A JOURNEY FOR ALL

Doreen Cox, proves she is a masterful story-teller in her novelette, A Sacred Journey. We follow Leah as she is protected and led through the forest by the spiritual insight and love of animals. In reading Ms. Cox’s story, I was transported by the love, joy, and honor that was shown to Leah, by those that are considered by some to be, ‘just animals.’ The connection between human and animal is deeply spiritual and sustaining, and it gave this reader a glimpse into the beauty that could be in this world. Although this journey had many different meanings that could be found that fit with the word sacred, to this reader it carried dual meanings. I can highly recommend this story to everyone who can believe in the possibility that life can be more.

RICH IN CHARM, WIT, AND LIFE

Claire Cook delights readers with another book, ‘Multiple Choices,’ is rich in charm, wit, and life. One can easily become immersed in the lives of each character as we follow their decisions. So true to life is the plot of this book that one can only imagine what the consequences would be if you were in the position of any of the characters in this charming book. True to her usual elegant and character driven novels, ‘Multiple Choices,’ takes you deep into the hearts, minds, and emotions of each and every character for she doesn't have any that are not essential to the story. Ms. Cook is truly a masterful story teller.

BRILLIANTLY TOLD

http://www.amazon.com/Map-Bones-Sigma-Force-Novels-ebook/product-reviews/B000FCK3KA/ref=cm_cr_pr_top_recent?ie=UTF8&showViewpoints=0&sortBy=bySubmissionDateDescending While some reviews I read compared, ‘Map Of Bones,’ by James Rollins, with ‘The DaVinci Code,’ the only similarity I found was that both books dealt with the history and mystery’s surrounding the Catholic Church and its origins. This novel was the second James Rollins book I had read, and it did not disappoint. He continues to amaze me with the depth of his character development, story-lines, and blending of history, mythology, science, fantasy, and politics. Mr. Rollins has a rare ability to both hold the reader’s interest while perking their desire to research a bit more on their own. His stories are thrilling to read, and if you are listening to them as I was, you genuinely don’t want someone coming up to you in the middle when guns are blasting and the world is near destruction for you may jump out of your skin as I nearly did. ‘Map Of Bones,’ a Sigma Force, novel is by far a book that I can recommend to anyone who enjoys adventure, mystery, fantasy, science, or history.

MASTERFULLY WRITTEN

I have yet to read a James Rollins novel that doesn't leave me looking for his next book and ‘The Last Oracle,’ is no exception. I loved this book, the author’s ability to take the reader from the past into the realms of what could be, all the while carefully weaving history, science, politics, and madness into a possible future is nothing short of brilliant. Mr. Rollins is a master in the art of merging fact and fiction into the plot. Highly Recommended.

MADNESS OR LEGACY

In the ‘Song Of The Monster,’ physiologist Barbara Stark, revisits Roberto Mendez the once all – powerful CEO of an international crime family, now locked in the penitentiary and sentenced to life in prison, all because of the wiles and brilliance of Barbara Stark. Mr. Mendez is curious he wants to know how Ms. Stark was able to ferret out his secrets and drive his son into madness, and the government wants information from him. Who will win this game of power and insight? Will Ms. Stark once again succeed where no one else can or die in the trying? Questions that only the reader can learn the answers to, but guaranteed to enchant, enthrall, and charm the reader while they are looking for these answers. Ms. Koch’s characters and plots are brilliantly written, full of humor, wit, and insights into the human condition, and her heroine Barb Stark is a rare find for any book-lover.

THE TWISTS AND TURNS OF MURDER

I have yet to find a book by Margaret Koch that doesn't delight me and her novel ‘To Kill An Echo,’ is no exception. The twists and turns in the life of Barbara Stark a Psychologist in Duncan, Tennessee, always borders on the weird and mysterious. She seems to draw those who are mad or murderous to her like a moth to a flame, leaving the reader to delight in the psychology of both the murderer and the problem solver. Ms. Koch’s characters are rich in human nature in all its glory and brutality, yet she keeps you both guessing and laughing as Ms. Stark stumbles into yet another mysterious happening or murderous psychopath, who continues to stalk her to their very destruction. This reader cannot get enough of Margaret Koch’s stories, each one draws me into the next and I have to admit I will read anything this writer pens. I loved this book and highly recommend it.

Atlas Shrugged: Is It What Many Believe It To Be?

Much has been said about Ayn Rand’s book, Atlas Shrugged. Most of it negative by those of us who are not wealthy or a part of the world that has made their living on the backs of others. It has been called a Bible of sorts by some in the elite world of the Koch Brother’s, Paul Ryan’s, and that ilk. They have taken her words to mean something far different than I did in the numerous times I read it. When she wrote about the doer’s, the builders, and those people who grow the world and the country, I didn’t and don’t believe she meant parasites like the Paul Ryan’s and Rand Paul’s of this world. Those who have earned their living by making life deliberately worse for others, moving jobs overseas, raping companies who are already in trouble, and then closing them. Bankrupting all those who have given their lives to build the company. From the founders to those employees who saved for their old age in the company pension, nor do I believe she meant them to be the parasites of the book. Instead, she was talking about the Paul Ryan’s, Rand Paul’s, Mitt Romney’s, and Koch Brothers, the type of person who believes that a person, who isn't rich and doesn't loot or destroy so that their pockets can be further lined are the parasites. For these people are not building, they do not see the connection between the consumer, and the worker. They do not see people who would like to feed, clothe, and house their family honestly, but can no longer do so as a result of the looting of their futures by these same people who line their pockets by destroying. The people who believe that anything they do, justifies their quest for power and more money. Those that say to the mother who has lost her husband through one of their wars, or due to illness, “you should have planned better, you should have saved, invested. If your children want to eat you should have suffered more, you should not have had them, but your option can only have come from the choice of abstinence, for you should have foreseen the loss of your husband, the loss of his job to another country, the loss of your home, due to the loss of his job. You should have known it would happen for it is a dog eat dog world.” It is my firm belief that it is these people who are intent on destruction, and they are the ones that Ayn Rand was talking about in Atlas Shrugged. They are not the builders, they are the looters. They seek to destroy the foundations of the American Dream, our constitution, and any chance that a person can earn their way out of poverty. Are there those who play the system, oh yes, I see it every day, but look at their role models. Look at what we teach people through today’s movies, television, games, and by our very actions. We teach them how to delight in the downfall of others, we teach them that meanness, and cynicism is a admirable thing, we teach them how to be foolish and to dump on others, to gain from the destruction of someone else. By our actions, we teach them every day that violence, through words and actions are a praiseworthy thing. We teach them that the way to success is not through building, but instead through destroying. When a politician or a judge says “you aren't responsible for your actions because someone else does not matter.” They are wrong! It is my belief that when one’s money, power, and status are obtained by the obliteration of another’s ability to grow to their full potential, to feed, clothe, and house their family by removing their ability to value themselves by honest work and education this is the true destruction of our world.

As I prepare for the last episode of A Show To Remember, I look back at this past year. It has been a year of growth and learning for me. Today, Cyrus Webb, the host of Conversations Live, the founder of Conversations Magazine, and Conversations Book Club, Phillip Dana Yeh. an author, who has a magazine called Uncle Jam, and has been touring the world with his literacy campaign, since the 1980's, and Doreen Cox Author, the author of Adventures in Mother Sitting, a memoir of her time spent as a care-bear, will be joining me to discuss their journey with books. I am honored to have each of them join me on this show. It will be a remarkable and lively look at the place books have and do play in our society. I hope you will all join us today at 2 pm ET, and if you have a chance call in at (347) 324-3859. A Show To Remember is brought to you today by Pemberly Enterprises and the Give A Book Campaign/Read A Book. One lucky caller will receive a copy of either my book Dinky: The Nurse Mare's Foal or Innocence and Wonder. Dinky is the story of one little horses fight for survival against all odds. It is a heartbreaking and uplifting coming of age story told by Dinky himself and Innocence and Wonder features short stories in verse told from the point of view of a child.

A Chat With Cyrus Webb, Phillip Dana Yeh, and Doreen Cox 12/06 by A Show To Remember | Entertainment Podcasts

A Chat With Cyrus Webb, Phillip Dana Yeh, and Doreen Cox 12/06 by A Show To Remember | Entertainment Podcasts

As I prepare for the last episode of A Show To Remember, I look back at this past year. It has been a year of growth and learning for me.

Today, Cyrus Webb, the host of Conversations Live, the founder of Conversations Magazine, and Conversations Book Club, Phillip Dana Yeh. an author, who has a magazine called Uncle Jam, and has been touring the world with his literacy campaign, since the 1980's, and Doreen Cox Author, the author of Adventures in Mother Sitting, a memoir of her time spent as a care-bear, will be joining me to discuss their journey with books.

I am honored to have each of them join me on this show. It will be a remarkable and lively look at the place books have and do play in our society.

I hope you will all join us today at 2 pm ET, and if you have a chance call in at (347) 324-3859.

A Show To Remember is brought to you today by Pemberly Enterprises and the Give A Book Campaign/Read A Book. One lucky caller will receive a copy of either my book Dinky: The Nurse Mare's Foal or Innocence and Wonder. Dinky is the story of one little horses fight for survival against all odds. It is a heartbreaking and uplifting coming of age story told by Dinky himself and Innocence and Wonder features short stories in verse told from the point of view of a child.

A LITTLE BOOK WITH HEART, August 10, 2013 By M. Moran-Bishop - See all my reviews Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?) This review is from: Charm: An Amazing Story of a Little Black Cat (Paperback) Leyla Atke's book Charm: An Amazing Story of a Little Black Cat is a little book with great magic and heart. It is a book that I don't believe you have to be a cat lover for it to touch your heart, instead if you are a lover of life you will find this book worth the time to read. It drew me in from page one and held my interest sometimes in sorrow, when tears sprang from my eyes unbidden, and sometimes in delight for the little black cat held enchantment in its soul. Ms. Atke held me in the palm of her hand as she laid out her story. It left me believing in the value of hope and miracles and wishing it wouldn't end. I believe Ms. Atke has a definite talent for story telling that can only continue to grow. She weaves her tale so naturally, she makes you believe it is all true and if it isn't it should be. The book contains charming illustrations done by the author and could be read by and to children as well as enjoyed by an adult. Highly Recommended!

DINKY: THE NURSE MARE'S FOAL - A five star review by Doreen Cox - Author of Adventures In Mother Sitting

Every so often, I come across a book that strongly pulls at me to read; Dinky was one of these. It is not an easy task for a writer to keep her reader’s interest when the story is written in first person. Ms. Bishop’s script with Dinky as the narrator of his story is exceptional. I loved this story – it is educational, emotionally engaging, insightfully written and so very rich in detail. A real-life foal, the author brought Dinky vividly to life for me, from page one. Ms. Bishop’s interpretations of Dinky’s thoughts during the initial months of his life were so heart-wrenching to read yet, from the beginning, I found myself captivated by Dinky’s spirit. Despite the incessant cruelty done to Dinky by humans – he was always famished, underfed, ignored and frightened – there is resilience in his nature that commanded my respect. After reading the synopsis, I expected to be angry, to cry when Dinky, a ‘junk foal,’ told his story of being taken from his mother, a mare caught up in man’s cruel practice of breeding her only for milk to nourish a high-dollar mare’s foal. It was almost unbearable, reading of the cruelty done to Dinky during his first few months of life – the overwhelming fear for his fate: being sold to a meat market or to tanners, or being adopted. In the words of Dinky: “I wasn’t prepared to believe in the possibility of good things.” The story shifted, becoming delightful and enlivening when the author and her husband adopted Dinky from a fair. At that point, my tears came then from reading Dinky’s accounts of his life in fresh air, with ample food, water and companionship. He tells us about learning to trust, to love and becoming part of a herd; and the silly ways in which he let the impishness in his spirit free. Since my read, I have wondered if Marta Moran Bishop is a ‘horse whisperer’; I do not know. However, I do believe that she is a woman who speaks horse. Dinky told me so.***** http://doreencox.blogspot.com/

CHROME

Across the field they ran And through the trees they flew Up the hill they scampered Over the river they jumped Regal is her fur friend Majestically he moves Long legs and golden mane And tail that flows behind His silver eyelashes Frame such loving brown eyes That speak volumes to her Of a lifetime together Continuously friends And forever family Copyright 2013 Marta Moran Bishop

An Uncommon Conversation

Recently, I was interviewed by the local newspaper about my new book Dinky: The Nurse Mare's Foal. My hope with both my book Dinky: The Nurse Mare's Foal and in this interview I help increase the awareness of this horrid practice. Animals feel and suffer just as humans too. Here is the interview. http://bolton.m.wickedlocal.com/wkdBolton/db_103078/contentdetail.htm?contentguid=V6iu8joV&full=true#display

DISCUSSION ON NURSE MARE FOALS AND DINKY: THE NURSE MARE'S FOAL

I hope you will join me on Saturday, July 13, 2013 at 10:30 am at the Pet Source in Bolton, MA. I will be discussing nurse mare foals, nurse mares, my newest book, Dinky: The Nurse Mare's Foal, horses in general, and giving away this canvas tote, full of many prizes.

FINDING THE LIGHT Across the years my mind flies Through muddy passages My heart must find its own way To shed light in those places Where emptiness lives Lost ones living on in caverns In dark places of my soul Striving to be remembered Will breathe air into those flames Till they are beacons of fire Throwing sunlight at shadow Lighting cold spaces with warmth Uncovering lost dreams and loves And memories of times past Bringing the promise of hope Releasing shackled baggage Tangled in remembering Leaving love and knowledge Of those we have left behind They will not be forgotten On wings of bright light and wind The doors will open wider Showing us that truth is more Than we had known before Long gone are the seeds of doubt With those memories of loss That serve only to drag us down Into the gutter of angst Hopeless and helpless we feel Not able to believe it The end is the beginning For time ebbs and flows around In the dance of life it whirls And we must nurture all we love With bright light, love, and honor Cherishing all those embers To help us remember good Our lives are not over now Till all dark spots are gone And we are free for glory It is then we will meet again When the time is ripe for us With luck our lessons are learned And we meet again without hurt Leaving behind old patterns Become the best we can be Together again at last Forgotten the dark corners That followed us through the past We meet again in splendor Every meeting a new chance To learn how to love ourselves For even those dark spaces Hold the means to cherish And accept all that is Marta Moran Bishop copyright 2013

The Void (part II)

This morning I was extremely lucky, Mistress Kyami was not around and instead Muralti doled out the chores. Otherwise things would have gone badly for me, Mistress Kyami is never easy, especially with those of us who are not her favorites; Altori thought. I must be more careful this afternoon, she likes her power and won’t stay away long. The laughter of the women at the other tables, eating their lunch made the loneliness that much more palatable, but today it served its purpose. Head down, carefully keeping her scarf low across her head, partially hanging in her face she hid the blackness of the bruises. The morning had been hard enough, but Muralti was unused to handing out chores and so I got light duty. I can barely stand, if I had spent the morning on my knees scrubbing the floor in the great hall it would have been worse. That is one of the lowliest tasks given and one that was reserved for those that irritated Mistress Kyami. The only one worse, is cleaning out the commodes Altori thought. I hope she is over her anger with me, or I will be assigned that this afternoon. Stealing glances at the other women she wondered again, where did Helen and I come from? How did we get to this village? I truly don’t remember. We are both small and blonde, the women of this village are tall, big boned, with the straightest blackest hair one could ever have imagined. Where is Helen? I know she isn't dead, I feel her presence in my heart, and I am sure I will know if she dies. The world around her disappeared as she drifted into her memories. “Helen what happened to you? You are covered in bruises, and I can see bald spots on your scalp. What are you doing on the floor? What happened to your dress? Oh my God, Helen your face, your lips are swollen.” “Shush, speak quieter. Even though, our hut is on the outskirts of the village, you never know who might be listening. Helen spoke in a hoarse whisper. “Please Tori, bring me some water and a bit of bread, I am not well. I will tell you about it anon.” http://www.martamoranbishop.com/10/post/2013/05/the-void-part-ii.html

THE VOID (part I)

Her long golden hair whipped in the breeze. Flying into her face as it came loose from the black ribbon that had tied it, she watched the ribbon fly off, clinging too a tiny branch out of her reach. She couldn't climb further out, those branches were to slight to hold her small frame. The last dregs of light was sinking over the horizon as she settled herself as best she could, wrapping her legs around the base of the branch and clinging to it with her slender arms. Without the moon, tonight would be the darkest night of the year. So black even coal would seem bright in comparison. The stars which normally gave some light, however tiny that might be, were covered over by clouds. Each year there were the eleven dark moon nights and one that was the night of no moon, the moonless night. Helen disappeared near here last year on the moonless night. She had gone out late to fetch a bit of wood for their fire and that was the last anyone had ever seen her. We both heard the warnings since childhood about this place on the no moon night, but how could we believe them? The villagers were all such an illiterate and superstitious lot, Altori mused. Why they wouldn't even plant their crops in the fields below her. Blackness descended, the sound of the hooting owls, calling crickets, and even the howling of the wolves stopped. Silence fell like a blanket over the air itself. Not a sound escaped, no whisper of leaves, no sound of wind, all was shrouded in nothingness, till she thought she would scream. It pressed into her being, crowding her thoughts, stifling her ability to breathe, except in short shallow gasps. Closer and closer it came, that terrible emptiness. The golden hairs on her arms standing up, her skin parched in the void. She could still feel her body, but she could not see, the closer the vacuum came the less she could feel. Still she held on and waited, for now there was nothing she could do except wait, for movement was impossible. Fear gripped her tightly in its arms. All too soon the silence was broken, not by the normal sounds of the night, but by a chanting from below. It began slowly, shallowly, quietly, swelling, filling, and becoming the night. Down below her on the prairie in the distance lights danced with the harmony of the chants. Louder and louder they became, and the lights grew brighter and stronger until she could see something small dancing in the shadows of the flames. One creature became two, then three, until the plain below her, filled till she couldn’t tell how many beings there were or if there was only one that had grown immense taking over the field. The chanting went on and on, the lights, and the creatures became the night itself, everything outside of them was nonexistent. Altori watched and clung to the tree though she couldn’t feel her arms or legs now. She held onto her thought of separateness, fearing she would lose herself, as Helen must have if she surrendered to the night or the oblivion beyond the dancing, moving, chanting night. Then with an upsurge of the inundating presence below, it was gone and the void pushed in on her again, and she fought to hold on to her sanity once more. It must end soon she thought. My name is Altori, I have a sister somewhere named Helen, and I live in the village on the other side of the forest. Her mind continued to shout these words to herself while she fought the oblivion and abruptly that too was gone. She felt the roughness of the branch she was clinging to and heard the crickets singing the last of their night songs. A final wolf howled, and owl hooted as the sky began to brighten. Tangled in the leaves and the branches, her golden locks pulled with each movement of the wind. Shaking with exhaustion, for with the disappearance of the void so went the last of her strength. Still she began the tedious job of removing the strands of her hair from the branches and leaves. Sometimes, she pulled in terror when she discovered a part of her hair had become one with the tree. Finally, sliding and nearly falling to the ground, sinking to her knees, she fell and curling into a ball, she lay there for a few minutes unable to move. I don’t believe I can walk, she thought. Though I must get back to the village before dawn, no one must see me like this. Her brown dress ripped, soiled with sap, sweat, and her fear, hair disheveled, with twigs and leaves sticking in it. Her skin completely covered in scratches and soil, lips parched, tongue swollen from thirst, she began to crawl. Pulling herself along until she managed, with the help of a long branch, she got to her feet and staggered forward. No thoughts went through her mind now, except two words. Get home. Over and over they rolled around in her head, nothing else just those two words, she hadn’t the strength for anything else. At last, her feet felt the dirt road of the village, just as the cock crowed she fell against the door of her small hut. Pulling herself into her home, shutting the door she fell to her knees again, crawling to the water basin. She drank, lapping the water like a dog, quenching her thirst, then ripping what was left of her dress off, she used a portion of it to wash herself. Shivering in the crisp dawn air, not yet able to stand, nor light the stove, she pulled the remnants of her dress over her body and slept. Through the depth of her unconsciousness,, she heard the pounding and banging on her door, it went on becoming louder and louder. It was insistent, dragging herself to her knees, she yelled. “I’ll be out as soon as I can, I’m not well today.” The banging stopped and footsteps moved away from the door. Still weak, Altori pushed herself to stand and stagger to the peg that held her only other, day dress. “Nothing can be done with that one.” She said to herself as she looked at the rag lying on the floor in front of the door. Turning she made her way to the small table, slumping down on one of the rickety chairs standing beside it. In the middle of the table sat the day old bread, dried out from sitting in the open air, and a block of cheese on a dish. It was to have been my supper. She mused as she slowly pulled tiny pieces of the crumbly bread and stuffing it into her mouth. Finally, able to hold a knife she cut a small sliver of the cheese and ate that too. Still drained of energy, but able to stand she walked to the table by the bed and picked up her comb and began to brush out her hair. When she had it as neat as possible, and the small bald spots were hidden, those spots that she had pulled out in chunks while trying to free it from the tree, she tied another ribbon around it. She hoped no one would notice, usually she felt invisible in the village and hoped today would be no different. No one must know she had been out in the void. No one must ever know. If Helen was there she could have talked about it with her, but after last night she was afraid that maybe the villagers were right, and she would never see Helen again. The villagers had said Helen was gone for good, but she didn’t believe it. She would have felt it if Helen was dead and she didn't. Something was terribly wrong though, and somehow she must find out what it was if she were ever to get Helen back. Today, she had her share of the village work to do. Even those who were invisible to the rest of the village had to work. They were only visible if their work was not done or done incorrectly. “I am an outsider here, once when Helen was still here I had someone I felt I belonged to. We were family, now everything is empty.” Altori spoke quietly to the walls and shuddered. “At least it isn’t the void though.” She didn't know if she could go on feeling as if she didn't belong anywhere, yet where would she go? Would she fit in anywhere? If she went would she ever find Helen? She pondered these questions all day. Throughout her lunch break, sitting alone as usual she thought and wondered. What is the mystery, what was that thing or things down in the prairie last night? Her mind couldn't wrap itself around that question, instead continued to shy away from any thought of that or of the void. Think about that tomorrow it said to her.

There are so many women that have for different reasons inspire me and continue to do so. Some of them have passed from this life and some are still with us. Because of this I decided I would write about what inspires me in women, instead of about a woman. Though, I may name some of those women of whom I am speaking. Courage is a something that inspires me every day. Sometimes it is the unseen courage of the struggling mother, who is working, coming home, making beds, cooking, sitting with her child over their homework, and otherwise nurturing that child enabling it to grow to be the best it can be. Sometimes, it is a different kind of courage; instead the woman may be quietly fighting cancer, Crohns disease, PTSD, or some other life threatening or life debilitating disease. At times, they suffer cruel questions by unknowing people. Words that diminish there illness or if it is an unseen disease scoffed at by those who do not understand or do not know because it isn't something that she talks about. In both cases, the woman I have known do these things cheerfully or with kindness and thoughtfulness of others. Both my mother and my sister, as well as many of those friends I hold highly have or are going through one or more of these things. I admire and am inspired by the woman who has the pluck to fight the good fight even when the odds are stacked against them. Women like Hillary Clinton, Eleanor Roosevelt, and Golda Meir who put up for years with so many calling them names, yet continued their crusade to right wrongs and fight for the rights of women, minorities, and the working person. Later as in Hillary’s case running for President and nearly winning. Golda Meir became Prime Minister of Israel. They both lived admirable lives and in Hillary’s case she continues to do so with grace. The woman who gives her life’s blood to become a caretaker for her disabled or elderly parent or child and does so with love, heart, and compassion. Even in the darkest moments of her soul rarely does she even mention her plight and when she does it is to say, she is tired. Not the truth that she is endanger of losing herself within her role. I know many of these women and only because they have come to trust me do I even know what efforts they put in daily. The woman who gives kindness and thoughtfulness even when she is depleted and in need of it herself is someone I admire. That is the woman who is always looking at things from the other person’s point of view or understanding that she may not know all of the story. She is the woman who says to herself, I may have misheard or misunderstood, there is another side besides mine. I admire my neighbor, who waited and still loved her ex-husband after a forty year separation. She let go of her own hurts and cherished what was good, moving on to get her master’s degree at sixty-five and at eighty-two they remarried. She is now at eighty-seven quietly fighting lung cancer, macular degeneration, and a variety of other issues, yet remains a cheerful friend always there to give a strong word of encouragement or a kind gesture. And last, but not least I admire and am inspired by women who choose to fight for women’s rights and reach out their hands for the other knowing that we do not need to be at odds with each other, but can become more together than apart. So many of you here on The Verge, inspire me daily with your courage, wisdom, ability to go the extra mile and kindness to others. I thank you for your inspiration.

I have long admired Maria Savva, for both her writing and her willingness to support other authors. I have witnessed her on many occasions give her time and knowledge with kindness and generosity. I am honored and excited that she agreed to let me interview her on my blog today. I am thrilled to welcome her to my blog today. I loved both of your novels, Haunted and Coincidences and I am looking forward to reading more of your work. Would you tell us whether your books are inspired by real events or real people? I would go as far as to say that all of my short stories and novels are inspired by real events and real people. Of course, I don’t just write someone’s life into my stories, but I have a mixing pot of lots of things I have heard and lots of things I have seen. Many of the events in my novels and stories are things that have in some way actually happened to me. Other events are things that I've heard maybe on the news, or from listening in to a random stranger’s conversation as I walk past them in the street. That sort of thing. For example, when I create characters, their personalities might be inspired by someone I know, or someone I knew briefly in the past. None of my characters have ever been solely based on one person, but have been a mix of different people. I like to think I am a collector of stories from our lifetime, and I fictionalize them and document them for future generations to read. That’s a fiction writer’s job. There are similarities in Coincidences and Haunted, in that they both deal with emotions and secrets, yet are very different novels. Would you tell us what you wanted the differences to be between the two and whether you believe you accomplished this? I don’t think about things like that when I write. I wrote Coincidences in 1997, and was not thinking about that book at all when I wrote Haunted. I don’t ever plan to make my next book different to the last or similar to the last, but I have noticed similar themes running through all my work, even though they are different genres. When I've written a book, I leave it behind me and move on to the next project. I write about things that inspire me to write. Inspiration comes in many forms, and different things that happen in my life will inspire me to write something. So, for example, Haunted was mainly inspired by a news story I heard in about 2004, and a road rage incident I witnessed in early 2011. Those things sparked my imagination and I had to write the book. I read in one of your interviews that if you were trapped in an elevator you wouldn't like it to be with someone who didn't like your books. Would you mind telling us why? I suppose because if someone doesn't like my books they probably wouldn't like me much either. There’s a whole lot of me that goes into my books. My philosophy about life, my values, dreams, etc. So being stuck in an elevator with someone who I didn't have anything in common with would not be nice. Also, it would give me less to talk about... I do like to talk about my books LOL. How did it feel to have Coincidences land on the top 10 list of Susan Buchanan’s blog Sooz’s Top 10 Books of 2012? That was wonderful. Especially because I really enjoyed both of Susan’s books. She’s a talented writer, so for someone like that to choose my book in her top 10, that means a lot. She reads loads of books, too, so it’s even more amazing she chose mine. I’m very grateful and thankful. You grew up reading at a remarkably young age. What would you say was the most notable thing that kept you on your path to learning to read? I was very young when I started reading, maybe about three. I think it’s because I had an older brother who was already at school and he was learning to read, and I am obsessed with the written word, so I probably wanted to read too. Or probably just wanted to do whatever he was doing. I’m sure curiosity played a big part in my learning to read so young. We used to live in one of those old houses that had three floors, and each room was occupied by a different family. That’s quite typical of rental accommodation in the UK in the ‘70s. There was an old woman who lived upstairs. She didn't have a family of her own, and used to look after me and my brother sometimes. I’m told she used to teach us things, so maybe she had a hand in teaching me to read so young. I understand that you thought a bit of the reason you didn't feel like you fit into the life of a working lawyer was your love of human nature. Do you still believe that was a large factor? I was actually quite successful as a lawyer, and enjoyed my job for the most part. I was made redundant in 2008 in the big housing crash, and as I was specializing in conveyancing it has been hard to get back into work as a lawyer. I would probably do that again though if the opportunity arose. I think what I might have said in the past was that I didn't like the way some of the lawyers I came into contact with behaved. In my novel, Second Chances, two of the characters are partners of a law firm, and they basically reflect the type of people that I didn't like working with. I am the sort of person who won’t step on someone else just to climb the ladder, but unfortunately, there are many people out there who will, and maybe what I have alluded to in interviews in the past is that due to my nature, maybe I didn't fit in that kind of dog-eat-dog environment. Which part of human nature do you find to be the most fascinating? All of it. I've always been interested in human psychology. I used to watch all the daytime shows when I was younger, you know, Oprah, Ricki Lake, that type of thing. I have always been an observer of people. I was very shy when growing up and still can be in some situations, so I was always quiet, and listened more than I spoke. It’s amazing how much you can learn about people by just observing them. Most of my novels and stories are almost written so that I can try to find a reason why people would behave in a certain way. I’m fascinated by why people do things; why they lie, why they keep secrets, why they behave in a certain way, etc. I explore a lot of that kind of thing in my novels. It seems today that we all need to have an online presence. Do you have one that you prefer or find the most effective? I’m mainly on Bestsellerbound, Twitter, Goodreads, and Facebook. I’m not of the generation that grew up with computers, and in general, I would prefer not to be online so much, but as you say, it seems we have to have an online presence these days. I try to use those sites as a way to connect with people, especially authors and readers, as more of a support network for my writing really. It can get lonely being a writer, especially when you’re working on a project like a novel, so sometimes it’s fun to be able to chat with people online as a distraction. My favorite site is BestsellerBound.com because I have met some very supportive authors there, and people that I feel I can call my friends, even though I've never met most of them. I find that each time I believe I am getting a handle on social networking a new site pops up. Do you ever find yourself overwhelmed with it all? Constantly. I try to limit myself to a few sites, as mentioned in the last question. I have accounts with other sites, but rarely use them. If one of your books were chosen to be made into a movie, which would you like it to be and why? Only one? I want them all to be made into movies. It’s a childhood dream of mine. But if you twisted my arm and I had to choose, I would choose Haunted. I was asked this question recently for The Next Big Thing blog, and I mentioned that I would like Robin Williams to play Nigel (he’s such a versatile actor), and Kate Winslet to play Emily. That would be such a great film. It’s very dark, very chilling, and would be perfect for the big screen. Of course, I may be biased. Is there one word that others who know you well would use to describe you? Do you agree with them? Yes. They would say I’m quiet. That’s the most common thing they say. I agree. Most of the time I’m thinking up plots for my novels, or daydreaming about other stuff. My mind is not very quiet. Where can readers find you and your books? The best place to start is my website: http://www.mariasavva.com There are links there to my Facebook page, Twitter, and various other sites. There are excerpts from most of my books on there too, and my book trailers. My Goodreads blog is linked to the site. You can also click through from there to buy my books from the various online retailers. Thanks so much for inviting me to your website, Marta! Maria I am thrilled that you agreed to this interview, thank you. Your answers are fascinating. I agree by the way, Kate Winslet would make a great Emily. You can find Maria's books at http://www.amazon.com/Maria-Savva/e/B002BOCDGM/ref=sr_tc_2_0?qid=1362004277&sr=1-2-ent http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/maria-savva?csrfToken=ZKp7d1X8vHAL9BvOPBwGutZUjbBmcryg&store=allproducts&keyword=maria+savva

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Katmoran Publications: announces the release of a new novel by Marta Moran Bishop, Dinky: The Nurse Mare’s Foal. The story of Dinky is based on true events. Marta Moran Bishop is an author and poet. With two poetry books, Wee Three: A Child’s World, A Poet’s Journey: Emotions, and The Between Times a social cautionary tale, which is considered by many, to be the 2013 version of a possible future. ‘It replaces Orwell’s 1984 with today’s events and political and social climate and at times is to close for comfort.’ Ms. Bishop is the third generation of female writers and lives on a small farm in Massachusetts with her husband, horses, and cats. The story of Dinky although fiction is based on true events and depicts the life of a rescue foal from the horse’s point of view. You can contact Ms. Bishop for readings and other events at martamoranbishop@verizon.net, www.martambishop.blogspot.com, www.martamoranbishop.com. She has been a guest of Cyrus Webb’s Conversations Live and featured in THATmag for women. Dinky: The Nurse Mare’s Foal is available at www.katmoranpublications.com, www.amazon.com, www.barnesandnoble.com.

FOR THE LOVE OF POETRY

My first memories of poetry were from A Child’s Garden of Verse by Robert Louis Stevenson,

yup the same author who wrote the beloved classic Treasure Island and from A.A. Milne, When We Were Very Young, Now We Are Six, and the Winnie the Pooh stories. These beloved verses and the illustrations of E.H. Shepard were to see me through my childhood filling my mind and fertilizing my imagination as they did for so many children. Yet where did that love of poetry go for so many people? I think it is in the way poetry is taught in today’s world. For instance, on my first day of Honors English class in college as the professor was giving us the curriculum for the semester. She listed what we would cover in the order in which we would cover it. The very last on the list was poetry, with a shrug she said “I’m not really comfortable with poetry, so am leaving it for last. I hope there isn’t time.” I heard much the same, when I joined the editorial board of the college Journal of the Arts. The poetry picked for the journal by and large was full of abstract thought. It was as if the general consensus about poetry is if it’s abstract and difficult to figure out the meaning behind the words than it must be good. No wonder so many say they don’t understand poetry or don’t like poetry, when English professors admit they don’t understand it. It is a shame that poetry has such a bad rap, (no pun intended) as poetry weaves through our entire lives, even if we don’t know it. You hear it in the lyrics of the music. It is in our greeting cards on coffee mugs, in commercials, you name it and you will find poetry. Yet many parents shy away from either reading it to their children or picking it up and reading it to themselves. What is the meaning of poetry to me you might ask? Poetry and verse are short stories telling the tale lying in the heart and mind of the author.

It doesn’t matter if it is adult or children’s poetry, “I don’t want to have to study the poem to understand the concept behind the verse. This doesn’t mean that if it is complex and difficult to figure out its bad,” Maya Angelou, any more than a piece of abstract or minimalistic art is bad art. It only means it isn’t a preference of mine. I prefer my poetry to speak to me. I want it to carry me into the emotions and thoughts of the poet. If I am reading or writing poetry aimed at children, I prefer it speaks to a child in their language and doesn’t talk down to them. I like it to help me remember those feelings I had as a child thus connecting me both with the child within and with children in general. The same goes with adult poetry I want to feel something to see a picture and experience the mind and emotion of the author. As I see it the main difference between the children’s and adults’ poetry is children think more literally. They feel the same emotions but don’t always understand where they are coming from. They are still learning and their vocabulary is growing. They see the world with more innocence and wonder. An adult on the other hand has seen more of life which usually means they will have a larger vocabulary and understand their emotions more or the subtle nuances and complexity of a poem. Poets, who have stood the test of time and are considered great poets, tell a story in their poetry. Between children and adults the stories differ, but still there is a story and the use of imagination and/or emotion.http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/phenomenal-woman/

If you read the work of a contemporary poet like Maya Angelou, who is universally acclaimed as one of the finest poets of our generation she tells a story in her poetry. It is full of beauty, sorrow, imagination, and hope. One of my favorites is her Phenomenal Woman you can find the link to the rest of the poem below as well as a youtube video of the reading. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pNj9cpvj-pU Maya Angelou, Phenomenal Woman Pretty women wonder where my secret lies. I'm not cute or built to suit a fashion model's size But when I start to tell them, They think I'm telling lies. I say, It's in the reach of my arms The span of my hips, The stride of my step, The curl of my lips. I'm a woman Phenomenally. Phenomenal woman, That's me……

You can also find that same lyrical, storytelling style in the poetry of any of the classic poets. For example look at Edgar Allan Poe’s, A Dream Within A Dream, below is the link to the whole poem and a short example of the poem itself. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rxg7OFFtWQE&feature=related Edgar Allan Poe, A Dream Within A Dream. http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/a-dream-within-a-dream/ A Dream Within A Dream Take this kiss upon the brow! And, in parting from you now, Thus much let me avow- You are not wrong, who deem That my days have been a dream; Yet if hope has flown away In a night, or in a day, In a vision, or in none, Is it therefore the less gone? All that we see or seem Is but a dream within a dream.

Some classic poetry rhymes, all of it is lyrical. Most children’s poetry rhymes because children remember rhymes more easily making it simpler for them to learn. They enjoy the rhyming and it helps spark their imaginations. Many articles have been written on how rhyming helps children learn and why the classics are a great way to both entertain and teach children. You can read it in many articles, one of them is classic poems for kids. http://www.squidoo.com/classic-poems-for-kids It shows the simplicity that inspires children’s poetry. This simplicity is shown so well in, William Makepeace Thackeray’s At The Zoo. First I saw the white bear, then I saw the black; Then I saw the camel with a hump upon his back; Then I saw the grey wolf, with mutton in his maw; Then I saw the wombat waddle in the straw; Then I saw the elephant a-waving of his trunk; Then I saw the monkeys-mercy, how unpleasantly they-smelt!

Or in Robert Louis Stevenson’s poems The Cow and The Land of Counterpane, which describes so intensely just how a child’s imagination works. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MouuBLfHBBc Robert Louis Stevenson, The Land of Counterpane http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p0K-umvbKgY The Cow by Robert Louis Stevenson The Cow The friendly cow all red and white, I love with all my heart: She gives me cream with all her might, To eat with apple-tart…. The Land of Counterpane When I was sick and lay a-bed, I had two pillows at my head, And all my toys beside me lay To keep me happy all the day. And sometimes for an hour or so I watched my leaden soldiers go, With different uniforms and drills, Among the bedclothes, through the hills….

In Wee Three: A Child’s World, you find a similar rhyming quality that helps a child stretch their imagination and will speak to them in the language of youth. This language is full of imaginative, innocent, and literal ways children look at the world. There are many children’s poets but the ones that seem to stand the test of time all write as though they were looking at the world through the eyes of a child.

In my book A Poet’s Journey: Emotions, my style is more like the poets of the past and present who tell a story in their verse and less abstract. It tells of the emotional roller-coaster that life can be. If you read either children’s or adults poetry I believe you will agree the main difference between poetry written for a child and that for an adult is in the sophistication of the poem and the type of story it tells. At least this is true of most of the classic poets.