Saturday, September 6, 2014

Dear Gentle Readers

Dear Gentle Readers,
We had some questions from a post on my author website, carolannkauffman.weebly.com about Vision and Verse that I wanted to share with you.
1. Are Carol Kauffman and Parker Kaufman related?
No, we are not.
2. Can one request to be interviewed on Vision and Verse?
No, it is by invitation only.
3. Can I submit an article to be featured on Vision and Verse?
Yes. Email to Carol Kauffman, Editor at visionandverse415 and I'll take a look at it.
4. How do you choose your guest bloggers?
Guest bloggers are authors or artists who have been featured on Vision and Verse in the past, so I am familiar with their writing style and know my readers will like them.
5. How is Vision and Verse different from this website?
Vision and Verse, the Place for Art and Authors, deals with inspiration and creativity today and in the past. It is global.
This website, carolannkauffman.weebly.com deals with - ME! My ramblings, adventures, projects.
Have a beautiful September day.
Hugs,
Carol

Friday, September 5, 2014

Book Review of TROIANNE by Crystal Miles Gauthier






TROIANNE, Time Travel Society Book 1, by Crystal  Miles Gauthier
5 Star Review by Carol Ann Kauffman


Normal college girl goes out with friends, has a few beers, comes home pregnant.  And that’s the last normal thing that happens in this 315 page roller coaster ride of a novel that grabs you on page one.  Time travel, telepathy, and witches!  Evil stalks the lovely Troianne and her newborn child around every bend of the road.  Ms. Gauthier weaves a tale of love and treachery across the ages that makes us WANT to believe in time travel.  The beautiful descriptions of Victorian costuming and the duke’s estate were lush and vivid.  The characters, especially Troianne and Duncan, were believably written and extremely likable. I highly recommend TROIANNE and I am eagerly awaiting the next book in the Time Travel Society series.

Thursday, September 4, 2014

R.A. John's KILLER SALESMAN in Undercurrents of Fear



R. A. John's story "Killer Salesman" has been published in the anthology UNDERCURRENTS OF FEAR by Silent Fray… When a salesman fails in his career and personal life – his largest fear of failure comes back to haunt him in a figure in a hotel painting...

This is a really interesting anthology of dark stories by writers from Europe and America.

‘…our lives are dictated by the pressures and diversions that fear presents…this book is dedicated to those fears and their purveyors. I hope you enjoy this show, this grand ball of fears and frights…’

5* rating: Book Review by author Jane Yates: 'An office supplies sales man travels the breadth of England trying to reach his monthly target unsuccessfully…R. A. Johns describes the English landscape, the empty fields and lonely farm houses…The loneliness of this landscape ties into the main character’s own loneliness. Always being on the road and suspecting that while he is away his wife has other lovers…He is undoubtedly stressed but appears however to like the challenge of stress and the thrill of the chase as R. A. Jones neatly puts it…Mr Needham stays in a grubby hotel and becomes convinced at first that there is someone in his room and watching him. He also becomes fixated by a painting in his room that he is convinced is changing before his eyes...


Brilliant short story full of descriptive words and very interesting. Would highly recommend 5 stars.’
                                                                                                                     

To buy ‘UNDERCURRENTS OF FEAR’:

R.A. Johns Biography:
R. A. Johns lives in Oxfordshire, where she runs a writers’ group and the Oxfordshire branch of Feed My Reads (@FMROxfordshire). Her short stories have also appeared in anthologies published by Thirteen O’Clock Press, Silent Fray and Horrified Press. Her short film The Revolution is currently in production. Her psychological play Random 12was performed by Mithras Theatre Company and Waiting put on at the Burton Taylor Theatre. Breaking Ice was selected for the OUDS New Writing Festival, shortlisted by the Royal Court Theatre and selected for performance by the Head of the New Writing Initiative at the BBC. She’s currently working on a novel.

Her author FB is www.facebook.com/RosemaryAnnJohns. Twitter: @RosemaryAJohns





Wednesday, September 3, 2014

The Art of Beryl Cook


Girls in a Taxi

Dear Gentle Readers,
   While checking by Facebook Author Page for activity, I came across a post from my friend and fellow art enthusiast, Elizabeth Monroe, and at first, I was a little taken by surprise.  Was there a photographer following my female family members and me around town?  Do I have the dreaded...(gasp)...paparazzi?
After I decided this wasn't really us, I found these prints to be delightful and lighthearted.  And fun.  I hope you will enjoy these "Ruebens with a sense of humor," Botticellis with a big-bunned sense of humor, Bouchers On Carbos, Montaubans Wearing Clothes, I could go on and on...and on. 
Hugs,
Carol                                                                                The Art Studio

Directly from Wikipedia:
                                                                                          "Beryl Cook,(10 September 1926 – 28 May 2008) was an English artist best known for her original and instantly recognisable paintings of people enjoying themselves in pubs, girls shopping or out on a hen night, drag shows or a family picnicking by the seaside or abroad – tangoing in Buenos Aires or gambling in Las Vegas. She had no formal training and did not take up painting until middle age. She went to Kendrick Grammar School located in Reading, Berkshire, England.
Cook was a shy and private person, often depicting the flamboyant and extrovert characters she would like to be. She had an almost photographic memory.
Cook started painting when living in Southern Rhodesia with her husband and young son, and     continued to paint on returning to England during the 60’s, but only began to sell her work in the mid 70’s
She found new material for her work while travelling. Early local scenes expanded those depicting Buenos Aires, New York, Cuba, Paris and Barcelona.


                          The Park
Cook admired the work of the English visionary artist Stanley Spencer, his influence evident in her compositions and bold bulky figures, as well as several of her pictures depicting a similarly religious aspect; e.g. Noah, The Virgin and Jonah & The Whale. Another influence was Edward Burra, who painted sleazy cafes, nightclubs, gay bars, sailors and prostitutes, although, unlike Burra, she did not paint the sinister aspects of scenes. She was described by Victoria Wood as "Rubens with jokes". Beryl Cook's work can be seen in context with the British tradition of social realist painters and could be described as a twentieth century Hogarth or Gilray, although she had a more sympathetic view of the human race. She was, like them above all a social observer. In 1979 a film was made about Beryl Cook for LWT's South Bank Show. The TV company Tiger Aspect made two half-hour award winning animated films of Beryl Cook's irrepressible women who meet at Plymouth'sDolphin Pub. Entitled 'Bosom Pals' had an all star cast of voices with Dawn FrenchRosemary LeachAlison Steadman andTimothy Spall. They were screened on BBC1 in February 2004.
                                                                                                                          The Red Umbrella
Beryl Cook was made an O.B.E. in 1995. In 2005 Channel 4 News presented a short film of Beryl and her work, she was also the featured artist in The Culture Show in 2006. Beryl Cook's paintings have been acquired by Glasgow Museum of Modern Art, Bristol City Art Gallery, Plymouth Art Gallery and Durham Museum. The Baltic, Gateshead had a major Beryl Cook Exhibition in 2007, and a full retrospect exhibition was put on by Plymouth University after her death in November and December 2008. In 2010 several of Beryl Cook's paintings were loaned to Tate Britain for their exhibition 'Rude Britannia – British Comic Art', Bristol City Art Gallery and Museum held a retrospective exhibition in 2011.

                    Cha Cha Cha              
Publications : 'The Works' ( John Murray 1978   ) 'Private View' ( John Murray 1980 ) 'Seven Years and a Day' ( Collins 1980 ) 'One Man Show' ( John Murray 1981 ) 'Bertie and the Big Red Ball' ( John Murray 1982 ) 'My Granny was a frightful bore' ( Chrysalis Books 1983 ) 'Beryl Cook's New York' ( John Murray 1985 ) 'Beryl Cook's London ( John Murray 1988 ) 'Bouncers' ( Gollancz 1992 )'Happy Days' ( Gollancz 1995 ) 'Cruising' (Gollancz 2000 ) 'Beryl Cook: ' The Bumper Edition ' ( Gollancz 2000 )'The World of Beryl Cook' by Jess Wilder & Jerome Sans ( Prestel 2007 ) revised by Jess Wilder in 2008 ( Prestel ) 'Rude Britannia- British Comic Art, Catalogue Tate Britain 2010. www.berylcook.co


None of these photos or background articles are mine; nothing is my own work except for the first paragraph.  All information is from:
www.wikipedia.com
www.berylcook.com
www.amazon.com
www.cheap-r.com
www.berylcookprints.com

Tuesday, September 2, 2014

Interview with Author Dr. Ephraim Bates


Dr. Ephraim Bates
Chattanooga, TN, USA

Good morning, Dr. Bates.  Welcome to Vision and Verse, the Place for Art and Authors.  It is a pleasure to have you here with us.  Let's get to it.
Q. What have you written?
A. Songs…and a ton of them. My buddy and I are getting ready to put out our fourth album next month.
Oh, and “Boom!!...Killers.” my first foray into the novel writing field (and probably the reason we’re doing this interview right now).

Q. Yes, probably.  What is your favorite genre to write?
A. It’s hard to say. I have so many stories that I have worked on in my days as a younger man. Love action, love conspiracy stories, and I really like books that are funny. I guess I love the three so much that I wrapped them all up into one genre: the comedic action thriller.
And that’s what “Boom!!...Killers.” is…funny, full of intense thrill rides, and action by the buckets.  And it’s funny.  Did I say that already??

Q. Favorite food?
A. Whatever you’re makin’, baby.     


Q. That is one of the characteristics of the ideal man in my book.  Tea or coffee?
A. Tea…no sugar.

Q. Pizza or ice cream?
A. I have found this new frozen pizza from California Pizza Kitchen, and they – in my opinion – blow all other frozen pizza out of the water…and the freezer.

Q. Where would you like to visit?
A. The minds of my ex-girlfriends just so I can see what it was that they were thinking. But, yeah, just for a visit. Much more than that and I would probably be visiting the psych ward.

Q. I was really going for an actual place, like Italy or Scotland.  Apparantly, you like scary stuff. Favorite musical artist?
A. The Outfield.

Q. Do you listen to music when you write?
A. I do.

Q. What?
A. I actually have a soundtrack to “Boom!!...Killers.” Every time I would write, I would listen to that soundtrack…over and over and over again. I have a new one for the sequel, “Bang!!...Assassins.” that I put together, too.
And I listen to it over and over and over…

Q. What makes you laugh?
A. Great one-liners that are both absurd and yet fitting at the same time.

Q. Favorite work of art or sculpture?
A. I used to teach 4th grade so I love those works of “art” that hang at home on the refrigerator. Beautiful, innocent, and pure.

Q. I taught first grade, and in our home I have artwork that my student's gave me, framed and matted and amazingly beautiful.  How old were you when you started writing?
A. Overall…I was six. Intelligibly? Probably around 9th grade

Q. Describe your perfect evening?
A. Snowed in and safe with a particular set of friends, and we would sit around the fire place talking about music, politics, movies, life, and faith.

Q. Snow?  Where do you get your inspiration?
A. Music, dreams, and the lack of good story telling in other books that I read.

Q. What do you do when you get a writer's block?
A. I put it with all my other writer’s blocks in hopes that one day I can build a writer’s castle.

Q. That would be a useful thing to do with them.  I'll keep that in mind.  Who is your favorite author?
A. Ed McBain, Solomon.                   


Q. Last book you read?
A. Mica Rossi’s “Once In A Blue Moon”.

Q. I have that one on my To-Be-Read List!  What would you do for a living if you weren’t a writer?
A. Well, I do so many other things: musician, teacher, tutor, etc.
I guess if I had to pick something that would be my dream job besides everything else I do is… Disc Jockey.

Q. Who is the one person who has influenced your personal life the most and why?
A. There is no one person. My life as I know it now has been influenced by a collective of people. To single out just one would be doing a disservice to everyone else that has been just as important.

Q. If you could sit down and have a conversation with ONE person, living or dead, real or fictional, who would it be and why?
A. Noah. I would love to know how the whole ark thing worked/was made, and the two of every creature being on it, and how pro-creation went after the waters alleviated after the worldwide flood was over.

Q. What advice would you give someone who aspired to be a writer?
A. Have a ton of story ideas in your head before you write your first story. Don’t just go with whatever you come up with first. You will need to follow up with something else pretty quick, and you will need to make it good so that people don’t:
1: Think you are one and done.

2: Think you are a one hit wonder.

That was the same advice Stephen King gave.  He said after you finish your first book, start your second one.  Well, Dr. Ephraim Bates, you are a real character.  I think we'll be hearing a lot more about you! Thank you for stopping by Vision and Verse this morning.

Monday, September 1, 2014

Cover Reveal of STARGAZER by Sunniva Dee


Title: Stargazer(Halo's #2)
Author: Sunniva Dee
Genre: PNR/New Adult
Release Date: October 31, 2014
Goodrerads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/21798222-stargazer?ac=1

Synopsis
I’m Luna, and I’ve been in the Twilight Zone since I moved in with my sister and her boyfriend.
I sense their secrets in every corner of the house.

Gabriel is eerily beautiful, and his personality disturbingly perfect, while Gaia’s inexplicable PTSD and mood swings bounce her between bliss and despair.
Until Gabriel’s brothers pay a visit.

Cassiel...
He’s the night to his brother’s day. He’s sex personified and the devil in one hell of a stunning package. It’s been years since I last saw him, but this man makes me burn. He hooks me with his touch. Enthralls me with those oddly simmering eyes. He pierces my soul with his knowing smirks, and I am losing myself in him.

Ka...
With pearlescent hair and spring green eyes, he crashes into my world. I thought this crazy, beautiful man could mend my bleeding heart. Make things recognizable again—normal. Instead he pulls me from the embers and feeds me to the open fire.
College life. Is this what everyone goes through?



About The Author

Originally from Norway, I moved to the United States twelve years ago. I hold a Master's degree in languages and taught Spanish at college level before settling in at the Savannah College of Art and Design as an adviser.
I write New Adult fiction, sometimes with a paranormal twist—like in “Shattering Halos,” published by The Wild Rose Press in February 24th 2014 and in “Stargazer,” estimated release date, November 2014. The first book I’m self-publishing is the New Adult Contemporary novel “Pandora Wild Child,” which will make me a proud indie author in October 28th 2014!
I specialize in impulsive heroines, bad-boys, and good-boys running amok. Then, there’s the intense love, physical and emotional attraction beyond reason—sensory overload for the reader as well as for the characters. Like in real life, I hope you’re unable to predict what comes next in my stories.
Yes, so I write what I love to read, and depending on the reader, you'll find my books to be a fast-paced emotional rollercoaster—or disturbing because the struggles of love aren’t your thing. Here’s to hoping you have the same reading vice as me! ;-)



Excerpt 
CASSIEL
What the hell happened back there? She was one measly Earthling. A single goddamn daughter of Eve out of thousands, millions—billions! I was pitiful.
I went home after she slipped out of my arms. Now, I drew in a deep, cleansing breath and reached for the glass of champagne on the nightstand.
Empty already?
I untangled from the last chick and got up. In her stupor, a blissful smile still curled her lips. It’d never made me impatient before.
A chilled bottle waited at the wet bar. I snapped it open and poured icy fizz over the strawberry I’d squeezed too hard. The fruity mass resembled bloody entrails, which suited me fine.
Lingerie. My gaze trailed over the second girl. An arm and a leg strained limp toward the floor, soft skin reflecting from the wall-wide mirror. The curve of her ass, the sheer thigh-highs I’d rolled down a fraction. All details that simply made my existence.
This trio would be out my door soon with their minds erased.
“You want another glass?” I grumbled to Perky-Boobs. Not that I couldn’t remember names—some just bored me.
“I—I…” she gasped out.
I hadn’t taken her yet. To attain the hint of a thrill, I’d skipped the dazzling on this one. She sat rigid against the headboard, chest heaving with desire and anticipation. So fucking predictable.
She pinned her knees together, and they tipped demurely to one side. Now she flicked a wide-eyed glance at her friends.
Luna went to Ka again.
I did enjoy how Perky Boobs’ negligee slid open to reveal puffy areolas as she shifted.
“Never mind,” I said. “Your drink can wait.”
And to hell with the Samuelle girl.
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