This post was originally published on November 30,2011 on my blog, collettescott.blogspot.com.

With  the passing of the Patriot Act in what seems a lifetime ago, I think many  Americans thought everything would be okay. However, Linda Hawley presents a  different spin on the invasion of  government into the private sector. What if  the government was monitoring us via microchip inserted in our driver's  licenses? What if the government was listening to every word we said at every  time? Ms. Hawley has taken that line of thought one step further with the first  book in her series, Dreams Unleashed. I am very pleased to announce that the lovely Linda Hawley is here to share a little more about her spine-tingling, edge-of-your-seat thriller, the first in her series The Prophecies.
 Collette: Welcome, Linda. I’m so happy to have you here. Can we start with  the basics? Tell us a little about your background. How was The Prophecies Series born?

Linda: I was an executive on a plane flying from Dallas to Seattle when, upon landing, the plane nearly crashed.(I have flown all over the world in all kinds of weather, and it was the very worst experience on a plane that I'd had.) In the airport later, I wrote down the experience while it was fresh in my mind, amazed that I was alive. I then emailed it to my assistant. When I got back in my office the next day, my assistant said, "That was incredible; you should write a book. "I was shocked by his words, but let them marinate in my mind. Not long after, Ann Torgeson (my protagonist) was born.The final chapter in Dreams Unleashed (book 1 of The  Prophecies) was inspired by my experience.
 
Collette: That’s some scary stuff. What is your  writing process?
 
Linda: I'm a night writer. Some of my best scenes I wrote at one in the morning. I pretty much write every day. I usually know the first and last chapter of every book, and often write them first. For the rest of the novel, I write down 12  phrases of milestones in the story, and then write to them chronologically. I never get more detailed than that, because  I need to keep it open to activate my creative juices. For the most part, I fly off the seat of my  pants when writing stories.

Collette: Do you write full-time now?

Linda: Yes

Collette: Were you inspired by someone/something to write the genre you’re writing in?
 
Linda: Dystopian thrillers are what I love; both in books and movies. Nothing could be more exciting for me.

Collette: How long have you been working on the series?

Linda: I started Dreams Unleashed (book one) three years ago, but in March 2011, I discarded all but 1/8 of the book, and rewrote  it; it was published two months later. I wrote Guardian of Time (book two) in three months; it was published Oct 2011.I am  writing book three now; it's the final book in the series. I'm comfortable writing three novels per year.
 
Collette: Can you describe your research into your subject?

Linda: I'm a news junky; I read about five news sources every day. I understand what's going on in the  world. I look for trends of discord to  use in my dystopian thrillers. I research like crazy, because most of the technology, locations, and historical  information are real. In The Prophecies, the fiction includes the characters and the things that they do. However, Remote Viewing, Project Stargate,  RFID tracking, and many other things are real --all of them discovered in my research.
 
Collette: Are any of your characters based on real-life friends or acquaintances?

Linda: All except Chow Lai, and a couple of new characters in Guardian of Time.
 
Collette: Do you ever incorporate yourself into your characters?
 
Linda: Ann's character includes the best parts of me.

Collette: That’s pretty cool, Linda.

Moving on to Dreams Unleashed. Here’s the blurb for the story:
 
Book 1, The Prophecies, A Dystopian Thriller Series

It’s the near future, and society is government controlled. Technology tracks everyone, and personal privacy does not exist. The hope for freedom lies in the operations of an underground organization, GOG, which fights against worldwide oppression. Their most powerful weapon is Ann Torgeson, a paranormally-gifted operative. When her powers release the seal of The Prophecies, she becomes a weapon against the government, which relentlessly pursues her. 

Question everything is the theme of Dreams Unleashed.

Collette: Your series is a mixture of adventure and intrigue, yet Ann still manages to remain a ‘woman’. She’s a female Jason Bourne but also a mother who loves her daughter and a wife who loves her husband. Can you tell us how you managed to balance her tough and soft sides?

Linda: I think women are amazing--smart, intuitive, joyful, spiritual, thoughtful, aware, loyal, sensual, funny, etc. In movies, however, women are rarely multidimensional, especially with their sensuality. I wanted to create a powerful, feminine woman who did not wear high heels, stockings, or a little black dress, but who was not a tomboy. I wanted her to be a thinking woman who considered the state of the world, and for her to be a warrior who was willing to risk her own life to fight for what she knows to be right. With all this intensity, I softened her character by making her laugh at her boyfriend's jokes, and to be enticed by compliments from her boss.

Collette: Yes, she is a multi-dimensional character, for sure. One of my favorite things about Ann is that she’s a tough and capable character with a strong sense of what is right. Can you tell us a little about Ann’s message?

Linda: Ann's message is to open your eyes and look around. Take something mentioned in one of the books, and Google it to find out what's happening in your own country. You're likely to be surprised. In The Prophecies, I'm not trying to scare you, but it's likely that I will do just that if you consider that most of the technologies in the book are real--right now.

Collette: What's the biggest surprise readers can expect from reading this series?

Linda: Adventure. Ann travels all over the globe, and I've described these adventures visually, so the reader can see it in their mind's eye. It's an armchair traveler's delight. 
 
Collette: Without giving away too much of your story, can you tell us what’s in the works for Ann in later installments of The Prophecies Series?
 
Linda: I can't answer this one very well [without giving too much away], but I'll give you a little teaser. The final book in The Prophecies series (yet untitled) will answer all of the open questions from Dreams Unleashed and
Guardian of Time (books 1 and 2).The ending is quite spectacular; I suspect readers will be thrilled.
 
Collette: Do you have plans to continue writing following Ann’s final chapter? If so, what will your future projects entail?
 
Linda: I have a stand-alone novel I'm writing. My dad's father (my grandfather) died a hero in a notorious battle in Germany right before the end of WWII. The first scene in the novel is the final battle scene, and as he's dying, his life flashes before his eyes. Since it's historical fiction, I'm working hard to present a visual story (like all my writing).It's called 'An American Orphan.' It's a surprise for my dad. I expect to be finished in March 2012.
 
Collette: Ok, so make sure you don’t tell him we’ve posted this interview. Where can we find you
online?
 
Book Trailer on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ctR4NDgwSSc&feature=youtu.be
Author Website: http://www.lindahawley.com/
Facebook Fan Page:http://www.facebook.com/ThePropheciesSeries
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Dreams-Unleashed-2nd-Prophecies-ebook/dp/B005YIQYIU/ref=sr_1_2?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1319555407&sr=1-2
Amazon.uk: http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B005YIQYIU
Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/98527
B&N:http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/dreams2-unleashed-linda-hawley/1106955115?ean=2940013306615&itm=2&usri=linda%252bhawley
CreateSpace:https://www.createspace.com/3696178
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12973680-dreams-unleashed-2nd-ed
Shelfari: http://www.shelfari.com/books/23896326/Dreams-Unleashed-(The-Prophecies)
LibraryThing:http://www.librarything.com/work/book/79452349
 
Collette: What formats are your books available in?
 
Linda: All eBook formats and of course Print. 

Collette: Thank you so much, Linda! I wish you all the best with your writing projects!

This post originally appeared on March 23, 2012 on http://collettescott.blogspot.com.
I have had the great pleasure in becoming friends with the multi-talented and extremely intelligent author, Ilil Arbel. In addition to writing in multiple genres, Ilil is also an expert in the field of mythology and folklore. She brings this expertise to life in a charming and exciting young adult fantasy novel, The Cinnabar Box, which my  daughter recently read and enjoyed tremendously. I was able to entice Ilil to make an appearance on my blog to talk about The Cinnabar Box as well as some of her other projects. Please join me in learning more about this fascinating author, Ilil Arbel! 
 
Hello Ilil! I’m so happy to have you join me today. Thank you for agreeing to appear on my blog. So let’s get started with a little bit about you:

A Bit About Ilil Arbel:

Collette: Tell us a little about your background. 
  
Ilil: I am all mixed up. Born and raised in Israel, I studied in Paris, and then moved to New York where I still live, fighting for survival in Manhattan. But that’s not all, I also have a shady past… I did not start writing until later, as a career change. I was a scientific illustrator for years! During those years, I studied mythology, folklore, history and literature, some formally and some on my own, so when I decided it was time to make a career change, I was ready for writing. I think I always wanted to write, though. My grandfather was an author so it felt good to follow in his footsteps. 
 
Collette: That’s so interesting! A scientific illustrator? So you’re quite the artist - well rounded.

Collette: How often do you do collaborations?
 
Ilil: I collaborated with only two Authors. The first was an expert on the field of extraterrestrials, and I wrote two biographies based on his notes. The other was editing Lord David Prosser’s delightful Barsetshire novels. I highly recommend Lord David’s books, by the way.
 
Collette: Oh, I do too! I love Lord David’s humor and his stories! He’s one of my daughter’s favorites as
well.

Collette: So, tell me, where do you get your ideas?

Ilil: I walk in the street, and suddenly the ideas leap out of my bizarre subconscious mind and demand attention. We do a lot of walking in New York, so the ideas keep coming to harass me. I am sure books also trigger thoughts, but it is less obvious. 
 
Collette: And I’m sure there’s plenty in Manhattan to trigger a story, hee hee... So were you inspired by someone/something to write the genres you’re writing in?
 
Ilil:The Lemon Tree was inspired my mother’s stories about her life in Siberia and her family’s year-long journey to Tel Aviv. She was a superb storyteller. For general fiction, I would say that W. Somerset Maugham made a strong impact on me and I learned a lot from his short stories and autobiographical material. For biography, I was inspired by the style of Andre Maurois. For fantasy and magic, I learned mostly from the great Lord Dunsany; he invented mythologies! 
 
Collette: What is your writing process?
 
Ilil: I write the story mentally, telling it to myself. Then I sit and type it on the computer. I rarely write by hand since I like to write fast, keeping up with the thoughts. If I get stuck and don’t know what the next scene is, I let my thoughts drift and suddenly it feels as if a door is opened and I step into the solution. From the technical point of view, I read yesterday’s writing before I start on today’s writing, so it will be a smooth transition. When the story is done, I rewrite, edit, and proofread several times. Then every book goes to a proofreader to make sure it’s professional and clean. 
 
Collette: Do you write full-time now?

Ilil: No… I wish I could, but life is expensive these days! I need a day job.

Collette: What is your current day job?
 
Ilil: I work as an indexer. Believe it or not, it’s a lot of fun, like playing with a puzzle. I index both databases and books. 

A Bit About Ilil's Writing:

Collette: You have written quite a bit so far and in different genres. You have somewhat of a memoir, The Lemon Tree, that’s on my Kindle eagerly waiting for me to start. How about a bit of a teaser into that amazing real-life story? 
  
Ilil: Here is a segment, about an incident that took place as the family was traveling on the Trans-Siberian Railway from Siberia to Tel Aviv, and reached Manchuria under very dangerous conditions. 

…Then
another unbearable thing happened. A policeman motioned Papa to follow him to the men’s department. Papa looked back at us, his blue eyes full of pain. “It's
all right, girls,” said Mama quietly. “You will follow me to the women's department, and soon we will meet Papa in the hall again. Don't worry.”At that moment, however, I wasn't worrying about myself, but about Papa. I couldn't bear the thought that he was alone; at least the three of us were together. If only Sasha were here to be with him, I thought, it's so unfair, so unfair, poor Papa, all alone . . . “Don't cry, Ida,” said Mama firmly and put her arm around me. “You will attract attention.” Somehow I managed. Mama's immeasurable inner strength never failed me.

We were received by a very tall woman, dressed entirely in black. She even wore a black fur hat, like the hats of the Cossacks. Over her forehead peeked a few gray hairs and her face was wrinkled, not with friendly laugh lines around the eyes, but with vicious lines, pointing down around her mouth. She smelled of mildew, and reminded me of Baba Yaga, the horrible witch that ate little children in the Russian fairy tales. 

This looming apparition went straight to Feera and mumbled: “undo your braids and then take off your clothes.” Feera stood naked and shivering from the cold, with only her loose hair reaching her ankles and covering her back. The witch raised her eyebrows with surprise at the magnificent hair, but did not utter even one soft word or try a little smile to relax the terrified child. After Feera was searched I repeated the procedure. When Mama's turn came my heart stopped beating. I observed the speed with which she took off her coat, with the buttons loaded with gold coins, and her stockings' garters which also had some coins in them. The witch took the belt filled with all our paper money immediately. She didn't even bother to check what was in it. She knew. Wordlessly she waited for us to dress and led us to another room.

At least Papa waited there already. It was the office of an official who took care of “criminals” like us, those who dared to smuggle some necessities of life. The official methodically recorded the list of our offenses. Suddenly, he raised his head and looked sharply at us as we stood there, pale and desperate. His eyes rested on the lemon tree in Mama's hand and he asked: “And what's that?”  

Mama's fingers went white as she clutched the pot to her heart. We all had the same thought: he will never believe us. He will dig the pot, searching for valuables, and the lemon tree will die of shock. 

“That's all I have left from my eldest son, who sowed this lemon tree with his own hands. He died recently,” said Mama.

The official's eyes softened. He continued to stare at the little, upright lemon tree. On a chair, next to his desk, the witch left all her loot, including Mama's belt. The official, with a sudden gleam in his eyes, looked at the belt, and then at us again. He seemed to hesitate. Suddenly, he extended his hand to the belt, shoved it at Mama and said: “Take care of the lemon tree and of your daughters.” He hastily handed our papers back to Papa, poked his head out of the door and called: “Next traveler!” motioning us to hurry and leave so that no one would witness his act of kindness. He, too, was afraid.

Collette: Thank you, that's wonderful. You are even currently writing a book on your blog in installments. Tell us a little bit about “A Book in Progress”?

Ilil: It’s called The Golden Rule. This is the strangest book I have ever done. I wanted to write the life story of Hillel the Elder, a prominent Jewish scholar, lawmaker, and leader who lived two thousand years ago. I adore him; he was a lovely human being. The Encyclopedia Britannica claimed it can’t be done, reflecting the view of almost everyone that Hillel’s life was too shrouded in legend. This was a challenge, so naturally I decided to write it anyway. I figured if you take the legends and lay them out against the exciting, violent history of the time, as faithfully recorded by contemporaries, and then add a lot of material from other Jewish sources, it can be done. Since it would take years to write, I figured the way to get it out to the public right away is to write it online, as a blog. So every Sunday I place a new segment. I was surprised and delighted by the showof interest by readers. The book is of course free of charge and available to everyone on my website.
 
Collette:  I have been following this story, and it’s fascinating stuff! The amount of research into Biblical times is staggering and well-written. Anyone who enjoys that time period is bound to learn something new, Ilil. You are to be commended.

Collette: And your “Personal Histories”, would you like to share a bit about that interesting journey?

Ilil: My personal histories were never done professionally. I did it as a hobby since I think everyone in the world has a story that should be told, and I had an opportunity to interview several elderly people who were extraordinarily interesting. A few samples are available on my website; I would love to come back to it someday, either as a blog or as a book. 
 
Collette: With your background in mythology and folklore, do you plan to continue in that vein or with more historical/memoir stories?

Ilil: I will probably come back to it eventually. For the moment, they will be used
for the sequel to The Cinnabar Box. 
  
Collette: Okay, so we’re back to the story that my daughter read and loved! Let’s talk a little bit more about your YA novel, The Cinnabar Box. My daughter recently finished that novel and truly enjoyed it. She had a few questions she’d like to ask you about your adventurous story:

Collette: How long did that story take you to complete?

Ilil: It took about six months. 

Collette: Can you describe your research into your subject?

Ilil: I did not need much research, to be honest, since this is the type of mythology I know well. I checked for accuracy against my mythological dictionaries. 
 
Collette: She found it very informative the way Donna traveled to alternative worlds. Did you draw on your background in history, mythology and folklore to describe them so accurately? 

Ilil: Yes, all the characters and locations are based on accurate mythological or historical figures and situations, even the vegetable lamb, the balalaika-playing toad, and the Devil’s School. Except for one thing– the flood scene is based on a horribly realistic dream I had when I was about twelve years old. 

Collette: Are there going to be more stories about Donna and Yolanda?

Ilil: Yes, I am hoping to start a sequel soon. 
 
Collette: Now that’s what she wanted to hear! 
  
Collette: Her favorite character was Bartholomew. Did you have a favorite character in the story? 

Ilil: I liked him too. It’s a toss up this irresistible donkey, and Camellia, the elegant camel who wears pearls and a flower behind her ear. 
  
Collette: Are any of your characters based on real-life friends or acquaintances? 
  
Ilil: No, never. I make them all up. I don’t want to upset my friends…
 
Collette: Haha, I know what you mean! So do you ever incorporate yourself into your characters?

Ilil: Not deliberately, but I am sure some weirdness must seep into them. 
 
Collette: Are you still writing? If so, what will your future projects entail?

Ilil: Yes, why stop? Writing is great fun. The Golden Rule will take years to research and write. But in the meantime, I am also trying my hand at my first detective story. I can’t give details since the publisher wants to wait on that for a while and swore me to secrecy. But soon all shall be revealed!!!

Collette: Considering how well rounded you write, do you have a favorite genre to write or do you write what stories come to mind?

Ilil: I like to try many different things, but I think my favorite is biography of historical figures.

Collette: How often do you read?
 
Ilil: I read every single day since I have learned how to do it. I think the only day I missed was the day my son was born. It would have been awkward to ask for a book under the circumstances. 
 
Collette: That's true. Besides, I'm sure you were busy! So what is your favorite genre to read?

Ilil: For entertainment, I prefer late 18th and 19th century British classics. For nonfiction, including research, I love ancient Jewish history and folklore. 

Collette: Does your reading inspire you?

Ilil: Reading is not an option for me, it’s a necessity, so it’s hard to decide if it is an inspiration or a horrible addiction… 
  
Where can we find you online?
Blog: The Golden Rule (blog/a book in progress): http://ililarbel.weebly.com/a-book-in-progress.html
Website: http://ililarbel.weebly.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/#!/profile.php?id=1092849415
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=ilil+arbel
Amazon.uk:http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=ilil+arbel
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/254172812
Angela Thirkell Society of North America: http://www.angelathirkell.org/
Encyclopedia Mythica:http://www.pantheon.org/areas/featured/witchcraft/

Collette: Where are your books available for purchase?
 
Ilil: Most convenient are Amazon.com and Barnesandnoble.com. The books are also on a bunch of independent sellers but I can’t keep track. I am sure some are pirated… 
  
Collette: What formats are your books available in?
 
Ilil: The books that are available for sale exist in paperback and/or on Kindle. The free books on the Angela Thirkell Society and Encyclopedia Mythica can be downloaded and saved on your computer as PDF or Word. 
 
Collette: Thank you so much, Ilil! It was fascinating to learn more about your work and your writing. I wish you all the best success and we can’t wait for you to release The Cinnabar Box’s sequel!
 
As I mentioned, my daughter enjoyed this book so much that she wanted to write a review. Once she started it, she was unable to put it down until the end. She reported that she was totally engaged with the characters, feeling their fear, excitement, sadness and stress. By the end, she was so caught up in the story that she did not want it to end and is thrilled with the news that there will be a sequel. Here is her review:

Though somewhat slow at first, don't let that deceive you. Once you get into this book it's hard to put it down. It was a great story, well written and so descriptive you could almost feel like you were in the book. I loved the travels that Donna and Yolanda took, and the adventures they participated in were at times breathtaking. I would definitely recommend this book and hope she writes more!
 5+ Stars


 

This interview was originally posted on September 20, 2011 on http://collettescott.blogspot.com. I really enjoyed my visit with David, as he is a very good friend of mine and quite the gentleman.

I am truly blessed to be able to chat with one of the most witty and entertaining men in my acquaintance. Lord David Prosser is the author of The Queen’s Envoy, a charming and humorous story that kept me giggling long
after I finished the book. Not only does this story ripple with humor, but the characters come to life as very human and very fallible individuals that you can easily relate to.

Collette: When did you start writing?

David: Probably about 59 years ago but whoever saw my writing on the wall didn't recognise my true genius then. I started writing Books this year around my 60th birthday after someone liked a fake diary entry I did of my day. She wanted more and so I wrote the first book. Not to worry though, she's better now.
 
Collette: And where did you get your ideas?

David: Mainly from real situations that are easily exaggerated. I think people identify with situations they've found themselves in though I'm not sure many would own up to the toothpaste accident from Book 1.

Collette: Were you inspired by someone to write the genre you’re writing in?
 
David: I would have said no, but I've been told I write in a Wodehouse vein and I always did like Jeeves and Wooster.
 
Collette: What is your writing process?
 
David:  Pen to paper, paper to computer and then change things as I type up. I don't have set times as I never know when I'll be free so I write when the urge takes me and when I can.
 
Collette: How did you begin to collaborate with Ilil Arbel?
 
David: We had a mutual friend that I hadn't heard from in a while and I wanted to know if she knew where he was......probably hiding from me. We became friends and it was she that got the phony diary. As I had no experience and she persuaded me to write she became my editor as a penance.

Collette says: Hiding from you… penance? No way! I don’t believe a word of it. Okay, so do you write full-time now?
 
David: No. Unfortunately my wife is very ill and I don't have much time. With my own health issues I'm thinking of booking a parking bay at the hospital. Maybe I can sit there and write.

Collette: My thoughts are always with the lovely Lady Julia. 

Collette: For those who don’t know much about The Queen’s Envoy, could you summarize it in a sentence or two?

David:  A totally naive man is appointed as an unofficial envoy to HMG. Sent out to save his country from embarrassment with nothing more than a stiff upper lip can he avoid the clutches of the bad guys and the good girls who aim to divert him?
 
Collette: Very well put! I did so love the young beauties trying to seduce his innocence away from him, and Lady J’s stoic reminder that he’s one step above ‘oblivious’.  With that being said, how did you come up with the idea of The Queen’s Envoy?

David: I had to produce a history from before Lord David gained the Title and I didn't think a job in Local Government was quite gripping enough.
 
Collette: How long did it take you to complete?
 
David:  About 6 weeks in total but I had less time limitations then and bucket loads of enthusiasm.
 
Collette: Lord David goes from humble man to secret spy. Why do you think he maintains his innocence while he is thwarting assassins, blackmailers and financial gurus? 

David: I think he's always been a little shy and certainly naive. He feels that it's luck that helps him solve all the problems so gives himself little credit.
 
Collette: Can you describe Lord David in a few sentences? What is he like? What does he want? Goals, strengths, weaknesses, etc.

David: I wonder which one you want? He's rather Edwardian in look and dress, mainly quietly spoken and tries to be a gentleman in every sense of the word. He wants world peace but is not so naive as to think it likely to happen. His goals are to keep his family safe and his strengths are that he will not be diverted from right as he believes in justice. His weaknesses are probably that he will not be diverted from right and he believes in the law rather than justice which don't always seem to be the same thing.
 
Collette: That sums him up perfectly. Sir Oscar plays a rather large role in keeping Lord David humble. Can you tell us a little bit about this star of the show?
 
David:  Oscar is the unofficial alarm cat in the household who knows that only Lord David is daft enough to wake at the first mioaw, and if he doesn't then he will move at the second scratch or the third bite. Oscar has the usual high opinion of himself that cats have and he's now decided that the universe of the village revolves around him. He's actually 17 now and becoming much more of a house cat though he's never admit that in his blog.

Collette says: My favourite spot in the book was Lady J tossing Oscar at the postman. She seems like quite the lady! Can you tell us a little bit about Lord David’s better half?
 
David: Lady J is probably the only master Oscar recognises. She's a sweet natured person but tends to be much more practical than David so perhaps appears on occasion to be a little short with him. There's no doubt she loves him, but like most women likes to be the winner when it comes to a difference of opinion. She also has the knack for levitating his wallet out of his pocket without him noticing. Loves animals especially her horses and riding is the only thing that makes her get up early. Someone you'd always want on your side.
 
Collette: Lady J and Ysabel also prevent Lord David from becoming too egotistical. Why do you think that is?
 
David: I think they're just trying to show they retain the common touch and that the Title hasn't changed them though they accept the Title has given them certain privileges. They feel that people will lose respect if they act too high and mighty even though they have a position to maintain. David hasn't changed at all but they foist all their worries on to him rather than accept it may be them.

Collette: You based many characters on your real-life acquaintances. What sort of reception have you received from them? 
 
David:  I take the phone off the hook and tell them I'm the Butler and his Lordship is out. In reality no-one has minded so far though one person asked why I'd given her only one eye, and I didn't even remember I had. If I ever become a best  seller I think I'll arrange guided tours round the local spots in books one and
three.

Collette: We shouldn’t forget Oscar’s lawsuit, right? I wonder if he will relent now that you are giving him his due. Are you still writing despite Oscar? If so, what will your future projects entail?
 
David:  I have started book four but circumstances have brought it to a halt for now. This is a sequel to The Queen's Envoy, and I am offering friends the chance to appear in a chapter each based on their home town and using their own skills to help me solve a case. I freely admit this is a device to boost
sales as hopefully they'll all want copies for their families. I might even make double figures in sales like this.
 
Collette: Can you tell us a little bit about The Barsetshire Diaries?

David: This is an attempt to remind people of life in a small village and the eccentricities of those who live there. When Anthony Trollope wrote about Barsetshire it had the gentry and the towns and villages. Seventy years later Angela Thirkell updated the stories and continued along the same theme. Seventy
years later I've tried to do the same but in a humerous way.
 
Collette: How often do you read?
 
David:  I try to read for an hour before sleep each night. The longer I stay awake the longer I read so I'm on two books a day now.
 
Collette: Now that makes me jealous! So do you have a favorite genre to read?

David:  Very difficult. I like books by John Grisham, Terry Pratchett, Dick Francis, Sue Grafton and Harlan Coben so it covers a lot of genres except romance because I can't afford the tissues. 
  
Where can we find you online?

 Blog: http://barsetshirediaries.wordpress.com
 
Website: http://lorddavidspage.weebly.com includes Oscar's Blog

Facebook: David Michael Prosser and Author Lord David Prosser
 
Amazon:
Lord David Prosser http://www.amazon.com/Lord-David-Prosser/e/B004I7CFTU/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0
 
Amazon.uk: 
Lord David Prosser http://www.amazon.co.uk/Lord-David-Prosser/e/B004I7CFTU/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0
  
Other: The Red Room, Bookbuzzr.com, Authorsden.
 
Where is The Queen’s Envoy available for purchase? Lulu.com, Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk, B & N
 
Collette: What formats are your books available in?

David:  My Barsetshire Diary and The Queen's Envoy are in paperback and on Kindle. More Barsetshire Diary is paperback only at the moment.
 
Collette: Do you have a release date for your next book? 
  
David: Not by a long chalk having done only a chapter and a half at the moment.

Collette: Every little bit helps. I wish you the best of luck with your future projects. If they are anything like The Queen’s Envoy, we are sure to enjoy. Thank you so much, David! I am so happy to have 
had this chat with you. What a hilarious story you have. A great read!
 
David: It's been a real pleasure, Collette. Thank you for giving me so much leeway, it was fun.
 
Collette’s review: If you are looking for a charming and entertaining read in which you will giggle your way through, then this book is it! From almost the very first page I was bubbling with laughter, and the trend continued to the end.

When a young government official, whose only concerns in the beginning stem from a minor motor vehicle accident and his wife's penchant for swiping his wallet, is suddenly the bearer of the title, Lord of Bouldnor, and pressed into Her Majesty's service, our small-village gentleman suddenly becomes an English hero. With characters such as wife Lady J and daughter Ysabel, who keep Lord David humble, and Oscar the cat, who reminds Lord David on multiple occasions just who is the boss in his family, Lord David fills his new role with the humility of a saint. Sent on various missions, Lord David swiftly and matter-of-factly saves the crown from financial ruin, blackmail, and diplomatic assassinations with the ease of a pro, only to return home to his loving wife and daughter and his eternal nemesis, Oscar, as though nothing ever happened.

With characters such as Dr. Jekyll and a cafe owner who inadvertently poisons him as well as a small village that spreads gossip via jungle drums, Lord David's story is entirely way too entertaining not to enjoy. Though not a fast-paced spy adventure, you will laugh your way through and love this humble James Bond with his self-deprecating humor and eager to please disposition. I highly recommend David and Ilil's story for a great laugh.

This blog post originally appeared on September 21, 2011 on http://collettescott.blogspot.com.

Chris Thrall’s highly anticipated new release, Eating Smoke: One Man’s Descent into Drug Psychosis in Hong Kong’s Triad Heartland, is a powerful yet humorous autobiography about a man who hopes to start a new life in Hong Kong only to fall into a terrible drug addiction that nearly claims his sanity and his life. I am pleased to have had the opportunity to speak with Chris about this dramatic story, and I am proud to share what I've learned about his exciting and amusing story.
  
Collette: Thank you so much for joing me today, Chris. I'm thrilled to have you here. Can we start with a little bit about you. Who is Chris Thrall?

Chris: Chris Thrall left the British Royal Marine Commandos in 1995 to run his own business in Hong Kong, but less than a year later was homeless, in psychosis from crystal meth addiction and working for the 14-K, a Hong Kong triad crime syndicate, as a nightclub doorman in Wan Chai’s infamous red-light district.

Collette: What made you want to join the military? Was it a childhood dream or something that
seemed right at the time?

Chris: I joined up for a bet. My friend’s father was a Marine, a veteran of the Falklands Conflict. Dan was telling people that the Royal Marines have the toughest infantry training in the world. We both left school with little qualifications, so he went on the Potential Recruits Course at the Commando Training Centre in the UK – a 3-day trial made up of swimming, gymnasium, endurance, assault course and military knowledge tests, to see if you
have what it takes to enter the eight months of training to earn the coveted green beret. Having been accepted he came around to my house bragging and said, ‘Of course, you’d never be able to pass it.’ So I went to the recruiting office the next day. 

Collette: A bet? You're quite the daredevil... How do you think your time in Northern Ireland and the Arctic influenced the path your life took in Hong Kong?

Chris: There’s not much need for Artic warfare and survival training on the streets of tropical Hong Kong! But understanding how covert organisations, such as the IRA, operate gave me an immediate interest in the Hong Kong triad syndicates.

Collette says: No need to dress for the cold there, I imagine.  

Collette: While you were in the military, you started a business in Hong Kong. How did that come about?

Chris: By chance. I got involved in network-marketing organisation, Quorum International. It involved selling electronic products – home, car and personal attack alarms and other security products – and sponsoring distributors into my ‘network’. I got to two positions away from the top of the company’s compensation plan – the top being financial freedom for life. Then Quorum opened for business in Hong Kong. I recruited a military contact there, a Hong Kong Chinese guy. Together we built a massive network in Asia and the first one ever in China. Our first month’s turnover was almost US$100,000, so I gave notice to leave the Marines.

Collette says: That would have been pretty strong motivation for me, too... After you moved to Hong Kong, your business fell through and you were forced to turn to odd jobs. Can you tell us a little how you went from marketing to bouncing in a bar?

Chris: After I’d moved to Hong Kong, Quorum International, our parent company, folded, leaving me no choice but to walk away from three years of hard work. I loved being in Hong Kong, so I took the first job available so I could stay. It was in a computer trading company where I was employed for my ‘white’ Western face. In my crazy boss’s eyes, this made his company look successful when clients visited. In my next job, I sold advertising space to corporations such as AT & T, Bell, and British Airways, in a business directory that didn’t actually exist! Finally, I got disillusioned with the business world and didn’t want to see my youth slipping away in a suit, so I took a job in Hong Kong’s infamous Wan Chai red-light district as a nightclub bouncer. 
 
Collette: That’s quite a shift, businessman to bouncer. Now is that when you began using drugs?

Chris: No, I’d used recreational drugs during the House Music scene that took off in the UK in the early 90s. It
was a phenomenal time for many in my generation with the most uplifting music we’d ever heard and the cross-cultural club scene breaking down social barriers and traditional prejudices. It was great fun and a big learning curve.

Collette: Like Grunge here in the U.S. Ah, those were good times! Can you touch on your
descent into psychosis without giving away too much of your story?

Chris: Crystal meth seemed like the perfect drug – the key to the lock, so to speak. Not only did I feel cool,
calm and in control, accompanied by an immense sense of energy and euphoria, but it also made me very creative. I discovered ‘abilities’ –writing, poetry, drawing – that I was told I was a failure at in school. I just wanted to live on this amazing high everyday. Then a strange incident occurred. I was in a shop buying a blanket for my new apartment. I glanced at its label looking for a price tag – but what I saw instead changed my whole existence. I sensed a massive underground conspiracy. Everyday events took on new and subliminal meanings. In reality, the meth had overloaded by synapses and my cognition was breaking down. But it was impossible to appreciate this at the time.
 
Collette: How much involvement did your interaction with the 14K Brotherhood have on the situation you found yourself in?

Chris: It was 14K triads that ran the nightclub I worked in. When you consider that organised crime is a global
conspiracy in itself and that the Hong Kong triads are well-known for using secretive methods of communication such as hand signs, gestures, clothing, symbols, etc, it didn’t do much to improve my own situation. I lived in a
continual state of confusion, perpetually wracking my brain trying to differentiate one conspiracy from the other, or wondering if they were one and the same. 

Collette: You have been able to survive the trauma of Hong Kong. What do you do with yourself now that you are back in England?

Chris: I’ve purposely avoided giving too much of my current life away. When people read Eating Smoke, I want them to appreciate the fast-paced and thrilling story through my eyes at the time. The reader gets to experience as near to firsthand as is possible what it’s like to descend into mental illness while working as a doorman in a club run by the Hong Kong triads in the Wan Chai gangland. I think for the reader to have a picture of me in their head as my life is now would somewhat impinge on the story. Perhaps that’s the subject for another book.

Collette: Your intense, humorous and candid book, Eating Smoke:
One Man’s Descent into Drug Psychosis in Hong Kong’s Triad Heartland is due out October 1st in the US. From what I’ve read so far, it is a shockingly blunt and honest depiction of your life at the time. Can you tell me a little about the writing process? What approach did you take to honing your skill to such perfection?
 
Chris: As far as English was concerned, I only had a high-school qualification and no experience of creative writing. I didn’t even know what grammar was, if I’m honest. I began to make a list of all the poignant memories I had of my time in Hong Kong, in addition to scribbling a rough prologue. I wanted to engage all readers in the Eating Smoke story, irrespective of their favoured genre. I’d spend an evening every four months or so doing this, until I had a chronology of memories, a prologue and a rough first chapter. Eating Smoke was still a pipe dream for me. In 2008, I found myself out of work. I put the computer on and six months later, I had a 230,000-word manuscript. Then using books, websites and forums, I spent a year learning the art of good writing and editing. 
 
Collette: From the excerpts I’ve read, Eating Smoke is a fast-paced and thrilling read. Did you add anything into the story to keep the momentum going, or is it all true to life?

Chris: The majority of the feedback I get is that Eating Smoke had the reader laughing aloud. It’s not all about drugs, gangsters and violence–  in fact, there’s very little of the latter in the book. It’s more about a young
man’s experience ‘finding himself’ in the world’s most amazing city, the crazy adventure ride I went on and the often-hilarious situations I found myself in. I didn’t add anything. I just edited the mundane bits out. Having said that, life doesn’t get more dramatic than descending into psychosis from crystal meth addiction while working as a nightclub doorman for the Hong Kong triads. 
 
Collette says: Paranoia coupled with dealing with real-life dangerous gangs… my heart stops just thinking about it. After everything you have seen and gone through, how were you able to incorporate such wry humor into your writing?

Chris: Commandos must possess a quality known as ‘cheerfulness under adversity.’ Even in the direst of
circumstances, marines must have a joke at the ready. Eating Smoke isn’t a memoir of regret. Despite the highs and lows, I had an unbelievable time in Hong Kong. I experienced fascinating areas of life and am fortunate to come through it intact. Many of the situations I found myself in were very funny. And those that weren’t, well, you’ve still have to laugh.

Collette says: I think it’s fabulous that you laugh about it. I read a blog post you did about flying in
Florida and had to giggle. You have a great sense of humor, and you are very honest in your depiction of the 14K and ‘foreign triad’. To people who know nothing about these groups, can you give us a quick explanation of who they are and what they do?

Chris: The triads – the‘Brothers of the Marsh’ or ‘Water Margin’ – originated hundreds of years ago. Originally a
clandestine brotherhood united in the Underground to fight against the oppression levied on the people by the ruling dynasty at the time, in recent years their philanthropic mandate has changed, somewhat, seeing them become a similar organisation to the Italian Mafia. As with the Freemasons and other secret societies, the triads communicate with secret hand signs, gestures and symbolism. Traditionally, only Chinese of pureblood are accepted into the Triads. The ‘foreign triad’ is a syndicate made up entirely of expats – foreign nationals that have formed their own crime syndicate.
 
Collette: With your brutal honesty, is there any risk of retaliation?
 
Chris: My honesty is in detailing my descent into psychosis from drug addiction. I happened to be working in a
club run by the 14K Triad at the time. I haven’t divulged any information that you can’t find on Google or Wikipedia. That’s not to say that for people who haven’t experienced organised crime firsthand, Eating
Smoke isn’t a real eye-opener.

Collette: What message do you think your book will send to readers?

Chris: I didn’t intend there to be any message – just an entertaining story. I like it when people tell me what
they got from reading Eating Smoke. 

Collette: Some people view writing as cathartic. Was this the case for you?

Chris: Enjoyable and educational – but not cathartic. To write Eating Smoke I had to relive old memories. Many brought a smile to my face – some had me laughing out loud – but others reminded me of how ill I was, the trauma I went through, and how I almost died. I don’t regret my Hong Kong experience, but I’m not sure how I feel about it, or writing about it, either.

Collette: The cover is very powerful: an ‘oh, so appropriate’ scene of someone literally on the edge. Who designed it, and how close to reality is it?
 
Chris: Tim McConville, based in the UK, flew to Hong Kong to take
that Hong Kong and US cover shot. The model – ‘a man on the edge’ – is Andrew Dasz, an Argentinean actor and a martial arts expert. The building is in Wan Chai District, similar to the one I lived in. The picture sums up my Hong Kong experience to a tee –except I used to do handstands on the parapet.

Collette: Oh goodness, I'm hyperventilating again. You have a second cover with a man bearing a dragon tattoo. Is that the sign for the14K?

Chris: I don’t know what the 14K tattoo is. In Eating Smoke, the reader will understand why that was a question I could never have asked. Two Associates designed the cover for Maverick House, my European publisher. 
  
Collette: Considering we mentioned two different covers, will you tell us the story behind obtaining your publishers?

Chris: I didn’t want to go down the traditional route to finding a publisher. I really believed Eating Smoke would interest people and didn’t want to see it chucked on a slush pile. Instead, I approached an author who I felt would connect with my story, to ask him if he’d be kind enough to read the first chapter. Tom Carter, author of CHINA: Portrait of a People, loved what he’d read, e-mailing me the next day to say his publisher, Blacksmith Books of Hong Kong, was interested in printing it. Maverick House then acquired the rights to market the book in Europe and other territories. 

Collette: So clever. A wise move. So do you have plans to continue writing?

Chris: I’m waiting to see the response from readers of Eating Smoke before I decide on the next project. I’ve had adventures in seventy-five countries, if people are interested to hear about them. I’d also like to try my hand at fiction.

Collette: Well, I would like to read about them. Count me in.
 
Where can we find you online?

Website: http://www.christhrall.com
Blog: http://www.christhrall.com/blog
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/eatingsmoke
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/chris_thrall
Amazon US: http://www.amazon.com/dp/9881900298
Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1905379838
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4528549.Chris_Thrall
Book Trailer US: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PiYG4aSMqYc
Book Trailer UK: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BKyayPsbj8U
 
Collette: Is there anything else you would like to add?

Chris: What a pleasure it is to meet you, Collette. And thank you so much for your interest in Eating Smoke.

Collette: The pleasure is mine, for sure. Thank you so much for joining me, Chris! I wish you all the greatest success with Eating Smoke and joy in your future. 

Eating Smoke is sure to hold you captivated and enthralled from the beginning until the end. With eyes wide with exictement and watering from laughter, readers will turn the pages hastily when the story
captures their imagination. Make sure you check the links and have a read of this exciting bestselling book when it's released in October. 
 
My review of Eating Smoke: 
 
When Chris Thrall left England for Hong Kong in search of his fortune and fame, the outcome he received was most likely not the one that he had hoped for. Leaving a career in the military, he hurried out to Hong Kong to capitalize on a booming business, ready to entertain the wealthy and make a fortune. While he found a fun-loving group of friends, he also found the potent and dangerous drug, crystal meth. This blunt and entertaining read is the story of Mr. Thrall’s coming of age the hard way, and I mean hard.
 
Filled with ambition and the confidence that he could succeed in a new country, Chris begins his career in the business world only to realize that his need for adventure is not being met. He turns to the nightclub world, doing stints as a DJ as well as a doorman. During this time, Chris gives an honest and heartfelt impression of the inside of Hong Kong ethos, throwing little tidbits in while he’s making every effort to remain respectful of a culture in which he is the ex-pat. However, the drug takes a deeper hold on him and makes it impossible for him to remain long in each job, and his friends come and go. He ends up working for a club run by triads, and as his addiction increases he plays a dangerous game of inadvertently offending the most feared group in Hong Kong.

Chris does an exceptional job portraying his decline into the deepest forms of addiction. Once a self-assured go-getter, he becomes a shell of the man he once was to the point where his friends begin to fear him, his employers have no choice but to release him, and the locals all know of him. His confused and paranoid thoughts leave the reader confused and paranoid as well, all the while hoping that things will eventually get better for our hapless hero. Ever the survivor, Chris takes matters into his own hands, standing up to the triads’ games, facing his problem and fighting to take control back. We are left cheering on our tormented protagonist as he stands on the ledge of death or survival, eagerly praying he makes the right choice. This is a great, fast-paced and engaging read where one will laugh, cry and shiver with fear right along with Mr. Thrall all the way through. 

The post originally appeared on my blog October 20, 2011.

I recently completed a fast-paced thriller that kept me on my toes the entire time. From the first page to the last, I had a difficult time putting the book down. Every time I had to close up my Kindle, I was left dangling and thinking about what would happen next. The great thing about my frustration was that it lasted up to the end. I never had a chance to get bored or feel as though I had reached a spot to put the book down. Now that is a sign of a good story! I am pleased to say that I have Carolyn Arnold with me today, and she is the author of this great tale, Ties that Bind, an introductory novel for her series about Detective Madison Knight. Please join me in learning a bit more about Ties that Bind and the remainder of her series about this savvy female detective. 
 
Collette: Thank you so much for joining me, Carolyn. I’m pleased to have you here. Can we start with the basics? When did you start writing?

Carolyn: I started writing novellas and poetry back in my teen years. I remember thinking then that it would be amazing to write a full-length novel and requested the submission guidelines from Harlequin. But life changed and writing was pushed to the background. It wasn’t until four years ago that I rediscovered my passion for writing. 

Collette: Did you have any influences?

Carolyn: Influences as in other authors? Definitely. I love David Baldacci and Sandra Brown. While both take you into the darker mindset of their characters, they inspire me in different ways.

Baldacci’s character descriptions helped me realize how spending time on building a solid background is not only well worth it but necessary if you want your reader to feel the connection.

Brown dares to write things I would normally hold back. A combination of both of their influences challenge me to continually improve. In my personal life, my husband is my best friend and greatest influence in everything I do.

Collette: Where do you get your ideas?

Carolyn: I’d say a lot of them come while watching TV or movies. Hubby loves it when this happens (sense the sarcasm). It means everything must be paused while I run around for a notepad to jot the idea on, or have him pass me his laptop to email it to myself. LOL Other times ideas come to me when I hear news stories. And
recently a novel idea struck when I was at work. It might be the next thriller I write. Needless to say I have a lot of ideas stored up for future books.

Collette: That’s great news! I hope you write for many years to come! Were you inspired by someone to write the genre you’re writing in?

Carolyn: I suppose I would have to say Baldacci and Brown again. I also love to watch TV and movies in the crime genre.

Collette: What is your writing process like?

Carolyn: I’ve experimented with outlining, and panster-style and have concluded I’m definitely a panster. I love the free-flow of the story, following the characters through. I must add, however, that before starting I have a general idea as to where the story is heading and what I want to accomplish in a chapter, but sometimes the
characters take a detour. When that happens it’s always to the benefit of the novel.

I also find that by conducting character interviews before starting I have a rich foundation upon which to build. This also avoids the pitfall of backstory filler in the first draft – less to edit out.

Collette: I can’t do an outline and ever stick to it. Alas, my characters have a mind of their own. Do you write full-time?

Carolyn: I feel like I should say yes because any time I do have I’m either writing, editing, networking or marketing, but I know what you’re getting it, and the answer is not yet.
 
Collette: Not yet, maybe someday if you keep at it! So what do you do to pay your bills now?

Carolyn: I work in Accounts Receivable.

Collette: How did you come up with the idea of Ties that Bind?

Carolyn: Crime drama is my favorite thing to read and watch. It was natural to want to write in the
genre. For Ties that Bind the basic concept came from a conversation with a family member.

Collette: How long did it take you to complete?

Carolyn: If I remember right, it took six months to write the first draft. To get it to the point of publication it was two years.

Collette: Tell me a little about your background in your subject and where you completed your research?

Carolyn: My research came from books and the internet. On any subject, for example concluding TOD or time of death, I cross-compared my research to make sure I had a solid understanding. Of course this is only one small aspect I needed to research for TIES THAT BIND. It also involved research into police hierarchy and procedure, physical evidence that indicates strangulation as COD or cause of death, as well as other basic forensics knowledge – DNA and its preservation, fingerprinting – to name a few.

I suggest that any author who does research always cross-compares. This is not only to ensure accuracy but to
obtain a solid understanding of the subject.

Collette: I am all the more impressed now. I thought for sure it was something that you
saw on a day to day basis!

Collette: I found your lead, Madison Knight, a very human, very relatable character. Can you tell us a little bit about her?

Carolyn: Major Crimes Detective Madison Knight is a stubborn, tell you how it is type of woman, but she’s also got an empathic side. Her drive is to find justice for the victims, and she won’t let anyone or anything stop her from making sure that happens. At times this impulsive nature gets her into trouble with her superiors.

Collette: Are any of your characters based on real-life friends or acquaintances?

Carolyn: Most definitely but as the disclaimer states, “Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is coincidental.” I thought I’d say that first. LOL. No, in all seriousness I don’t know how an author couldn’t pull from characteristics of those around them.

Collette: Haha, that’s true. So then, do you ever incorporate yourself into your characters?

Carolyn: Most definitely. While we immerse ourselves into our character’s worlds, their backgrounds and motivations, I believe it’s our human experiences as evidenced in such things as thought patterns, feelings and emotions that provide added depth to our characters.

Collette: With that being said, let’s move on to the story itself. This was a fast-paced yet methodical story into the depths of a murder investigation. Did you base it on a real-life experience or was it all your imagination?

Carolyn: All imagination.
 
Collette: Now what will your future projects with Madison entail?

Carolyn: The reader will see her character develop further – what makes her who she is. The series will also
follow her through a cold case she is determined to solve.

The next in the series, Justified, is coming out this December. You’ll find out more about what Madison fears as she investigates the murder of a female entrepreneur who was found slashed in her kitchen on Christmas Eve.

Collette: Oh great. I did have some questions about Madison and her relationships, especially at the end… a lot of suspense for the next installment. 

Collette: Since you’ve been writing so much, do you ever have time to read?

Carolyn: Unfortunately not as much as I’d like to right now. I have a lot of catching up to do over the holidays. 

Collette: I know exactly how you feel! What is your favorite genre to read?

Carolyn: Mysteries, thrillers and suspense.

Collette: I think we touched on this several times already, but do you have any favorite
authors?

Carolyn: David Baldacci and Sandra Brown.

Collette: Where can we find you online?
Blog: http://sassy3421.blogspot.com/
Website: http://carolynarnold.net/Home_Page.html
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Author-Carolyn-Arnold/190386790989773
Amazon:http://www.amazon.com/Carolyn-Arnold/e/B0054S6USY/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4893460.Carolyn_Arnold

Carolyn, thank you so much for dropping by and telling us more about your great story, Ties that Bind. I can’t wait to read the rest of the series, especially now that I know what else is coming! Best of luck with the series, and keep at it! 
 

Blurb of Ties that Bind:

Detective Madison Knight concluded the case of a strangled woman an isolated incident. But when another woman’s body is found in a park killed by the same line of neckties, she realizes they’re dealing with something more serious.

Despite mounting pressure from the Sergeant and Chief to close the case even if it means putting an innocent man behind bars, and a partner who is more interested in saving his marriage than stopping a potential serial killer, Madison may have to go it alone if there's not going to be another victim.

This Post Appeared Originally on August 20, 2011. I'm moving over some of my posts here from my Blogspot account. I hope you enjoy!

What happens when two couples, four friends, face the devastating effects of betrayal? Find out more below with author Belinda Buchanan as she discusses her novel of infidelity and forgiveness in After All Is Said And Done.

Collette: Thank  you for agreeing to answer my questions. hope we have plenty of  fun, Belinda! When did you start writing?

Belinda: I was about 25 when I first started to  write.

Collette: When did you decide you wanted to write?

Belinda: My husband is a pilot and early in our marriage, he  was gone a lot.We lived in Nashville at  the time, and I really didn’t have many friends.I thought it would help pass the time if I wrote.I wrote several short stories during those early years.

Collette: Were you  inspired to write by a situation or person? If so, who and  why?

Belinda: My husband  told me I should write.He has always believed in me and if it wasn’t for him, I would not be chatting with you  today.I dedicated my book to him. He is the love of my life.

Collette: What is  your writing process?

Belinda: With After All Is Said And Done, I would run the story in my head, sometimes sentence  for sentence, then jot it down on paper.At night when I got home, I would put it in the computer. I never did an outline or plot line because  it just all fell into place for me without it.I pretty much knew where I wanted it to go and what I needed to do to get  it there. For my new novels, I basically just type away on my  laptop. I have certain scenes or plots I  want to follow and I enter those in a separate Word doc to go by.I also have the online dictionary/thesaurus  pulled up for ready reference!

Collette: I understand you write full-time now. Can you tell me what other jobs you’ve had?

Belinda: One of my very first jobs was actually working in  the Reference Dept. of my local library. But, I spent more than 14 years working in Exporting. I was basically a travel agent for freight. Now I’m a domestic engineer. My days consist of dragging 2  sleepy boys out of bed, making them a hearty breakfast, cleaning, cooking, and of course writing.All of the above is  true if you count a Poptart as a hearty breakfast!

Collette: I understand completely. The hard work of being a mom; it seems as though it's never done! :)So then, how  often do you read?

Belinda: Not as often as I like. My time is limited, and honestly I’d rather  be writing. But, I have come across some very good books in my time.

Collette: Which genres are your favorites?

Belinda: I do like romance, but also like mystery and some  sci-fi. There aren’t any particular authors I’m drawn to. If the summary piques my interest, I’ll usually read it.

Collette: How did  you come up with the idea of After All Is  Said And Done?

Belinda: After All Is Said And Done was a story that evolved over several years. I have always been drawn to characters that are flawed. It makes them human and more  interesting. I had this plot in my head of what would happen when two couples who knew each other were suddenly faced  with infidelity.I thought it would be  an interesting story to follow these 4 people for two years in their lives and  depict the ramifications.

Collette: Oh, I  know exactly what you mean again. My characters are oh-so-human, too. Is there any basis in truth to this story or is it a total work of fiction?

Belinda: Total fiction as far as the story goes. However, there is a lot of underlying truth in the book when I write about forgiveness. Forgiveness can be healing.The alternative can eat us alive.

Collette: So true! How long did it take you to complete?

Belinda: 22 months.I was working at the time and took every opportunity I had at work to  scribble dialogue and sentences on sticky notes. I got very good at sticking them under m keyboard when the boss walked by. I hope she’s not reading this!

Collette: Infidelity is a difficult subject to approach. Can you tell me how you were able to define your characters and still make them likeable to readers?

Belinda: I tried to make my characters as three dimensional as possible. All of us as human beings have made mistakes in our lives. If we  could go back and change some of them I’d be the first one on the bandwagon. Jessica, the character who committed the act, was sorry for what she had done. And she wanted more than anything to make amends to her husband, Ethan. Ethan was  the one with the most to lose, and I think his vulnerability makes him a likeable character.This book depicts family dynamics, which some scenes have the characters doing very normal things,  such as changing a dirty diaper. I tried  to make them as real as possible
which hopefully adds to their  likeability.

Collette: Was it  difficult for you to write about?

Belinda: Actually, it wasn’t. The only part that was hard was where Ethan  loses his father. At the time I wrote  that, I had recently lost my father. I drew on my own experiences in writing some of the scenes. I found it to be  therapeutic.

Collette: Can you describe Ethan, Jessica, Gavin and Sarah in a few sentences? What are they like? What do they want? Goals, strengths, weaknesses, etc.

Belinda: Ethan is a doctor who loves his wife Jessica with all his heart and soul. Her betrayal and his father’s death throw him into a tailspin as he struggles to hold it all  together. But when he finds out his son is not his own, he begins to drink.Everything looks just a little bit better when he’s not sober. He has a quick temper which is heightened by his drinking. Jessica loves Ethan and wants to stay married to him. She tries desperately to help him get over the hurt. But, he slowly shuts her out as he takes comfort from the bottle of scotch. She is a very clingy person, who really has never been on her own. I think deep down she knows her marriage will never be the way it used to, but fear of abandonment keeps her trying.

Gavin is pretty self-centered. In his mind, he made a mistake and he feels Sarah should forgive him. He also wants very much to spend time with his son, which is a constant source of aggravation for Ethan. Sarah is a  very strong woman and competent doctor.She knows where she’s been but has no idea where she needs to go now. Gavin has hurt her more than she ever thought anyone could.

Collette: I know  plenty of people with those differing traits. Are any of your characters based on real-life friends or acquaintances?

Belinda: No, they all came out of my warped  imagination!

Collette: Do you  ever incorporate yourself into your characters?

Belinda: Sometimes.I love rabbits and I have quite a collection of ceramic bunnies in my home. I gave that to Sarah. I think it adds to making her  real.

Collette: Can you give us a glimpse into your next novel? A little teaser, perhaps?

Belinda: My next novel is titled, The Monster of Silver Creek. It should be released in December. Silver Creek  is known for its miles of pristine shoreline.Tourists flock every summer to partake in the water activities and fun in the sun. But a sinister killer is on the loose. A killer who feeds off of young women's fear...and leaves a most unusual calling card.
Police Chief Nathan Sommers is on the hunt, but every road leads to a dead end. Nathan is battling his own personal demons as he  tries to cope with the death of his wife.  Two years have passed since, but he feels her dying was a direct result of his actions and he is consumed by guilt. His personal life just became more complicated when  he meets Katie, the pretty new owner of the bakery. Nathan slowly builds a  relationship with her, but still struggles with Jenny's death. As he draws nearer to the killer, everything in his life suddenly comes undone. He is forced to  deal with his feelings for Katie and his love for his dead wife.


Collette: Ooh,  sounds suspenseful! Do you have an expected release date for your follow-up novel?

Belinda: My follow up novel to After All Is Said And Done should be released by June 2012.

Collette: Tell me a bit about your cover art. Did you design your own?

Belinda: I thought up  the idea of the cover and had my husband pose for me. That’s our wedding picture in the  background.The whiskey used in the picture was so old it had pieces of cork floating in it! But, I am very happy with the end result. I believe the cover image goes beautifully with the story.

Collette: That’s great. Your husband is a good sport. I love a good cover story. What about your book trailer? How did you put it together?

Belinda: Windows Movie Maker is my best friend. I found most of the pictures on websites that were free or very cheap. It was a lot of  fun and I really am pleased with how it turned out. I think I did the whole thing for less than  $30.00.

Where can we find you  online?
Blog:http://belindagbuchanan.wordpress.com/
Website:https://sites.google.com/site/belindagbuchanan/
Facebook:http://www.facebook.com/Belinda.G.Buchanan.author
Amazon:http://www.amazon.com/After-All-Said-Done-ebook/dp/B004TXP4IW
Smashwords:http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/80271
Goodreads:http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11390136-after-all-is-said-and-done
Other:book trailer:http://youtu.be/RmM-Uf6yG4w

Where is After All Is Said And  Done available for purchase?

Amazon, smashwords, goodreads, barnes & noble,  sony, apple, kobo, & diesel

What  formats are your book available
in?Paperback, kindle, e-pub, pdf, and  lrf

Collette: So, we've reached the end for today. Thank you for taking the time to answer my questions!

Belinda: Thank you Collette for asking such interesting  questions and indulging me!

Collette: It was my pleasure, Belinda! I wish you all the best and happy writing. Can’t wait for your new book!