Allison Bruning - June 13, 2013

June 13, 2013
Originally posted on Kiriti's blog site (http://kiritisengupta.wordpress.com)
Interviewer : Kiriti Sengupta (India)
Interviewing   Allison Bruning (U.S.A)


Kiriti:   Hi Allison !! This is Kiriti from India. I must congratulate and thank you for your contribution in the global anthology, Twist of Fate. Would like to ask you few things and I would appreciate if you, please, answer me. Are you ready ?

Allison:    Sure, ask away.

Kiriti:   How did you come to know of this anthology ?

Allison:   I’m a bestselling author who had met Stephen Wilson through one my literary contacts. When the Newtown, Connecticut shooting occurred on December 14, 2012, I had wanted to do something to offer the victims’ families hope. Stephen contacted me soon afterwards asking if I had wanted to participate in the Angel’s Cried Anthology. I accepted his offer and gave him my award winning short story, Field of Grace.
When the Moore, Oklahoma tornado struck I once again felt the urge to do something. I had hoped Stephen would step up to the plate and offer another anthology so I kept my eye out for it. Sure enough, Stephen did. I quickly joined the effort.

Kiriti:   Was this your conscious decision to contribute ? Or did anyone request your contribution?

Allison:   Like the Newtown shooting, I had a personal connection to this tragedy. On March 2, 2012, my husband and I were in the tornado outbreak that had occurred along Kentucky and Indiana border along the Ohio River. The tornado super cell had formed early that morning along the Ohio River sending several tornados throughout the area starting at 9am. The meteorologists had no idea where the tornados would strike and there were so many they couldn’t keep up. I knew the tornado was coming. I just had no idea where. I had kept my eyes on the news all day, it had been running all day long due to the outbreak. I had seen the tornado wipe Henryville, Indiana off the map and then a few moments later the meteorologists said it was heading our way. Our town would be next. The tornado did come. The sirens blared and my husband and I only had a few minutes to seek shelter before we heard the rumbling of our roof. Although, the tornado had been over our house it did land two streets away from our home. Afterwards, it touched down two more times in various spots and headed towards New Liberty, Kentucky where it destroyed that town.
My heart sank when I had heard what had happened to Moore, Oklahoma. When I learned Stephen had decided to put together an anthology to raise funds to help the families there was no question in my mind what I should do. I know firsthand what that community will go through in the cleanup process. Oh, sure everyone will help out for the first few months. The media will be there and there will be national attention. Yet, all of that will fade away after a few weeks to a few months time. Although the attention will be gone the cleanup efforts won’t. It took a year for Henryville, Indiana to rebuild and even now their families who still struggle after such a large loss.

Kiriti:   You are the Founder & CEO of Mountain Springs House, a traditional publishing company. Apart from your literary contribution what other help you are forwarding towards the publication of Twist of Fate ?

Allison:   I am helping Stephen with the formatting for the eBook version of the anthology for publication on Smashwords and Kindle.

Kiriti:   Do you think that Twist of Fate would appeal the general public ?

Allison:   I believe so. There are a lot of families in America who have faced natural disasters. Although this anthology is about tornados I think anyone who has faced a natural disaster could understand the heartache the residents of Moore, Oklahoma are facing today.

Kiriti:   It is a team-effort, no doubt. Keeping your attention primarily on charity, do you think that Twist of Fate may well be treated as a Collectors’ Edition, from the point of its literary value ?

Allison:   Yes. Like Angel’s Cried, the anthology is something to keep because it marks a significant American historical event.

Kiriti:   Thank you so much Allison for answering me, I wish you all a stupendous success. Keep well.