Beijing Vampires (Author Interview)

www.amazon.com/dp/B085MM77J2

Beijing Vampires looks like an exciting vampire thriller.  What can you tell us about Red the main character?

           

Red is a lovely, caring girl who is enjoying life in Inner Mongolia. During the Qing Dynasty, she is sent to Beijing to serve the Emperor, and is based in part on Zhenfei, the First Consort, or wife of the Emperor.   She is pure and has powers to fight the powerful Vampire that has arrived from Europe.  As fate has it, she can see vampires, and her unusual abilities and goodness threaten the vampires, and chaos develops. 

What inspired you when writing Beijing Vampires?   

I started this story in the middle, with a vibrant scene in a bar.  Likely there were a few beers in me at that bar when I wrote the first scene.  The historical setting came later.  One of the problems is that the characters are based on people I knew and I kept adding more details over time.  I couldn’t get the story out of my head until it was published.

Any chance this will be the first of a series?

I will let it rest as some of the scenes were hard to write and gave me nightmares.  Let’s just say that I put aside many chapters and stories to get to this shorter version focusing on Red. 

How did you come up with the story in Beijing Vampires?

This evolved over quite a long time.  It started as just a few scenes and characters in present day Beijing.  I wrote more about the villains, vampires, parasites sucking wealth and goodness out of others.  I taught economics and studied finance and started to consider flipping the rules upside down.  I sprinkled some economic and finance puzzles in the book for the reader. 

Did anything stick out as particularly challenging when writing Beijing Vampires?

I tried to make as much authentic as I could while adding the fantasy figure of a powerful vampire on top of the real world.  I visited every location, and most modern scenes are authentic.  Some of the military scenes with the US and Chinese military took some time to refine and do justice to the soldiers and Marines.  I modeled the main Vampire after Bram Stoker’s Dracula, who had many business capabilities.  I also did a lot of research into the economics and historical elements found in the story. An odd thing is that some friends who read this had no problem with the concept of vampires in Bejing, but found discrepancies with some historical locations and street names.   I decided not to describe the characters in too much detail but to let the readers use their own imagination of visuals and images. 

The Dawn of Unions (Author Interview)

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08192ZBJP/   

The Dawn of Unions looks like a fantastic fantasy adventure. Can you tell us a little about the book?

           

            So, the Dawn of Unions serves as a reader’s first foothold on the world of Skolf, and by extension, into the series, “The Cycle of Bones.” Skolf is a world that exists very clearly in my mind, and I’m excited to bring the proverbial “monsters in my head” to readers. As a setting, Skolf has a ton of cultural, linguistic, economic, and magical detail. The truth is, however, that it doesn’t matter how many languages, cultures, magic systems, monsters, or machinations exist in a given world. While everyone wants that rich detail, too much detail given too fast can actually be a barrier to reading.

With this first book, it was important to me to pick a place, and people who were comparatively isolated. I wanted to find a little microcosm, a little slice of the broader world, the larger story to come. The events in a sovereign county in the comparative middle of nowhere seemed like the right place to begin. A single village in that county – the village of Westsong? That seemed to be just about the perfect fit.

How many books are going to be in the “Cycle of Bones” series?

            That’s an excellent question. The answer is, honestly, I’m not entirely sure. I know the road, as it were, and how it ends. It’s the details along that road which are still a bit blurry for me. Yeah, that was a blind joke. Getting to journey’s end could take as few as three novels and one novella, but might take a bit longer. I write reasonably quickly, though. Knowing the world so well makes that process easier.

What inspired you when writing The Dawn of Unions?

            Certainly there are a ton of authors who have inspired me over the years (King, Tolkien, Hamilton, Crichton, Sanderson,) but that just scratches the surface. As you know, I’m legally blind. While that’s been the case from birth, my condition’s degenerative. That means that as time has passed, I’ve had to give up activities I’d previously thrown myself into with all the zeal and abandon that time, effort, and my body would allow. I spent about a decade fighting Western martial arts heavy combat. Full armor, swords, spears, crossbows with blunted bolts, etc. I went all over the country doing it, met some remarkable people, learned a lot, and ultimately fought beside, trained, and led people on the field. None of this was scripted or choreographed, it was all spontaneous. While this particular martial art, like most others has regulations and safety requirements, it was dangerous, unpredictable, exciting, demanding, and very nearly the most fun I’ve ever had. When my vision loss meant I had to retire from that particular activity, I was gutted.

Before You Flip (Author Interview)

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0866DXKG6/

Before You Flip is a realistic look at the house flipping market.  Can you tell us a little about why you wrote the book?

After experiencing some challenges with my first house flipping; after witnessing other new investors getting in financial traps; after watching the abuse, wrong doing, and maltreatment reigning in the real estate investing world, I felt obligated to share first hand experiences and lessons learned. The goal is to create awareness and to add value to anyone who wants to know the downside of real estate investing especially in an environment that shows the good side to lure people in.

           

How long did it take you to write Before You Flip?

It took me about ninety days to write this book.

Why did you decide to become a writer?

I always have a passion for writing. I think sharing stories in writing is one of the most powerful ways to reach a large audience and make a longer impact. We all know “spoken words fly away, but written words remain.”  Ultimately, I want to provide tools and resources valuable to the success of others.

How did you come up with the concepts and ideas to share in Before You Flip?

The concepts came directly from real life experiences. It was a matter of listening to each investor and bring to life their griefs, disappointments, nightmares through the book.

What was the most challenging issue that came up when writing Before You Flip?

The main issue was to translate the investors’ feelings into words without altering their stories. Most of them were indescribable. I wanted to make it easy for the readers to feel their pain and be in their shoes for a moment. I wanted to transport the readers from their world to the investors’ world. The word choice was challenging.

What do you like to do when not writing?

When I am not writing, I am thinking about the next subject to write about. I like to observe my surroundings and examine their behaviors.  I also speak and coach others to reach their full potentials.

Where can readers find out more about your work?

They can find my work on amazon. I am also available on Facebook and LinkedIn.

Lady Capers (Author Interview)

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B085RZN4ZS

Lady Capers looks like a great short collection.  How many stories are included?

Thank you.  I hope readers enjoy it.  Lady Capers is a trilogy of three unique women.  I wanted each story to provide the reader with a break from their daily trials, but not be so large that the manuscript feels like a homework assignment.  What adult wants to do homework after a long day at work?  Three stories made sense and interior designers say to group objects in odd numbers.

How did you come up with the stories in the book and any plans for a series of shorts?  

Each story was created as a single, stand alone story at first.  While they don’t contain actual historic events or people from real life, there are small pieces of myself in each story.  For instance, Mary Jane smacks her head on the freezer door handle while looking for the Thousand Island dressing.  Honestly, I’ve never had the dressing as I’m allergic to eggs, but I did once bang my head looking for leftover tacos.  With Emily, she receives a notice for jury duty.  When I received one after voting in a primary election, my imagination went a little wild and created her world.  And, yes, I called in for that jury duty, but never had to report.  Lastly, with Anne, when she is waiting for Alexandre to pause his work, I mention Anne’s leg pain due to being crammed in the womb a little tight.  I still cannot sit on my legs today as I think my c-section was a week late too and I was also out of real estate in the womb.

Funny you should mention plans.  Mary Jane Keller is by far the most memorable character I’ve written.  She goes from social butterfly to worrier to needing a tranquilizer in less than five minutes flat.  There are so many stories and novels in my future plans.  Mary Jane just might get her own book.

The Mission Driven Hospital (Author Interview)

http://missiondrivenhospital.com/reviews-2/

The Mission Driven Hospital looks like a fantastic hospital leadership guide.  Who is your target market for the book?

           

The Mission Driven Hospital book is targeted for CEOs and their executive teams (as well as Boards of Directors) of healthcare organizations in general.

The fact that the title focuses on “hospitals” is because the research quoted in the book is based on a massive data set that I acquired on the ‘strategic practices’ of 496 hospitals, and especially their approach to executing their strategies. But the lessons contained in the book can apply to any healthcare organization such as nursing homes, acute care facilities and medical/dental/chiropractic/physiotherapy etc. clinics.

There’s also a special chapter dedicated to examining the differences between faith-based versus secular hospitals called: “Who does it best?”

The book is endorsed by: The Ontario Hospital Association and numerous individual healthcare CEOs.

What is your mission with The Mission Driven Hospital, what do you hope to accomplish?

My mission is to make mission statements come alive in their organizations rather than just being the nice sounding, but meaningless platitudes with which they are usually regarded.

It’s actually a sad state of affairs.

Mission statements are the #1 ‘management tool’ in use globally. Almost every organization in the world has a mission statement. Healthcare organizations are no exception. In fact, the existence and quality of a mission statement is typically a key component in the evaluation criteria used during a hospital’s formal accreditation - or reaccreditation - process. Moreover, mission statements are considered by most strategy textbooks as the key starting point in any strategic planning exercise.

But despite their widespread use, mission statements remain one of the least understood, least respected and most despised management tools in the world among workers and managers at all levels [even, surprisingly often, in the executive suite].

My mission with the book is to have hospital/healthcare administrators and their boards acquire the respect for mission statements that most intelligent, well-educated executives say they deserve. When created and ‘deployed wisely’, my research demonstrates that a mission statement can be the cornerstone management tool for attracting and retaining the loyalty of an organization’s most critical stakeholders: patients/customers, employees, owners/funders and the communities within which the organization operates.

I show readers how to capture the elusive ‘mission mystique’ and avoid the most common ‘mission mistakes’. I show them how to make their mission statement’s alleged value become real and useful to their workforce so that it is embraced by each employee, thus improving individual job satisfaction and, of course, better hospital performance.

Framing Your World (Author Interview)

www.amazon.com/dp/1661961576/


Framing Your World looks like an interesting book on faith.  Can you tell us a little about the book?
 Framing Your World Against All Odds is a book on faith and overcoming obstacles.  All of us endure some type of negative word and stigma spoken over our lives at some point.  People will speak all manner of evil over your life.  I want you to know “you are not what they say”.  “They” may be family, friends, church members, associates, or your enemies. God has given you the power to “Frame Your World” with what you believe and the words that you speak. How long did it take you to write Framing Your World? I started writing Framing Your World right after my first book release “Positioned to Prosper” in 2018.  It took about a year and five months from beginning to end.    What inspired you when writing Framing Your World?     I was inspired by God and my life.  I have had to walk out the principles in this book throughout my life.  I have had to overcome challenges, issues, and problems.  I knew from a young teenager that God had more for me.  I refused to give up and I fought to become the person I am today.  

How did you come up with the ideas in Framing Your World?
 
The ideas in Framing Your World was birthed through prayer and life experience.  As a Christian Life Coach and Counselor I encounter people who have allowed what others have said to dictate how they live their lives.  After seeing this time and time again I decided to write and help people get free.  I want people to know no matter what you have endured you are an overcomer.  

Willing. Available. Ready. (Author Interview)

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/willing-available-ready-regine-mfoumou/1136297694?ean=9782956380962

‘Willing. Available. Ready.’ looks like a great self-help book.  Can you tell us a little about the book and who it’s for?

Yes, indeed, it is a self-help book that comes with proven experiences that can help people to overcome their fears to achieve their full potential in whatever they are doing or want to do in life. The book is definitely a wake-up call, a thought-provoking step by step guide aimed at everyone who has (or had) struggled to find a way out of troubles, recurring problems or just in their life. Though I would say the book is mainly for Christians because of the biblical references that are used, a great part of the book addresses everyone who is looking for answers to achieve a goal, because the number one blockage in each person, irrespective of their belief or background, is not external… it is the fear that is instilled to us from childhood. There is no age to feel the fear to do something that is important to us. Everybody, at some point in life either turns around, not knowing what to do… and the book actually teaches people that when nothing seems to work (which is the title of chapter 5), then stop everything. Most of the time, people have a counteraction, trying to force things to work. The book tells us not only why we should stop and what we should do instead. And this is not something only Christians need to know. The book also speaks about keys to success… but not as wealth-sellers do, but in a way that brings everyone to reflect on what they have been doing with what they already have. Sometimes, the keys to success are much closer than we think, unless we know how to locate the keys, discern that those keys are exactly what we need, many doors can remain shut, leading to unfulfilled and frustrated lives. This is a book to make every reader reflect on what they have been doing… and thus through biblical examples that worked, find solutions to their own problems.

How did you come up with the concepts in ‘Willing. Available. Ready.’?  

           

This concept came as I took time to observe the young people in our church. Many people live as if they have no purpose. I saw many of them trying different things and they kept failing. So, I concluded that they were willing to see a change or see something happening... a breakthrough, success… anything that could bring real meaning to their lives. So, the problem was not about their willingness to achieve their goals. However, how many of them showed they were available to pay the price for it? The same, our society has become to contented that it is difficult for people to receive! Are we always ready for the things we dream for? Many people would say they are. Well, the book can challenge us to see how unavailable are unprepared we are to get what we want in life.

The book is not there to just prepare a book for people to eat. No, it is purposely constructed to bring each reader to reflect and wonder: Ok, I want to do this or that… but as I keep reading it looks like I have not been available for it, so how can I ever achieve my goal? It looks like I am not even ready for it… so it this goal is achieved today, how will I be able to manage it. I have seen young people getting a job after many years of joblessness, but they ended up losing the job because they kept going to work late. It is simple: they were not ready for what they wanted!

Adventures of the Happy Schnauzer Klaus: Grab your Leash and lets explore

www.amazon.com/dp/1693760673/

Ever wonder what adventures a dog has in a day? Meet Klaus, a schnauzer dog. From the challenge of trying to catch the neighborhood squirrel to doing tricks for a treat. He grabs his leash and he is off to explore around the neighborhood with his owner, Terry. Out on their walk, the two set off to the park for a game of catch, playing other dog friends, and then for a game of hide and seek. At the end of a busy day, Klaus is ready for sleep. And like most dogs, he falls fast asleep to do it all again the next day.

How to Crush Federal Resumes: The Things That Federal Insiders Don't Want You to Know That Will Get You Hired (Top Secret Tips)

www.amazon.com/dp/B0859XYPKZ/

If You Want To Land A Federal Job Easily... Make Sure Your Resume Follows These Guidelines!

Do you keep applying to federal jobs but keep getting rejected?

In fact, a lot of people do.

More than three quarters of candidates applying for federal jobs never make it to the final stages of the hiring process.

But what can you do to land among the chosen few who get their dream jobs?

The answer is both very simple and somewhat daunting.

Write an irresistible resume that will impress every HR specialist who sees it.

However, just googling "resume writing tips" won't cut it.

Federal resumes are very different from the resumes typically written for private sector jobs. If you submit a typical business resume to a federal job, the recruiter won't even bother reading it.

This is why you need a reliable source of information and top secret insider knowledge - such as this book.

Here's what you'll learn:

• Why you should ditch most resume-writing tips that focus on business resumes
• How to analyze federal job announcements and read between the lines
• How to make your skills and work experience really stand out
• How to avoid the typical mistakes that make most resumes look unprofessional
• How to write a cover letter that truly highlights your awesomeness
• And much more!

You'll find lots of practical examples and worksheets that will help you write an impressive resume even if you're a new graduate, a senior student, or if you have gaps in your work history. No matter if you're writing your very first resume for a federal job or if you're a seasoned job hunter, you'll find a wealth of valuable advice and insider tips that will greatly boost your chances of getting your dream job.

Lady Capers (Publication Review)

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B085RZN4ZS/

HUGEOrange Publication Review

Lady Capers

I love short stories! With a busy life and schedule, a collection of good, quirky short stories is just the break I need when I get a moment to relax. Lady Capers is just such a book. This is a lively read with three quite different tales. The protagonist of each is a woman whose personality or ethos you may see in a friend or relative. No superheroes or vampires here, just regular people with regular problems. It’s how they see the issues and how they handle the issues that are interesting.

First up is Mary Jane, who is still traumatized by a social incident that happened years ago. But she lives for the calamities that seem to pop up in her life. She doesn’t actually yearn for them but seems to thrive on them to my eyes. Her long-suffering husband tries to manage her hysteria and drama, but she’s like a runaway train car teetering on the rails.

There wasn’t a simple, ordinary life event Mary Jane couldn’t turn into a twister of worries ready to destroy peace on Earth and melt the polar ice caps to room temperature water. Retirement from her position as the assistant manager at the local clothier, Antonio’s Department Store, and taking residency in the 55+ community of Beacon Acres had only accelerated the volume of invented catastrophes.

The second story is about Emily, a businesswoman whose career path takes a wrong turn. The third is about Anne, a professional chef who has to make big decisions regarding her career, and since a handsome repeat customer begins arriving every Tuesday, her love life.

Making his plate, Anne tinted in recall of their first encounter as she counted the minutes to see him again. In fact, she had spent extra time on her appearance before her shift. Their interactions were professional—well, at least her side, but Anne knew Tuesday would bring a sensation of electricity. To be fair, the cuisine profile did trifle with language. But Anne loved Tuesdays.

The stories are lighthearted, not heavy reading; they are perfect for that diversion you need sometimes. The author, Nina Szudzik, writes, “This short story trilogy is designed for the pace of life, a quick respite from endless bills, household chores, and responsibilities.” I recommend this book for any reader who loves light, humorous tales.

My Way To You (Creek Canyon Book 1)

www.amazon.com/dp/B07SX1RYF5/

A woman’s journey through tragedy leads to the discovery of love in a novel about hope and survival by New York Times bestselling author Catherine Bybee.

When a wildfire nearly destroys Parker Sinclair’s family home, it’s just one more disaster to add to her mountain of stress. For the past two years, she has shouldered the responsibility of raising her younger brother and sister after their parents’ untimely deaths. Forced to leave college for a crappy job that barely pays the bills, Parker manages her family property, which consumes every aspect of her life. Now winter is coming and the forecast isn’t spreading sunshine on the dark cloud over her head. The last thing Parker needs is a mudslide destroying everything she has worked so hard to maintain.

Colin Hudson’s job as a public works supervisor is to protect Parker’s property and neighborhood from further damage. But it’s a little hard when the owner of the land is a control freak who tries to do everything herself. The hardworking, attractive young woman is far from the “hot mess” she claims to be. In fact, her tight grip of control is one of the things that attract him the most. It’s also the hardest to crack. Now Colin’s working overtime to help Parker open up her heart, trust him, and let him in.

As Parker and Colin work together to keep her home and neighborhood safe, they may be in for another disaster. Or they may just realize that sometimes it takes destruction to create something new.

How Can I Increase the Value of My Business?: Turn Your Business Valuation into a Value-Building Blueprint

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B085LNPPR5

NEW BOOK HELPS BUSINESS OWNERS

DRAMATICALLY INCREASE THEIR WEALTH

TO SECURE A BETTER RETIREMENT

(VALUATION EXPERT SHOWS BUSINESS OWNERS HOW TO UNLOCK HIDDEN BUSINESS VALUE) 

Richard Mowrey, Author of #1 bestselling book, When is the Right Time to Sell My Business?, shows business owners how to create a value-building blueprint in his newest book to be released on Amazon. The information inside this book lays out how business owners can take meaningful, stress-free steps toward financial freedom as well as how to more effectively achieve business success.

Sin (Author Interview)

www.amazon.com/dp/B07PVZCN51/  

Sin looks like an exciting story. Can you tell us a little about Jerry Kinkade?

​Jerry is just an average guy, who tends to get kicked around by fate. His luck seems to have just dried up at age 12 when his parents died in an accident on a camping trip. Although he is a genuinely nice guy, he bounces from job to job never seeming to find himself.

How long did it take you to write Sin?

Around a year.

How many books do you plan for the series?

I have three other books planned so four total, I am currently writing the second.

Why did you decide to become a writer?

I have always enjoyed writing, seeing the characters come to life in my head as I commit them to paper to share with others.

How did you come up with the story in Sin?

It started as an idea about a homeless old man who makes a deal with the devil and was going to be a dark humor/horror short story. The story began to bounce around my mind like a pea in a tin can and evolved into a much lighter and funny story.

Did anything stick out as particularly challenging when writing Sin?

Besides editing, working out time jumps but it was good practice since time runs differently depending on where you are in the second book.

What do you like to do when not writing?

Read, cook, play games on pc, paint or draw.

Where can readers find out more about your work?

I’m on Goodreads but I don’t currently have a website running.