Don Jung lives by a simple credo in his life: When you retire, you can't expire, so you write a memoir...and that's what he's done. It's about his life going to school in Los Angeles during the turbulent 60's and 70's and is set against the backdrop of the famous - and sometimes - infamous West Coast music scene of the time. He's stopped by today to tell us about his book and his journey to self-publication. 

Welcome Don. Please tell us how did the idea for Rockin Through Troubled Waters start and how long did the book take to be completed?

When the Volcano was erupting in Hawaii, I went to help my daughter’s family prepare to evacuate.  She lived 20 miles north of the lava flow and we had no power, no cell phone, etc. For three day. I started telling her stories of my UCLA days and she said I should write about it. I started it last April and it has taken a year and numerous re-writes to complete.
 
What are some of the hiccups along the way and how did you overcome them?
 
The first draft was too much about the music celebrities I met and not enough about me.  As I did the rewrites, I tried to get more of a rhythm to the stories and make them more accessible to a non-music reader.  Gramercy software helped correct a lot of little errors in my writing as I tried to tie in all the events that happened during this time period.
 
Did you try to get a traditional publishing contract?
 
Yes, I had a friend at Penguin/Random House who read the first draft and told me memoirs that are not written by a celebrity or a hero from front page news are not salable but suggested I add more pictures to make the story better.  I temporarily hired a literary agent/story editor but he made it very difficult and he said it would take two years with numerous rejections before I could get the book published.  I fired him and decided to self-publish the book.
 
When you decide to self-publish, you were intimidated in any way?
 
I was not so much intimidated but I was frustrated trying to format the text so it could be read on a Kindle or a traditional paperback.  Elizabeth Klug and you really helped me get over this hurdle Also, I was trying to get clearance on a lot of the 41 pictures in the book. Many of the photographers are either retired, deceased or unreachable so it took six months to get approval on some of the images used in the final version.  When Amazon approved the final version, it
was a great feeling.
 
How did Christopher Lynch’s self-publishing seminar help you?
 
My friend, Heidi Swan, told me about the class so I signed up and took it last spring at the Redondo Beach Library.  I learned a lot – how to use word docs and how to make a story compelling to a reader.  How to find an editor and how to submit to a publisher.  Whenever I had a question, I felt Christopher Lynch knew the answer.  I found his information and sage advice helped me to
get this book done and without him, I would have never been able to finish it.
 
How do you feel now that you have the self-published book on Amazon?
 
It’s still too early to tell, but I recently spoke to a group of 114 people about the book and I had 21 readers purchase the book.  It's also selling well on Amazon. 
 
What do you plan next?
 
I am doing a few book signing parties in my local area and plan to try to find a distributor at the Festival of Books next week that will handle a self-published novel.

Thanks for stopping by Don. we're looking forward to hearing what come next. 

You can check out a video of Don's book, Rockin Through Troubled Waters, here.

And you can purchase a copy by clicking on the image above, or by clicking here. 

Don can be reached through his website: rockinthroughtroubledwaters.com
or on Facebook  Don Jung

South Bay author Heidi Swan stopped by to share with us what it was like to take a very dire situation and turn it into not only a fictional novel, but also a vehicle to hopefully bring to the forefront a very dangerous trend in our modern society. Thanks for giving us your time Heidi.

Thank you Chris.
 
This book is a fictionalized account of a very painful period in your life, (specifically, your brother, Kirk’s, addiction) describe for us what it was like for you to write it? 

In the years when my brother was homeless and in jail, it was, indeed, a very painful and frustrating period for our whole family. We had no idea what was going on with him, where he was, nor how to help him (we staged an intervention for him and he refused treatment). Most of the content in the novella was not known to me until Kirk and I began having interviews—about a year and a half after he got off the streets. These discussions could never have been possible if he was not sober, properly medicated, or living with our mother. All of these improvements gave us the luxury to reflect back on what he went through for all those horrible years. I knew the fact that we were having these conversations at all was a rare opportunity. How many people who have experienced chronic homelessness, drug addiction and incarceration—not to mention undiagnosed schizophrenia-- wind up able to speak so eloquently about these experiences? It felt almost like I was listening to a voice from the grave. It was actually a pretty upbeat experience for both of us which I wholly attribute to our great relief that Kirk had finally changed his life. There are moments now when I think about him living under the freeway and the old, familiar pain resurfaces. It’s the same pain I feel when I pass by homeless people on the streets. This hurt has motivated us to write this book and speak out about the issues it addresses. With this book, we hope to prevent future addiction, mental illness and homelessness.

When, in the course of your brother’s addiction troubles, did you decide you wanted to write it, and why? 

At the same time my brother got off the streets, I became aware of studies which showed an association between teen marijuana use and schizophrenia, depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, and increased risk for suicide ideation. I was stunned this was not common knowledge. Of course, not everyone who uses will become afflicted. But not everyone who smokes cigarettes will get cancer. It’s true. But we still have to warn our kids about the risks. Now, several years after we began this journey, legalization has increased the perception of safety and kids are vaping in alarming numbers. I am even more motivated to get the word out. 

Were there any times it was simply too painful and you wanted to quit?

In the course of writing? Never. Our belief in the importance of this message is too strong. We can literally prevent future tragic outcomes by talking about this. Separately, the ongoing task of making people aware of the book is its own Sysaphusian challenge and that is something I take one step at a time.

What do you hope to achieve with the telling of his story?

Our goal is to get the book into schools so kids will be intrigued by the plot (which is fictional), finish the story which has a strong message, and then have in-class discussions about the latest scientific research. By doing so, we can make the association between teen marijuana use and adult mental illness common knowledge. With this knowledge, we believe at least some teenagers will refrain from substances. This can, as I mentioned earlier, prevent future addiction, mental illness, homelessness, and incarceration.

How do you think you are doing on your way to that goal? 

It seems like the schools would do well to give a reading assignment which is this relevant to kids’ lives. Some of the required reading is classic yet not relatable to kids today. Admittedly, this is a lofty goal and we are not there yet.

Since recreational pot has now been legalized and - in some people’s minds, no longer vilified, have you received any push back about the book and how did it manifest itself?

There’s been no push-back on the novella itself. It is its own creative exploration of addiction and mental illness. When I’ve posted on social media about the research which inspired the writing of it, people have made comments which include words like “propaganda”. There are a few things people don’t understand: the THC in marijuana has been tampered with and made up to 33 times stronger than it was even fifteen years ago. This raises the risk for mental illness, especially when used by a brain which is still in development. Even the proponents of marijuana legalization agree it should not be used by people until they reach their 20’s. However, for the first time ever, it is not uncommon to see kids vaping during classroom instruction—this is possible because vaping can be odorless and smokeless. Although the marijuana industry claims it doesn’t market to kids, they are making vape flavors in bubble gum and strawberry, etc. And since we know teenagers get addicted to any substance faster and stronger than an adult, a teenager who uses could be setting themselves up for struggles with addiction which can last a lifetime. The list of consequences of teenage pot use is long and dire (https://www.acpeds.org/marijuana-use-detrimental-to-youth).  However, my brother and I are keeping our message simple by focusing on the lesser known risk which is its association to mental illness. Additionally, humans don’t just grow out of mental illnesses. Drug use on a developing brain disrupts key processes and the effects can be permanent.

Besides the book, what else are you doing to get the message out about drugs and their link to paranoid/schizophrenia?

I am speaking to any group that will listen to me. I spoke at a drug prevention council, a teen summit about drugs, and a juvenile detention facility. This month I will speak at the Hermosa Beach Rotary Club. In the works, currently, is the possibility of having a staged reading of a script based on the book with a discussion afterward about the topics. Smart Approaches To Marijuana (https://learnaboutsam.org/) kindly republished an article in their weekly newsletter (it’s the 3rd article down at this address--https://mailchi.mp/nationalfamilies/californias-calaveras-county-dumps-former-board-of-supervisors-elects-new-board-and-bans-marijuana-cultivation-1930117?e=cbf21800de) This was an article I originally wrote for http://momsstrong.org/.  I have been fortunate to be reviewed and interviewed by a site for authors who don’t have the publicity of traditional publishers called Underrated Reads (http://underratedreads.com/a-conversation-with-h-a-swan/ ) Additionally, our local paper, The Beach Reporter, helped by publishing this article: http://tbrnews.com/entertainment/hermosa-beach-novelist-explores-links-between-marijuana-and-schizophrenia/article_b4b82906-5d53-11e8-9096-4fc3ee85904e.html

And now, I’m grateful to say Chris Lynch, author extraordinaire, and hero to the indie author, has given us an additional forum to spread out message. Thank you so much for everything you’ve done to help get this book to the public, Chris. I could not have gone through the self-publishing process without your ongoing sage advice.
​

Heidi Swan has a website: http://anightinjail.com/
​and you can purchase a copy of her book there, by clicking the cover above, or by clicking here

Think self-published books are strictly the realm of fictional novels, or biographies? Think again. The self-help market is estimated to be over $10 billion dollars in the United States, with approximately $550 million of those dollars coming from self-help book sales. Ignoring a market that large was not  something that Rossana Snee was prone to do, so she she self-published her book, "The Healing Alphabet" in 2017, and she hasn't looked back. She has a masters in psychology, and is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist.
Thanks for stopping by today Rossana.

My pleasure Chris.

There are a lot of self-help books out there, what prompted you to write The Healing Alphabet, and why do you think it stands apart?

The concept for the book came to me early one morning shortly after having woken up. I was in that in-between state of sleep and wakefulness. Suddenly, letters started appearing in my mind. With the letters came words. I knew it was going to be a book. I told my husband and we started talking book titles. Soon after, I started writing the first (of many) drafts.

What I feel sets The Healing Alphabet apart from the rest of the pack was best stated by Squire Rushnell, author of When God Winks. He read a draft back when I was pitching it and wrote a wonderful review saying, “This is kitchen table wisdom at its best….positive and uplifting. Its advice is timely and timeless.”

How long did it take you to write it?

It took me months to write it. It took me even longer to edit it and eventually have ready for publishing. The MS made many rounds, from agents to the attic, to agents again. At one point, it was in the attic for years while I worked on a novel.

Were you ever intimidated by the process of writing it?

No. I am a writer. I love the whole process. It’s a passion for me. I knew it would be a journey--one I was willing to take, and still I’m on.

What has the response been so far?

The response has been very positive. People have told me that they love the easy-to-read format, the words of wisdom, the anecdotes, and the easy-to-apply exercises at the end of each chapter. 

Were you glad that you chose the self-publishing route, and why?

Yes, I am. I feel I have more control over my book. Marketing the book, I admit is quite challenging, but I believe I made the right choice. I am able to sell the book wherever I want to, and if I want to order more copies is as easy as your ABCs. Had to get that in there. Also, it’s a lot less expensive. A friend of mine went with a publisher and had to pay $20 for each of the books she ordered. I pay a little over $2.00.

Will there be a sequel or companion piece to The Healing Alphabet?

Yes, I am currently working on The Healing Alphabet II, 26 Empowering Ways to Strengthen Your Relationships.
 
Any other writing projects in the works?

Yes, my Young Adult novel, Papi Pablo Por Favor is currently being edited. It was a fun book to write and one about which I’m very passionate.
 
What is one of the things you love most about writing?

In fiction, I love creating characters, having them do and say things I never would. I love the freedom of controlling my characters, and letting them control me. Sometimes I think I know where the story is going, and then my character surprises me and does something entirely different. In non-fiction, I love the power that words have to transform a person’s life; to help them take steps they thought they never could.

What is your favorite non-fiction book?

That’s tough! I have so many. But at the top of my is are: The Untethered Soul, by Michael Singer, The Power of Now, by Eckhart Tolle, and A course in Miracles Made Easy, by Alan Cohen.
​
In fiction, Phantom by Susan Kay, Vertigo by Lauren Baratz-Logsted, All Out of Pretty, by Ingrid Palmer, and last but not least, Beautiful Disaster, by Laura Spinella.

You can purchase a print or ebook copy of The Healing Alphabet by clicking on the image above.

Rossana has a website: https://www.rossanasnee.com/

Her blog is: https://www.rossanasnee.com/blog

Her Facebook page is: askjoshsmom

Twitter: twitter.com/HealingABCs

Periscope (@askjoshsmom)

Instagram (@askjoshsmom)

 

There are many books on the market written from the perspective of animals, but none that I am aware of that focus on the training of a service dog - from the dog's point of view!
Author and guide dog trainer Marcia Lee Harris has agreed to share with us exactly how her book, LESSONS FROM LEO, came about. 

   Marcia, please give us some background on yourself, and tell us why you wanted to write LESSONS FROM LEO?

    I have been involved with guide dogs for over 18 years and have heard so many questions and requests from the public as I travel about with my puppies in training.  I was also surprised that the people who receive the dogs know what they had to do get their dog - but not always what happened for that dog to be ready for them. After my first dog graduated I created a little pamphlet to hand out to people at presentations and use in schools.
     When I started with Leo, I was retired and did not have an office to take him to as a practice for future going to work with his owner.  I decided I would go to the county library daily and sit at the computer training the dog to sit under the table while I checked emails.  As he got used to that and a little older we would stay longer.  I started writing his adventures to share in the future with his owner. It was just the puppy raising at first, then several librarians were enjoying the stories and suggested I make it into a book for future puppy raisers and people interested in guide dogs. So I created the first part of the book and soon had a publisher.
    The publisher wanted to include the formal training and the graduation parts as well, so I had to wait longer to complete it. I wanted it to be ready for the 75th Anniversary of Guide Dogs for the Blind and for families to enjoy together with jokes and tips that you do not get from training videos. I wanted full-color photos and large print with paw prints for the page numbers in the puppy raising section and graduation hats on the pages in the second part.
      The book became more of a memoir, and I didn’t want it to be the expert on puppy raising, so I decided to make it Leo’s story. I decided he would be telling everything. I wanted the title to be Lesson’s From Leo but the publisher had so many other ideas that strayed from my vision and kept delaying the book. I had been traditionally published with other books and had to give up so many things that I decided I would try self-publishing so I could keep some of my ideas and have it not be an academic book on puppy raising, but rather a family sharing book and something libraries and schools could use. Also when people would ask me “How do Blind people pick up the poop?” or “Is it hard to give them up?” I could now say  – “OH, you can read my dog’s book!”
     I wanted it for future puppy raisers to see the joy and love I had raising a puppy, but also to realize it’s not easy - yet very worthwhile.

     Has this book been germinating in you a long time, or did it just pop into your head one day?

     The book did not pop up one day, but evolved and was put on hold for so many reasons. I also was raising two more dogs and involved in other activities. The California fires delayed my progress along with some medical setbacks, but like we teach our dogs in our dog training – not to give up and preserve. I followed that teaching. So with this year being the year of the dog in the Chinese New Year celebration it became the year for my book.

    Did you know from the very start how the book would turn out, or did it evolve as you went along?

   It started as a Powerpoint Presentation from the talks I did about puppy raising, and the book sort of evolved from that. I went along with it and shared it with others. And when I saw how senior citizens and children smiled and reacted to the jokes I told,  I insisted they stay in the book.

    Writing from another person’s perspective, be they a different race, gender, etc. might be daunting. Did writing from an animal’s point of view challenge you in any ways you couldn’t imagine?

    I would look at Leo as I was writing and tried to imagine what he was thinking. When you are with an animal 24/7 for over a year and a half, you seem to read their mind.
       I had trouble with the publisher telling me a dog would not think that or know something. Also classifying the book became an issue.  It is all non-fiction except that the dog is telling the story makes it more a fiction book. It is really me telling what I think. I also kept saying if there were any spelling or grammar mistakes in the book that Leo went to school to be a guide dog not to learn to be a writer.
    I was told several times that a dog would not use a word I chose but I would respond, “How do you know? - my son living in my home used big words after hearing them from me, when he was under 3, so Leo being an observant, fast learner would certainly hear the word contortionist and have a good vocabulary. I seemed to be defending my dog.
    I mentioned at Leo’s graduation on campus that I was having a book out all about Leo’s experience and when I said it was from his perspective many of the audience members approached me and wanted to know when it would be out. Guests who attend the graduation ceremonies on campus come from all over and for different reasons. Many are curious about the entire process. The book answers questions for them as well.
      Only Leo knows if I got it right!
      Another difficult area was in trying to find a reader to make it for an audible book, I was not sure how Leo’s voice would sound. I am still working on that.

     What has been reader’s response to LESSONS FROM LEO?

    Before it was published, I took it around to schools and libraries, and it was well received.
     Puppy raisers said, they wished they had this book when they first started, When I had members of the California Writer’s Club read it, I heard chuckles and interesting discussions stimulated by items in the book. One member said she rated the book as “Five paws and a tail wag to an informative and humorous story of a dog’s journey to service.” 
       She went on to say that I captured the magic of living with a dog in training and it was delightful, as well as, the best true story she read all year!”
        People especially like the large print and are surprised that it has so many photos, as well as, a wealth of information.  Some puppy raisers comment on my style and creative ideas for puppy raising. Loads of smiles from the jokes and rhymes included. The section on poisonous plants and foods have already saved a neighbor’s dog and helped diagnose a medical issue for a pet owner.
I have heard so many, “I did not know that… or I never thought about that…”
        My favorite comment was from a reader who said it was, “Pawsitively delightful and informative. You could feel the love!”
      People like when I mention you can read it aloud to dogs, too!

      Where can people buy LESSONS FROM LEO, and do you have any future plans to share and promote the book?

   The book is available on Amazon as an 8 1/2 x 11 large print book and on Kindle. One can purchase the print book and then get the Kindle version for $1.99 as a special or the kindle read and have it read aloud on their computers. I have a braille edition that can be shared but not for sale. Plans are still in the works for an animated version. If people are friends of Leo he has a special deal price that they can get from me.  I can be contacted at lessonsfromleo@gmail.com.  Puppy raising clubs can purchase from me at a discount rate, as well, because my intent was to share.
    Since Leo lives in Canada and there are puppy raising clubs world-wide I wanted the world-wide distribution on Amazon. That made the book more expensive  than I originally intended. 
     I will be having upcoming book talks and presentations about guide dogs where the book will be available for purchase. 
    I am just learning how to post on Facebook but the CNI puppy raiser Facebook page posted something about my book coming out. I have a presentation at several libraries set up and I will have a book talk at the Gatsby bookstore in June. When the brand new library opens in Signal Hill I will be sharing my book. 
      I also plan to do some talks at the Lions clubs and other service groups.

LESSONS FROM LEO can be ordered here or by clicking on the cover image above.

Marcia Harris also has a website: magicalmarcia.com where you can learn more about her work with guide dogs.

​

    Like most of life’s plans, Tom Jordan never started out thinking that he wanted to be a voice actor, but he did know one thing; he was always comfortable behind a microphone.
    This confidence lead him to the studios of one of LA’s legendary rock station, KLOS where, in the early 1990’s, he became a volunteer answering their community switchboard. In his mind he had plans of making broadcast radio his career. That was until one of the show’s most notable DJ’s, “Uncle” Joe Benson, intervened.
    “He told me, ‘You don’t want to get into broadcasting kid – it’s a cutthroat business!’”
    With this bit of sage advice and with the help of friend, he plotted out a new course into the world of voice over. But 1994 was far different world than the one we have today.
    “Back then, before the internet, you had to go to Burbank or Studio City for an audition,” Tom recalls. “You couldn’t send anything electronically.”
    Frustrated with the difficulty and expense of the craft at the time, he shelved his plans until about 2000, when the internet made things so much easier. While juggling a full time job and the demands of raising a family, he began doing commercial VO for small cable companies and for such products as car lots, small shops in malls, and so forth.
    The work didn’t pay much, and wasn’t the career he dreamed of, but he pressed on. He landed an agent and began to get training with voice coaches, all the while continuing on with his day job as a marketing writer. Then, in May of 2016, he made the foray into audiobooks, albeit with trepidation.
    “I wasn’t sure if I wanted to sit in a room and record for ten hours, but I discovered that there were plenty of shorter books that were available to narrate.”
    The shorter books not only gave him experience and bulked up his portfolio, they helped him in other ways as well.
    “The stories were very well written and had great covers,” he says. “And covers are real important for your portfolio. Also, they had a lot of great character voices that really helped me gain experience.”
    It was a great place to get his feet wet, but he knew that shorts weren’t the way to go long term.
    “The rule of thumb in the industry is to look for the six to ten hour books as they tend to sell better on Audible.com. Also, from a long term career perspective, if the major publishers are going to go looking for a voice actor, they’re going to want to see some stamina in the form of longer books in their portfolio.”
    Although he was still getting leads for other v/o work from his agent, it was becoming increasingly-obvious that he had found his new passion, and a prolific passion it was.
    “I’ve put up twenty four titles on Audible since last April,” he says proudly.
All of this production did not occur in a vacuum. Tom Jordon had help in the form of an editor, something that he highly recommends for any voice actor.
    Asked what genres he works in, he responds.
  “I’ve done quite a few romances, including young adult and historical romances. And I’ve just picked up a couple of thrillers – which are a blast to read.”
    He realized along the way that finding books that he enjoyed reading for his own entertainment made his job much easier. He also shared what a voice actor looks for in books to narrate.
  “Good believable dialogue – which really stretches you mentally and creatively. You’re talking to yourself with yourself, but you’re also talking to this imaginary character that you’re portraying. It really is kind of a rush when you’ve got a good dialogue going on.”
    His advice for fledgling or aspiring voice actors?
   “Get training and coaching wherever you can, and whatever you can afford. Find on-line and Skype based workshops, and realize that your coach does not have to be local. My own coach is in Minneapolis, and I’ve never met him in the year and a half he’s been coaching me.”
    Asked about advice from the other side as an author looking to have their work narrated, Tom responds that narrators look at the same things that Audible - and print - customers look for in a book.
    “When Audible subscribers browse for books they look at three things - in this order: cover art, reviews, and then the summary, so the writer has to have those nailed down. Also,” he adds, “The audition script should contain a decent amount of dialogue and I like to ask the author to send me their favorite section to read. Sometimes I think this makes the difference in me getting the job or not.”
    Marketing is also a key factor in the selection process and both sides, author and voice actor, should be willing to help market the audiobook.
   “One thing I did, early on, was form a group on Facebook with an author friend of his that acts as a meeting ground for authors, narrators, and audiobook listers. We have nearly 1,000 members now, and it’s a very lively bunch. We encourage self-promotion, which is often frowned-upon by other similar groups. It’s a great group of people who all love audiobooks – thus its name, Audiobook Lovers.
    One final bit of advice that Tom offers authors is to not be afraid of using contractions in dialogue, and he offers a theory as to why he feels it’s more important when it comes to audiobooks than print or e-books.
    “I think, when you read it as a book, your brain tends to automatically make the two words into a contraction. But when I read it out loud, it sounds very stilted, and that can be a problem.”
    The most surprising thing he’s learned along the way?
   “There’s a lot of work out there for narrators willing to take the time to do it right. Audiobook sales were up more than 20 percent last year with unit sales nearly twice that amount. There are many reasons, but much of the growth is driven by the fact that it’s easier now than ever to listen to audiobooks. Think back to books on tape – 24 cassette tapes in a folder that you had to haul with you between the house and your car, boombox, wherever your cassette player was. This really limited people’s audiobook consumption. Then came CDs – a little better.
    Now, nearly any phone can play audiobooks and you can hold hundreds of them on a single device. Bluetooth in cars makes it easy to listen on your commute. it’s all about breaking down barriers with technologies. Frankly, I’m really glad to see all this happening. It’s an extremely exciting time to be a narrator.”  

Tom Jordan is the narrator of the recently released One Eyed Jack audiobook as well as many others.

To order One Eyed Jack on audible go to: 
www.audible.com/pd/Mysteries-Thrillers/One-Eyed-Jack-Audiobook/B078YXTPHL


To contact or connect with Tom, use the following links:
 
Website: www.tomvoiceover.com


email: Tom@TomVoiceover.com


Facebook: www.facebook.com/ tomvoiceover

Twitter: www.twitter.com/ tomvoiceover
 

Collaborations between authors can be tough; differences emerge, arguments can ensue and feelings can get bruised, Ultimately, many a joint project will fail to see the light of day. This is no different when the two creative minds at work are connected by familial ties. In fact, differences can often be amplified and even heightened when the collaborator is one that you share DNA with.

But one family team of writers has bucked the odds and saw their project through to fruition. What’s even more amazing is that it’s a mother/daughter team.

Meet Roseanney Liu and her nine year old daughter Morgan Getting, who, over the past year have put their heads together and created a book that seeks to help both parent and student survive what can be for many, a tumultuous half decade. Their book, How to Survive Elementary School is part How-To, part reflection, and with plenty of painful experiences mixed in for good measure.

“As an educator myself and a parent, I realized that a lot goes on in elementary school that’s not always easy to understand or navigate,” Roseanney recalls. “And so I decided to write this book as a guide to help parents and students.”

But she realized that she didn’t want to write it in a vacuum, and so she began interviewing other parents about their concerns. 

“But I also realized that I needed the perspective of the student as well,” she adds.

Roseanney didn’t have to look far to gain that youthful insight. Still, her daughter Morgan was a little hesitant when her mom approached her.

“I really thought it was going to be a big chore,” Morgan says, and then adds with a giggle. “And so I kind of rolled my eyes at my mom when she told me about it.”

Morgan wasn’t the only one who was skeptical, as several of the fellow students in her fourth grade class didn’t believe her.

Naysayers not withstanding, the mother/daughter duo soldered on and after two to three months of research, felt they had a winning combination of topics and the data needed to start putting pen to paper. Some of the chapters in the book deal with cheating and plagiarizing, Ugh, drama! and social media and technology.

The favorite topics to cover in the book were the chapter on Bullying for Morgan, and dealing with students with disabilities for Roseanney. Not surprisingly, the least favorite topic for each was Fundraising and Volunteering. Double UGH!

The selection of the topics came mostly from family dinner table conversations about happenings in school.

Reaction has been positive with many of the school staff and parents purchasing the book and with Roseanney and Morgan busy with interviews and promotion.

Asked about her next book and Roseanney thinks she will carry the idea forward to the next logical step of how to survive middle school. 

Asked the same question, Morgan quips, “I want to write a book about how to survive writing a book with your mother.”

Out of the mouths of babes. 

You can purchase a copy of How to Survive Elementary School by clicking on the image above, or here.
 
​You can contact Roseanney at her website: ​http://roseanney.com/

“Hmmm, vampire blood. Now that’s a new one.”
Dr. D.P. Lyle M.D had just received a query from yet another writer seeking his expert medical opinion. But this was no ordinary wordsmith slogging it out trying to get his or her new novel published or noticed. This inquiry came from none other than New York Times best selling author Charlene Harris. 

The year was 2007, and hot on the heels of the Twilight book phenomenon, vampires were the “in” thing. Charlene Harris had a series of novels about our favorite bloodsuckers, and she wanted to get her facts straight.

“I got a lot of questions back then about vampires,” Lyle laughs. “What is vampire blood like? Do vampires have DNA? If so, what would vampire DNA look like?

Strange questions to be sure, but then, the Orange County, California cardiologist had been receiving similarly bizarre solicitations for several years now.

It all began close to two decades ago when then Mystery Writers of America president Jan Burke asked Lyle to write a piece for the group’s newsletter about determining a corpses time of death. The article and the Q and A that followed launched a side gig that the doctor had not seen coming. Before long, other writers looking to glean his knowledge were seeking him out at conferences, panels, and author events.   

“You go to a cocktail party and people find out you’re a doctor and they want to talk to you about their gall bladder or their cholesterol,” Lyle quips. “You go to a writers conference and people want to ask you about poisons, gun shot wounds, etcera.” 

It’s not something the doctor shies away from or tries to avoid. In fact, he relishes it.

“I enjoy teaching, and helping other writers and people in general. We all have some sort of skill and I believe in sharing it.”

And share he has. Over the past twenty years or so, Dr. Lyle estimates he has answered over six thousand questions from everyone from writers, to attorneys, to law enforcement. He also wrote a book, “Forensics for Dummies” in 2004, and in 2005, he launched a submission form on his website to formally answer specific queries from writers – both of these efforts spawned some unintended consequences.

“I’ve been informed by law enforcement several times that the Forensics for Dummies book has been found in the possession of suspects of crimes. And some of the questions I received on my website just had a strange vibe to them, like the person on the other end wasn’t a writer plotting the perfect crime, but an individual possibly intent on carrying it out.” 

He’s since initiated a policy of requiring the requestor to surrender their personal information to him, so at least he has a record of it. Most of the people who contact him willingly provide the info, but occasionally someone won't.  And the policy hasn’t seemed to abate the substantial volume of requests the doctor receives on an almost daily basis. Most of the questions he gets are fairly prosaic, but some run to the extremely bizarre. 

Asked about the most peculiar question he ever had submitted and Lyle admits that it’s tough to put a blue ribbon on any one question, although one does stand out in his mind. 

“It was all about bee venom and how could you kill someone with it,” he says. “This person wanted to learn everything there was to know about it. What if you locked a person in a car and released a swarm of bees? How about injecting someone with bee venom? Could you kill them if you forced them to drink bee venom?”

To learn about some of the other offbeat and downright morbid questions he has answered through the years, check out Dr. D.P. Lyle M.D. books, “Forensics and Fiction” and “More Forensics and Fiction”. Besides winning numerous awards, Dr. Lyle's also the author of three crime series, as well as several more books on forensics for writers. His website is: http://www.dplylemd.com/

        

 We're thrilled today to have author Allison Fagundes stop by. Allison has created an entirely new world with her debut novel, Goddess Save the King.

With over a decade of experience of bouncing between the entertainment and fashion industries of Los Angeles, Allison Fagundes is a creative professional with her sights set on entrepreneurship. Once she grew the brass-boobs to leave her corporate job for swimwear design (for busty women), she managed to shuffle away from a car accident that changed the order of her creative expression. After being laid-up on ice packs for months and seeing doctors three days every week, Allison awakened one morning after an incredible dream. She didn’t stop dream-journaling the adventure for four weeks. At the end of that time, she had her first draft of Goddess Save the King. Six-plus months later, she finished the final draft of the project and self-published it through Amazon.
Before the accident, Allison would spend a few days a week building her sand legs to become a better beach volleyball player. Now, she’s gentler on herself as she continues to take the time to restore the strength she once had. This opportunity has allowed her to focus on writing like never before as well as become more invested in the movie-going experience. As a result, she’s on Team Iron Man, ride or die, and is baffled that Greg Rucka’s Batman No Man’s Land still hasn’t been made into a Hollywood blockbuster. Thanks for stopping by today Allison.

You're very welcome Chris.

Your book, Goddess Save the King, is a post-apocalyptic/fantasy, which are very popular at the moment. Has this always been what you wanted to write, or did  the success of other books in the genre push you in that direction?

Thinking back to the many unfinished books that have accumulated on a jump drive which ended up in a storage box until recently, I can honestly say that the majority of the stories on it are fantasy, or scifi-fantasy. It was a genre I never expected to write in, but I ran with it back then. So it’s not surprising to me that the idea behind Goddess Save the King was also rooted in it. Popularity of the genre wasn’t on my radar.

How long has this book been germinating in you?

The idea for this book was an immediate unfolding. I was in a car accident the month before this book idea revealed itself to me. I was at home nursing injuries, and was able to be consistent with my dream journaling each morning. I had nothing but time to rest and recuperate. The week before my birthday, I awoke and didn’t reach for my journal that time. Instead, I opened my laptop and began typing the dream. The story was coming so fast, my handwriting wouldn’t have been able to keep up. I kept typing for four weeks.
At the end of that time, I had the first draft of Goddess Save the King. I was completely blown away that I was staring at the first draft of my first novel.

Wow, amazing story of inspiration running rampant. After you committed to writing it, about how long did it take to get it totally completed?

The book took a solid seven months to write. I felt like a machine shelling-out anywhere from 2,000 to 11,000 words per day.

2,000 to 11,000 words per day! As a fellow writer, I can honestly say that many of us wish we could be as prolific and productive as you were.

And it seems that creating a whole new world with many different characters can be daunting. How did you manage to keep it all straight?

With a giant sketch pad. lol! I wasn’t able to draft a neat outline that would show me the proper progression of the story. My brain couldn’t compute that. I needed to see my version of organized chaos on a few giant pieces of paper. Aside from that, developing a new world and the details about that world was exciting. I already had so much content
from the original dream, I simply spent a lot of time shaping it and adding details. It was fun!

Any advise for other authors wishing to write in this genre?

Set your imagination free. Let it run, and do your best to keep up with it. Give it zero restrictions. You’ll be surprised with what you come up with.

And if you could give yourself one piece of advice before you finished this book project, what would it be?

As exciting as it was to write this book, I learned how important it was to step away from the project in between drafts. Not for one hour, or one day, but for a week or so. It was easy to forget that there was a world outside of my home to live in when I was creating a new, exciting one in my book. It would have been best to slow down and allow more space and time between the last two drafts. I would have had fresher eyes on the manuscript and it would have made the editing process shorter and smoother.

Were you intimidated at all about going the self-publishing route?

Not at all. My creative expression before writing was fashion. In fashion, you need a lot of outside help in order to produce the collection that you’ve designed. Self-publishing gave me an avenue to rely on fewer people for the completion of the project, as well as full creative control. That’s a rarity I couldn’t pass up.

How did Christopher J. Lynch’s self-publishing seminar help you?

The seminar helped me to be practical about this book project. It also showed me where my strengths would come into play. Because of that, I was able to see the potential in what I produced versus viewing publishing as a difficult, unattainable dream.

How do you feel now that you have a book published?

I feel excited and relieved. I’ve been ready and eager to share this story since day one. I’m glad I’m able to do that now.

What’s next for you?

Book 2 of the series is coming along at a slower place due to being back into the working world. I expect to release it at the end of this year. I’ve also begun sifting through that old jump drive and have found some gems to revisit. There are a few stories I feel compelled to finish, and maybe explore short story writing. Also, I’m getting ready for my first book-signing event in my hometown, Los Banos, CA., on Friday, March 10th, at Phoenix Books.

Well congratulations again for your incredible accomplishment and we hope to have you back here real soon.

Thank you, it was great to be here Chris.

Allison's debut novel: Goddess Save the King is available at Amazon.com by clicking on the photo above or here. 

For information on her book signing click here.

You can also connect or follow Allison at:

Website: http://arfagundes.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/arfagundesauthor

T​witter: https://twitter.com/missallifagu

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tallglassofallie/

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/allifagu/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/allisonfagundes