Author Interview: L.B. Gschwandtner

Today I welcome author L.B. Gschwandtner back for an interview.  So grab your favorite cuppa and see what she has to say.

How did you celebrate when you found out The Naked Gardener would be published?
Being an Indie author makes publishing a completely different paradigm. You don’t have to wait for anyone else to give you permission to publish and that’s a very empowering position. I celebrate every day when I see my book sales totals. And I especially celebrate when strangers write reviews about their experience reading “The Naked Gardener.” It’s been an uplifting time for me so my celebration is ongoing.


How would you describe The Naked Gardener to others?
Artist Katelyn Cross loves Greg Mazur and he loves her. He wants to be married but a previous relationship that went sour has made Katelyn overly cautious about any permanent commitment. And what about Greg’s first wife? He lost her to cancer and Katelyn worries that he’s only looking for a replacement. What’s a girl to do? Canoe down a river with five gal pals, camp out, catch fish, talk about life and men. The problem is, a river can be as unpredictable as any relationship and just as hard to manage. On their last day, when the river turns wild, the women face the challenge of a lifetime and find that staying alive means saving themselves first while being open to help from a most unlikely source. As Katelyn navigates the raging water, she learns how to overcome her fear of change in a world where nothing stays the same. When Katelyn returns to her garden, she’ll face one more obstacle and the naked gardener will meet the real Greg Mazur.

Where did the idea for The Naked Gardener come from?

At a certain point in my life, I knew three women who gardened naked. They all had different takes on why, so I began to think about a woman named Katelyn Cross who goes to her garden naked and what that might mean and in what ways it would be liberating for her and important in her life. I chose one of the women I knew as the inspiration for the environment Katelyn creates. The garden symbolizes her world and the rocks in it keep getting in her way. So she has to deal with life's obstacles, even in her garden. Stripping off her clothes is an act of disencumbering, of removing outer layers that restrict the inner person.
When Katelyn says: “I never told anyone. Just kept going to my garden naked. Like some spirit hovering over the land,” she is referring to the spirit within that needs a voice.


Did you plan this book out or do you just write and see where it took you?

I plan and plot and then I let the writing loose. It’s a combination of both.


Do you get time to read? What are your favorite types of books to read?

I love to read although I’m a slow reader. I tend to think while I read. So I stop a lot. I like literature. I love to read fiction that’s set in a totally different world from my own. I wish I could read in different languages but I do like translations of books written in languages other than English.


What is your favorite room in your house?
That’s a terribly difficult question. I designed the house I live in. It’s in a fantastic setting on a high ridge looking across a tidal creek that’s almost a mile wide, and then the view also looks down to the mouth of the creek across the Potomac River to the Maryland cliffs. The sun and moon rise in the east where the house faces. The house is built on stilts so it sits in the treetops. So every room is my favorite one because from any room the view frames a wonderful vista as if you’re looking at many different paintings. I couldn’t pick a favorite room. They’re all like my children. No favorites here.


What is your favorite spot to read in?
I like to read in bed propped against lots of pillows.


What is your favorite snack food?

Chocolate, chocolate, and chocolate, in that order.


What is your favorite season?
Again, a tough choice. Because the house is so fabulous and the setting so perfect, I love all the seasons. Winter has arrived and the trees are bare so we see an enormous expanse of water. When the creek freezes, that’s wonderful. Flocks of ducks will arrive soon. And tundra swans. The geese are here already. Spring is magic. Everything turns green and fresh and the blooming begins. Summer we kayak on the creek and the fish jump and the turtles’ are swimming around. And fall is full of color and we celebrate with a huge pyre at our dock. People come from all over to join us every year. I love all the seasons.


Do you have a schedule for writing each day or do you just do it when you can?
I write when I can but I do write every day. It’s not on a rigid schedule. I miss it if I don’t write.


Any book signings/conferences/public/blog appearances in the near future?
Well there have been many blog reviews and interviews and more to come. Here are a few I’ve done already:
Psychotic State
http://www.psychoticstate.net/2010/11/book-review-naked-gardener-by-lb.html


The Next best Book Club Blog – Lori Hettler
http://thenextbestbookblog.blogspot.com/2010/10/naked-gardener-giveaway.html


Luxury reading
http://luxuryreading.com/curlupwithluxury/


Interview – David Wisehart
http://kindle-author.blogspot.com/2010/09/kindle-author-interview-l-b.html


http://fictionfordessert.blogspot.com/2010/08/author-interview-lb-gschwandtner.html


excerpt = http://fictionfordessert.blogspot.com/2010/08/naked-gardener-excerpt.html


Dailycheapreads
http://dailycheapreads.com/2010/10/05/the-naked-gardener-mainstream-womens-fiction/


bibliotica
http://www.bibliotica.com/2010/10/review-the-naked-gardener-by-l-b-gschwandtner/


goodreads LB Book page
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8697468-the-naked-gardener


Do you have a new book in the works?
I’m about to publish a middle grade novel titled “Page Truly and The Journey To Nearandfar.” It’s a lovely adventure story about a sensible girl and her sassy, unpredictable tooth fairy.
And I’m working on a novel with another writer. It’s titled “Foxy’s Tale,” a funny take on women’s fiction with a vampire twist.


Anything else you would like to say?
The writer I’m working with on the new novel actually talked me into going the Indie route to publishing. I’m really glad she did. The experience of publishing The Naked Gardener has been great fun. I get up in the morning and I’m excited to start my writing day, to promote my book, and to see the sales flow in. It’s all a wonderful feeling.


Thanks so much for agreeing to do an interview with me.
Thank you so much!

Guest Post: Why I Like To Write by L B Gschwandtner

Please help me welcome author L. B. Gschwandtner to My Reading Room today.  L.B. is the author of the book, The Naked Gardener which I will be reviewing soon and I will also be interviewing L.B. tomorrow so please check back then as well.

Why I Like To Write by L B Gschwandtner

At some point every day there comes a time when my mind feels muddy, as if I’ve been asleep and awakened in a strange room. I feel a little disoriented, not quite confused, but unclear. Thoughts don’t seem tethered to a goal or action and when I become aware of this state of mind, I know it’s time to sit down and write.

So, at first, writing is a way of reestablishing clarity. Which is odd because, as any writer will tell you, clarity is the last result of the writing process. If you’re the kind of writer who plots, that represents a kind of clarity. But just because you have a general idea of where your work of fiction is going does not lead you straight to clarity. You take a lot of detours along the way.

And that’s the second reason I like writing. The detours. The writing process not only allows detours, it demands them. During the detours, you discover what you’re thinking as you unlock layer upon layer of admissions, questions, relationships, feelings, illogical leaps, and mental puzzles. By letting all these tumble out onto a page, you begin to sense the story you’re trying to tell.

And that’s the third reason I like writing. Telling a story. What a complex event is a story. So many elements. You have the characters. You have what each of them wants, or think they want. You have the obstacles to them getting what they want. And you have the underlying theme that, through your characters, your story is exploring. If you’ve read any of the great works of literature, you may not spot the theme right away but it’s there. Or it may be stated right up front. “It was the best of times; it was the worst of times.” The theme is the human condition at any given time and for all times. The French Revolution was just the backdrop.

And that brings us back to clarity. Once you have a plot, you know your characters, you’ve established a setting, and you have developed your theme, the writing can take off.

And that’s the final reason I like writing. That time when you can just go with it, let it loose, let your fingers tap away at the keyboard. You won’t keep everything. You’ll probably rewrite many times. But in that process there is magic. And when that happens, the fuzzy, unclear, lost in space feeling leaves and you feel as if you’ve been lifted off the ground and you can fly as well as any bird. It’s a great feeling. That’s why I like writing.

November Summary

November Summary 

1. Cate and the Lost Colony by Lisa Klein - read 11/3/10
2. Calico Pennants by David A. Ross - read 11/4/10 
3. Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney - read 11/5/10
4. Thrill of the Chase by Christina Crooks - read 11/6/10
5. Last Exit in New Jersey by C.E. Grundler - read 11/11/10
6. Christmas at Harrington's by Melody Carlson - read 11/16/10
7. A Cedar Key Christmas by Terri DuLong - read 11/17/10
8. First Family by David Baldacci - read 11/19/10
9. Turn of the Karmic Wheel by Monica Brinkman - read 11/21/10
10.  Cryer's Cross by Lisa McMann - read 11/23/10
11.  Halo by Alexandra Adornetto - read 11/24/10
12. This Gorgeous Game by  Donna Freitas - read 11/25/10
13. The Active, Creative Child by Stephanie Vlahov - read 11/27/10

Review books:11

Library Books: 2
Books from my bookshelf: 0

Favorite of the month: This Gorgeous Game by Donna Freitas - it was powerful and creepy and very interesting.

This was a slower month for me, but still a good month.  I was plagued by a reading funk in the middle of the month and then it became busy around the house with Thanksgiving.  I'm getting back into the groove with reading and reviewing so hopefully December will be a better month!

So how was your reading month?

Author Interview: Laura Griffin (Unforgivable, The Tracers series)

Please join me in welcoming author Laura Griffin today to My Reading Room.  Laura has the third novel in her Tracers series coming out today, Unforgivable.  So check that out and check out my review coming soon, but until then, please join Laura and myself for a quick chat.

Thanks for inviting me to hang out with you in your reading room! Always fun to talk to book lovers.

I know these aren’t your first books, but how did you celebrate when you found out the Tracers series would be published?

Fun question. When I finally heard from my agent that my publisher wanted the Tracers stories, I was so elated, so I dropped everything and went out for Tex-Mex and margaritas.

How would you describe Unforgivable to others?

Unforgivable is about a very passionate woman, Mia Voss, who has devoted her life to helping put repeat, violent offenders behind bars. She’s a DNA expert, and her unique abilities have helped homicide cops and cold case detectives solve some of their very toughest cases. When Mia finds herself the target of a vicious criminal, she turns to a cop she knows for help… Ric Santos, but they have a past together, which complicates things. Unforgivable is both a mystery and a romance… my favorite kind of story!

Where did the idea for Unforgivable come from?

The first spark of the idea came when I was interviewing a cold case detective. I asked him how he prioritized the hundreds of unsolved cases in his jurisdiction, and he said that sometimes it’s a new clue that comes to light and other times it’s a family that applies pressure, year after year, so that detectives don’t forget about their loved one. I wanted to write a story about a woman who lost someone close to her and became committed to the idea of seeking justice for victims of violent crime.


How much research have you had to do for this series of books?

Each story involves different kinds of research, but I love all of it. For my current story, I’m researching SWAT teams and snipers. The next story will have parts about forensic anthropology, or bones. Every time I set out to write a new book, I like to learn about what my characters do, whether that character is a hair stylist or an FBI agent.

I read Unspeakable and have Untraceable on my TBR pile. When I read Unspeakable I was introduced to Mia and I can’t wait to read the book about her. Was she an easy heroine to write?

Mia is smart and gifted at what she does, but she isn’t your typical kick-ass law enforcement heroine. She hates guns. She doesn’t know how to fight. I enjoyed writing her because she has a certain vulnerability, but she’s also very tough.

Did you plan this book out or do you just write and see where it took you?

I had some vague ideas about what I wanted to do, but as always, the book kind of develops a direction of its own. I never plan out every detail because so much changes as I go.


Do you get time to read? What are your favorite types of books to read?

I love all types of books. At the moment I’m reading a thriller called 61 Hours by Lee Child. After that, I’m going to start a book about burial recovery training at the National Forensic Academy. And then it’s The Help by Kathryn Stockett.

What is your favorite room in your house?

My office. It’s filled with books.

What is your favorite spot to read in?

My armchair.

What is your favorite snack food?

Chocolate.

What is your favorite season?

Don’t have one.

Do you have a schedule for writing each day or do you just do it when you can?

I start in the early morning, finish up by mid-afternoon, and then sit back down at my computer in the evening.

Any book signings/conferences/public/blog appearances in the near future?

I just returned from a wonderful weekend in Dallas with a number of terrific authors, including Sherrilyn Kenyon and Dianna Love, who were my co-authors for the Deadly Promises anthology. It was fun to meet readers and sign copies of the book. I’m sure I will put another book signing on the schedule for later this winter.

Do you have a new book in the works (please tell me there is another Tracers book - I love this series)?

I am so glad to hear that! Yes, there are more. I’ve been so excited about the success of the series, and my publisher has asked me to write three more Tracers books, starting with Snapped in 2011.

Anything else you would like to say?

I should probably answer the question I get asked most by readers: Do you have to read the Tracers books in order? The answer is nope, not necessary. The characters overlap, but each suspense plot stands on its own, so feel free to dive right in!

Thanks so much for having me. I hope you enjoy Unforgivable as much as I enjoyed writing it!

About the book:

For Mia Voss, tracing killers is business.  But her work just got personal.

At first, Mia thinks it is just bad luck when her already lousy day ends with a carjacking, but what seems like a random incident is followed by another sinister episode.  As a DNA expert, Mia has made it her mission to put away vicious criminals, but suddenly, she has become the target of one.  The only way to protect the people she loves most is to deliberately destroy her reputation and risk letting a killer walk free.

Mia is the sexiest, most intriguing woman Detective Ric Santos has ever met, and he can tell she’s lying--and that she’s scared.  There was a time when Mia trusted Ric—but that was before Ric let his turbulent past get between them.  Now, Mia must face her own past, as the key to catching a sadistic madman may lie within one of her long-buried cold cases.  Only she can uncover the truth, but first she will have trust Ric with her secrets… and her life.

Book Review: The Active, Creative Child by Stephanie D. Vlahov

The Active Creative Child by Stephanie Vlahov

Publisher: Hohm Press

Publish Date: April 10, 2005

105 pages
Non-Fiction, Parenting

My Review:
Why I read this: I'm not sure that I would say The Active Creative Child is full of new ideas that will just blow you away, but it is full of little nuggets of wisdom that I think are easier to incorporate into daily life more than any new child-rearing strategy.  What the book is full of is tidbits of advice on adjusting your life to a more challenging child without changing your life, without going overboard and really changing your life or catering to one child over the other.  These are all struggles I have.  I adore my youngest but he does challenge me.  Sometimes his antics are adorable and sometimes they embarrass me completely.  One think I think Ms. Vlahov does very well is show parents that they are not alone.  That is  what the book taught me the most - it may me fell like I was in a sisterhood with her and many other mothers dealing with active creative children.

The book reads quickly and easily.  Ms. Vlahov does not get bogged down in research or terminology an average mother won't understand.  She keeps it real and easy-going so you feel that you are right there with her having a girlfriend chat and sharing your woes.  After the comfort factor of the book comes the learning factor.  I wasn't quite sure what I learned after reading the book, but now several days later I realize that I have learned a lot because I am incorporating little ideas into my daily life.  Not changing my life or my sons' lives in any way, but things I can change to make me more understanding of my child and to better communicate with him.  I can see me continue to use these ideas as well into the future.  The ideas are simple but great, they will be easy to incorporate and there is no need to use all the ideas at once.

I think Ms. Vlahov has written a book on exactly what she knows, dealing with an Active Creative Child and I think this book is a must-read for any mom at a loss.  Ms. Vlahov will make you feel better about yourself as a parent or at least not as alone and while she does that she offers helpful advice for day-to-day life with children that can challenge you, entertain you, make you smile, make you laugh and make you cry all within the span of minutes.  I can't recommend this book enough.  I am glad I got a chance to read it and will keep it on my bookshelf when I need a refresher in the future as well.

My Rating: 4.5/5.0


About the Book:
With an active,creative child, parents and teachers need to be flexible, energetic and smart! Here is a practical handbook for coping, establishing realistic boundaries and avoiding labels when you have a really inquisitive child. Active/creative children are often misunderstood by the medical community, by schools, and by their own parents. Their energy can be astounding; their curiosity is boundless -- and channeling that energy is necessary. This is encouragement and genuine help to support a child's natural curiosity and energy: * work with your child's energy, don't squelch it * keep your own ego from interfering with your child's passion * how to avoid over-stimulation * how to choose the best artistic outlets * how to choose the best teachers
About the Author:
Stephanie Vlahov, who holds an MS in Psychology/Theatre Arts, is a native Californian, a watercolorist, writer, tender of the hearth and a mother who also runs a recruiting business from home. She has travelled to other countries to observe how creative children are raised around the world.

FTC Information: I received this book through Pump Up Your Book Promotion for review.  I have Amazon links on my review pages but I do not make any money from these because of NC laws.  I put them solely for people to check out the books on a retail site.

Book Feature: Scourge by David H. Burton (releases tomorrow)

Scourge (A Grim Doyle Adventure) by David H. Burton
Official Release: November 29, 2010

Ebook

I have this in my tbr pile and plan to read it and review it later this week.

About the Book:

Two dads, five siblings, and goggles!

Grim Doyle has always known his life was not exactly "normal", and things get even more curious when he discovers a set of stones that sweep him and his

family to the fantasy, steampunk world of Verne - a place they had escaped from years ago. Now that they've returned, Grim and his siblings hide from the

evil Lord Victor and his minions. And while learning about Jinns, Mystics, and the power of absinth they try to discover who is trying to kill them with the deadly Scourge.

Scourge is the first novel in the Grim Doyle Adventure series by author, David H. Burton. He can be found online at http://davidhburton.com

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The link to purchase:

Amazon Kindle release is available here:

http://www.amazon.com/Scourge-Grim-Doyle-Adventure-ebook/dp/B004AHKCVQ

Print version should be released in 2 weeks time.

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Book trailer:

Book trailer can be seen here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Qbj7qqwBr0

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Personalized version of Scourge (from the author):

I am offering a personalized ebook version of Scourge at my site. With it comes an autographed dedication page as well as a fun feature where I alter the

name of one of the minor characters in the story with the name of the purchaser.

The link to purchase is here: http://davidhburton.com/?page_id=4113

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And of course, my site is at http://davidhburton.com

Book Feature: When No One is Watching by Joseph Hayes

When No One is Watching by Joseph Hayes

Publisher: Synergy Books

Publish Date: October 5, 2010

Trade Paperback, 320 pages

Since I'm running slightly behind, I thought I would bring back my book feature posts.  It's simply information about a book I have in my queue to review.  So check this one out, doesn't it sound good?  I'm getting ready to start it so watch for the review soon.

About the Book:

On the eve of announcing his run for Congress, a charismatic Chicago politician causes a deadly accident. Panicked, he frames his best friend, a good-hearted alcoholic, and flees the scene. As one man tries to pick up the pieces of his shattered life, the other embarks on a meteoric rise to political stardom. But when a dogged detective digs deeper into the case, the political superstar must decide just how far he is willing to go to keep his dark secret and avoid an explosive scandal that could ruin him and rock the entire nation. In this suspenseful thriller, author Joseph Hayes asks, is "the greater good" just a lie we tell ourselves to justify the sins we commit when no one is watching?

With all the pressure surrounding this wedding, Bella's not sure she's going to make it through. Add her starstruck sister, her feuding aunt and uncle, and a trio of large, sequined church ladies with even bigger personalities, and you've got a recipe for disaster—and a lot of laughs. This hilarious romantic comedy is sure to delight both fans and new readers alike.

About the Author:

Since obtaining his law degree from Berkeley, Joseph Hayes has practiced law in Chicago, San Diego and Houston. He currently serves the chief ethics officer for a Fortune 1000 company. Hayes resides in The Woodlands, Texas, with his wife, Susan, and their three children

FTC Information: I received this book from Phenix and Phenix Literary Publicists for review.  I have Amazon links on my review pages but I do not make any money from these because of NC laws.  I put them solely for people to check out the books on a retail site.