Saturday, November 26, 2011

Just Who Is Oana, Anyway?

The "Just Who" Tour Continues. In Oana's own words:

Healing through laughter is not a dream, but a recipe for survival
If you were to read a book about Oana's life, you might easily decide it was a work of fiction. 
Born in Bucharest, Romania, Oana lived twenty years under the grotesque dictatorial regime of Ceausescu. After the fall of communism in 1989 she studied languages at the University in Bucharest, then received her Master’s degree at the Jagiellonian University in Krakow, Poland. English is her third language. 

She has worn many hats, working as a translator, as a teacher, and eventually caring for animals both domestic and wild.
Volunteering in both the U.S. and Canada, she worked for wildlife rescue and rehabilitation centers.

Currently residing in Arizona, Oana continues to dedicate most of her time to her animals and to writing.  
Her first book, The Healings, debuted in November 2010. It is a hard-to-put-down, laugh-out-loud series of adventures of an eccentric duo: a man and his feline partner walking from ‘healer’ to ‘healer’ and hoping to achieve awareness.
Oana’s take on depression is simple and effective: witticism and laughter coupled with the understanding of the frailty of human nature help us heal. An animal companion, real or imaginary, can be very therapeutic as well.
Many a reader – depressed or not -- will recognize the insanity of most of our daily routines and the elusiveness of Truth.
Oana’s current projects include a memoir titled, Romanian Rhapsody, a children’s book, Dr.Schnauzer and Nurse Lhassa, as well as other stories, all written in the same witty humorous style.      
She is also an active member of Central Phoenix Writing Workshop http://www.paloverdepages.com/
 and a co-host of Two Unsychronized Souls Radio Show  http://www.blogtalkradio.com/monicabrinkmanandoana 
To learn more about Oana, visit her author’s website www.thehealings.net  
To read excerpts from The Healings go to http://www.thehealings.net/excerpts-from-the-healings.html

Sunday, November 20, 2011

Bear Poetics

Tonight I have the great honor of interviewing J. P. Dancing Bear, a larger than life force on the contemporary poetry scene. Bear is the author of three full length collections of poetry, as well as several chapbooks. His fourth collection, Family of Marsupial Centaurs, is due out later this year. He is the editor of American Poetry Journal, owner of Dream Horse Press, and publisher of the Orphic Prize, the APJ Book Prize Series, and the first animal rights poetry anthology, And We the Creatures.  He is also the host of Out of Our Minds, a weekly poetry radio show for public radio station KKUP.

The interview will take place at Tiferet Talk at 7 pm EST.

Natasha Sajé says of Bear, "Using myth, politics, nature, and art, J. P. Dancing Bear asks questions that can only be answered through poetry. These accomplished and various poems feature sure-handed lines and vivid images. J. P Dancing Bear has an ear for 'aspens turing into an imitation of fire' and 'bullfrog stars hunger[ing] for crickets.'
Please follow links below to read Bear's beautiful poetry:

For more information about J. P Dancing Bear, please visit: http://home.comcast.net/~jpdancingbear/.

Friday, November 18, 2011

Six Weeks to Yehidah Named 1st Place Winner in Forward National Literature Awards


As I announced on Facebook earlier today,  I'll be running through the streets naked and tossing leaves and flower petals into the air (metaphorically). Six Weeks to Yehidah won the first place Forward National Literature Award for Middle Grade Chapter Books and will soon have a groovy seal! The News Release with the other winners is listed below. Now, that's what I call a great start to the weekend!

Nicole Akkerman
NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Nicole Akkerman, Forward National Literature
Email: info@forwardliteratureaward.com

... OUTSTANDING BOOKS AWARDED
FORWARD NATIONAL LITERATURE AWARDS IN FIRST ANNUAL CONTEST
Nov 15, 2011
In conclusion of its first annual writing contest, Forward National Literature is now pleased to announce the inaugural winners of the 2011 Forward National Literature Award. A jury of experts from the publishing industry selected a combination of previously undiscovered and well-known authors based on the content, uniqueness, and readability in eleven distinct subject categories. The goal of this award is to provide published authors, both up-and-coming and previously accomplished writers, with recognition and to highlight writing of excellence.

First Place Winners
General Fiction     Author: Patricia K. Lichen
    Title: Kidnapping The Lorax
Picture/Children’s Books    Author: Lee Wardlaw
    Title: Won Ton
Middle Grade/Chapter Books    Author: Melissa Studdard
    Title: Six Weeks To Yehidah
Teen/Young Adult    Author: Nicole Izmaylov
    Title: The Dracian Dance
Fantasy    Author: A. C. Crispin
    Title: The Price Of Freedom
Mystery    Author: Joshua Graham
    Title: Darkroom
Romance    Author: Carole Matthews
    Title: The Chocolate Lovers' Club
Historical Fiction    Author: Talia Carner
    Title: Jerusalem Maiden
Humor    Author: Bill Kirton
    Title: The Sparrow Conundrum
Drama    Author: Susan Wingate
    Title: Drowning
Short Story Collections
    Authors: M. Izmaylov, A. Fuller, K. Morgan, et al.
    Title: The Emory Pulse

Second Place Winners

General Fiction    Author: Michelle Izmaylov
    Title: The Galacteran Legacy
Picture/Children’s Books    Author: Giles Paley-Phillips
    Title: The Fearsome Beastie
Middle Grade/Chapter Books    Author: John Booth
    Title: Wizards
Teen/Young Adult    Author: Ian Alexander
    Title: Once We Were Kings
Fantasy    Author: Scarlet Black
    Title: Salem Moon
Mystery    Author: Bill Kirton
    Title: The Darkness
Romance    Author: Reid Lance Rosenthal
    Title: Threads West
Historical Fiction    Author: Gerald Blumenthal
    Title: The Brass Compass
Humor    Author: Mark Everett Stone
    Title: Things To Do In Denver When You're Un-Dead
Drama    Author: Kimberly Kinrade
    Title: Forbidden Mind
Short Story Collections    Author: Alan Davis
    Title: So Bravely Vegetative

We would like to thank the 2011 judges, including:

Diane Nelson
Fran Lewis
Max Leonard
Risha Patel
Dellani Oakes
Cynthia Brian

Monday, November 7, 2011

Just Who Is Monica Brinkman?

In her own words:
A supporter of the EBMRF Foundation, you will find Ms. Brinkman has written many articles that focus on opening people’s eyes and hearts to the E.B. Children.
In fact, Monica M. Brinkman’s first authored stage play, How Lucky Can You Get, performed in San Jose, CA some twenty-five years ago, donated all proceeds to the Muscular Dystrophy Foundation.  With a background in the theatre, Monica portrayed Lucy (You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown), Dorothy (The Wizard of Oz) and numerous other characters prior to dedicating herself to full-time writing.
Her great love of animals shows as the "mom" of five cats and two dogs, all her babies. She now lives in Missouri with her husband of 28 years, Richard.
Monica’s novel, The Turn of the Karmic Wheel, has pleasantly surprised many a reviewer with its twists and turns of horror, the paranormal, spirituality, and suspense. Indeed, it is not quite the story they anticipated. It is a story that she confesses just had to be written to give people hope, purpose, and accountability for their actions in life. Ah yes, the magic of karma.
You’ll find Monica and co-host Oana interviewing guests who bring knowledge, enjoyment, controversy and excitement to the listeners every Thursday at 8PM EST on their Two Unsynchronized Souls blogtalk radio show.
Websites:
Radio Show: