Indie Author Interview: Joyce Shaughnessy

Author Interview with Joyce Shaughnessy - Author of the Romantic Historical Fiction The Unsurrendered.

Joyce Shaughnessy lives in Midland, Texas with her husband, Dennis.
They have two married daughters and four beautiful granddaughters, ages 4 through 16. They own a large collection of WWII books, and Joyce used many as a reference, even adding to them during the research of her books.
She has recently become a writer of short stories which will be published in anthologies and a novella.

Interview with Joyce Shaughnessy

Author Joyce Shaughnessy

Alan Kealey (Indie Author News): What is your (writing) background?
Joyce Shaughnessy: I have written and published three historical fiction novels in a series. The third is The Unsurrendered, which came out in February, 2013. The first two are A Healing Place, published in 2010 and Blessed Are the Merciful in 2011. I have since written three short stories which will be published later this year in anthologies. They were a complete release for me because they required no research. One is horror and the other two are humorous. I have also participated in a Round Robin YA time travel book, just published, Some Day, Some Time, Some Where. It’s difficult giving up complete control of the finished piece, but I love writing, so how could I say no to the opportunity?

Who are your favorite writers, your favorite books, and who or what are your writing influences?
Without question, my favorite writer is Nelson DeMille. He combines mystery with compassion and humor. A close second is Herman Wouk. I love Up Country by DeMille and Wouk’s War and Remembrance. I think Wouk and DeMille have both influenced my writing. I admire Wouk for his determination to portray historical facts with interest and empathy through fictional characters. DeMille is obviously determined, no matter what, to portray his characters with compassion. I hope he writes to an old age. I would hate to think that I couldn’t read another new book of his. I think that the reader can see whether the writer is dedicated to and loves his/her craft. I confess to loving James Patterson for pure escape, although I haven’t read anything in the last year except for research or for my blog. When I have a breather, I intend to sit down and read Up Country for the fourth time.

"Once I had published my first book, I knew I was hooked and would never stop trying."

When did you first know that you wanted to be a writer?
I know that I’ve wanted to write for years, but I never had the confidence in myself to try it. Once I had published my first book, I knew I was hooked and would never stop trying. I like to think I grow after each writing project. I heard an interview with Herman Wouk who is in his late eighties and is still writing and publishing. I hope to be doing the same.

Tell us about your writing process. Do you have a writing routine?

New Indie Book Release: Identity Theft (John Abramowitz)

New Indie Book Release:
Identity Theft (Hunter Gamble) - John Abramowitz -
Urban Fantasy Legal Thriller (April 2013 - 187 pages)

- "Identity Theft is a carefully plotted story with both snappy dialogue between characters and interesting interior monologues from the main character(who, by the way, has a great, self-deprecating sense of humor). Combining interests in the arcane and the law, the author has written a story with punch and surprises that will keep readers pushing the arrow forward to read the next page. It is a fun, exciting tale, and I highly recommend it." - Reader Review


About the Book

Click to Read an Excerpt

A man walks into the Texas Capitol. Shots ring out. A young aide lies dead. The killer's excuse? He was under a spell.

Sounds like a job for Hunter Gamble, right?

Wrong. After his disastrous "victory" in the trial of Samuel Pollard, Hunter has turned his back on defending oppressed vampires, mages, and zombies. Having accepted a position at his father's giant litigation firm, he's trying the glamorous cases, working in a corner office, and making a six-figure salary--and hating every minute of it.

As Hunter plots his exit strategy, he finds himself inexorably drawn to the case of the Capitol shooter, who is an old friend from law school. As he works to clear his friend, Hunter discovers that there is much more at stake in this case than whether one man was under a spell. Before long, he finds himself pulled into a magical conspiracy dating back to before the Unveiling--and with a singularly cold-blooded wizard at its heart.

The clock is ticking. The search for answers is on. And the author of Atticus for the Undead invites you to come along for the thrill ride--and get the magic back.

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Link to the eBook Identity Theft on Amazon with Excerpt

Featured Indie Book: Why Leadership Sucks (Miles Anthony Smith)

Featured Indie Book on Indie Author News: Non-Fiction (Leadership and Small Business Management) Why Leadership Sucks: Fundamentals of Level 5 Leadership and Servant Leadership by Miles Anthony Smith.

"Miles uses the first person throughout to personalize the account, which is based upon not only his perspective, but his successful experiences as such a leader. As he explains, a leader role is less forgiving, with organizational leaders held to a much higher standard and less able to recover from mistakes. While Miles' book isn't the only guide available, it is the most succinct, hard-hitting survey on the market, linking personal ideals and ethics to business and spiritual pursuits alike." - Diane Donovan, Midwest Book Review

The Book has been self-published via Amazon, B&N and others and is available as eBook and Paperback - 206 pages - released in October 2012.

About the Book

Do you wish you were in leadership? Or are you frustrated with being in leadership?

Why does leadership suck?

It sucks because real leadership is hard and requires selfless service. It sucks because the buck stops here, meaning it is ultimately the leader’s responsibility to deal with all of the crap. It requires less effort to “lead” in the harsh, dictatorial, selfish way that is so prevalent today instead of balancing our hard and soft nature. The alternative is servant leadership or Level 5 leadership. This kind of leadership is uncomfortable, humbling, self-denying, painful, and counter-intuitive; nonetheless, it is the only kind of leadership that brings lasting results, genuine happiness, and true self-fulfillment.

So, why should you read the book "Why Leadership Sucks"?

1. To help you understand why you are frustrated.
2. To challenge what you have learned about leadership.
3. To give you practical action steps to practice on your leadership journey.

You are invited to join the Author on your leadership journey together.

Click to Read an Excerpt

Featured Indie Book: The Unsurrendered (Joyce Shaughnessy)

Featured Indie Book on Indie Author News: Romantic Historical Fiction The Unsurrendered by Joyce Shaughnessy.

"In this historical novel, the fictional love story between Jacob and Carla is a fine tale, especially when they adopt a young man whose village has been burned and the inhabitants murdered by the Japanese. But it is the historical setting and details that made me literally gasp on more than one occasion. I thought I knew something about WWII, but I was wrong. I knew nothing about the Unsurrendered soldiers and fighting bands of guerillas in the Philippines. Everyone should read this book. Thank you, Joyce Shaughnessy, for opening my eyes to this dark period in American/Filipino/Japanese history. "- Reader Review

The Book has been self-published via Xlibris and is available as eBook, Paperback and Hardcover - 388 pages - released in February 2013.

About the Book

American forces are unprepared for war when Japan attacks both Pearl Harbor and the Philippines in December 1941. A spontaneous resistance movement springs up throughout the islands among Filipino civilians of all ages and sexes, and among the American and Filipino soldiers who remain unsurrendered or who escape imprisonment after the falls of Bataan and Corregidor. American military intelligence agent Jacob Martin and Carla Santos, his Filipina wife, join the Unsurrendered partisan group as it slowly assumes control over more of the existing rival guerilla units on Mindanao and trains them to fight behind Japanese lines. Their group grows even larger with thousands of patriotic male and female Filipinos, many of whom are enraged by Japanese atrocities. Read and meet many historical characters as Jacob and Carla fight to save their country from being occupied and complete destruction.

The author, through intense research, manages to bring many colorful historical characters to life throughout the book with their interaction with Carla and Jacob. The author manages to bring to life part of WWII which has only been mentioned but not publicly expanded upon. There were over 260,000 Filipino-American partisans who fought behind Japanese lines, and along with the aid of such patriots as General Douglas MacArthur, Lt. Commander Chick Parsons, Colonel Wendell Fertig, Captain Ray Hunt, and Dr. Emigdio Cruz, helped to bring the Allies to victory. These patriots struggled and won against tremendous odds, and it is their patriotism and spirit that the author manages to convey through The Unsurrendered.

Click to Read an Excerpt

Featured Indie Book: Truth's Blood (Tyler Roberts)

Featured Indie Book on Indie Author News: Dystopian Action/Adventure Truth's Blood by Tyler Roberts.

"I’m a great fan of history and enjoy the lessons it can teach, though I’m perpetually confounded by the inability of mankind to learn from and apply histories lessons. Ultimately this is what led to the idea for the book. I took the lessons history teaches and applied them to the present day United States to write a fictional story about what could happen to the U.S. in the near future. "- The Author

The Book has been published via iUniverse and is available as eBook and Paperback - 481 pages - released in December 2012.

About the Book

In the waning years of the American Empire the governments reckless spending has brought the nation to its knees and the United States can no longer pay its debts. China has come seeking payment in real assets and they mean business. Select cities have been nuked, power has been cut and chaos reigns. Burned out houses occupy neighborhoods like rotting teeth in the mouth of crack addict.

Cliffson Lang is called away to help his eldest son who is attempting to escape the fires and mobs overrunning Seattle. While away from home his other son is kidnapped and placed in a work camp.

Truth’s Blood is the Lang family’s story of survival as the United States experiences the disintegration of society and foreign occupation.

Click to Read an Excerpt

Featured Indie Book: Leave of Absence (Tanya J. Peterson)

Featured Indie Book on Indie Author News: Contemporary Literary Fiction Leave of Absence by Tanya J. Peterson.

"I wrote Leave of Absence with a purpose. I’m bothered by the negative stereotypes and stigma that exist toward those who experience mental illness, so I created a novel that challenges those misperceptions. Leave of Absence humanizes the vague concept of “mental illness.” This is very much a character-driven story, and as readers connect with the characters, they will empathize with them and their struggles."- The Author

The Book has been published via Inkwater Press and is available as eBook and Paperback - 327 pages - released in April 2013.

About the Book

Leave of Absence is a story of loss and a story of strength.

Oliver Graham is utterly bereft and laden with guilt in the aftermath of the traumatic deaths of his wife and son. He struggles with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, depression, and complicated mourning. Penelope Baker wrestles with Schizophrenia and the devastating impact it has had on her once happy and successful life.

Believing she is no longer loveable, she thinks the only thing she has left to give to her fiancée William is his freedom. Oliver and Penelope form a deep friendship that might be the key to their recovery.

Readers join them on their tumultuous journey through pain, struggle, and triumphs.

Click to Read an Excerpt

Featured Indie Book: Split Blood - The Ancient Codex (Louise Herman)

Featured Indie Book on Indie Author News: YA Urban Fantasy/Romance Split Blood - The Ancient Codex by Louise Herman.

Split Blood: The Ancient Codex is a Young Adult Urban Fantasy Romance novel and documents the trials and tribulations witch, Faith goes through as she battles with her new life of magic, forbidden love and testing friendships.

The Book has been published via Amazon and is available as eBook and Paperback - 333 pages - released in December 2012.

About the Book

When Faith’s mother starts organising the second stage of her arranged marriage to wizard, Damien, Faith knew she needed to escape, so she used her school as a place to retreat.

Throughout her after school duties, she meets the intense, alluring Rohan, who changes her life forever.

With his ice cold skin, transfixing eyes and enchanting voice, Rohan took hold of Faith’s heart and soul as soon as they looked at each other.

She knew it was wrong.

They were from two different circles and if the Elder’s found out, the consequences would be catastrophic for all involved, but the more time they spent together, the stronger they’re love grew, until one day someone sees them...

Will their love be strong enough to combat their conflicting mythical needs? And what will they do when Faith is dealt a life threatening blow that forces her to make a heartbreaking decision?

Click to Read an Excerpt

New Indie Book Release: Black Adagio (Wendy Potocki)

New Indie Book Release:
Black Adagio - Wendy Potocki -
Horror / Occult (April 2013 - 488 pages)

- "As a fan of Wendy Potocki, I was excited to discover her latest novel, Black Adagio. I'm happy to report that once again the lady, who've I've dubbed the Mistress of Mayhem, does not disappoint! [...] Guess you'll just have to buy the book to find out what I was going to say, which I recommend you do. You won't be disappointed! " - Reader Review


About the Book

Click to Read an Excerpt

Melissa Solange is presented the chance of a lifetime. Chosen as a member of a new dance company, she works tirelessly perfecting the one element of ballet she's never mastered—the adagio. As she rehearses, a dark force watches. Resurrected by the surprise addition of a classic ballet to the repertoire, the sinister work is thought to be cursed—destroying anyone who attempts to dance it.

When the production's lead dancers begin to disappear, the old warning is taken more seriously. A death worshipping cult called The Innocents is blamed, but she is not so sure. They may be the scapegoat for an ultimate evil living in the woods of Holybrook.

Desperate for an answer, she searches for what lurks in the shadows of the old trees before she becomes the next victim of the Danse Macabre.

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Link to the eBook Black Adagio on Amazon with Excerpt

About the Author

Author Wendy Potocki

Wendy Potocki lives and writes in NYC. If that isn't scary enough, she writes in the genre of horror. She feels creating good horror is an art form. She religiously devotes herself to pursuing it over hill and dale -- and in the crevices of her keyboard.

Named one of the Top Ten "New" Horror Authors of 2012 by Horror Novel Reviews, she has six self-published novels: The White Lady Murders, The Horns of September, The Man with the Blue Hat, Adduné: Part I. The Vampire's Game, Adduné: Part II. The House of Cards, and Black Adagio. Book trailers for many of her works may be found on her official website http://www.wendypotocki.com/. Her next planned projects are Thrill, The Witch's Stone, The Virgin, and ZaSo, a Gothic tale of horror.

In her spare time, she loves to go for long walks, drink Starbuck's Apple Chai Lattes, make devotional offerings to her cat named Persephone and be stilled by the grace, beauty and magic of ballet.

Connect with Wendy Potocki via Twitter: @WPotocki
and the Author's Website.

Indie Author Interview: Catana Tully

Author Interview with Catana Tully - Author of the Memoir Split at the Root: A Memoir of Love and Lost Identity.

Author Catana Tully

Dr. Catana Tully grew up trilingual (German, Spanish, English) in Guatemala where she attended elementary and middle school. In tenth grade she entered a boarding school in Jamaica, WI and received her Advanced Level Higher Schools Certificate from Cambridge University, England. Expecting to become an international interpreter, she continued her studies at the Sprachen und Dolmetscher Institut in Munich, Germany.
However, she was called to work in a play and discovered her affinity for the dramatic arts. She became the actress and fashion model Catana Cayetano and appeared in Film and TV work in Germany, Austria, and Italy. In Munich she met and married the American actor Frederick V. Tully ultimately moved to the United States. They have a son, Patrick. In Upstate New York, she completed the BA in Cultural Studies, an MA in Latin American and Caribbean Literature, and a DA (doctor of Arts) in Humanistic Studies.
She held the position of tenured Associate Professor at SUNY Empire State College from which she retired in 2003, returning in 2005 for part time work in ESC’s Center for International Programs, where she served as Mentor and instructor in the Lebanon program, and as Interim Program Director for the Dominican Republic. In 2011 she retired completely to dedicate herself to publishing Split at the Root. She is currently preparing an academic version discussing the psychological issues imbedded in the memoir.

Interview with Catana Tully

Alan Kealey (Indie Author News): What is your (writing) background?
Catana Tully: I have been writing for quite a long time, but only in the past twenty years can I say that I started to craft a story.
Who are your favorite writers, your favorite books, and who or what are your writing influences?
Thomas Mann, Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Isabel Allende, Maya Angelou, Toni Morrison, Maryse Condé, lately, Orhan Pamuk. I made a point to visit Istanbul after reading his books. Writing influences… I’d say Isabel Allende and Maryse Condé. To me, their descriptive quality is mesmerizing in it’s brevity.

When did you first know that you wanted to be a writer?
When I had a solid story I wanted to tell.

Tell us about your writing process. Do you have a writing routine?

Featured Indie Book: An Abduction Revelation (Thomas L. Hay)

Featured Indie Book on Indie Author News: Memoir / Science-Fiction An Abduction Revelation: The Comeback Kid Returns by Thomas L. Hay.

An Abduction Revelation: The Comeback Kid Returns is a intriguing and entertaining adventure inspired by some true life experiences of the Author. It is a journey beyond the border of reality, spiked with mystery, with a dash of romance, and a cup of imagination.

The Book has been published via Balboa Press and is available as eBook and Paperback - 175 pages - released in October 2012.

About the Book

Who are the abductors? Where do they come from? Where are they hiding? Do they even exist?

An Abduction Revelation: The Comeback Kid Returns is a revised story about the author discovering a revelation that had been buried in his subconscious during his entire life.
What really happened that evening in 1960, when the Kid lost control of his car and crashed? Was he abducted, or was it just a freak accident? What occurred a few years later when his ex-wife told him they were abducted by aliens, not once, but twice.

The Kid's ex-wife would claim the truth was revealed to her after their divorce. Her spirit persuaded her to become a vegetarian, fast and abstain from sexual activities. This melted the memory blocks instilled by the aliens during the abductions, and exposed traumatic experiences that were buried deep within her subconscious.

After writing his original memoirs, the Kid suspected he could have similar mysterious phenomenon buried within his subconscious. He became tormented to investigate the probability, so he adopted her ascetic lifestyle.

O-M-G. He had to rewrite his memoirs. Melting the abductor’s memory blocks exposed many revelations. The abductors were not who his ex-wife had believed. Who they were, where they came from, and where they were hiding was revealed. What they sought and what the Kid discovered about himself will startle your imagination.

Click to Read an Excerpt

Indie Author Interview: CJ Johnson

Author Interview with CJ Johnson - Author of the Self-Help / Poetry / Women's Fiction Woman Steps In Poetry and Prose.

CJ Johnson writes poetry and fiction for women to laugh, heal, and feel empowered. She enjoys writing about themes that touch upon feminism, class, and race relations. Her fiction writing always pits bad girls against belles, and enjoys letting readers discover who comes out on top. Her written poetry works to explore the emotions of women, in particular. Using each word to carry weight and convey imagery for self-expression and self-discovery. Her non-fiction writing aims to always educate in the areas of personal development and health & fitness. She is a certified health nut and former high school English teacher.

Interview with CJ Johnson

Author CJ Johnson

Alan Kealey (Indie Author News): What is your (writing) background?
CJ Johnson: My writing background is as a freelance copywriter. I have been a copywriter since early 2011. It is around that time that I started writing creatively again. In my teens and early twenties I wrote poetry like a mad woman, but abandoned it because I bought into the hype that creative writing was too self-indulgent. I had no one in my life to support my writing endeavors. Sadly, I didn’t pick up the pen again for nearly a decade.

Who are your favorite writers, your favorite books, and who or what are your writing influences?
My favorite poets are Gwendolyn Brooks, Rita Dove, and June Jordan, and as of late, Emily Dickinson (cliché I know). For fiction, my all time favorite author is Anne Rice, followed by Jackie Collins (who doesn’t love a sky high glam read), John Grisham, Zora Neale Hurston and Toni Morrison.
My favorite books are; The Feast of All Saints by Anne Rice, She’s Come Undone, by Wally Lamb, The Best of Simple, by Langston Hughes, Lady Boss, by Jackie Collins, and The Bluest Eye, by Toni Morrison.

"I said 'enough is enough, I can write' [...]"

Tell us about your writing process. Do you have a writing routine?

New Indie Book Release: Knightfall (R Jackson-Lawrence)

New Indie Book Release:
Knightfall (The Chronicle of Benjamin Knight) - Robert Jackson-Lawrence -
YA Fantasy / Adventure (April 2013 - 306 pages)

- "Knightfall has been described as 'Lord of the Rings for the Call of Duty generation'. The Book is an amazing fantasy adventure story without the magic or vampires or elves or fairies and will appeal to fans of Anthony Horowitz, Suzanne Collins, Michael Grant, Garth Nix."


About the Book

Click to Read an Excerpt

When his world changing experiment is sabotaged, fifteen year old genius Benjamin Knight is cast into another world where an uneasy peace hangs in the balance. Saved from near death by a band of traders, he joins the Road Trains on their journey north as he struggles to understand what's happened to him.

However, Ben soon realises that everyone has their secrets and that no one is safe, especially when one man has the power to realise his ambitions.

Friends are lost, plots revealed and battles fought as the unlikely companions seek to prevent war.

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Link to the eBook Knightfall on Amazon with Excerpt

New Indie Book Release: Leave of Absence (Tanya J. Peterson)

New Indie Book Release:
Leave of Absence - Tanya J. Peterson -
Contemporary Fiction / Literary Fiction (April 2013 - 327 pages)

- "[...] What a valuable tool for teachers, students, and families! LEAVE OF ABSENCE is a well researched and constructed novel that depicts how mental illness impacts a human life and those surrounding them. Tanya Peterson has created characters who are authentic and provide the reader with a deeper empathetic understanding of the roots of mental illness. You will be touched and perhaps even shed a tear." - Reader Review

About the Book

Click to Read an Excerpt

Leave of Absence is a story of loss and a story of strength.

Oliver Graham is utterly bereft and laden with guilt in the aftermath of the traumatic deaths of his wife and son. He struggles with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, depression, and complicated mourning. Penelope Baker wrestles with Schizophrenia and the devastating impact it has had on her once happy and successful life.

Believing she is no longer loveable, she thinks the only thing she has left to give to her fiancée William is his freedom. Oliver and Penelope form a deep friendship that might be the key to their recovery.

Readers join them on their tumultuous journey through pain, struggle, and triumphs.

---

Link to the eBook Leave of Absence on Amazon with Excerpt

New Indie Book Release: Deliverance (Jennie Marsland)

New Indie Book Release:
Deliverance - Jennie Marsland -
Historical Romance (April 2013 - 273 pages)

Deliverance is a historical romance set in Canada in 1917. It’s a sequel to the Author's 2011 release, Shattered. The hero is a returned WW1 veteran who has gone AWOL to avoid being sent back overseas, and the heroine is a returned Red Cross nurse.

About the Book

Click to Read to Excerpt

Autumn 1917

Carl O’Neill is on the run from the Army and himself. Returned from Europe on recuperative leave, he’d rather die than go back to the trenches. He assumes a dead man’s name and leaves his home and family behind him, only to be dumped off the train in the small prairie town of Mackenzie, Saskatchewan. Seriously ill and stranded, Carl has no choice but to confront the demons that drive him – and his growing feelings for the former Red Cross nurse who saves his life.

Naomi Franklin is no stranger to secrets and personal demons. Struggling with the trauma of rape and her experiences in a front-line field hospital, Naomi can’t bear to close the eyes of another young man whose life has ended far too soon. She’ll nurse the stranger who lands on her father’s doorstep and then send him on his way. But looking into Carl’s blue eyes makes her feel like a woman again, while the all-too-familiar shadows behind them touch her heart. When both their lives come crashing down around them, can Carl and Naomi overcome secrets and lies to find each other again?

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Link to the eBook Deliverance on Amazon with Excerpt

Featured Indie Book: Tears of Sand (Sandra Bass Joines)

Featured Indie Book on Indie Author News: Romantic Suspense Tears of Sand by Sandra Bass Joines.

Tears of Sand draws in readers with dynamic character development and settings so real that one can easily visualize the feel of sand between their toes and the primal smell of the salt air. Constant twists and unexpected developments keep the reader in suspense until the very end. During the course of the gripping and intriguing story, the author has a keen talent for using humor to soften the intensity of heart-wrenching tragedy. The author also addresses a complex subject regarding the storage of sperm and eggs by fertility clinics. What dark secrets lie within these clinics? What happens to unused sperm and eggs? Would a clinic stoop so low as to sell them without the owner’s permission? Could they be stolen?

The Book has been published via CreateSpace and is available as eBook and Paperback - 222 pages - released in October 2012.

About the Book

Estranged from her father and left with the task of taking care of her alcoholic, sex-addicted mother, Hope, Plata Hartman’s life has been conflicted and confusing, robbing her of a normal childhood and leaving her unsure of where she fits in.

Hope’s stand-in father, Bones, and his partner, Dee, disappear days at a time on secret missions, but his most important mission in life is to honor his best friend’s last request– to protect his daughter, Hope.

It takes a murder to convince Hope to face her demons and to send Plata on a quest to find her place in a small village on the Northwest coast of Florida. After marrying Jeremy Hartman, Plata is happy and content until a heart-wrenching tragedy strikes, causing her to realize that the course of one’s life can change in a split second – as fast as a bolt of lightning. In her search to come to terms with this devastating event, life-altering secrets unfold, and Plata finds herself returning to her past on a dangerous, spine-chilling journey to rescue, perhaps kidnap, a child.

Click to Read an Excerpt