One April After the War

One April After the War

by G.S. Boarman

 

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GENRE: Historical Fiction

 

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BLURB:

 

When Mary Warner is requested to attend a meeting with her estranged godfather, President Ulysses S. Grant, she quickly finds that an invitation from the office of the President is an offer she can’t refuse.

 

Fresh from concluding a counterfeiting sting in Cincinnati, Secret Service agents Merritt and Argent are tasked by the President to convince Miss Warner to return with them to Washington, D. C. For the two Treasury agents, this simple assignment to escort the socially awkward and willful young woman on an 800-mile railroad journey from Louisville, Kentucky to the White House proves far more interesting and difficult than the men could have ever thought possible. And, in the face of danger, it may just turn out that Mary is more of an asset than a problem for the two agents.

 

For Mary Warner, the trip begins to take on a sinister meaning as she finds herself virtual prisoner to Merritt and Argent. Madness, morality, and murder all swirl in a strange April storm at midnight turning this odd odyssey into something so much more than a mere trip between cities.

 

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EXCERPT

 

Merritt looked over to M before resuming his seat. She seemed completely unperturbed by the stranger’s arrival, appearance, or attitude. She had, in fact, stopped studying the stranger as soon as his presence became known to Argent and himself. She was now studying Merritt, with some expectation in her gaze. He apologized for the intrusion of the stranger, then again took up his newspaper. Argent also apologized, with the promise that he would speak to the porter about restricting access to their apartment. Having been dismissed of all but the most basic duties in this apartment, the least he could do was to keep intruders at bay.

 

M tried to return to her reading, but her mind was restless, her thoughts both insistent and scattered, and she could not bring her mind to bear on what she read, nor could what she read bring any order to her thoughts. She finally gave up the effort and turned her head towards the window. No matter what Argent thought, the air was fresh and cool.

 

She was still awake, though seeing nothing, when she heard the outer door quietly open and shut. She waited to see if it was the strange man returned to murder them all, and it was as she waited that she drifted into sleep. Her scattered thoughts coalesced into a memory of the creek at home and in this memory was Merritt, and they played together in the creek, though they were both grown; he made her laugh, like Randy used to do.

A Word With the Author

1.Did you always want to be an author?

Yes, but I never knew what I would write about. I have always enjoyed trying to find the perfect sentence, the perfect word, for even something as mundane as a complaint letter. Until I wrote these books, the only writing I had ever done was term papers and essays for school.

2.Tell us about the publication of your first book.

One April After the War is my first book, but it is the first of three that are finished and published (Amazon). Publishing and marketing have proven to be a difficult learning curve, far harder than the actual writing of the books. I am very grateful for the help and personal attention from Rachel at Books Forward.

3.Besides yourself, who is your favorite author in the genre you write in?

My favorite writer of historical fiction is Patrick O’Brian, who wrote 20 books in one series alone before his death in 2000. The movie, Master & Commander: The Far Side of the World, was based on these books. A close second to him would be Dorothy Dunnett, author of the House of Niccolo series.

4.What's the best part of being an author? The worst?

I crave the independence that being an author affords. I have worked in several office jobs and hated every minute. I am content to stay home with my dogs and cats and my gardens. I am willing to work far longer writing – starting first thing in the morning and working until bedtime – than at any other job I have ever had. At office jobs, I was like Fred Flintstone – as soon as 5:00 hit, I was out of the office and on my way home. 

 

The worst part about being an author is the uncertainty of finding an audience and the uncertainty of an income. But other than those two uncertainties, writing and researching have given me the greatest sense of contentment. I can’t imagine that I will ever tire of it.

5.What are you working on now?

The first three books in the M. Warner Annals are finished and will be for sale on March 15. I am currently working on Book IV, as yet untitled.

 

 

If it is not out of place, please allow me to present an unusual coincidence regarding One April After the War and the timing of its release. April 1870 (the time of the book) and April 2022 are exactly the same. That is, they both begin on Friday, Easter in both years is April 17, and the full moon in both Aprils is only 24 hours off (April 15 in 1870 and April 16 in 2022). 

 

Interested readers are welcome to submit any questions at gsboarman.com.

Coincidences such as this are intriguing and fun. Thanks for sharing. Elaine 

 

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AUTHOR Bio and Links:

 

After the death of G. S. Boarman, a great niece cleaned out the old Kentucky family farmhouse and in the attic, amid the rusting coffee mill, the rickety outdated furniture that was still awaiting repairs, and the stacks of vermin-eaten Harper’s Weekly’s and Police Gazette’s, she found a curious box marked simply “M”.

 

On the kitchen floor, the metal hasps were flipped back and the top pried off. Lying on the top of a very neat and orderly collection of things was a scrapbook and lying loose inside the scrap book was a note that said simply, “Please finish the story.” The scrapbook itself contained a rough outline of a narrative with sometimes undecipherable glosses and cryptic references to mysterious sources.

 

From letters and notebooks, ledgers and calendars, train schedules and stockholders’ reports, the story was slowly extracted and pieced together, and the small treasures, carefully wrapped and preserved in the box, took their place in the narrative.

 

Boarman’s will had already been read, probated, and executed, but the niece, as executrix, felt obligated to fulfill Boarman’s last wish — to breathe life into the long-ago story of a woman who held some importance to Boarman.

 

Website: https://www.gsboarman.com/

 

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GIVEAWAY INFORMATION and RAFFLECOPTER CODE

 

G.S. Boarman will be awarding a $10 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

 

RAFFLECOPTER:

 

<a class="rcptr" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/28e4345f4128/" rel="nofollow" data-raflid="28e4345f4128" data-theme="classic" data-template="" id="rcwidget_w8gouk7b">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a>

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a Rafflecopter giveaway

Beyond the Book: Review

Blurb:

An impoverished young woman. A lonely father of five. Will they be able to resist when a cadre of optimistic children start matchmaking?

Colorado, 1910. Quinn Cooper can’t help feeling uneasy. But securing a job as a schoolmarm in a tiny frontier town was the only way to save her family from starvation back in Boston. And her nerves aren’t eased by a stray gunshot that spooks the sleigh horses, casting her into the snow… until she’s rescued by a handsome stranger.

Lord Alexander Barnes knows better than to believe any pretty young woman would willingly become a mother to five children. But the lonely widower finds himself charmed by the lovely newcomer and her easy rapport with his offspring. And after his disgruntled nanny quits, his heart melts at the sight of her joyfully taking over the role.

Determined to prove herself in the schoolhouse and as a governess, Quinn fears her near-poverty will prevent any possible courtship with the affluent Englishman. And between their age difference and prejudicial violence in the town, Lord Barnes is certain this second chance at happiness just cannot be.

Will their love go unspoken, or will their persistence reward them with a lasting passion?

My Review:

I finished the book with no problem, but there are a couple of things that didn’t ring true for me. 

First, I find it hard to believe that an English noble who was the heir to much land and fortune would ever give it up just to run off to America to be his own man. Children in his social class were brought up to do their duty and guide the family fortunes into the future, not to abandon his responsibilities without a backward look. I guess there could be exceptions to the rule, but I’m not sure it happened to older sons very often. 

Second, I didn’t really like his attitude toward the town. It was far too paternalistic to suit me. In the wild west I’m not sure people would have stood for it.

Third, the two start falling in love almost the first moment they saw each other. I’m a believer in love at first sight, but somehow this bothered me. Maybe because it seemed too perfect. The same can be said of the children. They sure accepted her with no reservations. She was really good to them, though, so I can see why they’d grow to love her.

Fourth, there were really no surprises or even much conflict in the story. It was too super sweet. There were a couple of things that didn’t fit into the sweetness, though they were things not related to the romance.

Still, I know that this book will appeal to many different readers. Lots of people want to escape reality for a while and live in a sweeter, more uncomplicated world. If that’s your cup of tea, you’ll adore the book.

What do you say? Do you think you’d like it?

Lessons Learned About Life and Love

                                Lessons Learned About Life And Love

by Vivianne Knebel

 

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GENRE: Memoir

 

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NOTE: The book is free during the tour.

 

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BLURB:

 

In her second book "Lessons Learned About Life and Love", Vivianne shares some of the lessons she has learned from writers and thinkers such as Dr. Wayne Dyer and Dr. Viktor Frankl, weaving them into her own experiences in a compelling guide to living, loving and thriving in old age. Her insights offer proof that great wisdom is not gained only from the classroom or the lecture hall, and that one need not look far to understand the secrets to living well. From anecdotes about her everyday rituals to memories from her world travels, Vivianne captures the profound and often surprising moments of enlightenment that can be found right in front of us, if we only know where- and how-to look.

 

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EXCERPT

 

My book "Lessons Learned About Life And Love" is about my life experiences and how they were impacted by my mentors the philosophers and poets, who helped me make sense of the world. I applied their wisdom and it worked to help me gain the inner dignity of living a fully loved life. How I have come to love life, that same life which I had once sought to end at age 17. I learned early on how cruel life can be but also felt inspired by the beauty and love that always awaits all of us. The trials of my early life left their mark on me and I found a way to overcome the adversities of the world I was able to build a new life for myself, dealing with immigration and walking that long path of self-discovery and self-fulfillment.  But that does not mean that I left all adversities behind me. We are in a constant cycle of ups and downs.

 

In my book, I write about my latest challenge having to face my husband's severe illnesses. How it was almost touching and go. With positive hope and optimism, one can still find joy and meaning in life and how it can create miracles. This book is a guide to seek meaning even amidst tragedy. I write about the greatest power of love. Nurturing and a sense of responsibility are facets of love. Awareness of service is a state of mind that expresses love. With my unwavering hope, positivity, and devotion I hope to inspire my husband to hold on to that same faith and hope to overcome this latest challenge.

 

I want to give people the message to always hold onto hope, positivity, and faith, to stay determined, and to persevere. I guide people to cope with challenges in flexible ways. Challenges make us resilient and resilience breeds purpose. That is how we grow!

A Word With the Author

Did you always want to be an author?

 

Although I always admired that profession, I did not believe it was possible for me to become an author. Due to hardship I had very little formal schooling and had to make up for it during the course of my life. It appealed to me to be able to express my feelings on paper and to work towards an achievable goal.

 

Tell us about the publication of your first book.

 

For years I have been recording notes for myself, based on my extensive readings, before realizing that I could write for others too.

My first book “From  Rubble To Champagne” is my autobiography, with messages of resilience and hope in the face of great hardship.

 

After finishing my manuscript and sending it to a publishing firm that agreed to publish it, I was grateful to finally see it in print. 

 

Besides yourself, who is your favorite author in the genre you write in?

 

My favorite author is Dr. Wayne Dyer. I consider him a mentor among other great minds.  In his writings, he helped me to make sense of the world. I can truly say that he showed me the way to living a fulfilled life. I apply his wisdom in my daily life and now I wish to inspire others as great minds have inspired me. 

 

What is the best part of being an author?

 

The best part of being an author is to connect with people and to be able to enrich their lives.

 

What is the worst part of being an author?

 

I would say facing vulnerability and criticism.

 

 

What are you working on now?

 

After having published two books in a fairly short time, I now engage in interviews on radio, podcasts, television, and regional papers. and being able to enrich their lives. 

 

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AUTHOR Bio and Links:

 

Born an illegitimate child in the wake of WWII in Berlin, Nazi Germany to a single mother, Vivianne Knebel’s options were limited and her future looked bleak. She experienced poverty, cold, and hunger, and was even driven to the point of committing suicide. To seek out a better life, Vivianne immigrated to Canada as a teenager, but her misfortunes did not end there. However, in response to a miraculous intervention, she decided to preserve her life and keep moving forward.

 

After this incident, Vivianne met a fellow German immigrant, Wiland, who eventually became her husband. But even more than that, he became a catalyst for change in her life. His belief in her is what helped her see the true, immeasurable value of her life. She went on to play a key role in Wiland’s business venture and together they built a better future for each other. 

 

Since then, Vivianne has run a marathon, learned to pilot a plane, and even beat cancer. She’s found a greater sense of spirituality and wants to share her story with the world, to remind people that there is always a reason to keep moving forward. 

 

Website: https://vivianneknebel.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/knebelauthor

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Vivianne-Knebel-100504868342880/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vivianneknebelauthor/

Tumblr: https://vivianneknebelauthor.tumblr.com/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/20376391.Vivianne_Knebel

 

Amazon Buy Link: https://www.amazon.com/Lessons-Learned-About-Life-Love/dp/0578976005/

 

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GIVEAWAY INFORMATION 

 

Vivianne Knebel will be awarding a $10 Amazon GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

 

 

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Saturday Sample and Weekend Writing Warriors

 Welcome to my blog. Today I'd like to share an excerpt from my all time favorite book Blue 52. On Sunday when you finish here you can go to www.wewriwa.blogspot.com for more excerpts from a talented group of authors. 

Blurb:

First Lady Kills President Lovinggood" 

December 5, 2018 

Thirty years later, Hank Lovinggood embarks on a quest to prove his mother's innocence and punish the killers who took his family from him. Together Hank and lovely physicist Dr. Kathryn Sinclair confront an implacable, twisted, and merciless enemy who'll do whatever it takes to hide the truth forever.

Last Week's Excerpt: 

He removed a well-worn scrapbook from its place in the bottom drawer, caressing its smooth, cool surface. When he opened the scrapbook, Richard’s face laughed up at him. The photo had been taken right after his grandson, Hank, was born. This was exactly the way he remembered Richard, laughing and happy, his eyes alight with life and promise.

The whole family had celebrated Hank’s birth. Richard and Elizabeth had tried for years to have a baby. They had seen a lot of fertility specialists, but they’d almost given up hope when Elizabeth found out she was pregnant with Hank. Oh, yeah, he’d never forget those days. “The king of the world,” he muttered. “I felt like the king of the world.”

He turned the pages one by one as he had done so many times before. No matter how often he looked at the scrapbook, he never grew tired of it. Pausing on page five, he studied one of his favorite pictures. It had been taken on Richard and Elizabeth’s wedding day. I’m ninety-eight years old now, and I’ve never seen two people as much in love as they were.

The little half smile on his face faded as his old eyes glazed. It can’t be too much longer before I see Richard again; I can’t wait to find out what really happened that night. He supposed his faith required him to forgive whoever had murdered his son and daughter-in-law, but he daily prayed the perpetrator would burn in hell forever.

Today's Excerpt:

He flipped to the back of the scrapbook. God, I hate this part! He had thought of destroying the offensive newspaper articles, but without them, the record would be incomplete. “President Lovinggood Murdered!” the first headline screamed. “First Lady Kills the President” trumpeted another in huge, black letters.

Unwilling to read any more, he turned back to the front of the scrapbook. Look, there was a good picture of Richard and Joan taken in their Halloween costumes. Richard must have been five or six at the time. They looked so much alike some people had thought they were twins, but Richard was two years older than Joan. He remembered that Richard hadn’t wanted his little sister to—

“Put that damned thing away!” a strident, furious voice demanded from the door.

Elaine Lovinggood, the senator’s wife, had gone red- faced with anger. “Why are you torturing yourself, Henry? I told you not to look at it anymore.” 

“Elaine...”

“I don’t want to hear it.”

“Elaine...”

“Be quiet, Henry!” She slapped the door with the flat of her hand and made the senator jump. “I loved Richard as much as you did, but he’s dead, and no amount of mourning in the world can bring him back. You’ve wasted the last thirty years grieving for our dead son, and I can’t take it anymore.” Her voice rose again. “For the love of God, don’t ruin the last days of our lives!”

Beauty in the Beast

 

                                   Beauty in the Beast

by Emily-Jane Hills Orford

 

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GENRE:   fantasy/science fiction

 

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BLURB:

 

Priya, a name that suggests beautiful. Amell, a name that suggests all powerful. One is a beautiful young lady; the other a beast. Their paths have crossed before, only Priya doesn’t remember Amell from her past. Or does she? And what does it all mean? The Amell she meets is part beast. So are the others at Castle Mutasim. Is she one of them, too? How can this be? What manner of creature would experiment on other living creatures, to mutate them into something bizarre and, sometimes, downright dangerous? Priya has to know. She wants to know. And she wants to make things right.

 

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EXCERPT

 

“Amell,” she screamed. “Amell. Help me.”

            

She was pinned in a hunk of metal, the world around her growing darker by the minute. And it was cold. Bitter. Bone-chilling. A soft tongue licked her cheek. Whines and a warm breath slipped into her ear. Bear. Her three-year-old mutt, a Border Collie-Black Lab mix. Black and white. Full of love and mischief. Her strength in a time of need. Like right now. 

 

She had rescued Bear. A puppy tossed in a dumpster. Left to die. The two were inseparable. Now, she was failing Bear. And they would die.

 

One final scream, “Amell.”

 

“I’m so sorry, Bear,” she whispered. 

            

As she slipped into oblivion, she felt a fog of confusion slither through her brain. Who is Amell?

A Word With the Author

1.Did you always want to be an author?

 

I think so. As soon as I could hold a pencil or pen in my hand, I was writing stories. Being the youngest in a family of aural storytellers, it was hard to get a word in edgewise. So, while everyone else shared their stories aurally, I wrote them down. I remember my Grade 4 teacher being amazed at a descriptive paragraph I wrote, describing a black stallion on a hilltop overlooking his herd. I think I gave her a ‘wow’ moment with my use of adjectives to aptly describe the scene, a bit above and beyond what the other Grade 4s were writing. My teacher’s ‘wow’ moment spurred me on and writing became my passion. 

2.Tell us about the publication of your first book.

 

Now, this is complicated. The first book I wrote, “Personal Notes”, was my grandmother’s story, written in the creative nonfiction genre that echoed her gift of aural storytelling. However, this wasn’t my first book; it was actually my second. My first published book, “Spring,” was the first in my “Four Seasons” series that follows the lives of classical musicians the mysteries that haunt their valuable instruments. “Spring” follows a young violinist with a valuable Giovanni violin that has a hidden mystery that threatens both her life and her musical career. Melanie, the main character, travels the world to perform and there’s someone after her and her instrument. With a strong background in music (as well as a writer, I’m a retired music teacher), I wanted to write a story with the main character being a classical musician. It’s a career that many overlook as exciting, but these people have lives and adventures, too. “Spring” ended with a cliffhanger, or so my readers claimed. With high demand for more musical adventures, I wrote “Summer,” followed by “Autumn” and “Winter.” Two new books in the series, “Songs of the Ottawa Valley” and “Hidden Music” are awaiting publication. I never seem to run out of ideas of what to write about.

3.Besides yourself, who is your favorite author in the genre you write in?

 

I write in several different genres, but my recent book could be defined as fantasy/ science fiction. In this genre, I think my favorite author is Genevieve Cogman. I love her “Secret Library” series. 

4.What's the best part of being an author? The worst?

 

The best part? The writing, of course. I have so much fun weaving my plots and developing my characters. 

 

The worst? Editing and book promotion are perhaps a tie for the worst part. I’m not an extrovert and I find it difficult pushing myself to launch my books, to promote myself, to do talks about my writing and readings from my books. Editing is just never ending and not very exciting. And, it doesn’t matter how many editors, how many readers, how many times you go through a manuscript pre-publication, there’s always a lot of errors in the published book. Even the big-name authors have the same problem. Spell check can only catch so much.

5.What are you working on now?

 

Book 5 of the “Piccadilly Street” series: “Mrs. Murray Goes to High School.” The series is loosely based on my experiences growing up in a haunted house combined with what my grandmother always described as my vivid imagination. So far, the books, aimed at the Middle Grade to early young adult age group (and loved by readers of all ages), have received favorable reviews. The first book, “Mrs. Murray’s Ghost,” is followed by “Mrs. Murray’s Hidden Treasure,” “Mrs. Murray’s Home,” and “Mr. Murray’s Gun.” I had so much fun writing these stories. Oh! And my grandmother (Granny) plays a big role in this series; I know she’d love that.

Thanks so much for doing this interview for us. I wish you all the luck in the world with your writing.

Elaine

 

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AUTHOR Bio and Links:

 

Emily-Jane Hills Orford is a country writer, living just outside the tiny community of North Gower, Ontario, near the nation’s capital. With degrees in art history, music and Canadian studies, the retired music teacher enjoys the quiet nature of her country home and the inspiration of working at her antique Jane Austen-style spinet desk, feeling quite complete as she writes and stares out the large picture window at the birds and the forest. She writes in several genres, including creative nonfiction, memoir, fantasy, and historical fiction. http://emilyjanebooks.ca

 

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/realpeoplestories

Twitter: @ejhomusic

Amazon buy link: https://www.amazon.com/Beauty-Beast-Emily-Jane-Hills-Orford-ebook/dp/B09TH1T6J6/

 

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GIVEAWAY INFORMATION 

Emily-Jane Hills Orford will be awarding a $10 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Some Other Traveller

 

Some Other Traveller

by Lyn McConchie

 

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GENRE: Post-apocalyptic

 

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BLURB:

 

When the world’s civilizations collapse from a lethal pandemic, being old can mean you have the experience and wisdom to survive and to see that friends and family do as well. Donal and Sheila McArn are seventy when most of the world is dying, and they must hold the line for everything they know. They may not have long, but so long as they live, they’re going to do their best – and anyone against them had better step back. NOW!   

 

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EXCERPT

 

Kaylie died an hour later. Ricky had all his things packed by then, Donal had dug a small grave, and we placed her in that, the teddy bear – a bright pink one that Ricky said she still loved – tucked in beside her. After that, he clung to my hand. 

 

I drove home, and when I would have left the lad with Janet, he clung to me like a limpet, his eyes wide in fear of losing someone else. I put him to bed in the spare room, slept in the bed opposite, and took him with me the next morning. Janet took the accumulated cash, along with a list and several friends, utes, and her car with a trailer. We removed the Black and McMallan animals, several small portable sheds, and salvaged useful items from houses and outbuildings. During which time Ricky was never out of eyeshot, and when my hands weren’t employed, he clung to one of them.

 

We drove home to eat dinner, I put him to bed, and when he asked, I answered, “Yes, this is your room now. You’ll go to school here once it opens again. The place is called Glen Mhairi. It’ll be your home.” And then the tentative question that almost broke my heart. “Aye, you can call us Grandma and Grandpa if you want. We’d like that.” He fell asleep still trustfully holding my hand, and as I looked at that peaceful face, I knew the truth.

 

After all those years and with never a child of our own, we finally had a grandson.

A Word With The Author

1.  Did you always want to be an author? No, for years I hugely admired people who wrote the books I loved. I regarded them as ‘superior.’ They must be so much more than me, so clever, so intelligent, so creative. I hadn’t quite completed high school. Life is what happens while you’re making other plans however. In 1980, I joined SF Fandom. A couple of years later the editor of our National Magazine, WARP, asked me to do an item or two. Well, it would be my opinion, and I could give that. I did. Great, do me an article for the magazine. I did. Then it was suggested I could do them a story. Urk! But my imagination leapt into gear, and a couple of days later - I’d written one (Beyond the River). Then the editor noted that most larger conventions had a short story contest, why didn’t I put something in for the next one. I did - I won. That went on for several years, until he also pointed out that if I was doing that well, why not try to sell something? Um, that was different. That would make me an ‘author.’ But then I could only get rejected, what the heck. I sent out three stories to three different magazines. I sold two. They paid. I looked at the cheques and it slowly dawned on me. I was an author. And after that, you couldn’t have stopped me writing with barricades and a police cordon.

 

2.Tell us about the publication of your first book. Another case of me stumbling into something and looking confused. For years I’ve had friends who live in major overseas cities. I live in the country on a few acres, and I had a house cow I hand milked, a small flock of coloured sheep, piglets, plus hens, geese, and a duck (Daisy). I used to write them long letters about the goings-on with my animals and friends. I also belonged to a small writer’s group at the time - long since dissolved and never reactivated. We were required to produce something to read to the group, and I read one of my letters about escaping piglets. The group collapsed laughing, and afterwards, someone said, why didn’t I offer that to a smallholder’s magazine they knew. It was a quarterly, so I simply printed out four of the letters and offered those. They bought them as a year’s worth of articles. I was delighted at the same but thought no more about it until the editor at the magazine phoned to say he was also at editor at a publisher. They were looking for suitable short books to bring out for Mother’s Day. How much material of this kind did I have? (about 90,000 words) How long would he want the book to be? About 35-40,000 words. Oh, no problem. I had it to him in three weeks, they accepted it, and my first book appeared in February 1993. 

3.Besides yourself, who is your favorite author in the genre you write in? There’s no easy answer to that. I’m a New Zealander, it’s common for writers here to write in several genres. I’ve had work published in real-life humor, SF/F/ghost/post-apocalyptic, mystery, children’s picture books, and serious nonfiction. For SF/F, Andre Norton by a country mile, she was also a long-time friend. For mystery, Conan-Doyle, (I’ve had 8 Holmes pastiche books published, and five more contracted.) For true-life humor, Doreen Tovey.  

4.What's the best part of being an author? The best - Seeing your work appear. Getting author copies and beaming at your own, your very own work in print. Being told by someone how much they enjoyed reading something of yours. The worst - nothing really. I tend to the laidback.

5.What are you working on now? Last Friday (March 18), I finished my sixth post-apocalypse book. Set in Cornwall from 2039 when a new virulent plague with a long incubation period hits the world, killing anywhere - depending on the country - from 90%-99% of the population. In this series of standalones, I’ve concentrated on two points. That in a major disaster; it is NOT the good, honest, deserving citizens who survive, nor is it the ideal family of a married couple with 2.5 children and a dog, it’s those who were ruthless, smart, in the right place at the right time, who moved fast, kept their heads, and used common sense. In most of the six books, the main characters are not standard. 

The books have been to date, Vestiges of Flames set in NZ, two young women who end up as lovers. (Published Lethe USA 2015)  Coals & Ash, set in Australia, a romance writer living alone in an isolated area takes days to discover half the world is dead around her. (Published Altair Books - Australia 2018.)  Another Fire set in America, a 17-year-old part-Navajo boy loses his grandparents and mother and sets out to cross half the USA to reach his father’s ranch in New Mexico. (Published Night to Dawn 2021.) Some Other Traveller set in the Scottish Highlands, where two married 70-year-olds (an ex-black ops soldier and a paramedic) find they are standing between the apocalypse and the deaths of everyone in their remote glen. (Published Night to Dawn 2022.)  

Completed also are - One is One - and All Alone, a middle-aged woman living a couple of miles out of a small town, finds the plague is right here, right now, and almost every person in her vicinity is dead - and those who aren’t are not necessarily kind or safe. And, Forever Cornwall, set in Cornwall (England) A married couple and his grandmother live at a small private school when the plague strikes. They combine with the local GP, a woman, a motorcycle-riding gun enthusiast, and the headmaster of the school, an old family friend, and out of the event the rejuvenated ancient kingdom of Cornwall will arise.  

 

 

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AUTHOR Bio and Links:

 

Lyn McConchie started writing in 1990 and within a year had short stories and poems published. In 1993, her first book – a humorous true-life work (Farming Daze) about her farm, friends, and animals appeared – this was followed by six others in that series. As a joke between them, a long-time friend of Lyn’s, Andre Norton, was given a book Lyn had written set in one of Andre’s worlds. Andre was impressed with the work and took it to her agents who sold it to Warner books. This led in turn to Lyn writing another six books in Andre’s worlds, which were published either by Warner or TOR. Lyn has won seven short story Muse Medallions from the (International) Cat Writer’s Association, and six Sir Julius Vogel Awards for her books. Since the original book, Lyn has seen almost fifty more books appear plus over three hundred short stories, and says she has no intention of stopping so long as she is able to write.

 

Facebook  https://www.facebook.com/lyn.mcconchie.397

http://lynmcconchie.com/new/

 

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1134674

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/some-other-traveller-lyn-mcconchie/1141107461

https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/some-other-traveller

 

 

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