Posted in 9-11, authors, biography, Bipolar disorder, determination, gymnastics, sports, Terrorism, writers

Coming June 19 – Within her Grasp

front cover 200 dpi for Kindle

Mari-Rae Sopper knew what she wanted to be since she was ten-years-old; when she watched Nadia Comãneci score that “perfect ten” at the Montreal Olympics. She wanted to be a professional gymnast. So she made a plan.

Driven by excellence and determination, “Mari-Rae put Fremd on the map,” according to Larry Petrillo, her high school coach. She moved on to be a formidable opponent in college gymnasts at Iowa State University and an impressive defense attorney for the Navy JAG core.

Within Her Grasp chronicles Mari-Rae’s journey to reach her dream while battling emotional issues that soared her to the skies and plunged her into the depths of despair, drove her to veer from her plan, but never from her dream.

“A beautiful thing about Mari-Rae was that she did more than get upset when she saw injustice – she acted on many of her convictions. She had an undying belief in doing the right thing, regardless of mainstream thinking.”   Jennifer Eichenmueller

“Mari-Rae was known for a dramatic flair. Her letters were no postcards – five pages front and back, hand-written and smeared because she was a lefty. They were her manifestos, read and re-read with notes in the margins, until they were perfect, because she wanted you to know exactly where she stood. And that’s what we could count on, her honest opinion.”   Dave Eck

“She lived her life basically like she wasn’t going to be here tomorrow. If she believed in something, she went all the way, and I think if more people did that, they’d be happier.” Mari-Rae’s mother, Marion Kiminek

On June 19, you may use this link, https://www.createspace.com/5487598 . Also available on Amazon.com and on my website, http://www.joannetailele.com

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y3pSwxCeGu4

Posted in adventure, authors, books, erotica, jihad, kidnapping, novels, religion, sex, Terrorism, thrillers, writing

From tennis stardom to sexual slavery

Nick Kalvin 9.2014

 

I have accumulated a lot of writer friends since I started writing commercial fiction in 2010, but today I have one of my dearest of friends. Besides being a wonderful writer and an experienced eye surgeon, he is a great friend. Nick is  one of those guys you can always go to when you need something done, or someone to listen. H e won’t make excuses why he can’t be there, or ever say he doesn’t have time for you (i.e. me).  And in spite of his age, he can run circles around most of the other people I know.  So, without further, ado, I present to you, Dr. Nick Kalvin.

Nick,  Sexual Jihad is a large book in most people’s thoughts. You and I have compared it to Moby Dick or Gone with the Wind. How long did it take to write and publish Sexual Jihad?

It took about six months to write it, and three or four months to edit, review two printed proofs, then, even with help, upload and make design decisions. It was humbling and amazing to correct a couple hundred typos, punctuation and word-order glitches, to get the proof back to find things I missed. Then to restart the process, of course uploading to Create Space, each version. There is a good argument for professional proof readers.

And of all that, what was the hardest part?

One would think that the hardest part was writing it out on paper and, then retyping into the computer. The major stumbling block, which made things tough for me, turned out to be that much of Sexual Jihadwas in an older program, Microsoft Works. This did not have the bells and whistles of newer Word programs to catch mistakes as one typed. So, I could not even see all the mistakes. The latter portion of the book went easier, no doubt. Once, about 2/3 through, I did something on the keyboard that deleted the entire manuscript. Lucky for me, I got it back on a Go-flex recovery I had installed. After that, I made about a dozen DVDRW external copies and also saved copies into Docs.You got me into external devices, neater and smaller. But, the smaller the easier to misplace they become as some in MIW found out.

As we all learn, staying up to date on technology really helps.  I’ve known you through our local writers group. What has belonging to MIW (Marco Island Writers) done for you?

I was inspired by the published authors, listened carefully to invited speakers. I heard the dissatisfactions of experienced authors, with traditional publishing houses, and the POD companies that charge outrageous fees.  Plus, they want the lion’s share of any profit and any offerings which might follow. I speak of rights for TV, film, art work, overseas sales, merchandise, and so on. Most importantly, MIW led me to you. Without your generosity, enthusiasm and self-acquired skills, I would never have succeeded on Create Space and Kindle. Your flying fingers dazzled me. I did learn to do some of the tasks, but will still need help again, for the sequel, CHAOS vs. THE CALIPHATE. Much of the computer and trade terminology was like a foreign language. Now I understand some of it.

You are too kind. That’s what we do. “Writers Helping Writers” as our logo says. Now that your book is out in print, how does it feel?

Yes, it’s intoxicating to see one’s name in print. That’s why most folks write letters to the editor. For me, my first time was at Lakewood High, in Lakewood Ohio. I was one of the sports editors of the High Times. I was so proud, when the advisor used an editorial cartoon I had drawn. Unlike other kids, I actually enjoyed doing required reports and theme papers. Mom told me when I was about three, I used to take paper and pencil, then used a low magazine rack, with a flat side as my desk, scribbling and sketching. She said it was hard to get me away from it, and that when she called, I complained “I busy!”

After she died, one of my sisters found a poem Mom wrote about me after I was born in 1933. She and Dad loved to sing. My maternal grandmother authored little Slavic musical plays for the church with my Dad.He was a cantor, wrote some of his own church music. Mom was in his choir. Most lyrics are poetry. So, perhaps there may be a poetry gene in us, in others, not.

Sexual Jihad

What inspired you to write Sexual Jihad, a book you can be sure will be controversial, regardless of which side of the world you are in?

For years, I have been bothered by Islamic Extremism and what it has been doing. I learned that it’s hardly news, been going on since 630 AD. At first, I wrote poetry based on news articles.

Some examples of those poems are: “Border-zone Date,” about an Israeli male teen lured to a death by torture by a cute Muslim girl he meets at a coffee house; “Saving Honor by A Nose,” a true story about Bibi, who had her ears and nose cut off by an Islamic misogynist, a physical abuser, her husband; “Lovely Malala,” is the school girl in Pakistan who had a blog about education for females. She was shot in the head, but survived amazingly well. Two pieces concern young girls who volunteer to work with immunization programs, and end up assassinated by Fundamentalists, under the joint title, “Angels in Muslim Hell.”

Some of my poems are on my site,http://www.poetrypoliticallyincorrect.com. I wanted people to notice the real world. A fool could see what was ultimately going to happen. To get people to read about it, I had to use an adventure novel, one with some sex, suspense, intrigue, interesting people, exotic places and geography, a sport…all stirred up in religious and cultural facts, aping genuine events, so the message, the explanation, was not just a dissertation about danger to our way of life, and most of all, our personal God-given freedoms.

I love tennis. As Judy and I watched the Australian Open and tennis events leading up to it, I chose to make my heroines, the WTA number One and Two. They would be kidnapped in an act of Jihad, which would make them sex slaves. My book has facts and quotes, which back this up. As I wrote, current events chased after me, like the abduction of a couple hundred school girls, who were sold as sex slaves and child brides.

The antagonists, is a cultured man, with many contradictory sides. Sheik Prince needs sons while his wives produce only girls. A devout Muslim, he will not make sons by adultery, with willing women outside his three wives. But he sees a way to do it with the women he so admires, since his college years, attractive female athletes, by using sexual jihad. He easily finds modern support, as I did, from Islamic sites on line. Additionally, his wives have all had FGM as girls. But, he likes his women natural. So, he is conflicted. Soon, he must decide if he will submit his young daughters to this mutilation and, forever, deprive them of sexual pleasures. He likes the way, Allah, the Supreme, the Almighty, created women. FGM affects perhaps a billion women, mainly in Muslim nations and Africa. So FGM becomes part of the book. Decades ago, a young female, from a prominent tribe, fled Saudi Arabia to avoid FGM. She wrote about it in some magazine I read in college, back in the early 50’s. A pre-med, I had no idea such existed.

Sheik Prince wants an heir or two to continue his 1000 year lineage. He wants his sons to become leaders in the Caliphate, he knows will one day come. So, he wants courageous, athletic, intelligent and natural women. He wants women able to respond to his pleasuring. These qualities abound in Ingrid and Marie, my protagonists. They make things tough for him. I mean, what did he expect? He is used to subservient Muslim girls and women.

That’s an intriguing story, full of action and taboo subjects. So let’s talk about marketing. What have you done to promote your book? As an Indie publisher, we know that marketing can be the hardest part of all.

I asked my family members to put out the word on my book, attaching a summary and jacket cover. I asked each to contact everyone on email and social network and ask those folks to spread the news. I am doing the same with four different Alumni groups and medical societies. You helped me with a poster, rack cards and business cards. I plan to give copies to book reviewers, and would like to send one to my three favorites on talk radio, Glen Beck, Rush Limbaugh and Mark Levin. Each of them knows the score when it comes to Fundamental Islamic fanaticism. The book might be seen by them as one way more to educate people who are still free, before it is too late.  We are bound to enter the era of Islam armed with nuclear bombs and biologic warfare. They have progressed from swords and axes, to guns and suicide bombers. Now they reach for the ultimate weapon.

Where can readers get a copy of Sexual Jihad or read it on their electronic devices?

You can buy the print copy through my publisher, Create Space at this link.

https://www.createspace.com/4875374

You can buy the print edition online at Barnes and Noble

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/sexual-jihad-nick-kalvin-md/1120026603?ean=9781500326579

Sexual Jihad is also available on Amazon in e-book and print edition.

http://www.amazon.com/Sexual-Jihad-Nick-Kalvin-M-D/dp/1500326577/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1412118082&sr=1-1

 

Posted in authors, books, conflict, family, FBI, Terrorism, writers

Retired FBI Agent brings us Necessary Assets.

Necessary Assets

 

James Ring is a retired FBI Supervisory Special Agent who investigated the American La Cosa Nostra and the Sicilian Mafia in New England. Ring received the Department of Justice’s highest award as the architect of the first and only electronic interception of the La Cosa Nostra/Mafia induction ceremony of new members, including the Omerta oath.

Ring has testified in federal court as an expert witness on La Cosa Nostra and has served as a media commentator on organized crime. He participated in a series by National Public Radio analyzing the current Department of Justice Informant Guidelines. Ring served for one year on the Department of Defense advisory board, mandated by Congress, to review their civilian and military investigative capabilities. The board reviewed the growing military preference of favoring electronic intelligence gathering at the expense of human intelligence.

Ring founded a business information and investigative service within a prestigious Boston law firm where he remains today.

During the investigations into New England organized crime, Ring married a former FBI agent. They chose to live in Boston’s North End not far from the street headquarters of the La Cosa Nostra. The success of these investigations, and subsequent prosecutions, helped transform the North End into the vibrant community it is today. Both Ring and his wife continue to live in the North End. In their daily lives, they walk the neighborhood, visit friends, and frequent the diverse shops and interesting cafes within their community.

What other work have you done and how has it impacted your career?

Both of my careers were adverse influences on my desire to write fiction or nonfiction. I worked in a world where secrets were kept or client confidences were an absolute necessity. I chose to write fiction for two reasons. I could keep my secrets while avoiding censors and I could allow my world of experience and imagination to go where they wished.

My first career as an FBI agent honed my writing skills to present facts only. Personal opinions had little place in a world centered on legally admissible evidence. My second career with a large Boston law firm was successful owing to my FBI experience. Facts gathered by research or inquiry had to be presented concisely, accurately, and without emotion. Writing fiction enables me for the first time to combine my unusual and varied life experiences with an imagination not constricted by obligation.

Do you have any special time or place you like to write?

Like many who write while working at the same time, I use to steal writing time wherever and whenever I could. I find it difficult to write for short periods. Once I get rolling in a session, I do not want to stop. Early on I would write wherever I found myself when the time became available. My laptop was always with me. As soon as my circumstances changed, the first thing I did was to set up a desk in our city condo and another in our weekend home. These are now my two favorite places to write.

I am still making an effort to discipline myself into a writing schedule. I tend to start my writing session after my “to do” list is completed. I need to put my writing before that list!

Was there a mistake you made in the writing process you could share with us?

How much time do you have? Leaving mistakes behind is part of the adventure of writing. One example is now I start off each session editing what I wrote in the previous session. It starts my rhythm for the new session and puts me into the flow of my prior effort. I also end the current session with an edit of what I have just produced? Why?

Early on I believed I needed to get all my great ideas written down quickly before my faulty memory lost them forever. I intended of course go back later and “smooth” it all out. This process caused me to produce poor material. For me, it became critical to start and end the day editing. I never let bad writing (I hope) remain in my story for too long. I also discovered that I never really “lost” that great idea or turn of phrase. They always seem to come back when my fingers hit the keyboard the next time. Once I realized quality writing was essential at all times, and good ideas did not get lost, I became much more relaxed when writing.

Love your answer. LOL  What is your next big writing challenge?

In Necessary Assets, I wrote into the ending material I could use to set up the sequel should one be warranted. It soon became apparent a sequel was in order using the same characters. This became clear sooner than I anticipated. After getting Necessary Assets out, I immediately started writing a childhood memoir about my Italian great grandmother and her children, my great uncles and aunt, and their impact on my character formation growing up. It is something that is in my heart, something I want to share. I think many would find it a very warm and positive read. I field tested a version on two of my grand children. They both gave it their seal of approval.

The next thing I knew my publisher was muttering about a new writer immediately changing genres, creating chaos, for some childhood story no one would care about and would have no commercial value. I told him I am sure he is correct, but I am doing it anyway.

I now find myself working on two books at once. This is something to avoid! I started the sequel thinking I had the memoir finished. However, my editor is encouraging memoir changes. She is right as always. I am following her advice. Avoid working on two books at once. Your spouse or significant other will give you strange looks and mutter strange words sotto voce.

Please give us a taste for Necessary Assets          

                  Précis Necessary Assets

 Al-Qaeda, under new leadership in Yemen, targets two US cities for dirty bomb attacks to be executed by two cells of resident US citizens. These cells are led by a bomb expert known only as The Engineer. Al-Qaeda intends to shred a fragile US economy and destroy citizen confidence in the government’s ability to protect them.

Al-Qaeda asks the Sicilian Mafia to smuggle a container into New York City. Sicilian sources believe it contains arms, explosives, and nuclear material. The Mafia agrees to the shipment but only to learn enough about the attacks to prevent them.

Mark Patrick is a retired FBI agent and old nemesis of the Mafia. He agrees to a requested meeting where he learns the Mafia has modernized to survive. His contact is a ranking member who is a young, beautiful, and intelligent woman. She explains why the Mafia wants to furnish information to the FBI, through Patrick, in order to stop Al-Qaeda. He agrees to their request. Patrick needs assistance which is provided by Liz Brennick, his wife, a former FBI agent and now a successful Boston lawyer. They code name the Mafia source Vespa to protect her identity and her gender.

The government has no intelligence regarding this Al-Qaeda threat. Patrick’s efforts come under fire by government bureaucrats, with personal control agendas, as well as by those who wish to see the constitutionally limited FBI removed from all terrorist investigations. Patrick is forced to defend himself publicly, avoid physical surveillance, and operate Vespa without disclosing her identity.

The Engineer has weapons, money, an organization, and a plan. As the investigation progresses at home and abroad, the threat level only goes up. The matter gets personal when Patrick suspects the location of one potential target.

Thank you James.  Very informative and creative post.  Readers, here is the buy Link from Amazon:  http://www.amazon.com/Necessary-Assets-James-Ring