Author Archives: Tiffany Turner

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About Tiffany Turner

I am a teacher by day, writer during the evening and weekends. I've written a children's fantasy series called the Crystal Keeper Chronicles. I've learned a lot as an Independent author. I want to share that now through blog posts, interviewing fellow authors, and reviewing other children's books. If you don't see it out there, build the blog yourself. I'm hoping to create a resource for people to find quality children's books that don't always fall along the lines of mainstream.
Sep12

2018 Back to School Blog Tour Day 3

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back2schoolbanner2018Welcome to day three of the Back to School Blog Tour. I’m proud to have our next author with us. Janet Hurst-Nicholson lives in South Africa and has been writing for 35 years. Her articles and stories have appeared in South African and other foreign magazines. Her Leon Chameleon PI children mystery series has won awards including the 2013 Kart Kids Book Award. I’ve had the chance to talk with Janet about her childhood memories, writing process, and her future projects.

  • Who was your favorite children’s author and how did they influence you?
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Janet Hurst-Nicholson is the author of the Leon Chameleon PI series.

Janet Hurst-Nicholson: My first recollection of reading a book was a Christmas gift of The Tale of Mrs Tiggy-Winkle by Beatrix Potter given to me by a neighbour (a teacher). The hardcover book with its dust jacket was especially treasured as we had a visiting hedgehog in our garden.   Having read about Mrs Tiggy-Winkle I wanted more of the same and my collection of Beatrix Potter books slowly grew. I expect that these anthropomorphised animals were an unconscious inspiration for my Leon Chameleon PI books.

  • What is your most memorable school moment?

Janet Hurst-Nicholson: Although I have some lovely memories of school the overriding ones are of primary school (5-7 yrs) and my dread of school dinners and being forced to drink luke-warm milk, which made me nauseous. These horrors only came to an end when my mother wrote a note excusing me from both. But I do remember getting a gold star for being the only one in class who knew that the word for animals that come out at night is nocturnal (I had just been on a visit to the zoo lol). I incorporated this bit of info into my Leon Chameleon stories when Leon discusses the animals that work night shift.

  • Was there anything in school that was difficult for you?

Janet Hurst-Nicholson: Mental arithmetic tests spring to mind! I guess I’m numerically challenged as I much prefer words to numbers. My struggles with left-handedness – tying shoelaces, threading a belt, knitting, sewing, using scissors, pencil sharpeners, can openers, certain sports (but oddly, never writing) – followed me throughout my school life. When I discovered that even today parents and teachers don’t have a full understanding of the problems experienced by left-handers I wrote The Race (an inspiring story for left-handers) especially for left-handed children and to help parents and teachers appreciate the difficulties faced by left-handers.

4)   What advice would you give young writers?

Janet Hurst-Nicholson: Get into the habit of reading a variety of stories/genres. Keep a diary or notebook to jot down your experiences and feelings. These will be useful references for your future writing. Don’t be over-eager to share your writing until you feel confident that you won’t be discouraged by criticism, which can be devastating for a new writer. For new writers of any age I would advise:

  • learn your craft (if you can master ‘show’ don’t ‘tell’ then you’ve made a good start)
  • be prepared to take advice
  • edit and re-edit, and be ready to ‘murder your darlings
  • don’t publish until you are quite sure the book is the best you can make it
  • persevere
  • develop a thick skin in preparation for rejections and poor reviews.

5) What was your favorite book growing up and why?

Janet Hurst-Nicholson: I couldn’t get enough of the Enid Blyton Famous Five and Secret Seven series. I identified with Georgina (George) the tomboy. In the 1950s girls were expected to wear pretty dresses and play with dolls – and that wasn’t me. My friends and I had our own ‘gang’ and enjoyed playing in the woods and stream at the bottom of our lane and looking for ‘crimes’ and adventures to emulate our heroes in the books.

6)   What is your typical day as a writer?

Janet Hurst-Nicholson: I wrote about this on my website in ‘diary of a writer’. https://just4kix.jimdo.com/diary-a-writer-s-day/

7)   What projects are you working on right now?

Janet Hurst-Nicholson: Trying to figure out ways of getting funding to illustrate the rest of my Leon Chameleon PI stories lol.

leonchameleoncvrThe first book, Leon Chameleon PI and the Case of the Missing Canary Eggs, is free for a limited time during this blog tour. Winner of 1993 Bookchat’s Magazine’s South African Books of the Year.

“When Mrs Canary’s eggs mysteriously disappear, a frantic Mr Canary dashes straight off to the Pigeon Valley Police for help. Unfortunately, Sergeant Loerie and Constable Mole’s hasty attempts to make an arrest lead them to the wrong suspects. Leon Chameleon PI, who has quietly kept an eye on developments, decides it is time to step in and offer his services – after all, isn’t he the best Private Eye in Pigeon Valley? He puts all his skills to work and finds vital clues which Loerie had overlooked. Now a daring plan is needed to trap the suspects and bring them before Spotted Eagle Owl’s Court, where Leon springs his final surprise…”

Link here for study questions to go along with the book, Leon Chameleon P.I. and the Case of the Missing Canary Eggs.

For more information on Janet Hurst-Nicholson and her books, please visit her website at: https://just4kix.jimdo.com/.

Our second author for today is Laramie Sasseville. Laramie is a multiple-media artist and writer residing in the Twin Cities area of Minnesota. I had a chance to talk to Laramie about writing for children, some of her childhood school memories, and what she has in the works next.

1)   Was there anything in school that was difficult for you?

Laramie Sasseville: Nope, I was perfect at everything. Ha ha ha ha ha: cue hysterical laughter. Seriously, there were a few areas that caused problems – mostly because I just wasn’t interested in trying. In third grade, they introduced us to flutophones. I didn’t want to bother. I folded up a wad of paper and stuck it in the mouthpiece of the instrument and just pretended to play along with the rest of the class.

In ninth grade I had no interest in math – until an exceptional teacher, Miss Martin, sat down with me and got me to see how interesting it could be to play with the relationships between numbers. I went from nearly failing to getting As and Bs in the class. A great teacher makes all the difference – and engaging my interest is the main ingredient if I’m going to learn anything.

2)   What is writing to you in one sentence?

Laramie Sasseville: Writing is the magic that turns insubstantial thoughts, feelings and daydreams into something I can share with others.

3)   What projects are you working on right now?

Laramie Sasseville: I’ve got several projects in the work – including another in the Minnesota Strange series. Haley’s little sister, Tammy gets hold of the magic sigil that Sally created and winds up with the ability to speak and understand the language of birds!

I’m also working on drawings of flowers for a coloring book that combines realistic flowers with fanciful doodles.

4)   What advice would you give young writers?

Laramie Sasseville: Read. Notice what the writer is doing. Especially what you like. Does the world of the story feel real to you? What is the writer telling you about what how it looks? Sounds? Feels? Smells? Do you like the characters? What do you like about them? Are you dying to know what happens next? What does the writer tell you about events that piques your interest and curiosity?

Next: Write. Every day if possible, no matter how little.

5) What was your favorite book growing up and why?

Laramie Sasseville: It seemed like every book was my favorite while I was reading. If I loved one book by a writer, I’d try to read them all. I relied on my school library and couldn’t always find what I wanted, but I read many by Edward Eager, E. Nesbitt, CS Lewis – all the books of magic I could find, including folk lore and fairy tales. I read ‘the Blue Fairy Book’ and ‘the Red Fairy Book’ by Andrew Lang. (It wasn’t until I was grown up that I discovered there were ten more colors!) I also loved books about animals and read everything I could find by Jack Kjelgard and Walter Farley’s books about horses – starting with ‘The Black Stallion.’

OneofMe-blue-smLaramie Sasseville‘s featured book, One of Me is Missing, is the story of a girl getting her wish. To fourteen-year-old Sally Knox, the world is a buffet of fascinating things to do and learn. She wants it all: martial arts, theater, sculpture, cooking, robotics, music, computer science – you name it!

So, what happens when she gets her wish to be in enough places at once to take all the summer school classes she wants? Complications are just the beginning – before the end, one of her goes missing and the rest must come to the rescue or be trapped forever in their multitudinous state.

One of Me is Missing is available on Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble, and Kobo.

**For more information on Laramie Sasseville, please visit her website: http://www.dreamspell.net.

Just two more days to go in the blog tour. Remember to check out the GIVEAWAYS and Freebies available until the end of the week.

***Please be sure to continue your tour by visiting the author’s websites and checking out their fabulous books!

Lost Secret - High Resolution (1)Check back for more author interviews and their featured books tomorrow. And for more information about my new release, The Lost Secret of Time: Bk 4 in the Crystal Keeper Chronicles, please check out its listing on Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble, and Kobo.

-Tiffany Turner

 

Sep11

2018 Back To School Blog Tour Day 2

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Back2SchoolBanner2Welcome to the second day of the Back to School Blog Tour. Before we get to the featured author interviews, I wanted to repost the giveaways and the book discounts to give everyone plenty of time to take advantage of these great deals. Enter the giveaways daily. The free deals are available through the blog tour and will go until the end of the week. Pick them up now and enjoy filling up your reading list for Back to School.

Plus, I want to take a moment to acknowledge our heroes and heroines that were lost during Sept. 11, 2001. It’s a day that must be remembered in American History. All were Patriots whether they were on one of the fated planes or trapped in the Two Towers or Pentagon Building. May their memories be always honored today!

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And now, our first author for the day. May I introduce you to Melody J. Bremen. She has written several novels for middle grade readers and a YA Fantasy novel. She lives in New Jersey with her family and her faithful computer named Oswald.

I was able to chat with Melody about her school memories, writing routines, and her successes at being an author.

melodybremenbiopic1) Who was your favorite children’s author and how did they influence you?

Melody Bremen: One of my favorite middle grade authors until this day who still continues to influence my writing is Sharon Creech, the author of Walk Two Moons and Moo. She has a way of crafting sentences that are so pleasing to read and she makes it look deceptively easy. I’ve read many of her books more than once in the hope that some of her talent will rub off on my by osmosis. Reading her books in verse inspired me to feel that I can write a book in verse as well.

2)  Do you have a writing routine? Share what works for you.

Melody Bremen: I work during the day, so I write at night and on the weekends. I always start my novels with an outline and I’ve found that the more detailed my outline, the smoother the writing process is. The amount I write each day varies widely, from 50 to 1500 words. I’ve learned not to think too much about the word count. The main thing is to keep moving forward.

3)   What is writing to you in one sentence?
Melody Bremen: Writing is something that I need, and will always need, to do.

4)   What projects are you working on right now?

Melody Bremen: Currently, I am working on a middle grade novel, in which two boys find themselves on a meandering, unplanned road trip.

5)   What advice would you give young writers?

Melody Bremen: Read, read, read. For a writer, reading is doing research. Isn’t that the best research ever? Also, practice a lot. Don’t worry about writing well, just do it often. That’s the best way to gain experience, find your voice as a writer, and take your skills to the next level.

flyingincagecvrMelody Bremen’s featured book is Flying In A Cage. It is a story about a girl that has an inner song in her head. It manifests into songs and poetic dreams that a music teacher seeks to pull from her. A magical story about not your so average ten year old girl. Flying In A Cage can be purchased at Amazon.com.

***You can also enter to win your very own copy in a giveaway by the author.

GIVEAWAY FOR FLYING IN A CAGE!

For more information about Melody Bremen, please visit her website at:

http://melodyjbremen.com/

Author-Sherry-SouleOur second featured author for today is Sherry Soule. She is the author of the YA Starlight Saga with its first book, Lost in Starlight, featured today. Sherry writes exciting tales of passionate romance, epic drama, and thrilling suspense with strong heroines and swoon-worthy heroes. She lives in Northern California with her family and two spoiled rescue cats.

I had the pleasure to chat with Sherry about children’s authors that influenced her, advice for young writers, and what she is working on now.

Who was your favorite children’s author and how did they influence you?

Sherry Soule: I’ve been obsessed by the written word since I held my first book in my hands at age seven. I seriously can’t imagine not being a writer…

And it was the late author, V.C. Andrews, who was my favorite author as a young adult. Her books inspired me to be a writer and from her I developed a love of gothic horror. I have reread her books many times, and although the ghostwriter who took over after her death is talented, the newer books never quite captured my attention as the original author’s work did.

What is writing to you in one sentence?

Sherry Soule: Perfecting the art of storytelling.

What projects are you working on right now?

Sherry Soule: I’m currently rewriting, and then republishing the books in the Charmed Chronicles, a young adult urban fantasy, with a Buffy-like heroine. It is the heart-pounding, genre-defying tale of Shiloh, the snarky, teenage witch. Her epic origin story is full of creepy stuff like rogue demon slayers, über-cool magical powers, swoony love triangles, page-turning action, supernatural monsters, and loads of heart-melting kisses.

This series is a humble slice of awesomeness packed with more plot twists than a demon’s intestines and more family drama than the Kardashians!

What advice would you give young writers? 

Sherry Soule: Read a lot. Study your genre and the tropes. Find a mentor. And I have blog devoted to writers, “Fiction Writing Tools” that has tons of advice for writers at any stage in their career, author interviews, and insider publishing secrets.

Please visit my blog for writing/publishing tips: http://fictionwritingtools.blogspot.com/

What is your typical day as a writer? 

Sherry Soule: I drink coffee, take a shower, and then put on clean pajamas. When I’m in the “writing zone” I can write for about 10 hours straight (only breaking to use the bathroom or grab a snack), unless I’m stuck on a scene. Then I’ll surf the web, read online poetry, and check emails until my creative juices start flowing again.

lostinstarlightSherry Soule’s book, Lost in Starlight, features a strong reporter, Sloane Masterson, keen to find the secret of hottie Hayden Lancaster. When she discovers his supernatural powers, she discovers the darkness he has been hiding. That’s when things get to be really fun. It is available on Amazon.com.

For more information on Sherry Soule, please visit her website/blog at: http://sherrysoule.blogspot.com/

back2schoolbanner2018Thank you for stopping by the Back to School Blog Tour Day 2. Please be sure to continue your tour by visiting the author’s websites and checking out their fabulous books!

Lost Secret - High Resolution (1)Check back for more author interviews and their featured books tomorrow. And for more information about my new release, The Lost Secret of Time: Bk 4 in the Crystal Keeper Chronicles, please check out its listing on Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble, and Kobo.

-Tiffany Turner

 

Sep10

2018 Back to School Blog Tour Day 1

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Welcome to the first day of the Back to School Blog Tour. We have three fabulous children’s authors featured today, Becca Price, Margit Elland Schmitt, and Dan Mclaughlin.

I’ll be introducing them in a moment. But first, I wanted to put up our list of GIVEAWAYS and Discounted Books. Everything runs through the blog tour this week, Sept. 10-14. So enter and pick up your goodies soon!

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Becca Price is the author of Heart of Rock, a children’s fantasy middle grade novel.

And now without further adieu, here are our featured authors for today. After reading their interviews,  please visit their websites to find out more about these wonderful authors and some exciting blog posts relating to the blog tour.

Becca Price is our first featured author of the Back to School Blog Tour. Ms. Price started writing fairy tales when she couldn’t find the stories her children enjoyed for bedtime. She wrote them down and self-published them at the beginning of the self-pub revolution. Nine books later, she’s been working on her first adult fantasy. Becca Price lives on ten acres of weeds, swamp and trees with her husband, two children, and four cats.

I had the chance to chat with Becca Price about her childhood memories growing up, her writing process, and what upcoming projects are on the way.

1)   Who was your favorite children’s author and how did they influence you?

Becca Price: There were three books that were most meaningful to me growing up. I loved Lewis Carroll – his play with words, made up words, making nonsense sound like sense (I’m thinking of Jabberwocky here). I also really liked The Little Engine that Could. When I’m stressed or unsure where to go, I still hear that voice saying “I think I can. I think I can.”

But I think the book that had the greatest impact on me was one of the Dick and Jane books. I was looking at it, when all of a sudden it clicked in that the letters C A T spelled cat, and meant the picture of a little black cat above the words. That was when reading really clicked in for me.

2)   Do you have a writing routine? Share what works for you.

 Becca Price: It’s not a routine, exactly. I’ll start mulling over a story in my mind, until I’m pretty sure I know the story and how it should start. Then, all I have to do is write it out. I’ll let it sit for a few days, make some corrections, and then send it off to my editor, Martha Hayes, for a final tune-up.

If it’s a short story, sometimes I simply sit down to type. I’ll have a character in my mind, and let him or her tell me their story.

3)   What is writing to you in one sentence?

Becca Price: One sentence? Wow. Let’s see. Writing is my life. I’d write even if nobody ever read it. Yeah, that’s it. Writing is my life.

4)   What projects are you working on right now?

Becca Price: Right now, I’m working on a novel, The Boy Who Loved The Moon. It’s quite a complex structure, so I’m having to think out loud on paper before I actually start writing it. It’s morphing as I go. It started out a simple middle grade myth, and now I think it’s an adult level book with lots more characters. I’m having to do a lot of research into the Hero’s Journey for that one.

7)   What advice would you give young writers?

Becca Price: Read. Read everything you can. If it’s a good book, read it twice, and look at what the author did. Read outside your main genre. Read classics. Just read.

 

heartrockcvrBecca Price is the author of fabulous fantasy middle reader books. Heart of Rock is her featured book for our blog tour.

Booktrailer Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SrgZJanzXIw

“In the distant past, a city of wizards was menaced by horrible Night Mares. The wizards carved hideous gargoyles out of stone, bringing them to life using the magical Heart of Rock, to defend their city.

Now the Heart of Rock is needed to save another kingdom, and one brave cobbler must find it. But the gargoyles cannot live without their talisman; will the cobbler’s quest to save his kingdom doom theirs?”

Heart of Rock is available on Amazon.com.

For more information on Becca Price and her books, please visit her website at: http://www.wyrmtalespress.com

PLUS—especially for this blog tour, Becca Price has posted a behind the scenes article on the writing process.

My second interview of the Back to School Blog Tour is with co-authors of the newly released book, The Dragon, Lucinda, and George. Margit Elland Schmitt and Dan McLaughlin co-authored the book. It started as a NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) project and proceeded from its first 50k to its current 90k. It is a new spin on the legend of St. George and the Dragon. I’m sure you’ll enjoy it and the discussion I had with these two about their writing, school memories, and future projects.

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Margit Elland Schmitt is the co-author of the book, The Dragon, Lucinda, and George.

1)    Who was your favorite children’s author and how did they influence you?

Margit Says: I loved the Matter-of-Fact Magic series by Ruth Chew, and would read them every chance I got.  It absolutely tickled me that the author was able to find such funny stories about how magic messes with people in the normal world, while avoiding the cliché where people are surprised to see flying brooms or sparkly sparks in the air.  “Of course, there’s magic,”  her characters would say.  “I already knew that.”  I wanted to live in a world where you could expect to see magic any day of the week.

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Dan McLaughlin is the other co-author of the book, The Dragon, Lucinda, and George.

2)    What is your most memorable school moment?

Dan Says: In high school, I was an indifferent student (mostly c’s and b’s with the occasional d or a). The most memorable moment came in chemistry (A class I was destined from birth to get a d in). For some reason, the teacher thought that having the students get up and give the answers to questions facilitated the pedagogical process. While I had been attentive to the mechanics and form of the lectures, I had absorbed very little of the actual content of the subject matter. The last time I was called upon to speak in class, I produced an impressive looking equation sprinkled with various terms (only two of which I now recall, “valence” and “rate determining equation”). I delivered my answer like the good serious student I was. It took the teacher a minute or so to realize I had no idea what I was saying with such authority. It was the first time I got a laugh from an audience and I realized my writing/performing style was to subvert conventional norms and clichés.

3)    Was there anything in school that was difficult for you?

Dan Says: Chemistry, specifically. Anything involving learning a rigid routine leading to only one correct answer, in general.

Margit Says: Trigonometry was my nemesis.  In fact, a lot of math made no sense to me, but it’s interesting (to me) that when I went back over those subjects as an adult, I was able to find new ways to see the problems and the patterns, and I’ve made my peace with math.

4)    What advice would you give young writers?

Dan Says: Figure out the “why” or question you are interested in of your story first, and then figure out a story to answer that question.  Why do people believe in religion when prayers are often not answered? (Answer in my book Gott Mit Uns – There is a bureaucracy that balances things out). What are the consequences of being more polite to strangers than to family and friends? (My book, Pass the Damn Salt, Please traces a relationship entirely through dialogue and illustrates the destructive nature of “honesty”).

Another interesting idea is to take a well know story and tell it from another character’s point of view. I wrote a book called Ice Girls about the story of The Little Match Girl from the point of view of management, and with Margit Schmitt we retold the Story of St. George and the Dragon with a happy ending for the dragon. The advantage of reworking a story already known is that the basic characters and plot are already established, and you can concentrate on the elements of style that interest you.

5)    What is your typical day as a writer?

Dan Says: All my books and projects were written when I had a full-time job (librarian). So, my typical days as a writer consist of me coming home from work, being nice to my wife and then retreating to a place where I can write. And then checking in periodically to see that everything is still OK.

6) What was your favorite book growing up and why?

Dan Says: Arthur Schlesinger’s 3 vols. on the New Deal. History backed up by footnotes that told a story the explained the present and gave guidance to the future with fascinating stories and personalities within the main story.

7) What inspired you when you were younger?

Dan Says: Not to be a total cliché, but my parents. My mom, who said after another devastatingly mediocre IQ test result, “That’s OK, Danny, they just haven’t figured out a way to measure your intelligence yet.” (and I believed her); and to my dad an incredibly talented independent experimental filmmaker who never made the same film twice. From him I learned that any creative art is about solving questions or problems or passions that interest the artist.

Margit Says: I joke a lot about one teacher who said I’d never make a great writer, but the truth is, I was really lucky to have support at home and at school.  When I was young, I was always writing stories and plays with my friends and family, and I’m still amazed at how often people gave me the opportunity to perform those works in public.  There’s nothing like reading before a live audience to really cue you in to the weak places in your story!  And nothing as rewarding as getting a laugh or a sigh at just the right moment.

dragonLucindacvrTheir book, The Dragon, Lucinda and George, can be found at Amazon.com. It’s a book with a quirky new look at the old legend of St. George and the Dragon. Dive right into a new adventure where fantasy isn’t always so cute and dry. Knights and Princesses are not always so easy to understand, especially when your new friend is a dragon.

Visit Margit Elland Schmitt’s website at: https://margitellandschmitt.wordpress.com.

Dan Mclaughlin’s website is: http://danmclaughlin.info/index.html.This is their first collaborative novel. I hope there will be more. Hint. Hint.

back2schoolbanner2018Thank you for stopping by the Back to School Blog Tour Day 1. Please be sure to continue your tour by visiting the author’s websites and checking out their fabulous books! I hope you’re able to fill up your Back to School reading lists this week.

Lost Secret - High Resolution (1)Check back for more author interviews and their featured books tomorrow. And for more information about my new release, The Lost Secret of Time: Bk 4 in the Crystal Keeper Chronicles, please check out its listing on Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble, and Kobo.

-Tiffany Turner

Sep8

Tiffany Turner to Speak on Self-Publishing Panel Today, Sept. 8!

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Join Tiffany Turner today to hear how you can start self publishing. 

Want to get started in self-publishing? Live in or near the Silicon Valley? Well then, you’re invited to a free self-publishing panel event at the San Jose Library at the Martin Luther King Jr. branch in downtown San Jose.

Tiffany Turner will be on this fabulous panel that will go over the steps to self-publishing your book. Avoid the problems and

pitfalls some people may run into all while following a budget. The panel will include a

panel of authors in genres such as non-fiction, dark fantasy, YA, romance, children’s

books, and a freelance editor.

Lost Secret - High Resolution (1)Hear from the award winning author, Tiffany Turner, talk about her new self published release, The Lost Secret of Time. She’ll discuss the steps to get started, finding an editor, hiring others to help you, and formatting.

This event will be on Saturday, Sept. 8, 2018at 2 p.m and run for an hour. It will be in the Career & Business Center at the MLKJr. library in downtown San Jose. IT IS FREE!

Stop by, receive a handout, and ask questions to get you started on the road to self-publishing. It is a FREE event sponsored by the Career & Business Center at the Martin Luther King Jr. Library. Hope to see you there.

 

For more information, here is the link to the event’s website listing. 

Sep6

Pre-Back To School Blog Tour: Interview with Dr. Gary Haq

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My Dad, The Earth Warrior is available on Amazon.com.

Dr. Gary Haq is the author of the book, My Dad, The Earth Warrior. Dr. Haq is a real life earth warrior, an associate researcher at a global environmental think tank and research scientist at a European research center. My Dad, The Earth Warrior, is a story about a boy and his dad connecting from a long distance relationship to save the Mother Earth. The story is inspirational in helping middle readers to understand environmental issues and help get involved. Dr. Haq was able to sit down and talk with me about his memories of reading from childhood, his favorite author, and what will be some more of his upcoming projects.

  • What is your favorite memory from reading as a child?

As a child, I was engrossed in the world of Narnia. The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe was one of my favourite books. After reading it, I couldn’t wait to get my hands on the next book in the series. It was the first time I felt an overwhelming urge to continue reading.

  • Who was your favorite author and how did they influence you?

Besides, C. S. Lewis, Roald Dahl was one of my favourite authors. I loved his crazy funny characters and strange world. I am sure he influenced my funny sense of humour, which is reflected in My Dad, The Earth Warrior.

  • What subjects would you like to write about in future projects?

In this book, I have taken a humorous approach to environmental issues such as climate change, fracking and loss of green space. While I have interest in writing more eco-adventures, my current work in progress is a funny, fantasy adventure.

For more information on Gary Haq and his book, My Dad, The Earth Warrior, visit his website at: https://www.garyhaqwrites.com/. He is also available on Twitter at @drgaryhaq. My Dad, The Earth Warrior is available at Amazon.com.

back2schoolbanner2018**Look for more children’s author interviews starting next week with the Back to School Blog Tour 2018. Giveaways, book discounts, and featured authors and their books will be posted all week from Sept. 10-14. Bookmark and join us all next week for a celebration of children’s authors and their books to kick off the new school year!

Aug28

Createspace Closing: Merges into KDP Print

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This is a three cookie day. It’s a chocolate day. I’m trying to remain calm. But when I saw that email in my inbox this morning, I knew it had happened. Createspace was closing. Most of us in the Indie/Self-Publishing community knew it was going to happen. But the timing is not the best. I had just pushed the button to self-publish the print edition of The Lost Secret of Time last night. I’d received my proof, and everything looked good. Everything seemed set, right?

But I forgot Murphy’s Law. I look over the emails and start to follow the instructions for the merge of my books from Createspace to KDP Print. I figure it will be easier than having it automatically moved over later by the Zon. But no. Even that doesn’t go well. In fact, it’s been horrific. Even though I’ve read on a couple writing boards and blogs that some people have had a seamless move, mine has had a series of bumps and rolls that have pretty much brought my new release to a stop.

I’M TRYING TO REMAIN CALM!

**It’s important to take deep breaths in self-publishing.*

Basically when I transferred my books, it only showed my print books from Createspace. It didn’t join them as one account with my ebooks. So, I had to log out and try again. This time I logged in and went into my ebooks. After awhile, I realized I had wisely different passwords for my KDP account and my Createspace account. So, it looked like the merge created two accounts, each one tied to the password. Now, that makes sense, but really isn’t going to be seamless for others. I’m not sure if that is the thing going on, but I can’t see my ebooks and print books at the same time. It is VERY WEIRD!

Also, my Createspace covers are disappearing off of the print books. When it first moved over, there was one missing. Later when I checked there were two missing. Now when I checked there are 5 covers missing. At first I thought it was the website just not loading the thumbnail, but I checked with other authors on the Createspace Merge thread on Kboards.com, and they mentioned that KDP Print MIGHT have different specs than Createspace.

So, maybe I jumped the gun and trusted Amazon too much to have this merge go right. Maybe I should have checked out that the covers would match or gone over everything with a fine tooth comb before hitting the merge button. But no. I trusted Amazon and KDP. I went back to try to get into my Createspace account to see what I could do, and all the books were gone, moved already, and supposedly on KDP Print.

So somewhere in the ether of the internet, five covers have been lost, and I can’t get into any of the details of my books. I am locked out. I have emailed support twice already and all I hear is crickets. So, maybe I should have known better. I knew Murphy would do something with my book launch. Or I should look at the glass half full. My books ended up somewhere.

Yes, I’m sure it will eventually all get sorted out. But there is a lesson maybe in all of this. Self-publishing has never been easy, and things will come up that throw you for a loop. You just have to keep going. Hope that customer support will slog through your request with the onslaught of other authors moving at this time.

I just need another cookie. And some more chocolate.

***Tiffany Turner has been a self-published author for 10 years. Her fourth children’s book, The Lost Secret of Time, will be releasing on September 10 both in ebook and print (I’m still keeping the faith).

 

 

Aug17

It’s a Launch! The Lost Secret of Time is Now Available as an Ebook Preorder!

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Lost Secret - High Resolution (1)

The last book in the Crystal Keeper Chronicles is releasing on Sept. 10, 2018!

It’s here! Finally after three years of blood, sweat and tears, the last in the Crystal Keeper Chronicles is available for preorder. The official launch date is Sept. 10,  2018. But you can get your ebook ordered and ready ahead of time. It is available for preorder on all retail platforms. The links below will take you to your preferred retailer to get the ball rolling for your own copy. The price is $3.99!

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

Kobo

iTunes/iBook

The print book is in the process of being ready for preorder too. It is just taking a little bit longer than the ebook. But I’ll have all the links up as soon as they are available. I just wanted to get the links for the ebook out there, because I know there are some people that have been waiting for this book to drop. 😉

Thank you to EVERYONE that has supported me over the last 3 years through my illness and new normal. This whole series has been a work of love and I am so proud to be able to finally bring it to you now. It is a life’s work and I’m happy to be able to see it through to it’s end in spite of my heart condition and illness. I cannot wait to see what you all think of it.

Plus, the Back to School Blog Tour is in the process of planning. Different authors will be participating, giving insights to behind the scenes of writing their books through interviews, and there will even be some special discount deals to start off the new school year. My new book, The Lost Secret of Time, will be releasing on the first day of the blog tour.

So stay tuned over the next few weeks. It will prove to be very exciting.

UPDATE: The print edition is now available for The Lost Secret of Time. Due to the Createspace merge, there will be no preorder for the print edition. It is AVAILABLE NOW to be shipped to your preferred address.

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Lost-Secret-Crystal-Keeper-Chronicles/dp/0997817054

Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-lost-secret-of-time-tiffany-turner/1129320107

 

-Tiffany Turner

 

 

Aug2

Tiffany Turner Local Appearance: San Jose Renaissance Fair August 4-5

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sjrenpromoCome join Tiffany Turner at the San Jose Renaissance Fair. She’ll be selling her crystal jewelry and her books at her vendor booth. Look for the “Crystal Jewelry” sign. Say you saw this blog post and receive 10% off your purchase. To prove you have, give her the password: Pineapple. 🙂

“The last book in the Crystal Keeper series is almost done and scheduled for release Labor Day weekend. I’ll answer all your questions about it, and sign any books purchased. Hope to see you this weekend!”

– Mrs. Turner

 

Jul16

Featured Interview with Isaac ben Levi

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Isaac ben Levi

Isaac ben Levi is the author of the Great Railroad series.

I am happy to share my recent interview with author Isaac ben Levi. He is a young talented author that is a sophomore in high school already working on his third book in a locomotive series. He shares his expertise about the local Ozark Mountain Railroad from the point of view of a locomotive. The history of the railroad is told in the first book, Our First Locomotive, and continued into the second book. There is even a railroad terminology dictionary in the second book, Old Reliable Locomotives. It looks like a great start to the series and for any young train enthusiast to learn more about trains in the Ozark Mountains.

I had a chance to hear all about Isaac ben Levi’s hobbies, reasons why he writes, some train lore, and how he got his inspiration to write his books.

Great Railroad Series - Our First Locomotive

This is the first book in the Great Railroad series , Our First Locomotive, available at Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

  • What is your favorite memory from reading when you were younger?

Isaac ben Levi: I have many good memories of reading and so many from such an early age that I don’t have one favorite—they were all so good.

  • Who was your favorite author and how did they influence you?

Isaac ben Levi: Early in my life, Rev. W Awdry’s work, though the copies I had were mostly abridged and editing. It was his work that first gave me the love of trains I have now and you can say he has a portion of the credit for me writing the “Great Railroad Series”.

  • Do you have a writing routine? Share what works for you.

Isaac ben Levi: Generally speaking, because I am taking dual credits and finishing high school and going through college right now, I write in my spare time, early in the afternoon. I mull thoughts over in my head but mostly I write as I go—freelance except for the fact I have a large amount of reference material so I am consistent in the books. I am always reading and thinking.

  • What subjects would you like to write about in future projects?

Isaac ben Levi: I will probably be writing older kid versions of a series being published by another author from the same publisher titled: Homestead Friends: Welcome Home, Sweet Harley –Book 1. Each book is about an animal on the homestead. It is written for little children and I will write from the point-of-view geared toward elementary aged students. I will probably write historical non-fiction material as well at some point and have many topics of interest.

  • What is writing to you in one sentence?

Isaac ben Levi: Writing represents an outlet to share one’s thoughts with anyone who cares to view them.

Great Railroad Series - Old Reliable Locomotives - Book 2

This is the second book in the Great Railroads series, Old Reliable Locomotives, available at Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

  • Do you plan to pursue your love of trains as a career? Maybe become an engineer?

Isaac ben Levi: My dream would be to own a Railroad Museum in the Ozark Mountain and introduce people of all ages to the wonderful history of railroads.

  • Besides school, what do you like to do when you are not writing?

Isaac ben Levi: I enjoy physics and science and am working on several experiments and inventions. I also am setting up a narrow gauge railroad on our homestead to move the wood from the pile in front of the home to the back of our home for the wood burner. I’m sixteen and my parents are understanding. I also love my animals including birds, cats and ten dogs—seven puppies were just born a few months ago. I helped to deliver the two that were breech births.

  • If you had the chance to build your own railroad line, how would you design it?

Isaac ben Levi: It would probably be a similar short-line to the Ozark Mountain Railroad if it were going to be a common carrier in the transportation business. I am currently planning to build a small estate railway on my homestead and separate from the wood hauling one. I am going to experiment on that railroad with an entirely new type of locomotive of my own design using a Stirling Engine/Hot Air Engine.

  • While researching your books, what is the most memorable interview with one of the local railroad experts?

Isaac ben Levi: In speaking with a local history museum director, she shared the original files of author James R. Fair. I learned a lot about railroads and one that operated south of my home from his excellent writing and research material. It proved to be the basis for book two of my series.

  • What advice would you give to an aspiring writer?

Isaac ben Levi: My advice would be to write about what you love and then it will never seem like work. Personally, I have never enjoyed writing papers or projects for school, and then one day a story came into my head with all of the details in order. I just had to write it down. Then another, and another, and so on. It was never my plan or intention to be an author, but now I am passionate about it. My advice would be do what you love.

Isaac ben Levi’s Great Railroad Series has two books currently published: Our First Locomotive and Old Reliable Locomotives. The third is due out in August of this year. Plus, he has a new series releasing soon entitled The Li’l Great Railroad Series with its first title called “Happy Engines Back at Work”. The new series will also release in August. Isaac ben Levi’s books are available at Amazon and Barnes and Noble. For more information on Isaac ben Levi and his books, visit his website at: https://greatrailroadseries.com.

 

Jul13

Interview with Alexandria Rose Rizik

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Alexandria Rose Rizik is the author of the children’s book, Chocolate Milk.

I was very excited to interview my next featured author, Alexandria Rose Rizik. She is from Scottsdale, Arizona and is not only an author, but the founder of the award winning film production company, Princess Rose Productions. She is a female leader in the entertainment industry, and is seeking to help inspire the next generation and make an impact on current social issues.

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The picture book, Chocolate Milk, is available at Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

Alexandria Rose Rizik is the author of the picture book Chocolate Milk. She wrote it when she was seventeen participating in an anti-bullying campaign. A young cow is bullied and teased for making brown milk until everyone realizes it is really chocolate milk. The moral of the story is tied to being yourself and celebrating differences. It’s a great message and helps to connect children to literature and the bullying theme through their love of chocolate milk.

I had a chance to talk to Alexandria about her childhood reading memories, her writing process, and any advice for aspiring authors.

1) What is your favorite memory from reading as a child?

Alexandria Rose Rizik: My favorite memory from reading as a child was spending the hot Arizona summer days in the library, keeping busy with my mom and three sisters, sorting through books and reading.

2) Who was your favorite author and how did they influence you?

Alexandria Rose Rizik: My favorite authors as a kid were Judy Blume and Beverly Cleary. Judy Blume wrote one of my favorite books of all time, “Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret.” Maybe that’s why I love writing coming-of-age stories.

3) Do you have a writing routine? Share what works for you.

Alexandria Rose Rizik: I don’t necessarily have a routine. I don’t do well with structure. Some days I go to a coffee shop and spend hours there, writing away. Other days, I write from home, just on and off at my desk.

4) What subjects would you like to write about in future projects?

Alexandria Rose Rizik: I want to write about things that people can relate to…something that touches the world. I tend to cling to coming-of-age stories, specifically ones that revolve around first loves. I love to write about real people and the things they go through, in a way where the audience can connect. I would like to do stories that revolve around what is going on with our government and other political agendas that the world doesn’t even notice yet.

5) What is writing to you in one sentence?

Alexandria Rose Rizik: To me, writing is how I get through life.

Alexandria Rose Rizik’s book, Chocolate Milk, is available at Amazon and Barnes and Noble. For more information on Alexandria Rizik and her other books, visit her website at: https://www.alexandriaroserizik.com.