Tag: drama

Interview with J.G. Dow

On By authoranthonyavinablogIn Interviews, UncategorizedLeave a comment
  1. Q) Tell us a little about yourself. How did you find yourself becoming an author?  I was born in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire which is in the North of England and have always lived in the area apart from a few years away at University in Manchester which was much fun! I started out with poetry and have written a few other things but never anything in the ‘chick-lit’ category and so this was a new venture for me. I really enjoyed the writing process and so went from there really. It’s quite addictive once you start writing and fulfilling as well. I also like Snooker, comedy and reading.
  2. Q) How did Jane of Manchester come to be written? What triggered the idea for this novel? The book came into being as I wanted to write something that might have a wide readership and also, I felt like the challenge of seeing if I could write something I felt wasn’t in my comfort zone. Time spent in Manchester years before suddenly seemed like an interesting place to set a novel and I knew I could write about real bars and restaurants and areas in the city to make it authentic.
  3. Q) What theme or message do you hope readers take away from this novel? I suppose the message would be to not panic in life that others are moving ahead of you and try and keep to your own path and not be swayed. It’s not always easy to do any of this and looking around at others and how they are moving forward can make you insecure as a person and anxious even but you can’t let that beat you. I think I make it clear that family and friends and a sense of community are important as well for a happy life. Try and relax and enjoy life but don’t expect things to always be rosy otherwise, disappointment will find you every time.
  4. Q) If you could sit and chat with anyone in this story, who would it be and what would you ask them?  Maybe I’d talk to Kate, Jane’s sister and ask her why she has to have a superior attitude the whole time! Some people do think themselves better than others, especially if they have a good job like she does- Junior Doctor- and begin to think others are beneath them in some way. They probably don’t mean to be like this but people like Kate do make others feel unworthy sometimes and so I would put her in her place somehow!
  5. Q) What social media site has been the most helpful building your readership?Facebook is helpful and I have a page- J.G. Dow@homeofjane- which I use to post links to interviews like this and reviews and people check them out and hopefully sometimes buy the book or read it in the kindle library. Bloggers like your good self are also very important not just for reviews but also for giving new authors exposure on their sites, so thanks for that! Twitter is okay but I’m not great at using in effectively.
  6. Q) When writing a story what is more important to you as an author: developing plot or creating characters? The most important initial thing is to have good characters. You can’t do much if the characters are flat and lifeless so you need to start there really and have a good feel for who they are and treat them very much as if they exist in the real world. Plot is obviously important but depends on the book you are writing and as mine is more character driven, the story is a bit looser than a thriller or some crime novel would be where plot possibly comes before characters slightly.
  7. Q) What advice would you give to aspiring authors? To aspiring authors I would say it is important to like writing and don’t see it so much as work, but something you like to do. I think if you enjoy it, that will come through in the content of the writing and if you find it a bit tedious, that will show as well.
  8. Q) What future projects are on the horizon for you? Any future installments in the Jane of Manchester story? I have just recently finished the sequel to Jane of Manchester and will be putting it on Amazon next week sometime probably and will post a link to it on my Facebook page once its out. It furthers Jane’s exploits in the city and hopefully broadens her tale quite considerably as she slowly emerges from her shell and moves forward a bit, albeit at her own pace! That’s it for now really, although I have an unfinished book from ages ago I might try to complete if I can remember where I was up to with it!

 

Jane of Manchester by J.G. Dow Review

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An intimate look into the life of a twenty-something woman living in the U.K. shines brightly in the debut novel from author J.G. Dow, “Jane of
Manchester”. The story showcases Jane as she goes through her life, watching friends and family grow and excell in life, love and friendship while
she feels as if she isn’t growing at the same pace. Here is the official synopsis:

Jane’s life on the face of it isn’t really too bad…she has great friends like party girl Natasha who’s always up for a laugh and her close pal Polly, always there for her and of course her loving parents, but things could still be better…

Most people she knows are either married or have kids and she has been single a while now and wonders if a good man is ever to be encountered again. The single life is far from a quiet one for Jane however, as she is constantly getting dragged to night clubs and bars by Natasha and the crew as well as enduring a particularly boozy weekend away at the seaside!

Jane loves a lot about her life, disregarding rude plumbers in her flat and dealing with annoying superiors and a smug sister, but as a certain someone takes her eye, is everything about to change and get a whole lot more serious or is the single life determined to keep her captive a while longer yet…

This story is definitely more of a chill and relaxing read, taking the reader on a personal jouney of one young woman who must decide for herself
what kind of life she wants to lead. While so many young women are constantly pressured to get married and have children, the world is also evolving
and women are finally being recognized and respected for wanting a career before family. Jane feels caught in the middle of these two ideologies,
as her sister is excelling in her career and her friends are all getting married and having children, while Jane herself kind of just lives her
life. Working as a florist and enjoying simple nights out with friends or curling up with a good movie and a glass of wine, Jane begins to
wonder what more she wants out of life.

The story is well written, taking the reader into the everyday life of this woman and showcasing her interactions with friends, family and
strangers. Showcasing things like drunken bar crawls, sexual harrassment and more, this story does a marvelous job of delving into the everyday
life of a modern woman and showing the struggles women face when the world seems to be waiting for them to decide who they want to be. While
this book is not an edge of your seat thriller, it is a pleasant and wonderfully simple read that drama and coming of age story fans will fall in
love with. For a debut novel this was a wonderful read from author J.G.Dow and I look forward to seeing what he has in store for the future.
Be sure to pick up your copies of Jane of Manchester today!

Interview with Tom Starita

On By authoranthonyavinablogIn Interviews1 Comment

I had the pleasure to speak with author Tom Starita, author of the book “Growth and Change Are Highly Overrated”. Check out some of the amazing things he had to share with us.

1) What was your inspiration for Growth and Change Are Highly Overrated?
A) We’re going way back to the weekend before Valentine’s Day in 2013. It was the lowest point of my entire life. I was alone and I had the flu. Not just the flu, like the worst flu in the history of modern medicine. I’m actually in the Weehawken Journal of Medicine because my strain was so rare and severe. 

 

When I finally awoke from a three-day coma late Friday night I was starving. I looked outside my bedroom window and saw eight inches of snow. No big deal. The falling snow looked straight out of a Bob Ross painting and as I gazed out I appreciated the beauty of the situation. I leaned forward to appreciate the beauty even more and saw my car had been buried by the plow. 

 

I would not be going out for food. 

 

No matter, I wasn’t in any condition to drive so I made my way to the kitchen to find a takeout menu. I began dialing the Chinese place on the corner when I noticed the time on my microwave said 11:30pm, thus killing my dream of takeout.

 

Okay, okay, it’s not the end of the world. I’m not the best of cooks and I’m not in the mood to cook but I was starving so I opened my fridge and found the absence of food. I looked in the freezer and found empty ice cube trays. I opened cabinets and found shadows where boxes once stood. At that moment I realized I had hit rock bottom. I was sick, alone and in danger of starving to death.

 

I also realized that this would be a great way to start a book! So I dragged my decaying body to the computer and started typing. That’s when Lucas James’ voice appeared crystal clear in my mind and I just kept typing.
2) What would you say is Lucas James biggest driving force in this book? 
A) Himself. He has one long term goal, rock n roll immortality and is blind to everything else. That means he has no short term goals other than attaining his one long term goal. That means he lives hour to hour, day to day figuring out how to turn whatever situation he’s in to his advantage.
3) What theme do you hope your book embodies to the readers?
A) That there are shitty people in this world and there’s nothing you can do to change that. Sometimes people fall into the trap of dating someone, or befriending someone who is toxic and will only bring doom and misery into your life. This book is about what happens when you don’t walk away from the doom.

OR if you’re an optimist…

It’s about trying to succeed at life, on your terms. Consequences be damned.
4) What inspired you to become an author?
A) I was seduced by the thought of being paid to make things up. Anyone can be a liar, but a professional liar? That’s something.
5) If you could sit down for a meal or drink with Lucas James, what would you ask him?
A) That’s a great question! First of all I would know in advance that I’m paying. If I wanted to act high and mighty I would ask him if he realizes the damage he causes to the people who care for him? Of course that would lead him to get defensive and the dinner would end right then and there.

If I wanted to shoot the breeze with him I’d ask what’s the first thing he’ll do when he officially becomes a rock god.
6) What social media tool or site has been the most beneficial to building a readership?
A) Facebook has been my best friend. It’s an easy way to connect with people and convince them to like my author page for updates. *cough* @TomStarita* cough
7) What advice would you give to any aspiring writers out there?
A) That you have chosen the hardest path for survival and to have a backup plan. That success is limited and victories are fleeting. But the moment you hold something that you created in your hands is one of the best feelings in life. You’re guaranteed to live forever.
8) What are your future plans? Any new books on the horizon?
A) My current plans are to do anything and everything to introduce Lucas James to the world. After that it’s see where the tide takes me. I have ideas that are percolating around right now but nothing imminent. I think the next goal is to write a script. When I’m on my deathbed I’d love to know that I wrote books, created a cartoon, putzed around a podcast and wrote a movie. 

I just want to end this by saying that my sister recently came down with a nasty cough. She went to the doctors and was told that antibiotics wouldn’t work in a situation like this. It’s too far deep into the metacurlis lining of the lungs. Obviously my sister was upset and asked if antibiotics wouldn’t work what would? He placed her chart down on the counter, took a deep breath and removed his glasses.

This made my sister even more nervous.

“Tell me doctor. What can we do?” He looked her dead in the eyes and said,

“Your brother has to make the New York Times Best Seller’s List for his book, “Growth and Change Are Highly Overrated.”

If you don’t want to buy my book I understand. It might not be for everyone. But think of my poor sister. Coughing. Buy my book for her.

Please?
Check out the Review Here!

Pipeliner by Shawn Hartje 

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Sex, drugs and rock and roll. Every wannabe rock star has had this vision for their lives, but never was it more prominent than in the 90’s. For Jason Krabb, that dream dominated his small town Idaho life, as evidence by the coming of age tale Pipeliner by Shawn Hartje. Here is the synopsis:
Description

For seventeen-year-old Jason Krabb, high school life in 1990s Idaho is a world of cargo shorts, cassette tapes, and junk food. Plagued equally by algebra and puberty, Jason sets out to find a girlfriend and become a rock guitarist. His quest is irreversibly jolted when he attends a bonfire and meets an alluring girl from the other side of town and a rag tag crew who are bringing gas lines through the desert in order to keep the lights on in Portland and Seattle, places where Jason hopes to find his nirvana as a guitarist.
Meanwhile, things deteriorate at home. Jason’s pediatrician mom, Leah, sadly faces the twilight of her parenting years while his father, Curtis, contends with the enormity of running a big ticket research laboratory and coming to terms with his son’s wayward path.  
Pipeliner is at once a coming of age love story and a comical timestamp of early 90s family life. Set in the fictional Idaho town of Helen Springs, pop. 58,000, its characters are as vibrant as the lofty peaks and purple sunsets of the high desert. Here we find rich farmers, poor ranchers, dutiful Mormons, government honchos, disgruntled vets, drug-dealing bruisers, irksome teachers, and spirited students, all doing their best to keep the lights on. 
This novel has some amazing themes flowing through the tale. Examining life in a small town in 1990’s Idaho, readers are treated to the social divide between the classes, showcasing a struggle to bridge the gap between a young man with a desire to be free and a passion for a girl with a troubled past. As Jason struggles to associate himself with the drug-fueled lifestyle of some of the lower-class citizens, he must also contend with parents who take a hands-on approach with their parenting. While Jason’s mom has good intentions, readers will learn that sometimes being the younger child brings more challenges with parenting, and sometimes our children don’t grow up to become what we expect them to.
This is a beautifully written story, showcasing the tone of the 90’s with perfection. The setting of the Midwest is the perfect challenge for a young man desperate to escape to a life of rock and roll. The need for freedom is felt as Jason struggles throughout this story, and yet while teens can identify with that, adults can also see and identify with the poor decision making that teenagers often have. 
Overall this was a fantastic story from authors Shawn Hartje. The story of Jason Krabb is a familiar one, and yet it’s told with a vintage voice that 90’s kids can identity with easily, and anyone who has ever wanted to pursue a creative career like music can see the fire that must radiate in protagonist Jason Krabb’s eyes. It’s a wonderful read, and i hope you guys will be sure to check it out for yourselves. Get your copies by following the link below, and be sure to follow Shawn Hartje now!
Rating: 10/10
Pipeliner https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01NBFHDTX/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_kLVEzbPR83VT2
Twitter: @pipelinernovel

A Wider Universe by Allison Floyd Review

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A family struggle and a question of man’s place in the universe take center stage in author Allison Floyd’s A Wider Universe. Here is a synopsis:

Gene Shepherd, still grieving his wife’s death, alone in his home after his daughter moves in with her good-for-nothing boyfriend, has grown
accustomed to a life of solitude. When he gets a series of unexpected visits from bible-toting Patrick Frye, a young man on a personal crusade
for Jesus, Gene must confront not only the pushy young missionary, but the painful past he has been quietly suppressing.

Gene’s nineteen-year-old daughter, Chelsea Shepherd, caught in a destructive relationship, finds herself at a crossroads in her life, unsure of
her future, as well as her present. One night, after an argument turns violent, Chelsea flees from her relationship and finds solace, safety,
and an unexpected friendship with Swedish college professor Alexander Jansson. Both Gene and Chelsea must face choices and challenges that will
guide them towards their places in the world with the help of some unexpected characters and a major test of faith. A Wider Universe is a story
of family, redemption, and one man’s discovery that even the loneliest man is not truly alone.

Now I won’t lie to you guys: when I first started to read this book, I was worried it was going to be a very religious oriented outlook on the
story. For those of you who don’t know, I myself am not religious, and while I personally believe we should respect everyone’s right to
believe or not believe whatever they want, I myself do not enjoy or respond to religious based stories. However as I continued to read,
I found myself surprised and happy. I identified greatly with one of the main protagonists, Gene, as his personality felt very similar to my own.
His confrontation with Patrick and the frustration that comes with dealing with overly aggressive religious people is something I can relate to,
and so I found myself drawn into this story more and more.

This story really showcased a fresh, young voice in the literary world. Other than a few grammatical errors, the only piece of advice I would
share with the author is that at times, this story utilizes the show vs. tell story-telling device. What this means is that at times the writing
goes into too much detail, and could benefit from some editing to leave a little bit to the readers imagination. Other than this, the
story is well thought out and is a modern drama story that deserves to be told. The struggle for Chelsea is an all too common issue that young
women must face, and the loneliness that comes with loss is a theme that drives into the emotional core of the reader. Overall this is a
fantastic read, and I give this story an 8/10 rating. If you haven’t yet, please be sure to pick up your copies of A Wider Universe by Allison
Floyd today!

Letting Go: A Novel by Maria Thompson Corley Review

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Letting Go: A Novel by Maria Thompson Corley Review

Rarely does a book capture the mind and heart in such a griping fashion as it does in Maria Thompson Corley’s Letting Go: A Novel. A book filled
with tragedy, heartbreak, passion and hope, this wonderful novel explores themes of racism, drug abuse, toxic relationships and how the events
of our childhood can shape who we are as people. Here is the official synopsis:

Louise Caiola, USA Today Bestselling Author of The Making of Nebraska Brown, called LETTING GO “a smart and sexy story that captures the raw
essence of love. Heartfelt, haunting, tender, tough and true.”

Even though she lives hundreds of miles away,
when Langston, who dreams of being a chef, meets Cecile, a Julliard-trained pianist, he is sure that his history of being a sidekick, instead
of a love interest, is finally over. Their connection is real and full of potential for a deeper bond, but the obstacles between them turn out
to be greater than distance. Can these busy, complicated people be ready for each other at the same time? Does it even matter? Before they can
answer these questions, each must do battle with the ultimate demon—fear.

Told in a witty combination of standard prose, letters, emails, and diary entries, LETTING GO, in the tradition of Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s
AMERICANAH, is a long-distance love story that also examines race, religion, and the difficult choices we make following our passions. From the
Great White North to the streets of New York City to the beaches of Bermuda, LETTING GO is a journey of longing, betrayal, self-discovery and
hope you will never forget.

This book does a wonderful job of exploring the complicated process of growing up and experiencing life. Thoughtfully navigating the important
moments in a person’s life, from the loss of their virginity to leaving home to further their education and the sometimes painful process of
falling in love, (or in some people’s cases, difficulty falling in love). On a personal note, I found myself relating to the story of Cecile
especially. Without getting into spoiler territory, I have people close to me who I have witnessed going through similar relationship struggles
as Cecile, and this story really touched my heart and brought my emotions right to the surface, a feat books rarely accomplish for me.

One of the great things about this book is that the author, Maria Thompson Corley, is also a musician. One of the most ambitious and wonderful
things about this project is the classical music album that accompanies the book, and when combined together, it makes the story flow that
much more. Tracks such as Bach Fugue MASTER, Beethoven MM1 or Chopin MASTER help bring this book to life more.

The beautiful way this book is written, mixed with the important themes presented and the emotional impact of the characters, Letting Go: A Novel
is a wonderful read written by an amazing author who commands the written word with precision and grace. The story is culturally and emotionally
relevant to audiences of all ages. This is a thought provoking work of art, accompanied by beautifully played classical music that compliments
the book amazingly, and this is a book that deserves to be read. Be sure to pick up your copy of Letting Go: A Novel by Maria Thompson Corley
today!

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http://www.broadstreetreview.com/authors/maria-thompson-corley
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/princes-mask-is-ours-too_us_573a379de4b06dede18b994c
https://www.facebook.com/mariathompsoncorleywriter/

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The Girl Who Couldn’t Come Up With An Original Title by The Berhg

**Trigger Warning**Please note this book features themes around suicide and depression.**

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from the author and Booklover Catlady Publicity in return for a fair and honest review.
Many thanks!

It’s rare that a short story will come along that pacts just as much of an impact as a full blown novel, and yet that’s what has happened in
The Berhg’s “The Girl Who Couldn’t Come Up With An Original Title. Playing on the overuse of the "Girl” titles, this short story is filled with
fantastic imagery and emotional stakes that are unequal in measure. Following the titular Girl as she traverses a realm of untold possibilities
known as The Lines. With a dark story that weaves through the lines of life and death, this is an incredibly powerful tale that showcases an
important message.

The Berhg is a fairly new author, with a couple of novels under his belt, and yet this short story really proves he has the right stuff, as
the creative and emotional impact the author has in this story shines in every word and every line. The subject matter is incredibly important,
and what’s really amazing is reading about the deeper connection the author shares with the same subject matter. I think it’s something a lot
of people will be able to identify with, and on top of that emotional core to the tale, the narrative plays out like a Gothic horror story,
with some vivid imagery that cannot be replicated and easily paints a picture in ones mind. Overall, this was a phenomenal read and this reviewer
looks forward to reading more from The Berhg in the future. Be sure to pick up your copies of The Girl Who Couldn’t Come Up With An Original Title
now!

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