Interview with T. R. Horne, author of Breaking Mobius

Breaking Möbius

T.R. Horne

Book Blurb

ONE GOOD DECISION…

Leaving behind an abusive father and emotionally scarred mother, Mali Struthers catches a bus to freedom. Atlanta University is the perfect place to discover her inner strength and special talents that lead her to a future she never imagined outside her father’s walls. Still learning to love herself, Mali must push past her own doubts to realize she deserves everything she’s worked for, even the love of a man seemingly out of reach.

…CAN CREATE A BAD DECISION

As a star football player, Justice Bradford juggles his high profile relationship and aggressive groupies but with his best friend’s constant lure of temptation, he struggles to remain focused. He has the world at his fingertips until his plans are shattered by deception. Fighting depression, he’s re-routed on a dangerous path of self-destruction until, by chance, he finds a light in the darkness that makes him second guess his vow. When Justice is faced with his new reality, will he get his life back on track before he loses it all?

…AND INCITE REVENGE.

 One of the hottest video models on the scene, Nicole Bunn is the epitome of a strong, focused business woman. Concentrating only on her money and the men that can supply her expensive lifestyle, Nicole runs from her own hurts scared to love anyone other than herself. Tired of waiting to marry into fortune, Nicole turns a chance meeting into a whirlwind of sex, lies and obsession that is bound to threaten her livelihood. Through a trail of lies and addiction, Nicole sees her love of money fracture so many lives, including her own. When Nicole is forced to choose between her love of money or a chance at true love, what will she decide?

T. R. Horne interviews with The Most Happy Reader

MHR:  Tell us about yourself and background...

TRH:  Well, wow, let’s see what’s interesting about me? I started writing poetry when I was only 9 or 10 years old. Then I started writing a journal about my daily thoughts about life when I was around age twelve. My poems were a lot like short stories, so I started writing my own little stories (in poetic form mostly) in my journal. I started really writing more when I shared it with friends and they were really interested. My first short story was an email story to my family, chapter by chapter. I never finished it to this day. (laughs) And trust me, my family doesn’t let me forget it because I tapped out after the climax and left it without an ending. When I was young, I didn’t realize that the ending was just as important as the climax. Now, I write because it’s a way for me to live in a fantasy world and escape from the mundane. I read because I love being swept into someone’s world and walking away with some type of emotional connection. Weird, huh?

MHR:  Do you write to an idea or plot? Or do you prefer to see where the idea takes you?

TRH:  You know, I really love to write from the heart. I start a book with a single thought and let it bloom organically. I use thought bubbles later in the story to make sure I’m pacing properly (marking the characters highs/lows and timeline the events so it’s authentic). I also do a bit of research for topics I know nothing about. For instance, in Breaking Mobius, one of the main characters lived in Washington. I’d never stepped foot in Washington but I researched areas, looked at pictures and got an overall feel for the place to sell it to the readers. To be perfectly honest, my plots usually come from dreams or other people’s experiences. The things that happen in Breaking Mobius have really happened to people and it’s a little scary once you think about it!

MHR:  Are you reading at the moment? If so, what?

TRH:  I am constantly reading! I like reviewing other people’s work because I love giving props to people that put hard work into their books. I mostly read indie authors because they have a refreshing tone to their stories and it’s unpredictable whether you will like it, love it or hate it. So that gives me excitement to start reading a book from a person I’ve never heard of. Currently, I am reading and reviewing four books: Jordan’s Brains by J. Michel (zombie novel with great reviews), A Madaris Bride for Christmas by Brenda Jackson (well-known romance writer), Subfrenzy by Kimberlee Jane (BDSM – my first), The Weight of a Feather and Other Stories by Judy Croome (compilation of short stories). If you want to follow along with me, friend and follow my Goodreads page under T.R. Horne.

MHR:  For your own reading, do you prefer E-books or paperback/hardcover?

TRH:  This question has been the source of many discussions on Twitter, Facebook and with friends. I think all versions serve a particular purpose for me personally. E-books are good when I am on the go and want to read. Therefore, I don’t like reading novels on e-books and try to stick to short stories and novellas. Paperback is my all-time favorite method of reading. It’s bendable, easy to throw in a purse, doesn’t hurt my eyes and is much lighter on my wrist for lengthy reading. Now, hardcover books are for my special collection. If I loved the book, I buy the hardcover and keep it on my shelf for friends and family to ooohhh and aaahhhh over. (laughs) The hardcovers are too heavy to read and the dust jacket always jacks up while I read but I love the shelf appeal. So the easy answer is…it depends on what I’m reading and what the book is for.

MHR:  Any last thoughts?

Special thanks to The Most Happy Reader for having such a warm welcome to your blog! I enjoyed answering your questions and filtering through the site at all the cool things you have on here. And thanks to my old and new fans that venture out to read Breaking Mobius…I know you won’t be sorry you picked it up! You can always add me on Twitter and Facebook @AuthorTRHorne to keep in touch with what’s going on with me and the book. I accept everyone so don’t be shy to send a request, okay? Also, check out what I’m reading and what I’m reviewing at www.ragingbookreviews.wordpress.com and if you’re an indie author and want a review, contact yoshimabooks@gmail.com.

Thanks again, The Most Happy Reader! Remember my mantra, friends…Get the book. Read the book. Rate the book. Start all over! ;0)

Thank you for such a wonderful, engaging and revealing interview.  I am so glad you stopped by The Most Happy Reader and look forward to having you again on the 21st of December when I post my review and open the giveaway you have so graciously extended to my readers.  So, Remember to check back 12/21!

Author Bio

T.R. Horne is a freelance relationship columnist, entrepreneur and author. She graduated with a Bachelor's in Communication Studies and Master's in Education with honors. Normally, she calls Atlanta, Georgia home but travels around the world with her family. She hopes to finish her doctorate degree in the next few years. She fancies murder mysteries, thrillers, romantic suspense and erotica stories but is addicted to bad reality television. T.R. Horne lives near Yokohama, Japan with her husband, son and dog.

Links

Author Website:  www.trhorne.com

Interview with Anna Belfrage and Giveaway of her latest A Newfound Land

Interview with Anna Belfrage

author of

A Newfound Land

Today The Most Happy Reader has the pleasure of interviewing author Anna Belfrage who has published the fourth installment of The Graham Saga, A Newfound Land.  

Welcome Anna!  Many thanks for taking the time to share some insight about your work with The Most Happy Reader. 

AB:  Hi Shannon, and thank you for having me!

MHR:  Would you tell us a little about yourself and your background?

AB:  A little about myself, hey? Well, I must own up to being quite gregarious, I suppose. I’m a fast talker, and the more excited I am, the faster I talk. If speaking Spanish, my gesticulation increases as my pace picks up, which tends to make my audience sit back and stare. Most of the time, I’m a happy person – horribly cheerful, some would say. I sing a lot, and now that we’re in December, my repertoire narrows down to carols and other Christmas favourites.

I grew up in South America, and we moved around a lot. That left me rootless, in the sense that there’s no place I can call my childhood home. It also made me skilled at handling new surroundings, new cultures and languages. Plus it left me permanently enriched, as I am fluent not only in my native Swedish, but also in Spanish and English.

I’m the proud mother of four children, one daughter and three sons, and now that they’re more or less adults, it is very irritating to be the shortest person in the family. Probably the reason why they’re all so tall and strong is that I have always made sure they’ve eaten well – I enjoy cooking (and especially baking).

When I’m not writing, I’m working – or it’s the other way around, as I have more than a full day-time job (that I very much enjoy). During daytime I do numbers, budgets and forecasts, in the evenings I do words and stories set in the past. Perfect combination, if you ask me.

I have always written – more or less – but there were a number of years when work and small children made it difficult to invest more than the odd hour in this my favourite pastime. Not so anymore.

  

MHR:  What made you decide to sit down and actually start writing what would become a four book series?  Did you intend from the start to begin a saga with these characters? 

AB:  Actually, dear Shannon, The Graham Saga will run into eight books. And no, I never intended it to be such a long series, but when I finished the first book, my head was bursting with more stories, more scenes, odd snippets of dialogue. I saw children – many children – I saw grief and loss, I saw fear and anger. And whenever I closed my eyes to sleep, there was Alex and Matthew, whispering about new adventures, new dangers. So I wrote one more book. And another. Yet another – you get the picture, right?

Alex and Matthew lead a very exciting life, and through them I get the opportunity to explore the 17th century and its convoluted political (and religious) happenings. Further to this, I’ve really enjoyed watching their relationship develop from the heady fervor of youth to the middle-aged conviction that they belong together – always, no matter what life throws at them. Ultimately, I guess I’m a sucker for love, and Matthew and Alex have that in spades, even if that doesn’t stop them from being severely at odds with each other from time to time.

MHR:  Give us an insight into Matthew Graham and Alexandra Lind.  What about them (aside from Alexandra's abilities), has inspired you to write four novels? 

AB:  If we start with Alex, I like her resilience. She is basically an optimist, capable of enormous inner strength when required. Thrown out of context, she wastes very little time feeling sorry for herself and instead concentrates on building a new life with what she has at her disposal – which fortunately includes Matthew. Alex is no seer. She has paid scant attention to the history lessons of her youth, and so has but vague notions of what may happen next in her 17th century life. She also has few if any useful practical skills for her new life, because seriously, being a computer whizz doesn’t exactly help when you’re living in an age devoid of all high-tech stuff. But she is intelligent and resourceful, she is loyal and courageous and always has her husband’s back. Not that Matthew always appreciates this last quality, seeing as it is his opinion that he should do the defending…

Matthew is a 17th century man raised within the narrow confines of the Scottish Kirk who still retains enough of an open mind to not totally freak out when he finds a concussed and badly singed woman on the moor – a woman who insists she was born in 1973. Major plus points already there, even if there are times when Matthew is not entirely sure if Alex is a witch or not. A man of conviction, of strong beliefs in the right of men to rule themselves (he’s a Commonwealth man, through and through), he will at times place himself and his family at considerable risk for the sake of his beliefs. From being rather intolerant of other faiths, Matthew’s life with Alex (half heathen and potentially papist as she is) has him developing an acceptance for other Christian faiths. He is also a man with a strong sense of right and wrong, which is why he so often sides with the Indians against the colonists, all too aware that more often than not it is the colonists who are in the wrong, not the Indians. I like men with integrity and grit. Matthew possesses both these qualities and it helps, of course, that he is quite easy on the eyes as well.

MHR: How much primary research did you do when writing A Newfound Land?

AB:  I read a lot about the origins of Maryland, the Act of Toleration and the upheaval the colony went through during the English Civil War. For the “emigrant” experience, I read extensively about the Swedish emigrants in the 19th century.  I also did a lot of reading about the Susquehannock and their sad fate.

MHR:  Do you read much and if so who are your favorite authors?

AB:  To be a good writer, I think you have to be a voracious reader. I average three books a week, so I guess I qualify as “voracious”. I am a big fan of historical fiction, but when I am at my most productive stage, I will not read books within my own genre, as I don’t want to contaminate my own writing voice. Instead I read a lot of crime (great plotters, crime writers) and my favourites include Reginald Hill, Sara Paretsky and Michael Dibdin. I am also a fantasy fan – traditional fantasy, mostly, like Tolkien. When I’m through the crucial stages of my own writing, I will gladly read (or re-read) anything by Sharon Penman, Edith Pargeter, Pamela Belle, Elizabeth Chadwick and Nigel Tranter, all of them fantastic Historical Fiction authors.

MHR:  For your own reading, do you prefer EBooks or traditional paper/hard back books?

AB:  If you’d asked me a year ago, I’d have said paperback. Now, I am totally in love with my Kindle, but if I really like a book, I will probably buy it as a paperback as well.

MHR:  Are you reading at the moment?  If so, what?

AB:  At present I am reading a biography of Queen Kristina of Sweden. I have a couple of books on my “review” list that I will sink my teeth into during the coming weeks, amongst them Royalist Rebel by A Seymour, Daughter of the God-King by A Cleeland and Sisters of the Bruce by J.M. Harvey. Looking forward to all three!

MHR:  Do you have a favorite or inspirational author or novel?  What is it about that person or their work that draws you to it?

AB:  As an adolescent, I read Gone with the Wind nine times. I read Lord of the Rings ten times, and can’t quite count the number of times I’ve read Romeo and Juliet. Quite the mix, right? I was in my twenties when I first read Sharon Penman’s Here be Dragons, and since then I’ve read it once every year (which adds up to very, very many times by now, but one should never reveal one’s age, should one?) so I think Ms Penman is the closest thing to a house god I have. I would say it is never the author as a person that attracts me to a book, it is the story as such. Ms Penman sinks her teeth into very juice bits of history, but what makes her books soar is how she creates flesh and blood characters out of long dead historical people. Someday, I hope to write a book that will reduce me (and my readers) to a bloated mass of tears, like Ms Penman does in so many of her books. Actually, come to think of it, one of the future books in The Graham Saga does just that. It leaves me red-eyes and hoarse with tears, despite it being me that wrote it – which makes my husband shake his head and mutter something about “weird females”.  I suspect he might be referring to me, but chose to pretend I didn’t hear him…

MHR:  How can readers discover more about you and you work?

Website   Blog   Facebook   Twitter   Amazon Author Page   Goodreads 

Book Links:

           

MHR:  Anna, many thanks again for taking the time out of your busy schedule to take part in this interview.

AB:  Dear Shannon, it was a pleasure – and may I take the opportunity to wish you great holidays.

Anna has generously agreed to offer the winner's choice of either a Kindle eBook or a paperback copy of A Newfound Land.  This contest is open Internationally. 

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Interview with J. Boyce Gleason, author of Anvil of God

Interview with J. Boyce Gleason

author of 

Anvil of God

The Most Happy Reader is fortunate to welcome J. Boyce Gleason, author of Anvil of God, Book One of the Carolingian Chronicles, who has graciously agreed to answer some questions for us regarding both Anvil of God and his work as a writer.  Boyce thanks so much for taking the time to speak with us on both the Anvil of God and your career as a writer.  

Welcome to The Most Happy Reader.

On Anvil of God:

Give us an insight into your one of your main characters from Anvil of God. What does he/she do that is so important to the novel as a whole?

I think Trudi (Charles the Hammer’s daughter) is the most pivotal character in the story.  She is a strong character, yet every bit as vulnerable as her 18 years would imply.  Her journey to escape an arranged marriage to find love amongst her father’s enemies flips her (and the reader’s) perspective of her family, her religion, power and the impact they have had on her world. 

The Carolingian Empire is not a widely known period, even in many academic circles, what brought you to this time period and place?  Do you have a background in history?

I was a history major at Dartmouth College and studied the period under a great professor named Charles Wood.  I was drawn to the story of Charlemagne and in particular an epic poem of the time (much like Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey) called the Song of Roland.  I had originally planned to write the story about Roland, but the more I researched Charlemagne, the more I fell in love with his family’s story – in particular how they came to power.   

Most people know, or have heard, of Charlemagne.  His restoration of the Holy Roman Empire during the midst of the Dark Ages was a feat that rulers throughout Europe (like Napoleon, for example) have tried to emulate for over a thousand years.  The family’s rise to power, however, began with his grandfather, Charles the Hammer who is best known for saving Christianity by stopping the advance of the Muslim armies as they swept into Europe from Northern Africa and Spain in the mid-eighth century. 

It was a pivotal time in the history of Western Civilization – for religion, for cultural identity, for military conquest and for the centralization of power.  It seemed like a natural place to explore many of the same issues we grapple with as a society today. 

Despite that, Anvil is a story about what happens to Charles the Hammer’s family when he dies.  It’s the story about a family; struggling with the death of their father…only this family’s choices have consequences for an entire continent.

Your thoughtful and informative Author’s Note gives some insight into your research, but how much research do you undertake, both primary and secondary?  I would like to add that I enjoyed your honest plot outline and character descriptions for their clarity in what was history and what was fiction.

I have to admit that the research was, at time, a heavy lift.  There is not a lot that has been written about this time period and much of what I thought I knew was incorrect.  Even after, I had created a timeline of all the major events; I had to recreate a clear picture of who ruled what territories at that moment in time (how old they were, what their histories entailed, who they were allied with, why they supported or opposed the Carolingians etc.).  It was more than I expected. 

I also travelled to each of the locations covered in the book trying to find some evidence of the time period.  Needless to say, there is not much left standing from the eighth century.  Every once in a while, however, I was surprised to find critical pieces to the puzzle that helped me ground the time period in a physical location.

Having said that, once the pieces started to fall into place, I felt like I began to know the characters as people – not unlike how we look at major political figures in the world today.  I understood their perspective and the motivations for their actions.  I like to say that we know what happened in history, but I write historical fiction to find out why.

Is the second installment of the Carolingian Chronicles in the works?

Yes.  I’m about halfway through it.  The current title is “Wheel of the Fates” and it picks up the family’s story about two months after Anvil ends.  

On Writing:

When did you decide to become a writer?

Although it is my second career, I always hoped that someday I would write this book.  It was a “bucket list” sort of thing (before we called them bucket lists).  I don’t think I had the courage or confidence to pursue it earlier in my life.  I also had to provide for my family and writing isn’t a very lucrative field to pursue. 

That said, my first career required a great deal of writing and I found writing (whether opinion columns for the local newspaper, poetry, or short stories) was a creative outlet for me.  As I grew older, my confidence grew as well – both that I could write and that I had something to say.

What made you decide to sit down and actually start something?

About twelve years ago, I decided to take a stab at it. I toyed with writing a short story that pitted a young Charlemagne against the last of the Merovingian Kings.  As the scenes began to unfold, I gave the characters their head and let them dictate where the story went. Somewhere along the way, the real world disappeared and the words poured out of me. Four hours later, I stopped writing.  I was dripping in sweat and the scene I had written was so disturbing, I wouldn’t show it to anyone for weeks.  Deep down, I knew then that I would be a writer.  There was something about that purge that was both exhilarating and terrifying.  (It was also the last time I let my characters fully dictate where the story goes). 

Do you work to an outline or plot or do you prefer just see where an idea takes you?

Since I work in historical fiction, I know where the history takes the story.  So, in that sense, I am working against an outline.  And I do sketch out where the personal conflicts are between characters and try to follow a storyline.

It never works out that way, however.  I find myself surprised by what happens on a regular basis. I am always revising based on where the characters take the story.  And if they take it too far afield, somewhere that is contrary to the history, I’ll have to go back and change the character – build in a new backstory that shifts their priorities and motivation – otherwise he or she wouldn’t be true to character. 

Is there anything else you would like to add that I haven’t included?

Some people look at this story and think the history is going to be a heavy lift.  I often hear people say, “I didn’t study that period in history” or “I don’t know enough about that time period.”

While this is a novel set in history, it is really just a story about a family in crisis.  I once saw an interview with John-john Kennedy who was asked (for the gazillionth time) what it was like to grow up in the White House with such iconic figures as Jack Kennedy and Jackie O.  John-john rolled his eyes and said, “to you, those people were mythical figures out of Camelot.  To me, they were Mom and Dad.”  That’s the way I wanted to tell this story – from the perspective of the sons and daughters, wives and brothers – it’s the story of their lives more than it is a history lesson.

How can readers discover more about you and you work?

Website: www.jboycegleason.com        

Blog: www.jboycegleason.com/blog

Facebook: J. Boyce Gleason

Twitter: @JBoyceGleason

Amazon Author Page: amazon.com/author/jboycegleason

Goodreads:https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18286402-anvil-of-god

Boyce, many thanks for an informative interview on your novel, Anvil of God, and on your career as a writer.  I appreciate your again for taking the time to share your thourghts with  The Most Happy Reader.  I for one anxiously await The Wheel of the Fates, Book Two of the Carolingian Chronicles. 

Interview with Deborah Schwartz, author of Woman on Top

Deborah Schwartz speaks with The Most Happy Reader about Woman on Top

The Most Happy Reader is honored to welcome Deborah Schwartz, author of Women on Top.

Why don’t we begin by getting to know you better?  Would you tell us a little about yourself and your background?

 I grew up and have lived in New York most of my life. My two grown children are most precious to me and I just can't wait for grandchildren. I graduated from Tufts University and then obtained a Masters in History at Columbia University where my graduate thesis was on “Feminism in Eighteenth Century England.”  My J.D.is from Boston University School of Law. After practicing healthcare law for 18 years, I spent a year writing 'Woman on Top'. And I did climb Kilimanjaro.

 

When did you decide to become a writer?  Was writing always an aspiration of yours or did your life experiences compel you to become a writer?

I definitely felt compelled to write this book. And it wasn't until my children were out on their own and my career as an attorney ended that I could turn to writing. Writing was always an aspiration and my life experience did compel me.

I loved writing this book and can't wait to do another one.

What made you decide to sit down and actually begin writing?

Especially given that Woman on Top though fiction is based on your own life experiences.  My life inspired the story in the book. After I finished working as an attorney I felt finally free to write the book. It is incredibly rewarding to hear back from women who have said that they can't get the story out of their heads.

They related to it and feel that they can use it in their lives. That's what inspired me to write it. There was a story in there that needed to be told.

Is Woman on Top your way of reminding women of their own ability to emerge “on top”?

Women need inspiration to come out on top and they need to find the strength within themselves. Women have told me that the book has really hit a nerve with them and they don't have to be involved with a wealthy man to feel that. The book is intended to reach out to all women through Kate's story to find their way up!

Other ways to connect with Deborah:

Website: www.deborahschwartz.net

Facebook: www.facebook.com/DeborahSchwartzAuthor

Twitter:  @schwartzd18

Amazon:  http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00D3WHBJK/ref=redir_mdp_mobile?keywords=deborah%20schwartz&pc_redir=C&qid=1370450935&ref_=sr_1_13&sr=8-13

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7166782.Deborah_Schwartz

Deborah many thanks again for taking the time to discuss your life, the writing process and your novel, Woman on Top, with The Most Happy Reader.  I wish you every future.

Check back tomorrow for my review of Woman on Top and a 

chance to win a copy for yourself.

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Interview with Missy B. Salick author of Claiming Jeremiah with Giveaway

Claiming Jeremiah

by Missy B. Salick

Release date: April 4th 2013

Publisher: JJ Autumn Publishing

Purchase: Amazon

Average Rating on Goodreads: 4.56

BOOK DESCRIPTION:

On the same night that twenty four-year-old Jordyn Sims has a miscarriage, her sister-in-law Tori Sims conceives a child. Nine months later, Tori, a long term heroin addict, abandons her two-hour-old drug addicted newborn Jeremiah, in a hospital stairwell. Jordyn receives the news and pursues foster adoption. However, Oscar, Tori's possessive drug-addicted boyfriend, is not about to give Jeremiah up so easily. While in confrontation with Tori and Oscar, Jordyn seeks help from the Administration of Children Services (ACS), only to discover she is faced with a maze of departments, regulations, legalities and overworked social workers. Jordyn, however, remains strong and continues to push through the uphill battle, even after she discovers she's pregnant.

With all odds against her adoption of Jeremiah, and her pregnancy at high risk from increasing stress, will Jordyn win this tough battle, or will her world crumble before her?

Claiming Jeremiah is a fictional memoir on foster adoption. It gives you an informative experience on what it is like to adopt from foster care while showing you the point of view of the birth parents.

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Missy B. Salick is a writer, Entrepreneur, Philanthropist and Literary and Start-up Business Consultant. When she's not writing or promoting foster adoption, Missy can be found volunteering at Junior Achievement, being a Big Sister and counseling young girls through the iJournalNow Project or helping to save the Polar Bears with WWF.

Connect with Missy:

www.meetmissy.com

Blog:  http://meetmissyblog.wordpress.com/

Facebook: www.facebook.com/meetmissy24

Twitter: www.twitter.com/meetmissey24

GoodReads: www.goodreads.com/MeetMissy

Instagram: http://instagram.com/meetmissy24

Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Claiming-Jeremiah-ebook/dp/B00C8PKAIC

The Most Happy Reader is thrilled to welcome Missy Salick today as she discusses what brought her to writing, her plans for the future and her current passion.  

MHR: What are your ambitions for your writing career?

MS: My current ambitions are to finish the sequel to Claiming Jeremiah. Claiming Jeremiah touched on the process of foster care and what happens before the child comes into your home. The sequel will cover what happens next and the adoption phase.

In 2014 I plan on focusing on building my publishing brand and publishing authors who feature a social topic, and to rollout films, screenplays, and workshops. All this will be under my new brad called Virgo Girl Media.

MHR:  When did you decide to become a writer?

MS:  Since I was a young girl I have always kept a journal to write my feelings. As I got older, the writing itch increased for me to expand beyond my journal. I would write any and everything, from poetry and songs to business articles and interviews. Writing also became my mechanism for expression. So naturally, when I went through the foster adoption experience I would keep a journal. It was at that point, I realized the words in my journal were meant to be shared to help the next person. What I was facing other people were too. That's when I knew my true destiny was to be a writer and spread awareness on social subjects through stories.  

MHR:  Is there anything else you would like to add that I haven’t included?

MS:  Journal writing is so important to me, that I created a program to encourage journal writing among children. iJournalNow Project is an outreach program that provides children in need with journal packets and informative workshops. The objective of our journal packets and workshops is to increase the knowledge of children in care in three key areas: creativity, leadership, and goal attainment. While children residing in group homes, foster care, juvenile centers, shelters, and other housing facilities are those we have specifically designed this project for, we welcome children from all backgrounds to participate in the journal-writing movement.

I am personally donating five hundred journal packets (up to twenty per organization) to children and teens who are interested in taking part in this Journal Movement.

Thanks so much Missy for taking the time to speak with The Most Happy Reader today.  I wish you every success in your future endeavors.

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