Exclusive Interview with Author Jonathon Charlap

December 21, 2011 By Leave a Comment

The Expressionist Magazine sits down with Author Jonathon Charlap, who recently released his novel “Aloisius”.  We undercover his reasons and passion for the novel, and get to know Charlap a bit better.

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

Filed Under: featured, Literary

Daniel H. Wilson Talks About Robopocalypse

August 12, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Interviewed and Written by Jonathan Lamella

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.

Filed Under: Book Reviews

Tugger’s Down by Tommie Lyn Review

August 12, 2011 By 1 Comment

 

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

Filed Under: Book Reviews

Interivew with Kevin Newsome Author of Winter

August 12, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Interviewed and Written by Jonathan Lamella

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

Filed Under: Literary

An Epitaph for Coyote by Bryan R Dennis

August 12, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Review written by Jonathan Lamella

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

Filed Under: Book Reviews, featured

Joan Brady’s Bloody “Bleed-Out”

August 5, 2011 By Leave a Comment

A thriller that grips until you forget to breathe is increasingly hard to find. So many are riddled with gimmicks, stereotypes, and cardboard characters; between the mustache-twirling villain and the sweet-eyed hero, who killed the millionaire mogul? Hmm, either the obvious candidate, or the sweet-eyed innocent to be ironic.

“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.

Filed Under: Book Reviews, featured Tagged With: ,

2012 Spells Doom Numerically – Skulls of Salvation

November 29, 2009 By Leave a Comment

SkullFor years you have seen the headlines of tabloids in the supermarket with titles such as “World Coming To An End” or “Nostradamus Says World Will End In 2000,” but is there any real truth to these accusations?  Well, the ones that said the world would end in 2000 obviously were wrong since mankind is still here, but there is some truth to the notion the world will end in 2012.  Skulls of Salvation, a novel written by Lanaia Lee goes into some pretty heavy detail about the proposed coming of time.

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.


Filed Under: featured, Literary Tagged With: , ,

191 And Going -The Farmers Almanac

July 31, 2009 By Leave a Comment

2007_old_farmers_almanacIn 1818, a young editor from Morristown, NJ would come up with something that would make American history, though at the time that thought never crossed the mind of David Young.

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.

Filed Under: featured, Literary

Beyond The Limits Magazine

May 1, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Growing up in central Connecticut, one of my fondest memories of New England is the persona it gave. This persona led to great campfire ghost stories, folklore and my intrigue with the paranormal. I guess it’s something I fell in love with since I was a little boy, fascinated with the idea that maybe somewhere in these stories there could be an ounce of truth. What if the Legend Of Sleepy Hollow was real? What if the Red Hatchet Man will come and chop my head off in the middle of the night? If I say Bloody Mary three times into a mirror at midnight, will I die from her vengeful evil hands? Sure it’s a story, but what if I try it and something does happen? Makes you think, doesn’t it?

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

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Kimberly Rebman- A Haunted “State” Of Paradise

December 29, 2008 By Leave a Comment

34180409Ponce De Leon landed in St. Augustine back in 1513 and founded the “Fountain Of Youth.” It was then that he claimed the land for the great nation of Spain. That piece of land was the entire North American continent. He was the true founder of the Americas, even though Columbus got the credit.  However, De Leon’s discovery would eventually kill him when he came to the Tampa Bay area by Native Americans. Florida, from the time it was founded, would have many conquests throughout its history that would end up bloody. St. Augustine was another place where pirates would pillage the villages, killing all they could reach. From coast to coast this state has seen its share of murders, conquests and wars, so it’s no wonder there are many haunted places in this paradise state. Ponce De Leon’s discovery was the first start to a book, centuries in the making.   If the “Sunshine State” wasn’t so rich in history, Kimberly Rebman would have never been able to write her book,  ”Haunted Florida: A Guide To The Departed Soul Vol. 1.”

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.

kimNow 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

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