My name is Kimberly Miller and I’m a wife, mother, and college writing and film professor.
Do you have any hobbies?
I love reading, watching movies, camping, and making jewelry.
What is your favorite vacation spot?
I would go to the beach every day if I could. Any beach, really.
If you were given a ticket to anywhere and spending money to indulge, where would you go?
Hmm… great question. I’ve always wanted to see Paris. Maybe someday…
Do you have pets?
One cat. Westley. He’s named for the Princess Bride (one of my favorite films) – because sometimes he’s kind of bad, like the dread pirate Roberts, and sometimes he’s just my sweet Westley.
What is your favorite color and what do you love about it?
I’m not sure I have one. Probably red if I had to choose.
What was your favorite book as a child?
Anything with Ramona Quimby in it. Thanks, Beverly Cleary!
What is one thing about yourself you’d like to change or are trying to work on?
I worry way, way too much. About pretty much everything lol.
What music genre/singer/band is your go-to for a bad day? For working?
When I’m working or writing I definitely go to smooth jazz because it soothes me but doesn’t distract from writing. For a bad day, I’m partial to serious rock- classic rock, or even metal cranked up nice and loud. I also LOVE Pink for bad days. She’s amazing and so talented!
Do you re-read books? If so, is there one in particular?
While I love books and often will hang onto them forever, I don’t often re-read them. I have re-read ‘The Mountain Between Us’ by Charles Martin though. I adore that book.
Are you an introvert, extravert, or ambivert?
I would say ambivert. I love people and talking and being with a group (and I love my students and teaching) but after a bit of that I need to be left alone. It’s like I run out of words (and patience) and need to recharge.
Does pineapple go on pizza?
Ick. I LOVE pineapple. But not on pizza.
How many places have you lived?
Houses/ residences four. I’m not very exciting that way. Always lived in PA.
What was your first job?
I babysat a little when I was younger but the first ‘real’ job was as a Pizza Hut waitress. Worked a LOT of hours. It (and 2-3 other jobs) helped to pay my way through college (no loans!)- at $2.34 an hour plus tips, it’s no wonder I still remember much of the menu and ordering process. (Did I mention I worked a LOT of hours?)
What is your favorite down time activity?
What’s down time?
Are you an outdoor type? Have a green thumb?
I have a garden. When something survives, I bring it in, raised high, as an offering of sorts, and declare, “Look what I didn’t kill!” I do love to be outdoors though
If you could live inside a movie, which would you choose and which character would you be?
It’s a toss up between Princess Bride (many would say they’d want to be Buttercup- but she’s pretty useless. So, I’d either want to be Westley or Inigo Montoya)/ OR basically any romantic comedy with Sandra Bullock. I, of course, would be her. (Maybe While You Were Sleeping? I could be Lucy)
Are you the type to take a dare?
Not likely
What is one thing you’ve learned through experience that you’d love to pass along to others?
It might sound trite, but don’t give up. When something is right and worth it, even if it doesn’t come out as you expected, friends are great and life is usually pretty darn good.
What books, other than your own, would you highly recommend?
Did I mention Charles Martin? I love his writing. I also like Francine Rivers and Lori Wick
On to writing: what inspired you to start creating stories/non-fiction? How long ago?
I started writing when I was in junior high. A friend was writing stories about us meeting various famous people (guys we had crushes on, of course) and I thought- “I can do that.” So we’d write and read the stories over the phone to each other every night. It was a lot of fun. I’ve pretty much been writing ever since.
How do you choose your settings (fiction) or topics (non-fiction)?
I like small towns because that is what I know and like to read about
Can you tell us a bit about your path to publication?
It took a few years to get an agent and then it took another few years to find a publisher. While with my agent, I published three books (two novels and a novella) with the same publisher but had trouble moving on to bigger opportunities. The industry has changed so much in the years since I started (about ten years ago) that my agent and I recently parted ways (amicably) and I’ve just published my first shorter novel independently with Amazon (not quite a novella but not quite the length I usually write either). So far it’s going well but there’s a huge learning curve.
After seeking the counsel of several more successful authors, they encouraged me to go this route- neither has ever had an agent and both are doing wonderfully on their own. I’m not sure I’m yet in the same league as they are, but I am encouraged. Both of these authors said one of the hardest parts was having enough material to keep the voracious romance readers satisfied. I have seven novels finished already that are pretty much ready to go and I’m working on an eighth. When they heard that they said ‘run, don’t walk’ to self-publishing – you’ll do fine.
Fingers crossed!
Finally, please tell us about your books and add your website so we can find you:
All of my books are considered clean romance novels.
Picking Daisy- An unlikely pairing of a rock star and a struggling writer brings frustration, fun, and of course, unexpected love.
Forgiving Tess- A girl with a past meets a boy with a future.
Lucy in Love- (novella) A second-chance romance for two high school pals
Pushing Robby – This is the ‘happily ever after’ from Picking Daisy. So many readers asked for it – How could I refuse?
Check out my website, facebook page, and more! Sign up for my newsletter too!
https://kimberlymmiller.com/
https://www.facebook.com/Kimberly.Miller.Author
Hi! I'm Kerry E.B. Black. I live in an eastern suburb of Pittsburgh, PA with my husband and two of our five children. (The other three have grown and started their marvelous and independent lives.)
Do you have any hobbies?
I have more hobbies than time! Besides reading, writing, and story telling, I enjoy nature, cinema, and theatre. I adore taking tea with friends, singing, and hosting parties. I study history and take classes when I can. A big part of my daily life includes playing with my kids. Their imagination astounds me.
What is your favorite vacation spot?
One day, when I'm old and grey, I hope to take a retirement gig portraying Cinderella's Fairy Godmother at Walt Disney World. However, if (and when) I have discretionary cash, I adore travel.
If you were given a ticket to anywhere and spending money to indulge, where would you go?
I'm a fairly easy-to-please gal. I love exploring this amazing world. I think the next trip I plan for our family will be a jaunt to the Caribbean.
Do you have pets?
Do we have pets, or do the pets have us? More to the point, I'm enslaved by three cats named for great authors (E.A. Poe, E. Hemingway, and P.D. James), and my daughter has an invaluable service dog named Latte.
What is your favorite color and what do you love about it?
I'm a deep color lover, the kind found in Imperial Crowns, Christmas ornaments, and Jack-O-lanterns aglow on Halloween Night. Color is magical, yet I invariably dress in slimming and stylish black.
What was your favorite book as a child?
My Grandma gave me a pop-up Thumbellina that I adored. It might have prodded my natural proclivity toward near bibliomania.
What music genre/singer/band is your go-to for a bad day? For working?
I find something to enjoy in almost every musical genre, but when I'm writing, I tend to tune out my surroundings.
Do you re-read books? If so, is there one in particular?
I do re-read books when I need some nostalgia, to revisit a literary friend, or recall an important story. I've read Harry Potter enough to have passages memorized.
Are you an introvert, extravert, or ambivert?
I'm shy by nature, but I love people.
Does pineapple go on pizza?
I prefer pineapple in Dole Whips, and my favorite pizza is Margherita with fresh basil.
How many places have you lived?
Western PA has always been my home.
What was your first job?
I'm the eldest of four, and as children, we had four younger cousins who came to live with us, so I learned early to work. My brother and I shoveled snow, raked leaves, and did chores for neighbors to earn a little cash. When I was old enough, I babysat for many area families. To earn equestrian lessons, I worked at a local riding stable. I've been paid for acting and entertaining, worked retail, food and customer service, and marketing. However, writing's always been an important part of my life.
What is your favorite down time activity?
How stereotypical am I? My favorite down time activity is curling up with a good book, my family around me.
Are you an outdoor type? Have a green thumb?
Nature rejuvenates the soul, and I love tending our little portion of the earth. Although the back yard has been overtaken with a swamp, flowers, herbs, vegetables, and fruits grow in our gardens.
If you could live inside a movie, which would you choose and which character would you be?
Since I'm writing this on Ray Harryhausen's birthday, I'll say today I'll be Princess Parisa from "The Seventh Voyage of Sinbad." Not only is she plucky, brave, and joyful, she frees a genie and rescues her guy. Plus, she looks fetching in her silks. However, I'd want to fence alongside Sinbad rather than stand back and watch.
Are you the type to take a dare?
Despite my careful nature, I have been known to throw caution to the wind on occasion.
Do you have a favorite motto or quote that applies to your own life?
Carpe diem. Seize the day. We've only so much time on this earth, so it's best to make the most of what we have.
What is one thing you’ve learned through experience that you’d love to pass along to others?
I wouldn't be vain enough to offer such advice.
What books, other than your own, would you highly recommend?
When I'm feeling low, I revisit Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman's "Good Omens." It never fails to make me laugh.
On to writing: what inspired you to start creating stories/non-fiction? How long ago?
Writing has always been a big part of my life, though I took a bit of a break while raising the kids. Even then, though I didn't write them down, I told stories to entertain them. And though I still have two at home, I'm able to work around their schedules to write, for which I'm immeasurably grateful. My husband's amazing, too, and encourages me in myriad ways.
How do you choose your settings (fiction) or topics (non-fiction)?
Inspiration is a bit like lightning. It strikes, and I scramble to catch its electricity, or I attract it with the lightning rod of daily word counts.
Can you tell us a bit about your path to publication?
Although I wrote short fiction, I kept it private. I was first paid for non-fiction articles and journalistic pieces. After a challenge by a friend, I joined a writing group at my local library and met some of the best people. (In particular Debra Sanchez and her Nomadic Wordsters.) Because I have a crazy schedule, I was thrilled to find online writing groups, too, where I discovered publishing opportunities, found great advice, and forged some invaluable friendships.
I've been thrilled with the attention Tree Shadow Press pays to my story collections!
Finally, please tell us about your books and add your website so we can find you:
I have three collections of short stories available through the fabulous Tree Shadow Press. They are called "Herd of Nightmares," "Carousel of Nightmares," and "Fairy Herds and Mythscapes."
I also have a young adult novel called "Season of Secrets" which is a paranormal thriller.
Twitter: https://twitter.com/BlackKerryblick
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kerry_e_b_black/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7874880.Kerry_E_B_Black
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/kerrylizblack/
BookBubs: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/kerry-e-b-black
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Kerry-E-B-Black/e/B00IKURGVS/
My name is Randy Ryan. I have a master’s degree in English from Youngstown State University and a post bac in secondary ed English from Westminster College. I live in New Castle, Pennsylvania and work as a full-time substitute teacher at Shenango Area School District.
Do you have any hobbies?
I enjoy weight-lifting, drawing, reading, watching horror movies, and spending time with family and friends.
What is your favorite vacation spot?
Eerie, Pennsylvania.
If you were given a ticket to anywhere and spending money to indulge, where would you go?
The Carnegie Museum of Natural History.
Do you have pets?
Two dogs—Lilly and Grizzwald.
What is your favorite color and what do you love about it?
Green. The Hulk and a lot of dinosaurs are often depicted as green. Its also the color most associated with nature—the rainforest, grass, trees—and as a kid, I thought that Godzilla was green, although he’s actually charcoal grey (depending on the version).
What was your favorite book as a child?
The Last Dinosaur by Jim Murphey and The Werewolf of Fever Swamp by RL Stine.
What is one thing about yourself you’d like to change or are trying to work on?
My need to feel structured and productive all the time.
What music genre/singer/band is your go-to for a bad day? For working?
I like all genres of music. My favorite artists, going back to my childhood, are Kid Rock, Eminem, Limp Bizkit, and Disturbed.
Do you re-read books? If so, is there one in particular?
Very rarely, only because there are so many good books out there to read! Occasionally, I have reread classic literature, namely because many of those works are collected in various volumes, along with new stories, that I like to buy. The few works that I have reread are Dracula by Bram Stoker, the collected works of Edgar Allan Poe and HP Lovecraft, Shakespeare’s plays, and A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens.
Are you an introvert, extravert, or ambivert?
Introvert by far. My idea of a good time is being home during the evening with a good book or movie…or both!
Does pineapple go on pizza?
Yup.
How many places have you lived?
I’ve lived in New Castle my entire life.
What was your first job?
Cashier and stock at K-Mart.
What is your favorite down time activity?
Reading and watching movies/TV.
Are you an outdoor type? Have a green thumb?
Yes. I love the outdoors. Some of my fondest childhood memories are going camping in the mountains. The idea of living in a busting urban metropolis is about as unappealing to me as anything.
If you could live inside a movie, which would you choose and which character would you be?
The Washingtonians. It’s an hour-long B-movie created for Masters of Horror, an anthology show that ran from 2005-2007 which was kind of like The Twilight Zone, only scarier. I would play the role of protagonist Mike Franks, who must protect his family from a secret society of men and women who like to dress in colonial garb. I love Revolutionary War history, and these types of stories, so this would be my choice.
Are you the type to take a dare?
Nope.
Do you have a favorite motto or quote that applies to your own life?
“The robbed who smiles steals something from the thief.”—William Shakespeare.
What is one thing you’ve learned through experience that you’d love to pass along to others?
Be passionate and imaginative when it comes to as many things as possible.
What books, other than your own, would you highly recommend?
IT and The Stand, by Stephen King. Mister B Gone by Clive Barker. The Collection by Bentley Little. This list could go on forever.
On to writing: what inspired you to start creating stories/non-fiction? How long ago?
I started writing when I was eight or nine years old. I found an old typewriter and began typing novelizations of some of my favorite Goosebumps episodes. I started writing that day, and in school, and I have never stopped since.
How do you choose your settings (fiction) or topics (non-fiction)?
In my three novels, the setting of Willow Falls is based hugely on New Castle. It is perfect for the fall and winter seasons that the stories take place in. I take the features I’m attracted to in real life and try to make them as vivid and atmospheric as possible.
Can you tell us a bit about your path to publication?
I wrote a one-page paper when I was in sixth grade for an object writing assignment where I went to the batting cages and turned into the baseball. My mom liked the story so much that she kept it, and about the time I turned twenty, she suggested that I use it for a story idea, which is where my first book, which was a children’s book, came from. The protagonist in each of the stories, a boy named Hunter, goes to his first professional baseball game with his father and experiences the thrill of the game by becoming the ball. I wrote the story, submitted it, and it was accepted. The publisher that I published by first five books with has since gone out of business, but both of my novels have been republished as second additions by another publisher, who is also putting out my third novel which will feature illustrations done by me. I have also had a short story put out in my new publisher’s yearly anthology, with another one on the way this year, and we are going to republish my three children’s books in a single volume omnibus as well. I am currently working with my editor, who also runs the publisher, on editing my fourth novel.
Finally, please tell us about your books and add your website so we can find you:
My three children’s books are My First Baseball Game, My Trip to The Museum, and Hunter’s Christmas Memories. The main character is named Hunter because he searches for something new in every book, and the series is about childhood imagination. I made it a point to try and write about things that all kids like—sports, dinosaurs, Christmas.
My novels are Perspectives, which is a meta-novel about the power of words as told through creepy stories that take place in a small, rural town on Christmas eve, and Haunted Revengeance, which has since been republished as Haunted Farm. It is my tribute to my favorite film, John Carpenter’s Halloween, and my favorite season of the year. My newest novel, Mediums, which is a psychological examination of how art in all its forms impacts our daily lives, will be out later this year.
You can find me on Facebook under my personal account or under Randy Ryan Author Page.
I'm Ruth Webster. I write using my maiden name: Ruth Ochs Webster
Retired National Board-Certified Teacher of Social Studies and Lang. Arts. Middle school grades.
Born and raised in Covington, KY, the Edge of the South.
Do you have any hobbies?
Besides writing? Playing guitar and singing at open mics/jams.
Jigsaw puzzles. Collecting coffee mugs (way out of control).
What is your favorite vacation spot?
Can’t possibly choose. Some favorites were Yosemite, Rome, Scotland, Banff, Quebec City, Maine.
If you were given a ticket to anywhere and spending money to indulge, where would you go?
Probably back to England and Germany, my ancestors’ stomping grounds.
Do you have pets?
They’re all in Heaven with my late husband. I’m not getting any new ones, animal or human.
What is your favorite color and what do you love about it?
The entire red family: pink through fire engine to maroon and purple.
They are firey yet smokey.
What was your favorite book as a child?
Cinderella.
What is one thing about yourself you’d like to change or are trying to work on?
I’m eternally trying to lose those ten pounds.
What music genre/singer/band is your go-to for a bad day? For working?
Grand movie instrumental soundtracks.
Do you re-read books? If so, is there one in particular?
The only books I reread are my own (over and over again) as I edit.
Are you an introvert, extravert, or ambivert?
I am an introvert who can pose as an extravert through sheer force of will when necessary.
Does pineapple go on pizza?
Why not.
How many places have you lived? If not native to western PA, what brought you here?
Covington, Kentucky; Syracuse, New York; Baltimore, Betterton, Annapolis, and Cumberland, Maryland (all over that state). Retired to Pittsburgh area upon retirement. Wanted to be near one of my two sons. The other choice was Seattle and that was too far from my friends and Kentucky family.
What was your first job?
Way back when? Delivering newspapers. Working in my uncle’s grocery store.
Upon graduating from high school: worked my way through college as a bookkeeper.
What is your favorite down time activity?
Making music.
Are you an outdoor type? Have a green thumb?
More or less. It’s getting harder to hike as I age, though I did go on a seniors’ hiking trip to Death Valley last fall.
If you could live inside a movie, which would you choose and which character would you be?
“Out of Africa”. The girl. She had Robert Redford.
Or “The Way We Were”. Same reason.
Are you the type to take a dare?
I am a very reasoned risk taker.
Do you have a favorite motto or quote that applies to your own life?
Live a “terrifyingly earnest life”. Ellen Key
And
“The proper function of man is to live, not to exist.” Jack London
What is one thing you’ve learned through experience that you’d love to pass along to others?
You don’t have to listen to the experts and do something because it’s the vogue, or someone says you have to. I pretty much don’t heed any writing advice. I’m old. I will write what I want and market it the way I want. If you don’t need x, y, or z to put food on the table why wear yourself out seeking constant outside validation? Do what you love. Someone will respond and that someone is enough. If there are a handful of someones, even better.
What books, other than your own, would you highly recommend?
Any of the historical novels by our local author Kathleen Shoop. She’s good.
My current read is Chernow’s “Grant”. I tend to read Civil War non-fiction to supplement the research I do for my novels.
On to writing: what inspired you to start creating stories/non-fiction? How long ago?
As a fifth-grader, I wrote stories that were read to the first graders.
As a teenager, I was a teen reporter for the Cincinnati Enquirer.
In college I was associate editor of the student newspaper.
While teaching, I wrote a newspaper column for seven years in the Cumberland (MD) Times-News.
I’ve written way too many grant proposals and curriculums.
Finally, in retirement I got serious about attempting book length manuscripts that could educate while entertaining.
How do you choose your settings (fiction) or topics (non-fiction)?
My novels are based on the actual lives of my ancestor Civil War soldiers, so the setting and basic plot elements are gleaned from that factual skeleton of time and place. I just flesh out the story.
Can you tell us a bit about your path to publication?
I was always a magazine/newspaper/literary journal type of writer. When I took on my Ancestral project, I decided to Indie publish through collaboration with Tree Shadow Press. By the time I was retired I was not interested in pursuing traditional publishing. I wanted complete control of my art.
Finally, please tell us about your books and add your website so we can find you:
I intend to write six novels about the Civil War, all based on research. I glean information from the records of the National Archives, state repositories, historical newspapers, and genealogical documents. I volunteer at the Carnegie Library of Carnegie in their Civil War program. I also hold membership in historical groups. It all adds to my knowledge base.
My latest book, published in 2019 is “Cousins at War.” Prior to that, I wrote “Jesse: 53rd Kentucky” and “Henry: The Jersey Brigade.” My work in progress is “The Ramsey Legacy.”
Website: www.ruthochswebster.com
Anne Maro Slanina, Ph.D. I write children’s books. It was a natural extension of my career as an educator. I began my career as a Kindergarten teacher where I learned just how literal young children can be! I am certified to teach K-8, hold an A.A.S. in Child Care Technology and a B.S. in Elementary Education with a specialization in Early Childhood from YSU. I then went on to get a Masters degree in Reading Education from YSU and am certified K-12. I taught remedial reading for many years in various K-12 schools in the Youngstown area. When I realized how bright many of the children in my remedial reading programs were, I was inspired to conduct research in gifted children with reading difficulties and ended up continuing my graduate work leading to certification in gifted child education and a Ph.D. from Kent State University. I taught at YSU, Notre Dame College of Ohio and recently retired from Slippery Rock University. All of these experiences, as well as those with my own two children, influenced the evolution of the character of Annie Mouse in my books. My two sons are adults, married with lovely wives who have given me four beautiful grandchildren. Their antics are giving me many more ideas for more Annie Mouse adventures!
Do you have any hobbies?
Uncommon instruments: I play both mountain and hammered dulcimers and Native American Flute. I also own a bowed psaltery and hope to learn to play it in my retirement.
What is your favorite vacation spot?
It’s not a single spot. I travel Route 66 yearly. Most years I go from Illinois to California. But if I can’t do the entire Route, I always do some of it.
If you were given a ticket to anywhere and spending money to indulge, where would you go?
Paris; as long as the fantasy also involved getting there without getting on a plane. I hate to fly.
Do you have pets?
Not currently. I travel too much.
What is your favorite color and what do you love about it?
Blue. It is calming and peaceful. I even put blue glass bottles in my windows so the sunlight will reflect on the blue glass and spread the blue throughout the rooms.
What was your favorite book as a child?
I loved the Nancy Drew series.
What is one thing about yourself you’d like to change or are trying to work on?
My weight. I’d like to lose weight but I like my sweets so much, I lack the willpower to stop buying the goodies! Chocolate is my downfall!
What music genre/singer/band is your go-to for a bad day? For working?
I love all music and it just depends on the mood I am in at the time.
Do you re-read books? If so, is there one in particular?
I typically don’t, but will buy a physical copy of a book if I enjoyed listening to the audio book during my travels so that I could flip to different sections and see the actual print in sections I’d like to revisit.
Are you an introvert, extravert, or ambivert?
I was painfully shy as a child and always considered myself to be an introvert. After years of teaching and professional presentations before beginning my author career, I learned to “put myself out there” and feel as though I have morphed into an ambivert.
Does pineapple go on pizza?
NO
How many places have you lived?
I’m a native of Youngstown, Ohio and moved to western PA to be closer to Slippery Rock University, where I was a professor from 1998 until my retirement in August 2019.
What was your first job?
A clerk/typist for the Ohio Department of Motor Vehicles, which was located inside a gas station. During slow times, I would also pump gas for customers since this was long before customers pumped their own gas.
What is your favorite down time activity?
I really haven’t experienced too much downtime lately!
If you could live inside a movie, which would you choose and which character would you be?
Gone with the Wind. Scarlett – but I’d recognize Rhett’s love before it was too late.
What is one thing you’ve learned through experience that you’d love to pass along to others?
If you are shy, don’t let it limit you. Put yourself out there in small steps until you gain confidence. Find that one single person who will be your cheerleader. I will forever be grateful to the late Dr. Margaret Braden from YSU for being that person for me.
What books, other than your own, would you highly recommend?
Anything that broadens your world. Go beyond what you think you’re interested in to learn something new. I love young adult literature and historical fiction, in which you learn about various cultures. It builds understanding and empathy. Shabanu by Suzanne Fisher Staples, Number the Stars by Lois Lowry and Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred Taylor come to mind.
On to writing: what inspired you to start creating stories/non-fiction? How long ago?
During my professional conference presentations regarding child development and social-emotional growth, I would share stories from my actual teaching experiences to illustrate children’s perceptions that adults would often view as “misbehaviors” but are actually normal child development. I was inspired to turn some of those stories into my first book, Annie Mouse Meets her Guardian Angel, in a dream in 2002. I finally released the book in 2004.
How do you choose your settings (fiction) or topics (non-fiction)?
The themes of Annie’s adventures are all taken from issues that pertain to young children. The Route 66 travel series is based on my actual travels and I share the travel through the eyes of a child.
Can you tell us a bit about your path to publication?
When I began, I intended my sales outlet to be through presentations, so immediately went to self-publishing.
Finally, please tell us about your books and add your website so we can find you:
www.anniemousebooks.com
The Adventures of Annie Mouse include the Guardian Angel series:
*Annie Mouse Meets her Guardian Angel, in which Annie’s mother is a “yeller” and Annie mistakenly believes when Mommy yells at her it means her Mommy doesn’t love her.
*Baby Brother Goes to the Hospital, where Annie hears that her brother has to go to the hospital “until he is better” and mistakenly believes that Baby Brother is sent away because he is “bad” because he cries too much.
*Annie Mouse Meets a New Friend, in which Annie’s new friend is different from all the other kids at school and Annie has to learn to be a true friend and stand up to the bullies at school.
*Where the Rainbow Touches Ground in which Annie takes the story of the leprechauns guarding the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow literally and gets lost trying to find it. When Daddy finds her, she learns that love is the true pot of gold.
Annie’s Route 66 Adventures include:
*Annie Mouse’s Route 66 Adventure: A Photo Journal where Annie shares actual photographs of Route 66 through the eight states that make up Route 66. Children learn historical facts and meet the people and places along the Route.
*Annie Mouse’s Second Route 66 Photo Journal: The Journey East follows the Route from California to Illinois and includes many more photographs and facts than the first photo journal.
*Annie Mouse’s Route 66 Family Vacation is a chapter book that provides much more information than is shared in the photo journals for children who are readers. It is a great companion book to the photo journals.
Finally, Annie Mouse’s Adventures: The Coloring Book actually tells a story by linking the Guardian Angel series and the Route 66 travel series sharing Annie’s story about how the Mouse Family decided to travel Route 66.
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Thanks so much, Anne! Please feel free to leave questions here in the comments or find her through her website.
My name is Jess Weible. I taught middle and high school English for about ten years before deciding to stay at home with my two young boys. Now, I am a freelance writer and local reporter in Brookville, PA. I’m also the Executive Editor of The Watershed Journal, an inclusive literary magazine for the western Pennsylvania wilds as well as the President of The Watershed Journal Literary Group, a 501(c)3 nonprofit literary organization.
Do you have any hobbies?
I’m lucky to live in an amazing area for outdoor recreation. I love biking, yoga, and have recently gotten into snowshoeing. I also just got into brewing kombucha. And I read a lot.
What is your favorite vacation spot?
This is tough because I honestly feel like where I live is a great vacation spot. But, for a change of pace, I like visiting Pittsburgh or the Harrisburg area.
If you were given a ticket to anywhere and spending money to indulge, where would you go?
Greece. I’m hoping some day to take my family there.
What was your favorite book as a child?
This might not count, but I read the Little Prince in a high school French class and it resonating with me in the way it likely has for millions of other children and adults alike.
What is one thing about yourself you’d like to change or are trying to work on?
I am trying to maintain a balance, which is not always easy as a mother of young kids.
What music genre/singer/band is your go-to for a bad day? For working?
Florence & the Machine, Childish Gambino, Kendrick Lamar, and Hozier—any day, all the time.
Are you an introvert, extravert, or ambivert?
I think I’m an ambivert. Social situations are exhausting and often feel performative for me, but I am most inspired while interacting with others.
What was your first job?
My first official job where I had an actual work permit was at Kmart. I handled layaway as incompetently as one can without drawing too much attention and getting fired.
If you could live inside a movie, which would you choose and which character would you be?
I love the movie I Heart Huckabees, which would be a wild, hilarious, existentially-dizzying world to live in for awhile. I might want to be Lily Tomlin’s character.
Do you have a favorite motto or quote that applies to your own life?
The best advice I got from my dad was in the form of a “this too shall pass” revelation that, when I was in elementary school, almost instantly comforted some deep-seated anxiety within me.
What books, other than your own, would you highly recommend?
A book that is giving me context for the Me Too movement is Becky Aikman’s Off the Cliff: How the Making of Thelma & Louise Drove Hollywood to the Edge. It’s very well done and, I think, contributes to a conversation worth having about how we commodify storytelling and how women are represented in our most popular stories.
On to writing: what inspired you to start creating stories/non-fiction? How long ago?
I used to write stories all the time when I was young. It was an impulse that persisted until I became preoccupied with college studies and then a teaching career. I don’t know where that impulse came from, but now I see it in my oldest son, which is exciting.
Can you tell us a bit about your path to publication?
Several years ago, I started a local writer’s group called The Writer’s Block Party as a way to support, encourage, and connect with other writers. From that group, we pursued our own literary publication to empower and elevate authorship in our region of the state. Throughout all of that, I had been working on my own writing, and, eventually, my book. It was through the momentum of this literary community that I started to identify opportunities in publishing my own work and came in contact with Sunbury Press Books.
Finally, please tell us about your books and add your website so we can find you:
My debut book is called Dead Letters: Delivering Unopened Mail from a Pennsylvania Ghost Town. The book chronicles my investigation into 10 letters which were written over 120 years ago, but were never delivered. After reading the letters, and inspired by my mentor and friend, Joan Swigart, I become determined to tell the stories of the people and places in the letters, then deliver their to the living descendants.
You can find out more about the book at jessweibleauthor.com.
Hi, I go by many names. To my three kids, I’m Mom. To my five (so far) grandkids, I’m Grandma. To my husband of 40+ years and our cat and dog, I’m “What’s for dinner?” (Just kidding, kind of.) To my friends and family, I’m Debbie Sanchez. To the bank I’m Debra R Sanchez. Bylines are usually that or d.r. sanchez.
When I’m not writing, I am a freelance translator (English <->Spanish), language tutor (Spanish and ESL), editor, and publisher. However, my most highly developed skill is procrastination.
I graduated (with my middle child/older daughter) in 2008 from Westminster College with a degree in Communications and English/Writing.
I am a member of West PA Authors, PennWriters, and SCBWI.
Do you have any hobbies?
Besides procrastination, my hobbies include planning denim quilts (that I will most likely never make), cooking family meals (that I like to do, and do well, but don’t always want to do), visiting family all over the world (when I can, which is never often enough), traveling and exploring new places (when I can, which – again – is never often enough). I love to play board games and card games, but seldom find willing opponents.
I also have fun leading writing groups and teaching workshops at writing conferences, as well as hosting writing retreats.
What is your favorite vacation spot?
Anywhere where I can either visit family or explore new places…anywhere in the world. I have been in 3 American countries (USA, Canada, and Venezuela) and 3 European countries (Austria, Spain, and Scotland). I have also been in France, just long enough to lose a phone at the airport.
If you were given a ticket to anywhere and spending money to indulge, where would you go?
Europe
Do you have pets?
A dog and cat that don’t know what they are, since they’ve been together since they were babies. Each has their own natural behaviors in addition to the ones they learned from the other. We’ve had them for nearly 11 years.
What is your favorite color and what do you love about it?
It would depend on the day and my mood. I really don’t have many favorite “one” anything.
What was your favorite book as a child?
The Velveteen Rabbit has lived in my heart the longest.
What is one thing about yourself you’d like to change or are trying to work on?
Reducing procrastination…I will…one of these days.
What music genre/singer/band is your go-to for a bad day? For working?
70s Rock or current Alt Rock…for any reason. For listening in the car, I prefer Radio Classics, which is the station for REALLY old radio shows from the 30s – early 60s. It’s like watching tv without a tv.
Do you re-read books? If so, is there one in particular?
I re-read many books.
Are you an introvert, extravert, or ambivert?
Ambivert for sure.
Does pineapple go on pizza?
On some people’s pizza. I can eat it if it’s there, but I wouldn’t ask for it.
How many places have you lived?
I have moved OVER 30 times. I have lived in 5 states in 2 countries…so far.
What is your favorite down time activity?
Napping
Are you an outdoor type? Have a green thumb?
I like outside…but am usually inside. My thumb is as non-green as they come. If you ever have a plant you want to die…I’ll take care of it.
If you could live inside a movie, which would you choose and which character would you be?
My life has been a good enough movie for me, and I am happy with my character.
Are you the type to take a dare?
I have taken more than a few, but certainly not all.
Do you have a favorite motto or quote that applies to your own life?
I think my company’s motto fits my life well. “Dedicated to Different”
What is one thing you’ve learned through experience that you’d love to pass along to others?
If you want to do something…learn how. You can do ANYTHING if you want it bad enough. Well, to a degree. There’s a lot of things I cannot physically do, even if I wanted to, like fly without an airplane, or blink my eyes and have all the money I need. But for realistic things, like creating something…figure it out and do it, like I figured out how to become a publisher. Believe in yourself.
What books, other than your own, would you highly recommend?
I love far too many books in a vast variety of genres to recommend anything specific. I’d be happy to discuss more specifics depending on what kind of book someone is looking for. I used to work in libraries…I really DO know quite a bit about books.
On to writing: what inspired you to start creating stories/non-fiction? How long ago?
I’ve been making up stories my entire life. I’ve been writing them down since I could hold a crayon to draw them and then to write when I learned how. (So, well over 50 years)
How do you choose your settings (fiction) or topics (non-fiction)?
I do not have a set way to do this, nor do I have a preferred genre. I write what needs to be written to get it out of my head and onto paper/screen/print. The settings, plots, characters, topics choose me, not the other way around.
Can you tell us a bit about your path to publication?
I had several poems, stories, and plays published and/or produced over the years, and several others won awards in contests and at conferences. My local library where I was leading a writing group asked me to write a play as a fundraiser. I wrote a dystopian short play that showed the importance books and libraries have for society. At first we couldn’t find people interested in performing it. After a few years, we were able to have it performed and people wanted it to be available as a book for the library and for purchase. I researched how to get a play published. I found only two options. One required that the play be unseen and unperformed. Too late for that. The other required that it had been performed and brought in a LOT of money. It was a library fundraiser, not much money in that. So, I learned how to format it and how to publish it myself.
In 2016 I launched an independent publishing company, Tree Shadow Press to publish it. Since formatting a play is one of the hardest things to do, I decided to publish another book, and another. As I learned more with each book, I grew into editing for other people. I translated my play and published it in Spanish. I started publishing books by other people. I entered books that I published into contests for “indie press” books…and won four times for my own books, and five other books by other Tree Shadow Press authors also have won over the past four years.
These days I spend more time editing, translating, and publishing than I do writing, but I still find time to write and continue to be published by various other presses, not only my own.
Finally, please tell us about your books and add your website so we can find you:
https://www.debrarsanchez.com/
https://www.facebook.com/DebraRSanchez/
https://twitter.com/DebraRSanchez
https://www.scbwi.org/members-public/debra-sanchez
https://www.treeshadowpress.com/
I write what comes to me to be written, and my books cross several genres.
Plays:
“Pages: A Library Play” in English and in Spanish as “Páginas: Un Cuento de Bibliotecas”
Bilingual Picture Books:
“And My Mother Cried/Y Mi Mamá Lloro” won “Best Children’s Book” at The Author Zone in 2017. It is based on a true story about some of the reasons that people make a long-distance move and the many emotions, good and bad, that make mothers cry.
“Snow Pants for Isabella/Pantalones de Nieve para Isabella” won “Best Children’s Book 2020” in the older children’s group at The Author Zone. It is about a girl who knows her own mind and wants a certain kind of snow pants, even if it isn’t what “all her friends” are wearing.
“What’s that Noise?/ ¿Qué Ruido Es?” was just released in June of 2020. It is a fun mystery that also teaches words in English and Spanish for animals and numbers from 1-20.
Writers’ Guide/ Anthology:
“Prompted, Prodded, Published: How Writing Prompts Can Help All Writers” won an award in the “Business” category at The Author Zone 2017. The first part of the book is a guide for writers. The second part is a collection of two or three responses from a variety of writers to a set of 30 prompts. Whether you want to write or like to read, there is something here for you.
Poetry:
“Raw & Unfinished” won an award in the “Poetry” category at The Author Zone 2018. It is a collection of my poetry that has either already been published in literary magazines online and/or in print or has won awards in contests and at conferences.
Anthology:
“Celebrate: A Collection of Life’s Celebrations” was published in late 2019. I edited and compiled from a selection of stories and poems from a variety of writers, including some of my own.
I have several other books “in the works” at various levels of completion.
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Thanks so much, Deb! If you have questions, leave them in the comments or find her at one of her links.
