#GwenMPlano

#GuestDayTuesday – #GwenPlano – #SoulWhisperer’sDecision

/ Marcia Meara / 65 Comments

Today, we’re welcoming my good friend Gwen Plano as our Guest. I know you’re going to enjoy this, as Gwen will be sharing a bit about her newest book, Soul Whisperer’s Decision, so let’s get right to it. Happy Reading, Everyone,  and …

Welcome to The Write Stuff, Gwen!

Thanks so much for having me here today, Marcia. 

BACKSTORY:

I have a special interest in the Near-Death Experience phenomenon. Since the 1980s, I’ve read original research of accounts, and I’ve also read numerous books by survivors. Though I’ve not experienced an NDE, I’ve had several inexplicable experiences of a loving presence at times of great duress.

For ten years, 2002 – 2012, I was an administrator at a college near Camp Pendleton in California. I worked directly with the Marine veterans and, to a lesser degree, veterans from the other branches of the military. I quickly discovered that almost all the Marines suffered PTSD and/or physical injuries from their service in Iraq or Afghanistan. I became their advocate and tried to provide a ‘safe’ place for the veterans to meet, hang out, and process. To this day, my experience with the veterans remains the highlight of my thirty years in Higher Education.  

When I wrote The Soul Whisperer’s Decision, I sought to illuminate the struggles of those who have experienced extreme violence. And, as well, I tried to show the healing power of love. None of us can erase our past or another’s, but by our choices, we can carve a hopeful future for ourselves and others.

BLURB:

Sarah Jameson, a nurse at County Central Hospital, survives an accident that kills her two young children. While comatose, she travels into the heavenly realm where she visits with her precious little ones. She is given a choice – return to her husband, Jack, or remain with her children in their celestial home.

Jack was not in the fated automobile. Though he heard the crash and ran to help, there was nothing he could do. He suffers the loss of his children, fears the potential demise of his wife, and wonders about his own sanity. His struggle with PTSD from his military years has returned and at times, he cannot distinguish between the present and the past.

An accident tragically changed the lives of this young family, but out of sorrow emerges unexpected blessings.

 

QUOTE FROM THE BOOK:

Time blurs when dreams fade. The present, without its past, drifts obscurely before us. We see it but only vaguely. Like a stranger in a foreign land, we wander alone. What was, no longer is. But what remains feels like a hologram—unreal and elusive.

PURCHASE LINKS
Amazon:   https://bit.ly/488Ziay
Barnes & Noble: https://bit.ly/48aWmdu

 BLOG: www.gwenplano.com ( https://bit.ly/48AKRvE )

Author Gwen Plano

Gwen grew up on a farm in the great Southern California desert bordering Arizona and Mexico. She claims to have climbed more sand dunes than Lawrence of Arabia. This desert habitat helped shape her core beliefs in hard work and gracious acceptance of others.

Gwen is retired from a lengthy career in higher education, which spanned both the East and West coasts and included five years in Japan. She now calls the high desert of Chino Valley, AZ her home. And most any day, you’ll find her hiking or writing, if she and her husband are not on the road exploring.

#TeriPolen’s #BadMoonRising Featuring #GwenPlano – #Happy Halloween

/ Marcia Meara / 5 Comments

 

Day 20 has dawned at BMR, and today’s guest is none other than Gwen Plano, someone we all know and love. Hope you’ll head right on over to check out Gwen’s super post. I know you’ll enjoy it! 😀

Bad Moon Rising Day  20 Featuring Gwen Plano

And here’s a peek at upcoming guests
just to whet your appetite.

Enjoy!

#ThankYou Everybody, With a Special Thanks to #GwenPlano!

/ Marcia Meara / 20 Comments

Just wanted to say thank you to everyone who stopped by yesterday for #GuestDayTuesday with Gwen Plano, featuring her latest book, Redemption. It was lovely having Gwen visit The Write Stuff, and it was wonderful seeing all the beautiful comments from everyone, too. I wasn’t able to respond to  each one, as I usually do, though I know you all understand. You folks are the best!

Gwen, thanks again for visiting here,  and I hope you’ll stop back by again, soon. You’re always welcome, my friend!

Wishing you MUCH success with this latest book!
 

 

#GuestDayTuesday – #GwenPlano – #Redemption, A Father’s Fatal Decision

/ Marcia Meara / 37 Comments

Welcome to #GuestDayTuesday, everyone! Today, our special guest is one of the super nice folks I’ve met through our writing and blogging community, Gwen Plano. I’m really happy to have Gwen  visiting us to talk about her newest book, Redemption, A Father’s Fatal Decision, so without any further delay, I’ll turn the floor over to her. Gwen, you’re on!

Thank you, Marcia, for welcoming me to your beautiful blog. Through you, I’ve met so many wonderful people, most of whom are writers. It’s an honor to share my new book with all of you. Before I introduce the book, though, I’d like to share a little background information. 

About a year ago, my husband and I moved from Branson, Missouri to the high desert around Prescott, AZ. At 5,000 feet elevation, much is different: the vegetation, the wildlife, even the sky. Every day is an adventure, and this adventure stimulates ideas and evokes prayer.

A recurring question I’ve had centers around the concept of redemption. With the world suffering as it is, and with many of us wanting to do something to help but not knowing what that could be, I thought about bringing the world to each of us. That line of thinking helped birth Redemption, A Father’s Fatal Decision.

My prior 3-book thriller series focuses on international threats, political leaders, and the military. Though I learned immeasurably from writing these books, I still wonder how we, simple voters, help shift the world as we know it. What role do we have?

Redemption, A Father’s Fatal Decision is my response. It is a mystery thriller focused on a family. It takes place in the southeast corner of New York state, in the towns of New Rochelle and Cortlandt. The characters occasionally travel to Old Lyme, Connecticut, but for the most part, the drama is in New York. Having spent about twenty years in and around that area, it was exciting to visit as a writer.

The book tackles themes of forgiveness, redemption, and absolution through suspense. A father is murdered on the first page of the book, and readers accompany the adult son and daughter as they try to uncover the reason for their father’s murder. What they discover prompts their questions about forgiveness, redemption, and absolution.

Sometimes complicated situations, such as the ones in this book, help us see our own challenges in a different light. That is my hope for this book. Most of us won’t experience threats like those of my characters, but pain is universal, as is joy. Seeing either in the extreme helps us recognize our own—and severe or elated, those emotions impact us.

The excerpt below sets the stage for the drama that unfolds.

EXCERPT:

The simple ranch-style residence appears odd on the street of two-story colonials. Modest by neighborhood standards, it has proven sufficient for their family needs. Once out of the car, Lisa does a 180-degree glance about and concludes nothing has changed. The yard still appears unkempt, the window shade still broken, and the screen door remains torn—all just as a year ago, two years ago, maybe even five years ago.

Apprehensive, she climbs the three steps to the front door, calls in her “hello,” and waits. Mom greets her first.

“Oh, Lisa dear, I’m so happy you’ve arrived safely. Come on in, come on in. Can I get you something? You must be hungry after the drive.”

Just as she starts to respond, her dad appears.

“Nice of you to visit. Traffic problems?”

Lisa shrugs off his insinuation of dawdling, takes a deep breath, and gives him a cursory hug.

“I’ll be right back. I need to get my clothes.”

Slump-shouldered, Lisa walks to her car, stepping more heavily than usual. After grabbing her suitcase, she slams the door shut. The hell has begun.

She retraces her steps back into the house and goes straight to her childhood bedroom. Just then, the doorbell rings and sends an eerie chill down Lisa’s spine. She drops her suitcase and shouts to her father, “Don’t answer the door, Dad. Something’s not right.”

 He doesn’t follow her advice, and instead, goes to the door and pulls it open.

“Joe.” Her dad says, shifting backward slowly. “You’re not supposed to be here. We agreed.”

“You broke that agreement. Where is it?”

“I don’t have it.”

“You were warned.”

One minute.

Three shots.

And Lisa’s dad lies lifeless on the worn planked floor.

REVIEW:

From writer D.L. Finn: Redemption is a fast-paced thriller that hooked me from the first page. Lisa came home to visit her parents. She had a bad feeling when the doorbell rang, but she couldn’t stop what happened next. With her father dead, her mother fighting for her life, and her brother, Trace, in another country, she struggles to figure out what happened. Lisa quickly realizes she needs to be careful whom she trusts because her world is turned upside down as the truth slowly unravels. Luckily, her brother and his friend, Ryan, come to her aid. I love how they are there for each other, while Lisa’s strength, love of family, and intelligence are inspiring. She bravely stands by her mother while trying to understand her father. I found this book hard to put down with all the twists weaved into a family’s story. The research put into this mystery made it even more chilling because of the possibility that it could happen. The themes of redemption and forgiveness tugged at my heart, and I highly recommend this suspenseful family drama.

Buy Redemption HERE

BLURB

Family secrets can be deadly. When Lisa visits her parents one fateful Saturday morning, she hugs her father and takes her suitcase to her childhood bedroom. The doorbell rings, and one minute later her father lies dead on the floor—three bullets to the chest. The death of Eric Holmes sends shockwaves throughout the quiet neighborhood. But for the Holmes family, it is devastating.
In this fast-paced psychological thriller, Lisa and her brother embark on a quest to solve the mystery of their father’s murder. The journey takes them into a secret world where nothing is as it seems. Once the puzzle pieces begin to coalesce, they realize that their father had multiple lives. As the facts unravel, the siblings discover the true meaning of Redemption.

Author Gwen M. Plano

In my pre-retirement years, I taught and served as an administrator in colleges in Japan, New York, Connecticut, and California. My academic background is a bit unusual, but it served me well. I’ve degrees in theology and psychology, both subjects helped me understand life a bit better. And to this day, I’m drawn to ancient truths found in Native communities, churches, and meditation halls. Since I was a child, I’ve sought answers, that’s an integral aspect of who I am. And though it’s taken years, I’ve discovered that Love underskirts all.    

My greatest treasure and most profound source of joy has been and is my four adult children. It is they who have guided me through life’s mysteries and brought me to a profound place of gratitude. My books, memoir, and thrillers address themes that arise from my questions and theirs.

YOU CAN REACH GWEN ON SOCIAL MEDIA HERE:

BookBub
Goodreads
Story Empire
Twitter
Blog

PURCHASE LINKS

Amazon Author Page
Amazon Purchase Page
Barnes and Noble

SEE YOU TUBE TRAILER HERE

 

 

#TenThingsYouMayNotKnow – About #GwenM.Plano

/ Marcia Meara / 93 Comments

Today,  I’d like everyone to welcome one of the nicest people you’ll ever meet online to The Write Stuff:  my good friend and fellow author, Gwen M. Plano. Gwen,  the floor is all yours!

Thanks so much, Marcia. It’s a pleasure to be here today!

Ten Things You May Not Know About Me
by Gwen M. Plano

  1. When I was about 5 or 6 years old, I told my mom that I wanted to be a priest when I grew up. She explained that I couldn’t because I was a girl. This upset me, but decades later, through unexpected circumstances, I ended up studying with seminarians and earning a degree in theology and a degree in pastoral counseling – the same degrees that priests earn. 
  1. Dad taught me to drive when I was 11 years old. He thought I was mature enough and, on the farm, this was an important skill. As it turned out, the following year, I had to drive my mom to the emergency room (about 13 miles away). This action probably saved her life. 
  1. While a student at the University of San Francisco, I saw the Grateful Dead perform in Golden Gate Park. This was before they were famous. Attendees just sat on the grass or danced ecstatically. I did both, and the Dead remain my favorite band. 
  1. One evening my boyfriend and I walked through the Panhandle. We didn’t get far before flashing lights stopped us. Two police officers got out and questioned us about what we were doing. They concluded that we were clueless and harmless and told us to get in the cruiser. They drove us back to campus and instructed us not to walk at night in that area. This would be my only ride in a police car. 
  1. That same year, I enrolled in Speech. For the final exam, students were allowed to choose their topic to present to the class. I decided to do something different. I brought my Gibson to the classroom and sang an original song. To my surprise, everyone loved it – even the professor. She said this was a “first” for her. 
  1. In 1970, I attended grad school at Purdue University. I lived in a farmhouse about 15 minutes away from the campus. One night I saw two UFOs, as did the locals. Terrified, I called the police. They asked if I had been drinking, which I hadn’t, then they told me to call the airport. That responder told me to call the Air Force Base, which I did. The Airman said, “We haven’t seen anything unusual.” I still wonder about his response. 
  1. I lived in Japan for five years, and during that time, I became proficient in Chanoyu (Tea Ceremony) and Ikebana (flower arrangement). I also studied calligraphy. These ancient arts are a form of meditation, and their silence remains with me today. 
  1. In the 1990s I was an administrator at a Jesuit university in Connecticut. On weekends, I’d take groups of students into the inner city, where we worked in soup kitchens and other sites. When school was out, I led student volunteers into poverty stricken areas of Mexico. We lived with the people and helped as we could. One trip is particularly memorable. It was during an election and riots broke out in the area and guns were used. I huddled with the students, and thankfully, the next day was quiet. 
  1. On the yummy side of the world, I love dark chocolate and when I write, it is my constant friend. And…I never count these calories. 
  1. To conclude, nature is my greatest solace and I bring it into my home – with plants, crystal clusters, and images of beautiful settings. Being in nature calms my soul.

BLURB:

The Culmination, a new beginning is the third book in The Contract thriller series. After an assassination attempt on an Air Force base in northern California, tensions mount. Heads of state meet to craft a denuclearization agreement. The meetings between these nuclear powers take a murderous turn. A nefarious conspiracy re-emerges and leads the characters into the heart of the Middle East, where they encounter the unexpected and find a reason for hope.

A review by Mae Clair: 5 out of 5 stars
A Political Thriller with Strong Characters

Book three in a series, The Culmination reads easily as a standalone novel. A political thriller, that addresses denuclearization, tensions in the Middle East, and the fate of refugees, much of the story echoes current headlines. The plot is complex involving multiple heads of state, along with the strategical give and take of political maneuvering on a global level. The author clearly put an extensive amount of research into this book, and it shows. Adrenalin-fueled scenes alter with more cerebral moments, and even a few romantic interludes.

I especially loved the evolution of the relationship between the two central characters, Margaret Adler, VP of the United States and Ivan Smirnov, acting President of Russia. During the course of the novel those titles change, and we learn more about each, including richly developed backgrounds. I was thoroughly invested in the difficulties Margaret and Ivan faced, both on personal and political levels. Their scenes together were among my favorites of the book. There’s also a young refugee child who factors into the story and who stole my heart.

A unique combination of character-driven and plot-driven fiction, I recommend this compelling tale to readers who enjoy strong character development and complexly-plotted intrigue.

You can Buy The Culmination HERE

Author Gwen M. Plano

Gwen M. Plano, aka Gwendolyn M. Plano, grew up in Southern California and spent most of her professional life in higher education. She taught and served as an administrator in colleges in Japan, New York, Connecticut, and California. Gwen’s academic background is in theology and counseling. She is now retired and lives in Arizona with her husband.

Gwen’s first book is an acclaimed memoir, Letting Go into Perfect Love. Her next three books (The Contract co-authored by John W. Howell, The Choice, and The Culmination) are political/military thrillers. Action-packed, they span the globe and involve multiple Heads of State and the threat of World War III. Her conclusion – only love can change the fate of humanity.

When Gwen is not writing, she’s out and about in the beautiful northern Arizona mountains, where she finds inspiration.

You can find Gwen’s Books on Amazon here:

Author Page for Memoir
Letting Go Into Perfect Love
***
Author Page for Thrillers
The Contract
The Choice
The Culmination

You can reach Gwen on Social Media here:

Blog
Twitter
Facebook

 

 

 

#ReblogAlert- #TwoFer #ThisWeekOnStoryEmpire & #SmorgasbordWeeklyRoundUp

/ Marcia Meara / 26 Comments

Happy Sun’s Day, Everyone! Hope this week has been a good one for you, in spite of all the sturm und drang going on all over the place these days. When it feels totally overwhelming, remember to stop a moment to count your blessings. I know that among mine are all you good folks I’ve met through writing and blogging. Your support, encouragement and friendship help keep me sane! THANKS.  

And with that, here’s this week’s recap for Story Empire and Sally Cronin’s Smorgasbord blog. Enjoy!

MONDAY: Gwen Plano started this past week off with a beautiful quote from Joan Didion and a question for everyone: Why Do Writers Write? The post really made me think, and I know you’ll enjoy seeing what Gwen’s answers were, as well as those of folks responding to her question. Check it out HERE.

WEDNESDAY: Mae Clair gave us a mid-week post entitled Celebrate National Library Week, April 3 – 9, and filled it with great info on everything library-related. If you love (or grew loving) libraries, you’ll really enjoy this post and the extra info Mae shares. Check it out HERE.

FRIDAY: Beem Weeks wraps things up with his post entitled Breaking Writer’s Block: Finding Inspiration to Move Forward. This post came at the perfect time for me, as I’ve stumbled into a roadblock on one of my books and had no idea if shelving it for a while was the right way to go. After reading Beem’s thoughts, I feel much better, and I think most of us can benefit from his advice. Check it out HERE.

Once again, Sally Cronin has given us a bonanza of interesting, informative, and entertaining posts over on her Smorgasbord blog! You do NOT want to miss her roundup this week! Trust me! 😀

Check out Sally’s Smorgasbord Magazine Weekly RoundUp HERE

And there you have this week’s #Twofer recap!
Happy Reading!

#InternationalDayOf Awesomeness – #SallyCronin – #SmorgasbordBlog – #Celebration – #StoryEmpire

/ Marcia Meara / 52 Comments

A most remarkable thing happened on Thursday.
For those who weren’t aware (like me), Thursday was the official
International Day of Awesomeness. 

While I may have been oblivious about this day,
the good folks over at Story Empire were not!

Nope. These wonderfully talented and sharing authors decided to celebrate the day in grand style by letting the world know exactly who they thought deserved to be honored in all her awesomeness: 

Sally Cronin

Now, I can’t speak for everyone, but I suspect that most of us who spend a lot of time blogging and/or writing are very familiar with Sally and her fabulous Smorgasbord blog, and have probably been the beneficiaries of her support and encouragement many times. I know I certainly have! And if you missed out on all of these great tributes to this lovely lady, I do hope you’ll stop by her blog to read her post about how she spent her Thursday, and what it meant to her. 

You can read Sally’s post (and find links to each Story Empire post) HERE.

Sally, I hope you continue to feel the love for a long, long time. You deserve it my friend! And as always, never forget YOU ROCK!

#ReblogAlert – #TwoFer #ThisWeekOnStoryEmpire & #SmorgasbordWeeklyRoundUp

/ Marcia Meara / 32 Comments

 

It’s Sun’sDay again, everybody, and you know what that means? I get another chance to share some of my favorite posts from several of my favorite folks! If you’ve missed any of these during the week, here’s your second chance to take a look! Lots of good stuff here, so enjoy!

MONDAY: Staci Troilo starts the week off an a great note with her post entitled Story Development and Execution Part 3: Character. This was an extremely helpful post for me, as it brought back some things I’d forgotten, and introduced some things I’d never learned. I highly recommend checking it out HERE.

WEDNESDAY: Gwen Plano’s mid-week post entitled Writers and Health is another one you don’t want to miss. We writers tend to forget to take care of ourselves, and it has never been more important than it is in today’s world. Check out Gwen’s post HERE

FRIDAY: Beem Weeks wraps up this week with a very important reminder entitled Unplugging From Technology–If Only for a Day. If you haven’t read this, you really should stop by. It’s something so important, yet so easy to forget. Check out Beem’s post HERE

As always, Sally’s blog was full to overflowing with wonderfully interesting, entertaining, and amusing posts and videos this week.  😊 You should double check to be sure you haven’t missed anything . Good Stuff!!! 

Check Sally’s Smorgasbord Blog Magazine RoundUp Post HERE

And there you have it for this week, Folks !
Happy Reading!

#ReblogAlert – #Twofer – This Week on #StoryEmpire and #SmorgasbordWeeklyRoundUp

/ Marcia Meara / 24 Comments

I apologize for missing last week’s round up posts, but I was still running way behind and just couldn’t catch up. I’m happy to say, I’ve been improving a bit more the last few days, and have high hopes I’ll be back to my normal routine (and blogging schedule) before much longer. Let’s start things off right with a recap from last week’s #StoryEmpire and #Smorgasbord posts. Enjoy!

MONDAY:  Joan Hall starts the week off with a very interesting post entitled Would You Buy This Book? She raises some questions about marketing tactics that may or may not be helpful, and could even be a turn-off for some potential buyers. Check out Joan’s post HERE.

WEDNESDAY: A great mid-week post by Staci Troilo entitled Story Development and Execution Part 2: The Story Bible really caught my attention. Whether you are a plotter or a pantser,  I think the tips Staci posted can help you. The sure helped me. Check out Staci’s post HERE. 

FRIDAY: Gwen Plano wraps up the week with a post entitled The Rise of Short Stories, and I think you’ll really enjoy this one. Ever compare yourself to a goldfish before? A bit alarming, I must say, but some super info to consider. Check out Gwen’s post HERE.

And of course, Sally had yet another fabulous week of posts on everything under the sun. Here’s her RoundUp of the week, in case you missed anything. Happy Reading!

Check out this week’s #Smorgasbord WeeklyRoundUp Post HERE

And there you have it, Folks …
Another wonderful week on two of my very favorite blogs.
Enjoy!

#ReblogAlert! #Twofer #ThisWeekOnStoryEmpire & Sally Cronin’s #SmorgasbordWeeklyRoundUp

/ Marcia Meara / 40 Comments

As I promised, I’m starting all my regular weekly features up again for the new year, and today I’m happy to share the news from my friends at both Story Empire and Sally Cronin’s Smorgasbord blogs. Enjoy!

MONDAY: To start of the week, Gwen Plano’s post The Writer’s Contract with Readers reminds us how important covers and blurbs are when it comes to attracting readers. Check it out HERE.

TUESDAY: A bonus post from Mae Clair filled with fantastic news: Story Empire has added two new authors to their family! If you missed this announcement, you can find out who’s joining the team by checking out Mae’s post HERE.

WEDNESDAY: New Story Empire member Beem Weeks is off to a great start with a really helpful first post entitled Writing Set-Ups for the Big Reveal. His tips are extremely useful and I can’t wait to see what else he has to share in the weeks ahead. Check out Beem’s post HERE. 

FRIDAY: Mae Clair returns to wrap up the week with a fantastic post, Creating a Promotional Author Video. Not only is this one filled with extremely helpful tips on doing so, it includes a super video of Mae putting those tips to good use. Check it all out HERE.

As always, TONS of good stuff going on at Sally’s Smorgasbord blog.  Lots of things of interest, and some very entertaining stuff too. Be sure you didn’t miss anything this week, and don’t forget to take a look at the videos! Guaranteed smiles!

Check Out Sally’s Weekly RoundUp Post HERE