Sunday, May 22, 2016

Books: Interview with talented author Larry D. Shackelford

Today, we're interviewing talented writer Larry D. Shackelford. Read on to find out more about his books and how he became a writer!

Larry, please tell us a little about you. Where are you from and what is your background?

I was raised in southwest Missouri where I received my college degree, but I received my education after I graduated and began working in a maximum-security federal prison.  After spending two years behind bars, I continued my law enforcement career as a criminal investigator, residing and working in eight states and two foreign countries.  I retired from law enforcement after twenty-five years of service and currently reside in Salt Lake City with my wife and cat.  I have continued to work a second career in healthcare.

How interesting! When did you realize you wanted to write and when did you start writing?


I started writing approximately ten years ago, before my retirement.  Over the years, I had met some
memorable people and found myself in some pretty insane situations.  I began writing mostly to entertain myself, and discovered I truly felt a passion to tell stories; I wanted to humanize law enforcement officers and also give victims a voice.  While working in Utah, I met a young woman who inspired the character "Ruth" in The Keresa Headdress.  Like Ruth, this woman was able to leave a polygamous southern Utah community and fulfill her dream of marrying the man of her dreams and basically pursue a normal life that average Americans take for granted.  I was pleasantly surprised to find that writing fiction stories was not only fun, but also therapeutic.  In many respects, writing fiction is very similar to completing a criminal investigation.  You have pieces of a unique puzzle, and you are tasked with putting them together in a fictional story with unlimited possibilities.  But, I believe it is important to be adventurous; not afraid to take chances with the plot and characters, as long as it's believable.

That's a pretty interesting comparison. What genre do you write and what's your target audience?


I mainly write crime, action adventure, science fiction, and romance novels for readers 13 to 90 years of age.  I especially enjoy writing stories with strong female characters, because I believe the fiction market is saturated with male characters depicted as the hero.  I have had the privilege of working with many outstanding female law enforcement officers and professionals.  I really believe that women have a special intuition, and this is an invaluable attribute, especially in law enforcement investigations.  I also believe it is important to have strong, interesting characters of all ages and explore how these characters interact with each other in fast-paced, stressful situations.

How many books have you published?  Do you have a favorite?

I currently have four books published, and my fifth release, The Quincunx Quarantine, is scheduled to be released this summer.  Without question, my favorite manuscript is The Keresa Headdress because it was enjoyable to show readers a different side of law enforcement, and to introduce them to the unique worlds of archaeology, polygamy, and illegal artifact trafficking.  I also enjoyed researching the historical and technical nature of the narrative.  My goals were to accurately reference archeological terms, time periods, and cultural aspects while staying true to the discipline of archaeology and oral traditions.  I was also concerned with showing reverence to the American Indian culture and heritage.  Looting sacred burial sites for financial gain is a systemic problem on public lands, and I wanted to bring this to the attention of the reader.

You're definitely sparking my interest in your character! What is your favorite quote, and who wrote it?

My favorite quote is by Sir Winston S. Churchill:

"Sure am I this day we are masters of our fate, that the task which has been set before us is not above our strength; that its pangs and toils are not beyond our endurance.  As long as we have faith in our own cause and an unconquerable will to win, victory will not be denied us."

This quote is displayed next to my work desk computer.  Seldom has a day gone by that I have not reflected upon his words.  I admire this quote because his poignant words are applicable to the journey of life.  We cannot be successful in this world as individuals; we all need to care for each other and stop competing against each other.  We all win together or we all lose together.

Do you have a favorite author?  Who?  What's your favorite book?  Has this author or book influenced your writing in any way?

I admire authors whose writing inspires a wide range of emotions regardless of the genre or time
period the story is written. For example, I recently finished Mary Anne Yarde's The Du Lac Chronicles and the Novella, The Pitchfork Rebellion. I enjoyed her manuscripts, and many of my co-workers have also read her works. One young woman in my office was so moved by Mary Anne's first novel that she has committed to writing her first novel. The woman stated that Mary Anne's story brought back many fond memories of her youth, friends and family, and she wanted to emulate Mary Anne's passion in her own writing. To me, this example illustrates the epitome of inspirational writing, and my favorite authors will always be those who inspire and move people.

I love the classics and my favorite book will probably always be Moby Dick, by Herman Melville.  I thought the story was incredibly well written and the allegoric references to "good and evil" were very detailed and realistic.  Arguably, "Call me Ishmael" will probably be remembered as one of the most famous opening sentences of any book.

Are you optimistic/hopeful/romantic?

I am a romantic at heart, and I love a great romance story!  What can be more endearing than the hopeless, socially incompetent guy and the homely, lonely gal falling in love and living happily ever after...but of course, not without a substantial amount of controversy before the happy ending?

What are you working on now?

I am one of those stranger-than-normal authors who works on several manuscripts at a time.  I am nearing the completion of another archaeological crime/romance thriller, and an urban science fiction action/adventure.  I have also started on a young adult fantasy inspired by my own personal experience of having a child diagnosed with cancer.
Great, looks like there will be lots of intriguing books coming from you soon! Where can we find more about you and your work?

My books may be found at Amazon.com


Larry, is there anything else you would like to share?

I would be negligent and irresponsible if I did not confess I am one of those authors who is a cat owner, drinks lots of coffee, and sips on bottom-shelf, rotgut bourbon late at night while writing.  Maddie, my faithful cat, is always near me when I am writing.  Maddie rules the castle, but she fell into bad graces during a recent, routine visit to the vet.  Maddie apparently took exception to the thermometer and called the veterinarian evil names before tinkling all over the vet's arm.  The doctor was not impressed with Maddie's shenanigans and she placed a large "A" in Maddie's health record which means "aggressive".  So now, I am not only a crazy cat person, but my loyal writing partner earned the forbidden "Scarlet A"...with pride, I might add!

Thank you for telling us a little bit about your work and your books, and we wish you much success in your literary career!

Friday, May 13, 2016

Music: Interview with Talented Singer/Musician Kelle Jansky

Singer and musician Kelle Jansky has just debuted her new EP. We caught up with her to find out more about this talented singer and what her plans are. Read on to discover a new talent!
 
Kelle, introduce yourself - let us know a bit about you and your background.

My name is Kelly O'Connor. I was born and raised in Long Island, NY and now live in Las Vegas, NV. I chose "Kelle Jansky" as my stage name because I've always been interested in everything related to outer space, and I landed on "Jansky" because it's a unit of spectral irradiance and also flows nicely with my nickname "Kel", which I embellished a bit to the spelling of "Kelle".  

That's very creative! When did you start singing?

I started singing around age 12. When I was in elementary school, I developed a severe form of social anxiety and depression- to the point where I couldn't leave my house. My parents decided to enroll me in a performing arts summer camp to see if it would pry me out of my shell. Not only did it rid me of social anxiety, but it developed my passion and propelled me into weekly vocal lessons. 

Amazing! And it propelled you into stardom! Do you also write the lyrics and compose the songs?

Besides "The Sound", which is a The 1975 cover, I wrote all of my
songs. Late at night. Or early in the morning (However you perceive 3 A.M.). I try to write in my most vulnerable state, because although vulnerability is frowned upon, I think it's necessary for an honest song. #NoFilter 
 
As for the composition of the songs, I created all of the music on my crappy music software, and it was totally re-vamped by my amazing producer, Frank Klepacki.  He turned my sonic vision into a reality. 

You're very talented. And yes, vulnerability brings the best in every artist! What genre do you consider yourself and what's your greatest influence?

What I think is kind of cool about my Sadurn EP is that each song is different in mood and tempo, but all still fit the same vibe. They're all rooted in Pop.

"Short Circuit" is a catchy pop/rock song inspired by bands like No Doubt.
"Anti-Venom" is a mysterious sounding pop song inspired by artists like Halsey and Britney Spears.
"Dopamine" is a ballad- the most honest song I've ever written. I can't even think of an influence for this one because all of it just came straight from the vault of unspoken words in my head.
"Sadurday" is a super catchy pop dance song influenced by artists like Ke$ha.
"The Sound" is a chilled-out cover of the popular jam by The 1975.


They sound great! So, when was the first time you performed live and how did you feel?

I feel more comfortable on stage than I do in my own bedroom. The first time I performed live was at age 12 on the famous boardwalk in Atlantic City, NJ. There was a live karaoke event, and I got on stage to sing a cover of "Sometimes" by Britney Spears. I can't explain how incredible it felt to capture the attention of a crowd and watch them sing along with me, doubling as a support system and easing my nerves. Even though it wasn't my song they were singing, I knew that someday it would be. 

I love how your dream is real! Is there a specific performance you feel was your best so far? If so, where and why?

One of the performances I enjoyed the most was when I covered "Should I Stay or Should I Go" by The Clash on the famous Fremont Street in Downtown Las Vegas. It was my first time performing with a live band, and it was just an awesome collaborative performance with the biggest crowd to date.

It must really be awesome to play live. What do you enjoy the most between your interaction with the fans?

My internet friends! My absolute favorite encounter was at the MGM
Grand in Las Vegas.  A sweet girl ran up to me with tears in her eyes and told me that I'm her role model and that she couldn't believe she was actually meeting me.  My sister captured that moment on video and I watch it often. I've met some other followers in various states, which absolutely blows my mind.  It's one thing seeing a username, but meeting the human behind the screen is something else. There are thousands of them, which is baffling to me, but I try to be as interactive as I can because I owe them everything- they've helped provide me with so many amazing opportunities, including my job. 

What a beautiful story and thanks for sharing! What are your plans for this year?

I plan on touring around Vegas, specifically Downtown. I'm also already in the process of writing songs for my full-length album.  I'm doing a lot this year, and it's all great stuff.

Fantastic! Hope to see you touring all over the country! Where can we find and buy your music?

My Sadurn EP is available for digital purchase on iTunes! 

Is there anything else you'd like to share with our readers?

I've always been obsessed with happy music accompanied by sad lyrics. I've always been fascinated with double entendres. I've always been drawn to spacey, ethereal sounds. I hope you listen to my Sadurn EP and realize that you like these things as well.
Thank you for this interview!  
 
 
Click on the links below to listen to Kelle performing:

 
 
Thank you for your time, Kelle and we wish you success in your career! 
 
To follow Kelle Jansky:

Friday, May 6, 2016

Music: Star Trek The Ultimate Voyage 50 Year Celebration Review

Music: Star Trek The Ultimate Voyage 50 Year Celebration Review:

It's hard to imagine that Star Trek is celebrating 50 years! The very first episode aired on September 8, 1966 and since then, the Star Trek franchise has entertained multiple generations, and generated not only spin-off TV shows but major movie releases as well. Die hard fans, who are referred to as Trekkies, and lovers of sci-fi alike, continue to grow and support the iconic movies.

To celebrate these memorable 50 years, CineConcerts came up with a spectacular production blending classical instruments with pop culture for fans to experience the unforgettable soundtrack of Star Trek live. As a lover of great music and sci-fi, I couldn't miss this unique event.

Star Trek: The Ultimate Voyage blew me away. As we were introduced to the stage, beautifully set to resemble the Enterprise's bridge, we knew we were in for a treat. Above the stage, a giant 40 foot wide screen showed film and TV footage in high definition, matching the live orchestra's poignant sounds. Starting with the main title from Star Trek: The Motion Picture, the musicians from the Czech National Symphony Orchestra, led by the incredible and energetic Nicholas Buc, the guest conductor, transported us to the final frontier. The multi-generational audience delighted in tracks not only from Star Trek original series and motion pictures, but also from Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Star Trek: Voyager and Star Trek: The Next Generation.


After close to two and a half hours of epic music, the audience gave a resounding standing ovation to the last stop of the concert's US tour, Houston. Even though the musicians, conductor, staff, and all involved in this massive production were at the last leg of their four month tour performing at  over 75 cities, the vibe and excitement felt as if they were playing for their first audience. Absolutely brilliant. What could I say after having had the privilege of experiencing such an exciting event? I hope the show will live long and prosper for many more to be able to enjoy it as much as I did. It was definitely a voyage worth taking!

Click here to watch the preview:

https://youtu.be/SmvR1oNnUQk