Monsterland Reanimated by Michael Okon Character Interview with Wyatt Baldwin with GIVEAWAY

Q: Readers were glad to know you survived the original Monsterland theme park. Did you have your doubts?

I was surrounded by werewolves, vampires, and zombies. I had a rifle pointed at my head. My best friend turned into a werewolf. Yes, to say the least, I had my doubts.

Q: What’s changed for you since you walked away from your near death experience in Monsterland?

Well, I know what happened to my father. Frankly, I’m even more confused now than I was before. Also, the world is in disarray. I need to find out what’s going on outside Copper Valley, but Carter and my mom won’t let me go. So annoying. Then there’s Jade. She’s not what I expected her to be.

Q: When we left you, you were a geeky high school senior. How are you different now?

I’ve decapitated a werewolf. I’ve grown a bit since my last days of whatever is left of school.

Q: Much of the world’s future now depends on you and your friends. Did you ever imagine you’d be put in such an important role?

Not in a million years. I have a long road ahead of me. I’m what most people call a Hero’s Journey. I’m just getting started, and the first thing I need to do, is find out what the hell is going on outside Copper Valley. Rumor is a slimy purple substance is sucking the life out of all the surrounding towns.

Q: On the lighter side of things, how are things going with Jade? Or can readers expect to read about a new love interest?

Um. So yeah. Jade. She’s um, changed a bit, and not the same girl I was expecting her to be. As for a new romance…well, I’m not at liberty to say…*wink, wink*

Michael Okon is a bestselling author and screenwriter. Monsterland Reanimated, Book Two in the Monsterland series, was just released on April 13, 2018 and promises to be bigger and badder than Book One. Michael invites readers to connect with him on his website. 

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Author Interview with Educational Children's Book Author Carole P. Roman

Please tell us a bit about your Countries books:

The If You Were Me books are an introduction to customs and culture around the world. It is a series designed to place children in the same shoes as a child in different parts of the world, letting them experience the things that are important in their lives. The idea of countries, borders, and customs is hard for young ones to grasp, so I broke it into various subjects that small children could identify with- what their name might be, where the country is located, what they would call their parents, what kind of food would they eat, what one thing identifies the country, like a landmark. They finish each book able to identify both similarities and differences. With the added benefit of having multiple books, they can compare how life is all over the world.

Have you always known you wanted to be a writer?

I am an avid reader. I will read everything. I don’t think I had the confidence to write until Createspace came along and said, you don’t need to worry about rejection- we will give you a platform. I have written my entire life, plays, stories, I did a vanity published romance years ago, but with Amazon, KDP and Createspace, I can now do it successfully.

How did you come up with the idea to write books about children from different countries?

I was in Vegas for a family vacation. My grandchildren and I were walking on the strip and when my oldest grandson saw the Eiffel Tower, he asked what it was. I tried to explain national identity and realized his four-year old mind couldn’t understand what I was talking about. I ruminated all night and at about dawn, both the format and  the name of the series came to me. I wrote Mexico, France, Norway, Turkey, and Kenya that first week, wanting to make sure I explored the “four corners of the earth.”

What do you enjoy most about writing for children?

I love their discovery. I enjoy hearing from parents that they are having fun reading the books and learning right along with their children. When I hear that I created an opening to further discussion or exploration to learn more, or somehow one of my books helped a child deal with peer pressure, problem-solving, or any other kind of distress, I feel completed.

What kinds of things do you like to do when you’re not writing?

I work in a family business, so I am pretty busy with my day job. I do yoga, play with my grandchildren, have lunch with my daughters-in-law, beta-read my son’s books (he is author Michael Phillip Cash). I promote all of our books on social media and keeping our names in the spotlight. I play a wicked game of craps and love Words with Friends.

Who are some of your favorite children’s book authors?

I love JK Rowling. I read Harry Potter when it first came out and was not impressed with it. However, my grandson was having a reading issue in school. I started reading with him on Facetime nightly and now a year and over twenty books later- we are reading for an hour together every night. I adored harry Potter after reading it with him, and will admit was teary when we finished the last book. We are reading the Percy Jackson series right  now. He enjoys the Hilo books by Judd Winnick. I loved Martha Doesn’t Like to Share by Samantha Berber, Knuffle Bunny by Mo Wiiems and No, David, by David Shannon are some of my favorites too.

What types of books do you like to read?

I am a big history reader, both fiction and nonfiction. My entire life was spent reading blocks of genres. My 20’s were filled with science fiction, my thirties were spy thrillers, my forties were all about historical romance, fifties were the years of historical fiction and now we are in a free-for all- I’ll read anything.

What would readers be surprised to know about you?

I can work on my books and have an entire conversation while being creative. I am the Queen of Multitasking.

How can readers connect with you?

Website

Facebook

AmazonAuthor Page

Twitter

Goodreads

What are you currently working on?

I have just completed If You Were Me and Lived in...Cuba, as well as If You Were Me and Lived in..the Ancient Mayan Empire. I am finishing up an early reader chapter book- my first called Oh Susannah: It’s in the Bag and I am starting another self-help with my social media partner called Self- Publishing- As Easy as ABC. I am also doing my own Blog radio show called Let’s Say Hello to our Neighbors highlighting children’s books. http://www.podfireradio.com/

What advice would you give aspiring authors?

Don’t be afraid, join a good discussion group on Goodreads and ask questions. Write and when you are done, be prepared to wear multiple hats, otherwise no one will hear about all your hard work.

ABOUT CAROLE P. ROMAN

Carole P. Roman is the award-winning author of the Captain No Beard series. Both Captain No Beard-An Imaginary Tale of a Pirate's Life and Captain No Beard and the Aurora Borealis have received the Kirkus Star of Exceptional Merit. The first book in the series was named to Kirkus Reviews Best 2012. Captain No Beard and the Aurora Borealis has been named to Kirkus Reviews Best of 2015. Each book in the series has won numerous awards including the NABE Pinnacle Award, IAN Award, Moonbeam Award 2014, National Indie Excellence Award Finalist, Shelf Media Outstanding Series Award, ForeWord Review Five Star and Finalist in the Book of the Year, and Reader's Views Children's Book of the Year 2013.

Carole P. Roman is also the author of the award-winning non-fiction culture series, "If You Were Me and Lived in...", that explores customs and cultures around the world. She has co-authored a self-help book, Navigating Indieworld A Beginners Guide to Self-Publishing and Marketing. She lives on Long Island with her husband and near her children and grandchildren. Carole invites readers to connect with her via her website.

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Interview with Children’s Book Author Neil McFarlane

DIY Mom has had the pleasure of reading and reviewing several of children's book author Neil McFarlane's books over the years. Neil is truly a great guy...and he's pretty funny too. We invited Neil to drop by and chat about his newest book The Revolting Brains. He had plenty to say about the book, his writing and more! 

Tell us about The Revolting Brains:

It's a collection of seven read-aloud bedtime tales where the listening child is made to feel that he or she is the protagonist of each story (a follow-up to a previous collection called "A Month of Bedtime Stories"). The idea is that the reader describes to the child an adventure the child had earlier in the day but has forgotten about due to receiving a "bonk on the head" or similar amnesia-inducing event. The intention is to make the stories immersive and fun for both parent and child.

How long have you been writing?

I started uploading files to Amazon in 2014 but wanted to be a writer since about the age of 5.

Where do you get your story ideas?

For this series ("And off you went to the woods ...") I imagine what adventures I, as a child, would love to have had. For example: shrinking in size and living in an ant colony; driving a submarine; traveling to the center of the Earth; exploring a whale's insides, joining a pirate ship, etc.

What kinds of books do you enjoy reading?

I enjoy all sorts. I used to read fiction almost exclusively but I now tend to read more non-fiction. I'm currently reading "Brick Lane" by Monica Ali. The last few books I read include "The Blank Slate" by Stephen Pinker, "Tender is the Night" by F. Scott Fitzgerald, "How to Fail at Almost Everything and Still Win Big" by Scott Adams, and "The Heart of the Matter" by Graham Greene.

What would your readers be surprised to learn about you?

That I speak fluent Chinese (particularly if we re-define the word "fluent" to mean "not very good").

How can readers get in touch with you?

Readers can check out my Amazon Author Page. I also include a contact email in all of my books.

What are you currently working on?

"Animal Mix-up" (a book which is also a game); "Me Tawk Funny: Book Four", the final book in a series about a boy whose dog can talk; and a rhyming picture book about a dancing monkey which I'm going to attempt to illustrate myself.

What advice would you give new authors?

If you are really new, read books about the craft of writing. Seek, be open to, but not over-sensitive to, feedback. Read over what you've written (again and again) and assess it impartially. If you can't be honest with yourself, who can you be honest with? Also, writing is an increasingly saturated field. If you're not an overnight success (which you probably won't be), you'll need to enjoy writing because it's more than likely you'll be in it for the long run. Also: read good writers. If you don't know who's good, choose books, which are hailed as classics and try to work out what it is about them that makes them so hailed.

Interview with Author Michael Phillip Cash - Virtual Book Tour and Giveaway

Author Michael Phillip Cash is taking his paranormal novel "The After House" on tour with My Book Tour and DIY Mom is sharing the awesome giveaway. Enter for a chance to win!

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Michael Phillip Cash Author Interview

Please tell us about The After House:

My version of a haunted house tale told from the ghost's point of view.

Where did the idea for the book come from?

I was watching Maleficent with my wife and I loved that the story was told from the “villain’s” point of view. I had an idea about a whale-hunting ghost named Eli for a while. After the movie was over, I started writing that night.

Many of your books have a paranormal vibe. Have you always been interested in the paranormal?

I love paranormal. You can write a good ghost story in a million different ways.  I’ve had ghosts in my life since as far back as I can remember.

You’ve written several books over the years. How do you find the time to write?

During the day, all I do is research and development about my subject. Once my kids are tucked in and my wife goes to sleep I write every night until my eyes go – generally from 8pm to midnight.

What kinds of things do you like to do when you’re not writing?

Long walks on the beach.  KIDDING! I love being with my wife and kids. I love to cook. Nothing wrong with a good poker game every once in a while. I also started lifting heavy weights.

What kinds of books are on your bookshelf? What’s on your TBR list?

Every screenplay imaginable. Anything by Joseph Campbell. The Save the Cat Series. Every book on The Law of Attraction and The Universe. All Michael Crichton. My TBR List: The Flat Earth Conspiracy, Tools of the Titans, Eat Bacon & Don’t Jog, the Revenant screenplay.

What would readers be surprised to know about you?

I haven’t eaten bread, rice, pasta or potatoes in 6 years. I haven’t eaten fruit or vegetables in 3 years. I only eat meat, dairy and butter – and I’ve never been healthier.

How can readers connect with you?

@michaelpcash. I’m a Twitter fiend. Via my website. Also on Facebook.

Can readers expect any new books from you soon?

Oh yeah. I have an amazing agent who is planning on some very big things for my upcoming books.

As a successful author and scriptwriter, what advice can you give aspiring authors?

Write every day. Have a journal on hand wherever you go, so if you hear someone say something intriguing you can use it in your next work.

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ABOUT MICHAEL PHILLIP CASH

Michael Phillip Cash is an award-winning novelist and screenwriter. His novels are best-sellers on Amazon under their genres – Young Adult, Thriller, Suspense, Ghost, Action Adventure, Fantasy, Paranormal Romance and Horror. 

Michael writes full-time and lives on the North Shore of Long Island with his wonderful wife and screaming children. You can follow him @michaelpcash.

Interview with Author Robert Germaux

Today, we're welcoming author Robert Germaux to the DIY Mom Blog. Robert is the author of four books, all available on Amazon. He's here to chat about his writing process and his newest book, Grammar Sex and Other Stuff, which is a short story collection. Welcome, Robert!

In your own words, please tell us about Grammar Sex and Other Stuff:

As I say in the blurb for the book, it’s one man’s take on life’s little moments, minor annoyances and unexpected delights.

This book is a change from your previous books. What made you change things up?

I’ve enjoyed reading a couple of local newspaper columnists for several years. At some point, my wife suggested I try writing some essays myself, with an eye towards having enough for a book. So to anyone who enjoys the book, you can thank Cynthia for planting the idea in my head.

So I have to ask…was including the word “sex” a deliberate attempt to grab the attention of potential readers? Oh, definitely, and the fact that you asked that question means it worked, right?

Actually a year or so ago, when I was writing my first guest post, a friend suggested I come up with a “catchy” title. Since I had used the expression “grammar sex” in “The Backup Husband,” I decided to use the term in the title of the post. Incidentally, that piece is one of the essays included in this book.

I love slice-of-life stories and Grammar Sex and Other Stuff certainly fits that category. How did you manage to recall all of your awesome stories? Do you keep a folder or do you just have an incredible memory?

I do have a good memory, but not that good. One thing that helped, especially with the essays related to vacations Cynthia and I have taken, is that I’m big on taking notes. When we’re on vacation, I take a few minutes every evening and jot down notes about what we did that day. After we get home, I use the notes to write what amounts to a daily diary of our trip. I put that diary with the photo album of the trip, and then we’ll get it out every few years and relieve all those wonderful moments. As for the essays that aren’t trip-related, anything I can’t remember on my own, I can usually get help from Cynthia or, in some cases, family members, especially my sister Barb, who’s become sort of our family historian.

Speaking of awesome stories, what do you think makes an interesting story?

For me, it has to be something that I can relate to in some way. It doesn’t necessarily have to be something I have personal experience with, as long as the author writes well enough to grab my attention. That pertains to fiction, but I also enjoy reading autobiographies.

What kinds of books are in your personal library?

I like detective novels, of course, but also other genres, anything that is well-written and captures my interest. I particularly enjoy stories that inform me about other countries and cultures.

Do you have a book genre/writing preference – fiction or non-fiction? Definitely fiction.

I loved writing “Grammar Sex and Other Stuff,” but I prefer writing about my private detective, Jeremy Barnes, or my police detective, Daniel Hayes, both of whom work in Pittsburgh. As soon as I sit down and start a new chapter about either Jeremy or Daniel, I’m right back in the world that I created for that book. I just lose myself in it.

Do you have any new books in the works?

Yes, I do. I’ve completed “One by One,” the next book about Daniel Hayes. It will be available not too long from now. And I’ll also be releasing at least one more Jeremy Barnes novel later this year.

How can readers connect with you?

You can always reach me at my Amazon Author Page. I love interacting with my readers.

Since you have now had several published books completed, what advice would you give aspiring authors?

The most important thing is to keep writing (and rewriting). Equally important is to find at least one person whose opinion you trust. Ask that person to read everything you write and give you an honest take on it. In my case, that person is Cynthia. She knows my characters, my writing style and, well, me better than anyone else in the world. When she offers a suggestion, I end up taking it 99% of the time.

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ABOUT ROBERT GERMAUX

Robert Germaux and his wife Cynthia live outside of Pittsburgh. After three decades as a high school English teacher, and now a good many years into retirement, he is beginning to have serious doubts about his lifelong dream of pitching for the Pirates. Grammar Sex and Other Stuff is Bob’s first non-fiction book. You can find links to his first three novels (The Backup Husband, Small Talk and Hard Court) at his Amazon Author Page.

Interview with Children's Book Author Lee Ann Mancini

We're welcoming children's author Lee Ann Mancini to the DIY Mom Blog today. Lee Ann is the award-winning author of several faith-based kids books. She's currently on the virtual road with My Book Tour. Welcome, Lee Ann! 

In your own words, please tell us about your book:

The story starts on a lovely Easter day at Sunday school! God’s Easter Miracles highlights God’s love and provision to His children. The lessons learned are not only about Jesus’s resurrection, but also awareness of treating children with Autism with love and respect, taking care of God’s creations, and most importantly, accepting Jesus Christ as your savior.

Have you always known you wanted to be a writer?

No, this was an acquired desire later in my adult life. I saw the need for children’s material that taught children how to have a strong relationship with Jesus, not just hearing stories about Him. My writing path began when I started writing these stories for my children.

Do you remember the first thing you ever wrote?

I’ve been a volunteer most of my adult life and wrote several little articles for various volunteer associations. However, the first published book was Fast Freddy, which I wrote 20 years ago, when my children were little.

Where do your story ideas come from?

When my children were little, I observed different situations and conflicts among them and their friends, which motivated me to write stories that address these issues in a loving, compassionate way, according to connecting them with our Lord and Savior.

What do you think makes a good story?

For Christian children’s stories, it’s establishing characters the children can relate to that help to capture their imagination and touch their hearts in a loving way. Also, making the stories fun and endearing. They really like finding the hidden symbols that we placed upon each page.

What kinds of things do you like to do when you’re not writing?

I enjoy reading and walking. Also, preparing for my classes that I teach at South Florida Bible College and Theological Seminary in addition to volunteering at different venues and spending time with my lovely family!

Who would you say has been a major influence in your life?

 First of all, my mother, who taught me Godly morals at an early age. Also, Dr. Warren Gage, who has been a mentor in my Biblical studies and a source of guidance in my personal life as well. Both are examples of the Gospel.

What types of books do you like to read?

I love to read books that inspire, encourage and are uplifting. In addition to any books that educate me in the word of God.  

What would readers be surprised to know about you?

 I received my BA in Religious Studies, and my two Master’s in my 50’s!

What are you currently working on?

Our seventh book in our series, God’s Creation, deals with teaching children to be good stewards regarding God’s wonderful ocean creatures. Again, they are faced with a dilemma, but relying on Jesus and His guidance, they learn how to be loving and caring for not only God’s creatures, but also their friends and family. 

How can readers connect with you?

Readers can go to my website, GLMPublishing.net, our Facebook page is Adventures of the Sea Kids, and our Twitter is @GLMPublishing.

What advice would you give aspiring authors?

I wrote these stories 20 years ago, with hopes of publishing them one day. After receiving rejection upon rejection, it wasn’t until the Holy Spirit prompted me many years after, to bring these stories out and work diligently to get them published. It was all God’s perfect timing. So, never give up, if it’s God’s will, it will be done!

Interview with Children's Book Author Helen Hipp

A few questions for author Helen Hipp:

Q: Your children’s adventure books are based on some unusual true-life experiences, please explain and give a brief description of your books.

A: While on Safari in Africa during 2001, my family witnessed something few get to see – a pink hippo. Separated from the pod and barely tolerated due to her differences, my son Ray, who has been diagnosed with autism, felt an instant affinity to the hippo and he named her Rosie.               

Rosie – the Pink Hippo knows a lot about being different, and her adventures offer up lighthearted, ever-changing perspectives that transform personal challenges into opportunities. 

Q: What vision do you have for your books and where do you want it to take you? 


A: My adventure books have already taken me on a journey’s that has given me the opportunity to meet a large number of wonderful people, all of which I refer to as my “Safari Family”. I cannot imagine anything more rewarding than bringing more of Rosie’s adventures and their powerful message onto the stage and into schools to create an atmosphere of enjoyment, understanding, acceptance and awareness.

Q: What appeals to you most about children’s books?

A: I find the presence of innocence, imagination and creativity that is woven into many of the children’s books very captivating. I guess you can say I am a child at heart.

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ABOUT HELEN HIPP

Helen Hipp has had her own kind of safari through the land of a large family. She was always exploring new ways to      define herself. There are many ways to navigate the waters of life says Helen. “You may ride in a canoe, sailboat, motorboat, or you may find yourself on the back of a pink hippo!”

With a mindset that centered on creating opportunities out of obstacles, Helen explored career opportunities, by connecting her personal experiences (parenting a child with special needs) with her beliefs, professional skills, and aspirations.

Helen received her M.A. in counseling and began her career as a psychotherapist to help people find answers for their life problems. Her work eventually evolved into a coaching practice, WithinU Life Coaching, focusing on individuals with special needs and their families.

Helen has authored articles for Family Works and Washington Family Magazine and written multiple self-help articles published by ezine.com where she is viewed as an expert in her field. She has been a contributor as a special needs consultant to FOX44 News in Burlington, Vermont.

In addition to her work, Helen has written two children’s books creating a very effective way to motivate kids of all ages to meet their challenges with self-acceptance, confidence and understanding.

Her debut children’s book, A Different Kind of Safari, released in 2013 addresses the many questions life asks by offering up lighthearted, ever-changing perspectives that transform personal challenges into opportunities. Once again, the engaging safari family, led by Rosie the Pink Hippo inspires, and help you see your life differently in her new book, Rosie and Friends Positively Different. With a cast characters experiencing real-life issues such as anxiety, fear, physical differences and poor self-esteem, Helen Hipp’s adventure books provide children with the opportunity to identify, understand and feel supported by the characters handling of similar fears, interests, and concerns.

Readers can connect with Helen Hipp on her website and on Twitter.