Meet Kim Richards

Thank you for stopping by today Kim. We're looking forward to hearing more about you and your book. So grab a cup a your fav and sit a spell.

EP: When did you seriously sit down, and say to yourself, I’m going to write a novel?

Kim Richards: I’ve been writing in one form or another most of my life. After my first marriage broke up, I decided I wanted to take writing seriously. Then I found out how much I still needed to learn so I went back to school and took journalism, started attending conferences and reading everything how-to I could get my hands on. I’ve been lucky to have found mentors online and some great critique groups along the way.

EP: What do you find the most difficult to write? Dialogue? Back story?

Kim Richards: The most difficult for me are transitions from one scene to another. I often get my point of view mixed up there in the first draft.

EP: Have you ever found that you didn’t like your Hero or your Heroine? If so, what did you do to change that?

Kim Richards: I’ve never experienced that. I have had a secondary character end up being my protagonist after I got to know the characters a little better.

EP: If you were to start again, with the knowledge you have now, what would be the first thing you do?

Kim Richards: I wouldn’t let anyone discourage me and I’d not let making money replace the writing. For me writing is something I need to cope with depression so it’s more than just an occupation. It’s my life and I need it.

EP: Do you have the support of friends and family? Meaning, do they understand when you are writing that you cannot be disturbed? Or do you have friends that think since you’re home, you don’t work?

Kim Richards: I do now and it’s wonderful. My previous mother-in-law used to ask when I was getting a ‘real job’ and I took business classes because I believed others who did not find writing an occupation. I’ve had to make it important to ME and shrug off what others think. And yes, when my sons were young, many of their friends’ parents would send their kids to my house after school. You simply learn to deal with it. I figured at least I knew where my sons were at, even if the house regularly got trashed.

The best thing I did for writing is get a ‘do not disturb sign’. I haven’t had to use it in years but it does get the point across when you can hang it on the door and just point to it when you are interrupted. At first people laugh; then they get the point.

EP: What was the biggest hurtle you had to overcome in your career?

Kim Richards: Taking myself seriously and believing my writing worthy.

EP: What genre do you write? Do you write more than one, if so, what?

Kim Richards: I write mainly horror, fantasy and some science fiction. However, if an idea comes, it doesn’t matter what genre it is. Sometimes you don’t see it in your story. I wrote a children’s book back in 2000, thinking of a fantasy market. It was another author who saw it as a kids book. It was published that way.

Death Masks is a thriller. When I wrote it, I had horror in mind. It wasn’t until I started to submit it, that I realized where it best fit. You have to write the story and then worry about what mail slot it fits in.

EP: How do you research for your books?

Kim Richards: I love research and have to be very careful or I spend more time doing that than writing the actual story. I start online but am picky about my resources. If a website doesn’t list resources of its own, I tend to skip it unless there’s a bit of information I think I need...but I focus the research on finding supporting documents (or the lack thereof). I always end up with new books on my shelf when I research. I’m full of what my sons refer to as “useless trivia”.

EP: How do you develop your characters?

Kim Richards: My stories usually start with a what if. When I start worldbuilding and researching, the characters form on their own from the culture, the setting—it often falls into place naturally.

EP: Are any of your characters a person you’d like to be? If so which one?

Kim Richards: Lots of them. They’re usually stronger or smarter or more admirable than I am.

EP: Who inspired you to write?

Kim Richards: Many, many people. An 8^th grade teacher who taught me to write my dreams in a notebook; a high school teacher who taught me to journal; authors I’ve met; hokey stories I thought I could write better. It amazes me how there are many more people who do inspire me to write than discourage me, yet in the past it was the negative ones I listened to. Maybe they talk louder.

EP: What is the most humorous writing experience you’ve ever had?

Kim Richards: Meeting a man in an elevator at World Horror Convention. He saw my name tag and had read my science fiction novel out at the time. He lectured me on how I killed off his favorite character.

EP: If a new writer came to you for advice what would you tell them?

Kim Richards: Perseverence. Wrap it around your shoulders and tie it tight.

EP: Do you have a book coming out? If so what? Do you have a web site? Do you have a blog? My space?

Kim Richards: Death Masks is available from Eternal Press. I also have a story out in an anthology of dragon stories by another publisher.

Check out the trailer for Death Masks. The metal band is from my home town, Roswell, New Mexico. You can watch it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lp2zpDNMfmM

My website is: www.kim-richards.com I’ll be doing a virtual book tour in June, 2008 so check there for the blog visit schedule. There will be prizes!

You can find me at Myspace, Livejournal, Facebook, Blogger, Good Reads and Writer’s Chatroom. All under the username Kim Richards.

I do have one announcement I’d like to make. I’ve just accepted the position of Marketing Manager for Eternal Press. I’m thrilled to be accepted on the team and excited about the upcoming possibilities for me and for the publishing house.

Thank you for taking the time to answer our questions for the Eternal Press blog. Good luck with your writing.

Meet Mirella Patzer - Author of Bloodstone Castle

Hi Mirella,

Your website kept me spell bound for the best part of an hour. What a delightful place to visit. Pull up a comfy cushion, dangle your feet in the pool and enjoy a glass of your favorite iced beverage while we talk.

Billie: Bloodstone Castle is a historical romance that takes place in medieval times. What about this era draws you in so that you will spend hours researching and writing about it?

Mirella: Ever since I was 7 years old, I was fascinated by fairy tales - kings and queens, knights and ladies, princesses and princes. I devoured every fairy tale book over and over again at the library. From fairy tales I progressed to other books such as Nancy Drew and other child hood favourites.. When I was 12, I read Gone with the Wind. Since then, historical fiction has always been my favourite. I think my love for medieval fiction stems from the fact that it can sweep me into another place and time. Life was more brutal back then. Lots of opportunity to learn about our fascinating past through novels. What better way to enjoy history?

Billie: Reviewers are raving about this Lyrical and rich historical novel of intrigue, danger, betrayal, seduction, adventure, and not the least of which is an exciting romance — How do you manage to wrap all this into one novel?

Mirella: I tried to write the sort of book I like to read. I like to be shocked, excited, intrigued, when I read a novel. This is what I tried to achieve with Bloodstone Castle. I wanted the reader to want to turn each page and read, read, read. So I added a little bit of everything - evilness, murder, love, and mystery. I wanted the novel to be something a reader can escape into. We are bombarded with responsibility, pressure, information, and hard work in our every day lives, so I wrote Bloodstone Castle for pure enjoyment and something one can escape into. I hope I have achieved this.

Billie: Please give us an over view of the story Bloodstone. Who are our main characters and why will I love them/or love to hate them?

Mirella: Beneath Bloodstone Castle, the home of Contessa Morena Monterossa, is a lost ancient Roman treasure. As a child, she was betrothed to Ernesto, the Duke of Savona who grew to manhood and became a womanizer and obsessive gambler. In Genoa, Amoro Dragone becomes Duke when his father is murdered. He learns his father's last wish was for him to marry Morena and end a long-standing family feud. Amoro swears to fulfill his father's last wish. This sets the tone for two men too fight for one woman for different reasons. It is a story about duty and honor, obsession and desperation. It is a tale about learning to trust and following one's heart.

Billie: Italy plays a big part in your novels. I have been told more then once that Italian is the language of romance — I recently bought a CD of Italian Love Songs and I must say you can feel the passion in them, but then Italians do everything with passion or so it seems. What first brought you to love all things Italian?

Mirella: Ah, wonderful question. The answer is simple. I am of Italian heritage. My parents immigrated to Canada in the late 1950's and although I was born and raised Canadian, my heart and love for the culture prevail. There are so many books about English royalty. I wanted to be different and share my passion for my roots through writing about it. My mother still owns vineyards there, and I hope to one day go back and buy a small apartment and visit Italy yearly.

Billie: I would be remiss if I didn’t mention that Italy isn’t the only country that appears in your books. I seem to remember reading that you also did a wonderful take on a German medieval duke or two. Give us a title and tell us a little about this work.

Mirella: When I decided to sit down and write a book, I decided that I wanted to write about famous women in history. Because of my love for Italy, I began to research historical Italian women. I fell in love with the story of Adelaide of Burgundy. Further research led me to her second husband, Otto the Great, who was German, and family. So what started off as a desire to write about Adelaide has turned into a trilogy or 4 book series on the women of the Ottonian Empire - Matilde, Edith, Adelaide, and Theophano.

Billie: My readers are in love with the printed words and you definitely have a way of making those words visual. Are your books available in print, e-book or both and where might readers be able to buy them?

Mirella: Bloodstone Castle will be available in trade paperback and ebook format. I'm also in the process of recording the unabridged version as an audio book which hopefully will one day be available on ITunes and other sites.

Billie: What does the future look like for Mirella the author? Where are you hoping to be five or ten years from now?

Mirella: I have recently retired from a 28 year career as a civilian manager with the Calgary Police Service. I hope to have published two more books in the next two years - The Orphan of the Olive Tree and A Crimson Mantle. I also see myself doing a bit of travelling to Germany and Italy to the locations I'm writing about. My dream is to visit the homes and towns of where my characters lived and died.

Billie: This might seem backwards, but I wanted our readers to see your books before they find out how long you have been writing with the goal of being a published author? When did you decide to pursue this dream and do you write full time now?

Mirella: I have been an avid reader all my life. I never aspired to be an author. I also never believed I had the ability to write. Then one day in 1995, I saw a tv commercial about a group of Canadian war veterans who were trying to raise funds to visit the Moro River and Ortona, Italy. This caught my attention because my mother is from there. In fact, our vineyards are on the shores of the Moro River. The Italian government also wrote asking for permission to erect a monument on our land. This really caught my interest and I began to research. It was then I learned of the Battle of the Moro River and how my mother and her family survived this major battle which occurred. My mother never spoke about the war. She was an 8 year old child. Since then, I have been able to have 2 conversations with her about what happened. It is so painful, I dare not ask her again. So I have been conducting research for several years now with the hopes of writing this story some day, but I'm still researching, so in the meantime, I dabbled in medieval fiction to get my writing career off the ground.

Billie: When you begin a new story, how do you start? Plot—character—idea—Theme—what?

Mirella: This depends upon the story. With my series about the Ottonian Empire, I use a year-by-year account as my plot. For Bloodstone Castle, I simply set out wanting to write a romantic suspense, so I chose the setting first and built a story around that.

Billie: Your characters seem to be as important as any other element in your stories they are well-rounded, believable people not cardboard cutouts. How do you go about developing them, how do you choose names to suit them or, does the name come first?

Part of the fun about writing a novel is creating the characters. All the names of my characters are actual Italian names in existence since medieval times with the exception of Amoro. That name I stumbled upon on a fantasy name website. It is not Italian, but sounds Italian. I liked it a lot because it closely resembles the word "amore" which means love in Italian, yet it seemed strong enough and unique enough for my hero.

Billie: Tell us about your works in progress, I’m assuming you have one or more. Which also leads me to ask do you work on more then one story at a time—or do you finish one before you begin another?

Mirella: I always work on two projects at once. Why? Simply for variety. It helps keep my interest and alleviate any boredom. So currently, I'm working on a novel entitled Orphan of the Olive Tree. It is an actual medieval romantic short story written by a queen in the 14th century. I've taken the basic plot and am expanding it into a novel that takes place in medieval Italy. I'm also currently working on A Crimson Mantle which is the first book of the Ottonian Empire about Queen Matilde who was Otto the Great's mother.

Billie: Every aspiring or seasoned writer needs a good editor, they seem in short supply. Tweaking your story before you send it out is so important, I understand you are an editor who does take on editing jobs for writers. Would you like to give us an over view of those services? And perhaps tell us why you feel it is important to edit or have your manuscript professionally edited before you send it out the first time?

Mirella: I first learned to edit when I joined a critique group. After receiving some excellent feedback, I became hooked. When you are critiqued and learn to critique the work of others, your own writing improves. We as authors are often blind to our own work. We cannot always catch simple problems or plot holes unless we have an independent person read our work. Self-editing is extremely important because your final product must be highly polished in order to make it out of a slush pile and get noticed. So my passion for editing was born from my participation in my critique groups. I enjoy editing because it is meticulous work and I think I have a good eye for finding ways to strengthen a manuscript. And editing is a task that always evolves and where you continually learn. Aspiring authors should take self-editing very seriously and do as much as they can to learn the basics. It really makes a big difference.

Billie: Thank you so much Mirella for taking time from a busy schedule to come and chat with us. One last thing would you tell our readers how they can find out more about you? Where can they buy your books, stay up to date on your new releases, and such. Do you blog? Do you have a page on any of the social networks like Ning, MySpace, or A Manic Readers page? (oops guess that was a bunch of things, but I know my readers will want to track you down and stock up on some great reading.

I really enjoyed visiting with you too, Billie. I really appreciate all your time and effort. Your questions were terrific. I would love to host you and any other authors who are interested at: http://authorcookies.blogspot.com. Check it out and if you are interested, send me an email at: mirellapatzer@yahoo.ca. I have web presences at MySpace, Facebook, Bebo, Gather, and many more. You can also learn more about me and my work at:

http://www.mirellapatzer.com
http://mirellapatzer.blogspot.com
http://bloodstonecastle.blogspot.com
http://bestofitaly.blogspot.com
http://authorcookies.blogspot.co
http://historicalnovelreview.blogspot.com

Are You Ready?

Mirella Patzer will be here tomorrow - you will not want to miss what this lady has in store for you. We'll interview her about her life and her newest book Bloodstone Castle so be sure to stop by and leave a comment.

Powerful Woman with a Powerful Message

Author Lacresha Hayes

Hi Lacresha I’m delighted to be able to speak with you during your virtual tour. Come on in. Grab a cup of your favorite beverage and sit by the fire a while. It’s still spring and our weather here in Wisconsin is unsettled so a fire place and good company is always a treat.

I’m excited to be here. I love fireplaces and White Chocolate Mocha from Starbucks. Maybe even a piece of caramel cake.

1. First let’s get to know a little about you. Who is Lacresha Hayes? What does she do when she is not writing or ministering to the needs of others?

I would consider myself a very simple person. I’m happy to be a mother, not only to my seventeen year old son, but to 5 other godsons and 5 god-daughters. So many children call me mother that I sometimes forget that only one is my biological child. LOL!

I can’t even think of what I do when I’m not writing or ministering. Do I ever do anything else? I love to play Chess against the computer. I also love trying to catch up with my sleep, as if that will ever happen. : )

2. Today there seems to be a lack of faith and trust in our religious leaders, our political leaders and our sports heroes and heroines. The phrase echoes in my head “Where have all our Heroes gone?” What are your views on this coming from your world as a minister? Where do you advise people to look to find mentor, consul, or someone to help them understand their difficulties? Where will they find someone to look up to?

Being a multiple rape victim, once by a minister, I can truly understand the lack of faith in leadership in general. I think it’s a pity too. I honestly think that finding a great leader, friend, mentor or hero is the same as finding a spouse. There are good ones out there, but they aren’t around every corner. I’ve personally seen some things that made me question my own faith at times.

I recommend that people focus more on becoming a good leader and a mentor rather than searching for them. Seems everyone is looking for a leader rather than making a choice to be one, and a great one at that. For me, my mother was a drug-addict most of my life. My grandmother was an alcoholic and illiterate. I was, for all intents and purposes, a lost case. One day, I had to choose to be different. That’s what we need now, people who choose to be different and live excellently.

3. It takes an amazing amount of fortitude to live through the traumatic and tragic circumstances your book deals with. Having lived through some of the things you talk about in your book The Rape of Innocence, what helped you to break through, to finally talk about what was happening to you?

Well, I would be the last person to say I’m strong. I had gotten into a physical fist fight one night. It got me thrown into jail. While I sat there, I had a little time to reflect. It was as if God had forsaken me, but really I’d given up on myself. I was forced to take inventory of my life. I was alone, very sick and very depressed. When I started the book, it was more of a journal of the stuff running through my mind. I cried through nearly every paragraph. I didn’t even know I was hurting so much. Then, I heard it spoken softly in my heart that this would be a book and it would lead me to a place of helping millions of women. That gave me strength. Writing the book provided a lot of healing that nothing else could provide. After that time to reflect and after the illness brought me almost to the point of death, I started out on a path to put all the knowledge that I had together for something good, Living Waters Publishing Company, Christian Vitality, our ministry and another ministry that my friend, Jackie Wilcox, founded called Three Sisters.

4. What is your best advice to people in similar situations?

People in this situation should first admit how it feels. Amazingly, denial is often the place most people get stuck. Admit that it made you feel this way or the other. Then, start to deal with it by speaking to a professional or someone else who has been through it and came out healed. At the same time, I warn people against feeling sorry for themselves. It’s unfortunate, but no matter how badly we feel, we cannot undo the past. Rather, we have to choose not to let the past dictate pain, frustration and anger in our present. Prayer is necessary. Inner honesty is necessary. Hope is the absolutely necessary. The worst thing you’ll ever find in this world is a person who has had their hope stripped away from them.

I tell children to tell someone and keep telling people until the situation has been dealt with. Many children are afraid to be taken from their parents, but the primary concern is ending the abuse. Someone will listen! Someone will protect them!

5. Many times, or even most times, people in domestic abuse situations have been led to believe it is their fault. They deserve what they get. Do you find this in people you speak with? If you hear negativity long enough you start to believe it. How can they break free of this guilt trip and that really is what it is isn’t it?

Let me take this opportunity to say this: in my book, you’ll find that I stabbed my first husband and nearly killed him when he battered me. I don’t condone this either. Nothing we do, male or female, can warrant domestic violence. I encounter this thinking all the time. I used to have it. Seeing my mother’s second husband beat her, shoot her twice and drug her up almost to overdose level, I thought it was normal. It’s not normal, or it shouldn’t be. Leave the first time! If you happen to still want your marriage, still leave and give that person time to get some professional help. Make sure they are walking through that help before you return.

I think that it is a guilt trip. I also think that some people trick themselves into staying, thinking that love conquers all. I’ve seen and heard of many people being killed by their spouses. My best friend and my son’s godmother was killed by her husband. It happens daily. Some like to believe that it only happened that one time and never will again. I can personally testify that once that line is crossed, it’s easier to commit violence the next time, and it gets easier each time after that. Some believe that being hit is a sign of passionate love. That too is a lie! Domestic violence is a control issue, never a love issue!

6. The dress code for young adults today (as always) is on the edge – they follow the lead of their heroes or heroines, singers, actors, actresses etc. Some would say dressing in those provocative styles, as most styles are today to anyone who is not a teenager or young adult—is what leads to rape and sexual abuse what are your views on this?

I don’t think skimpy clothing gives a man the right to assault or even disrespect a woman. Nevertheless, this is the real world and in a real way, men do view it as a welcome sign. I’ve spoken to more than a hundred men and nearly all of them say that mini-skirts and skimpy dresses make them feel more comfortable with approaching a strange woman.

I also find that many girls show off their bodies because they want some attention and love. Some do it just because it’s the style, but not as many as we think. I’ve talked to several young ladies who just didn’t understand how precious their bodies are. They thought that showing what they had was advertising to find a great husband. They are being bombarded with messages of beautiful bodies that deserve to be shown off. Not that you asked, but I think this degradation is why divorce rates won’t fall like they could. Women are taught to disrespect their bodies. Men are taught to choose mates by looks and a million other superficial things. Values are not taught anymore and I fear for the time when all the baby-boomers die out. What then?

7. Talk to us about The Rape of Innocence: Taking Captivity Captive. What do you mean by the last half of that title, Taking Captivity Captive?

Many victims walk through life still captive to their past hurts. This is not just with sexual assault, but with anything painful. God said He’d lead our captivity captive. We have to do the same thing. We have to refuse to walk like a victim. We cannot use our past as a crutch; neither can we allow it to kill any hopes of a successful and joy-filled life. So, I hope the book shows people how to get free from the pain and use it as their power and their motivation.

8. Is this part of a series? Tell us a little about your other titles

Well, originally I had no desire to do more books on it, but when I released my poetry in Becoming: My Personal Memoirs, I realized that this will be a large part of many of my books. In Becoming, the poetry deals with the times when I was suicidal, depressed, and loose, among other things. It was the emotions that a person may not see in Rape. I also have another book of poetry to be released in May. The title is Poetic Infinity: Passion and Promise. This book is geared more toward praise and love and common sense. I have a children’s book, The Culpepper Family, coming out in June. This was just my attempt to teach children how to be lights in their communities. I’m delighted about it. I also have a book titled Full Exposure: Behind Church Walls coming out. This will deal with the hypocrisy we must all be aware of and what to do about it.

9. Where can people find your books and your publishing house Living Waters Publishing Company? Your ministry: Compassionate Healing Ministries and your magazine; Christian Vitality. Are you open for submissions to the publishing company, or the magazine?

We are definitely open for submissions with both the magazine and the publishing company. The publishing company address is P.O. Box 1361, Marion, AR 72364. The web address is www.livingwaterspc.com and http://store.livingwaterspc.com. We also have a blog at http://livingwaterspublishing.blogspot.com.

My books are at select Barnes and Noble and Borders locations in Minneapolis, Memphis, Albany, San Diego and a few other areas, as well as all the major online retailers.

Our ministry is located in Marion and Blytheville, Arkansas. We don’t have a website address yet, but we are working on it.

The Christian Vitality site is being updated. We also have a blog for it at http://christianvitality.blogspot.com.

10. You say you are a work in progress, what do you mean by that?

Well, for as much as my relationship with God has provided a lot of healing and a lot of perspective, there was a whole lot in my past that I am still tied to, and there are still a few pains that I’m coming to deal with better everyday. I’ve made so many mistakes and bad decisions that it takes time to truly be free from all of them. Sometimes, my temper still gets the better of me when I have to deal with women who have been molested, raped, battered and abandoned. There are times when I have to sit side by side with a hypocrite in church, and then remember that I used to be one, wondering if there is something I can do. I take things to heart and very seriously. I feel like I wasted too much of my life living bad that now I’m a bulldozer, trying to impact the lives of others, even when they don’t want me too. That’s the shortest answer I could think of. LOL!

11. Is there anything else you would like to tell my readers about you, your books or your ministry?

These have been some of the best questions. I can’t really think of anything to add. I will have a radio interview in Detroit, MI on April 14 at 4:30 CST on 88.1. I’m wonderfully excited about that. I’ve truly been working behind the scenes at getting more programs for children who have been sexually and/or physically abused. I have recently become a part of the RAINN Speaker’s Bureau. I would really appreciate people giving to them and helping them to keep being a voice. They are wonderful people who do a wonderful job. I also have several blogs that people can visit. I try to keep them updated. They are http://learntofeelpretty.blogspot.com, http://lacreshahayes.weebly.com, http://lacreshahayes.blogsavy.com, http://lacreshahayes.blogster.com.

I know that there are discussions going on at GoodReads about The Rape of Innocence and I have a review about Becoming on Powells.com.

Thank you so much for spending some time with us today. I look forward to hearing more about you as we follow you around in your tour. Where will you be next?

Billie A. Williams 4/7--4/8

http://printedwords.blogspot.com/

Jennifer Bolton 4/10

http://jenshumbleopinion2.blogspot.com/

http://jenshumbleopinion2.blogspot.com/

http://christianeclecticwritings.blogspot.com/

Faten Abdallah 4/15

http://www.theglobeandthearts.blogspot.com/

Karina Fabian 4/16--4/17

www.fabianspace.com

Marilyn Meredith 4/13

http://marilynmeredith.blogspot.com/

Ron Berry 4/14

http://here-it-is.tripod.com/kritterwriter

Marvin Wilson 4/12

http://inspiritandtruths.blogspot.com/

Joyce 4/18--4/21

http://joyceanthony.,tripod.com/blog

Another Author on Tour

Tomorrow we will have another author here to give you more food for thought over the printed word. Her name is Lacresha Hayes
I hope you will join us as we find out more about this lovely lady and her books. Her book Rape of Innocence is getting noticed everywhere. Just to whet your appetite here is an interview with her and Joyce Anthony author of the critically acclaimed Storm

The person:

1. What three words do you think describe you as a human being?

Intelligent, decisive and friendly

2. How do you think others would describe you?

Most people describe me as sweet or kind. I wish I was as sweet as people thought I was. I’m getting there though.

3. Please tell us what you are most passionate about outside of writing.

My relationship with God is the most important thing in the world to me. Everything else is just an arm of that relationship.

4. Do you have any pets? If so, introduce us to them.

2 German shepherds: Blay, the huge boy who is spoiled and selfish when it comes to food and water; and Dakota, the smaller girl who is loud and busy and very independent.

5. What is your most precious memory?

That’s a tough one… the one that comes to mind first is the day my son was born. He was beautiful to me.

6. What is your most embarrassing memory?

Well, look at it this way: It’s too embarrassing to tell the world. LOL! Here’s one I will share. Once, my husband had gotten a Best Buy credit card. Because we had a Basic, Your Best Buy, I don’t know what I was thinking, but I went there and picked out my refrigerator and was ready to pay. Then the guy said, “Ma’am, we don’t take this card here.” I said, “Why not? It’s your card.” He said, “No. We’re Basic, YOUR best buy, but we are not Best Buy.” I could have fallen straight through the floor.

7. If you weren’t a writer, what would you be doing with your life?

I’d still be a minister and business owner. I don’t suppose that would change much of anything for me.

8. In two paragraphs or less write your obituary.

Geez. You guys play no games with the questions. Here goes: Lacresha was a very sweet woman who spent the latter part of her life helping others. She was a great listener and she was a fighter. When she loved, so loved deeply. When she hated, she hated passionately. She was a woman with no gray, a woman of extremes. Yet, somehow she made that work to her benefit. She served God in deeds and not word only!

The writer:

9. Can you describe the time you realized you were indeed a “real” writer?

I’ll let you know when it happens. My last manuscript had so much red when I got it back. I was almost convinced I wasn’t a real writer. LOL! My editor does not play games.

10. What is going on with your writing these days?

I’m writing 3 of the hardest books I’ve written to date. I didn’t think it got much harder than writing about the sexual abuse in my past. It does though. For the most part, though, I’m so busy doing various other things in the business that I don’t write as much as I used to. Time is now a rare commodity.

11. What are your future goals for your writing?

I need to finish Full Exposure, Mistakes Parents Make and Poetic Inspirations.

12. Can you describe a typical writing day for you?

When I get a day of writing, usually, I sit down at the computer and just flow according to whatever is on my heart. After an hour or so, my thoughts take some form and I begin to organize what I’ve written.

13. Why do you write?

For the sake of furthering the Kingdom of God, to spread awareness, and to provide clean entertainment

14. What writer most inspires you? Why?

I’d say it was Paul of the Bible. He was straight up and honest. I appreciate honesty.

15. How do you define your writing?

I categorize it as Christian. I define it as being an extension of me: my life experiences and views filtered through the Word of God.

16. In one sentence—what do you want people to say about your writing in fifty years?

Lacresha wrote the words that inspired a generation of people to question their views and to truly see God as a loving Father.

The details:

17. Can you tell us where to find more information on you? Website? Blog?

http://lacreshahayes.weebly.com; www.myspace.com/lacresha75, http://debbietodd.blogspot.com, http://ericanewton.blogspot.com. I’m also on Shoutlife, Yahoo 360 and Author’s Den

18. Is there a place where readers can reach you?

They can write me directly at preacha1975@yahoo.com

19. Can you list all your book titles so people can look for them?

The Rape of Innocence: Taking Captivity Captive, Becoming: My Personal Memoirs and Introducing the Culpeppers (soon to be released)

20. For new readers—what can they expect when they read your book(s)?

In conclusion:

21. Take as much space as necessary to speak to our readers—what would you like them to know about you and your writing?

I suppose I’d want people to know how important my faith is to me. I’d want people to know that I am passionate about spreading awareness of sexual abuse, domestic violence and God’s love and healing.

It's Here, it's published, it's ready to buy

The Ghost Music of Vaudeville

by Billie A Williams

ISBN 978-1-59705-310-5 (electronic)

978-1-59705-728-8 (print)

April 1, 2008

CONTACT: Billie A Williams

P O Box 134

Amberg, WI 54102

billie@billiewilliams.com

Wings ePress, Inc

www.wings-press.com

HEAR YE! HEAR YE!

Stepping center stage to entertain you ….

None other then –

In this day and age of razing landmarks to make way for High Rise Apartments or concrete parking ramps there is little left of the old world. When it comes to entertainment, the environment changes even faster. The Ghost Music of Vaudeville is about a troupe of actors, actresses and musicians who were part of the vaudeville stage at one time. The theatre sits in disrepair, and a greedy land developer is out for revenge. Part of that revenge is to demolish every Keith Theatre in the United States.

Charlie Wolfe, reporter for the Ironwood Daily Globe, Tommy Forester, teenager and champion for the down trodden, and Piano Man, (aka Rudy Poncigrau) who used to play for the vaudeville acts, the black and white movies, and more all have other ideas.

Will one last performance bring out enough support to stop the bulldozers before Damien Callistrari and his henchmen extract the revenge he seeks? Roberto Callistrari is going against his father’s wishes when he begins to fall for Charlie Wolfe –with his ties to Hollywood and Broadway he entices Bette Midler to bring her creativity and personality to help bring the Keith Theatre back from the edge. Together will they be enough to save this Keith Theatre and those lives so intrinsically entwined with the Ghost Music of Vaudeville that still haunts the walls and stage of this Keith Theatre in Ironwood, Michigan.