Author chat

Come hang out at the author chat with Stacey Cochran

Authors are giving away free books to participants!!

Here's the link: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=901922863206959&l=c6f39cca0d

Review Captain and Countess by Alice Gaines

I don't read a ton of Regency romances, but I'm glad I picked this one up. Swoonworthy and perfectly-paced, I couldn't put Captain and Countess down.




Blurb:
In this sensuous Regency romance, Jason, Lily, and Bess become engaged to the wrong people.

Captain Jason Northcross desperately desires his sister, Lily, to marry into noble society. To achieve a duchy for his sister, he needs a proper marriage for himself. His status guarantees an easily achieved betrothal, and he should have no trouble selecting one of the eligible young ladies during his party in the countryside. However, distracted from his goal, he has a hard time keeping his hands off his neighbor, Lady Rushford.

The late Earl of Rushford's widow, Bess Webster, believes romance has passed her by. So why can’t she keep Captain Northcross out of her dreams? And how does he inflame passions she didn’t know she had? While she should be focused on penning novels and finding husbands for her friends, her thoughts center on broad shoulders and laughing green eyes.

Will these misaligned engagements be set straight before the final vows have been spoken?

Please welcome Craig A. Hart author of BECOMING MOON

I sat down with Craig over a bottle of scotch at 10am one morning. From my understanding, it's okay to drink scotch at that hour... or at least Craig said it was. Lets hear what he had to say about zombies, reading, and writing.

1. It’s the zombie apocalypse and writers have got to stick together to survive. Pick 3 authors to be on your zombie apocalypse killing team and tell us why you’d choose them.

Craig says: I assume these have to be living authors…otherwise they’re probably with the zombies. So I’m going with Garrison Keillor, because he makes me laugh and I would probably need some humor during those situations. I would choose George R. R. Martin, because I’m pretty sure I could outrun him. And, finally, I would choose John Grisham, because if this whole zombie thing turned out to be a hoax and I’d actually killed real folks, I would need someone to defend me in court.

Meredith says: They can be dead. We're all about making things up here, we're authors after all. But, dude, I'm judging you on the fact that you chose someone as bait! Hahaha. I guess I never thought of the zombie apocalypse being a hoax. So what happens to the sickos who actually ate people's faces? Hmmm.....

Craig says: Baiting is frowned upon? Who knew! I guess I need John Grisham more than ever. As do the sickos who actually ate faces. He's going to have to retire from writing in order to handle all these legal cases.
Meredith says: I mean, you're just the only one who has admitted to it. Which I think is hilarious! I'm not below baiting. Survival of the fittest or fastest!

2. If Stephen King and J. K. Rowling were drowning in a river, who would you save first? And now you have to tell us why ;)

Craig says: I would probably save Rowling first, so the news media wouldn’t brand me as unchivalrous. But when no one was looking I would throw her back and save King because I think he’s a bad ass.

Meredith says: King is total badass. Linda Sands and I decided his ghost would make him worth saving.

Craig says: He's a rockstar. What if he blurbed one of our books? *teenage girl voice* Wouldn't you just diiiiee?!

Meredith says: Sweet Lord, I just envisioned it.

3. We authors are voracious readers. My TBR list is approximately 8 miles long. What are you currently reading?

Craig says: I have three books going right now: Water for Elephants (Gruen), Ulysses (Joyce), and The Catcher in the Rye (Salinger).

Meredith says: I read Water for Elephants a few years ago. There's just something about that book, makes me want to go back and read it again now that you mentioned it. Quite the genre span of current reads.

Craig says: I'm reading Elephants for a book club. I'm blown away by the descriptions. I am often turned off by tons of detail. I typically prefer writers who can paint a picture with spare, well-chosen details rather than a bunch of descriptive wordage. But Gruen does a good job of splashing the word canvas with lots of colors without making it tedious.

4. What is the one book that you could read a million times and never get bored with?

Craig says: The Sun Also Rises by Hemingway. Every time I read it, I find more subtleties there.

Meredith says: Nice! That's my favorite part of re-reading, finding all the little bits you missed the first time. 

5. Last year my favorite read was The Martian by Andy Weir. What was your best read of 2014?

Craig says: That’s tough, but I think my favorite of 2014 was The Good Earth by Pearl S. Buck. It was one of those stories that really sucked me in; I love it when that happens.

Meredith says: Adding it to my TBR

6. This year my favorite read has been The Dog Stars by Peter Heller. What’s the best book you’ve read so far in 2015?

Craig says: So far I think it would be Capote by Gerald Clarke. It was a really well done biography that often read more like a novel.

Meredith says: Oh hey, I've heard good things about that book!
Craig says: I loved it. It was part of my Ooh Look, Capote! phase that is actually still happening. I have this thing where I become infatuated with an author and scarf down everything I can about them, both their work and works written about them. I have a problem.

7. You’re a writer by day and a superhero by night. (Take off those geeky glasses Superman) What’s your superpower?

Craig says: I’d like to be able to read babies’ minds. It would make taking care of my twin boys much, much easier.

Meredith says: As a NICU nurse who has cared for babies for many years, they are thinking: food, play, sleep. I'm joking. But seriously, I feel that way at work sometimes. There's nothing I want more than to quickly soothe a room full of 12 babies who are all screaming at 3am.

8. I have writing spots all over my house: my desk, my couch, the patio, and my bed. Where’s your favorite spot to write?

Craig says: I love going out to write. My two favorite places are: a study room at the library and the back room of the local cigar shop.

Meredith says: We used to frequent this cigar shop in Ocean City, MD where we vacationed every year Señor Cigars, it was interesting. And then in Syracuse there was this cigar bar named Awful Al's years ago, it was pretty cool until my friend go roofied... Cigar shops definitely have a vibe. 

Craig says: Yeah...being roofied would definitely impact the coolness factor in a negative way.

Meredith says: clarification: I did not mean the roofies impacted the vibe. Cigar shops have their own cool vibe sans roofies.

9.  We’re supposed to love all of our children equally, but there are some scenes I’ve written that really stick out in my mind. Tell us your favorite scene from your book Becoming Moon.

Craig says: The one that comes to mind is when the main character is being forced to convert to his family’s religion. Literally dragged to the place of conversion. I don’t know if I can say it is my “favorite” scene, but it is one of the most memorable for me.

Meredith says: Wow. I mean, I feel like I just had some flashbacks. I was raised strict Roman Catholic, there was plenty of dragging me each Sunday. It sounds like a scene I need to read. 

Craig says: Really? Interesting. Becoming Moon definitely has some strong autobiographical elements, especially the section in which that scene appears, so I feel your pain.

10. Sometimes a little too much of myself slips into my characters. Which one of your characters most resembles you?

Craig says: At the risk of sounding narcissistic, it would have to be the main character. One the flip side, he has plenty of unpleasant characteristics, so maybe it all evens out.

Meredith says: I feel like my main characters all have a bit of me, and their problems are my greatest fears or my most unpleasant characteristics. So you're not alone. I think that's why writing is so therapeutic for many of us. We get to work it out with a fictional character's life.

Craig says: It may also be why non-artistic types sometimes consider writers so self-indulgent. Well, so be it.

11. I’ve always got tunes rocking while I’m writing. Tell us five songs that are on your playlist.

Craig says: If I Can Dream by Elvis, Have You Ever Seen the Rain by CCR, Con Te Partirò by Andrea Bocelli, Night and Day by Sinatra, and the first movement of Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 2.

Meredith says:  Creedence Clearwater Revival!!! My playlist has: Proud Mary, Bad Moon Rising, Fortunate Son, I Heard It Through the Grapevine. I love them!

12. If you could tell an aspiring author one tiny tidbit of information, what would you say?

Craig says: The writing life is difficult, so write for yourself, not others.

Meredith says: This is so important.

Craig says: I'm embarrassed how long it took for me to accept this. I was so worried about what others would think of the stuff that really wanted to be written that I tried writing what I thought would be more acceptable. As a result, my writing became quite stagnant for a time. There is such a sense of freedom when a writer can say, "The heck with it. I'm writing what I need to write whether people like it or not." And often that freedom and true-ness comes through.
Meredith Says: I think Elsa from FROZEN sang it best: "Let it go, let it go, be one with your words and soul...." or something like that.

Get your copy of Becoming Moon 

(PS I read his book over the weekend. It was really really good!)

Connect with Craig A. Hart

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Website

Goodreads

Amazon Author Page

(Craig listens to CCR and drinks scotch at 10am, he's cool in my book)

Review of The Billionaire's Bodyguard Bride by Lisa Weaver

Not your typical Billionaire romance.
A fast-paced romantic suspense.
The Billionaire's Bodyguard Bride is a quick and easy read filled with intrigue and sweet romance.
Rafe and Lauren are reunited with a business deal but neither of them can deny their attractions to each other. Watching this couple reconcile in the midst of a catty ex, a determined business rival, and secrets and threats, is a refreshing spin on the stereotypical billionaire romance scene. 

A great summer read!

The Blurb:
Bodyguard Lauren Reynolds grew up lying to survive, while billionaire Rafe Dimitriou was raised to uphold a strict code of honor. The sexy billionaire's most formidable competitor, Milton Payne, isn’t as scrupulous.

Both Rafe and Milton are vying to gain control of Gracious Living. In order to make an offer, the company requires the buyer to be married.

Knowing Lauren will do anything to protect her brother, Rafe threatens to destroy her only sibling’s career if she doesn’t agree to play the role of his wife. Lauren accepts his proposal, but her motivation is far more compelling than family loyalty. She’s been assigned to covertly protect Rafe in the wake of threats made against the Dimitriou family. As his wife, Lauren knows she’ll have the perfect opportunity to watch over him without arousing his suspicion.

She’ll guard him with her life, but who will protect her heart?

Review of Becoming Moon by Craig A. Hart

Becoming Moon is a gem of literary magic that explores the psyche of a troubled writer.

Nigel Moon doesn't trust happy artists - looks like he just found the perfect writer to ghost-write for him.

Everyone has got skeletons in the closet and Hart's main character is no exception. Stripped-down and bare-boned, Becoming Moon explores the ramifications of growing up with oppressively religious parents, living with the guilt of dishonesty, and witnessing wicked acts. Hart's MC seems to embrace the expression "faking it until he makes it," sedating his troubled conscience with booze, a little weed, women, and recollections of the Holy Ghost while he struggles with his capabilities as a writer.

A great read that had me drooling on my Kindle in the wee hours of the morning.

Review of Getting Lei'd by Ann Omasta

**2015 Kindle Scout Winner!** Being jilted almost at the altar is not how Roxy thought her wedding would go. Getting dragged on her Hawaiian honeymoon by her excessively self-centered sister and outlandishly irreverent grandma is the icing on the horrible wedding day cake.

Can Kai, the resort’s hunky chauffeur/bartender/flamethrower, turn this disaster of a trip into a romantic adventure to last a lifetime? Escape with Roxy into the enchanting Hawaiian Islands as she discovers the joy of hanging loose and “Getting Lei’d."


Review:

A bride dumped, a spirited grandmother, and loads of fun in the Hawaiian sun. Who wouldn't want to recover from being jilted at the altar in paradise? After some redirecting by her free-spirited grandmother and sister - who is a bit on the selfish side - Roxie gets a second chance at love. Filled with spunk and sweet romantic scenes, "Getting Lei'd" is a great summer read!

New Release Tuesday!

Becoming Moon by Craig A. Hart

33 Degrees by Vincent Robert Annunziato

The Fantastic Fable of Peter Able by Natalie Grigson

Please welcome VINCENT ROBERT ANNUNZIATO author of 33 Degrees

I sat down with Vincent on the Long Island Railroad and chatted about how he attended Hofstra U but I couldn't because my acceptance letter never came with a scholarship. Needless to say there was plenty of heavy drinking on my part and a few tears. Anywho, why dwell on the past? Let's see what Vincent has to say about zombies, reading, and writing!

1. It’s the zombie apocalypse and writers have got to stick together to survive. Pick 3 authors to be on your zombie apocalypse killing team and tell us why you’d choose them.
Vincent says:

a. Suzanne Collins – because her worlds have creative ways of killing things. I think I would like to turn the Cracker Jackers on the Zombies and see what happens
b. JRR Tolkien – to guide us over the expanses of land so that we could find a safe place to live. Preferably with the elves.
c. Brahm Stoker – more for some comic relief. “You think what you wrote was scary, Brahm?”
Meredith says: I like the way you think. I could definitely hunker down in a hobbit hole, I mean, they're amazingly detailed and filled with wines, cheese, bread, and meat. I'm in.
Vincent says: I could spend a lot of time in a Hobbit hole and the Shire for sure!

2. If Stephen King and J. K. Rowling were drowning in a river, who would you save first? And now you have to tell us why ;)
Vincent says:  Sorry, Mr. King. Has to be Rowling. I couldn’t put her books down and felt like I was a kid again.
Meredith says: Sometimes, you just have to pick your favorite :)


3. We authors are voracious readers. My TBR list is approximately 8 miles long. What are you currently reading?
Vincent says: I’m reading an independent novel called, “Tin Can Shrapnel.” It’s not my usual read, since I try to stay on top of what is popular in YA fiction. It’s a story that actually took place in Africa from the memoirs of Jennifer Skutelsky. It’s about Xenophobia and it is a very heavy, but very well written book. I could see this as a documentary.
Meredith says: We have some truly talented KindleScout winners among us. I'm working my way through their books. I love how the publisher has included such varying genres.


4. What is the one book that you could read a million times and never get bored with?
Vincent says: Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein
Meredith says: Thank sweet baby Jesus!! Another re-reader!!


5. Last year my favorite read was The Martian by Andy Weir. What was your best read of 2014?
Vincent says: a. Book Thief by Zusak Markus. I could not believe the quality of the writing. The man is brilliant.
Meredith says: This is on my TBR list. I've heard great things.
Vincent says: Please read before watching the movie. The movie does the book no justice!

Meredith says: always read first, people! or this happens ---------->


6. This year my favorite read has been The Dog Stars by Peter Heller. What’s the best book you’ve read so far in 2015?
Vincent says: HASH by April M. Reign. Another independent. This is a sci fi. I loved the whole concept of the book and the way she handled alien life form.
Meredith says: Ooooh, another one to add to my TBR list!


7. You’re a writer by day and a superhero by night. (Take off those geeky glasses Superman) What’s your superpower?
Vincent says: I have always been a big Hulk fan. So definitely, I have a passion for strength. Readers may be interested to know that I am training for my first power-lifting competition in October. My father at the age of 69 is already nationally ranked. I’ll see what happens.
Meredith says: I mean, that's kind of amazing!! If you're ever in upstate NY swing by, I have heavy things I need lifted: boxes, groceries, cases of beer, jugs of rum, etc, etc... ;)
Vincent says: I’d rather lift WEIGHTS Meredith. My wife has cornered the market on everything else. :)

8. I have writing spots all over my house: my desk, my couch, the patio, and my bed. Where’s your favorite spot to write?
Vincent says: I write anywhere without discrimination. My first book was mainly written on a commuter train. If I had it my way, I would love to do a cross country trip and write on while rolling across the US on a nice smooth train ride.
Meredith says: I used to travel to Stony Brook via train back in the day. There's just something about it. A cross country trip sounds awesome.
Vincent says: Oh yeah and add some wine and a nice dinner. I think I am already there!
Meredith says: Have you watched Snowpiercer yet? Dinner on a train will never be the same...

9. We’re supposed to love all of our children equally, but there are some scenes I’ve written that really stick out in my mind. Tell us your favorite scene from your book '33 Degrees'.
Vincent says: a. I have two. Sorry. The first one is a scene in which I introduce a very mystical character to the main character. It is surreal, but believable. All I can say is that it involves rats.
b. The second, is a scene that is very romantic. I believe the ladies will like this. Kids in 33 Degrees are often orphaned in the Underground. They are called Feral. There is a scene where two characters are becoming romantically interested in each other. The male has very little idea as to how babies are made. Even though this story is told in the first person when the young lady has to tell him what actually happens she whispers when it gets intense or she is embarrassed. His responses of shock don’t help either. Ironically, the reader doesn’t hear what she says, but only see how the young man responds. I thought it was a very clever way to handle first person and really let the reader’s imagination kick in.
Meredith says: I love mystical characters and romantic hilarity! Have I mentioned I can't wait to read this book?
Vincent says: You have. Admittedly, I don’t get tired of hearing it. :)

10. Sometimes a little too much of myself slips into my characters. Which one of your characters most resembles you?
Vincent says: Tough question. My characters have very unique voices and I work hard to develop them. I would have to corner my lead male character as most closely associated to me.
Meredith says: Will there be any power-lifting then? (Joking, joking)
Vincent says: Meredith! You set me up!

Meredith says: ooops!
 
11. I’ve always got tunes rocking while I’m writing. Tell us five songs that are on your playlist.
Vincent says: a. Depends on my mood. Sometimes if I just want something soft I play Enya.
b. Otherwise you might hear in no particular order
i. Imagine Dragons – It’s Time
ii. Hall of Fame – The Script
iii. The Reason – Hoobastank
iv. Pompeii – Bastille
v. A Sky Full of Stars - Coldplay
Meredith says: I mean, it's like the playlist Gods parted two souls and I got half and you got half. Have you listened to the acoustic version of Bastille? I'm in love with it, absolute love, but my heart is broken because I can't get the track on iTunes (insert super sad face)
Vincent says: Are you kidding me? Acoustic version. Getting it now!
Meredith says: You'll never be the same after you hear it.

12. If you could tell an aspiring author one tiny tidbit of information, what would you say?
Vincent says: Make it interesting

Meredith says: Truly, there is nothing worse than an uninteresting book.

Vincent says: I say this because many new writers tend to focus on prose without tension. You have to find the conflict of the scene. It’s not enough to just go out there and write pretty prose.
Meredith says: Some more words of wisdom, people, conflict runs the show.

Vincent also let me interrupt Stacey Cochran's interview to pepper him with annoying questions related to his novel 33 Degrees

Find the author interview here on Stacey Cochran's Facebook page

Pre-order your copy of 33 DEGREES

*Release date June 30th*

Connect with Vincent!

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Twitter

Website

Goodreads

Amazon Author Page

(Vincent's a cool guy, he even forgave me for insulting his homeland of long island a few weeks ago. when I pretty much said a lot of LIRR riders were jerks.)

Review of '3 Women Walk into a Bar' by Linda Sands

Punchy, sharp, and freaking awesome.

'3 Women Walk into a Bar' is a multi-layered murder mystery.

Ex-stripper turned PI, Bill 'Free Willy' Tedesco is not your mothers Channing Tatum. When Tedesco opens his mouth he's witty, cynical, and tactful. In a seamless tale of the labyrinthine laws of love and how it impacts life, untangling the mystery of the three murdered girls will keep you turning the pages long into the night.

Since I'm from Central New York, I can't pronounce 'noir' but I can give this book two-thumbs up.

Buy 3 Women Walk into a Bar

New Release Tuesday!

Neverland

Night River

Blood & Ink

Please welcome James Jackson author of 'Ant Farm'

I was lucky enough to "sit down" with Jim and ask him a few bookish questions before his novel releases on June 16th.  Let's see what Jim had to say about Zombies, reading, and writing.

1. It’s the zombie apocalypse and writers have got to stick together to survive. Pick 3 authors to be on your zombie apocalypse killing team and tell us why you’d choose them.

Jim says: I know zombies about as well as I know Sanskrit, so I did a little research and decided  my go to guy would be Max Brallier, who wrote Can You Survive the Zombie Apocalypse. As they say, he wrote the book on the subject. I’m going to add Barry Eisler to the team. Ex-CIA, he writes about a hired assassin. He’s a kick-ass kind of guy with a good sense of humor – and we’d need that. Lastly, Stephen King – good imagination to help us out, and I have to do something for him, because when the time comes, I’m choosing J. K. Rowling.

Meredith says: Okay, don't tell anyone but I've never heard of Max Brallier! I looked him up, and found out that he also writes for the show Adventure Time, so he's cool in my book because that cartoon is hilarious. I follow Barry Eisler but he scares me. I think King will appreciate you choosing him for something ;)

2. If Stephen King and J. K. Rowling were drowning in a river, who would you save first? And now you have to tell us why.

Jim says: Rowling. She’s younger and I already did something nice for Stephen in question 1.

Meredith says: :) 

3. We authors are voracious readers. My TBR list is approximately 8 miles long. What are you currently reading?

Jim says: I’m reading two books. I have fellow Kindle Scout winner Linda Sands’ 3 Woman Walk Into A Bar on my Kindle and am about two-thirds of the way through. In hardcover from the library I am about a third through Michael Connelly’s The Burning Room.

Meredith says: nice

4. What is the one book that you could read a million times and never get bored with?

Jim says: Nope – I get bored much more easily than that. Just shovel dirt over me if you find me reading the same books time and again.

Meredith says: You're killing me, Jim! (I feel like I've said this before, lol)

5. Last year my favorite read was The Martian by Andy Weir. What was your best read of 2014?

Jim says: Ordinary Grace by William Kent Krueger. Besides writing great books, Kent is a really nice guy.

6. This year my favorite read has been The Dog Stars by Peter Heller. What’s the best book you’ve read so far in 2015?

Jim says: My favorite is Tina Whittle’s Deeper Than the Grave.

Meredith says: Adding that to my TBR list

7. You’re a writer by day and a superhero by night. (Take off those geeky glasses Superman) What’s your superpower?

Jim says: Marvel patented all the cool stuff, and I’m not much into being a mutant. I’d like the power to stop people from making really stupid economic decisions. I write financial crime novels, so I guess there’s a tie-in.

Meredith says: Unique. I like it. 

8. I have writing spots all over my house: my desk, my couch, the patio, and my bed. Where’s your favorite spot to write?

Jim says: I write at a desk. Since I live in two places, I have two desks. The one I am currently at is in a loft. Should I need inspiration, I can look out a wall of glass to the woods and a small inland lake in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.

Meredith says: The view sounds beautiful. 

9. We’re supposed to love all of our children equally, but there are some scenes I’ve written that really stick out in my mind. Tell us your favorite scene from your book Ant Farm.

Jim says: I don’t want to give the story away, so I am picking a scene that was a lot of fun to write. In it the protagonist, Seamus McCree, meets Mrs. DeGroot who is a hoot: she asks rapid-fire questions of everyone in the group and leaves a cacophony of answers in her wake.

10. Sometimes a little too much of myself slip into my characters. Which one of your characters most resembles you?

Jim says: Seamus McCree and I share many characteristics with respect to interests and avocations. Unfortunately for me he is younger, taller, smarter, better looking and richer than I. I must remind him when he starts to lord it over me that with a simple search and replace all that can change for him.

11. I’ve always got tunes rocking while I’m writing. Tell us five songs that are on your playlist.

Jim says: I prefer to write in silence and so often write first drafts early in the morning before anyone else is up. If the house gets noisy, I’ll put on headphones and listen to background music—nothing with words or I’m singing along and not writing. Playlist: George Winston, the Hilliard Ensemble, maybe a bit of classical like Bach’s Unaccompanied Cello solos, Goreki’s Symphony No. 3 or some Prokofiev.

Meredith says: love this playlist!

12. If you could tell an aspiring author one tiny tidbit of information, what would you say?

Jim says: I read Jim Morris’s advice to “quit if you can.” I have an entirely different take. I’d say if you want to be an author,  don’t quit until you have to.
Meredith says: A few more words of wisdom, people. 

ANT FARM launches June 16th

Get it Now

Connect with Jim

Website

Newsletter

Amazon Author Page

(I'd have a beer with Jim. He looks like an okay guy.)

A review of 33 Degrees by Vincent Robert Annunziato

A story about survival in a future that is bleak and cold. The train is brutal. Humanity teeters on edge. Conflict is just a page-turn away.

With the fortune of being tossed down a hole to save his life, Javin often reminisces of parents who echo of James and Lily Potter. Having spent the majority of his pre-teen years alone Javin is unrefined and bitter. Throughout the book Javin grows and matures to a man of strength and honor. Readers will enjoy a main character with the strength and grit of Four, a sidekick with the heart and innocence of Rue, a female lead who is tenacious, beautiful, and damaged; young-adult camaraderie and brutality of Ender's Game; a mystical character full of magical realism and totally unique; and, lastly, a Revolution style mystery to the history of the Pulse.

Everything you love about Dystopia wrapped up in a snow cone. 

'33 Degrees' is a must read. 

5/5 stars

Purchase your copy on Amazon

*I voted for this book on KindleScout and received an advanced copy for review

New Release Tuesday

Happy Release Day to ANT FARM by James M Jackson

*pop in next Monday 6/22 to read Jim's interview on this blog*

Eddie and Sunny by Stacey Cochran

I finished this book nearly two weeks ago and I couldn't even bring myself to write a review until now. 

'Eddie and Sunny' is a bit gritty and dark. A novel about a family living on the fringes of society, where food, shelter and money are extremely hard to come by and morals are tested on a daily basis. Eddie and Sunny are not the people living off they system and driving a caddy filled with groceries bought on food stamps. To survive, Eddie and Sunny do some questionable things and get caught up in a lot of trouble. By the end, though, Cochran will have you rooting for the underdog.

Many things that stirred my brain but mostly the fact that to write a book like this you have to understand poverty in the American culture. I've seen a lot of authors attempt this but none so well as Cochran. 

What do most authors miss: 

1) mental illness - mental illnesses like depression, schizophrenia, etc is rampant and these people do not have adequate healthcare for medications and therapy. Or, they refuse help. This impacts the entire family and affects the ability for them to trust others who might help. It also, sadly, trickles down to the next generation.

2) Drug use during pregnancy - this hits me close to home because I am a neonatal ICU nurse, in upstate NY newborn admissions for drug addiction has skyrocketed. Let me tell you people, your life is forever changed when you watch an infant struggling to withdraw for weeks to months at a time. For this reason, reading about Sunny during her pregnancy truly tugged at my heartstrings. But on a positive note, at least she breastfed, which helps the infants withdrawal through the mothers breast milk. (Okay, I'm done ranting about that)

Eddie and Sunny is a great read that will get the wheels of your mind rolling. After finishing this book, be prepared to sit back and take a nice hard think about life and how much you really have.

5/5 stars

Please welcome Fiona Quinn author of WEAKEST LYNX

I was lucky enough to "sit down" with Fiona and ask her a few bookish questions.  Let's see what Fiona had to say about Zombies, reading, and writing.

1. It’s the zombie apocalypse and writers have got to stick together to survive. Pick 3 authors to be on your zombie apocalypse killing team and tell us why you’d choose them.
Fiona says: JT Sawyer – he can walk into a desert with a knife and thrive. And he writes books about zombies. FIRST WAVE.
Jeff Critser – he is military intelligence and can figure out where the pockets of survivors are staying and communicate with them (and he’s probably got a buddy with a big safe boat). COLD SHADOWS.
Stephen Templin – he has SEAL training and is an English professor. So he can blow  up the Zombies by day and regale us with stories at night. TRIDENT'S FIRST GLEAMING.
Meredith says: How do I not know of these people? And how do you know so many kick-ass dudes? I feel like I've been living in a cave-or upstate NY. I just added these to my TBR list. (sigh - now it's even longer)

Have you read World War Z? I will never think of a boat as safe during a zombie event again. (insert shudder) But watching the movie doesn't count, it's totally different from the book.
Fiona says:I'm not a zombie fan. I enjoy reading dystopian novels, though. The reason I read authors like JT Sawyer is to learn from them. Sawyer is a military survival trainer in his non-writing life. By reading his work I can understand not just the ideas but how they would be implemented and the thought processes of survival. I use this information not only in my writing but on my own adventures.



2. If Stephen King and J. K. Rowling were drowning in a river, who would you save first? And now you have to tell us why.
Fiona says: Depends, honestly I wouldn’t choose by who was in the water but whom I thought I could successfully save. At the end of the day, with everyone warm and content on shore, I’d prefer Ms. Rowling as a campfire buddy.
Meredith says: J. K. telling stories around the campfire sounds like my kind of time :)


3. We authors are voracious readers. My TBR list is approximately 8 miles long. What are you currently reading?
Fiona says: I’m reading Linda Sands’ THREE WOMEN WALK INTO A BAR and next is Jennifer Skutelski’s GRAVE OF HUMMINGBIRDS
Meredith says: I'm making my way through the KindleScout winners as well!


4. What is the one book that you could read a million times and never get bored with?
Fiona says: Pride and Prejudice – and I mention it in most of my books.
Meredith says: Thank sweet baby Jesus, another re-reader!!!


5. Last year my favorite read was The Martian by Andy Weir. What was your best read of 2014?
Fiona says: Wow, really? I can’t possibly answer that question. I think maybe if I could chose a series instead – I was reading John Gilstrap’s Digger Graves series and have a literary crush on Digger.
Meredith says: A series works. I frequently count an entire series as one body of work.


6. This year my favorite read has been The Dog Stars by Peter Heller. What’s the best book you’ve read so far in 2015?
Fiona says: Again, this question is way too narrow for me. I’ll pick a collection. I have been reading the Kindle Scout winners in 2015 – each book is unique and many of the books take me to a genre that I wouldn’t normally read. I’m really enjoying myself.

7. You’re a writer by day and a superhero by night. (Take off those geeky glasses Superman) What’s your superpower?
Fiona says: Omnipotence! Kidding. I’d like to be invisible, but be able to transport myself anywhere with a blink and a nod.
Meredith says: Nice.

8. I have writing spots all over my house: my desk, my couch, the patio, and my bed. Where’s your favorite spot to write?
Fiona says: My bed. I can manage the house from this location. I have a lovely writing room quiet and serene – just perfect, except that I’m still mom first and that means having an ear to the ground.
Meredith says: Ah, yes, the pitter patter of little feet.
Fiona says: My kids' feet thud. The two who are still in the house tower over me. Instead of pitter patter, I'm listening for the clickety clack of my daughter's alert dog coming to get me so I can right a wrong blood glucose number. If I'm back in the office, I can't yell - I actually have to get up and go find her. If the scene I'm writing is flowing, I don't want to get up.

9. We’re supposed to love all of our children equally, but there are some scenes I’ve written that really stick out in my mind. Tell us your favorite scene from your book WEAKEST LYNX.
Fiona says: In WEAKEST LYNX I have two scenes that I love. The first is a bathroom scene where my protagonist Lexi accidently walks in on stud-muffin Striker Rheas, poor girl. And the second is the howling scene – I woke up from a deep sleep with that scene fully formed in my mind. I cry every time I read it.
Meredith says: I can't wait to read the bathroom scene ;) Isn't it crazy, waking up with a scene fully formed? I've done that before. It's like the story comes flying out of your soul when you're most vulnerable.

10. Sometimes a little too much of myself slips into my characters. Which one of your characters most resembles you?
Fiona says: Not me but my oldest daughter, she definitely slipped onto the pages of my book. Most of Lexi’s (non-psychic) skillsets are also the skillsets my daughter possesses. My daughter is the same age as Lexi; I even gave Lexi my oldest daughter’s birthday.

11. I’ve always got tunes rocking while I’m writing. Tell us five songs that are on your playlist.
Fiona says: Absolute silence. I don’t like noise when my mind is whirring – my thoughts are enough for me. And since my head is usually hard at work, I rarely play music even in the car. Music is for dancing, and then I’m game for whatever shows up on the playlist.

12. If you could tell an aspiring author one tiny tidbit of information, what would you say?
Fiona says: Trust yourself to take this journey. One foot and then the other. Build your skills over time with persistence.
Meredith says: words of wisdom right there, ladies and gentlemen.

Get WEAKEST LYNX 

(PS it's a series!)

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(I really like the name Fiona)