Jul 10

Kelley Harrell Presents: Gift Of The Dreamtime!

I have a very special interview to share with you all. Ms Kelley Harrell asked me to interview her for Novel Ideas. How could I refuse such a great request from a writer who has so much to say? I tried to get the real Ms Harrell down on paper, or blog paper anyway, for you to read about. Her book “Gift of the Dreamtime” is a really great read and I think after this interview, you will want to check it out!

Q) Welcome to Novel Ideas, Kelly! Let me start by asking you to tell me what drives you as a writer?

A) The burning cells in my head drive me to write. I can never write enough to soothe them, though the only solution seems to be to keep writing. They quiet every now and then, and it’s a nice reprieve, albeit a little boring. Then they sneak back up, taunting scenes and characters so flawed I have to plot them out of my head.

Q) Do you feel that a good story is more important than a good writing style?

A) No. I confess, I will read a topic I’m not interested in if it’s well-written over a sloppy guilty pleasure, any day. I cringe over a lot of what sells well, just because it’s cornered a market or hits on particular buzz topics. I really have such limited time to read that I can’t shove myself through something that’s not a joy to read. Those rare times that a book both conveys a great story and is well-written–they are Nirvana.

Q) How do you approach your writing? Late nights slaving over a laptop? Long days with the iPad? How do you like to work?

A) I  used to write every spare minute, often to the detriment of other things that needed to be done–little things like eating, laundry, sleep, interpersonal communication. Now that I have small children, I’ve learned that ancient maternal skill of compressing and expanding time. I can squeeze hours of productivity from a few minutes and still wonder where the day went. I set aside time daily to write, and even though it’s hard to stop on time, I honor my boundaries. As a result, I write cleaner and more efficiently, yet with even less rest…

Q) How would you personally describe your book “Gift of the Dreamtime?”

A) My memoir is about a period of my life during which I’d exhausted all the conventional healing approaches for PTSD and depression. I’d felt for well over a decade, at that point, that soul healing was needed, though such a novelty was hard to come by in rural North Carolina. I did everything I could on my own, along that line. When finally I did engage such a healer, my life changed dramatically. Not only did I feel relief for the first time in my life, I felt a responsibility to carry that healing forward to others.

Q) Do you think your book is unique? What makes you think so?

A) “Gift of the Dreamtime” is unique in that it takes place entirely on the other side of the veil–the spirit world destinations shamans travel to in order to bring back healing. No other book has accomplished that, and I’m extremely proud of that fact. That odd travel gives the book a fantasy-like quality, though the reality of what’s happening in it is quite tangible, deeply accessible by readers.

Q) I have learnt that different things excite different writers. What excites you as an author?

A) What doesn’t? I guess it’s exactly that. I am so inspired by the teasing plots in my head that I have to cull out which ones really want to play. Which ones stand the test of time (and synapses), and actually evolve as they work their way into words. Some don’t. They’re just indulgences, like personal TV shows–brief dalliances, pretty, saucy, but ultimately distracting fluff. The plots that bare themselves and refuse to leave until I can formulate them into peace–that excites me. That’s a kind of math I can actually do.

Q) Let me ask you something many interviewers wouldn’t care to ask. So, are sales or fanmail more important to you?

A) I’ll take both any given day, though what I remember most are the letters from readers. “Gift of the Dreamtime” is wide-open intimate, personal exposure, yet it demands the same of the reader. I feel very honored that people trust me enough to take the time to write, tell me their stories, and to share how the book moved them to a new place in their own healing.

Q) How was “Gift of the Dreamtime” received by readers?

A) It’s been wonderfully received, and that thrills me beyond words<—–rare. As a writer with an ego, I’m just over the moon that the book has reached the audience I intended it to, and as a modern shaman, I’m pleased that it is recognized as a contemporary healing story, inspiring others to tell their own.

Get your copy of “Gift of the Dreamtime” today!

Jul 09

How To Sell Books: An Interview With PR Nick Wale

 

Roberts HIT

Nick Wale turned “Reprisal: The Eagle Rises” into a hit overnight.

Interview undertaken by interviewer  Alex Laybourne and reblogged on several sites including www.nickwale.org

Ever hear the song “Hungry Like The Wolf”? Well, this guy is hungry for the hits. It becomes a struggle when you have written a book—a good book, no less! What do you do? You can hire some PR guy or girl who takes thousands off you and does nothing. You can pretend you wrote the book for your family. You can say that “there’s no money to be made in writing.” You can be the art writer with a chip on your shoulder.

You should meet the “Hitmaker.” He has just sailed into the top twenty on Amazon, again, with “Reprisal! The Eagle Rises.” The writer is Cliff Roberts, and the PR is Nick Wale. I caught him for an interview! What sells? Let’s get some free advice from a guy near the top of the pile.

Q) Hi, Nick, how are you taking to being the “Hitmaker”?

A) Hola! Who the hell came up with that? I thought that was an album by Burt Bacharach. I like it though. The “Hitmaker” is doing just fine… Just getting by, I guess.

Q) Modest? You are currently in the top twenty again? Is that just getting by?

A) No, Cliff Roberts is in the top twenty. Nick Wale, Hitmaker, or whatever you call him is still the dude who promotes books.

Q) Let me ask you—how do you take to all the stuff you’ve been called? You were “King of the Author Interviews,” then you were “Winner Wale,” and now you get called the “Hitmaker.”

A) I don’t really take it. It just is. I don’t let that stuff get out of proportion. If people believed half the hype in the world, we would all be driving Gremlins.

Q) So, what is a hit book?

A) A hit book sells. It sells because it has something about it. It doesn’t have to be perfectly edited, it doesn’t have to be THAT commercial. It just has to have that IT factor. It catches on. The trick for a PR is to identify WHAT will make it sell, and then exploit that. For Roberts, it’s the fact that he writes excellent stories. For Chris Keys, it was an eye for detail. Terry Irving has a unique way of writing. It’s different for everybody. All books aren’t born equal. A good PR realises that each book will have weaknesses, and people will pick on that. You just have to work hard to make sure the good stuff gets to the majority of people.

Q) What do you do that other PR services don’t do?

A) Nothing. I just do it with class, and I don’t make people take out mortgages to hire me. I don’t tell them that they will sell a million copies, either. I do what I can, and when the magic elves help me—it clicks! Don’t believe the hype when a PR agency tells you that if you spend ten thousand dollars you will have a hit. You probably won’t. A hit shouldn’t cost any more than time, patience, hard work and working with a professional who will charge you professional prices. The problem with the majority of PR services is simple—they don’t get hired that much—so the person who DOES hire them has to pay them a lot of money to make up for it.

Q) How often are you hired?

A) All the time! Results, a good eye for clients, a good list of authors, strong candidates for hit novels keep me in that magic thing called work. A good reputation helps. I think the biggest factor is that I just bring in the results—be it sales, strong interviews, opportunities, chart placings—whatever. I just bring them in.

Q) What should people look for in a PR?

A) Someone new, someone who doesn’t give you a spiel about how rich and successful they are. I was told by a great friend of mine, Jacob Singer, who is a top stock market analyst, “If you are told by someone that they have the tips to make you a million dollars—ask yourself—why aren’t they using them themselves?” That has always stuck with me. If someone is telling you how successful they are, question it. Look for evidence. I always try to tell my clients that anyone promising a number one tomorrow is lying through their teeth. Number ones take time.

Q) You are a conservative guy by nature, aren’t you?

A) Totally. I never rush into anything because that’s a good way to end up broke. I don’t rush, I don’t take people’s word for anything. I look at what they have done. I look at what they have achieved and where they are headed. I try to follow the example of a writer and businessman named Tom Blubaugh. Tom is a genius, but he never rushes into anything. He makes good decisions, and he makes them after giving them a lot of thought. I try to do the same. I ask myself, “Is this good for my business?” “Is this good for me?” and most importantly “Do I need this stress?”

Q) Did you get coached in the art of business?

A) No, not really. I just copied off successful people I know. I tried to see what worked for them. I worked for a writer called Mike Trahan, he was another guy who never rushed into anything. You had to explain things through and through. No funny business. Guess what? I took that to heart, and now I ask more questions than my clients. You can’t leave anything to chance.

Q) So, I guess you made mistakes, too?

A) Sure! I have passed up some great manuscripts. I have lost business through making mistakes. I have screwed up interviews. The important thing is that I got back up and tried again and again. I learnt from my mistakes, and that is what’s important. If something doesn’t work with your promotion—give it another shot! Try something else! Do anything, but don’t sit on your fanny wondering where it all went!

Q) How should people begin their promotional efforts?

A) Look at a budget. Look at what you can afford, and then look at what will sell your book best. Will it be a Facebook ad that will get you a new audience? Will you spend advertising money on your Facebook page? Will you buy an auto-tweeting client? Will you hire a PR? What will your budget allow you to do? Then look at where the market is… Are thrillers selling? Are memoirs? What is number one on Amazon? What does your book has that makes it stand out? Who are you? Do you havepersonality? What are your past experiences? Were you in the Service? You need to look at every angle. I will explain why.

The reason you need to look at every angle is simple. You need to know what groups you can join, military writers groups—for example. If you join one of these groups to promote your book—you will be more likely to be accepted if you have a military-themed book or background. You need to look at who you are and what you have to offer.

Q) What would you do with Joe Bloggs aged twenty-six with no job, a loan to pay for your services and a book about skateboarding?

A) I would get Joe on the youth groups, skateboarding groups. I would have him on webinars talking about skateboarding. He would be promoting his book the old fashioned way—with personality to an audience that wants to hear about his work. Not just spammed links all over the Internet. Joe would also be running a sample book; he would have professional interviews and double interviews with relevant people. Joe would be busy—too busy to remember that he has no job.

Q) Do you really think “spamming” is a bad idea?

A) Yes. It’s a bad idea all around because it ruins your reputation. You only get one reputation—bestselling writer or spammer? Your choice.

Q) How can you account for the success of “Reprisal! The Eagle Rises”?

A) I can’t. The readers can. Cliff Roberts and I have no idea why it took—we just did the right things. We promoted it the old fashioned wayand now it’s roaming around the top echelon of Amazon. Why did it hit? Where to flies go in winter? What happened to perms? Nobody knows, and frankly, nobody cares. You just have to do the right things to make the hits happen. Seriously, analyse yourself, your book and look where it will sell. Get yourself professional interviews, professional representation and exploit your books strengths. That’s how the magic happens. It worked for Lloyd Tackitt. I helped move 2900 of his books in one month. It happened for J.W. Northrup when his short stories went wild with sales. It happened for Cliff Roberts when he broke the top twenty on Amazon. It happened for Carol Bond. It can happen for you.

Q) Last question—where can people contact you?

A) Get to me via email at Nicholas.Wale (@) hotmail.co.uk or you can write to me at Nick (@) nickwale.org. You can also find me at my website www.nickwale.org . It will be a lot of fun meeting you!

 

Jul 08

Roberts Smashes His Way Into The Top 40!

Cliff Roberts beats Daniel SilvaNovel Ideas client Cliff Roberts has punched his way into the bestseller listings with his new book “Reprisal: The Eagle Rises”. Cliff, a native of Detroit, now living in Tenneesee, signed with Novel Ideas last month. Novel Ideas would like to congratulate our boy on a major hit publication!

Congratulations, Cliff! Self-publishing worked for you!

You can pick up a copy of “Reprisal! The Eagle Rises” today!

Jul 07

A Hypo In The Bum: Author Robert J. Watson Lets It Out

Sometimes as an interviewer you have to follow your gut. The “gut” is the number one source of advice you could ever hope for. You can hear it churning away if you listen carefully. It will tell you what will work. It will tell you what won’t work. It will let you in on secrets, it’s your best friend. So… When I met Robert J. Watson, I knew I had to interview him.

Robert is a man of the sea. That’s what drew me to him. He has lived his life on the sea, his father was a fisherman, he was a merchant seaman. He is at one with the sea. What more could an interviewer ask for? A man with a long love affair with a cruel mistress.

What made my stomach hit me with that notion? Well, I can’t exactly tell you WHY… But, I know we connected and here’s what happened…

Q) Evening, Robert. Are you ready to be grilled alive?

A) Take your best shot, mate.

Q) Okay, let me start with this–why are you so fascinated by the sea?

A)  I think you have to see it, please excuse the pun, and then be on it. The sea has a beauty about it and an anger that cannot be matched. If you see it at night when a bow wave is rolling back and that wave is white and emerald green you just stand there and smile and go, “Oh wow!”

Q) What word would you use to describe it?

A) Just that, “WOW!”

Q) You were born into a fishing environment, correct? What are your earliest recollections of the sea?

A) Yes. My earliest recollection? I nearly drowned in a little place called Glasson Dock on the Northwest coast of England. I walked on a jetty after being told not to, and I went between the boat and the quayside. Then, spending my summers on my godfather’s fishing boat with him my dad.

Q) Summers spent fishing? Can you describe that scene for us?

A) Flat calm waters in Morecambe bay. A coal fired boiler heating sea water ready for the shrimp nets to be hauled in. I can see porpoise swimming about a mile off the boat. Then, later, sitting on a coil of rope eating hot fresh shrimps as they come out of the boiler. Finally, falling asleep in the bow of the boat after a long, hard day working.

Q) So, let me ask you something. Back then, did you ever believe for a second that you would become a writer? A published writer?

A) No, never, Nick. As far as I was concerned, I was going to be a sailor, and that was it for me. I got into writing just to prove a point to myself, really.

Q) What was the point?

A) The point, Nick, was that I could write a book and have it published.

Q) Let me ask you, Robert. Why did you need to prove that point?

A) I had been told that I would never be able to do that. It was the wrong thing to say to me, really. I always rise to the challenge of proving a point worth my time proving.

Q) When did you first realise that you couldn’t handle being told that you couldn’t achieve something? I wonder if that was a childhood thing?

A) If I am honest, I was not the best scholar in the world. My English teacher saw something in my work. That aside, school and I did not get along. I am so stubborn, and I have to prove things to myself each day. I also have to achieve a certain level in my work. That’s how I have always been. That’s part of Robert J. Watson.

Q) Storytelling is also a part of Robert J. Watson. You have written several books, and I have one question for you. What do you need to write a novel?

A) The most important tool any writer has is imagination. Imagination and the ability to see each word, not just think each word. I try to write my work as a reader would see it. They cannot see what I’m thinking so I try to use my imagination to help them along. I am not sure if it works or not, but that’s the way I do it.

Q) Here’s a curveball of a question. What is imagination, really?

A) I think it is the ability to see something in your own mind and show it in whatever way you wish.

Q) When did you first discover that you had an imagination?

A) (Laughs) that was when I discovered I could do my English homework in ten minutes flat.

Q) What do you think of professional proofreaders? You have quite the talent for the English language—do you use a proofreader?

A) My last novel “The Secret of the Sarah M” was proofread professionally. Before that, I let my wife proof my work for me. Let me tell you, that is not always the best thing to do.

Q) You have written five books already, and you are working on the sixth. What did you originally want to write about?

A) I wanted to tell the story of a young boy who went to sea, and then the imagination took over. If I am honest, yes, there was a part of me in the character. I had no plan for the book; I had no preconceptions. I just sat down and wrote. The book that I held in my hands was called “Seasoned with Salt”. It was my first baby and, just like a first born child, I still love it. Of all the books I have written, it is still my favourite.

Q) When you sat down to write at first, what came out?

A) I noticed early on that it was a half decent story line. I still work the same way now. It all comes down to me and my computer rattling down a story, then I read it back. Let me give you a synopsis. The character followed his local river, the river Lune, to the sea. Once there, he joined a sailing ship called the STEMSI and ended up doing slave runs from the Middle East to the United States and got involved in the Civil War. I still wonder how I got all that down.

Q) How did you go about researching that one?

A) I did it all back to front really. The research was done after I had written the book. I ended up re-writing huge chunks of it.

Q) How did it feel to have a publisher accept your work?

A) I won’t deny it. I shed a tear because that book really deserved it.

Q) I was wondering, just now. What has been your most emotional moment as a man?

A) There have been many, Nick. I think personally–losing two of my brothers and my dad. Professionally, I think thatmoment was when I nearly had my nursing career ended by a schizophrenic patient. [Robert was a psychiatric nurse for several years after his career in the Merchant Navy.]

Q) What happened with the patient?

A) The short version of the story is that he had been admitted the day before. Nobody had told us of his past. I went into the male dormand he just attacked me. He knocked me across the dorm room and slammed me into a metal bed frame. He was looking directly at me, and I was thinking, “Oh shit, this is going to hurt.”

Q) I guess a male nurse in that environment has to take on an element of the work a prison warden is trained to do. Is that correct?

A) You are right in some ways. We were nursing staff and did not have the same back up or training as prison guards. When things kicked off, and that was pretty often really, every male member of staff from other wards would come to ours to help out. It would literally be a case of restraining the patient and getting them into a locked secure room. A hypo in the bum and lights out.

This is the first part of a four-part series Novel Ideas is conducing with Robert J. Watson. Watch for additional instalments soon!

Jul 05

Lifting The Veil: Tom Ufert Meets Michael Haden

Michael Haden and Tom Ufert both know the side effects of drinking and driving. Most importantly, they both know the side effects from addiction. Now, Tom Ufert,, author, politician and advocate will explain he has struggled with addictions. His addictions to sex, drugs and drink did not hinder his career—but they did change his life. A drink fuelled car crash led him to a hospital bed where not only did he have a cervical fracture, it was also discovered that he had HIV. His whole world fell apart. Tom had to mend every fence bit by bit. His book “Adversity Builds Character” tells all.

Now, Michael Haden is a case of a man affected by the loss of a loved one. A promising young student of his called Deana Murphy was killed in an accident. An accident she did not cause. A driver, drunk and emboldened by alcohol cut her down in her prime. Michael wrote “A Deal With God: The Power of One” to tell a story set in an alternate reality. What might have happened? What could have happened? If only Deana had been given a second chance…

Michael Haden’s book “A Deal With God”.

Nick: Welcome to Novel Ideas for another interview, guys. Michael Haden, I am pleased for you to meet Tom Ufert.

Tom: Thanks, Nick for this awesome opportunity; and Michael, it’s a real pleasure to meet you. I’ve really been looking forward to this little get together.

Michael:  Great to meet you, Tom. I have been reading your great book! What a read!

Tom: Thank you so much.

Nick: Michael let me start by asking you–your book “A Deal With God” is enough to scare the most hardened pro-drink supporter. Do your kids drink?

Michael: I know that my girls’ boyfriends drink. I know some of my girls drink. I pray every night they don’t drink while they are impaired. I pray someone impaired never jeopardizes them. I never want to get a call like I got when Deana was struck down.

Nick: In your opinion, is drinking more dangerous than smoking?

Michael: Alcohol is not as addictive as nicotine, but it is more dangerous. It is a double edged sword. It is bad for your body, especially your liver and kidneys, and it induces bad behavior. I saw a good t-shirt recently. It said “Instant jerk, Just add alcohol.”

Nick: Tom, do you think alcohol is as dangerous as Michael warns?

Tom: Yes. Without a doubt. For example surviving the last 21 years with 3 disabilities, coming from a shattered home, being “adopted,” sexually molested as a young boy, dealing with alcohol, drug, sexual addictions, my mother’s attempted suicide when I was 10 and her eventual passing as a victim of a mercy killing suicide, my heavy involvement in politics while dealing with my secret double life as a closeted homosexual, etc…All of this and I’m still rolling! Alcohol was a big part of my life—but all of that would have been easier to cope with had I left the bottle alone.

Michael: Our books have so much in common. The big difference is yours is auto-biographical and mine is biographical and perhaps a little speculative.

Nick: Explain further, Michael. Where do you see similarities?

Michael: My girl Deana was sexually assaulted at age 11. And I doubt she was heterosexual.

Tom: Yeah. I think our books do have something in common.

Nick: Can you explain what “A Deal With God” is actually about?

Michael: Sure. A young woman with an almost unbelievable biography andhuge aptitude is killed by a drunk driver. She was an orphan with no survivors. I wrote Deal to memorialize her and give her a legacy. I would like to make it known that in real life she was only 19. To make up the 5 year gap, I made her 24 in the book.

Nick: Tom, I think you would really enjoy it.

Tom: I would like to start by saying two words: how tragic! Kudos to you for giving her story a voice, Michael. I would certainly love to read this book.

Tom Ufert’s book “Adversity Builds Character” is a real winner.

Nick: Tom, how would you sum up your book “Adversity Builds Character” for new readers?

Tom: My book, ABC as I like to call it, tells the true story of my life. It takes you through all the struggles, strife and problems I faced.

Nick: What was your end goal for writing ABC, Tom?

Tom: The overriding message is that life is as life is. You have to either accept it, change it, or let it kill you. Sitting around complaining about it doesn’t do anyone any good. Especially you! The human spirit can accomplish amazing things. I found my strength in true love, community service in helping others, and trying to make the world a better place one person, one day at a time.

Michael: That is truly amazing.

Nick: It is indeed. I would like to ask you, Michael, have your kids read “A Deal With God,” and if so, did they enjoy it? Did they take anything away from it?

Michael: A lot of them think it is very sad, and I know some of them couldn’t finish it even though they loved what they read. It’s a real tearjerker at times.

Nick: Tom, I would like to ask you—how has your faith been affected by your life?

Tom:  I must admit that I’m not the church goer I once was. My faith in God is VERY STRONG, but no organized religion seems to grapple with the fact that no building or book could ever completely give God enough credit. More human beings have been killed in the name of God than any other cause in human history. I do have ties with the Roman Catholic church, and now with Pope Francis I’s humility, I have more faith in the church’s future.

Nick: Michael, how do you feel about Tom’s sentiments?

Michael: I’m not big on organized religion either. I do agree with you about Pope Francis I. I have had awful problems with extreme Christians. They really tear into my book because Deana wears a bikini, in Florida, of all places! They are truly merciless.

Tom: That stuns me.

Michael: I grew up believing the design of Christianity is to bring every one under the same tent. That is why we sponsor and have missionary workers. There seems to be a sect of Christians that are not inclusionary at all.

Nick: Tom, what are your views on this? It’s a subject that doesn’t get discussed much.

michaelhaden

Michael Haden looking back.

Tom: My favourite quote is by Voltaire, “God is a comedian, who’s audience is afraid to laugh.” I was educated by Jesuits who stressed being well-educated and making informed decisions. They taught us about the history of the development of the Bible. That is, I am sad to say, something most ultra-Christians don’t know about. They don’t learn how the Bible came about. Some tend to be so judgmental without realizing that’s God’s job. It’s not up to the average human being to judge another human being.

Michael: I always think of one quote when I think of judgment. “God did not send Jesus for the righteous. He sent Jesus for the sinners.”

Nick: Do you believe you are a sinner, Michael?

Michael: Everyone is a sinner!

Nick: How about you, Tom?

Tom: I agree with Michael completely. Yes, I’m a sinner and I pray for forgiveness every day. As I’ve written in Adversity Builds Character, “Only when a man ignores his own selfish interests for self-preservation and looks after his fellow man, does he get it. That is when we find the divine essence in what Christ’s life was all about.”

Nick: This has left me wondering one question. Michael, if you could make a single deal with God, what would that deal be?

Tom Ufert lets nothing get him down.

Michael: It would, without a doubt, be to have Deana back on Earth where she belongs.

Tom: Amen to that.

Nick: Beautiful.

Michael Haden and Tom Ufert are on the same side. The side of freedom, love, pure Americanism at its best. I think you would love their books. I enjoyed both of them. Give them a try.

Thank you for reading.

Jul 04

Excerpt from Green Kitty by Alexandra Faer Bryan~ Just For You!

Today, we have something special for you. This is our July 4th treat to you. Award-winning author Alexandra Faer Bryan has given me an extract of her book “Green Kitty” to share with you all. I think you might enjoy this one.

What’s it about?

Green Kitty was written for children ages 6 to 10 to help give an understanding of dementia. It is a story about a grandmother with memory problems being visited by her grandchild. Their bond grows stronger through the visits. The grandmother recalls old stories, mostly about family pets, after the child’s curiosity is piqued about a special animal. The child becomes anxious to hear grandmother tell about the “Green Kitty,” but her fragile mind is often sidetracked with other memories from her past. Green Kitty will capture the imagination of any child as it retells the laugh-out-loud true antics of the author’s family pets and farm animals. These are very amusing, earthy stories which will appeal to both parents and children.

What do the reviews say?

“Explaining to any child that their grandparent is suffering from Alzheimer’s is such a difficult task, but very necessary. I’m extremely glad this book was written. Hiding the truth from them on why their loved Grandpa or Grandma is behaving differently will not address the child’s worries. Sit them down and talk with them, read this book to them. Children are smarter and more durable than most people give them credit for. I’m sure they realize that a problem already exist.”~ Gary Joseph Leblanc~ 5 Stars

Chapter One

The Mystery Begins

 

The first time dad took me to see my grandmother at the assisted living home is still a vivid memory for me. I was worried about her and wondering how we would spend our time together. Dad must have noticed.

 

He said, “Now, your grandmother is all right, really she is. She is very healthy, she is just forgetful lately. She can’t live alone anymore. She needs to take medications every day and she can’t remember to, and that is not good for her health. She is even forgetting to eat and is leaving her front door unlocked!”

 

I knew what he meant. Sometime she would ask the same question over and over again or repeat what she had just said a few minutes earlier. Admitting that I was worried, I wondered aloud about what we would talk about during our visit. That was when the mystery began.

 

Dad just smiled and said, “With the way that you love animals, you should ask her to tell you the story about the green kitty.”

 

“A green kitty! Dad, you must be joking. There is no such of a thing as a green cat.”

 

He just grinned and wouldn’t tell me anything else. By the time we got to her room I was bursting with curiosity. My grandmother had taught me long ago that whenever anyone told me “Curiosity killed the cat” the answer was “Satisfaction brought it back.” She was just that free of a spirit. As soon as we were all seated I asked her about the green kitty.

 

“Didn’t I already tell you the story about my green kitty?” was her response.

 

“No, Grandma, I don’t think that I ever heard about any green cat.”

 

“Now, that is a good story, definitely one of my best. But it has slipped my mind right now. Just let me tell you about another story that came into my mind instead, and maybe the green kitty story will come back to me.”

 

“Okay.”

 

“I know that you have seen the house where we lived when we were young, the one next to the Flint River. You might not believe it, but it was originally a farm and the town of Riverdale was so small it only had one flashing yellow traffic light.

 

“Anyway, one summer day my sister, Helen, came running into the house screaming, ‘Snake, snake, there’s a snake on the porch!’

 

“As the family tomboy, I had to go out and check to see if there was indeed anything to be upset about.

 

“So, I went out on the porch. There was an old cardboard box on one corner of the porch where we kept hickory chips for the grill. I looked at it and saw a little green head sticking out of one end of the box and a little green tail sticking out of the other end.

 

“Acting like a bit of a know it all, I yelled into the house at Helen, ‘THAT’S NOT A SNAKE. IT’S NOTHIN’ BUT A LITTLE OLE GREEN LIZARD,’ and I kicked the box.

 

“The next thing I saw was a five foot long copper belly water moccasin snake shooting out from under the box!

 

“Well, I know that teleportation is possible because I was instantly across the porch, standing up on a chair, and then I was the one screaming, “SNAKE, SNAKE, THERE’S A SNAKE ON THE PORCH!” Grandma finished the story off with a sweet giggle.

 

After I finished laughing at her story and secretly amazed at the thought of her being able to move so fast, she said, “You know, my godparents used to call our 30 acres of land the ‘Snake Farm’ because we were always seeing so many snakes.Because it was right next to a river some of them were of the poisonous variety. My mother taught me at a very young age that if the head of a snake is more like a triangle then it is probably poisonous.” We talked a little longer until it was time to leave.

 

*****************************************************************************************************************************

GET YOUR COPY OF THIS FANTASTIC BOOK RIGHT NOW!

 

Jul 03

J.W. Reaches Out To The World

J.W. Northrup

Contact: Nick Wale

Email: Nick@nickwale.org

J.W. NORTHRUP REACHES OUT TO MEDIA OUTLETS ACROSS THE WORLD.

J.W. Northrup announced today that he has finally decided to interview with  blogs, newspapers and give lectures on writing. It was also announced that work on his second book has almost been completed. J.W. was quoted as saying, “it is time for me to take this all the way.”

J.W., who in one year released a dozen short stories in addition to his bestselling novel “The Gold Slaves,” has been busy writing a new book. There are no details of this second book yet, but he promises it will be a huge literary achievement. “I know people will go crazy for this one,” he said in one interview. “It will get people excited for sure.”

If you would like an interview with J.W. you can contact his PR at Nicholas.Wale@hotmail.co.uk.

 

 

Jul 01

Fishing For A Hit: Lloyd Tackitt #2

Lloyd Tackitt has a way about him. Everytime you talk to him, he has sold more and more books. You have to keep careful track of where his sales are. Multi-bestseller? Multi-MULTI-bestseller? I caught Lloyd for a few moments to reflect on the self-publishing business. It’s a brand new world– a creative hot spot where anything can happen. Guys like myself believe that there are no rules with this brand new landscape we call self-publishing. Lloyd agrees, and look what happened to him! The “Distant Eden” series has made him one of the best known self-published authors around with sales that would make a traditionally published company jealous. Let’s go pump him for information.

Q) I am told by many writers that you have to be talented to write worth a damn. Do you believe you have to have “talent” to be a writer? 

A)  Some talent I think might be required.  But there is a lot of craft to writing that can be learned.  The talent part is probably mostly in believing that you can create a good story, one that will keep the pages turning.  If you believe that, then I think you may have enough talent.  The craft part is like learning any skill–study and practice, study more and practice more.  Read a lot, a whole lot.  You learn from every book you read.  I believe a lot more people can write than are writing.  Hopefully they’ll give it a try. We all need more books to read.

Q) If you could have either high sales or be highly respected—which would you pick? 

A) That’s a hard question, hits me right in the ego.  Sales are a sign of respect, maybe?  The biggest thrill is when I get emails from readers that tell me they have recommended my book to someone else.  That’s as good as it can get right there.  If they liked it enough to encourage someone else to read it, all I can say is Wow!  That’s ultra cool, and it increases sales, too.  I love getting emails from readers and respond to all of them as soon as I can.

Q) You are a keen fisherman, you have an active life. Why writing? Is that just another addiction you have to feed? 

A) It must be, I keep doing itand it feels great when I’m on a roll.  Funny thing about writing…you know how when you’re reading you are transported into the story?  The same thing happens when I write; I get transported right into the story in the same way.  All of a sudden I’m not sitting in front of a computer tapping on a keyboard– I’m walking through the forest, hearing the sounds of birds and squirrels and smelling the pine scent. I hear the crunching of leaves with every step I take, feel a twig snap under my foot.  I’m there in a way that is as real as it can be.  I’m not aware that I’m typing. I’m setting a trap or stalking a deer, or sitting at a scarred old kitchen table deep in conversation with a cup of steaming coffee in front of me.  I can smell that coffee, raise the cup and take a sip, feel the heat and savor the taste.  I see my companion’s face, a face I’ve known for years.  His eyes are real and alert, there isamusement in those eyes.  I know his expressions, can tell exactly what he’s thinking as I’m talking to him.   Writing is great fun because it is a transcendental experience.  Later, when I’m rewriting and editing, it’s different. Fun in its own way though.

Q) I am told everyday that the writing world is overcrowded. Do you believe that?

A) Crowded?  Not a chance, there’s more than enough room for everyone willing to take a chance on failing in a very public way.  We need more writers, far more writers – who knows how many great books are bottled up in people’s minds right now – books I want to read.  There are literally billions of readers around the world so even if one in every ten people wrote a book there’s not just room but a welcome for them.

Q) You have built a successful career from self-publishing. What are your true feelings about the self pubbing trend? Do you believe, as I do, that is it is a new era,new idea and a whole new landscape for people to be creative with?

A) I do. There are so many people that have been liberated by self-publishing it’s incredible.  This is an awesome era to be in where you can write and get published without having to kow-tow at the gates of the traditional publishing houses.  My books would probably never have been published by the traditional method–they cross genres and the bookstores would have a hard time pigeon-holing them into one category–so the traditionals likely wouldn’t have been interested.  They are driven by a very tight and immutable marketing plan, and they don’t take chances.

 Q) Do those, big, hard-to-publish-with, giant publishing houses really know what will hit?

A) In some ways, yes.  They have a time-tested method of selecting and marketing books.  But they are limited by that system, they miss great books every day because the books don’t fit their formula.  Imagine if other artists were constrained that way, how many masterpieces would have been lost to us? Imagine if every painting had to be approved by a committee before the public could see it?  How many great works of art were out of sync with the  current culturally accepted modes?  If those works had been quashed would Dali’s works have ever seen the light of day?  The traditional publishers are going the way the slide rule manufacturers went when the first pocket calculators came out.  They are dying, struggling to survive, but dying.  And good riddance – they have already quashed millions of great books, books we’ll never get to read, and it’s our loss.

Q) It’s a trend right now to ignore the editor. Do you believe in a good editor for a good book? 

A) Absolutely, yes.  I work my manuscripts over and over and over before I send them to an editor.  And they still come back with so much red ink they look like someone was murdered on top of them.  Most of the edit suggestions I get back are very good, very sound.  Even then, with professional editing, mistakes still slip through.  Even the traditionally published books have errors in them.  I recommend to every writer to definitely get a good editor and pay them to do a professional edit.  They don’t have the blinders on that I get when I’ve written something. They see it objectively and call it like it is.

Q) How do you feel about your upcoming worldwide live interview?

A) Nervous! Seriously, I can’t wait to see what the world makes of Lloyd Tackitt.

You can find out more about Lloyd here and here!

Find Lloyd’s author page here!

Don’t forget a copy of Lloyd’s latest bestselling novel “Eden’s Warriors” today!

Jun 30

What Makes J.W. Run?

J.W. Northrup has been away from us lately. He has been writing a second book, a huge project for a writer already busy with numerous undertakings. I want to ask you, what makes such a busy writer ask for more and more responsibility?

J.W. has already toured all over the Internet. He has sold numerous copies of his book “The Gold Slaves“. He has appeared on webinars, virtual meetings and has published a successful series of short stories. He has been interviewed by the best.

But this new book he is writing is something special. It’s a book that will be on the lips of the masses. I can’t tell you anything about it yet. But it’s going to be one helluva read. What makes J.W. run?  Success makes J.W. run like hell towards the finishing line.

Q) J.W., how do you feel about the success of “The Gold Slaves” so far?

A) It’s been one hell of a journey, and I just can’t stop feeling excited about what comes next. The whole concept of this next book is going to have everyone scratching their heads wondering if they are still dreaming.

Q) You keep mentioning thatnew book. Can you tell me anything about it?

A) Nothing except this– it’s going to be about every single person living on this earth. It concerns everyone.

Q) How can it be about everyone?

A) You will see!

Q) Well, let me ask you about the reviews you are getting for “The Gold Slaves.” How does it finally feel to be understood as a writer?

A) I was worrying for some time– people didn’t seem to understand the book. I did an interview where the interviewer had absolutely no idea what I was talking about. She confused my book with another she had been reading.

Q) That must be so disheartening for a writer to go through that kind of misunderstanding?

A) It’s part of life– not everyone can get what you are trying to get at. It’s hard to make them understand, but eventually people do start understanding bits of this and that. Soon, the idea is a widespread theory, and it’s on everyone’s lips.

Q) Do you think “The Gold Slaves” is at that stage?

A) I think it is getting there. On a base level, it is about gold miners who have been trapped underground and brainwashed over several generations to become their own society– mining gold to present to the Gods. On a much deeper level, it is about the society we live in and how we have become brainwashed to do as we are told. We pay our bills, we follow the rules, and if we don’t, like two gold slaves didn’t, we become outsiders.

Q) Would you call yourself an intellectual, J.W?

A) No, I would call myself someone who has the window open and can see what is going on. We live in very interesting times.

Q) How has writing this book changed your life?

A) I got to write a second and that meant everything to me. I think you will agree when you get a chance to read it.

Q) Thank you for your time, J.W.

J.W. then left the interview to return to his new manuscript. He is a man who knows where he is heading. He knows what the end game is. Hopefully, we will take every step with him.

Meet “The Gold Slaves” today!

 

 

Jun 30

“I Don’t Stand For Handicap Jokes,” Tom Ufert Jives

I wanted to interview Tom Ufert by himself as fan mail told me that his first interview with Cliff Roberts was probably the most successful interview I have ever been a part of. The hits were numerous, and many people thought Tom couldn’t beat that. Yesterday, I was lucky enough to take part in a webinar that took Tom to a brand new audience. Huge audience figures show that Tom is here to stay. A hit book, a hit personality, a bona-fide star of the book world.

Tom Ufert has struggled and beaten several disabilities that people believe should have confined him to a mood of misery. He has suffered with addictions, blown away his problems and is now proudly promoting his self-help guide “Adversity Builds Character”.

Q) Tom, I wanted to ask you, how do your disabilities define your daily routine? How do you manage to get so much done?

A) So much done? (Laughs) That’s a laugh! I don’t feel I get enough done. When I was at the height of my college/political/arts career, I was the editor in chief of my college newspaper, chapter president/state province rep for my fraternity, attended fifteen hours of classes, worked about thirty-five hours a week, was chairman of my College Republican chapter, on the alumni boards for my HS and college, was speakers chairman for college student government, was the youngest member of my state GOP central committee, consulted for political campaigns, raised money for the local summer music festival, and had an active social life. This seems dull in comparison to that!

Q) Your disabilities have caused you to slow down? You seem to get more done now than most people who are fully-bodied.

A) My disabilities definitely have forced me to slow downand many times inflict fatigue on my body. I guess having a pretty set routine has made getting anything done a practical reality. 6-8 hours of sleep is a must, and I have to remind myself to eat. Having a supportive partner, relatively strong upper body strength allowing for independent transfers, a determined will to do as much for myself as possible, and a state-funded home health aide to assist with daily household chores are all God sends.

Q) I’m sure they are! Okay, let me jump in with something I wanted to ask you. You were heavily involved in the ’80s “mad men” era of politics, Reagan and super economics. What is the difference between being involved in the politics game and just watching the politics game?

A) It’s the difference between being inside politics and watching from the side-lines. That’s a huge difference. I have actually run state-wide political youth campaigns for major Senatorial and Gubernatorial candidates where being able to juggle whole legions of volunteers in several locals, going door-to-door soliciting voter support, organizing rallies and candidate appearances, attending major conventions, maintaining huge letter writing efforts and dealing personally with media coverage was a daily routine and had no set time schedule. You could be called on at any time of the day or night!

Q) Do you keep yourself involved in current events through TV? Personal contacts? 

A) I have to settle with keeping myself abreast of current events via the media. I can no longer pick up the phone or leap into a car to deal with the immediate crisis of the day. Many times, I no longer feel the “informed expert” of local, national, or international political events. Sure, my gift of reasonable intelligence and past insider experience provide me with a credible understanding of the political process and its veiled realities. However, like any profession, inactivity results in a loss of connections and relevant facts that are often privy only to a select few.

Q) So, for a million dollars, how have your experiences in the political world helped your writing career?

A) My education provided me with a rather extensive knowledge of reading and writing.

My political experience definitely has made me very much at ease with public speaking, interviews, and the all-important skill of the personal touch that is so valuable in building rapport. This was also the case in approaching my self-publisher, IUniverse, and Barnes and Noble. I’m not intimidated by executive corporate titles or low level functionaries/bureaucrats whose primary responsibility is to protect the corporate structure from relatively unknown entities such as myself. I have no problems looking up the phone number for a corporate HQ, calling in, and working my way thru the bureaucracy until I find the individual empowered to solve my problem. Then, I introduce myself, make my pitch, gain their trust/respect, and ingratiate myself with them to the point where they feel the unquenchable urge to join my cause as a dedicated supporter.

Q) You are quite the troubleshooter…

A) Well, I coined the phrase, “Who you know gets you in the door. What you know keeps you there!” My past experiences in dealing with notable personalities, corporate CEOs, the press, managing large reams of information, and being able to multitask or compartmentalize my activities has greatly aided me in understanding how to market and promote my book.

Q) Your genie pops out of the bottle and asks what you desire as a writer. What do you choose, Tom Ufert?

A) I want to inspire others coping with adversity to the point where they no longer feel helpless. Like me, they too can overcome, rise like a phoenix from the ashes, and become true icons of the human spirit. I want people to scream with all their might that they are never surrendering! In turn, their achievements can be focused outward to help others; and perhaps, over time, an unstoppable movement of noble humanity can reverse the present trends of caustic selfishness and global destruction. I know it sounds naive, but I can’t help striving to march ever onward in my short lifetime down the “road less taken” towards a better world!

Q) You quoted Robert Frost there… What is inspiration to you, Tom?

A) That’s a tough one. I think for everyone inspiration is comes in different forms and appearances. However, regardless of the form it takes or the mode of delivery (music, literature, spoken word, visual art, shared life experiences, etc…), I think inspiration is anything that drives us to be better than what we are and give more than we ever thought we could. Inspiration is that which lifts us to a higher plane of accomplishment. It doesn’t have to be stupendous or even spectacular. It just has to bring us in touch with who we dare to become!

Q) You have a quote book coming out soon. You obviously want to inspire people to do what they can to live their lives. Who inspired you?

A) There are many people who inspire me. Winston Churchill, Abraham Lincoln, Ghandi, Martin Luther King, Nelson Mandela, Popes John Paul II & Francis I, and Jesus Christ are just a few historical figures that inspire me. But the boy who gets up after being bullied and walks away with his head held high and smiling inspires me most of all.

Q) Thank you for your time, Tom.

A) Anytime, Nick. You can count on me—just remember—I don’t stand for handicap jokes.

 

 

 

 Join Tom on a journey through his life right here!