Friday, August 26, 2016

The Whizbang Machine, by Danielle A. Vann, earns the Literary Classics Seal of Approval



Elizabeth is an extraordinarily mature fifteen year old girl.  Of course, her life circumstances have caused her to grow up faster than most kids her age.  An only child, her father passed away a few short weeks after her grandmother's death.  So when her grandfather, bereaving and heartbroken, escaped reality to travel the world, she and her mother were left to pick up the pieces of their lives on their own.  Now, eight years later, Elizabeth's grandfather has returned home with a mysterious typewriter which he believes is somehow connected to his family, and in particular, to Elizabeth.

The Whizbang Machine is an incredibly suspenseful book which will have readers of all ages eagerly turning pages with enthusiasm as they wait to see what will become of Elizabeth and her eccentric grandfather, Jack.  Author Danielle A. Vann displays rare talent as a story-teller in this thrilling book which will leave readers anxiously awaiting the sequel to this delightfully engaging read.

The Whizbang Machine is highly recommended for home and school libraries and has earned the Literary Classics Seal of Approval.



LITERARY CLASSICS Book Awards & Reviews International Book Awards • Top Honors Youth Book Awards • Seal of Approval http://www.clcawards.org

Author Spotlight - Lincoln Cole on his 2016 Award Winning Book



WHEN DID YOU FIRST KNOW YOU WANTED TO BE A WRITER AND WHY?
When I was about ten and reading Stephen King, I knew I wanted to do that when I grew up. I loved to read and I wanted to tell stories just like he did. I also loved Goosebumps and anything sci-fi or fantasy. 
AS A CHILD, WHAT DID YOU ASPIRE TO BE WHEN YOU GREW UP?
I wanted to be a writer from pretty much as soon as I wanted to be anything. 
HOW DID YOU GET THE IDEA FOR YOUR AWARD WINNING TITLE?
I wanted to contribute to the conversations dealing with social issues and the problems America is facing. 
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LINE FROM YOUR AWARD WINNING BOOK AND WHY?
I don't have a favorite line, but I do have a favorite scene, and that is when Richard and Jason are getting ready to close for the night and Richard confronts his brother. The way the conversation flips on him is something I worked hard on.
WHICH OF YOUR CHARACTERS FROM YOUR AWARD WINNING TITLE DO YOU BELIEVE ARE MOST LIKE YOU AND WHY?
Jason is most like me because of the personality. Richard is more like my brother.
WHAT MESSAGE DO YOU HOPE READERS WILL GLEAN FROM YOUR AWARD WINNING BOOK?
I wanted people who read the book to be able to take something away. I didn't want to stereotype anyone and to specifically avoid using gender or racial identifiers that are considered the 'norm'. This has actually caused a lot of readers to shy away from the story because they expect people to act like the ones they see in real life.
WHAT OTHER BOOKS HAVE YOU PUBLISHED? 
Ripples Through Time (2015 Literary Classics Award Winning Book)
TELL US SOMETHING ABOUT YOUR EXPERIENCE AS A WRITER:
I get sidetracked easily and often have five-ten different stories in progress at a time. 
WHICH AUTHOR HAS MOST GREATLY INFLUENCED YOUR WRITING STYLE?
Stephen King. 
WHAT BOOK HAS HAD THE GREATEST IMPACT ON YOUR LIFE?
Stephen King's On Writing changed my entire style and helped me become a much better writer.
WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR GREATEST LITERARY ACCOMPLISHMENT?
Right now I would say winning Kindle Scout to get a Kindle Press contract for Raven's Peak. I worked incredibly hard on the thirty day campaign and managed to win out over hundreds of other awesome books. 
DO YOU HAVE ANY WRITING RITUALS?
Not really. I just like to sit down and put the words on paper. I prefer rewriting. 
HOW DID YOU GET PUBLISHED?
I started out self-publishing and then moved on to trying out Kindle Scout to try and get a contract, but I still don't have an agent. 
WHAT DID YOU DO TO CELEBRATE THE COMPLETION/PUBLISH DATE/OR OTHER OF YOUR AWARD WINNING BOOK?
I went out to dinner with my wife and we had a nice evening together! 
CAN YOU DESCRIBE THE PROCESS OF BECOMING PUBLISHED AND ANY TIPS YOU MIGHT OFFER FOR OTHER ASPIRING AUTHORS?
Just keep working at it. The biggest mistake you can make is thinking you're getting good at writing because you should always be improving. If each book is better than the last then you are doing something right. 
CAN YOU OFFER ANY ADVICE FOR WRITERS ON HOW BEST TO PROMOTE THEIR BOOK?
Get it in front of people. No matter how good it is, if people never see it then it won't sell. Sometimes you might buy an advertisement and it won't sell any copies, but it's still getting seen, and maybe the next time or the time after that someone will buy it. It's a slow process, marketing. 
IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE YOU'D LIKE TO SHARE WITH OUR READERS?
When you find an author you like, let them know that their books meant something! Positive feedback gives me the confidence to keep trying. 
DO YOU HAVE ANY NEW BOOKS IN THE WORKS?
I'm working on my science fiction series right now and the sequel to Raven's Peak
Hopefully I'll have two new books from the Graveyard of Empires series and another Raven's Peak book out by the end of this year. That's the current goal! All of them will be up on Amazon! 

LITERARY CLASSICS Book Awards & Reviews International Book Awards • Top Honors Youth Book Awards • Seal of Approval http://www.clcawards.org

Friday, August 19, 2016

Author Spotlight - J. Everett Prewitt on his award winning book, A Long Way Back



WHEN DID YOU FIRST KNOW YOU WANTED TO BE A WRITER AND WHY? 
When I was young, I didn’t read many positive books about black families. None of the books represented my experience growing up with a strong and accomplished mother, father, aunt and uncles. After videotaping my parents one year, I was inspired to write a fictional book, Snake Walkers, about a black family that overcame insurmountable odds because of their commitment to each other.
AS A CHILD, WHAT DID YOU ASPIRE TO BE WHEN YOU GREW UP? 
I wanted to be businessman. I didn’t know what, but I majored in business and eventually became president of my own company.
HOW DID YOU GET THE IDEA FOR YOUR AWARD WINNING TITLE? 
Returning from war is both a physical and a mental journey. The title, A Long Way Back, relates to both.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LINE FROM YOUR AWARD WINNING BOOK AND WHY? “It’s funny how just a few minutes in your life can dictate your whole future.” In a number of instances in the book, spur-of-the-moment decisions resulted in long term consequences and even death. In this particular setting, Colonel Bertram killed his wife in a fit of rage resulting in his imprisonment for life.
WHICH OF YOUR CHARACTERS FROM YOUR AWARD WINNING TITLE DO YOU BELIEVE ARE MOST LIKE YOU AND WHY? 
Raymond Williams, a former army officer, plays a minor part in this story. He played a larger role in my first book, Snake Walkers. However, I had a war experience similar to Anthony Andrews.
WHAT MESSAGE DO YOU HOPE READERS WILL GLEAN FROM YOUR AWARD WINNING BOOK? 
For a group to overcome obstacles, you must unite and agree on a plan of action that allows you to succeed.
TELL US SOMETHING INTERESTING ABOUT YOUR EXPERIENCE AS A WRITER: 
In college, I used to write compositions for my roommate. He received a B grade from the course; I received a C.
WHICH AUTHOR HAS MOST GREATLY INFLUENCED YOUR WRITING STYLE? 
The book that most influenced me was The Writer’s Journey, by Christopher Vogler. His influence was more about structure than style. I became so engrossed in the book that I missed a plane coming back to Cleveland.
WHAT BOOK HAS HAD THE GREATEST IMPACT ON YOUR LIFE? 
The African Origin of Civilization by Cheikh Anta Diop. This book encouraged me to read further about Africans and their accomplishments and enlightened me about Africa’s place in world history.
WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR GREATEST LITERARY ACCOMPLISHMENT? 
I won a number of awards for Snake Walkers, but finishing behind Amy Tan in a literary contest was a highlight.
DO YOU HAVE ANY WRITING RITUALS? 
When I’m stalled, I read books similar to mine, or I read a book about writing. I typically write in the morning, but sometimes when an idea emerges, I’ll write whatever time it is.
HOW DID YOU GET PUBLISHED? I was never good at soliciting, so, I created my own publishing company and financed the creation and marketing of both my books.
WHAT DID YOU DO TO CELEBRATE THE PUBLISHING OF YOUR AWARD WINNING BOOK? 
I’m pretty laid back, so I made an announcement to my family and friends, drank a few glasses of Pinot Noir and went to sleep.
CAN YOU DESCRIBE THE PROCESS OF BECOMING PUBLISHED AND ANY TIPS YOU MIGHT OFFER FOR OTHER ASPIRING AUTHORS? 
Write because you are passionate about your story, not because you want to make money. If the novel is good enough, the money will come. If not, you have added another footnote to your legacy.
CAN YOU OFFER ANY ADVICE FOR WRITERS ON HOW BEST TO PROMOTE THEIR BOOK? 
An inordinate amount of time is required to promote. Create a website, blog, and e-mail; draw reader’s attention to your writing during the development of your book, be prepared to invest both time and money in continual promotion. Learn the art of promotion as you have the art of writing. Do not think that because you have a great book it will sell itself.
IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE YOU'D LIKE TO SHARE WITH OUR READERS? Everybody has a story. The key to a good novel, though, is writing a story that others want to read.
DO YOU HAVE ANY NEW BOOKS IN THE WORKS?  My next book, Something About Ann, is a novella with short stories that pertain to each of the characters in A Long Way Back after the war is over.

LITERARY CLASSICS Book Awards & Reviews International Book Awards • Top Honors Youth Book Awards • Seal of Approval http://www.clcawards.org

Thursday, August 4, 2016

Author Spotlight: Award Winning Author, Dr. Bon Blossman, on her award winning book



WHEN DID YOU FIRST KNOW YOU WANTED TO BE A WRITER AND WHY?: My father is a surgeon, but a poet in his free time. Being inspired by him, I took a stab at writing my first novel in the 1990's under his guidance. A few books later, I published my first one in 2007. I always said I would turn my hobby into my life, and I was able to quit my full-time job and follow my dreams almost ten years ago. 
AS A CHILD, WHAT DID YOU ASPIRE TO BE WHEN YOU GREW UP? An actress and a surgeon like my father. I'm a producer and am playing a role in my first short film (Dinner is Served), and I hope it does well in film festivals! I did earn my Ph.D. in physiology - my dad's a medical doctor, but that's close enough! Writing has always been a love of mine, but I never saw myself doing it full time. 
HOW DID YOU GET THE IDEA FOR YOUR AWARD WINNING TITLE?: This book is volume five in the YA Fiona Frost Murder Mystery Series. Fiona Frost is a seventeen-year-old criminal investigator who works in close collaboration with the crime lab as part of a grant-funded forensic training program. Each novel follows a murder case - which is often met with twists of the supernatural. The series builds energy in Fiona's life from the start, and it was time she gained a bit of federal experience. I worked closely in the planning stages with an FBI agent to ensure my story would be inspiring to young people, and not just purely fiction - as far as FBI procedures go and how they'd deal with younger interns. 
I like to think of Fiona Frost as a modern-day Nancy Drew but with more forensic science built into the criminal investigations as opposed to strict 'Sherlock Holmes-style sleuthing.' 
TELL US SOMETHING FUN ABOUT YOUR EXPERIENCE AS A WRITER: I am a murder mystery writer. I own a company (My Mystery Party) and have written over 100 murder mystery party games. I also write murder mystery novels. I am certain that with the hundreds of topics I research on the internet involving details of how to get away with murder - I am most likely on many government watch lists! Even though I may know best on how to get away with it - I'm harmless! I promise! 
WHICH AUTHOR HAS MOST GREATLY INFLUENCED YOUR WRITING STYLE?: My father shaped my early writing experience, but in later years I would say my idol is J.K. Rowling (I am an enormous Harry Potter fan) and think she is a legend. 
WHAT BOOK HAS HAD THE GREATEST IMPACT ON YOUR LIFE?: Other than the Harry Potter series, I would say the most impact a book has made is The Andromeda Strain by Michael Crichton. Even though I read it over 30 years after the release, it was amazing to me, and I could relate to it. With my background in science, I enjoyed the mix of science, suspense and intrigue. 
WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR GREATEST LITERARY ACCOMPLISHMENT?: Winning the gold seal for volume 4, and now the silver seal for volume 5 from Literary Classics! I hope to win many more in the future, as well. 
CAN YOU DESCRIBE THE PROCESS OF BECOMING PUBLISHED AND ANY TIPS YOU MIGHT OFFER FOR OTHER ASPIRING AUTHORS?: Write every day, never give up. Don't expect to publish your first novel. Write it, revise it, revise it ten more times and put it in a drawer (or hard drive folder) and move on to your next. With each novel you write, you improve and fine-tune what is coming from your heart and onto the paper. Don't let rejection letters get you down - the best authors have plenty of them. 
CAN YOU OFFER ANY ADVICE FOR WRITERS ON HOW BEST TO PROMOTE THEIR BOOK? Social media is the best way in today's world. There are many ways to promote your novel on Amazon such as free giveaways and signing up with Kindle Select. Amazon even has a Kindle Scout program where the readers decide if you get published. Also, you can offer your book as a free promotion to get readers. Hopefully, these readers will give you glowing reviews, and you'll get snowball action from there. 
IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE YOU'D LIKE TO SHARE WITH OUR READERS?: Don't give up on your dream. Even if you are just starting, and the end goal seems like it is on top of Mount Everest, and you're at the bottom of the mountain - keep your eyes on the goal and don't sweat the small stuff. You will fail. You will fail many times. But in the end, you'll succeed. 
DO YOU HAVE ANY NEW BOOKS IN THE WORKS?: Taking a short break from the Fiona Frost Mystery Series (Blood Dolls was published the day of the contest deadline, so it's hot off the press). I'm currently collaborating with my son (Zakk Myer) on a YA thriller novel with a working title The Island. He's a student at The University of Texas and a gifted writer. We're going to see what a mother/son team can do! Then, it's back to Fiona Frost for another compelling murder case. 
TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT YOUR NEXT BOOK, WHEN IT WILL BE AVAILABLE, AND WHERE IT CAN BE PURCHASED:
 We are still writing, but our publication schedule has the draft in the editor's hands by the time Zakk heads back to school - then, we're looking at a late winter / early spring release. 
LITERARY CLASSICS Book Awards & Reviews International Book Awards • Top Honors Youth Book Awards • Seal of Approval http://www.clcawards.org