Walking Man By Narciso Zamora

Walking Man: A Modern Missions Experience in Latin America by Narciso Zamora.

What inspired the book?

I've been working for many years in missions and my inspiration in life has always been spreading the word of Christ. This book chronicles all the adventures that I've had in hopes that it will inspire others to join in the work that our Lord asks us to do in his name.

What makes this book special to you?

This book allows me to open the door and let people into my life. It is obviously close to my heart because it recounts all my failures and successes and the way that Jesus has worked in my life. Opening up about it all has allowed me to reflect on the many blessings that the Lord has given me and the miracles that He has worked through the years.

What makes this a book that other people MUST read and WHY?

There is so much work left to do and so many people that need to know more about the Lord. People need to let Him into their hearts and accept him as their personal savior. It is so important to inspire others to know Christ and to act upon that desire to let him be a part of their lives. So many are in need of Him and it is our duty to help others find the way to Him. That's why reading this book and choosing to take action is so important. Mine is just an example of the miracles that the Lord can perform if you let him in and work hard to serve him.

What people NEED to read this book and WHY?

EVERYONE! Jesus can work wonders in someone's life and everyone can work to spread his word. Children and teenagers can start early and know more about Jesus and become spiritually strong adults that can work wonders in their community and the world. Young adults can say "I can do that!" and find themselves in their own quest for inspiring others to serve Jesus. Adults can not only act but transform their own life and their family's.

What sparks your creativity? Any tips to help others spark their own creativity?

When something amazing happens - when God provides for my need in just the moment I need it, I feel inspired to share it with others, in some cases, in writing.

What has been the biggest stumbling block in your writing? Can you share some tips to help others get past similar problems?

I guess having enough time is the biggest stumbling block. For those of us that have full time pursuits and want to write as a sideline, it can be hard to convert those good intentions into printed words. The thing that has worked best for me is to block off a few hours on one day a week or one hour the same time each day, usually the early morning before the phone has started to ring - and just do it!

What do you think motivates people to become authors? What motivated you to get into this unusual industry?

Writing is an excellent way of reaching others. It allows you to share your personality, your ideas and, in my personal case, a lifetime of experiences and lessons. I am always looking for ways to reach people and writing my autobiography only seemed appropriate after so many years of working in this field. I wanted others to know that it is never too late to accept Jesus, that as long as you straighten your life and live it fully in His word then your past is not a reflection of the wonders you can do through Him.

Tell me about the most unusual things you have done to promote any books?

I haven't gotten too crazy yet, as my book just came out. But if we still have a few thousand books sitting in my publisher's basement a year or two from now, you'll see me get crazy! My publisher suggested that I walk my entire author tour, since my book is called Walking Man. She actually wanted me to walk from Indiana to Texas to Florida in July heat!! I told her I was up for anything, but then she came to her senses (thank God).

NON FICTION - Why are you the BEST person to write this book? What in your background or in your research makes you qualified to do justice to this topic?

My personal experience as a nonbeliever who struggled to live in the right path and was still able to find Jesus and, for more than thirty years, reach the most isolated areas of Peru and Chile to start churches and spread the word have given me the knowledge to counsel others. God works wonders through those who accept him and I've been privileged enough to know him for many years now.

NON FICTION - If a potential reader thinks that your book wouldn't interest them, what would you say to convince them to buy? I'm thinking something better than "Its the greatest book ever." Give me something more specific :)

Many have a need to fill that spiritual void that people carry these days and reading this book may be the answer to finding a sense of purpose in life. Even if they think their life is perfectly fine, reading this book may let them discover a whole other side of life they hadn't considered before. There are so many that need help and reading my testimony can give them inspiration and Jesus can start finding His way into their hearts.

NON FICTION - Why does the topic of your book interest you? Why would it interest potential readers? Give us a hook to reel in new readers.

Well, the topic of this book is basically the passion of my life; it describes the love of Jesus and his wonders. I am certain that readers can go through this book and find the story of a real man who has worked hard to accomplish an important goal in life. That is a struggle that all human beings can relate to and reading somebody else's way of getting through the difficulties with the help of God is an inspiration that can help them find motivation to accomplish their personal goals.

NON FICTION Is there a way to tie your book topic to current events? If so, tell us about how you could do that. I have a blog to feature information and examples about tying books into current events that might be a good place for you to promote your book.

My book shows in great detail the poor conditions that so many people have to live in because of the underdeveloped areas that they have been born into. It is difficult for them to get by and poverty is a pandemic that haunts them throughout their entire lives. I have made an effort to reach those isolated areas because I come from a small rural town myself, and I know how limited the opportunities are for these people. I am one of them, and the Lord has helped me overcome many issues they deal with on a daily basis. There is a need for many others to come and provide them with the tools for a better life both materially and spiritually.

In Detail With Patricia Guthrie

Tell us the book title and your author name.

In the Arms of the Enemy

Patricia A. Guthrie

What inspired the book

About a decade ago a horse mob in the Chicago suburban area were murdering horses for insurance money. Quite a few horsemen were indicted, some jailed. That seed stayed planted in my head until about three years ago when I wrote this book.

What makes this book special to you?

In the Arms of the Enemy is dedicated to those horses lost to man’s greed and inhumanity and to those humanitarians whose mission is to save and protect them. The love I have for my characters and their horses have made this special. (It’s also my first published book)

What makes this a book that other people MUST read and WHY?

First off, this is a ‘durn good mystery. Outside of that, it educates the public on what happens when money, animals and greed come together. It also shows what can happen when you deceive the people you love.

What people NEED to read this book and WHY?

Probably the same answers as the last question, but this is for horse lovers

And shows them another side of the horse industry.

What sparks your creativity? Any tips to help others spark their own creativity?

I take my ideas from topical events, mix it with things in my life I love (Romanian castles, horses, collies, women who have to run from dangerous relationships) I like to point out the evils in life balanced with the good.

What has been the biggest stumbling block in your writing? Can you share some tips to help others get past similar problems?

I think marketing has been my biggest stumbling block. I don’t mix writing and marketing well together, so when I market I don’t write and when I write I don’t market. I’m trying to over come that. I’m sure others have much going on in their lives, trying to juggle all that is hard. Writers block? I do, but I usually talk or walk it off. Music helps too, although I can’t write and listen to music. Being a musician I have a tendency to listen and stare at the walls, picking out the cello and violin sections. LOL

What do you think motivates people to become authors? What motivated you to get into this unusual industry?

I think people write when they have a good story to tell and it must come out. I think reading and talking to other writers can “egg-on” that feeling to write.

I think those people have a natural interest in the craft of writing and aren’t afraid to write bad drafts, then start rewriting. It’s just in you.

Tell me about the most unusual things you have done to promote any books?

FICTION - If there is a setting, tell us how you decided on that setting and what you did to create a complete and vivid setting for your readers?

This story takes place a horse locations. My prototype for Kalian Downs Racetrack was Arlington Park Racetrack in Illinois and most of the race took place a the barn where I board my horse. When I walk through there and smell the hay and horses, watch the horses movements, the sounds they make when they’re eating dinner, it makes it easier to write it into a chapter.

FICTION - What inspires you about the hero or heroine in your book? What makes them memorable for the reader? What motivates the hero and/or heroine? You can include information about both if you want.

I had to write in Adam. He was so intent in finding a killer of his father’s horse and its trainer and was convinced the trainer’s partner was guilty. He was a man on a mission. Maggie was motivated by the need for peace, having had a stressful and bad experience with her fiancée and the owner of the barn where she trained. The rest of the novel she must learn to protect herself from deliberate accidents and learn to trust Adam, although she believes he’s not what he appears.

FICTION - Is there a villain or something that causes friction in your story? Tell us about what or who it is and how that contributes to the story. Any details about conflict and friction is good information to know.

Well, this is a mystery, so I won’t tell you who, but there are several conflicts here. First Adam being not the naïve, suave and rich entrepreneur he claimed to be. Evidence is pointing toward Maggie being part of the gang who kills horses for insurance money for horse owners. Even as Maggie has no idea she’s even being under suspicion.

If there's anything else you would like to share, this is the time and place.

I hope you enjoy the book. It’s not long, but does get intense. A book where good intentions lead to deception and lies and misunderstanding leads to kidnapping.

Thank you for visiting with me and in closing, give us your website address and a link to order your book.

You’re welcome. I hope your readers enjoy this incite into the characters in the story. My website: www.patriciaanneguthrie.com, www.paguthrie.blogspot.com and www.myspace.com/paguthrie.

You can purchase the book at the publisher’s website www.lightswordpublishing.com,

www. Amazon.com, Borders, Waldenbooks, Barnes and Noble and most of the online independents. You can also order the book at the actual book stores and some stores carry it on their shelves.

These were great questions. I really enjoyed talking to all of you. Any questions:

Patguth@aol.com Please email me.

For more information about Patricia's virtual book tour - visit her tour home page http://inspiredauthor.com/promotion/Patricia+Guthrie

To order your copy, visit http://www.amazon.com/Arms-Enemy-Patricia-Guthrie/dp/0979203082

In the Arms of the Enemy by Patricia A. Guthrie

I will be posting the "In Detail" answers soon, in the mean time here is some "inside info" about the cover of the book.

The cover story of the covers of In the Arms of the Enemy:

Front:

Cody, (Cajuns Cayenne Kid) is the horse on the front cover of "In the Arms of the Enemy." Although he's not a thoroughbred race-horse, we decided to acknowledge this beautiful horse on the cover as a tribute. Cody was a champion cutting horse and produced magnificent foals who have gone on to become champions in their own right in many disciplines.

According to his owner, Bonny Kirby "He was an AQHA, ICHR and FQHR registered. He is a Gold Champagne and is 92.19% Foundation. His bloodlines are Champions and will produce the same. He was lost to colon cancer on October 13, 2007"

The back cover is a tribute the author's gray quarter horse Shotgun Socks who won classes in pleasure and halter at American Quarter Horse Association horse shows. He was owned by Ms. Guthrie until last year, when he died at twenty-five from complications due to colic.

I've acknowledged these two horses in the same manner as Adam Blakely might acknowledge his beautiful thoroughbred Black Autumn.

Patricia A. Guthrie
"In the Arms of the Enemy." (Light Sword Publishing)
Dedicated to those horses lost to man's inhumanity and greed
and to those humanitarians who's mission is to save and protect them.
www.paguthrie.blogspot.com,
www.patriciaanneguthrie.com

Patricia A. Guthrie
"In the Arms of the Enemy." (Light Sword Publishing)
Dedicated to those horses lost to man's inhumanity and greed
and to those humanitarians who's mission is to save and protect them.
www.paguthrie.blogspot.com,
www.patriciaanneguthrie.com

In Detail with Steven Clark Bradley

Tell us the book title and your author name. - The title of my third book is Nimrod Rising and my writing name and legal name is Steven Clark Bradley.

What inspired the book? - I had lived outside the United States for almost 17 years. I had visited the States about every four years but my focus had always been returning abroad. When I returned to live here in 1995 and tried to find a job and began to see the culture again here, I realized just how much America had changed. I had left the States while Ronald Reagan was president and I still believe that we were a kinder, more unified and much more moral people back then. I am not speaking some old codger either, because I am only 48 and it is meant sincerely from my experience. So many different movements were afoot and all of them spelled a literal cultural shift for me in the country. It all caused culture shock for me and I realized that America was at war with itself. I began to hear the idea that the constitution was a “living Document”. The meant that the country no longer bent or altered its course according to the constitution, but that we now applied the constitution to any new movement and made the sacred document fit our new lifestyles. I saw this new president, Bill Clinton who seemed determined to change us forever and felt I had to write something as I saw it and sort of predict where it would go and what it would do to us. So, one night in my mother's house I started writing. I just began to put on paper what I felt the world was doing and what the future would hold, if we continued down the same path. Well, the first part of the novel was written before September 11, 2001 and I had predicted that the nation would be attacked at home by terrorists simply because that president was so focused on home issues and his private debauched life that he failed to respond at all to the pin-prick attacks we already had inflicted upon us. Since that time, the book kind of wrote itself as I his the keys on the keyboard and ended up in what I think you will find the most unique approach in a novel you may find out there. I like to call this 593 page book my treatise on America. It is a large book but reads easily and is a strong story, but is also a story of hope and faith. It is not a “Christian” novel as it speaks for faith and the need of faith and the importance of using our faith to preserve our homeland. For, I am of the impression that I will not be patriotic just because I was born here. I need to believe in the country I support. It has to offer some semblance of reflection in what I hold dear and I unless I speak out and unless we truly hold these things dear, we will have a nation that few of us recognize and which I can not support. It is a book of challenge and my passion truly resonates from the book on every page.

What makes this book special to you? - I find the book interesting on several levels. It is a bit frightening, indeed. Yet, it is not scary because of ghosts and such, but rather because it takes the reader into the world of created beings that simply live in the spiritual world. Nimrod Rising takes us into the world of the Earth before humankind came upon the scene. My premise is that the creation account in Genesis is actually a recreation and that the Watchers, angels ruled here until a cataclysmic event took place, i.e. the fall of Satan which caused the Earth to become “Formless and void.” It describes the battles we fight now to be as much part of the spiritual war as much as the physical ones we see with our eyes. It is also challenging because it is well researched. All the information about Nimrod, himself is true and was found in ancient tablets that date back to the age of the earliest people since the dawn of man. I put 12 years of research into Nimrod Rising and I can say that it is a novel of dire straits with the hope and faith that God has an ultimate plan for the good of man.
What makes this a book that other people MUST read and WHY?

What people NEED to read this book and WHY? - I can say that this novel and all that I put into it personally deepened me and made me a wiser and more profound and sober person and I know it will make readers take stock of their live and that is always what makes us live wiser, live longer and will tell us all that we are not accidents nor do we live meaningless lives. There is a reason for our being, for the terror that we now see throughout the world and that all of our actions, both good and evil must be accounted for in the future. This makes Nimrod Rising so powerful and special to me and I know it will be the same for those who read it. We are not individual islands. There are repercussions for the things we do or fail to do or attempt to do. It is important to remember that this world does not belong to us. It has simply been placed in our hands for safe keeping. The forces of evil want it back for their own purposes and God expects good and right people to preserve it. Sometimes that means war. Some of it means environmentalism. All of it means following principles that preserve both social and physical adherents to those things that are universally right. It demands fighting against that which is naturally and intrinsically wrong. Nimrod Rising draws such distinctions and will challenge us all as to our participation in this drama called life.


What sparks your creativity? Any tips to help others spark their own creativity? I have to believe in something before I can write about it. All my material is about some issue that I feel needs repairing or of which I feel I much warn about the massive changes that could not only change us drastically but destroy us forever. I am current writing a novel centered around the Terri Schiavo case and have my next novel completed and in editing called Patriot Acts which talks about the dangers from Iran and Militia groups. These are two subjects which demand our attention and I feel such things awaken my instincts and bring out the storyteller in me. Don't write to make people comfortable all the time. Write what moves you and trust it will move others too. Don't write to please or to seek approval. Write to inform and to be a part of the progression of the world in thought. People are looking for writers who believe what they write. I am not seeking agreement, but interest and to spark that interest into something that puts my point of view out there, whether it is accepted or not. For me, that is revolutionary.

What has been the biggest stumbling block in your writing? Can you share some tips to help others get past similar problems? I have never had writers' block but I have failed to rest my mind properly and lost my way because of that. I have tried to learn that writing is a lot like out appetite. The best way not to get fat is to learn to eat only when we're actually hungry. That takes discipline and wisdom. Writing is the same in that, we want gourmet, not fast-food. Rest your mind, simmer your ideas, get them on paper and let them cook a while and add the seasoning and savor the aroma and you will eventually sit down to a gourmet buffet that will amaze you with the life of the taste and will make you read what you have written and say, that is what you really wanted to say. That works for me, perhaps it will for others.

What do you think motivates people to become authors? What motivated you to get into this unusual industry?

Tell me about the most unusual things you have done to promote any books? - Book Promotion has been the fly in the ointment for me. I mean, like an avid jogger who suddenly does not run for a month or so, I get a bit depressed every time I finish a novel. I pour all of myself into the world I have created and need to just keep going. So, I have had this thing in me that prefers to write than to sell books. Crazy huh? But, I bet you can relate. So, I have had a tough time with this area of writing. Book stores, who should be licking their chops at the prospect of so many writers like myself, yet, nothing has been as a hard as getting a store to take my books or to even give me a glance in my direction. I have become much more disciple in this endeavor simply I have realized that I want people to read my books. I have been very creative with Nimrod Rising. I created eight videos, all of which show a different aspect of my story. I placed them on over 25 different video upload sites and more than 25,000 people have watched them! I know that was the most unique thing I have done. The videos are still playing and can be viewed at www.stevenbradley.net.

FICTION - If there is a setting, tell us how you decided on that setting and what you did to create a complete and vivid setting for your readers? - Because Nimrod Rising is a vast story of International significance, my setting is really two/fold. I like to think that I have spent a large portion of my life in the cradle of civilization. The main setting of Nimrod Rising is really, Israel. Though it takes a bit of time before the book finally settles in that small but significant country, there is a real sense throughout the book that the story is heading that way. In a real sense, Israel is the spiritual center of the world. For Muslims, there really is no breakdown of society vs. religion. The religion of Islam encompasses every part of life. Sense I have worked with Muslims for over twenty years, I could see the radicalization of the religion long before Osama Bin Laden came on the scene. Most of the first section was written before 9-11. I have never claimed to be a prophet, and actually the need of such foretellers was never necessary. The changes taking place around the world were easy for me to see having lived there for so long. With the changes hitting America spiritually and socially and with the radicals in Islam beginning to strike us because of our support of the State of Israel, it was natural that the end game scenario should take place in the nation. The Israel is a tiny nation; its impact due to its very existence keeps lights burning in the great capitals of the world.

The other major setting is right inside the United States. We picture a nation and a world that has been devastated by terror and a nation that had lost its ability and will to defeat it. America is dissolving and the social attacks slapping the nation against the family, marriage, children and the elimination of civil rights required to fight the terror has left the nation devastated. The two settings converge into a massive wild ride that, of course you'll have to read the book to discover.

I spent two years in the country of Pakistan and Bangladesh. That was an eye opener and it gave me a real feel for the culture, the lives and even the various smells of the Middle East. I also spent almost three years in Senegal West Africa where I lived amongst the people and grew to understand the impact of Islam on the lives of its adherents. Even in France, where I lived for over six years, I worked almost exclusively with the Muslim population. Later I went to Turkey and worked there for four years and traveled to Iraq and Israel and truly got a feel for Muslim society. By painting my story with words from my Middle Eastern experience, I was able to create a very true-to-life experience for the reader. Of course, the story itself only lent itself to the Middle Eastern setting.

In the case of Nimrod Rising, it was easy to find the place of my story. Though Nimrod Rising is a work of fiction, it is based on historical fact and the events that form the story took place or will take place in the lands I describe. Also, Nimrod Rising spans several countries and they are all key locations. In some ways that made it easier, but in other ways it demanded very precise descriptions. I was helped a lot in that I had spend considerable amounts of time in each location, which helped me in the various cultural, political and layout of the land aspects of Nimrod Rising.

FICTION - What inspires you about the hero or heroine in your book? What makes them memorable for the reader? What motivates the hero and/or heroine? You can include information about both if you want. - The Heroine is difficult to choose since there are three major female characters. The first two are Sally Michael, Shepard's mother. She was kidnapped as a believer in God and forced to have Manassa Dormin's child. She is really such a strong character and strong in faith.

Also, there is Elif Michael (Karaoglu) the Turkish wife of Shepard Michael who worked for Manassa Dormin but finds faith and turns her life and family around. She too is large in meaning in the story.

Yet, I have to say that the most powerful figure in the story is the six year old child of Shepard and Elif, Jesse. She possesses the powers of her daddy and grandfather, but the heart of the child shines through so powerfully how she reaches out to the grandfather and finds the miniscule residue of humanity left in Manassa Dormin. She can bring tears to the reader's eyes and truly wins the day through the wisdom of a child.

My main hero of the novel has to be the character, Shepard Michael. Shepard is the son of Manassa Dormin who is the villain in the story. He is abused and used by his father to bring about the final destruction, but he remembers the principles that his mother, Sally Michael, taught him and resists his natural inclination for evil. I think we can all relate to him in that we have all had to resist doing wrong, and the wrong has often been an easier decision for us than the good. He is a really powerful figure in the story and very profound in his outlook.

FICTION - Is there a villain or something that causes friction in your story? Tell us about what or who it is and how that contributes to the story. Any details about conflict and friction is good information to know. - Manassa Dormin is really the focus of the story of Nimrod Rising. He is the 666^th generation from Nimrod some 4000 years earlier. Dormin is found at the door of a police station and his parent s are never found. He is adopted by an older couple and raised as a Christian. He believes himself to be a believer but is confronted with his fate as the antichrist. The transformation he endures and his struggle against accepting his calling is a profound adventure into the spiritual world of darkness. After he finally allows the force of darkness to invade him fully, he has no turning back and finally wrestles and wins control of the world. He is very human, but somehow very determined to destroy humanity. His character is vicious and brutal and smart. He is appealing and repelling at the same time, which is normal for the son of the devil. He is a very aggressive figure throughout the story.

For much more information about Nimrod Rising and Steven Clark Bradley, visit his tour page - http://www.inspiredauthor.com/promotion/steven-clark-bradley-author-nimrod-rising

My books are available at:

amazon.com
booksamillion.com
powells.com
bordersstores.com
barnesandnoble.com
copperfields.booksense.com

Cover of the Year - Asking for Your Vote

I just scanned the covers for Cover of the Year on Erin Aislinn's website and saw a lot of familiar covers - many were on my Judge A Book By its Cover blog last year :)

I invite you to visit http://www.erinaislinn.com/BookCoveroftheYear2007.htm and I hope that you will vote for Lady Lightkeeper which is one of my covers and it is listed as the winning cover for September.

If you prefer the easier route - feel free to email webmail@erinaislinn .com and put "VOTE for Lady Lightkeeper" in the subject line. I appreciate every vote :)

Nikki


Book Promo 101 - NOW AVAILABLE
www.nikkileigh. com/book_ promo_101. htm
"Coastal Suspense with a Touch of Romance"
Would you like information about the newest
blog tour option? Ask me for details and visit
www.inspiredauthor.com/promotion

Judgment Fire by Marilyn Meredith

Tell us the book title and your author name.

Judgment Fire

Marilyn Meredith

What inspired the book?

Judgment Fire is a Deputy Tempe Crabtree mystery. In this book Tempe comes to the realization as to why she has been so reluctant to embrace her heritage. In every novel she has learned more and more about being a Native American, but it has always been obvious that her ethnicity was not something she was particularly proud of.

What makes this book special to you?

Whenever I have a new book it is special to me. It's sort of like giving birth, each child is special. Being the mother of five, I can assure you that it is a similar experience.

What makes this a book that other people MUST read and WHY?

I don't know that it's a must, but for those readers who like mysteries and particular books with a touch of Native Americanism, Judgment Fire is for them. The why is because they'll enjoy reading about Tempe and her latest adventure.

What sparks your creativity?

Because I know Tempe and her family as well or better than my own, I'm always anxious to see what is going to happen to them next.

Any tips to help others spark their own creativity?

When looking for an idea I pay attention to what's on the news and small items in the newspaper and magazines. I also like to listen in on people's conversations in restaurants. (My husband hates when I do this, but I've gotten some dandy ideas this way.)

What has been the biggest stumbling block in your writing?

First it was rejections. I got nearly 30 for the first book that I felt had the potential to be published. (I'd written two others that never saw the light of day.) I rewrote and rewrote and rewrote until finally I received that wonderful acceptance letter.

The lovely woman who owned and ran the publishing company that published the first four books in the Deputy Tempe Crabtree series passed away unexpectedly. That was tough. I lost a good friend and supporter. I was fortunate to find Mundania Press willing to continue with me and the series.

Can you share some tips to help others get past similar problems? Don't give up. Life is full of stumbling blocks--just climb over them and keep on going.

What do you think motivates people to become authors?

Unfortunately, I'm afraid some people think being an author is easy and an easy way to make money. Not a good reason to be an author. Unless one is extremely fortunate, the money is not that good. And writing is not easy! You must do it every day in order to complete a book--and then it needs to be edited and re-edited.

What motivated you to get into this unusual industry?

I love to read and I've been writing since I was about 10. I can't imagine not writing.

Tell me about the most unusual things you have done to promote any books?

I always have a book launch somewhere--only once was it in a book store, I've had launches in an inn very much like the one in my books, a recreation center where I was joined by a belly dancer, on the porch of a coffee shop, my house, gift shop, and our town's Visitor's Center.

I thought having a virtual book tour was unusual but now everyone seems to be doing it--and I love it!

I also love giving talks about my books and writing anywhere they'll have me from libraries, writing conferences to women's and men's service groups.

FICTION - If there is a setting, tell us how you decided on that setting and what you did to create a complete and vivid setting for your readers?

The setting always needs to sound real whether you're making it up or you're using a real place. Always, the reader needs to know where the action is taking place--I like to think of my books as a movie I see in my head and then I try to write the book in such a way that the reader will see the same movie.

FICTION - What inspires you about the hero or heroine in your book?

Tempe Crabtree as a resident deputy must deal with the bad things that happen in her town. She also has to deal with the fact that she's a Native American and the only woman law enforcement officer in her area.

What makes them memorable for the reader? I hope the female readers will find things to identify with--such as the fact Tempe is also a mother and a wife and must balance all facets of her life. She's strong but also a very real person who has to deal with the day-to-day problems of life.

What motivates the hero and/or heroine?

Tempe is always looking for the truth--she never accepts the easy solution without making sure it's the right one.

Her pastor husband has some problems at times with Tempe's involvement with Native American spirituality.

FICTION - Is there a villain or something that causes friction in your story? Because I write mysteries there are always villains. In Judgment Fire there are an assortment of odd characters who are villainous. The husband who batters his wife--and the son who acts like he doesn't care about his mother are two.

Tempe also goes behind her husband's back to participate in a starlight ceremony, something she knows Hutch won't approve of.

Judgment Fire is an Eppie finalist in the mystery category.

http://fictionforyou.com

http://www.mundania.com

See what's new at: http://fictionforyou.com
Judgment Fire, Eppie Finalist
NEW BLOG at http://marilynmeredith.blogspot.com/

Genesis: The Untold Story

Genesis: The Untold Story

By: Dr. Lisa Aiken and Dr. Ira Michaels

Price: $24.95

ISBN: 0-9779629-1-1

Cloth Bound + Full Color Dust Jacket, 6x9,

265 pages, includes chapter summaries

Published by: Rossi Publications

What inspired the book?
Like many Jews, I read the Five Books of Moses when I was young. When I grew older, the stories about a talking snake in the Garden of Eden, Noah and the Flood, the Tower of Babel, and the like no longer made sense to me. By the time I was in graduate school, I realized that I had a grade school education in Judaism. I wanted to be as informed about Judaism as I was about psychology and other secular topics, so I tried to learn what I could from the small number of English Judaica books that existed then. There were no good books in English that reconciled reality with the stories in the Torah, and which explained how these stories spoke to us as modern people.

The stories in the book of Genesis seemed simplistic or enigmatic. Why does Genesis say that God created the world in 6 days, when science shows that it took billions of years? Can we believe Genesis' account of Creation in light of evolutionary theory? Was there ever a couple named Adam and Eve, from whom all people descended? How do thinking people understand a Garden of Eden with a tree of life, another tree of knowledge of good and evil, and a talking snake? How do we know if Abraham really existed? If he did, what kind of a world did he live in? Did anyone write about him besides the Jews? Most importantly, can a rational person really believe that a Divine Author wrote Genesis and the other Five Books of Moses?

Many people simply dismiss Biblical stories as outdated or ridiculous. I believed that there must be great beauty and wisdom in these stories, and I tried to uncover that by learning from teachers who had studied ancient commentaries and understood how to explain them.

I believe that if the Torah is the Owner's Manual for every Jew, it had to make sense and be relevant and accessible to people who were not scholars. Most Jews can't understand the original Torah, because it was written in ancient Hebrew, and in a kind of shorthand. Its Author did this so that we would have to interact with, and learn from spiritual mentors who had studied traditional commentaries who could explain what the Five Books of Moses really mean, and model how to live an ideal Jewish life. They would also guide the student how to practice authentic Judaism in their daily lives.

Judaism teaches that it is critical for us to understand the Five Books of Moses in order to develop our spirituality. I wanted to understand these books better and be able to share that knowledge with others.

Around 25 years ago, I started listening to audiotapes of lectures given by rabbis whom I had never met. They explained the Torah (Five Books of Moses) in such amazing ways that it made me want to learn more. Their explanations of Torah stories were so wise, insightful, and relevant that I wrote down their ideas so that I could share them with others.

In time, I convinced my husband to listen to these tapes as well. He was so excited by what he heard that he took over writing down the ideas instead of me.

Over the next 14 years, I reworked the original notes. My husband and I each added our own understanding and insights about the various topics brought to light in the Genesis stories, based on our research and knowledge of many fields. These included biology, physics, archaeology, history, psychology, political science, languages and modern life. The result was a book that integrated the wisdom of Genesis with contemporary knowledge. Every chapter also tells us how we can apply the moral and spiritual insights of each story to our daily lives.

What makes this book special to you?
I find it very exciting to solve problems, especially ones that touch our core being. That is why I love being a psychologist. The greatest possession we have is our soul, but most people don't know what we are supposed to do with it. How do we define a moral compass for ourselves? How do we actualize our potentials? How do we understand the world and our place in it? How do we construct an idea of a personal God and why He put us here?

The answers to these questions are embedded in the stories of Genesis. The Almighty gave the Jewish people the Torah, which means Teaching, so that they would have a roadmap to life. Showing people from various walks of life how this is so in Genesis—The Untold Story was a very special opportunity for me.

What makes this a book that other people MUST read and WHY?
Judaism teaches that the entire purpose of life is to have a relationship with our Creator, who loves us more than we can possibly imagine. People sometimes spend a lifetime searching for love, spirituality and meaning because they don't go to the Source. His Handbook, part of which is the book of Genesis, tells us how to get the most out of life. Instead of stumbling around for years, exploring other religions that take us nowhere, or trying to construct a way of life that is bound by human limitations and self-serving ideas, God made it easy for us to find our way. He gave us His Instruction Manual. Genesis—The Untold Story helps us unlock the treasures and divine information that is otherwise inaccessible to most people.

Who NEEDS to read this book and WHY?
Anyone who wants to find greater meaning in life, to understand why they are here, and make sense of the world, should read this book. The same is true for anyone who wants to understand what Genesis really says and means. Most people have misconceptions about what Genesis really says because:

a. The Five Books of Moses were written in ancient Hebrew, and most people who read Genesis don't read it in the original. If you think that Shakespeare in Chinese loses a bit in translation, this is even more the case with modern translations of the Hebrew Bible. They simply don't say what the original version meant.

b. People often learn the stories of Genesis from teachers who don't properly understand its ideas. They then teach them without a truthful historical and theological context. This includes many well-intentioned Hebrew school teachers as well as theology and university professors. The original Written Torah was given to the Jewish people along with oral explanations of the words, stories and laws. These have been passed down for the past 3,300 years to rabbis and learned Jewish teachers who studied these traditional commentaries, who then taught them to their students. Unfortunately, the majority of people today who teach the stories in Genesis are unfamiliar with these commentaries and have invented their own misguided understandings of these stories. Some of the most common misunderstandings and misrepresentations are addressed in my Genesis book.

If someone wants to know what the Almighty wants us to know, they need to read or learn from teachers who are familiar with our unique history and traditions. We have culled from these traditional commentaries and presented them in an easily readable, understandable way. We then integrate those ideas with our modern knowledge so that we can apply their messages to our lives.

What sparks your creativity? Any tips to help others spark their own creativity?
I am more an industrious than a creative person. I often see problems and challenges, then try to see the spiritual opportunities inherent in them. I wrote most of my books because I felt that no one else had adequately addressed important topics. For example, I wrote To Be A Jewish Woman after searching for answers to questions about feminism and Judaism. I didn't like any of the books that were then on the market. So, I researched and wrote my own book.

When Harold Kushner's book, When Bad Things Happen to Good People came out and was a bestseller, it pained me deeply that many Jews read it and thought that Kushner's ideas were those of traditional Judaism.

Many Reform Jewish leaders taught that Judaism doesn't believe in an afterlife, and that this life is all there is. With such bad advice, Jews were robbed of a way to make sense of their crises and losses, and their spiritual searching within Judaism was nipped in the bud.

Thousands of Jews went to the Far East seeking spirituality that they were sure was totally absent in Judaism. These Jews' teachers and religious leaders had failed them by hiding what Judaism says about the soul, its purpose here, and the spiritual purposefulness of everything that happens to us. After we die, our souls go to an afterlife, and other religions took their ideas about afterlife from us!

Traditional Judaism is a very spiritual religion, but few English books before 1990 explained that. Since no one else had written about the meaningful answers that traditional Judaism gives to help people cope with tragedy and loss, I decided to do so. That led to my writing Why Me, God?

Similarly, I wrote Guide for the Romantically Perplexed because no one had written a practical and relevant guide to finding and being a good Jewish marriage partner.

Another motivation for my writing is my getting inspired by someone's ideas, which I then write into books about areas that Jews struggle with. For example, I wrote The Art of Jewish Prayer and The Hidden Beauty of the Shema because I thought that disseminating Rabbi Yitzchok Kirzner's, zt"l, teachings about prayer could change people's lives. Hearing his ideas inspired me to pray in a meaningful way for the first time in my life. I felt that his writing his ideas would also inspire many others.

What has been the biggest stumbling block in your writing? Can you share some tips to help others get past similar problems?
I hate writing. There is a saying, "Every writer hates to write but loves having written." I don't think this is true of every writer, but I certainly believe that it applies to me. It is very hard for me to rewrite a manuscript for the 17^th time, as happened with one of my books, or to organize and concisely present my thoughts about open-ended topics like marriage.

I think that you need to be very self-disciplined to be a writer. You need to carve out a space for yourself where you have no interruptions or distractions for long periods of time every week. I have usually been able to do that. When my children were little, I gave up writing altogether for a few years.

When a day's writing feels like it will be overwhelmingly difficult, I think about how what I am writing can benefit people, and how it allows me to actualize my spiritual potential. The thought that my writing is fulfilling part of the purpose for which the Almighty put me here often keeps me going.

Some days I simply cut myself some slack, and try to rejuvenate myself emotionally. I'll try to clear my mind by exercising, going on the internet and reading interesting articles for an hour, taking time off to do some things that I love, or talking to friends. Otherwise, I will be able to force myself to sit down and write, but not necessarily with the emotional richness that the book needs.

On rare occasions, I am so burned out that I just give myself the day off to do something completely unrelated to writing. This usually happens after I reread my final edited manuscript over a couple of days. The next day, my head feels like it was put into a blender. One time this happened, I spent the rest of the day baking muffins!

What do you think motivates people to become authors? What motivated you to get into this unusual industry?
People write for many reasons. Some write to express themselves, or to work out emotional issues and feelings. Some write to feel understood and be validated, or to get admiration and recognition. Some write because they think that they have important information that needs to reach the public.

I became a writer because I felt that Jews needed to be informed about, and be inspired by the wonderful ideas inherent in traditional Judaism. I wanted to make authentic, vibrant, logical Judaism accessible and compelling to English speakers who didn't have a strong Jewish background.

Why are you the BEST person to write this book? What in your background or in your research makes you qualified to do justice to this topic?

People sometimes tell me that what they most appreciate about my books is the clarity I bring to the topics I write about. Genesis—The Untold Story is easy to read for this reason. Yet, it draws upon a wealth of information that we have gleaned from our broad backgrounds in both Torah knowledge and the secular world. Few other writers are as well-versed in the variety of fields that we integrate in this book with traditional Torah commentaries. For example, some writers are scientists, but not knowledgeable about history or archaeology. Some are Torah scholars, but can't address secular people's interests and ideas. Some people make broad statements about the values of the secular world, but have no research data to back up what they say. Our combining traditional Torah commentaries and secular knowledge, and explaining both in ways that are clear and relevant to our modern day lives, is quite unique.

If a potential reader thinks that your book wouldn't interest them, what would you say to convince them to buy? I'm thinking something better than "Its the greatest book ever." Give me something more specific :)

Some people think that they have read Genesis and understand its stories. Other people think that Genesis has nothing to say to them, and is irrelevant to living in the real world in the 21^st century. I would challenge them to revisit what they think they know already and see if my book simply rehashes old ideas or confirms their belief that Genesis is irrelevant to modern people. I would ask them to read a sample chapter or two, then ask if they found the material stimulating, interesting and/or informative.

Why does the topic of your book interest you? Why would it interest potential readers? Give us a hook to reel in new readers.

What topic could be more interesting and vital than how to get the most out of life? The way that Genesis—The Untold Story explains the stories in our "soul's owner's manual," it touches on about all of the big issues in life. The world's creation and existence, the psychology of people, how to find meaning in challenges and tragedy, how societies rise and decline, how to have a lasting and fulfilling marriage, how science can help fill us with awe of the Creator…every page is filled with insights about how we can view the most mundane aspects of our lives from a fresh and vital perspective.

Is there a way to tie your book topic to current events? If so, tell us about how you could do that. I have a blog to feature information and examples about tying books into current events that might be a good place for you to promote your book.

Yes. For example, Ben Stein just put together a film called Expelled, that is supposed to be released in February, 2008. It deals with a topic that we discuss in the book--the intellectual dishonesty of scientists who are faced with data that disprove their atheistic theories and point to a Creator. Many scientists can't accept the moral implications of a created world, so they concoct ridiculous explanations of scientific phenomena, then promulgate them as if they were truth.