Janet Kay Jensen, Author: Book Review and Author Interview: Poaching Daisies by Carole Thayne Warburton

Janet Kay Jensen, Author: Book Review and Author Interview: Poaching Daisies by Carole Thayne Warburton

Poaching Daisies Blog Tour!!!

Announcing my blog tour: A bunch of writers and reviewers have taken time to review or interview my newest book. Take a look on the scheduled day. Follow the rules and get a chance to win $50.00 to spend in my pottery etsy site. It's easy. It's fun. And hopefully you might discover a reason to read my latest book. Take some time to familiarize yourself to the participants writing and books.



March 24th Janet Kay Jensen Janet is a member of my Logan writing group and was valuable help in asking the right questions and offering suggestions as the story unfolded. She definitely helped the book turn out better.

March 25 Julie Coulter Bellon (popular writer and reviewer) She writes a blog called lds writer mom She is both a successful writer and a wonder mother. I know she has a large family and marvel that she has time to write at all. Thanks Julie for participating.

March 26 Liz Adair is a prolific writer. If you have read very much LDS fiction you'll have come across her books. I'm so pleased she would take time to read and review my latest. Her blog is Liz Sez. I love that she "sez" she has opinions about just about everything. So do I. Maybe that's why we write.

March 27th Braden Bell. I've never met Braden. I know him as a teacher, writer, online friend, storymaker and great supporter of writers. I've read his books and really enjoyed them.

March 28th Author Shirley Bahlmann. I met Shirley a decade ago. She's one of those cheerful and beautiful people that you love as soon as you meet. The first thing I said to her was, "You're tall!" Not exactly the most gracious thing to say. But there is a lot more to Shirley than height and good looks; she's talented as well.

March 29th Last but not least. Stephanie Worlton whom I've never met and don't know much about except that she is an author and knows a lot about camping. I love the title of her blog Kreating Krazy One Day at a Time. She was gracious enough to join my blog tour, so please acquaint yourself with her blog and my book at the same time. I could have used her book when I was camp director and later as Young Women's President, but she hadn't written it yet.

An interview with the authors of "My Name is Frankie"

It's my opportunity to feature the authors of a book with a powerful message. I've very interested in this book even though I haven't read it yet because I love memoir. I love reading and writing that has purpose besides the entertainment value.  "My Name Is Frankie" vividly portrays the 47-year struggle of a man dragged down to the lowest level by alcoholism, and the strength and fortitude to rise above his addiction. Frankie Maio and Tristi Pinkston have co-authored a true story which will have you experiencing a gamut of emotion. Be prepared to put the rest of your life on hold, because this is one book you will not put down until the last page has been turned." - Lisa Bennett, reviewer, blogger, and ghostwriter.

If you'd like to read an excerpt from the memoir and/or purchase. Here's the Amazon link.

Here are my questions for Frankie Maio

1. What made you want to write this story? I've added some comments in parentheses. 

Hopefully it will save someone so nobody has to go as far as I did. My story is sad, but true. Also, I think writing it was a healing process for me. (I also believe in the power of writing to heal.)

2. I've heard that people with addictions have a turning point. If you can, describe your turning point briefly (without giving away the story).

I was lying on the floor bleeding. I knew it was almost over for me. I started to pray to ask God to save me. I had a spiritual awakening and the craving was lifted from me. I knew then that God had come to me. 

3. You had an abusive father, but still sought his approval. Describe one of the best days with your father/and the worst.

I loved my father very much then and I still do now. We would go fishing together and hunting. He would take me for a ride in the truck and let me drive it. There were a lot of bad days - the worst time was the beating I got with the rope, which I tell about in the first part of my book. (The beginning of the story is powerful as this beating is described. You can read the first chapter on Amazon before downloading.)

4. What is your hope for this book?

My hope for this book is that it will reach out to millions of people to show them that the answer to happiness is praying to a power bigger than themselves. Also, if they think they have a problem, they should reach out for help. I hope it will sell so I can give back to people who need help. 

5. What do you want people to understand about alcoholism?

Alcohol is a dangerous drug. It is cunning, baffling, and powerful. It will take away every dream you have. If you have problems with the law and alcohol is involved, it's time to reach out and stop drinking. It destroys families and relationships, and it will kill you.

6. Now that you are free from the binding power of addiction, how do you like to spend your time?

I will be an alcoholic all my life. I will only be free one day at a time. I spend my time talking to people, going to the gym and doggie park, and fishing with my family and grandkids, and working on old cars.  

Tristi Pinkston who has authored numerous popular books was Frankie's co-author. She also answered questions for me that I think you'll find interesting. I met Tristi over ten years ago and have really admired her writing. 

1. What did you learn about addiction that you didn't know before your co-authored this book?

I had no idea just how very much an addiction takes over. Once you're an addict, your addiction controls you until you are able to break that chain and get help. I am amazed by all the people who have managed to put their addictions in the past - that takes so much strength of character. I gained a lot of respect for people who have overcome challenges of this type and recreated their lives - they are heroes. 

2. How long did you work on the book with Frankie?

We worked on it from the spring until the fall of 2012. 

3. What do you hope will be accomplished with the book?

I want people to understand that alcoholism is a real problem, and that it takes a tremendous amount of fortitude to break free from it. It's not just a matter of putting down the bottle - it's a matter of breaking yourself down completely to rebuild yourself. I also want people to understand that recovering alcoholics are heroes. They have accomplished something harder than most of us will ever be asked to face.  

4.  You've written other novels, but is this the first non-fiction book for you?  If so, do you have other true stories you'd like to tell?

I've written other nonfiction (three cookbooks, an inspirational nonfiction, and a series of reference books for authors) but this is the first memoir I've written, and also the first time I've had a co-author. I would love to tell other true stories - I'm interested in just about everything and everybody, and so I'm sure this won't be the last. 

5. I have a friend I would like to help write her story, so I'm interested in the mechanics of co-authoring. How did it work for you and Frankie?

Frankie had already written down his story, and someone had typed it up for him and helped him create a shape for it. He just needed someone to help him move on to the next phase. His brother Jerry found my website and contacted me, and I arranged to meet up with Frankie. We clicked from the moment we saw each other, even though we're about as different as two people can get. He gave me a disk with his story on it and I reworked it from the bottom up. As I finished each chapter, I sent it to him and he read it, and then we'd have a long chat on the phone to clarify details or change this and that. 

Through talking with Frankie on the phone and in person, I got a feel for his voice and the way he would phrase things, so as I wrote, I was able to stay true to that sound. That's one of the most important things in co-authoring - maintaining the tone throughout so it's not obvious who wrote which parts. 

After the book was finished, I sent it back to Frankie again and he read it from start to finish, putting the final touches on it. It went really smoothly - we had no disagreements or conflicts of any kind. I should also point out that we signed an agreement before we ever started to work on the project together so we each knew what to expect of the relationship going forward - I think that's key in any collaboration. (Thanks Trisit, for this information which I find really helpful in my own projects.)

6. How is writing a memoir comparable to writing fiction?

They're the same in that you have to put yourselves in the shoes of your characters and imagine what they are going through in order to tell the story properly. The difference is, of course, that Frankie is a real person and not imaginary, so I didn't get to create a happily-ever-after for him. The great thing, though, is that he created one for himself, and I got to share in telling that story.

7. What is your perfect day like?

A perfect day for me would involve no housework or cooking whatsoever, a massage, a long nap, a chef-prepared meal with no calories  ... but since those things don't happen, I'll share with you the closest thing I get to perfect days.  

I love it when I'm working as a team with my family and we're all committed to doing what needs to be done. I love feeling as though I'm making progress on my work and with my goals. I love feeling as though I'm moving forward spiritually. If I can accomplish all those things in one day, that is a perfect day for me. 

Wednesday Writer An Interview with Carole Thayne Warburton

I liked the interview, author Tanya Parker Mills, did with me so much that I decided to post it here. Also my book Poaching Daisies is being launched at the incredible Kindle price of S2.99 for just two weeks at Amazon.





Interview on Tanya Parker Mills blog.



Announcing my Blog Tour Begins on March 24th. Check back for Details. 

Meet Author Cami Checketts and Enter to Win

A few years back I met Author Cami Checketts. Cami is one of those people who you feel an immediate connection to. She is a talented and prolific writer. I got to ask her some questions that I think you'll find interesting. She's giving away a bunch of great stuff with her latest book blog tour. Check this out. Read the interview and enter. After reading the interview and blurbs enter by clicking on the Poison Me icon on the right of this post. 

1.      You are a busy mother, how do you squeeze time in for writing?

I had to give up non-essentials: cleaning, cooking, television, scrapbooking, sleep.

2. How many novels have you published?

Poison Me is my sixth published novel.

3. You are physically active and care a lot about exercise. That seems to play a role in some of your novels. Does it in Poison Me and if so how?

The heroine in Poison Me is a runner, but it’s not an integral part of the storyline like it was in Dead Running.

4. Tell us about your perfect day.

It would have to be a Saturday. I’d wake up and go for a long run then come home to waffles (made by my husband) and a house already cleaned (by my children). Go on a bike ride with the family to the park, picnic lunch, arrive back home, baby goes to sleep without fighting (this is becoming more and more unrealistic), older boys play outside without fighting, while I write for a couple of hours (seriously, this is a dream), read stories to boys until dinnertime, they make themselves dinner and offer to babysit while husband takes me to dinner at Café Sabor. You don’t want to hear what happens when we come home to a houseful of freshly-bathed, sleeping children.

Haha, okay, my perfect day is when I spend quality time with my family (without Mom getting grumpy) and accomplish even one sentence of writing.

5. Besides writing, what are your passions?

My family, my testimony, exercise, and chocolate (the only four things I’d get passionate about at least).

6. What are some of your favorite books and some of your favorite authors (besides your own)?

I hate this question, I could go on for pages! Here are a few I’ve enjoyed recently.

Line of Fire by Rachel Ann Nunes

Poaching Daises by Carole Thayne Warburton

Gifts & Consequences by Daniel Coleman

The Walk Series by Richard Paul Evans

Anything by David Bunn, Susan May Warren, or Karen Kingsbury

7. How did you get involved in writing novels?

I was fighting postpartum depression after the birth of my second son. My mom came to visit, hauled my rear out of bed and said, “You need a hobby, go…write a book.” I’m an obedient child, so I went to my office and wrote a book. I haven’t had time for a nap since.

8. What advice would you give someone who is starting out?

Learn all you can and find a fun, positive critique group.

9. What was your inspiration for Poison Me?

My parents worked at a retirement home and my mom told me one day that they had four deaths that week. I was shocked and asked what the police said. She told me that they police didn’t even investigate. It got me thinking, what if someone was murdering these sweet people? Hmmm.

10. Are you working on a new novel and if so what is it about?

I’m writing the third book in my Running series, polishing the sequel to Poison Me, and I just had a horrific nightmare that gave me the inciting scene for a new book. And to think I used to pray not to have nightmares!

Thanks for having me on the blog!



Poison Me by Cami Checketts



Jake Merrill was raised by his grandmother, Ruby, and her hilarious friends. After a suspicious death at the retirement home where Ruby lives, she enlists Jake and Chanel, the beautiful activities director, to help her find the killer.

But secrets Ruby has kept for decades threaten her family and the man she’s always loved but could never have. Chanel’s unstable ex-boyfriend, a presumably dead relative, and vicious criminals add to the confusion. Time is running out as Jake, Chanel, and Ruby desperately search for clues to solve the murders and fight to save those they love.

Praise for Poisen Me

Poison Me made me laugh out loud and thoroughly enjoy myself. I wish I had a friend like Ruby! Snappy dialogue, romance, and a strong sense of family made this book well worth reading.

Rachel Ann Nunes, bestselling author of Line of Fire andBefore I Say Goodbye

Purchase Poison Me

Author Cami Checketts

Cami is a part-time author, part-time exercise consultant, part-time housekeeper, full-time wife, and overtime mother of four adorable boys. Sleep and relaxation are fond memories. She's never been happier.

A portion of the proceeds from Cami's books will be donated to The Child & Family Support Center. For more information on this worthy cause, please go towww.cachecfsc.org

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Blog Tour Giveaway

$50 doTERRA Oil basket and $35 wholesale membership, $50 Kate Ryan Skincare GC, $50 Amazon GC. Ends 3/30/13

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