Author: Catherine Lyon Author/Writer

Congrats To Author, Jack Barr For Making It Into “The Readers Favorite” Book Award Contest!

Catherine Lyon Author/Writer Book Review Post, Featured Guest , , , , ,

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I so enjoy sharing author news and updates about my author friends. And Jack, Jana and Marley Barr are no exception! I have had the honor of book promoting for Jack and the Barr family for quite some time now, and I’m very happy about this little project of his. He had asked me to research and find out more about a great place for authors and writers to submit their new books and novels for awards to an awesome ‘International Book Awards Website’ called  Readers Favorite’ . . .  So we did.

Well, not only did he get a fabulous 4 star book review, and now he has made it to the next round of their current 2015  book awards contest! Now I knew he would make the entry as I have read his fantastic memoir titled;
Failing at Fatherhood: a book for the imperfect father, which is available now on Amazon right here: Failing at Fatherhood

So I thought I’d share the review that Readers Favorite has done for his book, and I wish him and his family the very best of luck at winning an award.

His book will truly ‘touch your heart’! And a win would be well deserved for his powerful memoir.

A Little About Readers Favorite!

Readers’ Favorite has received the “Honoring Excellence” and “Best Websites for Authors” awards by the Association of Independent Authors, are members of the National Book Critics Circle and National Education Association, and are BBB accredited (A+).
Readers’ Favorite tries to help those in need as well by donating books and income each year to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Authors contribute as well by donating via our order forms and through our Book Donation program.
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Readers’ Favorite has been awarded the Association
of Independent Authors Honoring Excellence award, which
recognizes businesses and organizations that offer exceptional
products and services for independent authors.
Association of Independent Authors
On behalf of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital,
and especially on behalf of the children and their
families, we want to thank Readers’ Favorite and its
authors for your kindness and generosity.
St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital

Readers Favorite Book Review For ~ Failing at Fatherhood ~ Author, Jack Barr

Review Rating:
 4 stars.
Reviewed By Samantha Gregory for Readers’ Favorite

Failing at Fatherhood: A Book for the Imperfect Father by Jack Barr is the story of the birth of Jack’s daughter, Marley, and her diagnosis of Down’s Syndrome. Jack shares his feelings about the diagnosis and how it affected him in the early part of his daughter’s life. He becomes angry at his wife, Marley, and God over the diagnosis, but instead of talking to anyone about it, he bottles it all up. As the book goes on, Jack begins to accept his daughter’s diagnosis.

Jack Barr has written about a difficult event in Failing at Fatherhood, but in the early chapters you don’t really have any sympathy for him. His reaction is completely selfish – he is only worried about himself and how everything is affecting him. He has already written off his daughter before she has a chance to prove him wrong. Children with Down’s Syndrome can live very full lives. Gradually, Jack learns to accept it and comes to terms with it. He tells us about his own childhood and the experiences he had with his own father and how they shaped him.

There is a strong Christian influence in the book and Jack works in Thailand teaching people about God. Many parents of Down’s Syndrome children will tell you that, while it can be difficult at times, they wouldn’t change their child for anything. Having Down’s Syndrome does not define a child, it is just a part of them. I think the book is interesting, and a must read for parents of children born with a disability. . .


About Jack Barr and Family

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Jack, Jana and Marley Barr

Jack and Jana Barr are missionaries in Bangkok, Thailand.  Before their first date, they both knew God was calling them to serve overseas.  After completing their undergraduate degrees at Johnson University, and their graduate degrees (Jack M.Ed. Regent University, M.Sc. Canisius College/ Jana M.A. Lee University) they flew to Bangkok for the first time.  For the past nine years they have served God by teaching at the International Community School in Bangkok, Thailand.

Three years ago, Jack and Jana did not know God would use their daughter Marley, to forever alter their life plan.  Marley was born with Down syndrome and that event sent Jack crashing into a sea of depression. “I could not overcome the question of, Why us God”?  Since that day, Jack and Jana have rerouted their plan to align with God’s plan.  They started, If They Had A Voice, an awareness campaign that focuses on Down syndrome abortions.  Their story has been featured on CNN, CNN Mexico, Life Action News, and The Insight Channel.  Jack also wrote his first book, Failing at Fatherhood, which has been endorsed by Bob Russell, S.A. Bodeen, and Woodroll Kroll.  Jack & Jana had a simple plan for their future, but God has forced them to trust in HIS plan.

For general inquiries and speaking engagements, email Jack at info@iftheyhadavoice.org
Please visit their website If They Had A Voice and follow them on Twitter @jackjanamarley 

Do You Know What Day Today Is In History? Let Me Tell You With A Fantastic Suggested Read By: Author, Carl Baker

Catherine Lyon Author/Writer Book Review Post, Featured Guest , , , , , , , , , , ,

 

14 Days in July ~ by Carl Baker and Marc Heberden

About This Day In Our History . . .  On the 14th day of July in 1789, French revolutionaries storm Bastille.

Parisian revolutionaries and mutinous troops storm and dismantle the Bastille, a royal fortress that had come to symbolize the tyranny of the Bourbon monarchs. This dramatic action signaled the beginning of the French Revolution, a decade of political turmoil and terror in which King Louis XVI was overthrown and tens of thousands of people, including the king and his wife Marie Antoinette, were executed.

The Bastille was originally constructed in 1370 as a bastide, or “fortification,” to protect the walled city of Paris from English attack. It was later made into an independent stronghold, and its name–bastide–was corrupted to Bastille. The Bastille was first used as a state prison in the 17th century, and its cells were reserved for upper-class felons, political troublemakers, and spies. Most prisoners there were imprisoned without a trial under direct orders of the king. Standing 100 feet tall and surrounded by a moat more than 80 feet wide, the Bastille was an imposing structure in the Parisian landscape.

By the summer of 1789, France was moving quickly toward revolution. There were severe food shortages in France that year, and popular resentment against the rule of King Louis XVI was turning to fury. In June, the Third Estate, which represented commoners and the lower clergy, declared itself the National Assembly and called for the drafting of a constitution. Initially seeming to yield, Louis legalized the National Assembly but then surrounded Paris with troops and dismissed Jacques Necker, a popular minister of state who had supported reforms. In response, mobs began rioting in Paris at the instigation of revolutionary leaders.

Bernard-Jordan de Launay, the military governor of the Bastille, feared that his fortress would be a target for the revolutionaries and so requested reinforcements. A company of Swiss mercenary soldiers arrived on July 7 to bolster his garrison of 82 soldiers. The Marquis de Sade, one of the few prisoners in the Bastille at the time, was transferred to an insane asylum after he attempted to incite a crowd outside his window by yelling: “They are massacring the prisoners; you must come and free them.” On July 12, royal authorities transferred 250 barrels of gunpowder to the Bastille from the Paris Arsenal, which was more vulnerable to attack. Launay brought his men into the Bastille and raised its two drawbridges.

On July 13, revolutionaries with muskets began firing at soldiers standing guard on the Bastille’s towers and then took cover in the Bastille’s courtyard when Launay’s men fired back. That evening, mobs stormed the Paris Arsenal and another armory and acquired thousands of muskets. At dawn on July 14, a great crowd armed with muskets, swords, and various makeshift weapons began to gather around the Bastille.

Launay received a delegation of revolutionary leaders but refused to surrender the fortress and its munitions as they requested. He later received a second delegation and promised he would not open fire on the crowd. To convince the revolutionaries, he showed them that his cannons were not loaded. Instead of calming the agitated crowd, news of the unloaded cannons emboldened a group of men to climb over the outer wall of the courtyard and lower a drawbridge. Three hundred revolutionaries rushed in, and Launay’s men took up a defensive position. When the mob outside began trying to lower the second drawbridge, Launay ordered his men to open fire. One hundred rioters were killed or wounded.

Launay’s men were able to hold the mob back, but more and more Parisians were converging on the Bastille. Around 3 p.m., a company of deserters from the French army arrived. The soldiers, hidden by smoke from fires set by the mob, dragged five cannons into the courtyard and aimed them at the Bastille. Launay raised a white flag of surrender over the fortress. Launay and his men were taken into custody, the gunpowder and cannons were seized, and the seven prisoners of the Bastille were freed. Upon arriving at the Hotel de Ville, where Launay was to be arrested by a revolutionary council, the governor was pulled away from his escort by a mob and murdered.

The capture of the Bastille symbolized the end of the ancien regime and provided the French revolutionary cause with an irresistible momentum. Joined by four-fifths of the French army, the revolutionaries seized control of Paris and then the French countryside, forcing King Louis XVI to accept a constitutional government. In 1792, the monarchy was abolished and Louis and his wife Marie-Antoinette were sent to the guillotine for treason in 1793.

By order of the new revolutionary government, the Bastille was torn down. On February 6, 1790, the last stone of the hated prison-fortress was presented to the National Assembly. Today, July 14–Bastille Day–is celebrated as a national holiday in France.
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Now, the rest of the story of  “14 Days In July” written in novel form by Authors Carl Baker and Marc Heberden. It has more twists and turns and inside secrets then you will ever read about in any history book. Here is what readers have said about this well written historical novel in currently 100 % all 5 Star Amazon book reviews:

14 Days in July Book Reviews:

A Best Seller For Sure!
“A page turner from the first to the last page.  An absolutely outstanding read! Carl and Marc have in my opinion, have a #1 Best Seller on their hands!”

 

Truly Amazing!
“This novel was truly amazing! I have never been to Paris, but the author describes it in such a manner, that I could picture it clearly. It was as if I were really there. The fourteen days leading up to the French Revolution are depicted vividly. The characters were all so well described and skillfully developed. The plot thickens and there are so many twists, turns, and chases throughout the streets of Paris, and also beneath the city in the forgotten catacombs. There is also another storyline about what happened 100 years before, involving a family secret that has been passed down through generations. This secret is the very core of the present day story. This novel is full of action and suspense. The reader is surprised by who turns out to be friend or foe. The romance is tender yet sizzling! It is indeed hard to put this book down once you begin to read it. I absolutely can’t wait to read the sequel!”

Riveting!
“This is a superb novel. It weaves together the French Revolution with the excesses of Louis XIV, the mystery of the Man In The Iron Mask, and even the Three Musketeers. I was fortunate enough to be in Paris on vacation while reading this book, and it made several of the places there come alive for me. Like the fiction of Philippa Gregory, the authors take known historical fact and fill in the unknown gaps with a plausible historical narrative. But there is a twist–for within that plausible historical narrative, there is a fascinating palace intrigue that forms a mystery in the genre of the DaVinci Code. I was especially impressed at the great care the authors took to describe the intimate details (including some steamy love scenes) seldom explored about French life before the revolution–the pathos of the proletariat and the peasants, the dissolving middle class, and the widening chasm between these classes and the insatiable appetites of the French aristocracy. I found the book riveting. It would make a great movie. Like other reviewers, I can’t wait for the sequel.!”

 

ABOUT THE NOVEL:

1 July 1789, Paris — Two weeks before the Revolution
France is undergoing a political upheaval unlike anything it has known before. Louis XVI is using savage mercenary forces and food blockages, to bring the people to heel. The country is a powder keg, and Paris is the fuse. In the midst of what could become bloody chaos, shadowy people— including the sinister and brutal chief of the Paris police—discover that a young Parisian laundress, Michèle Duvallier, whose fiancé is imprisoned for his political activities, knows a deadly, ancient secret that could shake France’s monarchy to its core. Michèle finds herself the object of a murderous manhunt. Her imprisoned fiancé’s citizen’s group, now led by his brother, is being chased from one hiding place to another. It is only during the fall of the Bastille that she learns why so many powerful people are hunting for her, but as well the shocking identity of who has been betraying them ….
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September 1654, Burgundy — 135 years before the Revolution
A good-natured young man, an orphan, is mysteriously imprisoned with grotesque instructions to conceal his identity in such as way as to ensure he is to be forgotten for all time ….
The man in the iron mask was not a pure invention of Alexandre Dumas. The rumor of the existence of twin boys being switched, one of whom was to become Louis XIV, had been speculated on for well over a hundred years by many high sources— including Voltaire, who secretly told friends he had seen the man unmasked, and saw he was the king’s twin. But what Dumas, and no one else, wrote about, was the even more dangerous rumor that there was not only a switch, but as well … another lineage …

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Carl Baker  Carl Baker, Author/Writer

Raised in the Midwest, and educated at the University of Oklahoma. Carl Baker has published numerous articles/case studies in Medicine, and lectured world-wide. Now he lives and writes in Monte Carlo, Monaco and Slidell, Louisiana, USA. This man of mystery is currently working on several novel projects.
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So I am suggesting Carl’s novel to all my readers. I have not been a huge fan of historical novels, but after I read this one I enjoy them much more. I can tell you that knowing Carl Baker personally, he is a perfectionist when it comes to research and all the historical facts and locations in his novels. It’s what I feel you’ll enjoy the most about his writing, and other book readers do mention this fact in their book reviews.

One reader mentioned in his book review;  By Michael Gibson  “It weaves together the French Revolution with the excesses of Louis XIV, the mystery of the Man In The Iron Mask, and even the Three Musketeers. I was fortunate enough to be in Paris on vacation while reading this book, and it made several of the places there come alive for me.”

So grab your copy to read today,  this week, or this weekend. It also makes a great summer vacation read as well.
HAPPY READING!
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Lyon Book Promotions By Author, Catherine Lyon

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Another Summer Interview Extravaganza Of Some Fine Authors!

Catherine Lyon Author/Writer Featured Guest, New Book & Author Press Release , , , , ,

Summertime reading is the best time to learn about what’s hot and new with book offerings! There is nothing like sitting on the beach with a good book to rest and relax, and to be transported to another place and time deep within a book.

And since my ‘Guest Author Interview Extravaganza’ over the 4th of July had lots of visitors? I thought I would do another, as I introduce you to a few more fine authors. There are many wonderful book bloggers like myself who enjoy interviewing new, fresh and upcoming authors whose books are just fantastic! And many are some I found worth reading . . .
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Maine Author & Illustrator, Bette A Stevens ~ Her new book, Dog Bone Soup: A Boomer’s Journey
{Author/Illustrator, Desktop Publisher, Retired Teacher, Hartland, Maine}

DBS A remarkable tale

Interview courtesy of
Marilyn Armstrong

dog bone soup

And now, there’s the rest of the story. DOG BONE SOUP is the long-awaited “rest of the story”of Shawn Daniels and his brother. Bette Stevens novel is now available for your reading pleasure. And it is a pleasure.

Bette has the purest, freshest writing style I’ve read in many a long year. Reading her prose is like peering into an exceptionally clear, deep pool. It looks like the bottom is close enough to touch, but watch out. Those waters run deep.

This author knows how to tell a story. Her style and the story are a perfect blend. Like the clear water, this author runs deep,

DOG BONE SOUP is a wonderful story. It’s a coming of in a hardscrabble world, armed only with courage, determination, intelligence, and grit. Sometimes, that’s enough.

PURE TRASH: BETTE A STEVENS – The Prequel
There are so many television shows and movies, not to mention sappy posts on Facebook and other social media sites about “the good old days” … kind of makes me a trifle queasy. As someone who grew up in those good old days, I can attest to their not being all that great. There were good things about them, but it was by no means all roses.

Good is a relative term, after all. If you were white, Christian and middle class … preferably male and not (for example) a woman with professional ambitions … the world was something resembling your oyster. A family could live on one salary. If you were “regular folk” and didn’t stand out in any particular way, life could be gentle and sweet.

The thing is, an awful lot of people aren’t and weren’t people who could blend in. If you were poor, anything but white or Christian, or a woman who wanted to be more than a mother and homemaker, the world was a far rougher place.

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Pure Trash: The Story: Shawn Daniels in a Poor Boy’s Adventure: 1950s Rural New England is set in rural New England in the mid 1950s. It’s a sharp reminder how brutal our society could be to those deemed different or inferior. Not only was bullying common, it wasn’t considered wrong.

I remember how badly the poor kids in my class were treated when I was going through elementary school. How the teachers took every opportunity to humiliate kids whose clothing was tattered and whose shoes were worn. I remember feeling awful for those little girls and boys.

Not merely bullied by their classmates (who oddly, didn’t much notice the differences until the teachers pointed them out), but tormented by those who were supposed to care for and protect them. Bad enough for me and the handful of Jewish kids as Christmas rolled around. For them, it was the wrong time of year all year round.

In this short story, Shawn and Willie Daniels set off one Saturday in search of whatever they can find that they can turn into money. One man’s trash can be a poor child’s treasure. Bottles that people throw away could be collected and turned into ice cream and soda pop. Shawn is excited. It’s going to be a terrific day. Until the real world intrudes and Shawn is sharply and painfully reminded that he’s different … and not in a good way.

The story is about bullying, but more important, it’s about being different and being judged without compassion, without understanding or love.

It’s a very fast read. Only 21 pages, the story flies by. I was left wanting more. I want to know how the boys grow up. I want them to become CEOs of big corporations so they can thumb their noses at their whole miserable society. An excellent short story leaving plenty of room for thought.

Though set in 1955, the story is entirely relevant today. Despite much-touted progress, we still judge each other harshly based on appearance and assumptions. Everything changes … but maybe not so much.

For lots more information about the book and its author, stop by the authors’ website: 4 Writers and Readers. Pure Trash is available on Kindle and as a paperback from Amazon.
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Author, Ellie Pulikonda ~ Book: Split Second

“I’m pleased to share ‘Author Ellie Pulikonda’ and her fantastic book titled, Split Second, now available online on Amazon and Barnes and Noble. Ellie found me and was needing to have a wee bit of help with promoting her new book, so she can stay busy writing, and I can tell she is a delightful woman. And she is very serious about her craft as a writer, and the few months her book has been out, she has over 25 Amazon Fabulous Reviews already! I have added her book to my Goodreads book list and surely can not wait to read it myself.”

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Split Second ~ by Ellie Pulikonda

About The Book:
We all know of families that seem to be golden. Life touches them lightly and success is the norm.  But when such a family is faced with a potential tragedy, the seemingly perfect relationships break open to reveal flaws and shortcomings.

Liz Reynolds is the only daughter in such a family. Her attempted suicide forces her parents to examine how they have contributed to her desperate act. Old secrets they have kept from each other and from their daughter threaten every facet of their seemingly perfect lives. Do they have the courage to admit their own shortcomings in order to save Liz?

“Richard heaved a sigh of relief. Liz would get help, and he wouldn’t have to witness any more scenes like the one he had walked in on this afternoon. Maybe it was going to work out all right”.

When do a family’s secrets become too dangerous to keep? Find out in Ellie Pulikonda’s shocking debut novel, Split Second.

About The Author:
A prolific writer right out of the literary gate, Author Ellie Pulikonda’s first book is destined to be an Amazon Best Seller! With more than 20 Amazon Reviews already, Ellie has shown her literary strength with her very first book release of ~ Split Second. . .

Born in the Pacific Northwest of  Kennewick, Washington and graduated from Kennewick High School, Ellie went on to several colleges earning her degrees:
Knox College, Galesburg, IL BA, education ~University of Illinois, MA, Library Science University of Illinois, MS, Adult Education. She has been writing for work and pleasure for sometime now.

“I write for the pure joy of writing. At first, it was diaries, journals, and musings; then I graduated to short newspaper articles, some unpublished but staged mystery/comedy plays, scripts for amateur musical productions and now books”.

My life has encompassed many quite varied activities. I have worked in an attorney’s office, a travel agency, a welfare office, a newspaper office, as a teacher, a librarian, and finally as the director of a public library in Tipton, IN.  I am or have been a mother, daughter, single parent, wife, widow, partner, a grandmother and even a great-grandmother. Writing has been the one constant through all of these roles. So what are her literary goals as a writer for her books?

“My hope is that my readers will enjoy my books, and also be prodded to think about the actions and motives of my characters, to question their choices and why they made them, and to see the characters with greater insight”. . .

Ellie has started blogging again right here on WordPress!  https://elliepulikonda.wordpress.com

You can however connect with her on her Goodreads Author profile here: http://www.goodreads.com/ElliePulikondaAuthor/

And now on here new Facebook Author Like Page too!
https://www.facebook.com/SplitSecond.ElliePulikonda/likes?ref=page_internal
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Here Is What Amazon Reviewers Are Saying:

“Ellie has written an engrossing psychological mystery. The characters are very realistic and well-developed. I was involved in the story and couldn’t wait to see what happened next. The plot was well paced so there were surprises throughout the novel. I hope Ellie writes many more novels”.
“A must-read mystery with great depth of characters!” 5 Stars

“I love mysteries and this one has every element, making it a great read! Keeping you guessing until the end, it gives you just enough little clues along the way for the weary reader. But in addition to being a mystery, it also explores the psyche of the characters and their relationships, giving the novel a richness and depth to it. Yes, this is definitely a “page-turner”, but it also is a book that gets you thinking”!
“Great, suspenseful read”! 5 Stars

So don’t wait to grab your copy of this excellent new read before there all gone! It should be what your reading today. I hope you all enjoyed meeting and learning more about Author, Ellie Pulikonda, and I thank her for letting me share all about her here on my book blog here on Lyon Book and Social Media Promotions!
http://www.amazon.com/Split-Second-Ellie-Pulikonda-ebook/dp/B00KUEB01E

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“What I’ve been up to lately?” ~ Author, Christie S Anthony ~ New Book Release Book 2!

Christie says:
“First off I’ve finished writing Part 2 of my Disaster Series: Unnatural Disaster FINALLY it is now released on Amazon!”

wording mask edit2

Cool cover or nah?? LOL.

So now I’m working on the book trailer for it, and I’m getting ready to send the book to my new editor and get the book description written up so I can start promoting it. (Which now I have). . . .

In the meantime I also released another little book I wrote hopefully I hope you all will love titled: Uncharted Love!
And the e-book is only priced at $ 1.99! So go grab yours today.

uncharted love

Now I started 2 new books this week, I’ve been jotting down ideas for the final book in the “Disaster Book Series” I’ve got a ton of good ideas for it. I already have a cover for it, (which is amazing) I can’t post it here yet as its way too soon for a cover peak! lol

So all in all I’ve just been working (Walgreens working and Writing working) I seriously need a vacation or a really long nap because there is not enough hours in the day.

Oh Chasing Disaster will be available on iBooks and Nook this week :)
So hopefully I’ll attract some new readers! But that’s all for now short blog just wanted to let the world & readers to know I am still in the writing game!

*Author, Christie S. Anthony*  “Be Happy, Be Fearless, Be You!”

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All books now available online at Amazon, iBooks, and Barnes & Noble!
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So there you have it readers! A few more interesting authors and their books. I hope you find a new wonderful read while you are here visiting. As I can tell you all the books listed here and on my previous 4th of July book post are all worth your summer reading pleasure! And a few e-books are promo priced lower as well. . . .

HAPPY SUMMERTIME READING! ~ Lyon Book Promotions :-)

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A Happy 4th of July Guest Reviews & Interviews of Fantastic Authors!

Catherine Lyon Author/Writer Book Review Post, Just A Blog Post, New Book & Author Press Release

Hello Friends and Readers Everywhere!  Happy 4th of July Weekend!


A Special Author Reading Free For All Reviews & Interviews of The Many Fine Authors I Enjoy & Their Books! Enjoy & Happy Reading This 4th of JULY!

Interview ~ Review of Author, Janet DeLee and her new book: Taking Leaps . . .

Interviewer:  “I hardly ever accept review requests. This is partly because I prefer to spend my limited time reading books of my choosing, but mainly because I’m rarely sent a synopsis that piques my interest. And of course there’s always the sad but true point that an unknown book carries a higher risk of increased suck factor.”

However, for once, a review request caught my eye: the story of a group of dreamers in an Ideal Life Club, meeting to encourage each other towards their goals, with a few ghosts thrown in. I liked the cover photo (if not the title font), too. So I decided to take a leap and accept the request. AND just after replying in the affirmative, I looked DeLee up on Amazon and found she lives 3 hours away from me, she loves Italy and gardening, and this book is her second with the same main character. So I quickly emailed again and greedily requested a copy of her first book too. She replied and said she would send both as long as I read the new one first.

As promised, I read Taking Leaps & Finding Ghosts before Creating an Ideal Life. Though the writing style of TL&FG did not jive with my preferences, I still found myself engaged by the experiences of the characters. And I liked the suggested method of working towards making dreams reality:

1. Write a visualization of your goal.  2. Write a statement of affirmation.

3. Write at least one step towards actualization. (And, of course, take the steps you commit to.)

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Interview ~ Review of Author, Rosie Tirant-Longhurst of her Novel, Echoes from the Oasis. . .

Born in 1958 on Mahe island in the Seychelles, as the daughter of a policeman and the eldest in a family of four brothers and four sisters, Rosie Tirant-Longhurst grew up in the tiny Seaside village of Beau-Vallon on the northern coast of the island.

She started her working life in 1975 as a nurse at Victoria Hospital and has been living in UK for the past 20 years.

What theme does your book explore and what do you hope to evoke in the readers?

The theme is historical, romantic and spiritual. The readers would discover the essence of true love. Experience another world of exotic beauty and the journey to the core of their beings. I do hope that the readers would see the connections between mankind, the marvels of nature and God.

What prompted you to be an author and where you influenced by a person, artist or genre?

“I became an author because I wanted to preserve the old way of life. I wanted my children, grandchildren and the world to know the real Seychelles and its people. I was not influenced by anyone in particular, although the central character in the story is a nurse, and I have drawn on some personal experiences from my nursing days.”

If you could compare your book to any other existing works, which ones would it be, and why?

One of my readers has compared my work to Catherine Cookson’s books written in Northumberland in UK, because of the descriptive way I set the scene. Whilst, an Editorial review from TODAY in Seychelles quotes : “Her penmanship is particularly remarkable in the manner in which she paints the historical backdrop to the stage setting as she introduces the principal players whose lives and passions intertwine with the historical events of that period .”

Tell us about your latest work and what inspired you.

“Echoes from the Oasis” is my debut novel. It is the first book in the series, with future titles taking the story of Seychelles and the Seychellois people to the present age. I am inspired by the natural beauty of the Seychelles islands, the unique culture of the Seychellois people, and how our faith has molded us. Book One starts in 1912, and also features the outbreak of the First World War, and the role played by the Seychellois people in this conflict. We were a colony of Great Britain during those times . . . .
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Special Interview of Award Winning Author, Jack Barr on CNN & CNN iReport of his book, Failing
at Fatherhood. . . Featured on CNN.com.

Dad’s Confession: I almost left my disabled daughter.

“The day my daughter Marley was born, I went straight to the nursery and held her for well over two hours. I just held her and cried because I had never experienced such a love for anyone or anything in my life.

I think the nurses thought I was crazy because eventually they told me I needed to go be with my wife. Three days later, before we left the hospital, the pediatric doctor told us she thought Marley might have Down syndrome.”

My reaction?  “Are you freaking kidding me?”

I immediately had a panic attack and was taken to the emergency room. Thoughts were racing through my mind: How could my perfect daughter have Down syndrome? How could they not know for sure? How could the general ultrasound, which said we had a 1-in-18,000 chance of having a child with Down syndrome, be wrong? Why was God punishing me? How could I live with a daughter that was going to be rejected by everyone … including myself?

I entered into a deep depression for the first year of Marley’s life. My wife became concerned about me, so I started taking antidepressants and seeing a counselor. I contemplated leaving my wife, or giving my daughter up for adoption, and suicide. I would lie awake at night thinking about my future, and searching for a reason to live. I believed all the negative things the world told me about Down syndrome, and viewed it as a curse on my family. The entire time, I couldn’t stop thinking about how this would change my life!

But the truth is, I felt badly about myself. At one point, I wrote a letter to myself asking why things had to be this way. I prayed for God to take my worthless life in exchange for removing Marley’s extra chromosome. I would even quietly lie awake at night contemplating how I would feel if she suddenly stopped breathing while she slept. Finally, one Saturday morning, when Marley was about 2 months old, I got up and told my wife I was going for a walk.

I had no intention of coming back. I was going to leave my wife and daughter.

I couldn’t do it anymore. But then, after I left, I started having second thoughts, and that’s when I remembered that my wife had signed up for an online support group. I ended up spending the next two hours talking on the phone about my daughter and family with a man I had never met. He had a 2-year-old with Down syndrome.

I cannot explain it, but after talking to him for two hours I had the strength to go home and face another day. For the next six months, I got up and faced one day at a time.

Years ago, my father said to me, “If you want to fix a problem, then do something about it.”

I followed his advice. First, I tried to gain as much knowledge as I could about raising a child with Down syndrome. Next, I started calling every family I could find that had a child with Down syndrome. I owe a great deal to these families because they were willing to talk to me despite the 12-hour time difference between Bangkok and the States.

I also started forcing myself to interact with my daughter. She was desperate for me to start loving her, and she continued loving me until I broke down and did the same. I was scared to accept my daughter because that would mean accepting her disability. But the reality was the only thing keeping me from loving my daughter was my own ignorance.

Once I overcame my own selfish expectations for my daughter, I slowly began to see the beautiful girl who would change my life forever.

And finally, I talked to God. I talked to Him just like He was sitting in a chair beside me because that was the true barrier in my life. I was honest with God throughout the entire process, and that is when I started finding peace.

Healing is a process and a journey. I would have never experienced this life-changing transformation if Marley had not been born.

It is true, there are difficult times having a daughter with Down syndrome. But it also true that she is very much like any other child. Marley smiles, laughs, plays, is able to meet many developmental milestones (albeit her own pace, with her own style), makes mistakes, and, most importantly, completes our family.

She literally brightens my day every time I see her. She’s now 2 years old, and at this age all children develop at different rates. Marley can walk; swim; sign and speak words; throw and kick a ball; follow simple directions and throw tantrums. She also knows how to manipulate her grandparents. But she has not learned how to run or jump. She is taking thyroid medication and has a small heart defect.

The key is, she is very similar to most toddlers her age and every child with Down syndrome is different just like every child is different.

Before our summer break, she passed an entrance exam to start at a British preschool in September with her peers who are not labeled as “special-needs children.” In my opinion, these limitations we put on children with Down syndrome are outdated and lead to a lack of acceptance in our society.

The medical community focuses on so many of the challenges associated with Down syndrome that we develop an unnecessary fear — but these are only differences. The truth is, I am a better person today because of my daughter, my daughter who has Down syndrome. I am thankful for a wife that was willing to push me to change, and support me when I struggled. . . .

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Tim Jopling

Interview ~ Review of New UK Indie Author, Tim Jopling. His New Book Series Akira-Deane Thrillers. Book 1 UNDERGROUND MURMURS . . . .

How a minor character from 24 launched a writing career for Tim Jopling  – @tim_jopling – Twitter

When 24 started on BBC2 just over ten years ago I was blown away by the attention to detail and how serious it was compared to some of the films I had seen around that time that really could be classed as spoofs. As the series progressed there were many memorable scenes and characters but it was a small character that caught my attention.

Half way through the series the main characters family are based at a safe house with CTU Agent Ted Paulson and his partner Ron Breeher given the task to protect them. Straight away I was really impressed with these two guys who had worked together for years and were trusted by the main character. The Ted Paulson character in particular seemed to embody the look and attitude of a government agent and the scene where the safe house is attacked completely blew me away. Paulson had to stalk through the safe house to find the attackers which had me on the edge of my seat.

From that moment on I was determined to write something that had excitement, darkness, and grit. It’s funny though, I have yet to meet anyone that remembers the character of Ted Paulson let alone agree on just how good those scenes were. To be fair he was only in 2 episodes!

Which actor/actress would you like to see playing the lead character from your book Underground Murmurs?

That’s a tough question! For Akira I always thought Michael Fassbender would be suitable as he could bring that element of darkness to the role. Dominic West would make a good Thomas Deane with maybe Tom Hiddleston as Olsen.

What do you think people will enjoy most about the book?

I’d like to think they will enjoy the relationships that exist between the characters and find that although there is action and lots of cliff-hangers the story (and all those in this series) are ultimately about relationships, broken or otherwise! Akira’s character in particular is one that is proving popular with readers. Akira is a complex character and you never really find out much about his past, and the fact that he hears the voice of his dead wife in his mind and she directs him to follow her wishes does give it a few layers! Other than the characters I’d like think the story is set at a fast pace and the reader will enjoy travelling to London, Oman, Poland and Russia to follow what happens.

Which established writers do you enjoy reading and feel have perhaps contributed to your style?

I’ve always been a big fan of Michael Crichton and Ian Fleming who created James Bond. Lately I’ve been reading some of the Kurt Wallander novels by Henning Mankell which are fantastic and I also enjoy reading Robert Harris’s novels with ‘The Ghost’ being one I really enjoyed. I recently saw an interview with Lee Child on BBC Breakfast about how he got started which was really interesting so I’m currently reading the first Jack Reacher novel ‘Killing Floor’ which I would recommend.

A lot of authors set themselves certain daily or weekly goals in regards to number of pages or words written. Do you take this approach to your writing?

That may well be an effective way of writing but I’ve always found I need to get into the right frame of mind first which often comes through music which in turn starts the thinking process of story lines and in particular scenes from a story. I tend to be quite visual and whilst listening to music or watching a film or some TV I will ‘see’ a scene played out in my mind and will need to write that down or even write that scene as soon as I can. Once I’ve started writing in that way I then tend to carry on from there. I find this gives me more of a quality output rather than setting myself a target which in the past when I’ve done that I’ve found doesn’t produce my best work.

What do you find to be the hardest part about writing and what is the most rewarding aspect?

I’ve found that the research can be quite challenging sometimes and there have been occasions where I’ve tried to be too clever and backed myself into a corner in terms of the stories development so planning it out is important. In terms of what’s rewarding, when I’m in full flow and making progress on a particular storyline I just enjoy every minute of it. I really care about these characters and to try and explain their emotions I do my best to mentally put myself in their shoes as much as I can and feel what they feel. What’s been great is I have received feedback from some of my readers and seeing that they enjoyed it as well.

What are you working on currently?

I’ve started work on the next novel in the series, Rogue Retrieval which starts with a dramatic and emotional scene and then goes back on itself so the reader can follow the events and find out how that first scene came about. I’m also working on three short stories that I plan to publish on Amazon as a short story collection. These stories follow immediately after ‘Underground Murmurs’ and focus on some of the lesser characters but still feature the main ones too. It’s been a lot of fun returning these characters to find out what happens next. . . .

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So there you have it readers! Some interesting reading about some new fine authors and their fantastic books and novels. Please visit my “Month of July Hot Book Picks List” page here on my blog to find where you can purchase these excellent reads. Most are available online now on Amazon Books, and Barnes & Noble as well. I hope you all have a Fun, Safe and Exciting 4th of July!


God Bless you and America,
Author, Catherine Townsend-Lyon
“Lyon Book and Social Media Promotions”

“Sharing Some Media/Entertainment News and Still Hard To Believe MJ is Gone”

Catherine Lyon Author/Writer Just A Blog Post, News Around The Web ,

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Hello Friends, Readers, and Welcome All,

August 1958 ~ June, 25th 2009
Michael Jackson, R.I.P

Now you are most likely wondering why I would want to share anything about a musician and entertainer right?
A singer that had so much controversy around him. Well, it’s personal.

Besides Michael being The King of Pop, I actually got to see him briefly. Well ok, he did walk past all of us dancers trying out for the Jackson 5 World Tour, the last tour with Michael as lead singer. I went for open call try-out in May 1981. I had graduated from high school earlier then my classmates, March of 1981. Of course I was in much better shape then I am today.  I was only 18 and half years old. Everyone looks great at 18. And I was an avid dancer, and I had won many contests and dance awards for free style. So my BFF and I decided to go to open auditions for the Jackson 5 Triumph Tour that was to run from July thru Sept. 1981, and I wanted to be one of the dancers for the tour!! Crazy right?

BEST TIME EVER! We had a blast, and it was an experience I won’t ever forget. My BFF Deb didn’t make call back, but I made it to 2 call backs! I didn’t make it through to be part of the tour, but I made the top 75! So, when Michael passed away, it really hit me hard. I never believed all the negative things he was accused of, but I will admit he did do a few things through the years that made me think, “Michael what were you thinking?” .  .  .  .

So now it has been 6 years that he has been “Gone To Soon,” and I still love listening to his music, as it brings back many wonderful times I had through the 80’s. I still find it hard to believe I have been out of high school now for 24 years, and MJ is no longer with us.

Where does the time go! So I wanted to do a little Tribute blog post about MJ, and share my personal experience to show how much I loved him and his music when he was here, and how much I still love and miss him now that he has passed.

Kind of “corny” I know but at least I have that fabulous experience and actually seen him walk by all of us dancers with that beautiful smile on his face, the face before all the drama. At least now he is at peace. As he cared for so many, and all of Gods creations and our earth.

He truly is and was a ‘One Of Kind Human Being’ .  .  .  . R.I.P.


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Michael Jackson ~ Passed June 25th 20 2009 ~ R.I.P