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Through her various occupations, Abby discovered her love of writing. She’d always been told she had a gift for telling stories, combining the two, she became an author.
Her debut novel, the mystery/sci-fi, In the Beginning, was an Amazon #1 bestseller, it was written on a whim, packed away, and rediscovered some twelve years later. After publishing it in 2013, Abby decided to make writing a full-time endeavor. She penned three novels since - two stand alone sequels and a historical/women’s fiction novel that she co-wrote under the pen name Kathryn Longino. Abby hopes to publish another historical novel, and a paranormal romance story in 2015.
Abby, a former lawyer and college professor, has a degree in Economics, a masters in Public Administration, and a Juris Doctor. A lifetime resident of Cleveland, Ohio, Abby spends all of her time writing and enjoying her three wonderful grandchildren.
BUILD YOUR OWN WORLD
I started writing on a whim. It wasn't anything I dreamed of doing all my life, nothing I had planned on doing. It was just something I discovered that was a passion. The old adage when you become a writer you should always endeavor to “write what you know.” But when you write science fiction as I do, you can’t write what you know, because what you write about isn't anything that exists - yet. Ray Bradbury, best known for his dystopian novel, Fahrenheit 451 (1953) said, “Science fiction is any idea that occurs in the head and doesn't exist yet . . . As soon as you have an idea that changes some small part of the world you are writing science fiction . . .”
I write science fiction because it lets me change the world.
When I was younger and first forged my love of reading, I’d pick books that I could get lost inside of; find another time and place. It was an adventure for me as I’d duck inside of a Secret Garden, or find myself pulled through A Wrinkle in Time.
I I’m a thinker. Always have been. I like to know the why behind things. And the how. Reading science fiction gave me so much more to think about, to imagine. It makes more things in this world possible. And by writing in the genre I can make the impossible, possible.
I don’t write the hard-core kind of sci-fi. I like alternative history stories, and “find the artifact to learn the truth about history” kind of stories. And when I write my stories, I love to intertwine my fiction with facts. When you add facts to the words of fiction, expanding on what is to what it could be, to me just makes for such a better story.
That’s what drew me to the Indiana Jones movies and why Dr. Henry Jones, or “Indy” is my favorite movie hero.
The four-movie franchise pitted archaeology against evil. History with mythology. And it threw in some mystery and adventure as well. There are so many things I like about the main character in these movies.
I like (love) his hat, and that he never loses it no matter how many cliffs he takes a nosedive over. I love that he’s good with his fists and that he’s quick on his feet, he can take on any villainous foe, and topple their malevolent schemes. But I think what I like most of all is that all of that is juxtaposed against him being a mile, soft spoken college professor at the fictional Marshall College. In a former life (before I became a full time writer), I was a college professor. I didn't teach anything as interesting as Dr. Jones (he teaches archaeology, I taught Economics), but I think it gives me a certain kinship with him.
Being a teacher, like reading a novel, introduces you to a whole new world. New characters, new situations and crises to overcome every day, in every one of your classrooms. And the makers of this film did an excellent job of taking the academics out into the world. “Henry” was the professor persona – rational thinker, educator and scholar. Indy, was the adventurous, go-getter that found his passion in all the excitement that was the Indiana Jones films. Oh, and all the wonder artifacts he located! Imagine finding the Ark of the Covenant. He was the perfect hero for the kind of science fiction I enjoy. And although my books aren't usually action adventure stories, they all have a little of Henry and Indy in them.
In The Beginning
by Abby L. Vandiver
Perhaps the history you've been taught wasn't the truth.
A fifty year old journal.
2,000 year old manuscripts hidden with the Dead Sea Scrolls . . .
The answer to Earth's ancient mysteries revealed.
In 1949, Dr. Amos Sabir is assigned to translate four manuscripts that were found in Cave #4 at Qumran. Dr. Samuel Yeoman, Editor-in-Chief is tasked with presenting the information contained in the Dead Sea Scrolls to the world. Neither is prepared to share what they find. Even if it means they have to lie or kill to keep it secret.
History repeats itself. Unfortunately for mankind, arrogance and greed are a part of human nature. And that same human nature that almost drove mankind to extinction thousands of years ago, is rearing its ugly head - again.
In 1997 Justin Dickerson, Biblical Archaeologist, and self-proclaimed re-creator of history, is finding little purpose to her existence as of late. She jumps at the invitation to attend the 50th Jubilee of the finding of the Dead Sea Scrolls to help with the remaining needed translations. Instead, a chance discovery of a journal of one of the original translators of the famed manuscripts sets her off on a path that will unravel the foundation of mankind’s belief of his origins forever. Obsessed with the possibility that history has purposely been destroyed, she is soon faced with the shocking discovery of what really happened In the Beginning . . .
Not fast paced or action packed, In the Beginning is a thought-provoking story that'll make you wonder if it could really be true.
At the End of the Line
by Kathryn Longino (aka Abby L. Vandiver)
A wrong number, and a cry of desperation at the end of the line sparks a long distance friendship between two women who've never met. Through fourteen years of trouble and heartache from a stagnant domestic life, the struggle for civil rights, and the stigma of interracial relationships, a bond forms between the two that changes both of their lives forever.
It's 1958, a time when women and Negroes are deemed second-class and are being second-guessed. From there arises the perfect storm for change, and the perfect time for an unlikely friendship.
Beatrice "Beanie" Peterson, forced to marry at fifteen and live with two sister wives, six children, and an abusive husband twenty years her senior, is looking for a way out.
Adeline "Liddie" Garrison, friend of Jack Kennedy, wife of a prominent Boston business man, and resident of Beacon Hill, has already found her way in.
Read Alikes: For readers who enjoyed Julie Kibler's, CALLING ME HOME and Melissa Foster's, HAVE NO SHAME.
Kerry J. Donovan
Kerry was born in Dublin. He spent most of his life in the UK, and now lives in Brittany with his wife of thirty-seven years. He has three children and three grandchildren, all of whom live in England and all of whom think he’s nice (strange the way that works out). An absentee granddad, Kerry praises the advent of video conferencing.
I former lives, Kerry has been a furniture designer/cabinet maker, a research scientist, a house restorer, and now spends all.most of his time writing crime thrillers and what he likes to call adventure yarns. He recently topped the Amazon UK bestseller genre list for his paranormal thriller, The Transition of Johnny Swift.
There are currently two book in his DCI Jones Casebook series and a new addition is due out in the New Year.
The Transition of Johnny Swift
by Kerry J. Donovan
The DCI Jones Casebook: Ellis Flynn
by Kerry J. Donovan
David Wind
I live and write in a small village about thirty miles upstate of NYC, and share my home with my wife, Bonnie and our dog Alfie, an apricot poodle.
When I began writing in 1980, I had no idea where I was headed. Since then, I've published thirty-five novels, thirty-three of them with traditional publishers, but I decided I wanted more freedom than the traditional publishers would allow and began a new phase in my life as an Independent Author.
My first Independent novel Angels In Mourning, was my 'homage' to the old time private detective books of the late 40's, 50's and 60's. I used to love to sneak them from my parents’ night-tables and read them as a young boy. Angels, is a modern day take on the old style hardboiled detective. Angels In Mourning won the Amazon.com Book of the Month Reader's Choice Award shortly after it was published.
My most current thriller, The Cured, was written with Terese Ramin.The idea for this Medical Thriller came shortly after the death of a close friend. I couldn't help but wonder about the medication....
My previous suspense thrillers are The Hyte Maneuver, (a Literary guild alternate selection); As Peace Lay Dying, Conspiracy of Mirrors, And Down will Come Baby, Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep, and Shadows.
Angels In Mourning
by David Wind
The Cured
by David Wind
Stephen Hazlett
I was born and came of age on the mean city streets of New Jersey. As a young man, I served in the U.S. Army Medical Corps, which included a year in Vietnam. After that, I began a career as a computer professional in California’s Silicon Valley.
Since quitting the workaday world to pursue my passion for writing, I've authored six novels, a collection of stories, and a memoir, titled The Way I Saw It. I've written other books, too, that never saw the light of the published world, when I was young and still learning the craft.
My novels include the three volume City Different mystery series, set in Santa Fe, NM, available individually on Amazon, and recently released as a complete Boxed Set, titled The City Different Series. Separately, the three volumes of the series are City Different, Nina’s Time, and Finding Nina. I've also published three other novels of contemporary life, the collection of stories and the memoir mentioned above.
Currently, I divide my time between New Mexico's Land of Enchantment and Orange County, California, pursuing the craft of a writer of contemporary fiction, mystery/suspense and crime/thrillers.
City Different
by Stephen Hazlett
Nina's Time
by Stephen Hazlett
RP Dahlke
I write humorous mysteries about an annoyingly tenacious tall, blonde and beautiful, ex-model turned crop-duster who, to quote Lalla Bains, says: “I've been married so many times they oughta revoke my license.” I wanted to give readers a peek at a not so-perfect life of a woman who is not afraid of chipping her manicure because she doesn't have time for a manicure, what with herding a bunch of recalcitrant pilots and juggling work orders just to keep her father’s flagging business alive.
Beginning with #4 in the series, A Dead Red Alibi, Lalla and her family will reside in South East Arizona where she will divide her time between a fledgling P.I. business with cousin, Pearlie Bains, and volunteering as a team member with Cochise County Search and Rescue.
I also write a romantic sailing mystery trilogy: A Dangerous Harbor and Hurricane Hole. Coming in 2015: Dead Rise
A Dead Red Cadillac
by RP Dahlke
A Dead Red Heart
by R.P. Dahlke
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Stephen Hazlett here. Loved your guest post, Abby. The evolution of Abby Vandiver, writer. Congrats on being a part of a great group, eNovel Authors at Work.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Stephen!
DeleteWonderful post Abby, Thank you Victoria for hosting this great writer.
ReplyDeleteThanks, David!
DeleteGreat website, Girl with a Pen! Hope your blogging is going well. Thank you for hosting our book tour and featuring me and my books on your site. It's always great to connect with readers.
ReplyDelete