Monday, July 31, 2017

MacKalvey House by Carol Ann Kauffman


Young American Michelle Rosemont visits England after graduation and decides to stay. She takes a job as photographer for a Historical Magazine and falls in love with Kenneth MacKalvey, an older British author with a shady past. Old families scars resurface and play havoc with Michelle and Kenneth's relationship, as she struggles to come to terms with her father's abandonment.

Buy Link: http://tinyurl.com/jkdsnyd

Review:

on July 10, 2017
Format: Kindle Edition
Kenneth MacKalvey is a wealthy man. He inherited the family business, he has written many books, he is an artist and owns a art gallery. But most of all, he is known for his rude, bad mouth, nasty self. His reputation on a scale of 1-10, is a 0.
Michelle Rosemount has only been in England for a short time. With a degree in Early Childhood Education, she left the states to start a new life. Working as a photographer for a historical magazine, she loves taking pictures of the manors, castles and ruins.
Michelle has read every book Mr. MacKalvey has written. She feels like she knows him , really knows him. She wants to be with him in every way possible. She deep down loves him. Kenneth heard her voice for the first time and knew that they belonged together and always have and always will. He is drawn to her.
Carol Ann Kauffman puts together the perfect English gentleman meets the beautiful American, but what she doesn't do is make it sappy. She shows how a true drawl to a connection can be, that opposites do attract. Come on you two, get it together!
The love story of Kenneth and Michelle isn't much different than most, on again, off again. But theirs has an evil red head to come between them and make matters way worse then expected. This red head relishes in all of it. All she wants is his name, money, house and children. Will she get any of it?
At one point when Michelle is swearing Kenneth off and needs a break from life, she heads to Italy with her best friend and aunt. She is enjoying the beautiful land around her, until there is a man set up for her. She gets very drunk, insults everybody, and runs to the olive trees. This man follows and well, lets say they see the olive trees in a different way. This man stays in her life as a very good friend. He helps her start her own business and helps her to forget Kenneth by having her live with him, far away from Kenneth.
Who does Michelle end up with in the end? Well the ending was a huge surprise! I never saw that coming at all. Carol did a good job with subtitle hints along the way that I didn't see until after I read the ending. Another fantastic story in the Time After Time Series! This series is a must read!

Sunday, July 30, 2017

Schedule for July 31 - Aug. 4, 2017

Schedule
July 31-Aug. 4, 2017

Mon., July 31 - MacKalvey House, 
Time After Time Series,
by Carol Ann Kauffman
Tues., Aug. 1 - Queen Catherine of Braganza
by American Sculptor Andrey Flack
Wed., Aug. 2 - Interview with Author
John Rose Putnam
Thurs., Aug. 3 - Barnyard Fowls
by Parker Kaufman
Fri., Aug. 4 - Vishwamitra
by Vineet Aggarawal

Friday, July 28, 2017

BLUE LAKE by Carol Ann Kauffman





When widowed Nicole decided to step back into life in beautiful Albuquerque, New Mexico with Richard, a young handsome British actor who professed his undying love and devotion to her on a daily basis, she mistook his boundless enthusiasm for her as little more than youthful impetuousness. She had no idea where their relationship would take her physically or emotionally. She would find herself in many dazzling international locations, putting her own life on hold, simply to be with him. She had no concept how strong her commitment to him would grow and to what extent she would go to protect him and ensure his safety and wellbeing. And she certainly had no idea the depth of his devotion to her, an unlikely but undeniable love that would span continents and a decade of their lives, entwining them closer and closer, while his career, their families, and other relationships pulled them farther and farther apart. BLUE LAKE is a story of the power of love.

The series, TIME AFTER TIME, follows a pair of quintessential lovers, Richard and Nicole, through their lives together, in different places, in different times, with different names and faces and sometimes even on other planets. This follows the alternative theory that the relationships we forge in this lifetime, both the good and the bad, are continued into the future, and are rooted deeply in our past. Whatever we do, whomever we love, and the good and evil deeds we do today follow us into the future. Unsettled issues will present themselves again and again, until they are ultimately resolved. Those people who have had a profound effect on us in this lifetime will find us again in the future. And although everything changes, love remains.

Books in the TIME AFTER TIME series are: BLUE LAKE, BELTERRA,
The BASLICATO, BENTLEY SQUARE, WAITING FOR RICHARD, LORD OF BLAKELEY, and MacKALVEY HOUSE. They do not need to be read in order.  Another adventure, WAIT FOR ME in coming out soon.


on August 17, 2016
Format: Kindle Edition


Thursday, July 27, 2017

The Art of Eyvind Earle



Eyvind Earle.  

Not a household name.  And yet, when you see his work, you'll realize you do know this artist.  He worked with Walt Disney to develop that stylized artwork we associate with Disney. 

Once again, I found this artist while perusing on the internet while I was supposed to be doing something else.  But it drew me back, again and again. It reminded me of the Disney movies of my youth; Snow White, Bambi, and Cinderella.



This is from his Artist Page:


Eyvind Earle's Biography 


Born in New York in 1916, Eyvind Earle began his prolific career at the age of ten when his father, Ferdinand Earle, gave him a challenging choice: read 50 pages of a book or paint a picture every day. Earle choose both. From the time of his first one-man showing in France when he was 14, Earle's fame had grown steadily. At the age of 21, Earle bicycled across country from Hollywood to New York, paying his way by painting 42 watercolors. In 1937, he opened at the Charles Morgan Galleries, his first of many one-man shows in New York.Two years later at his third consecutive showing at the gallery, the response to his work was so positive that the exhibition sold out and the Metropolitan Museum of Art purchased one of his paintings for their permanent collection.



His earliest work was strictly realistic, but after having studied the work of masters such as Van Gogh, Cezanne, Rockwell, Kent, and Georgia O'Keefe, Eyvind Earle by the age of 21, came into his own unique style characterized by a simplicity, directness and surety of handling.



In 1951 Earle joined Walt Disney studios as an assistant background painter. Earle intrigued Disney in 1953 when he
created the look of Toot, Whistle, Plunk and Boom, an animated short that won an Academy Award and a Cannes Film Festival Award. Disney kept the artist busy for the rest of decade, painting the settings for such stories as Peter Pan, For Whom the Bulls Toll, Working for Peanuts, Pigs is Pigs, Paul Bunyan, and Lady and the Tramp.


Earle was responsible for the styling, background and colors for the highly acclaimed movie Sleeping Beauty and gave the movie its magical, medieval look. He also painted the dioramas for Sleeping Beauty's Castle at Disneyland in Anaheim, California.



Earle's work was also seen on television. One of his
animated creations was an 18-minute version of the story of the Nativity that he did in 1963 for Tennessee Ernie Ford's Special The Story of Christmas. A Daily Variety reviewer said Earle's sequence should be preserved and played back for years on end. The show was digitally re-mastered in 1997.


Earle's career has encompassed many different fields. In addition to book illustrating, the artist had also designed a number of covers for magazine publications and had produced and created several animated commercials and specials for television.




In 1998, at its Annie Awards show in Glendale, the International Animated Film Society gave Earle its Windsor McCay Award for lifetime achievement. In the 1940s, Earle adapted his creative landscapes to Christmas cards, painting more than 800 designs that have sold more than 300 million copies through American Artist Group.


After about 15 years creating animated art, Earle returned to painting full time in 1966 and kept working until the end of his life. In addition to his watercolors, oils, sculptures, drawings and scratchboards, in 1974 he began making limited edition serigraphs.

Eyvind Earle had a totally original perception 
of landscape. He successfully synthesizes seemingly incongruent aspects into a singularly distinctive style: a style, which is at once mysterious, primitive, disciplined, moody and nostalgic. He captures the grandeur of simplicity of the American countryside, and represents these glimpses of the American scene with a direct lyric ardor.

His landscapes are remarkable for their suggestion of distances, landmasses and weather moods. For 70 years, Earle wrote in 1996, I've painted paintings, and I'm constantly and everlastingly overwhelmed at the stupendous infinity of Nature. Wherever I turn and look, there I see creation. Art is creating...Art is the search for truth.

Eyvind Earle passed away on July 20, 2000 at the age of 84. During his lifetime he created many paintings, sculptures, scratchboards, watercolors and drawings that have not been publicly seen or exhibited.

Eyvind Earle Publishing LLC, under the specific instruction of the late Eyvind Earle, will continue the legacy of the artist, promoting and introducing new serigraphs and books through galleries worldwide. These posthumous limited edition serigraphs will be printed from the oil paintings created by Eyvind Earle that are in the collection of Joan Earle and others.

I clam nothing here, except my desire to share the work of this magic man, Eyvind Earle, with you. All information was found online.


Sources:

Wednesday, July 26, 2017

Interview with Author Julie Seedorf


Julie Seedorf
Minnesota, USA




Good morning, Julie, and welcome to Vision and Verse, the Place for Art and  Authors. Can you tell us a little about what you've written?
I write Cozy Mysteries with quirky characters in a unusual community. They are somewhat a satire on old age and the rules and regulations we live with in real life. They are meant to make people laugh, take them away from reality and are a little fluffy. I also write children’s books with a twist on bringing together the generations of oldsters and youngsters. Who were we before our wrinkles took over our face. I also write a weekly column for area newspapers called Something About Nothing. Under all the nothings we talk about every day there is something underneath longing to come out.

My Fuchsia Minnesota Mysteries published by Cozy Cat Press and  kindle versions are on sale for $.99 each from July 22 to the 29 at

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01K7Q4A20/ref=series_rw_dp_sw 

There are five books in this series. The titles are:
 Granny Hooks A Crook
 Granny Skewers A Scoundrel
 Granny Snows A Sneak
 Granny Forks A Fugitive
 Granny Pins A Pilferer

Brilliant Minnesota Cozy Mystery Series:
 The Penderghast Puzzle Protectors
 Soon to be released, The Discombobulated Decipherers

The Granny Is In Trouble Series for children and the young at heart adults:
 Whatchamacallit? Thingamajig?
 Snicklefritz

Just Released Kids picture book and young-at-heart adults:
 Two Little Girls

Favorite food. 
Donuts

Tea or coffee? 
Coffee

Pizza or ice cream? 
Pizza

Wine or beer? 
Wine


Where would you like to visit? 
Hawaii

Favorite musical artist
Queen, I like individual artists but don’t have a favorite.

Do you listen to music when you write? 
It depends on the day.

What? 
It depends on my mood. Piano and soft music or 50’s and 60’s music.

What makes you laugh? 
My grandchildren they teach me to keep playing.

Favorite work of art or sculpture.
Anything my grandchildren create.

How old were you when you started writing? 
A teenager but didn’t try and get published until 62.

Describe your perfect evening
I love to have glass of wine, good friends and conversation.

Where do you get your inspiration? 
I have a wacky thought process so I get my inspiration from almost anything. I don’t the world as other people do so I can turn the ordinary into something weird.

What do you do when you get a writer's block? 
I bring out the watercolor paints or read or find another creative activity.

Who is your favorite author? Catherine Coulter.

Best book you ever read. 
I think the first book that made a difference in the way I see the world was Freedom Summer that came out in the late 60’s. It was about white college students going to Mississipi during the race riots. I am not sure who wrote it. There are various books out there by that title. I still have the paperback somewhere in my memory boxes.

Last book you read. 
I am reading Point Blank by Catherine Coulter.

What would you do for a living if you weren’t a writer? 
I would become a watercolor artist but in my former life I was a computer technician and a business owner of a computer business.

Who is the one person who has influenced your personal life the most and why? 
My Pastor's daughter. I marvel at her faith and she makes me believe I can do anything.

If you could sit down and have a conversation with ONE person, living or dead, real or fictional, who would it be and why?
It would be my dad and his mother my Grandma Edith. My grandma died when I was 6 and it was an uncanny twerk of fate that my covers and the granny on my covers look exactly like her down to the nose, glasses, hair style and clothes. I had nothing to do with choosing the graphic so it was her watching over me. I call it a God thing. And my dad died when I was twenty so I didn’t know him as an adult. I would love to know what he thought and felt about life.



What advice would you give someone who aspired to be a writer? Keep writing and don’t give up your dream. Be able to take constructive criticism so you grow as a writer. Also do not try and write like someone you admire. Be true to your own writing style.

Do you have any links for us to follow you?
Instagram: Julie_seedorf
Newpaper Column Blog: http://sprinklednotes.com

My books can be found on Amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com and independent bookstores.


Links:



















































Tuesday, July 25, 2017

The Dreamy, Ethereal Art of Evgeny Lushpin

The Dreamy, Ethereal Art of 
Evgeny Lushpin






The paintings of Evgeny Lushpin have an ethereal, dreamlike quality that draws the eye of the viewer into the beauty of his photo-like art work.  At first, you think it’s a photo; a really, really great photo, with perfect lighting and balance of hues and tone resonance, a perfect picture of a familiar famous city or landmark scene.  




But upon further examination, one sees it is a painting, a beautiful painting with a golden light emanating from a 
perfectly composed piece.  He not only transport you to that perfect place, but to that perfect time.  One cannot view a Lushpin and not be touched, in my opinion.  I wonder if this is how this amazing Russian painter actually sees the world!










Evgeny Lushpin, a celebrated contemporary artist, was born in a small town outside of Moscow in November of 1966 and was educated in the finest schools in Russia, following the traditional techniques of the Russian Realism School of Art.  



Nothing here is mine. Here are my sources.
Resources:

Monday, July 24, 2017

A Dilemma for Daisy, A Monday Mystery Society Selection


Daisy Mazlo faces a dilemma. She’s met the man of her dreams in Cooper MacNeill, a gentleman in every sense of the word, tall, handsome, wealthy, witty, and very interested in her. But Daisy can’t accept his love, so she runs away, moving back to Oakville where she grew up to sort out her feelings. Will the small loving community of her past help her find herself? Will Cooper come after her? Will a letter be pivotal in resolving Daisy’s dilemma? 

Will love win out?



Most Helpful Customer Reviews
Format:Kindle Edition
Daisy is warm-hearted and passionate, but she's nobody's fool. She's got a sense of humor, too! While she may be willing to risk everything for love, she's got a brain too, and she's not afraid to use it. I loved this story with its twists and turns and its satisfying end.

Top customer reviews

Format: Paperback


Excerpt:


As large group of loud, agitated men in business suits were being seated at the table behind her, Daisy heard Cooper’s name mentioned. She listened.

“Yes, I’m sure I saw that slippery con man, Cooper MacNeill, walk in here while I was waiting in the lobby. But I don’t see him anywhere in here,” one man said. “I’m going to look for him.”

“That miserable weasel should be behind bars instead of having dinner in Chicago’s newest and most

exclusive restaurant,” another agreed. “You go look for him. I’ll call the police right now. Let’s nail this criminal.”

She glanced back as the man tapped some numbers into his phone.

“That scam artist manipulated us into making that ridiculous gold-digging oozy Melinda, a very rich woman and made us all look like fools. You know he was sleeping with her. He sleeps with all his so-called clients.”

“He conned our company out of six million dollars. He needs to do some serious jail time.”
“I’d like some private time alone with him before I turn him over to the authorities,” said another.

Daisy pulled out her phone and hit redial to get Cooper’s number.
“Run,” she whispered when he answered. “They’ve called the police. Run. They’re looking for you right 
now. Go!”

“I hate to leave you in there with no way home.”
“Just go. I’ll be okay. I’ll call a cab.”
“No. That’ll stick you with the bill. Luca’s is expensive.”
“I have a credit card on me. I’m okay. Go. Please.”
“I’m sorry,” he said. 
She turned off her phone and put it away.
Daisy poured herself another glass of wine and continued to listen to the loud, angry conversation behind her, detailing Cooper’s line of work and his reputation as a con-man, a scammer, and a grifter. 

She ate the appetizer. She drank her wine. She ate her dinner. Then she drank his wine. She had the waiter box up Cooper’s dinner to take home. She finished up what was left in the wine bottle. She called a cab.

It was a night to remember, all right. 

Sunday, July 23, 2017

Schedule for July 24 - 28, 2017


Schedule for July 24 - 28, 2017

Mon., July 24 - A Dilemma for Daisy, 
Monday Mystery Society Selection
Tues., July 25 - The Dreamy, Ethereal Art of 
Evgeny Lushpin
Wed., July 26 - Interview with Author
Julie Seedorf
Thurs., July 27 - The Artwork of 
Eyvind Earle
Fri., July 28 - BLUE LAKE, Time After Time,
by Carol Ann Kauffman

Friday, July 21, 2017

Classical British Painter Arthur Hacker


 The beautiful paintings of classical British painter Arthur Hacker are experiencing a new rush of interest. Mostly known for his earlier religious images, these lovely fire paintings are getting much attention lately. 

Each painting tells a story. This refined lady walking through the woods alone seems pensive. What is she thinking of? 


This slice of life home scene shows a sweet, old  
a grandmother and her granddaughter at the table.
His use of drabber colors here 
sets the somber tone of a poor family.  




This white-veiled beauty is supposed to be a nun, a member of the religious order.  In earlier times you became a member at a very early age. Notice the angelic figure behind her, guiding her into a religious lifestyle. This depiction is very common for this time period. 











Notice the difference in the use of vibrant color in this painting. The rich colors denote the subject of this painting was of great wealth and importance. Also the fur and jewelry are another giveaway.







An Italian landscape shows a  serene walk in the countryside. Nothing here is mine. I claim nothing. All information was found online.

Thursday, July 20, 2017

Summer Peony by Caroline Ashwood

Dear Gentle Readers,

This gorgeous painting, called Summer Peony is a 48" x 48" deep-textured acrylic by Caroline Ashwood, done in bright color washes and glazes with metallic highlights.

The following is from Caroline's website at http://carolineashwood.co.uk/  Please check it out.

"I work as a full time artist from a yorkshire art studio (Soar Works) where I get physical with the paint and canvas. My work is visceral and spontaneous. When I paint, I rely entirely on my instincts. Using my hands to work the paint washes around the surface, I continually move the artwork back and forth to keep the colours flowing. Eventually I reach a point where I allow the paint to take the control so that I can revel in the prospect of the paint surprising me yet again
Through my work, I am constantly exploring the relationship between colour, light and form. Even though it was drilled into me in my earliest formal art studies that drawing and draughtsmanship are of critical importance to serious artistic endeavour, it was only when I ventured away from literal points of reference that I began to discover the visceral impact to be enjoyed in the luminance, shapes and hues of glorious nature."

Wednesday, July 19, 2017

Interview with Horror Author Suzi Albracht



Suzi Albracht
I live in Maryland, mid-way between Baltimore and Washington, D.C. All of my books take place in the Annapolis, Baltimore and D.C. area.



Good morning, Suzi, and welcome to Vision and Verse, the Place for Art and Authors. Can you tell us a little about what you've written? 
I have written The Devil’s Due Collection which consists of three books – Death Most Wicked, The Devil’s Lieutenant, and Scorn Kills. 

I also have written a non-fiction book to help people gain Twitter Followers - The Super Easy Newbies Twitter Guide
Cracking the Secret to Getting & Keeping Followers. 

I am working on 3 books at present. One book is another part of The Devil’s Due Collection – The Making of a Soul Collector. The second book is a standalone ghost story – the title is still moving but tentatively it is called The Promise Keeper. And the third is a crime fiction novel – called Betrayal in the First Degree.


What is your favorite genre to write? 
I think I made up my own genre – Supernatural Horror Crime Fiction. I love horror but I feel like my horror has a supernatural thread through it. And all my books have law enforcement as major characters.

 My kind of horror does not involve guts spilling all over the floor every ten minutes. Instead, I much prefer psychological terror. I won’t say there is not blood-letting in my books but I do it in a unique way. I like to use every day characters who find themselves in terrifying situations based on their own human failures. 

I make it my goal to get my readers to deeply care what happens to my characters and my stories in The Devil’s Due Collection intertwine so you get to see them in different stages of their lives. And, as much as I love them, my characters do and say things that are shocking. I encourage them to be as truthful as possible.


Who is your favorite author? 
Early Stephen King. I’m finding that I don’t like him as much now. His books aren’t as interesting as when he wrote Pet Cemetery or It. 


Best book you ever read. 
I am still in love with Salem’s Lot by Stephen King. It was the first book I read that made me realize I could write one as well. In fact, my writing style is similar to the early King novels. Reading King and Dean Koontz influenced me to a great extent.


Favorite food.
I love filet mignon but now that I live in Maryland, I have become addicted to steamed crabs in Old Bay seasoning with melted butter. They are only available from the late spring to early fall months so every year, we stuff ourselves as much as we can and then dream of crabs until the next season.


Tea or coffee? 
Neither, I am a Pepsi girl. I blame my mother. She put Pepsi in my baby bottles. Now I practically mainline it. But I don’t smoke, drink or gamble so I consider it a very minor thing.


Pizza or ice cream? 
Neither really but I do like ice cream on hot summer days from this old store in Annapolis. It’s nice to get a waffle cone and sit on the dock, watching the Naval cadets milling about.


Wine or beer? 
Neither. Give me Pepsi every time.


Where would you like to visit? 
I’d love to go back to Key West again. It’s very different there from every beach town I’ve been to. Eclectic, quirky, fun. And the food? To-die-for. 


Yes, I love Key West! Where else?
I also love Sedona, AZ. If you have never been, you should go. Beautiful red mountains. Not hot at all. And you are close enough to visit Tombstone and the Grand Canyon.

How old were you when you started writing? 
I’m thinking somewhere between seven and nine. I wrote on little scraps of paper that I hid under my bed. Oddly enough, I wrote Sci-Fi stories and things about outer space and aliens. I can still envision the little green men who populated my stories. Whenever my mother found my stories, she’d toss them out in the trash. But the next day, I’d be back at it. As time went on, I found better hiding places but she always found them. To this day, I wish I had some of those stories.


Favorite musical artist.  Do you listen to music when you write?  What? 
No favorite artist. I love music but it’s not really my thing. I listen to the ID channel while I write so I guess you could say, I listen to people getting murdered as I murder people. Every now and then, some story will come on that fascinates me so I’ll stop what I’m doing and actually watch. To me, those true crimes are far more horrifying than any horror story I could write.


What makes you laugh? 
Odd things mostly. Things that come out of nowhere when you are least expecting them. I love to watch Mom (TV program) and the Big Bang Theory. Ironic things get me rolling on the floor.


This is an Author AND Art Blog, so I am obliged to ask: Favorite work of art or sculpture. 
I like Monet paintings. They make me feel soothed.


Where do you get your inspiration? 
I observe. The ID channel, the news, fights on Facebook, whatever. I like to take bits and pieces of things and twist them inside out. But what inspires me to write supernatural horror comes from my childhood. My mother loved horror movies but she had all these kids so money was tight. But we could afford the drive-in a few times every summer. I saw my first horror movie when I was two. Those movies never scared me, just fascinated the crap out of me. I never watched cartoons or romance, just horror. There was one movie that I still think about to this day. I don’t remember the entire story but it was about a village that lived near a large number of massive hills, not exactly mountains but almost. Something bad was happening and as it turned out, giants were buried in those mounds of rock and dirt. To this day, every time I see a hill or small mountain, I think there is a giant buried there, waiting for his time to return to life.

Describe your perfect evening. 
Of course, my significant other, Tim would be included. It would start earlier in the day. We would take a long, leisurely ride through the country in his 1970 Cranberry Red Camaro. Tim takes a lot of pride in that car. It is pristine clean and looks brand new. As sundown approached, we’d begin to think about dinner and where we’d like to go. If it was summer, we would choose seafood cusine and head for a restaurant on the water where we would dine on steamed crabs with hot butter, onion rings, and corn on the cob. Oh, I mentioned crabs before, didn’t I? I told you I was addicted. Anyway, after dinner, we’d go home where we would cuddle in bed and watch a movie. 


My second favorite would be on a play-off weekend. Tim and I play pool on three teams. In my scenario, we’d both get a chance to shoot pool. One of us would play the deciding game and kick major butt, propelling our team to the next round. After that, of course, we’d drive down for hot steamed crabs drenched in Old Bay. Guess where we’re going this weekend?


What do you do when you get a writer's block? 
I seldom get it but the one time I did, I simply interviewed my characters and got their point of view about their fellow characters and they story they are involved in. That was one of the most interesting things I ever did. It wasn’t like those character sheets people talk about. It was like chatting with someone you just met. And some of those chats were scary because remember, I write horror.


What would you do for a living if you weren’t a writer? 
I was a technical writer for a long time. It was very satisfying. It also gave me the structure and feel for detail that helps me today. But that doesn’t really answer your question, does it? I think I would like to have been a criminal profiler or a crime scene analyst. It would allow me to help people and at the same time be interesting.


Who is the one person who has influenced your personal life the most and why? 
I had a very dark and lonely childhood. But there was one shining star, an angel on earth, really. I had a step-grandmother who treated me like I was a blood relative. When everyone else was telling me I wasn’t really family, she stepped in and made sure I was a part of whatever activity was going on. She always spoke kindly to me and gave me plenty of hugs. Because of her, I never hardened the way I might have. Because of her, I had hope. When I lost her, I put all my memories of her in my heart so that I would always have that shining star with me. She was truly a good soul.



If you could sit down and have a conversation with ONE person, living or dead, real or fictional, who would it be and why? 
My father. My mother kept me from him so I never met him but I always wondered what kind of father he would have been to me.


What advice would you give someone who aspired to be a writer? Always tell your book’s truth. Don’t sell out and change things because somebody doesn’t like your truth. Not everyone has your best interest at heart and they will try to undermine you in a passive, aggressive way but if you remain true to yourself, you will learn to gravitate toward the good people in our world and not dwell with the nay-sayers.


 I would like to take a few minutes to talk about my business Wickedly Awesome Designs. At Wicked, I offer over 200 pre-designed covers. Whether you have a brand new book or you want a fresh look for a book already published, Wickedly Awesome Designs might just have what you are looking for. We all know that it is important to grab the first great impression, my covers grab the eyes of readers and emote emotions. My covers are unique, one-of-a-kind beauties that are affordable while still being artistically enticing. You can also purchase social media photo cards to market your book at www.WickedlyAwesomeDesigns.com. I love creating these covers and photo card. Plus, I get the satisfaction of making someone else happy at the same time. I want you to be as excited about your new cover as I was when I created it.
I know I just love the cover you made for my new book, Suzi. I love your work. We at Vision and Verse wish you continued success in all your writing endeavors. Hugs.