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.

Gordon Dorrance, a member of the family that owned Campbell’s Soup Company, created a better way to publish in the early 1900s. His journey began like many other authors – with a great sense of frustration from rejection.

While in the process of editing his first manuscript, The Pocket Chesterfield, he found himself at a creative crossroads with Scribner’s. Dorrance had a difficult decision to make – either sacrifice his creative vision and cower to the publishing company, or chart a new path. To the benefit of many today, Gordon Dorrance chose to chart a new path, and found a better way to publish.

In the spirit of American entrepreneurism, Gordon Dorrance opened his own publishing company. In 1920, he was able to publish his own book under the Dorrance imprint. Dorrance’s brave move to go on his own changed the publishing world forever. He went against the grain and gave hope to people everywhere. Aspiring authors were no longer held by the whims of the select few publishers who held the keys to the literary kingdom, deciding who will, and who will not, pass. 

Over the next several decades, the Dorrance Publishing Company would build a reputation of trust, publishing a multitude of genres. Poets found their voice. History was kept honest as more and more autobiographies found themselves bound in leather and readily available. Now, the everyday man or woman could share their story, and have it for future generations to enjoy.

Dorrance Publishing itself found its way into literary history with work such as The Bonapartes in America, which was published in 1939, and Away From the Here and Now by Clare Winger Harris, a pioneering science fiction author, in 1947.

In 1955, Dorrance published a volume of poetry titled Ommateum by A.R. Ammons. This publication catapulted Ammons’ career, and he went on to win the National Book Award in 1972 and the National Book Critics Circle Award in 1981. 

In 1973, Dorrance published The Navajo Code Talkers by Doris A. Paul, which would achieve much success. Today, it remains the single most comprehensive historical account of the contribution of the Navajo Americans during World War II. Now with more than 50,000 copies in print, The Navajo Code Talkers was one of the first published efforts to tackle the fascinating subject of how Navajo Marines developed a code based on their own language. It was adapted into the film Windtalkers in 2002.

Thanks to Gordon Dorrance’s pioneering spirit and that light bulb moment that he had more than 100 years ago, Dorrance Publishing continues to illuminate the path for people and make their dreams of being a published author a reality.

Make your dreams come true by contacting us today!

The post A Brief History of Dorrance Publishing appeared first on Dorrance Publishing Company.

In Spain, the tiny village of Urueña boasts a strong industry of bookstores. Located in the rural Spanish countryside, Urueña has a population of 100 people – and 11 stores that sell books, with 9 dedicated bookstores. That is over 1 bookstore for every ten people!

According to a piece by the New York Times last month, this village has an aging rural population and not much industry to speak of. Turning into a book lover’s mecca didn’t happen on accident. It was a concerted effort by the town in order to bring visitors and a sense of pride to Urueña.

There are several rural book hubs across Europe, according to this report, such as notably Montmorillon in France and Hay-on-Wye in Wales. The village of Urueña invested about 3 million Euro from the government to restore old buildings and convert them into bookstores. They also created a conference center with the funds, making the town even more attractive for outside tourists. 

As it turns out, there is more than meets the eye when it comes to book tourism: 

Spain has one of Europe’s biggest book-publishing markets, feeding a network of about 3,000 independent bookstores — and double that number if stationery shops and other places that sell books are counted. But about 40 percent of bookstores have less than €90,000 in annual revenue, which amounts to operating “a subsistence business,” according to Álvaro Manso, spokesman for CEGAL, an association that represents Spain’s independent bookstores.

The economics of the small town leave something to be considered. Despite the bookselling industry, no younger people are moving to Urueña. The vast majority of the 100 people who live there are retirees, living off their pensions. Food and other supplies must be delivered from larger towns. Rural populations continuing to decline is a trend in Spain. 

The residents remain hopeful and proud of being a tourist destination. Around 19,000 tourists visited Urueña in 2021, despite the covid-19 pandemic. Local officials think the number was probably higher, due to those who only stayed for the day and didn’t check in with the local offices. 

The Times article featured several residents.

Isaac García has a bookstore in Urueña that specializes in publications about film. He and his partner had previously lived in Hay-on-Wye, the book haven in Wales. The couple jumped at the opportunity to have their own bookstore in the heartland of Spain.

“We felt that we could combine a great business with a dream countryside lifestyle, but this time in our home country,” García said. “Hay of course has had much more time to mature and establish itself as a literary hub, but I think we’re getting there in Urueña, bit by bit.”

Likewise, longtime resident Joaquín Díaz, is a Spanish folk singer and ethnographer. Díaz, now 74, moved to Urueña from Valladolid in the 1980s and lives in a historic building where he has gathered a vast collection of instruments, books and recordings. His home was turned into a museum by the provincial authorities three decades ago.

When he first arrived in the village, there were more specialty stores, including a thriving crafts sector. Now that industry is gone, replaced by the bookstores. There is not much nostalgia for it, though, as the bookstores have allowed the village to have new life. 

“Overall, life is much easier now in the Spanish countryside than 50 years ago, and nobody could ever imagine that books could ever get sold and help save this village when I arrived here,” Díaz said.

Maybe we will see a Dorrance title in one of these bookstores someday.

Read the Times article for more details!

The post This Spanish Village Has More Bookstores Than Students! appeared first on Dorrance Publishing Company.

The term bookworm comes from insects who like to bore into wood and paper – none of which are worms. The word itself did not come into use until the 1600s, but one can find references to book-boring insects in writing dating back to Ancient Greece, as people observed that sometimes one could find insects in their paper reading materials.

Silverfish and the booklouse are common book-boring insects. Many species of beetles, termites, and cockroaches also can make their homes in books seeking food and shelter. The wood pulp of the paper is attractive for these insects, as well as the material used to bind books together in many cases. This is especially true if the books are exposed to moisture, making the material of the book even softer and more enticing for the insects to munch on. 

Bookworm damage.

In today’s world, electricity powered climate controlled environments and pest control usually prevent these insects from tearing into books. However, it is still important to keep an eye out for critters that might want to make a home in your beloved collection. The following are some actual bookworms and what you can do to prevent them.

Termites are famous for their destruction of wood and the rate at which they can do damage. According to the Cornell University Library Guide on Pest Control, termites eat anything made of cellulose, which includes wood, paper, binding cloth, and binding board materials. Tropical climates are especially at high risk for termites. Keep your personal library dry as possible! 

Beetles are known to love the bindings used for old books. Traditional glues used for book binding were very attractive to beetle species, but in the modern era this is less of a problem. Beetle larvae (young beetles) do more damage than their adult counterparts.

Cockroaches are also part of the bookworm gang. Yes, the most detested of all pests also love books. From Cornell University: “Cockroach damage can be recognized by multiple light patches on book cloth surfaces—sometimes down to the thread—and ragged edges on paper leaves.” The American cockroach hides during the day and comes out to do its damage at night. Prevention of cockroaches includes keeping an area clean, free of moisture, and eliminating cracks in walls. If you spot a roach, set out anti-cockroach bait traps purchased from a store or make your own using boric acid (Borax), sugar, and flour.

Silverfish also enjoy dark and moist areas. They especially enjoy the binding of books. They stick to eating the surface of paper rather than making tunnels, and they have a particular fondness for coated papers used in high quality printing. 

Book Lice, or psocids, are not actually lice. These insects eat fine molds that grow in humid spaces. There can be small trace amounts of mold on older books, cardboard boxes, and more. Luckily, they have no attraction to humans and are easily gotten rid of with pest control methods such as dehumidifying a space, cleaning with borax, and mold cleansers.

So, the next time you hear the word bookworm, know that bookworms aren’t necessarily humans, or cute green little worms with glasses, but actual insects that could damage your library. Prevent bookworms so you can keep being a bookworm!

Have a book for all the (human) bookworms out there? Contact us!

The post Getting to Know Some Actual Bookworms appeared first on Dorrance Publishing Company.

We enlisted the help of Amanda, a Dorrance Writing Coach, to get to know the program and it’s services a little better.

How long have you been a Dorrance Writing Coach?

I’ve been a writing coach for a year. 

What does a Writing Coach do?

A writing coach helps the author strengthen their work by providing advice and feedback on their manuscripts or a working idea that the author is looking to expand on and needs help with any ideas they have for the direction of their story, whether it’s nonfiction or fiction. 

How does the Dorrance Writing Coach process work? From beginning to end, what can a writer who enlists your services expect?  

The writing coach process is hands on and tailored to what the author needs help regarding their story. It starts with an extensive consultation via email or by phone where I ask them about their background, why they have decided to write their story and what kind of feedback they’re looking for. I usually work on completed manuscripts and provide my feedback using Track Changes on Microsoft Word or an Editorial Letter, depending on the author’s preference. 

Sometimes, the author might need help with an existing idea and I’ll help them with an outline or my professional opinion on potential ideas they might have on their story. It’s important that the author feels comfortable and the time is used so it suits them best. Sometimes, an email consultation is enough and other times they prefer to have an extensive phone conversation about what they need and respond to my feedback or it’s a mix of both. Regardless, the author lets me know what they need and we work together so that they can improve their story and make it the best it can be. 

What has been your most memorable experience as a Writing Coach?

It’s always incredibly rewarding to help writers with their stories! I once helped a high school principal on his memoir that he wrote for his young students so that they could learn from the adversity that he faced when he was their age and how he improved his life by studying and working hard. His memoir was inspirational and very funny! It was great helping him knowing his students and other readers would find his memoir helpful and inspiring. 

What are your biggest pieces of advice for writers?

My biggest piece of advice is to keep a writing schedule! The authors I work with are very talented but busy people and they have a hard time balancing their work, family, and writing. I would advise to take out 30 minutes or an hour a few days out of the week to only sit down and write since that discipline will make it easier to write consistently. 

If you would like to enlist the help of a Dorrance Writing Coach, contact us!

The post Dorrance Writing Coach 101 appeared first on Dorrance Publishing Company.

Name: Patrice Fentiman

Hometown: Spartanburg, SC

Book Title: Jamie’s Secret

Genre: Children’s/Spiritual

Dorrance Publishing (DP): Describe your book in 10 words or less:

Patrice Fentiman (PF): Jamie’s Secret is about a young girl’s discovery of magic.

DP: What made you want to write the book?:

PF: I wanted to offer support and recognition of children who experience the magic of seeing, hearing and knowing what others may not.  I was one such child.

DP: How long did it take you to write the book:

PF: Though the book was always a part of me, it took two years to complete my text and confirm my vision of the look of the book.

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

PF: There are three things that relieve my writer’s block: 1) walking in nature; 2) meditating; 3) dancing.  Any one or all of these things wipe my cluttered or cloudy brain right away.

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

PF: My favorite part of the story is when Jamie admits to having so many questions for the fairies and can barely contain her curiosity.

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

-One friend or family member:

PF: I would have my fiancé, Ron, with me.  He is an avid reader, has a huge imagination, is the original renaissance man and is honest in his criticism.

-One fictional character:

The Very Hungry Caterpillar because it was all about transformation and change for the good of all.

-One famous person (living or dead):

Maya Angelou because her life spanned decades of civil, social, political and environmental change and she could speak about ways that we can work together to create a more cooperative world.

DP: Besides writing, what are your other interests?

PF: Besides writing, I love to read, mentor children & young adults, play piano, sing and cook.

DP: Do you keep a journal?

PF: I do keep a journal but don’t write in it daily.

DP: How did you celebrate the publishing of your book?

PF: We had a family barbecue.

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

PF: As my book is the first of a series of books, this first book only includes three characters that spoke

Jamie –  Skye Dakota Turner

Jamie’s Mother –  Wunmi Mosaku

Jamie’s Grandmother – Aunjanue Ellis

Shaylee (Fairy) –   Hailey Kilgore

DP: What did you enjoy most about working with Dorrance Publishing?

PF: The most important aspect of the Dorrance Publishing relationship for me was in keeping editorial control of all aspects of my book.

DP: Five favorite books of all time?

PF: 1)   The Untethered Soul by Michael A. Singer

2)   The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

3)   The Very Hungry Caterpillar  by Eric Carle

4)   I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou

5)   The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying by Sogyal Rinpoche

DP: One sentence of advice for other writers:

PF: Though it may take a little while, allow yourself to fully see, hear, feel and know the story you are writing and why you are writing it.

Thank you, Patrice!

Ready to write your own children’s book? Contact us!

The post Author Spotlight: Patrice Fentiman appeared first on Dorrance Publishing Company.

Name: Stephen Rubino

Hometown: Washington, DC

Book Title: Act of Faith

Genre: Historical Fiction

Dorrance Publishing (DP): Describe your book in 10 words or less.

Stephen Rubino (SR): A behind the curtain look at the global abuse scandal.

DP: What made you want to write your book?

SR: The arc of all of the personalities that were involved in the scandal has never been put in one place for a dramatic presentation that are rooted in actual events. They needed to be. Unfortunately the toxicity of the sexual abuse cycle is permanent. Recovery from this is more akin to managing the randomness of the reoccurring memories as opposed to recovery as is generally understood. 

DP: How long did it take you to write your book?

SR: 4.5 years.

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

SR: I keep writing and visualize the dialog(the actual people  of the next scene. It usually works and gets things going again. I am also a big proponent of relaxing the conscious part of the brain and just before bedtime lay down with a belief that the writing problem will get worked through in the subconscious enough so to get a solution the next day. This has worked for me for over 40 years. May not work for anyone else but that is what I do.

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

SR: Chapter 8 Running Into the Darkness. Elizabeth is impulsive and for the first time she agrees to try and unpack her abuse memories with her first love who she has not seen in thirty years. Her first love happens to be a Catholic priest. Humor, awkwardness, despair, anger, resilience, determination and fear all come together in one chapter.

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

-One friend or family member:

SR: My Uncle Joe who was a master stone carver. Would want to know more of the story of his immigration from Italy and his training as a stone carver. I should have asked more questions when I had him in my life. 

-One fictional character:

SR: Jack Ryan from Tom Clancy novels.

-One famous person (living or dead):

SR: Coretta Scott King. From 2010-2013 I was CEO of the King Estate and managed the world wide rights of MLK’s intellectual property. After the assassination she raised four children that had experienced significant trauma. That is an amazing feat in my opinion. Would love to talk to her about that.

DP: Besides writing, what are your other interests?

SR: We make maple syrup in Vermont and I enjoy woodlot stewardship (400 acres) immensely.

DP: Do you keep a journal?

SR: Yes.

DP: How did you celebrate the publishing of your book?

SR: Did not celebrate, too early in the process.

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

SR: Jennifer Lawrence as Elizabeth, Colin Firth as Tom Atkinson, Ray Abruzzo as Anthony Courso.

DP: What did you enjoy most about working with Dorrance Publishing?

SR: The marketing. Both the cover and manuscript had been previously developed and professionally edited for content, substance and style prior to submission.

DP: Five favorite books of all time?

SR: No Ordinary Time by Doris Kearns Goodwin

T-Rex and the Crater of Doom Walter Alvarez

The Last Lion by William Manchester

Hunt for Red October Tom Clancy

Titan by Ron Chernow

DP: One sentence of advice for other writers:

SR: If you think you can’t, you won’t; if you think you can you will. I do not own that sentiment. It has appeared in dozens of places and differing formats, but is what I lived by and taught my children.

Thank you, Stephen!

Ready to start your journey to becoming a published author? Contact us!

The post Author Spotlight: Stephen Rubino appeared first on Dorrance Publishing Company.

You betcha.

Consider the following two sentences:

Michael serenaded Julie.  Julie was serenaded by Michael.

Same people involved, same action taking place. In the first sentence, however, Michael is the focus. Maybe you’re imagining Michael singing on a gondola in Naples or Michael at his local karaoke bar putting his best Michael Bolton foot forward. No matter how you’re imagining it, the sentence is about Michael. Julie might not even be there when you’re picturing what’s going on.

In the second sentence, however, you focus more on Julie being serenaded.  Maybe you picture her sitting in a gondola smiling sweetly at her beau. Perhaps you picture her uneasily squirming at the bar while Michael declares his undying love after one too many drinks. But the focus is on Julie and how she is reacting to Michael’s serenade.  In this instance, Michael might not even be in your mental image.

We’re not going to get into the grammatical sentence breakdown of active versus passive voice (you’re welcome). Instead, we’re going to give you four times when passive voice might be your better storytelling option.

When your emphasis is on the action, not the person performing the action.

I got fired.

You never want to come home from work and have to break the news to your spouse that you lost your job. While more than likely they’ll want more information, their follow up question is most likely going to be “What happened?” not “Who fired you?”

When your emphasis is on the object, not the person performing the action.

My daughter got a full scholarship to Harvard.

Mom’s friends probably don’t need to know that Harvard administrators combed through thousands of applications and decided her daughter was most deserving.  The full scholarship is what’s most important.

To describe a condition in which the person performing the action is not important.

Every year, hundreds of thousands of people are hospitalized with influenza.

It’s understood that doctors are diagnosing people with the flu and admitting them to the hospital. The focus of this sentence is a condition (being hospitalized by the flu).

To have an authoritative tone.

No trespassing.

Imagine a group of kids standing outside the creepiest house on the block, daring one another to run to the front porch, ring the doorbell and run away.  The yard is in utter disarray and a handmade “No Trespassing” sign has been firmly planted front and center, making it clear that unwanted visitors are not welcome. Now imagine the same scenario, but the sign reads, “The owner of this building requests you not trespass.” Doesn’t quite have the same ring to it, does it?

There is a time and a place for using passive voice. What’s the most important part of your sentence? The person doing the action, the action, or the person receiving the action?  One final tip: Don’t use passive voice as a way to downplay someone’s actions.  If your protagonist does something life-changing in your story, using passive voice makes it read much less important.

The post Is It Ever Okay To Use Passive Voice? appeared first on Dorrance Publishing Company.

Name:  

Hometown: Waterford, Connecticut

Book: The Growing-Tree

Genre: Women’s Fiction

Dorrance Publishing (DP): Describe your book in 10 words or less. 

Gwen Mariani (GM): A nature-inspired story about healing old family wounds.

DP: What made you want to write your book? 

GM: I found myself struggling to find my own voice within the strong dynamics of the family that I love.

DP: How long did it take you to write your book?

GM: Close to ten years, from concept to publication. It was a long journey of personal growth.

DP: How do you choose the names of your characters?

GM: I found most of the character names fit the characters themselves. Others were found during research for popular names of that decade. In the end, the names seem to flow with the storyline and time.

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

GM: I find when I get writer’s block it is because I am trying too hard to make it perfect. Taking a break, which could be hours or days, to work on something different like refinishing furniture or other creative projects gives me distance from the storyline and then I can go back to it with a fresh eye.

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

GM: I love to write about nature and the symbolism that surrounds us daily. When I had the opportunity to show how we are all reflections of nature (or it mirroring us), I truly feel connected to the wholeness of life. I am proud of the chapter “A Passing Year” as it gave me the opportunity to show the connection between nature and people as we move forward through time.

DP: If you were stuck on an island and had to have one character from your book, one fictional character, and one famous person with you, who would they be and why? 

GM: One character from my book: Auntie El, because she is the wise, kind soul that I believe everyone needs in their life. One fictional character: Sven from Frozen because I always need to be around animals and who wouldn’t want a reindeer as a friend? One famous person: Oprah Winfrey because I would love to talk with her for hours, soul to soul.

DP: Besides writing, what are your other interests? 

GM: I love refinishing and recreating furniture as a creative outlet. Doing anything that allows me to be creative makes me happy. Being with nature for long walks or sitting on the beach reading is always a gift. I am also a student of the spiritual arts, which allows me to dive deeper into the meaning of life. Through Oracle cards, meditation, and journaling, I find guidance through some of life’s most challenging moments.

DP: Do you keep a journal? 

GM: Yes. I find journaling can be a place for spiritual connection, a space where my creativity can come alive on paper, and sometimes a dumping ground for when I’m feeling overwhelmed and anxious. Either way, it is a practice that has helped and inspired me for years.

DP: How did you celebrate the publishing of your book?

GM: Simply. My husband and I went to a relaxing dinner and toasted that I was finally a published author. It was a goal set long ago, with many ups and downs along the way, so the excitement of it being in print and being read by others is something I feel blessed for and celebrate every day.

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

GM: I have always pictured Renee Zellweger. I think there is a natural beauty and way about her that could capture the thought-provoked, down-to-earth character of Lizzi.

DP: What did you enjoy most about working with Dorrance Publishing?

GM: I enjoyed learning the ins and outs of the publishing process and the excitement of each step that got the manuscript ready for its debut. Dorrance Publishing has guided me along the way through content editing, cover design, and marketing. I am proud to present my first novel to the world through Dorrance Publishing.

DP: Five favorite books of all time? 

GM: When I have time to read, I lean towards books that help me to understand and learn more about myself and my relationships with others. These are some of my favorite books that I keep in my library: A New Earth by Eckhart Tolle, Steering by Starlight by Martha Beck, Soul Shifts by Dr. Barbara De Angelis, Energy Strands by Denise Lynn, and The Game of Life and How to Play It by Florence Scovel Shinn.

DP: One sentence of advice for other writers?

GM: Keep writing! When you love what you do, the creation that comes from it can’t help but be magical.

Are you ready to publish your book? Contact us today!

The post Author Spotlight: Gwen Mariani appeared first on Dorrance Publishing Company.

Hometown: Stuart, FL

Book: Wish

Genre: Fiction

Dorrance Publishing (DP): Describe your book in 10 words or less. 

C. Dow Moore (CDM): Wish is the story of a man and the adventures he has to become the father his son deserves.

DP: What made you want to write your book? 

CDM: My son encouraged me to write the book after hearing countless stories of my childhood growing up in Florida.

DP: How long did it take you to write your book?

CDM: The book itself took me eight months to write, from outline to final edit. However, my story had been forming over the course of ten years.

DP: How do you choose the names of your characters?

CDM: I created the names of the characters using variations of my friends and family. One day I was cut off in traffic and the license plate said, “CRAZY YAZ.” So, he’s in there, too.

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

CDM: When I have writer’s block, I go out on a run or long walk.

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

CDM: The last chapter was my favorite to write because it wraps up the whole story.

DP: If you were stuck on an island and had to have one character from your book, one fictional character, and one famous person with you, who would they be and why? 

CDM: One character from my book: Mr. Lucas. Because of his background, he would have endless stories to tell.

One fictional character: Yoda because, hey, he knows the Force!

One famous person: Robin Williams because he would always keep me laughing and I love to laugh.

DP: Besides writing, what are your other interests? 

CDM: My interests include songwriting and playing music.

DP: Do you keep a journal? 

CDM: I do not keep a journal.

DP: How did you celebrate the publishing of your book?

CDM: I threw a book release/Christmas party at my house with co-workers from my job.

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

CDM: Colin Hanks would play the main character, Scott Cooper.

DP: What did you enjoy most about working with Dorrance Publishing?

CDM: The best part of my experience with Dorrance was working with my Project Coordinator, Sheila.

DP: Five favorite books of all time? 

CDM: Skin Tight, Tourist Season, Cat’s Cradle, Weaveworld, and Age and Guile

DP: One sentence of advice for other writers?

CDM: Stay true to yourself.

Are you ready to publish your book? Contact us today!

The post Author Spotlight: C. Dow Moore appeared first on Dorrance Publishing Company.