Interview with C.J. Cahill author of The Gateway to Eternal Life

Disclaimer: By posting this interview I am in no way endorsing any of the authors work but rather simply giving a forum so that we as readers can get to know them and the authors can promote their stories.

DLC: I'd like introduce my readers to C.J. Cahill author of The Gateway to Eternal Life. Your book cover is very inviting, please tell us about it CJ.

CJ: My book, The Gateway to Eternal Life is a book that was written for not only the born again believer, but also for those who do not know God. The Gateway speaks about the triune being of God. In speaking of God, the chapters are quite variant in that they encompass everything from salvation to the occult, what it means to have faith, and the blessing of knowing the love and grace of God. But most of all the book is a book written by the Holy Spirit who engages people to repent as John the Baptist said and turn to God. In other words, ask Jesus to come into your heart and become a born again believer.

DLC: I love it. Now your book isn't fiction but what aspect of your book do you most closely identify with?

CJ: The aspect I would most identify with is myself as I give a testimony as to divine miracles I received as I was in a church service here in my home town.

DLC: Sounds like God has done and is doing a lot in your life including being an author. Do you have any advice for others who are aspiring authors?

CJ: Be patient, be patient, be patient. It will be published at exactly the time it is supposed to be.

DLC: Do you remember what inspired you to be a writer?

CJ: I knew I wanted to be a writer after I heard one of my instructors (on many different occasions ) commenting on my written essays and term papers.

DLC: Oh the power of praise. =) What do you draw from in your life for your inspiration to write?

CJ: When I am creating a story I usually draw from my faith in God and my personal life. I also use the word of God a lot in my book. It is always a wise idea to back your thoughts up with the living word of God.

DLC: That's very wise even for fiction writers. As an author you always have challenges when writing. What sort of challenges did you face when writing The Gateway to Eternal Life?

CJ: My greatest challenge when I was creating this story was gathering my thoughts and outlining it.

DLC: Why did you choose to write about the Christian faith?

CJ: I love God, that is why I love to write all about Him and His goodness.

DLC: Amen and again I say amen! =) Do you have any projects in the works?

CJ: Yes, in the near future I will continue to work on my second book which is entitled “Pathways to Divine Godly Healings”. Again, this story is all Holy Spirit inspired and most of the information is from divine revelation.

DLC: That's great. I've been loving the answers that have been given to this next question. If you were stranded on a an island and could have 2 books with you what would they be?

CJ: If I was stranded on a deserted island and could only pick two books to take with me it would be The Bible and The Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance.

DLC: Now that would be some serious study time. lol Nothing like getting into the Greek and Hebrew of God's Word. Tell us where we can go to find out more about your book The Gateway to Eternal Life.

CJ: People can log on to Amazon and click on the cover to get a sneak preview of my book @ Amazon.com.

DLC : I want to thank you CJ for taking the time to do this interview with me and I pray great success with you book.

Blessings,
Daniel L Carter

Author of The Unwanted Trilogy

Top 10 Sci-fi New Years Resolutions 2011

Top 10 Sci-fi New Years Resolutions for 2011

10. Stop speaking Klingon during office hours.
9. Cut back on the amount of times you watch old Firefly episodes on your box set of DVDs.
8. Try not to think about the rumors of Fringe being canceled.
7. Stop signing petitions to have the Justice League made into a movie.
6. Come to terms with just how bad the ending of Lost was done.
5. Stop refering to intestinal issues as Gaseous Anomolies.
4. Take the digital countdown off of your computer for how many days are left till the Avengers movie comes out in 2012.
3. Stop spreading rumor that Isaac Osimov was cryogenically frozen next to Walt Disney.
2. Quite referring to actor Rene Auberjonois as Odo.

and the number 1 Sci-fi resolution of 2011 is....

Stop contemplating that all of reality as we know it is a digital representation that shadows the multi-dimensional universe that we live in.

Blessings,
Daniel L Carter
Author of The Unwanted Trilogy

Blogger Interview with Glenda Cates of Mommies Point of View

DLC: I'd like to introduce everyone and welcome Glenda Cates blog owner of Mommies Point of View to A Christian Man's Perspective. Thank you for taking the time out of this busy Christmas season to do an interview with me Glenda. Tell us about your blog.

Glenda: I Blog about my family, friends and the businesses I am in. As well as Reviews and Giveaways I host.

DLC: What made you decide to start a blog?

Glenda: I started Blogging as everyone says with a business it is a must have so I thought I would try it and it has led to a whole new business.

DLC: How long have you been doing your blog?

Glenda: I have been Blogging for about 3 months

DLC: What sort of features and articles does your blog have?

Glenda: On my blog I offer a Linky for regular days, Mommies Time Out Linky on Friday,
plus Reviews and Giveaways and I have a section for Authors to promote there
new books and I also do reviews on books.

DLC: Wonderful. Oh by the way I'm an author...wink wink...hehehe. What do you love the most about blogging?

Glenda: To me it is being able to share the things I do throughout the day as well as talk about my son. Plus I get to share new and fun products with others as I do the reviews and giveaways which allows me to share with others items I think they would like.

DLC: Is there any particular topic you like to blog about the most?

Glenda: I like to Blog about my family best but also the businesses I am in and I Love to feature
new friends I make while blogging and the things I learn from them.

DLC: How often do you blog on Mommies Point of View?

Glenda: I try and Blog daily but do not always make it. But next year I am in a Blogging Challenge
so hopefully this will help me stay on track to blog each and everyday.

DLC: I find that many bloggers have more than one site. How many blogs do you have?

Glenda: I have 3 Blogs although I only use Mommies Point of View right now as the other 2 just where
not what I wanted them to be once they where done.

DLC: Have you had any prior experience in blogging or fields of journalism?

Glenda: I was a Manager in a Market Research Center for over 5 years where we did product reviews
and giveaways on a daily basis which is a lot like blogging.

DLC: In what way would you say your blog stands out from the rest?

Glenda: I think my blog stand out as I share the things I go through on a daily basis such as losing my daughter when she was 16 and her story is on the blog and I also reach out to other parents to allow them to post there stories on there of people they have lost.

DLC: That's a very powerful feature to have on your blog and my heart goes out to you and your loss. Blogging is a very cathartic tool sometimes. You said that you do promotions earlier, are you currently running any at the moment?

Glenda: I always have promotions going on and I am adding more today.

DLC: Gotcha...for those who missed that...Glenda is inviting you to check out her blog for her promotions. =) I want to thank you again for stopping by and sharing with us Glenda. I pray you have great success with your site.

For those who'd like to check out Mommies Point of View please visit http://www.MommiesPointofView.blogspot.com.

Blessings,
Daniel L Carter
Author of The Unwanted Trilogy

Interview with Barbara A. Hart author of Love On The Rocks, Abuse And Power Pointers

Disclaimer: By posting this interview I am in no way endorsing any of the authors work but rather simply giving a forum so that we as readers can get to know them and the authors can promote their stories.

DLC: I want to welcome you Barbara to A Christian Man's Perspective and thank you for doing this interview with me. Please introduce yourself to my readers.

Barbara: My name is Barbara Hart; I’m fifty six (56) years old. I lived my life the best way that I knew how but, it was very stressful being in and out of different relationships that were abusive. I gave my all in hopes of being treated liked I knew that I deserved to be treated. It never happened yet; I stayed in the relationship until my mate decided to walk away. I always did whatever it took trying to make the best of the situation but it was never good enough. I reside in the United States or North Carolina. I’m a single parent with four children, three girls and a boy.

DLC: Sounds like you've been through a lot in your life. Share with us about your book.

Barbara: “Love On The Rocks, Abuse And Power Pointers” was written to tell of my twenty five years of being in and out of different relationships due to abuse. It is to allow other women to realize that no matter how long they have lived in an abusive relationship that there is still hope for them. They should never give up on themselves. I send sister to sister love, hope, a helping hand, kind words and most of all power pointers. It is not to knock anyone down but, to reach down and give a little hope to pick someone (women) up. This is my life in a nutshell due to abuse and I truly hope that it will be a blessing to others.

DLC: Having grown up in an abusive home where my father physically and mentally abused my mother I know what an effect that kind of a relationship can do to a person. The emotional scars that are left behind are truly difficult to heal from. I'm very glad to hear you are sharing your story with other women and writing about it. When did you first know that you wanted to be a writer?

Barbara: I began to write at a very young age. I would write poems for people that had death in the family. The poems were never given to them but, my heart and prayers were sent to them over the air waves. As I grew up to adulthood and started to work, I wrote poems for those that were dealing with their mates, parents or, whatever problems that they had. It was strange how I could help others with their problems but, my life was a real mess.

DLC: Isn't that often the human condition. We can see clearly what others need help with but unable to see our own issues clearly enough. What made you decide to write a self help book for abused women?

Barbara: It is my life and I realize that it could be used as a testimony to help others that have or that may be dealing with abuse. It took me many years to realize that I had to make a stand and take my life back. When we are dealing with abuse it seems that we are the only ones that are dealing with this horrific ordeal: we are not. If I could reach out and touch the hearts of other women I had to tell my story. Lying about my situation wasn’t going to make it go away. I realize that if I was to receive a blessing from the abuse, I had to be a blessing to others.

DLC: Writing about your pain is a truly powerful cathartic tool. I can imagine there were some very difficult moments when writing your book.

Barbara: To put my life out there for the world to see was no joke. The thought of what the after affect would be was mind boggling. I didn’t want to create a problem: I wanted to offer a solution.

DLC: There are probably many of my readers who've gone through serious trials in life and are thinking that they may want to write about what they've gone through. Let's say I have a story I think I'd like to get published, what advice would you give me?

Barbara: It is a rough road and it wont be easy. You will have to work hard to get your work out to the media but, you should never give up. 

 

I would say to you to let you know that I’m coming to an end is: If you never hear from me again I pray that my words have truly blessed your heart and soul. I pray that you will use them like an anchor when life seems to take a toll.

DLC: Very poetic. Do you have any favorite authors?

 

Barbara: Tyler Perry, Mia Angelo.

DLC: Do you have any books in the works?

 

Barbara: I’m not working on any other books but I do have things that are ready when ever the time comes.

DLC: One last fun question to end our time today. If you were stranded on a deserted island and could only have 2 books with you what would they be?

 

Barbara: If I was stranded on a deserted island I’d take the Bible and a photo album of my family with four children, three girls and a boy and friends.

DLC: Beautiful. =) Barbara I want to thank you for being with us today and for taking time out of this busy Christmas season to share your heart. 

For those who'd like to find out more about Barbara and her book Love On The Rocks, Abuse And Power Pointers Please visit http://www.annb106.wordpress.com & http://www2.xlibris.com/bookstore/bookdisplay.aspx?bookid=83009.

 

Blessings,

Daniel L Carter

Author of The Unwanted Trilogy

Interview with Wayne J. Street, Jr. author of The Summer of the Goose

Disclaimer: By posting this interview I am in no way endorsing any of the authors work but rather simply giving a forum so that we as readers can get to know them and the authors can promote their stories.

DLC: I'd like to welcome you Wayne to A Christian Man's Perspective and thank you for taking the time to do this interview with me. Please introduce yourself to my readers.

Wayne: My name is Wayne J Street, Jr. I was born and raised in Petaluma, California, and currently live in Cotati (the next town over). I am married to my beautiful wife Tiffany and we have an almost 3 year old son, William. I am a graduate of Sonoma State University and have a Bachelor’s Degree in History. I’ve taught high school Economics for nine years. I am an avid tennis player and also work as a tennis instrutor. I’ve completed 3 marathons and 5 triathlons. I am the author of two books and a survivor of both Crohn’s Disease and testicular cancer.

DLC: Wow that's truly amazing. What a testimony! Tell us about The Summer of the Goose.

Wayne: The Summer of the Goose is about a ingenius little boy and a Grumpy Grandfather. Everything is fine, until they are asked to babysit the neighbor’s goose, then chaos ensues. And thanks to Billy D, Grandpa learns about tolerance and that things aren’t always what they appear to be.


DLC: Which character would you most identify with?

Wayne: I relate best to Grandpa. Sometimes I fail to ask questions and jump to conclusions too quickly.

DLC: I think we all can identify with that throughout our lives. You have your BA degree in History, you've run marathons, teach tennis and have fought with Crohn's disease and Testicular Cancer...when did writing come into the picture?

Wayne: I decided that I wanted to be a writer when I was ten years old. I was spending the night at my friend’s house and we got the idea to try and write a book. We didn’t get too far, but that idea always stuck with me.

DLC: I had the same experience with one of my childhood friends. I helped him with writing a fantasy story called Adanac, which is Canada backwards. =) I know there are many aspiring authors, what advice would you give to them?

Wayne: I would tell an aspiring author to keep reading and writing. I’d seek out a local writing group. They can help to motivate you, keep you on task and offer great feedback for some of your works.

DLC: Good advice. Many authors have specific ways that they find inspiration for a story. What source or sources do you draw from when creating a new story?

Wayne: I’ve gotten my ideas from numerous places. My son has really been a source of inspiration. As I watch him play, talk and use him imagination, I’ve made many mental notes. It has also gotten me to think a great deal about my childhood. I carry a notebook with me where ever I go and through out the day I scribble down my notes and thoughts.

DLC: Smart idea. What was your greatest challenge personally when writing your current story?

Wayne: The biggest challenge I faced was trying to write economically. Also to write in the correct tone and make it age appropriate.

DLC: Why did you choose the children’s book?

Wayne: The Summer of the Goose was originally an essay of a much larger memoir. I submitted it as a sample piece. The editor asked me if I would consider rewriting it as a children’s book. After some thinking and praying over it I got the vision of the children’s book.

DLC: Do you have any favorite authors?



Wayne: My most favorite author is Clive Cussler. I also enjoy David Baldacci, David McCullough and Stephen King.

DLC: Good choices. As a writer I know we all have stories in our heads we're thinking about. Do you have any stories or books in process?

Wayne: I have completed the rough draft of a memoir about my childhood. It is a series of stories of some of the misadventures of my youth. Many of my friends have inspired me to write it.

DLC: That's a great idea. I've been working on something similar called Memoirs of a Fat Man. I like the next question, if you were stranded on a deserted island and could pick only 2 books to have with you, what would they be and why?

Wayne: What a torturous question, there are too many good books. My first choice would be The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. I love the innocence of Huck and Tom, as well as the classic struggle between good and evil.
My second choice would be Team of Rivals by Doris Kerns-Goodwin. It is the most comprehensive biography on Abraham Lincoln. I used to think if him as one of the most important Americans. After reading this, I am convinced he is the MOST IMPORTANT American.

DLC: Very interesting. =)  I want to thank you Wayne again for taking the time to share with us today. I pray you have great success with your stories.

For those who wish to find out more about Wayne please visit:
http://www.tatepublishing.com/bookstore/book.php?w=978-1-61663-853-5   &
http://www.waynestreetbooks.blogspot.com/


Blessings,
Daniel L Carter
Author of The Unwanted Trilogy

Interview with Tammie Clarke Gibbs author of Island of Secrets

Disclaimer: By posting this interview I am in no way endorsing any of the authors work but rather simply giving a forum so that we as readers can get to know them and the authors can promote their stories.

DLC: Let me introduce everyone to Tammie Clarke Gibbs author of the time travel romance Island of Secrets. I want to thank you Tammie for sharing with us. Tell us a little bit about yourself.

Tammie: Thank you so much for the opportunity to share a little about myself and my new novel ISLAND OF SECRETS. I grew up and still live in a small rural town in Southeast Georgia with my husband, Mike, son Anthony, a Maltese Sissy, and a Chocolate Lab, Rocky. While I loved to read, I never imagined I'd become a writer until I was required to take a short story class and the teacher singled me out and shared my stories each week with the entire faculty via the teachers lounge. That's been many years ago and the discovery that I could actually put together words someone might want to read certainly changed my life's direction. Since then I've made a living with my writing in one form or another through several non-fiction books, publishing four magazines etc. Fiction, has always been where my passion has been so while every author's first novel always seems like something that happens quickly, the reality is that this story has been churning around for a very long time. I am so excited to finally have the opportunity to share Shane and Lila's story...

DLC: That's true. Sometimes stories can take a long time developing. Share with us about Island of Secrets.

Tammie: In ISLAND OF SECRETS, SHANE ALEXANDER has realized he should never have allowed his ex-girlfriend to spend her honeymoon on his island, but he never dreamed she’d run to the tabloids and blab about seeing ghosts. With the future of Leigh Island in danger, he devises a plan to dispel her claims and unknowingly sets in motion events that bring him face to face with a past that not only threatens his future but his life.

After breaking off her engagement, LILA FITZPATRICK wants a new beginning, but when she agrees to help her roommate by pretending to be a reporter, the last thing she expects to find is the man of her dreams. The question is what will he do when he finds out who she really is?

On this Island of Secrets, one woman, two men and a love that transcends time get a second chance to prevent history from repeating itself. But will love be enough to win the battle against time and stop the force that’s kept them apart for centuries?

DLC: My kind of story. =) Did you find yourself identifying with one particular character while you were writing Island of Secrets?

Tammie: I actually identify with both of them which is strange but somehow understandable. My friends and family can pick out small character traits that I "shared" with my characters. They have voiced that reading a book by someone you know is really weird because of that.

DLC: Too funny. I understand. When did you know that you wanted to be a writer?

Tammie: I actually shared in my intro about the short story class I was required to take in high school. There is nothing more motivating to a writer or aspiring author than being read and praised by people you don't even know. I was hooked! It was so cool walking down the halls of high school and having teachers I didn't have tell me they enjoyed my story that week.

DLC: Ultimately that is what all of us authors desire to hear. The reason we write is to entertain or touch those who read our stories. If you could give advice to other authors or aspiring authors what would say?

Tammie: Be realistic. I went to a writers conference two weeks out of high school where I could have my writing evaluated to see if it was marketable. Determine where you want to go with your writing, invest in yourself enough to find out if you have what it takes, then stick with it. Publishing is a long, long, long, journey and many give up before they reach their destination. If you are open to the new opportunities, work hard to hone your craft, you can be successful.

DLC: I love that 'Be realistic'. Having honest opinions of your work and getting over our insecurities is essential to moving forward in this field. I try to keep my stories partially grounded in reality as we know it. Using everyday life to give a sense of plausibility. What source or sources do you draw from when creating a new story?

Tammie: I love to scour old history books and especially love to visit family history libraries. I get ideas from driving by an old house, seeing an old photograph hanging in an antique store, or just walking in the woods. The Lord has blessed me with a very active imagination which helps me turn sometimes extremely plain and ordinary items into inspiration for a new story.

DLC: I can relate to the active imagination part. =) Why did you choose time travel romance?

Tammie: I love a good time travel like I love a good fairy tale. I guess, for me time travel allows me to experience living in multiple times in history. While I love and write in other genres, my debut novel is definitely in the one I enjoy personally.

DLC: Do you have any favorite authors?

Tammie: Lots! Jude Deveraux, Lynn Kurland ...

DLC: I'm sure with that active imagination you're working on another story...

Tammie: I am finishing up a midwestern historical romance where the heroine literally runs the hero down with her wagon....if that doesn't get you thinking...

DLC: Gives a whole new meaning to 'Feeling Run Down'. hehehe Tell us where we can go to get more information about you and your book?

Tammie: My book is available at Amazon, Smashwords & will soon be available at Barnes and Noble.com and Borders.com etc.
Readers can also visit me at my website for a generous excerpt http://www.tammieclarkegibbs.com

DLC: Tammie it's been a pleasure doing this interview with you and pray your stories have great success.


Blessings,
Daniel L Carter
Author of The Unwanted Trilogy

Blog Tour with Delia Latham author of Destiny's Dream

DLC: I'd like to welcome everyone to today's interview as part of Delia Latham's Blog Tour for Destiny's Dream scheduled to be released December 17th.

Welcome Delia. For those who are meeting you for the first time why don't you introduce and share a little bit about yourself.

Delia: Hello, everyone! I’m Delia Latham…Christian wife, mother, grandmother, sister, and friend. A born-and-bred California girl, I moved to Oklahoma two years ago with my husband of (almost) 37 years. That was a difficult lifestyle change for a 50-something grandmother! I’m from a close-knit family. My seven siblings and I had all lived in the same California town all my life, so moving away hurt. But my husband’s health demanded a change of environments, so here we are…new California Okies! 

We have four adult children and four absolutely perfect grandchildren. In addition, God blessed us with an extended family of three grandchildren and two beautiful little great-grandsons. God and family are what life’s all about! 

DLC: I like that, California Okies! =) So you're playing all these roles in life, wife, mother, grandmother, now you are taking on the role of author as well. Tell us about your book Destiny's Dream.

Delia: Destiny’s Dream releases December 17, 2010. It is Book One in the Solomon’s Gate Series, which is based around a Christian dating agency called…you guess it, Solomon’s Gate. In the first book, Destiny May meets Clay Gallagher at her mother’s funeral. (He thinks he’s at his aunt’s service, which is actually being held at a church down the road, and proceeds to make whispered comments to Destiny about the deceased throughout the service. It’s quite the merriest farewell event ever.) Despite Clay’s faux pas at their first meeting, the attraction between he and Destiny is immediate. However, as a respected investment broker, Clay considers Destiny’s plan to start a Christian dating agency in their mid-size, conservative California mountain town completely frivolous—a definite glitch in their relationship. Still, when a man on the edge of sanity decides to put a stop to Destiny’s plans no matter what it takes, Clay makes it his business to protect the feisty redhead…with a little unexpected help from Heaven.

DLC: I love it! Sounds like a lot of fun. Did you find yourself identifying with any one particular character when writing Destiny's Dream?

Delia: Probably Destiny (even though she’s beautiful and I’m not). LOL I love her can’t-be-stopped attitude, and her utter faith in God’s plan for her life.

DLC: Your husband would probably disagree with you. =) When did you know you wanted to be a writer?

Delia: I’m pretty sure I was born with a pencil in my hand… But a third-grade essay contest was the clincher. I won. After that, I lived with notebooks and pencils in hand. Created one decidedly crooked finger on my right hand, which mostly straightened itself out after I started using a keyboard instead of a pencil.

DLC: Too funny. Glad to hear your finger has recovered. lol I have a lot of authors and aspiring authors on this blog and Facebook, what advice would you give to those that are just starting out?

Delia: Write, write, write. It’s what writers do. I also suggest, if at all possible, creating a space you can call your own—whether it’s one end of a dining table, a confiscated walk-in closet, a corner of the bedroom, or a full-blown office of your own. Claim the space, and then go there every day, preferably at the same time every day, and do what writers do. You’ll be surprised how quickly it becomes a routine you’ll be uncomfortable breaking.

DLC: That's good advice. I wish that I had done that when I started. My writing space is in my kitchen. Thankfully I write while listening to music with headsets on. I go to my happy place and ignore everything around me. I use music often to inspire me when writing, what sources do you draw from when writing your stories?

Delia: My stories are derived from many sources, but probably my faith most of all. I love delivering messages of hope…forgiveness…salvation…love…redemption, etc. And I enjoy the challenge of working those messages into a storyline so seamlessly that the reader doesn’t realize he/she has “learned” anything until the lesson is already absorbed.

DLC: Great goal. Those messages also make for great stories. We're all looking for them in our lives. When I first wrote The Unwanted I had several characters that I created. I was surprised to find that I enjoyed writing some of the characters more than others.Which character from Destiny's Dream was your favorite to write?

Delia: Destiny. She’s who I want to be when I grow up, spiritually. Plus, she’s a natural beauty, she’s living her dream, she’s in love with a handsome, wealthy man who adores her, she’s funny and bright. Who wouldn’t love her?

DLC: After reading about your storyline there seems to be a lot going on in Destiny's Dream. I can only imagine that it was tough deciding when the manuscript was ready for publishing. What factors do you use that tell you the manuscript is done?

Delia: I’m very much a seat-of-the-pants writer. I do most of my planning inside my head for weeks and months before actually sitting down to start writing. From there, the characters take over. My books are character-driven, and I let them tell me when their stories are finished. Obviously, the conflicts have to be resolved. There must be that happily-ever-after element, which is necessary in a romance. My characters must have reached their goals, or have them well within sight, and have “grown” in the doing so. When those elements are satisfied, the story’s pretty much told.

DLC: And here I thought I was the only one who developed the story in his head. lol What made you choose writing inspirational fiction?

Delia: I don’t think it was ever really a choice. God gave me the desire and the talent to write. Obviously, He wanted me to write words that edify. So that’s what I do—try to write stories that speak encouragement to and uplift a reader, even as they entertain and amuse (I love to use humor in my storylines).

DLC: I can relate to that. When I started writing my first novel I found I would think about all the great books I loved over the years. I have a few favorites that I will sometimes re-read old stories of theirs. Do you have any favorite authors?

Delia: I love Mary Conneally and Vickie McDonough. Both of these women write wonderfully humorous western romance. Truth is, I enjoy many different inspirational authors. What readers might be surprised to know, however, is that I also enjoy Stephen King and Robert R. McCammon. McCammon’s Swan Song is probably my favorite book, ever. While neither of these authors would in any way be considered “inspirational,” they both write epic tales of good vs. evil, and they’re both amazing storytellers.

DLC: Are you working on anything new?

Delia: I’m working on the third book in the Solomon’s Gate Series, Gypsy’s Game. (Kylie’s Kiss is finished and in the hands of the publisher.) Gypsy is an unbeliever who goes to Solomon’s Gate hoping to find a temporary husband. She needs to be married for a minimum of six months in order to claim a much-needed inheritance. As a rule, Destiny does not accept non-Christian clients, but she makes a reluctant exception for Gypsy because God has opened doors ahead of her in the form of Jal Garridan, who offers to marry the beautiful, rather stand-offish woman immediately. I can’t share too much about how those doors were opened without giving away key plot points. But the book is about Gypsy’s unexpected journey to love, even when love is the last thing she’s looking for.

DLC: I see the movies already. hehehe Sounds great! I like this next question and I'm finding the answers a lot of fun. If you were stranded on a deserted island and could pick only 2 books to have with you, what would they be and why?

Delia: My Bible, for strength, comfort and solace during the long, lonely hours. And if I really get to choose…a notebook, so I can keep working on my novel until I’m rescued.

DLC: LOL awe you cheated! OK I'll let you have a notebook but I'm not sure if you'll have a pen or pencil. =) Your stories sound truly interesting. Where can people go to get more information about you and your books?

Delia: My website: www.delialatham.net My blog: http://my-book-bag.blogspot.com

I’m also on Facebook and Twitter (DeliaLatham). Be sure to stop in, “Follow,” or “Like,” and say hello. I love hearing from readers.

DLC: Delia it's been a pleasure having you here and thank you for including my blog in your tour. I pray you have great success!

Delia is running a contest on her website for Destiny's Dream December 17th release. http://www.delialatham.net/contest.htm

Blessings,
Daniel L Carter
Author of The Unwanted Trilogy

Book Review of The Stormcaller by Jacob L. Grant & Mark T. Russell

The Stormcaller: The path of the fallen is a war of the heart. On the Isle of Türmak, a power-hungry necromancer longs to resurrect the unholy spirit of the Dragon. At his side is a legendary swordsman named Legion, who has single-handedly crippled the kingdom of Freeport from defending itself against the necromancer¿s plot. Then Andrea, a young slave who has magical powers beyond human comprehension, finds her way to Freeport and the tides of war begin to change. But is her faith in her abilities strong enough to stop even Legion? With surprising twists and imaginative medieval battles, The Stormcaller is an illustrative tale of redemption from the pits of the darkest kind of evil.

For the fantasy lover this story will cover it all. There are epic battles and supernatural powers at work, a classic good vs evil, heroes and heroines, dark antagonists and demonic creatures. All of these and more encompass the 400+ pages of The Stormcaller. Needless to say it took me a little while to finish reading. I couldn't help but get emotionally attached at the beginning of the book as the authors follow Andrea bound to a life of slavery hidden under the guise of indentured servitude rising to the heroine that is destined to save the land of Freeport from The Dragon. They did a fantastic job of getting me hooked but then they pulled a twist on me. 

Just an FYI, this story is not mainly about Andrea The Stormcaller but also about Legion, the legendary swordsman and his quest for revenge gone awry. I was a bit torn with this because I really was hoping to stay more on Andrea's development and understanding of her special gift of calling the powers of nature to her will. But in the middle to end of the book the story is more about Legion which in itself is a very interesting story. I needed to shift gears mentally as the authors delved into Legions emotional state at the loss of his younger sister years ago. His quest for vengeance takes a very unexpected turn when he happens to bump into and saving Andrea who reminds him of his dead sister. This is the turning point in this character's development that I couldn't help but be reminded of Star Wars: Return of the Jedi with Darth Vadar turning back to the good side. The inner conflict and decisions that Legion is faced with made me connect with him and want to smack him a little. =)

The story of The Stormcaller is really about these two characters Andrea and Legion, a story well worth reading. This is the first story in what is scheduled to be a three part series so far. The Christian themes of redemption and God's calling on our lives shines through brightly. The Stormcaller is a great start to a fantastic world filled with possibilities and adventures! I look forward to books 2 & 3. Get writing gentlemen!

I recommend this story strongly and give it a 4 out of 5 star rating. 

Available @ http://www.amazon.com/Stormcaller-Jacob-L-Grant/dp/1602900213/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1291891955&sr=8-6

Blessings,
Daniel L Carter
Author of The Unwanted Trilogy

I received a review copy from the publisher for my unbiased opinion of the book.

Blog Tour with Delia Latham author of Destiny’s Dream

Blog Tour with author Delia Latham coming Saturday December 11th. To celebrate the upcoming December 17th release of Destiny's Dream Delia will be running a contest throughout December and January. Please visit http://www.delialatham.net/contest.htm for details on how to enter. Also stop by this Saturday to find out more about Delia Latham as I interview her about her book here on  
A Christian Man's Perspective.



Blessings,
Daniel L Carter
Author of The Unwanted Trilogy

To Review or not To Review, That is the Question!

With so many changes to the publishing industry over the last ten years or so it seems that more and more people are self publishing. This is good and this is bad. The good is that more talent can find it's way into print which would have probably never been made available to the public and would have sat on the author's desk gathering dust. The major downside is that you don't have the publishers and agents screening the quality of the books that are out in the market.

I've always found going to the bookstore and getting a new book to be a bit like playing bingo. Only every now and then do you get the chance to win. Unfortunately trying to find a new book to read that I think will peak my interest has become more like winning the lottery. Don't get me wrong, I've read some good books lately but the likelihood of me reading garbage has exponentially increased.

So what do you do? I write reviews and being an author myself my desire is to help out other authors trying to make a name for themselves. However, I also want to be honest and give my opinion. Often I want to reach through the book I'm reading and slap the author on the other end. So many new authors have this Idolitis syndrome where they think they can write but they can't. Either their story is boring, badly written or has no point. I read a sample of an e-book recently that had all capitals for each word. I know I've shared on this before but please at least know the language you are writing in.

Anyways.... getting back to my point, what do you do when you read a bad book. Here is the criteria I use for deciding first if I will even write a review and secondly how blunt am I going to be.

1. If I have paid for a book and I read through the entire story I will review it. Regardless of how bad it was, I am going to review the book. I paid, so people are going to know what I think.

2. If I received a review copy or gift and did not like the book I will not review the story. Emails will be sent and the author will be notified that their story was not my cup of tea.

3. If an author is new I will try and be as positive as possible when doing a review. I find the good in the writing and story and share in my review. Often I will share that the story may not be my kind of book but that doesn't negate others liking it more.

4. If an author is established (this happened recently) and well known I will say it like it is without holding back, good or bad. I will praise and I will condemn. These authors are usually screened by agents and publishers and have been around for many years or have written multiple successful novels. My review is not going to make or break them and I expect a much higher standard.

5. If I can't get through a book because it's horrible,(this happened to me recently also) I will put the book down and no further communication will be done. If it's that bad of a book I know I'm going to have nothing good to say so I'm better off not saying anything.

I know that I have many authors and reviewers that come to my blog. I'd love to know what criteria you use when doing a book review.

Blessings,
Daniel L Carter
Author of The Unwanted Trilogy

Interview with S.P. Wish authors of Roses of Doom

Disclaimer: By posting this interview I am in no way endorsing any of the authors work but rather simply giving a forum so that we as readers can get to know them and the authors can promote their stories.

DLC:I took a short break this past week from blogging but I'm back and I brought with me the siblings Wish with me. Let's start off with you telling my readers about yourselves.

SPW: Hi everyone. Nice to meet you all. We are S.P. Wish- a novel writing duo which consists of twins S Wish and P Wish so we just put our names together and made a pen name out of it. Both of us love to write, read, sing, listen to music, play video games and do all kinds of interesting things except excessive traveling (we have motion sickness- both of us). We just recently published our debut novel titled Roses of Doom on Smashwords.

DLC: Congratulations. Tell us about your book. 

SPW: When horror strikes.........black roses are left behind. .....

A school camping trip leads quirky middle schooler Mizu, her twin brother Kaji, her friend Akumu and school newspaper reporter Seiya to a mysterious mansion in Greenfire Forest. In the mansion, Mizu's friend suddenly vanishes only to reappear out of thin air in the middle of the room! Many other unexplained happenings follow until Mizu discovers an old newspaper with information about a centuries old intrigue which has remained hidden till now..........and no person who knows of its existence is allowed to live.......

Roses of Doom is a children's thriller with horror elements. It is available for FREE on Smashwords.com in multiple formats.

DLC: Cool. Out of all the characters in your book which one would either of you most identify with?

SPW: Mizu- she is energetic, enthusiastic, optimistic and a bit lazy. Those are all very human characters and so it is easy to identify with her. Her disinterest in studies and extreme interest in supernatural happenings and adventure are also qualities many youngsters can relate easily to. We relate to her quite a lot.

DLC: When did you know you both wanted to write? 

SPW: Once in third grade, we wrote a novel (a six page novel) and showed it to our teacher. She was so impressed by it that she shouted "You have to become a writer!" Other than that, we also loved to read since childhood, so writing was more or less natural. It is a great way to express thoughts. Growing up, we could always find joy in writing so we decided this was what we wanted to do in life.

DLC: That's great. I had a similar experience but I thought my teacher was nuts. LOL What advice would you give to someone wanting to become a writer? 

SPW: Believe in yourself. That is very important. If you feel that writing is what you want to do, then despite hardships and difficulties strive towards your goal. Because if you love it so much, even a little success will make everything seem worth the effort.

DLC: I like that. A little success does make it worth all the work and time put in. So true. What source or sources do you draw from when creating a new story? 

SPW: Usually we get charged up after reading something really good. We start thinking 'That book was so amazing. I want to write something that good, too'. Other than that, movies we watch, songs we listen to, life experiences all play a major part in writing a novel. A novel is a large piece of work, so any amount of information and inspiration is always less!

DLC: You sound very passionate which is fantastic. Don't ever lose that. Where can people go to get more information about you and your book?

SPW: You can visit our blog, where we post one chapter every week completely FREE for your enjoyment www.spwishworks.blogspot.com. If you want to read the whole manuscript at once, then you can download it in multiple formats for FREE at http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/30899. Also visit our youtube channel for the book trailer and audiobooks at http://www.youtube.com/user/SPWishBooks

DLC: I want to thank you both for taking the time to do this interview with me. Keep those ideas and stories coming. 

Blessings,

Daniel L Carter

Author of The Unwanted Trilogy 

Chance to Win The Unwanted

I wanted everyone to know that tomorrow 12/2 on Deanna Jewel's blog she is interviewing me and if you stop by and comment with your email address you will be signed up for a chance to win an autographed copy of The Unwanted book 1 of The Unwanted Trilogy. Visit http://deannajewel.blogspot.com tomorrow and comment.

Blessings,
Daniel L Carter
Author of The Unwanted Trilogy