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Author Profile: Jack Murnighan

2012-02-12T16:27:00.000Z

Perhaps on of the most fascinating modern-day writers, Jack Murnighan has many talents - quoting everything from Proust to David Foster Wallace among them. It's no surprise Jack is proficient in such work, as he's spent most of his life studying the literary greats. His latest work is co-authoring with Maura Kelly on Much Ado About Loving: What Our Favorite Novels Can Teach You About Date Expectations, Not So-Great Gatsbys, and Love in the Time of Internet Personals, published by Simon and Schuster imprint Free Press.

BIOGRAPHY:

Born a Hoosier, raised a central-Illinoisan, Jack Murnighan used geography quotas to get in to Brown University, where he studied philosophy and semiotics and graduated in 1990.

The next two years were spent on and off in Paris, doing Orwellian lifestyle experiments and seeing what his identity would be if he spoke to no one and got no positive feedback. He wrote a lot of letters.

Penniless, he returned to the academy, joining Duke University's Literature Program, where he would eventually earn a Ph.D. (in 1999) with a thesis on allegory and a specialization in Medieval and Renaissance literature.

While writing his dissertation, Murnighan started working as an editor and staff writer of Nerve.com, contributing, among other things, ,em>Jack's Naughty Bits, a weekly column on sex in the history of literature, which was ultimately compiled into two books, The Naughty Bits and Classic Nasty.

In 2000 he left Nerve and began research for Beowulf on the Beach, reading or rereading all 15 of Dickens' major novels, as well as most of the rest of the Western canon. He fancied himself a swashbuckling young rival of Harold Bloom, minus the readership or chair at Yale.

Beowulf on the Beach: What to Love and What to Skip in Literature's 50 Greatest Hits was published in May of 2009. Now, for fun, Murnighan has turned to reading Dickens' non-fiction.

ON THE WEB

Web Site: jackmurninghan.com

Amazon Author Page: Jack Murninghan

Blog: jackmurnighan.blogspot.com

Twitter: @jackmurnighan

Facebook: Jack Murnighan

Author Profile: Camilla Läckberg

2012-02-11T01:33:00.000Z

It is my pleasure to introduce this week's profiled author, Camilla Läckberg.

Camilla is a Swedish crime writer who is the top best-selling author in her country. Her first novel, The Ice Princess, was released in the US in March 2011 by Simon and Schuster imprint Free Press.

Her current American book release, The Preacher, was released by Pegasus in April 2011, with a new edition released by Free Press on February 7, 2011.

A third novel, The Stonecutter is scheduled for release in the United States by Pegasus on May 1, 2012 and scheduled for release by Free Press in Spring 2013.

BIOGRAPHY:

Camilla Läckberg was born in 1974, and grew up in Fjällbacka on the west coast of Sweden, just by the Norwegian bite. As a girl, she was always telling stories and drawing little tales that she’d put together into books. The first such book, called Tomten (The Goblin), which she wrote when she was only four or five years old, was a gory, hair-raising four-pager. Her fascination for murder mysteries has always been there – perhaps as a contrast to the idyllic tracts of her childhood home. But writing remained merely a dream for Camilla, who went on to study economics at the School of Economics and Commercial Law at Göteborg University. After graduating, she moved to Stockholm, where she spent a couple of years working as an economist. Unhappy years, that is, with her dream of being a novelist still holding her in its thrall. She was finally given a course for Christmas by her husband, mother and brother. It was a crime-writing course organized by writers’ association Ordfront, and as she studied, she began the story that came to be her debut novel: The Ice Princess. Her tutor advised her to set the plot in a place she knew well, and where better than her childhood home?

The Ice Princess was accepted in the same week as Camilla gave birth to her son, Wille, and was published in 2003. Her second book, The Preacher, was released in 2004, followed by The Stonecutter in 2005 and The Jynx in 2006. In April 2007 it was time for her fifth novel The German Child. May 2008 saw two new books reach the shelves, one of which was a complete departure from the crime genre. The first of these was The Mermaid, the sixth book in the series about Fjällbacka residents Patrik and Erika; the second was a cookery book, which she put together with celebrity chef and childhood friend Christian Hellberg. Smaker från Fjällbacka (The taste of Fjällbacka) is a culinary celebration of Fjällbacka and the food that Camilla and Christian associate with life on the west coast. The latest book to be published in Sweden is the seventh book about Patrik and Erika: The Lighthouse Keeper.

Camilla’s novels have enjoyed critical acclaim and her popularity has grown steadily. She is Sweden’s top-selling author, and to date she has sold over 5 million books. She won the Folket literary prize in 2006, and in the autumn of the following year found another of her dreams fulfilled when her first two books were dramatized and shown on national television.

ON THE WEB:

Web Site: www.camillalackberg.com

Amazon Profile: Camilla Läckberg

Blog: My Life As a Crime Writer

Facebook: Camilla Läckberg

Scandinavian Crime Fiction: Camilla Läckberg

SEEN This Week 2/6/12

2012-02-06T13:56:00.000Z

The newest author and book happenings from this past week:

Check out a classic article by Christine Schwab, As the Red Carpet Rolled Out, Arthritis Stepped In.

Randy Atwood's One More Victim ranked 49th ranked among Amazon paid downloads in Jewish Fiction.

Danger Danger by Gerry McCullough received a boost on Bargain Ebooks.

Tempo Magazine is looking for freelance writers and photographers. Send inquiries to stacy@tempomagazine.net with your name, email, phone number and include links to your portfolio if you have one. This is currently not a paid position.

Jack Hessey's first novel, a steampunk book called Steam Queen, is available for free on Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk.

Karen Dales attended the Author's Fight Alzheimer's event, where she sold a number of books with the proceeds going to the Alzheimer's Society. As an added bonus, she also met and made friends with fellow vampire author Heather Anne Lambert.

Andy Szpuk's book Sliding on the Snow Stone is listed in the online catalogue of one of the 50 best bookshops in Britain.

Advocate for Arthritis: learn about the 2012 Advocacy Summit and E-Advocate Opportunities, a great post written by Ashley Boynes-Shuck

The Last American Martyr by Tom Winton placed #2 February 1 on Amazon.com Movers and Shakers.

Lethal Seduction by Jackie Collins is now in eBook form just $1.99 on iTunes.

Richard Gazala has started an interesting new blog, GAZALAPALOOZA. Stop by and have a read.

Pentalk has begun its first workshop on how to better critique partner/self editing tips. This is the course being taught on ACFW course loop and Pentalk received permission to post it on Pentalk as well. Like Pentalk's Facebook page to participate in the latest discussion.

My News for the Week:

My second book, Fifty, is now completed and in the publisher's hands. The Kindle edition is now available for $2.99.

Do you have news you'd like to see in a future column? Either post it on a related site or email lori@authorsonshow.com before the following week. Also follow me on Twitter @lacarrington1.

Author Profile: Joel Mark Harris

2012-02-04T15:41:00.000Z

Joel Mark Harris is one of a group of indie authors who is recently following me on Twitter, and quite a multi-talented man. He is a Vancouver-based journalist, screenwriter, producer and novelist. Joel's latest novel, A Thousand Bayonets (iUniverse, 2011), can be found on Amazon.

BIOGRAPHY:

Joel Mark Harris is an award-winning British-Canadian journalist, novelist, screenwriter and producer. Born in Vancouver, he graduated from Langara Journalism School in 2007 and worked for the Squamish Chief newspaper before freelancing. At Langara, Joel got the idea to write a series of books about a journalist, the first of which is called A Thousand Bayonets. In the novel, a former war correspondent named John Webster maneuvers through the seedy underworld of Vancouver, trying to bring a vicious drug lord to justice. A Thousand Bayonets won an Editor’s Choice Award from Author Solutions.

In 2008, Joel went to British Columbia Institute of Technology for a public relations degree. After doing various jobs in the PR field, Joel wrote and produced Neutral Territory, a film about Henry Huge, who must return to his crazy Swiss family after falling into money troubles. Neutral Territory was nominated for a Maverick Award for Best Cinematography and Best Picture at the Beloit Film Festival. It won best feature film at the Interrobang Film Festival. It is also an official selection of the Beijing International Film Festival and the New York International Film Festival. Joel was nominated for best screenplay for Neutral Territory in the World Music & Independent Film Festival

Joel is currently writing a screenplay called Shots, a coming-of-age story about Carter, a teenager, who gets his first job at a coffee shop. He is also working on a sequel to his novel called Shame the Devil.

ON THE WEB:

Contact: contact@joelmarkharris.com

Web Site: www.joelmarkharris.com

Twitter: @JoelMarkHarris

Facebook: Fan Site of Joel Mark Harris

SEEN This Week 1/30/12

2012-01-30T13:59:00.000Z

This week's author and book news:

Joel Mark Harris will be signing copies of his latest novel A Thousand Bayonets at the Beloit International Film Festival. The festival will take place February 16-19.

First Bitten by Samantha Towle is listed on free Kindle downloads at the moment if you fancy a copy. Be sure to leave a review what you thought of this book.

Stephen Pearl will have a table featuring his books at the Con-G: Guelph's Anime and Geek Culture Convention, which takes place in Guelph, Ontario, Canada February 25-26, 2012.

Diane Nelson Diane Nelson shared her experience with Twitter on Hannah Warren's blog January 24.. Be sure to check out Give 'Em the Bird.

Have a look and pick up a copy of The Prodigal's Foole by Richard B.Wood for only $3.99.

K College Tonbridge and Ashford spread the word about Teresa Geering doing a creative writing seminar for them. K College at Dover wants her to do a seminar as well. Want to see a photo of the Night Publishing book stand at the Learning Resource Centre?

The Belfast Telegraph posted a review of Edward John's book, Murdo.

Sara Curran-Ross' romantic suspense set in a French chateau in the Loire Valley called Sleeping Love has just been released by Hellfire Publishing. Check it out on Smashwords.

Magnolia Nights, a short story by Robb Grindstaff, appears in the latest issue of Palo Verde Pages, an Arizona literary magazine. The Palo Verde Pages: Volume 2, Issue 4 can be found on Kindle.

Killer Nashville: A Conference for Thriller, Suspense and Mystery Writers and Lovers will take place August 23-26, 2012. Click here to register and get an early bird discount.

Mick Ridgwell's novel, The Nightcrawler, is set to be published later this year.

Amy Leigh McCorkle appeared at That Book Place January 28, where she signed swag and celebrated the launch of Another Way To Die.

My News for the Week:

The Cruiserweight was #52 on the paid Kindle bestselling charts in Wrestling books January 27.

Do you have news that you'd like to see in a future column? Either post it on a related web site or email lori@authorsonshow.com before the following week. Also follow me on Twitter @lacarrington1.

Author Profile: Bonnie Best

2012-01-28T01:13:00.000Z

Ever wonder what it's like to be a pet sitter or want to explore the opportunity of becoming one? Bonnie Best, author of The Real Poop Scoop on Pet Sitting: Create Financial Freedom Playing With Pets! (BookWise Publishing, 2010), shows not only how a pet-sitting business can be profitable, but also a lot of fun -- especially if you love animals!

BIOGRAPHY:

Bonnie Best has been a professional pet sitter for over 14 years and owns The Best Pet Sitting Service and BNME, Inc. She is a retired Veterinary Technician and spent several years as a financial coordinator and accounts receivable manager at a large 24 hour emergency veterinary hospital. For the past 30 years, she has been a professional dog obedience instructor, therapy dog trainer and has raised numerous champion show dogs.

After spending time as a cruelty investigator for the ASPCA, and organizing charitable events for abused pets and children, she dedicated herself to the education and awareness of pet care and training, for children and adults. She has spent countless hours with young children, teaching them awareness to animal care, animal behavior, and proper handling skills, in hopes to teach kindness. With her desire to continue in the animal field, yet reach out to her local community, she incorporated dog therapy training and handling into her obedience classes.

. I

“Bringing a dog into the hospital environment is truly an eye opening venture. It amazed me to see that such a simple gesture can help so many people at different levels. Not only does the patient benefit, but more so the families, and staff. Without having to return to college for a career change in midlife, I have been able to just expand on my life’s passion, and continue to make it my career. For that I am truly blessed.”

With her high visibility in the community with her pet sitting business, pet training, and therapy work, she became aware of the need to help with local shelters housing victims of domestic violence. “I never knew how many different avenues I would find to apply my skills as a pet trainer and pet sitter!” This gave her the opportunity to set up charitable events to help with the animals being displaced in these situations, and start on her new mission of teaching women about entrepreneurship, self reliance and independence.

“Most women in domestically violent situations have no self esteem, regardless of their education or career. In fact, the careers many of these women have, are still very male oriented, and their employers can seem overbearing to them, even when they are not. These women just lose their self worth. I find teaching and encouraging any type of self employment opportunity, large or small, really helps to give one confidence, which is what these women need most.”

Bonnie's other business opportunities lie in her own corporation, BNME, Inc., which she owns and manages herself. She has been married to her husband Rich for 30 years. He is retired from the Air Force, and is currently an Information Technology Engineer. They live in Gilbert, Arizona with their daughter Nikki, who attends college nearby. Her four dogs are her constant companions and office managers!

ON THE WEB:

Web Site: www.therealpoopscoop.com

Pet Sitting: www.thebestpetsitting.com

Twitter: @BestPetSitter_

Facebook: The Real Poop Scoop on Pet Sitting

SEEN This Week 1/23/12

2012-01-23T14:06:00.000Z

News from this past week:

Frank Hall at That Book Place is looking for more authors to participate in his Author's Fair in March. Check it out here.

Faint Echoes of Laughter by Stacey Danson, the spirited sequel to Empty Chairs, is racking up the five-star reviews on Amazon. For the $2.99 Kindle edition price, it's outstanding reading.

Unsafe Acts by Bill Kirton is set for release February 12 by Pfoxmoor Publishing.

Interested in reposting your blog posts on writing (or other topics) on Hannah Warren's blog? If you have something you think could do with a reread, send an email to hannahwar@hotmail.com.

The Gentlemen's Parlor - Room Of Chains by Geoffrey Knight will be released Wednesday, January 25.

Lisamarie Lamb's writing group will be interviewed on BRFM (95.6FM), a local radio station, January 30 at 7:00PM. They'll discuss their current project, A Roof Over Their Heads

Xchyler Publishing is launching March 1 and is currently accepting all types and styles of fiction. They would like to have a specially featured collection of steampunk and paranormal books, and currently are accepting Anthology submissions as well Genre- Fantasy Theme-Dragon. Deadline is March 16. You can also like their Facebook page and follow them on Twitter.

The Show Some Fang Photo Contest is now running through February 22. Send a pic of your most vampy fangy pose and win great prizes, featuring some wonderful guest judges and a few pretty cool faces! Check out The Official Catherine Stovall Fan Page for more information.

A benefit show for missing Pittsburgh area man Jimmy Slack will be held February 2. The show will be a fundraiser for Jimmy's family to aid in his search and hopefully bring him home safe. More details and performing act list can be found at this link.

Jamie Sue Wilsoncroft's new romance novel The Unfaithful Widow is due out on April 15. Meanwhile, like the book's Facebook page to receive the latest news.

All Male Romance will be one of several exhibitors who will appear at the 2012 Rainbow Book Fair Click here for a complete list of exhibitors.

Do you have news you'd like to see in a future column? Either post in on a related site or email lori@authorsonshow.com before the following week. Also follow me on Twitter @lacarrington1.

Author Profile: Jason Matthews

2012-01-21T16:29:00.002Z

I'm honored to introduce Jason Matthews, a multi-talented Indie author and e-publishing enthusiast who loves to sell ebooks. Jason featured Authors on Show on his blog How to Make, Market And Sell Ebooks All for Free on January 12, so it was just perfect timing to feature him as this week's author.

Life experience and the universe fascinated him enough to write novels on the subjects: The Little Universe and Jim’s Life. He also enjoys helping others create online platforms, making free websites and selling products like ebooks. Jason's guides include: How to Make, Market And Sell Ebooks All for Free, How to Make Your Own Free Website: And Your Free Blog Too, and Get On Google Front Page.

He's mentored friends, family and other authors along the way with valuable tips to save people money, time and energy while e-publishing.

ON THE WEB:

How to Make, Market and Sell Ebooks – All for Free

Google Plus: Jason Matthews

Facebook: Jason Matthews

Facebook Group: How to Make, Market and Sell Ebooks - All for Free

Twitter: @Jason_Matthews

LinkedIn: Jason Matthews

SEEN This Week 1/16/12

2012-01-16T14:16:00.000Z

Today we observe the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., one of several iconic figures in history (though his actual birthday was yesterday). Meanwhile, here are some people who created their own histories this past week:

How to Make, Market and Sell Ebooks – All for Free wrote an excellent article January 12 about Authors On Show: Authors on Show, Indies Recommend Other Authors. Special thanks to Jason Matthews for a fine job in writing the article.

Barbara Bentley had an excellent turnout for library panel event January 7. Over 100 people showed up to listen to her and three other authors discuss "So You Want to Write a Book."

In very interesting video, bestselling author Stephen King discusses the art of storytelling as well why some people choose to watch American Idol's "comforting mediocrity" over reading short stories

Do you have thinning hair? Christine Schwab shares her latest tips in the latest issue of Arthritis Today.

As A Rebellious Oak is due to be published in March, you may read about Margaret Callow's interview Dorothy Dreyer's blog

Call of Poseidon by CP Bialois was featured on Kay Proctor's blog for the 52 Books in 52 Weeks challenge for Week 2.

Indie Book List posted Gerry McCullough's second Irish romantic thriller, Danger Danger, with a long excerpt.

Random House of Canada became the sole owner of one of Canada's oldest publishing houses, McClelland and Stewart. Click here to read the story.

We all know some DVDs have an "alternative final scene" among their extras. Michael C.S. Clifford did the same and wrote an "alternative final chapter" to his novel Sometime in Andalusia. It's up to readers to decide if the alternative chapter was a good idea.

Anyone who is interested in arts and disability in Australia is welcome to become a member of Arts Access Australia.

George Pappas was featured on the Story of Books blog’s Five Minutes With: George Pappas, Author, “Monogamy Sucks” and “Dear Hef" He discussed the future of books, how e-books have sparked an erotic resurgence, and his favorite books. George was interviewed by Twitter friend and the blog’s editor Salina Christmas

Do you have news that you'd like to see in a future column? Either post it on a related site or email lori@authorsonshow.com before the following week. Also follow me on Twitter @lacarrington1.

Author Profile: Alisa Statman

2012-01-14T16:24:00.000Z

Alisa Statman is the author of Restless Souls: The Sharon Tate Family's Account of Stardom, Murder, and a Crusade. As a close friend of the Tate family, Alisa co-wrote Restless Souls with Sharon Tate's niece, Brie Tate.

In addition to being a writer, Alisa is an Assistant Director in television and films, currently on the ABC series Modern Family.

Alisa's book will be 400 pages and the majority of its focus will be on Sharon Tate and her family. Sharon's murderers will have some mention, but Restless Souls will profile the Tate family's battles to prevent the Manson family from obtaining parole.

Restless Souls will be published worldwide on February 21, 2012. No death photos will appear in the book.

BIOGRAPHY:

Alisa Statman is a writer and Assistant Director in film and television. Her penchant for storytelling combined with her trusted relationship with the Tate family makes her a logical person to share with the world the most accurate and honest account of their story ever told.

ON THE WEB:

Pre-order Restless Souls: Amazon.com

Amazon Author Page Alisa Statman

Harper Collins Page

iMDB Profile: Alisa Statman

Twitter: @AlisaStatman

SEEN This Week 1/9/12

2012-01-09T14:08:00.000Z

Lots of great author news from this past week:

Restless Souls: The Sharon Tate Family's Account of Stardom, the Manson Murders, and a Crusade for Justice a new book about actress and Mansonvictim Sharon Tate and her family's crusade for justice, will be released February.21, 2012. Alisa will be the featured author on my AOS page through January 14.

McNally Jackson Bookmonger released its McNally J's Bestsellers of 2011 list.

Barbara Bentley's acclaimed memoir A Dance With the Devil received a mention in Patricia Evans' new book Victory Over Verbal Abuse

Mike Church wrote a quick guide for would-be poets.

It's a new year so you must be looking for a new read. Check out House on Plunkett Street by Lorena Bathey and download a look at what life would be like if you had ghosts for your life coach.

Call for Submissions: The Were-Traveler is seeking horror drabbles and microfic for its Valentine issue. Contest information will be forthcoming.

Amy Leigh McCorkle is nominated for Best Short Story Romance for No Ordinary Love and Best Author as Kate Lynd. You can vote for her books here.

Fancy something hot and steamy to warm up the winter? Come to Amazon with Pauline Edwards to meet Kianda Mala and the Chackinka people.

Diane Nelson's new book Finish Line launched January 5 on Amazon. This book is an unconventional love story with unconventional Cupids, so have a read (or two)!

The second book in Patrick Barrett's Cuthbert series will soon be available, but first read Shakespeare's Cuthbert and meet the characters living in the valley.

New Book Blogger is now taking requests for its February 2012 free showcase.

Teresa Geering is doing a creative writing seminar at the end of January. Click here to see a promotional photo.

A writer we know and love just released a racy book under a pen name, racy as in decidedly erotic, and racing up the US free Kindle charts. No, it isn't me, but can you all guess who it may be?

K.M. Asano needs feedback from fellow avid writers and readers, and seeks anyone interested in a short little booklet full of real life stories, tips, tricks and helpful advice for college survival- from a non-student perspective. The booklet will be a helpful and entertaining look at surviving college life as a teacher, tutor, lab assistant, secretary, cafeteria or cleaning crew, security guard, and more! He is currently working on this project and hopes to complete it by the end of the month and to post it on Smashwords. He can be contacted via Facebook.

Gev Sweeney reported that her university bookstore will carry her book The Scattered Proud. You can get your own copy of this outstanding book on Amazon as well as other online booksellers.

Dagger's Lust by Diane Story is set for release January 10. You can order the book from Bookstrand and even join the release celebration on Facebook.

My news for the week:

The Cruiserweight was listed among the Top 10 books on Amazon featuring Plus Size Heroines, in the Top 15 on Kindle's Plus Size Romance, the top 10 on Kindle's Wrestling Romance and the Top Five in Wrestling Romance Books January 6.

Do you have news that you'd like to see in a future column? Either post it on a related site or email lori@authorsonshow.com before the following week. Also follow me on Twitter @lacarrington1.

Writing the Right Way

2012-01-07T16:42:00.000Z

I found a photo on a Facebook page early last week, which inspired today's topic.

In a modern time consisting of instant messaging and texting, it appears the use of proper writing has been tossed aside. I can't help but cringe each time I've spotted terms as "b4", "h8", "u", and others like them in communiques outside of online and text messaging.

Has our society gotten so lazy that writing a complete sentence -or even one word - is becoming a chore? Sure, the "modern shorthand" may look cute on a smartphone and may fit well for something requiring 140 characters or less, but for everything else from manuscripts to professional correspondence, such writings won't make their authors appear very professional.

I also cannot tell you how many times I've read everything from online ads, blog posts and comments, and even actual articles that used various words such as "there", they're", "their", "you're", and "your" incorrectly. I've seen "loose" written for "lose," and vice versa.

The aforementioned aren't the only faux pas committed in modern writing. Pitfalls from past years still exist today:

Double negatives: Do you ever find yourself wanting to go back to the days when it was acceptable to tap the knuckles of an offender with a ruler who said, "I didn't do nothing?" Imagine if an editor saw the same on paper; they'd have a field day with their red pencils.

Unfortunately, double negatives still happen. For some books, such things may be all right for certain settings or time periods (such as a backwoods story), but majority of other genres - especially non-fiction, double negatives have no place.

Filler words: We've all been guilty of using filler words, including I. "Filler" words include "it, that, there", among others. Clearly, an occasional "filler" word is needed to complete specific sentences, but overuse can lower the quality of a good manuscript. One way to find out if you're using too many filler words is to take this test by entering a small sample of your writing. The results may surprise you.

Spelling: Everyone misspells words now and again, and spell check won't always catch them, which is always why it's a good idea to have a dictionary nearby. I've seen "distraught" spelled "distrait", "gefelt" for "gefilte", and other "creative" words of other than proper spelling.

However, there is an exception. Several English-speaking countries don't use American English (e.g. they spell "favour" in contrast to the American spelling of "favor", which is acceptable).

Slang: Works in moderation for books aimed toward young adult readers and some "niche" genres (e.g. sports). Otherwise, best to avoid using slang in any other writing.

Punctuation and run-on paragraphs: At least once, I've stopped reading something online not because the subject was of no interest to me, but because paragraphs ran on without proper breaks. Writers of such may not realize it, but run-on paragraphs without proper breaks and/or punctuation make their work more difficult to read. As a result, the reader will lose interest in what the writer has to say.

When in doubt where to insert specific punctuation or when to break paragraphs, there are plenty of useful web sites that can help, or you can consult an editor.

Adverbs: The use of adverbs is an ongoing debate. Some writing instructors advise not to use them, while others say adverbs are fine in moderation. Face it; if adverbs weren't meant to be used at all, why were they created in the first place? As far as this subject is concerned, I'll say there's no right or wrong and just feel comfortable what you write, as long as you don't overuse adverbs.

Have you started a new writing project? If so, look it over and see if it contains any of the above problems. If you're getting ready to start a new work, make it a New Year's resolution to write the right way. Happy writing!

SEEN This Week 1/2/12

2012-01-02T13:59:00.000Z

Happy New Year! Already we have up-to-date news from the world of writing to get 2012 off to an excellent start:

Find New Year greetings from me and Shah Wali Fazli, Teresa Geering, Laura Wilkinson, Kristen Stone,Philip Whiteland, and Gerry McCullough on Books4Tomorrow.

For those who received a new ereader over the holidays, here are some tips on how to lend ebooks on your Kindle.

The Bookie's Runner by Brendan Gisby was featured on Ereader News Today for only 99 cents.

Deja 4 by Tajana Sutton (Part 4 of the Deja series) is now available for purchase on both Kindle and Nook

Tim Roux's The Ghost Who Fed Them Bones ranked #18 in ghost stories on paid US Kindle, and #97 in contemporary romance. If you fancy an off-beat ghost / romance story which is really rather more about people who are ghosts in our world, racism and genocide, check out this book.

The Author's Corner on Pixel of Ink is the place for authors who read Pixel of Ink You can also request to be featured with a Bargain Kindle Book Sponsorship.

Shadow's Lure by Jon Sprunk is nominated for a Gemmell Award. Anyone can vote, so please check out the site.

Buy any one ebook from Dawn Gray's 2011 Romance of the Year on Goodreads. If you've read this fine novel, be sure to give it a vote.

My news for the week:

The Cruiserweight ranked #75 in Wrestling paid Kindle bestsellers and #37 in Wrestling Books on December 28, in addition to being in the Kindle Top 10 in Wrestling Romance and Top 10 Books in Wrestling Romance.

The Cruiserweight also ranked #3 in Amazon Wrestling Romance Books on December 29.

Do you have news you'd like to see in a future column? Either post it on a related site or email lori@authorsonshow.com before the following week. Also follow me on Twitter @lacarrington1.

SEEN This Week 12/26/11

2011-12-26T14:15:00.000Z

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and got everything they asked for. In midst of the holiday rush, many in the book world had news to offer this past week:

Christine Schwab (Take Me Home From the Oscars) is starting a blog before the end of the year to help in her goal of getting rid of the "old folks arthritis."

Lisa Scottoline's new book Come Home is scheduled to be released April 10, 2012. Go to www.scottoline.com to pre-order and read the first chapter.

Adam Sifre's Inside My Shorts: 30 Quickies may now be purchased on Smashwords and Amazon.

Pfoxmoor Publishing proudly welcomes The Battle of Sheol author Barbara Neville. Click here to read the complete press release.

Don Martin is looking for another writer to collaborate with. The work will be short non-fiction, and is under contract for publication. He is looking for published writers, but will also consider others (such as students) who want to get some publication credits under their belts. The work is not paid. Preferably the writer will live in So. Arizona, but others will be considered. Contact via Facebook if interested.

Mel Comley was interviewed December 20 by top thriller writer Robert Bidinotti on his blog.

Need covers for your ebooks? Graphicz X designs ready-to-go and custom ebook covers from just $30 Feel free to drop by and have a peek!

A Thirty-Something Girl by LM Stull is now available for sale on BookieJar.

G. R. Holton's sci-fi novel Deep Screams won the Books and Authors.net Books of the Year Best Science Fiction for 2011.

Barnes and Noble just reduced the NOOK edition price for Joanna Lee Doster's book Maximum Speed to $0.99. Be sure to download a copy.

Do you have news that you'd like to see in a future column? Either post it on a related site or email lori@authorsonshow.com before the following week. Also follow me on Twitter @lacarrington1.

Have a safe and happy New Year! May 2012 bring you prosperity and success.

Sessha Batto

2011-12-26T11:22:00.002Z

Promoting our very own

SESSHA BATTO

: Sessha Batto

About Sessha

Sessha turned to writing full time after a twenty year stint in video production editing, scripting and creating motion graphics. Her first novel Strength of Will is currently being edited for re-release. Her short story Wintersong is included in Dancing in the Dark: An Anthology of Erotica. Her Celtic fairy tale Amadan na Briona is part of eightcuts gallery's Once Upon a Time in a Gallery exhibit. Her short story The Poetry Game is included in New Sun Rising:Stories for Japan, an anthology for tsumani relief. Originally from Belfast, she lives in the States with her husband, son, very old cat and too many swords.

Shinobi: Struggle for Balance - the exciting conclusion to the Shinobi saga.

What price freedom……when fear and self-loathing threaten to upend the hard fought struggle to find meaning and safety in a world fraught with danger.Yoshi seeks time and space, only to find himself once more at the mercy of power mongers and despots. When Makoto finds him, Yoshi is broken in more than body. Near death, his spirit recedes to find safety within, locking out all who care.
They say time will heal…
…but the path to acceptance is never easy, the roadblocks many and none will emerge unscathed as Yoshi embarks on a … Struggle for Balance.

Smashwords - http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/104218

Amazon - http://www.amazon.com/Shinobi-Book-Two-Struggle-ebook/dp/B0066DIQUQ/ref=sr_1_6?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1321091630&sr=1-6

AllRomance - http://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-shinobistruggleforbalance-638644-144.html

Excerpt:The Fourth Gate - Winds of ChangeTakahashi Yoshi shut his eyes and concentrated, rearranging his view of the world as he contemplated the changes the last few months had brought to his life. On the surface, of course, things seemed much as they always had been. Perhaps that's why he was having such a hard time reconciling all that had happened.
A crack and a hiss made him turn toward the source of the sound, the corner of his mouth quirking as he realized it was merely logs settling in the fire. He curled more tightly into the warmth of the large body slumbering behind him. I never would have guessed the intimidating head of covert operations was a cuddler. His smile broadened as he lingered on the memories of the brief and tumultuous relationship he found himself in.
When Makoto had uncovered the truth behind his duties, Yoshi had expected condemnation. After all, he was the shadow wolf of the Takahashi clan, arguably the strongest shinobi in the shuudan. And a whore, the voice in his head was quick to point out. After years of hiding the truth, all his secrets were now stripped bare in front of the one person he wanted to impress. Of course, he would have figured it out, I can't hide anything from him. The master interrogator was too skilled at his craft to deceive for long. Still, it would have been nice.
The lanky shinobi cautiously shifted, not wanting to wake his slumbering lover. At least, I think we're lovers, Makoto said he wasn't going to leave me, Yoshi reassured himself before returning to his contemplation. If he were to be honest with himself, at least, it was something he'd been avoiding from the moment Makoto had pulled him, half dead, from the clutches of the Yakuza who'd been his last client.
I wish he hadn't seen me like that. Somehow, Makoto was able to look beyond his sordid past. When he'd been kidnapped the interrogator had worked tirelessly to get him back. The shadow wolf suppressed the shudder racing through him at the memory of his treatment at Kenta's hands.
Nothing's ever simple though. Now came the nearly insurmountable task, to get past the relationship he'd formed with his rescuer. The past he shared with Kazuki had kept them together until the spell-caster's death. Now that he was back home he could only hope that Makoto would be as forgiving of his willful actions as he was of those out of the shadow wolf's control.
****
Tatsuya smiled as he crossed the enclave on his way to the Shuhan's office. It was a pleasant change to see people taking their time to socialize as they went about their business. The knowledge that they were no longer under the threat of imminent attack had worked a kind of magic on the inhabitants, freeing them up for more normal pursuits.
By the time he reached the administration building he was whistling under his breath, and he took the stairs two at a time.
“Brother,” Tatsuya greeted the Kobayashi no Shuhan, leader in the shadows of Kobayashi shuudan.
“You don't have to call me that,” Daisuke protested.
“Okay, half-brother,” the clan head conceded. “He would have been proud to have one of his sons following in his footsteps, you know.”
“Pardon me for not getting excited,” the current Shuhan muttered. “He didn't acknowledge me while he was alive. Why should I care if he's proud of me in the afterlife?”
“You're right,” Tatsuya agreed. “I wasn't thinking. I'm here to report on the treaty negotiations.”
“Please tell me there weren't any surprises? Takahashi-san led me to believe that he was agreeable to the terms.”
“Everything is as we expected. I never would have thought Kobayashi and Nakamura shuudan would be allies. After all, Kazuki founded his alliance for the sole purpose of wiping us out.”
“I believe we have Yoshi to thank for that. Apparently he and Nakamura-san became very close. That's one thing our so-called father did for us, at least.” Daisuke sighed heavily, feeling, yet again, the weight of the web of secrecy the shuudan's existence depended on. “It is unfortunate that Kobayashi-sama's 'proclivities' nearly led to our destruction. We are truly lucky that Yoshi is able to move past the abuse he suffered at his hands.”
“I still find it hard to reconcile the man I knew as father and the pedophile those papers describe,” Tatsuya insisted. He waved his hand dismissively, as if wishing the contents of the Shuhan's office to vanish. “If I hadn't had confirmation in his own writing, I don't know if I would have believed it.”
“How did Yoshi seem to you? I expected you back days ago.”
“He didn't come out of his room for a week. Hideaki said he was mourning. When he did... well, he seems the same as ever.” Tatsuya shrugged before crushing out his cigarette and lighting another. “I keep expecting him to suddenly start acting differently. Now that we know what's been going on, I mean.”
“I imagine our shadow wolf's fondest wish is for everyone to forget they ever heard about his history. I've been cross-checking the records. Our dear father not only abused Takahashi-san, he bartered his body for treaty concessions. Even worse, he lent him out as a reward to our allies. Rin really was just following in his footsteps.”
“There's nothing you can do about it now, Daisuke. Yoshi's back home where he belongs.” Tatsuya tried, and failed, to hide the smirk threatening to break out on his face. “I spent the afternoon shopping with Takahashi and my wife. Apparently he had a date with Sasaki-san this evening. Judging from how nervous he seemed I think he's happy to be back.”
“Souta spent the afternoon coaching Makoto. Hopefully their dinner was a little less demoralizing than their last encounter.” The Shuhan frowned at the thought of losing the shadow wolf's skills. Unfortunately there was nothing he could do to smooth out the strained relationship between the two men. As frustrating as he found it, there were times where one needed to be patient and just let things run their course.
“Well, if my wife has anything to say about it the evening will be a huge success. You'd think it was our relationship she was trying to salvage.”
“Between your wife and my boyfriend they don't have a chance,”
Daisuke chuckled. “Get out of here, I'm sure Mayu is waiting. We'll have dinner in a couple of days.”
As soon as the door clicked shut behind Tatsuya, the Hokage's lover separated himself from the shadows, shrugging off his cloaking illusion and flopping down in a comfortable chair. “I wonder how the big date went?”
“I’m sure you’ll get a play by play in the morning, Sou,” Daisuke assured him.
“But I want to know now,” the assassin whined.
“I know you do. But if you interrupt them Makoto will kill you, and I don’t want that,” his lover chided.
“Oh, they’re not having sex,” Souta declared.
“And how do you know that?”
“I told Makoto not to.” The assassin shrugged. “I said it would be best to go slow.”
“And you honestly believe he's going to pass up a chance to sleep with the man he's been pining over on your say so?” The Shuhan arched a brow in disbelief.
“Yup,” came the smug reply. “He trusts my judgment.”
“Why?” Daisuke wondered.
“I snagged you, didn’t I?”

Smashwords - http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/104218

Amazon - http://www.amazon.com/Shinobi-Book-Two-Struggle-ebook/dp/B0066DIQUQ/ref=sr_1_6?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1321091630&sr=1-6

AllRomance - http://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-shinobistruggleforbalance-638644-144.html

Publisher Profile: Grit City Publications

2011-12-24T16:27:00.002Z

Authors and artists who are looking for a publisher willing to take on more "edgy" work when most mainstream houses aren't willing to take a risk should take a look into Grit City Publications.

Grit City Fiction is open for emotobook submissions. The "emotobook" term was coined by Grit City's creative staff and such books use abstract, emotional representations of what the characters feel and experience during peak moments of tension.

The Gritty Story and Serial (from the Grit City web site):

Grit City is a dark and calamitous world, where the nefarious rule. Dillon Galway is an idealistic freelance journalist in his mid-twenties, who barely scrapes out a living reporting on corruption for the Grit City Times and his own blog.

Dillon remembers the city as an ideal place to live, before the murder of his Father and the rise of the Lebedev Syndicate. All meaningful power in business, politics and law enforcement are now funneled into the hands of this wealthy organization.

He works tirelessly to reestablish opportunity and peace, and relies on the sexy and sultry Alyssa Stephano (gun for hire) to help when situations require her nickel plated Colt .45 revolvers.

But in the shadows of the back alleys, whispers stir in the underground of an unnamed force. Something or someone that’s determined to upset the status quo. When Dillon is tipped about horrifying activities he’s propelled into a perilous investigation that may lead to dire consequences.

As the series progresses Dillon will face unfathomed challenges, but also gain abilities most consider impossible.

The story style is reminiscent of the old pulps that dominated news stands through the mid-twentieth century, but written in a modern genre style. Grit City’s power lies in its provocative story and eye-grabbing illustrations that enhance the story’s emotional impact. This emotobook is the first of its kind and is redefining how we enjoy modern fiction.

The creative team designed Grit City exclusively for an e-reading audience. The story is serialized into monthly installments of about 30+ pages. Story installments are published each month and sold by several ebook retailers.

Read one installment and you’ll be hooked until the gritty end.

ON THE WEB:

Web Site: www.gritcitypublications.com

Facebook: Grit City Serial

Twitter: @GritCityFiction

SEEN This Week 12/19/11

2011-12-19T14:04:00.000Z

Six days left until Christmas! Hope you all finished your holiday shopping, but in the interim, here's who kept busy this past week:

Legendary British-born author, essayist and journalist Christopher Hitchens, 62, passed away December 15 of pneumonia following a his battle with esophageal cancer. Click here to read more.

Here's a fine example of a young writer: Jake Goodman is the 14 year old founder of Jake's Weather, his own weather blog. Stop by and offer Jake plenty of encouragement.

Kristal McKerrington offers an exclusive peek into one of her upcoming books at this link.

Get Lenin by Robert Craven can now be purchased on Amazon Germany.

Phantom Touch by Cindy Jacks is now on sale at All Romance eBooks. Be sure to send a copy to the romance fancier on your holiday list!

Few things worse can happen to a mother than for her child to be diagnosed with cancer. Count to Ten, a story of hope and courage by Sheila Mary Taylor, is now on sale at Amazon.

Kenneth Wayne's The Interpreter is the story of Shabir Khan, an Afghan interpreter, working with the American NATO forces, in the Sangin district of Helmand. Check it out at eTLC.

Suzy Turner is cutting off her hair January 13 for a good cause. Please support her by giving a few pounds / dollars / euros to her chosen charity Make a Wish Foundation. More details can be found here.

Photojournalist Joe Raedle shares memories from his time covering the Iraq War for Getty Images. Find more on CNN.com.

Black Kettle Publishing released the ebook version of A Thirty-Something Girl by L.M. Stull December 13 on Amazon.

The Cruiserweight was the #1 top rated manuscript on Slush Pile Reader as of December 17. Click here to see the complete 12/17 top 10.

Do you have news that you'd like to see in an upcoming column? Either post it on a related site or email lori@authorsonshow.com before the following week. Also follow me on Twitter @lacarrington1.

May all of you have a happy and safe holiday weekend.

Author Profile: Jim Brown

2011-12-17T15:54:00.000Z

Probably one of the most fascinating people among my Twitter followers, I am eagerly looking forward to is television anchorman and author Jim Brown's latest book, Boom.

Click here to view the trailer for Boom, which you can also receive a free copy.

Jim's first novel 24/7 has been optioned for film to Michael Garrett of Paramount Pictures, and film rights for his last book, Black Valley, have gone to acclaimed writer and producer Stephen Susco, the screenwriter of The Grudge and The Grudge II.

BIOGRAPHY:

Jim Brown is a critically acclaimed author, as well as an award-winning journalist and three-time winner of the Associated Press Best Newscast Award.

He is currently an anchor with FOX… but he’s also worked with NBC, ABC, and CBS. Jim has broadcast live for CNN, been featured in a BBC documentary, and an Oregon State University educational film, as well as reported from inside the Oregon State Penitentiary for the execution of Jerry Lee Moore.

As a crime reporter Jim has covered such breaking news as the Springfield, Oregon school shooting, the Atlanta Child Killings, the Stocking Strangler, as well as countless other criminal and court cases. As a result he has been threatened and even shot at. But he always got the story.

He's chased tornados in Georgia, covered hurricanes in Florida... and reported mud slides, floods and wildfires on both coasts of the United States. As a political reporter Jim has interviewed President Reagan, Bush, Clinton and Carter. As well as Hillary Clinton, Al Gore, and Jessie Jackson . . . just to name a few.

In addition to being a reporter, Jim has worked every job there is in the newsroom... including Television News Director. Jim's wife (Kathryn Herr) is an anchor/reporter... and they spent close to ten years co-anchoring together.

In addition to his passion for news Jim is also a prolific writer. He's written a newspaper column for three years and is also well-known suspense novelist, who’s published his first two books (24/7 and Black Valley) with Random House. Jim has been featured in both Writer’s Digest Magazine and the Writer’s Digest Guide to Literary Agents.

ON THE WEB:

Contact: jimbrown247@earthlink.com

Web Site: www.jimbrownbooks.com

Twitter: @JimBrownBooks

YouYube Video Page: Jim Brown Books

SEEN This Week 12/12/11

2011-12-12T14:31:00.000Z

The holiday season is always a busy one, and writers bringing forth great news of their latest projects are no exception.

A Dance With the Devil author Barbara Bentley's story of her turbulent marriage to late con man John Perry was profiled December 7 on the Investigation Discovery cable channel program The Devil You Know.

Author and anchorman Jim Brown's first novel 24/7 has been optioned for film to Michael Garrett of Paramount Pictures. Jim is also the profiled on my Authors on Show page through December 17.

Christine Schwab's acclaimed book Take Me Home From the Oscars is now on sale in ebook versions for Kindle and Nook.

One of Tantra Bensko's stories was nominated for a Pushcart Prize.

Robert Craven's bestselling book Get Lenin has been chosen for a book group in his area for January 2012.

Win a chance to have your work featured for the entire month of January on Suzannah Burke's web site, plus an ebook copy of her soon to be released Faint Echoes of Laughter,. sequel to Empty Chairs. Click here for submission guidelines.

Stephen Pearl has a story in the Yule anthology of the Pagan Writers Press, the continuing tale of Richard and Sally first met by readers in the Samhain anthology Yule Fire. Read more here.

It's a universal truth that Catherine Chisnall has included some great books on her 2011 Christmas book list. Stop by her blog and check out some of her amazing selections, including Danger Danger by Gerry McCullough.

Former or present newspaper folks out there? SPILL, a novel by Randy Attwood, has some deliciously awful newsroom scenes and a nasty society column writer and also a creepy photographer.It's now on sale at Amazon.

P.J. Cowan made an appearance December 10 with other authors at Vintage Books in Vancouver, WA.

Want to promote your author web site, blog, or other site? Books Pages and Blogs is extending an invitation to post any link, but you can only share one on the page.

My news for the week:

The Cruiserweight was listed among the top five books in the Wrestling Romance books, and among the top ten Kindle titles in Wrestling Romance on Amazon December 5.

Do you have news you'd like to see in a future column? Either post in on a related site or email lori@authorsonshow.com before the following week. Also follow me on Twitter @lacarrington1.

Author Profile: Ann Rule

2011-12-11T00:34:00.000Z

Ann Rule (born Ann Stackhouse October 22, 1935, in Lowell, Michigan) is an American true crime writer. Her latest book, Don't Look Behind You, was released worldwide on November 29, 2011.

Ms. Rule graduated in Creative Writing from the University of Washington, with minors in criminology and psychology. She also holds an AA degree in law enforcement, taking classes in crime scene investigation, arrest, search and seizure, crime scene photography and forensic science. She's lectured in seminars all across America to detectives, prosecutors, and the FBI Academy. Her subjects have been serial murder, high profile offenders, and women who kill.

She has lived in the Seattle area for many years, growing up in Michigan and Pennsylvania. She also lived in Texas, Oregon, and near Niagara Falls. Her earliest ambition was to be a law enforcement offer, since her grandfather was a Michigan sheriff. At age 21, Ms. Rule joined the Seattle Police Department, where she was an officer for 18 months, but couldn't pass the eye exam.

After five years' worth of rejection slips, Ms. Rule sold her first article for $35. She found her niche writing for the fact-detective magazines such as True Detective in 1970, penning more than a thousand homicide cases, and attending hundreds of trials. She is perhaps best known for her first book, The Stranger Beside Me about Ted Bundy, but had a book contract to write about an unknown killer six months before Bundy was identified as the "Ted Killer." She'd previously known him - and didn't realize it - as her partner in the all-night shift at Seattle's Crisis Clinic many years before.

She write two books every year--one hardcover single-case book, and one Ann Rule's True Crime Files original paperback. Although popular belief is that she writes only about the Northwest, she travels to where cases are most interesting, publishing best-selling crime books about murder cases in Florida, Georgia, New York, Kansas, Texas, Hawaii and California.

To choose a book subject, Ms. Rule goes through about 3,000 suggestions from readers, seeking "anti-heroes" whose eventual arrest shocks those who knew him/her: attractive, brilliant, charming, popular, wealthy, talented, and much admired in their communities on the surface, but totally different characters beneath their masks.

Ms. Rule raised five children to adulthood as a single mother, starting out with articles for baby care magazines, Sunday features, true confessions, and articles for Cosmopolitan, Ladies' Home Journal, Good Housekeeping, and Reader's Digest.

She enjoys staying in close touch with her readers, doing such with a weblog/ guestbook and her official web site. The site and weblog also gives readers an opportunity to interact with one another.

Ann's waterfront home/writing cottage in Puget Sound are for sale. Find more details here.

Ann Rule also signs copies of her books for readers via mail, which can be sent to the following address: P.O. Box 98846 Seattle, WA 98198

ON THE WEB:

Web Site: www.annrules.com

Wikipedia: Ann Rule

Amazon Page: Ann Rule

Guest Book and Weblog: annrulesweblog.wordpress.com

SEEN THis Week 12/5/11

2011-12-05T13:56:00.000Z

How about some current book news to kick off the holiday season? Here's who was busy this past week:

Don't Look Behind You, the latest book by bestselling true crime author Ann Rule, went on sale November 29.

Authors on Show is delighted to announce they are once again accepting submissions. Ian Smethurst is stepping into the lead spot and it was he who suggested AOS change things back to the way it was when the site started in May 2010. If you would like to submit your work or have any suggestions to make about another author you think worthy of us promoting, please send an email to ian@authorsonshow.com.

An Adult Father Christmas Story (or The Science of Santa Claus - How Adults Can Once Again Believe in the Magic of the Festive Season), an ebook by Michael Clifford is now available for download on Smashwords.

Download for that special child Book Two: Helga Returns by Wendy Nystrom. Travel inside a mountain to Yamas a troll village. Available now from Solstice Publishing

Congratulations to Babs Mountjoy, who completed 50,000 words on her NaNoWriMo novel November 27. She just have to finish telling the story, a sci-fi romance with shapeshifters....reptile shapeshifters. Should be very interesting.

Speak at Night highly recommended The Goose That Laid the Golden Egg the critically acclaimed book by Dr. Doug Bremner.

There's a cool little book promotion happening on Bookbags and Catnaps. All are welcome to add their own books.

Cp Bialois is looking for anyone interested in doing a Wikepedia page about his pen name (bio) and first book Call of Poseidon. Anyone interested may contact him via Facebook. Additional information about the book is on his Wordpress site.

How about giving the book aficionados on your holiday list a gift of laughter? Be sure to check out The Ladies Temperance Club’s Farewell Tour , a Thelma and Louise tearing down the highway with Lucy and Ethel- style tale of hilarious adventures, perfect reading for every woman who ever daydreamed clobbering her mate with a cast-iron skillet.

My news for the week:

The Cruiserweight continues to do well, reaching #58 in the top 100 wrestling best sellers on US Amazon November 30.

In addition to the Amazon United Kingdom, Germany, and France.web sites, The Cruiserweight is now available for sale on Amazon Spain and Amazon Italy.

Do you have news that you'd like to see in a future column? Either post it on a related site or email lori@authorsonshow.com before the following week. Also follow me on Twitter @lacarrington1.

Author Profile: Francesca Serritella

2011-12-03T17:28:00.000Z

With the November 22 release of Best Friends, Occasional Enemies: The Lighter Side of Life as a Mother and Daughter co-written with her mother Lisa Scottoline, there was no better time to feature author and columnist Francesca Serritella.

Francesca finds humor in everyday life, much which is reflected in her writing. Laughter made difficult times easier to manage, and a Sunday column she co-writes with her mother for the Philadelphia Inquirer, "Chick Wit," takes a look at the witter side of women's lives, written from, of course, the perspectives of women.

Francesca Serritella was born in Philadelphia. She graduated with honors from Harvard, where she majored in English and received the Charles Edmond Horman Prize and the Baron Russell Briggs Fiction Prize for her creative writing, as well as the Thomas Temple Hoopes Prize for her senior thesis, a novella.

She and her mother, author Lisa Scottoline, write a weekly column in The Philadelphia Inquirer called "Chick Wit," where she offers a humorous look at their family and life in general. The column has been published in two collections, the first, Why My Third Husband Will Be a Dog, and the second, released October 2010, My Nest Isn't Empty, It Just Has More Closet Space. Today, Francesca lives in New York City with her beloved dog, Pip. She is working on a novel.

ON THE WEB:

Web Site: francescaserritella.com

Twitter:@FSerritella

Facebook: Francesca Serritella