Year: 2021

Interview with Author Marilyn L. Davis Courtesy of Deb at Book Goodies. It’s Where Readers & Authors Meet…

Catherine Lyon Author/Writer A Writer's Thoughts, Author News, Featured Guest Writer, News Around The Web, Updates and More , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,



Meet Author Marilyn L. Davis, a tireless advocate of addiction and recovery and an extraordinary writer. Deb from Book goodies caught up with her as her new book, “Finding North: From Addict to Advocate,” has released on Amazon. So I wanted to share this fantastic interview with all my readers so you can learn more about the woman behind the book. 

I just happened to finish reading and gave her a 5-stars! My review is now on Amazon. Readers Favorite thought her book was also fantastic and gave Marilyn a 5-star awarded book review too. 

Give her author profile visit to read the review! https://readersfavorite.com/book-review/finding-north…
*Cat*




ABOUT Finding North: A Journey from Addict to Advocate

New in recovery, a chance encounter with Gray Hawk, a 74-year old Native American, showed her that healing would include looking within, taking Steps, and creating a house of healing for other women.

Today, Marilyn is a Certified Addiction Recovery Empowerment Specialist, recently celebrating thirty-two years of abstinence-based recovery. From 1990-2011, she opened and managed North House, an award-winning residential facility for women.

Before reaching this milestone, she was a desperate woman on drugs, managing rock bands at night, pretending to be okay, but ultimately giving up on herself, losing her husband, children, family, and friends due to her addiction.

This book is that journey.




In-Depth Author Interview With Marilyn L. Davis


Marilyn L. Davis is the author of the memoir Finding North: A Journey from Addict to Advocate. A chance encounter with a 74-year-old Native American helped her find her purpose. From 1990-2011, she opened and managed North House, an award-winning residential recovery home for women.

She is also the Editor-in-Chief at her recovery blog, From Addict 2 Advocate. She recently celebrated 32 years of abstinence-based recovery and is a Certified Addiction Recovery Empowerment Specialist.

Before her recovery, she was a desperate woman on drugs, managing rock bands at night, pretending to be okay at PTA meetings, but ultimately giving up on herself, losing her husband, children, family, and friends due to her addiction.

Marilyn is widely known for her writing in many literary communities, including her award-winning website, Two Drops of Ink, where she encourages collaborative writing and is the Editor-in-Chief. The site’s writers are poets, problem-solvers for writers and bloggers, as well as those who educate, entertain, and enchant us with the written word. The writers represent different countries, viewpoints, and opinions.

When she is not writing, Marilyn is an avid reader, enjoys gardening and cooking. She has raised two beautiful grown daughters, both in recovery, and is a Nana to four grandchildren. None of her grandchildren have ever seen their mother’s or their Nana use, so maybe the addiction cycle is broken. She resides in an Atlanta suburb with a controlling cat named Jackson.


What inspires you to write?
I am inspired to write as I believe that writing helps us heal. Whether it’s a journal or a memoir that we publish, writing allows us the emotional safety to fully explore our thoughts and feelings.

Since I was a child, I’ve scribbled down words once I understood that those black squiggly lines on a page told a story. I was bullied as a child, and these passages helped me feel better about myself and my isolated world.

I don’t know that it was ‘inspiration’ that helped me create a recovery curriculum for my recovery home. It felt more like desperation. I got tired of saying the same thing, so I decided to write it out. The response to Therapeutic Integrated Educational Recovery System (TIERS) gave me the confidence to start writing at Two Drops of Ink and ultimately write my memoir.

What authors do you read when you aren’t writing?
Each of the following authors helps me learn the craft of writing: Joan Didion, Vladimir Nabokov, Roshani Chokshi, Neil Gaiman, Anne Lamott, Natalie Goldberg, Annie Dillard, William Zinsser, Roy Peter Clark and others.

Tell us about your writing process.
My writing process starts with an idea, topic, or subject that I want to write about, prompted by a conversation, a question from one of my recovery groups, or emails with other writers.

Taking the idea and doing some looping, brainstorming, prewriting, and then creating a first draft complete that phase.

Next, I research the topic, taking into account whether the subject is saturated or is there an aspect of it that I could develop further. At this point, I decide if I’ll write from breadth or width on the topic.

Writing for two blogs, one on recovery and one on writing means there’s always a deadline, and those add incentive to get the writing done.

So the process can be most accurately be described as, “You’ve got to get a post done. Now write.”


What advice would you give other writers?
Advice:
1. Don’t be afraid to write.
2. Don’t call yourself aspiring, soon-to-be-best-selling, or wanna-be. If you’re writing, then you are a writer.
3. Stay with it.
4. Read books on how to improve your writing.
5. Find a website that takes guest posts and submit a post to them.
6. Once you see your writing on a site, let that encourage you to write more, start that novel, write the definitive how-to, or finish your memoir – whatever is your big book.
7. Never throw away your darlings. Keep them in a file and review them monthly. You wrote those for a reason, even if you couldn’t use them at the time.

How did you decide how to publish your books?
I’d been encouraged to publish Finding North: A Journey from Addict to Advocate by my family, friends, recovery professionals, and writers I’d shown drafts to over the past three years. Fear kept me from publishing it until this year.

However, while procrastinating on publishing my memoir, I also wrote a how-to on memoir writing called Memories into Memoir: The Mindsets and Mechanics Workbook that will be published later this spring.

What do you think about the future of book publishing?
I think that traditional publishing will still factor, but with new and emerging platforms for authors, I think we’ll start seeing self-publishing increase.

I published on Amazon and found the experience straightforward. I hired a formatting specialist; my sister is an artist and designed the cover, and I followed the directions once the manuscript and cover were ready.

I also see more diversity in the books that are published. We have lacked diversity for some time. While that may read as “jumping on the bandwagon”, I know that living a counter societal lifestyle in my addiction meant that my memoir did not meet the criteria for certain publishing houses.

I think a problem with traditional publishing is that there’s not a connection to the reader. In contrast, Amazon understands what readers want and takes the time to recommend similar books. While not publishing sites, Goodreads and ThriftBooks do, also.

I also think that print-on-demand factors for the author, reader, and environment, and it would be a mistake to discount those factors when choosing which route to take as an author. Plus, it means not having 75 autographed copies of your book gathering dust in the attic.

What genres do you write?:
Memoir, How to Write a Memoir, primarily non-fiction


What formats are your books in?:
I publish in both eBook and Print


Come Connect with Marilyn on Social Media!

Social Media Links
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn


Stellar Book Reviews Including a 5-Star Awarded Readers Favorite Review For Author, Marilyn L. Davis & Her New Book “Finding North: A Journey From Addict to Advocate”. . .

Catherine Lyon Author/Writer A Writer's Thoughts, Author News, Book Review, Book Review Post, Featured Guest, News Around The Web , , , , , , , , , ,


Finding North
Written by Author Marilyn Davis




Finding North:
A Journey from Addict to Advocate
by Marilyn L. Davis
Non-Fiction – Memoir
256 Pages

Reviewed on 04/10/2021 ~ Reviewed by Mamta Madhavan for Readers’ Favorite

Finding North: A Journey from Addict to Advocate by Marilyn L Davis takes readers on a journey of the author’s life. Marilyn speaks about addiction and how easy it was to experiment with her mom’s pills at a young age to escape from reality where she was unhappy because of a strained home and miserable school life. Her success story will inspire many readers who lead dangerous lifestyles because of their addictions and encourage them to emerge from addiction. She also speaks about the setbacks and struggles of addiction and the lifelong lessons they taught her. The author’s story and her vision give hope to addicts. It is a good guide for readers who are addicts to escape from their addiction and get started on their healing and recovery.

The memoir is raw and honest, and the author minces no words when it comes to sharing her story. Addicts will be able to connect with the author’s words, the commonality of their feelings, thoughts, and poor choices they made in their addiction, and finally the redemption that happens through the recovery phase. The author also shows how different yet distinctly typical an addict’s path is.


The story of how North House came into existence is also quite interesting. Her success story will make addicts come to terms with their loss and find ways to heal and get on with their lives. Finding North: A Journey from Addict to Advocate is a good page-turner and Marilyn L Davis’s story will give courage, hope, and determination to addicts to get free from their addiction and pain, and finally find their way to healing, and leading good lives.

Finding North: A Journey from Addict to Advocate is now available on Amazon in both e-book and paperback formats.


5-Star Awarded Readers Favorite Review!


Cat’s Book Review on Amazon

What will you learn from this beautiful memoir?
What overcoming drug addiction looks like and much more!

Exceptionally written from page one to the last, the author shares just how easy it was for her to begin experimenting with drugs at a young age as she shares her life with readers. Her writing style and layout of her memoirs are impeccable, as it made me keep reading to learn what happens next!

Marilyn writes in a “teachable” and “relatable” way as she shares her early years of managing rock bands and such. We all know “The Candy” was always available back in the days when she managed rock bands. Her life memoirs are about overcoming, loss, perseverance, hope, and inspiration. Then, a chance meeting with a Native American man who spiritually points out her future, she took it to heart in her early recovery.

After saving her life within her recovery’s hard work, she gives us the inside look of how generational addiction can happen, as both her daughters began addicts. Then came the real work of opening North House; she and managed North House, an award-winning residential facility for women. A women’s safe house of healing as I see it.

She began to help both her daughters become clean and drug-free. Marilyn has been on her journey and has celebrated 32-years of recovery while keeping her recovery journey moving forward. The author shows us the hard work it takes in early recovery to learn the roots and the underlying addiction issues, process them, and begin the power of healing within recovery.

I highly suggest everyone read this book if you want to be inspired by an amazing woman’s authentic memoir turned ‘Recovery Warrior’ through caring, empathy, and turned a call to action to bring solutions from addiction, even still today.

Advocate, Catherine Lyon of Lyon Media Services & Literary Consulting




Amazon 5-Star Book Review By

DeeDeeTee 5.0 out of 5 stars “…a chance encounter with Gray Hawk…” leads to new life, new purpose
Reviewed in the United States on April 8, 2021
Verified Purchase

The book blurb called it “a chance encounter with Gray Hawk,” yet Gray Hawk believed it was an element of his destiny.

There are twists and turns from the parents stylized by the author’s perception extending from childhood escape, into addiction, through collapse of the family and into a personal redemption through shared service to others.

There are several additional stories here. Mother. Father. Family. Community.

This book maintains focus on the author’s relationship to manipulation, addiction, self-assessment, games of delusion and sustaining the illusion, “things are ok.” Still, there are the loose ends of those lives, the question of how the author slid down this road, not another, and the question why and how Gray Hawk came to play the role he did.

The writing style is straightforward and relentless, with the simple force you see at an AA meeting: “Hi, I’m so-and-so and I’m an alcoholic.” It’s fascinating to see simultaneous incongruent thought tracks: the external reality, against the internal mental contortions to have everything seem normal. “You think you’re Machiavelli but you’re really Bozo the clown” she’s told at one point. This author does not imbue events with grandiose significance or deep meaning. Readers may wish to do that.

Each of the 105 short chapters has a point without breaking the flow – it’s autobiographical after all. Extracted into focus by time and perspective, the chapters sometimes include bittersweet zingers.

At the end of the telling, the question remains ‘Was it a chance encounter?’


# # # # # # Cat is on BlogLovin’ too! Follow my blog with Bloglovin




WHO IS AUTHOR and ADVOCATE MARILYN L. DAVIS?

Marilyn L. Davis


Marilyn is a Certified Addiction Recovery Empowerment Specialist who opened and ran an award-winning residential facility from 1990-2011, called North House.

She recently celebrated 32 years of abstinence-based recovery.

She is the author of Therapeutic Integrated Educational Recovery System and editor-in-chief at fromaddict2advocate.com and twodropsofink.com.

In 2008, Brenau University created the Marilyn Davis Community Service Learning Award, which honors individuals working in recovery and mental health. In 2010, Marilyn received the Liberty Bell award, given to non-judges and attorneys for contributions to the criminal justice system and communities.

Before reaching these milestones, she was a desperate woman on drugs, managing rock bands at night, pretending to be okay, but ultimately giving up on herself, losing her husband, children, family, and friends due to her addiction.

A chance encounter with a 74-year old Native American named Gray Hawk showed her that healing herself would include meetings, Steps, and providing a house of healing for other women.

May be an image of 5 people, including Marilyn Davis and people smiling


You can connect with the author on social media and visit both here award-winning blogs…

Recovery Blog: https://fromaddict2advocate.com/about-marilyn-l-davis-editor-in-chief/

Literary Blog: https://twodropsofink.com/author/marilynldavis/

 Join Author’s Newsletter, Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, Amazon, Link

Interview with Author – Marilyn L Davis – Book Goodies – https://bookgoodies.com/interview-with-author-marilyn-l-davis/

Sharing Award-Winning Author & Writer Diane Olsen ~New Interview About Her Book Series, Rising Wind as Books Two & Three Release Soon…

Catherine Lyon Author/Writer A Writer's Thoughts, Author News, Book Award News, Book Review, Featured Guest , , , , , , , , , , ,



INTERVIEW WITH AUTHOR – Diane Olsen
Courtesy of Deb of Book Goodies
https://bookgoodies.com/interview-with-author-diane-olsen/



Award-Winning Author
Diane Olsen


About Diane Olsen:

I worked on my first stories and poems up in South Cheyenne Canyon near Colorado Springs, where I was raised. I learned a lot about spiritual life in the mountains while hiking, or on horseback.

Later, I fell in love with Paleontology, Archaeology and Anthropology at the University of Montana, and I wrote articles and columns in my spare time. Now I live in Eastern Washington in Kennewick near one of my two dear sons, Andrew and his four boys. My other son Gavin, and most of my family still live in Western Montana.

The stories that come to mind are important to me, and I enjoy sharing them with others. Would that it could be over a cup of coffee, but maybe you will find hope and joy in them without me.


What inspires you to write?

Good question. Truthfully, I guess I felt the need to encourage my sons by becoming more than a wannabe writer, and finish what I started. The ideas for this trilogy came in a single month back in 1999 when my children were small. The stories sat in the back of my mind, coming to fruition in the last few years. I have had some amazing reviews which also inspired me along the way.

Although I have written poems, screen plays, articles and columns; and even a non-fiction tome, “Ancient Ways: The Roots of Religion”, the “Rising Wind” books are my first attempts at novels. I thought that this series would be it for me, but I wouldn’t be surprised to find another two books wanting to speak, if time allows.


What authors do you read when you aren’t writing?

I used to love SCI Fi Anthologies and Clive Cussler. I’ve also enjoyed Tony Hilleman and Diane Mott Davidson, Barbara Daniels Dena and the more I think about it, many others.

I probably don’t read as much as you do. I spend too much time writing, and at my age, there is only so much time left.



Tell us about your writing process.

For me writing is a constant, determined struggle. The reward is when the characters drag me along with them at breakneck speed to help them tell their stories. My favorite part is the editing. I must go over a manuscript close to fifty times, but I learn each time. For me editing never really ends.

I guess I am a seat of the pants writer, though I outline at some point. I visualize my characters, and watch eagerly, as they grow, interact and develop. I do my best to make each chapter sparkle, beginning to middle, and middle to end. Technology and boards elude me.


For Fiction Writers: Do you listen (or talk to) to your characters?

I think about the characters or listen to a pertinent song, then, if I’m lucky, a piece of the story unfolds or reframes itself. Once I’m in the story, details, or mysterious side paths reveal themselves.

There are times I need to focus on drawing a more complete picture, especially when beginning a new chapter. Something I still struggle with.


What advice would you give other writers?

Write if you must. Whether for your own entertainment, or for the joy of it. If you are impelled to publish, then be prepared to work very hard to find a way achieve to that goal.

May you be blessed by finding honest help in this process. I was lucky to find wonderful friends to assist me. I was like a deer in headlights – in many ways I still am.



Ancient Ways: The Roots of Religion by [Diane Olsen]
This One Won a Bronze Medal
By Illuminations Christian Awards



How did you decide how to publish your books?

I had published articles and columns when I was younger, but I had ideas for several stories and a non-fiction book that kept nagging over the decades to be completed. Ok, once completed, what does one do with them?

Luckily, I found a marketing promotor (Catherine Lyon) who became my friend. We checked out several possibilities, and evaluated them for our particular needs. She has helped me with all the advertising and encouraged me to learn as much as I can about the details of the publishing process. This education has taken me nearly as long as, and overall, was nearly as expensive as earning my degrees, (LOL.)


What do you think about the future of book publishing?

I am not sure how publishing will be changing over the next few years. I am hoping to convert all of these stories into audiobooks. But I’m sure tales and poetry, in some form, will delight humankind for generations to come.

What genres do you write?
Multicultural Adventure/action/mystery; Non-fiction; Christian.

What formats are your books in?:
Both eBook and Print


You can connect with author on social media:

All Author
https://dianeolsenauthor.allauthor.com/
Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, Amazon



ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Award Medal-Winning Writer and Author, Diane Olsen, is the prolific writer and award-winning author of her debut book titled; “Ancient Ways: The Roots of Religion.” Her new release of “Rising Wind: The Thunder Beings” series is now available on Amazon online, Barnes & Noble, and fine online book stores.

Her title of “Ancient Ways” is a bronze medal winner given by Illumination Christian Book Awards” is a thought-provoking and informative look at the development and evolution of religion throughout time and a well-considered concept – the idea of a connective thread of monotheistic faith throughout the history from the birth of human creation.

Now comes her new release titled; “RISING WIND: The Thunder Beings” (Book One a Series.) Adapted from an original screenplay Diane wrote several years ago, she has now written it for all her readers to enjoy as an amazing fiction packed with Action-Adventure, with Native Mystery and Suspenseful elements.

Diane was born in Colorado Springs, Colorado and she now lives in the beautiful Pacific Northwest and the State of Washington. Diane was an Undergrad at Colorado State University Ft. Collins: Pre-vet med, Anthropology, then attended and received her BA and MA at the University of Montana, Missoula: Anthropology, Archaeology, and Paleontology.

She was a Graduate Teaching Assistant for two years. Diane enjoys writing, reading good books, spending time with her grandkids, and loves cooking. A few of her favorite books are ‘The Book of Certitude (Kitab-i-Iqan), The Upanishads, and The Great Initiates.’ Diane resides in the Pacific Northwest.



Happy I’ve Been Awarded Two Stellar Book Reviews From Readers Favorite For My “The Rising Wind Series” Books One & Two… Book Two Releasing Soon!

Catherine Lyon Author/Writer Posts

What an amazing post and great NEWS for my friend and fellow author, Diane Olsen! She has been hard at work the last year or so turning out the next to books of the Rising Wind series. Book one of Rising Wind: The Thunder Beings is released on Amazon and what a ride the opening of the story IS! And the e-book is only .99 cents as book two titled: Ice and Bone is almost ready to DROP…
CAT

DianeOlsenAuthor's avatarDiane Olsen Author, Books, & Stories

Hello Friends, Readers, and Visitors,

It has been a very long while since I have posted on blog and I do apologize as I have been feverishly writing after I released RISING WIND: The Thunder Beings. It seems GOD had other plans for me to continue the story of Sercora and Gideon and now it has become a three book series!

Especially after this nasty COVID and pandemic, I decided to go for it and began writing the next books. Well, the writing and work is done for the rest of this series. If you have not had a chance to dive into book one, The Thunder Beings of Rising Wind, below I am sharing some exciting NEWS…

Even though Thunder Beings is already out and released? My publicist and I submitted all three books to the series through a literary influencer, Readers Favorite to get a feel of…

View original post 1,159 more words

Lyon Literary Consulting Gives Congrats To Author Peggy Hinaekian’s Stellar 4-Star Awarded Book Review From Readers Favorite For Her Memoir…

Catherine Lyon Author/Writer A Writer's Thoughts, Author News, Book Review Post, Featured Guest, News Around The Web , , , , ,


The Girl from Cairo


The Girl from Cairo

A Memoir by Peggy Hinaekian

Non-Fiction – Memoir
260 Pages
Reviewed on 03/27/2021
4-STARS ✨✨✨✨✨
Review Page: https://readersfavorite.com/book-review/the-girl-from-cairo

For immediate release:

Author’s new book receives a warm literary welcome.


“Readers’ Favorite announces the review of the Non-Fiction – Memoir book “The Girl from Cairo” by Peggy Hinaekian, currently available at” http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/166413381X.

Readers’ Favorite is one of the largest book review and award contest sites on the Internet. They have earned the respect of renowned publishers like Random House, Simon & Schuster, and Harper Collins, and have received the “Best Websites for Authors” and “Honoring Excellence” awards from the Association of Independent Authors. They are also fully accredited by the BBB (A+ rating), which is a rarity among Book Review and Book Award Contest companies.

“Reviewed By Grant Leishman for Readers’ Favorite“

“The Girl from Cairo: A Memoir by Peggy Hinaekian is the autobiography of an Armenian girl who grew up in exile in a suburb of Cairo known as Heliopolis. Peggy’s family were considered well off by Egyptian standards but her mother was required to jump through all sorts of hoops to keep their true economic status a secret from their friends and neighbors. Peggy’s father was a roguish, but lovable character whose one fatal flaw was his inveterate gambling. His gambling had cost the family dearly and they lived on their wits, especially Peggy’s mother’s wits to hide their true economic downfall. Attending a strict Catholic girl’s school in Heliopolis, Peggy’s lack of knowledge of sexual matters was exposed as she fell desperately in love.

Living in Cairo, through WWII, an Egyptian war for independence and war over control of the Suez Canal made for a scary route to adulthood for the young woman. All through the troubles, though, Peggy’s vision for her own future never faltered. She would, she believed, travel to America and make it into movies or as a fashion designer. As the country descended into war over the Suez Canal, it was time for Peggy to leave Egypt and seek her fame and fortune in the big, wide world.

The Girl from Cairo: A Memoir is an interesting story of a different culture and the difficulty of growing up in a country where you not only look different than the majority of the population, but your ideals, mores, and cultural beliefs are in stark contrast to the bulk of the people. Author Peggy Hinaekian did come across at times as incredibly self-absorbed and perhaps even selfish but one has to weigh that against the whole concept of being seen as a foreigner, or an interloper in the country where you were domiciled.

Doubtless, the Armenians in Egypt felt they had to look to themselves first and foremost because nobody else would. What struck me the most was the willingness Peggy showed to change direction and often location with little or no planning of how she would survive in a different situation. Her courage and belief in herself were so refreshing for a young woman of this era. I particularly enjoyed her willingness to flout established practices and norms in Egypt. She was a woman who knew her own mind and nobody was going to tell her how she should behave. This is an intriguing coming-of-age in a situation that few of us could imagine, let alone experience.”

“I did enjoy this read and can definitely recommend it.”


(You can learn more about Peggy Hinaekian and “The Girl from Cairo” at https://readersfavorite.com/book-review/the-girl-from-cairo where you can read reviews and the author’s biography, as well as connect with the author directly or through their website and social media pages.)

Readers’ Favorite LLC
Media Relations
Louisville, KY 40202


BIOGRAPHY


Of Armenian origin author, Peggy Hinaekian was born and raised in Egypt. Her paternal grandfather had the largest private library in Egypt, and Peggy was introduced to books in three languages (English, French, and Armenian) at a very young age.

Peggy grew up in a very cosmopolitan environment and was an avid reader. Since the age of ten, she kept a journal and always wrote short stories, essays, and children’s picture books.

She immigrated to Canada with her first husband and then went on to the United States, where she pursued a career in fashion designing in New York in fine arts. After her divorce, she left that behind and moved to Geneva, Switzerland, and continued her career as an artist.

Peggy Hinaekian is a writer and author; she is an internationally recognized, well-established artist living and working in the United States and Switzerland.

Now with three literary works to her credit, you may purchase her books from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, and many fine online book stores. She is married, raised three beautiful sons, and resides with her husband part-time in Florida and California.




The Author On Amazon Link https://www.amazon.com/Peggy-Hinaekian/e/B01LX3F0WR/

You can connect with the author below

 Website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Goodreads, Amazon, Linkedin





Hey Parents! Gather The Kids Around To Meet Stevie Tenderheart & His Books. While Parents Can Read About An American Best-Selling Children’s Author, Steve William Laible. . .

Catherine Lyon Author/Writer A Writer's Thoughts, Author News, Featured Guest, News Around The Web, Posts, Updates and More , , , , , , , , , , ,


Well, Easter is just around the corner kids, moms, dads, and grandparents!

And it looks like the Easter Bunny is going to have a pretty busy time this year and may need some help.

I know one person who can actually help the bunny with lots of fun books to read, color books, bedtime story books, game book, kids fiction reads, and reads for all ages, and much more, Yup!

So, meet Cats amazing friend, Stevie Tenderheart. He is widely known throughout the Pacific Northwest as a former comic strip, in books with lots of vibrant cool colors, Stevie dolls, and more. I do believe Stevie knows the Easter Bunny pretty well. But parents may want to know more about just who is behind these amazing literary products for their children.

So, parents, let me introduce you to Steve William Laible. Steve is a best-selling American Children’s Author and a proud United States Air Force veteran who served his county fighting for our freedoms. Now retired after 22-years of service. He has three beautiful grown children of his own, sure enjoys writing children’s fiction books.

I caught up Steve and (Stevie) over on my friend, Vinny O’Hare’s book site called Awesome Gang. https://awesomegang.com/steve-william-laible/… He was happy that Cat is sharing the Author Interview here in The Reading Den with his permission, of course! I hope you enjoy learning all about this amazing Author, Steve Laible and his side-kick Stevie Tenderheart!

As the author always says,

“I shall be in transports of delight when parents, and especially children, discover Stevie Tenderheart Books.” ~Steve William Laible




Interview With Author Steve William Laible


Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.

I am a retired USAF Mustang–Captain. 22 years distinguished career, 14 enlisted, 8 as officer, with special joint service tours of duty at Joint Chiefs of Staff, the Pentagon; Commander-in-Chief, Pacific (CINCPAC) Hawaii; USAF Honor Guard, Wash DC under Reagan Administration; White House Fellowship nominee; Superintendent of Publishing, HQ 15AF; Commander, Civil Engineering SQ & Commander, Operations Support SQ, supporting two F-16 fighter squadrons in Korea. Received Bronze Star device for Desert Shield/Storm; Lauded as USAF Outstanding Administrator of the Year…

Born in Ashland, Oregon. Retired from USAF on New Years Eve 1993 (age 40) returning to Grants Pass, Oregon to raise my then, three young sons as a single dad in the hometown atmosphere I enjoyed growing up among some 250 remaining relatives. I created a comic strip in 2005 based on a retelling of my youth. Published for five years in the Daily Courier then picked up in the Sneak Preview (readership 200k) est. Ended the Stevie Tenderheart strip to write more as those panels were so confining.

I published my first Stevie Tenderheart children’s book, My Favorite Place to Be…(A Bedtime Story). It comes with a companion coloring book. Then, Stevie Tenderheart Wait a Minute! (A Bedtime Story) also with a companion coloring book. To date 600+ Goodreads ratings/reviews. Worst: “Too many words.” Best: “Best children’s author to come along since Dr. Seuss.” [As if, but still. Pretty cool.]

After a few more Stevie Tenderheart illustrated picture books (Ages 4-8):
Tick Tock (Midnight Confusion); Seven Rules (On Becoming a Fantastic Kid) along with Seven Rules (On Raising a Fantastic Kid); I made the transition to Stevie Tenderheart novellas: Billy Jack (The Great Escape) & A Silent Kiss Goodnight (Stevie and the Tooth Fairy).

Also with a family fun night returns board game book about a board game I created as a single dad. It’s called, Backfire by Kodel.







I wrote Billy Jack (The Great Escape) above for 10-year-old men & the kid still inside you. (Giggles Assured)

It will get boys reading again for pure entertainment. It was written in a storyteller’s voice rather than quoted he said, she said conversations making it much easier to read & follow along with in the lessons being shared without their knowing. There are 1-2 page stories within stories presented with loads of humor & hijinks. The lessons are based on true stories & not preachy. They’ll learn better that way. Lessons about responsibilities, personal & financial; competition & sportsmanship; first crushes; anti-bullying; independence; and consequences.

Billy Jack is a really fun read/ride. ( Hashtag #CowboyPromise!)

It makes for a wonderful bedtime story bonding experience reading 5-10 pages each night until children can read it on their own.

Seventeen books to date. Many Stevie books are available in print, Kindle & audiobooks.



This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is 51tgaz6lnlstevietenderheartmyfavplace.jpg



What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?

Stevie Tenderheart A Silent Kiss Goodnight (Stevie and the Tooth fairy) a novella meant to excite children sparking their imaginations and put to rest any fears they might have about losing their first tooth. It’s based on a true story mixed in with fairytale musings. Kids will never really be sure when their legs are being pulled. It’s a splendid bedtime story. It is in print, Kindle & audiobooks.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?

I become the child! My discipline comes from writing my comic strip. I audition every word. I write with a lot of tongue-in-cheek humor. It has to be funny the first time and the umpteenth time. At 2am and again at 10am or 4pm. I basically sit & my laptop in the quiet of the evening not looking up again for 15 hours with only a thought. Then, somehow, as it’s still not clear to me, I channel my inner-child. My audience is ever-present in my mind.

What authors, or books have influenced you?

Hemingway for the vibrant detail. Twain for the adventure & exploration of imagination.


What are you working on now?

Stevie Tenderheart A Second Kiss Goodnight (A Bedtime Story) likely my final illustrated children’s book.

My goal as an American children’s author is two-fold.

1. Stevie books help parents put their children to bed on time, every time. Just be mindful when you say, “It’s Stevie time.” As they will likely hear, “It’s TV time.”

2. Stevie books help children feel safe, loved, silly & cozy at bedtime.

~Stevie Tenderheart Books





Stevie Tenderheart Book



What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?

I have 4M+ engagements (likes, loves, shares, comments) using Facebook’s boosted posts over the past five years.

I also use Cost per Click (CPC) “click” advertising (bids) on Amazon (Sponsored Branding & Lock Screen) ads Kindle & Fire tablet) devices which also populate Amazon’s eight global platforms (US, UK, CANADA, SPAIN, GERMANY, ITALY, FRANCE, & AUSTRALIA) in addiction to Google ad words.

Do you have any advice for new authors?

Write for the joy of it. The pure love of creating & expression. Let your stories become your legacy…

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Listen.

What are you reading now?

Where the Crawdads Sing…Diary of a Wimpy Kid series…



What’s next for you as a writer?

To expand my transition from illustrated picture books writing more true life misadventures (novellas of about 120 pages) for children (Ages 10+).



If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?

A rhyming dictionary. Stevie Tenderheart Billy Jack (The Great Escape) because I am so proud of it & enjoy reading it often as my childhood lives on those pages; any of number of books on Walt Disney (as I met him once when I was five or six). He knelt down & patted my head whispering magic in my ear. I felt anointed all the while Alice in Wonderland (the real one) kissed me on the cheek. The Eloquent Universe (String Theory).

Author Websites and Profiles
Steve William Laible Website
Steve William Laible Amazon Profile


Connect With Steve on Social Media

Twitter – https://twitter.com/SteveLaible
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/STenderheart/
Pinterest – https://www.pinterest.com/stenderheart/
GoodReads – https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5873576.Steve_William_Laible


This is for the parents to let you know Steve’s book are all available on Amazon in E-book and Paperback formats. He does have a few as audiobooks too! Since Easter is coming? Cat highly recommends purchasing Stevie Books in place of all that candy for all the kid’s and they look great in Easter Baskets! Besides, a few Stevie Tenderheart books are much less expensive than visits to the DENTIST… 🙀 🎁📚📚🐰🐰🐰



HAVE A HAPPY EASTER From CAT and STEVIE TENDERHEART!


Cat Happy Easter Picture Pictures, Photos, and Images for Facebook, Tumblr, Pinterest, and Twitter