Greetings friends and fellow deviants,
”...such learning must needs be, by its own nature, hard-fought...”

As I have stated in previous journals, our dear friend author L. Diane Wolfe (known to us here at deviantART as =SpunkOnAStick) has rewritten the first four novels in her excellent “Circle of Friends” series. The Circle of Friends, Book IV…Mike, currently in release via Dancing Lemur Press, continues Diane's tradition of strong characterization coupled with a message that reaches out to us all. Read, learn, and enjoy.

Scroll down for information on how to win a free copy of Mike. How can you not love a title like that, eh? I must admit that although our hero and I are in no way related save for by way of our common designation, I felt a little extra tug as I shared his trials. Ms. Wolfe's stories will inevitably grab you where you live: it's impossible to not take them personally in one way or another.

Below is the author's answer to a question I posed to her, as well as a review I wrote some time back for the original first edition of Mike: The Circle OF Friends, Book IV. While Diane has since smoothed the story line for style and some content, I'm confident that my humble words will have lost none of their relevance ...

Guilt is a Hard Master
Guilt is a hard master, and no one is more aware of that harsh truth than Mike Taylor, the protagonist of Book IV in L. Diane Wolfe's "The Circle of Friends" series. Tormented by lingering remorse over a past decision, haunted by his long-suppressed desire for his friend and former roommate Sarah, Mike's life is, in large part, a lonely and unhappy one.

After graduating from Georgia Tech, Mike finds himself transplanted from the familiar surroundings of Greensboro to a new life in Albuquerque, having secured a position there at Sandia Labs. Alone in a strange city, separated from his family and lifelong friends, he feels enclosed and overwhelmed by circumstances past and present. It is in this environment that Mike meets Danielle, a beautiful and effervescent coworker who befriends him one day in the break room. The two form an immediate bond, and are soon married. The union is a happy one at the onset, as Danielle's loving support helps Mike to overcome his guilt and insecurities, freeing him from the dark cloud that has shadowed him for the latter part of his young life. There eventually comes a point, however, where unexpected difficulties begin to arise.

Over the course of the first three books in "The Circle Of Friends," author Wolfe has emphasized the accomplishment of goals through perseverance, mature decision making, and emotional reinforcement from family and friends. "Mike" presents her with her biggest challenge to date. After all, the central character is separated from the circle by distance and culture, and even his deep-seated Christian faith threatens to slip away after a sequence of disastrous events shakes his marriage to its foundation. Danielle brings with her an unconditional love and a built-in support group, but will they be enough to overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles?

I'll leave the answer to that question for you to discover. I'll tell you this, though: new readers and series veterans alike will find this book to be challenging, uplifting, and engaging in a very personal way. You'll be overjoyed at times, you'll experience frustration (I wanted to reach into the pages and shake my namesake by his shoulders more than once), you'll be encouraged ... you will become an integral part of the lives of these youthful friends, and they of yours as they enfold you into their ever-widening circle. This is the thread L. Diane Wolfe weaves through the fabric of her work; "Mike" continues the tradition well, and I guarantee you that "The Circle of Friends Book IV" will grab you where you live, and will not leave you disappointed.

As always, your faithful servant,

"snakes on the brain ..."


Want to win a free copy?! Any Deviant who leaves a comment here in this journal will be entered in the drawing for a copy of “The Circle of Friends, Book IV…Mike.” Follow SpunkOnAStick’s entire DA tour for several chances to win!
Contest open from October 4 – 11th.



How do other authors you know personally (Morgan Mandel, etc.) influence your craft?
Those authors force me to stretch! I hear what they are trying and accomplishing, and it spurs me to do more. Morgan or Trish will post about a successful event and it motivates me to try that venue as well. Plus we share our experiences and offer suggestions to one another. I also see what genres and areas are more successful, and that affects my writing. I want to write what I love, but I also want to be successful doing it, too! And many authors offer tips on grammar, characters, storytelling, etc. I learn far more from other authors than I’ve ever learned from books!

THE CIRCLE OF FRIENDS
BOOK IV … MIKE
BY L. DIANE WOLFE

A prisoner of guilt for so long…

Mike Taylor is the epitome of stability. His family is proud of his academic and athletic achievements at Georgia Tech, and despite the temptations of college life, he has maintained his moral standards.
Yet beneath the peaceful surface, Mike is consumed with guilt, fearing condemnation and rejection. A former girlfriend’s abortion and the intense love he feels for his roommate’s wife constantly remind Mike of his failures. Unable to forget and full of shame, he refuses to forgive himself.
When Danielle enters his life, he realizes he can no longer hide the past. Will she be able to reach him or is Mike past the point of redemption?

$19.95 USA, 6x9 Trade paperback, 300 pages, Fiction/YA
ISBN 978-0-9816210-4-3 / 0-9816210-4-X
Dancing Lemur Press, L.L.C. [link]


“Book IV…Mike is such a powerful, engrossing, incredible, beautiful novel. But it still manages to be light hearted, funny and heart felt. There is real emotion and real people in these pages…”
- The Book Pedler

“Book IV will grab you where you live, and will not leave you disappointed.”
-Michael Douglas


L. Diane Wolfe, Professional Speaker & Author
Known as “Spunk On A Stick,” to her fans, the author is a member of the National Speakers Association. “Overcoming Obstacles With SPUNK! The Keys to Leadership & Goal-Setting”, ties all of Wolfe’s goal-setting and leadership seminar’s information together into one complete, enthusiastic package. The author’s young adult series, The Circle of Friends, is a Southern-based series portrays love and friendship overcoming all obstacles. Described as “encouragement personified”, this series will uplift as well as entertain. Ten years associating with a motivation training system and her experience as a foster parent gave her the in-depth knowledge of relationships, personality traits and success principles. Wolfe travels the East Coast extensively for media interviews and speaking engagements. She averages over one hundred appearances each year, maintains a dozen websites & blogs, manages , and contribute articles for several other sites. She also does characterization sessions for schools and speaks to writer’s groups. “With a positive attitude, any goal can be achieved!”




Author Sites:
The Circle of Friends - [link]
Book Trailer on YouTube - [link]
Diane’s Blog - [link]
Spunk on A Stick - [link]

Book IV online-
Amazon - [link]
B&N - [link]os=-1&EAN=9780981621043
The Circle of Friends – [link]

Book I - [link] & [link]
Book II- [link] & [link]
Book III - [link]