Listen Now

Hello by Liza Wiemer (Website, Blog, Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads)on November 10, 2015 Goodreads Amazon • One HELLO? can change a life. One HELLO? can save a life. Tricia: A girl struggling to find her way after her beloved grandma's death. Emerson: A guy who lives his life to fulfill promises, real and hypothetical. Angie: A girl with secrets she can only express through poetry. Brenda: An actress and screenplay writer afraid to confront her past. Brian: A potter who sets aside his life for Tricia, to the detriment of both. Linked and transformed by one phone call, Hello? weaves together these five Wisconsin teens' stories into a compelling narrative of friendship and family, loss and love, heartbreak and healing, serendipity, and ultimately hope. Told from all five viewpoints: narration (Tricia), narration (Emerson), free verse poetry (Angie), screenplay format (Brenda), narration and drawings (Brian). I met Liza Wiemer this summer at Book Expo America.  We were in the company of so many authors and bloggers enjoying the evening and meeting new people.  Who would’ve known that her publicist, Kelly Hager, with Spencer Hill Press and may I add, past guest with A Leisure Moment, would get us connected, to talk about Liza’s new book Hello.  There is a lot of buzz about Hello sprinkled throughout social media right now.  Grab your drink, Liza and prefer a good cup of coffee, relax, and listen to our Casual Conversation.  Enjoy!  Click here. About Liza Wiemer I am the author of two non-fiction adult books, short stories, and newspaper and magazine articles. A pre-school to high school educator now writing YA fiction full time, which I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE! And I’m a diehard Green Bay Packers fan. For my author posts on writing and my upcoming YA novel HELLO?: http://www.LizaWiemer.com Unique “job” experiences: I spent a summer selling popcorn in a Koepsell’s popcorn wagon while listening to awesome music on the Summerfest grounds in Milwaukee. I also know my way around a fender and a quarter panel and under the hood of a car. I spent a few years driving to accident scenes, scrapyards, hospitals, auto repair shops as a claims adjuster for an insurance company. I started WhoRuBlog to address YA issues and share my passion for reading. http://www.whoRuBlog.com Besides articles that address tough issues facing young adults, I have author interviews and book giveaways. Check them out. Happy reading, Liza Website • Blog • Twitter • Facebook • Goodreads • Tumblr

Did you get a chance to listen to my casual conversation with author Kristen Lindsay Hager?  If so,  you are in for a double treat.  Here is part 2, almost an entire year later, with more great conversation still to come.  Boy does time fly.  Be sure to enter Kristen’s giveaway for an ecopy of her first novel in the series True Colors for the entire  month of October.  Enjoy!   Krysten Lindsay Hager is the author of the Landry’s True Colors Series, a clean reads young adult series. Krysten writes about friendship, self-esteem, fitting in, middle school and high school, frenemies, modeling, crushes, values, and self-image in True Colors and Best Friends…Forever? as well as her standalone YA release, Next Door to a Star. Krysten is an Amazon international bestselling author and book addict who has never met a bookstore she didn’t like. She’s worked as a journalist and writes middle grade, YA, humor essays, and adult fiction. She is originally from Michigan and has lived in Portugal, South Dakota, and currently resides in Southern Ohio where you can find her reading and writing when she’s not catching up on her favorite shows. She received her master’s degree from the University of Michigan-Flint. Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Amazon | Pinterest | Instagram | Google+ | Author talk show interview a Rafflecopter giveaway

I’m pretty sure I’m not the only one that remembers those high school years.  You know the ones, where finding the right table to sit at during lunch was crucial.  Or simply staying grounded and connected with friends, that were true and really there for you, was of great importance.  In podcast episode #34 Krysten and I talk about her inspiration of her current novels and the inspiration that guided her path in the world of writing.  My coffee of choice at this moment, a caramel latte.  Grab your favorite and enjoy this casual conversation, with Krysten Lindsay Hager, author of Best Friends… Forever?.  Enjoy! You can buy Best Friends… Forever? Book 2 here: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble |Kobo |itunes | Smashwords | Books-A-Million     First book in the series: True Colors (Landry’s True Colors #1) By Krysten Lindsay Hager Genre: Contemporary Age category: Middle Grade/ Young Adult Release Date: June 17, 2014 Blurb: A little competition can really bring out people’s true colors. Landry Albright just wants to be one of the interesting girls at school who always have exciting things going on in their lives. She wants to stand out, but also wants to fit in, so she gives in when her two best friends, Ericka and Tori, push her into trying out for a teen reality show modeling competition with them. Landry goes in nervous, but impresses the judges enough to make it to the next round. However, Ericka and Tori get cut and basically “unfriend” her on Monday at school. Landry tries to make new friends, but gets caught up between wanting to be herself and conforming to who her new friends want her to be. Along the way she learns that modeling is nowhere as glamorous as it seems, how to deal with frenemies, a new crush, and that true friends see you for who you really are and like you because of it. Goodreads | Youtube | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | itunes | Smashwords | Books-A-Million About the Author: Krysten Lindsay Hager is the author of the Landry’s True Colors Series, a clean reads young adult series. Krysten writes about friendship, self-esteem, fitting in, middle school and high school, frenemies, modeling, crushes, values, and self-image in True Colors and Best Friends…Forever? as well as her standalone YA release, Next Door to a Star. Krysten is an Amazon international bestselling author and book addict who has never met a bookstore she didn’t like. She’s worked as a journalist and writes middle grade, YA, humor essays, and adult fiction. She is originally from Michigan and has lived in Portugal, South Dakota, and currently resides in Southern Ohio where you can find her reading and writing when she’s not catching up on her favorite shows. She received her master’s degree from the University of Michigan-Flint. Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Amazon | Pinterest | Instagram | Google+ | Author talk show interview e-copy of True Colors Book #1 by Krysten Lindsay Hager (INT) a Rafflecopter giveaway

by Daryl Janney (Website, Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads)1982, the Golden Age of modeling…New York City, the fashion capital of the world. A nineteen year old boy leaves a small Midwestern College on his nineteenth birthday…not in search of fame or riches, but in search of a way out of his dead end life. Hoping to beat the odds and become a model and earn money to go to a better school and have a chance at a better life. Fiercely determined and armed only with a skeptical mind and a tireless work ethic, he heads to the Big Apple. This is his story; from his deepest thoughts to his piercing observations of the world that he lives in. Based on a true story, Daryl’s beautiful and descriptive prose will allow you to see, hear and feel his world as if you are there. Nineteen is not a story that you have heard before, and it is not a story that you will ever forget. With the hustle and bustle of Book Expo America and the endless lines and streams of people waiting to meet authors, I became acquainted with so many new authors and Daryl Janney was one of them.  A work of fiction, based on a true story, Nineteen is definitely, unlike anything you have read before.  Listen as we hear Daryl’s insight and vision behind his novel, Nineteen.  Enjoy! a Rafflecopter giveaway About Daryl Janney Daryl Janney is a married writer and father of seven children. He currently lives in Connecticut. He was born November 21, 1962 in Moorestown, NJ. His family moved to Illinois when he was three years old. At 17 he left home to attend Monmouth College in Monmouth, IL. Daryl left college in the fall of his sophomore year and headed to New York City. After two years working as a professional model he returned to school at Boston University and obtained a degree in English literature with Distinction. Daryl has worked as a carpenter and contractor for the past 25 years. He spends his time with his beautiful wife watching his children grow up (much too fast!). He spends his remaining time writing, reading and sleeping. He is currently writing a sequel to Nineteen as well as a book of short stories. Website • Twitter • Facebook • Goodreads

by Michele Barrow-Belisle (Website, Blog, Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads)Just when you think the casual conversation is over.  It isn’t really.  There’s more to say.  There’s more to chat about and there are more connections to be made.  Michele and I have a lovely conversation about her Faerie Song Trilogy and all the latest happenings in her publishing journey.  Get your favorite coffee ready and your comfy, cozy seat as we have a casual conversation.  Enjoy! Fire & Ice | Bittersweet | Entangled Summer | Fling a Rafflecopter giveaway   About Michele Barrow-Belisle Michele Barrow-Belisle is chocoholic author and artist living in southern Ontario, Canada with her super-sweet husband, brilliant son and a ridiculously affectionate cat. Often told by teachers to stop dreaming and get her head out of the clouds, Michele still spends much of her time lost in make-believe worlds, populated with fascinating and occasionally terrifying characters. Her passion for fantasy extends beyond her writing into her clay figure sculpt-ing, creating miniaturized replicas of the paranormal beings she writes about. Michele is as passionate about reading as she is about writing. When she’s not reading or writing, she can be found sculpting tiny fairy desserts in polymer clay. She also loves mocha lattes and watching fireflies at twilight. Did we mention she loves chocolate? Website • Blog • Twitter • Facebook • Goodreads • Tumblr

Drawn by Chris Ledbetter (Website, Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads)Published by Evernight Teen on June 5, 2015 Pages: 282 Format: eARC Goodreads Amazon • Barnes and Noble • Caught between the sweltering fall landscape of Wilmington, NC beaches and southern illusions and expectations, all sixteen year-old Cameron Shade thinks about is art. That, and for Farrah Spangled to view him as more than just a friend. Cameron longs to win her heart through art.  After several warm interactions with Farrah, including painting together at the beach, Cameron discovers just how complex Farrah’s life is with her boyfriend and her family. Following a tense run-in with Farrah’s father, she forbids Cameron to ever speak to her again, but Cameron’s convinced there’s more behind the request.  To impress Farrah with a last-ditch effort, Cameron sketches her portrait. But the sketchbook he uses hides a dark secret. Farrah’s now in grave danger because the sketch he drew of her siphons her real-life’s soul into the sketchbook. Cameron now has twenty days to extract Farrah. To save her, he must draw himself into the book.   If he fails… they both die. I saw the cover and synopsis of  Chris Ledbetter’s debut novel Drawn and it immediately caught my attention.  Several months later we are having a casual conversation about writing, the inspiration of, soccer, yes soccer, more writing and the list goes on.  We’ve even put a twist on this Casual Conversation because we want to hear from you, the reader and listener and get your input.  Be sure to visit  the giveaway post for the prompt and join in the discussion.  Enjoy!   I’m pretty sure that when you begin reading Drawn, you are immediately taken back to your high school years.  The years of competition, class schedules, sports and first loves.  Or the possibility of just wanting to know how to get to know someone a little bit more and see where it goes from there.  Such is the case for Cameron.  He finds that Farrah has caught his eye and truly hopes that just maybe she will be interested as well.  Sharing the same Journalism/Newspaper course provides Cameron with the opportunity to showcase his artistic abilities and empress Farrah, the head of the newspaper. Just when Cameron believes that things may be going his way for the better, there is a huge turn of events in the novel.  No longer is Cameron looking at Farrah as just a friend, but now a friend that is in danger and only he has the power to save her from that great danger she is now in.  A power that is lead by the stroke of Cameron’s pen on paper. Originality, is the first word that comes to mind with this debut young adult novel.  I never saw what was coming, until it hit me and there was no question that I had to continue on to see where Mr. Ledbetter was taking his readers.  The major change of events and twists throughout the novel create a powerhouse atmosphere of adventure.  Great character development and descriptions, along with the vibrant description of the over setting throughout the novel brings the storyline to life through a full circle of excitement.  Readers are in for a treat with the mixture of realistic fiction and fantasy all twisted into one.  It will surely be hard to put it down once you get started.  Drawn.  Be careful that you aren’t drawn in too deeply with no way of getting out. Feel free to listen via YouTube below, the podcast link at the end of the post or through ITunes. a Rafflecopter giveaway About Chris Ledbetter Chris Ledbetter grew up in Durham, NC before moving to Charlottesville, VA in 11th grade. After high school, he attended Hampton University where he promptly “walked-on” to the best drum line in the CIAA. And, without any prior percussion experience. He carried the bass drum for four years, something his back is not very happy about now. After a change of heart and major, he enrolled in Old Dominion University and earned his degree in Business Administration. He’s worked in various managerial and marketing capacities throughout his life. While teaching high school for six years in Culpeper, VA, he taught business management, business law, marketing, and sports marketing, and also coached football. He has walked the streets of Los Angeles and New York City, waded in the waters of the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, and climbed Diamond Head crater on Hawaii and rang in the New Year in Tokyo, Japan. But he dreams of one day visiting Greece and Italy. He’s a proud member of SCBWI (Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators) and a strong supporter of the Need for Diverse Books. As a self-described, young reluctant reader, he writes young adult stories specifically to reach other reluctant readers. As a participant in the prestigious Nevada SCBWI Mentor Program, he was blessed to be mentored by Suzanne Morgan Williams, 2012 SCBWI member of the year. He now lives in Wilmington, NC with his family, including three cats. Website • Twitter • Facebook • Goodreads

Emma Chase is one busy author.  When one book is finished, another is on the horizon waiting to hit the press.  This casual conversation is all about her Legal Briefs series, the research behind it and the action of getting it down on paper.  Enjoy! The novel featured in this post is classified as Adult Fiction and is unsuitable for readers under 17 years of age. You now have several methods of listening:  Youtube | Itunes | Podcast Link     About Emma Chase By day, Emma Chase is a devoted wife and mother who resides in a small town in New Jersey. By night she is a keyboard crusader, toiling away the hours to bring her colorful characters and their endless antics to life. She has a long standing love/hate relationship with caffeine. Emma is an avid reader. Before her children were born she was known to consume whole books in a single day. Writing has also always been a passion and with the 2013 release of her debut romantic comedy, Tangled, the ability to now call herself an author is nothing less than a dream come true. Website • Blog • Twitter • Facebook • Goodreads

by T.A. Maclagan (Website, Twitter, Facebook)Goodreads Amazon • When your life is a lie, how do you know what’s real? Alexandra Gastone has a simple plan: graduate high school, get into Princeton, work for the CIA, and serve her great nation. She was told the plan back when her name was Milena Rokva, back before the real Alexandra and her family were killed in a car crash. Milena was trained to be a sleeper agent by Perun, a clandestine organization from her true homeland of Olissa. There, Milena learned everything she needed to infiltrate the life of CIA analyst Albert Gastone, Alexandra’s grandfather, and the ranks of America’s top intelligence agency. For seven years, “Alexandra” has been on standby and life’s been good. Grandpa Albert loves her, and her strategically chosen boyfriend, Grant, is amazing. But things are about to change. Perun no longer needs her at the CIA in five years’ time. They need her active now. Between her cover as a high school girl—juggling a homecoming dance, history reports, and an increasingly suspicious boyfriend—and her mission in this high-stakes spy game, the boundaries of her two lives are beginning to blur. Will she stay true to the country she barely remembers, or has her loyalty shattered along with her identity? From a bachelor’s degree in biology, to a Ph.D. in anthropology, this debut novelist has entered the wonderful world of writing.  T.A. Maclagan brings to the scene suspense, action and hints of romance all twisted together.  Currently living in New Zealand.  No problem.  Distance didn’t stop this casual conversation from happening.  For your convenience you may listen via the Podcast player at the end of post or via Youtube.  Enjoy! a Rafflecopter giveaway About T.A. Maclagan T.A. Maclagan is a Kansas girl by birth but now lives in the bush-clad hills of Wellington, New Zealand with her Kiwi husband, son and four pampered cats. With a bachelor’s degree in biology and a Ph.D. in anthropology, she’s studied poison dart frogs in the rainforests of Costa Rica, howler monkeys in Panama and the very exotic and always elusive American farmer. It was as she was writing her ‘just the facts’ dissertation that T.A. felt the call to pursue something more imaginative and discovered a passion for creative writing. They Call Me Alexandra Gastone is her first novel. Website • Twitter • Facebook • Tumblr

Anomaly by Tonya Kuper (Website, Twitter, Facebook)Published by Macmillan on November 25th 2014 Genres: Love & Romance, Science Fiction, Young Adult Pages: 400 Goodreads Amazon • Barnes and Noble • Reality is only an illusion.Except for those who can control it...Worst. Birthday. Ever. My first boyfriend dumped me--happy birthday, Josie!--my dad is who knows where, I have some weird virus that makes me want to hurl, and now my ex is licking another girl's tonsils. Oh, and I'm officially the same age as my brother was when he died. Yeah, today is about as fun-filled as the swamps of Dagobah. But then weird things start happening...Like I make something materialize just by thinking about it. When hottily-hot badass Reid Wentworth shows up on a motorcycle, everything changes. Like, everything. Who I am. My family. What really happened to my brother. Existence. I am Oculi, and I have the ability to change reality with my thoughts. Now Reid, in all his hotness, is charged with guiding and protecting me as I begin learning how to bend reality. And he's the only thing standing between me and the secret organization that wants me dead... Within 20 seconds I knew that this casual conversation would be one that would take me down memory lane.  Kindred spirits we must be.  With so many things in common, this casual conversation with Tonya Kuper revealed her passion of science fiction and how it transformed into her debut novel Anomaly.  Enjoy! a Rafflecopter giveaway About Tonya Kuper Tonya Kuper writes young adult science fiction and contemporary novels. She first fell in love with reading in elementary school, which eventually lead to earning a BA in Elementary Education and a MS in Reading Education, but she never thought she’d write a novel, let alone several. When Tonya isn’t writing, she teaches Young Adult Literature Writing Workshop at the University of Nebraska at Omaha, laughs as much as possible, loves music, and nerds-out over Star Wars, Marvel, Sherlock, and all things pop-culture. She lives in Omaha, NE with her husband and two rad boys. Website • Twitter • Facebook • Tumblr

by Molly McAdams (Website, Blog, Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads)Sneak peaks, a new release, a little bit of technical difficulties, that you’ll never figure out, and a wonderful author who hung in there until the very end! It’s Molly McAdams.  It’s her big release week of her book Trusting Liam and we are  a part of the festivities.  Get your comfy seat ready for this casual conversation. Enjoy!   About Molly McAdams Molly grew up in California but now lives in the oh-so-amazing state of Texas with her husband and furry four-legged daughters. When she’s not diving into the world of her characters, some of her hobbies include hiking, snowboarding, traveling, and long walks on the beach … which roughly translates to being a homebody with her hubby and dishing out movie quotes. She has a weakness for crude-humored movies, fried pickles and loves curling up in a fluffy comforter during a thunderstorm … or under one in a bathtub if there are tornados. That way she can pretend they aren’t really happening. Website • Blog • Twitter • Facebook • Goodreads

Book Signings are always amazing!  However, sometimes they do not always lend to the best atmosphere to truly have a sit down chat.  After meeting Kimberley at a book signing at Fiction Addiction, I was excited when the opportunity to go even...Read More

  What a quick and informative casual conversation with Christina Hobbs and Lauren Billings.  Better known as the author Christina Lauren.    It doesn’t take long to warm up to the powerhouse duo and talk about all things, regarding their entertaining...Read More

So here is the moment that many of us were waiting for, the release of our casual conversation with Author Anna Todd.  Anna is the author of the ever so popular After series.  As readers go through a mega rollercoaster experience of...Read More

The inspiration started with an intriguing news article about Umande the baby gorilla.  Paired with countless hours of research and writing.  The outcome, a picture book about life, love, and finding the road to a family.   With one theme that...Read More

This is my stop during the blog tour for Wearing the Cape by Marion G. Harmon, a tour organized by Lola’s Blog Tours.  Now this casual conversation came just at the right time.  Any CW Arrow Fans out there?  So...Read More

With Christmas right around the corner, it’s a great feeling to be able to anticipate time with friends and family.  On this particular casual conversation I  was under my heated blanket, with coffee and a microphone in hand.  It’s always...Read More

Suzanne Rigdon is a writer, bookseller, reader, blogger, violinist, and world traveler.  Our casual conversation is filled with discussions of life experiences, writing, and following a passion.  Into the Night is her Adult Urban Fantasy, Debut Novel, that comes out on tomorrow, Dec. 2nd.  Enjoy!  ...Read More

As the finishing touches are being placed on this Casual Conversation with author Darby Karchut, I can hear the rain falling very hard, the loud thunder, and I can even see some flashes of lightening sprinkling through the window blinds.  Why...Read More

Kendra Highley is super busy!  With books published for a variety of ages, the focus for this Casual Conversation is centered around her Science Fiction Fantasy, Unstrung.  We both get a little cranky when we aren’t reading or writing.  She loves to bake and...Read More

Not only did I have the pleasure of talking with Selene once, but she was willing to do a second go, at our Casual Conversation.  That will be another story to tell.  🙂 Have you ever had this feeling when you...Read More