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Monthly Archives: September 2015

My tribute to Carole Gill

30 Wednesday Sep 2015

Posted by Christoph Fischer in Uncategorized

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Thanks Sahara for this tribute to our fellow writer Carole Gill. I’ve shied away from reading her horror books (so scared of Clowns) but I hear nothing but good things about them from those who were braver than me.
I hope she recovers from this horrific sudden loss.

Readers' Junction

CAROLE JOHN

Beating_heart_slower_by_mystichuntress-d5u79w1

CAROLE GILLS’ WEBISTE/BLOG: http://carolegillauthor.blogspot.co.uk/

THE HOUSE ON BLACKSTONE MOOR

Hmm. As I was going through my reviews, I see I missed the 2nd book. I bought it, but it got buried in my kindle. Sad smile

Unholy Testament – The Beginnings

Unholy Testament - Full Circle (The Blackstone Vampires Book 3)

Author interview with Carole Gill

Carole Gill

I want to apologize to my followers for the overabundance of blog posts the last few days. I’m in the process of bringing all my old posts from Blogger to WordPress. I intended to bring them over slowly, but even our best laid plans go astray. Anyway, Carole, I’m so sorry for your loss and you have my deepest sympathy.

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WELSH WEDNESDAY INTERVIEW with author Sally Spedding

30 Wednesday Sep 2015

Posted by Christoph Fischer in Uncategorized

≈ 34 Comments

imagesWelcome to my second Welsh Wednesday, a day dedicated to the wonderful writing talent in my adopted new home of Wales.  Today I would like to introduce you to Sally Spedding.

First up, please tell us about your connection to Wales.

Sally Spedding (2)I was born in Porthcawl to a Welsh mother and Dutch father (with German/Spanish origins) Returned to Wales for 18 years and taught at Ysgol Gyfun Tregib in Llandeilo. Back again, to lovely Carmarthenshire in 2007.

Tell us a little about yourself as writer and as person.

I began writing as a 9 year-old during rows and tensions at my Dutch grandparents’ beautiful but spooky house on the Blorenge near Abegavenny. They’d lost so many of their families in Occupied Holland (who’d insisted on staying) they found it hard to cope, especially as suspicion of anyone with a German surname, was still rife. Even the local vicar kept a rifle under his altar. They’d previously had to hide for 2 years in a cottage in the woods, for safety.

Why did you decide to write in your chosen genre(s)?

Perhaps because of the betrayals I’d heard about, and since experienced.  Because I’m fascinated by the duplicity of people and places. Also, that justice is rare.fullcover1_3880_2554 (1)

Tell us about the concept behind your book(s).

My latest psychological crime novel, ‘Cut to the Bone’ deals with the hazards of adoption. Sometimes one doesn’t even fathom one’s own children, never mind someone else’s. When Lionel Shriver was asked why she’d never had children, replied that it was like opening the back door and not knowing who was coming in. Chilling, but it rings true. The book is set near Coventry where a London overspill slum is separated from high-end luxury living by a mere strip pf Tarmac. Rita Martin is my favourite character. She’s brave and determined in the face of huge disadvantage and loss.

What is your life like outside of writing? What makes you laugh and what makes you cry?

My husband, Jeffrey, and artist, makes me laugh, and our lovely granddaughter who can, miraculously, balance a spoon against her face. People who, because of their background and/or religion, are made to feel excluded. Cruelty to animals makes me cry. Ritual slaughter is barbaric and unecessary. As are live animal transports.

Who is your favourite Welsh author?

Picking just one would leave too many out. But they know who they are!

What is the best thing about Wales?

The wild places. The fantastic people I know.

What are you working on now?  

A crime series set in France involving wannabe gendarme Delphine Rougier, who’s had a tough life, but is full of ambition. Sometimes recklesly so. ‘Footfall’ is ready to go, and ‘Featherblade’ is still being edited.

What are the best and the worst aspects of writing?

The best is just doing it.  The worst is not being able to, for whatever reason.

What is your advice to new writers?

Write for yourself, not the perceived ‘market.’ Read your heroes, and get out there and mingle!

What is your favourite book?

‘The Pledge’  by Friedrich Dürrenmatt. A study in obsession set in a claustrophobic part of Switzerland

What book are you currently reading and in what format (e-book/paperback/hardcover)?

‘A Song for Drowned  Souls’ by Bernard Minier.  Paperback.

How do you handle criticism of your work?

Fine. At least criticism shows interest!

Conect with Sally on

Twitter –  @SallySpedding

Facebook  – www.facebook.com/sally.spedding

or her Website – www.sallyspedding.com

#mentalhealth drama CONDITIONED is now available for pre-sale

29 Tuesday Sep 2015

Posted by Christoph Fischer in Uncategorized

≈ 9 Comments

CONDITIONED, (the sequel to #mentalhealth drama CONDITIONS) –
is AVAILABLE FOR PRE-SALE 

and will be OUT ON OCT 16TH

Pre-order your copy using these links to your local Amazon site:

http://smarturl.it/Conditioned

http://bookShow.me/B015PMCFEG

CONDITIONED COVER for cover revealThanks to Daz Smith for yet another great cover design

condiotioned-twitter-ad-oct16CONDITIONED dives back into the world of gardener Charles, his friends and the state of his mental health – one year on. We meet loner Simon and his battle with the outside world, co-dependent Martha and her abusive husband Clive, neurotic poet Catherine on the verge of getting married, Tony, who finds his strange brother Charles a challenge, psychic Elaine looking for a new direction in life and quirky widow Sarah Roseberg who has a go at sorting out all of their problems.
CONDITIONS aimed to sensitise readers and make them think about tolerance and acceptance.
CONDITIONED wants readers to look beyond their attitude towards Conditions and examine what we all do and what we can do to overcome our challenges. The sequel is another snapshot of this circle of friends. Some will have improved their lives, others will not.

Conditioned (Conditions Series 2)

http://smarturl.it/Conditioned

http://bookShow.me/B015PMCFEG

From reviews for CONDITIONS:bittersweet
“The writing, while subtle, brings out intense conflicts … The book … made me wrangle with the one overwhelming condition that wove Charles’s friends together: Empathy.

It made me wonder: Would I have it in me to be such a supportive friend to someone with a “condition”? I am ashamed to admit: I am not sure. The question haunts me. Christoph Fischer achieved his goal; he made me think real hard about “Conditions.”

*****

Conditions has a fascinating array of characters and is a book that will make all readers think…
The book is not about one set of symptoms or even one character, but it reflects back to us some of the standard reactions to people who might be affected by such a disorder. Are they really unable to do a day’s work, or is it all an excuse? Are they telling the truth or are they making up stories to get attention? Why should they be treated differently and given special privileges when they aren’t pulling their weight? Are they just exploiting the system? Should they just be locked up?images (1)
… What is normal and how we define normality are questions that the more one works in the field, the more one wonders about. Absence of a diagnosable mental illness is not the same as what society might think as “normal behaviour” …
… When we get to know both his friends and those who aren’t that close to Charles, we come to understand that all of them (and by extension, also us) have their own conditions, and we shouldn’t be so quick to judge. Even the most enlightened of us can have prejudices and misjudge others if we are not open and refuse to take them on their own terms.

Why a sequel?
The short answer is: I left a few of the characters in the lurch and wanted to give them a much needed closure.

Conditions has an ensemble cast, a group of friends and family who gather around Charles, a man with a mental condition. His condition and how people handle it  becomes the centre piece, even though the other characters have their own lives and problems, too. You can follow these links to read my character profiles for Charles, Elaine, Catherine, Martha, Tony, Simon, and Edgar.

Every life and individual situation is different and so it was important for me to show a snapshot of the lives and of the problems. To end ‘Conditions’ on a “and they lived happily-ever-after” note would have been simplifying the Conditions and unrealistic.  However, there were many specific calls to help Martha out of her ditch and to explore Simon’s life further.

To not turn the sequel into a mere soap opera by continuing all sub-plots with new and sensational developments I chose a setting that unites all the characters one year on and provides another snapshot. Some will have improved their lives, others will not. My aim with “Conditions” was to sensitise readers and make them think about tolerance and acceptance. With the sequel, “Conditioned” I want readers to look beyond their attitude towards Conditions and more at what we all do and what we can do to overcome our challenges.

con•di•tioned
adj.

1. existing under or subject to conditions.
2. characterized by a predictable or consistent pattern of behavior or thought as a result of being subjected to certaincircumstances or conditions.
3. acquired through conditioning: conditioned behavior patterns.
4. in a fit or suitable condition.
5. accustomed.

final conditioned book coverv2

Conditioned (Conditions Series 2)

http://smarturl.it/Conditioned

http://bookShow.me/B015PMCFEG

ConditionsFunPhotoBox1142911044zyytrv 

When Charles and Tony’s mother dies the estranged brothers must struggle to pick up the pieces, particularly so given that one of them is mentally challenged and the other bitter about his place within the family.
The conflict is drawn out over materialistic issues, but there are other underlying problems which go to the heart of what it means to be part of a family which, in one way or another. has cast one aside.
Prejudice, misconceptions and the human condition in all forms feature in this contemporary drama revolving around a group of people who attend the subsequent funeral at the British South Coast.
Meet flamboyant gardener Charles, loner Simon, selfless psychic Elaine, narcissistic body-builder Edgar, Martha and her version of unconditional love and many others as they try to deal with the event and its aftermath.

On Amazon: http://smarturl.it/CONDITIONSCFF

Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/529337

On iTunes: https://itun.es/i6LL8nt

Nook Book Link: http://ow.ly/LMhGM

On Goodreads: http://ow.ly/C0Ziw

On Facebook: http://ow.ly/C0ZqX

Review: “Ooh Matron!” by Sarah Jane Butfield

29 Tuesday Sep 2015

Posted by Christoph Fischer in Uncategorized

≈ 8 Comments

25991046My enthusiastic review of Ooh Matron! (The Nomadic Nurse Series 1) by the very talented Sarah Jane Butfield 

Blurb: Sarah Jane has no career aspirations, all she wants is to leave school, work as a cashier at Woolworths and get married. Then everything changes and she finds herself wearing a fluorescent pink uniform and studying to get into Nursing School. What inspired this surprising change of direction? What happens when she leaves home to live in a garrison town with a housemate who is a party animal? The big question being, is she really cut out to be a nurse?
Let’s start at the beginning with Sarah Jane as a sixteen-year-old country girl, a bit old fashioned but who has a mischievous sense of humour and who suddenly decides she wants to be a nurse!

My review:
I don’t often read memoirs because I’m a fiction fan but the title, reminiscent of Carry On Films tempted me into buying this one. I used to work in care homes in my youth and was interested in that aspect of the memoir, too.
The book is written with a wonderfully human spirit: caring, humorous, upbeat and full of life. Where other memoirs drift into documentary style and dry facts, Butfield knows how to spice things up. Great anecdotes, warm-hearted humour and accessible writing make this as an entertaining, interesting and enjoyable read as the title promises.
On a more serious note, the author reflects on many aspects of nursing with great empathy and honesty, particularly the parts about working with mentally ill patients and those with Down Syndrome were moving and informative to me.
There’s a lot you can learn from this book. An all round winner.

Author Sarah Jane Butfield (link to my interview with her on my blog) was sarahborn in Ipswich, and raised in rural Suffolk, UK. Sarah Jane is a wife, mother, ex-qualified nurse and now an internationally published author. Married three times with four children, three stepchildren and two playful Australian Cattle dogs she an experienced modern day mum to her ‘Brady bunch’, but she loves every minute of their convoluted lives.

Sarah Jane, the roving Florence Nightingale, fulfilled her childhood dream of becoming a nurse and went on to use her nursing and later teaching qualifications to take her around the world. She is now an international best-selling author of three travel memoirs set in Australia and France. In addition, she is releasing the first book in the What, Why, Where, When, Who & How Book Promotion Series. Book 1 titled The Accidental Author is aimed at aspiring and debut self-published authors and is on pre-order now with the release scheduled for 27th February 2015.

Find the book on Amazon UK and US 

Subscribe to her newsletter for updates, competitions and sneak previews –http://eepurl.com/0IuML

Sarah Jane’s blog and website:

http://sarahjanebutfield.wix.com/sarahjanebutfield
http://sarahjanebutfield-glass-half-full.blogspot.co.uk/
Follow Sarah Jane on Twitter here: https://twitter.com/SarahJanewrites
Stop by and say hello to Sarah Jane here on
Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/AuthorSarahJaneButfield
https://www.facebook.com/Twodogsandasuitcase
https://www.facebook.com/OurFrugalSummerinCharente
Support and networking for authors provided by Sarah Jane:
http://www.rukiapublishing.com/
https://www.facebook.com/RukiaPublishing
https://www.facebook.com/promotingauthors

How to start your own Author Newsletter |from Writer’s Treasure Chest

28 Monday Sep 2015

Posted by Christoph Fischer in Uncategorized

≈ 4 Comments

imagesA great post – check it out

Source: How to start your own Author Newsletter | Writer’s Treasure Chest

Great tips and useful links for your very first author newsletter.

Reblogged from

WRITER’S TREASURE CHEST

A blog for authors, about authors, written by an author

Source: How to start your own Author Newsletter | Writer’s Treasure Chest

Re-blog: Introducing author Miriam Drori via Claire Stibbe

28 Monday Sep 2015

Posted by Christoph Fischer in Uncategorized

≈ Comments Off on Re-blog: Introducing author Miriam Drori via Claire Stibbe

SEPTEMBER 4, 2015 / re-blogged from CLAIRE STIBBE

Having recently returned from a holiday in Jerusalem this blog post came as a wonderful surprise to me. The excerpt rings so true , I had to re-blog this.

“A Warm Welcome to Miriam Drori

SEPTEMBER 4, 2015 / CLAIRE STIBBE“

Miriam DroriI am delighted to welcome Miriam Drori, author of Neither Here Nor There. Miriam  was born and brought up in London and now lives with her husband and two of her grown up children in Jerusalem. With a degree in Maths and following careers in computer programming and technical writing, Miriam has been writing novels and short stories for ten years. Two of her short stories have been published in anthologies and others have been published online. “Neither Here Nor There” published on 17th June, 2014 is her first novel. Here is an excerpt.

Jerusalem. Esty recently escaped from the ultra-orthodox community in which she grew up.

The scene begins in the Mahane Yehuda Market…

Front50%Esty walked along the alleyways, noting the quality and prices of the items she wanted. Potatoes, courgettes, carrots, onions. She revelled in the familiar sights, sounds and smells. With so much that was new and different for her, it felt good to return to this whiff of home.

“Sweet mangos. Only six shekels.”

The loud voice just next to her startled Esty. How did these people keep shouting all day without getting sore throats?

I am delighted to welcome Miriam Drori, author of Neither Here Nor There. Miriam  was born and brought up in London and now lives with her husband and two of her grown up children in Jerusalem. With a degree in Maths and following careers in computer programming and technical writing, Miriam has been writing novels and short stories for ten years. Two of her short stories have been published in anthologies and others have been published online. “Neither Here Nor There” published on 17th June, 2014 is her first novel. Here is an excerpt. Jerusalem. Esty recently escaped from the ultra-orthodox community in which she grew up. The scene begins in the Mahane Yehuda Market… Esty walked along the alleyways, noting the quality and prices of the items she wanted. Potatoes, courgettes, carrots, onions. She revelled in the familiar sights, sounds and smells. With so much that was new and different for her, it felt good to return to this whiff of home. “Sweet mangos. Only six shekels.” The loud voice just next to her startled Esty. How did these people keep shouting all day without getting sore throats?

Source: A Warm Welcome to Miriam Drori | Claire Stibbe

“Stolen/ reblogged” this interview with that funny scary Scottish man Seumas Gallacher – always a laugh and pretty decent books if I may say so – Interview with Author Seumas Gallacher!

27 Sunday Sep 2015

Posted by Christoph Fischer in Uncategorized

≈ 3 Comments

“Stolen/ reblogged” this interview with that funny scary Scottish man Seumas Gallacher – always a laugh and pretty decent books if I may say so – Interview with Author Seumas Gallacher!seumas-gallacher

Source: Interview with Author Seumas Gallache

Self-confessed nutter, flirting constantly with the thin line between insanity and whatever else is available… latecomer to the incredible world of writing, and LUVVIN every minute of it… after a career covering five decades and three continents, immersed in Finance and Banking, then corporate trouble-shooting, I still haven’t decided what I wanna be when I grow up… so meantime, being an Author it is…

Source: Interview with Author Seumas Gallacher!

My Literary Jerusalem Experience

27 Sunday Sep 2015

Posted by Christoph Fischer in Uncategorized

≈ 19 Comments

Here are some literary impressions from my recent journey to Jerusalem. Thoughts of great books I have read and of ‘local’ authors that were never far from my mind on this trip:

12002804_10152947112387132_5414541810488819684_nRise to power new

The David Chronicles by Uvi Poznansky made my sightings of references to King David all the more powerful. Check out her post on this blog about the Perils of Biblical Inspiration and my interview with her.

12039376_10152947112307132_7201797989112962442_nvalley_of_thracians_cover

This sign reminded me of Ellis Shuman, an American author living in Israel. Here is my interview with him about his novel “Valley of the Thracians” and “The Virtual Kibbuz”. Ellis writes for the Huffington Post and the Oslo Times and is fascinated by all things Bulgarian and Poker.

11215134_10152947112417132_6327767166960202431_n11414913

One of my literary highlights was finding Revital Shiri-Horowitz, a Jewish writer of Iraqui descend, on twitter, a few years back. Her book “Daughters of Iraq” and “Hope to See you Soon” are amazing novels about a particular immigrant experience. I was delighted to be reminded of her so often.

12004074_10152947112352132_108705656829775983_nPaulette

Paulette Mahurin recently wrote about a wonderful novel about Emil Zola in “To Live Out Loud” , an impressive book that is still on my mind.

This is just the tip of the iceberg.

18997323 8289989

I sadly never got to meet author Yael Politis who lives in Israel and who writes some great fiction.

11896070_10152918841327132_1788159049495713898_nLuckily enough I got to visit the Kabbalah Centre in Tel Aviv. My friend Ofer is a freelance editor and does some editorial work for them. He has also kindly agreed to work on the Hebrew version of THE LUCK OF THE WEISSENSTEINERS. You can take the boy out of his blog, but the book blog not out of the boy.

kibbutz_cover to-live-out-loud-front-promo-copy MURDER (400x640) 22388312 download22031199

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Saturday Historical Novelist Interview with Susan Tarr

26 Saturday Sep 2015

Posted by Christoph Fischer in Uncategorized

≈ 39 Comments

Author Pic Susan TarrToday’s Saturday Interview guest is historical (amongst other genres) novelist Susan Tarr, who should be well-known on this blog by now. Welcome (back) to the hot seat. Please tell us more about yourself as writer and as person.

Much of my personality comes out through my writing. I write in several different genres so whether I am up or down, there’s always some place to write about it.

Living in Kenya for so long, cut off from my New Zealand family, I wrote long letters home. I’d get 1 or 2 pages in return for my 20+ page efforts. Clearly there were no other budding authors in my family.

Did anyone influence you / encourage you to become a writer?

Well, often people would say, Susan, you should write a book. But we know what that means. Anyway I wrote stories from Africa.

How did you come to writing?

I’ve always been a dreamer.

How did you come up with your stories?

I think the stories came up with me.

When did you decide to write in your chosen genre(s) ?

TWITTER Phenomena         I started writing about Seacliff Mental Hospital 20 years ago, wanting to get Malcolm’s story on paper before I forgot it.

You have created great characters. Which one is your favorite?

Malcolm! He is my reluctant hero from PHENOMENA. He epitomized the people in those days in those circumstances. Colonial 1930s. He even managed wry humor.

Are you like any of the characters (and how so)?

In MIRANDA BAY I am both Miranda and Pansy. Introvert and extrovert. Impulsive and deliberate. Exuberant and quiet.

Were the plot and subplots completely planned from the start or did they change during the process, and if so, how?

I start with a general outline, and then it grows from there.

Members of my family and workmates plied me with historical facts based on New Zealand mental health and hospitals of the day. So along with Malcolm’s own words, PHENOMENA grew.

 For MIRANDA BAY, I wrote from diaries I had kept during that difficult time.

Jack's Cover Pic KDP Cover FinalFor JACK just an ordinary dog in the dog house, I wrote from diaries I wrote on his behalf for his mum and dad. Jack was a dog, but he had a valid opinion on most stuff. At that time we had built up a Boarding Kennels facility with an on-site animal hospital. I had originally wanted to be a doctor, so this occupation took care of those needs.

What is your main reason for writing?

Beats paying a psychiatrist!

I’ve read three of your books so far. What is the idea behind your work?

I write how life is, and sometimes it’s not kind. But we do manage to survive. Well, mostly we do. That’s what I write about. Life. The good and the bad.

Tell us about the concept behind your books. How did you get the idea?

PHENOMENA the Lost and Forgotten Children was the recovered/retitled version of the original SEACLIFF a Regular Boy Within

I worked in mental health for many years, as did my family. We lived in the hospital village so we kind of ate, slept and breathed mental health. Most of the characters in this book were related to me in some shape or form. Those inside and those not.

MIRANDA BAY is pretty much my story of when I managed a tourist resort here in our beautiful idyllic New Zealand. I experienced stuff I would never have expected. My staff had been through some bad times too, so I melded the various stories in this book. My gorgeous daughter is the cover model. She was throwing a giant hissy with her back to us, and that was the picture of the day. Can’t you just see the attitude?

Miranda bay for WebnodeWhat are you most proud of in your books? 

That I actually wrote them. PHENOMENA the Lost and Forgotten Children came straight from my heart. It took 25 years to complete that one, and I could still be adding more to it, but I had to type ENDS.

What is your life like outside of writing?

I am on the gallop all day long. I may not achieve much, but you’ll barely find me sitting unless I am at my PC engrossed in book stuff. That’s about 12/24.

What makes you laugh?

People make me laugh. Life makes me laugh.

What song would you pick to go with your book?

‘Come away with me’, by Norah Jones. This seems to be my writing song. And I must explain that I don’t actually have it playing. I write in total silence, with just the first line of that song running through my mind. I have no idea what the rest of the song is.

What makes you laugh?

People who do dumb things, like idiot criminals who bungle their own plans. I make me laugh because I am such a klutz. Have to laugh because the option is…?

What (not who) would you like to take to a lonely island?

My PC and ereader.

Hot or cold?

Preferably hot.

Salty or sweet?

Both, I like salted popcorn dusted with icing sugar. I need to alternate. As soon as I finish with a sweet, I am craving salty. And vice versa.

What would your friends say are your best and your oddest quality?

They would probably say I am colourful and unpredictable, and a wee bit brave. I have heard the word ‘loyal’ bandied about.


What would you chose as those qualities?

Honesty and fairness. Fun. Support.

Jack's Cover Pic KDP Cover Final

What are the best and the worst aspects of writing?

Becoming so tired that I cannot get the ideas from my head to my keyboard.

How do you handle criticism of your work?

A bad review or rating always stings.

How do you balance marketing one book and writing the next?

Hmmm, that is the eternal question. I fear I don’t do either justice. But I set aside a couple of hours each day for my personal stuff. Sometimes I get caught up in the promotional side of things and that eats up my time.

What do you do when you don’t write?

Gardening. I hate gardening. I hate mess even more.

Tell us one odd thing about you and one really mundane thing.

I’m reserved, possibly/probably introverted. And yet I accept offers to speak publicly whether it’s about books or not. Give me a microphone and I am fearless!

Mundane? I’m a homebody. I don’t like people popping in to visit without preparing me first. I don’t like surprises. BUT I tandem-dived from 10,000ft and sailed to Kenya in a 28ft yacht. Crazy mix of personalities. A brave scardy cat.

What else would you like us to know about yourself and your books?

Twitter When the rollercoaster stops (Small)  That there will always be more on the boil.

Who are your editors and how do you quality control your books?

When my first book was published, MIRANDA BAY, I handed it over to the professionals and took my hands off. I thought that was what you did. However, once I saw their published version of it, in hardback, I was so embarrassed. I’ve not done that again!

How have you found the experience of self-publishing? What were your highs and lows?

Harrowing! I have struggled so much and yet I have learned a lot. But come tomorrow, I’ll probably have forgotten what I learned last week.

What do you like best about writing? What’s your least favourite thing? 

Editing and proofreading my final draft, and working on other author’s works. Love it all.

Least favourite thing would be exhaustion.

What is your advice to new writers?

Don’t rush into publishing. Stay with it, be strong, and edit edit edit. And when your family and friends say it’s perfect, go edit some more. It’s best to have an independent Beta Reader. Then hire yourself a good editor and proofreader. If you miss out the vital steps it may show in your published copy.

Who are your favourite independent writers?

Jana Petken, Khalid Muhammad, Uvi Poznansky… Gosh, this list could go on forever. Indie Writers are blossoming with some very fine writing.

Who are your favourite authors?

Aren’t independent writers authors too? So mainstream would have to be Joseph Heller, John Steinbeck, Louis de Bernieres, Paul Coelho, Jojo Moyes and many many more.

What are your favourite books?

‘God Knows’ by Joseph Heller

‘Captain Corelli’s Mandolin’ by Louis de Bernieres

 and anything by Steinbeck and Coelho

What book are you currently reading and in what format (e-book/paperback/hardcover)?

(ebook) Rise to Power by Uvi Poznanski. The first in the David chronicles. Loved it!

What are you working on now?

A book called The BOOK TOUR. I already have another attitude picture of my daughter for that cover.

Tell us about your other books?

When the ROLLER COASTER stops is my new title. It is about a determined young woman, Bethany and her courage in the face of a medical minefield. She has recently returned from a European holiday with what she thinks is a runny gut. When she eventually seeks medical advice, she is not at all convinced of the diagnosis of Colorectal bowel cancer; she is too young: she has too much life to live: she is financially secure and loves her job, almost as much as she loves her friends. Besides, bowel cancer is – well, so not nice.

Get her books here: 

PHENOMENA the Lost and Forgotten Children: Amazon.com: http://goo.gl/e3fTMZ

JACK just an ordinary dog in the dog house: Amazon.com: http://goo.gl/sfSX5x

MIRANDA BAY: Amazon.com: http://goo.gl/D2tDDx

When the ROLLER COASTER Stops: Amazon.com: http://goo.gl/7HVkI1​

Connect with Susan here:

Author Pic Susan TarrSusan Tarr
Author, Editor, Beta Reader, and Proofreader


Website:  
http://susan-tarr-author.webnode.com/

Email:        susan.m.tarr@gmail.com

Facebook: http://goo.gl/GJJ7ua
Twitter:    https://twitter.com/SusanMTarr
Google+:   https://goo.gl/EeKZkc
eNovel Authors: http://enovelauthorsatwork.com/susan-tarr/
Published works:
PHENOMENA: the Lost and Forgotten Children (USA) 
Seacliff: a Regular Boy Within. (Tauranga, Oceanbooks.)
Miranda Bay (NZ & USA)
JACK just an ordinary dog in the dog house (USA)
When the ROLLER COASTER Stops (USA) Latest release.
Ordering:
OBDistributors@gmail.com

Guest author: Howard Kaplan “Damascus Cover”

25 Friday Sep 2015

Posted by Christoph Fischer in Uncategorized

≈ 5 Comments

Today I have the pleasure to introduce an author whose book was made into a film (and with such great actors, too). Since I just returned from Jerusalem and have been to Damascus and Syria in the early 90s I’m particularly interested in this book.
Howard Kaplan has kindly agreed to write a blog post to tell us about his book and success story.1505663_873254849412787_3428435138121261288_n

“When I was in my early twenties backpacking through Europe, a friend and I flew on a lark to Lebanon.  In Beirut, we learned a shared taxi service—nine seat diesel Mercedes Benzes—ran regularly between Beirut and Damascus and Syria routinely issued visas at the border.  Damascus is the oldest continuously inhabited city on earth, an oasis surrounded by apricot orchards as underground rivers from Lebanon come up there.  So we went.  Among the places we visited was Marjeh Square, where the Israeli agent, Eli Cohen, had been hung. Later, I wanted to set a suspense novel in Damascus with rich details, sights, sounds and smells of this marvelous city.  So that was the kernel of The Damascus Cover.  I created a story about a high placed Israeli spy in the Syrian regime patterned after Eli Cohen. What I didn’t know when I wrote the novel was that it would become an artifact of what Damascus was like before all this destruction.  So I’ve kept the novel exactly as it was in the reissue other than a new foreword.

            The novel was highly successful when it came out in 1977, was translated into seven languages and climbed up the Los Angeles Times best seller list for three months.  Then like most novels it disappeared.  By utter chance, the director, Dan Berk, was looking for a Middle East story, happened to mention it to a mutual friend and she gave him my novel.  He read it, called me, we met for coffee in Los Angeles where we both live and the deal was done then and there—no agents.  Dan had a vision of what made the novel contemporary which matched mine.  In its secret heart, The Damascus Cover, is a novel of reconciliation between opposing sides, or more specifically how intelligence services and the military, while still enemies, can cooperate to create a greater good the politicians will not.  Dan wrote the script himself and got the producers of Gosford Park onboard.  They showed the script to Jonathan Rhys Meyers to play Ari, the main lead, and he called the next day and said he was eager to do it.  Then came John Hurt as the head of the Israeli Secret Service in the vein of his role in Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy. They attracted an international cast and we have Jurgen Prochnow, the great German actor most famous for Das Boot, as well as Navid Negahban, who played Abu Nazir in Homeland.  We shot in Casablanca and Jerusalem; I was on set for a week of the seven week shoot. The film is in post production now and will premier at the Berlin Film Festival in February 2016.

I had some experiences when I was 21 and 22 traveling to the Soviet Union to smuggle out a dissident’s manuscript on microfilm, and transferring another manuscript, on my second trip, to the Dutch Ambassador inside his Embassy.  Under the Soviets, all unpublished writing remained property of the Communist State, so émigrés would have to leave all their uncensored works behind.  On my second trip I was arrested, interrogated by the KGB for four days and then released.  They grabbed me in the Ukraine for meeting with dissidents, I had nothing incriminating on me and they did not know about the manuscripts I’d transferred.  It was rather a benign interrogation in the hotel manager’s office, with bathroom and food breaks available.  In the end they brought a prosecutor to my hotel room and expelled me on my scheduled flight to London, citing a humanitarian gesture.  It was the era of détente and I think my American passport really did protect me so I was nervous but not panicked.  They arrested me on the tenth day of a fourteen day tour, held me for four days in house arrest and would not let me contact the Embassy.  Had they held me beyond my scheduled flight I think I’d have been terrified.   I worked too with sending other college students into Russia to meet dissidents so what I learned through these colleagues in London, who remain among my closest friends, created a mindset that permeates my thrillers.DAMASCUS_portrait_Correct-Spelling

The Damascus Cover is the first novel in The Jerusalem Spy Series which initially will be comprised of 3 novels that share a common theme:  reconciliation and hope.  The second novel, Bullets of Palestine is out and is about the tensions, trust and mistrust, between an Israeli agent and a Palestinian agent as they work together to kill Abu Nidal, an extremist terrorist. To Destroy Jerusalem is a work about the nuclear threat to the region which I expect to bring out in early 2016.

Connect with Howard here:

https://www.facebook.com/HowardKaplanauthorDamascusCover

https://twitter.com/kaplanhow
Find the book on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_c_0_18?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=the%20damascus%20cover&sprefix=The+Damascus+cover%2Caps%2C107
Here are two video links of interviews with Howard:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cN63z88HeLU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UguQHdH-50Q
HOWARD KAPLAN, 212094f95e6af8c16d_photo[1]a native of Los Angeles, has lived in Israel and traveled extensively  through Lebanon, Syria and Egypt. At the age of 21, while attending school in Jerusalem, he was sent on a mission into the Soviet Union to smuggle out a dissident’s manuscript on microfilm. His first trip was a success. On his second trip to the Soviet Union, he was arrested in Khartiv in the Ukraine and interrogated for two days there and two days in Moscow, before being released. He holds a BA in Middle East History from UC Berkeley and an MA in the Philosophy of Education from UCLA. He is the author of four novels.
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