Author D.J. Starling: Fantasyland and 20th Century Music

It’s a pleasure to welcome author D.J. Starling back to Thoughts in Progress. Today D.J. is here to tell us about her latest release, FANTASYLAND.

Here’s a brief description of FANTASYLAND…

Believe in magic. Put a song in your heart.
Know the power of love.
FANTASYLAND
Won’t you come on in?
Meet all the lonely people.
Be there when they discover that
dreams that you dare to dream really do come true.
       Sandi… Shattered by a devastating loss, she’s struggling to move beyond her grief as she embarks on a new life. But when a charming stranger elicits a magnetic attraction, unyielding heartache overrides her desires and undermines her chance for happiness.
       Rick… Teen idol at fourteen, well-polished Hollywood playboy by seventeen, he enjoyed a hedonistic lifestyle into his twenties. Yet he’s plagued by gnawing self-doubts and the fears they feed when his world is rocked by the sudden reappearance of a woman he had vowed to forget.
       Steve. . . Driven by staunch principles, he’s satisfied with the simple, quiet life he leads. He never could have imagined the twists and turns in the path ahead that will change him forever and force him to battle guilt and betrayal in his quest for his heart’s desire.

FANTASYLAND, D.J.’s second novel, is a stand-alone book. However, there is a connecting thread through a couple of minor characters and there is a "hook" at the end of DEJA VU (her first book) to entice the reader to visit FANTASYLAND. 

Here’s D.J. now. Her topic today is ‘Join the celebration of 20th century music.’

We all have songs that belong on the soundtrack of our lives. That’s especially true of the characters in FANTASYLAND. Now you can step inside and let their love of song lead you on a magical, mystery tour of 20th century music. Join the celebration in this enchanted land and get to know the real-life artists whose wide-ranging music plays through the pages.  

For now, I’m delighted to introduce you to a small sampling of five of those beloved entertainers. 

Louis Armstrong (1901 – 1971), nicknamed Satchmo or Pops, was a trumpeter and singer, and a preeminent figure in jazz for more than 50 years. Of all the music he recorded during that span, some of which can still be heard in many popular movies, the most familiar song to modern listeners is probably his rendition of What a Wonderful World.

Judy Garland (1922 – 1969), was an actress and singer who got her start in vaudeville at the age of 12 and remained active until her untimely death only 35 years later. Despite her lengthy career and enduring popularity, her most famous role was that of Dorothy in the beloved 1939 movie, The Wizard of Oz. In that film, she introduced perhaps her most well-known song, Somewhere Over The Rainbow . . . where dreams that you dare to dream really do come true.

Frank Sinatra (1915 - 1998) was a singer and Academy-Award winning actor, and is arguably the most well-known entertainer of the 20th century. He was also the very first teen idol, earning that title in 1941 when his appeal to bobbysoxers, as teenage girls of that time were called, revealed a whole new audience for popular music, which had been recorded mainly for adults up to that time.

Elvis Presley (1935 - 1977), singer, musician and actor, was one of the most significant icons of the last century, often referred to as the King of Rock and Roll, or simply, the King. As the catalyst for the Cultural Revolution that was rock and roll, he was central not only to defining it as a musical genre but in making it a touchstone of the youth culture and their rebellious attitude. 

The Beatles—Four English lads, John Lennon (1940 - 1980), Paul McCartney (b. 1942), George Harrison (1943 - 2001), and Ringo Starr (b. 1940), made up the greatest and most influential band of the rock era. Despite a relatively short time together (1960 - 1970), this quartet introduced more innovations into popular music than any other rock band of the 20th century. Even today, more than 40 years after disbanding, the Beatles remain one of the most popular and well-known music groups of all-time, bridging the generations and still influencing pop culture, as evidenced by their inspiration for the video game, Rock Band.

D.J., thanks for joining us today and sharing this look at 20th century music. I have to say Louis Armstrong has always been a favorite of mine and who could resist Elvis and the Beatles?

Now for those who aren’t familiar with D.J., here’s a little background.

D.J. Starling is a penname derived through a combination of a dream, an apparition, and fate. Instinct told Donna to embrace the moniker, and an author was born. Wisdom led her to recruit Marsha after they got acquainted in a writers’ workshop, and a productive partnership began.

An innate understanding of each other’s work enables them to rely on each other’s unique strengths, as well as distinctive personalities. They nurture their own ideas and brainstorm often, mining nuggets from their ramblings that they write and edit—together and separately. 

Coincidentally, although it was long before they knew each other, they both attempted their first novels while in the 4th grade. Since then, they have both learned that two heads really are better than one as they blend their literary voices to bring intriguing characters to life in compelling stories.

For more on the authors and their writing, visit their website and connect with them on their Author Facebook page, FANTASYLAND Facebook page, and Twitter.


Thanks so much for stopping by today. What are your thoughts on 20th century music? Are any of these singers favorites of yours?

Author D.J. Starling: DÉJÀ VU, SHINING THRU

One of my great enjoyments in blogging is finding new authors and their work and then being able to share those finds with you (the wonderful people who read this blog).

Well, today I have another ‘new-to-me’ author to introduce you to and she’s joining us to talk about her book and her writing. D.J. Starling is the author of DÉJÀ VU. First, here’s a brief synopsis of the book.

       Focused on demanding careers that leave little time to cultivate meaningful relationships, Deanna Lewis and Josh Haber each sense a powerful connection at their first meeting. At the same time, Deanna is haunted by recurring and increasingly intense nightmares that threaten her well-being.
       When she finally accepts the help of her best friend, Faith—who believes she could supply an antidote for the horrifying dreams—an incredible scenario unfolds. Yet, when faced with the stunning past Faith uncovers, Josh refuses to accept the truth until a vintage keepsake clears the path to everlasting love. 

D. J. joins us now to talk about ‘DÉJÀ VU, SHINING THRU.’

Have you ever been curious about the possibility of having lived a past life? I was, and my curiosity led me to learn what I could about regression therapy, which sparked my writer’s imagination and planted the idea for DÉJÀ VU. What evolved is a modern day love story in which past life connections are discovered. As the tale unfolds, regression therapy connects the present day saga of Deanna and Josh to a dark and dangerous past as experienced by Rivka and David, a teenaged couple in the throes of young love, despite their unimaginable plight.

Unfortunately, regression therapy doesn’t always tie things together so neatly. That was clear soon after I began investigating this hypnotic technique, already wanting to experience it for myself. Each practitioner I spoke to stressed the point that not everyone can be hypnotized. It’s a common belief that while some people consciously want to be regressed, something in their subconscious prohibits them from being put into a deep enough state of relaxation to allow them to let go of this reality. That happened to a friend who later said that although she felt more relaxed than ever during her session, she never felt like she’d been hypnotized.

Happily, I didn’t have any problem. Before my session began, I was told to think of a problem or challenge in this life that I wanted to address. My lifelong fear of falling from high places came to mind, and I explained how my anxiety had been paralyzing at times, making it impossible to step onto a down escalator, or go on a roller coaster with my family.

Once the practitioner began the procedure of putting me under, she led me to a beautiful meadow where I was instructed to climb the pole and see where I emerged. I felt my body being transformed, and even though part of my consciousness knew that I was in a psychologist’s office, most of me believed I was in Eastern Europe in the late 1300s. I lived in a castle, and while I wasn’t nobility, I wasn’t a servant either. Our castle was under attack and I was desperately trying to find a safe place to hide before the enemy found me. I ran through the castle, terrified. I could feel my heart racing. That’s when the psychologist intervened. 

Although she directed me to stay in that lifetime, she guided me through a change of perspective. Suddenly, I could see what was happening to me in that time period, but was removed enough that the terror was kept at bay. I could see that person—I knew it was me, but was it really?—as she ran through the castle, frantically trying to maintain a distance from the invaders. When she finally reached the end of a hallway, she was at the top of a steep staircase that led to another section of the castle. Suddenly, she tripped over her own feet and I saw her fall to her death. That’s when the psychologist gently brought me back to my present day reality, with my memories of that past life intact and on tape.

That’s something I’ve listened to more than once, and those closest to me have noticed the gradual, but significant reduction in my fears. Is it coincidence or is it fate? That’s another question you’ll be asking yourself after you read DÉJÀ VU, whenever you consider the people who come and go through your life.

D. J., thanks for joining us today and giving us this background. I’d say, you’ve definitely given us something to think about here.

Now let me tell you a little more about D. J.

D.J. Starling is a penname derived through a combination of a dream, an apparition, and fate. Instinct told Donna to embrace the moniker, and an author was born. Wisdom led her to recruit Marsha after they got acquainted in a writers’ workshop, and a productive partnership began.

An innate understanding of each other’s work enables them to rely on each other’s unique strengths, as well as distinctive personalities. They nurture their own ideas and brainstorm often, mining nuggets from their ramblings that they write and edit—together and separately. 

Coincidentally, although it was long before they knew each other, they both attempted their first novels while in the 4th grade. Since then, they’ve both learned that two heads really are better than one as they blend their literary voices to bring intriguing characters to life in compelling stories.

For more on the authors and their writing, visit their website, their Facebook page, DÉJÀ VU Facebook page, and find them on Twitter.

Thanks so much for stopping by today everyone. Have you ever been hypnotized? If so, how did it turn out? If not, have you ever wanted to be?

Sunday Salon: Time for Reviews

SHOT THROUGH VELVET by Ellen Byerrum

Fashion reporter Lacey Smithsonian has been one of my favorite protagonist for sometime.

Lacey knows her way around the fashion world and has an uncanny knack for finding dead bodies. She can pull off wearing vintage clothes while tracking down killers.

On her latest assignment Lacey is covering the last day of operation for a failing Virginia velvet factory. She’s on the tour with her hunky boyfriend, Vic Donovan, who will take over the security operations of the factory the next day. In the last vat of dye, the group finds not only a spool of midnight blue velvet but the body of the factory’s manager, nicknamed Blue Devil by the employees.

Workers dub the killer the ‘Velvet Avenger’ since they blame the manager, as well as the factory owners for closing the plant and costing them their jobs. Lacey has her hands full when she learns the newspaper’s publisher is one of the factory owners and appears to be targeted by the killer.

While trying to expose the killer, Lacey is also dealing with the dread of impending doom as she fears the Valentine’s Day curse will strike her again.

Author Ellen Byerrum touches on the economic hard times many are currently facing, but at the same time adds bits of humor to make Lacey’s story a fun read. SHOT THROUGH VELVET is the seventh installment in the Crime of Fashion Mystery series, but is a stand alone book.

Author Ellen Byerrum’s website is http://www.ellenbyerrum.com/

Shot Through Velvet by Ellen Byerrum, A Crime of Fashion Mystery, Obsidian, @2011, ISBN: 978-0-451-23250-2, Paperback, 336 pages

FTC Full Disclosure - This book was sent to me by the publisher in hopes I would review it. However, receiving the complimentary copy did not influence my review.

DÉJÀ VU by Fern Michaels

The Sisterhood, no longer fugitives, can begin to get on with their lives thanks to a presidential pardon.

As the ladies begin to settle in, they still have to deal with the fact that master criminal Hank Jellicoe is still at large. When approached by the Presidents the Sisterhood decides it’s time to bring the cunning mastermind to his knees.

Using their own unique tricks of the trade, the Sisterhood does what it does best - finds justice for those wronged giving the readers a few laughs along the way.
 
Déjà vu is the 19th installment in the Sisterhood Series. The story can be read without having read the previous books, but there will be gaps in the story.

Fern Michaels' website is http://fernmichaels.com/

Déjà vu by Fern Michaels, The Sisterhood Series, Read by Laura Merlington, Brilliance Audio, @2010, ISBN: 1-4418-1896-0, Abridged, 4 Cds, 4 Hours Run Time

FTC Full Disclosure - This audio book was given to me by my best friend who also enjoys the Sisterhood series and was the one who introduced me to this intriguing group of ladies.

Now what have you read (or listened) to this past week?