2020 Guest Blogs

Charles Jones

21/7/2020

Welcome to Day 2 of the @4WillsPub "THANK YOU, HOSTS!" Blog Tour for #RRBCAuthor @chuckwesj #RRBC

Giveaway: (1) 5-Day Blog Tour to promote your book

Welcome to the second day of this amazing tour that’s showing appreciation for those bloggers who regularly host the tours of 4WillsPublishing Clients!

Today, I’d like to welcome Author, Charles Jones to my blog as part of this awesome event!

I hope that you will take the time to support this author by following his social media and especially by picking up a copy of his book, if you don’t have it already – and, if you have it already, purchase it as a gift to share with someone you love or someone you like a lot!

There’s a giveaway for this tour and for your chance to win, all you have to do is leave a comment below!

THE ROAD TO SARATIN

The world had already begun to change, in ways Carl had no idea were possible, when the voices began speaking to him on the night of his sixth birthday. When Carl’s mom contacted Dr. Emerson Sharod at the Freedom Institute, she had no idea that the time she cherished with her son would end.

Twenty-two years later, the voices urge Carl to leave the Freedom Institute after a man is slain under suspicious circumstances. He doesn’t question them and naively crosses the threshold into the city of Montford, where he knows no one. A few help him, risking their safety, so he can escape the walled city and begin his trek to find his mom in Saratin.

The world outside the walls is stranger than the city with unknown dangers at every step, though not everyone is a foe. Along the way, he meets many who help him and share stories about what caused the changes in the world. When he reaches Base 40, he comes face to face with Astrid, who rescued him from freaks on the first day of his travels. He is worried that she will tell the baser leader, Corporal Phelps, that he’s the escapee from the Freedom Institute, but she does not.

After an uncomfortable meal with Corporal Phelps, Carl shares his story with Astrid. She agrees to take him to Saratin. Reaching the tent city outside the walls of Saratin, they search for refuge and are taken in by Kenneth who is partially responsible for the chaos in the world. The safe place is quickly infiltrated by Corporal Phelps, and they are taken back to Base 40 where Carl witnesses the Corporal torturing Astrid. In a moment of anguish, Carl remembers something he was told and puts together a plan to save Astrid and himself, and, unknowingly, the world.

Book Link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08C8T5SSH

AUTHOR BIO:
Charles W. Jones grew up in the small-town Shoshoni, WY, and managed to break free from its grasp with his soul intact. Growing up in a small town scared him to death most of the time. It’s very dark at night – really dark. To top it off, it is full of ghosts; well, that’s what he thought when he was a kid. Turns out it was just the constant wind blowing dirt and tumbleweeds. Two of his novels are set in Shoshoni, Dreamwalker: The Second Plain and HOME A Novel.

SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS

Twitter: https://twitter.com/chuckwesj
Facebook: https://facebook.com/ChuckWesJ

TOUR PROMO TRAILER

Thank you for dropping in to support this author today along the 4WillsPub "THANK YOU, HOSTS" Blog Tour! To follow along with the rest of the tour as we show appreciation of these bloggers for all their support in supporting our books, please visit the main tour page for this event! There's another book and author on tour today, so do get by to support them, as well! Remember, you could win a (5) Day Blog Tour of your own to promote any of your books by simply leaving a comment below!

24 Comments

Karen Black

11/7/2020

5 Comments

WELCOME TO DAY 6 OF #RRBC’S JULY “SPOTLIGHT” AUTHOR TOUR FOR KAREN BLACK! @KARENSSTORIES

It is my pleasure to welcome you to Day 6 of RRBC’s July “SPOTLIGHT” Author Tour for Karen Black, a member of Rave Reviews Book Club.

BLOG POST #6

One of my biggest difficulties in creative writing was laboring over detail. The story was there, but the description needed to bring it to life wasn’t coming together easily. I couldn’t figure out why I was having so much trouble getting it right.

During one of my online wanderings, I discovered RWISA, a group of top-notch authors, and contacted them. At Nonnie Jules’s suggestion, I enrolled in “RWISA U.” It is an online program that includes hours of educational material, and experienced authors and editors who will review writing samples and point out the positives, as well as those areas that could use improvement. That program helped me find the answer I needed.

In a past life, I wrote contracts and policies, and also built cases for presentation in Arbitration hearings. The writing had to be non-ambiguous. Clarity and specifics were paramount. It was a just-the-facts approach to writing.

In contract-speak, “a tree blocked the view,” explains why the girl couldn’t see out the window. Creatively, however, that doesn’t work. Rather, “a sycamore tree, with leaves the size of footballs, towered outside of the double-hung window and blocked a view of the narrow gravel path.” More words, but a better picture. Simple, right?

The supporting authors from RWISA U hit the switch that turned on the light. I realized that I had been struggling with the transition from technical to creative, or from concise to descriptive. I was fighting the detailed descriptions and the subconscious battle caused much more effort than should have been needed. It was a simple show-not-tell solution, but one that I didn’t figure out on my own.

Thank you, Rave Reviews Book Club!

AUTHOR BIO:

Karen Black lives in the eastern United States, with her husband and a variety of critters, wild and domestic. Hobbies include herb gardening, wildlife watching and wine making, though all are put on hold when she’s caught up in a story. With a lifelong affection for animals, a fascination with the supernatural and a background in criminal justice, the author draws on experience, as well as imagination to create stories that are believable, unique and entertaining. Expect the unexpected.

SOCIAL MEDIA:

Twitter: @KarensStories - https://twitter.com/KarensStories
Facebook: Stories by Karen - https://www.facebook.com/StoriesbyKaren/
Website: Stories by Karen - https://storiesbykaren.org/

My most recent eBook, “Treacherous Love,” is a short story about misdirected passion that often occurs in situations of domestic abuse. It is the first of several stories that will be included in my next anthology.

“TREACHEROUS LOVE: A SHORT STORY OF MISDIRECTED PASSION”

To follow along with the rest of her tour, please visit the “SPOTLIGHT” Author forum on the RRBC site!

If you’re an author and interested in receiving this kind of support for you and your work, please join us at RAVE REVIEWS BOOK CLUB! We look forward to adding your name to our roster and your books to our catalog!

5 Comments

Jan Sikes

9/7/2020

6 Comments

Welcome to JAN SIKES' SHORT STORY BOOK BLAST! #RRBC #RWISA #RRBCAuthor

AUTHOR BIO:

Jan Sikes is an award-winning Texas author who has been called a wordsmith by her peers. She openly admits that she never set out in life to be an author. But she had a story to tell. Not just any story, but a true story that rivals any fiction creation. You simply can't make this stuff up. It all happened. She chose to create fictitious characters to tell the story through, and they bring the intricately woven tale to life in an entertaining way. She released a series of music CDs to accompany the four biographical fiction books and then published a book of poetry and art to complete the story circle.

And now that the story is told, this author can't find a way to put down the pen. She continues to write fiction and has published many short stories with a series of novels waiting in the wings. She is a member of Authors Marketing Guild, The Writer's League of Texas, the RAVE REVIEWS BOOK CLUB (RRBC), the RAVE WRITER'S INT'L SOCIETY OF AUTHOR (RWISA), and sits on the RWISA Executive Council.

SOCIAL MEDIA:

Connect through Jan's website: http://www.jansikes.com
Follow Jan on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/AuthorJanSikesBooks
Follow Jan on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/JanSikes3
Follow Jan's Blog: http://www.jansikesblog.com

BOOK BLURB FOR BRAZOS WIND:

War-torn drifter, Jack McClean is left with nothing but bad memories, scars, and a restless soul. When he stumbles upon a burning homestead, and an unconscious woman, beside the Clear Fork of the Brazos River, he stops to render aid. Grieving widow, Savannah Logan, sees no reason to live, and only wants to join her husband and children in their graves. But, Jack refuses to let her die. In saving her, he might somehow find redemption for himself and hope for a new tomorrow. Is it possible that both Jack and Savannah can find a new destiny in the changeable flow of the Brazos wind?

BOOK BLURB FOR BROTHER’S KEEPER:

Quentin Marks’ mother can only love one son, and from the day Rowdy was born, she makes Quentin, his little brother’s keeper. She demands that Quentin fix every problem for Rowdy and that he also protect him. The truth is, after a deadly snakebite, Quentin owes his very life to his little brother, a debt that will never be paid in full. Only now a man is dead, and once again, their mother calls on Quentin to make the problem go away and save Rowdy from prison. When is enough enough, and how much of his own life will Quentin Marks have to sacrifice?

Thank you for supporting this author. Jan wrote these short stories as entries into the RAVE REVIEWS BOOK CLUB'S 90-Day ALPHA / OMEGA "Beginning to End" Short Story Writing Contest which she has won for the past two years.

Jan is giving away (2) $10 Amazon gift cards to (2) lucky winners! For your chance to win, simply leave a comment below.

If you’d like to schedule your own blog tour and have your books promoted in similar grand fashion, please click HERE.

6 Comments

Robbie Cheadle

23/6/2020

23 Comments

Welcome to Day 9 of the "SIR CHOCOLATE AND THE ICE CREAM RAINBOW FAIRIES" Blog Tour! @bakeandwrite @4WillsPub #RRBC

GIVEAWAY: (7 winners) Each will win a copy of one of her Sir Chocolate Story and Cookbooks. For your chance to win, please leave a comment below!

Sir Chocolate and the Ice cream Rainbow Fairies story and cookbook

Welcome to part 9 of the fondant cat parade

The fondant cat parade tells the story in limericks of Dinah the Kitten, daughter of Daddy Grey and Mommy Cat, who likes to sleep and escape to Wonderland in her dreams. While in Wonderland, Dinah meets a variety of brightly coloured and fun fantasy kittens. The fondant cat parade illustrates some of the wonderful fondant art that appears in all the Sir Chocolate books.

Today, you will learn about Pinky Lee the Kitten.

Look out for part 10 of the fondant cat parade tomorrow when you will meet Blue Boy the Kitten. You can download the full illustrative PDF of the fondant cat parade here: https://robbiesinspiration.wordpress.com/dinah-in-wonderland-fondant-cat-parade/.

Cakes by Robbie Cheadle

I love to bake and have made a selection of cakes for various birthday parties and other special events. A selection of these are set out in the collages below.

Soccer boy cake and Sleeping boy on a raft cake that feature in Sir Chocolate and the Condensed Milk River story and cookbook, Fairy princess cake which you can learn how to make in Silly Willy Goes to Cape Town, Choux pastry bee hive which features in Sir Chocolate and the sugar dough bees story and cookbook, Marzipan French fries and fruit sweet pies from Sir Chocolate and the Condensed Milk River story and cookbook and macadamia nut German Bundt cake.

A selection of birthday cakes including Medusa for a Percy Jackson and the lightening thief party, A bridal shower corset cake, Roman soldier birthday cake which you can learn how to make in Silly Willy Goes to Cape Town, Tutankhamen cake and a Minecraft cake.

Learn how to make a cow out of fondant

Set out below are step-by-step instruction on how to make the cute fondant cow in the Sleeping boy on a raft cake in the first collage.

BOOK BLURB:

Join Sir Chocolate and Lady Sweet on a fun adventure to discover why the milkshake rain is pale and white.

Contains five recipes that children can make under adult supervision.

AUTHOR BIO:

Hello, my name is Robbie, short for Roberta. I am an author with seven published children's picture books in the Sir Chocolate books series for children aged 2 to 9 years old (co-authored with my son, Michael Cheadle), one published middle grade book in the Silly Willy series and one published preteen/young adult fictionalised biography about my mother's life as a young girl growing up in an English town in Suffolk during World War II called While the Bombs Fell (co-authored with my mother, Elsie Hancy Eaton). All of my children's book are written under Robbie Cheadle and are published by TSL Publications.

I also have a book of poetry called Open a new door, with fellow South African poet, Kim Blades.

I have recently branched into adult and young adult horror and supernatural writing and, in order to clearly differential my children's books from my adult writing, I plan to publish these books under Roberta Eaton Cheadle. My first supernatural book published in that name, Through the Nethergate, is now available.

I have participated in a number of anthologies:

Two short stories in #1 Amazon bestselling anthology, Dark Visions, a collection of horror stories edited by Dan Alatorre under Robbie Cheadle;
Three short stories in Death Among Us, an anthology of murder mystery stories, edited by Stephen Bentley under Robbie Cheadle;
Three short stories in #1 Amazon bestselling anthology, Nightmareland, a collection of horror stories edited by Dan Alatorre under Robbie Cheadle; and
Two short stories in Whispers of the Past, an anthology of paranormal stories, edited by Kaye Lynne Booth under Roberta Eaton Cheadle.

SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS:

Robbie Cheadle
Website
https://www.robbiecheadle.co.za/
Blog
https://robbiesinspiration.wordpress.com/
Goodreads
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15584446.Robbie_Cheadle
Twitter
https://twitter.com/bakeandwrite

Roberta Eaton Cheadle
Website
https://www.robbiecheadle.co.za/
Blog
https://wordpress.com/view/robertawrites235681907.wordpress.com
Goodreads
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/19631306.Roberta_Eaton_Cheadle
Twitter
https://twitter.com/RobertaEaton17
Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/robertawrites/?modal=admin_todo_tour

AMAZON OR OTHER PURCHASE LINKS:
TSL Publications:
https://tslbooks.uk/product/sir-chocolate-and-the-ice-cream-rainbow-fairies/
Lulu.com:
https://www.lulu.com/shop/robbie-cheadle-and-michael-cheadle/sir-chocolate-and-the-ice-cream-rainbow-fairies-story-and-cookbook/ebook/product-24468045.html
Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/Chocolate-Cream-Rainbow-Fairies-Cookbook-ebook/dp/B086DYYNFQ

To follow along with the rest of the tour, please visit the author's tour page on the 4WillsPublishing site. If you'd like to schedule your own blog tour and have your book promoted in similar grand fashion, please click HERE. Thanks for supporting this author and her work!

23 Comments

Ronald E. Yates

14/6/2020

11 Comments

Welcome to Day 7 of "THE LOST AND FOUND BILLY BATTLES" Blog Tour! @JHawker69 @4WillsPub #RRBC #RWISA

GIVEAWAY: (2) Complete sets of the Billy Battles trilogy. For your chance to win one, please leave a comment below!

Some Thoughts on the Art and Craft of Writing by Ronald E. Yates

I was interviewed recently about the art and craft of writing in general and writing in the historical fiction genre in particular.

As a journalist for some thirty years, I interviewed thousands of people all over the world. Now that I am on the other side of the table, I am finding that being the interviewee is as different from being the interviewer as chalk and cheese.

Don’t get me wrong. I enjoy being interviewed because it obliges me to think about what I do. It’s a lot like teaching. You must be able to verbalize your skills and knowledge and present them in a compelling way to teach effectively.

That’s not always easy to do. But I thought I would share my interview with my readers. I hope you will find it useful and perhaps even enjoyable.

Q. What historical time periods interest you the most and how have you immersed yourself in a particular time?

A. Growing up in rural Kansas I was always fascinated by the state's 19th Century history. Kansas was a pivotal state before the Civil War because it entered the union as a free state and was populated--especially in the Northeast--by abolitionists. Kansas was a terminus for the Underground Railroad.

After the Civil War, it became about as wild and violent as any state in the union. Cattle drives from Texas, wild cow towns, outlaws, legendary lawmen and fraudsters of every stripe gave Kansas a wicked reputation. At the same time, the 19th Century in America was a time of fantastic growth, invention, progress, and expansion.

For some, such as Native Americans, this growth was not a pleasant experience, and in some cases, it was quite deadly. For others, the possibilities seemed limitless. Prosperity seemed restricted only by one's determination and effort.

Q. Introduce us briefly to the main characters in Book 1 of the Finding Billy Battles trilogy.

A. William Fitzroy Raglan Battles is the main character in the trilogy. We meet Billy Battles through his great-grandson who meets him when he is 98 years old and living in an old soldiers’ home in Leavenworth, Kansas. The great-grandson inherits Billy’s journals and other belongings. Then, following his great-grandfather’s request, he produces three books that reveal Billy’s fantastic life.

The book begins with Billy introducing himself. We learn that his father is killed during the Civil War. He is reared by his widowed mother, Hannelore, a second-generation German-American woman who has to be both mother and father to her only son, rears him.

It is a tall order, but Billy grows up properly and is seemingly on the right path. His mother, a hardy and resilient woman, makes a decent living as a dressmaker in Lawrence, Kansas. An ardent believer in the value of a good education, she insists that Billy attend the newly minted University of Kansas in Lawrence. She is a powerful influence in his life, as are several other people he meets along the way.

There is Luther Longley, an African-American former army scout who Billy and his mother meet at Ft. Dodge in 1866. He escorts them the 300 miles to Lawrence and winds up being a close friend to both Billy and his mother.

There is Horace Hawes, publisher and Editor of the Lawrence Union newspaper who takes Billy with him to start a new paper in Dodge City. There is Ben Minot, a typesetter and former Northern Army Sharpshooter, who still carries a mini ball in his body from the war and a load of antipathy toward The Confederacy.

There is Signore Antonio DiFranco; the Italian political exile Billy meets in Dodge City. There is Mallie McNab, the girl Billy meets, falls in love with, marries and with whom he hopes to live out his life. There is Charley Higgins, Billy's first cousin, who sometimes treads just south of the law, but who is also Billy's most faithful compadre.

Then there is the Bledsoe family--particularly Nate Bledsoe who blames Billy for the deaths of his mother and brother and who swears vengeance.

Book one of the trilogy ends with Billy on a steamship in 1894 heading for French Indo-China and other points in the Orient where one adventure (and misadventure) after another awaits him.

Q. And what about Book #2?

Book 2, The Improbable Journeys of Billy Battles, begins with Billy aboard the S.S. China headed for Saigon from San Francisco. Aboard the S.S. China Billy meets the mysterious Widow Katharina Schreiber, a woman who propels Billy into a series of calamities and dubious situations. She may or may not be a good influence on him.

He also meets a passel of shady characters as well as some old friends from his days in Kansas, etc. Events conspire to embroil him in a variety of disputes, conflicts and struggles in places like French Indochina and the Spanish-American War in The Philippines--events with which a Kansas sand cutter is hardly equipped to deal.

How does he handle these adventures in the “mysterious East?” You will have to read Book #2 to find out!

Q. And what about Book #3?

A. I finished The Lost Years of Billy Battles, Book #3 of the trilogy in 2018. As Book 3 begins we know where Billy is. He is in Chicago with his wife, the former Baroness Katharina von Schreiber living a sedate and comfortable life after years of adventure and tragedy. That changes with a single telephone call that yanks Billy and Katharina back into a life of turmoil and danger.

Persuaded by a powerful old friend to go undercover for the U.S. government the two find themselves in Mexico during the height of the violent 1910-1920 revolution. There they encounter assorted German spies, Mexican revolutionaries, devious political operatives, and other malefactors. Caught in the middle of the 1914 American invasion of Veracruz, they must find a way out while keeping their real identities secret.
After managing to extract themselves from danger, disaster strikes. It is a tragedy Billy is all too familiar with and one that will send him plummeting into a painful abyss of despair and agony. Consequently, Billy vanishes leaving family and friends to wonder what happened to him. Where is he? Is he dead or alive? What provoked his disappearance? In Book 3 of the Finding Billy Battles Trilogy, those questions are answered, and the mystery behind Billy’s disappearance is finally revealed.

Q. What drew you to write this trilogy?

A.I was intrigued by the idea of a 19th Century Kansas boy forced to deal with a string of tragedies and misadventures who eventually makes his way to the Far East in search of himself.

How would he handle himself in such strange places as French Indochina, the Spanish-controlled Philippines, Hong Kong, Singapore, etc.? I spent most of my career as a foreign correspondent in Asia and I often wondered what it would have been like to have been in that part of the world in the 19th Century. This book gives me (and my readers) an opportunity to find out.

Q. Is there ever a time when you feel like your work is truly finished and complete?

A.I don't know if that ever happens. I do know that at some point, YOU MUST LET IT GO! Writing a book is a bit like rearing a child. Eventually, after you have imbued the child with as much of your worldly experience and wisdom as he or she can grasp and absorb you have to allow your creation to encounter the world. It's the same with books. Writers can fiddle with plots, characters, endings, and beginnings ad nauseam and never feel the book is finished. My advice. JUST FINISH THE DAMNED BOOK! Get over it and get the book out into the public domain. Readers will let you know if you have finished the book--and if they like it.

Q. What is the most significant misconception beginning writers have about being published?

A. Probably that once you get a publishing contract, you are going to become a millionaire. I have published two books before Billy Battles with traditional publishers, and I am still on the hunt for my first million. The J. K. Rowling's of the world are anomalies. However, thank God they do exist because it keeps the rest of us working our tails off in pursuit of that elusive kind of success. I do believe many writers write for the sheer joy we get from telling a good story--at least I do. The $$ are less of an incentive.

Q. What would I like readers to gain from reading my book(s)?

A. Because the Finding Billy Battles trilogy is historical fiction and is set in the 19th Century, I would like readers to get a sense of the time and place of the story. I would like them to have an appreciation of the way people lived, how they thought, and how they dealt with both adversity and triumph in a very different era. Finally, I would like readers to finish the trilogy and think to themselves: "Damn, I didn't want that story to end!"

Q. Do you have some final words for readers or writers?

A. For Readers: Please DON'T STOP READING! Those of us who love telling stories need you. And when you read a book, don't be shy. Write a review on Amazon, Goodreads, Barnes & Noble, etc. and let us know what you liked and didn't like about a book. I value the reviews I get from Amazon Verified Purchase customers more than I do from professional or editorial reviewers. After all, customers spent money on the book and that gives them the right to tell the author what they think.

A. For Writers: Keep Writing. The world needs good storytellers today more than ever. I know that many who write are frustrated by letters of rejection from agents and publishers. Don't be discouraged. If you can't get a book before the reading public going the traditional publishing route, consider self or indie publishing. Publish on Demand (POD) books are everywhere these days and so are e-books. Writers today don't have to feel a rejection letter the last word in their aspiration to publish. You have options to reach readers that didn't exist 10 or even five years ago.

I must be honest, however. Many self-published books are not well done. The writing may be poor quality; the covers are often inferior, and the proofreading and editing are shoddy. Frankly, some books should never have made it off the printing press or into an e-file. However, there are enough gems coming from self-published authors to offset the marginal efforts.

Q. What advice do you have for beginners?

A. Give yourself time to learn the craft of writing. How do you do that? Read, read, and read. If you want to write well, read well. Learn from the best; imitate, and by that, I don't mean plagiarize. Listen to the words! You don't have to spend thousands of dollars on writing seminars, conferences, etc. Gifted writing can't be taught. It must be learned. And we learn from doing it; from experience.

Writing is a discipline that you can learn at any age. Unlike ballet or basketball or modeling, becoming an author is not something that if you missed doing at 16, 18 or 20, you could never do again. You are NEVER too old to begin writing!

Finally, writing--as difficult as it is--should also be fun. When you turn a beautiful phrase or create a vivid scene, you should feel a little flutter in your heart, a shiver in your soul. If you do, that means you have struck an evocative chord with your writing. Nothing is more rewarding than that!

Write On!

The Finding Billy Battles trilogy tells the story of a remarkable man who is born in 1860 and who dies in 1960. For decades Billy lives an improbable and staggering life of adventure, peril, transgression and redemption. Then Billy mysteriously disappears. For several decades his family has no idea where he is or what he is doing.

Finally, with his life coming to an end, Billy resurfaces in an old soldiers’ home in Leavenworth, Kansas. It is there, when he is 98 that he meets his 12-year-old great-grandson and bequeaths his journals and his other property to him — though he is not to receive them until he is much older.

Years later, the great-grandson finally reads the journals and fashions a three volume trilogy that tells of his great-grandfather's audacious life in the old west, as well as his journeys to the Far East of the 1890s—including French Indochina and The Philippines—and finally, in the early 20th century, to Europe and Latin America where his adventures and predicaments continue. One thing readers can be sure of, wherever Billy Battles goes trouble is not far behind.

Ronald E. Yates is a multi-award winning author of historical fiction and action/adventure novels, including the popular and highly-acclaimed Finding Billy Battles trilogy. His extraordinarily accurate books have captivated fans around the world who applaud his ability to blend fact and fiction.

Ron is a former foreign correspondent for the Chicago Tribune and Professor Emeritus of Journalism at the University of Illinois where he was also the Dean of the College of Media.

The Lost Years of Billy Battles is the final book in the trilogy and recently won the Independent Press Award’s 2020 Distinguished Favorites Award. In 2019 it also won Best Overall Book of the year and the Grand Prize in the Goethe Historical Fiction Category from Chanticleer International Book Awards as well as a Book Excellence Award and a New Apple Award. The second book in the trilogy, The Improbable Journeys of Billy Battles, was published in June 2016. It won the 2017 KCT International Literary Award and the New Apple Award in the Action/Adventure category. The first book in the trilogy, "Finding Billy Battles," was published in 2014 and won a Book Excellence Award and Laramie Award from Chanticleer International Book Awards.

As a professional journalist, Ron lived and worked in Japan, Southeast Asia, and both Central and South America where he covered several history-making events including the fall of South Vietnam and Cambodia; the Tiananmen Square massacre in Beijing; and wars and revolutions in Afghanistan, the Philippines, Nicaragua, El Salvador and Guatemala, among other places. His work as a foreign correspondent earned him several awards including three Pulitzer Prize nominations.

Ron is a frequent speaker about the media, international affairs, and writing. He is a Vietnam era veteran of the U.S. Army Security Agency and lives just north of San Diego in Southern California’s wine country.

SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS:
-Twitter https://twitter.com/jhawker69
-Facebook https://www.facebook.com/ronaldyatesbooks/
-Website https://ronaldyatesbooks.com/

AMAZON OR OTHER PURCHASE LINKS:
Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B001KHDVZI/-/e/B00KQAYMA8/
Barnes & Noble:
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/finding%20billy%20battles/_/N-8q8

11 Comments

Harriet Hodgson

27/5/2020

0 Comments

Today, along with many other blogs, we are honoring the GRAND PRIZE Winner of the RRBC 2019 KCT INT'L LITERARY AWARDS Contest, "SO, YOU'RE RAISING YOUR GRANDKIDS!" by RWISA Author, Harriet Hodgson.

HARRIET HODGSON BIO

Rochester, Minnesota resident Harriet Hodgson has been a freelance writer for 38 years, is the author of thousands of articles, and 36 books. She has a BS from Wheelock College in Boston, an MA from the University of Minnesota, and additional graduate training.

Hodgson is a member of the Association of Health Care Journalists and the Alliance of Independent Authors (ALLi). She is a contributing writer for the Open to Hope Foundation, The Grief Toolbox, and The Caregiver Space websites. Visit www.thecaregiverspace.org/authors/hhodgson to read her articles.

Hodgson has appeared on more than 185 talk radio shows, including CBS Radio, dozens of television stations, including CNN, and dozens of blog talk radio programs. A popular guest, she has given presentations at public health, Alzheimer’s, bereavement, and caregiving conferences.

Her recent work is based on Hodgson’s 21 years as a family caregiver. She was her mother’s family caregiver for nine years, her twin grandchildren’s guardian and caregiver for seven years, and is in her fifth year as her disabled husband’s caregiver. Visit Harriet’s RRBC Author Page to find out more about this busy wife, grandmother, caregiver, and author, as well as more information on her many other books listed in the RRBC catalog.

BOOK BLURB

If you are a grandparent raising your grandchildren, help has arrived.

According to the US Census Bureau, more than 10% of all grandparents in the nation are raising their grandkids, and the number is going up. You may be one of the millions of these grandparents and it's a role you never expected. Willing as you are to assume this role, you have some questions. How will I find the energy for this? Is my grandchild normal? What if I "blow it?" Each day, you look for ways to make life easier.

This book will:

• Help ease your worries and guilt;
• Offer tips for creating a grandfamily;
• Give methods for improving grandparent-grandchild communication;
• Suggest ideas for how you can connect with your grandchild's school;
• Provide child development information;
• Recommend approaches to help your grandchild set goals;
• Stress the importance of having fun together;
• Offer ideas of how to foster your grandchild's hopes and dreams.

So, You're Raising Your Grandkids blends Harriet Hodgson's wise and moving grandparenting story with recent research and findings. It shares her 21 years of caregiving experience, including seven years of raising her twin grandkids. Each chapter ends with What Works, proven tips for grandparents raising grandkids.

At the end, you'll cheer for all the loving grandparents---including you---who are putting grandchildren first.

0 Comments

Wanda Fischer

4/5/2020

10 Comments

Welcome to Day 8 of the "EMPTY SEATS" Blog Tour! @EmptySeatsNovel @4WillsPub #RRBC #Baseball

GIVEAWAYS: During this tour, the author is giving away (1) $10 Amazon Gift Card, (2) $5 Amazon Gift Cards, (2) e-book copies of EMPTY SEATS & (1) copy of the author's acclaimed "SINGING ALONG WITH THE RADIO" CD which features many prominent folk music singers (a $15 value)! For your chance to win, all you have to do is leave a comment below as well as leaving a comment on the author's 4WillsPub tour page. GOOD LUCK!

Blog Eight (Empty Seats)

Red Sox Winter Weekends

In 2015, the Red Sox began an annual fan fest they call Winter Weekend. I had to go, even though the site was several hours away and required not only an expensive ticket but also an overnight hotel stay.

Held at Foxwoods Casino in Connecticut for the first five years, Winter Weekend features a town hall meeting, as well as autograph and photo sessions with Red Sox players and alumni. Those first five at Foxwoods also provided a chance for kids to attend baseball clinics with professional baseball players.

My son, Tim, and my friend Donna (who’s a Yankee fan but also likes to gamble) went with me for those Foxwoods years. Tim and I would immerse ourselves in Red Sox lore and hang out with our fellow Sox fans while Donna played games at the casino.

During the first one, the Red Sox held auditions for fans to sing The National Anthem at Fenway Park. This is something I’ve always wanted to do. I’ve sung The Anthem at a minor-league park near my home, but I’ve always wondered what it would be like to stand on the grass at Fenway and hit those high notes. I have no doubt that I can do it, although both of my adult children fear that I would have a heart attack and keel over if I actually set foot on Fenway grass.

I went in and signed up. Donna was with me, since Tim hadn’t arrived at that point. I started with “God Bless America” as a warm-up. The judges were two people—one from Fenway Park and one who had competed on “The Voice” or “America’s Got Talent” or something. They began asking me questions:

“Do you think you could sing in front of a large crowd?”

“Yes. I’ve sung The National Anthem at the Tri-City Valley Cats games. They’re affiliated with the Houston Astros.”

“How big is the field?”

“I believe it holds six thousand, but I’m not sure.”

“Do you know that there’s a five-second delay at Fenway Park, from when what you sing goes into the microphone and when it comes out?”

“Yes. I was the public address announcer at Fenway in 2012. I experienced that same delay when I was in the PA booth.”

“Okay. So let’s hear you do The National Anthem.”

I gathered myself and began singing. I hit all the notes, stayed on pitch, and sang the song—the way I was taught to sing it from elementary school through high school. I don’t embellish the song or put any notes into it that don’t exist. The fans at the Valley Cats games have told me that’s the way they like it.

“Come back at four when we’ll announce the people we’ve chosen,” they said.

“Thank you. I will.”

Off I went to participate in the other events.

I had my photo taken with Hall of Famer Jim Rice. I told him I’d always loved him just before the Red Sox photographer snapped the picture.

“What did you say?” he asked.

“I have always loved you,” I replied. (I am not shy. Not anymore.)

He grabbed me, gave me a huge hug, much to the delight of everyone who was watching, and my son caught the whole thing on film.

We spoke for a while, as Red Sox staff members told him to hurry up, that he was holding up the line.

“Hey, this is my show,” he said. “If I want to talk to this woman for a minute, I’ll do it.”

I told him I’d been to his Hall of Fame induction in Cooperstown in 2009, and that I almost wore a red shirt from that day, but instead had chosen the dark blue one.

“Why?”

“You really want the truth? Because this one makes me look thinner.”

We both laughed and I moved on.

Later, at four, I went back to see if I’d been chosen to sing The National Anthem at Fenway. I told my son I had a bad feeling about this. Both he and Donna were confident I would be chosen; I was not.

When they made the announcement, I was not one of those who got the call. Instead, the ones who were selected were people who had changed The Anthem through embellishments and trills—that is, not the way I learned the song.

Then the woman who was on one of the television shows (I’m pretty sure it was “The Voice,” but I wouldn’t swear to it) took the microphone and sang The National Anthem, telling all of us in the room before she began that “this is the way it should be done” in front of a large group. Essentially, she turned the nation’s song into a rhythm-and-blues song. I’m not capable of doing that, so I’d say that’s why I wasn’t selected.

Onward. To 2016.

The Red Sox didn’t have National Anthem auditions the next year. They had some good sessions about baseball and brought back some of their more famous alumni, some of whom had left the team to go play for other teams, such as Roger Clemens and Wade Boggs.

I had a difficult time standing in lines to get into the autograph and photo sessions. I was about seven weeks away from having my left knee replaced and waiting in line was brutal. No chairs or benches were in sight, and I was afraid that if I got out of line I’d lose my place. I wish I’d have brought a cane or something or a little stool to sit on while waiting, but, as the old cliché says, if wishes were horses…

I had a photograph with pitcher Joe Kelly and received an autograph from Manager John Farrell. They were cordial—but it was nothing like the encounter I’d had the year before with Jim Rice.

The most notable thing about 2016 was the snowstorm raging outside. Probably eight inches fell when all was said and done. The Red Sox had a new player from Cuba, outfielder Rusney Castillo. The established players were taking him out to look at the snow. Since he’d never seen snow before, he kept asking (in Spanish—but I can understand a minimal amount of it) if the building was going to collapse, or if we were all going to die. The other players were cracking up at how distraught he was.

In 2017, my son and my grandson attended together. My grandson was so excited that he was able to participate in baseball clinics with people who had played in minor- or major-league ball. He had just started Little League following T-ball, and he was anxious to learn new things.

My friend Donna “volunteered” me to do a simulated broadcast of calling David Ortiz’s 500th home run with the people at the New England Sports Network (NESN) booth. I had fun doing this, since I’m one of his biggest fans.

My autograph that year was Andrew Benintendi, the young outfielder for the Red Sox, and my photo was with relief pitcher Matt Barnes.

In 2018, my photograph was with Alex Cora, who was then the new Red Sox manager. I spoke with him in Spanish for a while. He was surprised that someone who looked like me knew any Spanish. My autograph was with Red Sox alumnus Jason Varitek, who’s my daughter’s favorite player. I told him that, and he told me to give her his personal regards.

In 2019, my son brought both my grandson and my granddaughter to Winter Weekend. I was thrilled to see her taking baseball clinics with Billy Conligliaro, the brother of one of my favorite players from the 1960s, Tony Conigliaro.

The other highlight for me was meeting Guerin Austin, who’s the sideline reporter for the Red Sox during the season. I told her my story, of having aspired to be a sportswriter nearly 50 years ago. I told her how much it meant to me to see her as a working journalist in sports, and how I admired her work. The both of us ended our conversation in tears and a hug.

My autograph was with Blake Swihart, who was traded later in the season, much to my chagrin, since I had followed his career for quite some time. Xander Bogaerts, the Red Sox’s outstanding shortstop, who speaks many different languages, took a photo with me.

Things changed in 2020, when the Red Sox moved the event to the MGM Casino in Springfield, Massachusetts. While I can appreciate their desire to conduct the Winter Weekend in their home state, I don’t think they realized how difficult this location would be, due to space and security issues.

They had to increase security efforts following a near-fatal attack on their All-Star alumnus David Ortiz in his home country, the Dominican Republic, last year. Fans had been used to Foxwoods, where they were able to travel freely from one event to the other, stopping along the way for snacks and drinks. The MGM did not have those conveniences, and the smaller space interfered with my personal enjoyment.

My daughter, her husband and three sons were supposed to attend this year, but, because they were unable to, my son, grandson and I had extra autograph and picture sessions to use. We met more Red Sox players and alumni this time. I was pleased to find stars of today and yesterday in a couple of the rooms, specifically, designated hitter J.D. Martinez and outfielder Dwight Evans, as well as Hall of Fame pitcher Pedro Martinez.

Despite space constraints and limited choices for food at MGM, my family and I will most likely return to this event—that is, if the Red Sox choose to hold it again, given the lack of a season so far due to the Corona virus.

This one is a photo of me and Jim Rice.

Book Blurb

What Little Leaguer doesn’t dream of walking from the dugout onto a Major League baseball field, facing his long-time idol and striking his out? Empty Seats follows three different minor-league baseball pitchers as they follow their dreams to climb the ladder from minor- to major-league ball, while facing challenges along the way—not always on the baseball diamond. This coming-of-age novel takes on success and failure in unexpected ways. One reviewer calls this book “a tragic version of ‘The Sandlot.’”
(Winner of the 2019 New Apple Award and 2019 Independent Publishing Award).

Author Bio

Following a successful 40-year career in public relations/marketing/media relations, Wanda Adams Fischer parlayed her love for baseball into her first novel, Empty Seats. She began writing poetry and short stories when she was in the second grade in her hometown of Weymouth, Massachusetts and has continued to write for more than six decades. In addition to her “day” job, she has been a folk music DJ on public radio for more than 40 years, including more than 37 at WAMC-FM, the Albany, New York-based National Public Radio affiliate. In 2019, Folk Alliance International inducted her into their Folk D-J Hall of Fame. A singer/songwriter in her own right, she’s produced one CD, “Singing Along with the Radio.” She’s also a competitive tennis player and has captained several United States Tennis Association senior teams that have secured berths at sectional and national events. She earned a bachelor’s degree in English from Northeastern University in Boston. She lives in Schenectady, NY, with her husband of 47 years, Bill, a retired family physician, whom she met at a coffeehouse in Boston in 1966; they have two grown children and six grandchildren.

Social Media Links

@emptyseatsnovel

https://www.facebook.com/EmptySeatsNovel/

https://www.wandafischer.com

Amazon and Other Purchase Links

Book: http://amzn.to/2KzWPQf
Audio book: http://bit.ly/2TKo3UC

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/empty-seats-wanda-adams-fischer/1127282887?ean=9780999504901

http://wandafischer.com/buy-my-book/

Thank you for supporting this author and her tour. To follow along with the rest of the tour, please drop in on the author's 4WillsPub tour page.

If you'd like to schedule your own 4WillsPub blog tour to promote your book(s), you may do so by clicking HERE.

10 Comments

Jan Sikes

12/4/2020

20 Comments

Welcome to the Final Day of the "JONAH" Blog Tour! @Rijanjks @4WillsPub #RRBC #RWISA

GIVEAWAYS: The author is giving away (3) $5 Amazon Gift Cards during this tour! For your chance to win, all you have to do is leave a comment below as well as leaving a comment on the author’s 4WillsPub tour page. GOOD LUCK!

The two books I bring into this story for Jonah to learn from were “The Four Agreements” by Miguel Ruiz, and “The Dark Side of the Light Chasers” by Debbie Ford.

Both are self-help, self-discovery tools.

In 2011, my first granddaughter was born. At the time, I had retired from my job with the State of Texas and my daughter asked if I would come to Colorado and take care of new baby Sydney for a year. I didn’t hesitate.

While I was there, I met a lot of New Age or Metaphysical oriented people. I took psychic development classes and learned so much about how to work on myself. It was during that time that I ran across these two books and they impacted me greatly.

So, when I decided that the only way for Jonah to get off this island was to work on himself, I brought those two books into the story.

As the logline for the story says, “The hardest demons to face are internal.”

Here’s a scene where he is attempting to work through a lesson:

Within a few days, Jonah finished “The Four Agreements,” and started on “The Dark Side of the Light Chasers.” He now understood the purpose of the journal.

At the end of Chapter Two, he tackled the exercises.

            Question #1: What are you most afraid of?
Jonah thought long and hard as he chewed the end of his pencil. He didn’t have many fears because he’d spent years making sure others feared him. Okay. Skip that one. Next.

            Question #2: What aspects of my life need transforming?
That answer required no thought at all. He needed to get off this island and back to his turf.

            Question #3: What do I want to accomplish by reading this book?
Same answer – to get off this island.

            Question #4: What am I most afraid of that someone else will find out about me?
He’d never cared much about what others thought of him. That hadn’t been important. Okay. Skip that one, too. Next.

            Question #5: What am I most afraid of finding out about myself?
He reached for a small mirror Titus had brought on his last visit. His reflection stared back at him. He’d always been told he was handsome with his dark eyes and hair, but that man in the mirror had aged. While he’d worked daily to stay in good physical condition, had he let his mind get soft? Was that what he was afraid to discover? That beneath his hard exterior beat a soft heart? If ever revealed, that bit of information would tarnish his reputation for sure.
He laid the mirror aside and read the next question.

            Question #6: What is the biggest lie I’ve ever told myself?
He knew the answer but refused to write it down. He hated this kind of stuff.

            Question #7: What is the biggest lie I’ve ever told someone else?
The answer to both questions was the same.

I think we can all agree that internal work is not easy. This book, “The Dark Side of the Light Chasers” is a workbook with questions at the end of each chapter. Believe me, some of the questions are very hard to answer. But, when we can accept the dark side of ourselves along with the light, it balances out. In everything, there is Yin and Yang ― up and down ― front and back. You see where I’m going. If you have any desire to explore your inner hidden self, I highly recommend this book.

ABOUT THE BOOK…
“JONAH”

Fantasy meets reality when a young man is forced to choose his punishment for crimes committed. Jonah must decide between imprisonment in a concrete box beneath the earth or be exiled to a deserted, barren island. He chooses the island, but nothing can prepare him for the deadly creatures, and poisonous plants at every turn. Then there’s the maddening isolation that drives him to the brink of insanity. There is only one way off this island and it’s more difficult than anything he’s ever imagined. It’s much easier to face mortal danger than the demons within. Will Jonah find redemption, or another unexpected offer?

ABOUT THE AUTHOR…

Jan Sikes openly admits that she never set out in life to be an author. But she had a story to tell. Not just any story, but a true story that rivals any fiction creation. You simply can’t make this stuff up. It all happened. She chose to create fictitious characters to tell the story through, and they bring the intricately woven tale to life in an entertaining way.

She released a series of music CDs to accompany the four biographical fiction books and then published a book of poetry and art to bring the story full circle.

And now that the story is told, this author can’t find a way to put down the pen. She continues to write fiction and has published many short stories with a series of novels waiting in the wings. She is a member of Authors Marketing Guild, The Writer’s League of Texas, the RAVE REVIEWS BOOK CLUB (RRBC), the RAVE WRITER’S INT’L SOCIETY OF AUTHORS (RWISA), sits on the RWISA Executive Council and hosts a monthly RAVE WAVES blog talk radio show, ASPIRE TO INSPIRE.

SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS:

TWITTER: https://twitter.com/rijanjks

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorJanSikesBooks

WEBSITE: http://www.jansikes.com

PURCHASE LINK:

AMAZON: https://www.amazon.com/JONAH-JAN-SIKES-ebook/dp/B086351ZQH/

BOOK TRAILER LINK: https://youtu.be/BV2mtKW0FNg

Thank you for supporting this author and her tour. To follow along with the rest of the tour, please drop in on the author’s 4WillsPub tour page.

If you’d like to schedule your own 4WillsPub blog tour to promote your book(s), you may do so by clicking HERE.

20 Comments

Nonnie Jules

19/3/2020

16 Comments

Welcome to Day 4 of the “NO PEDIGREE” Blog Tour! @nonniejules #RRBC #RWISA @4WillsPub

Today I am honoured to feature a guest blog from Nonnie Jules, who is Founder and President of the Rave Reviews Book Club (RRBC) and Rave Writers - Int'l Society of Authors (RWISA). I am a proud member of both.

This is Day 4 of a blog tour organised by 4WillsPublishing and is a post dedicated to Nonnie's newly released short story 'No Pedigree'.

Hi, and thanks for dropping in on Day 4 of my NO PEDIGREE blog tour!

I’d like to also thank Robert for being kind enough to allow me to share a bit more about NO PEDIGREE.

What “NO PEDIGREE” Is Really About

We live during a time in society where most would like to believe that racism is no more. Lie. NO PEDIGREE is not a book about racism nor is it a book about hate. Yes, both of those subjects are tactfully tackled throughout the book, but, neither are the focal points of the story. NO PEDIGREE is a story about a young woman being courageous enough to stand up for herself, and unapologetically daring to be different when everything around her shouted that she should make herself invisible and be silent.

Bullying, when left unchecked, morphs into unthinkable actions, as was the case in Baylee’s story. Entitlement when bred, leads to unhealthy behavior, most often at the detriment of others. These wounds never heal – no matter how lengthy the healing period.

As parents and guardians, we are our children’s protectors, whether they are 8 months old, or 18 years old (and beyond) … we chose to bring them into this ugly world, thereby entering into an unwritten commitment to always teach them how to be brave, how to be strong and how to speak up and stand up for themselves.

Baylee’s mom modeled bravery and strength and no matter what we tell our children, it is what we show them that they will grow into.

I penned a quote years ago that says, “Nobody ever told me I couldn’t, therefore, in all things I think I can.” This is how all children should be raised. “Tell them they are strong … they will be strong. Tell them they are brave … they will be brave. Show them that you’re a doormat, and the world will walk all over them.”

Although a short story, this was my most favorite read that I have penned to date. As authors, we tire of reading and re-reading our own work but, after about 40 reads, I am still enjoying picking up my Kindle and reading NO PEDIGREE, as if it was the very first time!

If you decide to pick up your own copy, I hope that it will cling to you in the same manner.

Review by Author, John Fioravanti

This is one of the best short stories I've ever read. It is flawless, very well written, and the story holds the reader's attention from start to finish. No Pedigree clearly illustrates the awful price that victims of this crime of racial hate must pay... again and again. Considering the fact that racial hate crimes are on the rise in the United States and many other countries worldwide, Nonnie Jules' timing is as flawless as her writing. It is a shockingly painful story that sports a powerful ending that I never saw coming! As well, I was pleased that all the loose ends of the tale were neatly tied up in the final chapter. I highly recommend this read whether you normally enjoy short stories or not.

Book trailer: https://youtu.be/upjh985NclE

BOOK BLURB…

Growing up on the wrong side of the tracks, Baylee never quite fit in... anywhere. She was taunted and teased because her clothes had no designer labels, and spit upon because her only pair of shoes had holes in the bottom. The butt of many jokes, she was excluded from all social activities, sneered at by the parents of her peers after school as she waited for the bus, watching them drive away in their fancy cars; assaulted in the most unthinkable fashion.

Having been born to a white father and a black native American mother didn't make things any easier. In fact, that circumstance made her life ten times harder - until the day she made them all stand up, take notice, and regret every ugly word and deed they had inflicted upon her.

Giveaways: (2) e-book copies of NO PEDIGREE, (2) $5 Amazon gift cards & (1) 3-Day Weekend blog tour! Total of 5 Winners! To be entered into the drawing for either of these gifts, you must leave a comment below as well as a comment on the author’s 4WillsPub tour page.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR…

Hi, I’m Nonnie Jules – President & Founder of RAVE REVIEWS BOOK CLUB {RRBC} and RAVE WRITERS – INT’L SOCIETY OF AUTHORS {RWISA}. As a writer who values the (polished) written word, it is my mission to help my fellow authors understand that their reputations as writers should be treated as rare treasure, and that the only way to be taken seriously in this business, is to ensure that your writing (no matter the forum) is impeccably written and well edited. If not, you’re just another “Joe” with a pen who was the first to raise his hand when Amazon asked, “Hey, any old Joe out there wanna publish a book? Don’t worry, it doesn’t have to be good and there’s absolutely no hard work involved.”

FYI: If you don’t care what you put out into the world, you’re just a laughingstock in the literary community … and your name is “Joe.”

Connect with Nonnie via Twitter: @nonniejules

To purchase your own copy of NO PEDIGREE, https://www.amazon.com/NO-PEDIGREE-Really-Short-Story-ebook/dp/B083SB1RMN/

To learn more about Nonnie and other ways to connect with her, please drop in on her RRBC Author Page!

To follow along with the rest of the NO PEDIGREE blog tour, visit the author’s tour page.

If you’d like to schedule your own 4WillsPub tour to promote your books in similar fashion, click HERE.

16 Comments

Malcolm Welshman

2/3/2020

8 Comments

In our first guest blog of 2020, it is a great honour to be able to feature an interview with well-known author and retired vet Malcolm Welshman.

Malcolm has kindly donated a signed copy of a limited edition of his new release: Pets are a Pleasure, which you can win. Simply add a comment to this blog giving the reason you deserve this generous prize. Your comments should be added before the end of March. Malcolm will then judge the best reply and select the winner.

Enjoy reading his interview.

Malcolm's Interview

Thanks for joining us Malcolm and answering a few questions about you and your life.

How long have you been writing professionally?

I started way back in the seventies when I wrote a feature about a goose I’d been given to fatten up for Christmas. She never did get eaten as she raised the alarm when we had burglars. The article was published in the magazine, My Weekly. That led to me writing for the magazine for fifteen years whilst continuing my veterinary career. Novel writing came much later with my first book, Pets in Prospect, being published in 2008.

Do the humorous situations in your books stem from real life or your imagination?

A mix. Many of the incidents are based on situations that happened to me and I just elaborate on them for comic effect. My book, An Armful of Animals, is a memoir so the stories in it are for real, even though in parts exaggerated.

How many years did you practice as a vet?

I was a vet for over 35 years though not in general practice all the time as in later years I became a consultant specialising in exotic animals.

What are your favourite animals?

I’m more of a dog than a cat person and have had seven rescues over the years. Also had my own African Grey parrot for 23 years so am rather fond of them.

What are your top three favourite books?

Gerald Durrell has always been my mentor as he used to be out in West Africa when I lived in Nigeria so was an avid reader of all his books during that time. My Family and Other Animals is an all-time favourite. I used to love psychological thrillers and those penned by Ruth Rendell as Barbara Vine still rank highly with me. A Fatal Inversion is a good example of her work. And William Boyd’s A Good Man in Africa I can re-read and still enjoy.

Would you ever consider writing in a different genre?

I do have a non-animal themed script – a black comedy that is so way over the top it’s unlikely to ever see the light of day. I’m currently adapting my memoir, An Armful of Animals, into a children’s novel, the stories of my life as a lad in Nigeria being told through the eyes of a twelve-year-old.

Considering most traditionally published authors are now expected to do most of their own book marketing, did this influence your decision to self-publish An Armful of Animals?

Very much so. I did actually have four traditional publishing offers for the book but eventually decided to self -publish. I’m not sure it has been the right decision as I’m finding very difficult to alert the readership of my first three books (which between them got over 400 Amazon reviews) to the fact this memoir exists. A lot depends on recommendation by word of mouth; and here social networking is essential. I’ve joined a Facebook group called We Love Memoirs which has over 5000 members. It’s a very inter-active, vibrant group which passes on reviews and comments about books members have read. I also like to support animal charities through donating signed copies to auctions and raffles: this in turn does help to raise the profile of the book.

What inspires your creativity?

Wish I knew. Then I’d be able to tap into it more frequently and hence be more productive. I’m always needing a nudge – working to deadlines. What all of us writers do know, is that you need to keep constantly writing so perhaps that’s the core element to being creative. However, there is one thing that can help to activate the little grey cells. And that’s doing plenty of reading. Not necessarily books about your own topics. But anything that might give you ideas for story lines or characters. I also read newspapers to glean information on any animal-related subjects; and will cut such features out and file them in an ideas folder. Reading through them, will often spark a new idea or a fresh approach to what I’m trying to write at the time.

Who are your favourite authors?

William Boyd and Patrick Gale.

What differs (apart from the word count) between writing a magazine column and writing a book manuscript?

In feature writing you have to make every word count. With the limitation on the number of words used you can’t afford to ramble off-topic. If it’s a short story or part of a series, characters and background detail can only be lightly sketched in and the story line takes priority. Whereas of course, in a book manuscript, you have the luxury of filling in the characters more deeply, make the background details more descriptive and slowly unravel the story using lesser characters for sub-plots.

Malcolm's Profile

Malcolm Welshman is a retired vet and author. He was the My Weekly vet for 15 years and has written many features for magazines such as She, The Lady, The People’s Friend, Cat World, Yours, and newspapers such as The Sunday Times and the Daily Mail. He is the author of three pet novels, the first of which, Pets in a Pickle, reached number two on Kindle’s bestseller list. His third novel, Pets Aplenty, was a finalist for The People’s Book Prize 2015. His memoir, An Armful of Animals – published September 2018 – was long-listed for the Dorchester Literary Festival’s local author prize. His fourth pet novel, Pets are a Pleasure, was published in 28th Feb 2020. Malcolm is also an international speaker on cruise ships, having completed 50; and he has talked at over 40 WI, Rotary, Probus and retirement associations’ meetings. He is a bi-monthly contributor to a local community radio, Keep 106 in Dorset.

Link to Pets are a Pleasure:
http://amazon.co.uk/dp/B084X81RXF
http://amazon.com/dp/B084X81RXF

Social Media links:
twitter.com/malcolmwelshman
Facebook.com/malcolmwelshman.7

Website:
http://malcolmwelshman.co.uk

Malcolm and Dora

8 Comments

Welcome to Day 2 of the @4WillsPub "THANK YOU, HOSTS!" Blog Tour for #RRBCAuthor @chuckwesj #RRBC

Giveaway: (1) 5-Day Blog Tour to promote your book

THE ROAD TO SARATIN ​

​WELCOME TO DAY 6 OF #RRBC’S JULY “SPOTLIGHT” AUTHOR TOUR FOR KAREN BLACK! @KARENSSTORIES

Welcome to JAN SIKES' SHORT STORY BOOK BLAST! #RRBC #RWISA #RRBCAuthor​

Welcome to Day 9 of the "SIR CHOCOLATE AND THE ICE CREAM RAINBOW FAIRIES" Blog Tour! @bakeandwrite @4WillsPub #RRBC

​Sir Chocolate and the Ice cream Rainbow Fairies story and cookbook

​​Welcome to part 9 of the fondant cat parade

Cakes by Robbie Cheadle

Learn how to make a cow out of fondant

Welcome to Day 7 of "THE LOST AND FOUND BILLY BATTLES" Blog Tour! @JHawker69 @4WillsPub #RRBC #RWISA

Welcome to Day 8 of the "EMPTY SEATS" Blog Tour! @EmptySeatsNovel @4WillsPub #RRBC #Baseball

Welcome to the Final Day of the "JONAH" Blog Tour! @Rijanjks @4WillsPub #RRBC #RWISA​

Welcome to Day 4 of the “NO PEDIGREE” Blog Tour! @nonniejules #RRBC #RWISA @4WillsPub

What “NO PEDIGREE” Is Really About

Review by Author, John Fioravanti

BOOK BLURB…

ABOUT THE AUTHOR…

2020 Guest Blogs

THE ROAD TO SARATIN

WELCOME TO DAY 6 OF #RRBC’S JULY “SPOTLIGHT” AUTHOR TOUR FOR KAREN BLACK! @KARENSSTORIES

Welcome to JAN SIKES' SHORT STORY BOOK BLAST! #RRBC #RWISA #RRBCAuthor

Sir Chocolate and the Ice cream Rainbow Fairies story and cookbook

Welcome to part 9 of the fondant cat parade

Welcome to the Final Day of the "JONAH" Blog Tour! @Rijanjks @4WillsPub #RRBC #RWISA