Joy V. Smith

Joy V. Smith has been writing stories since she was a kid and made her own little books. Her stories and articles have been published in print magazines, webzines, and anthologies; and her SF has been published in two audiobooks, including Sugar Time. Her books include Strike Three, Sugar Time, Taboo Tech, Detour Trail, Building a Cool House for Hot Times without Scorching the Pocketbook, and a collection of her published short stories: The Doorway and Other Stories. Her ebooks include Hidebound, Velvet of Swords, Cold New Planet, Pretty Pink Planet, Hot Yellow Planet, and Remodeling: Buying and Updating a Foreclosure. She lives in Florida with Samwise Gamgee, a Chihuahua cross, and Pemberley, a tortoiseshell cat.

Read more of this interview.

Website: http://www.joyvsmith.com/
Twitter: @JoyVSmith
Facebook: Facebook profile
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/pub/joy-smith/41/bb1/b7
Blog: http://pagadan.wordpress.com/

http://www.melange-books.com/authors/joyvsmith/detourtrail.html

• Godspeed Inc: A Naomi Kinder Adventure on June 25, 2011
  
  Godspeed Inc. is an exciting science fiction adventure. This was an enjoyable and suspenseful read. Naomi Kinder, alone in space, has to contend with spacetime rifts; a giant menace only she can deal with; and then as she works on her spaceship--did I mention that she's alone--with time running out, someone or something grabs her... Note: Adult content.
  
• Rescuing the Future: A Naomi Kinder Novel on July 26, 2011
  
  Naomi Kinder is back with her friend Bonnie and her friend and lover, Leo, plus some new friends she makes along the way. This adventure is even more complicated for Naomi because it involves time travel and how they became the stuff of legends--or at least a children's story (dating back to their tussle iwth a black hole in Godspeed Inc)--and nanobots (the little dickens). I loved the characters (the Medusan Marines are outstanding!), and I really enjoyed the story; as a matter of fact I finished it in one reading because I had to know what happened to everyone, including the main characters, the infested people, and especially Earth! And the story flows. (I did take breaks--to take the dog out, etc.--because reading for pleasure at the computer is something l rarely do. For the first time I saw a reason for buying a reader like Kindle or Nook.) I recommend this book because it's a great story, the quality of the writing is excellent, and the beauty and science of the background doesn't interrupt the story. Note: Adult content
  
• Death and Faxes: A Science Fiction Story on Sep. 12, 2011
  
  What's a girl to do when trapped on a spaceship with a few hundred crazed religious fanatics who plan to end the ship's journey and the ship--forever? So it really is only one way, Calder realized; she'd thought they'd stop to drop her off at her destination first. This was a fun story with interesting characters, and I'd like to see more of Calder's adventures, and I don't want to see any of them ended...
  
• Time Travel Times 5 on Sep. 16, 2011
  
  This time travel e-book has a variety of time travel tales and a fantastic cover! Selling July 4th In this story a time traveler tampers with the past by visiting some of our country's forefathers... It Won't Be Long: With a Little Help from the Beatles This is one of my favorites. Using music and musicians, the author crafts a marvelous story, and the hero attempts to rectify his mistakes and turn his life around. He also tries to do what a lot of us wish we'd done! W.C. Fields Sends His Regards A woman's obsession with old movies and W.C. Fields changes her life when she intrudes into his. Wizard of AZ My second favorite, and I learn what abreaction means: Bringing repressed memories to the surface. A fascinating SF story, wherein temporal agents seek help from a psychiatrist so that they can remember their past assignments, but they never expected to remember what they discovered. Dogs As seen in some of the earlier stories, humans can't be trusted not to tamper with time, so maybe we need better time guardians, but can they do the job?
  
• Jesus of Nazareth, Boy and Man: A Novel of the Lost Years on Sep. 27, 2011
  
  This well-researched book depicts the Jewish and Roman culture of the time while it journeys along with Jesus as he works--and wonders--and learns about his relationship with his Father and grows into a man eager to help people understand their relationship to God and love Him as much as Jesus does. His work and his relationships with his family, including his cousin John, and friends and the many people he meets and helps along the way are well thought out, and I felt a real connection with the boy as he grew up and learned about the Pharisees, Sadducees, Essenes, fishermen and publicans, the temples, and gradually learned how to speak to the common man with stories and thoughts that they could understand, while talking with his Father and having to wait patiently until he was ready to fulfill his mission. This felt so real to me, and will quite possibly be the closest we come to knowing the young Jesus.
  
• Humorous Poetry Parodies & Even Verse on Oct. 22, 2011
  
  I really enjoyed these parodies and the verses between them. I think almost everyone will enjoy this e-book, not only poetry lovers, teachers, students, writers, engineers, et al. I loved El Dorado, the Androyd (I love Tiger, Tiger...), The Raving, the Rime of the Ancient Mariner (a favorite poem) parody, also Donald Trump, The Spider, Robert Frost's ... Snowy Evening parody. And more, though I don't have the familiarity with all the poems that Miskell does; he covers a lot of territory! I enjoyed the Verse Breaks too, including Valentine's Day and Halloween, among others. This is a fun read, and you can enjoy it everywhere you go because you can read as many poems as you want at a time.
  
• "Civil Disobedience" on Nov. 03, 2011
  
  This intriguing mystery combines Thoreau, newly released from jail, and his literary neighbors in a mystery involving a runaway slave, a dead bounty hunter, and the underground railroad. I enjoyed the combination and Thoreau's thoughts about his neighbors and his philosophy.
  
• The Giant Who Woke Up in the Middle of the Night: A Children's Story on Dec. 02, 2011
  
  The Giant who Woke Up in the Middle of the Night is the tale of a lonely giant. He feels so alone that he's even afraid in his own home--of the dark and the noises--and finally of the invisible creature who won't show itself. Well, would you? But the giant shares a bowl full of milk with the voice every night until he learns the truth. And he's not the only one who learns the truth... I enjoyed the story because I was curious too; and I also enjoyed the illustrations, especially the one at the end. Perfect!
  
• Dreaming Thomas: A Fairy Tale on Dec. 03, 2011
  
  Dreaming Thomas is an old style fairy tale with beautiful illustrations. Thomas is the dreamer who is so forgetful that he even forgets to milk the cows one morning. Can someone who is that forgetful accomplish anything?! (Cows need to be milked or they become very uncomfortable, and you have to wonder why they're kicking their stalls instead of Thomas!) However, Thomas accompanies his brothers to the king's palace even though they don't think he can help the king and thus win the princess, and they don't intend to let him try. How could Thomas' dreaming help anyone?! I think sharing this story with children will make them appreciate the wonder of the imagination. I hope the whole family will enjoy Thomas' daydreams. Have the kids draw their own illustrations!
  
• "Ebola Hemorrhagic Fever" on Dec. 19, 2011
  
  This is a well-written, stark, and scary story, not because of the title or the disease in the title, but because of the premise... We wouldn't want to believe this could ever be true no matter how many times we've seen the scenario played out in fiction.
  
• From Zero to Four Kids in Thirty Seconds on Feb. 12, 2012
  
  I came across this book online; it sounded intriguing--and fun, so I got it. I enjoyed it from Amy and Mark's first meeting in the workplace when he rejects her proposal (for a study grant), their tentative attempts at getting to know each other and date--despite her understandable reluctance to get involved with a man with four children. She gives us the background too on why--though they worked there for five years--they never connected. (He was married; now he's divorced.) He persists, and together they overcome a variety of challenges. This story illustrates those challenges--her family, his children, the ex-wife, and the usual speed bumps, but Amy makes meeting them a fun read, while at the same time not being afraid to expose her conflicting feelings along the way. See Tip #11: "If your first meeting with the kids doesn't go well, rest assured that it won't be the last thing that won't go well." And that was why I wanted the book--for the funny takes on her life--reminding me of Erma Bombeck--and for what happened along the way and how they survived the challenges and succeeded. This is a romantic story, btw, and I sympathized with both of them as they felt their way along the path to marriage and beyond. The tips for step-parents are helpful and funny. #1 sets the stage: "Behind every successful stepmother is a man with at least one child." There are 70 tips; #70 introduces the epilogue: "You won't be able to predict what the kids remember, or what they'll like the most. So try to enjoy it all." I believe she and her new family did enjoy it; and I enjoyed their story. Highly recommended. Note: I read the paperback edition, which I received directly from the author.
  
• To Ignite a Fire on Enceladus and Jack London's To Build a Fire on March 05, 2013
  
  Jack London's To Build a Fire is so memorable, that when I saw there was a science fiction version, I just had to read it. I enjoyed rereading London's story and reading Vincent Miskell's updated version, which was even better. I love the dog!
  
• Purrkins, the Cat on June 11, 2013
  
  I love the cover! (Wonderful close-up, Purrkins.) And all the other pictures are perfect! Okay, the cat is obviously photogenic; that helps. I was pleased to see so many photos showing a fun-loving cat, but one that stood up for its cat rights. I enjoyed the rhymes, which were perfectly matched to the photos; they have a real cat-like touch to them. That is one big, gorgeous cat; and it was fun watching him play with the other pets in the household. The advice to potential cat owners at the end of the book is a great idea 'cause not enough people get books about their new pets. And they should! Really, really recommended.
  
• Dusty, the Angel Pup on June 11, 2013
  
  Adorable cover with Dusty and his little angel wings. Well done. I enjoyed watching him grow from a puppy exploring his new home, playing with his toys and friends--and getting trimmed (that's a lot of hair--and something to consider if you bring home a little fuzzy wuzzy)--and playing in the great outdoors--and snow! That's always fun to see. I enjoyed his rhyming comments, especially when he said: "Mom Buys me clothes like this ridiculous sweater. I like my stuffed toys oh so much better." The rhymes are fun and sound just like little Dusty is talking to us. Recommended.
  
• Goodnight, Big Wuzzy on June 12, 2013
  
  Ferrets are cute, and I've always enjoyed watching them play in the pet stores. Big Wuzzy and his companions have loads of fun in this book exploring everywhere, hiding, roughhousing, and getting into mischief. Yep, that's what ferrets do. This is a book most kids and adults will enjoy, but it's especially recommended for anyone thinking of getting a ferret for a pet. It shows just some of what they can get into; the opportunities are endless, and you'll need to take precautions. The author has helpful advice. Pay attention!
  
• Bumpkin Gets Big on June 12, 2013
  
  Here's another fun picture book--this time about a little duckling. Watching him grow up was fun--and educational. One of my favorite pictures was the underwater one with his little webbed feet. The author cautions against getting a domestic duck for a pet. People have to remember that they grow up... The author's true story of little Bumpkin and her advice make this another recommended book 'cause it's about a real pet.