Jill Sheet's Blog

                                         Chit Chatting with Sherri L. Dodd Her new book is “Moonset on Desert Sands.” J: Tell us about yourself and how you got into writing? S:  As a Personal Trainer, I had already written many fitness articles for periodicals, so when I had my second son late-2003 and still found only one outdated book about regaining pre-pregnancy fitness levels, I recorded my recovery of the same. Another year later, I had the result ready for print. I shopped it with publishers and even got an inquiry from Harper Collins; however, I believe my credentials were too anemic and the book read too simple for their brand. So, in 2005, I self-published Mom Looks Great - The Fitness Program for Moms. I’d like to think that I trail-blazed the idea of post-natal fitness books because within a few years there were plenty of options lining the shelves. ...

 Chit Chatting with Author Ekta R. Garg Interviewed By:  Jill Sheets J:  Tell us about yourself. E: My name is Ekta Garg, and I'm a Reviewer, Editor, Author, and Dreamer of stories and books. I've been writing pretty much my whole life, but I knew at the age of 14 that I wanted to be an author. My first book, The Truth About Elves, came out in 2021, and I'm so grateful that people have read it as well as my other two books and enjoyed them all! J: How did you get your start writing? E: Words and stories have surrounded me for as long as I can remember. I started reading at the age of 4, and once I started there was no stopping me! My mother tells stories of how I would get assigned "homework" in preschool where the teacher would send a children's book home for the night, and apparently I would finish reading in the car even before we got home from school. I also competed in spelling bees when I was younger, so I've harbored an ongoing interest in language ...

Chatting with Nancy Christie  Interviewed by: Jill Sheets Q: Tell us about yourself. N: I’m a writer of fiction and nonfiction: novels, short stories, essays and articles. I’m a hybrid author, meaning I have some books published by traditional publishers and others independently as a self-published author. My first book, The Gifts of Change , was released in 2004 and since then I have nine books to my credit. While I started my fiction career as a short story writer, I branched out into novel-writing in 2023 with my novel, Reinventing Rita , the first in my Midlife Moxie novel series . Since then, I have released a second novel, Finding Fran , with Moving Maggie coming out late spring of this year. I’m also the creator and host of the Living the Writing Life podcast , and an independent professional copywriter for ad agencies and marketing firms. Q: Tell us about your book "The Language of Love & Other Stories." N: The Language of Love and Other Stories , publish...

 Chit Chatting with Raven Howell J:  Tell us about your new book, "Blink and Glow." How did you come up with the idea for the book? R: The initial inspiration for my story, Blink and Glow , took root when I saw an enchanting illustration by Ann Pilicer (the book’s illustrator) of wide-eyed children gazing into a twinkling firefly-filled glass jar. It transported me back to my own youth, tumbled out into nature somewhere, a tomgirl climbing trees, building forts in fragrant lilac bushes, building fairy houses out of twigs and moss, delighted by the catch and release of “lightning bugs”. I wondered how many children’s communities today have that loving connection to our natural environment. Then I hoped that kids were aware of the respect and appreciation we owe to all living things, and that’s essentially where the idea for writing the book originated. J:  Were any of the characters based on anyone?  If not, how did you come up with the characters? R: The chil...

 Blink and Glow Review  Reviewed by: Jill Sheets I was excited to get "Blink and Glow" in the mail.  Last year, I got to read more books by Raven Howell, and I knew that it would be just as great as her other books. And I was right, I loved this book and could not wait to share it with my family.  Raven came up with the cutest story, with a great message. Accompanying the children's book were beautiful pictures illustrated by Ann Pilicer. I believe kids will love this book, while they are learning about the freedom of nature.

                    Chit Chatting with Rosanne McHenry                  Interview by: Jill Sheets  J: Tell us about yourself. R: I’m a former U.S. National Park Ranger and a former California State Park Ranger. I’ve worked in many parks over the years, including the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, Mount Rainier National Park, the Auburn State Recreation Area, Folsom Lake, Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park, and Death Valley National Park, among others. I’ve also worked at many historic parks including Sutter’s Fort, The CA State Indian Museum, and the CA State Railroad Museum.   I’m also a writer and the author of two books: Tales From a Rogue Ranger, published February 2024, and Trip Tales: From Family Camping to Life as a Ranger (2021). I currently live and work in Auburn, California, with my husband.  The beautiful American River Canyon is adjacent to our home ...

 "Adriana" Review Review by: Jill Sheets I was excited to get the book "Adriana," by Leslie Hachtel and I could not wait to start to read it.  It was worth the wait. I loved this book. I was hooked by the second page. "Adriana" is a descriptive book and a fast read. I quickly fell in love with the characters, especially the main ones. It was not hard to root for them.  I like that the chapters were mainly short, especially with someone with a short attention span. If you like romance books, this one would be a good one for you.

B.O.A.T Review Reviewed by Jill Sheets  “B.O.A.T. is a captivating book that held my attention through the whole thing.  I love the plot twist, and the book is well-paced. You do not have to worry about getting lost as you read the book. "B.O.A.T." is a wonderful read, with well-developed and interesting characters.   This book is a good choice for almost anyone to read. "B.O.A.T is Alexandria Pall's first novel, and I can not wait to see what she writes next. 

 Chit Chatting with Anoop Judge  Interviewed by: Jill Sheets J: Tell us a little bit about yourself. A: Born and raised in New Delhi, I now reside in California. I hold an MFA in Creative Writing from Saint Mary’s College of California and am the recipient of the 2021 Advisory Board Award, and the 2023 Alumni Scholarship.   I am the author of four novels: The Rummy Club, which won the 2015 Beverly Hills Book Award, The Awakening of Meena Rawat an excerpt of which was nominated for the 2019 Pushcart Prize, No Ordinary Thursday, and Mercy and Grace.   You may also recognize me from the show Gems of Ruby Hill, a reality-TV series streaming on @watchcpics showcasing my life as an author and writer. I call myself a recovering litigator: I practiced in state and federal courts for many years before I  replaced legal briefs with fictional tales.  I am an Instructor at Stanford University's Stanford Continuing Studies. J: "Mercy and Grace" is your new book.  T...

 Chit Chatting with Neill McKee Interview by: Jill Sheets J: Tell us about yourself. N: I guess you could call me a world wanderer from Canada. I was never happy staying in one place, beginning in my early years, as I have described in Kid on the Go! Memoir of My Childhood and Youth. I was a mischievous child and a rebel in my youth, but I began to think differently in senior high school with the help of my English teacher and other mentors. I was rather lost in my university days—didn’t know what I wanted to do with my life, until I saw a poster to apply to become a volunteer teacher overseas, much like the Peace Corps in the US, but with no compulsion to escape the draft for the Vietnam War. At the end of the memoir, in 1968, I head off to the exotic island of Borneo in Southeast Asia to teach secondary school, an experienced that changed my life. My award-winning memoir, Finding Myself in Borneo: Sojourns in Sabah, tells readers how it all happened—a maturing experience. It also...

"My University of the World" Review Reviewed by Jill Sheets   credit:  https://www.amazon.com/My-University-World-Adventures-International/dp/1732945780 I love the detail that Neill McKee put into his memoir, "My University of the World," along with the pictures throughout the book.  It felt like he took me along with his ride. Visiting the places he went to and meeting the people he did. This amazing memoir would make a great movie.  Hopefully one day I will get to sit down and watch it.  We will have to see. Are you a traveler or have always wanted to?  This book is for you.  Just sit down and enjoy.  It will be the start of your adventure. Videos:  https://www.neillmckeevideos.com/