Jeanie Pantelakis
Jeanie
Pantelakis has been involved with the literary arts all her life. Starting
at a young age, her sister, Barbara, taught her to read and write before
she started school. Hearing the stories was never enough. She had to learn
to read so she could go to "the land far, far away" on her own.
With a sister passionate about literature and a father who was Aid de Camp
for two governors and taught her to type, write letters, and compose meaningful
essays, she naturally excelled in language arts.
Jeanie’s clients include:
Ann Hite- Beautiful Wreck and Ghost on Black Mountain
Beautiful Wreck: This 90,000 word novel is a story set in North Carolina around the time of the Second World War. It follows the lives of Emily, Buster, Jan, and Lee whose intricately woven characters tell their stories in such a way as to remind the reader of their own past and choices made. It wretches from you every emotion and leaves you understanding the consequences of love, war, racism, and pure-out hatred. It is also the Semi-Finalist in Amazon Novel Breakthrough 2009 Contest.
Ghost on Black Mountainis a 70,000 word novel set on Black
Mountain, right outside of Ashville, North Carolina in the late '30's. It
is composed of four parts: Nellie Pritchard, Rose Gardner, Iona Harbor,
and Annie Harbor. The significance of the lives of each character is accentuated
by the relevance of the relationships with Hobbs Pritchard, in this life
and the one after…
Ann continues to write about the people from Black Mountain, the living
and the "dead".
Ann Hite is the author of Life on Black Mountain, selected stories featured in the May 2008 issue of The Dead Mule. "Circle of Light, a Black Mountain Story," was nominated for Sundress Best of 2008. Her short stories have appeared in numerous publications, including The Dead Mule, Fiction Warehouse, The Sink, Cup of Comfort, Moonwort Review, Brink Magazine, and Skyline Review. Her story, "The Christmas Tree Hunter," appears in Christmas Through A Child’s Eyes. "Surviving Mom," a personal essay, was one of a hundred essays chosen out of thousands of submissions for Marlo Thomas’ latest collection, The Right Words At The Right Time, Vol., 2, Your Turn, which made number 14 on the New York Times Best Sellers List (May 14, 2006). She also has over 35 short stories and 15 published essays to her credit. You may also read her book reviews at http://www.internetreviewofbooks.com/aug09/shanghai_girls.html and her new site www.freewebs.com/annhite/.
The Christmas anthology, Christmas Traditions, where her story, "Believing in Magic," appears is the sequel to the anthology published last year, Christmas Through a Child’s Eyes. Christmas Traditions is due in all major bookstores October 18, 2009.
Ann is working on the second book of the Ghost Mountain Trilogy entitled Where The Souls Go. The third will take you to Darien, Georgia where some ghosts are known to have migrated with their kin. She is so very talented. Besides all this, she is reviewing books, teaching writing classes, and speaking at major conferences all over the country.
Charlotte Babb-
Maven: Fairy Godmother
Here is a fantasy you will get into. It would make such a great movie. I seriously picture Kathy Bates as Maven; she takes "nothing off of nobody" and Susan Sarandon as Fiona. This book will give you a different perspective on fairy tales and what you wish for, especially as an adult. It is clean, funny, and much better than Shrek or Ella Enchanted. The second and third movies would not go down-hill like Shrek, you can bet on that.
This is the kind of book you would curl up with on a rainy day, after you've been stood-up by the guy you `thought' was hot, after your last child walks out of the door for college, or when you are trying to explain wishes and their consequences to your daughter/granddaughter. Young people will be fascinated and the others will just agree and laugh their socks off. We all want what we don't have but how would you feel if you really got it, or not? Who wants to laugh right now? We do!!
This quirky twist on “the rabbit hole” is about Maven of Mudane (reality) who has been selected by Fiona, Superior Fairy Godmother of Faery (make-believe), to replace her when she retires. Well, Maven is a middle-aged, over-weight, unemployed school teacher who has her own ideas of what “happily ever after” means. It is a “don’t- put- me- down” story that is endearing to anyone who grew up waiting for “Prince Charming”(didn’t most of us?). Well, he doesn't get the princess but the sexy milk maid and the princess gets the hot stable boy. I like her style. She also has a sequel in the works.
Charlotte Babb has a BS English, minor in Education - Appalachian State U, Boone, NC, a MEd Secondary Education, writing Winthrop U, Rock Hill, SC, and a MA Humanities Mythology in Education Pacifica Graduate Institute, Santa Barbara CA.
Harlan Hambright-
The Idiat and the Odd-Yssey
Harlan Hambright has cleverly researched the approximately 65 communities, cities, and towns sharing names with international locations throughout Georgia. He briefly immersed himself in the locale; absorbing both the most and least obvious elements, photographing and writing quirky captions, true history, and whimsical quotes for each.
A selection of the completed works has been published in Golden Isles Magazine, a bi-monthly regional publication, and has been embraced by its readers; asking for more.
The first pass through, half of the targets, yielded over 100 usable images and could be presented as a coffee table book, a novelty travel guide, mini-vacation/scavenger hunt challenge, calendars, daily inspirational tear-offs, or a fantastic souvenir filled with both factual and fictional history. The ideas are endless and can then be multiplied to the 50th.
A traveling exhibit of the original photos could accompany the author for book signings and conferences (many of which are in these towns). Matted or framed copies of the photos could be sold along with the books. Special appearances/book signings could be scheduled for each of the sites depicted in the book and all the major cities in Georgia.
The Idiat and the Odd-Yssey would sell hand-over-fist in the areas photographed, at Visitor’s Centers, novelty shops, State and National Parks, all book stores (especially in the surrounding areas that are in the book), libraries would want dozens of them, and schools would use them for World History, US History, Georgia History, Geography, and Literature (they could also make it useful for field trips which would entail school visits as well).
Harlan Hambright is also able to accommodate the rest of the 49 states by researching each one to find its own niche and complementary state-wide journey. By doing so, he could dedicate himself to this venture indefinitely bringing in revenue in perpetuity since this is a timeless historical/novelty item.
Lisa Reinhard-
Unbreakable Will
Unbreakable Will is a 50,000 word young adult novel set in the Great Depression.
Its main character is Will Handler, a twelve year old who is riding the
rails to escape an unbearable family in Pittsburg. He quickly finds out
that life on the road is not the stuff of boyhood dreams. It is a cold,
lonely, and hungry existence. He is befriended by an older man who teaches
him the ropes for surviving while camped out in hobo jungles and living
out of box cars.
The is Will’s coming-of-age during a desperate time in our nation’s
history. I believe it has something to say today, since we are facing a
similar economic crisis. It is a story of grit, of digging deep inside to
find the strength to go on, of not giving up.
Lisa Reinhard has been working on this novel for two years, ever since discovering
that her father was dying of cancer. It is based on his true adventures
of leaving Pittsburg when he was twelve and heading for California. Reinhard
interviewed her father before his death, conducted extensive research into
the Great Depression, read dozens of books, watched films of riding the
rails, the construction of Hoover Dam, and what life was like during that
time and she also listened to the music from that era, all of which shines
through her words and makes you feel like you are right there.
James Hillebrecht-
The Paladin Trilogy
The Paladin Trilogy; Juggernaut , Champion, and Redeemer . Absolutely riveting!
Each consecutive book rivals the former and challenges you for more.
I truly believe this could be on the Best Seller List immediately; singularly
or in a boxed set. Those who read these will want the next upon finishing
each one. I did not want to put them down. You are compelled to stop and
write down the deeply prophetic, original quotes for future reference. It
is simply the best Sci-Fi trilogy I have ever read.
Hillebrecht has written the following books: Mainstream fiction- Jonah (1988),
Stages (1990), Making for Home (2001), The Conductor (2001), HORROR- The
Vault (1993), and Satan’s Teeth (1995).
Above and beyond all that, he is in the process of writing three more trilogies
with cameo appearances by characters from the first trilogy: The Trials
of Prometheus : Trial of Courage, Trial of Strength, Trial of Wisdom Status
= fully outlined and sample chapters available, The Fortress of the Three
Crowns = (Titles not yet in place), The Chronicles of Palamar = (Titles
not yet in place) Status = Roughly outlined
These nine books share the same setting, many of the same characters, and
they are similar in size and length.
Claiming to be able to put out one book a year, with the likelihood of putting
twelve books on the shelves in nine years, I was clearly skeptical, but
after reading his works, I am undoubtedly persuaded he is a Best Seller
List author, book manufacturing, money-making machine.
KD McCrite- Redemption, Whited Sepulchres, Eastgate Church Keeps on Singing,
and Rough Creek Road
REDEMPTION is a 100,000 word novel that addresses the ever- present issue
of domineering religions and the adverse affects forced upon the children
born, raised, or deceptively recruited into their “families”.
Having had experienced and witnessed such treatment as described, McCrite
makes this account much more compelling. In this suspenseful drama, Annabeth's
finding out that God loves her unconditionally, and her mother does too,
makes this a wonderful testimony to the Strength we all possess inside.
The judgmental church, the abusive father, and the sexually terroristic,
obsessive, possessive husband defy human existence. The only shining light
in her life is but temporary until she finds that she must love herself
and accept the Beauty within.
I truly believe this could be on the Best Seller List immediately. Those
who read this will feel Annabeth’s desperation and need to flee. Due
to the content of REDEMPTION, McCrite has had to alter her name.
WHITED SEPULCHRES, a 90,000 word novel, is about Shannon, a young woman who grew up diagnosed as having a bipolar disorder, was emotionally abused by her siblings, and ignored by her mother. Her father was the only one who truly loved her but was unable to stand up to the rest of the family. Believed to have committed suicide by everyone but her best friend Evie, Shannon left three spiral notebooks whose contents hold the truth of her family who has hidden behind their wealth and the local church for over 40 years. This book will make you catch your breath with each turn of the page. It will also expose some suppressed feelings from your own past that you thought were locked away forever.
EASTGATE CHURCH KEEPS ON SINGING, right at 75,000 words, is a murder mystery
with Carrie Lockwood as the Assistant Pastor and the Sherlock Holmes of
Eastgate Church of Hazelray, Missouri. When Carrie and her husband go to
New Mexico for a long awaited vacation, the secretly appointed choir director
found in the choir loft with his face smashed in. Concerned about her parishioners,
Carrie cuts her siesta short and flies home to unravel a complex chain of
events that uncovers much more about her flock than she ever imagined. Ten
steps ahead of her twin brother, the police chief, she solves the mystery
and puts the puzzle together. Who did it and how will show you why Eastgate
Church will keep on singing.
This is the first in her series of Eastgate books:
EASTGATE CHURCH EATS ITS HEART OUT
EASTGATE CHURCH PUSHES UP DAISIES
EASTGATE CHURCH CLEANS UP
EASTGATE CHURCH BARKS UP THE WRONG TREE
EASTGATE CHURCH COMES HOME TO ROOST
ROUGH CREEK ROAD is the first of a series of stories about a rural community
in the Ozarks. It is centered around the Reilly Family who has lived there
for generations and the St. James who reluctantly moved there to start over.
A true “country mouse” meets “city mouse”. The challenges
of tolerance and acceptance and the miracle of saving grandma because of
it makes this a endearing novel. You will be as captivated by The Reillys
as we all were with The Waltons in the 70s. Following in its footsteps are:
EASY DRIVING ON ROUGH CREEK ROAD
A HAUNTING ON ROUGH CREEK ROAD
ROUGH CREEK ROAD GETS RELIGION
BROADWAY COME TO ROUGH CREEK ROAD
YESTERDAY VISITS ROUGH CREEK ROAD
McCrite has three novels listed under Kathaleen McCrite Deiser and are
published by Avalon Books: THE STORYTELLER, WOMAN’S WORLD, and KANSAS
CITY VOICES as well as several articles published in regional magazines.
McCrite is a former psychiatric caseworker with a degree in psychology from
Drury University. In 1999, she was listed in Who's Who in American Colleges
and Universities. Before working in the mental health field, she was on
staff of two public libraries.
Lauren Hope-
Screaming to be Solved
Screaming to be Solved is 71,000 words and worth reading every one of them.
Both men and women of a wide age range will like this fast-paced, classic
“who done it” story with Lauren’s twists.
The story revolves around tough-spirited, resilient Marxie Vaughn, the widow
of a police officer who was killed in the line of duty—burned beyond
identification. But when a detective shows up at Marxie’s door two
years later to say they’ve found her husband’s body in a canal
near her new home in Savannah, Georgia, Marxie’s world is turned upside
down.
This fascinating third novel by Lauren Hope builds from the first paragraph
on and does not let you down, right to the last word.
Lauren has two previously published novels under her belt: Hidden Shadows
and Chasing Shadows, both published by The Wild Rose Press. Both have received
enthusiastic reviews.
I would appreciate your reviewing this page-turning novel that blends the
genres of mystery, romance, and thriller for an exhilarating read. I thoroughly
enjoyed it and am excited about its possibilities. Due to its lack of extreme
violence or mature sexual content, Screaming to be Solved could also easily
be marketed to young adults.
Nicole Finitzo-
High Horse
High Horse by Nicole Finitzo and Richard Verkler, is a 64,165 word contemporary
middle grade thriller inspired by true life events. Aimed at girls from
ages 9 -13, a sort of Nancy Drew meets National Velvet, this story is a
modern coalescence of the classic young female detective and girl-who-loves-horses
stories. Over the course of the novel, Cassie discovers her own gift of
intuitive communication between animals and humans; she learns who her real
friends are; and she risks her life to save the lives of those she loves
most in the world. It is a coming of age story that teaches morals and values,
just what we need more of today.
According to a recent study completed by the American Horse Council, 3.6
million Americans show and compete horses in this country. The lion’s
share of those numbers represents horse-crazy young girls between the ages
of nine and thirteen, the audience for High Horse One of the authors, Nicole
Finitzo, has owned and competed show horses in this world for more than
30 years. Ms. Finitzo also has a degree in journalism from Northwestern
University’s Medill School of Journalism. Both Nicole Finitzo and
Richard Verkler practice law with the former United States Attorney who
brought to justice the perpetrators of these crimes in the horse industry.
This is their first novel.
Sandra Page-
A Bend in Biscayne Bay and
The Pyramid of the Lost World
A Bend in Biscayne Bay by Sandra Page, a 61,000 word novel/murder mystery
set in South Florida during the turbulent fifty year period of its transformation
from a small tropical city of Anglos into a glittering metropolis dominated
by Cuban exiles and the Cuban Diaspora. The genre is "Boomer Lit"
with themes of second chances, reinvention, and the power of change. Choices
made and the consequences to them make the predictable very unpredictable
in this twist-of-fate story.
This complex story of betrayal, friendship, heroism, and love opens with
a heart-stopping prologue: a man and woman, holding hands, step off their
balcony ledge into the tropical breeze and fall thirty-two stories to the
pavement below. Why did they do it? This is the central mystery of the story.
Sandra Page writes this in the first person and, in some respects, it is
close to being a memoir. She has pooled from her life experiences as an
attorney and as one who grew up in Miami during the time referenced. As
with the heroine, Biscayne Bay was the only constant in her life; everything
else around her changed radically. The story poses the question: what would
happen if I came back into contact with my first true love, the man from
whom I long ago deliberately fled? How would I respond to him and him to
me?
Have you ever had to keep information confidential even if it meant hurting
someone you love? Have you ever wanted something so badly that you thought
death was the only way to get it?
Get ready for a rollercoaster ride…
A Bend in Biscayne Bay won 2nd place in the Edna Sampson Award of Excellence
in Writing at the Southeastern Writers Conference June 2009.
She also has a juvenile mystery set in South America called The Pyramid
of the Lost World. Page’s daughter is an archeologist. She traveled
with her on an expedition to the Maya ruins experiencing the thrill of discovery
which spurred the novella. She is interested in making this a series which
educates young adults with geography and history but also entertains them
with her amateur detective/sleuth, Carly Sullivan.
Torrance Gates-
Sweet Dreams: Searching for Roy Buchanan
Sweet Dreams: Searching for Roy Buchanan, a 62,000 word time-traveling,
fantasy, young adult novel set in Tokyo.
I found the concept of having out-of-body, yet in-body, powers passed from
one generation to the next intriguing. Aki has the ability to time travel
and to take people with her. Where they go is determined by the music history
of Roy Buchanan, a famous blues guitarist. They go to rural Mississippi,
New Orleans, and New York City, to name a few, in their search. Their quest
brings them to remarkable places, events, and into the lives of some of
our greatest legends of music.
The story stays strong throughout the entire book. It also shows us how
siblings unite and the sacrifices they make to keep their family together.
I believe this book would be read by both young and old alike becasue it is based on the lives of three teens who have lost both parents, mentors whom have taken their place to guide them, and the culturally diversified music and racial history they experience in order to overcome their loss and move on.
Gates is a songwriter, musician, and actor whose debut book he wishes
to make into a Sweet Dreams Series. He is a former column writer for Face
Magazine (record, concert and book reviews)
http://www.usamusicpost.com/.
http://www.usamusicpost.com/columns/index.php?article=352
Sweet Dreams: Searching for Roy Buchanan could easily be seen as the next
21st Century, time-travel, collector’s series for teens and young
adults. I am excited about its possibilities in both sales and marketing.
I see this as an Accelerated Reader book with the target age range 12-16.
It encompasses loyalty, responsibility, music, history, compassion, sticktuativity,
and, most importantly, love.