PUYB Author Talks: ⭐A Bookish Conversation with 'The Dance We Shared' David Tindell⭐ #interview

 

 

 

David Tindell was born in Germany and grew up in southwest Wisconsin. Together with his wife Sue, he’s traveled the world, seeking new locales for his novels. He trains in the martial arts, dabbles in radio and joins Sue in the never-ending search for the perfect chai tea latte.

His latest book is The Dance We Shared (Book 3 in Men of Honor). Other books include The Heights of Valor (Book 1 in Men of Honor) and The Man In the Arena (Book 2 in Men of Honor.

Visit his website at www.davidtindellauthor.com. 

Connect with him on social media at:

╰┈➤ X: www.x.com/davidtindell1 

╰┈➤ Facebook: www.facebook.com/DavidTindellAuthor 

╰┈➤ Instagram: www.instagram.com/djtindellauthor 

 

Can you tell us a little about yourself? Are you a full-time author?

I retired from Federal service several years ago, but continued to work part-time in radio, my first profession. I’d written some short stories and an unpublished novel while in college, but then real life intervened, so they stayed in my files. Then one evening my wife was reading a paperback and tossed it aside. “You can write better than this junk,” she said. I decided to prove her right. The result was The White Vixen, my first published novel.

Can you tell us about The Dance We Shared (Men of Honor Book 3)?

The series is about men placed in situations where their personal honor is tested. How will they respond? Will they take the easy way out, as so many people do these days? Or will they do what it takes to meet the challenge?

In The Dance We Shared, we meet Ben Fletcher, radio announcer, age 54. He’s been single for a long time, has a good job, lives alone, trains in the martial arts, and tries not to think of Vernoica Starr, the glamorous TV host he loved — and lost — 20 years ago. Ronnie walked out on him after he made a foolish choice. She married another man and moved away.

One day, Ben is cleaning out a file cabinet in his office when he discovers an envelope. Inside is a card, with a phone number and a short message, in Ronnie’s handwriting: “Please help me.” Then he looks at the envelope and sees that it was postmarked five years ago…just before Ronnie disappeared.

 

Can you tell us a little about the characters?

Ben Fletcher was the top-rated radio announcer in La Crosse, Wis., when he met Ronnie. Recently divorced with two small children, Ben fell hard for the TV morning news anchor when they co-hosted a charity telethon. Things went well for a year and a half. There was talk of marriage and a child together, and then one night when Ronnie was out of town on assignment, Ben made a selfish choice.

Veronica Starr, the city’s most-watched TV news personality, seemed to recover quickly from her devastating discovery. She met an older man, a banker, married him after a short romance and soon moved with him to the Twin Cities, where she quickly rose to the top of the TV ratings again, getting notice from national networks. But as exciting as her professional life was, her home life was dull and suffocating. She often thought of Ben, and what they might’ve had together if she had just found the strength to forgive him.

Ben has moved on as best he can, getting a new job at the local university, spending his spare time weightlifting, swimming and training in taekwondo. Reasonably content, he’s starting to think about retirement, but memories of Ronnie won’t fade away. A day hasn’t gone by without regrets for what he did, but as time passes, so do his chances to make things right…or so he thinks, until the day he finds Ronnie’s five-year-old call for help.

Where is this book set and why did you choose that location?

As a native of Wisconsin, I like to set my stories in my beautiful state and its neighbors. We start in La Crosse, a charming city on the Mississippi, drop in on the Twin Cities, and then move to Wisconsin’s northwest, to the village of Birchwood, near where I lived for more than three decades. The novel then takes the reader farther north, to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, where Ben’s quest reaches its climax.

 

How can people benefit from reading The Dance We Shared?

Those of us lucky enough to still be with the love of their life, like I am, can remember a time when things were shaky. I don’t know any men who want to wind up like the guy in the Garth Brooks song, looking back on the memories of the dance he shared with the love of his life, knowing that it would end. Writing the novel took me back to a time early in my relationship with Sue, when it looked like we wouldn’t make it. But we did, and remembering those times, as tough as they were, can make us appreciate what we have. And for those who lost their loves, perhaps the story can give them some hope. It wasn’t too late for Ben, and maybe it won’t be for the reader whose dance ended way too soon.

Is this your only book?

Dance is my tenth published novel. I have four in my White Vixen series, which follows USAF special operator Jo Ann Geary through the 1980s into the early 90s. There are three in my Quest series, about middle-aged Wisconsin brothers Jim and Mark Hayes, partners in a security firm, and their adventures with their wives. Last but certainly not least are the first two entries in Men of Honor. In The Heights of Valor, modern-day Army officer Jake Dawson seeks inspiration and guidance from the diary of his great-grandfather Charles, who fought with Teddy Roosevelt and the Rough Riders in the Spanish-American War. And then we have The Man in the Arena, set in modern-day Crawford County, in Wisconsin’s beautiful Driftless Region. Air Force officer Scott Armstrong, forced into early retirement after his marriage implodes and a mission goes sideways, goes back to his boyhood home along the Mississippi, where he starts rebuilding his life. He meets beautiful divorcee Beth, and things start looking up, despite the presence of a drug gang which is poisoning the county, staying two steps ahead of the police. But when the gang turns its attention to trafficking, and its first target is Beth’s teenage daughter, Scott decides its time to be the man his late grandfather always wanted him to be.

 

Thank you so much for this interview, David. What’s next for you?

My wife and I are in the midst of a move from Wisconsin’s Northwest down into the Driftless, so it’s an exciting time. I still don’t have radio out of my system, so I’ll be dabbling in that down here. As for writing, I’m already starting to plot out my next novels: Man on a Mission (Men of Honor book 4), Quest for Justice (Quest book 4), and The Black Orca (White Vixen book 5).

Where to purchase the book:

The ebook is on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3T01SNz

Where to find David:

www.davidtindellauthor.com

www.facebook.com/DavidTindellAuthor

www.instagram.com/djtindellauthor

Inside the Book

Ben Fletcher seems to have it all going for him. In his early fifties, he’s in great shape thanks to a disciplined regimen of weight training, swimming and martial arts. He has a job that pays him a good living in the charming Wisconsin city of La Crosse. Divorced a quarter-century earlier, he remains close to his two grown children and grandkids. Ben is content with his life.

But he’s not happy. Twenty years ago, he was, during that glorious year and a half he was dating the glamorous Veronica Starr. They were an “item”: Ben, the city’s highest-rated radio announcer, and Ronnie, an award-winning TV newscaster. They were starting to talk about the future, one that would include marriage and kids. But then, Ben made a stupid mistake, and it all came crashing down. Ronnie broke off the relationship, met an older man and married him. Within a year she was gone, moving with her new husband to the Twin Cities. Ben had no choice but to move on with his life the best he could.

One day, he’s cleaning out a file cabinet in his office and finds an old catalog. Before throwing it out, he riffles through its pages, and an envelope drops onto his desk. Opening it, he finds a card. In handwriting he immediately recognizes as Ronnie’s are a phone number and the words, “Please help me.” When he looks again at the envelope he sees the postmark: it had been sent five years earlier…just before Veronica Starr left her husband, quit her job and disappeared. 

David’s latest book is The Dance We Shared (Men of Honor Book 3).

╰┈➤Book Details

● Title: The Dance We Shared (Men of Honor Book 3)

● Author: David Tindell

● Genre: Romantic Suspense

● Language:English

● Pages: 229

● Publisher: KDP

● Publication Date: August 9, 2026

● Price: Kindle $2.99

PUYB Author Talks: ⭐A Bookish Conversation with 'Parallel Universe Saga' Randy C. Dockens⭐ #interview

 

 

 

Dr. Randy C. Dockens has a fascination with science and with the Bible, holds Ph.D. degrees in both areas, and is a man not only of faith and science, but also of creativity. He believes that faith and science go hand in hand without being enemies of each other.

After completing his bachelor’s degree in pharmacy from Auburn University he went on to graduate school at Auburn and completed his first doctorate degree in Pharmaceutics. He began his scientific career as a pharmacokinetic reviewer for the Food and Drug Administration and later joined a leading pharmaceutical company as a pharmacokineticist, which is a scientist who analyzes how the human body affects drugs after they have been administered (i.e, absorbed, distributed, metabolized, and excreted).

Through the years, he has worked on potential medicines within several disease areas, including cardiovascular, fibrosis, and immunoscience to seek and develop new and novel medicines in these therapy areas.

He has also had his attention on the academic study of the Bible. He earned a second doctorate in Biblical Prophecy from Louisiana Baptist University after receiving a master’s degree in Jewish Studies from the Internet Bible Institute under the tutelage of Dr. Robert Congdon.

Randy has recently retired from his pharmaceutical career and is spending even more time on his writing efforts. He has written several books that span dystopian (The Coded Message Trilogy), end-time prophecy (Stele Prophecy Pentalogy), science fiction (Erabon Prophecy Trilogy), uniquely told Bible stories (The Adversary Chronicles), speculative fiction (Cities of Light Series), and a combination of science fiction / speculative fiction (Parallel Universe Saga). All his books, while fun to read, are futuristic, filled with science to give them an authentic feel, have a science fiction feel to them, and allows one to learn some aspect of Biblical truth one may not have thought about before. This is all done in a fast-paced action format that is both entertaining and provides a fun read for his readers.

He has also written some nonfiction books as well. One is to show how all humans are connected from God’s viewpoint by looking at biblical prophecy (Why is a Gentile World Tied to a Jewish Timeline?: The Question Everyone Should Ask). This book shows how all scripture is connected and inclusive of everyone. In addition, he and his editor have written two books about writing. The first is on writing techniques themselves and is entitled Mastering the ABCs of Excellent Writing: Creating Vivid and Colorful Stories that Readers Want to Read. This book not only addresses the techniques of writing, but what makes writing unique to each author. It conveys not only how to better hone one’s craft of writing but also the brand an author wants to portray. This helps an author make their writing unique as well as captivating for his/her audience. The second is a companion book to this one entitled Mastering the ABCs of Excellent Self-Editing: Framing Your Colorful Masterpiece to Keep Readers Engaged in Your Story. This is best used in conjunction with the first one. Yet, self-editing, though intricately connected to writing, is a distinct event. The better the quality of a writer’s draft manuscript when it is delivered to one’s editor, the higher the final quality of the manuscript will be for readers, and that is extremely important.

Dr. Dockens still has creative ideas to share so stay tuned! 

Dr. Dockens’  latest books are Retrieving the Future & Resolving the Future (Books 1 & 2 in the Parallel Universe Saga Series)

Visit his website at https://www.randydockens.com.

Connect with him on social media at:

╰┈➤ X: www.x.com/RandyCDockens

╰┈➤ Facebook: www.facebook.com/Randy.C.Dockens

╰┈➤ Instagram: Randy C Dockens (@randydockens) | Instagram

╰┈➤ Goodreads: Randy C. Dockens (Author of T-H-B) | Goodreads

 

Can you tell us a little about yourself? Are you a full time author?

I have always had a fascination with science and with the Bible. I hold Ph.D. degrees in both pharmacokinetics (the study of how drugs work in the body) and in biblical prophecy. While the scientific area became my career, my creative side has always had a way to bubble to the surface. Writing fiction novels, with science interwoven to give them a feeling of authenticity, became a way for me to release that creativity.

After completing my bachelor’s degree in pharmacy from Auburn University, I went on to graduate school at Auburn and completed my first doctorate in Pharmaceutics (with an emphasis in pharmacokinetics). I began my scientific career as a pharmacokinetic reviewer for the Food and Drug Administration and later joined a leading pharmaceutical company as a pharmacokineticist, which is a scientist who analyzes how the human body affects drugs after then have been administered (i.e., absorbed, distributed, metabolized, and excreted), and describe this using mathematical formulae. Through the years, I have worked on potential medicines within several disease areas: cardiovascular, fibrosis, and immunoscience to seek and develop new and novel medicines in these therapy areas.

I was also drawn to the academic study of the Bible and earned a second doctorate in Biblical Prophecy from Louisiana Baptist University after receiving my master’s degree in Jewish Studies from the Internet Bible Institute under the tutelage of Dr. Robert Congdon.

I have recently retired from my pharmaceutical career and am spending even more time on my writing efforts. All my books are futuristic, contain scientific elements to give them an authentic feel, and have a science fiction feel to them. I want readers to go on an adventure with my stories and hopefully get an understanding of some type of biblical truth they may not have considered before.

Can you tell us about The Parallel Universe Saga?

The Parallel Universe Saga is composed of two novels. The first is entitled, Retrieving the Future. In this book, the main character, Declan, is a self-proclaimed interdimensional interloper, traveling to parallel Earths to retrieve futuristic cutting-edge technology for his employer. It’s profitable work, and he doesn’t ask questions. Stealing technology from parallel Earths was supposed to make Declan rich. Instead, it might destroy everything.

Declan befriends an amazing humanoid robot, Lyle, on one of this parallel Earth trips and brings him home to create his idea of an ultimate AI (artificial intelligence) android. That’s when everything unravels!

Suddenly, Declan’s coworkers and company leaders want him dead, his girlfriend, Rose, is in danger, and the only way to survive is to discover what his missions were really about — a secret conspiracy linking corporate greed to some of Scripture’s end-time prophecies. To discover that connection, the AI he created sends him and Rose on a parallel Earth mission together, a mission unsanctioned by the company’s Board.

In Book 2, Resolving the Future, Declan discovers the secret to his parallel Earth visits . . . and it’s not good.

This other parallel Earth lies within a time dilation field which severs his and Rose’s connection to their world. Another way to get back must be found. He discovers why his company’s Board sanctions his trips to parallel earths, and this discovery not only puts his life and that of Rose in danger, but basically everyone he has worked with at his company.

Once he and Rose return to their Earth, all has changed. Only his robot friend, Lyle, has remained unchanged. The AI android he created, and who sent him on his off-world mission, is now in control of the company, has his boss and the Board under its sway, has no knowledge of his unsanctioned mission, and now considers Declan enemy number one. Declan now has to convince a company blinded by greed that they’ve created humanity’s executioner — and do that before there’s no future left to fight for.

 

Can you tell us a little about the characters?

Declan Anderson has an outgoing personality and an adventurous spirit. He is employed by Icharus Technologies, a firm which has him go on parallel Earth missions to retrieve advanced technologies that the company can reverse engineer and sell to the public for profit. His personality is the type which tries to be a friend to all and is the reason he even befriends an AI robot on one of his trips.

Lyle is an artificial intelligence robot on a parallel Earth that Declan meets in a clothing store. Over time, their relationship becomes close and Declan treats him as his best friend. Their frequent interactions and discussions cause Lyle’s programming to advance more than it otherwise would have. Because of their friendship, Lyle returns to Declan’s Earth with him and helps him build one of the most advanced AI androids Decan’s Earth has ever achieved.

Rose Mathews becomes Declan’s girlfriend. She was originally employed by a rival company but comes to work at Icharus Technologies where she and Declan fall in love with each other. She is the one who runs the machine that sends Declan on his missions. She originally meets Declan on a parallel Earth when she worked at this rival company visiting the same parallel Earth Declan visits but from a different timeline. Declan doesn’t realize she is from his Earth until he gets back from his mission.

Where are these two books set and why did you choose that location?

These two books take place on two different parallel Earths and on our Earth. The city and state where they leave from and arrive on the other worlds are not mentioned because is it the parallel Earths that are the main focus. For the storyline of the novel to progress, technology currently not available on our Earth is needed. Parallel Earth travel allows the story to obtain advanced technology and build an android with sophisticated AI programming which can look extremely human.

 

How can people benefit from reading your series?

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has become a very hot topic in our newsfeeds today. There are some who are happy with how quickly this technology is advancing while others are very skeptical, and fearful, of such technology and feel it is advancing too quickly without enough safeguards in place. Our society needs to grapple with this concern of such new technology arising quickly in or world. One of the main concerns is how to avoid human bias in a technology that needs all types of information in so many different areas to derive answers and provide information that is required of it. It is my opinion that if we are going to rely on something giving us information that we are going to assume is valid, it should have access to all information and not just information some human decided to supply to it. Only then can it come to valid and unbiased conclusions using all information at its disposal.

Are these your only books?

I have written several books that span dystopian (The Coded Message Trilogy), end-time prophecy (Stele Prophecy Pentalogy), science fiction (Erabon Prophecy Trilogy), uniquely told Bible stories (The Adversary Chronicles), speculative fiction (Cities of Light Series), and my current release of a combination of science fiction and speculative fiction (The Parallel Universe Saga).

I have also written some nonfiction books as well. One is to show how all humans are connected from God’s viewpoint by looking at biblical prophecy (Why is a Gentile World Tied to a Jewish Timeline?: The Question Everyone Should Ask). This book shows how all scripture is connected and inclusive of everyone. In addition, I and my editor have written two books about writing and editing. The first is on writing techniques and is entitled, Mastering the ABCs of Excellent Writing: Creating Vivid and Colorful Stories that Readers Want to Read. This book not only addresses the techniques of writing, but what makes writing unique to each author. It conveys not only how to better hone one’s craft of writing but also the brand an author wants to portray. This helps an author make their writing unique as well as captivating for his/her audience. The second is a companion book to this one entitled, Mastering the ABCS of Excellent Self-Editing: Framing Your Colorful Masterpiece to Keep Readers Engaged in Your Story. This is best used in conjunction with the first one. Yet, self-editing, though intricately connected to writing, is a distinct event. The better the quality of a writer’s draft manuscript when it is delivered to one’s editor, the higher the final quality of the manuscript will be for readers, and that is extremely important.

 

Thank you so much for this interview, Randy. What’s next for you?

My main focus going forward will be on marketing this series and my other series as well. I have additional ideas of where my creativity could take me but have not decided which direction to take as yet.

The Parallel Universe Saga (including Retrieving the Future Book 1 & Resolving the Future Book 2) is available at Amazon and the author’s website.

Inside the Books

In Book 1, Retrieving the Future, Declan befriends an amazing humanoid robot, Lyle, on one of his parallel Earth trips and brings him home to create his idea of an ultimate AI. That’s when everything unravels!

Suddenly Declan’s coworkers and company leaders want him dead, his girlfriend Rose is in danger, and the only way to survive is to discover what his missions were really about—a secret conspiracy linking corporate greed to some of Scripture’s endtime prophecies. To discover that connection, the AI he created sends him and Rose on a parallel Earth mission together, a mission unsanctioned by the company’s Board.

In Book 2, Resolving the Future, Declan discovers the secret to his parallel Earth visits …. and it’s not good.

This other parallel Earth lies within a time dilation field which severs his and Rose’s connection to their world. Another way to get back must be found. He discovers why his company’s Board sanctions his trips to parallel Earths and this discovery not only puts his life and that of Rose in danger, but basically everyone he has worked with at his company.

Once he and Rose return to their Earth, all has changed. Only his robot friend, Lyle, has remained unchanged. The AI he created and who sent him on his off-world mission is now in control of the company, has his boss and the Board under its sway, has no knowledge of his unsanctioned mission, and now considers Declan enemy number one. Declan now has to convince a company blinded by greed that they’ve created humanity’s executioner— and do that before there’s no future left to fight for.

PUYB Author Talks: ⭐A Bookish Conversation with 'The Siren of Paris' David LeRoy⭐ #interview

 

 

 

David LeRoy is an author and avid explorer of the intersection of philosophy, psychology, and art. His debut novel, The Siren of Paris, is a poignant work that emerged from personal family research he undertook in 2010 to locate missing persons of WWII.

LeRoy’s fluency in French and two-year sojourn in France afforded him unique insights into the French culture he deftly weaves into his literary work. With a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy and Religion, an MBA from California State University Sacramento, and an MSc. Applied Data Science from Paris, France, LeRoy is a polymath with diverse interests and an insatiable curiosity for knowledge.

He currently resides in California, where he continues to write and pursue his creative passions.

Connect with him on social media at:

╰┈➤ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thesirenofparis

╰┈➤ Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/14760740-the-siren-of-paris?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=v6UbhLIMmb&rank=1

 

Can you tell us a little about yourself? Are you a full time author?

Today, I am just an average Middle Age American Male. I once worked in Telecommunications in various management roles. My formal education is in Philosophy and Religion from a small private Christian college named Point Loma Nazarene College. I also hold an MBA from California State University of Sacramento and a MSc. in Data Analytics from France. My interest in writing stories came later in my life. Instead of a degree program, I attended workshops to advance my story crafting abilities. I adore the study of depth psychology of Carl Jung.

Can you tell us about The Siren of Paris?

The story follows a soul’s transition after death and the war is treated as a life review. This point of view makes the story unique and adds the magical realism elements to the plot. Most of the World War Two Genre is a hero’s journey and treats the war as a testing ground where heroes are made against the evil Germans. Romanticized stories have dominated the fiction of the war in the past twenty years. The Siren of Paris is a story of betrayal within a world of utter moral chaos. This is the second edition, with small minor edits to scenes to sharpen the moralistic tone. The question which the work addresses is the following: Can a soul find rest after such a war?

 

Can you tell us a little about the characters?

Marc Tolbert is the lead protagonist. He was born at the end of World War One. His family was wealthy and he chooses to study in Europe after a nasty break from a girlfriend in 1938. He is common as there were 1000’s of Americans traveling back and forth between Europe at the outbreak of the war. Once the war began, most found themselves trapped by the circumstances with many never surviving. The characters of the Siren are historical people, some famous at the time, operating within the normal context of the war. This also includes all the animals which appear in the story, most of all the white Angora rabbit on the RMS Lancastria.

Where is this book set and why did you choose that location?

I was involved in missing person’s research of the war for my family. Most of the facts of the war presented in The Siren of Paris I had no idea of when I started my search. Our stories of the war are mythic and often focused upon military campaigns. The facts that I undiscovered when searching revealed a war that was a moral apocalypse of unimaginable scale. As an example, as before the fall of Paris, the city was inundated by fleeing refugees of Belgium and Netherlands. This included live stock in the form of sheep, cows, pigs and goats. Paris was bombed with leaflets promising to close all banks sending the public into a panic. Everyone became a target including a traveling circus on the road leaving Paris.

 

How can people benefit from reading The Siren of Paris?

There are several benefits to reading The Siren of Paris. First, it is the only novel that I am aware of that treats certain acts of the war, such as the sinking of RMS Lancastria realistically. Romanticized stories of the war are entertaining however are not accurate representations of the true chaos, moral failures of people, and events of the war. The story appears to have a healing effect of closure for those with family members who have experienced tragedies.

Is The Siren of Paris your only book?

Today it is the only work in public, but I am currently in editing phase of a second novel title The Flower of Chamula. The new story addresses the topic of generational trauma, war, and massacres of the innocents. It is set during the Mexican uprising of the Zapatista during the 1990s.

Thank you so much for this interview, David. What’s next for you?

I have started research into a new historical horror fiction work of the 1970’s. A few of the books that provide the research materials are rare and several hundred dollars. The zeitgeist of the period is one of political and social uncertainty. The protagonist is a young FBI officer who finds himself among a group of Western Ranchers seeking to protect their cattle at night from a terrifying force. The accounts are fascinating as well as government documentation. Every cow multination was given full autopsy. Everyone wants to know, but also has a direct interest in covering up the truth.

Inside the Book

Journey through the dark, violent, and haunting landscape of World War II in Paris and beyond – Take on a harrowing tour through the depths of human depravity, exploring themes of love, loss, guilt, and redemption in this gripping historical tale.

Marc Tolbert, a young French-born man from a prominent American family, takes off to Paris for a fresh start after a breakup in 1939. Pursuing his dreams of attending a prestigious Parisian art school, he soon makes friends with some of history’s most notable figures, including Sylvia Beach and William Bullitt. Falling in love with an art model from one of his classes, he is blinded to the escalating violence around them as the war inches closer to the City of Lights.

What started as an adventure quickly becomes a nightmare as the war worsens, and Marc is faced with choices that will change his life forever.

When he finally faces the reality that he must leave Paris, fate deals him a cruel hand. Surviving the sinking of the RMS Lancastria, Marc is haunted by the deaths of his friends and the regret of not leaving sooner.

Returning to Paris, Marc is drawn into the resistance movement, risking everything to help those trapped behind enemy lines. But after being betrayed, he is captured and sent away to face the horrors of war and the guilt of his past mistakes.

The Siren of Paris is a powerful and emotional story that will keep you on the edge of your seat. With its compelling plot-driven narrative, vivid scenes, and intense action, this novel will transport you to the heart of war-torn Paris and leave you contemplating the weight of human choices and their impact on others. Whether you’re a fan of historical fiction, war stories, or symbolic themes, this novel will captivate and intrigue you from start to finish.

The Siren of Paris is available at Amazon.

*****

╰┈➤Book Details

• Genre: Historical Fiction
• Sub-genre: Magical Realism
• Language:English
• Pages: 352
• Paperback ISBN: 978-0983966715

╰┈➤Here’s What Readers Have To Say!

“The soul of this book is found in LeRoy’s analysis of human nature through the main character. There really is nothing like a life-or-death situation that can split human nature so cleanly and show us what being human really means. The author shows us how a person can be completely changed from this experience, how in a few short years, in a few short moments, or even in a split second, everything can become drastically different. This book is suited for those with a love for history and those with a love for fiction alike. This novel brought tears to my eyes and left me with a more enlightened heart, so it is with absolute pleasure that I say The Siren of Paris is highly recommended.” – Boyu Huang, Allbooks Review Int.

“I’ve just finished reading Siren of Paris by David LeRoy and it’s a story that will stay with me for a while. It has a complex, well developed plotline and presents the story in a tantalising way. I’ve read quite a few books set during the Second World War… this one especially gripped me.” – Dianne Ascroft Ascroft 

PUYB Author Talks: ⭐A Bookish Conversation with 'The Welcome Sign' Barbara Jean Weber⭐ #interview

 

 

 

Barbara Jean Weber lives in Skagit County with her husband and two daughters, where she works as a speech and language therapist. Her novel, The Welcome Sign, was inspired when she was gifted a mermaid welcome sign. The more she studied the sign, the more her story evolved. She is currently an active member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators.

Visit her website at https://www.barbarajeanweber.com/. 

 

Can you tell us a little about yourself? Are you a full time author?

Sure, my (writers) name is Barbara Jean Weber. I’m 55 years old and love writing. I’m married, this year will be 29 years with my wonderful husband. We met in college and currently live in beautiful Skagit County, Washington with our two lovely daughters, a cat and 2 grand cats. I’m a full time Speech Language Pathologist since 2001 and enjoy writing in my spare time. Some of my hobbies include spending time with friends and family, reading, writing and being a pen-pal. I enjoy water aerobics, rubberstamping and any craft that involves a glue gun. We LOVE THE SEA and try to get to the Oregon or Washington coast at least once a year. When I was young my family lived in New Zealand. We lived there for six years and that’s where I gained a great love for mermaids and seashells. I am the youngest of three kids, having an older brother and older sister.

Can you tell us about The Welcome Sign?

The Welcome Sign’s creation began when I received a beautiful Mermaid Welcome Sign as a gift. I love mermaids and my parents had found a lovely sign with a Mermaid on it. The store was going out of business so they purchased the sign for me. After I received it as a gift, I had a series of incredible dreams that became the basis for the story “The Welcome Sign.” The Welcome Sign was written as the first book in a series of three. The second book is written but not published and the third book is still being developed and is in outline form.

The Welcome Sign begins when Molly Parmell’s grandmother mysteriously disappears. She and her mother travel to Cape Cod to take ownership of the house they inherited and begin to discover unusual things about the grandmother’s sudden disappearance. What they discover is more dangerous and life changing than they ever imaged. When Molly and her mother find a beautiful mermaid Welcome Sign in the attic and place it on the front door strange events start to happen and they are flooded with visitors who claim they knew the grandmother. They soon find out that the mysterious Welcome Sign comes with powerful magic and secrets are slowly revealed as Molly learns about her grandmothers involvement with a secret organization working to keep balance between the magical realm and the real world. The magical realms placed an invisible veil of secrecy over the world to hide their true identities from the human world allowing them to live among the humans in secret. An angry rebel group of magical beings, tired of living in hiding is tearing down and destroying the magical cloaking fabric between the two worlds. If they are not stopped the magical realm will be revealed and will no longer be safe from the rest of the world. As Molly and her mom embark on a dangerous and magical adventure throughout the magical realms to help stop the rebels, she learns of her own unique powers and her strong family heritage connected to the Welcome Sign. Along the way, she teams up with new magical friends helping to keep the realm of magic safe from the eyes of the world and discovers that her grandmother was right all along. The world she thought she knew no longer exists, but an amazing world of magic woven into their world has always been hiding in plain sight.

Can you tell us a little about the characters?

Margaret Ellen: Molly’s grandmother who disappears-In her 60’s. Descendent of the special bloodline of the first union of merfolk and humans. Molly and Angela do not know about her magical past. Margaret is a special friend to the magical beings. Worked undercover for the Rebels to find out their secrets. She has been hidden away due to the dangers increasing with the rebels. She has been working with the magical community for many years. Her husband was killed early on in their marriage in a battle with rebels.

Angela Parmell: Mom to Molly- In her late 30’s. Single/widowed mom, reserved, not adventurous at all. Very close to her daughter, very skeptical of the unknown. Angela enjoys a calm, peaceful lifestyle, nothing wild or adventurous. She also has some magical powers but doesn’t know about them. She is a very kind and generous lady. Very likable and encourages Molly to have a relationship with her grandmother.

Molly Parmell : Angela’s 10 year old daughter- adventurous, brown haired girl, always exploring, owns a cat: Cuddles. Dad left when she was 2. Very close to her mom and grandmother. Similar personality to her grandmother. She is always seeking adventure, action. Has powerful magic like her grandmother but doesn’t know it initially.

Michael Parmell (Merman)-had to leave the family due to danger of the rebels hurting them. Angela and Molly don’t know that he’s a merman. He was killed. Michael was a Protector sent to watch over Angela and Molly. Fell in love, asked to be reassigned as Angela’s guardian. When Molly was born, he knew he couldn’t reveal his true identity to them because it could potentially put them both in too much danger. Michael had just made the decision to tell Angela and Molly everything. He had even decided to stop working for the magical realm so they could finally be a real family. Died in a car accident.

Garreth Simmons: Protector of Molly and her mom. Molly and Angela’s landlord, mid 60’s, Owns the rundown house. More like a father figure to Molly and her mom. He has some history with Margaret and was asked to protect and watch over the Parmells.

Trista Deevins: One of the main Magical Guardians to Molly and Angela. She is a mermaid but now lives on land as a guardian. She is one of their neighbors-sent to keep an eye on the Parmells and keep them out of danger. Trista is stunningly beautiful and she has the same piercing green eyes as her son, Taran. Her long black hair is pulled to the side and braided over one shoulder.

Taran Deevins –Trista’s son. One of the magical guardians. He befriends Molly. Taran is very adventurous. He has long, black hair, eyes are green as the grass. He is about 11 years old.

Crystal Perkins — Investigative reporter-works for Warren Tracer. She has short, black curly hair. Crystal is tall and slender. In her early thirties.

Warren Tracer — He is investigating strange and unusual events happening in the city. He is in his mid-late 60’s. Beard, dark brown hair, handsome, rugged, in good shape.

Valis Tar — He becomes the leader of the rebel group. Tall, muscular, long dark hair. Dressed completely in black. He wears a long faded black overcoat that comes to his knees. He wears long, black boots worn and dusty, black, leather gloves.

THE CONCLAVE: Is the main council of the three magical realms (water, sky and land) .

Caylius Aquarus-Empress, Ruler of the Water Realm — Beautiful mermaid but can change to look human. Accompanied by 2 guards on each side of her. Long golden hair with highlights of light brown. Wears strands of pearls draped over her shoulders and entwined in her hair. As a human: Wears a tight fitted bodice shimmering with blue and green with a long flowing skirt of aquamarine. Attached to the back of the dress is a lightweight cape of iridescent, aquamarine colored fabric that trails elegantly behind her. She wears a small pearl covered crown, her hair swept up into a loose bun. The bun is entwined with pearls and seaweed like strands. Ringlets of hair hanging down, giving the Empress a soft, warm look. She wears a clear strand of beads like bubbles around her neck. Kind and elegant.

Atamos Nimbus — Rulers of the Sky Realm (MAN-husband to Cumular Stratus) Fairy (Ethereal figure. Graceful, exquisite and refined. His delicate iridescent wings are barely visible. Dressed in white and silver clothing, almost as if it was made from the very clouds they were traveling in and moved as if carried by the very wind itself. He wears a vest of silver against his white billowy shirt. He wears shimmery white pants and white, knee-high boots complete his royal outfit. Wears a delicate crown of silver and diamonds. He has wisps of airy clouds around them.)

Cumular Stratus Rulers of the Sky Realm — (WOMAN-wife of Atamos Nimbus) Fairy (Ethereal figure. Graceful, exquisite and refined. Her delicate iridescent wings are barely visible. Dressed in white and shimmering, flowing gossamer gown, almost as if it was made from clouds.

ProAsis Geofirma — Ruler of the Land Realm-Centaur (A regal looking centaur clad in a leather vest). heroic figure. An intricately woven crown of vines and twigs intertwined with emerald stones sits lightly on his head. Covering his back is a deep red cape and he carries a longbow over one shoulder with a quiver of red tipped arrows. Around his neck and chest hangs a necklace made from a single piece of curved wood, intricately carved with various charms. He carries a long staff of twisted wood and vines in his hands. He has long dark brown hair.

Where is this book set and why did you choose that location?

At the beginning of the story Molly and her mom are living in Popular Bluff, Missouri but as the story unfolds the location changes to the town of Barnstable, Massachusetts on Cape Cod where the grandmother lives. As I was researching good locations for the book I read about Popular Bluff, Missouri and really liked the description of it being among the Ozark foothills, filled with spring-fed streams, having a national forest, peaceful lakes and lots of farmland. Just seemed like a nice, peaceful location for Molly and Angela’s home. For the main part of the story, I knew I wanted a coastal location since the basis of the story involved mermaids. Also, Ken and I both love the coast and try to visit our Oregon and Washington coasts at least once a year. I visited Cape Cod years ago and loved the area. I had never been to Barnstable, Massachusetts but as I was researching the Cape Cod area, Barnstable sounded like the perfect small town, coastal feel for the grandmother’s beachfront lifestyle.

How can people benefit from reading The Welcome Sign?

The Welcome Sign is a fun, magical story for young-mid teen readers who enjoy realms of magic, magical powers, interesting characters, strong friendships and adventure. The Welcome Sign is full of good versus evil, intrigue and action. This book will delight and entertain readers who enjoy unique and magical characters, secrets to be revealed and discovering amazing new places.

Is The Welcome Sign your only book?

The Welcome Sign is my first book but is written as the 1st book in a series of three. The second book is written but not published and the third book is still being developed and is currently in outline form.

Thank you so much for this interview, Barbara. What’s next for you?

I am continuing to work on and develop the 3rd book in the Welcome Sign series. I am also working on finishing a book I started co-writing with my mom before she passed away. I also have an outline I am working on for another book (not related to The Welcome Sign) called “The Cinderella Effect”

Where to purchase the book:

· Amazon — https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0F67CL7XZ

· BookBaby — https://store.bookbaby.com/book/the-welcome-sign

· Barnes & Noble — https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-welcome-sign-barbara-jean-weber/1147362361?ean=9798350987294

Where to find Barbara:

For now, you can keep up with me at: https://www.barbarajeanweber.com/

Here you will learn about new books as they come out as well as other ways to keep up with me.

Inside the Book

Title: The Welcome Sign

Author: Barbara Jean Weber

Publisher: BookBaby

Publication Date: July 1, 2024

Pages: 218

Genre: Fantasy/Middle Grade/YA

Formats: Paperback, Kindle

When 10-year-old Molly Parnell’s grandmother mysteriously disappears she and her mother travel to Cape Cod to take ownership of the house they inherited and find out answers about the sudden disappearance. But what they discover could be more dangerous and life changing than they ever imaged. Molly and her mother find a beautiful mermaid welcome sign in the attic and place it on the front door. Unusual things start to happen and they are flooded with visitors who claim they knew the grandmother.  The true powers behind the mysterious sign are revealed as Molly learns her grandmother was part of a secret organization working to keep balance between the magical realm and the real world. The magical realms placed an invisible veil of secrecy over the world to hide their true identities from the human world but allowing them to live among them  in secret. An angry rebel group of magical beings, tired of living in hiding is tearing down and destroying the magical cloaking fabric between the two worlds. If they are not stopped the magical realm will no longer be safe from the world.  As Molly and her mom embark on a dangerous and magical adventure throughout the magical realms to help stop  the rebels, she learns of her own magical powers and her strong family heritage connected to the welcome sign. Along the way, she teams up with new magical friends helping to keep the realm of magic safe from the eyes of the world and discovers that her grandmother was right all along. The world she thought she knew no longer exists, but an amazing world of magic woven into their world has always been hiding  in plain sight.

The Welcome Sign is available at Amazon.