MY INTERVIEW WITH ELLE KLASS

Friday, June 6, 2014

Susanne Leist author of The Dead Game

Please welcome Susanne Leist another extraordinary author! She will be present at the Facebook event Dreams, Fantasies, Nightmares, and Visions June 18-22.

Interview

Elle: Tell a little about yourself.

Susanne: My name is Susanne Leist.  I have an M.B. A. in Finance. I’ve worked as a Financial and Budget Analyst. I love to analyze companies and spread sheets and find hidden mysteries. These mysteries I’ve written up in extensive reports. 
     My second career is as a writer. Since I enjoy murder mysteries and the supernatural, I decided to write a book that combines both genre. I hope my readers love my book as much as I do.

Elle: What can you tell us about The Dead Game?

Susanne: The Dead Game is a paranormal thriller/fantasy. It takes place in a small town, called Oasis, on the coast of Florida. During the day, this town is a paradise for its residents and abundant tourists with its picturesque streets, wide-sand beach, and warm waters. However, at night, the town turns dark and deadly. Dark shadows roam the streets. Tourists begin to disappear and bodies turn up dead on the beach. The evil in this town revolves around End House. The younger residents are invited to a mysterious party at the deserted house, and that’s when the fun and games begin.

Elle: Give an overview of the protagonist (s) and any quirks they may have?

Susanne: Linda is the protagonist and she’s my voice. She wants to live in a peaceful town and make friends. When she encounters dangers, she steps back and lets her best friend, Shana, make all the decisions. She has a crush on the antagonist, Todd. She’s too timid to actively pursue him. But she does learn to stand up to him.

Elle: What are some other works you have published?

Susanne:The Dead Game is the first book that I have written. The book resolves the murder mystery, but at the same time, opens a Pandora box of new mysteries. Its surprise ending will lead to more surprises and to a second book.

Elle: What items do you require while writing?

Susanne: The only thing I require is complete silence without any distractions. This is exactly how I studied in school. I give 100% of my attention to my writing.

Elle: If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go??

Susanne: I would love to travel everywhere in the world. The only countries I’ve visited so far are Canada, England, and Israel. There are so many places I would love to see.  At least I could visit them in books.

Elle: Do you have a favorite author or book?

Susanne: My favorite author is Brad Meltzer. It’s fun and easy to read his books. His words flow smoothly and keep me engrossed in the stories. I like his characters. He weaves his extensive knowledge of Washington into the story lines.
     I buy a book by the description on the back cover and not by the author’s name. This has led me to explore books written by a wide variety of authors. I found Brad Meltzer by his book’s description before I heard about him as an author. 

Elle: Describe yourself in three words.


Susanne: Honest, sensitive, and caring.


Amazon

THE TUNNEL

THE TUNNEL

The staircase abruptly fell through the ground
and opened a tunnel below End House.
The guests were thrown down the stairs.
Linda lost her grip and began to free-fall
through space.
Creatures with long sharp fingers were
trying to grab her.
Their white elongated faces had their
mouths wide open in silent cries.
Linda kept falling until Todd yelled out,”Stop!”
The creatures magically disappeared and the
tunnel transformed back into a staircase.
Linda was now certain that Todd was hiding
secrets and his powers from her.
She wouldn’t be able to trust him ever again.

The Dead Game by Susanne Leist

http://barnesandnoble.com/w/the-dead-game-susanne-leist/1116825442?ean=2940148410881

WHERE IS THE BIG BAD WOLF?

whitechapelwitch:

»x«

Where is the big bad Wolf?
Has Charles Wolf run away or as he turned?
He could now be a vampire or maybe even a wolf?
Anything can happen in this strange town.
We must be careful.
Don’t trust anyone you meet for
anyone could be a traitor.
We must hold steady against THE DEAD.

THE DEAD GAME BY SUSANNE LEIST
http://www.amazon.com/author/susanneleist

THE DOOR

BEHIND THE DOOR

so-personal:

You don’t know what lies behind a door,
unless you open it.
On the other side, there could be
something magical.
Or something earth shattering
and deadly.
In The Dead Game, the magical door
opens to any place that you might imagine.
But there is also a second door in
Oasis, Florida.
This door opens to your worst nightmare.
Where is this door now?
It was in End House but the house was destroyed.
Was the door also destroyed?
Read The Dead Game and find out.

http://www.amazon.com/author/susanneleist
http://amzn.com/1478704489
http://barnesandnoble.com/w/the-dead-game-susanne-leist/1116825442?ean=2940148410881

WIDE OPEN SPACES

WIDE OPEN SPACES

brutalgeneration:

THE FEEL OF  SALT WATER AND
CRISP WIND AGAINST  YOUR FACE.
THERE’S NOTHING LIKE IT IN THE WORLD.

• 

A WATERFALL,
A TALL MOUNTAIN,
A BUBBLING STREAM,
ALL PART OF THE BEAUTY OF NATURE.

• 

brutalgeneration:
NO PEOPLE
NO BUILDINGS
NOTHING
BUT THE BLUE SKY.

• 

sundxwn:
WIDE OPEN SPACE
ONLY THE SKY AND ITS BEAUTIFUL REFLECTION

wonderous-world:

African Elephant at Dawn by Frans Lanting

DO YOU EVER FEEL LIKE ESCAPING
AND EXPLORING NEW PLACES?
I DO EVERYDAY.

MY INTERVIEW WITH JOHN REINHARD DIZON

I am proud to be interviewing John Reinhard Dizon, a friend and fellow author, who is always ready to have fun and joke around.

John Reinhard Dizon

1.   Tell me a little about yourself.

John Reinhard Dizon was born and raised in the Cobble Hill section of Brooklyn, NY. He participated in local and high school sports at Bishop Loughlin MHS, excelling in wrestling, hockey and football. The lead vocalist of the Spoiler and the Ducky Boys, he was a key figure on the Brooklyn rock scene during the Punk Revolution of the 70's. Relocating to San Antonio TX in the 80's, he moonlighted as a pro wrestler while working as a legal assistant. He successfully pursued a BA at UTSA and degrees in Korean martial arts during the 90's. He currently lives in KC MO where he is studying for his MA in English at UMKC. Mr. Dizon has been writing suspense and thriller works for over twenty-five years.

2.    What books have you written? What genre are they in?

I’ve got over twenty novels out right now. I specialize in historical fiction, suspense/thrillers and women’s fiction. My most noteworthy are Tiara and Nightcrawler. My newest one is Standard II – The Citadel  , and soon to be released is Nightcrawler II – Tryzub .

3.    Why did you become an author? What led you down this career path?

I was writing dialogue for my stick-figure cartoons when I first got out of diapers. I got serious after high school but that was before the Internet, so there was no real way to market my work. After living my dreams as an underground rock star, a pro wrestler, a mixed martial artist and a hockey goon, this looks like Turk’s Last Stand.

4.    Was it difficult to write your first book? Or did it come naturally to you?

I wrote my first novella, a train wreck called Enemy Ace, in sixth grade. It was a James Bond knockoff but the major protagonist, Fritz Hammer, appears in a couple of my MI6 novels. Who’d have thought?

5.    What are some of your dreams and goals?

At this age? I’d love to get into one more sizzling romance, make that long-awaited album, and have one last wrestling match. Getting a contract with a major publisher wouldn’t break my heart either.

6.    What do you enjoy to do in your free time?

Get drunk. Sometimes I’ll go carousing with my keyboard player. The rest of the time I’m writing highly controversial manuscripts.

7.   Who inspired you to become a writer?

I had the entire Ian Fleming collection in grade school. I collected Robert E. Howard’s Conan the Barbarian series in my twenties. They had the most profound influence on my early years.

8.   Who are some of your favorite authors?

Right now, as a postmodernist writer, it’s Franz Kafka. I spend most of my time reviewing indie novels these days. The lovely Susanne Leist is one of my faves, along with Elle Klass, John Tucker and a few others. I’m hoping an Indie Revolution is going to revitalize the stagnant literary industry worldwide.

9.    What is store for your readers next?

Well, if I’m still above ground next year, I’m thinking of doing sequels to all the novels I’ve got out there. That is going to keep me pretty busy.

FAIRYTALE OR HORROR STORY?

Is this a fairytale or a horror story?
Is the princess entering the grounds
of her dream mansion or a house of horrors?
Will her wand protect her?
If it was up to me, she will be entering
the house from her deepest, darkest fears.
Her wand will be whisked away from her hand.
The gates behind her lock shut.
She begins to realize that she
just made a big mistake.
Too bad, she has more mistakes to make
as she continues to walk toward the house.
What happens next?
I will leave it to your imagination.

TRAPPED IN HELL

TRAPPED

Where do the lights lead you?
Follow them and you shall see.
The hallway is long and dark.
Closed doors line the walls on either side.
Should we open one?
Let’s try this one.
There are steps leading down
to the basement.
We enter.
The door slams shut.
It’s locked.
We walk down the slippery steps.
Below, we find a pool of water.
Huge cages are falling from above.
They have sharp and pointy edges
that are trying to trap us.
They almost caught one of us.
Now circular saws are descending,
lined up in straight rows.
What do we do now?
This has been one of the many adventures
from the book, The Dead Game.

LA SANTA MUERTE

LA SANTA MUERTE

LA SANTA MUERTE
The female grim ripper, or the skeleton saint,
rears her ugly head in Oasis, Florida.
She was last seen in Mexico,
but she has re-emerged once again.
She is the patron saint of vengeance.
Her sister saints offer their followers
rewards of love and money.
But she provides her followers with vengeance.
They just have to pray and sacrifice to her.
She stands with her skeleton body,
her crown tilted on side of her skull,
with her tall stick at her side.
She wants to control Oasis.
But first she must rid the town of all
other evil beings.
THE DEAD GAME
http://www.amazon.com/author/susanneleist
http://www.outskirtspress.com/thedeadgame

YOUR IMAGINATION

A RIDE INTO YOUR IMAGINATION

rocknroll-hippie:
Take a ride into your imagination.
Explore the deep recesses
of your mind and your fears.
Explore the unknown.
THE DEAD GAME by Susanne Leist
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-dead-game-susanne-leist/1116825442?ean=2940148410881

• 

pixography:

Yo Coquelin

In the basement of End House,
you are faced with three closed doors.
What lies behind them?
When you open a door,
will you be entering an actual room
or one from created from your darkest fears?
Does one hold a tunnel leading to more darkness?
Pick one and find out.
You are only limited by your own imagination.
THE DEAD GAME by Susanne Leist
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-dead-game-susanne-leist/1116825442?ean=2940148410881

MY INTERVIEW WITH TERRI KLAES HARPER

Today I’m interviewing Terri Klaes Harper, a terrific new author. Her books are Memoirs of an Ordinary Girl: The Middle-ish Ages and Memoirs of an Ordinary Girl: Fresh-meat Year.  They are part of an interesting series: beginning at middle-grade for the first book and continuing for young adults in the second book.

 

1.   Tell me a little about yourself.

But there’s so much to tell.  My life has been split into fairly equal parts in three states: California, Virginia, and now Florida.  My husband and I just celebrated our fourteenth anniversary and have now lived in our small town, close to the ocean, Florida home for ten years, but I’m always willing to uproot if the right opportunity comes along… and I love to travel. I’ve been in or traveled through almost forty states, I think, spent a lovely vacation in Italy, and have now been on almost three mission trips, one in Costa Rica, and one in Guatemala, where I will return this summer. Four years ago, for the first time in my life, I started running, not because I thought it would be fun, but to help raise money and awareness to fight human trafficking.

I have worked my share of retail, especially while going to school, been a pre-school teacher, and a high school English teacher. I like teenagers better.  They make such interesting subjects to study. I guess I’m still trying to figure out what I want to be when I grow up, since apparently I am supposed to do that at some point.

I’m a confusing mix of laid back and OCD.  I can spend hours reading a book in my hammock, but only once I know all my responsibilities are done.  Sadly, I haven’t been in that hammock much lately. Oh, and I’m a highly functional introvert.

2.        What books have you written? What genre are they in?

I have written two books so far and I guess I can now call it a series. Memoirs of an Ordinary Girl: The Middle-ish Ages and Memoirs of an Ordinary Girl: Fresh-meat Year.  They are humorous, fictional memoirs set in the late ‘80s to early ‘90s, the first a middle-grade read, and the second a young adult read.

3.    Why did you become an author? What led you down this career path?

I’ve always loved writing. There aren’t many unique stories to tell anymore, but unique ways to tell them.  I don’t think anything except my finally deciding I needed to write actually led me to it. Robert Frost’s “The Road Less Traveled” comes to mind.  It’s not a “safe” path, but it’s what I am compelled to do.

4.    Was it difficult to write your first book? Or did it come naturally to you?

Writing was natural, and I think I did a great job writing naturally, but writing something with the length beyond a short story was not so natural.  As a teacher, I always taught my students the writing process, but it’s different for creative writing.  Short stories usually flew out of my brain without much thinking.  I’d just let myself be led through the story I was telling.  But this required planning and note-taking, keeping up with details so as not to accidently change things midway.  More work.  Definitely more work.

5.    What are some of your dreams and goals?

As an author, my dreams and goals are to be able to make a living as a writer alone, to finish my current series, and to possibly branch out into different genres.  On a more personal level, I want to do more and be more active in creating awareness of and combatting human trafficking.  As a writer/blogger, I am able to do this on a small scale, but I want to find a way to use my talent to do more. 

6.    What do you enjoy to do in your free time?

Writers need to read, so that’s a big hobby of mine.  I also run, something I began only four years ago and with which I have a love/hate relationship.  My husband and I are geeks, I confess, and we love movies and TV shows of quality (of course, I realize that’s subjective). Spending time with my two Australian shepherds isn’t as much something I do in my free time, but something I am blessed to be able to do throughout my days.  Even if I tried to escape them, I find myself wearing them anyway.

7.    Who inspired you to become a writer?

As I mentioned earlier, I’ve always loved writing, but my ninth grade English teacher, Mr. Kenny Boyers, is the one who discovered I had a talent and encouraged me.

8.   Who are some of your favorite authors?

As a literature major, I’m a bit of a classic book nerd, and I really do enjoy Charles Dickens and William Shakespeare, but my two absolute favorite books are To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee and The Book Thief by Markus Zusak, a book with the most creative and beautiful imagery I’ve ever read.

9.    What is store for your readers next?

I plan to complete the Memoirs of an Ordinary Girl series in three more books, one for each remaining year of high school for Drew, and I hope to release one a year, right around this time. I’m also toying with the idea of putting together a book of my old poetry.  After that, I’ll just see where life and inspiration take me.

Amazon http://bit.ly/tlklaes

Author website http://terriklaesharper.wix.com/author

Blog http://cavernsofmymind.com/

FB Author page https://www.facebook.com/TerriKlaesHarperauthor

Dreams, Fantasies, Nightmares, & Visions

Oasis, Florida appears beautiful and peaceful with its white-sanded beaches and blue water. Tourists vacation at The Oasis Hotel and shop at the quaint stores in town. Little do they know, but evil is hiding behind the town's friendly faces. Why do the older residents hide in their homes during the day and only come out at night? Are they attending the secret meetings on the hill?
For other examples of paradise gone bad, visit our Facebook Event. Authors will present their books, play games, and give away prizes. You will visit  lands of dreams, fantasies, nightmares, and visions.

WATCH OUT!

awwww-cute:

If you don’t read THE DEAD GAME,
I’m coming to get you!
http://www.amazon.com/author/susanneleist

THE CREATURES FROM HELL

THE CREATURES FROM HELL

We must take cover in the church.
Evil is following us.
The skies have opened up and
have let out the creatures from hell.
The most demented creatures with
bat bodies and human faces.
The windows are shattering!
They’re entering the church!
Where’s the priest and his
famous spells?
No one is safe from The Dead
and their minions.

THE DEAD GAME by Susanne Leist
http://www.amazon.com/author/susanneleist

THE DEAD are coming!
The birds and animals can
sense their evil presence.
Time to flee.
Take cover wherever you can.
THE DEAD take no prisoners.

THE DEAD GAME by Susanne Leist
http://www.amazon.com/author/susanneleist

WELCOME TO END HOUSE

WELCOME TO END HOUSE

Welcome to End House
Come on in.
We are waiting for you.
The party is about to begin.
Let me show you the way.
The party is for you.
Where is everyone you ask?
They’re around—around everywhere.
THE DEAD GAME by Susanne Leist

http://www.amazon.com/author/susanneleist
http://barnesandnoble.com/w/the-dead-game-susanne-leist/1116825442?ean=2940148410881 

The candles will light your way.
Follow their flickering path.
No harm will come to you.
I promise.
Who can your trust in Oasis?
THE DEAD GAME by Susanne Leist

http://www.amazon.com/author/susanneleist