Review: I will Never Forget by Elaine C Pereira

 Elaine C. Pereira is a retired school occupational therapist who worked with special needs children. She earned her bachelor’s degree in occupational therapy from Wayne State University and later completed her master’s degree. Pereira and her husband Joseph live in southeastern Michigan with their cat, Snoopy, and two big dogs, Bailey and Maddee. Together Pereira and her husband have five adult children; Joe’s three sons and Elaine’s twin daughters, five young grandchildren and a teenage granddaughter. Life is good again.

I Will Never Forget is the exquisite portrayal of the author’s talented mother, Betty’s, extraordinary and humorous journey through dementia. Through superb stories of Elaine’s childhood, including her controversial name, tales of smoking dragons, and a near paralyzing accident, her mother’s wonderful character is revealed. As their mother-daughter relationship evolves, Elaine referees her mom’s uncharacteristic verbal assaults and masterful Houdini-like disappearances. Elaine relishes in Betty’s dazzling visions of her own mother and then witnesses her mom’s stunning rally to take control of her own destiny. Finally, Elaine accompanies her mother down her one-way journey as her brilliant mind is slowly destroyed by Dementia’s insatiable appetite for brain cells.





My Review:

Pros: This is the kind of book that draws you in. It intrigues you at first, but soon it has you by the heart and you almost don't want to know what happens but you have to read on. A book written with so much passion and love that, even if you've no experience with dementia, you become a lot closer to understanding the point of view of someone who does.

Cons: It made me cry. Not necessarily a bad thing, but definitely an unusual experience for me as far as non-fiction goes.

Movie Potential: Yes, I can definitely see this as a film. Most books of this genre feel like they would be made-for-tv lifetime movies. But I could see this one in theaters.

Writing style: Passionate. Poignant and soft, gaining volume and speed at times and slowing down to a contemplative pace at others. Fantastic.

Format: hardcover

Overall rating: 5/5

Author Interview with Elaine C Pereira

 Elaine C. Pereira is a retired school occupational therapist who worked with special needs children. She earned her bachelor’s degree in occupational therapy from Wayne State University and later completed her master’s degree. Pereira and her husband Joseph live in southeastern Michigan with their cat, Snoopy, and two big dogs, Bailey and Maddee. Together Pereira and her husband have five adult children; Joe’s three sons and Elaine’s twin daughters, five young grandchildren and a teenage granddaughter. Life is good again.

 I Will Never Forget is the exquisite portrayal of the author’s talented mother, Betty’s, extraordinary and humorous journey through dementia. Through superb stories of Elaine’s childhood, including her controversial name, tales of smoking dragons, and a near paralyzing accident, her mother’s wonderful character is revealed. As their mother-daughter relationship evolves, Elaine referees her mom’s uncharacteristic verbal assaults and masterful Houdini-like disappearances. Elaine relishes in Betty’s dazzling visions of her own mother and then witnesses her mom’s stunning rally to take control of her own destiny. Finally, Elaine accompanies her mother down her one-way journey as her brilliant mind is slowly destroyed by Dementia’s insatiable appetite for brain cells.





On your nightstand now: 
The hard cover of I Will Never Forget-A Daughter's Story of Her Mother's Arduous and Humorous Journey Through Dementia.  It’s always there.  But I think what you really want to know is what am I reading:  Behind the Old face by Angil Tarah-Ritchey.
Favorite book when you were a child: 
Cinderella, which is now my granddaughter’s favorite although she’s pretty little.
Book you've faked reading: 
Just HS and college history books etc.
Book you've bought for the cover:
Firegal... Rising from the Ashes by
Gina Geldbach-Hall – crazy cool cover and title.

Book that changed your life:  Honestly?  Mine!

Why any human should plunk down cash money for your book:
(I’m chuckling reading the question and trying to think of a funny comeback equal to the task, but …)   My book is not a side splitting humorous tale of a crazy dog like Marley and Me; I get that.  But it is not a dark, foreboding, depressing, boring story just about someone’s tough life at the end as they’re old and gray anyway.
I Will Never Forget is a powerful, true account of a kind, brilliant, trailblazing woman who earned her BS in chemistry, or all things, in post WWII and then uprooted as a single woman to move across state lines for a new job!  We are an international world today, but it was very, very different in the late 1940s. 
This memoir is rich in descriptive detail, character development and presents honest and sometimes humbling stories of a family in various stages of crises alternating with happiness and calm. 
In a society where we think nothing of spending $4.00 on a cup of coffee – well many Starbucks patrons do it, although I’d rather have a draft – in three or four days, you could have a real, tangible, meaningful, wonderful and real book! And not an empty cup to recycle. 
There are many good books on dementia but mine is one of the great ones!

Based on the description of “I Will Never Forget” I know there may be some touching scenes as well as a little tragedy. But can you tell us what more to expect?
I Will Never Forget details superb stories of the author’s childhood through which her mother, Betty’s wonderful character is revealed.  From the controversy about Elaine’s name, tales of smokin’ dragons, the feisty teenage years and her near paralyzing accident, a woman of great character and depth of soul is portrayed.

Their strong mother-daughter relationship gradually evolves as Elaine matures, marries and becomes a mother herself, of twin girls no less!   But as the years advance, Betty’s characteristic kindness wanes.  She starts to exhibit flashes of hostility, paranoia and gradually begins her one-way journey through the dark corridors of mind zapping Alzheimer's.

Although clearly mystified by her mother’s goofy behaviors and bizarre thinking, Elaine does not appreciate the extent of her mother’s decline until one tumultuous explosion of reality.  The crazy drama continues as Elaine referees her mom’s uncharacteristic verbal assaults, escapes so exquisite as to impress Houdini, Betty’s fascinating visions of her own mother and finally her stunning rally to take control of her own destiny. 

I Will Never Forget is a heartwarming, funny and powerful true story pertinent to anyone touched by the insidious effects of Dementia.  Learn from Elaine's unwitting mistakes as she naïvely weaves through Dementia’s unpredictable haze to capture insightful and effective intervention strategies.  Accompany the author through her journey, as her mother's brilliant mind is slowly and unpredictably destroyed by Dementia's ravenous appetite for brain cells.

What made you decide to write this book in the first place?
My mother’s rich life but eventual, incredible journey through dementia is a story that needed to be told and, inspired by casual but genuine remarks from friends who said, “You should write a book,” I did! 

For far too long, I lived in denial and ignorance, as Mom declined.  Despite warnings and information to the contrary, I saw my mom as more functional than dysfunctional.  My professional expertise as an OT should have afforded me a better understanding and recognition of my mother’s paranoia and memory issues in the beginning.  But like many families, I was too close to the situation. 

I felt that if I wandered aimlessly in ignorance, how many other caregivers did too?  If I learned by trial and error how best to manage Mom’s tirades, personality changes, agitation and hostility, perhaps in sharing my story openly and honestly, I could help others learn from my unwitting mistakes and know that they are not alone. 
What is your writing style?
I wrote I Will Never Forget on my laptop almost exclusively at the kitchen table, surrounded by countless windows, near the heat vent and typically with the counter TV on low. 
Are you a full-time writer or part-time, and how do you organize your writing time?
Neither and both:  I had retired as a school occupational therapist not long before Mom’s dementia really took hold rendering her unsafe.  Almost a year later after nearly unbelievable drama and escapades, Mom had declined so rapidly she was virtually incoherent.  I started writing then, pages here and there of better times and current issues.  A month after she passed away I made a conscious decision to move the drafts past the cathartic stage and into the revealing book it deserved to be and forged ahead full time. 
What do you hope readers will take from your writing?
I want readers, especially caregivers to learn from my unwitting mistakes.  I stumbled in oblivion trying to use logic and reasoning to affect changes in someone devoid of the capacity to process rational thought.  It baffled me.  Eventually, though, I adopted far more effective strategies that I share in the book.  
I want caregivers to know they are not alone in their journey with their parent, spouse or friend, that there is help out there, that they need to take care of themselves first before they can care for someone else, a concept that is, by definition, foreign to caregivers. 
Where can people learn more about you and your work?
I post monthly on the Alzheimer’s Reading Room and have had a few posts on Maria Shriver.com.  One is slated to run mid February. 
What did you like about writing this book, and books in general?
Initially the manuscript served a cathartic purpose.  But as I delved into finishing it, I loved writing about who my mom was as seen through my eyes as a child, how she helped to mold a mouthy, feisty teenager into a woman who can and did move mountains in her behalf. 
What is the tone of the book? Satire? Humor? Informative?
Honest, occasionally funny and sarcastic, revealing, thoughtful, provocative.

Where can the book be bought?
Author signed copies are available from me via the USPS; just contact me ElaineP@chartermi.net  734-395-3615

Barnes & Noble
 Amazon       
iUniverse   

Statue of Ku FREE on Kindle!

Young Adult Fantasy Fiction

Book ‘Statue of Ku’

Free on Kindle thru Jan 3

Los Angeles, CA -- “Statue of Ku” the second book in the Moa series by Tricia Stewart Shiu is now Free on Kindle Dec 30 thru Jan 3, 2014. The first book in the series was “Moa” and the third the recently published “Iron Shinto.”  All three chronicle a fanciful flight through time and space in a multi-dimensional universe of interplanetary spirits.

The highly rated Kindle ebook is available FREE at this link: http://j.mp/1h24Nv2

“Though Shiu writes her books for a Teen or Young Adult audience, her commitment to expand the mind is so well centered that her audience could comfortably and satisfyingly include adult readers, especially those curious about universal levels of being.” --Grady Harp, Amazon Top 50 Hall of Fame Reviewer

‘Statue of Ku’ follows Hillary and Moa as they jet to Egypt on the Prince’s private plane to reclaim Moa’s family heirloom, the inimitable statue of Ku. Once on the ground, however, they find that their search is less about retrieving a treasured family possession and more about tracing a healing path in their genetic lineage to its true beginning. Their journey involves magic, sacrifice and discovering their unique healing gifts, which live within all of us. Their story intertwines with that of the real boy, Ku — his questions, his travails and, eventually, his triumph. In their continuing search for the Statue, Hillary and Moa find that the answer to every question they seek is where they least expect it and that healing gifts are not lost but merely forgotten.

Tricia Stewart Shiu recently completed a successful Kickstarter campaign which helped raise funds for the costs of editing, publishing and publicity for “Iron Shinto,” as well as the audio books for all three books in the Moa series.  “The series is designed to appeal to the fans of Young Adult, Metaphysical Fantasy Fiction and others who just love books,” says Shiu.

The author, in addition to being an award-winning playwright, is also a metaphysical adept who actually met Moa, the ancient Hawaiian spirit at the heart of the series. "When I was five," Ms. Shiu explained, "I was visited by a vision. I’ll never forget it, I was running down the stairs and the entity, a girl with dark hair, stopped me in my tracks. The spirit said that I would go through a deeply challenging time in my life, but would resurface, later in life, with unimaginable joy and fulfillment. That vision stayed with me."

Many years later, taking a nap during a visit to her husband's family home in Honolulu, that dark-haired girl came back. "In my mind’s eye, I saw a beautiful young woman with dark hair, who said her name was Moaahuulikkiaaakea’o Haanaapeekuluueehuehakipuunahe’e—Moa for short."

Ms. Shiu's experience with this benevolent spirit launched her into a personal journey of spiritual exploration which included studies in mediumship, pagan and Huna rituals as well as an energy healing technique called “Crystalline Consciousness Technique.” She also studied a variety of shamanic clearing methods and healing rituals.

The result of the author's unique background is that each chapter of the book begins with a meditative ritual that pertains to that chapter. Some of the rituals, oils or meditations are even mentioned in the plot of the book. All of these rituals are easily done by the reader and have remarkably soothing and healing properties.

The author sums it all up this way; "Whatever your belief or understanding of the metaphysical world, I believe that if one person is transformed through learning, then we are all transformed. I truly believe the Moa I met came through in this work and, just as I connected with her as I wrote, those who read the book will experience her as well."

All of the books in the Moa series are available on Amazon or on the author’s website http://humanbeingcompany.com/   

About Tricia Stewart Shiu

Tricia Stewart Shiu is an award-winning screenwriter, author and playwright, but her passion lies in creating mystical stories. Her latest series, The Moa Books, which includes "Moa," "The Statue of Ku" and "The Iron Shinto," were, by far, her favorite to write.

Book Review: Scammed by Christopher Elliott

A leading consumer advocate reveals how to protect your money, time, and integrity from corrupt businessesOnce upon a time store prices were simple and fair, businesses stood behind their products with guarantees free of fine print and loopholes, and companies genuinely seemed to care about their valued customers--but those days are long gone. In this groundbreaking expose, consumer advocate Christopher Elliot reveals the broken relationship between American consumers and businesses and explains how companies came to believe that fooling their customers was a viable, and profitable, business plan.
"Scammed" explores how companies control information to mislead, distort the truth, and even outright lie to their consumers.Exposes the various ways companies have led their war against information--from seductive ads, disingenuous fine print, and unconventional promotions that involve seeding discussion forums and blogs with company-friendly commentsOffers consumers insider knowledge of the system, reasonable expectations, and a clear understanding of the games businesses playChristopher Elliott is one of the nation's foremost consumer advocates.
Protect yourself, your time, and your money from the predators of the consumer world. Armed with knowledge, readers will become far more discerning and every business's worst nightmare.    



 My Review:

Pros: Going into this book, just starting it, I had no problems. Though, I was a bit mislead because I thought it would be a financial version of "Eat this, not that." I appreciated that the writing was easy to understand, held my interest even if it didn't encourage the best speed-of-reading (took me about four days to trudge through this one). and I liked that it didn't seem biased toward either consumer or company.

Cons: There was definitely SOME kind of bias there. It was towards the Consumer advocates. Other idisyncracies that got under my skin: The use of "gotcha" and "getcha", abundant cliches--"By hook or crook", "Heck of a lot of...", and this little gem of a quote: "...or whatever Frankenstein's monster was afraid of." that popped up around the same time that the author was disparaging consumers for only reading fluff and not "real" news/reading.

Movie Potential: No. Definitely Not.

Writing style: Easy to follow, but towards the middle just made me angry. This is NOT a book that made my brain happy. In fact, it aggravated me.

Format: Physical book.

Overall Rating: 2/5

Book Review: Eve and Adam by Michael Grant

And girl created boy…
In the beginning, there was an apple—
And then there was a car crash, a horrible injury, and a hospital. But before Evening Spiker’s head clears a strange boy named Solo is rushing her to her mother’s research facility. There, under the best care available, Eve is left alone to heal.
Just when Eve thinks she will die—not from her injuries, but from boredom—her mother gives her a special project: Create the perfect boy.
Using an amazingly detailed simulation, Eve starts building a boy from the ground up. Eve is creating Adam. And he will be just perfect... won’t he?    



I was born in a manger and grew up in a log cabin where I read law books by firelight. . . Oh, wait, that wasn't me, that was someones else.
I had a hard childhood. Hard for my parents. Not that bad for me. I was an Army brat, moved around a lot. Then I didn't settle down. I just kept moving. Why? What inner turmoil drove me? Mmmm, I gotta say none. I just have a short attention span. Easily bored.
I'm living in Tiburon, CA right now. How much longer? Don't know.
I've written 150 books. That's right, I said 150. In your face, Stephen King. Granted, mine are shorter than his. And less popular. And less likely to be made into a major motion picture. And I guess i don't play in a band with Dave Barry, either, do I?

Sorry: Salieri complex acting up.

Most of those books -- and by "most" I mean 149 out of 150 -- I wrote with my wife, the lovely, the talented, the eternally hot, Katherine (K.A.) Applegate. We've been together for 29 years. Which is a long time. Looooong time. Sweet lord what a long . . . No babe, I'm not implying anything.

Damn internets: you never know who's reading things.


My Review:
Pros: Speed of reading on this was high--I was interested enough in this book to finish it in a day. The premise is beautiful--a big corporation doing really good things to hide some other, not so good things tries to hide everything from the daughter of the boss. Meanwhile, the daughter of the boss is making an actual human boy on what she believes is no more than an educational video game.
Cons: In retrospect, the title is a bit misleading. I mean, why not name it Eve and Solo? Adam really only came in the end, almost as an afterthought. Now, as an author, I can completely understand if Grant and his wife decided "What if Adam became a real person!?" at the last minute. I don't understand why the title of the book is after a last minute decision.
Characters: Characters are fairly well rounded. We have Evening Striker, the girl who accidentally created a man. Adam, the man who was accidentally created by a girl. Solo, who's well-roundedness I won't really say because of super intriguing plot twists, and Terra "terror" striker, the mom behind it all. Oh, and Aislenn, the somewhat goofy sidekick that usually needs saving. Still, she was an interesting read.
Movie Potential: I had trouble deciding this one. But the end result is: this would be better as a series or carttoon. There's just no way to describe the intricities that are in the book without animating it and following it up with more episodes about the Striker Pharm. I just can't see it as a blockbuster movie.
Format: Real, physical book. Beautiful.
Overall Rating: 4/5

Book Review/Author interview: Sheltered by Debra Chapoton

Living together unsupervised, five troubled teens confront demonic forces and are compelled to deal with their problems in distinctly different ways. Paranormal meets psycho meets Goth in this story of a supernatural haunting and budding love.

High school junior, Ben, hacks into his step-father's real estate holdings and provides rooms in an old two-story house to various outcasts: the schizophrenic kid, the angry Goth girl, and the homeless girl who worships him. When Megan needs a place to live she comes to the rooming house with a different set of problems and the ability to confuse and attract Ben.

One by one strange and mysterious occurrences stretch the teens’ beliefs in the supernatural. How they deal with demons, real and imagined, has tragic as well as redeeming consequences.



Debra's first YA novel, EDGE OF ESCAPE, reveals the fractured heart of Eddie, an emotionally impaired 18-year-old who has spent most of his school years in special education classes. Stalking gets a strangely sympathetic twist in this story of obsession and survival. (Released in German, spring 2012.)
In her second YA novel, SHELTERED,five troubled teens confront demonic forces and deal with their problems in different ways; paranormal meets psycho meets budding love.

Find out more at http://debrachapoton.com/




My Review: An engaging story that deals with and mixes the issues of homelessness, schizophrenia, depression, suicide, and the occult. As the reader follows along with the five kids (six, including, um...Adam) and the fictitious Mrs. Kremer, they're engaged by the opposing personalities in the house, the secrets that are (or aren't) kept, and they root for these teens in their quest to just stay in the house (even though maybe we shouldn't. Kids need adults!)
I admire how the issue of teen homelessness was addressed, veering away from the common idea that homeless people are all elderly, dirty and on the streets. The percentage of teen homelessness has gone up in the united states lately, and that doesn't necessarily mean they're out in the cold--most often it means they're at a shelter or homeless opportunity program. (For more facts and how to help, visit dosomething.org)


Pros: This is a fascinating book that keeps you reading. The change in tense between the Dream world and the Awake world is a bit unusual (though not unpleasant) at first, but you get used to it.
Cons: It was hard to follow sometimes, and while interesting, I would find myself putting the book down to do something else.
Characters: While the characters balanced each other out nicely, a couple of them (Cori, Megan, Ben, Ben's stepfather) were a bit cut-and-paste. The bright side of this? Chuck/Adam, Emily, and "Mrs. Kremer" are original enough to balance it out.
Movie Potential: I really wouldn't want to see this movie. It's a decent book, certainly, but not quite a blockbuster.


Format: Kindle on iPod touch, no problems.

Overall Rating: 3/5    

Author interview:

 

On your nightstand now:  My Kindle with about 80 books to read.

Favorite book when you were a child: Nancy Drew and the Hidden Staircasse
Your top five authors: Crichton, Evanovich, Grisham, Sparks, Rowling
Book you've faked reading: Any high school social studies book.
Book you're an evangelist for: The Bible. I’m not kidding. I’ve tried to learn some Hebrew words and I’ve discovered some pretty amazing codes. Supernatural, really.
Book you've bought for the cover: I’ve never judged a book by its cover; I read the blurb on the back cover.
Book that changed your life: My first Spanish textbook
Book you most want to read again for the first time: Jurassic Park
Why any human should plunk down cash money for your book:
“Sheltered” is a novel that works on multiple planes depending on the expectations and beliefs of the individual reader. The lives of five teens are exposed on social, psychological, and supernatural levels and the themes in this book beg for hard questions and answers, but at the same time the plot is pure entertainment.
WRITING:
Based on the description of “Sheltered” I know there may be some supernatural scenes as well as a little romance. But can you tell us what more to expect?
You might learn a little about schizophrenia.
What made you decide to write this book in the first place?

I had to give a speech and in my research I came across some interesting facts about demon possession. Hmm, I thought, what if the scientific explanations and the religious beliefs were somehow both right. An idea was born and the story took off.
What is your writing style?
I sit on the love seat in the sunroom of our log home with my laptop. I write early in the day and try to write about a thousand words per session.
Are you a full-time writer or part-time, and how do you organize your writing time?
Writing is my only job, but it’s part-time so I can enjoy the rest of the day by reading and goofing off.
What do you hope readers will take from your writing?
I want to entertain readers. I hope they take away a few good hours of enjoyment.

FICTION:
In the point of view of any of your characters, answer these three questions:
What is your darkest secret?
What happened to me last year.
What is your heart’s desire?
That things work out for me with both Simon and Ben.
A dragon has just appeared in front of you, ready to attack. What do you do?

After what I’ve been through . . . I just laugh.



Where can people learn more about you and your work?
http://edgeofescape.blogspot.com



Author Interview with Nicole Persun

 A Kingdom’s Possession blends ancient magic, love and intrigue in a romantic fantasy told in a fresh new voice.

A wayward prince, his twin brother, a mystical woman of fire, and an escaped slave band together, to free an outcast goddess – if they can elude a powerful rogue kingdom intent on their destruction.

Max, a young woman who has just escaped a life of slavery, finds herself at the heart of a heated rebellion and a complicated legend. As the kingdom of Alice seeks power among the realms, a flawed goddess is thrown from the heavens and forced to reside inside Max’s body. The king of Alice, lusting for the rewards the goddess will grant upon the kingdom that releases her from her human cage, sends spies to capture Max and release the goddess in the most ruthless way: through death. Will Max and her friends solve the magical riddle before her pursuers? And what of her budding love for the prince? A captivating tale of love, freedom, and choices.

 Nicole J. Persun is a Fantasy writer who lives in Port Townsend, Washington. She started seriously writing when she was thirteen, and hasn’t stopped since. “I write to explore, to transport myself somewhere new, and uncover the complex minds of my characters.”







Goodreads page for this book.


On your nightstand now:
Letters to a Young Poet by Rilke and A Place Called Armageddon by C.C. Humphreys
Favorite book when you were a child:
The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo
Your top five authors:
Such a hard question! It changes often, but at the moment, I’d say:
1. Lily Tuck – Her novel, I Married You For Happiness was the best book I’ve read all year
2. Terry Persun – Not because he’s my father, but because his fantasy novel (which comes out later this year) made me cry and laugh out loud
3. C.C. Humphreys – His character development in Vlad: The Last Confession was phenomenal
4. Sharon Shinn – I have a weakness for her Twelve Houses series. Good stories paired with solid writing make her romantic fantasy novels a treat.
5. George R.R. Martin – His world building is amazing yet he doesn’t bog the reader down with detail. A little dense at times, but I’m definitely hooked on his A Song of Ice and Fire series.
Of course, if you get me talking about the big guys, I’d mention people like Tolkien, Hemingway, Vonnegut, Shakespeare, Steinbeck… Again, it’s a hard question!
Book you've faked reading:
Why would I want to fake reading a book? If it’s worth reading, I’ll read it. If not, then it’s not even worth faking.
Book you're an evangelist for:
 I Married You For Happiness, by Lily Tuck and The Writer’s Portable Mentor by Priscilla Long
Book you've bought for the cover: 
 The Memorist by M.J. Rose. It was the pretty blue and metallic peacock that attracted me. As far as covers go, it doesn’t really portray what the book is about, but it did the trick as far as getting me to pick it up! The story was good, too. The way she interwove the different past lives was amazing.
Book that changed your life:
Tigana by Guy Gavriel Kay. It inspired me to dream big when I was writing my (now unpublished) third novel, and let me just say, my third novel remains a great love of mine.
Favorite line from a book:
On page 269 of A Game of Thrones when Martin writes something like, “his private face and his public mask were one.” In context, it’s an amazing description that is spot on and puts the reader right in the scene.
Book you most want to read again for the first time:
I Married You For Happiness, by Lily Tuck. Did I mention that it’s the best book I’ve read all year? And if not that one, I’d like to read one of my novels for the first time, just out of curiosity. I wonder what I’d think?
Why any human should plunk down cash money for your book: 
 I think the number one reason anyone should pick up a novel is for its prowess in plot, writing, and character development. The best books are a solid combination of the three. I’d like to think mine is one of them.



What made you decide to write this book in the first place?
There was no avoiding it. I had no choice but to write it, because the characters wouldn’t leave me alone.
What is your writing style? 
  I work best in the morning, when it’s quiet and my mind is fresh. I sit at my desk, which is in a loft, so it’s high up and there’s a huge set of windows to look out. Beside me is an old Royal Typewriter, and typically a vase of fresh flowers. I also have a corkboard nearby for each of my novels, where I tack up 3x5 cards with ideas, notes, and other thoughts that keep me organized throughout the process.
Are you a full-time writer or part-time, and how do you organize your writing time?
I’m in college full time, but I still write every day, no matter what, for at least two hours. My father always said, “You are not a writer unless you write.” It’s as simple as that.
What do you hope readers will take from your writing?
As a reader myself, I always hope to learn something from a novel. It doesn’t have to be profound or factual, just something that changes me. I wish that on my readers as well. That they feel as though they learned something about themselves throughout the journey, and as though the book was worth reading.


In the point of view of any of your characters, Answer these three questions:
Avaline, from my novel A Kingdom’s Possession:
What is your darkest secret? 
 How I came into existence is my darkest secret. My story is a long one, where I begin as a phoenix, and end as a woman.
What is your heart’s desire?
To be in my natural form again. To feel at home in my own skin.
A dragon has just appeared in front of you, ready to attack. What do you do? Fight fire with fire.
Where can people learn more about you and your work?
  I am a mentor, and have been alive for hundreds of years. My knowledge of this land and its history is extensive, but I’ve kept to myself fairly well. The wizard Storret Airet could tell you a lot about me. The rest who’d know are long gone. There is information in the Vault beneath the Castle in Valta that holds some of my secrets, but the best way to learn about me and my work is to ask me yourself.