Interview: McCollonough Ceili

Greetings humans, half-breeds, and everything in between. A while back, I had the pleasure to interview a wonderful author named, McCollonough Ceili. A good time was truly had by all and here’s how it went down.

Image provided by author.

Hi there McCollonough! It’s so awesome to have you here at the ECS Blog. Don’t worry about the darkness, your eyes will adjust.

So tell me, who is McCollonough Ceili?

GoodReads

I am an Irish/American who discovered a love for writing when asked by my American mother to pen my autobiography Noria, Since then I have not been able to stop writing, which has resulted in the publication of several books for all ages.

Wow, you’ve written an autobiography as well write fiction books for all ages; I’m very impressed. I can’t imagine trying to write about myself, I’m just not that interesting.

So whacha got for me today?

I have a book that started out as a dream, from there it went to a selfguided tour of the history of Ocean lifeguarding, nnd finally ended with the book, “What Happened in Hallandale”.  Some of the things you read in said book really happened, others did not. The main reason I wrote this book was so that I would stop dreaming about these character. 

Amazon

Below is what my editor had to say about the book. Which can also be found on the back of the book. 

“Dive into a dreamlike world of love, courage, magic, and death. Twelve-year-old Piper can travel to the world of angels and, she learns, through time. Rushing back to the past to correct a terrible tragedy, she learns that there are things you can change – and things you cannot. This tale of love that transcends death, courage that transcends time, and the power of compassion will break your heart and heal it, and then leave you still longing for more.” - Summer Foovay, Editor

Small world, I think. I wrote my book for the same reason. I needed to stop dreaming about those characters. Dreams are powerful things…I love the description your editor offers. It pulls you right in.

So who’s starring is this 2 dimensional script read of “What Happened in Hallandale”?

Piper, a magical child from the modern world is telling the story of what happened when she ventured to 1940s Hallandale Beach Florida. Ms. Piper went to Hallandale to try and stop a terrible mistake, though in order to do this she must break into an ancient Irish tomb and steal a  spell.   

Oh, so this is a time travel book. I really like time travel stories. I like seeing how people from different times react to the changes.

Past, present, future, is there a rhyme or reason to your writing?

I write whenever and wherever I feel inspired, which basically means that I carry a pad and pen with me always. I also have recording program on my cell phone so I can speak aloud thoughts that come to me during a time when I should not be writing; example: when driving the car. I get most of my ideas from dreams that I have had and the world around me. I spend a lot of the week jotting down ideas, then come the weekend I put them together into a chapter or two.

I am currently working on the sequel to “What Happened in Hallandale”, titled “Awakening the Truth”

That phone app sounds clever; I need to look into that. Glad to hear you’re extending your story into a series; series are fun.

What author(s) has most influenced your writing? Why or how?

I am inspired by a lot of different writers, though when it came to writing “What Happened in Hallandale” I was inspired by the “Real Laurie” Real Laurie is the women for whom the character Lorraine was based on. She was a woman who had to change her name from Lori to Laurie jus so she could get into medical school. She lived in a time when women were not supposed to become doctors.  I was also inspired by actress Nancy Valen whom I feel looks a lot like Laurie. 

Valen played on the American show Baywatch.   Every Time I would see Ms. Valen as Captain Thomas a memory of stories told to me about the real Laurie would come to the surface of my soul. It got so intense that I would find myself watching the show with the sound off and writing  most of what became “What Happened in Hallandale”  In fact she even inspired the title of the  book, the “real” part of my story happened in another place in Hallandale. I discovered that name when I was reading about Ms. Valen.
 

I hope you won’t take this as an insult since she’s not Irish, but I get a Joan of Arc feeling from this Real Laurie character. I’m liking this story more and more; you just keep adding layers to it.

Whose brain are you just itching to scratch?

Okay this is a tough question. I guess I would have to say Mr.Dick Van Patten, I believe that we younger ones can learn so much from those of his generation, plus I love the light in his eyes, there be a wise soul beneath them.

Good man and a good show, Eight is Enough.

Who is so you and why?

No one that I know of, oh wait my American mom thinks I look like the woman who plays on Bones. Temperance Brennan. I but I honestly don’t see it.

You may not look like the actress who plays Temperance, but maybe you just have Bones vibe about you…but I can kinda see a resemblance.

What’s your ideal reading spot for your next highly anticipated read?

GoodReads

I am at my wee desk in the kitchen of my home, I can hear the washing machine, I just finished eating an orange. The book that is currently on my nightstand is “Dear America Hear mySorrow” the diary of Angela Denoto, New York City, 1909. It is hardback and I am excited to read it, because it is one of the few books from the Dear America series that I have yet to read. My ideal spot is my bed!

That sounds lovely. It has everything that reading should be: comfort, excitement, anticipation, and your referred reading medium.

What was your favorite book or story, pre-teen years?

The Dear America series was my favorite book series back then along with all of the books written by BettyRen Wright.  I love those type of stories so much but have yet to write one like them me self.

Wow, you read Dear America as a kid and are still reading it now. That’s dedication and it very pure, honest, and nice....Now this is where the questions get a little kooky; are you ready?

:-) Yes.

Alright then, here we go.

If you could only watch ne movie for the rest of your life, what would it be?

IMDB

“TheSecret of Ron Inish” It is one of my favorite movies, and not just because it is Irish.  Well okay maybe that has something to do with it. Besides being set in Ireland it is just a great movie about the power of a child’s determination to find her brother. 

I haven’t heard of this film. This poster looks interesting and like discovering new movies to watch.

What makes you geek out?

I am a total fan of the show NCIS!! I love it and watched it back when I lived where there was American cable. I watch so much of the reruns that NCIS characters would visit me in my dreams.  The only thing of theirs I won’t watch are the interviews of the staff, for me seeing the real people kills the magic that comes from the characters they portray.

I’ve caught that show a few times; it’s not a bad show at all, but I think was jaded by Law & Order type shows a long time ago, even though I sometimes find myself half way through a Law & Order: Criminal Intent wondering how I got there. :/

So what’s testing your patience right now?

I am desperately awaiting the arrival of the newest CD from Celtic Woman!! They started performing together the same year I came to America so I feel a very strong connection to them and the music they create.

I’ve heard of this group and have seen some of their clips on youtube. They are very talented and entertaining.

When the soundtrack of your life is playing in your head, what songs express your glee and what songs bring out your rage?

There are lots of songs that I hear and think, oh that fits what I am writing about or going through. The most current one would be Clarity <=watch & listen, by Zedd; another is Celine Dion. I almost always find that one or more of her songs make me think of stories I am writing.

I look toward my tried and true playlists for inspiration also, but it’s pretty cool when something new comes along that inspires you too.

What’s the most fun experience you’ve ever had, to date?

Another hard one, I would have to say learning how to bodyboard in the Atlantic Ocean.

Yeah, that is fun. I spend more under the water than riding the waves, but it’s always a good time.

Not that you can see into the future, but in your opinion, what does the future hold?

In five years I will be living in a condo in Nashville, TN but traveling to many many different places all over the United States.  I will also be spending one month a year at the beach. Which beach that will be depends on which one I feel like going to.

Sounds good to me. I hope it happens just as you’ve described it.

Ok humans, half-breeds, and everything in between, that’s all for today. Be sure to follow this blog to see who will be visiting next time. For more from McCollonough Ceili, check out these great links:

Blog: NorianGirl

Amazon Author Central: Mccollonough Ceili

Facebooks: Mccollonough Ceili

Twitter: @noriangirl

LinkedIn: Mccollonough Ceili

Purchase links for “What Happened in Hallandale”: Amazon

Thank you for taking the time to read this post. Click below to share your Reactions and more. See you next time, Toi Thomas. #cursescanbebroken

Interview: Randy Attwood

Greetings humans, half-breeds, and everything in between. A while back, I had the pleasure to interview a wonderful author named, Randy Attwood. A good time was truly had by all and here’s how it went down.

from Goodreads

Hi there Randy! It’s so awesome to have you here at the ECS Blog. Don’t worry about the darkness, your eyes will adjust.

So tell me, who is Randy Attwood?

I grew up on the grounds of a Kansas insane asylum where my father was a dentist. I attended the University of Kansas during the troubled 1960s getting a degree in art history. After stints writing and teaching in Italy and Japan I had a 16-year career in newspapers as reporter, editor and column writer winning major awards in all categories. I turned to health care public relations serving as director of University Relations at KU Medical Center. I finished my career as media relations officer of The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art. Now retired, I am marketing the fiction I've written over all those years. And creating more.

I can see you’ve already had quite a career, but now that you’re retired, I’m sure the adventures will begin. Being an author is a lot more involved than most people realize.

So whacha got for me today?

image provided by author

Growing up on the grounds of a mental hospital and working in the cafeteria that fed its 1,500 patients meant I got to know a lot of crazy folks. "Write about what you know," goes the adage. "Crazy About You" is told in first person from the point of view of a high school student who will have a week that grows him up far faster than he could have every wanted. Crazy is a coming-of-age, murder mystery, thriller story. It's my most downloaded and purchased book with 17 five-star reviews. You can see them here.

Not too many people can write from firsthand experience in a mental hospital. Already your story sounds very intriguing.

So who’s starring in this 2 dimensional script read of “Crazy About You”?

Brad Adams is a high school junior. He's a folk singer and a dreamer. When his dad, the mental hospital's dentist, goes on a work trip, Brad has no idea that he will spend the week grappling with questions about sexuality, sanity and death. And some of the answers aren't pretty.

There was once a time when hearing of a teen grappling with questions of sexuality meant that someone was having their first crush. Teens are so mature these day and subjects that were once taboo are now being openly discussed in healthy ways. This definitely sounds like a tale that will appeal to a wide audience.

Past, present, future, is there a rhyme or reason to your writing?

I write by the seat of my pants. A scene or situation or character comes to me and I start creating that scene and character and see what happens. I never know the ending of a story when I start it. I used to be upset when people would ask me how much of "Crazy About You" really happened. Then I realized that the writing created a reality for those readers. And that's what I'm trying to do with words: create a reality.

I try to write by the seat of my pants, but I think I need a better belt. It never goes well for me. I need to plan; however, I do appreciate the creativity of others who can simply write.

What author(s) has most influenced your writing? Why or how?

S. Rufener, rufener@earthlink.net

Like my own writing, the taste in fiction is all over the map. Joseph Conrad was an early influencer. So was William Faulkner. Philip K Dick's science fiction grabbed me when I was in high school. I've read John D. MacDonald's Travis McGee series several times. Ditto, Adam Hall’s, Quiller series. Erich Remarque did some many other wonderful things than "All Quite on the Western Front." Walker Percy, Evelyn Waugh, Robertson Davies and, of course, Elmore Leonard.

I think I’m detecting a theme here. Lots of crime fiction and thrillers here, but that’s great for influence and inspiration in your genres.

Whose brain are you just itching to scratch?

Joseph Conrad. We seem to know so little of what he was like as a person.

Nice choice and for good reason.

Who is so you and why?

I seem to connect deeply with many of Eric Remarque's characters.

Fair enough. We can’t all always identify with just one person or character, but I can understand relating to many.

What’s your ideal reading spot for your next highly anticipated read?

from Goodreads

Outside when the weather is nice. Right now I'm reading Camp Concentration by Thomas Disch, which I've had on my shelf for decades and just reading. It's brilliant.

I also enjoy reading outside though I hardly get to do it.

What was your favorite book or story, pre-teen years?

The Black Stallion series. I liked the character and set up and looked forward to the next tale. I've only tried to do one series, the Phillip McGuire series and found out how difficult it is to achieve.

I tried to read this book as a child, but had no luck. I never seemed to warm to books about animals, mainly horses, but I don’t mind to watch the film versions. I’m sure it’s all psychological...

Now this is where the questions get a little kooky; are you ready?

Sure, why not.

Alright then, here we go.

If you could only watch one movie for the rest of your life, what would it be?

from Wikipedia 

Casablanca. Great story, great characters, great acting.

That’s a good classic movie that far too many from my generation haven’t seen. I fear the current generation never will.

What makes you geek out?

I love it when I discover a writer I haven't read and learn that I like him or her and then can read everything they have written in the order it was published.

I adore this response. I know that feeling of discovering a “new to me” author, but I never considered going back to read all their publications in the order they were released. Very cool!

So what’s testing your patience right now?

I haven't seen the new Star Trek effort and look forward to that. I'm a big Trekie. I started watching with other fans at the Student Union at the University of Kansas in the first year of the series. Never stopped. I have two books coming out this year, both part of a that Phillip McGuire series I mentioned that is about a burn-out foreign correspondent who returns to KU to own and run a bar. Adventures come his way. The first, "Tortured Truths" was by Curiosity Quills on Oct 25. The second, "Heart Chants," came out December 20. The second one features a half-Navajo, half-white character who thinks he is a witch. It contains, I believe, the best retelling of the incredible Navajo creation story that exists in a work of fiction.

It’s always exciting playing catchup with your pop-culture drug of choice. I’m excited about a new series coming out called Gotham. My dad’s a big Trekie, so I’m always hearing about it from him. Also, kudos on all your releases and your continued creativity. I look forward to hearing about all your success.  

When the soundtrack of your life is playing in your head, what songs express your glee and what songs bring out your rage?

Can't stand heavy metal. Love lyrical songs, such as "Suzanne" (<= listen and watch) by Leonard Cohen.

This is such a passionate question with no right or wrong answers, but I love that people who do listen to music have their likes and dislikes. It makes us all unique.

What’s the most fun experience you’ve ever had, to date?

Living in Italy. Learning Italian changed my life and made me appreciate how little I knew of the world. I was so fortunate later to also live in Japan for 18 months and meet more wonderful people.

Being able to experience a new place and have it become a part of you is always memorable, and Italy sounds like a good place to bond with.

Not that you can see into the future, but in your opinion, what does the future hold?

I love being retired and being able to work on fiction pieces. Doesn't seem I'm really integrated as myself unless I have a project involving words. I'm 45,000 words into a future history and 10,000 words into a noir mystery with a very strong female protagonist.

That sounds quite nice. I look forward to a day I can write with leisure. I’m happy you’ve come to a place of content.

Ok humans, half-breeds, and everything in between, that’s all for today. Be sure to follow this blog to see who will be visiting next time. For more from Randy Attwood, check out these great links:

Blog: AttwoodCollected Works

GoodReads: Randy Attwood

Facebook: RandyAttwood

Twitter: @AttwoodRandy

LinkedIn: Randy Attwood

Purchase links for “Crazy About You”: Amazon | Smashwords | Barnes and Noble | Apple

Thank you for taking the time to read this post. Click below to share your reactions and more. Remember, I’ll be moving to the ToiBox full-time soon, so please, stop by to check it out. Until next time, Toi Thomas. #cursescanbebroken #thetoiboxofwords