Get to Know Author Roy McConnell

With us today is author Roy McConnell. Roy is the author of 'Mind Walker' which was released in September of 2009.  This suspense/thriller is loaded with action, romance, and even a twist of sci-fi. McConnell was selected as a Rising Star author on the Barnes and Noble website. Mind Walker has been in the top twenty novels of the Rising Star series since publication.

About “Mind Walker”
For more than four hundred years, the males of the Ostermann family have unleashed their secret power on the world, destroying lives and amassing great fortunes. But five centuries prior, the first woman to inherit the identical gene as the males foretold that another female would be born with the same power. It was she who would stand against the madness of the Ostermann reign. No one knew when she would come…until now.

In present-day British Columbia, Wolf Ostermann rules his exotic estate with an iron fist. Ostermann has no son to continue his family legacy, so if he and his family are to maintain their economic grip on the world, Wolf must indoctrinate his reluctant daughter, Tara. Unfortunately for Wolf, Tara will have nothing to do with him anymore, and that doesn’t bode well for the tyrannical megalomaniac.

Now on the run, Tara and ex-CIA operative Chris Landry must battle for their lives as they ultimately realize the tenacious reach of her father’s powerful mind-and the evil it unleashes on all of humanity.

Bursting with raw emotion, Mind Walker combines action and suspense in a nonstop ride from the landscapes of British Columbia to the Caribbean Islands, and ends in a chilling climax in New York City.

An Interview with Author Roy McConnell

1.) How long have you been writing?
I have been writing since I was twelve years old. A school friend of mine started me writing poetry. Him and I used to compete with our poetry. At the time it seemed like we were writing some brilliant stuff.


2.) What motivated you to write this electrifying thriller, “Mind Walker”?
About eight years ago I began to realize how much satisfaction I derived from writing. I thought I wanted to develop my writing further and joined a writers group and started taking workshops. It was in a workshop with a published author, who turned out to be my mentor for over a year, that I got the idea to write a book. Music had always been my inspiration for writing, so one night listening to Pink Floyd I got the first insights into Mind Walker.


3.) Who would enjoy reading “Mind Walker”?
I continue to ask myself this question. It seems that Mind Walker has a very broad audience appeal. Men and Women from ages 16 to 80 have read and enjoyed the book. Even many who don’t normally read thrillers have told me they enjoyed it.


Mind Walker has a bit of everything. I guess that is why it has such broad appeal. I was listening to one of Steve Berry’s podcasts the other day and I believe Mind Walker as something he describes as the wow or oooohhhh factor. When I describe the book to people I get the wow response.


4.) What’s next for Author Roy McConnell?
I am working on a sequel for Mind Walker and so far I am getting very positive feedback from my writers group on its development. I also have a third book in the works based on a character from Mind Walker.

5.) Where can viewers/followers/friends/fans interact with you?
On Facebook, GoodReads, email me from my website, Twitter, or Linkedin.
Facebook – http://bit.ly/bnYmjz
Goodreads – http://bit.ly/a3y1cN
Website – http://bit.ly/cmk7jR
Twitter – http://www.twitter.com/rjmc100
Linkedin- http://bit.ly/91shFR

6.) Would you like to add any closing thoughts today?
I always find it amazing, when I sit down to write and I think the story is going to go a certain direction, but when the thoughts and ideas start flowing freely they often form themselves much differently than I had planned.

Do I Need to Edit or Revise My Manuscript?

To edit or to revise, that is the question. Is it really a question? I thought they were the same thing; however, the more I write the more I'm starting to learn that this may not be completely true. I just recently wrapped up the first draft of my second novel and by doing so I now have to prepare for the fun of revising and editing the manuscript.

To be honest, when I was working on my first novel I did consider them the same thing but this novel has shown me something different. In my opinion, editing is the act of reading your manuscript and identifying the grammatical and/or spelling errors. Once that is done we incorporate those changes into the manuscript which makes the second draft. I think this is the portion of writing that many of us consider boring and tedious (I’m counted among them that think that). It would be a mistake; however, to think that the revision of your manuscript is equally as boring. What's the difference?

I'm starting to think that revisions to a document are more then editing; it has a focus on the structure of a manuscript. This is the time when we delete paragraphs or move them to another spot because the flow is better that way or we change the tone of a conversation to add tension or suspense. These things are fun and creative. Any of these changes can open a door to a new direction. They could change how a character is perceived or how the outcome of the whole story. This is an exciting time because you never know what the story will show you.

Do you remember the books when we were kids; the ones that had page numbers at the bottom and you could pick which page to read next? The combinations would develop a different story or ending each time. I see revisions as the same thing but to a lesser degree.

Many will say "they are the same thing because you do them at the same time." You would be correct in that we do, for the majority, our editing and revisions at the same time but we are constantly doing revisions to our manuscript. How many times have you been writing a scene and all of a sudden a new direction or a better dialog or something popped in your mind that made the story better? You know those times, you stop and think about it and excitedly rewrite that section before you continue. That is a revision and you really don't know what impact that revision will have on the story until the end. In contrast, how many grammatical errors do you skip so you can fix them in the editing portion (not counting the obvious ones)?

As I said, this is my opinion and how I look at the writing process. Always keep your creative mind open but when it comes time to catch those errors put your technical hat on and focus hard.

Song of the Stars

Title: Song of the Stars
Author: Annie Goodwin
ASIN: B002Y2N90K
Genre: Spiritual/memoir
Pages: 308
Reviewed By: Brian Knight
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A journey through time and space...

Many simply look and admire the bright twinkling stars shining down on us from the darkened sky above but Annie Goodwin goes a little further. Her journey takes us through doors both seen and unseen; on planes that fly and those that are parallel to ours all in the name of discovery.

Let Annie take you on this voyage of discovery. Travel with her to the stars and beyond as you laugh, think and learn with her on this magical adventure.

Annie and her companion’s five week, 7,000 mile trip begins in England and continues in the United States. We see, firsthand, their challenges, both physical and metaphysical, as they are steeped in the unknown realms of reality.

What is the connection between the Shift of Ages and the year 2012?

From the first word, Annie’s passion for her spiritual training and discovery takes center stage. Instantly, you are transported through the multiple planes of this universe and others. With each passing page, it is difficult not to visualize the experiences shared by Annie and her companion in “Song of the Stars.”

“Song of the Stars” illustrates, in vivid clarity, the eye opening travels of author Annie Goodwin. Her journeys, experiences, dilemmas and successes are delivered in a light-hearted and humorous manner.

Author Annie Goodwin’s debut book, is sure to be found as informative and thought provoking. I see her journey as an author traveling further than the universe.

If you would like to learn more about Annie and her book please continue HERE.

Profanity Versus No Profanity

I recently finished reading a book that really got me thinking. Unfortunately it did not get me thinking about the story or the plot or even the characters. The main thing I was thinking about was the language. Now, don't misunderstand me because the story was entertaining and the plot was strong it's just the language took center stage. This got my attention so much so that I even started a discussion on Twitter about it. The responses I received back were varied but had one common theme.

I should tell you what it was about this language that got my attention. I would bet most of you have already guessed it but it was the profanity. I would say that, on average, this particular book averaged one cuss word per page. Of course, this begged the question, is profanity necessary in books? Are there situations when profanity can add to a book or does it distract from the flow of the story?

I will admit that at times I was able to overlook the profanity because it fit with some of the characters; however, there were times when I simply thought 'come on, enough already.' There in lies my real question. Let’s face it; profanity is part of the languages of the world. If we listen we can hear it rather often being spoken in multiple places. Does this mean it needs to be in our literature?

To be honest, I believe I'm in the middle of the road with this topic. I believe if you have a character with a questionable personality or harsh background then it would fit his/her nature. On the other hand, if your character is like the majority of us then he or she might let a cuss word out only on occasions such as moments of high stress, getting scared or in the midst of a fight.

If we look a little closer at this stance another question come to the fore. Are some cuss words more acceptable then others? Here again, I think I'm in the middle on this one too. I don't think there is ever a time to use the two biggest of the cuss words. I will give you a hint - one starts with F and the other has GD in it. I do think that in moments of tension, many readers will overlook or accept the use of the words starting with S, D and B. From what I have gathered from the comments on Twitter this thought has support but here is the key - it must be limited. That was the number one rule, for lack of a better word, that I gathered.

In my opinion there is a place and use for all words in the English language but moderation is the key. Just like salt, too much can ruin a fine cuisine but just enough can make it exquisite. I'm not saying that you should have profanity in your story, I have very little, but if you do make sure it fits the character and the situation.

New Author Talent in Print

I had all intentions to post a completely different article yesterday but just when I was about to start an e-mail came in that changed everything. I intend to post my original article this week but I'm too excited at the moment to wait for this one so I'm sharing it now.

The winners of the second annual New Author writing contest have been published in the May/June issue of Dream Chaser's magazine. Yes, the writers can now say they have been published. I am very excited for them but the good news does not stop there. I am joining them in this issue as well but this time it is not poetry; this time it is a short story. Yes, I have a short story published in this issue and it is the very first one to get published.

You can find the issue covers on the right side of this blog which is link to the actual magazine. What is so cool about this magazine is that you can thumb through it and then purchase it if you decide to. It is a great feeling to see the talent found here in the New Author community displayed in print. I invite all of you to check it out, congratulate our winner and share your thoughts about the magazine.

Ah man...I have to wait?

I read a fascinating post today by author Jody Hedlund regarding the timetable of publishers and agents. What did I learn from this post? Simply that we, as authors, need a huge amount of patience to make it in this business.

If you don't know Jody yet I'm sure you will soon. Her agent is Rachelle Gardner, who has helped her immensely but even then patience was needed. It is refreshing and compelling to hear the experiences of an author who just recently traveled the road to publication. I believe she would be the first to tell you that, like Rome, getting published doesn't happen over night.


Once you submit to a publisher and/or an agent it could take anywhere from six to nine months before you hear anything from them. Here is a little twist for you; if you hear back from them shortly after submitting chances are you've been rejected. I think this is the perfect example of why patience is so important. Jody's book sat in Rachelle's slush pile for nine months before she picked it up and offered Jody a contract. Oh, don't think the waiting is over just because you have an agent. Next in line is waiting for the agent to get a book deal. This could be anywhere from four to six months depending on the edits required by the agent. That equals approximately a year worth of waiting!


What if you cut out the agent? Will that shorten the wait time? I really don't think so. The publishing company you deal with will need to read your manuscript and discuss whether to offer you a contract or not. That could be two months of waiting right there. Then you will need to edit the book and go through the process of getting it ready for the printers (amongst other things) so the waiting is still there.


Patience is a key element in the world of writing and the business of publishing. Is it worth the wait? Absolutely! Even though you may be waiting that doesn't mean you have to sit around and do nothing. That is the perfect time to get your next project rolling. 


If it takes a year of waiting to get my book published then so be it. It will be well worth it and once a publisher has published my book I will have my second novel ready to submit to them. That is my promise to myself. I bet it is safe to assume you have much the same promise.


Don't get discouraged about not hearing back or not getting instant replies. Hang in there, keep writing and stay patient. It will pay off in the end.

Gardening and Writing

I love planting vegetables. I get my tiller and turn the hard winter earth into a soft fine grade of soil perfect for the seeds of all my favorite vegetables. In the West Virginia Mountains I have to be careful though because a frost will pop up out of nowhere which will result in dead plants if they get nipped. I start my plants in a planter I keep in the house. This plastic crate acts as a miniature green house. As soon as the plants have started and reach a few inches in height the weather and soil should be perfect for planting.

This is one of the reasons I love writing as well. I see that blank screen as the hard winter soil. Notes and thoughts act as the tiller in this garden as I write them down to prepare the page. I plant my idea like the vegetable seeds on the multiple pages. What grows out of this written garden? One of my all time favorite vegetables is produced; a manuscript. It takes care and love to grow a manuscript. After the planting and working the pages we have to pluck out the words that don't work much like weeds. The joy we get from holding or seeing that completed manuscript is much like looking upon the harvest of vegetables we collect out of the garden. Each word bursts with flavor like sweet ripened corn or a juicy red tomato.

As much as I truly enjoy the end results of writing a manuscript or planting a garden it is the journey that thrills me most. I get the same enjoyment watching an idea turn into a manuscript as I get watching a seed turn into a plant and bear vegetables. It is through this work and development that we truly see the beauty and depth of the world we live on.

This will be a short article as I am still preparing my plants. Hopefully this weekend I will move them to the actual garden outside. Funny thing about the timing of planting; I am nearing the finish line of my first draft for my second novel at the moment. Maybe I will cross both finish lines at the same time.

Gotta love spring time and writing!

Meet Author Kathy Eberly

About KATHY EBERLY
Kathy Eberly was born in a small town in Wisconsin and moved to Minnesota when she was a small child. She inherited her mother's love for reading at an early age with her Dick and Jane book by inserting different names into the titles and stories. By the sixth grade she was writing short stories to entertain herself and her friends. In high school she added poetry to her repertoire during the difficult transformation from adolescence to adulthood. She has spent most of her life in the state in Minnesota although she has also resided in Illinois and Texas, briefly. Kathy raised two sons and a daughter before she met her husband Dale; who had an adult son and an adult daughter in 2006. The two were married on Superbowl Sunday in 2007. They have three beautiful grandchildren that they love to spoil on their rural Minnesota farm whenever they can.

Though Extraordinary Life Lessons from Ordinary Christian Women is her first published work, it is Kathy's hope that you will be blessed again and again. Kathy is involved with the women's ministry at her church.

About the book, “EXTRAORDINARY LIFE LESSONS FROM ORDINARY CHRISTIAN WOMEN”

Extraordinary Life Lessons from Ordinary Christian Women (2009)
Behind every graceful demeanor, classical beauty and impressive wisdom of a woman are untold stories of struggle, faith and redemption... Kathy Eberly brings a riveting collection of empowering stories of real women and their real lives. Through vivid narration, she takes you on a journey through reminiscence and celebration of the inward beauty possessed by different women she has met in her life. From childhood to being a mother, inspiring souls have touched her heart to see face to face the challenges life has to offer. She openly shares these poignant tales for you to be comforted, inspired and fascinated.

They come in all shapes and sizes; you encounter them every day, Extraordinary Life Lessons from Ordinary Christian Women allows you to witness the remarkable stories they have to tell.

Author Kathy Eberly’s Site : http://www.authorkathyeberly.blogspot.com/

An interview with author Kathy Eberly:

How long have you been writing?

I have been writing short stories since I was about 12. I started writing short stories and then I began writing for my high school newspaper and also later working on work newsletters for the company I worked for.

What motivated you to write this inspirational book, “Extraordinary Life Lessons from Ordinary Christian Women: Stories of Encouragement”?

I was motivated to write Extraordinary Life Lessons from Ordinary Christian Women: Stories of Encouragement when a former high school principal died. While I was at his visitation, I had the opportunity to thank various teachers for the impact that they had on my life. I then realized that I had learned many lessons in life and I needed to tell the stories of those people who had taught them to me.

Would you say this book is only for Christian women?

Definitely not. I have found that people from many different walks of life are interested in reading this book and as a matter of fact, I have found that many men young and old are also enjoying it.

What’s next for Author Kathy Eberly?

When I am not working my "day job" which consists of caring for developmentally and mentally disabled individuals, I am currently working on a follow up book to Extraordinary Life Lessons from Ordinary Christian Women: Stories of Encouragement and am also working on a Christian romantic fiction book.

Would you like to add any closing thoughts today?

My prayer is that those who read this book might be encouraged and blessed to do whatever the Lord has for them to do no matter how large or how small it may seem.

To learn more about Kathy Eberly and her book, ”Extraordinary Life Lessons from Ordinary Christian Women”, visit her site at: http://www.authorkathyeberly.blogspot.com/

A Special Guest and Change of Subject

I have a special guest for all of you today. A few weeks ago I received an offer to review some jewelry from Sarah over at LuShae Jewelry. She offered any piece of jewelry I wanted for review. Well, me being me and not that big into jewelry I was not really interested in the offer; however, I had a brainstorm. I figured I could take care of two birds with one stone through this offer. You see, I've been looking for the opportunity to have my wife on The New Author to meet all of you and since she is a big fan of jewelry I thought this would be the perfect time. Today's article is from a very special guest; my wife, Melissa.

Hello to all of you. I have watched Brian write so many of his articles for this blog I feel like I've always been a part of it. It is exciting to be writing this article but at the same time I'm a little nervous. It was a great idea for him to pass the offer to me for the jewelry. I told him I would review it for him and you so that is what I'm doing today. I hope you enjoy it.

The ordering was simple and smooth. The website was very easy to navigate and all the jewelry was grouped by type such as earrings, pendants, and rings. Once I decided on a magnificent looking pendant I completed my transaction by entering my shipping address. There were few questions and a confirmation e-mail was quickly sent to my inbox.

On the fifth day the UPS truck pulled into the driveway and delivered the package. I was expecting to see my necklace in a little plastic bag like many pieces often do when ordered from the Internet. To my surprise there was an attractive jewelry box in the package. I popped the snap of the box and lifted the lid.

I must say that I was a little apprehensive because I usually don’t wear large pieces of jewelry and I could not be sure how big this piece was by the picture on the website. Fortunately they provided dimensions for the piece and my husband assured me that it would not look overly large around my neck.

What I saw in the box was a medium sized, pale blue stone shining up at me. It was simply beautiful. The white gold sparkled and complimented the stone perfectly and after a closer look I noticed that the setting was shaped as a leaf pattern wrapping the top and bottom of the stone. The chain of white gold is a little small but supports the stone and doesn’t feel cumbersome around my neck.

My next test for my newly found gem was to wear it in public. My husband loved how it matched my blue eyes but then again, he loves all my jewelry I’ve convinced him to get me. Anyway, I wore it to a baby shower and I was surprised at the attention it drew. Everyone was asking were they could get one and how nice it looked around my neck.

The entire experience, from ordering to wearing the jewelry, has been nothing short of a pleasure. If you’re wondering about the price of this jewelry it is very reasonably priced in a range of $60 - $200. Would I order more from them? Absolutely; this is a very good up and coming business.

Now I have a special surprise for all the followers and readers of the New Author. From now until April 30th, if you e-mail Sarah at sarah@jewelryartdesigns.com and mention 'The New Author' in your message she will give you a 20% discount on your order. If you would like to check out all of her pieces you can by visiting her site at http://www.jewelryartdesigns.com. I really don't think you will be disappointed.

Lessons Learned From Others

Title: Extraordinary Life Lessons from Ordinary Christian Women
Author: Kathy Eberly
ISBN: 978-1-4415-9840-0
Genre: Memoir
Pages: 112
Reviewed By: Brian Knight
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With every turn in life there truly is inspiration to be found.

It is an undeniable truth that we will meet people as we travel down the road of life. Some we meet for only a moment; some we meet at work but then there are those we meet and develop long lasting ties with. It is also true that everyone we meet leaves an impression on our life; some larger then others. What those impressions mean to us is our decision. In “Extraordinary Life Lessons from Ordinary Christian Women” we find out the importance those impressions had on the author’s life.

“Extraordinary Life Lessons from Ordinary Christian Women” is the collection of memories of the women that have crossed the path of author Kathy Eberly. At every turn in her life, be it good or bad, the Lord placed the right person there at the right time.

The circumstances of life can be difficult at times but the inspiration and motivation described in “Extraordinary Life Lessons from Ordinary Christian Women” supply us with reason to hope. It shows us that if we take time to look around we can see the Lord working in our life by providing the right people with the right encouragement or wisdom along the way.

Kathy Eberly expresses her gratitude to and importance of each woman that has impacted her life. Her expression of love and appreciation for these Christian women can be felt on every page of “Extraordinary Life Lessons from Ordinary Christian Women.” Her memories share the special moments shared with these women in normal, ordinary conditions and environments. Readers can relate to Kathy’s experiences as they identify individuals in their life that express the same.

“Extraordinary Life Lessons from Ordinary Christian Women” illustrates the impact others have on our life. I recommend this inspirational memoir to women needing an up-lifting view of the world and those around us.

Check out Kathy's blog by following HERE.