Interview with Phyllis Kerr, Author of Wildcat (A Texas Romance Series)

Good morning!

Today’s interview is with Phyllis Kerr, author of Wildcat (A Texas Romance Series).

Please enjoy!

Best,

-Vincent Lowry

Interview:

1) What is your author name and in what state do you live (or country if not in the US)?     Hello. My name is Phyllis Kerr and I am a native Texan.  2) What is the title of your newest book and what is the genre?      I have a new book in my A Texas Romance Series titled Wildcat and it is a story about a girl searching her way through a difficult time in her journey to womanhood. 3) What is the book about?       Sugar’s path is particularly difficult because her mother left the family when Sugar was only four years old. Her father, Cattle Baron Quint Riley, made sure she learned all the skills needed to someday inherit the ranch in her turn and carry on his legacy in his name. But not the skills to deal with a husband in name only and her awakening feelings of the need for a mate to love and create a family. She needs to find the missing parts of her femaleness in order to set her life on a balanced path to reach her life goals. 4) Where did you come up with the idea?      I started thinking about this story after reading a true story about a girl forced into marriage at the age of fourteen and how she coped with her circumstances throughout her life. Her story touched my heart and Sugar’s story grew from that foundation. 5) How long did it take you to write it?     When I wrote my first book, I sharpened a pencil and found a yellow legal pad and wrote from beginning to end. I did buy an electric eraser about a quarter of the way through, so that helped speed things up. That one took about two years. This time I bought a new computer, read as many planning your writing books as I could get my hands on, planning software that I could manipulate to suit my needs and finished right at four months. 6) Did you learn anything from the project?           I learned so much from this project. Mostly that writing is fun when you set your characters free to be themselves. I love watching them work their ways out of the situations they get themselves into. 7) Do you have an author website and/or blog? How about a book video?  I have a new website. It’s really basic right now because I don’t have a clue about how to make technology work for me. I know the Help staff fights over who has to help me next time. You can find me at phylliskerr.com and email–phylliskerrbooks @phylliskerr.com. 8) Do you have any success tips to pass on to fellow authors? How about any great editors/cover artists?     As far as success goes, writing is like any other endeavor in your life, how hard are you willing to work to achieve what you consider successful? I have a great Cover and Website Designer. I love working with her, she’s terrific. Carrie at cheekycovers.com. 9) What genres do you like to read? Are you open to reading new authors and reviewing their work?      New authors are awesome. I actually do love reading their work and writing reviews. But when I am working on a book, my book becomes my main focus and takes most of my time, day and night. 10) What is your favorite book of all time and why?       Of course, I love to read. I have my degree in Literature because I find it fascinating. So, of course, my favorite book is a long list of wonderful books that grows longer every day. But as a romance writer I would have to say I fell in love with Pride and Prejudice at an early age. There’s just something special about that Mr. Darcy. 11) Fun Question: Do you have any pets? If so, what kind?      I have a large orange cat named ChaCho that refuses to leave my side when I am writing. He’s always there, supporting me in bad times and good. He is an excellent listener. 12) Fun Question 2: Do you own an electronic reading device? If so, what kind and how do you like it?        I have a Kindle paperwhite, I think it’s called. It’s always in my purse when not in use so I never go out without it. I like the size, it’s very small. But the screen can be aggravating when your big fingers keep touching certain parts of the screen and sends you off somewhere unexpected. Thank you, I enjoyed talking to you. Happy writing!

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Interview with DeWayne Landwehr, author of The Engineer Factory

Good Morning,

I’m pleased to bring you this interview today with DeWanye Landwehr, author of The Engineer Factory!

Please enjoy!

Best,

Vincent Lowry

Interview:

1) What is your author name and in what state do you live (or country if not in the US)?

I use my given name: DeWayne Landwehr.

2) What is the title of your newest book and what is the genre?

The Engineer Factory – autobiography.

3) What is the book about? 

A high school graduate from a small mid-western town is surprisingly accepted into one of the toughest engineering schools in the country: General Motors Institute (nicknamed The Engineer Factory by its students).  He is surprised because he doesn’t have all the pre-requisites for entry, but luck is with him.  He struggles with the curriculum because he has not had all the prerequisite courses for entry, so he is always playing catch-up.  In addition, the course load is grueling, and there are no second chances.

During his college education, his attention is distracted by a lot of peripheral events:  his grandfather dies, John Kennedy is shot, race riots reach the college town (Flint, Michigan), he gets married, experiences three major strikes within ten years, but somehow he perseveres and becomes a General Motors engineer.  He works his way up to middle management within the Guide Lamp Division, then is transferred to the GM Technical Center, where he works with the automotive safety community and the GM board of directors’ safety committee, accompanying some of the executives to Washington for various meetings and hearings.

While at the Tech Center, he begins a Society of Automotive Engineers committee to write performance standards for mobility equipment made for handicapped drivers, and is nominated for a presidential award by the Motor Vehicle Manufacturers Association.

The story continues through the turbulent times that resulted in GM reorganizing several times, and eventually shedding its component divisions.

General Motors Institute education is a work-study program, so the book also includes a lot of personal anecdotes about his work experiences at the Guide Lamp Division of General Motors as well as some history of General Motors, Guide Lamp Division, and Anderson, Indiana, where the division is located.

4) Where did you come up with the idea?

The book was a natural progression from my first autobiography that dealt with my life through high school, which is called “Will That be Regular or Ethyl?”

5) How long did it take you to write it?

About three.years.

6) Did you learn anything from the project?

I learned that my memories did not always match with the memories of others who went through the same experiences.

7) Do you have an author website and/or blog? How about a book video?

I had opened a FB page for the first book, but I didn’t think it was very helpful.  Still have it, but it is not very active.

8) Do you have any success tips to pass on to fellow authors? How about any great editors/cover artists? 

Find a place to write that works for you.  Write when the inspiration strikes you.

9) What genres do you like to read? Are you open to reading new authors and reviewing their work?

I like historical fiction and genealogical sagas.   I am open to reading and reviewing new authors.  I have reviewed over 100 books on Goodreads.

10) What is your favorite book of all time and why? 

Pillars of the Earth, by Follett.  It’s in my wheelhouse of historical fiction, is very well written, and takes place in one of my favorite timeframes: the middle ages.

11) Fun Question: Do you have any pets? If so, what kind?

Not at this time.  Have had dogs in the past.

12) Fun Question 2: Do you own an electronic reading device? If so, what kind and how do you like it?

Kindle.  I love it – carry it wherever I go, and open it to read whenever I have a minute or two.

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Interview with Symone Dashell, Author of Stigmata

Hello,

I’m pleased to bring you this interview with Symone Dashell, author of Stigmata.

Please enjoy!

Best,

-Vincent Lowry

Interview:

1) What is your author name and in what state do you live (or country if not in the US)?    

My author name is Symone Dashell. I live in Atlanta, Georgia.

2) What is the title of your newest book and what is the genre?    

The title of my book is “Stigmata”. It is a psychological thriller and Christian fiction.

3) What is the book about?     

When Mya experiences a traumatic event that results in a fatality, she enters a whirlwind of a psychological nightmare that requires her to live her life with a dark and disorienting secret. Her existence in two different lives, two different eras, and with two different personas, begins to expand until, finally, it explodes.

4) Where did you come up with the idea?   

My interests in mental health grew through my formal education. I came to understand the importance of it as I moved forward and even went through bouts of depression which pushed me into advocacy. I also have found myself researching the more severe mental disorders. I decided that my interests in mental health and my faith in God should come together in a novel.

5) How long did it take you to write it?    

It took me almost a year to write this book.

6) Did you learn anything from the project?   

I learned quite a bit from this project. I learned about my persistence, resilience, and patience. I learned that writing would be my lifelong hobby and career. I also came to understand the way that God interacts with me and confirms those things that I need to do in my life. 

7) Do you have an author website and/or blog? How about a book video?    

I do. Symonedashell.com is my website. Included on my website is a blog and a video under “works”.

8) Do you have any success tips to pass on to fellow authors? How about any great editors/cover artists?    

I would say to not allow fear to stop your from following through with your work or from those things that you want. 
    I worked with an Australian artist by the name of Loui Jover for my book cover art. He was extremely nice and did an amazing job. I would recommend him to anyone.

9) What genres do you like to read? Are you open to reading new authors and reviewing their work?    

I like to read psychological thrillers. I am open to reading new authors and reviewing their work. 

10) What is your favorite book of all time and why?     

Supermarket by Bobby Hall (Logic). This book appears to be something totally different on the surface. Once you get to the core of what is actually taking place, it draws you in and opens up your mind to the impacts of mental illness. It also incorporates humor.

11) Fun Question: Do you have any pets? If so, what kind?    

I do! I have a yorkie named Bentley.

12) Fun Question 2: Do you own an electronic reading device? If so, what kind and how do you like it?    

I really don’t. I have my phone and my computer where I downloaded the kindle app. I would like suggestions for the best one, though.