Rip-Off by Mar Preston --and --

Interview with Mar Preston author of Rip-Off a murder mystery

1.      Tell us about Mar Preston is this your first book, and what do you do when you are not writing?

No Dice was my first book, introducing Detective Dave Mason of the Santa Monica Police Department and his community activist girlfriend Ginger McNair. The plot centers on a casino consortium’s attempt to build a high-rise casino in Santa Monica, much against the community’s desire. It’s a rip-snorting tale of big money, big development.

When I’m not writing, or procrastinating, I work with the SPCA writing grants, and fostering litters of feral kittens and their mamas.  I walk in the forest with my dog Lily, although it’s so hot now neither of us enjoys it much. I watch out for rattlesnakes too.

2.      What is or was your goal when you wrote Rip-Off?  Did you have an agenda, some wrong you wanted to right?

I hope not. I wanted to tell a good story about some memorable characters and a situation that draws Mason into the vortex of organized crime playing out in an upscale Los Angeles Beach City. Detective Mason of the Santa Monica Police Department is very real to me, as is Ginger. I wanted to take their lives further than I had done in No Dice and write about what happened next to them.

3.      If someone asked you, what is the moral of your story, how would you respond?

Oh, boy. Billie, you sure ask hard questions. The moral?  I don’t know that there is one. How would you answer that? 

I'd for sure say, Crime does not pay. Or if you can't do the time don't do the crime.

4.      Rip-Off reads like you've been part of a police department—are/were you? Or is there a police officer/detective in your family?

Not at all. I’m a diligent researcher and genuinely interested in the Santa Monica Police Department.  They’ve been very receptive to my questions. Plus I love the city and want to share all the quirkiness of Santa Monica with readers.

5.      When you create characters do you base them on real people?

All the bad guys come from my imagination and research. I wish I knew a master burglar I could interview or a Chechen organized crime boss.  Ginger comes from me and my community activist crusades, I must admit.  Detective Mason is a composite character of all the great cops I’ve known.

6.      Everyone likes to peek into the mind of an author and find out Where Do You Get Your ideas from—can you tell us where yours come from?

I guess the newspapers in the case of Rip-Off. No Dice came from personal experience being up close and dirty in Santa Monica municipal wars. My third one, Payback, that I’m preparing for printing now comes from sticking my nose in local politics up here in the mountain village where I live in Southern California.

7.      Do you use contemporary political climate in your novels?  Are you afraid it will date your series or that it will become old news of sorts?

Yes, I use what’s going on now, and it will probably become old news.  That’s probably true in the law enforcement technology I write about as well. But crime in all its various expressions remains current. No chance of police departments being closed down for lack of work.

8.      What's next for Mar Preston?

I’m working with my editor, Jodie Renner, on a fourth novel, untitled as yet. I wanted to write about what happens next with Mason and Ginger. I really like rewriting and seeing the work get better and better. Working with an editor is frustrating fun. You finally have a collaborator after living with this manuscript for years.

9.      Where can we find out more about you and your books?

Please Google me, or look at my website at http://www.marpreston.com

10.  Do you have a readers guide for book clubs and are you available in person or via Skype or chat room or some other venue for your readers?

No, because I never thought of doing that until now when you suggest it. I’ll get to work on it.  I’d love to talk to book clubs.  Imagine people being that interested in me! 

Come back tomorrow for a review of Rip Off 

On The Go With Children's Author Nancy Sanders

Hi Nancy,
I'm so glad you could join us today on the last day of your tour for D is for Drinking Gourd. A good week's worth of getting to know you. So far we have your website and your blog so our readers might visit you and learn more.

On the Go with Children’s Author Nancy I. Sanders

Website: www.nancyisanders.com

Blog: www.nancyisanders.wordpress.com

 Now, let's find out a bit more about getting your to come visit with readers who want to see you live and in person. First the information about this book again.

Featured Book:

 D is For Drinking Gourd

D is for Drinking Gourd: An African American Alphabet

Author: Nancy I. Sanders

Illustrator: E. B. Lewis

Publisher: Sleeping Bear Press

Book’s Website: www.DrinkingGourdAlphabet.wordpress.com

And now Some questions about you and what you do....

Q. Do you visit schools for author events?

A. One of the joys of writing for kids is to visit kids at schools for author events. I’ve gone to various local schools over the years for in-person visits. In February of this year, I attended a Career Day for a local junior high of over 400 students and talked with kids about how they can become an author, too! I’ve also done Skype visits with classrooms or e-mail visits where the teachers invite the students to ask me questions. It’s not only a great way to promote my books, it’s also a great way to promote the joy and love of reading!

Q. Do you teach writing classes?

A. Yes, I also teach classes on how-to-write. I’ve taught at various writing conferences on writing for children. I base my teaching sessions on my groundbreaking book for children’s writers, Yes! You Can Learn How to Write Children’s Books, Get Them Published, and Build a Successful Writing Career. Members of my class are so encouraged and so many of them start experiencing success based on the strategies I teach, even if they’ve been trying to get published for years.

I also teach writing classes and host online chats for writers at sites such as the Working Writers Club at www.workingwritersclub.com. My classes are based on tried and true methods I use as a bestselling and award-winning author of over 80 books.

Q. How can writers connect with you so they can implement your winning strategies into their own writing life?

A. The first thing every children’s writer should do is purchase and read my book, Yes! You Can Learn How to Write Children’s Books, Get Them Published, and Build a Successful Writing Career. There simply isn’t another book like this available on the market today. I share about the inside world of publishing with practical tips on how to make my success your success, too. But don’t just take my word for it! Read the testimonials of other writers who have contacted me and let me know about their success. Visit my site at: www.yesyoucanlearn.wordpress.com/testimonies/

I also love to do virtual classes with small or large groups of writers. My virtual workshops can be tailored to fit the needs of any writing group whether it’s comprised of children’s writers or writers for adults. I can teach you how to jumpstart your writing career to the next level whether it’s through creating winning first pages in your manuscripts or building a website for your upcoming book. For more information about scheduling a virtual workshop for your group of writing friends or for your writers’ group, please visit my site: www.yesyoucanlearnvirtualvisit.wordpress.com/

Thank you again Nancy I'm looking forward to enjoying all your books and joining your classes for children's writers.

An Amazing Man - An Interview With Sandy Sims

Sandy Sims, Indomitable Entrepreneur, Author, Leader

Thank you For agreeing to visit my blog Printed Words. I had a wonderful time devouring your book How Frank Lloyd Wright Got into My Head, Under My Skin and Changed The Way I think About Thinking. The book was amazing I truly could not put it down.

Talk about starting over and re-inventing yourself, you have become a master at that. Tenacity and perseverance are two words that seem synonymous with your name.  The Einstein quote (only one of many in the book that resonated your message/life) "The important thing is to not stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existing." Yours, led you down some amazing paths.  What would you say to readers about your ability to see what you wanted and to find a way to get it – however creatively you needed to move to that goal? Can they do the same?

(Sandy)Like anything else, it takes practice. Little bits at a time to build confidence. That is what I did. And like the moment before you go on stage there are butterflies in your stomach when ever you step out into the unknown.  I certainly get them. Yet, this seems to be the gift that is built into our equipment. We can all access it and do it. I wrote this book to say that this is what happened to the guy next door (me) and it can happen to everybody.

Our first peek into your creative ideas came when you focused on your military obligation. The Military draft was still a factor in a young man's life in the United States and you were not one to shirk obligation or duty.  As far as you knew, you would have to be in some branch of the military.  Give us some insight into how you developed a strategy to both serve your country and serve your idea of what you hoped to achieve in your early life.

(Sandy) I think like anything else, I wanted at some deep level a creative way to solve the military enigma. I did not want to be drafted and I did not really want to go to Viet Nam.  At the time I did not understand that I was giving the universe an order to find just such a solution.  When I ran across the the bartender,  the previous navy club officer, he represented the solution. I merely needed to act. At that time I  had not connected those dots that later I would realize was really manifestation on my part, and that is what I wanted to bring out in my book.  What happens to us a great deal of the time is something we have been the architect of without recognizing our part in bringing those conditions into play. For example it was easy for me to see that I had a role in going to OCS, and signing a deal with the Navy, but it was not within my consciousness at the time that I had created the opportunity with the bartender.

Part of that Military adventure brought you to Hawaii and a dream to live there that never left.  In one place in your book you write "People say that the Island of Hawaii draws you here to face your issues. It is raw creative energy expressing itself in a perpetual state of eruption." Certainly that seemed to fit your life there at one point. Do you still feel that way about Hawaii having lived there for as long as you did? Why or why not?

(Sandy) I think that here you have touched at one of the great mysteries of life, the meaning and unconscious draw to something. I touched on the idea that I like to think that we have invisible partners and perhaps part of their job is to send us those signals that we feel are intuitive hits. Maybe at some deep level we have agreements about things we want to experience and team work conspires to produce it. I did not feel good about going to the Island of Hawaii during the military, but then when the volcano( Halemaumau) erupted with that once in a hundred year episode I felt that I was so privileged to have been there.  Later I came back to build a house. It in one sense cost me a marriage, but it was a compelling urge I had to follow. The loss of the marriage gave me that great understanding of forgiveness and non-judgment, something I could have read about a million times without truly grasping.  Now I do not feel that same urge. It is the idea of living more lightly now and feeling at home where ever I happen to be.

It's like the energy you say is evident in the Frank Lloyd Wright architecture and the fact that buildings he built survived the 1990's earth quake in Japan – when everything else collapsed. You used that innovative, imaginative, creative thought process throughout your life. You seemed to emulate Wright's ability to think, as they say, "outside the box" at every turn. Do you think that like minds are drawn to each other? 

(Sandy) I think that once we recognize how powerful our curiosity can be, that the desire to meet interesting people is a natural by product.  We are fascinated with what and why they are thinking about and how it is going or has gone for them. I feel that it is part of the natural re affirming process that this is the way things work. Let’s say I want to meet you in person after hearing about you. Well, I put that out there and who knows whether it will be  weeks, months or years. But at some point when it happens, there will be that little “aha” that makes a note of how long it has taken. I do think that like minds tend to add fuel to the fire. You know how excited you are when you meet a colleague who is into the same thing you are. There can be an energetic high. So, yes, from that point of view, I think we do at least subconsciously put that order out there.

When you, as you put it, "…plowed through" Frank Lloyd Wright's autobiography you admitted you had to drag yourself through it but it sparked something in you.  Later we follow your desire to build a tribute to Frank Lloyd Wright.  Synchronicity seemed to work both for and against you and that first idea never panned out. But you remained undaunted…what was your mindset, your thoughts at that point about the dream you held to build that complex of homes designed by Mr. Wright? 

(Sandy) I felt that other forces had played out. The Taliesin Associated Architects had gotten into a bit of a financial jam by wanting to become developers. They were in debt. This one job of building the clubhouse, brought them a large get well commission. So what forces were really at work? Maybe my strong urge was in response to their strong desire. I don’t think we know enough about how these things actually work ( Maybe a Noble prize winner will have that answer later in the century.). I do know that when the bubble burst in Japan I did not feel as  strong  a drive as  I had  previously felt to keep going on the collection, but I did have a desire to see one of the homes go up,  and if that would have sparked a renewed potential, that would have been great.  Again I feel that the simple message is that we do what we have energy for. From where or why that energy flows is beyond our conscious comprehension.

Walking on glowing coals from a raging bonfire, in real life at a seminar you attended, and facing the scorching coals of interrupted ideas could be one in the same…you walked over those coals do you think that allowed you, or showed you the mindset it would take, to focus with unfaltering vision on your goals of building your Frank Lloyd Wright home and not doubting that it would come to fruition? 

(Sandy) There is no doubt that that was a contributing factor in developing confidence. It showed  me and a lot of others that we have untapped capabilities and once the model appeared, was tried, and succeeded it was an empowering force.  I think however these are two different issues. The coals were to understand that by following a model completely we could have the same success the model had produced in the first place. The willingness to proceed on the home even when money was not on the immediate horizon was about summoning other forces in the universe to bring about this desire.

Another quote from your book by Wayne Dyer, who I have admired for many years, seems another mantra of your life. "By banishing doubt and trusting your intuitive feelings, you clear a space for the power of intention to flow through." Is this the meaning that was instilled in you by your father when he told you to do it [live] for him and you?

(Sandy) I think that my father felt that he had failed to answer the call in his own life regarding what he felt was his gift and purpose. That had left him in a remorseful state. He wanted to encourage me not to do the same and that by truly following a dream whatever happens will leave no regrets. I think that I was not conscious of the power Wayne Dyer referred to for the early part of my life even though I was doing it. After my meltdown, so to speak, I became conscious of it, and that created a self awareness about my personal power. I of course had lots of doubt and taking the baby steps was the basic idea.

There is a spot in your book when you are in the Frank Lloyd Wright house where you are watching the fire in the massive fireplace. You say "fires can transfix, seduce, capture and transport us to places we forget about in our daily lives. Large fireplaces are like large movie screens, enveloping us completely into the story." Does this reflect back on walking over the burning coals with Tony Robbins or would you say it is something else?  Is reflection necessary to think creatively about what's ahead? Does reflection inform the future?

(Sandy) It is something else. It refers to the fact that fires have the way of hypnotizing us or causing us to get lost in the flame itself bringing about moments where our mind is stilled and we can receive as if in a meditative state or reflective state. You could say that in this kind of reflective state clarity about the future occurs. So yes, “ informs” would be a potential.

Ralph Waldo Emerson said "The reward of a thing well done is to have done it." Is that your philosophy when you look back on the things you created from living in Hawaii at all, to your Real Estate Agency, to having built a home from the ground-- up using your mentor/idol/spirit guide-- or whatever you would call your connection to Frank Lloyd Wright—from blue print to furnishings—is that satisfaction enough for you?

(Sandy) I think you meant the ad agency in the question. I feel that the significance of this quote is that when we are propelled to do something for the sheer joy of doing it, for the experience as an end in itself, and not as means to something else, that is what makes our lives more eminently satisfying and that is for me satisfaction enough.

Is there anything that I haven't asked that you might want to tell my readers about you, your experiences, even your book?

(Sandy) Perhaps that I did not set out to write this book as anything more than a cathartic experience. As I got involved, one thing led to another. An editor took a look and made some suggestions. Later another editor whom I met in San Miguel, told me that it was a good story and he agreed to do a line by line edit. In a sense the process grew organically. I had worked with a designer in the ad agency who had been part of the Frank Lloyd Wright collateral team. She designed the book.  Once this took place I realized I was trying to make the book a satisfying experience for the  reader as well as me. The writing and marketing of the book is a metaphor for the process I have been writing about. The right people have been showing up along the way and I have been fortunate enough to have their assistance.  One of my consultants suggested I do a guidebook. This led to thinking about a few ideas that could be of use to people without overwhelming them. Kerry, the psychiatrist, who was pivotal, in the book, agreed to collaborate and that is how the guidebook emerged. I have found energy to stay involved and that seems to be the most important element we can identify for what seems purposeful to any of us.

Thank you so much for taking the time to let us see more of the man, Sandy Sims, behind the book and a life to be admired and emulated. Where can we purchase the book and the work book?

(Sandy) Thank you for reading the book and guidebook and taking the time to become involved. Currently the book is available on Amazon in both the paper back and kindle form. The guidebook is also available on Amazon. I hope to have it out on kindle in  three or four weeks. The books are being distributed through Ingram. So I don’t know when they will appear elsewhere.

For more information about Sandy Sims and How Frank Lloyd Wright Got Into My Head, Under My Skin And Changed The Way I Think About Thinking, A Creative Thinking Blue Print For the 21st Century, visit http://creativethinkingbook.com/ and visit this page to get the Amazon links http://creativethinkingbook.com/buy-your-copy/.    

The Interview - be sure to scroll down to read it

You will find the interview with Alysa/Dream Shield down below the first post - please be sure to leave a comment. and thanks for visiting.
Billie

The Ironwood Daily Globe has found me!

Perhaps not me but my book Ghost Music of Vaudeville - As a young sprout I delivered the Daily Globe in a little place called Jessieville it was an adjunct to Ironwood..fond memories that helped me name a character and a place for my book - you can check out the article at this link
Ghost Music of Vaudeville
Ironwood Daily Globe Article
http://www.ironwooddailyglobe.com/main.asp?SectionID=1&SubSectionID=1&ArticleID=27140
Please go check it out
If you go today you can just go to http://www.theIronwoodDailyGlobe.com and it starts on the front page - just look for Ghost Music of Vaudeville by Billie A Williams.

When you are done there go check out some video trailers for new releases from both me and my sister Cricket Sawyer
Lavender Lust
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1RFv1VugU1s

Angeni
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FGvrVn

The Capricorn Goat
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Pl0JMoY05M

Enjoy

Who is THAT Woman? Why Should I Notice?

Masha Malka is a former Soviet refugee who knows first hand what it is like to be living below poverty level; to have low self-esteem; to start out without the language, money, or contacts and to make a great life for herself!

Masha went from living a life with little clarity and focus to becoming a successful entrepreneur, author, Clarity and Focus guru, international speaker and trainer as well as the mother of 3 children.

Understanding what it takes to successfully balance the demands of a growing career as an author, international speaker and a life coach with 3 children, husband, family, friends, and personal needs - she is passionate to show others how they can do it too!

Masha has delivered workshops, seminars, written articles and books, and provided personal training and coaching in the field of success and the skill of learning since 1998.

She graduated with Highest Honors from Florida Atlantic University majoring in Elementary Education. She then continued her graduate studies at Capella University completing a graduate certificate in Teaching and Training Online as well as Instructional Design for Online Learning. A life-long student, Masha is currently taking courses for an MBA. She is also a certified trainer in Accelerated Learning Techniques as well as Transformational Thinking.

Come Back Tomorrow for some exciting news on how you can grab what she has to offer. It's exciting, it's life changing, and you won't want to miss out - plenty of freebies to go along with it. See you tomorrow right here!

Here's Owen - and Marvin - We found them!!!!! Owen Fiddler Interviewed

(Owen walks in, followed by Marvin.

Marvin reminds Owen to

snuff out his smoke, which Owen does reluctantly. They both take a seat.)

(Billie) - Hi Owen, Marvin.

(Owen) – Hey.

(Marvin) – Hi Billie, good to see you again.

(Billie) - I hope your day goes well. Thanks for coming, have a sip of ice tea or lemonade and chat with us. How’s the weather in your neck of the woods? How’s your investment portfolio doing? Getting any writing done? How’s the wife and kids?

(Owen looks at Marvin, confused. Marvin says to Owen) – Small talk, Owen, relax, that’s just Billie – she can get a bit facetious at times. (Marvin turns to Billie, says) – Weather’s fine, the investments are as falsely inflated as the stock market, the writing never stops, and the wife and kids’re – well, speaking for me, doing just fine. C’mon, Billie, I know you didn’t ask us here to discuss our favorite colors. (smiles and chuckles)

(Billie laughs with him) – Yes, well - now that we’ve got the chatty ‘how’d ya be’ stuff done lets get to some questions that I’ve been dying to ask and I know my Printed Words readers are holding on with their fingernails white with anticipation. Let’s start with this:

My definition of Irony: All is not as it appears to be. Is Owen a definition of irony? Does the braggadocio, full of himself, acerbic wit, curmudgeon cover insecurity or lack of self-confidence?

OWEN: Yup. All that. You pegged me right good, Ms. Williams. Hey, where have I seen you before … Playboy, right? March issue, 1997? So what’re you doin’ later?

(Marvin) Owen! For god’s sake, stow it, will ya? Jeez-o-Pete – sorry, Billie.

(Billie) Oh, no harm, Marvin. Owen, you DO live up to your rep, don’t you? My, what a charmer. But on a more serious note, and I’m talking to Owen now - by your own admission you take no responsibility for your actions, YOU SAY—and yet you do. You seem to be trying to set the record straight. You seem to be saying – “Hey, I fell off the turnip truck but it wasn’t the end of my life - it was only the beginning.” Isn’t that taking responsibility in some fashion?

(Owen lifts his eyes to the ceiling, stares for a moment, then sighs with a fall of his chest, looks pleadingly at Marvin who just stares at him, then looks at Billie) – Yeah. I guess you could say that. But really I’m not all that comfortable calling all this attention to myself. The only reason I agreed to let Marvin write my story was I figured maybe I’d get ahead some, you know – maybe make some money. Am I taking responsibility for my life by sharing my story with others? If I am, that’s just a plus for me according to you, I guess. ‘N thank ya kindly, Ma’am.

(Billie) - Do you believe in the oft-quoted message that ‘nothing happens by accident’? Do you think perhaps you were chosen to trod the path you trod in order to better understand the message that you were to write to others?

(Owen looks at Marvin as if to ask if he should answer – Marvin nods yes) – Okay, Look. There’s all this fuss bein’ made over my life story. I can’t figure it. I mean, there’s tons-o-folks you could write the same book about. Marvin picked me, he says, cuz I’m like some kinda average example. So, all this heavy stuff about troddin’ paths and all that (bleep)? I really don’t know. I’m just Owen Fiddler – nothin’ more, nothin’ less.

(Billie) - The things we see and dislike in others is a mirror of ourselves – or reflects what we don’t like in ourselves to put it another way or so I’m led to believe. You say in an interview I read recently that You (Owen Fiddler) represent those aspects we often abhor in others but fail to recognize in ourselves. Can you expand on this—I mean how do you mean this phrase? Do you mean if I hate my sister for being gorgeous that I have these same traits that make her appear gorgeous to me? Or because I joke that my other sister is a motor mouth that I am one?

(Owen) – Well, if the bra fits, wear it. Or, lie about it and stuff it with tissue. Gorgeous sister, eh? Think I could meet her?

(Marvin) – Oh-when! … we’re not on The Dating Game, pal. Keep it relevant, will ya?

(Billie – chuckles) – You guys’re a stitch. You know, the name Owen seems to say “ow(e)n up to your mistakes, ow(e)n what you say, ow(e)n what you write, ow(e)n what you project,” at least in my mind. Is that what you intended with the title of this book, naming it after yourself? Or do you mean you own the Fiddler?

(Owen turns to Marvin, perplexed, says) – She’s getting’ a bit deep for me. You named me, what the (bleep)’s she talkin’ about?

(Marvin) – Hmmm – actually, Billie, you are close in your assessment of the meaning of Owen Fiddler’s name. In a certain way, you are right on. However, the real meaning of the name, the more succinct interpretation as I intended it is … oh, how can I say it without unbagging the cat? Put it like this: Owen likes to dance, but he never pays the fiddler. Therefore, he is in a constant state of Owen Fiddler.

(Owen) – I’m getting’ a (bleep)ing headache. Is this all you got – ice tea and lemonade? I need a beer and a shot of tequila.

(Marvin) – Knock it off, Owen. Sorry again, Billie.

(Billie) – Quite all right. Now, you say that Owen Fiddler is not a religious book, but a highly spiritual book. Isn’t religion about inspiring, enlightening? And isn’t religion spiritual? Isn’t this just a fine/very thin line you are choosing so as not to believe in anything but yourself? Are you saying that all religions are nothing more then doctrine, rules, regulations and sermons of what not to do and how bad we are?

(Owen) – Well, I never been inspired by religion. Religious people’ve always struck me as robots. Reciting scriptures, all actin’ the same, rigid in their ways and habits – and super judgmental about anyone who isn’t exactly the same as they pretend to be. Bunch o’ nicey-nice folks afraid to have any real rip-roarin’ fun ‘n lookin’ down their noses at people that do.

(Marvin) – I’d like to interject a comment here. Because this is an important point. In fact, Billie, you touch on a few important points with your insightful inquiry. There is a radical difference between religion and spirituality. Allow me to explain with an example. Jesus was divine spirit incarnate. However, Christianity, the organized religion as we know and experience it today, two thousand years after His crucifixion, is for the most part a sham of a representation of what He taught and pointed His followers toward. Now before you denounce me as a heretic and organize an Owen Fiddler book burning with me strapped to a stake in the middle, please just stay with me for a minute.

Jesus did not found Christianity – His followers did, long after his death and resurrection. Jesus just loved people – He loved everyone equally without judgment and led them to the truth. And he bade us to follow His example. Can we say this of the religious community we have today? Is forgiveness, compassion and non-judgmental love for everyone the hallmark of the church that goes by His name? No. Never has been, at least not for sixteen hundred years or so. Wars are fought; throngs of innocent lives are slain, in the name of Christianity. Can there be any more supreme irony, any more of an obtuse oxymoron than the concept of a “Holy War?” Remember, it was the religious people of Jesus’ time that had Him crucified. They chose to liberate Barabas – a murderer, rather than let Jesus live. If Jesus were alive and walking the streets today, the religious would kill Him again. His spirit is too radical – too free – too liberated - far too spontaneous and wild to be confined by an organization. Religion fosters fear – fear of unbridled freedom, the kind of limitless freedom that Jesus was and is. I mean, we’re talking about a guy who could fast for forty days and rebuke the devil and then turn around and have a feast with thieves and hookers while enjoying a healthy wine buzz. I tell you, the Church would not recognize its own savior if he were to return today. He’d be declared the Anti-Christ and assassinated by the clergy.

And I’m not just picking on Christianity – the same can be said for Judaism and Islam. You asked earlier about irony. How’s this for even more irony – Judaism, Islam and Christianity, their devout followers all believe in and worship the same One God of Abraham. The Old Testament and the Koran are (in large part) just different scriptings of the same stories, parables, and theological tenets. So why then, are they killing each other? Put Moses, Mohammed and Jesus in a room together. Do you suppose they would argue, come to blows and try to murder each other over their different interpretations of The Way? I think not. Yet their so-called followers do just that.

(Marvin notices Owen has fallen asleep, snoring) Owen! Wake up! Show a little respect, for heaven’s sake.

(Owen jerks awake) Huh? Wha?

(Billie laughs) - I think I see what you’re saying. But let me ask you this - do you think by saying it’s not a religious book that readers will take a chance on reading it and find out too late that they have been touched by religion? That they believe in a higher power and perhaps even the good of most if not all mankind given the right chances?

(Owen) – I’m sorry, what’re we talkin’ about?

(Marvin looks at Owen as if he were a used cud of chewing gum) – That’s all right, I got this one. Ahem. Yes. Absolutely, that is my hope and intention. OWEN FIDDLER is a brave book, if I do say so myself. I took a chance on publishing it. The strictly religious community will probably eschew it as being mere filth. I mean, Owen cusses, gets drunk regularly and is prolifically promiscuous. I’m a writer of truths, and that’s just the way he is. And conversely, the book runs the risk of being considered (ironically) by the secular community as too “religious.” The book has characters in it drawn from Christian theology. Again, I’m being true to myself. I am a Christian – albeit a rather non-religious Maverick spiritualist version of the faith – in the eyes of traditionalists, at least. But the book is not preachy - it’s engaging, entertaining, sometimes humorous, often it tugs at the heart, sometimes it gets irreverent and even sexy. I would think that anyone of any faith or path or no particular path at all can enjoy and appreciate the story. The message is universal.

In my perfect world, OWEN FIDDLER would come to be known and appreciated as a valuable “crossover” book. A modern day parable that has meaning to everyone, whether they are “religious,” “Spiritual,” or follow the Law of Attraction, or even just honestly agnostic. I’m all about bringing people together in love. It’s a form of worship for me.

(Billie) - What does Owen like to do when he is not writing and thinking about where he has been, what he has done, and what he will do next. Waking up on any given morning what are your thoughts? Going to the grocery store – what do you contemplate buying? What is a typical Owen Fiddler day?

(Owen yawns – awake now, somewhat) – Most mornings my first thought is I need to puke. I hate getting up, having to go to my (bleep)ing job, working with those (bleep)ing (bleep)holes, bringin’ home less money than I got bills. My daily life sucks. I live for quitting time, getting drunk and scoring on whores. Cheap thrills.

(Billie) - I watch Judge Judy, as millions of other people do, nearly every late afternoon. She gets really upset that so many people don’t take responsibility for their own actions — everything is someone else’s fault – Owen, you are so typical of today’s society - what made you decide to jump on a band wagon and fess up to all that’s happened in your life and try to make everyone else see – you are what you chose?

(Owen) – Fessin’ up was Marvin’s idea. I only went along with it for the money. I ain’t to blame for all the (bleep) that’s happened to me. Uh–uh. No (bleep)ing way. (bleep)

(Marvin) – Owen! The language? Billie, can I jump in again right here? Nowadays everybody has some syndrome or another. No matter how stupid, wicked, spiteful or hateful the action taken, it’s because the perpetrator suffers from some syndrome or another. Not their fault, the “Devil made them do it.” Nobody’s taking responsibility for their actions anymore. Am I right? Isn’t that why Judge Judy is so popular? We’re all sick and tired of this blame-game finger-pointing society, but everybody figures it’s the other person, not themselves, that’s behaving irresponsibly. Well, take a good look at Owen Fiddler, ladies and gentlemen, because he’s the eclectic synthesis of all syndromes, the mother of all fault-finders. Mark my word, eventually some attorney will get his client exonerated of a rape or murder charge by using the “Owen Fiddler Syndrome” argument.

(Billie) – Owen, I can’t help but mention, and I hope you won’t mind sharing the spot light with Marvin Wilson – that you were awarded the Silver Avatar Award for excellence in spiritual books. Congratulations! Tell us a little about this award and how it makes you (Owen) feel after what you said about your book not being religious?

(Owen) – Well, yeah – thanks. I never had no award or nuthin’ before. Kinda surprised me, be honest. Marvin tells me I’m gonna have some kinda spiritual experience, meet up with God or some (bleep). And so the story goes, I guess, there’s supposed to be a purpose to my life that has some kinda spiritual message in it. For the life of me I don’t know what the (bleep) that could be, but Marvin swears by it. I ain’t read the book yet myself – not very big on reading – too much work. If they wind up makin’ a movie out of it, I’ll go see that. Marvin networks with lotsa writers, he got hip to this AVATAR website, or organization, whatever – supposed to be pretty prestigious if they grant your writing an award. Has to be a work with clear and insightful spiritual content. Well, we won the silver – which is pretty darn good for a novel, from what I hear.

(Billie) - Thank you so much for allowing me to put you in the hot seat and for answering my questions. I must mention one more thing. The video trailer up on One True Media.Com is absolutely beautiful. The soul of the characters, the mood or essence of the characters portrayed from Frenda to Kris to the devil grab the viewer as much as the beautiful musical backdrop. You did good Owen! Please give our readers a link to that video as well as some idea where they can buy your book – and check in on Marvin Wilson – the string master who helps you keep your truth for the rest of us.

(Owen) – Sure. And thanks. For the compliment. Ahm, just click on Owen Fiddler is Here! for the video. It’s pretty cool – won the New Covey Award, the trailer did. You can buy the book on www.amazon.com or www.cambridgebooks.us or at your favorite bookstore. For reviews, excerpts, info, and even a short live talk I do, go to: www.owenfiddler.com

(Marvin) Yes, and both Owen and I have MySpaces. His is at: www.myspace.com/owenfiddler and mine is www.myspace.com/Paize_Fiddler - drop in and leave us a note, we’ll get back to you. Also, I LOVE getting emails from my readers, I’ve made so many wonderful friends since taking up writing – mail me at: marvwilson2010@gmail.com

(Billie) - One final question, Owen. Even though you say you have a selfish point of view, that you have been a fool, I think it is all a charade and you are one heck of a decent, loving, and wonderful kind of guy —who has so much to offer. A clue to this is you are doing it in such a non-threatening way that you reach out and grab people and get them to listen. Do you agree that you are WAY smarter then you give yourself credit for?

(Owen) – I guess I’m not sure what you mean. Hardly nobody’s ever said such nice things about me before. (face reddens) ‘S why I do what I do. All the stupid (bleep), you know. I’m afraid of real intimacy. Not sex, y’know, I mean real love – all intimate and the heart laid open and exposed. I never liked myself, figured nobody could really love the real me, so I put on this macho tough guy loner image and stay toasted most the time. A guy’s gotta feel good somehow. Tell ya, though – it’s a lonely life, bein’ selfish. Marvin tells me I’m gonna wind up happy and really be all those nice things like you said. Seems too impossible to believe.

(Billie) - Well, believe it. I know what I believe, and your curmudgeonly old self really is, after all, just a cover up. Hey, you guys, I thoroughly enjoyed visiting with you and you are welcome on my blog any old day. So, do come back—ya hear?

(Marvin) – Thanks so much, Billie. The feeling is mutual. You’re good people.

(Owen) – Yep, I’d have to admit I actually had me a good time. And with nothin’ but a lemonade to drink at that! Ain’t that somethin’? Hey, Billie - speakin’ of good times – can I get your number? Call ya later?

(Marvin buries his face in his hands)

OH MY GOODNESS!!! Karen Salmansohn

Karen I'm so sorry - How could I not have seen that - I misspelled your last name - YIKE! it should have been Salmansohn Good grief I'm so sorry. I have Bounce Back and Enough dammit! right in front of me and I never saw what I did.

Heeeeeeere Comes Karen

Talk about Bounce -- Karen has it -- her new book Bounce Back - check it out - she'll be here tomorrow for an interview - you won't want to miss her.

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.

Who is Dr. Joe Capista? and Why Should You Care?

I am sure you will understand when you read the interview with this amazing man below.

Interview

Dr. Joe Capista

Speaker, Author, Dentist

Media, Pennsylvania

What can a dentist teach you about business, life and success?

· ISBN-10: 0965815951

1. Where you are from and where are you now?
   I reside in Media, Pennsylvania with my wife of 34 years. I have a dental practice in Broomall. I have lived in this area all my life. My roots are here, my family is here, and my community is here. I’m a Pennsylvanian through and through.

2. How did you get started writing?

Not counting all the goals I have written over the years and the business plans, I officially began writing with my newly released book called What Can a Dentist Teach You about Business, Life and Success? Discover Secrets to Achieving Total Success!

I have owned and operated my dental practice for over 30 years. I grew my practice from a 1-chair struggling practice to a multi-million dollar business with nearly 50 team members.

For years I have mentored business professionals and done training courses on how to build a business. I found I had a knack and passion for sharing my information. Initially, my work was with other dentists, but it grew into working with a variety of business types.

Over the last few years I have also done presentations to business groups. My writing was a natural evolution from my business success and working with others. The more I worked with others and did presentations the question came up frequently as to when I was going to write a book.

I had entertained the thought for some time, but about a year ago I decided that I would write a book. The book is a culmination of my business philosophy as well as overall success in all areas of one’s life.

What people will read in the book is not your typical business book. I combine a very pragmatic and spiritual approach to what I call Total Success.

3. What do you do when you are not writing?

When not writing I can be found doing a number of different things. One being, I still practice dentistry. I love dentistry. Always have and probably always will. I can also be found giving speeches, running, spending time with my family, traveling and overall, enjoying life.

4. What would readers like to know about you?

I think readers would like to know that I am very passionate about what I do in all areas of my life. I believe we create our own happiness by our thoughts, beliefs and actions.

Although I am blessed with an extremely successful life, it wasn’t always like that. I grew up in an average blue-collar neighborhood and struggled in school as a kid. And yet, from as far back as I can remember I wanted to be a dentist. I can remember digging in the dirt and filling up the holes pretending I was filling a cavity. That was at the age of 10.

Early on I didn’t get a lot of support for my dream. My high school guidance counselor, Father Melton told me I should pick a different goal rather than trying to become a dentist.

It was at that point I formed the belief that we can either believe what another person thinks is best for our life or follow our own dream. I will forever be grateful I followed my dream. Because of it I have had an incredible life.

I think what your readers would also be interested in know is that along with my dream came a lot of hard work. It didn’t just happen. I had to work for what I wanted.

5. What inspired your first book?

The desire to document the very systems that have allowed me to create the life I have. These systems don’t just apply to building a successful dental practice. They can apply to virtually any type of business.

6. How many books have you written?

This is my first. I do have plans for more books though.

7. What are the titles of your books and what genres are they?

What Can a Dentist Teach You about Business, Life and Success? Discover Secrets to Creating Total Success!

8. How do you decide on that topic or genre?

I follow my instinct. That is how I have done many things in my life.

9. How do you manage to keep yourself focused and on track?

Actually, there is a whole chapter in my book about how to stay focused and on track. I am very clear on the fact that having a laser beam approach to what I want to accomplish makes all the difference as to whether I achieve something or not.

10. Do you write to make money or for the love of writing?

For the love of writing and yet, because I do know how to make money from various ventures I have been involved in, it is very likely I will make great money from my writing. I think an advantage I have in writing about business is the opportunities that have opened up with my speaking and mentoring. The book was released in late December and already I have had some incredible things happen as a result. One is, with one speaking engagement I did, a gentleman who heard me nominated me for the Small Business Owner of the Year Award for a very large Chamber of Commerce in my area.

The recognition this will give me, my book and my business may not be able to be measure in exact return and yet I do know it will open up other opportunities.

Something I believe in is that nothing is an end in and of itself. Everything we do either moves us closer to our goals or further away. When I wrote the book I didn’t write it to make money. And yet, because of the marketing we are doing with the book, money will be a natural outcome of my writing.

11. What are some traditional methods of marketing you have used?

I have a marketing firm on the West Coast who is handling a lot of my marketing. I know that we have had a lot of media releases sent to the press that have given the book visibility. I have done dozens of presentations to local associations that has also gained some nice visibility. I have a very nice media kit with a beautiful sell sheet. One thing we have made sure of is to create an identity for the book.

12. What are some unique methods of marketing you have used?

We have been using the Internet a great deal. Lots of blogging about the book as well as an Amazon.com campaign where dozens of Joint Venture Partners are helping to get the word out about my book. I have done lots of web radio interviews as well as article writing and distribution online. I am launching a series of teleseminars that will all be in some way connected to an aspect of the book.

13. Do you sell through a website? If so, what’s the address? If not, why not?

Most definitely. http://www.joecapista.com/amazon.htm

14. Where can people order your books?

They can order it directly from my site and they can order from http://www.joecapista.com/amazon.htm

15. What format are your books – e-book, print, audio etc?

At this point the book is only available as hardcopy. I do have an eBook available on my site on how to build a multi-million dollar business.

16. Will you write more books?

Most definitely.

17. What do you have in the works now?

Right now I am continuing to build my speaking business. I am in conversations with some business associates about starting a full-fledged training company. That is another area I will be putting some time and energy into.

18. What does the future hold for you and your books?

Lots of fun. I just love what writing a book has done for me. It’s incredible. Although I would like to think I could have done this sooner, I think the timing in my life has been perfect.

19. What was the most successful thing you did to promote your books?

We are doing it right now. An Amazon.com campaign along with a blog tour. The visibility is incredible.

20. What was the least successful thing you did to promote your books?

That’s a difficult question to answer because so far everything has been working.

This book is a great resource for anyone looking for both a pragmatic and spiritual approach to building a life of Total Success. Order you own copy of What Can a Dentist Teach You about Business, Life and Success? within the next 24 hours and receive over $2,551 in bonus gifts from experts around the globe. Go to http://www.joecapista.com/amazon.htm