Interview with Author John Curry

Professor John Curry

 American University, University of Maryland

Washington, D.C.

Good morning, John, and welcome to Vision and Verse, the place for Art and Authors. As I said on Tuesday when I talked to Dr. Glover, I've been waiting for this interview for a very long time. I am thrilled to have you here. Can you tell us a little about what you've written?

(Nonfiction)

• Giraffes of Technology: The Making of the Twenty-First-Century Leader, Awarded Best Review published in Kirkus Reviews Magazine and recommended to the leadership book rooted in literature by Harvard Professor and Pulitzer-Prize winning author, Robert Coles.
• “Licensure Landscape Forum,” National Education Report, National Education Association (NEA)
•  “Scientific Literacy: A Nation at Risk,” Education Report based on RAND Corporation research for Dr. Shirley Thomas (University of Southern California)

  
  

  “Reading, Writing and … Entertaining,” Johns Hopkins University Graduate Writing Program and American Independent Writers (AIW) Conference (Essay, conference program)

(Literary Fiction)

• Novella:The Archer Prize, Paris Belletric, Los Angeles Literary Fiction, Honorable Mention
• Short Story: Paperplates, Vol. 5, No. 2 (Toronto, Canada)
• Short Story: SNReview (Connecticut)
• Short Story: Entre Nous, Stoneflower Press, accepted for thematic issue “rooms and spaces” (Texas)
• Short Story: Short Stories Bimonthly (Pennsylvania)
• Short Story: The Prose Menagerie (California)
• Short Story: Renaissance Magazine (Rhode Island)

Wow! Impressive list. What is your favorite genre to write? 

Creative Nonfiction and a variety of fiction styles.

Favorite Food? 

Greek Yogurt.

That surprises me, John. I had you pegged for an Italian food guy. Tea or Coffee? 

Both!

Pizza or Ice Cream? 

Frozen Yogurt.

Where would you like to visit? 

Australia, New Zealand, and Japan. Through my work at Voice of America (VOA), I've visited most other countries around the world except for these three.

What makes you laugh? 

My 7-year-old daughter, daily. 

Favorite work of art or sculpture? 

RC Gorman.

How old were you when you started writing?

Elementary School.

Describe your perfect evening? 

Exercise class with friends.

Where do you get your inspiration? 

Through writers and their books, early in life.

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

Read and think more.

Who is your favorite author? 

Too many!

Best book you ever read? 

Atonement by Ian McEwan

Last book you read?  

Madd Adam by Margaret Atwood

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

My mother, and certain professors, who carefully listened to my ideas but also offered their views through a positive, creative conversation.

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 speak with Michael Chabon, the author of "The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay," to learn how he can write literary fiction that wins a Pulitzer Prize (and other literary awards) but also broader popular fiction and movies. Unique writer.  

Do you have any links for us to follow you?

Book's links to our Blog, Amazon, Facebook, and Twitter:

Blog: http://www.giraffesoftechnology.com/

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Giraffes-Technology-Making-Twenty-First-Century-Leader/dp/1499320922

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Giraffes-of-Technology-The-Making-of-the-21st-Century-Leader-178663958937218/timeline/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/giraffesoftech

Rachael Slate's Moon Borne Blog Hop

✨´¨)
¸.•´¸✨´¨)
(¸.•´ (¸.•`¸🌙 Welcome to the Moon Borne Release Blitz Hop!

For the next five days (October 13-17^th), we’ll be celebrating the release of Rachael Slate’s steamy, Greek myth fantasy romance, Moon Borne. Dozens of amazing prizes will be up for grabs at the stops along our hop. Check out the pinned post at https://www.facebook.com/RachaelSlateAuthor for a full list of giveaway locations. Be sure to follow the entry directions on each page.

On this stop, enter to win:

Prize: (e.g. e-book, SWAG, gift card, etc.)

How to Enter: (e.g. Like this page, tag friends, comment, subscribe to newsletter, etc.)

Don’t forget to enter the grand prize giveaway at https://www.facebook.com/RachaelSlateAuthor (look on the pinned post for details).

Thanks for stopping by and happy hopping!

Rachael and Carol

Interview with Author Dr. Hubert D. Glover

Hubert D. Glover, Ph.D.

 Philadelphia, PA. 

Professor, Chair at Drexel University.

Good morning, Dr. Glover and welcome to Vision and Verse. We're thrilled to have such an esteemed professor from Drexel University with us this morning! It's been over a year since I requested this interview with you and your co-author John Curry, who will be with us on Thursday. Tell us a little about what you have written.

• Primarily business articles with a recent focus on leadership.
• Co-authored Giraffes of Technology…my first book with a sole focus on leadership

What is your favorite genre to write? 
Leadership and Mentoring.

Favorite food. 
Okra.

Tea or coffee? 
The first 50 years tea and now espresso.

Pizza or ice cream? 
Ice cream.

Wine or beer? 
Port wine, tawny to be exact.

Where would you like to visit? 
Russia or India, the only major countries I have not been.

Do you listen to music when you write? 
Yes. 
What? 
From Bach to Brown.

What makes you laugh? 
Life’s daily journey.

Favorite work of art or sculpture. 
Van Gogh, especially his drafts.

How old were you when you started writing? 
Six years old.

Describe your perfect evening. 
Reading, listening to music or writing.

Where do you get your inspiration? 
Life’s daily journey and reading.

What do you do when you get a writer's block? 
Live and eventually something will occur to inspire and release.

Who is your favorite author? 
Walter Mosley. 

Who is the one person who has influenced your personal life the most and why? 
My best friend who is blind; he sees in a different way by listening and it has helped me see in the same manner which allows true connections.

If you could sit down and have a conversation with ONE person, living or dead, real or fictional, who would it be and why? 
Harriet Tubman—to understand the plight and the journey and how to face fear beyond any normal comprehension. 

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

Find a stage for your voice and listen to the world, then share.

Do you have some links to follow you?

Book's links to our Blog, Amazon, Facebook, and Twitter:

Blog: http://www.giraffesoftechnology.com/

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Giraffes-Technology-Making-Twenty-First-Century-Leader/dp/1499320922

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Giraffes-of-Technology-The-Making-of-the-21st-Century-Leader-178663958937218/timeline/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/giraffesoftech 


Here's the link to buy our book on Amazon:  http://www.amazon.com/Giraffes-Technology-Making-Twenty-First-Century-Leader/dp/1499320922

The Coin by Maria Elena Alonso-Sierra

Who ever thought a coin could get you killed?

A cunning killer trusted his secret was safe, an innocent woman holds the key to his destruction, and an intelligence officer must keep her alive before the madman can strike the fatal blow.

When Gabriela Martinez finds a mysterious coin in the French Riviera, she is thrust into a struggle between governments, terrorists, and madmen, all seeking knowledge she doesn't know she has. Richard Harrison, the intelligence officer assigned to protect her, has all he can do to keep her safe.  But when the psychological games to terrorize Gabriela escalate beyond his control, Richard must find a solution, if not, it may be too late for them both.

Set in the exotic French Riviera, The Coin is a story of hatred, betrayal, love and duty—of terrible and painful choices that, nonetheless, bring about personal triumph.

This suspenseful, romantic thrilling page-turner is just $.99 today!

LINKS TO THE COIN

http://amzn.to/1Mq4aJ2 AZ

http://bit.ly/1JpZpdX BN

http://apple.co/1R01a7Q itunes

http://bit.ly/1LwLSas Kobo

http://bit.ly/13Pbdcn Smashwords

 MARIA ELENA ALONSO-SIERRA, Author

Maria Elena Alonso-Sierra is a romantic suspense author with a unique point of view. Her adventure novels take place in locales across Europe and the United States, reflecting her international upbringing and extensive time as a global traveler. In her duology, The Coin and The Book of Hours, her characters, Gabriela and Richard, walk the same paths as their creator, though her life was never in so much danger.

Ms. Alonso-Sierra’s writing career began circa age thirteen with a very juvenile science fiction short story, but the writing bug hit, and she has been writing, in one capacity or another, ever since. She has worked as a professional dancer, singer, journalist, and literature teacher (and not necessarily in that order—she likes variety) and holds a Masters in English literature. She loves to hear from readers and, when not writing, roams around to discover new places to set her novels.

Ms. Alonso-Sierra is currently working on her third novel, and lives in North Carolina with her husband and her dog, Amber.

Video trailer Link:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OqKVuIojlU4&feature=youtu.be

Social media:

Author Links:

@MariaElenaWrite https://www.facebook.com/maria.alonsosierra

www.mariaelenawrites.com

Waiting for Richard

Dear Gentle Readers,

Waiting for Richard, with it's brand new cover, is presently number 6 in the Kindle Women's Adventure Bestsellers List! And it is still free. Make sure you pick up your copy soon at

 http://tinyurl.com/m6njc9b

It is also available in paperback on Amazon.com and is the perfect holiday gift for an older women who doesn't like explicit sexual content, but still wants a good storyline with adventure and a bit of mystery.

Hugs,

Carol

This is me photobombing my husband at a local book signing. Oh, this man has the patience of a saint. He helped to lug it all in. He helped me lug it all out. He kept me calm and hydrated and didn't leave me in Pennsylvania.

The Artist David Lloyd Glover

Autumn Prelude by David Lloyd Glover

All of the information here is from David Lloyd Glover's website. I claim nothing here, but the desire for more people to know the work of this outstanding artist.

Website:

http://www.davidlglover.com/

About David (from his website): Victoria, British Columbia is the 1949 birthplace of David Lloyd Glover.   Located on Vancouver Island, this typically British city with its famous English-style gardens formed the earliest influence on Glover’s art.  Mr. Glover grew up on the 600-acre estate known as Hatley Castle, it’s formal European and Japanese gardens, and country and ocean-side setting gave him a deep appreciation of nature’s beauty.  King George V visited the stone castle in 1939 that was so impressed with its grandeur that he decided it was to become the new home of King Edward VIII after his abdication from the British throne.  A Japanese torpedo hit the beach in 1941 and forever changed his Royal plans.

Glover’s relationship with his famous uncles, Academy Award winning film director Guy Glover and Oscar winning film animator Norman McLaren, fostered his interest in fine art and painting.  He demonstrated an apt talent and was granted admission to the Victoria College of Art when he was only in Grade 4 elementary school.  In 1962, he was commissioned by the English Speaking Union Library in New York City to design a special poster for children’s books.   As a result of winning a province-wide art competition, The Vancouver School of Fine Art accepted Glover for studies at just 14 years old despite the minimum age requirement of 18.  

A remarkable skill in pen and ink drawings was developed from Glover’s study of the techniques of the 19th Century English illustrators.  His mastery of the style earned him much notice, that by age 18, Glover was chosen to be the full-time editorial illustrator at the Victoria Times newspaper.  After creating illustrations daily for three years, the newspaper selected him to become their political cartoonist, making him the youngest editorial satirist in the country.  In addition to newspaper work, Glover received art commissions from magazine publications especially automotive journals like Road &Track and Car & Driver.

During the 1970ís and early 80ís he founded and directed an advertising agency producing magazine and newspaper advertising, television and radio commercials for a wide variety of major clients such as Pepsi Cola, Yamaha Motorcycles, McDonald’s Hamburgers, Pacific Western Airlines and Levis Jeans.  After selling his interest in the firm, Glover returned to his first love of fine art.

His new paintings in watercolor were met with instant success and very soon he developed a strong following of loyal collectors.  Almost overnight, David Lloyd Glover became one of the best selling artists at Vancouver’s most respected gallery. 

In 1986, The Royal British Columbia Museum acquired 26 original Glover watercolors for their permanent collection.   This museum is now conducting North America’s only exhibition of the masterworks of Leonardo Da Vinci.

In 1998, two galleries in Los Angeles began exhibiting Glover’s paintings to instant acclaim and recognition.  Art collectors including Hollywood celebrities were acquiring Glover’s original works on paper and serigraph editions.   In 1992, he was asked to appear in the Hollywood motion picture “Just My Imagination” starring Tom Wopat and Jean Smart.  Glover played himself, an artist painting an original portrait of the movie’s star character.  

As a result of his recognition, his paintings have been exhibited at major galleries in New York City, Carmel, California, La Jolla, California and Scottsdale, Arizona.  Glover’s serigraph editions have been exhibited in galleries all over the United States and Mexico.  In 1990, his serigraph “The Enchanted Patio” was awarded Best in Show in the Mexico City Graphic Arts Salon Competition for his outstanding achievement in art.  Glover has been featured in articles in major American art magazines like US ART MAGAZINE in 1993 , WATERCOLOR  MAGAZINE 1996, AMERICAN  ART COLLECTOR MAGAZINE,  December 2005.

As a young student, Glover was deeply influenced by the bold works of Canada's Group of Seven painters like Tom Thomson, J.E. H. MacDonald, Arthur Lismer, and A. Y. Jackson. David Lloyd Glover’ s artistic influences have been rooted in the masterworks of the impressionists like Renoir, Monet and Cezanne.  His works in oil on canvas reflect the sensibilities of color and light that have made the paintings of artists like Paul Gauguin and Vincent Van Gogh so magical and inspiring.  You can feel his love of natural settings and elegant gardens emanate from the richly colored oils he creates.  His great success in art is easily understood as his artistic vision speaks an international language that knows no borders or cultural barriers.

Since 1992, Glover has been exhibiting and selling in major galleries in Tokyo, Osaka, Hiroshima and Sendai, Japan.  Glover ranks among the most widely collected original artists in Japan today with over 23 sold out original art exhibitions.  Japan has been a Glover family tradition ever since his great great Uncle,  first came to Japan in the mid 1880’s to become one of the more important early industrialists in Nagasaki.  Thomas Blake Glover was married to the fabled “Madame Butterfly” and his home and gardens are a national site in Japan to this day.  In 2005 he met an actual Japanese relative by marriage.    Madame Butterfly, Tsuru Glover’s great, great, granddaughter, Kazuko Noda, author of the book “Madame Butterfly and Madame Tsuru Glover” met with David Lloyd Glover and shared her historical knowledge of the Glover family ‘s contribution to Japan’s modern history. Glover Gardens is an important landmark in modern Nagasaki

In June 2005, Glover had a special exhibition at the Art Brillant Rodeo Drive Gallery in Beverly Hills.  The show featured a Glover’s jazz portrait series of the great icons in American Jazz.  Images of the greats like Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Armstrong, John Coltrane, and Miles Davis were featured along with portraits of some of the contemporary legends like Wayne Shorter and Herbie Hancock.  Herbie also made a personal appearance at the show in honor of his friend David Lloyd Glover.  Currently Glover has been creating a series of the Icons of American Pop Culture for the Beverly Hills gallery, which includes portraits of Mick Jagger, John Lennon, Elvis and John Wayne.

May of 2008, Marble Arch Fine Arts and Gallery 17 Venice, California held a one-man exhibition “Iconography”.  Over 30 original works of the Icons of pop culture were featured in this show of his contemporary works.  

In 2011, David Lloyd Glover was a three-time featured guest on Barry Chappell's Fine Art Showcase  television show.  Glover has recently authored two new titles in 2014 for Walter Foster Art Books.  Pastoral Landscapes is a new book by David Lloyd Glover that shows how to paint six landscapes in a step-by-step demonstration.  As an artist that is known for his extraordinary use of color, Glover has revealed his secrets on creating and mixing acrylic colors for artists in a new book Color Mixing in Acrylics.

Joanne Jaytanie Presents the Willow's Discovery Blog Tour

Saints and Sinners Book Promotion is proud to host the blog tour for the next book in The Winter Sisters Series by Joanne Jaytanie... 

Willow's Discovery

Release Date: Oct 6th

Willow’s next discovery could get her killed.

Willow Winters has been safely ensconced in London managing the international division of the Winters Corporation. But the vicious Kaleidoscope Group is relentless in its pursuit of the Winters sisters and their scientific breakthroughs. They’ve planted a mole in the company ranks, making Willow’s paranormal abilities crucial in the search for the traitor. Unearthing this spy will expose Willow as a threat and put her squarely in the sights of the murderous Kaleidoscope Group.

Wyatt Farraday is a military liaison to the Winters Corporation. Consumed with keeping Victory and Payton Winters alive, he’s had no life of his own. Now the third triplet has returned home and his job just got exponentially harder. Willow outdoes her sisters in the hardheaded department. She’s independent and can take care of herself and she doesn’t need Wyatt to watch out for her. But Wyatt’s determined to watch her in every way he can.

Willow’s Discovery is book three in The Winters Sisters series. Begin your adventure with Book One: Chasing Victory and Book Two: Payton’s Pursuit.

http://www.amazon.com/Willows-Discovery-Winters-Sisters-Book-ebook/dp/B015TCCHE0/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1444226653&sr=1-1&keywords=Willow%27s+Discovery

Victory Winters is a world-renowned geneticist and possesses an unusual innate sense of communication, bordering on telepathic when relating to animals. She is kidnapped by Lawrence Braxton. Braxton is the madman CEO who runs Biotec, and forces Victory to pursue her research on canine DNA.

Naval officer Tristan Farraday is sent undercover to track Biotec’s experiments. These experiments involve the implantation of canine DNA into humans, thereby manipulating their genetic makeup. The goal of Biotec is to create the perfect soldier.

Murder, kidnapping, and blackmail follow as Tristan realizes Victory has been pulled into Biotec’s world against her wishes. She refuses to divulge the genetic answers Braxton demands. Victory knows Biotec wants to exploit her findings, by administering them in a destructive manner. Will Tristan rescue Victory from this madman’s grip and save her family? Can he keep her discoveries away from enemy hands?  

Amazon/Amazon UK/Audible/Barnes & Noble

Payton Winters is thrust into the position of CEO of The Winters Corporation after the sudden death of her parents. Confronted with the knowledge she was born with special abilities, she finds herself in the dilemma of being a grounding force to people who possess psychic powers. She has unwillingly become the mental anchor to the one man she wants no part of, Collin McBain. While on a routine mission, Collin is drugged, tortured, and injected with wolf DNA. Now believed dead, he is secretly assigned to the Winters Campus. 

Amazon/Barnes & Noble/Goodreads

Joanne was born and raised in Sherburne, New York, a quaint village surrounded by dairy farms and rolling hills. From the moment she could read she wanted to explore the world. During her college years she slowly crept across the country, stopping along the way in Oklahoma, California, and finally Washington State, which she now proudly calls home. She lives with her husband and Dobermans, in their home located on the Olympic Peninsula with a panoramic view of the Olympic Mountains.

Joanne writes romantic suspense, paranormal, and contemporary romance. She loves to submerge herself in the world of her characters, to live and breathe their lives and marvel at their decisions and predicaments. She enjoys a wide variety of books including paranormal, suspense, thriller, and of course romance.

Joanne is a member of Romance Writers of America, and past President of Peninsula Romance Writers, which was Debbie Macomber’s home chapter.

Website/Facebook/Twitter/Goodreads/Pinterest/LinkedIn

Oct 6^th

Romantic Ramblings       
Nerdy, Dirty and Flirty
Here Is What I Read
Yah Gotta Read This
Romantic Escapes

Oct 7^th
Vision and Verse
MJs Book Blog and Reviews
Two Feisty Angels and A Devil
A Thousand Lives

Oct 8th
Author Amber Daulton
Twinsie Talk Book Reviews
Author J.M. Walker
Room With Books

Oct 9th

Book-Lover
Shirley's Bookshelf
Reading Drinking and Relaxing

Warrior Woman Winmill
Lindy Lu Reviews

Oct 10th

Reviews By Crystal
Mythical Books
Jacklynn Love's Reading

Sweet N Sassy Book A Holics
Nikkis Books Books and more Books
abibliophobia anonymous book reviews
Blazinbear's Book Blog

Oct 11th

2 Girls Who Love Books
Evermore Books

Author Sandra Love
JB's Book Obsession
One Last Page Book Blog
deal sharing aunt
Susan’s Books I Like

Oct 12th

Jazzy Book Reviews
Book Loving Pixies
Saints and Sinners Books

Oct 13^th

SinfullySweet Promotions
Fictional Rendezvous Book Blog
Reading in Sarah's Corner
Southern Vixens Book Obsessions
Obsessed by Books
Outrageous Heroes
Beantown Bitches Book Page
Bloggers From Down Under
Dedicated Ink Book Blog

My secret romance
Girl with Pen
A Bookaholic's Fix: Feeding the Addiction