Betsy Cook Speer's Blog

Welcome to WordPress. This is your first post. Edit or delete it, then start writing!

Photos of me 25 years ago, six-months pregnant with my first son, demolishing walls in Charlotte, NC. with my fabulous reciprocating saw and rather wimpy-looking sledgehammer. That’s when I was dying my hair brown! Ha ha.

 

Join the mailing list and get Chapters 1-3 FREE!

Ok – when I first started the book, I was envisioning Barbie with a toolset… then I thought female Jack Reacher… but what a raucous, rollicking, refreshing plot! I thoroughly enjoyed meeting Samantha who is intelligent,  sexy, gutsy, athletic and yet vulnerable, sarcastic and with a sense of humour. But I liked best the personal touches of getting to know you as an author: such as Dale Chilhuly glass and pink champagne from small french vineyards. You have a wicked streak, my dear!     - Mary

Clear concise advice for authors to engage our readers. Thanks bublish! 

#fridayread #thriller

 

Just signed up for the NYC Self-Publishing Book Expo mailing list. I missed it last year. Not going to miss it again! http://bit.ly/1lFDO5U Or join my mailing list, I won’t let you miss it.

In the latest issue of American in Britain Magazine, the lovely Helen Elliott, Publisher, asked about living in England and writing Demolition Queen.  American in Britain is the go to place for info invaluable to American expats. 
For an easy to read copy click here and go to pg. 32.
 

 

Sorry, had to re-post this. My biggest fan, my Mom, couldn’t read the scanned version.

I just had the pleasure of interviewing with a lovely man named Jaideep for his blogspot based in India. His interview questions were so interesting I thought you might enjoy thinking through how you’d answer each one.  I’ll post the interview when it goes live.

Here are Jaideep’s questions:

Your real name and pen name?
Please share some of the best memories of your childhood
About your education
What career did you plan during your education days
What languages you can speak and write?
What is your biggest source of inspiration in life
What hurts you most in this world
What is the biggest challenge you have faced? How did you overcome it?
If you had to live a day of your life as one of the living or dead personality, who would it be and why?
What is your favorite genre and why?
When did you start writing? What is the purpose of your writing?
Which of your work has been published so far? Would you like to share a synopsis of your work?
What are your forthcoming writings?
What are your future plans?
What four top most things you take care of while writing a book?
How much real life goes into a fiction writing?
Is high level of imagination important to have for an Author?
Your dream destination on Earth?
Your origin of birth and other countries you have visited/ stayed. What best things you liked in these countries around the globe?
Your favorite time of the day?
Your zodiac/ sunsign?
Your favorite color and why?
Your favorite book and why?
Your favorite celebrity and why?
Your favorite food?
Some quickies: Sun or Moon, Laughter or Smile, Morning or Evening, Coffee or Tea, Mountain or Sea, Long Drive or Short Drive, Silence or Conversation, Water or Fire, Air or Earth, Mars or Jupiter, Tulip or Rose, Red or Blue, Left or Right, Glance or Stare
What three words come to your mind for each – Technology, Life, God, Humanity, Terrorism, Racism, Childhood Abuse, Love, Parenting, Old age
State your signature line/ tagline/ best quote
The last line of your autobiography would be…

Surrey Life’s Juliette Foster Reviews Demolition Queen

“Ha-ha.” I rolled my turquoise eyes. “Speaking of fencing, that last take went well, don’t you think?”

Silverblade snorted. His head rocked back, and his shock of white hair flopped up and down. “The Fencing Federation would strip you of your titles if they’d seen your fencing today. Parries were sloppy, timing was off, and you’re out of shape.”

I bristled. “I’m not coming back to Silverblade boot camp, so forget it. After last time, I couldn’t lift my arms high enough to brush my teeth for a week. Anyway, I’m holding out for your unbeatable move,” I said.

“Only taught one person that move. Got to want it bad,” Silverblade said, with a teasing frown as he patted his heart.

With that, I dropped to one knee. “Master, entrust me with your secret so that I may conquer a worthy opponent,” I said. Adding an evil laugh, I lunged at Silverblade’s ribs with fingertips pointed like a sword.

“I pity that poor sod.” Silverblade laughed and then parried with his own flattened hand. He gave me a peck on the cheek before heading out the workshop door.