1800 LIKES Giveaway on Facebook

Dear Happy Readers,
Wednesday I celebrated 1800 LIKES Polar Vortex Snowflake
Giveaway on Facebook.  I am already at 1917 LIKES, so get ready
for the BIG 2000! Here's how it works.  When I hit 2000 LIKES, I will ask that you go to Amazon.com and type in Carol Ann Kauffman in the search box.  Eight books will be listed.  Full-length novel titles are printed in ALL CAPS and shorter works titles are are printed normally.  You pick the one you want and type it in the comments section of the 2000 LIKES announcement.  That's all there is to it! So check out my Facebook Author Page, Carol Ann Kauffman, Author soon for an opportunity to be gifted an eBook from my list.  Don't have a kindle?  Don't worry!  Amazon has an app for a free kindle ebook reader for your computer, smart phone, or other device.  It is on my author page.
Hugs,
Carol 

Author Interview with Crystal Lynn Miles Gauthier

Crystal Lynn Miles Gauthier
Lansing, Michigan

Good morning, Crystal.  Welcome to Vision and Verse.  It is a pleasure to have you with us this morning.  Tell us a little about yourself.

I live in Lansing, Michigan with my husband Joe, two cats Diesel and Mamakitty. I am a former Paralegal who is now a housewife with an invisible disability that has me plaqued with migraines so bad that I have bad seizures. I do not drive anymore and therefore am stuck at home most of the time writing and reading. I have three daughters all grown and two grown stepsons all whom I love dearly. I am the proud grandma of 11 grandchildren. I was born in Louisville, Kentucky in 1963 and still consider myself a country girl.  I am currently writing my first Historical Romance Novel called: TROIANNE.  Its the first book of 5 in the Time Travel Society Series I will be writing. I am currently writing it on Wattpad.com you can see it there under Historical Romance. wattpad.com/crysmisty9133/Troianne

What is your favorite genre to write?
My favorite Genres to write in are Historical Romance and Paranormal Romance.

The first adult book I can remember ever reading (age 7 years old) was written by Dale Evans called: Angel Unaware It is a story about how Roy Rogers and Dale Evans lost their daughter to a grave illness and how they coped with that loss.

Oh, my, Crystal!  I remember being curled up in a chair in my room reading Angel Unaware and crying my eyes out!  I think that was the first book that ever brought me to tears.  I never met anyone else who read it. Wow!  
So.  What is your favorite food?

My favorite food is Good Old Southern Cooking: Cabbage, Ham Hocks, Turnip Greens, Fried Potatoes, Black Eyed Peas and Macaroni & Cheese.

Tea or Coffee? 
Both, Coffee in the morning, Tea in the afternoon. Sugar and Milk of course! 

Pizza or Ice Cream? 
Definitely Ice Cream, I don’t like Pizza all that much.

Where would you like to visit?
I would like to visit Europe. I want to go to England, France, Ireland and Scotland.

Venice, Italy is also fabulous.  Favorite Musical Artist.

My favorite musical artist is Coldplay, Daughtry, Robbie Williams and anything that is Adult Alternative rock. I do love the oldies from 60’s and 70’s country, rock and roll, etc. I don’t listen to music while I write it distracts me.

What makes Crystal laugh?

Jokes of any kind make me laugh. My oldest daughter should be a comedian she can make me laugh any day with her pretend to be ghetto accent and body language. I also laugh really hard at some of the Facebook friends I have and their posts.

When did you start writing?

I started writing in a Journal at 10 years old, my first writing experience was at age 11 when I submitted a short story to the Caldecott Awards through my elementary school, it was titled:  “The Willow Tree”

Describe your perfect evening.

My perfect evening would be driving an hour and a half to our local casino, having dinner with my husband, gambling a little, staying out late and driving home in the dark listening to music and talking with him.

Where do you get your inspiration?

My inspiration comes from my love of reading and exploring different genres. I also gain a lot of inspiration from other authors, they help me see things I had never thought about before. God gave me a gift and I intend to use it.

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

When I get writers block I read more. So that I can see things through another author's perspective. I also like to crochet it helps me think.

Favorite author?

My favorite author right now is Melanie Corona, she gave me back the inspiration to write after 15 years of not even wanting to write. I have to say that Hemingway is my all time favorite due to his being such a drunk all his life and being able to write inspite of it. LOL

Best book you ever read.

Best book I ever read that is a tough one because I think they are all the best. But if I have to pick one I would say Camberleigh by Evelyn Grey, it is an older Historical Romance published in 1985. I fell in love with it and my daughter Camberleigh (aptly named after the book) has it in her possession to this day.

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

The one person who has influenced my life the most is probably my Mother. Automobile Factory worker she worked hard during the day and at night she read, reading thousands and thousands of books as I was growing up. We had books everywhere. I never was alone or bored as long as there was a book sitting somewhere in our house. As she get older and is not so in tune with the world around her anymore, but still reading, I wanted to write a book series in her honor.

That is so sweet!  Name one person, living or dead, real or fictitious, that you would like to sit down and have a conversation.

One person living or dead would have to be my late grandfather William Gobel Shelden who was born in England and moved to the United States as a young man. He died when I was just three years old and I was there standing on a old metal trash can at his bedside right before he passed away in Louisville, Kentucky. I want to ask him so many questions and thank him for being my guardian angel at times when I needed to be told to stop the bad habits I had picked up throughout my life.

Have any advice for an aspiring writer? 

The advice I would give an aspiring writer is: Never give up! No matter how long it takes you to write your first sentence or how long it takes you when you get a writers block. Keep going! Many authors will say they do not feel like they are good or worthy. There is not a book, poem, memoir or guide out there that is not useful to someone or needed by everyone. Keep writing please.

Do you have any links for us?

You can find me on:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/crysmisty9133 Twitter: @crysmisty9133 or @cubbymom0403

Email: authormom4033@gmail.com Pinterest: crysmisty9133 

NEW ART FROM PARKER KAGAN-KAUFMAN

Hello Vision & Verse followers.  In my hiatus from V&V, I was able to concentrate on new art projects.  In the coming weeks I plan to introduce some of my new works here

The piece pictured here is from my "FACES" series.  Titled "3 FACES OF..." the work is 8.5 x 11 inches, composed of plain and textured card stock and printed papers layered on card stock.  This work and the two others featured here in November will be available on my website soon.

You can check out my older works at www.parkerkaufman.net

Author Interview with Angela Ford

Angela Ford
Mississauga, Ontario, Canada

Welcome to Vision and Verse, Angela.  We are happy to have you here with us this morning.  Tell us, what have you written? 
Closure – A Suspense with a Dash of Romance & Unforgettable Kiss – A Romance with a Dash of Suspense

What is your favorite genre to write?
Romantic Suspense

Favorite food.
Chocolate

Tea or coffee?
French Vanilla Coffee

Pizza or ice cream?
Ice Cream – Chocolate of course 

Where would you like to visit? 
Any Beach 

Favorite musical artist.  Do you listen to music when you write?  What? There are so many…can’t name just one. I listen to music all the time, especially when I write. Music is an inspiration. I like everything from classical…rock…to metal…my son is a Bassist in a metal band.

What makes you laugh? 
My daughter makes me laugh every day…even on a bad day.

How old were you when you started writing? 
I have been writing as long as I can remember and became serious about a year ago to share it.

Describe your perfect evening. 
I’m a busy woman…two jobs…two kids and many pets. So my perfect evening would be to get everything done by 8pm in the evening and then write or read. A 36-hour day would be perfect.

Where do you get your inspiration?
Many inspirations…reading, music, the beach, sunsets, my kids…but most of all – my parents. They have always been my inspiration. They have the greatest love of all. They are my real-life ‘fairy-tale’.

What do you do when you get a writer's block?
Read…Listen to Music...or work on another book I’m writing.

Who is your favorite author? 
Danielle Steele

Best book you ever read.
Tough question…there are so many talented authors and great reads that I’ve enjoyed and have touched my heart. If I have to pick my favorite Danielle Steele book, it would be Journey.

Who is the one person who has influenced your personal life the most and why?
My Mom. She is the woman I admire most. She is beautiful, loving, strong and wise.

If you could sit down and have a conversation with ONE person, living or dead, real or fictional, who would it be and why?
I would love to meet Danielle Steele, the woman who has inspired me to write.

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

Write from your heart and never give up….Persistence!

Angela Ford originates from Nova Scotia…Canada’s Ocean Playground! Her love of the ocean and sunsets are always in her heart and give her inspiration. Her love for words keeps her turning the page. She is never without a book, whether she’s reading or writing. Now residing in Ontario, Angela works in Finance – numbers by day – words by night. Her dedication to volunteer and involvement with cyber safety seminars gave her an Award of Distinction and sparked the idea for her first book Closure – suspense with a dash of romance that hit the best- selling Action/Adventure. Her newest release, Unforgettable Kiss, delivers a romance with a dash of suspense. Between two jobs, being a mom with a home always filled with teenagers and rather interesting stories; she is lucky to have one very patient and understanding man. But it is the fury family members who rule the house – a Puggle, two loveable cats and two unique Guinea Pigs. Every possible quiet moment she finds, she treasures and just writes about the moments to come. Angela is an avid reader of romance, a member of the RWA and thrilled to be part of her new family BTGN. You can follow her at BTGN www.bookstogonow.com or visit her website at www.angelaford.net to connect with her on her social network sites. She loves to hear from her readers – they keep her smiling!

  Closure...a gripping FBI search grounded by an as-yet-unrealized love story…Jess, a young FBI profiler is compelled to save the fourth victim from a sexual predator, only to put her life into the hands of a serial killer.

 Amazon  Kobo            Barnes and Noble  Smashwords

CLOSURE - An elite FBI task force tracks online predators while they hunt their prey. A series of murders in Presario Heights has forced Special Agent Jessica Resario to follow her gut instinct to save the next victim. Supervisory Special Agent Tom Erickson removes her from the case. The only place to escape the danger is her family beach home. She hadn’t been there since her parents were murdered. The level of intensity climbs higher with her discovery of postcards marked “I Crave You”. Old ghosts, secrets, imminent threats and an inevitable attraction to Tom send her on an emotional roller coaster. If that wasn’t enough, she opens the door to a man she thought was dead. Tom is stabbed and his case files go missing…high emotions put Jess at the killer’s mercy.

Suddenly reality hit her. She let no one in. Brave at work, yet in her personal life, she didn’t have the courage to confess her true feelings to Tom. The murder of her parents ten years before kept her from loving, for fear of losing again. All she had was her work, and her work put her life into the hands of a serial killer.

Closure on YouTube  http://www.youtube.com/attribution_link?u=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3D06x8UufiU1s%26feature%3Dshare&a=D4vqXOQzpHdH3s_N-47i0g

     Unforgettable Kiss

One kiss leaves Meghan questioning her decision to never love again.

Meghan Eden swore she would never love again. The tragic death of her son, at the hands of her husband, destroyed her emotionally. She believed her successful Spa would fulfill her life until a business seminar takes her to a golf resort in Arizona. Meghan’s love of golf gets her paired up with a man she doesn’t know. The rest of the world does. Eric Nolan is the most sought after actor in Hollywood and the most eligible bachelor in the hearts of many women. Eric draws out hidden desires Meghan never imagined and leaves an unforgettable kiss etched in her memory. One kiss leaves her questioning her decision to never love again. An emotional struggle to love again cannot stop the passion that unravels. But perhaps Meghan’s ex can. Released on early parole without her knowledge and he’s had the time to develop an obsession. Eric races to save her. He reaches the door, only to hear the gun shot.

Amazon - Unforgettable Kiss   Just released December 20, 2013

Unforgettable Kiss – Book Trailer

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OHo4dXSV4Vw&feature=youtu.be

Social Media Links for Angela Ford

Website www.angelaford.net

Facebook www.facebook.com/writerangelaford

Twitter www.twitter.com/AngelaFord67

Goodreads www.goodreads.com/angelaford13

Amazon http://www.amazon.com/Angela-Ford/e/B00EAYZBYM/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_pop_1

LinkedIn http://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=286030681&trk=nav_responsive_tab_profile_pic

Pinterest http://www.pinterest.com/aford1507/pins/

Stumble Upon http://www.stumbleupon.com/stumbler/afordauthor

Books to Go Now www.bookstogonow.com

-- 

Angela Ford

Best Selling Author of Closure

Get Your Copy of Closure

Angela Ford's Website

Books to Go Now

Angela Ford on Facebook

Angela Ford on Twitter

Angela Ford's Amazon Author Page

Angela Ford on GoodReads

WHAT'S UP WEDNESDAY

Hello Vision & Verse fans!!  Today is "WHAT'S UP WEDNESDAY" and I have some awesome events to share with you all.

First off, I found this great interview with Christopher Wool in a recent issue of INTERVIEW MAGAZINE.  Wool's work is currently on exhibit at the Guggenheim, NYC, through January 22, 2014.  Reviews have praised this show as one not to miss.  You can read more about the show and the interview at www.interviewmagazine.com/art/christopher-wool-richard-hell

Also for your viewing pleasure, a fabulous show at the Museum of Arts and Design.  "OUT OF HAND, Materializing the Postdigital",  is currently on view through June 1, 2014 at MAD. 

The show focuses on the area of digital fabrication and it's use in creating amazing artistic works.  The exhibit features the works of many international artists like, Ron Arad, Anish Kapoor, and Roxy Paine, and it has the distinction of being the first major museum show to delve into how computer-aided design has influenced the worlds of art and architecture.

Read more about the show at www.madmuseum.org/exhibition/out-hand


Watch for upcoming "WHAT'S UP WEDNESDAY" posts.

COMING WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 8, 2014

Hello Readers.  Welcome to 2014 at Vision & Verse.  Just  a reminder that tomorrow will be the first installment of "What's Up Wednesday".  We hope you enjoy this new feature...and please leave us your comments to let us know how we're doing.  See ya tomorrow!!

Image above, winter photograph, Indianapolis, Indiana, late 1940's taken by a friend's father.

Author Interview with Nitin Sharma

 NITIN SHARMA

Gurgaon (Near New Delhi), INDIA

Welcome to Vision and Verse this morning, Nitin.  It is a pleasure to have you with us this morning.What have you written?

I have written ‘Group Discussion: More than 100 topics covered’, a guide for MBA aspirants and job-seekers. Fortunately, it became a success and gave me a reason to write more such books. Apart from it I’ve authored an educational story for children with an objective to make studies easier for them. Currently I’ve been working on a comedy, a fantasy and a word power book.

What is your favorite genre to write?

Fantasy, horror and comedy.

Favorite food:
(Hard to answer because I’m a foodie!) I love Italian, Indian and Chinese food. Especially those dishes in which the natural tastes of ingredients are kept preserved.

Tea or coffee? 
Green tea and coffee.

Pizza or ice cream? Ice cream

Where would you like to visit?

Niagara Falls in the US and Canada, The Great Barrier Reef in Australia, Mount Fuji in Japan, and would also love to see beautiful English countryside.

Favorite musical artist. 
Enrique, Michael Jackson and Kishore Kumar

Do you listen to music when you write?  What?

No, I let my imagination sing for me when I’m writing.

What makes you laugh?

Children and their innocent acts. Besides that- The Simpsons, Just For Laughs, Will Ferrell, Tom Sharpe.

How old were you when you started writing?

I was 25. Before that I was a devoted reader.

Describe your perfect evening.
Watching sunset by the sea.

Where do you get your inspiration?
From books.

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

I postpone writing for a while. Writer’s block usually subsides with time.

Who is your favorite author?

There are many. To name a few- Stephen King, Charles Dickens, Dale Carnegie, JK Rowling.

Best book you ever read.

A very tough question indeed, LOL. I can’t compare ‘Pride and Prejudice’, ‘Harry Potter’ books and ‘How to Stop Worrying and Start Living’.

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

Dale Carnegie, the man whose books gave me hope whenever I was dismayed, has definitely influenced me a lot.

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

I’d love to ask Mr. Nelson Mandela what gave him the strength during all his years in prison. Unfortunately, we lost him. Fortunately, we still have his books to read.

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

If you have something to say to the world, if you can create something unique, go for it. All the best!

Do you have any links to share with us?

http://www.amazon.com/GROUP-DISCUSSION-NITIN-SHARMA-ebook/dp/B00C5TJZSM/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1388496153&sr=8-1&keywords=Nitin+Sharma

http://www.flipkart.com/group-discussion-more-than-100-topics-covered/p/itmddg2abt3htv4t?pid=9788178063126&otracker=from-search&srno=t_2&query=group+discussion&ref=9083f40f-1eb8-48ed-8769-7b42dc824577

www.facebook.com/authornitin4u