Mar 27

Covert The Not Known – Jerry Nedwick’s Widow Speaks…

After reading the harrowing truths of Covert The Not Known by Vietnam veteran Jerry Nedwick, I wondered many things. I wondered how his wife felt about the conflict that had caused both her and her husband so much pain? I know that Jerry said on record that his wife deserved the Congressional Medal of Honor. This interview is with Connie, Jerry’s lovely widow. I wanted you all to read her side of the story. It has often been said that a man can only be as strong as the woman behind him– I think after reading the book you will agree. Connie deserves the limelight… Enjoy our interview!

 

connieQ) Connie, how do you feel as you look back at Vietnam? What are your thoughts on the conflict?

 

A) I feel the Vietnam War was a political war with no intent of our government to ever win. It was not fair to the men who served and lost lives or, even worse, came home to ridicule and so disturbed they felt they should not have been the ones to come home. Some even went back because they could not adjust to life in the U.S. anymore. The politicians who decide the fate of others should have to serve right along side of those men and women who give the ultimate price for others’ freedoms. I think the Vietnam War was one that should never have been fought. I praise the veterans who did what they thought was best for our country. God Bless them all.

 

Q) What did you think about Covert when you first read it? How did the truth affect you?

 

A) The first time I read Covert The Not Known, it was a total shock to me. I, like so many other Americans, did not understand what war really is. As Jerry told me many times, movies glorify war and the government does not want the public to know what it is really like, being so grotesque the normal person would not understand or cope. Jerry started  writing  this book after 37 years of me being married to him, and it was the first time I knew any of what the book tells. He kept it all inside, and even though I knew he had served and suffered from flashbacks, I never thought he could have gone through so much hell. It brought clear why Jerry did some of the things he did. The screams in his sleep; the times he would not sleep in the same room with me because he was so afraid of hurting me; the many locks on all the doors; not having enough guns; his lack of patience when he felt threatened by words or actions of others; the paranoia; the drinking and so much more…

 

Q) How did you personally cope with the struggles Jerry went through?

 

A) I loved Jerry very much and he loved me enough to give up drinking and smoking which I felt were bad for his health. This was all before I even knew what he had been through. We leaned on each other and God. We  worked our way though as much as we could, and I was always there for him as he was for me. I have to say his love was so strong he could “Adapt and Overcome,” which is what we always told each other in bad times. He was a true Marine and he lived by that. We made fun of his multiple personalities. Only on rare occasions did “Snake or Cobra” show up– not pleasant, but rarely did they stay around for too long. We just took care of each other.

 

Q) Would you agree that Covert is a powerful document that should be required reading for those who wish to serve in the forces?

 

A) I believe anyone thinking of going to war should read this book. Any young man or woman who wants to serve their country should read this book. I also believe the average man or woman need to read this book before they ridicule our armed forces. I believe you cannot judge someone else until you have walked in their boots.

 

Q) What was Jerry like as a husband? 

 

A) Jerry was a wonderful husband and father, we rarely argued. But when we did, it was a doozy. If I had know then what I know now, I might not have argued back. He took care of me and our children, always provided for us. He was fun and kept me laughing. He was romantic. When I would have to go out of town for business, I always returned to roses throughout the house, and I truly felt missed and loved by him. Jerry was a very giving person in so many ways. I can remember countless times when we would be traveling and he would stop the car, pull over and take what money he might have to give to a pan-handler. When I asked what he was doing, he would tell me he was helping his brother. That meant another veteran, for he believed if it were not for me he could have been in that man’s shoes.

 

Q) How do you feel Vietnam should be remembered?

 

A) I feel the Vietnam War should be remembered for those who served. Those young men who gave their lives for a cause they believed in at the time and the honor they brought to their families and this country.

 

Q) How do you feel about all the wonderful reviews Covert has achieved so far and the amazing success the book has garnered?

 

A) I am very pleased about the reviews Jerry has received for his book. Jerry had a talent for writing in such a way as to make you feel you were right there with him in that jungle. He was a master story teller and it was such a loss for him to discover his talent so late. I am very proud of Jerry and his work. I hope other readers enjoy the book as much as those who have given their reviews.

 

I think it is really important for you all to know that war doesn’t just change the lives of warriors. It changes the lives of everyone it touches. I think many people treat conflict lightly. Vietnam was as bad as any conflict could possibly be, but this interview just goes to show that with the love of a great woman you can be healed.

 

Covert The Not Known is available on Amazon
covertnotknown

Mar 26

EXCLUSIVE! J.W. Northrup To Release “The Gold Slaves”

Sometimes on my travels around writerland, I find people who are not bogged down in a mire of worry about sales. Sometimes, that is because I find people who are bestsellers. Sometimes I meet guys like J.W. who are starting out in the business and have great books and great publishers and it inspires me. I wanted to be the first to run articles on this guy- his book The Gold Slaves has found itself a home at a publishing house and will soon be with you. Guess who got extracts for you to read? ME! Don’t say I don’t give you anything, guys!

The book is The Gold Slaves and the writer is J.W. Northrup– a newly discovered author with so much to say. Who is Jim Northrup? I asked Jim that question, and he thought for a moment. “I have spent much of my life studying the human mind and spirit,” he finally said. “Of course, I am not a professional– I am just a free spirit and much of my understanding comes from observation.” Pondering for a bit, he smiled and finalised his answer. “I am a free spirit.” J.W has taken all his observational skills and placed all his learning into the creation of characters. The Gold Slaves is the end result of his many years as a student of people. “How did you get into the world of writing, Jim?” I asked. “I began writing in the mid 80s,” J.W reminisced. “Back then, I was literally writing as a professional calligrapher.”

J.W. is by trade a designer, a man who creates images. Now he has taken his creative talents and written a book. “Where do you find the inspiration to write fiction, J.W?” I watched as my friend thought for a second, and finally he answered. “My fictional stories are always based upon an important social theme; but rather than being dogmatic and philosophic, I create a story that is interesting and add to it hyperbole and humor.”

The Gold Slaves is about the people of “Space” who believe they live in a hollow pocket in an otherwise solid universe. They are tunneling through this solid universe following a golden path that will lead them to the fabled “Nirvana” – a world of infinite space and light. When they put their gold in the God’s Chamber as an offering to the gods, they are rewarded with food. There are Spinners that burrow through the universe until they strike space, then recede into their burrows and eat the smoke produced by the people and emit oxygen.

Obviously we, the people on the surface, who are “in the know,” realize that these are simply brainwashed miners unknowingly working for a mining company. They are Slaves – Gold Slaves. Then two of the miners accidentally find a way to the surface and to freedom from their underground trap. But who is really trapped? The Gold Slaves’ trap is obvious. It’s easy to see material barriers, but it’s impossible for the people on the surface to “see” how they are trapped by the barriers of their irrational philosophies and ideas. Thus, Gold Slaves have something to offer more valuable than gold.

The Gold Slaves is a book filled with social commentary and has already been picked up by a publisher. It will be on release next month and it will entertain you– I think it will really make you think.

J.W. has a second book on the way and, outside of writing, his hobbies include skiing, rock-climbing, fly-fishing, and he has run a dozen marathons– including the Boston Marathon – all of which serve as inspiration for humorous stories. Jim Northrup is a name to remember.

__________________________________________________________________________________________

 The Gold Slaves

Writers will tell you that characters make books. J.W. has given Novel Ideas exclusive extracts describing two of his major characters…

Evil “Dr Ratburn”

But Ratburn sees life through a single memory – suppressed in a fog of sub consciousness – and the pain and the emotions contained in memory are more real than reality. The memory IS reality. For Ratburn, the past has become the present and the present, a continually reoccurring past, condensed into a single memory of an incident of paralyzing, incomprehensible terror and overwhelming betrayal. And it will never let him rest because it is continually happening right now – stimulated by everything he observes and anything he feels.

The memory is telling him that “they” must be destroyed and it will haunt him until they are crushed and cowed into submission. And they are everyone.

In reality “they” are long gone, but for Ratburn they are right here, right now – part of a distant past that never leaves the present.

“We all see the present through a collage of thousands of different memories, like eyeglasses that adjust your vision, and the eyeglasses are coated with memories and the memories color and combine with what you see before you.”

“Look at that! The laws of evolution are being violated. ‘Survival of the fittest’ is being replaced with ‘Help the needy.’ Needy brains don’t need help! Needy brains need to be dead! How else are we to purge the species of unviable brains?”

He is also a paranoid psychotic with a purpose to destroy all life in the universe.

But Ratburn does not recognize this purpose because he does not recognize life. To Ratburn life is nothing other than the biological definition of “organic”. Therefore the life he destroys – the life force, the spirit – does not exist and so the evil purpose does not exist and the horrendous crimes that he commits daily, likewise, do not exist.”

And now, the introverted Wayne Hardy

Does pixel radiation ruin your eyes? Will I develop a hunchback sitting at this desk 8 hours a day? Will I be a blind hunchback when I finally reach retirement age in…? Oh god, 34 more years to go. 34 years! Sounds like a damn prison sentence.

As usual, every answer is just another personality flaw that leads to more questions and more negative answers. Wayne can feel the vicious cycle beginning again, but he can’t stop it. It is just getting too hard to stop any more. And the answers to the question of why he doesn’t do something about his life keep coming up, adding more weight, more flaws, more heavy mental clouds. Finally the gravity of the answers reach critical mass and like a black hole he feels himself introverting into oblivion.

He hadn’t failed to note that she said “mine” – not “ours.” He’d suddenly felt like a sperm donor, not a husband. That was the beginning of the end of a marriage he’d realized then was doomed from the start. She was going to dump him as soon as they had their first child. She and her father were obviously two of a kind and as he lay on top of her and the bearskin rug, he realized that the woman he was having sex with now was not the woman he thought he made love to last night in the kitchen.

“Where did the dreams go? Who took them away? Maggie? The counselors? No way, only one person, only one power in the entire universe could destroy Wayne Hardy’s dreams – that’s Wayne Hardy.

Wayne, the black hole and most powerful dream-wrecker in the universe feels himself collapsing into the dark mass of past failures.

Mar 25

Dielle: A Writer To Notice

I would like to introduce a writer who has taken the longer route to publishing success. Dielle is her name and she has written a fascinating book called The Unknown Mother. The book has already been a success for her. What drew me to Dielle was something traditional– she found herself a publisher who signed her book and put in place the foundations for a strong and sustained career. It wasn’t a case of just chasing the money. It was about that all-important future career for her. I would like you to meet her. Join in!

dielleQ) Hi, Dielle, how does it feel to be the author of a book? What does that accomplishment feel like?

A) Well, it felt surreal at first, even when I held one in my hand for the first time. I reread it after I first got a copy, and the whole time I was thinking, “Wow, this is actually good. Did I write this? I don’t remember writing that.” I have to say, the book launch party was a real hoot (is that an Americanism?), and reading passages aloud and getting applause made it all real. I am very proud to have followed this through. At so many points along the way, I could have so easily just listened to all those voices (outside and in) that said it was too hard, impossible, not worth it, etc. It was hard but not impossible…and definitely worth it.

Q) When did you become interested in writing? Has it always been something you have been interested in?

A) I’ve always loved reading and writing. I’ve heard it said our earliest happy memory is an indicator of our true path. One of my earliest happy memories is of sitting with a nursery rhyme book almost as big as I was at an aunt’s house thumbing through the silky pages and pictures pretending I could read it. I just love words!

Q) How do you enjoy the writing process? What works best for you?

A) What worked for me this time was taking non-fiction content and making a fictional story around it. I’d been trying for years to crank this information out as non-fiction. It wasn’t going anywhere. With the decision to write it as fiction, inspiration really poured through me, and I had it done in just a couple of months…well, the manuscript anyway. I actually had fun, too. Now I’m writing a non-fiction companion to the book, but it is totally different. It’s infused with the fun and creative spirit I got from writing the fiction.

unknownmother

Q) Do you believe that self-publishing is the future or do you think publishing houses will always have a place in publishing?

A) Things are definitely changing, aren’t they? My publishing company, John Hunt, is doing its best to change with the times, focusing more on a strong web-based presence. While I might self-publish in the future, I’m very, very glad I went with a publisher this first time around, even if it means I’m not making any money…yet. They are giving me a reach I never could have achieved on my own…at least I wouldn’t have known how. I would likely have sold to friends and family in the US and maybe someone somewhere in another country would have found me. Now I’m selling in the UK, the US, Canada…I even sold a book in Argentina! I guess each author needs to consider whether they want to make money or they want their book out there in as big a way as possible.

Q) Tell me a little about your book and why it means so much to you.

A) An Unknown Mother is about a woman’s journey to find her true voice. She’s a vocalist who is doubting her place in the world. She encounters an eccentric character named Matrina who becomes her mentor teaching her about the power of the breath, letters, words, and sound. Together, they walk through the 10 Gates of Sound. Only later is it revealed that Matrina is a Goddess, one who rules the alphabet and illusion we call reality. This book means a lot to me because it is the culmination of everything I’ve learned up to this point walking my path. It makes sense of my crazy, all-over-the-place life for me. I also love it because I still learn from reading it. It reminds me again and again to live true to myself.

Q) Has writing this book changed your life?

A) It’s made it a lot busier! It’s pushed me out of so many comfort zones, I can’t even tell you.

Q) How do you promote your work? Are you an ardent user of social media?

A) I have a website, TheUnknownMother.com, and of course, I do the social media thing…Facebook, YouTube, Twitter. I’m doing book signings, but I call them “singings” because, after all, helping people discover new ways to find their true voice is the whole point of the book. So I don’t just read and sign, I get people to use their voices. I have done one vending fair so far, I teach workshops, and will try everything else I can think of. I want this work out there. I also have a business, TheVoiceofLife.com through which I work one-on-one with clients using Transformational Voicework processes I created. I also sing professionally, write, and make art at DielleCiesco.com. So, anytime I’m out in front of people, I mention the book or have it with me.

Q) How have people reacted to your work, so far?

A) The reviews and comments I’ve received so far have been very positive. It’s not a “great work” of literature, even though it is well written; but it’s the kind of book that meets people at their current level of consciousness. For some, it is just an entertaining story with unique perspectives. For others, it triggers uncomfortable feelings because it requires a certain willingness to look within. For those with that willingness, it can be a transformative read.

Q) If you could have written any book from any time period, which would it be?

A) You mean any other book? (smiles) Maybe The Little Prince or The Alchemist. I love Paulo Coelho.

Q) Why should a reader pick your book above all others? What makes it stand out?

A) This book contains a lot of information that not many people have heard before, so it’s very interesting and refreshing and hopefully inspiring in that regard. More importantly, this book is really magical. That isn’t just a subtitle. If someone is ready to do its work, it is going to start a transformational process.

Well now we all know each other better and you have met Dielle. I think we should all go read her work… We might as well go read it now… Because in a few months it will be the craze anyway! Go get the wine out, pour a glass and enjoy!

 

Mar 24

Nick Wale Grabs William Gabienu by the Horns

My third interview with William Gabienu was to be the big one. (Follow these links for Part I and Part II.) This is the one where I grill him until he makes admissions he never wanted to. The one where I really crack him open and show the world if he is a genuine writer or just a hack. I pressured him… What happened? Well, read it for yourself and see who won this battle…

willammotorbikeQ) William, what is the overall message of your book Grabbing Your Destiny by the Horns?

A) Dream big according to your God-given purpose. Do not stop at difficulties and grab your designed destiny. Have we started? Seriously? (laughs)

Q) Yes, I thought I would give you an easy one to begin with. Let me ask you, what is YOUR purpose and how did YOU find it?

A) The question of purpose varies from person to person and so is being able to fully understand it. Generally, our purpose is to glorify God by living out our lives fully, not in part. Personally, my purpose takes its root in God and I try to do my best with the abilities He has put within me to His praise and to the benefit of all.

Q) Living a life ‘in part’? What does that mean?

A) By living a life ‘in part,’ I simply mean the instance when people do not utilize wholly their God-given abilities– maybe because of difficulties. Some people stop midway on their journey to their designed place in life. This is living life in part. Trust me Nick, this is not glorifying in any way.

Q) So you’ve been there? You have experienced living life ‘in part’?

A) Sure! That’s why my desire to help all people realize that the power to accomplish within them is higher than any obstacle that tries to stop us.

Q) A reviewer said about your book that: “…[this book will show you] how to develop self-reliance and achieve your dreams.” But what if you don’t know what your dream is? Is living for God the dream all people should have?

A) Firstly, I appreciate those kind word describing my book and I thank whoever the person is.

There is a point in that review I would like to correct, though. I emphasize self-realization, hard work, focus, and of course, dependence on God as my faith teaches me.

Q) So your book really only focuses on God and how God can glorify a life?

A) Living for God is not the only dream people should have. The phrase ‘dream life’ runs throughout my book and what I mean is the desire of your heart, your ambitions and all that you aspire to be in life.

Q) Your book relies heavily on the Bible for inspiration. Would you say that the Bible itself is a self-help guide?

A) No. No and no. Grabbing Your Destiny by the Horns is a book that seeks to help the reader realize that he is on earth for a purpose and that his talents, skills and abilities have been given to him so that life on earth can be more meaningful. All is attainable and possible if he marries correct action to the dreams of his heart. Nick, I’m a bit uncomfortable calling it ‘self-help’. I would say the Bible and, for that matter, my book are inspirational and  books that teach and enlighten. They teach self-realization, not self-help. It teaches ACTION on your part as well as mindfulness that all is of God.

grabbingdestiny

Q) You say talents are given to be meaningful. What about those who aren’t living conventionally meaningful lives? What went wrong?

A) Talents are given to make life meaningful. Remember, I said earlier that we are here on earth for a purpose. What loving father would send his son on a long journey in a far away land without giving him all he needs to survive the trip and stay?

Q) Some fathers do neglect their children though. Could it not be true that God could neglect some of us?

A) My father and our father neglects no one! Psalm 27.10 says, “Even if my father and mother abandon me, the LORD will hold me close.’ You see, He loves us so much that He desires that we experience joy and fulfillment in life.

The life He has given to us is a gift we must highly appreciate and fully enjoy. This is the message I try to get across.

[pullquote align=”left” textalign=”center” width=”45%”]The grace or goodness of God doesn’t mean that man should do nothing and expect honey to fall on his lips.[/pullquote]

Q) We live by God’s grace and through his virtue, right?

A) All of humanity and its benefits are through the goodness of God. The life He has given us comes with tasks and pleasures.

The grace or goodness of God doesn’t mean that man should do nothing and expect honey to fall on his lips. You must take responsibility towards what you have.

 

Q) You state your book “also exposes to you the blueprints you require to start living out your dream.” How do you know what people need? How did you get the blueprint?

A) Like i said earlier, the matter of life and dreams are individual and varied. I don’t know what exactly people have in their minds, but I do know that almost all people want a a better life for themselves other than the one they already have. Having said this, there are steps and ways to be taken, truths to be discovered, that can condition our minds and attitudes in the right direction. These are the blueprints that can lead to a more meaningful and purposeful life.

Q) William, how do you know that?

A) Nick, I have met people who are on the down side of life and I continue to meet others. Don’t you think all these people would have preferred a life different from the one they have? When they are unhappily walking in the streets, don’t you think they have dreams they would have wanted to materialize that can change their lives?

Q) How can we make that decision for people walking the streets? Surely, we shouldn’t be telling them that they want to change their lives?

A) We are not making decisions for them. We, I, try to inspire them to move unto a higher level of life that is more meaningful.

Q) But perhaps being homeless is what they are meant to do? Could that not be God’s will?

A) INTERESTING. Let me tell you categorically, Nick, no one on planet earth was meant to be homeless or jobless or whatever. God never planned that, He never designed that, and His will has nothing to do with that.

Negative life situations lead to this kind of thing. That’s why there is the need for people not to throw in the towel but fight back and grab their destinies by the horns.

History has a tall list of men and women who refused to accept the negative hand that was dealt them and decisively took the reins from the hands of fate and steered things to their favour. Names like Henry Ford, Walt Disney, Wilbur Wright and many more come to mind.

Q) Where did the title for your book Grabbing Your Destiny by the Horns come from? It’s such a striking title.

A) Thank you, Nick. I hear people tell me that a lot.

I envisaged life as a bull to be grabbed and dominated and tamed. I think some of my difficult situations I have personally gone through helped me to coin this title.

I grabbed William by the horns and kept pushing for the answers I wanted. He didn’t give up, flinch or back down. His horns stayed firmly in place and he stood with fortitude defending his words. I think he’s the real deal. Don’t you?

Mar 22

I’ve Been Everywhere, Man! Author Roselyn Kachuck Chats to Nick Wale

Roselyn Kachuck is one of those people who lives for herself. She writes for herself and she thinks for herself. As a child of the 1960s with flower power ingrained on her soul, she writes with freedom about subjects other writers wouldn’t touch. The Memory Lingers On is a rather interesting book in so many ways. It tells the story of a lady who is suffering with Alzheimer’s and reliving her life through broken memories and dream-like happenings. The book has been highly acclaimed and rated by many as an excellent read. It has been called tear-jerking, poignant and strongly written. I read a few extracts and found myself going to Roselyn for an interview…

roselynQ) Hi, Roselyn, thank you for joining me for this interview. I am going to start with a simple question that I know has a very interesting answer. Who are you? Tell me about yourself!

A) So much to tell – so little space to it. Keeping it short, I was born in Bethel, NY – a very small town if you would call it that. The only thing there was a post office & general store. If you drove through it, you wouldn’t know. Then a local farmer rented his field and I was there for Woodstock. The farm is still in the family on 17B & Happy Ave.

Q) You were actually at Woodstock?

A) Yes. but by accident, one might say. I was living in Berkley at the time. It was the 60s.

Q) How was that experience? Can you elaborate? What was it like to be at the event many call the greatest gathering in living memory?

A) I didn’t know it would become memorable. I suppose no one ever does when they find themselves on a crowded road.  It was [an amazing gathering]. The people were uncomfortably, exhilaratingly happy. All shared what they had. Being in the crowd to hear the music, it often was difficult to hear over those in the audience. My uncle opened the front field as a parking lot. I believe half of the people paid, but it didn’t matter. When the rains came–and believe me, they did–all the cars were stuck in the mud. It got wet. Very wet.

Q) Was the music worth braving the rain? Or was it all about the experience for you?

A) I am one who loves experiencing. Maybe because I didn’t know it was going to be there when I arrived, I saw it differently. I was living in Berkley, CA at the time. Though I am still married to my husband, that week I was leaving him and retreated to the family farm. I got there just in time. What I remember are the people. The music was good, but it was how people shared, cared, laughed and played that made Woodstock what it was, I believe. Don’t get me wrong, I love the music –it was part of my generation and I still have lots of the old vinyl–but what made Woodstock special was the moment.

Q) Did Woodstock change your life? How would you sum up the rest of your life?

A) The rest of my life proved interesting if not frustrating. Trying to survive, I’ve had such varied careers (or jobs) as fortune teller, decorator, real estate agent (though I didn’t do it long enough to make anything), restaurateur, decorator, owner of a vending company… and I’m sure I’ve missed something. I’ve volunteered as a rape crisis counselor, girl scout leader, Sunday School teacher, volunteer as friend to women in nursing homes, and more. Sometimes I’ve had; sometimes not.

Q) Let’s talk about writing! Your writing, in particular! Have you always been a writer? Have you always striven to be creative?

A) Writing has always been my drug of choice. It is an escape from any of my present problems – worlds I can escape to. Once, during a really depressing period in my life, I went to a doctor for Zoloft. I forgot to take it and went into withdrawal. I would not touch it again and it took about a year, maybe more, before I felt in control again.

Q) Wait.. Back up! You were a fortune teller? Tell me about that? How did that come about?

A) When I owned the restaurant– which was a major financial failure but very interesting– I hired fortune tellers. It was The Gypsy Cafe. When they didn’t show, I did the telling. I believe, if we are open, we all have the ability to see. It takes faith and empathy. Some are more empathic than others – I believe I am. If I hold your hand there may be warmth or coolness. You may be one who can look into another’s eyes or not. And then there is a sense. It can be like a seeing that seems to be present in a stance or a smile that has to come from more than just this lifetime. Why are there those who seem more confident even when they have nothing, and those who seem to have everything and are so unhappy? We read people all the time. Some call it De Ja Vu!

Q) I have always wondered about fortune tellers. I guess a huge part of your book is about ‘what happens’ next after we die? Do you believe there is more to life than we know? Do you think some people are gifted?

A) I believe there is a force beyond our understanding. I believe what there is is unknown and, to a great extent, unknowable. It is the job of the soul to reach beyond our reach, to learn why we have come here. Here, I might add, that is Anna’s story in The Memory Lingers On. Alzheimer’s is part of her journey, giving her time to reflect and question the meaning of her lifetime and those of others, and where she is destined to go. It sounds serious – it is and is not.

Q) The Memory Lingers On is a very touching story and full of provoking thoughts and ideas. Where did you get the inspiration to write such a story?

A) When I visited women in nursing homes I saw the parallel between the death moment and their lives. Some believe that at the moment of death our lives pass before us and spirits of those we have loved come to guide to the other side. Wow! I had epiphany! They were doing that. They were reliving their lives. Literally moving through time and speaking with the dead. Then I needed my drug of choice – writing. My life was ready to move the next plane and Anna came to me. She was a very nice lady.

Q) So, from your experience, when people die they literally relive their whole lives?

A) I can’t say anything definitively – I am not there now. I believe for them they are. There is much I don’t understand.  I believe what a person believes is truth for them. When a woman of ninety tells me her husband is in graduate school then she is experiencing that and it is not for me to judge her reality.

Q) I think you have hit upon a very interesting concept there, Roselyn. I have often wondered if elderly people are actually sitting there doing nothing? Are they actually there? Are they somewhere else?

A) Are we at night? In dreams are we only sleeping?

Q) Good point! Would you agree that there is so much we don’t understand about our world?

A) It is! And if it is exciting it does but make life strange. We cannot really know how we are connect to the flesh. I hear he voice inside my head and I wonder where the sound I hear comes from. It couldn’t be all mush and guts.

Q) Okay, changing the subject, Roselyn, how do you feel about the publishing industry?

A) I don’t know how to navigate through it. Sandra Carrington-Smith, an author I’ve come to respect & admire, is helping me learn how. I can’t blame publishers for throwing stuff out without even reading it. There is too much out there and it’s almost impossible to distinguish between what is good and what is junk mail. “Delete” is required even if they throw out the baby with the bath water. After all, there are millions of babies. It is we, the artists, who struggle to get them to open the envelope and the key to that is something I have yet to discover.

Q) But your work has been raved about already! How do you feel people have taken to The Memory Lingers On?

A) Here I’ll quote – I was reviewed in the St. Louis Jewish Light by Robert Cohen – “Anna’s heroic journey evokes some of the best of the various Latin American and Italian schools of ‘magic realism’ by such writers as Gabriel Manuel Marquez & Italo Calvino. Anna’s world is both very ‘here and now,’ even when she is experiencing her ‘visions’ which are both realistic and as fantastic as the paintings of Marc Chagall.”

(Click HERE to read excerpts from the novel.)

memory

Q) That is a fantastic review. How did you feel when you first saw it?

A) I felt incredible, but I’ve since learned that it takes knowledge of marketing to make an author and so much more than their ability to write. As I’ve said, there are just too many of us out there.

Q) From an artistic stance I have to ask: How do you like to write? What gets you into the creative groove? What magic formula do you need to create your best work?

A) I write whenever I can or feel motivated. There are many of us who have not had the luxury of lots and lots of control over their time. We find it and treasure it. That’s when I write.

 

Q) Did you set out to write for money or for artistic pleasure? Did you begin to write just for your own amusement and pleasure? What drives you as a writer?

A) I like to write because it makes me happy. I’m working on a new direction. My other novels are magic realism. I am now working on a novel that might be of interest to people who have read The Hitchikers Guide. My premise is that the Neanderthals did not just disappear 30,000 years ago; they were part of a research project that was called off after messing around with the local DNA. They are coming back to save us – theoretically.

I’ve never made money from writing. I did come in First Place in 2008 at the San Francisco Writer’s Convention for Adult Literature but since I couldn’t afford the ticket out there, I wasn’t there to receive the prize.

Q) Well, thank you for your time, Roselyn!

A) Thanks, Nick.

From Woodstock to fortune telling to writing to acclaimed work,  Roselyn has done it all. I don’t think she entirely knows how far she has travelled in her life. Maybe reading this interview she will discover that it could be time for her to write a biography? In any case, The Memory Lingers On is a fantastic read and with things moving as quickly as they are, it won’t be long until it has a place in many homes around the world.

Mar 21

Trahan’s Gift WOWS Readers…

Training for Sophomore year at Ole Miss

Training for Sophomore year at Ole Miss

 

A few weeks ago, I reviewed a book by writer Mike Trahan. Mike is a Texan who never dreamed that he would be successful in the world of writing. He wrote more as a pastime. He liked to put pen to paper and scribble his thoughts down or write for magazines. Then he wrote The Gift…

I was thoroughly intrigued with The Gift from the beginning to the end. Mike Trahan has a gift of writing as well as that of a gifted pilot, his life-long goal.

Five star review followed five star review and the sales started to roll out of Mike’s door. First the book sold 100 copies, then he ordered some more and some more and more… Now, the demand for the book still hasn’t ceased. Trahan has done signing sessions and he’s been approached by a journalist.. Everything is shaking for the man who only wanted to fly.

The book captures your imagination from the start. As a news reporter for 35 years, I have never read events with statistics that were so interesting. I’m a fan of fiction writers James Patterson and Stuart Woods. I find Mike’s non-fiction writing as intriguing as those depicted in the fiction murder plots.

 

So, what is it about The GIft that has made it so popular? Is it the strong storytelling? Is it the tales of a forgotten age? Is it the truth and honesty of one man and his realistic expectations from life? Is it just a quaint tale of a guy who got to fly planes?

No, the truth is that this is a book everyone can relate to. Man, Woman, Child can relate to this book.

The Gift by Mike Trahan made me think about what life was like for us kids growing up during the 50s-nothing really expected of us except go play & play we did-chasing butterflies-making a fort with my brothers-running around the neighborhood barefoot-climbing trees & the list goes on. Then came time to go to High School & on to a career-in his book Mike really shows how much flying meant to him, a couple of times it even kept him out of trouble-Mike really lets the reader know what a fine man he is as he makes decisions along the way- can’t wait for the sequel!

__________________________________________________________________________________________

 

I tried to catch a Mike Trahan for a quick Q and A this evening. Live, hot, straight to the page interview. The first of its kind before those journalists wear him out!

“Hey, Mike, let me ask you a few questions would ya?”

“Hold on…. Busy…”

“Catch you in a few… I was hoping we could pump out a Q and A for Novel Ideas…”

“Sure thing give me fifteen minutes.”

I waited in anticipation, it was just a matter of time before I could ask all the questions.

“Mike, I just wanted to ask a few questions. How has the reaction to your book been so far?”

“It has been nothing but positive, Nick. Everyone I have spoken with is raving about it. They say they can’t put it down. I sold out my first inventory of 150 books in TEN days. I have another order of 96 books coming in on April 1 and 30 of them are already spoken for.”

“You never expected that kind of response did you? I mean, this book was never meant to be a big hit for you?”

“This is my first book, Nick. I wrote it for posterity, for the family to have a history of their Dad. But people started asking for copies of it, and it has turned into something else. I never dreamed it would catch on like it has.”

“Now, I have heard that you just finished your first signing a few days ago. How did that go?”

“Absolutely a success. We took ninety books there and sold out in five hours! Amazon sales are ticking up, too!”
“Would you say it has been a great success in your eyes?”

“Nick, I sold my entire inventory of 150 books in TEN days! That was a complete surprise!”

Did you miss The Gift? Not a problem! Get your copy now!

the gift

 Click HERE to see excerpts!

 

Mar 21

FREE BOOK!! What We Want Most for Our Kids – But Unsure How to Provide It!

My name is Patrick McMillan. As a parenting coach, I’ve asked hundreds of parents,“What do you want most for your children?” I would be hard pressed to recall even one mom or dad that did not respond with the word happiness.

pat

I asked this question to myself fifteen years ago after our first son was born, and of course, I also put happiness at the top of the list. But there was a problem…

 

I had no idea what happiness truly was, let alone how to help my kids discover it.

 

Like so many kids, even those without a little disfigurement (my ears stuck out), I was bullied at school, called names, beat-up, had my things stolen! But the truth is, I was actually happier at school than at home. Unfortunately, like so many children, I experienced far more abuse and bullying at home from my entire family! The extremely hurtful name calling, the self-esteem crushing comments and the physical abuse eventually escalated to a point that I couldn’t take it any longer, and I finally built up the courage to leave home at fifteen years old.

 

By far the most painful and unhappy aspect of my childhood was the lack of relationship with my father. It wasn’t about him not being there, because he was certainly around. He worked and came home every day, put a roof over our heads and kept our family fed and clothed; but beyond that, he hurt me more than I had or have ever been.
Now, I know I’m not the first guy out there with so called “daddy issues” that we keep hidden in our deepest selves. I did for most of my adult life. I, like so many other grown-up men and women, allowed myself to be a victim of my father and carried with me a deep fear of one day repeating the cycle if I was to ever become a dad myself.

 

In fact, I was convinced I would likely repeat the cycle of abuse and lack of love I experienced from my father, especially when I discovered there was clearly a “transgenerational pattern” of abuse. I found out my father was also badly abused by his step-father, kicked out of his home, and forced to live on his own from the age of thirteen.

 

I successfully avoided getting married until I was thirty years old and my beautiful wife was twenty-two. When the reality hit me that I would have to face my deepest fear head-on, I knew I needed to make serious changes in my beliefs. For the first five years of my marriage, I would cry alone after a discussion with my wife about starting a family, because I kept it all a secret from her, too. I had to change something, and I needed help! There was no way I could do this on my own; the scars were too deep, and I didn’t even know where to start. But I HAD TO! My future children’s happiness depended on it.

 

I finally broke my secrecy and told my wife about my fears stemming from my relationship with my father. That was the first step in what I can only describe as an emotional miracle. I attended seminars, read piles of books, watched video after video; but by far the biggest benefit came when I hired a coach! We worked together for almost nine months, which ironically ended almost to the day when I heard those words from my wife…

 

We’re pregnant!”

 

Both my wife and I were astonished at my reaction! In fact, she later told me she was scared to tell me at first, but a feeling of joy like I had never felt before in my entire life came flooding over me. With tears of pure happiness in my eyes, we hugged, and I told her, “I will be the best father I know I can be for our children.”

 

When our first son entered our lives in 1998, my whole world changed. Then, when he was just a year and a half old, I was blessed beyond words. My wife asked me if I would be interested in being a stay-at-home dad. Before I had time to even process the question, I said YES!!

 

His little brother arrived three years later and when he was a year and a half I resumed my full-time role as the stay-at-home dad for seven more years. During my time at home, while our kids were at school I studied emotional development and the “science of happiness.” I felt compelled to teach my children all I came to know about it. I put together a small workbook we could work on together at home, and the effect this had on our kids became noticeable by their teachers. Soon, I was asked, “What are you teaching them?” and, “Can you teach all our students?”

 

Well, to make this long story shorter, An Exercise in Happiness© for children was published in 2008 to help all kids, along with their moms and dads, discover their true source of lasting happiness.

 

Our oldest child is now almost fifteen, his brother is eleven, and I’m fifty. Today! Not only am I happier than I ever imagined I would be, but BOTH of our children are, too! I discovered that when it comes to wanting happiness for my children, I must first be who I wish to see in them.

 

For the past six years, I’ve helped parents and kids around the world as a personal “happiness” coach and my life couldn’t be richer or more rewarding.

 

Our world really can become a happier and more joyful place if we all discover and embrace our happiness and teach our children to do the same.

 

If you can identify with any aspect of my story and find yourself as I once did– stuck, worried and not knowing where to start or even who to ask for help– please feel free to contact me personally at PowerfulHappiness@gmail.com. As my gift to you and your kids, I will reply with an attached (PDF) copy of An Exercise in Happiness ©.

 

Mar 19

DISCOVERED! Covert The Not Known by Jerry Nedwick

I had a wonderful email from a lady named Connie telling me about her late husband’s book. I went to look at the book straight away and found myself hooked by the honesty, the amazing insight into the real effects of war. Vietnam was a war many of you have forgotten and before I even started this article I asked people who were there for their opinion. I don’t believe a guy like myself who wasn’t even born when the war took place should really have any right to assume anything about this war. What I found out from the guys I asked was a simple, horrible truth. The war mentally scared, tarnished and damaged every single individual who entered its fray. I have heard that veterans were disrespected when they returned, the war was unpopular and driven by politics more than anything else. I think Covert The Not Known is an important book to read. It tells you what happens when politicians and kings decide to create wars. The reality is not glorious, the reality, from what I understand, is that you live with what happened forever and it never leaves you… I would like you to read these excerpts and think about the way this book touches you. It certainly touched me..

About Jerry Nedwick

jerrynedwickyoungJerry Nedwick was born in June of 1945 in Wichita Falls, Texas. His father served in the United States Army Air Corps during World War II as a door gunner and chief mechanic on B-17 bombing raids over France. Jerry served honorably in the United States Marine Corps from 1963 to 1966 and was dismissed by the Department of Defense in June 1967 with full benefits and privileges. His wife of more than 40 years has lived the aftermath of Vietnam with him and has been the support and tower of strength he needed to adjust to normal life. He would like to award her the Congressional Medal of Honor. Jerry was a successful husband, father, businessman, rancher, realtor, pilot, and law abiding citizen who was very patriotic and loved America and the freedom it affords every person. He continued to make regular visits to the United States Veteran’s Administration Hospital as part of the follow-up and rehab after Vietnam. He had been evaluated with multiple personality disorder with traits of paranoia. He was never been a danger to anyone or unable to live a normal life. This book was written from the memories and flashbacks of his time in the military.

Jerry passed away on November 18, 2011. His legacy will continue to live on through his family and this writing of his experiences in Vietnam. God Bless Jerry and all the Veterans. May he rest in peace.

Reviews

“To be honest, this isn’t my normal genre. This book was recommended by a family member, so I decided to check it out. After reading the first chapter, I was hooked in and HAD to finish the book. The story not only held my attention, but I was brought into a vividly painted world that I wanted to know more about. I felt like I was in the bush with the author, smelling and seeing and following with him.” ~ 5 Stars

 

“I read this book over the weekend. The storyteller was so detailed in his writing that the pictures were very clear in my mind. It made me so thankful for Jerry’s and other servicemen’s commitment to the honor of our country. And it made me sad for all the images of war that they will never erase from their memories. I agree that it would make a great movie. Albeit a very graphic portrayal of the horror our troops must face on a daily basis; even after returning to their “normal” life. Thank you to all who serve and those that served before them.” ~ 5 Stars

 

“As a spouse of my own deceased Viet Nam Vet (coincidentally also named Jerry), I can attest to the fact that this book hits you in the gut and makes you think about a time in our history when the count of human suffering was measured in body bags. All soldiers that I know come home wounded, in one way or another… family members suffer too. But ours was a world in which soldiers and children did not tell. Whose idea was that, anyways? I want to know. Both Jerry’s rest in peace while their memory lives on – scars of war lives on forever.” ~ 4 Stars
covertnotknown

 

_________________________________________________________________________________________

Excerpt from the Introduction to Covert the Not Known

I have the right to express my thoughts as a result of the Constitution of the United States,
specifically the Freedom of Speech.
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.

 

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 of fact, but it is upon the reader to determine fact from fiction.

 

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.

 

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.

 

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

 

Excerpt from Chapter 1

We arrived in San Antonio at 12:20 am and departed the airport on a dark blue school bus with gold letters, USAF, Lackland, A F. B., on the side. I actually felt hyped. I hadn’t eaten for 17 hours. I was weak from no food and hardly any sleep and yet I felt excitement racing through my body.

 

About 1:15 am, the bus stopped and a very big man in OD (Olive Drab) green fatigues got on the bus and started yelling obscenities at us at the top of his lungs. “Ladies, you will get off the bus and line up on the lines painted on the ground. NOW!”

 

Everybody lined up in two equal columns with one person left over. The Sergeant congratulated the odd man out by saying, “Since you don’t fit, you will be temporary squad leader. You rejects from home and fugitives from the law belong to me. You will do exactly as I say if you have any fucking brains. Do as you are told and you might survive. The ones who don’t make it, will go home shamefully.”

 

“Put your bags down to your left side and hence forth, do not use your fight hand for anything, but saluting an officer or wiping the shit off your asshole. In my opinion they are just the same.”

 

I thought to myself, this guy ain’t no Sunday school teacher. The rainbows, a word used to describe new recruits because of the various styles and colors of clothing they wore were processed by getting blood pressure, heart, lungs, teeth and a VD check.

Mar 18

EXCLUSIVE! Excerpts from The Memory Lingers On

Roselyn Kachuck has been writing for many years. I ran into her through another writer– Sandra Carrington-Smith. Would Roselyn like to appear on my page? Would I like to interview her? Would I like to run extracts from her latest book?

SURE! What’s your book The Memory Lingers On about Roselyn?

It’s an emotional rollercoaster ride across time and within alternate realities that gives a unique perspective on Alzheimer’s as it follows Anna Metz Segal’s evolving spirit reliving over eighty years of life spanning the tumultuous 20th century.

memory

Sounds interesting to me! Let’s run it!

Wait, Nick, read my reviews first!

Okay, I’m looking forward to reading them. Shoot them over.

Here is the first from Alice Elliot Dark who wrote In the Gloaming and Think of England? You read that right?

Yes, I really enjoyed that one.

Me too! She wrote this:

I must tell you I loved it. (Kachuck) told Anna’s story with such sensitivity. I loved the scenes in her youth when she was a young girl and woman full of hopes and dreams; I think (Kachuck) really captured the uneven nature of a person’s personality at that age, how they are ahead of themselves in some areas and not in others. I was also fascinated by Anna’s memories of other lives and times. I’ve never seen anyone interpret the loss of present memory in that light. It’s brilliant and moving.

WOW! She wrote that?

Yes, and I also got a review from Robert Cohen who is editor for the St. Louis Jewish Light!

Seriously? Let me see that one.

Kachuck’s narrative of Anna’s heroic journey evokes some of the best of the various Latin American and Italian schools of “magic realism” by such writers as Gabriel Manuel Marquez and Italo Calvino. Anna’s world is both very “here and now,” even when she is experiencing her “visions” which are both realistic and as fantastic as the paintings of Marc Chagall.

Okay, Roselyn, I really want to read this book!

 

EXCLUSIVE EXCERPT #1

Anna is awake in 1951.  Her children are coming home from school with identification tags in preparation for the next war.  She’s afraid it will come.

*****

Poppa, I forgive you as I forgive myself sins that I have committed. Now, after the execution of Julius and Ethel Rosenberg, I know you had no choice. It’s not that you were a coward, but that you believed you were. You didn’t sell out to the devil; you just wanted him off your back. No, this isn’t Russia. I pray to God we can make it more than just another piece of land, on another ocean, with a different name.
            So much doesn’t make sense. I can’t believe that a bomb is good because the Russians are bad. I can only accept so much before I break. And when my children come home with dog tags, practicing to die while they cower under their desks, I breakdown, like my father before me. But I don’t know what I have to say or do to stop it from going on. As I think these conflicted thoughts, I fall into a restless sleep.
            What I believe is the sound of Harry snoring becomes the whistling of the wind past my ears. Soon it is howling around me as I stand on the beach. Dark clouds are overhead; soon, rain will follow. Am I dreaming? Or have I wakened from a dream?
            The wind has a voice; it answers, “Does it matter?”
             “Yes!  It matters. I don’t know where I stand. If my life means anything, I need to know if it’s real or an illusion.”
            The voice has gone. I look at the dark swirling clouds knowing I should try to find cover but the boardwalk is too far away and the wind holds me back, almost pushing me toward the sea.
            I lift my arms to heaven imploring, “Is any of this real?”  In the clouds, faces appear. Faces of the dead I remember, faces from another lifetime, including my own reflection changing in the shifting light and flowing patterns of the clouds. My face changes but I do recognize myself before the memory was forgotten. I don’t know who I am, if I am any one of the faces or all of them.
            “Is any of this real?” I call out.
            “There are no answers,” my mother says.
            I am surprised she is standing beside me. “Where did you come from?” I ask.
            But she only repeats, “There are no answers.”

 

EXCLUSIVE EXCERPT #2
In the summer of 1996 Anna has been moved to a Nursing home.  She believes she’s at resort in the mountains.  From this location the spirits come to her & take her back in time. Her she is waiting for her husband.
*****
            Dozing on and off as the day wore on, she wondered when Harry would come for her. It seemed like a long time ago that he went for something but she couldn’t remember what.
            A man came out to empty the trash cans. For a moment, she thought he was Harry, so called to him. He waved in greeting as he lifted the plastic liner out of one can then loaded it into a bin he wheeled behind him. “Nice evening,” he said.
            How could she have mistaken him for Harry? Just as her fears were coming to light, an attendant came by. “They’re having a sing-along inside, Mrs. Segal. Why don’t you come in?”
            “I’m waiting for Harry,” she answered. “I’ll see what he wants to do.”
            “Maybe he’s already inside,” the woman said. “You can meet him there.”
            Anna laughed and, as she did, could see him so clearly that she knew the wait would not be much longer and that he expected she would be here. “No, I told him I’d wait. I don’t want to lose him.”

 

What did you think, Nick?

 

I loved it! Can we interview?

 

I think that can be arranged….
Stay tuned for a great interview coming up with the lovely Roselyn Kachuk!

 

Mar 17

Exclusive Number Two! Writing Bestsellers? “There’s Nothing to It,” Says Lloyd Tackitt

Lloyd Tackitt is a man who knows about survival. Surviving in the world of books is one of the toughest things to achieve. Lloyd has achieved it and this interview pre-shadows the release of his brand new, assured-to-be bestseller Eden’s Warriors (available soon)! I wanted to ask Lloyd about his previous work, and Lloyd was happy to oblige. Join us as we talk about the inner workings of the mind of a true best-selling author as we count down the days to the release of his new book Eden’s Warriors.

Lloyd Tackitt
Q) Nice to meet you, Lloyd! So you’ve written a few books. Which of your works is your favourite?

A) Hi, Nicholas. It’s a pleasure to visit with you again.

I’ve published three books in a post-apocalyptic slash survival series. The first two books – A Distant Eden and Adrian’s War — are half survival manual and half novel. I thought it would be interesting to mix real survival instruction with a fictional account of how they were used. The books are getting excellent reviews and selling very well – getting attention mostly by word of mouth. Top reviews have been given for both elements of these books, the instruction element and the story line.

The third book is called Eden’s Hammer and is a bestseller. It could be said that it was more novel than manual. Survival instructions are finite, at least real ones are. I covered just about everything in the first two books on survival without getting into the esoteric techniques – such as starting a fire with a candy bar and a can of soda. Eden’s Hammer includes tribal scale guerrilla warfare tactics that are explained, but mostly it’s about the adventures of the main character, Adrian Hunter. This book was released the first week of January.

I am really looking forward to the fourth book in the series. It will be called Eden’s Warriors and I can assure you that it is my best one yet!

Q) What drove you to become a writer and which book was your first release?

A) My first release was A Distant Eden. It was published in March of 2012. The second book Adrian’s War was released in August of 2012, and the third, Eden’s Hammer, in January of 2013.

What drove me to write the first book was a combination of three things. 1. A fascination with the subject of post-apocalyptic survival. 2. The advent of self-publishing at the level it recently reached, making it available to me. 3. I spend three hours per day commuting to and from work, leaving me a lot of time to think about what to write.

What drove me to write the others, and to continue writing, is a love of writing. I have written a considerable number of short stories (available for free at lloydtackitt.com). Those stories eventually led to writing the first novel. My novels, so far, have been on the short side of the classic novel definition, around sixty-thousand words each. My writing style is compressed and direct – nothing florid about it. I try to make every word count and not put any filler or fluff in. I could easily double the length of these books, but the story would be the same story with a lot of window dressing. Not my style.

A Distant Eden

Q) How are the public taking to your work? How are sales?

A) Excellent. Far better than I had dared to hope for. Sales have been truly wonderful and the feedback has been beyond my wildest dreams. I am developing a rapidly expanding reader base, and get emails every day asking when the next story will be available. My answer to that question is – as soon as I can get it finished, polished, and published. I write part-time, my days are very full and leave little time for writing, but I squeeze writing in every chance I get. I’ve published three books in ten months, so you can see that while my writing career is part-time, it is productive.

Q) So your previous release was called Eden’s Hammer. Can you tell me what us a little bit about it?

With no spoilers? Okay, I’ll give it a try. Imagine a man who is in a post-apocalyptic world and has recently lost the love of his life. He has gone off into the mountains to be alone, but ended up in a war with a group of raiders that also practiced cannibalism. He’s just finished that war when his uncle sends word to come home as fast as possible, their entire village – Fort Brazos — is under threat of annihilation. Adrian, the protagonist, rushes home to find a large group of criminals about to descend on his village and overwhelm it with superior numbers and firepower. Adrian assesses the situation and goes into action to save his village. Much more than that and I start to tell the story itself.

Q) Where did the title Eden’s Hammer come from?

A) I’m not completely sure it’s explainable. Partly because it is a part of the Distant Eden series of course; but also partly because the protagonist, Adrian, is the one man that his family and friends believes can save them. Titles are strange, you try several out, roll them around in your mind for a while and then try some more. When one finally feels right you leave it alone for a few weeks, then try it again and see if it still feels right. Eventually, one feels right and keeps feeling right and you go with it. There’s a lot to the selection process that isn’t rational, more intuitive. Like working out the cover art.

Q) How would you describe the process of writing a book?

A) I’ve written tons of short stories and the books are kind of different and kind of the same. At least the process I follow is– probably different for each writer. First, I think about the story while commuting. I roughly shape it in my head, the introduction phase, the first couple of pinch points, the main crisis and the resolution. These are my guideposts.

When I have that firmly in my mind, I begin writing. The first draft is almost purely spontaneous, letting the characters lead me as I go along. You’ve heard of the characters taking over the story? That’s true for me. Often the characters are out there wandering around getting into and out of trouble and I have no idea what they’re going to be up to next. Other than they follow the general guideposts I mentioned earlier. That’s the first draft.

Once the first draft is complete, then I go back and start re-writing, changing the story here and there, adding and subtracting. That’s the second draft.

When the second draft is complete I go back and really tweak the “close to the ground” part of the story. Re-working dialogue, checking for conformity of details, adding descriptions of places and people.

When that’s complete, I go through it looking for spelling and grammar errors, or clumsy sentences. After that I send it to the editor, get it back from the editor and go through the comment review/approval process. The final version goes to the formatter to get it in shape to upload. I’ll have been working with the cover artist for a few weeks at this point and it should be completed. After formatting is done and cover art is done, I upload it and then start chewing my nails waiting for reviews.

Q) If you could have written any book by any author– which would it have been and why?

A) “To Kill A Mockingbird” by Harper Lee. My all time, number one (with no number two even close) favorite book. Harper Lee creates a world that is completely immersive and inclusive. I cannot read that book without being pulled into it. I’ve read it perhaps fifty or sixty times, trying to understand her writing style – but I always get pulled into the story and can’t see the trees for the forest. Her style is completely invisible, you just can’t see it.

It’s also a story that has every element in it that you could ask for, and the characters become so real that I sometimes think of them when I am recalling family members of long ago.

Q) How many books do you have in mind for release?

A) Total? I have no idea. I am going to start a murder mystery series soon. The Distant Eden series is an open-ended world that can be described in story for many books to come.

Adrians War

Q) How was your publishing experience? Would you promote self publishing?

Since I self-publish it’s a peaceful experience. It’s all in my control – other than the amount of time it takes to get material back from editing, formatting and cover art. I can’t control those time frames entirely, but by planning ahead with the various people involved the time is kept to a minimum.

Q) Do you have an editor or do you edit your own work?

A) I’ve worked with editors. I can’t edit my own work objectively. If I tried to self-edit I would never finish a book. I never look at one of my manuscripts without wanting to make changes, and sometimes a lot of them. At some point though you have to let go and move on, and by sending it out to an editor I can make that break while getting objective criticism on the final book. That’s a great way to work. Editors and editing were invented for a reason.

Q) Eden’s Hammer is still riding high, correct? Where can people buy it?

It’s out now and can be purchased on Amazon for the Kindle version and CreateSpace for the paperback. The paperback will eventually be available on Amazon also, but that always takes time. A Distant Eden has just been released in audio format as well.

Q) Have you got a website for readers to keep up with your work?

A) I do have a website that has many of my short stories on it. I’m not a computer savvy person so I don’t update the site often with recent news. It’s lloydtackitt.com.

I also have an author’s Facebook page that I can operate so it has more up-to-date information on it. http://www.facebook.com/AuthorLloydTackitt

I also have an email address where readers can correspond with me. I always try to answer within five days and usually do better than that. I’ll answer questions about the books, the upcoming releases, survival, or just about anything other than religion and politics. lloydtackitt@gmail.com

On the subject of politics, I sometimes blog at: libertyauthors.com/index.php/lloydtackitt/

I am also an avid fly fisherman and blog on fishing at: fishexplorer.com on the Texas part of the website.

I can’t wait to reveal the preview I have lined up for Eden’s Warriors. It’s a fantastic read and you will love it– just as Lloyd’s readers love all his work.

Find out more about the Distant Eden Series by Lloyd Tackitt at Hot Books!