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Amanda A. Brooks has been writing romance novels since the age of fourteen. In 2009, she decided to self-publish. Never without a book in her hand or bag, Amanda is an avid reader of romance and true crime (especially of stories from the 1960's). She is always thinking of unique ideas for her stories. Amanda resides in Southern California.

Send Amanda your questions and comments to aab874@gmail.com

Check Out Amanda's Books:

Available at Amazon.com in book or e-book format.
 
Thunder Mountain Brides - the new ten-book Western Romance Series by Amanda A. Brooks - set in 1880's Colorado - takes us back to a time when life was lawless, and anything but simple. 

Thunder Mountain Brides takes us back to a time when the three things that mattered most were family, community, and love.

Thunder Mountain Brides takes us back to a time when the strength and character of a woman defied the rules of society, and challenged the heart of a man.

Thunder Mountain Brides - The Wild West has never been so wild!

Please visit thundermountainbrides.wordpress.com to learn more about the Series.

The Outlaw Schoolteacher - Edith	Hidden Secrets - Agnes	The Devil and The Lord - Danny	Forbidden Love - Marjorie	Be Wild My Little Child - Pamela
Complicated - Marta	The Rose and The Thorn - Julia	Who Wants To Live Forever - Eva	Deadly Love - Callie	In Name Only - Liza

~ Podcast/Download Past Shows Below ~

February 11, 2015 Show

SUZANNE SUMNER FERRY,

Author/Actor/Producer  CEO, FERRY PRODUCTIONS, INC.

Suzanne Sumner Ferry is an American actress and author from Los Angeles, CA. After a long career in the paper manufacturing industry doing inside sales followed by the publishing field as a production director for custom magazines and catalogs, Suzanne became a stay-at-home mom in 2006. During her time as a stay-at-home mom raising two young children, she wrote for first two books. About three years ago, after being inspired by watching her son's acting classes, she began acting and landed a lead role in a feature film (Treasure Hunters; Magic Elevator, LLC) within the first six months. Acting had always been a strong desire of hers, evident in numerous high school theatrical productions she was involved with in her earlier years. Suzanne is the author of two books: "Corinna the Christmas Elf" (2006; Tate Publishing Enterprises) and "The Day the Stars Stood Still: A Memoir about Logan Fleming, the Former Top Wax Artist at Movieland Wax Museum" (2009; BearManor Media).
Suzanne Sumner Ferry is also the second cousin of late actress/ singer/starlet Kathryn Elisabeth Grayson from Winston-Salem, NC. She is writing a biography about Kathryn Grayson.
She continues to raise her two children (who also enjoy acting) with her husband of 12 years in Southern California.
Suzanne has also written eight feature film screenplays, one of which is now being developed into a feature film called Tynk of Neverland. She and her son will also have acting roles in this film.Suzanne is working on another screenplay for actor Robert Miano, and is going to be a judge in the 2015 Maggie Awards in Los Angeles. She has upcoming rolls in the future film "The Crash; 2016) and upcoming TV series "Sangre Negra" in which she plays an alcoholic wife alongside actors Robert Miano, Erik Estrada, and Eric Roberts.
My blog: http://www.suzanneferry.blogspot.com/
NOTE: I am currently working on my third book, a biography of the late and lovely actress/singer Kathryn Grayson, who was my second cousin. This will be very "Old Hollywood" for those of you who love history and stories about some of our beloved stars of yesteryear.
The Day the Stars Stood Still: A Memoir about Logan Fleming, the Former Top Wax Artist at Movieland Wax Museum (2011 - BearManor Media)
My second book is a memoir about the career of Logan Fleming, top wax artist and Creative Director of Movieland Wax Museum and the Palace of Living Art in Buena Park, CA. During Movieland's life span, Mr. Allen Parkinson, who created Movieland, saw traffic of over one million visitors per year come to enjoy the more than two hundred wax figures of Hollywood's most popular, beloved movie stars that graced the museum building (and the silver screen). Logan Fleming was extremely instrumental in making these stars come to "life" within the Movieland arena, as well as bringing the artful masterpieces of the world to life in the Palace of Living Art. These creations were made for the public to adore, and adore they did! It was Logan Fleming's eyes, hands, personality and artistic vision that created the eternal wax likenesses of some of our favorite and most beloved movie stars of Old Hollywood. To have your wax figure created for Movieland was an amazing honor for a movie star back then, and no one's hands could do you better justice than Logan's. These stories help bridge the gap between fantasy and reality. They are your stories now.
Corinna the Christmas Elf (2009 - Tate Publishing enterprises)  http://www.amazon.com/Corinna-Christmas-Suzan…/…/ref=sr_1_1…
The link above encapsulates my first book, Corinna the Christmas Elf. This is a story for young children (pictures) and beginning readers and has many great messages in it about having a strong work ethic, studying for school, having college and career interests, solving problems using the knowledge you have, and being a leader. It is also a magical book with elves, Santa, presents and the surprise and wonder of the Christmas Season.

Customer Review: Corinna the Christmas Elf
"A delightful reinterpretation of holiday activities and the value of a stiff work ethic" -- July 23, 2009, By Midwest Book Review
http://www.midwestbookreview.com/cbw/jul_09.htm#christmas
"Corinna the Christmas Elf: A Christmas Story" is an exciting new Christmas storybook written by Suzanne Sumner Ferry with a definite empowering message for girl elves with electrical engineering/managerial ambitions. One of Santa's best toy-maker elves (and the only girl elf), Corinna longs to go to college and become an electrical engineer, even though Santa has promoted her to Senior Elf Factory Manager. So she reads special electrical engineering textbooks at night and studies hard to achieve her dream of becoming Chief Elfin Electrical Engineer. One day the elves have a work-stopping electrical failure, and Corinna decides to take the opportunity to use her special skills and knowledge, even though she is untested and untrained as an electrical engineer. She takes proper safety precautions, plans ahead, and prepares to save the day and solve the problem, even though Santa and other elves are quite worried about her ability to tackle the dangerous work safely. Santa says, "I don't think this is something a girl elf should be doing!" Oddly enough, Mrs. Claus weighs in as her supporter, asking Santa, "If it were a boy elf up on the roof, would you be saying the same thing?" Finally Corinna achieves her goal, after a few more frightening moments, and Santa proudly tells her, "Corinna, you were the best man for the job today!' Of course, he then realizes he needs to amend that compliment by saying "You know I'm joking, Corinna. You were the best girl for the job!" "Corinna the Christmas Elf" is a refreshing revision of older holiday stories. It is charmingly illustrated by Jason Hutton in holiday-colored cartoons full of humour and detail. Another offering of the author is a free audio book digital download. "Corinna the Christmas Elf" is a delightful reinterpretation of holiday activities and the value of a stiff work ethic."
I hope you enjoy my books, and thank you for your support! Feel free to drop me a note at Suzanne.ferry@verizon.net or to visit my Facebook fan page:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/221806531198154/
Never stop reading,   Suzanne Sumner Ferry, Author/Actor/Producer CEO, FERRY PRODUCTIONS, INC.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1VvpDE87b7E

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mR2Pom1BMBk
 

January 13th, 2015 Show

JOSH TOWNSEND
 

Josh Townsend is a 40 year old filmmaker/writer who currently lives in Jacksonville Florida. He grew up and went to school in Gainesville Florida with the dream of making movies since he was a teenager. After watching the movie Summer School starring Mark Harmon he knew exactly what he wanted to do. Being influenced by two characters in the movie he wanted to make become a special effects person at first. After many hours of slinging latex and karo syrup blood he thought would have to make a movie himself to show off his special effects prowess. Soon after he changed his mind and decided he wanted to direct movies instead. Namely horror movies, specifically gory violent horror movies.  Unfortunately his parents never supported him leading to him moving out in the 11th grade and completing school on his own. This lack of direction and support led to him taking on a different path for the next decade. Drugs, crime, girls and watching movies took over any ambition to actually create. He played in death metal bands as his creative outlet but it wasn't enough. Somewhere in his early thirties he came back around and decided to concentrate on making movies again. Because of the party atmosphere in Gainesville he couldn't find anyone serious so he moved to the bigger city of Jacksonville Florida. There he found plenty of like minded people and made his first serious short movie LOYALTY, a gangster/horror hybrid that is unlike any other movie before it. Loyalty was selected to play at Fantasia film festival in Montreal in 2006. Josh traveled up there and hung out for two weeks meeting many film related artists he had looked up too his whole life. Invigorated by the experience Josh came back to Jacksonville with a serious fire lit under his ass. After making two more short films he decided it was time to step up his game and make a feature. After a serious accident at his work involving a table saw and a few severed fingers he used to the 10 grand he got from workers compensation to make his first feature film. THE GAINESVILLE RIPPER is based in serial killer Danny Rollings who went on a murder spree in Gainesville while he was in 10th grade going to Gainesville High School. After nearly a two years in production and many more in post the movie almost ready to be unleashed on the world. Using it as a learning experience he has been acting in music videos, features and short films in Jacksonville being very prolific in the year 2014. After starring and directing the short films WHORE, SMALL PROBLEMS, TRACE AND LACEY 4-EVER and the upcoming MAKE HER CRY he finally feels like he figured it all out. 2015 looks to be the year he breaks out with the final release of GAINESVILLE RIPPER and an untitled feature based on his experienced as a gangster growing up in Gainesville.


About The Gainesville Ripper

December 9, 2014 Show

ELISABETH VON TRAPP

For Elisabeth von Trapp, “ the sounds of music “ are part of her earliest memories.  Born and raised in Vermont, Elisabeth is the granddaughter of the legendary Maria and Baron von Trapp, whose story inspired The Sound of Music. Singing professionally since childhood, Elisabeth has enthralled audiences from European cathedrals to Washington D.C.’s Kennedy Center. Inspired by her father Werner von Trapp’s guitar playing and singing, Elisabeth has carried on the legacy of the internationally renowned Trapp Family Singers. She began taking piano lessons when she was eight and by the age of sixteen she was playing guitar and traveling the back roads of New England performing with her
siblings at weddings, gospel meetings and town halls. Building on her famed family’s passion for music, Elisabeth has created her own artistic
style, at once ethereal and earthy, delicate and powerful. Listeners have likened her to Judy Collins and Loreena McKennitt. Critics have called her voice ...“ hauntingly clear “ “ joyfully expressive “ and “ simply beautiful.” Elisabeth’s concert repertoire ranges from Bach to Broadway ... Schubert to Sting. With equal ease and eloquence she sings timeless wonders like Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Favorite Things and Edelweiss, Lieder by Mozart, Puccini's O Mio Babbino Caro, soaring gospel tunes, pop classics like A Whiter Shade of Pale and her own stunning compositions. Her cathedral program includes sacred and secular music extending from Gregorian chants, songs by 12th century mystic Hildegard of Bingen, early American hymns, spirituals and psalms set to her own compositions. She is accompanied by the elegant arrangements of her guitar and acclaimed cellist and longtime musical
colleague, Erich Kory. In the spring of 2001 Elisabeth was granted permission from Robert Frost’s publisher, Henry Holt & Co., to sing parts of the poet’s oeuvre. Poetic License, released in June 2004, features the musical settings of poems by Frost and Shakespeare, a Japanese haiku and interpretations of Over The Rainbow / What A Wonderful World, Sting’s Fragile and Schubert’s An Die Musik. On her summer 2005 release, Love Never Ends / Sacred Sounds, Elisabeth has collected, arranged and recorded some of her favorite hymns, psalms and chants with influences from jazz and gospel, contemporary and classical musical styles. Elisabeth has released five self produced albums, and has performed across the United States, Austria and Russia. Her music has been featured on National Public Radio, BBC-Radio, Japanese National Radio and CNN Spanish Radio. She has appeared on CBS’s Eye on People, ABC’s Good Morning America and BBC-TV. No one leaves an Elisabeth von Trapp performance unchanged ... audiences of all ages are drawn by the promise of her famous name ... awed by the beauty of her voice and musical arrangements ... their hearts touched forever by the astonishing sound of her unique new music. von trapp music • box 827 waitsfield, vt 05673 • 802-496-3171 vtm@madriver.com
 

November 2014 Show

CARYN RICHMAN

As a native New Yorker, Caryn began her career starring as “Sandy” on Broadway in the hit musical Grease. MCA Records then signed her to a recording contract with the group Tuxedo Junction who made their mark with the top ten hit “Chattanooga Choo-Choo.” As a series regular in daytime, Caryn starred in Another World, Texas and The Young And The Restless. In primetime, she landed the title role in the TV movie Gidget’s Summer Reunion and went on to star in the series The New Gidget. Caryn also played Greg Brady’s wife in the TV movie A Very Brady Christmas and in the subsequent series The Bradys. She was able to indulge her love of animals when she starred in the series Hollywood Safari on Animal Planet and most recently on the show Pet Time Stories. Recent TV appearances include playing Ray Romano’s wife on Maron on IFC and a current role on the Nickelodeon show Bucket and Skinner’s Epic Adventures, as well as numerous guest star roles over the years in such shows as Party Of Five, Jake And The Fatman, Good Advice, Matlock and Mike Hammer. Her film credits include Black Water Vampire, Darius, Drowned, Baby Blue, The Bitterness, Young Hollywood, Sleepstalker, Hitman and Angel Fire. She can also be heard as the voice of “Manny” in the animated project There’s A Kid Under My Bed. Recently, Caryn had the opportunity to join radio and television personality Larry Elder for a run in hosting The Morning Show on MSNBC. Theatre has also played a huge part in Caryn’s life. Since her original stint on Broadway, she reprised the role of “Sandy” with Jack Wagner and Rex Smith. Suds, another popular musical had Caryn singing 60’s melodies across the USA. In Los Angeles, she starred in The Hallelujah Girls, Independence, Cannibals, I Remember You, the World Premier of Dottie, Blame It On The Movies, Till Death Or Whatever Do Us Part, True Story and is currently involved in developing the 80’s musical Rock Candy. In keeping with her “Gidget” history, Caryn is proud to be on the board of the Surf City Theater Company in Hermosa Beach, California.

October 2014 Show

DAWN WELLS

On September 26, 2014, the iconic American sitcom, "Gilligan's Island" - created and produced by Sherwood Schwartz - will be celebrating its 50th anniversary. At a birthday celebration this past week for one of its stars, Miss Dawn Wells, a song highlighting her famous role was performed by a group named "The Southern Gentlemen" entitled "There Will Always Be A Place In My Heart For Mary Ann" ( https://vimeo.com/77371133  ). Miss Wells remarked, "I embraced the public's love of Mary Ann years ago. In fact, she seems to have grown more popular every year." Why? She explains, "I think there are fewer Mary Anns today than there used to be. There are many Gingers, both on TV and in real life, but far fewer Mary Anns, and I think the public remembers her fondly, and misses her terribly."

Wells, who was a former Miss Nevada, auditioned for the role of Mary Ann Summers opposite such noted competition as Raquel Welch, Patricia Ann Priest, and the actress, Nancy McCarthy, who shot the pilot episode under the character name of "Bunny." The role of Mary Ann became a simple farm-girl from Winfield, Kansas, and spawned one of the most popular questions of all time: Ginger or Mary Ann?

When asked about the most memorable Mary Ann moment, she responded, "There are too many. However, recently, I was brought in to surprise Sandra Bullock with a coconut cream pie as celebrity interviewer, Gino Salomone, was speaking to her about the film "Gravity". We had great fun! I am such a fan!" The video has been released, and can be seen at http://dawnwells.com/dawn-wells-gives-a-pie-to-sandra.../

Since the show ended on September 4, 1967, Wells has continued to work on both screen and stage. She published "Mary Ann's Gilligan's Island Cookbook" with co-writers Ken Beck and Jim Clark, which included a foreword by castaway cast mate Bob Denver, and even starred as Lovey Howell in "Gilligan's Island: The Musical", a musical stage adaptation of the TV show. Wells most recently starred along with fan favorites such as Rip Taylor, Lee Meriwether, Bruce Vilanch, and others in "Silent, But Deadly", and the stage production of "The Lion In Winter" as Queen Eleanor.

Wells has just completed three stage productions in 2013, including "Love Letters", "Steel Magnolias", and the off-Broadway show, "Love, Loss, And What I Wore". She is currently working on the idea of a new reality show called "Hunter History". Her new book, entitled "What Would Mary Ann Do?: A Guide To Life", came out on September 8th, and can be ordered on her website or on www.amazon.com

For more information on Dawn Wells, visit http://www.dawnwells.com/ , or follow her on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/therealmaryann

September 2014 Show

MICHAEL HEBLER

Prior to becoming an award-winning author of his dark fiction Chupacabra Series, Michael was a full-time international film publicist who had worked on multiple titles for Walt Disney, Pixar, Lionsgate, Lakeshore Entertainment, Warner Bros., Summit Entertainment, and the 2013 Academy Award-winning Best Foreign Language Film, "La grande bellezza" (The Great Beauty).

Born in the early 1970's in Los Angeles County to a salesman and a homemaker, Michael dreamed of following his passions for entertainment and storytelling by becoming an actor. It was while studying theatre arts at Orange Coast College in Costa Mesa, California, did he realize his penchant for stories were better suited on the page rather than the stage. However, creating tales with suspense, laughter, and heart is not Michael's only love. Hebler also enjoys volunteering in his local community for Meals on Wheels, as well as aid in the capture/spay/neuter/release feral program.

To date, Michael's publications include NIGHT OF THE CHUPACABRA, CURSE OF THE CHUPACABRA, and LEGEND OF THE CHUPACABRA (Books I, II, & III of the six-part Chupacabra Series) as well as his first publication, THE NIGHT AFTER CHRISTMAS, a holiday picture book for believers of any age. Currently, Hebler has two new projects in the works: Book IV in the Chupacabra Series, DAWN OF THE CHUPACABRA, and the novella, THE GHOST OF CHRISTMAS PAST, where the entity from Charles Dickens' classic, A CHRISTMAS CAROL, takes a spiritual journey of its own that centers around its afterlife, and life, while it aides a woman with her complicated past. Both titles are expected to be released in 3rd quarter 2015.

August 2014 Show

Lorraine Ziff aka Lorraine Bencivengo-Ziff

Lorraine was born in the Bronx, New York and has been involved with theater since her days in Junior High. She graduated Marymount College with a B. A. Double Degree in Theatre and Communications with a concentration in Journalism. During college, she began her acting career with bit parts in movies such as The Muppets Take Manhattan (where she met her future husband) and television shows such as L. A. Law. Upon graduation, she won the Actor's Award. She appeared in television shows such as Burn Notice, and films which span many genre, such as "Goldberg, P.I.", (comedy), "Once Upon A Time in Brooklyn", (crime), "Mansion of Blood", (horror), "Treachery" (drama), "Six Gun Savior" (supernatural western) and many commercials, often as the spokesperson.

Lorraine attended law school, had a paralegal business then attended graduate school and obtained her M.S.W. from Fordham University, NY. She worked in a school as a School Social Worker and had a psychotherapist business as well as owned and operated a real estate investment/property management business. She has been very involved in fund raising for cancer research and has been named a "Cancer Research Angel" on more than one occasion through various organizations. Throughout it all, she continued to take acting, vocal and voice over performance classes to hone her craft. She has been in many stage productions as well as film productions, television shows and commercials. Lorraine's rich experiences outside of the acting world have made her very familiar with terms, situations and conditions in various businesses, and enable her to bring true depth to her acting and voice over performances. In addition, she continues to expand her role to that of Producer. She splits her time between New York, California and Florida. She is married to Laurence (Larry) Ziff and has two sons, Adam and Matthew.

Lorraine's life has truly come full circle as, more recently, she has considered herself very fortunate to work on movies with her son, Matthew Ziff, who is also an actor. Both he and Lorraine are members of SAG-AFTRA, AEA and GIAA.

July 2014 Show

ALISON ARNGRIM


Alison Arngrim, best known to viewers worldwide for her portrayal of the incredibly nasty “Nellie Oleson” on the much loved, long running hit television series "Little House On The Prairie," continues to amuse audiences through her many film, television and stage appearances. She is heavily involved in her work to help people with AIDS and to protect children from abuse - especially sexual The National Association to Protect Children www.protect.org. The stand-up comedian is the author of "Confessions of a Prairie Bitch” - which talks about what it was like to be nasty Nellie Oleson on "Little House On The Prairie".
http://www.hgd.com/alison/    http://www.protect.org/



 

TIPPI HEDREN


The Roar Foundation was founded in 1983 by Tippi Hedren ("The Birds" and "Marnie") to support the abandoned exotic felines at Shambala Preserve. Their mission is to educate the public about the dangers of private ownership of exotic animals. Huge numbers of dangerous animals are bred and sold in the United States for illegal purposes. Shambala is home to over 50 big cats - lions, tigers, cougars, black and spotted leopards, servals, bobcats, Asian leopard cats, and a jungle cat - who live out their lives at Shambala. All have come to the Preserve after confiscation by authorities such as California Fish and Game, the United States Department of Agriculture, the ASCPA, and various Humane Societies. They are from roadside zoos and private citizens who realized that they had purchased an animal that they could no longer handle. The exotic cat trade is a huge business, just under illegal drugs, according to U.S. Fish and Wildlife. Once an animal is brought to Shambala, it remains here for the rest of its life. As a true sanctuary, we do not buy, breed, sell, trade, or subject our animals to commercial use. Our only purpose is to allow these magnificent animals to live out their lives with love and dignity. Each "Wild One" has the best human, nutritional, medical, emotional, and mental care possible.
http://www.shambala.org/

 

June 10, 2014

KYM KARATH

 is an actress, writer, and advocate for children and young adults with special needs.

Though perhaps best known for her role as the youngest Von Trapp in The Sound Of Music, Kym appeared in film and television throughout the years.

She currently has a screenplay in development, and is chairman of the Aurelia Foundation.

May 13, 2014

LYDIA CORNELL

Best Actress nominee and People's Choice Award winner, international Star of over 250 TV shows and films, best known as the star of ABC's hit series Too Close For Comfort as TV legend Ted Knight's daughter, Sara Rush.

One of the most popular sex symbols on TV, she is now a mother, author, teen mentor, talk show host, comedienne, producer, director, and award-winning writer.

Too Close For Comfort can currently be seen four times a week on Antenna TV, Tribune Broadcasting.

www.lydiacornell.com

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