Interview with Julie Thomas, Author of The Keeper of Secrets

World War II is a terrifying and horrific time in our world's history. Two of the books that have most affected me in the past year have been set in this era: The Book Thief and Winter Garden.

Recently, I was able to add another book to this list... Julie Thomas' The Keeper of Secrets. An excerpt from my review:

Weaving between the present and the past, Julie Thomas does an amazing job of creating memorable characters and an unforgettable, at times heartbreaking, story. I've read many amazing books based in the WWII era, and The Keeper of Secrets finds its own place among the best of them. Intense and emotional, there's still room for hope, love, and courage.

Read the full 4.5-star review here.

So I was thrilled to have the opportunity to interview Julie about the book.

Without further ado...

Is The Keeper of Secrets based on a true story?

Yes, it is. I found the story of the violin in a magazine article and to the best of my knowledge, the one missing 1742 del Gesŭ violin is (potentially) in a private collection and the owner won’t verify his ownership, the other one was identified with a label date change and restored to 1742. So the events in the story are very much based in fact.

World War II is such an intense and devastating period in our world's history. What kind of research did you do to try and get an accurate depiction of life in the concentration camps?

I read lots of accounts on the internet, I looked at footage in TV programs, the “Band of Brothers” series had a liberation of a concentration camp episode and I watched that several times, I read books written by survivors, I found the camp map on the internet which gave me the location of the various buildings. Every fact was researched and backed up by two sources.

Several generations are affected by music, particularly a violin, in this novel. Why was it so important to have music signify hope and salvation?

I have a passion for music and it has helped me through difficult times in my life. I believe in the power of music to uplift and to heal and bring people together. The music was a binding force between different people at different times in the book and it helped to unify the components, having music as a strong thread in all four sections helped the book come together.

I thought you did an amazing job writing from mostly the male perspective. Which character was closest to your heart and why?

Thank you. Interesting question. I love Sergei because he has so much personality and is the antithesis of the country in which he grew up, but I would have to say my favorite character is Rafael. I call him my moral compass, he stands solid while other people try and change his determination for selfish reasons. Without him, the story would not happen and I also love the way he talks to Daniel, they have some of my favourite dialogue.

Thanks so much, Julie!!

To find out more about The Keeper of Secrets and Julie Thomas, please visit the author's Facebook page and on GoodReads.

Scam Factory by G. Gordon Dean: Author Interview, Guest Post, and Giveaway

I'm honored to host G. Gordon Dean today. Not only was he kind enough to answer some questions and write a guest post, but there's a giveaway, too... one lucky reader will receive an eBook. See details below.

Thanks to G. Gordon Dean and Tribute Books for including me on the tour.

Now to the fun stuff...

About Scam Factory

Whoever said 'white-collar crime doesn’t pay' never lived in Washington D.C. TierGroup is a business consultancy firm located in the heart of DC. Its Division Heads have a very cold and calculating unorthodox approach to conducting business. Protecting and serving their clients is the only thing that matters. Nevertheless, loyalty can swing both ways in this journey through greed, corruption, and absolute lack of accountability.

As a former Las Vegas Casino Surveillance Director, Michael Crayter, a straight shooter, becomes an unaware, almost, employee of TierGroup in mid-2001. His transformation takes many shapes from idea man to fraud guru. He embarks on a journey to Iraq, through Hurricane Katrina and eventually takes part in one of the biggest scams in the history of the United States - the TARP funding program. His boss, Charles “The Czar” Zarin, is the ultimate manipulation mentor. Michael Crayter’s experience will last for more than eight years and will make his old Vegas job seem like child’s play.

The investment opportunities the United States has to offer during this timeframe are seemingly endless and the public joins in on the greed. The whole country is riding high on the inflated value train with careless abandonment. There are no regulations followed or laws unbroken by the Mortgage Lenders, Stock Brokers, and Bankers. The bubble is getting bigger and the clock is ticking. It's every man for himself. Divide and conquer. Borrow and spend. No one sees the tsunami coming, except for Charles Zarin. Capitalism will be turned upside down and the money spigot will run dry.

By late 2007 the bubble bursts and our country’s economy is left in ruins. The Treasury is sent in to bail out the white-collar thieves. While losing most of its clients TierGroup and Michael Crayter are left to fend for themselves. The tables are turned on the fat-cat bankers who caused the meltdown. Michael Crayter uses his hard gained experience to get even with the fake bastards. Almost everyone loyal to TierGroup gets away with highway robbery and the American taxpayer is left holding the bag. Michael Crayter begins to tell his story, in this Four Part first-person narrative, during a 2005 interview at FBI headquarters in Washington D.C.

Buy on Kindle or Nook.

About G. Gordon Dean

G. Gordon Dean is a Real Estate agent and Business Consultant currently living in Arizona. He has been a media buff for over two decades. As a media buff he has kept himself well aware of past and current events in business, government, and politics. He lived in Las Vegas, Nevada for over 30 years. This is his first novel.

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Interview

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Please tell us about your current release.

SCAM FACTORY is a modern day White-Collar Crime Novel that begins in 2001 and continues into 2009. The 4-part story tells about the events that led to the U. S. Financial Crash that started in late 2007. The story’s main character, Michael Crayter, begins a new career, in mid-life, with an ultra-private Washington D.C. Consulting Firm. The Consulting Firm (TierGroup) represents seventeen of the worlds’ largest and most powerful industries who are making tremendous financial gains with no end in sight. SCAM FACTORY is also a story that takes its reader to Iraq, New Orleans, the Caribbean, and other major US cities. I believe I have described the story well in the Back Cover Copy and Prologue.

Can you tell us about the journey that led you to write your book?

The journey for writing SCAM FACTORY started with a dream I had one night about interviewing for an executive position at a major Consulting Firm. I landed the job in my dream, but after I woke up, I still had no idea what they did. I thought to myself: That was not a legitimate company, it was a Scam Factory. Then I further thought to myself that it might make an interesting book or even a movie. The war in Iraq, Hurricane Katrina, and the U.S. financial crash, which all occurred within the last 12 years, were also a perfect fit for this story.

Can you tell us about the story behind your book cover?

I designed and created the book cover with help of an associate. The title says it all: SCAM FACTORY.  There is a silhouette of Washington D.C. in the background on the bottom of the cover, with the Washington Monument broadly standing out almost like a smoke stack from a factory, and sub tittles give the reader added information about the story. The font colors are also mean to stand out. I may add a light watermark of hurricane Katrina in the background later.

What book on the market does yours compare to? How is your book different?

That is a very good question. I had to do some research on this since SCAM FACTORY is a work of fiction. I only found one white-collar fiction book being sold today to compare it to: “RUDIGER” by David Lender. It had some of the same types of crimes committed in parts of my book. Several modern Nonfiction books, currently on the market, also include many of the same types of crimes that I wrote about. I didn’t have much luck, but it could be that I don’t know where to look.  Maybe someone out there will find other comparable books and share them with us.

What would you say is your most interesting writing quirk?

Over all I can say that writing SCAM FACTORY is the biggest quirk because I only type with two fingers! I was not using the ‘Tab’ key where needed and hit the ‘Hard Return’ key too often, which made more than double the work for editing and formatting. This is my first novel and I am almost surprised that I was able to accomplish the challenging task of writing it.

Open your book to a random page and tell us what’s happening.

SCAM FACTORY -PART 3- Chapter 20 –Failure Is An Option:

During a private meeting with the three largest U.S. bank owners Michael Crayter (the CEO of TierGroup) speaks privately with Henry Strassburger (the secret owner of 100 independent banks) against the strong advice of his legal team. Michael knows that now is the time to take advantage of a very lucrative opportunity, find cracks in the system, and manipulate Strassburger. Their ‘mutual’ goal is to keep Strassburgers interest in the 100 independent banks a secret while acquiring the TARP (Troubled Asset Relief Program) funding from the US Treasury Department. The amount Strassburgers’ banks need is about $125 million for each bank (or $12.5 billion total). Michael Crayter does not trust Strassburger at all. He senses Strassburger is hiding the 100 banks loses and making false statements about their true financial condition to the government. What Henry Strassburger does not realize is that Michael Crayter does not intend to help him keep the banks from taking major loses or closing.

Do you plan any subsequent books?

I am not sure about that right now. I have two or three other fictional book ideas in mind, but want to see how this one goes. I have been told that SCAM FACTORY would make a great movie, so a movie script may be in the works in the near future.

Tell us what you’re reading at the moment and what you think of it.

I am not an avid reader, but I am always interested in new documentaries, news, and events that help me stay connected to current events. I watch programs on public television, cable and learning channels, and other major media outlets. I am usually going over Business and Real Estate opportunities being offered by others. Sometimes I am doing the actual business planning, modeling, and research for others, which requires a ton of evaluation, writing, and revisions.

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Guest Post

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SCAM FACTORY started out as a dream I had about a job interview with a high-end consulting firm. I initially thought that my dream would make a great movie, but I decided to write a book instead. As I began to develop the plot and story lines I realized I could tie it all in with, past and current, real life events in the U.S. from 2001-2009. It was also relatively easy to combine some of my business experience, and people I have run across over the years, into this story. I grew up in Las Vegas and lived there for about thirty-five years so knowing about Scams, or coming up with my own for this book, wasn’t so hard. The TRUE events that led to the U.S. financial crash, mass business failures, and declines in property values in late 2007 were nothing but ammunition for this novel.

SCAM FACTORY is not a story about the guy in the white cowboy hat saving the town and riding off into the sunset. It is fiction based on reality with a ‘true to life’ outcome. The characters in this story get away with White-Collar crimes just as the real life participants did. The characters are sadistic and have a knack of getting away with almost everything, just like the in real world. It is as simple as that. One of the messages I wanted to convey in writing this story was to show what kinds of professionals were out there exploiting our businesses and citizens without legal retribution. The characters are mostly cold, calculating, and narcissistic.               

I figured that using a first person narrative was the best way to tell the story. There are many subjects involved in this story so I divided SCAM FACTORY into four parts to further make it easier to read and understand. Loyalties are lost and revenge is certainly in the plot, but figuring out how to write about it was the key to the story. There is no mention of any existing, or real life, companies-only industries and fictional business entities. Another challenge was making the fictional writing seem realistic. Several of the initial book reviewers were asking if some of the events in the story actually took place. The answer is probably yes, except that only a hand full of people knows how those events really took place.

The consulting firm in (TierGroup) in this story, that represents the seventeen major industries, is politically neutral. The idea is that if your money is green then TierGroup, and its clients, do not really care what your political affiliation is. This is also very relevant in the real world, but it seems to be changing for the worst. Although SCAM FACTORY contains many dark sides, it strongly reflects a ‘behind the closed door’ characterization of the reality we have faced over the last six years. The lessons we are still learning as a country are obvious and it may take many more years to recover. Control, perception, manipulation, and greed are still the number one driving forces in the business world today, but on the other hand, there are always two sides to a coin. Only time will tell.

Enjoy SCAM FACTORY and become a fan on Facebook.

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Giveaway

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I'm thrilled to be giving away an eBook copy of Scam Factory to one lucky reader .

To enter to win, please leave your name and email address in the comments below. The contest will close at 5:00pm EST on Friday, January 11.

I will put each name in a hat and have my trusty assistant (my lovely 12-year-old daughter) pick one. The winner will be announced here.

Good luck!

Colors Like Memories, Meradeth Houston Spotlight & Interview

I'm thrilled to welcome Meradeth Houston, author of Colors Like Memories, today.

Welcome, Meradeth! So glad you could join us.

I noticed in your bio that you've been writing since you were 11. What made you love writing?

MH: What makes me love writing so much is that I love reading :) I love getting lost in another world and getting to live there for a little while. Writing is even better because I can create the world myself, with all the little bits and pieces that I like most!

I agree! In Colors Like Memories, the main character is a Sary (she has the soul of a child who died before taking her first breath). Where did you come up with this concept?

MH: The Sary have their roots in all kinds of different places. Ever since I was a kid visiting the cemetery with my friend (she lived around the corner and we used to sneak in through a hole in the fence), I was struck by the tragedy of those headstones with a single date. That, mingled with reading books that dealt with the "breath of life" all kind of mixed together with my long time wish of flying, and viola, the Sary came together. (This may be a bit of a gloss to hide my slightly morbid slant on the world, but don't tell anyone!)

Your secret is safe with me (and with my blog readers, too, I'm sure).

If you could have any author (or other reader) review this book and love it, who would it be and why?

MH: Oh wow, what a question! Hmm, that's a toss up between two of my favorites: Madeline L'Engle is a huge inspiration to me, and I adore A Wrinkle in Time beyond words . Unfortunately she's passed away, so that might make it a little hard to get a review (though you did say *any* author :). The other, living author that I would probably pee if I were to get a favorable review from (and probably just as unlikely as Madeline) would be Maggie Stiefvater. What I wouldn't give to be able to write like her!

 

I love that answer. A Wrinkle in Time was one of the first books I shared with my preteen daughter from "the olden days" (her words, not mine). She loved it, as did I. I have a couple of Maggie Stiefvater books in my to be read pile, sounds like I need to start reading them.

Thanks again for stopping by!

*****

Now I want to share some information on Colors Like Memories...

Summary: Julia has a secret: she killed the guy she loved. It was an accident—sort of. In order to save her best friend's life, she's going to have to face her past, but her ghosts won't make it easy. Especially his.

"I greeted his tombstone the way I always did—with a swift kick. The release of frustration was more than worth the sharp pain in my toes. The polished marble tilted to the left because of all my visits; a crooked tooth in the rows of pearly white graves."

So starts Colors Like Memories. For more information, check out the website.

 

More About the Author

 

 

From her website: I've never been a big fan of talking about myself, but if you really want to know, here are some random tidbits about me:

• I'm a California girl. This generally means I talk too fast and use "like" a lot.
• I have my doctorate in molecular anthropology. Translation: I sequence dead people's DNA and spend a whole lot of time in a lab, which I love.
• I've been writing since I was 11 years old. It's my hobby, my passion, and I'm so happy to get to share my work!
• My other passion is teaching. There's nothing more fun than getting a classroom of college kids fired up about anthropology!
• If I could have a super-power, it would totally be flying. Which is a little strange, because I'm terrified of heights.

You can find out more about Meradeth at her blog and on Twitter.

 The Book Trailer

Buy Colors Like Memories

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Smashwords

Muse It Up Publishing

Confession: I just bought the Kindle version (for $1.99), and I'm so excited to read it! My review schedule is intense through the end of the year, so I couldn't commit to reviewing. But then I read the summary, watched the trailer, and enjoyed Meradeth's interview... I was hooked. I can't wait to read it and share my thoughts here. I'm hoping I can manage to squeeze it in soon! 

Welcome Russell Blake, author of The Voynich Cypher (5 stars)

I am thrilled to welcome Russell Blake, international bestselling author, today. His newest book, The Voynich Cypher, debuted March 17, 2012. I was fortunate enough to receive a copy to review.

But first, Russell is answering a couple of questions. Welcome, Russell.

In your research for the book, what's the most interesting fact/information you stumbled across?

Boy, this book was research intensive, so that's a tall order. I think I'd have to say that the research into the Voynich Manuscript's authorship was probably the most interesting, as it involved reading dozens of web resources and an entire book on the topic. Of course, the book was wrong in its conclusions about authorship, as carbon dating of the manuscript would make the notional author, Roger Bacon, pre-date the document by over a century. But it was still fascinating reading the history of the Voynich's possession through the ages, much of which is speculative as well. It really is one of the last mysteries out there, and one of the most enduring.

What book has most influenced your writing and why?

Day of the Jackal, by Frederick Forsyth. Why? Because up until that book came out, thriller fiction was mostly cartoonish - sort of the Ian Fleming brand where tough guy superagents were bigger than life, bedded beauties at every turn, and had bullets bounce off them. Jackal changed that. It singlehandedly introduced realism in the genre, and changed everything. It's one of my favorite books, still, for that reason.

Having said that, I would also give a nod to Foucault's Pendulum by Umberto Eco, and of course Angels and Demons, The Da Vinci Code, and half of Clive Cussler's novels - when it comes to my latest, The Voynich Cypher. That book is a departure for me, and pays homage to those types of treasure hunt novels. It was a fun departure from my typical conspiracy theory driven novels, although I managed to work in a conspiracy to drive the story.

Thanks for stopping by, Russell.

And without further ado, the review…

From Amazon: When a sacred relic is stolen from its subterranean guarded vault, Dr. Steven Cross, amateur cryptographer, becomes embroiled in a deadly quest to decipher one of history's most enigmatic documents - a 15th century parchment written entirely in unbreakable code; The Voynich Manuscript. Stalked by secret societies, and aided by the daughter of a murdered colleague, a trail of riddles catapults Cross from England to Italy to the Middle East, where a Byzantine web of ancient secrets leads him to a revelation so profound it will change the world order.

Thanks to my husband, I knew just how good this book really was. Sure, I would have enjoyed it. What’s not to like? There’s intrigue, danger, romance, mystery, emotion, and so on. From the first word to the last, you’ll be hooked. But without hubby’s previous book recommendations, I wouldn’t have known it was as good as novels by Clive Cussler and Dan Brown.

Dr. Steven Cross goes from decoding as a hobby to a world-wide adventure that puts his life in danger. Enter Natalie Twain, a woman of mystery who is quite capable of taking care of herself. But her father’s been murdered, and she needs Dr. Cross to translate The Voynich Manuscript. She has the key to doing so, but will the bad guys get to them first?

Action abounds, but the author never sacrifices character development for pulse-pounding thrills. Instead he gives us both. The twists and turns left me constantly guessing what would happen next and who the main characters could trust.

If you have read and loved Cussler and/or Brown, you’ll love The Voynich Cypher. My husband is quite eager to get his hands on it. But don’t worry, ladies, it’s not only for the guys.

Rating: 5 stars

For more information on Russell Blake and his novels, please visit his website. 

Note: I received a complimentary copy for review purposes (thanks to the World Literary Café Review team). A positive review was not asked for or guaranteed. The opinions expressed are my own.

Oppression, Jessica Therrien (5 stars): Interview and Review

I’m thrilled to be interviewing Jessica Therrien today as part of her Oppression Blog Tour. I met Jessica during the Third Writers’ Platform-Building Campaign and was immediately drawn to her clear love of writing and enthusiasm. Her first novel, Oppression, debuted February 28, 2012 from ZOVA Books.

Stay tuned after our interview for my review of Oppression.  

Welcome, Jessica, and congratulations on your first book!

Thanks Tia! I’m really excited. J

Tell us about Oppression.

You’d think summarizing my own book into a paragraph would be easy, right? Honestly, I’m horrible at that, so I’m going to cheat and give you the back cover blurb. ;)

Elyse knows what it means to keep a secret. She's been keeping secrets her whole life. Two, actually. First, that she ages five times slower than the average person, so that while she looks eighteen years old, she's closer to eighty. Second, that her blood has a mysterious power to heal. For Elyse, these things don't make her special. They make life dangerous. After the death of her parents, she's been careful to keep her secret as closely guarded as possible. Now, only one other person in the world knows about her age and ability. Or so she thinks. Elyse is not the only one keeping secrets. There are others like her all over the world, descendants of the very people the Greeks considered gods. She is one of them, and they have been waiting for her for a long time. Among so many of her kind, she should not be very remarkable--except for the prophecy. Some believe she will put an end to traditions, safeguarded by violence, which have oppressed her people for centuries. Others are determined to keep her from doing just that. But for Elyse, the game is just beginning--and she's not entirely willing to play by their rules.

Oppression is Book One in the Children of the Gods series. What is the current status of the series?

Book two is in the works. The manuscript is about 80% complete. I’m just tying the chapters together at this point. ZOVA Books will be publishing it sometime next year.

Book three is in my head. I have a simple outline (one I probably won’t stick to, because I never do).

I’ve always envisioned the series as a trilogy, so book four hasn’t been thought through, but you never know where the story will take you.

What was the hardest scene you ever had to write? Why?

The hardest scenes for me are those where big things happen. I want them to be amazing, so I’m really hard on myself. Even as I’m writing book two, I’ve left the most pivotal chapter for last. I still haven’t completely finished it.

In your bio, I read that you studied Chinese and lived in Taiwan. How did this experience affect your writing and passion for language?

I’ve always loved language, and I do have a special love for Chinese. It’s an amazing feeling to be able to communicate in a different language, but learning Chinese did make me appreciate English. I wrote a lot of poetry in Taiwan, and realized that I could only truly express myself creatively in my mother tongue. That’s probably true for most people. Take poetry by Pablo Neruda for example. His poems were originally written in Spanish, and though they are beautiful in English, they don’t have the same emotional significance as they do in Spanish.

Do you plan out your story in advance or prefer to let your characters and ideas take you on a journey?

My characters always walk their own paths. I try to control them, plan out their futures, but they never listen. My creative brain likes to go where it wants.

What was the last book you read that surprised you?

Blood Red Road was a wonderful surprise. I don’t know what I was expecting when I opened the book, but it wasn’t the honest, raw, and strangely beautiful voice I found. Saba is one of the best characters I’ve ever encountered.

Finally, for fun, what’s your favorite way to get the creative juices flowing when the words aren’t coming?

It depends on my mood. If I’m lazy, I’ll opt for a good episode of The Vampire Diaries. There are twists and turns around every corner, and it reminds me to write the unexpected. If I’m feeling nostalgic, I’ll turn on some music. If I’m desperate, I turn to good books. They always inspire me to write the very best I can.

Thanks for a wonderful interview, Tia!

Thank you, Jessica.

*****

Review

Elyse is a wonderful character that embodies the wisdom of old age with the innocence of youth. She’s known deep loss and deep friendship, but she’s never been kissed. Or, at least not until she meets the alluring William.

William explains to Elyse that she’s not alone, that there are others like her, and she’s an important component in how their kind will survive. Her parents had kept her hidden to keep her safe, but it’s time for her to learn more about her kind and her abilities. There are others who want her dead, to make sure the prophecy doesn’t come to pass. Who can she trust?

So much of the novel is about fate and choice. Elyse struggles with the idea of her future being set in stone, beyond her control. She’s determined to make her own way, but will it change anything?

I love a story that takes off on page one and doesn’t let you go, not even at the end. There’s something for everyone… romance, action, intrigue, fantasy, emotions, and a long list of compelling and interesting characters. Beyond Elyse and William, I found myself most drawn to Sam, a descendant of Dionysus who can cause people to have various amounts of alcohol in their blood, and Kara, a girl forced to do unimaginable things. But is she bad?

The ending leaves you wanting, no needing, the next book in the series. Who survives? What does the prophecy really mean? Plus, the romantic in me wants more William and Elyse.

Jessica Therrien has crafted an intriguing tale full of characters to care about and questions to ponder.

Rating: 5 stars

Hard to believe this book is available for 99 cents, but only for a limited time!

For more information on Oppression:

GoodReads

Barnes & Noble

Amazon

For more information on Jessica:

GoodReads

Blog

Twitter

Facebook

*****

From Jessica’s Blog Tour page: Over the next 15 days I'll be collecting comments from all of the blog tour stops. At the end, I'll pull one lucky winner out of a hat. They'll win an Oppression poster, an Oppression notebook, and a signed copy of Oppression. Thanks in advance to everyone who checks out the blog tour posts, and thanks to all of the bloggers who were nice enough to invite me over to their blogs.