Why Sentinels of the Night’s Scott Fleming is My Favorite Character by Author Anita Dickason

Sentinels of the Night is the debut novel for the Trackers Unit, a paranormal FBI team. I wanted each character to have a different ability. For many years, I have been fascinated by myths and legends of the Native American Indians along with Irish and Scottish folklore. It is from those ancient tales that I draw my paranormal ability.

Cat Morgan is the lead character in Sentinels of the Night. Her fellow agents believe she has a built-in homing device to find the bodies of murdered victims. They are mystified by her inexplicable ability and have dubbed her the Witchy Woman.

Nicki Allison is the research guru for the unit. She excels in logistics and research with an ability that defies logic. Ryan Barr is the unit profiler. If Nicki’s brain is hard-wired to a computer, Ryan’s has a direct link to the killer’s mind. Adrian Dillard has a singular talent for reading a crime scene and connecting the dots along with an uncanny sense when someone is lying. Blake Kenner joins the team in Going Gone!, the second Tracker novel. His spit and shine military background doesn’t seem to be a fit with the quirky abilities of the rest of the team.

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My favorite character, though, is Scott Fleming, the head of the unit. He is the mysterious power behind the team. He has been given an extraordinary level of freedom by his superiors. When he seeks out the agents for his team, he has a surreptitious list of qualifications. Case files of field agents are searched as he looks for anomalies in the agent’s investigation. Many qualified agents are passed over and not offered a position. His actions light a fire in the Bureau rumor mill. What is Fleming up too? Even the agents he selects are unaware he knows what they hide.

Excerpt from Sentinels of the Night

“Everyone at this table has a secret, including me. It would take time to earn their trust. He was a patient man.”

For more information on Sentinels of the Night and the second Tracker novel, Going Gone!, please visit Anita’s website, her Amazon Author Page and her book trailers: Sentinels of the Night

How to Enjoy London Like a Georgian by Gina Conkle

The Georgian era was a fascinating shift from pastoral to urban living. The economic boom brought scientific advances. Much of the populace elevated themselves to a better place in life—especially the merchant class. Entertainments abounded. Life’s little luxuries were affordable. People enjoyed a diversity of products pouring into London on a regular basis.

In researching the Midnight Meetings series, I came across many surprises. You could call this list 5 things for an interesting life in London:

1. The British Museum. Seeds for the world-renowned institution were planted in 1753 with the death of physician Hans Sloane. A naturalist with a love for all things exotic, Sloane had purchased the house next door to warehouse his unique collections. People traveled far and wide to visit the house in Bloomsbury, finding a hodgepodge of international oddities.

Trustees of Sloan’s estate didn’t know what to do with Sloane’s things. They tried to give the collection King George II, but he didn’t want it. Parliament acquired the collection and by 1759 the official British Museum opened its doors to the public.

2. Hot air balloon-mania hit England in the 1780s. It’s been reported that 200,000 people (royalty included in that number) showed up at the Artillery Ground of Moorfields to see a demonstration by Vincenzo Lunardi. He ascended without incident (other than his cat, which he took along for the ride, getting sick). The charming Italian was quite popular. Hawkers sold Lunardi fans, garters, and bonnets.

3. Pets ranged from the regular to the exotic. Unusual pet ownership spread amongst all classes with animals like a mongoose, ring-tailed lemurs, and marmosets. The Tower of London had a zoo open to the public, featuring jackals, lions, monkeys, baboons, and even an Indian elephant. Great beasts from around the world were housed in the Tower as far back as the 13th century.

4. Fine furniture became egalitarian with Chippendale’s innovations to the industry. In the past, fashionable homeowners clamored for furniture fashionable made by high-end designers. Those men signed each furniture piece they made the way painters sign a painting. Then along came Chippendale. He published his Gentleman and Cabinetmaker’s Director (a design book) which changed how the English bought and made furniture.

Design books weren’t new, but Chippendale’s approach was revolutionary. He presented the furniture as part of interior design: think presenting whole sets for a drawing room rather than an individual piece on a page. Chippendale hired men to make furniture for him, but his book not only changed ensemble decorating, it fostered a Do-It-Yourself approach to fine furniture-making. Humble gentry purchased Chippendale’s books and crafted their own fine furniture (such as my character, Mr. Samuel Beckworth in The Lord Meets His Lady).

5. The resourceful woman created her own future. The nobility watched over their daughters lest those young women go astray, but other classes of London enjoyed a kind of bare-knuckle freedom. Life was harsh on the fair-sex. Yet, many women refused to be victims of the times. Some forged a good life in commerce. Publisher Elizabeth Nutt is one such example. She ran a cluster of shops near the Royal Exchange where she sold respectable publications.  She was also listed as “Mercury Woman”, a printer of seditious and sometimes salacious material on Grubb Street. She ran the business with her daughters.

London, no matter the era, was and is a place of opportunity for those who seek adventure on its streets. ~Gina

Anne Elizabeth’s favorite holiday traditions: Ornaments and Remembrances

Opening holiday storage boxes is an emotional experience. We carefully unwrap childhood trinkets, handmade ornaments, craft projects, old pictures, weathered stockings, and scented candles. Even as the wood in the fireplace snaps and crackles, emitting small plumes of smoke, we carefully fill the surfaces of the living room, every table, chair, and couch with our mementoes. Putting together an old recycled Christmas tree and placing the cool-lights around, we place the ornaments together.

For my husband and me, this has become a time of heartbreaking sorrows and soul-touching moments, remembering those who have passed or those who have become physically or mentally more fragile. We honor these precious souls by decorating ornaments with their names, quotes, or pictures to honor each spirit with a unique creation and then we place it on the tree. It does not erase the pain, but it helps us celebrate treasured souls and share experiences about what these individuals have meant to us.

As we dim the lights and plug in the tree, we are grateful for each opportunity to love. Every day is a gift, whether it is for a brief moment or a lifetime, it adds to life's journey. From our home to yours: May your holiday season be blessed with health, happiness, and delight, and may peace and joy flourish.

Do you have handmade ornaments? Do you treasure them? And, how do you remember those who have passed?

TIME

During the holidays, music fills the house. Some of our favorite singers are Eartha Kitt and Nat King Cole. The holiday classics make us nostalgic, and I love those times when my husband pulls me into his arms and dances with me. Oh, to dwell in those romantic moments, as we cuddle close and move slowly to the rhythm. This harmonious connection chases away every thought, except for one--being together. As my husband nuzzles my neck, I smile musing on the fact that this is my all-time favorite part of the holidays. Being together. Connection and music, whether it comes from the stereo or from our hearts, this time is the best gift of all.

Is there something special you do with your mate, a friend, or family member?

HOLIDAY SENSATIONS

On Christmas Eve, it's a tradition in our home to make hot cider. I'll pull out the chipped crockpot with the broken handle. After rinsing the detachable bowl and top, I'll add fresh cider, granny smith apple slices (leaving the skin on), the peel of half of a lemon and the entire peel of a whole orange. Then I'll add three cinnamon sticks, a dash of allspice, and anise, and as soon as it heats to a boil I'll add a tablespoon of maple syrup. After stirring in the syrup for a full minute, I turn the heat down to warm and prepare to serve it about twenty minutes later. The scent of mulled-goodness fills the room as I make popcorn with real butter and a dash of pink salt. It might not be the most gourmet approach, but for us, the taste sensations are delicious. Have a blessed holiday season!

Are there any special recipes that you make during the holiday season?

RAISE YOUR VOICE

Holiday songs remind me of my childhood. Attending church with my parents and brother, and listening to the exuberance with which the congregation sang inspired intense warmth and comfort. Voices lifted in song varied from out-of-key to perfectly pitched tones, and it was wondrous! Each individual contributed to the joy as we created these beautiful sounds together.

After services, most of the congregation was full of cheer and would hurry outside for hot cocoa or tea. With cups in hand, we walked as a group down to the live action crèche. It was here that we sang the last Christmas song of the night, Away In The Manger. Of course, the goats bleated and donkeys brayed along with the clucking chickens and mooing cow; and all the sounds blended together. To this day, I still wonder if the animals were commenting or singing along.

Do you have a special holiday song, and why is it a favorite?

SNOWFLAKES

Living in Southern California, snow is a rarity. In Julian, we see snowstorms now and then, but nothing can compare to the snow seen in the rest of the United States. Yet, we are full of glee the moment a flake drops from the sky. I always rush outside and turn my face upward in hope of tasting the first snowflake. When I was little, I believed that each snowflake tasted differently, because my brother said that this was so. Even though, I'm all grown-up now, in my imagination I still pretend that there are sorts of unique flavors out there, and I'll keep catching snowflakes in remembrance of him.

Are you ever tempted to catch snowflakes on your tongue? What's your favorite childhood winter memory?

Q&A with M. Lachi, The Ivory Staff

Was a possible audiobook recording something you were conscious of while writing?

I’d considered its adaptation to film as I’m sure many fiction writers do. I definitely feel having an audio rendition is the next best thing.

Are you an audiobook listener? What about the audiobook format appeals to you?

As a legally blind author, often when I say I ‘read’ a book, I mean I listened to it. With an audiobook, when you have a great narrator, it can be just as engaging as watching an action film. Some great examples are the Harry Potter books, the Dresden File books or my new favorite series The Ember War.

What do you say to those who view listening to audiobooks as “cheating” or as inferior to “real reading”?

Books are about consuming information. Does the consumption method really matter? I don’t care if you jump backwards into your pants or put them on one leg at a time; I just care that you’re wearing pants before you leave the house. But as a consumer of both mediums, there is something to be said about reading a book in your own head, ascribing your own voice, pausing for your own emphases, re-reading certain steamy or horrific parts.

What gets you out of a writing slump? What about a reading slump?

Actually, a lot of the time, reading helps get me out of a writing slump…….

In your opinion, what are the pros and cons of writing a stand-alone novel vs. writing a series?

Having written a stand-alone as well as the first novel of a series, I can say that, each have their benefits. In a standalone, we get to realize the full transformation of each character………………….

Have any of your characters ever appeared in your dreams?

Not that I can recall; but they, more often that not, completely usurped my daydreams.

What bits of advice would you give to aspiring authors?

I say, write the story. Get it out of you and into the greater universe.

Do you have any tips for authors going through the process of turning their books into audiobooks?

If you have a narrative with colorful scenery and dialogue and you are able to create an audio rendition of your work at a reasonable rate, I say go for it!

What’s next for you?

I have completed a sci-fi thriller and have secured a literary agent to shop it to major imprints and independent presses.

Q&A with narrator Edward Mittelstedt, The Warrior

How did you wind up narrating audiobooks? Was it always your goal or was it something you stumbled into by chance?

About a year ago I was in this online boardgaming community and played against a gentleman named Christopher Meyer.  At one point during an online game, he casually mentioned that he should have been editing his audio book that he was narrating instead of playing games.  My ears immediately went into prairie dog mode, and started asking him a bajillion questions about it.  It took me a few months after that to set up some rudimentary recording equipment and narrate my first book.  It was terrible and I will claim it unless you force me.

Are you an audiobook listener? What about the audiobook format appeals to you?

I am a rabid audiobook listener.  I have a two-hour commute each day in the car, so that provides a lot of dead time.  I focus on listening to books with narrators that fit my style and voice, and try to pick out small things that each narrator does wrong or does right.  This makes me hyperfocus on my own performance and reading style, and allows me to pick up new things that I think are really cool that the narrator has done.

What are your favorite and least favorite parts of narrating an audiobook?

By far my favorite aspect is recording.  This is the easiest part of the process, and the most fun.  I dread editing, where you have to listen to every sentence and get the timing between them just right, listen for errant breaths, etc.    It’s tedious, boring, long, did I say boring?  Many established narrators farm out this work to editors, thereby allowing them to concentrate on simply the recording.  Someday I’ll be in that position, and when that happens I’ll know I have hit my stride.

What would you say are your strongest narration abilities?

Character voices.  I can do a multitude of voices, from Gizmo the Gremlin to Kermit the Frog, to a lot of things in between.  I think being able to do character voices add a level of complexity to the listen, as you can create memorable secondary characters to support the plot..

What about this title compelled you to audition as narrator?

The audition script blew me away.  I had just finished narrating a dark fantasy romance under a pseudonym and I was still in a “romance narrator” mode.  So I started looking for other romance titles that caught my eye.  The premise of Soul Bound itself is fascinating - I lived in a haunted house for about 5 years so anything paranormal or supernatural catches my eye.  So after reading the audition script and seeing how dark and broody the main character was, I had to audition for it.

Have there been any characters that you really connected with?

I really connected with Jace.  We’ve been through similar situations (I won’t tell what aspects) so I really felt for the guy, and felt I could read his story with all the suppressed emotions that I have to give.

What type of the review comments do you find most constructive?

I read all of my reviews.  I like the positive ones of course, but I really look for the negative reviews that provide constructive criticism.  The ones that say, “Narrator sucked” sucks as reviews.  Why did I suck?  What did I do that caused you to hate it?  Let me try to improve it for the next time.  I have one review where the writer literally compared my voice to Tattoo of Fantasy Island.  While I disagree with that to some degree, there’s not much I can do about it.  Those types of reviews bother me.  Was it a compliment or an insult?

Who is your “dream author” that you would like to record for?

Stephen King.  I grew up with his books.  I bought “It” the week it was released in hardback and read it from cover to cover in 5 days.  Also, Joe Abercrombie.  His “The Blade Itself” series is an amazing read.  I love his writing style.

If you could narrate one book from your youth what would it be and why?

The Gunslinger by Stephen King.  It’s already been done by the amazing George Guidall, but that book blew me away when I read it in my first year of college.  That opening line: “The man in black fled across the desert, and The Gunslinger followed.”  Such a brilliant statement.  So much packed in there.

What do you say to those who view listening to audiobooks as “cheating” or as inferior to “real reading”?

I can see some people thinking that way, but for those of with long commutes and therefore long periods of pointless non-productive dead time, audiobooks are a godsend.  When you drive, you enter a trance-like state anyway.  Getting sucked into the story being read to you in this state, you are like a sponge to the story, the action, the emotions.  I love it.

Q&A with Shelly Hickman, Believe

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Tell us about the process of turning your book into an audiobook.

As of now, I only have one other audiobook and the narration was done by someone else - an honest to goodness actress. That process was a learning experience for me, but when I decided to narrate this book myself, it required an even steeper learning curve. I had to familiarize myself with Audacity software and its basic editing features, as well as get to know the studio grade microphone I purchased. I’m a teacher and have recorded many a video tutorial for my students, but the precise reading required was understandably much more demanding.

Was a possible audiobook recording something you were conscious of while writing?

Believe is my first book, so definitely no. In fact, when I first started writing it I didn’t even have any concrete plans to publish - it was simply therapy after losing my daughter. Publishing the story sort of came about by chance through a publisher friend of my niece before I eventually self-published.

What made you decide to narrate this yourself?

As I mentioned, because the writing of this story was a therapeutic process I was very much in need of after the loss of my daughter, it didn’t feel right to have someone else read it. My only hope is that the personal, heartfelt story will make up for the fact that I’m not a professional who is equipped with unique character voices and pitches. It’s just me, folks - hopefully portraying enough emotion to keep your attention.

Were there any real life inspirations behind your writing?

This novella is semi-autobiographical. Rachel is a loose version of me after I lost Sydney, and most of the scenes involving Rachel and her daughter are based on my own experiences. I was also a heavy reader of anything with a spiritual/religious/”power of thought” subject matter at that time, and Rachel’s skepticism and confusion about such topics are very much me. However, the relationship between Rachel and Jack is entirely fictional.

Are you an audiobook listener? What about the audiobook format appeals to you?

I have become such an audiobook lover in the last few months and I tend to gravitate toward comedy. I’m reluctant to try novels, because if I don’t care for the narrator it can really put a damper on the story itself - which is why I’m extremely nervous about doing the audio for my own book and pray my delivery doesn’t ruin the story for anyone.

I recently listened to an Emily Giffin book. I had never read anything by her before and while I really enjoyed the story itself, I felt the narrator was not a good fit for the character telling it and it did somewhat take away from the book.

I just finished listening to A Man Called Ove, and I adored the audio version. It took me a little while to get into it, but once I did, I absolutely fell in love with the story and its characters.

Audiobook format appeals to me most because I can listen during my commute or at the gym, and it makes the time go by so much faster.

Is there a particular part of this story that you feel is more resonating in the audiobook performance than in the book format?

There is a pivotal scene between Rachel and Jack when he is taken off guard by a verbal attack from her. For the first time he sees that she isn’t the same person he knew years ago, and doesn’t hesitate to tell her so. The naivete of his assessment further stirs her anger, and she responds with, “Of course I’m not the same person!” And well, hopefully you’ll listen to the book to hear her entire rant. But the audio is particularly resonating because once you lose a child, you are never the same again. You can never go back to who you were. Sure, you may make an effort to be the same on the outside, but you’re not. It’s simply impossible.  

If this title were being made into a TV series or movie, who would you cast to play the  primary roles?

I’ve never given this a whole lot of thought for this particular book because it’s literally about me, though I’d like to think I’m not abrasive the way Rachel can be. I think Anna Kendrick would be a great choice for Rachel - she’s got the snarkiness. Jack is the reformed charmer, and though he’s a bit old for the role, Ryan Reynolds would be a good fit.

What bits of advice would you give to aspiring authors?

Not that I’m a bestselling novelist with pearls of wisdom to cast, but I think honesty in writing is most important. Skill will come the more you write, but you should always follow your voice. Don’t try a writing style that feels awkward or unnatural to you because it will come across clunky to the reader. I could never write mystery, erotica, or a work of literary fiction because it just isn’t me. Find your voice and refine it over time