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New! From AAG Author Victoria Fletcher Available from Victoria's website...
http://victoriafletcher.biz facebook... https://www.facebook.com/Victoria-Fletchers-Books-122165004560498/ Amazon Author's page: https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00JA332K8
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New! From AAG Author/Poet Clyde Kessler Available in Paperback here! Virginia's Blue Ridge Highlands, with Jack's Creek Bridge over the Smith River and Rock Castle Creek in Patrick County, set the stage for Clyde Kessler’s fictional community of “Hackle Creek” in his book of poetry, Fiddling at Midnight's Farmhouse (Cedar Creek Publishing, 2017). Patterned a bit like Edgar Lee Masters' Spoon River Anthology, Clyde's characters---mostly fiddlers, waifs, workers, and lost souls--emerge through poetic yarns, tall tales, ghost stories, retellings of family secrets, and even a few riddles of several families introduced in his earlier poetry collection, Dancing at Big Vein (Pocahontas Press, 1987). Both of Clyde's books feature illustrations by his artist/wife, Kendall Kessler. Connect with Clyde...
http://www.cedarcreekauthors.com/clydekesslerpoet.html New! From AAG Author Madelyn Rohrer Available in eBook and Paperback here! "Shoes in the River" is a story inspired by an ages-old Chinese custom of throwing one's shoes in the river after a heavy emotional burden has been lifted - a burden from the past, or perhaps one being carried at the present time - an obstacle to enjoyment of life and looking forward to the future. The ceremonial discarding of the shoes worn while carrying the burden was followed by stepping into new shoes and the anticipation of walking into a happier life. Step into the lives of Cheng and Su-Li Ming, a fictional but historically viable couple in rural China. Share their young plans, shattered dreams, and the cold realities of adjusting to changing governments and policies...things over which they had no control. China's one-child-per-family edict of 1980, a desperate measure intended to stem and ultimately reverse its problem of overpopulation, had a devastating effect on China and its families. “Shoes in the River” brings you into the unsettling emotions of that tumultuous thirty-two-year period in China's history. Website: www.storytellermadelynrohrer.com. Jonesborough Storytellers Guild - Performing Members section: www.storytellersguild.org In-Between Murders: Stories that LINK and ILLUMINATE the Novels of the Julia Nye Mystery Series10/29/2017 New! From AAG Author Jo Allison The adventures of Julia Nye, Carl Schroeder, and William McConnell are the stuff of the Julia Nye Mystery Series, books of detection and suspense set in 1910s St. Louis. This collection of writings fills in between the novels of the series. An award-winning short story and a thoughtful vignette offer background on Julia Nye’s unusual upbringing. A shorter vignette uses the famous prize fight of July 4, 1910, to illuminate William McConnell’s resolve. A final vignette presages the spin-off of a new series, involving Carl Schroeder in World War I. Spoiler Alert: Other than the stories about Julia’s past, the stories and vignettes foretell details of various books in the series. An unusual extra reveals a writer’s tool. Author Jo Allison “interviews” a character first introduced in the first novel in the series for a possible role in the fifth novel. Websites...
joallisonauthor.com oldunderwoodpublish.com 1910-stlouis-by-jallison.com. The Links... The Good Old Summertime: http://www.amazon.com/Good-Old-Summertime-Julia-Mystery/dp/0997314508/ St. Louie Slow Drag: http://www.amazon.com/dp/0997314524 Heaven Will Protect the Working Girl: https://www.amazon.com/Heaven-Protect-Working-Julia-Mystery/dp/0997314540/ Bread and Roses: https://www.amazon.com/Bread-Roses-Julia-Mystery-Book-ebook/dp/B06XVYGB7R/ In-Between Murders: Stories that LINK and ILLUMINATE the Novels of the Julia Nye Mystery Series This ebook is available free. Use this link to access it. https://dl.bookfunnel.com/47s7klov4q. New! From AAG Author Connie Wohlford Available in Paperback here! Live the benefits of declaring truths from the Bible every day—saying it like you mean it—can have a powerful impact on one’s life and well-being, surprising even the skeptic. One who uses I Declare—God’s Word is True daily, prayerfully, and sincerely will:
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https://www.facebook.com/connie.wohlford?fref=photo Follow Connie's Blog http://godswordourdestiny.blogspot.com/2017/07/more-lasting-than-gold.html Amazon link to I Declare God's Word Is True: https://www.amazon.com/Declare-Gods-Work-True-Power-Packed/dp/0996774432/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1500925539&sr=1-1&keywords=connie+wohlford New! From AAG Author Cryus Alderwood TALES FROM THE SUNSET PUB Available in eBook and Paperback - Order your copy here! When an eccentric collection of friends and neighbors come together because of their love of good conversation, adventure and cold beer you get this odd and varied collection of exploits called Tales From the Sunset Pub. This collection of short stories covers multiple genres as it takes you on a wild ride following the usual suspects that call the Sunset Pub their second home. Along the way sweet liberty is rediscovered, the secrets of the universe are revealed, love has been won and lost, and souls saved! Well, that might be a stretch but it depends on who you ask. Tag along in this adventure that takes you from the dirty jokes from bartenders, to the savage world of war in Vietnam, to the heat and debauchery of Las Vegas. These fun loving characters will put a smile on your face. Tales From the Sunset Pub is the place where Cheers meets The Hangover, with one wild tale after another. Amazon Author Page
https://www.amazon.com/Cyrus-Alderwood/e/B00QRFBM7M/ref=dp_byline_cont_book_1 Connect on Facebook! https://www.facebook.com/thecyrusalderwood/ Welcome from Virginia, USA, AAG Author J. Michael O’Connor! J. Michael O'Connor served in the United States Army in Vietnam. He is a graduate of Eastern Michigan University with a major in Social Science. His post graduate education came from University of Virginia and James Madison University. He spent 33 years in the teaching profession. His experiences as a high school teacher and the encouragement of an English teaching colleague and friend, Sharon Clevinger, inspired him to write the fictional novels; The Ghosts of My Mind; His Wars, His Honor; A Simple Teacher; and There is No Time Limit. GM: Thank you for your military service. I am sure one of your novels includes epic stories of war-torn events; a horrific scenario to have been in the throes of the Vietnam War. Is it difficult to relive history and rewrite those military scenes that never leave your mind? JO: As to the Vietnam stories...they are scattered throughout all three books. GM: A prolific writer and the author of several novels, how much of your own life is intertwined into your writing? JO: All of what has been written, and now published, is about myself and family...just in fictional form...saves a lot of problems...however, book three, is only about 75 % factual. GM: Considering all of your novels, which novel contains your favorite character? Why? JO: James Patrick O'Francis. Because of his ideology GM: How do you maintain thoughts, ideas, and scenarios for future novels? JO: I hand write notes on whatever is available at the time and where I am. At home, I have scrap paper on a clipboard I write on...sometimes just a few lines...sometimes a paragraph or two...and then there are times I will write several pages...with a note at the top of the page, to be inserted into... GM: What is the premise for your most recent novel Ghosts of My Mind? JO: Ghosts of My Mind is not my most resent...however the premise is, that I have documentation of the events that occurred over a long period of years...a journal I have keep continues since I was a teen... GM: Who is your favorite writer/author? JO: Well, I am not sure I have a "favorite." However, I do like reading Dan Brown, John Grisham, and Robert Parker novels. I have a multitude of books in my personal library that I have read, but these three are the ones I have the most of. GM: What are you currently writing? JO: I am working on the manuscript that will follow There is no Time Limit, the third novel in the series. It will be called: Fate. GM: What are you currently reading? JO: Just was given it this past weekend, started it last night. The Seat of the Soul, by Gary Zukav. GM: Do you have advice for novice writers? JO: I would say to someone who wanted to write a book, not to be overly expectancy of the outcome of publishing. To believe in yourself. To enjoy what you are putting on paper for others to read. GM: In a nutshell, and as a writer, what is your philosophy of life, living, and the pursuit of happiness? JO: As a writer, philosophy of life, living, and happiness...I could write a very long documentation on that question. However, for now just a synopsis will have to do. Philosophy of life/living/happiness; obtain as much knowledge as one can, be opened minded, do not have tunnel vision, question policy, ideologies. Be adventurous, travel, experience other cultures. Believe in yourself, walk your “own road” and “take the path less traveled.” Connect with J. Michael O’Connor… http://vnvet1.wixsite.com/jmfoc AAG member Gina McKnight is an author and freelance writer from Ohio USA. gmcknight.com  New from Hazel Fleming! Three ghosts team up to bring a couple together.
Will it work? Will the traditions that had been lost be regained? You will have to read the story to find the answers. Follow Hazel... Amazon.com hazelflemingsbooks.com  Brenda Crissman Musick was born and raised in Southwest Virginia in the small town of Honaker, the third of three children. She grew up in a time when life was slower and friends and family were treasured. It was a time of outside play and games from the imagination. Today, with a family, grandchildren, and the author of several books. Recently, she released her seventh book ‘Pon My Honor! Welcome Brenda! GM: Your first book, a children’s book, The Dolls on the Old Stairway, was released in 2000. What was the premise for this book? Does it hold found childhood memories of your life growing up in Southwest Virginia? BCM: The Dolls on the Old Stairway just "sort of happened". I purchased two dolls at a craft store and set them on my stairway. I have a country home so they had to have country names, thus: Susie Mae and Sallie Jo. As I passed by the stairway each day a story began to form in my mind...in rhyming form. Eventually, I wrote down the story, but it was a couple of years before I got up the nerve to send it to hire an illustrator and have it published. GM: The author of many books, how do you maintain thoughts and ideas? BCM: 'Pon My Honor makes five books. I am an avid reader; to me that's a must for a writer. The ideas just begin buzzing around in my head, often at three or four o'clock in the morning. I don't go to my computer at that time, but try to get the ideas written down early the next morning. Sometimes the ideas come while I'm driving and I find the nearest parking lot, pull in, and jot down the ideas. GM: You are a prolific writer and well-known throughout your region for your writing and speaking engagements. Where is your favorite venue to talk about writing and your life as an author? BCM: I like to share my books and talk about writing to any group that is truly interested in writing. Book-selling is fine, but I love to promote writing...especially reminiscent writing. We need to get our stories down for our children and grandchildren. Our stories must not be lost! GM: Living on a farm must bring tons of inspiration and ideas. Do you create your storylines based upon your own life and events, or are you more of a creative writer? BCM: My life , heritage, and surroundings play an enormous part in my writing. I am a country girl through and through. I loved growing up in the country and I love living on a farm. There's just nothing like it. GM: Of all of the characters and scenarios you have written about, do you have a favorite adventure/character? BCM: One-Eyed Tom is my favorite book and "Carrie" is my favorite character. It was the book I HAD to write...the story I had to tell. I actually never intended to write more but the "bees kept buzzing." GM: Who is your favorite author? Your favorite book/novel? BCM: I have many favorite authors, among them John Steinbeck, Ray Bradbury, Silas House, just to name a few. One of my favorite books is The Grapes of Wrath. GM: Do you have advice for novice writers? BCM: Yes. WRITE! Get those ideas on paper...or computer. Tell the story! You can edit it later. Just WRITE IT DOWN! Also, be yourself. Readers can "spot a fake." GM: What is the premise for your new 2017 book release ‘Pon My Honor!? BCM: This is a collection I have been working on for many years...stories about growing up in the country, stories I have been told about other members of my family through the years, poems about country life. It comes straight from the heart and I tell the good, the bad, and the ugly! GM: What has been the greatest reward to date in your writing career? BCM: The greatest reward to date was sitting by my mother's bedside in her last months and reading One-Eyed Tom to her. It was based on her father and as I read to her it erased a lot of her shame and hurt for the things he did and the pain he brought to her family. I am also rewarded when I hand a copy of each book to my three children. More about Brenda… From the time she was a child, Brenda loved to read and write stories, devouring the Nancy Drew Mysteries and The Hardy Boys. She was never bored as long as there was a book in her hand. She began writing, also, at an early age. Brenda graduated from Honaker High School in 1965. She graduated from UVA Wise (then called Clinch Valley College of the University of Virginia), with a Bachelor of Science in Education. The most rewarding time of her life was teaching in the Russell County School System. Throughout those years she continued to read and write, teaching both. She taught writing classes for middle school students and conducted writing workshops for teachers. She continues to teach writing workshops today, as well as teaching Bible Studies, genealogy research, and reminiscent writing. In 2000 Brenda published her first book, a children’s book, The Dolls on the Old Stairway. However, her dream was to write a novel, and One-Eyed Tom, was the fulfillment of that dream. It became the first in a trilogy, followed by A Place to Belong and To Everything There is a Season. In 2017, ‘Pon My Honor!, her fifth book, was released, another dream come true, and the culmination of several years of work. It is stories from her life growing up in the country. Brenda is a member of the Appalachian Authors’ Guild and Reminiscent Writers of Southwest Virginia Community College. She travels the area, speaking to groups about writing techniques and sharing her books. She and husband Jimmie live on his little family farm in the Big A Mountain section of Honaker, where they enjoy peace, tranquility, and good neighbors. They have three children and seven grandchildren, not to mention their cows, each having a name and a place in the Musick family. Connect with Brenda... http://musickb@jetbroadband.com Gina McKnight (GM) is a fellow AAG member and enjoys connecting with other writers. To share your story, email Gina at gmcknight11@gmail.com  New! Welcome AAG Member, Author Alfred Patrick!
Al grew up in the beautiful Appalachian Mountains of Southwest Virginia, the setting for his Clinch series, and for the latter part of his historical fiction, Hessian Soldier, American Pioneer. His first four years in elementary school were in a rural one-room school where one teacher taught grades one through seven. The lifestyle portrayed in the Clinch series is what the author, his family, friends, and neighbors lived. Following graduation from Honaker High School in Russell County and from Bluefield College, Alfred earned bachelor and master’s degrees at Virginia Tech and a doctorate at the University of Tennessee. He taught at Virginia High School in Bristol, at Longwood College in Farmville, Virginia, at Northeast Louisiana State University in Monroe, and at UT in Knoxville. Over a span of 33 years, the author served as professor, department chair, MBA program director, and dean in the College of Business at Eastern Kentucky University in Richmond; he retired from EKU in 1998. He enjoys reading, writing, traveling, gardening, crossword puzzles, and backpacking. Alfred has hiked the entire Appalachian Trail from Georgia to Maine, the John Muir Trail in California, and other trails. He and his wife, Peggy, live in Richmond, Kentucky. Q. What is the premise for your three-book "Clinch" series? A. My first published book, Clinch River Justice, came about as a result of a mysterious death in our family. An aunt who died had not been ill and had no life-threatening conditions that we knew of. Her husband said our aunt was dead when he awakened one morning. He would not allow an autopsy, and local authorities concluded the aunt died “of natural causes.” Many family members, including the son (the only child) of the deceased aunt, believed her death was not caused by natural causes. My mother was certain she knew the cause of death but had not one shred of proof. Several times my two sisters and I discussed our aunt’s death and speculated about what might have caused it. Apparently, on more than one occasion I said, “Somebody should write a book about this case.” After hearing me say this one more time, one sister said to me, “Well, write it!” That comment got me to thinking, wondering if I could write about the case. Eventually I wrote the book. Q. A few of your characters are based upon real life encounters and scenarios. What about other characters and scenes? A. Three prominent characters (one male, two females) in Clinch River Justice were based on real people. Clinch Valley Pursuit has many of the same characters who were part of the first book. In my other “Clinch” book, Clinch Mountain Echoes, I focused on characters I had often wondered about--a Melungeon family and a lonely, forlorn, down-and-out man who seemingly barely subsisted in a little ramshackle cabin far back in a mountain woodland on my parents’ farm. Q. Growing up in Southwest Virginia and the beautiful Appalachian Mountains, you've plenty of material for writing. What are you currently writing and will we see another novel in the Clinch series? A. When my dad was in seventh grade, he dropped out of school to help earn money for his family. A month before his thirteenth birthday in early 1928, he began mining coal and worked as a miner for several years in Virginia and West Virginia. His vivid descriptions and stories of the extreme conditions under which miners often worked seem incredible and almost incomprehensible to me. Primarily because of what my dad experienced as a miner, I am in the early exploratory stages of considering writing a novel about coal mining and miners’ families in Appalachia from the late 1920s to the 1940s and am gathering related information. Whether this exploration will result in another novel remains to be determined. I have no plans for another “Clinch” novel. But who knows what might develop. Q. Sometimes writing fiction requires a lot of research and digging into archives. Sometimes, that's a lot of material and historical documents. How do you maintain thoughts, ideas, and factual evidence? A. I try to jot down (in shorthand, which I taught for several years) factual evidence I come across as well as thoughts and ideas that pop up throughout the processes of researching and writing. If I don’t do this, good ideas and thoughts can get lost and never be reflected in my story. Q. Writing historical fiction means that you must be spot-on with facts. What is key in accounting for actual events and historical scenarios when writing historical fiction? A. For my first historical fiction, the key for me was good luck. My experience in finding factual for a historical novel was almost certainly not typical of what most writers have to do in gathering historical data for a story. I was fortunate in that the German soldier on which my novel, Hessian Soldier, American Pioneer: A March to Destiny, is based has been researched by one of my sisters as she worked on genealogies of our families. My sister and another descendant of the soldier furnished me with what we know about our ancestor. I was also able to find published copies of diaries of German soldiers that gave me insight into the soldiers’ daily lives, activities, and hardships as well as accounts of specific battles in which our soldier most likely participated. My sister also referred me to a knowledgeable and extremely helpful man from Jonesboro, Tennessee, a German Jaeger soldier re-enactor. He provided valuable information about day-to-day activities and duties of German soldiers in the American Revolutionary War. Q. Where is your favorite place to write? A. In early stages of a writing project, I write in many places—at a library, in a lounge chair at home, in a car (as my wife drives, of course!), at my computer, or wherever something comes to mind that could be part of a tale. To produce my first draft, I transcribe shorthand notes at my laptop computer, usually at a desk in my study. At my computer I fine tune and make revisions and corrections for a final manuscript. Q. Do you write on a daily basis? And do you have a muse that helps motivate you to write? A. No, I usually don’t write every day, especially during the early stages of developing a story. Some days I need to let ideas and possibilities simmer and percolate before I write them. During later stages of a project, I am more likely to write every day. And if I have a muse that helps motivate me, I haven’t recognized it yet. Q. Do you have advice for novice writers? A. I think it is never too early to begin trying one’s hand at writing if it has an appeal, but for most of my life I had no desire to write fiction; nor did I have any inkling that I could ever write a novel. During my years of college and university teaching, I often taught a course that was usually titled, “Business Communication,” which focused primarily on written communication in business—letters, memos, and reports. In the early I 970s I co-authored a college- and university-level shorthand textbook featuring a new shorthand system, Century 21. The textbook was published just as advancements in office technology made some giant strides forward—simpler and more economical recording devices, the IBM Selectric typewriter with its self-correcting feature, and soon the debut of word processing equipment and computers. As a result, fewer business executives needed shorthand writers; high schools, vocational schools, and post-secondary institutions stopped teaching shorthand. There was no market for a new shorthand system textbooks nor for the system that had been widely taught for many years, Gregg Shorthand. I also wrote articles for professional publications in my field, and I knew how business communications should be written. Throughout my professional career, however, I thought I would never try to write any sort of fiction. The year after I retired from Eastern Kentucky University, I began hiking the Appalachian Trail and kept a trail journal, recording something (written in shorthand) every day I was on the Trail. After I finished the almost 2,200 miles of the AT, I produced bound copies of my journal (160 single-spaced pages) and called it Adventure on the Appalachian Trail, which I gave to family and friends who wanted to read it. Soon after producing my AT journal publication, I began working on recording memories of growing up, beginning with some memories as far back as when I was four years old. This effort resulted in another bound production (155 single-spaced pages) entitled Homeplace Memories and circulated only to family and friends. So, as in my case, apparently it is never too late to begin creative writing. I was 75 years old when my first book, Clinch River Justice, was published. If a person has ever considered writing about something, somebody, or someplace but was reluctant to try because of the number of birthdays past, she or he should just dive in, start writing, and see what results. Q. You are a traveler, which sometimes helps with ideas for writing. Where in the world have you been and where is your favorite place to visit? A. Except for various ports in the Caribbean, my travels have been in North America. Eastern Canada, including Newfoundland and Labrador, boasts many beautiful expanses as do the Canadian Rockies. U. S. National parks from Glacier to the Everglades, from Acadia to Yosemite, with Yellowstone, The Grand Canyon, The Smokies, Carlsbad Caverns, and many others thrown into the mix, are spectacular, magnificent, and awe inspiring. Alaska has many wonderful places to visit and enjoy. All of these places are so beautiful and so different from each other that I cannot pick a favorite. I loved them all. Q. Hiking the Appalachian Trail from Georgia to Maine is a wonderful feat of athleticism and perseverance. Do you have an anecdote to share from your hiking experience? What trail have you found to be the most inspiring? A. As my AT journal title reflects, my hike truly was a wonderful adventure. I am so thankful that, after having been retired eight years, I was blessed to have the health, physical stamina, and mental tenacity that allowed me to complete the long AT trek. I will always treasure memories of beautiful scenes and magnificent vistas, as well as hours (sometimes even days) of peaceful, reflective, solitude. On the AT and in Trail towns, I met many memorable individuals, men and women, young and old, from all walks of life. Friendships with a few of these fellow hikers continue even today, eleven years after I finished the Trail. I recall the lonely, plaintive cry of loons in the Maine wilderness. I remember lovely, haunting but soothing melodies as a hiker whose trail name was “Blackfoot” played Native American tunes on his wooden Lakotan flute in his tent as a gentle rain fell and darkness slowly enveloped the campsite. The one single event that stands starkly above most other happenings on the Trail was not a welcome one. In Maine I broke my right femur, but the fortunate thing for me was that the Trail crossed a road about six miles ahead. A hiking friend carried my pack, and I limped along supporting as much of my weight as I could on my hiking poles. We were able get to the road, into a nearby town, and eventually to a hospital where I had surgery and got excellent medical care. Of course, that episode halted my hike for a while, but the next year I went back to Maine and resumed my hike. If my accident had occurred later in what is called Maine’s “Hundred-Mile Wilderness,” where no roads cross the Trail during those hundred miles and where cell phones get no signals, the consequences could have been life threatening. My hike on the John Muir Trail in California meandered approximately 230 miles from Happy Isles in Yosemite National Park, over the Sierra Nevada Mountains, and ended atop the highest point in the lower 48 states, Mt. Whitney. On this hike with a friend whom I met and hiked with on the Appalachian Trail, we saw landscapes that were drastically different from what we experienced on the AT. But the Sierra vistas were equally majestic and awe inspiring—beautiful snow-capped mountains and sections of snow-covered trail (in July) that we went through carefully. We crossed over or waded through beautiful, clear, cold mountain streams and climbed from pristine, green valleys up to barren, wind-swept mountain passes as high as 13,000 feet from which it seemed we could see forever. When comparing the Appalachian and John Muir trails, I cannot say that one was more inspiring than the other. They are vastly different, and each is beautiful and inspiring in its own way. I would love to hike each of them again, but that will never happen. But I do have wonderful memories of them and many pictures to help me relive those treks. Connect with Al, peruse his books and writing... alfredpatrickbooks.com |
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