Cover Reveal- Sophie by RaeBeth McGee-Buda

Hey everyone...

I wanted to share this amazing cover for my upcoming work in progress, Sophie. The release date is unknown at this time.

Details for this book will be released at a later date.

Thanks goes to Stephanie Nelson for putting together such a fabulous cover. As well as Moonchild for having such amazing stock photos.

Author Spotlight featuring Rae Ann Norell

Welcome to The Writing World Rae Ann Norell. It's great having you here with us today.

Biography

Rae Ann Norell is a retired clinical social worker, former teacher, and violinist in the Boise Philharmonic.

She is a facilitator for the local chapter of The Compassionate Friends, a support group for bereaved parents. Although she is retired,

she teaches violin part time in her home, and maintains a part time counseling private practice. She enjoys writing, reading, traveling all

over the world and US, motorcycle road trips, and spending time with her daughter and three grandchildren. She lives in Eagle,  ID.

Broke Hungry and Happy is my first book. I'm in a local non-fiction writers group, and am currently working on personal essays (memoirs),

and have in mind a plot for a novel. I recently submitted an article for a local writer's contest with The Literary Cabin in Boise, ID and

my article was one of the ones chosen to be published in an anthology next year. 

Book Review (Coming Soon)

Links

www.therevolution.cc

www.amazon.com (reviews of my book)

www.wordpress.com (blog-- my name is "Strings 'n things"

Interview 

1.       I’m the author of Broke Hungry and Happy: The Life of Dangerous Dave Norell (published by Borderline Publishing, October 2011) and the mother of David Norell, extreme kayaker. I’m a former teacher, retired clinical social worker, and was a violinist in the Boise Philharmonic for 40 years. I’m a facilitator for the local Compassionate Friends, a support group for parents who have lost a child. I have a part time private practice (counseling). In addition to writing, I love to read, travel all over the world, take motorcycle road trips, and spend time with my daughter and three grandchildren.

2.       This is my first book; it is a biography and an outdoor adventure story. David died at age 24 while competing in a triathlon. His death was caused by a previously unknown congenital heart abnormality. His philosophy of living life to the fullest inspired so many people, and continues to inspire to this day. The book also portrays my journey from grief to healing, and how I learned to turn adversity into strength. I also write personal essays (memoir). I have in mind a plot for a novel loosely based on an incident in my great-grandmother’s life.

3.       My main audience is people interested in adventure sports, particularly whitewater adventure, and also people who have lost a loved one.

4.       My strong points are tenacity, the ability to organize, set goals and deadlines and work hard to achieve these. Also for this particular book I had a passion for the topic and a  burning desire to complete the project. One of my challenges is insomnia. When I do experience it, I often obsess about my book, or whatever I’m writing at the time, until I get up and start writing; consequently lack of  sleep can be tiring at times. Also I’m a bit “dyslexic” when typing and have to spend a bit more time fixing my mistakes.

5.       Writer’s block in my mind, refers to coming to a point in one’s work where the writer feels as if he/she is out of ideas, is stuck, and has a challenge moving forward. If I was facing a difficult chapter or portion of my book, in which I wasn’t sure how to begin, I forced myself to sit at the  computer, and try to type a first sentence, anything would do. Then things usually began flowing from there.

6.       I’ve written one book

7.       I’ve published one book.

8.       I published traditionally.

9.       For me, the hardest part of the writing process is maintaining my energy  for the project as I’m nearing the end of writing the book.

10.   I enjoy reading mysteries, such as books by John Grisham, Jonathan Kellerman, Stephen White, and Michael Crichton. I enjoy historical fiction. I enjoy a good biography or memoir. I enjoy non-fiction in the field of psychology, and books about writing.

11.   My favorite author is Stephen White.

12.   Gone with the Wind is my favorite book. (I can’t help it, I have to add other favorites: BenHur, Forever Amber, The Thornbirds, and Lord of the Flies.)

13.   It took me 1 ½ years to write my book, then another six months for editing, working on the edit suggestions, and getting it published.

14.   The favorite character in my book is David, the hero of the book—my son, what else can I say.

15.   Although I’ve always enjoyed writing, one of the most surprising things I’ve learned as a writer is how much I enjoy it.

16.   My family is very proud of the book; they felt that the book really came to life, especially in the character of my son. I wrote the first 3/4ths of the book in first person as if David was telling his story.

17.   When I was working on the book I got the best writing done early in the morning. I often wrote for two hours. If I was inspired, I would write again that evening.

18.   I wrote almost every day while working on the book, unless I was on vacation. Even then I took my lap top and worked on the book while in the airport and on the plane. Now my schedule is very busy with networking, attending writing workshops, and marketing the book, so I’m not writing daily. However, remaining in my writing group after the book was published, inspires me to keep on writing, and gives me a “deadline” which is a good motivator.

19.    The latest news I’d like to share is that people can buy my book on line at www.therevolution.cc, at www.borderlinepublishing.com, electronic versions at Amazon and Barnes and Noble, and locally in Boise at Idaho River Sports, Alpenglow Mountainsports, Hastings, and Hyde Park Book Store.

20.   My advice is to start networking well before you finish your book. Join a supportive writing group. Set up a schedule, and try to write almost every day, even if it’s only a few paragraphs. Also when the time comes, don’t skimp on editing. Hire a good editor. Know your audience. Also the title and the cover design are two of the most important things to help sell your book.

Author Interview featuring Wenona Hulsey

Welcome to The Writing World Wenona Hulsey. It's great having you here. 

Biography

Author Wenona Hulsey spends her time scaling roof tops, kicking bad guy tail and rescuing small kittens from tree tops.  But when she isn’t asleep, she’s a mother of two beautiful children and fiance to the man of her dreams.  She lives vicariously through great books and creates magical worlds in her spare time.  She is also an avid social networker, who loves to meet new people. 

Interview

1. Please tell the readers a bit more about you.

I'm Wenona Hulsey, mother and blue collar worker by day-Writer of magical worlds by night.

2. What types of books do you write?

I write modern day epic fantasies with a good dose of romance and humor but I do have a suspenseful crime thriller in the works too.  

3. Who's your main audience?

My main audience would be women between the ages of 18 and 50 based on my facebook following.  I wouldn't recommend it for any under the age of 18 because of the adult situations.

4. What do you think of this term- Writer's Block? How do you overcome it?

That term makes my skin crawl!! lol  I have hit it head on many times and usually it's because of my workload at my day job.  That's the times when I feel like I've lost touch with my characters and story so I take the a moment to read back a few chapters and get a feel for where the story was going.  Usually that's all it takes to get me excited again about the story.

5. How many books have you written?

I have published one novelette, Blood Awakening, and one full length novel, Burden of Blood but I have a 3rd manuscript complete and sitting on a shelf just waiting for me to pick it back up and write the second draft.  I'm holding off on that one while I complete my 3rd book in the Blood Burden series titled Blood Of Fire.  I'm planning on publishing that one this summer.

6. Are you self published or traditionally published?

I am self-published and loving it.  Yes, it's a bit more work than being traditionally published but the reward is so much greater.  You aren’t limited by what a big house publisher wants to publish, which is only what is currently trending, and you have final say in every part including cover design.

7. What's the hardest part of the writing process for you?

That would be killing off a character.  I get so attached to these people that I dream up, even the bad guys, that I have trouble letting them go.  I want to save everyone and have them all live happily ever after but I know to have a compelling book that sticks with a reader you have to let go of a few characters.  But that fact doesn't stop me from crying.

8. What type of books do you enjoy reading?

I don't have one genre that I stick to.  I read paranormal romance, young adult and even horror.  I just love a good book that grips me from the first page until the last.

9. How long does it take you to write a book?

I have written a novel in 30 days but in most cases it's around six months before I'm satisfied with what I have and publish.

10. Out of all of your characters, which is your favorite? Why?

This may seem strange but my favorite character to write has been Sage.  She's a supporting character in the Blood Burden Series and a ball of fire.  She gets to say exactly what's on her mind and doesn't care who is around.  Sometimes I think it would be nice to speak my mind and not worry about the ramifications.

11. What does your family think of your writing?

My family is the greatest! They know when I'm in that writing zone and do their best to give me my space to think.  It takes a strong family to support a writer since it's a solitary venture and mine has really found a wonderful balance.

12. What's the latest news you'd like to share?

I'm currently working on making Burden of Blood available in print so keep an eye out for that and I will be publishing the final book in the Blood Burden series this summer to ebook and print.

You can friend her on:

Twitter:  http://twitter.com/#!/WenonaHulsey

Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/WenonaHulseyAuthor

Blog:  http://wenonahulsey. com/

Links for Books:

Blood Awakening:

http://www.amazon.com/Blood-Awakening-Burden-ebook/dp/B005BQY68A/ref=sr_1_2?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1327206475&sr=1-2

Burden of Blood:

http://www.amazon.com/Burden-Of-Blood-Series-ebook/dp/B0075MR6J4/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1333894767&sr=1-1