One Word Interview with LuAnn Staheli

Today we have LuAnn Brobst Staheli in the writing chair. LuAnn has taken on the challenge of publishing a book a month this year! Wow. I'm super impressed.

Alien invasion! What fictional character do you most want by your side?
Indiana Jones

Excellent choice, that.

You've been set down in the middle of your latest book. What character do you seek out first?
 Ida Mae Ruth

I like her name. I'll bet she's quite a character!

What historical figure would you most like to have lunch with?
William Shakespeare (We are 12th cousins, once removed)  

That's very cool. I'll bet he's an interesting conversationalist.

You're performing on Broadway! What show are you in?
Mama Mia!

Oh, how fun!

You are having your characters over for dinner. What are you serving?
Breaded tenderloin, mashed potatoes with white gravy, corn on the cob, and homemade strawberry pie.

Your characters must love you!

Thank you so much, LuAnn!

Lu Ann Brobst Staheli got her start as a celebrity paparazzi-stalker-chick, which led to her award-winning career as a ghostwriter for celebrity memoirs. A masochist at heart, she taught junior high school English for 33 years, moved to the school library beginning year 34, and once spent two weeks summer vacation backpacking through Europe with fifteen of her students. She has won three Best of State Medals—two for writing and one for teaching—but refuses to wear them all at the same time because she’d hate to be known as a show-off. Her other published works include Just Like Elizabeth Taylor; The Explorers: Tides Across the Sea; Leona & Me, Helen Marie; A Note With Taking; When Hearts Conjoin, the story of the conjoined Herrin twins; Psychic Madman about mentalist Jim Karol; One Day at a Time: Teaching Secondary Language Arts; and Books, Books, and More Books: A Parent and Teacher's Guide to Adolescent Literature. Lu Ann says, “But 2013 will be the year of the eBook for me. A long list of titles are in the finalization stage, and I’m excited to make them available to my readers.”

Lu Ann’s articles have appeared in Grit, Byline, Scouting, Library Media Connections, and The Writer magazines, and she is featured in the upcoming book release, Best of The Writer. She has published invitational essays in Teaching Secondary Language Arts K-12: It Really Works (Christopher-Gordon Publishers) and Famous Family Nights (Cedar Fort International).

As a Senior Editor with Precision Editing Group, Lu Ann Staheli has had a hand in a number of releases from Deseret Book, Shadow Mountain, Covenant Communications, and other regional publishers, including several winners and finalists for the Whitney Award and New York Times bestsellers. A former Associate Producer of Alan Osmond's Stadium of Fire, Lu Ann resides in Spanish Fork, Utah, with her husband, and tries to keep track of their five sons.

Twelve-year-old Liz Taylor has known for a long time that she would escape—escape the abuse against herself, and against her mother. She just didn’t know how or when. Then the perfect opportunity comes—money left of the table by her mother’s abuser—and Liz is on the run. But a girl her age doesn’t have many options when it comes to hideouts, making a K.O. A. campground and a nearby middle school her perfect choices. If only she can keep to herself, Liz, now using the name Beth, knows she can make it on her own, until things change, and she realizes she must face her situation head on if she is to save herself and her mom.

WINNER — Utah Arts Council Original Writing Competition, Juvenile Division
WINNER — League of Utah Writer’s Juvenile Novel & Diamond Quill

Follow me:
www.luannslibrary.blogspot.com
Twitter: @luannstaheli
Facebook: LuAnn Brobst Staheli, Author

One Word Interview with Donna K. Weaver

Today's One Word Interview features clean romance author, Donna K. Weaver, whose romance/adventure on the high seas novel, A Change of Plans was released recently. Welcome to the writing chair, Donna!

 Stranded on a desert island. What's your must-have item? 
Hubby 

Aw. That's sweet. :)

Which one of your characters is most like you? 
None. All.

Oh, I can relate! They are all like us in some ways, and yet not at all.

If you could take a cruise anywhere in the world, where would it be? 
World

Sure! I mean, why choose just one place, right? (Can I come with you?)

What historical figure would you most like to have lunch with? 
Helen Keller (nonreligious)  

Ooo, Interesting choice. I really admire her. 

We are holding a banquet in honor of your awesomeness. What are we
serving for dessert? 
Cheesecake

Yum. Just, yum. That is all.

Thanks so much, Donna!

A Change of Plans: When Lyn sets off on her supposedly uncomplicated and unromantic cruise, she never dreams it will include pirates. All the 25-year-old, Colorado high school teacher wants to do is forget that her dead fiancé was a cheating scumbag. Lyn plans a vacation diversion; fate provides Braedon, an intriguing surgeon. She finds herself drawn to him: his gentle humor, his love of music, and even his willingness to let her take him down during morning karate practices. Against the backdrop of the ship's make-believe world and temporary friendships, her emotions come alive.

However, fear is an emotion, too. Unaware of the sensitive waters he's navigating, Braedon moves to take their relationship beyond friendship--on the very anniversary Lyn is on the cruise to forget. Lyn's painful memories are too powerful, and she runs from Braedon and what he has to offer.

Their confusing relationship is bad enough, but when the pair finds themselves on one of the cruise's snorkeling excursions in American Samoa things get worse. Paradise turns to piracy when their party is kidnapped and Lyn's fear of a fairytale turns grim. Now she must fight alongside the man she rejected, first for their freedom and then against storms, sharks, and shipwreck. Get the audiobook!





Donna K. Weaver has always loved reading and creating stories, thus she’s been ever entertained. A Navy brat and U.S. Army veteran, she’s lived in many U.S. states as well as South Korea, the Philippines, and Germany. An avid cruiser, she’s sailed the Pacific four times. When she retired from Shorei Kempo Karate with a black belt, she decided it was time to put her imaginary friends and places on paper. She lives in Utah with her husband. They have six children and eight grandchildren.

Find her on Facebook, Twitter and Goodreads

Release Day!

I'm pleased to announce that my new short story collection, Ripped and Other Adventures is now available for Kindle, and will be available in print in the next few weeks. Ripped contains many of my previously published stories as well as the all-new novella, "Sofie and the Night Eagle." Right now, it's on sale for half price at only $2.49. But get it soon, because that price only lasts until Saturday!

Want a chance to win a signed print copy?

Share the cover and/or purchase link on Facebook, Twitter, your blog, Pinterest, or any other social media site, and I'll enter you into a drawing to be held on Saturday, August 10. Be sure to comment here or tag me in your post, so I know you've shared.

Thanks a million, my friends!