Linda Firestone, Author of Dancing with Gods: A Collection of Women’s Short Stories

Linda A. Firestone, Ph.D. is a published author and professional business writer living in South Florida. She is the author of Dancing with Gods: A Collection of Women’s Short Stories.

Firestone’s acclaimed examination of women and the creative process,Awakening Minerva: The Power of Creativity in Women’s Lives, has been used in universities across the country and in corporate seminars. Her work reflects her sensitivity about women’s struggles for equality and freedom.

She is President and founder of The Women’s Creative Connection a resource helping women reach their potential personally and professionally. She conducts workshops focusing on creativity for business and personal growth and has a speaker’s program.

As a professional business writer, Linda has written for the UN Development Program, the Office of the Mayor of New York City, the Red Cross and other distinguished organizations. She has published numerous magazine articles, written corporate histories and technical trade articles. And, is the current author for the National Association of Women Business Owners-Ft. Lauderdale quarterly newsletter. She is also President and founder of The Write Connections, a professional writing service

Linda is proud to announce the fall release of her unique collection of fictional short stories.

She has worked in theatre and film and has taught in such prestigious universities as New York University, Nova Southeastern University, C.W. Post, and Lynn University.

Bob O’Connor, author of Historical Fiction Novels Based in the mid-19th Century

Bob O’Connor lives in Charles Town, West Virginia, close to most of the sites of his books. O’Connor has always collected books on two historical characters — John Wilkes Booth and John Brown. As he says “Imagine my surprise when I ended up living in Charles Town, West Virginia — a place they both had visited in late 1859. Thus, the inspiration for the first novel The Perfect Steel Trap: Harpers Ferry 1859. The book has been named a Finalist in the 2006 Best Book Awards by USA Book News.”

The inspiration for O’Connor’s second novel, The Virginian Who Might Have Saved Lincoln, was the intrigue of finding a man, Ward Hill Lamon, who was so close to Abraham Lincoln, yet most people he talked to had never heard about him. In fact, he is mentioned in most non-fiction books about Lincoln (there are 44,781 listed on Amazon.com), but no book has ever been written about him.”

O’Connor’s next book will most likely be called “Catesby-Eye Witness to the Civil War.” It is about an African American blacksmith who was captured by John Brown and released when Brown was captured at Harpers Ferry. The book follows his struggle to become a free man, as he witnesses events at Antietam Creek, Gettysburg, the Battle of Olustee (FL) and Andersonville Prison.

Amber Kizer, author of a New and Hilarious Young Adult Novel

The series at a glance
Gert Garibaldi is a normal 15-year-old American girl. She is not gorgeous, she is not loaded and she is not dating the hottest guy in school. She is honest, frank, funny, and real. The books cover a semester of time during her high school experience.

The first book in the series, Gert Garibaldi’s Rants and Raves: One Butt Cheek at a Time, covers the beginning of her sophomore year. She learns to drive, gets her first kiss, survives homecoming rituals, and turns 16. All with a quirky and often hilarious take on the world and her experiences. [Amber’s photo by Sarah La Mar]

Okay, what’s with the title? Is ONE BUTT CHEEK AT A TIME just a gimmick title for shock value?
I have to admit I’ve gotten a scandalized looks and raised eyebrows when I’m asked about the title of this book. Personally, I love the title because it completely characterizes the star’s philosophy of life. Amber Kizer

Gert Garibaldi thinks putting one foot in front of the other is discriminatory against people without feet—but everyone has a butt. So, she puts her jeans on one butt cheek at a time. It’s a testament to taking life as it comes and breaking it down into the parts. She’s quirky and opinionated and I think that comes through in the title. But if the word “butt” offends you—you won’t like the content in the book so don’t read it.

Is this tale autobiographical?
I laugh every time I’m asked this question. No, I didn’t just change my name to Gert and publish my journal from high school. Among other things, I’m not nearly as interesting or funny as Gert. Read more