In the Spotlight

Cultivating Ink - by Kiana Donae

8/8/2017

I love a good book as you all may know and finally working on another myself, but the reson I am posting today is to let you know that the Queen Pen herself is at it again. Yeap the one known as "the GhostWrioter", "The Page Slayer", or 'Queen Pen; well those are some of the names that I have used when referring to Kiana Donae. lol

I have just resently found out that she has penned yet another book Cultivating Ink that's coming soon and I am sure that it will quinch your funky emotion with her mighty pen which is sharper that any blade or tongue on the face of this earth. If you haven't pleas do check out some of Kiana Donae's work, which will make fall in love with her flowetry even if you are already a fan or just entering the world of poetry or spoken word.

For more information about Kiana Donae's poetry check out the following:

Website: https://poetkianadonaeblog.wordpress.com/
Twitter: @poetkianadonae
Instagram: @poetkianadonae

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Randy Weir - In The SpotLight

2/12/2017

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Good day all, and I thank you once again for taking a few minutes out of your day to check out In The Spotlight. Today I am featuring an artist that I have come to depend on for my adventure fix as I don't get enough in my life as I did when I was younger.
R Weir is an IT Professional by day and Author by night, living in beautiful Colorado with his wife, daughter and dog, Emma. When not glued to the computer for work and writing, he relaxes by enjoying the outdoors; playing tennis, travelling in his motorhome and riding a motorcycle wherever the wind takes him. His Jarvis Mann Detective stories have spent time on several Amazon Bestseller lists, with more cases on the horizon. I must say it again, "I do believe that he can over throw the King of Kindle, with no problem. lol If you don't know who the King of Kindle is then I suggest you google it after reading this review and I bet you will agree." With that said let's get on with the interview.

B.K.: Describe your writing style in 3 words.

R. Weir:Mystery, Humor, Action

B.K.: What book character would you be, and why?

IR. Weir: It would be Jarvis Mann, of course, since I write in first person. Though he is way cooler and tougher than I am, but his humor and determination is all me.

B.K.: If you could time travel, what year would you go to and why?

R. Weir: I’d go back to last year, in November before my motorcycle accident, hoping to avoid the whole moment. For it’s been the hardest, most painful thing I’ve ever had to deal with.

B.K.: What would your ten-year-old self say to you now?

R. Weir: Enjoy your youth, as time goes by so quickly.

B.K.: Who is your greatest influence?

R. Weir: Writing influence would be Robert B. Parker, the great author of the Spenser and Jesse Stone novels.

B.K.: What/who made you start writing?

R. Weir: I wrote poetry and song lyrics in my teen years, to deal with my teenage angst. It made me feel better getting the words on paper, since I didn’t have many outlets to deal with my unhappiness and anger.

B.K.: Are there other genres that you write or wish to write?

R. Weir: I wrote three novels in the 80’s that were never published, dealing with a CIA agent recruited from retirement to go after a terrorist group. I’ve considered updating them and look at publishing them, if I can ever get the time.

B.K.: Tell us about your current book project?

R. Weir: Currently I’ve started another short story featuring Jarvis Mann, titled “The Case of the Invisible Soul” where he helps out a homeless man who claims other homeless people in his area are disappearing. I also have a rough outline and a beginning written for Jarvis going head to head against a serial killer in “The Front Range Butcher”.

For more information about R. Weir check out the following:

Website: https://rweir.net/
Twitter: @RWeir720
Goodreads: https://goo.gl/m3mZAq

Click on the images below to purchase the following at amazon.com

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Kiana Donae - In the spotlight

1/26/2017

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It's been a minute since I have posted anything for In The Spotlight section of my blog and I am going to be sure that I do more going forward. I would like to reintroduce to you a great author in my book - I know, I know you think I say she is great because she is my beautiful wife, yeah that is one very good reason but you don't get on this blog page if you do not impress me or I think that the world should know your works.
Kiana Donae is the author of two poetry collections, Love & Ink (2014) & Love & Ink Vol.2: Reflections (2015). Her poetry has appeared in I Am Not A Silent Poet (a blogzine), Second Sight/Insight II art exhibit (Kalamazoo Institute of Art), Black Fox (literary magazine), ME! Newsletter (Hampton Publishing House, LLC) and HoneyBeNatural (a magazine). She lives in a small town in Southwest Michigan with her family. Now let's get on with the interview.

B.K. : Describe your writing style in 3 words.

Kiana Donae: Intimate, Thoughtful, Provocative

B.K.: What book character would you be, and why?

Kiana Donae: I've long been a fan of Anne Rice and her Vampire Chronicles and I'm intrigued by vampire stories and legends. So for me, I'd have to say, Merrick, she was an inherited witch from a long line of African mistresses in New Orleans. She recounts her tale with David, a vampire, and learns more about her powers. She's strong yet vulnerable, and I can relate to that.

B.K.: If you could time travel, what year would you go to and why?

Kiana Donae: This is hard, I believe the past is what makes us who we are in the present. I'd have to say the future, maybe 50 years from now, to see how my family turned out.

B.K.: What would your ten-year-old self say to you now?

Kiana Donae: She's probably tell me I was old. Lol

B.K.: Who is your greatest influence?

Kiana Donae: Myself. I love and accept the support of my husband, family, and friends. But I'm my biggest influence, I've been known to talk myself out of doing things, due to my fears or insecurities.

B.K.: What/who made you start writing?

Kiana Donae: Writing has always just been there. I can remember writing a poem about the fall time at around 8 years old. Writing just was! As I got older, it became an urge, an itch, that if I was sad, upset, or overcome with emotion of some sort, writing was what just had to happen after. Words would jumble in my head and wouldn't stop until I wrote them on paper. I'd lay in bed with lines to poems scrolling across my brain and wouldn't be able to sleep. As I've grown into adulthood inspiration can come from anywhere and I've grown to love that force now. I relish when inspiration strikes and try to take full advantage and listen to the stories being told to my pen.

B.K.: Are there other genres that you write or wish to write?

Kiana Donae: I want to dabble in fiction. I have a few ideas but haven't been able to sit down and flesh them out.

B.K.: Tell us about your current book project.

Kiana Donae: Currently I'm open to inspiration so that I can release another poetry collection this year. I have 3 collections that I'm working toward and just don't have enough pieces for each book yet.

For more information about Kiana Donae's poetry check out the following:

Website: https://poetkianadonaeblog.wordpress.com/
Twitter: @poetkianadonae
Instagram: @poetkianadonae

Click on the images below to purchase the following at amazon.com

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Jaclyn M. Bartz - In the Spotlight

10/8/2014

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The spotlight is on fire the month!!! I am introducing Jaclyn M. Bartz. Jaclyn is an author/illustrator of the children’s series, The Retired Tooth Fairy. The first book in the series debuted in July 2014. She also has a short story about the first male tooth fairy coming out in 2015, and the second book of the series. The Retired Tooth Fairy in Lilly’s Adventure, will be released in 2016. Additionally, Jaclyn is an independent book reviewer who has a column in the Midwest Review’s Reviewer’s Bookwatch Newsletter and she is also the founder of Green Owl Publications. When she not writing or reviewing, Jaclyn also does freelance graphic art works for her clients. In Jaclyn own words, "I guess you can say I am a busy bee!" I purchased the kindle version of The Retired Tooth Fairy and enjoyed from the beginning to the end. Now, I'm no book reviewer but I bet that you and also your children will read this tale over and over again. Now with that said, let the interview begin!!

B.K.: Describe your writing style in 3 words.

Jaclyn: Imaginative, different, & silly

B.K.: What book character would you be, and why?

Jaclyn: Wow, I never actually thought about being one of the book characters. And honestly, I couldn’t even pick just one! The joy of reading for me is having the opportunity to jump into the lives of various characters. I like all different genres, so sometimes it is fun being the detective involved in a huge case, or a terrified group of friends running from some monster, or the girl who falls in love with the unlikely romantic down the street. Every character has their own unique traits, skills, and experiences. I feel there is always something to take away from each character.

B.K.: If you could time travel, what year would you go to and why?

Jaclyn: I would travel to the 1960s when Stan Lee was in the beginning of his comic book career. I would have loved to been there to witness his process of creating some of the most memorable superheroes we all know today. It would be cool to pick his brain about character & plot development, illustration, and his business models, among other things.

B.K.: What would your ten-year-old self say to you now?

Jaclyn: See, all of that daydreaming wasn’t for nothing!”

B.K.: Who is your greatest influence?

Jaclyn: My children are my greatest influence. They are full of wonder, excitement, and joy. I am lucky to be able to experience the world again through their eyes. It is hard to believe how much we take things for granted as we get older. They have helped me stop and enjoy the beauty this world has to offer.

B.K.: What/who made you start writing?

Jaclyn: I have been writing since I learned how to make complete sentences. But what made me want to write were all the stories I have read, video games I played, and comic books I studied. I was a geeky child who has grown into a full blown dork. Yes, I still love to watch cartoons. I still dream about being a supercool superhero, and I love my Mario Bros

We all know who collects the baby teeth; but, who collects the teeth when someone older, like Mommy or Daddy, loses a tooth? The retired tooth fairies do! “The Retired Tooth Fairy” follows the misadventures of one of these fairies. And her name is Bea. When the head fairy, Ms. Floss, gets swamped, she enlists the help of The Retired Tooth Fairy. Bea happily accepts her request and starts on her journey. But collecting these teeth will prove to be no easy task. Bea will have to risk being discovered by humans in order to return home before the magic of her "Youthful Dust" fades away. Will she make it home in time? Find out as you join Bea on her misadventure.

Get it now!!!

Available in paperback and kindle versions.

Click here to get NOW!!!

Series: The Retired Tooth Fairy
Paperback: 110 pages
Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform; 1 edition (July 5, 2014)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1468175971
ISBN-13: 978-1468175974

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Suay Lo - In the Spotlight

9/2/2014

1 Comment

Music, music, music, I love music. Now that is a saying that I still cling to from my childhood days in good old Mt. Pleasant, Tennessee. See back when I was growing up we listened to music and when I say music, I mean all genres. From Abba to Kraftwerk, you name it I listened to it. But I must admit that I am found to R&B, good old rhythm and blues, for those who do not know the meaning of R&B. I recently found an old friend Phil Anderson aka Suay Lo, owner and CEO of Suayphil Entertainment. He has just recently released his new album Child Support, which I must say is on rotation everyday at home or at work on my mp3 player or home stereo. Now I must say that it is very hard to find an album today that you can listen to and enjoy all the tracks but I assure you that you will not be disappointed with Child Support. Suay Lo's powerful voice demands respect and I compare him to the artist Cedric "K-Ci" Hailey, one of the main members of the groups K-Ci & JoJo and Jodeci.with a touch of swag that compares to Usher Raymond. Suay Lo is a force to be recognized in today's music world and with songs like Is This the End and Getaway, I do not see any stopping him now or in the future, believe me Suay Lo is here to stay. With that said lets dive into the mind of yet another wonderful writer, artist, musician and the most important a father.

B.K.: Describe your writing style in 3 words.

Suay Lo: Unlike any other

B.K.: What made you title your latest album “Child Support?

Suay Lo: Child Support is a metaphor for love. Where any child is concerned, it all started with some sort of act of love. I am a single father, so it does have a special attachment with that, also. But all-in-all, Child Support is code for, “a love story.”

B.K.: If you could time travel, what year would you go to and why?

Suay Lo: Interesting question…I loved the 80s. It was my childhood and that was such a magical time in my life. It was the very foundation of my being. But I believe God knew what he was doing when he created me when he did. I believe right now is my time.

B.K.: What would your ten-year-old self say to you now?

Suay Lo: Good job makin it this far….. But there is still more work to do!

B.K.: Who is your greatest influence?

Suay Lo: My babies. They have influence on every move I make. I make a conscious effort to do things that will impact their lives in a positive way. I want to be the best dad I can be for them. I want them to trust me and look up to me for the good that I put out, and forgive me when things do not go right. They make me a better man.

B.K.: What/who made you start writing/singing?

Suay Lo: It’s in my blood. My family are a talented bunch. It’s almost a crime to be in my family and NOT have some musical talent. We aren’t all active musicians, but we all get down, if called upon.

B.K.: What does being a musician mean to you?

Suay Lo: It’s all I know and have ever REALLY done with my life. I have worked in many facets of show business and being a musician has been the driving force to all of my accomplishments. Music has been a tool that have opened up tons of opportunities for me. Hip Hop has been very good to me. But I have always tried to use my gifts for good and reach a wide audience range But all of the things that I’ve done in my career has been with my music leading the way.

B.K.: What instruments can you play and which your favorite?

Suay Lo: I play keys and I play around with drums. But the mic is most certainly my best instrument.

B.K.: What can we expect to see from you in the future?

Suay Lo: Expect to see my legacy continue. Only God knows what’s in store for me, but you can definitely expect me to be around supportin these kids I got, lol!!

Suay Lo I would like to thank you for taking time out of your schedule to let me conduct this interview with you. To find out more about Suay Lo or his works - click any of the links in this section. To Get ChildSupport now click on the cover NOW!!!

Suayphil Entertainment

Facebook

Twitter

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Jennifer Lenhardt - In the Spotlight

7/31/2014

16 Comments

I stumbled onto Jennifer Lenhardt through a fellow twitter colleague and I just can't get enough. Jennifer is a poet , but not your ordinary poet, her words are a work of art. It is as she was a painter; painting the very words on canvas; which come alive with every stroke, brush and flick of her pen; her work takes you to a place, a place where only the great works of art hang for the world to see; but when you finish you realize that you were not at a museum, you just finished reading a poem. I dare you to read Stargazers and tell me that you were not transported to your favorite museum of art. Jennifer describes her skills best when she said, "Writing for me, I think, is at the very core of my being and so when the words do come, I find I am rather slave to their dictation." With that said lets dive into the mind of yet another wonderful author, poet, wordsmith.

B.K.: Describe your writing style in 3 words.

Jennifer: To the point. Or at least that's always the goal in the back of my mind. I've been told I write with a simplistic voice, though a vivid one, and I love that thought. That words can take a Reader and put them there, in whatever scene the Writer's painting. Which may mean, you don't necessarily have to write like Michelangelo, but maybe you just need to draw like Picasso. What did Hemingway say? "All you have to do is just write one true sentence." Yeah, easier said then done, but hell yeah! what great advice! If there's one thing I'd want to encourage other Writer's to do first in pursuit of this thing called writing is; to know your writing style and then own it. Don't wish you could writing like so-and-so, or such-and-such, but write like you. You have the voice you have for a reason, so use it, be true to it.

B.K.: What book character would you be, and why?

Jennifer: This is a hard one. I would have to say I will be the main character in that future novel I have yet to write - haha! And I bet you can't wait to read it now. ;)

B.K.: If you could time travel, what year would you go to and why?

Jennifer: I would travel at least 40 years into the future (2054?) just so I could come back and tell everyone what it was like. I think because I've always been fascinated by the future and have been ever since I was a small child. I mean, the past is the past, but the future has yet to be written. The possibilities are endless!

B.K.: What would your ten-year-old self say to you now?

Jennifer: You were fearless.

B.K.: Who is your greatest influence?

Jennifer: In my personal life; I'd have to say my Brother, but since we are talking about writing, I would first tell you the Poet, Billy Collins, and then secondly, and probably more unexpectedly, Dolly Parton.

Billy Collins, because the man will write about anything (have you ever read 'Taking off Emily Dickinson's Clothes?' if not, a must), because sometimes his work is serious (Now go read "Litany'), and sometimes not, but I appreciate that. His is an honest voice I can relate to (or in other words, true to he is), and everything is fodder for writing. Plus, who doesn't love a writer with a sense of humor? But something else that impressed me about Billy in an interview I read once of his is, is that, though he writes everyday, out of all the poems he writes (say in a given month), if he gets two or three "good" poems out of the bunch, then its been a good writing month - and I've never forgotten that. I guess because I took that to mean that not everything we write necessarily needs to be a masterpiece, but out of everything we do write, as long as we keep writing, there's a small chance that some of it will be. What matters is that we keep doing what we love to do, because we have to, for no other reason except that, like all Artists, we feel compelled to, whether we write like Michelangelo or draw like Picasso.

And as far as Dolly Parton, she just reiterates exactly what Billy said. Though a Writer of Songs, I've heard/read that she too writes a song every day; approximately 365 songs a year, year after year, but let me ask you this; how many of those ended up on a record? So in other words, keep doing what you're doing; know your voice; be true to it; and write, write, write!

B.K.: What/who made you start writing?

Jennifer: Compulsion. I don't know how else to describe it. I won a young Author's award in middle school - somebody thought I had a voice I guess. Stopped pursuing the fiction. Lept into some really bad, hormonal poetry in high school; thought nothing of it, and then kind of forgot about writing altogether as a young adult. But writing came back to me with a vengeance in my thirties and hasn't yet left me alone, though, it's definitely taken me down some unexpected roads. I guess I say that because, though I dove head first into writing fiction, and wrote a lot of short stories I still feel really strong about today, my voice started changing through the process. About two years in everything I was trying to write started coming out too lyrical for fiction that I finally just had to give in to the voice that was demanding to be: a Poet. And who would've ever thought a Poet? For now; a Poet. And when I say compulsion, I guess that's what I mean. It's that Poetic voice that wants to be heard, that demands to be heard, or what compels me to pick up my pen daily. And I keep hoping that one day it will allow me to write fiction again (that other voice), and I think it will, in the right season, but for now; it's this; this Poetry that open windows and doors that no other form of writing can; that reaches deeper, digs deeper; that teaches the Writer and the Reader at the same time. Yeah, what an honor! And I'll say it again; know your voice, be true it; and write! write! write!

Jennifer I would like to thank you for taking time out of your schedule to let me conduct this interview with you. To find out more about Jennifer Lenhardt or her works - click any of the links in this section.

Jennifer Lenhardt

Publications

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Kiana Donae - in the spotlight

6/24/2014

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I am delighted to introduce Kiana Donae, poet, writer, freelance proofreader and author of the book of poems entitled Love & Ink. I announced the request for interviewees on Twitter, and Facebook so if you are a Indie or self-published author please contact me by using any of the social media icons on any of these web pages. I actually sought after this very talented woman after reading her book. Click on the word review to see the actual review that I submitted after reading this very intriguing book of poetry.

Kiana Donae is a 30-something wife and mother. She finds inspiration in all aspects of life. Many of her poems are true life based as she finds poetry to be therapeutic. ~ "Not every poem is meant for oral stimulation, some are better devoured mentally. "-Kiana Donae ~ With that said here is the first of many interviews to come.

B.K.: Describe your writing style in 3 words.

Kiana: Intimate, Thoughtful, and Provocative

B.K.: What book character would you be, and why?

Kiana: I've long been a fan of Anne Rice and her Vampire Chronicles and I'm intrigued by vampire stories and legends. So for me, I'd have to say, Merrick, she was an inherited witch from a long line of African mistresses in New Orleans. She recounts her tale with David, a vampire, and learns more about her powers. She's strong yet vulnerable, and I can relate to that.

B.K.: What would your ten-year-old self say to you now?

Kiana: She'd probably tell me I was old. Lol

B.K.: Who is your greatest influence?

Kiana: Myself. I love and accept the support of my husband, family and friends, but I'm my biggest influence. I've been known to talk myself out of doing things, due to my fears or insecurities.

B.K.: What/who made you start writing?

Kiana: Writing has always just been there. I can remember writing a poem about the fall time at around 8 years old. Writing just was! As I got older, it became an urge, an itch, that if I was sad, upset, or overcome with emotion of some sort, writing was what just had to happen after. Words would jumble in my head and wouldn't stop until I wrote them on paper. I'd lay in bed with lines to poems scrolling across my brain and wouldn't be able to sleep. As I've grown into adulthood inspiration can come from anywhere and I've grown to love that force now. I relish when inspiration strikes and try to take full advantage and listen to the stories being told to my pen.

What happens when you bleed ink? You get poetry that paints pictures so vividly you can feel it. Love and Ink lures you in with it's innocence but when you come out at the end, you realize Love and Ink is not at all what you thought. Love and Ink isn't always black and white.

Get it now!!!

Available in paperback and kindle versions.

Click here to get NOW!!!

Paperback: 76 pages
Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform; 1 edition (March 6, 2014)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1495453502
ISBN-13: 978-1495453502

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Cultivating Ink - by Kiana Donae

Randy Weir - In The SpotLight

Kiana Donae - In the spotlight

Jaclyn M. Bartz - In the Spotlight

Suay Lo - In the Spotlight

Jennifer Lenhardt - In the Spotlight

Kiana Donae - in the spotlight

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Cultivating Ink - by Kiana Donae

﻿Randy Weir - In The SpotLight

Kiana Donae - In the spotlight

Jaclyn M. Bartz - In the Spotlight

Suay Lo - In the Spotlight

Jennifer Lenhardt - In the Spotlight

Kiana Donae - in the spotlight

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Randy Weir - In The SpotLight