The New Book Review

This blog, #TheNewBookReview, is "new" because it eschews #bookbigotry. It lets readers, reviewers, authors, and publishers expand the exposure of their favorite reviews, FREE. Info for submissions is in the "Send Me Your Fav Book Review" circle icon in the right column below. Find resources to help your career using the mini search engine below. #TheNewBookReview is a multi-award-winning blog including a MastersInEnglish.org recommendation.

Monday, January 18, 2016

Horror Writer Admits She Likes Her "Inner Demons" to Squeal with Delight



Hi! I am Carolyn Howard Johnson, your trusty New Book Review blogger and author of the multi award-winning HowTo Do It Frugally Series of books for writers. This blog has heretofore been exclusive for reviews but I thought I’d do a special series of interviews after I chatted with Jeanie Loiacono, President of Loiacono Literary Agency – Where ‘can’t’ is not in our vocabulary!  I thought sharing the interviews would help the many subscribers and visitors to this New Book Review blog, including authors, reviewers, and, of course, readers who just might find a new favorite author among the featured books and authors.  We've been partnering on these reviews for over a month now, so have some fun checking old posts!

So, today welcome Rebecca Besser
    
Rebecca Besser resides in Ohio with her wonderful husband and amazing son. They’ve come to accept her quirks as normal while she writes anything and everything that makes her inner demons squeal with delight. She’s best known for her work in adult horror, but has published fiction, nonfiction, and poetry for a variety of age groups and genres. She’s entirely too cute to be scary in person, so she turns to the page to instill fear into the hearts of the masses. She is
  1. What is your genre? Is it fiction or nonfiction? Horror, mostly.  I have written for a variety of genres and age groups. Mostly fiction, although I do write nonfiction from time to time.
  2. What made you want to be a writer? I’ve always had a natural way with words and an overactive imagination. Writing was always a good fit for me!
  3. Of all the authors out there, who inspired you most? Wow! That’s a hard one. My favorite authors are Jean M. Auel and Linda Rios Brook…but I’ve had some fellow authors who write horror inspire and encourage me quite a bit. Just to mention a few: David Moody, Joe McKinney, and Gregory Norris.
  4. What is your writing style? Do you outline? Linearly? By scene? Why? My writing style is easy-to-read flow, I guess. I strive to write relatable characters that use natural dialogue, while at the same time, help the reader not to be taken out of the story by awkward wording. I outline long projects (novellas or novels) by chapter, but usually as a loose outline so I know where I’m going and what I want to happen.
  5. Do you write every day? How much? How long? I wish! I’m a busy woman (wife, mother, and self-employed). I take writing time when I can get it. I tend to write more, and am happier with my progress, when I have big chunks of time to write.
  6. Do you think reading is as important to writing for an author? Why? Yes! Reading is a great way to study other styles of writing. Reading can also inspire new stories ideas. Also, if you don’t have the urge to write for whatever reason, reading will usually bring you out of that funk.
  7. What are some of the things you would like to share with budding authors? Writing is rough. It’s going to take time, energy, and a lot of emotional highs and lows, but don’t give up. Also…learn as much about spelling and punctuation as you can! Well-written and edited works have a higher chance of publication.
  8. Do you have any marketing and promotional advice, referrals, tips you would like to share? Make friends with other writers in your genre and coordinate blog tours and signings together. You will then be cross-exposed to each other’s fans and you’ll have moral support for the hard times.
  9. Do you think conferences are beneficial? If so, what have you learned? Which ones do you frequent? I have yet to actually attend a conference, but hope to this coming year. But I have coordinated events online with other authors in my area and we’ve had signings together as well.
  10. Where can we find you, your books and when is your next event? I’m on Facebook under Author/Editor Rebecca Besser, on Twitter @BeccaBesser, and you can visit my blog or website www.rebeccabesser.wordpress.com www.rebeccabesser.com        Amazon Author Page  Besser Events My books are available from Amazon and Barnes & Noble.
As far as events…I was just on the #WinterofZombie tour with over forty authors (Nov. 2015). Represented by Loiacono Literary Agency, Melissa Carrigee http://www.loiaconoliteraryagency.com/authors/rebecca-besser/

MORE ABOUT THE SPONSORING AGENTS
Represented by Loiacono Literary Agency, Melissa Carrigee Melissa.C@llallc.net  Agent, Marketing and Publicity – Melissa Carrigee
Reading and writing is a way of life for Melissa Carrigee.  As a literary agent and award winning graphic artist, she combines her two passions of business and writing.  She has published works in newspapers and magazines as well as a published novel. Featured Columnist for The Family Forum, Parents and Kids Magazine – Mississippi Gulf Coast.

I want a horror book to read all night long while I check behind the doors for the boogey man.  I’m looking for a thriller that keeps me reading and guessing (and just when I think I’ve figured it out, I’m wrong).  I’m looking for children’s books that engage the parent and the child.  I’m looking for young adult novels – but NOT Twilight and not wizards.  That’s been done.  I’m looking for any story with a great plot.  Something I can sit and read in a few days with characters that make me think about them long after I’ve finished the book.

Genres: horror, science fiction, historical fiction, commercial fiction, mysteries, thrillers, dramas, historical romance, children’s (picture and mid-grade)—any book that has a great story with unforgettable characters.

Jeanie Loiacono, President, Loiacono Literary Agency - A facilitator of dreams, Jeanie Loiacono represents over eighty authors. Her forte is mystery, romance, thrillers, historical/military/southern fiction, and all quality fiction/nonfiction. Her passion is to see her authors succeed.
“There is nothing more rewarding than to hold one of my author’s books and know I helped bring it to fruition. I am so blessed and privileged to be able to work with some of the most talented writers in the world.” Jeanie.L@llallc.net  www.loiaconoliteraryagency.com

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE MORE INTERVIEWS--TO FIND GREAT READING OR TO NETWORK WITH AUTHORS--PLEASE SUBSCRIBE TO THIS BLOG. YOU ARE A WELCOME ADDITION TO THIS FAMILY WHO LOVES BOOKS! YOU'LL FIND A WINDOW TO DO THIS AT THE TOP OF THIS BLOG PAGE.
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The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. It is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews, reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure, and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've read. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by genre, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the search engine handy for gleaning the names of small publishers. Find other writer-related blogs at Sharing with Writers and The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor.

Friday, January 15, 2016

Title: Imperfect Echoes
Subtitle: Writing Truth and Justice with Capital Letters, lie and oppression with Smal
Author: Carolyn Howard-Johnson
HowToDoItFrugally Publishing
Artwork by Richard Conway Jackson
www.howtodoitfrugally.com
TheFrugalEditor.blogspot.com
9781515232490, $9.95, 148pp,

Reviewed by Jim Cox, editor-in-chief of Midwest Book Review for the poetry shelf of his Small Press Bookwatch

Synopsis: "Imperfect Echoes: l" is a work that was inspired by Nobel Prize winner Czeslaw Milosz's poem "Incantation" that lauds the power of human reason over the reoccurring and seemingly insane political realities. In "Imperfect Echoes", author Carolyn Howard-Johnson holds out hope but is not persuaded by trends that seem worse now than they were in Milosz's time. A student of Suzanne Lummis, UCLA poetry instructor and the Fresno School of Poetry fronted by US poet laureate Philip Levine, Carolyn touches on the isms of the world--racism, ageism, even what might be termed "wallism" but was once referred to as xenophobia. In her poem "Crying Walls," she sounds a low warning reminiscent of Robert Frost: "Chains linked. Wire barbed,/ Krylon smeared. Feeble,/ useless, unholy billboards,/ anything but mending walls."

Critique: Carolyn Howard-Johnson is articulate, gifted, insightful, iconoclastic, and a truly impressive literary talent. "Imperfect Echoes: Writing Truth and Justice with Capital Letters, lie and oppression with Small" is an inherently fascinating, thoughtful, and thought-provoking read that is very highly recommended for community and academic library Contemporary Poetry collections. For personal reading lists it should be noted that "Imperfect Echoes" is also available in a Kindle edition ($2.99).

MORE ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Learn more about the author at http://howtodoitfrugally.com.
Network with her at



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The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. It is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews, reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure, and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've read. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by genre, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the search engine handy for gleaning the names of small publishers. Find other writer-related blogs at Sharing with Writers and The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor.

Interview: Wordworth Inspires True Crime Writer

Hi! I am Carolyn Howard Johnson, your trusty New Book Review blogger and author of the multi award-winning HowTo Do It Frugally Series of books for writers. This blog has heretofore been exclusive for reviews but I thought I’d do a special series of interviews after I chatted with Jeanie Loiacono, President of Loiacono Literary Agency – Where ‘can’t’ is not in our vocabulary!  I thought sharing the interviews would help the many subscribers and visitors to this New Book Review blog, including authors, reviewers, and, of course, readers who just might find a new favorite author among the featured books and authors.

So, today welcome Linda Case.

Linda L. Case is the former President/Owner of Case Accounting and Tax Service. She was featured in “A Salute to Women in Business” published by The Columbus Dispatch newspaper. Linda is a graduate of Ohio State University and life member of the Ohio State Alumni Association. While attending Ohio State, Linda was featured in the school newspaper, promoting the benefits of education.  She is a member of the Atlanta Writers Club and continues to promote her new career as a writer by participating in creative writing programs.  She is a past treasurer of the Public Accountants Society of Ohio, a past member of the International Toastmistress Club and has experience presenting seminars and workshops. Linda was born in Point Pleasant, West Virginia.


  1. What is your genre? Is it fiction or nonfiction? True Crime - Nonfiction

2. What made you want to be a writer? I put my grief into words by writing about it. I am hopeful my true story will inspire and encourage others to do the same.

3. Of all the authors out there, who inspired you most? William Wordsworth

4.  What is your writing style? Do you outline? Linearly? By scene? Why? Therapeutic? Therapeutical? While serving my sentence of house arrest and probation, I was seeing a professional counselor, compliments of the Federal Government. Encouraged by my counselor to do so, once a week for almost two years, I took my written words to my counseling sessions. I cried the entire hour but felt a huge sense of relief following each visit. By the end of my story, the counselor was crying, too.

5.  Do you write every day? How much? How long? Since my book was just published October 31, 2015, I am not currently writing. I am actively promoting my book.

6.  Do you think reading is as important to writing for an author? Why?  Absolutely. Like peanut butter goes with jelly. Avid readers know what makes a good story really great.

7. What are some of the things you would like to share with budding authors? Never give up!! "A published author is an unpublished author who never gave up." (I don't know who said that first)

8. Do you have any marketing and promotional advice, referrals, tips you would like to share? Reach out...contact every person you've ever known...talk about your writing...socialize...take classes...join writers groups.

9.  Do you think conferences are beneficial? If so, what have you learned? Which ones do you frequent? Conferences are great resources for workshops and for community with other writers, agents and publishers. I am a member of the Atlanta Writers Club and attend their conferences twice yearly. I also attended the first publishers conference in Georgia, Publish15, last June, where I was referred to LLA. In less than two months, my fabulous agent, Johnnie Bernhard, had a publisher for my story.

10. Where can we find you, your books and when is your next event? You can find me:
Amazon  Half Priced Books Market Place  Hudson Book Sellers  B&N  BAM  IndieBound  Shelfari
Represented by Loiacono Literary Agency, Johnnie Bernhard


MORE ABOUT THE SPONSORING AGENTS
Agent and Training Officer – Johnnie Bernhard
A former English teacher and journalist, Johnnie Bernhard life’s work has been writing and reading.  A published writer, her work has appeared in newspapers and magazines, both nationally and internationally.  Johnnie believes that good writing has the ability to transform and transport the reader.

            Her novel, A Good Girl, a second finalist in the 2015 William Faulkner-William Wisdom Creative Writing Competition, is available for acquisition.
Genres:  Literary Fiction, Women’s Literature, Faith-Based Literature, Southern Literature, Historic Fiction, Memoir, and Nonfiction.

Jeanie Loiacono, President, Loiacono Literary Agency
A facilitator of dreams, Jeanie Loiacono represents over eighty authors. Her forte is mystery, romance, thrillers, historical/military/southern fiction, and all quality fiction/nonfiction. Her passion is to see her authors succeed.

“There is nothing more rewarding than to hold one of my author’s books and know I helped bring it to fruition. I am so blessed and privileged to be able to work with some of the most talented writers in the world.” Jeanie.L@llallc.net  www.loiaconoliteraryagency.com


IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE MORE INTERVIEWS--TO FIND GREAT READING OR TO NETWORK WITH AUTHORS--PLEASE SUBSCRIBE TO THIS BLOG. YOU ARE A WELCOME ADDITION TO THIS FAMILY WHO LOVES BOOKS! YOU'LL FIND A WINDOW TO DO THIS AT THE TOP OF THIS BLOG PAGE.


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The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. It is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews, reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure, and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've read. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by genre, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the search engine handy for gleaning the names of small publishers. Find other writer-related blogs at Sharing with Writers and The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor.

Monday, January 11, 2016

Women's Fiction Admired for Heart-Wrenching Plot

Title:  In the Context of Love
Author:  Linda K. Sienkiewicz
Genre: Women’s Fiction, Contemporary, Romance
ISBN:  1941523048
Where people can purchase the book:  Amazon http://amzn.to/1IiVWEs or Barnes and Noble http://bit.ly/1QFs340
Reviewer’s Rating: 5 Stars out of 5
Reviewed by Daria Anne Giovanni, originally for Amazon 

In In the Context of Love, hope springs eternal even under the worst of circumstances. Once I started, I simply couldn't put this book down as I followed its main character Angelica through a complicated personal journey of spiritual, emotional, and physical maturity. The author's vibrant descriptions of complex characters, adolescent longings, Midwestern winters, social mores, and cultural traditions underscored a heart-wrenching plot centered around flawed humanity and the unintended consequences of well-intentioned decisions. Without giving away spoilers, the story hinges upon a horrific event from the past which, once discovered by the protagonist, shatters everything she thought she knew and understood about her family and romantic relationships. Its ripple effect on other characters weaves a compelling tale that will keep you guessing until the end. Kudos to the author for keeping hope alive, balancing good and bad with relatable characters, and abstaining from the temptation to paint an entire sex as evil because of the despicable crimes of one individual. In The Context of Love will leave you feeling as if love always finds a way to prevail, no matter how difficult the obstacles.

More about the Author: 
Linda K. Sienkiewicz attributes her creative drive to her artistic mother, who taught her to sew, and her father, who let her monkey around with the gadgets in his workshop. Her poetry, short stories and art have been published in more than fifty literary journals. She has a poetry chapbook award from Bottom Dog Press and an MFA from The University of Southern Maine. In the Context of Love is her debut novel.

More about the Reviewer:  
Daria Anne DiGiovanni owns and manages the Writestream Radio Network and Writestream Publishing, LLC. A talented interviewer, she welcomes diverse authors to her radio shows to share their books and insights with listeners. DiGiovanni released her debut novel Water Signs: A Story of Love and Renewal, in 2008. The second edition is due out in January, 2016, with a sequel to follow.



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The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. It is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews, reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure, and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've read. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by genre, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the search engine handy for gleaning the names of small publishers. Find other writer-related blogs at Sharing with Writers and The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor.

Sunday, January 10, 2016

Interview: Author's Admiration of McCarthy and Honoring Mother Inspire Writing Career

Hi! I am Carolyn Howard Johnson, your trusty New Book Review blogger and author of the multi award-winning HowTo Do It Frugally Series of books for writers. This blog has heretofore been exclusive for reviews but I thought I’d do a special series of interviews after I chatted with Jeanie Loiacono, President of Loiacono Literary Agency – Where ‘can’t’ is not in our vocabulary! I thought sharing the interviews would help the many subscribers and visitors to this New Book Review blog, including authors, reviewers, and, of course, readers who just might find a new favorite author among the featured books and authors.

So, today welcome Chuck Walsh.

Chuck Walsh, author of Shadows On Iron MountainBackwoods JusticeA Month of TomorrowsA Passage Back and A Splintered Dream is a graduate of the University of South Carolina, and discovered a passion for writing in 2004. Since then, he has written human-interest articles for a dozen publications. He also co-authored Faces of Freedom (featured on Sean Hannity’s book list), a book that recognizes the noble lives of U.S. soldiers who died while fighting in Iraq or Afghanistan.

ENDORSEMENTS

“Chuck Walsh is one of the most committed, passionate, and talented writers I’ve had the pleasure of working with and reading in a long time. [He] constantly seeks new ways to refine his already solid work. Chuck Walsh is one of the best. He writes, not for himself, but for his readers.”
—Thomas Smith, Jr. author, Encyclopedia of the Central Intelligence Agency                     

“Chuck Walsh is a master storyteller, a writer of extraordinary sensitivity and craftsmanship. Walsh’s fiction shows an uncommon understanding of his characters and their relationships. His writing is both dynamic and economical, with a special energy in dialogue that keeps the reader turning pages.”
— Charles Israel, Ph.D., Professor Emeritus of English

What is your genre? Is it fiction or nonfiction? Fiction – historical, murder/suspense, literary fiction

      What made you want to be a writer? My mother was diagnosed with breast cancer ten years ago, and I wanted to write something to show how much she meant to me. And I decided to write A Passage Back, which is about a man who has an accident after the death of his mother and goes back in time to his childhood. As I began writing the book, something sparked to life within me, making me feel as though my life’s calling had been unveiled.


Of all the authors out there, who inspired you most? Cormac McCarthy--no one else comes close. McCarthy is the best fiction writer, in my opinion, of all time. His ability to create stories that pit battles between good and evil, God and Satan, heaven and hell, is beyond anything I’ve ever read. Before I work on my novels, I will pick up one of his books, read about fifteen pages or so, and it inspires me to be the absolute best writer I can be.


What is your writing style? Do you outline? Linearly? By scene? Why? I would describe myself as a storyteller. I truly try to create characters that readers will feel they know intimately, and I want those characters immersed in compelling situations. Most of these characters are based on people I have a strong connection to which fuels a great passion to fully reveal the desires of their hearts, their joy, their pain, and their fear. The settings of my books are integral and I love to paint the picture, whether it’s the deep backdrop of the Appalachian Mountains, or the simplicity of a baseball field on a summer afternoon. I do not outline. Each book begins as an idea and it develops on its own. It becomes an entity, growing slowly, and I just try to find the words to put it in print.


Do you write every day? How much? How long? Working full time, it’s impossible for me to write every day. By the time I get home, my mind is so frazzled, there is no creativity left. Therefore I write on weekends and holidays, beginning early where I spend hour after hour getting into the character’s minds, and into the setting. I can go 10 to 12 hours once I begin.


Do you think reading is as important to writing for an author? Why? I think reading is vital for an author. It opens him to worlds he might not have ever known, and it inspires, and often teaches, the writer how to develop a story. Not in the sense he can copy or mimic, because I think every writer’s mind works differently, and that they can only write what they know; what their mind creates.


What are some of the things you would like to share with budding authors? Write about people and places that will fuel a passion within you. If you have a connection to the characters and the setting, it will make you want to expend full effort to make the readers develop a passion for them too.

      Do you have any marketing and promotional advice, referrals, tips you would like to share? Work as hard as you can to make the book the best it can possibly be. Believe in yourself. To me, the most successful venues are book signings that I set up. I solicit help from people in that area who I know that will help spread the word. Have signings at places that are fun for the readers. I’ve had signings at restaurants, at sports bars, minor league ballparks (for my baseball-themed novel, A Splintered Dream). If you go in blindly to a location and have to count on strangers to “stumble” upon you, the odds of them buying your book(s) are slim. Be choosy in the literary festivals you attend. It’s tough to sell books, at least that’s my experience, at places where they have no idea who you are. I will sell 5 times more books at a two-hour signing that I have organized and orchestrated, than I can attending a day long festival.

Do you think conferences are beneficial? If so, what have you learned? Which ones do you frequent? I think for those starting out conferences are beneficial in networking and getting yourself in front of agents and publishers and other writers. Once you have established yourself with an agent, and your books are being published, then you can use online tools to learn ways to help promote your books.

Where can we find you, your books and when is your next event? You can find me at www.chuckwalshwriter.com Chuck Walsh Events Facebook Twitter Goodreads Amazon Author Page  My books are available on Amazon B&N Fish Pond Book Depository BAM Waterstones IndieBound Google Play Kobo Powell's Books Wheeler's Books Book World Angus & Robertson Copia Scribd Shelfari                            The Book Depository Waterstones WH Smith  Wheelers GoodReads My first book, A Month of Tomorrows, is available also on audible.com.

My next event will be at Columbia College in late January and I will be appearing at two book club gatherings in February. Visit my website for exact dates.
Represented by Loiacono Literary Agency, Jeanie Loiacono http://www.loiaconoliteraryagency.com/authors/chuck-walsh/

MORE ABOUT THE SPONSORING AGENT
Jeanie Loiacono, President, Loiacono Literary Agency
A facilitator of dreams, Jeanie Loiacono represents over eighty authors. Her forte is mystery, romance, thrillers, historical/military/southern fiction, and all quality fiction/nonfiction. Her passion is to see her authors succeed.
“There is nothing more rewarding than to hold one of my author’s books and know I helped bring it to fruition. I am so blessed and privileged to be able to work with some of the most talented writers in the world.” Jeanie.L@llallc.net www.loiaconoliteraryagency.com


IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE MORE INTERVIEWS--TO FIND GREAT READING OR TO NETWORK WITH AUTHORS--PLEASE SUBSCRIBE TO THIS BLOG. YOU ARE A WELCOME ADDITION TO THIS FAMILY WHO LOVES BOOKS! YOU'LL FIND A WINDOW TO DO THIS AT THE TOP OF THIS BLOG PAGE.



----- 
The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. It is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews, reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure, and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've read. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by genre, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the search engine handy for gleaning the names of small publishers. Find other writer-related blogs at Sharing with Writers and The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor.

Saturday, January 9, 2016

Marie Lavender's Writing in the Modern Age: Service Interview with Lois W. Stern

Marie Lavender's Writing in the Modern Age: Service Interview with Lois W. Stern: Today we're doing a different type of interview, and it should be enlightening to both writers and readers following the blog.  My g...

----- The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. It is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews, reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure, and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've read. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by genre, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the search engine handy for gleaning the names of small publishers. Find other writer-related blogs at Sharing with Writers and The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor.

Interview: RH Lewis Helps Kids with Writing After Career in Teaching, Coaching




Hi! I am Carolyn Howard Johnson, your trusty New Book Review blogger and author of the multi award-winning HowTo Do It Frugally Series of books for writers. This blog has heretofore been exclusive for reviews but I thought I’d do a special series of interviews after I chatted with Jeanie Loiacono, President of Loiacono Literary Agency – Where ‘can’t’ is not in our vocabulary!  I thought sharing the interviews would help the many subscribers and visitors to this New Book Review blog, including authors, reviewers, and, of course, readers who just might find a new favorite author among the featured books and authors.

So, today welcome RH Lewis.

RH Lewis, was born in a small New Jersey town. Married with two grown daughters and four grandchildren, he now resides in Florida. His life has always been dedicated to enriching lives. As a Youth pastor, teacher and coach it has always been his belief that within each person are planted the seeds of greatness and that it is his job to cultivate those seeds. Recently retired, for twenty-one years he coached winning Mathcounts teams. In all, his teams have won over 1000 awards. Mr. Lewis has been recognized as teacher of the year, Math coach of the year, Mathcounts coach of the year, and Prism teacher of the year.  As a writer, he loves weaving tales of mystery, suspense, and adventure with real life. When Mr. Lewis isn’t writing or teaching he enjoys cartooning, oil painting, sculpturing and playing with his grandchildren.

Lewis’ stories give credit to the intelligence of young people and the important role education plays in life. He is the author of Secrets of Bayboro Mansion, The Shroud, Wormhole and Run For Your Life, which is based on his own life experience.
  1. What is your genre? Is it fiction or nonfiction? YA fiction
  2. What made you want to be a writer? The youth of America are thirsty for inspiration and motivation. As a pastor and teacher, writing allows me to weave uplifting messages into adventures and mysteries. Quenching that thirst is my ministry.
  3. Of all the authors out there, who inspired you most? Frank E. Peretti
  4. What is your writing style? Do you outline? Linearly? By scene? Why? I see the entire story playing out in my mind before the first word is typed. However, like Steven King, I let my characters help write the story. Outlines are usually abandoned by the second chapter and linear bends by the third.
  5. Do you write every day? How much? How long? I try to write four to five hours every day. Some days it turns into zero hours and some days when the story is in control it turns into twenty-four. I never count the pages only the time spent with my characters.
  6. Do you think reading is as important to writing for an author? Why? Reading what your audience is reading is crucial to creating a voice that speaks to their hearts and minds.
  7. What are some of the things you would like to share with budding authors? Forget about writing a perfect manuscript instead concentrate on speaking to your readers in the language they speak.
  8. Do you have any marketing and promotional advice, referrals, tips you would like to share? Find out where your audience gathers and be there.
  9. Do you think conferences are beneficial? If so, what have you learned? Which ones do you frequent? I'm new to this so I can't give a big thumbs up or down until I've been to a few.
  10. Where can we find you, your books and when is your next event? My books can be found online @ Amazon and Barnes & Noble. My next event is Southwest Middle School December 4 2015, Bayside High School January 27, and Discovery Elementary School January 28. Brevard Schools Foundation (Date not yet set).  www.rhlewisbooks.weebly.com
RH Lewis, weaves tales of mystery, suspense and adventure with real life. Once you enter his books, you never leave the same. Facebook    LinkedIn   Represented by Loiacono Literary Agency, Jeanie Loiacono http://www.loiaconoliteraryagency.com/authors/rh-lewis/
R.H. Lewis weaving life-changing Power into adventures, mysteries, and thrillers.

MORE ABOUT THE SPONSORING AGENTS
Jeanie Loiacono, President, Loiacono Literary Agency
A facilitator of dreams, Jeanie Loiacono represents over eighty authors. Her forte is mystery, romance, thrillers, historical/military/southern fiction, and all quality fiction/nonfiction. Her passion is to see her authors succeed.
“There is nothing more rewarding than to hold one of my author’s books and know I helped bring it to fruition. I am so blessed and privileged to be able to work with some of the most talented writers in the world.” Jeanie.L@llallc.net  www.loiaconoliteraryagency.com

MORE ABOUT THE SPONSORING AGENTS
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The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. It is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews, reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure, and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've read. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by genre, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the search engine handy for gleaning the names of small publishers. Find other writer-related blogs at Sharing with Writers and The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor.