Jul 30

It’s a Number One World: Randy Massey vs Cliff Roberts

Roberts HIT

America has a new hit-maker called Cliff Roberts

Roberts needs no introduction. His novel “Reprisal: The Eagle Rises” has been one of the fastest selling books of the year. In one week, he went from just another author to one of the bestselling authors of the year.

2013 will be known as the year of Cliff Roberts…

Randy Massey is another author who knows all about good fortune. His book “Summoner” has been at the top of the Goodreads lists for a long, long time. He puts his enduring popularity down to God, and I think he may just be right!

Nick: Afternoon, guys!

Randy: Good afternoon, Nick; and nice to meet you, Cliff!

Cliff: Good afternoon, Randy! I’ve seen you posting on Facebook, but it’s nice to finally meet, well, sort of meet.

Nick: Okay, Cliff. Let me ask you something. What, in your opinion, makes a bestseller?

Cliff: Nick, you need two things, I think. Number one, you have to write about a subject that people are interested in, and I mean lots of people. Secondly, you have to make sure the story draws a reaction from the reader. Ideally, it will cause the reader to experience a full range of emotions.

Nick: It’s all in the emotions the reader experiences?

Cliff: Exactly.

Nick: Randy, how do you feel a bestseller is born?

Randy: My thoughts are that it must come from the heart, no matter what genre you write in. Speaking from the heart and with the passion for your topic filling the pages will in turn draw the readers into the story. For them to spread the word about your work they must feel as if they lived it, breathed it, even died in it.

Nick: Interesting. Cliff, when you first sit down to write, what’s going on in your mind?

Cliff: Let me just state that I really like Randy’s answer. He struck a hole-in-one. As to what I do with my own writing, I don’t do outlines or anything close it. I start with an idea, and I write down the general idea at the top of the page and then just start right in with the prologue. I tried starting with what I thought would be a pivotal point, but I found I write better if I write chronologically. I tend to let the story lead me where it wants to go.

Nick: Where do your ideas come from, Randy?

Randy: Life and all of its problems. Simple as that. For the genre I write in, YA Science Fantasy, people are looking for an escape. Unfortunately, too many turn to the wrong things. But the ones that don’t go in for the drugs and drink just fill the need by reading. So my story lines and ideas are generated by this need to escape from reality for a while, get lost in another world, another time, another place.

Nick: This leads me to an interesting question. Do you ever write to escape, Cliff?

Cliff: All the time. I suffer from many health issues, and I have days where I’m fairly immobile. So I write about what I would like to be doing, or how I would be spending my day if I wasn’t stuck sitting on ice packs. With a book you can do anything, be anyone, and I often get lost in my characters as a way to escape my personal issues.

Nick: What does it mean to “escape,” Randy?

Randy Massey, writer, enjoys life with his wife

Randy: When life gets you down, and it will, or circumstances seem to be overwhelming and you have no control and don’t know where to go, the need for at least a temporary relief comes upon us. A need to forget our pains, our dilemmas, our bad relationships, our past, our present, even our future if we see or have no hope of who we are, where we are going, or even how we might get there. Daily pressures are on all of us, no matter how rich or poor, how secure or insecure, or great or weak we are in our relationships with others. A great book, a good movie, or an extended vacation, are just a few examples of what we do to escape our struggles in life.

Nick: So, Cliff, what are you currently working on?

Cliff: I have a couple of new stories, but in the immediate future, I’m preparing to release the second book in the Reprisal! series titled, “Reprisal! The Gauntlet.” I hope to have it out shortly. However, most importantly, I have a new book on the way. My agent found a story online about a time-traveller. I want to write about time travel… So, I will.

Nick: The first Reprisal book sold many thousands of units, just recently. In your opinion, will the second “Reprisal” book be a blockbuster like the first?

Cliff:  I truly have to say that I think so. It takes the Kilauea team across the globe to Israel and into the West Bank in search of the money man behind the the terror attacks. Funny story here actually. The other night I was on Skype with an editor I just hired, and my phone started ringing. It was getting quite late, but I answered. To my dismay, it was a gentleman who had found my number to ask when the next “Reprisal” book would be released. His wife had ordered him to go through the phone book until he found my number. Wild man!

Nick: What did you say to him?

Cliff: I told him that he had reached Cliff Roberts and that I would send him a copy of the book for free. I also had to tell him that the story has lots of intrigue and plenty of action.

Nick: It just shows how wild things have become for you, Cliff! Randy, what’s next from you?

Randy: I now have been blessed with a publisher who has given me a contract for four book. The first will be a rewrite of my very first book “Summoner.” That is on schedule to come out in late October, with book two set for December. I have just heard that the a new cover I commissioned has been designed and approved for the first book. It is starting to get exciting to say the least!

Cliff: Congratulations, friend. Is traditional publishing the route you’ve always wanted to take?

Randy: There are a lot of pros and cons, good and bad, in either route. But, yes, I have pretty much always wanted to have a publisher. There is something to be said about being recognized and taken seriously for my work, even though the feeling is hard to explain well! Floating on cloud nine would come close for me! It was quite the exhilarating moment when they approached me. My wife would tell you that I Iost some sleep for sure.

Nick: I have been hearing rumours that you have been inundated with publishing offers for your second “Reprisal” novel. Is there any truth to that?

Cliff: Sure, they want to get their hands on a “Reprisal” manuscript. However, let me explain that I’ve some bad interactions with publishers. So, I guess I am a little bit gun shy. They have the potential of getting my work more exposure than I’m able to get on my own, although you have made a huge difference in that area, Nick. Your PR is what pushed me over the edge into becoming a #1 bestseller on Kindle. I’d need to be sure the publisher is going to give me good PR and a reasonable royalty before I’ll sign. I don’t like the idea that too many of them just want to skim the profit of the top and run, leaving you to figure out how to get things moving beyond the initial bump. I guess I’m saying yeah I’m interested, but it has to be a good deal.

Nick: Thank you, Cliff. It was one helluva ride taking that book to number one. Let me ask you, Randy, what is “The Summoner” about?

Randy: It is really about a young woman coming of age, an ancient prophecy being fulfilled, a magical sword of destiny, a bunch of really bad guys, lots of strange creatures– both good and evil–her rescuing her family, finding love, a beautiful heroine that saves the world that they live in. All the right things! And that’s just the debut novel and the beginning!

Nick: You are, of course, writing these books for the YA audience. Are you trying to spread a message, Randy?

Randy:  Good question, and it could have many variable answers. Mainly my message would include, but not be limited to, some of the following thoughts: you can be far more than you ever dreamed of, but it takes determination, perseverance, and a relentless pursuit of your goals. Don’t rely only on yourself, for help often comes from others when you don’t expect it. Be willing to accept what you can’t change, but be empowered by your goals to change the things you can. Have a purpose that will drive you forward towards your destiny while always remembering all that you do does affect the lives of others around you. Do what is right, even if it means self-sacrifice. Have deep and true values that you live for and are willing to die for.

                                     Take the plunge!

Pick up the latest Randy Massey release alongside the latest Cliff Roberts offering!

Jul 30

Roth Returns With Sophie Knox…

The

     NEW

            Terrence Roth

                  Novel is here………..

 

 

 

Jul 28

New Frontiers With Bestseller Frank Fiore

Looking back through history, there have been key phrases that have long outlived the men who said them. They have helped us win battles and have formed thoughts that have influenced countless lives. Horace Greeley said, “Go West, Young Man.” There was also “Remember The Alamo” and “Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death.”

History, especially the history of the United States, is all about New Frontiers, and Frank Fiore is a writer who pushes to find the boundaries and extend them. First, there was the Frank Fiore who wrote non-fiction bestsellers. Then there was the Frank Fiore who wrote fiction for fun. Now, we face the Frank Fiore who is writing the bestsellers. The first one was “Chronicles of Jeremy Nash.” Now, he has a new one. It’s called “Oracle” and it broke into the bestseller list just a few days after release.

Let’s go talk to Frank….

Q) Why writing? What is it about writing that gets you excited?

A) I’m the kind of person the loves to talk about my ideas and beliefs. Writing is another way of telling my story. Not in a biographical sense but telling others what I feel – educating them, too – in a way that uniquely entertains.  If I could get a reader to say “Good story. Well written” I’ve done my job. I don’t want to win a Pulitzer in literature. I just want to know that people enjoy my story telling and will follow me into my next flight of the imaginary.

Q) You are a well-renowned non-fiction writer. Why fiction now?

A) I’ve always wanted to write fiction. My first foray into fiction was as a freshman in high school where I wrote the first few chapters of a novel. About a dozen years later, I wrote a complete Sci-Fi novel one summer on a typewriter while housesitting. The story was influenced by one of the Golden Age of Science Fiction writers. Heinlein I believe. It wasn’t very good, but I did complete it.

Q) What, in your opinion, is the key ingredient to a great story?

A) Plot. Plot. Plot. After all, that IS the story. I believe a good story will trump so-so writing but not visa versa. Literary writing, deep characterization, and detailed settings are all useless if the characters’ BEHAVIOR does not drive the plot forward. Characters must be driven by their characterization in a meaningful way to drive the plot forward. It goes without saying that the plot must progress in a logical way that makes sense to the reader.

Q) What do you try to add to your stories to make them Frank Fiore stories?

A) I love to add plot twists and red herrings. One reader said of one of my books that the plot twist hit him right in the gut. It was a shocking surprise to him. That’s the kind of reaction I like to get from the reader. My stories are not derivative or predictable. That’s what makes them entertaining.

Q) When you go in search of a book, what do you personally look for in a book?

A) OK, I’m going to break a cardinal rule here. I haven’t read a book in years. Yes, I know, the rule is that writers should read other writer’s works. Not I. I watch tons and tons and tons of movies. Why? Because I write my novels as movies. They pace like movies. They are a fast read and ‘get the story out’. I learned a lot about writing from the movies I watch. Plot, characters and setting. A reader can visualize the story on a screen as they read my novels.

Q) It’s not so unusual for writers to not read. Okay, how do you like to write? Gentle music late at night? Early morning to the call of birds? What’s your bag?

A) As for time of day – first thing in the morning.  As forplace – I enjoy writing at an upscale restaurant bar or resort. Allows my mind to escape the confines of a computer screen. I meet interesting people there, too, that I can use as characters in my novels.

Q) Let me go back a little way with you. You don’t read many books right now, but what was the first book you ever enjoyed?

A) I love Robert Heinlein – one of the Golden Age of Science Fiction writers.  His most enjoyable was ‘Time Enough for Love’. Especially the Notebook of Lazarus Long that were included in the story. One of his best pieces of advice from his notebook was ‘You live and learn, or you don’t live long’.  Lazarus was sort of a futuristic Ayn Rand.

Q) What do you think of the self-publishing trend? Are you a supporter of self-publishing?

A) It is the wave of the future for this reason and this reason only: Unless you are a famous author like Cussler, Clancy or Brown, even if you get a publisher to take one your book, YOU – the author – will have to do all the marketing. So if the author is doing all the work, why not keep the a healthy hunk of the royalties?

Q) You have sold over 50,000 non-fiction books. Why do you think you made such a huge splash in the non-fiction world? What created that success?

A) Publishers do little to help you market. They send out a few press releases and tell their sales people to introduce the book to bookstores. Other than that it’s the author’s job to market his or her books. I believe it’s all down to hard work and getting out there.

 

Frank F. Fiore is currently riding high with “The Oracle.” Get your copy right now!

Jul 27

The Truth About Vietnam

Covert The Not Known is the story of men at war; it is about the things men do in war and the things war does to them. Restless, filled with dreams of adventure, seeking more of life than a suburban existence, Jerry Nedwick set out to prove himself as countless generations have done: by going to war. His war lay in the jungles of Vietnam.

I want to present this interview to you. It is an interview that will tell you more about the man who wrote “Covert.” This is an interview with Jerry’s lovely widow, Connie.

After you read the interview, go and read the book “Covert The Not Known.” It will really tell you what happened in Vietnam. Between Connie’s answers you will find the words of Jerry…

Q) Thank you for agreeing to this interview, Connie. Let me start by asking you this—how did you meet Jerry?

A) Hi, Nick. A mutual friend introduced Jerry and I at a party, and we were together from that point on. It was love at first sight, we married six weeks later, and that marriage lasted for forty-two years when he passed.

I made this writing in defiance of a Secret Clearance as a Covert Recon Marine after maintaining that pledge for over 40 years. I do so to inform the public of the realities we face to combat the Evil that knows no rules or no deeds too grotesque.

Q) So, how did you feel when you found out Jerry was writing a book?

A) I was very surprised that Jerry was writing a book. He hardly ever read books, so I could not wait to read what he was going to write. The only things I ever saw him read were gun magazines, health books and the entire set of the encyclopaedia. He had started writing another book after “Covert” but only completed a few pages before he passed away. What a story teller to have never read novels himself.

After several years and much deliberation about my participation in the Vietnam War, I decided to write down my experiences and memories that happened over 43 years ago. The events, places and names are as accurate as 43 years of lapsed time allows. What you read is based on a great deal offact, but it is upon the reader to determine fact from fiction.

Q) For a man who hardly read “Covert The Not Known” is an impressive book. What did you think of it when you first read it?

A) When I first read Jerry’s book, I was shocked. I did not know he had gone through everything he put down on paper. His writing brought to light a lot of things about Jerry I had always wondered about. I think I discussed some of those in our first interview. His nightmares, the sometimes changing of bedrooms because he was afraid he would hurt me, his getting up in the middle of the night to patrol our property, his always being on the defensive with locks, guns and etc.

Stories, recollections and events are based on those of a small group of men who shared their lives and deaths in a jungle infested with evil. The images, sounds and memories came from their hearts and minds and, on several occasions, from the depths of their souls.

Q) How do you feel about the way the book has been received by readers?

A) I am very happy the book has been received so well by those who have read it. However, I know Jerry wanted the book to reach lots of people and I am still trying to get it out there to fulfil his dream. He said he had to let people know what went on in Vietnam, not for himself, but for the guys in his team that did not make it home. I also believe it was a mental release for Jerryand I hope he found some peace before his passing.

In the Covert Recon team, each man’s reality in his everyday life in an undeclared covert war was different from another’s reality, but they were no less real…This writing is not for those with weak stomachs or those who are not open-minded about what men do in war and what war does to men. It is painfully graphic at times, but events and people are described in such a way that one might understand how things happened when surrounded by the worst of humanity and the instincts to survive.

Q) Recently, you started a Facebook page for the book. How do you feel about the way the page has grown?

A) I love the new Facebook page and am quite surprised with all the likes and messages.

 …My sleepless nights, torment, anger and tortured memories are no more or less than any of those felt by the brave men and women who served in similar conditions. I understand their realities and hope they understand mine.

 

Q) Can you see “Covert The Not Known” as a movie?

A) Oh yes, I see “Covert The Not Known” as an action packed movie. I just hope someone else will see the value of making it into a movie. I would really like to see it on the big screen while I am still on this earth to know all of Jerry’s dreams have come true.

Get your copy of “Covert The Not Known” to learn the real truth behind the Vietnam war…

Jul 25

Heavyweight Champion Of The Recession: Terry Irving

The recession is biting us all. I want to share a book that will, hopefully, help you get back on your feet.

This book is written for you: the middle-class worker who thought this would never happen; who believed you were invulnerable, destined for a great career, and that unemployment was something that only happened to other people. It’s for good, hard-working people who see the American Dream moving inexorably out of reach and who are totally unprepared for what is to come.

Well, I have been there (far more often than I’d like) and these are the options, tricks, and traps that have kept me sane and solvent. It’s real-world advice based on having lived through the sledgehammer blow of being fired, the terror that wakes you up in the middle of the night, the desperation when you hit the ATM and your account is empty, the day when you don’t even have enough cash to get your car out of the parking lot.

Trust me, I’ve already made all the mistakes there are to make.

It’s also the tricks I’ve learned to keep afloat, to buy the baby diapers when I didn’t have a single dime, to pay doctors and hospitals and lawyers and insurance and mortgages, to slide through with my skin intact, most of my family at least still speaking to me, and even have a laugh or two.

It’s a compendium of what I really bought with the money I wasted on that online job-site upgrade, paying for a ‘professionally-written’ resume, and hiring that ‘job coach.’ Not to mention all the times that I’ve worked weeks on a project that everyone ‘simply knew’ would bring in a million dollars – except that it didn’t.

Read the book. It will make you feel better and, just possibly, it will help you get that next job a bit sooner.

You can find out more here!

Jul 24

Terror Has A New Enemy…

It is with great pleasure that I can announce the release of the most exciting book of the year.

The book is called “Hard Kill” and it’s creator is called Charlie Flowers.

London.

The city is reeling from a series of deadly attacks by a new radical terrorist group.

One man is on the front-line.

Rizwan Sabir.

A former al-Qaeda operative, he was lifted by Counter-Terrorism Command – and now battles his old comrades.

Terror has a new enemy -and he’s taking no prisoners.

Working above the law and below government radars, Riz must lead a dangerous double life with the help of Holly “Bang-Bang” Kirpachi, a Burlesque dancer and internet hacker with a talent for breaking codes – and bones.

With time running out, Riz must put his life on the line to identify the terrorists.

And silence them forever – before he is silenced himself.

‘Hard Kill’ is a tough, realistic thriller that will grip readers from the first page. It is perfect for fans of Andy McNab, Robert Ludlum and Tom Clancy.

“Absolutely rocks. Every line reeks with the raw authenticity of a writer who knows first-hand what the hell he’s talking about.” – Tom Cain, bestselling author of the Sam Carver thrillers.

“The most realistic account of undercover ops in the context of Islamist terrorism yet written.” – Mubin Shaikh, counter-terrorism consultant and former covert operative, Canadian Security Services

Charlie Flowers is an author and an adviser on terrorism and extremism.

Get your copy right now… Before you miss the greatest story of the 21st century….

Jul 24

Nick Wale Meets Hollywood Legend Alex Cord

As a kid, growing up in the nineties, TV was the thing. I still remember Saturday afternoons. The smell of the wind on the rain. The incessant chatter between my parents– and the coolest show of the time, on the TV, in front of me. The show was called “Airwolf” and my favourite character was a guy called “Archangel”. Now, back in the day, all the girls loved “Hawke,” the guys thought Dominic was funny– but we all knew the one guy we didn’t want to mess with was “Archangel.”

Now, I’m sitting in the middle of England- as a grown guy thinking about those days as a kid. It was one helluva time– long before I knew the first thing about interviews, or even actors. This was long before I had any incline that I would become PR to some of the best writers in the writing business. I guess it’s rather silly– but when I met Alex Cord, the Hollywood actor who played “Archangel” I was in awe.

Now, let me tell you about this actor. A great actor. Alex Cord. This first interview will concentrate on his early acting career, award-winning stage career and his work with some of the great actors of our time.

Alex Cord with Kirk Douglas

Q) Great to meet you, Alex. Let me start by asking when you first decided that acting was for you?

A) Good morning, Nick. Being an actor never entered my mind until I was in college studying English literature and discovered that all the pretty girls were in the dramatic arts department. I began to take some of their classes. Voice and diction, history of the theatre, Shakespeare. I was challenged by the Bard and became a serious student because of a great teacher. I had to get up and read aloud to the class. I was extremely shy, fearful, and reluctant at first, but encouraged by Professor Fanny Bradshaw’s praise and genuine belief in my ability, I slowly became more confident and soon found that I could enjoy performing. That wonderful silver-haired lady changed my life. I soon became passionately interested in the artistry of the printed word and the power of it well spoken. A girl friend aspiring actress was going to be in a university production on stage and suggested that I audition for a part. I did and was cast as an old farmer. I did enjoy that applause at the end.

Q) During those early days, you obviously discovered the power of the Bard… How did you get from student of the Bard to professional actor, working at the Stratford, Connecticut Shakespearian Festival?

A) The American Shakespeare Festival at Stratford, Connecticut was holding auditions for their second season. No less than Katherine Hepburn and Robert Ryan appeared in the first season. Again, my girlfriend auditioned and was accepted in a student program with great teachers and parts in the plays. She suggested I try out for the same. With the help of Fanny Bradshaw, I did, and was accepted. A glorious summer followed with parts in Hamlet and A Midsummer Night’s Dream. At the end of the summer, I had been asked to join a group of hugely talented actors to perform for the winter in repertory at a prestigious theatre in St. Louis, MO.

Q) And then, you took a leap of faith and ended up working in London– how did that happen?

That led to off-broadway theatre and eventually to a starring role in a play on the London stage in England. A dream had come true. Blessed with astounding reviews at the time of the Annual London Critics Awards, I was nominated for the Best Actor Award along with Christopher Plummer in Becket and Albert Finney in Luther. Mr. Plummer won.

Q) You were of course, part of a cutting edge period of Television acting. How did it feel to be working with such actors as George C. Scott? In fact, let me add to that– was George C. Scott considered a great actor, even in his early years?

A) Back in the states, I worked on all the great TV shows. Naked City, U.S. Steel Hour, East Side West Side, with the amazing George C. Scott. He was an absolute joy to work with. Generous beyond, giving me every advantage with the camera. The show was all about my character of a paraplegic. At the end of a very dramatic scene between George and me, the entire crew stood and applauded. An extremely fine memory. We became lifelong friends. Once after a long time not seeing each other we were at the same event. He spotted me first, called my name, and charged at me like a grizzly, flung his arms around me and lifted me off the ground. Another extremely fine memory. From his first appearances off-Broadway, he was considered a “great actor.” Because he was.

Q) I guess the early TV work was a huge learning curve. Would you agree with that?

A) I would. The work in early TV was a great training ground for learning about the camera and the difference between film and stage acting. And of course getting the opportunity to work with legends of the theatre. Burgess Meredith, Luther Adler, Jacob Adler, John Emery, Morris Cornovsky, Dame Judith Anderson, Burt Lahr, Nancy Marchand, Geraldine Fitzgerald.

Q) So, from stage, to TV… How did you break into the movie world? You went from TV/ stage actor to playing the brother of Kirk Douglas.

A) Back in those days they would fly a New York actor out to Hollywood to do a TV show that was made there. The epitome of a gentleman was a gifted director named Richard Quine who had seen me in a TV show and asked for me to do a screen test for a leading role in his new movie, Synanon. I got the part, a great role of a hardcore drug addict who falls in love with the exquisite Stella Stevens. Edmund O,Brian and Eartha Kitt were also in it. Then came, The Brotherhood, with one of the great men of all time, Kirk Douglas. An excellent film directed by the prolific Martin Ritt. A very well written story about the power of the Mafia. I played Kirk’s brother, a super good role and one of the best experiences with another man who became a life-long friend.

Q) Then, came the film that my mother would always call “the Alex Cord” movie. The first picture that would see you become a movie star… How did you catch the starring role in “Stagecoach” and, how did you approach trying to fill the boots of the “Duke?”

A) Stagecoach. What a daunting offer that was. To be forced into attempting to fill the monumental boots of the Duke. Of course I tried to not think about that and approach it as I would any other role. Everyone was very supportive. Ann-Margaret, my dear friend Stephanie Powers, we had done several TV shows together, Slim Pickens was an old cowboy friend.

Q) That was the movie that saw you working with “El Bing” in perhaps his last great role. What was it like working with such a huge motion picture star?

A) The legend himself, Bing. He was a consummate pro. Knew exactly whathe was doing and did it so well. I don’t know how much practice he had in life at beingdrunk but he sure pulled it off on screen. When we finished filming and had gone our separate ways, he had seen a screening of the finished product and took the time to write me the most complimentary letter about my work and how much he enjoyed me and felt that I should be proud. I’m not much for saving things like that but my mother insisted that I have it framed. She was a huge fan of Bing. I arranged for her to have dinner with Bing and me and Stephanie. Bing could not have been more kind, gracious and attentive. A great memory for Mom and another one for me.

Q) Let me ask you, you are considered to be one of the top horsemen in Hollywood, and at the same time an award-winning stage actor. How do you compare working with on westerns to working on stage? Which do you prefer?

There is no way to compare working on stage in the theatre with filming a western. They are two totally different worlds. My life as a serious, professional horseman has never done me any good on stage that I know of. It has however done me a lot of good when making westerns.

Q) Where did your love of horses come from?

A) My parents put me on a pony when I was two years old. I still have the photo of me grinning from ear to ear while another kid in the background is screaming to get off. I was born with an inexplicable love for horses that has only grown enormously throughout my life. I was gratefully gifted with a desire to know all that I could about them, a sense of how they think and feel. I have studied with some of the best trainers and teachers in the world in all disciplines and have found that the best teacher of all is the horse. If you are willing to listen. The secret to becoming one with a horse is love. Respect. Earning his trust. Communicating in a way that he understands what you want. A horse can feel a fly on him. You’ve seen them quiver their skin to make the fly leave. If they can feel a fly, how heavy handed does one need to be if the horse understands what it is you want? There is a potent, influential energy that comes from within the horse and those who fall under its spell are the slaves of a grand passion.

Catch the next installment of this interview soon– but, right now you need to hear about the brand new Alex Cord novel. “Days of Harbinger”

“Can one man change the way the entire world thinks? Johnny Grant is a world famous movie star with a passionate social conscience and a gift of clairvoyance. Intensely discontent with man’s inhumanity to man, contemptuously critical of corruption in government, greed, selfishness, he’s convinced the human race is headed for self-destruction. Depressed by an insistent awareness of his impotence to affect the changes he feels would improve life for all of us, he hungers for power. Ultimate power. Filming in Australia, he inexplicably vanishes without a trace. Instant news Worldwide. A turbulent, national manhunt ensues. Three days later he returns with an unbelievable explanation. Realizing the fantastic nature of his story, and lacking evidence, he refuses to be put in the position of convincing anyone. Is what he says true or not? Midst a media frenzy, his fame and influence explode in controversy. Will it bring him the power he craves?”

Get your copy TODAY!

Jul 22

Tom Ufert Preaches Peace, Love And Books…

Tom Ufert, a 46-year-old quadriplegic afflicted with three different disabilities is an inspirational voice in our troubled times. He received his bachelor of arts in political science and history as a scholarship recipient from Centenary College of Louisiana. Tom is a former Rotary International graduate Fellow who attended Australian National University in Canberra, ACT, specializing in East Asian political affairs and was a White House Fellow nominee. He is a former Lyndon Baines Johnson Congressional Intern and constituency aid for two former United States members of Congress. His past services for 11 political campaigns on both sides of the aisle were highly valued by former Louisiana Governor Charles “Buddy” Roemer, Henson Moore the former assistant chief of staff to U.S. Vice President George H.W. Bush, and the present U.S. Trade Ambassador, Ron Kirk.

At age 23, he was the youngest artistic Board Chairman in the United States as head of the Shreveport Summer Music Festival. Mr. Ufert has served as a member of two other 501(c) three charity boards including his beloved fraternity Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia as well as the community advisory board for his former rehabilitation hospital. Over the years he has acquired extensive customer service experience in the food and beverage, hotel, insurance, home security, and pharmaceutical industries. Mr. Ufert has served as a member of two other 501(c) three charity boards including his beloved fraternity Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia as well as the community advisory board for his former rehabilitation hospital. His professional memberships include Phi Alpha Theta, Sigma Tau Delta, and the Worldwide Who’s Who. In recent years he has worked tirelessly as a volunteer fundraiser for numerous AIDS charities in his community and served briefly as the community affairs liaison for Legacy Founders Cottage. Tom Ufert, a native of Louisiana, now resides in Texas.

How have your experiences as a writer compared to the preconceptions?

A complete picture of opposites!  I thought writing the book was going to be the hard part.  Boy, was I wrong about that one.  Without a doubt, marketing and promoting have been the real challenges.  I knew that my first book would not leap into the hallmarks of American literature and never foolishly assumed my story was so compelling that it would roar to the top of a NY Times Best Sellers list.  Yet, considering my book was just released in November of last year and I’ve had several Barnes and Noble book signings, numerous 4/5 star reviews, a TV interview, a radio interview, nearly a dozen blog interviews, 2 websites, 4 video trailers, rumors of interest from other respected publishers and nationally syndicated literary print magazines…I’M NOT COMPLAINING!  Granted, this has not translated into a burgeoning bank account, but I’m a realist—that wasn’t expected over night in the first place.  I’ve learned so much about the business, and I think it’s positioned me quite well with a sound foundation for the future.  I now feel more confident in my writing and am blessed with a plethora of fellow writers to draw from for feedback and use as competent sounding boards.  My knowledge of style, technique, format, character/plot development are all significantly stronger than a year ago.

It takes a lot of character to publish something, to put it out there for the world to see. Even more so with regards a book of such a personal nature. What made you decide that this was the time to make that step?

It was quite personal…THE TIME WAS RIGHT FOR ME!  After obtaining the Dragon voice activated software, excuses about difficulty typing were no longer viable.  Indeed, writing was FUN – to actually see an entire book grow day by day, chapter by chapter, tens of thousands of words by tens of thousands of words…WHAT A RUSH!  Grandma Campbell passed away before she ever got to see her seed grow into a towering oak.  I’m grateful she did have the opportunity to read several of the draft manuscript chapters,…especially the dedication.   It made her cry, and she was more determined than ever, after reading some of it, that it really would make a difference in other’s lives.  I am gratified that certain parts of Adversity Builds Character will have poignant meaning to certain people with regards to contemporary current events.  For example, the timing of my book fits perfectly with recent natural disasters causing adversity for so many; the Sandusky tragedy that has affected so many young men may find some comfort in my experiences…maybe not, but the timing actually prompted me to write about my own experience; in the era of when our fellow man needs a helping hand more than ever, perhaps my book will inspire others to reach out an uplifting hand and others will find hope that they, too, can rise like a phoenix from the ashes of their own tribulations.

You include several quotes throughout the book, but is there one that resonates more with you than the others?

“I have food in my gut, a roof over my head, clothes on my back, a little money to get by on, friends who care about me, and those who love me – REALLY, WHAT ELSE MATTERS?  It gives one pause when we want to whine and complain about how bad our lives are! “ I think that one encapsulates the lesson I’m trying to convey.  We all have difficulties, but think about it and you’ll realize how blessed you are and that so many are not so lucky.  I hope that sentiment becomes a contagion that will translate into community action for the less fortunate.

You are in a long term relationship now, but it was not always the case. Did your partner know all about your past before you started writing Adversity Builds Character?

MOST DEFINITELY!  For four years before he and I committed to each other, I had been quite promiscuous, to put it mildly.  One night stands were not just a way of life, they were a regular pursuit.  He knew all too well about my “randy” behavior and even about my infidelities in previous “committed” relationships.  We dated or courted for three months with no expectations of monogamy.  However, it was clear from the beginning in both our minds that we had found “the right one.”  Neither of us was willing to voice our true feelings out of fear that we might scare the other one off from getting too close too fast.  Yet Grandma Campbell knew it was real when I confessed two epiphanies—first, I finally knew the difference between LOVING SOMEONE and BEING IN LOVE WITH SOMEONE; second, I FINALLY COULD IMAGINE MYSELF GROWING OLD WITH SOMEONE…Lester!  This November will make thirteen years and it is definitely love until death do us part.  To top it off, my physical challenges did not deter him in the slightest.

Writing is a craft that you can never truly master, but do you think that there is a big difference between writing Fiction and writing a (form of) memoirs?

Honestly, this is a difficult question for me to answer since I’ve never written anything fictional.  Writing a memoir is pretty much a factual account of real events.  Now, in my case, names were changed to protect reputations and memories of those that have passed.  In many ways this was due to some of the controversial subjects I’ve addressed in my book.  Furthermore, it has a legal purpose to avoid any possible objection from individuals that might have felt slighted or misconstrued by the events relayed in my work.  With fiction, I surmise, that a very creative imagination is heavily required to establish credible character and plot development.   I’m not sure that is one of my strong points but who knows; maybe I’ll give it a try in the future.

Besides being on the promotion campaign, you are working on two other projects right now, correct?

Yes, that’s correct.  Presently I’m close to finishing a book of quotes and am diligently working on my second major book.  It is a sequel to Adversity Builds Character.

The ABC experience sounds like quite the read. I look forward to seeing it. Do you have a publication date in mind?

ABC – Australia Beyond Canberra is one of the books in the initial planning stages.  Certain details still have to be worked out with my Aussie collaborators, so no publication date is set. Perhaps sometime in 2014.

Was it always the plan to split the two experiences into two publications?

Actually, no it wasn’t.  However, mid-way through writing Adversity it became very clear that my year Down Under was such an overwhelming experience, I would not be doing my readers or the adventure itself justice by trying to cram it into a few chapters.  Furthermore, my fellowship with studies and travels involved so many fascinating events for “a stranger in a strange land” that a mere couple of chapters would not suffice.

I understand you also be donating a percentage to charity.

From the very beginning, I decided that a percentage of everything I write would go to charity.  I’ve just felt all along that it was the right thing to do.  Besides, I also hoped that my readers would share my sincere belief that it was a perfect deal – purchasing something worth reading knowing that part of their purchase was helping others.

Will you be donating to the same charities or perhaps an Australian branch of the same?

While I was in Australia there were a number of noble causes that caught my attention such as their Kakadu Wildlife Preservation Fund, charities for the air doctors that fly in the outback, and the Great Barrier Reef, etc. However, nothing has been decided.  Some more research needs to be conducted.

Thank you for joining us as we start the second week of the Tom Ufert blog tour. I hope you enjoyed this interview, and would like to ask you to join us again tomorrow when we visit the home of Ranee Dillon with another guest post written by the author.

You can connect with Tom on Facebook or grab your copy of ‘Adversity Builds Character’ here.

 

Jul 17

The Pea Green Sea: Robert J. Watson Returns!

Robert J. Watson has one of those distinctive stories. The kind of story that leads one to wonder “how come this guy hasn’t written a biography already?”

The truth is, we are writing a biography of sorts. This kind of interview series can be pieced together to create the history of an artist.

So, let’s continue on this journey.

The history of Robert J. Watson.

Q) Let me start by asking you, Robert, what does it take to be a merchant sailor?

A) I have said for many, many years, sailors are born into it. You will never just be one; and I think you need a sense of adventure, a longing to see the world, and a love of the sea you could never get ashore. You definitely need a sense of humour.

Q) What’s so important about a sense of humour?

A) Nick, you live in a tight community, and every day is different. The work is hard and sailors have a habit of playing practical jokes on each other. There is a saying: “You should not have signed on if you cannot take a joke.”

Q) So, joking aside, you are in the middle of the ocean. How does that feel?

A) It is the most wonderful feeling in the world. You can be a thousand miles from land, maybe even in a storm, but each day you smile because it is you and the sea. I also think you have to be a little scared. The sea demands fear. It is a respectful kind of scared though. The sea demands respect, or it’s likely to bite you in the arse.

Q) Many people warn of the danger of the sea. What is the real danger of the sea?

A) It’s anger and unpredictability. You just never know what is going to happen. I mean, you have to be just a little insane to do the job. When I signed on, I earned twelve pounds a week. You do not become a sailor if you want to earn money.

Q) It must be lonely being out at sea all the time.

A) The answer to that is yes and no. Yes, because you are so far away from everything. No because you are with people you trust with your life and, like I said before, the humour plays a big part.

Q) Let me ask you this, what is the daily routine for a sailor?

A) We got up and ate at around 6 am. If you are in port, then the priority is working cargo. A note about breakfast, Nick. You always checked under the egg in case the cook has left half a roach. Then you head out ondeck for routine ships work. Ticketed sailors might splice ropes; many days were spent painting and repairing the ship. It all depends on the days works sheets really. We would work till about six or seven. Then you showered off, headed ashore and spent your hard earned booty.

Q) It left plenty of time for you to read books then, Robert?

A) Funnily enough, yes. I was studying for my tickets so every moment I had free was spent with my nose stuck firmly inside a text book. I had a very hard task master in one skipper, and he pushed me and pushed me to do them.

Q)  What was your first sea journey like?

A) I thought I was going to die. We set sail from London, and the Jersey sea sickness was the worst feeling in the world. The first officer told me hot sweet tea would cure it, for sure. Whilst I was making one, he said I could make one for him, too. Well, I have told you already that you need a sense of humour, right? He liedand the sweet tea–it makes it much worse. He just recounted the old saying to me, “Shouldn’t have signed on if you can’t take a joke, young Bob.” I stayed friends with him, and sadly he died last year. I will never forget him because he showed me how to be a sailor. In fact, I dedicated the last book to him.

Q) I was just thinking to myself– why the merchant navy and not the Royal Navy?

A) I did try for the Royal Navy. I wanted to be a marine engineer, but I was told I would have to go back to school. I was still considering it when then a job in the merchant came up so I took that instead.

Q) How long were you generally away from home?

A) You’d be away for around three months at a time. Then I would come home on leave. I did do a container run from a small place called Glasson Dock, and I could have been home every other day. My old man called it duck pond trading. So, I went back down south to work.

Q) You had some very interesting experiences with the U.S. Navy around the time of Vietnam, right?

A) You are making me think, now! We carried Bombs for the US Navy from Kent to Belgium, and we could only carry 200 tons at a time. When we got there, we unloaded into these massive yank ships. One time some smart arse Yank flushed the heads out over our decks. The skipper told the first mate to go and demand it be cleared up. So, I went with him .The big Yank stood there with the huge cigar in his mouth. George, the mate, said, “Hey, someone has just flushed all your crap onto our decks, we want it clearing up.”

This Yank took the cigar out of his mouth and looked at us like dirt. “Well, Bub,” he said. “If you can find the dirty bastard that did it I will surely make him clean it up.” That was the end of the discussion, really. The Yank put his sunglasses back on, and the cigar went back into his mouth. I was junior hand so I got to clean it up. I have a photo of me somewhere sitting on top of the bombs. Good times.

Q) Why did you eventually leave the sea, Robert?

A) Simple–I got married.

Get your copy of “The Treasure of the Sarah M” today!

 

Jul 12

Brainography? Tom Ufert Investigates J.W. Northrup’s Brain

Tom at DeskJ.W. Northrup asked me the other day, “Can you get me an interview with Tom Ufert?”

“J.W., I’m not sure we can fit that interview into your schedule.”

“Get me an interview with Tom Ufert,” J.W. reasserted. “I want to meet him.”

It was a done deal. Tom Ufert, author, disabled wonder and all around wonderful guy came to meet the literary powerhouse we call “J.W. Salesrup” at the Novel Ideas office.

It was a warm day as both authors sat down to be interviewed. J.W., carrying his Utah tan and Tom Ufert, lighting a cigarette… We were ready to start…

 

Nick:  So, J.W., your new book will be about Brainography. What’s the deal?

J.W: Brainography is the salvation of mankind. It is the great hope of man! It is just science applied to Evolution and the Brain.

Tom: I like that! However, I am still curious, what is it actually about?

J.W: As we all know, the brain is the cause of thinking. It is the calculator. If the calculator has a bad circuit, it will give wrong answers in the form of neuroses, psychoses. Brainography will address these “Mutant Circuits” and bypass them!

Nick: Tom, let me ask you, would you give Brainography a go? Do you think you personally would benefit from it?

Tom: Well, now that’s a novel approach. Does it occur over time? Sounds right up my alley! I like things that make me think and especially ones that challenge the status quo.

Nick: J.W., let me ask you something different here. Do you channel Brainography? Do you use it in your everyday life?

J.W: Channelling is not an appropriate term. You have got to go in and fix your unwanted thinking. That is done by applying the procedure in the “therapy” section. The only problem is mutant brains’ natural resistance to Evolution’s natural selection process. Our society is so “Help the Needy” oriented, and this is a brain mutation! Brainography would handle that.

Tom: Who are the needy?

J.W: Literally, if you get the mutated brain circuits handled, the brain will not be needy in the first place, and we all can create a world of healthy, happy people.

Nick: Tom, do you think J.W. has hit upon something different here? Something special?

Tom: Well, my adopted family taught me to be self-reliant. It’s important to teach a person to fish rather than give him a fish. That was the kind of thinking I grew up with. I definitely think he’s hit on something. It’s true that we have mutant brain patterns that society is unprepared to deal with. It’s all too common to hear the words “lock them away.” However, if we addressed these issues in their early developing stages, this would all become a moot point.

Nick: J.W., I would like to ask you if you work is aimed at the young? The old? Who will benefit from your work?

J.W: Both. Of course the old have more mutated circuits turned on than the young. But all one needs to do is follow the Brainography Manual step by step and it will help people overcome the mutations. There’s a list of over 100. “I’m always right disease.” “All men are dumb disease.” “Low Pants Disease.” “Obama disease.” The list goldslavesgoes on and on.

Tom: It sounds like a list of excuses rather than diseases. I know I’m afflicted with the disease called “do I have the time?” I also have “will I have the stamina for all of this?” In the end, I just need to face my challenges, adapt to the circumstances, and act accordingly. That’s how I handle it.

Nick: Tom raised an interesting point there, J.W. Do you believe that many of these “diseases” are just regular excuses?

J.W: According to Brainography, they are “wrong answers” given by the brain. You could label them excuses. Essentially, the brain is computing incorrectly, and that becomes your reality. Brainography will directly address those “excuses” and remove them. Then one can proceed unencumbered by those considerations.

Nick: Interesting. What do you make of that, Tom?

Tom: I like that.

Nick: Tom, let me ask you something, do you believe that excuses are the biggest cause of problems in the world?

Tom: Yes and no. Yes, people far too quickly throw out excuses for their lack of addressing what needs to be done. No, because we’ve allowed our mental acuity to slip so far. We just don’t like our comfort zones to be challenged, and that makes us mentally lazy. That’s why I like chess. It’s a game that challenges one to think five or six moves in advance and plan for each eventuality.

J.W: I would like to add that Tom is correct. Excuses hide confrontation, essential confrontation that must take place in order for change to occur. We tend to hide problems.

Nick: J.W., do you believe that confrontational episodes are important?

J.W: No, not confrontation in a negative sense, but confrontation as defined as one’s ability to face what is there.

Nick: Tom, this leads me to ask one question of you. What is the hardest thing you have ever had to face?

Tom: Can I just add that I think it forces you to deal with things rather than stick your head in the sand. The hardest thing I ever had to face were the things I had no control over. For example, my diseases, my mom’s death and struggles with my mobility. But once you accept those issues as beyond your control, deal with your own conceptualization of them, you can then move on. It’s like the prayer you’re taught in AA–there is nothing the human spirit cannot overcome except the unknown. Reach out, touch it, learn all you can about it, overcome and adapt to it. Then you have to move on to the next challenge. You just have to get off your butt and make things happen.

Pick up your copy of J.W. Northrup’s latest offering to the Gold Gods right here! If you want to know more about Tom Ufert, you may enjoy his autobiography “Adversity Builds Character.”  Look for Brainography to be released toward the end of 2013.