Gerard Bianco Studio

Today, I bring you something fun and exciting, and something we've never done before on the blog. Allow me to present historical-author Linda McLaughlin's interview with one of the characters from her book Lady Elinor’s Escape. It's 19th century English Barrister Stephen Chaplin. Let’s hear what he has to say: I recently visited barrister Stephen Chaplin, Esquire at his offices in London ’s Lincoln ’s Inn . LM: Mr. Chaplin, thank you so much for agreeing to meet with me. Can you tell me a bit about yourself? For instance, are you originally from the London area? SC: No, my family is from Lincolnshire . I grew up on a small estate with my elder brother and my younger sister, Olivia. LM: Where did you attend university? SC: Cambridge , of course. The men of my family have done so for several generations. Then I came to Lincoln ’s Inn to read for the law. LM: Did you always want to be a barrister? SC: Not as a child, of course. Boys always ha...

Happy to have author Tina Gayle on the blog. Tina is a multi-genre author, delving into mystery, romance, and the paranormal. This post will focus on Summer's Growth, just one of the many books by this author. Blurb for Summer’s Growth: In the spirit-haunted Winston estate in Ohio, rooted in time and occupied by the lingering ghosts of a great family, the torch is about to pass... Mattie Winston, sober, sensible, and steady, has served as Keeper to the family for decades. Amber Harrison, hovering on the edge of flunking out of college, unsure what she wants out of life, has barely even heard of the Winston estate. The family, however, has decided that it's time for the changing of the guard. These two exceptional women soon find themselves dealing with violence, murder attempts, and old family mysteries while each finding the love of her life. Two romances and a growing friendship, all twined around a brooding family tragedy, make for an outstanding paranorma...

"Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons -  I never get writer's block. Writers who get writer's block think story is the most important element in writing. It's not. It's how you feel about a thing that's most important. A great writer uses story to express his or her feelings. Learn to feel. Then write a story that will convey, metaphorically, how you feel. If you do these two things, you'll never, ever get writer's block.

In celebration of the release of my new book, A Sharp Bend in the Road: 17 Intriguing Stories , Goodreads is giving away an autographed copy to 3 lucky recipients. Giveaway dates: February 5th - February 9th. Sign up below for a chance to win!    GOOD LUCK! --GERARD Goodreads Book Giveaway A Sharp Bend in the Road by Gerard Bianco Giveaway ends February 09, 2015. See the giveaway details at Goodreads. Enter to win

How to Create Three-Dimensional Characters Fleshing out your characters is one of the most important elements in writing great fiction. Details, such as how your characters look, how they walk and talk, and their idiosyncratic propensities, must be written into your story so that your characters have a three-dimensional quality. But, when it comes to representing characters as living, breathing beings, addressing your character's physical profile is only half the battle. An author must also be sympathetic to a character’s wants and needs. Your sensitivity will round out your characters and will add fullness to your story as well. Why Do Stories Fall Flat?             Ever wonder why your stories sometimes fall flat? What’s missing? Ezra Katz from Wikimedia  The problem could be, like some parents who work too long and too hard, that you've lost sight of the wants and needs of your children, and by children I me...

Announcing the official release of my new book, A SHARP BEND IN THE ROAD: 17 INTRIGUING STORIES. Over two years in the making. On the shelves at last. Here's what reviewers are saying: " A Sharp Bend in the Road showcases a carnival of amazing and totally different types of stories. From a story about a young man's encounter in an elevator, to a gay couple in a jewelry store, to a woman entering a retirement home. Bianco's characters are real, yet colorful and unique. he has a gift in creating genuine dialogue making each story come alive. I thoroughly enjoyed this collection of stories. 5 stars for sure! A fine collection written by one author who clearly knows his craft." --Susan Violante for Reader Views . It was my privilege to be interviewed by Jane Isaac , England's hottest new rising star of the mystery/thriller genre. In the interview you'll learn: What makes this story collection different from those of other writers? Elements...

I read an interesting story yesterday on the BBC News site about how thousands of ancient coins were discovered, buried beneath the earth. ( http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-30654568 ) The coins, dating back to the 11th century, had been buried in a lead bucket, just two feet below the surface of the earth. As a writer, I thought about this story and what the unearthing of these coins meant to me metaphorically. I compared the coins to the vast treasures buried deep within all us, hiding below the surface of the hard exterior shell we’ve built around ourselves - the shell we believe protects us from the outside world - the shell that shields us from insult, embarrassment, and injury to our pride. The "insecurity shell,"  I call it. Do you know the shell I'm talking about? I'm certain some of you do. Perhaps you began building yours the first time someone told you that you couldn’t do something because you lacked the talent, or the money, o...