#AuthorInterview with Bernie Freytag

Today, Feathered Quill reviewer Amy Lignor is talking with Bernie Freytag, author of Find Wonder in the Ordinary: A Kid’s Book for Adults.

FQ: Congratulations on winning The Feathered Quill award for Best in the Animal/Adult book category! How did you feel when you heard about the accolade?

FREYTAG: Honestly, my jaw dropped. I really didn’t expect this. It truly shocked me. To the point where I didn’t tell anyone about it for a couple days. Haha! I wanted it to sink in. Bask in it. I’ve had some decent success with the book in my area since it was released, but being recognized within the industry like this truly justifies a lot of the hard work. I’m honored and grateful for the acknowledgment. I’m simply at a loss for words and can’t thank you enough. 

FQ: Please tell readers how the idea for this amazing book first came about.

FREYTAG: The idea was probably born about 20 years ago, and that’s somewhat laid out in the first chapter of the book. But it was only an idea at that time. It grew from that little idea to basically my lifestyle and how I view life. It wasn’t until about a year and half ago that I saw it as a book. The “idea” had a major turning point when I had what I could only describe as a "spiritual awakening." I know that sounds crazy, but it was a specific moment where I suddenly saw the world differently. More connected. A wholeness. And the book grew pretty quickly after that moment. I’ve always been a visual artist, but I think that moment somehow gave me the voice to write. I mention this particular moment very briefly within this book and have been toying around with the idea of describing that “awaking" in much more detail in my next book. 

FQ: Your drawings/artwork in this book are just as memorable as the words, themselves. Can you share with us a bit in regards to your journey as an artist? And, perhaps, how the art may have played a part in writing the book, itself?

FREYTAG: Thank you! The drawings are a huge part of me and I’m glad you asked about them. I’ve been drawing and creating since as early as I can remember. Drawing is the one thing in my life that keeps me in check. It Balances me out. It’s very much my own type of meditation. Writing is as well. And Daydreaming. And Music. Haha, I’m getting off track. Anyway, drawing for me is an escape. A way for me to go to a place where anything is possible. Just the power of the brain. And it’s a way for me to feel like a kid again. To regain that perspective. Very often if I’ve had a stressful day, I’ll go home and draw and everything else just fades away. 

As for how the art played a part in the book? I’m sure I could analyze the crap out of that question, but at the simplest level, I wanted the book to be entertaining. I tell people quite often that for me, the book is a bridge between entertaining and enlightening. Silly and serious. I didn’t want the book to be too serious in nature. 

FQ: If you had to name one, what would be the one thing – the one lesson, perhaps, that you would like readers to take away from this book?

FREYTAG: Wow, that’s a great question and a tough one to answer. But I think the answer is in the title of the book. Find wonder in the ordinary. There’s wonder in every second of every day, but it’s up to us to notice it. Or to find it. Or wait for it. Wander around and let it find you! I guarantee if you walk outside in any type of weather you will find wonder in something. Kids do it all the Time and it’s such a gift when us adults capture that same feeling. 

FQ: It would be interesting to know that if you had a chance to have dinner with any author or artist, from any time period, who would be sitting across the table from you and what would you most like to discuss with them?

FREYTAG: There are so many artists I would love to sit with. Van Gogh, Picasso, Monet...but I’d also love to sit with some cartoonists like Gary Larson creator of The Far Side. Or Bill Watterson creator of Calvin & Hobbes. Or Charles Schultz creator of Peanuts. If it was more of a traditional artist, I may pick Salvador Dali. I think that would be a hell of a dinner. His work was grounded within his subconscious so I’d be very curious to know how he tapped into that creatively. Hmmm, I guess I didn’t pick one. Haha! I was never great with rules. 

As for authors, I would only pick one, Stephen King. I’ve always been a fan of his and it’s not for his work in horror, but more his work as a storyteller. I’d want to know how he conjures up so many stories, so many ideas...in such a short period of Time. It seems he has a connection with some sort of supernatural power or something, so that’s why he writes about those things...or maybe he’s just working a larger percentage of his brain, which also would make for a great dinner conversation. A second choice maybe Elizabeth Gilbert just to talk to her about her book Big Magic. A book about how creativity works...or how she thinks it works. Which I believe in something very similar. 

FQ: Are you interested in writing in another genre one day; if so, what would that be and why would you like to take on that endeavor?

FREYTAG: I think I’d love to write a book of fiction someday as I think it would exercise the same types of feelings I have about drawing, but I just don’t know when I’d have the Time. Seems like a ton of work. Though I wrote a very short story of fiction a while back and it would be interesting to take that further. It was kinda funky to create a whole scenario from scratch and I’d be very intrigued on where that would lead me. But, I think since I’m such a visual person, I’d have to figure out something with drawings, too. Maybe a graphic novel or something, but again there’s the Time thing again. 

FQ: Your book is so many things – from reflective to self-help to inspirational – was it difficult to get through the process of writing this creation? Was there ever a point that brought about writer’s block for a time, and, if so, how were you able to get by that and move forward?

FREYTAG: Thank you! Overall, the writing came quickly and I was lucky in that respect. I wrote the whole things in about 9 months, so I sometimes say it was like birthing a baby. Haha! I will say that I set myself some goals with dates, and those were thrown away as it simply wasn’t done until it was done. Also, there were two times during that process where I traveled and afterward I would write something new (or rewrite something). The entire chapter on Clouds was rewritten after a trip to Ireland...and there’s actually an interesting story about a lot of the smaller drawings in the book being created on the same trip. Travel always initiates something creative for me and it’s not any coincidence that a lot of the stories in the book are about traveling. 

FQ: Readers will want to know, as do I, what you’re working on at the moment and what we should be keeping our eyes out for in the future.

FREYTAG: Right now I’m gathering up ideas for something that most likely will be a follow-up to this book. But that could Change. I’m not going to give much away as far as the content but I think it’s really going to be interesting if what’s in my head is what is eventually produced. Though I did give a little bit away in one of the previous questions, that’s a pretty small part of it. Anyway, I just hope it doesn’t take another 20 years! Haha!

FQ: Thank you so much for the amazing book. It really is one of those rare few that has a place on my bookshelf because I will want to read it again. And congratulations on winning. Your book definitely deserves the honor!

#AuthorInterview with Dan E. Hendrickson @DanEHendrickso1

Today, Feathered Quill reviewer Diane Lunsford is talking with Dan E. Hendrickson, author of The Legend of Deputy Jim: Prequel to The Last Enemy Series

FQ: This was a fun read. The setting of Wyoming was particularly enjoyable for me having lived in Colorado for many years. What made you leave Wyoming and settle in Pennsylvania?

HENDRICKSON: My wife and I were doing full-time work for the ministry and were offered an assignment to oversee some home bible fellowships and conduct biblical research classes in the Lancaster, PA area. We accepted it and the assignment lasted for two years. We stayed in the area because I had a lot of experience with detailing cars for dealerships and the biggest Manheim Auto Auction is right there. We opened a business in the town of Manheim and have lived here since 1996.

FQ: The premise of setting the story in the early 70’s and developing the conflict between the bikers and law enforcement was interesting. There was an element of changing times with drug trafficking during that period. Were you living in Wyoming during this time and if so, did this provide inspiration for your story?

HENDRICKSON: Yes, a lot of the story is based on what was going on at the time in the northwestern United States. I can remember the biker gang terror getting so bad that the Mayor of Sheridan County would declare a very strict curfew for anyone under 18 years of age. We really looked at those police officers and sheriff deputies as heroes back then. They were basically the only ones that weren’t scared of the biker gangs. The details about Story Wyoming and how some gangs operated up there are true as well. Because it was right in the mountains, the bikers could hide out and the sheriff deputies and highway patrol people had a difficult time chasing them down.

FQ: In your bio, you shared you work in auto detailing. What is the most memorable car (or truck) you’ve worked on and what was the project?

HENDRICKSON: Believe it or not, it was a 1975 Toyota Camry. The reason it was so memorable to me is that when we got it in the detail shop, I owned in 1993 in Nashville, Tennessee; the car had almost 400,000 miles on it and it was in great condition. The owner of the dealership was so impressed by the detail that we did to it that he made up a big event around the car. He set it up on a rack for display outside and had a 20% off sale on new cars. They sold raffle tickets for the car. At the end of the day they drew a number, and someone won the car. The owner told me it was the most successful sale he’d ever had and gave us a lot of the credit for its success. 

FQ: You also mention you do ministry work. Given the story line of the bikers and their drug business, is this something you work with in real life? Do you work with youths? How do you counsel a person or group of people and redirect them from a wrong path they may be on?

HENDRICKSON: My work in the ministry is more directed at biblical education. I have in the past helped people get out of drug and criminal lifestyles though. People are searching for many things in life, but I have found that it all comes back to filling a void that they have been unsuccessful in. I endeavor to show them that God and a knowledge of the holy scriptures can fill the void. When someone directly replaces an addiction to alcohol, drugs, crime, etc, with God and his Word I have seen them make remarkable changes. The individual must make and keep the decision to pursue that endeavor and my job is to help them.

FQ: Of the books you’ve written, which body of work resonates with you most and why?

HENDRICKSON: The third book in my original series titled, The Last Enemy, it is really the conclusion to the whole story. It has the most meaning to me because I endeavored to show though these fantastic men and women could do and accomplish a lot, in the end they needed God’s help to do it. The character Roberto Garcia the father in Law to Jacob Edwards, The Hero of Cozumel, is the one who brings a spiritual conclusion to the dilemma of the story, and that foremost is the overall message I am endeavoring to communicate in the series.

FQ: You did a fantastic job of developing Deputy Jim’s character. I enjoyed the mannerisms you played out with him being a ‘stand up’ guy, but you also showcased his temper and how it was often something that warranted and required ‘kid gloves’ when addressing. In your ministering, has there ever been a situation where you’ve encountered someone like Deputy Jim with an out of control temper? How did you work through the situation to arrive at a positive outcome?

HENDRICKSON: In my ministering not so much, but I have also been involved in boxing and the martial arts for most of my life. The concept of a “Berserker” is a common theme in action adventure literature, especially when you have it in a sword and sorcerer setting. I have seen it in fighting competition. There are those that in the heat of competition will lose themselves over to winning with no sense of self preservation. Usually they get disqualified from competing because they go too far. The best remedy is to keep them out of situations that will trigger this behavior. That’s where I got the idea for Jim, and his son Jacob.

FQ: This story flowed quite nicely. Was there a time when you were at a loss where to take the story next? How did you overcome the block and continue forward with the writing?

HENDRICKSON: I have not to his point had any real “writer's block”, and I am currently writing my 7th book. When I do find that I am at an impasse I just take a break and go get entertained by some music. I usually have a theme song that I listen to for each story that I write. For The Legend of Deputy Jim, the song I listened to a lot was “The Boys are Back in Town” by Thin Lizzy, which came out in 1976. So, it worked for the story.

FQ: You tag your story with ‘legends usually start with violence.’ Do you think this is often the case?

HENDRICKSON: Actually, that line was made up by one of my editors that helped me make the cover of the book. But yes, legends out west usually start or end with some type of violent struggle where good triumphs over evil.

FQ: When a new story starts to percolate, what jump-starts your writing process?

HENDRICKSON: “The only thing to it is to do it.” That’s my line. I just must get started. My first draft of a book is my fun part. I don’t worry about anything, I just enjoy telling the story. Sure, there is research and stuff, but it really is the fun part. After that all the work sets in. So, for me, the beginning is not intimidating at all because it is where I get the most pleasure out of writing the book. 

FQ: When you work with an editor, has there ever been a time when you emphatically disagreed with his/her suggestion when it comes to cutting scenes? Dialogue? How do you get beyond the disagreement?

HENDRICKSON: Opinions vary, and the editor is not the writer. In my way of thinking, the editor for my books is like the quality control person in my detail shop. Both make the final project perfect but not different. I am not interested in using a “ghost writer” (those who write on my behalf and let me put my name to their work) and believe me there are a lot out there. Editors are there to clean and tidy up, make things look and flow their best. With story lines and scenes staying or going, lines and dialogue I always listen to my editor and if what they are saying flows with my heart on the story, I will more than likely make the change, but if it does not I go with my original thought.

FQ: It was a treat to read The Legend of Deputy Jim. Are you working on your next book and if so, could you share some nuggets with us?

HENDRICKSON: I shared this on social media a few months ago. My next book coming out will be called The Commander. It will give the back story of Commander Jacob Edwards before he became The Hero of Cozumel and the one after that will be called Brandy, Ballad of a Pirate Princess. Here is an excerpt of the latter:

Caribbean Ocean Between Jamaica and Southern Tip of Florida 1829 

“Hold your guard up and widen your stance. You not on solid ground, the sea is a tricky old bitch and she will test you.” The Scarlet Mistress then presses her attack to cause her 15-year-old daughter to step back barely able to meet her mother’s lighting fast barrage of slashes and jabs done with a savage pair of rapier and dagger. The Mistress never allows Brandy to practice with over one blade at a time, sneering that if she can’t protect herself with one blade, then she has no right to live. The English Man of War cutter rolls slightly back making the mother to lean forward to adjust her balance which causes her to press to hard with her right-handed thrust of her rapier. Brandy sees the opening and brings her rapier up and in a slight arc that catches the attacking blade in a downward curve which she violently twists and causes her mother to lose control of the weapon, Brandy then grabs it from her with her left hand. Before her mother can respond with a counter using her dagger Brandy takes both rapiers and brings them down on the dagger with a vicious stroke that sends it flying across the deck and bouncing up and over the rail into the ocean. Using her right foot, she sweeps her mother’s front knee causing the women to fall back and land on her bottom. She then crosses both blades and steps in close, putting the two razor-sharp edges against her mother’s throat and says, “Yield.”

Feathered Quill's Press Release About Awards Picked Up by Media

The press release announcing the 2020 Feathered Quill Book Awards went out yesterday and is being picked up by various news outlets:

themagazineplus.com/2020/02/04/feathered-quill-book-awards-2020-winners/

BookReview - The Legend of Deputy Jim @DanEHendrickso1

The Legend of Deputy Jim: Prequel to The Last Enemy Series

By: Dan E. Hendrickson
Publisher: Dan E. Hendrickson
Publication Date: September 2019
ISBN: 978-10-578-56832-4
Reviewed by Diane Lunsford
Review Date: February 2, 2020

Dan E. Hendrickson takes his audience on a modern-day adventure to the ‘wild west’ in Story, Wyoming.

It’s 1974 and Deputy Jim Edwards is the newest edition to the Sheridan County, Wyoming Sheriff’s department. He has a beautiful young wife and a perfect four-year-old son. Jim is ready to take on his new career and is all about keeping the streets of Story safe. One problem he faces, however, is the likes of the Wild Wolves Biker gang. It seems they’re not quite ready to welcome Edwards with open arms.

As Edwards settles into his new job, he’s assigned to one of the force’s finest, Lt. Al Freeburger. It doesn’t take Freeburger long to notice Edwards has talent and is committed to succeeding in his job. Problem is, he has a temper that knows no bounds. When Grinder, second in command of the Wild Wolves gang, decides it’s okay to threaten Edwards' wife and child, little did he know Edwards' rage would take over. The anger and fury that is unleashed is a situation that could possibly cost Jim his career before it gets off the ground. To compound an already bad situation, Edwards doesn’t know that his display of anger that is unleashed on Grinder marks him for an outcome that could end his life.

Dan Hendrickson has done a great job of updating the notion of the wild west with a 1970’s flair. It’s a time and place when drug trafficking and law enforcement certainly had more than a clash of personalities. Hendrickson does a great job of painting the scenery of the wide-open west and complements it with the small-town attitude of a community that wants to be rid of gangs and drugs. His dialogue is credible and when presented with conflicts between the gang and law enforcement, it doesn’t play out as ‘cheeky.’ Hendrickson moves the story along nicely and with intermittent twists and turns to the plot, he manages to keep the element of surprise intact alleviating an outcome of predictability. After reading The Legend of Deputy Jim, I think it’s time to go back and read other works by Mr. Hendrickson. He pens a great read. Well done! I look forward to your next book.

Quill says: Saddle up all you cowboys! The Legend of Deputy Jim is a page-turning, must-read adventure.

For more information on The Legend of Deputy Jim, please visit the author's website: www.danehendrickson.com

#BookReview - The Time That's Given @DavidLitwack

The Time That's Given

By: David Litwack
Publisher: Evolved Publishing
Publication Date: October 2019
ISBN: 978-1-62253-442-5
Reviewed by: Diane Lunsford
Review Date: February 2, 2020

David Litwack’s latest novel, The Time That’s Given, challenges his audience with the premise of: is this real or is it simply a dream?

Burt Higgins is retired. His children are grown and his wife, Betty, is off in pursuit of a late-life degree. Alone with his thoughts and the vast emptiness of his home, Burt has too much time to think about nothing. He broods often and consumes far too much cable news and its delivery of the bleak existence his beloved country faces. The internet isn’t much of a friend either. He ponders what it would be like to live out his fantasy of transporting to another place...another time. Maybe this is what his retirement truly had planned for him.

On another day just like so many other days, Burt is at his wits end with his thoughts. A fierce nor’easter is blowing in and how he wishes Betty was with him. He seeks refuge in his library and finds comfort among his many books. He focuses on a candle he purchased years ago in a Prague shop. He retrieves the candle, places it on his desk and lights it. Instantly a magical guide appears to take him on a quest of his choosing. Little did he know that by lighting the candle, his familiar life would be upended and the journey about to unfold would change his life forever.

David Litwack is a master of fantasy in his latest body of work. The premise of time traveling and being transported to a life that could have been may be fantasy at best, but this story is superbly grounded. The progression of descriptive scenery and rich dialogue throughout this read takes his readers by the hand and leads them on a somewhat credible and epic journey. Effortlessly, Litwack guides his pen across the pages and the magic continues to thrive. There is no predictability of what lurks on the next page to come. Rather, Litwack’s intentional command of his pen is true artistic talent. I’ve not had the pleasure of reading any of Mr. Litwack’s previous books, but believe it is time to do so. Well done Mr. Litwack! I am a fan.

Quill says: The Time That’s Given is a delicious and thought-provoking book full of introspective questions and the choices one makes in the moment.

For more information on The Time That's Given please visit the author's website at: davidlitwack.com

Feathered Quill Announces Winners of our 2020 Annual #BookAward Program

Started in 2008 by a small group of dedicated, enthusiastic reviewers, Feathered Quill has become one of the preeminent online review sites. In the summer of 2013, it opened submissions for the first annual book award program, and since that time, the award program has grown substantially.  This year, the number of award nominations more than doubled, and last year also saw a substantial increase over the previous year. Truly an international contest, nominations came from as far away as New Zealand, Hong Kong, and Scotland.

New this year was the addition of Finalist Placings.  Instead of awarding a certain number of books per category the Finalist classification, these books were selected by high scores.  So while some categories had several Finalists, others had none.  

When submissions closed on December 15, 2019, the judges had the daunting task of reading hundreds of excellent books and trying to decide the best of the best.  Every book was read, judged, and often it was a mere point or two that separated the winners from the ‘almost won’ books.  Included with each book’s scoring are "Judges' Comments" which were provided for all entrants - an excellent way for winners to get promotional quotes for marketing as well as a way for all authors to get feedback on their books.

Feathered Quill also offered numerous additional awards, sponsored by various publishing related companies, valued between $100 and $1000.  For a complete list of winners, please visit the award page, featheredquill.com/2020-winners/ 

Feathered Quill Book Awards

And the winners of the annual Feathered Quill Book Awards are... we've contacted all the winners and are now sharing to all our social media sites. We'll also post about special awards, etc. in the near future. To see a list of all the winners, follow this link:

https://featheredquill.com/2020-winners/