A writer inspired by nature and human nature

MEET THE AUTHORS: D.C. Rush

09 29 13

 

D.C. Rush~Don and Cathy Rush, writers and creators of the Robby's Quest children's storybook series

D.C. Rush~Don and Cathy Rush, writers and creators of the Robby’s Quest children’s storybook series

Meet the writing team of D.C. Rush

What are reviewers saying about one of the books in D.C. Rush’s children’s storybook series?

“Robby’s Quest for Seed by D.C. Rush is an entertaining tale filled with humor and adventure which are cleverly used to teach children about friendship and teamwork.”

“This could easily be a five-star best seller and a future children’s classic.”

Welcome, Don. It’s great to have you with us at 4writersandreaders blog. Tell us a little about D.C. Rush. 

My wife Cathy and I wrote and published the Robby’s Quest children’s storybook series. We write under the name D.C. Rush, short for Don and Cathy Rush. I was born in Cleveland and Cathy was born in Chicago. I spent most of my working life, over forty years, in the manufacturing sector, working my way up from machinist to plant manager. I’ve spent most of those years working in aerospace at AlliedSignal then in the recreational vehicle industry in Minnesota producing hardware for ATVs, Snowmobiles and Motorcycles. Cathy is a pharmacy tech, retired and currently a homemaker. We met and were married in Phoenix back in 1985.

Tell us about your family.

Cathy and I have been married 27 years. we have two daughters, Becky and Tiffany, both new mothers. So that means we are new grandparents. Becky’s three month old daughter is named Abygail and Tiffany has two children, Rylie her two year old son and her two month old daughter Aubree, the newest addition to the family. Becky lives close by so we see her often and we babysit for Abby once a week. Unfortunately Tiffany lives in Minnesota and we don’t get to see her often enough. I also have a brother who lives close to us but most of my family lives in Ohio.

 How long have you been writing and what type of writing do you do?

Cathy and I retired and moved back to Arizona in 2009. We began playing with the idea of writing a children’s book in 2010.

Our books are fictional stories about a group of birds, life-long friends, who travel across America searching for new adventures and making new friends. Written for early readers, they also make excellent bedtime stories for the little ones.

Can you give us a brief synopsis of Robby’s Quest for Seed? 

cover one

Robby the robin, his brother Ricky and their flock of feathery friends decide to fly south for the winter. Also in the flock are three mourning doves, a family of six sparrows and one lone blackbird. Robby is the group leader; however, he believes in and promotes democracy. The birds vote on most major issues. During the trip south, Joy the youngest sparrow wanders from the flock and lands in the backyard of a very determined and hungry cat named Hershey. The other birds must form a search party and save the little bird. When the group arrives in Florida, they discover their winter homes were destroyed by a hurricane. The birds face a dilemma. Should they stay in Florida until the waters subside or travel west to Arizona? Robby’s Quest for Seed is a story about teamwork, leadership and friendship that children are sure to enjoy.

What prompted the team of Don and Cathy Rush to become writers?

We wanted to leave something behind for our children and their children. We really did not expect to publish our story. The manuscript sat on our hard drive for over a year before we were persuaded to self-publish. The birth of our grandson gave us some added incentive to publish and we dedicated the first book to Rylie. After we wrote and published the first story, it seemed natural to write a second story. We never expected to write four books , but it seemed we had more stories to tell.

Do you have a favorite line from the book? 

There are many passages I really like. This one is from the first book.

“Today was a very special day. Today was the day when all the birds would begin the journey south for the winter. Once arriving at their destination, it would be like spring break for birds.”

Look and listen…


Who is your favorite character and why?

I like Robby the robin. Over the years, I enjoyed being in management. Robby has my management style. He enjoys being the leader; but he also enjoys empowering others. Robby seeks agreement from the group for critical decisions and listens to others when they try to help. Robby is dedicated to the flock and would not let anything bad happen to anyone.

What was the hardest part about writing your book? The first book took a long time to write. We really struggled with the plot and how to actually form a story. By the third chapter we had an idea where we were going with the storyline so things began moving along. One problem was that we kept going back correcting our grammar and we weren’t really getting anywhere. We decided to just continue to write then we would go back later and check for grammar, punctuation, etc. It’s best to get your thoughts down on paper as soon as you can.

Do you do anything besides write?  I spend most of my time marketing our books. Social networking takes a great deal of effort. My first priority is our website www.dcrushbooks.com. This is our main advertising hub for all our social networking efforts. We also have a Facebook Page www.facebook.com/dcrushbooks and we are active on Twitter, Linkedin and Pinterest. We also have a WordPress blog  that we are still tweaking. I enjoy surfing the internet and looking for new ways to promote our books. Cathy enjoys Facebook and she helps with ideas for the blog and website.  We also enjoy watching action-adventure movies and crime-drama television shows like Criminal Minds, CSI Miami and Law & Order.

How can our readers get copies of your books? 

Our first three books are available in eBook and paperback editions. The first and second books are also available on audio. We found a wonderful narrator from Los Angeles with voice-over experience on radio and television. Tracy does an amazing job. You can find all the links to every book and every format on our website www.dcrushbooks.com. On our website you can also watch any of three book trailers and listen to samples of the audio books.

Here are the eBook, Paperback and Audio Book links to Robby’s Quest for Seed

eBook on Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B009V7GZ2K

Paperback on Createspace: https://www.createspace.com/4257882

Audio Book on Audible.com: http://www.audible.com/pd?asin=B00D8HWUEG

What’s next for Don and Cathy—D.C. Rush?   

We are kicking around the idea of a picture book for the little ones, but we really need to get the Robby’s Quest series in front of more readers. We like to visit local hospitals and give the children a paperback to read; but again, we need to begin selling our books in order to continue doing this. We do have a new publicist who will begin a marketing campaign starting January 1st for Book One, February 1st for Book Two, etc.

It’s been a pleasure learning more about D.C. Rush and  Robby’s Quest for Seed. Thanks so much for joining us here today. — Bette A. Stevens at http://www.4writersandreaders blog

Where to find D.C. Rush:

Website: www.dcrushbooks.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/dcrushbooks

Twitter: https://twitter.com/dcrushbooks

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/dcrushbooks/

Blog: http://dcrushbooks.wordpress.com/

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New Shakespeare discovery

09 27 13

Could it be? Thanks to William Shakespeare, I fell in love with the beauty of the printed word in high school. ~ Bette A. Stevens http://www.4writersandreaders.com

petrel41's avatarDear Kitty. Some blog

This video is called Douglas Bruster Identifies New Shakespeare Prose.

From the New York Times in the USA:

Much Ado About Who: Is It Really Shakespeare?

Further Proof of Shakespeare’s Hand in ‘The Spanish Tragedy’

By JENNIFER SCHUESSLER

Published: August 12, 2013

For nearly two centuries, scholars have debated whether some 325 lines in the 1602 quarto edition of Thomas Kyd’s play “The Spanish Tragedy” were, in fact, written by Shakespeare.

Last year, the British scholar Brian Vickers used computer analysis to argue that the so-called Additional Passages were by Shakespeare, a claim hailed by some as the latest triumph of high-tech Elizabethan text mining.

But now, a professor at the University of Texas says he has found something closer to definitive proof using a more old-fashioned method: analyzing Shakespeare’s messy handwriting.

In a terse four-page paper, to be published in the…

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The Addressing of Cats, poem by T.S. Eliot

09 26 13

T.S. Eliot’s perfect poem for kitty lovers everywhere! ~ Bette A. Stevens

silverbirchpress's avatarSilver Birch Press

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THE ADDRESSING OF CATS
by T.S. Eliot

You’ve read of several kinds of Cat,
And my opinion now is that
You should need no interpreter
To understand their character.
You now have learned enough to see
That Cats are much like you and me
And other people whom we find
Possessed of various types of mind.
For some are same and some are mad
And some are good and some are bad
And some are better, some are worse–
But all may be described in verse.
You’ve seen them both at work and games,
And learnt about their proper names,
Their habits and their habitat:
But how would you address a Cat?
 
So first, your memory I’ll jog,
And say:  A CAT IS NOT A DOG.
 
And you might now and then supply
Some caviare, or Strassburg Pie,
Some potted grouse, or salmon paste–
He’s sure to have…

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Taking Sides: The Tailor-Made Sidebar

09 25 13

TERRIFIC TIPS for bloggers! ~ Bette A. Stevens http://www.4writersandreaders.com

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PEACE IN TIME BOOK BLITZ!

Aside

MEET THE AUTHOR:  M.C.V. Egan

About The Author:picture087

M.C.V. Egan lives in South Florida. she is fluent in four languages; English, Spanish, French and Swedish. From a young age became determined to solve the ‘mystery’ of her grandfather’s death, she has researched this story for almost two decades. the story has taken her to Denmark, England and unconventional world of psychics.

Website | Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

Peace In Time Book Blitz

Genre: Historical Paranormal
Publisher: AuthorHouse Publishing
Release Date: June 14, 2011
Amazon

Author Interview with M.C. V. Egan by Bette A. Stevens

M.C.V. Egan, author of The Bridge of Deaths, promotes world peace in a unique way.

M.C.V. Egan, author of The Bridge of Deaths, promotes world peace in a unique way.

Welcome to 4writersandreaders, M.C.V. Egan.

Thank you, Bette, for inviting me today for an interview and for participating in the acknowledgement of the United Nations 33rd International Peace Day.

It’s both a pleasure and a privilege to have you with us today, Catalina, as people around the globe recognize September 21st as The International Day of Peace. Your novel, The Bridge of Deaths, promotes world peace in a unique way. I’m sure we’ll find out more about that from you today.

The Bridge of Deaths, opens with this quote:

“Somewhere, something incredible is waiting to be known.”

Carl Sagan

BOOK_FRONT_AND_BACK

Tell us a little about yourself, Catalina.

I was born in Mexico City, Mexico 54 years ago. Through the twists, turns and opportunities in life, I have lived in Mexico, France, Sweden and various parts of the USA. Consequently I have managed to acquire four languages and a variety of cultural influences. I now live in South Florida with my husband and teenage son.

How about your family and community life?

I am a mother and a wife. I am also a step mother and a step grandmother. I live in an area where the sense of community is very mixed as the brunt of the population only lives here for part of the year; they are known as snow-birds and flock from various northern parts of the USA, Canada and Europe. This has enriched our area in so many ways. Exposure to cultural diversity and great restaurants are only a small part.

How long have you been writing and what type of writing do you normally do?  

I have been writing since I was a young child. My writing varies with the exception that I have never dipped into Horror, Sci-Fi or Fantasy, I dabble and test just about any other genre.

Can you give us a brief synopsis of your novel? 

It is a well-documented historical journey with a touch of fiction and a metaphysical twist. The story revolves around the 1939 crash of airliner G-AESY and it is explored from the perspective of a modern-day couple researching their past lives.

What prompted you to become a writer?

In general what prompted me to write was an innate need to communicate. It is not that easy to be heard when you are one of eight kids in a family of very loud voices.

Do you have a favorite line or brief selection to share from The Bridge of Deaths? 

I do have one, but it would make no matter of sense at all to anyone who has not read the book.

“It wasn’t the best copy. It was from an old microfilm machine. The resemblance was unmistakable. She found herself out the door, in her car, and heading back to where she’d promised herself she would never go again―to the accountant’s office”

Who is your favorite character and why? 

Maggie is my favorite character for a number of reasons. She is the only primary character who is absolutely fictional, and that granted an amazing freedom to me as a writer. I could make her as fearless and lovely as I chose. Also, I made her a young woman of great convictions, especially in regards to striving for WORLD PEACE.

What was the hardest part about writing your book?

In the case of The Bridge of Deaths, acquiring the information―research was the hardest part.

Do you do anything besides write? 

I am trying to devote myself to writing and parenting these days. I have worked in the past and I enjoy it. I feel at this stage in my son’s life it is very important to be a very hands-on parent.

How can readers get a copy of The Bridge of Deaths? 

What’s next for you, M.C.V. Egan?   

I am writing, working on a series in more of a Chick Lit genre. Also, through a local writers group, I am dabbling in short stories and one-act plays. Next year when new files pertinent to the crash of the G-AESY ―because of the 75-year disclosure rule in Europe―I do hope to uncover much more or all of the facts surrounding the crash.

But the next four years in parenting will be pivotal, so my projects may well go slowly.

Thank you, M.C.V. Egan, for including 4writersandreaders in your PEACE IN TIME Book Blitz & Blog Hop presented by The Bridge of Deaths and VBT Cafe.  It’s been wonderful having you featured here on September 21st ― United Nations 33rd International Peace Day―a day designated to promote world peace.

Readers, come join the Blitz―enter the contest to win some fantastic prizes; then, stop back to visit the great blogs promoting world peace with M.C.V. Egan. And, don’t forget to get your copy of The Bridge of Deaths, if you haven’t already had a chance to read it. Find out how Maggie shares M.C.V. Egan’s message of Word Peace. I highly recommend this novel to readers around the globe.

Readers can get my personal perspective on world peace in my article Let’s Paint the World with Peace. https://4writersandreaders.wordpress.com/2013/09/19/lets-paint-the-world-with-peace/  ~ I invite you to stop by to read my post and leave me your perspective on how we can attain world peace. I would love to hear what you think about World Peace.

~ Bette A. Stevens at 4writersandreaders.com

The Bridge of Deaths is a love story and a mystery. Fictional characters travel through the world of past life regressions and information acquired from psychics as well as archives and historical sources to solve “One of those mysteries that never get solved” is based on true events and real people, it is the culmination of 18 years of sifting through sources in Denmark, England and the United States, it finds a way to help the reader feel that he /she is also sifting through data and forming their own conclusions.

The journey takes the reader to well-known and little known events leading up to the Second World War, both in Europe and America. The journey also takes the reader to the possibility of finding oneself in this lifetime by exploring past lives.

DON’T FORGET TO ENTER THE GIVEAWAY (simply click the link below) RIGHT HERE!

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Weekly Writing Challenge: Backward – The Funeral

09 20 13

Outstanding prose that hit me like a lead sinker. KUDOS to Marilyn Armstrong! ~ Bette A. Stevens http://www.4writersandreaders.com

Marilyn Armstrong's avatarSerendipity - Seeking Intelligent Life on Earth

Coffin

Death always takes us by surprise. Even when you know someone is terribly sick, when the end comes, it’s still a shock.

Thus it was that in the darkest part of a winter night, with the temperature hovering just above zero and heavy snow expected, the phone rang. Of course I knew. I could feel it. Death was in the air. Expected though the call was, it nonetheless hit me like a bludgeon. Forever. My father was dead. At 90, he had passed over. I hoped he’d gone to a better place, but felt the odds were against it. There would be no reconciliation, no happy ending.

Edith, my father’s lady friend of the last 5 years, was on the phone.

“You father passed away during the night,” she said. Her voice broke as she told me. “He went in his sleep,” she added.

“A mitzvah,” I said, reflexively. To die…

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Let’s Paint the World with Peace!

09 19 13

September 21, 2013 marks the United Nations’ 33rd International Day of Peace

http://www.publicdomainpictures.net/view-image.php?image=706&picture=paintings&large=1

“WORLD PEACE? We really do have the power to make it happen, one brush stroke at a time. “ ~ Bette A. Stevens

World Peace?

Knowledge of the past holds one of the keys to world peace. Knowledge of the people in the world around us today holds another essential key.  However, knowledge in and of itself is useless, a collection of unused paint brushes resting on the world’s shelf. It is our job to pick up those brushes and start painting. The perfect portrait of peace begins within each one of us. It’s painted one brush stroke at a time. Here are some simple steps that we can all take to contribute to that portrait:

Take the time to learn about those who are different from us in some way. We may want start with someone in our own family. Even there, we often find differences in opinions, race, religion, beliefs, customs, cultures, political affiliations. The list of personal differences and the diversity of relationships goes on….

Working in the classroom as a teacher of students from diverse backgrounds, I learned first-hand that those who hold different beliefs from my own are all unique individuals with whom I have many things in common. We all share the same needs and desires, the same frustrations and fears, the same hopes and dreams.  Whether students, parents, staff, volunteers, administrators or colleagues, I have gained respect for and have been deeply enriched by each encounter. Life-long relationships are nurtured and continue to blossom and grow.

Sure, that all sounds great; but what can we actually do as individuals to promote peace?

  • Listen to others
  • Get to know them (That means spending time with them) Let them get to know us (talk)
  • Respect differences
  • Look for commonalities
  • Nurture relationships
  • Offer and extend a helping hand
  • Encourage others
  • Enlist the help of others
  • Give input and feedback
  • Keep the conversation going 
International Peace Day Logo. jpg

International Peace Day Logo. jpg

The brush strokes to peace lie within each of one us. How do we paint the canvas? One brush stroke at a time. BUILD RELATIONSHIPS—listen, share ourselves and our ideas, respect those of others, look for commonalities. Our individual and collective lives will continue to be enriched as we work together to paint a portrait of world peace. We really do have the power to make it happen, one brush stroke at a time.

On September 21st, I’ll be interviewing M.C.V. Egan, author of The Bridge of Deaths. She’ll be sharing how she uses her novel to promote world peace. You’re invited to stop back and visit us here at http://www.4writersandreaders.com for MEET THE AUTHOR: M.C.V. Egan and join her PEACE IN TIME Book Blitz and Blog Hop.

Peace be with you.

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Autumn Haiku, by Matshu Basho

09 19 13

What do you think of the autumn sky? I love Matshu Basho’s perspective. ~ Bette A. Stevens

silverbirchpress's avatarSilver Birch Press

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AUTUMN HAIKU
by Matsuo Basho

a strange flower
for birds and butterfly
the autumn sky.

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review#406 – Ariel Bradley, Spy for General Washington By Lynda Durrant

09 18 13

Adventure & Revolutionary War History: A new lesson! This 5-Star book is based on a true and newly revealed event. ~ Bette A. Stevens

SMorris/KidLitReviews's avatarKids Lit Review

9780983290490_cover.

Ariel Bradley, Spy for General Washington

By Lynda Durrant

Joe Rossi, illustrator

Vanita Books

5 Stars

.

Press Release:   Based on a true event. The real life adventures of nine-year-old Ariel Bradley, reveals the anxieties of the Americans who needed desperately to win the battle in the first months of the Revolutionary War. It also shows General Washington’s keen sense of humor and his wily, perceptive view of his British adversaries. Ariel Bradley is Washington’s boy spy who pretends to be a country bumpkin (a “Johnny Raw”). He ‘stumbles’ into General Howe’s camp “looking for the mill” his father has sent him in search of.

In reality, he is assessing the strength and numbers of the British and their Hessian (German) allies. After he is sent on his way by the unsuspecting English, he reports this to General Washington and his staff. This information proves key in what…

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A different history — Postwar: A History of Europe Since 1945, Tony Judt

09 16 13

A new perspective! ~ Bette A. Stevens http://www.4writersandreaders.com

Marilyn Armstrong's avatarSerendipity - Seeking Intelligent Life on Earth

Postwar: A History of Europe Since 1945
by Tony Judt
Edition: Paperback
Price: $16.29

Reading PostWar was a project, an immersion experience during which I first unlearned, then relearned everything I knew of modern European history. It was worth the effort. This is a long book — 960 pages — crammed with so much information I had to read it twice before I felt I had a grip on the material.

Tony Judt was an historian with controversial opinions. He made no pretence of being a neutral observer. Not that any historian is really neutral. Every historian has an agenda. Whether or not he or she puts it out there for all to see is a matter of style, but there is no such thing as historical neutrality. If an historian is writing about an era, he or she has an opinion about it. All history is slanted, changed by the…

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