Bullied by his teacher

Bullying and youth suicide has become a popular topic today. It seems as though every week there are new stories of the tragic deaths of children and teens. Their peers had tormented them to the extent that they felt the only answer was death. That is a tragedy in itself. However, something even more sinister is now coming to light. 

Children and parents rely on teachers to protect their students from danger and abuse. No one even thought about the revolting possibility that the teachers themselves were bullies.

Just recently, a frustrated parent, Stuart Chaifetz, put a wire on his ten year old, autistic son, Akian. He recorded the staff in Akian’s class at Horace Mann Elementary School in Cherry Hill, NJ. They were calling the child "a bastard," talking about vomiting that morning due to a hangover, and apparently teasing the autistic child to the point where he had a "half-hour meltdown." 

This is horrendous! It is unthinkable. However, it gets worse. Mr. Chaifetz said he has discovered that the teacher of his son's class, Kelly Altenburg, was moved to another school and not fired, while a teacher’s union official told msnbc.com Wednesday that Altenburg "basically was exonerated."

What?

How can children feel safe when the cancer of bullying has spread beyond their peers and now includes their teachers?

The growing awareness of the epidemic in bullying must continue. . Education is the key.   Everyone must be aware of the signs of bullying and what to do when you spot a situation.  That is why I wrote a short handbook that I am giving away- free of charge.  You can get your free copy here.

Do you know that there are different types of bullying?

Physical Bullies

This includes hitting or kicking the victim. Also taking or damaging the victim's property. This is the most obvious type of bullying because it is so easy to spot. The entire population in the school usually knows physical bullies.

Verbal Bullies

Verbal bullies use words to hurt or humiliate another person. This would include name-calling, insulting, making racist comments, and teasing. This type of bullying is the easiest to inflict on other children. It can be done quickly and on the sly. Its effects can be more devastating than physical bullying, because these scars stay with you forever.

Relational Bullies

Relational or relationship bullies try to convince their peers to exclude or reject a certain person or people and cut the victims off from their social connections. This type of bullying is linked to verbal bullying and usually occurs when children (most often girls) spread nasty rumors about others or exclude an ex-friend from the peer group. The most devastating effect with this type of bullying is the rejection by the peer group at a time when children most need their social connections.

For more on types of bullying click here.

This could be a great opportunity to open the dialog with the children in your life:

Can you identify the type of bullying in the scenarios below?

This is a situation where Ally and Bella are playing and then Jenny asks them if she can play too. Ally and Bella roll their eyes and tell Jenny that she cannot play with them.

 

This is hurtful and Jenny will feel that she is being left out or ostracized.

This is relational bullying.

Here is another situation where Bobby and Nick think it is really funny to hide Jimmy's coat. Jimmy asks them if they know where it is, but they will not tell him. Jimmy is upset. He has to go to recess, in the cold, with no coat. Plus, he will get in trouble at home when he must tell his parents that he lost his coat. 

This is cruel and humiliating. 

This is physical bullying.

In this situation, Jenny walks in the bathroom and finds Ally and Bella combing their hair. Jenny says, "Hi." and Ally and Bella ignore her and then Ally says, "Why are your sleeves rolled up Jenny- it's winter!" and then Ally and Bella laugh at Jenny. Jenny leaves the bathroom in tears. She will be upset all day and have a hard time sleeping that night. She is humiliated and hurt. 

This is hurtful and humiliating. It is very mean to make fun of someone and laugh at him or her.

This is verbal bullying.

Another example is a situation where Bobby and Nick are playing on the basketball team and they never pass the ball to Jimmy-even when Jimmy is in the perfect position and he is open to catch the ball.

This is wrong. It is hurtful and mean to exclude Jimmy. Everyone deserves his or her turn.

 This is relational bullying.

In life- not just sports, we must realize that we only win when we are team players. When we work together as a team, we always succeed. We all need to treat each other with kindness and love.

God said, "Treat others as you would want to be treated.” So before you do something mean or thoughtless to someone- think of how you would feel if they did the same to you?

Here are some random facts about bullies:

Even though a bully will insult their victim and try to ridicule the way the victim looks, the fact is- most bullies are unattractive. Even if they were attractive, they would still look ugly because of their ugly behavior.

The purpose of bullying is to hide the fact that they are not very smart. In reality, they are weak and incompetent. They want to take all attention away from their inadequacy. Even though the bully puts on a big show, with the ability to attract and intimidate many followers, bullies have low self-confidence and low self-esteem, and thus feel insecure. Low self-esteem is a factor proven in all studies of bullying.

Bullies operate on resentment, bitterness, hatred, and anger, and often have wide-ranging prejudices against anyone who is different. Jealousy and envy are what drives a bully. Rejection is another powerful motivator of bullying.

Today, bullying behaviors at school are viewed as dangerous and harmful acts that victimize the targeted student and bystanders. Bullying can no longer be dismissed as harmless teasing. Bullying is a pattern of deliberate, negative, hurtful, aggressive acts that works to shift the balance of physical, emotional, or social power. This is a hate crime. Yes a crime.

They are currently working on legislature to pass laws that will ensure if someone if convicted of bullying, as a child, they will go to a juvenile detention facility, or if they are a teenager or adult, they will most likely be tried as an adult and go to prison.

If you are or have been a victim of a bully, you are in good company. Some famous people who have been bullied include:

• Lady Gaga
• Robert Patterson- yes, Edward from Twilight
• Kristen Stewart- Bella from Twilight
• Taylor Lautner- Jacob from Twilight
• Daniel Radcliffe- star of Harry Potter movies
• Emma Watson- the star from the Harry Potter movies
• Miley Cyrus
• Prince Harry
• Kate Middleton
• Michael Phelps
• Christine Aguilara
• Chris Rock
• Pierce Brosnan- that's James Bond
• Bill Clinton- a former president of the United States
• Tiger Woods
• Demi Lovato
• Rhianna
• Taylor Swift
• Justin Timberlake

So, please keep your eyes open. Whether you are a student, a parent, or a teacher, you must watch out for your fellow "team members". As decent human beings, we are all responsible for keeping our children safe. Remember, "It takes a village to raise a child". If you see any bullying behavior- step up and do the right thing. Your action could save a life.

As I mentioned earlier, I have written a short handbook to help you spot the signs and know what to do when you recognize bullying behavior. I am giving away the book - free of charge. Let's get the word out! The book is 'The Bullying Epidemic-the guide to arm you for the fight' and you can get your free copy here

Famous Book Blogger Josie Ann reviews Hirens Magical Adventure

Title:  Hirens Magical Adventure
Author:  Kathleen Patel
Genre:  Fiction; Young adult; Fantasy; Adventure


My Rating:  5/5

Summary:  When Hiren starts to misbehave his parents decide to send him back to India to learn about his heritage and culture. He reluctantly says good bye to his friends and family and goes on the journey of a lifetime. He learns about fascinating traditions that date back thousands of years. He meets a mysterious girl that shows him some of the magic in India. She introduces him to the exotic animals friends in the jungle and teaches him about the magical meditation that enables them to leave their bodies and let their spirits travel through the universe.  He also encounters some ghostly family secrets wrapped in mysticism and mystery. But in the end, he learns that love truly conquers all.

Review:  I was asked to review this book by the author, and I'm honestly happy that she approached me because I absolutely loved this book!!  I loved the cover of this book, because if anyone knows me, they know that I have a huge soft spot for tigers.  Anyway, in Hirens Magical Adventure, Hiren is sent to India by his parents to stay with his grandparents for the summer, to learn to appreciate his heritage.  Before Hiren went to India, I sympathized with him, because it just seemed to me as if he really didn't understand why his family had to be different than any other American families.  When Hiren went to India, he stayed with Dadee and Dadoo, which I learned is an Indian tradition as to what you would refer to your grandma and grandpa as.  As the story went on, I was super anxious to find out all about the family's secrets and why they were so unaccepting of Dimpi and Pratibha.  I loved the fact that this book kept me on the edge of my seat, and kept me wanting more.  If you read this book, not only will you enjoy it, but you will learn about the Indian culture, which I appreciated so much.

Vigilante-saving the world-one murder at a time!

Vigilante was my first step into the inspired world of Claude Bouchard.  This spellbinding story kept me guessing until the very end. 

A serial killer is busy with a variety of “projects”.  You see, this serial killer is on a mission.  He wants to rid Montreal of the vermin that keeps good people up at night.  He exterminates a variety of criminals.  They are the lowlifes that we love to hate; pimps, rapists, drug dealers- you get the idea.

Here is where conflict steps in.  While most people feel that the Vigilante is doing good work, there is always that annoying legal issue.  The police must find the killer.  Moreover, to make it even more complicated, the killer is a likable guy!

Law enforcement teams up with cutting edge technology and discover more than they bargained for.  The storyline is brilliant.  The characters are complex and you will immediately form strong feelings about each of them.  However, will you be able to figure out the identity of the vigilante?

I do not think so.

Interview with Claude Bouchard

K- Claude, you’ve got yourself a new fan.  I really enjoyed the book. I just can’t believe that it was your first novel.  It’s excellent and the ending was brilliant!  You are quite knowledgeable in law enforcement, as well as technology. Is this part of your background?

C- Well, Kathleen, I’m always pleased to get a new fan, especially when it’s one as charming as you. Also, allow me to start by thanking you for the wonderful review as well as the invitation to do this interview.

To answer your question, no, I’ve never worked in law enforcement or information technology. I’ve always read a lot and my favourite genre is mystery/crime fiction so that, combined with imagination and common sense, is where my cop minding stems from. Though computers have interested me for the longest time, my background is in human resources and finance and I’ve yet to become an IT master by any means. I should point out that I wrote Vigilante in 1995, before emails and the Internet were the norm, so when I pulled out my manuscript in 2009, I was rather pleased with how what I’d written fourteen years earlier still made sense and reflected what is commonplace now.

K- You are quite welcome, Claude.  It is my pleasure. 

It sounds like you were pretty Internet savvy back in 1995. I was selling computer training and most of our clients were trying to figure out what this “Internet thing” did! 

Was there any special inspiration for this story?

C- The verdict of the O.J. Simpson trial is what flicked a switch in my mind, in the sense of criminals literally getting away with murder or other heinous crimes. The gears started churning as I imagined someone out there who would undertake ensuring that violent criminals pay for their actions. Vigilante was the result.

K- I’ll be honest- I could understand the Vigilante and his motivation.  He was just trying to make the world a better place.

You have a wonderful style of writing.  Is this something that comes naturally to you- or do you have to work at it?

C- With practice comes improvement and I’ve written tons of stuff over the years, much of it work-related though it remains writing nonetheless. As mentioned earlier, I’ve also done a lot of reading and still do which also contributes to honing one’s writing skills in terms of vocabulary, sentence and paragraph structure and so on.

Like any other writer, what is initially produced is a first draft which is then revised, edited corrected, reviewed, corrected some more… You know the drill. However, what I write in that initial draft reflects my writing style. The editing phase is more of a polishing activity versus a rewriting one.

K- What is your writing experience like?  I mean where do you sit?  What time do you write?  How often? For how long at each setting?

C- The best way to describe my writing experience or activity would be fluid, informal and unstructured. We have a three bedroom home with only one bedroom required so one room is an art studio and the other is a study which is where my PC is and where I spend most of my day.

Depending on inspiration and such, I do sometimes write in the morning but generally do so more in the afternoon, never evenings and rarely weekends. Speaking specifically of books (as I do maintain a blog, etc), I write daily at times when I’m on a roll and other times, not at all when I’m in a mulling phase.

Even when I’m actively working on a project, my writing is interspersed with research as well as Twitter and Facebook postings as I chat with people, promote my work and that of others. A day of writing can generate as little as a hundred words, as much as a few thousand and anywhere in between. I never set deadlines and a book is finished once it’s finished.

K- You sound like a true artist.  You just can’t schedule a burst of inspiration : )

If this were made into a movie, who would you cast in the roles?

C- Ah, you bless me with an easy question as I was recently asked this in another interview. I will now cheat and copy/paste what I replied then.

The question was asked to me about Chris Barry several years ago and the almost immediate answer was Matthew McConaughey at the time. Since then, I’ve always had difficulty picturing someone else though Thomas Jane and Paul Walker are plausible candidates.

Denzel Washington would be great in McCall’s role though age becomes a factor so possibly Isaiah Washington or Terrence Howard instead. Christian Bale would also be a consideration.

K- Matthew McConaughey- definitely.  I can see Terrence Howard as McCall.    

If you would like, I have a fun ritual that involves me giving you a scene and then you re-write it in your own delightful style. Would you like to try it?

C- Give it to me.

K- Okay- here it is:

We followed Jill through the doorway in to the studio.  Mirrors covered all surfaces of the studio.  There were no windows and the cool air was thick with the familiar aroma of incense.  “Oh my!” Tara stumbled a bit, disoriented. Ivan caught her arm. He was standing just inside the doorway.

All the mirrors gave the illusion of a creepy fun house.  On the far end of the room was a shelf that covered the entire wall.  The shelf displayed about a half dozen dolls.  As I got a closer look, I felt an odd tightening in my chest.  There was something strange about these dolls.  They were about 2 feet tall, impeccably dressed, and frighteningly life-like.  I gasped when I stepped closer to the red haired doll.  As I looked in to her eyes, I felt as though I was looking at a miniature woman.  It was eerie. 

What is up with these dolls? Calm down, calm down….

Tara walked slowly, looking closely at each doll.  She appeared to be in shock.  She was particularly fascinated with one that had black hair and wore an African costume, complete with fancy headdress.  She leaned in and reached towards the doll, to touch it.  When her hand made contact with the dolls face, she snapped it back as though she had been burned.  She spun around quickly and looked at me.  I could see the fear in her eyes. 

We need to get the hell out of here.

C- Cool! Here it goes.

Jill gave us the faintest of smiles then unlocked the door, pushed it open and led us into the studio beyond. Tara and I stopped short as we gazed in awe at the room we’d just entered. All surfaces were covered in mirrors, the walls, the ceiling, even the floor we stood on.

“Oh, my,” Tara exclaimed as she wavered, disoriented by the multitude of reflections thrown at her from every direction.

Ivan, who stood just inside the doorway, caught her arm to steady her.

The mirrors were reminiscent of creepy fun houses found in old amusement parks. I noted a shelf which spanned the width of the far wall on which half a dozen dolls were displayed. As I approached to examine them more closely, I felt an odd tightening sensation in my chest. Though I was unable to put my finger on it, something was strange about these dolls. About two feet tall and impeccably dressed, each was frighteningly lifelike. I stepped closer to examine a particular red haired doll and gasped. As I looked into her eyes, I felt her gaze piercing into mine as though she was actually a miniature woman… Eerie…

‘What is up with these dolls?’ I thought with a rush of anxiety. ‘Calm down, calm down…’

Tara had followed me and now moved slowly before the shelf, pausing to look closely at each doll. Her movements were trancelike and she appeared to be in shock. She stopped before a black haired doll clad in an African costume complete with an elaborate headdress, seemingly fascinated. Leaning in yet closer, she raised a hand and reached for the doll. As soon as her fingers brushed the doll’s cheek, she snapped her hand back as though she had been burned before spinning around to stare at me with fear in her eyes.

“We need to get the hell out of here,” she murmured through clenched teeth.

K- I am completely enchanted.  You’re an incredible writer and I am honored that you have taken the time for this interview. 

C- Kat, this whole interview was a blast!  Thanks once again for asking me to do this.

K- It was my pleasure!  I will be reading more of your books.  I hope you’ll come back and chat again.  Thank you so much.

Claude Bouchard Website here

Buy the book here

Follow Claude on Twitter here

Bullying- stop the epidemic!

There are memories in my childhood that are still so painful I try not to think about it.   When those memories do come rushing back, the tears begin to flow. It's hard to believe that after all these years; I can feel the sadness as though it were yesterday.

You see, when I was a little girl, I was the victim of bullying.  I had just moved to a new city with my parents and I was starting at a new school.  I missed my old friends, but I hoped I would make some nice new friends.  I was kind of shy and quiet so I was nervous.  But it was exciting.  I didn't know what to expect- but I never expected what happened. 

On my first day of school, the bully in my class decided to single me out.  Looking back- it seems so absurd that someone can randomly pick an innocent child and then terrorize them based on something like their name or the fact that they wear glasses.  It's also hard to believe that this boy had so much power over the rest of the children- no one dared to confront him.  He could make other children join in with the taunting and teasing.

No one would defy him to be my friend.  They were afraid.  This could result in the bully focusing his abuse on them.  Even the teachers ignored the abuse.

Then there were the school rituals that fed right into the bully culture.

When it came to gym class there was a dreaded process that the teachers used to build the teams.  The teachers picked a couple of children to be the "Team Captains", and then those children would pick their teams.  It was so humiliating.  I knew I would be the last one chosen.  I didn't even want to play because the bully and his friends always welcomed the opportunity to hit me with the ball or just run into me and knock me to the ground. 

He made my life a sad and lonely hell.  It wasn't just the taunting and name calling.  At recess he and his friends just tortured me.  Between the taunting and being hurt physically, it was terrorism.  He once hit me in the face with a football and I still remember how badly that hurt.  I cried but no one came to my rescue.

My mother told me to ignore him.  I did.  It didn't change anything.  I had a very ignorant relative that asked me, what was wrong with me?  There must be something wrong with me or the kid would not pick on me. 

I didn't know.  At this point I was confused.  I was only seven years old. Maybe something was wrong with me. But what changed? I had a lot of friends at my old school.  We all got along really well.  I didn't understand.

I had a hard time falling asleep at night because I had a pain in my stomach.  I was afraid of what would happen the next day at school.  I loved Fridays, I cherished my weekend reprieve from the suffering, but I started feeling sick on Sunday morning, knowing it was only a matter of hours...

I prayed and prayed to God to make the bully leave me alone, but the bullying never stopped.  Thankfully after a couple of years the school closed.  I went to a new school.  The bully went to a different school. 

 Everything changed.  I was back to being a normal kid with friends.  Thank God.

That happened to me many, many years ago and yet when I think about it or talk about it, I start to cry.  I cry for that helpless little girl so many years back and I cry for my young nieces and nephews- I never want them to go through anything like that.  And I cry for the children that were bullied so badly they felt there was no way out and they killed themselves.  Now their parents and brothers and sisters will always wish they had done something.   No innocent child deserves to be bullied. 

I believe the solution is education.  Everyone needs to be aware of the signs of bullying and what to do when you spot a situation.  That is why I wrote a short handbook that I am giving away- free of charge.  You can get your free copy here.

Do you know that there are different types of bullying?

Physical Bullies
This includes hitting or kicking the victim.  Also taking or damaging the victim's property. This is the most obvious type of bullying because it is so easy to spot. Physical bullies are usually known to the entire population in the school.

Verbal Bullies
Verbal bullies use words to hurt or humiliate another person. This would include name-calling, insulting, making racist comments and teasing. This type of bullying is the easiest to inflict on other children. It can be done quickly and on the sly.  Its effects can be more devastating than physical bullying, because these scars stay with you forever.

Relational Bullies

For more on types of bullying click here.

This could be a great opportunity to open the dialog with the children in your life:

Can you identify the type of bullying in the scenarios below?

This is a situation where Ally and Bella are playing and then Jenny asks them if she can play too.  Ally and Bella roll their eyes and tell Jenny that she can not play with them   

This is hurtful and Jenny will feel that she is being left out or ostracized. 

This is relational bullying.

Here's another situation where Bobby and Nick think it's really funny to hide Jimmy's coat.  Jimmy asks them if they know where it is, but they will not tell him.  Jimmy is upset.  He has to go to recess, in the cold, with no coat.  Plus, he will get in trouble at home when he must tell his parents that he lost his coat.   

This is cruel and humiliating.  

This is physical bullying.

In this situation Jenny walks in the bathroom and finds Ally and Bella combing their hair.  Jenny says, "Hi." and Ally and Bella ignore her and then Ally says, "Why are your sleeves rolled up Jenny- it's winter!" and then Ally and Bella laugh at Jenny.  Jenny leaves the bathroom in tears.  She will be upset all day and have a hard time sleeping that night.  She is humiliated and hurt.   

This is hurtful and humiliating.  It is very mean to make fun of someone and laugh at them. 

This is verbal bullying.

Another situation could be where Bobby and Nick are playing on the basketball team and they never pass the ball to Jimmy-even when Jimmy is in the perfect position and he's open to catch the ball. 

This is wrong.  It is hurtful and mean to exclude Jimmy. Everyone deserves their turn.  

This is relational bullying.

In life- not just sports- we must realize that we only win when we are team players.  When we work together as a team we always succeed.  We all need to treat each other with kindness and love. 

God said, "Treat others as you would want to be treated."  So before you do something mean or thoughtless to someone- think of how you would feel if they did the same to you?

Here are some random facts about bullies:

Even though a bully will insult their victim and try to ridicule the way the victim looks, the fact is- most bullies are unattractive.

The purpose of bullying is to hide the fact that they are not very smart.  In reality, they are weak and incompetent.  They want to take all attention away from their inadequacy.

Even though the bully puts on a big show, with the ability to attract and intimidate many followers, bullies have low self-confidence and low self-esteem, and thus feel insecure. Low self-esteem is a factor proven in all studies of bullying. 

Bullies operate on resentment, bitterness, hatred and anger, and often have wide-ranging prejudices against anyone who is different. Bullies are driven by jealousy and envy. Rejection is another powerful motivator of bullying.

Today, bullying behaviors at school are recognized as dangerous and harmful acts that victimize the targeted student and bystanders. Bullying can no longer be dismissed as harmless teasing.  Bullying is a pattern of deliberate, negative, hurtful, aggressive acts that works to shift the balance of physical, emotional, or social power.  This is a hate crime.  Yes a crime. 

They are currently working on legislature to pass laws that will ensure if someone if convicted of bullying, as a child, they will go to a juvenile detention facility or if they are a teenager or adult, they will most likely be tried as an adult and go to prison.

If you are or have been a victim of a bully, you are in good company.  Some famous people who have been bullied include:

• Lady Gaga
• Robert Patterson- yes, Edward from Twilight
• Kristen Stewart- Bella from Twilight
• Taylor Lautner- Jacob from Twilight
• Daniel Radcliffe- star of Harry Potter movies
• Emma Watson- the star from the Harry Potter movies
• Miley Cyrus
• Prince Harry
• Kate Middleton
• Michael Phelps
• Christine Aguilara
• Chris Rock
• Pierce Brosnan- that's James Bond
• Bill Clinton- a former president of the United States
• Tiger Woods
• Demi Lovato
• Rhianna
• Taylor Swift
• Justin Timberlake

So, please keep your eyes open.  Whether you are a student or a parent or a teacher,   you must watch out for your fellow "team members".   As a decent human being, it is everyone's responsibility to keep our children safe.  Remember, "It takes a village to raise a child".  If you see any bullying behavior- be brave and do the right thing.  Your action could save a life.

As I mentioned earlier, I have written a short handbook to help you spot the signs and know what to do when you recognize bullying behavior.  I am giving away the book - free of charge. 

It's called, The Bullying Epidemic-the guide to arm you for the fight'

and you can get your free copy here:

 

Let's get the word out! 

The Black Witch- she's irresistible

As I started reading 'The Black Witch', I was transported to another time and place.    As I met the characters and followed them on their journey, I was drawn in by their idiosyncrasies and flaws. And then the subsequent nightmare than ensued...

Dorian Coe and his wife, Diana are the first to discover 'The Black Witch', while shopping around for a sailing vessel.  They are immediately put under her spell and are willing to sacrifice their life savings to have her.  It's an evil spell that no one can resist. The scenes are so vividly depicted; I almost fell under the spell myself.

When Dorian tells his friend Gale about his 'find', and brings him to see the vessel, he is inexplicably drawn to her, as well.  Obsession sets in.  They must have her.  Even with the dire warnings given in the logbooks- nothing matters but 'The Black Witch'.

They invite a group of friends to join them as passengers to celebrate The Black Witch's first launch. They head out into the mysterious open sea. It isn't long before pure evil rears its ugly head. Slowly each horrified passenger comes to the realization that they are doomed and there is nothing they can do about it.  Even the woman with strange powers is no match for the powerful force driving 'The Black Witch'.

Interview with the author- Micheal Rivers

There are so many intricate details describing the 'Black Witch'.  Are you a sailing man yourself?

A: I grew up on the Outer Banks of North Carolina. I have always had a great love for tall ships. For me they hold a beauty like no other.

Was there any personal inspiration for this story?

A: The inspiration for The Black Witch came from a culmination of the character of the Bankers (residents of the Outer Banks) and a long and hard won sense of pride. Tales of the sea are not uncommon there with superstitions and spirits to fill the stories that are passed from generation to generation.

Do you believe in psychic ability and astral projection?

A: I do believe in psychic abilities but I am still looking into Astral Projection. I have known several people who had abilities that were beyond question. A family I know well lost 13 members of their family in four months. These deaths ranged from SIDS to heart attacks and cancer. The woman predicted all of them by name except for one. She said she could not see the face of the unnamed person.

I really enjoyed your writing and I can't believe that this was your debut novel.  Whenever I read a book with such intense imagery, I am always in awe.  Do you have a special process that you go through when writing? 

A: Yes I do. I set up my story board before I ever do an actual outline. At this point a Pepsi and a cigarette come into play and the story starts to roll. The outline is basic and changes as the story progresses. I found for me, sticking to a singular outline, or thought does not let my story take a life of its own. The story has full control of the outcome.

This is a book that should be made into a movie.  Have you considered selling the screen rights?

A: If anyone was interested in putting the story on screen I would be honored. At this time I have not been approached with an offer.

I can't wait to read your other books, but I would love to know what happens next!  Any chance of a sequel?

A: I am going to be doing a sequel to The Black Witch. I have had a lot of readers request it so I will grant their wish. I thank them for requesting it. To me that is a great compliment. Surprise!!! I am actually working on the sequel now. The main character is named Drummond Fowl.


Buy 'The Black Witch' here.  
Follow Micheal on Twitter here.   
Visit Micheal's website here.