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In case you missed this summer episode with author Nikki Mitchell about her Nightshade Forest release.
Enjoy.
Tag Archives: books
T.J.London pens prequel ’Man of War’
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It was actually fashion that got T.J. London interested in the American Revolutionary War as a young author as simple as it may seem.
“I was getting into my persona,” she said. “The look got me interested in that time period. Now it draws attention to my books.”
Yes, it was the red coats and tricorne hats that sparked the imagination of a young mind, and later served well as a counseling tool during a period of grief. Rather, than writing a journal, T.J. London went the whole way and wrote ‘Man of War.’
T.J. London is an expert at digging out little-known facts in history and asking herself questions. She was referring to battles in upstate New York that T.J. London didn’t know about.
“Why don’t we learn this stuff,” she said.
What fascinated T.J. London were all the changes that were happening at the same time.
“It was this incredible cataclysmic moment in history,” she said. “But in fiction where were those stories? I felt like I needed to know more.”
And the prequel is not just about the revolution, but also about digging deep into the roots of what was going on T.J. London’s life after the loss of her father.
It took her four years to write ‘Man of War’ backed up by solid research about the Royal Navy.
Come along on a journey with ambitious captain Merrick and revengeful India for a chance to win a signed copy of ‘Man of War.’
Sponsored by Doc Chavent and The Lowell Ledger.
How to survive NaNoWriMo 50k word challenge ending up with a rough draft of a novel
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That is the million-dollar question that today’s panelists authors Jean Davis, Vera West, and Emma Palova will attempt to answer. There is not a one size fits all guideline to win the 50,000-word challenge coming up in November.
At times, the challenge reminds me of final exams in college, when you had to pull it all together in one month, and in four different subjects. As authors, we each have a different approach to getting it done. I like to have some kind of pillars to rely on kind of like a suspended bridge, not necessarily a full-blown outline, but rather a synopsis as Davis suggested.
Davis has been participating in NaNo for 17 years, which has increased her productivity immensely. Out of that, she won 15 times. West enters every year but does not always win. So far, she has won once.
“For me, any progress is better than none,” she said.
True, if you enter and get 10,000 words written, that’s 10,000 words more than you had before entering.
These experienced NaNoWriMos offered invaluable tips in the special episode: Have two projects in the works in case you get stuck on one, and work hard in the honeymoon phase at the beginning before exhaustion settles in.
Don’t go back to fix anything, keep moving forward even if you don’t like the way the story is evolving; you might not like it two hours later either.
“There are two ways to go about it,” Davis said. “First you can outline that you have to write 1,667 words a day, secondly you can just work on something like I do.”
Whichever way you pick, just stick to your commitment.
Find out what to do when you do get stuck. And we all do, indeed.
Sponsored by Doc Chavent and The Lowell Ledger
Author Ash Bishop pens Intergalactic Exterminators, Inc.
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In his first book, author Ash Bishop teleports protagonist Russ Wesley into another galaxy with a sugary cookie in his pocket, in this light-hearted sci-fi novel.
Listen in for the keywords for this week for a chance to win a signed personalized copy of Intergalactic Exterminators, Inc.
When Wesley finds an unusual artifact in his grandfather’s collection of rare antiquities, the last thing he expects is for it to draw the attention of a ferocious alien from a distant planet. Equally surprising is the adventurous team of intergalactic exterminators dispatched to deal with the threat. The exterminators specialize in “ecosystem preservation”— a thankless job that involves hunting down alien predators of all shapes and sizes. They’re so impressed with Russ’s marksmanship that they insist he join their squad . . . whether he wants to or not.
“Russ is an interesting fella,” said Bishop. “He doesn’t have close family, and his grandma needs money.”
So Russ goes off and works for a galactic space group.
“It’s heartfelt,” Bishop said. “Fifty percent of the story has to do with the characters.”
Based on the success of Intergalactic Exterminators, Bishop landed a deal to publish his previous book in 2023.
“They’re completely different books,” he said.
But, switching genres comes to Bishop easily.
Listen in for some tips on how to switch genres and for the keywords of the week to win Bishop’s book.
Sponsored by Doc Chavent and The Lowell Ledger
Author Sharon Kennedy pens The SideRoad Kids
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Happy Labor Day weekend.
Welcome back to another school year. Kennedy’s time machine will take you back to a simple era of the late 1950s. Find some time to read and reflect whether it’s on your own childhood or stories of the past passed from generation to generation.
The SideRoad Kids follows a group of boys and girls as they enter the sixth grade in a small town in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula during 1957-1958. The meandering collection of short stories is often humorous, poignant, and sometimes mysterious.
Laugh as the kids argue over Halloween treats handed out in Brimley. Although told by the kids, adults will remember their own childhood as they read about Flint, Candy, Squeaky, Katie, and their friends.
“Katie, Blew, Squeaky, and Daisy grew up on farms instead of high rises and used their imagination instead of fancy gadgets to make their own fun. An entertaining read for youngsters. And parents, you might enjoy a nostalgic flashback as well. I know I did.
-Allia Zobel-Nolan, Author of Cat Confessions
Author Sharon Kennedy has been writing short stories and poems for 50 years, but she rarely submitted anything for publication. After teaching English composition at a community college and university, she began writing a general interest5 column in 2014 that ran in her local newspaper.
She is currently working on a sequel and continues writing her newspaper columns for Gannett Media.
Sponsored by Doc Chavent, The Lowell Ledger, and Modern History Press.
Lioness: Mahlah’s Journey brings little-known Bible characters to light
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In her Christian fiction novel Lioness: Mahlah’s Journey, author Barbara M. Britton features five orphaned daughters of Zelophehad as the main characters with the eldest Mahlah taking the center stage in their fight for land.
“There’s so much Scripture in the Bible devoted to them, but no one knows about them,” Britton said.
Britton skillfully brings to life the characters of the orphaned daughters: Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah. Their individualities are reflected in their age, and their skills based on the weapons they carry: brave and courageous Mahlah who faces off Moses carries a knife, Noah a whip for sheep tending and Hoglah cooks. Milcah is ethereal and the youngest Tirzah complains all the time.
The main storyline follows the Scripture right through as Mahlah approaches Moses with a request to inherit land to keep a promise to her dying mother.
In the Book of Numbers 27:1-11, the daughters say: “Our father died in the wilderness. He was not among Korah’s followers, who banded together against the Lord, but he died for his own sin and left no sons.”
“It was challenging to keep them as separate individuals,” Britton said.
The novel has its own villain Balaam according to the Book of Revelation and plenty of action such as God’s parting of the Jordan River and Joshua assuming leadership.
In response to the question what did she do right in the novel, Britton said.
“I brought the story to Biblical fiction,” she said. “You can get a lot of Scripture out of this.”
As a Christian fiction author, Britton has to find balance when putting romance into her novels.
“As the series goes on, you get more romance with Noah,” she said.
One of the most common responses Britton gets to her books is:
“I didn’t realize the Bible could be so exciting.”
Listen in to the episode for a chance to win a signed copy of Lioness: Mahlah’s Journey.
Sponsored by author Barbara Britton, Doc Chavent, and The Lowell Ledger.
Author Mackenzie Flohr pens The Rite of Wands
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In The Rite of Wands, author Mackenzie Flohr has created a fantasy world of witches and warlocks set in 13th century Ireland. The main character Mierta, 12, has to earn his magic powers.
“It took me 20 years to write this,” said Flohr. “I realized that I have a dead book.”
But then the new character, originally Gerard, spoke to Flohr and said, “That’s not how it happened.”
Protagonist Mierta too is a neurodivergent like the author. Flohr used an entire disease layer in the story that reminded people of Covid, although the story was completed in 2017. Much like the black plague, she gave the disease a physical appearance.
The book was inspired by The Lord of The Rings trilogy, as Flohr visited a museum dedicated to the movie series.
“And there was my story,” she said. “Mierta goes, we’re going to tell that story.”
Every character in the book has three layers to them.
“They all fit together at the end,” she said. “There is a little bit of myself in both protagonists. I got the wizard language right.”
Flohr is working toward TV series adaption of The Rite of Wands. Listen in for a chance to with an autographed copy.
Sponsored by Doc Chavent & The Lowell Ledger
Happy Fourth of July.
Victor Volkman publishes U.P. Reader Volume 6
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Victor Volkman is the publisher of the U.P. Reader, senior editor at Modern History Press based in Ann Arbor, and president of the Upper Peninsula Publishers and Authors Association.
The U.P. Reader is the brainchild of author Mikel Classen. Volkman said he can’t be a Yooper because Yoopers are born, not made. The hefty publication features thirty to 50 contributing writers, most are members of the UPPAA.
“People who live in the U.P are great writers, the U.P. Reader exposes their writings for other people to explore,” said Volkman.
Volkman said he’s especially proud of the inclusion of Cottage Dandelion winners, young writers who receive a traveling trophy for their school, kind of like the Stanley Cup.
“We’re making the next generation of writers,” he said. “We provide training wheels for young writers. We’re able to accept 90 percent of writing.”
The all-inclusive publication, which is distributed to all the libraries in the U.P., features contemporary fiction, short stories, humor, history, memoir, poetry, and much more.
“I am a publisher, and this helped me build a relationship with writers,” he said. “We work hard to keep the price reasonable.”
Some of the highlights of the UPPAA are the spring conference in Marquette in June and the picnic on the first Saturday after Labor Day in Marquette.
Submissions for the U.P. Reader Volume 7 will be accepted until November.
“It’s a lot of fun,” he said. “I love the sense of community in the U.P.”
To become a member of the association go to https://www.uppaa.org/
Sponsored by Doc Chavent, The Lowell Ledger, and Modern History Press
Have an awesome Fourth of July.
Authors’ Alley at Lakeshore Art Festival in Muskegon set for June 25th and 26th
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Authors’ Alley at the Lakeshore Art Festival (LAF) in downtown Muskegon, set for this weekend, will feature 21 authors representing different genres from mystery, sci-fi, fantasy, and children’s books to horror and true stories.
“We get to interact with people,” said author Ingar Rudholm. “You can ask as many questions as you want. We will be able to direct you to whatever genre you’re looking for.”
“If you can smell the food, you found us,” said author Jean Davis. “We’re a giant bookstore with authors.”
Some of the benefits of visiting Authors’ Alley include getting a signed book unlike from Amazon plus learning the full back story behind the book directly from the author.
Participating authors will be located in booths along Clay Street across from Hackley Park next to food vendors. Following is a full list of authors.
Andrew Smith
Bill Jacobks & Lon Hieftje
Emma Khoury & Ingar Rudhom
Diane Burton & Jean Davis
G.S. Scott & Melinda Clark
Wendy Thomson & Melanie Hooyenga
Norma Lewis & Jules Nelson
Loraine Hudson & Randy Pearson
Emma Palova & Judy Burke
Mike Carrier
Mikel Classen
Gary Buettner & Mark Love
Bring plenty of water and ice, advised both Davis and Rudholm.
“It’s a great networking opportunity,” said Rudholm.
Episode sponsored by Doc Chavent and The Lowell Ledger
Author Nikki Mitchell pens Nighshade Forest
https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-2zjeh-1256e00
Enter the fairy world through a magic portal that Eleanor has received as a gift in a book. She turns into a fairy joined by Elfie and Milo to find the magic crystal that will restore order to the kingdom that went bonkers.
It even started snowing in the enchanted purple and blue glowing forest and in the village with gargoyles, goblins, and magicians. Salmon started turning lime green.
Mitchell penned this middle-grade book during the pandemic with its limitations.
“Eleanor is much like I was as a kid,” she said. “I’ve always wished I could travel into all these stories.”
The book is set in 1945 without any technology; Eleanor doesn’t have a cell phone, a computer, or a TV.
“Books and libraries are magical places that people should visit often,” Mitchell said.
Among the insights, she gained from her writing journey was the fact not to put away your writing projects.
“I shouldn’t have put my creative writing on the backburner,” Mitchell said. “Nightshade Forest helped me get my voice out there.”
Listen to the episode for a chance to win a signed copy of Mitchell’s book.
Sponsored by Doc Chavent, the Lowell Ledger and Nikki Mitchell
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