft those few sentences that will achieve what we want?
There are many ways to write a biography. However, if you can remember a few key tips, it will be easier and more effective.
-1- Keep in mind what you want to achieve.
What is your goal? Go beyond “because I need to fill out this form!” Take advantage of the opportunity to make something happen. This doesn’t have to be a life-changing objective. A simple “I’d like my fellow students to understand why I enjoy football or the debate team” or “I want the Board of Directors to know why I can make a difference on their Board.” Or, it could be “I need to get this job, so I want to impress the recruiter with my qualifications.”
-2- Know what the requestor needs.
Typically when someone asks you for this information, there is a need to fulfill. Obviously a recruiter is looking for background information to assess if a job applicant is qualified. Those responsible for printing yearbooks, programs or school papers require information to interest their readers in their publication or event. Most likely, non-profit boards want to assess how your qualifications will assist their organization to fund-raise, either as an expert to impress contributors or a publicist to make known their needs and contributions.
-3- Match your goal to the requestor’s needs. 
This is the fun part. Matching your goals with the requestors needs is the magic in writing an effective bio. For example, if a recruiter is looking for a specific set of qualifications, and your goal is to fulfill that set of qualifications, well – you’ve got the first step towards consideration for the position. (Even better if you possess the specific set of qualifications.)  Yearbook editors will welcome an interesting biobraphy that tells why football or debate is of value to you especially if that is something of interest to their readers. And there’s no doubt that if you can couple your business qualifications to the needs of a non-profit, you stand a chance of being asked to join their Board.
-4- Write a first sentence to state this connection between your goal and their needs. You may decide to change this sentence later, but it helps to clarify your own thinking.
·      Jillian Hillcrest is dedicated to using her 10 years of corporate communications experience to achieve your business needs.·      Joe Quarterback feels a sense of fulfillment whenever he throws a touchdown pass, which spills over into his everyday life. ·      Johnny Debater debates to help him appreciate multiple sides of issues.·      Retired Exec wants to apply her business experience to advance the cause of a non-profit.
-5- Support your claims with sentences that back up your initial statement.
Jillian supports her statement regarding her experience by describing her successes in getting media coverage to promote products, and mentions her educational degrees that qualify her. Joe Quarterback adds his stats. Johnny Debater can talk about the number of topics he’s argued. And Retired Exec describes successful programs and people he has managed and revenue he’s generated. 
-6- Conclude with sentences that tie your statements back to the needs of the recipient of your bio.
·      Jillian concludes that with her experience and education she is positioned to advance the company’s image and brand.·      Joe Quarterback might end with his belief that football has taught him how to be a leader.·      Johnny Debater might mention that his ability to appreciate multiple sides of an issue will help him make better decisions.·      Retired Exec can conclude that he will make a financial difference on the non-profit Board.
Again, there are many ways to write the dreaded bio. But by considering your objective and your recipient’s needs, you have a guide that will lead you to a more interesting and effective description of yourself.