Four of the authors had the opportunity to have a book signing event at a Barnes & Noble in Greensburg, PA, southeast of Pittsburgh. All four are natives to the Western Pennsylvania area. 

Bob Fulton (left) and Dan Rose (right) are the authors of Burial at Home Plate: An Oddball History of the Pittsburgh Pirates and Little Boy Blue, respectively. Burial at Home Plate tells the story of Pittsburgh Pirates baseball over the decades through fun, quirky anecdotes. Little Boy Blue is a crime novel, detailing how a young boy grows up to become a deranged killer. Fulton has decades of experience in sportswriting, while Rose drew on his past experiences as a cop for his debut novel.

Readers also got to know Carol Kieda and Catherine A. Roser Rybak at the event. Both ladies are authors of children’s books with Dorrance. Kieda, pictured right, is the author of The Sock Thief, and Rybak (left) is the author of Pooch In A Pound. Both of these children’s books feature dogs. The Sock Thief is the tale of a pup who steals their owners socks, while Pooch in a Pound is told from the point of view of a dog waiting to be adopted by a loving home. “I met other Dorrance Publishing Authors with their talented books. I feel like I have acquired some special friendships!” Rybak said of the event.

The event was not far from Dorrance’s home base – which meant that one of our staff members got to visit the authors! The authors were excited to see Brittany, who works in the promotion department, in attendance. 

But this wasn’t the only author event close to home recently. Marc Stevens, author of Zombie Apocalypse: Day 91, had an event in the Pittsburgh area a couple days earlier! 

Zombie Apocalypse is a guide to Stevens’ tabletop roleplaying game, in which the player has to survive the zombie apocalypse. At the event, Dorrance staff members Alessandra and Amber played the game with Marc. All had a great time, sticking around for hours to play the game.

The face to face interaction between these authors and Dorrance staff members at both of these events is something everyone will remember for years to come.

Several of these books have received local media attention in recent months. The authors have also had previous book events, both in Western PA and elsewhere. 

We are excited to see where they go next!

The post Dorrance Publishing Authors Shine At Pittsburgh Area Events appeared first on Dorrance Publishing Company.

Name: Catherine A. Roser Rybak

Hometown: Oil City, Pennsylvania

Book Title: Pooch in a Pound (A Dog’s Point of View)

Genre: Children’s Fiction

Describe your book in 10 words or less.

 Life and times of shelter dogs finding their forever homes.

What made you want to write your book?

 Animals have always been a passion my whole life, especially animals that need our love and support. I have written short stories all my life since childhood. They were mostly about animals.

 How long did it take you to write your book?

 I worked on it off and on for probably around three months.

What do you do when you have writer’s block?   

 You need many times to work on a whim. Many times ideas come to me in the middle of the night, while driving, sometimes even while listening to inspirational music. For me, I can’t plan to write, it appears when you least expect it.

 What was your favorite part to write and why? 

My favorite part of my book is when both dogs have a happy ending. We know this family surely will love them and support them the entire rest of their lives. That is what every pet dreams for their life.

What was it like working with your illustrator? 

 My illustrator went far beyond my expectations. I knew the work would be wonderful, but I was breathless the first time I glimpsed my cover. I appreciate how they went above and beyond for me.

If you were stuck on an island and had to have one person from each category with you, who would they be and why:

a. One friend or family member:

 Well, I know I would surely make it if my husband Greg was with me. He is truly a survivor! I can’t answer this because I would still want each one of my children and grandchildren there, but I would not want any of them stuck on an island!

b. One fictional character:

 I think Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz would know how to survive! Look at all the obstacles she overcame!

c. One famous person (living or dead):

 I think Agatha Christie would be very interesting and enchanting. I love a good mystery.

What are some of your hobbies?

 I love crossword puzzles, I love reading mysteries, I love spending time with family, taking care of pets, and staying up watching late night tv.

How did you celebrate the publishing of your book?

 My family had a Book Launch party for me at a beautiful hometown park. My children gave me flowers on two different occasions for my book.

If your book was made into a movie, who would play the main characters?

 It would need to be my furry grandchildren dogs Benny and Scrappy. They are Pooch and Puppy Dog in the book. All the animals in this book are pets from my life and from my family’s lives. Some are from the past and some are in the present time.

What did you enjoy most about working with Dorrance Publishing?

Dorrance Publishing helped me every step of the way. They were very supportive! Sometimes I can be very particular.

Five favorite books of all time?

Gone With The Wind, Wuthering Heights, Rascal, Old Yeller, and The Diary of Anne Frank

Any advice for anyone looking to write a children’s book?

I suggest you follow your heart, write about what you are passionate about, sometimes a past experience makes a great story.

Thank you, Catherine!

Catherine has the following BOOK EVENTS:

September 3, 2022

Book Warehouse

Grove City Premium Outlets

1911 Leesburg

Grove City Road

Suite 1020

Grove City, PA

2 to 5 p.m.

September 10, 2022

Precious Paws Pet Fest

Bandstand Park, Franklin, PA

10 to 4 p.m.

September TBD

Carlson Library

840 Wood Street

Clarion, PA

September/October TBD

Erie Barnes and Noble

Meet and Greet, sales and signing

5909 Peach Street

Erie, PA

October 1, 2022

Story Time/Meet and Greet

Riverstone Bookstore

8850 Covenant Ave.

Pittsburgh, PA  15237

9:30 a.m.

The post Author Spotlight: Catherine A. Roser Rybak, “Pooch in a Pound (A Dog’s Point of View)” appeared first on Dorrance Publishing Company.

We spoke to Katherine about bringing this special book to life.

What made you want to write and publish this book?

Artemis John Korkidis after the loss of his beloved wife, Sophie, chose in his later years to write stories about his life and his experiences as a gift to his daughters and his grandchildren.

Written originally in Greek he asked his daughter, Dr. Katherine E.A, Korkidis, a writer, to do a translation of his writings so that all his grandchildren and their grandchildren could read it someday.

Katherine translated and combined two of her father’s four manuscripts, as well as added new content to create The AJK Anthology.

How long did it take to write the book?

It took Artemis 6 months to write his first two manuscripts. It took Katherine four months to completely translate and add content to her dad’s writings.

What was the most difficult part of putting this book together?

The most difficult part was securing the original photos in a higher resolution of the first executions during the German occupation.

What was your favorite chapter (or part) to write and why?

My favorite story to translate and for my father to write was part 4: The Battle of Crete. He had written this story when we were very young children. Having lived through this difficult time for his homeland he wanted us to one day understand the bravery of people that fought for freedom. When I found this story amongst his manuscripts I had to add it to the Anthology. It was written from the memories of a young man.

Besides writing this book, what are your other interests?

My father was a philosopher and an intellectual, a loving husband and father. He loved to learn and read, particularly politics, and was always there to help all who knew him.

He loved to write, paint, spent time with his family, and inspire others. He was an avid painter and had created over 500 paintings of nature. He loved the natural world, the sea in particular. His first love was the sea. I am proud to be his daughter and give an audience to his many works. His legacy to all of us was his love of others, his thirst for education, and most of all his love for our natural world.

Katherine E. A. Korkidis is a PhD physicist and loves writing, teaching, and astrophysics. I am a classical pianist and love to sing and lector.

I love the natural world as did my father, particularly the sea. It serves as an inspiration for my writings. I am a writer of short fictional stories of various genres from science fiction to mystery and have also published my first novel four months ago called Josette, my second novel, Daniel, is being currently printed, and I am writing the third novel, Josette and Daniel, of this trilogy.

I have also written my own Anthology of my short stories to be published soon. I also like to write blogs for My Author’s Corner on My website is https://katherinekorkidisauthor.com/ and posts on my author’s FB page ( https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100079099482023). I have written websites and do freelance work as a graphics designer.

How did you celebrate the publishing of your book?

With my father now gone it was not a celebration but rather a realization of a promise delivered. I was proud of his works and my only regret was that I did not finish his book before his death.

If your book was made into a movie, who would play the main characters?

My father was a gentle man with much intelligence and understanding.

My favorite actor is Tom Hanks, particularly of his performance in “News of the World”.

In addition he loves the Greek Islands and with his wife who is of Greek descent, Rita Wilson, he is immersed in Greek Culture and history.

What did you enjoy most about working with Dorrance Publishing?

From the first step working with my sales consultant, updates from [company president] David Zeolla to inform me on the next step, and the experience of working with an excellent production and promotion team. The entire process was easy and very professional. I would have to say I enjoyed the editing process the most.

Five favorite books of all time?

My dad loved the philosophical works of Plato, Socrates and the tragedies of Sophocles and Euripides and of course the Iliad and the Odyssey by Homer.

I love the works of Dickens, particularly A Tale of Two Cities, The Christmas Carol, Great Expectations, and David Copperfield.

My favorite five works are Les Miserables by Victor Hugo, The Dubliners by James Joyce, Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte, Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky and War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy. I have many other classical writers of British and Russian literature that I admire and enjoy reading.

Do you have any advice for anyone looking to preserve a family members’ writing through a book like The AJK Anthology?

Keep all photos and writings such as journals from members of your family, both young and old. Preserve them if you can. Take the time to piece together all in a written work. 

I would highly recommend to piece together through writings and photos into a timeline and record of your family’s history. Giving the gift of a family history is priceless for future generations.

Thank you, Dr. Korkidis!

You can purchase The AJK Anthology at the Dorrance Bookstore.

Have a family history book you would like to publish? Contact us!

The post Author Spotlight: Artemios Korkidis and Dr. Katherine Korkidis appeared first on Dorrance Publishing Company.

In Dorrance’s long history, many different authors have come through our doors. One author who stands out is Clare Winger Harris, a science fiction writer in the 20th century. Harris is credited with being the first woman to publish under her own name in science fiction magazines. In 1947, she published an anthology of her science fiction stories with Dorrance when we were known as Dorrance and Company in Philadelphia.

According to a book collector and Harris’ Wikipedia entry, Harris was a housewife in Ohio who had the dream of being a science fiction writer. She published a romance adventure novel titled Persephone of Eleusis: A Romance of Ancient Greece in 1923. However, her science fiction dreams could not be ignored. 

An admirer of science fiction pioneers Jules Verne and HG Wells, she submitted and published science fiction stories in pulp magazines Weird Tales and Amazing Stories in the 1920s. Her first short story, titled “The Runaway World,” was published in Weird Tales in July 1926. In December 1926, she submitted a story for a contest being run by Amazing Stories editor Hugo Gernsback. Harris’s story, a space opera about Martians who steal earth’s water titled “The Fate of the Poseidonia,” placed third. Harris would go on to write for these cult-favorite magazines and eventually published her anthology of science fiction stories in 1947 with Dorrance titled Away From the Here and Now.

Little is known about Harris’ life, but according to census records and an interview with her grandson it is known that Harris and her husband divorced after their kids were grown. Clare then moved to Pasadena, California to live out the rest of her life until her death in 1968.

Crucial to Harris’ life as a writer was the fact that she was a woman. At the time of her writing in the 1920s-1940s, it was common for female science fiction writers to adapt gender neutral pen names out of a desire to be taken seriously as writers, as well as to not be ignored by the male-dominated world of science fiction. Clare Winger Harris chose to use her full name on all her publications. She is the first American woman to use her actual name for science fiction. Because of this, she is seen as a pioneer for women in science fiction by feminists and science fiction hobbyists alike. 

Away From the Here and Now, Harris’ anthology published by Dorrance, contains eleven stories that were previously published in the magazines Weird Tales, Amazing Stories, and Science Wonder Quarterly. Dorrance is proud to have had a small part in the career of such a pioneer!

Sources:

Post by Jeanie St. James in Book Collectors Facebook group

Clare Winger Harris – Wikipedia

Away From The Here and Now – Worthpoint

AbeBooks

Have a science fiction anthology YOU would like to publish? Contact us!

The post Blast from the Past: Science Fiction Pioneer Clare Winger Harris appeared first on Dorrance Publishing Company.

Name: Joy Winkie Viola

Hometown: Wayland, Massachusetts

Book Title: From Schnitzel to Nockerln And Everything That Happened In Between

Describe your book in 10 words or less.

Travel adventures, often humorous, about nature on all seven continents.

What made you want to write your book?

Before my husband died of COVID, I had been reading my old travel diaries to him. I realized there were many good stories within them that I thought others would enjoy.

What do you do when you have writer’s block?

Edit! I can always edit existing copy when the muse isn’t with me!

What was your favorite chapter to write and why?

Face to Face with a Polar Bear –  because it was such an unusual experience living in the tundra buggies, dealing with difficult weather conditions and being with the great bears. I really wanted to share that multi-faceted adventure.

If you were stuck on an island had to choose who to be with of the following, who would you choose?

-One friend or family member: Shane Dore, my great nephew. He’s an Eagle Scout!

-One fictional character: Shadow, he Golden retriever in the movie Homeward Bound

-One famous person: Betty White

Besides Writing, what are your other interests? Travel, birding, gardening, Golden Retriever Rescue, reading mysteries and spy novels.

Do you keep a journal?

Always when traveling – those journals were the basis for my book.

How did you celebrate the publishing of your book?

I had a great book launch at our local country club with hors d’oeuvres and a string trio from our local symphony playing classical music. 90 people attended.

If your book was made into a movie, who would play the characters?

That’s a tough question because the book spans so many decades of our lives.  Maybe Jessica Chastain could play me and Channing Tatum my husband. They are both in their 40’s so that’s midstream – not that this would ever happen!

What did you enjoy most about working with Dorrance Publishing? The editing process as I had so many unusual terms, names of bird species etc. for which we had to develop style that wasn’t in the Chicago Manual.

What are your 5 favorite books?

1) The Unlikely Spy (because it was Daniel Silva’s first book – and he’s now one of my favorites

2) All Creatures Great and Small (Because I love animals)

3) Cry of the Kalahari ( Because it was a wonderful story about African wildlife)

4) The Last Train to London (because it parallel’s my husband’s childhood experience in World War 11)

5) The Little Engine That Could (childhood book, but inspiring theme)

One sentence of advice for other writers:

Be consistent. Once you decide to write a book, stay with it daily.

Thank you, Joy!

Do you have a memoir you are itching to publish? Contact us!

The post Author Spotlight: Joy Winkie Viola appeared first on Dorrance Publishing Company.

Name: M.W. Gats

Hometown: Portsmouth NH, currently reside in South Berwick ME

Book Title: The New Assassin’s Field Guide & Almanac

Genre: Thriller

Describe your book in 10 words or less.

A professional hit man explores the depths of his honor; professionally & personally.

What made you want to write your book?

I wanted the story to exist. They say, “Write the book you’d like to read”

How long did it take you to write your book?

Roughly 3 years.

How do you choose the names of your characters?

Several ways: other books, articles, relatives, friends and enemies, all mixed and blended.

What do you do when you have writer’s block? 

Work on something in a different genre. Your whole brain is never blocked.

What was your favorite chapter (or part) to write and why?

Chapter 27 “Rintrah Roars” It was part of the short story (revamped) that the character originally appeared in (Dan Ketch)

If you were stuck on an island and had to have one person from each category with you, who would they be and why?

1. One character from your book: Mors, because he is resourceful and fairly skilled. Ex military man.
2. One fictional character: Elijah Snow (‘Planetary’ – Warren Ellis) because he’s immortal and has other powers
3. One famous person: Amy Sedaris because she’s one of the funniest people in the world (and I had to reassure my wife that it would be platonic!!! And it would be!!)

Besides writing, what are your other interests?

Art, Reading, (MANY genres) comedy, music, travel

Do you keep a journal?

Sort of!

How did you celebrate the publishing of your book?

With very expensive whiskey!

If your book was made into a movie, who would play the main characters?

Dan Ketch – Robert Pattinson

Mors – Jason Stratham

Jieufeng – Claudia Kim

Kestrel – Stanly Tucci

Rupert – Jack Black

Bleach – James McAvoy

Dagny – Natalie Portman

Five favorite books of all time?

‘Shogun’, ‘A Separate Peace’, ‘The Stand’, ‘Anansi Boys’, ‘Lonesome Dove’

What was your favorite part of working with Dorrance Publishing?

Opening the box of my first published novel!

Thank you, M.W.!

Have a thriller novel you’d like to publish? Contact us!

The post Author Spotlight: M.W. Gats appeared first on Dorrance Publishing Company.

Hometown: Atlanta, GA/Newan, GA

Book: When Love Knocks

Genre: Drama/Urban

1. Describe your book in 10 words or less. Drama-filled, emotional, and very unique
2. What made you want to write When Love Knocks?  I love movies like Forrest Gump, I Am Sam, and  Tru Confessions (a Disney Channel movie),  but they all tell the same story: People with mental illness overcoming their disabilities which great, but what about the physically disabled overcoming their disabilities and impacting those around them? Who is going to be their voice?
3. How long did it take you to write your book? It took me nine months to write it. At the time I thought that was a long time to write a book, but now I know that’s not long at all.
4. How do you choose the names of your characters? Not sure. The names just came to me.
5. What do you do when you have writer’s block?  I put the book down until I have something to say.
6. What was your favorite chapter (or part) to write and why? I have two parts of the book that I like.  When Summer came to Carter for help, and he didn’t know how to help her anymore and also the very end because I felt they were the most emotional parts. Writing this book helped me to release my emotions.
7. If you were stuck on an island and had to have one famous person with you, who would it be and why?  Cicely Tyson because I’m a  huge fan of her work. She’s such an inspiration, with empowering roles that she does and she does them well. Her longevity proves that she loves what she does.  I will love to have a conversation with her to see what motivates her to keep acting and what hardships she had to overcome. Plus, we have the same birthday.
8. Besides writing, what are your other interests? I love listening to Michael Jackson. Although he wasn’t disabled, he said a lot of things that I felt, and his songs are just fun.
9. Do you keep a journal? No, I do not keep a journal.
10. How did you celebrate the publishing of When Love Knocks? I went to Facebook and Instagram and went posting crazy.
11. If your book was made into a movie, who would play the main characters?  I’ve always been a fan of Keke Palmer. With her beauty and dramatic ability, I think she would portray Summer like a dream.  I would love for Michael B.  Jordan to play Carter.  He is an amazing actor and I think if there’s there’s anyone who could bring Carter to life, it’s him.
12. What did you enjoy most about working with Dorrance Publishing? Dorrance really made my dream come true. They were always there when I had a problem. They have been very patient with me.
    
13. Five favorite books of all time?  A Christmas Carol, A Light to My Path, The Autobiography of Malcolm X, B-More Careful, Black Girl Lost
    
14. One sentence of advice for other writers? Don’t let anyone wake you up from your dream.

The post Author Spotlight: Brandon Domineck appeared first on Dorrance Publishing Company.

Hometown: Ashland, OR and Redding, CA

Book: Argentine Assignment,  Belize Barter, China Caper, Mexican Marimbas, Peru Paradox, and Russian Ruse

Genre: Fiction

1. Describe your series. My series is about an Ashland, Oregon young woman who becomes embroiled with the CIA. They send her on assignment in various nations, all of which are accurately described because I have traveled to them, some more than once. I lived in some and worked in others.
2. What made you want to write The Briana Series? I have always written…book reviews, travel articles for the Los Angeles Times, as well as for several magazines for women. As silly as it sounds, I couldn’t stop writing…I’m almost devastated that Russian Ruse is my final novel in the book series.
3. How long did it take you to write your book? Each book usually took a few months to write, proof, and then send off.  (Writing is the easiest part…proofing is “sweat time.”) Mexican Marimbas was probably my favorite because I’ve traveled and worked in that country.
4. How do you choose the names of your characters? I chose the names for my characters by carefully avoiding the names of my friends and acquaintances.
5. What do you do when you have writer’s block? When I have writer’s block, I change my surroundings, but carry writing materials with me….a yellow pad and a couple of pens.  I find a spot where I can watch the “world go by” in somewhat quiet, but not “still”…..and I read my last two or three paragraphs, check my small outline….and it sends me “off into writing land”….so I write.  I try to write at least 1500 words at a time.
6. What was your favorite chapter (or part) to write and why? My favorite chapter to write (in all my books) is a chapter that gives a real feeling for the people and place about which I’m writing.  I try to keep it accurate, based on my own observations when I traveled to those countries.  In some minor way, I hope to encourage people to travel to those countries, understanding, thanks to my books, about the personalities …and maybe problems…they will/might meet when in the particular country.  Not “preaching” of course, just enough information to give a reader some idea of the challenges and delights they would find if they, too, went to said country.
7. If you were stuck on an island and had to have one person from each category with you, who would they be and why? 
   1. One character from your book:  Briana my lead character in the six-book series, she’s competent, bright. (And maybe funny.)
   2. One fictional character: I would absolutely love to have Jo March, the heroine of the old series from Little Women….she was “gutsy” and willing to try anything, funny, not always popular with her family, honest …..just a super person.  
   3. One famous person: No one other than Winston Churchill—smashingly smart, clever, and also competent–and with a not-always-welcome fun streak…but I’d love it.
8. Besides writing, what are your other interests? My main love is to travel.  I’ve been to 58 countries, sometimes as a volunteer for a wonderful outfit called Global Volunteers, sited in the Midwest.  I’ve been to China five times. I worked on building a wonderful modern school which took the place of a tiny, old-fashioned one-room school.  I also “worked” in a hotel in China’s capital city, to give advice to workers there.  Driving through Mexico is a “lesson” in itself, so I went from the U.S. border to the border of Central American nations.  Christmas in Mexico City is a glorious, wonderful celebration…no matter what are one’s beliefs.  My children often traveled to Mexico with me.  The things I learned and observed from my travels are represented in my books, giving them a “true” sticker regarding my observations.  Traveling across Russia by train is “replicated” in my last book of the Briana series, Russian Ruse.  Things mentioned in that book represent some of my observations in that long, long train trip.  Of course, Europe is a wonderland for a travel-lover. I took groups of students there when I was a high school teacher.  They learned so much, but so did I!     Travel should be a “must” for everyone; it truly is an education in itself, and makes one not only appreciate countries visited but makes us appreciate the U.S. even more when we cross the border to return to U.S. soil.
9. Do you keep a journal? I have kept a journal, but am finding it a time-impediment to writing. Although I always carry a notepad and several pens (people laugh at mine, located on a sweater or blouse at my throat for easy reaching) and when an idea strikes…I jot it down.
10. How did you celebrate the publishing of your books? Believe it or not, I’m pretty shy, so it was hard to celebrate! But I spread the word in the community where I live, mentioned it to people who have bought my books before, and contacted local bookstores.
11. If your book was made into a movie, who would play the main characters?  I seldom go to movies, but here’s a suggestion:  I’d like to have the main character in my novels played by some actress who has dark hair who is slender (hmm.  I must be overweight!), and has a few very basic self-defense skills.  Someone smart and willing to take on a challenge.
12. What did you enjoy most about working with Dorrance Publishing? Dorrance Publishing has always responded quickly, competently, and fully to any of my concerns and requests. 
    
13. Five favorite books of all time? That’s hard!   As a child: any Nancy Drew story was # 1; as an adult:  non-fiction, such as the new Comey book draws me,  but Mary Higgins Clark (except her latest novel) draws my reading attention to strong characters, action, some danger, and a satisfying resolution.  I do not read “bodice-rippers” but find political stories, and stories of an individual’s clash with nature or with some “evil ” individual, creating action, danger, and a satisfying conclusion….where the good conquers the evil…..and certainly toss in some romance,  but not too detailed.  
    
14. One sentence of advice for other writers? Just get your computer fixed, make sure you have ink in your printer, then attach your seat to a seat and at least lay out the general idea you have about the story….then WRITE, WRITE, WRITE.

The post Author Spotlight: Chloe Ryan Winston appeared first on Dorrance Publishing Company.

Hometown: Cedar City, Utah

Book: Put A Sock In It

Genre: Fiction, Education

1. Describe your book in 10 words or less.  A humorous historical book about teaching special education.
2. What made you want to write Put A Sock In It?  I did it for my family and friends who encouraged me to write it.
3. How long did it take you to write your book?  I worked on it for well over ten years.
4. How do you choose the names of your characters? I used real first names only.
5. What do you do when you have writer’s block? Sleep on it and ask others for help.
6. What was your favorite chapter (or part) to write and why? Chapter Two because it tells about the funny things that happened in the classroom.
7. If you were stuck on an island and had to have one person from each category with you, who would they be and why? 
   1. One character from your book:  Emery
   2. One fictional character:  Huck Finn
   3. One famous person: Paul Newman
8. Besides writing, what are your other interests? Hiking, camping, fishing, traveling
9. Do you keep a journal? Yes.
10. How did you celebrate the publishing of Put A Sock In It? We went out to dinner.
11. If your book was made into a movie, who would play the main characters? My son and daughter.
12. What did you enjoy most about working with Dorrance Publishing? They were very encouraging, patient, and professional.
    
13. Five favorite books of all time? DaVinci Code, Angels and Demons, Undaunted, Fire and the Covenant, The Work, and The Glory Series.
    
14. One sentence of advice for other writers? Never give up.

The post Author Spotlight: Tom Walker appeared first on Dorrance Publishing Company.

Hometown: Denver, CO

Book: The Cookie Thief

Genre: Children’s

1. Describe your book in 10 words or less.  It’s a fable about friendship, forgiveness, and redemption.
2. What made you want to write The Cookie Thief? Many years ago, I remember seeing a funny cartoon picture of a bird following a scent. I developed that idea into the story.
3. How long did it take you to write your book?  It took me a few months to write, edit and perfect.
4. How do you choose the names of your characters? Charlie seemed to be a good fit for a cuddly, homely bear and Willie seemed a good fit for a mischievous little bird.
5. What do you do when you have writer’s block? When I get writer’s block, a nice long walk helps me the best.
6. What was your favorite chapter (or part) to write and why?   My favorite part of the story is when Charlie decides to share the cookies and Willie happily accepts. What can I say–I like happy endings.
7. If you were stuck on an island, which three of your book characters would you have with you and why? Willie, Anna, and Eustace Conway. Willie could fly around and be a good lookout, Anna and I would have fascinating discussions, and Eustace knows all about survival in the wilderness.
8. Besides writing, what are your other interests? My other interests are hiking in the Rocky Mountains, reading, and watching good movies.
9. Do you keep a journal? I keep a journal with story ideas and also a record of publishers I send stories to.
10. How did you celebrate the publishing of The Cookie Thief? I like to celebrate by having a nice dinner with some close family and friends.
11. If your book was made into a movie, who would play the main characters? If a movie was made, I think Steve Martin would be a good voice for Charlie and Danny DeVito would make a good voice for Willie.
12. What did you enjoy most about working with Dorrance Publishing? I was involved in every step of the publishing process. Also, my contact person, Shaina, was very helpful, friendly, and prompt.
    
13. Five favorite books of all time? A Christmas Carol, Mister God This is Anna, Bless Me Ultima, Tuesdays with Morrie, and just about anything by John Grisham.
    
14. One sentence of advice for other writers?  My advice to other authors would be three words from Winston Churchill: NEVER GIVE UP!

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