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Val studied general arts at the University of Waterloo, then went to DeVry Toronto to get a diploma in Computer Information Systems. She worked in the computer industry as a software and Web developer for over ten years, during which she got serious about energy work and studying the paranormal.In October 2004, Val became a certified Reiki Master/Teacher. She gained ATP® certification in March 2008, in Kona, Hawaii, from Doreen Virtue, Ph.D.Val started work on a Bachelor of Science in parapsychic science from the American Institute of Holistic Theology in March 2007 and received her degree in September 2010. After obtaining her master’s degree in parapsychology at AIHT, Val has set her sights on a Ph.D., which she’ll pursue as time and finances permit.At the end of October 2008, Val returned to Kona, Hawaii to complete the Advanced ATP® training and in April 2010 to take the Spiritual Writing workshop and the Mediumship Certification class. Val wrote freelance for online magazine Suite101 and was topic editor for Paganism/Wiccaand Webmaster Resources at Suite.A published author, she contributed a story to Doreen Virtue’s Hay House book Angel Words. Her novels are available on Smashwords, Amazon, and from other retailers in both e-book and paperback.Beverley: Which genre or genres do you write or prefer to write? And why?Val: I write in a variety of genres, but if you examine my stories, you’ll notice a romance/relationships theme. However, even when romance drives the story, it always couples with something else: paranormal, murder mystery, thriller,...
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Patricia McAlexander is from upstate New York, the setting of Stranger in the Storm, but she’s also lived in Colorado, Texas, and Wisconsin. She has a bachelor’s degree from the University of New York at Albany, a master’s from Columbia University, and a doctorate from The University of Wisconsin, Madison, all in English. Patricia now lives in Athens, Georgia, with her Southerner husband, whom she met when they were graduate students in Wisconsin. After retiring from teaching at the University of Georgia, she’s had had more time to garden and travel while renewing her interests in photography, history, and, most of all, writing fiction.Beverley: Which genre or genres do you write or prefer to write? And why?Patricia: I like to write romance. Why? Because love is something most of us need and hope for in our lives—look at the themes of songs, movies, literature. Also, romance can involve personal growth, something I’m interested in as a teacher. In my fiction, I portray individuals further developing their own values and identities as they discover love. But genres can be hybrids. Stranger in the Storm, my first published novel (actually a novella), combines romance with the thriller genre. There is often romance in historical fiction, which I also write. Research on my nineteenth-century immigrant ancestors brought their times, their courage, and their loves to life for me. I want to tell their story. Beverley: Who influenced you the most in deciding to become a writer?Patricia: I think being a writer was in...
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When Jana Richards read her first romance novel, she immediately knew two things: she had to commit the stories running through her head to paper, and they had to end with a happily ever after. She also knew she’d found what she was meant to do. Since then she’s never met a romance genre she didn’t like. She writes contemporary romance, romantic suspense, and historical romance set in World War Two, in lengths ranging from short story to full length novel. Just for fun, she throws in generous helpings of humor, and the occasional dash of the paranormal. Her paranormal romantic suspense “Seeing Things” was a 2008 EPPIE finalist.In her life away from writing, Jana is an accountant/admin assistant, a mother to two grown daughters, and a wife to her husband Warren. She enjoys golf, yoga, movies, concerts, travel and reading, not necessarily in that order. She and her husband live in Winnipeg, Canada. She loves to hear from readers and can be reached through her website at www.janarichards.com Character Interview with Blair Greyson, heroine from TO HEAL A HEARTBeverley: What’s your name?Blair: I’m Blair Greyson. Yeah, I know. Blair’s a funny name for a girl. My mother was trying to earn brownie points with her rich mother-in-law whose maiden name was Blair. I’m pretty sure it didn’t work.Beverley: Where did you grow up?Blair: Mostly in St. Paul, Minnesota, but my happiest memories growing up are the summers that my brothers and I spent with our grandparents on their farm...
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In Canada we celebrate Canada Day, also known as Fête du Canada, on July 1st. It was previously known as Dominion Day and celebrates the anniversary of the Constitution Act, July 1st, It is a federal statutory holiday which united three colonies of Canada, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick , into a wider British federation of four provinces (the colony of Canada being divided into the provinces of Ontario and Quebec upon Confederation). Canada became a "kingdom in its own right" within the British Empire commonly known as the Dominion of Canada. Although still a British colony, Canada gained an increased level of political control and governance over its own affairs, the British parliament and maintaining political control over certain areas, such as foreign affairs, national defense, and constitutional changes. Canada gradually gained increasing independence over the years, notably with the passage of the Statue of Westminster in 1931, until finally becoming completely independent with the passing of the Constitution Act of, 1982 which served to fully patriate the Canadian constitution. Under the federal Holidays Act, Canada Day is observed on July 1, unless that date falls on a Sunday, in which case July 2 is the statutory holiday. Celebratory events usually include parades, barbecues, concerts, carnivals, fairs, picnics and of course fireworks, will generally still take place on July 1, even though it is not the legal holiday. If it falls on a weekend, businesses normally closed that day usually dedicate the following Monday as a day off. This year because of the corona virus the group...
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As I said in my previous post, Death Southern Style is finally finished and available for pre-order. It took longer than I had expected or hoped but last year was a challenging year. It’s been edited and re-edited, formatted, and I have a cover I love. Now what? I guess it’s promotion. I just took a workshop on Amazon ads. Apparently, it’s not enough to put your book out there, you need to advertise it. Advertising is no longer a luxury. It’s a necessity. So now I need to review my notes and see if I can figure out how put an ad together. And I also took a workshop on Facebook ads which apparently are also very important if you want to sell your book and make a living at writing. The main point of the Facebook ads is to develop a mailing list. In this day and age, a mailing list is the most powerful tool about publishing your book. The mailing list enables you to launch your book successfully and enables you to get reviews. Part of figuring out the Facebook ads is figuring out the cost and the cost per subscriber. So, you figure out how much to pay for the ad and then how many names you get for your mailing list. You should also review your ad frequently to see how effective it is and revise it if necessary.And then you need to tweet about the ads. We didn’t go into exactly what you needed to tweet...
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I finally finished Death Southern Style. For some reason this book took ages and I really like it.It’s been edited and is now being formatted. It’s also up for pre-order at https://www.amazon.com/dp/B089VRC1WR?ref_=pe_3052080_276849420Here’s the blurb.When Perrine Dupré dies under suspicious circumstances her daughter, Julie Ann Dupré, returns to New Orleans to find the truth about her mother’s death. She uncovers a family secret, hidden for years. Now someone is trying to kill her. Will the little dog who appears after her mother’s death help her? Is the sexy detective out to help her, or is he part of police corruption?Detective Connor O’Reilly, a native of New Orleans, comes from a family of police. He’s an honest cop but realizes there is corruption in the division. His father may have died as part of that corruption. He meets Julie Ann, checks out her mother’s death and finds it was badly handled. Julie Ann deserves the truth and he wants to find it for her. Julie Ann and Connor work together to unravel the real reason behind Perrine Dupré’s murder, Julie Ann’s mysterious past, and why people want her dead, while developing their challenging relationship. Can they both survive? And can their relationship survive?I’d love to have you check it out.
