Question: Who is the intended audience?
Answer: Both adult and young adult.

Q: What is the book about?
A: Jenny Roberts yearns to escape her small hometown of Paris, Idaho and accomplish something remarkable in the world. She has many dreams but the only thing standing in her way is an unpleasant memory from her past, which haunted her since childhood. She must learn to forgive before she can choose which dream to follow. Meanwhile a legendary ten-foot grizzly by the name of Old Half Paw is seen in the area and its boldness has frightened the community.

Q: Why am I the best person to write this book?
A: This book is about dreams and the importance of following our dreams. I have given personal ancestral experiences to my characters in this family saga to add some reality to this historical fiction novel. I believe that real family experiences bring a story to life.

Q: How is this book different from other books on this topic?
A: It’s different because I’ve used my own family experiences in this book along with the legend of Old Ephraim, the ten-foot grizzly bear as a sub-plot.

This legendary ten-foot grizzly really existed in the southern Idaho region. After much research, I used every detail of this grizzly to add a little adventure to the story.

I blend romance, adventure, history, humor, and courage into this family saga, using emotion to bring my characters to life.

A reviewer wrote: “Jenny’s Dream tells a beautiful story that incorporates the value of loyalty, love, family and forgiveness into it. I also enjoyed how the author put real experiences, taken from her family and friends, into the plot. This is a great touch. Jenny’s Dream is a wholesome novel that will be enjoyed by family members of all ages who would enjoy a great historical romance. I think this series is destined to be a classic.”

Q: Is there anything else we should know about this book?
A: Jenny is 20 years old and has three dreams. Her first dream is to accomplish something remarkable in the world.

She has read about the courageous women who forged their own paths and accomplished a lot in their lives. They were self-reliant, daring and determined women such as Susan B. Anthony who fought for Equal Rights, an important part of American history. This was Jenny’s Dream, to make a difference in the world. This is something I believe we all want to do in our lives… to make a difference!

Her second dream is to become a journalist. Writing is second nature to her ever since she was a child and this is her greatest desire. In fact, moving to Houston, Texas sounds quite intriguing to her.

Her third dream is to find a most wonderful, down to earth man to spend the rest of her life with: the man of her dreams! Little does she know that her kindred friend, Will Jones, has gradually fallen in love with her. She hasn’t known him very long but he instantly became a kindred spirit, someone she could talk to and express her inner most feelings. There is one thing standing in her way of focusing on these dreams. She must learn to forgive and put her past behind her. This story is about accomplishing one’s dreams and the miracle of forgiveness.

Jenny says, “Dreams are an important part of life, and without them, life would be so dull. If we can envision it, then I believe it can be accomplished.” Lucy Maud Montgomery touched me as a writer and I loved her books. She strongly believed in dreams. Montgomery once wrote: “While solitude with dreams is glorious, solitude without them has few charms.” That’s how I feel. I believe that dreams are an important part of life.

Question: Who is the intended audience?
Answer: Young readers – with emphasis on Native American kids – although everyone can benefit from reading about these amazing people.

The Native Trailblazers Series profiles stellar role models who have raised the profile of indigenous culture in North America. This exciting work of non-fiction reminds readers of the extraordinary contributions of Native Americans to our country’s social fabric. Ages 9 to 16 years.

Q: What is the book about?
A: Profiles 10 outstanding American Indian leaders. Among those featured are:

* Larry Merculieff, who helped bring a once enslaved and oppressed Aleutian people to a position of power and self-sufficiency.

* Patrick Brazeau, the National Chief of the Congress of Aboriginal Peoples.

* Raymond Cross, a Coyote Warrior who won a victory of compensation for the Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara people.

* Members of the Golden Eagle Hotshots – a heroic group of firemen from California that fight forest fires all over the country.

* Lieutenant Mark Bowman, Choctaw, who puts his life on the line everyday as a Virginia Beach Police Officer.

* Stanley Vollant, an Aboriginal surgeon who fulfilled a 100 year old Innu tribe prophecy.

* Frank Abraham, an Ojibwe Chief whose wisdom and honesty enabled his tribe to rise from near financial failure.

Q: Why are you the best person to write this book?
A: I am a Native American photojournalist with a great sampling of people that I have met in my career.

Q: How is this book different from other books on this topic?
A: None really exist that I know about – and it is contemporary.

Q: Is there anything else we should know about this book?
Click on the links below.

Vincent Schilling
Award-winning author of Native Athletes in Action and Native Men of Courage
Indian Country Today Correspondent  -  www.indiancountrytoday.com
Mix Magazine Columnist  -  www.mixmagweb.com

Learn more about me on Linkedin: http://www.linkedin.com/in/vincentschilling

Question: Who is the intended audience?
Answer: Young Readers – with emphasis on Native American kids – although everyone can benefit from reading about these amazing people.

Q: What is the book about?
A: Some of the many native athletes who have excelled in the field of sports include: – Naomi Lang, US Olympian, ice dance champion – Ross Anderson, US record holder, downhill speed skier – Jordin Tootoo, National Hockey League player, Nashville Predators – Stephanie Murata, US National Wrestling champion – Beau Kemp, Minnesota Twins, Rochester Red Wings – Alwyn Morris, Olympic gold and bronze medalist in kayaking – Cory Witherill, professional Indy car racing. These stories for young readers highlight the lives and achievements of these courageous and talented athletes.

The Native Trailblazers Series profiles stellar role models who have raised the profile of indigenous culture in North America. This exciting work of non-fiction reminds readers of the extraordinary contributions of Native Americans to our country’s social fabric. Ages 9 to 16 years

Q: Why are you the best person to write this book?
A: I am a Native American photojournalist with a great sampling of people that I have met in my career.

Q: How is this book different from other books on this topic?
A: None really exist that I know about – and it is contemporary.

Q: Is there anything else we should know about this book?
A: Click on the links below.

Vincent Schilling
Award-winning author of Native Athletes in Action and Native Men of Courage
Indian Country Today Correspondent – www.indiancountrytoday.com
Mix Magazine Columnist – www.mixmagweb.com

Learn more about me on Linkedin: http://www.linkedin.com/in/vincentschilling

Question: Who is the intended audience?
Answer: Since the span of the main character’s life takes you from 11-26, Whale Song appeals to virtually anyone who enjoys reading. The audience is general–young adults (even as young as 10) and adults. Book clubs and schools (particularly schools in Vancouver, Canada and Seattle, USA) will appreciate Whale Song because of the beautiful Pacific Ocean setting and the interesting yet somewhat controversial elements that can be discussed in a group setting.

Q: What is the book about?
A: Whale Song is the story of Sarah, a young American woman who moves to Vancouver Island, Canada, when she’s eleven, and is thrown into a strange new world of native customs, fascinating legends and simmering racial discrimination. When a terrible tragedy takes away someone she deeply loves, Sarah is left with partial amnesia, and only a wise Indian woman’s stories can help her heal. Whale Song is ultimately a story of love, family, tragedy, sacrifice and forgiveness, a story that will change the way you view life…and death.

Q: Why are you the best person to write this book?
A: Sarah and I are very similar. I grew up on two different islands in BC, Canada, and I’ve always felt the ocean’s magnetic pull. As a child, I would go to the Vancouver Aquarium every summer and see Skana the killer whale. I was fascinated by her and loved to watch her grace and beauty as she swam. Like Sarah, I know what it’s like to move around, to be thrown into a different culture, and I know what it’s like to live in a world of racism and bullying. Yet, I too was mesmerized by native legends about Whale, Wolf and Eagle. Sarah “came to me” two years before I ever started writing Whale Song. And she’s stayed with me ever since.

Q: How is this book different from other books on this topic?
A: Whale Song is different from other books on this topic because I have managed to take the scenes, smells and flavors of Vancouver Island and weave them into the pages. People who read my novel tell me they can visualize everything so clearly, that it feels like they’re right there on the beach or driving through the trees.

And it is not simply an entertaining novel. Whale Song has a powerful healing message of forgiveness and letting go, and I’ve been amazed and moved by emails from people who have told me Whale Song has changed their lives. Just recently, a young woman emailed me with her story, which you can read on my blog. Aynsley Nisbet was so changed by Whale Song that she created a brilliant painting–titled “Whale Song”. Please read: How Whale Song inspired artist Aynsley Nisbet and changed her life.

Q: Is there anything else we should know about this book?
A: Whale Song is dedicated to my brother Jason who was brutally murdered in January 2006. A portion of my royalties for EVERY SALE of Whale Song goes to 3 nonprofit organizations–Hope Mission, Bissell Centre and Mustard Seed Church, to help combat poverty, homelessness and addictions. Whale Song makes such a wonderful gift–for mothers and daughter, in particular–so please order extra copies, and help me help these nonprofits.

My sites:
http://www.whalesongbook.com
http://www.cherylktardif.com

My main blog:
The suspense is lkilling me!

Question: Who is the intended audience?
Answer: People who are interested in learning more about Indian boarding schools, Native American art, Angel DeCora, football in its early days, the legendary Carlisle Indian School football teams, the advent of the Rose Bowl, the Redskins naming controversy and, of course, the fascinating man that was William Henry Lone Star Dietz. Alumni of the colleges at which he coached: Washington State, Purdue, Louisiana Tech, Wyoming, Haskell Indian Nations University and Albright College and Redskins fans are also interested in the book.

Q: What is the book about?
A: The book is about the life and times of Lone Star Dietz, the most colorful coach ever to grace the sidelines of a football field. Dietz was a Renaissance man. In addition to being an athlete, he was an artist (the book is heavily illustrated by works done by him, his first wife, Angel DeCora, and their students), an educator, a movie actor, a championship dog breeder (their dog won best of breed at Westminster in 1915), a writer, a singer and is still controversial today. Even his detractors consider him to be a fascinating person.

Q: Why are you the best person to write this book?
A: Some would say because I’m too naive to know better. Others would say because I persevered and followed the story through to the end. I think it’s because I found his life was more interesting than the legends that grew around him that I let his story unfold as it was rather than imposing my own preconceptions on him. I completed the book where others didn’t because I stuck with it. Because I had the time and resources to travel to the numerous places Dietz lived and worked and was willing to spend hour after hour hunched over microfilm readers, I was able to write his story. Others who started books on him either didn’t have the time or were smart enough not to spend significant parts of their lives on such a project.

Q: How is this book different from other books on this topic?
A: Although this is the only book-length biography of Lone Star Dietz, magazine articles outlining his life have been written. Unfortunately about half of what one reads about Lone Star Dietz is not true or is badly distorted. Keep A-goin’ also places Dietz in the times and places in which he lived, something that is necessary for the reader to understand fully what was transpiring. Lone Star was a Forrest Gump sort of person in that he was involved with historical events and rubbed shoulders with numerous famous people. He was a household name during the first half of the 20th century so his antics were covered nationally. Dietz was a larger-than-life person; this book tells his story warts and all.

Q: Is there anything else to know about this book?
A: Writing the book has been a rewarding experience as several people have thanked me for writing it. Large publishing houses did not take on the project because they did not perceive that there would be a large enough audience for the book. The book attempts to be complete, fair and accurate. A critic of my conclusions pointed out that I provide the information necessary to allow the reader to come to his or her conclusions about the book.

Finalist for ForeWord Magazine Book of the Year Award
www.LoneStarDietz.com