I tune in each week to see what’s going to happen next on Zane’s The Jump Off. I’m honored to be able to interview you for my site at SheliaGoss.com.
TANJAREEN: I’m honored that you’re keeping up with us, Shelia! Thank you!

Describe yourself in three words.
TANJAREEN: 1) liberated
2) appreciative
3) TANJtastically-spunky!

What was your reaction when you heard you got the part on The Jump Off?
TANJAREEN: I was overwhelmed because not only did I just audition for it the day before, but then they emailed all 13 scripts and told me we’d start shooting the very next day! Apparently, they finished all the other casting over a month prior, but had trouble finding the right actress to play Lauren. I was flattered, but I knew I had A LOT of prep work to do quickly…Then reality set in, and I wondered how my parents would feel about me doing an erotic TV series. Yikes! Oh well. *shrugs*

I like the chemistry between your character and Dmitri on the show. Me and probably millions of other women would love to trade places with you at least once. What is going through your mind when you’re filming the sexy scenes with Amin Joseph?
TANJAREEN: Amin & I have known each other for over 6 years, so finding our chemistry on set was easy. But, as cliche as it sounds, its hard to get really aroused during sex scenes when there are 15 other people watching you to check the lighting and the camera angles. Then you have the director yelling, “Ok, now orgasm. Orgasm!!” Not to mention the scenes where Dimitri had to keep his arm in a sling; Those were so hilariously awkward. Good thing, he’s easy on the eyes, so it made all the technical hooplah worthwhile. But to answer your question, what’s going through my mind during the sexy scenes? “How many more positions can we come up with before they yell ‘Cut’!”

Besides the two TV shows (Zane’s The Jump Off and Family Time), what other projects do you have coming up?
TANJAREEN: I’m producing more webisodes of The Celibate Nympho Chronicles about my dating life (or lack there of). The first part of this web series guest-starred Malik Yoba, Tony Rock, Wesley Jonathan, Rodney Perry, and a host of others. I’m anxious to shoot more of my funny relationship woes this Fall. Check ‘em out on CelibateNympho.com

Which do you find more challenging–acting or producing?
TANJAREEN: Producing is definitely more challenging because you’re responsible for everything from script approval and location permission to wardrobe budgets and director salaries. Add acting with producing, and you’ll wanna start applying for fry cook positions instead! When I’m just acting on a project, I only have that one thing to focus on. Yet, when I’m producing, I feel a greater sense of accomplishment when its all done because it took so much effort to get there.

What advice would you give others who want to pursue acting or producing?
TANJAREEN: My advice is to study your craft. Take classes that will help you sharpen your tools and read books/articles about other people who have already succeeded in acting and/or producing. And more importantly, be grateful and super nice to everyone you’re blessed to work with, including assistants and crew members. Hollywood is tiny and most people book jobs based on reputation and relationships. Be the person you’d want to work with again and again.

To learn more about Tanjareen, visit her website at: http://www.tanjareen.com/ or Follow her on Twitter: @Tanjareen.

Interview by Shelia M. Goss, national bestselling author and entertainment writer (www.sheliagoss.com).

Three Reasons why Scandal is one of my favorite shows:

1. The writing…

2. The acting…

3. The directing…

 Nothing else needs to be said

It’s my pleasure to interview a very important man behind the scenes of some of the movies we’ve enjoyed.

How did you get into this field? 

I started designing and creating masks, puppets and make-ups in my garage when I was in High School. After building a portfolio of my best work, I moved to Hollywood in 1990 and worked on my first studio film, Hook. I opened Illusion Industries with my business partner, Ronald L Halvas three years ago. In 2013, Illusion has eight features coming out: G.I. Joe: Retaliation, The Iceman, Smurfs 2, Fright Night 2, The Dyatlov Pass Incident, Fort Bliss, The East, and White House Down.

Did some of the movies you watch growing up inspire you?

I was hugely inspired as a kid by movies like The Wizard of Oz, Jaws, Star Wars, Halloween, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, etc. As an only child, I spent every weekend at the theater and became totally obsessed with movies. It was definitely the beginning of a long time love for what I ended up doing for a career.

What inspires you to come up with some of your creations? Are you given a picture by the producer on how the character should look or are you given free rein to come up with the character’s final look?

When we start a project, we sit down with the director and find out what his vision for the film is. Directors will sometimes come with reference photos of images that he or she like, then we create original designs based on what the director already has in mind. We will present them with different designs so they can see a variation of looks and options. It really depends on what inspires the director.

What advice would you have for those who want to follow in your footsteps?

My Advice to someone who wants to be a Make-Up FX Artist is to learn how to sculpt, paint, mold, apply, then create a portfolio of your work and start pounding on doors of different FX companies and try to get a job. Once you’re in, work hard, learn from the professionals around you, set the goal and stay strong and positive.

 What’s next for you?

We are about to start designing the make-up effects on two new films and are also in pre production on our next in-house feature.

I’d like to thank the Illusion Industries Team: Ron Halvas (Chairman/CEO), Martin Astles and Joe Colwell (key artists), Adam Walls, Jane Pfeister, Marine Khachatryan (production coordinators), and Jason Garber (Paradigm agent).

Check out pictures and videos at www.illusionindustries.com, Facebook and Twitter.

Interview by Shelia M. Goss, national bestselling author and entertainment writer (www.sheliagoss.com).

I was interviewing this woman about how her husband, whom I suspected she poisoned, liked to wear diapers during sex, but all I could think about was how badly I wished I was home reading A Game of Thrones. I’m a private investigator who spends most of his time interviewing people about sundry legal issues ranging from multi-million dollar fraud schemes to incredibly sordid sexual escapades to mass murders. I’ve interviewed enough rich, smarmy criminals in tailored suits to fill King’s Landing, and once I interviewed a transgendered prostitute with no arms who would have made Tyrion Lannister blush. I interrogated the suspected poisoner for hours, but even though I delved into the details of her private life as far as I could go, she never confessed to the killing or showed a hint of emotion. Her bizarre and inaccurate statements, however, led the family of the victim, my clients, to pursue a civil lawsuit. I closed my investigation and moved on to my next case.

Humanity’s capacity for wrongdoing and weirdness stopped surprising me a long time ago. Investigations have a way of exposing the scandalous secrets that most of us have in the same way that a writer exposes the lust, greed and wrath of his book’s characters. Conducting investigations, like writing, is also a relatively solitary exercise; we conduct our interviews with poker faces, and we’re not supposed to talk about the things we see and hear with anyone outside of the legal team. We tend, therefore, to internalize our omnipresent cynicism, to bury it deep down inside. It only bubbles up to the surface when we’re pointing out the preposterousness of almost every Hollywood crime drama ever made, where everything is black and white—you know, the stories that have a villain who willfully makes the choices that society universally finds abhorrent, and a hero who struggles to make the correct moral choices and who then prevails to save the day. Instead of talking about our jobs or watching ridiculous simulacrums of investigations on television, we look for distractions elsewhere. I know many investigators who drink a lot.

I turn to reading to help me unwind from my days spent interviewing people in high-stakes situations. My latest interest has been A Game of Thrones series. When I read the first book in the series I couldn’t identify what I liked so much about it. All I knew is that it made a great distraction. By the time I got to A Dance with Dragons, however, I realized what it was: I know these characters. The story is an affirmation of what I as an investigator already knew about human nature but could never fully explain.

The way I read it, the story is about how three forces ingrained in human nature make the world go around: the drive to do the right thing, indulgence of desire and obsession for power.

Of all the characters in A Game of Thrones, I feel the most affinity to Eddard Stark, the Lord of Winterfell, one of only a small handful of truly honorable people in the series. Most investigators and other would-be do-gooders probably associate most with Eddard too, at least for the first three years of their careers. It’s during this time that every investigation is a noble cause. If you’re in law enforcement, all suspects are guilty. If you’re working for the defense, all defendants are innocent. Everyone else is merely a witness—like the transgendered prostitute with phocomelia, who witnessed a drive-by shooting—or they don’t matter. Every investigator carries with them a sword, like Eddard’s Ice, that symbolizes our place beside the scales of justice. In my experience, the real world is full of characters like the Lord of Winterfell—people who are generally honorable but who are apt to make mistakes wrought by weakness, such as following ill-conceived orders or trusting the wrong person. If my career has taught me anything, it’s that people are mostly good; they mean well, and they try to do the right thing, but they rarely know what the right thing is. The problem is that our desire to do the right thing, our belief that we are in fact right, and the trust we hold that everyone else essentially wants to do the right thing too, leaves us open both to our own infallibility and to manipulation by people with other motives. The fact that Eddard’s head was chopped off in the first book is a fitting illustration of what often happens to people who see the world too altruistically. This is particularly true of investigators.

See, as my cases have proven to me, the world is also full of Jamie Lannisters and Sandor Cleganes—vane people, angry people, people with problems spawned from some past trauma—and what makes these characters all the more complicated and dangerous is that they aren’t exclusive from the people who want to do right. The main problem with believing we can always wield our swords justly is that we’re all exceedingly bad at separating our desires from our ethics. Desires can take many forms: a desire to eat, a desire for vengeance, a desire to indulge a particular sexual fantasy. I’ve interviewed thousands of “ethical” people who’ve done incredibly strange and self-destructive things because they couldn’t resist their desires—police officers, for example, who’ve committed murder, sold drugs and molested children. A hungry child will steal cake regardless of what her morals say about thievery. A man with a propensity to wear diapers during sex will do so, even as he imagines how he must appear through his wife’s eyes and loathes himself. Investigators come to expect, after years of witnessing people succumb to their weaknesses, that base desires trump ethics in the end nearly every time. When you’re having an incestuous relationship with your sister and a neighborhood boy threatens to expose your secret, you’re very likely to push the boy out the window. Indeed, these are the things we’re all capable of doing for love, and to appease our desires, whatever they may be.

And then you have characters like Cersei Lannister, Walder Frey and Roose Bolton—sociopaths, ruthless people hungry for power who will stop at nothing to get what they want. These people have base desires aplenty too, just like everyone else, but there is no real conflict between their myriad desires and their ethics. For them, the only ethical framework is one that sees other people as objects to achieve what they want, even if it involves killing their parents, slaughtering their dinner guests or flaying their enemies alive. I’ve worked cases that have involved all these things. Some studies suggest that about four percent of the world population is made up of sociopaths. These characters are most likely to get the public’s attention when they overplay their hands and wind up in the news, charged with committing some atrocity in their lust for power. As an investigator, however, I interview sociopaths nearly every day, as they tend to be disproportionately represented in the legal system. They’re the people who rig bids with envelopes stuffed full of cash, refuse to pay their employees government-mandated minimum wages and otherwise screw regular people over every day for no reason other than that it benefits them. Sometimes they kill too, but more often they don’t have to kill to get their way, particularly when they cloak their true motivations in the banner of a just cause. The sociopaths I meet in my investigations are far more likely to be in positions of trust and authority—or someone known by their victims—than an archetypical villain who deals death and mayhem from the shadows. What better way to get others to rally for your cause than to fly the banner of House Stark (or to wear a badge or a wedding ring), even as you pillage their castles and rape their children?

The world is full of people carrying different banners, most striving to do the right thing but often finding they’ve chosen the wrong side of the battle or letting their desires get the better of them. Then there is a minority among us with undue influence over the world, who in their lust for power will lie, cheat and kill without feeling a thing about it. In my fourteen years as an investigator, I’ve interviewed everyone from numerous defendants facing the death penalty for heinous crimes to countless petty lords and would-be kings, many with seemingly boundless potential, who’ve found themselves in the unlucky position of sitting across from me for one reason or another. And the truth is that I can barely tell the characters apart anymore. Each of us is innocent and imperfect, guilty but complicated. The banners we carry are worse than meaningless; they’re deceptive, a mummer’s farce. It’s in this way that A Game of Thrones really has humanity pegged. The reason it offers such a perfect, frivolous distraction for me after a day of deciding whom to believe, is that I know when I turn the next page it won’t be my head on the chopping block, this time.

About Philip Becnel

Philip Becnel is the Managing Partner of Dinolt Becnel & Wells Investigative Group. He is the President of the Private Investigators Association of Virginia and the author of two influential investigative books: Principles of Investigative Documentation and Private Investigator Entry Level (02E). The latter is the only textbook for the entry-level course required for all private investigators in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Philip has also published in several investigative and legal journals, including The Legal Investigator, Law360, Westlaw Journal Employment and The Corporate Counselor. He has performed thousands of hours of interviews in civil, criminal and internal investigations since 1999 and has taught undergraduate courses in criminal procedure, white collar crime and criminal investigation. He has also lectured on a wide variety of investigative topics to the legal community and has been interviewed as an expert for several media stories on matters ranging from missing persons to bribery and fraud investigations. Philip earned a B.A. in Anthropology from George Mason University and a Master’s in Criminal Justice from Boston University. He is a licensed private investigator in Virginia, Maryland, West Virginia and Washington, DC.

What do you want to do different in 2013 that you didn’t do in 2012?
My goal for 2013 is a personal one. I am determined to live in the moment as much as possible. I’m doing my best to take a page from my new release, Changing Lanes, by appreciating the everyday moments that make life special. Sure, I’ll celebrate the milestones and accomplishments, but I want to spend more time listening to my daughter’s laugh, watching her smile, holding her hand, spinning stories together, and creating memories that I hope will last us a lifetime.

What song would you use as the soundtrack of your life and why?
I wasn’t sure how I would answer this question, then I heard my husband playing one of my favorite songs on his guitar. “In My Life” by the Beatles is, in my opinion, one of the most beautiful songs ever written. It’s also our wedding song. There are many lovely passages in the lyrics, but the takeaway, for me, is that the loves of our lives—family, spouse, children, friends—are what matter most.

What television show best describes your life and why?
I’m not a huge television watcher, but one of my guilty pleasures is the show, Storage Wars. If I luck into a marathon, I can sit glued to the television screen for hours. Oddly enough, the show mirrors much of my life these days. I’ve been reevaluating dreams and goals I’ve carried around since my late twenties, and I realize that the process of mining life goals is a lot like digging through storage units. For me, it’s no doubt time to let go of much of what’s been stored, but I never know when I’m going to uncover a forgotten gem—just like the TV treasures waiting to be uncovered.

What’s your favorite quote & why?
As anyone who’s read my previous book, Chasing Rainbows, knows, I love quotes. While I didn’t start or end each chapter of Changing Lanes with quote, I did choose my favorite quote as the theme of the entire story.

“We must be willing to let go of the life we have planned, so as to have the life that is waiting for us.” –Joseph Campbell

My guess is that there aren’t too many people out there who are living exactly the life they planned when they were younger. Life is an adventure. It’s a journey of discovery, loss, hope, heartbreak, and joy. I suppose that at this point in my life (with a big birthday approaching) I’m consumed by the question: Is this it? As a matter of fact, the working title for my work in progress is Are We There Yet? I don’t believe we’re ever there. And that, for me, is what keeps life interesting.

What character in your new book could you most relate to? 
It’s just about impossible to pick one character from Changing Lanes. I relate to pieces of every character, which is probably why this book was so much fun to write. The lead character, Abby, is a woman on the verge of achieving everything she’s planned, only to see each piece of her puzzle fall apart in a single day. While I can’t relate to the specifics of Abby’s turmoil, I can relate to her emotions. Similarly, her mother and father each come to terms with the fact they’ve tucked their dreams away in the past. Through the book, we see both come back to life, ready to rediscover their passion for living fully.

Changing Lanes is a story about learning how not to let memories of the past or expectations of the future shape the now. For me, the message and theme is highly relatable and relevant. I hope the story and the message will resonate with readers, as well.

Tell readers about your latest release. 

Sometimes the back cover copy of a book provides the perfect summary. This is one of those times!

Abby Halladay has the perfect life. Or, rather, she will…as long as everything goes exactly according to plan. Abby never leaves anything to chance—not her job as a syndicated columnist, not her engagement to her fiancé, Fred, and certainly not her impending wedding in Paris (New Jersey, that is).

Unfortunately for Abby, even the best-laid plans often go awry—like when Fred runs away to Paris (France, that is), her column is canned, and her dream home is diagnosed with termites. Forced to move back in with her parents and drive her dad’s cab, Abby’s perfect life has now officially become the perfect disaster.

Then a funny thing happens. Slowly but surely, Abby begins letting go of her dreams of perfection. As she does, the messy, imperfect life she thought she never wanted starts to feel exactly like the one she needs.

Poignant and heartfelt, Changing Lanes celebrates the unexpected joys of everyday life—and the enduring promise of second chances.

What can readers expect next? 
I’m working on two projects. The first is a new women’s fiction novel which follows a group of four women on a road trip to the Grand Canyon. Are We There Yet? deals with relatable crises that face women of a variety of ages—late teens, forties, and fifties. My second new project, Vanished, is a romantic thriller that will revitalize The Body Hunters, a team of cold case investigators who were at the center of a reader-favorite trilogy I wrote a few years back. Readers can find information and updates on both projects at my website, www.kathleenlong.com, or by following me on Facebook.

Photo Credit: Bobby Quillard

Scandinavian reality star of the record breaking, Kristallen Award winning series “Svenska HollywoodFruar” (Swedish Hollywood Wives), Agnes-Nicole Winter is the President and Founder of GLOBAL STAR FILMS.  The Swedish born filmmaker wrote, produced and starred in the family comedy feature, THE GOLD & THE BEAUTIFUL. Slated for release later this year, the film garnered the ‘Golden Halo Award’ from the Southern America Motion Picture Council, the ‘Award of Excellence’ for Best Comedy Feature from the Film Advisory Board and was nominated for the ‘Best Comedy Feature Film’ at The International Family Film Festival.

What do you look for when deciding on which film project to work on?

First and foremost, the film needs to have a real and powerful message that is built in to what should be an entertaining story. I grew up as a history buff so it’s always great when I find a project that incorporates real events to empower an audience. But, whether it’s a comedy or an action adventure with real history attached, I concentrate on how well the script is written – characters and all –, how it will look on screen, and which audiences we will be able to reach.

What’s your screenplay submission process?

There are so many eager writers in Hollywood who want their screenplays to make it to the big screen. We are constantly receiving scripts. Once we have a screenplay in our hands that we are reviewing, it goes through countless preparations and re-writes until it meets specific criteria.

Did you find it difficult breaking into what is normally a male-dominated industry?

I am all too aware of the challenges facing women in our industry. It’s hard enough to be taken seriously as a woman, but add in being blonde, fit, and single with a Swedish accent and the uphill battle to make people listen becomes only more difficult. Most men in the industry want to discuss business with other men, but luckily that mentality is rapidly changing. You need to embrace yourself and never let anyone stop you from reaching your goals. Being an active member in a variety of organizations – such as Women in Film, Film Independent, AFI, SAG/AFTRA – and having their support is extremely valuable.

What advice would you give up and coming producers?

Don’t sit back. Turn off your TV and get involved with all the great organizations and events in the industry. Networking is a great way to meet other professionals with similar interests, to learn from others, and to make connections. Also, the entertainment world is fast paced and rapidly changing, so make sure to stay updated with all the latest production methods and technology. Be proactive and don’t be afraid to talk to people.

How did your film production company Global Star Films come about?

I worked on other producer’s projects for some time and learned from some of the best. After shopping one of my scripts around for a short while I was realizing that many other independent writers/ producers were doing the same. The competition was fierce. I decided to take my fate in to my own hands and started Global Star Films. By surrounding myself with a respected and experienced staff and crew, we started producing our own projects.

Congratulations on the awards you’ve received for THE GOLD & THE BEAUTIFUL. When will readers be able to see the movie?

Very soon in fact – second quarter 2013 – so keep an eye on our website www.globalstarfilms.com or follow us on Facebook and Twitter to get all the updated information.

Tell us about THE GOLD & THE BEAUTIFUL and the character you portray?

The Gold & The Beautiful is a fabulous adventure/comedy film for the whole family. It’s about a spoiled Beverly Hills socialite, Kristy, who doesn’t want to grow up and lives the shallow and selfish party girl lifestyle – that’s my character. On her 35th birthday her Father surprises her with a gift to go on a treasure hunt in hopes that she will learn that there is more to life than designer shoes and handbags. In her excitement, she heads in to the California desert with a team of professionals to find her present. On the hunt, she is forced to overcome numerous challenges until she soon realizes that real happiness and true love is right in front of her. Overall, it’s a funny, true feel good, popcorn movie.

With all of the projects you have going on, how do you balance your work with your personal life?

As a single mom, I am used to balancing many things at the same time. By raising my two boys, Cristofer and Alexander, while juggling multiple jobs, I became fantastic at organizing and prioritizing tasks at hand. I even fit in time to pursue entertainment projects that I was interested in, such as my celebrity lifestyle show – The Agnes Winter Show­, which I was hosting and producing. But, the show took me away from spending time with my two boys and I eventually left. Family always comes first and today both Cristofer and Alexander are a great addition to our production company’s leadership and production team. I also understand the importance of taking time off for myself. I walk nearly 5 miles several times per week. I wake up early every single day just to be able to do this because I love nature and it’s completely worth it.

What can readers expect to see from you next?

My focus is to continue doing what I love, making movies! Our next film, Precious Metal, an action, adventure, treasure hunt thriller based on real history is in its last stages of development and will soon go in to production. I am also wrapping up a book I’m working on, and the release of “Dazzle” by Agnes-Nicole a jewelry and fashion line.

Interview by Shelia M. Goss, national bestselling author and entertainment writer (www.sheliagoss.com).

What’s your process in determining whether or not you will accept a role?

My degree of fear after I read the script. I need to feel challenged and scared of doing a part. I never take a part that doesn’t scare the #$%& out of me. I think that’s the only way to get better.

Also, as I get older, I hope that the story imparts some sort of compassionate bond between the audience and I. I’m in a place where I want people to walk away from the work feeling taken of a great journey but at the same time holding their heads higher after the end of the piece. Where they feel empowered or hopeful about life. Or perhaps they dissolve from black and white thinking from the character to accepting shades of grey in the world.

Has their ever been a role you turned down but wished later you would have taken?

Definitely not.

Can you tell us about the play you’re currently starring in, your role and where can readers see it performed?

I’m starring in The Rainmaker at the Edgemar Center for the Arts. It’s a very exciting role for me as it involves complete containment and internal thunderstorms. It was a difficult role to take on, considering the play is done all over all the time, and one of my personal heroes played it on film, Katherine Hepburn. But director Jack Heller and the cast have made it an experience all of it’s own, and I’m proud of this production. You can’t see this show again anywhere and it’s a gem – that’s always the precious, fleeting dismay and glory of stage. We received LA Times Critic’s Pick and an Ovation Recommendation, and have extended three times…So it’s a mighty nice run for LA Theatre.

You have a busy schedule ahead. What can readers expect from you next?

I have three films in pre-production and two being released this fall, ‘The M Word’ and ‘Garner, Iowa’.

Have you thought about producing your own films or plays?

I actually have produced and do produce several films and plays. There’s an unquestionable artistic gratitude to having control over the film at the end of the day, whatever the budget. I find those films which are made from the heart fly, no matter if they’re indies or blockbusters, and as a producer I can create the vision and put it out there as I saw it from it’s inception, to crap reviews or great reviews. The reviews don’t matter, as long as it’s retained it’s artistic integrity.

Interview by Shelia M. Goss, national bestselling author and entertainment writer (www.sheliagoss.com).

Patricia Haley-Glass, who writes under the pen name of Patricia Haley, is an award winning national bestselling author and today’s guest author. 

When did you know you wanted to become a writer?

I had no intention of being a writer. From my earliest school memories, I always wanted to be a math teacher. However, I do recall getting good grades on my writing projects but didn’t put much merit in it. In college I switched from a teacher to becoming an engineer since I loved math and science. Later on I went to graduate school and got a Masters degree in finance after realizing that my true passion was in working with numbers. Never did I consider being a writer. One day, I just came up with a story line and started writing in my free time. After ten novels, writing has become easier. I truly see this as a ministry or calling. It’s something God has me doing, and I write to the best of my ability.

What genre does your novels fall in?

Faith-Based Drama, also considered Inspirational or Christian fiction

What advice do you have for aspiring writers?

The ability and desire to write are gifts from God. Don’t sit on your gift. Step out in faith and get those words on paper. You have no idea how much inspiration that might give another ‘aspiring writer’. You also don’t know who’s waiting to read your written words as a means of encouraging them through a tough time. So get moving; there are those waiting to hear what you have to say. If your goal is to either get published or to self-publish, my advice is to do your homework. Writing is the creative side. Publishing is all about business.

Are your books inspired by your own personal experiences?

My novels aren’t about me, not really. However, both my experiences and those of others are a source of inspiration. If something happens or seems like it would be interesting to mold into a story, I’m inspired. I often say that my stories are about everyone I know and no one I know. One character may have attributes of five different people that I know. Some characters are purely fictional. Bottom line, my goal is to develop interesting and unique characters that we can connect with and enjoy reading.

Do you find it difficult to balance your home life with writing?

I was a businesswoman long before embarking upon the writing journey, and I am still a senior program manager overseeing a team of analysts who support operations in North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia. By the grace of God, I’ve been super blessed to simultaneously enjoy two successful careers over the past 15 years. I truly believe we Always find time for those things that are most important in our lives. So, in addition to work and writing, I’m active in my church, and my sorority (Delta Sigma Theta). Even with all the other demands on my time, I always spend time with my family whether it’s playing a game, watching the TV, playing basketball, cooking, or going out for ice cream. We all get 24 hours a day for maximum use. Once the time is gone, it’s never recovered. So, my goal is to use my time to the fullest doing all I can while I can.

Tell readers about your current novel.

Betrayed is the fifth installment in the Mitchell family drama series and picks up where Anointed ended. Discord erupts as pride and unforgiveness lands Dave and Madeline in divorce court with his much younger secretary waiting in the wings. Added to the chaos is their battle over who will assume control of the multi-million dollar family business, DMI. Forget about Dave, Madeline refuses to let another woman take her spot in the company no matter what she has to do. As unimaginable consequences lie ahead, only the hand of God can bring consolation to a family bent on traveling down a road of destruction. After Betrayed, keep on reading as Chosen, Destined, and Broken round out the series. Look for Humbled Mar 2014 as the saga continues.

What’s next for you? 

Finish my current Mitchell family drama series with two more installments, Humbled and Unforgiving. I’m also co-authoring another series with a new author on the literary scene. I look forward to writing several more books along the way. So long as supporters keep reading my works, I’ll continue creating new storylines.

I can be reached via my website: www.patriciahaley.com, by email at phg@patriciahaley.com, through Facebook at Author Patricia Haley Fan Page, or by becoming a friend at Patricia Haley-Glass.

About Claiming Jeremiah:

On the same night that twenty four-year-old Jordyn Sims has a miscarriage, her sister-in-law Tori Sims conceives a child. Nine months later, Tori, a long term heroin addict, abandons her two-hour-old drug addicted newborn Jeremiah, in a hospital stairwell. Jordyn receives the news and pursues foster adoption. However, Oscar, Tori’s possessive drug-addicted boyfriend, is not about to give Jeremiah up so easily. While in confrontation with Tori and Oscar, Jordyn seeks help from the Administration of Children Services (ACS), only to discover she is faced with a maze of departments, regulations, legalities and overworked social workers. Jordyn, however, remains strong and continues to push through the uphill battle, even after she discovers she’s pregnant.

With all odds against her adoption of Jeremiah, and her pregnancy at high risk from increasing stress, will Jordyn win this tough battle, or will her world crumble before her?

About Missy B Salick:

Missy B. Salick is a new author who has written her first novel, Claiming Jeremiah. Her fictional memoir on foster adoption is drawing a hefty buzz, and the online release date isn’t until April 7, 2013 (May 4 in paperback). The novel is small in size, but contains a powerful message. “Children in foster care need a place to call home.”  Salick, a foster care advocate, wrote this book based on her personal journey of foster adopting her four-year-old son.

Before self-publishing, Claiming Jeremiah, Salick spent several years as a freelance business writer for Fortune 500 companies such as: Shearman & Sterling, KPMG, Deloitte and many more. She also had a stint with song ghost writing.  Salick’s experience in the entertainment industry stems from working with entertainment companies and media including Violator, MBK, Village Voice and more. As the founder of J.J. Autumn Publishing, her publishing company is geared towards highlighting urban fiction dedicated to special causes and community awareness projects.

Get to know Missy:

What inspired you to write Claiming Jeremiah?

A: I was inspired to write Claiming Jeremiah after I experienced the foster adoption process with my son. My son was a family member who entered foster care and I wanted to prevent that from happening as quickly as possible. Unfortunately, due to legal and state laws it was harder than I thought. I did research, reading several books and articles on what I could do to stay positive and to learn more about the process. While I found several books about the technical information I needed, I couldn’t find any that illustrated a positive story and outcome.

I wanted more than just information. I wanted to experience the roller coaster ride of someone else’s journey to give me hope. And the stories that were hopeful seemed too good to be true. I wanted the bad along with the good. I wanted the truth. While foster care isn’t always a beautiful and positive subject to speak about, I believe it is a subject that needs more public attention drawn to it in the media and from those who have experienced it from both sides, both the children and the parents. I kept a journal of my own personal trials and tribulations and that lead to the birth of Claiming Jeremiah.

How long did it take to complete from start to finish?

A: I started the novel a year after my son arrived. Once I started writing I couldn’t stop. I would say it took me a couple of months. However, once I finished and reread it, something was missing, it wasn’t complete. I put it down for a year and returned to it after that time, once I had had time to grow, not only in my writing but also as a human being. This story is so personal that I knew the timing and my mindset had to be perfect. After I picked up the pen for the second time it took me about three to four months to complete.

What was the toughest part about writing Claiming Jeremiah?

A: The toughest part about writing Claiming Jeremiah was the character development. It was very important to me to capture each character the right way. The reader needs to be able to experience not only what it is like being each character, but also to get the information they needed to foster a child in care. For instance, from the first chapter you easily understand Jordyn and what she is about. However, with Tori, she is a much more complex character. From the first pages, you see her confused, scattered, and being a heavy drug user who has left her two-hour-old newborn in a hospital stairwell. The normal reaction would be to dislike her character. Tori is misunderstood, however, and I wanted to reveal what it would be like to walk in Tori’s shoes. What causes her to do this to her body, to herself, and to her children? What’s the driving force behind her actions? These are all questions I wanted to explore and give some shape and impression of to my readers. More importantly, I wanted to show her other side and not make her out just to be the villain.

Do you intend to write a second book?  Is this the first in a sequel?

A: Yes, I definitely intend to write another book. Claiming Jeremiah tells the beginning stages of what it’s like to go through the process of fostering a child. The next book will give you more information on what happens when the child is in your home and the stages of adoption.

You are still very young—at what age did you begin this process, and what has it been like being a young foster (adoptive) mother?

A: I began this process when I was twenty-four years old. I must say it has been a rewarding experience. Never in a million years would I have thought I would be doing this, yet alone at this age. It’s funny, because when my husband and I go to trainings or into the agencies we are always the youngest ones there. We usually get bombarded with questions and then praised for our actions.

As a foster parent, since you have witnessed some of the challenges involved in all the red tape, what are some solutions that you can offer?

A: Each situation is different. You have to find what solutions work best for you. For me, I was dealing with two states and therefore had to deal with four different agencies: the ICPC of each state and each state’s local agency. It was a nightmare. My solution was to make sure nothing fell through the cracks. Each day I was constantly e-mailing or calling someone for a status update. My advice would be to find out what the hold up is or what you can do to make the process move faster and more smoothly. The caseworkers have so many cases and things going on, it’s easy for them to get sidetracked. I’ve learned they care as much as you care. If you show extra incentive, they will too.

Why did you start writing?

A: Writing has always and will always be a part of my life. Writing is my comfort zone. Nothing brings me more peace and assurance in my life than writing. There is no judgment when my pen hits the paper. To me it’s my time to be free. I can say what I want, wear what I want, be whom I want. Writing keeps me sane. When I write I have the opportunity to let go and express myself.

What’s your next project?

A: My next project is the sequel to Claiming Jeremiah, but I am also working on a short novella that is currently Untitled at the moment. My readers will get to see a different side of me after reading Claiming Jeremiah. This novella is going to be a romantic comedy.

You are new to the writing industry; what can your readers expect to see from you?

A: My readers can expect to never expect the same thing. I am a prolific writer and my mind tends to come up with stories in various genres. One day I can feel romantic, the next day like a thriller, then inspirational, and so forth. Every day and every story won’t be the same.

Find the author:
FB: www.facebook.com/meetmissy24
Twitter: @meetmissy24
Instagram: @awriterzlife
Website: www.meetmissy.com
Publisher Site: www.jjapublishing.com

Email Address:
jjapublishing@gmail.com

Buy the book:
www.meetmissy.com
www.jjapublishing.com
www.smashwords.com
www.amazon.com