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Thursday, October 27, 2011

Welcome Blog Hoppers!

For Friday October 28th!     

                WELCOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hi everybody! ((((((((hugs))))))))))) Su casa, mi casa. Did I say that right? Welcome to my blog! Please make yourself at home and have a seat on my couch. Enjoy some cyber cookies on the table and a hot cup of tea. It's a pleasure to have you visit this weekend on the Halloween blog hop. I'd love to have you join my blog and I will join yours as well.

Be sure to mention your favorite monster movie or book and your Halloween costume this year.

Okay! My favorite monster movie is Night of the Living Dead. And I'm dressing up as a mime for Halloween. I have a black outfit and a mime mask. I love being a mime but it's hard not to talk because I am a blabbermouth!

                        

This is a great opportunity for authors to meet one another and unite. (like the pic above) Thank you for this fantastic idea!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

                                                                                    


So what's your favorite monster movie/book? What's your costume for Halloween? I can't wait to hear your answers! Again, thanks for stopping by!!!!!

Chrissy

"FUN" Interview with Author Sarah Williams


Product Description

Lux Swithin wakes up in a hotel room that she has no memory of falling asleep in. Alone, disorientated and far from home Lux fears the darkness. She fears the man who will inevitably return for her.

Unaware of the dark history that led to her capture, Lux is equally oblivious to the various groups that are desperately trying to track her down. The Luminita have only her best interests at heart and are sworn to protect her but others have a more sinister agenda. As Lux attempts to escape her fate, the Luminita use their own unique skills to try and protect her. But whilst some unsavoury characters are easily dealt with, there is a grotesque evil that seems unstoppable. It stalks Lux with a twisted mind, determined to make her pay for ancient crimes.


Sarah grew up just outside of Warminster in England before moving to Australia in 2008. Sarah now lives in the Illawarra region of New South Wales with her boyfriend and an ever growing collection of plants. Sarah enjoys good food and wine, gardening, reading, music, films, yoga and of course writing.
Sarah enjoys a wide variety of fiction but would count her favourite authors as Dean Koontz and Carol Goodman. Sarah's favourite books are Odd Thomas by Dean Koontz and Arcadia Falls by Carol Goodman


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Hi Sarah. Thanks for stopping by today on the The Purple Brick Road. Please, tell me about your book.
“Captive” is set in modern day England and tells the tale of Lux Swithin, a young woman who has been abducted by an old family enemy.  The relationship between Lux and her captor is complicated but she knows that escape is imperative.  Whilst Lux tries to take control of her fate she is oblivious to the fact that there are other groups actively tracking both her and her abductor.  The Luminita are sworn protectors of the Swithin family and seek to rescue her but at the same time there are more sinister parties that seek Lux for purely greedy purposes.  And there is one, a woman with hideous scars and a broken mind, who stalks Lux with murderous passion.  It soon becomes a race against time to see who will reach Lux first.

If you could have any superpower, what would it be?
Oddly enough this is something I’ve pondered on more than one occasion.  I think I’d like to be telekinetic.  It might instil a certain amount of laziness but it would definitely be useful.
Yeah, I think that too. If I came to your home and looked in your refrigerator, what would I find?
A lot of fruit and vegetables, a ridiculous number of jars, a bottle of white wine, a big jar of sweets, milk, bread and butter.
If you can be a Disney character, who would you be and why?
Oh there are so many to choose from.  I always liked Belle from Beauty and the Beast and really wanted her library.
Oh! I love Belle! You were bitten by a vampire, now what? 
I’d get out of the sun!  Then I think I’d track that vampire down and ask them just exactly what they thought they were doing.
What is Eskimo ice?
I honestly have no idea.
Do you like Tom or Jerry?
Tom.  I always thought Jerry was a bit smug.
What will you do if you have a time machine?
I don’t think I’d use it.  I’d be too scared of somehow changing the future and screwing everything up.
How many licks does it take to get to the middle of a tootsie pop?
I don’t know what a tootsie pop is but I’m going to go with ten. 
The Tootsie Pop is a hard candy lollipop with a Tootsie Roll filling at its center. My kids love them!What is the best thing you have dressed up as for Halloween?
Probably a witch.  I know it sounds boring but I borrowed a vintage dress from my mum and I won best dressed witch.  I got a bottle of wine so it was definitely a result. 
Do you like your handwriting?
No.  It’s awful and continues to get worse.
Do you have a best friend?
Yes.
What are you afraid of?
Fish.  I have a completely irrational fear of fish.  I’ve been known to climb on top of people just to get out of the water if a fish has been spotted in the vicinity.  I’m not someone you want to go swimming with.
Do you have nicknames?
Yes.  I’m known as Stalky, Earmuff (I have a rather stylish pair) and sometimes Stalky Earmuff
What is the wallpaper on your computer?
A photo of me, my boyfriend, my sister and her husband.
What music are you listening to?
Right now I’m listening to Portishead
What is your middle name?
Elizabeth
When is your birthday?
March.  I’m a Pisces
What will you do to celebrate your next birthday?
I’m not sure.  I normally try and talk people into going out for a meal.
What is your favorite holiday?
I like Christmas, though having grown up in England, Christmas in Australia is bizarre.
How many brothers and sisters do you have?
I have one sister.
Where does your family live?
My sister lives in England and my parents flit between France and England.
Where do you live?
I live in Australia.
What are your favorite foods?
I love strawberries, cherries and grapes.  I’ll literally eat them non-stop.  I also love pizza, a good steak, mussels and prawns.
What are some foods you dislike?
I’ll eat pretty much anything but I’ve never been a huge fan of liver. 
Have you ever gone cow-tipping?
No.  Never tipped a cow.
What's your worst pet peeve?
I don’t like it when you’re trying to have a conversation with someone who is constantly tapping away on their mobile phone.
What's your favorite horror movie?
One of the scariest films I’ve ever seen is The Descent and most recently, Insidious.  Both of these films made me scream out loud.
Do you do dance crazy when no one is looking?
Sometimes even when people are looking.  I get my groove on with the hoover. 
Do you like to sing in the shower?
I do like to sing in the shower.  Other people – namely my boyfriend – would probably prefer it if I didn’t.
LOL. At the beach would you rather play in the sand, or play in the water?
Play in the water.  As long as there are no fish.
Do you think people should eat the fish they catch, or just let them go?
Eat them because then there are less to terrorise me.  But if you’re not going to eat it then should let it go.
Do you scream on roller coasters? Do you lift up your hands?
I go foetal on roller coasters.  I hate them.  I’ll scream, weep and cripple the hands of whoever happens to be sat next to me.
Pen or pencil?
Pen.  Pencils need sharpening all the time.  And they break.
Favorite day of the week?
Saturday.
Favorite Sundae topping?
Chocolate.
Do you play a musical instrument?
Sort of.  I play the piano but I can’t read music.  I play by ear.
McDonalds or Burger King and why?
I’d like McDonalds chips and Burger King burgers.  We don’t have Burger King here though.  We have Hungry Jacks. 
 What a "FUN" interview! Thanks, Sarah, for visiting "FUN" Interviews on The Purple Brick Road. It was a pleasure to have you. And a big thank you to everyone who tuned in. 

Connect with Sarah online!


Tuesday, October 25, 2011

"FUN" Interview with Author Debbi Miller Gutierrez


Horse's Horrible Halloween is a 40-page full-color softcover book about Horse and his nearly horrible Halloween is a great gift for that spooky holiday or just for anytime reading fun. Horse's adventures show children that creativity, serendipity, but especially persistence usually results in success and enjoyment.




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BOOK TRAILER: Here is the link - http://youtu.be/21N4fY9MmUQ




Hi Debbi. It's so wonderful to have you here today on The Purple Brick Road. Please tell me about your book.
How about four of them?  Two are available online: You can find “The Pinecone Problem” and “Horse’s Horrible Halloween” at www.printsbymail.com/books.   Both of these are picture books developed from two of my stories that appeared in Highlights for Children.  “The Pinecone Problem” is about Bunny and Squirrel and a pesky pinecone.  “Horse’s Horrible Halloween” is about a little black horse with one white stripe across his nose that can’t find a costume to wear to Duck’s Halloween party.

Two other books are almost ready:  “Why Baby Sister Woke Up From Her Nap” and “Cactus Factory.” The first is a picture book (also originally in Highlights) and the second a chapter book for middle grade readers.

What's your next project?
Once Baby Sister and Cactus Factory are out there, I’m planning to finish “Dandy’s Dragon,” another chapter book. It’s about a little girl who goes on a magical journey with a many-colored, crotchety dragon.

If I came to your home and looked in your refrigerator, what would I find?
Stewed pumpkin for my frequently constipated dachshund, sugar snap peas, avocadoes, and pepper jack cheese for my low-carb diet, and lots and lots of carrots for my 60-lb. greyhound mix.


One thing that blew me away about your book was the gorgeous illustrations. Who is your illustrator?
Gary D. Sutherland did the fabulous watercolor illustrations for my three picture books.  If any of you authors out there need cover art or illustrations, contact him.  I can’t recommend him highly enough.  His Facebook page is www.facebook.com/pages/Gary-D-Sutherland/138793359526492.

What mythical creature would you want to be?
I’d love to be Pegasus!   Not only a horse, but a flying one. What could be better?

What will you do if you have a time machine?
I’d go back and write my dissertation.  I completed all the coursework for a doctorate in Psychology but not the dissertation.  I’ve always wanted to be called Dr. Debbi.

Why am I asking you these questions?
Either because you are an enthusiastic and caring author who likes to help out her fellow writers – or – you’re just nosy!

LOL. If you were a Star Trek® [or Star Wars®] character, which one would it be?
Spock for sure.  He has such a devoted following and I love the ears – and eyebrows.

What is your favorite movie?
It’s a tie between “Raising Arizona” and “Victor/Victoria.”  My favorite play is the Angela Lansbury version of “Sweeney Todd”  Great music and gore.

If Hollywood made a movie about your life, whom would you like to see play the lead role as you?
Me!

If you could take five things to a deserted island, what would you take?
First, a solar panel to get electricity. Then a computer, a satellite dish for Internet access, and my dogs. Wait – I have 3 dogs.  Can I take 6 things?

Sing in the rain or dance in the streets?
Definitely sing in the rain.  I’ve written and performed over 100 songs and have a new album out on CD Baby full of songs about trains.  You can find it at www.cdbaby.com/debbimillergutierrez.  I’d love to dance in the streets too, but I’m not very graceful.

What comes first, Chicken or Egg?
Usually Egg.  I rarely eat Chicken for breakfast.

Do you like your handwriting?
I never handwrite anything anymore.   My handwriting is illegible.  Whenever I sign for something, people tell me I should have been a doctor.  Yes!  Dr. Debbi!

What are you afraid of?
Small spaces, scorpions, and glazed donuts.

I'm afraid of glazed donuts too. Because I could eat the entire box! LOL. What music are you listening to?
The sounds of silence.   If I start listening to music, I have to sing!  And then I can’t focus on my work.

When is your birthday?
The day after Christmas and how awful that is.  You tend to get one “big” present, and by December 26th you are so sick of holiday goodies, birthday cake makes you want to gag. Or – people just forget.

Where do you live?
I live in the Land of Enchantment, otherwise known as New Mexico.  I have an acre about 3 miles outside a very small town. Across the road from me is a big alfalfa field where cows munch happily away and down the road a bit is a canal where muskrats and coyotes hang out. Roadrunners are always zipping into my yard to look for lizards (meep-meep!) and at any given moment a neighbor might trot by on their horsie.   Gorgeous and enormous clear blue skies top it all off!

What are your favorite foods?
Well, it used to be the now-dreaded glazed donut, but now I am cultivating a fondness for flaxseed toast and whipped cream cheese, along with wasabi almonds, pork rinds, and pickled okra—yum-yum.

What are some foods you dislike?
Lima beans – ugh – oatmeal – ew – egg whites – blech – liver – *shudder*

Have you ever gone cow-tipping?
Sure, I tip them 15% if they remember to fill my water glass.

At the beach would you rather play in the sand, or play in the water?
Definitely in the water. Sand gets in your swim suit and that’s no fun.

Pen or pencil?
Keyboard! It never runs out of ink, and it never needs sharpening.

You are so funny, Debbi! Favorite day of the week?
Payday J

Witty answer! Do you play a musical instrument?
A beautiful acoustic-electric Yamaha 6-string with an orange-yellow sunburst pattern.

Movies or TV?
Both!  I have Netflix, Hulu, and Tivo so I’m never at a loss for entertainment.  I prefer reading to both those and regularly devour as many books as I can.  Right now I am on an autobiography kick.  I just finished reading about Eric Clapton, George Takei, Pat Benetar, Leonard Nimoy, and am now delving into Agatha Christie’s life.

Do you like to sing in the shower?
I like to sing everywhere—in the shower, in the grocery store, when I’m throwing a Frisbee for my greyhound mix, in bed, and especially in front of crowds of adoring fans!  (okay, still working on the last one).

What a "FUN" interview! Thanks, Debbi for visiting "FUN" Interviews on The Purple Brick Road. It was a pleasure to have you. And a big thank you to everyone who tuned in. 

Connect with Debbi online! www.printsbymail.com/books  

Monday, October 24, 2011

"FUN" Interview With Author Valerie Sztrausberg



Let's learn about the "FUN" side of Valerie Sztrausberg. She is the wonderful author of How to be like Kate Middleton. 

Product Description

Have you ever wished you could be like Kate Middleton: A style icon, an incarnation of health and beauty, a woman beaming with confidence?

Now you can!

This book will empower you to emulate Kate Middleton's success. Packed with practical and down to earth tips, you will get all the tools you need to replicate her style and look, while adapting it to the real you. Discover the ultimate style formulae to looking like Kate Middleton and getting it right every time. You will be able to follow these step-by-step guidelines easily and effortlessly. Follow Kate's beauty regime at a fraction of the cost. You will also discover the essence of Kate Middleton's personality. With this knowledge you'll find new ways to incorporate Kate's fighting spirit and positive outlook into your own life.

We cannot guarantee that you'll marry a prince after reading this book. However, it will help you to turn your own fairy tale into a reality.



1-      Hi Valerie. It's so wonderful to have you here today on The Purple Brick Road. Please tell me about your book.

I’ve always been interested in topical subject matters.  What could be more topical these days than Kate Middleton?  I have no specific interest in the Royal family but I was fascinated by how and why two women (Diana Spencer and Kate Middleton) generated such love and frantic interest around them. I realised that nothing moves people more than someone who achieves the impossible despite the odds being stacked against them. With Diana, her young age when she married Charles and the way she was treated in her relationship made her the classical figure of the ‘lady in distress’.  But what about Kate Middleton?  Her story is  different. She is quite literally a modern day Cinderella. She is what the Royals would call a commoner and even replicated the fairy tale by seducing her prince on a charity cat-walk at university.  That’s what got me interested in who she was, how she dressed, how she got her glorious look and what made her loved by everyone. I figured out that if others could tap into all of these qualities, then there are no limits to what they can achieve.  Being a practical person, I wanted people to feel empowered by providing them with practical techniques that would enable them to replicate in their own life the ‘Kate Middleton X factor’.  This is the idea behind my book: “How To Be Like Kate Middleton”.

2-      Kate Middleton is a fashion icon whose style is admired by me and women around the globe. She's beautiful, intelligent and loved worldwide. What a fantastic idea! So what’s your next project?

I’ve got two going at the moment. The first one is about finding love again after a break-up.  The second one is entitled “69 Erotic Recipes”.  This short book takes the top ten aphrodisiac foods and explores each of them from the point of view of their history, how they came to be viewed as aphrodisiacs, and the scientific facts behind the myth (not forgetting the recipes of course!).  It’s amazing what you can find out!  Did you know that there is a type of chilli pepper which is the exact replica of a male penis?  

3-      If you could have any superpower, what would it be?

No hesitation there! I’d like to be like Samantha in the American series Bewitched. Just twitch your nose and magic happens.  I’d even have to confess that I tried a few times in the hope that my house would tidy itself up.  It never worked. Not once!

4-      LOL. I'd love to have that power too. If I came to your home and looked in your refrigerator, what would I find?

Chilli peppers, of course! No, just kidding.  I suppose, being French, a lot of salads, greens and a big assortment of cheeses.

5-      What will you do if you have a time machine?

Mostly, I would keep rewinding it to my best holiday destinations.  I suppose, now and again, I could have a sneak preview into the future.  But what if you could identify the key factors in wars and natural disasters and change the course of events?  That’s food for thought… The question is: Would this be wise?

6-      Do you like Tom or Jerry?

The correct answer should be Jerry but I actually live in a Tom and Jerry cartoon.  I have two beautiful cats who are very good at bringing live mice into the house.  I have become an expert at catching mice in a glass jar to rescue them.  We usually end up the three of us (me and the two cats) guarding the poor thing hideout with the intention of catching it.  If I win, the mouse is saved.  But if the cats win, well… That’s a different story!

7-      What is the best vacation you have had?

My best holiday destination is Venice in Italy.  The first time I went, I thought it wouldn’t really be like what you see in pictures, but it was EXACTLY like that! It’s like being transported in the sixteenth century on a gondola.  There’s no cars. The only way to get about are walking or boats on the canals.  It’s amazing what it does to your spirit.  After a few days, you can’t stand the thought of getting back to the noise of traffic.

8-      What’s your favourite horror movie?

I love Chinese and Japanese horror movies.  The most frightening scene I’ve ever seen was in a Japanese movie (I can’t remember what it’s called) A girl is standing in front of a mirrored wall for ages, trying to tie a necklace round her neck.  When she drops the necklace and bends down to pick it up, her reflection in the mirror stays standing up with a sinister look on her face.  The most chilling thing I’ve ever seen!

 That does sound very spooky. I have goosebumps thinking about it. Boy, was that a "FUN" interview. Thanks, Valerie for visiting "FUN" Interviews on The Purple Brick Road. It was a pleasure to have you. And a big thank you to everyone who tuned in. 

You can buy How to be like Kate Middleton at this link -

http://www.amazon.com/How-like-Kate-Middleton-ebook/dp/B005U21MTG/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1319467314&sr=1-1

Valerie Sztrausberg , Nicolas Trankalis