• Da Nang Damned! (Author Interview)

    www.amazon.com/dp/B075PWCVR7/    “Da Nang Damned!’ is the 1st book in your O’Neil - Troutman action-adventure series.  Do you recommend reading the books in order or are they all standalone? No, each book stands on its own, as the main storyline is different in each book. There may be a reference or two to events that occur in “Da Nang Damned!” however, these don’t interrupt the storyline. I actually intended, to only write one book, it was readers’ positive comments after reading “Da Nang Damned!” that persuaded me to turn it into a series. What kind of character is O’Neil? Rick O’Neil is the kind of person we all strive to be. He’s honest, loyal, and although conflicted over events and mistakes he has made is determined to do the right thing. Rick is by nature stoic and someone who keeps his emotions bottled up tight. This is one of his strengths, and a major weakness, as Rick tends to shut out those he loves. In creating the two main characters Rick and Ted, I wanted to have two men who although polar opposites, form a strong bond of friendship. I think the differences between Rick and Ted make for a more interesting story. You pulled a lot from your personal experiences.  Tell us a little about that. Well, I was always told to write about what you know. My experiences in Vietnam and how returning veterans were stereotyped in the media and Hollywood have scarred a lot of veterans. Each Vietnam veteran has been affected differently and I tried to reflect that in my book.  Vietnam serves as a backdrop to the story. The book isn’t so much about the war as the effects of the war on the four main characters. I guess you could say writing “Da Nang Damned!” has been a sort of therapy for me. In 2014, I was diagnosed with prostate cancer. I was told the cancer was caused by Agent Orange. Agent Orange is a toxic chemical that was sprayed from planes over Vietnamese jungles in an effort to kill the vegetation. American servicemen and Vietnamese were exposed to this defoliant. Currently, there are fourteen diseases ranging from cancers to Parkinson’s which are caused by exposure to Agent Orange. I say it took me fifty years to write “Da Nang Damned!” and in a way, that is true. I always wanted to write a novel and it was the idea that even after all those years that Vietnam was still playing havoc with my life that compelled me to write. I also lived in northern New Hampshire, so I’m familiar with the area, the lakes, towns, and mountains. Because New Hampshire and Canada share a common border, and because much of the border is remote and heavily wooded it makes a great backdrop for my stories, opening up a lot of possibilities. The image on the back of the book of the airplane, does it hold any specific meaning? Yes and thanks for asking, the photo is one I took on January 18, 1968, as we were boarding a Navy C-141 at Quonset Point, Rhode Island. It was a cold, blustery, snowy mo... Readmore

  • From Thrown Stones (Author Interview)

    www.amazon.com/dp/1535617179/   Will From Thrown Stones be part of a series or do you plan on writing additional books in the fictional politics realm? It’s a trilogy. Second book is “enemies in the ranks” last book is titled “Kairos moment” How long did it take you to write From Thrown Stones? 18 months What inspired you when writing From Thrown Stones?    True life events, my life took a turn and I resorted to my natural ability – writing. From the moment I accepted writing over everything else, everything else changed for the better Why did you decide to become a writer? I have enjoyed writing since I was a small child. I always wrote science fiction but the autobiography was my first move in the arena How did you come up with the story and ideas in From Thrown Stones? I just told the truth, the format was the creative part. I had to tell the story from the past as well as the present Did anything stick out as particularly challenging when writing From Thrown Stones? Remembering how everything played out and piecing it back together What do you like to do when not writing? I’m a chef and musician Where can readers find out more about your work? Miiq.org Readmore

  • Empowered (Author Interview)

    https://andreacampbell.co.uk    Empowered looks like a great book on wisdom and inspirational quotes.  Any plans to release similar books or make it part of a series?   Thank you.  Empowered is the first book in a series.  I would really like to make it into a series of inspirational books but that depends on my inspiration over the next few months and beyond.  The book contains 120 quotes and I already written 60 more since then so it looks positive for next year. How did you come up with the ideas and quotes in Empowered?   The quotes originated from my interactions with people, my observations of the world and personal experiences. I feel that they came "through" me and not "from" me, that I am simply a medium through which these messages are relayed.   In the last few years I have felt compelled to write inspirational blogs and quotes. I did not plan to write a book but the quotes became so many, and I received such good feedback that I decided to compile them into a book. "Empowered" stimulates creative thinking and encourages energetic debate.  It presents life truths in thought-provoking ways and enables readers to use the quotes as a starting point for self-exploration and introspection and soul-searching. The book is a platform that revitalises the mind and presents an alternative means of making sense of the world. The nomenclature: Empowered denotes a sense of courage, self-belief, energy, resolve, in my view.  I want those who choose this book to feel all of those sentiments and to enjoy and share the quotes with others. What will readers get out of your book? Modern life throws up a range of challenges to people.  The ability to appreciate and use the power of words to explore issues and find solutions is beneficial to all. The book presents a creative way to examine issues and boosts understanding in a fun and novel way.  This is not a book to read and put away; it is meant to be shared one quote at a time and will help readers make sense of the many challenges and situations we experience in our daily lives. In the book I demonstrated, using a few quotes, how they may be applied, but for the most part the quotes are presented without explanations as to what they could mean because I did not want to influence the thought processes readers. I anticipate that those who embark on this journey will enjoy it, gain insight, apply the quotes to life, and gain wisdom for their decision-making and life choices. Readers will find that Empowered is different from other books in its genre. It can be used by individuals as well as groups - from the boardroom to the classroom; the family room to the place of worship. The inspirational utterings can be used as a starting point for discussion, exploration, critical thinking, creative thinking, problem solving, analysis and ultimately self actualisation.  It is relatable t... Readmore

  • Added Sugars the Slow Poison (Author Interview)

    https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07WFPZ7XR/   Added Sugars the Slow Poison looks like a great educational book.  Any plans to write additional themed books?  Yes! added sugars the slow poison is a simple, short, informative book. This book puts a lot of emphasis on how different types of sugars are cleverly added   in every processed food item we consume. These added sugars are hidden in various food items like: soft drinks, energy drinks, breakfast cereals, Baby foods, energy bars, ketchups. Excessive intake of such Added sugars are causing Major health disorders like obesity, Insulin resistance, Type-2 diabetes, Non-alcoholic fatty liver, cardiovascular diseases. I am also planning to publish an e -book on weight loss, 20 Scientifically Proven Ways to lose weight. How did you come up with the ideas in Added Sugars the Slow Poison?  Initially  I wrote  just a simple article ,but as I  proceeded  to an in-depth research on Added sugars, I felt it  was  High time & absolutely necessary  to spread awareness about how different types of sugars are silently added  in almost every processed food item that  we consume on  daily basis .I felt a  strong sense of  social responsibility to spread awareness, so that these refined sugars/ added sugars do not corrupt or damage the health of our children and future generations.             what will readers get out of your book? This book is a simple yet insightful guide to gain information about all aspects of ADDED SUGARS AND THEIR DETRIMENTAL EFFECTS TO THE SOCIETY. By reading this book you will get to know: ·       How to shop smartly by eliminating the 60 different names of added sugars used in processed foods from your shopping cart to read a healthy family life. ·       How artificial Sweeteners (Sucralose & Aspartame) added in diabetic diets & diet cokes can cause Neurotoxic effects and cancers after prolonged use. ·       Role of added sugars in tremendous rise of Obesity, Insulin Resistance, Fatty liver, Type-2 diabetes especially in children And many more useful facts which will transform your life in a healthy way. What inspired you when writing Added Sugars, the Slow Poison?       During the process of writing the book Added sugars the slow poison, I happened to listen many videos related to added sugars and their shocking & harmful effects on various parts & major functions of our body. I was very specifically inspired by the videos of 3 doctors. They are: 1.      Sugar the bitter truth – by Dr. Robert Lustig 2.      Sugar toxicity- by Dr. Eric berg   3.  Dr.Aseem Malhotra - Sugar, advocacy or activism?   I wo... Readmore

  • Rise to the Rhythm (Author Interview)

    www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07XVVK79H/ Rise to the Rhythm looks like a great motivational and take-charge kind of book.  What type of readers did you write the book for? I wrote this book hoping it would reach and touch the lives of those who may feel as though they’re stuck in the rhythm of a life that’s going nowhere. Yet, they’re still hanging on to a glimmer of hope. And if this is you know that your, “Hope Has Arrived!” How long did it take you to write Rise to the Rhythm? It took me four and a half years to write this book. It truly has been a labor of love and frustration. Here’s what I mean. Labor of Love: I was, not dying but, living to do a book about how important it is for you to find your life’s rhythm and get connected to living it on the beat. Because you’ll find it to be the glue, you need to reassemble the broken and scattered pieces associated with the disconnect of living a stagnant life in which will get you nowhere. Here’s the thing: This book isn’t necessarily about dance in which one might perceive from the title. It’s about achievement through mental movement and “life in action” choreography designed by me for your mind, body, and soul. Frustration: It was difficult to come up with solutions for problems we all deal with such as  how to handle rejection, finding the motivation to get up & groove, procrastination, and overcoming your fears. My goal was to put a different spin or twist on these common setbacks and or challenges, so they wouldn’t bore or seem to be so cookie-cutter to the reader. What inspired you when writing Rise to the Rhythm? I wrote Rise because I desired to do something different, bold, and a bit daring. Why did you decide to become a writer? I speak about this in the book. Here’s a sneak peek. Rise to The Rhythm-Groove to Improve Get Back on Beat Thinking about his story gave me a lift, despite the minor setback. Especially when I thought I had such a good flow going. Either way, it was time to rise to the rhythm and get back on the beat. Here’s why. What people may not know is that I’d always wanted to be a writer, and I developed interest during the early stages of my career. I’d written materials for the stage, for print, radio commercials, television spots, and other media outlets. However, it was nothing as serious as writing a book. What influenced my decision the most was blogging. I was introduced to it in 2009 by a female friend, and an amazing make -up artist whom I’d worked with frequently. Strangely, in the beginning, when she mentioned “blogging,” I did not understand what she was talking about. Until she explained further. She said it was the same as writing a newspaper article, but this time I’d become the journalist. I could write about any topic I want, yet it has to come from my perspective and or personal experiences. Sh... Readmore

The Barbarian Who Stayed For Tea (Author Interview)



www.amazon.com/dp/B0776FGCD4/  

The Barbarian Who Stayed For Tea looks like an exciting historical fiction story.  Can you tell us a little about it?

Sure. The novel takes place in Taipei in 1895. It follows James Burnaby, a down-on-his-luck, ex-barrow boy from the East End of London who is trying to make a living as a tea trader in the far-off land of Formosa (Taiwan). He is faced with numerous challenges, chief among them navigating the tricky waters of the alien world around him and the well-heeled British trading elite who still view his sudden arrival on the island ten years ago with immense suspicion.

Just as it seems his fortunes are going to take a turn for the better, the new life he has created for himself is thrown into chaos as the Sino-Japanese War lands directly on his doorstep.

The inspiration from this novel came from my great, great, grandfather who was a British merchant trader in Taiwan (Formosa) during the time the story takes place (1895). A few years back, my mother came across some old journals he had written during this time and shared them with me. Holding them in my hands and hearing first hand about his experiences and adventures was exhilarating -  both as a history buff and a writer. I knew there was a story to tell and I couldn’t wait to start researching the period more.


What can you tell us about James Burnaby?

Growing up in London, it wasn’t too difficult for me to get inside the head of James Burnaby, the main protagonist. The times may have changed but the London mentality, especially in the East End hasn’t really changed that much! He is a (mostly) likeable individual who always attempts to make the best of any situation, no matter how often life beats him down. His main strengths are his resilience and his sense of humour which sustains him during even the bleakest of times.  The use of humour as a coping mechanism is something I have often drawn on in my life.


What inspired you when writing The Barbarian Who Stayed For Tea?   

Obviously my great, great grandfather was my biggest inspiration but I was also inspired by the
fact that this was such a little known about and exciting part of history that I felt compelled to write about it. The main theme of the book – namely that people, regardless where they are from, have a tendency to consider anyone different from them “less civilised” due to a very individual and subjective criteria is as true today as it was back then.

Did anything stick out as particularly challenging when writing The Barbarian Who Stayed For Tea?

I spent seven years of my life writing this book. Many hours were spent hunched over desks in libraries and I even spent three months with a tea farmer in the Alishan mountains in order to gain a better local perspective of this period . In the end, I had so much exciting material to complement my great, great grandfather’s journal, it was a real challenge to whittle it down to the most important points.

What do you like to do when not writing?

I like spending time with my two kids – Mia-Alexandra who is 3 years old and my son Caspar who is 7 months old. They can be a handful at times but I love them to bits. Aside from that, I love travelling and trying lots of different cuisine. 

Where can readers find out more about your work?

This is the only book I’ve written so far but I have plenty of ideas for new books. At the moment though, I’m concentrating on getting the word out about my novel as much as possible! I hope to put pen to paper very soon and produce some more novels.



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