A “Within Reach” Interview with Jill Bisker + Giveaway

The talented Jody Vitek took some time out of her busy writing schedule to interview fellow talented author Jill Bisker about her shot story “Within Reach.”


 

Within Reach is a very moving and touching story about Emma and the relationship she has with her mother who is suffering with dementia. When Emma finds a special box her father carved with a seashell from her childhood inside, something happens and questions arise that she wants to ask her mother. Questions go unasked and when a small agate replaces the shell, she questions her own sanity.

Within Reach is a short, fast, fulfilling story I recommend everyone reads. The ending will have you looking within yourself.

JODY: I’d like to say hello to everyone and thank you for joining us. Jill, can you share a little about yourself? Where you live? Are you married? Do you have children?

JILL: I live in Stillwater, Minnesota.  I am just celebrating my 25th wedding anniversary with my wonderful husband, George.  I have a 21 year old son named Nathan and a 13 year old cat named Senora.

JODY: Have you always wanted to be a writer?

JILL: Yes, but it is only in the last few years that I was able to believe in myself enough to allow anyone else to read my stories.

JODY: When did you start writing?

JILL: I remember writing stories as soon as I was old enough to write.  I would staple pieces of paper together and make story books.  My mother used to tease me that I couldn’t finish a story because I was so intent on writing the dedication page.  It made me laugh a little to write the dedication page to her.

JODY: You write many different genres and I wondered if you write multiple stories at one time, within these multiple genres, at different times of the hour, day, week, month or when the mood strikes? How do you decide what to work on?

JILL: I have a lot of stories in production at a time.  I am outlining, writing and editing all at the same time.  I have many projects in various stages of completion.  My husband edits my work and helps with story continuity.  Outlining can take some time but when I am ready to write then I write 6 – 8 hours a day until a story is done.  I decide on a word count that I have to get to, usually 1500 – 2000, and I work until I get there.  As far as what to write, I find a story will often ‘demand’ to be told, whether that’s what I had planned or not.  It also helps me to rotate amongst different projects because after a first draft, it’s good to step away from it for a while so that I can return to it with fresh eyes at a later date.  So I typically have a few stories percolating in my mind, am actively writing one, and have one or two in a holding pattern waiting for the next revision.

JODY: You acknowledge your mother, Marlys, in the acknowledgments. Will you share how close to home this story is to you and your mother? If at all.

JILL: I wrote this story when I was helping my mother through the last stages of chronic illness, dementia and leukemia.  I simplified elements in the story just to keep the flow moving.   Some of the elements in the story are things that really happened.  All of the feelings and emotions are genuine.  In our family’s real story – I come from a Yours, Mine and Ours family – my father is living and I have many siblings, as well as numerous nieces and nephews.  We were all deeply affected by my mother’s struggle with dementia.  A portion of the proceeds from this story will be donated to the Alzheimer’s Association www.alz.org.

JODY: Was it difficult to write at times?

JILL: It was actually cathartic to write.  I could focus my feelings into the piece, and it gave me a way to express those feelings and share my experience with others.

JODY: What are you working on now?

JILL: I will be starting edits on my paranormal novel that is coming out in June. (NOTE: “Finding The Way Back” was released from Melange on June 19, 2014.)  I just finished a first draft of the next story in the series and I am on the second draft of a fantasy novel.  I am outlining 3 other stories as well.

JODY: Where do you see your writing career in five years?

JILL:  I hope to continue to be able to bring new stories to life.  Who wouldn’t love a movie deal?  😉 Honestly, as long as I’m able touch others with my writing in some way, I will feel successful.

JODY: My own writer’s curiosity has to ask a few questions: Are you plotter or pantser or both? Organized working area or a mess? Do you have a designated work area? Critique group and/or beta readers?

JILL: I am a firm believer in plotting.  I have many different ways that I outline.  Each story seems to come to me in a different way.  I ask my characters a lot of questions before I even start writing so I know them very well.  I know how they act and what motivates them as well as where I want them to go in the story – how I want them to evolve.  I am very organized, I can’t work in upheaval very well.  I have a vintage vanity I use as a desk and a vintage table in the room to work on outlines.  I don’t let anyone read anything until it’s finished and then I have beta readers.  I tried critique groups but it hasn’t worked for me.  I have found that I have to write in a way that’s true to who I am and what I believe in, and if it’s good enough then hopefully it will find an audience.


 

 About Jill Bisker

Jill Bisker lives in Stillwater, MN with her husband and a calico cat named Senora. She believes in empowering women to be strong enough to protect themselves, while still soft enough to be loving and compassionate. Her work includes paranormal mystery and traditional high fantasy, as well as contemporary and humorous fantasy and an everyday living blog. Her novella Within Reach is her first publication with Melange. Once a dedicated stay at home Mom, Jill now writes full-time.

Website: www.jillbisker.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorjillbisker
Blog: http://www.unaccompaniedjaunt.blogspot.com
Melange:  https://melange-books.com/authors/jillbisker/index.html


About Jody Vitek

Born and raised in Minnesota, Jody has remained close to home living with her husband of twenty plus years, three children and a cat named Holly. Growing up, she enjoyed reading V.C. Andrews’ the Dollanganger series, starting with Flowers in the Attic, S.E. Hinton, and Stephen King to name a few.

She has traveled throughout the United States, to the Bahamas and Cancun, Mexico. Between watching soccer games, scrapbooking and being the COO of the Vitek household, she writes contemporary romances.

Visit and contact Jody at: www.jodyvitek.com
And on Melange: https://melange-books.com/authors/jodyvitek/index.html


GIVEAWAY

Want to get your hands on a FREE e-book copy of “Within Reach”? Simply leave a comment below and you’re entered to win!

A winner will be chosen on or soon after June 30, 2014.

Melange Book Release|| March 12, 2014

 

From romance to chic-lit to sci-fi, we’ve got you covered with these three great short stories from Megan Hussey, Joanne Rawson and John Steiner.

~ * ~ * ~ * ~

The Sea Prince

by Megan Hussey

Artist Vivian draws endless inspiration from the beaches and waters of her tropical home. When she meets the exotic Haiden, she finds the ultimate muse—the handsome prince of an exotic undersea kingdom where nature always takes its course….

~ * ~ * ~ * ~

Learner Mum

 by Joanne Rawson

Polly Wilkins is a successful freelance journalist slash writer. She has been living with her partner Steve in what her parents call sin for the last eight years. But, to her parent’s disappointment, there are no signs of wedding bells or the patter of tiny feet on the horizon. Why? Because Polly, is not in the least bit maternal. Can this all change after Polly and Steve have a torrid weekend looking after her nephew? Or will Polly stick to her guns and loose Steve forever?

~ * ~ * ~ * ~

Sol Side Up

FLIPSPACE #3

by John Steiner

On completion of two missions, the crew of the Mockingbird returns to Earth for Grav Leave. Not everyone welcomes them back as intrepid explorers and peacekeepers. Colonel Ramachandra becomes the target of a kidnapping plot, and the abductors’ motives aren’t clear. Major Lamarr Fitch struggles with the responsibilities of filling in. He must organize the ship’s crew to get Colonel Rama back. Captain Malcolm O’Connell confronts his past and the legacy of being a reincarnated Xerces Protocol patient.

Melange Book Releases for September 20, 2013

September 20, 2013 ~ Melange Book Releaases

September 20, 2013 ~ Melange Book Releaases

Time for the Melange Book Releases for September 20, 2013
Six releases today, including the re-release of two of our current books with brand new covers!

“Tail-Tell Heart” by Jenna M. Fox and “Valley of Tears by J. Troy Seate.
Mr Seate’s novel is the first of a trilogy, watch for the rest of the books to be re-released with their new covers over the next few weeks.

"Mist and Midnight" by Tori L. Ridgewood

“Mist and Midnight” by Tori L. Ridgewood

 

“Mist and Midnight”
by Tori L. Ridgewood

The Talbot Trilogy: The Prequel

 

Stalked by a cruel and relentless vampire, Charlotte is on the run. Fleeing the city, the powers of magick her only protection, she couldn’t afford to fall for the hot modern prospector Pike Mahonen. Can she avoid temptation in a small town, to keep them both safe?

 

"Black Conley" by Shari Dare

“Black Conley” by Shari Dare

 

“Black Conley”
by Shari Dare

 

Raised on a ranch run by whores Black Conley has come full circle. As a US Marshall he’s been sent to find out who is rustling steers from Belle Barton otherwise known as Ball Buster Belle. As soon as he meets the beautiful blonde boss, he knows he doesn’t want any of the other girls in his bed.

Belle has returned to Montana to run her father’s ranch only to find out no man will work for her. Instead she’s turned to the local whores and although they ply their trade at night, during the day they work hard for the Double Bar B. Not wanting a man in her bed, she offers Black the choice of her ‘girls’ but forbids him access to her bed.

"Storm Rider" by Richard Dawes

“Storm Rider” by Richard Dawes

 

“Storm Rider”
by Richard Dawes

Tuscan Kid #1

 

The Tucson Kid is called to the American northwest by the Great Northern Fur Company. The company hires Tucson to go after Rex Normanson, an erstwhile partner of the company who has gone rogue and is inciting Indian tribes to revolt against the American Government. A coalition of the fur company, the U.S. Army, and the Canadian government want Normanson stopped at all costs.

The Tucson Kid takes the job. He will be guided up the Stick River to Normanson’s stronghold on Eagle Mountain by the beautiful half-Indian, Sophie Halloway. Tucson will also have Joe Personelli and his crew of gunmen to help fight off the forces they know Rex Normanson will throw against him to prevent him from reaching the mountain.

The action-packed story follows the expedition as it fights its way up the Stick River, chronicles the developing relationship between Tucson and Sophie Halloway, and describes Tucson’s growing conflict with Joe Personelli. But once Tucson reaches the top of Eagle Mountain, he is in for the surprise of his life when he meets Rex Normanson.

"Vampire Owner's Manual" by Tim Forder

“Vampire Owner’s Manual” by Tim Forder

 

“Vampire Owner’s Manual”
by Tim Forder

As a skirt chasing gambler from the old west, I met a beautiful older woman who made wild passionate love with me and then in the heat of passion turned me into a Vampire!

l wrote this Vampire Owner’s Manual for those who have just became one of the honored or is thinking of becoming one of the honored or just want to know more about Vampires.

The Vampire Owner’s Manual contains vast knowledge of the Vampire Lore; from proper feeding to staying alive or undead; from Vampire history to Vampire myths and a lot more!

The Vampire Owner’s Manual is peppered heavily with personal experience as well as experiences gathered interviewing other Vampires (not an easy task).

When you were born your parents most likely wished you came with an owner’s manual. Suddenly you have awaken with a pain in your neck and a ravenous appetite no food will quench; you are having vague memories of “Vampires” from an old movie and you wish you could have a Vampire owner’s manual: Well here it is!

"Tail-Tell Heart" by Jenna M. Fox

“Tail-Tell Heart” by Jenna M. Fox

 

“Tail-Tell Heart”
by Jenna M. Fox

 

*Re-released with a new cover!

A dog-napping leaves ER doctor Chris Blevins needing help from the detective she tangled with and whose muscular ass she drew the little red heart on.

 

 

"Valley of Tears" by J. Troy Seate

“Valley of Tears” by J. Troy Seate

 

“Swann Saga”
by J. Troy Seate

 

Valley of Tears #1
*Re-released with a new cover!

Steve and Maria Swann are about to discover that real life is more frightening than their nightmares. Within the mountain peaks and woods that surround their new home, an evil lurks, and waits for the time to strike.

This non-stop mystery takes place in the idyllic setting of the Altinoma Valley, where a bizarre and horrifying string of violent tragedies reveals a nightmarish plot. As people disappear, the Swanns not only must confront forces that would destroy them, but also their own consciences.

Enter this world of impenetrable danger where the truth carries a high price: sexual slavery and death.

And congrats to Andrea!
Random.org selected you as the winner of a free ebook!
Check your email!