**INTERVIEW with Author ANDIE LEE PECK**

It is with Great Pleasure to Interview Today, Author Andie Lee Peck. Author Of: ABSTRACT MURDER Genre: Mystery/Suspense/Police Procedural/Psychological Thriller http://www.authorsden.com/andielpeck http://es.bebo.com/dreamlover40 http://www.myspace.com/andieleames http://www.helium.com/items/237602-networking-why-writers-need-other- writers http://open.salon.com/content.php?cid=63210 INTERVIEW Geri: When did you first realize that you wanted to be a writer? Andie: I've always written, but it wasn't until the birth of my daughter in 1988 that I really started writing! Geri: What type of books do you enjoy writing? Andie: I read anything that piques my interest, and that ranges from Edgar Allan Poe to Lewis Carroll to Jim Carroll, renown poet and song writer, it just depends on my mood. Geri: Did a special person in your life inspire you to write? Andie: My kids, family and friends who believe in my imagination, and support me. Geri: Have you written any books based on a true life story? Andie: No, but what I write I like to call "faction" as there are a lot of facts within the fictional structure of the book. Geri: Who is your favorite author? Andie: Edgar Allan Poe! Geri: Are your characters created from people you've known in real life, or are they from the imagination? Andie: They are composites of real people, blended in with my imagination. Geri: How many books have you written? Andie: I've written two, "Daddy's Little Girl" which is not published, and "Abstract Murder" which went live as of September, 2008. Geri: Where can your book be purchased? Andie: http://www.amazon.co.uk/ http://www.amazon.com/ http://www.authorhouse.com/ http://www.authorhouse.co.uk/ Geri: Describe how you felt the first time you were published? Andie: I was dazed with a sense of relief, but then realized it was only the beginning of my journey with this book! Geri: Do you have any current work in progress? Andie: I'm working on a supernatural thriller and fantasy titled "The Girl Who Wasn't There" and other projects in the making. Geri: Do you have goals set for the future? Andie: Yes, I've set a five year goal to obtain the renown that I seek! Geri: At this point and time in your life, are you exactly where you want to be with your writing? Andie: Not really, but I shall be where I want, once able to obtain an agent, and publicist! Geri: What are some factors that can help authors reach their dream of accomplishment? Andie: The best advice that I have is read what you can about manuscript formats, and try to get help from other writers who made their path in the literary world, regardless of how small. Also, join writers groups to help along with the process, and network. Geri: Have you ever experienced writer's block? Andie: Yes, but then I either take a break until the block has passed, or I switch to writing something else. Geri: What advice can you give to prevent writer's block? Andie: Not to panic, and do something relaxing! Writer's block is often unavoidable, but it's not permanent. Do something that relaxes, but stimulates the creative process! Geri: As a child, did you have favorite books? Andie: Yes, "Alice In Wonderland" by Lewis Carroll. Geri: As a child, did you enjoy reading a lot? Andie: I'd read, or watch television to escape! Geri: If you had the opportunity to one day live the life of a famous author, who would it be? Andie: It would be myself, as it is my goal to become a famous author. Geri: Many authors feel a sense of self-satisfaction after publishing a book, some feel a sense of achievement, can you relate to such feelings? Andie: I can understand how they feel, but for me, it's not an achievement until I reach my goal! Geri: How do you balance your current occupation with your goals for writing? Andie: I'm a full-time writer, and sometimes supplement my income by freelancing with online magazines. Geri: How did you feel at your first book-signing? Andie: I was a bit dazed, but I managed to sell a copy of the book when other authors on the panel sold nothing, and I made valuable contacts. When it was over, I was able to breathe a sigh of relief, and I felt good about myself. Geri: If you won the lottery tomorrow, what would change? Andie: The only thing I'd change is launching a full-blown media blitz to bring attention to my work. Geri: As writers, we begin with a manuscript, and end with promotions, what was your most difficult task? Andie: For me, the hardest part is getting those established in the literary realm to give me a chance, that's the biggest hurdle that I've yet to conquer! Geri: Some writer's need to listen to music, look at the ocean, or flowers when writing. Do you have a particular scenery? Andie: Based on the type of things that I write, it's better for me to write at night, while the rest of the house is sleeping. Geri: If you were to write in a different genre, what would it be? Andie: "Daddy's Little Girl" is about the first black president who was the savior that the country needed, but also held some very dark secrets, and if discovered would not only ruin his career, but possibly land him in prison. It's a straight up literary book! Geri: Thank you very much for your time with today's Interview. It was very enjoyable! Andie: Your welcome!

**INTERVIEW with Author STEPHEN ROSS MEIER**

Author Of: KATKA Subtitle: a novella Genre: Fiction I Welcome to today's Interview, Author Stephen Ross Meier. It is an honor, and with great pleasure to present your work to readers, and fellow Authors. http://www.stephenrossmeier.com/ http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewProfile&friendID=425299171 http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1127140550&ref=profile INTERVIEW Geri: When did you first realize that you wanted to be a writer? Stephen: When I was a little kid, and used to listen to my father tell my brother, and I, bedtime stories. I fell in love with storytelling. Then, over the years, the desire grew more-and-more as I read everything I could get my hands on, including many of the Harvard Classics. Geri: What type of books do you enjoy writing? Stephen: Fiction, books that have very witty, and edgy dialogue, and deep and everlasting characters. Geri: Did a special person in your life inspire you to become a writer? Stephen: My father! Geri: Have you written any books based on a true life story? Stephen: Some events in "KATKA" are based on true life experiences, and much of my first novel, "TEACHING PANDAS TO SWIM" were as well. Geri: Who is your favorite author? Stephen: Tough question! I'm going to have to go with Charles Bukowski. Geri: Are your characters created from people you've known in real life, or are they from the imagination? Stephen: Combination! Geri: How many books have you written? Stephen: Two, KATKA, and TEACHING PANDAS TO SWIM. Also, I have two more that are almost finished. Geri: Where can your books be purchased? Stephen: http://www.amazon.com/ http://www.stephenrossmeier/ Geri: Describe how you felt the first time you were published. Stephen: Like a kid on Christmas! To see my book in print, and know that it was out there for the world, was amazing, truly amazing! Geri: Do you have any current work in progress for a new release? Stephen: Yes! "TEACHING PANDAS TO SWIM." Geri: What are some links to your websites? Stephen: http://www.stephenrossmeier.com/ Geri: Do you have goals set for the future in your journey of writing? Stephen: Yes, I would really like to see "KATKA" turned into a movie. Plus, I would love to be able to continue writing, and publishing books. Geri: At this point and time in your life, are you exactly where you want to be in your writing endeavors? Stephen: No, I'm about ten years behind, but I'm a lot wiser now and everything happens for a reason, right? Geri: What are some factors that can help authors reach their dream of accomplishment? Stephen: Patience, determination, resilience and stamina, humility and hope! Plus, you have to believe in yourself, and your writing. It doesn't hurt to have friends and family in your corner to support you! Geri: Have you ever experienced writer's block? Stephen: Of course, but now what I do is turn up the iPod, and start writing the lyrics to songs I love! Geri: What advice can you give to other authors to prevent writer's block? Stephen: Remember that it happens to everyone, and to just keep writing! Don't worry if you think it sucks, or not! Don't worry if you think it's original, or not! Geri: As a child, did you have favorite books? Stephen: Aesop's Fables, The choose your own adventure books, Lion, With and the Wardrobe. Geri: As a child, did you enjoy reading? Stephen: Yes, I did very much! Geri: If you had the opportunity to one day live the life of a famous author, who would it be? Stephen: Wow! What a question, that's so tough! How about Doestoevsky, or Milan Kundera! Wait! Do Poets count? Jose Marti had a pretty amazing life. Geri: Many authors feel a sense of self-satisfaction after publishing a book. Some feel a sense of achievement, can you relate to such feelings? Stephen: One-hundred percent! I don't think people have a clue how hard it is to write a story, and then put it out there for the world to see! Geri: How do you balance your current occupation with your writing? Stephen: I worked my butt off for six years, and sold my soul to the devil to make money, and finally sold my company so that I could write full-time. Geri: How did you feel at your first book-signing? Stephen: At a loss for words, it was a dream come true, truly! Geri: If you won the lottery tomorrow, would anything change? Stephen: No, it would just make things easier! Geri: As writers, we begin with a manuscript, and end with promotions. What was your most difficult task? Stephen: Promoting, and selling the book is the hardest, it's all business. There is a bit of creativity, but really a full-time job, and you have to be determined! Geri: Some writer's need to listen to music, look at the ocean, or flowers while writing. Do you have a particular scenery? Stephen: Music! That's why I think the iPod is the greatest invention. It allows me to choose songs that inspire me to write the scenes I need to write. Geri: If you were to write a book in a different genre, what would it be? Stephen: Someone else just asked me this, and I really don't know. Perhaps, I've thought of writing a horror screenplay, but we'll see, let's get some other fiction books out! Geri: Thank you very much for your time. This Interview was very enjoyable indeed! Stephen: Your welcome!

INTERVIEW with Author TIM KELLIS

It is an honor, and with great pleasure to bring to today's Interview Author Tim Kellis. Author of: "Equality" Subtitle: The Quest For The Happy Marriage www.myspace.com/timkellis www.HappyRelationships.com www.youtube.com/user/happyrelationships www.new.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1359207598&v=info&viewas=135920 7598 AUTHOR INTERVIEW Geri: When did you first realize that you wanted to be a writer? Tim: That is really a funny question, because I never really thought about being a writer, until inspiration led me to writing "Equality: The Quest for the Happy Marriage." My undergraduate degree is engineering, and I wasn't much of a writer as a kid. But, as an adult I became a voracious reader of non-fiction books, with hundreds of books under my belt, even before taking up the research on Equality. But, after I got my MBA, I became a semiconductor analyst on Wall Street, which requires an intense focus on writing. On Wall Street, analysts live by the creed "Publish or Perish." I began my career by publishing a three-hundred page initation report on the communications semiconductor industry. So, when inspiration led me to writing, I had already become a writer in training. I never really knew I wanted to become a writer until after the fact, another case of realizing your life's destiny after it had already been handed to you. Geri: What type of books do you enjoy writing? Tim: I really enjoy non-fiction work. As I like to say another person's reality is my fiction. Reading non-fiction allows me to get into the life lived by others. Geri: Did a special person in your life inspire you to write? Tim: I would have to say working as a Wall Street analyst inspired me to become a writer. My first boss, Richard Davis really gave me the freedom to explore putting my thoughts into words, along with the other Director's of Research, I worked for during my ten year career. Geri: Have you written any books based on a true life story? Tim: The reality is the book I have written is partially based on my life. There is even an autobiography in the middle of the book. The book includes the life of others as well, such as Martin Luther King, and Adolf Hitler. Geri: Who is your favorite author? Tim: I would have to answer that my favorite author is not really an author per se, but a psychologist, Dr. carl Jung. I could not have written a complete answer to the marriage problem without the discoveries made by him. Geri: Are your characters created from people you've known in real life, or are they from the imagination? Tim: Of course, people mentioned in my book are real life characters. Geri: How many books have you written? Tim: Just the one right now, although I have two others in my head, which I will write as soon as I can. But, I published my initiation report on the communications semiconductor industry a total of three times. Geri: Where can your book be purchased? Tim: https://www.happyrelationships.com/buy.aspx http:www.amazon.com/Equality-Quest-Marriage-Tim- Kellis/dp/0979984807/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s= books&qid=1234194248&sr=8-1 I am in the process of getting the book on Barnes&Noble, and getting a major distributor to carry the book. Geri: Describe how you felt the first time you were published? Tim: There is no describing to see your book bound in its final product. I had to stare at it for a long time, before it really sank in that the project was finished. Geri: Do you have any current work in progress for a new release? Tim: I currently have two other books in my head, but my current focus on promoting the current book doesn't give me the freedom yet to work on others. Geri: What are some links to your websites? Tim: http://www.happyrelationships.com/ is my main page, but I am on many others, such as Facebook, and Myspace. Geri: Do you have goals set for your future in your journey of writing? Tim: I need for others to understand the message of my book, that there is a way you can set up your marriage to succeed. Geri: At this point and time in your life, are you exactly where you want to be in your writing endeavors? Tim: I don't really think writers ever get to the point where they are content with their careers, and I am no different. I feel like I am just beginning. Geri: What are some factors that can help authors reach their dream of accomplishment? Tim: Focus, focus, focus! I spent ten months researching, reading over a hundred books, which equates to two and a half books a week. I then spent nine months writing the book. The point is I focused my entire life on this project. Geri: Have you ever experienced writer's block? Tim: No, I never really experienced writer's block. I think that because the amount of research I did, I had the whole story in my head, and it was just a matter of sitting down in front of a computer, and writing. Geri: What advice can you give to authors to prevent writer's block? Tim: I would have to say, make sure you have done sufficient research. Geri: As a child, did you have any favorite books? Tim: Again, funny thing about my career as a writer was that I really didn't like to read all that much as a kid. I remember getting my readers certificates by reading comic books. Geri: As a child, did you enjoy reading? Tim: Not until I became an adult. Geri: If you had the opportunity to one day live the life of a famous author, who would it be? Tim: Dr. Carl Jung, who spent his career doing research. Geri: Many authors feel a sense of self-satisfaction after publishing a book. Some feel a sense of achievement, can you relate to such feelings? Tim: I most certainly can, but it will not be complete until others share in my message. Geri: How do you balance your current occupation with your goals for writing? Tim: I do nothing right now, except focus on promoting my book. I will get around to writing again when the time is right. Geri: How did you feel at your first book-signing? Tim: I love signing my book. I feel like I can connect personally with the reader. Geri: If you won the lottery tomorrow, would that change your plans for your writing career? Tim: Are you kidding me, not one bit. I don't do this for money. Geri: As a writer, we begin with a manuscript, and end with promotions, what was your most difficult task? Tim: Promoting, getting others to understand the value of my message, so that they would be interested in pursuing to read my book. Geri: Some writer's need to listen to soft music while writing, some need to hear the ocean, or look at flowers, Do you have any particular scenery? Tim: I enjoy the peace, and quiet when I work. Geri: If you were to write a book in a different genre, what would it be? Tim: I would write more spiritual books. Geri: It was very enjoyable to interview you. I was amazed by the fact that we have so much in common in the world of writing. Best of luck to you in your writing endeavors! Tim: Thank you very much!

INTERVIEW #2 With Author JEFFREY B. ALLEN

It is an honor to Welcome, and bring back to Geri's Interviews Author Jeffrey B. Allen! Author of: GONEAWAY INTO THE LAND Genre: Fantasy *****REVIEW A Great Adventure With Unforgettable Consequences! As Cleverly Entertaining As "PAY IT FORWARD" www.mypace.com/jeffreyballen http://www.jeffreyballen.com/ INTERVIEW Geri: Is writing a passion, a stress-reliever, or both? Jeffrey: Writing, writing, writing! Yes, it is a passion! Some who know me well say it is a form of pscho theraphy. The reason I write cannot be too much different from why authors in general write. Although I've not yet reached that point when writing, the thing I love to do most in life, becomes my primary source of income. What happens then? Will it remain a passion? Will it lift me out of bed at three in the morning? Will it consume me? I definitely want to find out! Geri: Do you write everyday? Jeffrey: Absolutely! Toddlers write everyday, and sometimes I think they are way ahead of me. I don't mean that to be sarcastic. What I mean to say is that a writer writes all the time, even when he, or she is not writing. Those who say they are not writers, also write. One of the most important things in life is to be able to be a writer when called upon to write. I think good writing is not stressed enough in High School, and College. I will give an example. I sold my architectural design company a few years ago. That sounds like a big deal, but it wasn't. It was time for me to move on. I owned the company for twenty- eight years. Life speaks to you from around the corner sometimes. At any rate, the person who bought my company is a graduate of Lehigh University, one of the top universities in the country. The other day I received a copy of a promotional letter he wrote, and mailed out to a thousand, or more customers. It was poorly written, incorrectly constructed, and I'm sure not proofed. In fact, the spaces between the lines told a story of a poorly managed company. It was such a departure from the letters those people were accustomed to getting that several recipients called me on the phone to tell me about it. The letter did more to harm his business, than if he had written to the same people, and told them to never buy anything from him again. In business, good writing can be almost as important as clean fingernails. In life, good writing can be a catapult. Yes, I write everyday! No, not everything I write is good! But, everyday, I am striving to write better. Geri: How many book-signings have you been to? Jeffrey: One, just one! I do not believe that book-signings are the best use of my time. "GoneAway" is doing better-and-better all the time, but it's far from a household word. My marketing efforts have to be to the largest audience that I can find, which does exist on the internet. When I've generated enough fervor over my work that I am invited to do book-signings, then I will gladly do them. Geri: How do you promote your book? Jeffrey: I have developed what I call the soft promotion, and the hard promotion. What I mean is that the soft promotion is getting the book on as many blogs, websites, and social networking sites as possible. I try my best to answer every lead with a solid response. It is a daunting task. The hard promotion is physically getting the book into libraries, schools and independent bookstores, and maybe even the box stores. But, I want them to come to me, so I have left that one alone. I have been successful in getting into the libraries, and several school districts have accepted "GoneAway" into their libraries. One is putting the novel onto the suggested reading list, and has committed to having me come in as a guest speaker. Last, but not least, I am working on the preliminary plans with a publicist. I only decided to that when I knew the book was good enough to be a best seller. I am now convinced that, given the proper exposure, "GoneAway" has something to offer a wide range of readers from sixteen years of age to adult. For that reason, I am going to go for it. Only the dreamer's dreams come true! Geri: Have you written books in different genres? Jeffrey: My books will always deal with the spaces that I believe exist between life, and death. There is a seamless transition that takes place when our blood stops flowing, and our breath goes away. There is an infinite place we go that knows neither time, nor universal periods of light and dark, or hot and cold. It is a place where journeys of self-exploration, reconciliation, and examination lead us to a place that can only be uniquely yours. My books will always be filled with adventure, and marvelous, wonderous places. I will strive to make my characters come alive. I still have vivid memories of characters I knew from books that I read years ago. It is as if I knew them personally, yet they only existed on the written page. Not true! Once they leave the page, and go into our minds, they are as real as any other memory. I love to blur reality, and slowly take the reader to a place unexpected. I love peeling away layers of a story, and then having multiple plots come together in the end. I would like "GoneAway" to be in a genre called philosophical fantasy, but the word fantasy is deceiving. Philosophical fiction may be better, but also does not tell the story. I know the booksellers need genre titles in order to categorize their books, but it all seems a bit stifing! Geri: Do you plan on writing a book every year? Jeffrey: No! It took me three and a half years to wite GoneAway, and that was writing no less than four hours everyday. Writing is also researching, editing, and revising. I would like to be faster, but my stories are complicated for a reason, and they need to be well constructed, or the reader will become confused. Confused readers do not last long! I enjoy intrique, and I enjoy being confused when I know I am supposed to be confused by intent. But, if I am confused because the author misrepresented something, or went on a tangent where I see no correlation, I will throw the book on the yard-sale pile. The story is finished when it is finished. My new book, Quarry Waters, is moving along nicely, but I have reached that place in the story where I need to spend at least a month writing biographies of my characters. I need to do a time line so that I know where they all are, and when. Also, I need to do research on some of the subject matter. Thank goodness for Google! Geri: What has inspired you the most to write? Jeffrey: I am a tormented person when it comes right down to it. I am fifty-five years old. A lot has happened to me in those years. Some of it haunts me, some were fantastic. None of it has been boring. I was blessed with a vivid imagination that slants toward the surreal. I have always dreamed up stories. I read to my children when they were young, but mostly I told them stories that I made up. We called them chapter stories, because every night I would tell another chapter. I was glad to have the twenty- four hours to think up the next chapter, and the appropriate cliff hanger. I was inspired to write by my children. I was encouraged to write by my wife, and I was motivated to write by my trials and tribulations, and the torrent of voices that keep me awake at night. It is not as bad as it sounds. I think I am lucky to have found writing, or I am lucky that writing found me. As human beings, we are tormented by the awareness of our own mortality. It's too bad really, because we tend to judge our lives decade-by-decade for what we have, or haven't accomplished. That leads us to seek answers. In the seeking, we fall into what we hope is a tolerable comfort zone, be it political or religious. That rush to live our lives to the fullest causes some to do foolish things, others to do dreadful things, and still others to wish with regret that they had done some things. That is why I like to write about the place where we come to stand before ourselves, where without regard for the passing of time, we embark on our journey. It is also strange to think that we may be on that journey right now. Who's to say? What is my journey is my alone, and one I cannot lend. Geri: What factors place you in the comfort zone while writing? Jeffrey: I like to write late at night, while the house is quiet. The sounds that filter in from the outside during the day are silent. I also like to write when I am experiencing emotion. Be is anger, or sadness, or exhilaration, it's a good writing time for me. Geri: Have you written a series, and or a sequel for one title? Jeffrey: I have the story for the sequel GoneAway, and maybe one-hundred pages roughed out. But, I need to see how GoneAway Into The Land does, before I write the sequel. Geri: After having one book published, do you find it easier to write? Jeffrey: Yes! I spent much of my time laboring over fundamentals with GoneAway. You know, sentence structure, adverbs, dialog and those kinds of things. I found one piece of advice that I read in Steven King's book on writing very helpful. He suggested putting the finished manuscript, or in my case, portions of it away for an extended period of time. Then, when enough time elapsed, say a few months, take it out and read it straight through. He said, "You will be surprised at how bad parts of it will seem to you." He is absolutely right, I do just that, and my editing is much more efficient, and critical. Geri: It has been a Pleasure to Interview you. I wish you much success in all your writing endeavors! Jeffrey: Thank you Geri for the opportunity to have this Interview. All the best to you, and your readers.