Welcome author Pete Abela!

Please join me in welcoming author Pete Abela to the blog today! 

Hi Pete! I have read your book WINGS and to be quite honest, I was blown away. From historical accuracy to the passion in your words about your subject . . . this book simply has it all. Can you tell us a little bit about WINGS?

WINGS tells the story of Walt and his grandson Scott, who both have a fierce longing to fly albeit in vastly different circumstances. Walt - who grew up in the depression - found out first hand that becoming a pilot takes sacrifice and tenacity. When World War II broke out, he pestered the RAF (Royal Air Force) for eighteen months before they finally accepted him. Scott spent his childhood listening to tales of his Grandfather's aerial exploits and developed an intense craving to be a pilot. However, the number of people wanting to be a pilot vastly outweighs the limited opportunities on offer.

How interesting! What drew me in was the way you were able to combine Walt's yellowed, reminiscent memories with Scott's modern day exploits. Who is this story more aimed toward?

WINGS weaves together two tales: one set in war-torn northern England, and the other set in the modern-day Illawarra region of New South Wales. As Scott progresses, his grandfather declines – Walt loses his wife, his sight and his hearing – but throughout these difficulties is still there to offer support and encouragement. With insights into the modern aviation scene and life in the Royal Air Force of World War II, this is a must for anyone who has an interest in history, aviation or simply an old fashioned love story.

It really felt as though you had personal connections to your characters, thus lending the feeling of familiarity to your readers. Are Scott and Walt based on real people? 

Although Wings is a novel, I did draw inspiration from two men I greatly admire. The first is my grandfather who was a fighter pilot during World War II; the other is my younger brother who is a commercial pilot with a major Australian airline.

I consider them both to have lived through fascinating, unusual and difficult circumstances and I thought I could draw on and extend some of their experiences as the basis for this novel. One of the scenes I really enjoyed writing is the story of Walt’s wedding. He was given a 48 hour leave pass to get married, although more than a quarter of the time would be spent travelling. Heavy snow held up the train and it began to look as if he would not make it home. Given Walt was about to be posted overseas for twelve months, these few hours with his sweetheart were very important. I enjoyed this because of the contrast between the situation faced by Walt and the relative luxury and freedom we enjoy today.

Thank you so much for being here today! I hope you'll be willing to come back and share with us two more of your vastly different works -- A PAINTED ROOM and LESSONS FROM A TWO YEAR OLD! How can readers find out more about you and find your works? 

Author Name: Pete Abela

Website: http://peteabela.blogspot.com.au

Twitter: @PeteAbela

Facebook: facebook.com/PeteAbela

Author Christine Steendam

Welcome to the Wednesday edition of my blog, where I feature one spectacular author each week!

Are you an author who would like to be featured? Contact me at sarathreesuns@gmail.com for available dates.

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Hi Christine, thanks for stopping by today! I fell in love with your OCEAN series with the first book, Heart Like an Ocean. Can you tell us about your most recent release in this series? 

I guess I'll start with a little background on Betrayed by the Ocean. It is book 2 in the OCEAN series, sequel to Heart Like an Ocean. When I wrote Heart Like an Ocean, I intended it to be a standalone. It is the story of Senona Montez and in my mind, her story was done in that book. Even Brant Foxton had his happily-for-now. But after talking with a few readers and one of my editors , I came to realize there was more to Brant Foxton's story. So I began to explore it. That's how Betrayed by the Ocean came to be. 

Oooh, Brant Foxton. Now that is the name of a hero! What's his story? 

I realized that the person he ended up with in Book 1 wasn't the right person for him, he hadn't become to person he needed to be and Senona wasn't going to be the one to change him. So I began writing Book 2, Betrayed by the Ocean and was taken on a journey of discovery right along with Brant.

Most authors say that their newest releases are their favorite stories. Is that true with Betrayed by the Ocean? 

It is one of my favorite stories to date. Brant has a very special place in my heart, and the writing of Betrayed by the Ocean was a very organic process. I knew how it began, but I had no idea where it was going after that. But I am very happy with how it turned out.

Do we get to look forward to more installments in the OCEAN series in the future? 

I'm currently working on book 3, Embraced by the Ocean which centers around Johnny Marshall, but the rest of the characters in my Ocean series still play a role. Although I mostly wrap up Brant's story in Betrayed by the Ocean, you'll see a little bit more development for him in the last book. I think readers are going to be more than happy with where I leave everyone off.

We can't wait to check it out, Christine! No doubt you will leave your readers happy once again and, as always, wanting more. Where can we find out more about you and purchase your books?

Links to Christine's OCEAN books . . .

Amazon 

Kobo

B&N

iBooks

Smashwords 

Keep up with Christine by checking out these links below! 

Christine's Website: http://www.christinesteendam.com

Christine's Author Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/authorchristine.s

 Follow Christine on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/chrissteen1991

Interview with author of THE PHANTOM PILOT Ann Swann

Who from the past would you want to bring home to dinner and why?

At first I thought I would say my other dad just so I could ask him why he robbed that bank. But then I realized I probably already know the answer to that. So then I thought maybe I would ask him why he didn’t try to stick around a bit longer, you know, for us girls, but having suffered depression myself, I guess I know the answer to that, too.
What would you eat?
Mexican food, no doubt.
Who is your literary inspiration?
It started with Poe and Hitchcock when I was a kid, and evolved into Ray Bradbury and Stephen King when I was a teen. These writers/story-tellers always made me care about the characters in the story first. And for some reason I like it when a story starts out normal and mundane and then all you-know-what breaks loose. Heh heh heh. Better add Shirley Jackson to that list come to think of it. And Rod Serling. Always Rod Serling. Oh, and Mary Stuart and her Merlin Tales…
What about your overall inspiration?
I’ve always written thoughts and stories, since I was a teenager. Now, I’m inspired by grandkids…just check out my story “The Blister Bear” in the upcoming Campfire Tales anthology. It was inspired by a five year old’s nightmare.
On the other hand, “Skeleton Rock” was actually inspired by a bunch of rocks out on my walking trail.
From whom were Stevie and Jase born?
Well, that’s tricky. I grew up the way Stevie did, riding my bike all over Lamesa, Texas. But actually the two characters are a mishmash of kids I knew or wanted to know back in my hometown. Actually, I think some of the characteristics of my former elementary students may have gotten mixed in there, too. Of course, like most authors, there’s always a little bit of me in every character, even the dorky ones. Or maybe that should be, especially the dorky ones!
What future projects do you have in mind?
Working on the sequel to The Phantom Pilot right now; The Phantom Student will be published around Halloween, and it will be available in digital and PRINT! Also working on a story for the Terminus X anthology Cool Well Press is putting together, and I’ve got a couple of other short stories started just for grins. Oh, and my Women’s Novel, How Long Does it Take to Fall Out of Love? is making the rounds of agents as we speak. So far, no bites, only nibbles…
If you were stranded on a desert island, what five tangible things would you take with you?
All my grandkids and a good stick for spearing fish and for writing and drawing in the sand.
On what reality show would you consider being a guest?
Well, the only one I watch is American Idol, so I would be on that—if I could sing.
What are your all time favorite works of literature?
Red Sky at Morning, The Crystal Cave, The Dead Zone, The Stand, all of Poe’s short stories (even that really horrid one about the black cat), The Hobbit, Lonesome Dove, a short story by Stephen King called “The Last Rung on the Ladder,” The Body, Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption, “The Lottery” by Shirley Jackson, and last but not least, Dandelion Wine by Ray Bradbury. Oh, and a little book from my childhood called Silver Chief, Dog of the North. Oh, and “Thirteen Tales They Wouldn’t Let Me Do on TV,” a collection of weird tales gathered under Alfred Hitchcock’s name. And so many more…
What is the biggest obstacle you have had to overcome as a writer?

Me!