August 2005

View E-zine Archives

Created for friends of Armchair Interviews, authors and books!
Vol. 1, No. 1 August 2005

In this issue:

  • Crime-Writing Contest
  • Author Audios Posted
  • Learn About New Authors
  • Amazon
  • Hosts Confess
  • Reviewing for Us
  • Your Book Reviewed
  • Relationships in "The Biz"
  • 4 Ways to Publish
  • Getting Publicity

www.ArmchairInterviews.com

Office: 5511 Southwood Drive, Bloomington, MN 55437

Armchair Interviews is how two friends who love to read and interview authors came together to connect authors to readers. We review books and every month we record one-on-one author interviews and post them on our Web site. By late fall, these interviews will be available on CD, for sale in sets by genre: 5-6 romance, mystery, General Fiction, etc.

Did You Know ...

  • Since we launched our site in January 2005, we have had "hits" from people around the world; places such as Croatia, Canada, Japan Romania, Australia, France, Israel, United Kingdom, India, New Zealand, Germany, Seychelles, Italy, Turkey, Norway, Peru, Botswana and Cocos ­ several we had to check a map.
  • Authors post our reviews on their sites because they like what we said … and how we said it.
  • We want you to sign up as a member, get on our e-mail list so you can receive our e-zine and other informative notices. www.ArmchairInterviews.com/join

Announcing ... Armchair Interviews and The Minnesota Crime Wave are conducting a CONTEST.

The contest is to announce the publication of The Silence of the Loons: Thirteen Tales of Mystery by Minnesota’s premier crime writers: M.D. Lake, Mary Logue, William Kent Krueger, Judith Guest, Monica Ferris, K.J. Erickson, Ellen Hart, Carl Brookins, Lori L. Lake, Deborah Woodworth, Kerri Miller, David Housewright and Pat Dennis. The introduction is by R.D. Zimmerman.

The Silence of the Loons is a Nodin Press September release in conjunction with the Minnesota Crime Wave. Now, here is where Armchair Interviews comes in. We are celebrating the release of The Silence of the Loons by conducting a fan contest, asking crime-writing fans to do just what the authors did (with some minor variations).

  1. Write a 3500-4,000-word mystery.
  2. Use at least four of the listed clues or elements.
  3. E-mail submissions to Andrea@armchairinterviews.com no later than midnight August 30, 2005 (absolute deadline).

Winners announced September 15, 2005 on www.minnesotacrimewave.org and our Web sites.

Look for details and clues you need to incorporate on www.armchairinterviews.com. The winner and two runner-ups will have their story published on both web sites.

So roll on over to your computer or pull out a fresh legal pad (depending on your style) and get crackin'. This may be your opportunity to shine on two Web sites that get a ton of click action. You might even get discovered!

August 30 will be here quicker than a good detective can solve a cold case (and sometimes a warm one). It will be fun … so join us!

Details: www.armchairinterviews.com (Author's Place).

Good Luck ... and Good Writing!

Audio Author Interviews Posted

As of July 1, you can listen to our interviews with the following (with more being posted so check back):

Michele Hauf: Author of Once a Thief
Hauf's exciting new novel is Once A Thief, and she's so talented she can convince anyone that becoming a jewel thief is an exciting adventure. She also discusses the writing life, which is a bit tamer than planning to steal a small, shiny, and beautiful object worth more than most homes.

Keri Wyatt Kent: Author of Breathe: Creating Space for God in a Hectic Life
Kent's book is Breathe: Creating Space for God in a Hectic Life. Breathe will help us all break free from the hectic pace of life and ultimately find rest through a relationship with Christ.

Ellen Hart: Author of No Reservations Required
Hart talks about her newest book in which Twin City businessmen begin dying, and Sophie Greenway isn't buying coincidence. Sophie had better be careful; sleuthing may be bad for her health.

Lawana Blackwell: Author of A Table by the Window
A full-time author, Blackwell's books include her VICTORIAN SERENADE series, her beloved GRESHAM CHRONICLES, her TALES OF LONDON series, and A Table By the Window, her first contemporary novel.

Lois Greiman: Author of Unzipped
Greiman has written over fifteen novels, including romantic comedy, historical romance and mystery (many winning her prestigious writing awards). She talks about how she developed her characters in this her first mystery ­ and whether this might be the start of a series with the cop and the psychologist.

David Wheaton: Author of University of Destruction
Wheaton says that as many as 50 percent of Christian students say they have lost their faith after four years in college. Hear this and other startling facts as David gives parents and students a plan to stay on course or get back on course if the student has strayed.

Carmela LaVigna Coyle: Author of Do Princesses Wear Hiking Boots
Coyle chats about her children's picture books, Do Princesses Wear Hiking Boots? and Do Princesses REALLY Kiss Frogs? Join us as she reveals the inspiration behind her current and upcoming books and offers a few how-to's for the aspiring children's writer, as well!

Jan Brogan: Author of A Confidential Source
Brogan shares first-hand information about newspaper reporting, novel writing and her exciting new mystery that is filled with murder, gambling, greed, talk radio and investigative reporting.

Kathleen Eagle: Author of Night Falls Like Silk
Eagle talks about her edge-of-the-seat suspense novel and her Native American hero Thomas Warrior, wealthy and beautiful heroine Cassandra Westbrook and the Native American ledger drawings that bring them together ­­­ and may cost someone their life.

Dianna Booher: Author of Your Signature Work
Booher challenges all of us to be and do our very best. By practicing the principles in her book, you can become a star performer in the workplace and in your personal life.

Judy Baer: Author of The Whitney Chronicles
Baer talks about the writing life and her newest, a Christian chick-lit novel that has been described as "Bridget Jones goes to church."

Emyl Jenkins: Author of Stealing with Style
Jenkins talks about southern living, antiques, the writing life and her new novel. The book is marvelous and our conversation was simply scintillating. Read our review for Emyl's book.

Rosemary Heim: Author of Virgin in Disguise
Heim discusses everything from the writing life to the business of writing. Find out where the ideas come from and what she thinks of critique groups and writing organizations. Oh yes, and we discuss her novel also.

Want to Learn About New Authors?

With a little help from our friends who also love to read, we have posted over 140 book reviews on our web site. Check them out in the genre you love. Try something new. Here is a list of just our FICTION books. Several of these have become our "new favorites," and we say so in our reviews.

Never heard of any of these authors? That's our plan ­ to promote new and emerging authors, the writers who don't get the big bucks, big book tours, big-time interviews and signings.

  • Billy Goat Hill by Mark Stanleigh Morris
  • Body Double by Vicki Hinze
  • The Bright Forever by Lee Martin
  • Bubbles Betrothed by Sarah Strohmeyer
  • Bullet Hole by Keith Miles
  • Carpe Demon: Adventures of a Demon-Hunting Soccer Mom by Julie Kenner
  • Clay's Quilt by Silas House
  • Enchanted, Inc. by Shanna Swendson
  • The Hot Flash Club Strikes Again by Nancy Thayer
  • Islands by Dan Sleigh
  • Late Bloomer by Melissa Pritchard
  • Making It Up As I Go Along by Maria T. Lennon
  • Oh My Stars by Lorna Landvik
  • The Orange Blossom Special by Betsy Carter
  • Raising Hope by Katie Willard
  • Right as Rain by Bev Marshall
  • Sweetwater by Roxana Robinson
  • A Thread of Grace by Mary Doria Russell
  • The Town That Came A-Courtin' by Ronda Rich
  • The Weight of Nothing by Steven Gillis

Our book reviews are in non-fiction, Christian, romance, how-to, self-help, science fiction, sports, memoirs, public affairs, inspirational, business, mystery/suspense, children's and young adults, humor, and even Westerns. If you don't find a new author to read, we have not done our job.

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU ... your personal favorites and suggestions for reviews or interviews! Write us at info@armchairinterviews.com

The Amazon Connection ...

Did you know you can order any of the reviewed books directly from Amazon by clicking on the book icon on our Web site? We make it simple!

Look for more than 140 of our book reviews posted on Amazon, with new ones every week. If you like our reviews on Amazon, click on the YES! (that it was helpful).

Armchair Interview Hosts Confess ...

ANDREA SISCO reads while we sleep and while we eat ­ and while she travels and every other minute of the day. What does she love to read?

I simply love the written word. I read most everything for my position as host of Armchair Interviews. But I really enjoy fiction. If I was pressed to declare a genre it would probably be mystery. However, I enjoy many other genres also.”

"It's really all about the story, characters, and the prose that impresses me and keeps me turning the pages. Sometimes I read to be entertained, sometimes I want to read something so beautifully written that a particular passage is meant to be reread and savored over and over. I want an author to make me care deeply about what they’ve written.”

"What I've recently read that has stayed with me and that I'm recommending are:

Billy Goat Hill by Mark Stanleigh Morris
Levi's Will by W. Dale Cramer
Sweetwater by Roxana Robinson
A Garden In Paris by Stephanie Grace Whitson
Body Double by Vicki Hinze
Stealing with Style by Emyl Jenkins
Gentle's Holler by Kerry Madden
Do Princesses Really Kiss Frogs and Do Princesses Wear Hiking Boots by Carmela LaVigna Coyle
Breathe: Creating Space for God in a Hectic Life by Keri Wyatt Kent
Haunted Ground by Erin Hart
No Reservations Required by Ellen Hart

Reviews of these books or audio interviews are posted on www.armchairinterviews.com .

CONNIE ANDERSON usually picks up a biography, general non-fiction, history or on some current issue.

"I've just finished two very interesting books, both non-fiction. Faded Pictures from My Backyard by Ballantine Books is a memoir about Sue Carswell's life as her parents worked at an orphanage in the 1960s. The orphans and children with health or emotional problems waited for visitors every Sunday ­ either family members, of if they were lucky, new parents. (Review Posted)

"I was thoroughly into On American Ground, released by Algonquin in April. It is about Italian prisoners of war interred at a camp in the Seattle area. This is not a skim-it book, and I read every word of this amazing true story of a riot and lynching that took place almost 61 years ago. It is written by Jack Hamman, a journalist who stumbled onto the story." (Review posted)

You Can Write Reviews, Too!

If you are interested in submitting reviews to be posted on our Web site, write us at info@ArmchairInterviews.com and tell us your name, address, zip code, e-mail address and a little about yourself; what kinds of books you like to read, etc. We want reviews from new, upcoming books (but cannot provide them to you) -- so if you bought a winner and want to share the news, drop us an e-mail. The reviews should be between 250 and 400 words and not published anywhere else. We will provide the editing.

Want Your Book Reviewed ­ or an Audio Interview?

Write info@ArmchairInterviews.com and tell us a little about the book: title, genre, publisher (independently published is okay), release date and a brief blurb of what it is about. We have several Minneapolis/St. Paul people who are doing reviews for us. There is NO guarantee that we will review it … or that the review will be all lovey-dovey. If we find issues with the content, we say so.

Great Relationships in the Publishing Biz

Dan Olson, Bethany House Publishing - www.bethanyhouse.com

Dan is in charge of Internet marketing for Bethany House Publishing, a Minnesota-based publisher of Christian fiction, non-fiction and self-help books. Their readers have certain expectations of content and quality - and we have found their books well written and edited with a consistent message.

Dan provides us exciting new books to review, and on occasion we do an audio author interviews for download on our Web site. He has posted portions of our reviews on their web site; and for one of their authors he even used our review as the "editorial" review on Amazon. Now, we know that he is just doing his job, but he did take a chance on two unknowns early on and didn't have to do so.

We have found that Dan works extremely hard for Bethany House Publishing and their authors. We think the publishing house is fortunate to have him working for them as he does a fantastic job and contributes to their positive reputation.

Thanks Dan! Your encouragement, responsiveness and enthusiasm for us ever since we launched Armchair Interviews in January are all appreciated.

AUTHORS: The Four Ways to Publish Your Book

Thanks to the "experts" at Expert Publishing in Minneapolis, we have available some great information about how to publish your book. Harry and Sharron Stockhausen of Expert Publishing make this whole process easy to understand, so check out the info in Author's Page on our web site. To learn more about them, www.ExpertPublishingInc.com will get you there.

AUTHORS! Do You Want an Easy Way to Find Publicity For Your Book?

www.BookConnector.com connects authors, publishers and public relations firms with people and resources that promote your book. They match your book's characteristics with a database (that is growing daily) of interviewers, reviewers, review sites, book clubs, and reading venues. You get personalized results that give you "the most bang for your book."

Get more information on our Web site or Book Connector's.

From Our Armchair to Yours ...