Detective Marc Allen is ready to leave the Raleigh, North Carolina, Police Department. Two murders that happened on his watch have apparently been solved thanks to a suicide note confession written by a distraught father. But Allen isn’t buying it. He’s convinced that the man’s adopted daughter, Teri Hickox, is the one responsible for the heinous crimes. With his personal life a muddle and his professional career unsettled he decides the best thing for him is a change of scenery. The detective, now in Colorado Springs, is working new cases and making new friends. One of those friends is Hannah Hunt who, after suffering a freak accident, finds herself only able to speak in song titles. Another is a mysterious drifter who lives out of an old Dodge van and goes by “the champ”. But as Allen builds a new future, events unfold showing him that he can’t escape his past.
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Rating: 5 out of 5.
‘Song Girl’ is a highly entertaining, fast-paced and engaging read. The author did a great job at detailing the scenes and the characters, literally bringing you into the scenes with the vivid descriptions of characters and emotions behind them. The main character, Detective Allen is a resilient man who goes after his instincts despite having issues in his personal and professional lives. We soon see him making new friends and trying to step out of the environment he is used to being in. That is when he sees a girl who is able to speak only in song titles, due to a freak accident. He is also forced to face the evil female antagonist in order to resolve a crime. An entertaining mystery read overall!
Originally from Yorkshire, England, Jonnie has been living in Zell am See, Austria since 2009 where he works as a tour guide. A great lover of nature, Jonnie developed a passion for the stunning landscapes where he works, and now calls home. In 2020 Jonnie discovered a place called Bad Fusch that inspired him to begin writing and illustrating his children’s book series. Since travel restrictions prevented Jonnie from seeing his family in England, he wanted a means to share the things he was seeing, and the lifestyle he lived in Austria with his nephew and sister. His book provided the perfect medium for doing so. Jonnie’s books tell the tale of four animals who live in a forest and go on many adventures. It is set in the forest of Bad Fusch and is a lighthearted, humorous, but also educational read. Jonnie loves spending time in the mountains combining cycling and photography above all else, but also enjoys baking.
Describe yourself in five words
Honest, hard working, creative, organised, driven.
What fact about yourself would really surprise people?
Having never been able to spell and dealing with certain word blindness issues, I have managed to publish 4 children’s books so far in a planned series of 10. To clarify I use the services of some fantastic copy editors and proof readers!
How do you work through self-doubts and fear?
I keep going, sometimes making a start is the hardest thing, once i get started however then I make great strides forward.
What scares you the most?
I guess, fear of failure, the project I am working on, not being accepted or delivering results.
What makes you happiest?
When others are happy, I just love to see happy faces, and if I have had a part in making that happen, even better.
Why do you write?
This is a great question, the purpose of my writing is to share the experience of one of my favourite places, Bad Fusch, this is a small abandoned village high in the mountains of Austria, what started as a small project to run a snack station has turned in to my new passion, writing has also become a way to share stories about nature with my young nephew who due to pandemic travel restrictions I have not been able to see for two years, though my books I can share where I live and teach him all about nature in a fun way.
Have you always enjoyed writing?
Yes, although I don’t think up until my children’s book I have ever been published, this has never materialised in to anything people would have wanted to read before…
What motivates you to write?
Once I start I just don’t seem to be able to stop, when I came up with the idea for a children’s book, instead of writing one book, I set out with the goal of writing ten, there was never a consideration to write one, I always had ten in mind, it was a very bold statement to make and since I started, I have ideas for many more stories too, however in order to concentrate of getting a body of work finished, I am concentrating on the first ten before moving on to the next set of books, and side projects, this is very hard, as I have so many ideas!
What writing are you most proud of?
Publishing my first book was a major achievement, however I would say completing the process of writing books one to nine, book ten still needs finishing, as I am not completely happy with it.
There are aspects in each of the nine books I like, however actually publishing the children’s books has made me very proud, when I get asked to do school visits, readings and when I meet children who have read my books, I am so proud when they talk about what they like in the books.
What are you most proud of in your personal life?
I would have to say being a contributor to my surroundings, I have read many autobiographies and one common thing I hear is give something back, this is something I have always done in my life, no matter where I am, what I am doing I always try to help others around me.
What books did you love growing up?
In primary school I was a very fast reader and read a lot of books, then as a teenager sports comics took over, sport has always played a big part in my life, I have always found if I can find subjects that interest me, I like to read and read.
What do you hope your obituary will say about you?
Never a dull moment…
Location and life experiences can really influence writing, tell us where you grew up and where you now live?
Originally from Huddersfield in West Yorkshire England, where I lived until my late thirties, however throughout a 18 year career with a large distribution company coupled with an very active spell in a Motorcycle club, I have traveled extensively throughout the United Kingdom and Europe. One of my whimsical ideas was to work a ski season and this is how I ended up living and working high in the mountains of Austria which is where I have now been for the last 13 years…
How did you develop your writing?
Research has played a major part in my writing journey so far, I originally had the story ideas, I then had to develop these in to a format that is engaging and fun for children. I have done this by talking to and sharing my stories in the development stage with other writers, this was a challenge as I was the new guy, and totally clueless!
What is hardest – getting published, writing or marketing?
Each step has been hard, however with a desire to get a book published, I did not stop until the first book was published, the whole process of starting writing, researching, learning, revising, sharing, getting feedback, reviewing, improving, learning more, to having my first children’s picture book published took 6 months, working solely on this project all day everyday was a massive challenge.
What marketing works for you?
After book one was published then for me came the marketing, the original idea for my children’s books was to support Bad Fusch, to write a story about the animals of the forest who would tell the stories of the forest and surroundings, in the hope people would visit and explore too.
I used social media to let people know about my books and a steady flow of sales came from local visitors to Bad Fusch, then the more difficult task of marketing to people who have never heard of Bad Fusch started. I wanted people to know about Bad Fusch and by writing these children’s books, this was a way for me to do this.
As I have published on amazon, I set up sponsored ads and refined and continued with promotions, all be it with a very tight budget, as with covid I had no income and no work, only my book project to work on. I knew from my research as an unknown self-publishing author nothing was going to happen overnight and I had to be committed to my books for the long term.
We did managed to open for the summer season 2021 in Bad Fusch and quite a few books were sold, I knew then given the feedback I was receiving the books were going to be a successes, my biggest problem was getting my books in front of more and more readers, then the phone started to ring, I got invited to do readings and have my first school visit coming up, I also got invited to do local media and tell my story about how an Englishman ended up in the mountains of Austria in an abandoned former spa town writing children’s books. I really like tell my story. lots of things have fallen in to place to make this all happen for me.
Do you find it hard to share your work?
Not really sure I understand the question, my friends will probably tell you i never shut up about my books as they have taken over my life, so I guess the answer to this is no.
Is your family supportive? Do your friends support you?
Very much so, the lead characters of the books have been named after family and friends, so they kinda feel involved, my nephew is called Reggie and his nickname is Reggie Mouse, that where the lead characters name came from!
What else do you do, other than write?
At the moment I am the co tenant of the Jausenstation in Bad Fusch, this is a mountain snack station for hikers, walkers, sightseers and mountain bikers and is the very reason my writing started, to share stories about our mountain location, however the books have taken over now and become an entity of there own, people reading and talking about the books who have never heard of Bad Fusch, fans are now starting to visit because of my books, sending me pictures and stone paintings, and telling me they are looking forward to visiting the locations illustrated in the books soon.
What other jobs have you had in your life?
Since living in Austria I have mainly worked in tourism as a travel and sightseeing guide, this has enabled me to collect lots of experiences and ideas to help form my books. In the winter months I have worked as a ski guide and in various bars.
If you could study any subject at university what would you pick?
This is a question I have asked myself a few times, and I flip between sports coaching/management and theatre production, in my earlier life I was a keen sportsman, however never good enough to make it professionally and I was also involved in theatre for many years and would love to have pursued this professionally.
If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be?
I get asked this question everyday? Will you ever go back to the UK, I say, never say never! however right now I live and work in the most Wonderfull place in Austria, Zell am See and Bad Fusch, our region has to be one of the most beautiful places in the world, a real paradise.
Tell us about your family?
My family are now spread out all over, my sister Laura and Reggie Mouse still live in Huddersfield and I cannot wait to see them in a few weeks’ time when i visit.
How do you write – lap top, pen, paper, in bed, at a desk?
On my computer, sat at my desk overlooking the amazing lake of Zell am See
How much sleep do you need to be your best?
More! when I am in the writing or illustration process I find it hard to sleep as I just cannot stop until its done, I nap a few hours then awake and continue, I have seen a lot of sunrises and sunsets in my book publishing journey so far.
Is there anyone you’d like to acknowledge and thank for their support?
Catherine Jones needs a very special mention, I asked Catherine to look over my stories from a grammar and spelling point of view, I have used various copy editor’s and double and treble checked my writings. However, Catherine is a trusted friend who has been brutal in her feedback which has enable me to push my books on to the level they are at.
Every writer has their own idea of what a successful career in writing is, what does success in writing look like to you?
When the kids give there feedback, I just love to hear it, it motivates me to continue and validates all the hard work that has gone in to my books, with the Reggie Mouse series a few visitors to Bad Fusch who had never heard of Bad Fusch would represent a huge success, this would also be fantastic for the local tourist board who have been very supportive of our efforts to raise awareness of Bad Fusch and how beautiful it is.
It is vital to get exposure and target the right readers for your writing, tell us about yourmarketing campaign?
I have a dedicated Facebook page, Reggie Mouse and his Forest Friends which I share regular updates on what I am up too, I also post updates on the Facebook and Instagram page for the Jausenstation Bad Fusch which acts as a central point for all information about Bad Fusch. I have approached various regional book and gift shops who are now stocking my books, I have done two readings in Salzburg with more planned, I also have my first school visit in my home town of Huddersfield in May 2022, the official launch of Books 2,3 and 4 will take place to coincide with the summer open of the Jausenstation Bad Fusch, last week the regional newspaper ran a full page article on my journey so far, I still feel this path I am on is only just starting…
Tell us about your new book? Why did you write it?
Since publishing my first book in May 2021 under the main title “The Adventures of Reggie Mouse and his Forest Friends” the subtitle “The New Yoomans” I worked simultaneously on books 2 to 4 together the plan being to have 4 books published for the opening of Bad Fusch in summer 2022, I must also add that my books are available in Paperback, and kindle versions, and in English and German languages. However, to answer the question, I wanted more books in the series available, so I set myself the challenge of getting an additional 3 books published. Books two to four follow on from book one, although the books have been written so that they can be read in order, young readers can start there journey with any of Reggie’s adventures and then move on to the other books. Book two “Exploring the Water Pools” is all about the healing waters of Bad Fusch the very reason the town existed in the first place. “Bad” is the german word for spa or bath and for towns in Austria to be awarded “Bad” status they must have medically proven healing waters. Book three “They went this way” is all about hiking, to get younger readers interested in being outdoors and in nature, and book four “Buzzy Buzzy Bee’s” is all about the importance of bee’s why children’s don’t need to be afraid of bees and why bees are so important to the production of food. All the books are written in a fun and engaging way with emphasis on leaning whilst having fun.
If you could have a dinner party and invite anyone dead or alive, who would you ask?
I would love to sit down with Arnold Schwarzenegger Keith Richards, Dorian Yates and Nigel Mansell and maybe Jocky Wilson, all successful people in their chosen fields, I am not sure they would get on, however it would be an interesting discussion!
When you are not writing, how do you like to relax?
I love to bake and cycle, I also visit the gym, and I am still a huge sports fan, my favourites being F1 and Darts.
What do you hope people will take away from your writing? How will your words make them feel?
I want the children to be outside and to enjoy nature, I am a massive technology fan, however let’s not forget how fantastic it is to explore our surroundings.
Mina Faraway is the author of inspiring, loving, happy, healing books intended to reach the right people at the right time and offer hope and joy in difficult times. She’s also the author of the popular series of Relax & Puzzle puzzle books, plus self-help books on money, finances, investing, motivation and positive mind-set. She also has stories on Amazon’s Kindle Vella serial platform, but her personal favorites are her romantic-comedy novels. You can find and connect with her social media accounts at https://linktr.ee/minafaraway. Sign up for free weekly romance puzzles at https://bookhip.com/ZVVKCTR
What do you write about?
I’m a motivational writer and romance novelist, plus I love puzzles and games. I figured why not marry everything I love into one big Happily-Ever-After with a positive, romance-themed puzzle book? I designed it with beautiful backgrounds to help readers relax and reduce their stress levels.
What makes you happiest?
The world can be an ugly place, so I find bliss in writing inspiring, loving, happy and healing books that reach the right people and bring hope and joy in difficult times.
When did you first realize you wanted to become a writer?
Since childhood, but I have repeatedly given up on it for long periods of time as life pressures or well-meaning people around me discouraged me from writing. I wish now I’d listened to that inner voice that told me that writing was my purpose. Lesson learned! We all have a purpose. Our first job is to discover that purpose. Our second job is to do everything we can related to that purpose and, most importantly, to enjoy the journey while fulfilling that purpose. If you listen to your inner voice and only your inner voice, everything will always work out for you.
Have you always enjoyed writing?
Yes! I have a foot planted firmly on both the left-brain and right-brain side of writing. I’ve written everything from children’s books to training manuals and instructions, to copy and product pages, to non-fiction and fiction novels, and now puzzle books. Naturally, the creative projects feed my soul, but the technical writing projects pay the bills. I have to balance the two.
Do you find it hard to share your work?
Sharing your work is like exposing parts of your heart and soul to total strangers, so it can be both terrifying and exhilarating. Putting those parts of you in public forums, then trying to find others who will enjoy it, is the hardest part of bringing to life any piece of yourself, be it writing, music, art, or other medium. Those who thrive are the ones who are able to do it successfully and tune out the critics.
If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be?
I set my life up to be a digital nomad, able to work anywhere, as long as I had an internet connection. I wanted to experience new locations and pick up other languages and cultures. But, as life would have it, things didn’t turn work out that way. It’s still nice to know that I still can at any time though!
How do you write?
I have so many projects going at one time that I have three screens and need a fourth, so I’d have to say my desktop computer is my main method of writing. However, there are those stories or ideas that come to you at the oddest moments, be it while cooking, cleaning, driving, folding laundry, that I have an entire novel written on my phone. I’m trying to find the time to transfer it into book form and publish. That day is not today, ha.
What do you hope people will take away from your book?
Pure enjoyment. A few moments here and there to relax, have fun, and enjoy the moment is what I’m hoping to give people with the Relax & Puzzle series. Doing the puzzles with someone else can be even more fun. My children and I like to do the puzzles on opposing pages at the same time, or laugh while tripping over each other on the same page. It brings us closer and gets our noses out of our screens!
What is your work schedule like when you are writing?
Like most people pursuing their creative outlets, I work during the day, so my writing time occurs between 11 pm -3 am. I get some sleep, though never enough, then get up and go to work, day after day. I’m such a night owl though, I can get a lot done in a short time at night. Someday, I hope to be able to write full-time, but for now, I have a good balance between the two.
Do you have anything specific you’d like to tell your readers?
This puzzle book series is for YOU, and I hope it’s as fun for you to do as it was for me to design. It’s intended to surround you with love, romance, joy, hope, beauty, and fun. The added benefit is that it helps you exercise your brain and keep your memory sharp too!
Sharon is a cancer survivor who attributes her remission to the art of healing with Crystals, Reiki, and Herbal remedies. Now an expert in alternative medicine, she owes her passion to her family of healers: mother an ER nurse, father an MD.
Describe yourself in five words
fun, adventurous, spiritual, loving, kind
What fact about yourself would really surprise people?
I can speak a little Japanese
How do you work through self-doubts and fear?
With compassion for myself to learn and be happy
What scares you the most?
Missing the chance to say “I love you”
What makes you happiest?
My daughter
Why do you write?
To share my knowledge of healing therapies to people who need it.
Have you always enjoyed writing?
I have always loved writing, I learned to love it in university
What motivates you to write?
My family, my parents
What writing are you most proud of?
Crystals and Healing Stones
What are you most proud of in your personal life?
Recovering from Cancer
What books did you love growing up?
Travel books, cook books, self-help books
What do you hope your obituary will say about you?
I helped 100s of 1000s of people in my lifetime to heal from sickness.
Location and life experiences can really influence writing, tell us where you grew up and where you now live?
Grew up in Montreal, now live in Austin, TX.
How did you develop your writing?
I joined a team and co-founded a self-publishing company, pooling our resources together, we write independently, invested in each-other.
What is hardest – getting published, writing or marketing?
Marketing!
What marketing works for you?
Honestly, I enjoy content development, but we’re hoping to do some Ted talks.
Do you find it hard to share your work?
Yes, there are so many experts to compare to and compete with.
Is your family supportive? Do your friends support you?
Yes, I have family who supports me.
What else do you do, other than write?
I practice reiki, and I’m learning massage, yoga.
What other jobs have you had in your life?
I was a teacher, now I’m a full-time mom.
If you could study any subject at university what would you pick?
I’d love to learn more about massage and become an RMT
If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be?
I’d love to live in Thailand.
Tell us about your new book? Why did you write it?
I just feel so passionate about alternative medicine and energy healing, it’s important to pass the word onto our youth to promote health into our elder years.
Hi, I’m Anthony Jordan. As a young child, I enjoyed and played a variety of sports. And as a young adult, I still enjoy sports, and being a coach has been one of the things that brought me joy. I’ve always had a passion for writing, although I didn’t know it would lead me down this current path, especially because I acquired my degree in business management. As a young adult, the challenges I have experienced in recent years have increased my desire to share my experiences to inspire and encourage others. My new novel ‘Remembering You’ was born out of my tremendous grief of losing my fiancé and a desire to bring self-healing. My new direction is to continue writing, doing philanthropy work, traveling the world, and sharing my experiences.
Blurb:
Facing one setback after another, Jordan, known as ‘J’ in this novel, finds himself confronted with the past showing up in his present life in a way that shattered his life into pieces.
J takes you on a journey of life still in the game based on true events of failures, trauma, love, and tragic loss, and the will to self-reflect to find one’s passion.
There were many coffee visits to my mother’s house, but one turned out to be one I would never forget. Mid conversation, I stopped to show my mom a funny meme from a social media platform when a post in my feed made my stomach drop. Confused, I saw a picture of my fiancé, Angelica, with a black ribbon on the side of the picture.
“WTF?!” was all I could think. In disbelief, I went to Angelica’s page and saw multiple posts saying she was gone, no longer on this Earth.
Four days had passed without any communication between the two of us. The last time we spoke was via text message while attending a football game with my father. We had moments when we would give each other space, but this silence was different. To randomly find out why she was not responding to my daily messages was that she was dead? A gulp trickled to my heart. Though I struggled to breathe, I covered my mouth, trying to make sense of this image.
How could this be? What happened to her? Who can I speak with to confirm if this post is true?
Six months before our wedding, she was gone. The woman I had fallen in love with, the one that brought me light and joy, had left me standing in my mother’s kitchen heartbroken and confused about what caused her death.
Review:
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 5 out of 5.
A painful read right from the first page as I got reminded of my friend’s death that came through my social media feed a few years ago, leaving me confused and dejected. I could relate to the sudden death and getting to know it through social media. J shared a very meaningful connection with Angelica and I could feel his emotions and love that he had for her in this book. It leaves me feeling sad and painful for the author for having lost his girlfriend. What left me feeling confused is how a person can camouflage pain despite seeming to be doing good on the outside. Nevertheless, I am happy for J for having met Angelica in his life and for having shared a love that is deep enough for him to carry through his life.
Hi, I’m Anthony Jordan. As a young child, I enjoyed and played a variety of sports. And as a young adult, I still enjoy sports, and being a coach has been one of the things that brought me joy. I’ve always had a passion for writing, although I didn’t know it would lead me down this current path, especially because I acquired my degree in business management. As a young adult, the challenges I have experienced in recent years have increased my desire to share my experiences to inspire and encourage others. My new novel ‘Remembering You’ was born out of my tremendous grief of losing my fiancé and a desire to bring self-healing. My new direction is to continue writing, doing philanthropy work, traveling the world, and sharing my experiences.
Where are you from?
I am from Central Florida
Why do you write?
To inspire and encourage others to find the tools they need to find themselves again by sharing my life experiences.
What do you write about?
I’m a new author. So, my debut novel was about trauma, grief from the tragic loss of my fiance, and self-healing. There’s other niches that I’ll be venturing into, but with the way my novel ends I don’t want to reveal anything just yet.
Do you have a specific writing style?
I’m not sure yet. I’ve been told that I have a unique style. For now, I’ll say my writing style is raw.
What are obstacles that come in the way of writing?
Getting stuck in my own head. I found myself enjoying the brain storm process a little too much.
What’s the most memorable thing asked/said by a reader about your work?
One person told me that they felt all the emotions I poured into my book and recognized how therapeutic it must have been for me.
How long have you been writing?
I’ve been writing poetry since I was in high school. And I’ve always kept a journal, in which I crafted a few book and movie script ideas.
When did you first realize you wanted to become a writer?
In 2020, when the pandemic put the entire world on pause.
What is your work schedule like when you are writing?
I find that I am the most productive when everyone in my world is asleep. So, I’ll write from 3 pm EST until 6 or 7 am EST.
What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?
I like to handwrite most of my thoughts before I enter them into my manuscript.
How long does it take to write a book?
It took me 17 months to write my first novel, including the editing process.
Do you have suggestions on how to become a better writer?
Read a lot of books and reach out to a few beta readers and editorial review companies in addition to your family and friends for feedback, and always seek the assistance of at least two different editors.
What challenges do you come across when writing/creating your story?
Finding a quiet space and being decisive. It takes me a while to organize my thoughts.
What do you think makes a good story?
One that makes you feel like you’re in the story, but leaves a few details to the imagination.
What does your family think of your writing?
They’re impressed with my ability to hold their attention throughout the story.
Do you see writing as a career?
Yes. Writing has always been a passion of mine. I love the freedom of coming up with an idea and turning into something people will enjoy and can benefit from the content.
Do you have anything specific you’d like to tell the readers?
Take time for yourself to live life to the fullest and thrive, because you’re worth it.
When did you first consider yourself a writer?
When ‘Remembering You’ was released. I could finally call myself an author, as my idea was officially a novel.
This memoir was written to honor my youngest brother’s influence over my life, the good, the bad, and the ugly, of living with a Down Syndrome sibling. It tells the story of the children of my family, despite our parents’ frailties, remaining committed to each other through life’s many changes and separations. Who I am today is directly related to who I needed to become.
I enjoyed reading this short memoir, which is a little under 100 pages. ‘Listen to Me’ is a heart-wrenching story of a sister who faught for her younger brother’s rights who had Down Syndrome to be able to stay home with the family, rather be sent to an state run insistution. I personally feel that the love the author has for her younger brother named Bruce led her in finding her life partner by the same name. It is amazing both the gentlemen got along very well until the last days of Bruce who had cancer later in life. It is an emotional read, especially if you have a younger brother. It makes you walk down the memory lane, recollecting memories of your childhood.
Hasina Knox has always been passionate about writing and storytelling. She would describe herself as a curious Author and she receives inspiration from her real life experiences. As a part of her writing process, she loves immersing herself in her projects; diving headfirst into the research, production, and fine-tuning of the stories that she feels her audiences can relate to.
Hasina was born in Bangladesh but was orphaned as a baby and raised in an orphanage. She was later adopted and came to Canada when she was 3 years old. Ever since she read the Grimm Brother’s “Fairy Tales” book, she had a love of writing. She started off with writing short stories when she was only 8 years old, then found an interest in writing poetry when she was a teenager and then became interested in writing children’s books as an adult. She had two of her poems published in a literary book when she was a teenager and received an Honorary Mention certificate.
She has been happily married for 25 years and raised their 4 wonderful children as a stay-at-home mom in their home in Toronto. She has been told throughout her lifetime that she should write her autobiography but she never considered it until recently. However, her husband always said she should write a children’s book so with his support and encouragement she finally decided to do so this year. Her children and her experiences as a family are what inspires her to write these books. She hopes they bring you a sense of adventure and instill a love of reading for all your young ones!
Hasina’s future endeavours include writing more beloved children stories and going on many more adventures with her family. However, in the past few months her focus has also been on searching for her biological parents and any of her family members. While she is a writer at heart, we also look forward to the outcome of the search for her family. We may even be privileged with an autobiography from her in the near future!
***Now organize your life more easily with her newly published notebooks and planners for your daily, weekly and monthly schedules. Each planner has a nature photo on its cover that comes from her private iPhone photography collection. Order your notebook planner today! Also available are children’s sketch books, graph papers, journals, recipe lists, family meal planning, chores list, drinks list and so much more from her!***
COMING SOON…her third children’s book in this series called “A Discovery of Smells”. Her books are available in paperback, hardcover, eBook forms and as a series.
In the meantime, Hasina would LOVE it if you would read her first, second and third published children’s book called “A Journey of Tastes”, “A Sightseeing Adventure” and “A Journey of Flavours” (which is the follow-up to her first children’s book and includes 17 diverse, flavourful recipes from the world’s 7 largest countries!) and please leave positive reviews for her on Amazon.
Please click on any of her books that you would be interested in reading and do not forget to follow her on her Instagram account @a_journey_of_flavours
Please introduce yourself and where are you from? Hello, my name is Hasina Knox and I was born in Dhaka, Bangladesh. I was orphaned as a baby but was later adopted at 3 years old and came to Canada. As an adult, I have been a stay-at-home mother to my 4 wonderful children for 19 years now.
What are your hobbies apart from writing? My hobbies have expanded over the past few years. As much as I like to read a good book, I prefer to be more of a movie junkie. I’ve also enjoyed taking Latin dance classes with my husband, learning astronomy, playing chess, taking iPhone photography classes, and hosting Zoom cooking classes and blanket finger-knitting classes online with friends and family.
Whydo you write? When I was a young child I read the Grimm Brother’s “Fairy Tales” book, and ever since then I had a love of reading and writing. I’ve always liked writing short stories since I was 8 years old. I had a wild imagination and it became like a getaway and an escape from my personal life. Eventually, I started writing poetry and longer stories.
What do you write about? I write about life experiences. Aren’t those the best kind of writings, lol? My children’s books are based on my family and our adventures.
My first children’s book is called “A Journey of Flavours” (includes AJourney of Tastes – a book I wrote from the beginning but decided to add 17 recipes), the second is called “A Sightseeing Adventure” and the third is called “A Discoveryof Smells”, which will be available soon. All my books sell on Amazon in eBook and print form.
My books are about each of our 5 senses and come in a 5 part series – one is for tastes, second is for sight, third is for smells, fourth is for touch and fifth is for hearing. Each book is an adventure while learning about different places and food in the world.
Do you have a specific writing style? At the moment I’m writing books for children and they rhyme and the theme is repetitive to help young children to remember what they have learned. My books are meant for children 3-13 years old and they are an exciting way for children to learn to read.
My books teach young children the days of the week, the 7 continents, the 7 largest countries in the world, the months of the year, how to tell time all while travelling around the world which will also intrigue the older children.
There are beautiful realistic pictures and illustrations to keep the child engaged while reading and each story also comes with activities at the end of the book to help the child to remember what they have learned. My first book includes 17 flavourful and diverse recipes from around the world that both child and parent will enjoy cooking together.
Whatare obstacles that come in the way of writing? How to start writing the story but once I get past that part then the rest just flows.
What’sthe most memorable thing asked/said by a reader about your work? A 10 year old reviewer thanked me for writing such an amazing book. It was so nice to read a personal compliment from my reader.
Howlong have you been writing? I started writing stories since I was 8 years old, then as a teenager I started writing poetry and now I write children’s books as an adult.
Whendid you first realize you wanted to become a writer? I never knew I wanted to become a writer; it was just something I did as a hobby, when I had the time for it.
Whatisyour work schedule like when you are writing? I write daily from home whenever I have the time for it since my children are home and did virtual school once the COVID-19 pandemic hit. This has afforded me more time to focus on my writing, believe it or not, lol! Sometimes I stay up late past midnight writing and perfecting my children’s stories. I’m a perfectionist so I thoroughly go through my book constantly looking for small mistakes.
What would you say is your interesting writing quirk? I like to use my laptop while I sit on my bed. I first write the story ideas down in my notes app on my mobile then transfer it to Microsoft Word onto my laptop. The most important thing to me when writing anything is the title of my story and the last line in my poetry or short stories.
The full meaning of the poem or story is summed up in that one last line. As for my children’s stories, it is a different kind of writing but my title is very important when choosing it, as my theme of the story must match my title first.
Howlong does it take to write a book? I haven’t written a novel but since my children’s books are for children from 3 years old and up, they include pictures and illustrations and activities to help the child to read and learn. They are about 37 pages or more. One day I sat down and thought of ideas for my children’s book. I came up with 10 ideas quickly and jotted them all down. I realized I had could break them up into 2 series of 5 books each. I decided to focus on my first series and started writing my first children’s story.
I wrote down all the ideas for the first book within an hour or less and then started working on turning it into a story. It took some time to write it as I didn’t focus on writing it right away. When I did start to focus on the actual writing of the story the ideas all flowed and I wrote it in a few days. To ask how long it took for me to “perfect” it and be satisfied with the final outcome is another story! LOL.
I did get it published about 2 months after writing my first children’s book. I am now on my third children’s book in this first series and it’s about to be published next month.
Do you have suggestions on how to become a better writer? Practice and write from the heart.
Whatdo you think makes a good story? One that is relatable, brings about emotions or helps others to learn from it.
What does your family think of your writing? My husband was the one who supported me in writing a children’s book. It was actually his idea for me to write one since he knew I loved to write. I hadn’t written in years since having children so I thought maybe I should try again. So once COVID-19 hit I decided to actually focus on writing a children’s story. I never knew I would come up with 10 book ideas!
My children thought it was cool that their mother published a book when I showed them my first physical book! Since my children’s books are based on my children and our family experiences and adventures, I use 4 children who explore their world because I also have 4 children. But none of my kids wanted to be on my book covers with their picture or as an illustrated character!
Doyou see writing as a career? For me, no, as I am first and foremost a stay-at-home mother who focuses on her family. Writing is just a hobby for me when I have the time.
Doyou have anything specific you’d like to tell the readers? I’d like to first thank them all for their time and support! Thank you also for being an involved parent who wants their child to learn to read. I know teaching children to read can be difficult so this is why I decided to make this exciting and adventurous series.
Once a parent reads consistently to their child and everyday then the child will read back the story on their own in their own words and then eventually with the printed words on the pages.
Spending time with their children is the most important and rewarding activity one can do for them. May my books bring a sense of adventure and instill a love of reading for all your young ones!
Catalina brought us along to walk down the memory lane, as she struggled with her toddler who is gluten intolerant and how she found ways that worked for her in replacing gluten products in the home and family meals, and how they had to avoid restaurants that are not catering to the needs of Erik’s diet. I do believe that this book provides an overview of what parents should be aware of when they have kids needing special diet, not just in terms of the dietary needs but also the mental preparation that parents can expect along the way.
Yes, ever since I was 12 years old. It’s always been my escape from the world. Whenever my parents were fighting or life was too tough, I turned to writing.
-What writings are you most proud of?
My new novel: In The Back Of My Head. Which I published at 18 years old.
How do you write?
People are going to be surprised by this but most of my book was written on my iPhones notes app. I find I’m most creative there, but if I ever get writers block, I pull out good old fashioned pen and paper.
-What else do you do besides write?
I happily assist developmentally disabled adults in their day to day tasks.
-How much sleep do you need to be your best?
Depends, without coffee 10 hours. With coffee 6.
-What’s the most memorable thing said by a reader about your work?
Honestly, everything a reader tells me is memorable, but the single most memorable thing was a reader genuinely telling me my work could rival Stephen King’s.
International Book Promotion 