![]() Shalom My Jewish roots are coming out. Shalom means peace to you and to me. It can mean hello and good-bye. Or you can wish someone or a whole group of someones, great good fortune, by using just one word. If I had a favorite word, phrase, or even sentence, shalom would be it. Just a random thought there. I had a great weekend. I not only took a Sunday afternoon nap, I didn't have to struggle to fall asleep Sunday evening. What an awesome blessing. I even ran a quarter mile today then walked up a huge hill twice. Then, just to torture myself, I did it again. I'm feeling pretty good. I'd like to run in the Crohn's marathon they have every year. It will take me awhile to get up to speed but if they adjust my meds right, it is possible. Sheri Dean and Phyllis Winter's are the two winners of Gemini Rising from last week. Congratulations! I have e-mailed you the e-books. Already, I have piles of notes for the third book in the Gemini series. Everywhere I turn I see hints and possibilities. *shivers* I am so proud to be counted in amongst so many talented women. The Authors & Reviewers at Wanda's Amazing Amazon Reviewers voted for their Top Ten Best Books of 2012. Rift Healer came in at #5!!! ![]() I'd like to introduce you to Diane M. Haynes and her AWARD WINNING book, Rift Healer. *sigh* To be in the top ten of anything is a great award in my book. Blurb: After a minor earthquake, the enchanted forest in Bidwell, MA, is infested with monster-spewing rifts. Gisele's great nephew, the gifted Micah, and his distant cousin, Selena, arrive to assist. Together with Gisele's summer students, twins Haley and Lacey, they will try to help the magical forest. Much to the consternation of the beautiful Selena, Micah identifies Haley as The One whom he'll share his future. But after witnessing a terrifying display of Micah's Gift, Haley cools to his advances and unexpectedly discovers her own Gift-- she can heal the earth. Monsters, mayhem, and teenage angst follow the small group as they confront evil in the forest and a dangerous prediction that 'one will fall'. Will they heal the rifts in time? Can they save the unicorns? And is Haley really destined to be with Micah? **claps hands** I adore YA. Fortunately, Diane consented to to give me an interview. So, Diane, my friend. (I love consorting with award winners.) How long does it take you to write a novel? Fifty years! (laughs) I'm only half kidding. I've written short stories most of my life but I've wanted to be an author since I was about nine. I wrote my first book, as yet unpublished, when I was fifty-one. I wrote for eight months before I ran into writers' block, put it down and didn't restart it for four and a half years. When I finally resumed working on the novel, it took only two weeks to finish. I began the next book in the series, Rift Healer, two weeks later. Thrilled my Muse had returned, I wrote like a fiend, finishing up a mere two months later. *Sips wine daintily* What do you think makes a good story? Realistic characters,great dialogue and an amazing plot. Hum. I glance at her intently, searching her innermost soul in good journalistic fashion. "What do you do when you are not writing? Play with my Rescued Basset Hounds, Ruby and Boris. Oh, and Facebook. Yeah, Facebook. I'm addicted as well. Do you have a day job? Yes, I own a New Age shop, Some Enchanted Evening, in Spencer, MA. I am so jealous! I always wanted a New Age Shop. I bet you have books, and candles, and quirky stuff decorating the shelves. In the back, fortunes are told, and one cannot forget the coffee shop that goes along with it. Uh, sorry. Got carried away. So, what is your work schedule like when you're writing? My notebook comes with me to work--I can't type, so I write my novels longhand--and I write between serving customers. They often have to wait a few seconds while I finish a thought, then I read it to them for a reaction. I have very patient customers. Usually when I get home, it's time to play--unless my characters are calling... You can't type? Seriously? Aside from that, Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing? Plotting. For me, creating a plausible and compelling plot that provides excitement, fun and an interesting outcome worthy of the story is without a doubt the hardest part. I get help from my 'Plot Princesses,' two creative friends who come up with outrageous ideas and conflicts that I tweak and adjust. *Puts down the wine in favor of coffee* Do you work with an outline, or just write? Oh, an outline, absolutely. I can't even begin unless I know what will happen to my characters. I'm able to add a sub plot or two as the story progresses, but the main storyline must be complete. I envy the people who can just start writing with no idea where their story will take them. Please, do not envy them. I am one of those people who sit down and start to write. This time, I'm going to make my outline complete before I finish the third book in the Gemini Series. I just can't take the stress anymore. Ah, sorry. What books influenced you the most? The Harry Potter series for the magic and Twilight for the intensity and impossibility of its love story. Romeo and Juliet for the same reason. I read every Harry Potter book, but have yet to read Twilight. Which brings me to my next questions, what book are you reading now? I'm not. When I'm writing as I am now, I don't like to read anyone else's words. If you had to choose, which writer would you consider a mentor? No question. Annette Blair has become a friend, a cheerleader, a beta reader, anything I need and more than I deserve. Thank you, Diane for visiting today! I enjoyed, whoops, sorry for the spill, the wine, the coffee, and the conversation. Diane M. Haynes Author, RIFT HEALER, Crescent Moon Press.www.dianemhaynes.com ![]() Before I finish up, I wanted to bring your attention to two new releases from CMP. First up is Enlightened. Cover thoughts: I'm liking the cover a lot. First off, I love dogs (wolves), second, I live in the forest, third, I'd like to look like the chick on the cover. Fat chance of that happening. *does another half hour on the stationary bike* Since I haven't read the blurb yet, I'm guessing at what the book is about. Well, obviously this young woman is somehow communicating with wolves/dogs. (It is paranormal you know.) I can't quite see behind her so I'm not sure what's there. Blurb: Small-town vet tech Nisha Moore is committed to a humdrum existence. She tries hard to ignore that she can feel departed animals' souls. And gorgeous Cal Benton, the veterinarian for whom she works? She's content to ignore that he's madly in love with her as well. Then Nisha's pet cat begins to talk, claiming to be her Guardian. A member of the elite Awakened bloodline, Nisha's unfurling supernatural talents make her a target of the Fraternity. Demons in the Fraternity want only one thing: to harvest the Awakened and make their talents their own. In an effort to coerce Nisha to surrender, the demon embarks on a bloody killing spree in Stanton, South Carolina. As people she cares about are picked off one by one, Nisha Awakens. Her talent? Telepathic communication with animals. With a loyal pack of dogs by her side, Nisha is sure the demon can be annihilated. But he has a grim surprise for her. Two people she loves have been taken hostage, and she has a choice to make. Is her life worth both of theirs? Ha! Animal communication. CMP designers are awesome. Of course, we do get to do a general outline of what we want on the cover, but still. ![]() Here's another new one: Max Baker, Guardian of the Ninth Sector. I'm going out on a limb here, Max is obviously a guy. And I'm thinking that might be a school or a dormitory behind him. Perhaps the world is divided up into sectors and he rules one. Of course, he's the good guy so now I'm wondering who is the good guy? Blurb: Superheroes are born in the ashes of tragedy... Max Baker was just a typical, angst-ridden teenager trying to survive the woes of being in high school, figuring out the complexities of teenage girls, and coexisting with his dysfunctional mother. That was until the day he met a mysterious man named Donovan Reese and was told that he was the Guardian of the Ninth Sector of the universe. Now Max, along with his two best friends and an arsenal of newly acquired superpowers, must travel across the galaxy and back to prevent the dreaded Emperor Ausiris and his demon army from destroying Earth and taking over the universe. Well, it's the universe not Earth and there is a high school. Not too bad, I'm thinking. I did get the guy part right. Thank you so much for stopping by today! (((hugs))) Louann |
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