Neil Tepper
Georgia  

What is your book, writing or book idea about?

    By revealing the secret of creativity that I have discovered during my career as a creative executive and as an award-winning song writer, photographer and television programming creator, my book will teach anyone how to be more creative in solving problems and overcoming blocks that keep them stuck inside the box of their self-imposed limitations. I believe creativity lives in everyone. It’s simply a matter of connecting to the source of infinite creativity. I help the reader open his/her creative channels and attract creativity.

Tell us about your background.

     I always have and still am curious and creative. I love sports. After 10 years as a photographer in Hawaii, I took a job that would be the best I ever had as a creative director for The Coca-Cola Company. I traveled to Europe, Africa and regularly from New York to L.A. I successfully managed the $7 million Coca-Cola Centennial Celebration, replete with original films, music and live stage productions. I left Coke for Hollywood. I took a job as VP, creative services, for Universal Television. I returned to Atlanta as a communications director for the 1996 Olympics. After the Games, in fall of 1996, I continued my life’s adventures taking an 8-day hike and rafting trip into the Grand Canyon. I found my center. I vowed for the rest of my life and career I would follow my heart. For the last eight years I’ve been focusing on my creative work: writing songs (one of them, “My Love is a Natural Thing,” was recorded on an album that opened #2 on Billboard’s World Music chart); exhibiting and selling my photographs; creating television shows (none on the air yet) and home video series. And, of course, writing my book.
 

Karen Childs
California

What is your book, writing or book idea about?

     “Rocket Baby” is about a young girl growing up amidst the excitement of the “space race” in Cocoa Beach and friendships with other “NASA Brats.” It’s also about my own private hell living with a mother who was depressed and suicidal (she grew up in Paris during the Nazi occupation) and trying to deal with my obsessive/compulsive engineering father whose demands were so outrageous. There was so much stress put on him and others who worked at the Cape that he finally ended his own life. Sounds like a tragedy, but I always found the comedy in life. And finally it’s about my own mission to launch my own career and get the hell out of that little beach town. Success in life is supposed to happen later in life and many failures are to be expected. During Apollo I, three astronauts died during a pad test. But, we reached the moon shortly thereafter.

 Tell us about your background:

     I grew up in Cocoa Beach, Florida during the “space race.” My father was an engineer for NASA. I had a very tough childhood and surfed and played music for sanity. I attended Berklee College of Music in Boston, moved to LA and went on the road as a keyboard player with Bette Midler, Cher, Gap Bank, Gino Vanelli and lots of metal bands in the 80s. I wrote music for several films — one nominated for an Oscar. Fed up with the music businesses, I went to Hawaii for a two-week vacation and stayed a year. I moved into a house in the country with five other surfers. I had a four year relationship with a surfer named John. Fast forward…twenty years later we reunited and were instantly attracted again. He was in love with my but never told me! Anyway, it’s a love story in the making…we’ll see what happens. I’d like to share my life story and experiences with others to help people get out there and go after their dreams.
 

Nick Shelton
Georgia

What is your book, writing or book idea about?

     “The Devotional Tales” is a four book series of inspirational stories that inspire others to live better lives. (Think of a cross between “Chicken Soup for the Soul” and “A Purpose-Driven Life.”) I currently have 160 different stories comprised to complete four books. “The Coming Age” is a fictional novel that used one of my title characters in “The Devotional Tales.” This character goes on an epic journey during the end times. (Think “Lord of the Rings” with a “Left Behind” aspect.)

Tell us about your background:

     At nineteen years of age, I studied medicine and business at Mercer University. My dreams are to become a recognized author, but I am studying to get a medical degree. (I plan to use my medical knowledge along with my writing skills to one day write a book about diet and exercise.) Along with being a distinguished scholar, I have also been an outstanding athlete. I currently hold the record for the fastest time in the 5k run at my high school. In baseball, I held the state record for having the most wins by a pitcher in a season. I was also to be on the All-Region and All-State teams in those sports. I have also spent a great deal of my life being a Christian – a characteristic about myself that I commonly share with many other Americans.
 

AlexSandra “Sandy Lynn” Lett
North Carolina

What is your book, writing or book idea about?

     “Going Crazy…Getting Sane” is a portrayal of a country bumpkin who goes to the city, becomes “citified” and is awed by the rich and powerful people. She occasionally returns to her rural roots to deal with “krazy kinfolks” who think she has gotten “above her raisin’.” The central character creates a public relations company called CAT (her initials) and becomes a clever tiger clawing her way to the top only to eventually discover her life is superficial and unfulfilling. Characters in the book are colorful individuals and even exaggerated stereotypes. Her friends reflect various flavors of Americana including high brows, egomaniacs, ball-busting women and effeminate men who give new meaning to the country word “quar” (meaning queer). Her family and friends back home include white trash, rednecks, blue collars, bubbas, good ol’ boys and a few shade of Southern – bluebloodsand lily whites (debutantes and Southern belles).

Tell us about your background:

     As a child I loved to sing and wanted to be an actress, but teachers urged me to use my writing talents. I became an editor of the newspaper in high school and president of the honor society. After graduating high school, I worked as a reporter for the hometown newspaper. Later, I received a distinguished journalism scholarship to attend UNC – Chapel Hill and worked in various aspects of media – newspapers, magazines and television – from 1976 to 1990. Then I became a free-lance writer, developed a successful marketing/public relations company and worked with various prestigious clients, while embracing an executive lifestyle. Several years ago I longed for “something more” and moved to a cabin in the woods to reassess my life. I sold one article about my Grandpa’s country store that received so much attention I started writing a weekly newspaper column, “Lett’s Set a Spell,” which has led to the publication of three nostalgic books.
 

Chet Cunningham
California
 

What is your book, writing or book idea about?

     Shows how to tell when aging parents need help. Spells out in detail how to help relocate parents and deal with their money, bills and health. Gives guides how to select a nursing home. Could mother move in with us? How to handle all of the problems of aging parents to the end.

 Tell us about your background:

      I was born in Nebraska, grew up on Oregon, went to New York and worked in California. I spent two years in the army, have a MS degree from Columbia in Journalism. I worked in three newspapers and earned my living by freelancing fact articles for ten years, then by selling novels for the past 20 years. I have 308 books published – 15 are fact books and the rest are novels.