TV TIME: Monster Island (You Tube)

Arich guy funds a team of geologists to explore an uncharted area. They find unbelievable creatures. The team and the coast guard join forces to defend mankind against these fantastic creatures.

Good special effects and monster fight scenes. All in all, I liked it. 

 

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INTERVIEW: Children’s Author Maxine Sylvester

 

Maxine Sylvester

London-born

Bali, Indonesia

Good morning, Maxine! And welcome to Vision and Verse, the site for art and authors. 

What have you written?

I have written three books in the ‘Ronaldo the Flying Reindeer’ 

series; they are available as ebooks from Amazon.com. The second 

book, Ronaldo: The Phantom Carrot Snatcher, is coming out soon 

in paperback.

What is your favorite genre to write?

Children aged 6-10 years. I am very much in touch with my inner 

child so writing and illustrating for this age group comes naturally.

I taught that age group for 35 
years. They are my favorite people.  

Favorite food. 

Pizza! I also have a passion for 

Indian curry.

Tea or coffee?

Herbal tea. Jasmine is my favourite.

Pizza or ice cream? 

Without a shadow of a doubt, pizza! 

I would only eat ice cream if there 

was a fudge brownie buried beneath it.

Wine or beer or soda? 

I don’t tend to drink alcohol or soda but I will
 have the odd glass of wine at Christmas or on 
my birthday.

Where would you like to visit? 

Disneyland, Shanghai. I have been to the other Disney 

Resorts; this is the last one on my bucket list.

Favorite musical artist.

Anything from Guns ‘n’ Roses and 
ACDC to Bruce Springsteen, 

Pink Floyd and James Taylor. I also 
have a wonderful Disney 

soundtrack with all the songs from 
the films and theatre productions.

  

Do you listen to music when you write?  
I listen to music when I am illustrating 
but I find it too distracting when I write.

What makes you laugh? 
Old comedies like ‘Fawlty Towers’. 
I also like ‘Johnny English’ films.

Favorite work of art or sculpture. 
I have a folk art painting which I 
bought in Park Cultury (Gorky Park) 
in Moscow. Not only do I love it 
because it’s a winter scene but it 
reminds me of the time I spent in Russia. I also 
like the Hachiko statue in Tokyo. I saw the film 
and made a point of having my photo 
taken with it while I was in Japan.

How old were you when you started writing? 
Mary Poppins says you should never discuss a woman’s age, 
but I will make an exception this once (ha!) I was 47 years old.

Do you plan out your book with outlines and notecards? 

Or just write? 
I usually have a rough idea in my head how I am going to start the story,
 but then it veers off in a different direction, and then I am thrilled because 
I never saw it happening that way. I always keep a notebook handy 
because once my brain is in writing mode, ideas keep coming at the 
strangest times and I might be in the bath or out shopping.

Describe your perfect evening. 
I like Saturday evenings at home with my partner, Mark. We usually order 
an Indian curry and watch the Premier League football. (Unfortunately we 
support different teams which have led to minor conflict over the years!)

Where do you get your inspiration? 
From children. I love to encourage them and each book has a message. 
Ronaldo: The Phantom Carrot Snatcher is about friendship and bravery. 
My first book, Ronaldo: The Reindeer Flying Academy, deals with self 
belief. Ronaldo is a good role model and very relatable; I want children to 
feel they have a friend every time they pick up a Ronaldo book.

What do you do when you get a 
writer's block? 
I have a few sessions of acupuncture. 
I believe that a writer’s block comes 
from the body not functioning to the best 
of its ability. Outside factors like stress 
can have a major influence on how the 
body performs.

Who is your favorite author? 
I’d have to say J.K. Rowling. I devoured 
the Harry Potterbooks. 

Best book you ever read. 
The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle; it was 
life changing for me. Whenever I feel anxious, 
I read the shortened version and it reminds me 
to get out of my head.

I have that book sitting on my shelf, 
in my giant "to be read" pile. 
Maybe I'll move it up toward the top. 

 Last book you read. 
Creativity Inc. by Ed Catmull. The author is one of the founding fathers of 
Pixar animation, a tiny little company who created Toy Story and eventually 
merged with the epic Disney. I am obsessed with Disney and Pixar so the 
book is a fantastic read for me and so inspirational!

I've read that one! Excellent! I wished I had read that when I 

was younger. I doubt I would have stayed in the classroom 

for 35 years. 

What would you do for a living if you weren’t a writer?

I would probably illustrate for other people. At the moment I only illustrate 
my books. I am a trained Pilates Instructor, so I could teach a few classes 
as well.

Who is the one person who has influenced your personal life the most 
and why? 
My partner, Mark. Over the last twenty-three years, he has supported 
every hairbrained idea I have ever had. He helps with my social media 
to give me more time to write/illustrate.

If you could sit down and have a conversation with ONE 
person, living or dead, real or fictional, who would it be 
and why?
Walt Disney, although I tend to get tongue tied when 

I am in awe of brilliant people. (I once sat at the next 

table to Roger Waters of Pink Floyd – I couldn’t even ask 

him for an autograph!) 
As to why, Walt Disney has brought so much joy and 

inspiration to my life, I would like the opportunity to say 

thank you!

What advice would you give someone who aspired to be a writer?

Do it! Believe in yourself but don’t be too proud to ask for help. You want 
your book to be the best it can possibly be, so surround yourself with people 
that have experience in the industry. I would also suggest investing in an 
editor; a good one is worth their weight in carrots!

Do you have some links for us to follow you?

Email:        ronaldotheflyingreindeer@gmail.com

Website:    ronaldotheflyingreindeer.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MaxineSylvesterAuthor/

Twitter:      @flyingronaldo

Pinterest:   https://id.pinterest.com/flyingronaldo/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/maxinesylvester/

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home addresses, etc. We do not give any information to third parties. And cookies? We eat cookies.

BOOK REVIEW: Murder at Elk Ridge by Anne Shillolo

 

I loved this book. Truly unputdownable. Great Mystery, great characters, and a great array of suspects.

 I can’t wait to dig into the next Inspector Hillary Casgrain Murder Mystery. 

It seems I found a new favorite author.

Amazon  Link: 

https://www.amazon.com/Murder-Elk-Ridge-Inspector-Casgrain-ebook/dp/B0BSSGD8Q4/ref=sr_1_3?crid=XEH4LHBJML7

ART: Michigan Artist Kandy Myny aka Bit O’ Whimsey

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SCHEDULE: July 27-31, 2016

 Monday, July 27 - ART:

Michigan Artist

Kandy Myny

aka Bit O’ Whimsey

Tuesday, July 28 -  BOOK REVIEW:

Murder at Elk Ridge

by Anne Shillolo

Wednesday, July 29 - INTERVIEW:

Children’s Author

Maxine Sylvester

Thursday, July 30 - TV TIME:

Monster Island

(You Tube)

Friday, July 31 - BOOK:

Charming Deception

by Carol Ann Kauffman 

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BOOK: MacKalvey House, Time After Time by Carol Ann Kauffman

 

After college graduation, young American Michelle Rosemont visits a quaint, little village in England and decides to stay. She takes a job as a photographer for a historical magazine and meets Kenneth MacKalvey, an older British author.

Their mutual attraction is instantaneous, but can she deal with his dark and shady past or will old family scars and secrets stop her from trusting him and keep them apart forever?
They are opposites in every way. Can they find happiness together despite their major differences?

Twists and turns at every corner heighten the suspense in this cozy village mystery.

In this new and exciting chapter in the many lifetimes of our eternal lovers and soulmates, they find each other again. In every new lifetime, fate tends to keep them apart until they’re ready to face the obstacles and handle the burning yet beautiful emotions of love.

Amazon Buy Link:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B017HZ6DIS

Excerpt:

I’m home, thought Kenneth to himself, My Lord, after all this time, after every crashing disappointment, after feeling unloved and unlovable for years, decades even, here you are, you sweet woman. It’ like every embarrassing rejection I’ve ever endured was part of a well thought-out plan by the universe to bring me here to this spot, at this moment, to you. I am home.

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TV TIME: Pursuit of Jade (Netflix)

This was a beautiful Chinese period romantic drama called Pursuit of Jade on Netflix. A poor but strong Chinese orphan girl who slaughters pigs and sells pork for a living finds a half-dead man in the woods in the snow. She carries him back to her humble home in the village and nurses him back to health. He tells her he is an escort guard and was ambushed, injured, robbed, and left for dead. He doesn’t tell her he’s really a fallen nobleman seeking revenge.

The cinematography is stunning beautiful. The music is hauntingly beautiful. The costumes were exquisite. The actors were gorgeous. 

AND it is in Chinese so you have to read the subtitles. I know that will put you off from watching it. But, please! Watch it. You can read. You can do it. You’ll love it. 

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Interview with Author Chris Rose

Chris Rose

Norfolk, UK

Good morning, Chris, and welcome to Vision and Verse, the place for Art and Authors. Tell us a little about what you've written.

Well, I’ve begun a series of books dedicated to a character of my creation, namely, Phillip Rowlings, and the series is, in fact, called ‘The Rowlings Years’. It spans from the 1960s to as far as wherever I decide to call it a day. It’s become a bit addictive.

The first book in the series is called Wood, Talc & Mr. J; We never had it so good…, which is set in Northern England in the late 1970s – though I’m also writing a prequel to it, set further back, more 1960s, early 70s. It’s a working class novel, about survival, if anything, and how a community breaks down amid the advent of Thatcherism. It’s kind of a political allegory, really. Since this novel, I’ve had a lot of requests for a sequel.

And so I’ve responded in kind with Nancy Boy, for one year only, which takes us up to the mid 1990s, and is set in France.

I’m about to release another sequel, it being the first of three novellas, namely The All-clear; an anti-romance novella, again mid 1990s. The second will be The Battleaxe of Hastings; an anti-hist fic novella, and the third: Broken Strings; an anti-chick lit novella.

Along with the first, Wood, Talc…, I also brought out an accompanying book, 22 daydreams, which kind of helps set the scene for the novel: 22 articles written around it, comparing then, the late 1970s, to today.

What is your favorite genre to write?

To be honest, I’m not a genre writer. I’m kind of more of an observer-cum-writer – I really don’t go in for vampires, paranormal, romance etc… Trouble is, of course, that makes me very difficult to categorize, and finding my audience isn’t always so easy…

Favorite food.

Vietnamese.

Tea or coffee?

 Coffee! I don’t like tea…

Pizza or ice cream?

Depends who’s made the pizza. Italian for both please…

Wine or beer?

Both. Religiously.

Where would you like to visit?

Such a difficult question, so many, many places. You pick one for me, and if you’re paying, I’m coming…

Then I pick Italy if you want to stay on that side of the ocean. Every place in Italy is an inspiration; the scenery, the food, the people, the joy they have for life. If you want to hop across the pond, the Grand Canyon is a life-changing experience. It really gives you different perspective on life. All I need is that big book contract, and we'll double date.
Favorite musical artist.  Do you listen to music when you write?  What?

These three are very interesting questions. All my books tend to have a musical theme – you could even say that, at some level, they revolve around a particular song. But you’ll only understand what I mean by reading my books. The first novel is heavily influenced by Soul music, as was I when I was young. But as to being able to actually write and listen to music at the same time, I can’t – I know so many people can, but I’ve never got it, even at university, seeing students (particularly females, it must be a multi-tasking thing) writing essays with earphones, listening to whomever. I love music too much to be able to concentrate on anything else simultaneously; I find it even difficult to converse with people when I’m listening to music. Therefore, the music influences me greatly to write, and then I have to turn it off…

What makes you laugh?

Oh, boy, so many things – life! Something else you’ll find aplenty in my books, life and lots to laugh about.

Favorite work of art or sculpture.

I’m going to say a painting by a 19^th century French Impressionist, Émile Friand, called The Lovers. It’s the painting I used for my novel jacket Nancy Boy, and the original is in the museum of the city of Nancy. I used to sit for hours staring at the painting. Beautiful.

How old were you when you started writing?

My late 30s. The right time. Having lived a bit…

Describe your perfect evening.

A great restaurant. Great service, great food, great wine, with my partner and daughter…

Where do you get your inspiration?

By talking to people, generally. Everyone’s a poet. They just don’t know it.

What do you do when you get a writer's block?

I don’t believe in writer’s block. And, funnily enough, I’ve recently written a blog post saying the same. I believe in being tired; and if we’re tired, we’re uninspired. Therefore, I go about something completely different, like gardening, anything, or watching a good film, or playing my guitar, and inspiration will come, in its own time… I never force it.

Who is your favorite author?

So difficult. For this interview, I’m going to say French author Albert Camus; I make lots of references to him…

Camus. I love Camus. Best book you ever read.

Another head-banger. But I’ll say Camus’ L’Étranger – The Stranger.

Last book you read.

That was Deborah Rodrigue’s The Little Coffee Shop Of Kabul.

What would you do for a living if you weren’t a writer?

Well, I’m actually a translator by trade, French and Spanish to English. And I also act in French theatre, on an amateur level – I think I’d do that professionally.

Cool! Who is the one person who has influenced your personal life the most and why?

My lovely, loving partner. They don’t come more supportive and inspiring than her…

If you could sit down and have a conversation with ONE person, living or dead, real or fictional, who would it be and why?

Audrey Hepburn. Because she was beautiful inside, too. And it’s something which is very much missing in today’s society: class.

What advice would you give someone who aspired to be a writer?

Well, first the cliché – go for it! And then, take your time with whatever you want to write. Nurture it – don’t be carried along by the hurried world, it isn’t a race; it sometimes just feels like it is…

Do you have some links for us to follow you?

Twitter: https://twitter.com/WritingOnACloud

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chris.rose.50309277?ref=bookmarks

Website: http://thetheatricaltwistofwrist.com/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-rose-22a58782/

Amazon links: Wood, Talc and Mr. J: We never had it so good…

UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Wood-Talc-Mr-never-good-ebook/dp/B00LOWZJTK/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1464529102&sr=1-1&keywords=Wood%2C+Talc+and+Mr.+J%3A+We+never+had+it+so+good...+Kindle+Edition

US: https://www.amazon.com/Wood-Talc-Mr-Chris-Rose-ebook/dp/B00LOWZJTK/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1409666601&sr=1-1&keywords=wood+talc+and+mr.+j

Nancy Boy; for one year only…

UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Nancy-Boy-year-Rowlings-Years-ebook/dp/B01IM29R9C?ie=UTF8&*Version*=1&*entries*=0

US: https://www.amazon.com/Nancy-Boy-year-Rowlings-Years-ebook/dp/B01IM29R9C?ie=UTF8&*Version*=1&*entries*=0

22 daydream (or Wood, Talc and Mr. J, my social media ramblings thereof)

UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/22-daydreams-social-ramblings-thereof-ebook/dp/B00O4BFEHU/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1412680625&sr=1-1&keywords=22+daydreams

US: https://www.amazon.com/22-daydreams-social-ramblings-thereof-ebook/dp/B00O4BFEHU/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1412680625&sr=1-1&keywords=22+daydreams

Dear Gentle Readers,

Chris has invited our Vision and Verse readers to pick up a copy of

Nancy Boy; for one year only  on sale for the month of July for 99 cents. (Link above.)

Hugs,

Carol