JAANTE, a multi-brand fashion showroom located in Belgium and in Switzerland

Today we are speaking with Sonia about JAANTE, a multi-brand fashion showroom located in Belgium and in Switzerland, showcasing and representing Premium Ethical & Sustainable brands and Top emerging designers.

What sets JAANTE apart from other boutique showrooms?
JAANTE | Multi-brand fashion showroom concept (Agentuur) and Communication agency located in Belgium and in Switzerland specialized on top emerging designers luxury sustainable labels, and premium brands, connecting them with international buyers, boutiques, celebrities and editorial placements.

Working with ethical & sustainable brands is a big part of JAANTE’s business. Why is this important for the consumer?
Our founder, Julie Atenda wanted to create a new concept that encompasses two markets: the brands/buyers (B2B) and the consumer (B2C). For the designers and the brands, JAANTE represents a creative community of remarkable talent and for the consumers; it is a premium brand of sustainable. 

The fashion industry is one of the biggest wasteful industry (as the oil industry). There are pesticides that are used on growing cotton, chemicals and dyes used to color clothing, tons of water now contaminated with these foreign bodies, energy that is used to power machines, and landfills that are filled with old clothing. You can never forget about the animals killed for their fur and hide. 

At JAANTE, we care about our planet and we do not ignore these startling facts. And we do not want to represent brands that are more focused on getting as much product to the consumers as possible in the quickest amount of time. Mainly we need to understand the vision and mission of the brand and see if their values fit with our principles. It needs to be a non-massive brand, preference for either sustainable, eco-friendly combining their design, work with the innovation and/or craftsmanship artisanal. 

Here a list of some of the brands that we are representing and actually have within our portfolio – BRINKLEYWOOL, LOLA ANTOINE, TINY INK, VICKEN DERDERIAN, MAREN DESIGNS, TALABAYA, VERAROAD, ROYAL BEAST DESIGN, MONOKROME... Most of the brands that we represent produced their products/clothing in Europe with sustainable.  

Two of our knitwear brands produce outside Europe. Producing in Peru, the Dutch brand GRACIELA HUAM create with Alpaca wool and the other knitwear brand BRINKLEY who uses sheep wool from Lebanon. Both brands produce their clothing handmade by the local artisans using the traditional techniques. In that way, they support their respective local community. 

One of the great things about JAANTE is it offers fashion from around the world. What are some of the advantages of having this global perspective on fashion?
Besides being Premium labels, the brands that JAANTE represents in the showroom-boutique are sustainable fashion brands. Part of their strengths resides on their brand authenticity through their positive impacts upon the fashion industry and environmental well being. The second, I would say by the ‘awareness’ of the brand as most of them have a high acceptation and perceptions from not only from the fashion consumers but also from the general public. 

JAANTE provides both b2b/b2c platforms. Can you talk a bit about these for people new to the concept?
Fashion Showroom & concept store – a retail and b2b/b2c platform that acts as a PR Agency and showroom boutique representing and showcasing top emerging designers and sustainable luxury brand new and across to the European market.

JAANTE challenge was to create a new brand & showroom concept that could encompass two markets: the DESIGNERS / BRANDS and the CONSUMERS. For the DESIGNERS/BRANDS, JAANTE represents an exclusive community of remarkable talent and for the CONSUMERS; it is a premium brand of fashion.


For the B2B platform, do you use press and social media for promotion?
Yes. 

What are some things clients should keep in mind when choosing a boutique showroom to work with?
PERFECT DESIGNER-MIX
The special feature of JAANTE is that the designers are chosen very selectively, and thus the overall presentation and the image of the showroom is shown at a high level. JAANTE points always to the core of the business and its contact are well selected and maintained with constant contacts with the main buyers whether or not they come from JAANTE or from the trade; they have been always attracted by JAANTE brand awareness.

Our goal is to discover brands not yet known (non-massive) by our customers around the world. We offer consumers premium brands at fair prices comparing brands prices with similar products on the market to ensure we select those that offer fair and reasonable prices.

What is the most satisfying thing about working with you clients?
JAANTE showcases local and international fashion designers, and is in constant search of emerging talent with a unique style and vision. We aim to discover great brands, not yet known to our customers, from all over the world. 

Premium brands at correct prices. We offer great pieces at great prices, whether full price or discounted. We compare the brands' prices to similar products in the market to ensure we only select those that offer fair and reasonable prices for the products.

Where you can find more about JAANTE?
W: http://www.jaante.com 
IG: http://www.instagram.com/jaante_showroom 

Julious Fletcher, Author of Lessons from the Human Body

Julious Fletcher is the author of "Lessons from the Human Body," a self-help book about learning life lessons from the human body.

Tell us about yourself.
I am a professional dancer, actor and model. I have obtained my BFA in Theatre Performance and I have traveled domestically and internationally, teaching children dance and drama as well as performing.  I have worked with children (ages 3-12) for five years in an educational setting.  I am currently pursing my Masters in Clinical Mental Health Counseling with a specialization in Expressive Art Therapy, emphasis in Dance Movement Therapy. I have produced short films entitled “Raped” which is a poetic expression that talks about sexual assault victims and “African Americans in Education,” which is a documentary about African-American educators who discussed today’s issues such as segregation, racism, education, and the importance of Black History month. They are posted on my YouTube channel, OnlyJulious. Overall, I am a down-to-earth and comical man.

Describe the purpose of "Lessons from the Human Body" in a few sentences.
It is a holistic book that takes the different human body systems, breaks them down, and analysis them on how they apply to our daily lives.   

Who do you think would most enjoy "Lessons from the Human Body"?
Anyone is in interested in the self-help genre and anyone who desire to heal and grow.

What inspired you to write about the lessons we can learn from the human body?
I would say part of it was because of my degree. One of the sayings in my field is that we should listen to our bodies because it has wisdom in it. I always loved Anatomy and Physiology back in high school; this book helped me combine my Anatomy and Physiology love and my aspiring counseling wisdom together.  

In society as a whole, do you think we are moving closer to or further from being connected with our bodies?
It’s both. Some people are becoming self-aware and becoming connected to themselves and some people are becoming further disconnected from themselves. When people are being connected to themselves, they are being self-full (taking care of themselves in a proper manner); when people are being disconnected, they are being selfish; selfish is a destructive form of self-care. Disconnected people also are focused on superficial things and materialistic things to keep up the appearances, not being the true self. 

One of the topics you talk about in "Lessons from the Human Body" is the relationship between the human circulatory system and the human need to distribute life to others. Can you expand on this for us?
Society does not discuss the balance of self-care and sacrifice enough. In that particular chapter, I talk about how we need to be able to contribute or distribute life to others by giving encouraging words, an act of kindness, listening or being there for people during tough times; however, distributing life to someone should not cause you to be in lack. For example, if someone needs $20 and I don’t have $20 to give, I don’t put myself in debt or in the hole to satisfy someone else’s need. This raise up another chapter which discusses boundaries and letting your “No” be “No.” However, if the need is able to be fulfilled such giving a ride or sitting with them as a form of support during a major doctor visit, that’s contributing life. In today’s society, we have focused so much about ourselves, we don’t consider another person. Then, when a person commits suicide, people feel bad because that person was crying out for help and no one heard him or her. That chapter helps us understand proper life contribution and identifying what is true love. 

Something you bring up in the book is whether people are willing to learn the lessons of the human body. What do you think makes some people resistant to learning these lessons?
Lessons are: confronting negative emotions such as fear, denial, shame and guilt; understanding the root of mental illness, which come from trauma and/or historical pathology; confronting the excuses (or lies) we tell ourselves of why we are not being productive in our talents, gifts and skills; identifying healthy/unhealthy relationships and having the strength to leave unhealthy relationships.

What was the most interesting thing you uncovered while doing research for "Lessons from the Human Body"?
All of it was fascinating to me; I think the most interesting thing was my personal experience about misalignments. Misalignments are not only the improper adjustment in our backs but we can have a misalignment within our true selves and because we are misaligned within ourselves, then we connect to people, things or organizations that do not connect with our authentic self. It takes a moment of honesty and self-worth to understand our alignments. 

Did writing "Lessons from the Human Body" take you to unexpected places or reveal things you hadn’t thought about before?
It really did! It caused me to go within myself for healing as well. While I was writing this book, I became disappointed with someone and later that day, I found out my uncle died. In the midst of my hurt, I knew my uncle would have wanted me to move forward. When I went to work on the book, I was on the section where I talked about dealing with disappointment and grief. So, it helped me heal in certain areas of my life as well. 

Can you tell us a bit about your writing process?
Once I received the inspiration (or the idea), I draft out an outline of the chapters and topics within the chapters. Then it becomes writing my thoughts and researching on those topics. If I get hit a road block and inspiration is not flowing, then I take a break for however long it takes.  Once I have relaxed, I go back, review and pick up where I left off. If it is still something that is flowing, I move to other section of the book.   

How do you think reading "Lessons from the Human Body" will impact people?
It would encourage people change their way of thinking and it would challenge the review any lies that were said to them. It would cause people to come into a place of healing.  

What do you have in mind for your next writing project?
Right now, I am in between book projects. I am currently planning and working on some short film scripts. 

Is there anything else you'd like potential readers to know about your book?
I want you to read with an open heart and mind. I want you to have an expectation for healing. Most importantly, I want you to trust the process, which means be patient with yourself and take your time. 

Additional Information
Follow Julious Fletcher on Twitter
Watch Julious Fletcher on Youtube
Buy the paperback version of "Lessons from the Human Body"
Buy the Kindle version of "Lessons from the Human Body"

Caldric Blackwell, Author of The Sacred Artifact

Caldric Blackwell is the author of the middle-grade novel "The Sacred Artifact," the second and final book in the Young Alchemist series.

Describe your new middle grade fantasy novel, The Sacred Artifact.
“The Sacred Artifact” follows fourteen-year-old alchemy student Craig Pike, his teacher, and a witty archer, named Audrey Clife, as they journey to the birthplace of alchemy to unravel the secret of an alchemical artifact. Their journey takes them to dangerous-yet-mystical lands where they realize the artifact has more powerful than anticipated, and they aren’t the only ones seeking to discover its secrets.

Who would enjoy “The Sacred Artifact”? Or the Young Alchemist series in general?
Anyone who enjoys a good middle-grade novel will enjoy the series. It’s aimed at ages ten to fourteen, although younger and older readers can certainly enjoy it. There’s plenty of fantasy, action, adventure, and mystery in the series. Additionally, the cast of characters have some interesting dynamics.

How was the experience of writing “The Sacred Artifact” different from writing the first book in the series, “The Missing Alchemist”? 
Well, it was different in a number of ways as well as similar in a number of ways. In “The Missing Alchemist,” I introduced readers to Craig Pike and Audrey Clife and the world they live in. In “The Sacred Artifact,” readers are already familiar with the protagonists, so I could focus more on developing the world and introducing a cast of new exciting characters. Readers also get the opportunity to learn more about the history of alchemy and even see where Cornelius, the famous alchemist in book one, trained … and meet his teacher! 

With any sequel, there’s the risk that you’ll lose the magic of the first book, particularly among die-hard fans. Was that a concern of yours? 
There’s always that possibility in sequels. A lot musicians face the same thing. People say, “The old stuff was better.” I didn’t write the second book really worried about it, though. All the magic of “The Missing Alchemist” I carried into “The Sacred Artifact.” I just made it bigger. You get to know Craig and Audrey even more. You get to see more of the world. And a lot of the questions raised in the first book get answered. Plus, there’s even more action, adventure, and cool places, as well as some really interesting new places.

In “The Missing Alchemist,” readers got a taste of alchemy. Is there more alchemy in this book?
Absolutely. Readers get to see the birthplace of alchemy itself and are introduced to more alchemists. Additionally, a lot more of the mechanics of alchemy are explained. In “The Missing Alchemist,” Craig was still very green in his experience with alchemy. In “The Sacred Artifact,” the reader gets to follow as Craig progresses with his alchemy training, including learning about metallurgy. There’s even some chemistry stuff in there.

Are there any new characters you enjoyed writing?
Yes! Quite a few actually. One of the things I enjoyed about this book was really expanding the cast of characters. There’s a character named Captain Charla. She’s a boisterous, no-nonsense captain of charter boat in a swamp region. She has a great sense of humor, so it was fun trying to capture her for the reader.

Another character I enjoyed writing is Quintus. He’s a wise, ancient alchemist who actually taught Cornelius. He’s very reserved and contemplative, and it was a nice challenge trying to relay this in his dialogue. He plays an important role in the plot, so I wanted to do him justice.

Did you have any goals for this book?
I had a few. I wanted the readers to get more experience with the characters they loved in the first book. I wanted to expand Craig and Audrey’s world, and I wanted to flesh out more of the alchemy history hinted at in the first book. And of course, as the final book in the series, I wanted to ensure readers had closure when they finished. Most importantly, though, I wanted to write a fun, enthralling book that really stimulates the reader’s imagination.

Speaking of it being the final book in the series, what was the experience like writing the last line?
Good question! I experienced a mixture of emotions. Although the series isn’t very long, I’d spent years with the characters by the time I finished it. So in a sense, there was some sadness seeing the story coming to an end, and there was some nostalgia remembering when I first started the series. There was also a sense of joy and satisfaction. I feel I really did the characters and the story justice, and I am excited to have the opportunity to share it with the readers.

What do you have in mind for your next project?
I’m currently working on a young adult book. I don’t want to say too much about it right now, but it’s quite different from my other projects.

Anything else you want to tell potential readers?
Anyone interested in learning more about The Sacred Artifact or any of my other books can find more information at www.caldricblackwell.com.

More Information
Visit the author's website
Follow the author on Twitter
Find the author on Facebook
Buy "The Sacred Artifact" on Amazon

Wolf Sane, Guitarist/Singer in Spirits of Abeth

Today's interview is with Wolf Sane, a singer, guitar player, and song writer in Spirits of Abeth. In the interview, we cover a number of topics relevant to the band, from influences to the song-writing process to the future of the band, and more. 

Learn More About Spirits of Abeth
Listen to Spirits of Abeth on Soundcloud
Check out Spirits of Abeth on Facebook
Listen to “Mosquito Blues” by Spirits of Abeth on Youtube
Follow Wolf Sane on Instagram
Direct link to Interview

Tony Palermo, Author of Positive Thoughts Will Change Your Life

Today's interview is with self-help author Tony Palermo. We're talking about his book "Positive Thoughts Will Change your Life | A Handbook For Personal Transformation."

Tell us about yourself. 
My name is Tony Palermo and I’m a certified life coach based in California.  I’m 38 years old and grew up in northern California.  I went to Butte College to get a few two-year degrees and went on to get my four-year degree at California Southern University down in Costa Masa near the Los Angeles.

Describe your book, “Positive Thoughts Will Change Your Life,” in a few sentences.
This book is a guide to help people live a happier healthy life.  I wrote this book to help people and to tell my story of why I became a life coach.

Who do you think would benefit most from reading this book?
This book with benefit anyone who is looking to change his or her life for the better.

Was helping others address problems in their lives and accomplish their goals something you were always interested in? Or is it a passion that evolved over time?
The passion really has evolved over time.  For a long time I suffered from being low and depression it was not until I found my life coach that I really turned a corner and started to get some real help for it.  At that time I thought to myself I would love to help people and spread the word about affirmations and thinking in a positive way to change people’s lives.  In a way getting help with my depression changed my life in a lot of ways.  Not only was I happier but I wanted to help other people with not only depression but with anything they had issues with.

You write a lot about the power of changing one’s negative thought processes. For many people this seems very daunting. Is it as challenging as it seems or is something that gets easier with the right approach?
It does seem very challenging when we first think of changing out negative thoughts to be more positive.  For me, it was changing my negative thinking of “I feel depressed” or “I feel sad” to something more positive.  So I would say, “Yes, I feel happy and my body is perfect.”  I changed the negative thinking to be positive.  So instead of saying the negative affirmation, “I feel depressed” I would say, “Yes, I feel happy and my body is perfect.” 

Let me say this does not happen overnight.  I still catch myself thinking in a negative way at times and  in turn will start to feel depressed.  But now I realize if I change my thinking to be more positive I can change the way I feel.  It does not take long now because I have been thinking in a positive way for a few years now.

People will give up because they see no results.  I totally understand this it took me a few months of saying positive affirmations before I started to see change.  But with that said in the end it’s worth it.  You can do it, just don’t give up.

A major topic in your book is the power of affirmation. For people who aren’t familiar with affirmations, can you explain what they are and why they are important?
Affirmations are anything that we talk about or think about.  A good example is when I was feeling depressed I would say, “I feel depressed.”  I said this every day because that’s how I was feeling.  In turn, that’s what I got in my life.  I manifested more depression because I was saying “I feel depressed” when I changed to a positive affirmation like “I feel wonderful, my body is perfect” my whole life change.  

My point here is you can say positive and negative affirmations and the universe will respond and give you what you are thinking about.  My advice to everyone is really think about what you are saying and if it’s a negative statement changes it to be positive.

You’ve written about dealing with break-ups in a healthy way. What are some of the biggest mistakes people make when trying to deal with the end of a relationship?
In my experience, people tend to try and hang onto the past.  They will try to get back together with their ex even if they know deep down they are not the right person.  People will often want to get back together because they are afraid of being alone.  Being alone sometimes is a good thing.  It gives us time to heal and look back on our relationship and understand why it did not work.

My main point is like the old saying goes it’s better to be single than in a bad relationship.  Don’t try and get back together with an ex just because it’s scary being along or you don’t want to be alone.

In addition to writing, you do both personal and business life coaching. A lot of people have some level of familiarity with personal life coaching, but business life coaching is a little more foreign to most people. What can life coaching do for someone in the business world?
In the business world, I help owners and executives with a wide range of issues.  First a lot of people who run companies not all but a lot have a lot of self-doubts that they are not doing a great job.  Or they just don’t feel good about what they are doing.  I help them to realize that self-doubts and thinking in a negative way can impact their business.  It’s really almost the same as turning negative affirmations to positive affirmations, even owners or top executives have self-esteem and self-doubts about their business lives and personal lives.

No matter if it’s personal life coaching or business life coaching the main thing I’m trying to get the client to realize is they can feel good, they can feel happy, they can feel wonderful about their life. 

If someone has a question about your life coaching or book, is there a way to reach you?
A great way to reach me is on my website at www.tonypalermolifecoach.com or by phone
530-588-0430.

Thanks for speaking with us! Is there anything else you'd like to add?
I would just like to say thank you for letting me tell my story and remind your readers to always think in a positive way.  When you think in a positive way long term you will manifest positive results.

More Information
Tony's website
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Tony's Twitter

Gemma Snow, Author of Seduction en Pointe

Today we are interviewing Gemma Snow about her contemporary erotic romance novel "Seduction en Pointe."

Describe the plot of your new book, “Seduction en Pointe,” in a few sentences.
Nicco Castillo, star of the famous television drama, The Queen Anne’s Revenge, bad boy about town, gets shipped off to Paris for ballet classes, and so his production team can keep him on a tight leash. There, he meets the icy, but oh-so-tempting Isabelle La Croix, his ballet instructor, who wants nothing to do with performers, no matter how hot around the collar Nicco makes her. When Isabelle accidentally seems something she shouldn’t, however, she and Nicco begin to bond over shared hurt, their friendship turning to something far more decadent, and dangerous, as Isabelle and Nicco find themselves dancing all over Paris.

Who do you think would most enjoy this book?
I think "Seduction en Pointe" will appeal to anyone who’s ever fantasized about a Paris love affair. Nicco is definitely a bad boy, but he has a huge heart, and Isabelle has been hurt and needs to be reminded that she’s worth loving, and it’s worth it to give her love back in return. Set against the background of the most romantic city on earth, they divulge their pasts, learn how to heal and explore their intimate and unique desires. It’s a story for artists, travelers and lovers alike!

Tell us a bit about the protagonist, Nicco Castillo.
I loved writing Nicco. I think of the two main characters, he went through a much larger and in-depth development process. In the beginning, I knew I wanted a bad boy who liked to tease and flirt and didn’t take anything seriously, but the first iterations came out a little cardboard and two-dimensional. The deeper I got into writing Nicco, the more I understood that his behavior was rooted in hurt and a sense of losing who he was over his time spent in Hollywood. I think it’s a universal theme to struggle with a sense of self, and exploring Nicco’s journey to finding who he is, against a background of so much pomp and masquerade as Hollywood, was a satisfying and important.

What can you tell us about the relationship between Nicco and Isabelle?
So I’m all about the love/hate tension, and I knew from the start that "Seduction" needed that element, though it took awhile to figure out exactly why. For Isabelle, Nicco is a stark reminder of her ex-husband, who publically humiliated her with his affairs. Nicco is a playboy, though a lot of that is his defense mechanism to deal with his own hurt, at his ex-boyfriend’s unfaithfulness, which Isabelle doesn’t find out until later.

A lot of their relationship is about seeing past what’s on the surface—Isabelle and Nicco both wear masks to cover up what’s been done to them, and when they eventually crack through, they see the people below. Playing around with the elements of performance, both artistically with the acting for Nicco and the ballet for Isabelle, and erotically, with this shared exploration into voyeurism and exhibitionism, was a huge element of that dropping the mask theme.

How does the tumultuous ending to Nicco’s prior relationship affect his relationship with Isabelle?
A lot of Nicco’s bad behavior, the drinking, the partying, the kind of lifestyle that landed him in the emergency room at the very beginning of the book, is a reaction to his failed relationship with Antonio. Though Antonio is ultimately the one who is unfaithful, Nicco goes through the journey of understanding his own role in why the relationship didn’t last—something he eventually works through to be with Isabelle. Since she’s suffered much of the same hurt, though in a far more public and damning capacity, their shared pain and ultimately shared healing is a large part of what brings them together.

Are there any authors who have influenced your writing style?
I’ll recommend reading Juliette Marillier until the day I die. Along with J.K. Rowling and Jane Austen, I’ve learned much about writing unique women with a wide breadth of skills, talents, personalities and relationships. I’ll learn at their helm for the rest of my life.

As far as romance, I owe so much to Eloisa James, Sarah MacLean, Laura Kaye, Suzanne Brockmann and so, so many others. I’m of the mind that you can’t be a writer unless you’re a reader, and I strive to surround myself with the greats.

How do you feel about the increasing popularity of ebooks?
Ebooks are a good thing, don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. For one, the accessibility of ebooks has opened writing to the world. You don’t need connections in New York or a wealthy spouse to try your hand at writing. The options are all there, and that’s really fundamental and important for new writers.

They’re also far more accessible for readers, who can order ebooks from the library and download them the day they’re released. Writers also make more money when they’re not producing physical books, which might just mean they can carve a stable career from it. We’re moving forward with ebooks, undoubtedly.

What are your goals as a writer for the next ten years?
Eee, well I’m hoping to continue the Full Swing series, of which "Seduction en Pointe" is book one. I’m also working on The Triple Diamond series, with "The Lovin’ Is Easy" coming out this month. My main objective is to be able to support myself with writing. I don’t see a future where I’m not a writer, and I have so many stories to tell, so I look forward to the chance to continue following this crazy dream and hoping it all works out.

Tell us about your next book.
Yes! So "The Lovin’ Is Easy" comes out at the end of September and is available for pre-order on the major retailers and early download through Totally Bound. Unsurprisingly, that’s part of a four book series (I love writing series!) set at the Triple Diamond Ranch in Montana, and I just finished up the first draft of book two! "The Lovin’ Is Easy" is the story of city girl Madison Hollis, who inherits a ranch from an uncle she’s never met. When she goes out to inspect the place for sale, she meets the two ranch managers, Christian Harlow and Ryder Dean, and ends up on a whirlwind of desire, family history and personal journey.

I’m also working on "Leather and Gold," which is historical BDSM. One of my favorite elements of writing historical is the built in tension, stemming from propriety and the rules of society. Adding this heavily erotic element into that has been a unique and fun challenge.

Is there anything else you’d like to add?
Romance and erotic romance are really important genres, they’re forward thinking, progressive and open-minded. But in today’s day and age, we can’t be feminist if we’re not intersectional. It’s important to me, moving forward, to continue pushing for diverse, inclusive and representative books, and I’m hoping to see the tide in the industry begin to change as well. Romance has a history of paving the way for the future, from Jane Austen and the domestic story, to the proliferation of romance in grocery stores, so housewives could hide it in the grocery budget without their husband’s knowledge. We have routinely pushed against the order, and we must, cohesively and persistently, do so now.

Thank you so much for having me, and for reading! I hope you enjoy "Seduction en Pointe!"

An excerpt from "Seduction en Pointe":

He schooled his features and checked in with the receptionist for his appointment with the French production team before turning around to face her. If he’d thought her beautiful from the back, he hadn’t been prepared for her face, for the expression in her pale-blue eyes, for the softest, sweetest curve of dusky-rose lips as they parted slightly.

She read a magazine, and Niccolo cursed himself for having let his written French lapse, because he didn’t have a clue which glossy it was.

Still, never hurt to try, and something about this unknown woman made it impossible for him to walk away or pick one of the seats at the far end of the waiting room. She called to him, a modern-day siren, all enticing and impossible to ignore. So he sat beside her, catching a hint of her scent. She smelled like lemons, sweet and fresh, and that seemed to fit her, as did the pointed sharpness of her neck, which grew considerably more rigid once she realized he planned on talking to her.

“What is it you’re reading?” he asked, thickening his Spanish accent. As long as he’d been chasing lovers, the Spanish charm had always worked wonders. Hell, it did wonders for getting him starring roles too.

“Who wants to know?” Her accent was light, as though she’d learned English alongside her French, studied in Sweden or London or New York City. But for all of the softness that came spilling out of those pale-rose lips, there was a steel core that told Nicco she wasn’t having any of his charm. Her words came out strong, self-possessed, and confident, and they made him curious about the woman below the slight frame. Despite appearing so soft, she held her head at a tilt that signified power, kept her neck straight, her shoulders arched. Everything about her stance told Nicco exactly how she felt at his intrusion into her space. Normally, he took his cues and left the obviously uninterested alone, but this woman was enchanting and mysterious, and Nicco found he couldn’t quite look away from her, even as he knew that he tempted the serpent, perhaps because he did. 

More Information
Buy Seduction en Pointe on Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Seduction-en-Pointe-Gemma-Snow-ebook

Buy Seduction en Pointe on Barnes and Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/seduction-en-pointe-gemma-snow

Buy Seduction en Pointe on Google Play 
https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Gemma_Snow_Seduction_en_Pointe

Buy Seduction en Pointe on Kobo
https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/seduction-en-pointe

Buy Seduction en Pointe on Loose ID
http://www.loose-id.com/seduction-en-pointe.html

Connect with Gemma Snow on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/GemmaSnowRomance/

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https://twitter.com/gemmasnowauthor

Connect with Gemma Snow on Pinterest
https://www.pinterest.com/gemmasnowdesire
  
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Howard Kaplan, Author of The Damascus Cover

An interview with Howard Kaplan, author of the "The Damascus Cover," the first book in the Jerusalem Spy Series.

Tell us a bit about your novel, “The Damascus Cover.”
"The Damascus Cover" is a plot within a plot.  There’s a surface story about a rescue of children from Damascus.  Then there is an underlying story unknown to the protagonist as he races through Syria and everything starts to go wrong.  He slowly learns it is intended to go wrong and there’s a twist near the end of the story that actually didn’t come to me until I was a good deal into writing it.

 You have a unique background, having lived in the Middle East, as well as participated in covert missions in the USSR. Did your personal experiences influence your writing?
When I was 21 and 22, I made two forays into the Soviet Union to smuggle out manuscripts on microfilm.  At the time anyone leaving the USSR could not take unpublished writings with them as they were considered “property of the state.”  I was arrested and interrogated for four days though I had no incriminating documents on me.  I met some people in the espionage business along the way so I began to write about what I’d learned and seen in fiction form. I’m always surprised when how writing, personal experiences jump to mind and find their way into the novel.  So yes, all I’ve seen and experienced and I’ve been to the Middle East dozens of times seem into the works.

Kaplan on-set for The Damascus Cover film.

Tell us a bit about the protagonist Ari Ben-Sion.
Ari is a man who has made a huge mistake that cost the life of a younger spy.  He’s plummeted from being at the top of his game and is desperate not to be put out to pasture, so he will accept about any mission.  He does not realize the head of the Israeli Secret Service uses Ari’s weakness to create a greater mission.

“The Damascus Cover” will soon be made into a major motion picture. What can you tell us about this upcoming film?
The film adaptation stars Jonathan Rhys Meyers and Olivia Thirlby (Juno, Goliath) as Kim and Ari.  There is great chemistry between them.  I was on set in Morocco for some of the shoot.  The head of the Israeli Secret Service is played by Sir John Hurt, who recently passed after an illustrious career.  We are beyond lucky to have had him with us.

Some authors have a very hands-off approach in the production of their book’s film adaptation while others are more involved. What was your role in the movie’s creation like?
Generally speaking production companies purchase motion picture and television rights to the novel, which means I still control the book and they have complete say in the screen versions.  I was fortunate to maintain and close relationship with the director so while I had little input into the script, I was invited on several occasions to view the film during the editing process and I made a number of suggestions which were taken.

The protagonist of “The Damascus Cover,” Ari, is played by Jonathan Rhys Meyers in the upcoming film. What about Meyers makes him a good fit for the character?
Jonny as he likes to be called is a fabulous actor and he brings passion to everything he does both in terms of action and romance.  He was a real coup to get him to play Ari. 

What, if any, were the difficulties of transitioning the story to the big screen?
Changes were made but there weren’t any real difficulties other than one scene where in the novel Ari jumps off a train and the producers decided it would be too expensive to shoot so they changed that transition to inside a movie theater in Damascus.  The director often says that when he was up against a wall he always returned to “the spine of the novel.”  So the film adaptation preserves the integrity of the book.  It’s real a marvelous movie.

“The Damascus Cover” is the first book in the Jerusalem Spy Series. Is there any talk of film adaptations for subsequent books in the series?
Not yet, but wouldn’t that be great.  I think those things depend on the success of the film.

Thank you for speaking with us about your book and upcoming movie!

An excerpt from the opening of "The Damascus Cover":

DOV ELON sat in the dirt in his cell leaning against the whitewashed wall. The cubicle, three feet by five feet, was windowless. The air stank of urine. A can, his washbasin, lay on its side in one corner. A thin blanket covered the mound of damp straw piled in the other.  

Dov’s eyes rested on the food trap in the door. Not long before he’d heard the banshee cry of the muezzin beckoning the Muslim inmates to prayer. He assumed a bowl of jasmine tea would soon be pushed through the food trap, but he wasn’t sure. The previous day he’d been transferred from Tadmor Prison, near the ancient Greek ruins of Palmyra in the north, to Sigin al-Mazza, on the outskirts of Damascus.  He didn’t know if his new guards would feed him regularly or at random intervals. So he waited, listening for approaching footsteps, not moving—for every shift in position arched pain through his bruised body. After a while he closed his eyes. The minutes fell away. There were no sounds. The silence hummed in his ears.
 

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