Jessica Riggles author of "Four Thousand Miles"

Author Jessica Riggles stopped by to answer questions about her latest book "Four Thousand Miles."

Welcome to Page Readers Jessica!  Start us off by telling us a little about you!


I was born and raised in the Mississippi River town of Dubuque, Iowa. I had a lower middle-class upbringing. Money was tight, but I was generally happy. I was active in the school choir and had lots of friends. I graduated high school a year early. I would have liked to have gone away for college, but I was young and not ready to leave home. So I went to college in Dubuque, graduating from Loras College with degrees in Literature and Creative Writing.

While in college, I obtained an insurance license and worked for a local Allstate agent. When I graduated from college, I didn’t have many options as far as employment with my major. I didn’t want to teach and by that point, I was married and unable to run off to the New York publishing world. So, I landed in insurance. I still dabble in it today, although only part-time to accommodate my writing schedule. I’m also in grad school working on an MBA. Not sure what I’m going to do with it yet, but I find business interesting. I guess you could say I am happiest when I am learning something new.

What is your story about?

My novel, Four Thousand Miles, combines my love of travel, my weakness for a good love story and my impulsive nature all into one story. The main character is Natalie Spencer, a married, career-minded woman in Milwaukee. When she loses both her career and her marriage in the space of one terrible morning, all she can think about is getting away, putting distance between herself and her problems. On impulse, she gets on a plane to London, England—a place she has never been to, knows no one and completely unprepared for. There, she meets a reclusive songwriter who invites her into his family. As Natalie recovers from her emotional trauma, she has to learn how to trust and love again.

How did this story come to you?

I was in England, staying at this 500 year old farm turned bed & breakfast in rural Kent. It was the most romantic and inspiring place I think I’ve ever been to. The impulsive side of me wanted to skip going home and stay there with the sheep forever, but I had a full life back in the States waiting for me. That got me thinking about how messed up my life would have to be to get me to spontaneously move to a foreign country. I had most of Natalie’s story sketched out in my head by the time I got home.

What compelled you to write it?

It was June 2009. I had just gotten laid off in the giant wave of corporate downsizing , which had swept the country and there just weren’t many job options out there for me. I was fortunate enough that I didn’t have to go back to work right away, so I thought I would take the opportunity of time to write. It wasn’t long before I decided to focus my energy in that direction full-time.

Who is your favorite character?

My favorite one was Elliot Ashby. He is the younger brother of my male lead, Gavin. He looks like Prince Harry, but plays in a punk band. Elliot only plays a small role in the book, but he’s funny and just adorable. I describe him as “Sid Vicious with a puppy-dog grin.” I have kicked around the idea of writing a novel with him in the lead.

What was your favorite scene to write?

I enjoyed writing the scenes in Ireland. It is there that Natalie begins to see Gavin as a man and not just as a friend.

How long did it take you to write the story?

About four months.

When was it released?
The release date was on October 7, 2010, but it might be a couple months yet before the larger ebook retailers such as Amazon and B&N will have it listed.

How is it available?
It is only available in ebook format at present. I’m hoping the sales will be strong enough that my publisher will take it to print.
Where can we find it?
The best place to buy it online is through my publisher, DCL Publications. The link is http://www.thedarkcastlelords.com/romance-ebooks-15.htm. You can also find it on AllRomance.com.

What has your publishing experience been like?

I had no idea what I was doing when I started trying to sell this book. I barely knew what a query letter was! I found there are a lot of resources online to assist new writers. A big one for me was Twitter. I use my twitter account as my professional social network. I connect with other writers, agents, editors, book bloggers and readers. The writing community is amazing in their desire to help each other. I could post a question and have five answers or links to websites in minutes.

After writing and polishing my query letter, I submitted it to about forty agents over the course of about two months. Not one bite! I wasn’t surprised though. The publishing industry was hit hard in this recession and as a result have been scaling back on the purchase of new authors.

In May 2010, I attended the Romantic Times Convention. It was there that I met Jean Watkins, head editor for DCL Publications. She liked my pitch and requested a partial manuscript. I sent her the first three chapters and she offered me a contract. It all happened very quickly.

For my next book, I hope to be able to secure an agent. DCL treated me great and helped me a lot through the process, but my next novel is Young Adult and they are not in the teen market.

Where we can we find you online?
I love to hear from readers! I am @Jesilea on twitter. There is also a Jesi Lea Ryan fan page in Facebook. Both are checked regularly. I also maintain a blog at http://diaryofabibliophile-jesilea.blogspot.com/. I review books, interview authors and occasionally post bits of my writing.

Do you have any upcoming publicity events that you'd like us to know about?

I am doing a blog tour. Here are a few of my scheduled stops:

November 4th – Interview at http://jamiedebree.com/index_Q328.php

November 8th – Review and Interview at http://chicklitplus.com/

November 9th – Interview at http://lisapietsch.com/be-my-guest/

November 10th – Interview at http://www.thebookvixen.com/

Be on the lookout, because some of these will also be hosting a giveaway!

Any words of wisdom you'd like to share with the readers?
It sounds trite, but don’t take it personal and don’t give up. Rejection is part of the business. It is not a reflection on you or your writing. Sometimes what you have just isn’t the right fit for the market. While submitting one novel, be working on your next work. It helps not to get too discouraged.

Monice Mitchell Simms discusses "Address: House of Corrections"

Monice Mitchell Simms joined me on Page Readers to discuss her latest novel "Address: House of Correction."

Monice started her writing career as a journalist, eventually moving into script writing for TV and Movies.  While this made her understand the rituals of writing, she found out that writing a novel is a completely different experience.

"Address: House of Corrections" is a fictional tale based on the life of the women in Monice's life.  Following the life of her Grandmother from the 1930's through the 60's in Chicago, Monice took the stories she heard as a child and created a masterpiece in tribute to a life well lived.

Another interesting tidbit about Monice:  She is going on a "Real" book tour!  Something that isn't done very much anymore thanks to the Internet.  But she felt that it would be a better way of connecting with her audience and building new relationships with potential readers is she was physically present at a book signing or reading. 

Learn more about Monice at her website/blog. 

Robert Gignac discusses "Rich is a State of Mind"

Author Robert Gignac joined me on Page Readers to discuss his book "Rich is a State of Mind."

Written as a story with characters based on issues he sees people struggling with, rather than a how to book, Robert Gignac uses his book "Rich is a State of Mind" to teach different aspects of saving, investing and giving back. 

Visit Robert on the web at http://www.richisastateofmind.com/

Hello all my Star Gazing Friends

Something out of the ordinary for all of you star gazers out there. 

It's almost here -- The Great World Wide Star Count starts this Friday, October 29th and runs through November 12th. This Windows to the Universe program is an international citizen-science event that encourages everyone, astronomers and non-astronomers alike, to measure their local light pollution and report their observations online.


The Great World Wide Star Count is designed to raise awareness about light pollution as well as encourage learning in astronomy. No prior experience is necessary. All background information needed to participate is on the Star Count Web site (http://starcount.org), along with a downloadable activity guide with the step-by-step instructions (http://starcount.org/downloads.html), now available in 10 languages. All observations will be available online via Google Earth and as downloadable datasets.

Since 2007, people from 64 countries have contributed more than 10,000 observations to Star Count. Please help us spread the word to your families, friends, club members, and especially any teachers or students that you know!

We have a special favor to ask-- if you are a native speaker of French or German and could give us 1-2 hours of your time, we have an urgent need to translate our Activity Guide into those languages before October 29th! If you would like to help, please email us at starcount_info@ucar.edu, indicating your language, age, and level of astronomical knowledge. We'll email you a simple document with the exact phrases we need translated. Once you fill in the form and email it back to us, we'll format it and post it to our website for immediate use. Thanks to volunteers like you, we have recently added Russian and Hindi translations for 2010. Help us make it an even dozen!

Sincerely,
Dennis Ward
Director, The Great World Wide Star Count
UCAR Education and Outreach
http://starcount.org/
http://windows2universe.org/
starcount_info@ucar.edu

Interview with Jared Aragona author of "Stories from the Circle: Apprentice"

Author Jared Aragona joined me for an interview here on the blog, something new I'm doing so I can get as many authors as possible into the "Spot Light" here on Page Readers.

Jared has written an incredible story in "Stories from the Circle: Apprentice."  The first of three books, Apprentice starts off with a different and interesting way of telling a story.  I don't want to give any of it away, so I'll just let Jared do the talking here.

Be sure to visit his website at http://www.storiesfromthecircle.com/

Start us off by telling us a little about you.
I’m originally from New York. I grew up in a town called Purchase, just outside the city. However, my family moved to Arizona and then Texas in the 1980s. After college, I spent several years in Hollywood, working in the film industry, but then I went back to school to study literature. Today, besides being an author, I’m a professor of English at Scottsdale Community College, in Arizona. I’m also a husband, and I’m a father to two little boys.


What is your story about?

Stories from the Circle: Apprentice contains the first three books of the Stories from the Circle series: Know Thyself, Riesa, and Oxinopses, each of which, for a limited time, is available individually in paperback. Collectively they tell the story of the Caretakers of Existence, who are a rare and secret race of people who have been around since the spark of consciousness. On Earth, one is born only once every 3.14 years. These Caretakers grow to have great powers, some different than others. However, with enough training and experience, all learn how to see into the past and to know all the likely and unlikely futures that may unfold.

The whole purpose of their life and their powers is to make sure that existence (life) doesn’t end, which turns out to be a really precarious threat and always has been. In other words, when every generation has had its people that proclaim that the end of the world is near, all of those people were right, or would have been if not for the Caretakers. The way Caretakers make sure the world continues is through Caretaker Quests, which usually involve the need to change the circumstances of the world in order to affect future outcomes – and the Caretakers don’t just do this on Earth. Earth is just one world in a system of interconnected worlds that define life in the universe; all of the other worlds grow their own Caretakers too. When Caretakers reach a level of maturity in their training, they travel in consciousness to selves that they already are on other worlds, and in this way they live the lives of those other selves while undergoing Caretaker Quests to ensure that the world continues. In the series, each book focuses on a Caretaker Quest on a given world.

The series is written from the perspective of Miles Dean, who is an experienced Caretaker trying to convince his new apprentice, Luzciel, to accept her calling as the next Caretaker in their line. The problem is the bad guys of the series, the Breakers, who are driven by a desire to see existence come to an end, have learned how to affect young Caretakers in a way that makes them turn away from their calling, and the necessary spark that starts an apprentice Caretaker’s training is a conscious embrace of the calling. Luzciel won’t do that automatically, and so Miles has written to her about his own experiences as the apprentice to the previous Guiding Caretaker, Oliver.

How did this story come to you?


This story came to me very gradually. The first manifestation of it came during a creative writing class that I took at Cornell University in 1989. I always liked fantasy and paranormal fiction, so I wanted to give it a try. Pieces of it have come to me ever since then as I’ve built the nine books that complete the series.



What compelled you to write it?

I think enjoyment compelled me. When I read other people’s books, they end. When writing my own, they go on and expand, so the enjoyment continues. I’m also fascinated by the subjects of utopia and dystopia; my doctoral study centered on it, and writing about other worlds allows me to explore those concepts more easily than trying to force Earth’s baggage into them.


Who is your favorite character?

I like them all for different reasons, but Oliver is one of my favorites. He’s this wise and powerful Guiding Caretaker; one might call him an expert wizard. But he’s only just ascended to this important role that he’s spent most of his life training for. And even with all his powers, he still recognizes how much more he doesn’t know, and it makes him humble in his relative power. He shows a deeper complexity than the wizards in typical wizard-apprentice situations.


What was your favorite scene to write?

That’s a very difficult question, since the different stories take place on different worlds, each of which have many bizarre and thrilling scenes. I think any of the scenes where Miles reflects on how far he’s come would be my favorite. For instance, I love the scene when Miles arrives in his first alien body, on the world of Riesa, and he’s trying to come to grips with perception from this new viewpoint on a world that’s very different from Earth. Riesa is also pretty dystopian, so later in the book, when Miles has gotten used to being his Riesan self, he views a pretty horrific scene as if it’s pastoral, and then he catches himself, realizing how far from his Earth perceptions he’s traveled. Scenes like that are some of my favorites.


How long did it take you to write the story?

I’ve been working on all nine books in the series for more than twenty years. I took a break for a few years while I was in graduate school, but then I picked back up afterwards. It took me about three years to bring the three books of Apprentice to final draft form.


When was it released?

It was released in May of this year, 2010.


How is it available print e-book or both?

It’s available in print and on Kindle. It’ll be available through Barnes & Noble in epub format, for Nooks and such, by November.


Where can we find it online, or if print, where?

It can be ordered through any bookseller, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, storiesfromthecircle.com, etc.


What was your publishing experience like?

In the mid 1990s, when the series was very immature, I sent out many query letters and in fact was signed by an agent who worked hard to pitch it, but it never sold. It wasn’t ready yet. I received many high quality rejection letters, many of which helped steer me as I continued adding and revising over the next fifteen years. What is available now is self-published because I wanted to get the stories out there. I started Muse of Epics Publishing and worked through Lightning Source to print and distribute it. That, in itself, has been an amazing learning experience, and for the most part I’m glad I did it this way. The only downside is that many professional reviewers won’t touch it. Nevertheless, people are reading it and really liking it, and the word about it is spreading. If it catches on to where I’m fortunate enough to attract another agent, then that would be very satisfying. I do have six more books coming down the pike.


Where else can we find you online?

You can find me through storiesfromthecircle.com, and on Facebook and Twitter. Please be my friend on either of those.


Do you have any other upcoming publicity events that you'd like to share?
My next event will be on Saturday, November 6th. I’ll be a featured speaker at the Scottsdale Writer’s Expo at the Scottsdale Civic Center Library. I’ll be signing books too.


Any words of wisdom you'd like to share?

I think the best words of wisdom to authors would be to recognize that it’s a long road with books. Love writing for what it is, and if you love it, don’t stop (at least not permanently).

I’m inspired by the prospect of people reading my fiction, riding the ride I built. When people give me their reactions to it, even when it’s negative comment (it’s not for everyone), I get an amazing thrill. As for setting goals, it’s worthwhile, but it can’t be forced. If the writing isn’t coming and it’s a nice day, go enjoy the day. It might lead to the inspiration you need.

Great interview Jared!  Thank you so much, it's been a pleasure getting to know you and your work.  Keep us posted on the next books, we'd love to have you back on Page Readers!

Blog Interview with author Stephanie Beck

Author Stephanie Beck dropped by for a blog interview to discuss her latest release "Between Elves." 


Ok Steph, start us off by telling us a little bit about you.
My name is Stephanie Beck. I grew up with two older brothers and a younger sister. I also have about a dozen aunts, all of whom love to read, which is how I came to love reading so much. I did martial arts in my teens, played a lot of sports and chased a lot of kids while babysitting. Now I'm married with two kids with a third on the way. I knit and play with my kids. We make our own field trips to apple orchards and parks as often as possible. When I'm not writing, I stay very busy.


What is your story about?

Between Elves is a novella with a paranormal twist. After Blake buried her husband and infant son when they succumbed to heart defects, she thought she was done with family. Even though she's willing to start her life again, she's not sure she'll ever let herself fall for anyone. Then Arden Woods comes along. He's sweet and funny and just when she starts falling in love with him, he abducts her and takes her to a foreign land where he admits he's an elf and wants her to be part of his family.

And not just his family, but be a part of the one he and his partner Quin want to build. They are elves in a world that no longer has children without help from humans. To make things work, Quin and Arden will have to be quick on their feet and sincere and Blake is going to have to let go of some of her fears.


How did this story come to you?

I read a very, very short elf story. There was no guts to it, only about ten pages of sex, but it lead to me wondering where all the characters ended up. The ideas stayed with me and eventually came out of all that thinking and speculating.


What compelled you to write it?

I had the time and I enjoy writing menage so sitting and getting it done was a joy. Blake cracks me up. She's feisty but still vulnerable.

And the elves, both of them make me smile in their own ways.


Who is your favorite character?

That's a hard question! I identify with Blake's strength and sarcasm, but on the 'like' factor, I really like Quin. He has a great mix of stoic strength, sincerity and sweetness that I adore.

What was your favorite scene to write?

The leisure suit scene. I enjoy adding a little ridiculous especially to my more serious characters.


How long did it take you to write the story?

I wrote it between edits on my book, David's Angel. Between fixing and repairing little errors, I wrote Between Elves. I had it done in about two weeks.


When was it released?

The big release date was October 3rd. October is a big month for me with releases the 3rd, 18th and 22nd. For the great fans who have been sweetly emailing me to get busy on the writing, I listened!!


How is it available print, ebook or both?

It is available as an eBook for most eReaders and also for PC's. There is no need to have an independent reader if your computer works :)

Where can we find it online, or if print, where?

www.nobleromance.com at amazon and also at most eBook retailers. My website has links also. www.stephaniebeck.net


Tell us what your publishing experience has been like.

My experience so far has been with some really great companies...and one that was just starting and needed to work a few kinks out. It's definitely frustrating to have more questions than answers, but the important thing is to ask questions. I've learned that most places are extremely willing to answer all they can (after all, as a writer, you're going to make them money) but it is up to the writer to ask if something is off.

I prefer to do direct submissions with my romance and erotica. Between Elves was picked up by the first company I sent it to and I was thrilled. Ebooks are my friend at this point in my career. I'm working on getting an agent, but in the meantime, quality eBooks and wonderful companies are helping me learn and pay my bills.


Where we can we find you online, include your website, facebook, twitter or anywhere else you reside online.

www.stephaniebeck.net www.facebook.com/StephanieBeckAuthor

www.twitter.com/StephBeck123


Do you have other upcoming publicity events that you'd like to share?
Freak Week is coming up in October! With the releases of David's Angel and Cross Stitch and Brimstone, my Freak Week promotion is scheduled to be huge. Join me on Facebook October 18-22 for games, trivia and lots of prizes (including some delicious chocolates commemorating David's Angel). www.facebook.com/StephanieBeckAuthor


Any "Words of Wisdom" you'd like to share with our readers?

As far as wisdom goes, I'd say always be willing to learn. Always be willing to listen to someone with more experience. To readers, take a chance on something new with an open mind. For aspiring authors, take yourself seriously, make the time and don't let that manuscript sit alone for too long. If you don't take your writing seriously, no one else will.


Thanks so much for stopping by Steph!  Congrats on the new books, and keep us posted when you have something new coming out.  We'd love to have you back on Page Readers.

L. Anne Carrington author of "The Cruiserweight"

Author L. Anne Carrington stopped by Page Readers to discuss her latest novel "The Cruiser Weight."

L. Anne Carrington is a writer whose previous work has covered topics from fiction to news stories, human interest features, and entertainment reviews. She has written The Wrestling Babe Internet column part time since 2003, is a former music reviewer for Indie Music Stop, and pens several other works which appears in both print and Web media. Visit her Official Website: http://www.lannecarrington.com/

 

 

Stephen Rogers author of "Shot To Death"

Stephen Rogers joined me to discuss his latest collection of short stories "Shot to Death."

The master of the short story, Stephen Rogers has had his work featured in many anthologies and collection for years now.  But is latest work, "Shot to Death" is a collection of his stories alone.

Stephen has written over 600 short stories during his career and has no plans to slow down.  Visit his website at http://www.stephendrogers.com/ for a complete listing of all his stories.

Derek Steele discusses "Addict at 10"

Author Derek Steele joined me on Page Readers to discuss his story "Addict at 10."

This is no ordinary story.  Derek Steele has over come a life of neglect, drug and alcohol abuse, homelessness and a possible future in prison to become a successful business person, husband, father and mentor to others in their own struggles with addiction.

To learn more about Derek, his life and his work, visit his website at http://www.addictat10.com/

Philip Shepherd discusses his book "New World, New Self"

Author Philip Shepherd stopped by Page Readers to discuss his book "New Self, New World."

Imagine that you are 18 years old, riding a bicycle through the Sahara Desert.  You sleep under the stars by night and immerse yourself in the culture of the surrounding people during the day.  You begin to realise that life is so much more than you could have ever imagined.

That's where the beginnings of the book took hold of Philip.  But it wouldn't begin to come together until many years later.  To hear Philip talk about his experience of traveling on a bicycle through exotic places, to where he is now, teaching the philosophy of the book, one realises that this is no ordinary story.

Visit Philip on the web at http://www.philipshepherd.com/

Ashley Christman author of "The Witching Hour"

Author Ashley Christman joined me on Page Readers to discuss her book "The Witching Hour."

Another fun interview!  Author Ashley Christman has got a lot going on.  In her new book The Witching Hour, Ashley opens up the doors to her love of mythology. Weaving that love into a modern day tale, she comes up with characters who must deal with everyday mortal-like troubles who bring the added element of god-like power to, believe it or not, create more trouble.

Visit Ashley on the web at www.AshleyChristman.com

To All My Author Friends

As the year winds down to a close I want to take a moment and thank all of the wonderful and talented authors who have made 2010 a very successful year for Page Readers.

Yes, I know it's only October, but quick enough, 2010 will be done. 

Many of you already know about and have participated in NaNoWriMo, National Novel Writing Month, which happens every year in November.  I've been saying that I'd like to do this for a couple of years now, and this year I've decided to go for it. I'm taking the advice of so many of my guests which is, "If you want to write - DO IT!"

If any of you are planning to participate, or are already members of the site, connect with me there!  My name on the site is Cowgirlheart, because that's what I am - a Cowgirl at heart.  And in real life too.  One of my favorite ways to spend a day is on the back of my four legged soul mate Romeo, exploring the surrounding desert and Tonto National Forest here in Arizona, just north of Scottsdale.

What will this mean for Page Readers while I take this time away to write?  I have cut back the number of shows I'll do for November and December.  I've been doing about 14 shows a month for some time now, which takes lots of time.  So for the last two months of 2010, I'll do a few specials with guests that I really, really want to talk with because I've enjoyed their work so much, and ask a few past guests back so we can catch up with them and their latest projects.  I'm even thinking of doing a few holiday specials and focus on authors who have also written "How To" books about writing - story creation, character development and even self promotion. 

I've also added ways for authors to appear on Page Readers.  I'm offering written blog interviews as well as the opportunity for authors to write a guest post about their work and their creation or writing process.  There are so many different ways we do what we do as authors and sharing those steps just might help another author who is struggling with their own routine.  If you would like to write a post about how you do what you do, please send me an email!

Be sure to "like" the Page Readers Fan Page on Facebook.  List your book in the reviews section to share your book with author Page Readers guests.  If you have other promotion events happening, like interviews on other shows or blogs, please share them on the Page Readers Fan Page. 

I'm also on Twitter - a lot.  My favorite thing to do is "Re-Tweet," especially announcements by Page Readers guests.  I've been working at building my following and those I follow organically - meaning I don't use an automated service to grow my followers.  I take the time to read each persons bio, to make sure they are people I want to connect with, and people I feel will want to hear what I'm saying, like authors, publicists, publishers and people who love to read!  So if you haven't connected with me there, please do so I can help promote you and your work using this fun social media tool. 
And stay tuned in 2011 because I'm planning a party to celebrate Page Readers second birthday.  Yes, come March, Page Readers will be two years old!

Thank You All for making Page Readers so much fun. 

Here come the holidays!

Dale Garland author of "Letters from Sweetwater"

What fun!  Dr. Dale Garland joined me on Page Readers to discuss his novel "Letters From Sweetwater."

OK, he didn't want me calling him "Doctor," so I didn't - although I must confess:  If I had that much education and degree even my kids would call me "Doctor!"

As a semi retired Optometrist in Western North Carolina, Dale describes his work week as a 5 day weekend.  After trying full retirement for a short time, he realized it wasn't for him.  Even with several grand-kids and now even a great-grand daughter, he knew he still had the time and energy to see patients.

He also knew that he had a story in him that he needed to tell.  But his novel wasn't something that just happened over night.  Taking over a decade to create, "Letters from Sweetwater" is the tale of a family with secrets to hide and then come to terms with regardless of how the family will be forever changed.  And it's no short story either - the novel is 438 pages long!

I really enjoyed talking with Dale.  His charming southern accent and tone gave me the mental picture of a man who had reached an enviable place in his life.  During our interview I pictured him sitting in a big high backed chair behind his desk, reclining back to contemplate each question and his answers.

While I haven't been able to read the novel just yet - I've got quite a stack still lined up before I can get to it - I am definitely looking forward to the read.  If the story turns out to be even half as entertaining as my conversation with Dale, I am sure to enjoy it.

Visit Dale online at his official website.

Author Holli Kenly will hold Benefit in La Quinta, California

Holli Kenly is the author of "Breaking Through Betrayal," and has dedicated her book to a student of hers who passed away at a very young age.  If you are in the La Quinta/Palm Springs area of California, October 22-24th, I hope you will stop by to see Holli.

Over the weekend of October 22-24, 2010, Borders Bookstore in Rancho Mirage will host a Benefit Fundraiser for the David Joseph Miller Memorial Scholarship at La Quinta High School. By using a Borders Benefit Coupon with the purchase any item over the event weekend, a percentage of sales will be donated to the scholarship fund.


David Joseph Miller was an International Baccalaureate Diploma Graduate of La Quinta High School in June 2005. Although David was passionate about many subjects, he was especially interested in Social Science and Physics. After graduation, David pursued his studies in Physics at the University of Redlands, Redlands, Ca. Tragically, on January 28, 2009, David was taken from us. The University of Redlands presented David’s diploma posthumously to his parents Sari and Lloyd Miller.

On March 8, 2010, teachers, staff, parents, and students of La Quinta High School gathered to celebrate David’s zest for life, to acknowledge his dedication to education, and to honor David’s goodness in all aspects of his extraordinary life. At that time, the David Joseph Miller Memorial Scholarship in Social Science was established. In June 2010, the first scholarship in David’s name was awarded to a graduating senior at La Quinta High School. Please join us in support and remembrance of this amazing young man.

Coupons may be picked up at the following locations: Borders Bookstore, La Quinta High School, Indio Middle School, Palm Desert Middle School.

Begin your holiday shopping now while contributing to a David’s fund!!

Retired La Quinta High School teacher and author Holli Kenley will be hosting a book signing event at Borders on Saturday, Oct. 23 from. Holli dedicated her most recent book, Breaking Through Betrayal: And Recovering The Peace Within, to her former student - David Joseph Miller.

Sherry Ficklin author of "Foresight"

Author Sherry Ficklin stopped by Page Readers to discuss her newest book "Foresight."  Listen anytime!

"Foresight" is a teen or young adult novel, based on the mythology of Pandora's Box.  When Sherry set out to write the story, her goal was to have a strong lead female character that was still human enough for her readers to relate.

As book one to a trilogy, "Foresight" introduces characters based on Sherry's love of Greek Mythology that she's created in a modern setting. 

"Second Sight" and "Hind Sight", the second and third books to the series are being released soon, so keep checking in.  Sherry has promised to let us know when they are available.

Learn more about Sherry and her new book "Foresight" at her website at http://www.sherryficklin.com

Dallas Walsh author of web series, "One Day at a Time"

Today my guest is Dallas Walsh author of the ongoing soap opera type series, "One Day at a Time."

Hello and welcome Dallas!  Start us off by telling us about you.

Hmm, where to begin? I am a 27 year old gay male. I have an older brother, two younger brothers and a younger sister. My parents separated when I was 5 (in Kindergarten). I am extremely close to my siblings, especially my younger - older (the older of the two younger brothers!) brother Patrick. He is also a writer. We were close because we always had similar interests. I am a huge tennis buff, playing and watching. I am engaged and am planning to be married next year! Very exciting. I have a cat named Jorge (pronounced HORE-HEY), it's Spanish. He's 7 and I adore him. I work for TD Bank; in Canada (where I live) most people would know the name TD Canada Trust, in the US I believe it's called TD Bank (we have just sort of moved into the US market the last couple of years).
What is your story, "One Day a a Time," about?

My story is on-going, so it's about many things. One Day at a Time is a classic soap opera; in reality you would watch serials like All My Children, Bold & Beautiful, Days of our Lives, General Hospital, One Life to Live & Young & Restless, or the recently cancelled Passions, Guiding Light or As the World Turns; ODaaT is one of these serials, only I write it. I release episodes every 10 days, and it's just like another part of the on-going continuing drama.

I guess if I were to make an over all theme to the series, it would be about family drama and love stories unfolding.

How did this story come to you?

The daytime community has always been in my life. After my parents separated, I lived with my Mom and visited my Dad weekends and summer vacations. My mother watched Another World, Days of our Lives and Young and the Restless. I mostly remember being hooked on Days and Y&R. My brother Patrick and I were huge fans. Patrick, actually, started his own "show" called Green Meadows. This was in 1995, so I would have been 12 and Patrick would have been 9. Immediately, I wanted in on the action, so I created One Day at a Time. I wrote my stories (in very rough - paragraph format) on lined paper. Each piece of paper represented a week's worth of "shows". I still have those "episodes" to date in my binder, and it's what I go by when I write ODaaT today.


What compelled you to write it?

When I was 12, obviously it was because I had the daytime dramas in front of me all the time ... I knew that I had it in me to create dramatic story lines as well. I was inspired. Taking it to the web, was another situation completely. This was years later when I was out of post-secondary (and hadn't been writing ODaaT on the paper/computer for some time), and Patrick had discovered the EpiGuide. He told me he was writing a series and that I should bring a series to the web. Naturally, my first decision was to bring ODaaT to the web because I love this series and the characters I have created. My first venture to the web, however, I must admit my writing was still extremely novice. This was back in 2002. I wrote, and it did get better, for 2 years. In 2004, I came out of the closet and really had to rediscover myself and who I was, so I stopped producing ODaaT. In 2009 (episode 53), I brought ODaaT back and this is when my writing was really good, at least in my opinion. So if you check out ODaaT, and you read episode 1 ... it is bad, I know! I think the beauty is that you can see my growth as a writer, but also an individual.


Who is your favorite character?

Oh gosh, only one? I guess write now my favorite characters to write are Trenyce and Dave. Trenyce is just so misunderstood; she comes across as a complete and utter selfish bitch, but in reality she's just an insecure girl that is looking for love. That's a wicked combination to work with because she can do crazy and bold things but it's all within the character motivation.

I love Dave because he's your over the top villain that cares about nothing but getting his own way. The scenes he shares with his brother Brett are some of my favorite to write because there's just no holding back in the scenes, there are no rules. The Dave storyline is sort of coming to a conclusion in the up coming months, so it'll be sad not to have him there anymore, but the story must go on.


What was your favorite scene to write?

There have been a few scenes that I have loved, but I think my all-time favorite scene was in episode 73 called "Midnight", it's the last scene in the episode with Daisy. Daisy has always been a strong character, but at the time she had recently learned that her husband Chris had not only slept with her sister Danielle, but also her niece Trenyce. Feeling weak and alone, Daisy was in the shower and thought about killing herself. She didn't, but I thought the scene was strong and powerful. It's still one of my favorite moments from the series.


How long did it take you to write the story?

Hmm, well the story is on-going, so I this question may not apply to me. There are some story lines on the series that can last for a long time, for example the Cory/Shane/Natasha/Robin storyline lasted for what seemed like forever; other story lines are wrapped up more quickly. I guess because you have an on-going drama, you have to continue to write the story lines that are working and are within the character motivation.


Is it available anywhere else?

It is only available on the ODaaT website; on the website there is an Episodes page for previous episodes (and recaps!) and on the main page there is a link to the current episode, which also has a printable version.

http://odaatseries.bravehost.com/index.htm This is the only place you can find it!!

Have you ever thought of getting your stories published?

I've never attempted to sell my stories to anyone. I do not have a degree or anything, writing has always just been a hobby of mine. I think I have a knack for creating good soap-opera type story lines, especially the ones that take awhile to be wrapped up. I suppose I could share my work with daytime dramas and see if they were interested, but it's a rough market to get into I am sure.


Where we can we find you online, include your website, facebook, twitter or anywhere else you reside online.

http://odaatseries.bravehost.com/index.htm

Facebook: Dallas Walsh

odaat_webseries@twitter.com

I post on the EpiGuide under the user name Dallas as well.


"If you have a passion to write, just do it! Don't let anyone stop you; always learn, always grow." - Dallas Walsh


Thank you Dallas for sharing your series, "One Day at a Time" with us!