Spring Into Art 2014

Here is the official press release for the upcoming event. (That guy, Mark Miller, sure talks a lot, sheesh...)

The Mount Dora event series Authors in the Park continues with its Second Annual “Spring into Art” festival, Saturday, March 29 at Long and Scott’s Farm in Mount Dora, FL., event chairman Mark Miller announced today. The Authors in the Park group celebrates literacy while promoting local and independent authors from Lake County, Central Florida and beyond. (www.authorsinthepark.com)

The event, scheduled from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., will be the first time the group has held an event at Long and Scott’s Farm at 26216 County Road 448A, Mount Dora, Miller said.

“We are extremely excited, not only to be at Long and Scott’s, but because this year’s event will feature both authors and artists,” Miller said. “Long and Scott’s is known for Zellwood Sweet Corn and their fall corn maze as well as being a great supporter of their community.” (www.longandscottfarms.com)

Spring into Art will feature over twenty authors and artists. A wide variety of books will be for sale in all genres and ages, as well as exclusive artwork. Some of the paintings are slated to be sold for charity.

In addition to great books and art, representatives for Team Jay will be on hand, Miller, an author himself, said. Team Jay is a project of the Lake County Firefighters Charity to benefit young Jay, the son of a firefighter currently battling Leukemia. (www.lakefirefightercharity.org)

The outdoor event is free to attend, Miller pointed out. Authors and artists alike will be available to discuss their writing, sign autographs and enjoy a day on the farm. Some author proceeds will be donated to Team Jay and other worthy organizations, he said. Scott’s Country Café will be open for lunch.

Visit www.Facebook.com/AuthorsInThePark for details on participating authors, artists and event updates. Join the FB event here: www.facebook.com/events/622986207772066

Guest Post: Starlight Children's Aid

Tania Elizabeth is a mother first and foremost and the author of The Tier of Eternal Grace. Book One The Moon Clearing was released earlier this year. Book Two The Mirror’s Shadow will be released about September. Book Three will then follow in the early part of 2014.

The Tier of Eternal Grace is a captivating fantasy of magic and passion, wound into the truths of reality that will enchant readers with its depiction of the faerie realm, and the exploits of the faeries themselves. Book One of the series The Moon Clearing is an immersive tale of mysticism and adventure, of spiritual and sensual intent that shall enrapture your every sense.

SUMMARY

Beyond the boundary that separates the mundane and earthly planes from the divine lies Eterna Fadas, a place ruled by extraordinary beings, lithe and human-like in appearance, yet ethereal in their grace and beauty, and sensuous in nature.

"I have existed always! Where I began I do not know, for all I know is just as I am today!"

As Queen, Tatiana was thought to have lived a life of opulence, her faith and beliefs her endearing essence. Why then was it so, that beneath the picture of perfection laid torments and terrors even she dare not explain. Being She came with its prices paid. Being She came with a deal; a contract in which she was to relinquish herself to a rogue of unmerciful fury. Would this be the end of all she know? Would this be the end of her existence?

Aside from her writing and her three angels, Tania is also an advocate for the Starlight Children’s Foundation. Being a mother herself and having seen firsthand what some of these children are dealt with on a day to day basis, and yet seeing the strength and courage they each maintain, Tania felt the need to not only donate her time, but to also help raise much needed funds.

The Starlight Children’s Foundation transforms the experience of hospitalization and treatment for seriously ill children and their families. Starlight is the only children’s charity with a permanent, physical presence in very major pediatric hospital in the country.

Every minute of every day a child is admitted to hospital in Australia. For thousands of these children what happens next is the diagnosis of a serious or chronic illness that changes their life, and the lives of their families, forever.

This is where Starlight steps in - delivering a range of innovative programs, built on the World Health Organization’s social model of health, to support the well-being and resilience of these seriously ill children and their families.

Starlight programs are integral to the total care of seriously ill children - while the health professionals focus on treating the illness, Starlight is there to lift the spirits of the child - giving them the opportunity to laugh and play and be a child again

About the Author, Tania Elizabeth

Like each and every one of us, Tania's own journey has been one of trials and tribulations, of Love and of passions; and the dissolutions of it. Heartache, sorrows, smiles and laughter always seeming. Through the writing of this book and the words of Tatiana, Tania has found a peace within and learnt the true meaning of "I LOVE ME!"

A message from Tania

STARLIGHT AUTHOR’S AID

I am asking for all’s assistance.

To give to others is to give to oneself, and 
I NEED YOUR HELP!!!

Help us to raise funds for the Starlight Children's Foundation, which supports terminally ill children and their families.

There are two ways in which people can help.
It is very simple. 


By simply hosting, reviewing or interviewing myself/my book via a blog post, amazon, newspaper, radio, TV within a 21day window frame, between the dates of Friday 12th of April and Friday the 3rd of May. For every appearance, I will be donating $1 to the Starlight Children’s Foundation. 


If any of you could help, I would be so grateful. If you could connect me with anyone else who would be happy to interview, do a short post or review on myself/my book, I would be ever so grateful more.

I am also asking for donations, even $1, which you may do direct via this link.
 http://starlightday2013bb.gofundraise.com.au/page/ElizabethT


You may also follow our progress on the Starlight Author's Aid Facebook Page.
http://www.facebook.com/StarlightAuthorsAid


We are looking at making this an annual event. This year it is based upon myself, though every year after, we will base it upon another upcoming author.
So please share and pass this along to all. Let's make this a huge affair and raise much needed funds for a very worthy cause.

My heartfelt thanks to all.

Love, Blessings and Faerie Kisses always xo

FACEBOOK  http://www.facebook.com/TheTierOfEternalGrace

AMAZON  http://amzn.to/11vpBRH

BARNES AND NOBLE  http://bit.ly/ZJwcnH

YouTube  http://youtu.be/TI7C6pTTPK4

Laughing George has his say.

The February story (#6) of the One series is available now. For the second month in a row, we are fortunate enough to hear from a best-selling author. That's not all - there's another exciting change to the series.

Snake in the Water

by George Michael Loughmueller

Mark Miller's One (#6)

Mark Miller’s One is a spiritual anthology examining True-Life experiences of Authors and their Faith. As the series evolves expect to discover what it means to have faith, no matter what that faith is and no matter where they live. Remember that we are all part of this One World.

Story Six, by best-selling author George Michael Loughmueller focuses on his life. The success of his Amish themed, short story series, Set Free: An Amish Journey, is based on the real life experiences of his grandfather. In Snake in the Water, Loughmueller shares a little bit about where his ideas come from and what makes him laugh.

George Michael Loughmueller is a descendant of German heritage. Finding joy in being a husband and father, he is known by his friends as “Laughing George” because of his cheerful disposition and the pronunciation of his last name.

George Michael Loughmueller confesses to being new to the internet. He says he only uses it as a tool and does not partake in the intense rituals of social media like many other authors, including myself.

His friends call him Laughing George. In the emails we’ve sent back and forth, I can understand why. He always has a positive word and views the world in a light-hearted way.

For his installment of One, he shares a broad view of his life and how the experiences of his father and grandfather shaped that life. From a chilling encounter with a snake to a disastrous flood, Mr. Loughmueller shows us how a simple life can be a good life.

Here's the exciting change to the series. Beginning with this issue and going back to the start, the Authors of One have decided to donate half or more of their proceeds! There will be another announcement as we finalize the details. However, I can tell you that the first organization to which we are donating will be Give Kids the World. You can read more about them on their website: GKTW.org.

Now, for your 99 cents, not only are you getting some thought-provoking entertainment, but also you are contributing to a worthy cause!

Get Started...

Maybe you know I have a lot of great stories with Trestle Press? Maybe you know that Trestle Press has no end of talented authors? Did you know right now Trestle Press is doing a Buy One Get One Sale?


So here is an economical way to get started or get caught up:


Mark Miller's One - a spiritual anthology examining True-Life experiences of Authors and their Faith. As the series evolves expect to discover what it means to have faith, no matter what that faith is and no matter where they live. Remember that we are all part of this One World. Volume 5 is coming soon!


Small World Global Protection Agency - Another in the Trestle Press Digital Short Story Cliffhanger Series: Star athlete Josh and computer prodigy Madison are recruited by the mysterious Mr. Crux to attend a special summer camp. The two elementary school kids then begin the adventure of a lifetime. They discover that the Small World Global Protection Agency is a network of talented and skilled children in countries all over the world. Their mission is to help other kids and save the day when adults can’t. Volume 3 is coming soon!


Sons of the King - (co-written with my daughter, Olivia) In the land of Mysstira on the planet Kaskaya, a great King has three sons. When a mysterious visitor falls from the sky, their world is changed forever. The sons of the King will soon face their destiny.

Here is the official word from Trestle Press:

Starting today, Saturday January 14^th through Sunday, January 22, 2012, Trestle Press will be having a

BUY ONE TITLE GET ONE TITLE FREE SALE !!

All of our titles are part of this sale, all of our authors will be participating in it, and all you have to do is when you purchase one of our stories send us the proof of purchase and we will be happy to send you the title of your choice that is of equal value.

You can email us in one of three ways; send the proof of purchase by email to one of the following:

-the authors of the titles you purchased and get your free titles directly from them.

-Trestle Press: trestlepress@gmail.com

-Giovanni Gelati: gelati.giovanni@gmail.com

We have a wealth of talented authors at Trestle Press and there are many great stories to discover and read. As the week goes on there will be a few surprises thrown into this sale, so please stay tuned to our website: www.trestlepresspublishing.com or your favorite authors’ websites or blogs.

Feel free to follow us at our website for all the upcoming news and events surrounding all of the Trestle Press authors as they create more Best-Selling novels, novellas, short stories and series for you to follow and enjoy.

We hope that you will join us and our authors as we make our journey and try to blaze a new trail in this wide open world of publishing. Without you all is for naught; for everything we do, we do for you the reader!

Have fun and happy reading!!      

Something Close to Home

I live in Mt. Dora, FL. I work close to home. I shop close to home. On Facebook, I have "friends" all over the world. Turns out, one of those friends is an author that also lives in Florida. Leona Bodie is the Vice President of the Florida Writers Association and she shared a touching story with me recently. It is about two other authors from Florida and I wanted to share it with you.....

Hospice of the Comforter and Florida Writers Association Join Forces to Help One Dying Man’s Final Wish Come True

A TERMINALLY ILL PATIENT’S DREAM IS REALIZED THANKS TO THE DEDICATED EFFORTS OF A VOLUNTEER WITH HOSPICE OF THE COMFORTER, DOUG DILLON.

ALTAMONTE SPRINGS, Fla… Meet Hospice of the Comforter patient Tony Mancuso. He offers you the best smile he can, given his physical situation while at theGarnet Heart group home in Altamonte Springs, Fla. And meet Doug Dillon, a volunteer with Hospice of the Comforter of Central Florida, whose patient is Tony.

During one of Doug’s visit, he learned that Tony was a writer and before he got sick, published 1,200 copies of his first novel titled, The Lie Catcher, where he uses first names of family members and friends as the first names for characters in his book.The 230-page Christian mystery novel tells the story of Kevin Petty, an ex-FBI profiler, as he struggles to solve a bizarre case for a Central Florida police department.

Finally realizing he would never be able to market his books, Tony told Doug that he would at least like to give them away in hopes that some people might enjoy the story. Meet Doug Dillon, again, also a published author with multiple books, including An Explosion of Being, and a member of the Florida Writers Association (FWA), whose motto for the statewide group is, “Writers Helping Writers”…and this story tugged at his heartstrings.

Doug approached Rose van der Berg, director of volunteer services at Hospice of the Comforter, to see how they might help Tony’s dying wish come true.

Rose loved the idea and together they started distributing copies of the book to volunteers and churches. Included in the book was a letter from Tonyexplaining his situation and asking readers to consider dropping him a note at his group home and telling him what they thought of his work.

Here is an excerpt from Tony’s note: “Please accept this book, The Lie Catcher, as a gift from me to you. I wrote it a while back, hoping to get it out into the world through proper marketing but God had other plans for me. After suffering a debilitating stroke, I find myself living in a group home and under the care of Hospice of the Comforter. So, instead of selling my book, I decided to give it away to people who might find it of interest. It really makes me happy to know that you are taking a copy and I very much hope you enjoy it.”

Over the next few months, over 100 books were distributed and Tony received cards of appreciation from his readers that pleased him to no end.

But Doug was determined to see Tony’s dream come true, so he contacted Chrissy Jackson, president of FWA and asked if there was any way she could help Tony. Chrissy’s enthusiastically responded, “Of course, we can help!” She explained that they could distribute 600 of Tony’s books at the annual Florida Writers Conference in October at the Orlando Marriott Hotel in Lake Mary. Chrissy agreed to put the books into the goody bags for every participant. Rose and Hospice of the Comforter staff prepared 600 letters and books and delivered them to the conference.

To open the event, Chrissy presented the Tony Mancuso project to the 500 assembled writers from across Florida. She outlined the history of the project and made a heartfelt plea for all attendees to glance at Tony’s book and send him a card. She even set up a huge flip chart so people could write notes to Tony. Throughout the conference, people stopped Doug to tell him how much Tony’s story touched them.

Doug enlarged a photo of the himself and Chrissy holding Tony’s book and the signed sheets into a large poster…that and all the newsprint sheets were placed on Tony’s wall, and cards started coming in for him from the other writers. Even as weak as he was, his smile and eyes widened as he looks at what his book had done. “I can’t thank everyone enough for all they did,” he said.

On October 30, 2011, Doug got a call from Tony’s wife, Lynda Mancuso. She was at his bedside in tears. Tony had just died. Doug had shared a kindred spirit with this stranger that became his friend. But as Doug explains, “My experience in life tells me that a part of us continues on after death and I know Tony is okay. And as I think about it, I strongly suspect he held on until after the Florida Writers Conference.”

It is not often in the work of a Hospice of the Comforter volunteer that one can do something extraordinary for patients beyond befriending, but Doug was lucky enough to have that opportunity with Tony. Doug shared his belief about his volunteer experiences, “If you act on what you find, those smiles you get in return will warm your heart forever.”

For more information about Hospice of the Comforter, call 407-682-0808 or visit www.HospiceoftheComforter.org.  

 ###

BOOK: To receive a copy of The Lie Catcher to review, please email your request including your (1) name, (2) company, (3) mailing address and (4) phone number tochristinestickney@hospiceofthecomforter.org

VISUALS: Photos included; for higher resolution images, please contact Christine Stickney at 407-379-0177 (office) or christinestickney@hospiceofthecomforter.org

INTERVIEWS: To speak with Doug Dillon or Rose van der Berg, please contact Christine Stickney at 407-379-0177 (office) or christinestickney@hospiceofthecomforter.org.

About Hospice of the ComforterHospice of the Comforter, the only nonprofit hospice serving in Orange, Seminole and Osceola counties, cared for over 23,000 patients and their families with physical, emotional and spiritual support since 1990. Hospice of the Comforter provided more than $500,000 in care over the past year to those uninsured and under-insured. For more information about how Hospice of the Comforter serves the community, call 407-682-0808. Enhanced Resources on www.HospiceoftheComforter.org includes Online Tributes, Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Compliance, and English-Spanish Site Conversion.

And Now a Word From....

Giovanni Gelati. That's right, Trestle Press's main man is back and he says something to say. Oh, this is a big deal and I am thrilled to be a part of it!


Amish Knitting Circle now occupies the numbers 2,3,4,5 rankings in short story fiction in all of Amazon Kindle, not by category, but overall. 


Check it out HERE: http://www.amazon.com/gp/bestsellers/digital-text/157087011/ref=pd_zg_hrsr_kinc_1_4_last

They also are topping the charts on Amazon UK. Congratulations to Karen Anna Vogel and all the authors of Trestle Press. 

Why did I just mention all the authors of Trestle Press? 

Quite simply, it is because they all share one common goal and one vision­--- each other’s success and bringing quality reads to the market time after time.

One of the other visions they have embraced and ran with is the digital short series of the“Amish Knitting Circle”. There are more than 30 books now that Trestle Press publishes. Each month, a new installment of those series listed below will be released. The benefits to this are many, and just for fun I am going to list a few:

·        New content every three to four weeks to be easily read on your favorite e-reading device (smartphone, laptop, computer, tablet, Kindle,Nook,iPad…), the reader can follow the progression of not just the characters but the authors development as well.

·         A variety of genres to follow, so the reads can be rotated and fresh, low cost fun (the majority $0.99 each)

·         80 percent of U.S. families did not buy or read a book last year. (People don’t have time for full length novels.)

·         Great way to discover a new and emerging author without much investment in time or money(many of these authors have full length work to purchase, don’t forget

·         Great way to have fun and look forward to a ray of sunshine in your reading week (I love digital short stories, they really help me keep my reading fresh and fun)

Having the label “Indie Press” or being with a “little publisher” doesn’t mean the content is small or little. I feel it is an advantage in this day and age. The authors of Trestle Press have a tremendous amount of input and say in what goes on and their direction. The common vision they share, their incredible communication and team work have put them on the cusp of achieving much success.

The Grand Slam success of “Amish Knitting Circle” and the many titles they have charted on Amazon Kindle and Amazon UK is just the tip of the iceberg for them as they continue their journey. Why not join them and find out what they are all about? 

The authors would love for you to read their hard work and give them feedback: Email them, find them on any social network and friend them, tell them what would make them a better more relevant author in your eyes.

In no particular order I have listed the digital short story series currently up and running from Trestle Press. The additions to the list change often so please feel free to put Trestle Press in your Amazon Kindle or Barnes & Noble Nook toolbar each and every time you go shopping:

Karen Anna Vogel-“Amish Knitting Circle”

Roger Rheinheimer/Crystal Linn- “Amish Forever”

Paul D. Brazill- “Drunk on The Moon”

Chantal Boudreau- “Weird, Wicked and Wonderful”

Benjamin Sobieck-“Maynard Soloman”

Darren Sant-“Tales of The Longcroft Estate”

Mark Miller-“One”

Sam Lang –“Reprisal”

Jochem Vandersteen-“A Mike Dalmas Story”

B.R. Stateham- “Call Me Smitty”

William Tooker-“Slouching Towards Bethlehem”

Mark Miller-“Small World Global Protection Agency”

Mark Cooper-“How I Met Your Mother”

Lisa Taylor-“Shana Black”

Alexandrea Weis-“NOLA”

Celilia Robert-“The Soul Collector’s Series”

Cody Toye- “Dribbles the Squirrel”

H.R. Toye- “Debtor’s Chip”

The Author’s Lab/Collaboration Series

S.L. Schmitz-“Mina’s Daughter…The Harker’s Chronicles”

Whit Howland-“The Cain Series”

Heath Lowrance- “Deadland ,USA”

Michael Tabman- “Bad Intent”

Julia Madeleine- “The Devils’ Music”

Big Daddy Abel-“Open Mic”

Heath Lowrance-“That Damn Coyote Hill”

Thad Brown-“Smoking Gun Sisterhood”

Darren Sant/Sam Lang-“Severed”

McDroll-“Kick It”

Luca Veste- “Liverpool 5”

Col Bury- “Manchester 6”

Angelique LaFontaine/Eddie Frantom-“Thirty-1”

Sue Mydliak- “Friday Flashes”

Tanya Cotios-“Wicked Little Lies”

R.Thomas Brown-“Old Man Coyote”

As a reader I like to look for new stuff to read. I thrive on finding new authors with awesome stuff. The digital age of publishing has allowed me as a reader to discover new and various ways to read them. Less than a year ago this format was just an afterthought, an exercise for an author.

Now, thanks to visionaries like Karen Anna Vogel and her fellow Trestle Press authors, we the reader, can have our fun and read it too. I for one really like that. Join me in celebrating the freedom of reading in any way, size and e-reader we want to. Download one or more of these innovative, provocative and fun series. Challenge yourself and the author’s.  See what else we can all accomplish together.

Trestle Press- bringing authors and readers together.

Authors of One Interviews: Sudè Khanian

The cool breezes of October seem to slip by us as time moves silently, like a stage hand behind the curtain changing props and set pieces. Before this month ends, you will have the opportunity to read the next installment of the ONE series.

Dr. Candy takes us to the other side of the world. Author Sudè Khanian does not hold back with the raw power of her tale. She shares two stories of love. The first story challenges the reader with a man facing decisions about God and what is considered “normal”. The intertwining tale is one of life and how the unexplainable can sometimes intervene.


I took some time to ask Ms. Khanian some questions about her entry into the series.


ME: What was your inspiration for this quite moving story?


SK: It was Mark and the goal behind his One series that not only inspired me but also gave me the heart to speak of what I never intended to share with public.


ME: Thank you, but I don't want to take any of your credit. The story is very personal and I felt the emotion when I read it. One of your characters is a cross-dresser, that might be a sensitive topic for some. I am glad you had the courage to share something so personal. I have read some of your other writing and you don't shy away from the emotional, personal experiences. How long have you been "putting yourself out there"?


SK: The first story that spoke to my mind and moved my hands against my conscious came to me around a decade ago (It called itself Paradise Victim). But as for writing down my thoughts, I have been doing it since I was 16.


ME: That is an impressionable time to start. Definitely a lot of new experiences in a person's life at that age. Now, I know it wasn't that long ago, but in the time you have been writing, have you developed any interesting habits or eccentricities when it comes to putting words on paper?


SK: Not sure what you’re meaning by it but I usually write the story loosely in my mind before bringing it into the paper but when it comes on the paper, it goes its own path and most time surprises me. The point is, I bow to the ideas instead of expecting them to praise my mind. Maybe that is a habit. I wouldn’t know.


ME: I wouldn't call it eccentric, but it is unique. You seem to be at the mercy of your inner thoughts and passions. That lends itself easily to our ideals on this series. Letting that inner voice speak can expose readers to your faith and beliefs. Is there something more you would like to share about yourself and your faith that cannot be found in Dr. Candy?


SK: If there’s something I want to share that maybe is not dancing loudly around the corners of Dr. Candy is what I’ve exposed in my fiction stories Alleged and Cancer. And that is, when you find yourself judging a being, look beyond the clothing and superficial differences, and somewhere deep there, you may be able to find you in them and be able to understand where their seemingly unacceptable traits come from. That may not change your mind about your belief set but allows for love and better communication. But is that my faith or my advice? I am not in the position to give out advices, so I am assuming that’s only my faith ;)


ME: That is what Dr. Candy is about. More so, that could be a universal truth. The idea of finding common ground in others that appear so different than ourselves is both simple and profound. Too often, we are all guilty of judging by looks. Your beliefs present themselves as strong and deep rooted. Are there any influences that guided you to this spot? Any particular writers, maybe?


SK: I am not sure if I am influenced by any source other than the ideas themselves. As mentioned earlier, I let the ideas boss me as I trust them better than my earthly intellect and let them go wild beyond my thinking. They dictate where to start, where to end, and they know no rules. But if you wish to know which writers I favor the most, Borges and Italo Calvino are two of my favorites.


ME: I'm not nearly so well read. I'm going to smile and pretend to know Calvino. Then I will quickly follow up with who are some of your spiritual influences?


SK: It is funny, when it comes to writing which is a supposed task of mind, I let the metaphysical world take over my hands but when it comes to spiritual beliefs, I choose to trust my judgment than the spiritual signs or gurus. So I guess your answer is ‘my eyes’.


ME: That is fascinating. I would not have expected any other answer based on our previous conversations. Going into this, I expected you to be intriguing and a little mysterious. That being said, what is something you would like to tell us that you do not put in your public bio?


SK: I don’t like spicy food.


ME: Very good! I am the opposite, I seek out the spiciest foods I can find. I've even tried the infamous Ghost Pepper. I suspect that is not on your list of things to do. What are your "To Do" items?


SK: As for writing projects, I have recently finished On the Silk Road to Love and I am not writing any new stories anytime soon or if I am, I do not know that yet. About other projects, I am studying the potentials of working with some UK studios to make a movie based on Alleged. Another project which is more of a hobby to me is my Virtual Universe Traveland.wall.fm. I am building a virtual version of the world with help of one person from each country in the world, the countries that are announced in the world map or those that only exist in the minds of those who believe theirs is wiped off the map or has never even been there. So far I have ambassadors from 29 countries. Some are active and some are a challenge to deal with but what I like about this virtual universe of mine is that though we’re all focusing on the differences between our countries and cultural traits, we’re not using those differences to draw lines but to praise one another. We celebrate our differences and respect it.


ME: That's great! I hope our readers will visit your amazing Virtual Universe.You look to be very busy. I'm available to help write your movie script, by the way. Couldn't resist plugging myself. It's funny, but I often get the impression you are a serious person. I know from your writing in 30.5 and our emails that is not true. Here are a couple silly questions as a test to see how serious you are. When you finally stand before your Supreme Being, what will you ask?


SK: What’s up with the world mama?


ME: Mama, hmm? That is telling. Moving on, what flavor of ice cream are you?


SK: Though not a fan of berries when it comes to picking my favorite ice cream flavor, I have a feeling I would be some type of sour berry, thinking maybe blueberry.  Yea! Blueberry!


ME: Funny. Ms. Khanian, thank you for taking the time to visit with me. It has been quite revealing. Your story, Dr. Candy, will be available very soon. In the meantime, readers can listen to our turn on The G-Zone blogtalkradio show HERE. Please also visit our Facebook fan page and post questions or comments for any of the Authors of One. 


Lastly, I would like to say how excited I am that Dr. Candy will be the first of our series to appear under Trestle Press' NEW imprint Helping Hands Press!

Do you want something for FREE?

This is your chance! Trestle Press is hosting a little giveaway. I'm going to let Mr. Gelati give you the details. Before that, I'd like to say that I hope one of my readers wins. It's fairly simple: make some noise! Do something to get my attention (it has to be online though).

Anyway, read the details and I will have a bit to add at the end.....


Six Author’s, Six Incredible Stories, One Intense Giveaway!!!

Hi, me again, Giovanni Gelati! 

Trestle Press and some of their authors have put together what I think is one intense giveaway. Each author covers a different genre and has a different style, but they all share one common goal: they love to satisfy readers, and they want to hear from you in one way or another. 

What do I mean by that? Well you can follow their blogs, email them, and become their friend on any of the social websites you can find them (Goodreads, Facebook, Twitter, Google +, Reverb, Edgy Christian Fiction…).

The idea is to get their attention in some way, shape or form, because we are giving away 6 stories in a nice convenient e-package for you to spend some quality time with, full length novels as well as digital short stories. 

Who are the authors you ask? You did, didn’t you? Yes, I thought so.

Here is the lineup:

Darren Sant is Amazon UK’s wunderkind having rocketed up the sales charts within 12 hours of his debut release “A Good Day”, the first installment in “The Longcroft Estates” Series. His second installment in the series, “Community Spirit”, will be released this week.

Wenona Hulsey has written “Burden of Blood”. This debut novel has been making waves on Amazon Kindle and Barnes & Nobles Nookbook for Paranormal/YA.

Mark Miller is the author of a few different things: The new “One” series (a visit into ourselves, our spiritual selves, no matter what form, shape or size), Daniel’s Lot (an adaptation of the movie of the same name), and the all ages series “The Empyrical Tales” from Comfort Publishing.

Paul D. Brazill has penned a ton of material carving out a name for himself in the noir/suspense/ horror genre. A few pieces of his work include the “Drunk on The Moon” digital short story series, and “Brit Grit”. He has charted in sales both on Amazon Kindle and Amazon Kindle UK.

Big Daddy Abel is your basic renaissance man: musician, composer, author, performer, band mate. BDA helps front a very successful group The Amish Outlaws. He also has musical material of his own, you can grab that on www.ReverbNation.com. He has the highly successful “Open Mic” series of digital short stories and they have been at one time the number 1, 2, 7, 8 in his Amazon Kindle category for sales. He also has a variety of stories with The Author’s Lab/Collaboration series that have hit the Amazon Kindle sales charts including: “The Jersey Shore Has Eyes”, “The Edge of Cataclysmic” and a novella “Bar–A”.

Giovanni Gelati. Yes, me. I have been fortunate to have had the privilege and opportunity to work with some amazing authors on a variety of projects in just about every genre. To say that I am fortunate to be able to work with these authors is an understatement.

That is the lineup, what is the giveaway?

We are giving away one title from each author, so that is a package that has six stories, some full length, some digital short stories, some are novella’s, and all you need to do is find these authors and gain their attention. Let them know you’re interested in this giveaway, (follow their blogs, be their friend on Facebook, Goodreads, Twitter, Google+… you get the picture), and we will announce the winners on Sept. 15^th.

Have nice time. We look forward to hearing from you.

Thanks, Giovanni. You heard him folks, do something fun, and maybe a little crazy!

Here's some ideas: comment on one of my blog posts (empyricaltales.blogspot.com), send me an email (Mark@MillerWords.com), send me a friend request from one of the social networks listed on my blog or the Links at my website (www.MillerWords.com), or use Facebook. Get my attention and that will get Trestle Press's attention.

I want you to win one of my Trestle Press e-books!         

The Authors of ONE: De Miller

The next installment of One will be coming your way from Trestle Press very soon, so I wanted to give you an opportunity to meet the next author.

De Miller is a former newspaper reporter, photographer and editor now living in the little central Florida town of Mount Dora. He became a born again Christian on July 13, 2008. He and his wife, Sue, have four children and 17 grandchildren and a great grandchild on the way. Through the years, he served as a reporter, photographer and relief desk editor for The Star and then as a reporter, photographer, Associate Editor and finally Managing Editor of the Kansas City Kansan, the daily newspaper on the Kansas side of Kansas City. Following some 15 years in the newspaper business, he became the Public Information officer for the Wyandotte County Commissioners for eight years. He entered private business, owning and operating several businesses in Kansas City. Also during his post-government years he operated his own Public Relations firm and sold freelance articles to such diverse publications as the National Enquirer, the Sporting News and Handicraft Magazine.

I prepared a few questions and my father was kind enough to answer them.


MM: Given what we are trying to accomplish with "One", what was the inspiration for your contribution to the series?


DM: As a "baby" Christian, I wanted to share my excitement about my new found knowledge with family and friends. If I learned about a new way to repair a car, I would certainly share that with those I loved. So why not share what I've learned about the true meaning of life?


MM: Sharing is a cornerstone of "One". We definitely want to expose readers to different viewpoints and give them things to consider. You have a lengthy background in writing. Why don't you share how long you've been at it?


DM: Do I have to tell? : ) Can I even remember back that far? : ) : ) Okay. 43 years!


MM: I won't add to your pain by saying that's longer than I've been alive. In that time, I'm sure you've developed some habits, good or bad. Tell us something interesting or odd that you do while writing?


DM: I wouldn't call it a habit or an eccentricity....but I really enjoy writing outdoors. I wrote my first novel on my laptop and a portable desk sitting on a park bench on the bank of Lake Dora here in Mount Dora, FL. When I don't have time to load up the desk and computer, I wheel it out on my deck overlooking a smaller lake and enjoy the shade and breeze. Maybe that is eccentric?


MM: I would say that's a great way to get in touch with nature. A lot of different faiths depend on communicating with nature. Can you tell us something more about your faith that we can't get from your story?


DM: I think I probably made this clear in the article, but I think it bears repeating. God is the faithful one. He will always be there for you. Just acknowledge Him in all you do and He will provide. Quit worrying.


MM: Very nice. Obviously that is a big part of your work these days, but who are some of your writing influences?


DM: Mark Twain, Mark Miller, Tony Hillerman, James Lee Burke, Liliam Jackson Braun and Robert B. Parker. (Not too many faith writers, huh?)


MM: I'm not sure I deserve it, but I'm humbled to be included in such an esteemed list. Many of our readers would probably agree that your influences don't all have to be spiritual. It's the message and not the messenger, right? If your spiritual influence is not overwhelmingly from other authors, who does influence you in that realm?


DM: Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is the one and only. But to name some people with whom I've personally come in contact with, I would have to say Apostle Matthew J. Shaw, T. D. Jakes, Joel Osteen and Joyce Meyers.


MM: Another great list. These are people you've come in contact with in your life, in one way or another. That leads me into the next question. Give us a hint at the real you. Share something about your life that we can't read in your bio?


DM: I guess it would be my secret desire to be a movie actor. At this point in my life, I couldn't pass for a leading man type, but certainly a character actor. I wrote, directed and produced a couple direct-to-video movies in the mid-90s and I put myself in those; I also wrote, directed and produced a Christian movie (Daniel's Lot, which is now in worldwide release through Bridgestone Multimedia) and I gave myself a speaking part in that movie. We are in pre-production for our second Christian movie and I have already lined up a part for me in that movie....so if no one else will hire me, I will!


MM: Sounds like fun. I hope it goes well for you. Before we wrap things up, we definitely want to know what else you have in the works. What are your other projects right now?


DM: As I mentioned, I am involved in the movie ministry at our church, Faith and Power Worship Center in Apopka, FL. We recently released our first movie, Daniel's Lot, which stars Emmy-award winner Gary Burghoff (Radar from M*A*S*H). That movie received the coveted Family Approval Seal from the Dove Foundation and was named fan favorite at the Holywood Film Festival in New York earlier this year. We are presently seeking funding for our second feature. We actually have two in the pipeline: A faith-filled Baseball movie entitled Heading Home and a Prodigal Son story set on a horse ranch, entitled The Long Ride. I am also involved with a non-profit group, Arts for the Community, Inc., and we are setting up a Christian radio station as our first project. The station will serve the Marion County area near Ocala, FL. The call letters are WTYG (We Thank You God) and we'll be at 91.5 FM. We hope to be on the air by November.


MM: You are certainly busy. I want to close with a couple fun questions. First, if you could ask your supreme being one question, what would it be?


DM: I don't know that I would have a question. I would really enjoy telling Him face to face, thank you for this wonderful life He has given me. Oh, I guess I will be able to do that.....not too soon, though.


MM: We're not wanting you to hurry to that appointment either. Lastly, if you were ice cream, what flavor would you be?


DM: Chocolate chip. It is smooth and crunchy at the same time. Is that me? Maybe.


MM: Thank you for taking your time and sharing some of your thoughts. Below are some links where readers can learn more about De Miller and his many inspirational projects.

www.danielslot.com  -  www.demiller.com  -  www.headinghomemovie.com www.thelongridemovie.com - www.lazarusfilmworks.com - www.wtygfm.com

Coming Soon from Trestle Press: Mark Miller's One - Story Two: Twelve Steps by De Miller

In story two, De Miller tells something of his life growing up and compares it to his new existence as a Born Again Christian. He has strong influences from both his mother and father that shaped his whole life. After forty years, he is learning something new. 

     

Watch the DVD or get the Kindle adaption today!