The As-Promised Author Spotlight on...Megan Cyrulewski!

 

 

Ladies and gents! I am so excited to have a new, up-and-coming author visiting my blog today! May I have a drum roll please?

*drum roll*

Megan Cyrulewski!!!

Megan comes to the writing world straight with a law degree that could make John Grisham jealous and believe me...he has A LOT to worry about once this young lady sets up shop! Her debut novel, a memoir called Who Am I? deals with some heavy issues like postpartum depression, child custody battle and her divorce---all her which she chronicled while attending Thomas M. Cooley Law School. Her book will be released by Black Opal Books this summer and that calls for a double-whammy of awesome because not only is Megan an author but she's a FELLOW Black Opals author! And did I mention her absolutely-adorable daughter, Madelyne? Both she and Megan are featured on the cover of Who Am I? Take a look:

I knew there was a reason why I liked Megan! I would never have the courage to put myself on a book cover but she does it with such ease and aplomb. So would you like to get to know Megan and the story behind her memoir? Yes? Me too! She was kind enough to answer some of my questions:

Megan! How are you? Thank you so much for joining us today! Here, have some cookies *passes plate* and perhaps a nice, hot beverage *passes cup of COFFEE.* I hope you’re doing well. It’s so awesome that you’ve stopped by. So let’s get right to it, shall we? Tell us….

 

Please give us a synopsis about your upcoming release from Black Opal Books.
What makes my story so special?  One word:  Unbelievable.  My book, Who Am I? is about my journey into post-partum depression, anxiety disorder, panic attacks, stays in the psych ward, divorce, domestic violence, law school, how I managed to graduate from law school and a beautiful little girl who emerged from all of this chaos.  

When did you first decide to sit down and write?

Everyone kept telling me that I needed to write a book.  I kept putting it off because I really thought it was going to be too hard but once I started, I was on a mission! 

Do you have any inspirations?

My daughter is my number one inspiration in the world.  I never wanted to have children.  When I got pregnant, everyone was shocked and confused.  Now, I can’t even imagine (nor do I want to) my life without her.

 

Do you like to write with noise? No noise?
It depends.  I can’t listen to music unless it’s classical because then I will start singing.  However, when I’m working on my new book (a legal thriller) I like to have Law & Order: SVU on the TV in the background.  I’ve even had a couple of “Ah” moments that I included in my book.

 

Are you a paper-and-pen type of gal or strictly on the computer?
Both.  I carry around a notebook with me everywhere so I can write down ideas.  When it comes to writing the actual story, however, I buckle down in front of my laptop.

 

Do you need an outline to write your stories or do you wing it?
When I first started writing, I tried to wing it, but I kept leaving out a lot of information.  Now I find it much easier to write an outline.  It helps keep me on track and not deviate from where I am in the story.

 

What’s your favorite snack to munch on while you let the creative juices flow?
I have recently fallen in love with Greek Yogurt.  I don’t like regular yogurt but Greek Yogurt tastes heavenly.

 

Do you have one of those nagging little voices in the back of your head, telling you that you can’t do it? If so, how do you shut it up?
That nagging voice used to be my ex-husband.  I shut it up by divorcing him.  ;) 

 

Does your story come from personal experience or have you had to do some major research?
Obviously my memoir is personal experience.  My second book, however, comes from a little of both.  I mean, there’s murder in my book but please don’t think that is my personal experience!  When I was in law school, I learned that there are exceptions to almost every law.  It got to be so common that my classmates and I would laugh when the professor said, “But there’s an exception.”  I used to think that the “exceptions” would make great storylines.  So law school is my personal experience.  Once I figure out what law I’m going to use in my book, then I do the research to make sure it’s correct.

 

What kind of books do you like to read? E-books or the real thing? J
I have so far refused to buy a Nook, Kindle, iPad or anything of that sort.  I need to hold a book in my hand.

 

What’s the one thing you can’t write without?
This is going to sound weird, but a pen.  Even though I type on the computer, if I get stuck, for some reason, fidgeting with a pen helps with writer’s block.  Weird…I know.


Believe me, weird is definitely a good thing! To find more about Megan Cyrulewski or pop by to say hi, visit her social media sites and remember, look for her memoir, Who Am I? debuting this summer!

Megan's Website
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
GoodReads
Author's Den


 

Spotlight on...L.R. Wright!

Folks, I am so excited to shine the author spotlight on L.R. Wright, author of Basement Level 5: Never Scared. It was re-released just a few scant days ago by Crushing Hearts and Black Butterfly Publishing. It's a suspense/thriller of nail-biting proportions, spurred on by Wright's love of reading, something that was instilled in her by her mother at a very young age. That love of reading manifested itself into the urge to tell her own stories, producing intrigue and unforgettable characters. I had the honor and privilege of meeting Mrs. Wright in New York City and she is every bit as lovely as that picture at the top of this post. So! Let's bring on the book, shall we? Ladies and gents, I give you, Basement Level 5: Never Scared!

Blurb:

Alexa Martinez was raised to believe that murder, deceit, and lies were a part of life. A trained killer, she follows in her father’s footsteps, specializing in political assassinations for Martinez Security-contracted through the CIA. She thrives on the power, money, respect, and-most of all-the adrenaline rush.
Despite the danger associated with her profession, Alexa strives to give her children a normal life. But when her past catches up with her, they become pawns in a deadly game of revenge. Operating from a secret base, five levels below ground, Alexa struggles to unravel the puzzle, uncovering secrets that will alter their lives forever. Now she must make a choice-is she willing to die to give her children a life outside the bullet-proof glass?


Excerpt:

As she neared the street, a shadowy figure turned into the alley. Alexa froze. The sun had already gone down, so she wasn’t sure if he’d noticed her. Cautiously, she slipped behind a trashcan and leaned against the wall of the store.
“Did you see her?” a male voice asked.
“No, I didn’t,” responded a different man. “I checked the whole store. She’s nowhere in sight.”
“How did she slip past us?”
“I don’t know.”
She closed her eyes and wondered how she was going to get out of this. Grabbing an empty pop bottle, she pitched it behind her. Footsteps raced toward the sound. Once they were past her, she bolted for the street as fast as she could go. It seemed too easy, but she went with it—until she ran right into a third man, who grabbed and hauled her off her feet.
She struggled, kicking and punching him. Finally he lost his grip and dropped her. She immediately socked him in the balls. It stunned him, but not enough to disable him. He grabbed her hair as she slammed him in the knee with her good foot. His leg buckled, but his grip remained steady. She grabbed another stray bottle and bashed him in the face. Releasing her, he collapsed to the ground with a thud.
 Another man advanced toward her and she kicked him in the chest. Yanking her knife from its hiding place, she thrust it into his neck. As a third man charged her, she pulled the knife out and plunged it into that man’s leg. Before he could retaliate, she jerked her gun from its holster and shot him.
A groan pulled her attention back to the first man, who was struggling to his feet. She slapped him across the cheek with the butt of her gun. He slumped back to the ground.
She leaned down and peered at his face. “Who the hell sent you?”



Isn't this cover gorgeous:

To find out more about L.R. Wright and her writing adventures, check out her social media sites:
Author Website
Facebook
Twitter

Sharing Some Love Through a Blog Hop!

It’s clearly time for a blog hop and thanks to the amazing Debbie Christiana, I have much hopping to do. Now I’m sure you all have heard me mention Debbie before…or Debster, as I’ve taken to calling her (I shall take this time to apologize, Debbie, if you don’t like your nickname). She’s written a fantastic book called, Solstice that’s full of witchcraft, love, thrills and chills and a few steamy sex scenes thrown in for good measure. I also had the honor and privilege of meeting her in NYC and man, did she make me laugh. She still does! Talent and sheer awesomeness…what a combination!

So going back to the blog-hopping. The purpose of this blog hop is to tag three authors and share their work and then they in turn tag 3 more authors on their blogs and so on and so forth! Plus, there are 4 pertinent questions that need answering in regards to my work. It’s a delightful cycle, sharing books and authors for any and all!

Now first up, we have the wonderfully talented Jennifer Gibson. She currently has a series out now that tells the story of a young girl who is gradually losing her hearing and the stigmata that comes along with it. Aimed at the young adult genre, it’s refreshing to see a strong girl fighting her way through life without the annoying presence of sparkling vampires and bare-chested boys who turn into werewolves. Apology to all the Twi-Hards out there. *ducks and hides from mad mob"

Second, we have new-comer Megan Cyrulewski. Her new book, Who Am I? tells the painful journey of her divorce, a child custody battle and postpartum depression. It’s being released by Black Opal Books this year so fire up those Kindles and Nooks, folks! The wait will soon be over! I'll be featuring Megan here on my blog during the coming weeks so we can get the full story behind this talented writer.

And last be not least, we have the lovely Leslie Wright. I had the pleasure of meeting Leslie at the same time I met Debbie Christiana so you can imagine the sheer blast of fun we had that night…I still remember the waiter we had with that pompadour. It was the most perfectly-sculpted head of hair I’ve ever seen. But I digress! Just a few short days ago, Leslie has re-released her thriller, Basement Level 5: Never Scared by Crushing Hearts & Black Butterfly Publishing. It’s so exciting and the cover is gorgeous! I will be spotlighting this pulse-pounding book here on my blog within the next few days! So much excitement and so little time!


Now ready for some serious question-answering? Here we go:

What am I working on?

Currently I’m working on a thriller called, “Two Evils.” It’s a creepy, borderline-crazy plot that begs the question just how much of the truth we can bear. Or should we go along, blissfully unaware, intentionally ignoring it for fear of upsetting the apple cart?

How does my work differ from others of its genre?

I tend to write about things that make people uncomfortable. I’m not exactly sure why that is. My stories gravitate towards topics that we, as a society, know exists but never acknowledge until it’s shoved down our throats. And even then, people are so quick to write them off as “other people’s problems” or “other countries’ problems.” I didn’t pull any punches when I wrote “Lights Out.” It deals with control, power, fear, intimidation, all the things that most people either want or can do without. Putting my characters in situations that society would love to hide from is a lot of fun and tends to stray off the beaten path.

Why do I write what I do?

I have no idea. I’ve asked myself that so many times and I still draw a blank.

How does your writing process work?
My writing process is a lot like going shopping. You either find something you like or you don’t. There’s always something churning around in my head but it takes a while to see what sticks enough to give me an idea for a story. I used to work on several stories at a time before I realized that was just a bad idea. Now it’s simply one story at a time and it fills my head up until it’s ready to pop off my shoulders. Then I just gnaw at it like a bone until it’s finally out of my system. And who knows how long that will take?