Write about . . . “there.”

Real Africa. Whatever that is.

by Chris J Peterson

The world was saddened two months ago to hear of the passing of Chinua Achebe, the author of the African classic (and bane of high school students everywhere) Things Fall Apart. A text bite of one news article read “He showed Africa how to tell its own story.” And that he did; his Africa is “Real Africa” in the minds of millions.

I feel (and have since my first brief visit in 1993) an almost irresistible urge to write about “Real Africa”; to tell Africa’s story. Living in Uganda now has, not surprisingly, done little to quell that urge. But my fingers pause over my keyboard when I sit down to write. Where to start? And who am I to even attempt this? I’m just a little Iowa boy here on someone else’s dime and going home in a year to cushy (hopefully upper) middle-class, (hopefully upper) middle-western life and can, if I choose, pretend Africa no longer exists once those wheels go up.

Well, pretending Africa doesn’t exist is not an option for me. I don’t think it’s an option for anyone who’s visited or lived here, no matter how briefly they stayed. Ask around. I’ve not met a single person who shrugs and says “Yeah, Africa was okay.” It’s not Scranton. Love it or hate it here, be it in blogs, short stories, memoirs, or novels, many feel an almost paranormal guided urge to write about Africa. It’s like Richard Dreyfuss making Devil’s Tower out of mashed potatoes. We can’t not do it.

But the problem with satisfying Africancoethes scribendi is deciding on which Real Africa to write about. Is Real Africa the Africa of sleepy pastoral villages amid sweeping savannahs? Or is it the Africa where foreign businesses exploit the locals to cut down trees, pull pretty rocks from the ground, and pump oil?


But what about the self-actualized Africa where successful young Africans come of age against the backdrop of a prosperous city skyline? All of these Africas are Real Africa. The Africa where poorly armed and desperate bandits raze villages is just as real as tourist Africa, with its visitors sipping Tuskers on the veranda while elands and elephants come to the watering hole.

The more I experience Africa, the more I think it’s a knitted sweater: pull one loose thread and something totally unexpected happens somewhere else. The thread might be blue when you start pulling, but it then becomes orange, then red, then back to blue again only to start coming out green. It’s diverse, yet connected; enormous, yet not monolithic.

So in the end, I don’t think I need to worry about being able to tell Africa’s story. I don’t believe even Achebe could have told it in its entirety. “Out of Africa, always something new” is just as true today as it was 2300 years ago when Aristotle first used the phrase. I focus, then on telling my story in Africa, whatever that might turn out to be.

In part 2, I’ll discuss methods I’ve used when writing about “there.”

Now for a quick return to the U.S. with a little from my suspense novel Paper Thin for your reading pleasure.

The human heart has some dark corners.

Corporate yes-man Frank Osgood is thrilled when new golden-boy Eric Sarobbin brings unmatched success to his paper company. But Eric’s morals are paper thin, and his taste for teenagers leads to a million-dollar cover-up. With Frank still reeling from the implications, Eric skips town.

When the company is pushed to the edge of financial ruin, Frank’s boss demands that he track Eric down and beg him to return - then keep him on board, no matter what. But when a small-time reporter rakes up some big-time dirt on Eric, Frank must keep the paper empire from going up in flames.

To read an excerpt from Paper Thin please click HERE.

Chris J. Peterson has toyed with writing since childhood, but just recently got serious about being published. His short stories can be found in Big Pulp, Ruthless Peoples Magazine, The Piker Press, and 365 tomorrows. Chris has completed his second novel with a third well underway. Originally from Iowa and a short time in Mississippi, Chris currently resides in Uganda where he works on his novels and short stories.

Learn more about Chris on his blog.

Faerie Rings

by Clarissa Johal

One of the ingredients I love to cook with, is mushrooms. They’re versatile, add a heartiness to a dish, and they’re good for you—high in protein, low in fat, and filled with potassium. You can’t go wrong!

Historically, mushrooms have been utilized in food, medicine and for religious practices. Mushrooms also have a long association with folklore. Check your backyard after a rainstorm and you may see tiny spores that form a ring. This ring is said to serve as a portal or meeting place for faerie folk. Humans daring to enter it, risk falling asleep for a hundred years or may be whisked off to the Otherworld. In Holland, these rings are believed to be left when the Devil sets down his milk churn. In other countries, such as France and Austria, the rings are associated with sorcery and malevolent magic, and travelers are advised to stay away from them.

Here’s a vegetarian recipe sure to please your palate and maybe even attract a faerie or two.

Hungarian Mushroom Soup
3 cups milk
2 onions, diced
1 tbsp. plus ¼ cup butter
1 tsp. salt
2 pounds mushrooms, cleaned and sliced
4½ tsp. dill
2 tbsp. paprika
2-3/4 cups vegetable stock
½ cup flour
1 tbsp. lemon juice
1½ cups sour cream

Warm milk in saucepan at low heat.

In soup pot, sauté onions in 1 tablespoon of butter. When they are translucent, add mushrooms, dill, paprika, lemon juice and 1 cup vegetable stock. Cover and simmer for 10 minutes.

In separate saucepan, melt remaining butter. Slowly whisk in flour, forming a roux. Add warm milk, whisking to eliminate lumps. Add this mixture to soup pot. Add remaining stock and simmer for 10 minutes.

Just before serving, whisk in soy sauce and sour cream.

Yield 10 cups

And here’s a story of a different kind. No faeries or faerie rings, but plenty of supernatural happenings.

How far would you go to redeem yourself?

BLURB:
As a young girl, Lucinda was able to see spirits, a gift that didn't come without its problems. Now, a dedicated young veterinarian, she is committed to the idea that every life can be saved.

After a devastating accident, Lucinda tries to escape her past by moving to a small town. There, she meets a newcomer and feels an immediate connection with him. But there is another mysterious stranger to the small town, one that stirs within her a mixture of unease and desire.

As Lucinda is drawn into a bitter tug-a-war from the forces around her, she is likewise pulled into a dangerous twist of past and present events. Forced to make difficult choices, she finds that the two men are locked in not only a battle for her life...but a battle for their salvation.

To read an excerpt or purchase a copy of Between, please click on a vendor's name.

Musa Publishing
Amazon
Barnes and Noble

Clarissa Johal has worked as a veterinary assistant, zoo-keeper aide and vegetarian chef. Writing has always been her passion. When she’s not listening to the ghosts in her head, she’s dancing or taking photographs of gargoyles.

Clarissa shares her life with her husband, two daughters and every stray animal that darkens the doorstep. One day, she expects that a wayward troll will wander into her yard, but that hasn’t happened yet.

Learn more about Clarissa Johal on her website and blog. Stay connected on Facebook and Twitter.

Are European Men the Best?

by Sloane Taylor

I don't know about "best", but they sure are damn appealing to me. That fact is evident in the books I write because my heroes are from a variety of European countries. Readers have asked me why. One indignant lady wanted to know why I hated American men.

For the record, I don’t hate any man. If anything it’s the complete opposite. I love them all and can’t seem to get enough of them. Men of every nationality, race, and creed are a major turn-on for me. Tall or short doesn’t matter. Either a flowing mane or a pate that shines works for me. I am the original rah-rah queen for the male gender.

Please don’t get the wrong idea. I do not hang around street corners in a tight skirt and skimpy top waiting to jump in some guy’s car for twenty dollars, but I have no problem staring to my heart’s content when I see a male who interests me. From their bone structures to their attitudes, and some of them do have the best attitudes, men fascinate me.

The main reason most of my heroes are European is that I’ve had more experience with men from that part of the world. Now behave yourself, I’m not talking in the biblical sense.

Long before I ever considered being a writer, I worked for a paint manufacturer in the international division. My job was to develop formulas for industrial coatings and deal one on one with the representatives from the contracted British, French, and German companies. Those business associates became longtime friends and I treasured every second of our time together.

Since that job, I have been fortunate to spend a great deal of time in Europe. It has been my pleasure to expand my study of men. The men I’ve met along the way have enthralled me, angered me, and consumed me. Most were reserved with a clipped speech pattern that to a fun loving American bordered on rudeness, but as they came to know me that guarded attitude turned into warmth and great loyalty. And in two marvelous cases a protectiveness that was welcomed.

From all those awesome traits of all those fabulous men the Magnificent Men of Munich series was born. It’s a four book series that opens in Munich and ends in Venice. Here is a bit from Heated Negotiations, Book One.

Mergers and negotiations are not just for the boardroom, especially when things heat up high over the Atlantic.

BLURB:
Travel agency owner Teddi Howard is Hell in high heels when she jumps a plane to Munich. Her goal—strangle the German tour operator who reneged on their exclusive contract.

German businessman David Stiefel well knows the feeling of being screwed over and is resolved to avoid emotional attachments. This strategy has served him well, until his chance encounter with the enticing Ms. Howard.

EXCERPT:
David Stiefel’s eyes kept track of the copper-haired female while he rolled up the sleeves of his striped shirt. The woman was oblivious to the stir she created as she strolled through the crowded O’Hare Airport Business Class Lounge. He stroked an index finger over his lips and studied her sleek figure clad in formfitting slacks. The appealing rear view was too good to miss. The pleasure of not seeing a panty line forced him to shift in his chair to adjust for the sudden pull in his jeans.

She bent over, hung her jacket across the chair back, and glanced over her shoulder at him. Their gaze held as a smile tweaked the corner of his mouth. He crumpled the wrappings from his beef sandwich and knew he’d just been offered dessert. Now all he had to do was make his move.

As his good luck would have it, right there on the floor just a few meters away was an airline ticket dropped by some unsuspecting person. He knew that delicious-looking woman had done it as a ploy to meet him.

He stood and paced off the few steps, never taking his eyes from her. He stooped, scooped up the packet, and walked the few extra feet before he glanced at the name printed in bold marker across the front. When he held it toward her, she fumbled with her purse and carry-on as if she did not know she had lost such an important set of documents. Very cool.

Standing in front of her, he leaned down just enough to catch her scent. A fragrance that reminded him of herbs.

BUY LINK

To read excerpts from any of the other five books Sloane Taylor has published through Musa, please click HERE.

Sloane Taylor is a sensual woman who believes humor and sex are healthy aspects of our everyday lives and carries that philosophy into her books. She writes sexually explicit romances that take you right into the bedroom. Her books are set in Europe where the men are all male and the North American women they encounter are both feminine and strong. They also bring more than lust to their men’s lives.

Taylor was born and raised on the Southside of Chicago. Studs, her mate for life, and Sloane now live in a small home in Indiana and enjoy the change from hectic city life.

She is an avid cook. Check out “It’s Wednesday. So What’s Cooking?” with complete menus posted once a week on her blog http://sloanetaylor.blogspot.com/. The recipes are user friendly menus, meaning easy.

Learn more about Sloane Taylor on her website and blog. Stay connected on Facebook and Twitter.

So Why Japan?

by Viki Lyn

Barring no major disasters, I am in Japan enjoying the beauty and culture of this wonderful country. I love to travel and have been to Europe, South America and Africa, but never to Asia. I’ve always wanted to travel to Japan but other trips took precedent and finally this year Jim and I decided we’d go. (As you read this, we should be in Kyoto by now with our good friends.)

So why Japan? These are my top ten reasons for traveling there:


Art – I love Japanese aesthetics and design. One of my favorite art shows was at the LA Museum. It was called Primal Spirit and featured ten contemporary Japanese sculptors. It was an awe inspiring exhibit. The artists used wood, iron, fiber—creating amazing large scale works of art. Precision and detail went into every piece.


Fresh Sushi – I got hooked on sushi when I lived in San Francisco. Imagine how good it has to be in Japan, fresh from the ocean and straight to the fish market.


Manga – if you read my April post you know I’m crazy about yaoi (boy’s love manga). There’s a street in Tokyo dedicated to manga. Too bad I can’t read Japanese or else I’d be shipping home a crate of books. Okay, maybe it’s a good thing I can’t read Japanese!


Anime – like their art, Japanese anime is beautiful to watch. I also love how they weave myth in their storylines.

Gardens – Give me a Zen garden over any other. I love the quietness, simplicity and beauty of the rock formations, water features and plants. We plan to put a Japanese style garden in our atrium when we return home.

Japanese paper – I want to get my hands on the real thing and buy Japanese rain water paper. It’s ethereal and wonderful to use in collage.

 Geishas – there is something very exotic about the geisha culture. The women are beautiful and represent a part of Japan’s mysterious past which I find intriguing.

Pastries and coffee – Japanese are crazy about their coffee. I will indulge in all of it!

Ryokans – this is a traditional Japanese inn with tatami mats and old-fashioned hospitality. We will be staying in one outside of Nara.


Bullet Trains – faster than a speedy bullet! No, not Superman, but Japan’s long-distance trains.

Happy Reading!

Viki

Here's a little from my latest release for your reading pleasure.

Pride will be the death of him.

When psychic Nate Coleman dreams of a murder, he knows it’s a premonition. He can’t forget the image of his ex-lover with a bullet hole through his chest. Nate has no choice but to confront William and face the skeptical scientist’s ridicule.

Dr. William Ryner doesn’t believe in what he can’t prove. When Nate comes back into his life, it’s not to rekindle their love, but to bring up more of that mumbo jumbo that split them apart.

Despite William’s refusal to listen, Nate can’t ignore the premonition. And, William can’t ignore Nate. Before the gunman strikes, William must either trust in Nate’s ability or rely only on the facts, but if he does the latter, pride could be the death of him.

To read an excerpt from Perceived Love, please click HERE.

You can find all of Viki Lyn's books at the following sites: Amazon, All Romance Ebooks and GLBT Bookshelf.

What inspires Viki is the reality that romance between lovers is a hope more than a guarantee. Her stories are an eclectic mix of contemporary and paranormal, but it is always romance that drives the story to its final happily-ever-after.

Learn more about Viki Lyn on her website and blog. Stay connected on Facebook and Twitter. Check out her bookshelf and be sure to Join Viki’s Street Team.

Saturday with Gaea

Meet Sharon Ledwith

Sharon Ledwith is the author of the middle-grade/YA time travel series, The Last Timekeepers and the Arch of Atlantis, available through Musa Publishing. When not writing, researching, or revising, she enjoys reading, yoga, kayaking, time with family and friends, and single malt scotch. Sharon lives in the wilds of Muskoka in Central Ontario, Canada, with her hubby, a water-logged yellow Labrador and moody calico cat.

When did you decide to be an author?
Honestly, I have to admit I was a late bloomer. I didn’t start writing seriously until 1995. That’s when I took two college courses that changed my life. The first one was called Planning your Novel, which was an introductory workshop for, Writing your Novel. I met a couple of wonderful would-be writer gals, and we formed a writing circle after the classes were done.

What was your first piece published?
Believe it or not, The Last Timekeepers and the Arch of Atlantis is my first published piece, which was release in May 2012. The idea and inspiration for the book came to me through a dream I had around 1998. In this dream, I saw seven arches, and there were seven people (five kids, two adults) with crystals in their hands, walking up to these arches. So, I thought I’d challenge myself and write a novel—a series—that would appeal to my son, who at the time was the target age of my audience. I’ve always loved the time travel genre, so I imagined the arches I saw vividly in my dream as time portals. It was a no-brainer for me.

What character is most like you?
Okay, truth be told, Treena Mui has a soft spot in my heart. She’s great with the comebacks. She’s a natural when it comes to one-liners and puns. That was me as a teen. I guess I relate to her warped sense of humor.

What was the first story you wrote as a child?
Oh, man! I remember back in grade four (only a few years ago – wink) when I had the class in stitches because I had taken cartoon characters (like Scooby Doo, Underdog Fred Flintstone, and many other characters that were popular in the early 70s) and created a funny story. I wish I could remember the title of it! Even my teacher, Mrs. Greenwood had to read it because I was laughing too hard to read my own story! Ah, the good old days!

Do you have any advice for anyone writing a book?
Never stop investing in yourself. Invest in the best. That’s in yourself, and in your readers. Your readers deserve the best of what you have to offer them. Surround yourself with the best possible team. Never stop learning. As you grow, so will your readers, so be prepared for this. Oh yeah, and never give up. That’s a given and should be part of any author’s credo.

Who is your favorite author?
Well, my favorite author as a child was Maurice Sendak, who wrote Where the Wild Things Are, and as an adult I love to mix it up my genres a little, so I like to read books by Rick Riordan, JK Rowling, Caroline Myss, and Diana Gabaldon.

What technique do use to write (make it up as you go, plan it)?
Sometimes I’m a pantser (writing by the seat of my pants), sometimes a plotter (outline entire storyline)—it all depends on the tone of the book and where my imagination directs me. I have many notebooks and pads and sticky notes at my disposal. I also have a file full of ideas. I guess I start with the characters and build the story around them. The characters, my characters, must carry the story to completion, give readers closure. It’s a must. In order to do this, I begin writing out character tracking sheets (stats on characters appearances, clothing, likes and dislikes, etc.) which have served me well throughout the writing process. Then the fun begins. Research, research, and more research. When you’re writing time travel, you’ve got to know your facts to create the fiction. I love this part of the journey too. Only when I have enough facts, and I feel my characters are fleshed out sufficiently, then I begin to start the novel.

What piece are you working on now?
I’ve just finished the first round of edits for the prequel to The Last Timekeepers series entitled, Legend of the Timekeepers which will be out sometime this year (hopefully late spring), but I don’t have a release date yet. I also have a completed manuscript of the second book in the series entitled, The Last Timekeepers and the Dark Secret, but there’s the fun job of revising it into Jordan Jensen’s point of view. I’ve also just signed with a literary agency to take on another young adult series I’ve created about teens with psychic abilities, so I’ll be one busy gal!

What is your favorite book?
I really enjoyed reading The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho. I love Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson & the Olympian series too. What an imagination! To be honest I don’t have a favorite-favorite book. So many to choose from, so little time! Where’s a time portal when you need one?

Did you receive any awards for your book?
Alas, no! But there’s always hope! Look out Newbury Award, Sharon Ledwith is banging on your door!

I want to thank you, Gaea, for showcasing me on your blog today! Loved your questions, and love your energy. Best of luck in your new blogging enterprise. You go, girl!

If you haven’t already checked out my young adult time travel read, The Last Timekeepers and the Arch of Atlantis, here’s the blurb…

When 13-year-old Amanda Sault and her annoying classmates are caught in a food fight at school, they're given a choice: suspension or yard duty. The decision is a no-brainer. Their two-week crash course in landscaping leads to the discovery of a weathered stone arch in the overgrown back yard. The arch isn't a forgotten lawn ornament but an ancient time portal from the lost continent of Atlantis.

Chosen by an Atlantean Magus to be Timekeepers--legendary time travelers sworn to keep history safe from the evil Belial--Amanda and her classmates are sent on an adventure of a lifetime. Can they find the young Robin Hood and his merry band of teens? If they don't, then history itself may be turned upside down.

To read an excerpt of The Last Timekeepers and the Arch of Atlantis, please click HERE.

Check out The Last Timekeepers series Facebook Page.

BUY LINKS
Musa Publishing
Amazon Link
Barnes & Noble
Kobo

Learn more about Sharon Ledwith on her website and blog. Stay connected on Facebook and Twitter.

 
Gaea is a real 11 year old person who loves to read. In 2nd and 3rd grade she eagerly consumed 1,000,000 words. Her goal for this year is to top the 5,000,000 word mark. Gaea's favorite types of books are fantasy and mystery.

She lives with her parents and sister and a houseful of pets. Gaea is active in sports, especially soccer.

Learn more about this unique young woman on her blog.

NEW RELEASE for RACHAEL ACKS

Musa Publishing is proud to announce the release of The Ugly Tin Orrery, another exciting steampunk book from Rachael Acks and an excellent addition to the Urania imprint.

If you're ready for an adventure Captain Ramos has one waiting for you, including train robberies and deadly politics in The Ugly Tin Orrery!

Captain Ramos never thought a cheap child's toy would be the gateway to murder and a mystery that holds countless lives in the balance...

The citizens of the duchies in North America rely upon travel by air and rail. Unfortunately for them, pirates stalk both land and sky. Captain Marta Ramos is infamous as the scourge of the Rocky Mountains, but mysteries have a terrible habit of falling into her lap, and she just can't seem to let them alone.

During a robbery of a freight train bound for the Grand Duchy of Salt Lake City, Captain Ramos picks up a tin orrery that is ugly, cheap, and plainly a toy. But when she learns its former owner has been murdered, her curiosity is piqued. The trail leads her on a chase across duchies and into dangerous political waters.

When her own crew is put in danger, all for the sake of a poorly made child's toy, Captain Ramos must unravel the true purpose of the ugly tin orrery before it's too late for them all.

To read an excerpt from The Ugly Tin Orrery, please click HERE.

Rachael Acks is a geologist and writer. She has had short stories published in Strange Horizons, Penumbra, and Beneath Ceaseless Skies, and is a proud member of the Northern Colorado Writer's Workshop. Rachael lives in Houston with her husband and their two furry friends. In her not-so-copious spare time, she bikes and practices kung fu.

Learn more about Rachael Acks and see her publication list on her website and follow her on Twitter

You Can Go Home

Talia Carmichael, the beautiful heroine in The Marriage Makeover releasing May 24 from Musa Publishing, is with us today to explain a little about life and the devastating events that change it.

Thank you for coming to chat with us today. Why do you think Eva Scott chose you to represent her?
Hello, it’s lovely to be here. I guess the story is about me and my journey back to my marriage. No one can tell that story better than me.

Tell us a little about yourself?
I married my childhood sweetheart, Nick. Things were good until the death of baby daughter Adeline from SIDs. I’d been a carpenter before Adeline was born. After her death I got lost in grief and moved away. I devoted myself to learning the art of fine furniture making. I have a growing business making designer pieces. My career doesn’t make up for the loss of my daughter but I find it satisfying all the same.

What is your birth date?
A lady never tells her age.

Where do you live and what drew you there?
I grew up on the Sunshine Coast and that’s where Nick still lives. It’s a magical place with perfect beaches and (extinct volcanic) mountains – everything is so green. The ‘Sunny Coast’ is laid back and relaxed unlike Melbourne where I now live. Melbourne is European in flavor, a grand old Victorian lady and the hub of arts and culture in Australia. I guess Melbourne attracted me as I expanded myself as an artist.

What’s your favorite music?
I like good old fashioned Australian pub rock but I’m partial to an 80s tune or two.

Will we be seeing more of you or are you stepping out of the limelight?
I’m going to focus on my career and my family so no more limelight for me.

What do you do to relax?
Make furniture. Surf – I loved surfing when I was a kid and it’s nice to get back to it.

Tell us about Nick, what drew you to him?
We met in high school. He was tall, dark and handsome, sculpted from hours paddling his board in the ocean. Those shoulders of his! And that butt! I confess I fell in love with his good looks first. You’ve got to remember we were only fifteen at the time. It didn’t take me long to discover his other qualities. He’s the most generous man I know. I don’t mean money-generous although he’s certainly not stingy. I mean big hearted-generous. He’d do anything for anyone. He’s got a good heart.

What’s your biggest turn on?
Showering with Nick after a surfing session…

What your favorite ice cream flavor, chocolate, vanilla, or strawberry?
Definitely chocolate.

Do you believe in ghosts?
No. Never have. Although I’m partial to a good ghost story.

Do you feel the cover accurately represents you?
It’s a silhouette design so it probably doesn’t capture us in reality. But I’m happy with it. I love the color! Now here's a little from the book to encourage you to read it.

Talia's marriage to Nick becomes her ultimate renovation project.

Nick and Talia Carmichael were childhood sweethearts. Grief over the death of their baby daughter from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome crushed their marriage. Talia moved to a new city, with a new career and life. Now it’s time to close the door on the past and ask Nick for a divorce.
Nick has other ideas. Once his wife, always his wife. He has no intention of letting Talia off so lightly and proposes terms and conditions to his agreement. It will mean moving back into their marital home, and force her to face long buried grief. Can she do as he asks?
Being with Nick causes her to question everything she thought was true. Has she made a mistake thinking her love for Nick is dead? Can he still love her? More importantly, can he again trust after everything they’ve been through?

The Marriage Makeover releases May 24. To read an excerpt, please click HERE.

Eva Scott lives on the Sunshine Coast, in Queensland Australia with her fabulous husband and gorgeous little boy. When she's not writing romance, you can find her on the water kayaking, fishing or swimming. When on dry land its all about the shoes and the coffee.

Learn more about Eva Scott on her website. Stay connected on Facebook and Twitter.