Cherie Burbach {Writer Wednesday} + GIVEAWAY

I am so excited to introduce you to Cherie Burbach - a writer, artist, and founder of Putting On The New (where I'm a monthly contributor). I am fortunate enough to offer a print giveaway from her amazing Etsy shop in conjunction with this interview!!! 

To enter the GIVEAWAY leave a comment below about your favorite dessert and/or a comment for Cherie! 

I'll announce the winner next Tuesday, August 12th!
 
A little bit about Cherie...

Cherie Burbach is a freelance writer, mixed media artist, and poet. She’s obsessed with Tudor fiction and never misses a Packer game, and she’s written for About.com, NBC/Universal, Christianity Today, and more.

How to connect with Cherie...

Website: http://cherieburbach.com/
Blog: http://cherieburbach.tumblr.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CherieBurbach
Twitter: https://twitter.com/brrbach
Instagram: http://instagram.com/cherieburbach

Writer and Artist Interview | Cherie Burbach

You and Writing

Tell us a little bit about yourself: How did you start writing? What has kept you writing?
...I started writing as a kid. I liked creating stories and illustrating them. That evolved to include poetry when I was about eight. I kept writing “in secret” and just for myself, but when I entered the working world writing was always a major component of my job. Now I work full-time as a freelancer, writing mainly nonfiction.

...Writing is a way for me to figure out the world. It helps me express myself and work through things, and gives me another way to connect with God. Writing is almost like prayer for me.

Do you have a favorite book or work that you’ve written? If so, why?
...My first book, a work of poetry titled The Difference Now, was published ten years ago and marked a turning point for me, so I guess that would be my favorite.

I Make The Rules (print) by Cherie Burbach

Writing

Where do you find inspiration for your story/characters? Are they based on real life or pure imagination or both?
...Inspiration comes from everywhere. Feelings, thoughts, observations. My characters aren’t usually based on real people, but sometimes I do give a character a trait from one of the favorite people in my life. One of my characters shares the name of my great grandma, a phone habit from my auntie, a love of coffee from my mother, and a back-love story that is similar to my grandma’s.
When you write, what is your overall intention with your stories?
...To tell a story that others will want to read. Ultimately, I like to think of writing that is entertaining first, and if it goes deeper for some people and encourages or inspires them, that’s a bonus. But there’s no point in writing a fiction book if the reader won’t get taken away by the story and enjoy it.

What advice would you give to aspiring authors for writing and/or publishing?
...Write a lot! Read a lot! Read more than a lot! And then… keep at it with writing and publishing. It’s never going to be an easy road but that’s part of the fun.

The Difference Now (print) by Cherie Burbach

You

What is your favorite activity during the summer?
...I like going to some of the ethnic festivals in town. Milwaukee is known for fabulous festivals down by the lakefront. I also like to take my computer and head outside to work. It makes me feel like I’m playing hooky when I’m really not.

What are you currently reading?
...I always have a pile on my nightstand! I like to keep things varied. So… right now I’m reading:

All Fall Down by Jennifer Weiner
I’m So Sure by Jenny B. Jones
APE: Author, Publisher, Entrepreneur by Kawasaki and Welch
The Burglar Who Counted Spoons by Lawrence Block

Apparently August 15th is National Lemon Meringue Pie Day (who knew). What is your favorite dessert?
...I love a good root beer float in summer.

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Cherie, I just LOVE your art and how it combines so many colors and phrases etc. So fun! And, being artistic (well, photography wise) myself, I appreciate the connection between art and writing. And good choice on the root beer float there! There is nothing better in the summer! 

So, remember dear readers, leave a comment below for Cherie and/or about your favorite dessert and make sure you check out her amazing Etsy shop - if you win, you'll get to pick a print from there :D

Operation Zulu Redemption: Collateral Damage – Part 1 by Ronie Kendig | RE:View

First off, a CONGRATULATIONS to....

>>K. L. Bridgewater<<

She won the giveaway for last week's interview with Ginger Marcinkowski (which you can see here). I'll be contacting you K. L. about receiving you book from Ginger. Thanks for commenting.


Now on to my review of Part 1...

Collateral Damage – Part 1

Taking off where Overkill left off, Collateral Damage ramps up the intensity of team Zulu faster than a heat-seeking missal acquiring a target. Ronie artfully weaves the story of Annie, Téya, Nuala, Boone, and Trace, among other characters, in a way that keeps you turning the virtual pages.

From the moment you open Collateral Damage, the adrenaline gets pumping as Nuala is introduced and team Zulu is faced with the seemingly insurmountable task of finding out why Misrata happened in the first place. LTC Trace Weston has his work cut out for him as he wrestles against old information and years of silence between him and his team. Will they find a new lead to the case? Can he protect the remaining girls or will he fail them like the others?

Time is running out as the unseen enemy seems to get closer every time.

Part 1 is everything you’d want in a fast, action-packed novel and more! Ronie paints a masterful scene that is only heightened by the varying viewpoints of the team and those in positions of power. I recommend reading Overkill first (it’s the perfect introduction) and then hopping on over to Amazon and getting Part 2, because you will not be able to rest until you know what happens!

Purchase Operation Zulu Redemption: Collateral Damage - Part 1

_______________________

I received a free copy of this book for review purposes, but was under no obligation to read the book or post a review. I do so under my own motivation and the opinions I have expressed in this review are honest and entirely my own. 

Operation Zulu Redemption: Overkill - The Beginning by Ronie Kendig | RE:View

Blood pumping, adrenaline inducing writing that will leave you desperate for the next installment!

Ronie Kendig has done it again! Her serialization, Operation Zulu Redemption, is one wild ride after another. As I've mentioned in previous posts, this work is spread out over 5 weeks drawing you a little further into the story each week.

We're currently at Part 3, Hazardous Duty, but I'm going to start with sharing my review of Overkill - The Beginning.

OVERKILL

In this FREE (yep, get your copy now!!!) introduction to the serialization, you will meet some of the key players of Operation Zulu (or OZ for short).

Ronie doesn't even let you catch your breath before you're out the door and part of the wild ride the OZ team is facing. As each character is introduced, a new twist of the plot unfolds until you're completely wrapped up in it.

I won't say much more than that at this point since Overkill introduces the series and I don't want to give anything away. I will say, however, that you'd better get this right away! I'll be reviewing Collateral Damage (part 1) soon and you'll want to be caught up by then.

Download
Operation Zulu Redemption: Overkill - The Beginning
Purchase
Operation Zulu Redemption: Collateral Damage - Part 1
Operation Zulu Redemption: Out of Nowhere - Part 2
Operation Zulu Redemption: Hazardous Duty - Part 3

Serialization Description 
(from Ronie's website)

They never should’ve existed. Now they don’t.

In the aftermath of their first highly successful op, the first all-female special ops team, known as Zulu, discovered that innocent civilians—women and children—died at their hands. Zulu was set up to take a devastating fall.

Fearing for their lives, the Zulu team vanished. With new identities and spread across the globe, they live in relative but isolated peace—yet still haunted by the past. Terrified of being discovered.

Five years after that horrific night, they begin to hope they might be safe and the tragedy forgotten.

Until two of them are murdered.

_______________________

I received a free copy of this book for review purposes, but was under no obligation to read the book or post a review. I do so under my own motivation and the opinions I have expressed in this review are honest and entirely my own.

Go deeper...

Check out these character interviews and informative OZ posts by my fellow RFFTF Team members!

Music for the Mission - OZ Playlist

Why Zulu?

Summer Shoot-Out: Vacation with Ronie Kendig & Zulu


Meet:

Keeley

Annie

Nuala

Boone

 Sam

Trace

Red Sky At Morning by Steve Wilson | RE:View

Marine Lieutenant Michael Neill cuts a striking figure in Red Sky At Morning by Steve Wilson. He's a man of character, integrity, and intelligence - not to mention a handsome face that the women in his life can't seem to ignore.

His mission starts off simply enough: travel to the Soviet Union and verify nuclear disarmament. All is going well until a Russian fighter shoots down an American reconnaissance plane changing Michael's mission to one of covert investigation into Russian stealth technology.

I enjoyed Red Sky At Morning, though found the writing to be at times more cut-and-dried than I'd prefer. I enjoyed the meticulous details and the obvious knowledge that Wilson has, though would have loved to see more emotion to round out the book. Some of the relationships appeared flat due to the lack of feeling.

The only part of the book that I had a hard time with was the view points. Wilson often "jumps heads" in his writing, speaking from one characters view point and abruptly changing to another only paragraphs later. Despite the confusion this sometimes caused, I did appreciate his attempt to make these transitions as smooth as possible. I think I would have connected better with Neill had we been "in his head" more solidly.

With that said, I would still definitely recommend this book. Wilson obviously did his research extensively and the plot is entertaining and intriguing. If you enjoy military thrillers and like a book with more thinking than feeling, this is the book for you!

Purchase Red Sky at Morning

Book Description
(from Amazon)

When Marine Lieutenant Michael Neill is ordered to the former Soviet Union, his assignment is to verify nuclear disarmament. But before his mission begins, an American reconnaissance plane is attacked by a Russian fighter, and a Navy pilot is killed. After the incident, Neill’s mission changes.

Willis Avery, the President’s National Security Adviser, wants Lieutenant Neill to investigate Russian stealth technology, in addition to his original assignment. Photographic evidence—and the lack of radar images of the attacking aircraft—lead the American intelligence community to conclude that something new has been developed in the skies over Russia. Avery believes that Neill’s friendship with a high-ranking officer in the Ukrainian Air Force is the key to establishing Red Sky at Morning—the existence of new aviation technology that could upset the balance of power between East and West.

However, ultra-nationalist forces are at work. After arriving in Eastern Europe, Neill quickly uncovers a conspiracy of terrorism secretly instigated by the Kremlin. Government leaders in Moscow will stop at nothing to rebuild the Soviet Union as they try to force the breakaway republics back into the fold.

Neill discovers that the terrorism has extended to the weapons facility he is charged with inspecting. Communist agents have gone far beyond their original orders, and it’s a race against time as the Marine—with the help of a beautiful Ukrainian journalist—tries to stop them—and come up with a plan to bring down the corrupt government officials in Moscow.

_______________________

I received a free copy of this Ebook to review. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC Regulations. I am part of The CWA Review Crew.

Ginger Marcinkowski {Writer Wednesday} + GIVEAWAY

Leave a comment below by next Tuesday to enter to win an autographed copy of The Button Legacy: Emily’s Inheritance and a surprise gift from Ginger worth $25!

A little bit about Ginger...

Ginger Marcinkowski was born as one of eight siblings in northern Maine along the Canadian border, a setting that plays a prominent role in her novels, Run, River Currents and The Button Legacy-Emily’s Inheritance.
Her debut novel, Run, River Currents, was published in August 2012, was a 2012 semi-finalist in the ACFW Genesis Awards and a 2013 Kindle Book Award Finalist. The Button Legacy-Emily's Inheritance, will be released in July 2014. An interesting fact about Ginger is that she is a million-mile flier with United Airlines and had been a multi-million dollar travel agent in the past. Her travel experience will be the catalyst for a new series of mysteries whose main characters are travel agents.

How to connect with Ginger...

Website: www.gingermarcinkowski.com
Blog:www.gingermarcinkowski.com/blog
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6455180.Ginger_Marcinkowski
Facebook:www.facebook.com/writer.Ginger.Marcinkowski
Twitter:@grm55grm
Author Interview | Ginger Marcinkowski

You and Writing

Tell us a little bit about yourself: How did you start writing? What has kept you writing?
...I was a late bloomer and didn’t started really writing until the age of 53. It was in my mind to write, but time and life got in the way. When I started my Master of Fine Arts degree, the real desire to write emerged and now I have no problems wanting to write or having the time to write, as I am retired.

Do you have a favorite book or work that you’ve written? If so, why?
...My latest release, The Button Legacy: Emily’s Inheritance was a work of love and a tribute to the way God has blessed my life. The novel is a collection of stories about an old button box my grandparents owned. When we would visit as children, they would allow us to pull the tin container down from the top of the oak hutch and choose one button. They would then relay a story about the button we had chosen. They are tender memories and although this is fiction, many of the stories are real.

What was the hardest thing about publishing? The easiest?
...My journey into the publishing world was no tougher than any writer faces, except for the fact that I had written a dark novel and neither the secular market, nor the Christian market thought it was “acceptable reading.” The secular market did not like my inclusion of faith in the story and called it “too Christian.” The Christian market felt two of the scenes depicted more truth than their audience could handle, calling it “too secular.” They wanted something more lighthearted. That was tough hearing, but when it was picked up by Booktrope Publishing, it garnished awards in both the Christian and the secular markets. Because of that first book, Booktrope went on to create a Christian imprint called Vox Dei. They now welcome other Christian writers! Again, God was faithful.

...The easiest thing about publishing is targeting editors and publishing. The hardest things about publishing are the marketing I’ve had to do once the book was published and reading reviews that judge my personal Christianity instead of the work I have written. That really happened. It broke my heart to see that a fellow Christian said I could not be a Christian and write about what had happened to me in Run, River Currents. I felt sad by the fact that the reviewer was so judgmental and attacked me personally, rather than the novel. When I asked her if the writing was good, she replied it was excellent. She just didn’t like the subject matter. I guess bad things don’t happen to Christians. Writers have to have thick skins.

Your Writing

Tell us a little bit about your book or what you’re working on currently? Why are you/did you write it?
...The Button Legacy: Emily’s Inheritance was written to balance out Run, River Currents, my first novel. In that dark book, which was based on a true event of abuse in my life, the main character, Emily Evans, carried around a tremendous burden of guilt, shame and anger because of her father’s sexual abuse. The book alludes to the fact that Emily’s grandparents were praying and witnessing to her, but it was not until the end of the book that Emily came to know Christ as her Savior. In The Button Legacy: Emily’s Inheritance, the reader gets “the other side” of her dark story. It shows how God’s grace was holding Emily up during her dark times and in the end, allowed the character to see how God would continue to be passed on to her own son.
Do you have a favorite character in this work? If so, why?
...So much of this book has reality in it, so I’d have to say John Polk, as he was such a godly influence in my life. Unfortunately, it took me until adulthood to know or understand how important his quiet witness was to all of his grandchildren.

What is one take-away from your book that you hope readers identify with? 

...That God is alive hand as real as you or I am. He gives us a faith that is to be passed on in whatever manner we choose to do it. For my family, it was with buttons.
Writing

Where do you find inspiration for your story/characters? Are they based on real life or pure imagination or both? 

... I write from my own life experiences, weaving truth and fiction, and adding a strong sense of place. As for inspiration, it surrounds me and I use it to its fullest advantage.
When you write, what is your overall intention with your stories?  

...I didn’t have to think long about this one, as my hope with my writing is that God will be glorified and readers will come to understand the importance of believing in Him by not beating them over the head with the Bible. If they laugh or cry along the way, that just adds to my joy!
What advice would you give to aspiring authors for writing and/or publishing?
...I can think of two important things. One is to just write. Quit thinking about writing. Quit saying you want to write. Quit making excuses not to write. Instead…write. If it is important enough and not an afterthought, you will write. Secondly, write the truth. So many new writers worry about hurting someone’s feelings or about people not understanding their writing. I say, write the truth, no matter how hard it is to write, no matter who might believe you or challenge your faith. If you write the truth, God will honor that whether your truth is written in fiction or non-fiction.
You
How are you making the most of your time this summer for writing and relaxing? Do you do anything different in the summer months?
...Now that I am retired, my winters and summers are the same, except for weather. I take time out of every day to read God’s Word, exercise and enjoy my family. Everything else, including writing must wait!
Do you enjoy hot weather or cold better? 

...Definitely hot! I don’t have a great swimsuit body and I have had skin cancer, so I don’t just sit in the sun, but I do so love sitting under an umbrella and watching any body of water.

                                                ______________________________
 

It was great having you on the blog today Ginger!I love the idea of the button box and a memory attached to each button! My grandma had a similar button in, though we didn't often discuss the memories behind the buttons. It's sad to hear the pain you had to go through with difficult reviews, but finding solace in the fact that (as you point out) you wrote the truth. I also love how you say to just write and stop making excuses. Yes, I hear you and need to tell myself that over and over again. I hope you enjoy your relaxing this summer.

And thank you for your generous giveaway! I can't wait to see who wins!!! Don't forget to comment below readers.

Winner and Quick DC Update

Last week I had the pleasure of interviewing Alexis A. Goring (find her interview here) and she offered up a copy of her novel! Well, we have a WINNER! Say congratulations to....

>>ROBIN D<<

You've won a copy of Hope in my Heart :) Feel free to email me [HERE] so I can get you in contact with Alexis for your book. Congrats and I'm sure you'll enjoy it!






In other news...

I've arrived in Washington, D.C. Woohoo!!! Unfortunately...my stuff hasn't arrived but that's a whole different story (insert rolling of eyes here).

Off to the right here you can see our cute row house>>>

Yeah, I know. There are multiple coffee cups on the porch but hey, we had just driven across the country in 7 days. We needed that coffee.

I'm composing a longer update and will be filling you in on life here in DC, sight seeing pictures, and more about my involvement with Redeemer DC (the church I'll be working for). But, for now, all I can say is that it's extremely difficult having no furniture and no internet. Though I am extremely thankful we got temporary parking passes. The terror of DMV and vehicle registration will have to come later this week.

So, enough about that. How are YOU all doing this week???

Alexis A. Goring {Writer Wednesday} + GIVEAWAY

>>>Comment below for a chance to win a copy of Hope In My Heart from Alexis!!!

A little bit about Alexis...


-->Alexis A. Goring is a college graduate with a degree in print journalism from Washington Adventist University in Takoma Park, Maryland. Writing is her passion. She hopes that her stories will touch hearts, bring smiles to faces, and inspire minds to seek God whose love for humanity is unfailing.
How to connect with Alexis...


-->Website: http://www.alexisagoring.com/ Blog: http://capturingtheidea.blogspot.com/
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/capturingidea
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorAlexisAGoring
Twitter: @pennedbyalex
Author Interview | Alexis A. Goring

--> You and Writing

Tell us a little bit about yourself: How did you start writing? What has kept you writing?
...My name is Alexis and I love to write! I started writing fictional stories for fun at the age of 9 after a creative storytelling activity for me and my brother led by my grandpa one day at my grandma and grandpa’s house (they were our babysitters when we were children). My grandpa said, “Let’s create a story” and he gave us five minutes to think of one then we each shared it verbally. After returning home that evening, I started typing and elaborating my story into the family computer’s word processor and it became my summer project. By the end of summer, I’d finished my story, printed it out on paper, bound it like a real book using staples and then illustrated it from cover to cover. I’ve kept writing ever since because to me, my need to write is as important and necessary as my need to breathe.

Do you have a favorite book or work that you’ve written? If so, why?
...I’ve only written one book thus far and it is one of my favorites because the stories remind me to keep hope alive. But if I may add, one of my favorite books I’ve recently read is Meant to Be Mine by Becky Wade because I relate to the leading lady Celia Park. We share similar insecurities, dreams and a passion for baking!

What was the hardest thing about publishing? The easiest?
...My first book is an inspirational romance novella called Hope in My Heart: A Collection of Heartwarming Stories. It was released in Sept. 2013 through Crossbooks Publishing which is an imprint of B&H Publishing Group. The hardest thing about publishing was financing my book project from start to finish. Since Crossbooks is a self-publishing company, I had to pay for my book to be produced by their services and as a person living on a freelance writer income that was not easy, at all. But it was worth it!

Your Writing

Tell us a little bit about your book. Why did you write it?
...My novella is about hope because all of my main characters are hoping for a dream of their heart to come true. When people ask me, “What’s your book about?” I give them a synopsis of “Peace and Love” which is the third and final story in my novella.

“Peace and Love” is set at Christmastime and the story revolves around the lives of three main characters: Elle, Kristine and Eric. Elle is a starving artist from Michigan and she drove down to the D.C. metropolitan area during the holiday season because she has interviews for jobs in D.C., Maryland and Virginia. Elle is hoping one of those interviews will turn into her first full-time job with a steady paycheck. Kristine is adopted and though she loves her adoptive parents, she hopes to find and build a relationship with her birth mom before she marries her college sweetheart on Valentine’s Day in the New Year. So in order to achieve her dream, Kristine hires a private investigator whom she hopes will locate her birth mom. Finally, there’s Eric. He’s a family law attorney who specializes in divorce cases and since he’s still reeling from his own parents’ divorce which happened at Christmastime when Eric was growing up, Eric can be a real Scrooge for the entire month of December. Eric realizes his issues with his parents’ divorce are eating him alive so he decides to deal with it and reach out to his dad. The process of reconciliation and forgiveness is not easy but Eric hopes it will work.

What is one take-away from your book that you hope readers identify with?
...I hope my readers will take away one main theme in my book and that is HOPE. My goal in writing the book was to infuse real-life situations with hope which in turn, should give my readers hope that any situation, especially the ones that seem impossible, can work out for the good of those who love the Lord (Romans 8:28).

Writing

Where do you find inspiration for your story/characters? Are they based on real life or pure imagination or both?
...My characters are based on pure imagination with inspiration from real life situations.

When you write, what is your overall intention with your stories?
...When I write, my overall intention with my stories is to encourage, inspire and uplift my readers. I want to show my readers that with God in the picture, no situation is entirely hopeless.

What advice would you give to aspiring authors for writing and/or publishing?
...I would tell aspiring authors to keep writing and pursuing your passion and pray about it because God can take you where you need to be, according to His will. So if God wants you to be a creative professional/writer and you’re walking in His purpose for you, your dream will come true! I would also say to get involved on social media—start a blog, Twitter feed and Facebook page about yourself as an aspiring writer. It helps people to get to know you as a creative and once you start publishing your work, you will find it to be a vital part of your book’s success. Meanwhile, I would say go to join writer organizations such as American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) and attend writers’ conferences where you can pitch your manuscript to literary agents. Self-publishing is wonderful and I do recommend it if you’re with a great company like Crossbooks (or another reputable imprint). But I do think that traditional publishing still has more benefits such as having costs covered for publishing your book. Ultimately it depends on who you are as a writer and what you want. If you want to be traditionally published, you should attend and participate in writers’ conferences where you can pitch your book to the agents and find a good editor. You also need to start the query letter process which is what you do to submit your work to agents before or even after attending the writers conference(s).

You
How are you making the most of your time this summer for writing and relaxing? Do you do anything different in the summer months?
...As a freelance writer who writes for several clients, I work throughout the year so my work schedule does not change too drastically in the summertime. I spend my free time working on my (new) collection of creative stories and every now and then, I relax at the spa.

Do you enjoy hot weather or cold better?
...Neither. I love cool, breezy weather with warm sunshine and vibrant foliage which is why my favorite season is Autumn!

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Thank you so much for stopping by the blog Alexis! I can relate with you seeing as I stayed with my grandparents when I was growing up as well! My grandpa always shared such great stories - I'm sure it helped my creativity! "Peace and Love" sounds great and I love that you like relaxing at the spa - best way to unwind, right?

So, dear readers, don't forget to comment below for a chance to win a copy of Hope In My Heart - I'll be announcing the winner next Tuesday!