Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all

Our nation’s Thanksgiving: A time to thank God

OUR NATION'S FIRST Thanksgiving Day took place on November 26, 1789.  It was a religious event.

To the chagrin of the anti-religionists among us today, on September 25, 1789, the first act of Congress after framing the Bill of Rights, which prohibited an establishment of religion, was to pass a resolution requesting that the President of the United States recommend to the people a “Day of Public Thanksgiving and Prayer.”  This Resolution is clear evidence that our Founding Fathers never imagined that the language of the Establishment Clause they had just adopted in the Bill of Rights would someday be interpreted by the Supreme Court as creating a “wall of separation between church and state” and used to ban God from the public square.

Washington enthusiastically agreed to the Resolution of both Houses of Congress.  In his Proclamation dated October 3, 1789, he began: “Whereas it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favour; …”

Nowadays, Thanksgiving in America is a joyful celebration; a day to spend with family and friends; a day to eat turkey; a day to watch football and Thanksgiving Day parades.  But at this time of great turmoil around the world, it is important that we reflect on the reasons for our Nation’s First Thanksgiving.  On this Thanksgiving Day, please, take time to thank God for the many blessings we enjoy in this amazing land of ours, and to think about, and implore God’s protection, over the men and women serving in our Armed Forces who stand the lonely guard, in rough and faraway places, so that we may enjoy this Thanksgiving Day far from the sounds of war. 

Below is the first National Thanksgiving proclamation issued by President Washington. Please take a moment to read it. Click here to see the actual Proclamation.

Conscience rights under the Obama Administration, next on Faith on Trail

ON MAY17, 2009 President Obama gave the commence address at the University of Notre

Professor Charles Rice

Dame and was awarded an honorary degree.  The invitation was controversial and was opposed by the local Catholic Bishop and 80 other U.S. bishops across the nation, as well as numerous members of the faculty at Notre Dame.  During his address, the president said:  "Let's honor the conscience of those who disagree with abortion, and draft a sensible conscience clause, and make sure that all of our health care policies are grounded not only in sound science, but also in clear ethics, as well as respect for the equality of women." How well did he do in honoring the conscience rights of those who disagree with abortion? This week on Faith on Trial Charles E. Rice, Professor Emeritus at Notre Dame Law School, will grade the president on that promise.  Professor Rice is the author of the book What Happened at Notre Dame and the forthcoming Contraception and Persecution. Listen to Professor Rice this Tuesday at 9 a.m. and re-broadcast at 9 p.m. (central) on Iowa Catholic Radio, 1150 AM, 88.5 & 94.5 FM and streaming live on IowaCatholicRadio.com.

Where were you 50 years ago today? Do you know who else died that day?

EVERYBODY ALIVE 50 years ago will remember where they were when they heard the news of President Kennedy’s assassination in Dallas, Texas.  This weekend there will be numerous television specials on the assassination and its continuing affect on the United States.  But did you know that on the same day President Kennedy (b. 1917) died the great Christian apologist C. S. Lewis (b. 1898) also died? Lewis, you might recall, was a prolific author who penned such classics as The Chronicles of Narnia, Mere Christianity, the Great Divorce and the Screwtape Letters.  Ironically, Aldous Huxley (b.1894) also died on this date 50 years ago.  

Great time at Ankeny Library's Author Fair

 

My friend Bob Dunbar (R) and me Saturday

 

 

A big, big thank you to Joy King and the staff of the Kirkendall Public Library in Ankeny for the great Authors Fair Saturday. Great event and all who were there really enjoyed it. Thanks again, Joy, and your entire staff.

Iowa Author Fair this Sunday

I will be one of many, many authors taking part in the Iowa Authors Fair this Sunday (Oct. 28) – part of the WOW! Wonder of Words Festival! – at Capital Square in Downtown Des Moines.  We will be signing our books from 1 to 5 p.m.  If you are free, stop by and say “hello” and maybe buy a book or two.

Monday With Mike: Romance author Maggie Rivers

 

THE FOURTH OF the other authors at our Friday’s book signing at Chololaterie Stam is Maggie Rivers who I would say is the “ring leader” of the signing. Maggie was born and raised in Alabama and started developing her writing career at an early age by first making squiggles on paper that only she understood but were a story to her. Later she would use her brother’s typewriter to hunt and peck out stories. She sold my first piece of writing in her early twenties to a parent’s magazine.

Here is how she tells the rest of her story”

“After graduating from high school, I joined the U.S. Air Force to see the world. I served my entire time in Texas as a nurse (so much for seeing the world). While there, I did attend college, majoring in Journalism and Elementary Education. After leaving the Air Force, I moved to Tennessee where I met my present husband. I have a handsome son and two grandchildren (a boy and a girl). We moved to Iowa which is now our home. After moving to Iowa, I again attended college, majoring in Photography and Criminal Justice.

“I love writing. It's actually hard work. You have to connect your "tushy" to a chair in front of a computer (typewriter, or whatever it is you use) for hours. My friend and fellow romance author, Emma Robuck, e-mails the word "BICHOK" to me during the day which means "butt in chair, hands on keyboard". Writing is a solitary job. You can go for days without seeing anybody. You get lost in

the world you're creating, talking with the people you create. I guess it's like pretend play, except I'm pretending to be a type of God, creating my own universe and throwing whatever disasters at my characters I can think up. Believe me, I can think up some pretty great disasters, too.

“In addition to writing, I am also an award-winning photographer and specialize in nature and wildlife photography. My love of photography developed in my early years as well. I started out by making my pets (8 beagle hounds, one German shepherd, one squirrel monkey and a half dozen cats) sit still long enough for me to take black and white photos of them. After high school, I furthered my photographic studies while serving in the U.S. Air Force. Since then, I have attended the Rocky Mountain School of Photography's Nature Photography Workshop Series at Wildeyes in Kalispell, Montana, and graduated from the "Beginning Nature Photography Course" and the "Advanced Nature Photography Course" taught by Joe and Mary Ann McDonald at Hoot Hollow in McClure, Pennsylvania. I have continued my photographic studies by completing college level courses in photography and by attending photographic workshops and seminars held by such well-known nature photographers as John Shaw, John and Barbara Gerlach, Harry June, Rick Hobbs and Ty Smedes. I am a field contributor to Nature Photographer magazine and a member of the North American Nature Photography Association (NANPA). I have won numerous awards and was selected to participate in the "Faces of Iowa" project which was exhibited at the Des Moines Art Center before traveling around the State of Iowa.”

Maggie has co-authored the books in the Stilettos series with Deanne Rowe. Maggie’s web page is http://maggierivers.com.

Plus, there’s one more little “secret” that Maggie and I share … but you’ll have to come to the book signing to find out!

 

Remember, 4-7 p.m. Friday, October 12, Chololaterie Stam, 2814 Ingersoll, Des Moines. Maggie, Deanne, Ann Morris, James Seloover and me … make it a date!

Mondays With Mike: Romance Author C. Deanne Rowe

  THIS WEEK IS the third in the series about the other four authors who will be joning me Friday October 12 at Chololaterie Stam, 2814 Ingersoll, Des Moines from 4-7 p.m. C. Deanne Rowe is a prolific writer who has co-authored a number of books in the Stilettos Series: Mrs. Clause Wears Stilettos, Venus in Stilettos, and Stilettos (Flip Flops) in the Sand.

 

   Here is waht Deanne says about how she got involved in writing: "Growing up in Oklahoma I was always the dreamer. . . . I learned when I was young it was easier for me to put my feelings down on paper than to express them in spoken form.  I started writing poetry and short stories to help express those feelings.

 

   "After thousands of thrips to the bookstore and many writing related books later I finally got up the nerve to register for a romance writing class through our local school system.

 

   "I joined a local writing group, which has since dissolved.  Several of us stayed together and formed our own group called Saturday Writers.  I became a member of Romance Writers of America, Iowa Romance Novelists and Two Rivers Romance Authors.  I also belong to a group of women named Plotters Anonymous and a Critique group where I believe I have learned the most to further my writing career."

  
   Her latest book is Cowboy Temptation -- Colt and Cassy.  It is about a woman who returns to her family's farm to care for her ailing grandfather. When her grandfather is murdered, she discovers evidence that leads her to believe that a trusted farmhand may be responsible and she has to balance her feelings for the farmhand with the evidence that shows him to be guilty.

 

   You can check out Deanne's website at http://www.cdeannerowe.com.

 

   Deanne will join authors Maggie Rivers, Ann Morris, James Selover and me at Chololaterie Stam October 12.  We'll be signing our books and I'll have my two murder mysteries, Murder Most Holy and End of the Line.

Mondays With Mike: Ann Morris bilingual children's author

  THIS WEEK'S MONDAYS with Mike features a second author who will be joining me at the  5 Author book signing Friday October 12, at Chololaterie Stam, 2814 Ingersoll, Des Moines – from 4 to 7 p.m. She is Ann Morris and writes bilingual children’s picture books.

  Ann is an Iowa native who writes from the heart and relates experiences with her young son, nieces and nephews, grandchildren, and imagination. She writes a Spanish version of her books, as she knows they may be used as children's picture books as well as incentive reading for Language Learners. She is bilingual and has multicultural interests. She has a passion for unity and diversity.

  Mommy and Mikel Go for a Walk / Mikel y Mami dan un Paseo is based on a true story held in Ann’s heart for over a decade. Mikel is her son, now an adult. The spirit and the events of the story are true. This book is dedicated to Mikel, her first inspiration.

  She is working on a second book Flowers and Butterflies / Flores y Mariposas also in both English and Spanish.

  She is currently she is a self employed Bilingual Children's Author and Spanish Language Consultant.  She attended Wartburg College; Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain and Humboldt High School. She has a website at http://annmorrisauthorsite.com/.

  Ann will be joining me and fellow authors, James Seloover, Maggie Rivers and C. Deanne Rowe at Chololaterie Stam on October 12.  I will have both of my murder mysteries, Murder Most Holy and End of the Line available for sale (discounted).

 

Mondays With Mike: Author James Seloover

           OKAY, OKAY, I’M temporarily (perhaps permanently) bringing back Mondays with Mike to introduce you to the authors who will be joining me  Friday October 12, at
Chololaterie Stam, 2814 Ingersoll, Des Moines – from 4 to 7 p.m. The first author is James Seloover and here is a bit of a bio for him:

            He was raised in northwest Oregon, and graduated from Knappa High in Knappa, Oregon

   

         Realizing that he was stagnating in the lowest professional ranks of a part-time pot-washer, he enlisted and spent four few years with the Air Force in the field of electronics maintenance, four more in college earning a BS in Businees Administration, then on to the world of mid-management in retail for an excruciating amount of time. Then it was on to Spokane Community college to learn web development and to the Oregon Department of Forestry, and finally with the Department of Administrative Services in Des Moines. He had a short stint as a long-haul flat-bed truck driver in the western states between retail and Spokane Community College.

 

           Convinced of the fortunes to be had in the literary field, James wrote A Bed of Needles. Riding the crest of the ripple of Needles', success, he squandered scant time and is well into the next book, tentatively titled, Never Say Always, due for completion in 2012.

     

       The story in A Bed of Needles is of two teenagers who became involved in a sexual relationship and believed they could handle it. The could not. They both made mistakes and both suffered. Both suffered abuse, the girl's from the family she grew up in. The boy's from the girl. Their entire relationship occurred during their short time together in high school and time the boy was in the military. He joined the military because of the marriage and their circumstances.

            The book, dealing with domestic abuse while the main character is enlisted in the Air Force, coencides with both "Domestic Abuse Month," approaching in October, and with Veterans Day in early November.  There is violence, sex, and adult language. It is not a book for minors. It does have its humorous parts.

            James’ web site is http://jamesseloover.com.

            Don’t forget: Friday October 12 at Chololaterie Stam, 2814 Ingersoll, Des Moines – from 4 to 7 p.m.  Hope to see you then and I’ll have copies (discounted) of my two murder mysteries, Murder Most Holy and End of the Line.

            Next week: more authors!

Chocolate, books and authors



Five author book signing!

 

 

 

SAVE THE DATE

October 12, 2012
Chololaterie Stam, 2814 Ingersoll, Des Moines
From 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Five authors, book signings and chocolate!

Watch this page for more information

 

New interview of ME up

OKAY, OKAY, I’VE been out of the loop a bit lately.  My work at the church increased significantly when my pastor became ill and later died, had a busy Christmas season after which I developed some type of near pneumonia that took my voice for about three weeks.  Then, just as things were getting back to normal, a big death in my family: my mother died.

Anyway, now that things are starting to get back to normal (again), I’m getting back into the writing grove.  My two works in progress are my third Parker Noble murder mystery, and something a bit different for me: the story about a little girl who sees a vision in a churchyard.

I’m also getting busy getting my first book, Murder Most Holy, ready for e-book distribution.  Hope to get more regular interviews back up.

And, speaking of interviews, check out the one I gave to the Writers of the Lake.  This just went up on their website: http://www.writersofthelake.com/dock.html.  Take a look and let me know what you think, and check out their great web site while you are there.

PS – In addition to everything else, I’m becoming a radio “star.” More about that later.

Mondays With Mike: Sparkle Abbey and a New Mystery Series

Mary Lee with Sparkle (l) and Anita with Abbey

PEOPLE WHO KNOW me know that I love animals so when I found two local writers authoring a new “Pampered Pets Mysteries” I had to find out more.  The writers are Mary Lee Woods (Sparkle) and Anita Carte (Abbey) who write under the name … well, you guessed it … Sparkle Abbey.  Their first book, Desperate Housedogs (how’s that for a title!) will be released next week, so please meet Sparkle and Abbey.

Mike:  Welcome, both of you.  First tell me a little bit about you as Sparkle Abbey then something about Mary Lee and Anita.

Sparkle Abbey:  We write the Pampered Pets mystery series together as Sparkle Abbey. We're also friends and neighbors so you'll often find us writing at ML's dining room table or at our local Starbucks. We live in central Iowa, but if we could write anywhere, you would find us on the beach with our laptops and depending on the time of day either an iced tea or a margarita.

Here’s a little bit about each of us:

Mary Lee is an avid reader and supporter of public libraries. She lives in Central Iowa with her husband, Tim, and Sparkle, the rescue cat. In her day job she is the non-techie in the City of Des Moines IT Department. Any spare time she spends reading and enjoying her sons and daughter-in-laws, and four grandchildren.

In Anita’s day job, she works for a staffing company in sales and marketing. She also lives in Central Iowa with her husband and four children, son-in-law, grandchild and two rescue dogs, Abby and Chewy. Her family is glad all the years of “fending for yourself” dinners of spaghetti and frozen pizza have finally paid off even though they haven't stopped.

Mary Lee is President and Anita is Vice-President of Sisters in Crime – Iowa.

M:  How did you decide to team up to write? 

SA: We had belonged to the same critique for several years and had been writing and submitting separately. This was a concept we came up with together and so we decided to team up on the series.

M:  And what are the mechanics of writing as a team? 

SA:  We’ve taken a unique approach to co-writing. The Pampered Pets Mystery Series features amateur sleuths who are cousins. Books 1 & 3 star Caro Lamont, a psychologist turned pet therapist, and books 2 & 4 star Melinda Langston, a dog boutique owner. We share the Laguna Beach setting and some quirky secondary characters. Also, the cousins have cameos in one another’s books. We work closely together on the outline and we frequently work across the table from one other.

M:  How did you come up with the name “Sparkle Abby”?

SA: When our publisher asked us to choose a pen name we chose to use Sparkle Abbey because we liked the idea of combining the names of our two rescue pets - Sparkle (ML's cat) and Abbey (Anita’s dog). Our other choice was “Chewbacca Matisse” our other pets but Sparkle Abbey seemed a little catchier.

M:  Have either of you written “solo”?

SA:  We’ve both written solo for several years and have each won writing contests but this is the first fiction publication for either of us.

M:  Can you tell me a little about your upcoming Pampered Pets mystery series?  I understand the first book in the series Desperate Housedogs is being released the first of November.  Can you give me a teaser on it? And the upcoming books in the series, Get Fluffy, Kitty, Kitty, Bang, Bang and Yip Tuck.

SA:  Desperate Housedogs (Nov 1, 2011):

  When Caro Lamont, former psychologist turned pet therapist makes a house call to help a client with his dogs, she expects frantic dogs, she expects a frantic dog owner, she even expects frantic neighbors.  What Caro doesn’t expect is that two hours later her client is dead and she is knee deep in murder doo doo. Now with a killer on the loose, her best friend, Diana, in jail, and the police suspicious of her motives, Caro is chasing her tail, sniffing out a killer, and hoping the killer doesn’t find her first.

Get Fluffy (Early 2012):

Disgraced Texas beauty queen, Melinda (Mel) Langston owns Laguna Beach’s Bow Wow Boutique. Mona Michaels, Mel’s most despised client, owns a star dog, Fluffy, who's worth millions.  When Mona is found whacked in the head with Fluffy’s Daytime Emmy, everyone wants Fluffy…except Mel. And someone won't stop at murder to get what they want. Secrets...Blackmail...Kidnapping... Mel is like a dog with a bone. But can she dig up the truth before the killer buries her.

Kitty, Kitty, Bang, Bang

When Caro's friend and neighbor, Kitty Bardot, is found gunned down on Pacific Coast Highway just minutes after leaving a star-studded holiday party at the posh Laguna Montage, the police are stumped.  The popular Hollywood publicist was well-loved by not only her clients but everyone in the art community and the police seem ready to call Kitty a road rage casualty. But when Laguna art patrons begin contacting Caro with catty tidbits of information that hint at a scandal in Kitty's past, Caro is determined to get to the bottom of who shot Kitty.

Yip Tuck:

Laguna Beach's top plastic surgeon, Jack O'Doggle drops dead in front of the Mel’s shop the Bow Wow Boutique. The last person to see him alive was his blind date and Mel’s best friend…Darby. Mel and Darby put their amateur sleuth skills to the test once again as they expose the doctor's double life as a drag queen named “Jackie O” and the long list of performers who wanted top billing.

M:  What started each of you writing? 

ML: I started writing because I loved reading so much. Like many authors it seems like I’ve always written in one form or another, but it was really my love of mysteries that started me thinking I’d like to try my hand at writing one.

Anita: I love reading and storytelling. Even in my everyday life, when I’m recounting what happened throughout the day, it’s a story. In the 5th grade there was a class assignment to create a book, which had to include a story and a book cover. I still have that book. It’s bad, but I love it. After that I must have been bitten by the writing bug. I wrote poems, songs, and novels. But it wasn’t until 1998 that I started writing toward the goal of publication

M: What are your writing habits? In other words, do you write each day, morning, evening, etc.?

ML:  I’d like to have more time to write. My life is very full and that’s a wonderful thing! However, with crazy busy family life and crazy busy work life, I find writing is mostly an evenings and weekend pursuit. I do try to write a little or plot a little everyday to keep my head in the story.

Anita: Since I work fulltime, I don’t always have large writing blocks. I write after work and on the weekends. I found I really can be creative while writing under a true deadline.

M:  Do you have any special marketing plans or contests for Desperate Housedogs?

SA: We do have some special marking plans!

We will a guest at Joanna Campbell Slan’s Facebook Halloween Party sometime between 9:00 PM and midnight.

We’ll be hosting a “Yappy Hour” dog walk from 5:00 to 7:00 PM on November 11th in Des Moines’ Historic East Village which will benefit Raccoon Valley Animal Sanctuary and Rescue.

We also will be partnering with the ARL of Central Iowa on their “Raise Your Paw” auction for naming rights to feature a lucky bidder’s pet’s name in an upcoming Pampered Pets book.

M:  Any hobbies, etc. for spare time?

SA: What spare time? LOL We both have very active family lives and so pretty much any time not spent working or writing is family time. If we had more time, we both love to travel. Maybe someday.

M: How can readers contact you?

SA: Readers can reach us through our website at www.sparkleabbey.com or via email at sparkleabbey@gmail.com  Also, if readers are interested in other books featuring furry friends, we have a website that lists other mystery authors with pet-themed books at: www.petmysteries.com

Our books are available through your local bookseller or on Amazon or Barnes and Noble online; and all are available in e-format for Kindle or Nook.

M:  Can you give us some information on the book launch for Desperate Housedogs?

SA:  Yes, here it is:

The book launch will be November 1st at the Des Moines Public Library Downtown (1000 Grand) at 6:30 PM. We’ve partnered with the Animal Rescue League of Central Iowa for the launch and so they’ll also be on site with some information. We invite readers and writers to join us for a short talk, booksigning, and some giveaways. For those who live too far away to make the launch, we’re inviting those who would like to participate in a Desperate Housedogs “flash mob” where sometime on November 1, they visit Amazon or Barnes & Noble and check out what the book’s about and if they like what they see they - “Like” us.

M:  I’d like to thank you both for taking the time to be with me today; good luck on the launch and the entire series.

SA: Thanks so much for inviting us! As you can tell, we’ve had a lot of fun writing the books and we’re pretty excited about the launch of the series.

Mondays With Mike: Novelist and Freelancer Angela Roe

IN ONE OF my first writers groups I met Angela K. Roe.  Angie was not only a good writer; she was an excellent editor and made numerous suggestions to my early manuscripts which contributed greatly to their success.  She is a romance novelist, freelance writer, and a freelance photographer. She has a variety of published Ebooks and online articles based on topics as diverse as home improvement, ballroom dancing, fitness, marketing and research, computer programs and business associations. She also provides SEO copy to industry-leading Web content providers and is happily married to her best friend. She and her husband share five children, nine grandchildren, a dog and a fish and what she terms “a crazy rollercoaster of a life and we depend on each other to make through the laughter and the tears.”

Mike:  Welcome to my blog and thanks for joining us today.  First, can you tell me a little bit about your novels This Montana Man, and It was Snowing?

Angela: This Montana Man is a romance novel about a writer who rents a rundown house on the land of Jamie Overton so she can hide from a crazed stalker while she writes her next book. The romance doesn’t stay on the pages of her book, though and the stalker finds her in a small Montana town. See how the town rallies around her to keep her and her handsome landlord, Jamie, safe. It Was Snowing is a short story that shines a light on a marriage, during one of the most stressful times a marriage, can endure the loss of twins through miscarriage. This one is a personal story as it's a true recounting of what my husband and I went through in March of 1999.

M:  And your other books: The Creeps, The Journey, and Carried Away?

A: The Creeps is a collection of short stories, all with a twist. There are 4 short stories that range from the murder of a pediatric nurse to a Halloween story about a bookstore that's a neighborhood favorite. The Journey is a single short story about what happens after you die, or at least my hope of what happens after you die. This is another one that's near my heart as I wrote it as a way to say goodbye when my grandmother passed away. Carried Away is a collection of short stories about the passengers on a cross-country train. When I see trains, I always wonder who is on them and why, what their stories are and where they're going so I wrote about them. It's an on-going series with another set to come out at the end of October.

I have another book under contract with Echelon Press entitled Stormy Encounters that's set to come out sometime in mid-2012. I'm thrilled to be under contract with it and I'm working with a terrific group of people.

M: How did you get published? In other words, what was your road to getting your books before the public?

A: I've listened to other authors whose experiences with traditional publishing were not positive or sometimes, even ethical. That combined with the lengthy time between acceptance and publication, led my husband and I to look into self-publishing. I'm fortunate to have a husband in the computer industry so he's very analytical and well-versed in formatting and other computer-speak processes. With a bit of time, he published my books.

M:  What started you writing?

A: I've always been a writer. According to my mom, I wrote before I knew how to write and would tell stories to anyone who would listen. When I'd get upset as a child, I'd rewrite the reality of the situation to change the outcome. It was a pretty handy way to deal with two older brothers.

M: What are your writing habits? In other words, do you write each day, morning, evening, etc.?

A: For me personally, if I don't write every day, I lose interest in the story. Plus, I get distracted by day to day life and before I realize it, two years has passed and I'm still on page six. That being said, I'm also a deadline-driven person so being in a writer's group is a requirement. If I'm not held accountable by the expectation of presenting to a writer's group, I'm far more likely to get distracted.

M:  Anything upcoming?

A: As I mentioned, Volume 2 of Carried Away is coming up at the end of this month and Stormy Encounters is due out mid-2012. I've got some collaborations planned with Stephen L. Brayton in the works and I'm also outlining the second in the Walkers Ridge series. This Montana Man is the first in that series.

M:  Any hobbies, etc. for spare time?

A: We're very active in church and in the neighborhood so there isn't much spare time in our lives. My husband sings in just about every choir in the church and I am active in a couple of the women's groups. We love to spend time with the kids and the grandkids and of course, the entire house is filled with books. I can always find time to read a good book!

M:  How can readers contact you?

A:  Feel free to visit my website at www.angelakroe.com, my blog site, www.angelaroe.blogspot.com or they can email me at angela@angelakroe.com

My books are currently only available in ebook form so those who only buy ebooks are in good shape. Purchase my books on Smashwords, Barnes and Noble and Amazon.

M:  Thank you for your time.

A:  Thank you.

Wendy Delsol Spotlight in the Des Moines Register

ONE OF MY writer friends, Wendy Delsol, was the subject of a feature in today’s Des Moines Register, which you can read here.  Wendy’s new book, Frost, will be launched at a party at the Des Moines Library this Tuesday, October 18 at 6:30 p.m., during the library’s Author Talk and Reading program. The public is invited.   Wendy is a member of our Published Authors Liaison group. You can read my interview with Wendy from last November here.

Mondays With Mike: Children's Author Rebecca Janni

ONE OF THE local writing groups I meet with is made up of traditionally published authors, we call it Published Authors’ Liaison (PAL) and we even have a blog and a Facebook page.  The group contains an eclectic group of writers which makes it so much fun.  This week I’m pleased to have one of our PAL members, children’s author Rebecca Janni.

Mike:  Thank you for taking the time to be with us today.  Can we start with a little background about you?

Rebecca: I learned early on that biking was the best way to get around the neighborhood and reading was the best way to get around the world. On a bus ride home from school, I told a friend that I was working on a novel about a girl and her horse. I never finished the novel, but a horse of a different hoof shows up in Every Cowgirl Needs a Horse and Every Cowgirl Needs Dancing Boots, both published by Dutton Children's Books. I have two more picture books forthcoming and several projects on my desk. Today, I divide my time between volunteering, adjunct teaching, and writing -- all of which take a back seat to motherhood! I live in Iowa with my husband, four children, and a big-hearted dog named Mickey. I love to read and bike with my family, but not at the same time.

M:  Can you tell me a little bit about the idea for your “every cowgirl” books? 

R: My daughter – five years old at the time – had just learned how to ride her bike without training wheels. Riding was her new obsession. She came inside dressed from head to toe in her cowgirl finest, all out of breath and rosy-cheeked. “How's my bicycle cowgirl?” I asked, and I couldn't stop thinking about that character. Then, our family would go riding on the local bike trails, and I found myself telling the kids to “get back in the saddle” or “whoa!” On the longest rides, I even felt saddle sore!

M: What is the age range of your target audience?

R:  3-8 years old

M:  What is different about writing for children than other forms of writing?  Are there any special challenges you face?

R: I believe the best writing crosses genres. As an adult, I still love to read picture books and YA novels. And if I come across a breathtaking passage or something hysterically funny in an adult novel (something appropriate, mind you), I will share it my children right away.

But writing picture books does require an economy of words. It's a challenge that makes the stories stronger in the end. Like a poet, a picture book writer chooses every word carefully and leaves space for the illustrations to tell part of the story.

M:  In a picture book, like yours, how is an illustrator chosen and how well do writers and illustrators work together?

R:  In my experience, when a publishing house acquires a manuscript, they have an art director and an editorial team who choose the illustrator for the book. I couldn't be happier with the choices they made! Lynne Avril is a dream – an artist, a cowgirl, a musician and a lovely person. I think her artwork is the perfect fit for Nellie Sue's adventures. And Tracy Dockray, the illustrator for Jammy Dance – is amazing too. I'm still in awe of the movement in her artwork for Jammy Dance – these characters really do dance!

M: How do you market you books?

Rebecca and "fans" at a local B&N

R:  I'm learning more about the marketing end of publishing from groups like PAL (Published Authors Liaison), SCBWI (Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators), DAWG (Des Moines Area Writers Group), and my own magical writing group, with authors Jan Blazanin, Eileen Boggess, and Sharelle Byars Moranville. And I try to say yes to as many events – online or in person – as I possibly can.

M: What started you writing? 

R: I was very young. Reading, I guess. I loved getting lost in stories, loved traveling to other places and walking in so many shoes, loved the magic in words. I suppose I decided I wanted to try my hand at it, creating magic from words.

M: What are your writing habits? In other words, do you write each day, morning, evening, etc.?

R:  I write when my youngest is at preschool or after the kids are in bed . . . in the cracks, whenever I can.

M:  Anything upcoming?

R: Yes, Jammy Dance comes out February 14, with FSG and my third cowgirl book, Every Cowgirl Loves a Rodeo, comes out in May 2012 with Dial Books for Young Readers.

M:  Any hobbies, etc. for spare time?

R:  Besides horseback riding, I mean, bike riding? I enjoy hiking, traveling, singing, praying, reading, cooking, and spending time with family and friends.

M:  How can readers contact you?

R:  There's an “email me” button on my website, www.rebeccajanni.com.

M:  Are any of your books available in ebook form?

R:  I'm so glad you asked. Every Cowgirl Needs a Horse is available on the Nook and soon to be available on the I-Pad.

M:  Thank you so much for taking time with us, and good luck with your upcoming releases.

R:  Thank you, it was my pleasure.