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Turquoise Mountain Pre-Order Blitz & $25 Amazon Gift Card Giveaway!

You can pre-order TURQUOISE MOUNTAIN right now!

TURQUOISE MOUNTAIN by USA Today Bestselling Author Diane J. Reed isn't officially released until January 30 but you can order your copy now to make sure you're one of the first to get your copy! Oh wait - while you're looking over her book info below, be sure to sign up to win a $25 Amazon Gift Card! Good luck!

Title: TURQUOISE MOUNTAIN
Author: Diane J. Reed
Publisher: Bandits Ranch Books
Pages: 270
Genre: Contemporary Western Romance

He's a fierce protector of his land and sacred heritage--and only a strong woman can capture his wild heart.

Dillon Iron Feather is dangerous and he knows it. Hardened by his championship fighting career, he returns to his remote Colorado ranch to heal, only to discover that city girl Tessa Grove is determined to stake her claim to the old mine she inherited on a corner of his land. Stubborn to the bone, Tessa soon digs up precious gems from deep within the earth to use in her custom-made jewelry business. But those stones turn out to be sacred, and sparks fly as they begin to guide her to the secret chambers of Dillon's heart.

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The first meeting between Dillon and Tessa in Turquoise Mountain

(Tessa has traveled all the way from New York to Colorado

to find her mine, which happens to be on Dillon’s property)

“I’m Tessa Grove, and when my grandfather passed away, he left his mining claim to me. It doesn’t expire for another six months, which means I have legal title to that mine.”

“You only have mineral rights to a hole in the ground.” Dillon Iron Feather nodded in the direction of the mine. “Which means you can’t set foot on my property.”

“What?” Tessa crossed her arms.

“You heard me. This piece of paper entitles you to dig behind that old wooden door. That’s all. And my land surrounds every inch of it. Which means you’re breaking the law by getting anywhere near that mine. So get lost.”

“Wait, you can’t deny access to what’s legally mine!”

“Can’t I?” Dillon’s face broke into a wry smile. For a moment, his eyes sparkled at the prospect of challenge, lighting them up to a warm, charming brown.

Damn! Tessa cursed to herself. That’s all I need right now is a guy who gets more good looking when he taunts me—

Fuming, she boldly yanked the mining claim and map from his hand to scrutinize them. According to her documents, it looked like her ancestor was the one who originally built Grove Road that led to this mining parcel, which sat right smack dab on the stranger’s property. Okay, so he was right—her quarter acre didn’t include any of his buildings, but it connected to the road. And nowhere did it specify that she was required to get permission from any stranger to use that dirt lane. But how could she convince him of that?

“Listen,” Tessa sighed, “I know it might seem out of the blue that I’m here. But my grandfather meant a lot to me. And this place—this gold mine—it’s…it’s kind of sacred. What I mean is, my great-great-grandfather found it only because a Native American outlaw gave him some powerful medicine. That might sound crazy to you, but it’s true. His name was Iron Feather—”

“Your great-great grandfather knew Iron Feather?”

Tessa nodded. “He was Benjamin Grove the First, and he helped Iron Feather and the Bandits Hollow Gang hide from a posse.” She dug into her purse and held up the sacred owl feather. “All Iron Feather had to give him in return was this, but it was rumored to have, you know—”

“Special powers.”

To Tessa’s amazement, Dillon’s face darkened in thought. He studied the feather for a long time as though it were a precious artifact. Then he looked out over the mountain tops at the threads of garnet in the sky that had begun to spread from the dipping sun. His eyes seemed very far away.

It’s the feather, Tessa realized. He knows something about that feather…

Dillon returned his gaze to Tessa. Yet when he reached for the feather, she seized her moment and surprised him by lunging for his shotgun. She managed to grab it and run several strides, when she whipped around.

“Back off!” She aimed the shotgun straight at him and pumped it awkwardly, barely remembering how from when her grandfather taught her fifteen years ago. “I want to see that mine,” she demanded, her body visibly trembling. “And I’m not leaving till I do.”

Dillon smirked, his gaze tracing her wild blonde hair that had fallen across her face, her blue-green eyes spitting fury. What Tessa hadn’t noticed in her panic, of course, was that her purse had fallen from her shoulder and spilled onto the ground. He crouched carefully to the grass, keeping his eye firmly on the gun barrel, and picked up some of the contents before standing to his feet.

“Where do you expect to go after this if I’ve got your ID and credit cards, city girl?” Dillon smiled, noticing the blush that suffused her cheeks. Her eyes darted to the drivers license and MasterCard he held in his hand, and that was all the opening he needed. With an expertly aimed kick, he knocked the shotgun from her grip and sent it twirling in air, then caught it. He set the butt down on the ground.

“You should know your opponent a whole lot better before you start a fight,” he scolded. “Now you don’t have your purse or a weapon. Fortunately, you’re far too pretty for shooting practice today. But don’t press your luck.”

Another blush warmed Tessa’s cheeks, and she cradled her arms tight to try and stop the tremors. To her astonishment, Dillon threw down his gun and caught up to her within a couple of strides. Before she knew it, she was born aloft by his strong arms, her body next to his warm, hard chest. Despite her kicks and screams, he set her gently on the grass and pulled a long piece of baling twine from his pocket, then proceeded to tie up her hands and feet.

“What the hell are you doing!” Tessa screamed, wriggling on the grass like an angry caterpillar. “First you threatened me with a gun, and now kidnapping? You’re going to face the law for this!”

“For your information, lady, I deliberately shot out the truck mirror and fired the second shot in the air to scare you off. I have no intention of killing anybody today. But I will make sure you have a soft bed and a good meal in your belly, since you appear to be stranded, no matter how hot headed you are.”

With that, he pulled a bandana from his pocket and stuffed it in Tessa’s mouth. She kept thrashing violently while he picked up the scattered items on the meadow and returned them along with her ID and credit card to her purse.

But he slipped the owl feather into his pocket.

Just then, Tessa saw vivid red and blue lights trace over the cabin and barn as the shrill sound of a siren echoed off the hillsides. A police cruiser appeared at the front gate, and an officer stepped out.

“Dammit, Dillon!” The officer called out. “What have you done to this poor woman? For crying out loud, are you that desperate for female company?” He walked boldly toward them. “Good thing Dusty went to town and called 911 after you shot out the mirror on his truck.”

Dillon laughed. “As a matter of fact, Barrett,” he replied, picking up Tessa’s squirming body and heading toward the cruiser, “I was about to bring her to you anyway. She’s lost, and if she hadn’t been so pig-headed about refusing to leave, I would have driven her to town and put her up in a hotel myself without hog-tying her. Watch out—she’s a feisty one.”

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USA TODAY bestselling author Diane J. Reed writes happily ever afters with a touch of magic that make you believe in the power of love. Her stories feed the soul with outlaws, mavericks, and dreamers who have big hearts under big skies and dare to risk all for those they cherish. Because love is more than a feeling—it’s the magic that changes everything.

Her latest book is Turquoise Mountain.

WEBSITE & SOCIAL LINKS:

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GIVEAWAY DETAILS

Diane J. Reed is giving away a $25 Amazon Gift Card!

Terms & Conditions:

By entering the giveaway, you are confirming you are at least 18 years old
One winner will be chosen via Rafflecopter
This giveaway ends midnight January 31
Winner will be contacted via email on February 1
Winner has 48 hours to reply

Good luck everyone!

ENTER TO WIN!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

About the Author

Her latest book is Turquoise Mountain.

WEBSITE & SOCIAL LINKS:

WEBSITE | TWITTER | FACEBOOK

GIVEAWAY DETAILS

Diane J. Reed is giving away a $25 Amazon Gift Card!

Terms & Conditions:

By entering the giveaway, you are confirming you are at least 18 years old
One winner will be chosen via Rafflecopter
This giveaway ends midnight January 31
Winner will be contacted via email on February 1
Winner has 48 hours to reply

Good luck everyone!

ENTER TO WIN!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

A Bookish Conversation with Mystery Author Abby Bardi

Abby Bardi is the author of three novels: Double Take, The Secret Letters, and The Book of Fred. Her short fiction has appeared in anthologies and journals, and she has written academic articles on Roma (Gypsies). She grew up on the South Side of Chicago and now lives in Ellicott City, MD, the oldest railroad town in America.

WEBSITE & SOCIAL LINKS:

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What’s inside the mind of an author?

I think most writers are always thinking about stories. I had lunch with a friend the other day and she was telling me about something her grandchildren did that hurt her feelings and by the time we’d finished eating, we had shaped the whole traumatic event into a short story (she’s a writer, too).

What is so great about being an author?

Writing novels is a lot like time travel (I’m working on a time-travel novel right now) where you move into alternate realities. You get to shed your own identity and poke your nose into other people’s business, read their mail, eavesdrop on their personal lives. The world of a novel has no boundaries.

When do you hate it?

I don’t enjoy the fact that writing is a business with a bottom line. I’m no longer naïve about this, but I still find it confusing sometimes.

What is a regular writing day like for you?

I write every morning for a few hours. It’s my treat before the work day.

What is the usual response when you tell a new acquaintance that you’re an author?

I don’t actually tell people that. I was at a party last night and just as I was leaving, a guy I know mentioned how much he had liked my first novel, The Book of Fred. I had no idea that he even knew I was a writer, let alone that he had read it! But I appreciated it.

What do you do on those days you don’t feel like writing? Do you force it or take a break?

I take a break at certain times of the year, like when I have a lot of work (I teach English, so I do a lot of grading).

Any writing quirks?

I tend to work on multiple books at once, which is a little weird, I guess. I rotate them to let them cool off so I can see what needs fixing.

What would you do if people around you didn’t take your writing seriously or see it as a hobby?

Well, I don’t think people around me take my writing very seriously. They just want me to cook them dinner. That’s okay with me.

Some authors seem to have a love-hate relationship to writing. Can you relate?

Yes, definitely. I get mad at writing every few years and walk out on it, but then I always come crawling back.

Do you think success as an author must be linked to money?

Definitely not. Many great writers didn’t make any money, and many bad ones did. I don’t see money as validating. On the other hand, it can be hard to finance a writing addiction, so money is helpful.

What has writing taught you?

Writing has taught me humility. I can write something I think is amazing and then when I read it again, I see that it’s actually horrible. Writing is never finished, so it has taught me to be very disciplined and industrious, qualities that were not in my nature.

Leave us with some words of wisdom.

Books are important! Buy them!

About the Book:

Title: Double Take
Author: Abby Bardi
Publisher: Harper Collins Impulse
Pages: 186
Genre: Mystery

Set in Chicago, 1975, Double Take is the story of artsy Rachel Cochrane, who returns from college with no job and confronts the recent death of Bando, one of her best friends. When she runs into Joey, a mutual friend, their conversations take them back into their shared past and to the revelation that Bando may have been murdered. To find out who murdered him, Rachel is forced to revisit her stormy 1960s adolescence, a journey that brings her into contact with her old friends, her old self, and danger.

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A Bookish Conversation with Marissa Thomas

Marissa Thomas left her home in Minneapolis, Minnesota, to pursue her dream of acting in Hollywood. Without industry contacts, she had to educate herself about the business. In How Not to Succeed in Hollywood, Marissa shares her experiences, both good and bad.

In addition to writing, Marissa is a licensed hair stylist. She also enjoys painting and produced the artwork for the cover of How Not to Succeed in Hollywood.

WEBSITE & SOCIAL LINKS:

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What’s inside the mind of a comedic author?

I know that I’m always trying to find the humor in almost every situation. Sometimes it’s easy, and sometimes one has to turn to sarcasm.

What is so great about being an author?

While writing about my own experiences, I was able to better understand them, and even see them

from different perspectives.

When do you hate it?

When I’m at a salon meeting and I’m supposed to be learning about new product or services, and my mind is racing with different ideas about topics to write about or include in my next project. Inspiration is great, but it can be frustrating when you can’t take the time to make notes of everything.

What is a regular writing day like for you?

I just take out my laptop, and see what happens.

How do you handle negative reviews?

I’m still new here, and I haven’t had any. But, I think that as long as my name is spelled right, I see a negative review as a method of feedback to improve my craft.

How do you handle positive reviews?

Positive reviews have been very encouraging. Especially when the reviewer seems to have summarized my story perfectly.

What is the usual response when you tell a new acquaintance that you’re an author?

They look at me like I’m crazy, or ask if I’ve been drinking. Especially those who are closest to me. I didn’t announce my plan to write a book to anyone, but instead showed them the product when I was finished. Friends and clients wonder how a hairstylist can write a book about pursuing an acting career in Los Angeles. It keeps people on their toes and proves that you can’t judge a book by its cover.

What do you do on those days you don’t feel like writing? Do you force it or take a break?

On days I don’t feel like writing, I sit back and relax and enjoy my down time.

Any writing quirks?

I just turn on my laptop.

What would you do if people around you didn’t take your writing seriously or see it as a hobby?

Most people around me assume it’s just a hobby. When I told my family that I had finished writing a book, they simply smiled at me like I was an eight-year-old picking out a name for the new pony I was asking Santa for. It doesn’t bother me. I love to shock people. I keep a physical copy on hand to prove its real, and simply let them know where they can get one, too.

Some authors seem to have a love-hate relationship to writing. Can you relate?

Yes. I always seem to get new ideas when I don’t have time to write them down.

Do you think success as an author must be linked to money?

Money is great. But, I’ve said since day one, I never planned to be an author. I’d just like to share my story. If there’s one thing hairstylists and actresses have in common, we like to share the dirt.

What has writing taught you? Leave us with some words of wisdom.

I haven’t given up on my goals. I’m not afraid of failure. I’m afraid of never trying.

A Bookish Conversation with Erotic Romance Author P Nelson

P Nelson has just started her journey in Erotic Romance this year with her debut novel Take My hand. The Rehabilitation of Master Dillon is a prequel novel to Take My Hand focusing on the character of Master Dillon. Nelson calls Vancouver her hometown and is married with one young daughter. At 6.00pm most days she can be found with a G&T in one hand and either her daughter or a good book in the other.

WEBSITE & SOCIAL LINKS:

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About the Book:

Eric Danvers thought he had found the perfect submissive before she was swept right out of his arms.

Now pining after the one woman he can’t have, Master Eric finds himself stuck in a gruelling cycle of emotional torture that has nothing to do with his BDSM lifestyle. Just as he was about to take a

hiatus from The Cage and the lifestyle altogether, Master Eric is asked to take on the role of training Dom for one of the new subs. Rather than agreeing, he’s coerced into the role and finds there’s more to his new training sub than meets the eye.

Elizabeth Williams is a sub on a mission.

Elizabeth Williams has read every single book on BDSM she can get her hands on, and she feels as if this is the lifestyle for her. After saving up for an entire year and working an extra job, she finally had enough money to enter the couples training program at the most exclusive BDSM club in Vancouver. Unfortunately, as soon as Elizabeth and her boyfriend are accepted, he decides that he wants a different sub. Elizabeth decides not to let go of her dream and enters the submissive training program.

Master Eric soon finds that Elizabeth Williams may be more sub than he can handle. He loves her brattiness, but he knows it hides a pool of inner hurt that cried out to his Dom instincts to heal. Elizabeth falls for Mater Eric as soon as she meets him and really believes she cannot help her brattiness. She wants to give him her true submission, but she might not be able to set aside her past hurts to move on. Read the story of Master Eric and Elizabeth in The Heart of the Matter.

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What’s inside the mind of an erotic romance author?

-Mostly lists of things I’ve forgotten to do for the day jumbled together with potential plot ideas and how my characters will respond.

What is so great about being an author?

-Living other people’s lives. Being able to step into character’s fictional stories then out again offers a sense of freedom, excitement while still in control.

When do you hate it?

When I’m hung over. Or when my daughter needs my attention. Basically any time I’m too distracted to get through my word count, but I have a deadline.

What is a regular writing day like for you?

-Wake up. Coffee. Write. More coffee. Wander around my house. Look out the window. More coffee.

How do you handle negative reviews?

-Ignore them mostly. Life is really short. You cant please everyone and some people seem perpetually negative.

How do you handle positive reviews?

-Love them, I even re-read them when I need a bit of a remainder I actually can write.

What is the usual response when you tell a new acquaintance that you’re an author?

-They want to know what genre I write and how many books I sell. Which is actually really interesting if you think about it because you would never ask someone what they did for a living followed by their salary.

What do you do on those days you don’t feel like writing? Do you force it or take a break?

-Depends. I always take a break and come back to the computer. If I’m seriously uninspired then I leave the writing for the day. Unfortunately, I’m really good at arguing all the reasons why I shouldn’t do something.

Any writing quirks?

-I like to stand on my head for ten minutes before I begin. Just kidding. Nothing really comes to mind. I need routine. Minimal distractions. A relatively planned and structured day. I say relative as my little girl twirls about the house like a tornado.

What would you do if people around you didn’t take your writing seriously or see it as a hobby?

-I have no idea what people around me think of my writing. They may in fact not take me seriously or think I’m wasting my time, but that’s the good thing about writing being during my time. I can do what I like.

Some authors seem to have a love-hate relationship to writing. Can you relate?

-Sure. Everyone says do what you love, you can have too much of a good thing sometimes. Ice cream. I can definitely over eat ice cream to the point of hating it, but I always come back for more.

Do you think success as an author must be linked to money?

-I think it’s easier to equate success as a writer with money because it is something divisible that everyone understands. Only the author knows the satisfaction that comes from a five star review on a book that hasn’t made any money.

What has writing taught you?

-Be myself and if there is story you haven’t seen anywhere, but you want to read. It’s your obligation to the readers of the universe to write it.

A Bookish Conversation with 'Monsterland' Michael Okon

Michael Okon is an award-winning and best-selling author of multiple genres including paranormal, thriller, horror, action/adventure and self-help. He graduated from Long Island University with a degree in English, and then later received his MBA in business and finance. Coming from a family of writers, he has storytelling is his DNA. Michael has been writing from as far back as he can remember, his inspiration being his love for films and their impact on his life. From the time he saw The Goonies, he was hooked on the idea of entertaining people through unforgettable characters.

Michael is a lifelong movie buff, a music playlist aficionado, and a sucker for self-help books. He lives on the North Shore of Long Island with his wife and children.

His latest book is Monsterland.

WEBSITE & SOCIAL LINKS:

WEBSITE | TWITTER | FACEBOOK

What first inspired you to write or who inspired you?

The first time I watched The Goonies, I was hooked on writing. I loved the idea of telling compelling stories through unforgettable characters. I’ve began creative writing when I was 15 years old. I started screenplay writing when I was in my 20s. Then I started writing novels in my late 20s / early 30s.

Can you name three writing tips to pass on to aspiring authors?

1. Research and develop your story before you begin Chapter 1. Researching your subject ad nauseum is the only way you are going to get acquainted with the topic and become an expert. 2. You are building a universe. That’s a writer is. Someone who can take a compelling story and invite the reader into this universe they created. There are no limits so really let your subconscious do the talking. 3. Write every day. Even if it’s a sentence. It’s important not to procrastinate. You have a story to tell. It won’t tell itself if you’re too busy on social media or the internet.

What hours do you write best?

I research and develop my stories all day long. However, I’m an evening guy when it comes to actually writing a book or script. After my kids and wife are tucked in for the night, then it’s time for me to write. I do this every night until my eyes go.

Are you an avid reader?

Very much so. I devour books on subjects that I like to write about. Plus, I’m a sucker for self-help and law of attraction books. I have over 200 LOA books in my library.

What are you reading now?

Earthing. Jurassic Park. Ratatouille the screenplay. NOFX: The Hepatitis Bathtub and Other Stories. The Science of Getting Rich. Rounders the screenplay. Primus, Over the Electric Grapevine: Insight into Primus and the World of Les Claypool. Dream It! My Half-Century Creating Disney’s Magic Kingdom. The Strangest Secret.

What are you currently working on?

Monsterland 2 is in the books and will be coming out May 26, 2018. I’m knee deep in Monsterland 3, and currently beating out the storylines to Monsterland 4 and 5. Seems like I’m going to be writing about monsters for the foreseeable future, which I’m not entirely upset about.

A Bookish Conversation with Gaelle Lehrer Kennedy

Gaelle Lehrer Kennedy worked as an actress and writer in film and television in the United States and Israel. Night in Jerusalem is her debut novel, which she has adapted to film. She lives in Ojai California with her husband and daughter.

She writes, “I lived in Israel in the 1960s, a naive twenty-year-old, hoping to find myself and my place in the world. The possibility of war was remote to me. I imagined the tensions in the region would somehow be resolved peacefully. Then, the Six Day War erupted and I experienced it firsthand in Jerusalem.

I have drawn Night in Jerusalem from my experiences during that time. The historical events portrayed in the novel are accurate. The characters are based on people I knew in the city. Like me, they were struggling to make sense of their lives, responding to inherited challenges they could not escape that shaped their destiny in ways they and the entire Middle East could not have imagined.

I have always been intrigued by the miraculous. How and where the soul’s journey leads and how it reveals its destiny. How two people who are destined, even under the threat of war and extinction, can find one another.

Israel’s Six Day War is not a fiction; neither was the miracle of its victory. What better time to discover love through intrigue, passion, and the miraculous.

Writing this story was in part reliving my history in Israel, in part a mystical adventure. I am grateful that so many who have read Night In Jerusalem have experienced this as well.”

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Title: NIGHT IN JERUSALEM
Author: Gaelle Lehrer Kennedy
Publisher: PKZ Inc.
Pages: 246
Genre: Historical Romance

A bewitching love story that is also an extraordinary portrait of Jerusalem, its faith, spirituality, identity, and kaleidoscope of clashing beliefs, Night in Jerusalem is a novel of mystery, beauty, historical insight, and sexual passion.

David Bennett is invited to Jerusalem in 1967 by his cousin who, to the alarm of his aristocratic British family, has embraced Judaism. He introduces David to his mentor, Reb Eli, a revered sage in the orthodox community. Despite his resistance to religious teaching, David becomes enthralled by the rabbi’s wisdom and compassionate presence. When David discloses a sexual problem, Reb Eli unwittingly sets off a chain of events that transforms his life and the life of the mysterious prostitute, Tamar, who, in a reprise of an ancient biblical story, leads both men to an astonishing realization. As passions rise, the Six Day War erupts, reshaping the lives of everyone caught up in it.

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Can you tell us how you got started writing fiction?

I started writing at about 30, pretty much as soon as I got a sense of who I was. I had been working as an actress and knew the arts were for me. The thing that drew me to writing was that I could do it all myself without anyone telling me what my part was or where I had to fit in. I’ve always responded best to the beat of my own drum, which I can hear loud and clear most days! Night In Jerusalem is my first novel. Previously, I have written screenplays. They are, of course, visually-oriented and provide limited opportunity for the writer to describe the characters’ states of mind - everything has to be revealed on the screen. I was drawn to writing a novel because the canvas is so much larger –as big as you like - and the story does not have to fit a budget. However, the relationship with the reader is more intimate and complete, and there’s a challenge to meet there.

Can you tell us about your most recent release?

I have always been intrigued by the miraculous: how and where the soul’s journey leads and how it reveals its destiny; how two people who are destined, even under the threat of war and extinction, can find one another. Night In Jerusalem is a love story set during Israel’s Six Day War in which passion, mystical encounters and the miraculous come together to change the lives of everyone caught up in it.

How did you get the idea for the book?

The love story in Night In Jerusalem came to me on a movie set in Israel. We were filming on a blazingly hot day, dressed as lightly as possible while complying with the dress code of the location, which meant long sleeves, pants and skirts. One of the crew opened his shirt revealing his handsome, muscled chest. An orthodox woman in long black clothes and a wig kept coming out to look at us from her balcony. I sensed how strongly she yearned for contact. The gap between us could have been crossed in a few paces, yet we were centuries apart. I imagined what it was like to be her, what courage it would take for her to break free, how she might do it. Decades later I wrote the book. So far as setting the love story during the Six Day War, Winston Churchill wrote that there is nothing so exhilarating as when someone shoots at you and misses. When the Six Day War erupted. I experienced it firsthand. I spent days in shelters with other women, listening to Arab radio news reports proclaiming victory while we contemplated how we would end it for ourselves. It turned out, of course, that the war went the other way. We were to live! Jerusalem was re-unified. Now, that was exhilarating! At the same time, the search for peace, the endless arguments about what it should look like, and the courageous, impossible loves that thrived despite all odds - the themes of Night In Jerusalem – are questions that have remained with me vividly ever since.

Of all your characters, which one is your favorite? Why?

Reb Eli. He came from an orthodox family in Germany. While still a child, his father, a prominent rabbi, arranged for him to be evacuated to England just before the Nazis slammed the door shut. He was taken in by an aristocratic British family and lived with them until the end of the war. Learning that his own family had been lost in the holocaust, he started a new life in Israel. His intimacy with suffering was matched by the illumination of his spirit, revealing a wisdom untrammeled by orthodoxy, even though he became revered as a sage and spiritual leader of Jerusalem’s orthodox community. His kindness is what makes him my favorite.

What was the most challenging aspect of writing your book?

The sex scenes were the hardest to write. The book is an inspirational love story with a spiritual mystery at its core, but it is truly a love story!

What advice would you offer to new or aspiring fiction authors?

I studied creative writing at Columbia and appreciate the virtuosity of many writers, but I love novels that are told simply, where the writer is unobtrusive and the characters and plot say it all. I think it was Einstein who said it is easy to make things complicated, but it takes genius to make them simple. It is hard to write stories that are so clear and transparent you can see right into the souls of the characters. That’s what works for me, and it is what I strive for. I would say to aspiring fiction authors - get started! Let the characters show you the way, and don’t pay too much mind to anything else. If you get out of your own way and let the characters come alive, you’ll likely find yourself continuously and pleasantly surprised by where it leads you.

In the Spotlight: Depression in Later Life: An Essential Guide by Dr. Deborah Serani

Title: DEPRESSION IN LATER LIFE: AN ESSENTIAL GUIDE
Author: Dr. Deborah Serani
Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield
Pages: 286
Genre: Self-Help/Psychology

BOOK BLURB:

The geriatric population, defined as men and women 65 years and older, is the fastest growing population in the world. Little attention has been given to the mental health of the aging, and often treatable disorders are overlooked entirely. Depression is one of the leading mental disorders in any age group, but among the elderly, it is often viewed as a normal part of aging. But it’s not. Depression at any age requires attention and treatment.

Depression in Later Life is a go-to guide that introduces readers to depression among the aging and elderly. It looks at both sufferers who’ve been diagnosed in their younger years as well as those with a new diagnosis, and reviews the symptoms, the diagnostic process, treatment options including alternative and holistic approaches, and long-term care for those experiencing mild, moderate, or severe depression. With real stories throughout, the book illustrates the many forms depression can take, and Dr. Serani offers a compassionate voice alongside practical advice for sufferers, caregivers, and families.

BOOK IS AN AWARD WINNER: 2016 Gold Medal Winner, Psychology, Foreword Review https://www.forewordreviews.com/awards/books/depression-in-later-life/.

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Book Excerpt:

What is Late-Life Depression?

I know depression because I’ve endured it my entire life. I had it as a child and it worsened as I became a teenager. And it still lingers in the margins of my life at age 55. For me, depression was a chronic illness that left me in despair and frighteningly unaware of its grinding misery. I didn’t recognize the symptoms – and neither did any family or friends. In fact, as my depression worsened as a college student, I sank into a featureless existence, either awake in a fatigued haze or sleeping the entire day away. Gradually, the bitter brine of depression flooded my mind with hopelessness. I didn’t care about the future and I couldn’t find purpose in the present. It didn’t occur to me that anything was out-of-sorts, short-sighted or even peculiar as my thinking became more corrosive. When I attempted suicide at age 19 with a handgun, it felt right. It felt comforting.

Of course, looking back, I was in deep emotional and physical pain and believed I found a way to make it stop. But it wasn’t a healthy choice. I was making a decision from an incredibly distorted reality. Luckily my plan was interrupted and I immediately got help. I began intensive psychotherapy and discovered that I’d been living with dysthymic disorder and that it escalated into a major depressive episode. Having both these disorders was called a double depression, and I learned how to replace the quiet agony of my illness with tools to live a more meaningful life. The experience I had with talk therapy was so life-changing and life-saving that it inspired me to become a psychologist. I combined my personal experiences with depression with my training as a clinician and became an expert in mood disorders. I realized that my personal experiences with depression offered enormous insight to those who sought treatment with me because I know the talk and I walk the walk.

In the 45 years of personally living with depression and the 25 years of professionally treating it as a disorder, this is what I’ve learned:

Depression doesn’t care if you’re rich or famous, poor or homeless.

It doesn’t care if you’re young or old.

Or if you’re ordinary or superlatively gifted.

Depression cuts across social economic status, is found in every culture and in every country around the world.

Depression will drape its chokehold over men, women and children - and thinks nothing of how it decays your mind, siphons your soul and crushes the glimpse of possibility, hope and freedom at every turn.

Depression is not an experience that fades with the next sunrise or can be shaken off with a newfound attitude. It won’t be cured by tough-love. Or rectified by ignoring it. You can’t snap out of it or will it away either. And if you try to minimize its wrenching hold on your health, it’ll root itself even deeper. Depression can’t be ranked alongside adjectives like blue, sad, dejected, down, melancholy or unhappy. Those words just won’t do… because they don’t even come close to describing what depression feels like.

Depression demands you to see it for what it truly is – an illness. And while it’s a serious illness, it is treatable. The key to success in living with depression is early identification, consistent treatment and planning to manage your illness.

Defining Depression

Depression is a complex illness that significantly impacts the way you feel, think and behave. According to the World Health Organization, depression involves feelings of worthlessness, decreased energy, hopelessness, poor concentration, negative thinking and disrupted sleeping and eating patterns, just to name a few. The most predominant of these symptoms is a depressed mood, and because of this, depression is classified as a mood disorder. Sometimes called affective disorders, mood disorders are the most common mental illness, touching over a hundred million people worldwide. Mood disorders aren’t the result of a weakness of character, laziness or a person’s inability to buck up and be strong. Mood disorders are a real medical condition.

The Geriatric Population

It’s important to know that depression can occur at any age, but in this book, we’re looking at depression in later life. Specifically, the geriatric population - which are individuals 65 years of age and older. Sometimes referred to as seniors or the elderly, geriatric citizens are the fastest growing population in the world. In America, alone, the baby boomer generation now makes up over 50 million of the senior population. With people living longer, and the combination of medical advances and technology improving the state of healthcare, the senior population is expected to soar to 72 million by the year 2030. More specifically, The US Census Bureau reports that in the next 45 years, people over the age 65 will double, and people over the age 85 will triple. And now more than ever, centenarians, people 100 years of age and older, are not just reaching these amazing ages, but living richly textured lives.

While gerontology, the study of the aging process in human beings, has brought insights about the physical, emotional and social needs of this population, little has been done to train geriatric health professionals. In fact, 97% of medical school students have no training in geriatrics, and the rate of doctors graduating with a geriatrician degree are lower now than ten years ago.

Even geriatric psychology, or geropsychology, the specialty that focuses on the mental health of the elderly, isn’t gaining the kind of traction needed to help those living in their golden years.

This makes identifying and treating depression in later life difficult. But with the help you get in Depression in Later Life, you'll be equipped to see the early warning signs and know where to get help.

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About the Author

Dr. Deborah Serani is a psychologist in practice over 25 years, an associate adjunct professor at Adelphi University and a TEDx speaker on the subject of depression. She is also a go-to expert on psychological issues. Dr. Serani is the author of the award-winning books, Living with Depression, Depression and Your Child: A Guide for Parents and Caregivers and Depression in Later Life: An Essential Guide published by Rowman & Littlefield.