Al Ross - An Intense man with a Rough Attitude

Character Interview

 We are honored to be helping the 

WoMen's Literacy Cafe 

with a wonderful Book Launch Party 

that is taking place this month! 

Please welcome character Al Ross to our blog today!

Al is the star of The Geronimo Breach

We left Al's creator Russell Blake home while we spoke with Al!

Al can you tell us about your part in the book: 

My name is Al Ross. (crowd murmurs, shifts uncomfortably) Russell Blake wrote a book about me, and I'm thinking about suing. (polite tittering, distant coughing) Really. The man ruined my life. 

In The Geronimo Breach, I'm painted as a misanthropic alcoholic grifter who would do the wrong thing even if the right would save my ass. It's an unfair, mean-spirited character assassination thinly veiled as a breakneck-paced roller coaster ride of a thriller set in the jungles of Panama and Columbia, involving a U.S. government conspiracy so damaging to the integrity of the nation that it would bring down the administration if it leaked. 

Sure, it's unlike anything you've ever read, and is filled with Byzantine twists and Machiavellian schemes and a climax that shocks while raising troubling questions about our politicians, the media, and our clandestine intelligence agencies. But what I mainly get out of the book is me being dragged through horror after horror for your diversion, which by the way also might be actionable... All I know is I'm tarred with a brush so ugly and foul that readers are rooting for the bad guys to finish me off, or the burro to bite me, or both.

It's vicious, mean-spirited vindictiveness of the lowest order. I'm not a bad guy. I've just had some lousy luck lately. It could happen to anybody. Hey, I'm trying to quit smoking, so I don't carry them - can I bum one? I'd buy some, but I lost my wallet today. You gonna drink that?

Yes, I'm going to drink that.. and after I do.. I'll help you find your wallet Al!

Before you take off on us, do me a favor and answer some questions for us.  If you do, I'll even pour you a glass to drink with me. 

We all want to be different, so what is the one thing you wish your creator had done differently with you?

What, are you kidding me? Let's start with making me thirty - okay, forty pounds lighter, with thicker hair or a discernable jawline, or some kind of game beyond being the most miserable sh#tweevil on the planet. How much time do we have here? The one thing? How about EVERYTHING? How about keeping me from going through a week of misery that makes the seventh circle of hell play like a trip to Club Med with teen strippers sponge bathing me? Pull up a chair, sweetie. I don't bite. Much. 

Thanks... but I think I am going to sit over here (pushing chair back just a little bit)

What do I wish Blake had done differently with me? How about envisioning a universe where God didn't single me out for punishment and contrive all events to create maximum discomfort in my life? Could I please have that behind door number one? Thanks Blake. Thanks for the f#cking memories. I'm broken inside because you wrote me that way. Hope it was fun. Hope you got a chuckle. Glad my active suppurating misery could distract you from pulling the wings off flies or microwaving kittens or whatever you normally do for amusement. I hope you don't die of something really horrible, like flesh eating bacteria of the brain, while cashing your first meager royalty check or anything.

Angry much there Al? 

If you could have added something to the story, and your creator would have let you, what would that have been?

Hmmmm. How about a vampire and a hot teen, so it didn't all have to be about my frigging character arc, while the entire might of the U.S. was trying to grind my bones into jelly and dance on my muddy grave? Could we catch that on rewrite? Or add a talking dog that tosses out sassy asides that we all learn something about ourselves from? Or something besides me taking body blows and nearly being vaporized more times than Snoop says "endo?" I'm just spitballing here...

Mind hitting those spitballs away from my desk? 

What do you love best about yourself? What do you like least?

I think my positive life outlook, naive charm and belief in the goodness of people are my most appealing characteristic. I don't really have any negative attributes. That's all lies and deliberate distortions by my venomous, toxic creator, who by the way his mother never loved and who better be looking over his shoulder, if you know what I mean.

Yes, Yes of course they are... (clearing my throat and rolling my eyes here)

What part of the book was the hardest for you and your creator to work through?

You mean besides how to make the most horrible human being on the planet, the way he'd tell it, wind up being a protagonist you actually root for and care about? Oh, I don't know. Probably how to write a scene where food poisoning saves my life while I'm humiliated by a donkey as the CIA blasts me with incendiary devices. For starters. But I'm not bitter. I want that underscored here. I. Am. NOT. BITTER.

Not sure I believe you.. but okay.... underscored.  

Is there a sequel for this book? If so, what do you want to accomplish in the next book.  If not, do you wish you could continue your story?

You know what? I don't want that miserable c#ckbiter anywhere near me ever again. I'm doing fine now that he's gone on to other things. Sure, I'm a fascinating example of humanity everyone should be riveted to read more about, but realistically, my story goes somewhere that is best kept private after this. Put two and two together on that after reading the final chapter.

I look forward to it! Thank you so much for visiting Al! 

Wow... O.k. did that man scare anyone else?  He was kind of really intense!! I know I really want to check out his book, but from now on, I sure hope he stays within the pages!! 

So that you don't have to meet that man in person - you can buy his books here at 

You can also visit the creator at the following locations to learn more about him and his writing.

Website: http://RussellBlake.com

Twitter: @BlakeBooks

Facebook

Goodreads

The Geronimo Breach is part of the 

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sponsored by the 

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Tara Spencer from "The Awakening" joins us today

Character Interview

 We are honored to be helping the 

WoMen's Literacy Cafe 

with a wonderful Book Launch Party 

that is taking place this month! 

Please welcome character Tara Spencer to our blog today!

Tara is the star of The Awakening

We left Tara's creator Lisa Lilly home while we spoke with Tara!

Welcome Tara!! Tell us about the book you are in! 

 

My name is Tara Spencer.  I’m a college student with plans to go to medical school.  I have four younger brothers and sisters, so I know how much time and commitment kids require.  That’s why I was determined to wait until after college to get married and have children, and why I told my fiancé, Jeremy, we had to wait to have sex until after I graduated college.   

Then, somehow, I became pregnant anyway.  No one could explain it, and no one believed me that I hadn’t had sex.  Jeremy broke up with me.  His sister – my best friend – was angry at me for not telling her “the truth” about my pregnancy, even though I did.  My parents thought I was losing my mind.   

Only a stranger, Cyril Woods, believed me that I was still a virgin and didn’t know how I got pregnant.  Cyril told me he belonged to a religious order that thought my child was the new messiah, fulfilling signs in the Book of Revelation.  That sounded crazy to me, but he was the only one supporting me, and I turned to him when I was in trouble.  

As soon as I learned the baby would be a girl, though, Cyril abandoned me.  His order said that Revelations was clear – only a male child could be the next messiah.  They convinced Cyril I would be the mother of the anti-Christ, and I needed to be stopped from setting off the Apocalypse.  I fled from my family, from Cyril, from everyone, searching for a safe place to give birth, and the answer to whether I and my child are meant to save the world or destroy it.

Wow Tara!  That sounds like a very intense staring role! Let me ask you a few questions!

We all want to be different, so what is the one thing you wish your creator had done differently with you?

I wish I’d been left alone to have a normal life.  I wanted to finish college, go to medical school.  Maybe go into research and find a way to cure the type of cancer my youngest sister Megan has.  

If I couldn’t change what happened – getting pregnant – I guess I wish I could be a little more suspicious of people.  I believe in the people I love, and I feel that’s a good thing, but sometimes it’s a mistake.  Possibly a fatal mistake. 

If you could have added something to the story, and your creator would have let you, what would that have been?

I would have found better ways to protect the people around me from those who wanted to harm me and stop my pregnancy. 

What do you love best about yourself? What do you like least?

I love best that I believe in myself and the people I care about, and I will go to the ends of the earth to do what I think is right.   

What I like least is that sometimes I’m a little too trusting, and it comes back to haunt me.  But I still think it’s better to give people a chance, rather than thinking the worst all the time.

What part of the book was the hardest for you and your creator to work through?

My parents’ attitudes toward me and my pregnancy.  I like to think that if my daughter told me she was pregnant and didn’t know how it happened, that I would just believe her and support her as she tried to figure out what to do and how this happened.  Maybe it’s not so easy as that, but I wish it were. 

Is there a sequel for this book? If so, what do you want to accomplish in the next book.  If not, do you wish you could continue your story?

Yes, there is a sequel in progress.  I want to find a way to live a happy life despite all that’s happened to me.  I want to make the world a better place, both by becoming a doctor and by finding a way to understand the prophecy about me and use what I learn to help other people.  But that means evading and fighting the same people and forces that tried to end my life and harm people I love.  I hope I am strong and smart enough to do that.

Tara thank you so much for coming to visit us today! I'm really looking forward to checking out your story!

If you wish to purchase The Awakening you can here:

Barnes and Noble

You can Visit with Tara's creator 

Lisa Lilly at these locations:

Blog

On Twitter:  @lisamlilly

Facebook

Website

Goodreads

Google +

The Awakening

 is part of the 

$0.99 Cent eBook Event 

sponsored by the 

WoMen's Literary Cafe

Please click the link below to find out more information: 

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Clint Masters joins us today to talk about his role in "3 Lies"

Character Interview

 We are honored to be helping the 

WoMen's Literacy Cafe 

with a wonderful Book Launch Party 

that is taking place this month! 

Please welcome character Clint Master to our blog today!

Clint is the star of 3 Lies

We left Clint's creator Helen Hanson at home while we spoke with Clint!

Welcome Clint!! Do me a favor and tell me a little bit about the book you star in.

Clint Masters here.  I’m a founder of CatSat Laboratories, and I’m not a big fan of the press. My co-founder, Todd, is the headline-maker.  I’m only here because Helen asked me to talk to you.  I’d rather not re-live this nightmare.  

Well, I appreciate you coming... I can understand it might not be pleasant. 

This whole disaster started the day Beth disappeared. A kidney infection requires her to be on dialysis, so she couldn’t leave town without her dialysis machine.  Or without telling me.  We’d been inseparable for the prior two months. Her parents and uncle were scared.  When they gave me conflicting excuses about her absence, I knew her life was in jeopardy.

I didn’t know at the time, but the CIA was in crisis.  Someone hacked their computer systems and launched an unauthorized mission.  The trouble was, they had no idea who did it, nor the intended target.   Did they have trained CIA agents on the loose?  Terrorists?   

The guys at Langley scrambled to figure it out before the situation exploded, but that meant sifting through millions of computer programs. Could it have been an inside job?  Only a handful of people had access and the technical skills to wreak that kind of havoc.

How was I to know how our lives would intertwine?  Then I discovered that Beth wasn’t the only one missing: nine other people including a four year-old girl.  Who would want them as hostages?

I was a happy man until the lovely bride-of-my-youth decided she’d rather be single. I’m not trying to brag, but as a wealthy men . I could spend a lot more money than I do, but my needs are pretty simple. But at that point, I figured, screw it.  Why am I working this hard?  So I quit my job and bought a sailboat. I even found a sweet, black lab to keep me company.  Until I met Beth.

I loved my wife, Paige, but she wouldn’t even see a marriage counselor. And she was routinely gone late at night. Then she was gone for good.  Or so I thought.  I didn’t want a new relationship.  But we don’t ever plan to fall in love.  Do we?

When Beth disappeared, I decided to find her myself. Maybe it wasn’t a practical decision, but no one else was looking for her. Her body needed routine dialysis to filter the poison accumulating in her blood.  She didn’t have her machine, and without it, she was going to die. 

Wow Clint... You sound like a Knight in Shining armor racing to the princesses side!  I appreciate you telling us about the book and I hope you won't mind answering just a few questions before you go.

S.E. We all want to be different, so what is the one thing you wish your creator had done differently with you?

I wish she hadn’t been so damn honest.  I’m not the kind of guy who gets stupid over women, but Beth– she’s extraordinary.  My world has always been a logical progression. I mean, how many men marry their third-grade sweetheart?  It was supposed to last a lifetime.  But Paige made plans without me, and only a fool wouldn’t take that hint.  So even though I wasn’t looking for another relationship, meeting Beth was a life-changing moment.  Pursuing her was worth any risk.

If you could have added something to the story, and your creator would have let you, what would that have been? 

Life is all about pursuit.  What gets you out of bed in the morning?  Some of the people you’ll meet in 3 LIES pursued only destruction.  Now they may not agree with my assessment, but Helen asked my opinion not theirs.   I’m a builder.  A problem solver.  In my world, loyalty and honor still matter. So maybe she can tell their story next time. Helen hasn’t told me what she’s working on now that she’s completed DARK POOL.  

What do you love best about yourself? What do you like least?

Love about me?  Wow. That’s not something I’ve considered before but, okay.  I have commitment.  I’m a doer, and I accomplish what I set out to do no matter the obstacles.  Anyone can stumble upon fortune.  But not success.  You have to earn success.  I worked my tail off to build my company.  Todd and I both did.  Still, I refuse to let anything own my soul.

Like least.  Hmm.  The same focus that helps me succeed can be a blinder to the rest of my life.  As my almost-ex wife Paige likes to point out, I don’t always notice the thing in front of my face.  When I commit to something, it becomes a priority.  Why bother doing anything half-assed? 

What part of the book was the hardest for you and your creator to work through?

When my marriage to Paige crumbled, I went through a time where I thought all the truths in my world were equally fragile.  But a guy can only mope around so long without feeling some personal disgust.  I mourned, but then I moved on.  Bought a boat.  Got a dog.  Threw away my cell phone.  It was a complete reboot of my life.  Then I met Beth.

Is there a sequel for this book? If so, what do you want to accomplish in the next book.  If not, do you wish you could continue your story?

You never know.  I’m still alive, and it’s a dangerous world out there. We’ve employed the CatSat technology for a variety of global and national emergencies.  Helen may need to call me in for another critical situation.  If so, I’m good to go.

 Where can you buy the books?

Barnes and Noble

iTunes

Where can readers find out more about the books and your creator Helen Hanson? 

Blog

Website

Facebook

Goodreads

Twitter: @HelenHanson

3 Lies

 is part of the 

$0.99 Cent eBook Event 

sponsored by the 

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Please click the link below to find out more information: 

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Rachel Pendleton is the star of "The Devil's Game" and she talks to us!

Character Interview

 We are honored to be helping the 

WoMen's Literacy Cafe 

with a wonderful Book Launch Party 

that is taking place this month! 

Please welcome character Rachel Pendleton to our blog today!

Rachel is the star of The Devil's Game

We left Rachel's creator S.L. Pierce home while we spoke with her! 

Rachel -  tell us about the book you star in -

My name is Rachel Pendleton and I am about to start my real life, as I like to call it.  I am about to finish graduate school and it looks like I might actually land my dream job as a designer at Mad Media Animation Studio.  I left the comforts of my family and the security of Coldcreek, the small town I grew up in, because I felt smothered. For as long as I can remember, I dreamed of living the life of an artist in the big city.

Big cities can be fun and exciting! 

It’s been a long haul. My parents have been very patient. I think they were starting to wonder if perhaps dental hygienist would have been a better career choice.

That doesn't sound as fun as a designer! 

There’s just one little hitch. From out of nowhere, some creeper has started leaving little gifts inside my locked apartment. Great, just what I needed. Is it someone I know? Is this person dangerous or just some lonely, pathetic dweeb desperate for attention? It’s impossible to stay focused. I can’t shake the feeling that someone is watching me.  

You just gave me the chills... 

And the worst part is, everyone I meet is starting to look suspicious.  People I've known for a long time suddenly look strange.  My brain is working overtime. It wants to scrutinize everything little thing they do or say. I don’t know what to do. I’m at my wits end, but one thing’s for sure. Whoever is doing this is not going to shred my future.  Running home to the safety of Coldcreek is not an option. 

Good for you!  

 

I just can’t stop that nagging feeling that things are going to get worse before they get better.

Oh... that's not good!!!  It makes me very afraid for you!!! 

Answer a few questions for us Rachel.

We all want to be different, so what is the one thing you wish your creator had done differently with you?

Well, it certainly would have been handy to be a black belt in Karate. Or even better, some super powers, like telepathy or super-sonic hearing would have been sweet. I would’ve been ten steps ahead of any intruder!

So.. you don't have super powers.. yeah I can see how that could be handy! 

If you could have added something to the story, and your creator would have let you, what would that have been?

There’s so much more to my story than this book has time to tell.  I’m not the kind of person who just does what they’re told and likes it. I’m unpredictable because I like to think it’s part of being unstoppable. If someone throws up a road block, you have to make your own alternative route or you get left behind.

That is very true... 

What do you love best about yourself? What do you like least?

I’m proud of my work as an animator. I realize it may not be academy award worthy, but it honest and it’s true. And I feel grateful to have the chance to tell my story through art.

As far as what I like least about myself? Well, I do tend to procrastinate. It’s hard to create big things when you’re bogged down in tedious details. Unfortunately, keeping my focus on the forest means I bash into a few trees along the way.

lol.... I've hit my share of trees too! 

What part of the book was the hardest for you and your creator to work through?

Would you believe the details? The adventure I lived through had so many twists and turns, it was hard to keep track of them all. It was so important to tell my story accurately, my creators took great pains to make sure every detail was well thought out and intelligent.

I love twists and turns!!! 

Is there a sequel for this book? If so, what do you want to accomplish in the next book.  If not, do you wish you could continue your story?

By standing my ground, I’ve made some pretty powerful enemies. I have little doubt that they’ll be back to pay me a visit in the future. I’m smarter now, but will I be ready? Perhaps I’ll get started on that black belt.

That might be a good idea!!! Thank you so much for talking to us today!! I look forward to reading more about you in The Devil's Game! 

Before you leave Rachel, 

can you tell us where to buy the book?

Barnes and Noble

Smashwords

How can we connect with your creator to learn more?

Blog

Twitter: @piercebooks

Facebook

Facebook Fan Page

Website

Goodreads

 Google +

The Devil's Game is part of the 

$0.99 Cent eBook Event 

sponsored by the 

WoMen's Literary Cafe

Please click the link below to find out more information: 

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Character Interview: John Manning talks Shades of Gray

Character Interview

 We are honored to be helping the 

WoMen's Literacy Cafe 

with a wonderful Book Launch Party 

that is taking place this month! 

Please welcome character John Manning to our blog today!

John is the star of Shades Of Gray that will be released this month! 

We got a chance to talk to John over the phone while 

his creator Andy Holloman was busy. 

John is going to tell us a bit about the book he stars in: 

This story is a very difficult one to tell about decisions and choices that I made when I found myself in a very dire situation.  My precious daughter, Lucy, was very sick and, in order to raise money quickly, I partnered with a local drug runner name Wanda Johnson.  We had very good success with our first venture and raised more money than I thought was possible in one week.  However, our second trip turned into a disaster that wrecked my life as well as many others close to me. 

That's doesn't sound good John...  I can only imagine what you are going to have to deal with in your story! 

Wanda’s boss, Jamel Scott, had become very suspicious of her activities and found out that she was trying to move cocaine behind his back.  My brother, Travis, a Durham NC police detective, was unaware of my crossing the line into illegal activities.  I so wish that rather than breaking the law, I had simply been humble enough to ask him for money.  I found out that he had plenty, although I was not aware of the lengths he had gone to in order to earn this money.


Okay... that sounds intriguing... hmmmm.... 

John - do me a favor and answer a few questions before you take off out of here!

We all want to be different, so what is the one thing you wish your creator had done differently with you?       

I wish that my creator had endowed me with the same good looks that he assigned to my brother Travis.  *smile*


Didn't anyone ever tell you that beauty is in the eye of the beholder?  I'm sure someone thinks you are attractive!

If you could have added something to the story, and your creator would have let you, what would that have been?       

I would have added more information about my ex-wife Ellen.  She was very special to me but suffered from a mental illness that hampered her ability to stay connected with me and Lucy.  Ellen is also a very interesting and intelligent person and I know that readers would have enjoyed discovering more about her.


Maybe she will return in a later book? 

What do you love best about yourself?  I love my problem solving ability.  I have faced adversity over and over again and I have learned how to get things fixed.  Part of being a successful business owner is being able to solve any of the numerous problems that you face.     

That is very true... 

What do you like least?   

I don’t like that I’m not physically appealing to women.


Wow.. You're not that unappealing!!! (of course I can't see you over the telelphone line, so maybe you are...)

What part of the book was the hardest for you and your creator to work through?  

The sections of the story that described horrible things happening to children were very challenging and hard for me to be a part of.


That would be hard for almost anyone to write and be a part of.  

Is there a sequel for this book?    
We do not have a sequel planned for this book but my creator and I have flirted with the idea of creating a “pre-quel” to this story.


A "pre-quel"  - now that is interesting... 

Now as much as we wish we could give you more information on John Manning - you're just going to have to get in touch with his creator, Andy Holloman and speak to him!

Visit Andy's Website:  www.AndyHolloman.com

Andy's Facebook Page:  www.FaceBook.com/AndyHolloman

Twitter: @AndyHolloman

Purchase Shades of Gray:  

Website: Purchase printed copies

Shades of Gray is part of the 

$0.99 Cent eBook Event 

sponsored by the 

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Please click the link below to find out more information: 

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