Universal Scams & Fraud Detection By David Snow

 

 

 

 

Genre: Non-Fiction
Publisher:
Release Date:
Buy: Amazon US | Amazon UK


Book Description:


Fraud and Scams are a costly menace to society and global industry. Learning from experience is the best way of developing skill and knowledge. This book will assist you in preventing fraud and financial crimes against you and your business. The book will teach you the tricks used by scam artists in modern society and give you the edge and ability from falling victim to fraud. Explore the many aspects of fraud, including; identity theft, retail scams, fraud against the elderly, insurance scams, employee theft and more. Learn how to conduct elaborate investigations including cross border and gathering of valuable evidence. If its too good to be true, then it probably isn’t true. Learn to trust your feelings from experiencing the different real life cases and scenarios. Don’t fall victim to fraud, learn how to protect yourself.

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BIO

David Snow has been working in the private security and financial investigation arena since 1989. He was one of the first graduates and members of the Institute of Irish Investigators. He obtained the "youngest student award" from the Institute in 1989. In 2013 he was awarded Investigator of the Year by the Europe Middle East and African chapter of the International Association of Financial Crime Investigators. He was also presented with the International Investigator of the Year Award in Denver Colorado by IAFCI – North America and donated his winnings to the Wounded Warrior Project, which supports American troops injured at war.

He was initially employed by Sleator Carroll Investigators and then Pinkerton Security & Investigations. Pinkerton is the world’s oldest and largest Private Detective and Security agency with operations on every continent. He joined Pinkerton in 1993 and became the General Manager of the Irish operation in 1996, leaving in 2001 to pursue a career within insurance fraud investigation.

Today he is employed as the Head of Special Investigations for the Irish operation of a multi-national insurance company. He is a member of the International Association of Special Investigation Units (IASIU), the International Association of Financial Crime Investigators (IAFCI), the Association of Irish Risk Management (AIRM) and was one of the first Europeans to obtain the Certified Insurance Fraud Investigator (CIFI) from North America. He has lectured on identity theft and financial crime in Ireland, North America and Europe. He is also a member of the Irish charity A Little Lifetime Foundation, formally known as ISANDS, obtaining an award in 2012 for his efforts in the prevention of the identity theft of dead Irish baby’s.

He lives in Dublin, Ireland with his wife and two children Olivia and Sarah.

Website
www.davidsnow.iehttp://www.davidsnowauthor.com/

Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/Davidsnowauthor?ref=bookmarks

Twitter
https://twitter.com/author_davesnow/

 

 

Book Tour: Tillie's Tales By Mindy Mymudes

 

 

 
 
 
 


Book Synopsis:

Who is the mysterious ghosty haunting puppygirl Tillie? And why? George, the magical basset hound familiar is on the trail. 

About the Author:

I've worked in a hazardous waste lab, where under the sign for the Right To Know law, was added: if you can figure it out. I've been a metals tech, a bakery clerk, a professional gardener, and taught human anatomy and ran two university greenhouses. Along the way I picked up my Master's Degree in Biology, specializing in the population genetics of an endangered plant. I’ve also been a top breeder, handler, and trainer of English springer spaniels under the prefix of Muddy Paws. We three in the equivalent of the National Club's (ESSFTA) hall of fame. Every time I think I know dogs, another dog comes along and proves my beliefs are totally wrong. The truth is, the Muddy Paws Pack walk all over me.

Author Links -

Website http://mindymymudes.weebly.com

Blog: http://mindymymudes.weebly.com/blog

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Author-Mindy-Mymudes/486126501426333

Twitter: @GeorgeBasset

Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6702514.Mindy_Mymudes

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Mindy-Mymudes/e/B00H9LFMR4


The Interview:

Tell us a about yourself. 

Mindy: My background is very diverse. I have a degree in horticulture and a master’s degree in population genetics. I’ve worked in bakeries, metal labs, hazardous waste labs, a professor in anatomy, a greenhouse manager, and assorted other positions. I adore plants, dogs, and competitive dog sports.

George: I was born in a whelping box with my six puppy siblings. Auntie Heather picked me out as being the special basset hound I am.

 

How long have you been writing and what inspired you to write? 

Mindy: I haven’t been writing fiction for very long, maybe less than 10 years. In high school I took some creative writing courses, but generally I wrote non-fiction for journals and magazines. I was actually working on an article for a dog magazine when I decided to write about my whacko Muddy Paws Pack.

George: I don’t write, no fingers, no need, and us familiars have good memories and in stinks. When I realized how important my life was, I hired my secret-ary. I’m looking for a new one, this one doesn’t write fast enough. Are you interested in a job?

 

Tell me a little about your book.

Mindy: Once again, George has a mystery to solve. Tillie, the puppygirl that his packsibling Joey was given in “George Knows” attracts a ghost who haunts her. George has to find a way to make the ghost disappear. During his hunt for the answer, Auntie Heather and Karly, his Girlpup, witch-in-training, learn about some forgotten American History.

George: It’s about me, so it’s perfectly amazing.

Who has been your greatest writing inspiration? 

Mindy: There are so many authors I use as inspiration and use their books as texts. One my favorite inspirations is Temple Grandin. She writes non-fiction about animal behavior. Temple is a high functioning autistic who thinks much like the animals she studies. It’s helped me to view life more like a dog.

George: Dogs don’t read. We don’t need to. My greatest inspiration is myself.

 

Now a little more about you: If you were stranded on a desert island, what three items would you bring (excluding family, laptop, or writing utensils)? 

        Mindy:

1.    Plants, for food and decoration.

2.    Books. Or my phone. My phone, probably, because it holds a lot of books.

3.    Well, if I was stranded, I could call out, so I could be saved, but if I couldn’t get a signal, I’d need a generator or a solar battery to keep my phone charged. 

George: 

1.  Liver Brownies.

2.  Tuna Fudge

3.  My filled supper dish.

We find out the world is going to end tomorrow. How do you live your last day? 

Mindy: With my husband and dogs walking in the woods on a beautiful day.

George:  With my Karly and Auntie Heather and working on magic to save the world. I can do that. With my drool.

If we were to make a movie of your life. Who would play the part of you? 

        Mindy: Lucille Ball. She had red hair and she was funny.

George: There is only one me, so there is no one else that could play the part.

 

Tell us 5 random things about yourself. 

Mindy:

1.  I adore my husband, and we’ve been together over 30 years.

2.  I’m a second-generation English Springer breeder, owner, and trainer.

3.  I have three hundred indoor plants.

4.  I’m an AKC rally judge

5.  I have the best friends on the planet.

George: 

1.  I’m always right.

2.  No one is smarter than I am.

3.  Tuna fudge is my favorite treat.

4.  I’m a perfectly designed familiar.

5.  Liver brownies are my favorite treat.

 

What are the three places you have always wanted to visit but have not yet?

Mindy: I’d love to go to Scotland. What can I say, I like men in kilts. My husband Is part Scots, but he won’t even consider wearing one. I’d love to go to Greece for the history, and I’d like to see the Grand Canyon.

George: The love of my life, Phoebe’s house. The place my Pack hunts to bring home food. That place must be as amazing as myself. I don’t understand why they don’t take me there, I bet I could bag more food than they do.

 

Okay, crystal ball time. Where do you see yourself in 5-10 years?

Mindy: With my husband in an RV seeing the United States.

George:  What’s a year? Isn’t that how often I’m fed?

September 27 - Introduction at VBT Café Blog
September 29 - Interviewed at Author, CA Milson's Blog
October 2 - Interviewed at Avenue Books
October 2 - Spotlight at Cherry Mischievous
October 5 - Spotlight at 4Covert2Overt A Place In The Spotlight
October 7 - Reviewed at Voluptuous Book Diva
October 9 - Interviewed at Writers Revolution
October 12 - Interviewed at SolaFide Self-Publishing and Book Blog
October 12 - Guest Blogging at Bellevue Book Reviews
October 16 - Reviewed at Paranormal Romance and Authors That Rock
October 19 - Spotlight at Jody's Book Reviews
October 21 - Review & Guest Blogging at Teatime and Books
October 23 - Review & Interview at Deal Sharing Aunt
October 23 - Guest Blogging at Lori's Reading Corner
October 23 - Spotlight at My Book Tour
​October 23 - Guest Blogging at Infinite House Of Books 

 

 

 

 

Glen Aaron Interview

About the Author:

Glen writes both fiction and nonfiction from his forty-year career and experience as a trial lawyer and consultant in international business and banking.

His nonfiction work as the observer in The Prison Trilogy tells the tales in chronological order of how he came to be a lawyer for a Wall Street Journal heiress and her gay husband and how that representation landed him in federal prison. That is the first in The Trilogy. The second book tells the story of his cell mate, Colonel George Trofimoff, serving life for spying for the KGB, and the final book of The Trilogy describes the prisoners, Glen's experiences and takes a hard look at the American criminal justice system.

Author Links:

http://www.glenaaron.com/
http://www.prisonobserver.com/

Synopsis

In prison, Aaron was assigned Colonel George Trofimoff as his cellmate. The Colonel turned out to be the highest-ranking U.S. Army officer ever convicted of spying. After initially resisting, Aaron agreed to look at the Colonel's case with the hope of finding a reason to make an additional appeal. What he found was a complete travesty of justice. For two years, an FBI agent had posed as a D.C. Russian Embassy representative in a sting operation designed to entrap the Colonel into exchanging what turned out to be a made-up story of espionage against America for the promise of a $45,000 payment. The resulting federal trial in Tampa railroaded the Colonel into a life prison sentence. The second book in The Prison Trilogy is that story.

YouTube Book Trailer Book 2 - https://youtu.be/rMU-MSkm_D8

Interview:

1. Tell us about yourself. My name is Glenn Aaron. I am a retired attorney and international business and banking consultant. Nonfiction based upon unusual characters of interest that I have met during my career is my primary genre. For example, my last client was the 72-year-old Wall Street Journal heiress who decided to marry her 50 year old gay interior decorator, who was also my client. While my professional life, often dealt with such characters that I write about, my personal life is quite peaceful in the desert Southwest, Midland, Texas, where I live with my wife, Jane, and my two Rottweilers.

2. Tell me a little about your book. Jackie Bancroft Spencer Morgan was left one of the wealthiest women in America when her first husband, Hugh Bancroft, Jr, owner of The Wall Street Journal, died unexpectedly. They had been married five years, had three children, and lived on their ranch in New Mexico. Many years later, at the age of 72, Jackie was building the Spencer theater in the New Mexico mountains, a theater for the performing arts. She paid $23 million cash for the building of that beautiful structure. When she married Ron Morgan, her interior decorator, in the midst of building the theater, she embarked upon what might be called the last fling of her life and mysteriously, she became critically ill while on a world cruise with Morgan. Unbeknownst to me, Morgan had talked Jackie into changing her will. He desperately wanted to become a Bancroft heir. Observer: the Ronnie Lee and Jackie Bancroft Spencer Morgan Story, a tale of people, greed, envy, manipulation – – even crime is the expose of that marriage.

3. Who has been your greatest writing inspiration? Natalie Rotunda has been my editor for all three books in the Observer Trilogy. She has inspired me greatly when I needed inspiration.

4. Now, a little more about you. If you were stranded on a desert island, what three items would you bring (excluding family, laptop, are writing utensils)? Well, first I would bring plenty of water. Second, I would bring plenty of food. Third, I would bring plenty of fishing gear.

5. We find out the world is going to end tomorrow. How do you live your last day? My wife and my Rottweilers and I sit outside, perhaps in the evening sipping wine, and enjoying the last day without fear.

6. If we were to make a movie of your life. Who would play the part of you? Clint Eastwood.

7. Tell us five random things about yourself. One: I like solitude. Two: I served 24 months in federal prison. As a result of my representation of Jackie and Ron, but you actually get no solitude in prison unless you are in solitary confinement. Three: I read a novel a week and have a news paper column in which I write book reviews. Four: I graduated with honors from both Baylor University and the University of Texas law school. Five: to me, the desert Southwest is the most beautiful place on earth.

What are three places you have always wanted to visit, but have not yet: India, Malaysia, and Ireland.

8. Okay, crystal ball time. Where do you see yourself in five – 10 years? Peacefully sitting in my writing room and continuing to write the books that I am now working on.


Buy: Amazon

Book Review: The Prison Trilogy: Observer By Glen Aaron

 

 

 

 

 

Glen writes both fiction and nonfiction from his forty-year career and experience as a trial lawyer and consultant in international business and banking.

His nonfiction work as the observer in The Prison Trilogy tells the tales in chronological order of how he came to be a lawyer for a Wall Street Journal heiress and her gay husband and how that representation landed him in federal prison. That is the first in The Trilogy. The second book tells the story of his cell mate, Colonel George Trofimoff, serving life for spying for the KGB, and the final book of The Trilogy describes the prisoners, Glen's experiences and takes a hard look at the American criminal justice system.

Author Links:

http://www.glenaaron.com/


http://www.prisonobserver.com/

Facebook: www.facebook.com/AuthorGlenAaron

Twitter: twitter.com/OBSERVERauthor

Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/observerauthor/

Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/pub/glen-aaron/16/77/566/en

Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/glenaaron 

Amazon:  www.amazon.com/Glen-Aaron/e/B00936UFS4/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1427123445&sr=8-1

Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/aaron

Book genre: Biography of Wall Street Journal heiress; nonfiction intrigue and crime

Publisher: Glen Aaron using Create Space

Release date: April 1

Buy link: Amazon.com

Book description: 

When Jackie Bancroft's husband died in 1952, he left her an heiress to the income and value of The Wall Street Journal and one of the wealthier women in America. Almost 50 years later, Jackie would mary Ronnie Lee Morgan, a 50 – year old gay interior decorator. Morgan was one of many clients in the active law practice of author Glen Aaron. This unusual marriage lasted until Jackie's mysterious death five years later. Throughout that period, Aaron became entwined in the personal lives and demands of the couple, along with handling many of their legal affairs. The huge money and property distributions made by Jackie to her husband, designed and handled by Aaron, resulted in a two – year federal prison sentence for Aaron. The first book in the Prison Trilogy is this story.

 

Excerpt One:

Ron Morgan always knew what he wanted – – to be rich and beautiful, to live in the places you see in Architectural Digest.
He knew certain things about the rich: that they were different, that they liked beautiful things, power, and influence, that, if they saw that another had something more beautiful or impressive, they had to have it, too. He also knew that every rich person would take advantage of him if given the chance. So he devised ways to reverse this probability. While making it appear that they were getting a good deal, a special deal, he always made money.
Ron had developed his expertise in interior decorating over the course of many years. It took him even longer to perfect the personality that attracted and pleased wealthy clients. His involvement as an interior decorator for the wealthy, his intuitive knowledge of how to deal with them, was an evolution of fits and starts.
Although it didn't hurt that Ron was gay, in his early life he had had difficulty figuring that out. He tried a heterosexual marriage. It didn't work.
Then, in his 50th year, in the New Mexico mountain village of Ruidoso, Ron met Jackie Bancroft Spencer ("Jackie"), a wealthy Wall Street Journal heiress possessed of a unique personality. Jackie was building a stunning theater for the performing arts in Ruidoso, for which she would pay $23 million cash. At the same time, she was caring for her terminally – ill second husband, Dr. A.N ("A. N.") Spencer. Ron Morgan came to know Jackie by creating interior decor for her home, making suggestions regarding the theater, and in assisting with A. N.'s care during his final illness.
I was Ron Morgan's lawyer for many years. On numerous occasions, I defended lawsuits and negotiated a way out of touchy problems. Ultimately, I placed Ron in bankruptcy protection in El Paso, Texas. Not long after, he introduced me to Jackie. Through numerous golf games and dinners, I became fascinated with this lady, her history and that of the Bancroft's and their ownership of The Wall Street Journal.
Two years later, Ron, a 52 – year old gay man, and Jackie, a 72 – year old heterosexual heiress, decided to marry. At the time she met Ron, Jackie, was married to Dr. A.N. Spencer; it was her second marriage. She wanted to travel the world after AN's death, and she wanted Ron to travel with her. For his part, Ron had his own designs on what this should cost Jackie. Whether pressing for marriage was a manifestation of Ron's ulterior financial desires, or whether it was at Jackie's urging is unknown. What is known is that Jackie accepted, indeed, relished, the arrangement.
While the relationship was filled with intrigue, greed and Machiavellian manipulation from within and without, the ultimate mystery for me was the nature of Jackie's illness – – the illness that led to her death – – while she and Ron were on a world cruise. It was my task to get her off the ship in the middle of the Atlantic and arrange for medical care in Albuquerque, New Mexico. That would be my last service on her behalf.
I have always been an observer of people: what motivates them to do what they do, how they view their quality of life, why and how this plays out in relationships. This book has a dual purpose: to share my observations of Jackie and Ron's unusual relationship, and to share my experiences as Jackie's some time – confidante and as Ron's lawyer until Jackie's death. Ultimately, these experiences with my last client would change my life.

Review:

 

I thought this book had an intriguing premise and was quite satisfied with it. The author was descriptive which painted a nice picture for me to think of while reading. The plot hooked me from the beginning and I couldn't seem to get enough of it. I look forward to reading the second book in the series.
 

Schedule


May 17 - Introduction at VBT Café Blog
May 19 - Spotlight at 3 Partners In Shopping - Nana, Mommy & Sissy Too!
May 21 - Interviewed at Author CAMilson
May 21 - Spotlight at The Voluptuous Book Diva
May 22 - Guest Blogging at The Voluptuous Book Diva
May 26 - Review at The Writers Revolution
May 28 - 6 Besties at BK Walker Books
June 1 - Interviewed at Bikers With Books
June 3 - Spotlight at Jody's Book Reviews
June 6 - Reviewed at My Life, Loves and Passions
June 8 - Author 2 Author Marketing at BookIt BK
June 10 - Spotlight at Readsalot
June 12 - Interviewed at BK Walker Books Etc.
June 15 - Spotlight at eBook Review Gal
June 17 - Spotlight at My Book Tour
June 19 - Spotlight at Black Coffee, Brown Cow
June 22 - Interviewed at Ghost Rider Book Promotions
June 24 - Interviewed at Yah Did Radio 6:30pm EST
June 26 - 5 Things I Know For Sure at CAT Magazine
June 29 - Review & Interview at Deal Sharing Aunt
July 1 - Spotlight at Tea and Book
July 3 - Spotlight at Mass Musings
July 6 - Reviewed at BK Walker Books

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Book Tour: F#@! Bomb By Naomi Rabinowitz

 

 

Author Bio:

Naomi Rabinowitz is a writer, musician, jewelry designer and author of the YA novel REVENGE OF A BAND GEEK GONE BAD. She lives in New York City with her husband, Jonathan. Like her F#@! BOMB narrator, Sadie, Naomi is currently training for a long-distance walking event – and will be participating in Avon’s 39.3 mile Walk To End Breast Cancer this October.

Author Links -

Website/Blog: http://naomirabinowitzauthor.blogspot.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NaomiRabinowitzAuthor

Twitter: @NaomiRDesigns

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/24929225-f-bomb

Amazon: F#@! BOMB: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00U6XPO9S

Amazon: BAND GEEK: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B009NNXUJI

Book Genre: New Adult/Women’s Fiction/LGBT Fiction

Publisher: Amazon

Release Date: March 30. 2015

Buy Link(s): http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00U6XPO9S

Book Description:

Fatty. Freak. Friendless. Failure. Sadie Abramowitz is used to being alone. The morbidly obese college freshman literally doesn’t fit in anywhere and was constantly the butt of jokes in high school.

So far, life at Cunningham University isn’t much better. Her roommate only communicates in grunts while Sadie’s “dream job” at the school paper has her interviewing her fellow students with questions that practically invite them to insult her.

Things change when she’s assigned a story on Griffin Greenberg, the freshman track star who was one of Sadie’s high school bullies. At first, she’s reluctant to work with the gorgeous Griffin, but soon discovers that he’s not such a bad guy. Plus, he’s been keeping a secret: he’s gay.

As their friendship grows, Griffin challenges Sadie to do something she never thought possible: train for a marathon. Meanwhile, she supports him as he slowly comes to terms with his sexuality. Together, they help each other survive their first year of college – and also learn how to stand strong on their own.

*This book is a New Adult novel with some mature language and situations. It is recommended for readers 14 and up.

 

Excerpt One

“If you could be any type of animal, what would you be?”

I put on my widest smile and tried to sound enthusiastic. I was in Reporter Mode, a side of my personality which was somewhere between a morning talk show host and news anchor. My pair of subjects stared at me, eyes narrowing. Both girls had faces plastered with makeup and long, flat-ironed hair. Both were tan and slender, and wore matching skinny jeans with pink T-shirts. I figured if anyone would want to have their pictures and quotes featured in our college's award-winning newspaper, it would be cute girls who actually bothered to dress up. Girls, who unlike me, didn’t wear baggy, gray sweats and a stained, white T-shirt.

In my month of acting as Freshman Roving Reporter for The Falcon's bi-weekly polls (Memorable queries included, "Other than eating them, what's your favorite alternate use for mashed potatoes?" and, "Do you think underwear would be improved if it had GPS?") I'd perfected the art of choosing prospective interviewees. I could now tell before even asking a student whether he or she would be willing to give me a response. The loner who sat by a tree listening to his iPod? No. The theater major who liked to dance around the Student Union as her friends looked on? Yep. With these girls, all signs pointed to yes. 

My job was to get 10 quotes and photos by four o' clock that day and I was only up to six. It was already 3 p.m. and I was getting desperate. 

“What's the point of this?" asked the blonde, a smirk playing about her perfectly-lined pink lips. I continued to smile and pushed my dark brown curls out of my eyes as she considered the Deeper Meaning behind my query. Though it was late September, it was unseasonably warm for upstate New York and we happened to be in one of the least shady parts of campus. I'd only been standing for about a minute, but sweat was already beading across my forehead and pooling beneath my arms, making my shirt stick to my body. I envied the way these girls could keep their hair so tame.

"It's just a fun question for The Falcon's Roving Reporter column," I said. I shifted my weight from one foot to another to ease the pressure on my back. "What's really nice is you get your name in the paper along with your picture and quote. It’ll be in print and online. Everyone on campus will see it."

"Okay," she said, with a shrug. "I’ve seen that column. I guess it could be fun." She stuck out a hip as she assumed a sexy photo pose and I snapped her picture with my phone.

"Amber Sanchez, I'm 19 and a sophomore," she announced as I recorded her response. "And I'd be a cat. They're beautiful, mysterious and always land on their feet." She finished with a little clap, clearly proud of herself.

"Great answer!"  I said. “My mom is a fellow cat lover.” Buoyed by this small victory in my quest to complete my column, I turned to her friend. "Do you want to give a quote?"

The brunette glared at me and for a second I wondered if I'd misjudged her willingness to be put on display. But after a nudge from Amber, she said "Fine, I'll do it," and let out a deep, tortured sigh. She shook her head as her green eyes roamed up my body, taking in my worn beige sneakers and rumpled ensemble. I waited, my phone poised to record her. 

"I'm Chloe Williams, also 19 and a sophomore. And if I could be any animal," she said, pausing to look me right in the face. "I'd be anything but a fat whale!"

Boom!  The words hit me like a punch and I had to remind myself that we were no longer in high school. I was flooded with bad memories as a montage of past insults echoed in my head; "Fat whale" was just one of many in a long list that included nicknames like "Shamu," "Fatzilla" and even "Igpay Verde" (That's Green Pig in combined Pig Latin and real Latin).

Amber gave me an apologetic look, but high-fived Chloe as they strode away from me, snickering the whole time. I just stood in place like a statue. A huge statue, mind you. When you're 18 years old and morbidly obese, you get used to hearing insults—or as used to them as one can get, anyway. For me, being called a fat whale was just business as usual.

 

Review:

This book was an eye opening read that described the journey of Sadie's life and her struggles with weight loss, which is something I think many people can relate to. Her mother had her thoughts on eating healthy which tried to sabotage Sadie's weight loss attempts. But it was something Sadie needed to overcome. This story also showed her friend Griffin, a guy struggling with his "coming out". Griffin himself was a unique character who helped make the story very interesting.
I thought the book was really well written and had a realistic feel to both the characters and their situations.

Guest Post:

 

WALKING OFF WRITER’S BLOCK

 

Most authors I know have experienced the dreaded “writer’s block” – that frustrating period when you just can’t think of what words to put on the page.  For me, it’s especially annoying when I have a clear story idea in my head and can actually envision the final product… and just can’t think of the proper way to express my idea.

This wasn’t the case for me when it came to writing my novel F#@! BOMB, at least at first. Because the story is based somewhat on my personal life, the words flowed freely and I quickly banged out drafts of the opening chapters.  I put together an outline for each major event that would take place in the tale and thought I had a good foundation for my manuscript.

Wrong! As I was nearing the middle of my novel – the part where my heroine goes through some tough times -- I just couldn’t think of the right things to say. I’d stare at the page… clean the house, practice my flute… stare at the page some more… and could not come up with one word. Finally, I put aside the book and decided to take a hiatus from writing.

It was during this time that I began a serious exercise program. Like my story’s narrator, Sadie, I’d been extremely overweight for years and was grossly out of shape. It was ironic that as I wrote about Sadie’s marathon training, I’d gotten to a point where – and this is no exaggeration – I could barely walk a block without having to stop.  My health was declining and I suspect this was part of the reason why I couldn’t concentrate on my writing.

Toward the end of 2013, my good friend Scott (my real-life Griffin) confronted me and made me promise to walk “just 20 minutes a day.” I agreed to try, mainly to shut him up, but found that I enjoyed walking. Within a few months, I was conquering several miles a day and had lost a significant amount of weight. I was also ready to resume work on my novel.

Because F#@! BOMB is somewhat autobiographical, I signed up for a memoir-writing class, figuring that the discussions and critiques could help, even if my story were fiction. I was right. Simply being in a situation where I got to read others’ work and was forced to meet deadlines lit a creative fire.

Meanwhile, I continued to walk and used that time to mentally construct my novel. Many say engaging in exercise is a great way to clear your head, but for me, the movement helped me focus.

Getting in shape gave me the confidence to finish my work. It had been difficult to write about a character who was improving her life while mine was falling apart, but Sadie and I were now on the same page (pun intended).  I needed to work on my personal story before I could complete my fictional one.

 

Schedule

May 3 - Introduction at VBT Café Blog
May 5 - Guest Blog at Infinite House of Books
May 5 - Spotlight at 3 Partners in Shopping, Nana, Mommy, &, Sissy, Too! 
May 7 - Review at Readsalot 
May 11 - Interview & Review at Head in the Clouds, Heart in the Books 
May 13 - Spotlight at My Life, Loves and Passions
May 15 - Spotlight at The Voluptuous Book Diva 
May 18 - Review & Guest Blogging at The Writers Revolution
May 20 - Review at Ella Malone 
May 22 - Spotlight at Jody's Book Reviews
May 26 - Guest Blog at Lori's Reading Corner
May 26 - Review at reneereads
May 28 - Review at Babbling About Books, & More!

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