Practical Advice from an Evolved Soul by Marcus Dino - Virtual Tour and Giveaway

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Marcus will be awarding $20 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Welcome to Books in the Hall!

Why do you write juvenile fiction? What draws you to it?

I could write serious adult fiction say, a book called 'Love on a Madrid afternoon.' I would type the first line.. 'He met her on a rainy night and could not forget that maroon hat....' and that would be it. Tons of writer's block. Or I could write , “My name is Fifi, starving Gen Y actress who may be a bit leafy but most certainly would not consider myself the least bit beefy, “ and it would take off. Stuff flows into my head when I write Young Adult fiction. Some of us perhaps never grow up? This also happens being a school teacher around a bunch of kids the last two decades. Finally as a writer you have to build on your strengths, especially strong characterization that you get 'comfortable' with. Look how well Sylvester Stallone built the 'Rocky character' when he wrote the 'Rocky' screenplays . It's the same way with me with 'Fifi,' who happens to be a YA character similar to the heroines from 'The Wizard of Oz,' 'Twilight,' and 'The Hunger Games.'

Pretend your protagonist is at school and opens his/her locker – what will we see inside?

Fifi opened her locker and was heartened to see the picture of Joy Jones, her favorite actress, giving her encouragement. 'In ten years I will be just as rich and famous as her, after I make it in Hollywood,' she sneered to herself. Then she looked more closely inside her locker.....and gave out a chilling scream. “EEEEEEEK WHO PUT THAT SPIDER INSIDE MY LOCKER. I FEEL LIKE KICKING YOU ALL IN THE BUTT.”

What’s your favorite sweet treat?

Nothing like vanilla ice cream, fudge topping, and walnuts. A close second is carrot cake. Unfortunately I need to watch the calories so these delightful treats I eat just once in a while.

What did you want to be when you grew up? Why?

Actually the first career I wanted to be when I grew up was author. I loved reading Ray Bradbury and Isaac Asimov and wanted to be the next great Sci Fi writer . I wanted to the next great Sci Fi novel about life in a Martian colony. Believe it or not this novel is still in my mind and maybe one day I will write it.

Coal or candy in your Christmas stocking? Why?

Hard to say. Let's see they both have good and bad qualities. Coal can be quite messy but lowers my heating bills., actually not really since I live in a home without a fireplace. Candy is the perfect energy food if you don't mind getting cavities and consuming a lot of calories.

Favorite TV show from your childhood?

The original 'Star Trek.' 'Where no one has gone before.' Captain Kirk and his crew goes to the outer reaches of the galaxy and finds strange new worlds. It was watching TV shows like 'Star Trek' that piqued my imagination and helped me in writing 'Fifi's' trilogy of 'Fifi.' 'Diary of a Mad Gen Yer.' and 'Practical Advice from an Evolved Soul.'

Ideal summer vacation?

Any summer day where I can throw away an alarm clock which means not having to get up early to go to work or not having to get up early to 'look' for work.

You’re stranded on a desert island—which character from your book do you want with you? Why?

Fifi Larouche of course. “MARCUS THERE'S A PLANE FLYING OVER AHEAD. YOU NEED TO YELL AT HIM WITH ME MARCUS. GOTH, AU YOU'RE BOTH MY SPIRIT GUIDES. GET INTO THAT PILOT'S HEAD AND TELL HIM WE'RE DOWN HERE. What in heaven's name are we eating tonight Marcus? That disgusting looking crab lying on the beach....I never had a taste for seafood. Most certainly you're going to help get the firewood , right Marcus?”

"Fulfill your destiny Fifi, as you wander through the Wilderness," Goth her spirit guide tells her....

Marcus Dino's latest book 'Practical Advice from an Evolved Soul', an anthology like it's smash hit predecessor, 'Diary of a Mad Gen Yer.' has 21st century actress/heroine Cheryl 'Fifi' Larouche coming back outrageous as ever introducing new 'Silly Stories,' 'Silly Poems,' and 'Silly Blogs', plus an added new twist using the world of Twitter, Fifi's 'Silly Tweets.'

'Practical Advice from an Evolved Soul' is third in a series of 'Fifi's stories following Marcus Dino's top ten Amazon Bestseller 'Diary of a Mad Gen Yer' in addition to his original Hollywood novel 'Fifi.'

Many of the major characters from Mr. Dino's two earlier book are back in 'Evolved Soul' including Fifi's boyfriend Biff, her obstinate father Charles, and her two alien friends from the planet Zatoris, Alocki and Helos. In addition there are some very interesting new characters in 'Evolved Soul' including a long dead Englishman who said he knew great literary figures such as Dickens and Keats called 'The 200 Year Old Great Writer,' and two entities who say they are 'Fifi's Spirit Guides' Goth and Au.

Both Goth and Au write very inspirational blogs that convey a strong message in the 'Blogs' section of 'Evolved Soul.'

'Practical Advice from an Evolved Soul' is both humorous and inspirational and like it's two predecessors will entertain the reader from beginning to end.

Enjoy an excerpt:

Excerpt from 'A Midsummer Night's Silliness'

QUEEN LYMPHAMA

This is a night when strange demons and vampires arrive to doth try to steal the soul of the innocent…Tonight oh Neptune after the party we shall call the Royal Apothecary who will doth conduct a potient out of bat wings and garlic and the tongues of TV talk show hosts and politicians and other vile and smelly things…And whoever I praytell drinks of this potient will scare off all evil souls and who ever drinks of this potient will be strong as anyone who drinketh such foul and smelly stuff would have to be strong…and crazy…Now.. Come my good king and my subjects let us now go to the party at the palace to intake in wine and merriment….

(Image of Ghost from Hamlet appears)

GHOST

What noblest of misfortunes that hath cursed my son Hamlet partakes thou fair Queen? I praytell that I shalt make amends for my son to be of assistance to thee…My son Hamlet at times hath not believed in me…I praytell thou noblest of Queens believe in me as I was once King Denmark…

QUEEN LYMPHAMA

I hath no misfortune oh Ghost of the King of Denmark…I praytell that thou may get into the minds of casting directors of good theater and good movies and good TV shows of which there are so few in 2012 and convince them of my acting abilities…Now Ghost of the King of Denmark a place where they doth are well known for changing men into women and women into men I doth praytell thou join us at the palace for an evening of wine, song, and merriment….

Marcus Dino has always wanted to be a fiction writer as long as he can remember. Living in Southern California plus his being a die hard movie buff has led him to write stories dealing with the struggles and conquests of heroic up and coming Hollywood actress Cheryl 'Fifi' Larouche.

Practical Advice from an Evolved Soul is an anthology and inspirational book and is Mr. Dino's third 'Fifi' series book. His first book, Hollywood novel Fifi was first published in 2003. His second book in ebook format, Diary of a Mad Gen Yer, an anthology and Amazon best seller in it's category, was published in 2009.

Mr. Dino has a Masters degrees in Education and Engineering and is a graduate of Chapman University. He has a distinguished career as an electronics engineer working for several Aerospace companies and also as a mathematics teacher in Los Angeles area schools. He currently resides in Santa Maria, California.

Website: www.summertimeproductions.net

'Evolved Soul' can also be purchased on major on line bookstores such as www.amazon.com:

http://www.amazon.com/Practical-Advice-Evolved-Soul-Marcus-ebook/dp/B008X0803S/

and Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/217466

The printed version of 'Evolved Soul' has just been published and is currently being placed into numerous bookstores.

Facebook and Twitter (over 7500 followers) username:Fifilarouche

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