Introducing Debut Author, Carlynn!

Cindy: Welcome, Carlynn! I’d like to explore some of your biography information. You’ve been a dog trainer, humane investigator, racehorse rescuer and wildlife habitat creator. Obviously you love animals! Did you do all of these at the same time or just over time; can you fill my readers in on these interesting factors?

Carlynn: Cindy I’ve always had a passion for animals – and my parents let me indulge that as a kid. So these things I’ve done over my lifetime and as I was able. Right now I’m fostering a ‘famous’ pup who was hours from death – horribly abused – and now 3 months later looks like a different doggie! (Her story got picked up by stations all over the country, and we’re using her case to try and tighten animal cruelty laws here.) St. Francis – patron saint of animals – is definitely my favorite saint!

Cindy: You’re from South Carolina. Have you lived there all your life?

Carlynn: I’ve lived on my own since I was 14 – left home and went to Florida and worked as a hotel maid. Then I went to California – wanderlust – and had my daughter there. While I was married to a military man, we lived in Hawaii, DC, and Virginia too.

Cindy: You were on a radio show back in December! Impressive! What did you talk about and were you nervous?

Carlynn: Yes, I was blessed to be a guest on Talk LA Radio with Shirley Mitchell. I was a bit nervous, as they changed the questions on me at the last moment, but Shirley is so gracious she made it a fun interview – like this one!

Cindy: I’ve read your wonderful book and absolutely loved it. I laughed and I cried. It just really touched me. What motivated you to write this book?

Carlynn: I’d written short stories for a weekly paper in order to stay sane after my daughter’s murder. Most of those were light and humorous, but I needed to write about domestic violence and Carly’s murder – and the link between interpersonal violence and animal abuse (very high correlation) so I decided to delve deeper in my writing and put it all together in a book. Many of the stories in Angels in the Landfill were in print for the first time in the book.

Cindy: So sad about your daughter. I just can’t grasp the reality of what that must’ve been like for you. But you’re a survivor! How has your faith helped you endure such a tragedy?

Carlynn: Oh Cindy, I can’t imagine how people get through tragedies without their faith. But what I’ve learned is that life’s blessings and tragedies both, either bring us closer to, or farther from, God. But He loves us nonetheless, throughout them all.

Cindy: You’ve also had many other unique situations, more than any one person should ever have to experience. You were kidnapped and held hostage. What happened?

Carlynn: Yes, I was on a second date with a man in Florida (and I was young and naïve) and he knew I didn’t have family nearby. He held me, handcuffed, in a garage for a week. He fed and bathed me – and I won’t go into the unspeakable things he did to me. He took me driving one night after making me strip off my bathing suit. I saw a man in a field walking 2 dobermans and the man looked like an angel – the dogs his wings. 

Something (the voice of God, probably), told me to run to them, which I did - just jumped out of the car naked and ran. And the man in the field grabbed me as if he’d been waiting there just for me – while the dogs went after my abductor. My rescuer and his wife fed, clothed and nursed me back to health. When they finally talked me into reporting the abduction, we walked into the police station and guess who sat at the detective’s desk?? I left town after that.

Cindy: You’ve also been injured by being hit by a vehicle. What injuries did you suffer and were you able to overcome those?

Carlynn: A young man was late for work, speeding through the grocery store parking lot and ran me down in the crosswalk - with his 350 cc diesel work truck. I was in a half cast and physical therapy for quite a while and had endless epidurals, nerve injections, and other therapies. This was just a year and a half after Carly was murdered, and I kept asking God how much more He expected me to endure.  

The answer that kept coming to me was that life is indeed hard; He never promised that it wouldn’t be. But also that He was with me even when I was in hell. It was a real low point and I wanted to die. Now I feel blessed that I can still walk, that I wasn’t hurt worse, that the driver didn’t have to live with the fact of horribly injuring someone, for the rest of his young life. I had surgery early this month to have a spinal stimulator implanted.. It’s really cool, this remote control technology and it has helped a lot with the back pain. I’m still leery of pick up trucks though!

Cindy: Do you participate in any support groups?

Carlynn: I’m a member of a group I’d never wish on anyone: Parents of Murdered Children. We march to the statehouse every September and have small support groups. The stronger ones help those who are just beginning their journey of recovery from a terrible loss. 

I’m also a member of the Arbor Day Foundation and the Animal Adoption League.

Cindy: I know you are also at Shoutlife! How has that experience helped you?

Carlynn: Oh I love ShoutLife! I like that it’s G-rated – no flaming or swearing - kind of a Christian, child-friendly version of FB and other social networking sites. Whenever I need a spiritual lift I get on friends’ sites there and just soak up the love – and the grace of our amazing Abba.

Cindy: Are you working on any more books yet?

Carlynn: I’m focused on making life better for animals in SC right now. But I still write short stories and also encouraging articles for people who’ve lost a loved one. Recently I had one accepted for the Spring issue of Living with Loss magazine. And I write a lot about nature, and what we can learn from its lovely abundance, and how to be good stewards of what God gave us, while at the same time realizing that this earth was never meant to last forever.

Cindy: Will you be having any book signing events this year? Radio interviews? Or others?

Carlynn: I have a couple interviews lined up, but as for book-signings, I’m actually quite shy and private - and tend to steer away from those. Some bookstores require them and that’s okay, but I do get a bit anxious doing those! Then I think of Moses, repeatedly telling God: ‘I can’t’ and how God provided Aaron and Miriam for support. I try to remember that if I do what I can, God will do what I cannot.

Cindy: You’ve been published in a number magazines. What articles/stories did you write and how did you get them published?

Carlynn: I had always written stories – mostly about the irony and humor in life, or animal antics. Mark Twain once wrote that he’d wallpapered his office with rejection letters and that eased the sting of the many I got! And then one day I had articles accepted by two different national magazines; that was a day to remember!

Cindy: Thank you so much for this interview, Carlynn. I hope you sell millions of copies of your book, Angels in the Landfill. You have really given me a new perspective on life - to have read it and know you have survived everything with the grace of God.

About the author:

Carlynn lives a Walden-esque existence in South Carolina with her dog pack, Nadine, and Timothy Pavlov. Carlynn has been a mom, RN, dog trainer, humane investigator, racehorse rescuer, wildlife habitat creator, and a writer for fifteen years. She has been published in numerous magazines such as Horseplay, Skirt!, TheRunningHorse and The LowCountry Weekly. "Angels In The Landfill: Mixed Blessings and Saving Graces" is Carlynn's first book - a compilation of essays which are humorous, anecdotal and contemplative, addressing important issues such as parenting, learning from nature, and spiritual growth. She also ponders the difficult topics of domestic violence, poverty, theological dogmatism, and the tragedies and blessings of loving and losing.

About the book:

A compilation of essays sutured together with the gold and silver threads of hope and faith. These short stories are humorous, anecdotal, and contemplative. Carlynn addresses important issues such as parenting, learning from nature, and spiritual growth. She also ponders the difficult topics of domestic violence, poverty, theological dogmatism, and the tragedies and blessings of loving and losing, saving lives and saving graces. It’s a book for those walking dizzying circles around the eternal ‘why?'s of this world, as well as those already on the path to peace, grace and truth. The author’s life adventures motivated her to write for anyone who enjoys wildlife, dogs, horses, gardening, fishing, and environmental stewardship. The reader will find these true essays to be both amusing and sorrowful, yet profoundly hopeful. As you experience these stories you will find yourself joyfully basking in the love of an all-encompassing God who indeed catches every tear we cry, and cares for every sparrow that falls from the sky.

Cindy's Review:

Angels in the Landfill by Carlynn

ISBN #978-1-4401-2114-2

Though described as a collection of essays, I felt while reading this truly inspirational book that it is more along the lines of a memoir.

Through the well-written chapters, the reader is taken along for the journey the author has endured. It's a collection of memories and passions deeply felt by and/or experienced by the author.

Carlynn has been through so much in life already. Most of us will, in our lifetimes, experience only a small dose of what this author has and yet, each page, each story, reveals the uplifting soul of the heart behind the words.

Through sadness, joy, and a passion for the gifts the Lord has bestowed upon us, the author sheds light on the many areas of life we normally might walk by, unnoticed by the naked eye, and though not unscathed, she has miraculously risen above it all--triumphant with an even deeper faith.

I found this to be a truly inspirational and informative read, where not only are we shown the troubled life of the author, but a deeper, more passionate side of her insight into the wonders of the world, blessings given to us, and everything about the author which makes up her uniqueness.

I'd highly recommend this book, no matter the reader's preference, as it touches on so many areas of interest, tugging at our heartstrings, instilling a deeper faith, a broader vision and a defining realism and perspective.

reviewed by: Cindy Bauer - The Memory Box Trilogy 

(Chasing Memories, Shades of Blue and Crystal Clear)

Links

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Publisher

• Price: $15.95 - softcover
  

• Price: $6.00 - e-Book
  

• Price: $25.95 -hardcover w/dust jacket

“Very few of us have walked the tragic road that Carlynn has…perhaps even fewer have come through it with the confidence and grace that underwrites this little book and shines… hers is a testimony not only to the goodness of God but also to the quiet voice of God, who speaks in the most remarkable ways…for those who have ears.” —Tim Perry, Author of Blessed is She: Living Lent with Mary, Morehouse Press/Continuum

Introducing Lisa Lickel

Intro:

This month I’m interviewing ACFW author Lisa Lickel. If you don’t recognize the name now, you soon will :)

Cindy:

Welcome to Writer’s Block and I am so happy you are here this month. As you may or may not know, I try to research the person I’m interviewing first to make it as personal as I can. Hopefully, I ask questions never asked before. My main objective is to enlighten my numerous readers to all the wonderful books out on the market now, old and upcoming. I’m thrilled to be able to talk to so many authors as I, too, learn so much from them.

So, now that you know you’re my next “victim”, enlighten myself and my many readers on whom, exactly, Lisa Lickel is - not Lisa the author, but Lisa the “person”. ie: family, children, pets, goals, etc. We want to know who the author is when she’s not writing. We will cover the author part next :)

Lisa:

Thank you so much for hosting me, Cindy. I’m honored to be your victim of the month. I research my interviewees, too, but being on the other end is…um, a bit unnerving. I’m really kind of dull. Since I stopped working for other people (I used to be a church secretary and when the angels “sin” ned in the Christmas bulletin one year, I knew I needed some cushion between me and my typos) I haven’t been venturing out wreaking havoc at the PTA and town board quite as much, although some people still quiver when they see me coming.

I hail from a long line of farmers and teachers. I’m the daughter of History and English teachers, married a high school science teacher and birthed a high school English teacher. My husband and I live in a very old house, and have two sons, now grown and married. Andy is a campus staffer with Intervarsity Christian Fellowship and going to seminary and Kyle is working on it at the moment, having taught a year and worked at a church camp for a year.

I’m not a pet person, although I have a huge collection of dragons that fortunately don’t need to be fed or let out. I got a kick out of creating Carranza for the mystery series, but with allergies, that’s as close as I get. High-handed cat even got his own interview at petsandauthors.blogspot.com. My goal is to earn as much through writing as I did at my part time jobs. Ahem. Some day that might even happen. When I’m not writing, I live in the past with all kinds of historical societies, doing research or putting on programs. Right now—well, when the snow leaves—we’re working on restoring a township cemetery. I love it. Such stories.

Cindy:

You have two wonderful published books and one to release mid February! Congratulations! What is Meander Scar about, and I’d really like you to focus on your choice of titles as we cover your books.

Lisa:

Well, thank you. Meander Scar is one of those stories where a lot of thoughts came together. I chewed on the concept of why hardly anyone has an issue with older men and younger women in relationships, but not the other way around. So many cinema personalities have gotten away with it: Mary Tyler Moore, Susan Sarandon, rats—the woman who played Caroline Ingalls - oh, yeah, Michael Learned. I just wanted to test the waters with the concept. Um, didn’t go over too well with the CBA markets or either of the agents I had. To go on with the story idea, you hear how, every year, people vanish? What happens to them? How does the loss, the not knowing, affect their families.

So, Meander Scar is the story of Ann Ballard, whose husband went missing while on a business trip. Years later, a young man who once lived next door shows up and offers to help her put the whole matter to rest, since her mother-in-law fought to keep from having her son legally declared dead. Mark, who’s now a lawyer, is more than nice…he confesses to a life-long love. Now what? Can Ann possibly even consider a relationship with someone else after all this time? Especially one who’s quite a bit younger? And what will her son say? When she’s finally ready to move on, she learns the truth of her husband’s disappearance. Her life took a really big meander.

Cindy:

Your first book, the Gold Standard, what’s it about?

Lisa:

The Gold Standard is a contemporary cozy mystery, a light-hearted romantic story about a young orphaned school teacher whose closest living relative is found dead on her farm. Judy, certain her aunt was murdered, spends the summer on the farm trying to figure out who would have done it and why. And does the man who farms the property next door have anything to do with it? When Judy learns there is a lost treasure buried somewhere on the farm, she races to learn whether her aunt died to keep the secret before the killer gets to it first.

Cindy:

And Healing Grace?

Lisa:

Healing Grace is still a story of my heart. It was the second book I ever wrote while I was waiting for the contest results of the Christian Writer’s Guild’s Operation: First Novel. My brother called one evening to ask about some family history with illnesses, for he had come down with a troubling problem. Took a while for him to be diagnosed with an infection that affected his nervous system. I had been thinking about how people interpret the gifts of the Holy Spirit, and how they manifest themselves today. I know there are major controversies surrounding that issue, but I went ahead and built a community of people who practice the gifts, sort of like a throw-back group of people.

Grace has a gift, you can probably guess what it is from the title, and when her world caves in, she thinks God has abandoned her and she runs—right into the arms of someone who desperately needs her gift. Only she’s afraid to risk using it. Where does my brother come in? When I researched his symptoms, I also came across a great disease to give Ted, the male protagonist. I hope to continue telling more of Grace’s home community story someday. My brother and his family shared a lot of their life in Michigan with me, for that’s where Healing Grace takes place.

Cindy:

I’m always curious about how an author comes up with a story or title for a book. Which do you do first, story idea, or title around a possible story idea?

Lisa:

If you’ve been in this business much you know that the publisher has the final word—generally—on titles. Sometimes my stories and my titles go hand in hand when they hatch. I thought “meander scar” would make a great book title long before I wrote professionally. I learned the term in either high school or college geography. A meander is the bend a river or stream takes when it hits a hard place. The river turns in on itself and eventually meets the main course. The meander is then abandoned, first as a small lake, then a swampy area, then dried, but always visible as a scar. I love the idea of comparing relationships to natural phenomenon. I knew I wanted to write about unusual relationships when I finally started to write.

In Meander Scar, both Ann and Mark’s lives hit hard places. The line from the publisher: “Love can heal even the deepest scars” fits the idea well. I had a different title all ready to go, though, when publishers, agents and many readers weren’t sold with my original choice. Healing Grace has multiple levels of meaning, as well and it evolved naturally. For the mystery—I didn’t think my first choice, based on the supporting Bible verse, would make it, and they asked for a new one very shortly before publication. Not my best effort, although I was really tickled to have my daughter-in-law help pick it out. Authors should research how often and in what context their ideal title has been used already before settling on one.

Cindy:

Before obtaining a contract with a traditional publisher and joining the ACFW, did you have any other books previously submitted elsewhere and if so, what went wrong?

Lisa:

In high school I wrote a story about how bees help fertilize plants, pictures and all. I sent it to one of those companies that offers to tell you how good of a writer you are, and I was stunned they wanted to publish it. For a price. I was so naïve.

Cindy:

When you finish a book, what is your main goal in regards to the potential readers? ie: What do you hope they get from the story?

Lisa:

My tag line is Living Our Faith Out Loud. Fiction is generally meant to entertain, and that’s what I hope to do—make the reader not sorry he or she spent the time and money on my book. I hope to give them an honest-to-goodness thrill ride with the story, and make it one they’re not embarrassed to leave on the coffee table or have their teen-aged kids read. Hopefully, they’ll want to tell their friends about it. If the reader wants to delve a little deeper into the back story with me, I’m delighted to do that, too.

Cindy:

How did you first decide to start writing books? What or who, influenced that decision?

Lisa:

While I was working at that church and had a few dollars to spare, I bought a subscription to Today’s Christian Woman, now sadly out of print. That was the year Jerry Jenkins used his money from his Left Behind series to buy the Christian Writer’s Guild, and I saw an ad. I was drawn to enroll in the online course and started selling articles before I finished.

Cindy:

After the release this month, what’s next on your agenda for us?

Lisa:

I hope to convince publishers to buy more stories. I have a couple circulating, one about a woman who wants to control her own fate when her cancer returns, and one about a bachelor missionary and a young businesswoman who think they have their lives all planned out until God interferes. And several others in the hopper.

Cindy:

Does your family or church influence any of the ideas for a book or characters in a book you write?

Lisa:

The family, not so much. Honestly. My first unsold-and-in-need-of-an-edit book series, which I still have hopes for—it made the top ten in an Operation: First Novel contest—is a year in the life of a typical congregation, focusing on a few families at a time. It’s about how we all influence each other, and I people-watched and collected stories – still do, for a long time. So, while being in church settings has influenced the story, you won’t find the people of my church as specific characters.

Cindy:

How do you feel about this new trend towards self-publishing as opposed to vanity publishers, who charge to publish you, and traditional publishers, whom you submit your ideas to and hope they’ll want more and eventually, contract your idea?

Lisa:

There’s only so much shelf space. But electronic storage ups the offering, yes? Vanity presses have met their match and I think will fade. Why pay someone when you don’t have to? But self-publishers should still strive to put out the best product possible. I certainly don’t begrudge anyone who’s been trying to get a contract, then turns around and chooses the self-pub route.

I’ve seen it all—from the woman at my first writer’s convention who went around with a desperately vacant look (painful, truly), who just had to be published in Guideposts or else. The man who refused to change his story for a publisher and chose self-publishing when he could have had that contract. The people, myself included with Healing Grace, who choose independent (but traditional) publishers and get a less-than-perfect product. Plenty of famous authors go the self-pub route. Both Mark Twain and Charles Dickens started out that way. Yes, there’s snobbery involved—but we all need a champion, and only you know your audience. If you’re happy seeing your book in print and you sell it to your friends and family, that’s plenty good enough. I may end up self-publishing my children’s historical series. It has local appeal, and that’s where I’ll market it.

Cindy:

Where can readers learn more about you and the books you have available?

Lisa:

You can visit my website, http://lisalickel.com, or find me on Facebook where I have a fan page, Goodreads, Shoutlife or my blog, http://livingourfaithoutloud.blogspot.com. Everyone can read the first chapter of each of my books on my website. They are available on line at the usual retailers and publisher’s sites, and can be ordered in any local bookstore. Healing Grace and Meander Scar are also available in e-book format and Kindle.

Cindy:

Can readers contact you with questions or requests for signed copies of your books?

Lisa:

Absolutely. Send me a message anytime. My contact information and my schedule are on my website, or use lisalickel@netzero.net.

Cindy:

What has been the toughest hurdle to conquer in your quest for publication?

Lisa:

The same as anyone who isn’t an overnight sensation with some highly visible current issue and a hotline to a publisher’s ear: getting recognized and accepted. I’ve had a couple of agents that didn’t work out. I still have to query and research the markets and do publicity. It’s time consuming and frustrating, but also a kick when I meet fun new people and get to do interviews like this.

Cindy:

What’s in the works for us now to look forward to?

Lisa:

I’m currently recording a series of comedic radio soap operas I wrote, based on the producer’s idea, which appeal to my quirky side. They will be out on podcast this fall, we hope, at www.freequincyradio.podomatic.com. I also have a monthly, or so, column at Favorite PASTimes, http://favoritepastimes.blogspot.com. I just joined the Afictionado book reviewers team for the monthly ACFW on-line magazine, so I hope you’ll all tune in there.

Cindy:

Is there any other information you’d like to express to the readers that I may not have touched base upon during this interview?

Lisa:

You’ve been wonderfully gracious, Cindy. I have reader discussion guides for all of my books on my website and at Goodreads. There are also some recipes from The Gold Standard on my website. I’m delighted to meet, either in person or on conference call with any book clubs. I also am happy to meet with your writing group for writer’s workshops either in person or e-mail sessions.

Thank you so much for a lovely chat.

Cindy:

Lisa, I’ve so enjoyed this interview with you and I’m excited about your books. Thank you so much for this time to get to know you and your writing better.

Amanda Abizaid!

Cindy: Amanda, you were born Amanda Jo Abizaid in Beirut, Lebanon and your family moved to the States when you were nine. But, you’ve been singing and playing musical instruments since long before that. What instruments do you play?

Amanda: I started piano when I was 5 years old, flute when I was in forth grade and guitar 4 years ago. I have been singing since I was very little-singing with my sisters-and then took voice lessons all my life.

Cindy: And you’re also a songwriter, so do you compose your own music as well then?

Amanda: Yes I do. I usually write my own songs and sometimes I collaborate with other songwriting friends, depending on the song that I am feeling. I have been writing songs for the last 8 years, but always wrote in my diary all my life, not realizing I was a songwriter.

Cindy: You also have 4 elder sisters who sing as well. Do you ever perform together?

Amanda: We used to perform in Lebanon when I was little, and through elementary school to friends and little events. This is how I learned to sing harmonies.

Cindy: Do you and your family still have family in Lebanon and do you ever get to travel to see them?

Amanda: I do still have family in Lebanon and I have not been there in 20 years to visit, but hope that I can very soon in the future.

Cindy: I see you’ve also studied Drama? Wow, you are one talented lady. Are you or have you considered a career on film, as well then?

Amanda: Yes. I used to do a lot of commercials for South America when I lived in Miami, FL, and then came to LA and met my husband. I am currently starring in his short film, "Facing The Lion", (movie trailer http://www.amandaabizaid.com/movie.html) a supernatural thriller - love story, Directed/Written/Edited by Joe Plonsky and Executive Producer Scott Spiegel (Evil Dead 2, Hostel). We do collaborate together with his films and my music. My song, "Facing The Lion" (The Great Plan Vol. II) and "Timeless", (The Great Plan Vol. 1) are both in and written for the film.

Cindy: You’ve released 5 albums: Undivided - 2007, The Great Plan Vol. 1&2 - 2007, In The Loop - 2008 and Lebanon - 2008. Are there any new releases in the works?

Amanda: Undivided was just a two song CD which is out of stock now. Those two songs are now on the CD called, "In The Loop" 2009, The Great Plan Vol. I-2004, Lebanon-2005, The Great Plan Vol. II- 2006. I am working on new songs for an upcoming CD. The styles vary. The philosophy behind it is to bring sounds from the East and West together in song. I am getting back to my roots and writing different types of stories and dealing with different issues now in my life.

Cindy: But your music releases aren’t your only accomplishments. You’ve also been the voice behind some hit TV show themes, such as Charmed, Smallville, and my favorite, The 4400 (A Place In Time), and also Odd Girl Out (Lifetime Network) and Dreams in Ashes, plus performed with some really well known talent as well. Were you excited to land these opportunities and what might we hope to “hear” from you next—TV shows, movies, etc?

Amanda: I was very lucky to have all the songs I have sang for on TV. I was very excited when I got these opportunities. This is not easy to do and it just came to me. I was at the right place at the right time. The 4400 was a blessing for sure. I have placed some of my own songs in films, two theme songs and one recently in a Lebanese short film—a love story. That song is a new release called "Iza Aktar", "If I Could Only"—a poem written by my father that I translated and put to music. It is in Arabic and English and will be released on the next CD. I do have plans for TV/Film placement, for sure, and can only hope for my success with that, with my songs this time around. I am a very visual writer, so it is really fun for me to watch a show or movie, and hear my music story in the background. That's what I love about writing songs.

Cindy: You recently finished a coast-to-coast tour and I really enjoyed your newsletters keeping us all updated on how much fun you girls were having! For my readers, where can they go to learn more about you, your music, upcoming appearances and of course, sign up for your newsletter?

Amanda: My tour was a blast and the best way to get on my newsletter and be a fan is to sign up on my website at http://www.amandaabizaid.com.

You can purchase my music at CDbaby.com or Earbuzz.com, Amazon.com, i-tunes, Rhapsody for CD's and digital downloads. I have radio play on the internet at jango.com and womensradio.com, and other stations you will find online.

I have a show with LA Woman Summer Tour friend, Stephanie Erdel, December 10th to recap our tour and play in LA. This will be recorded live and then sold on the internet soon after for the holidays.

Cindy: Do you have another tour in the works now?

Amanda: Right now I am focusing on song placement for TV/Film and writing/recording the next CD and looking for an investor who might be interested in my message of peace and inspiration through my songs. I really would like to go to Asia and Europe next year if I can. My goal is to travel the world. for sure.

Cindy: You’ve accomplished many wonderful goals so far, once again proving this is such a great country! Do you have any new goals you’d like to share with us?

Amanda: This is a great country where you really can live your dreams and accomplish whatever you put your mind to. This is such a beautiful thing. I really want to inspire people to be happy with my music and I have a dream of reaching people and children less fortunate around the world to play for them so they can have hope to do what ever their dreams are. It's important to be determined in whatever you do and through that, you can accomplish anything.

Cindy: Your albums are available in music stores and also online stores, including Amazon. Where else can we find your music to add to our own personal libraries?

Amanda: My website of course, Amoeba Music and stores across the U.S.; my website has all the store locations listed; MySpace, Facebook; my IMDB page (industry information resume) has a listing of all the TV shows and Films that the songs are on so you can rent them from the video store.

Cindy: Amanda, I would like to thank you so much for taking the time for this interview with me and my Writer’s Block fans. Is there anything else you would like to add that I may not have touched base on?

Amanda: My new songs are focused on bringing the sounds of the east and west together in song and music with the hope of inspiring peace and happiness. This is a big part of my musical direction now and why I want to travel the world and have more song placements so that this message will hopefully be portrayed in a musical way visually and by meeting new people everywhere.

Cindy: Again thank you and I hope you have a wonderful Christmas this year with your hubby, family and friends. You rock, girlfriend! And I’ve added your albums to my Christmas list this year! (I had to throw that in there, you know—just in case Santa is reading this, too—wink, wink)

Amanda: Thank you very much for asking me to be interviewed. I am very appreciative and excited to read your review and to be able to have the opportunity to have new people and fans in my music life.

Of course, send me your address and I will talk to Santa. ☺ We are very close. Big smiles to you and your family. Thank you very much, Cindy.