................Gayle Trent

Gayle Trent is a full-time author. She is currently at work on a new cozy mystery series involving her hobby, cake decorating. The series features Daphne Martin, a 40-year-old divorcee who has begun the second phase of her life with a new home and a new business venture—Daphne’s Delectable Cakes. Gayle lives in Bristol, Virginia with her husband, daughter and son.
Gayle previously worked in the accounting and legal fields, and her last such job was as secretary to a Deputy Commissioner in the Virginia Workers’ Compensation Commission. Though she enjoyed the work, it was a long daily commute and she felt she wasn’t spending enough time with her family. Now she writes while her children are at school; and thanks to a crock pot and a bread machine, can often have dinner ready when everyone gets home.
“I think it’s important to be here for my children…to take part in school functions and to be an active part of their lives,” Gayle says. “I can certainly sympathize with moms who work outside the home—been there, done that—but I would encourage everyone to make time to visit their children’s schools, to have lunch with them [at school] occasionally, to get a feel for who their friends are…little things like that.”
Gayle loves to hear from readers who can contact her via e-mail at gd830@hotmail.com or via one of her Web sites: http://www.gayletrent.com or http://gayle24202.tripod.com. If you share an interest in cake decorating, please visit Daphne’s Web site, available via click-through from either of Gayle’s sites or at http://www.gayle24202.tripod.com/id9.html.

Tell us about Dead pan.


Dead Pan is the second book in the Daphne Martin Cake Decorating Mystery Series. When the book opens, a police officer is questioning Daphne about a cake she took to the Brea Ridge Pharmaceutical Company Christmas party. Many people at the party got sick, but most recovered after being treated with a vaccine manufactured by the company. Only one, Fred Duncan, went into a coma and died. Coincidence? Or did somebody have it in for Fred?


 What would you like to overhear people saying about your book?

"I laughed so hard when--" A local book club selected Murder Takes the Cake as one of their books; and when I attended the meeting, I was delighted to hear that they thought this or that part was funny. I also love it when people say, "I never guessed ______ was the villain." Also, there was a review where a woman said she loved the main character's relationships with various members of her family--that they were beautifully or realistically drawn. I felt like, "Oooh, she got it!" Actually, I'll take anything that's not negative. :-
What inspired you to write Dead Pan?

I was reading an article in Wired magazine about clinical drug tests. I did some further investigation, and I came across some fascinating stuff.
What do you advise new writers to do?

Read the genre they're interested in writing. For instance, when my agent pitched my first three chapters of the embroidery mystery to the editor, the editor said she liked it but didn't love it. I needed to revise it to make her love it in order for her to buy the book. I asked my agent who the editor had published recently. With two names in hand, I went to the bookstore and bought two books. I read them and found they were more descriptive than my own books. I went back, added more description and gave the heroine a bit more spunk, and the book sold. Sometimes you have to be flexible.

Tell us 3 interesting things about you

1) There is a feral cat who comes to visit us on holidays. We’re pretty sure he belongs to somebody because he’s always well fed. We think we’re his “other family.” We first realized his penchant for visiting on holidays when he came and cried at our door on Mother’s Day. He came back for Memorial Day and Father’s Day, and so on. Sometimes he’ll drop by for a visit, and we have to check the calendar to see what holiday it is.

2) I have an adorable cartoon Debbie Ridpath Ohi did of me with a cake (for “Murder Takes the Cake”) when her blog InkyGirl hosted me on my blog tour. The cartoon is framed and hanging above my desk. I figure I’ll never look that good in a picture again!

3) I once got to interview the famous criminalist Dr. Henry Lee via telephone for an article which appeared in Law and Order Magazine.

 Do you have any funny writing stories to share?

I once tried to "write" using my laptop's voice recognition feature while baking brownies and peeling potatoes. Great multi-tasking, right? BUT, there is a drawback to using voice technology gadgets when you have a Southern drawl. Although, the exercise helped me get unblocked and continue on through the chapter I was struggling with, the computer misunderstood most of what I said. AND, to add insult to injury, when I read back over what it said and laughed, the computer translated that as “a a a a a a a a.”

What exactly is a cozy mystery?
Cozy mysteries usually take place in a small community and involve a relatively small number of people. The reader knows that someone within the intimate group will turn out to be the killer. Think Desperate Housewives with one of the cast turning out to be the killer as opposed to Criminal Minds or CSI. Cozy mysteries also feature an amateur sleuth as opposed to a professional detective, and the heroine has an interesting profession or hobby.

Gayle, Thank you so much for stopping by today. I'm a big fan of cozy mysteries and love your main character.

P.S. Tour with VBT-Writers on the Move through February. New and famous authors,


plus useful information. http://tinyurl.com/yhkt7v8

................ Author Interview

Make sure to stop by on Feb 17th when I interview Gayle Trent. She writes really yummy stories.

Rescheduled

My book signing had to be rescheduled due to the impending snow storm. It better snow here at the beach!
So I'll be at Busy Bees from 10-2 on Feb. 27th

I'm pleased to introduce Jane Sutton

Prior to embracing the role of author, Jane considered herself a ‘professional tourist’ as her husband’s career kept her moving around the globe. According to Jane, settling in and exploring each new locale was an exciting, full time job with no pay but a host of benefits. She’s lived in Taiwan, South Korea, England, the Netherlands, Italy and Saudi Arabia, but has also had the opportunity to visit many other countries as well. Since settling back in the states, Jane is now a full time writer and occasional tourist. She is a member of the Florida Writers Association and the Gulf Coast Writers Association. The Ride, is Jane’s first novel and was released by ArcheBooks Publishing in August 2008.


When did you begin your writing career?

For years, I considered myself a ‘professional tourist’ as my husband’s career kept our family moving around the globe. Settling in and exploring each new locale was an exciting, full time job with no pay but a host of benefits. Our temporary homes in Taiwan, South Korea, England, the Netherlands, Italy, and Saudi Arabia provided opportunities to travel to many other countries as well. When my husband opted for early retirement about seven years ago, my touring ‘job’ came to an end. Once we settled back in America, I discovered I had run out of excuses for not following my dream of becoming a writer. It didn’t take me long to realize I loved my new pursuit and to settle into the daily routine of working on a manuscript. Writing a novel, I soon learned, was the easiest step of the publication process.

What is The Ride about?

Unaware that her mundane existence will soon be unraveling, Barbie Anderson approaches that fateful Thursday as she had the other 8,395 days of her marriage. When her world is shaken by a death and the disclosure of shocking family secrets, she begins to question her own identity. Her attempts to deal with the revelations, salvage her marriage and keep her daily routine from spiraling out of control are hindered by her self-esteem issues, an estranged daughter and an obsessed, self-centered husband. When a handsome stranger enters the fray, Barbie finds herself embarking on the ride of her life down historic Route 66 and on the road to self-discovery.

Is the story based on your experiences?

The first time someone asked me this question, I was stunned. I’m a fiction writer so I thought it was obvious that The Ride was the result of my imagination and not my life. Later and much to my surprise, I learned that many first novels are based on the author’s own experiences. However, in my case, the storyline existed only in my head and the characters are conglomerations put together from bits and pieces of people I’ve met or seen over the course of many years.

Where did the idea for the plot come from?

I woke up from a dream about a backyard roller coaster running amok and, like other dreams I’ve had, thought it was an interesting story idea. The idea didn’t fizzle out in the light of day as my ‘dream stories’ often do. I let the idea roll around in my head for a couple of days and then started writing.

Did you write from an outline or let the story unfold naturally?

I didn’t outline but I did jot down a few ideas. Then I let the story carry me long. As dreams seem to be more in the genre of Stephen King, I originally thought The Ride would have a horror or at least a supernatural element. I was surprised when the plot went in an entirely different direction than I first imagined. It’s as though at some point during the process of writing, my characters took control and I simply had to follow their lead.

Two of your main characters are Barbie and Ken. Is it coincidence or intentional that they have the same names as the popular dolls?

It’s intentional. The dolls exude an aura of perfection from their looks to their matching accessories, homes and cars. My characters couldn’t have been more opposite. I enjoyed the comparison and symbolism. At one point in the book Barbie mulls over her marriage to Ken and thinks to herself, “Our appearance may not resemble the dolls but our relationship is as plastic as they are.” When I read the Mattel press release about the breakup of Barbie and Ken dolls a few years ago, I thought it would be fun to work it into the plot, as well.

In The Ride Barbie has a lot of conversations with herself. Was this deliberate?

Yes. I went against the convention of ‘proper’ novel writing by using a lot of Barbie’s inner thoughts. I felt it was important to show readers that her depression and low self-esteem kept her from verbalizing how she really felt. It was her tendency to say one thing but think another. Because of her insecurity, she had a distorted view of herself and her world. I consider her vivid thoughts and her ability to fantasize about events, real or imaginary, an important part of the plot.

What message does the book deliver?

I hope there are several messages, such as a marriage without love is not a marriage at all, or it’s better to be alone than to stay in an unhealthy relationship. The main message, however, is that life should be one fantastic fun ‘ride.’ If it isn’t, do something about it, but never accept unhappiness as a way of life.

What audience will this book will appeal to?

In my opinion, women of all ages will find something to identify with or relate to in The Ride. However, I have also heard from several men who have read and enjoyed the book as well. I think that’s because it is a funny, fast read.

Are you planning a sequel?

Although I’ve been flattered by the number of people who have said they wanted to read more about Barbie, I currently have no plans to write a sequel. I learned long ago though, never to say never. I am, however, currently working on my second novel titled, Reigning Cats and Dogs.

Jane, thank you so much for taking the time to talk with us today. Love the names of your main characters.


Contact Jane:
Email – jane@janesutton.com
Web page - http://janesutton.com/
Blog – Jane’s Ride http://janekennedysutton.blogspot.com/

Reading time: Not just a quiet activity anymore!

Reading, playing, learning and exercising: How do we fit it all in?

One way is to make reading time with your young children part of their play and movement time. You don’t always have to make reading time a quiet activity.

Research has shown that children learn through moving. I think it is best said by Confucius: “What I hear, I forget. What I see, I remember. What I do, I know!”

By giving your children an opportunity to experience fun new ways to move while reading, you provide crucial connections between his/her cognitive, social, emotional and physical domains. Learning and growth occurs in these domains simultaneously, and through reading, playing, learning and exercising you provide multiple opportunities to support them all.

So how do you turn reading time into a movement moment?

For every action word, have your child perform the movement. Act like the animal mentioned; pretend to play the instruments or move like the sounds.

Have your child act out Mother Goose rhymes.

•Ex. Hey! diddle, diddle,

The cat and the fiddle,

The cow jumped over the moon;

The little dog laughed

To see such sport,

And the dish ran away with the spoon.

Visit the library; they have many good books that you and your children can move to.

•Martha Swirzinski, Leap… Laugh… Plop…

•Doreen Cronin, Wiggle, Bounce

•Suzanne Williams, Ten Naughty Little Monkeys

•Rebecca Whitford, Little Yoga: A Toddler’s First Book of Yoga

Look for prepositions when you read. Over, under, around, through, beside and near. When children act out these words they take on a greater meaning.

Children can even act out descriptive words. Such as: strong, big, small and loud. Ask them “What do these words look or sound like?”

Young children love to move and read so why not bring the two together and have FUN!

For more tips and activities visit these websites:

www.WholeChildPublishing.com

www.pecentral.org

By: Martha Swirzinski, M.A.

Book signing/Reading

Come join me at Busy Bees in Virginia Beach, Va  from 10-2. I'll be signing books and doing readings at 10:30 and another at 1:30. They are located at 1544 Laskin Rd.
See you then.

Check out my interview with Lea Schizas

Go to http://thewritingjungle.blogspot.com/2010/01/meet-martha-zwirzinski.html