Author Fridays Presents...Marie Maiden!

Welcome to another edition of Author Fridays! Sit back, relax and read about this week's featured author, Marie Maiden!

 

Marie Maiden is a first-time author. Her book, "My Hero Is You: A Book of Poems" is published by Publish America.

www.publishamerica.com

 

"I started writing this book to gather all my poems that I wanted to get to a friend of mine who had been there for me," Maiden says in her synopsis. "But, as I gathered them I thought I should write a book of my best poems. My most powerful poem is called "Rape" because it's based on my own rape. Imagine a seven-year-old being raped by someone she thought she could trust. It's one of the deepest ones I have written to date. I am twenty-one years old, yet I've written more than a thousand poems in my life. Rape survivors and victims, don't let that one rape control you. Things will get better soon. I know how you feel. I've been there."

 

Maiden says this is her first book, however, Two more books might come out next year, if she can get them finished.

 

When I asked Marie about her favorite hobbies, she said that to name them would be like choosing a favorite star in heaven. She enjoys shopping, singing, skateboarding, swimming, watching TV, talking on the phone, walking, writing, yoga, basketball, baseball, bowling, biking, board games, chatting online, card games, comedy, computers, cooking, dancing, football, graphic design, going to the beach, and much much more.

 

She says she likes to read as much as she likes to write, mostly because she spent a lot of her growing up years in the hospital, where she did both. Writing has always been her passion, though, and she gets her ideas from just about anything. Mostly, she says it depends on her mood.

 

One of the questions I like to ask authors, is "What makes your book so special, and what will readers get from reading it? Marie's answer to this, was "I want others to find hope, strength, courage to live again, and pride of who they are and what they have become even when things are dark for them. I want to help others."

 

When i asked her what advice would she give to an espiring author, she said, "Keep trying, because life will surprise you."

 

So, Marie, is there anything else you would like to share with us?

 

"I have broken the silence about my rape. I am not going to hide in the shadows any longer. I am finding my way out! I am not ashamed because of what happen to me. I will not be that someone to pity but someone to look up to as a friend and someone who's been there. I know one day my rapist will pay the price for what he's done. I have spoken out on my rape because I want to help others and maybe save someone from being raped. I know one day I will be at peace with what I've lost. By losing it I gained more then anything a life. My rape taught me to be strong. It also taught me that love of family is more important then anything. Healing for me has been a slow and dangerous road. If it hadn't been for my family and friends I wouldn't have made it this far or be who I've become. I will not let that one act against me break my soul. I will not be another rape victim."

 

If you are interested in Marie Maiden's book, "My Hero Is You", check it out on her publisher's website at

http://www.publishamerica.net/product86118.html

 

Thank you for joining me for this edition of Author Fridays! Be sure to come back next week to read about our next featured author, (To Be Announced).

Author Fridays Presents...Misty Ware!

Welcome to another edition of Author Fridays!  Sit back, get comfortable and read about this week's featured author, Misty Ware!

 

Misty Ware, a firsttime author has penned a thriller for young adults entitled, "Deadly Passion".  It is published by Publish America.

www.publishamerica.com

 

"I am an elementary teacher," Ware says, "who enjoys being a stay at home mommy.  I live in central Illinois.  I am married to my high school sweetheart, and we have two beautiful children.  I love to read, scrapbook, and spend time with my family.  I love reading, but I really enjoy writing. It's so much fun to be in control of how the story turns out.  As a mom, however, I find it difficult to find time to do much of either.  Some of my favorite authors are: Chris Van Allsburg, J.K. Rowling, Stephenie Meyer, Stephen King, R.L. Stine, and Caroline B. Cooney."

 

So, Misty, when did you first know you wanted to be a writer?

 

"I have always loved to write.  As a child I would keep a notebook and write short stories in it.  I still have some of them today.  A few years ago I came across them and I remembered childhood dreams of being a published author.  I decided to take up writing again.  I did some in my spare time until I completed a manuscript.  I love that my daughter is so proud that her mom is a published author."

 

As for where she gets ideas for her stories, she says she gets them from dreams, past experiences, and from having an over active imagination.  She keeps a notebook to write her ideas in so she doesn't forget about them when she is ready to write.

 

"I think that my book is special because it was an idea I had as a young adult," Ware says.  "I remembered the idea and actually wrote it as an adult.  It was written by me as an adult, but it was something that was created when I was a young teen.  I hope that the young adults who read my book will feel the suspense from the story.  And if they are familiar with my personal story, I hope they will realize that they can make their biggest desires become a reality."

 

So, Misty, do you have any advice for someone out there who wishes to become a published author?

 

"Keep writing.  Never give up, even if you hit a wall.  It's important to do a lot of research on publishers before you send your manuscript out.  You want to find a company you're comfortable with.  It's a process that takes time and you need to be patient."

 

Is there anything else that you would like to share with us?

 

"I am currently working on two other suspenseful young adult books, and I am attempting an adult novel as well.  I also would like to write a series for younger children.  My published works and my works in progress are listed on my website.  Please feel free to visit or contact me at

http://mistydwear.webs.com

 

Thank you for joining me for this week's edition of Author Fridays!  Be sure to come back next week, same time, same place to read about our next featured author, Marie Maiden!

Author Fridays Presents...Christian Writer, Brenda Pearce!

Welcome to another edition of Author Fridays! Sit back, get comfortable and read about this week's featured author, Brenda Pearce!

 

Brenda Pearce is a first time author who never thought of herself as a writer until the Lord lead her to write her book, "Deliverance from Darkness into the Light", published by Publish America.

www.publishamerica.com

 

Currently a third grade public school teacher, Pearce has been teaching for ten years. She has Rthree children, two step-children and a total of ten grandchildren. She is also the Children's Church Director at the Atkins Freewill Baptist Church in Atkins, Arkansas. "I guess to say my favorite hobby would be to travel and just see the amazing things that God has created," she says. "For so many years I had spent my life just going through the motions of life I never really realized just how much of the real life I had missed until I found the Lord Jesus Christ. I do enjoy reading very much. My favorite book is the Bible and I don't just say that to say it. When I read the Bible I truly feel the presence of God and the words really do come to life and speak to me. There are so many wonderful lessons and truths of life in the word of God. I do also enjoy reading children's stories one of my favorite children's authors is Jan Brett. I love the illustrations and stories. I also love Eric Carl books as well.  I enjoy reading the Bible and learning daily about the Lord. However, I enjoy speaking about and writing about my wonderful and amazing experiences and walk with the Lord as well."

 

"Well to be honest," she said in response to when she first knew she wanted to be a writer, "I never liked to write even when I was in school. During the time I began writing my book I was attending Arkansas Tech University. I had gone back to school to get my Masters degree for educational leadership to become an elementary principal. I had no intention to ever write a book. Now before this time the Lord had been dealing with me for the previous two years to write and I just blew it off. Nevertheless, He kept dealing with me to write about the trials and situations of my life. Finally one night about 10:00pm while sitting in my little living room, in my run-down apartment, the Lord began to really deal with me about writing this book. Now, I had a paper due the next day for my class and I wasn't even half way finished. I just stopped what I was doing, told the Lord He was going to have to help me write this book because I wasn't a writer and I didn't even know how or where to begin. After the first hour I had ten pages of the book finished. I then had my class paper finished by the next hour. That's how it all happened. I just give all praise to the Lord for helping me and guiding me to write this book and I truly pray that it touches those who are in a place in their lives that they feel they have no hope of peace and happiness in their lives. They do if they allow themselves the opportunity to truly know the Lord. It is the greatest experience they will ever have in their life. I know for me God has changed my life and has made me such a different person then I ever thought I could ever be. I never thought I would have the career I have. I never thought I could ever have the kind of wonderful relationship and marriage I have and I never thought I would have the home and family that I have. God is an amazing and loving God and all He wants is to love those who will just believe and come to know Him."

 

So, where did her ideas come from for writing her story?

 

"Well the things that I speak about in my book are true incidents in my life. It is a book about how God helped me through so many of my situations in my life. I talk about various situations from molestation to severe abuse and how God gave me strength through so many situations. The book shows how satan tries to make us believe its God allowing the bad things in our life when in fact satan is the one attacking through those who don't have a real relationship with the Lord and its God who gives us the strength and courage to have victory over those situations. The book also shows through my experiences of how God takes what satan meant for bad and turns it into something greater and makes it into something He uses for the betterment of His Kingdom."

 

Brenda believes her book is special in the way that it speaks of how God is always with us even when we don't think He is. "This book," she says, "shows how satan is a true liar and God is the one who shows us and tells and speaks truth. This book shows, through my experiences, how God's love is greater than satan's attacks and how we all can be an over-comer  through the love and power of God if we just get to know Him.

I pray that readers will come away with the better sense of who God really is and know that it's not God who puts the bad things in our lives it's satan. I pray that people will begin to give God a chance and know that when we truly come to know God, believe on Him and in Him all things in our lives get better. It's just a matter of knowing God and having faith and not believing the lies of satan."

 

When it comes to advice for those wishing to become published, Pearce says, "Don't give up. Just know that if you truly search your heart and you know that what you're writing is something you should be writing then believe in yourself strong enough to not take no for an answer. There are many famous authors out there who were rejected by many publishing companies yet with persistence and patients they are now doing what they love. So hang in there and believe. It also helps to have God on your side."

 

So, Brenda, is there anything else that you would like to share with us?

 

"I would just like to say that I know for some who may read my responses to some of these questions they may think I'm just some Jesus freak that's living in a different dimension. Well I guess you could say that I am a Jesus freak. I'm crazy about the Lord and the reason is if you'd been through what I've been through and then to be delivered from that life of darkness you'd be crazy about the one who rescued you too. I'm just an everyday person who loves the Lord and is so very thankful and grateful to the Lord for everything He has brought me through and the life He has given me. I know that throughout the word of God, He speaks of His love and the fact that He's not come to destroy the world but to save it. He gave His life so that we would have life eternal. I just pray that all come to know the Lord as I know Him. Don't believe the lies that satan wants you to believe just give the Lord a try I promise in the end you won't regret it, but those who choose not to know Him will."

 

To learn more about Brenda Pearce and her book, visit her website at

www.bpearce.weebly.com

 

Thank you for joining me for another edition of Author Fridays!  Come back next week, same time, same place to read about our next featured author, Misty Ware!

Author Fridays Presents...MJ Daley-Prado!

Welcome to another edition of Author Fridays!  I encourage you to sit back and get comfortable, as you read about this week's featured author and illustrator, MJ Daley-Prado!

 

MJ Daley-Prado is the author of eight books: "The Superheroes Save Christmas" ISBN# 14224191238 published by Publish America, and "Borrowed Time" ISBN# 9781448923991, (coming soon) also by Publish America

www.publishamerica.com

"Buzz" ISBN# 9781435713529, "Grandma What Is Cancer?" ISBN# 9781435702042, "Find That Bunny!" ISBN# 9781435735354 and "Baby Duck Gets A New Grandma" ISBN# 9781435713123 published by Lulu Publishing

www.lulu.com

"It's Okay To Just Be Me!" ISBN# 9781438230740 and "PINKY" ISBN# 9781448628513 both published by CreateSpace.

www.createspace.com

 

MJ has also illustrated several books for other authors: "Sarah and Sally's Big Adventure" by Marsha Coles, "The Story Box" by Mary Muhammad, "Love Laws" by Mary Muhammad, "Hugs and Kisses" by Mary Muhammad, "Sunday's At Grandmother's House" by Jacqueline Rankine Van-Wassenhoven, "Peanut Bunny and the Christmas Lights" by Renee Adams Cantrell, "Gordon and the Magic Fish Bowl" by Mark Nestell (Due out in early spring)

 

MJ Daley-Prado was born and raised in Baltimore,Maryland.  She lived in Highlandtown most of her life but found her way back to the suburbs.  "I love the smell of freshly mowed grass," she tells me, "hearing the birds sing, and seeing the dewdrops form on the roses in my garden. I have a  teenage daughter who seems to be following in my footsteps. She is very creative. We          are very close and plan to create a project in the near future. My hobbies include                 drawing, making crafts, being creative (whether it's making some kind of craft or              painting etc..),I also love watching some good movies on TV on a lazy Sunday afternoon                 or spending time with my friends. I love to read but I don't get much time to read the         way I used to. I enjoy     reading any type of true story and also  books about angels and reincarnation. As a children's author and illustrator I spend allot of time in the library           scouring over books. I have several favorite children's authors. They are: Robert               Munsch, Elizabeth and Victoria Kann and my all time favorite Marc Brown. I tend to           gravitate towards author's who are also illustrators. Several months ago my friend Mart        had Robert Munsch autograph a picture for me and it is one of my most prized           possessions. My other prized possession ,an email from Tolan Brown the son of famous                 author/illustrator Marc Brown. He's got a very notable resume himself and I was              honored that he took the time out of his busy schedule to read my email and give me      some solid advice.                          

 

When I asked MJ what inspired her to be a writer, she said, "I kept a journal for many years. I was always writing or doodling, it was a way for me to get my         feelings out. I was extremely shy growing up and this creative side of me was my way of          expressing my feelings. I also wrote to pen pals all over the world and often they would say to me you should be a writer as you have a unique way of expressing yourself. One friend in           particular ,Diwakar Methil  told me I would be a writer someday. I didn't believe him back then                but here I am enjoying being able to do what I love and inspire children through my books. I               have  people close to me that truly believe in me and having their support is enough inspiration    to keep my dream alive.

       

"Like most authors," she goes on to say, "I get my ideas from life's experiences. Many ideas come to me by watching         my daughter and her  friends grow up. There's always some kind of drama or funny  thing           happening. Watching "life" gives me inspirations and ideas for  my stories."

 

MJ believes all books to be special, but thinks her's are special for many reasons. "They are a labor of            love. I try to teach children in a fun way without them realizing there is a life lesson or moral to   the story. In my books I talk about self esteem, bullying, not to judge a person by how they look,

        and I even talk about cancer and dying. My readers will laugh, learn and be inspired."

 

So, MJ, is there any advice that you would like to share with those who wish to become a published author?

 

"There's several things I would say to a future author. I would say, don't expect to get rich from it, no matter how discouraged you get never give up on your dream. If you feel writing or illustrating is in your blood keep at it and never stop trying. Do it because you love it. Read as much as you can about the craft and hopefully you will have a great friend like my friend Mart who forwards allot of great tips and links your way as well. (Thanks Mart). There's also one quote I love and have it on my blog. It reads---

 

"If you can imagine it, you can achieve it.
If you can dream it, you can become it."

---by William Arthur Ward

 

"In closing----NEVER GIVE UP!  You have to believe in yourself or no one else will."

 

To learn more about MJ Daley-Prado and her works, check her out on the web at the following addresses:

http://mjdaleyprado.webs.com

http://authorchildrensbooks.webs.com

http://paintboxproductions.webs.com

http://mjdaleyprado.blogspot.com

 

Thank you for joining me for this week's edition of Author Fridays!  Be sure to come back next week, same time same place to read about our next featured author, Christian writer, Brenda Pearce!

Author Fridays Presents...Alessandrina Lerner!

Welcome to the first edition of Author Fridays in 2010!  I encourage you to sit back, get comfortable and read about this week's featured author, Alessandrina Lerner!

 

Alessandrina Lerner is a new author.  Her first book is entitled, "The Essence Of Love", and it is published by Publish America.

www.publishamerica.com

 

"The Essence Of Love", Lerner says, "is my very first publication. However, this is not my first literary work and I have a lot of unfinished material in the pipeline right now, so you can expect to see some new

titles from me in the very near future.

I expect to have my first novel ready just in time for Christmas.  Following that

initial milestone, I'd like to publish a Yoga Manual and a Children's book, both

of which were written last year and need minimal editing.  After that, I have a few

other novels a movie script, and a collection of poems that need a little more work

but which could all quickly come to fruition as soon as I'm able to fully dedicate

myself to my writing.  Somehow now that I've published my first book, there's an

eagerness, close to a sense of urgency, to continue this journey I've embarked on,

and keep spreading and sharing my personal message of Love with my future readers."

 

While most authors are avid readers, Lerner enjoys books for many different reasons.  She reads to learn, as well as to escape in to another world.  When she was young, she says she read children's books and comics.  Then, as she grew older, she read every classic she could get her hands on.  As an adult, studying for her MBA, she turned once more to books as a means of learning.  At present, she says she still craves knowledge, but she seeks something that books can only scratch the surface of.

 

When asked about her favorite authors, Lerner says she has no favorites, but loves so many that she could not begin to name them all.  However, she says if she had to name a favorite anything, it would be God.  Her favorite hobbies include listening to music, going to the beach and outdoor sports.

 

"I started writing poetry when I was 8," Alessandrina says.  "I wrote my first short stories when I was

12, and never stopped writing poetry, songs, or novels ever since then.  Somehow,

I just didn't have any idea, I too, could be an Author, and because neither of my

parents were Artistically inclined or even believed that you could make a living

from an Artistic discipline, I just didn't even think I could take a walk on the

wild side. My source of inspiration like I said before is Life itself, God, the Universe, or

whatever you want to label it.  As far as my closest and most palpable inspiration is concerned in the form of an

Artist, my Muse of sorts, that would have to be Lenny Kravitz, a greatly underestimated

Genius of our time, whose virtuosity - in the tradition of true Artists -  spans

across a vast array of different disciplines including Poetry, Music, Songwriting,

Philosophy, Architecture, Cinema, Photography and an intense love for Life.  But my ultimate, most powerful source of inspiration is my little girl, who, day

after day, reminds me of who I truly am, the Inner Child in me who never ceases to

live in the now with all of its unlimited dreams and fantasies.  She has taught me

to love, to live and to be, and for that, I am eternally grateful and indebted to

her.  She gave me back the life I had lost, and the best I can do to honor that gift

is to continuously live at the height of my passion all the time, and in turn provide

her with the happiest possible life every child rightly deserves."

 

Lerner tells me she feels that she was born to write, and even though there have been times when she was too busy to do so, she literally writes all the time.  And, when it comes to ideas for her writings, she says, "The ideas for my stories mainly arise spontaneously.  Once I start writing, it starts

flowing naturally and my characters end up writing their own story.  I sit back and

just take the transcript down.  Of course, I use my own experience and the wisdom

I've gained through my practice of Yoga and Meditation to convey a message of Love

and Hope as well as provide spiritual guidance to my readers.

I also enjoy adding humorous elements to my stories and using humor, satire and irony

in order to make my writings both more accessible and enjoyable to the readers."

 

Lerner believes her book to be special, not only because her daughter illustrated it, but because she was careful to choose poems and songs geared to show the essence of love.  She practices meditation and tries in her book to illustrate its importance in her life.

 

When I asked her if she had any advice for those who wish to become published, she said, "Listen to your heart, and write, not just to be published but because it's your passion,

a passion that enthralls you from head to toe.  Believe in yourself, believe in your

dreams, and follow your heart, always and no matter what.  If it's still beating

and you're still smiling, it's got to be right!!!"

 

To learn more about Alessandrina Lerner and her book, visit her at

www.letloverule.us

(CAUTION: Clicking on this link will take you to a site in which the contents may not be of a Christian nature.)

 

Thank you for joining me for another edition of Author Fridays!  Be sure to come back next week, same time, same place to read about our next featured author, children's author and illustrator, MJ Daley-Prado!