MIXED EMOTIONS...

Nothing is ever perfect. The yellow smiling face is for the happiness of seeing my husband again after being gone six days. The green numb face is for the way I feel after contracted a bad cold and having to be silent on the plane trip home so I wouldn't give my cold to anyone. The red sad face is for the way I always feel when I have to leave my grandchildren and their parents after being with them for six days. Nothing is ever perfect. I know I'll see the faces again. But I will choose to remember that I have a husband to come home to, the cold will eventually go away and I'll make more trips to see my loved ones again. At this time, I'd like to ask the green face to step behind the yellow face, and the red face to step behind the green. Thank you. Now all I can see is the smiling yellow face. I'm home again.

YES!

Finally! After trying to delete two older blogs, I finally succeeded! All I needed was to take the time to focus on the 'how to' feature that had been there all along. Ah, time to focus. We authors barely have enough time to write, let alone focus on minor details like deleting old blogs. But notice, the time did arrive and I was able to check the deletions off my to-do-list. Every day brings new opportunities to help us move forward in a positive way if we'll look for them. We may never get everything finished, but we do finish what needs to be done at the time. At the end of the day, I'm going to be happy with whatever I accomplish. After all, tomorrow will have it's own set of 'to-dos.' Have an awesome day, my friends!

"QUEEN OF AFTERNOON TEA" CELEBRITY AUTHOR INTERVIEW

"KING OF THE WEEK"

CELEBRITY AUTHOR

TOM BLUBAUGH

        

Welcome! 

 Let me pour you some lavender tea and we'll get started. We have Boston cream pie for dessert today. I made it this morning.

Where do you live? Tell us a little bit about yourself.

TOM: I live in southwest Missouri about an hour north of Branson. I say this because it seems most people, or at least a lot, know where Branson is. I was raised in a small town in southeast KS. I began writing poetry at age fourteen. I have written nonfiction most of my adult life. I self-published my first book Behind the Scenes of the Bus Ministry in 1974.  I wrote articles for denominational and business magazines  from 1975 through 1995. Then I co-wrote The Great Adventure for Barbour Publishing Co. in 2009. Bound by Faith Publishers published my first fiction Night of the Cossack in April, 2011. I’m married to Barbara. We have six children and fourteen grandchildren. Both of us are now retired. I have been a public speaker for 40 years. I was a self-employed entrepreneur  from1973 to 1995 and retired in 2004. I devote most of my time to writing and volunteer work.

Are you a traditionally published or Indie author?

TOM: Both.  It really doesn’t matter much at this time as the author is the marketer.

                                         

What are your hobbies?

TOM: I enjoy reading and photography. Sometimes cooking.  We have a family brunch once a month and all of our kids in the area usually show up. I do all of the cooking. I have a rule, “you can order your eggs any way you want them, but you have to take them any way you get them.”

Tell us about your current book. What was your inspiration?

TOM: The Night of the Cossack is a historical fiction about my grandfather who was a Cossack soldier in Russia. He died a year before I was born and I know very little about him. Actually, both of my grandfathers died before I was born. It was important to me to have a grandfather.  My novel fills a hole in my life.

How did you become a writer? When did you start?

TOM: I started writing poetry when I was fourteen. The real truth is the fact I was too shy to express my feelings to girls I liked so I wrote poems to them. Later I thought I might be able to turn them into song lyrics for rock and roll singers. This didn’t develop. A classmate who received one of my poems says she still has it in her diary after 57 years.

How long did it take you to finish your first book?

TOM: My first book, Behind the Scenes of the Bus Ministry was actually two term papers I combined. My first fiction, Night of the Cossack, took five years. It required a lot of researching.

Where do you like to write?

TOM: Anywhere that is quiet and peaceful—on the deck of a Cruise ship is the most enjoyable.

Favorite author(s)?

TOM: Andrew Klavan, Louis L’Amour, Tom Clancy and James Scott Bell.

How many books have you written, so far? Do you plan to write more?

TOM: I have written, co-written and guest written four books at this time.  Yes, I do plan to write more. I’m in the process of a sequel to Night of the Cossack.

Would you like to share a link where we can purchase your books?

TOM: My book, Night of the Cossack, can be purchased on Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble,  Author's Den and a signed copy, with free shipping to an address in the USA, on my website http://nightofthecossack.com.

It's been such a pleasure to get to know you, Tom. I wish you all the success with your sequel!

Tom Blubaugh, Author of Night of the Cossack--Read the first chapter get a signed copy by ordering here. FREE shipping in USA. Published by Bound by Faith Publishers.

ebook for Kindle available at Amazon.com. Be sure to like my page and do a review when you finish, if you like my book.

Amazon Author page.

Amazon reviews.

ebook for Nook available at Barnes & Noble

Night of the Cossack Facebook author page. Be sure to like my page while you're there please.

Personal Facebook page

Visit My Blog. Be sure to sign up as a follower.

Twitter @tomblubaugh

Author's Den. A great Author/Reader site.  You can join free.  Look me up and be sure to become a fan while you're there.

Check me out on Goodreads.

Co-author of The Great Adventure published by Barbour Publishing. (out of print).

Genesis Project

Jericho Commission, Inc.

                                                                   

 

ENJOY A DAY OF REST!

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND!

Wishing I was at Disneyland again...

TO YOUR HEALTH!

For those of us who are enjoying good health right now, let's stop a moment and appreciate that fact. As I traveled yesterday from Austin, Texas to Oakland, California, I observed a parade of humanity, most of whom seemed to be in good health, but there were a few who were not. I paused to give thanks to God for giving me good health at this time. Illness is an integral part of life, reminding us that our bodies will one day shut down and expire. We'll all face that day. But until that day comes, why not be grateful for the good health we enjoy? For those of you who are suffering in some way, I pray for your comfort and strength. My little granddaughter is ill at the moment and my heart goes out to her as she suffers. I will do my best to comfort her and help her recover. There is nothing like having someone reaching out and showing concern when a fellow human being is suffering in some way. Even a phone call can mean so much. What do you do when someone is ill? Let's share some ways we can reach out and help make someone's day a little brighter. 

Thank you, everyone!                             

GOT ENERGY?

Ooh! Energy! Does anyone ever have enough? Sometimes I do, sometimes I don't. When I don't, it's usually because I haven't eaten enough and tried to do too much physically, like running errands or grocery shopping. But when I do have energy and get things accomplished that I want to do,  it's one of the best feelings in the world! So here's the dilemma: How do I  get things done that I have to do and still have energy for the things I want to do? I don't know. If you have any ideas, please share!

GLOOMY TO GLORIOUS!

A trip to a government office was not my idea of fun, so I procrastinated as long as possible before forcing myself to go. What I discovered helped me understand that attitude really is everything. As I started out on the 37- minute journey, I could have grumbled that I had more important things to do, such as adding borders to my cover images or catching up with my social networking. Instead, I listened to my favorite radio station, which always puts me in a good mood, and admired the lovely scenic route I'd chosen over going the freeway.  Driving along the bucolic countryside, I saw couples taking walks, a herd of goats clearing a meadow, and arrived at my destination without suffering at all! Even the 30-minute wait was interesting as I watched all kinds of people come and go. I was having such a wonderful time that I decided to continue having fun by going shopping, which I rarely do, and came home with some nice things to wear. My day went from gloomy to glorious because I chose to look for the good. Isn't it lovely that we have the choice?

JUST A LITTLE THING...

When I wake up at 5:30 am every morning, I smell the delicious aroma of coffee brewing. My husband makes it every day of the week, getting up at 5 am to do so. It's a little thing...but an appreciated little thing. And that's not all my husband does to show he loves me. He provides for my every need. Quick story: Recently, I volunteered to bring 10 dozen cookies to church for the Kids Club. Since I was so busy writing, my dear husband went to the store (at 7 pm), bought the cookie dough and helped me make them. I think it took us two hours to bake them all. What is really amazing is that my husband thinks all men should treat their wives like he treats me. If you have a spouse like mine, please let them know how much they're appreciated today. God bless our spouses!

"QUEEN OF AFTERNOON TEA" CELEBRITY AUTHOR INTERVIEW

"QUEEN OF THE WEEK"    

 CELEBRITY  AUTHOR 

 TERRY TYLER

Welcome! I’m serving Earl Gray Tea this afternoon so let me pour you a cup and we’ll get started. Please help yourself to a pecan-butter sandwich. Later, we have Lemon posset for dessert. Such a light and lovely pudding! Let’s begin.

Where do you live? Tell us a little bit about yourself.             

I live in the North East of England (Geordie Land, though that won’t mean much to people who live outside the UK!). I’m not from here, though; I moved up here two and a half years ago to live with my husband. We don’t have children or pets, so our lives are mostly very peaceful! What else? I’m 52 but most people think I’m 10 years younger (maybe it’s just because I’m not very mature!), I’ve lived in lots of different places in lots of situations, known loads of people from all over the place – my life has been full, interesting and varied, but I’ve come to a resting place now, and am very happy.

Are you a traditionally published or Indie author? 

My books are on Amazon Kindle – oh, how I would love to be traditionally published! I submitted sample chapters of ‘You Wish’ to a few agents, two of whom asked for the whole manuscript, so I’m on the right track, even though representation remains elusive, alas! I think I might have another go with the novel I’m about to finish. I’d just love to see one of my books as an actual BOOK, not just on a Kindle – how much of a thrill would that be?

What are your hobbies?  

Mostly, I write! But I love to read, too, and my husband and I (oh dear, I sound like the queen!) love sitting in bed having indulgent ‘four film Sundays.’ Ten pillows, that sort of thing! Um, what else? I like growing things (I’ve just been repotting all my herbs!). I like to play backgammon, too, and word games. I love the sea and the countryside and mountains and wonderful scenery – I like taking photos. I wish I could say I did something fascinating like windsurfing, but like most people, my favourite thing is spending time with my family and friends.

Tell us about your current book. What was your inspiration? 

Can’t say too much about the novel I am currently writing it will give all the twists away! It’s called ‘The Other Side’ and I’ll just say it’s along the theme of how one small decision can completely change your life. For instance, imagine you are invited to a party; you are tired and don’t want to go. But you make the effort, and while there, you meet someone, who becomes a friend, and they introduce you to someone else who offers you this amazing job and you end up travelling all over the world - just because you made the effort to go to a party, even though you would rather have stayed lying on the sofa in front of the telly! It’s a tale of four lives, each one of which can be read as a separate story, though they all have a connection.

My novels are always a balance of observation of human behaviour, humour, and quite fast-paced storylines about modern women in today’s world. They always have twists you can’t guess at – I love putting red herrings in, too! Inspiration? I was first inspired to start writing again by the emergence of social networking. ‘You Wish’ features a Facebook stalker, ‘Nobody’s Fault’ a fake profile…but mostly I’m just inspired by my own life experience and everyone I have ever known.

How did you become a writer? When did you start? 

I always wrote stories, as a child. I first wrote a novel in 1993, just because I thought I’d see if I could. Between 1993 and 2000, I wrote about eight novels. Some were never even sent to agents, I just wrote them because I wanted to. I had whole manuscripts requested on a couple of occasions, after sending samples. I didn’t write any novels for 9 years when I lived in Norfolk, because my life was very, very busy, but I started again in 2010.

How long did it take you to finish your first book?  

About 6 or 8 months, I think. I write very quickly, and I’m disciplined about doing it virtually every day. I wrote it out in longhand first, and then typed it up for the second draft – back in 1993 I only had an old typewriter, not a computer or word processor, so when I did the re-write I actually typed the whole thing out again! I can’t imagine doing that now!

Where do you like to write?   

I write in the corner of my living room, on my big computer, which is always in the same place; it’s my little corner and I love it.

Favorite author(s)?  

John Boyne, Douglas Kennedy, Jack Kerouac, Norah Lofts, Evelyn Waugh, Emily Barr, Lauren Weisberger, George RR Martin, Susan Howatch, Elizabeth Jane Howard, Dorothy Parker

How many books have you written, so far? Do you plan to write more?   

Oh, yes! I have ‘You Wish’ and ‘Nobody’s Fault’ on Amazon, and will soon have ‘The Other Side’ on, too. My next project is a teen novel, which I am co-writing with a (published!) author, and then I have plans for another one of my own, which will be set in the music scene of the mid 1990s; it’s a re-work of one I wrote 17 years ago.

Would you like to share a link where we can purchase your books?

‘You Wish’ & ‘Nobody’s Fault’ are available free on Amazon.com  
Friday, April 20th through Sunday, April 22nd– other times there is a minimal cost.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Terry-Tyler/e/B00693EGKM/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1    This is my author page on Amazon.

What about a link to your website?  I don’t have a website yet – I haven’t had time to make one! But here’s a link to my Facebook author’s page. 

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Terry-Tyler-author/127960897322262

Many thanks, Nancy, for giving me the opportunity to introduce my work - and talk about myself! Also for making me aware of this blog, which I think is a lovely idea. I already have your "Murder in Half Moon Bay" on my pending list for when I have finished editing "The Other Side" and can allow myself a proper reading break. Thank you!

It was my pleasure, I assure you. Cheers for great success with your books!