Category: Interviews

A conversation between Toi Thomas and a guest to the ToiBox.

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About Toi Other

Happy 2nd Blog Anniversary! – An Interview, Part 1

anniversayGreetings readers, bloggers, geeks, and authors. It’s my anniversary and I thought I’d interview myself and share it with you. I’ve come a long way as a writer, blogger, reviewer, and interviewer and I’d thought it would be nice to share some of the things I’ve learned and tell you a little about myself, in case you don’t already know.

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So just who is Toi Thomas?
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I’m a devoted wife who works as a teacher’s assistant. My family is very important to me even though I don’t always spend a lot of time with them.

I believe in world harmony even if most people can’t seem to grasp the concept. While I do enjoy great conversations, crowds are not my thing.

I entertain myself by reading, watching movies, listening to vinyl records, cooking, collecting actions figures, and blogging.

I adore most animals, enjoying dancing, can’t live without tea, chocolate, or ice cream, and have been known to over indulge in geek culture from time to time, but more on that later.

Who is so me and why?

Wikipedia

In my younger days, I was often told that I look liked several black entertainers, from Nia Long to Janet Jackson, but I know for a fact that I look like my mother.

When it comes to personality, how well you know me makes a difference. I’m an introvert so am not always understood by the crowd. I don’t mind that at one point I was referred to as black Daria; I like Daria.  –

In terms of writing, after using the site, I write like, I found that my writing style might resemble that of either Dan Brown or James Fenimore Cooper, but I think there’s a flaw here. 😉

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

Wikipedia

This is an easy one. While I adore most of the classic children’s tales such as the stories of OZ, Wonderland, Narnia, and more, it was the tales of Neverland that really struck a chord with me. I can remember checking out the same two or three books from the library every time we’d go. As I got older I looked for tales of Neverland on the small and big screens. Even to this day, I sometimes feel like a little lost boy on the inside.

What makes me geek out?

Wikipedia

For anyone who doesn’t know the answer to this question, you must indeed be new to this blog. Have no fear, I will share, but first some ramblings.

Did you know that I do a monthly post called My Geekdom? There are so many things that fuel my geekness that I have to talk about them at least once a month. I also have five+ pinboards on Pinterest dedicated to geek themes and culture, and I follow many blogs based on their geek factor.

But enough of that…what really does it for me after: Betty Boop, Muppets, Peanuts, Marvel, and more? It all boils down to Batman…because he’s BATMAN!

In terms of interviews, whose brain am I just itching to scratch?

I love that fact that I’ve built a home on the web that’s inviting to authors, and soon to be other members of the book industry, because I really do enjoy getting to know other people who share my passion for writing and reading. I do hope to someday have a chance to interview some my favorite authors, but I don’t know that’s it’s an urge tugging at my brain at the moment.

I’m kicking myself for not giving my interview bucket list more considerable thought before this moment. I could name so many musicians, directors, authors, actors, and more in the field of entertainment, and even a few political figures, that I’d love to be able to sit down with and just ask questions until they walked away from me, but there’s no one brain I’m currently itching to scratch. I would however love to find the answers to questions such as “Why do people to the things they do?” and other philosophical ideas such as this.

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Okay readers, bloggers, geeks, and authors, that’s all for today…unless you have a question you’d like to ask me. 😉

Thank you for sticking with me these past two years. Don’t forget to come back tomorrow for part two of this interview and hopefully enjoy some more of my insights.

This has been a

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Thank you for taking the time to read this post. If you like it let me know and share it with others. See you next time, Toi Thomas. #thetoiboxofwords

 

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Interviews

McCollonough Ceili Interview

toiboxinterview

The Eternal Curse Series Blog Presents an interview with author: McCollonough Ceili.

So tell me, who is McCollonough Ceili?

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 self guided 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.

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.com

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 my Sorrow” 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 Betty Ren 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….

There is more fun and insights to this interview, visit the Eternal Curse Series Blog for the full experience. For more information about this author, McCollonough Ceili, please visit the links below.

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. If you like it let me know and share it with others. See you next time, Toi Thomas. #thetoiboxofwords

 

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Other Spotlights

Author Spotlight: Bruce Jenvey 1.2

spotlight

Today Bruce Jenvey has returned to say farewell, but first he’s going to share an insightful and entertaining interview between him and a journalism student who also happens to be a fan of this work. Enjoy!

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FAN: I’m so glad we finally got a chance to sit down with you and ask you about your new book, The Ragtime Coven.

BRUCE: Again, I apologize to everyone for the delays, but family needs come first and this last year has been a long one. But I’m back at the keyboard and the new book is wrapping up well, now!

FAN: First, tell us about your Cabbottown Witches. In today’s books and movies, I’ve never seen witches portrayed like yours are.

BRUCE: That was a bit of controversy when Angela’s Coven was first released. My witches have no magic wands, no pointy hats, no Hokus Pokus. Aunt Maddy and her girls are actually, more historically correct!

FAN: You mean there really were witches?

BRUCE: In a matter of speaking… yes! The first witches were Midwives who had learned the art of natural healing from mothers and grandmothers before them. Even in the dark ages, they were making potions and slaves, things we would today call Home Remedies or Holistic Medicine… and they were getting some pretty miraculous results with those kind of cures! Well, at least by Medieval standards. It was the ‘Men Doctors’ who didn’t like the competition and the legends of green warty noses, cooking children and being in league with the Devil were all started to discourage people from trusting the Midwives. True!

FAN: So, how does that relate to your Cabbottown Witches?

BRUCE: My witches harvest herbs, bark, mushrooms… all things natural and then they simmer things over a stove, grind the powders and mix things together to get some pretty amazing results. You see, when they started burning witches at the stake, as a group, they pretty much went underground. That was over a thousand years ago! I’m just saying that in all those years behind closed doors… I bet ya they’ve made some progress and breakthroughs!

FAN: So these are… modern day witches of the olde school variety?

BRUCE: I like that! I’ll probably steal that if you don’t mind. But yes. In the first book, Angela’s Coven, it involves the witches with a terminally ill rock star and his contract with the devil. In my books, Lucifer is a physical being but never leaves his office in Hell. He sends his right hand minion, his lawyer, out to do his bidding. And yes, there are some very humorous moments you’ll find there, really throughout the books. But bring your tissues, too!

FAN: So the witches don’t work for Lucifer?

BRUCE: No, quite the opposite. Other characters in my books are actually Angels! My wife is a big angel collector and that’s been a big influence on me. So the Angels and Lucifer might be at odds, but the witches are caught in the middle. In the first book, they were guardian angels. In The Great Northern Coven, he was more of a troubled angel. But in the third book, this angel, is an Avenging Angel! He’s quite a character all in himself!

FAN: Tell us more about the third book.

BRUCE: This is The Ragtime Coven and is a prequel to Angela’s Coven. It covers a lot of unanswered questions as it follows the Coven in the time of World War I and the Prohibition Era. There’s rumrunners, gangsters, flappers and it’s really quite fun. Some of my best characters, really! But most important, this book will tie all THREE books together and a lot of pieces fall into place. If you liked the first one, you’ll love this one, really!

Find Bruce on Amazon here.

image provided by author

Bruce Jenvey is the award-winning author of Angela’s Coven and other tales of the paranormal. He was raised in rural Michigan with a great interest in history, popular culture and the paranormal. After twenty years in the advertising industry, he spent the next decade traveling the Great Lakes region as a journalist Now, Bruce has turned to fiction and shares many of his real-world experiences through his Cabbottown Witches.

Thank you for taking the time to read this post. If you like it let me know and share it with others. See you next time, Toi Thomas. #thetoiboxofwords