Greg Messel has now written three novels and two unpublished memoirs. His fourth novel, The Last of the Seals is the first in a trilogy of mysteries and will be published later this year.

Enjoy this interview.

Tell us a bit about yourself. Where are you from and how long have you been writing?

I’ve been writing most of my life. I supported myself in high school as a stringer for the local newspapers in Concord, California. I wrote movie reviews and covered sports. I was also sports editor of my high school newspaper. I’ve been writing ever since, including being the news editor, a columnist and reporter for a daily newspaper. I’ve only recently began writing novels. I never imagined that I would go that direction with my writing but I love it. I grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area. I’ve lived in Wyoming, Utah, Oregon and Washington since then. I’ve spent most of my life in the beautiful Pacific Northwest.

Tell us about your latest book.  What do you hope readers take away from it?

My new book is The Illusion of Certainty. It follows two parallel story lines about people dealing with sudden adversity in their life. I begin the story with a quote that says “the only certainty in life is uncertainty.” The story speaks to the theme that in the 21st Century through our amazing technology, we think we are in control of our lives. We track our schedules on our iPhones or Blackberries and are in constant contact with one another. We are deluded into thinking we are pulling the strings on the events in our lives. However, the certainty or control that we feel we have is only an illusion. The characters in my novel are always “connected” but only superficially to the people in their lives. The end of the book shows that the human touch and the healing power of love is what is sorely missing.

Share some of your writing goals.  What’s next for you?

I’m working on a new mystery trilogy. I’ve wanted to find a group of characters that could be the basis for a series of books. I think I’ve found them. My mystery series will be set in 1957 in San Francisco. A great time and location. I’m very excited about the new possibilities. Writing a series is a new challenge and so is writing a mystery. You have to figure out the mystery yourself but then as a writer you need to reveal it slowly in a way that draws the reader in. I hope I can do it.

What’s the most interesting book you’ve ever read?

That’s a really tough one.I remember when I finally tackled War and Peace. It was difficult at first with all of the Russian names and lots of characters. When I was done, I thought “this is a true work of art.” There are good books and then there are great books.

Favorite authors?

I really like Pat Conroy’s books. I met Michael Connelly at the Los Angeles Festival of Books a few years ago. I love his books and I thought he was the coolest guy I’ve ever met.

Book you’re currently reading?

Okay, now here’s an honest answer–Lady Chatterley’s Lover. I remember that when I was in high school and college that book was banned. I can recall walking by a bookstore in Berkeley which was featuring the banned book. I’m reading it now on my Kindle to find out what all the fuss was about. It’s a classic novel.

In your opinion, what’s the measure of a successful writer?

It’s always nice if your book can make some money. I think some so-called “best sellers” are garbage. The world of writing and publishing is changing so rapidly. It’s scary out there but there’s also some really wonderful opportunities which were not there before.  The self-publishing world, the social networking and ebooks are all very exciting. However, to me the greatest payoff is when I get a tweet or e mail from a reader who says “I really loved your book” and that it meant something to them. It’s wonderful when someone’s life is touched by your book. It is very interesting to see what your writing means to readers.

Where can we learn more about you?

I’m active on Twitter at @gregmessel, on Facebook and regularly write on my blog.

I also have a page on the Independent Author Network web siteand website at www.gregmessel.com.

More Books by Greg Messel:

• Expiation
• Sunbreaks

Tamara Elizabeth is a speaker, author, self love coach, radio host, a master motivator of women in transition, conductress of motivational seminars, professional photographer, small space designer, lover of social media, mother of 5, and a fabulously loveable woman after her first 50 years.  She is determined to create a revolution of women.

Tamara started her life over at fifty and believes that if she can do it, any woman can.  That’s when she decided to take her experiences and help others with her latest book, Fabulously Fifty and Reflecting It! Discovering My Lovable Me.

Enjoy this interview:

Tell us a bit about yourself. Where are you from and how long have you been writing?

I reside in one of Canada’s many pearls – Vancouver, British Columbia on the west coast of our great Nation. I have had the luxury of being born to American parents and raised in the cultural backgrounds of both wonderful countries. My heritage is dug in deep with ties from Russia, United States and Canada – there was a lot of turkey eaten in our household with two Thanksgivings AND Christmas within 3 months of each other every year as I grew up.

I am 51 years young and I love life. I have had some challenges on my journey but I am coming through them just fine. I am an adventurer and that helps me stay focused in the present trudging forward in this enchanted forest of life.

I have worn many hats in my half century – daughter, sister, wife, mother of 7 (4 of my own and 3 I borrowed to raise just for the heck of it), fund raiser, travel photographer, globe trotter, and now a certified self-love coach and author. I have even thrown in “radio host” just so that I don’t get too comfortable in my zone.

My sense of humor has opened many doors to me and has helped me write a finishing chapter to each different story in my life. I really try to look at life with a spring in my step and a good laugh at each turn. Even through the tears I try to ring the humor bell and lighten things up a notch. Writing has been my greatest passion as I can finally be heard. I have been writing children’s stories since I became a mom but never had the courage to publish them. So they remained the bedtime stories for my children. Now my mission is to help inspire women to never give up no matter how challenging their life’s path has become.

Tell us about your latest book.  What do you hope readers take away from it?

“Fabulously Fifty and Reflecting It! – Discovering My Lovable me” is my story, a story of a woman who has discovered how through my reflections, the truly fabulously lovable me; the authentic me that I was born to be. I have moxie like the trail blazing women of the 20’s.

This book is the result of hard work and perseverance on a self-love journey. It is the reflection of my life and from these reflections I have created a workbook for the reader to assist her on her own journey to find the most authentic loveable you. I am the reader’s voice. I speak as her. I have been where she has travelled. I have finished licking my wounds and jumped back into the ring. I am MOXIMIZED!

My reflections shared are not to place blame on anyone in my path, for I take responsibility for my reactions to every challenge I have come across in my life. I just want the reader to understand that I have walked in their shoes and have never given up. I encourage the reader to understand that she can restart her life at any time she wants to and still find success in whatever she desires.

What’s the most interesting book you’ve ever read?

I have so many to choose from but the first one that comes to mind is The Wedding by Nicholas Sparks. This hit a deep cord with me because it is about a marriage unraveling after 25 years and is told from the husband’s point of view. My first marriage unraveled at 23 years and when I read this book /I understood a little better why my husband allowed it to disintegrate no matter how hard I tried to save it. It was a fiction book but the message was life altering for me.

Book you’re currently reading?

I usually read 4 at a time and right now – The Age of Miracles: Embracing the New Midlife by Marianne Williamson, The Help (Movie Tie-In) by Kathryn Stockett, Money, and the Law of Attraction: Learning to Attract Wealth, Health, and Happiness by Ester and Jerry Hicks, Under the Duvet: Shoes, Reviews, Having the Blues, Builders, Babies, Families and Other Calamities by Marian Keyes and The Creative Life: True Tales of Inspiration by Julia Cameron.

Any type of writing ritual you have?

Not really. I love to sit on my couch with my laptop looking out my picture window at the harbor in front of me. My two 4-year-old Bichon Frises keep me company. My 4 children are all grown and living their own lives so these are my babies now.

In your opinion, what’s the measure of a successful writer?

It’s definitely not the number of books sold. If you have a burning desire deep within that masks all other passions to write, then putting word on paper is a true success. Following your dream to completion and holding in your hand is the nest measure of success – what happens then is just gravy on the potatoes. You can’t finish a race if you don’ start it. Sarah Ban Breathnach writes: ‘You cannot fail if you have done your best, Only if you have not done what you were born to do.”

Where can we learn more about you?

http://moximize.me

Anything else you’d like to add?

If you have a story to share about how you have traversed through one of life’s many transitions – please share it with me. I am able to help other women when I learn from the experiences shared to me by others.

Karin Kaufman writes cozy mysteries with an edge. Her debut novel, The Witch Tree, is the first in her Anna Denning mystery series. Karin lives near the foothills of the Colorado Rocky Mountains with an ever-ready pot of coffee and her two crazy but lovable shelter dogs.

Enjoy this interview.

Tell us about The Witch Tree (Anna Denning Mystery). Is there a favorite passage you can share? Are you planning more books in the series?

The Witch Tree is about Anna Denning, a genealogist who discovers that a client’s family tree holds the key to a murder. I wanted to make Anna a genealogist because genealogists are adept at digging for clues and connecting the dots—like any good amateur sleuth. Anna is also a widow who’s having a tough time dealing with the loss of her husband—and her anger at God because of that loss.

In the course of the story, Anna is reminded of her past involvement with wicca, something she’d rather forget. That’s something I can identify with. In my twenties, even though I was a Christian, I dabbled in wicca. As a result, although I have strong opinions on wicca, witchcraft, and paganism—many of them not fit to print—I have a great deal of empathy for young people caught up in those “paths.”

I do have some favorite passages in The Witch Tree, Cherie, but they come later in the book and probably wouldn’t make much sense unless you read what comes before! And yes, I’m definitely planning more books in the series. Many more, I hope.

Like me, you’re a member of ACFW. How do you think writers organizations like ACFW can benefit a new author?

The number one thing ACFW does is let you know you’re not alone out there, whether published or unpublished. And the members are so helpful and knowledgeable. Are you writing a historical romance and want to know what people used on their hair before shampoo was invented? Ask a fellow ACFW member and you’ll get an answer. Writing a mystery and want to know how quickly a poison works? Someone in ACFW is bound to know.

What’s the most interesting book you’ve ever read?

I’ve tried to whittle down my answer to one book, but I just can’t. So here’s three. First, Everything You Ever Wanted to Know about Heaven– But Never Dreamed of Asking by Peter Kreeft. It’s mind-boggling, especially the chapter titled “What Is Eternity?” Second, Scaling the Secular City: A Defense of Christianity by J.P. Moreland, the best book on Christian apologetics I’ve ever read. And third, God in the Dock: Essays on Theology and Ethics, by C.S. Lewis. It’s not a book Lewis himself wrote, but a later collection of his essays, speeches, and letters.

Book you’re currently reading?

I’m reading an advanced copy of Amanda Stephan’s Lonely Hearts, a Christian romance that will be released this fall.

What do you like to do when you’re not writing?

In the spring, I like to garden, even though it’s mostly container gardening for me these days. In the fall and winter, I enjoy walking with my dogs. I love to take them to a local cemetery so I can let them off leash (if I get there early enough). One of my greatest pleasures is watching Sophie, the larger of my two dogs, run at top speed. God knew what He was doing when he made dogs. Oh, and one of these days I’m going to get into scrapbooking. It looks like a lot of fun, but I haven’t been able to make time for it.

Where can we learn more about you?

You can visit my website at http://www.karinkaufman.com/ and my blog at http://www.karin-kaufman.blogspot.com/. I’m also on the new Google+ and I=m easy to find on Facebook, Twitter, and Goodreads.

Anything else you’d like to add?

Thank you for hosting me, Cherie. This was fun!

Joseph Garraty is an author of dark fantasy, horror, and science fiction. He has worked as a construction worker, rocket test engineer, environmental consultant, technical writer, and deadbeat musician. He lives in Dallas, Texas.

Enjoy this interview.

Tell us a bit about yourself. Where are you from and how long have you been writing?

I grew up in a tiny town in the frozen arctic tundra of Wisconsin. Once I moved out and went to college, I started a trend of moving to larger towns and then larger cities until I ended up in Dallas, Texas, about eight years ago. Think I’ll stop here for a while.

I’ve been writing most of my life in one form or another. Short, bizarre stories as a kid and throughout high school, songs after that, and I began writing novels about six years ago. That’s the form that really hooked me, given the opportunity for character growth and development.

Tell us about your latest book.  What do you hope readers take away from it?

My latest book is called Voice, and it’s about a group of struggling rock musicians. The guitarist, Case, is incredibly talented, but she has a bad attitude and a huge chip on her shoulder. The singer, Johnny, is tremendously insecure, largely with good reason—he’s a lousy singer, and he’s severely outclassed in his own band. However, Johnny gets an opportunity to make a deal that will fix all that and give him a voice to move millions. . . but when you deal with the devil, you never get exactly what you bargain for.

Above all, it’s a story of the sacrifices people make to go after their dreams, and maybe a look at what happens when those sacrifices go too far.

I hope readers get a sense of the larger-than-life, extreme personalities at the heart of a rock band, as well as a look at some of the offstage lives of musicians. But it’s a horror novel, too, so I hope everyone gets a few chills from it!

Share some of your writing goals.  What’s next for you?

I want to write a better book every time. Something that challenges me and my readers in a new way and tells a different story than the one I’ve told before.

My next book is a nasty urban fantasy novel called The Price, which I expect to have available before the end of the year. It’s about a naïve kid who ends up as a wizard for the Mafia, thinking he’ll be able to protect his family and make a name for himself. He finds out, though, that the price of doing business with these guys is much higher than he’d expected, both in terms of blood and the wear and tear on his soul.

What’s the most interesting book you’ve ever read?

Fiction? Catch 22, by Joseph Heller. It’s a chaotic, frenzied, brilliant, demented masterwork, and I really don’t have enough adjectives to describe it. It’s a look at war through absurdest eyes, which may be the only appropriate way to look at war.

One of the most interesting non-fiction books I’ve read would be The Red Queen: Sex and the Evolution of Human Nature, by Matt Ridley. This is a fascinating discussion of how parasites shaped the evolution of sexual reproduction, and the concepts in here blew my mind.

Book you’re currently reading?

I just finished Juliet, Naked: a novel, by Nick Hornby. It’s about a musician who’s gone on hiatus for, oh, twenty years or so, having totally burned out, and it’s written with Nick Hornby’s characteristic humor and depth of emotion. Very good read.

Do you believe in writer’s block? If so, how did you get past it? If not, why not?

I don’t know if I believe in writer’s block in the sense that all ideas just stop coming. By all appearances, ideas are the least of my problems, and I could write for the next five years based on my idea backlog alone. There are times, however, when I get a little stuck. I’m not sure what comes next, or I become convinced that what I’m writing is going off the rails in some way.

I’ve found that the best way past that is also the most obvious: Sit down and write a few pages. Maybe they won’t be the best pages you’ve ever written, but the momentum alone has a way of pushing you past the block. Ruminating over your stuck-ness never seems to get the job done for me. And I’m surprised how often I go back and can’t tell by reading where I got stuck—it usually flows together pretty well, suggesting that the problem is more in my head than in the words.

In your opinion, what’s the measure of a successful writer?

A writer who gets better with every book and refuses to be content with the last thing he or she wrote.

Advice for other writers?

Read everything! I write speculative fiction, but I’ve incorporated influences from crime and literary authors into my work at times, and I can’t even count the oddities that have crept into my work from random nonfiction, ranging from statistics textbooks to sociological treatises to impenetrable physics tomes. There’s always something new to learn.

Where can we learn more about you?

The best place to go would be my website, http://www.josephgarraty.com. I keep a regularly updated blog with news and whatnot.

Anything else you’d like to add?

Thanks for your time and the interview!

Books by Joseph Garraty:

• Voice
• The Q-Bomb

I love finding out how people met their spouses. Don’t you? Well believe it or not, Penny Zeller met her hubby from a prank phone call! (That has nothing to do with her interview here, but I just think it’s interesting.) I found this out on Penny’s blog which I really adore, so be sure you check it out.

I was introduced to Penny through the ACFW because she’s doing a blog tour for her latest book. Enjoy this interview and learning more about her.

I love the fact that you began writing by crafting Bible stories in your own words when you were just seven. When did you complete your first book and how long did it take for you to get published?

I started out by writing numerous articles for national and regional publications. My first published book was a children’s picture book titled Hollyhocks. It was inspired by my nephew, Seth, who has a fatal peanut allergies. I actually self-published Hollyhocks, which for me, opened up the world of publication. My second book, a nonfiction book, was traditionally published by a small publishing company. I worked my way up to larger traditional publishers for my nonfiction book 77 Ways Your Family Can Make a Difference: Ideas and Activities for Serving Others and my historical novels, McKenzie, Kaydie, and Hailee with Whitaker House.

What has been the best thing that has happened so far in your writing career? Anything that surprised you?

The emails I have received from readers telling me that my books have helped them grow into a deeper relationship with God and/or that my books have impacted them in a positive way have been the best thing that has happened in my writing career. Oh, and of course, one of the most exciting things is when the UPS man delivers my box of my latest release. There’s nothing quite like the feeling of holding your finished book for the first time.

Tell us about your latest book.  Is there a favorite passage or paragraph you’d like to share?

Here is the blurb for Hailee, book #3 in my Montana Skies Historical Romance Series:

For years, orphan Hailee Annigan was just a ragamuffin in the Cincinnati streets, stealing food to keep her two younger brothers fed. Her thievery landed her in a home for delinquent youngsters, where her life was changed, thanks to her teachers. Now, nineteen-year-old Hailee excitedly heads to Montana to be a teacher, yet she’s still plagued by her shameful past and the fear of never seeing her brothers again.

Based on his upbringing in high-society Boston, no one would have guessed that Maxwell Nathaniel Adams Jr. would attend seminary and become a church pastor in rugged Montana. Even now, Nate’s parents refuse to put aside their own plans for his future and accept his calling.

When their paths converge, an immediate attraction draws Hailee and Nate together, even as the pressures and demands of others pull them apart. Can the unlikely pair come to terms with their pasts and face the future together?

What’s the most interesting book you’ve ever read?

The Bible. It has all the answers to life’s questions.

Book you’re currently reading?

I recently read Scattered Petals: A Novel (Texas Dreams) by Amanda Cabot, Grow Old With Me (The Quilt Trail Series) by Melinda Evaul, and Patchwork Dreams (Amish of Seymour V1) (The Amish of Seymour) by Laura Hilton. All are excellent books!

In your opinion, what’s the measure of a successful writer?

Wow, this is a great question! I think success can come in many forms. Providing reading material that impacts lives, to me, is a measure of a successful writer. To encourage and mentor others is another measure of success. And to be given the opportunity to write God-honoring inspirational romance – is a dream come true for me.

Where can we learn more about you?

I love to connect with my readers at

• My website www.pennyzeller.com,
• My humor blog – A Day in the Life of a Wife, Mom, and Author  www.pennyzeller.wordpress.com,
• Twitter at http://twitter.com/pennyzeller, and
• Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Penny-A-Zeller/96391560959?ref=ts

Anything else you’d like to add?

I would just like to add how much I appreciate the support and encouragement of my readers. I couldn’t do this without you!

I would also like to add that I have a special tab on my blog for writers that includes helpful information including sticking with writing and attending a writer’s conference.

Thank you, Cherie, for graciously hosting me on your blog. It was great to be here!

Books by Penny Zeller:

• McKenzie (Montana Skies #1)
• Kaydie (Montana Skies V2)
• Hailee (Montana Skies V3)
• Beautiful Bandit (Lone Star Legends V1)
• and more. Check out Penny’s Amazon author page for more info.

When I first found Mary DeMuth’s webpage, I knew I wanted to interview her. She’s open and honest and has wonderful advice for other writers. Just check out her definition of a successful writer for proof of that!

Enjoy this interview.

Since we talk about all aspects of writing and blogging here, let me start with your blog. It’s delightful and open and well written. It’s also very eye-catching. Where did the design come from?

From my designer George Weis at http://www.tekeme.com. Love him!

Your book, The 11 Secrets of Getting Published, is getting all kinds of great reviews and publicity. Tell us a bit about why you decided to write this, and what you hope writers take away from it.

I wrote it because I’m a teacher at heart. I wanted to help writers on the path to publication, but I didn’t have time to mentor them all individually. This book basically is everything I know about writing and publishing in one place.

Share some of your writing goals. What’s next for you?

I’m writing a book about how to grow exponentially as a Christian. I may write some young adult fiction that will directly go to the Kindle.

What’s the most interesting book you’ve ever read?

Peace Like a River, a novel by Leif Enger. He combined literary writing with suspense. That gave me permission to do the same in my novels.

Book you’re currently reading?

Classic Christianity: Life’s Too Short to Miss the Real Thing by Bob George. It’s an old book, but very, very good.

In your opinion, what’s the measure of a successful writer?

One who keeps writing even when setbacks hit.

Where can we learn more about you?

Http://www.marydemuth.com

Anything else you’d like to add?

I so appreciate you asking these questions!

Books by Mary DeMuth:

• The 11 Secrets of Getting Published
• The Muir House
• Thin Places: A Memoir
• Daisy Chain (Defiance Texas Trilogy, Book 1)
• Watching the Tree Limbs (Maranatha Series #1)

and more!

I recently picked up Ellen Sussman‘s latest book, French Lessons, and loved the book and the concept. She has published numerous essays in anthologies, including The Other Woman, and a dozen of her short stories have appeared in literary and commercial magazines. Ellen was named a San Francisco Library Laureate in 2004 and 2009.

Enjoy this interview.

I just finished French Lessons: A Novel, and I have to say I really enjoyed it! What a great concept for the book. I understand you came up with the idea after hiring a French tutor for husband?

Yes! I was invited to teach in Paris and asked my husband to join me because it was our anniversary. As a gift I bought him a week of french lessons with a tutor I found on craigslist. She suggested that they walk the streets of Paris instead of sitting in a classroom. What a great idea! And when I met my husband for a drink after his first day of french lessons, I found out that not only was she a very good tutor, she also happens to be a gorgeous. What a dope — for a gift, I bought my husband a beautiful French woman! At the end of the week, our marriage was just fine, and I had an idea of a new novel.

I could really relate to this note on your website, “She has given up her writing career many times, but only for a day or two, and her family has now learned to ignore her new career choices. She is a writer, an almost daily writer, a writer who actually loves to write.”

It sounds like your family is very supportive. What are some of the “new career choices” you’ve pondered (for a day or two) when you’re in one those moods?

Oh, I start dreaming up all kinds of careers! I want to open a restaurant, I want to join the Peace Corps, I want to start a travel company. Anything other than write! That happens when I get too many rejection letters or when I’m stuck in a novel and can’t find my way out. I think: this is crazy! Who asked for this career?! But the mood passes and I realize that this is who I am, through and through. And I sit myself down in front of my computer and I get back to work.

What’s the best advice anyone has ever given you regarding writing?

I had a fabulous writing teacher in college — Jonathan Strong. He had published a couple of great books and then he went through a long period of time when he couldn’t get published. He kept writing. He wrote because he loved to write. That made a huge impression on me. He told me to focus on the writing and not on the goal of publishing.

Your books have done very well and most of that is due to great writing, obviously. How important do you think marketing is and do you also take part in the marketing plan for your books?

Marketing is very important. I’ve been so lucky with Ballantine — they have done a fabulous job of getting French Lessons: A Novel out in the world. Yes, I take part in every way that I can. But they make the plan, they lead the way.

Since we love books here, please tell us what is the most interesting book you’ve ever read?

I read three books in the past year that knocked me out: A Visit from the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan, Room: A Novelby Emma Donnaghue, and Let the Great World Spin: A Novel by Colum McCann. All three break so many “rules” of fiction — and create something wonderfully new.

Where can we learn more about you?

There’s a ton on my website: www.ellensussman.com. Take a look, wander around the site.

More books by Ellen Sussman:

• On a Night Like This
• Dirty Words: A Literary Encyclopedia of Sex
• Bad Girls: 26 Writers Misbehave

I love hearing from people that have a positive outlook on things, don’t you? While we could all whine and grumble (and it’s okay to do that once in a while), it’s much more interesting for me to see someone that inspires people to look for the good in life. And make no mistake, there is so much good in life!

To that end, I fell in love with Sherry Belul‘s site, Simply Celebrate. I found it inspiring and hope you visit. In the meantime, let’s learn a little more about Sherry.

Enjoy this interview.

I’m completely intrigued by your site, Simply Celebrate. What a wonderful approach to life. How did your website start and what kind of feedback have you received?

My website initially started as a place to market my book, Simply Celebrate: 101 Ways to Turn Ordinary Days into an Extraordinary Life. However, it quickly became apparent to me that there was a whole world of celebration that wanted to emerge online. I’ve been fortunate to have had so many amazing teachers in my life — writers, artists, Zen teachers, coaches, etc — and I began to see that the website could become a place to share all of these amazing resources. So many people (including YOU Cherie!) are doing work in the world that helps people find more joy, color, and connection in their days. I want Simply Celebrate to become a one-stop-shop where folks can find a myriad of ways to celebrate their lives and to consciously create an extraordinary journey for themselves.

Tell us about the Virtual Happy Hour you have every Monday.

Happy Hour takes place on the Simply Celebrate Facebook fan page every Monday at 12 PST. Mondays can sometimes be a hard time for people and I wanted to offer a small slice of time in which folks could drop in for a virtual sparkling drink (parasol in it, of course!) and to share some thoughts on “matters of the soul” — ways to connect with our inner hero, gratitude practices, energy lifts, ideas for bringing more creativity in our lives, etc. If we invite a special guest, the topic is planned in advance. Otherwise, it just organically appears that day! Everyone is invited to drop by and stay for a single comment or for the whole Happy Hour! Find out more: http://www.simplycelebrate.net/happy-hour

How did you come up with the concept for your book, Simply Celebrate: 101 Simple Ways to Turn Ordinary Days into an Extraordinary Life?

I didn’t really come up with the concept for the book. It kinda just found me. I have a history of anxiety and depression in my life. And at some point was fortunate to be introduced to Cheri Huber, an amazing Zen teacher. Out of my Zen practice grew a deep understanding of what it is to pay attention and how a whole world can happen in just a single breath. I suddenly saw that my depression was not a solid iron prison, like it had always felt. I could breathe in deeply and have a momentary sense of relief and expansiveness. Joy even. From there, life just seemed to show me the way: that I could consciously direct my attention to moments of joy. In fact, I could consciously CREATE moments of joy. Somehow, once I became aware of these subtle ways of being in the world, everything started to change for me. I started seeking out simple ways to create extraordinary moments. Life began to feel new and magical. I started keeping a journal of celebration ideas and then life dropped in the idea that my artist friend, Greg Bracken, could illustrate the ideas and I could publish a book.

Let’s move on to a favorite subject here at Working Writers: books! What’s the most interesting book you’ve ever read?

Wow! Great question. I think I’d have to say the most interesting book for me was Cheri Huber’s The Key: And the Name of the Key Is Willingness. As I mentioned above, I was given a copy of this book many years ago and it gave me an entirely new framework for looking at my life. It taught me that I am not the voices in my head. It taught me the practice of developing awareness, compassion, and joy in my life. This tiny, hand written book, truly was a key for me. It unlocked so many doors within myself — most definitely leading me to who I am today. I guess it was pretty interesting to me!!!

Book you’re currently reading?

I am reading a beautiful novel by Kent Meyers called The River Warren What I love so much about this book is that the story is told from many different view points. Each of the narrator’s has a very unique voice and gives a different slant on the story. It is a very very human book — meaning there is a lot of poetry in the telling of the story and there are many levels of emotion, which get revealed as the story is told. I highly recommend this book.

Favorite way to spend a Sunday afternoon?

I am incredibly fortunate that I’ve had a writing job in which I get to review hotels for families. One of my absolute favorite ways to spend a Sunday afternoon is when I go on an adventure with my ten-year-old son to a hotel in San Francisco, where we live. Kayne, my son, and I both pack up at least two books and our favorite snacks, and we settle into the magnificently clean hotel room to spend the afternoon reading together. I LOVE this. When I am at home I often feel pulled in a hundred directions — clean the house, get some work done, write letters, work on projects — but at the hotels, all that is there is me and my son and our books. Ahhhhhh!

Where can we learn more about you?

Please come visit www.SimplyCelebrate.net. Sign up for my free newsletter or my blog, Cherry Blossom Soup! Folks can also connect with me on the Simply Celebrate Facebook fan page. (www.facebook.com/simplycelebrate). Also, check out the one-of-a-kind Celebration Books I create at www.MadMoon.com.

Anything else you’d like to add?

Cherie, I just want to say that I am so inspired by your energy and enthusiasm. I love all of the life you put into life! I really think it is important that people surround themselves with people who help them feel good about themselves and their dreams. I really appreciate the many ways you put yourself out there in the world to help people transform their lives. Thanks for inviting me in to the party! [Editor's note: Aw... that is about the sweetest thing anyone has ever said to me. Thank you so much, and right back at ya!]

I adore writers with a sense of humor. Don’t you? I knew I wanted to interview Irene Hannon when I read this note on her website:

Irene Hannon is a bestselling, award-winning author who took the publishing world by storm at the tender age of 10 with a sparkling piece of fiction that received national attention.

Okay…maybe that’s a slight exaggeration. But she was one of the honorees in a complete-the-story contest conducted by a national children’s magazine. And she likes to think of that as her “official” fiction-writing debut!

Is that cute or what? You know you want to sit down with a writer when you read something like that. (Plus, I wouldn’t mind reading the short story she wrote as a kid, something tells me it’s very good.)

Good thing for us Irene writes stories now as an adult, too! Enjoy this interview.

You have over 35 published novels, which is something most of us just dream of. Tell us about the very first time you realized your book was going to be published.

Even though I have to reach W-A-Y back for that memory, it’s still crystal clear. I’d been trying for several years to find a publisher for my first book. The rejections were discouraging, but I kept plugging away.

Then one day, while I was in California on a business trip, I got a call from my mom. (I lived at home after college until I got married.) She said an editor from a publishing house had called. Of course I called the woman right back—and she made me an offer. I still remember sitting there stunned and elated—and having no one to celebrate with! But I made up for it when I got home!

You mention on your website that you enrolled in the Citizen Police Academy as part o f your research for your Heroes of Quantico series. Do you always do research like this for your books?

Yes. Every book I write—especially my suspense books—is research heavy. Only a fraction of the research actually makes it into the book, but it forms the foundation for the story and gives it the extra ring of authenticity that readers and reviewers have lauded. For a suspense book, I generally end up with 75-100 single-spaced pages of research notes and website links. I also rely very, every heavily on authoritative sources—true experts in their fields—to ensure that every situation in my stories reflects real-life protocols.

Tell us about your latest book.

My latest suspense novel, Fatal Judgement, is Book 1 in my Guardians of Justice series. It’s about a U.S. deputy marshal, the judge he’s assigned to protect, and a killer who may be after the judge. What complicates the story even more is that the judge and the marshal have a history—and it’s not a very pleasant one. I’m very happy to announce that this book has been on major bestseller lists for three months running.

The Guardians of Justice series revolves around three siblings in justice-related professions, but I should point out that as with all my series, the books stand alone; there are no plot points that carry over from book to book.

What’s the most interesting book you’ve ever read?

I don’t think I can single out any one book. I read quite eclectically, and many books have caught my attention and touched my heart. Some of my favorites include Mila 18 by Leon Uris, Five Smooth Stones by Ann Fairbairn, A Woman of Substance by Barbara Taylor Bradford and The Gamble by LaVyrle Spencer.

What do you like to do when you’re not writing?

I love to perform, so I’m always looking for an opportunity to get involved in community theater musical productions. Last summer I played Reno Sweeney in Cole Porter’s Anything Goes. I also love to take long walks, garden and spend time with my extended family.

Where can we learn more about you?

Please visit my website at www.irenehannon.com. You’ll find an extensive bio, news and synopses/excerpts of my books.

Anything else you’d like to add?

I know this site is especially devoted to writers, so some of your readers might find my article on tips for the road to publication interesting. It’s on my website, under the “Extras” tab.

Also, I’m very, very excited to announce that I just got the call from RWA, and the third book in my Heroes of Quantico series, In Harm’s Way, was just named a RITA finalist. I’m off to Starbucks to celebrate! [Editor's note: Congrats! We'll raise a latte with you virtually!]

Books by Irene Hannon:

• In Harm’s Way (Heroes of Quantico Series, Book 3)
• An Eye for an Eye (Heroes of Quantico Series, Book 2)
• Child of Grace (Love Inspired)
• and more!

Author Kristin Billerbeck has a career many writers dream of. In fact, she has so many books, I mixed up which one was her latest! (My bad…) All I know is that my “to be read” list has a lot of hers on it.

I know you’re going to enjoy this interview.

I love your blog, Girly Girl. I find that many authors have a mixed reaction to blogging: some of them love it and some feel it takes them away from their work. What do you think about blogging and how has it changed the relationship you have with your fans?

Blogging is my release. I know people feel so much pressure to blog, but I often blog three or four times a day. Usually about nothing, but what’s going on in the world, but I find it opens a dialogue and I enjoy having that back and forth experience with readers. I’m sure with more planned blogging, something might improve, but I do it because I enjoy the discussions.

Tell us about your latest book, Perfectly Invisible: A Universally Misunderstood Novel. Share some of your writing goals. What’s next for you?

Actually, my latest book is A Billion Reasons Why and it’s a contemporary romance for Thomas Nelson and I’m happy to say it was on the CBA bestsellers’ list this month. It’s a tribute to my love of the 40′s era when men were men. I wanted to do an Alpha male who wasn’t a jerk. I think we have feminized men in this modern era, and I am not a fan. Bring back Gary Cooper and William Holden!

Silly question of the day: Have you used the cookie gun your grandma bought you?

I have not. It is still in the box. Maybe I can give it to my daughter on her 40th birthday. : )

What’s the most interesting book you’ve ever read?

Oh my, there are so many. I don’t think I could pick one. I will say that I cannot pick up The Thorn Birds without falling back into the story all over again and then I have to finish it.

Favorite authors?

• Maeve Binchy
• Denise Hunter
• Colleen Coble
• Diann Hunt
• Marian Keyes
• Anne Tyler

Book you’re currently reading?

How to Be an Adult in Relationships: The Five Keys to Mindful Loving by David Richo — It was recommended to me by a psychologist I met at Starbucks. From a romance writer’s point of view — that kind of romance we like in our book, he calls addiction, so I’m troubled by that. LOL

What do you like to do when you’re not writing?

I go through phases, I read a lot. Watch a lot of reality TV and documentaries. I hike. I do Pilates and I hang out with my girlfriends. But mostly, I drive my kids around and don’t have extra time.

Where can we learn more about you?

At my website: www.KristinBillerbeck.com
Or my blog: www.girlygirl.typepad.com

Anything else you’d like to add?

Just that I’m so grateful there are still readers left out there! With so much to do, I’m glad people still take the time to slow down and read something! Anything!

More books by Kristin Billerbeck:

• Perfectly Dateless: A Universally Misunderstood Novel
• The Trophy Wives Club (The Trophy Wives Club, Book 1)
• Back to Life (The Trophy Wives Club, Book 2)
• With This Ring, I’m Confused (Ashley Stockingdale Series #2)
• Split Ends: Sometimes the End is Really the Beginning
• and more! Check out her Amazon author page for all her books.