In Terrence Aym’s book, Mysteries of the Multiverse: 25 True Stories from Time and Space, Aym tells tales of true or well-supported theories of sciences that will scare the living daylights out of you, and amaze you at the same time.

In this book, Aym’s gives countless instances that could prove that time travel is possible.  Maybe it;s not technology we have in use right now, but it could be plausible that it has been invented by alien beings and used before our very eyes.  I have to admit, I was skeptical about the whole time travel/space warp theory, but after reading these documented finds, it made me think.  Heck, this may be true.

The author talks about a machined bolt that was found in coal.  As you may know, coal takes millions of years to make. How would a machined bolt, made of aluminum or steel, appear in the center of a piece of coal that takes millions of years to create?  It was found and documented by notable and reliable sources.  There is no real explanation, but it could prove time travel is possible.  Beings from a future time could have traveled back to the beginnings of the Earth and actually lost a screw while visiting that time.  Left behind, it was molded inside a piece of coal and rediscovered millions of years later.

That was just one instance out of many that was mentioned, and when you hear these documented instances, it’s  hard not to consider time travel because it’s the only thing that makes sense.

In addition to time travel, Aym talks about ghost ships, the Bermuda Triangle, possible dinosaurs that still exist, skies that occasionally rain body parts, 60 to 70 foot snakes, 5 foot wide spiders, and other incredible things that boggle the imagination.  Could some dinosaurs really still exist?

He also talks about a giant human being that stood between 8 to 10 feet tall, with red hair and pale skin.  These beings used to be a threat to Native Americans, and they would often tell tales of battles with these mongrel human beings.  In fact, rival Native American tribes ganged up to try to expunge these creatures from the Earth to protect their very existence.

Back in the day, they chased these beings into a cave found in Nevada.  The Native Americans were so upset these beings cowered in the caves that they filled the entrance with brush and set the cave on fire. Their hope was to smoke out the foes and destroy them.  The ones that emerged were killed and the ones that remained behind were killed by smoke inhalation. The cave would later crumble and provide shelter for bats.

Centuries later, the cave was excavated for its guano, which is an ingredient used in gun powder.  In doing so, they found the skeletons of these giants, proving they did exist.  Do they still exist somewhere, in a distant, uninhabited part of the United States?

This book was filled with documented facts of incredible tales.  Things I didn’t know existed may very well have, and some of it happened right here in the USA. I was intrigued from the moment I picked up the book until the very last page; I just couldn’t put it down.  Some of the tales horrified me, yet some of it intrigued me. Paranormal and science fiction buffs everywhere will find something of interest in this book.

I not only learned a lot, but it made me open my eyes to new possibilities and proved that if these accounts are true, I will never think anything is impossible again.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone who is fascinated with the unknown and for those people who need to see facts in order to believe.  It’s not a “story” book, but rather a well-documented list of accounts from various sources and eye witnesses that support a strange occurrence. The author of the book doesn’t state that these accounts are true, instead he leaves the burden of proof in the evidence to allow readers to make their own choice.

 I guarantee that this book will fully capture your interest and intrigue every inch of your mind.  You will be pleasantly surprised with how well documented each story is, a great effort by the author.

Interviewed and Written by Jonathan LaMella

Marissa   Meyer lives in Tacoma, Washington, with her husband and three cats. She’s a   fan of most things geeky (Sailor Moon, Firefly, color-coordinating her   bookshelf…), and has been in love with fairy tales since she was a kid. She   holds a BA in Creative Writing from Pacific Lutheran University and an MS in   Publishing from Pace University. She may or may not be a cyborg. Cinder is   her first novel.

Hi Marissa, tell us about your novel Cinder. What’s the story about?

Cinder is a sci-fi re-envisioning of the classic Cinderella story set in far-future Asia. It tells the story of Cinder, a 16-year-old girl who’s part-human and part-machine. Though being cyborg has made her a target of prejudice and suspicion, it’s also given her an amazing skill with mechanics and machines. This reputation of being such a great mechanic brings her country’s prince to her market booth one day needing her to fix a broken android, and soon Cinder finds herself caught in a political battle of wills between Earth and the cruel Lunar queen who wants to rule it.

How did you get started as a novelist?

I’ve always been an avid reader and I’ve wanted to be a writer since I first learned that such a job existed. I wrote Sailor Moon fanfiction for many, many years, which is largely how I learned about craft, technique, and voice. I started a handful of ultimately-abandoned novels during those years too, but it wasn’t until I had the idea for Cinder that I felt truly compelled to finish the novel and seek publication.

Why did you write Cinder?

For the same reason I write anything—I love sharing stories with other people and Cinder and The Lunar Chronicles felt like a great tale that hadn’t been told yet (despite being based on fairy tales). My life has been influenced by dozens of amazing authors over the years. Books have brought me happiness and sadness and everything in between, and it’s an honor to think my books could have the same effect on other readers.

What do you want readers to get or learn from reading Cinder?

I’m not a writer who typically goes into a story with ulterior motives about “education” or “morals.” Although I’ve had readers tell me that Cinder is an empowering heroine, and I think that’s fantastic, my ultimate hope is that the book will thrill and entertain readers for as long as they’re in the story. I want them to enjoy spending time in my futuristic world, as much as I’ve enjoyed writing it.

How did you get ideas for the main characters?

The idea for Cinderella as a cyborg came to me as I was drifting off to sleep and her character formed in my imagination pretty quickly. I saw her as having a prosthetic hand and leg and awesome mechanic skills. I saw her as being a bit of a tomboy, never afraid to get grimy or dirty, and being brave enough to stand up for herself in a world that sees her as a second-class citizen. Although her skills have developed (and gotten much cooler) over multiple drafts, the heart of her character didn’t change much.

The same can’t be said for other main characters, including Prince Kai and Cinder’s step-family, who have all seen multiple incarnations over the course of writing the book. I don’t do character worksheets, and I don’t base characters on people that I know. I tend to just start writing them and letting the characters dictate who they want to be by their own dialogue and actions. Sometimes it works out really well, and sometimes it takes a few drafts for them to mature into people who seem real and complex.

Growing up, did you have an interest in scifi or cyborgs? Was there any research required for putting that technology in fiction form? If so, how did you translate that research into Cinder?

Although I was a big fan of Star Wars growing up, in general I was always more of a fantasy girl than a sci-fi girl. So yes, I had to do a lot of research on technology, which included everything from reading books on physics and scientific journals, to perusing Star Wars encyclopedias to see how George Lucas did it, to watching sci-fi movies. I researched until I had a basic idea of how everything worked myself, even though only small elements of that research made it into the book. I didn’t want to pummel the reader with tech-lingo and jargon, so I carefully tried to insert only enough research to make the world-building feel realistic and plausible.

What do you look for in a book?

A good story and likeable characters. I want a hero and heroine worth rooting for, and I want lots of dilemmas and problems for them to struggle against before the big resolution. That’s how characters change and grow. Nothing annoys me more than a book in which every problem is met with a simple, no-brainer solution.

What inspires you as an Author? Where do you go to find inspiration?

Inspiration can come from anywhere—a song, a good book (or even a bad one), a newspaper headline, a photograph, a dream. I spend a lot of time in my head, daydreaming, and a ton of story ideas or plot twists have grown out of that alone.

What advice do you have for beginning writers?

Read and write, read and write. Reading keeps you inspired and feeds your imagination and teaches you what you like and don’t like in other works. Writing is the only way to develop your voice and learn about the craft and discover your own writing strengths and weaknesses.

As a writer, who are your main influences?

I’ve been particularly inspired by the great fairy-tale retellers, such as Gail Carson Levine and Gregory Maguire, as well as some of my personal favorite YA writers, such as Scott Westerfeld, John Green, and Kristin Cashore.

What is the best part about being an author?

There are plenty of job perks (working in my pajamas, getting free books in the name of blurb requests, etc.), but by and large the best part is the simple act of writing. I get to do what I love every day.

And the worst?

All that yucky businessy stuff, like bookkeeping and taxes.

What books have you recently read and loved?

Recent favorites include Legend by Marie Lu, Fracture by Megan Miranda, and Shatter Me by Tahareh Mafi.

In your opinion, what will people enjoy most about Cinder?

I feel that one of Cinder’s greatest strengths as a book in today’s market is that there really is a little something for everyone. There’s a little bit of sci-fi, a little bit of fantasy, a little bit of romance and comedy, plenty of adventure and drama and intrigue, a strong heroine, a charming hero, a quirky android friend… on and on. I hope readers will find many different things to be drawn to!

What can your readers expect next from you? What do you have planned for the future?

Cinder is the first of a four-book series, so I’m currently working on the next books: Scarlet (Little Red Riding Hood), Cress (Rapunzel), and Winter (Snow White). The series will continue Cinder’s story as her path crosses with these other fairy-tale inspired heroines and they join forces against the evil queen.

After The Lunar Chronicles is over—who knows! I have many ideas in my head and I look forward to exploring new worlds and stories.

Are you on Twitter or Facebook? Do you have a website?

Yes,  I’m on Twitter under @marissa_meyer, and readers can Like either my author fanpage or the Lunar Chronicles fanpage: http://www.facebook.com/marissameyerauthor and http://www.facebook.com/lunarchronicles. My web site, http://www.marissameyer.com, is still under construction but will hopefully be up soon.

Tommie Lyn has made her home in the beautiful Florida panhandle for almost 35 years. Her husband of 49 years (and high school sweetheart) retired from the Navy after being transferred there from Okinawa in 1975. Three of her novels and some of her short stories are set in the panhandle.

An avid reader since childhood, she began writing fiction four years ago and writes short stories and novels in a variety of genres: historical, mystery/suspense, supernatural thriller and mainstream fiction. Currently, a showcase of short stories is freely available for readers on her website. Three of her novels are available for purchase from Amazon.com.

Encouraging other writers is important to her. In order to provide that encouragement, she maintains membership in writers’ groups. She’s been a member of the local Panhandle Writers Group for two years and is a member of online writers’ groups as well. 

Hi Tommie, tell us about your novel The Sands of Santa Rosa. What’s the story about?

It’s about Cotton Chastain and his gift of the Second Sight. When an oil spill occurs in the Gulf of Mexico, Cotton has visions about it, which ultimately lead him to save the life of little five-year-old Sara Sands.

How did you get started as a writer?

I learned some things about Scotland’s history that are not common knowledge in the United States. I thought someone should write it as fiction so people would learn about it, since most people won’t pick up a history book but will read entertaining fiction. I tried to get others to write it, but no one would. So I wrote it. That first novel is High on a Mountain.

Why did you write The Sands of Santa Rosa?

It was time for NaNoWriMo. I mentioned I’d be writing a novel during the month of November, and a cousin’s husband said, “Why don’t you write about an oil spill?” So, an oil spill was the starting point, and The Sands of Santa Rosa grew from that.

What do you want readers to get from reading The Sands of Santa Rosa?

That our actions can have far-reaching, unintended consequences.

How did you get ideas for the main characters or character?

I don’t know that I have specific ideas for my characters…they just sort of introduce themselves to me when I begin writing. I learn about them as I write.

Did you identify with your characters? Is there anything that you have in common with them? Was there anything about them that was hard to write?

Most of the time, my characters are different from me, and I have little in common with them. I haven’t been through the trials they face, but I live those trials through my characters, and sometimes, it’s hard to get through wrenching moments they face.

What was your inspiration for writing The Sands of Santa Rosa ?

The oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico was a main topic of local conversation when I was preparing to write Sands, and although the story turned out to be nothing like the actual event, that event could have been the inspiration the story grew from.

What do you look for in a book?

I want a book that will grab me, involve me emotionally, keep me turning pages. I enjoy mysteries and thrillers (but not gory thrillers).

What is your favorite novel?

My favorite novel of all time isThe Education of Little Tree by Forrest Carter. I find myself re-reading it periodically. Which is a puzzlement, since it’s not a mystery or thriller.

What inspires you as an Author? Where do you go to find inspiration?

I go to the “what if?” question to find inspiration for stories. My imagination has always worked overtime, and I’ve always found myself asking: what if? I’m thankful I can finally put that habit to a useful purpose.

What advice do you have for beginning writers?

Don’t get discouraged. When you read your first efforts, you may be tempted to compare them with published books you’ve enjoyed reading. But if you do that, your writing may seem woefully inadequate. You have to realize that a story goes through many, many edits and adjustments before publication, and it didn’t start out polished.

One other thing: brush up on grammar and spelling. Words are the tools a writer uses to convey the images in his/her mind to the mind of a reader. You must be proficient in the tools of your trade so that transfer of your images is not impaired.

Where did you get the idea for your novel The Sands of Santa Rosa ?

My cousin’s husband suggest that I write about an oil spill, since the gulf oil spill was a topic on everyone’s minds at the time.

Have any of your characters demanded more page space than you had originally planned?

I don’t usually plan my stories. I usually start with a situation or a character, and as I write, the story that develops is usually as much of a discovery and a surprise to me as reading someone else’s story.

With that said, when I was writing The Sands of Santa Rosa, Cotton Chastain drove to the beach, was looking at the water, and I assumed he was about to contemplate the reason for his intuitive feelings about the oil spill. But instead, a little girl started talking to him. Totally blindsided me. And she became a main thread through the story.

What advice would you give to aspiring authors?

Read. Write. Edit. Read some more. Write some more.

Has researching for a novel ever got you into any funny situations?

As a writer, who are your main influences?

A few months ago, I went to the Chief Vann House gift shop outside Chatsworth, Georgia to buy copies of the writings of Moravian missionaries who lived among the Cherokees in the early 1800s, doing research for Across the Wide River, which will include the Trail of Tears. I began a conversation with the lady who rung up my purchases, and we discovered we were distant cousins, descended from a Cherokee family.

As far as my main influences, I hesitate to name them, lest anyone should think I compare myself to them in any way…but, I think Norah Lofts, Sharyn McCrumb and Dean Koontz have probably been the biggest influences on my writing.

What is the best part about being an author?

Getting to visit new places and people…in my imagination.

And the worst?

The physical inactivity. I have to force myself to stop writing, get up and move, get some exercise.

What books have you recently read and loved?

The Day of Small Things by Vicki Lane. Loved it. I gave it 5 stars only because there was not a 6 star option.

In your opinion, what will people enjoy most about this book?

I hope they will, as I do, enjoy a smile at the antics of little Sara Sands, and I hope they will be inspired by Cotton Chastain’s self-sacrificial attitude as he tries to do right by others.

How did you feel the first time you starting writing the book? What thoughts were running through your mind?

I usually feel excited when I start a new story. It’s a little like visiting an amusement park and riding a roller coaster for the first time…lots of fun—chills and thrills— ahead.

 What can your readers expect next from you? What do you have planned for the future?

My next novel, Windows of the Soul, is in the editing phase now. It’s another Cotton Chastain novel. After that, I’ll work on completing the next novel in my historical series about the Ailean MacLachlainn family, Across the Wide River.

 Are you on Twitter or Facebook? Do you have a website? Is there more info about The Sands of Santa Rosa ?

Yes, I’m on Twitter: @TommieLyn, and I’m on Facebook: Tommie Lyn. My website is: http://tommielyn.com – and there’s a sample of The Sands of Santa Rosa posted on my website at this time.

Thanks so much for doing this interview. It’s been great to be able to talk to you and hear what you have to say about this new film that you’re in. I hope to talk to you again the future.

Thank you so much for the invitation to be interviewed. I’ve enjoyed it.

Brayden Hirsch is a teenage writer from Vancouver, British Columbia. His experience with stories goes back to his childhood, when his grandfather set him on his knee and told him of his adventures as a touring musician. Hirsch delights in crafting stories that keep readers poised on their seats much the same way his grandfather’s stories did for him. His role models include Raymond Chandler, Alfred Hitchcock, and Frank Capra.

When he’s not thinking up thrilling stories in well-lit rooms, Brayden spends his time enjoying his friends and family. His other interests include classic movies, watching football, drinking coffee, and taking advantage.

Hi Brayden, tell us about your novel “Shadow Catalyst” What’s the story about?

Shadow Catalyst is a collection of five short thrillers with a paranormal twist. See braydenhirsch.com, or the Amazon or Barnes and Noble pages, for short summaries of each.

How did you get started as a writer?

I don’t suppose there is any particular way to “start” other than to pick up the pen or sit down at the keyboard and simply begin. Since my early childhood I’ve really loved entertaining people – writing is just another outlet for me to do that.

Why did you write “Shadow Catalyst”?

To be honest, I wrote it because they asked me to – my publisher, Steward House Publishing in Seattle. A couple of the story ideas had arisen before they asked me to, but I’d never taken the time to actually sit down and pursue them if not for the contract for the novel. Paranormal suspense is definitely not my first love, but I had a ton of fun writing the collection and, from what I’ve heard so far, people are having a ton of fun reading it.

What do you want readers to get from reading ‘Shadow Catalyst?”

I think that if readers can manage to simply enjoy this one, that’d be great. Some projects of mine are meant to make readers think while entertaining them, but as for Shadow Catalyst, it’s the kind of novel best read with a light heart. If readers can walk away from it smiling, I’m satisfied.

How did you get ideas for the main characters or character?

I made them up. It’s far too dangerous to base your characters on people you know and so on. I suppose that indirectly, all characters are extrapolations of my own personality, because when I write I always try to “get into the skin” of the characters, but I don’t think of them as parts of me. That’s an awfully disturbing thought, especially when some of them turn out to be psychopaths.

You recently signed a contract with Ken Sherman and Associates, a literary agency out of Los Angeles. How has this affected your career as a novelist? What was the first thought that crossed your mind when you were offered a contract from the agency?

It’s wonderful to have someone to work alongside, such as Ken. I’m very pleased and have been since when he offered the contract, and am looking forward to furthering my career as a storyteller with him.

What do you look for in a book?

Firstly, entertainment value. If the writer is trying to be literary, I probably don’t like it. If the writer is writing to entertain, there’s a better chance of me liking it. Secondly, I do like a novel that says something somewhat profound about the human condition, about life in general. But I think that shouldn’t be the sole purpose of a novel. The purpose must be to entertain.

What inspires you as an Author? Where do you go to find inspiration?

I am inspired by my fears. I don’t go anywhere, really. I stay in my room – I think that a writer must be able to write under any circumstance. Ian Fleming took a few months in Jamaica every year to write his Bond novels. That’s great, I suppose, when you’re Ian Fleming, but for normal people on a budget, we have to be able to write wherever, whenever, and find inspiration either way.

What advice do you have for beginning writers?

1. Know your craft. Learn it. Go to workshops, study certain authors you like and want to be like. See what they did right. I think that a writer can write well without much inspiration at all, if he knows what makes a great story.
2. Get scared. I have a list that is two pages long of “Things That Terrify Me.” This list includes specific things, such as heights or open water or taxi drivers, and more broader ideas. When I need a new idea, I read my list. A writer, of any genre, writes best when they are writing about what scares them.

Has researching for a novel ever got you into any funny situations?

No. As a novel I don’t overthink factual accuracy. I try. I do some research, but I don’t worry about it. But I mean, it’s fiction. I’m allowed to make stuff up, now and then, aren’t I?

As a writer, who are your main influences?

Raymond Chandler, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Agatha Christie, Frank Capra and, most of all, Alfred Hitchcock.

It seems that more and more adult readers are finding their way to YA books. Why do you think that is?

That’s a complicated question. I think there are many reasons – people are becoming, and I hate to say this, less intelligent than they used to be and even an adult reader will often take to a YA novel because it is “easier,” but I also think that there’s been a decrease of solid adult novels in the industry. The mainstream market has produced several good novels, recently, but if you ask me, the thriller genre in particular has been bogged down by so much of the same material. I, for one, would rather read something unique like Suzanne Collins than another Grisham legal thriller. It’s fresher.

What is the best part about being an author?

Seeing the looks on peoples’ faces, when they tell you they really enjoyed your novel, or that they almost died from the suspense.

And the worst?

Seeing the look on peoples’ faces, when they tell you they hated every page of it.

What books have you recently read and loved?

Anything Raymond Chandler. I’ve always enjoyed his work. It’s pulp fiction written in a sensational voice that, as I hinted at before, reveals a little something about the human condition.

In your opinion, what will people enjoy most about this book?

If the novel does its work and the testimonials I’ve received so far are true, then it’s the fast-paced nature of Shadow Catalyst that will carry readers to the very last page, wanting more. I think perhaps author Jon Land put it nicely, summing Shadow Catalyst up better than I can: “a blood-curdling, white knuckle joy ride that’s like climbing onto a roller-coaster and waiting for the bottom to drop out.”

What can your readers expect next from you? What do you have planned for the future?

Currently I am at work on another book, a full-length thriller, which will be handled by Ken. In my screenwriting, I am also experimenting with other forms of storytelling, particularly screenwriting. It’s up to God where I go from here.

Are you on Twitter or Facebook? Do you have a website? Is there more info about Shadow Catalyst?

Twitter: www.twitter.com/braydenhirsch

Facebook: www.facebook.com/brayden.hirsch

Website: www.braydenhirsch.com

Thanks so much for doing this interview. It’s been great to be able to talk to you and hear what you have to say about Shadow Catalyst and the writing process. I hope to talk to you again the future.

Q. Where did you get the idea for your novel ‘Aloisius’?

I’ve always been fascinated with genetic engineering, robots, and artificial intelligence. Growing up, I was drawn to books, movies, and tv shows about characters who were different or enhanced in some form. I was in high school when I decided to put my ideas in book form. I owed it to my characters to give them a voice.

Q. Have any of your characters demanded more page space than you had originally planned?

I would say Jonas and Matt.  They definitely surprised me when they started interacting with Tori more than I expected.

Q. What advice would you give to aspiring authors?

Don’t give up and always try to sharpen your writing skills. Its easy to get discouraged but you have to keep your mind set on the goals you are trying to achieve.

Q. Has researching for a novel ever got you into any funny situations?

Not yet, but I found myself learning new things, especially when it comes to the military, science, and technology.

Q.As a writer, who are your main influences?

Lois Lowry and Frank Peretti.

Q. It seems that more and more adult readers are finding their way to YA books. Why do you think that is?

I think young adult novels appeal to the child inside us that likes to be taken from reality and into another world. They teem with imagination which is what readers are drawn to.

Q.What is the best part about being an author?

Creating characters, settings, and other worlds, and being able to materialize your dreams in the form of a story.

Q. And the worst?

Editing and marketing. Both are very hard work.

Q. What books have you recently read and loved?

The Giver by Lois Lowry is my favorite novel of all time. I recently discovered a book called Moloka’l by Alan Brennert, that I plan to read soon.

Q. Can you tell us a bit about what you are currently working on?

I will be taking a much needed break now that the first book is published. After I’m refreshed, I’ll be working on the second book of The Aloisius Series.

Jonathon Charlap is an article writer whose interviews, reviews, and other pieces have been featured in The Expressionist and Pet O’ Mine magazine. His interest in science, genetic engineering and artificial intelligence, inspired him to write his first book series, Aloisius.

Website: http://www.wix.com/jonathoncharlap/jonathon-charlap

Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/jonathoncharlap

What is Robopocalypse about? What was your inspiration for writing it?

Robopocalypse is the epic story of a widespread group of people surviving in a near-future in which all of our familiar technology stops working and starts trying to kill us. Along the way, a lot of badass events occur – things I’ve been wanting to write down for years.

When did you first become interested in artificial intelligence? And when did you decide this was something you wanted to study in college?

In college I discovered something called “genetic algorithms,” in which the solution to a problem is literally artificially evolved over time. It’s a small area of artificial intelligence, but once I started learning those techniques I couldn’t get enough.

Is there a certain message or idea about artificial intelligence in Robopocalypse that you want to get across to your readers?

I hope the book conveys how complicated and unpredictable human beings are. We are a very difficult species to coexist with. The artificial intelligence named Archos is trying to figure us out, to find a way to live alongside us as equals. Archos determines that force is the only thing we truly understand.

What are the most common misconceptions about robotics and A.I. technology?

People often talk about Asimov’s three laws when discussing robots, not realizing that anything written in English has no direct existence for a robot. Machines are programmed in ones and zeroes and they act in the real world – philosophical concepts roll off them like water off a duck.

How did you get started as a writer? And when did you know you wanted to one?

I learned a lot about robotics because I love thinking about our relationship with technology. As a natural consequence, I started writing about it. In an incredible turn of good luck, I found that people besides me were interested in reading this.

Any advice for aspiring novelist?

Passion goes a long way. Write only about things you know and love (besides yourself).

What can fans expect from you in the future?

Next summer my second novel, called Amp, will be released. It’s a standalone thriller set in the near-future, when human beings are starting to incorporate technology into their bodies. And sorry, there are no robots in Amp!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Daniel H. Wilson is a roboticist, author of several trade books, and contributing editor to Popular Mechanics magazine.

He earned a Ph.D. in Robotics from Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, where he also received Master’s degrees in Robotics and Machine Learning. Earlier, he earned a B.S. in Computer Science from the University of Tulsa.

In 2008, Wilson hosted The Works, a television series on the History Channel that uncovered the science behind everyday stuff.

A demon thirsty for the innocence of a child, a young woman falling in love with a bad boy, and an Aunt who rekindles a relationship with her nephew who depends on her for his very survival.

These are events that unfold in Tommie Lyn’s paranormal novel Tugger’s Down. The story revolves around Tucker, a three year old toddler stuck in a vegetable like state from his constant attacks from an evil sprit called Nudger, who will stop at nothing until he inhabits his body. The book opens with an  intense scene and grabs your attention and refuses to let it go. Tommie Lyn gives us an eery and hair raising description  of the demon Nudger in all his actions and dialogue. The attraction between Lacy and Porter adds a fantastic romantic sub-plot to the story. Although I wish there had been less scenes with them and more with Tucker and Nudger.

I loved all the characters, especially Tucker. I cared for him, worried about his safety, felt the intensity of his fight against the evil spirit Nudger, and rejoiced over his progress throughout the story. The writing is engaging with excellent style and dialogue,  void of cliches, and delivers a relatable human story with love, jealousy, lust, secrets, and family drama. All the characters were full of life and adventure but still set in a believable setting and background. While the story isn’t fast paced or filled with action throughout the entire story, it does keep your interest with the suspense built around the characters and their relation to Tucker.

Tugger’s Down is a clever page turner with well-developed characters and heart pounding suspense.  This a book you will not want to put down and I don’t say this flamboyantly. It can take me up to a month to read a book depending on its quality. I give it four stars!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Tommie Lyn has made her home in the beautiful Florida panhandle for almost 35 years. Her husband of 46 years (and high school sweetheart) retired from the Navy after being transferred there from Okinawa in 1975. Three of her novels and some of her short stories are set in the panhandle.

Twitter.com/TommieLyn 

Blog: www.tommielyn.blogspot.com 

Website: www.tommielyn.com

Smashwords: www.smashwords.com/profile/view/TommieLyn

First, I’d like to thank you for taking the time to do this interview. I’m very excited to find out more about you and your debut novel, “Winter.” Tell us about yourself.

Thanks for having me. I’m a graduate student at the New Orleans Baptist Seminary, working on an MA in Theology, specializing in Supernatural Theology. I’m married to my best friend and have two amazing children.Winter is my first published book. I have a short story published in Digital Dragon Magazine and one published at the New Authors Fellowship…both of which will be featured in an upcoming short story anthology being produced by Splashdown Books, featuring stories from all the SB authors. I also have a critical essay published at TheOneRing.net. Links to all of those can be found on my website. I’m also the founder of the New Authors Fellowship. And the one thing people might not expect, but is a big part of my life, is that my bachelor’s degree is in music. In fact, I’ve composed and orchestrated for piano, voice, choir, and even wrote and recorded my own music in the promo trailer for Winter.

So tell us about your new novel “Winter” I love the cover. Very mysterious.

What should I talk about first? The cover or the book? Winter is about a Goth Christian who discovers she has the gift of prophecy. At its most basic, it is a story about God’s redemption and restoration of a broken life. There are two story lines: the first shows us Winter’s freshmen year of college, where she’s growing in God and learning to accept his call. She eventually has to face her fears by confronting a Satanic priest in order to save everything she loves about her new life. The second story line shows her freshmen year of high school, where she has to cope with the slow death of her mother, leading to her decline into the Goth subculture and experimentation with witchcraft. These stories are intertwined and parallel, giving you a composite look at the fall and restoration of Winter 

Now for the cover. The talented Holly Heisey put it together for me, based on a concept I pitched to her using an old Japanese horror movie poster as a reference. My talented wife, who’s a phenomenal photographer (www.newsomecreative.net), took the subject photograph…who happens to be the actress in the promo trailer.

How did you get started as a writer?

This is becoming one of my favorite questions to answer, and I hope the story doesn’t get old! I began writing at age eleven. My first story was fan-fic of a fantasy RPG video game I was totally into at the time (the original Dragon Warrior for NES). I hand wrote about three pages in pseudo King James English. Why? Because that’s what the video game used, of course. At the time, I was mostly into art and music, but I found that my drawings had stories that needed to be written. By high school, I couldn’t not write any more.

Why did you write “Winter”?

Why do you drink water? Why do you breathe air? I wrote Winter because I had to. I couldn’t help it. I’m a writer. So I write.

What do you want readers to get from reading ‘Winter?”

The message of Winter is two fold. First, I wanted readers to see that there’s hope. It doesn’t matter what you’ve done in your past or what your mistakes are, God can still accept you and use you. This book at its most basic is about Winter’s life…her decline and redemption. That’s the core of this whole series. The reader gets to see all the mistakes she made in high school, but at the same time how God is using her and changing her in college. It’s never too late to reconcile to God. And most importantly…though it may feel otherwise, God never gives up on you regardless what you may think.

What was your inspiration for writing “Winter?”

A question I get often, that goes along with this, is Why Goth? I knew immediately that I wanted to not only show the gift of prophecy, but to try to show what an Old Testament prophet might look like today. As is pointed out in the book, there’s a difference between having the gift of prophecy and actually being a prophet. Prophets do more than just have visions and dreams…and so does Winter.

But beyond that, and wanted the character to reflect someone God Himself would choose. In the Bible, God almost always chose the least likely. He chose the person no one would expect…certainly the religious astute would never expect them. He chose people like murderers, prostitutes, pagans, ect. And he transformed their lives into something amazing. Why? Because the most unusable of us are the ones who bring God the most glory when used.

In today’s society, what type of person would everyday Christians least likely expect God to use? How about a Goth girl, with a face full of piercings, a chip on her shoulder, and experience dabbling in witchcraft.

Do Gothic Christians really exist? If so, have you talked to them? How did you research them?

Of course they exist. It’s funny how so many Christians can’t seem to reconcile the two together. They think that all Goths are Satanic or Wiccan. But it’s not like that. Goth is not a religion, it’s a lifestyle…a personality type that most people don’t get because they don’t take the time to talk to them. Goth’s are usually more in tune with spiritual matters and the mortality of man than anyone else, and I think Christians could learn a lot from them. Have I talked to them? There is no “them.” They’re people, just like you and me. My research came from my own experience. When I was in high school, there were no Goths. But I was in the group that would have been. And I was a Christian. Several of us were.

Christians should stop getting so hung-up on appearances and spend more time ministering to the inner person. That’s all the really counts in God’s eyes.

Why do you think readers are so attracted to super natural fantasy, especially teenagers?

Because they want answers. We are all attracted to supernatural things because it’s real. We can’t help but be attracted to it. But the truth about supernatural things doesn’t often get taught. And so people fantasize about these things, and come up with fantastic tales of what they think or might want the supernatural to look like. Ghost hunting shows abound now. Vampire books and movies are only just the latest fad in supernatural entertainment. Just a few years ago it was haunting type movies. Remember Goosebumps? This stuff has been around forever. There will always be a fascination with the supernatural, because we are supernatural beings. What the church needs to do is provide some sound Biblical teaching about the supernatural world. That’s what young people are hungry for. Answers. And that’s why I’m specializing in supernatural theology.

What do you look for in a book?

I’m actually very picky over books. I look for great stories. But to be a great story, you need more than just an awesome plot or memorable characters…you need an awesome story. To me, a story transcends the elements put into the book. It’s something deeper and meaningful. It’s that thing that makes you slowly close a book and sigh. It makes you think about life in a way you’ve never done before. That’s what I want in a book…and great books like that are hard to find.

What is your favorite novel?

Picking one favorite novel is difficult to do. But I’ve maintained the same book as my #1 for many years. The Hero and the Crown, by Robin McKinley. It’s a stand alone fantasy, featuring a female lead in an ever-increasing epic battle. In a genre dominated by the use of a ginormous series, it’s refreshing to still read something that can stand on its own.

To see the rest of my top ten…go here. http://newauthors.wordpress.com/2010/08/25/kevens-top-10-favorite-books/

What inspires you as an Author? Where do you go to find inspiration?

Life inspires me. I try to write with a very real, relatable style. That’s because I feel a good story should be so relatable that it becomes a part of your life. I find inspiration in everything things, so that I can relate those small things in the same way I experienced them.

As far as story content goes…what can I say? I’m a day-dreamer. I don’t get inspiration from one source. It comes through music, books, Bible study, everyday life, my children, my wife, my work, movies. I’ll experience something that will spark a question or idea…and then it just grows from there.

I call myself a “crock-pot” writer. Because ideas slow cook in my head for months or years even, until they’re ready. Then I can write. Right now? No less than three books are in the crock pot.

What advice do you have for beginning writers?

Write. Write. Write. If you want to be a writer, you have to write. It takes years of practice. Sitting around thinking about writing or talking about it or studying it, does you no good if you’re not applying it. That’s the number one thing. Write. And the number two thing is read. Read books in the genre you want to write. Find writers whose style you enjoy and who you wish to emulate. Devour there words. And then write your own.

Don’t forget to hone your craft. Assume every other writer is better than you, and learn from them. Find some books on self-editing and plot development. Get a mentor.

But you must write.

Last question. What can your fans expect next?

Well, the first thing they can expect is to see me in Splashdown Book’s upcoming short story anthology Aquasynthesis. In it you’ll find two of my short stories and a deleted scene from Winter.

Next fall of 2012 I’m planning to release the second book in the Winter series. I’m working on it hard and heavy as we speak. This book takes everything everyone loves from the first book and multiplies it by at least ten.

Contact information:

kevennewsome.com

www.facebook.com/thewordcrafter

http://www.twitter.com/kevennewsome

www.youtube.com/kevennewsome

Here lies Henry Pluck — corporate cubicle rat and frequenter of nursing homes. A perfectionist at work and an eater of sandwiches, he drove an import, lived alone in a box, and was virtually indistinguishable from any other office drone in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Daily life and reality come crashing into an adventure in Bryan R. Dennis’s  novel,  An Epitaph for Coyote. I’ll admit this was way out of my usual genre BUT I was surprised to find a great story of fantastic characters, intelligent dialogue, and well crafted scenes that show daily life antics in a way that engages us and sometimes gives us a little chuckle. The characters  live and breathe with each their own individual voice and personality. When they speak you know it’s them. Too many times novels throw us generic and poorly created characters that all sound the same. But it’s obvious that Bryan R Dennis has a talent for making characters that reflect real life but maintain a powerful and exciting voice in a fictional world.

The relationship that spouts between Henry and Rosa keeps us turning the page, wondering what Rosa will get him into next.  I loved the message the story conveyed about waking up to what we really want from life and living our dreams and having a purpose and passion that drives us. Something that lets us know we’re making a difference in the world and with people.  The plot revolves around Henry’s growing relationship with Rosa and how he begins to understand her way of thinking. The plot picks up pace near the end as we slowly discover Henry and Rosa’s fate. This isn’t a fast paced or action filled story, although there are some tense scenes, however, the story is rich with thought provoking ideas that I think more stories should hone instead of just showing mindless action and characters. This is an excellent novel and I highly recommend it. I give it three stars!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: 

Born and raised in the cornfields of Illinois, Bryan enlisted in the Army upon graduation from High School and served his term overseas. Afterwards he moved to Las Vegas, Nevada and enrolled in UNLV’s college of business. It took a degree in Accounting, years of daydreaming in cubicles, and a collection of stories piling up on his hard drive to learn he is a writer and not an accountant. “An Epitaph for Coyote” is his debut novel.

Blog: www.bryanrdennis.com

www.facebook.com/BryanRDennis

www.twitter.com/BryanRDennis

“Bleed-Out” by Joan Brady brought me to these clichés only to mix them up, around, and inside-out until I couldn’t remember which character was supposed to fit what profile, only to discover that there were no labels. I rode through the twists, turns, and angles of corporate conspiracies, two-faced social elites, and bare-bones, barbaric convicted criminals. All came crashing together to investigate, or cover-up, the murder of Hugh Freyl, a blind corporate lawyer and philanthropist. His life passion is teaching convicts in the local prison system, including his favorite student and confidante, David Marion.

Born into neglect, David was an orphan convicted of murdering one of his foster fathers at age fifteen. He was tried as an adult and sentenced to life in prison. After doing research behind closed doors, Freyl found gaping holes in David’s investigation, including missing files and shady uncertainty regarding the boy’s confession. A few connections later, David is a free man.

Months later, when Freyl is found beaten to death in his own law firm, everyone is convinced of the obvious. However, there’s no evidence to prove David’s guilt. Nor is anyone else street-wise or motivated enough to find the real murderer. So here Brady casts the common mustache-twirling villain as the book’s detective.

“Bleed-Out” is brimming with villains who duck behind curtains, put on blonde wigs, then emerge again fluttering eyelashes. Nobody is who or what they seem, and everyone has a motive. Even David himself is often dancing over the edge of uncertainty, unclear as to whether he is a psychopath or the street-smart genius Hugh Freyl believed him to be. With inputs from the diary of the dead man, “Bleed-Out” carries a sophisticated, intelligent tone while revealing life of the unfortunate and unprivileged with honest grit. The clash of classes collide to make the reader wonder what other secrets govern civilian lives behind closed doors and why innocent Hugh Freyl would have to pay. Any reader looking for a thrilling mystery with a level of education and realism should look for Joan Brady’s “Bleed-Out” as the book of the summer.

This topic has been on the minds of many around the world after September 11th, when terrorists attacked New York City, taking down the trade centers.  That tragedy brought forth a great attack of retaliation on any and all supporters of what had happened during 9/11.  It brought forth the war in Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan; some declaring it a holy war and some calling it armageddon.  Since 2001, the world has been swept into a worldwide economic crisis as just about every country’s economy was about to fall, and the pandemics of the swine flu (H1N1) and the bird flu swept the nations.  Then, during the past American election and how he talked, many believe that Obama who won the election in 2008, is none other than the anti-Christ himself as he promises peace among men, and wants a one world order.

Topics like this have brought up much commotion about the coming of time, and most recently the Myan calendar which ends in 2012, ironically the same year Obama will either be re-elected or voted out of office.  This Myan calendar, combined with historical and scientific evidence, is the basis of Lanaia Lee’s novel where man kind must defeat the coming of the end of time by following the ancient prophecy that the Myans set forth.

Her novel, Skulls of Salvation, is a novel of both fictional and non-fictional content combined into one epic struggle for life. Lee chose this subject for her book because it’s something that has always fascinated her.  Wondering if there was any truth to this legend, she found that in 2012 there will be a once in a lifetime planetary alignment that may cause some severe problems for mankind. What that is right now, nobody really knows; it could be as lame as Y2K was in 1999.  Raised by her grandmother, a proclaimed “black witch,” she was surrounded by the cult and paranormal which seems to be the topic of choice in her novels, and continues for Skulls of Salvation.

Lee’s personal history of enduring severe tragedy, heartbreak, and many other challenges have led to her becoming a strong human being. This combination allowed her to take a bold step and write about a very controversial topic that will leave some shaking their heads in disbelief and some running for cover.  It takes a strong writer to convey the message and withstand the naysayers that will be sure to follow once her book is released, and Lee is willing to defend her belief head on.

Skulls of Salvation has received some great reviews from many noteworthy and trustworthy sources, guaranteeing this novel a must read publication.  It also happens to be Lee’s favorite novel that she’s written to date, but she stresses you must read the first novel in the series, since this is the second volume and continues with the happenings of volume one.  And if you like the first and second volume of the series, you’ll be pleased to know that there are more novels on the way.

Currently, Skulls of Salvation is released and can be purchased through the Barnes and Noble book chain, and any online bookstore including Amazon.com.

Lanaia Lee’s Personal Story

Lanaia Lee was born in 1957 to a Navy father and a schoolteacher mother who home schooled her. In second grade, Lanaia was reading on a 4th grade level, so her parents moved her to a private school to enhance her education. When she was nine-years-old, her mother died from a massive stroke. Because Lanaia’s father was rarely home, her grandmother who was a professed black witch, gained custody.

When Lanaia was fourteen, her grandmother abandoned her and she landed in foster care where she had four different sets of foster parents within a year, because she kept running away to avoid men who attempted to molest her. At age fifteen, she went to boarding school on her dad’s GI Bill. She graduated in her junior year after which she drifted, living with various people with neither a family nor a home. At eighteen, she married and divorced having had three miscarriages. By nineteen, she began working in management for convenient stores and restaurant chains.

She remarried at age thirty, then had a stillborn daughter a year later. Five years after her loss, her husband left her for a seventeen-year-old. She filed bankruptcy, and one month later suffered a massive stroke, which, after seven months in the hospital, put her in a wheelchair.

The next two years involved intensive physical therapy, but she would never walk again. She took the step of finding work to help her rehabilitation. She found employment at vocational trades where she met her soulmate, David, also in a wheelchair from a motorcycle wreck he sustained in 1984. They married in 1992 and are still very happy. David and Lanaia lost two children due to her disease, erratic hypertension. Lanaia and her husband live independently, and she still drives.

In 2001, David dared Lanaia to write a poem. Out of curiosity, she posted it in an online poetry forum. The feedback was so positive, she kept writing. At first, she wrote just poems, then short stories and finally novels. All of her work is typed one-handed because of her disabilities. Lanaia gives credit to the grace of God, which has helped her overcome immense adversity. This inspirational and talented author holds her head high, and she claims she won’t quit until she hits the bestseller list.

The publication he created would serve farmers and housewives even today, which has made it the longest running American publication.  This marvel of literature is none other than the Farmer’s Almanac.

David Young’s publication was known for weather predictions a year in advance.  It would predict the moon’s phases, temperatures and possible rain which turned into a valuable tool for colonial farmers, even if the information was a hit or miss. The almanac was invented two years after the “year without a summer,” an ecological disaster that destroyed many farmers. Ironically, the periodical was almost extremely accurate with astrological and long-range weather predictions. 

The Almanac wasn’t just for farmers.  It added some features such as comedy and news that would interest a larger range of people, not just local neighbors.  The almanac gave great cooking, gardening, conservation, fishing, and sustainable living tips for its readers.  Many of what they included in the publication turned into “wives tales.”

In 1851, just ten years before the America Civil War, Samuel Wright took over the editing and publishing of the Farmer’s Almanac for David Young.  Over the 191 year span this publication has been active, and it had only seven editors!  The longest running editor was Ray Geiger (1934-1994) who stepped down shortly before his death, and gave the helm over to his son Peter.  Peter gave the title Managing Editor to Sandi Duncan and with this title, she became the first woman editor in the publication’s history.

The art of the book really comes in two stages: one, it’s still in publication and boasts an 85% accuracy rate over the 191 year span.  Any publication that can do something like that is an art form in itself; it shows the publication does a phenomenal amount of research and is run by some amazing publishers.  Two, the magazine has more than just weather and astrological predictions; it has stories about real life instances, comedy, drama and fables that can entertain just about anyone that cares to pick up the periodical.  On the other hand it contains well researched and thought out cold remedies, house hold tips and tricks to make the homemaker’s life easier.  This should not surprise you but most of these tips and tricks work wonders.

This book we call the Farmer’s Almanac should be an inspiration to us all.  It’s survived the Civil War, the Great Depression, and it’s seen all the American presidents assassinations.  Not to mention, it’s surviving in these economic tough times and they still have yet to miss a yearly publication.  It just goes to show you that with a good heart, a will to succeed, and good old-fashioned values, anything you as artist or writer does can become a success and flourish decades past your life.  Don’t let tough times stop you from achieving your dreams and successes, and if you feel you  are slipping towards that path, just pick up the Farmer’s Almanac and let it re-inspire you.

New England is extremely old, as we all know. It wasn’t uncommon to walk through a cemetery and run across someone who died in the 1690s, which is enough to give you the creeps. However, take it a step farther with large willow trees looming over the graves, a colonial stone wall and large cast iron fences grazing the perimeter. Then, look over at just about any stone and see grave angels staring right through you, chilling your soul. It’s easy to let your mind wander and think this place could be haunted.

With that atmosphere growing up, my love for the unexplained, and many unforgettable personal experiences, I decided to create a new magazine in The Expressionist collection called Beyond The Limits Magazine.

This magazine takes a good look at some of the world’s most fascinating folklore, legends and the paranormal and combines them all into one magazine. For instance, ever wondered what a BEK is? Do aliens exist? Where can I get information on the Swamp Ape? Want interviews with world renowned ghost hunters and ghost hunting celebrities? It’s all found in Beyond The Limits Magazine.

Our magazine is based on findings by field experts and scientists alike, which gives it strong credibility. Beyond The Limits takes the unknown, puts out the story as it’s told, analyzes it with scientific research and then allows you to draw your own conclusion. Could this story be real, fake or maybe we will change your mind.

Beyond The Limits Magazine isn’t just based on things we hear in the newspaper; we rely on people like you to submit questions and personal stories. In the end, it makes for an interactive magazine. We encourage you, the reader, to comment on any and all posts, telling us what you think (for example, could this story be real or bogus?) In addition, if you experienced the phenomena, then please comment on the article where you had a personal experience. It’s readers like you that will make this magazine great.  Remember, it’s okay to believe and it’s also okay to be skeptical.

Everyone has a ghost story or has heard something go bump in the night, even if it was chalked up to be nothing. This makes this magazine hit close to home for just about everyone who reads it.

A wise man once quoted, “Fear is being scared of the unknown, but once there is an answer, the fear is enlightened and fades away.” Beyond The Limits Magazine hopes to take the fear out of the unknown and make mystery fun.

Come and read, the magazine is now online at:

www.beyondthelimitsmagazine.com

Rebman has always been fascinated by the paranormal, and started paranormal investigating to further her need for the truth with our after life; a taboo subject among society, but something she wants to prove exists. In college Rebman started doing some serious investigations, back in 1996, and that is when her book started to come to light.

This female ghost hunter was investigating all around the state of Florida, not just in her home city of Hollywood, FL. It was during her travels that she encountered an intense paranormal experience that left a lasting impression and, in turn,  increased Rebman’s passion for the paranormal. It came at the Biltmore Hotel in Coral Gables, FL. She documented her experience at the haunted  hotel and those notes turned into the start of her book.

She wasn’t serious about the book at first until she met Dr. Greg Jenkins in 1999. Together they both wanted to write a book about the paranormal and their findings. Dr. Greg Jenkins was a paranormal expert who showed Rebman the ropes and lent his vast knowledge to her. Unfortunately, they had to part ways and Rebman moved to St. Petersburg, never getting to finish her part of the book. Dr. Jenkins, however, did finish his and Rebman decided to wait no longer.  She would indeed go on to write her own book.

Over the years, Rebman compiled notes from her investigations and travels, deciding to make them into a book for the “Armchair Ghost Hunter;” hence, “Haunted Florida: A Guide To The Departed Soul, Vol. 1″  was born. Rebman wanted the book to be simple reading and well-organized. She categorized the haunted destinations into three sections: North, Central and Southern Florida. Then Rebman organized each story into three details: history, ghost lore and her own personal accounts. Rebman wanted the book to be easy reading so she omitted the scientific terminology  and the hard to read words.  Basically, it was designed so everyone can read and enjoy it. What makes this book so great, is that it gives you a history of your surroundings and can bring readers face to face with ghosts so they don’t have to partake in finding them if they so choose, but get the same experience. It also can be a field guide to those adventurous souls who want to find the damned or trapped souls of today’s past.

Now you probably are saying, how credible is she? Credibility in a case like this is very important. Rebman not only is a writer of ghost lore, but she has years of experience in it too. She has done research on the paranormal since the early 1990s. Rebman, through the years, has visited each and every place she writes about gathering a history on the property, interviewing eye witnesses, writing down some of the ghost lore that bring attention to a haunting, then goes into her own personal investigations. She has studied under some paranormal experts such as Dr. Greg Jenkins and investigated under a Chicago based society run by veteran ghost researcher, Dale Kaczmarek. In 2001, Rebman along with Greg Jenkins and well known paranormal investigator Dr. Andrew Nicols, had a feature written on them in a magazine. The three page spread was about Florida’s up and coming ghost hunters, something Rebman feels to be a huge honor in her life. She also started her own independent ghost society in 2008 called “Haunted Florida: Paranormal Investigators of Central Florida.” Rebman’s group tours around the state, primarily Tampa Bay, searching for what goes bump in the night.

Rebman’s credibility can also be based on the length of time it takes for her to deem a property “haunted.”  Most groups are fairly quick to judge, but Rebman likes to take her time and do her research first. I talked with the ghost hunter and even investigated with her recently which gave me a first hand look at her philosophy. Rebman’s belief is very similar to T.A.P.S. (The Atlantic Paranormal Society). She isn’t going to judge a place “haunted’ without a photo or video of a full apparition, or without a load of EVP, EMF and other scientific data. Orbs can be easily explained and this is something I found her to be stern on, unlike many investigating groups. I can personally vouch for her philosophy and her credibility as I worked with and seen her philosophies in use.

Rebman shows us that ghost hunting is not just for men, as she is a breakthrough leader among the genders. She sets an example for men and women investigators alike, with her beliefs, investigation rules and as a published author in the field.

I encourage you to check out Rebman’s wonderful book.  You can only get it online right now through Barnes and Noble, Amazon or Borders.  The cost on these sites is $13.50. You can even get it at a steal for $11.00 at Authorhouse.com. You can meet Rebman at a book signing in February which we will keep you updated on. To get in touch with Rebman for paranormal advice or help, contact her through her paranormal group at www.floridaghosthunters.org

The Warrior Woman is a non-profit organization that attempts to bring teens and at-risk youth a means of artistic expression through empowering writing workshops.  Giving them a positive alternative to drugs, alcohol, and the negative situations they face.  The Warrior Woman uses the power of art to express themselves, and their chosen medium is the literary arts.

Adrienne Nadeau, founder and president of The Warrior Woman, is a poet.  Her poems are extremely intense and make you think.  She focuses on the events and situations that we deal with on an everyday basis; and expresses her opinion about them through her writing.  She demonstrates the power of writing can be just as powerful as the sword.  She shows you first hand you can express yourself through poetry in a safe and fun manner.  By taking her own frustrations, and her own talent and ability, she is trying to shake up things and hopefully change the lives of our youth through poetic parameters; that is how The Warrior Woman, Inc. was born.

Adrienne noticed that budget cuts through schools are just one of those things we can’t control.  Unfortunately for the kids, the art and music departments are usually the first on the chopping block.  Sure they may not be academically challenging, but art challenges the soul and mind to create and express yourself.  To try to help the schools, The Warrior Woman goes to schools and performs these workshops and does it mostly without compensation to allow the schools have the art which is so important but not hurt their budgets.

The Warrior Woman, Inc. and Adrienne Nadeau are setting up many great events throughout the Tampa Bay area over the next few months to raise funds for her cause.  Those events include: A Writing Camp, and a few open mic nights at clubs around the Tampa Bay area.  Details for all of these events are coming, check their web site for all the details as they arise.

Through great community support from businesses and good Samaritans, they give The Warrior Woman a chance to accomplish their goals, spread the word, and help keep this organization alive.  We can’t forget how much one person can make a huge difference, and it starts in the community; and we encourage those who can help to please help: businesses, individuals, the young and old, male and female, the rich and the poor, it doesn’t matter what you are, you can make a difference.  If you can’t donate, volunteer… there isn’t a contribution that is too small, just ask the Warrior Woman and I’m sure they’ll agree.

I personally commend this organization for what they do.  They are bringing art awareness and appreciation to our youth, in an attempt to steer them in the right direction through a positive process.  When the kids create their art be it through literary expression or fine art expression, they will end up with something they can be proud of, which in turn gives them a step in the right direction.  We need more organizations like this in our communities.  The Warrior Woman also has the full support of this magazine, and hopefully anyone that reads this article.  She is what’s right with America!

To find out more, visit their web site at www.thewarriorwoman.org.

Dr. Scott Paton of Paton Chiropractic and Sports Medicine in Lutz, FL has recently released a book called “Health Beyond Medicine.”  In this book, Dr. Paton explains the importance of a perfect flowing body for health, which starts with the spine.  The spine is the highway to the brain, should something become jammed up if you wish, the brain can not function properly to fix the problem, thus health problems arise.  Having a good inlined and healthy spine may be the key to a productive healthy life.  Best of all, chiropractic means are safe and recommended for infants to the seasoned adults.

Health Beyond Medicine describes for example, that if you simply make an adjustment at the C2 vertebra, it can reduce and eliminate sinus problems over time.  The book tells you about certain shoes and how they can affect the body if they are not properly fitting, or the right shoe for you.  It goes into great detail about our everyday lives and how it can adversely hurt our body,  but through alternative solutions without costly drugs a change of life habits, chiropractic medicine can vastly improve our lives.

The book is full of  success stories and interviews from his actual cases.  On case happened to be my wife and Dr. Patton discovered that she had a serious case of Osteoporosis  through an X-Ray he performed to help her ACL tear.  At 30 this was unheard of, and most doctors would not take her seriously.  Dr. Patton informed her not to take a no for an answer and she convinced her primary care physician to do the bone density test.  To their surprise, she was off the charts, in dangerous waters so to speak with the condition that shocked the doctors.  Had it not been for Dr. Paton she never would have known her bones were like paper, and now she is getting proper treatment.

Dr. Paton is not just your ordinary chiropractic doctor.  Most people don’t take them seriously but this guy you should.  He worked with the Atlanta Hawks, the NBA team and was on the sports medicine team of the 2000 Olympics in Greece.  Dr. Paton teaches other chiropractors in conventions around the USA, sharing his vast knowledge.

This book is a must for anyone that wants to have a better life and not pay high pharmaceutical prices.  There is never a guarantee, and its not suggested by this magazine to give up what you are doing or stop what your doctors are telling you, but in combination with Chiropractic medicines and alternative solutions you may achieve a better result faster.  The goal of every American is to be drug free and living a healthy lifestyle, so why not try something that can help get to that goal.

We highly suggest reading this book, and talking with Dr. Paton himself as he will guide you in the right path.  There is no medication, no pain and is quick and easy.  I been using him for years and I never felt better, when I was told only surgery would fix my problem. 

His book is $19.99 and can be purchased at his web site http://www.patonchiropractic.com/index.php?p=24657

Thankfully, Carolyn Swaggerty, through the love of her family, positive thinking, early detection, and modern medicine defeated the number one killer among women today: breast cancer. Despite her troubles and chronic weakness from her fight, she selflessly was more concerned about helping others with the same ailment. She decided to help and inspire others through her poems.

Carolyn has written a book of poems called “Faith, Hope and Cancer.” This collection of poems are written by Carolyn, inspired by the situation she was going through. Her will and determination to defeat her cancer brings fourth power in her words as she tells of her struggles through her poems. Her words will make you laugh, cry, and send your heart soaring with compassion. It will make you have a profound, new outlook and respect for anyone who has or has battled cancer.

Carolyn in 2006 copyrighted her poems and made them into a book found on Lulu.com. It sells for $11.46 or you can download it for $6.25. Profits from the sale of this book will be used for a non profit charity of her choice.

Today, she has made herself available to anyone that has cancer and needs some positive reinforcement. She truly believes nobody should go through this alone. If you would like to contact her and see if she can help you, visit her MySpace profile dedicated to the cure of cancer.

www.myspace.com/nellieoo