My Unforgettable Year Blog Tour With Adem Besim

Welcome to the blog tour starring Adem Besim and his debut novel My Unforgettable Year. Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Adem. Thank you, Adem, for answering my questions, and all the best with My Unforgettable Year.

Now a question on the tips of many tongues...  

Q. How did you become a writer?

A. I knew from a young age that I wanted to be an author. I wrote some stories in my teens (but only finished one). When I was 17, I got the idea for My Unforgettable Year and planned the story over a period of years. Then I enrolled into Professional Writing & Editing course in 2013 and started to learn everything I needed to know about writing and the industry. It gave me the skill and motivation I required to continue working on this novel. 

Q. Did you have to do much research for this book?

A. I didn't need to do much research, except for making sure the positions and rules for the footy match scenes were accurate. I also received some advice on medical matters concerned with the deaths and other medical issues in the novel. 

Q. Can you tell me about the main character and what you like/dislike about him/her?

A. I like how Nathan thinks a lot and tries to understand things. I was an over-thinker as a teen (and still am). I also like the way he matures as the novel progresses. He has weaknesses (like a short temper and impatience) and I feel that he has worked on them by the end. I like how the book ends with him scared about the future, but also grateful for what he has learnt and the importance of life. 

Q. Is there something that sets this book apart from others?

A. Because it is a fiction story set in a real town, and has important messages for teenagers and parents within it, I believe that people in Kyabram and neighboring towns will be eager to read the book, and that they will find something that they can relate to.

AUTHOR INFORMATION: 

Adem Besim was born, raised and still lives in Kyabram, Victoria. He is presently studying for a Diploma in Professional Writing and Editing at Bendigo TAFE. 

Adem started his writing journey at 14 years of age. 

He says, "I started writing because I'd always had a passion for it from when I was a small child. Visits to bookshops with my father and author visits at school inspired me. I always felt at my happiest listening to authors speaking about their books. Writing gives me that same feeling. That's how I knew that this was what I was born to do; there was nothing else I felt more certain about."

BOOK INFORMATION:

This is a deeply emotive story told in the first person voice of a seventeen-year-old boy. The themes are many: bullying, friendships, dealing with death, and falling in love. This book will be loved by male and female.  

SYNOPSIS: 

This is a coming-of-age story about triumph and tragedy, love and loss, acceptance and letting go.

Life's looking pretty awesome for 17-year-old, Nathan Thompson. He's the goal-kicking superstar from the small town of Kyabram. Nathan's in his final year of school and has big plans set for the future; like winning the Thirds’ premiership cup, acing his Year Twelve exams, and finally graduating. One problem – his tough and over-bearing father, Mark, has other plans for him. He desperately wants Nathan to be the next AFL player to come out of Kyabram. 

He seems set to stop Nathan from following his dreams of studying architecture at university. But a thirty-year-old secret of Mark's that resurfaces on Nathan's 18th birthday changes everything. Will it force Nathan and his father further apart or help them reconcile their fragile relationship? 

On top of that problem, Nathan’s year gets worse as he deals with death, bullying and first love.

Blog Tour schedule:

Nov-14 - Interview

http://clancytucker.blogspot.com.au      

Nov-15 - Interview
http://www.robynopie.blogspot.com      

Nov-16 - Profile /publisher's notes
http://www.morrispublishingaustralia.com/news-update-blog         

Nov-19 - Interview 
http://www.kids-bookreview.com         

Nov-20 - Interview
http://elaineoustonauthor.com       

Nov-23 - Review 
http://authorjillsmith.wordpress.com          

Nov 27 - Review
http://christinemareebell.wordpress.com 

Dec-01 - Review
http://www.buzzwordsmagazine.com

Dec-04 - Review
http://www.sherfordbear.co.uk

BOOK INFORMATION:

TITLE:             My Unforgettable Year   

Author:            Adem Besim  

ISBN:              978-0-9925052-7-1              

FORMATS:     Paperback and eBook

EXTENT:        258 pages

AU RRP:         eBook: $4.95

                       Paperback: $22.95 

PUBLISHER:  Morris Publishing Australia

PUB DATE:    November  2014   

CATEGORY:  Coming of age story

AUDIENCE:   Young Adult   

WHOLESALE AND RETAIL ORDERS:

Morris Publishing Australia - http://www.morrispublishingaustralia.com 

Dennis Jones and Associates: http://www.dennisjones.com.au

James Bennett library suppliers: http://www.bennett.com.au

The Nile Bookshop: http://www.thenile.com.au 

Paperback and eBook available on Amazon and many online stores.

Blog Tour With Author Royce Bond THE SUMMONING OF THE ONE - Coming Soon!

Blog Tour Royce Bond The Summoning of the One - September 14th to 26th 2014

Visit the sites below to find out more about this exciting book and its unique author.

Sept. 14th http://helenrosswrites.com 

Sept. 15th http://clancytucker.blogspot.com.au 

Sept. 16th http://writingclassesforkids.com 

Sept. 17th http://authorjillsmith.wordpress.com 

Sept. 18th http://morrispublishingaustralia.com 

Sept. 19th http://www.robynopie.blogspot.com 

Sept. 20th http://diannedibates.blogspot.com.au 

Sept. 21st http://www.kids-bookreview.com 

Sept. 22nd http://jackiehoskingpio.wordpress.com/school-magazine 

Sept. 23rd http://www.alisonreynolds.com.au 

Sept. 24th http://elaineoustonauthor.com 

Sept. 25th http://roycebondauthor.com 
Sept. 26th http://www.buzzwordsmagazine.com  

Author Information:
Rockhampton resident, Royce Bond, published his first book, Kitchen Science, with Ashton Scholastic after he won the prestigious National B.H.P. /C.S.I.R.O. Science Teacher's Award. This book was used in schools throughout Australia, New Zealand, South East Asia, and in some schools in South America. Many books in the science field followed.

Since his retirement, he has changed his writing to young adult fantasy novels. The Princess and The Pirate, the first in the series The Knights of Katesch was published by Morris Publishing Australia in 2013.

Royce is available for school visits. Please phone Elaine on 07 54 981 332 or email info@morrispublishingaustralia.com 

Wholesale and Retail Orders:

Dennis Jones and Associates – http://dennisjones.com.au

James Bennett library suppliers

Peter Pal library suppliers

http://www.morrispublishingaustralia.com

eBook available on Amazon, Smashwords and many online stores. 

An Interview With Sharon Ledwith, Author of The Last Timekeepers and the Arch of Atlantis

Welcome Sharon Ledwith. Thank you for visiting this blog. We're thrilled to have you here. I'm thrilled to be here, Robyn.

1. How long have you been writing, Sharon?

Honestly, I have to admit I was a late bloomer. I didn’t start writing seriously until 1995. That’s when I took two college courses that changed my life. The first one was called Planning your Novel, which was an introductory workshop for, Writing your Novel. I met a couple of wonderful would-be writer gals, and we formed a writing circle after the classes were done.

2. Where did you get your idea and inspiration to write The Last Timekeepers and the Arch of Atlantis?

Both the idea and inspiration came to me through a dream I had around 1998. In this dream, I saw seven arches, and there were seven people (five kids, two adults) with crystals in their hands, walking up to these arches. It definitely had an “Indiana Jones” feel to it. At that time, I was writing a paranormal romance (before there was a distinct genre) and had no intention of writing a middle-grade/young adult book like The Last Timekeepers. But this idea kept growing in my mind, and wouldn’t leave, like some mystical force pushing you from behind. So, I thought I’d challenge myself and write a novel—a series—that would appeal to my son, who at the time was the target age of my audience. I’ve always loved the time travel genre, so I imagined the arches I saw vividly in my dream as time portals. It was a no-brainer for me.

3. What sets The Last Timekeepers and the Arch of Atlantis apart from other books in the same genre?

Keyword: Atlantis. I wanted to create a book series for middle grade/young adults that had a different slant to the time travel genre. I love history. I also love myths and legends. There’s many time travel series out there, but nothing that has roots leading back to Atlantis—at least what I know about and have read. And since there’s no concrete evidence that Atlantis did exist, then that left the door (or arch) wide open to possibilities.

4. As an author, Sharon, what is your writing process?

Cut a vein and write. Kidding. I have many notebooks and pads at my disposal. I also have a file full of ideas. I guess I start with the characters and build the story around them. My characters must carry the story to completion, give my readers closure. It’s a must. In order to do this, I begin writing out character tracking sheets (stats on characters' appearances, clothing, likes and dislikes, etc.) which have served me well throughout the writing process. Then the fun begins. Research, research, and still more research. When you’re writing time travel, you’ve got to know your facts to create the fiction. I love this part of the journey too. Only when I have enough facts, and I feel my characters are fleshed out sufficiently, then I begin to start the novel. Sometimes I’m a pantser (writing by the seat of my pants), sometimes a plotter (outline entire storyline)—it all depends on the tone of the book and where my imagination directs me.

5. How long did it take for you to start and finish The Last Timekeepers and the Arch of Atlantis?

Groan. I started gathering ideas and writing the first draft in 1999. I signed the publishing contract with Musa Publishing in September, 2011. Now, this was a back and forth project. During the last eleven years, I wrote a second book in The Last Timekeeper series, created and penned another young adult series (a teen psychic mystery series), worked on my paranormal romance, took a writing correspondence course, and worked at the local animal shelter. I finally picked The Last Timekeeper series back up in 2010, transcribed and polished it, and kept sending it out until I struck gold with a publishing contract offer. And even then, after all that, there were major revisions on changing my point of view over from five characters to one character. But I was determined, and did it.

6. Do you have any advice for other writers, Sharon?

Never stop investing in yourself. Invest in the best. That’s in yourself, and in your readers. Your readers deserve the best of what you have to offer them. Surround yourself with the best possible team. Never stop learning. As you grow, so will your readers, so be prepared for this. Oh yeah, and never give up. That’s a given and should be part of any author’s credo.

7. What’s next for Sharon Ledwith, the author?

Currently, I’m working on the prequel to the Last Timekeepers series, entitled The Legend of the Timekeepers. I also have a completed manuscript of the second book in the series entitled, The Last Timekeepers and the Dark Secret, but there’s the fun job of revising it into Jordan Jensen’s point of view. I’ve written a master plan for the series with possible titles and premises, so I’ll be one busy gal!

8. My novel, Maya and the Crystal Skull, features ancient Mayan ruins and the legend of the crystal skulls. The crystal skulls, in particular, allow heroine Maya King to momentarily glimpse the past. As the author of The Last Timekeepers and the Arch of Atlantis, do you believe in past lives and our ability to momentarily glimpse those lives?

Oh, yeah! In fact, I believe we’ve known each other in a past life too, Robyn! Think about it. We were probably scribes who chiseled out glyphs or created wonderful hieroglyphics on the walls of pyramids. Do I think it’s possible for us to receive a glimpse of a past life? Most definitely. But you have to be open-minded about it. Especially if you have a memory flash of another person in another time period, don’t dismiss it. Even your feelings about another place or person are wonderful guides. Just remember to trust your inner voice – that’s where answers are found.

Sharon Ledwith is the author of the middle-grade/YA time travel series, THE LAST TIMEKEEPERS, available through Musa Publishing. When not writing, researching, or revising, she enjoys reading, yoga, kayaking, time with family and friends, and single malt scotch. Sharon lives in the wilds of Muskoka in Central Ontario, Canada, with her hubby, a water-logged yellow Labrador and moody calico cat.

The Last Timekeepers and the Arch of Atlantis:

When 13-year-old Amanda Sault and her annoying classmates are caught in a food fight at school, they're given a choice: suspension or yard duty. The decision is a no-brainer. Their two-week crash course in landscaping leads to the discovery of a weathered stone arch in the overgrown back yard. The arch isn't a forgotten lawn ornament but an ancient time portal from the lost continent of Atlantis.

Chosen by an Atlantean Magus to be Timekeepers--legendary time travelers sworn to keep history safe from the evil Belial--Amanda and her classmates are sent on an adventure of a lifetime. Can they find the young Robin Hood and his merry band of teens? If they don't, then history itself may be turned upside down.

Connect with Sharon Ledwith:

Sharon’s Website

Sharon’s Blog

Sharon’s Facebook Page

The Last Timekeepers Series Facebook Page

Twitter

Musa Publishing Buy link

Amazon Buy link

Smashwords

Barnes & Noble

Kobo

Goodreads

Thank you for an interesting interview, Sharon, and all the best with your books.

Love and Light,

Robyn Opie Parnell

http://www.robynopie.com

http://www.amazon.com/Maya-Crystal-Skull-ebook/dp/B0069WE3GK